Agricultural News
OSU's Kim Anderson Finds Better Oklahoma Crop and Strength in Wheat Prices
Thu, 21 May 2015 18:53:27 CDT
The Oklahoma wheat crop has done a massive turnaround in the last month. In mid-April, half of the state was extreme to exceptional drought. Then, the spring rains arrived and conditions have improved drastically. On this weekend's edition of SUNUP, Oklahoma State University Crop Marketing Specialist Kim Anderson said earlier this spring he projected the state would produce 80 million bushels wheat crop. As the crop has recovered from drought stress and freeze damage, he now projects the state will produce closer to 120 million bushels.
"That's about a 50 percent increase in production," Anderson said. "There's some concerns about the potential quality of it, especially if it continues to rain."
With the heavy rain there are concerns with lodging, along with sucker heads and how farmers will harvest a crop with two different maturity levels. But only time will tell how this will turn out as harvest nears.
SUNUP host Lyndall Stout asks Anderson about the outlook for domestic wheat production. He said U.S. hard red winter wheat production looks to be bigger than last year and close to the five year average. The U.S. is projected to produce about 853 million bushels versus 738 million bushels in 2014.
World wheat production looks to slightly less than a year ago at 26.4 billion bushels, but higher than the five year average. He said it's important that world production is projected to be above the 25.4 billion bushel average.
Oklahoma has seen an increase in production and price in recent days. Anderson said that just shows the limited impact Oklahoma has on wheat prices and he emphasizes why production is more important than price.
The stocks to use ratio domestically and globally is running well above last year and average. With strong world wheat production and a higher stocks to use ratio, he said that's why wheat prices are low and he predicts wheat prices will remain in the $5 - $5.50 level.
-- This week on SUNUP, we continue our visit to the North Central Research Station at Lahoma for Wheat Field Day. Interviews include Brett Carver on wheat variety development and Jason Warren comparing no-till versus conventional till.
-- In the Mesonet Report, Al Sutherland and Gary McManus look at the impact of recent rainfall and show us a much-improved drought monitor. For the first time since 2011, there are no areas of Oklahoma in extreme or exceptional drought.
-- In Naturally Speaking, Dwayne Elmore explains how to prevent aflatoxin in wildlife.
-- Next, Kim Anderson talks about current wheat conditions, production estimates and wheat prices.
-- In Cow-Calf Corner, Glenn Selk offers planning advice to producers about spring and fall calving seasons.
-- Finally, we revisit a favorite SUNUP story on the Vegas Strip Steak.
Catch SUNUP: Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. & Sundays at 6 a.m. on OETA-TV
Catch SUNUP online through the OSU website by clicking here or through YouTube by clicking here.
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