Oklahoma

Beyond Amber Waves: Oklahoma State Introduces High-Antioxidant Purple Wheat to Cater to Consumers

Fri, 08 May 2026 18:53:58 GMT

The “amber waves of grain” are a patriotic staple of the American summer, painting a familiar slice of Americana across the horizon. While rolling fields of hard red winter wheat have long defined the landscape of the Plains, researchers at Oklahoma State University (OSU) are beginning to change that picture with a wheat variety that is anything but ordinary.

Known as OSU P92, this variety stands out for its deep purple hue and its potential to revolutionize the nutritional profile of staple foods.

A Class of Its Own

For decades, Oklahoma’s wheat industry has been built on hard red winter wheat and the occasional hard white variety. However, according to Brett Carver, Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences at OSU, their latest development represents a departure from the status quo.

“This is not just any other new wheat variety,” Carver explains. “It’s very different. We normally talk about hard red winter wheat... but this is not either one of those. This is a class we don’t even have.”

While the crop may grow and behave like the hard red winter wheat farmers are used to, it is actually a new innovation known as “purple wheat.” The grain boasts a deep purple hue on its outer layer, but the real breakthrough lies beneath the surface.

The Science Behind the Color

The unique appearance of OSU P92 is driven by anthocyanins, which is the same class of phenolics that provide the vibrant colors in blueberries, blackberries, black beans, and peppers. By bringing these compounds into a grain staple, OSU is bridging the gap between traditional row crops and high-antioxidant superfoods.

“Those colors come from a compound called anthocyanins,” says Carver. “So this purple wheat has those anthocyanins that would be present in common fruits and vegetables. That benefit we get from eating the fruits and vegetables also come now through the wheat.”

Breeding for the Real World

Creating a nutritionally superior grain is one thing, but making it viable for a commercial farm is another. The development process was far from simple. Researchers had to breed a variety that could handle Oklahoma’s volatile climate, resist local diseases, and still deliver the strong yields that keep farmers profitable.

To achieve this, Carver’s team had to look beyond traditional plant breeding. “Doing all these extra things meant we had to branch out a little bit because we just don’t have the expertise to measure phytochemicals,” Carver says.

The team leaned heavily on the expertise of OSU’s Nutritional Science Department. Notably, Carver credits a student researcher for driving the project forward, stating that her findings directly influenced the decision on how to advance the variety.

Stability from Field to Table

One of the biggest hurdles in developing purple wheat was ensuring the color, and the nutrients they bred into the wheat, lasted. Anthocyanins are notoriously unstable, but the team eventually selected a line that maintained its integrity.

“To maximize the color at harvest, we want to make sure we have that deep color that persists,” Carver notes. “With these compounds, they aren’t the most stable. But with this one, it’s one of our more stable colors.”

What’s in the Name?

While the variety is groundbreaking, its name remains humble: OSU P92. The “P” stands for purple, and “92" was its experimental selection number. Carver says the goal wasn’t to have a flashy name, but to let the performance and the final products—like breads and tortillas—take center stage.

If OSU P92 delivers on its promise of high performance and enhanced nutrition, it could do more than just change the color of the fields; it could redefine what farmers grow to meet the demands of health-conscious consumers.

Why the Southern Plains Became a ‘Perfect Recipe’ for Wildfires

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:29:07 GMT

Farmers and ranchers across the Plains are dealing with the aftermath of devastating wildfires .

According to Drovers , fast-moving Ranger Road Fire has already scorched more than 283,000 acres in northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas since last week. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture said Monday it’s now 65% contained, but the devastation has charred thousands of pasture and farmland, also killing an unknown number of cattle.

Flames spread across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico since last week. While March through April is typically wildfire season in Kansas, conditions across the Plains are creating conditions that are fueling the flames.

According to Brian Bledsoe of Brian Bledsoe Weather, the devastation is the result of a “worst-case scenario” pattern that has been building for months.

A Windy Season Meets Dry Fuels

Bledsoe says in order to understand why conditions are so ripe for wildfires this year, the calendar alone raises red flags.

“From February through early to mid-April, that’s traditionally when we see some of these higher-end wind events,” he explains. “But it’s not just about the wind. It’s about what the wind and fire combine to burn.”

The Southern Plains experienced adequate to above-average moisture over parts of the region during the past year. However, that broader window masks a sharp turn toward dryness in recent months.

When looking at the last 180 days, moisture held on in portions of the Oklahoma Panhandle and southwest Kansas. But conditions deteriorated quickly moving south into the Texas Panhandle. Over the past 90 days, dryness expanded northward into the heart of the wildfire zone.

90-day precip map for the Plains

(Brian Bledsoe, Brian Bledsoe Weather )

Zooming in further, the last 30 days tell the most concerning story. Some locations in the Oklahoma Panhandle and southwest Kansas have received just 5% to 20% of average precipitation.

That rapid drying followed a warm-season growing period that produced ample vegetation. Once cured and left without additional moisture or snow cover, those grasses became prime fuel.

“You grow up all that vegetation during the warm season, then you dry it out and don’t get anything else to keep it somewhat wet so it doesn’t burn. It’s a perfect recipe,” Bledsoe says.

Precipitation over the past 30 days.

(Brian Bledsoe, Brian Bledsoe Weather)

Wildfires in the Plains

The setup isn’t without precedent. In late February 2024, the Smokehouse Creek Fire burned more than a million acres in the Canadian River Valley of the Texas Panhandle under similar conditions, which were strong winds, above-average warmth and critically dry fuels.

“This is not unprecedented for the Western High Plains this time of year,” Bledsoe notes. “It’s just the worst-case scenario when you put all those things together.”

Little Relief in the Forecast

Unfortunately for producers hoping for moisture, the near-term outlook offers limited help.

Over the next 10 days, much of the U.S. is expected to trend drier than average. The only notably wet areas are projected to be in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, above-average temperatures are likely to persist across much of the Plains, with colder air remaining locked in Canada.

The short-term forecast shows little relief for much of the U.S.

(Brian Bledsoe, Brian Bledsoe Weather)

Above normal temperatures could also pose a problem for producers in the West and Plains.

(Brian Bledsoe, Brian Bledsoe Weather)

“This pattern is not going to be that favorable to grace those areas that we’re dealing with the wildfires with any real significant moisture,” Bledsoe says. “In fact, you see a pretty good chunk of the U.S. that will likely see just drier than average conditions for that 10-day period. Not necessarily dry for everybody, but drier than average. The only really wet areas will be in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. And we’re going to revert back to the warmth too.”

Looking ahead to March, extended European model guidance suggests a continuation of the pattern: dry conditions across California, Arizona, New Mexico and much of Texas and the Southwest High Plains, with wetter conditions developing farther east.

The extended forecast shows little relief across the Plains.

(Brian Bledsoe, Brian Bledsoe Weather)

March is often a volatile month, Bledsoe says, bringing sharp contrasts between “haves” and “have-nots” in terms of precipitation.

