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.
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 futures- click or tap here for the report posted yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
Okla Cash Grain:
Futures Wrap:
Feeder Cattle Recap:
Slaughter Cattle Recap:
TCFA Feedlot Recap:
Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor
Carson Horn, Associate Farm Director and Editor Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager Dave Lanning, Markets and Production Macey Mueller, E-mail and Web Writer
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Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News
Presented by 
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Thursday, August 18, 2016
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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 Featured Story:Corn Association Official Testifies During Senate Hearing in Defense of Atrazine
Losing access to the herbicide atrazine would be detrimental to both the farm economy and the environment, while setting a dangerous precedent for the future of crop management tools, National Corn Growers Association Board of Directors member Jim Zimmerman told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Wednesday at a field hearing on the impact of federal regulation on agriculture.
In June, the Environmental Protection Agency released its draft ecological risk assessment for atrazine, including recommendations that would result in a de facto ban on the popular herbicide.
"Atrazine is the most widely used herbicide in conservation tillage systems. Without atrazine, farmers would have to use higher quantities of other herbicides that are less effective while increasing tillage and threatening soil health and nutrients," said Zimmerman, who farms corn, soybeans, and wheat in Rosendale, Wisconsin.
Conservation tillage is a farming method that leaves stubble and residue from the previous year's crop on the field, to cover the soil's surface. Conservation tillage farming practices offer many environmental benefits, including protecting the soil from water and wind erosion, conserving moisture, reducing runoff, and improving wildlife habitat - all while reducing the amount of labor, fuel, and machinery used on a farm.
"This all impacts the bottom line" (of a farming operation), Zimmerman told lawmakers. Studies suggest that losing atrazine could cost corn farmers up to $59 per acre - or up to $2.5 billion to the corn industry.
Click here for a link to Zimmerman's complete testimony and find a link to submit comments to the EPA.
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Sponsor Spotlight
KIS FUTURES specializes in Futures and Options for Institutions, Commercials, Hedgers, and Individual Traders and executes trades for its clients in the following markets: Livestock, Grains, Energy, Metals, Softs, Financials, Currencies, and Stock Index Futures. For more information, please give them a call Toll Free at (800) 256-2555. Click here for their website to learn more.
And- their iPhone App, which provides all electronic futures quotes is available at the App Store- click here for the KIS Futures App for your iPhone.
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NAWG Treasurer Jimmie Musick of Sentinel Talks 2018 Farm Bill and More
Jimmie Musick from Sentinel is the latest of a long line of great Oklahoma wheat industry leaders who have stepped up and have served at the national level- Musick is currently serving as the Treasurer of the National Association of Wheat Growers- and was on the Oklahoma Wheat Review Program this past week in El Reno.
After his presentation- Musick talked with our Carson Horn about several priorities for NAWG here in 2016- including the groundwork that NAWG and other groups are doing in getting ready for the 2018 Farm Bill debate.
Musick says it seems like a long time away, but better to get started and be prepared than to let it sneak up on you. He also mentioned that he would like to see strong cooperation among all the different commodity groups, to approach Farm Bill negotiations with a united front. He seemed optimistic that an alliance of this nature would happen.
"I really think we have an opportunity to get a coalition of all the commodity groups," Musick said, "the best we've ever had in the past and I think we've got some good legislators around that's going to help us."
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Beef's One Stop Shop for Consumer and Industry Information
In today's world, the constant use of technology is feeding an ever growing appetite for knowledge by consumer groups about the industries they patronize. Meredith Stevens of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, works closely with the Beef Checkoff and its promotional efforts to keep consumers purchasing beef to provide to their families. She says one of the most important selling points out there, is simply access to information. She explained to Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays, why this is so important and how to best deliver that information."What we've learned from the data is that consumers want to know everything," Stevens said, "but they want to know, what they want to know."She clarified that all consumers are different in regards to the information they are seeking or what questions they have. She says it is best to have all the information available, so consumers may pick and choose what details about the industry they care to read. Recipes, video demonstrations and production practices are the most popular subjects currently.Stevens expresses that to better serve not only consumers, but all stakeholders (i.e. producers, bloggers, physicians, etc.), the Checkoff's website BeefItsWhatsforDinner.com will undergo a consolidation and redesign in the coming year. She explains that the consolidated website will feature all the relevant Checkoff content but also information that you find on other sites, such as Facts About Beef. She says once the right balance of information is found, their website will serve as one, unified resource for anyone seeking information on beef. The decision to go this route, being based on data drawn from extensive market research."We're trying to do everything based on the data," Stevens said.Looking forward, Stevens says the Checkoff is also in the process of launching a creative campaign, called Families in Motion, designed to offer the two key factors that push consumers to purchase their next beef meal: practical nutrition and an emotional connection to beef."Families in Motion has just launched actually but we're going to be continuing to roll that out," Stevens said, "but doing it in a way that we know will resonate the strongest for those audiences."Listen to Stevens talk more on delivering beef's message to consumers during the latest Beef Buzz.
