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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network weekdays- if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click here for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays on RON.
 
  
Big Iron   
  
  
Let's Check the Markets!  
 
   
  
Today's First Look:  
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
  
  
Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futuresclick here for the report posted yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
 
  
Okla Cash Grain:  
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- as reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture.  (including Canola prices in central and western Oklahoma)
  

 
Futures Wrap:  
Our Daily Market Wrapup from the Radio Oklahoma Network with Leslie Smith and Tom Leffler- analyzing the Futures Markets from the previous Day.
 
Feeder Cattle Recap:  
The National Daily Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
  
Slaughter Cattle Recap: 
The National Daily Slaughter Cattle Summary- as prepared by the USDA.
  
TCFA Feedlot Recap:  
Finally, here is the Daily Volume and Price Summary from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.


  
Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
  
Ron Hays, Senior Editor and Writer
  
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
  
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
  
Leslie Smith, Editor and Contributor

  
Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News

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Okla Farm Bureau  
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
   Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Howdy Neighbors! 

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 
FarmBillCutsFeatured Story:
Ag Committee Leaders Stand United Against Reopening Farm Bill to New Crop Insurance Cuts

U.S. Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Members Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., made the following statements Tuesday on the budget deal.


"The Ag Leadership of Congress stand united against reopening the 2014 Farm Bill to further cuts, emphasizing that the proposed cuts to crop insurance in the budget agreement would undermine a critical risk management tool for American agriculture producers and consumers.


"Farmers and ranchers have done more than their fair share to reduce government spending," said Chairman Roberts. "To target the number one priority for producers with additional cuts will undermine the delivery of this important protection for agriculture. While Congressional leaders may sell this package as providing budget stability, it is anything but stable for farmers and ranchers. It took years to negotiate and pass a new Farm Bill. Producers have signed contracts and purchased policies. These proposals to make further cuts to the crop insurance program were not included in the House or Senate passed budgets, in any appropriations bills or in the President's budget request. Once again, our leaders are attempting to govern by backroom deals where the devil is in the details. I will continue to oppose any attempts to cut crop insurance funding or to change crop insurance program policies."


"Make no mistake, this is not about saving money. It is about eliminating Federal Crop Insurance," said Chairman Conaway. "The House Agriculture Committee was not consulted regarding any changes to policies under the jurisdiction of our committee. This provision is opposed by an overwhelming majority or our committee members. It was debated and defeated during the 2014 farm bill process, and to move forward with it now breaks faith with the American producer. I am working alongside many of my colleagues to have the provision removed. If it is not removed, I will vote against this bill and work to defeat its passage. The American people deserve better than continued backroom deals struck in the middle of the night that entirely undercut the legislative process."


"I oppose any efforts to cut or reopen Farm Bill programs. It is particularly disappointing to see cuts to crop insurance in the budget agreement," said Ranking Member Stabenow. "These types of cuts only undermine the economic certainty that the Farm Bill provides. The Farm Bill made meaningful reforms to help reduce the deficit. Any attempts to reopen any part of the Farm Bill to more cuts would be a major set-back for rural America and our efforts to create jobs."


"We made major cuts when we wrote the Farm Bill," said Ranking Member Peterson. "It is not appropriate to cut agriculture again. The Farm Bill should not be raided. I oppose any cuts."


The former Chairman of the House Ag Committee Congressman Frank Lucas- who served in that role during the development of the 2014 Farm Law- also released a statement.


"One provision in the budget agreement this week unfortunately threatens to end Federal Crop Insurance by reducing the rates of return for crop insurance providers. Only two years later, our hard work to pass a comprehensive Farm Bill is already being compromised by shortsighted and last minute budget tweaks. The 2014 Farm Bill saved taxpayers $23 billion dollars through a series of reforms, such as ending direct payments. At a time when net farm incomes are trending downward, surely there are more appropriate areas to find savings in the national budget. I stand with my colleagues in the House Agriculture Committee in demanding this provision be stripped from the 'Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015'."


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AgReactionToCutsTargeting the Farm Bill for Cuts Would be Devastating 

In response to a proposed $3 billion cut in crop insurance support as part of a larger budget deal, the  American Soybean Association, the National Farmers Union  and  National Association of Wheat Growers  each issued a strong defense of the nation's farm program and called on Congress to oppose any reopening of the farm bill.

