Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Cattlemen's Congress: Montie Soules Reflects on Value of the Show to the Shorthorn Breed
- Lucas Joins Leader McCarthy, House Ag Republicans Calling on Biden Administration to Reduce Barriers to U.S. Agriculture Production
- OSU Cowboy Journal: Calling Rural Veterinarians
- New Southern Plains Perspective Blog Post: "Well, Texas Needs Rain, So Let Me Write About That..."
- Massey Ferguson Produces One-Millionth Tractor
- Mallory Gaines with AFIA Stresses Importance of Staying ahead of African Swine Fever Outbreak in the U.S.
- Fly Control and Prevention for Cattle with OSU's Mark Johnson
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Cattlemen's Congress: Montie Soules Reflects on Value of the Show to the Shorthorn Breed
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The third annual Cattlemen's Congress stock show will be held again on January 1-14 in Oklahoma City, Okla. I visited with Executive Secretary and CEO of the American Shorthorn Association, Montie Soules, about the upcoming livestock show created to allow cattlemen and women to showcase and market their elite cattle genetics.
Soules was one of the individuals involved in the conversation when the Cattlemen's Congress first came up during the COVID-19 pandemic. When other livestock shows shut down, Cattlemen's Congress rose up to give exhibitors a chance to display the hard work they have put in over the past year to prepare their cattle for the show ring.
“There was a group that got together, and we were very supportive and very aggressive in trying to help them make sure that all the breeds would participate,” Soules said. “There was total positivity with having this.”
The state of Oklahoma was supportive of Cattlemen's Congress, Soules said, and provided hope for exhibitors who might not have had a chance to showcase their cattle otherwise.
“Those that were wanting to promote their product in our industry, the beef cattle industry, didn't have a place to go and show anymore,” Soules said.
To solve this issue, cattle industry professionals quickly came together and organized the first Cattlemen's Congress in 2020.
“The board understood that because we were dealing with people that had exhibited cattle previously, we knew we needed to make this an exhibitor-friendly atmosphere,” Soules said.
The exhibitor-friendly atmosphere created at Cattlemen's Congress is what Soules said he believes has made the show so popular in a short span of time. In the Shorthorn breed, for example, Soules said the show received significantly more entries the second year than the first, which shows tremendous growth.
“I think that is a testimony to what the industry was really looking for to have a show like this, managed like this, with the exhibitor's interest being the number one priority,” Soules said.
Cattlemen's Congress has created a reputation of being a show put on by cattle producers for cattle producers.
“You have got cattle producers that are on that board, and they are involved and have the same interest as the exhibitors, which is totally unusual,” Soules said. “It is not managed by the same type of personality that you would see at the other major stock shows.”
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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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Lucas Joins Leader McCarthy, House Ag Republicans Calling on Biden Administration to Reduce Barriers to U.S. Agriculture Production |
Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) joined House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Agriculture Committee Republican Leader Glenn “GT” Thompson in sending a letter to President Joe Biden calling on the Administration to reverse overly burdensome regulations and policy barriers to U.S. agriculture production that have caused needless uncertainty for farmers, ranchers, and working families.
The letter to the President outlines administrative actions which would immediately provide real, near-term solutions to address the ongoing crises facing American producers, including:
- Addressing farm input costs
- Halting changes to "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS)
- Ensuring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) refocuses on sound science
- Ending onerous climate rules
In the letter, Republicans write, "Long before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, America's farm families and consumers were struggling with fractured supply chains, skyrocketing input costs, and historic levels of inflation, each of which continue to contribute to increased food prices and diminished inventories. U.S. consumers are experiencing the largest price increase in nearly 40 years, with the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food rising by 9.4 percent between April 2021 and April 2022. The war between Russia and Ukraine, two of the world’s biggest suppliers of wheat and sunflower oil, further disrupted the global food system resulting in increased energy prices, fertilizer cost spikes and shortages, and worsening food shortages in developing countries."
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OSU Cowboy Journal: Calling Rural Veterinarians |
The sun rises over rural Oklahoma. Tools neatly line the veterinary box, prepared to assist in a day of unknowns. The phone rings alongside the morning cup of coffee and a rural veterinarian starts the day.
Rural veterinarians are an enormous asset to a community, said Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, director of continuing education for the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine and beef cattle specialist for OSU Extension.
Veterinarians are critical in helping with not only animal health but also food safety, public health, education and military services, said Biggs, who is an alumna of the Ferguson College of Agriculture and OSU-CVM.
“Agriculture is one of the top industries in Oklahoma,” Biggs said. “It is at the heart of all things good in Oklahoma. Rural communities are focused largely on agriculture, especially animal agriculture.”
A recent shortage of rural veterinarians has brought challenges to rural Oklahoma, Biggs said. However, rather than being discouraged, State of Oklahoma officials, the veterinary community, and OSU administrators and faculty are committed to overcome these challenges in the most effective manner, Biggs said.
