Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Thursday, August 26, 2021
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- You Are Invited to the Oklahoma Cotton Council's 2021 Denim Ball
- Beef Checkoff Volunteer Leaders Prepare to Make Spending Decisions in September
- US Wheat Associates Cheer Word on Vietnam Import Tariff Elimination
- USDA Establishes Dairy Donation Program
- U.S. Beef Getting Lots of Love in the Pacific Rim Says NCBA's Kent Bacus
- NASDA Believes Redefining WOTUS is a Bad Idea
- AFR Honored by Connors State College
- Lawmakers- Including Oklahoma's Jim Inhofe- Ask U.S. Ambassador to Iraq to Support U.S. Wheat Sales to Iraq
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You Are Invited to the Oklahoma Cotton Council's 2021 Denim Ball
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If you wear cotton - as most of us do - you are invited to the 2021 Denim Ball hosted by the Oklahoma Cotton Council. OCC Executive Director Harvey Schroeder told us the annual event is a celebration of the ever-expanding cotton industry.
“We’re really excited to have it going on this weekend,” Schroeder said. “We’ve been looking for a vehicle that would allow us to do some things for our cotton growers and this Denim Ball has really fallen into that category.”
Part of the reason Schroeder and the rest of OCC’s leadership team are so excited for the ball is because last year they didn’t get one due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Denim Ball is more than just a good time, Schroeder said. It allows the OCC to acknowledge and award outstanding folks in the industry and fund the Committee for the Advancement of Cotton, the political action committee for the national cotton council.
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Sponsor Spotlight
Oklahoma AgCredit supports rural Oklahoma with reliable and consistent credit, today and tomorrow. We offer loans for land, livestock, equipment, operating costs and country homes (NMLSR #809962) to farmers, ranchers and rural businesses across 60 counties. As a cooperative, we are owned by the members we serve. Through our Patronage Program, we have returned more than $74 million to our members since 1997.
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Beef Checkoff Volunteer Leaders Prepare to Make Spending Decisions in September
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2021 was an unusual year in that the annual Cattle Industry Convention was not held until August- the time that mid year business meetings are being held by NCBA and by the Cattlemen's Beef Board. As a result- those meetings and the decisions that are made are them happened during the Convention- just weeks ahead of the meeting held each September by the Operating Committee where spending decisions for the new Fiscal Year will be made. Clay Burtrum, 2021 NCBA federation division chair, told me from meetings at the convention, authorization requests (AR) move from the grassroots level to the Operating Committee meeting in September.
“That starts right here at convention,” Burtrum said. “Federation leaders and the grassroots of the industry started working on those committees yesterday, going through those ARs, scoring those ARs and talking about the comments and what those are from all of our contractors through the committee process.”
The evaluation process is key in determining what the Beef Checkoff program builds on, Burtrum said. So far, evaluations show success in sustainability, Burtrum said.
Another huge success enjoyed by the beef industry in 2020 was Beef Checkoff’s return to television. A commercial called Beef Drool Log played during commercial breaks on the Hallmark Channel during Christmas time. You can watch the commercial here. After Hallmark, Beef Checkoff sponsored the 40th season-opening race for the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
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US Wheat Associates Cheer Word on Vietnam Import Tariff Elimination
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U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is grateful to the Biden Administration and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) for their work alongside Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance to reduce the cost of wheat for Vietnam’s millers and consumers.
As part of a bilateral package announced during Vice President Kamala Harris’ Indo-Pacific trip, Vietnam will reduce or eliminate import tariffs on several U.S. commodities including wheat. The tariff suspensions are expected to be implemented soon and will help reduce food costs for the Vietnamese people. It will also help make U.S. wheat more competitive in Vietnam’s growing wheat market.
Vietnam, like many countries this year, has seen significant food and feed price inflation due to the rise in global commodity prices and COVID impacts on supply chains. Vietnam’s government should be commended for taking this proactive step to assist their domestic millers and consumers.
The newly announced reduction follows one from July 2020, when Vietnam reduced its tariff on imported U.S. wheat (excluding durum) from 5% to 3% in a revision of its Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rates.
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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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USDA Establishes Dairy Donation Program
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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh today announced the establishment of a $400 million Dairy Donation Program (DDP) on a call with Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow. The DDP, established by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) in accordance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, aims to facilitate timely dairy product donations while reducing food waste.
The establishment of DDP is part of $6 billion of pandemic assistance USDA announced in March and follows last week’s announcement of $350 million Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program for dairy farmers on August 19. It is the second part of an over $2 billion comprehensive package to help the dairy industry recover from the pandemic and improve or establish programs to make it more resilient to future challenges.
Under the DDP, eligible dairy organizations will partner with non-profit feeding organizations that distribute food to individuals and families in need. Those partnerships may apply for and receive reimbursements to cover some expenses related to eligible dairy product donations.
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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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The vision of the Oklahoma Beef Council is to be a positive difference for Oklahoma's farming and ranching families and the greater beef community and its mission is to enhance beef demand by strengthening consumer trust and exceeding consumer expectations.
