Subject: Oklahoma's Farm News Update
From: Ron Hays <ronphays@cox.net>
Date: 4/5/2018 6:16 AM
To: ron@ronhays.com



 
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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network weekdays- if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click here for this morning's Farm news from Carson Horn on RON.
 

 
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.

 
   
During Wednesday's sale of finished cattle on the
FedCattleExchange.com - 373 cattle were offered, with 156 actually selling at a weighted average price of $117.00.  Click here to see their complete market results.
 

OKC West sold feeder steers 2.00-4.00 higher and heifers 2.00-3.00 lower in Wednesday trade -  click or tap here for details.


Today's First Look:
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
 
 
Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futures-  click or tap here for the report posted yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
 
 
Okla Cash Grain:  
Daily  Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- as reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture on Wednesday, April 4th.
 
  
Futures Wrap:  
Our Daily Market Wrapup from the Radio Oklahoma Network - analyzing the Futures Markets from the previous Day.
 
Feeder Cattle Recap:  
The National Daily Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
 
Slaughter Cattle Recap: 
The National Daily Slaughter Cattle Summary- as prepared by the USDA.
 
TCFA Feedlot Recap:  
Finally, here is the Daily Volume and Price Summary from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
 


 
Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
 
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor

Carson Horn, Associate Farm Director and Editor
 
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
 
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production

Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News

 
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
   Thursday, April 5, 2018

Howdy Neighbors! 

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 
ReactAg Community Erupts Over News of China's Latest Threats to American Agricultural Products

As expected based off recent events, the U.S. and China are headed for a trade war with US farmers stuck in the middle.


China has included soybeans in its latest proposed retaliatory tariffs, following other ag products such as pork and ethanol. Those all stem from the Trump administration's tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the United States, and others proposed this week. 


The American agriculture industry expressed extreme frustration after China's announcement yesterday regarding the likelihood of a trade war as China now threatens to impose a 25 percent tariff on US soybeans and other ag products.


U.S. Wheat Associates and the National Association of Wheat Growers issued a joint statement, Wednesday, arguing the point that wheat farmers will  be caught in the line of fire if this situation escalates. 


"America's wheat farmers are experiencing several hardships and adding a 25 percent tariff on exports to China for U.S. wheat is the last thing we need during some of the worst economic times in farm country," stated NAWG President Jimmie Musick a wheat farmer from Sentinel, Okla. "Continued drought, low prices and trade uncertainty adds pressure to passing a Farm Bill on time as well as creating uncertainty for producers and lenders. In a trade war, agriculture is always the first target. The Administration can support rural Americans by working with Chinese officials to avoid these damaging tariffs."


Musick's concerns were joined with a chorus of similar outcries from the ag community, condemning any further actions that will cause tensions to worsen. We invite you to review the various reactions we published on our website, yesterday. Click or tap the links below to read each organization's respective statement.




Sponsor Spotlight
 
 
It's great to have one of the premiere businesses in the cattle business partner with us in helping bring you our daily Farm and Ranch News Email- National Livestock Credit Corporation.  National Livestock has been around since 1932- and they have worked with livestock producers to help them secure credit and to buy or sell cattle through the National Livestock Commission Company.  They also own and operate the Southern Oklahoma Livestock Market in Ada, Superior Livestock, which continues to operate independently and have a major stake in OKC West in El Reno. To learn more about how these folks can help you succeed in the cattle business, click here for their website or call the Oklahoma City office at 1-800-310-0220. 

BUZZTrouble Deciphering EPDs? Make It Easy on Yourself - Take Jared Decker's Advice and Use the $ Index

Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri and a leader among the land grant system in cattle production extension, Dr. Jared Decker helps producers get their arms around how to use EPD technologies to improve their genetic selection decision-making process. He spoke recently with me about how herd managers can reduce the complexity of genetic evaluation as they consider their prospective purchases for their operations.


