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-- This N That- Boxed Beef Report Shows Seasonal Jump in Outfront Sales and Roger Mills County Cattlemen Bull Sale

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Governor Mary Fallin Offers a Courageous and Controversial State of the State- Ag Groups React  

 
That description of Governor Mary Fallin's State of the State that was delivered on Monday afternoon came from former State Lawmaker and current Lobbyist for American Farmers and Ranchers, Tommy Thomas. Thomas told us that it was courageous for the Governor's willingness to talk about how to take on several sacred cows- and controversial because she talked about taking on several sacred cows.

Thomas questions whether you save enough money by across the board consolidation of the dependent K-8 School Districts into the area K-12 Independent School Districts to offset the loss of identity of some of the smaller towns in our state.  Thomas also worries about the Governor and lawmakers wanting to eliminate sales tax exemptions for agricultural inputs bought in state- and also about the re-purposing of ad valorem taxes. Our visit with Thomas can be heard by clicking here.

We also talked with the President of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Tom Buchanan of Jackson County about the State of the State- and clearly the worry of Buchanan and the Farm Bureau begins with the possibility of the state aligning Property Taxes.

In a statement released last night, Buchanan says:

"As landowners, Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers know and understand that school district buildings belong to the patrons, or landowners, of the school district. Therefore, it is the patron's responsibility to either build new buildings or maintain the existing buildings. The state's current ad valorem, or property, tax process has served Oklahoma school districts well.


"When a school district proposes a bond issue, it identifies the purpose of the tax, the total cost of the tax, and how long the tax will be in place. This allows school district voters to make an educated decision on each individual issue.


"Oklahoma Farm Bureau is very supportive of the existing ad valorem tax system. We are concerned that changing the system to allow for ongoing budgetary expenses would drastically alter the historically successful system."

We also talked with Tom yesterday afternoon- and you can click or tap here to hear our conversation with him and also read the balance of their statement on the State of the State.


Finally- we have posted on our website a statement offered to us from the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association on the State of the State. 

Their EVP Michael Kelsey salutes the Governor for her "can do" attitude on the challenges of 2016- but also express worry- saying  "Her proposal to look at all sales tax exemptions could adversely affect cattle producers as well as her ideas regarding ad valorem taxes." 

You can read the Governor's State of the State for yourself by clicking here.

And- the Democratic response to the State of the State was harsh- House Minority Leader Scott Inman called the State of the State speech an admission by the Governor of total Fiscal Failure- and chastised the Governor for tax revenue ideas that will harm farmers and ranchers.  He also blasted her for being silent on the rise of earthquakes in the state.  His full analysis of the speech can be read by clicking here.

New Cattlemen's Beef Board Chair Anne Anderson Says Research and Outreach Key to Future

The new chairman of the Cattlemen's Beef Board touts the value and importance of the nation's beef checkoff. Anne Anderson, a cattle producer from Austin, Texas, believes the industry needs the beef checkoff to promote, as well as stand up against the attacks to the protein source. For more than 25 years, the beef checkoff has supported beef promotion, education and research. She said the checkoff has been crucial in funding research to show the nutritional value of beef, as well as taking on the cholesterol fight, the cancer fight and most recently the development of the nation's dietary guidelines. She said all of those have needed the research from the industry and she wonders where beef would be right now, without these efforts.


Promoting the beef industry requires a team effort. Anderson said it starts with the producer leaders that serve on the Cattlemen's Beef Board that provide the plan, direction and allocate the funding for research, promotion and educational efforts. The board works with contractors to carry out that plan, such as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). The next important component is the message to the consumer. Anderson said there isn't a conduit to the individuals that are making the rules or policy. That's why it's important to have relationships with producer organizations, like the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (OCA) to carry that message to the individuals making those decisions.


Today's beef checkoff efforts look different today, then even just a few years ago. In making the switch to digital promotion, Anderson said that was a big leap of faith for the operating committee that made that decision to move from traditional media outlets to online advertising. She said that was difficult, because those are the outlets that are the most visible.   While it was a major change, she said it was very worthwhile. This was an important switch in order to reach the millennial generation. Anderson said this generation wants to know where their product comes from. That requires cattle producers to get involved in talking with consumers. 


I also talked with Anne about importance of the beef checkoff in funding human nutrition research, sustainability and she provides her goals as CBB Chairman for 2016.  Click or tap here to listen to the interview. 

Cattle Inventory: Telling the New Story and Retelling the Old One

Mondays, Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry. This analysis is a part of the weekly series known as the "Cow Calf Corner" published electronically by Dr. Peel and Dr. Glenn Selk.

The annual USDA Cattle report contains new numbers on cattle inventories and significant revisions to the 2015 numbers. It's important to consider the revisions when interpreting the new numbers. In general, the report confirms, as expected, that cattle inventories in the U.S. grew in 2015. However, the magnitude of the changes is somewhat different than expected in some cases and reflects the impacts of the revisions in last year's values. It's important to look back at how the 2014 story changes as a part of understanding the 2015 story.


The latest report pegs the January 1, 2016 all cattle and calves inventory at 92.0 million head, up 3.2 percent from one year ago. This increase was larger than expected but the 2015 total was revised down by roughly 650 thousand head implying that total herd growth in 2014 was 0.7 percent rather than the previously reported 1.4 percent year over year increase. The overall increase over the two year period is close to expectations but the report now says that more growth occurred in 2015 and less in 2014.


