Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- USDA Names Kenneth Corn as Rural Development SED for Oklahoma
- Survey Says: Consumers Want Food Made with US Crops
- Angus Genetics Inc. President Kelli Retallick is Excited to Explore Health EPDs
- The downturn in Fire Activity due to Colder Temps
- Dr. Derrell Peel on Profit Maximization for Cattle Producers
- Global Demand for High-Protein Whey Soars, but is Growth Sustainable?
- USDA Extends Deadline for Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program
- OKFB Legislative Update: County zoning, Ad valorem protests, oil and gas Negotiations
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USDA Names Kenneth Corn as Rural Development SED for Oklahoma
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President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint eleven U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regional positions, including three Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Directors and eight Rural Development (RD) State Directors.
“I am thrilled to welcome these talented and experienced public servants to USDA at a critical time in the Biden-Harris administration,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I look forward to working alongside these individuals to build a better America.”
In Oklahoma, Kenneth Corn has been appointed RD State Director. Corn served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1998 to 2002 and the Oklahoma Senate from 2002 to 2010. At the time of his election to the Senate in 2002, he was the youngest person elected to the body. During his tenure, Corn chaired the Senate Appropriations Sub-committee for Public Safety and Judiciary and the Retirement and Insurance Committee. In 2010, Corn returned home to Poteau, Oklahoma, where he worked in the oil and gas transportation industry. In 2015, he was appointed the City Manager of Anadarko, Oklahoma, his most recent position.
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The vision of the Oklahoma Beef Council is to be a positive difference for Oklahoma's farming and ranching families and the greater beef community, and its mission is to enhance beef demand by strengthening consumer trust and exceeding consumer expectations.
And Check out this video below that helps you learn more about the Beef Checkoff- .
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Survey Says: Consumers Want Food Made with US Crops
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The United Soybean Board (USB) released results of a new survey, highlighting consumer perceptions of U.S. soybeans, soybean farmers and the U.S. food supply chain. According to the survey, consumer support of domestic agriculture has only grown stronger, with 78% of consumers - an 8% increase since the last survey in December 2020 - saying it’s important to purchase U.S.-grown food, including soybeans.
Other key takeaways from the study include:
• U.S. farmers continue to be the most trusted source when it comes to food safety, with 83% of consumers ranking them No. 1 among members of the supply chain, an increase of 5% since the last survey in December 2020.
• The vast majority of consumers, 82%, have a very/somewhat positive view of U.S. farmers who grow crops, including soybeans. This is a 3% increase since the December 2020 survey.
• Soy is seen as healthy by more than half of consumers, with 60% saying that soy-based food is somewhat/very healthy and 26% having a neutral view of soy. However, only 39% are aware that the soybeans used in popular foods are grown sustainably.
With promotion and education being key pillars of the checkoff, the survey validated that informing consumers is an effective tool, with 72% of respondents feeling more positive about soy as a food ingredient after learning about the sustainability of soybeans. Likewise, communicating about soy as a high-quality “complete” protein proved to be the most impactful statement on consumers’ perception of soy, highlighting an essential opportunity to demonstrate its excellent protein profile to health-conscious consumers.
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Angus Genetics Inc. President Kelli Retallick is Excited to Explore Health EPDs
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The ability to take a few strands of hair from a newborn calf and find out what its genetic makeup is is nothing short of amazing. That is exactly what Kelli Retallick, the director and president of Angus Genetics Inc., does at work.
“The one thing about DNA is, it does not change over time, so I can take that sample on day one of that calf’s life and utilize the whole multitude of data points that we have available at the American Angus Association,” Retallick said. “On day one, I can have EPDs for things like carcass traits and food structure.”
That allows commercial cattlemen and seed stock breeders the ability to figure out what animals will serve prospective roles best, Retallick said. For producers looking to market cattle as Certified Angus Beef, EPDs help by targeting traits that translate into quality beef. One, for instance, is AGI’s marbling EPD.
