Agricultural News
Mike Schulte Looks Back on 2021 Wheat Crop, Forward to 2022 Crop
Wed, 22 Dec 2021 16:08:18 CST
Considering the ongoing global pandemic, supply-chain issues, cattle market volatility, political turmoil, animal rights extremists you could easily chalk 2021 up to a hard year. Looking at the year through the eyes of a winter wheat farmer in Oklahoma, things may have a slightly rosy tint to them.
Mike Schulte, executive director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, told Ron Hays, senior broadcaster for the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network, that the 2021 winter wheat harvest ended up being one of the best crops the state has seen in the last several years.
"All in all, for Oklahoma - 115-million-bushel crop, 39-bushel average, 2.9 million acres harvested this year," Schulte said. "Our ten-year average is running at around 110 million bushels, so we came in stronger in this region."
Winter wheat farmers in the region hit the jackpot. While prices climbed due to a weak spring wheat harvest, low expectations for large players, like Russia and even lower harvests as the season went on, Oklahoma winter wheat producers had opportunities to sell wheat high.
Although high wheat prices are great, higher input costs are neutralizing any profits farmers may have made off this year's winter wheat harvest. On top of that, the state continues to dry out which is taking a toll on the 2022 winter wheat crop.
"Right now, I think producers are on edge about what next year's input costs," Schulte said. "(At the same time, producers are trying to) make management decisions at a time when we are in significant drought conditions. (We are) hopeful that we will still get moisture later this winter when it is really needed for the crop."
Hit the LISTEN BAR below to hear Ron Hays and Mike Schulte look back on 2021 and forward to 2022.
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