Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Monday, October 19, 2020
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Latest Road to Rural Prosperity Features Steve Thompson on State Question 805 and the Virtual OKFB Convention
- OKFB joins coalition opposing SQ 805
- NCBA's Ethan Lane Says Progress is Being Made on Establishing Robust Price Discovery
- USDA Issues $1.68 Billion in Payments to Producers Enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program
- Peterson Welcomes Announcement of CRP Payments to Producers
- USDA to Host Educational Webinar Series on CME Specifications, Live Cattle and Beef Carcass Grading and Certification
- AFR/OFU Supports Creation of OPCIE, Relocation of State Health Lab
- Bacon Farmers Seek Immediate Covid Relief Action
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Latest Road to Rural Prosperity Features Steve Thompson on State Question 805 and the Virtual OKFB Convention |
Our latest road to rural prosperity features Steve Thompson, Senior Director for Public Policy at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, to discussing the decision by the general farm organization to oppose State Question 805 in the upcoming November General Election.
We also talked about the decision by the group to not hold a face to face in person Convention in Norman this year- and how that impacts their policy making process in 2020 and into 2021.
Today's conversation is powered by OPSRC, the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center.
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The experts at P&K Equipment make it their mission to provide top-notch solutions and unbeatable customer service. Visit their website, call one of the stores, or stop in and see them today- discover the P&K experience for yourself.
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OKFB joins coalition opposing SQ 805 |
Oklahoma Farm Bureau has joined a coalition opposing State Question 805, which will be voted on by Oklahomans in the Nov. 3 general election.
SQ 805 seeks to amend the Oklahoma Constitution by preventing a criminal’s previous non-violent felony convictions from being used to enhance his or her current sentence for a non-violent felony conviction. The measure would allow convicted felons who repeatedly commit crimes, including livestock theft, property crimes and other agricultural crimes, to be treated as first-time offenders.
With longstanding policy that calls for strong penalties on agricultural crimes, OKFB opposes the measure due to concerns over its potential impact in rural communities, specifically with the theft of livestock and farm or ranch equipment.
“For decades, Farm Bureau members have stood for protecting property rights and promoting public safety,” said OKFB President Rodd Moesel. “Unfortunately, those of us in agriculture are all too familiar with cattle theft and other property crimes that can cost our farm families thousands of dollars. A no vote on State Question 805 will protect the safety of our treasured rural communities by ensuring habitual offenders continue to be punished appropriately.”
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NCBA's Ethan Lane Says Progress is Being Made on Establishing Robust Price Discovery |
Establishing a robust price discovery system has been a hot topic in recent months, especially following the summer meeting of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association where members voiced a strong desire for action.
Ethan Lane, NCBA vice president of government affairs, recently visited with me for an update on the price discovery action.
A subgroup was appointed to establish negotiated trade thresholds or triggers. If triggers are not met, NCBA will seek bolder solutions from Congress, Lane said.
The subgroup includes NCBA members from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas and others that represent a wide range of views.
The subgroup reported their efforts to the full working NCBA committee Oct. 1 and NCBA President Marty Smith is communicating with their membership on the group’s activity.
What’s been created here is a framework to assess if we are getting to the negotiated trade numbers needed to generate robust price discovery, Lane said.
Listen to Part One of our conversation with Ethan Lane about the Price Discovery plan put together by the subgroup by clicking the button below- and you can read the overview of the entire plan by clicking here.
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Each Weekday- Listen to Cotton Talk!
For our farmers who have either- always have had cotton on their farms- or those who have more recently have added the fiber crop to their operations- we have a new daily report starting to be heard on several of our Radio Stations- It's Called Cotton Talk- and we appreciate the Oklahoma Cotton Council for their support in making this a reality.
Click on the Button below to listen to our most recent report
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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network weekdays-
if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click below for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays and KC Sheperd on RON.
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USDA Issues $1.68 Billion in Payments to Producers Enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which provides annual rental payment for land devoted to conservation purposes.
“CRP is one of the many ‘tools’ that USDA offers to producers and private landowners to help best manage sensitive lands,” said Richard Fordyce, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency. “Lands enrolled in this program conserve soil, improve water quality, provide habitat for wildlife, sequester carbon, and benefit agricultural operations.”
Through CRP, farmers and ranchers establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. Farmers and ranchers who participate in CRP help provide numerous benefits to the nation’s environment and economy.
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Sponsor Spotlight
The Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program knows this is a hard time for farmers and ranchers. We want you to know we are still open, and we are still here for you. The Ag Mediation program is a free service that provides mediation to agriculture producers who may need help with ag-related disputes.
At Oklahoma Ag Mediation, we have been helping people in agriculture resolve conflicts since 1987. We know firsthand about working together to resolve conflicts, so you don’t have to go through the court systems. Let our professional mediators help you. Mediation is allowed for lease issues, farmer/neighbor disputes, family farm transitions, and more. These services are available at no cost for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in all 77 counties. For more information, you can go to ok.gov/mediation, or give us a call at 800 248 5465.
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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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Peterson Welcomes Announcement of CRP Payments to Producers |
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson released the following statement Thursday in response to an announcement that USDA will issue $1.68 billion in payments to farmers through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) as part of the Department’s implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill:
“When penciling out a balance sheet, ag producers and landowners count on payments from CRP and other programs they’re enrolled in to pay property taxes and input costs. With all the uncertainty in the farm economy right now, it’s imperative that these payments show up on time. I’m glad that USDA has committed to getting this money out the door while we’re operating under a continuing resolution.”
