Joining forces in support of President Donald Trump's pick for USDA Secretary, Sonny Perdue, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Grain and Feed Association approached the members of the US Senate this week strongly urging them to confirm the former Georgia Governor before the legislative body breaks for its two-week spring intercession on April 7th.

"U.S. farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses - and the consumers we serve - need the strong, capable leadership at USDA that Gov. Perdue will provide," the AFBF and NGFA said. "He is a dedicated, accomplished, innovative, problem-solving and proven public servant, and we need him at the USDA to begin addressing a backlog of policy issues that are awaiting his attention and to begin the process of filling key positions within the department. It also is vital to have Gov. Perdue engaged fully within the administration and with Congress on international trade, farm bill and regulatory issues affecting U.S. farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses."

Farm Bureau also signed onto a separate letter with other farm groups last Friday- also pleading with Senate leadership to fit a vote on Perdue into this week- before Easter- click here to read more and for a link to that letter.

Last week we heard OSU's Dr. Kim Anderson's take on the highly anticipated Prospective Plantings and March 1 Grain Stocks reports from the USDA. This week, his colleague, Dr. Derrell Peel breaks down the numbers in his weekly article in the Cow/Calf Corner newsletter and projects what impacts the data will have on the beef industry.

According to Peel's analysis, "Early planting intentions for corn were down 4.3 percent from last year at 90.0 million acres. Soybean planting intentions were up 7.3 percent at 89.5 million acres. A relatively high soybean to corn price ratio is driving the switch, not because soybean prices are particularly attractive but because corn prices are so unattractive. 2017 wheat planted acreage is also down 8.2 percent from one year ago at 46.1 million acres, again driven by unattractive wheat prices.   This follows a general trend of decreasing wheat acreage resulting in the lowest all wheat planted acreage since 1909. In addition to increased soybean planting, cotton planting intentions are up 21.4 percent at 12.2 million acres."

Peel goes on to say that the reports indicate a shift in the use of farm land is occurring currently. All things considered, he says this could impact the cattle industry in a number of different ways.

In his consideration, Peel wonders if, "lower crop prices will result in reestablishment of pasture in the Midwest and other major cropping regions. There may be some short term increase in annual crops for hay and pasture in these regions. In the current crop intentions, projected total harvested hay acreage is down slightly, year over year, for the U.S. but hay acreage is projected to be up year over year in Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. Data is not yet available to determine if perennial pastures are being reestablished in major crop areas. However, it seems unlikely at this point in time. Reseeding pastures would require fences, water development for grazing and an expectation of several years of beneficial use for grazing. Until or unless crop prices remain depressed for an extended period of time, there will likely continue to be less hay and pasture forage resources available in major crop regions compared to earlier periods."

To read Peel's full analysis of the recent USDA reports, to get a deeper understanding of how they will affect the beef business, click or tap here.

In the latest crop weather report released Monday April 3, 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture rates the US winter wheat crop condition at 51 percent good to excellent, with 35 percent fair, 11 percent poor and 3 percent very poor. Cotton planted reached 4 percent and sorghum planted stands at 15 percent. For the complete USDA Crop Progress report, click here.

According to the weekly crop progress report from USDA, Oklahoma received multiple scattered showers and storms last week which brought needed drought relief across most of state. Winter wheat jointing reached 66 percent, up 6 points from normal. Canola blooming reached 49 percent, up 21 points from normal. Corn planted reached 5 percent across the state. To view the complete Oklahoma Crop Progress and Condition Report, click here.

In Kansas, much needed rain fell across the entire state. Winter wheat condition rated 5 percent very poor, 15 poor, 37 fair, 40 good, and 3 excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 31 percent. To view the complete Kansas Crop Progress and Condition Report, click here.

In Texas, hail accompanied the rains averaging upwards of 5 inches in some areas with high winds in the Blacklands causing damage to crops. Winter wheat condition was rated 79 percent fair to good. Wheat began to head out in the High Plains and was entering the ripening stage in South Texas. To view the complete Texas Crop Progress and Condition Report, click here.

