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The optimism ran high in the cars and pickup trucks that rolled westward from Manhattan, Kansas on Tuesday for the 2012 Wheat Quality Council hard red winter wheat tour. First day numbers are way ahead of 2011, which was to be expected after the historic drought that farmers faced a year ago- but these numbers from day one are also five bushels higher than any other year ever seen on the tour. One veteran wheat scout believes that the disease that was seen across central Kansas simply was not adequately accounted for- and he questioned the accuracy of the head count formula being used. He concludes- take the number optimistic numbers with a grain of salt. Tour organizer Ben Handcock adds that "our number is probably a little high" and the general consensus of those who have been on multiple crop tours that this looks like a solidly "above average crop" but not a record breaker.   

The average yield number for Day One was 53.6 bushels per acre.  Day two will be hard pressed to look as good, with fields to be checked in southwestern Kansas- where drought concerns have lingered into spring.  

Click here for the full report we have on our website of Day One from the Kansas wheat crop tour- including an audio report from Debbie Wedel of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission staff- who is traveling on the tour this week.  

This morning- the Oklahoma wheat crop will be discussed on a district by district basis at the Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association annual meeting in Oklahoma City.  By midday today, we will be tweeting out a wheat crop estimate for the state that could approach twice as many bushels as were produced in 2011.  

OSU Center for Health Sciences Recruits FFA Students for Careers in Rural Oklahoma 

In an effort to address the shortage of physicians in rural Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences participated in the Oklahoma FFA Convention at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Kayse Shrum, OSU-CHS provost, presented a workshop to introduce students to the benefits of being a medical doctor in a small town.

She spoke with us about the her program and said many FFA members would make great additions to the medical community in rural Oklahoma.

"I grew up in rural Oklahoma. We're really looking for people who are interested in going back to practice in rural Oklahoma. The things that we know about where physicians will practice mid-career is determined by where they're from, where they went to college, if their medical school curriculum focuses on primary care and where they do their residency.

"I really believe that students who grew up in rural Oklahoma are accustomed to the small community.  They're accustomed to living in rural Oklahoma.  They will be more comfortable and more likely to stay and practice in rural Oklahoma.   And I think these high school students are really the answer to our health care shortage."

Shrum says there are many scholarship opportunities now available for students who become physicians and practice in rural areas.

You can read more or hear Dr. Shrum's full interview by clicking here.

Spring Management Practices Can Increase Fall Calf Values

In the current issue of Ag News and Views published by the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Jeri Donnell discusses spring management opportunities that can translate into higher prices for calves sold this fall.

Cattle prices are high and are projected to remain high throughout 2012 despite seasonal volatility. In the fourth week of March, October 2012 Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle contracts traded at $157.50/cwt. This is a $17.80/cwt increase over similar contracts traded one year ago. While external factors may alter cattle prices this fall, your cattle management practices also influence price. Do not overlook value-added management processing opportunities that can be implemented this spring to help ensure the highest price possible for your calves this fall.

An animal's physical characteristics influence price. Animal weight, gender, hide color (breed influence), frame size, muscle score, fill, condition, health and the presence of horns influence the price buyers are willing to pay for calves. Specifically, bull calves receive a lower price ($/cwt) compared to steer calves, and calves with horns are discounted compared to polled or dehorned animals. Weaning and vaccination claims are also known to influence price.

Click here to read more from Jeri Donnell.

University-wide Efforts Lead to New Steak Discovery at OSU

Efforts of Oklahoma State University's Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center, department of animal science, Technology Development Center and The Ranchers Club restaurant assisted in the discovery of the "newest" cut on the beef carcass.

"Given the history of the beef industry, the discovery of a new beef steak that has never before been fabricated and marketed could appear to be an impossibility," said Jacob Nelson, FAPC value-added meat processing specialist. "The Vegas Strip Steak is the latest and perhaps last steak to be found on the beef carcass."

With more than 30 years of beef carcass research and development, Tony Mata of Mata & Associates approached Nelson and the FAPC with the possibility of a new steak.

"From coolers, freezers and cutting rooms to the on-site USDA inspectors, the staff and facility availability at the FAPC made this new steak find possible," Nelson said.

