As expected- there was no problem in getting fifty one votes on Monday afternoon for former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to be confirmed as Donald Trump's Secretary of Ag.  The final vote was 87 to 11- with cousin David Perdue of Georgia presiding over the Senate as the vote came in and voting "present."

Both of Oklahoma's Senators voted aye- Senator Jim Inhofe says that Perdue gets the importance of agriculture- "Last month Gov. Perdue and I discussed Oklahoma's agriculture priorities, including crop insurance, agriculture exports and the rural utilities service. Sonny fully appreciates Oklahoma's agricultural needs, and his background in agribusiness and as governor of Georgia will serve him well in this position."

Likewise- Senator James Lankford had strong words of support in praising the new Ag Secretary- saying he expects him to be a strong advocate for farmers and ranchers- "

 

Kansas Republican and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Senator Pat Roberts, addressed the US Senate yesterday ahead of the vote to confirm Sonny Perdue as the next Secretary of Agriculture. Roberts called for bipartisan cooperation in the Senate to confirm Perdue as the next US Secretary of Agriculture and the final member to the Trump cabinet.


"Our farmers and ranchers have been long waiting for this important role to be filled," Roberts said. "And once Governor Purdue becomes Secretary Perdue, I know he will put the needs of farmers, ranchers and others and rural America first."


Click here to listen to Sen. Robert's complete commentary regarding the confirmation of Sonny Perdue on the Senate Floor Monday afternoon.


The Senate Ag Committee's top Democratic, Debbie Stabenow heeded the Chairman's call for bipartisanship, endorsing Perdue to her colleagues as well.

"We need a Secretary of Agriculture who will be a relentless advocate for our nation's farmers and the important services USDA provides," she said. "And that's why I'm supporting Governor Purdue."

Click here to listen to Sen. Stabenow's full remarks endorsing Sonny Perdue for Agriculture Secretary.

It's hard to say who has been more anxious to get Sonny Perdue's confirmation done with - Perdue himself, or those in the agricultural industry. In all fairness, we've all been waiting just as long as Perdue has. But once the vote was tallied  yesterday, the ag community let a collective sigh of relief followed by an outpouring of praise and congratulations for the new leader of American Agriculture.

At the state level- Oklahoma Farm Bureau quickly posted praise for Perdue- their President, Tom Buchanan says "As a farmer and agribusinessman, Perdue understands firsthand the needs and challenges facing agriculture and rural America. We have faith Perdue will work hard on behalf of farmers, ranchers and consumers across the country."

"Sonny Perdue is the kind of leader the pork industry, and the entire livestock industry, needs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture," said National Pork Producers Council President Ken Maschhoff, a pork producer from Carlyle, Ill. "He'll be very good for America's farmers and ranchers." Read his full comments here.

"As governor, he oversaw the economy of one of the top agricultural states in this nation," NACD President Brent Van Dyke said. "He has a proven track record for effective governing and a reputation as a dedicated public servant. NACD appreciated his endorsement of voluntary conservation in this nomination hearing and look forward to working with him, now and throughout his tenure, to advance the adoption of voluntary conservation on working lands across this country." Click here to read NACD's full statement.


"Farm Bureau heartily congratulates Secretary Sonny Perdue on his new role leading our nation's Agriculture Department," said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. "We are eager for agriculture to finally have a seat in the president's cabinet, and we know Secretary Perdue is just as eager to get to work for farmers, consumers and rural America." Read the rest of Duvall's remarks here.

National Cotton Council Chairman Ronnie Lee said, "Sonny Perdue is highly qualified to lead USDA and he can help ensure a strong and viable agricultural and rural economy. His strong production and agribusiness background makes him keenly aware of U.S. agriculture's critical importance." For the complete comments of Mr. Lee, click here.

"On behalf of the biotechnology industry, we applaud today's vote by the Senate to confirm Sonny Perdue to be Ag Secretary and to lead the USDA moving forward," said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. See his full statement here.


"The success of rural America is inextricably linked to a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and growing adoption of higher ethanol blends at the pump, said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. "The USDA has played an integral role in this success and we are excited to see Secretary Perdue's plans to continue leading the way in protecting the economic wellbeing of America's farmers, while giving consumers the choice for homegrown biofuels at the pump." See her remarks in full.

"We congratulate Secretary Perdue, and we know that he will hit the ground running, as he has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture and the cotton industry in particular," PCG President Johnie Reed, a cotton producer from Kress, Texas, said. "Secretary Perdue is a strong and effective leader and advocate, and will serve agriculture well." Click here for the full statement.

In the latest crop progress report released Monday April 24, 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture rates the US winter wheat crop condition at 54 percent good to excellent, with 33 fair, 10 poor and 3 very poor. Winter wheat headed was 32 percent compared to 24 percent this time last year and is 11 points above the five-year average. For the complete USDA Crop Progress report, click here.