Looking forward, Retallick said AGI has been looking a lot at health.
“It affects every stage of our industry, and it is something that we have been very keen to come up with solutions for,” Retallick said. “We have been working (on capturing) immune function to see if we can select cattle that have better immunity overall.”
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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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Downturn in Fire Activity due to Colder Temps
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Statewide Discussion: A winter weather intrusion that included mixed precipitation provided wetting amounts primarily south of I-44 while most locations in western and northern Oklahoma experienced a downturn in wildfire activity primarily due to much colder temperatures. A warming trend with temperatures well-above normal absence of precipitation through the workweek will promote increasing fire danger through the week ahead of disturbance late in the week.
• Oklahoma Panhandle / Northwest / Western Tier: Southwest to west winds sustained 8-12 mph will support moderate rates of fire spread across western Oklahoma. Winds in the western Panhandle are expected to shift to northerly by this afternoon influenced by a surface trough. Temperatures in the area will top out in the 62°-67° with afternoon relative humidity values 10% in the western Panhandle to 19% under partly cloudy skies yielding fine-dead fuel moisture values 4-5%. Rangeland fuels will support head fire rates of spread 71-115 ft/min with flame lengths around 10 ft. exhibiting moderate resistance to control. Fire danger will moderate with sunset as winds become light and variable.
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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
Oklahoma AgCredit supports rural Oklahoma with reliable and consistent credit, today and tomorrow. We offer loans for land, livestock, equipment, operating costs and country homes (NMLSR #809962) to farmers, ranchers and rural businesses across 60 counties. As a cooperative, we are owned by the members we serve. Through our Patronage Program, we have returned more than $74 million to our members since 1997.
For more information on our services or to find a location near you, visit our website here.
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Dr. Derrell Peel on Profit Maximization for Cattle Producers
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Mondays, Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry. This analysis is a part of the weekly series known as the "Cow Calf Corner" published electronically by Dr. Peel and Mark Johnson. Today, Dr. Peel talks about Profit Maximization for Cattle Producers
With both revenues and costs rising, cattle producers must adjust cattle production and marketing to maximize profits. Economists model this decision mathematically resulting in the rule that profit maximization is the point at which marginal revenues equal marginal costs. This balance occurs when the value of the last unit produced equals the additional cost of producing that last unit. Of course, cattle producers don’t use mathematical models to maximize profits but should use marginal thinking to adjust to changing market conditions. Marginal decision-making means that production is adjusted at the margin, i.e. with minor modifications and tweaks to production systems rather than major changes.
Higher revenues generally suggest that producers will try harder to increase production. This might mean, for example, a bit more time and effort to save an additional calf. Or it might mean more attention on cow body condition and supplement needs to ensure good pregnancy rates. Or it might mean culling fewer cows or breeding a few more heifers to expand production next year. Higher cattle prices and changes in feeder cattle prices by weight changes the value of forage and may impact producer decisions about producing weaning calves versus using forage to add additional weight to feeder cattle.
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Global Demand for High-Protein Whey Soars, but is Growth Sustainable?
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The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered the global market for high-protein whey products, which have now entered the mainstream as a superfood for health-conscious consumers. Global demand for high-protein whey has grown exponentially during the pandemic as consumers around the world sharpened their focus on health and nutrition.
As the global leader in high-protein whey production and exports, the U.S. stands to benefit from the increased demand. Despite record cheese production in the U.S., global supplies of whey products remain tight which has resulted in significant price premiums for high-protein whey products.
According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, whey prices are expected to persist at historically strong levels until new cheese and whey processing capacity comes online over the next five years. In the longer term, further-processed fractionated whey protein products are expected to become the bigger value-drivers of the whey stream.
