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Plains Grains Calls Oklahoma Wheat Harvest 71% Complete, Texas at 59% and Kansas 23% Harvested  

The latest Wheat Harvest Report for the southern Great Plains has been released by Plains Grains, Inc. In the week since the last report from the group, there has been significant harvest progress made in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, while harvest has now begun in Colorado.

According to Plains Grains- "The 2016 HRW wheat harvest is moving rapidly north as hot and mostly dry weather prevail as evidenced by harvest completion as of June 16 in Texas (59% vs 27% last week ), Oklahoma (71% vs 28% last week) and Kansas (23% vs 1% last week). Test cutting is now reported within 50 miles (80 km) of the Nebraska southern border in eastern parts of north central Kansas. Rain and mud continue to be an issue for north and west Texas, southwest Oklahoma and isolated areas of eastern Kansas. Some of the fields in north Texas and southwest Oklahoma may not be harvested due to high water and excessive mud.


"Preliminary testing of 46 samples from north Texas and Oklahoma reflect numerous rain storms on the crop after ripening with test weights lower than expected (below 59.0 lb/ac (77.6 kg/hl)). An additional 23 samples are now in the lab and preliminary testing has begun. Yields from Oklahoma extending northward into Kansas continue to be very good with 30-50 bu/ac (2.0-3.4 tons/ha) still common. Long wait lines are getting shorter, but many elevator locations have been forced to use ground piles at least for short-term storage due to a lack of elevator space (is usually the lowest protein)."  CLICK HERE for the complete Plains Grains report including the test results from those first samples that have been analyzed for quality traits.


A testament to the big yields and lack of storage space- wheat producer Roland Pederson wrote us an email just after midnight this morning saying" harvesting winding down in the Burlington area. Elevators full of high quality low priced wheat. Wheat is being piled on the ground and flat storage structures like I've never seen in this area before. Reports of very large yields. Most should be done by this Saturday. At least, we should be anyway."


We will talk about the Plains Grains numbers with Mark Hodges on Saturday morning as Mark will be our guest In the Field on News9, KWTV in Oklahoma City.  If you miss it or live outside the News9 footprint- we will be posting it later on Saturday on our website.

 

Six Months Out from the Official Start of Veterinary Feed Directives for Animal Ag- Richard Sellers Says Lots Still to Do to Avoid a Trainwreck

The feed and livestock industries are six months away from the implementation of the Veterinary Feed Directive that was announced about three years ago. And, according to Richard Sellers, Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Education at the American Feed Industry Association, there is still a lot to do before VFDs can be a smooth part of helping treat animals for disease. Sellers says that there are thousands of labels that still must be updated to reflect the new regulations that make up the VFD. He offered his comments on Thursday afternoon in Ardmore at a seminar hosted by the Noble Foundation on the subject. 


I asked Sellers if this regulation has been heavily impacted by politics as well as by activists. He said "Politics is about people - I think the FDA means well, this is a process that has gone on for twenty years to try to change the way that we use drugs in animal agriculture and I think they are doing it in a positive manner and working with us and in the long run, I think we will be able to work this out and the FDA has been very open in discussions with us and we really appreciate it."


As for the activists, Sellers says that there are groups who are convinced that the use of drugs of importance to human health by food animals should not be allowed to continue. 


Sellers acknowledges that there is a lot of work to do in getting the drugs being utilized under a VFD as of January first. The top priority for producers, according to Sellers, is to establish a working relationship with a food animal veterinarian- you must become a client of that Vet in order for him to be able to write a Veterinary Feed Directive after January first. 

Kim Anderson Says It Was a Tough Week for Wheat Prices - But a Small Rally Might Be in the Future

Wheat harvest is rolling on across much of the state, but it's hard to ignore the hit wheat prices took this week. OSU Extension Grain Market Economist Dr. Kim Anderson says the lower prices compared to the last few weeks are most likely from higher-than-expected yields.


"You know we talked about adequate space and we thought we had adequate space to put everything, but I think there's some elevators running out of space," he says. "When they run out of space, then they gotta lower that basis because they're going to lose some wheat if they have to put it out in bunkers or on ground storage."


Anderson says the cash price was down $.50 to $.60. The market lost $.40 on the futures price and another $.05 to $.15 on the basis depending on the location.


Looking forward, Anderson says prices may continue to fall slightly but the bottom is near.


"The market will probably waller sideways from here, and then I think we're going to get a rally before we get into planting time," he says. "Some producers just aren't going to plant wheat if this price doesn't go higher because they're planting at below cost of production."


Click here to listen to Anderson talk more current wheat market conditions and be sure to catch him on SUNUP this weekend - Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and Sunday at 6 a.m. on the statewide OETA network of stations.

Farmers and Ranchers Encouraged to Apply for USDA Grants to Increase the Value of Ag Products

Oklahoma agricultural producers are reminded that the deadline is drawing near for the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. In April, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced that up to $44 million would be made available to farmers, ranchers, and cooperatives to further process, package, or market the raw commodities that they produce.

"This year's funding for Value-Added Producer Grants is a substantial increase over recent years," said Ryan McMullen, State Director for USDA Rural Development. "With quality applications from Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers, we expect to have a significant increase in the number of successful applicants this year."


McMullen indicated that Oklahoma agricultural producers have a strong track record of successful applications. In recent years Red Rock Premium Beef in Hydro, Oklahoma, used their grant to capture higher returns by equipping their cattle production operation to sell cuts of their high-quality beef at retail prices. Another recent grant awarded to LOMAH Dairy in Wyandotte, Oklahoma, helped them to expand their product line to include non-traditional dairy items such as Skier and Kefir, in addition to traditional dairy items of yogurt and cheese. 


