Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Wednesday, January 25, 2023 |
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Big Flake Wet Snow Blankets Oklahoma
- Just the Tip of the Iceberg for the Future of the Hereford Breed
- NCBA Sues Biden Administration to Overturn Lesser Prairie Chicken Listing
- Lankford, Marshall, Colleagues Secure Delay on Lesser Prairie-Chicken Endangered Species Act Listing
- AFR President Scott Blubaugh Looks forward to Added-Value Conversations at this Year’s AFR Convention
- A Good Start for Baby Calves with OSU’s Mark Johnson
- Sen. George Burns Files Bill to Eliminate Squatter’s Rights
- There’s Still Time to Register for Annual Cattle Industry Convention
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Big Flake Wet Snow Blankets Oklahoma |
The picture above captures what a lot of folks across Oklahoma were seeing on Tuesday- and will be seeing this morning as the sun comes up. (Thanks to Tracy Brown Taylor of Cheyenne for sharing a view from her home from Tuesday morning.)
Much of Oklahoma stayed at or above freezing as this large weather system rolled across the state yesterday. According to the National Weather Service in Norman earlier this morning- they tweeted "Some good news: temperatures this morning are hovering near or above freezing across most of our area, limiting the risk for refreezing of snow/slush. Colder air is filtering into northwest Oklahoma, where we could see some refreezing on elevated surfaces."
The rainfall (liquid moisture) is still spotty in western areas like where the pic above was taken- the graphic below is the rainfall totals for the state- it stayed liquid as you can see in southeastern Oklahoma- the rest of the snow/rain will be melting today and will add to the totals of what has been the best precipitation event of the winter for Oklahoma here in 2022-23. ((the graphic is linked back to the 2 day rainfall map from the Mesonet)
This does not get us out of drought- so keep praying- but lots of folks in our farm/ranch community are smiling after this mild winter storm.
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Just the Tip of the Iceberg for the Future of the Hereford Breed |
Jack Ward, the Executive Vice President of the American Hereford Association, has been with the AHA for 20 years. For half of those years with AHA, he has been serving in his current role as Executive Vice President. I had the chance to talk with Ward about how the Hereford breed has changed over the last two decades that Ward has been part of the AHA staff.
“When I started at Hereford, just getting data submitted and registering cattle was done mostly by paper,” Ward said.
Ward said in 2022, around 86 percent of registrations were completed online. Moving forward, one of the most important factors in the AHA’s strategic plan, Ward said, is focusing on where Hereford fits into building back the cow herd in the next few years after drought implications.
“We have done so much research over the last 20 to 25 years in the area of heterosis and the value of using that Hereford bull on an alternate breed cow, whether it be a brahman influence cow in the gulf coast or obviously a red or black Angus,” Ward said.
The American Hereford Association is working in the area of sustainable genetics, Ward said, in a cooperative research agreement with Colorado State University. In this project, decades of AHA research and data collected by AHA members that characterizes genetics associated with production efficiency will be utilized to highlight economic sustainability.
“It is about an economic effect and where can we help these companies downstream in the various scopes that they have to produce information in what they are doing in the area of sustainability,” Ward said.
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NCBA Sues Biden Administration to Overturn Lesser Prairie Chicken Listing |
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has filed a Notice of Intent to sue the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) over the listing of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act. This is the first step in court toward overturning the listing and revoking FWS’s final rule for both the Northern and Southern Distinct Population Segments (DPS).
“The lesser prairie chicken only survives today because of the voluntary conservation efforts of ranchers,” said NCBA Associate Director of Government Affairs Sigrid Johannes. “The science has proven repeatedly that healthy, diverse rangelands—like those cultivated by livestock grazing—are where the lesser prairie chicken thrives. There are numerous places where this listing goes seriously wrong and we are defending cattle producers against this overreaching, unscientific rule.”
The listing was previously set to take effect at the end of January, but thanks to pressure on the Biden administration from NCBA and our allies in Congress, the rule was delayed by 60 days. The listing will now take effect on March 27, 2023, and the states included in the species’ range are Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado.
