Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Thursday, April 8, 2021
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Producers Should Have a Plan Ready if Drought Becomes Reality This Summer, Says OSU's Derrell Peel
- NCBA Delivers Preserving Family Farms Act: A Permanent Solution to a Generational Issue
- Nature Conservancy and USDA Announce Multi-State Cooperative Agreement
- OKFB Ag Tour to Visit North Central Oklahoma May 5-7th
- House Members Hold Meeting with Federal Maritime Commission on Shipping Delays Impacting Ag Sector
- OSU Hires New Director of Animal Resources
- Animal Rights and Environmental Activists Urge Biden Administration to Leave Regulation of Animal Gene Editing with FDA
- Introducing Halle Rowland of the Silo FFA Chapter, Your 2021 Southeast Area Star in Ag Placement
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Producers Should Have a Plan Ready if Drought Becomes Reality This Summer, Says OSU's Derrell Peel |
If drought visits your ranch this year, you need to be prepared said Dr. Derrell Peel, OSU Extension livestock market economist.
Drought has covered much of the western U.S. for more than a year and fears of it expanding east are starting to gain traction as some areas of the High Plains are experiencing a dry spring.
Springtime droughts really concern me as you can get into serious trouble right away, Peel said.
If this drought advances east and expands, the Dakotas are very dry, parts of Texas are dry, these are areas with a lot of cattle, Peel said.
If we see an impact on early spring forage growth that could have serious implications on the beef market, he said.
Without that spring growth you get into serious challenges so make a drought plan early before certain decisions have to be made, Peel said.
Things can get emotional as you are under stress so having a plan can really help, both in the short term and longer term, Peel said.
The big unknown is how much damage the current drought can do on a broad basis.
That’s why producers have to be prepared for what they will have to do if forced to sell cattle, Peel said.
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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.
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NCBA Delivers Preserving Family Farms Act: A Permanent Solution to a Generational Issue |
The Preserving Family Farms Act of 2021 was introduced by U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) and Jackie Walorski (IN-2). NCBA has long supported efforts to reduce undue tax burden on farmers and ranchers. This bipartisan legislation to expand IRS Code Section 2032A would allow cattle producers to take advantage of the Special Use Valuation and protect family-owned businesses from the devastating impact of the federal estate tax, commonly referred to as the Death Tax.
“We thank Representatives Panetta and Walorski for their leadership and dedication to protecting future generations of agricultural producers through the introduction of the Preserving Family Farms Act of 2021,” said Jerry Bohn, NCBA president.
The Preserving Family Farms Act increases the maximum amount allowed under the Section 2032A exemption from $750,000 to $11 million (indexed for inflation), thus reviving a critically important tool in the toolbox for farm and ranch families across the U.S. If enacted, this legislation will provide a permanent solution to an issue that has long plagued our nation’s cattle producers.
“America’s farmers and ranchers deserve certainty in the tax code overall, and they need certainty especially when it comes to the estate tax. Without it, transition planning for the next generation of producers is nearly impossible,” Bohn said.
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Nature Conservancy and USDA Announce Multi-State Cooperative Agreement |
The Nature Conservancy and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announce the two organizations have entered into a five-year cooperative agreement to increase private land conservation in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
The two organizations have a mutual interest in successfully implementing the conservation programs authorized by federal legislation known as the Farm Bill, which is updated about every five years. The most recent Farm Bill passed with strong bipartisan support and was signed into law in late 2018.
Through this new agreement, The Nature Conservancy and NRCS will prioritize the geographies and natural resource issues where the two organizations can work together to have more impact delivering conservation assistance across the Great Plains.
“This will be a new way of looking at conservation impacts across the entire landscape, not just individual places,” says Gary O’Neill, NRCS state conservationist for Oklahoma.
NRCS is a federal agency that provides planning, technical and financial assistance to landowners to conserve the natural resources on their land through programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
“This agreement opens more opportunity for collaboration that crosses state lines much in the way nature is not confined by geo-political boundaries,” says Mike Fuhr, TNC’s state director for Oklahoma. “We’re looking forward to leveraging the staff and expertise of both organizations and ultimately get more conservation directly on the ground.”
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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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OKFB Ag Tour to Visit North Central Oklahoma May 5-7th |
Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are invited to travel to north central Oklahoma during OKFB’s annual Ag Tour May 5-7.
Previously known as commodity tour, the three-day tour will feature history, the way of life, the industry and commodities of the north central region.
Buses will load for the tour at the OKFB home office in Oklahoma City, and tour attendees will stay two nights in a Perry-area hotel. Meals will be provided during the tour.
The cost is $200 for an individual or $250 for two people sharing a room. Space will be limited to 50 members only, which is full at this time, but members can be added to a waitlist for a chance to join the tour.
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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
National Livestock was founded in 1932 in Oklahoma City. National’s Marketing Division offers cattle for sale weekly at the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City. The Finance Division lends money to ranchers across several states for cattle production. The Grazing Division works with producers to place cattle for grazing on wheat or grass pastures.
