US Grain Sorghum producers are officially pawns in a developing trade war between the US and China. Over this past weekend- the Chinese Government pushed back on a move months earlier by the Trump Administration to target aluminum that our government claims is being dumped at artificially low prices into the US market. 

According to the China Law Blog- "For the first time in over a decade, the United States Commerce Department late last year self-initiated an antidumping and countervailing duty case. This case was against aluminum sheet imports from China.  Almost all other antidumping and countervailing duty cases are initiated by domestic producers filing a petition asking the U.S. government to investigate whether the subject imports are dumped or subsidized, and injure the domestic industry. It was highly unusual for DOC to self-initiate AD/CVD cases and act as both prosecutor and judge in these cases.

U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas, vice chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, delivered his opening statement at yesterday's full committee hearing entitled, In Defense of Scientific Integrity: Examining the IARC Monograph Programme and Glyphosate Review.

In his remarks, Lucas called into question IARC's scientific integrity, referencing recent claims that research published by the organization was false in its allegations that the agricultural tool, glyphosate, is carcinogenic.

"In 2015, the IARC Monograph Programme categorized glyphosate as 'probably carcinogenic to humans.' As Chairman Smith explained, IARC's glyphosate monograph contained substantial portions of alterations and deletions, it appears, to aid the monograph in drawing a particular conclusion," Lucas cited, defending glyphosate. '
 

"While the appearance of agenda-driven manipulation is troubling on its own, it is even more so when considering that IARC's final conclusion is not only on the fringe of the scientific world, but is completely and totally by itself."

Neither the Environmental Protection Agency, the European Food Safety Agency nor the IARC's parent body, the World Health Organization, have ever found any risk posed to humans when glyphosate is used as directed.

Lucas says glyphosate and other IARC-labeled "carcinogenic" herbicides have played an enormous role in the modern agricultural revolution, has helped to feed the world and enabled struggling nations to grow and gain a footing on the world stage. He made clear in his statement that IARC should be held responsible for their false claims against these products.

"If left unchallenged, this would excuse IARC's bad behavior and give a de facto blessing to their refusal to bring their scientific methods into the modern age," he stated. "This kind of shoddy work is unacceptable from any scientific body, let alone one funded by the American taxpayer."


You can read Lucas' full statement, or watch him deliver his comments at the start of yesterday's hearing, by clicking here.

During this past year, a total of 98.5 billion pounds of protein was produced by the US poultry, pork and beef industries. This year, that number is projected to increase up to 102.2 billion pounds and will continue to grow the following year to projected 104 billion pounds. CattleFax CEO Randy Blach, who spoke with me recently at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and Cattle Industry Convention in Phoenix, said that one thing is for sure - there is plenty of meat to go around and meet that growing international demand. The question beef producers want answered, is how they stay competitive and differentiate themselves in the marketplace for consumers.


"From a price standpoint, we're not going to compete with poultry on a daily basis," Blach said. "It's just so much cheaper to produce that protein than what we can do in the beef industry. But, the other attributes - the higher quality protein - that's still what people want. Beef is what's for dinner."


Blach says beef has surprised those in the industry with the price spreads it has managed to maintain between other proteins. He says this is demonstrative of just how strong beef demand is. Looking at where the beef cow herd is now, referencing USDA's latest Cattle Inventory report, the industry is approaching that 32 million head mark. Blach contends that once that benchmark is obtained, the industry will have reached a sustainable yet still manageable capacity. As production increases, though, what Blach says is important for producers of each industry to realize is that it is the "pie" that is growing.


"We may not have a larger market share in the beef industry, but if the pie is growing, then we all have the opportunity to grow our enterprises. That's where we are today and I think we are right on target."

Click here to hear mine and Randy's discussion on yesterday's Beef Buzz.


Our coverage of the 2018 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show was powered this year by Farm Data Services of Stillwater - learn more about how they can help your farm or ranch operation's bottom line in a variety of ways, by clicking here.

I was REALLY excited when I heard seven years back that Dr. Randy Boman had decided to move from the south plains of Texas back to Oklahoma and set up shop in Altus as our state cotton specialist. 

Almost immediately- the state's cotton industry faced horrible drought and we saw production drop like a rock- but finally it started raining again- and a combination of getting rid of the boll weevil, having rain, farmers looking for a profitable crop to replace wheat acres, and new cotton varieties and technology all came together to have cotton climbing back into a position of prominence in southwest Oklahoma- and points further north.  Acres grew, infrastructure was added- and farmers planted over a half million acres last spring- and have harvested a crop north of a million bales for the first time since the 1930s.  Even more acres are expected to be planted this spring.

A key player in all of this renewal of Cotton Becoming King in southwestern Oklahoma has been Dr. Randy Boman- and his success makes his latest life decision to leave OSU Extension bittersweet for all who have worked with him.

Earlier this week- Dr. Boman released an open letter announcing his departure from Extension- as he accepts a position with a company called Indigo Ag. 

Click or tap here to read Randy's letter- a reception to celebrate with him is set for Feb 27th- and details about that is at the bottom of the letter we have posted on our website from him.