Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Thursday, February 25, 2021
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- The Tulsa Farm Show Returns to Expo Square for the 27th Year- Sponsored by Oklahoma Farm Bureau
- Oklahoma Ag Sec. Blayne Arthur Praises State And National Colleagues as She Highlights Last 12 Months
- Help is on The Way For Cattle Producers Impacted by Brutal Cold Weather And Covid-19 Says NCBA's Ethan Lane
- Farmers Need More Time to Apply for CFAP
- NMPF Statement on Additional COVID Relief Package
- NCBA President Jerry Bohn: Beef Is, and Always Will Be Sustainable
- NASDA produces toolkit to Strengthen State Agriculture Departments' Efforts to improve food Security Nationwide
- Pilgrims Pride Pleads Guilty to Price Fixing
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The Tulsa Farm Show Returns to Expo Square for the 27th Year- Sponsored by Oklahoma Farm Bureau
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The opening day of the 27th annual Tulsa Farm Show has arrived- after the show owners, Midwest Farm Shows, decided to postpone the annual event from December to February because of COVID concerns.
That move has proven to be a wise one- as case numbers have steadily trended lower since the latter part of 2020.
The 2020 show- now happening here in early 2021 runs today, Friday and Saturday in the same building that it began in the mid 1990s- Expo Square. The name of the building has changed a couple of times- but this event has kept the same name and has done nothing but grow over the years to become one of the largest indoor farm shows in the southern plains.
Show hours are 9 am to 5 pm today and Friday- and 9 to 4 on Saturday.
For the second year in a row- the Oklahoma Farm Bureau is the presenting sponsor of the three day show- and in their exhibit space will feature an emphasis on driver safety with their ENDUI trailer- and also will feature the Grown For You mobile classroom to provide students a fun, fast and factual look at Oklahoma agriculture.
About 300 exhibitors have set up their booths and look forward to seeing you today through Saturday- Admission and Parking are free.
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The Oklahoma Cotton Council is proud to serve the cotton producers and those who are a part of the cotton industry in Oklahoma- promoting and protecting their interests. In Recent Years- cotton acreage has grown in Oklahoma- and today we are the third largest Cotton State in the US- based on Acres Planted.
The Oklahoma Cotton Council works for the cotton farmer in the areas of research, advocacy and education. Follow the Oklahoma Cotton Council on Facebook.
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Oklahoma Ag Sec. Blayne Arthur Praises State And National Colleagues as She Highlights Last 12 Months
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With 2020 in the rear-view mirror, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, Chairman of the NASDA Animal Agriculture Committee, updated her colleagues from other states on the committee’s progress during a zoom conference call Tuesday.
Together we’ve worked very hard to make sure farmers, ranchers and rural communities had the resources and tools they needed to overcome the challenges we saw this past year, Arthur said.
We created the meat processing working group to help overcome the supply chain disruptions and develop opportunities for meat processors across the country, Arthur said.
We all learned from each other and it was beneficial to us in Oklahoma, she said.
We want to thank Congress for passing the RAMP UP Act which will help expand meat processing across the country, she said.
Arthur said another highlight was the animal health labs in several states, including Oklahoma, stepping up to help with the human health testing for Covid-19.
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Help is on The Way For Cattle Producers Impacted by Brutal Cold Weather And Covid-19 Says NCBA's Ethan Lane
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Cattle producers impacted by the brutal cold wave can expect some additional relief from the USDA said Ethan Lane, NCBA vice president of government affairs.
Lane commented on the severe winter weather’s impact on producers during the NCBA’s virtual winter conference this week.
We have been in contact with USDA and others on Capitol Hill as well as our state organizations as we have watched this weather devastate cattle producers, Lane said.
This has had a really major impact on how we do business, Lane said.
In our conversations with the new USDA administration they reiterated to us they were taking stock of what they were going to need to deliver aid to producers quickly and efficiently once we know who needs what, Lane said.
