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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network weekdays- if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click here for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays on RON.
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:
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futures- click or tap here for the report posted yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
Okla Cash Grain:
Futures Wrap:
Feeder Cattle Recap:
Slaughter Cattle Recap:
TCFA Feedlot Recap:
Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor
Carson Horn, Associate Farm Director and Editor Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
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Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Friday, August 24, 2018
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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 Featured Story:
Like other institutions of higher education in the state, Oklahoma State University continues to adapt to more restrictive funding constraints as the state tightens its belt to offset ongoing budget deficits. Dr. Tom Coon, dean of OSU's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has been charged with leading his department in overcoming the obstacles associated with these financial limitations. We spoke with Dr. Coon Wednesday night about some of these issues he's been faced with.
Among other things, he says two things remain constant - the need to vacancies within the Division and the need to address issues with infrastructure. Fortunately, Coon says the University and its benefactors have been very supportive in the various building projects that have been either planned or already under construction. However, when it comes to staffing, he says the university has been very intentional with its decision making.
"We're still moving cautiously on all our positions because we've lost a lot of money. So, we have to be very strategic about it," Coon said. "We're going to release a few positions here in the next few weeks, so we'll try to get started on those as soon as we can and make sure we're making the right decisions for the future."
In the meantime, though, business is running as usual at CASNR. Coon says this school year is off to a good start with an exceptional group of freshman from both in and out the state joining their ranks.
"I think about the farmer who puts the seed in the ground and in about eight to ten days starts to see the green show up," he remarked. "That's where we are right now, and it really is fun to see the students return. Our numbers look like we're holding pretty steady with where we've been the last few years and we've got an excellent group of students coming in. So, we're off to a good start."
One specific number that was mentioned to me by Dr. Clint Rusk- Head of Animal and Food Sciences (that's the new name of the Department)- Clint says early head count for his department shows about fifty more students than what started in 2017- just over a thousand in one of the largest departments in all of OSU.
Click here to read more about the various projects Dr. Coon is focused on currently, or listen to our complete conversation, by clicking or tapping here.
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Sponsor Spotlight
It's great to have the Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards as a sponsor for our daily email. The eight Commission firms at the Stockyards make up the exchange- and they are committed to work hard to get you top dollar when you consign your cattle with them. They will present your cattle to the buyers gathered each Monday or Tuesday at one of the largest stocker and feeder cattle auctions in the world.
Click here for a complete list of the Commission firms that make up the Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards- still the best place to sell your cattle- and at the heart of Stockyards City, where you can go around the corner enjoy a great steak and shop for the very best in western wear.
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Last week, we saw significant rainfall across many parts of the state- however, much of that rain could have been useful in other parts that remain fairly dry. Overall, though, the moisture still helped profoundly in providing a bit of relief from the persistent drought conditions that have plagued Oklahoma for months now. This week's Drought Monitor Map is actually the best we have seen in quite some time with only a third of the state categorized in drought conditions.
Unfortunately, though, forecasts predict the rest of August will be dry and hot. This will allow wet areas a chance to rest for a while, but drier areas will also be forced to wait a bit longer for another chance for relief.
For a closer look at this week's Drought Monitor or, to review the latest Mesonet Ticker newsletter from Gary McManus, click here.
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GAO Clears Scott Pruitt of Charges Made by Opponents Regarding WOTUS Video
Former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt has been cleared of at least one of the political allegations made against him, claims that eventually led to him being forced out of office. And the Democrats in Congress who attacked him over it aren't commenting.
The Government Accountability Office has absolved him of any wrongdoing over his involvement in an advertisement for beef. The GAO released a report on Wednesday stating that Pruitt did not violate any publicity or propaganda and anti-lobbying laws when he appeared in a 2017 National Cattlemen's Beef Association video.
"EPA's use of its appropriations for the then-Administrator's interview and appearance in an NCBA video did not violate the publicity or propaganda, grassroots lobbying, or Interior anti-lobbying provisions," the GAO report read. "Because the then-Administrator's appearance in the video did not constitute a communication that was self-aggrandizing, purely partisan, or covert, EPA did not violate the publicity or propaganda prohibition."
