- Hello everyone and welcome to sunup.

I'm Lyell Stout.

The state has received some much needed rainfall, but as we know, it doesn't take much for drought to creep back in.

With that in mind, OSU extension beef cattle specialist, Dr. Dave Lawman, has some tips on what to watch out for in your native grass pasture.

- Our segment today is gonna be focused more on the northwest corner of Oklahoma, southwest Kansas and Texas panhandle, where drought conditions sort of continue to persist.

Those folks in that region have gotten a little bit of relief here in the last week to 10 days, but in case those conditions do persist and, and drought, you know, dry conditions worsen over time, here, they, those, those folks need to be thinking about a strategy to either reduce cattle numbers or perhaps find another way to maintain a core of their cow herd.

This is a time of year when cheat grass is growing and, and lush and it won't be, you know, it won't be that way for very long because it matures rapidly.

So if, if you have pastures with a lot of cheatgrass, obviously, you know, right now is a good time to be taking advantage of that.

It won't be long before it starts to mature.

So perhaps a lot of cow calf producers could get another, you know, maybe week to, up to maybe three weeks of grazing that cheat grass.

And then, and then perhaps at the end of that period when it does start to mature, pull the cows back in if we haven't gotten a substantial rain in the meantime.

But, you know, I, I think most of our rain scientists are gonna suggest that you delay turnout on native range land so that it has the opportunity well, so that you don't damage that resource long term.

So the other thing then, if we need to probably think, be thinking about is if we're forced to pull those cattle back in on a sacrifice pasture or in a dry lot, you know how to best do that and do it economically with minimal labor resource requirements.

You know, we're probably just talking about the fundamentals there of managing hay feeding that we talk about a lot here on sunup, you know, but those are gonna include, number one, if you're gonna feed hay in a dry lot or a sacrifice pasture, don't waste it.

What do we mean by that?

I mean, you know, simply if you're gonna use a hay feeder to provide that resource, use a hay feeder that limits hay waste for considering these conditions.

The Woodward County Extension Office has organized a meeting to deal with the potential for extended drought that will occur on April 23rd at the Woodward County Event Center.

And that program is scheduled to begin at four o'clock.

There's about five different speakers lined up to talk about a lot of different subjects related to potential for extended drought, you know, including some of these nutritional concepts that we've talked about, range management, so on and so forth.

So we'll hope you take advantage of that.

Additional resources on drought, drought management, be sure and contact your, your local extension educator or your area livestock specialist.

- Good morning everyone.

This is state climatologist, Gary McManus with the Mezzat Weather Report.

Well, it's been boring, very odd for our weather lately, and sometimes boring is bad also because we do have parts of the state that still need some pretty good rains.

Hopefully we're getting some of that this weekend.

Unfortunately, it comes on Easter weekend, but when we need rain, we gotta have it.

Okay, so we did see some changes in the drought monitor, just not here in Oklahoma.

Let's take a look at the national map and see where we are.

And we take a look at the country as a whole.

We do see that drought up and down the, the central plains from Oklahoma, Texas up into all the way to North Dakota, but then down into the desert Southwest.

So that's the core of the worst drought in the country right now.

We do have some along the East Coast and down into Florida, but not quite what we've seen over here in the, in the Western and central parts of the United States.

So there is still drought outside of Oklahoma, believe it or not.

Now we didn't have any changes in Oklahoma, but we did see some increase in drought across our region.

So Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, down into Texas.

Very few I guess, removals of drought in the country.

So hopefully that changes as we get into next week.

I wanted to go back and cover a little bit of those March winds.

Some people have asked about this.

We did find that March, 2025 was the windiest, at least in the mezzanine data since 2010.

So, you know, we did have that huge day, the windiest day on record for the Oklahoma MES net dating back to 1994.

And that was that horrible March 14th day, but it was pretty through the whole month.

And we also see that in the maximum wind speeds where we tied with 2014 for the windiest day, for those, you know, those highest wind speeds each day.

So when you average those out over the month, any way you wanna put it, March, 2025, one of the windiest that we've seen in the last 15 years in on the Oklahoma meza net.

Now let's talk about something that we haven't had a lot of and that's rainfall.

Look at this 10 day rainfall map.

We have a few hundreds here and there, a few echo returns from the radar estimated values over in east Oklahoma, but by and large over the last 10, 14 days, not much rainfall at all unfortunately.

And that's showing up on the consecutive days with less than a quarter inch of rainfall map from the mezzat.

You know, we're going on another little bit of a dry spell.

We certainly don't wanna see that.

Hopefully we end that this weekend.

But you see up in northwest Oklahoma, that's where we really needed that rainfall, where they're going, you know, close to 50 days now without at least a quarter inch of rain.

