Agricultural News
Talking Mood of the Ship, State Beef Checkoff, State Question 777 and More With OCA's Michael Kelsey
Fri, 20 Nov 2015 05:49:06 CST
The top hired hand of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, Michael Kelsey, believes that cattle producers remain upbeat- even in the face of high volatility in the cattle market in the second half of 2015. Kelsey and his OCA team have engaged with cattle producers in three corners of the state thus far this month as the organization has held their fall gatherings in Poteau, Fort Gibson and Elgin. The final Fall Gathering planned by the OCA is this coming Monday evening in Putnam.
Kelsey says the state is in much better shape than a year ago- when it comes to drought conditions- and that has been a major factor in the improved attitude for many cattlemen. At this time in 2014- Oklahoma still had over 60% of the state in some level of drought conditions- this year that number is 16%. Last year, Kelsey remembers that many producers worried that they would not have the forage to carry heifers they had retained through the winter- hampering their plans to rebuild their beef cow herds. He says that it appears most of those heifers were saved for herd rebuilding and that the intentions being expressed this year is to hold even more females and keep the rebuilding effort moving ahead. He also points out that hay supplies are tremendous this year- and that gives beef producers a lot of confidence as they prepare for winter.
The OCA has been encouraging producers to sign petitions to call for a secondary state beef checkoff of a refundable dollar that will be controlled by the Oklahoma Beef Council. Kelsey says that producers seem excited about having local control of these additional resources to be spent for promotion, education and research. He remains confident that the goal of getting enough signatures to call for a vote on a new state beef checkoff will be met by the end of the year. If that goal is met- Kelsey believes that we could see a second quarter 2016 vote by cattlemen on implementing a state beef checkoff that would run side by side with the federal checkoff that has been in place since the late 1980s.
Kelsey says the other big state issue being talked about by producers right now is "Right to Farm" or State Question 777. He says that once cattlemen understand what is at stake in this vote- they are all in on getting out a yes vote next November.
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays had both an "on camera" conversation with Kelsey as well as an "off camera" audio only interview as well. The "on camera" version will be aired as the weekly "In the Field" feature that is seen Saturday mornings at 6:40 AM on KWTV News9 during their morning news block that runs from 6 AM to 8 AM.
The audio conversation can heard in its entirity by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
Hays and Kelsey talk about the state issues already mentioned- and cover several national items as well.
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