Over 140 agricultural groups this week joined a letter expressing deep concern over USDA’s Emergency Relief Program (ERP) for 2022. Four Oklahoma Ag Groups- Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Cotton Council, Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association and the Oklahoma Soybean Association- have signed the letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The groups wrote, “[W]e are very concerned about two newly introduced ERP 2022 provisions outlined in program guidance released on October 27: (1) progressive payment factors used to prorate payments; and (2) the method use to incorporate producer-paid insurance premiums. Neither of these provisions were part of ERP 2020 or ERP 2021, and both appear inconsistent with congressional intent of the enabling legislation…

“While we appreciate the funding restraints under which ERP 2022 was developed, we believe that USDA should instead aim to provide more equitable support for losses of all magnitudes. This can be achieved by using a single, uniform factor, as USDA has done in the past. With regards to incorporating the producer-paid premiums, this change will keep some growers from qualifying for any assistance and create a significant disparity of payments among producers.”



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 the latest Drive in Five! .

OSU’s Peel Believes Cattle Producers Like Market Prices and are Moving Calves to Pocket Some Cash

The latest USDA Cattle on Feed report, released on Friday November 17th, shows that placements of cattle into feedlots was elevated above a year ago for the second straight month. But Oklahoma State University Extension Economist Dr. Derrell Peel says that this month- the market watchers were not blindsided and actually forecast a larger placement of cattle than what the USDA number shows.

Placements of cattle on feed rose less than forecast by analysts, with USDA reporting 2.16 million head through Nov. 1, which is 3.8% higher than this time last year. The uptick is less than expected by analysts, who were forecasting a 7% jump in placements.

The USDA reported fed cattle marketed for the month ended Nov. 1 totaled 1.76 million head, which is down 2.6% from last year’s total. This is a little more than forecast by analysts, who were calling for a 1.9% drop in marketing.

Total supplies of cattle on feedlots were 11.93 million head, which is 1.7% higher than this time a year ago, the USDA said in its monthly Cattle on Feed Report. Analysts surveyed prior to the report expected the inventories to rise 2.1% versus this time last year.

AARP’s Sean Voskuhl Excited About Efforts to Bring High Speed Internet to Rural Oklahoma

AARP represents 150,000 members in rural Oklahoma- making them one of the leading groups that represent the non metro areas of the state- so says State Director Sean Voskuhl. I talked with Voskuhl at the 2023 National Association of Farm Broadcasting about the various areas that AARP advocates for older Oklahomans- including helping them take full advantage of what Voskuhl calls a “generational investment in high speed internet” and working with OSU Extension and rural libraries to help citizens take advantage of broadband when it comes to their homes and communities.

Voskuhl said, “when people get high speed internet- they need to know how to use that technology and use those resources and stay connected.” One way to make that a reality is a program that AARP is partnering with OSU Extension and Libraries on called the Digital Navigator Program that “will teach digital literacy skills to individuals that need it because if we have the high speed internet- we need to know how to use it and use that technology so we can stay connected and prevent isolationism- helping people to connect with their jobs and families.”

AARP has been a champion in helping spread the news on the federal government subsidy program called the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)– which can offer help in paying for your high speed internet from local providers.

Voskuhl also talked about AARP’s Community Challenge Grants that can help rural communities in a variety of ways- including in helping maintain infrastructure, supporting telehealth and more. The next round of these grants will be unveiled in early 2024.

At the 2023 Ag Expo held in Norman, Oklahoma, Associate Farm Editor Reagan Calk had the chance to visit with one of the speakers, Dr. Maira Duffeck, about the management of row crop diseases.

Duffeck is an Oklahoma State University entomology and plant pathology expert and row crop specialist. She was able to give insight into the many diseases that row crops in Oklahoma are affected by and how to prevent and treat them.

Duffeck said the main factors to be considered when managing plant disease include the host, the pathogen, and the environmental conditions.

