USDA Designates 597 Counties in 2013 as Disaster Areas Due to Drought 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack designated 597 counties in 14 states as primary natural disaster areas due to drought and heat, making all qualified farm operators in the areas eligible for low-interest emergency loans. These are the first disaster designations made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2013.

The only county in Oklahoma not designated as a primary natural disaster area was Ottawa County in the far northeastern corner of the state. Since it is contiguous with counties that are designated as primary disaster areas, farmers in the county are eligible for assistance as well.

"As drought persists, USDA will continue to partner with producers to see them through longer-term recovery, while taking the swift actions needed to help farmers and ranchers prepare their land and operations for the upcoming planting season," said Vilsack. "I will also continue to work with Congress to encourage passage of a Food, Farm and Jobs bill that gives rural America the long-term certainty they need, including a strong and defensible safety net."

The 597 counties have shown a drought intensity value of at least D2 (Drought Severe) for eight consecutive weeks based on U.S. Drought Monitor measurements, providing for an automatic designation. The Drought Monitor is produced in partnership by USDA, the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It helps USDA determine county disaster designations due to drought. 

Click here for the map of the affected counties and to read more of this story. 

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published its final rule on traceability requirements for livestock moved interstate. Though the final rule mainly focuses on cattle, it leaves in place existing poultry-related traceability regimes and requires records be retained for poultry for two years.  The rule becomes effective March 11, 2013.

Although generally supportive of agency efforts to implement traceability programs, the National Chicken Council voiced concern about applying a one-size fits all, cattle-based traceability system to poultry, specifically a proposed requirement that records be kept for five years for all species. 

"NCC and our members are committed to animal health and to ensuring effective mechanisms are in place to identify and quickly trace an animal disease to its source," said NCC Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Ashley Peterson, Ph.D. "NCC is pleased that APHIS took some of our comments into account in the formulation of the final rule, including reducing the recordkeeping requirements for poultry to two years, down from the proposed five years." 

Click here for more on the NCC's perspective.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association was generally pleased with the rule's final form.

"We are encouraged that many of the priorities of cattlemen and women have been included in this final rule," said NCBA Chief Veterinarian Dr. Kathy Simmons. "USDA APHIS listened to the voices of livestock producers when drafting this rule and the final product is one that will help reduce the number of animals involved in an investigation, reduce the time needed to respond and decrease the cost to producers."  

You can read more from the NCBA by clicking here. 

OSU's Derrell Peel Talks About Rebuilding the Cow Herd

Where are we going with this beef cattle business of ours in the Southern Great Plains in 2013? OSU Extension Livestock Marketing Economist Derrell Peel says the answer depends on whether the drought continues or breaks.

"I think, absolutely, the production considerations are the major issue. We've just got a huge part of the central part of the U.S. and--from a beef cattle standpoint-a huge part of the beef cattle industry in an area that's in very serious drought. It's the middle of the winter and so it's not an issue right now, but three months from now it will be a huge issue. And so, I think, without a doubt, the question of a continuation of drought or a return to more normal weather is going to be absolutely critical as we move into the spring period."

There was substantial herd liquidation in Texas, Oklahoma, and parts of Kansas in 2011. Herd liquidation slowed in 2012, but if the drought continues, Peel says 2013 could see increased liquidations.

"I don't think that there's any doubt that we're setting up, certainly in the Southern Plains part of it, because we started in 2011 with significant liquidation. We got through 2012 in Texas and Oklahoma and some of the immediately surrounding areas with less liquidation simply because we had already made so much. But conditions now are probably worse than they were at any time in 2011. Water supplies are increasingly the most critical factor."

Derrell joined me for the latest Beef Buzz. Click here read more or to listen to our full conversation.

The Fiscal Cliff as seen from TSCRA President Joe Parker's Point of View

Joe Parker, Jr., a third generation rancher from Clay County, Texas, gives his take on the recent fiscal cliff debate in the latest Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association Cattlemen's Column. He is president of the TSCRA.

Like many of you I learned the importance of financial responsibility at an early age. You simply don't spend money you don't have. The money you do have you work for. And if you're lucky, you might save some of that money for a rainy day or leave it for your kids once you're gone.

The lessons I was taught at home, at school and at church were all the same. Be good stewards of what God gave you, whether it's your land, your home or your finances.

These lessons of self responsibility and good stewardship weren't invented by our elders. They were passed down through generations of hardworking Americans since our founding. It was, in fact, Thomas Jefferson himself that said, "Never spend your money before you have it."

I guess some Washington politicians have forgotten these lessons, or perhaps they were never taught them in the first place.

You can read more of Joe's comments on our webpage by clicking here.

USDA to Begin Releasing Crop Reports at 11 a.m. Oklahoma Time on January 11

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds data users that the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) will begin issuing several major USDA statistical reports at 11:00 a.m. CDT beginning on Friday, January 11, 2013. USDA previously released these crop reports at 7:30 a.m. CDT. USDA statistical reports with the noon release time are: World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, Acreage, Crop Production, Grain Stocks, Prospective Plantings, and Small Grains Summary. The time for livestock reports currently released at 2:00 p.m. CDT will not change.

 

Bessie and Erick Got an Inch! Rainfall Event Exiting Northwestern Oklahoma This Thursday Morning

The rain that came up from old Mexico proved to be one of the best statewide rainfall events that we have seen for months across Oklahoma.   

Rainfall totals across Oklahoma show that virtually everyone in the statement got at least a sprinkle, with much of north central, central and western Oklahoma getting three to six tenths of an inch of rain.  A large amount of southeastern Oklahoma got the most rain from this system that tracked up from old Mexico across eastern Oklahoma before swinging to the northwest during the evening hours on Wednesday. Rainfall amounts from one inch to an inch and half were common- with Broken Bow apparently the winner in the rain gauge race- picking up just over an inch and a half of rainfall.


There were at least two pockets in southwestern-west central Oklahoma that also jumped above the inch mark.  The Bessie and Butler Mesonet stations both claimed just over an inch of rain in the west central part of the state, while Hollis and Erick both got more than an inch of rain as well. 

You can go and see the full map for whop got how much- click here for the rainfall map for the last 48 hours across the state.

This N That- Bellringer Sale Underway Today, Link to Flickr Pics and Giving Birth to an App 

Join Superior Livestock as they kick off 2013 with "The Bellringer" in Denver, Colorado. This two day sale will offer 76,000 head of cattle- starting at 8 AM central time this morning- it  can be seen on the RFD channel on both DISH and DirecTV as well as online.  

This morning, the sale starts with yearling cattle, including a lot from our region and from Oklahoma- tomorrow- weaned calves will be the feature and again- a lot from Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.

Click here for the Superior website- there you will see details about how to register to bid and the link to watch the sale online if you don't have access to RFD.   

**********

In yesterday's email- we were pointing you to our website for some pics of the 2013 winter canola and winter wheat crop- we thought we had gotten those and a few more added into our Flickr sets but that got delayed- they are now there and you can click here for our 2013 WheatWatch 2013 Flickr set- pics from two different fields that you can compare from Mid October to early November to January. WheatWatch is a service of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission.

We also have the 2013 Winter Canola shots of this week in a new Flickr set that we will be adding to as the days go by as it relates to the 2013 Winter Canola crop- Click here for those photos.

**********

We had thought we would have our Apps for Android and for the Iphone out around Thanksgiving- but giving birth to these little boogers has taken longer than we thought they might- but the Android is ready to go to the Android store- and we hope for Apple approve in the next few days.  I am getting excited and will be playing show and tell on our website and here in the daily email- there are some features I think you are going to love!