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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 Carson Horn 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.
FedCattleExchange.com offered 294 head Wednesday with 161 cattle actually selling. Click here to see their complete market results.
Feeder steers traded 2.00-4.00 lower and feeder heifers sold mostly steady on Wednesday at OKC West Livestock in El Reno, compared to last week's sale. Click here to jump to yesterday's complete sale report,
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
Thursday, February 7, 2019
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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Featured Story:
USDA's new Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation regulations have come under fire this week by the rural community, which has expressed concern over the Interim Rule's potential consequences for America's wetlands. AFBF is leading the charge, insisting USDA ensure the rule balances the benefits for both farmland and wetland.
AFBF argues that the way in which the rule is written, landowners' participation in conservation programs are made much more difficult and fails to provide adequate opportunities for farmers. Specifically, AFBF has taken issue with USDA's failure to implement required provisions and exemptions that lawmakers directed be included in the original legislation and its loose interpretation of how certain determinations under this rule can be made.
Yesterday, AFBF called on USDA to recognize the discrepancies of this measure and correct them. Click here to learn more about this developing story on our website.
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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.
They would like to thank all of you who participated in their 2018 Tulsa City Farm Show.
Up next will be the Oklahoma City's premier spring agricultural and ranching event with returns to the State Fair Park April 4-5-6, 2019.
Now is the ideal time to contact the Midwest Farm Show Office at 507-437-7969 and book space at the 2019 Oklahoma City Farm Show. To learn more about the Oklahoma City Farm Show, click here.
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The new farm bill's horticulture title contains language legalizing industrial hemp production as an agricultural commodity and removing the plant from Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act.
States are now responsible for establishing their own plans to monitor, test and enforce penalties around hemp production. However, according to a release from the Oklahoma Department of Ag, until such time state laws in Oklahoma change, the current Agricultural Industrial Hemp Pilot Program will remain in effect.
Under current law in Oklahoma, universities and colleges with a plant science curriculum are eligible to apply for an annual license from ODAFF to grow Industrial Hemp for research. While independent producers may not directly apply for a license, they may contract with a university or college to obtain a license and participate in the pilot program. The licensing process includes an application and inspection fee. Each cultivation site requires a separate license. As of now, eight Oklahoma institutions are participating in the program with 28 licensed growers, 445 acres planted and 80,000 square feet of indoor growing area in use.
Read the full release from ODAFF for more information on the current laws regulating the production of Industrial Hemp, by click here.
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Beef cattle producers have met the challenge of improving the quality and eating experience for consumers since 1998. That was at the bottom of beef demand when it started coming back up. Since that time, cattle producers have gone from 50 to 55 percent Choice and Prime cattle to 80 percent Choice and Prime on average. CattleFax CEO Randy Blach says it's remarkable what the industry has been able to accomplish over the years but contends there is still a lot more work to do.
"I think the challenge is now, what do we add to that? What are the things these new consumers want? The Millennials, the Gen-Xers... they have some different attributes that they want in addition to the quality," Blach said. "I think it's important that the industry listen and hear what that is."
One of the primary things Blach says this new generation of beef consumer is asking for is for an exceptional eating experience - every time. While producers have worked diligently the last couple decades to provide that, seeing the value that a consistently reliable product has, Blach says that lesson was learned the hard way. Before the industry came together to set itself on a new course toward quality and consistency, the beef community's consumer base was on a steady decline. However, Blach commends the industry for turning things around and insuring consumers have the eating experience they demand through the improvements made to the overall quality of their product. According to Blach, the result of that strategy speaks for itself.
"Had we not grown demand in this last 20 years, we'd be selling calves $50/cwt lower than we are today. Fed cattle prices would be $270 ahead lower," he said before remarking on the areas where further improvements can be made. "One of the things we continue to hear about, not just in the US but around the globe is traceability, source verified, humanely raised - all of these things. It's just figuring out how we can package that with that overall positive eating experience because these things are important to consumers."
Listen to my full discussion with Blach over the evolution of beef quality in the US and where it is headed, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.
Our coverage from New Orleans and the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show will be powered by Corteva Agriscience, delivering solutions to help you manage weeds and brush- learn more by clicking here for their website- www.RangeAndPasture.Com.
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Peterson, Conaway Announce House Agriculture Subcommittee Rosters for the 116th Congress
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Ranking Member Mike Conaway of Texas announced yesterday the rosters for the six subcommittees of the House Agriculture Committee in Washington.
