Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Friday, December 23, 2022
Merry Christmas- We Will Return With Our Next Email Tuesday December 26th
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Latest Oklahoma Drought Monitor Numbers Stand Pat This Week Versus Last
- Beef Checkoff Utilizes Digital Marketing Techniques to Interact with Consumers
- Reindeer- Can They Fly- Do They Have Permission?
- Christmas Wishes from KC Sheperd
- Merry Christmas From Ron and Jan
- A Barnyard in Bethlehem- The Surprise on a Starry Night
- More Stories to Check Out During the Christmas Holiday Weekend
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Latest Oklahoma Drought Monitor Numbers Stand Pat This Week Versus Last
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The latest Drought Monitor shows just slight changes to the drought numbers across the state of Oklahoma.
Starting with Exceptional drought- 11.65 percent of the state remains in the D4 drought category- virtually the same as the 11.65 percent number of a week ago.
In the Extreme Drought or worse category (D3)- this week’s 56.13 percent is slightly less than the 57.35 percent of last week.
The Severe Drought or worse category (D2) shows 80.92 percent which is down a little over 2 percentage points from the 83.45 percent last week
The Moderate Drought or worse category(D1) stands at 89.73 percent versus 90.18 percent. It’s interesting to note that Oklahoma has been in moderate drought or worse for all of 2022- as the start of the calendar year had the state at 90.17 percent in the D1 or worse category.
Finally, the Abnormally Dry or worse category (D0) is at 98.18 percent versus 98.45 percent last week for Oklahoma.
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Access to high-speed broadband internet service in rural Oklahoma has long been a top issue for Farm Bureau members. From conducting daily household tasks to streaming television, and from attending Zoom meetings and accessing important software updates on farming equipment, the ability to connect to high-speed broadband is crucial for Oklahomans living in both urban and rural areas.
From now until Jan. 13, 2023, Oklahomans have the unique opportunity to take part in helping Oklahoma’s case for expanded broadband access through a coverage map recently released by the Federal Communications Commission.
The map shows internet service options for residential and commercial addresses across the state and nation. The Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board, created by the state legislature in 2022, is encouraging Oklahomans to check their address and verify the accuracy of the service listings.
Mike Fina, the chairman of the OBGB, said the FCC map is accessible and functional, but it is not an accurate indication of available service in Oklahoma.
“The problem is, up to now, only the industry has put in their data,” Fina said. “It looks like we are well-covered, but those of us who understand rural Oklahoma know that we are not covered at all.”
The OBGB has the opportunity to distribute nearly $1.5 billion in state and federal funding to expand broadband infrastructure in Oklahoma, but much of this money will be determined by the final FCC map.
“The way they determine the (funding amount) is based on the number of unserved Oklahomans we have,” Fina said. “That map is our initial glimpse of what Oklahoma looks like when it comes to served and unserved areas.”
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Beef Checkoff Utilizes Digital Marketing Techniques to Interact with Consumers
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It's Day Two of our Conversation with the Chief Executive Officer of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion Board, Greg Hanes, as today we focus on the digital promotion of beef. We talk about the domestic marketing efforts of the cattle industry through digital advertising.
“That is kind of the exciting thing about some of these new mediums that you can use to reach consumers is that you can get almost real-time data on it, see how it is working, and adjust the messaging or where it is delivered, or maybe the target of who it is being delivered to,” Hanes said. “Those have become very effective in reaching and sending that message.”
Part of the reason beef demand has remained strong, Hanes said, is because buyers in the Beef Checkoff’s target audience are receiving the message more often and becoming loyal purchasers of beef.
Beef is top of mind heading into the holiday season, Hanes said, so utilizing digital promotion such as national television coverage on the Hallmark Channel, or featuring the checkoff’s spokesperson, Tony Romo, in commercials is an effective marketing technique to connect with consumers.
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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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Reindeer- Can They Fly- Do They Have Permission?
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Two important questions here as we approach Christmas Eve- let's dive into them both.
First- Can Reindeer fly? OSU Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist Dr. Glenn Selk is back this week and is tackling this question- saying that he doesn't have that totally figured out- but here's what we know: "Reindeer are amazingly fast runners on the ground. A newborn baby reindeer at one day of age can out run the fastest person on earth. By the time that they are fully grown it is hard to tell what speeds that they could reach.
Next remember those huge antlers. Antlers of adult male reindeer can be as much as 4 feet long! Just think about it. Each reindeer has 2 sets; that’s 8 feet of antlers and with eight reindeer (or nine if we count Rudolph on foggy nights) that is 64 to 72 feet of total antler span. A typical small airplane only has about 20 – 30 feet of wingspan. Certainly it seems feasible those eight reindeer running that fast with all that antler span could get off the ground."
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As for the question- do they have permission???
The Short answer is YES! Oklahoma's State Vet Dr. Rod Hall has been working with his counterpart in Alaska and they have put together the health papers to make it legal for those Reindeer to fly to bring toys to boys and girls in all 77 Oklahoma Counties! Click here for the full story- take a look at the health papers- they look official to me- and watch Dr. Hall as he tells us how all this has come about!
