Kim Anderson Explains Why Wheat Prices Are On The Rise And We Look At The SUNUP Lineup

Wheat prices gained 50 cents on the week and the wheat crop is looking good. Grain marketing specialist Dr. Kim Anderson says if the price stays above the $7 level at Monday's close, we may be looking at a new target price of $7.50 for the Kansas City Board of Trade March contract.

Anderson says the major factor in the higher price is the former Soviet Union. The country had determined to be a big player in export markets this year, and it appears they may have already sold the major portion of their exportable stocks onto the market. Anderson expects the Russians to stay on the sidelines through June.

This gives other exporters and advantage through that time and he expects prices will reflect increased demand from the Middle East.

With the possibility of a large growth in next year's corn crop, Anderson sees the possibility of slightly lower wheat prices and significantly lower corn prices on the far horizon.  

You can hear more from Dr. Anderson and check out the rundown for this weekend's SUNUP show by clicking here.

AFBF Urges Congress to Reject Antibiotic Restrictions

The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging congressional members to oppose legislation that would restrict the use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry. In letters to Senate and House members, AFBF said the legislation would handicap veterinarians and farmers in their efforts to maintain animal health and protect the nation's food supply.

"Farm Bureau members use antibiotics carefully, judiciously and according to label instructions to treat, prevent and control disease in their flocks and herds," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "These products are critically important to the health and welfare of the animals and to the safety of the food produced from these animals."

AFBF went further to say that antibiotic use in animals does not pose a serious public health threat.

"Proponents of the bill suggest that antibiotic use could constitute a public health threat through antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals being passed along, creating a similar resistance in humans," said Stallman. "However, in more than 40 years of antibiotics being used to treat animals, such a public health threat has not arisen, and recent government data shows the potential that one might occur is declining."

Click here to read more about AFBF's position on antibiotic restrictions.

NCBA Calls Egg Bill Ill Conceived and Dangerous for Animal Agriculture

In July 2011, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the United Egg Producers (UEP) reached an unprecedented agreement to seek federal legislation mandating egg production practices. NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts says legislation introduced by Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) to implement the HSUS-UEP agreement could set a dangerous precedent to allow the federal government to mandate on-farm production practices.

As the legislation was dropped into the hopper, NCBA released a statement at the start of this week by their President Bill Donald who believes this could be very bad for the cattle industry. "This legislation, while currently only affecting egg producers, could set a dangerous precedent to allow government bureaucrats in Washington to mandate how farmers and ranchers across the nation raise and care for their animals. This ill-conceived legislation could set the model for a one-size-fits-all approach to cattle production."

Kristina Butts is our guest on today's Beef Buzz- she talks to us about the measure and NCBA's opposition to it. Perhaps the best news she mentions is that the measure will be assigned to the House Ag Committee, which makes it very unlikely that it will ever see the light of day with Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas as Chairman of the Committee. 

Click here for this Beef Buzz with Kristina Butts of the NCBA- and we also have links over to the statement released by the American Farm Bureau on this proposed legislation.

2012 Herbicide Update

As we begin a new year, Joe Armstrong with Oklahoma State University has provided us with an update of a couple of minor changes regarding herbicide names, use rates, and labels.


First, a new formulation of the wheat herbicide PowerFlex® has recently been released. PowerFlex HL® (click for label) is the same active ingredient, but at a slightly higher concentration (the HL stands for "high load"). As a result, the use rate for PowerFlex HL is 2 oz/acre, compared to 3.5 oz/acre for the original PowerFlex formulation. Like the original formulation, PowerFlex HL should be applied with a non-ionic surfactant (NIS) at 0.5%. Nitrogen can also be added (1-2 qt UAN/acre or 1.5-3 lb AMS/acre) to enhance control. Rotation restrictions are also the same for PowerFlex HL as for the original formulation (3 months for soybean, grain sorghum, cotton, and sunflower; 9 months for corn and canola).


