In his latest contribution to the weekly newsletter Cow/Calf Corner, OSU Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel reviews the overall positive trends in meat trade markets this past October for pork, poultry and beef.

Pork exports were up 9.1 percent year over year for the month leading to a year to date total up 2.0 percent. Broiler exports were up 8.1 percent in October compared to last year. Year to date broiler exports for the first ten months of the year are up 2.5 percent over one year ago. Beef exports in October were 16.9 percent above last year with year to date beef exports up 9.4 percent. Meat exports have accelerated recently with year over year July to October pork exports up 6.3 percent; broiler exports up 14.5 percent; and beef exports up 20.3 percent. Moving additional meat offshore helps to moderate growing U.S. meat supplies due to increased pork, poultry and beef production in 2016. The U.S. dollar continues strong and will continue to represent a headwind for meat exports but exports continue to grow despite this adversity.

Beef exports, specifically, has performed very strong in most Asian markets with South Korea up 66.0 percent in October compared to last year and up 35.2 percent for the year to date. Exports to Japan were up 35.9 percent year over year in October and are up 15.9 percent for the first ten months of the year. Taiwan and Vietnam are smaller beef export markets but were up 91.3 and 71.4 percent respectively in October compared to last year.

However, beef exports did see a decline in Hong Kong, Canada and Mexico. But decreases were also seen in total beef imports as well as total cattle imports.

For a comprehensive breakdown of Dr. Peel's analysis of the
meat markets, click here.

Trump detractors are working overtime to cast Tillerson as the wrong man for the job- citing no government experience as well as being too rich and too well connected to people like Russian Leader Putin. Also his lifelong association with ExxonMobil has been considered a negative by those in the media who are sympathetic with the Democrats.

However, T. Boone Pickens sees no negatives for Tillerson- he has released a statement saying "I've known Rex for decades. He is a thoughtful, strategic and straight forward kind of guy. He's a tough negotiator with lots of international experience. Roughly two thirds of the world's oil is controlled by state owned oil companies, so politically, he's well skilled for the position."

Meanwhile, while it is not official, sources are now saying former Texas Governor Rick Perry is the Trump pick to be Secretary of the Department of Energy.

AND the position that many of you are most interested in- Secretary of Agriculture- has apparently been assigned the role of political football.

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a North Dakota Democrat, tops President-elect Donald Trump's list to be the next Agriculture Secretary. The question remains, however, whether she will accept the post.

Politico reports that if she leaves the Senate for the Department of Agriculture, Heitkamp will likely be giving up her Senate seat to a Republican. Democrats are hoping she would turn down the offer because it would give Republicans a chance to increase their thin majority in the Senate, which stands at 52 seats. However, former North Dakota Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan says Heitkamp can win reelection because North Dakotans "like and trust" her. Heitkamp met with Trump earlier this month. 

Heitkamp has also been mentioned as a potential match for the Energy job- but if that is going to Rick Perry- that could mean that full court press is on to get Senator Heikamp to vacate her Senate office and move down the mall to USDA. 

Would she be the best choice?  Probably not.  But, if the President Elect can entice her to make the move- she will be getting an insider's seat for the next farm bill negotiations in exchange for giving the GOP some cushion with their Senate Majority.

That deal is too good for the Trump team to ignore- so we wait on word of who the USDA Secretary will be.

 

Scott Yager, environmental counsel for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association reacted yesterday to the Congressional passage of The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, which includes a provision to provide regulatory relief for farms from the EPA's Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule for farms.

"Cattle producers applaud Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Rick Crawford's leadership championing this issue and getting the regulatory relief farmers and ranchers need from yet another unnecessary EPA overregulation," Yager stated. "The provision included in the WIIN Act provides additional flexibility for storing oil containers on individual parcels of land and a complete exemption for animal feed additives, including tallow and grease."

Yager contends the exemptions included in the measure are founded in commonsense and will protect producers from the undue burden and costs of development to stay compliant with unnecessary regulations.

To read Yager's complete statement in response to the passage of the WIIN Act, click here.

There was a lot of talk last Friday afternoon at the Tulsa Farm Show about residents from both rural and urban communities finding common ground. Our own Carson Horn spoke with Tulsa's new mayor, G.T. Bynum, who attended the Rural to Urban Outreach reception at the farm show, hosted by American Farmers & Ranchers.


