2012 Wheat Crop Makes Producers Happy, Millers and Bakers Not So Much 

To the layman, wheat looks about the same year after year and from place to place to place. But, says Mark Hodges of Plains Grains, nothing could be further from the truth. Almost an infinite number of variations in composition and quality make one year's wheat crop drastically different from those that have gone before and those that will come in the future.

Speaking with us at the 2012 Wheat Review, Hodges says different people like to see different things in a wheat crop. Producers want maximum yields. Millers want fat berries and high test weights. Bakers want high protein. Theoretically, a perfect wheat crop would satisfy all their desires. But, this is Oklahoma, Hodges says, and the perfect wheat crop just doesn't exist.

"Two years ago the crop was really a miller's crop. We had large berries, something that a miller could get a high mill yield out of. Something he really liked. And probably not the best protein in the world two years ago, so the baker probably wasn't really satisfied with what he got.

"And then last year we had really good protein, didn't have a lot of volume, but the baker was really happy with it because he had the protein he needed. The miller probably wasn't quite as happy because he didn't get the kind of yield he wanted.

"And then this year was really the producer's crop. The miller probably isn't going to be real happy and the baker isn't going to be real happy, but they'll figure out a way to deal with it-as they always do. But the producer produced a lot of bushels."

You can read more or listen to the full interview with Mark Hodges by clicking here. 

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces New Drought Assistance to America's Producers 

As part of continuing steps by the Obama Administration to assist livestock producers in response to the historic drought, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted that USDA will utilize nearly $16 million in financial and technical assistance to immediately help crop and livestock producers in 19 states cope with the adverse impacts of the historic drought. In addition, USDA will initiate a transfer of $14 million in unobligated program funds into the Emergency Conservation Program. These funds can be used to assist in moving water to livestock in need, providing emergency forage for livestock, and rehabilitating lands severely impacted by the drought. Together these efforts should provide nearly $30 million to producers struggling with drought conditions.

"President Obama and I continue to work across the federal government to provide relief for those farmers and ranchers who are affected by the severe drought conditions impacting many states across our nation," said Vilsack. "This additional assistance builds on a number of steps USDA has taken over the past few weeks to provide resources and flexibility in our existing programs to help producers endure these serious hardships. As this drought persists, the Obama Administration is committed to using existing authorities wherever possible to help the farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and communities being impacted."

Chairwoman Stabenow Applauds Administration Drought Relief Efforts, Urges House to Pass Farm Bill

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, applauded President Obama for convening the White House Rural Council and responding as forcefully as possible to this year's record-setting drought. At Chairwoman Stabenow's urging, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued disaster declarations last month that make emergency loans available to help farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses who are recovering from a spring deep freeze and the worst national drought in more than 50 years. The White House has now announced a new round of disaster relief to support farming families and the nation's agriculture economy.

The announcement comes as the House has yet to take up a new Farm Bill, which includes significant disaster relief provisions and would provide farmers and agriculture businesses the certainty they need to invest and grow. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Michigan with Senator Stabenow this week to talk to farmers hurt by this year's inclement weather.

"The administration's efforts are very good steps in the effort to combat against deep freeze, drought and other weather disasters that have occurred this year," said Stabenow. "But while the administration is doing everything it can, the real burden rests on Congress to pass a full five-year Farm Bill that would provide better disaster relief and provide long-term certainty. Democrats and Republicans in the Senate came together to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill. It's deeply troubling that House leaders would leave farmers, ranchers and small businesses in the lurch at a time when our agriculture economy is vulnerable and facing historic hardship." 

You can read more from Senator Stabenow by clicking here.

Ethanol Groups Respond to API Analysis on the Renewable Fuel Standard

The Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) released a joint statement responding to a recent analysis released by the American Petroleum Institute (API) about the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The API analysis suggests that the RFS is not working and must be fixed.

Brooke Coleman, Executive Director of the AEC said, "API has it backwards. The problem is our dependence on foreign oil, which in turn costs consumers billions of dollars and comes at great cost to the economy and the environment. The RFS, which drives American-made fuel into the marketplace, is part of the solution. It should come as no surprise that the oil industry prefers to maintain its stranglehold on American consumers, and sees the RFS as a threat to that dynamic. This so-called report is just a basic regurgitation of the well-worn talking points API has used for years to try to weaken a landmark piece of legislation that threatens to bring consumer choice to the gas pump. The bottom line is API is concerned about the upward trajectory of the U.S. renewable fuels industry and is trying to spin this success as a failure. Nothing has changed."