Dr. Rod Hall, Oklahoma state veterinarian and OSU-CVM alumnus, said he attributes the state’s veterinarian shortage to the salary-to-student debt ratio, the need for emergency calls, the rural lifestyle, the misconception of fair pay for veterinarian services, and the hard work that goes into being a rural veterinarian.
“We have to figure out how to help students get into veterinary school and how to help them be successful after graduation," Hall said.
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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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New Southern Plains Perspective Blog Post: "Well, Texas Needs Rain, So Let Me Write About That..." |
There is a new blog post out at the Southern Plains Perspective written by Clay Pope talking about expecting hotter temperatures this summer and fall, and the need for more rain along with that in the southern plains:
Here is a sneak peek:
Ok…that headline is supposed to be a joke. If you follow this blog, you know I have written quite a bit the last few months about the dry conditions in the Southern Plains and the outlook for even dryer weather this summer and fall.
And as fate would have it as soon as I put out the maps comparing our current conditions to those that lead up to the record drought of 2011-15 it started to rain in Oklahoma and other parts of the region. (https://southernplainsperspective.wordpress.com/2022/05/31/youre-welcome-oklahoma/) Like Oklahoma Climatologist Gary McManus so often says, “the best way to break a drought is to start talking about it.”
With that in mind, today, I want to put my “impressive precipitation powers” to work for good once again and write about the challenges facing the southernmost state in the region. Texas really needs rain.
In a recent publication from Texas A&M , Texas State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon warned that the Lone Star State was facing its most severe early summer drought in nearly a decade and that anticipated hot, dry weather could kick off one of the hottest summers in state history. The publication quoted Nielsen-Gammon as saying, “it would not surprise me if this summer ended up being the second-hottest summer on record for the state. The heat will be accompanied by little to no precipitation, guaranteeing that the first half of June will also see below-normal precipitation across the state.”
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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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Massey Ferguson Produces One-Millionth Tractor |
AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, celebrates the production of the one-millionth tractor at its Massey Ferguson® Beauvais plant. This significant milestone coincides with the company’s 175th anniversary. Massey Ferguson has been manufacturing tractors in Beauvais, France since November 20, 1960.
“2022 is a year of milestone celebrations for Massey Ferguson,” said Darren Parker, vice president of Massey Ferguson, North America. “We applaud the hard work and dedication of our colleagues in Beauvais to produce our one-millionth tractor. We’re also excited to celebrate Massey Ferguson’s 175 years of straightforward, dependable equipment innovation this year. These dual milestones prove our status as agricultural problem solvers dedicated to providing the right equipment, at the right price, for individual farming operations. Our equipment, just like our customers, is Born to Farm.”
Celebrating 62 years of production in Beauvais
Thierry Lhotte, vice president and managing director, Massey Ferguson EAME, and president of AGCO in France presented the one-millionth tractor produced in Beauvais – a brand-new MF 8S.305 Dyna-VT™ - to Thierry Aubrée, an arable farmer and contractor from the village of La Chapelle des Fougeretz in Brittany, France. “On behalf of all our employees and dealers, I want to thank our customers for their steadfast trust,” said Lhotte. The new 8S adds to Aubrée’s expanding Massey Ferguson fleet that already includes four tractors, three combines, and two large balers.
Boussad Bouaouli, vice president, manufacturing Beauvais, emphasized employee commitment on the Beauvais MF campus development. “From 1960, there have always been people who kept the site moving, always with the right farmer-first focus to address challenges of the times and, above all, with a clear view to the future,” Bouaouli said.
It all started with the MF 825 in 1960. From then, the site grew continuously, producing iconic tractors driven by innovation, including:
• MF 3000 Series in 1986, the first tractor with onboard electronics,
• MF 8600 in 2008, introducing the efficient power concept, which reduces environmental impact, courtesy of the first use of SCR technology on an ag machine,
• MF 8S Series in 2020, with its award-winning Protect-U™ concept, which features a 9.4-inch gap between the cab and the engine installation, reducing heat, noise, and vibrations being transmitted to the cab and improving cooling and performance. The MF 8S Series received the Tractor of the Year 2021, Red Dot: Product Design 2021 and Farm Machine 2022 awards.
“The Beauvais plant and our dedicated employees embody Massy Ferguson’s commitment to farmer-focused equipment solutions. This plant, named Factory of the Year 2016, represents the modern era of Massey Ferguson. This campus sets our future and new standards,” Bouaouli said.
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Mallory Gaines with AFIA Stresses Importance of Staying ahead of African Swine Fever Outbreak in the U.S. |
Farm Director, KC Sheperd, visits with the Director of Market Access and Trade Policy at the American Feed Industry Association, Mallory Gaines. Since the confirmation of African Swine Fever last July, the highly contagious disease is on the minds of many exporters. Shepherd and Gaines talk about what an outbreak of ASF in the continental United States would mean for the animal food industry.