“You’re going to the haves farther east, and then areas farther south and west that have been kind of shut out are probably going struggle a little bit. And time, I know it only takes one storm to change this narrative here in the Western High Plains to cover the ground with snow or put more moisture in the ground or kind of turn the corner,” he says. “But right now this pattern is not conducive to bringing one of those significant storms into the fray.”

Bledsoe knows more than anyone that the forecast can change, but the set-up right now doesn’t look favorable for moisture in the Plains through March.

“It only takes one storm to change the narrative, to cover the ground with snow or put meaningful moisture back into the soil,” he says. “But right now, this pattern is not conducive to bringing one of those significant storms into the fray.”

For livestock producers and farmers across the High Plains, that means continued vigilance. With cured grasses, persistent wind and limited precipitation in the forecast, wildfire risk may remain elevated as the region moves deeper into its traditional spring wind season.

After the Fire: The Need for Feed, Fence and Prayers

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:19:02 GMT

Wildfires plagued the Plains last week from southern Kansas into Oklahoma and Texas. Hundreds of thousands of acres of grass are now burned to sand.

The Ranger Road Fire, which started in Oklahoma and made its way into southern Kansas, to date has burned more than 283,000 acres and is 65% contained as of Monday morning, according to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry .

The Oklahoma Forestry Services reports moderated fire weather over dormant fuels resulted in a downtick in wildfire activity over the weekend, allowing firefighters to improve the containment of recent large fires.

“Conditions also supported opportunity to execute burn plans for prescribed fires,” the report says. “If you engaged in prescribed burning, controlled burns or pile burns over the weekend, please ensure that fire perimeters are mopped up and secured ahead of increasing fire weather concerns Tuesday through the remainder of the week.”

Read more about how strong winds, above-average warmth and months of worsening dryness created a “perfect recipe”

for wildfires across the Southern Plains, scorching pasture and farmland — with little moisture relief in the forecast:

Why the Southern Plains Became a ‘Perfect Recipe’ for Wildfire

The wildfires have left a path of heartbreak and devastation. From the loss of livestock and homes, barns and shops to pastures and fence, the damage is hard to fathom.

Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur visited Oklahoma producers impacted by the wildfires on Thursday. “Please pray for our farmers and ranchers and our first responders who continue to battle challenging fires and weather,” she says.

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Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur

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Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur

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Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur

Dr. Randall Spare, Ashland Veterinary Center Inc., says nine years after the losses resulting from the Starbuck Wildfire — still the largest, most extensive wildfire in Kansas history — many of the same ranchers have been affected by the Ranger Road Fire.

Spare explains the wildfire was unstoppable with little farmland or breaks to get ahead of the fire plus the extreme wind. The fire started near Beaver, Okla., at 11 a.m., and he reports many ranchers in the path were moving cattle by noon. He says the highest losses occurred where there were no nearby wheat fields or safe pasture alternatives for the cattle.

“When you have contiguous grass for 90 miles, and the fire line was 90 miles long, from Beaver, Okla. to Protection, Kan., and it was moving 70 miles an hour, it’s hard to get in front of it,” he says.

He also explains because of the good moisture in 2025 and good stewardship of the land, there was a lot of tall, dense forage to fuel the fire.

“Many of the best stewards — those who don’t overgraze and stockpile grass for calving and drought management — actually experienced some of the worst damage,” he explains. “Because they’ve done a good job of managing their grass and have forage to eat in the spring of the year before the growing season starts to calve on, they experienced some of the greatest damage.”

Spare says the Ranger Road Fire took the same path as the Starbuck Fire, but it did not burn as many acres in Kansas — about one-third less in comparison.

“The good thing is it did not go north of Ashland. It’s five miles south of Ashland before it starts and not near the acreage burned,” he summarizes. “Since it isn’t like the Starbuck Fire, we have an opportunity as neighbors to help neighbors, whereas before we couldn’t do that because we were all affected.”

He predicts producers in Kansas lost 1,000 to 1,100 head. He adds there will continue to be more loss as producers evaluate cattle condition.

“One of the biggest damage is feet,” he explains. “The walls of their hooves start to fall off due to the fire. And sometimes that doesn’t show up for five days.”

How Can You Help?

According to Reuters , other fires have burned thousands more acres in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.

In agriculture, community is strong. When one producer hurts we all feel it and, if possible, we step up and help our neighbors in need. Along with prayers, Spare adds the immediate needs are:

Hay
Money (financial support)

In response to producers offering help, Spare shares a list of ways others can support ranchers recovering from the wildfires on social media, including lessons learned from the Starbuck Fire.

“I would like to share what we learned from the Starbuck Fire that, hopefully, will be helpful as you consider making decisions about how to help,” he writes.

Fencing supplies: “After the Starbuck Fire, we learned that if federal funds are used to rebuild and replace fences, the construction requirements to access those funds are very specific regarding type of wire, posts, etc. While the generosity of those giving nine years ago was remarkable, we were limited in how much of the donated resources actually could be used simply because federal loss recovery funds needed to be used, and the donated fencing supplies didn’t meet government specifications.”
Money: “Today, money is the most precious resource and in the greatest need. Many of the ranching operations affected need time to truly assess their losses. Some are finding cattle they first thought to be lost, alive and safe. Others are experiencing the opposite and unfortunately are seeing the losses increase.”
Available pasture and grassland: “If you have pasture available either short term or long term, please reach out to Ashland Community Foundation, Kansas Livestock Association or Ashland Veterinary Center,” he suggests.
Hay: There are designated drop off locations ready to accept loads of hay.

Multiple organizations have stepped up and are organizing supplies and assistance.

• Kansas Livestock Association. KLA is helping connect those wishing to donate with the most suitable drop location. If you’re hoping to donate goods including livestock feed or hay, you can contact KLA at (785) 273-5115, or visit this website . On KLA’s Facebook page you can find posts from feedlots that are offering pen space to wildfire victims.

• The Ashland Community Foundation. ACF is accepting monetary donations to help those affected by the fires in their community. To donate, please visit the ACF website and select “Become A Partner” in the dropdown. Donations are also being accepted at Stockgrowers State Bank or can be mailed to ACF at P.O. Box 276, Ashland, KS 67831.

• Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation. OCF has established a relief fund to help cattle producers who have been affected. As the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, the fire relief fund at the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation will distribute 100% of received funds to affected cattle producers. You can give online or make checks payable to Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation with “Fire Relief” in the memo line and mail to P.O. Box 82395, Oklahoma City, OK 73148.

• Beaver County Stockyards and Beaver County OSU Extension office. For those willing to donate feed or hay to the Beaver County, Okla., area, visit the Stockyards website or the Extension office website .

• Beaneighbor.org . The Oklahoma Healthcare Authority, provides access to local support including financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost help. Search for aid in your area at Beaneighbor.org.

