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In a committee meeting at the end of this past week, Chairman Frank Lucas made the following comments regarding the upcoming hearing to examine the MF Global bankruptcy. This meeting was held to consider the issuance of a subpoena to compel the attendance of Mr. Jon Corzine to attend the hearing next week. The following is Chairman Lucas' opening statement.

"Next Thursday (December 8), this Committee will hold a hearing to examine the MF Global bankruptcy.   The events that have unfolded since October 31st are unprecedented, and have resulted in the loss of property for many of our constituents, and a loss of confidence in the futures markets for many more.

"It is this Committee's responsibility to shed light on the facts and circumstances surrounding the bankruptcy, and the efforts underway to recover customer funds and return them to their rightful owners.   

"The Committee has invited a comprehensive list of witnesses to that end. At this time, we have yet to receive confirmation of attendance by a critical and material witness.   

"Therefore, the purpose of today's meeting is to consider the issuance of a subpoena to compel the attendance of Mr. Jon Corzine before this Committee on December 8th.   I assure you, the Ranking Member and I do not take this action lightly. However, we agree that his testimony is essential to fulfill our objectives on behalf of our constituents and to complete the hearing record."  

Earlier this past week- the Senate Ag Committee held a hearing on this same subject- after a host of ag groups pushed for answers in the MF Global debacle. A diverse coalition of groups- from American Farm Bureau to the National Association of Wheat Growers as well as the American Soybean Associaton and National Corner Growers plus Ag Lenders and Agribusiness penned the letters to both the House and Senate Ag Leadership. Click here for our story from the end of this past week about that call for answers by these ag groups- including a copy of the letter sent to Frank Lucas and the other ag committee leaders.

Be Prepared for Colder Weather this Winter 

Stocker cattle producers have many challenges to manage: animal health, increasing costs of inputs and fluctuating cattle prices. According to Bryan Nichols, Ag Research Associate at the Noble Foundation, however, one of the most difficult challenges may be Mother Nature. A Noble Foundation research project that began in late 2010 proves this point.

The project was to evaluate the potential of a new mineral supplement on stocker cattle health and performance. In December 2010, research pastures were stocked at one head per acre with the stocking rate increased to two head per acre in the spring. The treatment was administered weekly and poloxalene, an anti-bloating agent, was provided in blocks. Animals were backgrounded according to industry standards prior to the study, and weights were recorded every 28 days.

On day 61 of the study (Feb. 1), a winter blast hit the study site. We woke up that morning to snow, ice and 10 degree Fahrenheit temperatures. By Feb. 4, snow and ice forced destocking of the pastures. To maintain animal health and the study's integrity, animals were held in a common bermudagrass pasture, offered free-choice bermudagrass hay and limit-fed alfalfa hay at 15 pounds per head per day until the weather improved. On Feb. 11, conditions improved enough that cattle were placed back on their respective pastures, and the study resumed.

Click here for more tips from Bryan Nichols with the Noble Foundation on preparing for winter. 
 

Another Shot of Rain Helps Get Wheat, Canola and Late Season Pastures Ready for Winter

 

Rain rolled across most of Oklahoma on Friday evening and into Saturday- offering another much appreciated shot of rainfall as we move into the winter season. These showers across Oklahoma will keep the pressure on reducing the percentage of drought across the state going for the next couple of weeks. 

The heaviest amounts of rain this past weekend came in far southeastern Oklahoma, where amounts exceeded two inches of rainfall.  Much of the rest of the main body of the state got another half inch of rainfall or more- with some localized areas topping that.  

The most recent Drought Monitor has the level of exceptional drought down to about ten percent in the state- we have the graphics for the latest Drought Monitor as well as a look at the weekend rains for you to review by clicking here for our weather recap page as found in our farm news segment of our website- OklahomaFarmReport.Com.

 

Drought of 2011 Likely to Leave a Shortage of Sorghum Seed

Producers that intend to plant grain sorghum or sorghum for hay (hay grazers) should be aware that the drought and heat during the summer of 2011 affected seed production. According to Rick Kochenower, OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, as many producers' yields were affected in 2011, so were the crops of the seed companies. In recent conversations with sorghum industry representatives, they indicated there would be a shortage of seed for the 2012 crop year.

The most severe shortage is with the hay grazer types. If a producer plans on utilizing the forage or haying sorghums they need to contact their seed dealers and order soon. Indications are if you wait and order seed in the spring as normal none will be available. In fact, some seed companies have indicated that seed of certain forage and haying sorghum hybrids are already sold out.

