Oklahoma's Latest Farm

And Ranch News

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Howdy Neighbors!

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 

 

  • OSU to Host Workshop Series for Producers Interested in Selling Direct To Consumer Beef


  • Livestock Risk Protection Policies Provide Producers with Peace of Mind With Price Protection


  • Grassland CRP Accepted Nearly 2.7 Million Acres in 2023 Signup


  • Whitney Glazier from the Omega FFA Chapter in Oklahoma Awarded Top National Finalist in FFA Agricultural Placement


  • Join OKFB for 2023 August Area Meetings


  • USDA Data Reveals Shifts in Food Purchasing Behavior


  • Due to Excessive Heat 13 Oklahoma Counties are Contiguous Disaster Designations


  • Animal rights groups bring in $800,000,000+

OSU to Host Workshop Series for Producers Interested in Selling Direct To Consumer Beef

Farm Director, KC Sheperd, caught up with Oklahoma State University Extension Farm Management Specialist Courtney Bir and talked about OSU’s upcoming Direct-to-Consumer Meat Sales workshop series.



Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center is set to host two upcoming workshops designed to teach participants about direct-to-consumer meat sales.


The first of the two workshops will take place on Aug. 9 at FAPC. The second workshop is slated for Sept. 12 at the Canadian County OSU Extension Office, 218 N Country Club Rd., in El Reno, Oklahoma.


“During Covid, when there wasn’t a lot of meat on the shelves, there was a lot of interest in getting food locally and getting food direct from farmers and ranchers,” Bir said. “With that came an increased demand for direct-to-consumer beef, and we really needed to help ranchers understand both the opportunities and the pitfalls with selling meat direct to consumer.”


The workshop series will help producers decide what they should price their beef at to be profitable and help them to develop a plan based on input costs.

Click here to read more and listen to KC Sheperd talk with Courtney Bir about the upcoming workshop series.
Sponsor Spotlight



Oklahoma Farm Bureau works to improve the lives of all Oklahomans by supporting our state’s agriculture community. As Oklahoma’s largest general farm organization led by Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, OKFB takes grassroots values and advocates for agriculture at the state Capitol and in Washington, D.C., to ensure our way of life continues for generations to come.


Farm Bureau hosts leadership events, supports our state’s agricultural youth and connects consumers with agriculture in order to build a brighter future for our state. Become an OKFB member today online at okfarmbureau.org/join. Together, we are rural Oklahoma.



Livestock Risk Protection Policies Provide Producers with Peace of Mind With Price Protection

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am visiting with the Vice President of Operations at Farm Data Services, Inc. and Oklahoma cattle producer Clay Burtrum, about Livestock Risk Protection.


While LRP has been around for many years, USDA has continuously made LRP more affordable and applicable. Farm Data offers Livestock Risk Protection policies out of Stillwater.


“The Livestock Risk Protection is one of the most important tools we have right now if you are a cattle producer,” Burtrum said. “Whether you are a cow-calf producer, a stocker producer, or a feedlot producer, LRP is the tool that you can use to protect your bottom line on those cattle.”


Prices come out each day, Burtrum said, so around 4 p.m. in the afternoon, individuals can call a licensed crop insurance agent that sells LRP to get quotes on prices.


“You can insure unborn cattle if you have a preg check, you can insure feeder steers, feeder calves, feeder heifers, and you can ensure cattle that are going onto the feedlot that are going to be 1400 pounds as well,” Burtrum said.

Click here to read more and listen to Clay Burtrum talk about Livestock Risk Protection and more

Grassland CRP Accepted Nearly 2.7 Million Acres in 2023 Signup

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers for nearly 2.7 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup, which received a record setting sign-up of 4.6 million acres in offers. This working lands program allows producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while protecting grasslands and further the CRP’s impacts. Grassland CRP is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s broader effort to address climate change and conserve natural resources. 


“This year’s Grassland CRP signup demonstrates the continued popularity, success and value of investments in voluntary, producer-led, working lands conservation programs,” said Zach Ducheneaux, administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). “Grassland CRP clearly demonstrates that conservation priorities and agricultural productivity not only have the capacity to coexist but also complement and enhance one another. Through all our working land conservation programs, farmers and ranchers play a critical role in helping secure the future of both our food production and our natural resources.”   


USDA had to accept fewer acres and a lower percentage of offers than in 2022 because the program has reached its acreage cap, Ducheneaux added. “With a low number of acres expiring in 2024 and 2025, getting any closer to the statutory cap of 27 million acres would hinder USDA’s ability to conduct meaningful future signups or to implement existing and new Conservation Reserve Enhancement Partnership (CREP) agreements in 2024.” 

Click here to read more about this year's CRP sign up
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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


Whitney Glazier from Omega FFA in Oklahoma One of Four National Star Finalists in FFA Agricultural Placement

The National FFA Organization has announced the 16 finalists for its 2023 top achievement awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience.


One of those sixteen national finalists is from Omega FFA in Oklahoma- Whitney Glazier. She is the final four in the Ag Placement category.


The American Star Awards represent the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients. The award recognizes FFA members who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies by completing a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program. A required activity in FFA, an SAE allows members to learn by doing. Members can own and operate an agricultural business, intern at an agricultural business, or conduct an agriculture-based scientific experiment and report the results.


Other requirements to achieve the award include demonstrating top management skills; completing key agricultural education, scholastic and leadership requirements; and earning an American FFA Degree, the organization’s highest level of student accomplishment.