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry reminds the public to use caution before bringing hay to northwest Oklahoma to prevent the spread of invasive fire ants. Find out if your county is under quarantine for fire ants on the USDA website

Fire Weather is Not Over: Stay Prepared

The Kansas Forest Service reminds producers there are still months of fire season to come.

“As firefighters continue to mop up or extinguish hot spots along miles of fire line, recovery begins for the communities most impacted by recent wildfires,” the agency says. “Many wildfire managers are already preparing for the next round of fire weather.”

While recovery and readiness are happening at the same time, the forest service share these two tips:

Learn how to prepare your home and property for a wildfire. Proper preparation can help your home withstand a wildfire.
Have a plan when the wildfire is heading toward your home or property.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has a Fires & Wildfires website dedicated to providing resources to help prepare for and survive wildfires.

A Note to Survivors

Spare says his message to producers who are recovering from the wildfires is to:

Think beyond today. Plan not only for immediate survival but for summer grazing and next winter’s feed. Recognize that hay now is also about having feed later, since grass is gone.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. “If you are struggling, reach out to a trusted friend and accept neighbor and outside assistance,” he stresses.

Spare summarizes producers from his area are deeply appreciative and humbled by people from across the country who helped nine years ago and are helping again now, even to the point that local folks feel “almost embarrassed” it happened again.

“But it is life, and we’re going to trust God and go on,” he says.

Your Next Read: Tips for Care Following Wildfire

Ranchers on Alert as Wildfires Spread Across the Plains

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:16:50 GMT

High fire danger continues after wildfires swept across western Oklahoma, southwest Kansas and the Texas Panhandle on Tuesday forcing numerous evacuations. High wind gusts and low humidity Thursday will cause more threats for fire danger. Thursday morning, red-flag warnings were issued once again for the same region, including most of Oklahoma; Southern Kansas and Western North Texas.

The message to those in the red flag warning areas: do not burn, and if you see smoke, report it.

With containment efforts underway and the situation still unfolding, here is the current status of the fires challenging Plains ranchers:

Oklahoma

Reports say more than 300,000 acres have burned across Oklahoma since Tuesday.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed Executive Order 2026-09 declaring a State of Emergency in Beaver, Texas and Woodward counties following a series of destructive wildfires across northwest Oklahoma.

“The Woodward fires are about 20% contained, and we were very fortunate to keep most neighborhoods safe. A few homes were lost, and we’re keeping four injured firefighters in our prayers as they recover after working tirelessly through the night,” Governor Stitt reports on Wednesday. “I’m deeply grateful for the incredible efforts of our firefighters and forestry crews on the ground. In Beaver County, the town of Tyrone was evacuated earlier as a precaution. As we head into today and tomorrow, conditions remain dangerous. We need every Oklahoman to stay alert and continue taking fire warnings seriously.”

The Stevens Fire, that started east of Hooker, Okla., had burned an estimated 12,428 acres as of Thursday morning and is 50% contained.

Track Oklahoma Wildfires

The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation has established a Fire Relief Fund to support cattle producers impacted by the recent wildfires in Northwest Oklahoma. Read the full press release and donate now at okcattlemen.org.

Kansas

According to the Kansas Forest Service , fires across Kansas remained active overnight with firefighters working through the night and are making steady progress on many incidents today.

In coordination with the Kansas Division of Emergency Management and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, additional resources from across the state have deployed and are supporting local responders. With continued elevated fire weather statewide, more firefighters are available and strategically staged for rapid response.

Winds have decreased enough to allow aviation resources to assist where needed. Kansas is coordinating aircraft with Oklahoma Forestry Services on the Ranger Road Fire.

“At this time, all evacuation notices have been rescinded,” the Kansas Forest Service reports. “Evacuations, if needed, will be coordinated through local emergency management agencies. Please make sure you are signed up for your county’s emergency alert text notifications so you can receive timely updates.”

Updates as of 6 a.m. Thursday:
Stevens Fire (Seward Co. Fire): Burned from Texas County, Okla, into Seward County, KS. Located southwest of Liberal. The fire is 50% contained and has burned 12,428 acres.

Andrew Lane Fire (Seward Co. Fire #2): Located southeast of Liberal and remains active. Aviation resources are assisting firefighters on the ground. The Johnson County Task Force and Kansas Forest Service DFMO Williams are coordinating closely with local departments.

Tennis Fire (Garden City Fire): Good progress continues. Kansas Forest Service DFMO Brad Ilonummi is transitioning to assist with other fires in the area. A state task force remains integrated with local firefighters.

Ranger Road Fire (Started in Beaver Co., Okla.): Remains active. Coordination continues between Oklahoma and Kansas state resources.

The Ranger Road Fire originated in Beaver County in the Oklahoma Panhandle spread north into southern Kansas, impacting areas in Clark and Meade counties. The fire crossed the Oklahoma and Kansas state line, burned near the Cimarron River, and affected communities along Highways 64, 270 and 283. The blaze was moving east-northeast under strong wind conditions. As of 6 a.m. Thursday, the Ranger Road Fire has burned more than 283,283 acres and is 15% contained.

“Extremely high winds and dry ground and air produced conditions ideal for multiple fires to build and spread in several counties in southwest Kansas yesterday, with some still uncontained,” explains Scarlett Madinger, KLA vice president of communications. “While we continue to assess the needs of those in the hardest hit areas, we know producers have lost fence, livestock and feed resources. Donations of hay and fencing supplies are being accepted at various collection sites, as those are the most immediate needs. If people would like to donate, they can call the KLA office at (785) 273-5115 and we will help coordinate a drop-off.”

Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam joined Chip Flory on AgriTalk Wednesday and discussed the wildfire situation in Kansas and what recovery resources are available.

Texas

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the organization received nine requests for assistance on wildfires burning 18,522.9 acres on Tuesday. Wednesday was a quieter day in Texas with three requests burning 371 acres.

As of 9 a.m. on Thursday, there are four active — Jones 1507, 8 Ball, Lavendar and Canadian Bridge. The 8 Ball Fire in Armstrong County is 40% contained and has burned about 13,000 acres. The Lavendar fire in Oldham County is 20% contained and has burned about 12,000 acres.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller declared an Agricultural Emergency, rallying Texans to back the State of Texas Agriculture Relief (STAR) Fund and urging wildfire-hit producers and agribusinesses to seek financial aid. Across the Panhandle and West Texas, Texans are facing devastating losses due to wildfires.

“Texans always rise for neighbors in crisis,” Commissioner Miller says. “I’m calling on individuals, businesses, and groups statewide to fuel the STAR Fund to help sustain the backbone of our food, fiber and fuel supply.”

The STAR Fund, administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture, is a private-donation-funded disaster relief program that provides recovery grants to eligible farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses at no cost to taxpayers to help repair or rebuild damaged agricultural infrastructure.

