House Ag Committee's Efforts for Production Ag and Rural America Highlighted During Business Meeting 

The House Agriculture Committee approved its activity report for the third quarter of the 112th Congress. During the business meeting, Chairman Frank Lucas highlighted the committee's work over the last six months in his opening remarks: 

We're here today to approve our activity report for the third quarter of the 112th Congress.

Given that the Agriculture Committee is slated to mark up a farm bill on July 11, it is easy to recognize a recurring theme regarding this panel's activities over the last six months.

We have wrapped up two sets of farm bill hearings. One set that took us to the countryside to hear directly from producers on the ground and learn how policies are working for them.

We started in New York and ended in Kansas. The takeaway from those hearings was clear: there are challenges that vary by region, and we need to tailor farm policy to fit those requirements.   Our producers are counting on a choice of risk management tools and an effective safety net that will be there when bad times hit.

You can read more of Congressman Lucas's review of his committee's action over the last six months by clicking here.

Crop Insurance Title Needs to Guard Against Guaranteeing Profits on Marginal Land

In his latest Policy Pennings column, Daryll E. Ray, the Director of the University of Tennessee's Agricultural Policy Analysis Center writes that Congress should adequately consider moral hazard before finalizing the crop insurance portion of the 2012 Farm Bill:


At the same time that the US Senate overcame a procedural hurdle in moving the 2012 Farm Bill from the Ag Committee to the Senate floor, the dependence of the commodity title on crop/revenue insurance continues to attract media attention.

One of the problems that insurers have to guard against is called moral hazard, because if they don't it could be costly to their bottom line. We have all read stories of a nighttime fire that destroys a business that is experiencing a financial crisis. As the fire investigator seeks to determine the cause of the conflagration, the possibility that the owner set the fire in order to collect the insurance has to be considered.

Fire insurance is designed to protect building owners against a random risk-fire caused by faulty wiring, lightning,-events beyond the control of the owner. The possibility that the owner can commit arson introduces a moral hazard that must be guarded against. Thus the importance of the work of the fire investigator in determining the cause of the fire so that the random fire can be distinguished from one deliberately caused by someone with financial interest in receiving the insurance payout. 

Click here for more from Daryll Ray on crop insurance and the 2012 Farm Bill.

Governor Fallin Reappoints Stephens to Serve the Oklahoma Wheat Commission

Governor Mary Fallin recently reappointed Tom Stephens to an additional 5-year term with the Oklahoma Wheat Commission (OWC). Stephens, a wheat producer from Guymon, will continue to represent District II. The OWC's District II consists of Beaver, Cimarron, Ellis, Harper, Texas, Woods and Woodward Counties.

"We are excited that Tom Stephens has been reappointed to fill the District II position on the OWC Board," said Mike Schulte, Executive Director of the OWC. "His knowledge and experience with wheat production as a farmer and his active roles previously held with the OWC Board and U.S. Wheat Associates Board will continue to make him a valuable leader for the wheat industry on both state and national levels."

Stephens' responsibilities as a member of the commission include working with the other members to develop and oversee the implementation of policy and programs, approve budget expenditures, direct the funding of research, market development and public education, represent district producer interests and promote Oklahoma wheat. 

You can read more by clicking here.

Don't Let Anaplasmosis Catch You By Surprise

Dave Sparks, DVM, Oklahoma State University area extension veterinarian, says conditions are right this year for an outbreak of anaplasmosis. He offers the following recommendations for cattle producers in the latest edition of the Cow-Calf Newsletter:

It is easy to be taken by surprise by anaplasmosis. Although the problem can occur any time, it is usually most prevalent in the mid to late summer. This is a time when many stockmen are busy in the hay fields or with other projects and are not checking their cows every day like they do during winter feeding. This year, however, anaplasmosis season is likely to come early due to the influence of a mild winter and early spring on the insect vectors that carry the disease.

