Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Tuesday, October 18, 2022
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Additional 5 Million Approved for Emergency Drought Relief in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Winter Wheat Plantings Behind Normal and Still No Improvement in Range and Pasture Ratings
- Governor Kevin Stitt Continues to Advocate for Agriculture
- Farmers Nationwide Send a Strong Message to EPA on Atrazine
- Congressman Tom Cole: Inflation Hurts Farmers
- Mexican Beef and Cattle Industry Development Continues
- 2022 Stockyards Steak Out Takes Oklahoma Beef to the Next Level
- Recent Oklahoma Rainfall- a Small Dent in Drought in Southern Counties
- Oklahoma Land Lease Auctions This Week in Elk City, Lawton and Stillwater
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Additional 5 Million Approved for Emergency Drought Relief in Oklahoma |
Farm Director, KC Sheperd, caught up with Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, Blayne Arthur at the third Emergency Drought Commission meeting and talked about meeting highlights.
Arthur said one concern producers in Oklahoma stressed was the importance of the drought policies being retroactive. Because many producers have already put time and money into drought-related projects, Arthur said the drought commission is flexible and chose to scroll back dollars for individuals in those circumstances.
“The legislature approved 20 million dollars, so we had done 3 million dollars, the drought commission approved another 5 today which leaves 15 million there to be allocated,” Arthur said. “I think the important thing for us is to see how these dollars go out the door, but continue to take public input, because I think we will learn things as time goes on.”
The next step, Arthur said, is watching how the funds move so that in the next meeting, everyone can address how to allocate what is left in the drought relief fund.
Arthur said these dollars are available to all producers in Oklahoma.
“Certainly, to clarify for everyone, if you are a new and beginning farmer, if you are a smaller producer, if you have got 600 head of cattle on feed, then you are eligible for these funds,” Arthur said. “So, we really encourage folks certainly to go to their conservation district offices, but also want to make sure they are going to their FSA office as well too and signing up for any of those programs from USDA.”
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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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Oklahoma Winter Wheat Plantings Behind Normal and Still No Improvement in Range and Pasture Ratings |
A lot of Oklahoma farmers did "dust in" their 2023 wheat crop over this past week- and some were rewarded with some moisture that will help those fields to germinate and start growing. It's prime time to be planting for maximum grain yield- but unfortunately mostly past the window of getting wheat up to stand and established for wheat pasture.
In Oklahoma: Winter wheat planted reached 53 percent, down 3 points from the previous year and down 13 points from normal. Winter wheat emerged reached 30 percent, down 5 points from the previous year and down 16 points from normal.
Our neighbors in Texas and Kansas are closer to normal on getting their 2023 wheat crop into the ground- Kansas has 64% of their wheat planted versus 73% last year and 66% for the five year average. Texas is ahead of the curve at 70% planted compared to 63% for both a year ago and the five year average.
Oklahoma Cotton bolls opening reached 93 percent, up 4 points from the previous year and up 3 points from normal. Cotton harvested reached 7 percent, down 6 points from the previous year and down 7 points from normal. Cotton conditions rated 4 percent good to excellent, 46 percent fair and 50 percent poor to very poor. (Since last week, good to excellent ratings have dropped one point and poor to very poor have increased by 2 points)
Oklahoma Pasture and range conditions rated 2 percent good to excellent, 20 percent fair and 78 percent poor to very poor. (Unchanged from last week) That 78% rating is the second worst for any state- Nebraska remains the worse in the US with 83% poor to very poor- Kansas is third at 76% poor to very poor.
To view the Oklahoma Crop Progress Report, click here.
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Governor Kevin Stitt Continues to Advocate for Agriculture |
KC Sheperd, Farm Director, got the chance to visit with Governor Kevin Stitt at the 2022 Stockyards Steak Out, which was held at the Oklahoma National Stockyards over the weekend. Coinciding with the Stockyard Stampede, activities for the entire family took place throughout the day.
During this event, local beef producers cooked their best steaks and offered them to the public. These steaks were judged by national judges who chose a champion, and then the general public had the opportunity to taste and vote for a separate award, the “People’s Choice”.
“It is unbelievable- all of these Oklahoma producers,” Stitt said. “I only serve Oklahoma beef at the Governor’s Mansion, so I have got a pocket full of cards and I am going to make sure they order some Oklahoma beef.”
With around 20 million dollars in negative ads spent to spread inaccurate information about the governor, Stitt said he wants to remind Oklahomans that he always supports agriculture.
“We always have your back,” Stitt said. “I am an agricultural guy, and my opponent has joined the Biden administration and, you know, they attack our way of life and our lifestyle, and they believe in more regulations and attacking our industry and our way of life.”
