Category: Ag News

The 2022 Annual Conference and Meeting of the American Society of Agricultural Consultants will be held Sunday, October 23 – Tuesday, October 25 in Oklahoma City at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel.

An engaging lineup of speakers is scheduled t…

Select session recordings from the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2022 Stakeholders Summit, held May 11-12 in Kansas City, Mo., are now publicly available on the organization’s YouTube channel. The first in person Summit since 20…

Click here to listen to audio

Reagan Calk, Associate Farm Editor, sat down with announcer, Lynn Phillips at 38th Annual OCA Ranch Rodeo at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie Okla. this weekend and talked about his time announcing for the rode…

Drought is likely to affect the state’s pecan crop this year. Becky Carroll, Oklahoma State University Extension fruit and nut specialist, said some orchards appear to be on track while others are sparse with little to no pecans.

Dry conditions are causing a lot of issues for native pecan growers who don’t have the ability to irrigate their orchards.

“During July and early August when the nuts are sizing, we like to get about 2 inches of rain or irrigation a week, and some places haven’t had any rainfall since the beginning of June,” Carroll said. “The pecans may be very small this year, and it may reduce overall production for the state due to the size of the nuts because they won’t weigh as much.”

A typical pecan harvest in Oklahoma yields about 13 million pounds of nuts, but the current drought could reduce that number to 11 million pounds.

“If the pecans are small during this sizing stage when the shells start to harden, then we want to have enough water to fill those nuts properly to get good kernel development, and that takes about 2 inches (of water) a week as well,” Carroll said.

If small nuts receive a lot of rain or water during the next few weeks, they will fill properly, but large pecans that remain dry will harvest with lower quality.

On the other hand, Carroll said the current drought climate could prevent a major weevil infestation.

“If we don’t have rainfall, we may not have a weevil problem this year, because they’re in the ground and usually come out of the soil when we get a big rainfall,” she said.

Below, Carroll discusses when to watch for weevils in the nut development phase and previews a Native Pecan Harvest Field Day on SUNUPTV, OSU Agriculture’s television show.

Sign up now for the Oct. 13 field day in Claremore.

OSU Extension uses research-based information to help all Oklahomans solve local issues and concerns, promote leadership and manage resources wisely throughout the state’s 77 counties. Most information is available at little to no cost.

Click here to listen to audio

During the Women in Agriculture Conference, Cheyenne Leach, Radio Oklahoma Network Intern, had the chance to visit with Lisa Mussett, the Coordinator for the ODVA (Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs) …

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is accepting applications for $100 million in grants to increase the sale and use of biofuels derived from U.S. agricultural products.

USDA is making the funding available through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). This program seeks to market higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel by sharing the costs to build and retrofit biofuel-related infrastructure such as pumps, dispensers and storage tanks.

“The Biden-Harris Administration recognizes that rural America is the key to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and giving Americans cleaner, more affordable options at the pump,” Vilsack said. “Biofuels are homegrown fuels. Expanding the availability of higher-blend fuels is a win for American farmers, the rural economy and hardworking Americans who pay the price here at home when we depend on volatile fuel sources overseas.”

This additional funding follows an April investment of $5.6 million through HBIIP that is expected to increase the availability of biofuels by 59.5 million gallons per year in California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and South Dakota.

In June, USDA also announced that it had provided $700 million in relief funding to more than 100 biofuel producers in 25 states who experienced market losses due to the pandemic.

These investments reflect the goals of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which addresses immediate economic needs and includes the largest ever federal investment in clean energy for the future. The law includes another $500 million aimed at increasing the sale and use of agricultural commodity-based fuels. This funding will allow USDA to provide additional grants for infrastructure improvements related to blending, storing, supplying and distributing biofuels.

Gas prices continue to fall, at the fastest pace in over a decade. Biofuels are an important part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to lowering gas prices for the American people.

Background

Under HBIIP, USDA provides grants to transportation fueling and distribution facilities. These grants lower the out-of-pocket costs for businesses to install and upgrade infrastructure and related equipment.

The $100 million available now will support a variety of fueling operations, including filling stations, convenience stores and larger retail stores that also sell fuel. The funds will also support fleet facilities including rail and marine, and fuel distribution facilities, such as fuel terminal operations, midstream operations, distribution facilities as well as home heating oil distribution centers.

The grants will cover up to 50% of total eligible project costs – but not more than $5 million – to help owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities convert to higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. These higher-blend fuels must be greater than 10% for ethanol and greater than 5% for biodiesel.

Applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. ET Nov. 21, 2022. Visit the HBIIP webpage to learn more, sign up for webinars and apply.

Additional information also is available on Grants.gov or page 51641 of the Aug. 23, 2022, Federal Register.

USDA is offering priority points to projects that advance key priorities under the Biden-Harris Administration to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, advance equity and combat climate change. These extra points will increase the likelihood of funding for projects that will advance these key priorities for people living in rural America.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

Annual Scholarship Recognizes Graduate Students Committed to Beef Industry

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is accepting applications for the annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program. Established in 2007, the scholarship rec…

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Ron Hays, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, is back talking with Derrell Peel, OSU Livestock Market Economist on insights for cattle numbers going into 2023.

Because the latest cattle on feed re…

It’s Election Day for all seventy-seven (77) counties across the state! Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

While many voters will have a runoff primary election, some voters may also have non-partisan elections on the ballot. The election list is available on the State Election Board website.

Voters are reminded that Oklahoma is a closed primary state. To vote in party’s primary or runoff primary, you must be a registered voter of that party. However, all recognized parties have the option to open their primaries and runoff primaries to Independent voters. The Democratic Party has chosen to open its primaries and runoff primaries for the 2022-2023 election years. Independent voters may request a Democratic Party ballot at the polls. All voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in non-partisan elections.

Due to statutory redistricting, some precincts and polling places have changed. Before heading to the polls, be sure to verify your polling place using the OK Voter Portal. You can also contact your County Election Board for assistance.

Voters should be prepared to show proof of identity at the polls. Information about accepted forms of identity can be found on the State Election Board website. Voters who do not have an accepted form of identity may request a provisional ballot.

Election results will be available shortly after 7 p.m. on election night on the State Election Board website.

Voters with questions should contact their County Election Board or the State Election Board at (405) 521-2391.

It’s Election Day for all seventy-seven (77) counties across the state! Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

While many voters will have a runoff primary election, some voters may also have non-partisan elections on the ballot. The election list is available on the State Election Board website.

Voters are reminded that Oklahoma is a closed primary state. To vote in party’s primary or runoff primary, you must be a registered voter of that party. However, all recognized parties have the option to open their primaries and runoff primaries to Independent voters. The Democratic Party has chosen to open its primaries and runoff primaries for the 2022-2023 election years. Independent voters may request a Democratic Party ballot at the polls. All voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in non-partisan elections.

Due to statutory redistricting, some precincts and polling places have changed. Before heading to the polls, be sure to verify your polling place using the OK Voter Portal. You can also contact your County Election Board for assistance.

Voters should be prepared to show proof of identity at the polls. Information about accepted forms of identity can be found on the State Election Board website. Voters who do not have an accepted form of identity may request a provisional ballot.

Election results will be available shortly after 7 p.m. on election night on the State Election Board website.

Voters with questions should contact their County Election Board or the State Election Board at (405) 521-2391.