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October was another excellent month for U.S. pork and beef exports, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork exports set a new all-time monthly value record at $573.9 million (up 41 percent from last year), which pushed the cumulative value through October to a new annual record of $4.93 billion - breaking the previous high of $4.88 billion in 2008 - with two months to spare.

Beef export value for October was $452 million, pushing the 2011 total to a new annual record of $4.49 billion. This is 37 percent ahead of the then-record pace established in the first 10 months of 2010.

"Establishing new annual value records just 10 months into the year is an extraordinary accomplishment, and one that the U.S. pork and beef industries should be very proud of," said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. "Sustaining an aggressive export pace is critical for maintaining and creating American jobs and a positive balance of trade."
 

Despite being down slightly in October, Mexico remains this year's leading volume destination for U.S. beef at 213,004. Mexico was the export value leader in October at 85.3-million dollars, pushing the 2011 total 25 percent higher than last year.

Canada held its position as the top value market for U.S. beef in the first 10 months of 2011 at 861.9-million dollars, a new annual record, up 46 percent over the 2010 pace. Japan is the third-largest individual market in terms of both volume and value. These totals exceed last year's pace by 30 percent and 38 percent, respectively.

And Beef exports to South Korea maintained a very strong pace, pushing the 2011 volume to 129,810 metric tons, up 43 percent from last year and valued at nearly 575-million dollars.

Click here for more on the October meat export numbers JUST RELEASED- courtesy of USMEF.

Canola TV - Winter Canola Begins Approaching Dormant Stage 

In this edition of Canola TV, we talked with Heath Sanders of PCOM about the dormant stage that winter canola will be approaching in the next few weeks. Sanders also talked about how often canola farmers should be checking their fields during these winter months.

Sanders says that while some canola fields are still green, a majority of the fields are beginning the dormant stage with the leaves turning brown or white. However, Sanders adds that the winter canola plant needs to go dormant during these months to make seeds in the spring.

Also, Sanders says that while there is generally not a lot of activity going on in the winter months, growers need to get in the habit of checking their fields. For the month of December, Sanders suggests growers check their canola fields once a week. For January and February, Sanders says they need to check once or twice a week because the plant will begin to come out of dormancy during that time.

Click here to watch this edition of Canola TV with Heath Sanders.
 

Canola Producers Make the Case for DeCoupled Farm Price Supports in 2012

This past week, Pond Creek, OK farmer Jeff Scott, President of the Great Plains Canola Association (GPCA), led a delegation of winter canola farmers to Washington DC to meet with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (OK-R) and other members of Congress and staff to discuss the ongoing development of the 2012 farm bill.

The Plains winter canola delegation made the trip to DC to voice their concerns and opposition to a new updated target price program under which deficiency payments would be "recoupled" to production on planted acres up to the total aggregate crop base acres of a farm, effectively reversing the planting flexibility that has been in place since the 1996 farm bill.

"Based on what we experienced back in the 1980s and 90s, it's nearly impossible to set target prices in a way that accurately reflect the value of crops over time." Jeff Scott told those he visited with on Capitol Hill. "And if prices were to decline to near or below these support levels, they would inevitably impact planting decisions."


After Scott returned from Washington- we caught up with him at this past weekend's Oklahoma Wheat Growers meeting- and you can hear our conversation- and read more- about the message delivered to Washington by these canola producers by clicking here.   

UEP-HSUS Agreement Opposed by Multiple Agricultural Organizations

Just about every national livestock and poultry producer group- and two major egg producers -along with the National Farmers Union (NFU) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), told the House and Senate Agriculture Committees in letters this week they oppose an agreement between the United Egg Producers (UEP) and the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) to amend the Egg Products Act to create a federal standard for egg laying hen housing.

In fact, a total of eight groups signed one letter in agreement that the agreement between the UEP and the HSUS and the proposed legislation are "unwarranted animal rights mandates." These groups were the Egg Farmers of America, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sheep Industry Association, National Farmers Union, National Turkey Federation, and the National Milk Producers Federation. 

The ag groups said the so-called "enriched cage system" called for by the UEP-HSUS legislation will increase cost of production, egg costs to consumers and do little if anything to improve bird welfare. "Our organizations continue to make considerable animal care investments with an eye toward continued animal welfare improvements; (however) this proposal would stifle the industry for years to come. We ask simply Congress reject any attempt to legislate unwarranted animal rights mandates," the groups said. 

Click here to find a link to a copy of the letter sent to the House and Senate Ag Committees. 

NRCS Announces Sign Up Period for Conservation Stewardship Program

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that the ranking period cut-off date for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is January 13, 2012. Producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline so that their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012.
    
"CSP is one of our most popular conservation programs, and we expect to receive many applications," NRCS Chief Dave White said. "I encourage all farmers and ranchers who are interested in applying to contact their local NRCS office as soon as possible so they can meet the deadline."
     
CSP is offered in all 50 states and the Pacific and Caribbean areas through continuous sign-ups. The program provides many conservation benefits including improvement of water and soil quality, wildlife habitat enhancements, and adoption of conservation activities that address the effects of climate change. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe.

Click here for more information on the CSP deadline.  

Oklahoma Soybean Board Prepares for 2012 Through Research and Education

The Tulsa Farm Show was an opportunity for many different agricultural organizations to gather together and start to prepare for the 2012 year. The Oklahoma Soybean Board was one of those groups and we had the opportunity to talk with Mark White of Coweta, Okla., a member on the Oklahoma Soybean Board, about what they are doing to prepare.

White says that the main goal of their board meeting was to decide how to spend the producers money through the Soybean Checkoff. One of the ways they plan to do this is through the education of soybean farmers and the education of the general public. White says they focus on educating youth through different school programs and also through scholarships for older youth.

While 2011 was a rough year for soybeans across the state because of drought and dry weather, White says that in 2012, they hope to have a change in weather and more stability in their markets to help the soybean market. Also, White says in 2012, they will continue to work on different research projects like soybean plantings and weed pressures to help soybean farmers.

Click here to listen to our conversation with Mark White of the Oklahoma Soybean Board. 

Agricultural Grant and Loan Applications Due Jan. 3

Vicki Stamback has been growing cut flowers for local florists for 18 years. Her Bear Creek Farms operation has expanded from two greenhouses to six greenhouses and five shade houses. She grows 150 different varieties of flowers that bloom at different times of the year. Still, the Payne County entrepreneur knew there was something missing in her business plan. She needed a fresh product to sell in the winter months.

A $5,000 grant from the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Forestry helped her fill the gap by planting 900 flowering shrubs last summer. In two or three years, she will be able to harvest stems that retail florists crave for seasonal arrangements. Woody plant materials command higher prices than Bear Creek's other crops and are freshest when purchased locally.

The Agricultural Enhancement and Diversification Program (AEDP) funds awarded to Stamback helped her purchase the plant material for her expansion plan. She matched the grant funds with a new water meter, backflow preventer, pipe and dripline irrigation system. Best of all, she expects the project to pay for itself quickly. It has already created another full-time job with the possibility of more help being needed in the future. The Farm Diversification Grant made it possible for the business to add a large number of trees and shrubs and get water to those plants for the future diversification of Bear Creek Farms. 

Click here for more on these grants and a link to an application.