Subject: Oklahoma's Farm News Update
From: Ron Hays <ronphays@cox.net>
Date: 4/12/2018 6:35 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 or tap here for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays 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.
 
 
   
During Wednesday's sale of finished cattle on the
FedCattleExchange.com - 3931 cattle were offered, with 509 actually selling at a weighted average price of $115.85. Click here to see their complete market results.
 

OKC West sold feeder steers $4 to $8 HIGHER in the Wednesday trade -  click or tap here for details.


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 Wednesday, April 11th.
 
  
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
    Thursday,  April 12, 2018

Howdy Neighbors! 

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 
FireFeatured Story:
Oklahoma Forestry Service Warns Oklahomans to Brace for Extreme Fire Danger Thursday and Friday


Firefighting resources have been prepositioned in Woodward and Weatherford in advance of potentially extreme fire weather across Oklahoma, particularly in the western part of the state, according to Oklahoma Forestry Service officials.


"Under these extreme conditions we are strongly discouraging any burning Thursday and Friday," said State Forester George Geissler


OFS is urging citizens to be very cautious as even small sparks can cause a wildfire. If you encounter any suspicious smoke or fire, you should immediately report it to the closest fire department or call 911. Homeowners can also make their home more defensible by moving trash, debris and other flammable items like firewood piles or portable propane tanks a safe distance away from their home.


To view the counties currently under a Governor's Burn Ban and County Commissioner Burn Bans, click here. For more information on this alert, click here to jump to the original statement issued yesterday by OFS.


Sponsor Spotlight
 
 
It's great to have one of the premiere businesses in the cattle business partner with us in helping bring you our daily Farm and Ranch News Email- National Livestock Credit Corporation.  National Livestock has been around since 1932- and they have worked with livestock producers to help them secure credit and to buy or sell cattle through the National Livestock Commission Company.  

They also own and operate the Southern Oklahoma Livestock Market in Ada, Superior Livestock, which continues to operate independently and have a major stake in OKC West in El Reno. To learn more about how these folks can help you succeed in the cattle business, click here for their website or call the Oklahoma City office at 1-800-310-0220.

FarmBillHouse Farm Bill Reveal is Today


With or without the Democrats- House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway is releasing this morning what has been called in years gone by as the "Chairman's Mark" - his working draft of the 2018 Farm Bill. 

Earlier this week- we have seen social media posts from Chief Economist Bart Fischer(of southwest Oklahoma) of the House Ag Committee talking about late nights at the Committee as staff has been writing and writing to be ready for this day. 

It is now expected that the Chairman will release the proposed bill at 11:30 AM Central time- followed an hour later by a News teleconference with the Ag Media to discuss the measure. 

Top Democrat Colin Peterson says the measure is in trouble- we have seen reports where he believes the Chairman has about 50 GOP members that will likely not vote with him- and it is sounding more and more like Nancy Pelosi is urging Peterson and her fellow Democrats to block action every way they can- hoping the Democrats will be able to ride a blue wave into the majority this coming November- which would change the dynamic of any measure significantly.

According to the National Farmers Union weekly news letter just out this morning-  "A few details have emerged about the draft. According to The Progressive Farmer, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) will likely be slightly amended, with an expected increase of the acreage cap from 24 million to 29 million acres, and an expected decrease of rental rates to 80 percent of the average rental value in a county. Additionally, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), more familiarly known as food stamps, may see budget cuts and more stringent work requirements. This has been an ongoing partisan sticking point in this year's efforts. President Trump has voiced support for such changes as recently as Tuesday, when he signed an executive order calling for stricter work requirements for a number of welfare programs, including SNAP. 

"In addition to some specific provisions, there are also more sweeping expectations for the Farm Bill - notably, that it won't be given any additional funding above its current baseline. This is a particularly disappointing fact considering where the farm economy is now in relation to where it was in 2014, when the most recent farm bill was signed into law. In 2013, net farm income reached a record high of $123.8 billion. This year, it is expected to be just $59.5 billion - its lowest value since 2006. By excluding any additional funding, Congressional leadership has hamstrung the Ag Committees' abilities to deal with the very real economic difficulties family farmers and ranchers are currently enduring."

We will be on the Conference Call midday today- and will be posting on the website details and links to the bill as they are available.

BUZZNCBA Takes Proactive Steps in Addressing Fake Meat Concerns with Outline of Recommended Regulations

This week, with the rise of "fake meat" in the marketplace, NCBA submitted to the USDA a suggested list of regulatory principles designed to effectively address both plant-based and lab-grown imitation beef products in an effort to work proactively with the government. Earlier this week, I spoke with Danielle Beck of the NCBA's DC office about the comments submitted by the organization, which she says is all about ensuring "truth in labelling."


"While there are a few different asks in our comments, really we just want imitation products to be labeled in a way that clearly states they're alternatives; they're not real beef products. We have no problem with a black bean burger because it says it's a 'black bean burger,'" Beck said. "The new companies we're seeing and the new products that have started to enter the market - they're really inching closer to that line of being misbranded and to misleading the consumer.


"It's also really important that these products adhere to the same set of stringent food safety standards as traditional meat and beef products," she added.


Primarily, NCBA made two specific requests to the USDA regarding its handling of "fake meat."


1.) Requests that USDA work with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to "take appropriate, immediate enforcement action against improperly-labeled imitation products," and 2.) Urges USDA to "assert jurisdiction over foods consisting of, isolated from or produced from cell culture or tissue culture derived from livestock and poultry animals or their parts." 