“High-protein whey products come with risks of increasing price volatility that’s endemic of niche and diverse product mixes with limited market players,” said Tanner Ehmke, lead dairy economist with CoBank. “To meet the growing demand for diverse whey products while covering the risk of higher volatility, dairy processors will need to invest in processing technologies that allow flexibility in production.”
While high-protein whey will continue to grow in demand and offer higher returns, low-protein whey will still offer the appeal of stability and price hedging for processors, added Ehmke. The dairy industry of the future will need to meet growing demand for low-protein whey for both human consumption and animal feed and for high-protein whey for consumer products.
Total U.S. cheese and whey processing capacity in the U.S. is expected to increase by an estimated 10% in the next 5 years. Increasing whey production means an increasing commoditization of all whey products, including high protein concentrates and isolates.
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USDA Extends Deadline for Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program
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Hog producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale during the COVID-19 pandemic now have until April 15, 2022, to submit their applications for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP). SMHPP, which is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, originally had a deadline to submit applications by Feb. 25, 2022.
SMHPP assists hog producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale from April 16, 2020, through Sept. 1, 2020, the period during which these producers faced the greatest reduction in market prices due to the pandemic. USDA is offering SMHPP in response to a reduction in packer production and supply chain issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in fewer negotiated hogs being procured and subsequent lower market prices. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) began accepting applications for SMHPP on Dec. 15, 2021.
“In response to stakeholder feedback and our analysis of the program to date, we will be making adjustments to clarify the definition of a spot market sale and to hog eligibility, while including documentation requirements to prevent erroneous payments,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “We’ll be announcing those updates soon and want to assure hog producers that there will be ample time to submit their applications for assistance.”
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OKFB Legislative Update: County zoning, Ad valorem protests, oil and gas Negotiations
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The third week of Oklahoma’s legislative session was cut short due to the winter weather that made its way through the state, causing both the House and Senate to close on Wednesday and Thursday. Additionally, the House was out of session on Tuesday to allow members to attend a funeral.
Thursday, March 3 – the first deadline of the 2022 legislative session – is the set cutoff date for all bills to be passed out of their assigned committee in their chamber of origin. With a deadline week following a shortened work week, OKFB expects to see unusually long agendas to make up for the lost time.
County zoning authority, one of OKFB’s priority issues, has been prominent this session. On Feb. 21, a do pass motion on HB 2990 by Rep. Carol Bush was defeated in the House County and Municipal Government committee with a vote of 4-6. The bill remains property of the committee and could be revisited until the first deadline. Conversations are ongoing between stakeholders on both sides to rewrite the bill so the scope would be limited to only allow counties the ability to amend and adopt rules and guidelines that pertained to county personnel and office policies. The Senate version, SB 1182 by Sen. Dave Rader, was not heard in committee this week due to the shortened workweek. Both SB 1182 and any revisitation of HB 2990 must be passed out of their assigned committees by Thursday, March 3 in order to receive further consideration.
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Congratulations to Dr. Shelly Legg for being named the Southern Region Distinguished Agricultural Communications Educator at the 2022 Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists Conference- the conference was held earlier in February in New Orleans,
Shelly is the heart and soul of the Ag Communications major within the Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership Department of the Ferguson College of Ag at OSU.
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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 65 cents and Select Beef was up $1.09 on Friday 11/20/2020.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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Oklahoma National Stockyards had 6,000 head in a light test on Monday February 28th.
Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers unevenly steady with a light test in most weight classes. Stocker steers and heifers 2.00 - 6.00 higher. Steer and heifer calves unevenly steady. Demand moderate to good. Quality average to attractive.
Click below for the complete closing report.
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The Joplin Regional Stockyards had a total run of 4,777 for the final sale of February on 2/28/22.
Compared to last week feeder steers under 500 lbs. traded 3.00-5.00 higher. Heavier weights traded steady. Feeder heifers traded 1.00-3.00 higher. Internet bidding was active. Supply and demand was moderate.
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
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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
***************
Mike Henderson
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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