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U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden Announces Plans to Depart USDA 

It appears that the number two person at USDA is not staying around for the final twelve months of the Obama Presidency. U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden Thursday announced she plans to depart the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the end of February 2016:


"Today is bittersweet for me as I announce my decision to step down as Deputy Secretary at the end of February. I am proud of what our Department has accomplished since 2009 to bring economic opportunity that will help rural America thrive for generations to come. And although I will not be part of the many great and transformational things USDA will accomplish over the next year, I am more committed than ever to USDA's mission. We have worked hard over the past seven years to make USDA truly the People's Department, as demonstrated by this Administration's commitment to bring young people, women, veterans and equal access to the forefront of food and agriculture policy."

Jerry Hagstrom reports that Harden has told staff and friends that she will not say what job she will take next due to ethical considerations.

Meanwhile, the American Soybean Association (ASA) thanked outgoing Deputy Secretary Harden Thursday for her service to the nation's farmers.  Richard Wilkins, president of ASA and a farmer from Greenwood, Del., praised Harden's attention to the needs of America's farmers.


"Krysta Harden is the kind of public servant that comes along only too rarely. She has blended a personal background, professional knowledge base, and exceptional passion for agriculture into a career that has served farmers at every level."  Click here for their full statement of thanks to Deputy Harden.


National Corn Growers Association president Chip Bowling

and a farmer from Newburg, Maryland also praised Deputy Secretary Harden.

"The National Corn Growers Association has had a long relationship with her, before and during her time at USDA. We are sad to see her go, but we wish her well in her next chapter and hope to work with her again in the future."


Bowling added "On a personal note, I appreciate Deputy Secretary Harden for her no-nonsense, common-sense leadership. At a time when too many people in Washington seem to be shouting at one another, she knows how to build bridges and put everyone at ease."

Click here for the NCGA statement of thanks.

Prior to joining USDA- Harden was the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Conservation Districts for five years. She worked with the American Soybean Association as Senior Vice President of Gordley Associates from 1993 to 2004 where she concentrated on conservation and renewable energy issues. She also served 12 years on Capitol Hill, as Staff Director for the House subcommittee on Peanuts and Tobacco and as Chief of Staff and Press Secretary for former Congressman Charles Hatcher.

CoBank Report Predicts Easing of U.S. Protein Glut in 2016, Better Year for Beef, Pork and Poultry

The supply glut that plagued U.S. beef, pork and poultry markets last year and ratcheted down margins is expected to ease in 2016, according to a new research report from CoBank. The bank, a major agribusiness lender, says leading indicators point to animal protein supplies moving toward a state of equilibrium, with protein stocks more in line with overall levels of demand.


"It's clear that in the coming year, the headwinds and adverse conditions created by excessive protein stocks are clearing," said Trevor Amen, animal protein economist with CoBank. "Surprisingly strong U.S. consumer demand helped lay the groundwork for improving market conditions in the coming year, meaning the net trade balance is expected to shift toward growing exports and fewer imports. This is welcome news for U.S. beef, pork and poultry producers."

In the first half of 2016 protein exports are expected to remain somewhat of a challenge. "But conditions are predicted to improve over depressed 2015 levels due to a variety of economic factors," added Amen.


Meanwhile, imports of lean beef should slow significantly and domestic consumer demand for beef, pork and poultry is anticipated to remain strong and supportive of prices. Supply imbalances have already begun the correction phase, with supply and demand expected to achieve equilibrium by about mid-year. The strength of consumer demand going forward will impact how much and how soon U.S. meat prices change.  Click or tap here to read more about the mixed price outlooks.

OSU's Kim Anderson Says Wheat Markets Lacks Direction and Offers 2016 Marketing Advice

The wheat markets have been stuck in a relatively narrow trading range for quite some time now. With global wheat crops in the bin and the 2016 winter wheat acreage estimates out, there's not much news influencing wheat prices. On this weekend's edition of SUNUP, Oklahoma State University Grain Marketing Specialist Kim Anderson is talking about that narrow trading range we see in the March and July Kansas City wheat futures contract prices. He said the March Kansas City wheat futures contract has support at $4.65 and resistance at around $4.80.


With the strong U.S. dollar, U.S. wheat prices are well above international competitors. Anderson said Argentina's wheat is 84 cents a bushel lower than the U.S. because of Argentina's elimination of their 23 percent export tax. Russia is selling 12 and a half percent protein wheat for 68 cents a bushel less than the U.S. wheat and France has soft red wheat near those levels. He said right now U.S. wheat prices are well-above the world's market price.


SUNUP host Lyndall Stout asks Anderson about the harvest price outlook. He anticipates prices around $4.50 to $4.75 with fewer planted acres. He said right now farmers need to think about preparing equipment, top dressing their wheat, so the crop has the nutrients necessary to produce a quality crop. Anderson's biggest concern is producing a large, low protein crop that's not marketable. Oklahoma needs to produce 12 to 12 and half percent protein to match the Russia and Ukraine wheat crops.


SUNUP host Lyndall Stout talks with Dr. Anderson for this weekend's show. Click or tap here to listen to the full interview and take a look at the SUNUP show lineup for this weekend.   

11 Straight Years of Record Certified Angus Beef Sales, Still Room to Grow

The Certified Angus Beef (CAB) program is one of the great success stories of the U.S. beef cattle industry. Many refer to the program as the "gold standard" of branded beef programs. CAB President John Stika said their most recent market year 2015 continued to show the growth that's been a trademark of the brand.


"This will be the eleventh year in a row that we've experienced growth year over year," Stika said.


