Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Howdy Neighbors!

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 

 


  • Dr. Tom Coon Excited About Progress in OSU's New Frontiers Project


  • Dr. Sara Place Believes Cattle Feeders Can Be an Integral Part of Climate Solution


  • Congressman Tom Cole Speaks on the Nation’s Rising National Debt and Inflation


  • Twelve legislators honored at OKFB leadership conference


  • OALP Members Experience First Hand View of Cutting Edge Drip Irrigation Technology as Israel Travel Ends


  • From Congress to Courtrooms NCBA is Defending You


  • Newton Passes Farm Freedom Bills in Committee


  • AFR Elects Leadership, Celebrates a Great Year

Dr. Tom Coon Excited About Progress in OSU’s New Frontiers Project

At the OGI Wheat Meeting, Farm Director, KC Sheperd, caught up with the Vice President, Dean and Director for the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University, Dr. Thomas Coon. Sheperd and Coon talked about new things to come for OSU agriculture.


Regarding his retirement soon, Coon talked about the impact OSU has made on his life.

“It has been a fun experience for me, mostly because of the people,” Coon said.


Coon also gave an update on OSU’s New Frontiers Agricultural Hall.


“We have poured a lot of concrete,” Coon said. “I don’t know the exact amount, but we are pretty well done with concrete. Maybe a couple more spots for it to go, but the structure is there.”


The building will be three stories, Coon said, and it is still on schedule to be completed in July of 2024. Many other structures for the ag college have been given the funds to improve, Coon added, including the equine and dairy centers and more.


A new and improved Agronomy Research Station for OSU is the next big project planned, Coon said, which will include new greenhouses, classroom laboratory building, wheat quality lab, and more.


“I think it positions not just our wheat program, but our agronomy program- our soils program- for the next 50 years,” Coon said. “This is giving them the platform that they need to really continue to be the innovators that they have been and really help to advance Oklahoma agriculture to where we need it to be in 2050.”

Click here to read more and listen to Dr. Coon talk about exciting things ahead for OSU ag
Sponsor Spotlight



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. 




Sara Place Believes Cattle Feeders Can Be an Integral Part of Climate Solution

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am visiting with Colorado State University Feedlot Systems Specialist, Dr. Sara Place, about how cattle feeders can be part of the climate solution.


“I am at Colorado State University, part of a group called AgNext, and we are 100 percent focused on sustainable solutions in animal ag and solutions that are scalable, practical and keep in mind the producer economics first and foremost,” Place said.


There are opportunities to reduce methane, Place said, because it has a short life cycle.


“Basically, our climate bang-for-buck is higher for methane because of that short life-cycle,” Place said. “It responds more to what we do. So that is part of that opportunity on the cattle side of things is we know we manage these landscapes, these grazing lands, an incredible wildlife habitat that stores carbon, and the other opportunity is if we can cut methane emissions.”



Place talked about how cattle can be fed and finished out on a grain-based diet to cut methane emissions significantly. While methane emissions from cattle are natural, Place added, those emissions are also a loss of feed calories.


“As we feed higher grain diets, more energy-dense diets, we lower methane emissions and we actually increase the efficiency of feed conversion,” Place said.

Click here to read more and listen to Dr. Sara Place about how cattle feeders can mitigate methane emissions

Congressman Tom Cole Speaks on the Nation’s Rising National Debt and Inflation

At the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Leadership Conference, Associate Farm Editor, Reagan Calk, had the chance to talk with Congressman Tom Cole about the way the current administration is tackling the rising national debt and inflation, and what he would like to see for the oil and gas industry.


Oklahomans have many concerns, Cole said, but their biggest concerns are inflation, security at the southern border, scrutiny of oil and gas industry, and the war in Russia and Ukraine.


“Why in the world are we the bad guys when we are giving the country energy security and providing reasonably priced fuel, and even though it is higher than it was, the reality is, it is cheaper than any place else in the world,” Cole said.


As Americans are being faced with inflation, Cole talked about his concerns with the way this administration is handling the issue.


“I think they started a fire,” Cole said. “When this administration came to office, inflation was running at 1.4 percent. It peaked at 9.1 and it is still running between six and seven percent and doesn’t look like it is coming down fast anytime soon.”

Click here to read more and listen to Congressman Tom Cole about Oklahoman’s concerns during this time
Support Our Sponsors!
KIS logo
Advertise With Us!

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
Click here for our Latest Cotton Talk- Hosted by KC Sheperd


Twelve legislators honored at OKFB leadership conference

Twelve state legislators were recently honored at Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s annual leadership conference Feb. 21 in Oklahoma City. OKFB presented 10 legislators with the 2022 OKFB Champion award – an honor given to state lawmakers who serve as exemplary advocates for Oklahoma agriculture, going above and beyond for the state’s farmers and ranchers during the 2022 legislative session.


