Research

Weather wages war on wheat
Oklahoma weather creates positive and negative effects on agriculture
By Sunny Fye, Comanche, Okla.

Oklahoma is known for its vivid red dirt, unbelievable sunsets and family farming. However, recent weather has taken a toll on the state's traditional agricultural producers, which has resulted in positive and negative outcomes.
             
As the fifth largest state in cattle production and third largest wheat producer, Oklahoma has an economy that depends on agriculture, which greatly depends on the weather according to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
           
"The last three years of weather abnormalities have effected the Oklahoma economy with losses of agricultural production," said Darrell Peel, Oklahoma State University professor and extension livestock marketing specialist. "Rural communities rely on livestock, hay and wheat production for small town survival."
           
The unusual weather patterns of the past several years have created negative effects on agriculture. Oklahomans, accustomed to the drastic climate changes, have found positive outcomes to the sometimes impossible situations.
           
"The weather can turn over night," Peel said. "Recognizing that farming is a risky business is an essential part of profitability."
           
During the past two years, Oklahoma has experienced the effects of an El Niño, a major warming of the equatorial waters in the Pacific Ocean. El Niño events usually occur every three to seven years and cause shifts in normal weather patterns.
           
Becky Brewer, director of the animal industry services division of ODAFF, said the 2007 spring and summer rainfall has made for an excellent hay crop, which provides food and fiber for animals.
           
"It was a great year for hay production, which helped to lift us from the drought problems last year," Brewer said. "We had such a hard time with the lack of water for our cattle herds because of the dry weather in 2006."
           
Farmers and ranchers across the state found it hard to maintain enough water supplies in pasture ponds and creeks to nourish cattle herds in 2006, leaving many ranchers with no choice but to ship cattle to the stockyards.
           
Brewer said during the 2006 drought, the largest number of cattle were sold in the history of the livestock market.
           
Fires also injured many animals and destroyed available food, which added to the decrease in cattle herds across the state.
           
The disasters Oklahoma has faced can be attributed to the extreme weather patterns typical in this region, Brewer said.
           
El Niño first unleashed its wrath on Oklahoma in 2005 by causing a hot, dry summer. In 2007, tropical storm Erin left Oklahoma with 10 inches of rain in a single night across portions of the state, causing flooding that hindered farmers from harvesting their crops.
           
The effects of El Niño have influenced positive research to develop agriculturally friendly techniques for farmers and ranchers.
           
OSU scientists said recent climate changes have allowed them to discover much-needed information regarding Oklahoma weather and agriculture.
           
"The ongoing weather process leaves an imprint on agriculture every year," said Brett Carver, wheat genetics chair in agriculture and regents professor for the OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. "The weather really shapes what I do. You have to be ahead
of it."
           
Carver said his job is necessary because of Oklahoma's drastic weather changes. Long drought followed by torrential rainfall correspond with the much-needed research to produce "weather friendly" wheat.
           
"Some good does come from the weather," Carver said. "It allows me to experience exactly how the wheat reacts to the weather."
           
Carver develops wheat varieties that are able to tolerate the ever-changing climate of Oklahoma. He said the recent weather extremes have made his job interesting and exciting.
           
"It is hard to breed the type of wheat you need when you do not know what you are breeding for," Carver said. "You can start developing wheat for drought resistance due to the summer of 2006, and then you get a summer like we just had, with too much rainfall that caused Oklahoma farmers to have a problem with rust."
           
Carver said although the rainfall was too abundant last summer and resulted in rust, it replenished the soil from the previous years
of drought.
           
"It takes 10 inches of water to make the first bushel of wheat," Carver said. "Oklahoma's soil is typically silt loam, which holds five inches itself. Therefore, we have to have rain at some point in time, and the rain this past summer saturated the soil back to where it needed to be."
           
David Riggs, part-time farmer and press supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, said Oklahoma is indebted to the rainfall, which provided farmers with much-needed moisture.
           
"My father-in-law, Robert Mack, said it was the same way in 1955 with an extreme drought following with 1956 being extremely wet," Riggs said. "In summer of 1957, Oklahoma produced the best crop it has ever seen. So, maybe this year is our lucky year."
           
Riggs, who sells hay to OSU, said Oklahoma is going to have to see a decent crop soon for the economy's sake.
           
"Loss of income for farmers is the major problem associated with the weather," Riggs said. "For me personally, it is a $50,000 to $75,000 loss a year and that is minor compared to major operations. I usually bale 2,000 to 3,000 round bales a year, and in 2006, I only baled 1,200."
           
Riggs, who specializes in the production of bermudagrass hay, native prairie and hay grazer, said there was not enough subsoil moisture in 2006. He said the rainfall helped his business significantly in the summer of 2007.
           
Riggs said it is the same for everyone across the state.
           
"The drought was devastating to every farmer," Riggs said. "Heavy rainfalls were helpful, but harmful in many ways, too. I hope more people realize we need more research, better prices and more agriculturally friendly equipment. I do not think many Oklahomans understand how important people like me are to the survival of our tradition."
           
Oklahoma farmers and ranchers struggled with the survival of agriculture for decades before modern science created technological advances.
           
With research today, Oklahoma's agricultural tradition will continue to survive the ever-changing wrath of Mother Nature.

Oklahoma averages from 40 to 60 days of thunderstorms throughout the state. (Photo by Candice Blackwell)

Heavy rains flattened wheat fields in June 2007. (Photo by Todd Johnson)