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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network weekdays- if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click here for this morning's Farm news from Carson Horn on RON.
Let's Check the Markets!
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.
FedCattleExchange.com has a total of 3,194 cattle on their showlist for the Wednesday,
April 25th sale of finished cattle- details will be available after noon today by clicking here.
Steer calves were lightly tested while heifer calves sold 1.00-4.00 higher Tuesday compared to last week at OKC West - click or tap here for a look at the April 24th sale results.
Today's First Look:
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futures- click or tap here for the report posted yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
Okla Cash Grain:
Futures Wrap:
Feeder Cattle Recap:
Slaughter Cattle Recap:
TCFA Feedlot Recap:
Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor
Carson Horn, Associate Farm Director and Editor
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
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Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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 Featured Story:Lucas Uses Wildfire Backdrop to Highlight Importance of Disaster and Conservation Programs in Farm Bill
As the battle of the blazes winds down in northwest Oklahoma, Congressman Frank Lucas led a tour of the damage and met with producers who have suffered losses of livestock, fences and even their homes. He commended the coordinated efforts of the local, state and federal forces that ultimately banded together to snuff out these fires.
"It's amazing," he exclaimed. "Yes, we lost a third of a million acres in Oklahoma, but it would have been dramatically worse without their support."
Lucas also thanked Undersecretary Bill Northey for spending the day with him, meeting victims and explained the importance of having our ag leaders on-site to see firsthand the devastation and the needs of the people - especially right now as progress is being made on the next Farm Bill which will outline the resources available to farmers and ranchers who suffer from disaster in the future.
"To have him spend a day and come out with me and look at our conservation efforts, discuss the fire issues and the support of that, talk about the various provisions under the Farm Bill and how they affect producers' decisions - it's just refreshing to have that in a senior official at the USDA."
And while Lucas recognizes that the government can never fully replace what's been lost - he still encourages producers to contact their local FSA office and start documenting losses in order to take advantage of the programs that are readily available to them.
Click here to listen to Lucas share his reaction to the response efforts regarding recent wildfires with our own Carson Horn. |
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Sponsor Spotlight
It's great to have the Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards as a sponsor for our daily email. The eight Commission firms at the Stockyards make up the exchange- and they are committed to work hard to get you top dollar when you consign your cattle with them. They will present your cattle to the buyers gathered each Monday or Tuesday at one of the largest stocker and feeder cattle auctions in the world.
Click here for a complete list of the Commission firms that make up the Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards- still the best place to sell your cattle- and at the heart of Stockyards City, where you can go around the corner enjoy a great steak and shop for the very best in western wear.
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American Pecan Industry Launches First-Ever National Consumer Campaign as The Original Supernut
Today the pecan industry launched its first-ever national consumer campaign to help promote the native nut's nutritious, versatile and local traits. American Pecans, The Original Supernut™ is a brand positioning for pecans and a consumer education initiative to get Americans to think about pecans in a new way.
"The American pecan industry has a rich history dating back centuries and a powerful story that is largely untold - our goal is to change that," said Mike Adams, a Texas pecan grower and chairperson of the American Pecan Council - a new organization formed as a result of a Federal Marketing Order (FMO) for pecans approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2016. "Other nuts, to their credit, have benefited from large consumer campaigns for decades. Now, we want to shine a light on our industry that has come together to share the story of the American pecan."
The new integrated marketing campaign includes digital advertising, a national media integration along with media partnerships and influencer advocates to elevate the little-known health benefits of pecans. It also includes digital and social media, including a partnership with two of America's top digital platforms, Serious Eats and Simply Recipes, which will feature "shoppable" pecan recipes that make it easy to buy pecans via Amazon Fresh - marking a first for a commodity board.
The launch of this campaign comes during National Pecan Month and is punctuated by a pop-up in New York City called "The Not Pie Show" that demonstrates the nut's versatility.
The marketing campaign and brand positioning was led by consumer research and was developed by Weber Shandwick, the APC's agency of record. I had the chance to speak with Sarah Yaffe of Weber Shandwick during the council's recent board meeting. You can listen to our complete conversation as she describes the work that went into this campaign, by clicking here.
