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Rainfall is welcomed anytime in Oklahoma. The recent Memorial Day weekend brought heavy rains across the state, especially in the southern part of the state. Oklahoma State University Extension Wheat Specialist Dr. Jeff Edwards says unfortunately timing wasn't ideal.

"It still will help some of our crop in the panhandle and northern Oklahoma maybe help us with test weight a little bit, but by in large it was too late for our crop and actually the rain may decrease our test weights a little bit in southern Oklahoma," Edwards said.

The rain will also delay harvest of the state's wheat crop. Edwards says the first loads are coming into the elevator in the southern region. 

Click to read more from Jeff Edwards.

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) looks forward to supporting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the implementation of the new USDA NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The result of streamlining conservation programs in the 2014 Farm Bill, the new RCPP program will promote collaborative projects that improve soil quality, water quality/quantity, and wildlife habitat in a specific area.

The eight Critical Conservation Areas (CCAs) are: Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the Columbia, Colorado and Mississippi river basins, the Longleaf Pine Range, prairie grasslands and the California Bay Delta. Beyond these specific areas, there will be additional delivery opportunities at the state and national levels.

Click here to read more about his conservation program.

Certified Angus Beef Demand Continues to Rise

What is the Certified Angus Beef brand? More and more consumers are able to answer that. And a study in the U.S. and eastern Canada says the brand resonates with shoppers who want higher quality says Certified Angus Beef's Tracey Erickson.

"The Certified Angus Beef brand continues to outrank any other Angus brand that we have tested against and so we're very excited about that. Really what that enables us to do is share with our American customers and potential customers the value of the brand."

Beyond simple awareness, 75 percent of those certified ranked the Certified Angus Beef brand logo as representing the highest quality Angus beef available. What's more, customers are willing to pay more for it.

Read more about the demand for CAB, by clicking here.

Derrell Peel Analyzes PEDv & Weather on Livestock Price Trend

A dramatic change in the weather pattern changes the outlook for the southern plains. The Memorial Day Weekend rainfall was significant for the the region that has battled drought for the last four years. Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell S. Peel says getting heavy rains across western Oklahoma, west Texas and eastern New Mexico brings renewed optimism for producers.

"This is a dramatic event, " Peel said. " It was a heavy enough rain in many cases to run some water, that will rebuild some ponds."

"Its very timely from a forage standpoint as well," he said. "It will certaintly iniatiate some forage growth and if we get any follow through at all, we can salvage part of 2014 from a forage standpoint."

Click here to read more from Derrell Peel.

Jeri Donnell Demystifies Risk Management for Cattle Producers

With cattle prices continuing an upward climb that doesn't show signs of abating anytime soon, producers need to pay closer attention than ever to their operations and risk management says Agricultural Economist Consultant Jeri Donnell. Donnell works with the Noble Foundation and spoke at this spring's Texoma Cattlemen's Conference in Ardmore.

"Producers need to become more familiar with managing their risk just because of the value of these cattle that we have today and the increased feed prices, hay prices, all of those things go into their daily decisions and even though they may be doing the same types of things they were doing 20 years ago, we're at a completely different price structure than we've ever been at before."

While that climbing price structure may look good to producers, Donnell says it is making bankers more than a little skittish when it comes time to lend money to ranchers. Because of this, producers need to adopt some strategies that may be a little foreign to them.

For more about this story click here.

Martin Williams Honored by OSU as 2014 'Master Agronomist'

Martin Williams, a Noble County farmer whose expertise has been sought out by government agencies from all over the world, has been named a 2014 Master Agronomist Award recipient by Oklahoma State University's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

The honor is among the most prestigious presented by DASNR, and officially recognizes individuals who have actively participated in agronomic education efforts and contributed valuable public service through their efforts in the disciplines of soil conservation, range management or crop production.

Brian Arnall, OSU Cooperative Extension precision nutrient management specialist, said Williams is always willing to assist OSU researchers and Extension specialists with variety trials and demonstrations.

Click to read more about Martin Williams.

The Ups and Downs of the Korean Market for US Pork

Volatile is one way to describe the pork market in South Korea. For the past several years, U.S. pork exports to this country have experienced peaks and valleys driven, to a great extent, by changing market conditions within Korea.


The first quarter of 2014 has been promising, with U.S. pork sales to Korea climbing 15 percent in volume and 21 percent in value to 40,143 metric tons (88.5 million pounds) valued at $116.2 million. March was a strong month, with growth of 73 percent in volume and nearly 83 percent in value.


The United States share of the pork export market to Korea also has grown, from 34.4 percent last year at this time to 36.7 percent this year. That is a positive development that is being supported by new USMEF initiatives in Korea, but conditions within the country will make it challenging for all imported pork products in the months ahead. 

According to the USMEF, a national tragedy in South Korea earlier this year is taking a lot of the wind out of the sails of the consumption of pork- click here for more on the why of this latest factor in the demand picture that is ever changing in this important US market.