Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Thursday, December 22, 2022 |
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Cold Weather Arriving- Care For Your Critters
- Governor Stitt Declares State of Emergency
- Congressman Lucas, Colleagues Introduce Legislation Nullifying Lesser Prairie-Chicken Listing
- Beef Checkoff Research, Education, and Promotion Efforts Point Consumers to Beef
- Derrell Peel Sees Feeder Markets Finishing 2022 Strong
- Ag Groups Cheer Alexis Taylor Confirmation as USDA’s Top Trade Official
- Protect the Harvest Working to Protect Agricultural Producers and their Way of Life
- Southern Plains Podcast with Matthew Sittel, Assistant State Climatologist in Kansas
- Pig Farmers Donate to Pork for Packs Backpack Program
- Siberian Blast Marching Across Oklahoma- Mostly a COLD event
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Cold Weather Arriving- Care For Your Critters |
Siberian cold is rolling across the countryside on this Thursday morning- and will likely give us the coldest day this month by Friday morning- and that can pose problems for your beef cattle herd. Frozen ponds can be a real worry as your cattle won't realize the danger of walking on what will be thin ice. It’s important to remember that cattle in southern Great Plains states are relatively naïve when it comes to the presence of ice in the field, said David Lalman, OSU Extension beef cattle specialist and holder of the university’s Harrington Endowed Chair in Animal Science.
“Calves, yearlings and young cows may never have experienced ice-covered water sources, so they’re more likely than older cattle to walk into the middle of a pond as a group,” he said. “Breakthroughs can be a disaster and possibly even fatal. Keep the water open or move them to a less risky situation such as an automatic water tank.”
There are several other things to pay attention to- including having enough good hay to keep the internal furnace of the cattle generating the heat needed to keep them ahead of the bitter cold.
Lalman and Paul Beck and others in the OSU Animal Science Department have a list of other things to be aware of as we deal with very cold spell we are getting into.
Click on the button below to get over to the story assembled by the OSU Ag Comm folks. AND- click on the video play button in the box below to hear Paul Beck offer several excellent tips to help your cattle survive.
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Governor Stitt Declares State of Emergency |
Governor Kevin Stitt signed Executive Order 2022-34 on Wednesday declaring a State of Emergency for all 77 Oklahoma counties due to severe winter weather.
The winter storm is expected to include a mix of freezing rain, snow, strong wind, and low temperatures across the state beginning Wednesday, which could result in power outages and hazardous road conditions.
The Executive Order temporarily suspends requirements for size and weights permits of oversized vehicles transporting materials and supplies used for emergency relief and power restoration.
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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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Congressman Lucas, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Legislation Nullifying Lesser Prairie-Chicken Listing |
On Wednesday, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D., Jerry Moran (KS), James Inhofe (OK), and James Lankford (OK), along with U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01), Jake LaTurner (KS-02), Ron Estes (KS-03), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), and Stephanie Bice (OK-05) officially introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval in their respective chambers to strike down the Biden Administration’s recent listing of the lesser prairie-chicken (LPC) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
“I am extremely frustrated at the actions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listing the Lesser Prairie-Chicken under the Endangered Species Act,” said Congressman Lucas. “The Fish and Wildlife Service’s listing of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken creates an unnecessary and burdensome layer of regulation on Oklahoma’s agriculture and oil and gas industry, despite strong conservation efforts by farmers, ranchers, and landowners in Oklahoma and other states. In fact, the extensive conservation measures that were developed by states, landowners, and industry stakeholders has benefited the Lesser Prairie-Chicken and the population of the species has increased by more than 50 percent since the Fish and Wildlife Service began their process. I’m proud to join my colleagues across Oklahoma and Kansas in introducing this legislation to strike down the Biden Administration’s illogical action’s listing the Lesser Prairie-Chicken under the Endangered Species Act.”
If the CRA resolution is enacted, the measure would prevent the listing from having any force or effect.
