Democratic Party in Favor of "An Ag Economy Built to Last" 

Much like the Republicans, the Democrats offer few specifics on what they want for a farm policy direction in their 2012 National Platform, released at the DNC Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Regarding agriculture, the Democrats speak of being for the small and large producer, in favor of ag exports, a strong farm safety net and lots of crop insurance. There is no mention of wanting to complete the 2012 Farm Bill this year.

Here are the two paragraphs that provide the full outlook for agriculture from the Democratic party's point of view:

"An agricultural economy built to last is integral to the affordability of our food, the independence of our energy supply, and the security of America's middle class. Democrats support agriculture from the small farms that feed the community to the large farms that feed the world. Under President Obama, American farmers are seeing record farm income, record agricultural exports, and millions of acres enrolled in conservation programs. President Obama has expanded markets for American goods that help support more than a million agriculture jobs here at home. And in the past few years, agriculture has been one of the fastest-growing parts of our economy, creating one out of every 12 American jobs.

"Democrats appreciate agriculture's role in securing America's food security and making our country an ambassador of food aid to countries across the world. That's why Democrats support a strong farm safety net, with increased availability of crop insurance and emergency disaster assistance to help farmers and ranchers keep their farms in business after natural disasters and crop loss. Democrats are also planning for a strong agricultural future, and President Obama has proposed increasing funding for research and development to improve agricultural productivity and continue to pursue global food security."

Click here to jump to the full Democratic platform.  

MEANWHILE- one farm related note from the Democratic Convention in Charlotte- US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will address Conventions goers this evening in the 6 PM central time hour- he's listed early in the hour, right after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi- with ten speakers and a video scheduled for that hour- I would suspect Secretary Vilsack will get maybe five to six minutes at the podium.  

Ninety Percent of Oklahoma Still Experiencing Exceptional or Extreme Drought Conditions 

Only the furthest eastern part of the state received any significant rainfall from the remnants of Isaac this past week. Most of the state was without any measurable rainfall and temperatures rose from the previous week. Average high temperatures were in the mid to upper 90s and the high for the week was 107 in Alva on Sunday. According to the August 30th Drought Monitor, the area classified with exceptional drought was reduced from the previous week, but 90 percent of the state was still in an extreme to exceptional drought.

Significant progress was made in seedbed preparation for fall planting, but producers were waiting for moisture to plant. Only the furthest eastern part of the state received any rain from Hurricane Isaac. According to the August 30th Drought Monitor, 90 percent of the state is still in extreme to exceptional drought. Hay, pasture and livestock conditions were rated mostly poor to very poor.  For the full Oklahoma Crop Progress Report, click here.

With precipitation from the previous week, Kansas row crop conditions improved slightly, but the 71 percent of the corn crop was still rated poor or very poor.  Click here for the Kansas Crop Report.

Allendale Annual Crop Survey Projects Highest Corn Yields in Cimarron County, Oklahoma

The Allendale, Inc., 23rd Annual Crop Survey for 2012 projects a 10.326 billion bushel corn crop for the Unites States and estimates the highest yielding corn crop will come from Oklahoma. The survey which is based on producer-calculated yields in 32 states, projects Cimarron County, Oklahoma, with the top yielding corn at 250 bushels per acre. The survey, which looks at corn and soybeans, was conducted from August 20-31.

The projected high yield for soybeans is in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, at 80 bushels per acre.

Overall, the survey projected average corn yields of 118.2 bushels per acre and soybean yields of 34.9 bushels per acre nationwide.

The survey pegged December producer high price expectations at $8.85 per bushel for corn and $18.25 per bushel for soybeans.

USDA figures as of August the 12th projected an average yield of 123.4 bushels per acre of corn, and 36.1 bushels per acre of soybeans. Updated September first USDA numbers will be released next Wednesday- September 12th.  

Oklahoma Women in Agriculture Seminar Scheduled for September 18th

The 2nd annual Northwest Oklahoma Women in Agriculture Seminar will take place Sept. 18 at the Northwest Technology Center in Fairview.

Jim Rhodes, Major County Extension agricultural educator, said the emphasis of the seminar is to provide information and insights useful to women who are involved in agriculture through either farming or ranching.