Champion award recipients were Sen. Lonnie Paxton, Tuttle; Sen. Darcy Jech, Kingfisher; Sen. Chuck Hall, Perry; Sen. Brent Howard, Altus; Sen. Chris Kidd, Waurika; Rep. John Pfeiffer, Orlando; Rep. Jon Echols, Oklahoma City; Rep. Kyle Hilbert, Bristow; Rep. Dell Kerbs, Shawnee; and Rep. Anthony Moore, Clinton.


“We are fortunate to have an outstanding group of lawmakers advocating for farmers, ranchers and rural Oklahoma at the state Capitol,” said Rodd Moesel, OKFB president. “Farm Bureau members appreciate these 12 individuals and their understanding of the importance of agriculture in our state, and we are honored to recognize them for their hard work.”


In addition to the OKFB Champion award, OKFB presented Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat and House Speaker Charles McCall with a special service award for their role in OKFB’s first ever Youth Legislative Experience in July 2022. Award winners were nominated by county Farm Bureau members and the OKFB board of directors. Recipients received a plaque in recognition of their service to agriculture and rural Oklahoma


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.
Click Here to Listen to Our Morning Farm and Ranch News From RON
Subscribe To the Daily Email

Sponsor Spotlight



Midwest Farm Shows is proud to produce the two best Farm Shows in the State of Oklahoma annually- the Tulsa Farm Show each December and the Oklahoma City Farm Show each April. 

 

They would like to thank all of you who participated in their 2022 Tulsa City Farm Show. 

 

Up next will be the Oklahoma City’s premier spring agricultural and ranching event with returns to the State Fair Park April 13-14-15, 2023.

 

Now is the ideal time to contact the Midwest Farm Show Office at 507-437-7969 and book space at the 2023 Oklahoma City Farm Show.  To learn more about the Oklahoma City Farm Show, click here 



OALP Members Experience First Hand View of Cutting Edge Drip Irrigation Technology as Israel Travel Ends

On Tuesday afternoon, Class XX of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program continued their international experience in Israel and visited Netafim. Netafim is the global leader in smart irrigation solutions for a sustainable future. They pioneered the drip irrigation revolution, creating low-flow agricultural irrigation. Drip irrigation is twice as efficient as flood irrigation.


They have 1,000 employees in Israel and 4,000 in 18 locations across the world. They utilize state-of-the-art drippers to advanced automated systems for agriculture, greenhouses, and landscaping. You cannot buy their systems – you pay for their service. They provide recommendations for 90 crops and the thicker dripper systems can last 20 years – spacing of drippers is between 4-39 inches. The spacing is determined by the soil type, crop, and specific amount of water needed for that crop. They have surface and sub-surface installations. A Smartphone app can monitor for leaks through flow and moisture meters, and send an alert.


During the visit, I had the opportunity to talk to Dubi Raz, Vice President for Agronomy for Netafim. They discussed the importance of drip irrigation technology and how that has changed the game in countries like Israel. They also talked about how Israel has been able to stretch their water supplies to support huge ag production by being the number one waterwater recyling country in the world.

Click here to listen to Dubi Raz and Ron talking about the importance of irrigation technology

From Congress to Courtrooms NCBA is Defending You

By Todd Wilkinson, NCBA President


Today, cattlemen and women across the United States face turbulent times. The return of long standing issues like “Waters of the United States,” and new Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings are just two examples of misguided, ineffective, and poorly implemented policies coming from federal regulators in Washington.

 

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is leading the fight against these harmful regulations, not only in the halls of Congress and federal agencies, but in the courtroom as well. Currently, NCBA is engaged in two lawsuits against federal authorities: the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently announced Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) final rule and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) listing of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

 

On December 30, 2022, the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers announced the final “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’” rule. Scheduled to take effect in March 2023, this rule will create new uncertainty for farmers, ranchers, and landowners across the country. Immediately after the final rule was released, NCBA and a coalition of national associations filed a lawsuit to stop the rule from taking effect. Rather than clarifying the WOTUS definition, this new rule allows EPA inspectors and the Army Corps of Engineers to exert federal authority over small creeks or ponds that might only hold water right after a rainstorm—a far cry from the oceans, large lakes, and rivers that traditionally fall under the EPA’s purview. Worst of all, the rule would impact our ability to effectively manage water features on our property, including ditches and isolated ponds. Imagine having to get a federal permit before building a new stock pond or road across your pasture. This is unacceptable, which is why we are in federal court to make sure this rule is dead in the water.

Click here to read the full op-ed by NCBA's Todd Wilkinson

Newton Passes Farm Freedom Bills in Oklahoma House Committees

Rep. Carl Newton advanced two pieces of legislation out of House Committees on Tuesday that would expand freedoms and protections for state farmers and ranchers.


