Farm Director KC Sheperd recently had the chance to talk with State Forester Mark Goeller during Ag Day at the Capitol. Goeller talked about tips and resources to prevent fires on a person’s property or home.

Goellar said one action one can take to prevent fires on their property is to visit firewise.org to complete an assessment that will pinpoint where a fire will most impact their home or property. Goeller also suggested keeping the grass mowed and keeping leaves and pine needles raked up and away for the home.

“The cleaner the yard and the cleaner the area around the house, the more survivable the home can be during a wildfire event,” Goeller said.

Goeller said some species of plants are more fire resistant than others, so those could certainly be valuable if a fire were to occur. Goeller explained that Oklahoma has two distinct fire seasons: dormant fire season in the winter months and the growing season which is from May through the first freeze in the fall.

By visiting www.forestry.ok.gov, Goeller said individuals can check out the fire situation report to gain information on when to burn, drought information, and more. While it is important to make sure conditions will be favorable on the day of the burn, Goeller emphasized keeping a watch of conditions on the days following the burn as well.

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.

 

OSU’s Derrell Peel on April Cattle on Feed Report- Placements Down 12% and Marketings Down 14% Versus Last Year

I am talking with Oklahoma State University Livestock Market Economist, Derrell Peel about the April Cattle on Feed Report released on April 19, 2024.

“This April Cattle on Feed Report put placements in the Month of March down 12 percent from a year ago,” Peel said. “Marketings in the month of March were down 14 percent from a year ago. The April 1st on feed total was 11.82 million head, which is still up 1 percent over last year’s numbers.”

Looking at the marketing numbers, Peel said there is a lot of seasonality to these trends. When evaluating each month as the percent of the cattle on feed for that month, Peel said the average for the last 12 months is the slowest marketing pace since 1997.

Peel said beef production is falling, but increasing carcass weights can moderate it to some extent.

“We are running about 25 pounds heavier than a year ago on steer carcass weights on average for the last four or five weeks,” Peel said.

To view the April USDA Cattle on Feed Report, CLICK HERE.

Introducing Reagan Smith of the Oologah FFA Chapter, Your 2024 Northeast Area Star in Agriscience

This morning, our coverage of the 2024 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists continues with Agriscience competitor Reagan Smith of the Oologah FFA chapter representing the Northeast Area.

Farm Director KC Sheperd interviewed all 18 Star finalists recently in Stillwater after they were judged in their respective areas- and you can hear KC talk with Reagan by clicking on the blue button at the bottom of this story.

Smith said she has studied thawing temperatures on Brahman bovine semen straws, embryo transfer versus artificial insemination, and more. Of her projects, she said her favorite is her most recent one, which studies bovine semen production with the addition of oral feed supplements.

“In my feed supplements research, I found out that Vitamin C has a huge impact on bovine semen production,” Smith said.

Smith is grateful for her ag teacher’s help and support during her projects. After a field trip to Flying Cow Genetics in Welch, Oklahoma, Smith said she knew she wanted to learn more about reproductive science.



After high school graduation, Smith said she plans to continue her feed supplement research at Oklahoma State University. Smith plans to become a large and small animal vet and one day, own her own veterinary clinic.

Our coverage of the Stars and the 2024 State FFA Convention is powered by Hilliary Communications.

FDA Reaffirms that Pasteurization is Effective against HPAI, Commercial Milk Supply Safe

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed again today that pasteurization of milk consistent with the federal Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) destroys harmful pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and other viruses. The data cited by FDA is consistent with many other studies demonstrating that the legally required temperature and time for milk pasteurization will readily inactivate HPAI. Viral fragments detected after pasteurization are nothing more than evidence that the virus is dead; they have zero impact on human health. Further, the federal PMO prohibits milk from sick cows from entering the food supply chain. Milk and milk products produced and processed in the United States are among the safest in the world.

The FDA has remained consistent in its vigilance against raw milk consumption, as well. Raw milk is a key vehicle in the transmission of human pathogens, including E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella, among others. As this situation continues to evolve, our dairy organizations strongly discourage the consumption of raw milk and recommend that all raw milk and raw milk components be heat treated to a temperature and duration that kills harmful pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms, including HPAI, regardless of the product’s intended use for human or animal consumption. FDA also recommends out of an abundance of caution that milk from cows in an affected herd not be used to produce raw milk cheeses.

In a statement released on Tuesday evening from the National Milk Producers Federation, they “encourage the FDA to continue to gather scientific data and information, consistent with its plans.”

Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist, offers herd health advice as part of the weekly series known as the “Cow Calf Corner,” published electronically by Dr. Peel, Mark Johnson, and Paul Beck. Today, Johnson talks about management on an operation.

In comparison to the Purebred Seedstock, Stocker or Finishing segments of beef production, the Commercial Cow-calf sector shouldn’t require as much day-to-day management and labor input. Well managed cow-calf operations can concentrate these inputs into short time frames focused on critical control points of production. The critical control points focus on improving herd health, reducing parasites, pregnancy checks to make sure the cost of cow maintenance is rewarded in the form of a weaned calf, and management to improve the value of calves produced.

Historically low current US cowherd inventories and limited evidence of heifer retention indicates the robust markets we currently enjoy should be sustained for at least the next couple of years. In such times, it can be easy to overlook the critical control points which result in improving the value of calves.

The value of good management has never been higher.

Drummond applauds Senate passage of anti-illegal immigration measure

Attorney General Gentner Drummond today praised state senators for passing House Bill 4156 allowing state law enforcement officers to arrest and incarcerate illegal immigrants as a means of helping combat Oklahoma’s numerous illegal marijuana grow operations.

Drummond had requested legislative leaders to craft the bill, which now makes its way to the governor’s desk.

“The State Senate sent a clear message today that public safety is a priority in Oklahoma,” Drummond said. “The Biden Administration has been utterly derelict in its duty to enforce federal law. If the president won’t secure the nation’s border, then our state must step in to protect Oklahomans. I appreciate President Pro Tempore Treat and Speaker McCall for their swift work on this bill and I encourage Gov. Stitt to sign it into law.”

Under the bill, a first offense would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail and/or a maximum $500 fine. That individual would then be required to leave the state within 72 hours following his or her conviction or release from custody, whichever comes later.

Subsequent offenses or offenses committed during a crime would be a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a maximum $1,000 fine. As with an initial offense, the individual would have to leave the state within 72 hours following his or her conviction or release from custody, whichever comes later.

Cattlemen’s Conference Registration is Open

Oklahoma State University will host the Cattlemen’s Conference – Blueprint For The Future – Part 2 at the Totusek Arena on May 22-23, 2024. The conference will provide an educational opportunity for those interested in making use of new ideas, research findings and opportunities to progressively manage their beef cattle business. Staying informed about topics like gene editing, land stewardship and the impact that your selection and mating decisions have on profit potential, enteric methane emissions and the carbon footprint of beef production is essential.

Industry leaders from across the nation will address these topics in several panel discussions over the course of the conference. The conference is a joint venture between OSU Cooperative Extension, the Cattlemen’s Congress and the Noble Research Institute. The American Angus Association and American Hereford Association are sponsors of this event.

A complete schedule, how to register, the conference headquarters hotel and other useful information is included at the link below. The cost of attendance is $200 which includes all meals. OSU Extension personnel will receive a discounted registration rate of $100 by entering the coupon code: EDUCATOR.

Click here for the Cattlemen’s Conference website for more on the agenda and to register.