By Marty Morgan, Cooke County Ag Agent

We received up to 1 inch of rain last Saturday morning early which was good if you had got some wheat planted.  It looks like about 25 percent of farmers have planted wheat and oats so far, while the others are waiting to see the progress of the marching Army Worms.  Most of the volunteer wheat and oats has been devoured by Army Worms therefore giving reason for concerns to farmers thinking about drilling in their crops. Some folks sprayed their Bermuda grass pastures to keep the worms from completely destroying it.  It’s ironic because most years there isn’t enough grass to worry about spraying going into fall.  This year has been quite the exception with plenty of rain and moisture producing more grass than we know what to do with, and a bumper crop of Army Worms.  The Milo and Corn harvest is complete with the final county average for Milo at 3250 lbs/acre with average weights of 55 lbs/bu.  Corn averaged 80 bu/ac and average weights were 56 lbs/bu.  When harvest started it was looking like it would be an above average crop for both Milo and Corn but harvest was strung out because of rains and showers and the delays caused yields to get lighter with each passing week.  My records show we received over 34 inches of rain during the Milo and Corn growing season.  There were a few hard rains and some flooding occurred several times in fields which sure hurt the crops at the beginning of the growing season, especially the Milo.  Anyway it’s been a good year with ample moisture producing lots of grass for all the livestock. The cattle look real good, but the grass has been a little washy from all the rains, so the weight gains may not be as good as we think.  Fall weaning is right around the corner and producers are hoping the calf market will get a little stronger before they ship their calves to town.  The cattle market was up last week so let’s hope its up again this week as well!

  Last Week’s Markets(9-11 to 9-17)—-Dec. 16 Corn was down 4 cents on the week closing at $3.37.   Dec. 16 wheat settled at $4.03 on the Chicago board,  and $4.17 on the KC board.  Nov. 16 Soybeans were down 14 cents on the week and settled at $9.66.  Oct. 16 live cattle were up over $3 on the week settling at $108 and Feb. 17 Lives settled at $108 as well.  Sept. 16 Feeders settled around $135.5, with the Oct. 16 feeder’s settling at $133.  In the local markets six weight Feeder Steers and Heifers were $steady to a few dollars higher on a light run.  Steer and Heifer calves were $3-5 lower on very limited offerings as well.  Slaughter cows and bulls no good test.