Oklahoma's Latest Farm

And Ranch News

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Howdy Neighbors!

Here is Your Daily Oklahoma Farm and Ranch News Update: 

 

  • Changes USDA Made to ERP Program to Negatively Impact Full-Time Ag Producers


  • New American Angus Association President Barry Pollard Talks Genetics


  • Bennie Beutler with Beutler and Son Rodeo Company, to be Inducted Into the Rodeo Hall of Fame on November 11


  • Low Stress Weaning Strategies with OSU’s Paul Beck


  • Mullin Showcases Oklahoma’s Leadership in Water Infrastructure Investment


  • CAB Insider: Middle Meats and Supply Driving Fourth Quarter Spreads


  • Conference Set to Bring Together Oklahoma Farmers Markets and Agritourism Community in 2024

Changes USDA Made to ERP Program to Negatively Impact Full-Time Ag Producers

On Tuesday- I talked with the Co-Founder and managing partner of Combest Sell & Associates, Tom Sell. Sell, and I talked about new rules the USDA has now put in place on the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) for 2022. This announcement comes 10 months after funding was initially signed into law in the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act.  


Combest Sell & Associates represents the Southwest Council of Agribusiness across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico.


“They made a massive departure from the rules…,” Sell said. 


Sell said the USDA has changed the makeup of the disaster assistance program in a way that is biased against larger, full-time farmers.


“In the previous programs, you would calculate the loss based on this threshold that is in the law, and has been endorsed by the law, then once you calculate that loss- say it is 100,000 dollars, you would get 75 percent of that loss,” Sell said.


The new formulation of pay limits, Sell said, reduces that amount significantly compared to years passed.


“For anything beyond 10,000 dollars in losses, you only get 7.5 percent of help, and that is not at all what Congress intended,” Sell said.


Click here to read more and listen to Ron and Tom Sell talk about changes made to USDA’s disaster assistance from October

Sponsor Spotlight

Dating back to 1891, Stillwater Milling Company has been supplying ranchers with the highest quality feeds made from the highest quality ingredients. Their full line of A & M Feeds can be delivered direct to your farm, found at their Agri-Center stores in Stillwater, Davis, Claremore and Perry or at more than 125 dealers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. 


We appreciate Stillwater Milling Company’s long time support of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and we encourage you to click here to learn more about their products and services.


New American Angus Association President Barry Pollard Talks Genetics

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am talking with the new president and chairman of the board of the American Angus Association, and Oklahoma seedstock producer, Dr. Barry Pollard.


We caught up with Dr. Pollard at the 2023 American Angus Convention in Orlando- and we talked about the role he will serve and the latest technology in the beef industry.


Pollard said he has always been interested in Angus cattle. From raising stocker cattle to having a background in medicine and genetics, Pollard said after he became more involved in Angus genetics and raising Angus cattle years ago, serving in a leadership role had been on his mind for quite some time.


“I have gone nationwide purchasing good genetics from other prominent breeders,” Pollard said. “We select the matings, and we do a lot of embryo transplant, and we do a lot of flushing of the cowherd. We do a lot of invitro fertilization, and of course, through flushing and IVF, that is the fastest way to make improvements in your herd and multiply the good genetics.”


Pollard also talked about the use of gene editing in recent years. One of the conversations the Angus board has had regarding this subject is the rules that may need to be in place to monitor the edits that come forward.

Click here to read more and listen to Ron and  Barry Pollard talk about the Angus business

Bennie Beutler with Beutler and Son Rodeo Company, to be Inducted Into the Rodeo Hall of Fame on November 11

On November 11, 2023, Bennie Beutler of Beutler & Son Rodeo Company will be inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame. Farm Director, KC Sheperd, had the chance to talk with Beutler about the history of Beutler & Son Rodeo Company.


Beutler was born April 4, 1949, in Elk City, Oklahoma. His granddad, Elra, and father, Jiggs, were longtime RCA and PRCA stock contractors and it was no surprise that Beutler followed their lead. Today, Beutler & Son Rodeo Company is operated by Beutler along with his son, Rhett, and remains one of the most successful stock contracting firms in rodeo.


