Subject: Oklahoma's Farm News Update
From: Ron Hays <ronphays@cox.net>
Date: 10/4/2017 6:43 AM
To: ron@ronhays.com



 
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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network weekdays- if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click here for this morning's Farm news from Carson Horn on RON.
 

  
Let's Check the Markets!  
MarketLinks 
 
 
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.
 
 
   
FedCattleExchange.com has a total of 1,732 cattle on their showlist for the Wednesday, October 3rd sale of finished cattle- details will be available after noon today by clicking here.
 
 
Stocker calves traded 1.00 to 4.00 lower compared to last week at OKC West 
Tuesday, - click or tap here for a look at the October 
3rd sale results. 
 
 
Today's First Look:
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
  
  
Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futuresclick or tap here for the report posted yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
 
  
Okla Cash Grain:  
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- as reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture on Tuesday, October 3rd.
  
  
Futures Wrap:  
Our Daily Market Wrapup from the Radio Oklahoma Network - analyzing the Futures Markets from the previous Day.
  
Feeder Cattle Recap:  
The National Daily Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
  
Slaughter Cattle Recap: 
The National Daily Slaughter Cattle Summary- as prepared by the USDA.
  
TCFA Feedlot Recap:  
Finally, here is the Daily Volume and Price Summary from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
  


  
Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
  
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor

Carson Horn, Associate Farm Director and Editor
  
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
  
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production

Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News
 
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
   Wednesday, October 4, 2017
 
Howdy Neighbors! 

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 







-- Check Out Our Marketlinks- Cash Grain, OKC West Calf Sale Results and More!
Featured Story:
PigFarmerOklahoma Native Leslie McCuiston Named 2017 Pig Farmer of the Year by the National Pork Board

Oklahoma native, Leslie McCuiston, who now resides in Columbus, Nebraska, was recognized for her quality husbandry and connection to consumers by the National Pork Board ,yesterday, which named McCuiston America's Pig Farmer of the Year for 2017 after achieving the highest combined score from a third-party judging panel and online voting.


McCuiston received an Associates degree at Connors State and an Ag Economics degree at Oklahoma State. After graduating from OSU in 2001, she worked with Cargill Pork in eastern Oklahoma, served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Pork Council and is a graduate of Class XII of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program.


As a senior production manager for The Maschhoffs, LLC, McCuiston says people, are her main focus. She oversees 70 employees who care for more than 18,000 sows in central Nebraska and surrounding states. She believes in equipping her staff with the tools they need to provide the best care to the animals they raise.


"For me, pig farming isn't just a job, it's a career that I am passionate about," McCuiston said. "I want to find new, innovative ways to show others what we do in pig farming, explain how much we care and help people understand where their food comes from."


Becoming America's Pig Farmer of the Year was no small feat for McCuiston, who was audited for her on-farm practices and was required to participate in a series of written and oral interviews by subject-matter experts. She has achieved excellence in all aspects of pig farming, including animal care, environmental stewardship, employee work environment and outstanding community service.


To watch a video featuring McCuiston, or to learn more about her journey to becoming America's Pig Farmer of the Year, by clicking over to our website.


Sponsor Spotlight
 

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Oklahoma AgCredit loan terms fit your cash flow for land, livestock, equipment and operating costs. Click or tap here for their website to find an office near you.
 
Talk to a local team who understands agriculture. Talk to Oklahoma AgCredit. Financing rural Oklahoma. Equal housing lender.

 
Opposition to the secondary state beef checkoff that is now being voted on by Oklahoma cattle producers has surfaced from the Organization for Competitive Markets, a group that has been associated with the Humane Society of the US.

On Tuesday, the OCM issued a News Release raising concerns they have attributed to former State Senator Paul Muegge of Tonkawa. The eighty year old former Senator is a board member of the OCM- and charges the Oklahoma Beef Council with helping promote the secondary state beef checkoff in cooperation with the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association. OCM indicates they have filed a complaint with the USDA's Office of Inspector General- asking the OIG to audit the Oklahoma Beef Council for the past ten years of operations, to make them stop using Checkoff funds to promote the state checkoff vote and to stop all parties from using the trademarked Beef Checkoff logo in the campaign.