Ranchers needing hay can use TDA’s Hay Hotline, (877) 429-1998, a free service linking hay providers and those in need, including during emergencies, for donations.

TDA reminds Texans that mental health support is available 24/7 through the AgriStress Helpline, staffed by trained professionals familiar with rural challenges. Commissioner Miller stresses the importance of mental well-being in crises. If you or a loved one experiences a mental health crisis during this time, call 833-897-2474.

Pete's Pick: 3 Used Loader Tractors Draw Big Bids, Plus A Heartwarming Classic John Deere Buy

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 22:55:59 GMT

The used farm equipment auction market continues to show robust demand and strong resale prices for good condition, used loader tractors .

That’s exactly why Greg “Machinery Pete” Peterson highlights three strong loader tractor transactions as his most recent Pete’s Pick of the Week.

At a Purple Wave online auction, a 2022 New Holland T5.110 tractor (885 engine hours) with a loader implement (pictured top of page) sold for $61,600. Pete says that is the highest auction price ever for that year/make/model, according to MachineryPete.com sales data. The machine was from Broken Bow, Okla.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

At a Younger Auction Company sale in Rockport, Mo., a 2014 Case IH Maxxum 125 tractor (2,135 hours) with a L756 loader sold for $72,500, which Pete says is the second-highest auction price ever for that model with a loader and more than 2,000 engine hours.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And at another Purple Wave online auction, a 2021 John Deere 6155M tractor (860 hours) with a 640R loader implement sold for $135,300. Pete says that is the third-highest auction price of all time with a loader and more than 500 hours.

“Dollars are tight all across ag and, you know, not much new stuff is selling — and we understand why,” Pete says. “I think [we saw] more layoffs at the manufacturer level last week , unfortunately. So when this continues to stretch out, but you [still] need horsepower and equipment on the farm, what you tend to look for is the best condition used [machinery].”

Pete also shares this nice story out of Plain City, Ohio, where a young farmer named Wyatt bought his great grandfather, Don Hess’s, old John Deere 430 tractor at an auction for $900. It was also the young man’s birthday, so quite the 24 hours for that auction goer out in Ohio.

“It was just very cool, and it made a lot of people happy to see a young person interested in their great grandfather’s history and tractor, and keeping that in the family,” Pete says.

Your next read: A Dive Deep Into Used Equipment Market Forces and Tips to DIY Your Next Sale

First Look: Fendt’s New Autonomy Ready Vario Tractors, Split Fold Optimum Planter

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 17:51:57 GMT

AGCO is not sitting idly by waiting out the new farm equipment sales downturn. The manufacturer is launching new Fendt-branded machines with integrated technology for row crop farmers.

That means new for Model Year 2026 is a massive 1000 Vario Gen4 high horsepower tractor series featuring four models (426 hp to 550 hp) already setup for autonomous tasking via factory-integrated PTx OutRun autonomy kits. And its Optimum 12-row, Precision Planting tech-packed planter represents a significant milestone for the German brand: It’s the first Fendt stack-fold planter to hit the U.S. market.

(AGCO/Fendt)

We’ll start with the new 1000 Vario Series tractor (shown above), which Fendt says is powered by a 12.4-liter MAN engine featuring DynamicPerformance. The new adaptive power feature reportedly optimizes the engine’s horsepower output and improves fuel efficiency.

Fendt is also saying its Gen4 tractor “raises the bar” with new cab improvements and smart farming tech integrations that help operators feel less fatigue and get more work done.

Most notable overall though is factory integrated autonomous tillage and grain cart robotics. The technology was previously marketed by PTx Trimble as a retrofit-only kit, but now it’s available from the factory on select Fendt 2026 tractor series.

“For farmers that are struggling with labor, efficiency or just trying to do timely operations on their farm to enhance their agronomic outcomes, we’re announcing both Fendt tractor integration and tillage,” says Bryce Baker, North America tactical marketing lead, PTx. “So with that, OutRun becomes a retrofit, mixed fleet, multitask autonomy system with more to come in the future.”

(AGCO/Fendt)

Arthur Santos, marketing manager, Fendt, says the top takeaway he is excited to share about the new Optimum stack-folding planter (shown above) is how it enables ultra-precise seed placement in raised bed farming.

Stack-fold planters, Santos adds, are popular with farmers in the Mississippi Delta, across the southwest in Oklahoma and Texas, as well as in different pockets of Nebraska.

“Everything revolves around seed placement, right? And farmers understand that. Farmers can see how the row unit technology is important, but sometimes farmers don’t focus that much on where the row unit is, that environment that you create for the row unit technology,” Santos says. “This is what the Optimum planter will bring. That tool bar flex placing the row unit where it needs to be, and that adjusting hitch placing the row unit where it needs to be. That row unit technology can’t do its job if it’s not placed where it needs to be.”

Santos also points to the row units themselves on the new 12-row, split fold planter offering. He says the units are equipped with a full-suite of PTx-Precision Planting row unit technology.

“We’re taking the best of the best of the Precision Planting row unit technology — V-Set 2 meters, V-Drive, DeltaForce hydraulic downforce, Speed Tubes, and the latest FurrowForce and Reveal tech — and we’re putting it on a planter right onto the frame,” he says. “This is what will distinguish Fendt planters from any other planter, we’re taking that amazing row unit technology that all the brands are chasing and we’re bringing it right to the frame.”

Order writing for the 1000 Vario Gen4 tractor will open up later this year with first deliveries taking place sometime in 2026, AGCO reps state. And Optimum will be rolled out for interested buyers with an initial presale offering in spring 2026.

Fendt is also adding dry fertilizer spreading to its Momentum 30' planter for model year 2026, and the AGCO/Fendt RoGator 900 Series sprayer is also getting a suite of upgrades.

And last but not least, Fendt’s FarmEngage FMIS machinery data platform is now included with all new machinery purchases for three years at no additional cost. The program costs $600 per farm license if purchased a la carte and offers API compatibility with John Deere’s Operations Center and CNH’s FieldOps platform, along with other popular farm management digital tools from Raven, Topcon, and AgLeader.

PTx will also offer a Starlink mini connectivity bundle through its dealer network in the coming months, PTx representatives add.

To learn more about AGCO/Fendt’s 2026 Model Year updates and releases, reach out to your local Fendt dealer.

Your Next Read: Top Tier Story Telling Can Push Your Equipment’s Value Higher In A Roller Coaster Market

Federal Court Rules on Fate of Prairie-Chicken

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:08:30 GMT

A U.S. District judge on Aug. 12 ruled in favor of Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas, finding that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service committed a “foundational error” when it declared the prairie-chicken endangered in 2022.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in a press release praised the ruling from U.S. District Judge David Counts of the Western District of Texas, who issued the order reversing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) decision to list the lesser prairie-chicken as endangered and threatened.

