Feral hogs have become a top concern for Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers. The problem has the state's livestock organizations, general farm organizations and the state of Oklahoma all looking for answers. They are working together to develop a plan to deal with this invasive species of livestock. Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (OCA) Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey said feral hogs have become a huge problem for Oklahoma's cattle producers. He hasn't spoke with a OCA member that hasn't been impacted by the growing feral hog population.


OCA was involved with a meeting this week with other agricultural leaders and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture in reviewing their latest draft of proposed rules that may be published in early 2016. Kelsey said Oklahoma's agricultural groups are in favor of controlling the feral hog population, but they are still trying to figure out the best solution. He thinks the process to develop a plan to control the state's feral hogs remains in the very early stages.


While many Oklahomans believe something new has to be done, Kelsey said one common misconception is that nothing is being done to control feral hogs today. In looking at state law, he said there is a feral hog act that makes it illegal to transport wild hogs.

I interviewed Kelsey about developing new rules to expand efforts to control feral hogs in Oklahoma.  Click or tap here to listen to the interview.

Few changes were found in the latest global grain stocks report. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wednesday released the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE). Market Analyst Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities said the global corn and soybean ending stocks were left virtually unchanged from a month ago, but wheat supplies continue to increase to record levels.


"We continue to find negative news for our wheat," Leffler said.


Global wheat supplies for 2015/16 increased by 2.3 million tons primarily on larger production but also higher beginning stocks. World wheat production remains record high and was raised 1.9 million tons to 734.9 million. The primary production change was for Canada, which was raised 1.6 million tons to 27.6 million on a Statistics Canada report. Global ending stocks were projected 2.6 million tons higher with large increases for the European Union and Canada partially offset by decreases for Argentina and Ukraine.


Global corn ending stocks for 2015/16 were left nearly unchanged with higher projected stocks for the United States and Canada offset by lower projected stocks for Brazil and EU. U.S. corn ending stocks were projected to be 25 million bushels higher at 1,785 million bushels. The projected range for the season-average corn farm price was unchanged at $3.35 to $3.95 per bushel, in line with prices reported to date and current futures price levels.


Global soybean production was projected at 320.1 million tons, down 0.9 million. Total U.S. oilseed production for 2015/16 was forecast at 117.7 million tons, down slightly due to a small reduction in cottonseed. Soybean supply and use projections for 2015/16 were unchanged from last month. Soybean ending stocks were unchanged at 465 million bushels. If realized that would be the highest since 2006/07. The U.S. season-average soybean price for 2015/16 was forecast at $8.15 to $9.65 per bushel, unchanged from last month. Soybean meal was forecast at $290 to $330 per short ton, down 10 dollars on both ends of the range. Soybean oil was forecast at 28.5 to 31.5 cents per pound, up one cent on both ends.

Our Leslie Smith interviewed Leffler for his analysis of the latest WASDE report.  Click or tap here to listen to his outlook.  Click here for the full WASDE report.

The House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management held a hearing Wednesday to examine the current state of the U.S. cotton industry. Members heard from a variety of stakeholders-producers, warehousers, ginners, and agricultural lenders-on the current situation unfolding in the cotton belt. 


The hearing panel was comprised of National Cotton Council (NCC) Vice Chairman Shane Stephens, a Greenwood, Miss., warehouser; a group of four cotton producers: Nathan Reed, Arkansas state chairman, American Cotton Producers, Marianna, Ark.; Shawn Holladay, a NCC director from Lubbock, TX; Kent Wannamaker, president, Southern Cotton Growers, Saint Matthews, S.C.; and Cannon Michael, a NCC director from Los Banos, Calif.; and Mike Wright, a Lubbock banker. 


Each of the producer panelists testified to the need for the Agriculture Secretary to designate cottonseed as an 'other oilseed' and be eligible for the Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs. They stated providing a safety net for cottonseed "is desperately needed to provide stability in the cotton industry."  Click or tap here to read more from the National Cotton Council on the challenges in the cotton industry.


Written testimony provided by the witnesses from the hearing can by found here.  Click here for more information, including Subcommittee Chairman Crawford's opening statement, and the archived webcast.

I featured Woodall on the Beef Buzz. Click or tap here to listen to Colin's take on the battle to repeal COOL.

One Oklahoman will serve on a national advisory board for land-grant colleges and universities. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Wednesday announced the appointment of nine individuals to serve on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board.   Wathina Luthi of Luthi Farms from Gage, Oklahoma will serve on the board for the next three years.


The NAREEE Advisory Board advises the Secretary of Agriculture and land-grant colleges and universities on top national priorities and policies for food and agricultural research, education, extension, and economics. The NAREEE Advisory Board's main objective is to contribute to effective federal agricultural research, education and economics programs through broad stakeholder feedback and sound science in its ongoing role as advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture.


The nine members have been appointed to a 3-year term expiring September 30, 2018.  Click or tap here to read more about these individuals.