As evidence of the Beef Checkoff logo being wrongly used- they use a story of ours where we featured comments from Texas Beef Council Exec Richard Wortham on the success that Texas has had with their State Level Beef Checkoff- it was shared on a Facebook page and includes a graphic that has the Beef Checkoff logo in the post. 

We asked Heather Buckmaster if they have used any resources in helping promote the secondary state beef checkoff efforts- her response- "The Oklahoma Beef Council is not involved and has not contributed any funds toward the Oklahoma Beef Checkoff referendum led by a coalition of Oklahoma producer organizations."

In regards to the call by the OCM to have the OIG investigate the Oklahoma Beef Council because of the embezzlement case that has been playing out over the last year, Buckmaster says that the OIG has participated significantly with the federal criminal investigation against Melissa Morton. To this point, OIG has not indicated any need for further audits beyond those that have been a part of the developing case.

OCM also questions the right of minors to vote- and we would point you to our webstory on Oklahoma Farm Report(click or tap here) to see their concerns and the response from Dr. James Trapp of OSU- head of Extension in our state.

Early voting for the Oklahoma Beef Checkoff is underway- you can call or email the Oklahoma Cattlemen to get a ballot between now and October 20th- and in person voting will be at any OSU extension office in the state on November first.



A group of independent scientists, led by one of the world's top science and technology think tanks, The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, made an appeal to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, yesterday, requesting his intervention in reversing a Fish and Wildlife Service policy that was adopted three years ago and phased out the use of genetically modified seeds.


The group argues that the policy was improperly implemented and stands in the way of the Fish and Wildlife Service's conservation objectives. They, claim the policy did not undergo
 the proper notice-and-comment rulemaking process as the Administrative Procedure Act requires.


In a statement announcing its request to Zinke, the group says, "the ban against use of GM seeds is 'arbitrary and capricious,' as genetically modified crops are shown to be the most modern, precise, efficient and effective methods of seed improvement."


The statement adds that, "the prohibition of 'genetically modified' crops is a wrong-headed and anti-environmental policy, and the conceit that it is being advanced out of respect for a 'land ethic' is indefensible."


The letter in which the group submitted to the Secretary, included an additional request to lift the ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. Instead, the group suggests a case by case evaluation that would allow for their use where they would not pose any danger to the environment.
To read the letter in its entirety and learn more about these scientists' concerns, click or tap here.


Here in 2017, cattle prices have been much stronger than anyone might have expected them to be - whether you are talking about feedlot cattle, yearlings or even calves. According to Dr. Glynn Tonsor, extension beef cattle specialist at Kansas State University, told me his most recent work studying beef demand, indicates it is in fact the strength and growth of both our international and domestic beef demand that has supported prices - even as supplies continue to rise.


"Basically, we have updated grocery store retail beef demand indexes for the first six months of 2017, and the story is very strong there," Tonsor said. "Across the board, grocery store retail beef demand, is stronger than it was back in November of 2016."


In boiling this data down, Tonsor says his message is reinforced by the numbers and the observations of others in the industry who agree, that the price of cattle would be much lower today, as more and more supply builds up, if it were taking place in the absence of demand growth. As he mentions, supplies are mounting and for the good of the market, Tonsor hopes demand strength will continue to hold par if not grow as we move into 2018 to keep prices supported. He is optimistic this might happen as he recognizes a diverse demand front led by ground beef and loin cuts. He says that is a promising fact, noting the significant differences between the products and the consumer segments involved in those purchases, essentially saying that there is more than one product paying the bill.


"It's important to remember that demand strength," he said. "That's really encouraging - that it is going up, not just the volume, but demand. So, we're getting higher prices than we expect, given the higher volume we see being produced."


Listen to Glynn Tonsor and I speak about the current demand strength for beef which has helped to support cattle prices in the face of growing supplies, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.
USDAPaymentsUSDA Issues Farm Safety Net and Conservation Payments, with a Grand Total Exceeding $9.6 Billion
 
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Tuesday that over $9.6 billion in payments will be made, beginning this week, to producers through the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC), Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Conservation Reserve (CRP) programs. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing approximately $8 billion in payments under the ARC and PLC programs for the 2016 crop year, and $1.6 billion under CRP for 2017.


