Subject: Oklahoma's Farm News Update
From: Ron Hays <ronphays@cox.net>
Date: 12/14/2016 6:43 AM
To: ronphays@cox.net



 
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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!  
 
   
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:  
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- as reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture on Tuesday, December 13th.
  
  
Futures Wrap:  
Our Daily Market Wrapup from the Radio Oklahoma Network - analyzing the Futures Markets from the previous Day.
  
Feeder Cattle Recap:  
The National Daily Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
  
Slaughter Cattle Recap: 
The National Daily Slaughter Cattle Summary- as prepared by the USDA.
  
TCFA Feedlot Recap:  
Finally, here is the Daily Volume and Price Summary from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
  


  
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 MuellerE-mail and Web Writer
  

Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News
 
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
   Wednesday, December 14, 2016


Howdy Neighbors! 

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 







RickPerryFormer Texas Governor Rick Perry to Head Energy- Montana Lawmaker Heading for Interior- USDA Still an Unknown
 

It's not just former Governor Rick Perry- but also former Commissioner of Agriculture for Texas Rick Perry who will be headed to Washington to become the Donald Trump Secretary of the US Dept of Energy.

In the Transition Team news release out at 5 AM this morning- the President Elect had good things to say about Governor Perry- "As the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry created created a business climate that produced millions of new jobs and lower energy prices in his state, and he will bring that same approach to our entire country as Secretary of Energy. My administration is going to make sure we take advantage of our huge natural resource deposits to make America energy independent and create vast new wealth for our nation, and Rick Perry is going to do an amazing job as the leader of that process."

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Interior will not be Congresswoman Rogers of Washington state- but rather the Congressman from Montana- Ryan Zinke.

As for the USDA slot- lots of folks in the Ag Community are questioning the idea of having Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp in that job. (See below for the Op-Ed from Steve Dittmer on his heartburn over Heidi- as it relates to mCOOL and GIPSA) 

The question is- if not Heidi- then who?  Rick Perry being picked for Energy takes his name off the table- and leaves one former Governor- Sonny Perdue from Georgia and one current Governor- Sam Brownback of Kansas- as prominent names left on the table. It is still a real possibility that Veep Elect Mike Pence may have sway for this pick- and that could bode well for an Indiana Secretary.

One name that has been named related to Ag- Brian Klippenstein of Protect the Harvest.  Protect the Harvest is a group founded by oil tycoon Forrest Lucas that defends animal agriculture and is a fierce critic of animal rights groups. Klippenstein has joined the Trump transition's landing team for USDA.  Joel Leftwich, Republican staff director for the Senate Agriculture Committee, is the only other landing team member who has been officially named.

Brian has been in Oklahoma and we talked to him multiple times as Protect the Harvest worked with Oklahoma farmers and ranchers on the Right to Farm Campaign.


HeitkampTell Trump Transition Team About Heitkamp - Agribusiness Freedom Foundation's Dittmer Sounds Off
    

Agribusiness Freedom Foundation Executive Vice President Steve Dittmer released an op-ed yesterday, outlining a few concerns he has regarding Trump favorite for Secretary of Agriculture nominee, Heidi Heitkamp.

Heitkamp is a Democrat senator from North Dakota and claims to be a supporter of both mCool and the GIPSA rule. Most stakeholders in the meat supply chain would like to see these particular regulations fade away, but Heitkamp's stance on these issues has created some renewed angst among those in the protein industry.

Tensions are heightened even more, states Dittmer, with Heitkamp's views outside of the agricultural realm. He contends that Trump's consideration of Heitkamp, who supports raising taxes on high-earners, is against repealing Obamacare and opposes border fence control, is an affront to those who voted for him.

Dittmer urges his audience to take action in voicing their opinions on Heitkamp's potential nomination by President-elect Trump by leaving comments on his Transition Team website and via their congressmen.

