Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Wednesday, September 7, 2022
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Half of the 2022 OSU Alumni Distinguished Alum Awards Go to Ag Grads- Rancher Minnie Lou Bradley is Among Those Being Honored
- U.S. Good to Excellent Cotton Ratings Down 26 Percentage Points Compared to This Time Last Year
- First Autonomous U.S. Built Crop Spraying Drone Available for Pre-Order Now
- Avian Flu Remains a Persistent Threat to U.S. Poultry Supplies, Export Markets
- As Concerns Over China Rise, They Remain a Top Tier Destination for US Beef
- Farmer Sentiment Improves, but Farmers Still Concerned about Rising Costs and Inflation
- Beef Production at a Turning Point? Maybe, Maybe Not. Either Way it's a Good Idea to Plan for Extreme Weather
- Texas’ Cotton Industry is Facing its Worst Harvest in Years - Costing the State More than $2 Billion
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Half of the 2022 OSU Alumni Distinguished Alum Awards Go to Ag Grads- Rancher Minnie Lou Bradley is Among Those Being Honored |
This coming Friday- the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association will honor six alumni of OSU with their 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award. This award recognizes alumni who attain distinctive success in his or her chosen field or profession, perform outstanding service to their community or both. Service and contributions to the advancement of the university, the OSU Alumni Association or both may be considered.
The 2022 honorees will be recognized at a public reception Friday, September 9 inside the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. All are welcome to attend, and registration is requested- click here to register.
The Ferguson College of Agriculture is well represented as three of the six honorees are from the College of Ag. One of the six is Minnie Lou Bradley, who led the way for females to be a part of the Animal Science Department at what was then Oklahoma A&M
Minnie Lou Bradley graduated from OSU (then Oklahoma A&M) in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry. When she enrolled in 1949, she was the first female to enroll in animal husbandry in the university’s history.
During her time on campus, she was the first female to compete on the Oklahoma A&M Livestock Judging Team and became one of the most successful livestock judges at the college.
After graduation, Bradley worked for the Texas Angus Association as an assistant to the executive secretary and a fieldman. She would also work for Angus Valley Farms in Tulsa in 1954. The following year, Bradley married her husband, Bill, and the couple purchased a ranch in Childress County, Texas. They started Bradley 3 Ranch with 20 cows and 3,300 acres.
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The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association is the trusted voice of the Oklahoma Cattle Industry. With headquarters in Oklahoma City, the OCA has a regular presence at the State Capitol to protect and defend the interests of cattlemen and cattlewomen.
Their Vision Statement explains the highest priority of the organization- "Leadership that serves, strengthens and advocates for the Oklahoma cattle industry."
To learn more about the OCA and how you can be a part of this forward-looking group of cattle producers, click here for their website. For more information- call 405-235-4391.
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U.S. Good to Excellent Cotton Ratings Down 26 Percentage Points Compared to This Time Last Year |
Corn and soybean conditions held steady, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report released Tuesday, Sept. 6. The report is normally released on Mondays but was delayed this week due to the Labor Day holiday.
Nationally- the US Cotton crop is one point better than a week ago- but 26 points worse than the start of September 2021- based on good to excellent ratings.
Pasture and range ratings in our region have mostly improved from last week- Texas has taken a big jump from 9% Good to Excellent a week ago to 20% this week- leaving Oklahoma and Kansas in just single digits in the good to excellent rates- both now at a 9% good rating, nothing excellent in either state. Oklahoma is now 67% poor to very poor- Kansas at 68% poor to very poor while Texas has improved by 18 points in the poor to very poor ratings to 51%. Nebraska remains at 78% poor to very poor- worse in the middle part of the US- while the very worse Pasture conditions are in several of the northeastern states.
In Oklahoma:
Corn conditions rated 41 percent good to excellent, 28 percent fair and 31 percent poor to very poor. (Good to excellent corn conditions have dropped 9 percentage points since last week.)
Cotton conditions rated 9 percent good to excellent, 34 percent fair and 57 percent poor to very poor. (Poor to very poor conditions have increased by 2 points and good to excellent has increased by 4 points since last week.)
Soybeans conditions are rated 37 percent good to excellent, 32 percent fair and 31 percent poor to very poor.
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First Autonomous U.S. Built Crop Spraying Drone Available for Pre-Order Now |
I am featuring content from Farm Broadcaster, Ken Root’s podcast during his visit to the Farm Progress Show in Iowa as he speaks with the President, CEO, and co-founder of Guardian Agriculture, Adam Bercu.
Guardian Agriculture exhibited the Guardian SC1 at the Farm Progress Show, a drone standing five feet tall with skids on the bottom that can be used for spraying farms.
“We are a bunch of motor and battery and liquid dynamics experts out of Boston, Massachusetts and we saw a huge need,” Bercu said.
