Oklahoma and Kansas Wheat Harvest Gains Momentum- Harvest Conditions Look Good for the Week Ahead

After a frustrating week for Oklahoma wheat producers- this past Friday saw many fields dry enough and moisture checks of the wheat low enough to allow harvest to get rolling once again. This past week saw rain early in the week in the western counties of the state- then humidity that was pushed into the wheat belt by Tropical Storm Bill on Wednesday and Thursday that kept the combines idle. The quality of the wheat crop was likely hurt because of this latest delay- but that will be seen(or not) as farmers are able to get into their fields and actually get the grain out.  

We have pulled together several sources and have a wheat harvest overview on our website this morning which is our Top Ag Story- click here to check it out.  Here are some of the highlights:

Mike Schulte of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission wrote last Friday afternoon about the Oklahoma Wheat Harvest "As of this morning the state is approximately 45% complete with wheat harvest, with the hopes that custom harvesting crews and producers can make great strides over the weekend. Harvesting is virtually taking place in all regions of the state with some early loads of dryland wheat received in the Panhandle regions.


"Test weights throughout the state are averaging 57 lbs. to 59 lbs. per bushel. In areas of South Central and Central Oklahoma some test weights are reported coming in much lower than 57 lbs. per bushel, with some wheat that will never be harvested because of this factor." (Mike's complete report from Friday is available here.)

The first Kansas wheat harvest report from their state wheat growers and Wheat Commission came out Sunday afternoon- had reports from three south central Kansas locations and the early indicators show good yields and quality- we have that full report on our website and you can review it by clicking here.

In our overview that we published this Monday morning- we have a report provided by Sam Knipp of Oklahoma Farm Bureau who traveled to Alva to visit with Chad Budy as he got rolling with their 2015 wheat harvest.  Yields were in the high 40s and test weights were from 59 to 60 pounds per bushel- and you can hear some comments from Chad by clicking here.

Also at that link- A social media report we got from Jessica Wilcox from Fairview- bragging on a pair of OSU bred varieties- Ruby Lee and Gallagher- test weights holding up well despite all of the weather challenges.

AND- a less than stellar report from Shattuck courtesy of Tracy Zeorian- a custom cutter from Nebraska who was reporting lower test weights and lower yields on fields that had been heavily grazed which reduced their potential here as the combines rolled.  

Go to our website at the link at the top of this story and read and listen to our Monday morning wheat harvest review.

The latest cattle on feed report was up one percent over a year ago. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reported 10.6 million head of cattle were on feed as of June first. This was 1.7 percent below the five year average. Nebraska was up one percent, Kansas was unchanged and Texas was down two percent versus a year ago. Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities called the report neutral to slightly friendly, as the report came in close to trade estimates.


"Now, this is the fourth largest June on feed number of the past seven years," Leffler said. "Now, seven of the past eight months have experienced year-over-year increases on their on feed numbers."


May placements totaled 1.71 million head, down ten percent from 2014. Leffler said this was 13.3 percent below the five year average and this was the third smallest May placement of the past 20 years. Kansas was down 21 percent, Texas down 16 percent and Nebraska was down eight percent versus a year ago.


Click here for the full USDA June Cattle on Feed report. 

Radio Oklahoma Network's Leslie Smith caught up with Tom Leffler Friday afternoon. Click or tap here to listen to the full interview.

Senator Lankford: Renewable Fuel Standard Is Unrealistic and Harmful to Economy

The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, under the chairmanship of Oklahoma Senator James Lankford, Thursday held a hearing to examine the Environment Protection Agency's management of the Renewable Fuel Standard and the rule-making process for the program. The hearing was entitled, Re-examining EPA's Management of the Renewable Fuel Standard Program, and included the EPA Office of Air and Radiation Acting Assistant Administrator Janet McCabe as the lone witness.


"If people want to buy ethanol, they should have that option, but Americans should not be forced to buy ethanol," said Lankford. "I think we can all agree with the RFS' intended goals to try to help our nation's energy security and preserve the environment, but it is clear this mandate does not work. The EPA has not met the statutory deadline for renewables mandated to be blended into our gasoline supply since 2009. In addition, this mandate has resulted in increased prices on agriculture, and studies note the program's negative impact on our land and air, inducing increased ozone. Today's dialogue left little doubt that the EPA's management of the program and state of the RFS is not only unrealistic, but harmful to the economy.


"Consumers should be aware that in the current law, EPA has wide latitude to re-set all ethanol mandates in 2017 and even broader authority in 2022. It is essential that Congress act now to re-write the law to prevent EPA from unilaterally closing all ethanol usage mandates."  

Click here to read more or to watch Senator Lankford's opening statement from the hearing.  

Peel Reviews First Half of 2015 and Provide Outlook for Cattle Producers

With nearly half of the year in the books, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel reviews the cattle markets so far for 2015. He said tight cattle supplies continue to be the market driver for prices. U.S. beef cattle production is down about five percent for the year-to-date, slaughter is down over seven percent. Peel said heavy carcass weights have helped offset that decline.