“American Feed Industry Association is very concerned about African Swine Fever Outbreak,” Gaines said.
Gaines said animal-based products and pet food are traded using a specific health certificate called the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services 16-4 form. This form is only valid if African Swine Fever does not exist in the United States, she added.
Even if a product does not include porcine ingredients, Gaines said it still cannot be traded in the event of an ASF outbreak.
“If we end up with African Swine Fever, a lot of markets are going to shut down, a lot of domestic movement is going to shut down and it is going to be bad overall,” Gaines said.
Gaines said an outbreak will affect more than just the animal feed and pet food industry. If you are a beef producer, for example, and the bi-products from the cattle you slaughter are going into animal feed, Gaines said those products will not be exported in the event of an ASF outbreak.
“American Feed Industry Association is working very closely with the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service on the 16-4 form,” Gaines said. “We are asking them to update the form now, so we can try to head something off at the pass and not have to deal with updating a form and negotiating with all of our trading partners in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak.”
Gaines said producers should be contacting their individual trade associations and letting them know that this issue exists. It doesn’t affect a producer immediately, she added, but those other trade associations should be aware that this will affect their producers and their farmers and ranchers in the event of an ASF outbreak.
“We want to be ahead of ASF as much as we can whether that is biosecurity, domestic movement, or protection zones which AFIS is working on,” Gaines said. “We want to be ahead of it making sure that our animal-based and pet food products can get exported.”
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Fly Control and Prevention for Cattle with OSU's Mark Johnson |
This week, Mark Johnson, Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist at Oklahoma State University offers his cattle breeding expertise. This is a part of the weekly series known as the "Cow-Calf Corner" published electronically by Paul Beck. Today, Johnson talks about fly control for cattle.
One of the realities of beef production in Oklahoma is dealing with significant fly populations. The Oklahoma beef cattle industry loses millions of dollars each year due to external parasites. Blood loss, irritation and annoyance lead to reduced levels of performance due to flies. Horn flies, Stable Flies, house flies or horse flies must be controlled. With recent rains, humidity and warmer temperatures most of Oklahoma now serves as an ideal breeding ground for these annoying pests that rob profit potential from beef operations.
Horn flies are the most significant external parasites of cattle causing an estimated $1.8 billion impact on the cattle industry as a whole annually. Although this fly is small and feeds from the back down the side and onto the belly of cattle it is the sheer numbers of these flies on a per animal basis that cause stress to cattle. Considering the number of times an individual horn fly will feed on an animal throughout the day is 25 times per day then those numbers will certainly cause significant stress to cattle. In a cow-calf system the horn flies on the cow or heifer impact weaning weights in calves due to the impact of that stress causes decreased milk production but when combined with direct fly numbers on the calf then the impact can be greater.
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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 were lower- Choice Beef was down $1.10 and Select Beef was down 63 cents on Tuesday 06/14/2022.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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Oklahoma National Stockyards had a final number of 7,921 head on Monday, June 13, 2022.
Compared to last week: Feeder steers steady to 3.00 higher, most advance over 800 lbs. Feeder heifers 1.00-3.00 higher. Steer calves unevenly steady. Heifer calves 3.00-5.00 higher. Demand very good despite sharply lower cattle futures. Several loads of cattle on offer in light flesh conditions. Summer's heat is quickly upon us but this dry stretch is giving wheat farmers the opportunity to harvest.
Click below for the complete closing report.
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OKC West in El Reno had 1,500 head of calves for their Tuesday sale.
Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves sold mostly steady to weak on limited comparable offerings. Demand moderate. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid to upper 90's for the rest of the week. Wheat harvest is full swing across the trade area.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 15TH 2022
EXPECTING 5,000 HEAD of Yearlings-
2,000 Heifers
3,000 Streers
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
Reagan Calk, Farm News and Email 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 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.
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Our Latest RRP takes us to Altus, Oklahoma. Farm Director, KC Sheperd, talks with Carl Josefy, the Jackson County, Oklahoma FSA Executive Director about all things FSA-related. Josefy explains various FSA programs available to producers and contradicts the misconception that these programs are only available to a small number of operations.
“It is always a pleasure to be able to get in front of producers to let them know what is occurring with the Farm Service Agency,” Josefy said. “We have a lot of programs going on, and it does overlap.”
The newly announced Emergency Relief Program, Josefy said, is aimed at aiding commodity and special crop producers. This program, he added, includes 10 billion dollars in assistance to agricultural producers that were impacted by wildfire, drought, hurricane, winter storms, and other eligible disasters that occurred across the country during the calendar year of 2021.
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
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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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