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Free Trade Coalition Releases Report Highlighting How China's Tariff Retaliation Taxes American Farmers
The pro-trade coalition, Farmers for Free Trade released a new report that highlights the significant impact that Chinese retaliation from steel and aluminum tariffs will have on a number of U.S. industries. The report shows that many American commodities will be hit hard, including U.S. wine, almonds, walnuts, pork, cherry, and several other commodities. The report also says certain states' economies will be hit very hard. The report is part of an ongoing effort by Farmers for Free Trade to show the negative impacts tariffs on American agriculture, as well as amplify the voices of farmers who are hurt by them.
Some of the top states hit hardest will include California, Iowa, Washington, Missouri, and North Carolina. Chinese retaliatory tariffs are 15 percent on most products, while U.S. pork exports face a 25 percent tariff. Former Senators Richard Lugar and Max Baucus, Co-Chairs of Farmers for Free Trade, say tariffs end up as a tax on American farmers.
"They increase the cost of exporting, depress the prices of farm futures, and end up hurting the bottom lines of farmers across the country," the two say in a release. "They also incentivize trading partners like China to look elsewhere for their imports."
Lugar and Baucus point out that means trading relationships that took decades to develop can vanish overnight. Farmers for Free Trade is a bipartisan campaign to rebuild support for trade at the grassroots level.
For more details on this story, jump to the original article here. |
NAWG Pres. Jimmie Musick of Sentinel Says Patience is of Virtue as Farm Bill, Trade Talks Progress
It's always a big deal when Oklahoma is fortunate enough to have a "homie" rotate through the officer chairs of a national organization. Currently we have two gentlemen that are serving their respective groups- Chuck Coffee of Springer who is the Vice Chair of the Cattlemen's Beef Board- and Jimmie Musick of Sentinel- the President of the National Association of Wheat Growers. (A third Oklahoman- Piper Merritt of Owasso FFA- currently serves as a National Officer for the FFA Organization- which is one year of service)
We caught up with Jimmie at a wheat industry luncheon this past Friday- and got his latest take on the wheat crop in southwest Oklahoma as well as the mood of the ship in our nation's capitol.
With the US and specifically Oklahoma's wheat crop suffering this year amid exceptionally dry conditions and other damaging weather extremes, Musick says farmers are paying close attention as legislators in Washington begin to mold what will soon take shape as the next Farm Bill. Many growers are concerned in particular about programs that will help offset their risk as all commodity markets continue to be weighed down by an overall depressed rural economy at present. Musick insists NAWG is committed to seeing the process through and making sure policymakers keep farmers' needs front of mind. Listen to their complete conversation by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below at the bottom of the page.
"We will move it on through but I think it's going to be slower than Chairman Conaway anticipates. I see some hold ups there," Musick said. "But it's headed in the right direction and we'll be at the Capitol every day until it's passed, making sure to keep crop insurance and some other things there."
Click here to read more- and to be able to listen to our visit with the National Wheat Grower President Jimmie Musick.
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Sponsor Spotlight
We are pleased to have American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company as a regular sponsor of our daily update. On both the state and national levels, full-time staff members serve as a "watchdog" for family agriculture producers, mutual insurance company members and life company members.
Click here to go to their AFR website to learn more about their efforts to serve rural America!
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Noble Expert Shares Secrets to Building a Successful Beef Cow Herd Tailor Made to Your Operation
Some cattle producers like maybe one or two breeds. Others are more open to trying a mix of breeds to come up with the right combination for their beef cow herd. Robert Wells of the Noble Research Institute and I spoke recently about how producers can get their arms around finding the right breed or mix of breeds that best fit their particular operation.
"The first thing I tell people is to manage your cow to the environment," Wells said. "If the cow doesn't fit the environment, then she's really fighting an uphill battle every day."
