FFA and 4-H members descended upon Oklahoma City in droves Tuesday afternoon and especially yesterday, gathering at Oklahoma State Fair Park for the nation's largest junior livestock show, the Oklahoma Youth Expo, which kicks off this week starting with the purebred gilt show. The show's executive director, Tyler Norvell, visited me in studio Wednesday to talk about the events planned for this year's show. According to him, it's going to be yet another record year for attendance - and scholarship money.

"Our numbers are again bigger than last year and how it continues to grow I'm really not sure," Norvell said. "We have over 10,000 head of hogs entered to be at the Oklahoma Youth Expo and then our numbers are all the same in the different species - people are coming in like crazy."

It's not just students pouring out to be a part of the show either, Norvell says, it's sponsors too, that know the value of supporting youth in agriculture. Norvell insists that although we have been in some tough economic times recently, the OYE has not lost even one sponsor, and expects that like the previous two years, at least $1 million will be paid out to exhibitors during the Sale of Champions, which brings OYE to an end next Friday night.

Be sure to check in with us periodically for complete coverage of OYE this year- it's a service of ITC, Your Energy Superhighway! 

Click here to find out how to stay in touch throughout the show this week.

Norvell will join me on our weekly In the Field segment on KWTV News9 in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday morning at 6:40 a.m. In the meantime, you can listen to my off-camera interview with Norvell, by clicking or tapping here.

We are waiting this morning for an update from the Oklahoma Department of Ag Forestry Services on the status of the Northwest Oklahoma Complex of Fires- a total of three fires that has scorched about 350,000 acres in Oklahoma and almost 500,000 acres in Kansas. (exact numbers currently stand at 833,941 acres total in the Complex- 342,237 in Oklahoma)

In checking with State Forester George Geissler last night- he continues to say there is zero containment- he added that will be likely adjusted in their assessment that will be out sometime this morning.

George is scheduled to be on with Doug Williams on K101 around 7:40 this morning in Woodward- so there could be an update then.  Oklahoma Secretary of Ag Jim Reese will also be on the air with George and J Douglas as well.

Geissler did say they are still working on assessing livestock deaths and infrastructure loses- from the Oklahoma Dept of Ag Facebook page- here's a picture that shows the losses are more than just cattle- in this case- a hog farm facility was leveled:




There is good news from Texas- the Texas Forestry folks are reporting that the Perryton Fire cross the state line into Ellis County is 75% contained- it totaled 318,056 acres or about 496 square miles.


Meanwhile- here's the latest on the relief efforts by folks in agriculture- a relief fund has been established by the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation (OCF), a charitable arm of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association.


"When unfortunate situations happen, it is humbling to see how generous folks can be to help those who are in need and we are happy to provide a place for those funds to be held," said Jeff Jaronek, Coordinator of the OFC. "We will coordinate with the Extension offices in each county to organize relief efforts in the area and to identify ranchers that are in need."


OKC West Livestock Market in El Reno is going to donate and auction off a calf on Wednesday March 22 at noon with proceeds going to the fire relief established at the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation.


Kripple E Cattle Co., owned by Kyle and Kelsy Eastwood has also donated a heifer to auction off at Cherokee Sales Co. in Cherokee. The heifer will sell the following Wednesday on March 29 at 11 a.m. with proceeds to also go to the relief fund established by the OCF.

To find out more about the relief efforts being made to help our neighbors in Northwest Oklahoma, or for instruction on making a financial contribution or hay donation, click here.

January exports of U.S. beef and pork were up significantly year-over-year, maintaining the solid momentum established in the fourth quarter of 2016, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.


Beef exports totaled 96,488 metric tons (mt), up 17 percent from a year ago, valued at $515.5 million - up 18 percent and the highest ever for the month of January. Exports accounted for 12.2 percent of total beef production and 9.5 percent for muscle cuts only - with both ratios being fairly steady with January 2016. Export value per head of fed slaughter was $256.62, up 7 percent from a year ago.


January pork exports were up 21 percent from a year ago in volume (202,667 mt) and jumped 26 percent in value to $508.6 million. Exports accounted for 26.2 percent of total pork production and 21.7 percent for muscle cuts - up significantly from the respective January 2016 shares of 22.3 percent and 18.8 percent. Pork export value averaged $50.23 per head slaughtered, up 21 percent from a year ago.


"The red meat industry entered 2017 with an optimistic outlook, confident that we can continue our recent strong momentum in the international markets," said Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. "The January results certainly validate that feeling, but we understand that significant challenges still lie ahead. With record-large pork production and beef production also trending higher it's more important than ever that we capitalize on our abundance of protein, and move more product out of the country by growing U.S. market share in established markets and breaking new ground in emerging destinations."

To continue reading this story for further details, click here.

Problems with transparency, liquidity, volatility, etc. have challenged cattle markets for some time now. One problem that has been around for a few years and is in recent months even more prevalent is the convergence issue, which has allowed the futures market to align with the cash market by the time a particular contract is settled. According to Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel, who spoke recently with me, some of the more recent trade has exacerbated the convergence problem.


"We've talked a lot about volatility in the futures market both live and the feeder cattle contracts," Peel recounted. "And of course, the markets have been playing catch up to this some what stronger than expected cash market. February live cattle futures just went off the board really struggling to catch up and not really reflecting that stronger cash market until the bitter end."


Peel explains that when taking those February prices relative to where the summer months are priced, he says we have an extraordinarily large discount priced into the live cattle market.


"It's already showing a significant drop from now until the April in the April contract," he pointed out. "That in my mind, will be a little bit bigger discount than is really warranted, but the market knows that we do have more beef production coming."


Read the full story or listen to Peel's explanation of the underlying issues beneath the convergence of the markets for yourself, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.

 
Lacey Swope with News9 is talking rainfall- maybe a decent amount in some areas- in the next day or so- best chances seem to be Friday night into Saturday morning.

Here's her graphic that offers a bit of hope- even into those areas hit hard by the wildfires:



We'll take it!

The First Annual Future of Food Forum has been planned to be held in Enid on April 13, 2017 from 9-1 p.m. at the CNB Center in Downtown Enid. This one day event is being held to highlight the innovations in the production, transportation, and consumption of food around the world and how Oklahoma can capitalize on these trends. The event is designed to appeal to those involved in the production of food commodities in Oklahoma, but also anyone who wants to learn more about where the food industry is heading.

"This event will be the first of its kind in our state," said Brent Kisling, Executive Director for the Enid Regional Development Alliance. "Our state has a rich history of producing some of the best food commodities in the world, but seldom do we stop and consider our position in this supply chain and how we can better capitalize on it. People will always need food and; therefore, will always need the natural resources of our state. Anyone interested in this part of our Oklahoma economy should attend and be a part of the discussion."

Earlier this week, organizers announced the line up of speakers slated to present at the inaugural event. To learn more about this Forum, how to register, and the folks that will be speaking, check out the story on our website by clicking here.