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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 or tap here for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays on RON.
Let's Check the Markets!
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:
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 futures- click or tap here for the report posted yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
Okla Cash Grain:
Futures Wrap:
Feeder Cattle Recap:
Slaughter Cattle Recap:
TCFA Feedlot Recap:
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
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Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Monday, April 9, 2018
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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 US Red Meat Exports Outpace Year Ago Levels in Both Value and Volume During February 2018
February exports of U.S. beef, pork and lamb were higher than a year ago in both volume and value, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the USMEF. February beef export volume improved 11 percent from a year ago to 100,593 mt, while export value increased 18 percent to $599.8 million. Although this was the lowest monthly value total since May 2017, it is the highest on record for the month of February. Exports accounted for 13.6 percent of total beef production in February, up one full percentage point from a year ago. This growth was driven by chilled beef shipments to leading markets including Japan, Korea and Taiwan with exports to Mexico and Hong Kong both trending higher as well during the month. Growth was limited, though, by the temporary safeguard tariff imposed by the Japanese on frozen beef imports. That tariff has since expired, however, and exports are now expected to possibly pick up pace. The US unfortunately is still at a disadvantage to competitors like Australia with no tariff relief that members of the TPP will now enjoy. Pork exports, meanwhile, totaled 205,466 metric tons in February, up 4 percent from last year's large total, while export value increased 12 percent to $547.2 million. Through February, pork exports were 2 percent ahead of last year's pace at 408,934 mt, while export value climbed 10 percent to $1.09 billion. February exports accounted for 27.8 percent of total pork production and 24 percent for muscle cuts only - up from 27.6 percent and 22.9 percent, respectively, a year ago. "Red meat exports are off to a strong start in 2018 and continue to deliver excellent returns for U.S. producers," noted USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "The outstanding level of export value per head slaughtered is especially encouraging at a time in which U.S. meat production is high and the trade climate is somewhat volatile. Through all the uncertainty, international customers remain very committed to U.S. pork and beef." Click or tap here for more highlights from this report, or to review the report in its entirety.
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Sponsor Spotlight
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau - a grassroots organization that has for its Mission Statement- Improving the Lives of Rural Oklahomans." Farm Bureau, as the state's largest general farm organization, is active at the State Capitol fighting for the best interests of its members and working with other groups to make certain that the interests of rural Oklahoma are protected. Click here for their website to learn more about the organization and how it can benefit you to be a part of Farm Bureau.
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Renee Payette of Comanche County Recognized by ODAFF as a Significant Woman in Agriculture
Renee Payette began working as a temporary employee for the Comanche County Farm Service Agency office in 1988. Thirty years later, she's still there assisting producers in her community as a full-time program technician. This past week, Payette was honored by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry as a Significant Woman in Agriculture. Growing up in Sterling, Payette comes from a long line of agriculturalists. As a child, she participated in 4-H and excelled at showing livestock. She graduated from Cameron University in 1986 with two degrees - agricultural education and animal science - and was involved in numerous agricultural organizations throughout college. That kind of involvement and dedication to her community continued on into her adult life as well. She's been on the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee for nearly 30 years and was asked by the CEO of the chamber to chair the committee in 2008. She received her Honorary State FFA Degree in 2011 and was given the Wayne Gilley Ambassador Award for her efforts in planning and managing agricultural events and serves as secretary-treasurer for the Tri-County Cattlemen's Association.
She and her brother stepped up to take over the family farm in 2016 and despite her busy schedule at the FSA, she still finds time to make sure the operation's needs off-farm are met to keep things running.
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Ag Groups Will Oppose OEA's Demands to End Capital Gains Tax Exemption
Agricultural groups will be asking lawmakers to say no to the Oklahoma Education Association's demands to repeal the results of a state question passed a couple of years back- that established a capital gains tax exemption that is of benefit to farmers and ranchers- especially ranchers who might be raising their own replacement beef heifers or herd bulls.
OSU Extension Ag Law specialist Dr. Shannon Farrell has offered up an in depth analysis of what Senate Bill 1086 does and how it impacts farmers, ranchers and landowners if enacted as is being called for by the OEA- one of two specific measures that they now say must be approved for the teacher's walkout to end.
