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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 225 cattle on their showlist for the Wednesday,
May 23rd sale of finished cattle- details will be available after noon today by clicking here.
Steer and heifer calves were lightly tested with a higher undertone noted on Tuesday compared to last week at OKC West - click or tap here for a look at the May 22nd 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 23, 2018
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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Featured Story:
Whether you are talking about agriculture or not, it is a wild time right now if you are trying to keep up with all that is going on in US trade relations. Such is the case for Kent Bacus, director of international trade and market access for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. We caught up with Bacus recently to get the latest developments on the Chinese front when it comes to this tumultuous series of events that has been unfolding between the US and China amid threats from each side of tariffs and fear of a trade war.
"What we're hearing is that there's been some progress in some of the discussions. I think it's still very speculative at this point to see what the final result will be," Bacus reported. "I think the promising thing is that we're actually having these conversations government to government - because keep in mind, China isn't always the easiest country to work with."
Bacus says Chinese officials have a litany of very strict rules, regulations and bureaucracy to go through whenever decisions or negotiations are being discussed with other nations. The fact that both US and Chinese emissaries are travelling back and forth to meet face to face is a good sign that perhaps an amicable solution can be hammered. But he warns, too, not to make the mistake that tariffs are off the table. Should negotiations fall apart, he says we could be back to square one and beef potentially in the line of fire. Despite threats of that happening, so far no movement has been made on enacting a retaliatory increase in Chinese tariffs on imported US beef from 12 to 37 percent. Although, China is a comparatively small customer for the US right now when it comes to beef, Bacus reminds us that China is quickly becoming one of the world's largest importers of beef and is just starting out its relationship with the US beef industry after more than a decade of having severed ties. Bacus says there is a lot of potential for China to become a very important market for the US in the future.
"It takes time to develop the supply chains, identify the customers and get product moving - and there's more demand out there," he insisted. "We obviously want to be part of that success. We've committed to be a part of it and we're going to see our sales continue to grow. So, China either way is going to be a good bet for us. It's going to provide a good opportunity to expand into the Asian market."
Listen to Bacus and I discuss the current status of US-China trade negotiations and what impact it is having on the beef industry, on yesterday's Beef Buzz, by clicking here. You can also listen to their complete conversation by clicking over to our Perspectives podcast, for the full version.
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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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The OKAgFund, Oklahoma Farm Bureau's political action committee, has endorsed 22 candidates and donated a grand total of $63,000 to 71 candidates running for election in Oklahoma this year, based on input from farmers and ranchers.
Those candidates endorsed, were selected not based on political affiliation, but rather through their demonstrated beliefs and actions that are consistent with OKFB's policies.
"With so few people involved in agriculture, we must elect state leaders who value the needs of Oklahoma farmers and ranchers," said Coy Farmer, OKAgFund chairman. "After careful consideration of all candidates by Farm Bureau members across the state, the OKAgFund is proud to support candidates who we believe will stand for agriculture and rural Oklahoma."
Among the candidates running this year, the OKAgFund endorsed Todd Lamb in the 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial election along with Mike Hunter for Oklahoma attorney general, Randy McDaniel for state treasurer and Glen Mulready for state insurance commissioner.
For a complete list of endorsements for both the House and Senate races, click here. |
Wind Integral to Oklahoma's Path Toward Energy Independence, Says OK Wind Power's Mark Yates
Our friend Mark Yates stopped by our studios this week to visit with us and review the last few weeks of this year's Legislative Session, which recently adjourned. Although things may have gotten a little heated towards the end, with some targeting wind energy tax incentives - Yates says overall everything came out fine in the end and believes it was a good learning experience for lawmakers who he hopes now better understands the value the wind industry brings to Oklahomans across the state, but especially our rural communities.
Of course, we're referring to debate over S.B. 888 - which would have eliminated the refundability of certain tax credits to existing wind projects in the state. Ultimately, the bill was killed in the State Senate, but had it passed through, Yates says it would have been detrimental to our state's business reputation. Essentially, he says it would have been reneging on a deal that was already done and promised to our wind investors who were relying on those funds to stay solvent.
"To go back and retroactively do away with the refundability of those tax credits would have had a detrimental impact on the wind industry and really Oklahoma's business reputation," Yates said, acknowledging the State Senate's intervention in killing the bill. "Kudos to the Senate - I think they got it right. They made the right decision for Oklahoma and its business reputation to honor its word to investors. It's very important that the state can be trusted and its word honored."
And with $74 million in ad valorem taxes paid to 26 counties and $48 million in annual lease payments to landowners, Yates says the wind industry is certainly contributing more than its fair share already. And he says it will continue to do so, with each project viable for at least 25 to 50 years.
"In Oklahoma," he said, "with the abundance of natural gas and an infinite supply of wind, we're perfectly positioned for energy independence in the future."
Listen to Yates and I discuss more in depth the impact wind energy has had on our rural communities, by clicking here.
