Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Friday, September 16, 2022 |
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Warm Temps with Little Rain Increases Drought throughout the State
- As NFU Legislative Fly-In Wraps Up, AFR President Scott Blubaugh Offers His Takeaways
- NCBA Calls for Limited SEC Greenhouse Gas Rule Following Senate Hearing
- Challenge to SQ820 Filed- Making it Unlikely Recreational Marijuana Makes November Ballot
- Hereford Breed Continues to Provide Value to Cattlemen as Demand Remains Strong
- Dr. Kim Anderson Talks Tighter Stocks on Almost Every Commodity Regarding Latest WASDE Report
- Pollard Farmers 25th Annual Production Sale Set for Saturday 9/17
- Stories for Your Weekend Reading
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Early Thursday morning- a deal was struck between labor unions and Railroads that averts the stoppage that could have happened as early as today.
According to Reuters, "the contract talks in Washington between unions representing 115,000 workers and railroads including Union Pacific, BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Kansas City Southern produced a deal that provides a 14% immediate wage increase for workers.
The agreement also provides rail employees a 24 percent wage increase during the five-year period between 2020 and 2024, while also paying out an immediate $11,000 upon adoption. The labor unions have agreed that they will not strike while the agreed upon deal goes through the ratification process.
President Biden was happy saying "I thank the unions and rail companies for negotiating in good faith and reaching a tentative agreement that will keep our critical rail system working and avoid disruption of our economy." His full statement is here.
One caution to the celebration- again from Reuters- "The unions, including two large groups representing around 60,000 workers, will need to persuade their members to vote for Thursday's deal. That might be a tough sell, labor experts warned.
"There's a lot of anger among the members of these two unions because they feel, after being essential workers during the COVID pandemic, they were getting screwed on the attendance policy and getting punished for taking sick leave," said Seth Harris, a professor of Northeastern University and former Biden administration official focused on labor and the economy."
Ag organizations were among many groups pleased with the outcome. Click on the name of the group below to read their comments that have been provided to us:
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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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Warm Temps with Little Rain Increases Drought throughout the State |
Warmer temperatures with little rain chances have increased drought numbers throughout the state. State Climatologist Gary McManus says there's not much rain relief in sight, and the forecast calls for highs in the upper 90's throughout the next 10 days. Mostly warmer and drier weather is in store.
In Oklahoma This week 3,660,659 are affected by drought, 77 counties currently have USDA Disaster designations. Greer, Harmon, Jackson, and Parts of Kiowa county are in the exceptional drought category, along with Coal, Hughes, and parts of Pontotoc county.
This week 3.06 percent of the state is in the Exceptional Drought category compared to Last week's 2.19, while last year at this time we had zero drought reported in the state.
48.81 percent of the state is in Extreme Drought compared to last week's 47.43 percent, and zero percent one year ago.
85.43 percent of the state is experiencing Severe Drought, last week that number was 84.86 percent.
Moderate drought consumes 96.53 percent of the state, while 99.97 percent is abnormally dry.
Moderate drought and Abnormally Dry conditions remained the same.
To view this week's Oklahoma drought numbers, click the drought map above the story.
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As NFU Legislative Fly-In Wraps Up, AFR President Scott Blubaugh Brings Back Takeaways he Would like to See in Oklahoma |
The 2022 NFU Fall Legislative Fly-In wrapped up this week in Washington, DC. Throughout the week, the AFR Oklahoma delegation joined Farmers Union attendees from across the nation at the USDA Jefferson Auditorium. The NFU Legislative Fly-In group of 250 people is the largest to gather in Jefferson Auditorium since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack took top billing at the USDA Administration briefing. His remarks focused on the revitalization and building of local and regional food systems in the United States and the development and implementation of climate-smart practices.
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Intern Cheyenne Leach had the opportunity to travel with the AFR delegation and caught up with AFR President Scott Blubaugh after the Fly-in to get his take on the events.
"We were able to go to the White House and meet with The president and his people," Blubaugh said. "We were able to deal with the USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and most of his deputy lieutenants. Then we were able to go to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice and meet with their attorneys and then, of course, our congressman. So we had a very, very busy schedule, but I was optimistic and very positive."
Blubaugh said some of his biggest takeaways were the importance of getting a farm bill finished and the fairness for farmers' campaign, which includes several pieces of key legislation.
"One of them is the Transparency Act in the beef cattle market and having a contract library and being able to have better price reporting rules, better USDA rules on the Stockers and packers Act, as well as the right to repair our own equipment," Blubaugh said. "That is becoming a bigger and bigger thing."
