Ending Antibiotic Use in Pork Would Be Costly to Consumers and the Well Being of the Animals, Roy Lee Lindsey Explains 

High-profile animal rights groups have mounted campaigns against livestock producers for years. Beef, poultry or pork, none have been excluded.

Recently, the Humane Society of the United States has placed pork producers on the hot seat with their efforts to force hog farms to abandon the use of individual housing for sows. At the same time, there are other groups attacking pork producers over the use of antibiotics. Their main theme seems to be that using antibiotics in production agriculture is somehow ruining antibiotics for use by humans.

Roy Lee Lindsey, executive director of the Oklahoma Pork Council, says nothing could be further from the truth. He spoke with us recently and says the campaigns of the vocal minorities against pork producers are not reflective of sound science.

"We live in a sound-bite world and it's easy to talk in sound bites, especially when you're the person attacking something else as opposed to the person who's trying to defend what you do especially using science. Because, unfortunately, you can't fit the science into a sound bite most times." 

Click here to listen to the full interview with Roy Lee Lindsey. 

NCBA Seeks Permanent Assurance EPA Won't Hike Dust Standard

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed its long awaited dust standard that sparked controversy within the agricultural community. The controversy arose when EPA staff announced the administrator would be "justified" in doubling the stringency of the current, so-called dust standard, officially known as the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for coarse particulate matter. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed news from EPA that it plans to retain the current standard, however; the issue involving farm dust is far from over, according to NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel Ashley McDonald.

"We learned from the last two reviews of this standard that a final standard can look very different than the proposal. It is important to note that EPA's action today is simply a proposal from the agency and not the final standard," said McDonald.

The final standard is scheduled to be released by EPA in December of this year. McDonald said NCBA encourages EPA to stick with the proposed standard and not lower the final standard. She said lowering the standard would throw a large section of the country into nonattainment.

There's more to this story and you can read it by clicking here.

Oklahoma Beef Council Invites Farmers, Ranchers to Join 'Food Dialogues' Conversation Online

The movement for farmer and ranchers to raise their voices for agriculture continues this month as farmers and ranchers head to Los Angeles - the entertainment capital of the world - for the second Food Dialogues event, June 20-21, 2012. Four separate discussions - being held over two days -will bring together entertainment movers and shakers, chefs, academics, large restaurant operators, journalists, local leaders, farmers and ranchers for an in-depth conversation about food The Oklahoma Beef Council would like to invite you to join the conversation online (either live streamed or taped) at www.fooddialogues.com.

"We are pleased to bring this type of conversation to the forefront in a pivotal location like Los Angeles," said Bob Stallman, chairman of USFRA and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. "We chose Los Angeles because of the influence the region and its opinion leaders have on popular culture and trends that affect the entire nation - including how we view our food. These in-depth discussions will not only move the conversation forward about how food is grown and raised, but it will also give those in the agricultural industry the opportunity to learn more from consumers and their needs and expectations for the food-growing industries."

You can find a full rundown of all the presentations at the "Food Dialogues" event and more details on how to participate online by clicking here.

Ethanol Industry Welcomes EPA Approval of E15 for Commercial Marketplace

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave the final approval to move forward with the sale of E15 ethanol blends. The final issue preventing E15 from moving forward focused on residual fuel left in the hose of single hose pumps that would offer E15 and other fuels. Most importantly, this announcement knocks down the lone, significant regulatory hurdle standing in the way of getting E15 into the marketplace for passenger vehicles 2001 and newer. With guidance on that issue from the EPA, fuel providers and retailers wishing to sell E15 can do so provided they register with EPA and follow approved misfueling mitigation protocols.

Responding to this news, the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy issued the following statement:

"Today's announcement is a victory for American consumers. Since filing the Green Jobs waiver three years ago, the ethanol industry has worked extensively with the EPA to meet the conditions they placed on the approval of the waiver last year. At each step along the way, the industry has done its part to meet these conditions to get E15 into the marketplace."

The Renewable Fuels Association has more to say and you can find it by clicking here.

2012 Caddo County Cotton Crop Off to a Good Start

A mild winter, early spring and timely rain have given Caddo County cotton farmers' crop a good start.

Jeannie Hileman, manager of the Farmers Coop gin here explained the 2012 crop has an early start, even if there have been attacks from cotton aphids on the young plants.

"We have a really good start for a crop this year," she said. "Much of the cotton is already at the pinhead square level of growth, just before beginning to form new bolls on the bottom branches of the plant. We have seen a lot of thrips in some fields. Seed treatments helped in the early stages of growth, but several producers have had to spray for the pest."

Dr. Randy Boman, Oklahoma State University Research Director and Cotton Extension Program Leader, accompanied by staffers Jerry Goodson and Shane Osborne, outlined how the 2012 cotton crop is shaping up to a group of Caddo County producers here this week. 

Goodson reported on the continuing problem of thrips in young cotton this year. "Thrips are not generally a serious pest of Oklahoma cotton, except in years when unfavorable growing conditions limit early season growth. Heavy thrips infestations can occur if plants have emerged before wheat or other small grains mature. Mature thrips often move into stands of succulent cotton seedlings, causing curled and misshapen leaves which inhibits growth and may cause maturity delay. Thrips infestations vary from field to field and from year to year and should be handled accordingly.

Click here for more on the Caddo County cotton crop and how to combat this year's insect threats. 

Registration is Open for the Upcoming Southern Plains Beef Symposium

Cattle producers seeking ways to better manage their operations in ever more challenging business conditions are invited to the Aug. 11 Southern Plains Beef Symposium in Ardmore.

Celebrating its 22nd year, the 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. symposium will take place in the Ardmore Convention Center, located at 2401 N. Rockford Rd., just off Exit 33 from Interstate 35. Registration is $25 per participant, which covers the cost of symposium materials, refreshments and the traditional prime rib lunch.

The symposium will include a trade show and full program of speakers talking about trends in the cattle industry. 

We are looking forward to being back with the great folks in Ardmore again this year- and will serve as the morning moderator for the program- our friend Lyndall Stout with SUNUP with handle the after lunch chores in moving the program along.

Speakers will include: Kit Pharo of Pharo Cattle Company, John Hutcheson of Merck Animal Health, Tommy Beall of Beall Consulting Group, Mike Sands from Informa Economics, and Temple Grandin from Colorado State University.

Click here for more details and a link to the registration page.