In 2022, Beutler & Son was the first stock contracting company to win all three top Bucking Stock of the NFR Awards in a single year. Beutler was the PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year in 1997; was inducted into the Western Oklahoma Hall of Fame; won the PRCA Stock Contractor Remuda Award in 2007; was inducted to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2010; and was inducted into Bull Riding Hall of Fame in 2019. He was a PRCA Board member for 16 years, chairman for three years and has been the assistant general manager of the National Finals Rodeo since 1982. Beutler & Son stock 25 to 30 rodeos a year in seven states.


The Beutlers have won the PRCA bull, bareback or saddle bronc of the year for the PRCA ten times and the top bareback, bull or saddle bronc at NFR a total of 12 times. Beutler lives in Elk City, Oklahoma.

Click here to read more and listen to KC Sheperd talk with Bennie Beutler about the history of Beutler & Son Rodeo Company
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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


Sponsor Spotlight



The Oklahoma Pork Council, a farmer-led organization, represents the interests of all Oklahoma pig farmers. From large-scale commercial operators to first-time 4-H and FFA exhibitors, we hope every Oklahoman who raises pigs has been positively impacted by our mission.

 

According to an economic impact study for the National Pork Board:

 

1.    Oklahoma’s pork industry supports more than 34,000 jobs throughout the various stages of production. That translates to one in 50 Oklahoma jobs, many in rural communities.    


2.    Oklahoma hog sales generate over $976 million in annual cash receipts. That means pork serves as Oklahoma’s second largest agriculture enterprise after cattle production. 

 

Learn more about the state’s pork industry at the Oklahoma Pork Council by clicking here

 


Low Stress Weaning Strategies with OSU’s Paul Beck

Weekly, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist Paul Beck offers his expertise on the beef cattle industry. This is a part of the weekly series known as the “Cow-Calf Corner.” Today, he talks about weaning strategies.



Weaning is a stressful time for calves.

There are social stresses associated with removal from the dam and disrupting social hierarchy, physical stresses of transportation and the marketing system, and nutritional stresses of changing feed and water sources. Preconditioning on farm will take care of several of these stressors, but there is still considerable stress in normal weaning programs. There is a lot of interest in finding the best way to wean calves. Most commonly the options are:


1) Abrupt weaning – which is stressful and completely changes the calf’s environment, diet and social norms.


2) Nursing prevention tools – which prevent suckling but maintain contact with the dam.


3) Short term separation – removal from the dam to acclimate calves to weaning pens, feed, and water sources before complete weaning.


4) Fenceline weaning – placing cows and calves in adjacent pastures for 7 days allowing contact but preventing suckling.

Click here to read more from OSU's Paul Beck on weaning strategies

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 morning farm and ranch news with KC Sheperd
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Sponsor Spotlight




As the premier John Deere dealer across Oklahoma & Arkansas, P&K Equipment is proud to serve as your local John Deere hay expert. You’re invited to join the P&K team and John Deere experts for P&K’s fall customer hay clinics. P&K is offering five opportunities to dive into the world of hay equipment & production, to gain valuable knowledge, and to connect with fellow producers. The clinics will cover an introduction to the latest precision ag & hay solutions, how to improve production efficiency & operator comfort, & much more! The clinics are taking place in Muskogee, Stillwater, Chickasha, Shawnee, & Springdale. Get the details here & RSVP for your spot today. 


 

Mullin Showcases Oklahoma’s Leadership in Water Infrastructure Investment

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) questioned witnesses during a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing to address water infrastructure challenges in rural and underserved communities. In his questioning, Mullin, the Ranking Member of the Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight Subcommittee, argued that the most beneficial water infrastructure investments occur when state and local-level perspectives are accounted for, and states need flexibility with federal dollars to address their own individual infrastructure challenges.


Mullin had the opportunity to introduce one of the witnesses, Ms. Shellie Chard, Water Quality Division Director for Oklahoma’s Department of Environmental Quality. In their remarks, the Senator and Ms. Chard spoke about how Oklahoma is a prime example of local water investments having significant economic impacts for the region.


Click here for a video of part one of Mullin’s witness Q&A.

Click here for a video of part two of Mullin’s witness Q&A.

