Beef Buzz News
OCA's Michael Kelsey Likes Pond Cleanout and Drilling Water Wells as Possible Investments of Emergency Drought Funds
Thu, 22 Sep 2022 10:58:00 CDT
Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, is featuring comments from Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Vice President, Michael Kelsey at the Emergency Drought Commission’s first meeting, talking about ideas for how relief funds may be used to aid producers.
After Governor Kevin Stitt declared a drought emergency in the state of Oklahoma, the Emergency Drought Commission has now been activated and has three million dollars they can spend on drought relief.
“I’m very appreciative of the governor declaring the emergency, which then activated the commission, and then the legislature having the foresight to put three million dollars into the fund,” Kelsey said. “Is that enough? No, it’s not, but it is good, and it is helpful, and they are going to have a big job ahead of them looking over all these different ideas and all the different needs, but certainly, a process has started, we are thankful for that and we will continue to engage as we move forward.”
Kelsey was one of those addressing the commission and he said the biggest concern he has heard from OCA members has been the need for water.
“Hauling water is one of the most frustrating activities that you can do as a cattle producer, but it is absolutely essential,” Kelsey said.
Kelsey said cattle producers are having to face water-related issues such as dried-up ponds and wells slowing down.
“There are a lot of other ideas as far as forage management,” Kelsey said. “Obviously, we are having to buy hay and we are having to ship hay in. Spending these types of dollars from this fund for reimbursement of those types of activities might not be the best use, we have heard. There are some other funds available for that, so I’m not suggesting that it is a bad idea, I’m just saying that in conjunction with other funds, maybe those types of things could be addressed in other areas.”
An example of a way these funds could be used to aid producers, Kelsey said, is pond cleanout. Being that many producers’ ponds are already dried up, Kelsey said pond cleanout will not be as difficult of a task.
Cleaning out a pond, Kelsey said, is incredibly beneficial long term and can add up to 50 percent more storage capacity of water.
“That can be a long-term benefit and it may not take a lot of dollars per pond on a cost-share type system- obviously to clean out one pond is expensive,” Kelsey said.
Kelsey said on a cost-share basis, they may be able to clean out more than one pond per producer.
“But that is going to be long-term beneficial,” Kelsey said. “It won’t help immediately; it won’t help until it rains. It would be long-term beneficial and very beneficial in many cases.”
Another need Kelsey said that was discussed in the meeting was drilling water wells. This issue, he said will be more work, but might be more of an immediate need than the pond cleanouts.
“Well drillers are backed up from a part perspective, from a labor perspective, and from a job perspective, so it is hard to find a well driller to get out immediately as well as just the planning process,” Kelsey said.
Click the LISTEN BAR below to listen to Michael Kelsey talking about ideas to give producers drought relief during the first Emergency Drought Commission Meeting.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
Listen to Michael Kelsey Give Overview of Possible Drought Relief Investments
right-click to download mp3
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Beef News
January Cattle on Feed Report Three Percent Under Year Ago- Derrell Peel Says Tighter Supplies Will Be Around for Awhile Mon, 23 Jan 2023 05:15:04 CST
Derrell Peel Talks Latest Cattle on Feed Report- Showing Fewer Cattle on Feed, Lighter Placements and Stronger Marketings. Mon, 26 Dec 2022 08:19:00 CST
