AFBF Delegates Call for Flexible, Insurance-based Farm Bill

Voting delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation's 94th annual meeting expressed support for a bipartisan, reform-minded farm bill, crafted around a broad, flexible, crop-insurance-based program, including risk-management protection for peanuts, rice, forage and specialty crops.

"After ending a long year of policy uncertainty culminating with an extension of the old bill, we will push hard, in cooperation with our congressional and administration allies, for a five-year farm bill that provides our farmers certainty and extends much-needed risk management tools across more acres and more crops," said AFBF President Bob Stallman, a rice and cattle producer from Texas.

Delegates said AFBF would not only support a farm bill with a strong safety net and risk management programs to protect farmers from catastrophes, but they also would work for programs that provide emergency assistance for livestock and tree producers not covered by federal crop insurance programs.

To read more about the many varied issues covered by the delegate body at the 2013 session in Nashville- as well as a chance to hear the remarks of Bob Stallman after the policy making session was concluded- click here. 

Supply and Demand Will Determine Cow Herd Rebuilding as Drought Eases, David Anderson Says 

Dr. David Anderson, professor and economist in Livestock and Food Products Marketing with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service addressed livestock producers from across the country during an issues conference at the American Farm Bureau Federation's 94th Annual Meeting. He says it will take time to rebuild the herd, and that its recovery is also a matter of supply and demand.

"The first thing right off the bat is when you go through a severe drought, it doesn't turn around overnight. It can take several years for ranges and pastures to recover. And that's really where it starts with that grass. So the first thing we have to do is get those range and pasture conditions to recover. If we've got that condition in place then, given where prices are, we'll start seeing some expansion in cow numbers."

That expansion can only come in one of two ways, Anderson says.

"We're going to kill fewer cows or hold back more heifers and do a combination of that. As soon as we start expanding by pulling those heifers out of beef production and into the breeding herd, we'll see an even sharper reduction in beef production and an even higher pressure on prices. You face a choice with those heifers: 'Do I send them to beef or do I keep them to replace?' Right now prices have been so good, it's been pretty attractive just to go ahead and get rid of them in the calf price side."

Dr. Anderson joined me on the latest Beef Buzz. Click here to listen in or to read more of this article. 

 

Nominations Open for $25,000 America's Farmers Grow Rural Education Grants

Nationwide, a movement is underway to improve the math and science aptitude of today's students. For the second year in a row, the Monsanto Fund is gearing-up to invest $2.3 million to strengthen math and science education in rural communities through America's Farmers Grow Rural Education?.

Now until April 15, 2013, farmers can nominate their favorite, local public school district. Administrators of nominated school districts can then submit grant applications through April 30, 2013 to enhance their math and/or science programs.

"We believe bright futures start in the classroom," said Deborah Patterson, Monsanto Fund president. "Building a strong math and science foundation for today's youth is great preparation for future success."

Qualifying farmers can nominate school districts in the following eligible Oklahoma counties: Garfield, Grant, Jackson, Kay, Le Flore, Noble, Ottawa, Texas, Tillman, Wagoner, and Washita.

For more on this story and nomination information, please click here.


 

Understanding 'Normal' Makes Calf Delivery Process Easier, Selk Says

Writing in the current issue of the Cow-Calf Newsletter, Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist, reviews the birth process as calving season approaches.

Before the first heifer begins the calving process this spring, it would be wise to review what takes place in a normal delivery. Understanding "normal" will help us better recognize problems when they occur and therefore provide assistance when necessary.

Stage 1
The first stage of parturition is dilation of the cervix. The normal cervix is tightly closed right up until the cervical plug is completely dissolved. In stage 1, cervical dilation begins some 4 to 24 hours before the completion of parturition. During this time the "progesterone block" is no longer present and the uterine muscles are becoming more sensitive to all factors that increase the rate and strength of contractions. At the beginning, the contractile forces primarily influence the relaxation of the cervix but uterine muscular activity is still rather quiet. Stage 1 is likely to go completely unnoticed, but there may be some behavioral differences such as isolation or discomfort. At the end of stage one, there may be come behavioral changes such as elevation of the tail, switching of the tail and increased mucous discharge. Before "pulling" a calf in stage 2, it is imperative that stage 1 (cervical dilation) is complete.

Click here for more.

 

RFA Refutes American Petroleum Institute, Says RFS is Proven Success

During a media conference call today, the American Petroleum Institute (API) called the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) "unworkable" and stated that they would "like to see complete repeal of the RFS."  Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), refuted those statements:

"The RFS is a proven success. It is a highly flexible, effective, proven energy policy. API knows this to be a fact which is why they are continually running to the courts and Congress to kill it. The RFS is stimulating investment in next generation ethanol which is coming to fruition before our eyes. The RFS is also driving the marketplace beyond ethanol's use as an 'additive', which was a fundamental objective of the program. Higher ethanol blends, from E15 to E85, will be key to providing consumers the choice at the pump they want and the relief for the wallet they need. E15 and E85 are available right here, right now and Big Oil doesn't like it. American biofuels are integral to any national solution to energy independence and job creation."

 

USDA Finalizes New Microloan Program for Small Farmers, Veterans, Disadvantaged Producers

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new microloan program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designed to help small and family operations, beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers secure loans under $35,000. The new microloan program is aimed at bolstering the progress of producers through their start-up years by providing needed resources and helping to increase equity so that farmers may eventually graduate to commercial credit and expand their operations. The microloan program will also provide a less burdensome, more simplified application process in comparison to traditional farm loans.

"I have met several small and beginning farmers, returning veterans and disadvantaged producers interested in careers in farming who too often must rely on credit cards or personal loans with high interest rates to finance their start-up operations," said Vilsack. "By further expanding access to credit to those just starting to put down roots in farming, USDA continues to help grow a new generation of farmers, while ensuring the strength of an American agriculture sector that drives our economy, creates jobs, and provides the most secure and affordable food supply in the world."

The final rule establishing the microloan program will be published in the Jan. 17 issue of the Federal Register. The interest rate for USDA's new microloan product changes monthly and is currently 1.25 percent.

You can read more of this story by clicking here.

This N That- Buis on Vilsack 2.0, National Western in Denver and Big Iron Weekly Auction 

Calling USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack "a tireless advocate for the renewable fuels industry," Growth Energy's Tom Buis heaped praise on President Barack Obama for his decision to retain Vilsack as his Secretary of Agriculture. 

Click here for his full statement- Bob Stallman- as he introduced Vilsack on Monday afternoon at the general session of the AFBF, also called the decision "good news for America's farmers and ranchers" but outside of the Growth Energy statement and that word from the floor of the AFBF convention- we have seen little reaction from the ag community on Vilsack staying at USDA.  I'm not sure if that is because it was widely expected- but normally my email inbox would have had a half dozen statements or more in short order on that news. Hmmm...

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There is always a good number of Oklahoma breeders as well as youth that haul their show animals up to the Mile High city for the annual National Western Livestock Show- and this year is no exception. Yesterday, the Limoousin breeders were showing, Angus bulls are being judged today and tomorrow morning- the Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest is scheduled to be held. Tomorrow, the Herefords begin their show schedule as well and a lot of the other breeds follow over the next couple of days.

The Junior Shows are next week- leading up to their Premium auction- they have 90 top animals in their premium sell which happens Friday evening January 25th- with the sale of their Champions on local Denver TV.  Click here for the complete National Western schedule- it's non stop over the next ten days or so.

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The weekly Big Iron Auction starts closing items at 10 AM central time this morning- 211 items are up for bid in this week's auction- you can jump over to the Big Iron web site and see the full list and the order in which they will be closing by clicking here.