Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Friday, October 30, 2020
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Oklahoma FFA Best in USA in National Agriscience Fair as National Convention Ends
- OCA's Michael Kelsey on the Importance of the Upcoming Election
- Congressman Frank Lucas Believes PRICE Act Addresses Weak Spots in Cattle Marketing HIghlighted by COVID Pandemic
- Dr. Kim Anderson Explains why Grain Markets Could become more Volatile in the Coming Weeks
- Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, Blayne Arthur on EPA Dicamba Registration Decision
- NFU and AFR/OFU Cooperative Partner with Rural Advocacy Group to Host Beef Industry Consolidation Forum
- Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, Blayne Arthur on EPA Dicamba Registration Decision
- Trump Administration Invests $26.4 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Oklahoma
- Growth Energy Touts Biofuels’ Advantage to Meet Ag Innovation Goals
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Oklahoma FFA Best in USA in National Agriscience Fair as National Convention Ends
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The virtual version of the National FFA Convention is now in the record books- and Oklahoma FFA members acquitted themselves very well.
The third and final day of the convention saw Oklahoma members grab two more National Championships in the Agriscience Fair- giving Oklahoma seven national titles- tied with Georgia for the most in the country.
Oklahoma's faithful were rooting for Madelyn Gerken of Kingfisher- hoping to hear her name called as one of the six national officers last night- but that was not meant to be as the new officer team is Southern Region heavy with the new National President hailing from Georgia while the National Secretary comes from northwest Arkansas- the four Regional VPs come from Missouri, Florida, California and Illinois.
On Day 2- Oklahoma made history when our state claimed two of the four American Star Champions- Will Shelby of Madill in Ag Placement and Nicole Stevens of Yukon in Agriscience.
And over the three days of the virtual event- five Oklahoma FFA members won national Proficiency awards- the third highest state total here in 2020.
We have all the names and details of the winners in our wrapup story- click the button below to read more.
AND- coming soon will be our next Road to Rural Prosperity Podcast as we have conversations with our two American Star Champions!
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National also owns and operates other livestock marketing subsidiaries including Southern Oklahoma Livestock Auction in Ada, Oklahoma, OKC West Livestock Market in El Reno, Oklahoma, and the nation’s premier livestock video sale, Superior Livestock Auction. National offers customers many services custom made for today’s producer. To learn more, click here for the website or call the Oklahoma City office at 1-800-310-0220.
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OCA's Michael Kelsey on the Importance of the Upcoming Election
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With only a few days away from the November 3rd election, Michael Kelsey, executive director of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, says many essential things are on this year's ballot, including several state questions.
Associate farm director KC Sheperd caught up with Kelsey to talk about the election and also why the OCA is encouraging a NO vote on 805, "Its very important that OCA members pay special attention to this when they go to the polls we're asking to vote NO on state question 805."
Kelsey says the biggest reason for a No vote is that this particular vote would put 805 into the Oklahoma constitution. Still, he also says cattle theft is the most important thing to consider, "That's why the OCA was formed years and years ago because one of the primary reasons is cattle theft. So if you consider what 805 would do in lessening the court to consider previous action, previous behavior, regarding cattle theft in itself, that is just a huge red flag, and a no-go for us."
Kelsey went onto say that he considers cattle theft a violent crime and that SQ805 would forever make cattle theft a Non-violent crime, and Kelsey doesn't want that to be the case. Kelsey reminds us that it's not just the OCA which is asking for a no-vote, but a group of ag organizations, "If you look at the coalition, you've got some really strong, legacy type organizations that we are proud to partner with that understands the long term implications of a state question like this, so we encourage folks to consider the coalition against, to consider the fact that it modifies the constitution in a negative fashion in our opinion, consider what it does regarding tying the hands of the court if you will. I think once you do all those types of things, it's going to come to a pretty easy decision."
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Congressman Frank Lucas Believes PRICE Act Addresses Weak Spots in Cattle Marketing HIghlighted by COVID Pandemic
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Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas has been one of the key lawmakers working on legislation that help cattle producers get back onto their feet after the two black swan events they have had to navigate in the last year and a half. Lucas, along with Congressman Dusty Johnson and several other bipartisan cosponsors, introduced the Price Reform in Cattle Economics (PRICE) Act which was designed to address several areas of critical importance for cattle producers across the United States. Included in the bill are existing legislative proposals to open new markets for state-inspected beef products, such as the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act, and new provisions to aid producer-owned beef processing facilities and increase transparency in fed cattle transactions.