Colin Woodall, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, released the following statement in response to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report B-329504: "Radical environmental activists and their allies in Congress first requested this sham investigation to distract from the real issue: Their misguided support for the gravely flawed 2015 WOTUS rule. It is a shame to think about the wasted taxpayer dollars that were devoted to this report in a vain attempt by Representatives Cummings, DeFazio, McCollum, and Pallone to grab a few headlines. From the beginning, we have known there was absolutely nothing wrong with the EPA Administrator encouraging stakeholders to comment on a rule that impacts their livelihoods. We are glad to see this issue finally put to rest so that we can focus on killing the 2015 WOTUS rule once and for all."
Here was the video that outraged and offended the Democratic lawmakers:
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| | EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Urges Ranchers to File WOTUS Comments |
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The farm bill conference committee will meet Wednesday, September 5th at 9:30 a.m. in the Russell Senate Office Building, according to a joint statement release by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Members Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn.,. Roberts will chair the farm bill conference. The conference is set for one day after lawmakers return from the Labor Day Recess. Roberts also says committee staff members have made progress on the differences in the two bills on conservation, but not on other issues.
"We are pleased to announce a meeting of the full Farm Bill Conference Committee," Senate and House Agriculture Committee leaders said. "We are committed to working together on a Farm Bill that delivers certainty and predictability to our farmers and families as quickly as possible."
Typical first public meetings, as this one, are simply speech-filled affairs. Much of the work of the committee is expected to take place within closed-door meetings. The conference committee must find a bill that can pass both the House and Senate. But, with the House work requirements included, and with a ratio of Representative and Senators favoring the House, the biggest obstacle will be getting a bill that can pass the Senate. The Senate version of the bill does not include the controversial work requirement for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants.
The Farm Bill Conference Committee is composed of 56 members, including nine Senators and 47 Representatives.
Click here for more details on Conference Committee including a complete list of those legislators serving on the committee.
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Sponsor Spotlight
The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association is the trusted voice of the Oklahoma Cattle Industry. With headquarters in Oklahoma City, the OCA has a regular presence at the State Capitol to protect and defend the interests of cattlemen and cattlewomen.
Their Vision Statement explains the highest priority of the organization- "Leadership that serves, strengthens and advocates for the Oklahoma cattle industry."
To learn more about the OCA and how you can be a part of this forward-looking group of cattle producers, click here for their website. For more information- call 405-235-4391.
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Yesterday, 12 Oklahoma legislators gave gubernatorial candidate, Kevin Stitt, a vote of confidence offering their individual endorsements for the first-time GOP hopeful from Tulsa.
State Representative Josh Cockroft (R-Wanette) said that Stitt's "businesslike approach is exactly what our state needs right now. His newness to Oklahoma politics will bring a breath of fresh air and perspective to 23rd and Lincoln... I believe Kevin is the turnaround Oklahoma desperately needs at this time. He has my full trust and support."
Cockroft was joined by other members of the House in support of Stitt, including State Representatives Tim Downing (R-Purcell); Michael Rogers (R-Broken Arrow); Ryan Martinez (R-Edmond); JJ Humphries (R-Lane); and Terry O'Donnell (R-Catoosa).
In addition, five State Senators also offered their endorsements including State Senators Casey Murdock (R-Felt); Jason Smalley (R-Stroud); Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle); Greg McCortney (R-Ada); Chris Kidd (R-Waurika); plus- former State Senator Mike Mazzei (R-Tulsa).
Click here to read each of the endorsements made on candidate Stitt's behalf.
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Kim Anderson Says Falling Wheat Prices Have a Good Chance to Recover if Foreign Crop Yields Fail
The last couple weeks, grain prices seemed as though they were on their way up. This week, however, markets have taken a downward turn. According to Oklahoma State University Grain Market Economist Dr. Kim Anderson, record high production and below normal use stock ratios have caused corn and soybean prices to lose their footing this summer on the prospect of larger supplies coming onto the market.
