Stabenow Kicks Off Senate Floor Debate on 2013 Farm Bill 

The Senate yesterday opened debate on S.954, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) Chairwoman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry summarized the bill in her opening remarks.  She also urged her House colleagues to work in a bipartisan manner to quickly pass their version of the bill. 

"Our bill - the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act - is critical to the 16 million Americans whose jobs rely on a strong agricultural economy. 

"Agriculture has been one of the bright spots as our economy is getting back on track. In fact, it is one of the few areas where we actually have a trade surplus - where we are exporting more than we import. And those exports mean jobs and opportunities for growth all across America. 

"The Farm Bill is a jobs bill... it's a trade bill... it's a reform bill... it's a conservation bill... and it's a kitchen table bill...," Stabenow said.

You can hear Senator Stabenow's full opening remarks or read them on our website by clicking here.  

Obama Administration Supports 2013 Senate Ag Committee Farm Bill 

The Obama administration lined up in support of Senate passage of S. 954, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013.  In a statement released yesterday, the Whitehouse said it looks forward to working with the Congress to address the important concerns described below prior to final passage.

"The Administration greatly appreciates the Senate's bipartisan efforts to enact a food, farm and jobs bill. With authorization for farm and food related programs set to expire this year, it is critical that the Congress pass legislation that provides certainty for rural America and includes needed reforms and savings. The new farm bill should promote rural development, preserve a farm safety net, maintain strong nutrition programs, encourage the development of local and regional markets, enhance conservation, honor our international trade commitments, including under the World Trade Organization, and advance agricultural research. In light of the Nation's long-term fiscal challenge, the legislation should also contribute significantly to deficit reduction."

You can read more of the Whitehouse statement by clicking here.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack also praised the Senate's progress on the bill.  Click here to read more of his statement.

 

Dealing With Livestock Death Loss in Spring Storms

Spring storms have dealt a heavy blow to many families across our state- there were numerous significant severe thunderstorms and multiple tornado warnings from border to border on Monday- after a bad enough Sunday. 

There's more damage to wheat and canola- to just planted spring crops and in some cases- the death of livestock.  If you have lost livestock on your farm or ranch and plan to dispose of the carcasses on your land- be aware that there are state rules and regs to follow to protect groundwater.  Dr. Josh Payne of OSU dropped us an email note on Monday evening- with the links to a couple of extension bulletins that you may want to check out.  Click here for BAE 1748 and click here for BAE 1749

You may need to notify the Oklahoma Department of Ag if you have had "catastrophic" livestock death on your place- 1748 describes that- and Josh suggests that your local County Extension office can help you with questions on these issues as well.

Boxed Beef Run Continues; Feedlot Inventories Down Less, Peel Says

Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Livestock Marketing Specialist writes in the latest Cow-Calf Newsletter:

Choice boxed beef finished last week at a record weekly average of $207.49/cwt., up $4/cwt. from last week and up $17/cwt. from the recent lows last month. Though this market may be near a peak, the strength and duration of the recent run has been impressive and sets the stage for a stronger summer beef market. If the follow-through from the Memorial Day holiday is good, the boxed beef cutout may be set to hold at stronger levels through the summer. From the current highs, Choice boxed beef could hold near the $200/cwt. for seasonal summer lows before moving higher again into the fourth quarter.

The May Cattle on Feed report showed a second month of strong feedlot placements. However, both March and April were compared to relatively small placements last year and April had one more business day this year so the increases are not as much as it appears. Combined March and April placements were up 336,000 head from last year, though placements for year to date are up only 133,000 head. That raises an important point to keep the recent placement numbers in perspective. Much of the increase in March and April placements were heavy weight feeders that will be matched with earlier lightweight placements when they are marketed in August and September. Those earlier lightweight placements were down significantly year over year which means the recent surge in placements is more of a moderation of coming feedlot marketings than a significant increase. Feedlot inventories are down less than two months ago but they are still down.

Click here for more of Derrell's analysis.

Ed Czerwien of the USDA's Market News Service also has an analysis of last week's record-setting boxed beef market.  Click here to listen.  