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Beef Checkoff Research, Education, and Promotion Efforts Point Consumers to Beef |
In our latest Beef Buzz- I featured the Chief Executive Officer of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion Board, Greg Hanes, as we talked about beef demand in 2022 and forward.
“If you look at the demand out there for beef, we are at a 30-year high,” Hanes said. “To me, I think that really shows testament to what the checkoff is doing.”
The Checkoff is designed to convince consumers to choose beef over other proteins, Hanes said, and there has been success even amid inflation.
“That demand for beef continues to stay strong even at those higher prices,” Hanes said.
International demand for beef, Hanes said, has set records once again this year.
“Last year, there was over 10.6 billion dollars of beef exported,” Hanes said. “We are on pace to exceed that again this year.”
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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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Union Mutual was chartered in 1938 to write property and casualty insurance in the state of Oklahoma. Over the years, Union Mutual has maintained the attitude that started the company and continue to be that company that understands Oklahomans’ insurance needs when they contact any member of the UMIC team.
That’s 83 years of protecting rural Oklahomans, providing town and country, poultry house and legacy rural actual cash value policies.
With over 80 years of experience and 300 agents in all 77 Oklahoma Counties to serve you, it’s time to take a good hard look at Union Mutual Insurance Company.
For the agent nearest you, go to unionmutualic.com or give them a call at 405 286-7703.
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Derrell Peel Sees Feeder Markets Finishing 2022 Strong |
Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, on a weekly basis- offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry . Today, Dr. Peel talks about the feeder cattle markets.
Feeder cattle auctions in Oklahoma are winding down for 2022, with many auctions closed for the remainder of December. USDA-AMS issued the final Oklahoma weekly auction summary for the year this past week. In general, feeder cattle markets are finishing 2022 strong with momentum going into the new year.
Oklahoma remains in significant drought with the latest Drought Monitor showing that over 98 percent of the state is abnormally dry (D0) or in some stage of drought (D1-D4). The drought caused significant changes in the timing of feeder cattle marketings in Oklahoma in the second half of the year.
Weekly volumes were larger year over year from July through mid-October and have been mostly smaller since. From July to mid-October, the cumulative additional weekly feeder volume was up an average of 18 percent, totaling over 71,000 additional head of feeder cattle marketed in auctions during this period. The year over year decreases since mid-October have reduced the cumulative total by about half, meaning that the total feeder cattle auction volume in the second half of 2022 is up over 35,000 head at the end of the year, with all of that increase occurring prior to mid-October. Smaller auction volumes since mid-October are no doubt contributing to the strong feeder prices at the end of the year.
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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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Ag Groups Cheer Alexis Taylor Confirmation as USDA’s Top Trade Official |
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Alexis Taylor to be USDA’s undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs. She was nominated for the position by the Biden Administration back in May- and ag groups on Wednesday cheered her confirmation by the Senate for the job.
A sampling of the positive reaction-
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall:
“I’m confident Alexis Taylor will do a great job in this important role at USDA and I’m pleased she was finally confirmed. Her previous experience at USDA, on Capitol Hill and leading a state department of agriculture are solid preparation for what will be a big job."
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane:
“NCBA congratulates Alexis Taylor on her confirmation as USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. We have worked closely with Ms. Taylor in her previous roles at USDA and on Capitol Hill, and she is a proven advocate for farmers and ranchers. We look forward to partnering with Ms. Taylor to open new markets to American beef and help U.S. cattle producers see even more benefit from trade.”
“The National Association of Wheat Growers applauds the confirmation of Alexis Taylor to this key role, and I personally congratulate her for this historic appointment,” said NAWG CEO Chandler Goule. “I have worked with Alexis for over 15 years, and I know the agriculture industry will benefit immensely from her expertise. She is a widely recognized leader on agriculture policy and has the domestic and international experience to help navigate U.S. agriculture through growing global changes and help expand markets for U.S. agricultural products. We appreciate the Senate’s bipartisan support of Alexis and look forward to working with her.”