"There are some political angles the politicians are thinking about, including the chance to elect a Republican to the vacated seat and the chance to add both a female and a Democrat to the Cabinet," Dittmer states. "But those considerations need to take a back seat to the good of animal agriculture."
Get the full story behind Dittmer's stance on Trump favorite, Heide Heitkamp, by clicking here.

Sponsor Spotlight


P&K Equipment is Oklahoma's premier John Deere dealership. Whether it's residential, commercial, construction, or agricultural equipment, they've got it all- the inventory AND the resources to keep it running strong. Alongside the long-lasting John Deere brand, P&K shares a commitment to providing cutting edge solutions. P&K has ten locations in Oklahoma and nine in eastern Iowa; their mission is to create business relationships through honesty, courtesy, and a sense of urgency. They'll put their network, resources, and solutions to work for YOU. Visit P&K Equipment online... meet the experts and find out just why in Oklahoma John Deere starts with P&K. 


PecanOklahoma Grower Mike Spradling Explains the Newly Organized American Pecan Council in a Nutshell

American Pecan Council member and Tulsa-area pecan producer, Mike Spradling and I spoke recently about the establishment of the new checkoff program formed under the Federal Pecan Marketing Order. He explained how this all came about and what the council's duties will entail.


According to Spradling, the pecan industry has looked to other nut councils, like for pistachios and almonds, and observed what they have accomplished for their respective industries. He contends that with their own checkoff program, the pecan industry will be better equipped to compete domestically and internationally, raise grading standards, increase quality of packaging and provide research and development for the product and its market.


"Those are some of the things we're responsible for doing," Spradling said, "but the main thing is just to increase demand and increase the knowledge of pecans for people."
After three years in the works, the 17 member American Pecan Council is just getting off the ground, but its permanent home has already been found, says Spradling, in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
Spradling sits on the council, elected to represent pecan growers in the central region, which consists of Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
To read more or to listen to my conversation with Spradling about the APC, click here.
BeefBuzzOklahoma Beef Council Shares Strategies Used to Maximize Its Return on Investment for Beef Producers

It is the mission of the Oklahoma Beef Council to promote the consumption of beef produced here in the state. To do this most effectively, the Beef Council's executive director, Heather Buckmaster, says it's her job to make sure every dollar is stretched as far as it will go. In doing this, Buckmaster says they have had to go beyond our state's borders to make the most difference.


"We participated with other state beef councils this year, as part of a five-state marketing campaign, really focused on keying in on those key population states such as California and New York," Buckmaster said. "We want to go where the people are and we want to be able to invest where the people are."


Much of the focus on this campaign has been to educate consumers, especially millennials, about beef and its nutritional value and increase their overall beef purchases. A strategy in achieving this goal has been supported largely by driving consumer traffic to the industry's flagship website, BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com. But Buckmaster says the Checkoff has also invested in the education of consumer influencers. And it is physicians, she insists, that have the most persuasion with people when it comes to taking advice on what to include in a healthy, balanced diet.


"We've had a long-term focus in Oklahoma in many different programs on the medical community," Buckmaster said. "We're working to really educate the medical community on antibiotic stewardship and the food animal community."


Click here to listen to Buckmaster and I discuss what else the Oklahoma Beef Council is doing to influence consumers to purchase more beef.
ColostrumStock Up Now on Your Colostrum Needs for Calving this Spring
"It is not too soon to begin to prepare for the spring calving season," states Extensions Livestock Specialist Dr. Glenn Selk in his most recent article in the Cow/Calf Corner newsletter. "Locating, obtaining, and storing several doses of colostrum or colostrum replacer will come in handy before the first heifers start to go into labor. Calves born after a difficult birth are at a high risk of failing to receive adequate colostrum by natural suckling because of greatly decreased colostrum intake. Calves that are born to a prolonged stage II of parturition (delivery through the pelvic canal) very often suffer from severe respiratory acidosis. Acidotic calves are less efficient at absorbing colostral immunoglobulins even if artificially fed colostrum. The only disease protection baby calves will receive is via the passive transfer of antibodies (immunoglobulins) from the colostrum that they ingest. Therefore effort should be made to provide weak newborn calves with the best source of colostrum available via bottle suckling or tube feeding."