When looking to prevent plant disease, Duffeck said pre-planting decisions are the most important.

“They are the ones that growers have control over, and they can plan ahead to try to decrease the levels of disease throughout a growing season,” Duffeck said.

BUSTED- Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force Seizes More Than 77,000 Illegal Marijuana Plants

Only a week after seizing more than 36 tons of black-market marijuana in a single day, the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) have made another major seizure, this time in Pottawatomie County. 

OCTF agents and OMMA compliance inspectors and agents served search warrants Nov. 16 at six medical marijuana grow operations near Prague. The sweep yielded 77,362 untraceable and untagged marijuana plants, nearly 2,000 pounds of untraceable and untagged harvested marijuana, and several firearms.

The District 23 Drug Task Force assisted in the operation.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond said the task force is dedicated to rooting out Oklahoma’s scourge of illegal marijuana operations.

“We are sending a clear message to Mexican drug cartels, Chinese crime syndicates and all others who are endangering public safety through these heinous operations,” he said. “And that message is to get the hell out of Oklahoma.”

The Attorney General’s office has developed a valuable working relationship with the OMMA.

“Everyone at OMMA, especially the tireless investigative and enforcement staff who spent more than 24 hours straight on scene at this operation, works hard every day to regulate the medical marijuana industry Oklahomans voted for,” said OMMA Executive Director Adria Berry. “These farms hid behind the regulated industry for long enough – once we confirmed they were operating illegally, we worked with our partners to shut them down. Attorney General Drummond, Pottawatomie County and everyone involved showed exactly what happens when government agencies put egos aside and work together for the greater good.” 

Noble Research Institute’s 2023 Gift Guide for Regenerative Ranchers

See what our ranchers at Noble Research Institute would like under their tree or in their stocking – all practical ideas for the regenerative ranchers on your giving list this year.

Ready to shop for the ranchers in your life? Here are some great ideas suggested by the people who work on our ranches, managing them for healthy soil, livestock and ecosystems.

COVER-CROP SEED:

Top on the wish list for Noble consultation manager Josh Gaskamp is cover-crop seed. Whether it’s being planted in farm fields or ranch pastures to armor the soil, build soil health or prevent erosion; to attract and feed wildlife; or for garden or homestead use, a seed mix of cover crop species right for the region and purpose will be appreciated.

A FENCE TESTER THEY’LL USE EVERY DAY:

Several Noble Ranches managers mentioned a fence tester as a great gift, with ranch facilities manager Curtis Lawson saying he uses his every day. They favor the Fault Finder from Gallagher, a current meter and digital volt meter that identifies and locates faults in electric fence lines.

Milk Producers on Farm Bill Extension in Funding Bill

“We commend House and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairs Glenn Thompson and Debbie Stabenow, as well as Ranking Members David Scott and John Boozman, for their bipartisan work to finalize this farm bill extension as part of the congressional spending agreement President Biden signed today. 

“Along with continuing critical programs for dairy farmers, the legislation allows the Dairy Margin Coverage program to continue operating without the uncertainty of a potential disruption. DMC is an important and effective safety net for dairy farmers nationwide. This legislation includes the 2019 production history update as part of the program, and we look forward to 2024 DMC sign-up in the coming weeks. “With this bill passed, we stand ready to work closely with the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to deliver a strong, five-year farm bill as swiftly as possible.”

Weekend Rain Totals Across Oklahoma- Take a Look

Several locations across Oklahoma got an inch of rain since Friday morning- Sallisaw was the champ at 1.55 inches- Holdenville comes in at 1.46 inches and Lake Carl Blackwell at 1.42 inches- these were the three Mesonet sites with the best rainfall totals.

The map above is clickable and you can get back to the Mesonet site for the three day rainfall totals and see what each location is showing from this first real rainfall we have had in quite some time. There's a slight chance of additional rain today- but chances are slim to none in much of Oklahoma after that for much of the rest of November.