Courtesy of the Oklahoma Department of Ag- here's a quick overview about today's vote on the proposed State Beef Checkoff:

The Chairman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee issued perhaps his most direct public warning yet to the Trump Administration on a possible North American Free Trade Agreement "pullout."

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts spoke to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce audience in Washington, D.C. on the strategy President Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer are pursuing on NAFTA-threatening Mexico and Canada with a 'pullout.'

"We are fighting a pervasive view that our economy has not benefited from NAFTA," said Chairman Roberts. "We are coming to a crossroads, and the decisions made on international trade will determine the future economic success of our country."

In his statements, Roberts urged business leaders to band together in support of the NAFTA agreement, which he insisted is integral to keeping the agricultural economy afloat and says the evidence of that fact is clear.

Canada and Mexico have continuously been ranked in the top five destinations for U.S. agricultural exports since NAFTA was signed into law in 1993. Over the course of NAFTA, U.S. agricultural exports have increased to Canada by 265 percent, and to Mexico by 289 percent.

Roberts promised those in the ag industry his continued effort in blocking any attempt to derail the trade deal, and called supporters of NAFTA to rally around him.

"I promise I will continue to be your champion," Roberts said. "Where ag and trade meet, we get results. So, saddle up and ride with me." 

Click here to read more of the Chairman's comments, or to watch a video of his remarks.

NAWG's interim president, Gordon Stoner, also participated in the day's events, answering the Chairman's call for support.

"With U.S. wheat farmers already enduring financial distress, open access to the Mexican and Canadian markets is needed now more than ever. Our farm economy is struggling, and we look to current and new trade markets to sell our high-quality product," Stoner said. "As the Administration continues to be flippant about NAFTA re-negotiations, Mexico has already begun sourcing wheat from other countries. NAWG continues to stress for the Administration to 'Do No Harm' and to look ahead for opportunities for new trade deals."

Click here for a look at his complete comments.

Here at the end of October, beef cattle prices have managed to endure the typical seasonal pattern of decline, still maintaining above $1 per pound in cash cattle trade. In addition, wholesale boxed beef prices have also held strong, as have feeder and stocker cattle prices - all still above year ago levels. According to Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Glynn Tonsor, given the fact that bigger beef supplies are rolling through the pipeline currently, these price levels suggest there is significant demand for beef in the marketplace.


"Those demand signals are coming in many ways," Tonsor said, quoting some of the increased prices currently being observed in the beef cut-outs. "You have those choice cut-outs come up... that allows us to pay more for feeder cattle, which in turn allows us to give more staying power and higher prices for those feeder cattle."


According to his latest projections, Tonsor says he believes the rest of 2017 and the beginning of 2018 will have positive close outs. He points to a report that does not always get the attention it deserves. He says of the Cold Storage report, that some may say that shows meat stacking up and unable to find a home. But he says put into context, one realizes that the beef industry is growing and therefor will obviously manifest as more beef in storage - but the fact is, looking at stored beef as a percentage of total production, those wares are actually decreasing.


"So, it all circles back to wholesale beef, fed cattle, live cattle, feeder cattle - all are higher than we thought they'd be and that's at a time when supplies are up," he said. "That only happens when you have strong demand."


Listen to Glynn Tonsor analyze the current state of the beef market and how that translates into a sign of strong consumer demand, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.

I ran into Riley Pagett, the former National FFA president from Woodward, Oklahoma during my recent visit to Indianapolis last week attending the National FFA Convention.

Riley was there to coordinate with visiting dignitaries to the convention this year, including Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Betsy DeVos, secretary of education.

Duties like this are commonplace for Riley these days, who has lived in Washington, DC for sometime now with his wife, Lauren, having found his way to the National FFA by way of the House Ag Committee under then chairman, Oklahoma's Congressman Frank Lucas . After working for the Committee, Riley was surprised to find a tremendous opportunity to work for the organization he's always had a strong connection with.

"Gosh! What a chance to do this," he remembered saying upon hearing about the opportunity. "It's a cool chance for me to get to spread some of their message there, but an even cooler chance when I can bring them to that environment and introduce them to some of the people that I work with regularly and showcase their talents and some of the skills they're learning in their home chapters."

Riley says his work with the FFA has been rewarding and he takes great pride in being able to represent the organization and its members in the company of many of our nation's leaders and policymakers. According to him, whenever FFA is mentioned in Washington, very few in government aren't able to relate a fond memory of interacting with FFA members and an appreciation for what the organization is all about.


"The blue jacket is so recognizable," Riley remarked. "When meeting with those people and when telling the FFA story, we'll introduce them to a member because they may not make the connection between FFA and agricultural education necessarily, but they've likely seen that blue jacket somewhere along the way."

Click or tap here to listen to more of what Riley had to say about working for the National FFA Organization and how having a presence on Capitol Hill has influenced and fostered a cooperative relationship between agriculture and the Washington community.

Thanks to ITC, Oklahoma FFA and the Oklahoma FFA Alumni Association for sponsoring our National FFA Convention coverage this year.

This week's Cow/Calf Corner newsletter featured an additional article contributed by OSU Extension Beef Quality Specialist Gant Mourer, who offered tips to producers on how to extract the full potential value of vaccines they've purchased, through proper use and storage.

"A vaccine can cost over $3.00 a head, and if not stored properly that vaccine can be rendered ineffective," Mourer writes. "Producers cannot afford to overlook the importance of how they store vaccine and handle it prior to injection."

According to Mourer, "biological products should be stored under refrigeration at 35 to 45 degrees F unless the nature of the product makes storing at a different temperature advisable. If vaccines are not stored within this temperature range, efficacy to the calf can and will be reduced. Killed vaccines are especially susceptible to freezing temperatures. Freezing a killed vaccine will alter the adjuvant or delivery system of a killed vaccine. This, in turn, negatively affects the immune response to the antigen in the vaccine. Modified live viruses are more stable but can be in-activated if they are repeatedly cycled above or below the required temperature range. Also, once activated by mixing, MLV's effective life will be reduced to 1-2 hours and need to be maintained at the 35 degrees to 45degrees F. This can be accomplished by only mixing the doses that you will use at that time and use a cooler to maintain temperature while working cattle."

Mourer also suggests that the way in which a producer handles vaccine outside of the refrigerator is important as well. He describes one technique to keep syringes at their most effective and functional in a working environment.

"Coolers can easily be modified for syringes and are important to maintaining vaccine efficiency chute side. Using a 1 ½' PVC pipe or sink tail piece purchased at any hardware store and a 1 ½' hole saw, inserts can placed through the cooler and work well to keep syringes cool and out of light while in use. Either ice or freezer packs can be used as a coolant to maintain temperature for several hours depending on outside ambient temperature. Make sure that enough coolant is used to maintain temperature while working cattle and extra ice may be needed if working cattle all day or during warm days. It may also take up to an hour for the cooler to reach the needed 45 degrees F, so producers may need to plan ahead prior to processing cattle."

For the full story and more of Mourer's tips, click here.