Listen to Danielle Beck and I discuss NCBA's concerns further when it comes to alternative meat products that are now entering the market, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.
USDAUSDA to Immediately Payout $34 Million to Qualifying Livestock Producers for 2017 Disaster Recovery
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will issue $34 million to help agricultural producers recover from 2017 natural disasters through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP), which covers losses not covered by certain other USDA disaster assistance programs. These payments were made available as of yesterday, as part of a broader USDA effort to help producers recover from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, wildfires and drought. A large portion of this assistance will be made available in federally designated disaster areas


"From Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, through the South, the Southwest, California and the Great Plains, American agriculture was devastated by natural disasters in 2017," said Bill Northey, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. "The Trump Administration is moving quickly to distribute financial assistance to help producers recover and rebuild. It is important to get this help to producers in time for the spring planting season."


The increased amount of assistance through ELAP was made possible by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, signed earlier this year.


Producers with operations impacted by natural disasters and diseases in 2018 are also encouraged to contact their
 local USDA service center to apply for assistance through ELAP, TAP, LIP and LFP. Producers with 2017 ELAP claims need to take no action as FSA will begin paying those claims today.


Click here to read more about this funding initiative and what other programs are available to farmers and ranchers who experienced losses from the natural disasters of 2017.


Sponsor Spotlight
 
 
Dating back to 1891, Stillwater Milling Company has been supplying ranchers with the highest quality feeds made from the highest quality ingredients. Their full line of A & M Feeds can be delivered direct to your farm, found at their Agri-Center stores in Stillwater, Davis, Claremore and Perry or at more than 125 dealers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. We appreciate Stillwater Milling Company's long time support of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and we encourage you to click here to learn more about their products and services.

CalendarFrom the Calendar- Canola Day at Lahoma, Cattle Sales and LOTS More


We have been adding lots of stuff to our calendar and auction pages on the OklahomaFarmReport.Com website- and that includes the Canola Field Day set for Lahoma this morning at 10 AM.

While planting conditions resulted in a lot fewer acres planted to canola last September and October- there is still a lot of value for Oklahoma farmers to consider as it is the one rotational crop that best matches up with winter wheat- and when canola is inserted into the rotation- the winter wheat that follows is almost always a much better crop.

"Many wheat producers have experienced significant value and benefits by growing winter canola as part of their crop rotation, taking advantage of solid canola prices while also helping to clean up their wheat fields without taking on undue management costs," said Josh Lofton, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension cropping systems specialist.

The Lahoma field day is at the OSU Research station on US 64/412 close to the Garfield-Major County Line.

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We also have several cattle sales happening this Saturday that we have information on.

The Choctaw County Land and Cattle Spring Bull and Female sale is happening in southeast Oklahoma in Boswell on Saturday midday- click here for details on our calendar and auction pages- or call Ranch Manager Lucas Reinhart for more info- his number is 580-276-0070.

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Also in southeastern Oklahoma on Saturday is a special cow and bull sale at the McAlester Union Stockyards- their sale starts at noon- Selling over 700 head of Bred Heifers & Cows, Pairs, Open Hfrs & Bulls- more details are available here.

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Finally on Saturday- we remind you of the 2018 edition of the Grass to Grid Bull Sale of the Griswold Cattle Company- with over 200 bulls to be offered, their Sale will be held at the Bourguin Cattle Sale Facility in Follet, Texas.

You can call John Griswold at 405-780-3300 or Jeannie Griswold at 435-421-1200 for more details- or click here for their website where their are links to the sale catalog, videos and more.

We also have on our Calendar the details of all three dozen Wheat Field Days planned for late April into May for Oklahoma- and lots of other events coming that you will want to check out- click or tap here.


FFAMeet Your 2018 Southeast Area FFA Star in Agriscience, John Shepherd of the Valliant FFA Chapter

Continuing our coverage of the 2018 FFA Area Stars in AgriScience, yesterday, we put the spotlight on John Shepherd of the Valliant FFA Chapter, representing the Southeast Area. As general manager of a local river float business, John has had to monitor the weather and rainfall amounts throughout the float season with customer safety in mind. Shepherd turned this part of his job into an agriscience project as a way to combine his interest in both his job and agriculture.


"For about every 1-inch of rain we had, the lake level would rise 6 to 8-inches which would cause the release over the next couple of days to be a little bit more drastic because with all of the gates open at the lake, the water level will drop about 6-inches per day," he said, explaining the research he conducted. "So, that 1-inch of rainfall is a whole day of release for the lake."



John credits FFA with giving him the leadership tools he needed to effectively direct his staff and lead by example. He says more than anything, it has developed his speaking skills and helped him to better communicate with people, acknowledging the importance of that skill in management position.


You can hear our entire conversation and read more about John and his peers in our coverage this week, by checking out the Blue-Green Gazette up on our website. We also want to thank the sponsor of our coverage of the 2018 Area Stars of the Oklahoma FFA, which is brought to you by American Farmers & Ranchers, proud to support Oklahoma's youth.
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.

 

ICYMIICYMI - Changes Made to Conservation Day at the Capitol and Conservation Awards Ceremony

Just a friendly reminder to our readers that might be interested in attending - Conservation Day at the Capitol will still happen, but with some modifications to the schedule. 


Originally scheduled for today, April 12th, Conservation Day at the Capitol and the Oklahoma Association of Conservation District's Campaign for Conservation will now be held May 7th, 2018 from 8 AM to 3 PM.



The Conservation Awards Ceremony will still be held TODAY, Thursday, April 12th, 2018 but is being moved to the Ag Lab Atrium in the Agriculture Building. Districts Awards will be presented at 10 AM and the Sand County Foundation Leopold Conservation Award Ceremony honoring Jimmy and Ginger Emmons will begin at 11 AM.


For more information on this event and the new schedule, click here.
Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K EquipmentAmerican Farmers & Ranchers, Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Stillwater Milling Company, National Livestock Credit CorporationOERB, 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 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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