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Eye popping rainfall totals are being recorded in this latest round of thunderstorms that are rumbling across the state of Oklahoma- latest two day rainfall totals include 5.4 inches in Walters and 4.4 inches in Hinton.  As we write this- radar suggests that they have some more rain to get in Walters while northwest Oklahoma seems to be done for now. 

As the storms keep rolling, here's the link to the two day rainfall total map from the Oklahoma Mesonet- click here for that.

In addition, we talked yesterday morning with Gary McManus about all of the rain we have received here in July and about yesterday's largely irrelevant  Drought Monitor- irrelevant because of the significant rainfall we have received since 7 AM on Tuesday of this week.  McManus offers some insights into why we are having a wetter than normal July and we talk about were we are on El Nino and La Nina.  Click here to jump to our graphics found there and the audio that you can access by clicking on the Listen Bar under the second graphic on that page.

OSU's Kim Anderson Sees Lower Wheat and Canola Prices at Harvest- Next Year  

Extension Grain Market Economist Dr. Kim Anderson sees lower wheat and canola prices at harvest time in 2014, compared to this year. In the case of wheat, a bumper corn crop that is expected to be harvested this year will take away any price support for wheat in the coming year- and farmgate wheat prices at harvest could be around six dollars a bushel in much of Oklahoma- compared to seven dollars in the June to mid July time frame this year.  

Likewise, canola prices may be pressured by a big soybean crop this fall- and Anderson tells Lyndall Stout on the weekly OSU Ag Communications program SUNUP that he expects canola prices just above nine dollars a bushel by harvest next May and June.


You can hear their entire conversation right now by clicking here- or you can wait and see this segment and all of the other segments of SUNUP Saturday or Sunday morning on SUNUP this weekend on OETA. 

Also in our story- a complete rundown of what can be seen in this weekend's SUNUP! 

Higher Flour Protein Levels Seen as HRW Harvest Now Well North of Us 

According to Mark Hodges, Executive Director of Plains Grains, Inc., harvest of the 2013 HRW crop is now complete in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Harvest is also winding down quickly in Colorado (86% complete) and Nebraska (65% complete) with the major areas yet to be harvested being in the far west and northwestern parts of the state where yields are ranging from 10 bu/ac - 45 bu/ac (0.7 - 3.0 tons/ha), test weights ranging from 56 lb/bu - 60 lb/bu (73.8 - 78.9 kg/hl) and protein ranging from 11% - 16%.


Cutting is now in full swing in Wyoming with 55% of the crop now in the bin. In general, yields are ranging from 15 bu/ac - 30 bu/ac (1.0 - 2.0 tons/ha) with protein ranging from 11% - 16%. South Dakota is just now getting into the full swing of HRW harvest with 11% of the crop harvested.

Plains Grains continues to run tests on wheat samples across the wheat belt- and you can read more about the early test results by clicking here.  (Note- the headline gives you one hint about the early conclusions of the 2013 crop)

 OSU's Chad Godsey Offers Canola Planting Strategies into No Til Ground

Planting winter canola into wheat stubble can be accomplished successfully if you follow some simple directions, according to Oklahoma State University cropping systems specialist Chad Godsey.

Godsey explains planting canola in notill situations has created winter kill problems in the last two or three years. However, research conducted by Godsey and other OSU agricultural specialists shows farmers can successfully grow canola in notill fields if they just follow a few simple practices.

Special attention should be given to seeding depth, Godsey said. Seed should be planted from one half to one inch deep in the soil. If the seedbed is uneven, plant the tiny canola seed at one inch to make sure there is good seed to soil contact.

Godsey emphasized the importance of keeping residue from the harvested wheat away from the row where the canola is being planted. He indicated a producer should make sure combines spread wheat straw residue evenly across the harvester's header to avoid clumps of residue in the field. "Running a harrow over the field before planting or even burning the extra residue are ways to ensure clean planting rows," he said. 

Read more by clicking here and learn how to deal with residue from a no till field when you are planting canola.  

FSA County Committee Nominations Due August First  

Juan M. Garcia, Administrator of USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), today reminded farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers that they have until Aug. 1, 2013, to nominate eligible candidates to serve on local FSA county committees.


"The last day to file your nomination form is about a week away," Garcia said. "Please get involved this year and nominate the candidate of your choice or nominate yourself to serve on your local county committee. I especially encourage the nomination of beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as women and minorities. This is your opportunity to have a say in how federal programs are delivered in your county." 

You can call your local FSA office for details, or go online to the FSA website which is a part of the larger USDA website.  

Click here to read more details of the FSA County Committee nominating process.

New Research Planned Bringing US Land Grants and Small African Farmers Together

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah announced on Thursday two new Feed the Future Innovation Labs to improve climate resilience in some of Africa's main cereal crops and increase private sector investment that can help smallholder farmers. The two new labs include the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sorghum & Millet and the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy. These Innovation Labs draw on the expertise of top universities around the country and represent a new model of development, using science and technology to address our greatest challenges in agriculture and food security.

The new Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sorghum & Millet will be led by Kansas State University and will produce innovations and technologies - such as climate-resilient varieties and new, more profitable market approaches for farmers - for use across sorghum and millet producing areas in Africa. As part of the Innovation Lab, U.S. university researchers will collaborate with partner country scientists to address key constraints along the sorghum and pearl millet value chains, developing new technologies and innovations that can then be used by smallholder farmers on a larger scale to build productivity and sustainability. The research outputs will also improve resilience in dryland areas, where sorghum and pearl millet are critical to food security. The program will focus specifically in Senegal, Niger and Ethiopia.

To read more about the second Innovation Lab and for a link to the Feed the Future website- click here.