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!
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 yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
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
Carson Horn, Associate Farm Director and Editor
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
Macey Mueller, Email and Web Writer
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Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Thursday, November 17, 2016
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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 Featured Story:Brian Klippenstein with Protect the Harvest Reveals HSUS's Strategy - Sounds a Call to Action for Ag Community
While Oklahoma's State Question 777 - Right to Farm was being blocked by voters, Massachusetts was passing their own legislation targeting production agriculture. This new policy regulates that no eggs, pork or veal that comes from confined animals may be sold in the state of Massachusetts. Backing this legislation was the same organization that supported the opposition of SQ-777, the Humane Society of the United States. Brian Klippenstein of the pro-agriculture organization Protect the Harvest, says it is time for production ag to stand up for itself and fight back against the animal rights extremists.
"Those who are in the business of disparaging agriculture," Klippenstein said, "have fine-tuned misleading arguments that can sell in urban populations."This is the tactic Klippenstein says the opposition to SQ-777 used and ultimately succeeded with. He argues that Right to Farm should have passed without issue had it not been for the misleading information disseminated by HSUS. He also argues that the organization and its partners are now targeting agriculture state by state, in a divide and conquer type strategy, using the Massachusetts legislation as the most recent example of this exploitation."First and foremost it's a constitutional issue, it's an interstate commerce violation, a trade violation," Kippelstein said. "Agriculture, the president, the republicans in Congress are all trying to press to lower international trade barriers. We have states erecting them here in the country and agriculture has failed to take note so far."Klippenstein talked with me about one of the key tactics that HSUS is using against animal agriculture- as they establish different standards for the same practice state to state- that makes it even more difficult to produce a product like eggs in a profitable manner with each state and company wanting them produced under different protocol.Listen to Klippenstein talk more about the legal strategies in play by organizations working against production agriculture.
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Sponsor Spotlight
Oklahoma AgCredit serves rural Oklahoma communities and agriculture with loans and financial services. Providing loans for rural property, farm and ranch land, country homes, livestock, equipment and operating costs is all we do.
We are the state's largest agricultural lending cooperative, serving 60 Oklahoma Counties. To learn more about Oklahoma AgCredit, click here for our website or call 866-245-3633.
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State Conservationist Reminds Landowners of Environmental Quality Incentive Program Deadline on Friday
Applications for participation in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) are due Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist for Oklahoma, Gary O'Neill, reminds eligible landowners and agricultural producers to submit inquiries and applications to their local USDA Field Service Center by this Friday to be considered for the current sign-up round."EQIP is an excellent opportunity for farmers and ranchers to begin or continue tackling the natural resource issues they have on their land," said O'Neill. "Voluntary conservation programs such as EQIP continue to demonstrate that agricultural producers are doing their part to improve soil health and air and water quality without regulation."EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to plan and implement conservation practices that improve soil, water, air and related natural resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forest land.NRCS accepts and processes EQIP applications throughout the year. However, application deadlines are periodically set to consider eligible applications for funding. Applications submitted after Nov. 18, 2016 will be evaluated for funding during later funding opportunities. Producers must submit a complete program application, establish "farm records," and provide other documentation to support eligibility to be considered for financial assistance through EQIP."Oklahoma farmers and ranchers have always been active in conservation. I encourage producers to get their applications in by this Friday and continue Oklahoma's tradition of voluntary, local conservation," said O'Neill.
Click here for a link to find your local USDA Field Service Center.
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Dry, Windy Conditions Prompt Forestry Service to Discourage Burning as Fire Danger Grows in OK
Outdoor burning is not advised today due to the dry, windy conditions that will be present over most of the state. Officials from Oklahoma Forestry Services report that dry conditions over the last week have led to extending fire danger into today.
"Wind will be a factor beginning today as warm dry conditions continue," said George Geissler, Oklahoma State Forester. "Any fire that starts will spread rapidly, so we are urging everyone to delay any outdoor activity that might spark a blaze. Simple postponement of burning can mean the difference during these dangerous conditions."
Given the current fire weather forecast, today is expected to present the highest fire danger. A Red Flag Warning has been issued today for the Oklahoma Panhandle and for counties in far western Oklahoma. Fire danger will continue to be high ahead of a cold front set to enter the state Thursday night, bringing southwest winds at 20-25 mph with potential gusts in excess of 30 mph.
Caution should be exercised with outdoor grilling, welding, and camp fires. "We are just asking Oklahomans to remain vigilant as we enter our winter fire season," said Geissler.
Citizens are asked to report any new fires or suspicious smoke to the closest fire department. Safety of the firefighters and public is of the utmost concern and with this weather forecast one of the main threats for firefighters will be rapid spread of any fire start.
