Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News

Monday, April 3, 2023

Howdy Neighbors!

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 

 

  • Bob Howard Named 2023 Agriculture Hall of Fame Inductee- To Be Honored Next Week


  • Oklahoma Sees 300,000-acre increase in Wheat Plantings- As Spring Crop Plantings Predicted to Fall 265,000 Acres


  • Oklahoma AgCredit gives back record $14 million Patronage return for the 2022 fiscal year


  • Kelli Payne Offers Insight on How to Diversify Your Operation


  • Tulsa Fair Ringmasters Hand Out $70,000 in Scholarships


  • Cattlemen’s Conference to Help Producers Improve Profit Potential


  • OSU Graduate to Honor Mentor Jim Plaxico in New Frontiers Building


  • Biden Administration Announces Availability of $1 Billion to Oklahoma Ag in Renewable Energy Systems



  • AFBF Urges President Biden to Repeal 2023 WOTUS Rule

Bob Howard Named 2023 Agriculture Hall of Fame Inductee

Bob Howard, a longtime Southwest Oklahoma wheat, pasture, and cattle producer, has been named the 2023 recipient of Governor Stitt’s Outstanding Achievement in Agriculture Award. Howard is the 26th inductee into the Oklahoma Agriculture Hall of Fame, which is the state’s most prestigious agricultural honor.


Howard, who passed away last April at the age of 75, will be honored at the annual Ag Day at the Capitol event in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, April 11.


Howard’s career was spent bettering Oklahoma’s agriculture industry through research and innovation. His partnership with OSU Extension resulted in improvements to wheat and pasture production systems still implemented today.


“We are so proud to call Bob Howard our 2023 Agriculture Hall of Fame inductee,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur. “Bob was not only a critical player and innovator in the state’s crop commodity industry, but a trusted community member and friend to many. His impact on Oklahoma’s agriculture certainly lives on.”


Over the years, numerous county, regional, and state projects were conducted on Howard’s farm. One long-term study led Howard to transition several of his fields to a no-till or minimum-till operation, which helped control most of the erosion on the property. In 2013, Howard was given OSU’s prestigious Master Agronomist award.

Click here to read more about Bob Howard's legacy 
Sponsor Spotlight



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Oklahoma Sees 300,000-acre increase in Wheat Plantings on USDA Prospective Plantings Report

USDA on Friday released its Prospective Plantings and March 1 Grain Stocks reports. Farm Director, KC Sheperd, visited with Allendale’s Rich Nelson about the two reports.


Two USDA reports, quarterly Grain Stocks and Prospective Plantings, give the trade a good deal of both old and new crop information to digest. Grain Stocks issues remaining old crop stocks as of March 1. This report is simply a count of leftover stocks. USDA will incorporate a portion of today’s old crop surprises into the next monthly supply/demand report on 4/11 in the feed/residual category. Prospective Plantings is the survey-based report that officially starts the new crop year. This report only holds intended planted acreage data. There are no estimates for percent harvested, new crop yields or new crop demand. The trade will take these acreage numbers and apply them to USDA’s February AgForum demand estimates for a guide on how a USDA new crop balance sheet would look. USDA reported 72,900 producers were contacted for these two reports.


In the Prospective Plantings Report- Oklahoma Farmers planted the most wheat acres since 2016 as high grain prices and a hope to get wheat pasture to offset drought stressed forage supplies of 2022 fueled the increase. USDA says that Oklahoma farmers planted 4.6 million acres of winter wheat last fall- up 300,000 acres from the fall of 2021.


Some of those acres came at the expense of cotton, sorghum and soybeans- as those expected plantings for 2023 are down 265,000 acres versus 2022. Continued drought in the western areas of Oklahoma could still impact the last minute calls on those decisions- and could greatly reduce harvested for grain wheat totals this June.

Click here to read more and listen to KC and Rich Nelson talk about the Prospective Plantings and Grain stocks Reports

Oklahoma AgCredit gives back record $14 million Patronage return for the 2022 fiscal year

Oklahoma AgCredit, the state’s largest agricultural lending cooperative, will pay its members a record $14 million Patronage return this month. This Patronage return reduces the average member’s interest rate by one percent.


“There’s no other organization, that I am aware of, that’s a financial lender where you have this opportunity…we were with a regular bank for the first 18 years and the gamechanger for us was Oklahoma AgCredit. If we would have switched earlier, we would be in a much different position now.” - Chickasha Customer


When a farmer, rancher, agribusiness owner or rural homeowner opens a loan with Oklahoma AgCredit, they become a member of the cooperative. As a member, they have an opportunity to share in the cooperative’s financial success through the Patronage Program.


Oklahoma AgCredit distributes returns based on the amount of interest expense on each member’s loan(s).


Since the Patronage Program was initiated in 1997, Oklahoma AgCredit members have received approximately $100 million in Patronage returns.


With a capital position of more than $344 million, Oklahoma AgCredit has the risk-bearing capacity to provide reliable, consistent credit to Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers in good times and in bad.