To sum up the current winter wheat crop condition here in the southern plains- here's the Good to Excellent Ratings for this week and the change from last week:

Oklahoma 41%   +4%
Kansas     43%   +5%
Texas       39%    +5%

The drop in the poor to very poor categories also reflect the benefits of moisture:

Oklahoma   17%    - 2%
Kansas       20%    -5%
Texas         17%     -6%

I attended the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association Convention in San Antonio this past weekend and reports that one of the highlight from the event, was the analysis offered by CattleFax CEO Randy Blach, on the current position of the cattle market. According to him, the end of 2016 and the early days of 2017 have proved to be very good indeed for cattle producers.


"It's been a really good recovery we've seen since last fall," Blach observed. "The markets have come back about 35 percent, so we're seeing cattle profitable in all segments of the industry which is a very welcome situation."


In fact, feeder cattle in particular, have to this point even outperformed what the folks at CattleFax had projected. Blach says that right now things are hitting on all cylinders but points out, too, that the market has behaved almost erratically during the last several months and warns producers against putting all their eggs in one basket so to speak.


"We're in one of the most volatile times in the history of our industry," he said. "I think we all have to take it with a grain of salt. With the magnitude of moves that we're seeing in these markets, we're quite likely going to continue to see bigger swings from highs to low, and from lows to highs that what we've seen over the last 20 or 30 years. I think we just need to get used to that."


Listen to Blach and I review the performance of the cattle market over the last several months along with his concerns, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.

 
During the month of April, we will be spotlighting the twenty District Stars of Oklahoma FFA that are among the highest achievers in the organization. The stars come from the five districts in four categories- Star in Ag Placement, Star in Agriscience, Star in Agribusiness and Star in Production Agriculture. We are beginning our series of profiles of the District Stars with the five district winners in Ag Placement.

Our first district star in Ag Placement represents the Northeast District- Beecher Owens of Mannford FFA. Owens has been employed by Pleasant Valley Farms and has been involved in both an Agri Tourism program as well as Forest Management and Products. In the second part of his SAE- the Forest enterprise is raising and selling Christmas Trees, which dovetails with the Agri Tourism efforts of the farm.

Click or tap here to read more about Beecher and his program- and for a chance to hear my interview with Beecher right after he had faced the judges for State Star consideration.

We want to thank AFR for stepping up and sponsoring this special series of interviews. American Farmers & Ranchers are proud to support Oklahoma's youth. Visit the AFR website by clicking or tapping here to learn more on how AFR supports the young people of Oklahoma, and how AFR can provide you with quality insurance for your home, auto, farm, and life.

I caught up with NCBA President Craig Uden recently who just wrapped up a trip to Washington meeting with legislators and political leaders during NCBA's Spring Legislative Conference.

Uden said the conference was a great success this year with around 250 cattlemen from across the county putting boots on the Hill to lobby for the beef industry.

One issue that was top of mind for producers during this opportunity to meet face to face with policymakers, was trade. Uden says that despite the unprecedented strength in the markets right now, producers should still focus on resolving issues of trade, especially since TPP is now off the table and since a US Trade Representative has yet to be confirmed.

"What's really surprised everybody I think has been the solid, solid demand," he said. "Beef is growing leaps and bounds as far as the domestic product and the choice of the American consumer. But, we still have to continue to work on trade because if we don't, we'll have to consume that much more."

Learn more about what issues were discussed and with who, during NCBA's Spring Legislative Conference and take a listen to my interview with Uden, by clicking or tapping here.

Applications to renew expiring Conservation Stewardship Programs contracts through USDA/NRCS are due by May 5, 2017. NRCS made several updates to the popular program last fall, with changes designed to help producers better evaluate conservation options that benefit their operations while improving the health and productivity of private and Tribal working lands.

Participants with existing CSP contracts that will expire on Dec. 31, 2017 can access the benefits of the recent program changes through an option to renew their contracts for an additional five years if they agree to adopt additional activities to achieve higher levels of conservation on their lands.

"CSP does not involve setting land aside or taking it out of production. With CSP, Oklahoma's natural resource concerns can be addressed while maintaining the agricultural activity that makes Oklahoma's economy so vibrant," said Gary O'Neill, State Conservationist for NRCS in Oklahoma. "With the changes we've brought to CSP in the last year, we believe we've got one of the most powerful tools available to make high-level conservation work on active farm and ranch operations."

Interested in renewing your existing contract, or, in applying for CSP for the first time? Click here for more information.