Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Monday, June 14, 2021
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- USDA to Begin Work to Strengthen Enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act
- Ag Groups React To EPA's Announcement of its Intention to Reverse the Navigable Waters Protection Rule
- NCBA's Ethan Lane Concerned About How Biden Administration Will Pay For All The Spending Packages
- Dairy MAX Blood Drive Promotion "Passion For Pints" Kicks Off June 14
- What to Expect When Applying For Or Renewing An Ag Sales Tax Exemption Permit
- Oklahoma Alfalfa Weevil Insecticide Resistance Study A Statewide Collaboration
- Lankford, Inhofe, Lucas Announce Extension For Access To Oklahoma Rural Hospital
- Taylor Shackelford Transitions to Director of Organizational Outreach for the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association
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USDA to Begin Work to Strengthen Enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin work on three proposed rules to support enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act, the 100-year old law that was originally designed to protect poultry and hog farmers and cattle ranchers from unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in the meat markets. USDA’s pending action was noted in the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions released today by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
USDA intends to take three actions related to rulemaking in the months ahead. First, USDA intends to propose a new rule that will provide greater clarity to strengthen enforcement of unfair and deceptive practices, undue preferences, and unjust prejudices. Second, USDA will propose a new poultry grower tournament system rule, with the current inactive proposal to be withdrawn. Third, USDA will re-propose a rule to clarify that parties do not need to demonstrate harm to competition in order to bring an action under section 202 (a) and 202 (b) of the P&S Act.
“The pandemic and other recent events have revealed how concentration can take a painful toll on independent farmers and ranchers, while exposing working family consumers to higher prices and uncertain output,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
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The experts at P&K Equipment make it their mission to provide top-notch solutions and unbeatable customer service. Visit their website, call one of the stores, or stop in and see them today- discover the P&K experience for yourself.
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Ag Groups React To EPA's Announcement of its Intention to Reverse the Navigable Waters Protection Rule
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Many groups were quick to offer reaction to the announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that they plan to repeal and rewrite the definition of ‘waters of the United States’ (WOTUS) as set forth in the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Richard A. Powers of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement concerning their proposed rules to support enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act:
“The Justice Department commends the USDA for the new steps it announced today to strengthen enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act to improve competition in our agricultural markets. The Antitrust Division remains committed to vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws to protect American farmers, ranchers, and consumers, and to ensure they all benefit from robust competition. We stand ready to work hand in hand with the USDA to use our combined enforcement authorities to pursue these shared goals."
The North American Meat Institute said, “In the past, these sorts of proposals have been opposed by many livestock producers and Congress. In fact, the concepts embodied in these proposals have been rejected by eight federal appellate courts. They were a bad idea in 2010, they were a bad idea in 2016, and they are a bad idea in 2021. Should these proposals be implemented, they will limit producers’ ability to market their livestock the way they see fit and will lead to costly, specious lawsuits,” said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the North American Meat Institute. “The Meat Institute will continue to oppose unnecessary and burdensome government intervention in livestock markets.”
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NCBA's Ethan Lane Concerned About How Biden Administration Will Pay For All The Spending Packages
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It’s a scary time for agriculture and cattle producers in Washington, D.C., said Ethan Lane, NCBA vice president of government affairs, as the Biden Administration wants to spend trillions of dollars.
Somebody has to pay for it.
There is a lot of need for true infrastructure and (Congress) can’t seem to agree on what to have for lunch nevertheless what should be counted as infrastructure, Lane said.
Paying for all the spending packages by possibly increasing taxes is the scary part, he said.
For an industry like agriculture that owns large amounts of land, equipment and assets but is typically cash poor, this hits close to home, Lane said.
We’ve spent a lot of time trying to communicate this to the Biden Administration, Lane said.
The good news is Biden and USDA is listening.
We’ve seen the President relent on stepped up basis and other things, Lane 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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Dairy MAX Blood Drive Promotion "Passion For Pints" Kicks Off June 14
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A bucket load of incentives awaits participants in the “Passion for Pints” blood drive promotion scheduled for the week of June 14 in Oklahoma.
