This Friday, August 28th is the date the Environmental Protection Agency's has set for implementation of the Clean Water Rule, otherwise known as 'Waters of the US'. National Cattlemen's Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall said we're down to one final hope to stop this rule from taking effect. NCBA has partnered with other agricultural organizations and supporters on Capitol Hill to push back and ask for a delay.


"Just given a lot of the concerns brought up by Corps of Engineers memos that were leaked and also a lot of the problems between headquarters EPA and the regional EPA offices on interpretation," Woodall said. "That has not worked. So right now everything is focused on the courts."


There are three courts that are hearing 'WOTUS" cases that could rule on an injunction by the end of the week. One case that is moving forward is under Chief Judge Lisa Wood in the Southern District of Georgia. She held a hearing where she listened to the arguments from 11 state attorney generals. She has indicated that she will do something by the August 28th implementation date, but has not released a decision.


EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy has remained quiet on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on 'WOTUS'. Woodall said it's a good sign the Corps of Engineers are not backing away from those memos.


"We have not seen that here with the Corps of Engineers, so I think that shows that there is legitimate concern," Woodall said. "When you break it down, those concerns really focus on three areas. One, they felt that EPA manipulated the data that they were given, that they had given to EPA from the Corps of Engineers. They don't feel this can hold up in court and they want their name, their logo and any association with this rule to be taken away. So, to have an agency, like U.S. Army Corps of Engineers be so certain in their opposition to this just from the process point of view, we think will help us in our court case, but also hopefully spur the Senate to action when they get back after Labor Day." 


Click or tap here to listen to this feature with Colin Woodall.

In preparation for the potential reemergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the fall as wild birds begin to migrate south from Canada, the National Chicken Council (NCC) has identified the top biosecurity principles for broiler and broiler-breeder producers.


Biosecurity is the poultry industry's first line of defense to all avian diseases, including HPAI. The following biosecurity measures have been identified by NCC, members of the NCC biosecurity working group, veterinarians and avian health experts as the most important to prevent disease spread and promote flock health:


-- Limiting visitors on the farm and minimizing foot traffic;


-- Avoiding contact with wild and domestic fowl;


-- Avoiding the sharing of farm equipment;


-- Having a clean and functioning footbath at each entrance to the broiler house;


-- Ensuring that all visitors or personnel have disinfected or new footwear before entering a house or facility;


-- Making sure feed and water sources are covered and free of contaminants, limiting the attraction of wild fowl and pests; 

Click here for more recommendations from NCC.

Americans are divided over gluten. Some call this a fad diet, others say it represents a change in the American diet. That topic will be debated on an upcoming TV special on OETA, called "The Truth about Wheat, a health and wellness discussion about gluten and wheat". The program is a joint effort of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. 

Fellow farm broadcaster Ken Root is serving as the moderator, while the panel consists of Dr. Brett Carver, Regents Professor and Wheat Genetics Chair in Agriculture from Oklahoma State University, Dr. Julie Miller Jones, Board Certified Nutrition Specialist and Licensed Nutritionist and current Distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of nutrition at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn., and Sara Olsen, a Colorado wheat farmer, mother and Colorado Wheat Administrative Council board member.

I interviewed Dr. Jones following the taping of the feature on Tuesday. She said Celiac Disease is more common today with one in every 133 Americans having Celiac Disease. When she started teaching in 1974, one in 3,000 people had the disease. There is also a half of a percent of the population that is allergic to wheat. There is also a new disorder called non-Celiac gluten sensitivity. Some medical professionals don't believe the condition exists, because it hasn't been validated. Jones said it has been estimated that three to as much as six percent of the population has gluten sensitivity.


This has some people removing gluten from their diet, even if they don't have Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance. Jones said it can be dangerous to exclude wheat products from your diet. In 1988, the U.S. and Canadian governments mandated that refined flours contain folic acid. Folic acid is necessary for the making of DNA and RNA, which is critical to the formation of a newly formed fetus. Since 1988, the incidence of Neural tube defects in North America has decreased by 48 percent. Neural tube defects are birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord.

In giving up wheat, Americans are also giving up fiber.  Dr. Jones address those concerns plus she addresses several myths about wheat. My full conversation with Julie Jones is available here.

