Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Hilliary Communications Bringing Fiber-Optic Internet to Parts of Rural Oklahoma
- Don Close Worries About Mandated Cash Cattle Trade
- The Poultry Federation Unveils New Logo
- Launching Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate
- Farmer Sentiment Weakens amid Rising Concerns of a Cost-price Squeeze
- Body Condition Scoring of Cows with OSU's Mark Johnson
- New Promotional Opportunity for Agritourism Venues
- Pork Producers Can Request an On-Farm Sustainability Report
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Hilliary Communications Bringing Fiber-Optic Internet to Parts of Rural Oklahoma |
Last week, Hilliary Communications announced that it will be investing more than $45 million in rural America to expand affordable, high-powered fiber optic internet where traditional bank loans and infrastructure programs are not readily available.
Yesterday, we spoke with JJ Francais, assistant vice president of special projects with Hilliary Communications, about the announcement. According to Francais, Hilliary Communications has been dedicated to serving rural communities since its beginning, in the 1960s in Medicine Park, Okla.
According to Francais, this funding from the USDA was born out of the same thinking that brought electricity to rural communities throughout the U.S. in 1936. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 allowed the federal government to make low-cost loans to farmers who had banded together to create non-profit cooperatives for the purpose of bringing electricity to rural America, according to the National Park Service website.
“(Then) it became apparent that telephone services became essential to modern life,” Francais said. “Now, our company and many others will tell you that in today’s world internet is just as important as electricity or telephone (was).”
Today, the internet is vital to everything from economic development to telemedicine and even farming, according to Francais.
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P&K Equipment was founded in 1985 in Kingfisher. Now with 18 locations across Oklahoma & Arkansas, P&K is proud to be your trusted local John Deere dealer. P&K offers the solutions you need- from equipment, technology, parts, and service support. P&K Equipment is committed to meeting the needs of customers in person or online. It’s never been easier to shop John Deere equipment, secure financing, shop parts, and schedule service, than it is on the P&K website at pkequipment.com.
The experts at P&K Equipment make it their mission to provide top-notch solutions and unbeatable customer service. To discover the P&K experience for yourself, visit the website, call one of the 18 locations, or stop in to P&K for a visit today.
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Don Close Worries About Mandated Cash Cattle Trade |
While the cattle industry looks to increase robust price discovery through cash trade, many producers and industry experts warn of the dangers of mandating cash trade. Many folks agree that mandated cash trade directly threatens alternative marketing agreements and grid-pricing of cattle.
Don Close, senior vice president for food and ag research, animal protein at Rabo AgriFinance told us that there is no doubt that the cattle industry could use more cash trade but be careful not to disincentivize the producers working within AMAs.
“I think it would be incredibly detrimental,” Close said. “If you look at the percentage increase in choice and prime carcasses that we are seeing today - in that 80% level, that was 55% just 25 years ago. When we started selling cattle on individual carcass merit, that is where the incentive came to make those cattle better. If we go back to any kind of mandated percentage, it is going to force us back into selling cattle on the average. That absolutely disincentivizes that quality improvement and I think it would be a horrible mistake for the industry.”
Right now, the federal government is working on solutions for the beef cattle industry, one of which would be to mandate a certain percentage of cash trade. At the same time, Close does support increased cash cattle trade.
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The Poultry Federation Unveils New Logo |
The Poultry Federation has a new look. After sixty years, we are releasing an updated brand identity, which includes a new logo, colors, and font.
It is believed the new look better matches who the industry is: a trade organization representing the poultry and egg industry in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma who promotes and protects the interests of the industry and is a unified voice before state governments.
The Federation partnered with Stolz-Mead Global, a full-service promotion agency based in Ohio to help design the new logo.
Federation leadership writes, "we hope you like the new look of The Poultry Federation. We are excited to implement our new logo in our materials as well as on our social media outlets."
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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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Launching Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate |
On Nov. 2, at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), the United States and United Arab Emirates officially launched the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) alongside 31 countries and over 48 non-government partners. In remarks at the World Leaders Summit, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. intends to mobilize $1 billion in investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation over five years (2021-2025).
Previewed at President Biden’s Leaders Summit on Climate in April, AIM for Climate is a pioneering initiative uniquely focused on increasing investment and enabling greater public-private and cross-sectoral partnerships, intended to both raise global climate ambition, and underpin transformative climate action in the agriculture sector in all countries. AIM for Climate has already begun to bear fruit, garnering an “early harvest” of $4 billion in increased investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation over five years.
AIM for Climate partners are mobilizing this investment to close the global investment gap in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation. Climate-smart agriculture is an approach that helps to guide actions needed to transform and reorient agricultural systems to tackle three main objectives: sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes, while adapting and building resilience to climate change and/or reducing/removing greenhouse gas emissions.
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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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And- their iPhone App, which provides all electronic futures quotes is available at the App Store- click here for the KIS Futures App for your iPhone.
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Farmer sentiment Weakens amid Rising Concerns of a Cost-price Squeeze |
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer recorded a drop in producer sentiment in October, down 3 points to a reading of 121. The modest drop was part of a three-month slide for the index primarily due to producers' weakened perceptions for both current and future conditions in the production agriculture sector. The Index of Current Conditions was down 5 points to a reading of 140, while the Index of Future Expectations fell 2 points to a reading of 114. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers' responses to a telephone survey. This month's survey was conducted between October 18-22, 2021.
