Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
|
|
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Monday, December 28, 2020
|
|
|
|
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Oklahoma Continues to Have the Fifth Largest Breeding Sow Hog Herd in the US
- Cattlemen's Congress Kicks Off This Coming Weekend
- Get Your End of Year Business Done- A Four Day Work Week Starts Today to End 2020
- Animal Rights Extremist Group Fools Fox Business Network by Impersonating Incoming CEO of Smithfield
- Latest U.S. Drought Map Shows Some Improvement But Southwest Still Suffering
- Foot and Mouth Disease Continues to Affect Livestock Around the Globe- and Could Always Show Up in the USA
- Noble's Dan Childs on End-of-Year Tax Planning for Farmers and Ranchers
|
Oklahoma Continues to Have the Fifth Largest Breeding Hog Herd in the US in Latest Hogs and Pigs Report
|
As of December 1, U.S. farms contained 77.5 million hogs and pigs, down one percent from December of 2019, and down one percent from September of 2020. Those numbers were published just ahead of Christmas by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Of the 77.5 million hogs and pigs, 71.2 million were market hogs, while 6.28 million were kept for breeding.
Iowa producers held the largest inventory among the states at 24.8 million head. Minnesota was next with 9.4 million head, and North Carolina finished third with nine million head. Oklahoma hog numbers dropped eight percent from a year ago, while sow numbers in the state gained three percent from December 2019. The Oklahoma breeding herd of 465,000 sows ranks Oklahoma as the fifth largest sow state in the US- behind Iowa, North Carolina, Illinois and Minnesota. The total hog numbers in Oklahoma are just over two million head- the ninth largest hog state in terms of total numbers.
|
The vision of the Oklahoma Beef Council is to be a positive difference for Oklahoma's farming and ranching families and the greater beef community and its mission is to enhance beef demand by strengthening consumer trust and exceeding consumer expectations.
|
Cattlemen's Congress Kicks Off This Coming Weekend
|
The first ever Cattlemen’s Congress, Jan. 2-17 at the Oklahoma City fairgrounds could drop a $50 million economic impact on the city, said Tyler Norvell, executive director of the Oklahoma Youth Expo, and board member for the new show.
The Cattlemen’s Congress was organized to take the place of the 2021 National Western Livestock Show in Denver which was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Well over a dozen different breeds will be represented as they are all having their national shows here, Norvell said.
This is a huge part of their livelihood and commerce for 2021 and making sure they are able to market their livestock is at the forefront for us, Norvell said.
I talked with Norvell about the Cattlemen's Congress- and our visit can be heard in two parts- by clicking on the Buttons at the bottom of this story.
The show will bring purebred cattle producers from around the country to Oklahoma City and Norvell is excited about crowning a national champion in both the breeding heifer and bull categories.
One thing we’re doing that’s never been done before, to my knowledge, is we are going to pick a supreme overall open class breeding heifer and open class breeding bull, Norvell said.
This is modeled after the Canadian Western Agribition beef show in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Norvell said this has never happened in an open class show in this country and if you have ever watched video of the selection process at the Canadian show, it is awesome.
The grand drive for supreme champion happens at 5 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 13 in the Jim Norick Arena.
The barns will be buzzing with activity throughout the 15-day event.
|
Get Your End of Year Business Done- A Four Day Work Week Starts Today to End 2020
|
While you can't sell cattle at your local auction market of choice until next year- other businesses and government offices are open today thru Thursday.
That includes your local Farm Credit, bank, FSA or NRCS office- as well as the Ag Futures markets.
In addition, if you have a favorite charity that you want to give an end of year gift to- it's tell to get it done!
Back on Giving Tuesday(right after Thanksgiving- I gave you links for four great choices to invest your resources into- I am linking them again below- but of course- your farm organization likely also has a Foundation you can give to- and I encourage you to donate to your church as well as we end 2020. Take care of your own family needs- but be generous if you can as well- It's one way to say GOODBYE to 2020!
|
|
For our farmers who have either- always have had cotton on their farms- or those who have more recently have added the fiber crop to their operations- we have a new daily report starting to be heard on several of our Radio Stations- It's Called Cotton Talk- and we appreciate the Oklahoma Cotton Council for their support in making this a reality.
