Agricultural News
Talking 2012 Wheat and the Need for Crop Insurance with Sorghum Leader JB Stewart of Keyes, Oklahoma
Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:28:20 CST
Oklahoma Panhandle farmer JB Stewart is the lone producer from the state in a national officer role for one of the four organizations that makes up the Commodity Classic framework- serving as Vice Chairman of the National Sorghum Producers here at the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville. Stewwart farms in the heart of sorghum country, with his operation sitting in Cimarron County in the western half of the Oklahoma Panhandle, within spitting distance of Kansas and just miles from southeast Colorado and the northern tier of the Texas Panhandle (and of course- not that many miles from northteast New Mexico.)
Stewart talked with us during the grand opening of the 2012 Commodity Classic Trade Show- and was feeling good about current crop conditions in his area around Keyes, Oklahoma. While many areas in Southwest Kansas, the Oklahoma Panhandle and the Texas Panhandle remain very dry- Stewart tells us that rains and some snow have rolled through at key times, starting last October after they dusted in the bulk of their 2012 winter wheat crop. In recent days, he has measured for moisture- and has found it down about three feet in his soil profile- a fact that he considers truly amazing considering the drought that we faced in 2011.
On issues related to the sorghum industry- Stewart says that he agrees with other farm leaders gathered here in Nashville that we must make crop insurance as a high priority as we attempt to write the 2012 farm bill. Stewart told us "we're very strong proponents of crop insurance, because that was the savior in what they called a hundred year drought."
Stewart adds that while sorghum acres have decreased in recent years- it's a crop that a lot of farmers in the high plains will rotate back into their farm operations- especially since it is well regarded as a water efficient crop.
You can hear our full conversation with Stewart from Commodity Classic 2012- just click on the LISTEN BAR below.
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