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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

-- From the Cattle Industry Convention- We Talk Policy with Colin Woodall

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Delaying TPP Vote to Lame Duck or Later Will Cost US Economy Billions 

  

  

Noble Foundation Teams with Growsafe to Host Mini Seminars at Cattle Industry Convention Trade Show

 

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and GrowSafe Systems are working together to inform producers at the Cattle Industry Convention going on in San Diego, California. The Noble Foundation and GrowSafe Systems have booth #3429 in the Trade Show. Noble Foundation Producer Relations Manager Hugh Aljoe said this is an opportunity to tell producers about this GrowSafe technology that allows producers to measure feed and forage efficiency.


By leveraging the resources with GrowSafe, Aljoe feels they are able to get more information out to producers. At the convention, together they will host mini seminars on Wednesday and Thursday. Topics include everything from production technologies to cattle marketing apps, how to work with multiple generations on the ranch and using social media. Aljoe said they know the future is evolving and technologies are a part of the future, so want to look at some of these innovations and also get feedback from producers.    


I caught up with Aljoe at the CIC in San Diego. Click or tap here to listen to the full interview.

 

Click here for the Speaker's Schedule.

America's Renewable Future Launches Radio Ad Underlining Cruz's Hypocrisy

 

America's Renewable Future (ARF) has launched another radio ad to point out Sen. Ted Cruz's hypocrisy on oil subsidies and that he is nothing more than a typical Washington politician. The five-figure ad is a reminder to Iowa caucus-goers that Cruz cannot be trusted in the last days leading up to the Iowa caucuses and at a time when the prominence of the issues of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and ethanol are at an all time high.


"We're seeing a barrage of typical misinformation and disproven smears by the oil industry and its defenders in a desperate attempt to confuse Iowa voters and spin the issue of the RFS," said ARF State Director Eric Branstad. "It just goes to show the strength of the issue and won't change the fact that the RFS is a sound policy supported by Iowans who care about the strides we've made in reducing our dependence on foreign oil, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, and not least in creating hundreds of thousands of American jobs."


ARF is working on turning out its more than 52,000 pledged caucus-goers on Feb.1 and reminding voters that all 12 of the 14 candidates on both the Republican and Democratic side are pro-RFS and that Sens. Cruz and Rand Paul are anti-RFS.  Click or tap here to read more on the radio ad targeting Cruz.

Genomics: A Gateway Technology to Cattle Herd Management in the Future

 

DNA technology is really helping advance the cattle industry rapidly and it's really a new phenomenon. Dr. Michael Bishop of Illumina said the establishment of genomics started just a few years ago. He said Illumina brought the technology to the cattle industry in 2007, following the sequencing of the bovine genome from a Hereford cow named "Dominette".   The first chip using the Illumina technology was known as the 50K. The chip was made commercially available to the Angus, Holstein and Jersey breeds.


Today, cattle producers are embracing this technology, especially when it comes to genomic EPD's. Bishop said the sky is the limit, as this technology is being used to make early selection decisions in deciding which animals to breed and utilize in breeding programs.


"It will also be a gateway technology to decide which animals to feed in certain diets, how they will position cattle in their production systems," Bishop said. "And it will also be used, is being used and will be further used, to manage genetic defects and to manage genetic diversity, as we are continually rapidly selecting these animals and I see this technology becoming more and more used early in life on these animals to make selection decisions and mating decisions even before they have their own record for a certain trait. They will actually be used to make progeny."

I featured Dr. Michael Bishop on the Beef Buzz. Click or tap here to listen to today's Beef Buzz. 

 

Biodiesel Poised to Fuel Nation's Carbon Strategy

 

Everyone loves an underdog. Often overlooked in the shadow of more established products and challenged by misinformation, the biodiesel industry is gearing up for what could be its best year yet.


In the opening General Session of the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, underway at the Tampa Convention Center this week, it was clear that America's Advanced Biofuel is here to fight and win.


"Last year the biodiesel industry demonstrated more than ever that no matter how beat up we are, no matter how outgunned we are, we don't back down," said National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe. "We came together like never before. We stayed true to our principles in the face of deceitful attacks and we achieved the success necessary to put us back on track."


The industry marked several major achievements in 2015.  Click or tap here to read more about these accomplishments.

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Physician and Rancher Shares How 2015 Dietary Guidelines Reaffirm Beef's Role in a Healthy Diet

 

The following is an Op-Ed offered by  Dr. Richard Thorpe, First Vice President, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA)


"On Jan. 7, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) released the final version of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The report comes after the agencies deliberated over a year on what exactly should be included in a healthy and balanced diet for American consumers.


"I am pleased the new Dietary Guidelines reaffirm the important role lean beef plays in a healthy dietary pattern. As a physician and rancher from Winters, Texas, I can tell you that lean beef is not only delicious - scientific research studies have proven time and time again that it is also incredibly healthy.


"The new guidelines are based on sound science and confirm that Americans are, on average, consuming fresh lean meat (including lean beef) at levels consistent with the 2015 Dietary Guidelines. When compared calorie-per-calorie to other food sources, many studies and scientific evidence shows beef is one of the most naturally nutrient rich foods."  Click or tap here to read more about Dr. Thorpe's view of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines.

Big Iron Wednesday

 

It's Wednesday- and that means the Big Iron folks will be busy closing out this week's auction items - all 342 items consigned.  Bidding will start at 10 AM central time.                

From the Cattle Industry Convention- We Talk Policy with Colin Woodall

From the 2016 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show- we had the opportunity to sit down with Colin Woodall, Vice President for Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and talk policy. 


Among the topics covered in our visit that happend on Tuesday afternoon- High Frequency Trading and How it Disrupted Cattle Trade in 2015, Dietary Guidelines, Vet Feed Directive, the battle with EPA over WOTUS, Concern over Senate control after the November elections, passage of Trans Pacific Partnership and GMO labeling.

  

  

You can hear our extensive visit with one of the most respected and knowledgeable lobbyists  when it comes to ag issues in Washington by clicking here.

 

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