"Tighter than expected supplies so far this year, good strong prices, retail prices are at record levels, wholesale prices have set record levels and you know, cattle prices across the board are holding very steady in the first half of the year," Peel said. 


A key part of producer profitability comes from consumer demand. With beef production down, consumers will be paying more for hamburger and steak at the grocery store and at restaurants. Peel said so far consumers are continuing to demand beef.  

I featured Peel on our latest Beef Buzz, as heard on great radio stations across the southern great plains. Click or tap here to listen to this feature.

Chefs and Ranchers: Natural Partners in Providing Food Experiences

Southwest Energy executive chef Ric Rosser has years of experience cooking up great beef, and he always enjoys the chance to interact with those who are producing it.


"You don't just have a cow, put 'em in a field, there is work that goes along with that," Rosser said. "You're vaccinating, you're making sure they are ok, you're checking on them daily, making sure there is water. I'm sure the average person doesn't know all of what goes into a day for a rancher."


Likewise, the chef wants cattlemen to see he and his colleagues are as dedicated to driving beef demand as they are.


"I hope they get a more understanding of the passion that we have for being as good as we can be, quite honestly, and providing good food and a great steak," Rosser said. "It's easy to do that when you start with the simple and the basics."


When restaurateurs use quality beef, that variable no longer has to be top-of-mind for them.  Rosser wants to make beef shine.  Click or tap here to read or to watch this featured video from the American Angus Association.

Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains- Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.

Good News: Few Oklahoma Snakes are Venomous

The vast majority of the more than 40 species of snake found in Oklahoma are nonvenomous, but that does not mean they do not strike fear in many people.


However, snakes would rather avoid people and are incredibly important animals.


"Snakes, both venomous and nonvenomous, cause great anxiety in many people and are considered cold-blooded killers," said Dwayne Elmore, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist. "They are cold-blooded of course, but unless you are a rodent, frog, insect or earthworm, you have little to fear.


Fortunately, most of the snakes capable of inflicting injury are very docile.  Note the term venomous, rather than poisonous. Venomous animals are those that inject a toxin directly into their prey as opposed to a poisonous animal, which contains a toxin within portions of their body that cause harm if ingested or touched.  Click here to read more about Oklahoma snakes.

This N That- Don Schieber Becomes Last Gubernatorial Appointment, Frank Lucas Portrait and Trent Kelly Added 

Governor Mary Fallin recently re-appointed Don Schieber to a five-year term on the Oklahoma Wheat Commission Board. Schieber, a wheat producer from Ponca City, will represent District V, which encompasses all counties east of the western boundary lines of Kay, Noble, Logan, Oklahoma, Cleveland, Grady, Stephens and Jefferson counties.


"We are excited that Don Schieber has been re-appointed to the Oklahoma Wheat Commission board," said Mike Schulte, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission. "His knowledge and experience with wheat production as a farmer and his previous roles with the Kay County Farm Bureau and Kay County Conservation Boards will lend him well to this position.   Don has served on the U.S. Wheat Associates Board of Directors and as their past Chairman.  

The unique aspect of this appointment is that it will apparently be the last appointment made by a Governor to the Oklahoma Wheat Commission.  As of the first of July- the Wheat Commission will be operating under new rules established by the state legislature a year ago- that will take it out of being a full fledged government agency.  This move will be a cost savings to the Commission- and means that the Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture will be the one reviewing the nomination appointment process for the wheat commissioners in the future.  

We'll be telling you more about how the Wheat Commission will be doing some things differently as July first nears.

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Tomorrow afternoon, a reception is being planned to honor the past Chairman of the House Ag Committee, Frank Lucas, as a portrait that will hang in the House Ag Committee Meeting Room in the Longworth Office Building will be unveiled.  This long standing tradition of portraits being hung will honor the Third District Congressman from Oklahoma for his four years of service as the Chairman of the House Ag Committee.

Our top Ag Story of 2010 was Congressman Lucas laying claim to the Chairmanship of the House Ag Committee- just as the Committee was set to begin the writing of what became the 2014 Farm Law.  Click here for our story from the end of 2010 about Lucas moving into the Chairmanship at that time. 

We are headed to Washington tomorrow to report back on the Portrait Unveiling- and will reflect with the Congressman and others about his time as Chairman and the Farm Bill that he was a key player in helping write over those four years.  

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Speaking of the House Ag Committee- the current Chairman- Mike Conaway of Texas- has named a new member to the Committee.  Trent Kelly of the first District of Mississippi has been named by leadership to the House Ag Committee. Rep. Kelly will serve on the Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee as well as the Commodity Exchanges, Energy and Credit Subcommittee. 

Kelly is the newest member of Congress. He was sworn into office by Speaker John Boehner earlier this month after winning a special election on June second. He will serve most of a two-year term that Republican Alan Nunnelee started in January. The 56-year-old Nunnelee died of brain cancer in February.

Click here to read more about his involvement ahead with the House Ag Committee.