Cattle Markets Move Past Summer Lows, Demand Improves 

Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, says cattle markets and boxed beef appear to have moved past the summer lows. He writes in the latest Cow-Calf newsletter and tells me in this edition of the Beef Buzz that wholesale beef, fed cattle and feeder cattle markets are all generally moving in the same direction, rare for this time of year, and certainly not all in harmony yet. The Choice boxed beef cutout has increased about $8/cwt. in the past two weeks. The beef demand index for the second quarter showed a continued slow improvement in beef demand year over year. Stronger beef exports have also helped beef values this summer. Domestic beef demand remains a concern this fall as wholesale values are expected to push back to record levels on sharply lower beef production in the fourth quarter. 

Fed cattle have traded sideways most of the summer but have finally shown indications of moving higher. Fed price improvement has been limited so far and will likely remain limited as feedlot supplies will remain relatively large through September based on large placements of heavy feeders earlier. Fed prices will likely continue a slow grind higher through the third quarter. Decreased placements and fewer lightweight placements since May will lead to sharply falling feedlot supplies in the fourth quarter which should help push fed prices into the upper $120s by year end.   

Feeder cattle markets have been on a nearly three month run after spring weakness halted with lows in May. Feeder prices have been helped by significant improvement in forage conditions in many areas and ever stronger prospects for sharply lower corn prices in the next crop year. 

Click here to read more from Derrell or to listen to the latest Beef Buzz.

The rains continued across much of Oklahoma last week, improving drought conditions and storing more soil moisture for fall planting. 

Row crops benefited and made significant progress over the past week. Corn in the dough stage was 82 percent complete by the end of the week, and 48 percent was in the dent stage Twenty-one percent of the crop was mature by Sunday, 16 points behind normal. Sorghum heading was 69 percent complete by week's end, and 26 percent was coloring. Soybean blooming was 62 percent complete by Sunday, and 31 percent of plants were setting pods, 18 points behind the five-year average. Peanuts pegging was 96 percent complete by the end of the week and 69 percent of plants were setting pods. Cotton squaring was 95 percent complete by the end of the week, and 72 percent of the crop was setting bolls. A small portion of cotton had bolls opening by Sunday.  You can read the full Oklahoma Crop Weather report by clicking here.

Kansas received rains last week as well, but they were insufficient to improve drought conditions.  Failed dryland corn and sorghum crops are being reported in areas eluded by the rains, and where hail or wind damage has occurred.

Corn condition declined and rated 10 percent very poor, 20 poor, 39 fair, 28 good, and 3 excellent.  Sorghum condition declined to 6 percent very poor, 15 poor, 43 fair, 34 good, and 2 excellent. Soybean condition rated 3 percent very poor, 10 poor, 46 fair, 39 good, and 2 excellent.   Click here for the full Kansas report.

Nationally- We Keep Our Eye on the Corn Crop

The U.S. corn crop continued to make steady progress toward full maturity last week while remaining in good condition, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released today. The percentage of the corn crop doughing increased by 20 points last week, yet progress still lags behind the five-year average by 13 points.  Reports also indicate that the crop condition remains nearly unchanged from the previous week with 61 percent of the crop forecast to be in good-to-excellent condition. Last year at this time, only 23 percent of the crop still fared as well.


"As the summer passes, we are pleased to see that the crop condition across the country remains strong," said NCGA President Pam Johnson, a grower in Floyd, Iowa. "Despite wet, cool conditions this spring and, for some, this summer, farmers forged ahead to plant a near-record number of corn acres. Should favorable weather continue to fuel growth and maintain quality, U.S. corn farmers could produce a record crop in 2013."


Currently, 87 percent of all corn acres are forecast to be in fair-to-excellent condition, with only 13 percent rated in poor or very poor condition. The crop condition forecast remained largely unchanged from a week prior, with only three percentage points falling out of the good and excellent rankings. This stands in stark contrast to condition forecasts at this time in 2012, which fell continuously as high temperatures and dry conditions hit large portions of the Corn Belt.


This week's corn denting reports indicated that 11 percent of the crop had reached that stage of maturity by August 18, a six point increase from the previous week. This trails the five-year average of 30 percent by 19 points. The slight delay in maturation is to be expected given planting delays this spring.


Reports indicate that the silking stage has largely come to completion across the country.

To view the full US Crop Progress report released on Monday afternoon- click here.

