What would happen if foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) broke out near your farm? How fast would it spread? Would you be able to transport or sell hogs? The pork industry is working to answer these questions and more as part of its crisis preparedness. An example of that work was seen on Thursday as the Oklahoma Pork Council welcomed officials from the National Pork Board to Oklahoma City to run a TableTop FMD "what if" exercise.

"The best time to think about a crisis is before one occurs," said Cindy Cunningham, assistant vice president of communications for the Pork Checkoff. "By planning, you can position resources to ward off potential threats and be ready to respond rapidly." Cunningham and Dr. Patrick Webb with the Pork Board led the discussion and the exercise with Oklahoma Pork Producers, Cattlemen, General Farm Group Representatives and local, state and federal government officials.


Roy Lee Lindsey, Executive Director for the Oklahoma Pork Councl, reminded the group as they started Thursday morning that Oklahoma is now the fifth largest sow state in the US- and those baby pigs produced are mostly shipped out of Oklahoma closer to where the corn is raised to feed them to finishing weights. Lindsey says the ability to move pigs daily out of Oklahoma to other states is essential to the well being of the pork industry in the state- and disruptions to that movement that would definitely occur with an outbreak of a foreign animal disease.


Cunningham told me that "we talk about Foot and Mouth disease as something that we have not had here in the US since 1929 - so it seems like "maybe we will never get it here" but the experts tells us that it's not if we will get it but WHEN." As a result, Cunningham says it's important to realize how to prepare for such an event, from exactly how respond quickly to isolate infected animals to then explain to consumers that it's a animal health issue and not a human health or food safety issue.

Click or tap here to read more- and to listen to my conversation with Cindy about the day NOBODY in the livestock business ever whats to see happen- the day we start living thru a Foot and Mouth Disease nightmare.

Yesterday, leaders of the state's wheat industry gathered in El Reno for the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Convention, hosted by Redlands Community College. Our own Carson Horn was there to speak with a few of those featured on the day's agenda, including our State Wheat Specialist David Marburger, who offered attendees a recap of this year's wheat crop.

He recounts that "yields were variable in some areas, that might have missed a rain or may have had a little too much grazing going on, but for the most part, a lot of yields were in that 30 to 40 bushel range."


He noted that the latest reports account for Oklahoma's harvest at right at 91 million bushels total, on roughly 21 percent less harvested acres this year. Despite that fact though, he says overall production was above average for the year.

In addition, Marburger also outlined some of the findings from this year's wheat variety trials and highlighted a few of the varieties that rose to the top.

"There's a number of different ways we can look at that, but in terms of looking at this year - those four regional locations on the grain yield side - varieties like Hotrod, WB4269, WBGrainfield, LCSChrome...," he said. "Those were some of the varieties that were at the top of those different varieties."

For all you wheat farmers out there, that's something to consider as you start thinking about what varieties you may be
interested in planting this coming 2018 season - which by the way, is just a few weeks away! Marburger says this all important decision can lay the foundation for a successful crop.

"I like to argue that's going to be your most important management decision you're going to make," he said, adding, "Control your volunteer wheat. And then, hopefully you get good soil moisture and doing the little things to try to get good establishment of your next wheat crop and build a foundation."

Click here to read more or listen to Carson's full conversation with Marburger at yesterday's convention in El Reno.

Two researchers from the Noble Research Institute, recently published an article, highlighting the many non-cash benefits that can be gleaned from utilizing cover crops on your operation, such as the improvement of soil heath, erosion control, weed suppression, etc.

Authors Jim Johnson, soils and crops consultant, and Bryon Nichols write that, "There are many variables to consider when deciding if cover crops fit into a cropping system."

Three topic areas, including water use, climate and economics, are often discussed, when considering if a cover crop would benefit an operation.

While, some may be opposed to planting something with the intention of reaping little cash reward, Johnson and Nichols advise readers to think of cover crops as any other tool or equipment on the farm, that makes life easier, and is integral to the efficiency and success of your business.