NCBA’s lawsuit follows a letter submitted to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and FWS Director Martha Williams last week requesting a delay of the effective date of the rule and flagging particular concerns with the 4(d) rule for the Northern DPS of the bird. By permitting third parties to act as grazing authorities with the power to review and approve grazing management plans within the Northern DPS, FWS has opened the door to activist groups having oversight of cattle grazing. Without these third party-approved grazing management plans, cattle producers operating inside the species’ range will be subject to a punitive degree of civil and criminal penalties for incidental take of the bird.
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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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Lankford, Marshall, Colleagues Secure Delay on Lesser Prairie-Chicken Endangered Species Act Listing |
Following an announcement from the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that it would extend the effective date of the final rule to list the lesser prairie-chicken (LPC) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) until March 27, 2023, Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Roger Marshall, M.D., (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), along with Representatives Frank Lucas (R-OK-03), Tom Cole (R-OK-04), Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05), Tracey Mann (R-KS-01), Jake LaTurner (R-KS-02), Ron Estes (KS-04), August Pfluger (R-TX-11), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), and Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13) issued the following joint statement:
“While a delay gives industry stakeholders valuable time to prepare for more bureaucratic red tape, our preference continues to be that this listing of the lesser prairie-chicken be dropped,” said the Members. ”Each party that is targeted by this listing must take advantage of this opportunity to continue to engage in their longstanding voluntary conservation efforts, a fact that went completely ignored by the federal government when it came to this decision. We commend Secretary Haaland for the additional time, but we will continue to do what we can at the federal level to stop the rule from going into effect.”
The extension announcement comes after Lankford, Marshall, and their colleagues requested an extension earlier this month.
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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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AFR President Scott Blubaugh Looks Forward to Added-Value Conversations at this Year’s AFR Convention |
KC Sheperd, Farm Director, is visiting with the president of American Farmers and Ranchers, Scott Blubaugh, about the latest within AFR and their upcoming convention on February 16-19 in Norman, Oklahoma, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Norman – Hotel & Conference Center.
Blubaugh said AFR has been working hard on preparing policy that will be presented at the convention in February.
In his travels, Blubaugh said he mainly hears concerns about drought and input costs from producers. Even with higher prices for commodities, Blubaugh said it is still difficult to break even because of higher input prices.
Regarding the upcoming AFR convention this February, Blubaugh said there are a few changes he is looking forward to from last year’s convention.
The convention will feature different guest speakers on the insurance side and the farm and ranch side.
“We will be making a major announcement with our Oklahoma-certified beef association membership,” Blubaugh said. “We have a speaker (who is) going to come in and going to lay out an opportunity that we have been trying to put together for a couple of years now, and we finally got it together.”
Blubaugh said the president of the Farmers Union Enterprises, who is also the North Dakota Farmers Union president, will be talking about opportunities to add value within communities.
“It is absolutely amazing what they have been able to accomplish,” Blubaugh said.
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A Good Start for Baby Calves with OSU’s Mark Johnson |
Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist, offers herd health advice as part of the weekly series known as the “Cow Calf Corner” published electronically by Dr. Peel, Mark Johnson, and Paul Beck. Today, Johnson is talking about what needs to happen promptly after a baby calf is born.
What should happen at the beginning of life for a baby calf to get off to a good start? This week we review the sequence of several steps that need to happen. Some of these we never witness and take for granted when we find a new-born up and nursing. But along the way, if we are watching it take place, this is what we should see:
- The calf begins to breathe. This one is obviously critical. Typically as a calf comes out of the birth canal and the umbilical cord is severed, their first reaction is to inhale. Sometimes, a difficult birth, less calf vigor, amniotic fluid in the nostrils or throat, or part of the amniotic sac covering the nose prevents it from happening. If you are observing the process after delivery, you need to help a calf that is not breathing immediately. First, clear the airway. Use your fingers (or small tube with a bulb on the end) to remove fluids from the back of the mouth and remove anything covering the nostrils. Then, insert a piece of straw into the nostril as a probe to try to stimulate a sneeze reflex. This reflex will cause the calf to blow out fluids from the airway and inhale. It should only take a few seconds. Avoid hanging calves over a fence rail or picking up calves by their rear legs. This is a common mistake. The maneuver only makes it more difficult for the calf to breath by putting the weight of internal organs against the diaphragm and lungs which need to move to bring air in.