Click here for the complete analysis from Dr. Ferrell.
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On Saturday- the final gathering of the members of Class XVIII of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program was held in Stillwater- as the 27 member class was a milestone group for the program that began back in 1982.
This group means that the program has now topped the 500 graduate mark- 502 graduates for the program to be exact.
Applications for Class 19 of the Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership Program are now available. The deadline for submitting an application and letters of reference is May 1. Class size is limited to 30 participants ages 25 and up who are actively engaged in agriculture or a related agricultural business. OALP has three main objectives - help potential leaders develop a deeper and fuller appreciation of people throughout across the United States and the world; help potential leaders develop a better understanding of basic systems of economics and government ; and thirdly, to help OALP participants utilize their understanding of people and their knowledge of systems of economics and government to solve problems and exploit opportunities for the state's agricultural industry. The 20-month program consists of 10 three-day seminars and study tours within Oklahoma, one three-day seminar in northern Oklahoma and Kansas, a week-long seminar in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., and a two-week international experience near the end of the program Throughout the entire program, class members will have the opportunity to interact with knowledgeable individuals who fill prominent leadership roles at the local, state, regional, national and international levels. For more information about OALP, jump over to our website for the full article and instructions on how to apply.
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Sponsor Spotlight
The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association is the trusted voice of the Oklahoma Cattle Industry. With headquarters in Oklahoma City, the OCA has a regular presence at the State Capitol to protect and defend the interests of cattlemen and cattlewomen.
Their Vision Statement explains the highest priority of the organization- "Leadership that serves, strengthens and advocates for the Oklahoma cattle industry."
To learn more about the OCA and how you can be a part of this forward-looking group of cattle producers, click here for their website. For more information- call 405-235-4391.
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Commercial Cattlemen Have a Crack at Genetic Selection Tools with New Technology in the Works
In a recent conversation, Dr. Jared Decker, a beef genetics extension specialist for the University of Missouri, explained that for right now, producers in the cattle industry have only single breed EPDs available to them that help in their genetic selection decisions. However, he says the days of new multi-breed EPD technology is coming just over the horizon.
"Right now, especially for the commercial heifer panels, our best genomic tests are going to be the breed specific test. It's just simpler to create a genomic test in a breed specific manner," he said. "Bigger picture - we have International Genetic Solutions which is going to be doing a multibreed genetic prediction for 11 different breed associations in the US and Canada. So, when they fully launch their single step BOLT prediction, we will have a genomic based genetic prediction that works across multiple breeds of cattle."
The most interesting aspect of this, Decker points out, is that this program will not be limited to just seedstock, but commercial cattle as well. A commercial stockman will have the opportunity to enroll their entire cow herd for a flat fee of $500 per year to participate. That will buy them a pedigree based or genomic based prediction on their entire herd. This is quite unique for commercial producers who now will have the same access to their females' genetic information as purebred producers. In the last eight years, since advanced EPD technology was released, Decker says a lot of questions have been answered in terms of how genomics can be used for genetic prediction. Going forward, he says the ball will be in the producers' court.
"The next step really is getting beef producers to buy into EPDs that have been around for 40 years to indexes that have been around for over a decade," he said, "and then buying in when it makes sense to purchase genomic tests on their cattle."
Listen to Decker and I talk about the certainty EPDs and genomics can add to a producer's selection decisions and his cautionary advice on which index to maybe veer away from, on last Friday's Beef Buzz - click here.
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Meet Your 2018 Southeast Area Star in Ag Placement, Samantha Stuart of Valliant FFA
We finished our spotlight of the 2018 Area Stars in Ag Placement last week, with Samantha Stuart of the Valliant FFA Chapter, representing the Southeast. Stuart works at one of McCurtain County's dominant feed and farm supply stores, where she has developed valuable skills in customer service and business management which she will use later in life to be successful at a future career in corporate communications.
Since starting her job, Stuart has been entrusted with many responsibilities that directly impact the success of the business including some accounting responsibilities and duties as a salesperson.