“Our Association remains financially efficient and continues to grow each year, all thanks and gratitude to our loyal cooperative members and dedicated staff,” says Gary Bledsoe, Board Chairman. “Oklahoma AgCredit’s Board of Directors made it an earnest endeavor to achieve a one-percent interest rate reduction – and we have finally accomplished that through this year’s $14 million Patronage return!”

Click here to read more about Oklahoma AgCredit and their $14 million Patronage return
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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
Click here for our Latest Cotton Talk- Hosted by KC Sheperd


Kelli Payne Offers Insight on How to Diversify Your Operation

At the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation Spring Seminar, Associate Farm Editor Reagan Calk had the chance to catch up with one of the featured speakers, Kelli Payne. Payne gave a captivating presentation about her personal experience of diversifying her own operation and provided advice and insight on how to take the first steps.


“A lot of times, we look at our outfit, and we think, ‘gosh, this only has one use,’ and my family and our farm is proof that you can diversity in a manner where you are opening up to the public,” Payne said.

Payne talked about how there may be new ways of income right in front of your eyes, and it just takes looking at things in a different light. One of the ways Payne increased diversity on their operation was by allowing people to come and take photoshoots on the property.


“I am a big fan of saying, ‘let’s try it one time,’” Payne said. “The fear of failure is just something you are going to have to remove sometimes. I like to call it ‘failing forward.’ If we don’t take the chances and see what else is out there, we are maybe missing an opportunity.”


Producers in agriculture are constantly being urged to share their stories, Payne said, and a great way to do that is by opening the doors to your operation and providing educational opportunities there.


“Folks are hungry for agriculture,” Payne said.

Click here to read more and listen to Kelli Payne talk about operational diversification

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 the Monday April 3rd Farm and Ranch News with KC Sheperd
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Sponsor Spotlight



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Tulsa State Fair Ringmasters Hand Out 2023 Scholarships to 33 High School Seniors

Tulsa State Fair Ringmasters have awarded a total of $70,000 to graduating seniors who have shown livestock at the Tulsa State Fair. A total of one hundred eighteen applications were thoroughly evaluated by the Tulsa Community Foundation’s Tulsa Ringmasters Scholarship Selection Committee. The criteria for selecting the deserving recipients includes: their involvement in extra curricular activities, community participation, leadership, participation in the Tulsa State Fair Junior Livestock Shows and essays outlining their long-term educational goals.


Three Scholarships were given to honor long time supporters of the Tulsa State Fair Junior Livestock Show- a $5,000 scholarship to honor long time premium sale Grand Champion buyer LC Neel was awarded to Morley Griffith of Dale- while $2,500 scholarships honoring Denny Tuttle and Everett Salley have been awarded to Alec Anderson – Ringwood FFA and Caleb Willoughby – Byng FFA.


Click on the blue button below to see the full list of 33 that have won these scholarships from the Ringmasters.

Read More about the 2023 Scholarships handed out by the Tulsa State Fair Ringmasters to Class of 2023 Seniors

Cattlemen’s Conference to Help Producers Improve Profit Potential

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am back visiting with Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist, Dr. Mark Johnson for more details about the upcoming Cattlemen’s Conference set to take place on May 24-25 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.


In the late 1980s, cattle industry leaders came together and held the Blue Print for the Right Kind of Cattle Conference, which focused on building cattle that fit the industry at the time. The upcoming Cattlemen’s Conference is based around building and crafting the right kind of cattle for today and the future.


“We are going to cover a lot of topics, and we are going to have a lot of panel discussions,” Johnson said. “We have got a nationally recognized panel of speakers to come in as we talk about range management, and what is going on in the packing and consuming end of beef. As we talk about selection programs, we are going to have panel discussions on the effectiveness of selection.”


Topics covered at the Blue Print for the Right Kind of Cattle Conference, such as ‘selection for extremes’ will also be discussed at the conference.


“A variety of topics, a great panel of speakers, and interesting parts of information are going to come in that we hope each producer can take back to their operation and improve profit potential,” Johnson said.


As the cow herd has improved its genetics significantly over the years, Johnson said that will be another topic at the conference as those improved genetics have also led to a better eating experience for consumers.

Click here to read more and listen to Mark Johnson talk about Cattlemen's Conference.

OSU Graduate to Honor Mentor Dr Jim Plaxico in New Frontiers Building

The New Frontiers campaign to build a state-of-the-art teachingresearch and Extension facility for Oklahoma State University Agriculture is providing opportunities for major gift donors to name a space in the building.


For Terry Tippens, of counsel at Fellers, Snider, Blankenship, Bailey and Tippens and a 1968 OSU agricultural economics graduate, becoming a New Frontiers major gift donor is a way to give back to the university. He named a space in the New Frontiers Agricultural Hall in recognition of the agricultural economics program that benefited him so much.


“I consider supporting the New Frontiers campaign as more of an honor than an obligation,” Tippens said. “I have been very appreciative of the education I received in agricultural economics throughout my legal career as a litigator in complex commercial cases.”


During his time at OSU, Tippens met James Plaxico, who served as head of the OSU Department of Agricultural Economics from 1961 to 1977 and retired from the university in 1988 with 43 years of service in the agricultural economics field.


