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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 had their regular Calf Sale on Tuesday- about 1,700 on hand- not enuff for a full test- Medium and Large Frame 1 five weight steers sold from $150 to $167- click here for the USDA Market News Report.
Choice Boxed Beef Prices fell $5.48 to $409.47 while Select Beef dropped $6 to $388.87 on Tuesday afternoon- click here for the full 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, May 20, 2020
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America's farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this direct support to farmers and ranchers, USDA's Farmers to Families Food Box program is partnering with regional and local distributors, whose workforces have been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat and deliver boxes to Americans in need.
"America's farming community is facing an unprecedented situation as our nation tackles the coronavirus. President Trump has authorized USDA to ensure our patriotic farmers, ranchers, and producers are supported and we are moving quickly to open applications to get payments out the door and into the pockets of farmers," said Secretary Perdue. "These payments will help keep farmers afloat while market demand returns as our nation reopens and recovers. America's farmers are resilient and will get through this challenge just like they always do with faith, hard work, and determination."
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Sponsor Spotlight
The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association is the trusted voice of the Oklahoma Cattle Industry. With headquarters in Oklahoma City, the OCA has a regular presence at the State Capitol to protect and defend the interests of cattlemen and cattlewomen.
Their Vision Statement explains the highest priority of the organization- "Leadership that serves, strengthens and advocates for the Oklahoma cattle industry."
To learn more about the OCA and how you can be a part of this forward-looking group of cattle producers, click here for their website. For more information- call 405-235-4391.
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The American Farm Bureau welcomes Tuesday's announcement by President Trump detailing how the $16 billion in direct payments to farmers from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will be distributed.
Payments will go directly to farmers who have suffered a 5 percent or greater price loss and who are facing significant marketing costs due to the coronavirus. Eligible commodities include cattle, hog, dairy, specialty crops and row crops. Payments will be limited to $250,000 per person.
The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall:
"This aid can't arrive soon enough as many farmers file for bankruptcy, facing unprecedented losses. We are grateful to the Administration and to Congress for sending aid to America's farmers and ranchers reeling from the breakdown in distribution channels resulting from COVID-19. Although supply is strong, the shutdown of restaurants and school cafeterias caused the markets for meat, dairy and produce to shrink drastically almost overnight.
*********** The National Association of Wheat Growers contend that several classes of wheat are left out of the CFAP (including Hard Red Winter) and offered this statement:
"We want to thank USDA for its work to quickly put CFAP in place and for allowing certain classes of wheat to be eligible under the program," stated NAWG President and Cass City, MI wheat farmer Dave Milligan. "However, it is unfortunate that the program fails to take into consideration all six classes of wheat. USDA's methodology behind CFAP neglects to incorporate price drops during the January to April timeframe when wheat farmers were marketing their crop or that local cash prices that farmers were receiving were less than futures prices in many areas of the country. As a result, most wheat growers won't qualify for CFAP despite being impacted."
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NCBA President Marty Smith was more positive,
"America's cattle producers have been hit very hard economically by this pandemic, so we're pleased that this relief is one step closer to reaching the producers who need it," Smith said. "Still, this is just one step and much more needs to be done to address the needs facing family cow-calf producers and stockers in the CFAP details that were released today. We will continue to push Capitol Hill for additional resources for cow-calf producers, backgrounders, and all other segments of the industry who may not sufficiently benefit from the program in its current form."
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Meat packing plants are slowly increasing capacity, but it could be months before the cattle backlog is vanquished, said Dr. Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University Extension livestock market economist during recent comments on the K-State Radio Network.
Tonsor said the USDA reported almost 500,000 cattle were harvested last week, an increase from 452,000 the week before but more than 200,000 head below the same period a year ago.
We're going in the right direction, Tonsor said, hopefully throughout the month of May we will continue to improve.
Tonsor, and Dr. Lee Schulz, livestock economist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, have projected at the end of April more than 500,000 head were ready to be processed but due to plant closures, the cattle were backed up in the feedlots.
If we manage to push over 500,000 head processing the rest of May, then it is possible we start June 1 with under a million head carry over, Tonsor said.
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On Tuesday- Governor Kevin Stitt signed into law HB 3806, the Oklahoma Meat Consumer Protection Act. This bill was a priority for the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (OCA) during the 2020 Legislative Session. HB 3806 establishes regulations and standards on packaging and advertising for alternative meat products such as plant-based.