Bercu said after seeing small drones in Asia being utilized frequently, they had the idea to create a tool for growers to use on their acres in the United States. With this tool, Bercu said the goal was to improve payload, reliability, and usability for the American grower.
“It is an all-electric unit,” Bercu said. “It is a lithium cobalt battery pack that we make ourselves.”
“Unlike the smaller Chinese units, we don’t switch the battery between runs, we supercharge the battery,” Bercu said. “So, on a four-minute flight, you land, you plug in and in about two minutes, the payload is topped off and the battery is good to go, and you can take off again.”
The drone consists of four electric propulsion motors with 63-inch propellers, Bercu said that are about 18 horsepower, which offers plenty of tight control and the horsepower needed to adjust the altitude over uneven terrain or quick turns and wind rejection.
Bercu said this drone will be useful in more urban regions where airplanes can’t fit into tight areas, or for specialty crops such as fruits and vegetables that require a high spray frequency. The drone can also be useful to spray field crops in areas that might have a lot of wind turbines or other structures that make it more difficult for an airplane to do it’s job, he added.
Editor's Note- Ken's podcast is available where ever you get your podcasts- it's called Better than Nuthin' with Ken Root- check it out!
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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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Avian Flu Remains a Persistent Threat to U.S. Poultry Supplies, Export Markets |
The widespread outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that roiled U.S. poultry production earlier this year and led to skyrocketing prices for eggs and turkey has subsided. Cases of HPAI diminished significantly as temperatures warmed and the migratory season for wild birds ended. However, the risk of another outbreak this fall remains elevated and the stakes for poultry producers couldn’t be higher, according to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange.
Poultry product values had increased substantially prior to this year’s HPAI outbreak due to tight supplies and strong consumer demand for animal protein products. The added burden of HPAI-related supply shocks further exacerbated tight market conditions, sending values skyrocketing. Table egg prices tripled in several markets and turkey breast meat rose to historic peaks.
Similarly, the value of U.S. poultry exports through June was up 19% year-over-year. In 2021, total U.S. poultry exports reached $5.9 billion, and the current pace of exports indicate a potential all-time record high in 2022. The increased dependence on export markets for certain poultry items like chicken paws and leg quarters brings added vulnerability for exporters subject to potential trade restrictions that could result from future HPAI outbreaks.
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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
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As Concerns Over China Rise, They Remain a Top Tier Destination for US Beef |
In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am featuring comments from Senior Director for International Trade and Market Access, Kent Bacus with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association talking about China and U.S. Beef exports.
Despite recent talk concerning U.S. beef exports into China because of tensions between the Chinese and United States regarding Taiwan, the latest beef export numbers for China/Hong Kong show over 240 million dollars sold in the month of June. These latest numbers show China/Hong Kong to be the largest value destination for U.S. beef in the month recorded. Of course, this was before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial trip to Taiwan in recent weeks.
“You look at China before the phase one agreement and even still today, they have come a long way, but they had a very protectionist mindset and it was not one that accepted international trade,” Bacus said.
Previously, China did not accept a lot of technology in food production, Bacus said, but because of the phase one agreement, China now accepts these technologies as being safe, therefore allowing large amounts of U.S. beef to enter China.
“Once the Chinese were able to understand that and realize that we weren’t trying to cause them harm, we were trying to feed them the same high-quality products we feed Americans, they had a change of heart and change of mindset,” Bacus said. “That takes a long time, and it takes a lot of investment and time and resources to do that.”
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Farmer Sentiment Improves, but Farmers Still Concerned about Rising Costs and Inflation |
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer farmer sentiment index rose 14 points in August to a reading of 117. The rise in the overall measure of agricultural producer sentiment was driven by increases in both the Index of Current Conditions, which rose 9 points to 118 and the Index of Future Expectations, which climbed 16 points to 116. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers' responses to a telephone survey. This month's survey was conducted between August 15-19, after USDA released both the August Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply & Demand Estimates reports.
"Producers in the August survey were less worried about their farm's financial situation than in July, although they remain concerned about a possible cost/price squeeze," said James Mintert, the barometer's principal investigator and director of Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture.
This month, more producers indicated they're expecting better financial performance for their farms in 2022 and the upcoming year, as the Farm Financial Performance Index improved 11 points to a reading of 99. Both corn and soybean prices rallied from their July lows into mid-August which, along with expectations for good yields, helped explain some of the improvement in financial performance expectations.
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Beef Production at a Turning Point? Maybe, Maybe Not. Either Way it's a Good Idea to Plan for Extreme Weather |
There is a new blog post out on the Southern Plains Perspective by Clay Pope talking about producers taking action to plan for weather extremes. Read a portion below!
It’s amazing what you can find when you’re searching the internet for blog ideas. Just today, I typed in drought, cattle and climate change and headlines “Cattle Industry’s complex pressures and prospects,” and “the cattle industry may be at a turning point” popped up on my screen, leading to a trove of articles dedicated to the challenges facing ranchers and feedlot operators throughout the United States. And with all this dry weather, it’s not hard to imagine why.
