Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Thursday, January 28, 2021
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- OCA Members Stress Need For Less Government Involvement
- State Forester Mark Goeller Predicts Severe Wildfire Season in March And April
- OKFB Releases 2021 Legislative Priorities
- Ag Groups Respond to President Joe Biden's Action on Climate Change
- U.S. Beef Exports Expected to Increase 10 percent in 2021 Due to Growing E-Commerce Trade Says Dan Halstrom, USMEF
- WWF Study: Larger US Dairy Farms Could Achieve Net-Zero Emissions within 5 Years
- K-State experts Offer Advice on getting Heifers Prepared for their First Breeding Season
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OCA Members Stress Need For Less Government Involvement
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In reviewing the more than 3,100 bills filed so far by Oklahoma lawmakers prior to the session opening Feb. 1, Oklahoma cattle producers let it be known they want very little if any government involvement in their business, said Michael Kelsey, executive director of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association.
Kelsey and I spoke following the conclusion of OCA’s winter policy development conference this week.
Our tracking system has flagged about 1,100 of the 3,100 bills filed so far that would be of interest to our members, Kelsey said.
Among the key issues having direct impact on beef producers is the ad valorem tax issue for cities and municipalities that is starting from where legislators left off at the end of last year’s session.
The proposal includes the 60 percent threshold, agriculture land and personal ag properties such as cattle and trailers all exempt.
So on this issue, we are staying neutral right now, Kelsey said.
The political environment in general will be interesting as the state needs money, Kelsey said.
There are also several bills dealing with the initiative petition process.
Hear our full conversation with Michael as we get ready for the onslaught of 2021 General Session this coming Monday-click on the button below.
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The Oklahoma Cotton Council is proud to serve the cotton producers and those who are a part of the cotton industry in Oklahoma- promoting and protecting their interests. In Recent Years- cotton acreage has grown in Oklahoma- and today we are the third largest Cotton State in the US- based on Acres Planted.
The Oklahoma Cotton Council works for the cotton farmer in the areas of research, advocacy and education. Follow the Oklahoma Cotton Council on Facebook.
For a daily dose of cotton news- listen to our Cotton Talk report, sponsored in part by the Oklahoma Cotton Council.
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State Forester Mark Goeller Predicts Severe Wildfire Season in March And April
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The next few months could see a return of damaging wildfires to many areas of Oklahoma, said Mark Goeller, state forester and director of Oklahoma Forestry Services.
"We can have a fire any time of the year here in Oklahoma, he said, based on weather and fuel conditions.
We are always prepared for fire despite what time of year it is," he said.
March through April is going to be our most active wildfire season this year because of La Nina, which typically means warmer and dryer conditions, he said.
The most recent La Nina years 2016-2018 saw large damaging out of control fires across western and northwestern Oklahoma.
We saw significant loss to livestock and infrastructure those years, he said.
What we’re looking at in 2021 is typically warmer and dryer and with our fuel growth out there will help sustain a fire, Goeller said.
People often refer to our fires in Oklahoma as grassfires but Goeller said our fires often are a mixture of fuel sources.
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OKFB releases 2021 Legislative Priorities
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Oklahoma Farm Bureau has announced the organization’s priority issues for the 2021 state legislative session as set forth by its grassroots farm and ranch members.
The top issues for Farm Bureau members across all 77 counties include expanding rural broadband internet access, protecting landowners from property tax increases, safeguarding the state agriculture sales tax exemption, increasing access to quality health care in rural communities, securing improved funding for roads and bridges, and ensuring support for Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.
“After a challenging year for Oklahoma agriculture producers, Oklahoma Farm Bureau is eager to bring the voice of our grassroots farm and ranch members to the state Capitol as we work to find solutions to many of the issues facing our farmers, ranchers and rural communities,” said Rodd Moesel, OKFB president.
Expanding rural broadband access
Internet connectivity is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for modern agriculture. Farmers and ranchers today rely on broadband to produce and market their products just as much as they depend on roads and bridges. Agricultural producers need high-speed internet to operate successful, efficient farms and ranches, just like small businesses across urban and suburban Oklahoma.
Rodd Moesel talked with Hannah Davis with the Farm Bureau's Communications team- and you can listen and watch Rodd describe their priorities in the video below.
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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
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Agriculture groups respond to President Biden's Action on Climate Change
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Ag Groups gave the following responses to the Biden Administration issuing executive orders that involve climate change and land conservation:
NCFC President and CEO Chuck Connor gave the following Response, "I welcome President Biden’s positive words today about the role that farmers and ranchers can play in addressing climate change. For nearly a year, NCFC and a diverse group of farm, food, forestry, and environmental groups have been working together to find common ground on this issue and develop actionable recommendations for policymakers.
The Public Lands Council (PLC) Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover, today released the following statement, "Public lands ranchers truly are the original conservationists and their carefully-managed grazing programs are designed to facilitate healthy cattle and sheep, while also supporting sustained landscape health. As the Biden Administration develops a plan to achieve their goal of conserving 30 percent of our lands and oceans by 2030, we look forward to working with them to ensure these conservation efforts recognize the immense existing contributions of federal lands ranchers."
"NCBA looks forward to working with President Biden and his Administration as they recognize the positive role agriculture plays in addressing climate concerns. U.S. cattle producers use advanced technologies, genetics and grazing management to make their herds the most sustainable in the world," said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall.
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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.
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Sponsor Spotlight
National Livestock was founded in 1932 in Oklahoma City. National’s Marketing Division offers cattle for sale weekly at the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City. The Finance Division lends money to ranchers across several states for cattle production. The Grazing Division works with producers to place cattle for grazing on wheat or grass pastures.