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Burn Ban Area Reduced by Order of the Governor
Due to improving wildland fire conditions, Governor Mary Fallin has issued a proclamation reducing the number of counties in the governor's burn ban from 14 to seven. The change came at the recommendation of Oklahoma Forestry Services (OFS) after an analysis of the impact of recent rains.
Counties that remain under the governor's burn ban are: Beaver, Cimarron, Ellis, Harper, Texas, Woods and Woodward.
"The drought continues to persist across northwest Oklahoma, but the recent rains have given most of the state a reprieve from extreme fire conditions," said Fallin.
Click or tap here to read more from the release issued on Tuesday by the the office of Governor Mary Fallin.
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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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Michael Peters of Okarche Re-Appointed to Serve in Dist. III Board Seat of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission
Okarche producer Michael Peters was recently re-appointed by Oklahoma Ag Secretary Jim Reese, to serve another five-year term on the Oklahoma Wheat Commission Board. Peters will represent the Commission's third District, which includes Beckham, Blaine, Canadian, Custer, Dewey, Kingfisher, Roger Mills and Washita counties.
"We are excited that Michael Peters has been re-appointed to the Oklahoma Wheat Commission board," said Mike Schulte, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission. "His knowledge and experience with wheat production as a farmer and active roles held with the OWC Board and U.S. Wheat Associates Board continue to make him a valuable leader for the wheat industry on both state and national levels."
Peter's responsibilities as a member of the commission include working with the other members to develop and oversee the implementation of policy and programs, approve budget expenditures, direct the funding of research, market development and public education, represent district producer interests, and promote Oklahoma wheat.
Learn more about Peters, his family and their operation, by clicking here to visit the original announcement published to our website Tuesday morning. |
Producers Should Consider the Heritable Fertility Traits of Cattle When Making Selection Decisions
Dr. Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist, recently discussed why producers should consider the heritability estimates of fertility in their replacement heifers when making culling and breeding selections.
"Although reproductive performance is a lowly heritable trait, some heifers are born with problems and they should be identified as soon as possible and removed from the herd," writes Selk in his most recent article for the Cow/Calf Corner newsletter. "Spring born heifers are in their first breeding season now and should be checked for pregnancy about 60 days after the end of their first breeding season. Identifying and culling open heifers early will remove sub-fertile females from the herd. Lifetime cow studies from Montana indicated that properly developed heifers that were exposed to fertile bulls, but DID NOT become pregnant were often sub-fertile compared to the heifers that did conceive. In fact, when the heifers that failed to breed in the first breeding season were followed throughout their lifetimes, they averaged a 55% yearly calf crop. Therefore keeping them or rolling them over to a fall-calving herd is a bad bet. Selecting against poor reproduction may be painfully slow due to the low heritability. However, 'painfully slow' progress is still better than no progress!"
While a producer can improve his herd by making wise selection decisions with genetics and heritability factored in, Selk also points out that 87 percent of the time, the biggest influence on cattle's fertility is their environment. To that fact, he says it should always stand to reason that management is still going to be the key to successful pregnancy rates in replacement heifers.
To read Selk's full column from this week's Cow/Calf Corner newsletter, 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 to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.
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New Dairy Council-Funded Study Shows Yogurt Plays Key Role in Reducing Inflammation in Women
A new study funded by National Dairy Council shows that healthy, pre-menopausal women who consumed low-fat yogurt before meals reduced their risk for inflammation, which in some prolonged cases can cause bowel disease, arthritis and asthma among other associated health problems.
The study, conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that yogurt's ability to improve the integrity of intestinal lining, can prevent endotoxins from crossing into the bloodstream - thus, a person can avert possible cases of inflammation after consuming yogurt prior to a high-fat, high-calorie meal. These findings underscore yogurt's important role in a healthy diet.
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Services Set for Director of the Oklahoma Boll Weevil Organization- John Henderson
John Henderson, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Boll Weevil Eradication Program, passed away this past weekend at his home in Eldorado. Henderson was 61.
He joined the Boll Weevil Eradication Organization as it was getting organized in 1998- and was a part of a remarkable story of reclaiming Oklahoma as a viable cotton producing state.
Oklahoma's cotton growing areas were overrun with Boll Weevils in that 1998-2000 time frame- the Organization showed huge numbers of weevils were caught- 750,000 in 1999 in the early days of spraying to take the pests out. Over a million acres of land was sprayed that same year (1999) and the number of weevils caught was reduced year after year- and there have been no weevils caught since 2008- to me, with parts of Texas still in active eradication, that record is remarkable.
It is the control of the boll weevil that has allowed cotton to be a viable crop for Oklahoma producers- and the million bales produced in 2017 in our state is a testament to the success of the Boll Weevil Eradication Organization- and to folks like John Henderson.
Visitation with John Henderson's family is set for Friday evening from 6 to 8 PM at the Lowell Tims Funderal Home in Eldorado- Funeral Services are planned for Saturday afternoon at 1 pm at the Corinth Baptist Church in Eldorado.
More about the services and visitation and viewing is available here on the Funeral Home's website.
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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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