Stitt said he has heard many dark money comments, including some claiming that he plans to tear down the Governor’s Mansion.
“It also broke my heart, a young lady came up to me and said, ‘hey, I heard you are going to tear down the Governor’s Mansion,’ and there has been this hit piece on the news station,” Stitt said. “I said, ‘ma’am, that is absolutely not true; we love the Governor’s Mansion. There is only one Governor’s Mansion.’”
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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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KIS FUTURES specializes in Futures and Options for Institutions, Commercials, Hedgers, and Individual Traders and executes trades for its clients in the following markets: Livestock, Grains, Energy, Metals, Softs, Financials, Currencies, and Stock Index Futures. For more information, please give them a call Toll Free at (800) 256-2555. Click here for their website to learn more.
And- their iPhone App, which provides all electronic futures quotes is available at the App Store- click here for the KIS Futures App for your iPhone.
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Farmers Nationwide Send a Strong Message to EPA on Atrazine |
More than 16,000 farmers and agricultural organizations representing corn, citrus, grain sorghum, sugar cane, and other crops recently united against EPA’s proposed revision to its 2020 atrazine registration review decision, submitting comments calling for the agency to base decisions on credible scientific evidence. Efforts to help farmers speak out against the proposal were coordinated by the Triazine Network, a diverse coalition of state and national agricultural groups across the nation that rely on atrazine and other triazine herbicides to control weeds. The atrazine comment period ended October 7.
“EPA’s actions have been more like a tennis match than a product registration review,“ said Greg Krissek, Triazine Network co-chair and Kansas Corn Growers Association CEO. “In its 2020 decision, EPA finalized and published the aquatic level of concern at 15 parts per billion. Then it used an activist court case against its own decision to reconsider the level of concern. In June, EPA announced it wanted to change the level of concern to an ultra-low 3.4 parts per billion. They floated that number in a 2016 risk assessment but never implemented it. They told us this year that 3.4 ppb was always the number, but that was just their staff’s wishful thinking until they rolled out this year’s proposed revision.”
In their comments, growers expressed frustration with the EPA’s lack of transparency and its repeated efforts to implement measures that would end effective use of atrazine for weed control. In addition to the ultra-low 3.4 ppb level, EPA doubled and tripled down by creating an over-predictive model that predicted 72 percent of U.S. corn acres would be in violation.
“Instead of relying on real-world water testing, the agency would simply look at a map it made up with a questionable model to decide if a grower would be required to add between one and four mitigation practices from its problematic pick list,” said Triazine Network Co-Chair Gary Marshall, who is Missouri Corn Growers Association emeritus executive director. “If EPA would have used just a little bit of common sense, we wouldn’t be fighting this fight.”
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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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Congressman Tom Cole: Inflation Hurts Farmers |
The following is an opinion piece as released by Congressman Tom Cole of the 4th Congressional District of Oklahoma:
"Raging inflation over the last two years has caused prices to increase for Americans on nearly everything. This includes the skyrocketing cost of the most basic necessity of food. Following last week’s recognition of National Farmers Day, it is certainly not lost on me that soaring prices are squeezing our hardworking agricultural producers and communities. Indeed, it is not just at the grocery stores where these prices have risen, but also for our food producers, where the production line begins.
"During my travels across the Fourth District throughout this year, I have visited with numerous farmers and ranchers. As their biggest challenges to productivity, they always pointed to soaring prices, supply chain issues and labor shortages. First, not only has it become increasingly difficult to buy farm equipment and other necessities such as fertilizer for crops due to our supply chain’s dependence on other countries around the world, but the price has skyrocketed as well. In fact, just last week, fertilizer prices in North America rose by 11 percent, which is the sharpest increase since March. And in the coming months, the cost of growing food is expected to increase 18 percent in the United States.
"As a result, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been forced to increase the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by 12.5 percent, giving recipients a roughly $104 bonus for food. While this increase certainly helps lower income families and seniors living on fixed incomes, it still does not keep up with the ever-rising costs of food at the grocery stores, which jumped 13.5 percent in August alone."
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Mexican Beef and Cattle Industry Development Continues |
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 Mexican beef and cattle industry.
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service recently released the latest Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade report. The report provides estimates for production, consumption and trade for beef, pork and chicken for major countries. The article focuses on the Mexican beef and cattle industry.
