Category: Ag News

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 09:11:43 CDT

A cow that can have a calf all on her own has become so commonplace it’s a trait that’s easy to take for granted.

“One of our biggest success stories is calving ease. Obviously…

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 09:04:21 CDT

State Climatologist, Gary McManus says we may see some big drought improvements as an upper low moves into the West and kicks up our southerly winds, bringing lots of Gulf Moisture (and warmer air) up our way. McManus says “We’ll have a dryline and front to deal with as we get into Thursday and Friday, so a focus for severe storms. Then as that upper low swings out over us, the threat turns more towards heavy rain on Saturday.”

Severe potential appears most likely across portions of the TX    Panhandle into northwest OK and western KS beginning Thursday evening into the overnight hours as stronger height falls and increasing ascent spreads eastward into western portions of the central/southern Plains. Forecast soundings indicate thermodynamic and shear profiles favorable for organized cells capable of all severe hazards. On Friday, the surface front is forecast to move slowly eastward across western TX/OK. A combination of heavy rain and severe potential is expected, with greatest relative severe    potential likely focused across southern portions of OK into western/central TX near and south of a surface low.

McManus says there’s still a lot to sort out, but we will have another week of temperatures 10-15 degrees above normal as that wind machine kicks in, and the added moisture should help us stay pretty warm in the mornings.

As the storm system moves closer, he says things could and probably will change, but so far the rainfall map looks wet for this weekend possibly bringing some Soaking rain into the state starting Thursday and ending on Sunday.

Current rain projections show widespread 2″-4″ of rain which would hopefully bring some Big drought improvement across the state. We may see Severe Weather, so McManus says to prepare for that, but so far maps look hopeful for a good rain.

Keep Praying for Rain!

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:54:21 CDT

American farmers make sure that Halloween decorations across the country include everyone’s favorite orange gourd, annually producing about 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins on 66,000 acres each year.

Farmers in Illinois grow the most pumpkins of any state, and other top producers include California, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, and Virginia. So, if you’re looking for the Great Pumpkin, there’s a good chance it came from one of those six states, as 40% of U.S. pumpkin production comes from them.

USDA is tracking weekly pumpkin prices and more at this link

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:27:38 CDT

The United Sorghum Checkoff Program selected 15 members to Leadership Sorghum Class VI, a program designed to develop the next generation of sorghum leaders and industry advocates.

Leadership Sor…

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:22:40 CDT

Dave Nichols, K-State University Animal Science & Industry professor emeritus, has been awarded the 2022 Mark and Eva Gardiner Innovation and Excellence Faculty award. Arguably one of the most recogni…

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:14:51 CDT

NMPF Chairman Randy Mooney, a dairy farmer outside Rogersville, MO, said the spirit of collaboration and facing challenges head on, embodied in the cooperative model, will give dairy strength in the years to come. He spoke on Oct. 25 at NMPF’s annual meeting in Denver.

“This is an exciting time in our industry,” Mooney said. “What we do on our farms and in our communities is important, how we do it is important, and it’s important that we stay at the forefront of this revolution, never settling for status quo, thinking differently, and seizing the opportunities.”

For more about the value cooperatives provide, NMPF has a page here. The full podcast is here. You can also find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Amazon Music.

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:11:23 CDT

Each week, NCBA’s Beltway Beef brings you the latest policy news affecting the U.S. cattle and beef industry. Hear from subject-matter experts, producers, and industry leaders on the topics that impact the business viability of farms and ranches across the country.

On this episode, NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart and Senior Director of Sustainability Dr. Samantha Werth join to discuss the science that confirms the cattle industry’s sustainability. Thanks to generations of continuous improvement, the cattle industry has substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions while more efficiently providing a nutritious protein and supporting the economy in rural communities. Hart explains how the cattle industry’s sustainable practices connect to advocacy in Washington, while Werth explains all the environmental, economic, and societal benefits of beef. Learn more about the cattle industry’s sustainability at ncba.org/sustainability.

Listen to the podcast by clicking here.

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 20:05:41 CDT

Click here to listen to audio

Karstyn Cantrell of the Skiatook FFA Chapter heard her name called on Saturday afternoon in the final moments of the 2022 National FFA Convention and Expo- and that meant that she will be one of six national officers for the National FFA organization over the next twelve months. Cantrell was selected this week to serve as the Central Region National Vice President of the 580,000 member organization.

Each year during the National FFA Convention and Expo, six students are elected by delegates to represent the organization as national officers. Delegates select a President, Secretary and Vice Presidents from the country’s Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Regions.
Throughout their year of service to the National FFA Organization, the officers will interact with business and industry leaders; corporate sponsors; government and educational officials; state FFA leaders; the general public and thousands of FFA members. The team will led personal growth and leadership training conferences for FFA members throughout the country and help set policies that will guide the future of FFA and the next generation of leaders.

After the final gavel of the convention- Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays talked for a few moments with Karstyn- who said her heart was still beating fast from hearing her name called in the final conventions General Session. She added that she felt at peace throughout the week as she engaged with the nominating committee in a variety of settings. She had the advantage over other candidates in that she was a national officer candidate last year- and that experience allowed her to understand that she needed to prepare for a poential year of service instead of just preparing for the process of being interviewed and compared to the other candidates.

Cantrell says that she was able to show the Nominating Committee the “real me.” As for who that is- “I told the nominating committee that I’m Karstyn and that when you look at me you see someone who production agriculture and the ag industry has shaped into someone who is outgoing and professional and polished but also poised. You know, I walk with that purpose and that humble attitude because of the way that ag industry and the FFA have shaped me.”

She told Hays earlier that growing up on a fourth-generation cow-calf operation, that she feels lucky to have deep family roots within the agriculture industry. The transition to being involved in the FFA at a young age, she added, was seamless.

Early on in her FFA career, Cantrell said she learned the value of saying “yes” after listening to advice from a peer in her chapter.

“She told me to simply say yes,” Cantrell said. “Anytime there was a sign-up on the board asking if we wanted to participate in contests or camps or conventions, I always took that piece of advice and said ‘yes.’”

You can hear their complete conversation by clicking on the Listen Link below.

You can go back to just before the National Convention and hear their earlier conversation and read more by clicking here.

Click here for the National FFA release detailing information of all six national officers that will be serving together over the next year- taking a year off from college in the process.

The picture above shows Karstyn Cantrell second from the right as the new National Officers hold the gavel.

Ron Hays talks with Karstyn Cantrell about being elected as a National Officer of the FFA

click to play audio or right-click to download

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 19:58:17 CDT

The Stillwater FFA Chapter captured more National Championships in the National FFA Agriscience Fair i Indianapolis then any other Chapter in the United States- and the five National Championshi…