Heavy rains soak Oklahoma farms, straining operations and delaying production

Oklahoma is in the middle of one of its wettest Junes in years, and farmers and ranchers are feeling it.

Tulsa has seen nearly 10 inches of rain this month alone, well above average for this time of year. 

Across the state, the storms have flooded fields, delayed planting schedules, and ruined supplies like feed and fertilizer.

At the John 3:16 Ranch just outside Tulsa, deep mud and standing water have made day-to-day work a challenge.

“We’re managing,” says Shane Rice, the ranch supervisor. “But it hasn’t gotten easier.”

The ranch serves both as a working farm and a recovery program. Crews there are navigating stuck equipment and caring for stressed animals while continuing to provide food for local shelters.

“The thing I think about is the aspect of the animals that depend on me, as well as the people who depend on me,” Rice said. “What I do matters because we are providing for people that are in need.”

Thanks to a regenerative farming approach, the land at John 3:16 has stayed in relatively good shape. But like many across the state, they’re hoping for a drier July.

According to the National Weather Service -- the wettest June on record for Tulsa was in 1904, with a total of 14-point-87 inches of rain. And with more storms in the forecast, producers across the state say the pressure isn’t letting up anytime soon.