Congressman Lucas talked with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays from his farm in Roger Mills County in far western Oklahoma on Wednesday about the nuts and bolts of the PRICE Act- and covered a host of other issues as well just ahead of Election day. You can hear the conversation about the PRICE act between Hays and Lucas by clicking on the LISTEN BAR at the bottom of this story.
The former Chairman of the House Ag Committee believes that the various elements of the PRICE Act can help cattle producers improve their chances of survival in the days ahead- if the measure can gain the traction needed to be passed by Congress and signed into law.
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For our farmers who have either- always have had cotton on their farms- or those who have more recently have added the fiber crop to their operations- we have a new daily report starting to be heard on several of our Radio Stations- It's Called Cotton Talk- and we appreciate the Oklahoma Cotton Council for their support in making this a reality.
Click on the Button below to listen to our most recent report
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Dr. Kim Anderson Explains why Grain Markets Could become more Volatile in the Coming Weeks
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Oklahoma State University Extension Grains Market Analyst Dr. Kim Anderson talks about what is going on in the Wheat Markets weekly on SUNUP.
For the past few weeks we have seen a rally in the wheat markets, but we also saw an 18cent hit. Dr. Anderson says the concern is about moisture and the concerns about the market, "First we had good strong export demand. The importing countries buying ahead because of the coronavirus, building up stock so that increased demand. And then we've got projected tight-ending stocks in the Black Sea area with Ukraine and Russia. US, hard red winter wheat any stocks projected to be around 350 million bushels. The average is over 500 million bushels. All US wheat stocks are tight. Then you talk about the drought. We had dry conditions, planting conditions in the United States, in Russia in Ukraine, dry in Argentina. So, if you look at the hard wheat, the breat wheat, you got relatively tight stocks, and you've got increased demand. That drove the prices up. Then it rained in Russia, rained and we got moisture in the hard red winter wheat area, you can definatly see it here in Oklahoma. And I think the market is concerned about all this buying the ahead of wheat because once we get through this coronavirus, then they are going to have excess stock, and our demand is going to go down, and prices will go down."
To hear more from Dr. Anderson, click or tap below.
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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network weekdays-
if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click below for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays and KC Sheperd on RON.
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Sponsor Spotlight
The Oklahoma Cotton Council is proud to serve the cotton producers and those who are a part of the cotton industry in Oklahoma- promoting and protecting their interests. In Recent Years- cotton acreage has grown in Oklahoma- and today we are the third largest Cotton State in the US- based on Acres Planted.
The Oklahoma Cotton Council works for the cotton farmer in the areas of research, advocacy and education. Follow the Oklahoma Cotton Council on Facebook or check out out the Oklahoma Cotton Council website- okiecotton.org
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Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, Blayne Arthur on EPA Dicamba Registration Decision
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Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur issued the following statement in response to EPA's announcement of approval of new five-year registrations for two dicamba products and extending the registration of an additional dicamba product, all with additional control measures:
"While EPA's work to approve of these products is appreciated, the limitations put in place are cause for concern for many of our Oklahoma producers who depend on these products. In agriculture, we know well that what works for one area may not work in another and the same is true for the control measures EPA plans to put in place for these products. Particularly, the June 30th deadline for applying these products to soybeans presents a challenge here in Oklahoma where double cropping is common and our farmers plant beans later in the summer.
Our conversations with EPA to find solutions are ongoing, and we will continue to communicate challenges on behalf of Oklahoma farmers and seek every opportunity for added flexibility."
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NFU and AFR/OFU Cooperative Partner with Rural Advocacy Group to Host Beef Industry Consolidation Forum
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In partnership with National Farmers Union (NFU) and American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) Cooperative, the newly-formed Oklahoma Rural and Small-Town Table of Common Interests will host its first issues forum to discuss the consolidation of packing plants in the beef industry Nov. 10, 5-8 p.m., at Redlands Community College in El Reno, Okla.
The event will highlight a major issue effecting the economic health of one of rural Oklahoma’s largest economic drivers—the beef industry.
