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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!
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 2,456 cattle on their showlist for the Wednesday,
May 9th sale of finished cattle- details will be available after noon today by clicking here.
Steer and heifer calves traded mostly steady on a limited offering Tuesday compared to last week at OKC West - click or tap here for a look at the May 8th 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 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
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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Featured Story:
 As Smoke Clears, Derrell Peel Calculates $26.4M in Wildfire Damage to Northwest Oklahoma Cattle Operations
More than 350,000 acres were consumed by the wildfires that broke out across northwestern Oklahoma this April, leaving behind considerable damage. Since those fires were put out, Oklahoma State University Extension's Dr. Derrell Peel has done some assessment of the losses specifically related to cattle operations in those areas. Even without the loss of residential homes, businesses and other things factored in, Peel says the numbers are substantial.
"We don't have firm numbers yet, but I put together some estimates that total up to $26.4 million," he stated. "It's a pretty big number and includes a lot of fence damage on potentially more than 2,000 miles of fence. We are currently estimating that around 1,600 cattle died in the fire and additionally there were quite a lot of burned and hurt animals that have to be cared for."
This has created an emergent need for hay and feed, due to the significant loss of pasture, which coupled with other ranching facilities burned, adds to that overall total calculated by Peel. Meantime, he says that the recovery process is underway, but it will take time for ranchers to get fully back on their feet.
"There is recovery going on," Peel said. "There is a great need for hay still in the area and then obviously longer term, there will be a tremendous amount of fence and facilities that have to be rebuilt and repaired as a result of this."
Hay supplies are short right now given that producers have nearly exhausted their winter feeding supply, but those with hay to spare that would like to donate are still encouraged to do so. For instructions on how to coordinate a hay drop-off, contact the Woodward County Extension Office at 405-590-0106.
Listen to Peel and I speak about the preliminary estimates of damage to cattle operations in northwest Oklahoma left in the wake of recent wildfires, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.
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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.
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TODAY: Wheat Field Days Continue, OKC West Livestock Special Roll-Over Sale, Governor's Excellence in Agriculture Awards
Lots of stuff going on in yet another busy week for Oklahoma agriculture...
This week, we are right in the middle of OSU's 2018 Wheat Field Day Tour which started back in late April. This week's schedule features the Lahoma Field Day happening this Friday, May 11th. The Lahoma location is typically one of the most popular sites to visit on this tour each year. Be on the look out for our own Carson Horn, who will be there to check things out and report back to you. This week also features stops in Kildare, Minco and Alva, today, and in Lamont, Thomas and Braman on Thursday. I am headed for Don Schieber's farm this morning for the Kildare Wheat Tour Stop- looking forward to seeing several of you there- and checking the variety plots which Don tells me look pretty good. The tour will finish up next week with a few more stops in Pauls Valley, Taloga, Goodwell, Keyes, Hooker and Balko. For more details on this year's schedule, click over to the calendar page on our website.
Also, OKC West Livestock Auction is hosting its Special Roll-Over Sale today that will benefit farmers and ranchers in northwest Oklahoma that were affected by recent wildfires. OKC West is working in conjunction with the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation to help distribute the dollars collected at today's auction to wildfire victims through the organization's Wildfire Relief Fund. At noon, today, a calf will be sold multiple times over to collect bidders' charitable contributions. Several other calves have been earmarked also in today's sale, for the proceeds to go to the OCF. We talked with organizer Robert York about the details of this sale earlier this week. If you missed that conversation - click here to hear it now.
Finally, today at 2:30 p.m., Governor Mary Fallin will be passing out her 2018 Excellence in Agriculture Awards at the State Capitol. Being honored this year are Keith Kisling of Burlington, Governor's Outstanding Achievement in Agriculture Award; Jimmy Kinder of Walters, Governor's Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Award; Randy Gilbert of Tecumseh, Governor's Outstanding Public Service in Agriculture Award; and Larry Watkins of Stillwater who will posthumously be recognized with the Governor's Outstanding Legacy in Agriculture Award.
And just a friendly reminder if you're planning to attend the awards ceremony - the Oklahoma Department of Ag announced last week a last minute change in location for the ceremony which will now be held in Senate Room 535 at the State Capitol. Remember, too, Ag Day at the State Capitol events including the vendor fair, previously scheduled for earlier in the day, have been cancelled. Click here for more details.
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Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue Commits USDA to Prioritizing Solutions for the Fight Against Food Waste
Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue hosted a food waste roundtable with Representatives Chellie Pingree of Minnesota and David Young of Iowa, food industry leaders, and non-profit groups at the USDA, during which participants discussed potential solutions for tackling the food waste issue in America.
After the meeting concluded, Perdue reaffirmed USDA's commitment to working with stakeholders and helping to reduce food waste, remarking that, "Our nation's agricultural abundance should be used to nourish those in need, not fill the trash." Perdue said many have endeavored to solve food waste issues in their own spheres, but proclaimed it was time to, "change the culture and adopt a holistic approach to get everyone working together and sharing ideas."