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Protect the Harvest Working to Protect Agricultural Producers and their Way of Life |
Oklahoma Farm Report's KC Sheperd recently visited with the Chief Communications Officer for Protect the Harvest, Mike Martin, about preserving American agriculture.
“The organization was founded in 2011 by Forrest Lucas of Lucas Oil,” Martin said.
The mission of Protect the Harvest is to protect Americans’ freedoms and way of life by supporting agriculture, land use, hunting and fishing, animal ownership, and animal welfare. PTH protects these freedoms by responding to laws, regulations, or misinformation that would negatively impact animal welfare, and animal ownership, restricting our rights and limiting our freedoms.
“He founded it because he recognized that there are all kinds of threats to agriculture, personal property rights, hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation,” Martin said. “He wanted to preserve that and ensure that it continues going forward for generations to come.”
Some of the threats that PTH is focusing on right now, Martin said, relate to animal rights extremist groups, environmental extremist groups, regulation, foreign conflict and drought.
“All kinds of factors that put a lot of pressure on agriculture to produce food, fiber, and fuel for not only America and Americans but for much of the world,” Martin said.
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Southern Plains Podcast with Matthew Sittel, Assistant State Climatologist in Kansas |
In this latest edition of the Southern Plains Podcast- host Clay Pope visits we with Matthew Sittel, Assistant State Climatologist in Kansas.
Sittel and Pope talk about the Kansas Mesonet system, the current drought impacting his state and what the weather forecast looks like for Kansas moving forward over the next few weeks and months.
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Pig Farmers Donate to Pork for Packs Backpack Program |
The Oklahoma Pork Council announced its annual donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Pork for Packs program in the amount of $10,000.
“We are so grateful to have the support of the Oklahoma Pork Council and the pork producers they represent in the fight against hunger,” said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. “It takes all of us working together to help end hunger.”
Pork for Packs utilizes donated hogs from Oklahoma 4-H and FFA members to create protein sticks for the Food for Kids backpack program for elementary students. This innovative program was started by the Regional Food Bank in 2003 when they recognized the need to help supplement children’s diets when the school lunch program was unavailable.
“Giving back to our local communities has become second nature for Oklahoma pig farmers,” said Kylee Deniz, Oklahoma Pork Council executive director. “With the rising cost of protein, we see the need more now than ever. Our farmers are honored to play a role in ensuring no child goes to bed hungry, and we are proud of the Oklahoma 4-H and FFA members who make the program possible by donating their animals.”
Pork for Packs is a collaboration between the Oklahoma Pork Council, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Regional Food Bank and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.
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Siberian Blast Marching Across Oklahoma- Mostly a COLD event |
Except for the Panhandle- Oklahoma was above freezing at midnight but as the Artic Front has pushed across from the northwest- temps have fallen quickly. I have watched the temperature at my home studio drop from 38 degrees to 14 degrees in the last couple of hours.
The map above is clickable and will take you to the Oklahoma Mesonet to see current air temperatures- in spot checking the local Mesonet sites- the Mesonet sites in the three Panhandle counties are at or below zero with wind chills in the minus 20s.
Altus in the southwest is a balmy 12 degrees with a wind chill of minus 12. the Broken Bow site shows 41 degrees and calm winds- so no wind chill to calculate- yet.
The map below- also clickable- is the current forecast for the overnight low Thursday PM/Friday AM. The entire state will be in single digits- above to below zero.
It does get better as we head for the Christmas and then next week- but dangerous cold is here for at least the next couple of days.
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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 mixed- Choice Beef was down 19 cents and Select Beef was up $2.39 on Wednesday 12/21/2022.
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.
These are all the final markets held by the respective markets in 2022.
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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 talks with three of the country reps that live in Japan and work for US livestock producers in Japan as a part of the US Meat Export Federation team in that important export destination for US Beef and Pork.
KC talked to Takemichi Yamashoji, Director, USMEF Japan; Satoshi Kato, Marketing Director, USMEF Japan and Taz Hijikata, Director, Consumer Affairs, USMEF Japan at the recent USMEF Strategic Planning Conference held in Oklahoma City.
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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