It’s going to be important producers take really good notes and save all documents, Lane said.
On a similar note, producers are wanting to know when will CFAP 3 money arrive. The Covid-19 relief funding bill was passed by Congress in late December.
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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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Farmers Need More Time to Apply for CFAP
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The American Farm Bureau Federation is asking USDA to extend the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). In January, an additional $13 billion in assistance was made available to help farmers and ranchers who are suffering losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current deadline is this Friday, February 26, but recent severe weather and the suspension of CFAP payments led to challenges and confusion surrounding the application process.
In a letter sent today to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, AFBF President Zippy Duvall said, “The recent Regulatory Freeze Pending Review on all new and pending executive actions, though common during a change in Administration, has created confusion for farmers and ranchers with respect to eligibility and the application process for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program - Additional Assistance. Although Farm Service Agency offices continued to accept applications during the regulatory freeze, some farmers may have interpreted the implementation suspension to mean that the program was being modified or potentially terminated.”
The letter also notes severe weather, which impacted travel conditions and created broadband disruptions, may have also impacted farmers’ ability to complete the application process. AFBF is asking USDA to extend the deadline to apply for assistance by at least 30 days after the regulatory review is completed.
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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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Sponsor Spotlight
National Livestock was founded in 1932 in Oklahoma City. National’s Marketing Division offers cattle for sale weekly at the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City. The Finance Division lends money to ranchers across several states for cattle production. The Grazing Division works with producers to place cattle for grazing on wheat or grass pastures.
National also owns and operates other livestock marketing subsidiaries including Southern Oklahoma Livestock Auction in Ada, Oklahoma, OKC West Livestock Market in El Reno, Oklahoma, and the nation’s premier livestock video sale, Superior Livestock Auction. National offers customers many services custom made for today’s producer. To learn more, click here for the website or call the Oklahoma City office at 1-800-310-0220.
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NMPF Statement on Additional COVID Relief Package
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NMPF is grateful to Congress for working to enact additional COVID-19 stimulus legislation. The pending bill includes critical additional agriculture and nutrition support intended to help farmers, rural communities, and food-insecure households throughout the nation.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government’s strong response has proven invaluable to dairy producers as they keep working, day-in and day-out, to sustainably provide families here at home and abroad with an abundant supply of nutritious dairy products. However, while the availability of a vaccine is cause for hope, difficult months remain ahead.
“NMPF appreciates the additional $3.6 billion Congress would provide to bolster food supply chains and facilitate additional purchases and donations of dairy and other food products to those who need them most. NMPF also supports the legislation’s increased funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which will provide dairy and other nutritious foods to those households and senior citizens who have faced added hardship and unique struggles during this challenging period.
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NCBA President Jerry Bohn: Beef Is, and Always Will Be Sustainable
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association's (NCBA) President Jerry Bohn, today released the following op-ed for publication:
Beef Is, and Always Will Be Sustainable
Jerry Bohn, NCBA President
There is an ongoing conversation in consumer spaces about beef’s contribution climate change. In many circles is being painted as both a villain that can be minimized or eliminated to help solve global climate issues. On the ground, as cattle producers, we know this isn’t accurate. In fact, we know it’s an outrageous lie that’s being used to sell consumers a fake meat product they don’t want or need and one that won’t do anything to solve climate problems. The reality is that we know cattle can be a part of the solution. We know that pasture and rangeland, through proper management, can actually reduce the amount of carbon and more than offset the short-lived methane emissions of our cattle.
Climate and environmental stewardship matter to farmers and ranchers, we feel the impacts of our stewardship decisions every day and we are the first, and most affected portion of the population, when it rains too much or too little. We are the first to be impacted when the weather is too hot or too cold and we’ve seen time and again the consequences of a changing environment. Because of this, I, like most of the farmers and ranchers I speak with, are committed protecting the resources we manage and doing our part to make improvements. However, to make real change, Americans and decisionmakers around the world must recognize that cattle farmers and ranchers are part of the solution. Every food has an impact so simply swapping out beef for alternative proteins or lab-manipulated fake meat will never be an effective solution.
