June 25, 2022 Issue, Page 3 of 14

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News June 25, 2022 Celebrating -32 years Take steps toward financial freedom Next week, we observe In- financial windfall, such as a bo- dependence Day, an opportu- nus from your employer, a tax nity to celebrate all the liber- refund or even an inheritance, ties we enjoy in this country. consider putting some of it to Of course, there are different work in your investment port- types of freedoms - such as folio. Over time, these wind- financial freedom, which can open the doors to many other falls can add up. Reduce your debts. It may opportunities. What steps can you take to gain your financial be easier said than done, but independence? try to reduce, or eliminate, as many debts as you can. The less Here are a few suggestions: money you have to pay each month on your debts, the more Save, invest ... and repeat. you'll have available to save ‘There's really no shortcut to and invest. Of course, some will begin at 6:00 in the main stage area at Contest which is at 10:30 on Saturday achieving financial freedom debts, such as your mortgage, Cedar Point with the Altus Airforce Color = you do have to save and in- can’t be easily erased, but if and entry forms can be downloaded from vest for many years. And that you can find ways to cut down ‘There’s a buzz around western Oklaho- Guard presenting the colors and Colonel the Foss Lake Christmas in July Facebook means you should take full on spending, you may be sur- ma as organizers for Foss Lake Christmas Tom Ivester will be the speaker. You can page. ‘The evening will be complete with advantage of the opportuni- prised at how much progress in July are preparing for 32nd annual fes- enjoy a free concert Friday evening with ties available to you. If you tival July 8th and 9th. Each year, vendors the Tyler Wilhem Band from 8:00-11:00 the Lighted Boat Parade and a spectacu- you can make toward debt re- have a 401(k) or similar retire- come from several states to share their pmat Cedar Point. Saturday kicks off early lar fireworks show. For information on ment plan at work, try to put duction. wares with everything from handmade with the Sth Annual 5K Fun run across the lighted boats call Rock Rodebush at in as much as you can afford Prepare for the unexpected. jewelry, arts and crafts, and of course great food . This festival is one of the larg- the Dam starting at 7am at the Foss State park Office. Information about the 5k can the Copper Cove Marina - 580-660-6585. each year, and when your sal- Life is unpredictable - and For Park Information call 580-592-4433. ary goes up, increase your con- some unforeseen _ events est outdoor events in western Oklahoma be found on FaceBook at “Foss Lake SK and is a time where families can enjoy Fun Run.” The Kayak “Trail Ride” begins For vendor information call Neva Pyatt tributions, Even if you have a could threaten your ability to time in the water, music, or browsing thru at 10:00 at Chinaberry with check-in at at 580-497-6217. Festival attendees will 401(), you may also be eligible achieve, and maintain, your the vendors who will be ready for business 9:30. It's not too late to enter your child be exempt from paying the state fee upon to fund an IRA. Both a 401(k) financial independence. For and an IRA offer tax benefits example, if you were unable to at 1:00 on Friday . The Veterans program in the Little Foss Lake King and Queen entry. and an array of investment op- work for a while due to illness tions, so they are powerful re- or injury, you might be forced Oklahoma wheat harvest is 75% complete tirement savings vehicles. to dip into your savings and Invest for growth. How long-term investments just to much you invest is obviously help meet your cost of living. a key factor in reaching your By Alisa Boswell-Gore Strickland said. “They got ability from field to field is carfentrazone. financial freedom. But how You can help protect yourself from this risk by building an STILLWATER, Okla. - Okla- enough rain that some produc- largely due to variety genetics “Farmers, applicators and har- you invest is also important. If you're going to accumulate the emergency fund containing homa wheat’ producers are ers have gotten up to 40 to 50 and timely spring rains.” finally making great strides bushels per acre, but as you go Bushong said he foresees some vest crews should keep in mind resources you need to retire several months’ worth of living issues with test weight as har- most of these products have at comfortably and meet your expenses, with the money kept in their harvesting season west, the drier it gets.” vest continues to move west. least a seven-day pre-harvest other financial goals, you will in a liquid, low-risk account. following a week-long delay Yields for the southwest re- “Tthink we're going to see some interval,” he said. “The biggest need to devote a reasonable stemming from heavy rains gion average anywhere from 5 shriveled grain, so test weight concerns farmers have right percentage of your investment And you may want to consult across the state. to 25 bushels per acre. with a financial professional to According to recent wheat “The biggest yield I've seen in will fall offa little bit,” he said, learn about other protection harvest reports from the the Jackson County region is adding that there have also now is every rain we get on a dollars hides, to growth-oriented ve- including stocks and been isolated issues with hail fully mature crop, the lower strategies. Oklahoma Wheat Commis- 