Agricultural News
Kelsey Optimistic about State of the Cattle Industry
Fri, 31 Oct 2014 11:16:03 CDT
The head of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association is optimistic about the future of the state's beef industry. Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey has been traveling and talking with cattlemen members about this exciting time to be in the cattle business.
"Bull prices and the fall bull sales have been unbelievable," Kelsey said. "Replacement heifer sales are fantastic. We hear a lot of comments about producers saying I wish I had more to sell at these prices levels."
In a interview with Radio Oklahoma Network's Leslie Smith, Kelsey talked about the future of the industry. Click on the LISTEN BAR below to listen to today's Beef Buzz feature.
While there is concern that these high prices may be short term, Kelsey said in listening to Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Dr. Derrell Peel there is a optimistic for the longer term. Peel has forecasted cattle prices should hold strong for the next several years, barring any major catastrophes. Even with that optimism, Kelsey said Oklahoma producers will be slow to rebuild their herds.
"I think people are being realistic," Kelsey said. "Hay is in good supply, but runoff in terms of pond water is very much lacking and so I think cattlemen are just being realistic."
In the midst of these record prices Kelsey is seeing some younger producers getting into the business and starting their own herds. Even though buying cattle and getting access to land and equipment requires a lot of capital, Kelsey is seeing producers who are finding ways to make it happen.
"That's really encouraging, so I think they see an see an opportunity for a future there and they are making their way in," Kelsey said. "Those are good things, so overall very optimistic."
Optimism is always good, but there are challenges. At the top of that list according to Kelsey is the US 'Waters of the US' (WOTUS) proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency and US Army Corps of Engineers.
"This is potentially the largest grab in the history of our country," Kelsey said. "EPA has indicated that what they are wanting to understand with the proposal of this rule is what land they have jurisdiction over."
Kelsey said that is important for cattle producers and actually the general public to understand that the reason for the rule is not for clean water, but rather the reason for the rule is to understand what land EPA and the federal government has jurisdiction over.
The public can make comment on the proposed 'WOTUS' rule through the Federal Register through November 14th.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network- but is also a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show- and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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