Let's take a look at the 16 inch plant available soil moisture.

This is sort of a fire indicator we can see out across far west Oklahoma up in north central Oklahoma.

Still areas where that soil moisture indicates we could have big fires if we do get some ignition.

So areas to be careful of.

Okay, let's go.

Looking out into the future, let's look for next week.

We do see, at least for temperatures, it does look like it's going to be warm as we get into the end of April.

So this is the climate prediction centers outlook for temperature, and we see increased odds of above normal temperatures, especially across the eastern third or so of the state.

Now, here's probably the best map we see greatly increased odds of above normal precipitation across much of Oklahoma.

And then, you know, moderately increased odds for the far Western and northwestern parts of the state.

So that's really good news.

And keep in mind when we're talking about the end of April, early May, if we do see above normal precipitation that's right in the sweet spot of our rainy season, so above normal precipitation then means some pretty good amounts, hopefully.

Okay, I think we've determined that boring is good and it's also bad.

So, you know, whatever we get, let's just hope it's something that helps us out.

That's it for this time.

We'll see you next time on the mezzanine weather report.

- Do you have any unwanted pesticides that you need to get rid of?

If so, OSU extension has a few disposal dates coming up.

May 6th will be at the Stevens County Fairgrounds in Duncan and the following day, you can dispose at the Canadian County Extension Center in El Reno.

The program will wrap up on May 8th at the Craig County Fairgrounds in Vanita.

And if you would like more information on the unwanted pesticide disposal program, just go to sunup dot OK state.edu.

- Hello, I'm Darryl Peele, livestock Marketing Specialist at Oklahoma State University.

You know, cattle markets have been, like, all markets have been really, you know, rocked by a barrage of political events in the last couple of weeks.

Markets have been in, you know, in a lot of turmoil.

There's a lot of uncertainty out there and that has had an impact on futures markets and cash markets in the cattle industry.

They've bounced back pretty quick.

We, we were impacted when the initial, some of the initial announcements were made and markets have recovered some from that, but there's still a lot of uncertainty out there at this point in time.

So, you know, this doesn't really change any of the market fundamentals at this point.

So I don't really see that that the cattle situation or cattle outlook has changed very much.

I think the main thing is that we're, you know, we're, we're monitoring all these events to see if we have some broader macroeconomic issues that develop that could affect the whole economy.

And really the biggest threat to the cattle industry would be if we have enough of those kind of negative economic situations develop that it impacts consumer demand.

And so, you know, as we go forward we'll be watching that, but it's really more of a question of volatility than it is I think changing the overall direction of the markets at this point in time.

Beef demand has been remarkably resilient for many months now and we've been watching for possible problems.

And in fact, you know, at this time of the year we're moving towards grilling season.

There's a lot of buying in anticipation of Memorial Day, which kind of kicks off the summer grilling season and, and if you look at the wholesale markets for a number of the major and most expensive beef cuts, they've actually been extremely strong recently.

So at this point in time, beef demand continues very strong and cattle markets are back on track again with a lot of volatility.

And I think that's gonna be the situation for the foreseeable future.

That wraps it up for a quick look at the cattle markets right now.

We'll be back with you in a few weeks.

- Good morning Oklahoma and welcome to Cow Calf Corner.

Our topic this week, our title is challenging traditional paradigms in the beef industry, whereas Bob Dylan once sang times They are a change in, it's been interesting in the last five years in our business historically, if we could raise production levels higher, get more weaning weight, get more yearling weight, it was the key to profitability.

We live in an age today when all pounds are not created equal, neither from the production side of the equation, the input costs that it took to put on those pounds, nor are all pounds equal whenever we look at 'em in the marketplace.

And why is that?

Several things have came about just in the last couple of years.

We've seen from a consumer side of things, a willingness and an ability and an interest among consumers of beef to pay for a higher quality product that is consistent and tastes good time after time, and an increased interest among those consumers.

In transparency with regard to how we care for animals and how we care for land.

What else has changed?

Well, as a result of management and actually taking pens of finishing cattle to heavier weights than we ever had before, and the accumulative effect of improvement in the genetic potential of today's population of beef cattle to marble, we actually see about the same percentage of cattle reaching quality grades of prime coming out of feed yards as what we're seeing reach the quality grade of select.

And because of that, when we think about the primary indicators or influences on the value of a beef carcass, traditionally in my lifetime, the choice select spread was the big determinant on what that beef carcass was worth.

Back at a time when we historically talked about one to one and a half percent of our weekly harvest mix actually reaching the quality grade of prime.

Well now with all those more cattle grading prime, it is actually the, the, the spread between prime quality grade and upper two thirds of choice that is having bigger impact on the value of those beef carcasses.

