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With word that the Super Committee has thrown in the towel- click here to see one of a multitude of stories in the regular media that are quoting aides that the discussion over the weekend turned to how to announce there would be no deal- the question in farm country is- what happens to the farm bill deal cobbled together by the House and Senate Ag Committee leadership?   

This past Thursday- the Senate Ag Committee was briefed by their Chairman Debbie Stabenow- who probably made a mistake in putting the ideas at that point down on paper- which several farm groups and others were able to get their hands on.  That meant groups like the National Cotton Council quickly issued a statement of their support of the Ag Committee Leadership plan because cotton was looking at a special separate support program called STAX- Ethanol and bio based energy fans were less than happy and your had outright opponents to farm policy like the Environmental Working Group screaming bloody murder. (click on the groups name for the news releases they offered up on Friday) 

No written summaries were handed out by Chairman Lucas- who apparently faced a significant  amount of criticism from rank and file members of the House Ag Committee.  From the contacts we made with a variety of folks on Friday and into the weekend- we did get a copy of the Senate ideas- and were told that this really was not the final word negotiated between the two Chairs- that a final plan had been sent to CBO for scoring and that a score would not be available until sometime today(Monday).  

Conventional wisdom is that with the Super Committee going belly up- the House and Senate Ag Committees will not release final details of the compromise reached on which they will have a score. That work will likely become a starting point for the 2012 Farm Bill debate in what Congressman Lucas likes to call "regular order" early in the new year- whether it's the Chairman's mark in either the House or Senate is an unknown.  

The key points from these closed door efforts that may surface in that  regular order for the Commodity Title and the Conservation Title may include the ending of the current three legged safety net stool of the Commodity Title- the ending of Direct Farm Program payments, ACRE, SURE and Counter Cyclical Payments replacing it with a shallow loss program of some kind.  It was surprising to see the National Association of Wheat Growers throw in with the National Corn Growers and the American Soybean Association in advocating for this concept very strongly. The question now is whether that triad can stay united into the new year is another of the unknowns.  For the Conservation folks- the question will be how many folks will be willing to give up millions of acres of CRP program authority to help save money for deficit reduction- the deal between the House and Senate was to reduce the CRP from 32 million to 25 million acres in a fairly short amount of time. 

How much may be said this week- another of the unknowns- stay tuned. 

World Trade Organization Calls US COOL Out of Compliance with Global Trade Rules 

The Office of the United States Trade Representative issued the following statement in regard to a decision by a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel in disputes brought by Canada and Mexico, which affirmed the United States' right to require country of origin labeling (COOL) on meat products: 

"We are pleased that the panel affirmed the right of the United States to require country of origin labeling for meat products," said Andrea Mead, Press Secretary for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. "Although the panel disagreed with the specifics of how the United States designed those requirements, we remain committed to providing consumers with accurate and relevant information with respect to the origin of meat products that they buy at the retail level. In that regard we are considering all options, including appealing the panel's decision."

Click here for more background on this ruling from the USTR office. 

Other organizations voiced their opinions on the ruling as well.  

National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall issued the following statement. 

"This is a strong ruling from the World Trade Organization that proves COOL was not only a disservice to U.S. cattlemen and women but also contained far-reaching implications for two of the most important trade partners for U.S. agriculture. NCBA strongly advises the United States not to appeal this ruling. Instead, we urge U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to work with NCBA and other pro-trade organizations to apply pressure on Congress to bring the United States into WTO compliance across the board." Click here for more from NCBA. 

R-CALF USA released the following press release and opinion article regarding the ruling against the U.S. by the World Trade Organization and the country-of-origin labeling. 

"The news from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the WTO is consistent with rumors leaked in May," said R-CALF USA COOL Committee Chair Mike Schultz adding, "We're not surprised that a panel of countries that want to weaken the U.S. would support complaints by countries that want more control over our U.S. food supply. The WTO is trying to usurp our nation's sovereignty." Click here for the rest from R-CALF USA. 

National Farmers Union (NFU) was generally pleased with the ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO), which found that Country-of-Origin-Labeling (COOL) is allowable under WTO rules. The labeling law was passed as a part of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and amended in 2008. COOL requires retailers to notify their customers of the source of certain foods. After the ruling was announced, NFU President Roger Johnson issued the following statement: 

"We are pleased that WTO agreed that COOL is allowable in principle, giving consumers the right to know the origin of their meat products. NFU has been a long-time advocate for COOL, playing a key role in the negotiations that led to its inclusion in the 2008 Farm Bill and working with meatpackers to ensure they follow the law's intent." Click here for more from NFU. 