27 bushels per acre,” Strick- stock-based mutual funds. Of sion, a large majority of the land said. damage, and crown root rot the test weights are going to It will take a concerted ef- damage is causing premature course, these investments will fort to reach your financial crops from Clinton, Weath- Despite this, test weights are deaths in other crops. Some be.” fluctuate in value, so you'll erford and Carnegie, down coming in around 57 to 60 fields will be less than average Bushong said farmers need to need to be prepared to accept independence — but, like all freedoms, it offers immense south to Pocasset and Chicka- pounds per bushel. production from drought dam- harvest their wheat as soon as a certain level of risk. Your in- sha received major hail dam- Northwest Oklahoma age. possible to quickly establish dividual risk tolerance will help benefits. age and heavy rains and were A large portion of northwest “the worst fields for sprout their summer crops, such as determine how much of your This article was written still fighting mud as of last crops were harvested last week damage appear to be earlier grain sorghum, soybeans and portfolio should be devoted to by Edward Jones for use by week. This, along with severe with average yields of 20 to 35 maturing varieties, so if a field growth investments. planned to be harvested for sesame, so they have a chance Put financial windfalls to your local Edward Jones Fi- drought during the growing bushels per acre, with some is seed wheat, producers should to finish out before the killing work, season in areas west of Inter- crops reaching as high as 80 be oe cautious,” Bushong freeze this fall. Whenever you receive a nancial Advisor. state-35, will impact overall bushels per acre, according to statewide numbers. Recent Josh Bushong, northwest area Bushong said producers who For the latest harvest reports, reports also said elevators are reporting more sprout due Extension specialist in agrono- established their crops early my. Bushong said test weights ran into more disease issues, visit Silva's World of Wheat blog or the latest Oklahoma Edward Jones to excessive moisture in the and protein for the region are while those who planted later Wheat Commission report. SPUSGEEIESR BN GAIED southwest, south central and right where they need to be. faced the negative effects of OSU Extension uses research- central regions. These three “Heavily grazed wheat and a drought. Several fields with Edward Jones, Member SIPC regions are nearing the har- wheat following a summer short and thin wheat stands based information to help all vest finish line. crop last year have been the are starting to show issues Oklahomans solve local issues 2014 W. 3rd | Elk City, OK 73644 OSU Test Plots and Variety fields yielding the least,” Bush- with weed pressure, such as and concerns, promote lead- Trials ong said. “Some fields, even crabgrass, horseweed and pig- ership and manage resources being stunted in height weed. Bushong said producers “We didn’t make much prog- while wisely throughout the state's (580) 225-3156 ress the week following the better than expected. I believe have been considering harvest Robert Stephens with a thin stand, have yields aids, such as 2,4-D, dicamba, 77 counties, Most information rains, but fortunately, we the main difference in the vari- glyphosate, metsulfuron and is available at little to no cost. Financial Advisor [email protected] were able to get back at it,” said Amanda Silva, Oklahoma State University Extension specialist for small grains. “Until early last week, it was stop and go. We started, then we had to stop because we got some rain, We tried to cut ear- ly the week following the rain, and it was too wet.” With no rain and hot tem- peratures this past week, OSU crews were able to harvest test plots in the northwest, north central and south central re- gions. As of Monday, most OSU plots were harvested, with crews finishing up in the Panhandle. One OSU location in Altus was lost altogether because of the drought. Silva said overall, yields vary for a number of reasons, in- dluding drought, hail damage, Opioids: Did You Talk With Your Kids root/crown rot fungal dis- eases and brown wheat mite Know? About the Facts. infestations. Any amount of time a crop spends in the field Even if a doctor prescribes an opioid, scribe an beyond maturity increases its risks of shattering, sprout- there are still risks when taking them, things lik surg ing and low test weights. including addiction and overdose, Although sprout damage has been reported, and test which may lead to death. r incorrectly—can cause weights may have dropped eliant on the drug and with the latest rains, condi- tions do not appear to be dire, according to Silva. Protein is favorable in most places, too. Southwest Oklahoma Gary Strickland, Jackson County director and south- west regional agronomist for OSU Extension, said the crop in southwest Oklahoma is no less than what wheat experts oy and producers expected, with Start talking with your kids about the facts. For tips on acre abandonment at a little over 50% due to long-term how—and when—to begin the conversation, visit 5 drought conditions. www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov. A hear you® Siete oee Admunlaneton “The east side of the south- west area is better off than ‘This program is funded by Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, when you head farther west,” ‘Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, SWODA, and the Beckham County Coalition SMA-18-5078