FAPRI Report: Corn Price Falls Less Than 1% With Full RFS Waiver 

A full waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard's (RFS) conventional biofuel requirement might reduce corn prices by just 0.5% ($0.04 per bushel) in 2012/13, according to a new analysis conducted by the Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute. The study also found corn ethanol production might slip by just 1.3% with a waiver in 2012/13, while corn available for livestock feed might increase just 0.6%. Further, the analysis concluded a waiver of the RFS would have no effect on retail beef prices in 2013, and might shave just 1 cent per pound off of retail pork prices. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) said the new FAPRI study adds to the mounting body of evidence showing that a waiver of the RFS would not meaningfully impact feed prices.

"The new FAPRI study is just the latest in a series of recent reports that show waiving the RFS would not have the types of impacts claimed by the livestock groups and grocery manufacturers," said RFA President Bob Dinneen. "The suggestion that an RFS waiver would significantly bring down feed prices and reduce retail meat prices is absolutely absurd. The only real impacts of a waiver would be to discourage farmers from planting corn next spring and to interrupt and delay important investments in new feedstocks and advanced biofuels technologies."

Waiving the RFS requirements during the 2012/13 corn marketing year (Sep. 1, 2012 to Aug. 31, 2013) would have "limited market impact," FAPRI wrote, adding that "...overall ethanol use and production are projected to be motivated mostly by crop and fuel market conditions in the current marketing year, not the RFS."

For the full story, click here.

It's Vernon Versus Goliath as Supremes Will Hear Genetic Seed Dispute in Early 2013  

The US Supreme Court announced Friday that they plan on hearing arguments about how much control Monsanto has over later generations of seed well after they have sold it for the first time- complete with their technology fees.  

It's farmer Vernon Bowman of Indiana versus the Biotech giant- as he has used "bin run" soybeans from a local elevator for some second crop planting on his farm- Monsanto objected, took him to court and won.  Now the US Supreme Court will look at that legal victory claimed in a lower court by Monsanto.   

According to a Bloomberg article on the Supreme Court's move to review this case- "The legal issues stem from Monsanto's efforts to ensure that farmers have to buy the genetically modified seeds every year, rather than planting part of the harvest from the previous season. Farmers who buy seeds from an authorized dealer must agree that they won't use any harvested seeds for planting."   

Bloomberg quotes one critic of Monsanto and their biotech traits. "Chuck Benbrook, a research professor at Washington State University's Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources in Enterprise, Oregon, said he would be surprised if the Supreme Court overturned the prohibition on seed saving.

"If it's overturned, it will have cataclysmic repercussions for the business model in the seed biotech industry," Benbrook said by telephone. "It would basically end the agricultural biotech industry as we know it, certainly for soybeans."

It's likely that the Court will hear arguments on this case in early 2013.  Click here to read more of the Bloomberg story on this battle of one farmer versus Monsanto.  

New OSU Animal Science Department Chair Sees Future Challenges, Opportunities

Dr. Clint Rusk is the new head of the animal science department of Oklahoma State University.  We caught up with him at the Tulsa State Fair where he was assisting with several of the livestock competitions.  We asked him about his first impressions of the state, OSU, and some of the challenges he sees on the horizon.

A native of Kansas, Rusk says there are a number of things that attracted him to Stillwater and the position he now holds.

"I think this department has probably produced more folks who have had their portrait hung in the Saddle and Sirloin Club in Louisville at the North American than any other department in the country that I know of. So I'm impressed by the alumni, I'm impressed by the heritage and the tradition of excellence. And, so, to be part of that, to me, is just a humbling experience and that's what attracted me to come here."

Rusk says he appreciates the magnitude of the challenge he's facing not only in educating Oklahoma students, but students from across the country. He heads the largest department on campus serving almost 900 students from 40 different states.

He's been on the job for just over three months and said he has spent a lot of time getting to know the faculty and staff. He said it will probably take at least a year before he has a full grasp of priorities for the department and enhancements that can be made. That's not to say there aren't immediate concerns that have grabbed his attention.

"The challenge right now with the high cost of feed and grain is just trying to maintain our livestock. You look around the country at other universities similar to Oklahoma State in terms of land grant schools and some of them have decided to focus on one or two or maybe three species. We're still trying to maintain a presence in several species. And just simply the cost of maintaining those animals is going to be a challenge this year."

You can listen to our in-depth interview or read more by clicking here.

Grand Champion Steer at the Tulsa State Fair Sells for $35,000- Once Again to Long Time Supporter LC Neel

The top animals that were shown at the 2012 Junior Livestock Show at the Tulsa State Fair were showcased on Friday morning at the Premium Sale of the cream of the crop of the show. As is tradition, the Grand Champion Steer led off the 2012 sale, and the winning bidder was a familiar face to those who have followed the Tulsa State Fair Premium Sale down through the years- L C Neel bid $35,000 and bought the 2012 Grand Steer from McKenzie Strickland from the Tecumseh FFA. Neel told auctioneer Eddie Sims that this was his 35th Grand Champion that he had bought down through the years. He also bought the Grand Champion Steer in 2011- although he had to pay a little more for it last year than this year ($40,000). 

Other Grand Champions and their purchase prices for 2012 were about the same as in 2011. The Grand Champion Barrow was shown by Whitney Jung of Sterling FFA- she saw her Hampshire Champion sell for $11,000 to Jerry and Loretta Murphy. The Murphy's operate the amusement rides at the Tulsa State Fair and have for many years. The Murphy's kept bidding and also purchased the Grand Champion Market Lamb for $10,000 from Olivia Mason of the Fairview FFA Chapter- and they also bought the best chickens of the show- the Grand Champion Pen of Broilers were sold for $6,000- they were exhibited by Jeron Hamm of the Lexington FFA.


The final Grand Champion in the market classes was the Grand Champion Meat Goat- shown by Trent Boles of the Asher FFA- his Goat sold for $10,000 to Expo Serve who have the food concessions at the Tulsa State Fair. 

Click here for our webstory which has a picture of the Grand Champion Steer with LC Neel and McKenzie Strickland- and we have a link to our Flickr page of pictures from the Premium Sale at this year's Tulsa State Fair.  

Cashing In on Beef Quality In the Hands of Producers, says U.S. Premium Beef

Brian Bertelsen, director of field operations for U.S. Premium Beef, says cashing in on increased beef quality is within the grasp of each and every cattle producer.

"They have the most on that animal from conception, literally to harvest. So, the genetics they use, the management of the cow before it's even born, and all through that animal's life, they have the opportunity to build the most value."

He says the goal is to set the herd up for increased marbling.

"It doesn't just happen in the feed yard, it is a lifetime achievement."

To track those achievements, U.S. Premium Beef offers free individual carcass data to grid marketers.

"We encourage producers to use that as much as possible," Bertelsen says. "Most of them would take it back to whatever they have available-the individual cow, the sire or the sire group, or simply see things in their management."

You can read more or watch a video report with Brian Bertelsen on our website by clicking here.

Study Finds School Deregulation Favored Over Consolidation

In response to Gov. Mary Fallin's call for a debate about the structure of Oklahoma's school systems, House Speaker Pro Tempore Jeff Hickman and Ringwood Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tom Deighan presented an interim study on school consolidation to the House Common Education Committee.

Hickman said the study raised serious doubts about whether widespread consolidation is even necessary, and if it is, to what extent. Most committee members felt that deregulating all districts and splitting up large, struggling urban districts into more districts is a better route.

If policymakers do decide to restructure school districts, Hickman said they might start by reviewing the 104 dependent school districts that only offer classes through eighth grade before sending students to a neighboring high school while keeping all the property tax money within their district for the K-8 school.

As a school superintendent, Deighan said he appreciated recent efforts by some legislators to deregulate districts even though major deregulation legislation has failed to be signed into law.

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

Agricultural Pesticide Disposal Sites Set for November in Sayre, Dewey

Oklahoma agricultural producers, commercial and non-commercial applicators and pesticide dealers can get rid of unwanted pesticides in November, courtesy of the Oklahoma Unwanted Pesticide Disposal Program.

Collection services will take place 8 a,m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 13, in Sayre at the Beckham County Fairgrounds, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 15, in Dewey at the Washington County Fairgrounds.

Unwanted pesticides are those that are unusable as originally intended for a variety of reasons, including leftover pesticides, pesticides that are no longer registered in Oklahoma, and pesticides that no longer have labels or are no longer identifiable.

"We will accept commercial and farm-type pesticides, as well as those typically used by homeowners," said Charles Luper, Cooperative Extension associate with the Oklahoma State University Pesticide Safety Education Program. "Other items such as paint, batteries and oil also will not be accepted."   

Click here for more information on the disposal days and for pesticide safety sheets from OSU.