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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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NCBA Calls for Limited SEC Greenhouse Gas Rule Following Senate Hearing |
Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) reiterated the need for a limited version of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) greenhouse gas disclosure rule following SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking.
“The SEC’s proposed greenhouse gas disclosure rule is aimed at large publicly traded companies but would lead to unintended consequences for small businesses like farms and ranches. The rule would require data that simply does not exist at the farm or ranch-level and increases the regulatory burden on individual cattle producers,” said NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart. “We urge the SEC to limit their proposed rule to avoid unintentional impacts to farms and ranches.”
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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
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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Challenge to SQ820 Filed- Making it Unlikely Recreational Marijuana Makes November Ballot |
The ballot title for State Question 820, which if passed, would legalize recreational marijuana has been challenged.
According to a Tweet from Paul Monies with Oklahoma Watch- this protest was filed just ahead of the Challenge Deadline.
If the Court decides that this is a legitimate challenge- resolving it will likely mean that State Question 820 cannot be ready to be on the November midterm election ballot.
John Stotts, Karma Robinson and Mary Chris Barth are listed as the petitioners who are challenging that the Title of the State Question does not let the voter know what they are really voting for.
Stay Tuned.
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Hereford Breed Continues to Provide Value to Cattlemen as Demand Remains Strong |
In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am visiting with Chief Operating Officer and Director of Breed Improvement for the American Hereford Association, Shane Bedwell, talking about the state of the Hereford breed.
“We have seen great demand here in the last few years,” Bedwell said. “The breed has flourished, and we are seeing renewed interest in heterosis and crossbreeding in the nation’s commercial cowherd. Folks have really understood and realized that they need a shot of power, they need a shot of growth, they need a shot of fertility, and Hereford really brings that and delivers that to these cattlemen.”
The Hereford breed, Bedwell said, is valuable because of its inherent docility and soundness, which is what cattlemen want.
“We have seen great demand for bull sales here in the last two years throughout the breed,” Bedwell said. “As feeder calf price has gone up, so has Hereford bull sale price, and we have stayed at a pretty neat pace relative to that ratio and well above industry standard when that comes.”
Bedwell said more Hereford bulls have been marketed in the last two years than ever before and the demand has been strong.
“I attribute that to our breeders and what they have been able to do,” Bedwell said. “They have focused on genetic improvement and using the tools available to make the cattle better and bend the curves that we need to in an ever-demanding beef industry.”
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Dr. Kim Anderson Talks Tighter Stocks on Almost Every Commodity Regarding Latest WASDE Report |
This Week on SUNUP is Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Dr. Kim Anderson. During this week's edition, Anderson talks about the latest WASDE report and the crop markets.
“I don’t think there was any surprise in it,” Anderson said. “You look at ending stocks to summarize everything- wheat at 610 million bushels, same as it was last month, so no changes in the wheat at all.”
Corn came in at 1.22 billion bushels, and last month, corn was at 1.39 billion bushels. The five-year average for corn is 1.5 billion bushels, Anderson added, so corn stocks are tight.
Anderson said soybean stocks are also tight coming in at 200 million bushels, down from 240 million last year and the average of 500 million bushels.
Cotton is down from last year’s 3.8 million bales, Anderson said, at 2.7 million bales.
“You look at the world’s situation- 9.9 billion bushels for wheat,” Anderson said. “That is the lowest since 2015.”
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Pollard Farmers 25th Annual Production Sale Set for Saturday 9/17 |
Some of the best Angus genetics will be display tomorrow at the 25th annual Pollard Farms Performance Female Sale at the ranch near Waukomis, Oklahoma. Dr. Barry and Rozanne Pollard invite you to join them today and tomorrow for this annual production sale. You can view the cattle until sale time either day.
The sale starts at 12 noon- and will feature 132 Registered Angus females lots- in all approixmiately180 head and semen.
Details on the entire offering is available on the Pollard Farms website by clicking here. You will be able to view the sale catalog as well as videos of most of the offering online.
Last minute questions can be directed to Matt Sims- Sale Manager by calling him at 405-641-6081.
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More Stories for Your Weekend Reading |
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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 $1.13 cents and Select Beef was down $1.16 on Thursday 09/15/2022.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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Weekly Cattle Auction Reports
The buttons below allow you to check out the weekly Cattle Auctions in the region that we post on our website and here in our daily email update.
Remember- This Monday is Labor Day and the markets that normally operate on Monday are closed.
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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
***************
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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