Click here to read more about the short and long-term implications the Trump administration may have on the agricultural industry, as identified by Rabobank.

Click or tap here to read more and to jump over to the tables showing allocations group by group for both programs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Atoka, Bryan, Coal, Garvin, Johnston, Murray, Pontotoc and Seminole counties in Oklahoma as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought.


"Our hearts go out to those Oklahoma farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation's economy by sustaining the successes of America's farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these difficult times. We're also telling Oklahoma producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood."


Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Oklahoma also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are: Carter; Choctaw, Grady, Hughes, McClain, Marshall, Okfuskee, Pittsburg, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha and Stephens.


Click here to read more about the assistance available and to find links to more information.

The USDA released the latest update on meat imports and exports this past week, and Jim Robb, executive director of the Livestock Marketing Information Center, says they look very good.


"It was good news overall," Robb said, "especially on the red meat side. For September beef, exports were up 30 percent year over year."


It is quite a contrast compared to last year, Robb reflects, accounting for the market crater that began around July of last year. Just as importantly though, Robb points out that import numbers have decreased.


"The imports continue to erode," Robb said, "so our beef imports were down dramatically. That was being driven by a 67 percent year over year decline in beef imports from Australia and New Zealand was down 33 percent."


Robb insists that opportunities for US meat exports will continue for now as Australia starts the recovery process coming off their drought. But the big question remains - will this momentum continue in the long term? Robb seems to think that as we move forward, there is the possibility that we could pick up some demand potential as we push competition a bit more in the Asian markets alongside Australia as they deal with rebuilding their herds.


Listen to Robb offer his interpretation of USDA's latest meat import/export numbers during the latest Beef Buzz.

In taking a proactive approach to transparency, the US Farmers & Ranchers Alliance is working to spread agriculture's message about the good things that happen on the farm and teach people where their food comes from and how it is produced. RON's Associate Farm Director Carson Horn had the chance to speak with the organization's chairman, Brad Greenway of South Dakota, about what programs the organization is undertaking to promote these actions. Greenway explains one program called the Smart Farm Initiative will be unveiled this coming February.


"Everybody can relate to "smart," whether it's your smartphone, smart home, smart TV," Greenway said. "What we're trying to do is relate the technology that we're using on the farm to making the right and smart choices on our farms."


Greenway says the Smart Farm concept will serve as the umbrella for the group's activities throughout the year pertaining to sustainable and transparent practices on the farm. One sustainable practice though, suggests Greenway, can't be cultivated on the farm, but rather in the classroom. He says the organization is working to sustain farm literacy using the film Farmland as a learning tool.


"The exciting news about Farmland and how we extended that reach is through discovery education, getting it into the classroom," Greenway said. "Kids need to see what actually happens on a modern farm today. The teachers have picked up on that."


Listen to Horn's entire conversation with newly elected USFRA Chairman Brad Greenway about the organization's commitment to increasing sustainability and cooperation in agriculture.

The following article is an opinion piece authored by Rep. Kevin Cramer, whom is North Dakota's only member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.


"When it comes to U.S. farm policy, some folks who don't know much about risks of farming and ranching want to cut twice before measuring once. Common sense says we should measure things first.


"Net farm income is down by 42 percent from just three years ago, the largest plunge since the start of the Great Depression.


"Yet, under these very tough economic conditions the current Farm Bill's commodity title -- crafted to deal with market forces beyond a farmer's control such as depressed prices brought on by unfair predatory trade practices of foreign countries -- is helping farmers while saving taxpayer money.


"In fact, the 2014 Farm Bill's commodity provisions are saving an estimated $16 billion when compared to an extension of the previous law.


Click here to continue read Rep. Cramer's editorial on the current Farm Bill.

The weekly online sale by FedCattleExchange.Com kicks off at 10:00 AM this morning- this week, the online platform has 13,428 head in 75 lots- just 1,500 of the cattle on the show list are from the Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas region served by the Texas Cattle Feeders.  

Last week, a total of 10,949 were sold for a weighted average of $103.15.  

Click here for their website- there is a link to observe the process that begins at 10:00 AM central.

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