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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 

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Gentlemen, Start Your Combines....Sunshine and 80s and 90s Arrive  

The rains in the latter part of last week were substantial in many parts of the HRW southern plains wheat belt- and for many farmers, it is taking some time to get past the mud to allow combines to either resume or to start.

The weather needed for that to happen has arrived. There was abundant sunshine and temperatures were in the 80s on Sunday- Altus and Hollis both touched 90 at their respective Mesonet sites- and the nine day forecast shows the next chance for rain in central and much of western Oklahoma is next Monday- Jed Castles with News9 offers this summer like outlook:



Wheat and Canola Producers- send us your harvest updates and pictures- we will share with our email family- or if you prefer to remain "in the shadows" just give us details- and we will not mention names to honor your wishes.

Email me by clicking here with your harvest 2016 story.

Canola Price Premium Over Wheat Helps Fuel Grower Optimism at Harvest 2016

Ron Sholar is the executive Director of the Great Plains Canola Association and he has provided the following update on the efforts to harvest the 2016 winter canola crop in Oklahoma - supplied to the Oklahoma Farm Report on Friday evening, 

June 3rd:


"April and May rains and favorable weather for maturing the canola crop generated a good deal of optimism for growers this year. But then, much like last year, the rains continued and continued bringing stress for growers waiting to get going on a crop ripe and ready for harvest.


"A midweek excursion through Oklahoma canola country revealed little crop harvesting progress had been made in the last week. During the weekend of May 28 and 29, some canola that had been swathed for a while was finally picked up but more rain on Monday and Tuesday had once again ground things to a halt. On Wednesday, seeing canola being harvested anywhere in the state was a rare sight.


"The grain elevator at Hillsdale, OK reports that as of June 1st they have received 15 loads of canola but this is one of the few sites that has actually received any canola at all.


"On Wednesday, Jeff Scott of Pond Creek was taking advantage of a small but important window of opportunity by combining some canola that had been in the windrow for about 10 days. He and his crew were running full bore with three combines, two grain carts, and five trucks in perpetual motion...threshing, transferring, and hauling grain to the elevator. But as night fall neared, rain saturated clouds and lightning flashes to the south threatened to shut everything down. Yields were running between 45 and 50 bushels per acre and fields with even more promise were waiting their turn.


"Much of western Oklahoma received rain on Wednesday night and Thursday morning and now even more drying out will be needed to get the combines into the fields and keep them rolling. All that's needed is some favorable harvesting weather and this crop will come out of the field in a very short period of time.

Read Sholar's full canola harvest update.

In the Midst of Budget Turmoil- Oklahoma Cattlemen Find Lots to Like About 2016 Legislative Session

The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (OCA) prides itself in being the only organization that is solely focused on beef cattle production at the Oklahoma State Legislature.


"Having a voice at the capitol is a key benefit to members, like me," said Charlie Swanson, President of the OCA. "OCA members had two lobbyists working their behalf during the entire 55th Oklahoma State Legislature, so that we as cattlemen can remain focused on producing beef."


While the budget was the main topic of the second session, there were many other issues addressed.


"While this session was tough, OCA experienced many successes in the eight areas listed below," Swanson said.


- Agriculture Sales Tax Exemption-By working closely with agriculture allies, the OCA worked to preserve the Agriculture Sales Tax Exemption and defended a serious proposal to eliminate the sales tax exemption for equine sales. Also, early in the session, a list was circulated to legislators suggesting that eliminating the sales tax exemption of livestock purchased out of state could be a source of revenue. OCA worked quickly to offset these bad ideas and remained vigilant against their resurrection later in the session.


- Cattle Theft Penalty-This bill (HB 2540) codifies that each animal stolen may be a separate felony offense, thus giving the courts more latitude to charge cattle rustlers. It also established the fine portion of the penalty to be three times the value of the cattle stolen. We appreciate Representative John Pfeiffer and Senator Ron Justice for carrying this priority legislation for the OCA.


- Water is Compelling State Interest-Working closely with the American Farmers and Ranchers, the Oklahoma Pork Council, Oklahoma Co-op Association and the Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association, HB 2446 was passed and places in state law that water is a compelling state interest. OCA has long agreed that water quality is a compelling state interest and that the Legislature has the authority to govern in this issue. Oklahoma's Right to Farm - SQ 777 - opponents have used water quality to deceive voters by stating that if Right to Farm is passed, Oklahoma's waters would suffer at the hands of agriculture. Opponents will now have to come up with another talking point to manipulate voters. We appreciate Representative Terry O'Donnell and Senator Dan Newberry for their work on this bill.


- Prescribed Fire Burning-OCA championed HB 2646 as an important piece of legislation because it allows landowners to use prescribed fire during a County Commissioner issued burn ban provided they communicate their prescribed fire plan to firefighters. The bill also lowers the County Commissioner issued burn ban from 30 days to 14 days. The bill is currently in the Governor's office waiting her signature. We appreciate Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Don Barrington for carrying this priority legislation for the OCA.

Read more about OCA's success at the Capitol this legislative session.

USMEF Says Red Meat Exports Deliver Excellent Returns for U.S. Corn Producers

USDA Expands Access to Capital for Rural Businesses

USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Sam Rikkers unveiled new rules Friday to expand access to capital for rural businesses.


"Access to capital is one of the most important needs for businesses," Rikkers said. "USDA is partnering with the Treasury Department and other agencies to ensure that rural businesses have the resources they need to prosper and grow. The regulatory changes I am announcing today will help businesses expand their operations and create jobs."



The changes, published in today's Federal Register, make it easier for rural businesses to qualify for loans in USDA's Business & Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program.



They allow businesses to use the New Markets Tax Credit as a form of equity, and allow, for the first time, employees of a business to qualify for loan guarantees to purchase stock in a business by forming an Employee Stock Ownership Plan or worker cooperative.



Other improvements include:

* New, loan application scoring criteria, including priority for loans to businesses that will create quality jobs, such as those with health care benefits; 

* Reduced paperwork requirements to refinance loans; 

* Strengthened eligibility criteria for non-regulated lenders (such as privately owned finance companies) to participate in the B&I program; 

* Expanded loan eligibility, including in urban areas, for projects that process, distribute, aggregate, store and/or market locally or regionally produced foods. 

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Part Three on Antibiotics of Tomorrow - Dr. Margaret Riley of UMASS-Amherst Explains Her Passion 

In part three of a three part Beef Buzz series with Dr. Margaret Riley of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, we continue to look at antibiotic resistance and what is needed to get companies to invest in narrow spectrum antibiotics, which she believes is the future in dealing with antibiotic resistance.


Dr. Riley says in the latest Beef Buzz that it is important we pursue narrow spectrum solutions for the specific pathogens that are causing us problems in both animal ag and in human health.

"That's my passion- that's why I spend time away from the lab is to make sure that people understand not just that there is a problem, which there is and it's serious, but that there are potential solutions on the horizon if we're smart enough to recognize them." 

She adds that will take money as this research is costly and the resulting products may not be as big a money earner as the next drug to fight diabetes or something similar.

Our three part series with Dr. Riley is a "best of" repeat from earlier this spring as we help you re-examine the work being done by this cutting edge scientist in antibiotic resistance. 

Click here

Today's Boogeyman- Corporate Farms 

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