Plaxico left a lasting impression on Tippens. As a result, Tippens and his wife, Donna, chose to name the agricultural economics department head office in the New Frontiers building in honor of 98-year-old Plaxico.

Click here to read more about Terry and Donna Tippens naming the New Frontiers ag economics dept. after James Plaxico  

Biden Administration Announces Availability of $1 Billion to Oklahoma Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Businesses

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Oklahoma State Director Kenneth Corn announced today that USDA will accept applications starting on April 1 for $1 billion in grants to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses invest in renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements. USDA is making the $1 billion in grants available under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), with funding from President Biden’s landmark Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combatting the climate crisis.


“Oklahoma has the opportunity to be a rural leader in agriculture energy efficiencies thanks to this commonsense approach by President Biden to invest in our rural and tribal communities and lower our overall energy costs,” Corn said. “Clean energy can be a game changer for my fellow Oklahoma neighbors, as not only does this lower costs for Oklahoma consumers it helps combat the ongoing climate crisis that threatens the very livelihood of agriculture producers across our state.”



Recipients may use REAP funds to install renewable energy systems or to make energy-efficiency improvements. Eligible applicants include rural small businesses and agricultural producers. USDA will hold competitions quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024. The funding will also include the creation of the first underutilized technology fund in the REAP program, with $144.5 million available in dedicated funding.

Click here to read more about USDA helping ag producers invest in renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements

AFBF Urges President Biden to Repeal 2023 WOTUS Rule

The American Farm Bureau Federation today called on President Biden to accept the will of Congress and repeal the 2023 Waters of the U.S. Rule. The House and Senate, in a rare bipartisan vote, passed a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval of the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers’ 2023 WOTUS Rule.


In a letter to President Biden, AFBF President Zippy Duvall wrote, “America’s farmers and ranchers need a clear, consistent, and transparent WOTUS rule so they can continue to protect our natural resources, operate with certainty, and create jobs in their communities. Continual revisions, remands, and reintroductions of WOTUS definitions only sow confusion and ultimately dissuade future investment in climate-smart agriculture. However, the new definition of WOTUS exceeds Congressional authority in multiple respects, ignores recent Supreme Court case law interpreting the Clean Water Act, and will be impossible to implement consistently in the field.”


Farmers and ranchers shouldn’t need a team of lawyers and consultants to determine how to care for their land. Unfortunately, the vague and conflicting rules complicate an already complex process and will expose farmers to costly fines as well as criminal charges.


The 2023 WOTUS Rule also expands the “significant nexus” test, which, in part, was challenged before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Sackett v. EPA. “Despite requests by Members of Congress, farmers, ranchers and small businesses all across the country to delay any new regulation until that case is decided, EPA and the Corps disregarded this commonsense request and prematurely finalized yet another complex rule that lacks durability,” wrote President Duvall. “The Court’s decision in Sackett could render substantial portions of the final rule non-applicable and irrelevant – and require yet another WOTUS rule.”

Click here to read the full letter
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 $2.87 and Select Beef was up $12.26 on Friday 03/31/2023.


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

Boxed Beef Report

Oklahoma National Stockyards had receipts of 6,933 head at 9 PM Sunday eveningApril 2nd The sale will start at 8:00 am this morning. We are expecting to start with 7,000 to 7,200.


From the March 27th Sale- Compared to the previous week: Feeder steers 3.00-5.00 higher with exception of 600 weight cattle suitable for grazing up to 12.00-16.00 higher.

Steer calves steady to 4.00 higher. Feeder heifers steady to 1.00 higher. Heifer calves 6.00-8.00 higher. Demand good to very good. Quality

average.


Click below for the complete closing report.

Oklahoma National Stockyards Market Report from 03/27/2023

Here's our regular feature that is a part of the Monday Daily Email- market commentary from Bob Rodenberger, a partner with Stockman Oklahoma Livestock Marketing.


Bob is talking Fridays with our own KC Sheperd with his commentary and is posted on our website-  

OklahomaFarmReport.Com.


We share a link to it Mondays here in our market section of the daily email.


Learn more about Stockman Oklahoma by clicking here.

Listen to KC Sheperd talk about last week's auction markets with Bob Rodenberger
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 03/31/2023
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 03/31/2023
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.

Since the legalization of Medical Marijuana in Oklahoma with State Question 788- criminals have flocked to the state to set up illegal grow houses because of cheap permits, cheap land and lax rules allowing them to get into the business of growing marijuana in Oklahoma- supposedly for the in state Medical Marijuana market.


Ron Hays talks with Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics spokesman Mark Woodward about how these enterprises have invaded Oklahoma- the magnitude of the current problem and how the state is pushing back on thousands of bad people who have set up shop in the state- with the hope to reduce the number of these operations dramatically in the days to come. It's a huge problem all across rural Oklahoma but Woodward believes progress is being made to reign in these illegal marijuana farms.


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 85 with Ron Hays talking Criminals in Oklahoma Growing Marijuana with Mark Woodward of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics
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Radio Oklahoma Ag Network

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