Summer Rain Pattern May Spell End to Drought, McManus Says 

Late July and early August rains have been very welcome over large portions of Oklahoma. Associate State Climatologist Gary McManus says that trend will continue and parts of the state may see more rain in the next few days as a cool front sags southward out of Kansas. He says the best chances are along the Oklahoma-Kansas border.

Early models are forecasting up to a couple of inches, which would be extremely beneficial. McManus says several similar forecasts earlier have come up dry, so producers aren't holding their breaths, but they are hopeful.

"The last two summers have been pretty devoid of rainfall. The summer of 2011 was, of course, the hottest summer on record for any state since records began in 1895. Last year was no picnic either. It really got hot when the rains shut off in early spring. So, having all this rainfall, not just through July but also from April and May really set the stage to give us a much different experience.

"Now, again, that's for the eastern two-thirds of the state.   For the western third and up in the Panhandle, I'm afraid they're still suffering from the same type of summer as 2011 and 2012. But, for the bulk of the state, this is a vastly different experience. You can just go outside and look at how green it is and tell how different it's been."

McManus said the extended forecast appears to favor a continued pattern of drought relief at least for the eastern two-thirds of the state.   Forecasts for the western and Panhandle regions, however, don't paint such an optimistic picture.

Click here to listen to my interview with Gary or to read more of this story.  

 

Oklahoma Congressmen Schedule Town Hall Meetings Across the State 

Three Oklahoma Congressmen have scheduled town hall meetings in their districts over the next several days.  Representatives Frank Lucas, Tom Cole, and Markwayne Mullin say they will discuss what is going on in Washington right now and would like to hear from constituents about the issues of importance to them.

Lucas will have meetings in Woodward, Beaver, and Guymon today and in Boise City, Laverne, and Shattuck tomorrow.  Click here for times and locations.

Cole will appear in Norman today and in Pauls Valley on Friday.  Click here for more details. 

Mullin will appear in Antlers, Idabel, and Hugo August 12; Durant, Kingston, and Tishomingo August 13; Weleetka, Wetmka, Coalgate, and Atoka August 15; and in Hulbert and Fort Gibson August 16.  Click here for the full schedule. 

July Rains Have Cattle Producers Shifting Gears for the Future, Peel Says

Ample rains across large portions of the Southern Plains have cattle producers wondering if the recent drought may be at an end. If it is, a change in strategy is in the offing, says Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Market Economist Derrell Peel. He spoke with me recently at the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association convention and trade show. 

"Certainly here in Oklahoma the rain we've had has tremendously changed the situation," Peel saiys. "It's come early enough that we're going to see some forage production. It's certainly been a better year."

Peel says producers are cautiously optimistic that we've moved past the drought, but we won't know for some time yet. Still, the state is in its best shape in about three years. The rains will influence a lot of decisions this fall for producers, but, given the lateness of the season, Peel says he doesn't think things will change drastically with regard to animal numbers just yet. He says producers will be laying the groundwork, however, for what will happen in 2014 if the drought is truly broken. He says herd liquidation will likely taper off as producers look to retain heifers to rebuild their herds. With such a young herd base, Peel says, rebuilding could happen quite rapidly.

Derrell is my guest on the latest Beef Buzz.  Click here to listen in on our conversation or to read more of this story.

Agri-Innovations: Companies Bring New Technologies to Domestic Market and Research Opportunities Abroad

Several new technologies across all sectors of agriculture are making headlines in the United states along with new research projects being pursued in Africa and several foreign countries.  Some of the latest additions to our Agri-Innovations webpage include:

Zoetis Inc., formerly the animal health business unit of Pfizer Inc., announces the licensure of Bovi-Shield Gold One Shot ™. With Bovi-Shield Gold One Shot, producers get upgraded protection for their cattle against major respiratory viruses and Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica in one convenient dose.  Read the full story by clicking here. 

Syngenta is adding to its pool of corn genetics with the introduction of 102 corn hybrids for the 2014 planting season. Adding to a portfolio including Golden Harvest® and NK® brand hybrids, the lineup features 60 hybrids containing new-to-market genetics. The additional 42 hybrids contain upgraded trait versions of proven high-performing genetics.  Click here to read the full story. 

DuPont and Pannar Seed are partnering to increase the pace and scope of research and innovation in the African seed industry, bringing farmers in South Africa and throughout the continent more product choices and better products, faster and more efficiently than either company could do on its own. Pioneer will retain the strong Pannar brand and will grow both the Pioneer and the Pannar brands and businesses into the future.  Click here to read more. 

Growth Energy Pleased with Final 2013 Biofuel Volumes

"Growth Energy is pleased that the EPA has finalized the 2013 biofuel volumes and has continued to show its strong commitment to the RFS. We look forward to closely reviewing the final rule and we strongly support increasing levels of renewable fuel into our nation's fuel supply."

You can read more of his comments by clicking here. 

Two recent events move American Farmers and Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union full speed ahead with its statewide youth leadership program.  The first is the appointment of Nikki Holt Slagel as the organization's AFR/OFU Youth and Education Coordinator.  The second is the announcement of the members of the organization's 2013 and 2014 Youth Advisory Council.

This N That- Big Iron, Summer Cattle Industry Conference and PASS Congrats

It's a fairly light number of items that will be closing today on Big Iron in their regular on line no reserve auction of farm equipment.  A total of 161 items are scheduled to close later today.

Later in the month- the number of items really jumps higher- for example- the August 21st sale shows over 500 items will be closing that day. 

Click here for the Big Iron site where you can see all of the items closing today- and you can look ahead into the next couple of weeks as well to scope out items that can be use to you on your farm or ranch.

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We are in Denver for the Summer Cattle Industry Conference- and the first sessions we will be covering this morning here in the Mile High City looks to be of great interest. The industry will be considering the Perceptions versus the Realities of Beta-Agonists. Beta-Agonists are an feed ingredient which is being used more and more in feedlots to help the animal build lean muscle in the final days of a feeding cycle.

We plan on tweeting from the session- it starts at 8 am central time- so check out our Twitter feed by clicking here.

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Dr. Dave Porter of the Plant and Soil Science Department at Oklahoma State University is beaming these days- with two new arrivals for the PASS family.

Dr.Porter has dropped us a couple of emails in recent days- and we wanted to pass both along to you- first- OSU has filled a critical slot in the Department with the hiring of Dr. Angela Post as the new Assistant Professor - Weed Science Extension Specialist. 

According to Dr. Porter, "Angela comes to us by way of Virginia Tech."  Porter says her extension duties include "Lead in planning, implementing, and evaluating educational programs to transfer small grains and canola weed management technologies to Oklahoma stakeholders."  Dr. Post will also handle teaching duties as well.

In addition- Dr. Porter also asks that we welcome "Dr. Samantha Shoaf as our new Assistant Professor - Plant Science Teaching and Youth Development.  Sam received her Ph.D. from Purdue University, then spent one year as a Congressional Science Fellow for ASA-CSSA-SSSA in the office of Sen. John Thune before she joined us last week." Among her duties- Samantha "will be responsible for the development and instruction of introductory courses in crop science, agronomic practices, plant and seed identification, and professional development of undergraduate students."  And she will be spending time working with 4-H and FFA members in developing their depth of knowledge in the world of crop science.