Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Thursday, February 24, 2022 |
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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OSU Agriculture Names Richard Coffey Animal & Food Sciences Department Head
- NCBA's Josh White Introduces Brand-New Resources Available Through BQA
- OSU's Seth Byrd Talks Cotton: Oklahoma Trial Results and Where We are in the Cycle
- OCA Southwest District Meeting in Lawton Pushed to March
- Crop Clinic Field Day Prepares Agriculture Producers for Production
- White Oak Pastures: How a 156-Year-Old Farm Practices "Radically Traditional Farming"
- USDA and EPA Welcome New U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions
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OSU Agriculture Names Animal & Food Sciences Department Head |
Richard D. Coffey has accepted the role of head of the Department of Animal and Food Sciences in the Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Dr. Coffey is expected to be approved at the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents meeting in April.
“Our animal and food sciences department attracts students from all over the world, and we are pleased to announce new leadership for the department, positioning our students, faculty, and stakeholders for sustained success and growth,” said Thomas G. Coon, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture.
Coffey plans to begin the new position on July 1. “I look forward to joining the department and working alongside faculty and staff on our important land-grant missions of teaching, research and Extension,” Coffey said. “I anticipate new and effective partnerships with alumni and stakeholders on the many shared goals and priorities that we have.”
He received a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in swine nutrition from OSU. He holds a UK doctorate in swine nutrition with a minor in biochemistry. In 2019, Coffey was named an Advanced Degree Graduate of Distinction by the OSU Department of Animal and Food Sciences.
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The Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program knows this is a hard time for farmers and ranchers. We want you to know we are still open, and we are still here for you. The Ag Mediation program is a free service that provides mediation to agriculture producers who may need help with ag-related disputes.
At Oklahoma Ag Mediation, we have been helping people in agriculture resolve conflicts since 1987. We know firsthand about working together to resolve conflicts, so you don’t have to go through the court systems. Let our professional mediators help you. Mediation is allowed for lease issues, farmer/neighbor disputes, family farm transitions, and more. These services are available at no cost for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in all 77 counties. For more information, you can go to ok.gov/mediation, or give us a call at 800 248 5465.
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NCBA's Josh White Introduces Brand-New Resources Available Through BQA |
The Beef Quality Assurance program has changed throughout the years, adapting alongside the research and changing needs within the industry and beyond. Josh White, executive director of producer education for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, said it is more important now than ever before for producers to stay up to date with the latest BQA certifications.
The first couple of decades of the BQA’s existence focused on identifying real and perceived beef safety issues - sort of sanding down the industry’s rougher edges and polishing producers’ cattle management skills. Today, BQA is the premiere education tool for producers in the U.S. and has been widely credited with being an instrumental force in re-building beef demand.
“We try to keep (BQA training) current as we possibly can, so producers have a great reason to get online,” White said.
White offered a few key reasons why producers should never let their BQA certification lapse.
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OSU's Seth Byrd Talks Cotton: Oklahoma Trial Results and Where We are in the Cycle |
With each swing from T-shirt weather to freezing temperatures, we get a little bit closer to spring. Although Oklahoma will not see any cotton planted for another 90 days, producers are likely in the process of picking out seed varieties and praying for drought to subside. With Oklahoma’s cotton trial results in, producers can look at what worked in 2021.
KC Sheperd, senior farm director for the Oklahoma Farm Report, spoke with Seth Byrd, a cooperative extension cotton agronomist at Oklahoma State University, about what the 2021 cotton crop tells us about the future of this year’s cotton crop.
“2021 was a very unique year,” Byrd said. “You had this combination of weather conditions that were abnormal - we were behind on head units through the first three months of the season, we were ahead on rainfall - we had some struggles with the weather, but then you had this really strong price.”
Looking ahead, one of the biggest factors to consider is drought. Current drought conditions in Oklahoma are bad and are forecast to get worse. At the same time, Oklahoma is just months away from its rainy season and folks across the Southern Plains have their fingers crossed.
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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 daily report heard on several of our Radio Stations- It's Called Cotton Talk!
Click on the Button below to listen to our most recent report
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OCA Southwest District Meeting in Lawton Pushed to March |
The second Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association District Meeting this winter is being postponed into March.
The Southwest OCA District Meeting that was scheduled for this evening in Lawton will happen- just not tonight.
The organization says be on the lookout for a revised date in March- details coming soon.
Just a week ago- the OCA had to postpone the Northwest District Meeting planned for February 17th in Woodward- the new date for the Woodward meeting is March 7th.
Click on the blue button for the OCA Events section of their website to learn more about these meetings and to RSVP.
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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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Crop Clinic Field Day Prepares Agriculture Producers for Production |
The 23rd Annual Crop Production Clinic Field Day on March 1 will help prepare agricultural producers in western Oklahoma for crop production in a season of drought.
“This year, our major focus is the weather and chemical prices. We are facing a drought in western Oklahoma, and herbicide and pesticide prices are up,” said Jason Warren, Oklahoma State University Extension specialist for soil and water conservation. “We talk about weather outlook so producers can be prepared. It is important to at least have an idea of what the weather is going to do, so you can change your management style to adapt.”