 

Severe weather, high winds, hail and heavy rains moved through Oklahoma Sunday affecting crops in southwest and south central Oklahoma.  In the latest Crop Progress and Condition Report, the wheat crop is rated in mostly fair to poor condition.  Wheat heading was 49 percent complete by the end of the week, 19 points behind normal.  Wheat in the soft dough stage was 26 percent, 35 points behind the five-year average.

Fifty-two percent of the crop was listed in very poor or poor condition, 29 percent was in fair shape, and only 17 percent was in good condition.

Canola was rated mostly good to fair with 43 percent rated poor to very poor. Canola was 14 percent mature by the end of the week, compared to 93 percent this week last year.  (Click here for the full Oklahoma Crop Weather report.)

In Kansas, clear skies and warmer temperatures helped crops to progress.  The winter wheat crop was 92 percent jointed, behind 100 percent a year ago and the 99-percent average. The crop was 41 percent headed, well behind 100 percent a year ago and a 74 percent average. The crop condition was rated 21 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 25 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. (The Kansas report is available by clicking here.)

Texas producers continued to cut much of their wheat crop for hay due to previous freeze damage. Remaining wheat fields continued to mature with those under irrigation making good progress.  Forty-eight percent of the crop was rated in very poor condition, 28 percent was rated poor, 18 percent was in fair condition, and six percent is listed in good condition.  (Click here for the full Texas report.)

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Meets with Mexico's Secretary of Agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the following statement following his meeting with Mexico's new Secretary of Agriculture, Enrique Martínez y Martínez last week:

"I am pleased by the productive exchange with Secretary Martínez where we discussed and recognized the strong bilateral agricultural trade between our two countries. Mexico is an important strategic ally and critical economic partner to the United States, and our third-largest export market for U.S. agricultural products. Bilateral agricultural trade between our countries is at record levels and has more than quadrupled since NAFTA's implementation nearly 20 years ago. Secretary Martínez and I expressed a common desire to build on this strong foundation and promote greater market access for our agricultural products.

"In our wide-ranging discussions, Secretary Martínez and I committed to reenergize and revitalize the U.S.-Mexico Consultative Committee on Agriculture, a forum that will enable us to address bilateral trade issues and continue to identify opportunities for cooperation. We also discussed market access for many agricultural products, including U.S. beef, potatoes, and produce, and received assurances that Mexico continues to progress in their regulatory processes to meet our request. I indicated the United States would like to continue our collaboration on both biotechnology and organic agriculture as they continue to be important trade priorities of the Obama Administration and USDA."

Click here for more.

 

Half of the US Corn Crop Planted in One Week? Done! 

Okay- it was "just" 43% of the US corn crop that was planted this past week- jumping from 28% complete to 71% complete in one seven day period. While progress lagged behind the five-year average by 37 points last week, the rapid progress closed the gap to only nine points. 

Farmers made significant progress, with progress increasing by more than 50 points in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. The most significant progress was seen in Illinois, which moved ahead by 57 points, with Iowa close behind with 56 points progress. Minnesota corn planting progressed by 52 points during that period.

Kansas, Michigan, Missouri Nebraska and North Dakota all increased planting progress by more than 40 points last week also.

We have the complete US Crop Progress report= which gives you not just corn plantings and emergence numbers- but also soybean planting numbers, wheat crop condition and Pasture-Range Conditions- about as awful as it gets in this Pasture Range report is found in New Mexico- 98% rated in very poor to poor condition. Click here for the latest Crop Progress stats.

Stormy Thoughts on the Morning After

We are on the road- so have had to keep up with the horrific loss of life and almost unbelievable destruction that has taken place Monday on the south side of Oklahoma City from a distance. First of all, thanks to all of you that have inquired about our safety and the safety of our family- we live on the northwest side of Oklahoma City- several miles from the mile wide and eleven mile long swath of massive destruction that is now being seen around the world with over 50 killed in this single mega storm. 

We have family that had a narrow miss, friends who have lost property but not life and I fear one or two people that we know or have had dealings with that may have lost a loved one.