"I want to be a communications major, so doing this job has really taught me how to deal with customers. It's taught me patience, it's taught me communication and it's broadened by knowledge of animal science that I didn't have before," she said. "Working in this line of business goes hand-in-hand with my horticulture class and animal science class. (FFA) has really given me those skills and knowledge to do my best at this job."
You can hear our entire conversation by visiting the Blue-Green Gazette on our webpage. Check back this week for more profiles on the next batch of FFA Area Stars as we lead up to the Oklahoma FFA State Convention. Special thanks to our friends at American Farmers & Ranchers and AFR Insurance for their support of FFA and our continuing coverage.
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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.
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With Ag Day Moved- the Determination of What Happens with Wheat Day and Conservation Day to be Made Today
The Oklahoma Education Association Wants to Capitalize on their mass protests of last week- and hopes to take up all of the oxygen inside the Oklahoma State Capital once again today- and perhaps all of this week.
Already- the Oklahoma 4-H Day at the Capitol was canceled this past week- and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture has moved the planned celebration of Agriculture at the State Capitol from tomorrow to Wednesday, May 9th.
The hope is now to have Ag Day exhibits on the Fourth Floor Rotunda on May 9th- and the presentation of the Governor's Award for Agricultural Excellence to be presented offsite at the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Headquarters that day at 2:30 PM- details about all of that is available here.
One of the highlights of the Ag Day celebration are the awards handed out to dozens of elementary school children at the State Capitol- the teachers have ended any chance of that happening at the Capitol this year- and instead the kids to be honored will receive those honors at their schools once classes are resumed- if their school has allowed the shutdown to occur. Click here for the complete list of the young people who are getting Ag in the Classroom awards here in 2018.
By the way- Ag in the Classroom are spotlighting Poster winners on their website- here is the Middle School Poster Winner as drawn by Greenlee Church of Hodgen Public School-
The fate of two additional celebrations are now up in the air due to the continuing Teachers walkout- Wheat Day scheduled for Wednesday April 11 and Conservation Day set for April 12.
I was told by officials helping plan both of those events that they would be making final determinations on whether these events will be a go or no go.
Trey Lam with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission suggested that the Award ceremony on Thursday will happen no matter what- we should have those details firmed up and available for us to share on our website and social media later today- and in this email tomorrow morning.
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This N That- Wheat Webinar Number 2; Number 2 at USDA to Oklahoma FFA and Uncle Sam Comes Up with 2 Billion for Last Year's Disasters
This morning at 8:30 a.m., the Oklahoma State University wheat extension team will broadcast its second episode in its series of Wheat Update webinars. The next episode will be broadcast THIS morning, same time at 8:30 AM.
The first ten minutes of the webinar will be dedicated to updates presented by OSU wheat experts, after which viewers are encouraged to send in any questions they may have.
For more details on this webinar series, how to interact during them and instructions on how to access the webinar for viewing, click over to our website.
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We found out a few weeks back that USDA Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue was not going to be able to come to Oklahoma to be a part of the 2018 Oklahoma FFA Convention- that decision from Washington came early enough to allow for the Oklahoma FFA Association to plan for the Secretary to be a no show- now comes word over the weekend that the Number Two Appointee of the Administration- USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky is planning on coming and being a part of several events on the opening day of the Convention- May first.
That will include a special keynote on that Tuesday morning.
Stephen Censky serves as the number two official at the USDA. Before being nominated by President Trump- he had been the CEO of the American Soybean Association since 1996.
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Finally- more than two billion dollars has been allocated by Congress to help with multiple disasters in 2017.
USDA will make disaster payments of up to $2.36 billion, as provided by Congress, to help America's farmers and ranchers recover from hurricanes and wildfires. The funds are available as part of the new 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP). Sign-up for the new program, authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, will begin no later than July 16.
Oklahoma producers hit by the wildfires of last March may be eligible for assistance under this special indemnity program.
Details about these monies are available here.
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, American Farmers & Ranchers, Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Stillwater Milling Company, National Livestock Credit Corporation, OERB, Oklahoma 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 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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