Continuing education units will be offered as part of this event. Attendees must register for the catered meal by 4 p.m., Feb. 28. For more information, contact Jenni Foreman at 580-349-5440 or jenni.foreman@okstate.edu.
The event will be held 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. March 1 at the Oklahoma Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Goodwell.
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White Oak Pastures: How a 156-Year-Old Farm Practices "Radically Traditional Farming" |
This is a special feature by Jenni Harris, on behalf of the Noble Research Institute.
White Oak Pastures is a six-generation, 156-year-old family farm in Bluffton, Georgia. My family, the Harris family, has operated the same farm in Early County since 1866. Settled by Captain James Edward Harris, the farm has come full circle, meaning from a polycultural production system in the 1800s to a monocultural cattle farm in the 1950s, and then back to a polycultural system in the early 2000s.
We take pride in farming practices that focus on regenerative land management, humane animal husbandry and revitalizing our rural community. This type of management, which we refer to as “radically traditional farming,” creates products that are better for our land, our livestock and our village. We are fiercely proud of our zero-waste production system that utilizes each part of the animals we pasture-raise and hand-butcher on our farm.
In the mid-1990s, Will Harris (4th generation, and my dad) became disgusted with the excesses of the commodity market. There was no burning bush moment that led him to rethink this commodity production system, but he speaks about how the unintended consequences of commodity farming are so often discounted.
The changes Dad made on our farm were incremental, starting by giving up chemical fertilizer and confinement feeding to farm more regeneratively and in tune with nature.
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USDA and EPA Welcome New U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency welcomed seven companies to the U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions, companies that have committed to reducing food loss and waste in their U.S. operations by 50 percent by 2030. The new 2030 Champions include: Albertsons Companies, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Danone North America, Smithfield Foods, Inc., Starbucks, Sysco, and Tyson Foods.
“Addressing food loss and waste is key to a resilient, climate-smart food system,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I welcome the new 2030 Champions and applaud their innovative efforts to reduce food loss and waste, divert wholesome excess food to those in need, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by keeping food out of landfills.”
“EPA recognizes the important role that public and private partnerships play in order to tackle our shared pollution challenges comprehensively,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. ”We are excited for our ongoing work with government partners and industry leaders, like the 2030 Champions, to prevent and reduce food waste across the supply chain.”
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The National 4-H Council this week announced it received a $50 million gift from writer and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The gift from Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is the largest single donation ever to the National 4-H Council.
Because of 4-H's expansive reach into every U.S. county, the investment will support youth development for millions of kids and families. Krysta Harden, National 4-H Council Board Chair, says, “This extraordinary gift is a rare and special occurrence,” adding, “With such a significant gift comes great responsibility.” Harden says 4-H will engage stakeholders to ensure the resources lift the diverse voices of young people. The gift builds upon the efforts of thousands of local Cooperative Extension 4-H educators, 500,000 volunteers, and millions of 4-H youth, alumni, and donors.
The organization says the gift will sustain 4-H's commitment to ensuring all young people are empowered with the skills to lead for a lifetime.
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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 fell. Choice Beef was down 75 cents and Select Beef was down $4.68 on Wednesday, 02/23/2022.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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OKC West in El Reno combined their Tuesday and Wednesday sales yesterday because of the winter storm that is happening today and tomorrow in the state. Totals for this week were 4, 914 head sold on Tuesday.
Compared to last week: Feeder steers sold 2.00-5.00 lower. Feeder heifers traded 4.00-6.00 lower. Steer and heifer calves sold 4.00-7.00 lower. Demand moderate for all classes. Strong winter storm is expected for Tuesday evening and aa week of sub-zero temperatures are in the forecast.
Manager Bill Barnhart offered a short commentary on Facebook from the Tuesday combined sale: "With winter weather moving in all cattle were sold Tuesday this week. Stockers and feeders were all 2.00-5.00 cheaper this week. Weather a factor for sure but rising grain costs have put a lid on the feeder market for the time being. Cattle feeders are pricing cattle higher this week. Let’s hope they get it."
Click on the button below for details of the trade as compiled by the USDA Market News Service.
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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/Ranch Broadcaster and Editor
KC Sheperd, Farm Director and Editor
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
Chelsea Stanfield, Farm News and Email Editor
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Rural Oklahoma is full of some of the greatest success stories throughout the entire state and is a big reason why Oklahoma is on track to become a top 10 state.
The Road to Rural Prosperity dives into these stories, bringing 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.
Our Latest RRP features the Director of the National Ag Law Center Harrison Pittman. The Center is located at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Ron and Harrison discuss what Ag Law is- and dove into a whole list of issues that have real world impacts on farmers and ranchers- Prop 12 in California, the Supreme Court's consideration of WOTUS, ESA and the impact on Ag Chemicals, Right to Repair and more.
Search for Road to Rural Prosperity and subscribe on your favorite Podcast platform.
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, 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
Rural Oklahoma Networks
405-317-6361
***************
Director of Sales
405-615-4922
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KC Sheperd
Farm Director
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
405-443-5717
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Ron Hays
Senior Farm/Ranch Broadcaster
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
405.473.6144
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