For the ninth consecutive year, Dairy MAX is hosting “Passion for Pints” blood drives in celebration of National Dairy Month. The drives, hosted in partnership with Oklahoma Blood Institute, reinforce the longstanding commitment dairy farmers have to their local communities.
Susan Allen, program manager for Dairy MAX, recently visited with Radio Oklahoma Agriculture Network Associate Farm Director and Editor KC Sheperd.
It’s just a way to talk about how dairy farmers give back to the community, Allen said.
When you give blood during the week of June 14 at any of the nine Oklahoma Blood Institute locations, donors will receive t-shirts, ice cream and milk, Allen said.
One lucky donor in Oklahoma will win 52 gallons of Highland Dairy milk as Allen praised Highland for partnering with Dairy MAX for this vital June Dairy Month promotion.
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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
The Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program knows this is a hard time for farmers and ranchers. We want you to know we are still open, and we are still here for you. The Ag Mediation program is a free service that provides mediation to agriculture producers who may need help with ag-related disputes.
At Oklahoma Ag Mediation, we have been helping people in agriculture resolve conflicts since 1987. We know firsthand about working together to resolve conflicts, so you don’t have to go through the court systems. Let our professional mediators help you. Mediation is allowed for lease issues, farmer/neighbor disputes, family farm transitions, and more. These services are available at no cost for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in all 77 counties. For more information, you can go to ok.gov/mediation, or give us a call at 800 248 5465.
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The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association is the trusted voice of the Oklahoma Cattle Industry. With headquarters in Oklahoma City, the OCA has a regular presence at the State Capitol to protect and defend the interests of cattlemen and cattlewomen.
Their Vision Statement explains the highest priority of the organization- "Leadership that serves, strengthens and advocates for the Oklahoma cattle industry."
To learn more about the OCA and how you can be a part of this forward-looking group of cattle producers, click here for their website. For more information- call 405-235-4391.
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What to Expect When Applying For Or Renewing An Ag Sales Tax Exemption Permit
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Over the past several months, Oklahoma Farm Bureau has heard concern from members facing new challenges obtaining an agricultural sales tax exemption permit- a crucial business tool exempting nearly all inputs used in production agriculture from sales tax.
OKFB, along with a broad coalition of statewide agriculture groups, worked to pass legislation this year to provide additional options to prove eligibility for the permit. The newly passed Senate Bill 422 will go into effect July 1, 2021, and allows Oklahoma producers to provide a document from one of four categories as proof of eligibility for the exemption.
OKFB members attempting to renew or obtain a permit this year should apply as usual by listing personal property used in the farm or ranch with their county assessor.
If listing property with the county assessor is insufficient, agriculture producers should apply for an exemption permit through the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
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Oklahoma Alfalfa Weevil Insecticide Resistance Study A Statewide Collaboration
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The multi-year Oklahoma Alfalfa Weevil Insecticide Resistance Study conducted by Oklahoma State University experts is showing how the dissemination of research-based information is key to maximizing the effectiveness of insecticides vital to agricultural production.
OSU Ag Research has already shown increased cases of alfalfa weevil resistance to pyrethroid insecticides and related products. Such chemicals — in particular, those containing the active ingredient lambda-cyhalothrin — currently provide the cornerstone of weevil management.
“Alfalfa weevils developing resistance to a given pyrethroid runs the risk of developing cross-resistance to all mode-of-action group three insecticides,” said Kelly Seuhs, OSU Extension associate field crops specialist with the university’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. “As resistance develops, this could render our most utilized and economical insecticide class ineffective.”
For the 2021 season, OSU Extension researchers are expanding tests and studying chemistries besides lambda-cyhalothrin to see if resistance is forming to other pyrethroid products. Information from efficacy trials is still being processed.
OSU Extension recommendations are to incorporate an integrated resistance management (IRM) program in conjunction with a comprehensive integrated pest management (IPM) approach.