The beef cow herd was up 3.5 percent, adding just over one million head to the herd inventory as expected. However, the 2015 beef cow total was revised down nearly 400 thousand head, indicating that 2014 herd growth was only 0.7 percent rather than 2.1 percent as earlier reported. Thus, the herd growth in 2015 was equal to my expectations but the 2016 level of 30.33 million head is smaller than I anticipated.  Click or tap here to read more from Derrell Peel.

Growth Energy Launches TV, Digital Campaign Touting American Made Ethanol 

Growth Energy launched a significant, six-figure television and digital ad campaign highlighting ethanol's contribution to a cleaner, more prosperous, more secure America. The spot features Iowa farmer Chris Soules, star of hit shows The Bachelor and Dancing with the Stars. The ad will appear nationwide on Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC.


The ads convey the importance of American-made ethanol and the benefits it provides to our country. The campaign comes as all eyes turn toward Iowa for the first-of-the-nation caucuses, where there has been an outpouring of support for clean, secure, American ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) from Iowa voters alongside 12 of the 14 presidential candidates.


"Thanks to homegrown ethanol, we're seeing major economic and environmental benefits," said Tom Buis, co-chair of Growth Energy. "American-made ethanol cuts our dependence on foreign oil and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, creates jobs and provides consumers with a choice at the pump. Ethanol and the RFS are crucial to continue allowing America's farmers and innovators to produce clean, renewable energy here at home. It's no coincidence that an overwhelming, bipartisan majority of candidates for president have all realized the immense benefits and potential of ethanol."

Click or tap here to read from Growth Energy.

Oklahoma and Kansas Wheat Crops Better Off Than Last Year

Overall, Oklahoma experienced normal weather for the month of January. In the monthly crop weather report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture finds the heaviest rains were received in the West Central and Southeast districts.  Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly adequate to short.  Conditions of small grains were rated mostly good to fair. Winter wheat grazed reached 49 percent, up 11 points from the previous year. The state's wheat crop was rated ten percent in excellent condition, 64 percent in good, 25 in fair and one percent in poor to very poor.  Last year at this time, 13 percent of the crop was in poor to very poor condition.  The state's canola crop was rated 15 percent in excellent condition, 63 percent in good, 22 in fair and none in poor to very poor condition.  Last year, 34 percent of the crop was rated in poor to very poor condition.  Pasture and range conditions were rated mostly fair to good with 11 percent rated poor to very poor.  Click here to read the full Oklahoma report.

Weather conditions were near normal for Kansas in January.  USDA reports temperatures averaged two degrees above normal in the western half of the state, but were near normal in the east.  The heaviest precipitation fell in the central portions of the state.  Top soil and subsoil conditions were ranked mostly adequate. The Kansas wheat crop was rated six percent in excellent condition, 49 percent good, 37 fair and eight percent poor to very poor.  Last year, 13 percent of the crop was in poor to very poor condition.  Click here to read the full Kansas report.  

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Organic Matter Serves Important Role in Soil Health

Tutorial courtesy of Eddie Funderburg of Noble Foundation


Of all the components of soil, organic matter is probably the most important and most misunderstood. Organic matter serves as a reservoir of nutrients and water in the soil, aids in reducing compaction and surface crusting, and increases water infiltration into the soil. Yet, it's often ignored and neglected. Let's examine the contributions of soil organic matter and talk about how to maintain or increase it.


What is organic matter?


Many times we think of organic matter as the plant and animal residues we incorporate into the soil. We see a pile of leaves, manure or plant parts and think, "Wow! I'm adding a lot of organic matter to the soil." This stuff is actually organic material, not organic matter.


What's the difference between organic material and organic matter? Organic material is anything that was alive and is now in or on the soil. For it to become organic matter, it must be decomposed into humus. Humus is organic material that has been converted by microorganisms to a resistant state of decomposition. Organic material is unstable in the soil, changing form and mass readily as it decomposes. As much as 90 percent disappears quickly because of decomposition.   Click or tap here to read more about role of organic matter in soil health.

Oklahoma Cattlemen Holding Meeting Tonight on TMDL Ruling in Southern Okla Blaming Cattle for Elevated Bacterial Levels

The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (OCA) is hosting a meeting TONIGHT, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 6:30 p.m., at the Wapanucka Public School Cafeteria, to discuss a Public Notice issued by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality that directly affects cattle producers in the counties of Bryan, Coal, western Atoka, eastern Johnston, southern Hughes, and southwestern Pittsburg.

 
Specifically, the area covered in the notice is:  Blue, Muddy Boggy and Clear Boggy watersheds in south central Oklahoma.  The Public Notice issued on December 22, is entitled "The Availability of Draft Bacterial TMDLs for the Lower Red River Study Area" and suggests that cattle are the primary cause for elevated bacterial levels within the sampled watershed.

Michael Kelsey with OCA says the state is wrongly blaming cattle- "OCA disagrees with the conclusions of this notice. Beyond deer, the report does not consider wildlife such as feral swine, birds or small mammals. It does not consider the drought conditions of the past several years. There is also question regarding other sampling techniques that should be clarified before blame is assigned,"

More details are available by clicking here.

This N That- Boxed Beef Report Shows Seasonal Jump in Outfront Sales and Roger Mills County Cattlemen Bull Sale

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