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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- Ranchers Needing Clean Up Help in Sulphur- Field of Teams Needs Your Help

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USDA Secretary Vilsack Offers Thirty Day Extension to Comply With Actively Engaged Rule- Farm Bureau Praises Extension

 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Friday announced a one-time, 30-day extension to the June 1 deadline for recording farm organization structures related to Actively Engaged in Farming determinations. This date is used to determine the level of interest an individual holds in a legal entity for the applicable program year. Farming operations will now have until July 1 to complete their restructuring or finalize any operational change. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued the extension in response to farmers and ranchers who requested more time to comply, and to assure that everyone has enough time to provide their information under the new rules.


"Most farming and ranching organizations have been able to comply with the actively engaged rule," said Vilsack. "This one-time extension should give producers who may still need to update their farm structure information the additional time to do so."


The 2014 Farm Bill provided the Secretary with the direction and authority to amend the Actively Engaged in Farming rules related to management. The final rule established limits on the number of individuals who can qualify as actively engaged using only management. Only one payment limit for management is allowed under the rule, with the ability to request up to two additional qualifying managers operations for large and complex operations.


The rule does not apply to farming operations comprised entirely of family members. The rule also does not change the existing regulations related to contributions of land, capital, equipment or labor, or the existing regulations related to landowners with a risk in the crop or to spouses. Producers that planted fall crops have until the 2017 crop year to comply with the new rules. The payment limit associated with Farm Service Agency farm payments is generally limited annually to $125,000 per individual or entity.

Click here to read more about the extension and the support from AFBF.

Wheat Harvest- Some Go- Many Places a No- But Most of Oklahoma Oh So Close

 

 

Usually by the last day of May, wheat harvest is active in at least some of the southern half of Oklahoma- but that is not what we are finding here in 2016.  

 

We would normally be running combines by now in southwestern parts of Oklahoma- but in making calls, checking in via social media and via email- I am finding very little wheat that has been cut over the Memorial Day weekend.  

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Hodges with Plains Grains concurs with Mike on the Central Oklahoma harvest- saying there is harvest underway in multiple places in central Oklahoma rolling where the wheat has ripened and the fields are dry enough to support the weight of the combines.  Mark thinks that harvest could be happening in southwestern Oklahoma today if things will improve on the humidity front. 

 

 

Biggest worry- more rain in the mix for today into Wednesday- chances of rain in the Oklahoma wheat belt- 70% today and tonight- slightly less than that- fifty percent chances on Wednesday. 

 

If you are a wheat farmer or involved in custom harvest efforts- drop me an email and let me know how things are in your neck of the woods- that will be a great help in our efforts to paint a picture of harvest  for 2016!

Oklahoma Wheat Research Focused on Meeting Consumer Demands

 

Oklahoma Wheat Commission Executive Director Mike Schulte says investing in research to meet today's changing consumer demands is a priority for OWC and its members.


Schulte says at least 20 percent of the OWC's annual budget helps fund the OSU Wheat Improvement Team, a public breeding program for variety development and improving milling and baking characteristics. On average, OSU is releasing a variety a year through the public breeding program.


Producing varieties that meet end-use qualities can make a difference in the world marketplace. U.S. Wheat Associates, a national organization funded by 19 state wheat commissions, is currently looking at different strategies to increase U.S. wheat's market share.


Schulte says more than forty years ago, the U.S. held 75 to 80 percent of the global export market share. Today that number is closer to 35 percent.


"Other countries are raising wheat that weren't raising wheat during that time in the 60s, so we have more competition from Russia and Australia," he says. "But we also are seeing other parts of the world try to capitalize on the end-use qualities, and so as we move forward, I think that you're going to see more coming out of breeding program trying to capitalize on those efforts of what the millers and bakers actually want."


Schulte points to a new variety of hard white wheat - Stardust - as an example. He says Stardust not only meets domestic market demands, but also appeals to Mexico, Central America and South America.


"Part of it is because it makes a more palatable product; it has a less bitter taste; there are things that can be done with it on the functionality end that give it longer shelf life," he says. "As well as things can be done with tortillas and pasta making that necessarily can't be done with the hard red winter wheat."

Listen to Schulte talk more about Oklahoma wheat research.

Farmer Veteran Coalition Program - Homegrown by Heroes - Coming to Oklahoma

 

As veterans they stood for you, now as consumers you have a chance to stand by them - through agriculture. Coming soon to farmers markets and grocery stores across Oklahoma is a new label that will inform consumers that they are purchasing their food straight from veterans. Homegrown by Heroes (HBH) is the official farmer veteran branding program of America through the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC).


