Exceptional Drought Washed Out of Oklahoma for First Time Since 2012 

Spring rains have washed away the drought across much of Oklahoma. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report has shown Oklahoma has made big improvement in recent weeks. For the first time since July 17, 2012, none of the state is in exceptional drought (D4). That's the highest level of drought classification from the National Drought Mitigation Center based in Lincoln, Nebraska.


The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report has nearly 13 percent of the state rated abnormally dry, about 23 percent in moderate drought, almost 21 percent in severe drought and almost four percent in extreme drought. This is the first week in almost three years that none of the state received the exceptional drought level classification (D4). But even with this improvement, over 47 percent of the state continues to receive a drought rating of moderate to extreme drought. An estimated 731-thousand Oklahomans continue to affected by the ongoing drought.


April and May rains have eroded the drought across much of the state. In looking at the Drought Monitor map from April 21, the extreme (D3) to exceptional drought (D4) level in Oklahoma has gone from 37 percent to just four percent this week. Oklahoma Climatological Survey state climatologist Gary McManus said that's about as dramatic of an improvement that he has seen in one week for the Drought Monitor with severe to exceptional drought (D2 - D4) going from 46 percent to 25 percent. That's a reduction of 21 percent. He said that matches the reduction made in November 2011.


Here's the latest Drought Monitor map showing- at least for now- drought on the run in the state-

What's ahead?  Well, as we finish up this morning's email- it's raining. And Severe weather may rear its ugly head on Saturday- details on that later in this email. 

Latest Food Demand Survey Updates Willingness to Pay by Consumers- And Attitudes About GMOs

The latest edition of the Food Demand Survey has been released by the Ag Economics Department of Oklahoma State University- and the willingness to pay by consumers here in May has slipped for steak, chicken breasts, deli ham and chicken wings compared to the April questionnaire. Consumers say they are willing to pay more for hamburger and pork chops this month- compared to April. In all cases for these meat items- consumers are willing to pay more than they did in May 2014.


For steak- the willingness to pay price for May is $7.45, down 7.12% from the previous month, while the chicken breast price is $5.36 a pound, off 4.11% from last month.


Food expenditures are estimated by consumers to be slightly less in May versus April at $96.32 on a weekly basis. That's virtually flat with the expenditure reported in May 2014 of $96.34. The amount spent by consumers in eating away from home was up twenty one cents compared to a month ago- at $53.23. The survey reports that "consumers expect higher meat prices and expect to buy more beef, chicken and pork compared to one month ago. Inflationary expectations are lower than was the case a year ago."


The Survey reports that "Taste, safety and price remained consumers' most important values when purchasing food this month. Consumer values remained similar to those in past months, with an increase in perceived value of taste, safety and appearance, and a decrease in perceived value of nutrition and environment." 

Click here to read more about the results of the Food Demand Survey.  This month the survey is centered around GMOs and Avian Influenza- or Bird Flu.  

Farmers to Congress: Fast Track American Agriculture with Trade Promotion Authority

The United States Senate voted cloture Thursday- allowing debate to move forward on H.R. 1314, the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015). A final vote is expected to take place next week.

American Soybean Association (ASA) First Vice President Richard Wilkins took part in two separate trade briefings in Washington Thursday as the association ramps up its pressure on Congress to pass legislation that would grant trade promotion authority to the White House.  "ASA is pleased to see the Senate move toward a vote on TPA," he said. "Trade is a critically important an issue for soybean farmers, and trade promotion authority is one of the top priorities for ASA in the 114th Congress, so we'll continue to push for passage of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act," Wilkins said. "The passage of the bill by the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee shows that there is support on both sides of the aisle to get a deal done, and we've already seen both parties come together to address their differences. That signals, to us at least, that we're making progress."  Click here to read more from ASA.  

National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling issued the following statement:  "Thank you to the bipartisan group of senators who voted to take up Trade Promotion Authority legislation. Trade is essential to the livelihoods of American farmers, as well as the one million people whose jobs depend on agricultural trade. TPA legislation is critical to removing trade barriers, expanding our access to global markets, and ensuring farmers get the best possible deal in trade agreements."  Click here to read more from NCGA or for more information on TPA.


American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman released the following statement regarding the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015.
"The growth of U.S. agriculture depends on our ability to break down trade barriers and complete ambitious new trade agreements," he said. Click here to read more American Farm Bureau.   

Kim Anderson Analyzes latest WASDE Report, Provides Short-Term Price Outlook

Few surprises were found in the latest global grain stocks report. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) May report. On this weekend's edition of SUNUP, Oklahoma State University Grain Marketing Specialist Dr. Kim Anderson said the report showed that wheat remains to be plentiful globally.