"First we want to thank Representative Hasenbeck and Senator Bergstrom for the leadership on this important issue. We also appreciate Governor Stitt signing the bill into law," said Michael Kelsey, OCA Executive Vice President. "This law will require that companies wanting to sell plant-based products in Oklahoma must use wording type such as vegetarian, imitation or plant-based on the package that is uniform is size and prominence to the name of the product."
OCA brought the bill to the Legislature to establish rules for how plant-based companies can market their products in Oklahoma.
"I am always willing to help our beef producers as they toil to raise a great product for our consumers," commented Representative Hasenbeck. Representative Toni Hasenbeck and her family are beef producers in the Elgin area.
"Clever marketing practices and deceptive labeling on plant-based meat alternatives can be confusing for shoppers looking to purchase meat-based items at the grocery store," Senator Micheal Bergstrom from Adair said. "HB 3806 ensures that clarity and accuracy of labeling meat and plant-based food items, giving consumers peace of mind that they are purchasing exactly what they intended."
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Sponsor Spotlight
As Oklahoma's largest John Deere dealer, P&K Equipment is proud to be your local expert source for equipment, parts, and service. As an Oklahoma-based, family-run company, the P&K network consists of 16 locations in Oklahoma, 2 locations in Arkansas, and 9 locations in Iowa. Our Oklahoma and agricultural roots run deep and our history spans over 30 years.
At P&K, we make it our mission to provide you with top-notch solutions and unbeatable customer service at a price you CAN afford. Visit pkequipment.com and you'll have it all at your fingertips: request a quote, schedule service, get a value for your trade, find current promotions, and shop for parts online. Stop by one of our locations today to meet the P&K team. You'll see why around here, John Deere starts with P&K.
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Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule to establish requirements and procedures for the issuance of guidance. Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) President and CEO Daren Coppock issued the following statement in support of this action:
"EPA is leading the charge in following the president's executive order to promote transparency across all government agencies. We are pleased to see this first-ever rule and will be submitting comments in support based on recommendations from our membership.
"A consistent process to provide public input into the EPA's development of regulations and guidance documents is critical to ag retailers and the agriculture industry. This will not only provide the opportunity to be sure that our voices are heard but will also ensure that new rules are guided by sound science, practicality and economic feasibility.
"All federal agencies need to follow a similar path of transparency and public stakeholder input."
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U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) praised the U.S. Treasury Department's guidance clarifying that rural electric cooperatives with less than 500 employees are eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). "As we continue to battle COVID-19, we know the Paycheck Protection Program is saving jobs and keeping businesses open in Oklahoma. Rural electric cooperatives deliver an essential service - providing power and keeping the lights on for families and businesses in rural America. Despite interruptions COVID-19 is placing on their operations, they have continued to provide these services and they deserve access to this job-saving program," Inhofe said. "That's why I was glad to hear that the Trump Administration has clarified that rural electric co-ops are eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program. It is clear that this administration continues to prioritize the needs of rural communities, and I look forward to working with them to support all communities across Oklahoma." In April, Inhofe joined a bipartisan group of Senators in urging U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza to ensure that rural electric cooperatives, as private corporate business concerns operating on a cooperative basis, be considered eligible recipients under the Paycheck Protection Program.
Click here for the statement released by the Senator's office.
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 President Trump Questions Beef Imports During CFAP Announcement- NCBA Says Examine Brazilian Imports
National Cattlemen's Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall issued the following statement in response to comments made by President Donald Trump's about beef imports (you can listen to the specific remarks of what the President said about stopping beef imports on Tuesday by clicking here for our webstory on his comments and the NCBA response)
"Today's comment by President Donald Trump demonstrates the complexity of the U.S. beef business. Live cattle imports to the United States only come from Canada and Mexico and will continue to do so under the terms of the President's newly negotiated USMCA. America has not imported live cattle from other nations for several years. However, if President Trump is serious about reconsidering import decisions, NCBA and its members strongly request the White House to take another look at his decision to allow fresh beef imports from nations like Brazil, where there continue to be concerns with foot-and-mouth disease and USDA's decision to reopen the American market to Brazilian beef."
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, AFR Insurance, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Great Plains Kubota, Stillwater Milling Company, Oklahoma Cotton Council, 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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