Subject: Oklahoma's Farm News Update
From: Ron Hays <ronphays@cox.net>
Date: 4/4/2018 6:32 AM
To: ron@ronhays.com



 
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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network weekdays- if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click here for this morning's Farm news from Carson Horn on RON.
 

 
 
Let's Check the Markets!  
Marketlinks


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.

 
   
FedCattleExchange.com has a total of 373 cattle on their showlist for the Wednesday, April 4th sale of finished cattle- details will be available after noon today by clicking here.
 
 
Steer and heifer calves remain untested Tuesday compared to last week due to limited receipts at OKC West click or tap here for a look at the April 3rd sale results. 



Today's First Look:
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
 
 
Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futuresclick or tap here for the report posted yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
 
 
Okla Cash Grain:  
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- as reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture on Tuesday, April 3rd.
 
  
Futures Wrap:  
Our Daily Market Wrapup from the Radio Oklahoma Network - analyzing the Futures Markets from the previous Day.
 
Feeder Cattle Recap:  
The National Daily Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
 
Slaughter Cattle Recap: 
The National Daily Slaughter Cattle Summary- as prepared by the USDA.
 
TCFA Feedlot Recap:  
Finally, here is the Daily Volume and Price Summary from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
 


 
Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
 
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor

Carson Horn, Associate Farm Director and Editor
 
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
 
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
 
Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News

Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
   Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Howdy Neighbors! 

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 








USTRAmerican Soybeans, Beef, Sorghum, Wheat and More All Targeted for 25 Percent Tariffs by China

Most U.S. Ag products that are exported to China may soon have a twenty five percent levy added to their imported prices- as farmers and ranchers are now sitting right in the middle- fully exposed- between two economic heavyweights as they are charging full speed towards a very nasty trade war.


On Tuesday- as part of the U.S. response to China's unfair trade practices related to the forced transfer of U.S. technology and intellectual property, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published a proposed list of products imported from China that could be subject to additional tariffs- $50 Billion worth. (Click here for the complete story)


Early this morning- the Chinese fired back.   And soybeans are their headliner in that they plan on adding a 25% duty on the oilseed and its products. 


The Asian nation plans to impose 25 percent duties on a slew of U.S. agricultural commodities such as soybeans, wheat, corn, cotton, sorghum, tobacco and beef, according to the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing. They are among 106 U.S. products targeted ranging from automobiles to chemicals and aircraft.


Yesterday afternoon- former Senator Max Baucus issued a statement under the banner of the Ag Coalition Farmers for Free Trade- foreshadowing what the Chinese announced this morning- "Farmers are going to get squeezed by this decision from all sides. First, the tariffs the U.S. announced today will make the ag equipment and inputs they rely on more expensive. Then they'll face new tariffs on their exports when China retaliates." 

Bloomberg offered one take from an analyst that suggests this is an economic and political response- "China's response carries both economic and political weight as agricultural states are major supporting regions for Trump," said Monica Tu, an analyst at Shanghai JC Intelligence Co. "The tariffs on U.S. imports including soybeans is China's response that matches the scale of proposed U.S. tariffs."

Read our first summary from this morning of this unfolding story by clicking or tapping here.  

Ag futures are tumbling with this news- and the Stock Market futures are also showing a big loss after the end of day rally yesterday on Wall Street. 

We will be posting on our website this morning all the reactions from the Ag Groups on this worse case scenario for farmers and ranchers- BUT REMEMBER- while the market hates uncertainty- as this sorts itself out- the reality for our exports may or may not be as bad as we first fear. 

Questions like- when tariffs will actually be imposed- how long- how easily will China be able to source Ag products- all these questions will be lived out in the immediate future. 

DisasterAreasUSDA Designates Four Counties in Oklahoma as Primary Natural Disaster Areas, Offers Assistance

The USDA has designated Kay, Logan, Noble and Osage counties in Oklahoma as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by a recent drought.


Farmers and ranchers residing in contiguous counties including Canadian; Grant; Lincoln; Pawnee; Tulsa; Garfield; Kingfisher; Oklahoma; Payne; and Washington, also qualify for natural disaster assistance from USDA. This also includes contiguous counties across the state line in Kansas as well, including Chautauqua, Cowley and Sumner.


Qualified farm operators in the designated areas are eligible for the Farm Service Agency's 
emergency loans, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration of March 30, 2018, to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.