Anderson said the ending stocks were higher than expected both for the 2014 - 2015 marketing year and the 2015 - 2016 year. He said next year's ending stocks are projected to be up in the upper end of the 700 million, which is quite a bit of wheat.


Spring rains are also boosting projected domestic wheat production. About six weeks ago, Anderson projected Oklahoma would produce an estimated 80 million bushel crop. With continuing rains, that projection continues to increase. This week USDA projected Oklahoma's wheat crop at nearly 119 million bushels. 

 

We've got Dave Deken and Kim's full interview for you to hear- and a complete rundown of this weekend's SUNUP program to be seen on OETA click or tap here.  

Blue Bell, Oklahoma Department of Ag Agree on Food Safety Plan for Ice Cream Plants

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry has entered into a voluntary agreement with Blue Bell Creameries outlining steps and actions that Blue Bell will take to ensure the production of safe ice cream. As Blue Bell prepares to resume production, these measures will ensure a much more rigorous food safety plan for the Blue Bell ice cream processing facilities.


The agreement was signed Thursday and includes several provisions to address Listeria. Blue Bell will retain an independent microbiology expert to establish and review controls to prevent the future introduction of Listeria. The agreement will ensure that the company's Pathogen Monitoring Program (PMP) outlines how the company will respond to presumptive positive tests for Listeria species. Blue Bell will also institute a "test and hold" program to assure that products are safe before they are shipped or sold.


The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry is responsible for the inspection of all meat, milk and egg processing facilities in the state.

News reports indicate that Blue Bell also signed an agreement with Texas and is working on similar language with regulators in Alabama, where they also have a plant.  

The agreement between Blue Bell and these three states comes after the company based in Brenham, Texas, failed to tell federal or state health officials of repeated findings of listeria at its Oklahoma plant that date back to 2013.  

Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains- Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.

OSU Wheat Specialist Jeff Edwards Finds Rain Boosting Oklahoma Wheat Crop In a Big Way

The Oklahoma wheat crop continues to look better down the home stretch. Earlier this spring it was hard to tell how much the crop was hurt by the drought. Now it's hard to tell how much the spring rains have helped boost yields in recent weeks. Oklahoma State University Extension Wheat Specialist Dr. Jeff Edwards said he was bearish in estimating the crop at 100 million bushels a few weeks ago. Last week, the Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association annual wheat tour estimated the crop at 108 million bushels. The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week projected the Oklahoma crop at over 118 million bushels.


"With the cool temperatures we've had, with the moisture we've received, I think we can hit that 118 million and come back closer to what we would consider a normal crop in Oklahoma around 120 million bushels," Edwards said. 


This year the wheat crop south of Interstate 40 has looked better than the crop north of the interstate. The southern region received rain earlier and continued to receive timely rainfall. He said while the crop has had better yields, the region has also faced more foliar disease, as south central Oklahoma has been ground zero for stripe rust.  

I caught up with Edwards to talk about the 2015 wheat crop. Click or tap here to read or to listen to the full interview.

Jeff will join me early Saturday morning on KWTV News9 for my In the Field segment that is seen in the News9 morning news block- it will air around 6:40 AM.

This N That- Prayers Needed- Staying Weather Aware on Saturday and Alltech Rebelation Happening Next Week

As many of you know- the current President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (and NCBA Treasurer- and Oklahoma Beef Council Vice Chair), Richard Gebhart, has been battling a serious illness for several months now.   

He was initially hospitalized in Denver- recovered to where he could travel back home to Tulsa and has been in a hospital since that move.  Richard has had his ups and downs- but we are told that this has been a tough week- and your continuing prayers are needed.

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Jed Castles with News9 believes that the next outbreak of severe weather may be on the horizon- coming this weekend- and primarily on Saturday afternoon/evening.  

Here's a graphic courtesy of Jed- and as he says very simply- it's a good time this weekend to be and stay "weather aware."

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We will be on the road the first of this coming week at the 2015 Alltech Rebelation Conference.  The Alltech organization is a different kind of an animal- and they continue to grow their influence across all of animal agriculture and to a lesser extent in crop production.

The speaker lineup is most interesting- from General Colin Powell to Co-CEO for Whole Foods Walter Robb to former Ag Secretary Dan Glickman to Oklahoma feedlot operator Dale Moore- I think we should have some interesting ideas and stories to share this coming week from the Alltech conference- in this email, on our website, via Twitter and of course on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network.