Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
|
|
Tuesday, February 8, 2022 |
|
|
|
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Gov Stitt on Medical Marijuana Crisis to Rural Oklahomans- "I hear you...We Must Get it Under Control"
- Lazy KT Ranch Receives Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award
- Making Better Business People Out of Ranchers is Key to Beef Industry Success
- USDA Announces $1 Billion Investment in Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
- A Look at Declining Feedlot Production in 2022 with OSU's Derrell Peel
- Cattle Producers Send WOTUS Letter to EPA
- NASDA Asks EPA to Suspend Action on WOTUS Rulemaking
- Elanco's Sara Linneen Talks Cattle Gut Health in NCBA Trade Show
|
Governor Stitt on Medical Marijuana Crisis to Rural Oklahomans- "I hear you...We Must Get it Under Control" |
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt offered his fourth State of State address on Monday afternoon at the state Capitol in front of a joint session of the state legislature.
People who live in rural Oklahoma had special interest in two of the more important issues that the Governor went into depth in the course of his speech- and the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Public Policy team offered their take on the Governor's comments on McGirt and on the grow house crisis for Medical Marijuana.
Here are their comments on those two areas:
Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry
Gov. Stitt emphasized “protecting Oklahomans and our way of life” through changes to regulations on Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry.
The rapidly growing medical marijuana industry in Oklahoma has created a number of challenges for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers as they carry out their daily work. The industry also poses concerns for landowners in the state.
“To the citizens of rural Oklahoma, I hear you,” Stitt said. “This is causing major problems in our communities, and we must get it under control.”
Gov. Stitt noted the charge for a commercial marijuana license in the state of Oklahoma is a fraction of those in other states, comparing Oklahoma’s fee of $2,500 to California’s $181,000.
“As a result, we have seven times the growers than California with just 10% of the people,” he said.
The governor’s push for a reexamination of licensing fees and a crackdown on illegal activity within the industry echoes OKFB’s policy supporting increased legal compliance and enforcement for marijuana growing operations as well as increased transparency regarding ownership of marijuana facilities.
Effects of the McGirt decision
A top priority for OKFB members, the McGirt Supreme Court ruling has been the cause of much uncertainty for farmers and ranchers in eastern Oklahoma.
“Over the past year, we’ve done everything we can to protect law and order and limit the impacts of this decision,” Stitt said.
Gov. Stitt acknowledged Oklahoma Farm Bureau as part of the coalition leading the charge to address the jurisdictional problems caused by the McGirt ruling. He cited two recent wins, including the Supreme Court’s decision that McGirt is not retroactive and their agreement to hear another related case. Editor's note- the Governor mentioned both the Ok Farm Bureau and the OCA by name as being a part of the coalition)
OKFB will continue to advocate for private property rights and the interests of Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers as the impacts of the McGirt ruling develop.
|
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.
For more information on our services or to find a location near you, visit our website here.
|
Lazy KT Ranch Receives Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award |
The Lazy KT Ranch of Freedom has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat resources in their care.
Dr. Katie Blunk and her family own and operate Lazy KT Ranch. They receive $10,000 and a crystal award for being selected.
“Recipients of this award are real life examples of conservation-minded agriculture,” Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation president and CEO, said. “These hard-working families are essential to our environment, food system and rural economy.”
|
Making Better Business People Out of Ranchers is Key to Beef Industry Success |
The U.S. beef cattle industry is a complex one, especially in the 21st Century. CattleFax CEO Randy Blach told us that the future of the industry depends on good businessmen and businesswomen. On the sidelines of last week's Cattle Industry Convention- he talked with me about that future.
First, Blach said produces should be utilizing risk-management tools. Futures and options trading is a tried-and-true method for managing risk. Blach said other tools like Livestock Risk Protection insurance and rain-fall insurance are just two examples of what is available to help producers.
“I encourage more producers to look at ways they can use these tools to take some of the price shocks out of their business,” Blach said. “We cannot forecast these black swan (events); none of us know and how many have we had in the last five or six years?”
In order for the U.S. cattle industry to keep moving forward, Blach said the majority of beef cattle producers need to become better business people.
Our thanks to Performance Beef and Zoetis for sponsoring all of our reports from Houston and the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention
|
|
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!
Click on the Button below to listen to our most recent report
|
|
Performance Livestock Analytics- Our Official 2022 Cattle Industry Convention Sponsor |
|
USDA Announces $1 Billion Investment in Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities |
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is delivering on its promise to expand markets by investing $1 billion in partnerships to support America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity will finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse gas benefits. USDA is now accepting project applications for fiscal year 2022.
“America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest owners are leading the way in implementing climate-smart solutions across their operations,” Vilsack said.
For the purposes of this funding opportunity, a climate-smart commodity is defined as an agricultural commodity that is produced using agricultural (farming, ranching or forestry) practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon.
Funding will be provided to partners for producers and landowners to:
- implement climate-smart production practices, activities, and systems on working lands
- measure/quantify, monitor and verify the carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits associated with those practices
- develop markets and promote the resulting climate-smart commodities
|
|
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.
|
Sponsor Spotlight
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.
And Check out this video below that helps you learn more about the Beef Checkoff- .
|
|
|
A Look at Declining Feedlot Production in 2022 with OSU's Derrell Peel |
Weekly, Derrell Peel, extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, 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. Yesterday, Peel talked about declining feedlot production in 2022.