In addition to that, when I say all pounds aren't created equal, we have seen a willingness in the marketplace if we can document genetic potential, whether it's wean calves, yearlings, or replacement heifer, there's been a willingness of the buyer that's gonna take 'em to that next segment of production to pay a premium if we can document the genetics of those cattle.

So times are changing, dimes have changed.

We live in a be different beef industry today than what existed just a few years ago.

The best managers that are gonna profit and survive and sustain their operation are gonna have the curiosity to become better at managing breeding and marketing today's beef cattle.

As always, thanks for joining us on Cow-Calf Corner.

- Recently, the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program class traveled to Kenya to learn all about agriculture in Africa.

And our chief photographer, Mitchell Alcala went along with him and brings us this story.

- So the importance of an international experience like we did in Kenya is to get the world perspective.

We get so ingrained with what's happening here in the state of Oklahoma and nationally that we kind of forget that we're a part of a bigger picture.

And so going internationally gives you that world perspective on the importance of culture and agriculture across any part of the world.

- So I wasn't drilled when I heard we were coming to Kenya, which I'm sure is most of the classes reaction as well, but it has been so much more than I ever expected.

I had no idea I would see the things that I have seen here.

It is beautiful country, the people are friendly and welcoming.

I was just not expecting any of that.

- My first inclination, whenever we heard we were going to Africa was excitement.

When during my interview process to get into the program, I had interviewed with Edmund.

He asked if I could choose anywhere in the world to go for an international trip.

I said Africa, there's been some trepidation with, with the class just due to the, you know, unknown.

But I think now that we've been here for, you know, seven days that has been resolved and everyone is very excited to learn more about the economy in Kenya, the culture in Kenya, the agricultural story, which is balancing the environment with conservation and therefore wildlife.

- This is my first time ever being out of the country and just seeing the world and how different it is.

People are kind here, they're they, they like to listen to you.

People want to help people.

That's, that's what I really like is that they're kindhearted.

- You know, I didn't, I didn't really have much expectations for the trip, but you know, Kenya has gone far and away it, it's, it's one of the best trips I've ever done.

And it, you know, I didn't, I didn't know that it just stayed temperate year round, you know, high, you know, lows in the sixties, highs in the low ies, you know, and have been, you know, nothing short of phenomenal.

I I, I really didn't know what to expect, you know, from like African agriculture, but the things that they're doing with no-till and with different cropping operations and grazing is, you know, very similar to what we do in America.

And, you know, it was, it was, I I was quite pleasantly surprised.

But - Shortly so man, they had some absolute incredible looking wheated fields.

I mean 80, 90 bushel wheated fields and those are double cropped.

That's coming right back, right after.

I think he had some potatoes out there.

Just come right back in behind it.

No tilled in.

We've also seen some farms with wheat.

They were going in with corn right behind it, man.

They're able to utilize and save their moisture.

They get good rainfall here, which would be nice in my area, but we don't, but it'd be good to see just what, even how much more they can advance here.

If they had, you know, some with the Oklahoma Wheat growers and OSU extension of, of the new genetics and the new varieties that they're coming up with each year of what they could do if I, they got that availability here.

- And to be honest, I didn't really what my expectations were going to be.

I didn't, I, I'm not well traveled and so I really didn't care where we went, but I didn't know anything about Kenya so I didn't really have expectations.

But if I had any, the agriculture, the land, the people are so incredibly nice.

It is just a humbling experience to be here.

And I think the one thing I'm taking away from this experience and just seeing Kenya and Africa in general is the lack of waste they have with agriculture production here.

They utilize every single thing and with the small amounts of land they have and the people that they have to help their production, they just do everything together and they do all the smile on their face.

- Obviously we're on the other side of the globe from home.

Since we are rounding up our trip, I mean, going on the last day, Kenya has been such an eye-opening experience.

It really truly makes you take a step back and appreciate what all we have in America.

I do have to say one of the best things whenever we heard we were going to Kenya is that they are the flower capital of Europe.

And that could not be more true.

I've seen some of the most incredible landscape, I've seen some of the most incredible flowers.

This is probably the closest you can get to a controlled environment.

Just being so close to the equator.

Everything here is beautiful and lush and the people are incredible.

They're so kind.

It's just, it's exceeded every expectation I could have ever had.

It's any worries I ever had, just flushed 'em right away.

I mean this is, this trip has been truly life changing.

- Five.

Finally, today we're wrapping up our in-depth conversation with Dr. Brett Carver o U'S wheat breeder.

Last week he talked about the lack of fiber overall in the American diet and the way that researchers are working to address that.

- And so it was, you know, first I learned, okay, wheated is the primary source for our fiber.

Well, where is that coming from?

And now it makes sense.