"Dr. [Stephen] Price and the Technology Development Center provided initial patent guidance and still assists with the varying aspects of intellectual property," Nelson said.  

The Ranchers Club prepared and hosted small tastings of the steak. "Chef Pritchett and his culinary staff were very gracious in assisting in this process and did a tremendous job."

As a result of the university-wide efforts, the Vegas Strip Steak took center stage for the first time at the Protein Innovation Summit in Chicago, Ill., on April 17, 2012.

You can learn more about the Las Vegas Strip Steak and FAPC's efforts to bring it to market by clicking here.

Phil Seng Explains USMEF Strategy in Managing BSE Discovery in US With Pacific Rim Customers

Nearly one week after USDA's announcement of a new BSE case in California, a partial import ban by Indonesia remains the only official change in market access for U.S. beef. (The Indonesian market remains open to imports of boneless beef cuts from the United States, but has closed to beef variety meat, bone-in muscle cuts and other beef products.) Thailand has not officially informed the U.S. government of a ban on U.S. beef imports, but has publicly announced that trade may be suspended.

While Indonesia's decision is disappointing, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Philip Seng says it was mainly due to Indonesia's desire to bolster its own domestic beef production rather than actual concerns about BSE. Seng adds that the vast majority of U.S. trading partners have followed sound science and handled news of the BSE case responsibly.

Seng cautions, however, that maintaining market access is only part of the battle. In key markets, USMEF staff members have been actively engaged with industry partners, media contacts and other influential sources in an effort to maintain consumer confidence and dispel any misinformation about the safety or quality of U.S. beef. These activities are critical to maintaining consumer demand and protecting U.S. market share.  

Philip Seng is featured in our current Beef Buzz. You can hear it by  clicking here.

Lawmakers Send Ownbey Poaching Bill to Governor

Legislation on its way to the governor's desk to be signed into law would deter poachers by increasing the fine and mandating they lose their hunting and fishing licenses.            

"Poachers currently face a measly $50 fine no matter how many times they've been caught," said Representative Pat Ownbey, R-Ardmore. "Several constituents have been incensed by repeat offenders on their property. One poacher in the district shot a horse while illegally hunting deer and the property owner had already sold the horse and lost the sale of the animal, which I guarantee you is a frustrating situation. We need tougher penalties; otherwise we may see property owners begin to take matters into their own hands."            

House Bill 2573 increases the fine for poaching to a $500 minimum fine and $1,500 maximum fine. The legislation makes the penalty for a second offense a fine of $1,500-2,500, six months in county jail or both. The legislation also mandates that a repeat offender could lose their hunting and fishing licenses for up to 10 years.

You can read more about HB 2573 by clicking here.

This N That- FFA Day Two, Lahoma Canola Field Day and Crop Protection Plus Expands

This is a big day for the 86th annual convention of the Oklahoma FFA, as they name their Stars Over Oklahoma this afternoon, the proficiency award winners in almost 40 categories and then this evening, the announcement of their 2012-2013 state officer team.  We will be posting our videos of the three Stars Over Oklahoma this afternoon in the Blue Green Gazette after they have announced to the convention on stage- and details on the State Officer team will be there as well tonight. Click here for our Blue Green Gazette, where you will find the latest stories on FFA and 4-H from across the state of Oklahoma!

AND- speaking of FFA- we have a bunch of pictures from Day One of the state convention- we have a new Flickr set that you can check out by clicking here and taking a look! 

The 2012 Lahoma Research Station Canola Field Day is set for tomorrow- Thursday, May 3.  The canola will be almost ready for harvest as farmers gather for this annual event in north central Oklahoma- and except where hail has caused some late season heart burn- crop prospects are excellent.  Click here for the final program that shows the full agenda of this year's Canola Field Day in Lahoma.  

The folks with DuPont have expanded their coverage to farmers that they offer in their Crop Protection Plus program. Growers are eligible for product cost replacement if treated fields become uneconomical to harvest due to drought, frost/freeze, flood, hail or fire. Click here for our full story about what the DuPont folks are offering on a wider variety of crops than ever before this growing season.