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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network weekdays- if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click here for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays on RON.
Let's Check the Markets!
OKC West is our Market Links Sponsor- they sell cattle three days a week- Cows on Mondays, Stockers on Tuesday and Feeders on Wednesday- Call 405-262-8800 to learn more.
Today's First Look:
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futures- Click or tap here for the report posted Friday January 3rd.
Okla Cash Grain:
Futures Wrap:
Feeder Cattle Recap:
Slaughter Cattle Recap:
TCFA Feedlot Recap:
Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor
KC Sheperd, Associate Farm Director and Editor Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager Dave Lanning, Markets and Production Kane Kinion, Web and Email Editorial Assistant
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Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Monday, January 6, 2020
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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As we begin 2020, I had the chance to sit down with Matt Pinnell and talk about his journey to become the 17th Lt. Governor of Oklahoma- and his efforts as a part of Governor Kevin Stitt's Cabinet to promote small business and tourism in the state.
The Lt. Governor offers an update on the efforts to build a brand for Oklahoma- Pinnell says to expect a giant "reveal" in about another month. We talked Agritourism and his belief that we have just scratched the surface in this area of tourism for the state- saying we have so much potential in being able to give people around the world an authentic experience when they travel to Oklahoma.
Today's Episode is powered by Public Service Company of Oklahoma.
To listen to our Episode 15 of the Road to Rural Prosperity- click or tap here.
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Sponsor Spotlight
Midwest Farm Shows is proud to produce the two best Farm Shows in the State of Oklahoma annually- the Tulsa Farm Show each December and the Oklahoma City Farm Show each April.
They would like to thank all of you who participated in their 2019 Tulsa City Farm Show.
Up next will be the Oklahoma City's premier spring agricultural and ranching event which returns to the State Fair Park April 23-24-25, 2020.
Now is the ideal time to contact the Midwest Farm Show Office at 507-437-7969 and book space at the 2020 Oklahoma City Farm Show. To learn more about the Oklahoma City Farm Show, click here.
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 As 2020 Begins- Meet KC Sheperd, Our Newest Member of the ROAN/Oklahoma Farm Report Team!
This is an exciting week for me as we are finally able to introduce you to our newest member of the ROAN/Oklahoma Farm Report team- new Associate Farm Director KC Sheperd.
KC is a native of western Oklahoma- grew up on a farm and was a part of the FFA at Canute High School before getting bit by the radio bug while at Southwestern State University in Weatherford- worked for our great affiliate in that part of the world, the Coyote, and has been in radio ever since.
Joining our team gives her the chance to combine her love for rural Oklahoma and agriculture with her love for radio!
Check out our video visit with KC, which allows you to meet her this morning- we look forward to getting her around to a lot of meetings in the days ahead and hope you will have a chance to meet her in person!
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| | Welcome KC Sheperd to the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network |
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled an opportunity to quickly consider the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. In a speech on the Senate floor Friday, McConnell says the Senate will "go about ordinary business," because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is holding the articles of impeachment, thought to delay USMCA consideration in the Senate this month. A hearing is on the calendar Tuesday morning for the Senate Finance Committee to markup the implementing legislation for USMCA. Back on December 19th- the House approved the implementing legislation for USMCA by a 385 to 41 vote.
McConnell charged Democrats in the House were "searching desperately for some new talking point" on impeachment, and alleged they were developing cold feet. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded, however, that "instead of trying to find the truth," comments by McConnell indicate there will not be a fair impeachment trial. Senate consideration of USMCA was expected after the impeachment trial in the Senate. However, with a delay and fighting amongst lawmakers regarding the trial, USCMA could sneak through before a trial begins.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is hoping to get a Committee recommendation to the full Senate on Tuesday to ratify USMCA when the Committee meets. There is talk that a vote on the Senate Floor for USMCA could come as early as Thursday.
Click here to read more about the potential Senate vote on USMCA soon.
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Townsend Bailey is the Director of Sustainability for McDonald's in North America, and he's also a member of the Board of Directors for the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.
I sat down with Bailey to talk about why it's so important for McDonald's to be a player at the table of improving the sustainability story for all segments of the beef industry, "Beef is one of our iconic products, and we're a proud hamburger company, and we're committed to working with the beef industry. Also, our customers want to know the brands that they support share their values. So one way that we can demonstrate that is by working with the beef industry, and to support continuous improvement on sustainability topics. We know that it's not going to be anyone, no single one player is going to address these shared topics of concern, whether it's climate change, water, animal welfare. It's going to require all of us, and that's why efforts like the roundtable are so important to make sure that multiple views throughout the entire value chain are represented at the table as we kind of plot the path forward."
Bailey goes onto say that he's encouraged and positive about the way the process is progressing, "I couldn't be more optimistic about it. I'm so proud of the work of the roundtable and what they've done. The diverse perspectives that come together challenge one another, the trust that's been built there between the different value chain sectors. You know we don't always see eye to eye, with diverse perspectives, but that's what makes the work even better, that creative tension. So publishing the U.S. beef industry sustainability framework, and all the content that's got, and resources that's got for restaurants, and every sector of the value chain is so important. Then just recognizing the complexity of the agricultural system. There's no silver bullet, there's no single one solution, and that's why frameworks and tools that have that kind of flexibility are so important."