According to a USDA release, food loss and waste eats up nearly 40% of the food supply in the U.S., while millions of Americans remain without regular access to safe, wholesome, affordable food. Consumers are responsible for most food loss and waste in the U.S., racking up almost 90 billion pounds annually, or 20% of the U.S. food supply. The retail sector is responsible for about 10%, totaling 43 billion pounds. The release states that USDA is uniquely positioned to address this problem by working with farmers, industry, and consumers to raise food loss and waste awareness and share best practices.
For more on this story and to see a complete list of those who participated on this roundtable, click here.
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House Ag Committee Leadership Directs USDA to Expand Uses of Irrigation Systems and Technologies
The Irrigation Association reports that the House Ag Committee recently released a directive urging the USDA to encourage the adoption of conservation practices that will help to promote the efficient and effective use of irrigation water. The directive instructs USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to consider how farm bill programs approach addressing nutrient management and water efficiency issues.
"The Irrigation Association welcomes the direction set by the House agriculture committee regarding irrigation and the farm bill," IA Government and Public Affairs Director John Farner said. "These directives support the IA's farm bill priorities and will be a welcomed change to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, if passed by Congress and signed into law by the president."
Currently, irrigation projects funded by EQIP must prove a savings of water. If passed and signed into law, this farm bill will remove the requirement, thus opening the door for other uses, such as nutrient application and management through pressurized irrigation. Click here to read more about this report and how USDA has been tasked with improving the efficiency of agricultural irrigation. |
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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!
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Scientists Make Biggest Poultry Animal Welfare Breakthrough in Recent History Using UVA Lighting
In a breakthrough discovery, scientists have found that the addition of an Ultraviolet A (UV-A) spectrum into animal housing lighting reduces stress levels by a significant margin.
Researcher Dr. Aaron Stephan explained how dynamic levels of UV-A mixed with other specific light spectra results in a substantial reduction of industry-accepted stress indicators. Data collected in this research shows that corticosterone levels in poultry exposed to UV-A lighting decreased by two-thirds, while heterophil:lymphocyte ratios were cut in half when compared to the poultry raised without supplemental UV-A.
Birds also exhibited significantly reduced body asymmetry, fear response and wing-flapping, as well as a strong preference for UV-enhanced environments.
Many believe adding windows to poultry houses enhances the birds' environment, however, the glass used in windows blocks UV-A light and in fact increases stress and fear levels in chickens. Stephan's company, ONCE, has created proprietary technology stemming from this research that provides an enhanced natural environment and supplements a key light component absent from standard fixtures and from windows. This will help reduce the unnecessary cost many producers are facing with upcoming regulations that will require the installation of windows in poultry houses.
Click here to get the full story on this innovative advancement in agricultural technology.
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Keynote Speaker Duane Lenz of CattleFax to Kick Off 2018 Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association Convention
The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association announced this week that CattleFax General Manager Duane Lenz, will present as keynote speaker during the opening general session of the 2018 Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association Convention and Trade Show.
With a focus on business for this year's convention, OCA President Weston Givens says Lenz is the perfect speaker to get things kicked off. With his high-energy and engaging performance as a speaker, Lenz's presentation is sure to be as entertaining as it will be informative for audiences. Sponsored by Merck Animal Health, Lenz will share with convention-goers his knowledge gained from serving feedlot members across the southwest and his involvement with protein analysis, in addition to his role as General Manager for CattleFax.
Convention attendees will also enjoy a large trade show along with the opportunity to attend five sessions of Cattlemen's College with varying topics for cattlemen to gain knowledge and new ideas.
The 66th Annual event will be held July 20 and 21 at the Embassy Suites in Norman, Okla. Registration is now open and exhibitor booths are still available. For more information on the details of this event, or instructions on how to get registered, click here. |
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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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Renewable Fuels Association Pleased by Trump's Affirmation of RFS Support During White House Meeting
Yesterday, President Trump convened a meeting between farm champions and oil advocates at the White House with Sens. Chuck Grassley, Joni Ernst, Ted Cruz, and Pat Toomey, to discuss amicable solutions regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard. It appears a consensus was reached during the meeting which will allow the year-round use of E15. President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association Bob Dinneen, who called this "a positive step forward for the ethanol industry," expressed much gratitude in the President's intervention. The meeting also yielded an agreement regarding the issue of a price cap on RINs, but there will be no more discussion of a price cap going forward, according to an RFA release. "The issue has been put to rest," it states. "However, great concern remains regarding the number and impact of recent RFS compliance exemptions that have been granted to highly profitable refining companies." The RFA continues to believe an effort should be taken to reallocate the exempted volumes, which likely totals 1.6 billion gallons or more. It has been suggested that the lost volumes could be reallocated by allowing exported ethanol gallons to count toward an obligated party's blending requirement. "...The notion of allowing exported ethanol to count toward an oil company's RFS obligation is extremely problematic," Dinneen said. "Allowing exports to qualify for RFS compliance could dramatically reduce domestic ethanol demand, while most certainly resulting in retaliatory trade barriers from the countries importing U.S. ethanol. The real disgrace with a proposal of this nature, however, is that ethanol producers and farmers would bear the brunt of any retaliatory tariffs; they would be subsidizing highly profitable oil companies, who would benefit from the reduced RINs costs. In no way will that ever be acceptable or considered a win for our industry." Click here to continue reading about this meeting and results it yielded in finding common ground among the ethanol and oil industries. |
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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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