On-site registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Sessions will start at 10 a.m. and run through mid-afternoon. Cost is $5 per participant. Contact the Northwest Technology Center at 580-227-3708 or the Major County Extension Office at 580-227-3786 to reserve a seat.

"We ask participants to pre-register if possible because it really aids in our planning and helps ensure that we have sufficient numbers of meals, refreshments and conference materials on hand," Rhodes said. 

For more details, click here.

Pork Producers Prepare to Tackle 2013 National Pork Board Budget

In the midst of some of the most difficult market conditions in years, more than 50 pork producers will meet in Des Moines Sept. 5-6 to draft a 2013 budget for the National Pork Board that focuses on continuing to build demand for pork while addressing several challenging production issues.

The producers from throughout the country who make up the Plan of Work Task Force will continue a planning and budgeting process that began earlier this summer when producer-led committees identified specific action steps designed to meet the goals in the board's strategic plan. Those goals include:

• Refresh and reposition pork's image to increase domestic and international consumer demand.
• Protect the rights and ability of U.S. farmers to produce pork in a socially-responsible and cost-competitive manner.
• Pursue strategies to enable U.S. pork producers to remain highly competitive, long term, on a global basis.

Based on revenue projections from the Pork Checkoff in 2013, the board has established a budget target of $67 million, which is approximately 5 percent below the 2012 budget. Revenue forecasts are lower for 2013 because of projections that hog prices will be slightly lower in 2013 than they were this year. National Pork Board revenues come from the Pork Checkoff, which collects 0.4 percent of the sale price when a hog is marketed.  

You can read more on the Pork Board's agenda for its annual meeting by clicking here.

Food Stamps Handed Out at Record Levels in 2012- GOP Congressman Calls President Obama the Food Stamp President

Recent numbers released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) show that food stamp enrollment reached an all-time high of 46.7 million individuals or 22.4 million households in June 2012. Enrollment is up 3.3 percent over a year prior and up 46 percent since January 2009. Food stamps- or what is now known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) cost American taxpayers in 2007 $30 billion, when 26 million Americans received food assistance, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

David Rogers with Politico says there are politics embedded into the Food Stamp debate. "The White House deliberately increased monthly benefits in 2009 by about $20 per person as a way to pump stimulus dollars into the economy. And in this post welfare-reform crisis, strapped governors have sought to maximize food stamp dollars as a cheap way to help families without tapping state funds." Regarding the state governments trying to play the rules to boost food stamp handouts- Rogers writes "conservatives complain that about 16 states are now abusing the system by distributing token federal low-income energy assistance in order to maximize the food stamp benefits allowed their citizens.  


Meanwhile- fast forward to sixty days before the November general election- and you have Freshman Republican Congressman Tim Huelskamp of the Big First District in Kansas calling President Obama the "Food Stamp President."


Huelskamp in a news release adds "The sad thing is that is the way he wants it. It shores up his base to hand out more of other people's money. President Obama would much rather Americans be dependent on the government to feed their families than on a paycheck. It is a testament to the failure of the Obama Economy that 14.7 million Americans have been added to the food stamp rolls since he took office.

To compare the food stamp record of President Obama and President Bush, click here. 

Midweek Beef Bits- Mama Cows and Drought, Beef Market Pressures and Superior Firing Up with 95,000 Head on Offer

OSU Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel says it is difficult to estimate just how much impact the drought this year has had on the US beef cow herd- but that there has been some liquidation of cows this year- and more could be coming in the 4th quarter of this year if producers have not done a good job in matching up their available forage supplies with the number of cows they are trying to carry.  To read more from his latest analysis of this subject- click here to jump over to our website.  

Our friend Ed Czerwein at the USDA market news office in Amarillo has his latest audio review of last week's wholesale beef trade as well as the feedlot sales for the week- in a nutshell- whole beef was falling- cash prices for finished cattle were rising- and he explains it all if you make the jump to our story by clicking here. 

Finally- the three day Superior Livestock Auction video sale is getting under today on RFD TV and on the web as well- they will be selling over 95,000 head- and Jim Odle emphasized to me that they have a lot of really good looking weaned calves for delivery later this fall- something that may catch the interest of some folks who are hoping for some good wheat pasture not too many weeks down the road.  Click here for the details of the Superior sale that runs today through Friday.