Such grants can be used for working capital or to develop feasibility studies, marketing plans or business plans. Priority is given to veterans, members of socially disadvantaged groups, beginning farmers and ranchers, and operators of small- and medium-sized family farms and ranches.


The deadline to submit paper applications is July 1, 2016. Electronic applications are due June 24, 2016. Additional information and assistance is available by contacting USDA Rural Development at (405) 742-1061.

Click here for a link to the online submission website.

OSU's Shannon Ferrell Says Start Planning Now to Keep the Farm in the Family

Most farmers and ranchers dream of passing their operations down to the next generation, but that can be a tricky process for some families. Shannon Ferrell, associate professor of ag economics at OSU, is also a lawyer and is known nationally for his expertise in legal issues down on the farm. 


"If you ask any producer - farmer or rancher - their core value is that they want to make sure their family can keep this farm operation together to the next generation and that they can keep their family engaged with that operation," Ferrell says. "There's lots of emotional and business reasons for wanting to do that."


Ferrell has presented seminars on estate planning all across the country and says succession planning is more than just making a will or a trust; it's a process.


"What we've really been kind of working on is trying to develop an awareness with our audiences to say an estate plan is a critical piece of this process, but it's a process - there are lots of steps beyond that if you really want to make this business robust enough to make that transfer to the next generation," he says.


Estate taxes have often been a concern for families in transferring the farm to the next generation. Ferrell said the latest estate tax reforms have improved in recent years. For example in 2016, he said the exemption level has been raised to $5.45 million dollars. With a spouse, the combined exemption totals $10.9 million dollars before the estate taxes kick in. 


"For the vast majority of our operations, there's not going to be an estate tax bite," he says. "So long as you take the bull by the horns and do some planning to make sure you take full advantage." 


Listen to Ferrell talk more about the importance of succession planning during the latest Beef Buzz.

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Producer Optimism Shines Through at the 2016 World Pork Expo 

This year's World Pork Expo reflected an optimistic tone as more than 20,000 producers and ag professionals, including 1,100 international guests from 35 countries, convened at the state fairgrounds in Des Moines, June 8-10. Presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), the 28th annual Expo featured the world's largest pork-specific trade show, a range of educational seminars and issue updates, and another Junior National swine show that filled the barns to capacity. The Big Grill served up more than 10,000 lunches; allied industry hospitality tents lined the streets of the Iowa State Fairgrounds; and MusicFest provided an evening of fun and fellowship.


"World Pork Expo is a place where pork producers can network and share ideas, see the latest innovations for their businesses and broaden their expertise through a range of educational seminars and updates," says John Webber, NPPC president and pork producer from Dysart, Iowa. "U.S. pork producers are optimistic by nature and are looking forward to new packing capacity coming online. Some are upgrading facilities and expanding production, and all are hoping to continue to supply high-quality pork to the world through further export growth."

 

Junior National continues its strong showing

This year, the World Pork Expo Junior National started on Monday, June 6, to accommodate the ever-expanding program. Hosted by the National Junior Swine Association and Team Purebred, the Junior National of has evolved into one of the nation's premiere youth swine shows and educational events. In all, 948 youth from 30 states participated in showmanship, swine judging and live-hog competitions through June 10. Other activities during the week included Youth PQA Plus certification and a Skillathon, which tests contestants' pork production knowledge. 

A venue to exchange information and ideas

Expo gives pork producers the opportunity to collect and share information, whether it occurs one-on-one, within a seminar or consulting with one of the nation's leading pork experts. More than a dozen free business seminars and PORK Academy presentations this year updated pork producers on ways to maximize their competitive advantage from the farrowing house to the global marketplace. Expo sessions also addressed some cutting-edge topics, outlining the importance of cyber security, how to prepare for a common industry audit and the upcoming changes to on-farm antibiotic use beginning Jan. 1, 2017. 

NPPC has announced dates for the 2017 World Pork Expo: June 7-9, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Save the dates - it's never too early to start making plans to attend.

Click here to read more about the World Pork Expo trade show and Junior National.

U.S. Poultry Exports Forecast to Modestly Rebound in 2016

Below is IHS Maritime and Trade senior economist Mario Moreno's latest commodity snapshot on U.S. exports of poultry.

 
"US poultry exports tumbled 13.0 percent in 2015 for a total volume of 3.5 million metric tons as China, South Korea, Angola, and other major markets banned all poultry imports from the US since the beginning of 2015, following a multistate outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza. Meanwhile, the Russian market continues to be closed for all US poultry since August 2014, a retaliation response to sanctions over Russia's annexation of Crimea.

"Market conditions have been very tough last year, not only because of the import bans in major markets but also the strength of the US dollar. Looking forward, a modest rebound of 3.1 percent is expected for 2016, thanks in part to an easy year-over-year comparison base. Moreover, the strength of the dollar has eased, and top buyer Mexico recently lifted its ban for US poultry products from all US states, except the state of Indiana. Also, South Africa ended its import ban on US poultry early this year."


To read the analysis on poultry exports for the balance of the year- click here.
 

College World Series Ramps Up Saturday- Oklahoma Genetics Sponsoring Radio Call

Oklahoma Genetics, Inc. is a proud sponsor of OSU Baseball in their bid for a National Championship, both having "Proven Performance" and a winning team.

Among the stations that will be carrying the broadcast are KTJS- AM at 1420 in Hobart, KWEY- AM at 1590 in Weatherford, KMZE-FM at 92.1 in Woodward and KMMY-FM at 96.5 in Hugo- these are stations that are a part of the Radio Oklahoma Network family- if you are looking for other stations that are carrying the games- click here for the complete list from the OSU Athletics website.

Go Pokes!

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