Oklahoma's Latest Farm

And Ranch News

Monday, August 21, 2023

Howdy Neighbors!

Here is Your Daily Oklahoma Farm and Ranch News Update: 

 

  • Whitmire Ranch and Sumner Cattle Company Repeat- Take Top Honors at OCA Ranch Rodeo Again


  • Cotton Board Elects Oklahoma’s Mark Nichols as New Chairman


  • August Cattle on Feed Surprises with Big Placement Drop- Dr. Derrell Peel Offers Analysis


  • OKFB kicks off mental wellbeing series with Adrienne DeSutter


  • Express Ranches Big Event a Big Success


  • Alex Rocateli Shares What to Know Before Planting Alfalfa This Year


  • Growth Energy Releases New Economic and Job Benefits Data on IRA’s One-Year Anniversary


  • Oklahoma Pork Foreign Animal Disease Exercise A Success

Whitmire Ranch and Sumner Cattle Company Repeat- Take Top Honors at OCA Ranch Rodeo Again

For the second year in a row- the cowboys representing the Whitmire Ranch and Sumner Cattle Company were declared the Champions of the 2023 OCA Ranch Rodeo. The two ranches operate in Nowata, Washington and Osage Counties.


Ranch team members included Kevin Lawson, TJ Davis, Kyle Rasberry, Keith Sumner, Heston Perkins and Wilder Davis. (Pictured above)


Whitmire/Sumner Ranch won the Saddle Bronc Riding and Team Penning and placed third in the Wild Cow Milking to secure their title for the second time in as many years.


Reserve Champion team for 2023 was the combo of the Quarter Circle 99 and Rafter D Ranch. Placing third was the team from the Daube/3C Cattle Company.


More details to come in the days ahead- including how much money was raised for the Children's Hospital Foundation. Coming into 2023- the Ranch Rodeo had raised over $630,000 for the kids since 1997.

Sponsor Spotlight

Midwest Farm Shows is proud to produce the two best Farm Shows in the State of Oklahoma annually- the Tulsa Farm Show each December and the Oklahoma City Farm Show each April.


The Tulsa Farm Show is Oklahoma’s premier agricultural and ranching event- and returns to the SageNet Center (Expo Square) December, 7-8-9, 2023. 


Now is the ideal time to contact the Midwest Farm Show Office at 507-437-7969 and book space at the 2023 Tulsa Farm Show.  To learn more about the Tulsa Farm Show, click here



Cotton Board Elects Oklahoma’s Mark Nichols as New Chairman

The Cotton Board recently held its 2023 Annual Meeting in Durham, North Carolina, along with Cotton Incorporated’s Board of Directors. During this meeting, board members serving the Cotton Research and Promotion Program reviewed, analyzed, and voted to recommend Cotton Incorporated’s 2024 budget of $89 million to the Secretary of Agriculture. This budget recommendation reflects a $2 million increase from 2023.


During its Business Session, The Cotton Board elected a new slate of officers to serve one-year terms, including Mark Nichols, a cotton producer from Altus, Oklahoma, to serve as Chairman of the Board. Mark Nichols is the President of Jess Mark Nichols Farms, Inc. and President of Hess Farms, Inc., a fourth-generation farm he has managed since 1980. He farms with his brother-in-law, son, and son-in-law, growing irrigated cotton, wheat, and milo.


Nichols commented on his new role, “I am honored to serve as Chairman. During the upcoming year, we will continue to work closely with Cotton Incorporated to ensure our industry is moving forward and leading the way to increase the demand for and profitability of cotton.”

Click here to read the full slate of Cotton Board officers and more

August Cattle on Feed Surprises with Big Placement Drop- Dr. Derrell Peel Offers Analysis

USDA's August Cattle on Feed Report shows fewer cattle on feed as of August first:

On feed = 98.2% (98.3 est)

Placed = 92% (94.9 est)

Marketed = 94.6% (94.8 est)


In our latest Beef Buzz- Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel told yours truly that the key number is obviously the smaller than expected Placement number- 8% less than a year ago versus the pre report guesses that averaged 5% under a year ago. “It’s been hard to figure out the timing of these placements on a month to month basis” and saying this sharp drop tells us “it does mean that we working on pulling these on feed inventories down – that’s what is going to happen over the next several months.”


Dr. Peel adds that this might suggest heifer slaughter will start to happen- although we don’t have any specifics on that in this monthly report.


Dr. Peel adds that “we have been heading into tighter supplies and that has been obvious for awhile” and this report of tighter placements means feedlot feedlot cattle to market in the first quarter of 2024. This report shows a two percent smaller feedlot inventory nationally as of August first and Peel adds “I do think that we will see that cattle feedlot inventory drop more sharply in the second half of the year- it always takes a little longer than I think but I think we are now at the turning point where we will see that happen.”


