Oklahoma Wheat Commission’s Mike Schulte Discusses Gravity of Closed Rail Crossings on Mexican Border

Yesterday, I caught up with Mike Schulte of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission about the closed rail crossings on the Mexican border, putting wheat exports at risk.

“We do have two rail crossings that have now closed across the borders in the Southern Plains…,” Schulte said.

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) have joined several other U.S. agricultural organizations in signing a letter encouraging U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reopen rail crossings in El Paso and Eagle Point for trade as quickly as possible.

“It is creating challenges for us on the supply side, and I think a great concern that these are really two of our largest access into the export market for Mexico and South America as we move things, whether it be bulk commodity to really any ag processed food item that goes to these regions,” Schulte said. “The impact is going to be quite large.”

On average, Schulte said nearly two-thirds of the U.S. agriculture exports go to Mexico via rail, making Mexico the second-largest export market overall for agriculture and the top export market for U.S. wheat.

“We are talking about 28.5 billion dollars in sales this year alone that have gone into Mexico on our exports through this region,” Schulte said.



Union Mutual of Oklahoma Turns 85 Years Old



Back in July of 1938, 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 never 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.

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am talking with Terrain’s Chief Research and Analytics Officer, Done Close, about the cow that stole Christmas in 2003.

This coming weekend will mark 20 years since the announcement of the first case of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), or Mad Cow Disease, in the United States. The U.S. cattle industry was impacted for years after the announcement of BSE in the country.

During this time, Close was in charge of risk management for Aztec Feeders in the Texas Panhandle.

“From a risk-management perspective, it was a living nightmare,” Close said. “Just the uncertainty of what to do, the initial free-fall in the market. We couldn’t move cattle. You didn’t know what to do.”

Close said Canada had its initial outbreak of BSE the May prior to the U.S. outbreak. Immediately, Close said the U.S. cut off all importation of live cattle from Canada.

Although the U.S. would not buy live cattle from Canada, Close said the U.S. was able to purchase Canadian beef at a tremendous discount.

Over in the U.S., Close said the markets were good and therefore, an abundance of cattle were going to slaughter. After BSE hit the U.S., Close said there was an immediate pause in the movement of cattle.

Editor's Note- This is part one of our Beef Buzz look at the Cow that Stole Christmas with Don Close- more tomorrow- and you can listen to our full interview on this Black Swan event with Don by clicking here.

Agricultural Economic Insights Predicts Softer Farmland Market in 2024

At the Agricultural Economic Insights booth at the 2023 National Association of Farm Broadcasters Convention, Farm Director KC Sheperd had the chance to talk with Farmland Analyst Randy Dickhut about an outlook on farmland purchases for 2024.

Agricultural Economic Insights, LLC was founded in 2014 by Dr. Brent Gloy and David Widmar. Recognizing an opportunity to provide timely, in-depth analysis about key agricultural economy trends, Brent and David began by writing weekly articles focused on insights.

In addition to the Weekly Insights articles, Brent and David regularly speak at farm and agribusiness events, focusing on key trends impacting the farm economy. AEI.ag also provides the Crop Budget Outlook – forwarding looking crop budget estimates and commentary to help with key strategic and planning activities.

Dickhut’s role comprises of writing various articles throughout the month, mainly on focusing on the farmland market.

“I think 2023 was somewhat surprising as it ends up here, because as we entered into the year, in the land market, there was less for sale, it was slower, we weren’t seeing any new record prices that had been set the last couple of years, interest rates were higher, input costs were higher, farm incomes were going to be down, and so I thought, ‘well, that puts some pressure on the land market,’” Dickhut said. “But really, the land market just plateaued and stabilized. There was good buying interest throughout the year, and especially this fall.”

In response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest announcement that it will restore uses of chlorpyrifos and commit to a science-based review of the pesticide, Alan Meadows, American Soybean Association director and soybean grower from Halls, Tennessee, commented on behalf of the soy industry and echoed sentiments felt by other grower groups pleased by the decision.

“U.S. soybean growers welcome the announcement that chlorpyrifos tolerances and uses will be restored and EPA will commit to a science-based review of the pesticide in the days ahead, as ordered by the Eighth Circuit Court. EPA’s own science has repeatedly found there are at least 11 high-benefit, safe uses of chlorpyrifos, including for soybeans—a fact of which we will continue to remind the agency throughout this process,” said Meadows.

EPA’s announcement is consistent with the Nov. 2, 2023, ruling from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in which the court found EPA disregarded its own scientists’ findings by ending numerous uses of chlorpyrifos they determined were safe. The court vacated the EPA rule and restored agricultural uses of the tool.

R-CALF USA Commends Competition Restoring Final FTC, DOJ Merger Guidelines

R-CALF USA applauded today’s joint announcement by Jonathan Kanter, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, and Lina Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), that they are updating federal merger review guidelines. The following is a statement by R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard regarding that announcement:

“The cattle industry is the single largest sector of American agriculture, generating about $67 billion in annual cash receipts and R-CALF USA is the largest U.S. trade association that exclusively represents cattle producers within the U.S. cattle industry. We are very pleased by today’s announcement.

“The previous merger guidelines did not adequately address buyer power upstream in the supply chain. And far too much emphasis was placed on market efficiencies, which has resulted in the dismantling of the competitive marketing channels within our supply chain. This, in turn has hollowed-out Rural America. In addition, far too little attention was given to regional and local buyer power, where the competitiveness of regional and local markets can vary widely and harm to the supply chain can be devastating.

“The previous guidelines mistakenly presumed that the marketplace is competitive today and thus any post-merger reviews, based on changes from today to tomorrow were inherently skewed. Under the old guidelines, the trigger for antitrust scrutiny did not take into account that the market’s pre-merger condition already lacked competition. New guidelines should require a comprehensive analysis of the market’s preexisting competitiveness prior to the application of review triggers.

5 Ways To Prepare for Winter on Your Regenerative Ranch

From having a flexible grazing plan to winterizing equipment, it pays to plan and prepare for the cold winter days and weeks ahead.

Whether winter comes and stays for six months in your area, or it randomly slams your typically mild climate with six days of sleet and ice, it pays to be ready for the season.

Noble Research Institute ranch manager Paul Luna and grazing team facilitator Devlon Ford share their top tips to help keep your animals healthy and your regenerative ranch running smoothly, no matter what winter throws at you.

1. STUDY HYPER-LOCAL AND LARGER WEATHER PATTERNS

As a facilitator of Noble’s Essentials of Regenerative Grazing course, Ford says every good decision starts with knowing your context well.

You probably know an old-timer who can forecast the whims and ways of the land and the weather he’s observed for a lifetime. Only time and experience can teach some lessons. Still, if you’re new to a region, just picked up a lease or a section of new land, or are in the early years of your ranching career, start observing and studying your context.