Last week’s cold temperatures may have killed as much as 15% of the Plains and Midwest’s winter wheat crops, that is according to the Commodity Weather Group.
Without a protective layer of snowfall in the regions, wheat crops were left vulnerable to winter kill. The frigid conditions stretched from Montana all the way to Texas, impacting roughly 65% of the country’s hard red winter wheat.
We likely will not know the extent of the damage until dormant crops resume growth this spring.
While many are ending January on a warmer note, the mild conditions are not expected to last.
USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says that more Arctic air is on the way.
“As we move into the late week and the weekend period we will see a little bit of a southward push of that Arctic cold front and we will unleash a new round of cold air, nothing like what we saw last week, but certainly colder air coming for the Plains, the Midwest as we move into the weekend and beyond,” Rippey explains.
He creds a weak La Niña weather pattern for the cooler-than-normal conditions, with cold air blowing in through the Arctic Sea from Siberia.
Dry conditions may tighten hay supplies before summer growth. John Mays of Central Life Sciences joined us to discuss the risks of extended grain storage, how quality can be affected over time, and what growers can do to protect their grain while waiting for market opportunities.
March 02, 2026 02:21 PM
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Britt Hilton with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau joined us to discuss current conditions, producer impacts, and the road to recovery following the Ranger Road Fire.
February 27, 2026 02:18 PM
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The Ranger Road Fire is fully contained after burning nearly 300,000 acres. Ranchers face significant cattle and fence losses, with recovery efforts underway.
February 26, 2026 01:04 PM
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Strong export demand supports barge markets, but weather risks remain.
February 26, 2026 07:00 AM
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Michael Kelsey of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association joined us with the latest on the Oklahoma wildfires, recovery efforts for ranchers, and the role agriculture leaders are playing in supporting rural communities.
February 25, 2026 12:13 PM
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According to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, fire crews remain on alert statewide as Red Flag conditions persist. Officials warn that even contained fires can reignite quickly under current weather conditions.
February 24, 2026 05:46 PM
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