According to the weekly crop progress report from USDA, Oklahoma winter wheat jointing reached 93 percent, down 1 point from normal. Winter wheat headed reached 65 percent, up 18 points from normal. Canola blooming reached 94 percent, up 7 points from normal. Canola coloring reached 20 percent, up 20 points from normal. To view the complete Oklahoma Crop Progress and Condition Report, click here.


In Kansas, winter wheat condition rated 4 percent very poor, 12 poor, 32 fair, 45 good, and 7 excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 82 percent, behind 91 last year, but ahead of the five-year average of 70. Headed was 25 percent, ahead of 20 last year and 17 average. To view the complete Kansas Crop Progress and Condition Report, click here.


In Texas, winter wheat condition was rated at 78 percent fair to good, the same as the previous week. To view the complete Texas Crop Progress and Condition Report, click here.


To sum up the current winter wheat crop condition here in the southern plains- here's the Good to Excellent Ratings for this week and the change from last week:


Oklahoma 44%     +1%
Kansas       52%     +1%
Texas         42%     +0%


The drop in the poor to very poor categories also reflect the benefits of moisture:


Oklahoma   15%     -2%
Kansas         16%     -1%
Texas           15%     +0%

On Friday of last week, the United States Department of Agriculture released its latest cattle on feed report. According to it, placements in the overall cattle inventory seem to be higher than most would have expected. The resulting implications of this, however, seem to be somewhat moderated when compared to the reported marketings. I spoke with OSU's Dr. Derrell Peel about his reaction to the numbers crunched by USDA.


"The April USDA Cattle on Feed report showed an on-feed inventory fractionally higher than one year ago at 10.9 million head for feedlots over one thousand head capacity," Peel wrote in his analysis of the report. "Placements were larger than expected at 111 percent of last year and were, in fact the largest March placements in the current data series back to 1996."


Peel contends that placements often receive the most attention in these monthly reports and may cause some bearish reaction. He says too, that the general idea that placements will grow should not be a surprise, while placements, along with the placement weight breakdown, provide more specific indications of the timing of fed cattle marketings and slaughter in coming months.

For that matter, March marketings were 110 percent of last year. Monthly feedlot marketings often receive little attention, Peel says, being viewed mostly as history by the time the report is released. However, strong marketings since mid-2016 have contributed greatly to the strength of fed cattle markets so far in 2017.


"The cattle industry in general and feedlots in particular have done a good job managing growing cattle supplies for most of the last year," Peel writes. "If this continues, the industry can do much to minimize the supply pressure coming to bear on cattle markets in the coming months. Given the reality of growing beef production, the bigger key for the foreseeable future is continued strong domestic and export beef demand."


Listen to Peel and I break down the numbers in this month's cattle on feed report from the USDA, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.

We began our salute this week to the District FFA Stars in Production Agriculture with Halie Clark, president of the Mangum FFA Chapter. Clark currently runs a diversified livestock operation that has helped to teach her about caring for livestock and producing protein.


"I started off when I was five, following in the footsteps of my brother when he joined the FFA," she said. "I started off with beef and continued with sine and sheep throughout the years."


Today, Clark's operation consists of a herd of five calves and is also raising four sows. And while working with the animals is its own reward, Clark also has enjoyed the human aspects of farming as well.


"I just enjoy working with the cattle and being around family and having all the friends there to support and help me throughout the years," Clark said. "I've learned leadership and to help the younger ones following in my footsteps like I did with my brother and just try to help them out."


After graduating, Clark says she plans to attend Murray State College to become a vet-technician and will participate on the swine show team while there.


Click or tap here to read more- and to have a chance to listen to our visit with Sarah during the judging of the State Stars a couple of weeks ago.

Our salute of the 2017 District Stars of the Oklahoma FFA is brought to you by American Farmers & Ranchers, proud to support Oklahoma's youth. Visit the AFR website by clicking or tapping here to learn more on how AFR supports the young people of Oklahoma, and how AFR can provide you with quality insurance for your home, auto, farm, and life.

In light of National Volunteer Week, the USDA's Natural Resources and Conservation Service is honoring and thanking its Earth Team group volunteers for their conservation services.

Earth Team is the agency's volunteer workforce. In Oklahoma, 402 volunteers donated 5,595 hours of service valued at over $120,000 in 2016. Nationally, in 2016, more than 28,500 people donated 3,012,219 hours of service to NRCS valued at over $7.1 million.


"Volunteers work closely with our staff, and they play an important role in our state's conservation work," said Gary O'Neill, State Conservationist for NRCS in Oklahoma. "In 2016, all 82 NRCS offices in Oklahoma utilized the assistance of Earth Team volunteers-we couldn't get this important work done without them."

Learn more about Earth Team and their efforts in conservation, by clicking here to jump to the original story on our website.