Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
|
|
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Thursday, March 4, 2021
|
|
|
|
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Oklahoma Youth Expo Ready to Roll March 8 With Record High Entries, Says Kass Newell, OYE Executive VP
- Farm Bureau Encouraging Members to Ask Legislators to Vote NO on New County Property Taxes
- Experts Agree Strong Global Demand For U.S. Beef Should Continue in 2021
- FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration's Actions to Reduce Food Insecurity Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
- Soy Innovation Challenge Winners Deliver Next-Generation Ag Technologies
- Meatpacking Industry Fought Pandemic Safety Measures, Documents Show
- John Deere Updates Seeding Tools and Unveils new Sprayers
- Express Ranches to Offer Over 500 Bulls at Their 27th Annual Spring Bull Sale Friday
|
Oklahoma Youth Expo Ready to Roll March 8 With Record High Entries, Says Kass Newell, OYE Executive VP
|
The 2021 Oklahoma Youth Expo is just days away as the gates open March 8 for what officials expect will be a great event.
Kass Newell, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Youth Expo, was recently interviewed by Radio Oklahoma Agriculture Network Associate Farm Director and Editor KC Sheperd.
We’re really excited to have a full show this year, Newell, after having a pandemic-shortened event last year.
The entries are up as it continues to grow, across all species
There are over 21,000 entries, hogs are up 1,000 head, which continues a years-long trend of adding about 1,000 pigs every year, Newell said.
Here is the breakdown for this year’s show:
Market Steers - 845
Breeding Heifers - 1809
Market Barrows - 7292
Breeding Gilts - 7287
Market Lambs - 2217
Breeding Ewes - 1237
Market Goats - 1355
Breeding Does - 1516
|
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.
|
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Encouraging Members to Ask Legislators to Vote NO on New County Property Taxes
|
Oklahoma Farm Bureau is encouraging members to contact their state legislators to urge a NO vote on House Bill 2092 by Rep. Lonnie Sims and Senate Bill 189 by Sen. Dave Rader.
The legislation would allow county commissioners to create a hazard mitigation district funded by a new property tax, upon approval by 60% of voters in the county.
The district would include all territory within the county, except for land within city limits that is zoned for agricultural use. Unincorporated land in rural areas is not exempted, which would subject farmers, ranchers and landowners to an additional property tax burden.
Authorized uses for the funds generated by the new tax include, but are not limited to:
- short-term and long-term acquisitions and improvements to the county;
- planning, constructing, operating and maintaining hazard mitigation capital improvements;
- securing matching funds from the state or federal government;
- purchasing and maintaining equipment and vehicles;
- administrative costs for county management of a mitigation plan;
- administrative costs for county treasurers to bill, collect and process the new tax;
- acquiring, demolishing, relocating, or elevating structures in flood prone areas;
- county health departments for public health hazard mitigation plans;
- and cleanup following a hazard.
- The bills would lead to a significant expansion of red tape and government bureaucracy at the county level by creating two new commissions to manage the district funds. And the legislation is only one in a series of property tax increase proposals being considered by lawmakers at the state Capitol this year.
Both bills have passed out of their respective committees- they would have to be considered on the floor of their respective chamber by next Thursday or they would fail the next deadline and be dead for this session.
|
Experts Agree Strong Global Demand For U.S. Beef Should Continue in 2021
|
Strong global demand for U.S. beef is boosting the market said Kent Bacus, senior director of international trade and market access for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Bacus was a presenter at the recent virtual winter NCBA policy conference and was optimistic about the prospects of trade.
I definitely think so, Bacus said.
Foreign demand for U.S. beef has never been higher, he said.
We were able to secure several trade victories in the past several years to set us up to capitalize on the strong demand, especially in Asia and Latin America, Bacus said.
He singled out China, Japan and Korea as major customers of U.S. beef today.
All of these are new opportunities, he said, noting the trade victories were on both tariff and non-tariff issues.
You look at 2018 the total import value for China for meat and poultry was around $10 billion, he said.
Last year that number was at $28 billion!
|
|
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
|
|
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration's Actions to Reduce Food Insecurity Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
|
The COVID-19 public health and economic crisis is bigger than any other we’ve seen in our lifetimes - while the pandemic has forced the U.S. economy into crisis, millions of Americans are struggling with food insecurity, unemployment, and falling behind on housing payments. Hunger has increased throughout the pandemic, with as many as 30 million adults and 12 million children living in a household where they may not always get enough to eat.
Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated longstanding disparities in food insecurity. Black and Latino adults are more than twice as likely as white adults to report that their households did not get enough to eat.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Biden-Harris administration are committed to ensuring that all struggling families can get the nutritious food they need.
Supporting Struggling Families through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
In good times and tough times, USDA’s nutrition assistance programs are among the most far-reaching, powerful tools available to ensure that all Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity, or background, have access to healthy, affordable food. USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides low-income Americans with access to healthy groceries. Approximately 43 million Americans rely on this program to feed themselves and their families. USDA and the Biden-Harris administration are working to strengthen this vital program by:
|
|
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.
|
Sponsor Spotlight
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.
|
|
|
Soy Innovation Challenge Winners Deliver Next-Generation Ag Technologies
|
The Yield Lab Institute, in partnership with the United Soybean Board (USB), Syngenta, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the ICL Group, is proud to announce the winners of the Soy Innovation Challenge. Seven finalists were selected from nearly 90 worldwide applicants. These trailblazing ag-tech startups and teams offered solutions across a wide range of specialized fields, ranging from land stewardship and greenhouse gas monitoring to blockchain, traceability advancements and detailed nutritional information.