You can listen to the entire conversation between Bailey and I on Friday's Beef Buzz - here.
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Sponsor Spotlight
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Visit www.afrmic.com today to find your local agent and get a quick quote today!
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After one of the United States' most challenging growing seasons in history, that included weather-related planting delays, delayed crop maturation and early rains and snows during harvest, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) has published its ninth annual Corn Harvest Quality Report, a representative view of the quality of corn assembled for export, collected as it enters the international merchandising channels.
The report is based on 623 samples collected from inbound farm-originating trucks at harvest.
"As industry stakeholders and international buyers make decisions about purchase contracts and processing needs for corn for feed, food or industrial use, corn quality information becomes critical," said Kurt Shultz, USGC senior director of global strategies. "Reports like the Council's crop quality reports provide transparency about crop conditions and consistently reinforce that the United States is the world's most reliable supplier of good quality corn."
Click here to review more about the 2019/2020 corn harvest from U.S. Grains Council.
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Following on the heels of a government-mandated increase in farmers' labor costs, the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC), a diverse group of organizations representing the needs of agricultural employers across the country, today urged the U.S. Senate to take up legislation to solve the agricultural labor crisis by calling attention to the dire labor situation facing our nation's agricultural producers.
The Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) is the required wage rate for farmers who use the H-2A program and the Department of Labor today mandated an increase that will average 6% across the nation. The AWC told the Senate that the increase will make it difficult for some farms to continue operating, coming after a year of natural disasters, trade disruptions, low commodity prices and declining farm income.
In its letter, the AWC called on the Senate to take action to address critical agricultural labor issues. The coalition urges the Senate to consider the impacts of the AEWR on U.S. farmers and is asking for an alternative that will ensure a level playing field for farmers and ranchers making them more competitive with foreign producers.
Check out more highlights about what the coalition has said in their letter to the Senate by clicking or tapping here- we do have a link to the complete letter in our webstory as well.
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Our first Ag Perspectives Podcast for 2020 features a conversation with the US Meat Export Federation Economist Erin Borror. I talked about 2020 with Borror as it relates primarily to US Beef Exports.
Two agreements took effect as of January first- the partial US-Japan Agreement and the exclusively US Beef Tariff Rate Quota established by the EU. Borror looks at how those deals will improve US Beef access in 2020- and she also talks about the potential a Phase One Trade Deal with China could have for US Beef- acknowledging that we are still in the dark on the details of what may be signed January 15th by President Trump and high ranking Chinese officials that he has said will be on hand in Washington. Borror says currently the US has about 1% of the Chinese import market that was worth over seven billion dollars in 2019- and opening up of that market for US Beef could be huge.
Borror also talked about the continuing success story of US Beef into South Korea- as she expects further gains in the new year for US beef cattle producers in this dynamic market.
You can listen to the whole conversation between Borror and I regarding 2020 US Beef Exports, by jumping over to our website.
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And Finally- Kudos to Ken Root Who Announced His Retirement on Friday
Ken Root and I actually started our Farm Broadcast Careers the same year- back in 1974- I have a few more years in radio than he does as my start in radio actually goes back to 1970- but I did non farm broadcast radio during my years at the University of Kentucky before I traveled west to Wichita to start on KFH Radio in 1974. That was the year that Ken Root was hired by Oklahoma City legendary broadcaster Russell Pierson to work with him on WKY Radio and TV- he was a Vo-Ag teacher before that- and Ken has worked in the world of Ag- both as a broadcaster but also as a Trade Association Executive over these past 46 years.
On Facebook Friday- he announced he is retiring from his position as the Senior Farm Director of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network- many of our Oklahoma friends saluted Ken in comments from his post- for example Joe Neal Hampton said "Congrats Ken. U had a great career. Enjoy life. I am not far behind u in doing the same." Joe Neal is planning to retire later this year as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association.
Others who chimed in included Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel, former AFR President Terry Detrick, Former Oklahoma Secretary of Ag Terry Peach and many more.
Ken has been a friend and a mentor/colleague as we have traveled the service to Agriculture road over the decades. In recent years, Ken has been a regular reader of this email- and it has been our honor that he has read/heard stories here that he thought met his journalistic standards in such a way that he shared many of them with his audience in Iowa. (always with our open ended blessing- you want to use it- go for it!) In return, we have shared more than one of his stories here in Oklahoma as well.
Congrats to Ken and his wife Jane as they tackle this next stage of their lives- I suspect that Ken won't stay away from the microphone altogether- and I look forward to his periodic "projects" that he chooses to get involved in- in the meantime- Godspeed Ken- thanks for your friendship and nonstop professional help through the years!!!
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, AFR Insurance, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Stillwater Milling Company, National Livestock Credit Corporation, Oklahoma Beef Council, Oklahoma AgCredit, Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program, Inc., the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association and KIS Futures for their support of our daily Farm News Update. For your convenience, we have our sponsors' websites linked here- just click on their name to jump to their website- check their sites out and let these folks know you appreciate the support of this daily email, as their sponsorship helps us keep this arriving in your inbox on a regular basis- at NO Charge!
We also appreciate our Market Links Sponsor - OKC West Livestock!
We invite you to check out our website at the link below too that includes an archive of these daily emails, audio reports and top farm news story links from around the globe.
God Bless! You can reach us at the following:
phone: 405-473-6144
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