Subject: Oklahoma's Farm News Update
From: Ron Hays <ronphays@cox.net>
Date: 3/16/2017 6:58 AM
To: ronphays@cox.net



 
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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network weekdays- if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click here for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays on RON.
 

  
  
Let's Check the Markets!  
 
   
Finished cattle prices 
bounced higher Wednesday on FedCattleExchange.com - 3,350 cattle were sold with prices up $4.70 from a week ago- weighted average price was $128.39- click here to see their complete market results.
 
 
Today's First Look:
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
  
  
Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futuresclick or tap here for the report posted yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
 
  
Okla Cash Grain:  
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- as reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture on Wednesday, March 15th.
  
  
Futures Wrap:  
Our Daily Market Wrapup from the Radio Oklahoma Network - analyzing the Futures Markets from the previous Day.
  
Feeder Cattle Recap:  
The National Daily Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
  
Slaughter Cattle Recap: 
The National Daily Slaughter Cattle Summary- as prepared by the USDA.
  
TCFA Feedlot Recap:  
Finally, here is the Daily Volume and Price Summary from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
  


  
Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
  
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor
 
Carson Horn, Associate Farm Director and Editor

Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
  
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production

Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News

 
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
    Thursday, March 16, 2017


Howdy Neighbors! 

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 






WildfiresHelpFeatured Story:
$117,000 Raised as Cattle Industry Steps Up to Help Ranchers Hurt by Northwest Oklahoma Wildfires
 
As we have noted before- one of the best ways that the cattle business has to raise money is to sell a donated calf at an auction barn- over and over and over again.  That was the case yesterday at OKC West in El Reno, where a calf was sold at high noon multiple times and the end result was $117,000 raised to be funneled through the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation to help ranchers devastated by the wildfires this month that have hit northwestern Oklahoma.  
 
A similar plan will be happening at 12 noon today- at the regular Woodward Livestock Market where several animals have been donated- sale owner Jerry Nine says "There will be at least 4 calves auctioned, along with 8 tons of feed and some vet supplies auctioned all to benefit the ranchers affected by the wildfires."

Earlier this week- Joplin sold and resold a donated calf during their Monday sale- and they raised $24,000 which is being divided fifty-fifty between the Kansas and Oklahoma relief funds.

Meanwhile- this coming Monday and Tuesday- if you are at the regular sales of the Oklahoma National Stockyards- the Livestock Exchange (the group of Commission Firms at the market) will be accepting donations and encourage buyers and sellers to give- all proceeds going to the OCF Wildfire Relief efforts.

 
Sponsor Spotlight
 
 
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau - a grassroots organization that has for its Mission Statement- Improving the Lives of Rural Oklahomans."  Farm Bureau, as the state's largest general farm organization, is active at the State Capitol fighting for the best interests of its members and working with other groups to make certain that the interests of rural Oklahoma are protected.

 Click here
 for their website to learn more about the organization and how it can benefit you to be a part of Farm Bureau. 
 

In speaking with Oklahoma's Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese on Tuesday evening, I learned that the fires plaguing the Northwestern part of the state have finally been mostly contained by firefighters working with the Oklahoma Forestry Service.


However, Reese says that while the fires are for the most part contained, there is still a small threat that fires could be reignited if embers should start up again, in the wind.


"It's pretty well contained. There's not a whole lot left to burn, but that's why it's not contained, is only because of those embers that might still be laying," he reported. "You may not see them - but there's still some there."

While the numbers are still being counted- Reese says 3,000 head of cattle have been killed- and acknowledges that the counting still is going on and the final number could be revised upward.

The Secretary is encouraging those affected to document losses and to speak with their local Farm Service Agency office. Producers can get all the pertinent information and answers to their questions, at meetings being held by the FSA. Click here for information regarding those meetings.

For more information about the current status of the fire situation in NW Oklahoma, listen to Secretary Reese updating me, by clicking here.

Wednesday was OSU Day at the Oklahoma Youth Expo. Faculty and students from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources were there to interact with parents and kids attending the show. Dr. Tom Coon, dean of CASNR, was there to welcome folks to the OSU Pavilion. Our own Carson Horn had the chance to speak with Dean Coon about OSU's involvement at OYE.


"We're here to recruit students, and some of them may be only 8, 9 or 10 years old, but we want them to know OSU is a good place for them to think about going," Coon said. "It's a great opportunity for us to showcase what it is that we do."


According to Coon, CASNR has about 11 percent of the student population at the university. Of that percentage, he says a majority of the students elected to different leadership positions on campus are actually enrolled with the College of Ag. He says the leadership skills students learn through ag programs in their local communities has lasting effects and the reasons are obvious as to why they would want to be at this event recruiting potential students.


"That's going to serve then well wherever they go," Coon said, "but we do want them to come to OSU."

Click or tap here to listen to Carson's interview with Dean Coon about OSU's involvement at the Oklahoma Youth Expo.

Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma, along with the help of other Farm Credit associations in Oklahoma and CoBank, has set up a fund to support fire victims and rural fire departments alike. Total donations to date, including fuel cards, are at $35,500.


"Our thoughts and prayers go out to these families. We realize they have a long road ahead, but Oklahoma farmers and ranchers are resilient, hard-working people, and they will survive this," said John Grunewald, CEO of Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma.


In addition to the fund for donations, Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma has also rolled out a loan program specifically for wildfire victims, with 0% interest for six months which will help provide quick, immediate funds for emergent operating needs.