"It's just incredibly important that people understand - In Oklahoma where you have your urban areas and your rural areas - this is one state," Bynum said. "The fact is, what's good for rural America is good for Tulsa."

During his address at the reception, Bynum brought attention to the fact that much of Tulsa's assets are geared toward the agricultural sector including the Port of Catoosa, the country's largest inland port and distribution hub for ag products, and the city's higher education institutions that focus on innovation in the ag sector, especially rural healthcare.


"Rural Oklahoma doing well, especially in the agricultural space," Bynum said, "is incredibly important in the future growth of Tulsa."

Click here to read more about the Mayor's visit to AFR's Rural to Urban Outreach reception and listen to his full remarks.

There is a lot of different types of hay feeders available on the market today, but according to Bob Studebaker, proprietor of GoBob Pipe & Steel, none can hold a candle to his models designed to make feeding hay more efficient for cattle producers. He told me recently, when selling one of his feeders, it is his mission to decrease his client's hay waste.


"One of the things you want to eliminate in anything that you do is waste," Studebaker said. "Our hay feeders have been real popular. These are feeders that you do not have to replace."

GoBob has extended its line of hay feeders to include different models such as the Scientific Hay Conserver, guaranteed to help producers feed up to 50 percent less hay and the Maximizer accessory, which allows you to load three bales into one feeder. All of GoBob's feeding equipment is guaranteed with a ten-year, no questions asked, money back warranty.

"We're always trying to find things that will make the operation more efficient," Studebaker said. "Because, if it's more efficient, you're going to make more money."

Listen to Bob Studebaker and I's conversation discussing how his hay feeders can save cattle raisers time and money, by clicking here.

Leaders of National 4-H Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation today announced a newly established partnership during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two groups.


Recognizing the need to support agricultural education and highlight the impact ag plays in our daily lives, National 4-H Council and AFBF aim to ignite the desire of young people to embrace agriculture, cultivate innovation and empower them with opportunities to improve the world around them. Through collaboration on thought leadership and ag literacy initiatives, both organizations are committed to better link young people to agriculture of today and tomorrow.

"National 4-H Council is proud and excited to join forces with the American Farm Bureau Federation to help empower and develop young people with the workforce skills necessary to pursue careers in the agriculture industry," said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, National 4-H Council.


"Farm Bureau has a long history of investing in young people with a demonstrated interest in not only farming and ranching but also agri-business and food-related careers," said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.

Click here to read the full story.

On Monday, December 19th, the Oklahoma National Stockyards will auction a calf for the benefit of the All American Beef Battalion. The sale will take place at approximately 11:00 a.m. in the sale arena of the Stockyards.


The calf to be auctioned is again being donated by 3C Cattle Feeders and the Clyde Runyan family of Mill Creek, Oklahoma. A very special thanks go out to Clyde and Penny, along with their sons, who have donated the calf for 5 years. Clyde was with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam and considers this a privilege to be able to give back to the troops.

"Many organizations and individuals have joined together for this worthy cause each year. The efforts of many have made this successful and we thank all our partners and friends for their help. Through these auctions, approximately 26,500 troops have been fed an American ribeye steak upon their return home from deployment," stated Robert York, CEO of National Livestock Credit Corporation.

For more information about the Beef Battalion and how to get involved, click here.

 

The 2016 edition of the OSU Winter Crops School gets underway this morning in Stillwater- and you can walk in and register for either day of the school.

Everything from Healthy Soil Efforts to the latest Technology will be covered today and tomorrow.

Details of the School at the Wes Watkins Center at OSU can be seen by clicking or tapping here.

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There will be a total of 7753 head of cattle available to buy in this week's FedCattleExchange.Com finished cattle sale tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM central.

Details of the sales list of cattle that will be available can be seen later this morning- 14 hours ahead of the actual sale start time.

Click here for the page where the details can be seen twenty four hours ahead of the sale.

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I am not really ready for single digits yet- but ready or not- here they come- according to Jed Castles with News9. 

Here is his nine day forecast- not much moisture- but a real shot of frigid temps by Saturday-Sunday:



At one point- chance of rain were a good bit higher for Thursday-Friday but those hopes have faded- leaving us with the deep freeze for the last weekend before Christmas.