June 22, 2022 Issue, Page 8 of 8

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8- The Elk City News Community June 22, 2022 OSU Agriculture News: Thirsty crops still need more rain in New series of western Oklahoma free ranching webinars begins June 23 Whether summer crops like cotton can be fully harvested this year in the Panhandle and southwest Oklahoma will de- pend on whether or not the two regions receive more rain. (Photo by Todd Johnson, OSU Agricultural Communications Services) By Alisa Boswell-Gore “I think the caution producers are taking time of year,” Strickland said. “However, right now is in establishing a crop they can I think we could see some more sorghum STILLWATER - Planting for summer sustain,” Sharma said. planted this year behind some of these crops is finishing up in the Panhandle ‘According to Seth Byrd, state Extension failed wheat acres.” and southwestern regions following some specialist for cotton, the recent rains were With the recent rainfall, producers will much-needed rain, but drought concerns enough to fuel germination in dryland hopefully be able to plant their cotton still remain. crops, but more is needed. Even irrigated acres and move forward. ‘The last few weeks have produced Oklaho- crops need rain to supplement their full “While the recent rainfall is great and came Ranchers today face several challenges including high in- ma’s most plentiful rains so far in 2022, water needs. in sufficient amounts to impact stored soil put costs, volatile market prices and impacts from a recent but will the precipitation sustain long- Byrd said the southwest region is in a dif- moisture to a degree, the impact of the drought. The OSU Extension Rancher’s Thursday Lunch- thirsty soil on the western side of the ferent situation now because of the rain drought is still lingering. We still need time Series is an educational tool to help producers man- state? with some areas of the southwest receiving more rainfall to continue to replenish soil age successful operations. (Photo by Todd Johnson, OSU ‘The latest Oklahoma Mesonet rainfall to- 4-6 inches of rain in one day during recent moisture,” Strickland said. Agricultural Communications Services) tals show a clearing of drought conditions rain events. But in some areas of the state, ‘The other concern still facing southwest for most areas of the state, with the rain cooler temperatures came with the rains, farmers is Lake Lugert, which supplies wa- accrued on the western side of the state and the combination of moisture and cool- ter to the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District. By Gail Ellis being enough to change the southwestern er temperatures can cause seedling diseas- “Right now, the lake is at about 25%, so region's status from extreme drought to es. Byrd said disease is not widespread nor being able to irrigate on irrigation district STILLWATER - Oklahoma State University Extension will launch abnormally dry to moderate drought sta- does he believe it will be, but it is there, acres is currently not feasible,” Strickland its latest program of Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Series webi- tus. The Panhandle still remains in a sta~ and it is something for which producers said. “The bottom line is if they don’t re- nars beginning June 23. tus of severe to exceptional drought. High should be mindful. lease the lake water around here — current- winds and heat have been added into the ‘The other problem that arises with the ly, that is in question — producers will not ‘The Zoom webinars start each week at noon and are free to the drought mix in recent days, and more high rain is planting cotton several days late, be able to water all their irrigated acres. public. Registration is required. Producers are encouraged to join temperatures are expected. Byrd said. If these acres cannot be maintained with OSU Extension beef cattle specialists, scientists and ranchers For producers on the western side of the “In Oklahoma, most of our cotton is dry- irrigation, producers will most likely be across the state to learn and share information about beef pro- state, there is only one thing to do in their land, but the planting window for dryland looking at insurance adjustments.” duction, management and marketing, current climate - pray for more rain. usually starts the end of May and runs Strickland said in this scenario, cotton “Recent rains have helped with replenish- through the first two weeks of June,” Byrd yields will be greatly impacted in the state. Rancher’s Thursday Lunchtime Series summer dates: ing the soil moisture profile, and the plant- said. “If our rain chances don’t continue to im- ing of dryland crops has picked up, but we With starting dryland cotton planting in prove - whether talking about cotton, sor- June 23: Tax strategies for the cow/calf enterprise with J.C. will need more consistent rains during the the second week of June, producers have ghum, corn - there’s no question that our Hobbs, OSU Extension growing season to sustain these dryland been in a time crunch to get all of the crop yield potentials are going to be reduced,” June 30: Minimizing cost in a cow/calf enterprise with Dave Del- crops,” said Sumit Sharma, Oklahoma planted within the usual timeframe, but Strickland said. “We're just hoping more aney, King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management State University assistant Extension spe- cotton planting is now at 62% acres plant- rain will be part of our future weather July 7: Managing fescue and bermudagrass pastures to extend cialist for irrigation management. “How- ed, according to the U.S. Department of forecasts. We take the science and stretch fall and winter grazing with Brian Pugh, OSU Extension ever, some areas in the Panhandle have ex- Agriculture’s Oklahoma Crop Progress and it out to a lot of things, but it basically July 14: Fall seeding legumes to reduce fertilizer inputs with perienced damage to established crops due Condition Report. boils down to rainfall cures a lot of ills.” Mike Trammel, OSU Extension to last week’s hailstorm and high-speed “The eastern side of the southwest region For more information on crop conditions July 21: Should I deworm cows? How do I know? What products? winds. These areas might get replanted or is in better shape than the southwest cor- and drought concerns, visit the following: with John Gilliam, OSU College of Veterinary Medicine claimed for insurance.’ ner in terms of soil moisture, so there are July 28: Protein sources; what are the options to reduce cost? Sharma said milo (grain sorghum) is the some differences across the southwest re- USDA Oklahoma Crop Progress and Con- with Paul Beck, OSU Extension major dryland crop in the Panhandle this gion, but moisture continues to be needed dition Report August 4: Minimizing winter supplement cost with David Lal- summer, and despite its high sensitivity to to advance crop establishment,” said Gary Drought concerns loom with spring on the man, OSU Extension drought, corn is likely to still be a prom- Strickland, Jackson County Extension di- horizon For more information, contact Lalman at 405-744-6060 or david. inent irrigated crop because of its high rector and southwest region agronomist. Spring planting rolls on amid drought [email protected]. yield potential per unit of water applied. With the ongoing impact of drought, OSU Agriculture is dedicated to improving Cotton could be a little more delicate be- many southwest producers delayed plant- the quality of life of Oklahomans through OSU Extension uses research-based information to help all Okla- cause it needs to be planted sooner rath- ing as late as they could for summer crops, science-based information and education. homans solve local issues and concerns, promote leadership and er than later to accumulate the required which could push back harvest. It is comprised of the Ferguson College of manage resources wisely throughout the state's 77 counties. number of growing days at an ideal tem- “In the case of sorghum, it will put the Agriculture and two state agencies: OSU Most information is available at little to no cost. perature for crop maturity. crop growing through a more heat stress Ag Research and OSU Extension. Honey bees are famous, but native bees are powerful pollinators By Gail Ellis dying off, and that jumped the From chemical and pest prob- Bees have impressive genetics, all students. The club now has ers can increase pollination by public's awareness of bees in lems to mite infestations, Armas said. All hive members about 30 members who attend avoiding or reducing pesticide STILLWATER - The world’s general,” said Andrine Shufran, beekeeping is hard work that have similar genomes but dif- monthly meetings and biweek- treatments on their lawns or fascination with honey bees an Oklahoma State University requires hive checks every two fer in gene expression due to ly hive checks at Insect Adven- flower beds. is linked to a population de- Extension specialist in ento- weeks. Startup costs involve at chemical tags. These tags are ture and The Botanic Garden at “Don’t just go out and auto- cline during the past decade mology and plant pathology least a few hundred dollars. important and can influence OSU. matically spray everything. that threatens the production and director of the OSU Insect RNA Research how the pupae, larvae, queen, “A lot of students joined who Sometimes, you don’t need to of fruit, nut, forage, vegetable Adventure. “We're trying to Students in the Ferguson Col- nurses, drones and foragers be- either had an interest in bee- spray,” Shufran said. “Pollina- and other crops that rely on take advantage of that kind lege of Agriculture as well as have and fulfill specific roles in keeping or had parents or tors are active right from the pollination. The permanent of excitement in bees and in- the College of Arts and Sci- their society. grandparents who did it,” Visi- start of spring and will remain disappearance of pollinators sects.” ences are studying honey bees “For example, when pupae de- na said. “We plan to give stu- that way until the first frost.” would be detrimental to soci- Shufran stressed the differenc- and other pollinators. Camila velop into adults, they start as dents an opportunity to learn OSU Extension has received ety. es between honey bees raised Armas, an animal and food sci- nurses taking care of larvae, about beekeeping by tour- a grant through the Southern Researchers at the U.S. Depart- for commercial pollination ences graduate student, began and after two to three weeks, ing larger hive operations off Risk Management program ment of Agriculture report not services and honey production researching them in the lab of they go outside the hive to campus. We provide hands-on to develop and host in-per- only bees but also wasps, but- and those that live in the wild assistant professor Darren Ha- collect pollen,” she said. “It's experience with instructional son workshops and an online terflies, other insects and birds as native pollinators. gen. amazing how this behavior presentations on how to do a course for beginner beekeep- are all responsible for polli- “In the US., there are 4,000 “I'm focused on the identifica- and others can be explained hive check, why we do it, what ers. More information on the nating more than 100 crops in different species of native tion of RNA modifications in by looking at the information to look for and how to care for sessions and online curriculum the U.S. while contributing to bees; those are the pollina~ bees to better understand gene stored in DNA and/or RNA.” bees.” will be available soon. healthy ecosystems of clean air tors,” Shufran said. “Then there expression between castes, OSU Beekeeping Club Pollinator Power OSU Agriculture is dedicated and viable soil. When worker are non-native species of bees, such as pupae, nurses and for- Entomology senior Rachael How can people support na- to improving the quality of life bees abandon their hives due and those are the European agers,” Armas said. “The infor- Visina is involved with bees tive pollinators? of Oklahomans through sci- Grow na- to pests, diseases, pesticides, honey bees that don't pollinate mation that will be generated tive plants. OSU was recently ence-based information and through extracurricular activ- pollutants, stress and heat, the as well as our native pollina- in my project can be used by ities on campus. As president named an affiliate of the Bee education. It is comprised of result is Colony Collapse Disor- tors. Keeping European honey other scientists as a reference of the OSU Beekeeping Club, Campus USA program and en- the Ferguson College of Agri- der. bees is not the peaceful pasto- to continue developing con- her goal for the year is to pro- courages pollination through culture and two state agencies: “Commercial bees that are ral activity it used to be 30 or servation strategies from a ge- mote the organization and its native landscapes and na- OSU Ag Research and OSU Ex- worth millions of dollars were 40 years ago.” nomic approach.” increase its awareness among tive plant corridor. Homeown- tension.