I’m not going to run through the whole litany of woes that this drought has brought to the American beef industry. We all know the tale. We have seen the long lines of trailers at sale barns and stockyards. We remember the horrible impact that sudden weather changes and extreme heat stress had on feedlots in Western Kansas earlier this summer. Many of us have first-hand knowledge about how a shortage of hay is impacting livestock operations throughout the region.
It hasn’t been a fun year (or years depending on where you are at). And it may well be having a long-term impact on cattle production in the region.
Case in point, a Texas A&M report earlier this summer pointed out that with the cattle sell off we were seeing, replacement heifers nation-wide are at their lowest numbers since USDA started keeping count in 1973. This means that even if it starts raining everywhere tomorrow and pastures miraculously recovered overnight, it will take a long time for the cattle herd numbers to recover, if they ever do. This differs from the sell-off that accompanied the drought of 2011-2015 in that while there was a huge selloff of cattle at that time, more replacement heifers were maintained in the hope of rebuilding herds when conditions improved.
This time more heifers are going to the sale barn...
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Texas’ Cotton Industry is Facing its Worst Harvest in Years - Costing the State More than $2 Billion |
Cotton is Texas’ largest crop, and industry experts say they expect just half the normal annual yield — which will drive up costs for consumers.
Cotton production has been decimated by drought and extreme heat this year, costing Texas High Plains farmers and other agricultural industries at least $2 billion, according to one estimate.
“There’s just not much crop out there,” said Brad Heffington, a cotton farmer in Littlefield. “A lot of cotton burned up and a lot of it never even made it up to begin with.”
Heffington’s farm is about 40 miles northwest of Lubbock in the state’s High Plains, an area that stretches from Lubbock to the tip of Panhandle and covers 42 counties. The region produces an abundance of cotton and cottonseed, accounting for 66% of the state’s total yield. It’s more than a third of the nation’s total crop. It’s 4% globally.
In a good year, cotton production can net $4 billion to $5 billion for the High Plains economy alone. The International Center for Agricultural Competitiveness at Texas Tech University estimates cotton production in the High Plains will be down by $2 billion this year.
As nearly the entire state — 95% — faces drought conditions, farms have been forced to cut their losses. Cotton is just one of many crops suffering under the drought. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Crop Progress report, 29% of Texas corn is in very poor condition and 39% of the state’s range lands are as well. This has greatly affected livestock, as cattle sales increased this summer due to dry pastures and low hay supply to feed the cattle.
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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 higher- Choice Beef was up $1.05 and Select Beef was up 72 cents on Friday 09/09/2022.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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OKC West in El Reno had 1,707 head of calves selling on the Tuesday after Labor Day.
According to USDA Market News- Compared to last week: Steer calves3.00 to 5.00 higher on a light test. Heifer calves not well tested, a lower undertone noted. demand was good. Final report will be posted Wednesday 09/07/2022(this afternoon). 4500 head is estimated for Wednesday.
Click below for the complete closing report.
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Superior Livestock Auction is holding their 38th annual Labor Day sale today and tomorrow.
Superior OFFERING 63,000 HEAD **
12,600 FEEDER STEERS ~ 10,230 FEEDER HEIFERS
16,800 WEANED CALVES ~ 15,500 CALVES ON COWS
7,540 BEEF DAIRY CROSSES
330 BRED STOCK
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
REGION 3/4/5/6 FEEDER STEERS 8545 ~ 8627
REGION 3/4/5/6 FEEDER HEIFERS 8628 ~ 8685
REGION 1 & 2 FEEDER STEERS 8686 ~ 8713
REGION 1 & 2 FEEDER HEIFERS 8714 ~ 8733
CORRIENTES 8734
BEEF DAIRY CROSSES 8735 ~ 8788
REGION 1 & 2 WEANED CALVES & CALVES ON COWS 8789 ~ 8841
BRED STOCK 8842 ~ 8846
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
REGION 3/4/5/6 WEANED CALVES & CALVES ON COWS 8847 ~ 8997
SUPERIOR SHEEP OFFERING FOLLOWING THE CALVES
Click on the button below for details of Labor Day XXXVIII
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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.
KC Sheperd visits with Dakota Moss of Livestock Risk Services. When the pandemic hit in 2020 the cattle markets along with the rest of the world suffered. Many farmers and ranchers altered their marketing plans on crops and livestock to try and prevent a loss in the down Covid markets. This led to cattle being held months longer than planned hoping for a better market. Unfortunately for many farmers and ranchers they had no choice but to sell much heavier cattle into a down market. Resulting in a lower $/cwt price and profits lost. Sheperd and Moss discuss some alternative options for producers with the Livestock Risk Protection program.
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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