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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 

Primary Elections Moves State Closer to 2017 Legislative Session- Maintains Status Quo in Congressional Delegation  

 
The 2016 Primary Election turned out to be no problem for the five Republican members of Congress that represent the state of Oklahoma. All five, Congressmen Frank Lucas, Tom Cole, Markwayne Mullin, Steve Russell and Jim Bridenstine rolled to easy victories over their GOP challengers. All five face Democratic opposition (and in some cases Independent and/or Libertarian candidates) in the November general election. All are expected to cruise to victory and another two years in Congress.


In the US Senate race for a full six year term- Incumbent James Lankford (R) will face Mike Workman (D), Robert Murphy (L), Sean Braddy (I), and Mark Beard (I) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Lankford and Workman faced no primary opposition, while Murphy defeated Dax Ewbank to win the Libertarian nomination. Lankford ran two years ago and won the right to fill out the remaining two years of the term originally won by Senator Tom Coburn, who resigned.


In the state races, there were several that had agricultural overtones to them. In Oklahoma Senate District 19, former Oklahoma Farm Bureau board member Roland Pederson of Burlington came close to an outright win- but was forced into a runoff in August with Enid Doctor Ross Vanhooser. Pederson won 48.8% of the primary vote- Vanhooser won 40.3%.


In Oklahoma Senate District 31- three candidates ran- the two that survived and will face each other in August are Toni Hasenbeck with almost 41% of the vote and Chris Kidd, who received 38% of the vote.

For more on the Primary election results- click here for our story detailing several more of the state races that have ag storylines.

Soybean Growers Cheer EU Decision to Extend Glyophsate Authorization by 18 Months

The farmers of the American Soybean Association (ASA) welcomed news late Tuesday that the European Commission will re-extend authorization for the herbicide glyphosate for another 18 months. ASA President and Greenwood, Del., soybean farmer Richard Wilkins noted in a statement that the announcement comes as only temporary relief for American farmers searching for certainty in the European marketplace:


"An 18-month extension gives U.S. farmers and exporters the assurance that they will at least have access to the European market for that period of time. Clearly that's not the certainty the industry needs, but it's better than nothing. That said, we are still extraordinarily frustrated by the unscientific approach in the EU. Remember, the European Food Safety Authority found that glyphosate is safe.

"Given this repeatedly proven fact, it's a relief that the Commission decided to step in and issue this reauthorization, even after the Council of Ministers was unable to find the support among its members to affirm the EFSA finding. Continued progress is needed, however. A logical and welcomed next step will be for the EU to finalize approval of the three pending biotech varieties. With that approval, our farmers can move forward with the certainty they need."

OCA's Michael Kelsey Urges Farm and Ranch Community to Get Involved with the Yes Campaign for SQ 777

With the primary elections on our minds this week, many in the agriculture community may be wondering where we stand in regards to the campaign to approve State Question 777, Oklahoma's Right to Farm. SQ 777 will amend the state consitution to provide language that many believe will ensure farmers and ranchers protection from future unwarranted laws and regulations. Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey tells us that proponents of the question are active in working to gain a "yes" vote. 


Kelsey encourages farmers and ranchers to get involved with the campaign. "Number one is to raise funds", Kelsey says. He believes that every $20 or $25 check is important to help gain passage. He adds that those with high-visibility roadside locations can help by requesting a large 4x8 sign, which will be available after the 4th of July. Funding for those signs will be greatly appreciated as well. 


"We know that our adversaries are going to come with their message of deception and falseness and they will be well funded to do that", he says. "They want to continue placing restrictions on livestock producers and they're well funded in order to do that." Kelsey warns that it is important that supporters of 777 are also well funded in order to defend our position. 


He continues that it is important to inform everyone in your rural community as well. "One of the things that will hurt us is if we assume rural Oklahoma is voting for this", he says. "Share that message with your local folks and neighbors." Kelsey advises that you can share that message by starting the conversation in your community, placing a bumper sticker on your vehicle, or putting a sign up on your property. 


His third message is to "share the message with your urban friends". It is important for urban friends and family near the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas to hear about the issue and to be encourage to vote "yes." "It is vitally important that we do that right now". 


Click here to listen to my conversation with Kelsey about State Question 777, Oklahoma's Right to Farm. 

AFBF and NAWG Both Give Thumbs Up to Roberts-Stabenow Bill

The National Association of Wheat Growers echoes AFBF and expressed their support for the compromise GMO Labeling Bill jointly authored by Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas and Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.


NAWG applauds the bipartisan efforts to secure a national standard that preempts a state-by-state patchwork, thereby avoiding a conflict of regulatory laws between states. NAWG supports the proposed bill, which allows for a variety of labeling options which do not vilify biotechnology.


"GMOs have been scientifically proven to be safe for human consumption and there is no nutritional difference," says NAWG President Gordon Stoner. "It is vital that a patchwork of state laws not jeopardize access to safe, sustainably produced food; this national standard will assure food security for generations to come."