Click on the Button below to listen to our most recent report
|
|
Animal Rights Extremist Group Fools Fox Business Network by Impersonating Incoming CEO of Smithfield
|
Last week, the head of an anti-meat extremist group posed as the CEO of a major pork producer during a national television interview on Fox Business News. Afterwards, Host Maria Bartiromo admitted they had been "punked.".
The National Pork Producers Council says the conversation contained “outrageous and false claims” about the U.S. pork industry and the challenges it faced during COVID-19. NPPC President Howard “A.V.” Roth had a sharp response to the interview. “Taking advantage of this black-swan event to drive an anti-meat, anti-livestock agriculture agenda is reprehensible,” Roth says. “These radical extremist groups who typically work shrouded in secrecy and false identities, frequently by breaking the law, are only able to propagate their false narrative by fooling journalists and posing as credible sources.”
Despite the enormous challenges of 2020, Roth says hundreds of thousands of committed farmers and others employed in pork production remain dedicated to keeping Americans and consumers around the world supplied with affordable, nutritious protein. “COVID-19 has caused record numbers of Americans to be food insecure,” he adds. “U.S. pork producers are proud to help feed those in need, and these extremist groups should be ashamed of their stunts. Apparently, there’s no low point for their actions.”
|
|
We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network weekdays-
if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click below for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays and KC Sheperd on RON.
|
Sponsor Spotlight
Oklahoma AgCredit is a cooperative, owned by the members we serve. This ensures our customers’ needs come first. Our profit can only be used in two ways – retained to build our financial strength or passed on to members through our Patronage Program. Patronage is like an interest rebate and it basically reduces our members cost of borrowing. We have returned more than $53 million to our members since 1997.
|
|
|
Latest U.S. Drought Map Shows Some Improvement But Southwest Still Suffering
|
Typically during La Nina years we see storms pushed north across the western U.S. leading to above normal precipitation and snowpack in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, and below normal southward.
That storyline was followed during this past week as western and central Texas saw some degradation in drought areas, with a lack of precipitation (less than 10 percent of normal in the last 90 days).
There was some minor trimming of abnormally dry (D0) category in north central Oklahoma after .25 to .50 inches of precipitation fell last week.
For Oklahoma, a relatively quiet week statewide, except for the strong winds, we have noted a slight improvement as almost 57 percent of the state is drought free(or abnormally dry), compared with 54 percent last week. We have one fourth of the state now in D1 or higher drought- and that is seven percentage points higher than one year ago.
Two areas of concern continue to color the map: Cimarron County in the Panhandle and Harmon County in the southwest corner of the state which both show shades of red for extreme drought (D3).
|
Foot and Mouth Disease Continues to Affect Livestock Around the Globe- and Could Always Show Up in the USA
|
Although the United States has not had foot and mouth disease (FMD) since 1929, it’s still affecting livestock elsewhere around the world — and that could return it here. According to the World Animal Health Organization, FMD circulates in 77 percent of the global livestock population, including in areas in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America. Bringing FMD to the United States would paralyze our agriculture and significantly impact our economy.
Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, Beef Cattle Extension Specialist for OSU Extension and Director of Continuing Education for the OSU COllege of Vet Medcine, says FMD is a highly contagious virus that affects all cloven-hooved animals including livestock and wildlife. It is not transmissible to humans and does not pose public health or food safety concerns. The initial clinical signs in cattle include fever and vesicles (blisters). The blisters may appear on the tongue and lips, between the claws of the feet, on the coronary band and on the teats. Producers may first notice lameness and salivation due to these lesions. Animals may go off feed due to erosions and ulcers in the mouth. Abortions may occur.
In cattle that have never experienced FMD, it is likely all exposed cattle will develop the disease. Most deaths occur in young animals, and adult deaths are rare. Although adults most often recover, the long-term production losses in those animals are significant.
|
Noble's Dan Childs on End-of-Year Tax Planning for Farmers and Ranchers
|
Dan Childs with the Noble Research Institute says that good income and expense records provide decision-makers with a tremendous amount of information. This information can be useful in several ways, including:
To compare actual to budget.
To compare current year to last year or to the average of the last three.
To calculate net income to date.
Once net income to date is known, then it can be combined with a projection of income and expenses for the remainder of the year to arrive at an estimate of taxable income for the year.
Childs offers several keys to looking at your records as 2020 rapidly comes to a close.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ESTIMATE TAXABLE INCOME?