"Recent weakness in farmer sentiment appears to be driven by a wide variety of issues, with concerns about input price rises topping the list," said James Mintert, the barometer's principal investigator and director of Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. "Rapid run-ups in input prices, especially fertilizer for crop production, are giving rise to concerns among producers' about their operating margins weakening. Livestock producers are also concerned about a cost-price squeeze, especially in the pork and dairy sectors."
Producer's view of their farms' financial situation was less optimistic in October compared to September. The Farm Financial Performance Index declined 6 points to 104 in October. Over half (51%) of producers in the survey said they expect input prices to rise 8% or more in the upcoming year and one-third of producers said they expect those prices to rise by 12% or more. While the dramatic rise in fertilizer prices that's taken place in recent months is a key factor; rising input costs also extend to other inputs such as seed, pesticides, and machinery repairs and ownership costs leading farmers to become increasingly concerned about a cost-price squeeze on their operating margins, said Mintert.
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Body Condition Scoring of Cows with OSU's Mark Johnson |
Weekly, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist Mark Johnson offers his expertise in the cattle industry. This is a part of the weekly series known as the "Cow-Calf Corner" published electronically by Paul Beck. Today, Johnson talks about body condition scoring of cows.
The body condition scoring system (BCS) is used to assess body energy reserves in beef cows. The BCS system used for beef cattle ranges from 1 to 9. A score of 1 indicates cows that are thin and emaciated, cows of BCS 9 are fat and obese. Pictures and definitions of the BCS system can be found in Chapter 20 of the 8th edition of the OSU Beef Cattle Manual.
When condition scoring cows, producers should look beyond age, frame size, depth, length pregnancy status and hair coat. The condition scoring system is intended to provide a consistent system to quantify relative fatness regardless of these other factors that create difference in cows‘ appearance. There is a strong relationship between weight and BCS.
Producers should manage their calving season, genetics, grazing system, supplementation program and herd health to achieve an average BCS of 5 to 6 (target 5.5) in the mature cow herd at calving time. The goal for first calf heifers is a BCS of 6. Typically, the greatest reproductive challenge in beef cattle is the breed back of two-year old females raising their first calf, lactating for the first time and still growing themselves, accordingly the higher BCS of 6 is recommended.
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New Promotional Opportunity for Agritourism Venues |
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is looking for orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and more to showcase on a new app dedicated to connecting consumers with agritourism venues.
The American Farm Trail app, created by the Foundation and sponsored by Corteva, allows farmers, ranchers and farm attraction managers to sign up for free to showcase their agritourism venues. Farms and attractions can create a profile promoting their business, history, available products and more.
Consumers using the app will be able to connect directly with local farms by searching area, type of attraction, or products for sale. The Foundation plans to launch the app in the spring of 2022.
“The Foundation is ecstatic to offer this new resource to help connect agritourism businesses to consumers interested in visiting farms and ranches. There is nothing quite like picking your own apple or hunting for the perfect pumpkin and meeting the farmer who put the time and effort into growing that crop,” said Daniel Meloy, executive director of the Foundation. “We think the American Farm Trail app will be a great opportunity for farmers and ranchers to bring curious consumers to their farms and for those consumers to connect in-person to where their food comes from.”
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Pork Producers Can Request an On-Farm Sustainability Report |
Pork producers can help grow public trust by sharing modern pig farming practices and demonstrating proof of continuous improvement.
Sustainability for America’s pork producers is about doing what’s right for people, pigs and the planet by following the industry’s We CareSM ethical principles.
We Care gives the pork industry a solid foundation to build upon. The next step is to measure efforts in each of the ethical principles.
Pork producers are encouraged to request a customized On-Farm Sustainability Report to help measure and document continuous improvement efforts for the pork industry.
On-Farm Sustainability Reports are a proof point, and farms representing 25,000 acres and more than 200,000 pigs have already received their free report. These reports help measure and document efforts in key on-farm sustainability areas, including manure management, water quality and community outreach.
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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 mixed on Tuesday November 2nd.
Choice Beef was down 20 cents while Select Beef was up $1.74.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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Oklahoma National Stockyards had 8,003 head on Monday. November first for their final number.
Compared to the last sale in October- Feeder steers and heifers unevenly steady. Steer calves 2.00 - 4.00 lower. Heifer calves 3.00 - 5.00 higher. Demand moderate to good.
Click below for the complete closing report.
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OKC West in El Reno had an estimated 2,500 calves on Tuesday November 2nd.
Compared to last Tuesday: Steer and heifer calves sold mostly steady. Rain and cooler temperatures are in the forecast for most of the week.
Click on the button below for details of the trade as compiled by the USDA Market News Service.
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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 Jed Green, the founder of the group ORCA- Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action. They discuss the problems that have developed in rural Oklahoma because of the explosive growth of medical marijuana production in the state- and of the need for better regulation of the industry- as well as recognition of the economic benefits Green believes are a part of the arrival of this industry- especially in areas where legal operations are being established.
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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