Kara Lee with Certified Angus Beef Tells Cattlemen 'Cut the Bull' Fri, 23 Dec 2022 14:30:39 CST
Beef Checkoff Utilizes Digital Marketing Techniques to Interact with Consumers Thu, 22 Dec 2022 16:02:51 CST
Beef Checkoff Research, Education, and Promotion Efforts Point Consumers to Beef Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:15:46 CST
OSU Economist Derrell Peel Expects US Beef Export Strength to Continue Into the New Year Tue, 20 Dec 2022 08:00:35 CST
NPPC's Michael Formica Feeling Positive About Supreme Courts Upcoming Proposition 12 Decision Mon, 05 Dec 2022 10:08:27 CST
NCBA Fights to Improve Marketing Options for Cattle Producers Fri, 02 Dec 2022 09:58:28 CST
Chinese Consumers Continue to Grow Appetite for U.S. Beef Thu, 01 Dec 2022 09:23:49 CST
Merck Creates Value for Producers and Consumers with Technology and Biopharmaceuticals Wed, 30 Nov 2022 09:55:28 CST
NCBA’s Todd Wilkinson Ready to Fight Back Against Regulatory Overreach in the Cattle Industry Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:13:33 CST
NCBA and PLC Call ESA Listing Plan of Lesser Prairie Chicken Punitive for Cattle Producers in Southern Plains Wed, 23 Nov 2022 14:51:02 CST
November Cattle on Feed Report Confirms October Pattern of Lower Placements and Tighter Cattle Numbers in Feedlots Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:07:02 CST
Turning the Corner- OSU's Derrell Peel Sees Tighter Cattle Inventories into 2023 in Latest Cattle on Feed Report Mon, 21 Nov 2022 04:36:33 CST
Turning the Corner- OSU's Derrell Peel Sees Tighter Cattle Inventories into 2023 in Latest Cattle on Feed Report Mon, 21 Nov 2022 04:27:40 CST
Midterm Elections to Set Stage for What Can Be Expected in 2023 Farm Bill Mon, 07 Nov 2022 12:13:57 CST
USMEF's Dan Halstrom Remains Cautiously Optimistic about Strong Beef Demand Going Forward Thu, 03 Nov 2022 09:35:46 CDT
Economic Factors Create Hesitancy in Beef Plant Expansion Plans Wed, 02 Nov 2022 11:03:34 CDT
NCBA's Mike Simone Says Consumer Interest in Fake Meat is on the Decline Tue, 01 Nov 2022 11:41:02 CDT
Beef Remains Valued Product for Consumers as it Allows Them to Stretch their Dollar Mon, 31 Oct 2022 09:15:56 CDT
Hugh Aljoe Provides Methods to Begin and Maintain Good Land Stewardship Fri, 28 Oct 2022 09:30:13 CDT
Implement Soil Health Practices Now to Increase Forage Production when Rains Come Thu, 27 Oct 2022 15:14:07 CDT
Third Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300 Promotes the Beef Industry on a National Level Wed, 26 Oct 2022 15:32:23 CDT
Latest Cattle on Feed Report from USDA Implies Fewer Pounds of Beef Available in 2023 Tue, 25 Oct 2022 10:17:53 CDT
OSU's Derrell Peel- Lower Placements and Smaller On Feed Number Highlight October Cattle on Feed Report Sun, 23 Oct 2022 12:45:37 CDT
Beef Checkoff Research Continues to Share Beef Sustainability Story with Consumers Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:23:36 CDT
Beef Checkoff Research Works to Ensure Consumers Beef is a Product They Can Trust Thu, 20 Oct 2022 13:44:44 CDT
Odds for Significant Wheat Pasture Going Lower Daily in the Southern Plains Wed, 19 Oct 2022 14:35:46 CDT
NCBA Weighs in on California's Proposition 12 Tue, 18 Oct 2022 11:32:24 CDT
2022 Stockyards Steak Out Takes Oklahoma Beef to the Next Level Mon, 17 Oct 2022 11:09:07 CDT
Holding Onto Your Cow Herd a Little Longer is Projected to Pay Off, says Randy Blach Fri, 14 Oct 2022 08:14:05 CDT
Randy Blach Confident in Better Cattle Market Conditions Down the Road Thu, 13 Oct 2022 09:43:02 CDT
No Imports or Exports Would Result in a Smaller U.S. Beef Cattle Industry Wed, 12 Oct 2022 16:11:15 CDT
Derrell Peel Explains Why International Trade of Beef is Valuable Tue, 11 Oct 2022 08:19:29 CDT
Animal Agriculture Hopeful for a Win as U.S. Supreme Court Looks at California's Proposition 12 Mon, 10 Oct 2022 09:26:17 CDT