We have conducted a year end interview with Oklahoma State University Extension Small Grains Extension Specialist Dr. Jeff Edwards as we have discussed both the 2012 wheat crop, as well as the 2013 crop that has been planted in the fall of 2012.


The 2012 wheat crop is feeling more and more like an exceptional, bumper crop for Oklahoma producers, as the final harvest total of 154.8 million bushels was more than double the size of the drought stricken 2011 crop which tallied 70,200,000 bushels. Unfortunately, the 2013 crop is shaping up to be far closer to the size of the 2011 crop rather than the more recent 2012 harvest total.


Dr. Edwards tells us that we have not had a growing season like this fall's weather in a half century- as he says perhaps as much as thirty percent of the crop planted has never gotten up to a stand that will allow it the chance to survive the winter.

Click here to read more about our conversation with Dr. Edwards as well as have a chance to hear our ten minute plus visit.  

AND- be watching Saturday morning on KWTV News9 around 6:40 AM for our weekly In the Field segment- Dr. Edwards will be our guest at that time. 

Long Awaited Animal Disease Traceability System Final Rule Announced by USDA  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a final rule on Thursday establishing general regulations for improving the traceability of U.S. livestock moving interstate.


"With the final rule announced today, the United States now has a flexible, effective animal disease traceability system for livestock moving interstate, without undue burdens for ranchers and U.S. livestock businesses," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The final rule meets the diverse needs of the countryside where states and tribes can develop systems for tracking animals that work best for them and their producers, while addressing any gaps in our overall disease response efforts. Over the past several years, USDA has listened carefully to America's farmers and ranchers, working collaboratively to establish a system of tools and safeguards that will help us target when and where animal diseases occur, and help us respond quickly."
 

The rule will be published in the Federal Register on December 28- it will become effective as of February 26, 2013 with USDA's Dr. John Clifford telling stakeholders in an informational call that the enforcement date has yet to be determined- but will probably be six months to a year out from the effective date. 

Click here to read the full release from USDA- and in our webstory, we have links to a six page Q&A that USDA has developed and released on the System going into place- and we have the audio that you can listen to of USDA's Dr. John Clifford of APHIS as he discussed the final rule with stakeholders. 

NCBA and LMA Among the First Industry Groups To Offer Reaction to USDA Final Rule

The Livestock Marketing Association represents livestock auction barns across America- and their long time lobbyist Nancy Robinson, as well as their current President Dr. Tim Starks of the Cherokee Sales Company of Cherokee, Oklahoma are clearly pleased with the word from USDA of the Final Rule for ADT (Animal Disease Traceback) this coming week.  

"With publication of the ADT final rule the cattle industry took a giant step forward," said Nancy Robinson, LMA's Vice President for Government and Industry Affairs. "It is clear that USDA heard the industry's voice regarding this issue, which has great effect and economic significance to the industry."

Dr. Starks adds "We have much to do in overseeing the implementation of the ADT program to ensure that the way we envision the program is not derailed or left to the devices of others less invested in our industry. We will keep working to accomplish the industry and USDA's mutual goals for an effective, efficient and timely animal disease traceability system for the nation's cattle herd."   

Click here to read the full statement released by LMA on Thursday evening.  

Meanwhile,  the relatively new Chief Veterinarian for NCBA,  Kathy Simmons, issued this statement on behalf of the cattle industry producer group- "NCBA has been an industry leader in working diligently with USDA APHIS to ensure cattlemen's concerns are addressed in this new animal disease traceability program. We are encouraged by today's comments from Secretary Vilsack, and we are in the process of thoroughly reviewing the rule and sharing this information with our members."

Read the rest of her statement by clicking here- also released shortly after USDA made public their intention to issue the Final Rule via the Public Register this coming week.

Federation of State Beef Councils to Celebrate Golden Anniversary 

To learn more about the State Federation of Beef Councils as they get ready to celebrate this milestone anniversary- click here.  

