Farmers growing a dual-purpose crop in Oklahoma are now eligible to take advantage of a Dual Use Option under the Annual Forage insurance program, announced yesterday, by USDA's Risk Management Agency.

According to the RMA, this change "recognizes a practice that farmers and ranchers have used for years in certain parts of the country" and allows producers who select this option can insure their small grains crop with both an Annual Forage Policy for grazing and a multi-peril Small Grains Policy for grain.

The Dual Use Option is ideal for producers who plant a small grain by October 15, 2019, to use as a grazing crop over the winter and to harvest for grain the next summer. The option is available in counties where RMA considers "grain/graze" a good farming practice in Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas.

The Annual Forage pilot program is a private product maintained by AgForce and provides coverage to acreage that is planted each year and used as forage or fodder by livestock.

The changes described were approved by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors on April 23, 2019. Producers interested in Annual Forage should visit our website by clicking here to access additional information about how to participate in this program.

US soy growers were taken aback this week after the Trump Administration confirmed their fears of plans to impose heavier tariffs on China in response to the Asian nation's "back-pedaling on prior commitments" during talks in Beijing last week. A release from the American Soybean Association described the tariffs set to take effect this Friday, May 10th, as potentially a worse case scenario for soy farmers.

Read the complete story on our website for more details on China's commitments and threats being made by the Trump Administration, by clicking here.

This week we learned from Dr. Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist, how to best prepare for next years' calf crop now.

 

A new study that analyzed rural sector benefits derived from overseas sales, shows access to international export markets for U.S. grains supported nearly $38 billion in business sales in the U.S. economy during 2016 beyond the value of the products themselves. These benefits are the result of strong trade policy and robust in-country market development for grains and grains products, according to the report.

 

The analysis, conducted by Informa Agribusiness Consulting and commissioned by the U.S. Grains Council and the National Corn Growers Association, found a total economic impact of U.S. grains exports of $55 billion that year, supporting 271,000 jobs directly or indirectly and a GDP of $19 billion over what would have occurred without such exports. Breaking down those numbers, this study showed every $1 of grain exports supported an additional $2.20 in business sales. Every job directly created by the export of grain and grain products supported an additional 3.9 jobs in the United States that extend well beyond the agricultural industry into other sectors.

 

The study examined the economic contributions to each state and 52 congressional districts from exports of corn, barley, sorghum, ethanol, distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn gluten feed and meal as well as the corn equivalent of meat on the U.S. economy. The new study is an update to similar research done with 2014 and 2015 data, showing similar results.

 

The Oklahoma Wheat Commission will hold an election to fill its District IV opening on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at 1 p.m. at the Cotton County Electric Community Center. District IV consists of Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa and Tillman counties. All wheat producers within District IV boundaries who are actively engaged in wheat production, have marketed wheat and have paid a check-off fee and left that fee with the Commission for the current year are eligible and encouraged to vote. Producers participating in the election must prove their eligibility to vote by providing a dated grain elevator receipt including the producer's name and amount of wheat sold and a driver's license or some other form of identification.

Candidates wishing to run in the election must be at least 25 years old, a resident of Oklahoma, engaged in growing wheat in the state for at least five years and must derive a substantial portion of his/her income from growing wheat.

The Commission's vacancy meeting, which is open to the public will begin at noon, and the election will begin promptly at 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided. For more information, read the full story by clicking here.

In Northern Oklahoma- Alva Schools are not running buses while Burlington schools have closed for today after the heavy rains in that area. 

Erick wins the water lottery in this graphic above- they have received 6.05 inches from these storms that roared in from the Texas Panhandle.