Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News

Monday, April 24, 2023

Howdy Neighbors!

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 

 

  • Governor Stitt Calls for Compromise, Proposes the Oklahoma Education and Parental Choice Plan



  • Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Legislative Leadership React to Governor's Education Plan


  • Mike Deering Corrects False Accusations of Cattle Industry Using mRNA Vaccines


  • Oklahoma Cattlemen Respond to Inquiries Regarding mRNA Vaccine Use in Cattle


  • OKFB, Partners Launch Rural and Ag Business Accelerator Programs to Foster Rural Innovation


  • RAIN Predicted for Driest Areas of Oklahoma This Week!


  • Pete Buttigieg Seeks Out Help from Congress to Better Enforce Railway Safety Measures


  • Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy Confirmed at National Reining Breeders Classic in Tulsa

Governor Stitt Calls for Compromise, Proposes the Oklahoma Education and Parental Choice Plan

Governor Kevin Stitt Friday unveiled his proposed education reform compromise, the Oklahoma Education and Parental Choice Plan, after weeks of meetings with House and Senate leadership, Speaker Charles McCall, Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, and members of both chambers.



“After months of negotiations and meetings with both the House and the Senate, I am proud to present this plan and believe it is the best path forward to get education reform done this year,” said Governor Stitt. “Oklahomans elected us as leaders to come together and get something done to improve education for every student in the state of Oklahoma and provide parents options. This plan does just that. I am calling on the House and Senate to come together and get this across the finish line. Parents can’t wait another year for real reform. Let’s take another step forward to fund students, not just systems in Oklahoma.”

Governor Stitt’s Education and Parental Choice Plan calls for investing a total of $800 million in education, allocated in three main parts:



  • $300 million to the Oklahoma Student Fund;
  • $300 million into the funding formula, including Senator Adam Pugh’s Teacher Pay Raise plan, and;
  • $200 million for the Oklahoma Parental Choice tax credit model for parents to send their child to a school that best fits their unique needs.
Click here to read about Governor Stitt's proposed education reform compromise
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Oklahoma Farm Bureau & Legislative Leaders React to Governor's Education Plan

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel released the following statement supporting Gov. Kevin Stitt’s proposed education reform compromise:


“Oklahoma Farm Bureau applauds Gov. Kevin Stitt for creating an education funding proposal that strikes a balance for residents of rural Oklahoma and our urban friends while incorporating key ideas from both the House and Senate education plans," Moesel said. "The governor’s three main allocation areas are an equitable solution that will help fund rural schools, reward our rural educators for the tremendous job they do while ensuring we can recruit and retain the next generation of Oklahoma teachers, and create a mechanism to provide school choice without removing funding from our rural districts..."

Click here to read the full statement from OKFB
Click here to read Speaker McCall Comments on Governor’s Education Plan
Click here to read House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson's statement in reaction to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s education proposal

Mike Deering Corrects False Accusations of Cattle Industry Using mRNA Vaccines

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am visiting with Mike Deering of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association about the rumors about the cattle industry using mRNA technology.


Deering clears up misinformation going around on social media about livestock industries using mRNA vaccines as a way to give the meat-eating population messenger RNA- or mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines through digestion.


“(House Bill) 1169 was put forward by an attorney in Ohio and sponsored by a state representative here in the state that happens to work for that attorney as well,” Deering said. “The bill is designed to be informed consent when it comes to vaccinations and those kinds of things, but it was poorly written and targeted at the agriculture industry, specifically targeting genetically modified organisms, so anything that would be fed corn or soybeans would have to be segregated and labeled separately, and vaccinations as well.”


Any livestock that receives vaccines, Deering said, is targeted by House Bill 1169.


According to the bill, any product that has been created to act as, or exposed to processes that could result in the product potentially acting as, a gene therapy or that could otherwise possibly impact, alter, or introduce genetic material or a genetic change into the user of the product, individuals exposed to the product, or individuals exposed to others who have used the product shall be conspicuously labeled with the words “Potential Gene Therapy Product” unless the product is known to be a gene therapy product.

Click here to read more and listen to Ron and Mike Deering talk about misconceptions involving mRNA technology
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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


Oklahoma Cattlemen Respond to Inquiries Regarding mRNA Vaccine Use in Cattle

Executive Vice President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Michael Kelsey, tells the Oklahoma Farm Report that the OCA office has had multiple calls from state lawmakers as well as consumers in regard to mRNA Vaccine technology and cattle. Kelsey has shared with us a sample of a letter that he has been sending to the Senate and House in the Oklahoma legislature about the rumors circulating on Social Media regarding mRNA vaccines and beef cattle- and how that might somehow transmit something like COVID-19 vaccine to those eating meat.


Kelsey tells the lawmakers (and as they talk to consumers) that “there are no current mRNA vaccines

licensed/approved for use in beef cattle in the United States or worldwide.“



Read the sample letter provided to us below. You can also check out our Friday April 21st Beef Buzz with Mike Deering of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association talking with Ron Hays about this subject- and a bill defeated in a Missouri State House Committee this week that is related to this conversation- click here to jump to that conversation.


Click here to read the sample letter provided to us from OCA

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.
Listen to our Monday Farm and Ranch News with KC Sheperd
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Sponsor Spotlight



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OKFB, partners launch rural and ag business accelerator programs to foster rural innovation

Oklahoma Farm Bureau, along with national and state-level partners, is proud to launch the Oklahoma Grassroots Rural and Ag Business Accelerators, a rural economic development initiative designed to spur innovation, diversify opportunities for farmers and create jobs in rural Oklahoma.