Another change for 2012 is that Ignite® herbicide (active ingredient: glufosinate) from Bayer CropScience will be sold as Liberty® (Liberty was the original trade name for glufosinate). Liberty can be used for postemergence weed control in LibertyLink crops and is also a useful alternative to glyphosate for burndown weed control where glyphosate-resistant weeds, such as marestail, are present. Other than the name change, use characteristics for Liberty will be the same as Ignite. 

You can read about further updates to labels and product updates by clicking here.

Senator Max Baucus Honored by National Association of Wheat Growers

Senate Finance Committee Chairman and longtime agricultural advocate Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) was named this week as the National Association of Wheat Growers' 2011 Wheat Leader of the Year.

The Wheat Leader of the Year Award, the wheat industry's highest public service award, is given annually to one Member of Congress based on his or her demonstrated commitment to the well-being and goals of the wheat industry.

Baucus was chosen by NAWG's leadership to receive the 2011 award because of his tireless support of three free trade agreements that were approved last year; his efforts to protect crop insurance within the federal budget; and his general advocacy for agricultural priorities.  

NAWG also saluted several other lawmakers with their Wheat Advocate Award- Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas was included in that group- click here for more on the tribute paid to Senator Baucus as well as the full list of lawmakersselected for the NAWG Wheat Advocate Award.

American Farmers and Ranchers to Sponsor 4-H & FFA Night at Barons Hockey Game

American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) will sponsor the 4-H & FFA Night at the Barons Hockey game this Saturday, Jan. 28. Tickets are $11 for 4-H and FFA members, advisors, family and friends. This is AFR's fourth year to sponsor the event with the franchise, formerly known as the Oklahoma City Blazers.

"We use our membership funds and give back from our insurance company by investing in the youth of Oklahoma- our future," said Terry Detrick, AFR president. "Developing leadership skills in our youth is only one way which we help our State through our membership services commitment."

All 4-H and FFA members in attendance are entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of the four grand prizes valued at $4,000.  

To read more about prizes being offered, click here.

Auctions and More on the Calendar  

The Roger Mills County Cattlemen's Association 34th Annual All Breed Bull Sale is scheduled to begin at noon on February 4, 2012 at the Cheyenne Ag Pavilion in Cheyenne, Oklahoma.   


Selling at this year's Roger Mills Bull Sale will be  Composite Bulls (Simmental/Angus, Hereford/Semmental and Angus/Maine/Simmental, Angus Bulls, Horned Herefords and Red Angus Bulls

Click here for contact information about their 2012 sale coming February 4th- a week from Saturday.

Also happening February 4th is the oldest annual production sale in the state of Oklahoma- the Messner Ranch 2012 Production sale. Their 51st Annual Production Sale is scheduled to begin at 12:30pm at the ranch, Slapout, Oklahoma.

The Messner family will be selling 120 Service Age Hereford and Angus Bulls along with 60 Spring Bred Angus and Hereford Heifers.  Click here for more detailsand a link over to DV sales where you can see the complete sale catalog. 

This coming week on the calendar is the Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show being held in Nashville- we have been told that early registrations have been tremendous- and as long as the weather holds- there could be well over 7,000 folks at the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center complex for this annual gathering of cowboy hats- and the great people you find wearing those hats.  Click here for more details about the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention- we will be there for the duration and will lots of coverage of this year's meeting starting next Tuesday.  

Cattle Industry Convention Preview on In the Field

This Saturday morning- we have Scott Dewald of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association joining us for our In the Field segment on KWTV News9.  In the Field is seen Saturday mornings around 6:40 AM during the morning news block on KWTV.

We are talking with Scott about the upcoming Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show that begins next week in Nashville.  An excellent group from Oklahoma will be traveling eastbound to be at the the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center for what is shaping up to be a really good meeting.

I am personally excited about an opportunity that the NCBA will be giving me- Saturday morning at the joint board meeting of the NCBA and the Beef Board, I will be presenting a "boiled down" look at the convention- summarizing in a few words the celebration of the past and present- and the expectations of the future that we will be covering over the course of the week. Should be interesting.