Farm Bill Reaction Part I:  Ag Leaders Find Some Things to Like, More to Dislike in Fiscal Cliff Farm Bill Fix 

A broad range of farm leaders and commodity producers' groups hailed Congress's passage of a farm bill extension as part of a fiscal cliff package as a step in the right direction--but just a step. There were provisions and exclusions they found disappointing, but most found some positive benefits. All of them urged Congress to address the deficiencies quickly with a new farm bill. (You can read the full statements of the leaders and groups by clicking on their highlighted names.)

"Extending the current farm bill is good for agriculture and for consumers," but it didn't go far enough Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling said.

National Association of Wheat Growers President Erik Younggren said his group was pleased that lawmakers adopted agricultural and fiscal policies even if they were only short-term solutions. "

American Soybean Association President Danny Murphy, was not happy that Congress allowed the opportunity to enact a five-year farm bill to slip away. "As we have been working with our colleagues on Capitol Hill for more than two years on a comprehensive, five-year bill, we are very disappointed that Congress was not able to come together and pass a new bill in the best interests of farmers." Murphy was quick to add that his group was pleased with the revisions to the estate tax.

American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman was also frustrated with Congress for not passing a full farm bill. He said the stop-gap fiscal cliff measure sidestepped many difficult issues. "As the new Congress punches in, members already face a huge work order. While the fiscal cliff package addressed the revenue side of the equation, it did not do enough to cut federal spending in a meaningful way. Without progress on the spending side, we are on a one-way road to fiscal disaster. It is our hope that the new Congress will exercise the leadership needed to put our nation on a path toward fiscal responsibility and agricultural innovation and prosperity."

National Corn Growers Association President Pam Johnson didn't pull any punches in her criticism of Congress: "America's farmers have clearly made known the importance and need of a new farm bill in 2012. Once again Congress's failure to act pushes agriculture aside hampering farmers' ability to make sound business decisions for the next five years. The National Corn Growers Association is tired of the endless excuses and lack of accountability. The system is clearly broken.

"We hope the 113th Congress proves to be more fruitful and that the leaders in Congress can place petty partisanship aside to create a bill that benefits all of America."

Farm Bill Reaction Part Deux: Ag Secretary, Biofuels Associations, Conservationists Call Bill a Bandaid Approach 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, representatives of conservation groups, and ethanol industry associations found both positives and negatives in the fiscal cliff legislation passed Tuesday. They weighed in quickly on how the legislation would affect their constituents and how they thought Congress should proceed on a farm bill for 2013. (You can click on their highlighted names to read more detailed statements.)

Vilsack said he was pleased that Congress adopted tax relief measures and extended the current farm bill to prevent a spike in commodity prices for consumers. At the same time, Vilsack said, he was disappointed that Congress was unable to pass a multi-year farm bill as part of the fiscal cliff package.

National Association of Conservation Districts President Gene Schmidt echoed Vilsack's disappointment and called the short-term farm bill extension shortsighted. "It is extremely unfortunate that farmers and landowners will be left without the certainty of a five-year policy and the assistance of critical programs to protect America's land, air and water and to ensure proactive planning for a sustainable food, fiber and fuel supply for the future," Schmidt said.

Both Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, and Bob Dinneen of the Renewable Fuels Association applauded Congress for extending biofuel tax credits for another year. They said the credits would help bring E-15 fuels to market. Their only disappointment with the bill was that it didn't extend the credits for more than a single year.

The Environmental Working Group was not very pleased with Congress's approval of the fiscal cliff legislation especially as it applied to the farm program. "While a deeply flawed nine-month extension is marginally better than a deeply flawed five-year farm bill, this short-term band-aid is not good public policy," said Craig Cox, EWG's senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources.  "A responsible measure would have cut direct payments and insurance subsidies and fully funded important conservation programs," Cox said.

NCBA's Colin Woodall Pleased With Death Tax Outcome, Anticipates 2013 Farm Bill

In the wake of Congress's approval of legislation averting a 'fiscal cliff,' there were some winners and some losers. Colin Woodall, vice president of governmental affairs for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association spoke with us about how the cattle industry will be affected.

He said that the estate tax was high on his organization's list of legislative priorities last year and he believes the deal that emerged from Congress was mostly positive for ag producers.

"The death tax was our No. 1 priority in this package. And what we got is a mixed bag. We were able to maintain our exemption amount at five million dollars per person and ten million dollars per couple. We were also able to make sure those levels were indexed to inflation so that they grow over time. And we were also able to maintain the step up in basis. The one thing that we were not able to maintain, however, is the tax rate on everything above those exemption amounts. That moved from 35 percent to 40 percent... Overall, we feel pretty good about this."

Woodall said he agricultural groups will have to work hard to ensure disaster programs get their due in as the new farm bill is set for mark-up in February.

You can read more or listen to our full conversation by clicking here.

