Kim Anderson Says Non-Extension of Ukraine Exports is Impacting Markets Significantly

This Week on SUNUP is Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Kim Anderson. During this week’s edition, Anderson talks about what factors are impacting the market the most at the moment.

“What the market has been talking about all week is the non-extension of the exports out of Ukraine,” Anderson said. “I think that is an important story, and I think the market has already got that factored in there.”

Anderson said he believes Russia is determined to stop wheat exports and other exports out of Ukraine for a while.

“Another factor out of there is Russia has got a tremendous amount of wheat it needs to sell in exports,” Anderson said. “They are looking at a 3.1-to-3.2-billion-bushel crop. Their average is around 2.9.”

Slowly, Anderson said, Ukraine is gaining territory that they have lost.

“They are being slow and deliberate, and it is going to last a while,” Anderson said.



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- it's a brand new The Drive in Five just released.



Exceptional Drought Finally at Zero as This Week’s Drought Monitor Shows Improvements All-Around

According to the latest Oklahoma drought monitor, exceptional drought is now at zero, down from last week’s .42 percent.

Extreme drought or worse has improved from last week’s 4.2 percent down to this week’s 3.23 percent.

Severe drought or worse has improved from last week’s 9.12 percent to this week’s 7.31 percent.

Moderate drought or worse has improved slightly as well, moving from last week’s 23.63 percent to this week’s 20.32 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions have improved from last week’s 56.96 percent to this week’s 50.96 percent.

According to the 6-10-day precipitation outlook map, the entire state is leaning below a 33 to 40 percent chance of precipitation through July 29.

Click the Oklahoma Drought Map above the story to view this week's drought numbers for Oklahoma.

71st Annual OCA Convention and Trade Show Ready to Roll

Our friend Tom Fanning of Buffalo Feeders sums up the importance of this annual gathering very well- so I am sharing his blog post from just a couple of days ago to light your fire about the OCA annual convention that kicks off in a just a few hours.

"The Oklahoma Cattlemen's annual trade show and convention is just around the corner. Friday, July 21st and 22nd, Cattlemen will come together to discuss and ratify policies debated during the winter policy meeting. These policies give the leadership direction and authority to talk to our state and federal law makers and administrations to let them know where the majority to the states cattle producers stand on pending legislation, or on rules for policies being discussed by the administrations of the various agencies of government.

"To quote Michael Kelsey, Executive Vice President of the OCA, "It is really hard to give one good reason for attending the Annual Convention because there are so many great reasons to do so. We are working hard to make this event ‘the event’ in Oklahoma for those truly invested in beef cattle production. The opportunities associated with this event for cattle men and women are numerous. For instance, the educational sessions will feature information on beef demand and supply chain issues along with production strategies and market information. The trade show allows for exploration on new products and services to benefit the beef cattle businesses of attendees. Finally, the networking opportunities are tremendous. Being in one place with fellow cattle producers to discuss and strategize issues important to our industry along with meeting and talking with other producers is encouraging and many times business advantageous."

"My family and I have attended the OCA summer convention nearly every year for the last 25 years. Our family time at the summer meeting with our young children is a very fond memory. the kids going through the trade show collecting sorting sticks, sorting flags, note pads and pens gave them a lot of great exposure to the various aspects to the industry and how big it really is. I loved watching the kids play at the pool during some of the free time. Now I have granddaughters who will eventually be joining us for some industry fun and fellowship. The OCA represents so much more to me than just a policy meeting, It represents the lasting legacy of agricultural and ranching families and the education and training of the next generation of families on the farm."

Thanks Tom- we will see all of you that are headed for Norman today and tomorrow at the 71st OCA Convention and Trade Show!

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am talking with the SVP and Chief Risk Officer at Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC, Luke Lind. Lind talks to Hays about increasing the quality of that end product on the tables of consumers.

“Five Rivers Cattle feeding is comprised of about 13 different feed yards,” Lind said. “We market somewhere between a million and a million and quarter head of cattle each year.”

The number one challenge on that road to success, Lind said, is ensuring that each cow has a live calf.

“I really am a believer that the cow-calf guy has to be profitable first,” Lind said.

Secondly, that calf has to be healthy and gain well to create a valued product, Lind said, so the cow-calf producer must make sure the calves they sell are healthy so they can grow.

Lind talked about how new technologies have helped to increase the quality of the carcass in the end and how along with those new technologies, there are other conversations that are not going away, such as the carbon footprint.

US Cotton Growers can Now Apply for the Climate Smart Cotton Program

U.S. cotton growers can apply now through September 1, 2023 for the Climate Smart Cotton Program, a five-year initiative led by the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. The program aims to measure and improve the carbon footprint of the U.S. cotton industry while building on the four pillars of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices. Participating growers will receive technical and financial support as well as other benefits that can enhance their operations, profitability and environmental stewardship.

Applications will be approved on a first-come first-served basis. To be eligible growers must first complete enrollment in the Trust Protocol by September 1, 2023 and upload their 2023 bales by March 1, 2024. Growers are encouraged to get started today to secure a spot in the program and maximize benefits.

The program’s goals are to: 

• Provide technical and financial assistance to U.S. cotton farmers
• Advance adoption of CSA practices on 1.2M U.S. cotton acres 
• Produce 4.2M bales of Climate Smart Cotton™ over five years
• Enroll 1,650 U.S. cotton farmers, including 330 farmers from historically underserved communities
• Reduce CO2e emissions by 1.14M metric tons   

Frankly Speaking: Foreign Ownership of Farmland A Detriment to National Security

The following is a segment of an "op-ed" from the office of Congressman Frank Lucas:

"Everyone in Oklahoma is keenly aware that food security is national security. A nation that cannot feed itself cannot hope to defend itself. 

"Because of this, it is essential we protect our farmland, especially from foreign adversaries. For far too long we’ve seen entities – Chinese in particular – coming over and buying our agricultural land. That’s why I’ve led on several fronts to address this troubling issue. 

"I’ve joined my colleagues on the House Committee on Agriculture to crack down on foreign acquisition of farmland. We have sent multiple letters to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to not only disclose their findings of foreign investments, but to also conduct greater oversight of foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land.

I’ve also spent years fighting to give the Secretary of Agriculture a long-overdue seat at the table when it comes to national security. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) is the federal committee responsible for reviewing the national security implications of foreign investments. Notably absent from this committee is the Secretary of Agriculture. As foreign adversaries continue to buy American farmland, the Secretary of Agriculture’s expertise is sorely needed on this committee. And as a senior member on the House Financial Services Committee, which has oversight over CFIUS, I’ve used my position to point out this monumental absence."

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