Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News

Howdy Neighbors! 

Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, writes in the latest Cow-Calf Newsletter:

Oklahoma was one of a few states on January 1 showing the clearest signs of beef cow herd rebuilding. The Oklahoma beef cow herd was up 51,000 head (2.9 percent year over year), second only to Kansas and Missouri in the absolute increase in cow numbers. The Oklahoma inventory of beef replacement heifers was up 45,000 head (16.1 percent year over year), the largest increase in beef replacement heifers among states. Still, this increase in beef cow numbers is only a beginning. Oklahoma's beef cow herd is still down 10.5 percent from January 1, 2011. The rebuilding process has a long way to go.

The herd expansion plans currently in place are the result of significantly improved drought conditions in the second half of 2013. Though 2013 started dry, much of the state received close to average precipitation during the year. Forage conditions improved and the final weekly crop condition report in late November showed that range and pasture conditions were rated 40 percent fair and 40 percent good to excellent. At the end of 2013, the Drought Monitor showed that less than half of Oklahoma had any drought and less than 5 percent of the state had D3 or D4 (Extreme or Exceptional) drought. Hay production in Oklahoma recovered significantly in 2013 compared to the two previous years. December 1 hay stocks in Oklahoma were up 34 percent year over year from 2012 levels. This has provided sufficient hay to support the increased cow and heifer inventories. Better wheat pasture conditions in the fall of 2013 provided more winter grazing for stockers as well as cows and replacement heifers.

However, drought conditions have re-emerged back across central and eastern Oklahoma in January. From the western counties and the Panhandle where drought has been in place continuously for three years, 80 percent of the state now shows some level of drought conditions. 

Dr. Peel also talked with us about the balancing act we find ourselves doing right now- wanting to rebuild versus dealing with drought- read more of his weekly analysis as well as hear his thoughts on this from our conversation at this past weekend's AFR Convention- as aired on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network on our daily Beef Buzz report.  Click here for that. 

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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will make $6 million in grants available this year, and up to $30 million total over the next five years as part of a new initiative to provide solutions to agricultural water challenges. The grants will be used to develop management practices, technologies and tools for farmers, ranchers, forest owners and citizens to improve water resource quantity and quality.

"Cutting edge research holds the key to tackling the complex challenges posed by prolonged drought and ensuring the future food security of our nation," said Secretary Vilsack. "These grants will help arm America's farmers and ranchers with the tools and strategies they need to adapt and succeed, and build on ongoing, cross-governmental efforts to provide relief to those impacted by severe drought."

You can read the rest of this story on our website by clicking here.
 

Oklahoma lawmakers have been in session for a little over two weeks and have taken action on a number of issues. Tommy Thomas represents American Farmers and Ranchers at the Oklahoma state capitol. He spoke with me recently and says they are closely watching a number of issues so far this year.

"The water issues are more important the last couple of years than they had been before. It's important that we do a better job in Oklahoma of planning for our water security in the future. There are some bills that deal with drought mitigation that we are interested in.

"Obviously, any tax issue is important to us. The governor is proposing a quarter-of-a-percent reduction in taxes and, while we would all like to pay less in income taxes, we still are concerned about the core services that are available to all Oklahomans and we are hopeful that if the tax cut does come that there will be limited damage to those core services."

Thomas says the agricultural groups work closely with each other at the state capitol on matters of common interest. He says they now get together at lunch every Monday to discuss strategy and support each other in their efforts so that agriculture can speak with a strong, common voice.

You can read more of this story or listen to my interview with Tommy Thomas by clicking here. 

Senate lawmakers are calling on Japan to eliminate tariff and non-tariff trade barriers for U.S. agricultural products as part of the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade talks.

The TPP is a regional negotiation that includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, which account for nearly 40 percent of global GDP. Lead negotiators are met this week in Singapore - ahead of the TPP ministers meetings Feb. 22-25 - to discuss outstanding issues, including Japan's recalcitrance on market access.