Each citizen of this country has the obligation to pay their fair share to the government — but no more. An estimate of taxable income before the end of the year provides a taxpayer with the knowledge to manage their taxable income and thereby only pay for their fair share of government.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides taxpayers with many ways to manage taxable income. However, a taxpayer must have an estimate of taxable income before the end of the year and take action before the end of the year, assuming a taxpayer is a cash-basis calendar-year taxpayer. Otherwise that ability to manage taxable income stops at midnight Dec. 31.
Many taxpayers have no idea what their tax bill or refund will be until their tax preparer notifies them of the results. If a tax bill is due, it could cause cash flow issues or the untimely need to market products in order to generate enough revenue to pay for the tax obligation. Both of these issues might be alleviated with previous knowledge of an estimate of the tax owed.
MANAGING TAXABLE INCOME
One sometimes misunderstood way to manage taxable income is to increase income. When would a taxpayer want to increase income? It would typically be when deductions are greater than W-2 income, business income and the standard deduction. If this is the case, the additional income generated is basically tax free. Most would agree that is a good deal!
The many ways to increase income include:
Sell more products (calves, grain, etc.).
Use a slower rate of depreciation for any assets purchased during the year.
Be judicious in choosing to use Section 179 or bonus depreciation.
Capitalize instead of deduct the purchase of small tools and major repairs.
Postpone purchases planned for the end of year, and pre-pay expenses that will not be used until next year.
Another excellent option to increase income is to convert a portion of a traditional IRA (depending on amount of income needed) to a Roth IRA. Some limitations apply, so be sure the conversion is within the guidelines.
|
|
OKC West is our Market Links Sponsor- they sell cattle three days a week- Cows on Mondays, Stockers on Tuesday and Feeders on Wednesday- Call 405-262-8800 to learn more.
|
Today's First Look:
Ron on RON Markets as heard on K101
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
|
Wholesale Boxed Beef Prices went lower on Wednesday- Choice Beef was Off $3.13 while Select Beef went $1.66 lower.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
By the way- there were no Boxed Beef updates on Thursday the 24th or Friday the 25th.
|
Weekly Cattle Auction Reports
The buttons below allow you to check out the weekly Cattle Auctions in the region that we post on our website and here in our daily email update-
PLEASE NOTE- All of these markets have finished selling cattle in 2020- and will resume their auctions the first full week of 2021.
|
Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futures - click below for the latest update on the Livestock and Grain Futures Trade..
|
Okla Cash Grain:
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- as reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture- The report available after the close of the Futures Trade for that day.
|
Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor
KC Sheperd, Associate Farm Director and Editor
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
Sam Knipp, Farm News Editor
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
|
|
Rural Oklahoma is full of some of the greatest success stories throughout the entire state and is the main reason Oklahoma is on track to become a top 10 state.
The Road to Rural Prosperity will dive into these stories each week, bringing you insight into the great things happening in and to rural Oklahoma. We will bring you stories covering rural life, agriculture, energy, healthcare, tourism, and politics affecting rural America.
The Road to Rural Prosperity is here to tell stories about rural America, for rural America.
Congress has passed a 5,393-page Relief/Spending Omnibus Package- and Host Ron Hays Talks with Ethan Lane, Vice President for Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association about Pandemic Relief- more money in CFAP, Grants for RAMP UP, the establishment of the SALE Act and more. Lane also talks about the announcement by USDA to start the process of moving Gene Editing for animals away from FDA over to USDA, a look at the Climate Team for President-Elect Biden, a return to USDA by Tom Vilsack, and a look into 2021 from a DC Perspective.
Today's Podcast is powered by Banc First, Loyal to Oklahoma, and Loyal to You.
To find out more about our full series of Podcasts on The Road to Rural Prosperity- click or tap here.
To hear this podcast, you can click here or tap below:
|
|
Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, AFR/OFU, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program, Great Plains Kubota, Stillwater Milling Company, Oklahoma Cotton Council, National Livestock Credit Corporation, Oklahoma Beef Council, Oklahoma AgCredit, the 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!
We invite you to check out our website at the link below too that includes an archive of these daily emails, audio reports and top farm news story links from around the globe.
|
|
God Bless!
Reach Out To Us:
|
|
Tim West
President/General Manager
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
2401 Exchange Avenue,
Suite F
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
405.317.6361
|
|
Ron Hays
Director of Farm Programming
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
405.473.6144
|
|
|
|
|
|
|