Producer's Perspective: Is it Time to Restock? 

Deke Alkire, Livestock Consultant with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, writes in their latest newsletter:

It is amazing how fast the landscape can change with rain, especially after a drought. Cattle producers are just as resilient. Spring 2013 rains have resulted in green pastures for many and the question on everyone's mind - is it time to restock? This decision is difficult and unique to each operation. Cattlemen from Oklahoma and Texas share their thoughts on this topic.


1. Spring and fall calving herds, Murray County, Okla.

"We have had to cull about a third of our cows over the past two years. Prior to the rains in late May, we weaned fall-born calves and culled deeper into our fall cow herd. The cool-season grasses did well this spring, but our native grasses have been slow to take off. Hopefully, we are stocked conservatively enough to allow some pastures to rest and recover. We have kept back quite a few replacement heifers that we plan to add back to the herd, but if our grasses don't recover, they will be for sale."


2. Spring and fall calving herds, Pottawatomie County, Okla.

"We are in the process of purchasing cows now. We plan to increase our stocking rate to pre-drought levels. Fall and spring rains have all the ponds full, and cool-season annual grasses were abundant. We had to bale some of the excess forage because our stocking rate has been down the last two years. Our bermudagrass was slower than usual to take off because of the late freezes this spring, but has been getting ahead of the cows. We hope it keeps raining, but we'll keep a six-month hay supply just in case it turns dry again."

You can read comments from more producers compiled by Deke Alkire by clicking here. 
 

OFB's Spradling Urges Congress to Resurrect Farm Bill- Politico Writer Sees Ag at a Crossroads in Farm Bill Debate   

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau called on the Oklahoma federal delegation to reengage Congress in the farm bill legislation. With only a few weeks left on the legislative calendar before Congress adjourns for the August recess, Oklahoma farmers are pushing lawmakers to restart the farm bill debate. The U.S. House defeated the farm bill in June after a controversial debate over the nutrition program section of the bill. Without a new bill, the law requires farm programs to revert to the 1949 law, which is more expensive and less applicable to today's modern agriculture.



The President of the OFB, Mike Spradling,  voiced disappointment in the June defeat; however, he praised Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, for his efforts to pass the bill. 

Click here for more of this story.

MEANWHILE- Politico's David Rogers  has a really interesting story about the battle over nutrition and believes that the next couple of weeks will really tell us several things- including the power that still rests with traditional ag groups as over 500 groups came together last week in a joint letter called on Speaker John Boehner to wave his magic wand and get a vote on a unified farm bill (that includes nutrition) minus a couple of the pesky amendments that drove Democrats away in large enough numbers to doom final passage.  

Click here for more on dealing with a higher asset threshold for food stamps and perhaps a slightly lower level of subsidy support for Crop Insurance that could result in a meet in the middle compromise.   

Pork Checkoff Keeps Tabs on Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) was confirmed for the first time in U.S. swine herds in mid-May. While PEDV is not a new swine disease globally, it is new to the United States. Because PEDV is a new disease threat affecting multiple states, the Pork Checkoff has taken a series of steps in communications, education and research coordination to find solutions including providing the information and recommendations that follow.

Key Points about PEDV

· It is widespread in many countries.

· It is not a trade-restricting disease.

· It may appear clinically to be the same as transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus with acute diarrhea.

· Producers who suspect that their herd may be infected should work with their herd veterinarian immediately.

· As always, strict biosecurity protocols should be maintained.

You can read several recommendations about how to protect your farm and herd from PEDV by clicking here.

 

Embracing Modern Technology Helping Beef Producers Feed the World

Over the past 60 years, technology has been responsible for dramatic improvements in the production of cattle and has resulted in supplying high-quality, nutritious beef that the consumer desires. As former Federal Reserve Governor Alan Greenspan once said, "... the phenomenal gains in U.S. agricultural productivity of the past century brought profound benefits to all consumers, regardless of their connection to a farm, in the form of lower prices, better quality, and more choices at retail outlets."

