$15 Billion in Indemnity Checks Flow to Farmers 

As the claims come in from one of the worst droughts in decades, farmers and ranchers across the country are receiving indemnity payments for the losses they have incurred. As of March 4, 2013, more than $15.4 billion has been sent to farmers. Farmers will invest more than $4.1 billion to purchase more than 1.2 million crop insurance policies.

* In 2012, farmers invested more than $4.1 billion to purchase more than 1.2 million crop insurance policies, protecting 128 different crops.

* Crop insurance policies protect more than 281 million acres of planted land.

* $28.6 billion: The amount of money farmers have spent out of their own pockets to purchase the protection of crop insurance in the past decade.

* Illinois has the highest loss ratio at 3.55.

* 19 states have loss ratios exceeding 1.05 - meaning that for every $1 paid in premiums, companies are paying out $1.05 in indemnities.   These states include: Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, South Dakota, New Mexico, New Hampshire, New York, Wisconsin, Texas, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Wyoming, Michigan and Ohio.

* Nationally, the loss ratio is 1.39.  

USDA Issues Proposed Rule to Amend COOL- NCBA Says Proposal Makes Things Worse

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a proposed rule to modify the labeling provisions for muscle cut commodities covered under the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program.

"USDA expects that these changes will improve the overall operation of the program and also bring the current mandatory COOL requirements into compliance with U.S. international trade obligations," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The proposed rule would modify the labeling provisions for muscle cut covered commodities to require the origin designations to include information about where each of the production steps (i.e., born, raised, slaughtered) occurred and would remove the allowance for commingling of muscle cuts.

You can read more by clicking here.     

Meanwhile, quick reaction comes from Scott George, President of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association- he says the USDA is going the wrong direction and making the COOL proposal even more of a burden on the US cattle industry with no benefit in sight. George, in a Friday afternoon statement, says "The proposed amendments will only further hinder our trading relationships with our partners, raise the cost of beef for consumers and result in retaliatory tariffs being placed on our export products. The requirement that all products sold at retail be labeled with information noting the birth, raising and slaughter will place additional recordkeeping burdens on processors and retailers, contrary to the administration's assertion. Moreover, this combined with the elimination of the ability to comingle muscle cuts, will only further add to the costs of processing non-U.S. born, raised and slaughtered products."  

Click here for the full statement from the NCBA- and you can also take a look at the statement from J Patrick Boyle of the American Meat Institute- he's even more blunt in his assessment about how bad the proposal is- click here for his statement.

Pork and Peanut Producers Hold Confabs on Friday

The Oklahoma Pork Congress and the Oklahoma Peanut Expo are both scheduled this Friday with meetings, speakers, trade shows, and information for all.

The Oklahoma Pork Congress will be held in the Reed Center in Midwest City. More than 150 pork producers, allied industry members and guests will meet for updates, programs, lunch, awards banquet, business meeting as well as silent and live auctions. 

The day will begin at 10 a.m. with an update from the National Pork Producers Council, and the National Pork Board. After the national updates about the industry, Dr. Michelle Calvo-Lorenzo plans to introduce herself to the Oklahoma Pork community as the Livestock Well-Being and Environmental Management Specialist recently hired in the Oklahoma State University Department of Animal Science. Her discussion will include her ideas for research projects and what she hopes to accomplish in her new position.

You can click here for more of this story, or click here for a complete agenda of the day.

Meanwhile, peanut producers will converge on Quartz Mountain Resort near Lone Wolf. The annual event has become the state's premier industry meeting drawing participants from across the southern U.S. peanut belt.

After a record setting production year, the convention appears appropriately themed "Building on Success". "The program is timely and the topics targeted to address current issues important to our producers", says Joe D White, Commission chairman and peanut producer from Frederick. "We were blessed with an outstanding crop last year", said White, "As producers, we must be aware of all the factors that will influence the new crop, whether it be weather, markets, farm policy or production decisions. There is no better way to become informed than by attending the Oklahoma Peanut Expo".

Click here for more on the Peanut Expo.  

Adequate Land Ranks as Top Concern of Young Farmers

Securing adequate land to grow crops and raise livestock was the top challenge identified in the latest survey of participants in the American Farm Bureau Federation's Young Farmers & Ranchers program. That challenge was identified by 20 percent of respondents, followed by burdensome government regulations and "red tape," which was identified by 15 percent of the young farmers and ranchers responding.

"Access to adequate land to begin farming or expand an established operation is a major concern for today's young farmers," said Zach Hunnicutt, AFBF's national YF&R Committee chair and a crop farmer from Nebraska. "Another major challenge we all face in one form or another is the cost of complying with a maze of government regulations."

