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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 

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USTR Michael Froman Tells Cattlemen that TPP is a Billion Dollar Deal for U.S. Beef Producers

As part of the National Cattlemen 's Beef Association's annual Legislative Conference Wednesday, Ambassador Michael Froman, U.S. Trade Representative, stressed the cost of inaction on the Trans Pacific Partnership.


"For the past seven years, the Obama Administration has worked together with NCBA to expand export markets for American beef and cattle," said Froman. "In that time, United States beef exports have more than doubled, rising from $3.1 billion to $6.3 billion last year. However we have more work to do together - most especially, guaranteeing that American ranchers and farmers across this country see the full economic grains the TPP will mean for them and their communities. For example, by 2030, two-thirds of the world's middle class will call Asia home. However, exports of American beef to countries in the TPP are being hit with tariffs as high as 50 percent, and face all manner of non-tariff barriers. This high-standard agreement cuts over 18,000 foreign taxes on U.S. exports, opens markets for American ranchers and farmers in one of the world's fastest-growing regions, and advances regulations that are transparent and based on science."


Froman stressed that U.S. beef exports would increase by 444 million pounds as a result of TPP, resulting in increased cash receipts totaling $1.14 billion.


"All told, it's estimated that TPP will boost annual net farm income in the United States by $4.4 billion," said Froman. "With these benefits at hand, the cost of inaction is alarming - together, let's ensure we never pay them."

Read more about the importance of TPP and listen to Froman's news teleconference.

The Three Day Run for the Oklahoma City Farm Show Starts This Morning  

 
Things are looking good at State Fair Park as the 2016 Oklahoma City Farm Show sets to open their doors at 9:00 AM this morning.

We invite you to stop by and say Howdy to us in the Cox Building- one of four buildings that are being used by the Oklahoma City Farm Show this year- plus lots to see outside as well.

When you stop by, be sure and sign up for a chance to win the Preifert Round Pen that we are giving away here again in 2016- the pen that will be used by Scott Daily as he offers horse training demos all three days.  We will draw on Saturday afternoon- you don't have to be present to win- but you do need to be available to come to State Fair Park and pick up the Round Pen late Saturday afternoon as the show ends.

The show once again runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday- looks like great weather all three days, before rain comes in Saturday night into Sunday. 

This will be the last year before the huge Exposition Building will be open and most of the show will be housed in that massive facility in 2017, along with outdoor exhibits in the same area they are located at this year and in previous years.

I look forward to saying hello to old and new friends the next three days at the Show!

 

Report Shows Biotech Crops Continue to be Favored Globally by Farmers

Millions of farmers around the world have reaped more than $150 billion in benefits from biotech crops since 1996, according to a new adoption study released today.


The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) report, 20th Anniversary of the Global Commercialization of Biotech Crops (1996-2015) and Biotech Crop Highlights in 2015, details the global adoption of biotech crops. This year's report showcases the global increase in biotech adoption from 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) in 1996 to 179.7 million hectares (444 million acres) in 2015.


"This 100-fold increase in just 20 years makes biotechnology the fastest adopted crop technology in recent times, reflecting farmer satisfaction with biotech crops," the report said. 


Especially beneficial in developing countries, agricultural biotechnology has helped alleviate poverty for up to 16.5 million small farmers and their families annually totaling about 65 million people, who are some of the poorest people in the world.

Read more biotech's role in global farming.

Cattle Producers Talk Policy Priorities on Capitol Hill

Beef producers from across the country are in Washington, D.C. this week for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Legislative Conference, where they are learning about issues affecting the cattle industry and lobbying legislators on these important matters.


NCBA President Tracy Brunner says defeating the EPA's WOTUS regulations - which are currently being litigated in federal court - is a high priority when it comes to protecting the private property rights of members. He says cattle producers should be able retain the water rights they purchase with a piece of land. 


Another hot topic being discussed is how to best utilize the funds raised by the NCBA Political Action Committee. Brunner says investing in candidates who are open to working with the cattle industry is key.

NACD Calls for Swift, Deliberate Action on the Over Population of Wild Horses and Burros

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) submitted comments Wednesday to the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board calling for a more robust, strategic, long-term management plan to deal with the overpopulation of wild horses and burros on public and private rangeland in the American West.


Populations of wild horses and burros have been allowed to grow at a rate that in many places exceeds six times their Appropriate Management Level (AML). This situation has not only lead to widespread degradation of the West's public lands, but has also had devastating effects on the health of the animals themselves who often face starvation and dehydration.


Horse and burro numbers are far exceeding the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Resource Management Plans (RMPs) within the Horse Management Areas (HMA), and large numbers of horses and burros are occupying private and federal lands outside of the HMAs. Overpopulation on the HMAs combined with the intensive grazing habits of horses and burros are stressing our Nation's rangelands beyond natural recovery.


NACD recommends and supports the use of common-sense, ecologically-sound rangeland management practices to ensure healthy wildlife and rangelands for future generations.

Read more about NACD's recommendations to deal with the overpopulation.

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Applications Available for OALP Class XVIII, Due May 1 

For more than 30 years, the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program has been helping those engaged in the agricultural industry to enhance their leadership skills.


"OALP is recognized as one of Oklahoma's top leadership programs for emerging agricultural leaders," said Edmond Bonjour, OALP director. "Our program is continuing to grow and produce well-educated leaders for the agricultural industry in our state. We just graduated OALP Class XVII and I'm now turning my sights toward Class XVIII and a new group of eager learners."


Applications are now available for Class XVIII at oalp.okstate.edu

This N That- CHS Income Tumbles, China Ready for GMOs? and Wheat Field Days a Week Away

The nation's largest farmer-owned cooperative, CHS, reported net income is down 50 percent for the first six months of its 2016 fiscal year. CHS reported net income at $234.5 million, down from $471.5 million in the first half of fiscal year 2015. The cooperative says lower earnings were attributed to the down economic cycles in the agricultural and energy sectors, which have resulted in reduced commodity prices and lower margins globally.

CHS revenues through February of this year were $14.4 billion, down nearly 20 percent from $17.9 billion for the first half of fiscal 2015, and primarily reflected lower selling prices for the energy, grain and fertilizer products the company handles. CHS President Carl Casale said "we've experienced these types of cycles throughout our more than 85-year history and will navigate this period by finding ways to run our businesses more efficiently and effectively while continuing to serve our owners' and customers' needs."

More details available here.

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China may permit cultivation of genetically modified corn within the next five years. An official with China's agriculture ministry said the nation will push forward the process of introducing pest-resistant cotton and pest-resistant corn as part of a five-year plan being implemented starting this year. However, no further information was provided by China.
 
Media reports indicate that while China is the largest buyer of genetically modified soybeans, it has not permitted the cultivation of biotech crops, except cotton and papaya. State-owned ChemChina's purchase of Syngenta in February did spur talk that a ban on GMO cultivation may soon be lifted.

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Oklahoma State has announced their lineup of wheat field days for later this month into May- and we now have them posted on our calendar page- available here.

The first of those field days is set for Gotebo a week from today on April 21st. 

Go to our website's calendar page and check out the full line up and then go and see what each of the varieties in the plots close to you look like here in 2016.

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