Wells defines environment as the pasture resources available to a cow and the producer's management ability. Once you have determined what environment you are providing, then Well says, you can begin to find the breed with the correct attributes to fit into that equation. After you have selected the right breed, the next step is to find the right individuals within that breed to bring to your operation - selecting the best quality cattle you can find that meet the trait requirements of your herd goals. In doing this, Wells says it is important to strike a balance of trait selection - not focusing too much on one trait or another but equally on several different one that will result in a well-rounded cow and offspring when paired with the right bull that compliments the cow's genetics. He says EPDs, especially genomically enhanced EPDs, are very useful tools when making these selection decisions for your herd.
"So, is there a 'golden cow' out there? I would say not," Wells joked. "Like the old adage says: fit your cow to your environment and fit your bull to your market. Make sure you've got that good, functional cow for the pasture, but then find the bull that's going to fit the niche market you're going to be in."
Listen to Wells offer more of his advice on how to select the right cattle for your operation, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.
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Introducing Your 2018 Southeast Area Star in Agriculture Production, Jackson Ray of Wetumka FFA
We continue our coverage this week with your Southeast Area Star Farmer, Jackson Ray of the Wetumka FFA Chapter. Ray runs a cow/calf operation consisting of anywhere from 50 to 60 head at any given time to market as show stock.
Through Facebook and word of mouth, Ray has developed a strong base of loyal repeat customers.
He credits his involvement and the role models within the FFA organization for supporting him in his efforts. The guidance of his ag teacher and parents, he says, has helped him to mature and instilled in him a sense of responsibility that every producer should possess as a caretaker of livestock.
You can hear our entire conversation, by clicking or tapping over to the Blue-Green Gazette on our website.
Our salute of the 2018 Area Stars of the Oklahoma FFA is brought to you by American Farmers & Ranchers and AFR Insurance.
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Want to Have the Latest Energy News Delivered to Your Inbox Daily?
Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains- Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.
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ALMOST DONE- Rhea Fire Called 99% Contained by Oklahoma Forestry Services! (and More Wildfire Notes)
The latest video briefing released last night on Facebook by the Oklahoma Forestry Services had Operations Section Chief John Raulerson sharing the news that so many have been praying and hoping for- the Rhea Fire is now 99% contained!
Raulerson says there are three small areas that will continue to be worked on today- and the latest acreage number the state agency is offering up is 286,190.
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As the wildfires in western Oklahoma near containment, the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation remains committed to helping those devastated by the fires. The foundation is grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support from generous individuals across the state and nation. Those still wishing to aid those affected by the wildfires may still donate to the foundation.
To donate, mail checks to the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation, 2501 N. Stiles, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. The foundation also can accept donations via PayPal on the foundation's website at OKFarmingAndRanchingFoundation.org. When donating, please designate the funds are for wildfire relief.
Read more of their reminder they released yesterday by clicking here.
Of course- the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation and the AFR also continue to collect funds for those impacted by the wildfires. Click on their names to learn more about their efforts as well.
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In several cases- there have been tremendous stories of companies and groups helping- we had one story show up yesterday that I wanted to share with you.
Oklahoma City-based Dolese Bros. Co. donated a truck to the Kildare Fire Department at the end of this past week. The truck will aid in the fight against the wildfires in north and western parts of Oklahoma, as well as general fire response and intervention efforts in the rural community.
In the middle of fires in Kildare Fire Department's district last week, the driveline snapped of the department's only tanker, which has served the Kildare community since 1986, cracking the transmission casing and breaking the power time-out shaft going to the pump.
On a personal note- a friend who was a exec at Dolese a few years back asked me to read and record a special leadership book that they required their employees to read annually- the hope was that as drivers and others were out and about around the state- they would listen and fulfill the requirement in that way- and that they could help their entire team at Dolese understand what it meant to be a servant leader- this latest gift to Kildare is a great example of helping fellow Oklahomans- and Dolese has been about that for a long time.
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, American Farmers & Ranchers, Livestock Exchange at the Oklahoma National Stockyards, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Stillwater Milling Company, National Livestock Credit Corporation, OERB, Oklahoma AgCredit, 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.
God Bless! You can reach us at the following:
phone: 405-473-6144
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