Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Monday, October 18, 2021
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Two Department Heads at OSU Ferguson College of Ag Exiting Stillwater
- Oklahoma’s Small Meat Processors- OSU’s Rodney Holcomb Looks Ahead
- NCBA’s Kent Bacus Hopeful Biden Administration Will Pursue Deals Beneficial to US Beef Producers
- USDA Designates Eight Oklahoma Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
- Online Tool for Drought-Stricken Ranchers Estimates Compensation for Feed Transportation Costs
- Congressman Frank Lucas and the Rest of the Oklahoma Delegation Call on Biden to Put American Energy First
- Stay Ahead of Nematodes and Participate in BASF’s SCN Action Month
- New Southern Plains Perspective Blog Post Explores a Changing Climate's Impact on Crop Yields
- Three More School Land Lease Auctions Set for This Week
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Two Department Heads at OSU Ferguson College of Ag Exiting Stillwater
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We had known and reported to you several weeks back about the departure of Dr. Clint Rusk, Head of the OSU Animal and Food Sciences Department- Dr. Tom Coon shared that with us during a conversation that we had with him that offered us a State of the Division and Ferguson College of Ag back in September.
At the time- we were waiting on Dr. Rusk's destination organization to announce his new position before we could share it here- that finally came at the end of this past week- as it was announced the American-International Charolais Association Board of Directors has selected Clint Rusk, current Department Head of the Animal and Food Sciences Department at Oklahoma State University, as its new Executive Vice President. Clint will be replacing J. Neil Orth, who is retiring at the end of 2021 after two decades of leading the organization.
More details on Dr. Rusk's move from OSU to the Charolais breed are available here.
Now- we have word that the head of PASS heading due east and landing at a similar position in Fayetteville. Dr. Jeff Edwards, who has served the past 6 years as the head of OSU's Plant and Soil Science Department, will be joining the University of Arkansas in the early days of 2022 as the Head of the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences.
Dr. Edwards joined OSU in 2004 and served as the state wheat and small grains specialist before stepping up in 2015 to become the head of the Plant and Soil Sciences. Dr. Edwards is a native of Kentucky and received his BS in Ag. Business from Western Kentucky University followed by his MS in Weed Science and PhD in Crop Physiology from the University of Arkansas.
Having spent a number of years at the University of Arkansas working on his advanced degrees- Jeff says it feels like going home.
We will miss Jeff and Clint- and wish them much success!
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Midwest Farm Shows is proud to produce the two best Farm Shows in the State of Oklahoma annually- the Tulsa Farm Show each December and the Oklahoma City Farm Show each April.
The Tulsa Farm Show is Oklahoma’s premier agricultural and ranching event- and returns to the SageNet Center (Expo Square) December, 9-10-11, 2021.
Now is the ideal time to contact the Midwest Farm Show Office at 507-437-7969 and book space at the 2021 Tulsa Farm Show. To learn more about the Tulsa Farm Show, click here.
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Oklahoma’s Small Meat Processors- OSU’s Rodney Holcomb Looks Ahead
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There is a push for diversity among meat processing facilities in the U.S. for more than one reason. In recent years, is has become evident that funneling most of the nation’s livestock through a handful of large meat processing facilities makes for a fragile protein supply chain. At the same time, consumers are looking for locally raised and processed products.
At this year’s Rural Economic Outlook Conference at Oklahoma State University, Dr. Rodney Holcomb, agricultural economics professor at OSU, told Radio Oklahoma’s own KC Sheperd that in Oklahoma, the local food movement had small, local processing facilities backed up before COVID crippled processing capacity at the large plants.
“Most small plants were backed up three to six months, then all of a sudden COVID hits,” Holcomb said. “Then we go to a year, year-and-a-half, even two years out just to book a kill date for a steer.”
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NCBA’s Kent Bacus Hopeful Biden Administration Will Pursue Deals Beneficial to US Beef Producers
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Last week, we caught up with Kent Bacus, senior director of international trade and market access for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, at the 2021 Rural Economic Outlook Conference.
