Agricultural News
In Case You Missed It- OGI's Mark Hodges Goes In the Field With Ron Hays on Wheat Planting
Mon, 14 Sep 2015 06:22:46 CDT
This past Saturday morning, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays hosted Mark Hodges with Oklahoma Genetics, Inc on his In the Field TV segment that was seen on KWTV News9 during their regular morning news block- and in case you missed it- you can click on the play button in the video box below to see the conversation that Ron and Mark had about the planting of the 2016 hard red winter wheat crop that is now underway.
Beneath the video box is an earlier story that featured Hodges talking with Hays in an audio interview that went into more detail about planting this year's crop- as well as information about how sales of OSU wheat varieties have gone for the 2016 planting season.
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Oklahoma Genetics, Inc. Executive Director Mark Hodges remains cautiously optimistic about the 2016 hard red winter wheat crop. After several years of drought, moisture looks to return to the forecast with the likelihood of a strong El Nino, which would bring Oklahoma above average precipitation into the spring.
Oklahoma's farmers are starting to plant their wheat crop that will be harvested in 2016. Oklahoma has a unique opportunity, as a large number of producers will plant wheat for grazing, while others grow the crop strictly for grain production. In planting wheat for grazing, farmers plant the crop in September. In growing a crop for grain production only, the ideal planting time starts after October 15th. In planting a crop earlier, Hodges said the wheat crop will face additional pressure from disease and insects. With wild fluctuations in weather, he said farmers will have to increase their management by being more vigilant in scouting for diseases and being more diligent in applying fungicides in the spring.
As farmers head to their field, several Oklahoma State University developed varieties sold through Oklahoma Genetics Inc. have been in high demand. Hodges said the most popular are Gallagher, Iba, Ruby Lee and the two-gene Clearfield wheat Doublestop. He said this year they ran out of Doublestop and there is very little Gallagher left. Radio Oklahoma Farm Director Ron Hays interviewed Hodges about the planting outlook. Click or tap on the LISTENBAR below to hear the full interview with Mark Hodges.
Earlier this summer, OSU announced Bentley was the newest variety to be released. Hodges said there's nothing average about Bentley, as it has outstanding yield for a grain-only production system, it has outstanding production in grain plus grazing situation and it has outstanding milling and baking qualities. Bentley was developed for central Oklahoma and it has moderate resistance to acid soils. It has a late first hollow stem, which gives producers more time for grazing, but it has a medium heading date, so harvest can take place on time. Hodges said the only average characteristic is Bentley's test weight, but Bentley's yielding potential has more than made up for the lower test weight. Currently there are 8,000 bushels of Bentley seed, but Hodges said it will take some time to build up supplies before Bentley seed will be sold to the general public.
The success of Oklahoma Genetics Inc. has steadily increased since being established in 2005. Hodges said Oklahoma Genetics Inc. was initially started as a means to get BASF's Clearfield wheat varieties into production. At the same time, state and federal budgets started to decline and there was also concern over funding to the public wheat breeding program. Support for OGI has steadily grown, even in times of drought. OGI has seen support from Oklahoma farmers and surrounding states. Hodges said about 30 percent of the OGI sales are out-of-state with 20 percent sold into the southern half of Kansas and 10 percent sold into Texas. This past year, $539,000 in royalties went back to Oklahoma State University. Hodges gives all the credit to OSU wheat breeder Dr. Brett Carver and the entire Wheat Improvement Team.
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