Category: Ag News

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 14:47:22 CDT

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Listen to today’s report with Justin Lewis, by clicking or tapping on the LISTEN bar

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 13:29:29 CDT

FFA members and supporters from across the country will celebrate agriculture and agricultural education next week during the 95h National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis.

This time-honored tradi…

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 12:22:11 CDT

Backyard poultry owners should take careful biosecurity measures this fall to protect their animals from highly pathogenic avian influenza. HPAI is a strain of the flu that is extremely infectious and most often fatal to all poultry.

Within the past few weeks, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has confirmed HPAI in backyard chickens in Tulsa and Creek counties. It has also been detected in wild waterfowl near Oklahoma City. Earlier this spring, HPAI cases were reported on a commercial poultry operation in eastern Oklahoma.

HPAI Signs and Symptoms

• Coughing and sneezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Extreme depression
• Lack of energy
• Decrease in feed or water intake
• Swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, wattle and legs
• Decrease in egg production
• Sudden, unexplained death
• Quietness among the flock

If poultry owners suspect HPAI, they should immediately contact one of the following:

• Local county Extension educator: find your county
• Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 405-744-6623
• ODAFF State Veterinarian, Rod Hall, 405-522-6141
• Your local veterinarian

Methods of prevention

• Restrict visitor access to birds
• Prevent contact with wild birds (especially waterfowl)
• Refrain from visiting other poultry operation locations
• Set aside clothing and footwear to wear only when working with birds
• Disinfect footwear before entering a barn or coop
• Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling birds
• Reduce availability of food, water and any potential nesting areas for wild birds
• Fix holes in roofs, screens and walls of poultry barns or coops
• Do not share equipment with other bird owners
• Birds that have been near other poultry should be quarantined from the rest of the flock for at least 14 days

Officials with Oklahoma State University Extension and ODAFF said the risk of HPAI transmission to humans and other animals is low. If contact with the disease is suspected, the Oklahoma State Department of Health Acute Disease Service can help monitor for symptoms and arrange for testing and treatment. The organization’s on-call epidemiologist can be reached at 405-426-8710.

Learn more about how to prevent the spread of HPAI in this recent Vet Scripts segment on SUNUP, a television show produced by OSU Agriculture.

OSU Extension offers a helpful fact sheet on Small Flock Biosecurity for Prevention of Avian Influenza, and poultry owners can access other state and national HPAI updates through the ODAFF disease alert page.

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.

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 11:44:26 CDT

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KC Sheperd, Farm Director, had the chance to visit with Bob Rodenberger, A partner with Stockman Oklahoma Livestock Marketing. Today, Rodenberger talks about the latest on the ca…

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:56:10 CDT

Talkin’ drought again….

Woke up yesterday to just some “great” news about the ongoing drought in the Oklahoma Farm Report and its impact on the regions winter wheat crop:

&…

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:30:55 CDT

Receipts: 4,815 Last Reported: 2,804 Year Ago: 565

Compared to the last report: Some would say this is the "perfect storm" for buyers and sellers of hay. From the supply and demand to the drough…

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 08:56:50 CDT

Statewide Discussion: A Red Flag Warning is in effect today from midday through the early evening hours across a broad area of Oklahoma. Above normal temperatures and low relative humidity values coupled wit…

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 08:14:26 CDT

Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) will hold town hall meetings in Woods, Woodward, Harper, and Ellis Counties on Thursday, October 27th and Friday, October 28th. Residents around the locations are invited to a…