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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House Members Hold Meeting with Federal Maritime Commission on Shipping Delays Impacting Ag Sector |
House Agriculture Committee Members Rep. Jim Costa (Chair of Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture) and Rep. Dusty Johnson (Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture), with Rep. Salud Carbajal (Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation) and Rep. Bob Gibbs (Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation), released the following statement in response to a meeting with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairman Dan Maffei and Commissioner Rebecca Dye on their efforts to mitigate ongoing shipping delays impacting American farmers, ranchers, and agriculture sector:
“We appreciate Chairman Maffei and Commissioner Dye for taking the time to provide these important updates to us and look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure that these shipping delays are ended expediently. As Chairs and Ranking Members of Subcommittees closely following the direct impacts of this situation, we are committed to resolving this issue in a timely manner and making sure that America’s farmers and ranchers can compete on the global stage. We will continue to follow this issue and look forward to a bipartisan dialogue between Congress and the Federal Maritime Commission.”
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OSU Hires New Director of Animal Resources |
OSU Hires New Director of Animal Resources Dr. Asheley Wathen is joining Oklahoma State as the university’s attending veterinarian and director of animal resources. She began her new role on March 30.
Wathen was previously the director of the animal care unit and the attending veterinarian at the University of Kansas.
“I am very excited to work in a large research community,” Wathen said. “It's not very often that you get to work with both traditional and agricultural animals in research. So that is a very unique characteristic about Oklahoma State that's appealing.”
Wathen also has a lot of ties to OSU. Originally from Moore, Oklahoma, she received her bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1999 and her DVM from Oklahoma State University in 2005.
“There is a long legacy in my family of both graduates and supporters of Oklahoma State,” she said. “My grandparents actually went to school here in the late ’30s when it was still Oklahoma A&M. This is where they met — and they got engaged at Theta Pond."
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Animal Rights and Environmental Activists Urge Biden Administration to Leave Regulation of Animal Gene Editing with FDA |
This week, a baker's dozen activist groups urged key federal agencies to maintain regulatory authority over genetically engineered food animals within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In response to a Trump U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposal to withdraw most of the FDA's regulatory authority over genetically engineered animals, including fish, and transfer that authority to USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the groups sent letters to U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) Secretary Becerra and USDA Secretary Vilsack urging them to maintain authority of genetically engineered animals within FDA.
"Genetically engineered animals are a significant new threat to our food system. With the GMO salmon company AquaBounty looking for buyers, the FDA must urgently strengthen its regulations to fully evaluate GMO animals for public health and environmental safety," said Dana Perls, program manager for Friends of the Earth's emerging tech program. "Handing authority over to the USDA will dilute the already-weak GMO animal regulations and exacerbate harm to farmers and the environment."
The thirteen groups that signed the letters are Center for Food Safety, A Greener World, American Anti-Vivisection Society, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Welfare Institute, Food and Water Watch, Food Animal Concerns Trust, Friends of the Earth, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, International Center for Technology Assessment, National Family Farm Coalition, Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, and World Animal Protection.
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Introducing Halle Rowland of the Silo FFA Chapter, Your 2021 Southeast Area Star in Ag Placement |
During the month of April, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report is spotlighting the twenty Area Stars of Oklahoma FFA that are among the highest achievers in the organization.
The stars come from the five areas in four categories- Star in Ag Placement, Star in Agriscience, Star in Agribusiness and Star in Production Agriculture.
This week, we spotlight the five area stars in Ag Placement for 2021.
One Star Finalist featured in the coming days from each of the categories, will be named the State Star Award Winner during the 95th Oklahoma State FFA Convention coming up April 27, and 28th in Oklahoma City.
This week, our coverage of the 2021 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists continues with Ag Placement competitor Halle Rowland of the Silo FFA chapter representing the Southeast Area.
Rowland’s project is agricultural processing.
During her work at a family-owned local animal processing plant, Rowland has witnessed the system from the time the animal enters the plant through processing.
Over the past couple of years, people have taken the meat industry for granted and that was evident during the pandemic, she said.
The pandemic has made people realize and understand that the people who are putting meat on your plate kept working to get the nutrition you need, she said.
I have learned that hard work will get us father than we will ever understand, Rowland said.
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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 continue to go higher- Choice Beef was up $3.54 and Select Beef was up $3.89 on Wednesday April 7th.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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OKC West in El Reno had 6.871 head of cattle in their Tuesday and Wednesday sales this week.
Compared to last week: Feeder steers sold 2.00-4.00 higher. Feeder heifers traded steady to 2.00 higher. Demand good for all classes. Steer and heifer calves that were long weaned and suitable for grazing sold 3.00-5.00 higher from last weeks higher market. Remainder of the new crop calves sold steady. Demand very good for grazing cattle, moderate to good for fresh calves.
Click below for the complete closing report.
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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 is the 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 affecting rural America.
The Road to Rural Prosperity is here to tell stories about rural America, for rural America.
Host KC Sheperd sat down with Dr. Brett Carver, Regents Professor
Wheat Genetics Chair in Agriculture, Wheat Breeding and Genetics in his office on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater and talked about a variety of subjects- all relating back to his passion for breeding wheat. He offered his take on how the 2021 wheat crop has handled the historic freeze the southern plains dealt with in February of this year, reviewed the wheat varieties that have come out of his program and looked ahead to what might be coming next.
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, 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, Union Mutual Insurance, 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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