Ryan Budget Draws Mixed Reviews from House Ag Leadership 

Representative Paul Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin, unveiled the House version of the 2014 budget.  He called it an ambitious proposal that seeks to balance the budget within a decade.  Democrats immediately scoffed at the proposal, saying it had no chance of becoming law. 

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas issued a statement applauding Ryan's leadership in crafting the measure.  He said his committee would consider the suggestions in the budget as it crafts a new farm bill.  You can read Lucas's full statement by clicking here.

Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson blasted Ryan's budget as a "political messaging document."  He said if the House passes the Ryan budget, he doesn't see any way a farm bill can be written this year.  Click here for Peterson's full statement.

Ryan's budget proposal presupposes the repeal of Obamacare and relies on sharp cuts in the rate of growth of healthcare programs and interest payments to balance the budget.

For the full text of Ryan's budget, click here. 

Challenges Frame 2013's Opening Red Meat Export Report 

The first month of 2013 offered a mix of good news and challenges for exports of U.S. beef and pork during January, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Beef exports continued the trend shown in 2012 with higher export values on lower volumes while pork exports improved slightly from December's levels but remained behind year-ago totals.

Led by sharply higher exports to Hong Kong, Canada and Taiwan, and solid growth to Japan, beef exports for January rose 9.3 percent in value from year-ago levels on slightly lower (-3.2 percent) volumes.

Pork exports rebounded slightly from December, but closed 7.6 percent lower in value on 11.7 percent smaller volumes compared to January 2012. The ASEAN region was the bright spot with 17.1 percent higher volumes and slightly higher (2.7 percent) value.

"The year ahead will offer no shortage of challenges to red meat exports, which will require our industry to be creative and aggressive," said Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. 

Click here to read more. 

Pork Producers Reaffirm Industry Support for Producer Choice on Sow Housing

At the National Pork Industry Forum last week, pork producers approved a resolution reaffirming the industry's position that producers should be able to select a sow housing system, including gestation stalls or individual maternity pens, which best promotes employee safety and animal care while ensuring a reliable supply of pork for consumers.

"Pork producers, working with veterinarians, understand what it takes to provide the best care and welfare for their animals," said Karen Richter, a farmer from Montgomery, Minn., and National Pork Board vice president. "The National Pork Board builds its animal and well-being programs on the foundation of what are best for the pig. By adopting this resolution, producers are reaffirming their commitment to choose what type of housing is best for their animals."

The National Pork Board provides educational programs and materials that focus on how producers can best ensure the well-being of their pigs. The programs offer methods that help producers take an objective look at each animal's well-being, independent of the size of farm or the specific type of housing.

You can read more by clicking here. 

OSU's FAPC Promotes Bake and Take Month in March

Oklahoma is often recognized for being a leading state in wheat production. As a result, Oklahoma State University's Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center is excited to promote and recognize this commodity by celebrating Bake and Take Month in March.

The purpose of the Bake and Take promotion is to encourage participants to bake a product made from wheat and take it to a neighbor, friend or relative, said Renée Albers-Nelson, FAPC milling and baking specialist.

"The Bake and Take promotion is a wonderful way to get our young people to experience the joys of baking and understanding the importance of the cereal grain and wheat, grown in our state," Nelson said. "I encourage individuals who want to participate in the promotion to purchase Oklahoma-milled flour." 

Click here to read more of this article. 

NCGA Joins Coalition to Stress Importance of Crop Insurance to Congress

The National Corn Growers Association joined more than 40 commodity groups, lending organizations, input suppliers and other agricultural industry stakeholders in sending a letter supporting meaningful and affordable crop insurance to members of the House of Representatives and Senate Agriculture Committees.

Stressing that federal crop insurance is the cornerstone of many farmers' risk management portfolios, the letter expresses the signatories' opposition to any changes to crop insurance that would discourage producer participation or undermine private sector delivery.

Noting that crop insurance provides an effective risk management tool to farmers and ranchers when facing losses beyond their control while reducing tax payer exposure to risk, the letter expresses the groups' support of both current programs and their delivery by private insurers, which ensures prompt service and creates much needed jobs in rural America.

Click here to read more and to find links to the letters sent to the House and the Senate Agriculture Committees.  

Record-High Beef Prices Could Mean Enhanced Profitability for Cattlemen

CattleFax predicts record-high beef prices and quality premiums in 2013. Although drought still blankets much of the United States, cow herd liquidation has slowed and more heifers are being retained for breeding. That combination means beef production will be down about two-and-a-half percent.

"We're a little concerned about the prices at this point for beef," says Kevin Good of CattleFax. "As we go to higher prices we are suggesting that retail prices will be up about four percent this year. The price spread between beef, poultry and pork has widened out over time. And because of that we are seeing less featuring at retail and we think we're losing a few of our customers just because of that price point."

Although per capita disposable income will be flat to slightly lower this year, there is some good news for cattlemen, Good says.

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

And courtesy of the Angus folks- there is a video version of this story that we have embedded at the link above to check out as well. 

This N That- Southeast Gully Washer, Texoma Cattle Conference and Check the Calendar Page

Whenever we report on rainfall amounts- it's always good to remember that each of the Mesonet stations are simply a snapshot of how much rain that exact location received and a mile or five miles away- there could be a lot more or a lot less- that's just how Mother Nature works her magic.

One of our regular readers of the email from southeast Oklahoma shot us an email late Monday- and gave us a great example of how much difference just a few miles makes.  He writes "Ron I live 5 miles west of Wilburton's mesonet site, Saturday evening between 5:00 pm and 9:00pm I received 4.5 inches of rain with a  grand total for Saturday nite of 5.5 inches.
My dad's place 3 miles to the south received 3.8" of rain. Gaines Creek flooded and took out all the fence."  Thanks Jim for that note and folks- we are always glad to hear from you about things going on in your neck of the woods. Just drop us an email.

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We will be in Ardmore tomorrow for the first ever Texoma Cattleman's Conference, being put on by the Noble Foundation folks.  They really have an outstanding program for a one day program- with a combination of outside speakers as well as Noble Foundation Ag Division staff.  Click here for last minute details- be sure and stop by and say howdy in you are at the Conference on Thursday.

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We have placed a lot of events on the calendar in recent days- including a lot of the highlights of the Oklahoma Youth Expo, a lineup of more than a dozen southwest and central Oklahoma wheat plot tour meetings- and just added yesterday- details from Kay County about a no-till conference they have planned for March 26th in Ponca City.  Click here for our calendar page- take a look and always let us know if we have missed something you think needs to be on there.  It's our goal to have the best calendar listing for Oklahoma related ag and rural events to be found anywhere on the internet- help us reach our goal!