On Jan. 1, the inventory of cattle in U.S. feedlots was 14.69 million head, up fractionally from 14.67 million head one year ago. All other categories of the USDA Cattle report were down, confirming that the industry continues to liquidate cattle numbers from the 2019 cyclical peak. The all cattle and calves inventory was 91.9 million head, down 2% year over year. The beef cow herd at 30.125 million head, was down 2.3% from one year ago and is down 4.9% in the three years since the 2019 peak. The 2021 calf crop was 35.09 million head, down 1.2% year over year and down 3.4% from the 2018 peak calf crop for this cattle cycle.
How can feedlot inventories be above year ago levels if the calf crop has declined the past three years? The usual flow of feeder cattle over time would suggest that feedlot inventories should have peaked in 2020. Several factors explain this delay between calf production and feedlot production.
Feedlots have been borrowing against the future to hold feedlot inventories as high as possible to this point; and the ability to do that will decrease in the next few months. The estimated supply of feeder cattle, calculated from Jan. 1 inventories of steers over 500 lbs, other (non-replacement) heifers over 500 lbs., and calves under 500 pounds, with current feedlot inventories subtracted was at 25.54 million head, down 2.6% year over year.
|
Cattle Producers Send WOTUS Letter to EPA |
On Monday, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) submitted a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on behalf of over 1,600 cattle producers from 44 states calling for a definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) that works for the cattle industry.
The letter is in response to a rule proposed by the Biden administration to repeal the Navigable Waters Protection Rule and implement new regulations on water features, including features commonly found on farms and ranches. The letter asks EPA Administrator Michael Regan to support a limited, clear definition of WOTUS that maintains agricultural exclusions and respects existing Supreme Court precedent limiting federal jurisdiction over small bodies of water.
“The Biden administration’s rule repeals bipartisan exclusions for agriculture that existed under both Democratic and Republican administrations,” said NCBA Chief Environmental Counsel Scott Yager. “Without these critical exclusions, common features like stock ponds, agricultural ditches, and drainage systems can fall under federal jurisdiction, preventing cattle producers from actively managing their land and caring for their cattle.”
|
NASDA asks EPA to suspend action on WOTUS Rulemaking |
Yesterday, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture expressed significant concerns with a proposed rule to revise the definition of the term “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act issued jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“The Clean Water Act is built on the concept of cooperative federalism,” NASDA CEO Ted McKinney said. “The Navigational Waters Protection Rule respected limitations on federal jurisdiction, as well as the capabilities and responsibilities of states to regulate and promote water quality.”
In NASDA’s comments to the EPA, McKinney urged the EPA and the Corps to suspend further action on this rulemaking until guidance from the Supreme Court is provided.
“Unfortunately, the proposed rule will return us to the ambiguity of past regulation as well as the federal overreach that ignored the role and expertise of state partners,” McKinney said. “This is unacceptable, and NASDA urges the EPA and the Corps to reconsider the clarity and the undeniably appropriate level of protection offered by the Navigable Waters Protection Rule and move to reinstate this regulatory structure through a process that will withstand procedural complaints in the courts.”
|
Elanco's Sara Linneen Talks Cattle Gut Health in NCBA Trade Show |
An emerging area of science is the study of ruminant gut health. At #CattleCon22, we spoke with Dr. Sara Linneen, technical consultant and beef cattle nutritionist with Elanco Animal Health, about what we know so far about ruminant gut health.
“In terms of ruminants, it is a focus on nutrient absorption and pathogen containment within the intestinal tract,” Linneen said. “We want to focus on what we refer to as the lower-hind gut and focus on protecting the barrier to the intestinal tract.”
Pathogens can enter the body through loosened junctions in epithelial cells, according to Linneen. Prevention can be addressed through reducing stressors, improving the overall structure of the epithelial cells in the small and large intestine, or simply reducing the number of pathogens present, she added.
A probiotic called ProTernative is a product that we have seen contribute (to good gut health,)” Linneen said. “It is a live yeast that is fed into the system through the feed.”
ProTernative provides key components to control detrimental microbes allowing good microbes to flourish, maintain epithelial integrity and stimulate and balance immune responsiveness.
|
|
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.
|
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.
|
Wholesale Boxed Beef Prices continue to go lower. Choice Beef was down 85 cents and Select Beef was down $1.01 on Monday, 02/07/2022.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
|
Oklahoma National Stockyards had just 1,830 head on Monday after last week's snow storm limited cattle movement..
Compared to last week: Receipts limited due to winter storm late last week. Much of the state seeing anywhere from 3-7 inches of snow. Much of this snow drifted due to high winds and unfortunately most of the snow landed in sidebars and ditches. Demand extremely good for the light run. Feeder steers and heifers 2.00-6.00 higher, instance 8.00 higher. Steer and heifer calves 5.00-10.00 higher.
Click below for the complete closing report.
|
The Joplin Regional Stockyards had just 2.239 head on Monday after last week's snow storm limited cattle movement..
Compared to last week feeder steers traded 4.00-7.00 higher with the most gain on weights under 550 lbs. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs. traded 6.00-12.00 higher. Weights over 600 lbs. traded steady to 2.00 higher. Supply light with very good demand.
Click on the button below for details of the trade as compiled by the USDA Market News Service.
|
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..
|
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.
|
Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
Ron Hays, Senior Farm/Ranch Broadcaster and Editor
KC Sheperd, Farm Director and Editor
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
Chelsea Stanfield, Farm News and Email Editor
|
|
Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program, Great Plains Kubota, Stillwater Milling Company, 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.
|
|
God Bless!
Reach Out To Us:
|
|
Tim West
President/General Manager
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
2401 Exchange Avenue,
Suite F
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
405.317.6361
|
|
Ron Hays
Senior Farm/Ranch Broadcaster
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
OklahomaFarmReport.Com
405.473.6144
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