Other issues ranked as top concerns included economic challenges, particularly profitability, 12 percent; water availability, 10 percent; taxes, 9 percent; health care availability and cost, 9 percent; availability of farm labor and related regulations, 8 percent; and willingness of parents to turn over the reins of the farm or ranch, 7 percent.

You'll find more of this story on our website.  Click here to go there.

Quarter Horse Association Supports Legislator's Horse Processing Bill

Tom Persechino, executive director of competion and breed integrity for the American Quarter Horse Association, released the following letter in support of Oklahoma Rep. Skye McNiel's bill to allow horse processing facilities in Oklahoma:

Dear Representative McNiel,

The American Quarter Horse Association continues to increase its role in public policy and advocacy concerning the American Quarter Horse and all horses. In addition to increasing advocacy of the American Quarter Horse in public policy, AQHA continues to keep the horse as its foremost concern by providing programs to members promoting the health and wellbeing of their America Quarter Horses.

AQHA believes it is the owner's responsibility and, ultimately, their choice regarding decisions concerning the welfare of their horse(s). The Association encourages responsible ownership practices and management that will reduce the number of unwanted horses and recognizes that federally regulated, humane processing of unwanted horses is a necessary aspect of the equine industry because it provides a humane euthanasia alternative for horses that might otherwise continue a life of discomfort and pain, or inadequate care or abandonment. This position was supported in a United States Government Accountability Office study that was released in June of 2011, entitled "Horse Welfare Action Needed to Address Unintended Consequences from Cessation of Domestic Slaughter." 

Click here to read the full letter.

 

In the Field with Brandon Morgan- The Road to the OYE

Just like agriculture education instructors all across the state, Brandon Morgan of Newcastle is helping his students prepare for the Oklahoma Youth Expo which will be held at State Fair Park March 16-26. He took some time to visit with me about the OYE and what it takes for students to get there. 

He said it takes a lot of work for exhibitors to get to the OYE. Depending on the species selected, it can be a yearlong project for some students and a six-month-long project for others.  He said the first step is selecting a quality animal and then committing oneself to the care, training, and grooming of the animal.

He said that if the students persevere all the way through the process, "This program, to me, is just something that cannot be touched, in my mind, in terms of what it does for young people. The life skills that a kid gains through showing livestock are unmatched."

You can read more- listen to our full conversation or watch our TV visit during our Saturday morning In the Field segment with Brandon by clicking here. 

This 'n' That- OCA Begins Search for EVP, AFR Honors Youth and This Past Weekend's Rainfall Totals  

The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (OCA) Executive Committee met recently to develop its transition process to fill the position of OCA Executive Vice President and Treasurer.

The committee named Steve McKinley to serve as acting executive vice president and appointed a search and screening committee. The search and screening committee is accepting resumes only and it will advance its recommendation (s) to the OCA Executive Committee for its consideration. 

Click here to read more and to find a link to the position description.

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Four Oklahoma youth were recently recognized for their involvement in American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) youth and leadership activities at the AFR/OFU 108th State Convention Feb. 23. The AFR/OFU Star Youth Award is the highest honor a youth can receive from the AFR/OFU Youth Program.

This year's recipients were Kelsie Williams, Hollis; Dyson Runyan, Madill; Micaela Danker, Wellston; and Barrett Powell, Ringwood. Students statewide are eligible for the honor. Recipients must have been active in the AFR/OFU Youth Program for a minimum of five years leading to high school graduation.

"The AFR Youth Program is overflowing with tomorrow's young leaders," said AFR President Terry Detrick. 

Click here for more.

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Oklahoma rainfall totals were highest over this just concluded weekend in a ban in northwestern Oklahoma and a wider swath of southeastern Oklahoma. The northwest Oklahoma rainfall winner since last Friday was Woodward, with 2.17 inches of rain- while Freedom checked in with 1.66 inches and Arnet with 1.6 inches of rainfall. Cherokee's Mesonet site pulled in .89 inches of rain and southeast of a line from Cherokee to Arnet- the rainfall totals fell off to a couple of tenths to just over a half inch of rain in most locations until you hit a line that streches from Burneyville along the Red River in the south to Miami in the far northeastern corner of the state- both of those Mesonet stations hit an inch of rainfall- and locations south and east of that line generally got more rainfall- 11 Mesonet stations in southeastern Oklahoma topped the two inch rainfall total- with Wilburton at 2.4 inches, Hugo at 2.39 inches and Stigler at 2.35 inches of rain.

Click here for the graphic of this past weekend's rainfall- check it out.