Waiting for the HSUS Shoe to Drop- 24 Hours of Worry for Oklahoma Animal Agriculture  

Word arrived Monday morning in our email inbox of the Humane Society of the US planning an attack on Oklahoma livestock agriculture.  Specifically, the group invited the media to come to a location in south Oklahoma City to attend a  "Press conference to announce findings from two undercover investigations into major national agribusiness producers. The Humane Society of the United States documented widespread suffering of animals despite one of the producer's public statements committing to humane treatment of animals."  

The HSUS appears to be treating this as a big deal- as they are flying Paul Shapiro into Oklahoma City to do the honors of trotting out undercover video (code for having a HSUS employee or sympathizer become an employee and betray that relationship by taking video that the organization hopes to use in an embarrassing way.) to showcase "factory farm conditions" in Oklahoma. Shapiro is their Senior Director for Farm Animal Protection. 

It appears they have kept their secret well- nobody that we talked to on Monday morning had any clue that this was going to happen this week- or which species and what operations are in the cross hairs of the HSUS. It appears that we were the initial source to much of animal agriculture in the state in sharing the HSUS Media Advisory with them.  Our calls could be considered a double edged sword- giving livestock groups as well as state officials 24 hours to begin to craft a response- while we heaped a double helping of agony on those in livestock agriculture because of having to wait until Tuesday at 10 AM to see who HSUS was wanting to beat up in a public way.

Why Oklahoma?  Why now?  Well, I can answer those questions, but it's just Ron speculating and that plus two bits will get you a senior cup of coffee at McDonalds(some of them anyway).   

The why now is fairly easy to answer- I think- as just this past week, the HSUS announced federal legislation had been introduced on their behalf that would codify their deal with the United Egg Producers  and force their opinions of how animals should be raised into federal law.  If one of the operations spotlighted is a poultry operation that is not a member of the UEP organization- it could signify that they want to warn egg and poultry folks not in on their deal- challenge us and we'll bring our huge resources against you and do our best to ruin you.  If it's a swine or dairy or beef operation- it could be a warning shot across the bow- don't challenge us on this Egg deal.  

Why Oklahoma?  Well, eastern Oklahoma is a significant poultry region while Oklahoma is a top ten hog producing state and with both species- we have nationally known companies operating here.  We also are the home of the Chairman of the House Ag Committee, Frank Lucas, and it is his committee that has jurisdiction for the HSUS-UEP bill introduced last week. Perhaps, Shapiro and Wayne Pacelle are thinking if they can expose animal cruelty in Frank Lucas' backyard- it will force the Chairman to consider their demands with a bit more seriousness. 

And who knows- maybe the Oklahoma Livestock Relief Coalition upset them- seeing it as competition in fundraising.   

We will have folks on the scene covering the show- even as we head for Nashville and the Cattle Industry Convention 2012- we will have coverage on whatever is reported by HSUS on Tuesday afternoon-evening on our website- and in our email update on Wednesday morning. As our man Gary says- "we'll keep ya advised!"   

Gene Neuens Talks To Ron Hays About Canola Conditions- CanolaTV 

Farmers in the Southern Great Plains are making great strides in canola production. Gene Neuens of Producers Cooperative Oil Mill talked with Ron Hays on the latest edition of CanolaTV at the No-Till on the Plains Conference in Salina, Kansas and reports that this year's crop is in great shape. He also says a couple of upcoming conferences will be helpful to canola growers.

"We're in excellent shape right now. Our canola looks good. Farmers have been doing a good job with it," he said.

"Moisture's going to be a little bit of a problem if we don't get a little bit of rain going on here. I know southeast Oklahoma had a little bit of rain. We need a little more in the west and northwest parts of the state. That will make a lot of difference on our canola crop there.

"Wheat and canola both need about the same amount of moisture and, right now, coming out of dormancy, it's really important for them and we're just hopeful we'll get that rain." 

To read more about canola conditions or to see the entire interview, click here. 

AFBF Files for Judgment in Chesapeake Bay Case

The Environmental Protection Agency's Total Maximum Daily Load regulation (TMDL) for the Chesapeake Bay watershed establishes new controls on land use that trespass into territory Congress legally reserved for state governments, according to the opening brief for summary judgment, filed Friday, Jan. 27 by the American Farm Bureau Federation in the case, "AFBF vs. EPA."

The TMDL will impact all economic activity in the watershed with potentially devastating impacts for agriculture within the watershed, according to AFBF.

"We all want a clean and healthy Chesapeake Bay," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "This lawsuit is about how we reach that common goal. Farm Bureau believes EPA's new regulation is unlawful and costly without providing the environmental benefit promised. Farmers in the watershed have clearly delivered a documented track record of continuous improvement, through conservation and sound stewardship and will continue their dedicated efforts."

