Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Howdy Neighbors!

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 

 

  • Cattlemen's Conference Kicks Off Today- Discussing What the Beef Business May Look Like in the Future


  • Adequate Wheat Globally Despite Poor Wheat Numbers in Oklahoma This Year


  • NBQA Showcases Beef Industry Efforts to Achieve Excellence from Every Angle


  • New Right to Repair MOUs Bring Industry Coverage to 70%


  • OSU’s Josh Lofton Talks Implementing Cover Crops at Lahoma Wheat Field Day


  • Cargill expands its award-winning regenerative agriculture program to Europe


  • USDA Previews Emergency Relief Assistance for Ag Producers Who Incurred Losses Due to 2022 Natural Disaster Events



  • HB 2053 Now Through the House- Ag Groups Asking Members to Encourage Their Senator to Help With Final Passage

Cattlemen's Conference Kicks Off Today- Discussing What the Beef Business May Look Like in the Future

Purebred and Commercial cattle industry leaders are gathering for the first industry “type” conference in a quarter of a century as they hope to assess the current status of the US Beef Cattle Industry- and discuss where to point the ship in the weeks and months and years ahead.


The two day meeting will not just talk about cattle production and topics like Genomics and breeding traits- but because the world has changed compared to the 1980s and 1990s- outside influences that demand attention. The agenda includes a look at soil health as it relates to the ranch, the need to be sustainable, the need to prioritize animal well being in how we raise our animals, what the consumer is thinking when they decide to buy beef or another protein for their family and even show ring ethics.


The Wednesday evening keynote speaker is the Greenhouse Guru- Dr. Frank Mitloehner of the University of California- Davis who will talk about the carbon footprint of our US Beef Cattle Industry- a story that he believes we can be very proud of.


The CEO of the American Angus Association, Mark McCully, will help set the table on Wednesday morning as he asks the question- Why Are We Here? He tells me that in prepping for his presentation that he looked back 25 years to a previous “type” conference and studied what former head of the Department of Animal Science, Dr, Bob Totusek, who said in 1998 that these type meetings help separate “truth from the trends.”

Read More and Check the Agenda for the Cattlemen's Conference Here
Sponsor Spotlight



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. 


To learn more, visit www.oklabeef.org. Also, don't forget to like its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oklabeef for stories on Oklahoma's ranching families and great beef recipes. 


And Check out this video below that helps you learn more about the Beef Checkoff- .

 

Adequate Wheat Globally Despite Poor Wheat Numbers in Oklahoma This Year

Associate Farm Editor, Reagan Calk, had the chance to catch up with Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Kim Anderson, and talk about the wheat markets and Oklahoma’s wheat crop.


As this year will mark year two of a short hard red winter wheat crop in Oklahoma, Anderson said the weather will get all the credit.


“We had problems putting wheat in the ground, and we had problems in the growing season in Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas,” Anderson said.


Oklahoma had a tremendous number of planted acres to start out with, Anderson said, but there were numerous troubles regarding growth.


“Just like prices, weather is unpredictable,”

Anderson said. “We will know what we got when we get there. What we do know is that you are going to have bad years, and you are going to have good years. In the good years, you have to prepare yourself financially with your equipment and your plans so that you can build up that nest egg for the last two years like we have had this time.”

Click here to read more and listen to Kim Anderson talk about Oklahoma’s wheat crop and the markets

NBQA Showcases Beef Industry Efforts to Achieve Excellence from Every Angle

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am talking about the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit with the Director and Endowed Chair of the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, Dr. Clay Mathis.


“These quality audits have been a great tool for our industry to be able to benchmark our progress, to help us build strategy to make improvements as an industry, and I think at the same time when we do this, and we get better at what we do, that is good for our industry because consumers can see that,” Mathis said.


The NBQA is a tool that supports continuous improvement in the beef cattle industry, Mathis said, on many different fronts.


“This Beef Quality Insurance program and information in Beef Quality Insurance trainings is key to being able to do a good job and continually do better,” Mathis said.