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NASDA produces toolkit to Strengthen State Agriculture Departments' Efforts to improve food Security Nationwide
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When state departments of agriculture form partnerships with other entities, state residents become more food-secure and farmers, ranchers and food producers benefit from wider market access, according to a new toolkit released today
Inspired by NASDA members’ unique ability to form partnerships across the food supply chain and influence food and agriculture policy, this project was led by NASDA President Dr. Ryan Quarles. The NASDA Food Security Toolkit analyzes state agriculture departments’ existing food security programs and partnerships and offers states resources needed to create programs that eliminate food insecurity in the United States.
“The NASDA Food Security Toolkit highlights what our members are already doing to reduce hunger and offers examples for how we can learn from each other to ensure every American has access to fresh and nutritious food,” Quarles said. “It is unacceptable that one in nine Americans are considered to be food insecure . Sharing best practices will help us achieve a more food secure nation.”
The NASDA Food Security Toolkit provides examples of more than 20 successful programs state departments of agriculture have implemented through several forms of partnerships.
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Pilgrims Pride Pleads Guilty to Price Fixing
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Pilgrim's Pride Corporation this week pleaded guilty to price-fixing allegations. The Department of Justice announced the plea, and a sentence to pay approximately $107 million in criminal fines.
According to the plea agreement entered in the U.S. District Court in Denver, from as early as 2012 and continuing at least into 2017,
Pilgrim's participated in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition for sales of broiler chicken products in the U.S. that affected at least $361 million in Pilgrim's sales of broiler chicken products.
Pilgrim's is the first company to plead guilty for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products. Broiler chickens are chickens raised for human consumption and sold to grocers and restaurants. Ten executives and employees at major broiler chicken producers have also previously been charged.
The case results from an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into price-fixing, bid-rigging, and other anticompetitive conduct in the broiler chicken industry.
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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 were mixed- Choice Beef was up 46 cents while Select Beef was 74 cents lower.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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OKC West in El Reno had 4,325 head of cattle this week- combining their calf and yearling sales into one day this week on Wednesday.
Compared to the last test two weeks ago: Feeder steers mostly steady, except heavier weights sold 1.00-2.00 higher. Feeder heifers steady to 2.00 higher. Steers and heifers suitable for grass sold 3.00-10.00 higher. Demand moderate to good for feeder cattle but buyers very selective for kind. Best demand for heavier weights as grain prices continue higher. Steer and heifer calves 5.00-10.00 higher. Demand very good for calves. Temps warmed back into the upper 60's and low 70's yesterday and much of the snow has melted. Spring is right around the corner and grazers are actively buying cattle. Quality average, end attractive. Several cattle coming off wheat.
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 is the 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 affecting rural America.
The Road to Rural Prosperity is here to tell stories about rural America, for rural America.
The Noble Research Institute, based in Ardmore, Oklahoma, has announced their intention to focus on Regenerative Agriculture- and Steve Rhines, CEO and President, tells host Ron Hays that the intention of NRI is to work on a primary goal to regenerate millions of acres of degraded grazing lands across the United States.
"Land stewardship is a core value held by many farmers and ranchers. Regenerative agriculture is the next step in the land stewardship journey wherein farmers and ranchers reduce their reliance on conventional practices and concentrate on restoring or regenerating the soil. The soil is the cornerstone of a healthy ecosystem and a productive farm or ranch."
Hays and Rhines explore the journey that Noble has taken to get to this point of it's existence- and discuss what their work with farmers, ranchers and landowners will look like in the years ahead.
Today's Road to Rural Prosperity is powered by BancFirst, Loyal to Oklahoma and Loyal to You.
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.
We also welcome Express Ranches as our Presenting Sponsor- check out their March 5th Spring Bull Sale- including links to the Sale Book, Sale Video and Sale Data by clicking here for their website.
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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