 
If you are a producer eligible to receive assistance from USDA, click or tap here to review all the options available to you through the FSA.


Sponsor Spotlight
 
 
It's great to have the Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards as a sponsor for our daily email. The eight Commission firms at the Stockyards make up the exchange- and they are committed to work hard to get you top dollar when you consign your cattle with them. They will present your cattle to the buyers gathered each Monday or Tuesday at one of the largest stocker and feeder cattle auctions in the world.
 
Click here for a complete list of the Commission firms that make up the Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards- still the best place to sell your cattle- and at the heart of Stockyards City, where you can go around the corner enjoy a great steak and shop for the very best in western wear.

AgEconBarLatest Reading of Ag Economy Barometer Shows Producer Sentiment Falling Over Export Concerns 

Farmers are expressing concerns regarding agricultural trade, according to the latest Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The barometer slipped to 135 in March, down five points compared to February, but unchanged from January's results. 


The decline was attributed to farmers weakening perceptions of current conditions and a decline in their expectations for the future. 


The index surveys 400 producers each month and a figure above 100 is positive, while a figure below 100 is considered negative. 


Focusing on trade in March, the survey found nearly 50 percent of farmers included in the survey were concerned a trade war would negatively impact agricultural exports, as seen with the recent China tariffs. 


Regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement, one-third of farmers surveyed expect the U.S. to exit the agreement, while another one-third of farmers expect the U.S. to remain in NAFTA.


Get the full story by clicking over to our website and review the complete report for yourself.
BUZZFear of the Breakdown of Negotiations and the Uncertainty of Elections Linger as the Importance of Trade Grows

According to Kent Bacus, director of international trade and market access for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the organization and its members remain disappointed that the US is not a member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal which President Donald Trump withdrew from upon taking office, promising instead to negotiate bilateral deals with our foreign customers. However, at this point, Bacus told me that there seems to be little opportunity right now to get any bilateral deals done - particularly with Japan which NCBA is prioritizing.


"That's been the frustrating part of this for a long time. The administration has said they were going to seek bilateral agreements and to make that a priority," he said. "We've asked that Japan be at the top of that list, just given the economic significance and value that means for our producers. But, we still have a long way to go."


Had the US not withdrawn from TPP, Bacus says we would already be enjoying the benefits of that trade deal. Instead, US beef continues to deal with a 38.5 percent tariff in Japan - plus a 50 percent snap back - which will stay in place until such time that a bilateral deal is struck. Beyond those concerns, the beef industry joins the rest of the agriculture community in worries that NAFTA be successfully renegotiated as the three partner nations continue to search for common ground in modernizing the agreement. The biggest concern there, Bacus says, being the President potentially following through with threats of withdrawal and what influence elections will have both domestically and in the governments of our foreign partners.


"Withdrawal is still on the table and if we don't get what we're seeking then that's always a threat," Bacus said. "But, there's also a lot of uncertainty with Mexico's elections and you've got to keep in mind Canada has two provincial elections that are coming up this year, too. So, trade is becoming a political issue and in the midterm elections - we need more people in Congress who have pro-trade views and who can support us there. We need to realize that 96 percent of our consumers live outside the US borders. Trade is really something we need to focus on."


Listen to NCBA's Kent Bacus and I discuss the lingering threats to the success of ongoing trade negotiations - click here.

Sponsor Spotlight

 
We are pleased to have American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company as a regular sponsor of our daily update. On both the state and national levels, full-time staff members serve as a "watchdog" for family agriculture producers, mutual insurance company members and life company members.

Click here to go to their AFR website to learn more about their efforts to serve rural America!

FoodWasteCropLife Foundation and Partners Launch "No Taste for Waste" Campaign to Reduce Food Waste and Loss

The CropLife Foundation and Meredith Agrimedia announced on Tuesday, the launch of their "No Taste for Waste" campaign, an initiative to reduce food waste and loss. The campaign, which includes an interactive website, special edition "bookazine" entitled Waste Less, Save Money!and social media messages, is a resource for consumers interested in reducing household food waste, while educating the public on how farmers take steps to fight food loss on their farms.


In addition, a companion website, NoTasteForWaste.org, was launched simultaneously as the announcement was being made. This website brings the bookazine to life. Consumers will have access to a weekly meal planner, online tools to help reduce waste at home. Consumers can also interact by sharing their stories and food preservation tips using #NoTasteForWaste on Facebook (@NoTasteForWaste) and Instagram (@NoTaste4Waste).
 

