Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Wednesday, February 15, 2023 |
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Ag Leaders with OALP Challenge Alt Meat CEO in Tuesday Meeting in Tel-Aviv
- Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program Offers Resolution Assistance to Farmers and Ranchers Free of Charge
- AFR Cooperative 118th Annual Convention Coming up This Weekend in Norman
- Today is the last day for early registration discount deadline for TSCRA Convention & Expo
- NCBA Working to Ensure 2023 Farm Bill Benefits Cattle Producers
- Performance Beef by Zoetis Offers Cattle Producers Simplified Management Tools
- As Mexico Implements New Decree, NCGA Amplifies Call for Biden Administration to Initiate Dispute Settlement Under USMCA
- Sorghum Checkoff Focuses on Heart Health by Announcing National Sponsorship of American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good™ Initiative
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Ag Leaders with OALP Challenge Alt Meat CEO in Tuesday Meeting in TEl-Aviv |
On the second day of examining agriculture found in Israel, members of Class XX of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program had an appointment with a 2017 startup Alt Meat Company, Aleph Farms. The company is “farming” a cultivated protein. We met with the co-founder and CEO, Didier Toubia, who is a food scientist and a self-described “serial entrepreneur.” Their first cultivated meat product is a thin-cut steak, cultivated from the cells of a beef animal. They are still waiting on regulatory approval for it to be released this year. It was ready to launch at the end of 2022.
Toubia says that he believes today’s population eats too much red meat, and that the work his company is doing is a positive for food security globally. His intention is not to replace all beef, but he feels that his marketing to Millennials and Gen Z will meet with success.
Toubia adds that they have removed “meat” from their website and advertised it as an alternative protein. He did not disclose any cost numbers of producing the product nor any specific prices they might charge for the product once rolled out, but the company feels that the economies of scale will drive prices down by 2028.
Pictured below- a closer look at the Aleph Farms prototype of the thin Alt Meat grown from cells from the egg of an Angus Cow in California
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After the visit with Aleph Farms, I talked with Dr. Rosslyn Biggs with the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine about what she took away from the group’s interaction with Toubia and his plans to take their alt meat protein product into the marketplace.
“I think the first thing that was really interesting to me, at least from this gentleman’s perspective, is they don’t view themselves as a competitor with our real beef that our farmers and ranchers right there in Oklahoma and in the region produce,” Biggs said. “They see it as an alternative for a certain sector of consumers.”
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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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Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program Offers Conflict Resolution Assistance to Farmers and Ranchers Free of Charge |
Farm Director, KC Sheperd, is visiting with the operations and communications manager at the Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program, Cheyenne Sparks, about how OAMP can help farmers, ranchers, and federal agencies work together to reach realistic, durable solutions to the challenges they face.
“The Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program is ready and willing to help all producers that have discrepancies that are conflicting and that are making it to where they cannot operate smoothly within their agricultural production,” Sparks said. “We are also here to help lenders and any USDA agencies.”
The OAMP is in place to help ag producers mediate any conflict at no charge.
“What we have done predominantly in the past is we have mediated USDA cases,” Sparks said. “Things that have maybe to do with, maybe you have applied for a program and were denied. Maybe you have a loan with the USDA of some kind, no matter which agency within the USDA, and you defaulted on that loan, or it was accelerated. We mediate all kinds of cases like that.”
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AFR Cooperative 118th Annual Convention Coming up This Weekend in Norman |
This year’s three-day event features speakers like National Farmers Union President Rob Larew, North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne, National Farmers Union Counsel Dave Velde, Oklahoma USDA-FSA State Executive Director Steve Kouplen, and Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City – Oklahoma City Branch Associate Economist and Manager of Regional Affairs Megan Williams. Convention attendees will learn about timely legislative issues, such as inflation in agriculture, industry economic trends and much more.
Convention attendees will also hear from state winners of the annual AFR Speech Contest and will honor those cooperative members who have passed in the last calendar year. In addition to special guests, the convention features the annual business meeting of Oklahoma Farmers Union and AFR Mutual Insurance Company, as well as discussion and adoption of AFR/OFU legislative policy.
“Our annual state convention is a great time of year,” said AFR Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh. “It is a time to fellowship with other AFR members and direct the future of our organization.”
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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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Today is the last day for early registration discount deadline for TSCRA Convention & Expo |
Register for the 2023 Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo by today, Feb. 15, to save on registration packages, and reserve a hotel room from host hotels at a specially discounted rate.
The Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo is hosted by Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association on behalf of all ranchers and landowners in the Southwest. The 2023 convention is scheduled March 24-26 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
Ranchers and landowners are encouraged to attend to hear featured speakers including former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, former U.S. Congressman and CIA Operative Will Hurd, CattleFax CEO Randy Blach, and a host of other industry experts. In addition, the convention hosts TSCRA’s School for Successful Ranching, educational programing featuring more than 30 hours of sessions on issues that have a direct impact on cattle raisers, landowners and consumers. Learn about federal and state legislation, direct-to-consumer beef, legal matters, carbon credits, border security and more.
Shop and learn from more than 250 exhibitors in the 180,000 square foot Expo Hall. Attendees can find booths offering a vast array of ranching supplies, services, jewelry, clothing, local food and more.
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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
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NCBA Working to Ensure 2023 Farm Bill Benefits Cattle Producers |
In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am back visiting with the vice president of governmental affairs at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Ethan Lane, about the 2023 Farm Bill.
One of the items that NCBA is pushing back against is a separate livestock title within the farm bill.
“If you put up a Christmas tree, your next step is to start hanging ornaments on it, right,” Lane said. “No one ever hangs one ornament on the Christmas tree. Usually, you have the other problem and you run out of branches to hang the ornaments on. Congress kind of works that way too. If you build it, they will come.”