House Bill 1962 would allow any person age 14 to 16 who lives or is employed on a farm to apply for a farm permit authorizing them to operate any Class D motor vehicle while going directly to or from work or school. The only passengers allowed in the vehicle would be licensed drivers or siblings. The bill passed the House Public Safety Committee unanimously.


House Bill 1966 would allow a person that already has a commercial license to apply pesticides to do so to their own property without having to reapply for a private license, while other uses would still require licensing, examination and other fees to be paid to the State Board of Agriculture. Further, the measure also reorganizes areas of existing law. The bill passed in the House Agriculture Committee.


“Our farming communities are really hurting, and they need these expanded freedoms to be able to provide the food and other crops that we count so necessary to daily life,” Newton said.

Click here to read more about the legislation passed to protect Oklahoma farmers and ranchers

AFR Elects Leadership, Celebrates a Great Year

American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) hosted the organization’s 118th annual state convention at the Embassy Suites & Conference Center – Norman Feb. 17-19. The event features educational speakers and entertainment, the annual business meeting of Oklahoma Farmers Union and American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company, discussion and adoption of AFR legislative policy and officer elections. This year’s convention theme was “Honor Tradition, Embrace Change.”


This year, three seats on the AFR Board of Directors—District 1 Northwest Independent Director, District 3 Northeast Agent Director and District 4 Southeast Independent Director—were up for re-election.


Roger Edenborough, Goodwell, was elected AFR District 1 Northwest Independent Director and will serve a three-year term. Edenborough graduated from Goodwell High School. He attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University and was named a partner in Edenborough and Edenborough, CPAs, in 1992. He served 19 years on the Goodwell Public Schools Board of Directors and 11 years on the Oklahoma State School Board Association, serving as OSSBA President in 2016-2017. Edenborough has served on the board of trustees for Panhandle Telephone Cooperative for 27 years and currently serves on the Goodwell Town Council. He and his wife, Shelley, have three daughters.


William Lane, Grove, was elected AFR District 3 Northeast Agent Director and will serve a three-year term. He graduated from Jay High School and attended NEO and Oklahoma State University on as part of collegiate livestock judging teams. He graduated from OSU in 1996. He was also a member of Class 10 of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program. Lane is a third-generation AFR Insurance agent. He began his insurance career in 1998 and currently owns an agency in Gentry, Ark. He also helps his family with their AFR Insurance agency in Langley, Okla. Lane owns a small purebred Shorthorn cattle operation, which produces nationally-successful show genetics. Lane and his wife, Jennifer, live in Grove. Together, they have five children.

Click here to read more about the AFR elections and the convention
Let's Check The Markets!
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.
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.
Hear Today's First Look

Wholesale Boxed Beef Prices were higher- Choice Beef was up 71 cents and Select Beef was up $2.80 on Wednesday 02/22/2023.


Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News

Boxed Beef Report

OKC West in El Reno had 9,046 head this week on Tuesday and Wednesday.


Compared to last week: Feeder steers traded steady to 2.00 higher with exception of 650-750 lb steers fully 6.00-9.00 higher. Feeder heifers sold 2.00-6.00 higher. Demand very good for feeders. Steer and heifer calves sold mostly steady except few spots under 400 lb and 550-650 lb cattle fully 5.00 higher. Demand moderate to good. Rain and cooler temperatures are in the forecast later in the week


Click below for the complete closing report.

OKC West Market for Tuesday and Wednesday 2/21 and 2/22/2023
Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futuresclick below for the latest update on the Livestock and Grain Futures Trade..
Click Here to Listen to Justin's Commentary From 02/22/2023
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.
Read  Cash Grains Report from 02/22/2023
Our Daily Market Wrapup from the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network - analyzing the Futures Markets for that trading day- as reported by KC Sheperd.
Click to Listen to Our Weekday Wrap with KC
Slaughter Cattle Recap: 
The National Daily Slaughter Cattle Summary- as prepared by the USDA Market News
Read Report
TCFA Feedlot Recap:  
Finally, here is the Daily Volume and Price Summary from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
Read Report
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
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:
Listen to Episode 84 with Ron Hays talking Soil Health in a time of Drought with Jimmy Emmons
Listen to Ron
Beef Buzz
Blue Green Gazette
Calendar
Auctions
Market Links
Facebook  Twitter  Youtube  

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 also appreciate our Market Links Sponsor - OKC West Livestock! 


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.
Head to Our Website OklahomaFarmReport.Com
God Bless!
Reach Out To Us:
Tim West
President/General Manager
Rural Oklahoma Networks

405-317-6361

***************

Mike Henderson
Director of Sales

405-615-4922

KC Sheperd
Farm Director
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network

405-443-5717

Email KC
Ron Hays
Senior Farm/Ranch Broadcaster
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network

405.473.6144
Email Ron