Click here to read more and listen to Ron and Derrell Peel talk Cattle on Feed Numbers and what they mean for our beef cow herd going forward
Sign Up for Our Daily Email- Free Because of Our Sponsors!

Support Our Sponsors!

Tulsa Farm Show
KIS logo
Advertise With Us!

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


OKFB kicks off mental wellbeing series with Adrienne DeSutter

More than 50 Oklahoma Farm Bureau members and guests attended the first Cultivating Healthy Minds webinar on Friday, Aug. 11.


How to Have the Conversation, the first in OKFB’s three-part mental wellness series, featured Adrienne DeSutter of Sow Hope, Grow Hope. Adrienne works with agriculture organizations and businesses to promote mental health in agriculture.

Part of a family farm herself, Adrienne is no stranger to the struggles farmers and ranchers face every day. She also knows how resilient the agriculture community is.


“We know that if something were to happen, or if some tragedy or some last-minute issues came up, there would be people around because of the community we have in agriculture,” she said. That same community that comes together to support each other in times of need does not always do the same when it comes to talking about mental health.


Adrienne emphasized the importance of having conversations about mental health but noted many shy away from these uncomfortable conversations, even with close friends and family.


“Talking about stress is really uncomfortable,” she said.

Click here to read more about the OKFB’s three-part mental wellness series

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 latest Farm and Ranch News for Monday with KC Sheperd
Subscribe To the Daily Email

Sponsor Spotlight




Union Mutual of Oklahoma Turns 85 Years Old



Back in July of 1938 when Union Mutual of Oklahoma was founded, FDR was in the White House, EW Marland was in the Governor’s Mansion, and the Soldiers of Gettysburg were gathering for a reunion on the old battlefield. Union Mutual was born out of necessity in Oklahoma and serves as one of the oldest rural insurance carriers serving only the people of Oklahoma. Union Mutual was created 85 years ago for one purpose, that was and is to serve and protect rural Oklahomans and their property. That mission has bever wavered.

 

Union Mutual Insurance of Oklahoma was chartered in 1938 to write property and casualty insurance in the state of Oklahoma. Over the years, Union Mutual has maintained the attitude that started the company, “Protection for Oklahomans by Oklahomans.” In poor economic times, in times when national insurance companies either stopped writing or completely left the state, Union Mutual has been there for Oklahomans. Today, Union Mutual writes insurance in all 77 counties of Oklahoma through almost 300 agency locations. These agents provide fast and reliable quotes for most lines of insurance.

 

Union Mutual of Oklahoma CEO Monica Collison had this to say on the company turning 85 years old. “I am humbled to lead such and extraordinary company and team with the history and legacy of Union Mutual. Union Mutual has stood with rural Oklahoma for 85 solid years and I look forward to helping it for the next 85 years.”

 

For the agent nearest you, go to unionmutualic.com or give them a call at 405 286-7703.

Express Ranches Big Event a Big Success

The annual production sale for Express Ranches has been called The Big Event down through the years- and for good reason. It draws cattle producers from across the United States to Yukon- and the celebration that owner Bob Funk puts on each year draws in politicians and a lot more on Friday evening- including Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt this past Friday night.


Of course the stars of the show are the Angus cattle- some of the best bovine genetics in the world. James Bessler- one of the leading livestock insurance specialists for the seedstock industry offers recaps of the very best purebred sales each year- and here is his Facebook post from this weekend on day 2 of the Express Ranches Big Event:


"It was a standing room only as a huge crowd gathered on Saturday morning for day two of The Big Event at Express Ranches. Bidding was active throughout the day as 306 lots grossed $6,075,950 to average $19,856. In a record breaking sale, the two day total on 488 lots was $8,073,500, as the impressive demand for Angus genetics gets stronger each weekend of the excellent fall sale season.


"The high selling individual on day two was once again a powerful daughter of CONFIDENCE PLUS. The winning bidder on Lot # 5, EXAR ELBA 9501, which had elite daughters featured in the offering, doubled their bid to acquire full interest in the female at $650,000. A SALVATION son with exceptional marbling genomics and a $C of +400 led off the sale; one-half interest in Lot # 1, EXAR TOMAHAWK 2836B sold for $400,000. Once again, congratulations to Bob Funk, Jarold Callahan and their team at Express Ranches on an exceptional sale."


Alex Rocateli Shares What to Know Before Planting Alfalfa This Year

In preparation for alfalfa planting season, Farm Broadcaster, KC Sheperd, visited with Alex Rocateli, an OSU Extension Forage Systems Specialist, about alfalfa varieties, the upcoming planting season, and what will allow alfalfa to thrive this year.


