Trends Mean Changes to Oklahoma Pork Industry, Roy Lee Lindsey Says 

The pork industry in Oklahoma is benefiting from a number of trends currently changing the marketplace. One of those is the recently-opened public comment period on an EPA proposal to reduce the number of gallons of ethanol required to be blended into the nation's fuel supply is now open. Predictably, the ethanol industry is against the roll back in the Renewable Fuel Standard and cattle producers are pleased with the proposal. Roy Lee Lindsey of the Oklahoma Pork Council spoke recently with me and says Oklahoma pork producers will benefit if the standard is indeed rolled back.

"One is we believe it is going to have an impact on what we pay for grain. We've said from day one that we don't mind competing to buy grain, but we want to compete on an even playing field. And when you have a mandate that says you must produce so much corn ethanol, you're not competing on an even field to buy grain. So that's always been our big hesitation, our big objection to what the RFS has been."

Lindsey says he's seen some economists' numbers which say that the reduction in ethanol production would lead to a ten-cent-per-bushel drop in the price of corn. He said that would result in about three million dollars per year in savings to Oklahoma pork producers.

Roy Lee talks about a number of other trends affecting the industry including a change from finishing to sow operations and the progress in converting from gestation crates to open housing.   

You can catch our full conversation by clicking here.    

Derrell Peel Says Cattle Markets Take a Holiday Breather

Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, writes in the latest Cow-Calf Newsletter:

Feeder cattle markets, after an impressive counter-seasonal run this fall, appear to be taking a bit of a break before Thanksgiving. Feeder markets are holding mostly steady with slight gains still noted for lightweight stockers. Some winter grazing demand continues in Oklahoma but highly variable weather which includes cold temperatures and wet conditions has made receiving cattle and maintaining cattle health a challenge the past week or so. The replacement heifer demand that has been very impressive the past month seems to be mostly done for now. I expect breeding female demand to pick again next spring assuming forage conditions look favorable at that time.


Fed cattle prices have dropped back slightly from record levels but are holding close in the $130-$131/cwt level. Choice boxed beef prices dropped back $2-$3/cwt this past week to the $199/cwt. level. I expect cattle and beef markets to move mostly sideways for the remainder of the year though boxed beef could rebound slightly in early December. Continued decreases in cattle slaughter and beef production through the end of the year will help support prices near current levels for fed and feeder cattle.   

Click here to read the rest of Derrell's analysis. 

Mycotoxins Found in Post Harvest Analysis of 2013 Corn Crop

All of the corn and corn silage samples submitted during the 2013 harvest tested positive for multiple mycotoxins according to a recent harvest analysis conducted by Alltech, a global animal health and nutrition company.

The Alltech Harvest Analysis North America (HANA) survey tested 101 samples from across the United States and Canada and demonstrated the need for producers to implement a mycotoxin management program to monitor the effects of toxins on all species throughout 2014. Despite more rainfall across the Corn Belt and yields pushing record production, farmers must consider quality rather than quantity. Quality not only includes nutritive value but also the presence and levels of mycotoxins in this year's crop.

Samples sent in from across the U.S. and Canada show that corn silage yields and corn grain tested positive for multiple mycotoxins (Figure 1).This follows what is being observed in that a greater percentage of feeds and feedstuffs are contaminated with multiple mycotoxins. The breakdowns for corn silage and corn (Figure 2 and 3) are almost identical in that Fumonisin is the most prominent mycotoxin and is followed by Fusaric Acid and Type B Trichothecenes.

Click here to read more of this story.

Mayer Ranch Makes Lemonade out of Panhandle Drought

"You cannot starve a profit out of a cow, that's just a fact," says Joe Mayer of Mayer Ranch.

Common sense, perhaps, but the old saying is harder to rise above in the midst of the Panhandle drought. To do that, Mayer is always looking for better ways. The Guymon, Oklahoma, cattleman knows he must continually improve management and herd genetics to thrive on the 35,000-acre Mayer Ranch.

"We've been in a terrible drought. It doesn't matter. You have to provide them an adequate diet every day to meet their needs. It's just all about you're caretakers of the land and you are responsible for that cow's welfare. And, so, whatever it takes to do that, that's what you do. Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Day, it doesn't matter."

Mayer won the 2013 Certified Angus Beef commercial Commitment to Excellence Award this year and accepted it at the brand's annual conference in Palm Desert, California, in September.

You can watch a video version of this story or read more by clicking here.
 

Farm Bill Talks Continue as Big Four Hook Up on Telephone 

There was a conference call that was held by the four leaders of the House and Senate Ag Committees as they continue to look for answers to how to break the logjam over the remaining issues that separate them from completion of the 2013 Farm Bill.  

We first heard about the conference call midday on Monday when we got the audio of a quick interview that your friend Mike Hergert of the North Dakota based Red River Farm Network did with Colin Peterson, top Democrat on the House Ag Committee.  He old Mike that the Conference Call was called by Chairman Frank Lucas who apparently had a compromise idea or two that he wanted to lay out on the table.

COOL Rule Now in Place After Six Month Implementation Period

While groups opposed to the law are still hoping Congress will take action - new country of origin rules have taken effect (as of this past Saturday- November 23rd). Labels must now state where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered. USDA and supporters of COOL say this will provide clarity to consumers who want to know more about the origins of what they eat.  

But American Meat Institute Senior Vice President for Public Affairs Janet Riley says the rule is needlessly complex and confusing - adding that there are contradictions in the law. Ground beef labels only need to say the beef is a product of whatever countries the processor might have procured it from in the last 60 days, kidneys and other organ meats, meat sold to restaurants and processed meat are all exempt. Chicken requires the label while turkey does not.  

AMI isn't the only group unhappy with the COOL rule. Meat and food processors sent a letter to Congress last month noting that Canada and Mexico are still challenging the rule in trade court. If those countries retaliate with tariffs on food products made in the U.S. - the companies said it would cost billions of dollars and kill jobs here. If the World Trade Organization does rule in favor of Canada and Mexico as many expect,  Cargill's Mike Martin says they could again have to revise thousands of labels. USDA believes the rule complies with international trade laws.