Mathis also talked about the quality of our slaughter cattle, as the audit showed that some are carrying more fat than preferred.  


“The market signals that we want to feed these cattle a little bit longer to make sure they will grade in that upper part of choice and into prime,” Mathis said. “So, there are incentives to get these cattle a little fatter. We just need to be thoughtful when we consider those incentives and getting back more money for those higher-quality carcasses. We just need to be thoughtful about how much trim is going to come off those yield grade four and yield grade five cattle.”

Click here to read more and listen to Clay Mathis talk about the 2022 NBQA
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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


New Right to Repair MOUs Bring Industry Coverage to 70%

The American Farm Bureau Federation signed two more memoranda of understanding with two agricultural equipment manufacturers, AGCO and Kubota, providing farmers and ranchers the right to repair their own farm equipment. The MOUs, which were negotiated independently with each manufacturer, follow similar agreements AFBF entered into with John Deere and CNH Industrial Brands earlier this year. Combined, the four MOUs cover roughly 70% of the agricultural machinery sold in the United States.


“The American Farm Bureau Federation is pleased to announce new agreements with AGCO and Kubota,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Farmers and ranchers urged us to find a private sector-solution to the challenges of repairing their own equipment. These agreements represent ongoing efforts to ensure farmers have access to the tools necessary to keep their equipment running, and to keep food on the table for families across America.”


AGCO Vice President of Customer Support Barry O’Shea said, “AGCO’s farmer-first focus guides us in everything we do, and we support farmers’ ability to repair the equipment they own. We are dedicated to being their most trusted partner for smart farming solutions, and this MOU with Farm Bureau is an outcome of that commitment. We appreciated the American Farm Bureau’s diligence, and we will continue delivering tools farmers can use to diagnose, maintain, and repair their AGCO machinery.”

Click here to read more about Right to Repair MOU's

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 Wednesday Farm and Ranch News with KC Sheperd
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OSU’s Josh Lofton Talks Implementing Cover Crops at Lahoma Wheat Field Day

At this year’s Lahoma Wheat Field Day, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Intern, Maci Carter, had a chance to visit with Associate Professor and Extension Economist of Cropping Systems, Josh Lofton, about the benefits of implementing cover crops.


“We’ve found that if growers are interested in it, they can fit it in their system and select the right cover crops to get to get the outcome they really desire,” said Lofton.


Lofton said he has no doubt that cover crops can be implemented in almost any operation. He explains they may not always be the answer, but they are a broad tool for improving soil health.


“Generally speaking, the more you integrate some of these practices, you know, things like cover crops, and no-till, good crop rotation, good diversity in your cropping systems, the more resilient your system is going to be,” Lofton said. “So the more likely it is over time, they will fit in better and better.”


Lofton said soil health has proven benefits; however, it is not an overnight fix. He explained that these things take time to make a large and positive impact, but the benefits they can provide to a farm have proven to be worth it.

Click here to read more and listen to Maci Carter talk with Josh Lofton at the Lahoma Wheat Field Day

Cargill expands its award-winning regenerative agriculture program to Europe

Cargill is leveraging its unique position in the supply chain to pioneer its award-winning regenerative agriculture program in Europe, which will see farmers in Germany, Poland, Romania, and France financially compensated to adopt climate-friendly farming practices.


Building on two years of success in North America, Cargill RegenConnectTM will also expand from 15 to 24 states, introducing the program in nine new states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas. It will also provide U.S. farmers with higher payments, cover more commodities (such as cotton) and improve ease and access to enrollment via mobile devices.


Cargill RegenConnectTM has not only received positive feedback from growers and customers but has also been recognized by the prestigious 2023 Edison Awards™ for its innovative approach to creating a more resilient and secure food system. Its expansion demonstrates Cargill’s commitment to helping farmers adopt sustainable agricultural practices across its global supply chain, rooted in the firm belief that change starts where the food system begins – at the farm.