“Make sure that you are getting alfalfa that has a winter survival rate of three and four, and the fall dormancy between four to six,” Rocateli said.


While it is hard to say the exact traits each producer should select for, Rocateli said that winter survival rate and fall dormancy will be the most critical.


“Make sure that if you are new in a location and you don’t know the type of pests and diseases that you have in your location that are very common, go to the coffee shop, talk with our county educators, try to learn and try to find an alfalfa variety that is resistant,” Rocateli said.



When farming a new area, Rocateli recommends doing your research before putting seed in the ground. He said that planting high-yielding varieties that don’t have resistance to the problems of your environment is often not worth it.

Click here to read more and listen to KC Sheperd talk with Alex Rocateli about planting alfalfa and more

Growth Energy Releases New Economic and Job Benefits Data on IRA’s One-Year Anniversary

Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, marked the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) by releasing new data on the economic, employment, and agriculture market potential of the bill’s Section 45Z clean fuel production tax credit.  


“45Z represents an historic opportunity for the American bioeconomy, but the bill’s final impact will depend on its implementation,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “This new research not only illustrates the enormous economic potential of this key tax credit—it also underscores why it is so important for the U.S. Treasury to adopt the right approach in administering the credit. To deliver on its potential, 45Z must reward the full array of innovations taking place on the farm and in America’s bioprocessing facilities, including technologies like carbon capture and sequestration and climate smart agriculture.”  


When it was enacted a year ago, the biofuels industry praised key IRA provisions, including $500 million earmarked for biofuels infrastructure, a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit (40B), an expanded carbon capture tax credit (45Q), and the clean fuel production tax credit (45Z). According to Growth Energy’s new data, if implemented properly the 45Z tax credit alone would add $21.2 billion to the U.S. economy, generate nearly $13.4 billion in household income, support more than 192,000 jobs across all sectors of the national economy, and provide farmers with a 10 percent premium price on low carbon corn used at an ethanol plant. 

Click here to read the full report

Oklahoma Pork Industry Foreign Animal Disease Exercise Called a Success

Oklahoma’s recent hyper-realistic Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) preparedness exercise concluded this past week after four days of collaboration and learning. With the drill run on a working hog production site provided by the HANOR Company, more than 50 people were able to progress through the stages of disease confirmation from animal testing to humane depopulation and approved carcass disposal.


The project brought together a large coalition of pork production stakeholders, including The HANOR Company, the Oklahoma Pork Council, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Pork Board (NPB), Envirotech Engineering and Consulting, and agriculture emergency response consultant SES, Inc. 


Several participants even traveled from other states, including several HANOR leaders from across the country, Texas animal health officials, and water-based foam Subject Matter Expert (SME) Dr. Andrew Bowman from the Ohio State University. 

Read More About the Oklahoma Pork FAD Here
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 higher- Choice Beef was up $1.97 and Select Beef was up $2.10 on Friday 08/18/2023.


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

Boxed Beef Report

Oklahoma National Stockyards had 4,411, head on the yards on Sunday evening at 9 pm. Due to extreme heat, the sale will start at 6:30 a.m. We are expecting to start with around 4,500.


USDA Market News reported this past Monday evening- August 14th-"Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers mostly steady. Steer and heifer calves steady to 2.00 higher. Demand good. Quality average to attractive. Supply included about 1000 head for the Special Angus Sale and these sold to very good demand.. These cattle are identified in the report as Value Added. More rains fell over the weekend with moisture encompassing much of the state."


Click below for the complete closing report.

Oklahoma National Stockyards Market Report from 8/14/2023

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 past Friday's story featuring Rodenberger's comments.

 

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 with Bob Rodenberger talk about the cattle markets of this past week.
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 for 08/18/2023
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.

Cattle Industry Leader Bob Drake sits down and talks with Ron Hays about his lifetime of service in the cattle business. Drake has served as the President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, the last President of the old National Cattlemen's Association and Vice President of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau.


He loves politics and being a change agent for the cattle producer back up at the fork of the creek. Drake had a front row seat as the Beef Checkoff was approved by cattle producers and he believes it's way past time to find a way to get a second dollar at the national level.


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 86 with Ron Hays talking with one of the legends in the Beef Cattle Business- Bob Drake of Davis, Oklahoma
Listen to Ron
Beef Buzz
Blue Green Gazette
Calendar
Auctions
Market Links
Facebook  Twitter  Youtube  

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 also appreciate our Market Links Sponsor - OKC West Livestock! 


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

***************

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