Coalition Urges U.S., Other Countries To Welcome Japan Into TPP 

A coalition of food and agricultural organizations and companies today urged the United States and other countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations to quickly welcome Japan into the trade talks.

Japan recently announced its intention to join the TPP negotiations, which currently include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.

In a letter sent to President Obama, the coalition of 75 food and agricultural organizations and companies said the inclusion of Japan in the trade talks would generate enormous interest and support in U.S. agriculture.

"The addition of Japan to the negotiations will exponentially increase the importance of the TPP to U.S. farmers and ranchers, processors and exporters as well as other sectors of the U.S. economy," said the coalition. 'Furthermore, it will spur interest in the TPP among other countries in Asia and Latin America." 

Click here for more on this story. 

KC Barnes of Porter FFA Tops AFR-OFU Ag Achievement Contest at Oklahoma Youth Expo 

American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) has announced the top ten finalists in the 2013 AFR/OFU Agricultural Achievement Contest. This year's contest was held at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City March 19-23, with an awards presentation March 26. The contest is a joint effort between AFR/OFU and the Oklahoma Youth Expo.

The annual contest recognizes outstanding youth in Oklahoma who display exceptional showmanship skills and possess extensive knowledge of the livestock industry, including production, management, processing and end product utilization. Each year, AFR/OFU presents $5,000 in prizes to the top ten finalists in the competition.

The 2013 AFR/OFU Youth Agricultural Achievement Award winners were K.C. Barnes, of the Porter FFA Chapter, in first place; Katie Lippoldt, Kingfisher FFA, second place; Tanner Miller, Mulhall-Orlando FFA, third place; Gatlin Squires, Kingfisher FFA, fourth place; Denton Lowe, Amber-Pocasset, fifth place; Cassi Allread, Union City FFA, sixth place; Abbey Chrz, Morrison FFA, seventh place; Amber Cox, Morrison FFA, eighth place; Chance Brooks, Coweta FFA, ninth place; Natalie Hofschulte, Wyandotte FFA, tenth place.

Click here to read more about the AFR/OFU Agricultural Achievement Contest. 

NCBA President Scott George Says Increasing Beef Checkoff a 'Real Challenge'

When the dollar-per-head beef checkoff started 27 years ago, it sounded like a lot of money. Half of the money stayed in the state, half the money went to the national program. The funds went toward research, promotions, and advertising.

As the years have passed, the dollar-per-head collection has remained the same. There was no escalator clause. As the value of the dollar has decreased due to inflation over the last 27 years, so has the purchasing power of the beef checkoff dollars.

According to Scott George, president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, it's time to come up with a solution to this dilemma.

"As far as addressing consumers' concerns, we need those checkoff dollars. We have fewer cattle, fewer turns of the cattle-they're not turning over as often-and the buying power of the dollar has decreased so much over the last 27 years since this checkoff has been in force. Everyone, I think, recognizes that there needs to be an increase in this. And nobody wants to step out and say, 'Yeah, we'll do it.' But without the industry being united, in this effort, it's probably not going to go anywhere, and that's the problem."

Scott joins me on the latest Beef Buzz.  Click here to listen or to read more of this story.
 

Canola TV: Oklahoma Farmers Beginning to Benefit From Research Funded by Oilseed Checkoff

As more and more producers across the state plant more and more acres of canola, an increasing stream of checkoff dollars is flowing into the Oklahoma Oilseed Commission.

In the latest edition of Canola TV, Dr. Ron Sholar, executive director of the commission, says the state-based organization to help spearhead the development and expansion of the industry in the state

Even though the checkoff is relatively young, Sholar says there are a number of success stories that are benefiting producers.

"Well, not surprisingly, after a decade of being in this business, we're trying to find out what varieties are going to work best here in Oklahoma. Will it be the open pollinated? Will it be the hybrids? Will it e those that are resistant or tolerant of certain herbicides? Will it be those that are conventional? And our folks at Oklahoma State University are providing those answers through the checkoff funding. We're also doing research on soil fertility. We can try and extrapolate what we know of soil fertility from other crops, but that's not really good enough. We need to look at canola itself."

You can read more or watch this episode of Canola TV by clicking here.  