Both Peterson and Conaway will serve ex officio on all six subcommittees.
Some names we might recognize in these appointments include Roger Marshall of Kansas who will serve on the Livestock & Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee as well as the Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit Subcommittee; and Rick Crawford, Arkansas, will serve on the Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit and the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Committees.
Oklahoma's 3rd District Congressman and long-time House Ag member Frank Lucas was not appointed to serve in this Congress on the House Ag Committee. This is the first time in recent memory an Oklahoman has not been represented on this committee.
To review a complete list of appointments, click or tap here.
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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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Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced on Wednesday the USDA's launch of The e-Connectivity Toolkit, featuring 27 programs designed to help support the deployment of high-speed broadband e-Connectivity in rural communities.
The easy-to-use resource is a simple guide that allows customers to identify their type of e-Connectivity project and locate resources the federal government offers through a variety of grants, loans and technical assistance for planning, equipment, construction, research and other e-Connectivity projects.
The toolkit is part of a USDA pilot program launched to promote changes that will facilitate increased prosperity across America's rural communities. The toolkit is free and available for public use online.
Click here for more information about this toolkit and USDA's continuing efforts to revitalize our rural communities.
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Hereford Association Showcases Advancements Made Under Breed's Genetic Evaluation Overhaul
During the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans, staff members of the American Hereford Association shared the proactive efforts the Association is taking to position the breed in the marketplace at a media briefing where our Associate Farm Director Carson Horn had the chance to catch up with Shane Bedwell, AHA chief operating officer and director of breed improvement. Bedwell expounded on the association's recent work to advance the genetic merit of the breed, in recognition of the need for high-quality cattle in the marketplace.
According to Bedwell, AHA this past year undertook a major overhaul of its genetic evaluation program. Some of the highlights of that overhaul, include the implementation of a single-step marker effects model utilizing BOLT technology, which simultaneously analyzes pedigrees, phenotypes and genotypes and allows for a fully automated, weekly genetic evaluation. Another change was the adoption of the North American Hereford Genetic Evaluation, which merges data from the AHA and the Canadian Hereford Association - all totally supported by the AHA Whole Herd Total Performance Records (TPRTM) program, ensuring the entire data set remains pure and unbiased.
The AHA also launched the Whole Herd DNA Cow Herd project in 2018 to incorporate more female genotypes into the updated genetic evaluation, in addition to its National Reference Sire Program which continues to grow and add value to Hereford genetics. With the advent of these and other innovations, Bedwell says the commercial opportunities for Hereford-influenced genetics continue to increase. Read more about all the AHA has done to improve its genetic evaluation or listen to Carson's complete interview with Bedwell, by clicking here.
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Several environmental and anti GMO groups have pointed the finger of blame for reduced Monarch Butterfly numbers on genetically modified crops- but research coming from a trio of Biology Professors at William and Mary in Virginia say not true.
According to the researchers- "The recent decline of the monarch butterfly has attracted a great deal of attention. One of the leading hypotheses blames genetically modified (GM) crops, ostensibly because of the impact of GM-related herbicide use on the monarch's food plants, milkweeds."
Well, the research says Butterfly numbers dropping is a problem that is almost 70 years old. According to the abstract of this study that has just been released in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences- "We show that both monarchs and milkweeds increased during the early 20th century and that recent declines are actually part of a much longer-term decline in both monarchs and milkweed beginning around 1950. Herbicide-resistant crops, therefore, are clearly not the only culprit and, likely, not even the primary culprit: Not only did monarch and milkweed declines begin decades before GM crops were introduced, but other variables, particularly a decline in the number of farms, predict common milkweed trends more strongly over the period studied here."
You can read a few more details by clicking or tapping here- it will cost you $10 if you want the complete report- but as Mark Lyons of Alltech remarks on Twitter "Anti-GMO types frequently point to declines in Monarch butterflies as reason for opposition to GMOs. However, new research shows that declines in Monarchs long pre-dates the adoption of GM crops. Someone better tell @NonGMOProject to change their symbol." (which prominently displays a Monarch Butterfly)
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Stillwater Milling Company, National Livestock Credit Corporation, Oklahoma Beef Council, Oklahoma AgCredit, Herb's Herb Hemp Farm, 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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