Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Monday, August 16, 2021
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Colin Woodall Reflects on a Successful Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show
- What You Need to Know About Rural Broadband, with OSU's Brian Whitacre
- Plains Grains Reports Winter Wheat Harvest Virtually Complete- South to North and to the Pacific
- BASF Rep Adam Hixson Says Cotton Crop Looks good And Remains Positive for Harvest
- Scott Yager on What New Methane Measurements Mean for the Cattle Industry
- Apply to learn all about Oklahoma’s swine industry!
- Rural Oklahoma advocacy Organization applauds the Passage of the Bi-partisan Infrastructure Bill
- Sorghum Industry Partners with the University of California to Advance Sorghum
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Colin Woodall Reflects on a Successful Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show
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Commitment, Confidence and Optimism - those were just some of the words NCBA CEO Colin Woodall used to reflect on this year’s CattleCon21.
In the same week the IPCC released a brand-new climate change report, the NCBA announced their goal for the cattle industry: to become climate neutral by 2040. As Woodall put it, sustainability is here to stay.
“Sustainability is here, so we had to step and back and think, ‘what does it mean to us,’” Woodall said. “We don’t want more rules and regulations, we don’t want the government to tell us what we have to do in terms of sustainability.”
To prevent that from happening, Woodall said the NCBA is at the forefront of developing sustainable practices for cattle producers and working with the Biden administration to guide legislation in “the right way” for the cattle industry. In a big win for the cattle industry, the IPCC report showed the long-term impact methane has on climate change is significantly lower than previously thought.
“We can now show quite clearly that we are part of the solution - not part of the problem,” Woodall said. “Our grazing lands can absorb that methane - grow good grass, our cattle can graze that grass and put a high-quality protein on the plate for consumers.”
That is a win for producers, consumers and the government, Woodall said.
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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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What You Need to Know About Rural Broadband, with OSU's Brian Whitacre
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Brian Whitacre, extension specialist for Rural Economic Development at Oklahoma State University told us about the ins and outs of rural broadband in Oklahoma.
Rural Oklahoma is below the national average when it comes to the availability and adoption of broadband, according to Whitacre.
“Both are important for improving a whole host of things,” Whitacre said. “COVID-19 made clear why broadband is important.”
Yes, most people have smartphones now, which can access the internet, but Whitacre said there is a difference between working on a smartphone versus a computer. Whitacre said, not only are doing basic things, like filling out a resume is harder, are harder on a smartphone, but the connection is not as strong.
“Where we are going, you are going to need more (internet) speed,” Whitacre said. “Fiber is the gold standard for broadband access… there is a difference between a fixed connection and a mobile connection.”
According to Whitacre, funding for this massive endeavor comes in the form of Coronavirus Relief dollars. But those funds are not solely set aside for broadband infrastructure, he added. County commissioners control how incoming dollars will be spent, so it is important for communities to reach out to their local government, Whitacre said.
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Plains Grains Reports Winter Wheat Harvest Virtually Complete- South to North and to the Pacific
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During the wheat harvest season, Mark Hodges and Plains Grains release a weekly HRW wheat harvest report- here is the latest report from Hodges, as released on Thursday evening, August 12th:
State Percent Complete:
Texas 100%
Oklahoma 100%
Kansas 100%
Colorado 100%
Nebraska 100%
South Dakota 100%
Montana 80%
Washington 95%
Oregon 98%
Idaho 85%
Wyoming 98%
The US HRW harvest continues to move very quickly and is now winding down in the Pacific Northwest. Remaining states are 80% or more complete as hot and dry weather continues to dominate the weather pattern. Those conditions are in sharp contrast to the extremely wet and humid pattern that prevailed in the southern and central Great Plains during crop maturity continuing through majority of harvest. Those sharp contrasts have also been exhibited via yield, kernel characteristics and protein levels.
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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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BASF Rep Adam Hixson Says Cotton Crop Looks good And Remains Positive for Harvest
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With some timely rains throughout late spring and early summer, BASF Technical Service Rep, Adam Hixson, says the cotton crop is looking good.
"The Crop looks really good right now. We really haven't had to irrigate too much, which has been a nice change from the past few years."
Hixson said right now said the cotton is starting to set bolls and finish up flowering. So as we get into this time of year, its time to think about Harvest. Producers have to focus on foliating and preparing the crop for a nice good harvest.
Something that can help with that is BASF's Sharpen herbicide, "Sharpen herbicide is a very effective broadleaf herbicide, and a lot of growers are familiar with using it."
Hixson says sharpen is speedy and effective for weed control, but this time of the year, he says its good to think of Sharpen as a harvest aid product.
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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
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.