The challenge delivered game-changing technologies designed to disrupt the current soybean value chain to create increased profitability for U.S. soybean farmers. A total of $220,000 in cash prizes was awarded to the winners, along with in-kind cloud computing technical service credits and entrepreneurial networking and business coaching.
The cash prize winners announced at the Commodity Classic 2021 are:
· Regrow (formerly FluroSat) - Provides full crop-cycle analytics for sustainable and profitable agriculture - Grand Prize Winner awarded $100,000.
· Ecosystem Services Market Consortium - Launching a national ecosystem services market to provide farmers with compensation for the economic and social benefits from their land stewardship practices - 1st Runner-Up awarded $60,000.
· SoilMetrics - Provides software services for farmers to understand current greenhouse gas emissions and evaluate options for reducing them - 2nd Runner-Up awarded $40,000.
· Genesis Feed Technologies - Platform that increases the market value of U.S. soybeans across the supply chain by revealing the economic impact of their high-quality nutritional profile - 3rd Runner-Up awarded $20,000.
|
Meatpacking Industry Fought Pandemic Safety Measures, Documents Show
|
Today Public Citizen released documents obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in response to a FOIA request, which show how the meatpacking industry vehemently resisted the few attempts by the Trump administration to stop the spread of coronavirus in meatpacking plants last spring.
“It is heartbreaking to see the callousness of the meatpacking industry, pushing back against basic safety measures that could have saved hundreds of lives and helped contain the COVID-19 pandemic. While we knew that meatpacking companies did not take adequate measures to protect their workers and the communities they lived in from the threat of COVID-19, these documents show that the industry actively pushed back against the few steps the Trump Administration took to try to ensure the safety of meatpacking workers and federal inspectors,” said Adam Pulver, attorney at Public Citizen Litigation Group.
While previous documents obtained by Public Citizen showed how the meatpacking industry intensely, albeit unsuccessfully, lobbied the White House and USDA for immunity from liability for their actions and inactions, these new documents paint a damning picture of an industry that rebuked common-sense reporting and public health measures designed to stop the spread of the deadly virus, including:
• In April 2020, officials in the North American Meat Institute protested USDA’s decision not to send Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Inspectors who were exposed to COVID-19 into other plants. On April 15, 2020, one NAMI official stated, “We can't start sidelining individuals at FSIS or in the industry because they may have been exposed. We all may have been exposed at this point.”
|
John Deer Updates Seeding Tools and Unveils new Sprayers
|
John Deere has made key updates for model year 2022 to its lineup of air seeding tools. For MY22, the John Deere RelativeFlow™ Blockage detection system is being added to all John Deere air seeding tools. TruSet™ In-Cab Downforce adjustment and new Quick-Change Blades are also being offered for all MY22 John Deere no-till air seeding tools.
During the seeding operation, the RelativeFlow Blockage detection system helps farmers make sure product is being accurately and uniformly distributed. If blockages or reductions occur the system alerts the operator of the issue, saving operators time by eliminating the need for them to leave the tractor to check for blockages. Using RelativeFlow Blockage detection, farmers also can avoid the need to reseed areas that were skipped in the field that were caused by blockages of seed and fertilizer.
To meet the application needs of today’s farmers who demand operator comfort, high-quality application and the most machine uptime possible, John Deere has introduced new 400 and 600 Series Sprayers. The lineup of 400 Series Sprayers includes the 408R, 410R, and 412R, while the 600 Series includes the 612R and 616R.
“Each sprayer features a new, larger cab with your choice of three comfort and convenience packages available to fit a variety of needs,” Joel Basinger, marketing manager for John Deere said. “The 400 and 600 Series Sprayers turn technology into application quality and enhance machine uptime for customers.”
|
Express Ranches to Offer Over 500 Bulls at Their 27th Annual Spring Bull Sale Friday
|
The 27th Annual Spring Bull Sale of Express Ranches is set for tomorrow- March 5th at the ranch in Yukon- starting at 11:30 am.
A total of 470 Angus and 53 Hereford Bulls will be sold.
A few days back- we talked with Express Ranches President and CEO Jarold Callahan about the offering and about the seedstock business has changed over the past quarter centrury.
For details about the sale- click here for the Express website.
On the website- you will find the link for the Sale Book.
You can attend the sale in person or online via the Superior Video website- the direct link for the Express Bull Sale is available here.
|
|
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.
|
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.
|
Wholesale Boxed Beef Prices were lower again on Wednesday- Choice Beef was down $1.65 while Select Beef dropped another $1.93.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
|
OKC West in El Reno bounced back with a total of 13,733 cattle this week as weather conditions got back to more seasonal norms.
Compared to last week's limited offering: Feeder steers sold steady to weak. Feeder heifers traded mostly 1.00-4.00 lower. Demand moderate. Steer calves sold 3.00-5.00 higher. Heifer calves traded sharply higher with instances on lighter weight heifers as much as 10.00 higher. Demand good to very good. Quality average to attractive.
Click below for the complete closing report.
|
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..
|
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.
|
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
|
|
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:
|
|
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.
|
|
God Bless!
Reach Out To Us:
|
|
Tim West
President/General Manager
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
2401 Exchange Avenue,
Suite F
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
405.317.6361
|
|
Ron Hays
Director of Farm Programming
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
405.473.6144
|
|
|
|
|
|
|