Agriculture Mentioned in VP Debate

Farmers were brought up fairly early in last night's Vice President's debate between Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in a left handed sort of way.

The CBS commentators made their question about the tragic flooding and resulting deaths in the southeast because of Hurricane Helene about climate change- and Governor Walz mentioned that his farmers understand the swings in the weather. "But my farmers know climate change is real. They've seen 500 year droughts, 500 year floods, back to back. But what they're doing is adapting, and this has allowed them to tell me, "Look, I harvest corn, I harvest soybeans, and I harvest wheat."

No direct mention of farming or ranching came up again- but it was interesting that while the CBS moderators mentioned the Dock strike in their preamble before asking their first question- they never got around to a question on it- despite the huge implications for the economy- including agriculture.

To view a replay- here's the C-Span link to it- and here is the CBS transcript of the debate (note- I corrected the transcript in my quote above- they subbed the word wind in for wheat in the reference to farmers- they had climate change on their minds more than farming)

Declining income expectations helped to push farmer sentiment down again in September as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index fell 12 points to 88. Both of the barometer’s sub-indices, the Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Future Expectations, declined as well. The Current Conditions Index fell 7 points to 76, and the Future Expectations Index dropped 14 points to 94. These were the weakest barometer and future expectations readings since March 2016, when the farm economy was in the throes of an economic downturn.

The current conditions assessment very nearly matched that of April 2020, when COVID concerns were top of mind for U.S. farmers. Weak output prices combined with high input costs were key problems cited by survey respondents in September. The September survey took place from September 9-13, 2024.

According to the survey- Farmers are concerned about commodity prices, input costs, the future of agricultural trade and how the upcoming election could affect their farm operations. When asked specifically about their biggest concerns for the upcoming year, low commodity prices and high input costs were locked in a virtual dead heat in September as the top 2 concerns for the upcoming year. Thirty-four percent of farmers in the survey chose input prices as a top concern, while 33% chose lower output prices as their biggest concern. 

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- .

In this BeefBuzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays talks to Kansas State Associate Professor and Beef Extension Veterinarian Dr. AJ Tarpoff about weaning strategies for calves.

One strategy Dr. Tarpoff referred to as a hard wean. He explained this method by saying, “At a single point in time, we separate mom and calf. From that point in time, they remain separated, and that calf will be managed with its cohorts.”

Producers with good, solid structure fences have less stressful options for weaning. With fence line weaning, the calves can be separated into lots adjacent to their mothers and be introduced to their own water tank, and feed bunk while their mothers are just across the fence. The mothers and calves will gradually drift away from one another in their own times.

In a two-stage weaning strategy, early planning is more important. Nose flaps would be clipped into the nostrils of the calves to interfere with their ability to nurse. “Essentially, this method separates the mom from the calf nutritionally before physical separation,” Dr. Tarpoff explained.

Tulsa State Fair’s Night of Champions to Highlight Grand Champion Exhibitors and Donors

Farm Director KC Sheperd talked to Brandi Herndon with the Tulsa State Fair about the exciting event and the upcoming Night of Champions when the livestock champions will be awarded for their success.

According to Herndon, the Tulsa State Fair has been running smoothly and the weather has been perfect. The Fair’s livestock show kicked off with the Junior Breeding Gilt show, and its premium sale grossed $285,000, which averaged nearly $4,600.

The Open Cattle Show, was held this past weekend, as were the Open and Junior Breeding Sheep shows. The market animals were moved in on September 30th and were showing as Herndon and Sheperd spoke. The market animal shows will conclude on October 2, and 150 top placing animals and the 4-H and FFA members showing them will be recognized during the pinnacle event known as the Night of Champions.

The Tulsa State Fair spares no expense on the Night of Champions which often includes pyrotechnics and a red carpet for the Grand Champion exhibitors to approach the stage on.

American Farm Bureau Federation Chief Economist Roger Cryan wrote the following on September 30, 2024 in a special MarketIntel report:.

The 2018 farm bill will die tonight.

It could be revived later this year (or early next year) with another extension, but its time has come.

In some ways, this farm bill has been dying for several years: thanks to unanticipated price inflation in recent years, the dollar is only worth 80% of what it was in 2018. The fixed reference prices from that farm bill, which define the help from USDA that farmers depend on in tough times, are only worth 80% of what they were in 2018. The value of dollars set aside for research and innovation grants and for certain conservation programs are only worth 80% of what they were in 2018.

In addition, a lot of the funding for other climate-focused conservation programs is being spent for the last time, rather than entering the farm bill baseline accounting so that it can become available for the next farm bill.

But we have shared before what farmers and the rest of us will miss without a new farm bill.

What will we miss with no farm bill?

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the impact of the East Coast dockworker strike.

“America is bracing for the impact of the massive dockworker strike that threatens to paralyze traffic of goods in and out of the United States. Our nation relies on international trade for everything from electronics to machinery.

“Families also count on the import of food like bananas, coffee and specialty items, including chocolates and European beer. While there is a risk of shortages of some items, the United States is fortunate that it can meet its nutritional needs without importing food. America’s farmers grow a diverse range of food items that ensure the nation’s food independence. Rest assured, America’s food supply is strong, and store shelves will continue to be stocked with domestically raised products.

Chicken, duck, turkey, and game bird owners should increase their on-farm biosecurity practices and minimize opportunities for domestic and wild bird interactions to reduce the risk of HPAI infections.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues to be a concern as the fall migration season begins, and it is important for bird owners to increase biosecurity practices and remain vigilant in monitoring their birds’ health.  

HPAI is a highly contagious virus that can be spread directly by infected wild birds/animals or indirectly through any items that have come into contact with the virus such as equipment, vehicles, feed and the clothing and shoes of animal caretakers. Implementing biosecurity practices can help reduce the risk of exposure and infection. Michigan State University Extension suggests some useful on-farm practices.

Mark Johnson on the Biological Time Lag of Heifer Retention

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 the biological time lag of heifer retention.

It is evident the pace of expansion of the U.S. cow inventory will be slower than past cycles. Several factors will continue to contribute to the slow rebuild. Our beef cow inventory continues to tighten and pushes market prices to record levels. With regard to heifer retention, the questions most of us are asking:

1. Will increased heifer retention (at some point in the future) result in even higher prices?
2. How long will these prices last?

Good questions. Past cattle cycles indicate the answer to the first is most likely yes. When producers begin to retain more heifers to develop as herd replacements, it results in fewer calves going to market.