Click here to read more about Cargill promoting regenerative ag in Europe

USDA Previews Emergency Relief Assistance for Agricultural Producers Who Incurred Losses Due to 2022 Natural Disaster Events

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced plans to roll out $3.7 billion in Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) assistance to crop and livestock producers who sustained losses due to a qualifying natural disaster event in calendar year 2022. USDA is sharing early information to allow producers time to gather documents in advance of program delivery. Through distribution of remaining funds, USDA is also concluding the 2021 ELRP program by sending payments in the amount of 20% of the initial ELRP payment to all existing recipients.


“U.S. agricultural producers nationwide endured crippling natural disaster events in 2022 including a megadrought, Hurricane Ian, epic flooding and catastrophic wildfires. To say these events were costly is an understatement,” Vilsack said. “Last year USDA streamlined the delivery of natural disaster assistance, speeding up the timing of payments and cutting the time spent on paperwork by 90% or one million hours relative to previous disaster programs. While we will use the same streamlined approaches, funding is limited and significantly less than the estimated losses. We are designing payment factors that ensure the fair, equitable and efficient delivery of program benefits to help as many producers as possible offset the significant financial impacts resulting from these ongoing and widespread natural disasters.”

Click here to read more about USDA emergency relief for ag producers

HB 2053 Now Through the House- Ag Groups Asking Members to Encourage Their Senator to Help With Final Passage

There is one final hurdle to get a priority of several of our ag groups across the finish line at the Oklahoma State Capitol- HB 2053. It has now had final approval in the State House- but needs a final vote it in the Senate before it can be sent to the Governor.


From an earlier story that we did on House Bill 2053 here's some of the background:Oklahoma Farm Bureau's SteveThompson says that this measure, authored by David Hardin in the House and Brent Howard in the Senate, is all about water and water rights- and basically protects a farmer, rancher or landowner’s rights when they apply for a water permit for a legitimate purpose. It would stop opponents of production agriculture to simply protest because they don’t like agriculture- they can only protest if they have evidence that the permit would result in pollution or degradation of the water supply that overlies the property linked to the permit.


This measure has come from a fight between an Eastern Oklahoma poultry grower and activists that saw the grower lose his water permit and was forced out of business.


Thompson says that several Ag Groups at the Capitol believe that “If we don’t address this, it could really spread to any type of farm or ranch operation- it could serve as a playbook for environmental activists that just simply don’t like what we do in agriculture” but it does offer protections to the water supply when a genuine concern is raised about the supply or availability of ground water.


While there has been a speed bump in the last day or so in the Senate- Ag groups feel that may be behind us- they are urging farmers, ranchers and landowners to contact their State Senator on a final yes vote on HB 2053- we are told it could be on the agenda before the end of this week. CALL TODAY!

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 $3.16 and Select Beef was down $2.15 on Tuesday 05/23/2023.


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

Boxed Beef Report

Oklahoma National Stockyards had a final count of 9,625 head on Monday, May 22, 2023.


Compared to last week's light test: Feeder steers 4.00-8.00 higher, instance to 10.00 higher. Feeder heifers 8.00-10.00 higher. Demand

very good for feeder cattle. Steer and heifer calves steady to 4.00 higher. Demand very good for all classes. Quality average to attractive with

several loads lots off winter pasture. Much needed moisture fell across the trade area last week and weekend. Cattle On Feed report was

released last Friday with a neutral outcome.



Click below for the complete closing report.

Oklahoma National Stockyards Market Report from 5/22/2023

OKC West in El Reno had a total calf run of 2,000 head on Tuesday, May 23rd.


Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves sold sharply higher with instances as much as 15.00 higher. Demand very good for calves and stocker cattle. Much cooler than average temperatures and moisture has swept across the trade area over the weekend and early in the week.


For today\s Yearling Sale- Wednesday 05/24/23

Expecting 6,000+

2,500 Feeder Heifers

3,500 Feeder Steers



Click on the button below for details of the trade as compiled by the USDA Market News Service.

OKC West in El Reno Calf Market Report from 5/23/2023
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 05/23/2023
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 05/23/2023
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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