Oklahoma Canola Harvest Reaches Halfway Point 

Oklahoma canola producers are busily harvesting the 2013 crop and Gene Neuens of PCOM says harvest is about halfway done.

He says producers south of I-40 are mostly finished with farmers near Kingfisher, Enid, and Bison getting into full swing. He said most of the crop in those areas has been swathed and farmers are now picking it up.

Neuens said that swathing the crop seems to have become the preferred method of harvest across the state.

"They can get it laid down and get it picked up before wheat harvest really starts and get it out of the way. They know they can do it. We had some guys spray this year, but they ended up right in the middle of harvest. Spray it with a dessicant then you end up right in the middle of wheat harvest trying to pick it up."

Neuens said that oil yields were lower on the crop south of I-40 due to the weather situation, but they've seen a better yield from fields north of I-40. In terms of raw yields he said farmers are seeing 45-50 bushels to the acre and that they are pleased with that given the conditions this year.

Gene was my guest on "In the Field" on News 9 this past weekend.  You can see that video by clicking here.  If you'd like to read more of this story or listen to a longer interview, please click here.

United States Cattle on Feed Down 3 Percent 

The USDA's Cattle on Feed Report released Friday was not a friendly report, showing a continuing decline in beef cattle inventory, placements and marketings.

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.7 million head on June 1, 2013. The inventory was 3 percent below June 1, 2012.

Placements in feedlots during May totaled 2.05 million, 2 percent below 2012. Net placements were 1.95 million head. During May, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 390,000, 600-699 pounds were 304,000, 700-799 pounds were 555,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 800,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.95 million, 3 percent below 2012. Marketings are the second lowest since the series began in 1996 for the month of May. 

Click here to go to our website where we've posted an analysis of the Cattle on Feed report by Tom Leffler and a link to the full USDA report.

Champion Auctioneer Takes Roundabout Journey to Get to the Top

Dustin Focht, this year's winner of the Livestock Marketing Association's World Livestock Auctioneer Championship, hails from Stillwater and has taken a roundabout way of getting back home an into an occupation that he loves.

Focht went on to college at OSU and then took an advertising job in Chicago. He said it took him seven years of living in that highly-urbanized environment to learn that he wanted to get back home to Oklahoma.

"It's one of those things you just wake up one morning and realize there may be another opportunity at home that I hadn't really thought much about."

A college friend introduced Focht to legendary auctioneer Ralph Wade who took Focht under his wing.

"And I soaked it up. Over the course of the last 13 and a half, almost 14, years your chant and, obviously, your voice gets stronger. You obviously learn more about the industry. Your knowledge as far as value and kind and condition of the product that you're selling, you start to ascertain a little better understanding of the job and the task at hand. With that, Ron, obviously, you become comfortable and you're really able to study your craft. With that relaxation you become a more well-rounded auctioneer. And with that you, obviously, hope for success."

You can read more about Dustin Focht and his journey to the top or listen to my interview with him by clicking here. 

Israeli Trade Team Examines Wheat Crop from Farm to Port, Starting in Oklahoma

Even in the face of strong competition, the world's flour millers know they can count on U.S. wheat farmers for a reliable supply of high quality wheat, thanks to export market development programs. That includes millers in Israel, where only 10 percent of milling wheat can be sourced domestically due to a lack of agricultural land and water for irrigation.

To reinforce that relationship, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) organized a team of technical and commercial milling managers from Israel to travel to Oklahoma, Texas and Washington, DC, June 22 to 28 to examine the U.S. hard red winter (HRW) production areas and crops, visit export elevators and discuss trade policy.   

"As long-term buyers of U.S. wheat, Israeli millers know the United States has the premium milling wheat they need, but since 2000, U.S. wheat has competed with supplies from the European Union and the Black Sea countries," said Rotterdam-based USW European Regional Director Goris van Lit, who will accompany the team. "By bringing team members directly to the farm, elevator and port, they get to see that they can trust the products, the people and organizations that USW represents." 

While they are in Oklahoma, the trade team will tour the Gavilon Grain facility in southwestern Oklahoma, visit wheat farmers in central Oklahoma, tour OSU's Food and Agricultural Product Center, and visit a bakery in Oklahoma City.

You can read more about the trade team's visit by clicking here.

 

NAP Coverage Will be Available for 2014 Crops Annually Planted for Livestock Feed or Fodder

Francie Tolle, executive director for the Oklahoma Farm Service Agency (FSA), announced that an exception has been made to allow Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for 2014 crops annually planted for livestock feed or fodder. Crops included are wheat planted for hay and/or grazing as well forage sorghums planted for hay, silage, or pasture in addition to various other annually planted forage crops.

On May 1, 2013, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) released a new pilot federal crop insurance plan that utilizes a rainfall index to provide coverage for annual forage crops. The Rainfall Index - Annual Forage Insurance Plan is being tested in six states and covers crops planted annually that are used for livestock feed or fodder. It is available in all counties in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Catastrophic Risk Protection (CAT) and buy-up levels are available under the plan. 

Click here for more details on this program.

Tulsa Stockyards Hosts Commercial Cattle Grading Contest

The annual Tulsa Stockyards Commercial Cattle Grading Contest will be held TOMORROW,  June 25. Open to all 4-H and FFA members across Oklahoma, the event introduces participants to live cattle evaluation and educates them on current grading practices. To excel in the contest, students must accurately assess each animal's gender, age, frame size, muscling and body condition.

After providing a tutorial for first-time participants, officials from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) and the USDA grade the cattle to provide a standard against which participants' gradings are measured.

Awards are presented to the top 4-H and FFA individuals and teams. As a first-time sponsor, American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) will provide additional scholarship money to the top individuals in the 4-H and FFA categories. Farm Credit of East Central Oklahoma will sponsor lunch for all contestants and their 4-H and FFA advisors.

Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the contest will begin at 10 a.m. For more information, contact ODAFF Agriculture Marketing Coordinator, Jason Harvey at 405-522-5563 or jason.harvey@ag.ok.gov.