Agricultural News
Both Grain and Cattle Industries Still Dealing with Drought- and we have your SUNUP preview
Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:46:59 CDT
Dr. Kim Anderson, Grain Marketing Specialist from Oklahoma State University, and Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, sat down and discussed all aspects of the grain industry and cattle industry over the past couple of months. Both the grain industry and cattle industry have faced challenges with the severe drought.
Looking at winter crops, Anderson says canola faired relatively well surviving the drought but probably had slightly lower yields than average. Wheat on the other hand was hit relatively hard, especially in southwestern and western Oklahoma, says Anderson. There were 77 million bushels of wheat this year compared to 125 million last year. When it comes to summer crops, Anderson says simple it was a disaster. Corn, sorghum and soybeans quality is still out but Anderson predicts the quality will not be as good as expected and yields will definitely be less than half of what would be expected.
As far as cattle markets go, Peel says the critical factor over the summer months for producers was the lack of water supplies. As water resources dried up, animals simply had to be moved very quickly says Peel. Many producers were forced to liquidate, either significant amounts of their herds or the entire cattle herd. Peel says the cattle markets have been almost opposite of the crops because there have been significant volumes of animals moving through the auctions, which created some weakness in prices, but overall the prices have remained decent. Peel says the cattle markets are beginning to work their way out of this pattern but there is going to continue to be liquidation.
Click on the LISTEN bar below to hear the rest of Lyndall Stout's conversation with Dr. Anderson and Dr. Peel on the changes in the grain and cattle markets, as well as, how producers are dealing with these changes.
Besides Dr. Anderson and Dr. Peel, also this week on SUNUP, Damona Doye looks at the drought's financial impact on producers.
The Mesonet report includes an updated drought forecast and Al and Gary explain why there's been no change in soil moisture levels, despite recent rainfall.
In Cow-Calf Corner, Glenn Selk explains the benefits of fenceline weaning.
Randy and Wayne have tips on using screws in drywall.
Finally, we join a group of teachers on the Ag in the Classroom summer road trip at Silvertop Farm in Kay County.
SUNUP airs Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on your local OETA channel.
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