"Cover crops are a tool in agricultural production just as tractors and herbicides are tools. When used correctly and with purpose, they can be effective. When used incorrectly or with unrealistic expectations, they can be harmful. Agricultural producers do not make a living by growing cover crops; rather, they make a living by producing a saleable product. Focus on the system that does this in the most efficient and profitable way while maintaining and improving the land resource for generations to come."


Interested in learning more about how cover crops can be implemented on your farm as a tool for success? Read the complete article on our website, by clicking here.

Our Associate Farm Director Carson Horn caught up with OSU Extension Grain Market Economist Dr. Kim Anderson during the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Convention Thursday in El Reno, Oklahoma to get his weekly update. 


Currently, according to Anderson, markets are attempting to make a bottom. He says current prices levels have received strong support - driven by information on Russia's crop soon to be harvested. He says every report that comes out of Russia raises production expectations. At the moment, it seems Russia will have produced as much or more than their crop from last year.


"We're talking about 200 to 400 million bushels here," he said, "and that's having an impact on our prices. Hopefully we're on the bottom right now."


As we get further into the August, September, October months, he says the markets will continue to get a better handle on the size and quality of the foreign crops as they are harvested. Anderson says reports are already coming in - with Australia's crop potentially set to fall as much as 33% below last year's production. In addition, Argentina is reporting many acres were left unplanted that they had hoped would be. All positive signs for prices, but still, Anderson remains cautious about what to expect.


"I saw one report that said we've seen the high price for the year; that's a possibility," he said. "I think prices are just going to waller around now until we get the full information on the Russian crop and what happens in Argentina and Australia. I'm not very optimistic right now."

Click here to hear their entire conversation about the likelihood of whether or not we'll see an improvement in the price of wheat in the months to come.

When it comes to Horn flies, it is all about the season and we are just weeks away from starting Round #2 this year. According to Extension Veterinary Specialist A.J. Tarpoff of Kansas State University, over the course of a typical year there are two seasons in which Horn fly populations tend to peak. He says those seasons generally occur in the Spring and late summer.


"We're talking, coming up here pretty quick, late August - early September, when the temperatures start to go down, the humidity starts to rise a little bit," he said. "It's prime time for another peak in Horn fly population."


Tarpoff says as this subsequent wave of Horn flies approaches, it is important to have a plan in mind to control the population of these bloodsucking pests. He recommends considering what you have already done, during the Spring peak, and switch up your mode of action with a different application as well as a different chemical class. By doing this, he says you will stop flies from building up a resistance to your preferred control methods.


For instance, suppose you tagged your cattle earlier in the year with insecticide laced eartags.


"As those fly tags start to wane, the flies are still exposed to that chemical, but it's not killing them. That's when resistance can happen," he said. "So, we pull that tag that's already been spent and then we can use a spot or a spray treatment. We're protecting our chemicals to continue working into the next year."


Listen to more of Extension Veterinary Specialist A.J. Tarpoff's advice on properly treating cattle for peak Horn fly seasons, with me, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.

It's that time again - The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association has began promoting it's 33rd Annual Range Round Up which is scheduled for August 25 and 26 at the Lazy E Arena.

Be sure to make plans to attend an evening of riding, roping and farm family fun. Participating this year are cowboys from 12 historic Oklahoma ranches all competing for a year of bragging rights and the chance to represent Oklahoma at the national competition.

By attending, you will also be helping the OCA, help kids in need. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Children's Miracle Network.

You won't want to miss this yearly tradition, watching ranch hands from across the state get bucked and bruised, competing in timed events based on everyday chores on the ranch.

Come out and cheer them on and support a good cause while you do it.

For more information on the event or how to reserve your tickets, click or tap here.

 
At the 2017 Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association Annual Meeting- the top award handed out was the 2017 edition of Oklahoma's Mr. Wheat. 

The winner announced yesterday was one of the good ones- Dr. Bob Hunger, OSU Extension Pathologist who has done a great job down thru the years in warning wheat farmers about the diseases that seek to take out the annual winter wheat crop.

Congrats Bob!!!




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July was full of DOG DAYS- extremely hot and there are sure to be a few more of those out there this month- but August started mild and wet for at least some folks- and our friend Bryce Anderson of DTN provides the latest seven day rainfall prediction from NOAA- and it does not look half bad for Oklahoma: