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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 

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Anderson Creek Fire Now 90% Contained- The Latest on Hay Needs, Pasture Listings and Cash Donations  

Crews continue to mop-up and suppress hotspots aided by some snowfall on the fire Sunday morning. By mid-afternoon, much of the snow had melted with fuels drying out. The Anderson Creek Fire is 90% contained across Oklahoma and Kansas with updated mapping of the fire's perimeter expected today. Containment is now 85% for the portion of the fire in Woods County, OK. Kansas officials are reporting the fire to be 81% contained in Barber County and 90% contained in Comanche County.

More details on the work to finish containment are available here.

We got word late yesterday afternoon from Joe Shirley in Alva that there is a fresh need for hay again- contact the Woods County Extension Office or call 580-829-3037 if you have hay that you can donate.

The folks at Oklahoma Farm Bureau have set up a listing service on short term pasture that could be leased by ranchers- our thanks to Todd Honer for giving us the heads up on this service from OKFB- If you have some extra acres you would like to make available for rent, call or text Todd at (405) 205-0090 or email him at todd.honer@okfb.org. Once they get some listings, the organization will be posting on their website that information.

Cash donations are also welcome- the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation has a way for you to help in that regard- and they will be working with the local folks in Woods County to identify needs for that money going forward.

One reminder for ranchers in the middle of this nightmare- or for future reference when you get caught in something similar- take time to document your losses of buildings, animals, fence, etc. And, check in with the Farm Service Agency because there are some programs that can offer help- but to make sure you are eligible- you may need to make contact with the appropriate agencies before starting repairs or rebuilding.

Another friend at this time of need should also be your insurance agent- they can help navigate any hoops to jump through as you work on getting back on your feet.

Derrell Peel on the Business of Cow- Calf Producers- Selling Their Forage Through Their Calves 

 

Mondays, Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry. This analysis is a part of the weekly series known as the "Cow Calf Corner" published electronically by Dr. Peel and Dr. Glenn Selk. Today, Dr. Peel looks at the business that cow calf producers are really in- raising and selling their forage through their calves.

"The economic basis for cow-calf production is growing grass and using cows to harvest the grass. Feed costs are typically the largest component of annual cow costs in cow-calf operations. Total feed cost includes grazing cost, harvested forage and purchased supplemental feed. Producers can minimize annual feed costs by managing for maximum grazing; with minimal use of hay and supplemental feed to seasonally overcome lack of forage quantity and/or quality. Oklahoma data shows that hay production per beef cow has increased over time, more than doubling over the past 30 years. It appears that hay feeding periods have been extended and improper hay storage and feeding has increased hay waste. In many cases it is feasible to reduce annual cow costs by at least $100-$150/cow with a combination of better grazing management and reduced hay use."

Read more from Dr. Peel by clicking here.

Wheat Crop Ratings Stand Pat in the Latest Crop Weather Reports  

 

There was not a lot of change in the wheat crop ratings in the southern plains from the Crop Weather Updates released on Monday afternoon for the states of Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.


The Oklahoma Crop Weather Update shows 63% of the state's wheat crop in good to excellent shape, even with the report of one week ago. Likewise, the winter canola crop is also rated the same this week as it was a week ago at 63% in good to excellent condition. You can review the complete report, which includes a rundown on top soil and sub soil moisture ratings by clicking here.

The largest HRW state, Kansas, slipped one percentage point this week versus last with a good to excellent rating of 56%, with 37% of the crop in Fair condition. 

More details on Kansas are available here.

Finally, the wheat crop in Texas improved one rating point this week versus last with 48% of the crop now in good to excellent condition- 42% of the crop remains in Fair shape.

They are active in planting corn in the state of Texas- you can read about that and the other weekly crop details by clicking here.

Dr. Margaret Riley on the Reality of Antimicrobials- When Antibiotics are Used, Resistance is Being Selected

 

At the recent Bayer Agvocacy gathering in New Orleans, we caught up with one of the leading experts in the world of antibiotic resistance, Dr. Margaret Riley. After receiving her Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1991, Dr. Riley joined the faculty at Yale University, where she remained for 15 years while developing an internationally renowned research program in antimicrobial drug discovery. Today, she is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Massachusetts- Amherst.

At this Conference, she told participants that it is wrong to point fingers at animal agriculture for causing antibiotic resistance without also pointing fingers at the human side of the equation as well.

Here logic for that statement is what we feature in today's edition of the Beef Buzz- which is available here.

If you are involved with animal agriculture- take the time to listen to her comments- she has a fresh perspective in dealing with this tough issue without just saying no no no no.

State Question 777- Anti 777 Crowd Meets in Tulsa- Proponents Gather in Stillwater

 
There continues to be "educational" meetings on State Question 777- seven months ahead of the November general election when "Right to Farm" will be on the ballot.

The Vote No folks held a "non partisan informational meeting" on State Question 777 in Tulsa last night- they just forgot to invite anyone who supported the State Question to speak. News on 6 reporter Annie Chang tweeted during her coverage of the meeting at the All Souls Unitarian Church that while it was billed as a non partisan meeting, "panelists are against Right to Farm." 

About a hundred people were at the meeting- earlier in the day, Chang did talk to a supporter- John Collison of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau who spoke to her about the need to protect future generations of farmers and ranchers from overegulation and out of state interests who have anti agricultural agendas.  She also interviewed John Sulton who is a part owner in Scissortail Farms in Tulsa- they grow lettuce hydroponically- and he told Chang about 777 "I think it sounds great on the surface in the name, but it stops there. We really believe in food safety and putting a lot of practices in that; a lot of people have put a lot of thought and time into, and continue to."  He goes on to say that he believes regulation can be a good thing- he does not differentiate between state and federal regulations. 

As you probably know- SQ777 only deals with possible bills that would be considered in the future by the Oklahoma legislature- it has nothing to do with federal oversight of food safety- or of the environment.

You can see the Annie Chang piece from the News on 6 by clicking here.

Meanwhile- in Stillwater, a district meeting of the Oklahoma Cattlemen had a positive vibe to it when it came to State Question 777- OCA Executive VP Michael Kelsey gave us a thumbnail of what the message was about 777 last night and at all of their District Meetings across the state- "We are sharing that 777 is a positive long-term move for Oklahoma agriculture and Oklahoma consumers, specifically for our kids and grandkids. We are also sharing that the message of the opponents paints cattle producers negatively therefore it is vitally important we help share our positive message by promoting and contributing."

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Beef Cutout Prices Lower- Beef Export Volume Jumps Higher- Ed Czerwein Explains

 
On a regular basis, Ed Czerwein of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Market News Office in Amarillo, Texas offers a review of the previous week's boxed beef trade. Here is his report of weekly boxed beef trade for the week ending March 26th.


The daily spot Choice box beef cutout ended the week last Friday at $224.36 which was $7.45 lower compared to the previous Friday but about 10 dollars lower in the last six working days. It is likely that ham sales that are important Easter week cut into beef demand. There were 620 loads sold for the week in the daily box beef cutout which was about/almost 10% of the total volume. Last year at this time we were around $250 then climbed to $265 right before Memorial day but had a couple of minor setbacks during the spring rally.

One of the real positives from Ed Czerwein's report this week- Beef exports. "Exports as reported on the Boxed Beef report represent primarily muscle cuts and were a whopping 1010 loads which was 532 loads higher and the largest we had been for a while. 176 loads were sold to our NAFTA Neighbors and 834 loads were shipped overseas."

Read more and listen to Ed's report by clicking here.

This N That- NAWG CEO, Backyard Poultry Confab and Governor Fallin Issues Emergency Declaration 

 
At the recommendation of the man who now holds the job, the National Association of Wheat Growers is changing direction on the type of person who is their top hired hand.  Jim Palmer has been their CEO since 2013- and he is leaving as of the end of May- and he indicates in a statement released by NAWG that the organization needs some different skills than what he brings to the table.

"I have decided not to renew my contract because I believe now is a great time for NAWG to have a CEO with different skill sets than mine. I have strongly recommended to our Executive Committee that they seek someone with proven agriculture policy success as its top skill-set priority."

Read more about this job opening in DC by clicking here.

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This coming Saturday- April 2nd, the Northwest Oklahoma Backyard Poultry Conference in Enid will take place 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center, located at 111 West Purdue on the Garfield County Fairgrounds, on the north side of Enid. Cost is $10 per person and youth 15 years or younger are admitted free of charge.


"Extension is excited to be able to offer this opportunity," said Dana Zook, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension area livestock specialist headquartered in Enid. "Think of it as one-stop shopping, time management made easy wherein you can access everything you need to know to either get started or enhance an existing poultry operation."

More info on this event is available here.

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Governor Mary Fallin  issued an executive order on Monday declaring a state of emergency for Woods County- this because of the Anderson Creek fire that we updated you on in our top story above.

Under the executive order, state agencies can make emergency purchases and acquisitions needed to expedite the delivery of resources to local jurisdictions.

The executive order is in effect for 30 days, and could be amended to include additional counties if needed.

A federal disaster declaration is also being pursued for both Woods County as well as Barber and Comanche Counties in Kansas.

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