"We've had EPDs around for 40 years and if we talk to beef producers, they're still making their selection decisions based on the actual performance. So, we've still got issues of maybe too many producers in the industry not buying into the old tool of EPDs and then we're starting to layer on top that DNA testing and selection indexes and all of these things," Decker said. "So, if you're not careful, it can sound real complicated, real quick."


All that being said, Decker maintains that his message is simple - if you use the right tools, you can make the decision process much easier. He points to the economic selection indexes now available as a tool that essentially boils down all the other information reflected in the complete set of a bull's EPDs and ranks it among other bulls in terms of, in Decker's opinion matters most, profit. He explains that this is most helpful to producers who may not fully grasp all that EPDs reflect on a bull's genetic potential. By using the $ Index, a producer will have just one number to compare and understand the potential economic value a bull may bring to their operation and effectively simplifies the entire process.


"The thing to keep in mind at the end of the day is that we need to be making our selection decisions based on genetics, because when we go to buy that bull, we're not bringing his environment home with us," he said. "We're bringing his genetics home with us. He's really just a package delivering that genetic potential to our next calf crop. So, we really need to focus our decisions on the genetics of the bull.


Listen to Jared Decker and I discuss the easiest way to get your arms around using EPDs - click here.
LossLoss of Foreign-Born Workers Would Hurt the Agriculture Industry According to New Study by NPPC

A new study shows a reduction in the foreign-born workforce, prompted by a change in immigration policy, would not be offset by native-born workers and permanent residents. Iowa State University economists say a tighter supply of foreign-born workers would reduce overall demand for workers. That's because as production costs increase, agricultural output would decrease as farmers abandon labor-intensive operations.


Commissioned by the National Pork Producers Council, the study shows the result would be a 3.4 to 5.5 percent decrease in the total number of farm workers.


NPPC says skilled and unskilled foreign workers "have been crucial to maintaining and growing the workforce" needed for the pork industry, adding that if the current labor shortage continues, or worsens, the nation could see "animal health and well-being suffer." 


NPPC supports legislation that would create a new visa that allows non-seasonal foreign agricultural workers to remain in the United States for up to three years while deferring a portion of their pay as incentive for periodic "touchbacks" to their country. Click or tap here to jump over to our website for the full story.
OCAConOklahoma Cattlemen's Association Builds Upcoming Convention and Trade Show Around Route 66

The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association is preparing for the 66th Annual Convention and Trade Show, scheduled for July 20-21, 2018. The event will be held at the Embassy Suites in Norman, Okla.
 
 
Mark your calendar to attend the 66th Annual Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association Convention & Trade Show, happening July 20-21, 2018 at the Embassy Suites in Norman, Okla. Given the anniversary of the event, the entire program has been built around a theme celebrating Historic Route 66 and will focus on all things business.


Convention attendees will enjoy a large trade show along with the opportunity to attend five sessions of Cattlemen's College with varying topics for cattlemen to gain knowledge. Discussion around OCA policy and an OCA General Business meeting will also take place. The final event of convention is the awards banquet where outstanding cattlemen and their accomplishments will be recognized and celebrated. 


For more details and information on this year's event, click or tap here
.


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.

USDAAddictsUSDA Prioritizes Investments to Address Opioid Crisis in Rural America

The Department of Agriculture Wednesday announced it will prioritize two key grant programs to address opioid misuse in rural communities. Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett says the focused investment will target USDA resources "to be a strong partner to rural communities" in building a local response to the opioid epidemic.


USDA is reserving $5 million in the Community Facilities Grant Program and is giving priority to Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program applications proposing projects to address the opioid epidemic in rural communities. Funding for both programs was made available through the 2018 Omnibus spending bill. USDA points out that the National Center for Health Statistics estimates that nearly 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016.