Looking at a livestock title, Lane said there are not enough “must-do” things that are not taken care of in other parts of the farm bill.
“We don’t have a subsidy program to protect, right, we don’t have Title I programs,” Lane said. “Because of that, the need for a livestock title simply isn’t there unless it is just there for people to insert and fill up with whatever ideas they happen to come up with, or think might be interesting to explore, and you never want to give the federal government that much ‘blank slate’ running room to just kind of come up with things to talk about.”
Creating a livestock title that is not necessary, and filling it up, Lane said, is not a productive use of committee and stakeholder time.
The livestock risk protection program, Lane said, has been the dominant conversation in cattle meetings.
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Performance Beef by Zoetis Offers Cattle Producers Simplified Management Tools |
At the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention, I sat down with West Texas Area Growth Manager for Performance Livestock Analytics, Emma Coffman, to talk about Performance Beef by Zoetis.(Her territory includes parts of Oklahoma)
Performance Beef is a fully automated feeding and management tracking system. The program is a cattle management software that’s easy to use and allows producers to simplify feeding, performance, and health data recording.
“What is really cool about this program is, it is not only usable at the feed yard, but also if you are backgrounding cattle, if you are doing any sort of custom feeders, basically if you are feeding cattle at all, it is to really help you manage and keep up with all of your input costs, as well as timely closeouts and also tracking your animal health progressions, so that way you can make better management decisions in purchasing or keeping what you feed out down the road,” Coffman said.
Performance Beef is available on an app, and it is web-based, Coffman said, to allow producers to make management decisions regardless of their location.
“You can log on at any time, and in real-time and see not only what is going on with your herd or who is feeding and by how accurate you are with that feeding regiment, but then also you can make any sort of pen switches or added medical cost even if you are nowhere near your operation,” Coffman said. “That flexibility is a big takeaway of what our producers really seem to like when they get onto the program.”
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As Mexico Implements New Decree, NCGA Amplifies Call for Biden Administration to Initiate Dispute Settlement Under USMCA |
Mexico officials issued a new decree on Monday calling for a ban on imports of biotech corn used for certain purposes, effective today. The decree also indicated the Mexican government would continue to allow imports of biotech corn used as animal feed while exploring substitutes.
NCGA expressed serious concern with the accelerated implementation timeline.
“The Biden administration has been more than patient with Mexico as U.S. officials have sought to enforce a rules-based trading system and stand up for American farmers,” said National Corn Growers Association President Tom Haag. “The integrity of USMCA, signed by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador himself, is at stake. Singling out corn – our number one ag export to Mexico – and hastening an import ban on numerous food-grade uses makes USMCA a dead letter unless it’s enforced.”
President López Obrador initiated a decree in late 2020 that would ban imports of biotech corn effective January 31, 2024. The Biden administration and Congress have worked closely with Mexican officials over the last several months to head off the ban, which would be catastrophic for American corn growers as well as the Mexican people, who depend on corn as a major staple of their food supply.
Those talks culminated in a letter from a Biden administration official late last week calling for Mexico to provide further explanation and justification for the original decree. While the Mexican government had appeared to be seeking a more pragmatic position to promote food security in recent weeks, the latest decree sends a message that Mexico is doubling down on its original position.
Biotechnology has revolutionized farming, allowing farmers to grow more corn and other crops to feed more people using less land, chemicals and resources. U.S. regulators and leading science and health organizations around the world have determined and long maintained that biotech products currently on the market are safe and beneficial.
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United Sorghum Checkoff Program Focuses on Heart Health this Valentine’s Day by Announcing National Sponsorship of American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good™ Initiative |
The United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) announced today its new national sponsorship of the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good™ initiative, which inspires Americans to make lasting changes in their diets and health one small step at a time.
“This is a first-of-its kind relationship for the Sorghum Checkoff and represents our strong commitment to supporting healthy solutions and nutrition education for all Americans,” Sorghum Checkoff Director of Food Innovation and Institutional Markets, Lanier Dabruzzi, MS, RD, LD, said. “There is a growing body of research showing sorghum’s heart health benefits and we’re excited to be a national sponsor of Healthy for Good™ to help people improve their heart health through delicious, versatile and nutritious food choices, like sorghum.”
“Eating fresh, nutrition-rich food benefits both your physical and mental health and is a key component of the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8, which identifies specific health behaviors and health factors driving optimal heart and brain health,” said Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, the American Heart Association’s chief medical officer for prevention. “Our Healthy for Good initiative helps people eat smarter by providing recipes, articles and tips to build—and maintain—good nutritional habits. We look forward to adding to our popular “eat smart” resources thanks to support from Sorghum Checkoff.”
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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 $2.11 and Select Beef was up $2.57on Tuesday 02/14/2023.
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 9,912 head on Monday, February 13.
Compared to last week: Feeder steers steady to 3.00 lower. Feeder heifers mostly steady. Steer calves steady to 5.00 lower than last week's sharply higher market. Heifer calves steady to 3.00 higher, most advance on 5 weights. Demand moderate to good. Quality average to attractive. Much of the state did see some moisture last week with most of the rain in the south and southeast. Temperatures have warmed into the mid sixties and this will help improve winter pastures.
Click below for the complete closing report.
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OKC West in El Reno had a calf run of 3,000 head on Tuesday, February 14th.
For the Wednesday yearling sale- they expect 4,800 head- 1,800 females and 3,000 steers.
Their Yearling sale will start at 9 AM.
Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves under 500 lbs sold 5.00-8.00 higher, remainder of the calves fully steady with last weeks sharply higher market. Demand good to very good. Much needed moisture fell across the trade area at the first of the week and more is in the forecast
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.
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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