The FVC's mission is "To mobilize veterans to feed America." The coalition believes how important therapeutic agriculture careers are to veterans and how the agriculture producer population is aging and needs replacing, the combination of the two is the perfect fit. 


One farmer veteran who was quoted on farmvetco.org said, "This program gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment while producing a quality product. It allows us to have a sense of peace again. This is what I needed to heal."


This program is coming to Oklahoma through a partnership of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) and the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. According tofarmvetco.org, "The HBH logo serves to inform consumers that products donning the logo were produced by military veterans. The program is available to farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and value-added producers of all branches and eras of military service."

 

 

 

 

Promoting the Industry As a Whole - JBS's Cameron Bruett Talks Grass-Fed and Conventional Beef

 

As consumer preference for grass-fed beef rises, Cameron Bruett, head of corporate affairs for JBS, says it's important to promote the products without "vilifying the great work we're doing in other areas of agriculture."


"This is a great opportunity for us as an industry, don't get me wrong. It's a great marketing opportunity; it's a great way to get premiums for certain types of products," he says. "But we need to construct a narrative that that's just basically a choice based on maybe taste or quality or things of that nature, but it's not about good versus evil or bad versus good."


Bruett says he does not believe in the notion that grass-fed beef is better than conventionally raised beef - and vice versa.


"I think anyone who is involved in American agriculture is producing wonderful products that people should enjoy," he says. "And there should also be choices in the meat cases in the grocery store, whether that's grass-fed or conventional."


When it comes to sustainability, Bruett says it's hard to make a blanket statement that grass-fed beef is better for the environment than conventional beef. Instead, it depends on a variety of factors specific to each operation.


"You have to look at the geographical region that you're located in; the challenges of that particular ranch. You've got to look at the water table. I mean there is lot that goes into this," he says. "It's foolish to think that you can simply say one process is the solution to all of these challenges because it's not - it's individualized to that operation."


Bruett talks more about grass-fed and conventional production methods during the latest Beef Buzz.

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Soy Growers Welcome MOU with Cuban Agribusiness Group

 

With a signing ceremony last Thursday, the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC) and Cuba's Grupo Empresarial Agricola (GEA) formalized an agreement between the two nation's farm and food industries to re-establish the Cuban marketplace for U.S. food and agricultural products. As part of the agreement, both USACC and GEA will meet regularly to ensure that the relationship between both industries is mutually productive and beneficial. All last week, American Soybean Association (ASA) Vice President and Roseville, Ill., farmer Ron Moore wasin Havana with USACC to interact with Cuban farmers.


"Our Cuban partners represent a great deal of promise for the American soybean industry," said Moore. "The agreement that USACC is signing on to this morning is something that will help to ensure both American producers and Cuban buyers have what they need as our relationship continues to grow together."


ASA supports policy to normalize relations with Cuba, including the full removal of the embargo.


"So much has changed since the era in which the Cuban embargo was put in place," said Moore. "Since 1961, our countries have evolved, our industries have expanded, and our economies have matured. Cubans have an increasing opportunity to develop their economy, and Americans have an equally promising opportunity to help meet that demand. That's why we're here-to meet a burgeoning demand for meat protein, for cooking oil and for the array of other products that American producers can provide."

Maschoffs Terminate Manager in Response to Undercover Video from Nebraska Sow Farm

 

This past week- the Animal Legal Defense Fund released undercover footage obtained at a pork production facility in Nebraska. Feedstuffs magazine reports the facility is owned and operated by the Maschoff's LLC. The Animal Rights Activists contend that the video depicts animal neglect and violations of laws protecting both consumers and animals. According to the ALDF, the video shows long term neglect and a lack of veterinary care.

 

The initial reaction from the sow farm operator was that they were investigating the claims- but then a very strong response was announced by the end of the week.  In a news release on their website- the Maschoffs stated that their policy is  "zero tolerance for any abuse or intentional mistreatment of its pigs, and is dedicated to achieving high standards of care consistently and without exception at its farms."

 

As a result- the releases says "Specifically, the company:

• Has terminated the farm manager at the sow farm in the video;
• Is conducting a series of independent audits at its Nebraska sow farms to ensure all animal care standards are being met;
• Is immediately conducting extensive re-training on proper animal care and handling practices across the company's entire farm network, with specific focus on the Nebraska area;
• Is launching an intense, internal communications effort to ensure all employees fully understand their obligations to adhere to as well as report any instances of animal abuse and neglect; and
• Has done an exhaustive review of the video and its animal welfare records from the facility to identify issues and critical improvements."

 

 

 

 

 

Ranchers Needing Clean Up Help in Sulphur- Field of Teams Needs Your Help

 

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