Preconditioning Enhances Herd Profitability for Producers

In the second part of his series on enhancing profitability, Gant Mourer, Oklahoma State University Beef Value Enhancement Specialist, writes in the Cow-Calf Newsletter about the value of preconditing:

Nutrition is second to none in a successful and profitable preconditioning program and can make up almost 70% of the preconditioning budget. Producer's main objective should be to optimize health and condition of cattle while increasing gain at lower costs. They should also be cautious to getting cattle too "fleshy" while preconditioning. A "fleshy" calf that is destined to go on to low quality forage after precondition will lose much of the gain that was achieved during preconditioning. Buyers know this and are also not willing to pay for an overly fleshy calf. However, if the calf will be going directly to high quality forage or to a grower yard and maintain a positive energy balance high rate of gain is justified (Lalman et al. 2010).

Recent increases in feed cost make preconditioning more of a challenge to producers. Feed and hay prices coupled with record setting calf prices make it tempting for producers to sell directly off the cow and they are leaving money on the table when they do so. Controlling feed costs by forward contracting, using bi-products or using standing forage such as winter wheat or rye aids in the financial success of any feeding situation. Cattle during preconditioning cannot remain stagnant; they must gain during preconditioning to add value. Value of gain in some instances this fall was hovering around $1.25/lbs, for 450 lbs cattle entering in to a preconditioning program. This number may seem high, however, in this particular example the sale price used was derived from cattle that had been through a verified health program and marketed through the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network (OQBN) on the 17th of November. So marketing plays an enormous roll in enhancing profitability in a preconditioning program.

You can read more by clicking here. 

2013 BIF Symposium Scheduled for June 12-15 in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma State University (OSU), in collaboration with the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF), will host the 45th Annual BIF Research Symposium and Meeting June 12-15 at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

Themed "Where Profit and Progress Intersect," this year's program will bring together industry professionals, producers and researchers to discuss current issues facing the beef industry. Among those issues, speakers will tackle the crossbreeding vs. straightbreeding debate, as well as using genetic tools to address environmental challenges and cow herd efficiency.

The schedule boasts an array of speakers, socials and tours that promise to be exciting and informative. Special features include an Oklahoma Welcome Reception Wednesday evening, June 12, and a night out at the National Western Heritage Museum and Cowboy Hall of Fame Thursday, June 13.

Click here for more. 

What Does Today Look Like?

Well- today is shaping up as a busy one for your humble farm broadcaster/webcaaster/email writer/twit.  Actually- it goes back to last night- our church still does a Wednesday night prayer meeting- not a Bible Study- but structured prayer time- and one of the things that has been off and on our list for awhile has been rain- and we spent some time talking about the need for spring rains and lifting that need up to the Lord. I know many of you are continuing to pray for rain daily.

This morning as we have been getting our morning farm and ranch news together for the radio, for TV and for this email- we are reminded that Uncle Sam will have several reports out later today that could have a lot of impact on farmers and ranchers- but also on consumers- and that was the direction we talked about on News9 and the News on 6 this morning- the fact that the most acres of corn since 1936 coupled with a decent growing season could mean cheaper grain prices- which means cheaper feed prices for livestock and perhaps some relief in meat prices in the grocery store- at least for chicken and pork.  There is also a Hogs and Pigs Quarterly report out this afternoon- and it could show some increases in pork supplies in the months ahead- again- potentially a consumer friendly development.  We will be reporting on those reports- watch our website and this email tomorrow morning for more details.

Once we get all of our chores done when it comes to reporting the farm news of the morning- we will hop in the buggy and head for Enid and Canola College. I am hoping to get my bachelor's degree in Canola one of these days- and this excellent conference will be another step along the way.  The program doesn't start until 9:30- so I may have time to get everything done- Yea!  Click here for the agenda of Canola College for today in Enid.

Later this afternoon- we will have Calf Fries and Good-byes on our mind as we will travel from Enid to Midwest City for the Cattle Industry's farewell to long time Executive Vice President of the OCA- Scott Dewald. I consider Scott to be a great friend- and I will miss him being in that role at the OCA like crazy.  He has a great opportunity to do some wonderful things for rural Oklahoma with REI- so we will be one of many that will be wishing him well in a reception this afternoon at the Reed Center.

Somewhere in the middle of everything else- we are hoping for word from Governor Mary Fallin that she has signed the Horse Slaughter Bill- HB1999.  A spokesman for her office informed us that the bill has arrived in their office- they have five days to sign or veto the measure- and that spokesman said that she may well make the decision to sign or not before today is out. I sure hope so- the noise from the opposition will only get louder and louder if she delays.

After of all of that- we get back home and will hopefully have a moment or two to consider this uniquely Christian holiday dead ahead- I look forward to sharing a word or two about that in our Good Friday email.