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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 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
Friday, February 15, 2019
Tricky Weather This Morning- Slick Spots Across Northern Half of Oklahoma
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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 Featured Story:
Many of our regular readers of this newsletter have probably come across the term graze and grain before in reference to the cropping system unique to Oklahoma agriculture - where producers raise a dual-purpose wheat for - you guessed it - grazing cattle as well as the production of quality grain. This turn of phrase has become the basis of a branded wheat program unveiled by OSU State Wheat Breeder Dr. Brett Carver this week at an Oklahoma Genetics, Inc. stakeholder conference.
Actually, Dr. Carver unveiled two branded programs - "Graze n Grain" and "Gold n Grain." Both have been an idea Carver has long thought about. Graze n Grain branded wheat, he explains, will be exceptional in both grazeability and grain quality. However, those wheat varieties released through the Oklahoma Wheat Improvement Program with "superlative" quality traits highly sought after by bakers and miller, will earn the honor of being branded under the "Gold n Grain" label.
Carver says most everything the program releases these days would probably at least fall under that Graze n Grain umbrella, with Duster being the hallmark variety of that type.
Much in the same way that Certified Angus Beef became the gold standard for branded beef, Carver hopes this strategy will enhance the program's marketing efforts and promotion of the varieties being produced and developed at OSU.
Learn more about Carver's strategy, by clicking or tapping over to our website.
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Sponsor Spotlight
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And- their iPhone App, which provides all electronic futures quotes is available at the App Store- click here for the KIS Futures App for your iPhone.
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Despite some of the recent cold and wet weather, western Oklahoma is at the point of needing some moisture in order to avoid drought creeping back into the state. According to the latest report from State Climatologist Gary McManus, this portion of the state is already seeing Abnormally Dry conditions spreading from the Texas Panhandle. Take a look at this week's Drought Monitor below...
There is some chances of this issue resolving itself with some distant potential for rains to reach at least part of the affected area in the future - though McManus notes cautiously that this is typically a dry time of the season for that area.
At present, just under 8 percent of the entire state of Oklahoma is under Abnormally Dry conditions, touching about eight western Oklahoma counties along the Texas line.
For a closer look at this week's Drought Monitor or to review the latest report from McManus, click here.
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OKFB Policy Veteran Ron Justice Keeps Watchful Eye on Legislators as Committees Meet this Week
State legislators finished their second week of the 2019 Legislative Session here in OKC, yesterday. Our Associate Farm Director Carson Horn caught up with Ron Justice, director of public policy for Oklahoma Farm Bureau to find out what's been going on this week as one of the largest groups ever of freshman legislators settles in.
According to Justice, lawmakers have been gathered this week in their various committees to review the more than 2,800 bills that have been filed this year.
A term-limited former lawmaker himself, Justice knows from experience that this is a time to wait and see. He says while there are some pieces of legislation he is monitoring, he is hesitant to act too quickly at this early stage as a majority of these bills will never make it out of committee. And the ones that do, can change significantly before they ever make it to the House or Senate Floor. In his seasoned perspective, it is best wait for the bills that may be cause for concern to develop and reveal themselves before any hasty action is taken to strike something down.
If nothing else, Justice says the best thing to do is trust in the process. But at the same time, he says it is the responsibility of groups like OKFB to educate lawmakers of the unintended consequences a bill might have if implemented without being fully vetted. With this in mind, Justice is taking a step back to observe but taking note of those bills that sidle some of OKFB's priority areas - private property rights, taxes, etc.
You can hear more from Justice himself, by listening to his complete conversation with Carson - click here.
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Oklahoma State University Extension Grain Market Economist Dr. Kim Anderson says that no price rally is in the cards at this moment- and it may well be April, May or even harvest time before the wheat market will have a chance to rally higher.
The global markets are about done buying Black Sea wheat- but shipments are still underway from the earlier buying and that is keeping demand for hard red winter wheat tepid. Dr. Anderson says it will take some export demand to pick up to have much chance of higher wheat prices. He adds that the domestic market will respond to better than average quality- better than average test weight and protein will be key to any premiums that farmers can hope to earn.
You can watch Kim's visit tomorrow or Sunday on SUNUP- but you can hear Kim's comments right now and see what else is on the lineup for this week's episode, by clicking here.
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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.
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Road Map to Disease Traceback System Takes Shape, But Many Devilish Details Still Left to Iron Out
We continue our discussion with NCBA's Dr. Jessica Watson, who recently offered us some insight into the industry's call to look seriously at implementing an animal disease traceback system. According to her, an enhanced system of traceability that accommodates all classes of cattle, not just older cattle as existing systems operate, would require a rule change that USDA would have to then submit through the federal register. Of course, this prospect still comes with many differing opinions.