Selk insists natural colostrum is the best solution to early disease prevention in newborn calves. However, if you are unable to obtain any, a colostrum replacer will substitute nicely. Although, it may seem like a large expense up front, Selk assures the cost to benefit ratio of keeping your calf alive and well will eventually line up.


For more of Dr. Selk's advice on prepping for spring calving, click here.

Sponsor Spotlight

 
Midwest Farm Shows wants to thank everyone who came to the 2016 Tulsa Farm Show.  The show has grown tremendously over the past 23 years- and 2016 was the best yet!
 
Now is the time to put on your 2017 calendar the date for the 2017 Oklahoma City Farm Show, coming April 20, 21 and 22, 2017.  Contact Ron Bormaster at (507) 437-7969 for more details about how your business or organization can be a part of the 2016 Oklahoma City Farm Show!
 
Click here for more details about the 2017 Oklahoma City Farm Show- presented by Midwest Farm Shows.


PorkOklahoma Pork Council Donates $10,000 to Regional Food Bank for Kids Backpack Program

At the okPORK quarterly board meeting on Dec. 9, board members and staff from the Oklahoma Pork Council presented a $10,000 check to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to purchase pork sticks for its Food for Kids Backpack Program.


This program provides chronically hungry children with backpacks filled with non-perishable, nutritious, shelf-stable food to sustain them over weekends and school holidays. This donation from the Oklahoma Pork Council will allow the Regional Food Bank to purchase 28,571 pork sticks.

Thanks to a matching challenge from APMEX.com, the Cresap Family Foundation and Chesapeake Energy Corporation, which matches every gift received from Nov. 15 through Jan. 15 dollar for dollar, this $10,000 donation will have double the impact.


"Helping hungry Oklahomans is important to Oklahoma's pork producers - especially during this time of year," said Roy Lee Lindsey, okPORK Executive Director. "That's why we gladly give each year to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. But the matching funds campaign this year is especially exciting because now the impact of our donation will go even further."
Click here to read the complete story.
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 to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.

 

RCALFFederal Judge Agrees with R-CALF USA's Arguments on Beef Checkoff Being Unconstitutional

A Montana federal judge yesterday released an initial ruling agreeing with R-CALF USA that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Beef Checkoff program violates the First Amendment. U.S. Magistrate Judge John Johnston recommended that the district court halt the transfer of money to the Montana Beef Council, in a decision that could have national implications.


A release issued by R-CALF reads that, the Beef Checkoff is a federal tax, which compels producers to pay $1 per head every time cattle are sold, half of which is used to fund the advertisements of the Montana Beef Council. The Montana Beef Council is a private corporation whose members include representatives of the largest multinational beef producers. The council's private speech promotes the message that there is no difference between domestic beef produced under U.S. food safety laws and beef produced in foreign countries. It has paid for advertisements for the fast-food chain Wendy's to promote hamburgers that use North American beef, meaning beef that can come from anywhere on the continent not necessarily Montana or even the United States.


"We are encouraged by yesterday's recommendation, even though it is still subject to the district court's review, because it marks the first time in well over a decade that anyone within any of our three branches of government has agreed to take a critical look at our complaints regarding the illicit operations of the beef checkoff program," said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.
Get more on this developing story, by clicking here.
Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, American Farmers & Ranchers, Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National StockyardsStillwater Milling Company, Oklahoma AgCreditthe 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 invite you to check out our website at the link below to check out an archive of these daily emails, audio reports and top farm news story links from around the globe.   

 Click here to check out WWW.OklahomaFarmReport.Com  

 


 

God Bless! You can reach us at the following:  

 

phone: 405-473-6144
 


 




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