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Rural Fire Departments Get Boost in Budgets from Oklahoma Forestry Services
Rural fire departments across the state are receiving Oklahoma Operational Assistance Grants in the amount of $3,817.42 to assist with expenses such as firefighting equipment maintenance and purchases, insurance premiums and personal protective equipment. This year's funding is being provided to 861 fire departments across the state that serve communities with populations of less than 10,000. The funds will be sent to fire departments electronically, as required by law, and made in two payments of $1,908.71 this year. These funds are appropriated by the state legislature, approved by Governor Fallin , and administered by Oklahoma Forestry Services. The operational grant funds have been awarded to the state's rural fire departments since the 1980s with the intention to help them with the cost of day-to-day expenses. "We appreciate that the legislature is continuing to make rural fire departments a priority, despite significant state budget cuts," said George Geissler, director of Oklahoma Forestry Services. "These fire departments do an excellent job of protecting their communities and it is vital that they have the equipment they need. This isn't a large amount of money, but it can make a big difference to a small fire department."Oklahoma Forestry Services is the state's lead agency for wildland fire fighting and works with rural fire departments across the state to coordinate fire suppression efforts, provide training and improve fire capacity. Click here for a link to a complete list of the fire departments that are being awarded operational grants.
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Sponsor Spotlight
We are pleased to have American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company as a regular sponsor of our daily update. On both the state and national levels, full-time staff members serve as a "watchdog" for family agriculture producers, mutual insurance company members and life company members.
Click here to go to their AFR website to learn more about their efforts to serve rural America!
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Farmers' Almanac Launches Farmer of the Year Contest
Farmers' Almanac, in partnership with the American Farm Bureau Federation, announces its search for three farmers or ranchers to be recognized as "Farmers' Almanac Farmer of the Year."
The contest, announced in the special 200th Collector's Edition of the 2017 Farmers' Almanac, seeks to recognize and share the dedication, hard work and contributions farmers make to our world and society. Stories of outstanding individuals who work hard to bring food to our tables are sought.
"We're looking for farmers and ranchers who have figured out how to keep their centuries-old, family run farms alive and thriving, as well as newcomers who may have just started out in farming or ranching," said Farmers' Almanac Managing Editor Sandi Duncan, Philom. "The people who work in agriculture are vital to our everyday life and we'd like to honor them in the pages of the Farmers' Almanac."
AFBF President Zippy Duvall added, "Farmers and ranchers have long used their ingenuity and tireless work ethic to preserve natural resources and build up local communities while producing food, fiber and fuel for consumers here at home and around the world. We're pleased to join theFarmers' Almanac in launching the Farmer of the Year program."
Click here for more information about nominating a deserving farmer or rancher.
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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.
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Oklahoma Wine Wins Double Gold Award at Indy International
Canadian River Vineyard and Winery, located in Lexington, Oklahoma, won a double gold award at the 2016 Indy International Wine Competition.
Nearly 3,000 wines from around the world were entered in the competition held Aug. 3-4 at the Purdue Memorial Union in West Lafayette, Indiana. Canadian River's Chocolate Drop Dessert Wine emerged victorious.
"Chocolate Drop Wine is made from Merlot and is a cherry-chocolate dessert in a glass," said Gene Clifton, owner of Canadian River Vineyards and Winery. "Our Riesling, which is made entirely of Oklahoma-grown grapes, was awarded a bronze metal."
Now in its 25th year, the competition is the largest independent wine contest in the United States with participants ranging from small, private winemakers to large, commercial wineries.
Clifton said he is proud to see Oklahoma wines competitive on an international level.
"We have won metals in every wine competition we have entered this year," Clifton said. "Our vineyards are now 16 years old, and they are consistently making good-quality grapes, which are made into award-winning wines."
Click here to read more about the contest and the Oklahoma wine industry. |
This N That- USDA Cattle on Feed Numbers Out on Friday and Class XVIII of OALP Begins Journey
USDA will release their monthly Cattle on Feed report tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 PM central time, and Allendale has released their pre report estimate on what the USDA report may say.
According to Allendale, "July Placements are expected to be 3.4% larger than last year at 1.600 million head. This was the largest July placement in three years. It also represents six months in a row of higher than last year placements. USDA's cattle feeding margin model showed a $73 per head profit for outgoing cattle in July for a very light 1,250 lb. animal. July placements supply the December through March slaughter period.
"Allendale anticipates a Marketing total 1.5% smaller than July 2015 at 1.699 million. This was the smallest July marketing since the data-series started in 1996. There were two less weekdays in July 2016 vs. 2015 and two more Saturdays. This artificially decreased the number by 7.5%.
"Total Cattle on Feed as of August 1 is 2.0% larger than last year at 10.205 million. That is an increase over the July 1 total that was +1.2% from one year ago."
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The 18th class of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program is meeting for the first time this week in Stillwater- and they were welcomed to the program by about a hundred Alumni of OALP and OSU College of Ag faculty in a dinner that was held at the brand new training center of the Central Electric Coop.
I have served for a bunch of years as the Chair of the industry Advisory Committee to OSU for OALP- and it has been my honor to offer greetings and a challenge to several of the classes down through the years- that happened again last night and I suspect I had as much fun this year doing research for my presentation as many in Class 18 did listening to me- as I went back and offered a series of "shout outs" about alums of the program- starting with Class One- which I was a part of.
I pointed out two current State Senators are OALP Alums- Mike Schulz and Eddie Fields- our State FSA Executive Director is an Alum- Terry Peach and the current chair of the most successful branded beef program ever- the Certified Angus Beef Program- John Pfeiffer- is an Alum. The challenge to the new class was simple- this program will stretch you and get you ready to serve- buy in, give 110% and then start looking for doors to walk through that will allow you to be a servant leader. If you want to learn more about OALP- click here for the website.
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phone: 405-473-6144
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