“This is a big win for Texas, and one we fought hard to get,” Miller says. “From day one, I’ve pushed back against Biden’s federal overreach because it was wrong for our farmers, ranchers and rural communities. This court decision is more than just a legal victory. We stood our ground, and we won.”

PRESS RELEASE: Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller praised a decisive ruling from U.S. District Judge David Counts of the Western District of Texas, who issued an order reversing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) decision to list the lesser prairie chicken as… pic.twitter.com/UzP2FlkFE6
— Texas Agriculture (@TexasDeptofAg) August 18, 2025

Under the Trump administration, FWS determined that it previously failed to provide “adequate justification and analysis” to support identifying two designated population segments of lesser prairie-chicken.

Judge Counts granted the motion for vacatur and remand, finding that remand alone would not correct the agency’s fundamental error in listing the species as endangered and threatened. The court denied all motions to intervene.

About the Prairie Chicken

The lesser prairie-chicken is a bird historically found in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. The bird has faced both habitat loss and population decline since the 1960s and has found itself the subject of proposed Endangered Species Act protections.

According to Tiffany Lashmet, Texas A&M agricultural law Extension specialist, in 2014 FWS listed the lesser prairie-chicken as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Numerous lawsuits were filed, and the listing was ultimately vacated by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in 2015.

The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas issued an order last week vacating the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) listing of the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act.https://t.co/BTobyZb9MF pic.twitter.com/CEV82UWJ8P
— TiffanyDowellLashmet (@TiffDowell) August 18, 2025

In 2016, another petition was filed with FWS to list the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act. In 2022, the FWS finalized a rule listing the Northern Distinct Population Segment as threatened and the Southern Distinct Population Segment as endangered. In March 2023, the State of Texas and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association filed suit challenging the listing. Specifically, they claimed the listing violated both the Endangered Species Act and the Administrative Procedures Act.

Lashmet says following the administration change in January 2025, the FWS reevaluated the listing and found it erred in passing the final rule listing the lesser prairie-chicken.

“FWS now believes it erred by failing to provide sufficient justification to have two population segments of the lesser prairie-chicken, which then affected the assessment of extinction risk to the species,” she says. “This, FWS believes, was a significant error justifying immediate vacatur of the listing decision. FWS moved for a voluntary vacatur and remand of the listing rule. Several groups sought to intervene in the lawsuit to defend the listing rule.”

The Decision

Lashmet explains the court addressed two separate issues: the proper remedy and the motions to intervene.

“This case is extremely important for landowners, agricultural producers, oil and gas companies, and others across the portions of the United States where the lesser prairie-chickens are located, including Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas,” Lashmet says. “As of now, the lesser prairie-chicken is not listed under the Endangered Species Act, and there is no threat of liability under the Endangered Species Act for a ‘take’ of these animals.”

She says the story is not over.

“The FWS will now reconsider the 2016 application to have the lesser prairie-chicken listed,” she says. “It will determine how properly to view the distinction population segment, and then analyze the various factors required under the Endangered Species Act in making its listing decision. The FWS told the court it expected to have this completed by November 2026.”

Death Out of Order: A Remarkable Journey to Carry On a Family Legacy

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:48:26 GMT

This wasn’t part of the plan.

Brittany (Krehbiel) Hukill was born into a farm family that runs five-generations deep. As an only child in the unforgiving geography of west-central Oklahoma, grit wasn’t just something she learned, it was something she witnessed every day.

That grit, however, was tested at a very young age. At just 13 years old, Hukill’s dad, Jeff Krehbiel, received a shocking diagnosis: brain cancer.

“When Jeff was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009, I went back to farming,” says Karen (Krehbiel) Dodson, Hukill’s mom. “His dad had retired on paper, but most farmers don’t really retire — they’re still there. So, his dad came back and helped while Jeff was sick.”

An accountant by trade, Dodson juggled farming, motherhood and fueling the farm family through meals — something her mother-in-law had done for decades before her. But running the farm wasn’t part of her plan, either.

After a two-year battle with brain cancer, Jeff passed away in 2011. Buried on his 48^th birthday, Dodson lost her husband of more than 20 years and Hukill lost her dad at just 15 years old.

A Defining Moment
A month before he passed away, Hukill and her mom had gone to visit Jeff in a care facility. Jeff could hardly speak due to several strokes. But there’s one late-night visit after a high school game she vividly remembers.

“He looked at me and asked, ‘Are you coming back?’ I knew he didn’t mean coming back to visit him. He meant, ‘Are you going back to the farm?’” Hukill says. “There was this massive elephant in the room for him. We’d worked for four generations to have this farm. I said, ‘Yeah, I plan to come home and farm.’ At that point, I had made my decision of what my plan was.”

Left: Brittany learning from her dad, Jeff Krehbiel. Right: Brittany with her grandpa, Wayne Krehbiel, and mom, Karen Dodson.

(Krehbiel Farms)

Deciding to come back as the fifth-generation to a farm she says only has a 6" layer of topsoil was the moment that defined her future.

“Mom’s only requirement was that I go and learn something and bring it back,” Hukill says. “She wanted me to go see more than just our few sections right here and get off the farm for a time.”

That wisdom set her on a path to Oklahoma State University (OSU). Majoring in agricultural economics, she thought that would be the most valuable degree to use when she ventured back to the farm. Hukill says she had plenty of teachers in high school, and even an adviser at OSU, who encouraged her not to go back to the family farm. She decided to forgo any internships or summer jobs to spend every opportunity helping at home.

But when Hukill was about halfway through college, her plans changed again.

“My father-in-law passed away in December 2016,” Dodson says. “My mother-in-law owned part of the farm, I owned the operating portion and Brittany was heir to all of that.”

(Jessy Frizzell Photography)

Another Generation’s Knowledge Gone
Healthy up until the day he fell on the farm, Dodson lost her father-in-law and business partner, and Hukill lost her grandpa — the only individual left who held the Krehbiel name and had decades of farming experience and knowledge.

“At that point, I was a year and a half from graduating college, but Logan [her now husband] and I said, ‘We’re going to have to get home, so both of us pushed the gas harder and graduated a semester early in December 2017 then got married in April 2018.”

Logan then started an accelerated nursing program, living nearly 40 miles away for about a year.

“As he finished nursing school, we moved into the farmhouse and have been here since,” Hukill says.

Today, Logan still has his off-farm nursing job, and as of last fall, he is an equal partner of the farm.

It’s split three ways, with Dodson managing the financials, Hukill managing the irrigation business and her husband as the farm manager.

(Jessy Frizzell Photography)

You Don’t Know What Questions to Ask When Your Dad Dies at 15
Losing her dad and grandpa all before graduating college wasn’t part of Hukill’s plan.

“There are a lot of questions you would have asked if you would have known you should have asked them, but I was 13,” Hukill says. “When I had my dad around, to me, he was dad. To everybody else, he was the boss man. He was the guy on the Wheat Commission. He knew his stuff. I didn’t realize how much I was going to miss and the knowledge he had in his absence.”