I I kind of knew it but then I didn't know it.

And there's four principle sources of fiber in a wheated colonel.

- And now to the conclusion of our interview with Dr.

Carver and how researchers from around the country are coming together to address the issue of fiber.

What are you and the wheat improvement team doing now on the topic of fiber and working to, to kind of increase amounts in the kernel?

- So right now we're focused on, and I've talked about this before on the show, using molecular markers.

These are gene markers.

We're not actually selecting, we're not measuring fiber in the food.

Eventually we want to do that, but right now there's just too much material to look at to evaluate.

So we use molecular markers.

And so I've been selecting for certain genes that confer or produce a higher level of amlo, more resistant starch, more fructans, and trying to put those into new germ plasm that might be released to wheat farmers.

And that's worked to a certain degree.

But I think at this point we have a wealth of germ that I know has a fiber benefit.

But the markers are not going to tell me which ones those are.

We are going to have to get down to the brass tacks and go measure that start and, and we don't have the best capability right now on campus, but I hope that day is coming soon.

And if we don't, we'll just, you know, we will go elsewhere and spend the dollars to do it.

It's a very high priority.

We need to do it.

So I feel really confident on the resistant starch solution.

But the OSE island solution is a nationwide effort.

There is a, literally across this country, most weeding bro wheat breeding programs are now targeting around those islands.

And this came about by an effort spearheaded by what's called the foundation for innovation in healthy food.

And it was the discovery in the United Kingdom of two varieties, not from the US but one from UK and one from China that provide good sources of a ravenous island.

We can do a lot of good, we can increase that, basically increase the fiber content by one to three grams.

Remember we're trying to get from 16 to 25.

That's a pretty good step.

That's an incremental step.

Now we combine that with some other solutions like the resistant starch.

We can get, we can get a higher, we can get up to 20 and we don't have to rely on wheat entirely, but wheat should do its job.

- It sounds like this is part of the broader conversation on, on a lot of food topics, food as medicine, right?

Thinking of thinking it at that level in terms of preventing disease and living healthier lives.

- Right, right.

And not only that, it's, it's, it's a natural form of medicine and that's what I like.

I mean we can, we can add things to our foods, you know, we can just do more processing.

We could actually add more fiber to our wheat foods.

But I'm of the mindset that's maybe not the best way to go.

I like the natural versions that's already existing in the native plant because I think we haven't done anything to adulterate it.

It's, it's there, it's like it's supposed to be.

And by the way, this is enhanced not by GMO.

This is all by natural means conventional wheat breeding.

And but you know, it takes, it takes national effort.

I can only do so much.

We can do only, only so much in Oklahoma.

This is going to take a concerted effort.

That's why this coalition of grain fiber was formed to get everybody going in the same direction.

And to do that, yes we can rely on a passive system, the commodity system, but I think what it's really gonna boil down to is we develop a, a supply chain that's devoted to enhanced fiber wheat and it to do that though, even if we do that, we still have to have nutritionist involved.

They have to know, okay, these foods feature this kind of wheat.

We also have to have the healthcare community, you know, doctors, nurses, everybody involved and be aware and look at wheat a little bit differently.

- You mentioned producers.

Yes.

Farmers, their role.

What, what broader message do you have for them as we kinda wind down our - Conversation today?

Yeah, I think there's something in this for the wheat producer, of course their consumers do, you know, I would think they'd wanna consume this kind of wheat, but I think they wanna produce it too because they're doing the right thing for American agriculture and American consumer now let's possibly increase our revenue from it.

'cause this is a much higher value we plant that has three grands more fiber than the conventional, what we've been consuming all along.

So if there's value in that crop, they should be compensated for producing that value and they usually are.

So I think there is a revenue possibility for our wheat farmers with this.

I think our industry would make sure our Oklahoma wheat industry makes sure that that often exists.

We want to incentivize them, we want them to grow it.

Having a high yielding, high fiber wheated, I think there'll be enough incentive anyway, but let's just make sure we get that job done.

- Alright, well we appreciate the chance to go in depth in our conversation today, Brett.

Lots of wonderful information and really wish you and and the wheat improvement team all the best as you, as you try to make new discoveries and put all of this together for the future.

- Thank you very much.

We're working on it.

- And to learn more about OSU Wheat Improvement Team, go to wheat dot OK state.edu.

You can also find a link on the sunup website.

If you'd like to see our full interview that includes all three parts with Dr.

Carver.

Just go to the sunup YouTube page, that's youtube.com/sunup tv and that'll do it for our show this week.

A reminder, you can see us anytime on our website and also follow us on YouTube and social media.

I'm Linde Stout.

Have a great week everyone.

And remember, Oklahoma Agriculture starts at sunup.