In a letter sent today to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, 17 senators, led by Michael Bennett, D-Colo., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, asked for assurances that the TPP negotiations will not be concluded until Japan agrees to eliminate tariff and non-tariff trade barriers for agricultural products. In addition to Bennett and Grassley, signing the letter were Sens. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Richard Burr, R-N.C., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., Kay Hagan, D-N.C., Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., Mike Johanns, R-Neb., Mark Kirk, R-Ill., Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Mark Pryor, D-Ark., Pat Roberts, R-Kan., John Thune, R-S.D., and Mark Udall, D-Colo. 

Click here to read the rest of this story.

At the recent Canola College event in Enid held for prospective and seasoned canola growers, Oklahoma State University Extension Canola Specialist Josh Bushong addressed the topic of residue management. He said it is different than what wheat growers using no-till methods are used to and it all boils down to getting the canola seed in solid contact with the soil. 

"Obviously, there's a lot more interest in no-till in Oklahoma and the southern Great Plains, so a lot of producers are wanting to know how they can utilize canola in their no-till systems. Obviously, it does take a little different approach than winter wheat. There are some different options and methods the guys are using that they are having more success with. What we've found out over the last few years is that the more aggressive we are at getting rid of that residue at least out of the seed furrow, the better off we are."

Bushong said seeding is crucial with canola because it grows differently than wheat. The crown of the canola plant grows above the soil surface, not below it as does wheat.

You can catch my interview with Josh Bushong on our website by clicking here. 

To celebrate 100 years of the world's largest junior livestock show, the Oklahoma Youth Expo is preparing a commemorative book highlighting the Expo's history and contribution to Oklahoma and its youth.

From its early days as "The Oklahoma City Fat Stock Show" to its time as part of the Oklahoma Spring Fair, the Expo has evolved into the largest youth event in the state.

"The Oklahoma Youth Expo has a rich history of providing a venue and program to display some of the finest livestock in the country while funding higher education opportunities for youth pursuing studies in agriculture," said Tyler Norvell, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Youth Expo. "This book will pay tribute to those who have benefited from this program and to those who have contributed to its success."

In preparation for the book's fall 2014 release, the Expo is asking for pictures and information on the history of the Expo from past participants, boosters, ag teachers and spectators. Those interested in sharing photos and memories should contact Kinsey Money at 918-520-4532 or by email at kinseymoney@gmail.com. The deadline to submit information to the Expo for consideration in the book is March 31, 2014.  

Hugh Aljoe and the folks at the Noble Foundation have done an exceptional job in putting together one of the premeire one day cattle industry conferences that you will find anywhere in the country.  The Third annual Texoma Cattlemen's Conference has been built around the theme of "Rising Risk- Expanded Opportunities."

"Cattlemen are perhaps operating with greater exposure to associated risks," said Hugh Aljoe, consultation program manager. "But higher risks usually mean there is potential for greater rewards. So where are the opportunities? What are the risks producers need to manage? How do producers do that successfully? We'll answer those questions and more at this year's event.

Speakers include:

• Roger Bernard, Informa Economics agriculture and trade policy analyst: Farm Policy Update and Implications, from Washington D.C.
• Ted McCollum, Ph.D., professor and Texas AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist: Marketing Excess Forage in Favorable Years
• Michele Peterson Murray, National Cattleman's Beef Association executive director of integrated communications: Shaping Consumers' Perceptions About Beef
• Derrell Peel, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University professor of agricultural economics and marketing: Market Outlook for the Beef Industry
• Dan Childs, Noble Foundation senior agricultural economist: Finding Opportunities in a Record Cattle Market
• Deke Alkire and Jeri Donnell, Noble Foundation consultants, and Chuck Coffey, rancher,: Panel Discussion - Managing the Risks: Pasture, Livestock, and Finances and Markets

Click here for more details and how to register.

We will be there on Thursday- and will look forward to visiting with you at this year's Texoma Cattlemen's Conference.

We also invite you to check out our website at the link below to check out an archive of these daily emails, audio reports and top farm news story links from around the globe.

 Click here to check out WWW.OklahomaFarmReport.Com