National also owns and operates other livestock marketing subsidiaries including Southern Oklahoma Livestock Auction in Ada, Oklahoma, OKC West Livestock Market in El Reno, Oklahoma, and the nation’s premier livestock video sale, Superior Livestock Auction. National offers customers many services custom made for today’s producer. To learn more, click here for the website or call the Oklahoma City office at 1-800-310-0220.
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U.S. Beef Exports Expected to Increase 10 percent in 2021 Due to Growing E-Commerce Trade Says Dan Halstrom, USMEF
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The COVID-19 pandemic slammed U.S. beef exports but Dan Halstrom, president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, expects a strong recovery in 2021.
If you look at Asia, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, they are virtually back to normal, Halstrom said.
Latin America is way behind the curve and it’s going to be some time before they are back to normal, he said, while many other countries are somewhere in between.
We’re forecasting a 3 or 4 percent decline for beef for 2020, Halstrom said.
However, for 2021, the USMEF is expecting a 10 percent growth, which would be a new record, Halstrom said.
But there is a rocky road ahead with many ups and downs, Halstrom said.
Prime example is Japan which has had several spikes.
One of the reasons Halstrom is optimistic about 2021 is the booming e-commerce trend that actually started before the pandemic.
Korea is the frontrunner, he said.
Convenience was pushing the trend until Covid but then it ramped up tenfold, he said.
Whatever the new normal looks like, a lot of the growth in e-commerce is here to stay, Halstrom said.
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WWF Study: Larger US Dairy Farms Could Achieve Net-Zero Emissions within 5 Years
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New analysis from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) finds that larger US dairy farms could reduce their net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to zero within the next five years. The investment to reach net zero will also yield financial benefits, with a possible annual return of $1.9 million or more per farm. The potential impact of larger dairies reaching net zero emissions is significant for the entire US industry, with smaller farms also benefiting from advancements in technology and lower implementation costs. If even 10% of dairy production in the US were to achieve net zero, GHG emissions could be reduced by more than a hundred million tons.
“We need to make it easy for Americans to prioritize the planet when putting food on the table—to make all choices more sustainable so the burden isn’t on the consumer,” said Jason Clay, executive director of WWF’s Markets Institute. “But we also need to make it feasible for farmers. Through this analysis we’re showing how, with the right incentives and policies, dairy can get there, and get there quickly. And if it’s possible for dairy, other food sectors—and particularly other animal proteins—won’t be far behind.”
The business case explores emissions reduction and revenue potential in four primary areas: feed production and efficiency, reducing enteric methane emissions, improving manure management and nutrient recovery, and the generation and sale of renewable energy and byproducts. Mitigation techniques discussed include implementing climate-smart agricultural practices for feed optimization, converting manure into fertilizers and energy, and incentivizing the processing of food waste in biodigesters, among other recommendations.
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K-State experts Offer Advice on getting Heifers Prepared for their First Breeding Season
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In the latest Cattlechat Podcast, a pair of K-State Beef Vets talk about Readying replacement heifers.
Anyone who has lived with teenagers can attest that their food consumption can be high as they are rapidly growing to their adult size.
In much the same way, growing beef herd replacement heifers also need to have their nutritional needs met so that they reach puberty at around 12 months of age, according to Kansas State University veterinarian Bob Larson during the recent Beef Cattle Institute Cattle Chat podcast.
“Research has shown that with a good nutritional plan, it is reasonable to expect replacement heifers to reach maturity between 11 and 13 months of age,” Larson said.
For spring calving herds grazing dormant grass or corn stalks in the winter, Larson said supplementation may be needed for optimal growth.
Veterinarian and BCI director Brad White added that January is a great time to assess the condition of the replacement heifers and plan for the necessary gain needed for breeding in the late spring.
“As we are evaluating the replacement heifer now, we need to think about how many days are left until breeding season and think about the target weight we want her to be at,” White said. “To estimate the rate of gain, take the amount of gain needed divided by the number of days left until breeding.”
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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.
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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.
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Wholesale Boxed Beef Prices continue to go higher- Choice Beef was up 60 cents and Select Beef was up $1.66 on Wednesday January 27th
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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OKC West in El Reno had 4,862 head this week and prices were steady to stronger.
Compared to last week: Feeder steers traded 2.00-4.00 higher, feeder heifers sold 1.00-3.00 higher. Demand good. Steer and heifer calves traded mostly steady. Demand moderate. Quality plain to average, few attractive.
Click below for the complete closing report.
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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..
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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.
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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
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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.
Oklahoma State University Junior Amarie Griffeth has a heart for people- and she tells Host KC Sheperd about a need she saw on campus in Stillwater to combat food insecurity. She was a part of a Task force- and out of that students came up with Pete’s Pantry, an anonymous way to help other students on campus needing a helping hand.
Amarie grew up in Cushing, Oklahoma- her dad is in the livestock marketing business, so she has grown up loving being involved in producing food- and she has discovered the joy of providing food to those in need as well. Today's Road Podcast is powered by BancFirst, Loyal to Oklahoma and 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:
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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.
We also welcome Entz Auction as our Presenting Sponsor- check out their current listings by clicking here for their website.
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.
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God Bless!
Reach Out To Us:
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Tim West
President/General Manager
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
2401 Exchange Avenue,
Suite F
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
405.317.6361
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Ron Hays
Director of Farm Programming
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
405.473.6144
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