The core of the initiative is two separate business development pipelines that will connect rural Oklahoma innovators and ventures with investment and business support, bringing the next generation of Oklahoma ingenuity to life.


The Cultivate Oklahoma agricultural innovation pipeline – powered by national partner AgLaunch Initiative working with Ag Ventures Alliance, a farmer cooperative that invests in ag tech startups – will focus on innovations and technologies that have on-farm or production agriculture applications to provide new opportunities for Oklahoma farmers. Cultivate Oklahoma is a farmer-focused pipeline building a network of innovative farmers to incubate and scale the next generation of agricultural technologies.


The Activate Oklahoma rural innovation pipeline connects rural entrepreneurs with Oklahoma-based resources through curriculum provided by Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers created to help innovators navigate the business landscape to bring their ideas and technologies to market.

Click here to read more about the the Oklahoma Grassroots Rural and Ag Business Accelerator Programs

Rain Predicted for the Driest Parts of Oklahoma This Week!

Northwest and west central areas of Oklahoma that are in the deepest of the current drought ratings may be getting two to three inches of rain this week- and while that's not enough to end the drought- it will roll back the intensity of the dry conditions- if realized.


In our interview with the Wheat Commission's Mike Schulte this past week- he lamented that many wheat fields are too far gone to get much if any help from rains that come in the latter days of April. He mentioned that crop insurance adjusters have already been looking at and zeroing out wheat fields in recent days- we heard the same from former National Wheat Grower President Jimmy Musick of Sentinel at the recent Oklahoma City Farm Show.


However, in the glass is half full scenario- this past Monday we had the Oklahoma Wheat crop at 13% Good to Excellent and 34% in Fair Condition- so almost half of the state's wheat acres might get some significant benefit from a soaking rain over the next couple of days.


And- the rain will help pasture and range conditions- and offer some hope for spring planting of crops as well.


As for our graphics- the one above is from the Norman National Weather Service showing some of the areas showing the worse drought- the graphic below suggests those areas north of Tulsa that are a part of the drought zone will also be getting two to three inches between now and Thursday- and no graphic from the Amarillo NWS- but they are suggesting a half inch of rain midweek in the Oklahoma Panhandle.


BRING IT ON!!!!

Click here for the Seiling Mesonet site for their latest forecast- then change to your closest Mesonet Site for your local forecast this week

Pete Buttigieg Seeks Out Help from Congress to Better Enforce Railway Safety Measures

Farm Director KC Sheperd is featuring comments from the Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, talking about the East Palestine Ohio train derailment, what the U.S. is doing for rail safety, and more.


“In terms of what we are doing, from day one, we have stepped up safety audits that were slowed down or withdrawn under the last administration because we think it is very important to look over the shoulders of these freight railroad companies and make sure they are compliant," Buttigieg said. "Since what happened in East Palestine, we have done additional supplemental inspections and safety advisories related to things like wayside defect detectors or hotbox detectors- those are devices that can sense temperature anomalies in the wheels as they pass by, hazardous materials, and how they are handled, and other things that we think deserve special attention right now.”


Buttigieg said that although he is taking part in supporting these safety measures, he would like to see Congress step in to help.


“Our hand would be a lot stronger if Congress would strengthen it,” Buttigieg said.


Right now, Buttigieg said, even if an egregious hazardous material-related violation by a railroad resulting in a fatality, the most he can assess by way of a penalty is in the neighborhood of 250,000 dollars.

Click here to read more and listen to Pete Buttigieg talk about the latest work within the Dept. of Transportation

Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy Confirmed in Horse at Tulsa Show

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has confirmed a case of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic disease linked to Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), in a horse that was present at the National Reining Breeders Classic in Tulsa County on Thursday, April 20, 2023.


The horse showed signs of ataxia and other neurologic signs consistent with EHM when evaluated by a veterinarian. Since EHV-1 is contagious, horses determined to have direct, known exposure with the positive horse were moved to an area of isolation and testing is ongoing.


ODAFF State Veterinarian Dr. Rod Hall has asked NRBC participants to monitor horses for clinical symptoms of illness or fever while a complete investigation is being conducted.



“It is recommended that a horse’s temperature be taken twice daily,” Hall said. “Any temperature over 101 degrees should be reported to the show veterinarian.”

Click here to read more about this Horse Disease outbreak at Expo Square in Tulsa
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 lower- Choice Beef was down 39 cents and Select Beef was down 94 cents on Friday 04/22/2023.


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

Boxed Beef Report

Oklahoma National Stockyards had 8,313 head as of 9 PM Sunday evening- they are expecting to start the sale at 6:30 AM this morning with about 8,500 head.


According to the report of the on Monday April 17th- Compared to last week: Feeder steers mostly steady. Feeder heifers steady to 3.00 higher. Demand continues good for feeder cattle. Steer

calves 3.00-8.00 higher. Heifer calves steady to 5.00 higher. Demand very good for calves. The spread between steer and heifer calves is

getting much closer. Wheat pasture is maturing with some pastures showing signs of heading out. Another cold front is expected this

weekend and along with it freezing temps. This could mean trouble from some wheat pasture. Quality mostly average. Some graze out

wheat cattle included in supply, however more un-weaned calves are included in the mix.


Click below for the complete closing report.

Oklahoma National Stockyards Market Report from 04/17/2023

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 talks Fridays with our own KC Sheperd with his commentary and is posted on our website-click here for this week's update


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
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 04/22/2023
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.

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
Listen to Ron
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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

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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