Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Thursday, December 16, 2021
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- OSU's Derrell Peel Breaks Down October U.S. Beef Export Numbers
- Farmers Play Critical Role in Protecting Water Quality
- Consider Corteva Agriscience's Ultigraz for Spring Pasture Management in Oklahoma
- Extreme Fire Intensity and Rapid Growth Result in 10,000 Acre Fire in Texas County
- USDA Now Accepting Applications for Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program
- Brighter Future Fund Applications Sought to Assist Farmers
- New Snowpack and Precipitation Normals Now Available
- 2022 Oklahoma Agriculture in the Classroom Art Contests are Open
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OSU's Derrell Peel Breaks Down October U.S. Beef Export Numbers |
The most recent U.S. meat export data shows that October was a continuation of the trend we have seen all year: a huge amount of beef exports. we spoke with Derrell Peel, extension marketing livestock specialist at Oklahoma State University, about what the numbers mean.
“Beef exports were up in October,” Peel said. “We are up about 20% on a year-over-year basis for total beef exports.”
So far U.S. beef export numbers are already about 9% higher than in 2018, which was the biggest beef export year to date. Despite November and December figures not yet tallied, 2021 is already the new record year for U.S. beef exports.
In North America, Peel thinks the U.S., Canada and Mexico are getting more integrated all the time when it comes to live cattle trade.
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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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Farmers Play Critical Role in Protecting Water Quality |
The agriculture industry’s progress in reducing nutrient loss across the Mississippi River Basin was highlighted yesterday by the Agricultural Nutrient Policy Council (ANPC) during the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force Virtual Meeting. The ANPC, which includes the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives as a member, presented information from a recent report with key findings from 16 states.
During the Obama Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a memorandum providing guidance to individual states on reducing nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into our nation's waters. The EPA’s framework provided an innovative and highly constructive approach that offered the stakeholders in the states, starting at the farm level, the ability to develop initiatives to protect water quality.
“ANPC’s report showcases the amazing work being done by farmers and ranchers across the Mississippi River Basin to protect the environment by implementing nutrient reduction strategies,” Chuck Conner, president and CEO of NCFC, said. “Much of the work being done comes from farmer and agribusiness groups’ own volition and funding, which demonstrates the important leadership role agriculture plays adopting these initiatives across rural America.”
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Consider Corteva Agriscience's Ultigraz for Spring Pasture Management in Oklahoma |
One pass. Better grass. That is the motto for Corteva Agriscience’s UltiGrazSM Pasture Weed & Feed system. Scott Flynn, zonal biology leader at Corteva Agriscience, spoke with KC Sheperd, associate director for Radio Oklahoma Ag Network on how this product offers efficiency at a time when rising input costs must be considered.
“Ultigraz is a certified program that ensures proper blending application and stewardship of this product,” Flynn said. “The way it works is, we take dry fertilizer and impregnate a residual herbicide. The system ensures that our cooperators go through the proper process as far as mixing the herbicide onto the dry fertilizer, making sure the application is correct and making sure the equipment used is only used for the pasture-land management business, so that way we do not end up with any cross-contamination.”
The system is beneficial to producers through stewardship by ensuring products are applied properly, Flynn said. On top of that, Ultigraz’s application cost can be up to half the cost of normal range and pasture application by combining fertilizer and herbicide into one, he added.
“The timeframe for using Ultigraz for full-season grass pastures, you are looking at a spring application,” Flynn said. “I think of it as timing it for musk thistle control. Usually, musk thistle is popping up in (Oklahoma) sometime in April.”
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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 daily report 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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Extreme Fire Intensity and Rapid Growth Result in 10,000 Acre Fire in Texas County
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According to the Oklahoma Forestry Services, the state and local resources continue to battle a fire west of Guymon in Texas County.
The fire in size during the day on Wednesday- and is about 10,000 acres- firefighters have been effective in keeping it from building east closer to Guymon.
According to the Oklahoma Forestry Services- "Cobb Update (Texas County)- Fire is approximately 10,000 acres with 1 structure lost. FDs and OFS continue to build line and engage in structure protection. Eastward progression toward Guymon is largely in check. OFS Suppression Group and County Wildland Task Forces will be on the fire overnight and through the day tomorrow(Thursday) alongside Texas County resources.
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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
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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USDA Now Accepting Applications for Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program |
The Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program is a part of USDA’s Build Back Better initiative to strengthen critical supply chains and our food system. This program guarantees loans of up to $40 million for qualified lenders to finance food systems projects, specifically for the start-up or expansion of activities in the middle of the food supply chain. The program will support new investments in infrastructure for food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution to increase capacity and create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain. |
Brighter Future Fund Applications Sought to Assist Farmers |
American Farmland Trust will begin accepting applications today to help farmers nationwide to improve farm viability, access, transfer or to permanently protect farmland or adopt regenerative agricultural practices.
AFT’s Brighter Future Fund provides grants of up to $5,000 per project. A project may involve one or more individual farmer(s) or farm families and only one grant can be awarded per farmer/farm family. In 2021, the fund will accept applications from farmers who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color women, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual who had had limited access to financial resources in the past.
“The Brighter Future Fund helps producers efficiently access funding to address some of the biggest challenges they face,” said David Haight, AFT Vice President of Programs. “This year, the program will focus exclusively on providing resources to producers who have faced systemic barriers in our agricultural system.”