Volcanoes Playing a Part in This Year's Cooler, Wetter Summer, Climatologist Says

Oklahomans are enjoying an unusually cool and wet summer and historical climatologist Evelyn Browning Garriss says she knows why. Speaking to attendees at the recent International Leadership Alumni Conference in Oklahoma City, Garriss says recent volcanoes are playing a part. She spoke with me after her presentation. 

"If you have a volcano large enough that it enters the upper atmosphere where it's quiet, this is the upper stratosphere, the ash and debris lingers and it can block out incoming sunlight. And it gathers moisture that forms thick clouds."

She said a volcano in the Philippines in 1991 gathered clouds that were ten miles thick and were the size of Montana. Those clouds cool the atmosphere and ultimately rain out.

"What we've had happen is that in 2011 we had two large volcanoes and the debris blew up in the polar air masses and that's what we've seen coming down south this year. And then in June we had another large volcano blow. And so we've had wetter conditions in Midwest. That's been due a lot to the volcanically-cooled air where the sunlight's been blocked for up to two years. And all that ash is wet and it's raining."

Click here to listen to our conversation or to read more of this story. 

Farm Bill Provision Could Nullify Oklahoma Agricultural Laws, HSUS Claims

The Humane Society of the United States has distributed the following press release modified to target specific states:

 Oklahoma's laws banning horsemeat for human consumption and many other states' agriculture laws are at risk of annulment unless Congress rejects a highly destructive provision adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives in its Farm Bill. The Senate version of the Farm Bill does not contain such a provision, and a House-Senate conference committee will soon work to negotiate a final bill.  

The provision in the House bill from Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, could not only wipe out numerous state animal protection laws on puppy mills, farm animal confinement, shark finning, horse slaughter, and even dog meat, but also a wide range of other laws related to food safety, environmental protection, worker safety, labeling and more. Among the laws in Oklahoma threatened by the King provision aret:

--Ban possession of horsemeat for sale for human consumption (63 OKLA. STAT. ANN. § 1-1135-1139)

--Prohibit liquid swine waste management systems from being located certain distances from occupied residences (2 Okl.St.Ann. § 20-21)

Click here to read more.

USDA Congratulates Six States for Nearly 100% of Schools Meeting New Meal Standards

The following editorial was posted by Dr. Janey Thornton, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Deputy Under Secretary:

As we continue to combat childhood obesity in America, I am proud to say that this Back to School season our school cafeterias are at the heart of offering great nutrition for our kids. Students and schools are embracing the healthier lunches offered through the National School Lunch Program that, together with the healthier breakfasts offered through the School Breakfast Program beginning this school year and the recently announced "Smart Snacks in School" nutrition standards that kick in next year, continue our children on the path towards future health and happiness.

So how are school cafeterias faring with all the meal updates across the nation? Like I said, they are putting their hearts into it.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Florida, Montana, Oklahoma, North Carolina, South Carolina and Colorado, where all or nearly all school cafeterias are now serving meals that meet the new standards. Kudos to them!

You can read the rest of this article by clicking here. 

This N That- Pro Farmer Crop Tour and Express Ranches Getting Ready for their Big Event 

The Pro Farmer Corn and Soybean Crop Tour started on Monday- and according to their website- the early routes they follow across Ohio were a bit disappointing. "We've seen some pretty good crops, but they haven't been great so far," said Pro Farmer senior market analyst Brian Grete. "As we move west, it's getting drier. We just passed some gentlemen that were working up a winter wheat field and they were kicking up a lot of dust.

"We'll have to see how it shakes out when all is done. I'm not disappointed; that's the wrong word to use. I guess it just hasn't been as big as what was advertised, at least on the route we've taken so far."

The western leg of the tour started in South Dakota- and our friend Chip Floury says that everything in that state is about as expected- pod fill for soybeans is a point of concern- as is what an early frost might do to both the corn and soybeans.

Click here for one of several reports they have on the Pro Farmer website- and if you are a Tweet kind of guy or gal- you can follow them at #pftour13.

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Express Ranches are gearing up for their 2013 edition of The Big Event- a two day lineup of tremendous Angus genetics to add to your herd.  This is their annual female sale- and on day one- this coming Friday, August 23rd- they will offer approximately 150 Fall calving mature females.  Then Saturday morning- the Big Event features donor cows, fall calving 2-year-olds, bred heifers, fall opens, heifer calf splits with spring calving cows and, as always, show heifer prospects that are eligible for the Express Scholarship program that has paid out over $3 million in scholarships to youth across the United States and Canada.  

For more information- click here- or call Express Ranches at 1-800-664-3977.