One of the programs that was reinstated earlier this year as the 2014 Farm Bill became law was the Livestock Disaster Assistance Program. The help for livestock producers had lapsed two years earlier and the 2014 Farm Law went backwards and picked up those years and made help available to mostly cattle producers.


As Chairman of the House Ag Committee, Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas fought hard to get that program put back onto the table- and he was even successful in getting it made permanent.


As it turns out, the years where USDA was not making payments happened to find Oklahoma as GROUND ZERO for the drought that hit the southern great plains really hard.


Because of the extended drought that hit Oklahoma farmers so hard in 2011, 2012 and 2013- payments handed out this calendar year for the Livestock Forage Program- reimbursing farmers for some of their losses due to drought- found Oklahoma ranchers getting big payments.


Total outlay in the Livestock Disaster Assistance programs thus far have topped four billion dollars- a lot more than the federal government had guessed the payments would be- and Oklahoma is the state getting the most money to date- $833 million. Other states receiving the most assistance for their livestock producers include Texas ($592 million), Nebraska ($513 million), and Kansas ($451 million).   

We also talked  with Colin Woodall of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association about these payments.  Click here to listen to his comments about how the program is helping cattle producers.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini Monday offered farmers new information to update program payment yields that will help them better select protections offered by the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. The new programs, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, are cornerstones of the commodity farm safety, offering farmers protection when market forces cause substantial drops in crop prices and revenues.


"The Farm Bill provided landowners with the option of updating their farm program payment yields. This is the first time that many producers have been able to update yields since 1986," said Dolcini. "We've worked with the Risk Management Agency to make available certified yield data that producers can use to better calculate how the new safety net programs can offer the best protection against market swings."


Producers can check with their local FSA county office to see if data is available for them. This data belongs to the producer and only the producer associated with the crop insurance records will be provided this service. Updating yield history or reallocating base acres can occur until Feb. 27, 2015. 

FSA also issued a reminder that from Nov. 17, 2014, to March 31, 2015, producers will make a one-time election of either ARC or PLC for the 2014 through 2018 crop years.  Click here to read more about the 2014 Farm Bill programs.

NCBA Applauds Congress for Taking a Whack at WOTUS  

It's unlikely to slow down Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy very much, but Congress did take a shot or two at the 'Waters of the US' (WOTUS) proposed rule during the appropriations process earlier this month. National Cattlemen's Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall said Congress went specifically after the so called 'interpretive rule' of WOTUS that was issued last summer by EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers.


"This is basically where they laid out how farmers and ranchers can utilize NRCS procedures and processes in order to try to exempt themselves from the 'Waters of the United States' proposal," Woodall said. "We never thought it was strong enough. We thought there were way too many loop holes that could be used against cattle producers and most people including our friends on Capitol Hill felt it was a kind of a disingenuous way by EPA to try to make us happy in the agriculture world. So we worked very hard to remove that particular rule and the language in the omnibus does that. It requires both EPA and the Corps of Engineers to rescind that rule and get rid of it." 


This does not completely get kill the 'WOTUS' proposal, but it is a severe blow to EPA and will slow down the process. In looking at 2015 and the new Congress, this will be a top priority. US Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma takes over as Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Woodall said Senator Inhofe has said he aims to fix the rule, as he does not want this rule to move forward.   

EPA Administrator McCarthy has said she will be moving forward on the rule.  In my interview with Woodall he addresses how NCBA will working to stop this regulation through Congress.  Click here to listen to my Beef Buzz audio segment with Woodall.    

Kelsey Reviews 2014: An Amazing Year for Cattle Producers

The year 2014 will be one to remember for the cattle industry for a long time to come. Oklahoma producers got some weather relief from the ongoing drought, grass and hay production was plentiful and the cattle market showed amazing strength throughout the year. Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey said 2014 was an amazing year especially from a marketing and price perspective.


"Prices have just been phenomenal, whether you are talking feeder cattle, or fed cattle or even replacement cattle, heifers and cows," Kelsey said. "Boy, there toward the latter two-thirds of the year, replacement females were just sky rocketing. They have softened a bit since then, but they are still very competitive in terms of price." 


Oklahomans have also enjoyed a favorable climate with timely rains this summer. Kelsey said western Oklahoma continues to suffer from drought, but the drought impact has lessened in comparison to the exceptional year in 2011. With good rains he said the state has had better hay and forage production, which is lowering feed costs to producers.  

Regulations were a major challenge for cattlemen in 2014.  In my interview with Kelsey he talks about regulatory challenges and what lies ahead for cattle producers in 2015.  Click here to listen to my interview. 

Kelsey will also join me for the weekly In the Field report Saturday morning at 6:40 am on KWTV News9 in Oklahoma City.  

Oklahoma Couple Part of NCGA DuPont New Leaders Program

An Oklahoma couple has been accepted into the 2015 National Corn Growers Association leadership program. Cody and Ashley Sloan are among the participants in the 2015 class of the NCGA DuPont New Leaders Program. This is the second year the program has been offered to help farming couples and individuals become better communicators and leaders. Thirty-five participants representing 16 states will be involved in the program next year.


"We're pleased to see this important program continue for a second year with DuPont's generous support," said Chip Bowling, NCGA president and a corn grower from Maryland. "NCGA has always believed that farmers themselves are the best leaders and spokespersons for agriculture, and this program is designed in particular for those just getting started in visible roles in the ag industry."


"There are many challenges in the agriculture industry today that may be overcome by growers getting involved and telling their stories in Washington D.C., their state governments and local communities," said Doug Dollison, Senior Manager Industry Relations, DuPont Pioneer. "We are proud to support the new leader program, which is teaching the very communications and leadership skills necessary for this success."  

Click here to read more about the participants in the NCGA DuPont New Leaders program.