As one of their keynote speakers, Bacus compared the Trump Administration to the Biden Administration from the perspective of trade. Today, he continues his conversation, saying the Biden administration should be aggressive in seeking trade deals. He said the mindset in the U.S. is shifting from cautionary to one that wants to engage.
“Congress let the Trade Promotion Authority lapse in July," Bacus said. "We cannot expect our negotiators to go out and secure these good agreements if they do not have the support of Congress. The U.S. has to lead these negotiations – we cannot lead from the back. Our allies have to be able to trust that we are going to be able to stand with them, but also that we are going to … defend science and advocate for stronger trade policies.”
TPA provides authority to the President to enter into reciprocal trade agreements on reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, according to the Congressional Research Service. However, Congress must introduce implementing legislation for the agreement to come into effect, according to CRS.
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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 Designates Eight Oklahoma Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
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USDA has designated eight Oklahoma Counties as primary natural disaster areas. This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for 8 or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional. Primary Counties Eligible include: Creek, Hughes, Noble, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Pawnee and Tulsa.
Contiguous Counties Also Eligible include:
Coal, Garfield, Kay, Lincoln, Logan, Muskogee, McIntosh, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Seminole, Wagoner and Washington- all in Oklahoma.
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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
Union Mutual was chartered in 1938 to write property and casualty insurance in the state of Oklahoma. Over the years, Union Mutual has maintained the attitude that started the company and continue to be that company that understands Oklahomans’ insurance needs when they contact any member of the UMIC team.
In poor economic times, in times when national insurance companies either stopped writing or completely left the state, Union Mutual has been there for Oklahomans. Today, Union Mutual writes insurance in all 77 counties of Oklahoma through almost 300 agency locations. These agents provide prompt and reliable quotes for most lines of insurance. Just recently, UMIC launched a new product in the preferred market space that has seen unprecedented growth with our rural customer base and falls in line with our Company mantra of “Protection not Politics”, when meeting the needs of our consumers and agents.
Monica Collison took over as CEO of Union Mutual in May of 2019. Under her leadership and through the hard work of her Union team, the company has continued to see positive results and productive growth with profit throughout the state of Oklahoma. Union Mutual offers a wide variety of coverage options for Oklahomans. For 82 years, Union Mutual has led the way to protect all of Oklahoma.
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Online Tool for Drought-Stricken Ranchers Estimates Compensation for Feed Transportation Costs
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An online tool is now available to help ranchers document and estimate payments to cover feed transportation costs caused by drought, which are now covered by the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture updated the program this year to include feed transportation costs as well as lowered the threshold for when assistance for water hauling expenses is available. USDA’s Farm Service Agency will begin taking applications this fall.
Payment Calculations
USDA will reimburse eligible ranchers 60% of feed transportation costs above what would have been incurred in a normal year. Producers qualifying as underserved (socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning or military veteran) will be reimbursed for 90% of the feed transportation cost above what would have been incurred in a normal year.
USDA uses a national cost formula to determine reimbursement costs that will not include the first 25 miles and distances exceeding 1,000 transportation miles. The calculation will also exclude the normal cost to transport hay or feed if the producer normally purchases some feed. For 2021, the initial cost formula of $6.60 per mile will be used (before the percentage is applied).
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Congressman Frank Lucas and the Rest of the Oklahoma Delegation Call on Biden to Put American Energy First
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Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) has joined Congresswoman Carol Miller (WV-03), House Republican Leadership, and 140 of his colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging the Biden Administration to reverse its course requesting the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to increase oil production and instead embrace America's energy needs with American-produced energy.
Besides Congressman Lucas, the other four members of the Oklahoma House delegation also signed onto the letter.
The letter reads, "Your assessment that increasing oil supply is necessary to reduce prices at the pump is valid, and we agree with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan who said that rising gasoline costs will 'risk harming the ongoing global recovery.' However, we disagree with your Administration's efforts to decrease access to American energy resources while soliciting OPEC+ nations to increase production of their resources. As you are aware, OPEC+ includes nations that are known American adversaries, such as Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. It. is not in America's interest to rely on these nations for energy. Instead, eliminating barriers to American economic and job growth, enhance national and energy security, and lower energy prices for American families.
