Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Tom Stephens Named 2021 Oklahoma Ag Hall of Fame Inductee
- New Oklahoma Pork Council Executive Director Kylee Deniz Has Dedicated Her Career to The Pork Industry
- Next Six Weeks Critical For Cattle Market Says OSU's Dr. Peel
- Ag Groups Join in Celebration of National Ag Day
- U.S. Must Enforce Trade Agreements with Mexico
- USDA Awards Over $11.5 Million to Help Small and Mid-Sized Farms on National Ag Day
- Genetic Prediction in Beef Cattle and Expected Progeny Differences
- New Study Shows Conservation Practices Benefit the Bottom Line
- OYE 2021- Part Deux- Here Come the Gilts!
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Tom Stephens Named 2021 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Inductee |
During the virtual Ag Day Celebration, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and Sec. of Agriculture, Blayne Arthur announced Mr. Tom Stephens as the recipient of the Governor’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Agriculture. The Guymon farmer and rancher became the 24th inductee into the Oklahoma Agriculture Hall of Fame, the state’s most prestigious agricultural award.
Stephens has worn countless different hats within the agriculture industry - FFA member, rancher, wheat farmer, rural servant and agriculture industry pioneer. Each of his roles within the agriculture industry have been vastly different, but one thing has remained constant: his passion for the industry, hard work and learning new things runs deep.
“I am exceptionally proud to represent all of our great Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, but we are especially excited to honor Tom Stephens this year as an outstanding agriculturist and service-minded citizen,” Secretary of Agriculture, Blayne Arthur, said. “He has continually worked to improve our industry and we are proud to recognize him.
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Midwest Farm Shows is proud to produce the two best Farm Shows in the State of Oklahoma annually- the Tulsa Farm Show each December and the Oklahoma City Farm Show each April.
They would like to thank all of you who participated in their 2021 Tulsa City Farm Show.
Up next will be the Oklahoma City’s premier spring agricultural and ranching event with returns to the State Fair Park April 15-16-17, 2021.
Now is the ideal time to contact the Midwest Farm Show Office at 507-437-7969 and book space at the 2021 Oklahoma City Farm Show. To learn more about the Oklahoma City Farm Show, click here.
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New Oklahoma Pork Council Executive Director Kylee Deniz Has Dedicated Her Career to The Pork Indsutry |
The new Executive Director of the Oklahoma Pork Council has dedicated her career to the pork industry.
During an interview with me, Kylee Deniz talked about her background and vision for the pork group.
Deniz, who started her new job March 2, has worked at the National Pork Board and for an advertising firm working for the pork industry.
My career is all things pork, she said.
Deniz is not new to Oklahoma, as she attended OSU and her work for the National Pork Board required her to live in Oklahoma.
During her time in Oklahoma, Deniz worked with the Oklahoma Youth Expo as a showmanship judge., relying on her experience as a young person growing up showing hogs.
I have admired the pork council since my college years, she said.
Deniz grew up on an alfalfa farm outside of Hudson, Colorado. She received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in agricultural communications from Oklahoma State University.
Deniz also has an associate degree in agribusiness from Black Hawk College.
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Next Six Weeks Critical For Cattle Market Says OSU's Dr. Peel |
Cattle producers can look forward to good profit margins in the latter half of his year, especially if Mother Nature cooperates said Dr. Derrell Peel, OSU Extension livestock market economist.
What’s developing here is a tale of two halves of the year, Peel said.
We’re struggling in the first part of the year, particularly in the fed cattle market, he said.
We do have strong demand for grass cattle right now, he said.
There is a lot of optimism built into the deferred live cattle and the feeder cattle futures market looks good, he said.
I have run some generalized budgets for summer grazing, and they look like there is potential for decent profit margins there, he said.
We’ve got our hopes pinned on the second half of the year, Peel said.
The demand for lighter-weight calves is traditionally called green grass fever as producers look for cattle to turn out on grass pastures.