She also expected to have plenty of time to glean knowledge from her grandpa.

“You have this illusion that you have time to ask questions and learn from those previous generations, but once people start dying out of order and once people are gone, there’s no way to get that knowledge back.”

While she wasn’t able to capture that priceless knowledge from her dad and grandpa, she’s learned through trial and error and looks to neighbors who have been a reliable source of knowledge.

Establish a Plan Early
Though death isn’t part of anyone’s ideal plan, it’s a reality. The unexpected farm transition her family experienced sparked Hukill and her husband to create an estate plan before either of them turned 30.

“Before we had kids, we had estate plans set up,” Hukill says. “If we died today, what’s the plan? Because the kids aren’t going to take it over. How do we liquidate everything to take care of the kids we leave behind? We’ve been able to have those conversations about succession planning, even when our kids are little, because we have seen what works and what was a struggle to overcome because of how things were left.”

Hey @shanferrell -
We got it in writing! BEFORE we needed it! Aren’t you proud?! pic.twitter.com/mmgAvQj1ti
— Brittany Hukill (@bvhukill) June 9, 2022

She credits her mom for helping with that vision and the willingness to pass the farm to Hukill and her husband in a strategic manner that will continue the farm’s legacy.

“I think we would all agree it’s all hands on deck to keep it alive — whatever that looks like,” she adds.

(Jessy Frizzell Photography)

Navigating $5 Wheat by Faith
Poor margins paint a grim outlook this year. But instead of focusing on what she can’t change, Hukill is putting her energy into what she can — while not taking for granted the opportunity she has to raise her family on the same land farmed by generations before her.

“It’s not about me. It really isn’t. I truly feel like, yes, this is my family’s farm, but this was a gift given by God, so I’m going to do the best I can to take care of it, and we’re going make the best decisions we can with the information we have,” Hukill says. “If I would not have had the start I did, I don’t know that we would have made it this far. I don’t know how people get started in agriculture right now. But I am very thankful for the foundation set before me by the generations who came before.”’

Your Next Read — Tick Tock: How Long Do You Need For A Successful Transition?

Wildfire Battles Continue Over Weekend for Texas, Oklahoma

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 14:36:39 GMT

After burning for more than six days, the Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma was only 15% contained Sunday morning, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Now officially the largest wildfire in Texas history, the Smokehouse Creek Fire had burned 1.1 million acres. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said 400 to 500 structures had burned and livestock losses were in the thousands. He said he would be asking for federal assistance and he has declared 60 counties disaster areas.

Two people were confirmed dead as a result of the fire. An 83-year-old grandmother was discovered in the remains of her burned home, and an Amarillo woman in her 40s died when she exited her truck while driving in the city of Canadian.

The Windy Deuce Fire in Moore County, which covers more than 144,000 acres, was 55% contained on Sunday. The Grape Vine Creek fire, at 34,800 acres, was 60% contained. The Magenta Fire in Oldham County, spanning approximately 3,300 acres, was 85% contained. The 2,000-acre 687 Reamer Fire was 10% contained.

Much of the area burned in the Panhandle region is rolling sand hills and the Texas Department of Transporation is now preparing for blowing dust and that can drift onto roads forcing closure.

Oklahoma officials reported at least 14 fires were burning across more than 319,000 acres, much of that spillover from the Smokehouse Creek Fire. The National Weather Service issued a Flag warning—indicating dangerously dry and windy weather—until 9 p.m. Sunday for Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. A cold front was expected to move into the area on Monday and could bring some relief.

Additional information and resources are continually updated and available online at www.tscra.org/disaster-relief-fund .

The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund here.

Related stories:

Smokehouse Creek Fire is Officially the Largest in Texas History

Wildfires Raging in Texas, Oklahoma Panhandle Region Threaten Residents and Livestock

Judge Orders Wind Turbines Removed From Osage Nation

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 14:11:29 GMT

A federal judge in Oklahoma has ordered the removal of an 84-turbine wind farm spread across 8,400 acres in Osage County with a final ruling that ends a decade-long legal battle over illegal mining on the Osage Reservation. The cost for removal of the turbines is estimated at $300 million.

The ruling in Tulsa federal court by U.S. Court of International Trade Judge Jennifer Choe-Groves was against Osage Wind LLC, Enel Kansas LLC and Enel Green Power North America Inc. The order grants the United States and the Osage Nation through its Minerals Council permanent injunctive relief via “ejectment of the wind turbine farm for continuing trespass.”

The Osage Allotment Act of 1906 states that the Osage Nation owns the subsurface rights to minerals in the area. The Minerals Council is an arm of the Osage Nation that manages the Osage Minerals Estate.

A trial date for damages due to the tribe has not been set, but a spokesman for the Osage Minerals Council said the tribe would expect at least the value of damage to the land, all lawyer fees, profits and tax incentives Enel received as a result of the installation.

At issue in the case was whether a mining permit was required to construct the wind farm, located in tallgrass prairie between Pawhuska and Fairfax. The defendants began leasing surface rights from private landowners for the project in 2013, and construction on the wind towers began in October 2013, with excavation for the towers beginning in September 2014.

A 2017 appellate court decision determined the construction of the wind farm constituted mining and therefore a lease from the Osage Nation’s Minerals Council was required.

“The developers failed to acquire a mining lease during or after construction, as well as after issuance of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision holding that a mining lease was required,” Choe-Groves said.

“On the record before the Court, it is clear the Defendants are actively avoiding the leasing requirement,” Choe-Groves said. “Permitting such behavior would create the prospect for future interference with the Osage Mineral Council’s authority by Defendants or others wishing to develop the mineral lease. The Court concludes that Defendants’ past and continued refusal to obtain a lease constitutes interference with the sovereignty of the Osage Nation and is sufficient to constitute irreparable injury.”

‘Let me be clear, the Stockyards intends to thrive’

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 18:19:55 GMT

At Wednesday’s Oklahoma County Commissioner’s meeting, a piece of rural Oklahoma’s livelihood and all Oklahomans’ heritage is on the docket.

In its search for a new jail site, the county has identified acreage on the edge of Stockyards City as a frontrunner. The only problem? It’s not listed for sale and its owner, the Oklahoma National Stockyards, utilizes it in their current and long-term growth plans.

At the hearing Jan. 10, commissioners will again consider the land. Since the stockyard’s property isn’t for sale, there is concern that the property could be pursued through the condemnation process and eminent domain.

Ben Hale, president of the Oklahoma City Livestock Exchange — the group representing the nine commission firms operating at the stockyards — said while he understands the need for a new jail facility, he believes taking this land would have a profound impact on the livestock commission firms and in turn, the surrounding businesses that benefit from sale-day traffic as well as the thousands of livestock producers who rely on the venue.