"Everyone can do something to reduce food waste, whether they're in the kitchen or on the farm," said Jay Vroom, vice chairman of the CropLife Foundation. "This initiative gives consumers an exclusive look at how today's farmers are leveraging technology, sustainable farming practices and community networks to minimize food waste and protect the environment."
 

In the United States, up to 40 percent of all food produced is lost to waste, according to United States Department of Agriculture estimates and consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental, economic and social price tags attached to food waste.


To learn more or to join the movement yourself, click or tap here to jump to the original story on our website.
FFAIntroducing Tyler Wilkinson of the Calumet FFA Chapter, Your Southwest Area Star in Ag Placement


Our coverage of the 2018 Oklahoma FFA Area Stars in Ag Placement continues and yesterday, we spotlighted Tyler Wilkinson of the Calumet FFA Chapter, representing the Southwest area. As the son of an ag teacher and owner of a successful show pig operation, Tyler began his experience in agribusiness like many other FFA members, working on the family farm. Over the years, Tyler has worked his way up growing in his role and responsibilities on the farm. Today, he not only manages his family's operation, he also oversees two other operations as well.


Tyler credits the FFA for equipping him with the necessary tools that have helped him to be successful. He says his involvement in the organization has distilled in him the desire to strive for personal success and has helped him be able to determine what that means to him and how to accomplish it.


With hard work and determination, Tyler has managed to build a loyal customer base and has developed his skills as a business manager and marketer. Upon graduating high school, Tyler plans to attend Oklahoma State University and seek a double-major in agricultural communications and agribusiness.


You can read more about Tyler and listen to our entire conversation, by clicking over to the Blue/Green Gazette on our website. Special thanks to our friends at AFR and AFR Insurance for sponsoring our coverage this year. The American Farmers & Ranchers are proud to support the youth of Oklahoma!

Want to Have the Latest Energy News Delivered to Your Inbox Daily?
 

Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains- Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.

 


Oklahoma Farm Bureau has hired Penny Raspotnik-Jones as its southeastern field representative and will serve OKFB members in 12 Oklahoma counties including Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Coal, Haskell, Hughes, Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain, McIntosh, Pittsburg and Pushmataha.


Before joining OKFB, she spent 10 years as an agricultural economics and horticulture professor at Eastern Oklahoma State College and holds a master's in ag-education and a bachelor's in ag-economics from OSU.
 

Click here to see the original announcement from OKFB and learn more about Raspotnik-Jones and her new role.

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During the month of March- the US Department of Agriculture saluted several women from across the US- and the final one was an Okie- Here's the post from USDA on Dr. Rosslyn Biggs.

"Our final #WomensHistoryMonth feature is Rosslyn Biggs, DVM Assistant Director Service Center 4 for USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Veterinary Services. Rosslyn always had an interest in both veterinary medicine and government. Growing up in an Oklahoma farming and ranching family, her parents served as role models as they combined careers in both agriculture and public service.


"When asked what advice she had for #WomenInAg, Rosslyn responded, "Never give up! Believe in yourself, and inspire others to serve. Agriculture clothes and feeds the world. It is essential that we tell our agricultural story, so the public can understand our industry."

Dr. Biggs is married to former state lawmaker and current State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency in Oklahoma- Scott Biggs.

*****************

Much like wind power, solar power is rapidly growing across the United States.  And just as with wind power, agricultural landowners are being approached with solar power leases to provide the land for these renewable energy projects. 

Solar leases are often unlike anything agricultural landowners have encountered before - even wind energy leases - and it can be difficult to know where to start in evaluating whether a solar energy lease is right for your farm or ranch operation. 

A webinar is planned for midday today- with the presenter being Dr. Shannon Ferrell- Associate Professor at Oklahoma State. His extension activities encompass all areas of agricultural law, and he also teaches the agricultural law courses at both Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma College of Law. 

The webinar is free and available on a first come first serve basis from the National Ag Law Center website- Click or tap here to jump over there for details- the webinar is at 11 AM central time this morning. 


Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K EquipmentAmerican Farmers & RanchersLivestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Stillwater Milling Company, National Livestock Credit CorporationOERBOklahoma AgCredit,  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 also appreciate our Market Links Sponsor - OKC West Livestock! 
 
 
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! You can reach us at the following:  
 
phone: 405-473-6144
 

 



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