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Increasing Red Meat Supplies Challenging Marketing Chain to Adapt, But Will This Trend Continue
Cattle prices have had a rough couple years as they fell in response to carcass weights getting too heavy in 2015 and then again this year, not just because of beef supplies but also pork supplies as well. Jim Robb of the Livestock Marketing Information Center says it has been the combination of the two red meat supplies that has overwhelmed the markets."We've looked back over the last seven or eight weeks and we've had kind of a mountain of red meat in the marketplace and overall, the markets have struggled to deal with that as we work through the whole supply chain," Robb said. "It's been a challenge for retailers and everybody."Robb reports that on average, the meat market has had roughly seven to eight percent increases year over year that have been split fairly evenly between beef and pork. The latest reports though, says Robb, show an eight percent increase in beef alone and a more modest three percent increase in pork. This he says is causing the supply chain to struggle even more in attempting to keep up with moving this amount of tonnage through the system."Seems like we're adapting to that and I think that's part of what's happened in the last week or two in terms of the stabilization of prices," Robb said, attributing this to the marketing chain dealing with the reality of the situation. "Now, is that tonnage sustainable? I think that's an important question."Based on current cattle on feed inventories, Robb's best guess to that question, is that this current tonnage is not sustainable moving into next year. He believes the market will continue to see year over year increases of up to four or five percent, but will likely not reach the levels experienced this year. He says though that amount of tonnage is still a dramatic increase and that exports will become an important channel in finding a home for the excess product.Listen to Robb discuss how the mountain of red meat currently is being dealt with in the marketing chain during the latest Beef Buzz.
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Sponsor Spotlight
We are happy to have the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association as a part of our great lineup of email sponsors. They do a tremendous job of representing cattle producers at the state capitol as well as in our nation's capitol. They seek to educate OCA members on the latest production techniques for maximum profitability and to communicate with the public on issues of importance to the beef industry. Click here for their website to learn more about the OCA.
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Success of Crop Insurance Program Speaks for Itself, Fundamental in the Shaping of Next Farm Bill
With wheat prices looking dim, dry conditions and deadlines looming, farmers are being constantly reminded of the importance for retaining crop insurance. RON's Associate Farm Director Carson Horn spoke to Tom Zacharias, president of National Crop Insurance Services, during the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasters convention last week. Zacharias asserts that the success of federal crop insurance programs speaks for itself.We're winding down the claim season which this year has been pretty good - crops in general are good," Zacharias said. "Coverage in this program is about 80-85 percent of planted acres, about 290 million acres covered. It's pretty much become a 24/7 business."As early talks of the 2018 Farm Bill begin to sprout up in the national discussion, Zacharias says crop insurance programs, though a daunting prospect, will be fundamental in crafting the next bill."Quite frankly the idea of it being time to do another one is like, 'Oh my goodness,' but that said - the industry is in a position to respond to the risk management needs of this country," Zacharias said. "We will sit down with the new administration, work with Congress and as we hear the needs coming up for the next Farm Bill, we'll work that out and implement what's needed for American's farmers."Listen to Zacharias talk more about the success of the federal crop insurance program and the integral role it will play in shaping the next Farm Bill.
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Want to Have the Latest Energy News Delivered to Your Inbox Daily?
Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains- Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.
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OSU Groundbreaking Continues 'Guarantee' of Providing Farmer Access to Improved Crop Varieties
Oklahoma Foundation Seed Stocks has more than doubled its annual production of Foundation Seed developed by Oklahoma State University plant breeders over the last five years, leading to the need for a new, much-larger facility to meet the demand for more efficient, high-yielding varieties throughout the Southern Plains states.As part of the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma Foundation Seed Stocks is instrumental in making available improved wheat, peanut and grass varieties developed by DASNR's world-renowned plant breeders to certified seed growers."This highly beneficial arrangement enables farmers and ranchers to have access to and take advantage of superior varieties with desired traits such as improved disease, drought and pest resistance," said Jeff Edwards, head of the OSU department of plant and soil sciences.The new 20,000 square foot, $4 million OFSS facility targets not only current but foreseeable future demand. The complex will include a warehouse, seed-cleaning operation and offices.Click here to read more about the new Oklahoma Foundation Seed Stocks facility.
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Oklahoma Senate Republicans Organize with Mike Schulz Officially Elected as President Pro Tem
Senate Republicans have elected Mike Schulz as President Pro Tempore-designate of the Oklahoma State Senate. The Altus farmer is the first Pro Tempore from western Oklahoma in more than 50 years. Schulz will lead a historic Republican Caucus that includes 42 members, the largest majority held by either party since 1965, when the Senate went from 45 seats to 48 to assure equal representation for citizens across the state.
"I'm deeply honored to be elected the next Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate. I appreciate the confidence placed in me by my Republican colleagues and I look forward to working with each of them to make Oklahoma a stronger and more prosperous state," Schulz said. "The challenges we face look overwhelming at times, but we can overcome them all by working together. Senate Republicans are serious about working toward long-term solutions and I know the enthusiasm, expertise, and experience of the men and women in this caucus will help us make Oklahoma stronger."
Senate Republicans named Schulz President Pro Tem-designate in April. This week's vote allowed the 13 freshmen members of the Senate Republican Caucus the chance to vote in leadership elections. Senator Schulz and the GOP caucus have put into place several leaders under the President Pro Tem- click here to see the full list to this point- a complete lineup of Committee Chairs and members will be coming next month.
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God Bless! You can reach us at the following:
phone: 405-473-6144
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