RFA Vice President for Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper said, "This report is just another tactic in the campaign being mounted and funded by the petroleum industry to seek congressional repeal of the RFS. While the drought has allowed the livestock community to take a prominent role in denouncing domestic ethanol production, many petroleum interests are still committed to seeking an end to America's use of renewable fuels. The RFS has been the most successful energy initiative ever under taken to directly replace fossil fuels in Americans' gas tanks. It is creating domestic jobs, cleaning the environment, and reducing America's dependence on oil - a fact not lost on API. Given the attention generated by livestock interests in opposition to American biofuels, today's report was much more about a 'me, too' effort than meaningful discussions that advance America's clean energy agenda."
 

When Haying Drought-Stressed Summer Annuals, It Pays to be Patient

With forage supplies running short due to the drought, Oklahoma State University Extension Animal Scientist Emeritus Glenn Selk says the temptation to hay summer annuals such as sorghums, millets, and sudan grass hybrids when they green up after a rain may be overwhelming. In an article in the latest Cow-Calf Corner of the Extension newsletter, Selk says it pays to be patient.

A few spotty rain showers may fall even in the midst of heat and drought. They are not the kind to end a drought, but they momentarily cool the air, make the pastures and hay fields look a little greener, and improve farmer and rancher attitudes. In the case of drought-stressed summer annuals such as forage sorghums, millets, and sudangrass hybrids, the rain-shower may be a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Avoid cutting the summer annual hay immediately after a drought-easing rain. Often the highest concentrations of nitrate will be in the first 48 hours after the first rain after an extended heat and drought stress period. Usually it takes the plants at least about a week to return to normal nitrate concentrations if the weather and moisture conditions remain favorable. The drought-stressed plant may again be taking up nitrates from the soil, but not have the enzymes present in great enough quantity to reduce the nitrate on to form amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of plant proteins. With time and good moisture conditions the plant may return to normal metabolism and growth, which in turn will cause reduced nitrate concentrations. 

Click here for more from Glenn Selk and a link to an OSU Nitrate Toxicity fact sheet.

Monsanto Announces Programs to Help Drought Stricken Farmers and Communities

As U.S. farmers face the worst drought in more than 25 years, Monsanto announced new programs for farmers and the rural communities that have been impacted by severe drought conditions:

The Monsanto Fund is doubling its America's Farmers Grow Communities funding in counties that have been declared a disaster area by the USDA.

For farmers, Monsanto is offering additional prepay options and financing assistance for the purchase of their seed.

"Nearly 90 percent of the U.S. corn crop is in regions impacted by drought," said Mike Stern, U.S. row crops business lead, Monsanto Company. "Monsanto understands that when farmers face crop losses, it makes it more difficult to invest in their business for the following year. We want to help ease the minds of our farmer customers who have been hit hard by this year's drought. We also recognize the economic impact that a devastating drought can have on communities where farmers live and work. This is why we're providing disaster relief through additional funding of our America's Farmers Grow Communities program that will directly assist those drought stricken counties."

Click here for more.

This N That- Rainfall and Cooler Temps?!?!?! - and Women in Ag Conference Underway Today

Rainfall made a visit into southeastern Oklahoma over the last day- and it appears that moderating temperatures will be coming into the middle part of the US by tomorrow- and really bring us back closer to seasonal norms over the next several days.

According to Meteorologist Alan Crone with the News on 6 in Tulsa- the front that is moving across Oklahoma will start to moderate temperatures today- but the differences will really be seen by tomorrow morning- a lot of the state could see an over night low with a "6" in front of it- and highs will be in the lower 90s across a lot of the state.  

Click here to see the latest Mesonet rainfall map for the last 24 hours (as of early Thursday morning) as well as the opportunity to read Alan's full weather analysis for this Thursday morning.

**********

Oklahoma's Statewide Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference is open to all women from across Oklahoma and gets underway this morning at the Moore-Norman Technology Center.

"The focus of the two-day conference is to provide the latest information on topics that empower women to solve issues and concerns of importance to them, their families and communities," said Damona Doye, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension farm management specialist.  

Click here for our calendar item that includes info on registering at the door- cost is $60- for this two day conference.