By the way- the show is scheduled to air on OETA-HD at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 3; 10 p.m. Sept. 7; and 6:30 a.m. Sept. 10. It is also scheduled to air on OETA-OKLA at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 14; 7 a.m., Sept. 22 and 4 p.m. Sept. 22.

Crop receipts for 2015 are expected to decrease by $12.9 billion (6.2 percent) in 2015, led by a projected $7.1-billion decline in corn receipts, $3.4 billion in soybean receipts, and $1.6 billion in wheat receipts compared to 2014. Livestock receipts are forecast to decrease by $19.4 billion (9.1 percent) in 2015 largely due to lower milk and hog prices. Government payments are projected to rise 16 percent ($1.6 billion) to $11.4 billion in 2015. Total production expenses are forecast to decrease by $1.5 billion (less than 0.5 percent) in 2015.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack weighed in on the income estimates for the year- his comments are available here.  The complete forecast can be found at the Economic Research Service website within the USDA website- click here for the complete forecast.

 

How do we know that millennial consumers have little understanding of beef nutrition but seem to feel as though beef is good, or even necessary, for their children? That they are 'interested' in health but are not 'fanatics'? That value and convenience are two of the most important attributes they want in beef? That they like to experiment in the kitchen but want more resources to improve their skills? That cooking at home is a creative event with family? Or that they are cooking at home more this year than last?


It's all about research. Market research. And it's absolutely critical to success in selling beef and beef products to today's consumers.


Times, they are a 'changin':  The "doing-it-like-we've-always-done-it" or "we-don't-like-change" approaches simply won't do the trick in today's competitive marketplace. The entire beef chain - from farm to fork - must understand what consumers want from beef that would entice them to increase demand for this industry's end products.


In short, consumers are in the driver's seat when it comes to building demand for our end product, and in today's marketplace, we cannot just toss our product out there and expect the crowds to swarm. If we don't deliver exactly what consumers want, they'll just choose something other than beef for their supper tables.  Click here to read more about the checkoff's market-research efforts.

John Deere adds the 6E Series Tractors to the 6 Family Tractor lineup, which features enhanced performance, added versatility and greater value to the existing family of high-horsepower utility tractors.


The design on the new 6E Series initially began with upgrading the pre-existing 6D line. "We took a solid, simple workhorse in the 6D and made it even better with upgrades, like easier operating functions," says Kory Ross, product marketing manager for John Deere. "We improved it and added so much value that we felt it earned a whole new name - the 6E Series."


The 6E Series Tractors offer essentials in an economical package, including comfort and visibility for the operator, more transmission options that deliver smooth and consistent operation, and new stackable SCVs. The three 6E Series Tractors range from 105, 120, and 135 horsepower, helping to get work done quickly and efficiently.


In addition, an optional air seat with a new 15-degree swivel adds comfort and improved rear visibility for those long days in the field. Tractors in the 6E Series are perfect for handling jobs around beef or dairy farms, and commercial or governmental jobs, such as roadside mowing or snow removal.  Click here to read more about the 6E Series from John Deere.

Exhibitors of the Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair in Fort Smith will need their poultry tested for the disease and have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.

Fees to get that testing done are rather pricey- so 4-H and FFA members planning to take birds into Arkansas for the show can grab a reduced price on the required testing.

Dr. Rod Hall, State Veterinarian of Oklahoma said the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission Laboratory have agreed to lower their Avian Influenza testing fee to $10 per test. The labs require at least a week for testing.


The lower testing fee only applies to poultry going to the Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair. The event will be held September 25 - October 3, 2015.

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It's Wednesday- and that means the Big Iron folks will be busy closing out this week's auction items - all 387 items consigned.  Bidding will start at 10 AM central time.                
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Bloomberg is saying that Monsanto has sweetened their purchase offer for Syngenta again- and that it is expected that the Syngenta Board of Directors will reject this latest offer as well.

According to the report, the recent bid for Syngenta has increased from 449 Swiss francs ($45 billion) per share to about 470 francs ($47 billion) per share in cash and stock. Additionally, the newest offer also increases the reverse break-up fee from $2 billion to $3 billion if the transaction is challenged.

Bloomberg reported some analysts expected Syngenta would reject the latest offer since the company believes it is worth around 650 francs a share ($62 billion).

More details on the continuing pursuit can be read in this Feedstuffs article.