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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Talking Mood of the Ship, State Beef Checkoff, State Question 777 and Lots More with OCA's Michael Kelsey 

 

The top hired hand of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, Michael Kelsey, believes that cattle producers remain upbeat- even in the face of high volatility in the cattle market in the second half of 2015. Kelsey and his OCA team have engaged with cattle producers in three corners of the state thus far this month as the organization has held their fall gatherings in Poteau, Fort Gibson and Elgin. The final Fall Gathering planned by the OCA is this coming Monday evening in Putnam.


Kelsey says the state is in much better shape than a year ago- when it comes to drought conditions- and that has been a major factor in the improved attitude for many cattlemen. At this time in 2014- Oklahoma still had over 60% of the state in some level of drought conditions- this year that number is 16%. Last year, Kelsey remembers that many producers worried that they would not have the forage to carry heifers they had retained through the winter- hampering their plans to rebuild their beef cow herds. He says that it appears most of those heifers were saved for herd rebuilding and that the intentions being expressed this year is to hold even more females and keep the rebuilding effort moving ahead.

He also points out that hay supplies are tremendous this year- and that gives beef producers a lot of confidence as they prepare for winter.

You can hear our full conversation with Michael about industry expectations and challenges- click or tap here.

If you are in the Oklahoma City TV viewing area- tune in tomorrow morning at 6:40 AM to see and hear our In the Field visit with Kelsey.

It's great to have one of the premiere businesses in the cattle business partner with us in helping bring you our daily Farm and Ranch News Email- National Livestock Credit Corporation.  National Livestock has been around since 1932- and they have worked with livestock producers to help them secure credit and to buy or sell cattle through the National Livestock Commission Company. 

NCBA Prepares for Long Litigation Fight to Stop WOTUS 

 

A court injunction has prevented the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from implementing the "Waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) rule. The rule was set to take effect at the end of August. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association has tried to get a legislative fix for WOTUS, but it hasn't worked out. NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall said they are now left to a solution through the courts.


"We tried to get Congress to act, to send this rule back to EPA," Woodall said. "The House did their job, the Senate failed to their job. So, really Congress is out of the equation."


Congress could address the rule with some defunding language. Woodall said that's a short-term fix to prevent EPA from doing any enforcement, but that doesn't fix the problem. He said ultimately it will be up to the courts to send this rule back to EPA.


"That's a five to six year process and our concern is how many producers will be caught in this before we can actually get the final court decision," Woodall said.

 

I caught up with Woodall at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting in Kansas City, Missouri last week. We talked about the temporary nationwide stay preventing implementation of WOTUS in all 50 states and how much longer that could last.  Click or tap here to listen to the interview.

USDA Funding Expands Broadband Access with 12 Projects in Oklahoma

 

USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator Brandon McBride Wednesday announced that nearly six million Americans who live and work in rural areas now have access to new or improved high-speed internet service, thanks to USDA funding provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Oklahoma will receive more than $51 million dollars in funding for 12 projects with The Pine Telephone Company, Totah Communications, Inc., Pioneer Long Distance, Inc., @Link Services, LLC, Medicine Park Telephone Company, Mid-America Telephone, Inc., Wyandotte Telephone Company, and Oklahoma Communication Systems, Inc.


"I am proud to announce today that all of the active projects USDA has financed through the Recovery Act are now providing broadband service in rural areas nationwide," McBride said. "In 2009, the Obama Administration pushed for, and Congress provided USDA with, an unprecedented level of funding and five years to connect rural areas to high-speed networks. Bringing broadband to these areas is having a tremendous impact on rural communities. This access means more jobs, better education and a higher quality of life. The economic viability of rural America, like all of America, depends on access to broadband."


Two hundred fifty-four Recovery Act broadband projects financed by USDA's Rural Utilities Service totaling $2.9 billion are providing broadband service in 44 states and American Samoa. Click here to read more about these broadband projects.

OSU's Kim Anderson Says Record World Wheat Production Pushes Wheat Prices to Bottom

 

Wheat farmers have produced another record breaking crop for the third consecutive year. With the 2015 global wheat harvest nearly complete, Oklahoma State University Grain Marketing Specialist Kim Anderson said world wheat production will total over 26.9 billion bushels. While harvest continues in Australia, Argentina and South Africa, he said for the most part this crop has been accounted for. He said its expected global wheat ending stocks will total 8.4 billion bushels.


U.S. wheat production fell below average this year at 2.05 billion bushels. Anderson said that's short of the average of 2.13 billion bushels. With massive world wheat production and lack of export demand, he said domestic ending stocks are projected to total 911 million bushels. That compares with an average of 690 million bushels.


Wheat prices around Oklahoma have dropped below $4 a bushel for the first time since October 2009. Prices around the state are ranging from $3.95 to $4.20. Anderson said when prices are low and stocks are excessive, there's just no demand and there's no reason for prices to go up. He thinks wheat prices are near the bottom now.


SUNUP Host Lyndall Stout asks Anderson about the price outlook for the next couple of months.  Click or tap here to listen to the full interview and find the SUNUP show lineup.                        

