Farm Bill Follies- Stabenow, Moran, Peterson and more  

The US Senate returned their week off for Memorial Day on Monday- and did pass a couple of amendments to the 2013 Farm Bill- with Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow calling for a Farm Bill conclusion by the end of the week.  

The problem with that is that there is no apparent "deal" on trimming the number of amendments down that the full Senate will end up having to debate and vote on.  While the House can and will hold the line on the amount of time a particular amendment may be debated- the rules are a lot more laid back in the Senate and even non controversial amendments like the ones okayed on Monday can take a significant amount of time.  

Senator Stabenow did take to the floor to call on the Senate to finish the farm bill this week- and proceeded to give a lengthy overview of the bill as passed by the Ag Committee. Click here for our story with video of that.

One of the amendments that was okayed on the floor on Monday was authored by Kansas Senator Jerry Moran- it had to do with authorizing the RMA to do research on developing a crop insurance product for alfalfa- it was considered budget neutral and passed easily- click here for details of that from Senator Moran's office and the video of him on the floor on Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the House could be looking at floor action the week of June 17- and Collin Peterson offered his latest thoughts on the process to the National Grange in a speech to their Fly In at the National Press Club on Monday. "If we can't get the votes then I think we're done until the next election." He asked the members of the Grange to "Wish us luck- we'll need it."  Click here for his math on what if will take to get a farm bill through the House and it appears to be very likely that the final vote could be a cliffhanger.

Finally- economist Vince Smith is not a fan of the Commodity Title of the Farm Bill- he does like the idea of getting rid of Direct Farm Program payments- but he is taking pot shots at the Senate Ag Committee shallow loss program- saying it could actually cost more money than the Direct Payments have in the past.  Click here for our story and his infograph on the subject.

Multiple storm systems throughout the week brought heavy rains and flooding to central and eastern Oklahoma.  Severe weather on Friday night resulted in multiple tornadoes and flash flooding that claimed the lives of at least 16 Oklahomans.

In the far southwest, the USDA reports ongoing drought has delayed any significant harvest of small grains. Wheat heading was 94 percent complete by the end of the week.   Fifty-four percent of the crop was rated as poor or very poor, 28 percent was in fair condition, 16 percent was listed as good, and only two percent was rated as excellent.

Canola condition ratings declined and were rated mostly fair to poor with 52 percent rated poor to very poor. Harvest of canola had not yet begun. Canola was 48 percent mature by the end of the week.  (Click here for the full Oklahoma Crop Weather Report.)

Areas of central and eastern Kansas received heavy rain while much of the western third of the State remained relatively dry last week.  The winter wheat crop was 93 percent headed, behind 100 percent a year ago and 98 percent average.  The condition was rated as 24 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 24 percent good, and four percent excellent.  (You can read the full Kansas report by clicking here.)

Winter wheat harvest was underway in areas of North Texas. Wet conditions in the Blacklands delayed some wheat harvesting, but many producers lost much of their crop to previous weather damage and continued to bale or graze those fields. Seventy-nine percent of the Texas wheat crop was listed in poor or very poor condition, 14 percent was in fair shape, and only seven percent was listed as good or excellent.  (Click here for more of the full Texas report.)

Royalty Checks Underscore Importance of OSU Wheat Breeding Program 

Oklahoma agriculture competes in a marketplace that is not just national but global in nature, making continued improvements to the state's approximately $1 billion annual wheat crop a matter of importance for urban and rural residents alike.

"Wheat is a major driver of the Oklahoma economy; new, genetically improved cultivars bred by the Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources' Wheat Improvement Team are a major lifeblood of this critically important agricultural sector," said Mike Woods, DASNR interim vice president, dean and director.

Wheat royalty checks from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and Oklahoma Genetics Inc. in the amounts of $771,098.27 and $401,277.17 respectively were recently presented to the division. The money will be plowed back into OSU wheat breeding programs, as per the licensing agreements, thereby helping to foster future advances in wheat cultivars made available to producers.

"If you look at the research going on with regards to wheat breeding and genetics, end-use quality, production techniques, nutrition education of consumers and the utilization of wheat flours, it becomes readily evident why this research continues to be of the upmost importance," said Mike Schulte, OWC executive director. 

Click here to read more of this story.