Mexico continues to develop as a major beef exporting country. In recent years, Mexican beef production has continued to grow while total domestic consumption has been relatively stable leading to growing beef exports from the country. Current USDA projections for 2023 have Mexico as the number ten beef exporting country in the world. Over 80 percent of Mexican beef exports go to the U.S. although other global markets are receiving larger amounts of Mexican beef in recent years. Beef imports from Mexico have accounted for 18.9 percent of total U.S. beef imports and, 2021, Mexico was the second largest source of U.S. beef imports, accounting for a record 20.2 percent share of the total.
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2022 Stockyards Steak Out Takes Oklahoma Beef to the Next Level |
In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am featuring comments from Mariah Reimer, the Foundation coordinator at Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association talking about the inaugural Oklahoma Best Beef Competition, a part of the 2022 Stockyards Steak Out, which was held at the Oklahoma National Stockyards over the weekend. This event coincided with the Stockyard Stampede, with events for the whole family taking place throughout the day.
During this event, local beef producers cooked their best steaks and offered them to the public. These steaks were judged by national judges who chose a champion, and then the general public had the opportunity to taste and vote for a separate award, the “People’s Choice”.
After hosting a state cookoff association event for the past few years, Reimer said Oklahoma National Stockyards President, Kelli Payne, sought to create an event where the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation could be the beneficiary. The goal of the event, Reimer said, was to take Oklahoma producers and the cattle industry to the next level.
“Every entry fee from that national competition comes to the foundation and goes straight to scholarships and educational opportunities for students who are going to better the agricultural industry and really make an impact and give back,” Reimer said.
Reimer said nationally sanctioned judges were blown away by Oklahoma beef.
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Recent Oklahoma Rainfall- a Small Dent in Drought in Drought in Southern Counties |
Some rainfall has been tracking across the state in recent days- if you look back into the latter part of last week- we have several locations south of I-40 that have picked up at least an inch of rain- Medicine Park and Ringling have even topped the two inch mark. Still- that is just a small down payment on what will be needed to really turn the Drought Monitor numbers around. And- the northern half of the state has received next to nothing.
The seven day rainfall map above shows where the rain has fallen and gives you a perspective of the rain that will be considered in the Drought Monitor report that will be released on Thursday morning- it's based on rain from last Tuesday until this morning.
You can click on the map above to get a real time look at rain totals over the previous seven days whenever you click on it.
Keep praying for rain.
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Oklahoma Land Lease Auctions This Week in Elk City, Lawton and Stillwater |
The 2022 Oklahoma Land Lease Auctions will be taking place through October 24th.
Today, the first of three Lease auctions this week will be in Elk City featuring parcels in Beckham, Caddo, Kiowa, Roger Mills and Washita Counties.
The next land lease auction will be held at 10 a.m., on Wednesday, October 10th in Lawton at the Comanche County Fair Grounds for Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Jackson, Stephens, and Tillman Counties.
On Thursday, October 20, another land lease auction will be held at 10 a.m. in Stillwater at the Payne County Expo Center for Logan, Noble, Payne, and Pawnee Counties
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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 $1.16 cents and Select Beef was up $2.67 on Monday 10/17/2022.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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Oklahoma National Stockyards had 7,000 head on Monday, October 17, 2022.
Compared to last week: Feeder steers steady to 3.00 higher. Feeder heifers 1.00 - 4.00 higher. Steer calves steady to 2.00 higher. Heifer calves 2.00 - 4.00 higher Demand moderate to good. Quality average to attractive. Most of the region received some much needed moisture over the weekend, with more in the forecast for the coming weekend.
Click below for the complete closing report.
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The Joplin Regional Stockyards had a total run of 3.772 head on Monday, October 17th.
Compared to last week feeder steers under 525 lbs. traded steady to 4.00 higher with heavier weights 2.00-5.00 lower. Feeder heifers traded mostly steady to 4.00 lower. Extreme dry weather in the area causing ponds to go dry have brought cattle in maybe sooner than normal. Quality cattle are in good demand. On the other hand unweaned, non-vaccinated bull calves are very much less desired. Supply was light with moderate demand.
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.
KC Sheperd shares the story of Joey Carter, a hard-working farmer who was widely regarded as a model citizen in a rural North Carolina town. Carter is the focus of a movie coming out in October called Hog Farmer- the Trials of Joey Carter.
He was not the type of person who ever expected to find himself caught up in the middle of a federal lawsuit involving some of the nation’s most ruthless trial lawyers and one of the world’s largest food companies.
But that’s exactly what happened when Joey’s family farm became the focal point in a series of nuisance trials that attracted national and international media attention. While his neighbors leveled charges of environmental racism in hopes of winning multi-million-dollar verdicts, Joey was left wondering how this could happen to a man who has always taken pride in playing by the rules.
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, Oklahoma Pork Council, 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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