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U.S. Beef Getting Lots of Love in the Pacific Rim Says NCBA's Kent Bacus
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As the Biden administration reviews Trump-era trade deals, folks in the beef cattle industry are enjoying the effects of those same deals, with demand skyrocketing in China. Senior Director of International Trade and Market Access for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Kent Bacus spoke with me about how vital those trade deals have been for the success of the industry.
“We’re really capitalizing on strong demand in Asia,” Bacus said. “Essentially, we have a bidding war between Japan, Korea and China for U.S. beef.”
Bacus said U.S. beef sales are also up at home and with Canada and Mexico.
“We think this is going to be another record-breaking year for us,” Bacus said. “A lot of that is due to having the right kind of terms of trade, and those trade agreements we’ve secured over the last few years have really opened the door for us.”
The Phase One trade deal eliminated a lot of trade barriers for U.S. beef, Bacus said. A big deal for beef exports in the deal was allowing the USDA to be recognized as the regulatory authority to approve packing facilities.
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NASDA Believes Redefining WOTUS is a Bad Idea
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In 2020, the dust finally settled on the definition of “Waters of the United States,” when the new Navigational Waters Protection Rule eliminated ambiguity and drew pragmatic, administrable lines for landowners. With the recent announcements from the current administration, we find ourselves, yet again, re-debating how to achieve clean, high-quality water, continuing the swinging pendulum of public policy that has plagued agriculture for decades.
There is no denying that clean water is essential. NASDA encourages the administration to prioritize clear, administrable definitions and respect state authority while furthering the mission of protecting clean water. We also encourage EPA and the Corps in coordination with USDA and state departments of agriculture to examine and minimize the impact new definitions could have on voluntary conservation efforts and state permitting programs. In addition, the potential impacts to the community of farmers and ranchers who feed us and provide the raw materials necessary for clothing, housing and so much more should especially be considered. A thriving agriculture industry is important for people everywhere, helping to provide life’s necessities at affordable prices and in a healthy, sustainable manner. It’s time to calm the waves and allow a clear path forward for farmers and ranchers looking to care for their land.
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AFR Honored with Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award by Connors State College
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American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) has received a 2021 Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award. The award is designed to highlight successful partnerships between higher education institutions and businesses. AFR was nominated by Connors State College (CSC) in recognition of their longstanding partnership.
AFR’s relationship with Connors State College is longstanding. CSC's namesake, John P. Connor, served as the first vice president of Oklahoma Farmers Union, now known as AFR. In the more than 110 years since CSC’s founding, AFR has provided the institution with resources that have contributed to valuable and positive experiences for CSC students. AFR has sponsored livestock contests, provided funding for student programs and filled volunteer positions within CSC.
“We are both humbled and honored by this recognition,” said AFR Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh. “Throughout our history, AFR Cooperative has encouraged the youth of Oklahoma to pursue higher education. Connors State is a place where students can gather not only knowledge, but also life experiences that will carry them into successful futures. Connors graduates achieve great things, improve and build rural communities and shape the future of our state. We are proud to play a part in their success.”
In early 2021, AFR gifted $10,000 to the CSC Development Foundation. The endowment will fund a tuition scholarship award for the CSC Top Agricultural Student each year. The scholarship is named in honor of the first president of the Oklahoma Board of Agriculture and CSC’s namesake, J.P. Connors.
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Lawmakers- Including Oklahoma's Jim Inhofe- Ask U.S. Ambassador to Iraq to Support U.S. Wheat Sales to Iraq
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Republican Senators, including Oklahoma Senior Senator Jim Inhofe, call on U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller to help Iraq purchase wheat. Four Senators joined Senator Inhofe in signing the letter, Senators John Boozman of Arkansas, Jerry Moran of Kansas, John Cornyn of Texas, and Roger Marshall of Kansas.
The lawmakers specifically ask Ambassador Tueller to engage in the wheat tendering process and for the U.S. State Department to offer additional assistance to the Iraqis to purchase U.S. wheat. From the time a tender is issued, it takes nearly three months for wheat to arrive in the country. The letter states, "Wheat purchases by Iraq require multiple ministries working in tandem, which is where we are hopeful your outreach to them can be helpful." The letter cites smaller than expected harvest and lower government procurement of local, which means Iraq will need to import a substantial volume of wheat to continue to operate their primary subsidized feeding program, the Public Distribution System.
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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 heads lower for the second straight day. Choice Beef was down 69 cents and Select Beef was down $1.21 on Wednesday August 25th.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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OKC West in El Reno had 6.685 in their Tuesday and Wednesday sales of this week.
Compared to last week: Feeder steers sold 2.00-3.00 higher. Feeder heifers traded 2.00-4.00 higher. Demand moderate to good. Steer and heifer calves sold mostly steady. Demand moderate to good, especially for light weaned calves under 450 lbs.
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
Chelsea Stanfield, Farm News 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.
KC Sheperd talks with Oklahoma's 17th Lt. Governor, Matt Pinnell. Pinnell is also serving as the first Oklahoma Secretary of Tourism & Branding. Pinnell says lots of exciting things have Oklahoma on an upward trajectory- and he shares several highlights in today's conversation. Today's Road to Rural Prosperity Podcast is powered by Banc First, Loyal to Oklahoma and to you.
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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