Based on statistics and data compiled by the US Meat Export Federation, the USDA yesterday announced in a released statement that US exports of both beef and pork during the month of February were well above year-ago levels. In fact, the pork numbers are the highest on record. This report underscores the narrative we've heard lately about the unprecedented strength in export demand, which is expected to continue through the rest of this year at least.

Totaling just under 90,500 metric tons, beef exports are up 9 percent year-over-year with a 16 percent increase in value, chalking up to over $500 million.

Meanwhile, pork exports were higher in year-over-year as well, with a total just shy of 200K mt exported, valued at approximately $487 million, up 17 percent.

"With trade deficits being a hot topic of conversation, especially with countries such as Mexico, China and Japan, it's important to highlight the sectors in which U.S. products are competitive throughout the world and exports are thriving," said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. "The red meat sector is certainly in that category, as exports have helped fuel growth in the U.S. industry and, in turn, larger U.S. production has opened further export opportunities and generated positive returns for the entire supply chain."

 For more highlights from USDA and USMEF's report on the outstanding performance of US meat exports over the past two months, click or tap here.


Meanwhile- speaking of the USMEF- our Thursday Beef Buzz featured more from our conversation from this past Saturday with Erin Borror- the on staff Economist for the promotion group.

Erin and I talked about the battle the US has on an ongoing basis with Australia in selling beef into the Pacific Rim countries- click or tap here for our Beef Buzz report and a chance to hear this edition of the Buzz with Erin Borror.

Producers Cooperative Oil Mill stepped up yesterday to help the ranchers affected by the recent wildfires in Oklahoma by donating 100 tons of whole cotton seed to the relief efforts of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association and its charitable Foundation.

"Just in Oklahoma, more than 300,000 acres were burned during the recent fires and most of that was ranch land," said Austin Rose, CEO of Producers Cooperative Oil Mill. "We understand that cattlemen depend upon the forage in the pastures to support their cattle. We're donating the whole cotton seed to help feed and sustain good nutrition in those cattle until the green grass comes on."

Bates Bros. Trucking and Tony Gilbreath Trucking generously donated the freight to deliver the whole cotton seed, valued at $200 per ton, to the fire stricken areas in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

To learn more about this act of generosity to our neighbors up in the Northwest, or to find out how to make your own contribution to the ongoing relief efforts, click here.

 

Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.,are hosting their 60th Annual Meeting on today at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

Current PCG president Johnie Reed, who farms near Kress, Texas, will preside over the meeting and PCG Executive Vice President Steve Verett will report on the status of PCG operations and activities.

The keynote speaker, sponsored by Farmers Cooperative Compress, will be Matt Rush. Matt is the fourth generation in his family to be a New Mexico farmer and cattle rancher. He and his dad partner on a farming and ranching operation and to support his farming habit, Rush travels the country as a professional speaker conducting leadership and motivational seminars. The Zig Ziglar Corporation recently recognized his talent and
skill as a speaker and trainer inviting him to become one of their first ever Platinum Level speakers. He also is the Executive Vice President of the New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway and Kim Kitchings, Senior Vice President, Consumer Marketing for Cotton Incorporated, also are scheduled to speak. The program will feature an update on the Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. PAC and an announcement about the 2017 Celebrate Cotton Game.

In an ongoing series presented by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, highlighting the women of Oklahoma that have impacted our industry in a powerful way, Maxine Haydon is being saluted this week, as a Significant Woman in Agriculture.

Maxine was raised on a farm and is no stranger to the hardships of agricultural life. She and her family struggled to survive the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and the difficult times war brought to the nation. She learned at a very young age how to be a fighter and how to look for the light at the end of the tunnel, but all the while appreciating what you have.


Though her husband, Paul, grew up just miles from Maxine, the two did not meet until they were in college at Oklahoma A&M attending a Thanksgiving Day football game against the University of Oklahoma. They were married the following year.

Not long after the two were married, Paul took out a loan on 580 acres of his father's 1,600-acre farm which contained a beautiful 450-acre native pecan grove with another 100 acres of papershell pecan trees.


"When I met Paul Haydon he said 'This is all I'm ever going to do is be a farmer,'" said Maxine. "He had been to South Korea for a year in service. So I had to make my decision, it was the hardest one I ever made in my life-to be a farmer."


Together, Maxine and Paul set the goal to improve their recently acquired farm. The result of their efforts is an impressive, beautifully-kept pecan orchard with sunshine peeking through the trees and into the grove.

To continue reading about Haydon's achievements and influence in Oklahoma's agricultural community, check out her complete story, by clicking here.

On the theme Partnering for Progress, the 2017 CropLife America and RISE Regulatory Conference, which got underway earlier this week in Virginia, is encouraging open communication and partnerships among the pesticide industry, the government and other stakeholders.

To get the ball rolling, CLA kicked things off with the unveiling of a new Council for Agricultural Science and Technology Report entitled, Crop Protection Contributions Toward Agricultural Productivity.

"CLA and RISE are proud to provide an opportunity for the crop protection and specialty pesticide industries, stakeholders, and academia to meet with representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other Agencies to discuss the latest developments in pesticide science and regulation," said Jay Vroom, president and CEO of CLA. "Our country's successful food system rests upon a foundation of partnerships. The CLA and RISE Regulatory Conference helps facilitate these important discussions and collaborations."

Since 2009, the CLA and RISE Regulatory Conference has provided a forum to discuss the evolving science and regulation behind crop protection and specialty pesticide products. The educational sessions scheduled throughout the two days encourage open discussion among industry, stakeholders and federal regulators about the issues facing the crop protection and specialty pesticide industries. The keynote speaker yesterday morning was, Dr. Robert Johansson, chief economist at USDA, who discussed the economic landscape for agriculture and key regulatory approaches to risk-based decision making.

Learn more about this report and the events taking place at the CLA and RISE conference this week, by clicking here.

Today, we bring you the fourth competitor in our feature of the race for the State Star in Ag Placement, Weatherford FFA's Austin Seright, representing the Southwest District. Throughout his high school career, Seright has spent his summers employed with Mullin's Mowing, a lawn and garden care company, servicing 150 yards a week.

Over the course of the last four summers, Seright has polished his customer service skills as learned the value of a good work ethic.


"Really customer satisfaction; talking to customers - that was the hardest thing for me and now it's nothing for me to talk to customers," Seright said, adding too that the work itself is no easy task. "It takes us a full week. We work six days out of the week and it's full days, every day."

Upon graduation, Seright plans to attend OSU-OKC to pursue a degree in landscape architecture and design with the hopes of starting his own lawn care service.

American Farmers & Ranchers is the proud sponsor of our District Star spotlights this month. Be sure to visit the AFR website by clicking or tapping here to learn more on how AFR supports the young people of Oklahoma, and how AFR can provide you with quality insurance for your home, auto, farm, and life.