The opportunity for growth in our economy has been crippled for the better part of a decade now as a result of untested mandates created by the unelected bureaucrats of the agency gone rogue, EPA, writes Sen. Jim Inhofe in a recent op-ed.

"The EPA under the Obama administration has failed to give innovators and job creators a seat at the table when developing regulations. Obama's EPA has also excluded states - the entities most impacted by regulations - instead expanding federal authority into areas beyond the limitations Congress has put into place. And yet big-pocket activist donors were invited in through the back door to help draft legally questionable mandates, while EPA was also asking Congress for more taxpayer money to hire lawyers in preparation to defend these regulations in court," states Inhofe.

"When the American people voted for President-elect Donald J. Trump, they made it clear that enough is enough."

Inhofe contends that with Trump's appointment of Oklahoma's own Scott Pruitt, change for the better will finally come the EPA. He insists that the newly elected majority will back Pruitt's leadership founded in reason and commonsense, insisting that Republicans have and will continue to put Americans' economic well-being and environmental health on equal footing.

"I have no doubt that with Oklahoma's Attorney General Scott Pruitt at the helm of the EPA, the Trump administration will restore this balance," Inhofe writes. "Under Pruitt's leadership, EPA will return to an agency that works to protect human health and the environment based on sound science and transparent data while respecting the laws passed by Congress. Most importantly, the agency will no longer be a barrier to economic growth, but rather an important partner."

Click here to continue reading the senator's opinions in his full statement.

Combines have long since exited the fields on the 2016 Oklahoma wheat harvest. However, the end of the year offers an opportunity to reflect on that harvest, not only statewide, but regionally and county-by-county.


The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has published the 2016 Oklahoma Wheat County Estimates.


Ten counties topping the list include Grant; Garfield; Alfalfa; Texas; Washita; Kingfisher: Custer; Woods; Kiowa; and Kay County.

To view a detailed list of all the counties in Oklahoma, click here.

The drought this fall really snuck up on folks this year, but it is starting to become more and more significant. I checked in with  DTN ag meteorologist, Bryce Anderson, to find out just how long farmers in the state will have to wait before the next rain. Anderson says we ought to be keeping our fingers crossed in hopes the weather patterns happening now, slow down enough to bring some moisture to the region, at least by the end of this winter.

"We've had a ripple effect from a weak La Nina that formed in the Pacific," Anderson said. "That sort of set the stage for the air currents to get in the way of moisture to form over the Southern Plains."

According to Anderson, parts of the country in this region have only had between about 10 and 50 percent the normal precipitation since we came off the fairly strong El Nino. He believes we're having a repeat of the weather seen back in 1998.

"That was a year following another very strong El Nino here about 20 years ago," says Anderson. "The overall crop production was large. This was a very good production year and that is similar to 1998."

However, if all the factors fall into place as he sees them shaping up, Anderson says there is hope that these dry conditions will ease up as we finish out the season with the chance for some more moisture events.

Click here to read more and to listen to my full conversation with Anderson as we talk about the weather and when we might expect some moisture to arrive.

By the way- Bryce and I go way back- in my early days in the farm broadcast business- he was the farm broadcaster for KFEQ radio in St Jo, Missouri- and he has used those speaking skills from his radio days in talking with farmers and ranchers all across the country as the weather guy for DTN- I would encourage you to take a listen to our visit- we get into the El Nino versus La Nina aspects of impacts on weather in our part of the world- well worth your time!

This Friday, December 23 at 11:00 AM Central, USDA will release their monthly Cattle on Feed and Cold Storage reports. At the same time, they will release their quarterly Hogs and Pigs report. Allendale has released their estimates for the three reports:


November Placements are expected to be 5.2% larger than last year at 1.685 million head. This would be the second smallest November placement since the data-series start in 1996. November placements supply the April through August slaughter period.


Allendale anticipates a Marketing total 11.3% larger than November 2015 at 1.705 million. This was the largest November marketing in four years. There was no calendar adjustment this month. Total Cattle on Feed as of December 1 is 1.4% smaller than last year at 10.645 million. That is a decrease from the November 1 total that was +1.3% under one year ago.

For more predictions by Allendale on the upcoming Cattle on Feed report, click here.

For Tom Houret of La Grange, California, one of the most rewarding views to look out on are his pastures, full of a herd that is in it for the long haul. He's found success balancing maternal, feedlot and end-product traits in the same herd. And his breed of choice to help him accomplish his goals - Angus.

"The Angus breed provides a pretty deep genetic pool. I think we can get a lot of quality out of the product that we deliver," Houret contends. "You know it can be very consistent, it feeds well, it does good on grass, I think maternally you can get all of the characteristics that you want.

He makes his breeding decisions with more than just weaning weight in mind. On the cow calf side of his operation, Houret spends a lot of time and money investing in the right genetics to progress his herd in the direction he envisions. He asserts that if consumers are going to be asked to pay for a premium product, they ought to be getting what they pay for.

"You know as consumers are asked to pay more for this protein, you know we need to make sure that we're doing our best to provide a high quality product for them," Houret said. "Obviously no one wants to sacrifice quality but still pay a high premium for it.

Click here to read more or to watch a video featuring Houret, and his operation.

BASF announced Tuesday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration of Engenia™ herbicide. Engenia herbicide controls more than 200 broadleaf weeds, including glyphosate-resistant weeds, in dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. The product provides an additional, effective site of action and will be available for use in the 2017 growing season.

"Soybean and cotton growers now have a new tool at their disposal to manage glyphosate-resistant weeds," said Neil Bentley, Director of Marketing, U.S. Crop, BASF. "Engenia herbicide is our most flexible and advanced dicamba for dicamba-tolerant crops. It's a product that will help growers better manage weeds to get the most out of every acre."

To date, glyphosate-resistant weeds have been identified on more than two-thirds of U.S. farm acres, totaling more than 61 million affected acres. According to the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds, there are currently 16 species of glyphosate-resistant weeds spread across 38 states, and research shows additional weed species are developing resistance to multiple sites of action.

"Glyphosate-resistant weeds are a serious and growing issue across the country," said Chad Asmus, Technical Marketing Manager, BASF. "Engenia herbicide is part of a complete weed management program that starts with a residual herbicide and utilizes multiple, effective sites of action to control even the toughest weeds."

To read BASF's complete announcement about EPA's approval of Engenia, click here.

 

The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (OCA) donated $30,000.00 to the Children's Hospital Foundation. The official check presentation took place yesterday afternoon at OU Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City, Okla.


"In 1985, the OCA created the Range Round-Up, a ranch rodeo, to provide family entertainment, promote beef and raise money for charity. 2016 marks the 20th year in a row that the selected charity has been the Children's Hospital Foundation," said Tim Drummond, Chairman of the OCA Range Round-Up Committee. "In that time, OCA has donated more than $456,000.00 and formed a strong connection to the charity and its work. This year's donation is the largest single donation we have ever given."




It's been repeated a lot of times down thru the years as the OCA has had their partnership with the Children's Hospital Foundation- it is all about cowboys helping kids.  And that was the case yesterday- congrats to the cattle producers who are not just stewards of their land and responsible care givers for their animals- they also give back to their community, their state and their fellow man- Good Job!

To read more about the check presentation- click or tap here.