Feed costs are higher and that weighs on the feeder cattle market but encourages the feeder cattle market to put more weight on them out in the country, he said.
By the time we get into the fall there will be some attractive margins and we may take these cattle to a little bigger weight, Peel said.
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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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Celebrations of National Ag Day |
"Every day, American farmers, ranchers, and laborers work tirelessly for the food on our tables, clothes on our backs, and fuel to power our daily lives.
This past year magnified the agriculture community’s unwavering resilience, sacrifice, and indispensable contributions to American life. A strong and prosperous agricultural sector is essential to a strong and prosperous economy. On National Agriculture Day, let’s express our gratitude for the long days, the determined work ethic, and bountiful food supply."
"It is an incredible honor to represent our farmers, ranchers, and producers every day as Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee. The fruits of their labor have blessed us with the safest and strongest food supply chain in the world. The vitality of rural America is at the heart of all of my work, because when rural America thrives, communities all across America thrive, too. As we begin to rebound from the effects of Coronavirus, Agriculture Republicans are laser-focused to identify every opportunity possible to restore a robust rural economy."
The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) joined with farmers, ranchers, co-ops, agribusiness and grower associations across the country in celebrating the importance of American agriculture on National Agriculture Day on Tuesday.
“National Agriculture Day is always a time to celebrate American agriculture and the amazing bounty that it provides to consumers here in the U.S. and around the world. The past year, however, highlighted in the most dramatic way possible just how important this country’s farmers, farmworkers and food sector employees truly are,” said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of NCFC. “The pandemic strained the food and agriculture supply chain, in some cases to near the breaking point; yet American agriculture has proven resilient thanks to the hard work and sacrifice of those who grow, harvest and process crops and care for farm animals.”
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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
Established in 1905 as Oklahoma Farmers Union, AFR/OFU has been a champion for rural Oklahoma for more than 100 years. Today, the AFR/OFU Cooperative provides educational, legislative and cooperative programs across the state and AFR Insurance provides auto, home, farm and life insurance to both rural and urban Oklahomans.
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U.S. Must Enforce Trade Agreements with Mexico |
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on a letter sent to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai regarding the U.S.-Mexico trade relationship
“AFBF is extremely concerned with the rapidly deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and our neighbors to the south. We built strong trade ties with Mexico through NAFTA and improved upon them with USMCA, but recent moves by Mexico to limit American imports and to undercut prices in the U.S. puts America’s farmers and ranchers at a competitive disadvantage.
“We urge Secretary Vilsack and Ambassador Tai to engage with Mexico and enforce the agreements between our two countries to ensure farmers have a level playing field and continue to lead the world in producing safe, affordable food.”
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USDA Awards Over $11.5 Million to Help Small and Mid-Sized Farms on National Ag Day |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an $11.5 million research investment to help ensure America’s small and medium-sized farms become more profitable and improve the quality of life in American farm communities.
“Few groups are as resilient and as determined as American farm families,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is committed to creating a fairer, more equitable system for farms of all sizes to compete and remain profitable. This investment in innovative research will give these family farms the tools they need to be more sustainable, profitable and productive as they face agricultural and economic challenges. When American farmers have a chance to compete, they have a greater chance at succeeding.”
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded 24 grants to 20 universities and organizations through their Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), the nation’s leading and largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences. These research efforts focus on alternative crop enterprises, marketing, and scaling up fruit and vegetable production to overcome marketing constraints.
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Genetic Prediction in Beef Cattle and Expected Progeny Differences |
Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist, offers herd health advice as part of the weekly series known as the "Cow Calf Corner" published electronically by Dr. Peel, Mark Johnson, and Paul Beck. today Johnson is talking about Genetic prediction in beef cattle.
What is an Expected Progeny Difference (EPD)?