More than half of those deaths involved opioids, including prescription drugs and heroin. Learn more about the grants here.
TelMeet Your 2018 Northwest Area FFA Star in Placement, Tel Dewitt of the Laverne FFA Chapter

Our coverage of the 2018 FFA Area Stars in Ag Placement continues and yesterday we profiled Tel Dewitt of the Laverne FFA Chapter, representing the Northwest Area. Dewitt has had the unique experience of growing up and working on one of Oklahoma's historic ranching operations in the state's Panhandle. The Barby-Bailey Ranch was established during the early 1900s and today, Dewitt joins the legacy of its founders, Fred and Paul Barby working cattle on that same land.


Dewitt credits the FFA with giving him the confidence and skills needed to achieve personal success.


"FFA has really helped me set my goals high. I plan to build on them and make myself a better person and also expand my operation," he said, pointing out how the organization has also helped to develop his skills dealing with other people. "Especially in the cattle business - working deals or whatever it might entail - the people skills through that have been very helpful."


Dewitt plans to add his own chapter to the long history of his family's ranch, intending to return one day to help run the operation and continue to build his own herd of cattle.


You can read more about Tel or listen to our entire conversation,
by clicking over to the Blue-Green Gazette on our website. Special thanks to our friends at  AFR and AFR Insurance for sponsoring our coverage this year. The American Farmers & Ranchers are proud to support the youth of Oklahoma!
Want to Have the Latest Energy News Delivered to Your Inbox Daily?
 

Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains- Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.

 

ThisnThatThis 'N That - OSU Animal Science Celebration, Superior Auction
 

The 2018 OSU Animal Science Weekend is happening this week in Stillwater where the ASAA will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Gala Reunion on Friday, April 6, at the ConocoPhillips Alumni Center on the OSU Stillwater Campus.


This year, the ASAA will recognize several honorees including  Totusek Brand of Excellence Award recipient Kim Brock and the 2018 Hall of Famers Drs. Gerald Horn and Bob Wettemann.


If you are unable to be in Stillwater, you can still participate in the Online Scholarship Auction. Make sure and register today! Your impact makes a difference by contributing scholarship dollars to support animal science students and future industry leaders.


Learn more about this weekend's activities and take a moment to register by visiting www.ASAAgala18.gesture.com.


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Your next Superior video auction is being broadcast Live from Superior's studios in the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards this morning at 8:00 a.m., starting with Superior Sunrise at 7:30 a.m.


Tune into DISH Network Ch. 232 or DIRECT TV Ch. 603 or log on to www.superiorclicktobid.com to watch.


Today's sell has 27,800 head to offer, featuring:

 
5,050 yearling steers; 3,100 yearling heifers; 8,500 weaned calves; 9,850 calves on cows and 450 bred stock. 


To register for a buyer number, request a sale catalog, preview a specific lot or to get an estimated time that a lot will sell, visit Superior's website or call (800) 422-2117.


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Back in February- we reported that Dr. Randy Boman was leaving the world of Extension after serving as our state cotton specialist out of Altus for the past seven years.  Randy is originally from Oklahoma- was a cotton specialist for several years at Texas A&M on the High Plains before coming back to Oklahoma. 

He arrived- and we promptly went into drought- but the industry has hung in there- and Boman has been a key player in seeing cotton acres in our state explode- with 585,000 acres this past year- resulting in the first million bale crop since the 1930s. 

Randy has moved on- but word comes that OSU figured out we needed a cotton specialist for this rapidly expanding crop- and in record time- Dr. Coon has found his next cotton specialist- Dr. Seth Byrd- hiring him away from Texas A&M.  Dr. Byrd has been working with cotton farmers in the high plains of Texas since December of 2015- working out of Lubbock- and for the first time in recent memory- our state cotton specialist will be based in Stillwater.

Seth starts with OSU quickly- April 30th is his start date. 




Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K EquipmentAmerican Farmers & Ranchers, Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National StockyardsOklahoma Farm Bureau, Stillwater Milling Company, National Livestock Credit CorporationOERB, Oklahoma AgCredit,  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 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.   
 

 
God Bless! You can reach us at the following:  
 
phone: 405-473-6144
 

 




 


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