Featured Story:
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin Gives Thumbs Up to Oklahoma Livestock Relief Coalition

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin endorsed the newly formed Oklahoma Livestock Relief Coalition during a news conference at the state capitol on Monday, January 23rd. The coalition provides a funding channel for people to support the efforts of livestock producers and law enforcement agencies who are often given the task of caring for abandoned and neglected livestock.

The Radio Oklahoma Network attended the media briefing- and Farm Director Ron Hays has an audio overview with comments from Governor Fallin, Secretary Reese and the official spokesperson for the Coalition, Dr. Carey Floyd. Click here to listen to their comments.

Details released on Monday included how interested folks can donate to this relief effort to provide feed and medications for abandoned livestock- the actual dollars will be directed through the Oklahoma Vet Medical Foundation, which gives donors a tax deductable contribution- click here for the page set up to provide details of the why of the project as well as the "how" Sheriff Departments will be able to plug in and request help as they deal with calls on mistreated or abandoned animals. It's also the link for you to go and donate right now.

 Return to the top

OSU Extension Wheat Specialist Dr. Jeff Edwards is moving some of his educational materials onto YouTube. We have three videos that Dr. Edwards has produced on the practice of topdressing winter wheat. 

Edwards has released three YouTube videos covering a lot of information on topdressing wheat- providing the basics in video number one, how to be more and more precise in getting your nitrogen to the wheat plant in the right amount- and then finally in video three a look at timing, source of nitrogen and proper application.

There is a lot of great information on these You Tube videos- and we have all three stacked on our website- just waiting for you to click on the page and begin your continuing education on everything you need to know about being effective in the topdress of wheat.

Click here for our webstory that has all three videos in that one page.

In Advance of Tonight's State of the Union- RFA Outlines Priorities in Letter to Obama

American ethanol production is creating jobs, energizing rural economies, reducing oil imports, and helping all consumers save money at the pump was emphasized by the Renewable Fuels Association in a letter to President Obama as he prepares for the State of Union address this evening.

"While renewable energy discussions have been few and far between on Capitol Hill and in the election this year, the upcoming State of the Union address offers the unique opportunity to remind lawmakers and the American public of the value of a strong domestic renewable fuel industry," wrote RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. "The story of renewable fuels in America is good one. Domestic production of ethanol, the largest and most viable biofuel available today, was nearly 14 billion gallons in 2011. That represents ten percent of the nation's gasoline supply." 

Dinneen underscored the value of domestic ethanol production in job creation, stating that "job creation estimates for 2011 as a result of U.S. ethanol production suggest close to 100,000 direct jobs and an additional 350,000 indirect and induced jobs supported by America's ethanol producers."

Click here for more of Bob Dineen's comments- as well as a chance to read the RFA's letter to President Obama. 

Return to Top 

OSU Researcher Continues To Impress With Switchgrass And Bioenergy Research

Accolades, awards, grants and research in bioenergy are nothing new to Yanqi Wu, associate professor of grass breeding and genetics in Oklahoma State University's Department of Plant and Soil Sciences (PASS).  

As the leader of OSU's Biobased Products and Energy Center's switchgrass breeding program, Wu and his team primarily focus on switchgrass molecular research and have received approximately $3.5 million for switchgrass research. The Center was recently honored by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture with its NIFA Partnership Award for Mission Integration. Wu was one of seven faculty members from within PASS to be recognized.

"The research will be directly used in developing high yielding switchgrass cultivars," Wu said.

Higher yielding switchgrass crops developed by Wu's team of researchers will provide an alternative revenue stream, increase grower profit margin and help to develop the local seed industry when the new cultivars are licensed.

Click here to read more about Wu's switchgrass research.

Finished Cattle Had Stronger Prices This Past Week 

Higher cash cattle trade for animals ready for the processing plants came this past week, even as we saw weaker wholesale boxed beef trade in both the spot market, as well as in the formula sales- that the word from Ed Czerwin of the USDA Market News Office in Amarillo, Texas. Czerwin has his weekly summary of the cattle and beef markets for this past week done.

Finished cattle headed north- with prices reported in the Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico feedlots were three dollars better than the week before- ranging from $126 to $127.25. Kansas feedlots were also up by three bucks- hitting $126 for their finished cattle. However, Nebraska feedlots were only up $1 to $2 at mostly $125 in the latest weekly count. With the choice select spread collapsing down to six dollars this past week(back at the start of December, it was $18 choice premium over select), northern plains fat cattle have lost much of their premium over the southern plains market ready cattle. 

Czerwin tells us that this past week, average live weights dropped a bunch compared to a week earlier, dropping from 1255 pounds two weeks ago versus 1231 pounds this past week. A year ago, the average live weight was even higher- 1265 pounds. Lighter weights compared to a year ago suggests feedlots are running current right now when it comes to market ready cattle to sell.

Click here to jump over to our webpage and read more- plus you can listen to Ed Czerwin's analysis of the beef and cattle markets for this past week.

Return to Top 

CheckOff Encourages Fairs To Use The Soybean To 'Go Green'

Soy can be found in many products we might use every day. The United Soybean Board (USB) and the soybean checkoff want more fairgoers to see the wide variety of soy-based products put to good use this year.


The national soy checkoff plans to deliver this message though its Green Ribbon Fairs reimbursement program, aimed at encouraging fairs across the country to promote and use soy-based products.


Through the annual program, now in its second year, town, county, state and regional fairs compete to be reimbursed for using and promoting soy-based products on their fairgrounds year-round, as well as during the fairs. Soy-based products that could be used include paints, insulation, ink, biodiesel, hand sanitizers, cleaning and maintenance products, dust suppressants and more. 

Read more about the Green Ribbon Project being run by the US Soybean industry- click here for our full webstory.

Return to Top

Jack Penner, Murray County Conservation District director, passed away Saturday, Jan 21, 2012. Jack served on the district board of directors since 1968 and served as Area II member of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission from May 1993 through June 2002. Services for Penner will be held today at the Sulphur Methodist Church.

Our friend Mike Thralls pointed out to us that Penner's family owned the first Angus Cattle herd in the state of Oklahoma. And Mr. Penner acted as one of Thrall's mentors as he arrived and took on the job of being the Director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission.  He writes "Jack would never want too much fuss made over him, but a few thoughts of tribute are in order.  Jack was already serving as Area 2 Commissioner when I arrived.  Serving on the Murray County Conservation District Board since 1968 and always the perfect gentleman rancher, he took an inexperienced director under his wing and taught him a great deal about being genuine and caring that the job was done right."

Later today- the 16th annual winter conference of No Till on the Plains kicks off in Salina, Kansas- and they are telling me over 1,300 will be taking part in this year's event. We will be emceeing the festivities today and tomorrow- and in visiting with Alan Mindemann of Apache, Oklahoma who is on the Board of Directors for the group- he says the value of this event is that the speakers who come in are sharing cutting edge ideas that may be three or four years ahead of what is being talked about by University folks- the challenge is to take an idea from the conference and figure out how to make it work successfully in your operation.  More from this event in tomorrow's email.

return to the top