However, she is hopeful there is more clarity to be gained with this issue through three pilot programs already underway in Kansas, Texas and Florida that are anticipated to be quite helpful in the decision-making process ahead and to serve as an indication of such a system's feasibility. New technologies though, will certainly help streamline this process when and if a system is ever established. While many options are being looked at, Watson says for the moment the industry is attempting not to get ahead of itself, taking time for thorough evaluation and building consensus on program framework that will be agreeable to all segments of the beef supply chain where concerns and skepticism still very much exist in terms of privacy and liability. Watson explained where current discussions have led thus far.
"I think we may be looking more at these high-frequency tags or even Bluetooth. Due to cost... I think those are further down the line," she said, before addressing producers' privacy concerns related to this system. "We've updated our policy to protect the liability of producers after cattle have left the ranch. We want to protect producers and their confidentiality - so I think we're moving toward a private database that would allow producers to have technology only they can access and in the event of a disease outbreak, they would be able to give permissions for USDA or a state animal health official to access just that data."
For more insight into how this system might work and the direction industry discussions on the subject are headed, listen to my full conversation with Watson, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.
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Not to Break Your Heart This Valentine's But Risks to Ag's Economic Outlook Remain, Despite Recent Stability
Farmland values in the Federal Reserve's Tenth District held steady in the fourth quarter of 2018 despite risks to ongoing stability, according to the Kansas City Fed's quarterly Agricultural Credit Survey. While demand for farmland remained relatively strong across the district, weaknesses in the crop sector continued to dampen the overall agricultural economy.
The report says that risks to the outlook for farmland values in the quarter included slightly higher interest rates and an uptick in the pace of farmland sales in states with higher concentrations of crop production. In addition, continued deterioration in farm finances and credit conditions could put further pressure on values for farm real estate.
Looking into 2019, bankers' expectations for farmland values were slightly weaker than a year ago. Still, the report says the value of farmland continued to provide ongoing support to the farm sector and remained a key factor to monitor in 2019.
The Tenth District covers parts of or all of seven different states, including Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Wyoming.
Click here to read more and to review the report for yourself.
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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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Oklahoma's Creede Speake Honored by NACD with Service Award for Contributions to Conservation
Last week, Creede Speake of Springer, Oklahoma, received the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Distinguished Service Award at the organization's 2019 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, for his outstanding contributions to conservation efforts in southern Oklahoma. Trey Lam, Oklahoma Conservation Commission Executive Director is quoted describing Speake as a pioneer in soil conservation.
Nominated by the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) and Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Speake has been serving conservation efforts for 69 years and over the years has been instrumental to the success of conservation programs both in and out of state.
Speake was appointed to the Caddo County Watershed Association board in 1949 and was one of the first landowners to collaborate with the then newly-formed Noble Foundation. During his career, Speake has worked with districts across Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico promoting local conservation activities.
Read more about Speake and his accomplishments in conservation that have earned him this recognition, by clicking or tapping here.
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Mark Your Calendars for These Upcoming Auctions - Choctaw Land & Cattle, McAlester Stockyards and Albrecht-Penz Presidents Day Sale
It's sale time and this spring season is just about fully booked. Over the next few days are some sales we wanted to highlight as you start thinking about your weekend plans.
First up, it's the Choctaw County Land and Cattle 4th Annual Bull Sale happening this Saturday, February 16 th in Boswell. Lunch will be served at 11:00 and the sale starts at 1:00 sharp. Being featured at this year's sale are 70 - 18 month-old Angus and SimAngus bulls and 10 - 2 Year old Angus and SimAngus bulls... All GS/GGPLD tested. Click here for more information.
Next, make your way to "The Old Reliable" for the McAlester Stockyards Special Replacement Cow & Bull Sale also taking place on Saturday, February 16th at Noon with more than 700 head of bred cows, heifers, pairs, open heifers and bulls up for auction. Click here for more details.
Finally, you're invited this coming Monday to celebrate President's Day at the Albrecht/Penz 8th Annual Presidents Day Angus Bull & Female Sale - February 18th, at high noon and located at the Clay Freeny Ranch in Caddo. Buyers will have the opportunity to bid on 150 angus Bulls plus over 200 Registerd and Commercial Angus Females. For more information, click over to the Calendar page on our website.
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Stillwater Milling Company, National Livestock Credit Corporation, Oklahoma Beef Council, Oklahoma AgCredit, Herb's Herb Hemp Farm, 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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