Click here to learn how to make a donation to Farm Credit's fire relief fund, or about their new 0% interest operating loans for fire victims.

Sponsor Spotlight
 
 
The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association is the trusted voice of the Oklahoma Cattle Industry.  With headquarters in Oklahoma City, the OCA has a regular presence at the State Capitol to protect and defend the interests of cattlemen and cattlewomen.
 
Their Vision Statement explains the highest priority of the organization- "Leadership that serves, strengthens and advocates for the Oklahoma cattle industry."
 
To learn more about the OCA and how you can be a part of this forward-looking group of cattle producers, click here for their website. For more information- call 405-235-4391.

BUZZGenomic EPDs Help Producers Learn the Value of Prediction Accuracy When It Comes to Breeding
While most producers are familiar with using EPDs, or expected progeny differences, to help evaluate bulls in trait selection for their herds, extension beef specialist Dr. Bob Weaber says producers are now capable of even more insight into the performance of their bulls, even before they begin breeding, with the next generation of EPDs - "genomics."


"The genomics evolution has really been a substantial one from both the seedstock view," he said, "but even more importantly maybe to the commercial producer."


Genomics add accuracy to our EPD predictions, according to Weaber, allowing breeders to understand certain traits of their stock. Things such as feed intake, feed efficiency and cow longevity for example, can be scored much earlier in the animals' lives, which ordinarily would have taken a longer time or would have been much more expensive. Weaber says this does two things for producers.


"One, it allows us to avoid making mistakes," he points out. "Secondly, it allows us to really understand the value of increased accuracy of predictions - so we're more confident in our breeding and purchasing decisions."


Find out how to make money using genomically enhanced EPDs by listening Weaber and I discuss the benefits these scores offer producers, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.
Want to Have the Latest Energy News Delivered to Your Inbox Daily?
 

Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains- Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.

 

HedrickWhen It Comes to Improving Soil Health on Your Farm, Set Your Sights on the Long-Term Goals

North Carolina farmer and soil health expert, Russell Hedrick, shared with local producers the strategies he has implemented on his operation using cover crops to improve the health of his soil - and how to make money doing it.


He told me during the recent annual meeting of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, he likes to preach to farmers that they need to be farming for profits, not for yields. By steadily reducing the amount of inputs into your crops, through the improved soil of a no-till system, you will more consistently add to your bottom line.


However, he points out that the benefits of practicing no-till and having a cover crop system in place are not going to be seen immediately.


"If guys are willing to take that time and that effort to try to implement these practices and truly give them a good feel," Hedricks said, "... I have never seen anybody that uses this system for two or three years, has ever went back to the old way of doing things and that's the key - we have to change people's minds."
For all of Hedricks' money-making tips with  implementing a no-till system on your operation, click here and listen to our conversation.
OYEOverviewAt the OYE- Night of Stars Brings in $404,000- Market Shows in Road Gear and the Latest on OYE With Wildfire Relief 
 
All of our coverage in this email- on our website- in our radio reports and more are being powered by ITC, your energy superhighway.

The 2017 Oklahoma Youth Expo Night of Stars saw the Champion Berkshire that was then named the Supreme Champion Purebred of the OYE this past Friday enter the sale ring on Wednesday night as the third gilt to sell- and she turned out to be the star of the show as the Berkshire Champion garnered a final bid of $32,500. Ty Goss of Leedey FFA was the owner of what may be the highest priced hog of the 2017 show.

Close behind when it came to winning bids was the third place Commercial Gilt that had a strong Berkshire influence- Sophie Varner of Bristow FFA ended up with a $27,500 payday for her gilt sired by Monopoly 27-3.

OYE's Tyler Norvell was pleased with the strength of bids for all 115 gilts sold- total dollars generated for these young men and women was $404,000 which translates into an average priceper gilt of $3,500.

**************

The market animals are quickly being moved through the show rings- and we have posted a couple of stories on the breed champions to date for the steers and for the barrows- click here for the listing to date for the market steers and click or tap here for the list for the barrows.

The market goat show has wrapped up- while other species will continue to show during the day today- with the Grand Champion Drive of all four species happens around 6:00 PM tonight- ahead of that at 5:30 pm- the lineup of scholarship award winners will be celebrated in the State Fair Arena- around $250,000 worth of scholarships will be handed out in about thirty minutes- can you say Awesome!!!!!

****************

Finally- it was announced on Tuesday evening that the OYE is going to sell a steer in the Sale of Champions that has been donated by Senator Eddie Fields and family to help ranch families that have young people who show at OYE and suffered losses from the wildfires this month. Click here for our earlier story on this.

An update- they started with $10,000 from four energy companies- saw that matched with another $10,000 and according to Tyler Norvell- they have raised more and were up to around $30,000 48 hours ahead of the sale.

If you are interested in adding to the money that is being generated for this aspect of the relief that is being worked on from many different directions- click here to email Tyler Norvell and tell him how much you are willing to contribute- he says nothing is too small or too big.






Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K EquipmentAmerican Farmers & Ranchers, Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards, AlltechOklahoma Farm BureauStillwater Milling Company, Oklahoma AgCreditthe Oklahoma Cattlemens Association and  KIS Futures for their support of our daily Farm News Update. For your convenience, we have our sponsors' websites linked here- just click on their name to jump to their website- check their sites out and let these folks know you appreciate the support of this daily email, as their sponsorship helps us keep this arriving in your inbox on a regular basis- at NO Charge!

 

 

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