Agricultural News
Dry Conditions Bring Concerns for Oklahoma Wheat Crop
Wed, 14 Oct 2015 17:45:16 CDT
Oklahoma's wheat planting remains on schedule for mid-October. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Tuesday that the state's wheat planting reached 65 percent complete. That's behind last year's 77 percent. Overall planting progress was in-line with the five-year average. USDA reports 32 percent of the crop has emerged. Oklahoma Wheat Commission Executive Director Mike Schulte said planting has remained on track because of the dry weather pattern. He said some farmers have planted for 15 days straight without a weather interruption.
"Here in the past two weeks, we've had warmer temperatures and certainly windier weather and so that has really hurt us as far as the crop outlook," Schulte said. "The crop is starting to wilt in places. Producers certainly hoping for moisture here in the next week or two."
Wheat farmers throughout the state are dealing with Army cutworms. That's especially concerning in the earlier planted wheat crop. Schulte said some farmers have treated for Army cutworms multiple times in northern Oklahoma.
As farmers plant the crop, efforts continue to increase demand for wheat. The Oklahoma Wheat Commission supports U.S. Wheat Associates efforts of marketing and promoting U.S. Wheat around the world. U.S. Wheat Associates has representation in 100 countries globally. With surplus supplies of wheat, Schulte said U.S. Wheat Associates has changed its strategic marketing approach in focusing on Central and South America.
"We have countries in South America that currently are not buying wheat from the U.S. and we're hoping we can gain marketshare in those regions because of the proximity and we're hopeful that it is going to help us here in Oklahoma and the Southern Plains."
Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays interviewed Schulte. Click or tap on the LISTENBAR below to hear the full interview. Hays and Schulte also discuss "The Truth about Wheat" television special that aired on OETA in September, as well as how the Oklahoma Wheat Commission has made the transition in becoming a quasi -state agency since July first.
Ron Hays will be joined by Mike Schulte on Saturday morning for our regular In the Field TV segment as seen on KWTV News9- at about 6:40 AM.
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