Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Thursday, March 25, 2021
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack Announces Additional Pandemic Relief Package
- Chairman Scott and Ag Groups give Statements on the Relief Package
- OYE Gilt Show Kicks Off at 3 PM Today
- New Southern Plains Post On The good dirt on W.O.R.M.S. (Working On Regenerative Management Systems)
- Research Shows Grazing Cattle Provide Many Benefits For Both Humans And The Environment
- Agriculture Must Be Prioritized for COVID-19 Vaccine
- OSU Student, Colton Johnson Wins National Corn Growers Scholarship
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USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack Announces Additional Pandemic Relief Package |
New pandemic relief programs announced today by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is an effort to bring financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and producers who felt the impact of COVID-19 market disruptions.
The new initiative—USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers—will reach a broader set of producers than in previous COVID-19 aid programs.
USDA is dedicating at least $6 billion toward the new programs.
The Department will also develop rules for new programs that will put a greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers, specialty crop and organic producers, timber harvesters, as well as provide support for the food supply chain and producers of renewable fuel, among others.
Existing programs like the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) will fall within the new initiative and, where statutory authority allows, will be refined to better address the needs of producers.
This is designed to encapsulate a set of decisions by the USDA to help those who might have been qualified but didn’t participate because they didn’t know, Vilsack said.
USDA will reopen sign-up for CFAP 2 for at least 60 days beginning on April 5, 2021. The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has committed at least $2.5 million to improve outreach for CFAP 2 and will establish partnerships with
organizations with strong connections to socially disadvantaged communities to ensure they are informed and aware of the application process.
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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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Chairman Scott and Ag Groups Statement on Pandemic Assistance |
“I’m very grateful to Secretary Vilsack and his team at USDA for today’s announcement on COVID relief for our agriculture and forestry sectors. I am particularly pleased to see the Secretary rolling out some of the provisions that the House and Senate Agriculture Committees worked on in a bipartisan basis in December, including relief for our biofuels producers, support for our dairy industry, assistance to cotton mills, PPE for our essential farm workers and processing plant employees, fruit & vegetable and organic producers, timber haulers, and assistance to help our underserved producers access USDA programs to deal with supply chain disruptions,”
“We appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s action to release funds and expand eligibility for farmers hit hard by the devastating effects of COVID-19,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “USDA’s decision to distribute aid based upon previous applications will help deliver assistance quickly. It was good to hear directly from the Secretary today about this program and his priorities going forward.”
The funding includes $6 billion to develop new programs or modify existing proposals using remaining discretionary funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act. USDA expects this to include funding for personal protective equipment (PPE), compensation to offset the pandemic’s impact on biofuels, specialty crops and farmers forced to euthanize animals due to supply chain issues, among other uses.
“U.S. dairy farmers and their cooperatives thank USDA for its support for the Dairy Donation Program, a critical means for connecting nutritious dairy products with the consumers who need them, as well as its examination of additional payments for milk producers that will better reflect the losses they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NMPF looks forward to working with the department on the swift and effective implementation of USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiatives.”
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OYE Gilt Show Kicks Off at 3 PM Today |
As the other barns are being cleaned and prepared for the next event after OYE- the Super Barn and the Performance Arena are "happening" places today through Saturday for the OYE Addendum for 2021- the breeding gilts show.
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- with the Commercial Gilts starting at 3 PM this afternoon.
Commercial gilts continue in the morning and the Supreme Champion Commercial Gilt will be selected midday tomorrow and then the Purebred Gilts will start showing Friday at 3 PM and the Purebred show 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.
The picture above is the show ring where every exhibitor is hoping to find themselves in the next couple of days- after making the sift and driving their gilt "up the hill."
Starting at 3 today- it will look a lot busier.
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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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New Southern Plains Post On The good dirt on W.O.R.M.S. (Working On Regenerative Management Systems) |
We have a new blog post up at the Southern Plains Perspective.
In this post we talk about the Working On Regenerative Management Systems or W.O.R.M.S. program-a recently launched initiative by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to help producers track soil health improvement on the land and to spotlight soil health/regenerative ag work state-wide.
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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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Research Shows Grazing Cattle Provide Many Benefits For Both Humans And The Environment |
Cattle do more than just take up space but to the casual observer driving across the Plains, it may be difficult to know all the positive benefits of grazing cattle on the High Plains, said Dr. Myriah Johnson, senior director of environmental research and beef sustainability for NCBA.
During the Winter Reboot NCBA conference she discussed some of the sustainability research conducted on behalf of the cattle industry.
One area in particular Johnson mentioned was the sustainability of grazing in the Great Plains.
A K-State study focused on the human benefits of grazing in the Great Plains and Johnson noted the research indicated beef is good for people and our planet.
People not engaged in agriculture may wonder why we need cattle on the grazing lands, Johnson said.
Cattle do more than just take up space, she said.
For example, when cattle are grazing the land, the risk of wildfires goes down, she said.
Using cattle as a tool to graze and reduce that fuel load, she said.
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Agriculture Must Be Prioritized for COVID-19 Vaccine |
The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging the Biden administration to prioritize agriculture for the COVID-19 vaccine. In a letter sent to the administration today, AFBF President Zippy Duvall called for the elimination of barriers to vaccine access for America’s farmers and farmworkers.
“We fully appreciate and support that our nation’s heroic first responders, medical professionals, the elderly and caretakers, along with other vulnerable individuals, clearly have the highest priority for vaccination,” President Duvall wrote. “As new COVID-19 vaccines are approved and ready for distribution, we encourage the administration to support granting priority vaccine access to employees across the food and agriculture supply chain. This prioritization would ensure that planting, harvesting, processing, and distribution of human and animal food can continue to ensure our grocery shelves and food pantries remain stocked.”
The administration recently directed states to prioritize vaccines for teachers. AFBF’s request that similar action be taken for agriculture is consistent with the recommendations of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccination Program Interim Playbook for Jurisdiction Operations, and the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations.
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OSU Student, Colton Johnson Wins National Corn Growers Scholarship |
BASF, in partnership with industry-leading commodity associations, including the American Soybean Association (ASA), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), the National Sorghum Foundation (NSF) and the National Wheat Foundation (NWF), awarded academic scholarships to nine agriculture students who have shown exceptional talent and commitment to the future of agriculture.
National Corn Growers Association Scholarships
The William C. Berg Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship was created to honor William C. Berg, an Ohio farmer and retired postal worker who passed away in 2012. He served in various positions for both the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association and NCGA, and advocated tirelessly in Washington, D.C., for agriculture on behalf of his fellow farmers.
Five $1,000 scholarships were awarded to the following students:
• Colton Johnson, a junior from Afton, Oklahoma, majoring in plant and soil sciences at Oklahoma State University
• Courtney Schrader, a sophomore from Earleville, Maryland, majoring in management and minoring in communications at Salisbury University
• Sophia Svanda, a junior from Nehawka, Nebraska, pursuing a degree in agricultural and environmental sciences communication at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Ben Vos, a sophomore from Pella, Iowa, studying general agriculture at Dordt University
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Here's a Few Pictures from the #MyJacketJourney Fun of this Week for National Ag Day |
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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 on Wednesday March 24th- Choice Beef was 85 cents higher while Select Beef dropped off $1.16.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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OKC West in El Reno had 6,433 this week on Tuesday and Wednesday- March 23 and 24.
Compared to last week: Feeder steers sold fully steady. Feeder heifers sold 2.00-3.00 higher with exception of heifers over 900 lbs steady. Demand good. Steer calves sold 1.00-3.00 lower, heifer calves steady to 2.00 lower compared to last week's sharply higher market. 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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