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USDA to Host Educational Webinar Series on CME Specifications, Live Cattle and Beef Carcass Grading and Certification |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host a series of four webinars with guest speakers from three regional USDA Cattle and Carcass Training Centers (CCTCs), the CME Group, and USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
These free webinars begin Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, and are targeted to cattle producers, feeders, and others in the U.S. fed beef supply chain who want to better understand the reporting, delivery, and grading of feeder cattle, live cattle, and carcasses, particularly relating to CME live cattle futures.
Over the course of four evening sessions, experts from USDA, academia, and the CME Group will share their knowledge and offer information that covers a wide range of topics including CME live cattle specifications; the biological and physiological factors influencing cattle quality; the fundamentals of “on the hoof” yield and quality grading; the U.S. beef carcass standards and USDA carcass grading process; and more.
“This outreach is part of our continuing effort to work with cattle producers and others to ensure fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach. “Participants in this engaging webinar series will gain an understanding of—and greater appreciation for—the interconnected processes that support the production and marketing of high-quality U.S. beef all over the world.”
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AFR/OFU Supports Creation of OPCIE, Relocation of State Health Lab |
The Oklahoma State Department of Health, in partnership with Gov. Kevin Stitt and federal, state and private industry leadership, recently announced the creation of the Oklahoma Pandemic Center for Innovation and Excellence (OPCIE).
OPCIE is intended to be the state’s frontline of defense against future biosecurity-threatening diseases. The facility will be located in Stillwater, leveraging Oklahoma’s rural and urban assets to benefit public health.
AFR/OFU Cooperative supports the relocation of the state’s public health laboratory to Stillwater, as well as the creation of OPCIE. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of state-of-the-art centers like OPCIE to both urban and rural populations and national security as a whole.
“Covid-19 threatened the health of our state and our nation, and also served as a warning about the vulnerability of our food system,” said AFR/OFU Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh. “The last few months have shown that quick, accurate testing for both human and animal disease is a vital part of our nation’s security. OPCIE is a necessary and welcomed investment in the future of our state and national food supply chain. It will play an important role in keeping food on the table for millions of Americans.
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Bacon Farmers Seek Immediate Covid Relief Action |
President Trump expressed disappointment regarding the ongoing stalemate in the development of new COVID-relief legislation, saying his lead negotiator “hasn’t come home with the bacon.” Without immediate relief for hog farmers in crisis, the treasury secretary may not be the only one not bringing home the bacon, according to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).
“We’ve lost hog farmers of all sizes due to the COVID pandemic and need additional relief to preserve a highly competitive pork production system in the United States,” said NPPC President Howard A.V. Roth, a hog farmer from Wauzeka, Wisconsin. “Without federal assistance, we will lose more hog farmers and see our farm sector consolidate, limiting consumer choice and reducing what have been record production levels in recent years.”
U.S. hog farmers are facing $5 billion in collective pandemic-related losses this year following two challenging years due to trade retaliation. NPPC is seeking the following provisions in a new COVID-relief package:
• compensation for euthanized and donated hogs;
• additional funding for animal health surveillance and laboratories, which have appropriately assisted and shared resources with their public health partners;
• modification of the Commodity Credit Corporation charter so a pandemic-driven national emergency qualifies for funding;
• additional funds for direct payments to producers without restriction; and
• extension of the Paycheck Protection Program with modifications to make it accessible to more producers.
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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.
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Today's First Look:
Ron on RON Markets as heard on K101
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
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Wholesale Boxed Beef Prices continue to show weakness- Choice Beef was down 45 cents on Friday while Select Beef was also lower by $2.98.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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Oklahoma National Stockyards had 7,000 head last Monday- Compared to the previous week: Feeder steers and heifers are trading 6.00-8.00 lower, instances 10.00 lower. Steer and heifer calves traded 4.00- 6.00 lower, few trades sharply lower as much as 8.00-10.00 lower. Demand light to moderate.
Click below for the complete closing report.
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Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futures - click below for the latest update on the Livestock and Grain Futures Trade..
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Okla Cash Grain:
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- as reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture- The report available after the close of the Futures Trade for that day.
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Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor
KC Sheperd, Associate Farm Director and Editor
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
Sam Knipp, Farm News Editor
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
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Rural Oklahoma is full of some of the greatest success stories throughout the entire state and are a main reason Oklahoma is on track to become a top 10 state.
The Road to Rural Prosperity will dive into these stories each week bringing you insight into the great things happening in and to rural Oklahoma. We will bring you stories covering rural life, agriculture, energy, healthcare, tourism and politics all affecting rural America.
The Road to Rural Prosperity is here to tell stories about rural America, for rural America.
Steve Thompson, Senior Director for Public Policy at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, sat down with Host Ron Hays to discuss the decision by the general farm organization to oppose State Question 805 in the upcoming November General Election. They also talked about the decision by the group to not hold a face to face in person Convention in Norman this year- and how that impacts their policy making process in 2020 and into 2021.
Today's conversation is powered by OPSRC, the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center.
To find out more about our full series of Podcasts on The Road to Rural Prosperity- click or tap here.
To hear this Podcast you can click here or tap below:
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, AFR/OFU, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program, 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.
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God Bless!
Reach Out To Us:
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Tim West
President/General Manager
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
2401 Exchange Avenue,
Suite F
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
405.317.6361
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Ron Hays
Director of Farm Programming
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
405.473.6144
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