ASA President  Wade Cowan , a soybean farmer from Brownfield, Texas, noted that agriculture remains the only industry segment that has come forward and voluntarily accepted spending reductions, and urged lawmakers to seek cuts elsewhere:


"ASA absolutely opposes any effort by Congress to reopen any part of the farm bill as part of budget negotiations, and we implore lawmakers to reject any attempt to target crop insurance or any other farm bill programs for further cuts," Cowan said.  "Speaking frankly, our farm economy is simply not in the shape it was even three years ago when we began the process of writing the farm bill. Farmers need a stronger safety net, not a weaker one, and now is hardly the time to pull the rug out from under them by weakening the nation's investment in the crop insurance program."  Click here to read more from ASA.

I n a release from the National Farmers Union , President Roger Johnson points out that USDA is being told under this plan to renegotiate with crop insurance companies their deal between now the end of next year. The budget deal tells USDA to cut reimbursement rates from 14 percent to 8.9 percent. Johnson calls that totally unacceptable. 

"NAWG is very opposed to these provisions that would be devastating to the crop insurance companies and ultimately for growers as well," NAWG President,  Brett Blankenship , wheat grower from Washtucna, Washington said.  "In this difficult economic climate, at a time when commodity prices are low, agriculture has already taken a hit. We took unprecedented cuts in negotiating the farm bill. Just one year into the new farm bill and Congress let sequester cuts happen. Now they want to cut more. We cannot stand by and allow more cuts to be made."  Click here to read more from NAWG.

KingfisherFFAKingfisher Ag Issues Team Talking Drones- Representing Oklahoma FFA in One of Twenty One CDEs

At the 88th National FFA Convention and Expo in Louisville this week, there are seventeen teams of FFA members representing Oklahoma in something called CDEs- Career Development Events. There are also four individual CDEs- including the three national speech contests in which Oklahoma has, in recent years, done very well in, as well as in something called the Job Interview competition.


Two Chapters, Kingfisher and Claremore, are representing Oklahoma in multiple CDEs. Claremore is competing in the Ag Communications CDE as well as in the Veterinary Science CDE. Kingfisher has three teams and one individual representing Oklahoma FFA. Madelyn Gerkin is the representative for Oklahoma in the Creed Speaking Contest- and Kingfisher is fielding three teams- Ag Issues, Livestock Evaluation (or Judging) and Parliamentary Procedure.


Holly Barrow is a Kingfisher FFA member who is a part of the Ag Issues team. The team has selected as the subject they are discussing in 2015 UAVs- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles- otherwise known as Drones. I watched the team practice their presentation this past week in preparation for the national event this week here in Louisville. After their practice, I talked with Barrow about the selection of that topic and what the members had learned, pro and con, about how drones can be used by farmers and ranchers. Click or tap here to hear our conversation.

Our coverage from the National FFA Convention in Louisville is a service of ITC- We're Your Energy Superhighway- learn more about ITC by clicking here- our reports on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and our Website are also being supported by the Oklahoma FFA Alumni and the Oklahoma FFA Association.

PeelOSU's Derrell Peel Sees Herd Expansion Baked into the Latest Cattle on Feed Report 


OSU Livestock Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel says t he quarterly breakdown of steers and heifers in feedlots in the latest Cattle on Feed Report confirms, as expected, that heifers are being retained for herd expansion.


Beyond that- he sees no surprises in the October USDA monthly Cattle on Feed report. September placements were close to expectations at 96 percent of last year, as were marketings at 98 percent of one year ago, leading to an October 1 on-feed total of 10.2 million head or 102.3 percent of last year. The relatively strong marketings number was confirmed by a 5.8 percent year over year increase in fed steer slaughter in September. This is an indication that progress was made to clean up a bulge of heavy fed cattle in the last half of September.


There are indications that more progress was made in the first half of October though carcass weights have continued to increase, with steer carcasses averaging 928 pounds for the week ending October 10. This value is 29 pounds heavier than the 899 pound average for the same period last year. Interestingly, bull carcasses currently average 899 pounds, the same as steers one year ago and 29 pounds less than current steer carcass weights. Steer carcass weights exceeded bull carcass weights for the first time in October, 2011 and have done so a few months seasonally since then. However, steer carcass weights have exceeded bull carcass weights by a record amount the past two weeks.

  Click or tap here to read more from Peel's weekly analysis of the cattle and beef markets.

Sponsor Spotlight
 
 
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All agents have embraced the company's ease of doing business, coverages and rates, and excellent claim service.  FarmAssure jumped in to successfully fill a void in Oklahoma, especially with their country home program. Click Here for more information about FarmAssure or call 800-815-7590. You'll be glad you did.
 

