AFBF's Stallman: 'Time for Congress to Get Things Done' 

Farm Bureau is working hard to "Bring the Heat" during the August congressional recess, so members of Congress know they need to get things done when they return to Washington, according to American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman.

"The farm bill is at the very top of the list of things Congress needs to get done," Stallman said in remarks presented at IDEAg Dakotafest.

"We have to keep the heat on Congress to get a five-year farm bill done this year. It's premature to even be talking about an extension" of the 2008 legislation, Stallman emphasized. 

Although some in Washington have expressed skepticism regarding the speed at which lawmakers will need to act in order to complete a farm bill, Stallman was upbeat.

"There is plenty of time in this Congress to pass a five-year farm bill. We have to stay focused on getting it done," he said.  

Calling a proposed one-year extension of the current farm bill "a cop-out," Stallman urged farmers and ranchers to keep sending Congress the message that agriculture needs a new, five-year farm bill-nothing less.

Click here to read more. 

Former USDA Undersecretary Optimistic About Farm Bill Passage 

As former Undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the George W. Bush era and later as a lobbyist with the National Corn Growers and the National Wheat Growers, Bruce Knight is no stranger to farm bill battles. He spoke recently to the International Alumni Leadership Conference in Oklahoma City. He also spoke at length with me about the war currently being waged in Congress over the 2013 farm bill. 

"This is unlike any farm bill process I've ever been through: ine step forward and two steps back. I'm afraid it's going to get eclipsed now in the larger deficit and the next fiscal cliff debate that's got to come to a head this fall. But in that context I think they could close it out. And I remain optimistic-not by the end of the fiscal year on September 30th, but by the end of the calendar year of being able to have completion of the farm bill."

A wide chasm still separates the Democratically-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House on the farm issue. Pundits and politicians alike are scratching their heads over the wisdom of splitting the nutrition title from the 11 other titles in the legislation.  

Knight says the Republicans put SNAP funding on the table in a strategic move to bring the issue front and center for discussion. 

"If we can trim commodity spending, we can also trim SNAP and nutrition program spending."

You can read more and listen to our full conversation by clicking here.
 

Court Grants Motion For USCA, Other Groups to Intervene in COOL Lawsuit 

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has entered an order granting the motion by the United States Cattlemen's Association (USCA), National Farmers Union (NFU), the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and Consumer Federation of America (CFA) to intervene in full in the country of origin labeling (COOL) lawsuit filed on July 8.   

Jon Wooster, USCA President, said the court's decision to permit the groups to intervene in full is good news. "Plaintiffs had filed a partial opposition to our motion to intervene, opposing our participation in the preliminary injunction but taking no position on our participating in the part of the litigation that deals with the merits. The court's order granting our motion to intervene makes clear that we can participate at the preliminary injunction hearing as well as in the remainder of the litigation."  

You can read more of this story on our website.  Please click here to go there. 

Helping Fall-Calving Cows and Heifers During the Calving Process

Fall calving season is (or soon will be) upon the Oklahoma ranches that have fall and winter calving. An issue facing the rancher at calving-time, is the amount of time heifers or cows are allowed to be in labor before assistance is given. Traditional text books, fact sheets and magazine articles stated that "Stage II" of labor lasted from 2 to 4 hours. "Stage II" is defined as that portion of the birthing process from the first appearance of the water bag until the baby calf is delivered. Research data from Oklahoma State University and the USDA experiment station at Miles City, Montana clearly show that Stage II is much shorter, lasting approximately an hour in first calf heifers, and a half hour in mature cows.  

In these studies, heifers that were in stage II of labor much more than one hour or cows that were in stage II much more than 30 minutes definitely needed assistance. Research information also shows that calves from prolonged deliveries are weaker and more disease prone, even if born alive.

Click here for more from Glenn Selk.

Food Prices Rising At Slower Rate Than Expected 

The USDA has reduced its forecast for food price inflation this year to one and a half to two percent. USDA economist Rick Volpe says a number of factors are contributing to the less-than-expected increase.

"We were initially looking at three to four percent increase, which was above average. That was before we knew that we were going to have these lower fuel prices, and the strengthening U-S dollar, the overall improvement in the economy. We are still looking at some food prices that are going to go up a little bit more than average and some that will go up less than average. But on the whole we are looking at moderate food price inflation for the year, which is good news especially given the initial outlook we had when the drought broke in July and August of 2012."

Volpe says one of the biggest bits of good news for consumers is the downward revision of price increases for dairy products.

You can read more of this story by clicking here.

ICYMI:  Real Cowboys Compete for Bruises, Bragging Rights at OCA Range Round-Up

A year's-worth of bragging rights are up for grabs during the upcoming 29th Annual Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association Range Round-Up. The two-night event kicks off gets underway Friday, August 23rd, at the State Fairgrounds Arena.

"It's not a traditional rodeo," said Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association Executive Director Michael Kelsey. " If folks are used to going to that traditional rodeo, then this is going to be a little bit of a change for them because these types of events are closer to the working ranch events. It's exciting." (Kelsey appeared with me on this past Saturday's "In the Field" segment on News 9 - Click here to see the video conversation that we had.

The competition is comprised of six events depicting day-to-day ranching jobs. The events include saddle bronc riding, team sorting, wild cow milking, team branding, team penning, and the wild horse race.

Twelve teams from historic Oklahoma ranches will square off in head-to-head competition. The contestants compete for the coveted "Top Hand," "Top Horse," and "Tough Hand' awards.

You can read more and listen to my interview with Michael Kelsey by clicking here.

This N That- Big Iron with Big Sale, Field of Teams Still Cleaning Up from May 31 and Pollard Farms Gearing Up  

After several weeks of smaller numbers of items closing on Wednesdays at Big Iron.Com- this week is a big one for the online, no reserve farm equipment and more website. Over 500 items will be closing- a few at a time- starting at 10 AM central time this morning on Big Iron.  

One of the featured sellers today is Mark Holmes from Wakita, Oklahoma- and whatever you are looking for- odds are good you will find one or more of that item to bid on.

For example- it's almost wheat planting time- and there are a half dozen grain drills in this week's sale alone.   

To view the full lineup for today's sale on Big Iron, click here. And, for more information- you can contact District Manager for our part of the world Mike Wolfe at 580-320-2718. 

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We got a Facebook message from our friend Debra Clifton, who was one of the key ladies in organizing the Field of Teams cleanup effort in Canadian County after the EF-5 tornado hit back on May 31st.

It sounds like they are still cleaning up- and they could use your help, if you can spare a few hours this weekend. Debra writes "We are picking up debris in fields in El Reno from May 31!!  People still need to come help us tear out fence and replace fence! Cows still like grass on the other side but we would really like to deter that behavior!  We are having a big mending fences project this Weekend!  A team of 30 plus equipment are coming to camp and work from sunup to sundown Saturday and Sunday- just doing fences, so if you want to Team up with Texas, come on over to Jensen and Radio Road in the El Reno area."  You can call Debra at 405 301-1626.

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Dr. Barry Pollard and his folks at Pollard Farms have a great great sale of some top Angus genetics planned for this Sunday, August 25, at the ranch in Waukomis, Oklahoma.   

We have details on our Calendar page of our website- complete with a link on to the full catalog for this Sunday- click here to get there.