Anaplasmosis is caused by a single cell parasite that lives inside the cow's red blood cell. When the immune system recognizes the problem it destroys the parasite, but unfortunately destroys the red blood cell at the same time.   When a significant number of red blood cells have been destroyed anemia results and weight loss, abortion and death occur. The parasite can infect calves but cattle less than one year of age will not usually show symptoms. Cattle between one and 3 years may show mild to moderate symptoms of the disease, but death rarely occurs in cows less than three years of age. Biting insects such as horse flies and ticks carry the organism from infected or recovered carrier cows to healthy cattle. In this type of transfer it is common to see one cow with the disease, followed a few weeks later by an outbreak of several more cows that were infected from the original case. The organism can also be spread by blood on needles, ear taggers, dehorners, or other instruments.   This type of transfer typically results in an outbreak of several cases simultaneously. 

Click here to read recommendations from Dave Sparks on preventing and treating anaplasmosis.

NCBA Encouraged by Hearing on Legislation Preventing Ranches from Being Treated as Toxic Waste Dumps

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee hosted a hearing to deliberate on the "Superfund Common-Sense Act" introduced by Congressman Billy Long (R-Mo.) According to National Cattlemen's Beef Association President J.D. Alexander, the legislation (H.R. 2997) would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the courts from imposing what Alexander called expensive liability and needless regulation on U.S. agriculture.

NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel Ashley McDonald said the legislation would restore the original intent of Congress under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), more commonly called the Superfund Law, and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

She said the Superfund Law was originally passed by Congress in 1980 to prevent toxic waste from polluting U.S. waters and was never intended to elevate extreme agendas by imposing liability on U.S. farmers and ranchers in the same fashion as toxic waste polluters. The legislation would exempt cattle manure from all liability under these laws.

You can find more on this story on our website by clicking here.

Simple Strategies Increase Yields for Double Crop Soybeans

Chad Godsey, Cropping Systems Specialist with Oklahoma State Unversity says with this year's early wheat and canola harvests, there are a number of producers who will be planting a soybean crop. Godsey says there are a few strategies producers need to be aware of to maximize their late season yields:


When planting soybeans at the end of June and into early July you need to make a few adjustments to protect that yield potential. We know from planting date research the last three years that planting after June 5-10 we start to see a drop-off in yield potential due to planting date. At these later planting dates we see a decrease in vegetative biomass, fewer branches and each of these lead to fewer reproductive nodes. So what management strategies can we change to help increase yield? Any strategy to increase the amount of light intercepted by the plants would help maintain a high yield potential. The more light soybeans can absorb, the better the yield. Strategies to increase the amount of light intercepted are listed below:

--Planting after the first week in June requires 10-15% increase in seeding rates to facilitate quicker row closure and higher pod height with fewer days to flowering.

--This year with heavy wheat residue another 10% increase in seeding may need to be considered depending on seed to soil contact. If you are able to achieve good seed to soil contact you may not need to increase seeding rate. However, following a high yielding wheat crop sometimes wheat residue is challenging to manage, especially when it was lodged wheat. Late-planted soybeans can be planted in narrow rows to shorten the time to row closure.

You can read more of Chad Godsey's tips on double-cropping soybeans by clicking here.

Cattle Trails Wheat and Stocker Conference in Wichita Falls to Help Producers Drive Their Animals to Profit

Cattle producers looking to pick up the latest science-based updates that promote effective management practices should register now to attend the July 31 Cattle Trails Wheat and Stocker Conference in Wichita Falls, Texas.

The conference is a collaborative effort between the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Its purpose is to help cattle owners and operators drive their animals to profit.

"New ag policy, market volatility and tough times in the feedlot industry stand to potentially have significant effects on cattle producers seeking to make the best production and economic decisions possible for their specific operations," said Bob LeValley, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension area livestock specialist.

The 2012 conference will take place at the Multi-Purpose Events Center, located at 1000 5th St. in Wichita Falls. The conference will begin at 8:15 a.m. and finish at approximately 2:15 p.m. Cost is $25 per participant, which will include a luncheon meal, refreshment breaks and proceedings of the topics discussed at the conference. 

Click here for more details on the Cattle Trails Wheat and Stocker Conference.