For nearly a century, Stillwater Milling has been providing ranchers with the highest quality feeds made from the highest quality ingredients.  Their full line of A&M Feeds can be delivered to your farm, found at their agri-center stores in Stillwater, Davis, Claremore and Perry or at more than 100 dealers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. 

We appreciate Stillwater Milling's long time support of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and we encourage you to click here to learn more  about their products and services.

Southern Plains Producing Best Yields in Five Years, Steve Verett with Plains Cotton Weighs in on Cotton Industry Challenges 

 

Cotton growers across southwest Oklahoma and the High Plains of Texas are harvesting their best cotton crop since 2010. After dealing with four consecutive years of drought, Plains Cotton Growers Executive Vice President Steve Verett said having a larger yielding crop this year was desperately needed.


"The drought since 2011 has really taken a toll on much of our infrastructure, certainly our ginning infrastructure," Verett said. "We were at the point that we could lose some of it, if we didn't have this volume of cotton."


Some farmers are reporting good quality and above average yields in Oklahoma and in the High Plains of Texas. This year, the bigger challenge has been the price farmers get paid for their crop. Verett said that's going to make it a very tight year to break-even on growing cotton. Farmers have seen added expenses in trying to control pigweed. He said that's added costs of at least $30 an acre.


I caught up with Verett at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting in Kansas City, Missouri last week. We also talk about some the policy challenges with the 2014 Farm Bill and the recent attacks to cut crop insurance funding.  Click or tap here to read more or listen to the interview.

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Cattle on Feed Numbers Coming Later Today- Placements Expected to Be Well Under Year Ago Levels 

 

Rich Nelson with Allendale has provided us with his expectations for this afternoon's November Cattle on Feed Report to be released by USDA at 2:00 PM central time.

Nelson believes we have smaller placements coming- but on feed numbers are still slightly above one year ago.

"October Placements are expected to be 5.9% smaller than last year at 2.228 million head. This is the second smallest October placement since the current data-series started in 1996. USDA's cattle feeding margin suggests a $515 per head loss on outgoing cattle ($174 breakevens vs. $133 sales). This would be eleven months in a row of losses. Live cattle rose from $121 at the start of the month up to $138 at the end. Corn averaged $3.76 in Western Kansas in October ($3.73 in September, $3.52 in October 2014). October placements supply the March through August slaughter period.

"Allendale anticipates a Marketing total 3.3% lower than October 2014. 2015 had one less weekday and one more Saturday than 2014. Our 1.629 million head estimate is the smallest October figure in the current data-series back to 1996.

"Total Cattle on Feed as of November 1 is 1.8% larger than last year. That is a decline from the October 1 total of +2.3%. "

We plan on having Tom Leffler weigh in on what the numbers say once they are released by Uncle Sam- that reaction will be available later this afternoon on our website and will be featured in our Monday daily email.

This N That- Kay County Soil Health Meeting, GE Salmon Ok and Superior Auction Day 

 
No till and Soil Health are being spotlighted today in Kay County- a tour of several farms kicks off the event at 9 AM- they will be leaving  Kay County Electric Coop in Blackwell at that time- then back by midday for lunch and to hear from Steve Alspach, NRCS State Soil Scientist and no-till and cover crop producer Jimmy Emmons, Leedey, OK.

Details- we have got them here.

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After conducting a thorough and rigorous regulatory review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the genetically engineered (GE) AquAdvantage Salmon for commercial marketing.

In response to FDA's approval of AquAdvantage Salmon, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim Greenwood issued the following statement:

"BIO commends the FDA for taking this very important step in the right direction for the advancement of animal biotechnology innovation. The development of AquAdvantage Salmon is based on more than two decades of scientific research, making it the most studied line of Atlantic salmon. The agency found that AquAdvantage Salmon is not materially different from other Atlantic salmon and is just as safe and nutritious as non-GE salmon. AquAdvantage Salmon can be grown in contained facilities close to population centers, thus bringing fresh seafood to consumers with a reduced environmental impact.

More details are available here.

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Yesterday- the Superior Livestock folks sold about 4400 Replacement females- with open replacement heifers holding steady compared to their October sale- bred heifers saw price pressure- and were steady to about $200 a head less than that sale of about four weeks ago. Sale details are here.

Meanwhile- it is sale day for the regular every other week auction of calves and yearlings at Superior- 24,500 head will be selling- starting at 8:00 AM central time.

Click or tap here to see more details and get the link for the Superior Click to Bid online bidding page.

As always- you can call Superior at 1-800-422-2117 for more information.

Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, American Farmers & Ranchers, CROPLAN by Winfield, KIS Futures, Farm Assure, Stillwater Milling Company, Pioneer Cellular, National Livestock Credit Corporation and Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association for their support of our daily Farm News Update. For your convenience, we have our sponsors' websites linked here- just click on their name to jump to their website- check their sites out and let these folks know you appreciate the support of this daily email, as their sponsorship helps us keep this arriving in your inbox on a regular basis- at NO Charge!

 

 

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