The best way to describe the seed availability of grain sorhgum is tight. For some hybrids there will be plenty of seed and for others supplies will be limited. Therefore, if you have a favorite hybrid you plant, it would best to contact your seed dealer and order seed as soon as possible. 

Click here for more from Rick Kochenower on sorghum seed shortage. 

National Institute for Animal Agriculture's White Paper Addresses Use of Antibiotics in Food Animals

Antibiotic use in food-animal production is the focus of a White Paper recently released by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA). The White Paper is a summary of science-based information delivered by the 13 human health and animal health speakers and symposium participants at the "Antibiotic Use in Food Animals: A Dialogue for Common Purpose" symposium in Chicago, Oct. 26-27.

"Critics and proponents of the use of antibiotics in livestock have conflicting views on the correct interpretation of the body of evidence related to agricultural use of antibiotics and the development of resistant organisms," states Dr. Len Bull, chairman of the symposium. "This White Paper, written in laymen terms, will help individuals understand what the science shows to date and why each of us have a responsibility toward achieving the unified goal of 'One Health: Healthy People, Healthy Animals, Healthy Food'."

The White Paper provides science-based information regarding the use of antibiotics in food-animal production, human health implications relative to antibiotic use and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in livestock. A significant portion of the White Paper addresses the controversial topic of antimicrobial resistance. Citing that antimicrobial resistance is not a black-and-white issue, the White Paper notes that "the ultimate priority about antibiotic use going forward is the development of well-established, science-based criterion in the regulatory decision-making process."

Click here for more from NIAA and a link to a copy of the White Paper. 

Gov. Mary Fallin and Ag Secretary Jim Reese Ask Department of Labor to Reconsider Regulations for Youth in Ag

Many people in the agricultural industry are aware of the proposed changes concerning child labor and the family farm by the Department of Labor. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and Agriculture Secretary Jim Reese worked together to compile a letter with concerns regaring these proposals to send to Hilda Solis, Secretary for the Department of Labor.

In the letter, both Gov. Fallin and Secretary Reese express concern for the youth of Oklahoma and America losing the ability to work on family farms and farms of neighbors and friends. They also point out that many of the skills learned on the farm by youth are brought about by running equipment, riding horses, and sorting cattle.

Also, in this letter, Gov. Fallin and Secretary Reese state that there are simply too many exemptions and exceptions that have to be made with this new rule. They also state that Oklahoma and America need more farmers, not less, which they foresee happening with this rule.  

Click here for a link to a PDF copy of the letter sent by Fallin and Reese.

Also responding to the proposed child labor regulations, the American Farm Bureau Federation this past week filed comments on behalf of more than 70 agricultural organizations in response to a proposal by the Labor Department that would limit youth employment opportunities on farms and ranches. AFBF also filed separate comments on its own behalf supplementing its views on the DOL proposal. Click here for more on our story about the AFBF filing their comments taking aim at the Department of Labor on these rural youth labor rules.

NCBA President Urges for No Appeal on World Trade Organization Ruling on COOL

The following remarks and comments on the WTO ruling regarding country of origin labeling is courtesy of Tom Fields with NCBA.

"National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) President Bill Donald penned a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk on Nov. 28, 2011, urging him not to appeal the most recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling on the country of origin labeling (COOL) case filed by Canada and Mexico. Donald said NCBA has reviewed the WTO report and believes the ruling was based on a solid and thorough analysis of the issue. Rather than allocating time and resources on an appeal, Donald encouraged Ambassador Kirk to find a meaningful and effective way to bring the United States into WTO appliance and avoid jeopardizing two of the most important markets for U.S. beef.

In 2010, Mexican consumers purchased $819 million worth of U.S. beef. Canadian consumers purchased $733 million of beef from the United States. Through September of this year, Mexican consumers purchased nearly $733 million of U.S. beef, which is a 25 percent increase over the same period in 2010. Canadian consumers have already outpaced last year's numbers by purchasing $788 million worth of U.S. beef so far this year.

Donald said the main concern of the oldest and largest national organization representing the U.S. cattle industry is that a failure to comply with the WTO decision will provide Canada and Mexico an opportunity to place retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods."

Click here for more from NCBA on the WTO ruling for country of origin labeling.