Dr. Gary Smith, Professor Emeritus at Colorado State University, in a keynote address at the International Livestock Congress, said, "countries that have not progressed are hungry and poor; while countries like the U.S. that have embraced modern technology spend the least and have plenty to eat."

The improvements in cattle productivity over the past 50 years have been impressive. Since 1955 we have measured a 59 percent increase in daily gain, a 23 percent improvement in feed efficiency and at least a 25 percent improvement in calf weaning weights. Although there are numerous reasons as to why these improvements occurred, it has been estimated that growth implants (e.g. Ralgro®, Revalor®, etc.) resulted in a 17 percent increase in feedlot daily gain with a corresponding 10 percent improvement in feed efficiency. Likewise, the use of ionophores like Rumensin® has improved feed efficiency (6 percent) and gains (3 percent) as has the use of estrus control (MGA) for feedlot heifers.

Click here to read more.

First Lady and Others Applaud Efforts to Make America's School Lunches Healthier for Kids

In a series of statements issued in conjunction with new rules on food served in schools, several political leaders and groups made statements applauding the changes:

"Many parents are working hard every day to make sure they provide healthy, balanced meals and snacks to their kids. Unfortunately, we don't always have control over the snacks our kids have access to when they're away from home. That's why, as a mom myself, I am so excited that schools will now be offering healthier choices to students and reinforcing the work we do at home to help our kids stay healthy."
First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama

"Prodded by parents who rightly want schools to support their efforts to raise healthy kids, we've made steady progress in improving the nutrition environment in American schools. In 2002, Congress created the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to provide free fresh fruits and vegetables to high poverty elementary schools. In the last several years, schools have worked hard to improve the nutritional quality of school meals. And now, with the release of a final rule on smart snacks, we'll put in place common sense nutrition guidelines for snack foods and beverages sold in school stores, vending machines, and snack bars, closing a loophole that for too long has undermined the health and nutrition of our kids."
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)

You can read more statements from supporters of the new school lunch menu rules by clicking here.   

AFBF Files Suit to Protect Farmers' Privacy

Protecting farmers' and ranchers' right to privacy is a top priority, said the American Farm Bureau Federation, which took legal action today to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from publicly releasing personal information about thousands of farmers and ranchers and their families. EPA is expected to respond to several Freedom of Information Act requests this week, prompting AFBF to file a lawsuit and seek a temporary restraining order before the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.

By seeking an immediate court order stopping EPA's imminent release, AFBF hopes to stall disclosures of farmers' and ranchers' names, home addresses, GPS coordinates and personal contact information until a court can clarify EPA's obligation to keep personal information about citizens private. The National Pork Producers Council joined AFBF in the lawsuit.

"We are sticking up for the tens of thousands of farmers and ranchers whose personal information would end up in the public domain," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "This lawsuit is about the government's unjustified intrusion into citizens' private lives." 

Click here for more.

 

Field of TEAMS Still Working on Tornado Cleanup in Rural Canadian County- You Can Help!

With most farmers having wrapped up the harvest of the 2013 wheat and canola crops- you might want to consider offering some folks a hand in helping clean up some of the remaining damage from the May 31st tornado that swept across a portion of Canadian County with up to 200 mile an hour winds.  The Field of TEAMS project is still working- they started right at one month ago in asking for volunteers to walk wheat and canola fields as well as pastures to help farmers and ranchers recover from the debris that rained down on their land.   

Thousands of acres have been cleaned- combines in many cases were able to harvest a crop because of the help given and a lot of people are very grateful.  

Levi Clifton, the farm wife from Cogar, who has spearheaded this effort continues to push on with farm land restoration and that includes fencing.  She sent us a text message Sunday night that they still need some teams to help with fencing that was flattened or even disappeared as the tornado tore through.  If you could help this week- you can call her for more information at 405-301-1626.