Feedlots Face Prospect of More Pen Space Than Calves to Place Into Them- Ross Wilson of TCFA  

Where are the cattle going to come from that will be going into southern plains feedlots over the next couple of years? That's a challenging question for the beef cattle industry in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and into southwestern Kansas- and we discussed that question and more with the President of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Ross Wilson. Wilson and his feedlot members gathered this week for the 2011 Texas Cattle Feeders Association in Amarillo. TCFA represents feedlots in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. 

Wilson is our guest over the next few days on the Beef Buzz- and he tells us in this part one of our conversation that while feedlot profitability has not been too bad in 2011- all eyes in this part of the beef cattle business are focused longer term into 2012 and 2013- concerned about the drought and impact on the number of calves we will have here in the southern plains the next couple of years.

Click here for our midweek Beef Buzz with this first segment of our conversation with Ross Wilson- who believes the feedlot business is tough enough to handle the challenges ahead- but that to get to the other side of what is almost certain to be a major supply problem- this part of the beef cattle industry will have to be very creative.    

Oklahoma Farm Service Agency Announces 2012 DCP & ACRE Signup Period

Francie Tolle, executive director for Oklahoma Farm Service Agency (FSA), announced that FSA County Offices will begin enrollment for the 2012 Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) and the 2012 Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE) Program on January 23, 2012.

Signup for DCP and ACRE will continue through June 1, 2012. The DCP and ACRE programs do not provide for an advance direct payment for the 2012 crop year. Final payments will be issued after October 1, 2012.

The Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP) provides producers an income safety net in the form of annual direct payments and counter-cyclical payments when commodity prices fall below certain levels.

 Click here for more information on the FSA DCP and ACRE signups. 

U.N. Population Report Emphasizes Need for Locally-Led Conservation

The United Nations' prediction that the world population will soar to seven billion people this week emphasizes the importance of locally-led conservation.

"The U.N.'s report underscores the critical need to preserve and protect our natural-resource base for today and for future generations," NACD President Gene Schmidt said. "Healthy land and healthy water are the foundation of a safe and secure food supply."

America's network of 3,000 conservation districts across the country are working on the ground each and every day with local farmers, ranchers and landowners to protect our soil, water and air for future generations.

Click here for more on this U.N. Population Report.

New Online Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat Mapping Tool Available

A new online regional mapping tool - the Five-State Southern Great Plains Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (CHAT) - will help protect the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (LEPC), a candidate for federal protection, while allowing energy projects to still be developed in the Southern Great Plains. The collaborative effort to develop this spatial planning tool, funded through a Western Governors' Association (WGA) grant, was led by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.

The tool will inform the pre-planning of large-scale energy, transportation, and land-use projects in sensitive LEPC habitat and also help state and federal agencies and other organizations target LEPC research and conservation programs. 

"The PLJV partnership was instrumental in developing this important tool for LEPC conservation," says Richard Hatcher, Director of Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. 

Click here for more information on this regional mapping tool.  

Feedlots Tours Used to Help Build Beef Demand

David Trowbridge with Gregory Feedlots, Inc. in Tabor, Iowa, is taking a different approach to educating chefs and others about the process cattle typically go through in a feedlot. When people visit the Trowbridge's feedlot, they receive a workbook and a virtual calf before they begin the journey.

 Trowbridge says they show the participants the basics of genetics, management, diseases and how these can affect the performance and profitability of the cattle. Even though the participants see the final value of the cattle in dollars, Trowbridge hopes they will also see how cattle are treated in the feedlots.

Participants learn about the humane treatment of the animals and how each animal is treated individually. Trowbridge says overall, through this program, they hope to help build the demand for beef. 

Click here to watch the Angus VNR video with David Trowbridge.

CropLife America to Release New Report on Socio-Economic Impact of Crop Protection

CropLife America (CLA), the nation's leading organization for the crop protection industry, will release the results of a new report detailing the socio-economic impact and spinoff effects of crop protection products in U.S. agriculture.

Conducted by economist Mark Goodwin (Mark Goodwin Consulting Ltd.), the report finds that improved crop production, due in part to the use of plant science technologies, has led to the creation of 1.05 million jobs and a payroll of $33.9 billion for U.S. workers.  

The report includes a state-by-state breakdown of the economic value added through modern agriculture, including jobs, wages and crop output. 

Click here for more information on this report by CropLife America. 

Busy Balance of the Week- Oklahoma Ag Expo, OCA Quarterly Board Meeting and Totusek Lecture Series- And the 2011 Rural Economic Outlook Seminar 

Today and tomorrow, the Oklahoma Ag Expo is happening at the renamed Clarion Hotel on I-40 and Meridian in Oklahoma City- now it's called the Magnuson Hotel. Same location and same facilities- new name. This gathering of Agri-Business folks will look at agri chemical rules and regs, new ag chemical products and a variety of other subjects.  Click here for their schedule for the next couple of days- lots of folks involved in crop agriculture are always a part of this meeting.   

This Friday- the quarterly Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association will be gathering at the Animal Science Arena in Stillwater- also meeting will be the Oklahoma Cattlewomen.  This fall board meeting has been held in El Reno at OKC West in recent years in conjunction with a fall cattle sale- canceled this year because of the drought.

They are meeting in Stillwater to be on hand for the 2011 Totusek Lecture Series event at midday Friday- as Dave Delaney of the King Ranch will be offering his insights on this legendary Texas ranch and where the cattle business may be headed the next few years.  

Also on Friday- OSU is also hosting the annual Rural Economic Outlook Conference- it's at the Conoco Phillips Alumni Center on Campus in Stillwater- featured speakers will include Dr. David Kohl of Virginia Tech, House Ag Committee Chief Economist Bart Fischer and several folks from the OSU Ag Economics Department. Click here for the brochure that tells more about this all day event.