However, Anderson is actually optimistic that wheat prices could recover between now and next harvest as harvest in the Northern Hemisphere wraps up and once the Southern Hemisphere begins its harvest season. Anderson says that the market is currently buying up wheat for food, looking for high-quality grain to fill those orders - which there is little of. This has created a high demand for quality wheat and injected a premium into the market. Although prices could potentially continue to slip in the near term, Anderson says in the long run, prices could climb back up around $5.50 to $6.00 if crops in Russia, the Ukraine, the EU and other countries fail. Anderson says the word right now is that production in Europe has fallen below previous expectations, which bodes well for wheat prices.
Anderson says too, that if crops in the Southern Hemisphere fail also - which those rumors are again beginning to circulate - the price of wheat could actually jump up to $6.50 or even $7.00 by next spring.
Listen to Anderson offer his full analysis of the grain markets this week with SUNUP Host Dave Deeken, by clicking or tapping here.
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Want to Have the Latest Energy News Delivered to Your Inbox Daily?
Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains- Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.
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Witnessing a Revolution - Genomic Research, New Technology Continues to Advance Angus Breed
The American Angus Association is easily the largest US beef cattle breed in America and John Pfeiffer, a cattle producer from Oklahoma and the association's current vice president, says one of the things he has enjoyed about the breed is watching genomic technology develop and seeing its use and influence within the breed grow.
"We see genomics beginning to drive our industry a lot and they're beginning to dictate a lot of what our producers do," he told us in a recent interview. "It's very different from when my granddad and my dad started - but it's even different since I've been on the board. When I went in on the board eight years ago, genomic testing was in its infancy. But, with the way in which the membership has adopted it and realized the importance of it, it has allowed us to move it to the forefront of the breed."
Less than a year ago, the American Angus Association released a genomic chip specifically designed for Angus cattle. Pfeiffer says the first results from that test have just recently been compiled and delivered back to producers to help them make better informed breeding decisions for the direction of their herd. In addition, Pfeiffer says the Association plans in the near future to release another new program for the commercial cattleman called Angus Link. With the rate of genomic testing within the breed growing exponentially, Pfeiffer believes that the Association will eventually be able to harness entire genomes and control them internally to conduct further research and position the Angus Association as the keeper of that information.
"With this information, I can provide my customers with a lot more accuracy and allows them to have a better understanding of what bulls' genomics are and what their cows are - and it provides this information at a much younger age," he said. "With this data, we can identify these calves at two or three days of age."
Listen to Pfeiffer and I discuss the advancements in genomic research at the American Angus Association, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.
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Pro Farmer Tour is Complete- Iowa and Minnesota Numbers Offered at Final Report Session
The west and east legs of the 2018 Pro Farmer Scout Tour met in Rochester, Minnesota last night- and the crop scouts offered their take on the Iowa and Minnesota corn and soybean crops- crops in Iowa were looking better than what the scouts saw a year ago- Minnesota was worse in corn but up in soybeans from a year ago- but in the case of the corn yields per bushel- they both fell short of what USDA predicted earlier this month.
We have been picking up the numbers all this week from the Tweets of Karen Braun of Reuters- Here's her Iowa summary-"#Corn yield 188.2 bu/acre, up 4.7% from last year's tour. #Soybeans 1208.99 pods in a 3x3' plot, up 10.6% from last year's tour."
For Minnesota- "Corn 178.67 bu/acre, down 6.7% from last year's tour. #Soybeans 1090.47 pods in a 3x3' plot, up 6.9% from last year's tour."
Pro Farmer will be taking their tour data and massaging those numbers and more and offering their view of the US corn and soybean crop in total later today- in the meantime- here is that graph offered up by our broadcast colleague and friend Todd Gleason of Illinois as he adds these last two states to the mix:
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Stillwater Milling Company, National Livestock Credit Corporation, Oklahoma Beef Council, Oklahoma AgCredit, the 2018 State Fair of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association and KIS Futures for their support of our daily Farm News Update. For your convenience, we have our sponsors' websites linked here- just click on their name to jump to their website- check their sites out and let these folks know you appreciate the support of this daily email, as their sponsorship helps us keep this arriving in your inbox on a regular basis- at NO Charge!
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.
God Bless! You can reach us at the following:
phone: 405-473-6144
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