“For years, the beef industry has wrestled with the issues of packer concentration, price discover and fair markets,” said Rural and Small-Town Table’s chairman, Clay Pope. “Now, with the pandemic shining a light on the vulnerability of the industry to processing bottlenecks, we feel that it’s important to further educate Oklahomans on this critical issue.”
Scheduled speakers at the event are NFU President Rob Larew, AFR/OFU Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh, and beef market analyst Corbitt Wall. Former Oklahoma Governor David Walters will also address the group on rural issues. All presentations will be made during the in-person, limited capacity event and streamed through live video to alleviate COVID-19 concerns.
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Trump Administration Invests $26.4 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Oklahoma
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The Trump Administration announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $26.4 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Oklahoma. This investment is part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program.
“Access to a high-speed internet connection is a cornerstone of prosperity, and unfortunately many of America’s rural communities lack access to this critical infrastructure,” USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is committed to leveraging all available resources and being a strong partner to rural communities in deploying high-speed broadband e-Connectivity to the people, businesses and community facilities that don’t have access yet. Connecting America’s rural communities to this essential infrastructure is one of USDA’s top priorities, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Cross Cable Television LLC will use a $15.8 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 2,815 people, 125 farms, nine businesses, one educational facility and a fire department to high-speed broadband internet in Haskell and Muskogee counties in Oklahoma.
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Growth Energy Touts Biofuels’ Advantage to Meet Ag Innovation Goals
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Today, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda, regarding readily available technologies that enable our domestic agriculture sector to increase production while reducing its environmental footprint. In her comments, Skor argued that biofuels like ethanol play a critical role in achieving the department’s goals and called for building on current investments to expand renewables fuels’ role in our nation’s transportation infrastructure.
“Supporting programs like the Renewable Fuel Standard and initiatives to expand access to higher biofuel blends like E15, E30, and E85 can build on biofuels’ environmental progress and expand the market for American agriculture,” said Skor. “USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) is a prime example how the agency can support the productivity of our farmers, while decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and encouraging further adoption of sustainable farming practices across our agriculture sector.”
Skor also notes the biofuels industry’s continued advancements to capture carbon dioxide and the plant-based fuel’s ability to replace harmful toxics and improve air quality.
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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.
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Today's First Look:
Ron on RON Markets as heard on K101
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
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Wholesale Boxed Beef Prices were higher on Thursday.
Choice Beef was up $1.53 while Select Beef was up $1.65.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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OKC West in El Reno, Apache Livestock and Woodward Livestock all cancelled their sales this week due to the ice storm and resulting power outages in many areas.
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Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futures - click below for the latest update on the Livestock and Grain Futures Trade..
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Okla Cash Grain:
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- as reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture- The report available after the close of the Futures Trade for that day.
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Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor
KC Sheperd, Associate Farm Director and Editor
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
Sam Knipp, Farm News Editor
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
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Rural Oklahoma is full of some of the greatest success stories throughout the entire state and are a main reason Oklahoma is on track to become a top 10 state.
The Road to Rural Prosperity will dive into these stories each week bringing you insight into the great things happening in and to rural Oklahoma. We will bring you stories covering rural life, agriculture, energy, healthcare, tourism and politics all affecting rural America.
The Road to Rural Prosperity is here to tell stories about rural America, for rural America.
Host Ron Hays Caught up with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and got his take on where things stand with McGirt Vs Oklahoma on the day after his Commission on Cooperative Sovereignty reported back to him on how the State of Oklahoma and the Indian Tribes in eastern Oklahoma need to solve the fallout from the Supreme Court ruling against the state. They also discuss the two State Questions on the November ballot- the Governor is voting yes on one and no on the other one- and Ron got a Top Ten Update from the Governor as well.
Today's Road to Rural Prosperity is being powered by the Public Service Company of Oklahoma.
To find out more about our full series of Podcasts on The Road to Rural Prosperity- click or tap here.
To hear this Podcast you can click here or tap below:
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, AFR/OFU, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program, Great Plains Kubota, Stillwater Milling Company, Oklahoma Cotton Council, National Livestock Credit Corporation, Oklahoma Beef Council, Oklahoma AgCredit, 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 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.
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God Bless!
Reach Out To Us:
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Tim West
President/General Manager
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
2401 Exchange Avenue,
Suite F
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
405.317.6361
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Ron Hays
Director of Farm Programming
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
405.473.6144
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