Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Monday, July 26, 2021
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Cattlemen Elect Leadership and Set Policy at Their 69th Annual Convention
- Harold Gillenwaters Named Cattleman of the Year by OCA
- Congressman Frank Lucas Keeps Promoting Value of Flood Control Dams Across Rural America
- OKFB Foundation for Agriculture announces $16,000 in Educational Grants
- Research Shows Grazing Cattle Provide Many Benefits For Both Humans And The Environment
- Boxed Beef Continues to Drop in Latest Week But Still Historically High
- Smart Irrigation Practices Benefit Plants and Budgets
- Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall Approves 113 Interim Studies to be Conducted by House Members
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Cattlemen Elect Leadership and Set Policy at Their 69th Annual Convention
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The business session at the 69th Annual Convention of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association saw the changing of the guard in their volunteer leader lineup. Mike Weeks of Stuart has served the last two years as the President of the cattle organization. He thanked members for the opportunity to serve as he stepped down from the stage, leaving the job of President of OCA to Dover, Oklahoma cattle producer Byron Yeoman.
Darrell Shepherd of Custer City was elected to serve as President Elect. (Pic above is left to right- Darrell Shepherd, Mike Weeks and Byron Yeoman)
During the meeting, members set policy, considering the work of three task forces that were appointed back in May by the OCA Leadership. Members dealt with the McGirt Vs Oklahoma Supreme Court case, the Live Cattle Negotiated Trade issue and the impact of medical marijuana production in rural Oklahoma.
On Saturday afternoon- I talked with Michael Kelsey about what the members decided in these areas- and you can hear our conversation on the policy discussion by clicking on the button below.
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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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Harold Gillenwaters Named Cattleman of the Year by OCA
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Harold Gillenwaters, Chickasha, Okla. was named Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association’s (OCA) Cattleman of the Year on Saturday evening at 2021 OCA Convention. The Cattleman of the Year is the highest honor OCA bestows upon one of its own members. The award reflects service, leadership, integrity, and dedication to the OCA and the cattle industry.
“The 2021 OCA Cattleman of the Year, Harold Gillenwaters, reflects those values as well as honorable service to our country and community,” said Byron Yeoman, newly elected President of the OCA.
Gillenwaters’ first passion is cattle and cattle producers. He and his wife, Donna own and manage their cattle ranch in Chickasha where they raise Angus cattle and sell through a performance program for added value. In 2012, the Gillenwaters were selected as the Oklahoma Beef Quality Assurance Beef Producers of the year. Gillenwaters has been active in the Grady County Cattlemen’s Association as well as OCA serving on the board of directors for both organizations.
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Congressman Frank Lucas Keeps Promoting Value of Flood Control Dams Across Rural America
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Congressman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma's Third Congressional District spoke on the House Floor this past week about the importance of investing in watershed and flood control dam infrastructure. Oklahoma leads the nation with 2,107 upstream flood control dams constructed under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Watershed Program. The nation’s first upstream flood control dam- Cloud Creek Site Number 1- was built in 1948 in Washita County, Oklahoma. In 2000, Congressman Lucas’ Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments were signed into law, providing technical and financial assistance to rehabilitate watershed and flood control dams across the United States.
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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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OKFB Foundation for Agriculture announces $16,000 in Educational Grants
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The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has announced three new grant programs to help share the story of agriculture in communities across the state.
Offering more than $16,000, the mini grant program, the Growing with the Foundation grant program and the Community Harvest grant program were created to help Oklahomans of all ages experience agriculture.
“Over the past several years, we’ve continued to see consumers become increasingly interested in their food and the people who grow and raise it,” said David VonTungeln, OKFB Foundation for Agriculture president. “We’re hopeful these grants will help our fellow Oklahomans gain a deeper appreciation for the hard work of our state’s farmers and ranchers.”
Designed for county Farm Bureaus, 4-H clubs, FFA chapters or teachers, the mini grant program, a $500 grant, was created to establish educational programs for school-aged children or adults to improve agriculture literacy. The mini grant is offered twice a year in March and September, with a total of 10 $500 grants awarded each year. Applications for the first cycle must be submitted by September 1.