The TMDL dictates how much nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment can be allowed into the Bay and its tributaries from different areas and sources. According to the brief, TMDL proposals are "informational tools" under the Clean Water Act. But, in this action, EPA's final TMDL goes far beyond traditional and lawful scope and authority.

Click here to read more about the AFBF's case. 

Numbers Confirm Cattle Industry Shrinking

As expected, the cattle report issued last week by USDA confirmed that the U.S. beef cattle industry got smaller last year. The inventory of all cattle and calves on January 1, 2012 was 90.77 million head, the smallest inventory since 1952. The inventory of beef cows was 29.88 million head, the smallest since 1962 and the 2011 calf crop was 35.31 million head, the smallest since 1950.   The estimated feeder supply on January 1 was 25.85 million head, down 1.06 million head or 3.9 percent from a year earlier.

The report also confirms the unprecedented impact of the 2011 drought in the Southern Plains which lead to the overall decrease in cattle inventories. Oklahoma experienced a decrease of 288,000 beef cows, down 14.3 percent in one year. This was by far the biggest decrease in Oklahoma as the result of a drought. The only bigger decrease occurred in 1976 as beef cow numbers fell from the all time record levels after a brief spike. Texas experienced a similar 13.1 percent decrease in beef cow numbers. In absolute terms this loss of 660,000 cows in Texas is the largest one year decline on record. Texas cattle inventories were down 10.5 percent while in Oklahoma the inventory of all cattle and calves was down 11.8 percent. New Mexico also experienced drought with all cattle and calves down 9.7 percent and beef cows down 10.9 percent.   Decreased cattle and cow numbers were also noted for Louisiana, Arkansas and Kansas.

The regional variation in this report was perhaps the most interesting component of the numbers. While the report confirms the impact of the drought in the Southern Plains, it also confirms the expansion in other states. Large increases in major cattle states were noted with beef cows in Iowa up 6.5 percent; Nebraska up 6.3 percent and Idaho up 5.2 percent. Some of this increase was due to relocation of cows from drought impacted regions and some was due to internal herd expansion.   
 

To read more about last year's shrinking cattle numbers, click here.

Wheat Crop Looks Good as Curtain Comes Down on January 

A couple of stories on our website give you a feel of our WheatWatch2012 conditions, a service of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission- click here for their website and the latest on what's going on in the areas of promotion, education and research to benefit the Oklahoma wheat producer.

USDA released their end of the month summary of crop conditions for January 2012- Conditions have slipped slightly but small grain crops continued to be rated mostly good, while the canola condition rating remained mostly good to fair. Wheat grazed was at 39 percent, three points above the five year average. You can review more of the report by clicking here. 

OSU Student Awarded Scholarship to Attend 2012 USDA Outlook Forum

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week the selection of 24 university students, including one from OSU, who will attend USDA's 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum. Jason Harris from OSU will join students from Land-Grant, Hispanic-serving institutions, and American Association of State Colleges of Agriculture and Renewable Resources institutions who are the recipients of corporate and USDA sponsorship aimed at promoting the education of the next generation of agriculturalists. The Forum titled, "Moving Agriculture Forward," is USDA's largest annual event and will be held Feb. 23 and 24 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.

"USDA's Outlook Forum will celebrate USDA's 150th anniversary, giving these students the opportunity to hear former Secretaries of Agriculture describe their vision for the future of agriculture," said Vilsack. "USDA welcomes the next generation to participate in the Forum so they might see opportunities to excel to even greater heights in their careers."

The 24 university juniors and seniors majoring in agricultural-related studies were selected based on their essays, "Agriculture as a Career," and recommendations from their deans.

Click here to read more about these students and some of their winning essays. 

Boxed Beef Prices Move Slightly Higher as Cash Cattle Trade Falls This Past Week- Audio Comments with Ed Czerwin

Boxed beef prices moved a little higher this past week, according to the numbers compiled by Ed Czerwin of the USDA Market News Office in Amarillo, Texas. Czerwin reports in his weekly audio update that the volume was lighter than normal, and perhaps reflects that there simply are fewer market ready cattle flowing into the pipeline at this time. 

Cash cattle trade was generally two dollars cheaper than a week ago- and the larger number of choice cattle continue to come out of the Nebraska feedyards. Indications are that about 70% of the finished cattle out of Nebraska yards are grading choice- while only 52% of the Texas-Oklahoma cattle heading to the packers end up grading choice. 

Click here to read (and to hear) more of Ed Czerwin's comments on the markets of last week.