 

Oklahoma Pays a High Price for Lessened Drought, Derrell Peel Says

Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist writes in the latest Cow-Calf Newsletter:  

Perhaps the surest sign that the drought in Oklahoma has been severely dented is the return of severe weather that reminds us why Oklahoma is the heart of Tornado Alley. The latest round of storms this last week culminated in deadly tornados and record rain totals in central and eastern Oklahoma which added to the grisly human toll for the month of May 2013. These recent conditions are a direct contrast to the noticeable reduction in severe weather in Oklahoma since the drought began in late 2010. The devastation that many individuals, families, businesses and agricultural operations have been subjected to is part of the price that accompanies improvement in agricultural conditions in Oklahoma. My thoughts and best wishes are directed to all those who have suffered the brunt of Oklahoma's May fury.

The diversity of crop, forage, and livestock production activities in Oklahoma all reflect the typical weather pattern that often includes the violent weather we have experienced recently. Much of the eastern two-thirds of the state have seen significant recharge of soil moisture that will support summer crop and forage production. Very importantly for cattle production, the intense rainfall has filled surface water supplies in many areas though coverage is variable. Producers are now able to assess their forage conditions, in many cases for the first time since 2010 and develop management plans for recovery. In some situations, perennial forage has been lost in whole or in part due to drought. In other cases, perennial forage is overwhelmed by annual weeds and grasses that provide specific management challenges. In the past two years, large quantities of hay been brought into Oklahoma, often from very distant sources. Producers should be alert to new weed or other plant species that may have been inadvertently introduced to Oklahoma pastures and may pose new management challenges. Though the drought threat is not eliminated, many producers can begin to move forward with recovery, restoration and rebuilding their cattle operations.

Click here to read more.  

June 7th SURE Disaster Program Deadline Approaches for 2011 Crops

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia reminded producers today that they have until Friday, June 7, to apply for assistance for 2011 crop losses under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program. The program provides crop disaster assistance payments to eligible producers on farms that have incurred crop production or quality losses.

For more information about the Farm Service Agency's disaster assistance programs, visit a local FSA county office or http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov/.

 

Wheatwatch 2013: Combines Roll Across Southwestern Oklahoma as Harvest gets Underway

Mike Schulte of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission provides the latest update on harvest activity across Oklahoma:

June 3, 2013
Over the weekend combines started rolling in most parts of Southwest Oklahoma. In some areas producers have been surprised by higher than expected yields, while in other areas the yields have been what most were anticipating.

Eldorado- Harvest is starting to roll pretty good in this region of the state. Yields for the most part are averaging 20 to 25 bushels per acre. They have had a few yield reports of wheat making in the mid 30's. Test weights are very favorable averaging 60 lbs. per bushel with high proteins also being reported. Average protein is around 14 percent with some reports 18 percent.

Altus- Yields in this region on the wheat being taken in so far averaging around 20 bushels per acre. Test weights have ranged from 58-63 lbs. per bushel with the average being higher than 60lbs. per bushel in this area. Average protein reports from this region coming in at 14.5 percent protein with a few reports of protein levels as high as 17.5 percent.

Frederick- Estimates are this area will take in 10 to 20 percent of what is normally taken in from this region. Many producers in this area are also saving wheat for seed wheat. On the reports of grain being taken in around Frederick, yields are ranging from 10 to 15 bushels per acre. One report was noted on a field making 21 bushels per acre.   Test weights are ranging from 57 to 60 lbs. per bushel. Protein levels in this region ranging from 12 to 15 percent protein.

This is just a sampling of Mike Schulte's reports.  For more, you can go to our website by clicking here, or you can find updated reports at the Oklahoma Wheat Commission's website by clicking here.

This N That- Les Crall, Ponds Pics and Rainfall Update

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed Leslie D. Crall of Weatherford as one of five representatives to serve on the Peanuts Standards Board. Each member will serve through June 2015. 

Crall, a Custer County peanut farmer, currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma Peanut Commission and was reappointed to the Peanut Standards Board for a second term.

Click here for more details about the Board and the service that Les provides to the Oklahoma and US peanut industry.

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Rainfall helps. That's a simple message that can be seen in these two pictures provided by Clay Burtrum- one from last fall and one taken at the end of month of May- this past week.  They are of the same pond- click here to take a look as the pictures tell the story very well of our moisture conditions- then and now.  

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The Active weather patten is not yet done with Oklahoma- and for the first time in several weeks- the system got organized and started quite a bit further west.  Unfortunately, Texas and Cimarron Counties got little relief- but east of there- a lot of northwestern Oklahoma has gotten a drink of water.  

As we write this- the rain continues to fall- but here is a snapshot- click to see it of the rain up to 6:15 AM this morning.  

And if you want the real time look- click here for the ongoing rain of the last 48 hours as viewed on the Oklahoma Mesonet.