Oklahoma FFA to Send 21 National Proficiency Award Finalists to the 2012 National Convention  

For the fourth time in the last five years- Oklahoma FFA has qualified more than twenty proficiency award contestants as a national finalist for the upcoming 2012 National FFA Convention to be held in October in Indianapolis. The Oklahoma FFA organization returned to this elite level after qualifying only 14 national finalists in the Proficiency Awards in 2011. The 21 National Finalists that will represent Oklahoma this fall rank third nationally when it comes to the number of National Finalists qualified by a state. Oklahoma is a part of the Central Region and has the most of any state in our region again in 2012. Georgia, out of the South Region, has placed 24 FFA members into the "Final Four" in their respective Proficiency Award, while California, a part of the West Region, claims 22 National Finalists this year. The top state in the East Region is Ohio, with 14 National Finalists, while the second place state in the Central Region when it comes to Proficiency Awards is Wisconsin- this year claiming 14 national finalists.

Traditionally, Oklahoma is one of about five states that bring the most National Finalists in Proficiency Awards to the National Convention- and several times in recent years has brought the most National Finalists  to the Convention- but has also walked away with the most National Awards on Friday afternoon at the Convention when they are announced on stage. Proficiency Awards are one measure of the high quality FFA and Ag Education program that Oklahoma has developed and nurtured- earning respect nationally as one of the elite states in the US within the FFA organization.

For a complete list of this year's Oklahoma national finalists, please click here. 

United States Cattle on Feed up One Percent- Oklahoma Feedlot Numbers Shrink by 11% 

The latest USDA Cattle on Feed report was released August 17 showing very little variation from the pre-report estimates to the actual USDA numbers. August On-Feed came in at 101 percent of year ago levels with 10.656 million head of cattle, the largest On Feed number in the past six years. 

Placements came in at 90 percent of year ago levels, a little lower than estimates. Placements equaled 1.922 million head of cattle.
Marketings came in at 100 percent of year ago levels, slightly lower than the trade was looking for. 

Overall, the report is looked on as neutral as far as the markets are concerned. 

You can read more and hear Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities breakdown all the numbers by clicking here.  

By the way- the Oklahoma feedlot numbers are well off one year ago- according to NASS- The Oklahoma inventory of cattle on feed for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head, totaled 320 thousand head on August 1, 2012, unchanged from the previous month but down 11 percent from August 1, 2011. Placements during July were 68,000, down 21 percent from one year ago. Marketings of fed cattle during July were 66,000 head,
down 11 percent from the same month last year. Other disappearance during July totaled 2,000 head.
 

Ethanol Groups Applaud Ruling Allowing Marketing of E15 Fuel

Two groups representing the ethanol industry hailed a court ruling favoring the EPA's approval of E15 motor fuel for newer light-duty vehicles and flex fuel vehicles. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Friday morning rejected challenges by multiple groups against the EPA's partial waiver which will allow the marketing of gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol for vehicles newer than the 2001 model year. Nearly two-thirds of all vehicles now on the road are able to use this fuel.

Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy said, "This decision is a win-win for both the American consumer and our nation."

Since the initial waiver filing in March 2009, vehicles were tested using E15 for a combined six million miles, health effects data on E15 was collected and approved, and a first of its kind misfueling mitigation plan was required and approved in order for retailer to offer E15. Today, at least one station in Lawrence, Kan., is selling E15 under the conditions set by the partial waiver.

Click here for the reaction of the RFA on our webpage.

Wheat Buyers Learn How to Contract for Value When Buying U.S. Wheat

Every wheat importer wants to get the right wheat at the best possible price. The key to success for wheat buyers is in the details of their tender specifications and a transparent system that gives them many options. That is what a group of Korean flour milling supply managers learned recently at a USW-sponsored "Contracting for Value" workshop at the Wheat Marketing Center in Portland, OR.

"A wheat buyer who understands how the U.S. wheat marketing system works and how U.S. grain exporters assess their risk in grain tender specifications is in a position of strength," said USW Vice President, West Coast Office Director Steve Wirsching. "Putting that knowledge to work also increases their confidence in the United States as a reliable wheat supplier."

In the workshop, the Wheat Marketing Center's technical director and Asian foods specialist, Dr. Gary Hou, explained how wheat quality is measured and how it relates to end-product quality in baguettes, pan bread, cookies and sponge cakes. Wirsching showed the Korean buyers how to tailor their tenders using the language of U.S. grain exporters and the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) that independently inspects and supervises wheat loading at the export elevator.

You can read more of this story by clicking here.

Cattle Producers Should Watch for Premature Calf Births, OSU Researcher Says

Southern Plains cow-calf producers with fall-calving herds should be watching out for any incidence of premature births this August.

Research conducted by Oklahoma State University's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources indicates that excessively hot summertime temperatures - all too normal for the south-central region of the United States - can shorten the gestation length of beef cows.

"Producers may need to adjust their herd management so as to help cows that require birthing assistance; OSU research shows that cows exposed to 90 degrees Fahrenheit or greater during the last two weeks of gestation calve an average of four days earlier than what is considered normal," said Bob Wettemann, OSU Regents professor and animal science researcher.

Wettemann added some calves in the OSU studies were born two weeks early in August, and showed good survival rates provided the newborn calves had access to sufficient shade.

To read more from Bob Wetteman, just click here.

USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Agricultural Producers Bring Increased Value to Their Products

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack invited agricultural producers to apply for grants to increase the value of their products.

"Producers can greatly enhance the bottom line of their businesses and improve their economic prospects when they improve the value of their products, thus expanding their markets and customer base," Vilsack said. "The Value Added Producer Grant program (VAPG) has a proven track record of doing just that and I am pleased to announce that we are inviting producers to apply for these grants by the deadline. The funds in this program enable America's farmers, ranchers and rural business owners to find ways to expand their product offerings, revenue streams and create more economic opportunity by bringing additional value to what they already produce."

Applicants have until October 15, 2012 to apply. Vilsack emphasized that far too many producers are missing out on significant economic opportunities when their products are enhanced further away from the farm. "When our producers keep their value-added activities closer to the farm, it not only improves their bottom line; it strengthens our rural economy and strengthens our rural communities." 

Click here to read more and to find a link for application information.

OALP Class XVI Gearing Up for First Seminar

The newest class of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program is gearing up for its first seminar in Stillwater. Later this week- Class XVI will gather to begin their two year leadership journey.  I will put my Ag Leadership Advisory Council Chairman  hat on- and help welcome the new class- and challenge them to invest their time and energy into the program to reap maximum benefit.

OALP, one of Oklahoma's top leadership programs for emerging agricultural leaders, has been going strong now for 30 years. It is a 20-month program that focuses on the development of leaders in the agricultural and agri-business world.

Edmond Bonjour, OALP director, said he is excited to be working with this new and diverse class.

"From the agricultural production side, this new class is involved in crop and tree farming; cattle, hog and sheep operations; as well as fruit and vegetable production," said Bonjour, an alumni of Class XIII and who saw his inaugural OALP class graduate earlier this spring. We traveled with Class XV to Scotland and Ireland for their capstone international travel experience- our coverage of that trip can still be seen on our website- just click here.

Click here for more on OALP Class XVI.