"Many of these payments will be made to landowners and producers in rural communities that have recently been ravaged by drought, wildfires, and deadly hurricanes," Perdue said. "I am hopeful this financial assistance will help those experiencing losses with immediate cash flow needs as we head toward the end of the year."


The ARC and PLC programs were authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and offer a safety net to agricultural producers when there is a substantial drop in revenue or prices for covered commodities. Over half a million producers will receive ARC payments and over a quarter million producers will receive PLC payments for 2016 crops, starting this week and continuing over the next several months.

Click here to read more about additional payments that have been dropped into the pipeline- including those for the CRP.



Sponsor Spotlight

 
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.


Future expectations for the agriculture economy turned lower in the latest monthly Ag Economy Barometer by the CME Group and Purdue University.


Released Tuesday, the September reading of 132 was unchanged compared to August. However, the barometer's two sub-indices, the Index of Current Conditions and Index of Future Expectations, did shift in opposite directions.


The Current Conditions Index rose to 135, while the Future Expectations Index fell to 130. Organizers of the survey say that while the decline in the Future Expectations index was modest, it could be an indication that some of the optimism that surfaced among producers in late 2016 and early 2017 is eroding.


According to the report, approximately 60 percent of farmers held an optimistic outlook on the economy in March of this year. Since then, nearly one third of those producers have abandoned their beliefs in September that the U.S. economy will likely expand.


Producers' also seem to be questioning the value of trade agreements to the ag industry. In February, 93 percent of respondents said trade was important to the U.S. agricultural economy and 80 percent of producers said trade was important to their farms. Regarding NAFTA negotiations, only 52 percent of responders said NAFTA had been good for the US economy. Fifty-nine percent said it had been good for farmers and ranchers. Jim Mintert, director of Purdue's Center for Commercial Agriculture and principal investigator for the barometer, believes the whole story may reflect farmers' uncertainty about NAFTA's impact, more than anything else.


For more information about producers' sentiment toward NAFTA, their expectations for the stock market in 12 months, and what they think might happen with the U.S. economy in the next year, click here.
Want to Have the Latest Energy News Delivered to Your Inbox Daily?
 

Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains- Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.

 


Just one day after Committee approval, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, announced on Tuesday evening that Stephen Censky and Ted McKinney were approved by the U.S. Senate by a voice vote on Tuesday.

Upon swearing in, Stephen Censky, of Missouri, will serve as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; and Ted McKinney, of Indiana, will serve as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

"I am pleased that the U.S. Senate was able to work in a bipartisan and swift manner to confirm Stephen Censky and Ted McKinney," Roberts said. "Secretary Perdue, help is on the way."

The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on Perdue on September 19, and both nominees were favorably reported out of the Committee with a bipartisan voice vote on October 2.
GuymonGuymon Meeting Happening This Morning for Corn Farmers to Learn More About Fumonisin in 2017 Corn Crop
 
Corn farmers in the Oklahoma Panhandle have been invited to an informational meeting on Wednesday morning to learn more about Fumonisin in the 2017 corn crop. A pair of similar meetings were held last week in the Texas Panhandle in Dumas and Dimmitt- and over 700 farmers and others involved in production agriculture showed up.

According to officials with Texas Agrilife, weather conditions this year have elevated levels of this toxin that comes from Fusarium to a point where it can cause brain damage and death to horses- the class of livestock most vulnerable to the toxin. Just 5 ppm can cause horses harm, while 30 to 60 ppm can start causing problems in beef cattle.

The meeting set for Guymon this morning will be at Hunny's at 9:00 AM. Representatives from local grain elevators, Crop Insurance Grain Adjusters and the Oklahoma Panhandle Research and Extension Center will be on hand to discuss concerns and answer questions of farmers that attend and are concerned about what this could mean to their 2017 corn crop.

Click here to learn more about this problem- we have audio and more resources on where we stand with Fumonisin in Oklahoma and Texas here in 2017.


 
Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K EquipmentAmerican Farmers & Ranchers, Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards, Oklahoma Farm BureauStillwater Milling CompanyOklahoma AgCreditthe 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 also appreciate our Market Links Sponsor - OKC West Livestock 
 
 
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! You can reach us at the following:  
 
phone: 405-473-6144
 

 



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