A Thousand Plus Groups and Companies Tell the Senate- Consider Roberts-Stabenow GMO Labeling Bill NOW- Before July 4th 

Over a thousand groups and companies have put their name on a letter sent to the US Senate, calling for a vote right away on the so called Roberts-Stabenow GMO Labeling Compromise bill. The letter reads in part:


"We, the undersigned organizations, represent all segments of the U.S. food chain- producers, cooperatives, agribusinesses, processors, seed makers, handlers, food and feed manufacturers, restaurants, lenders, and retailers. It is vitally important for the Senate to call up and pass the legislation drafted by Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow on biotech labeling in order to avoid the economic costs of a patchwork of state laws that will directly impact consumers, farmers, and the entire food value chain. 


"We strongly support the Roberts - Stabenow biotech labeling agreement, which buildson the Biotechnology Labeling Solutions Act, that was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee 14- 6 on March first. The issue of biotech labeling is one of the most significant issues that the agriculture and food industry has faced in recent years. The U.S. agriculture and food industry creates over 17 million jobs, representing nearly 1 in 10 jobs. This very system. which produces the most abundant, the highest quality, and the most affordable food supply in the world will be threatened with large economic costs without a national uniform solution to the biotech labeling issue.


"The application of biotechnology to agricultural production has led to increased crop yields, decreased use of pesticides, and lower food costs for consumers. Congress must ensure we avoid senseless mandates that will thwart agricultural advancement and hurt consumers, especially those low income Americans who can least afford to pay more to feed their families."


At least nine groups and companies with direct Oklahoma ties signed the letter- including Reasors Supermarkets, the Oklahoma Ag Coop Council, Oklahoma AgCredit, Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers, Oklahoma Agricultural Coop Council, Oklahoma Beverage Association, Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association and the Oklahoma Soybean Association.


Click here to find a link to the complete letter and the twelve pages of names signing it. 

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Local Farmer Convinced No Till has its Benefits

Back in 2009, you couldn't pay Scotty Herriman to try no-till. "Our bottomland is tight, heavy clay," he insisted. "It won't work here."


Scotty has been growing corn, soybeans, wheat and milo on 2,000 acres in Nowata County, Oklahoma for over 50 years, so it's generally wise to take his word when it comes to farming. But Scotty is the first to acknowledge he misjudged no-till. Six years into his total no-till conversion, now he says "it will work here, and I've proved it."


As is the unfortunate truth for many producers, it took a series of disasters to get Scotty to consider changing from the conventional farming practices he had used for decades. He had seen others try no-till as early as the 1970s, but even during the severe drought of 1980-1981, Scotty doubted the cost-effective and water-saving system. He was convinced a chisel was necessary to break up his soil, and the cost of a no-till drill was a gamble that outweighed the potential benefit.

After the first no-till planting, Scotty's wife, Jo, described the farm as the ugliest in the county-referring to the crop residue that is intentionally left on the soil surface to protect the soil from erosion and temperature extremes. But the results are undeniable: the Herriman's have cut equipment and fuel costs and reduced fertilizer usage in certain crops. Today, both Scotty and Jo have reversed their opinions on "ugly" soil. It's the exposed soil without residue that's really an eyesore.

Click here to read more about Scotty Herriman's success with no-till farming.

OCA Annual Summer Ranch Tour Goes International in 2016

Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, recently led a group of Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association members south across the border to take a closer look at both culture and agriculture in Mexico. The Oklahoma cattle producers visited ranches and feedlots from Veracruz on the Gulf Coast up to Mexico City.


The group learned about the limitations Mexican cattle producers face in terms of the kind of cattle best suited for the country's tropical climate. Peel says the Zebu/dairy cross often used as the basis for Mexican cattle limits the genetic opportunity for beef quality and quantity. Despite the challenges, Peel says the Mexican cattle feeding sector is still quite progressive.


"One of the things I think producers were impressed by was the fact that there's a growing, very modern, very technologically advanced feeding industry developing in those tropical regions," he says. 


Peel says trade between Mexico and the United States has evolved significantly over the last few years.


"For many, many years, of course, the U.S. has been a recipient of Mexican cattle exports. That was augmented about 20 or 25 years ago with Mexico becoming a significant destination for U.S. beef exports," he says. "Most recently, Mexico has become a significant producer of boxed beef and is now a significant global trader, with the U.S. being the predominant destination for Mexican beef exports."


As a result, Peel says we will probably begin to see changes in the flow of Mexican cattle that have historically crossed into the United States. 


"They're being retained now - and are likely to continue to be retained - in Mexico for domestic production," he says. "So the focus may shift more toward the meat flows and a little bit less from the cattle flows that we've seen in the past."


Listen to Peel talk more about the OCA tour and the Mexican beef industry during the latest Beef Buzz.

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