"Unfortunately, your recent request of OPEC+ is consistent with a number of anti-American energy policies that your Administration and congressional Democrats are pushing; including: cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline; proposing to ban domestic fracking; declaring a moratorium on oil and natural gas leases on Federal lands and waters; and changing tax law to harm domestic production."
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Stay Ahead of Nematodes and Participate in BASF’s SCN Action Month
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With a rapidly growing human population, farmers’ abilities to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture are crucial. Companies like BASF Agricultural Solutions work with farmers to help make agriculture production sustainable.
Recently, BASF partnered with the Soybean Cyst Nematode Coalition to create SCN Action Month. We caught up with Jerimiah Mullock, a seed treatment product manager at BASF, to get the scoop.
Mullock said a key to keeping soybean crops free of SCN is to take soil samples. SCN can be detrimental to soybean crops because they go unnoticed until after the crop has been harvested, he added.
SCN is present in nearly all soybean-growing regions and continues to spread. Damage is caused when nematodes enter plant roots and establish feeding sites that steal nutrients and water from the plant, ultimately reducing yield potential. Because the damage occurs below ground, nematodes can cause up to a 30% loss in soybean yield without any visible signs of plant damage, according to BASF.
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New Southern Plains Perspective Blog Post Explores a Changing Climate's Impact on Crop Yields
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In this blog post Clay Pope talks about future yield change data from ProPublica. Spoiler alert: It does not look good for the Southern Plains. See this blog on the Southern Plains Perspective website by clicking or tapping here.
Clay writes "Today, I want to call attention to some interesting information posted by Pam Knox with the University of Georgia Extension Service.
"I follow several ag and climate blogs to try and keep up on what folks around the country are seeing and saying about climate change, agriculture and natural resource issues. One of my favorite blogs (and one you should check out) is On the Case-Climate and Agriculture in the Southeast put out by Pam Knox with the University of Georgia. Pam puts out timely and interesting information about the impact our changing climate is having on agriculture in the Southeastern portion of the country-so interesting and timely in fact that I am going to steal the information she had on one of her latest posts."
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Three More School Land Lease Auctions Set for This Week
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The 39th annual Commissioners of the Land Office fall land lease auctions continue this week.
Leases in Beckham, Caddo, Kiowa and Washita counties will be auctioned at 10 a.m. Oct. 18 (TODAY) at the Elk City Convention Center.
Leases in Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Jackson and Tillman counties will be auctioned at 10 a.m. Oct. 19 at the Comanche County Fairgrounds in Lawton.
The Logan, Noble, Pawnee and Payne County lease auction will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 20 in Stillwater at the Payne County Expo Center.
Click the button below for more details on these locations.
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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 slightly lower on Friday, October 15th. Choice Beef was down 8 cents while Select Beef dropped 6 cents.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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Oklahoma National Stockyards had 5,200 head in early Sunday evening- and ONSY President Kelli Payne told us that she expects 5.700 head to start this morning's auction-final numbers likely to be around 6,200 on the day. They will begin at 8:00 am..
Compared to the previous sale, the October 11th sale Feeder steers 2.00 - 4.00 higher. Feeder heifers unevenly steady. Steer calves 3.00 -5.00 higher. Heifers calves steady to 2.00 higher. Demand is moderate to 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
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.
As we continue along the Road to Rural Prosperity- In our latest Ag Perspective Podcast, KC Sheperd talks with the leading animal behavior authority in the world, Dr. Temple Grandin. KC and Dr. Grandin talk about the concept of Sustainability and the proper handling of beef cattle, how to treat your cattle the right way, the concept of Stockmanship, how to get an animal ready for the show ring and the amazing memory that cattle have- and how understanding that memory can help you lessen the stress on your cattle and yourself as you work with beef or dairy animals.
Dr. Grandin has been honored by Universities and Organizations around the world- including in 2010 when Oklahoma State University created an endowed professorship in animal behavior in honor of Temple Grandin.
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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