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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!
OKC West is our Market Links Sponsor- they sell cattle three days a week- Cows on Mondays, Stockers on Tuesday and Feeders on Wednesday- Call 405-262-8800 to learn more.
Today's First Look:
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
OKC West in El Reno reported 1,000 head of calves on Tuesday- Compared to last Tuesday: Steer and heifer calves were to lightly tested for an accurate market trend, however a lower undertone was noted. Demand Moderate. Click or tap here for the complete report from USDA Market News.
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
KC Sheperd, Associate Farm Director and Editor Sam Knipp, Farm Editor Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
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Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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This morning- wanted to share with you in brief several of the key late breaking developments on the Coronavirus Pandemic Panic as they relate to the world of agriculture- at the top of our list is the voice vote taken on Tuesday afternoon by the Senate to approve another half trillion dollars worth of federal help- one group quickly reacted to that- National Cattlemen's Beef Association Vice President, Government Affairs, Ethan Lane issued the following statement:
"We applaud the Senate for advancing this critical replenishment of funding to programs like Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and we are pleased to see the reaffirmation of Congress's intent that cattle producers be granted access to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program administered by the Small Business Administration.
"We urge the House of Representatives to move swiftly to approve this package and deliver these funds to producers across the country who are continuing to keep grocery store shelves full during this economic disaster."
Most of the money was for the PPP(4321 Billion) but an additional $50 billion is provided for SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program - allowing for approximately $300 billion in new loans for small businesses - and $10 billion in funding for SBA's Emergency Economic Injury Grant program.
Authorizing language was included to allow agricultural enterprises as defined by section 18(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 647(b)) with not more than 500 employees to receive EIDL grants and loans.
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Cargill Protein has re-opened its plant in Hazleton, Pa., 12 days after it was closed to stem the spread of COVID-19 among employees and the community.
The Hazleton facility is 225,000 square feet and employs 900 making case-ready ground beef, beef and pork products.
According to a Meatinplace story- one of the new protocols is that the facility is checking all employees by taking their temperature twice a day.
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The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association penned a letter addressed to both, Attorney General William Barr and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue to urge the completion of the investigation into the price disparity in the beef supply chain, urging the Trump Administration officials to "quickly and thoroughly investigate the beef and cattle markets."
The letter was sent on Tuesday, signed by President Mike Weeks and Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey and you can read the letter by clicking here.
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Dr. Jayson Lusk has been talking a lot to the general media as well as to consumer groups through podcasts and webinars- he was on a FarmDoc webinar yesterday talking about how consumers have been dealing with buying food since mid March. The former Oklahoma State University Ag Economic Professor writes on his ongoing blog that "The declaration of a national emergency on March 13, 2020 by President Donald Trump, and the corresponding state stay-at-home measures, caused significant disruptions in retail food markets.
"Aside from take-out, many consumers were suddenly unable to dine at restaurants and food service establishments away from home, which according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, represents about 54% of all food expenditures. As a result, consumers turned to grocery stores and supermarkets, where the increase in demand, coupled with concerns about future reduced mobility and scarcity, led to a surge in foot traffic and sales."
On the FarmDoc Webinar, Dr. Lusk talked about two frequent questions that he has heard from consumers a lot- Do we have enough food and why were the store shelves empty? We have captured the audio of his answers to this and where he sees grocery delivery to the home headed- click here to jump to our story on that- we also have the YouTube of the webinar linked there as well.
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Sponsor Spotlight
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The number of cattle being processed has dropped 20 percent compared to year ago levels, according to the latest USDA weekly report. I spoke with Dr. Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University livestock market economist, about the analysis of that report. Tonsor said there is hope for the future.
A combination of idled plants due to the COVID-19 outbreak and lower beef demand has wrecked the market. Dr. Tonsor said there is some antidotal evidence suggesting the market pulled forward cattle in March, giving the system some breathing room.
"Animals are still growing," Tonsor said, "and we can't ignore this, but I do think we bought ourselves some flexibility."
Another important factor to consider is the impact of two upcoming USDA reports this week, the cold storage report on Wednesday and the Cattle on Feed Report to be issued Friday.
The cattle on feed report will tell us how many cattle were being fed as of April 1, Tonsor said. This will give us an update on feeding, placements and marketings in March.
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House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota issued the following statement Tuesday following the finalization of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, a replacement for the former "Waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) rule from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"Since the first inception of this rule, I've worked to secure changes to it with the goal of protecting clean water without making it harder for farmers and ranchers to operate," said Peterson. "I'm encouraged that the new rule takes steps to protect lakes, ponds, streams, and other tributaries, while providing that certainty to our ag producers.
Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) President and CEO Daren Coppock also released the following statement today after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (Army) published the Navigable Waters Protection Rule to define "Waters of the United States" in the Federal Register: "EPA has been working for a long time to correct an overreach from the previous administration and we are grateful this process is finally coming to a conclusion.
"Agricultural retailers and their farmer customers have always worked to ensure that they're protecting our waters and land for everyone's benefit.
Oklahoma's Senior Senator Jim Inhofe replied to us in an email saying "We needed a right-sized WOTUS rule, and that is exactly what President Trump and Administrator Wheeler delivered. The new rule will clearly define the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act in a straightforward manner, alleviating the burden farmers and landowners faced under the Obama-era rule and establishing responsible water policy. The new WOTUS rule helps farmers, ranchers, home builders and energy producers across Oklahoma focus on their business-not red tape."
To read the Waters Rule click here:
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Analysis released by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today showed cash corn prices have declined by 16 percent on average, with several regions experiencing declines of more than 20 percent, since March 1 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis projects a $50 per acre revenue decline for the 2019 corn crop.
"The COVID-19 pandemic is being felt across all sectors of our economy," said NCGA President Kevin Ross. "This analysis clearly illustrates its impact on corn growers and will be beneficial as we work to ensure they have the resources needed to navigate these very difficult times."
NCGA commissioned the economic analysis, conducted by Dr. Gary Schnitkey of the University of Illinois, as part of the organization's efforts to better understand the economic impact of the global pandemic on the corn industry and work to create solutions to help corn farmers and their customers recover from the financial impacts of this crisis.
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Sponsor Spotlight
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The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) today sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue praising the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) response to the COVID-19 pandemic and urging him to broaden that response by focusing on the impact the crisis is having on the mental health of producers around the country.
"The financial relief measures the Department is providing to production agriculture is a much-needed tourniquet, but this pandemic is exacerbating the ongoing mental health problems for some farmers and ranchers. We have reached the point where producers are making heartbreaking decisions to destroy or abandon their produce, dump their milk, and even destroy livestock," the letter states. "The frustration of seeing the value of your hard work going for naught can compound feelings of depression. For some, mental health may become as or more important than financial health. Unfortunately, money will not heal all problems."
The letter notes that USDA, together with the Department of Health and Human Services' Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, has been active for several years to help producers struggling with farm stress. USDA could leverage this experience at this time to provide a lifeline to farmers and ranchers struggling with the impacts of this crisis.
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Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, many businesses and schools have closed down to practice social distancing. Many parents are at home with their kiddos, wondering, "What do we do now?" Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom has come up with some excellent daily activities you can do with your kids and family.
Today we are featuring the Oklahoma AgMag's feature of a little bit of everything this time! It covers a little bit of everything that is a part of Oklahoma Agriculture - Century-old farms, Beef, Dairy, Pigs, Soybeans, Pecans, and so much more!!
You and your family can check out "CORN-Y Jokes, Look over the history of the dust bowl days, historic Oklahoma fun facts (Did you know that Oklahoma has more than 44 million acres of land--35 million acres of that is agriculture production) and look over the most common beef breeds of cattle.
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State Rep. Lundy Kiger (R-Poteau) today called on Gov. Stitt to do more for rural hospitals after suspending many of their services in response to COVID-19.
"Over the past several years, the number of rural hospitals in Oklahoma closing continues to grow in alarming numbers," Kiger said. "We appreciate the governor recognizing the fact that closing elective surgeries reduced hospital revenues approximately 80 percent, which no business can afford.
The cost of these services just to try and keep the doors open at the Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center (EOMC) in LeFlore County resulted in a temporary reduction of hospital staff by more than 50 people between the surgical department, OB and clinic staff. In comparison to many rural hospitals that are now broke or about to close their doors, the administration at EOMC led by CEO Bob Carter has taken many important steps in preparing for a downturn because this is the way of life for most rural hospitals."
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, AFR Insurance, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Great Plains Kubota, Stillwater Milling Company, National Livestock Credit Corporation, Oklahoma Beef Council, Oklahoma AgCredit, the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association and KIS Futures for their support of our daily Farm News Update. For your convenience, we have our sponsors' websites linked here- just click on their name to jump to their website- check their sites out and let these folks know you appreciate the support of this daily email, as their sponsorship helps us keep this arriving in your inbox on a regular basis- at NO Charge!
We invite you to check out our website at the link below too that includes an archive of these daily emails, audio reports and top farm news story links from around the globe.
God Bless! You can reach us at the following:
phone: 405-473-6144
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