An EPD is a prediction of how future progeny of a parent are expected to perform relative to the progeny of other animals. EPDs are expressed in the unit of measure for that trait, plus or minus. EPDs are based on:
1. Performance of the individual animal we are looking at relative to the contemporary group of animals it was raised with.
2. The performance of all the animals in the breed’s database which have pedigree relationship to that animal. Including all ancestors, siblings, cousins, offspring, etc.
3. Genomics, whereby the DNA of the animal is analyzed to identify if the animal carries genes known to influence quantitative, polygenic traits like birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, etc.
EPDs are the result of genetic prediction, based on performance data collected by cattle breeders over many generations of beef production. This performance data is submitted to respective breed associations and statistically analyzed accounting for pedigree relationship to yield EPDs. EPDs are an estimate of an individual animal’s genetic potential as a parent for a specific trait.
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New Study Shows Conservation Practices Benefit the Bottom Line |
Conservation’s Impact on the Farm Bottom Line is a new report from Soil Health Partnership (SHP) that details the financial impact of conservation tillage and cover crop usage among Midwest corn and soybean growers.
This project, done in collaboration with Environmental Defense Fund and the accounting firm K•Coe Isom, aimed to:
- Compare crop budgets for fields using conventional vs. conservation practices
- Identify benefits, opportunities and limiting factors associated with common conservation approaches, and
- Help farmers and their business partners better understand the financial dynamics of conservation practice adoption
Based on an analysis of farm operations, management practices and financial records, the project team identified three key takeaways:
- Conservation tillage reduces operating costs, resulting in higher net returns per acre among study participants.
- Cover crops can be part of a profitable farming system, especially as experience with the practice grows.
- Success with conservation practices is optimized when farmers take a targeted, stepwise, tailored approach to implementation.
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OYE 2021- Part Deux-
Here Come the Gilts
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Because of concerns that PEDv might get loose in the barns in the early part of the OYE and could result in having the barrow show cancelled for the second time in as many years- the decision was made just a few days ahead of the start of the OYE to take significant steps to try to stop the swine disease from having that chance.
As a result- the breeding gilts are showing after the 2021 OYE Scheduled run- and in fact- they start arriving today at the OKC Fairgrounds.
Judging of the gilts starts on Thursday and runs through Saturday with the Night of Stars Sale of the top commercial and purebred gilts set to happen as a matinee event on Sunday afternoon.
Click here for our earlier interview with Tyler Norvell on the change in plans- and please note- there have been changes since that interview- it now appears that while the animals will be penned in the Super Barn that the show itself will be in the Barn 6 arena- using the traditional set up and sift- then the journey "up the hill" to the show ring where the final selections are made.
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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 continue to go higher- Choice Beef was up $3.04 and Select Beef was up $2.18 on Tuesday March 23rd.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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OKC West in El Reno had 2,000 head for their Calf Run on Tuesday March 23rd.
Compared to last week's sharply higher market steer calves sold 1.00-3.00 lower, heifer calves steady to 2.00 lower. Demand remains moderate to good. Quality average. Rain is in the forecast for most of the week across the trade area.
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.
Host Ron Hays talks with Oklahoma Third District Congressman Frank Lucas about two recent pieces of legislation that he voted against- HR 1, the Democrat's Voting Rights Bill that would strip power away from the states on how to register and verify voters- and also the Budget Reconciliation Bill that the Biden Administration is calling the American Rescue Plan. Hays and Lucas also talked about confirmation of Tom Vilsack to be USDA Secretary- Lucas saying he is "relieved" that Vilsack was President Biden's choice to be Secretary.
Rep. Lucas also talked about the CFAP money that is being held up by the Biden USDA- saying that Congress offered explicit instructions on funds to be spent to compensate cattle producers who sold cattle at a loss April 15 thru May last year as COVID devastated the market.
The Congressman also talked about the groundwork ahead of a 2023 Farm Bill and what he is working on in the Science Committee to help research back on track after a year of dealing with the Pandemic.
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.
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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