At this time of year- there is often a lot of dry matter across the southern Great Plains- and today's weather conditions in Oklahoma back into the Texas Panhandle and even New Mexico are perfect for bad things to happen.

Specifically here in Oklahoma- High temperatures and dry fuels coupled with gusty winds will result in an extremely dangerous fire weather situation for all counties west of Interstate 35. Elevated to potentially critical fire weather will be present in areas of northern Oklahoma as well generally west of Highway 75.

This graphic really caught our eye this morning:




Any fire that occurs given the current forecast conditions has the potential to spread rapidly and could result in large fires. Citizens are urged to be vigilant with outdoor activities and are asked to report any suspicious smoke or fire to their closest fire department or by calling 911.

"Under these extreme conditions we are strongly discouraging any burning in any county west of Interstate 35," said State Forester George Geissler. "Oklahoma Forestry Services personnel are monitoring the weather forecasts and fire danger and have wildfire task forces and Oklahoma National Guard aircraft prepared to respond as fires occur."

U.S. Congressman Mike Conaway, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, will address the thousands of attendees at the 2017 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, during the popular General Session, which takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 3.

"We are very pleased that Congressman Conaway has agreed to address Commodity Classic attendees," said Ed Erickson, Jr., a North Dakota soybean farmer and co-chair of the 2017 Commodity Classic. "With the change in administration in Washington, DC, the next Farm Bill due for debate, and discussions on international trade policy, the farmers attending Commodity Classic will be very interested to hear from one of the nation's ag policy leaders on a wide range of issues."

The General Session also features comments from the leadership of the four presenting commodity associations: American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers and National Sorghum Producers. A representative of the fifth Commodity Classic sponsor, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), will also make remarks.

For more information about the events included in this year's agenda at the Commodity Classic, click here.

We are more than 50 days into operating under the Veterinary Feed Directive, or VFD. According to Dr. Kathy Simmons, chief veterinarian for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the transition seems to be going fairly well thus far.


"Certainly, it's been a change in how we obtain antimicrobial agents in feed," she said, referring to the Food & Drug Administration's industry guidelines #209 and #213. "The importance of having a working relationship with a veterinarian, a familiarity of the veterinarian with your herd and the ability to prescribe for that herd, is essential."


But although the process is new, Simmons insists the idea of antimicrobial stewardship is not new to the industry.


"It's something that we have been doing," Simmons asserted. "The Beef Quality Assurance program has educational opportunities to inform our producers on best practices for antimicrobial or antibiotic use."


In fact, NCBA has compiled a manual with complete guidelines for an acceptable health maintenance program, available to producers for free online.


Listen to Dr. Simmons and I speak more about the cattle industry under the new VFD rule, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.

"'Biosecurity' is actually just a fancy way of saying "common sense," writes Dr. Glenn Selk in his latest Cow/Calf Corner article. He explains the term simply means - to prevent infectious diseases from entering your herd.

He contends that illnesses such as scours can be easily deterred in your herd, just by taking a common sense approach when introducing new cattle to your operation.

Selk advises that anytime new cattle are purchased and brought onto the ranch, you should isolate the new animals for up to 4 or 5 weeks before allowing them into pastures to comingle with other cattle.

He also suggests visiting with your local large animal veterinarian about recommended tests as well as vaccinations or parasite controls that can be implemented on the new arrivals before exposing them to the remainder of the herd.

Snagging a paddlefish, or spoonbill, depending on where you are from, in select Oklahoma river systems has exploded in popularity among anglers. The thrill of dragging a treble hook through the moving water and foul hooking these unique fish brings hundreds people to riverbanks around the state every spring.


"It's really a unique fish," said Jim Long, assistant unit leader for the Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and adjunct associate professor at Oklahoma State University. "They are very much like a shark in many ways., but they only eat plankton so they have to be caught by snagging."


The fish has only one bone, its jawbone, which plays a vital role in the management of the species. The long paddle protruding from its face is full of electrosensors, allowing the fish to find large groups of plankton to eat.


The river systems feeding Grand and Keystone lakes fill up with adult paddlefish every spring, trying to make it up river to spawn. The high waters and increasing temperatures are cues for the fish to move, and Oklahoma anglers to begin snagging.


The most eager of the spoonbill are young males, who sometimes travel upstream a little prematurely, where they anxiously await the arrival of the following females. A water temperature of about 55F and a big rain can trigger a spawn, according to Brandon Brown, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Paddlefish Program coordinator.

During the heart of the season, usually late March through April, anglers can take advantage of the Paddlefish Research Center in Miami, Oklahoma, operated by the ODWC. Live fish can be taken to the center from March 1 through April 30 to be processed and fileted, free of charge.


"The program the ODWC is running is great for the people and the fish up there," Long said. "Licensed fishermen are helping the fish management goals of the wildlife department and getting their fished cleaned properly, ready to take home and enjoy."


Click here to continue reading about the research being conducted on Oklahoma's paddlefish population.

According to estimates released yesterday by Allendale, December Placements are expected to be 18.2% larger than last year at 2.103 million head. This would be the largest January placement in eleven years. It would also show three months in a row of large placements that will impact the market from late spring through early fall. Finished live cattle prices traded from $118 - $122 in January. That was over the $110 - $118 in December. January placements supply the July through October period.


Allendale anticipates a Marketing total 6.3% larger than January 2016 at 1.689 million. This was the largest January marketing in three years. There was a 4% increase due to the calendar adjustment this month.


Total Cattle on Feed as of February 1 is 2.5% over last year at 10.977 million. That is an increase from the January 1 total that was 0.3% over one year ago.

Click here for more estimates projected by Allendale regarding the upcoming Cattle on Feed and Cold Storage reports.