The past and present are both easily found where Vikki Schumacher lives.

In the farthest corner of the Oklahoma Panhandle, an area once known as "No Man's Land," the work of cattle ranchers remains remarkably similar to the way it was four generations ago. Computers and cellular phones are part of everyday life but the really important work is done from the back of a horse.

For Schumacher, ranching on land her family has owned since the 1870s has been not only a satisfying life but nearly ideal to raise her family. With no nearby stores or restaurants and the nearest neighbors many miles away, she admits not many people would agree with her.

"It takes a very special person to want to live and work out here," Schumacher said. "I think a person has to be born to it. If I weren't from here I would think it was too dry and windy to want to be here."

Read more about our latest Significant Woman in Oklahoma Agriculture as profiled by the Oklahoma Department of Ag by clicking or tapping here.

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced grants to fund programs that promote learning, opportunity, and health within the American Indian community. The funding is made possible through two NIFA programs: the Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program and the Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program.

"1994 land-grant institutions are an important part of our educational and innovation system that underpins our nation's food, agricultural, and natural resources enterprise," said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. "These grants support educators and extension specialists who engage with tribal communities by providing education and research-based knowledge."

Among the grants handed out were three to Oklahoma State University for a little over $200,000.

Click or tap here to read more.

 

Oil-state Republican legislators met with President Trump at the end of this past week to discuss the Renewable Fuels Standard. They left with a directive from the president to figure out a compromise that would work out for both the oil and renewable fuels industries.

Politico says Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe was one of the lawmakers who met with Trump. "The president wants us to come to him with something that's going to make both sides happy, and I believe we can to it," Inhofe says, "and I believe he thinks we can do it." Inhofe and Senator John Cornyn of Texas have already begun working with corn-state senators on a possible compromise.

In the meantime, Texas Senator Ted Cruz is still holding up the nomination of Bill Northey to a USDA post. It's a retaliatory move after corn-state senators killed an effort by the Environmental Protection Agency to weaken the Renewable Fuels Standard. After the meeting with Trump, Cruz says he's optimistic they can find a fix to please all sides. He did not say if he'd lift his hold on Northey's nomination.

EPA administrator Scott Pruitt says there may be some administrative actions available to help refiners cut some of the costs they face to stay in compliance with the RFS.

The latter days of 2016 set up cattle producers for a decently profitable, yet somewhat surprising, year in 2017. Most notably, the industry saw more and more cattle pulled ahead and placed on showlists a bit quicker than normal. Additionally, carcass weights came down some and as a result, overall tonnage of beef supplies were not as big as the increasing numbers might have suggested. This allowed most all segments in the beef business to make some money. As we wrap up this year, I reached out to market watcher Derrell Peel for his perspective on what the future may hold for the cattle market as we head into 2018.


"I think there's a couple of things," he said. "I think there's some threats out there. One of which, of course, is that we're just going to continue to see increased beef production and we're going to continue to see increased total meat supplies."


And that includes increased pork and poultry supplies as well, Peel says. As supplies grow, so too will the pressure on the market. However, if demand both domestically and internationally hold up as well as they have over the last it is possible that demand will offset some of that pressure. While at the moment Peel sees no definite reasons as to why demand would falter, he says there is some uncertainty surrounding trade, given the ongoing negotiations and tariff restrictions our country is currently faced with. Peel admits that uncertainty does add to the downside risk producers may be looking at for 2018. Additionally, it is expected that the mama cow herd continues to expand some. More cows mean more calves which means more beef in the pipeline. But Peel points to 2017, during which a similar scenario played out and markets remained strong. Peel says that could absolutely be a possibility, too, and just as surprising as it was to witness this past year.


"I think we generally do expect some weakness in cattle prices in 2018, but probably relatively modest decreases unless we see some change in demand," Peel concluded. "Still, there is some profit potential in 2018 but also some threats to the downside and some reason for producers to manage that downside risk."


Listen to Peel and I discuss the possible threats to producers' profit potential during 2018, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.

 

The 2017 Livestock Handling Skills Scholarship Competition featured ten FFA Chapters from across the state of Oklahoma- and the top three teams were within 21 points of one another when all elements of the contest were added up.

The top team in this very competitive contest for 2017 represented the Pawnee FFA Chapter- it was an all female contingent- consisting of Madison Vance, Braylee Heisler and McKenzie Nelson.

Second place- just five points back- was the squad from Madill FFA- team members included Rio Bonham, Camille Martinez and Jake McHatton.

Click here to learn more about the contest and to check out how the rest of teams placed on Friday- lead sponsor of this competition is the American Farmers and Ranchers.

By the way- pictures from all ten teams in a Flickr Album- it's available here.

 

The beef checkoff is using its beef-promoting #RethinkTheRanch campaign to help consumers gain a better understanding of how cattle producers are using advanced technology to benefit their businesses and the environment.

A perfect example of how technology is being used can be found at the Bear Valley Ranch, located near Parkville, California. The Kester family put down roots and started ranching there 150 years ago in 1867. Back then, no one could have predicted how technology would be used to manage cattle and operate ranches and farms.

"Every time there is a new technology, we try to take advantage of it," says Kevin Kester. "Most recently, we purchased a commercial drone that we use to gather cattle, look at our water troughs, and make sure everything is functioning correctly."

Kevin says that with over 100 miles of roads on the ranch, the drone saves them a lot time and energy that would be taken up in driving down those roads.

Learn more about the Kester ranch operation by clicking here- who by the way- has an Oklahoma connection- one of Kevin's daughters is a student at Oklahoma State University.

 

Dr. Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist is reminding producers to plan now for their colostrum needs before spring calving season approaches.

"It is not too soon to begin to prepare for the spring calving season. Locating, obtaining, and storing several doses of colostrum or colostrum replacer will come in handy before the first heifers start to go into labor. Calves born after a difficult birth are at a high risk of failing to receive adequate colostrum by natural suckling because of greatly decreased colostrum intake. Calves that are born to a prolonged stage II of parturition (delivery through the pelvic canal) very often suffer from severe respiratory acidosis. Acidotic calves are less efficient at absorbing colostral immunoglobulins even if artificially fed colostrum. The only disease protection baby calves will receive is via the passive transfer of antibodies (immunoglobulins) from the colostrum that they ingest. Therefore effort should be made to provide weak newborn calves with the best source of colostrum available via bottle suckling or tube feeding."

Read more of Dr. Selk's advice by clicking or tapping here.