Extreme to Exceptional Drought Now Covers 93 Percent of Oklahoma

Another week has passed and the latest Drought Monitor Map for the state of Oklahoma is really more of the same for the entire state. According to Gary McManus, Associate State Climatologist with the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, "The percentage of Extreme (D3) drought increased just a bit and we now have 93% of the state covered by Extreme-Exceptional (D3-D4) drought."


While the state has experienced drought in both 2011 and 2012, dry conditions went into remission for a time last fall and winter, as the percentage of severe to exceptional drought in the state was just over 50% as 2012 began- as we bring down the curtain on 2012, that number is, for all practical purposes, 100%.

Click here for our webstory that has the graphic of Oklahoma with the latest drought stats for the state- click here for the national drought map that was also released yesterday morning.

US House Ag Committee Chair Frank Lucas Announces His SubCommittee Chairs as Ranking Member Peterson Welcomes New Democrats

Chairman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma named five members on Thursday to serve as Subcommittee Chairmen of the House Agriculture Committee for the 113th Congress.  They include:

Rep. Steve King (IA-5): Department Operations, Oversight, and Nutrition

Rep. K. Michael Conaway, (TX-11): General Farm Commodities and Risk Management

Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-5): Conservation, Energy, and Forestry

Rep. Austin Scott (GA-8): Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture

Rep. Rick Crawford (AR-1): Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit

Click here to read details of each of the Subcommittees' jurisdiction as set by Chairman Lucas for the coming two years.

On the other side of the aisle- Collin Peterson of Minnesota announced four ladies will be added to the Democratic list of members for the 2013-2014.  They include:

Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-1)
Ann Kuster (NH-2)
Gloria McLeod (CA-35)
Filemon Vela (TX-34)       

Living the True Meaning of Christmas- Be Rich This Christmas!

Longtime readers of this daily email know that I will take the opportunity to discuss the meaning of Holidays like Christmas and Easter as they roll around each year- and here in 2012, I wanted to share a short story I am borrowing from Andy Stanley, the Pastor of NorthPoint Church in Atlanta- the reason I wanted to share it is that I believe it captures what so many folks who are involved in farming and ranching understand- the difference between getting rich and being rich- and it's a reminder that this is the birthday where we receive the gift- not the one having the birthday- we just have to accept this greatest gift ever given mankind.  God has given this gift to us- how do we plan on sharing it? So- without further ado- enjoy these words from Andy on what rich is all about:

"I know some people who are great at getting rich. But when it comes to being rich, I'm less than impressed.

"In their defense, they have many problems non-rich people don't have. For instance, they need to come up with a retirement plan to ensure their golden years really are golden. I know lots of people who are faced with decisions about trading in slightly used cars, remodeling a room of their house, or upgrading to the latest, largest LCD. And who doesn't have a hard time planning how or where to spend their two weeks of paid vacation?

"These are rich people problems. I have them. And my guess is one of these sounds familiar to you too.

"Don't think you're rich? If you earn more than $37,000 a year, you are in the top four percent of wage earners-in the world.  

Congratulations! You're rich.

"The thing is, "rich" is a moving target. When you were 16, $37,000 would have made you feel rich. A mortgage, a few kids, and two cars later, the same can't be said.

"Throughout our lives we aspire to earn more money and accumulate more stuff. But when we earn more and collect more, our desire for more just grows.

"What if we spent less time worrying about getting rich and more time and energy being rich?

"The average American spends 67 days every year watching TV, but only 48 hours serving others. This December, are you focused on getting rich or being rich?" (The bottom line- my friend- ya got time to serve someone else?  If not, why not?")

From My Family to yours- Merry Christmas!!!! Enjoy these next few days- we return Wednesday morning with our next Email- we will have our TV segment on Saturday morning and radio reports on Monday on many of our Radio Oklahoma Ag Network stations.