A panel of judges will interview the finalists and select one winner from each award category for the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis this fall. The four winners will be announced during the convention.


Cargill, Case IH, Elanco Animal Health and Syngenta sponsor the American FFA Degree recognition program.

Click here to read the top finalists for each category

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 Thursday Farm and Ranch News with KC Sheperd
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Sponsor Spotlight



Oklahoma AgCredit supports rural Oklahoma with reliable and consistent credit, today and tomorrow. We offer loans for land, livestock, equipment, operating costs and country homes (NMLSR #809962) to farmers, ranchers and rural businesses across 60 counties. As a cooperative, we are owned by the members we serve. Through our Patronage Program, we have returned more than $74 million to our members since 1997.


For more information on our services or to find a location near you, visit our website here.


Join OKFB for 2023 August Area Meetings

Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are invited to attend one of the 11 August Area Meetings held across the state, signifying the beginning of the grassroots organization’s policy process.



Members will be able to consider some of the leading issues facing agriculture and rural Oklahoma as they prepare to develop an organizational policy for 2023. Members also will receive various organizational updates.


The first pair of August Area Meetings will be on August 14- one in McAlester and the other in Guymon.


The final session comes August 29th in Lawton.

Click here to read the OKFB August Area Meeting schedule

USDA Data Reveals Shifts in Food Purchasing Behavior

A lot happens between when a crop is harvested or a cow is milked and when a consumer sits down for breakfast. Generational trends influence how and where people enjoy eating and the convenience of accessing and transporting food shifts how farmers and ranchers market their goods and build relationships with processing facilities and retail outlets. Market-moving events, like COVID-19 or rising inflation, disrupt these trends and have often exposed new or unexpected avenues for consumption. This article reviews the latest food expenditure data with an eye on consumption trends important to maintaining food business competitiveness in the modern marketplace.


USDA-Economic Research Service’s (ERS) Food Expenditure Series tracks the value of the U.S. food system by reporting on total food and beverage spending. This spending data is categorized as food consumed at home or food consumed away from home, such as at restaurants or hotels. For both the food at home and food away from home categories, spending is broken down further by the type of retail or food service outlet from which food and beverages were purchased.


Between 1997 and 2022 total nominal spending on food at home increased from $376 billion across the nation to $1.047 trillion, a 178% increase and an average annual increase of 4%. During the same timeframe, food away from home increased from $336 billion to $1.343 trillion, an almost 300% increase and an average annual increase of 6%. Between 1997 and 2022, the consumer price index for food increased 95%, meaning inflation explains much of the increase in food spending across both categories, though there are other factors. Total food away from home spending has surpassed food at home spending since 2007, except for a flip in 2008 during the onset of the Great Recession.

Click here to read the full report from AFBF on food purchasing behavior trends

Due to Excessive Heat 13 Oklahoma Counties are Contiguous Disaster Designations

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. 


Impacted Area: New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas 


Triggering Disaster: Excessive Heat 


Incident Period: May 1, 2023 through September 30, 2022

 

Application Deadline: September 13, 2023

Click here to read which counties are eligible

Animal rights groups bring in $800,000,000+

Today, the Animal Agriculture Alliance released two reports detailing the interconnectedness of the animal rights movement, as well as tactics targeting animal agriculture. The Animal Rights Extremist Web exemplifies how animal rights groups are strategically connected in many ways, including personnel and financial support. The Radical Vegan Activism in 2022 report highlights efforts to attack animal agriculture and the true intentions of these organizations with quotes from leadership.


“No matter the animal rights extremist group or the tactics used, they all share the same goal of eliminating animal agriculture and taking meat, dairy, poultry, eggs, and seafood off of our grocery store shelves and family tables,” said Abby Kornegay, manager, issues and engagement, Animal Agriculture Alliance. “These reports succinctly detail those true intentions, the strategic efforts of the animal rights movement to further their agenda, and key tactics for the animal agriculture community to be aware of.”


Nearly one-third of animal rights extremist attacks documented in 2022 targeted farmers and food workers, putting them and animals in danger. Documented direct actions to animal agriculture include:


  • 95 vandalism incidents
  • 70 stolen animals
  • 60 criminal trespasses
  • 10 arson cases
  • 9 harassment and intimidation incidents
Click here to read the full report from the Animal Ag Alliance
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 $1.09 and Select Beef was down 65 cents on Wednesday 07/19/2023.


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

Boxed Beef Report

OKC West in El Reno had 7,023 head on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week- about 500 head more than the sales of last week.


USDA Market News Reports "compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers traded mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Demand good. Steer and heifer calves sold 2.00-6.00

higher, with most increases being seen on lighter weight cattle under 450 lbs. Demand good to very good."


Bill Barnhart, Manager at OKC West, offers this additional commentary via the market's Facebook page: "Even with a spiking corn market, up .50/bu in the last two days, the feeder market remained very impressive. Calves were higher Tuesday and feeders were steady to 2.00 higher Wednesday. The fat trade has not yet developed this week but cattle feeders are wanting more money because of tight numbers. The USDAs Cattle on Feed Report and mid year Inventory will be released Friday and are expected to show less numbers across the board."


Click below for the complete closing report.

OKC West in El Reno Market Report from 07/18 and 07/19/2023
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 07/19/2023
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 07/19/2023
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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