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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 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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Research Shows Grazing Cattle Provide Many Benefits For Both Humans And The Environment
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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 a recent 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.
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Boxed Beef Continues to Drop in Latest Week But Still Historically High
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The daily spot Choice box beef cutout ended the week on Friday, July 16 at $267.94, which was $10.65 lower compared to previous Friday and now about $70 lower over the last five weeks. However, it is still much higher than all previous years to date. Last year, it was $200.47 on the same Friday, which was about $4 lower at the time. During 2015, it was $233.30 on the same Friday, so still about $34 dollars higher yet. The end of this week, the daily Choice Chuck and Round primal were $8 to $9 lower. While they have both been creeping lower, it is still much higher than all previous years. The daily Choice Rib was $10 higher and the Loin primal was $35 lower, but the Rib had already dropped about $170 over the past four weeks. The weekly total for the daily cutout was big with 722 loads and about 10 percent of the total weekly loads sold.
The weekly average Choice cutout, which includes all types of sales including the daily Choice cutout, was $269.13, which was $10.80 lower but still a little higher than the daily cutout.
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Smart Irrigation Practices Benefit Plants and Budgets
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Using smart irrigation practices is as important as selecting the right plants when establishing and maintaining a landscape, according to Oklahoma State University Extension experts.
Josh Campbell, OSU Extension urban agriculture and natural resources educator in Oklahoma County, said July and August are when Oklahomans use the most water in the landscape.
“It’s important for homeowners to know how to irrigate their landscape efficiently and in a cost-effective manner so the plants can develop strong root systems,” Campbell said.
As the population continues to grow, some communities are putting heavy restrictions on water use. Some allow watering on specific days, and others also may be implementing new price structures to incentivize efficient water use. Homeowners could be allowed to use, for example, up to 10,000 gallons of water per month, but going over that amount will cost them more per gallon.
To help maximize water efficiency, Campbell said consumers need to select plants that are suited for Oklahoma’s environment. The initial period of establishing the plant to encourage root growth will require more water, but it will make the plant more sustainable for the future.
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Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall Approves 113 Interim Studies to be Conducted by House Members
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Lawmaker requests for 113 interim studies have been approved in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Of the 136 interim study requests from House members, House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, approved 107 outright and combined 12 requests of similar topics into six approved requests. The 113 approved requests include six joint studies with the Senate.
House committees will now begin scheduling studies between Aug. 2 and Nov. 5.
A significant number of the study requests will involve ag/rural issues- one of the joint studies approved by the Speaker is on Agriculture Sales Tax Exemption- State Reps Jim Grego and Carl Newton along with Senator Casey Murdock will be leading on that session.
Several studies will consider the medical marijuana issue- but one that was approved will zero in on it's impact on agriculture in the state- that study requested by House Ag Committee Chair Dell Kerbs along with Dick Lowe and Carl Newton.
Click on the button below to jump to our story and the link to the entire list of all the Interim Studies approved by Speaker McCall.
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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 modestly higher- Choice Beef was up 49 cents and Select Beef was up 17 cents on Friday, July 23rd.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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Oklahoma National Stockyards had 7,700 head on hand Sunday evening and the President of the Stockyards, Kelli Payne, tells us that she expects 8,500 head by the time that they start selling cattle this morning- she says they are starting early this morning to get ahead of the heat- the sale will begin at 6:30 AM.
Compared to the previous week: Feeder steers and heifers steady to 2.00 higher. Steers calves 1.00 - 2.00 lower, heifer calves steady to 2 higher. Quality not as attractive as last week and mostly average. Demand was good.
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
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
Emile Mittelstaedt, Farm News Intern and Email Editor
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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 sits down with Sam Knipp, who has been communicating to farmers and ranchers in Kansas and Oklahoma as a farm broadcaster and ag journalist since the 1970s- Most recently, he has been a part of the broadcast and journalism team for the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network- but before that, Sam worked for farmers and ranchers in Public Relations and Communications for the Kansas Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the American Farmers and Ranchers. He's a farm boy from western Kansas, who after over 40 years in service to agriculture, is retiring July 2, 2021. Our conversation with Sam Knipp is powered by Banc First.
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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