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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
Dating back to 1891, Stillwater Milling Company has been supplying ranchers with the highest quality feeds made from the highest quality ingredients. Their full line of A & M Feeds can be delivered direct to your farm, found at their Agri-Center stores in Stillwater, Davis, Claremore and Perry or at more than 125 dealers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas.
We appreciate Stillwater Milling Company’s long time support of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and we encourage you to click here to learn more about their products and services.
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Christmas Wishes from KC Sheperd
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Man, December is a fantastic Month! I know that my girls won't always believe in ALL the Christmas magic, but right now is so fun! We ended up with a whole ELF Family This year, so that has been fun! Christmas is ALWAYS fun at our Church, Crossings, because the candlelight Christmas Eve Service is always so magical! And of course, the girls love celebrating with all of our family, including Gigi and Pa in Canute, and then they visit with all their Cousins at Pops and Grammy's house in Weatherford! It's always a magical time, and I know I will really miss these moments as they get older.
I hope your homes are filled with Warmth and the Celebration that only Jesus can bring us! Merry Christmas! A few weeks ago, Londyn and I heard "Let there be Peace on Earth" by Vince Gill and his daughter Jenny.. She asked if we could sing it together, so we did! Here's our version.. Hope you enjoy it!
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Merry Christmas from Ron and Jan!
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Christmas is a hopeful time of year- there are a lot of fun things that help make Christmas be such a family oriented part of our lives.
The Reindeer stories that we shared above- lots of fun- Santa and the toys he brings to boys and girls all around the world- also lots of fun.
The Traditions that we share with friends and family- so very special.
But the most special part of Christmas is what God had planned for us from the beginning of time- that night in Bethlehem. This year- we will look at Bethlehem through the eyes and imagination of former Oklahoma FFA State President Brandon Baumgarten(he served 10 years ago)
That story is right under the pic of my wonderful wife and I.
It's been a busy year and Jan and I are thankful to have so many friends in our farm and ranch community that we have gotten to know and shared life with over the years- it's our prayer that you have a happy and holy and blessed Christmas holiday here in 2022!
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A Barnyard in Bethlehem- The Surprise on a Starry Night
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Here’s a story from A Barnyard in Bethlehem many years ago- courtesy of Brandon Baumgarten:
It was Christmas. The cows were out again and it was my job to bring them back to the barn. As a local rancher in Bethlehem, it’s important I keep my livestock right where they need to be. Somehow something in the sky had lit up, out of the blue and had spooked them. It sounded like singing and loud praises to God. It was the brightest light one could imagine.
Then, I noticed the shepherds who work for me were missing and my sheep were scattered all over the place. “If only they would do their job, things would be much easier. “ I thought to myself. Where could they be that’s more important than taking care of the livestock I pay them to feed? One by one, I had to pick those sheep up and bring them back to the barn as well. There was a lot of work for me to do that Christmas night.
But it didn’t end there. Soon I realized my horses were thirsty. So, I went to find the manger I used to water them, but I could not find it. Someone must have taken it and this was not the time to be messing with a rancher. If there was any night where everything was missing or seemed to go wrong, that night was it. After l gave up looking for the shepherds, locating all my livestock, and finding the manger. I went back through the barn in my disgust and went to call it a day.
As I turned off all the lights and locked up all the doors, I noticed the back door was creeped open just a bit. “Great. Just what I need.” I thought to myself sarcastically. “Another interruption to my night. Probably another animal got out again.” I continued to think to myself. As I went to close the door, I looked out and suddenly saw something that caught my attention.
What I saw was a man and his wife sitting on my hay. There surrounding the couple was a herd of my cattle who were lowing. Then I saw my shepherds I employ, singing songs of praise and celebrating with the couple.
Then to my surprise, I saw in the center of them all-a baby who had just been born. As he slept peacefully there, I soon saw where my missing manger went. It had become his temporary crib and I didn’t mind that at all. I could tell: There was something special about this child, more special than anything I had seen before.
I watched for awhile and took the whole scene in. Then quietly closed the door and went about my night. As I left, I knew something wonderful had happened that Christmas evening. As a rancher I’ve seen a lot of life born in my stable. But nothing comes close to that one special Christmas night, when my cows got out and Christ the King was born in the barn.
Although this story is meant to make you think of another perspective of the nativity, there is an underlying truth. During the Christmas season, it is easy to get caught up in the interruptions and distractions that we forget the true reason for the season. The hustle and bustle of shopping, cooking, gift wrapping, cleaning, and more can all become distractions from the main focus of Christ. Take some time with your family this year to thank God for sending His Son and to focus on what Christmas is all about. Merry Christmas to you! Whatever you do, don’t forget what happened many years ago in a Barnyard in Bethlehem.
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Stories to Check Out During the Christmas Holiday Weekend
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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 35 cents and Select Beef was up $5.52 on Thursday 12/22/2022.
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
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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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