The Brighter Future Fund launched in 2020 to help farmers launch, grow and sustain farms in the face of forces impacting the food and agricultural system, including the COVID-19 pandemic, changing markets, severe weather and climate change. Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), one of America’s favorite farmer-owned co-ops, will make an additional two-year financial commitment to the Brighter Future Fund, building upon its initial gift in 2020.
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New Snowpack and Precipitation Normals Now Available |
Recently, the Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting (SSWSF) Program published new 30-year hydroclimatic normal values or “normals” for snowpack and precipitation at western U.S. monitoring stations. This information serves as a benchmark for assessing water supply conditions and is used by producers, natural resource managers and the research community.
Each decade the SSWSF Program calculates the median and average over a 30-year period to provide this data. This update shifts the reference period from the 1981-2010 period to the 1991-2020 period and includes new values for nearly 700 automated SNOTEL (snow telemetry) stations and over 900 snow course measurements at sites managed by NRCS. Data from SNOTEL stations help inform decisions for water managers, reservoir operators, producers, recreationists, and other groups.
Also included in the update are 1991-2020 medians and averages for external agency reservoir storage and streamflow volumes, used for water supply forecasting across the west.
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2022 Oklahoma Agriculture in the Classroom Art Contests are Open |
Oklahoma Agriculture in the Classroom is taking entries for its 2022 art contests. The theme is "Find your Future in Agriculture." Although agricultural producers are critical in providing food and fiber for all of us, many other careers support food getting onto our plates. Through the contest, AITC hopes to introduce students to the vast opportunities and careers in the agricultural industry.
Categories are:
PreK to 2nd grade coloring contest
3rd grade to 12th grade poster contest
9th grade to 12th grade photography contest
Additionally, AITC is accepting applications for the 2022 AITC Teacher of the Year!
Photo: 2021 Middle School Poster Overall Winner by Lena Hasan of Whittier Middle School, Norman, Okla.
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In Case You Missed It- Cattlemen’s Congress to Feature National Beef Quality Assurance Certification
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As cattlemen and women gather in Oklahoma City for Cattlemen’s Congress, Jan. 1-16, 2022, to showcase and market their elite cattle genetics, cattle producers also have the opportunity to participate in a unique seminar featuring national beef industry and breed leaders while achieving their Beef Quality Assurance certification.
The educational event is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds in the Super Barn Sales Arena and all producers are invited to attend. The BQA certification seminar will include a panel of speakers featuring national breed leadership discussing the importance of quality and marketing for beef producers.
The panel discussion will be facilitated by Josh White, executive director of producer education and sustainability at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and will include the following:
• Shane Bedwell - COO and Director of Breed Improvement: American Hereford Association
• Kara Lee – Assistant Director, Producer Engagement: Certified Angus Beef
• Clint Rusk – Executive Vice President: American-International Charolais Association
• Megan Slater – Executive Director: American Gelbvieh Association
• Heather Buckmaster – Executive Director: Oklahoma Beef Council
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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 down. Choice Beef was down 46 cents and Select Beef was down $1.35 on Wednesday, 12/15/2021.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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OKC West in El Reno had 12,000 head this week as they wrap up their weekly sales for 2021.
This is the last sale of the year. The OKC West Livestock Market will be closed for the Holidays. The next sale will be on Monday January 3, 2022.
Compared to last week- USDA Market News reports Feeder steers traded mostly steady, feeder heifers sold 8.00-10.00 lower after last week's higher market. Demand light to moderate for feeders. Steer and heifer calves under 450 lbs traded instances up to as much as 20.00 lower, 450-600 lbs 1.00-2.00 higher remainder of the calves steady. Demand moderate for heavier cattle, light for lighter weights. All cattle marked value added are part of the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network program and are weaned a minimum of 45 days and 2 rounds of shots.
Manager Bill Barnhart also offered his perspective on the final market of the year via Facebook- "The market took a step back this week on a year ending big run of cattle. Calves on Tuesday sold steady to softer. There is still excellent demand for the best calves that are fully weaned even though pasture is short and there is still no rain in the forecast. Feeder cattle on Wednesday sold cheaper except for the better load lots of steers. Some hfrs were off as much as 10.00. Fat cattle trade has been slow to develop but some early week sales were 2.00 lower at 138 as packers have secured most of their needs through the end of the year. The market has improved dramatically over the last two months but now seems ready for a two week breather. As the holidays near we reflect back on the year and are very thankful for all of our customers, buyers, truckers, and especially our hard working employees. Have a great holidays.".
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 a big reason why Oklahoma is on track to become a top 10 state.
The Road to Rural Prosperity dives into these stories, 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.
Our Latest RRP is an end of year conversation between Oklahoma Third District Congressman Frank Lucas and Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Senior Farm/Ranch Director Ron Hays.
They talk about the recently passed extension of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Measure as well as the Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021, the continued wait on the US Department of Justice investigation into the major meat packers, Congressman Lucas' work on the Science Committee, his continued intentions to return to the House Ag Committee in time to be a part of writing the next Farm Bill and a comparison of Congress when he first arrived in Washington in the mid 1990s and today.
Search for Road to Rural Prosperity and subscribe on your favorite Podcast platform.
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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