Click here to read the dialogue

CAB Insider: Middle Meats and Supply Driving Fourth Quarter Spreads

The fed cattle market remained very steady last week with a fractionally higher cash fed steer price at $184.92/cwt. While a positivee trend at face value, many in the cattle feeding sector were disappointed that the market did not develop as strong as expected.


Live Cattle futures activity has been excessively volatile in the past 10 days following the suprisingly large feedlot placements number in the October 1 Cattle on Feed report. Nearby contracts had posted some recovery through last Thursday but have since deteriorated in a very large way. The December contract dipped about $6/cwt. since last Friday’s open through this Tuesday’s close.


Seasonally, cash fed cattle prices have increased 4.8% during the month of November in the past five years. Given the relative currentness of fed cattle supplies at this time the quite bearish values in Live Cattle futures defies fundamentals. This is particularly obvious with the December contract last trading at a $7.29/cwt. discount to last week’s cash. Fund trading is having a serious impact on cattle values with a snowball effect remaining strong at the time of this November 8 analysis.


On the other side of the coin, packer margins are thin, or even negative, on a cash basis —a stark contrast to their position during this period in any recent year. Carcass cutout values have started November in a bit of a defensive pattern with an equal share of lower and higher pricing days to start the month. Fundamentals seem fairly strong considering the reduced head counts for cattle harvested, as compared to a year ago at this time.

Click here to read the full CAB Insider report and view charts

Conference Set to Bring Together Oklahoma Farmers Markets and Agritourism Community in 2024

The 10th annual Oklahoma Local Agriculture Summit is set for Feb. 28 – March 1, 2024, at the Edmond Conference Center located at 2833 Conference Dr, Edmond, OK 73034. The focus of the conference is to increase the availability of local food in Oklahoma communities and strengthen farmers markets and agritourism sites through education and networking opportunities.


The conference is made possible by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, ONIE Project, Langston University, and key stakeholders from agricultural, community, and public health agencies.


Two in-depth workshops will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 28, including hands-on marketing training and a workshop sharing best farm practices. The full summit with more than 20 breakout sessions is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 29 followed by the agritourism bus tour and innovative farm bus tour on Friday, March 1.


Most of the events associated with the summit are free to attend, however, registration is required for each event. Registration is open online at https://oklac.org/oklas and will close on Feb. 28, or once capacity is met.

Learn More About the Oklahoma Local Ag Summit by Clicking 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 mixed- Choice Beef was down $1.63 and Select Beef was up $1.55 on Friday 11/20/2020.


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

Boxed Beef Report

OKC West in El Reno had 8,152 head on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.


According to USDA Market News- Compared to the last true market test on 10/24-25/23: Feeder steers sold 1.00-3.00 lower on a light test. Feeder heifers traded 3.00-6.00 lower. Demand moderate for feeders. Steer and heifer calves sold 10.00 to 15.00 higher. Demand was good. Rainfall and warmer than normal temperatures have wheat pasture grazing weaned calves in high demand. The annul Oklahoma Quality Beef Network and Integrity Beef Alliance sale was this week and all these cattle are flagged as Value Added.


Meanwhile- OKC West Manager Bill Barnhart offers this additional commentary about this week's marketplace- "A tale of two markets this week at the auction. Feeders were lower again Wednesday reacting to a very volatile futures market. Most feedyards are still very full. Buyer’s confidence has been shattered by the ever weakening board, now down 35.00 in feeders and 20.00 in live contracts since mid September. On the other hand, the calf market is on fire, up 10.00-15.00 on the quality grazing prospects. The most popular prospects were Angus based steers #575 and less and heifers #525 and less. Ideal weather has created ample wheat pasture in the trade area. With a big run this week buyers took the opportunity to aggressively purchase calves, many of which were long weaned with shots. Good runs should continue for the next few weeks."


Click below for the complete closing report.

OKC West in El Reno Market Report from 11/07 and 11/08/2023
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 11/08/2023
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 11/08/2023
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
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, Oklahoma Farm BureauOklahoma Ag Mediation ProgramGreat Plains KubotaStillwater Milling CompanyNational Livestock Credit CorporationOklahoma Beef CouncilOklahoma AgCredit, Union Mutual Insurance, Oklahoma Pork Council, 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 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

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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