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Lankford, Inhofe, Lucas Announce Extension For Access To Oklahoma Rural Hospital
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Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Congressman Frank Lucas (R-OK) announced, after months of work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Harmon Memorial Hospital in Hollis, Oklahoma has received an extension of their designation to continue to serve the community as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). In March, Lankford, Inhofe, and Lucas sent a letter to then-Acting CMS Administrator Liz Richter to push for Harmon Hospital to remain a critical access hospital.
“After months of calls, emails, and letters, I was elated to finally get the sign off from CMS that Harmon Hospital has received the vital extension that we requested for the entire community,” said Lankford. “Without the critical access designation, the city of Hollis and Harmon County would be dangerously far from emergency health services and nearly 100 people would lose their jobs. Oklahoma rural hospitals provide critical care to thousands of people who are loved by our families and essential to our economy. We must work to protect each one.”
Earlier this year, Lankford introduced a bipartisan Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act, which would support financially vulnerable rural hospitals facing risk of closure. The legislation would update Medicare’s CAH designation so more rural hospitals can qualify for this financial lifeline and continue to serve their communities with quality, affordable health care services.
The Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act would support and stabilize rural hospitals by providing flexibility around the 35-mile distance requirement and enabling states to certify a hospital as a “necessary provider” in order to obtain CAH designation. This authority ended in 2006, but this bill would reopen this financial lifeline for certain rural hospitals that serve a low-income community, are located in a health professional shortage area, and that have operated with negative margins for multiple years.
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Taylor Shackelford Transitions to Director of Organizational Outreach for the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association
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Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) is pleased to announce a staff reorganization, which builds on the momentum of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation along with the Association’s strategic direction to offer more educational opportunities to members. Taylor Shackelford will transition to Director of Organizational Outreach and be responsible for increasing producer educational programming, advancing charitable stewardship, grant seeking, and fundraising for the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation, expanding engagement of the Oklahoma Beef PAC, while still maintaining his lobbyist duties with OCA.
OCA’s Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey shared, “The 2021-2024 Strategic Plan outlines the commitment to build our Foundation and offer our members more educational opportunities to the benefit of their cattle businesses. OCA is blessed with a dynamic staff, and the opportunity for Taylor to cultivate these focus areas will establish long-term benefits for the membership and simultaneously meet demands of worthy Strategic Plan objectives.”
Taylor continues leading the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation, which continually expands and increases scholarship opportunities for rural and agricultural Oklahomans, fundraises to protecting the heritage of the West through disaster relief, memorials, and endowments, and houses a library of resources from educational seminars, workshops, and certification courses. Since 2018, Taylor’s charge has been positioning OCA and OCF for success through marketing strategy, strategic partners, and sponsorship. Reorganizing in this manner affords him greater flexibility during regular sessions of the Oklahoma Legislature and more aggressive pursuit of Foundation priorities, consequently offering greater versatility within OCA membership services.
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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 dropped on Friday, June 11th. Choice beef was down 69 cents while Select Beef dropped $5.19.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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Oklahoma National Stockyards had 8.500 head on hand late Sunday afternoon- and General Manager Kelli Payne tells us that she expects they will around 10,000 head to start today's auction, which will begin this morning at 6:30 AM.
Compared to the sale the week before Memorial Day- Feeder steers and heifers 3.00 - 5.00 higher last Monday. Steer calves 3.00 - 5.00 lower. Heifer calves 2.00 - 4.00 higher. Demand moderate to good.
Click below for the complete closing report from that sale to offer a comparison for today's sale. .
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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.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Senior Director for Public Policy Steve Thompson talked with Ron Hays about 2021 Oklahoma Legislative Session in the latest Road to Rural Prosperity. Steve believes "this may have been the best legislative year that I've been a part of- and I've been working on these things in a variety of ways for twenty plus years." He says that the agricultural interests at the Capitol played both offense and defense during the four months that the lawmakers were in session- and cites significant wins in the Ag Sales Tax Exemption and property tax areas that highlighted the 2021 portion of the 57th Legislature.
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, 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, Union Mutual Insurance, 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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