- Cleaning and Drying the calf. This is the beginning of the maternal bond during which the cow will lick the calf dry and use her muzzle to stimulate the calf to stand up. Calving this time of year, when calves are leaving the cozy environment of the mothers womb at a temperature of 101-102 degrees F and hitting the grounds at temperatures 60 – 100 degrees colder, make this very important to the calf’s survival. An attentive cow may save her calf’s life simply by cleaning it immediately after birth. The cleaning action accomplishes two things: it removes the fluid soaking the calf and stimulates muscle contractions and circulation in the calf. Both prevent excess loss of body heat from the calf which can be conserved to help it stand and begin the process of finding a teat to nurse. Manually drying and warming may be necessary for a weak new-born or in extremely cold winter weather.
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Sen. Burns files bill to eliminate squatter’s rights |
Sen. George Burns, R-Pollard, has filed Senate Bill 456, which would eliminate the ability to claim any portion of a landowner’s property by adverse possession or “squatting.”
“While squatting has always been an issue, we saw a huge uptick in recent years as buildings were vacated during the pandemic,” Burns said. “This bill puts protections in place for property owners and gives them peace of mind that their land or home will not be infringed upon.”
Burns added that issues can also arise with fence line disputes or people building a structure too far over property lines.
“Whatever the issue may be, owners should not be losing their land or homes to people taking them over. People work hard for their property and this measure will help ensure that they are protected from others attempting to claim parts of it,” Burns said.
SB 456 can be heard after the legislative session begins on Feb. 6.
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There’s Still Time to Register for Annual Cattle Industry Convention |
In just over one week, thousands of cattlemen and women will gather in New Orleans for the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show. Registration is available online or on-site, so make plans to join the excitement in the Big Easy.
The annual convention will kick off on February 1, with Buzz Brainard, host of Music Row Happy Hour, returning as emcee. The Opening General Session will include a casual conversation about ranch life between “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan and NCBA President and Minnesota cattle producer, Don Schiefelbein. Sheridan is an Academy Award®-nominated writer, actor, rancher as well as a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
CattleFax’s outlook session will highlight demand and supplies for beef, cattle and competing proteins. Analysts will present a price and profitability outlook for 2023 and beyond for all classes of cattle and beef, explore export and import markets, and provide a grain outlook. Meteorologist Matt Makens will also give a 2023 weather forecast highlighting weather pattern changes for the United States and around the world.
Plan to attend the high-profile session on Friday morning and hear from government dignitaries as they provide an update on the beef business climate in the United States and around the globe, moderated by NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane.
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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 $1.80 and Select Beef was down $2.10 on Tuesday 01/24/2023.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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Oklahoma National Stockyards had a final count of 9,035 head on Monday, January 23, 2023.
Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifer are steady to 4.00 lower . Steer calves are trading steady to 4.00 lower and heifer calves are trading 12.00-14.00 with instances to as much as 19.00-22.00 lower. Demand light for calves. Rain and light snow is in the forecast early in the week with temperatures mostly in the low and mid 40’s.
Click below for the complete closing report.
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OKC West in El Reno did not have their Tuesday Calf sale- they are combining the Calf and Yearlings into one sale that starts at 9 AM today.
They are expecting 3,500 head today- 800 heifer and 2,700 steers.
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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.
Oklahoma Farm Report's Ron Hays talks regenerative agriculture and ranching with Jimmy Emmons. Jimmy is a long time resident of Leedey, OK. He is the third generation on the family farm in Dewey County. He and his wife Ginger have been farming and ranching together since 1980. They have a diverse 2000 acre cropping operation growing wheat, soybeans, sesame, sunflowers, irrigated dairy alfalfa hay, canola, grain sorghum and several cover crops for seed.
Jimmy has been monitoring soil health with soil testing since 2011 utilizing cover crops to enhance soil health.
Jimmy and Ginger also have a 250 cow/calf herd and take in yearling cattle for custom grazing on the nearly 6000 acres of native range. Ginger is the primary cattle manager in the operation. The Emmons’ utilize an adaptive multi-paddock grazing system on their range and forages grown on crop ground. They use the system to keep the native grasses and soils healthy, maximize biological diversity and optimize animal health.
As Jimmy Says- Long Live the Soil!
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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