A newly released Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) found the U.S. soybean industry’s global warming potential (GWP) profile decreased considerably in 2021 for whole soybeans, soybean meal, and soy oil compared to previously reported findings in 2015 and 2010. Commissioned by the United Soybean Board (USB) and the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), the study assessed the main drivers of the environmental impact, including soybean cultivation and harvesting (e.g., herbicides, field operations and fertilizer), transportation, and energy usage in processing.

“USB’s mission is to create value for U.S. soybean farmers by investing in research, education and promotion of U.S. Soy,” says Lucas Lentsch, United Soybean Board CEO. “This body of research helps farmers better assess and understand soy’s contribution to the environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of the entire soybean value chain. Ultimately this data can competitively position our downstream products such as human foods, animal feeds, biofuels and other industrial applications.”



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State of the Cattle Industry with NCBA CEO Colin Woodall

At the 2024 CattleCon held in Orlando, Florida, I had the chance to talk with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall about the state of the cattle industry.

Our coverage from the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Orlando is being powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

“Compared to where we were a year ago, the markets are in a very good spot,” Woodall said. “Demand is absolutely through the roof both domestically and internationally. Those who have a little grass growing are able to make some decisions to grow their herd. As we see more rain and snow, hopefully throughout the rest of this winter and into the spring, and hopefully some consistent moisture, we will start to see a rebuilding of this herd.”

Aside from the high points in the cattle industry, Woodall said there are also a few challenges regarding regulations from the Biden administration, slow movement of Congress, and more.

“We know that we can win in battling this administration, but we have to be very vocal,” Woodall said. “We would really like to see more out of Congress, but Congress continues to be plagued with the funding bills. Until the funding bills are finalized for the rest of this fiscal year, it is going to be hard to get any major piece of legislation done.”

National Cotton Council Releases 2024 World Cotton Outlook

National Cotton Council's Dr. Jody Campiche (former Ag Economist at Oklahoma State) points to a few key factors that will shape the U.S. cotton industry’s 2024 economic outlook. Given significant uncertainty in the global economy, this past year can be characterized as a year when an anticipated recovery in cotton demand has been slow to materialize. Weak demand has translated to pressures throughout the supply chain.

The outlook for the world cotton market will, in part, be determined by continued expansion in economic activity. Modest economic growth is projected for the next two years, but the projected growth rates are still well below the recent historical average. In her analysis of the NCC Annual Planting Intentions survey results, Dr. Jody Campiche, the NCC’s vice president, Economics & Policy Analysis, said the NCC projects 2024 U.S. cotton acreage to be 9.8 million acres, 3.7 percent less than 2023. Growers are facing difficult planting decisions as current prices fall short of production costs for many producers.

As compared to average futures prices during the first quarter of 2023, all commodity prices were lower during the survey period, but cotton had the smallest decline. As a result, the price ratios of cotton to corn and soybeans were higher than in 2023. Based on historical price relationships, this would generally suggest an increase in cotton acreage. However, the 2024 crop year could go against that relationship due to high production costs relative to current prices.

The Okfuskee County Cattleman’s Association (OCCA) would like to invite everyone to attend and participate in their February 29, 2024, Carcass Contest and Beef Auction at 6 p.m. at the Okfuskee County Fairgrounds. No membership is required to attend, and a 10-ounce New York Strip steak dinner is provided for all in attendance.

Associate Farm Editor, Reagan Calk, had the chance to talk with the President of the Okfuskee County Cattlemen’s Association, Buck Rich, about the contest and auction.

Nine students from area schools are competing for the coveted belt buckle, cash prizes, and awards as well as 100% of the proceeds from auctioning their beef to the donors in the audience. The Okfuskee County Cattleman’s Association is happy to provide this contest for their community for young cattlemen to learn, practice, and evaluate different feeding and finishing techniques. Young men and women weigh their cattle in September and keep a log of their costs to raise the beef for butcher. The meat is evaluated and presented at the Carcass Contest on February 29 and those in attendance have the opportunity to make a donation to the child for their half of a beef.

Hilbert Passes State Agency Callback Bill through House

Legislation requiring certain state agencies to implement a callback system in a push to provide improved customer service has passed the Oklahoma House.

Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said he authored House Bill 3285 after overhearing a mom at his daughter’s dance class complaining that she had been on hold with a state agency for over an hour for the second time that week.

“People dread wading through the slog of their state government, and for good reason,” Hilbert said. “We are wasting countless hours of Oklahomans’ lives by forcing them to wait on hold for hours on end to receive basic customer service. The very least we can do is provide a callback system to better serve our constituents. When Oklahomans want to talk to a person instead of a computer, they should be able to do so.”

The bill exempts state agencies with under 500 employees but applies to agencies that use toll-free numbers.

HB3285 passed the House 86-0 and now moves to the Senate, where it is authored by Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore.

Ivan Goh Returning to USW as Biscuit/Bakery and Noodle Technologist

A familiar face with an extraordinary skillset returns to U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) this month as Biscuit/Bakery and Noodle Technologist in the South and Southeast Asia market.

Ivan Goh, who held the position from 2018 to 2022, has extensive experience in flour milling, bakery technical service and wheat food ingredients. He will work closely with USW staff, leading USW training courses throughout the region.

USW Vice President for South and Southeast Asia Joe Sowers said Goh, who will be based in Singapore, will take on the additional responsibility of running courses at the UFM Baking and Cooking School in Bangkok, Thailand.

“Ivan has remarkable technical abilities and is very familiar with the training programs U.S. Wheat Associates conducts,” Sowers said. “He understands the wheat foods industry in South and Southeast Asia, having experience with USW and private industry throughout the region. He is also familiar with other markets, having collaborated with staff in our Manila, Seoul, Taipei, Beijing, Casablanca, and Latin American offices. USW’s technical specialists are more effective thanks to their global perspective. They share their skills and expertise with each other across all parts of the world. Ivan has the tools and experience to demonstrate the quality benefits of using U.S. wheat to industry partners.”

Celebrating National FFA Week- Here's a couple of Pics from KC and Ron

KC has been singing all of her life- and she's darn good- she sang in many different venues as a FFA member- and she's still singing- and will be a couple of times at this weekend's AFR Convention in Norman.

I grew up the son of an Ag Teacher and was active in the Future Farmers in Kentucky as I grew up- his love for the Blue and Gold has translated into a career of interviewing FFA members and supporting the Blue and Gold in a lot of ways- and that translated into receiving the National FFA VIP Citation in 2011. I was excited to receive this award at the National Convention- but more excited to have it presented by the National President at the time- Riley Pagett of northwest Oklahoma.

I love the way that former State President Brent Kisling (and current Chair of the State FFA Foundation) describes FFA- the best work development program in the state of Oklahoma. Those comments were captured in our coverage of the 2024 I Believe Gala- available here. FFA gets folks ready for life- and our parent company, Hilliary and our entire team at the Oklahoma Farm Report are proud to salute FFA and the thousands of members all across the state during National FFA Week!!!