Noble Foundation Study Shows Stacking Technologies Increases Stocker Profitability

Implants and ionophores (i.e., Rumensin) are both proven technologies for stocker cattle production. However, some producers have asked what happens when these technologies are "stacked" together. Do these technologies retain their full efficacy when they are used simultaneously? Theoretically, the answer is "yes" because these technologies have different biological modes of action.

To demonstrate the effects of stacking these technologies, the Noble Foundation conducted an experiment in 2012. In this experiment, steers grazed cereal rye pasture at the Noble Foundation's Red River Demonstration Farm for 84 days. Steers received one of three supplementation programs: plain white SALT blocks (SALT); non-medicated mineral blocks (MIN); or identical mineral blocks with added Rumensin (R-MIN). Further, half of the steers in each supplement treatment group were implanted (Component TE-G with Tylan) and the other half were not implanted. These combinations allowed the evaluation of the effect of stacking the implant and ionophore technologies.

As expected, the implant dramatically improved average daily gain (ADG). The R-MIN supplement also improved ADG compared to SALT. The non-medicated mineral block was intermediate in ADG. Importantly, no decrease was found in effectiveness of either the implant or the Rumensin when the two were used simultaneously. We calculated that stacking the two technologies significantly improved net return over the control system (no implant and SALT supplementation).

You can read more by clicking here.

Dave Sparks Asks, 'Isn't It Time for a Serious Look at the Facts of Castration?'

In the latest issue of the Cow-Calf Newsletter, Dave Sparks, DVM, Oklahoma State University Area Extension Veterinarian, weighs the economic and ethical ramifications of castration.

One of the statements I commonly hear from calf producers is that bulls bring just as much as steers, so why bother? While top quality light bull calves may bring as much as plainer quality steers, these producers are not comparing apples to apples, because there is a marked difference in similar quality steer and bull calves. According to Lindsey Grant of McAlester Union Stockyards, there is currently about a $5 to $7/cwt price difference between bulls and steers of similar quality at weights between 425 and 550 pounds. On calves between 550 and 650 pounds the gap widens to about $12/cwt, and for 800 pound yearlings the difference can easily be $25/cwt. This translates to lost revenue of $30.00, $72.00, or $200.00 respectively. With today's high input costs for fuel, feed, hay, labor, equipment, fertilizer, and pasture this can easily be the difference in a profit or a loss.

Why do stocker and feeder operators want the calves castrated before arrival at their new homes? There are several good reasons. No matter what procedure you use, it involves pain and stress for the calf. This stress leads to increased chances of health problems such as shipping fever or pneumonia. When the calves are castrated at a young age and while still on their mothers this risk is negligible, but when added to the stresses of weaning, marketing, transporting and comingling at the feedlot or background yard it becomes a major factor. In short, the stress is much easier for the calf to handle if he can run back to "mama." Research has shown that calves arriving at feedlots as bulls are twice as likely to get sick as steers and death losses are significantly higher. Additionally, rates of gain are affected for weeks versus days when they are "ranch weaned and castrated."

Dave has a lot more to say on the castration debate on our website.  Click here to go there.

Wheat Initiative Launched to Raise Yield Potential by 50%

Representatives from 16 countries and international organizations recently agreed to launch an initiative to increase wheat's genetic yield potential by 50 percent in the next 20 years.

The group met in Mexico City in mid-November to set up the framework for the multinational initiative, known as the Wheat Yield Network (WYN).

According to a release by the United Kingdom's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which pushed for the creation of the WYN, the new effort will support research and development activities to raise global wheat yields and develop new varieties adapted to different geographical regions.

To help facilitate WYN's ambitious yield goal, WYN partners are planning to invest $50-75 million in the next five years, with details of operations and structures still to be determined. 

Click here to read more. 

This N That- Early Registration Deadline for No Till on the Plains- and Oklahoma Kids Dominate in the Desert

It's a superstar lineup of No Till Speakers planned for the 17th Winter Conference of No Till on the Plains that is set for January 29th and 30th in Salina, Kansas. Topics like the health of your soil, the No Till Learning Curve, creating wealth by building soil carbon and many many more will help you pick up a bushel full of ideas on how No Till can make you a better farmer and help your bottom line.

The date that you need to be paying attention to right now is their early discount deadline- January 11th- you save fifty bucks off registration if you register by that date. Click here for more about No Till on the Plains and their 2012 Winter Conference.

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Between Christmas and New Year's- several Oklahoma youth traveled to the Valley of the Sun and competed in the Junior Livestock Show at the Arizona National Livestock Show in Phoenix.  Among the top winners that call Oklahoma home:

Kaylin Listen, El Reno,- Grand Champion Barrow

Faith Valega, Perkins, Grand Champion Goat

Denton Lowe, Amber, Grand Champion Market Lamb & Res. Grand Champion Breeding Ewe

Lydia Straka, Yukon, Grand Champion Breeding Ewe & Res Grand Market Lamb

You can check out all of their results from their 2012 Junior Livestock Show by clicking here. (Our Thanks to Dick Lowe for pointing us to these results at the Arizona Show)