“If our business can’t be successful long-term, what happens to the restaurants and shops in this historic district?” he said. “What happens to the cattlemen and cattlewomen who depend on us? A decision like this has far-reaching consequences, and there must be a better option.”

Additionally, the land in question has historical significance like few others in the state. That’s especially important for a city that’s built a worldwide reputation on its western heritage.

Jerry Reynolds, president of the Oklahoma National Stockyards, explained Stockyards City was founded in 1910 and was built to serve the nation as a primary source for meat processing and packing. Until 1961, livestock sales were handled only by private agreement between the seller and buyer. Then the auction was introduced, providing greater competition for available livestock.

He said the auction helped supply new growth and — combined with aggressive sales leadership of the commission firms, innovative market management and strategic location — the Oklahoma City livestock market rose to become the world’s largest market of stocker and feeder cattle, regularly selling yearly receipts of more than 500,000 head.

Reynolds says the economic impact of the facility exceeds $1 billion annually, and it provides more than 130 jobs to Oklahomans as well as the countless associated industries that rely on the stockyards and beef production.

“The stockyards are incredibly important to our city, state and region,” he said. “The attention surrounding this land is resulting in misinformation about the future of the stockyards, and let me be clear, we fully intend to not only continue operations but by utilizing all resources at our disposal, we intend to thrive”

Mark Barnett, president of Livestock Marketing Association, agreed. He added anything that jeopardizes the stockyard’s long-term success would be especially devastating to the region’s livestock producers, who are already facing challenges.

“Livestock producers face challenges with land, labor, over-regulation and input costs every day,” Barnett said. “This is the just the latest example of government overreach negatively impacting their bottom line.”

He encouraged Oklahoma County residents and all who could be affected to speak out in support of removing the Stockyards property from the list being considered.

Citizens may address the commissioner’s board under the agenda item “Citizen’s Participation.” A citizen’s participation request form is available at the County Clerk’s office at 320 Robert S. Kerr Avenue in Suite 203, by email at publiccomment@oklahomacounty.org , or by signing up right before the meeting begins. For those who cannot attend, comments can be submitted to the public comment email address provided above.

The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday, in the Oklahoma County Annex Building, in the board of county commissioners meeting room 204.

Oklahoma State University Scientists Score a Big Win, Developing the Turf for Super Bowl LVII

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 16:02:03 GMT

Michigan State University may be credited for developing turf tough enough for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but Oklahoma State University’s Turfgrass Research Center has a new claim to fame: creating the turfgrass for Super Bowl 57.

As the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles gear up to the play in the Super Bowl this weekend, both teams will play the big game on Tahoma 31 – a turf developed by OSU scientists . The turf was selected for the playing field at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

“Our turfgrass breeding program really has focused on developing varieties that are tough,” says Thomas Coon, OSU Ag Vice President & Dean.

Tahoma 31 is also resilient, has a fine texture, darker color and can handle drought, cold and shade. OSU plant breeder Dr. Yanqui Wu is on the turf development team.

“Not many bermudagrass seeds are heat tolerant, but it is with Tahoma 31,” Yanqui Wu told Oklahoma State University’s SunUp program. “So, all of these components put together, they make this grass robust in many aspects, so it’s adapted to many locations.”

A new turfgrass variety isn’t developed overnight. It takes 10 to 15 years to research and develop. The extensive testing takes place in the greenhouse, the lab and in the field and can include more than one-thousand experimental plants.

The best variety is then patented and released commercially.

“We have no involvement in the selling of the product itself. It’s just simply the development of it to really try to solve specific problems,” says Scott Senseman, OSU Ag Research Assoc. Vice President. “For instance this year we had a very tough drought year. So, we had some grasses that had some specific characteristics that really handled the drought really well, like perhaps an enhanced root system. And so those are some of the characteristics that a breeder is looking for.”

Royalties from the patents come back to the University for further research. Dr. Dennis Martin is an OSU Extension Turfgrass Specialist on the team.

“The grass is performing and as long as it continues to perform, I think we’ll see it on those facilities,” says Martin. “At the same time, we have the next generation of materials in the pipeline that are experimental to be rolled out.”

It’s great for advancing the field on which the game is played, but also great for advancing science.

“When you start thinking about the reach for our turfgrass, we have it in Soldier Field. We also have it at Churchill Downs. We have it at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.,” says Senseman. “And then to have it at two different playoff games, and then the Super Bowl, I don’t know if anyone could ever claim that they have plant material that people we’re playing on and the performance of that. That’s really astounding.”

In addition to turfgrass research and extension programs – Oklahoma State also has a turfgrass option for students in the Ferguson College of Agriculture.

Original reporting by Oklahoma State’s Sunup TV program.

Machinery Pete: Combines With Little Age Showing Amazing Strength

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 05:02:13 GMT

Walking across the barren fields of Oklahoma, there’s no shortage of wind, but rain is in sparse supply this year.

“The biggest challenge is probably the unpredictability of the weather,” said Jarold Callahan, of Express Ranches in Yukon, Oklahoma.

He’s accustomed to ranching without an abundance of water, but the winter of 2018 has quickly become one of the driest on record. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows more than 58 percent of the state is consumed by dryness, and the Oklahoma Panhandle is facing the most severe conditions.

“We are probably right on the edge of the line here in Kingfisher,” said Shane Clifton, store manager at P&K Equipment in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. “We get to the eastern side of the state, and they’ve not been affected at all like we have.”

Clifton says the lack of rain was impacting equipment purchasing decisions in his area through winter.

“We had a good rain there about two weeks back and that you could just tell the attitudes changed overnight,” he said.

The rain of which Clifton speaks came in mid-March, and rain has been sparse since. That’s creating tough growing conditions in Callahan’s backyard, and feed is becoming a challenge. He said feed availability is getting critical and it’s only spring.

“The hay is getting very, very short,” said Callahan. “We’re in a very dry area. We’re on the eastern side of the extremely dry area in Oklahoma but there’s getting a lot of concern while we’re going to do for forage. A lot of people count on wheat as a hay crop and that’s going to be depleted as well.”

Clifton says wheat is the dealership’s biggest crop in Kingfisher, but cattle is considered a close second.

“We’ve seen an uptick in interest of both new and used balers, which we’ve always got a lot of what I call very ‘clean balers’ in this country,” said Clifton. “That’s what seems to be the people are looking for.”

Clifton says what he considers “clean” are good quality balers with a low bale count. That interest he says is coming from both in-store and online. It’s that online interest also showing up on MachineryPete.com .

“Search traffic is up 20 percent in the last 60 days on round balers,” said Greg Peterson, host of Machinery Pete TV.

Callahan says a solid, dependable baler is a need for their operation.

“The windrows don’t have to be quite as precise,” said Callahan. “The net wraps were great—it’s an invention that really helped us.”

While slightly used balers are posting strong interest, the overall used equipment market is starting to send mixed signals.