PastureMgmtResting Pastures Key to Long Term Range Management, OSU's Ryan Reuter Explains

Oklahoma State University is looking at ways cow-calf producers can improve management of native range. At the beginning of the year, Ryan Reuter moved from The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation to Oklahoma State University's Animal Science Department. He became the Associate Professor of Range Beef Cattle Nutrition. I talked with Reuter about managing native range pastures to maximize nutrition for your beef cattle. Reuter prioritized three main management strategies.


"We need to be prepared to protect our native range from overgrazing, we need to be planning to give late season rest to those native pastures and we need be trying to incorporate prescribed fire and I think those are three key things we need to plan to do," Reuter said.


As livestock producers have dealt with five consecutive years of drought, it has been hard to rest rangeland when grass resources were limited. Some producers have done well, while others need to strive for improvement. Reuter has seen the impact of the drought through overgrazing, lack of prescribed fire, along with cedar and brush encroachment. He said more needs to be done in incorporating those aspects.


Resting pastureland is not easy.  Click or tap here to hear more from Reuter about range management.

Want to Have the Latest Energy News Delivered to Your Inbox Daily?
 

Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains- Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.


FedReserve
Short-Term Financing Needs Still Rising According to Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Reduced farm income continued to drive demand for short-term financing to cover operating costs according to the Federal Reserve System's Agricultural Finance Databook.


Both the number and volume of operating loans originated increased in the third quarter of 2015. The largest increase in demand was for operating loans of more than $100,000.


Large, ongoing increases in operating loan volumes have raised concerns about liquidity in the farm sector. The increase in operating loan volumes the past two years has coincided with a period of declining farm incomes. In 2015, the ratio of operating loan volumes to U.S. net farm income has reached a level last seen in the mid-1980s. This suggests that the farm sector is more exposed to short-term debt obligations and cash flow difficulties than in recent years.


Increased farm sector lending has boosted loan-to-deposit ratios for agricultural banks, and profitability has remained strong. Yet, increased debt leverage and reduced liquidity have continued to intensify concerns about future financial stress for some agricultural producers.  Click here to read the quarterly compilation of national and regional agricultural finance data.

BigIronThis N That - Logan Johns Makes the Cut, Dr. Marvin Stone Remembered and It's Big Iron Wednesday

Congrats to Logan Johns of the Morrison FFA Chapter- he has made the one and only preliminary cut in the process to become a national officer of the FFA. The announcement came Tuesday evening here in Louisville. The National Officer selection process began on Sunday with over 40 throwing their names into the ring for a chance to be one of six national officers- half of those who began the process were eliminated with the announcement last night.  Now we wait for Saturday afternoon and say a prayer that Logan will nab one of the national officer slots for the coming twelve months!

**********


A couple more notes about Dr. Marvin Stone and his wife Bonnie who died in the Homecoming Parade crash at OSU this past Saturday morning. 

Dr. Ron Elliott reminded us that not only was Dr. Stone involved from the start with the Oklahoma Mesonet project- he was also a part of the Greenseeker project as well- a precision ag technology that has been embraced and being used globally. Dr. Elliott writes " He, along with Bill Raun and John Solie and others, created a minor revolution in the precision ag arena with this cutting-edge technology.  Marvin was also a truly outstanding teacher.  Students raved about him and learned so much in his classes.  Marvin was internationally recognized and the recipient of numerous awards, including OSU's Eminent Faculty Award (one award per year across the entire campus).  He leaves an exceptionally strong legacy with his work in agricultural sensors and controls, the many undergraduate and graduate students that he taught and mentored, and the professional colleagues and friends that he profoundly influenced."

Meanwhile- we have this email note from Dr. Tom Coon- the Dean and VP of the Division of Ag and Natural Resources at OSU-

The Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources will hold a vigil to remember Dr. Marvin Stone and Mrs. Bonnie Stone on Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m.  This gathering of our extended DASNR family will be held at the OSU International Mall.
***********

It's Wednesday- and that means the Big Iron folks will be busy closing out this week's auction items - all 325 items consigned.  Bidding will start at 10 AM central time.                
  

Click Here for the complete rundown of what is being sold on this no reserve online sale this week.
  
  
If you'd like more information on buying and selling with Big Iron, call District Manager Mike Wolfe at 580-320-2718 and he can give you the full scoop.  You can also reach Mike via email by clicking or tapping here. 



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