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Scott Yager on What New Methane Measurements Mean for the Cattle Industry
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I met with Scott Yager, chief environmental council for the NCBA, to go over the findings in the new IPCC report and what they mean for the cattle industry. The report, which was released this past week, showed methane doesn’t have near the same long-term impacts on greenhouse gases as CO2.
According to the EPA , agriculture accounted for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. Throughout the years, cattle have become the poster child of methane emissions. Although cattle do produce methane, the IPCC report now classifies methane as a Short-Lived Climate Forcer (SLCF).
“The UN is recognizing something that’s called GWP*, which is basically a new measurement that accounts for the fact that methane is a short-lived gas,” Yager said. “This is important for the cattle industry because as you know, cattle emit methane - that’s what we (in the cattle industry) get beat over our heads with all the time by activist groups, but now if we incorporate the use of this new GWP* metric, we will begin to see that the greenhouse gas impact from cattle is much smaller than we previously believed.”
Historically, methane has been counted as a 25-multiplier of a carbon equivalent, which was then being multiplied by 100 years - which is wrong, Yager said.
It is important for the cattle industry to realize that the new greenhouse gas measurement information is vital in enabling the industry to justify good policy decisions, according to Yager.
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Apply to learn all about Oklahoma’s swine industry!
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The Oklahoma Pork Council is teaming up with the OSU Animal and Food Science Department and OSU Swine Club for a special problems course called the Pork Industry Group.
This group of elite students will have the opportunity to learn about ALL the job opportunities in Oklahoma’s swine industry. This eight week group will begin meeting in October and end the first week of December. The course will meet for two hours weekly and will include a Thursday - Friday trip which will feature a tour of a commercial sow operation and a tour of the Seaboard Pork Processing Plant in Guymon, Oklahoma.
During each meeting, group members will hear from leaders in the commercial pork industry about what they do and what job opportunities are available in this industry. Group members will hear from people who work in the barns, people who develop specialized feed rations for pigs, experts in swine genetics, veterinarians who care for pigs and many others that work in areas of swine production
Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding group members.
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Rural Oklahoma advocacy Organization applauds the Passage of the Bi-partisan Infrastructure Bill passed by US Senate
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The bi-partisan infrastructure agreement that was passed earlier this week by Democrat and Republican members of the United States Senate represents a desperately needed investment in Rural America according to Clay Pope, Chairman of the Oklahoma Rural and Small-Town Table of Common Interests.
We are hopeful that the House of Representatives will take up and pass the bipartisan infrastructure agreement that would send a desperately needed $4.3 billion for Oklahoma highway funds, $266 million for Oklahoma bridge replacements, $354 million for Oklahoma public transportation, and $100 million for statewide broadband access.
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Sorghum Industry Partners with the University of California to Advance Sorghum
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The United Sorghum Checkoff Program is partnering with the University of California and its Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources to advance the sorghum industry. The five-year partnership will promote drought resilience in sorghum and increase demand for the cereal crop in the biofuel and bioproduct markets.
While the research will be conducted in California, the results will benefit sorghum producers throughout the country. “We are excited to launch such a unique program aimed at helping address the world’s pressing water issues while at the same time increasing demand for a drought-tolerant crop like sorghum,” says Norma Ritz Johnson, USCP executive director. “The program is in perfect alignment with the Sorghum Checkoff’s goal of increasing producer profitability as drought and water scarcity is a challenge faced by most sorghum producers in the U.S.”
In addition, Johnson says with the recent focus on renewable energy production, promoting a versatile crop like sorghum in biofuel and bioproduct markets is a timely endeavor. Key activities will include breeding, gene discovery, phenotyping, and research related to the impacts of roots, soil microbes, photosynthesis, and management on drought resilience.
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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 SHARPLY higher- Choice Beef was up $6.90 and Select Beef was up $7.71 on Friday August 13rd.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
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Oklahoma National Stockyards had 5,100 head on Sunday late afternoon. ONSY President Kelli Payne tells us that we can expect 5,700 to 5,800 for the Monday sale- that will start this morning at 8:00 AM.
Compared to the week before: Feeder steers and heifers unevenly steady. on August 9th Demand moderate to good. Sale included about a thousand head of Oklahoma Angus-Influenced feeder steers and heifers. Despite cattle and grain futures trading lower, very little impact on trades here.
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
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
Chelsea Stanfield, Farm News and Email Editor
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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.
KC Sheperd talks with Oklahoma's 17th Lt. Governor, Matt Pinnell. Pinnell is also serving as the first Oklahoma Secretary of Tourism & Branding. Pinnell says lots of exciting things have Oklahoma on an upward trajectory- and he shares several highlights in today's conversation. Today's Road to Rural Prosperity Podcast is powered by Banc First, Loyal to Oklahoma and to 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, 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, Union Mutual Insurance, the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association, and KIS Futures for their support of our daily Farm News Update.
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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