The Latest Cattle on Feed Numbers are Up 4 Percent From Year Ago Levels  

The latest Cattle on Feed Numbers are out on Friday afternoon, November 18, 2011. The numbers have cattle on feed at 4 percent above year ago levels. The report was close to the private estimates we've seen all week, but marketings were better than expected. There were no real surprises and the report is looked on as friendly. You can hear Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities analyze the latest Cattle on Feed report and what it might mean for the markets, by clicking on the listening bar at the bottom of the page.

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.9 million head on November 1, 2011. The inventory was 4 percent above November 1, 2010. This is the second highest November 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.49 million, 1 percent below 2010. Net placements were 2.40 million head. During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 805,000, 600-699 pounds were 600,000, 700-799 pounds were 501,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 585,000.

Click here for more on these latest cattle on feed numbers including our conversation with Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities.  

Oklahoma State Livestock Judging Squad Top Beef Cattle Team in the Nation- OSU Looking for Animal Science Leader in the New Year  

The OSU Livestock Judging Team finished 3rd Overall in the 2011 National Championship contest at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY a week ago. 

OSU was the National Champion Team in the Beef Cattle.  This was the second consecutive year to win the championship in cattle judging.

OSU was also the High Team in the Performance Cattle and All Performance Classes divisions.

OSU was the Reserve National Champion Team in Oral Reasons.

Students competing on the OSU team were Casey Hilmes, Logan James, Katie Lents, Tyler White and Stephanie Willis.   

Meanwhile, word came to us this past week that Dr. Ron Kensinger, Department Head of the Oklahoma State University Animal Science Department, has turned in his resignation to Dean Bob Whitson. Dr. Kensinger, who came to Stillwater in the fall of 2007, is headed for another OSU come January first- accepting a position at the Ohio State University.  Dean Whitson says he hopes to have a new department head for this key part of the Division of Agriculture in place by the start of the Fall 2012 Semester, says interim duties will be handled by Dr. Gerald Horn.  

Conservation Representatives Attend Area Meetings of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts

Conservation leaders discussed issues relevant to Oklahoma at the five Area Meetings of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts held across the state during November 2011. "The 2011 Drought and Beyond - Will we keep the dust at bay?," the theme for the meetings for Oklahoma's conservation district directors and employees, reflected the challenges faced by natural resource conservation entities during the hottest and second driest year in state history. The meetings were sponsored by the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) and cosponsored by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) in cooperation with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Garrett King, field representative for Oklahoma's U.S. Congressman Frank Lucas, spoke at the meetings about the process underway in Congress to craft the next federal Farm Bill and the role of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction ("Super Committee") in that process.

Gary McManus, associate state climatologist for the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, gave a presentation featuring facts about climate conditions in Oklahoma in 2011 and in state history. He stated that this year's extremes of heat and drought were neither forecast nor expected.

Click here for more on these area meetings and links to the presentations from all presenters.  

National Pork Board Celebrates Accomplishments with 25th Anniversary

The National Pork Board celebrated the mark of their 25th anniversary and this week in Des Moines, Iowa. And as Chris Novak, CEO of the National Pork Board, points out, the board has a lot to celebrate over the past 25 years.

The National Pork Board has worked since 1986 with the launch of the Pork Checkoff to improve the pork industry and invest in the industry. While the number of pork producers in the U.S. is down, Novak says the industry has worked and succeeded at improving the quality of the product by tackling specific disease issues.

Novak also says the industry has improved when it comes to global exports. Twenty-five years ago, the U.S. was importing more pork from overseas than we were exporting. Today, the U.S. has about 37% of the global market share and trade and we are the number one leading exporter of pork says Novak.

Click here to listen to our conversation with Chris Novak over the accomplishments of the Pork Checkoff over the past 25 years. 

AgChat Foundation's "FoodThanks" Twitter Campaign Returns for Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving season, people throughout the food system will be using social media to show their thanks for food and raise awareness of agriculture through the AgChat Foundation's #foodthanks campaign. Last year, more than 800 people participated in the campaign by blogging, adding the #foodthanks twibbon to their avatar photo, and sharing more than 2,000 Twitter posts.

"For many of us, this month is when we take time to give thanks for the food on our tables," says Darin Grimm, president of the AgChat Foundation, a 100 percent volunteer organization that aims to empower farmers and ranchers to "agvocate" via social media platforms. "The #foodthanks campaign provides tools and inspiration for people to take their personal expressions of gratitude beyond the dinner table to friends, family and followers within their social networks."

Grimm encourages members of the ag and food communities to tweet, post and blog about #foodthanks this month and especially on November 23 as Thanksgiving becomes top of mind for much of the country. 

Click here for more on this #foodthanks campaign.