“The equipment market as a whole is a really tough market to generalize right now,” said Peterson. “Small equipment has been doing the best generally, if you’re talking mid to small size tractors.”

It’s the value of smaller tractors that continues to stand on solid footing for P&K Equipment.

“I would say we sell a lot of 200 horsepower tractors and down,” said Clifton. “We’ll sell lots of lawn and garden machinery and then we’ll a lot of used combines and 4WD tractors.”

Clifton says interest in older equipment is gaining strength.

“Anything that’s got a little age to it—we’ve noticed a big uptick in that,” said Clifton. “That’s really been a high seller for us and a good mover.

A recent heat map complied from data from MachineryPete.com shows the highest price of John Deere S670 series combines sold the past six months reside farther north in the Plains.

“Combines, we’ve seen some amazing strength on one-model or older,” said Clifton.

Clifton says despite dry conditions across Oklahoma, interest in used equipment is starting to make a comeback in parts of the state.

“It started to turn the corner a little, which is which is a good sign,” he said.

It’s a sign dealers hope will turn into a sustainable trend, even as dryness persists on the Plains.

Oklahoma Reflects on 'Right to Farm' Loss

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 05:14:25 GMT

Oklahomans voted on Tuesday on State Question 777, or the “Right to Farm” measure. The measure would have allowed courts to rule on state and local laws regulating agricultural activities passed after Dec. 31, 2014. It was intended to allow farmers to defend themselves in the face of unjust laws.

Though it received strong support from rural voters, the measure was ultimately struck down by 60.3% of the population. So what comes next for Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers?

“The short answer is nothing,” says Derrell Peel, professor of agribusiness at Oklahoma State University. “The immediate impact is that nothing changes. This was an attempt to be proactive to possible issues that the industry sees coming down the road. It was a little bit of a gamble and the gamble didn’t pay off.”

The Right to Farm measure was designed to protect farmers and ranchers from influence and interference of activist groups and legislation.

“I had mixed emotions the more I read about the bill,” says Watson Langford, an Oklahoma cattle rancher. “I feel like the opposition put enough money into our state to vote the bill down, and they had a really strong campaign to demonize the bill more than it probably should have been. But they also had some wording in that bill that could have overstepped the boundaries. No industry should be above the law and I can see how it may have looked like that to other people.”

The bill received strong support from the panhandle area and the western portion of the state. However, in more urban areas and the eastern portion of the state, the bill was more heavily voted against. Animal activist groups spoke out strongly against the measure.

Arguments on Both Sides

“[SQ777] would have raised the bar on issues of regulation that could be directed toward agriculture,” Peel says. “Like in any sort of political situation, there were a lot of different arguments. There were legitimate concerns on both sides, and there was misinformation spread by both sides.”

“It was an offensive move on our part,” says Mike Spradling, a former president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and current director on the American Pecan Council board. “Agriculture has always been on the defense. We wanted to take an offensive move against measures that could threaten our way of life.”

The bill would not have removed regulations but would have made it more challenging to add additional regulations. Spradling says there were concerns about overregulation on agriculture and the concern that farmers would find their hands tied while trying to produce at a higher rate.

“The industry welcomes proper regulation, but it has to be based on sound science and preferably be written by people who understand the industry,” Spradling says, “This is the one industry that every person relies on every single day.”

“I think the people behind the bill were doing it for the right reasons, and it was written for the right reasons,” Langford says. “This was the first time in my life that I saw a bill that truly benefited agriculture, but they may have tried to push it too far. They tried to give it too much power. I can understand both sides of it. As long as the right people were in power in Oklahoma and they didn’t abuse the rights it would have provided, then it would have been great. If people would have overstepped the bounds of what is right, they would have abused what the measure was intended to do.”

For now, Oklahoma farmers can expect little to no change in how they do business. Without SQ777, however, there may be more fights down the road.

“Right to Farm was an attempt to win the war in one fell swoop, and now we’ll go into a lot of smaller battles instead,” Peel says.

'Right to Farm' Vote Divides Oklahoma Along Geographic Lines

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 05:14:20 GMT

State Question 777, the failed ballot measure on embedding rights to farmers and ranchers in the state constitution, divided Oklahoma along geographic lines.

County-by-county results show the measure had strong support in western Oklahoma, a stronghold for cattle ranching and pork production.

However, large portions of eastern Oklahoma and urban areas voted State Question 777 down.

SQ 777 ultimately failed with 568,891 or 39.7 percent voting in favor of the measure, and 863,752 or 60.3 percent opposed, The Oklahoman reports .

The Oklahoma Panhandle voted solidly in favor of the measure. Texas County voted 78 percent in favor. The Texas County economy is buttressed by pork production. Guymon is home to the large Seaboard Foods pork production plant, which processes about 5.5 million market hogs a year, according to the company’s website.

Large numbers of voters came out against the measure in both the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metropolitan areas. In Oklahoma County, 69 percent opposed the measure.

Monte Tucker, a fourth-generation farmer and rancher in Sweetwater, said he believes urban voters did not fully understand the issue. He and other farmers who supported the measure fear animal welfare and environmental groups will push legislation in the state regulating everything from the size of chicken cages to methane emissions from cows.

Tucker also sits on the board of directors for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, a major proponent of SQ 777.

“We’ve got to do a better job of reaching our urban consumers,” Tucker said. “They are totally disconnected from what and where and how their food is produced.”

Western Oklahoma also was insulated from the numerous television ads that SQ 777 opposition groups purchased in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City markets in the weeks running up to the election, Tucker said.

Much of the eastern half of the state voted against the measure, including the poultry producing areas like McCurtain County in far southeast Oklahoma.

Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson believes voters in the eastern part of the state were swayed to vote against SQ 777 over water pollution issues.

Edmondson leads the Oklahoma Stewardship Council, the coalition opposition group to SQ 777.

“Our rural vote was mostly in northeast Oklahoma and southeast Oklahoma,” Edmondson said. “Western Oklahoma is probably far more interested in obtaining water than worrying about the quality of water they have.”

Tom Buchanan, president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, said opposition groups played on urban voters fears in television and social media campaigns to secure votes. “Those metro areas really bought into that opposition story based on fearmongering and falsehoods,” he said.

Oklahoma Sorghum Off To Rough Start After Weather Woes

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 20:57:56 GMT

According to the USDA, 44 percent of the sorghum crop has been planted out of the top 11 producing states, which is five points behind the five-year average.

Grain sorghum is emerging in southwest Oklahoma, and the crop is 42 percent planted.

Farmers like Cody Goodknight of Chattanooga, Ok. Says the crop got a rough start thanks to this year’s wild weather.

“We’ve had some hard rains, wind and storms this spring,” he said. “It’s about 2 weeks behind. We’re late getting it planted and with cooler temperatures, it’s late getting the crop off to a start.”

Goodknight says the sugar cane aphid has been a problem in the past, but it’s still too early in the season to know if it will impact the crop yet.