CAB sales show increases at every level. Stika said it reflects that consumer messaging works over time. In 2015, CAB partners will sale in excess of 896 million pounds of Certified Angus Beef. Retail sales made up 41 percent, one third went to food service and the remainder was sold through international markets and other special categories.   Stika said they experienced growth in every sector, led by food service and international markets. Retail sales were relatively flat with record high beef prices.


In looking at the growth, CAB has seen phenomenal response to consumer signals being internalized at the production level. Stika saw large improvements in acceptance rates. While Angus cattle numbers were down, CAB still had an acceptance rate of 27 and half percent of cattle hitting their ten point specifications. That was an all-time record for the program. Stika said price is not the only factor influencing consumer demand.


"It's not price alone that consumers buy on, it's price in relation to value at every level in the merchandising chain and if you put a quality product out there and you ask a quality high price or a higher price for it, consumers are willing to pay for it, if they feel the price is respected of the value," Stika said.

Stika joined us on the Beef Buzz- as heard on great radio stations across the region.  Click or tap here to listen to this Beef Buzz featuring his comments.

For nearly a century, Stillwater Milling has been providing ranchers with the highest quality feeds made from the highest quality ingredients.  Their full line of A&M Feeds can be delivered to your farm, found at their agri-center stores in Stillwater, Davis, Claremore and Perry or at more than 100 dealers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. 

We appreciate Stillwater Milling's long time support of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and we encourage you to click here to learn more about their products and services.

Noble Foundation Supports New Law Aimed at Increasing Agricultural Research in the United States

Agricultural research has been woefully underfunded for decades. While racing to meet the food, fiber and feed challenges of the next generation, the public agricultural research sector has needed funding alternatives to complement limited public resources.


A recent modification to the Internal Revenue Code - one that was passed with bipartisan congressional support and signed into law by the president on Dec. 18, 2015 - holds the potential to provide significant support for agricultural research.


The Charitable Agricultural Research Act (S. 908) was included as part of the tax bill, Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015. Known as CARA, the federal measure created a new type of 501(c)(3) public charity called agricultural research organizations (AROs).


AROs may serve as a nonprofit organizational vehicle for individuals or families who would like to commit their wealth for the conduct of agricultural research for the public good. "AROs offer philanthropists another option to advance public agricultural research," said Bill Buckner, Noble Foundation president and CEO. "The creation of just one new ARO could spur innovation and significantly advance agricultural research, but a dozen or more could dramatically impact global agricultural productivity, enhance our sector's ability to retain talented researchers and contribute the resources needed to make long-term research progress."

Click or tap here to read more about this effort to grow agricultural research.

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AFR's Terry Detrick Offers Windshield Survey of 2016

Op-Ed: By Terry Detrick, farmer and rancher from Ames, Okla., and is president of American Farmers & Ranchers, a general farm organization and insurance company serving rural Oklahoma.


With 2015 in the rear view window, we look expectantly at the next 12 months, and from where I sit, agriculture will have some challenges and opportunities.


The USDA estimates net farm income for 2015 to be $55.9 billion, down 38 percent from 2014. The main culprit is lower commodity prices. As we begin 2016, the forecast for continued lower farm income continues to make headlines.


The reason prices are lower is because we had more commodities to sell! Abundant rainfall allowed for bin-busting yields and flourishing grass pastures, proving the law of supply and demand rules!

Click or tap here to read more from Detrick with his windshield survey for the year.

My New Favorite Phrase- "Organic as a Twinkie"  (Thanks Julie Kelly!) 

 

I have a favorite Peanut Butter- and it's not even close- although I may have to rethink it since the makers of Jif have now declared their product is GMO and Gluten Free.

In looking at the label- one of the ingredients is either rapeseed or soybean oil- I wonder if they REALLY know they are always sourcing non GMO soy or rapeseed or canola when they mix that in with their peanuts.

And- the statement is on there like it's a health claim- when the fact is neither claim makes any difference to how well Jif spreads on a nice slice of white bread- chock full of gluten! 

It seems to me that the well being of a leading peanut butter maker would include the reality of consumers having confidence in the bread they are putting that peanut butter on. 

With all that said- I want to point you this morning to a great blog piece by a lady we interviewed a couple of weeks ago- Julie Kelly- click here to jump back to our interview in case you missed it.

Julie is a food writer, cooking instructor and Mom who wondered what all the fuss was about GMOs- did her research, did not drink the Whole Food-Chipotle Cool-Aid about how GMOs are the root of all evil in the food business and decided that she needed to weigh in on the GMO conversation.

In a blog she has written for TheHill.Com, she explains for the Washington Capitol Hill audience why there is a public outcry for mandatory GMO labeling- Organic proponents have spent millions of dollars scaring consumers about the technology.

She writes "As the U.S. Senate prepares to consider GMO labeling legislation in the coming months, pro-labeling groups are insisting this issue is consumer-driven. But the GMO labeling movement is about as organic as a Twinkie. It's the result of a carefully orchestrated marketing campaign - largely funded by the organic industry - to vilify genetically modified food. Over the last four years, organic companies and their front groups have spent tens of millions of dollars to convince consumers GMOs are unsafe in order to drive market share toward non-GMO, organic products."

She adds at the end of her blog post "Consumers and lawmakers need to be aware of the back-story to the so-called consumer-led GMO labeling movement. If approved, a mandatory label will be nothing more than a bulls-eye for these folks to further their attacks on genetically modified food."

Click here and read more from Julie Kelly- as we prepare for the battle ahead on GMO labeling in the US Senate.

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