United States Cattle on Feed Report Posts 12th Straight Monthly Year-on-Year Decline 

The number of cattle in the nation's feedyards as of August first and placements in July were below their respective averages of analysts'

expectations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's cattle-on-feed report released Friday afternoon showed about 10.4% fewer feeder cattle entered U.S. feedyards in July compared with a year ago, while the number of animals on feed as of August first was down 5.9% from 2012. The placement number at 1.722 million head was well below the average of analysts' estimates, which was 2.5% less than in 2012. It was also the smallest for July since 2008 and 7.8%

below the five-year average. 

The drop far exceeded some analysts' expectations. It was the 12th monthly year-on-year decline in a row.

Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 2.00 million, 5 percent above 2012.

Other disappearance totaled 64,000 during July, 2 percent above 2012.

You can read the full USDA Cattle on Feed report by clicking here. 

Oklahoma Farmers Becoming More Comfortable with Canola; Seed Demand 'Best We've Ever Seen,' Stejskal Says 

With the canola planting window a little more than two weeks away and more and more farmers on the Southern Plains adding canola to their rotations, seed supplies are getting tighter.  

Justin Stejskal, a seed and agronomy advisor for Winfield Solutions said producers would be well advised to get their seed as soon as they possibly can. Some varieties are in high demand.

"Our supply is getting tighter by the day. We have a few dealers with some bags that are not spoken for so we can fill some orders. Demand is the best we have ever seen this year, so there is not time like the present to book seed for this year's planting. The earliest planting date is only about 2 weeks away and less than that for the Kansas growers."

Amid all the preparations for planting, Stejskal took some time to speak with me recently. You can hear our full conversation by clicking here.

Stejskal said that as producers gain more experience with canola, they are learning at a tremendous rate. He said he is no different. He said there were a number of lessons he learned from their test plots last year.

Congressman Frank Lucas Schedules More Town Hall Meetings

Congressman Frank Lucas announces upcoming town hall meetings to be held in Alfalfa, Garfield, Grant, Kay and Noble counties Sept. 4 and 5. All residents of these locations are invited to attend a meeting and express their opinions.

Congressman Lucas, chairman of the Agriculture Committee, will be discussing current events in Washington, taking questions about issues important to constituents of the Third Congressional District, and asking for opinions and input on legislation currently before Congress.

The meetings will be held in Enid, Cherokee and Medford on Sept. 4, and in Ponca City, Blackwell and Perry Sept. 5.

For exact times and locations, please click here.

Organic, Natural Farm Groups Push for Better USDA Oversight of GM Field Trials

Field trials of genetically modified (GM) plants awaiting USDA approval need stricter oversight, including mandatory contamination prevention and prevention measures, according more than 150 organic, natural and family farm groups and related businesses who told USDA this week the recent emergence of an unapproved wheat variety in an Oregon field is evidence the system needs to be tightened.

 The groups said the discovery of the Monsanto GM wheat variety and the ensuing "disarray in international markets" are evidence of "major weaknesses in USDA's oversight of experimental field trials, including how unauthorized crops are contained," the groups said in a statement put out by the Organic Seed Alliance and the Rural Advancement Foundation International. The groups called on USDA in a letter to Secretary Tom Vilsack earlier this summer to "fix its rubber stamp approach to GM crops."

The group also asked USDA to cease any work on pending GM wheat approvals until the Oregon investigation is completed. 

USDA told the media it has strengthened its oversight of GM field trials in recent years, increasing field inspections to 700 a year, up from about 500 inspections in 2007.

For a full news release on this latest call for more oversight of GM field trials- which includes the text of the letter to Secretary Vilsack- click here. 

Farm Bureau's 'My American Farm' Updates and Releases New Games

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has released a new educational game entitled "Load the Lunchbox" that helps young learners connect the food in their lunchboxes to the farmers who produce it.  

The engaging new game was designed specifically for the pre-K-K learner, but is fun for the whole family. Learners meet Farmer Luis who takes them on a trip to farms across the nation. At each stop, learners race to swipe the screen and harvest all of the nutritious food on the farm. Once harvested, learners earn a related item to add to their lunchbox. 

Accompanying the game is a new eComic "Teaching Winter Wheat" that allows players to join Benjamin P. Farmington as he visits a wheat farm throughout the year to learn about how wheat is planted, grown, harvested, stored and processed.

Click here to read more and to find a link to the new game and other resources. 

Beef Quality Summit Class Registration Now Open

What is the second most-tender cut of beef in the beef carcass? How is tenderness measured and is aging really that important? In total dollars, what is the most valuable product produced from the beef carcass? What drives the basic economics of the cattle and beef industry? 

The Oklahoma Beef Council (OBC), in cooperation with the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agriculture Product Center at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater will be conducting a beef checkoff-funded program that allows participants (beef producers, feeders, processors, media, retailers and foodservice operators) to see and feel first-hand the answers to the above questions (and many more). The Oklahoma Beef Quality Summit is an extremely hands-on course that lasts two and a half days.

USDA's Avalos to Visit Stillwater, Tour Payne County

Federal official Edward Avalos of the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be in Payne County Aug. 28-29, getting a firsthand look at area agricultural operations and related business, community, family and youth enterprises and programs.

"In many ways, we in Payne County will be representing not only ourselves but our peers in communities and counties similar to our own," said Nathan Anderson, Payne County Extension director and agricultural educator. "It's a fairly unique opportunity. Under Secretary Avalos has expressed his desire to interact with grassroots individuals and visit with people who are involved with as many different undertakings as possible."

The USDA's under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs, Avalos will attend the Payne County Fair, tour area agribusinesses, interact with local groups and visit campus facilities associated with Oklahoma State University's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

You can read more of this story on our website by clicking here.