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U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Hoeven announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has agreed to enact permanent changes to the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program requirements in response to their demands.


In December 2012, USDA made temporary changes to the School Lunch Program in response to a letter led by Hoeven and Pryor and signed by other senators. Hoeven and Pryor then wrote legislation, which is likely to pass this month, to make the changes permanent. The senators' legislation, the Sensible School Lunch Act, has broad, bipartisan support and the backing of the School Nutrition Association. In response to their legislation, the USDA will now make the changes administratively. Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe was among thirteen other Senators that co-sponsored the legislation with Hoeven and Pryor.


"After hearing from educators, parents, and students, Senator Hoeven and I stepped in to help school districts who were frustrated with the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program's strict new rules," Pryor said. "I'm glad the USDA followed our lead and made these much-needed administrative changes that will give our school districts the permanent flexibility they need to keep our kids healthy and successful." 

Click here for more details on the USDA final rule- including a link to the final rule itself from the USDA website.  

You can also click here to see the USDA news release and how they spin the final rule announcement.

Oklahoma Youth Expo Continues History of Growth with 99th Edition in 2014 

With students just getting back to school after the Christmas holidays, thoughts begin to turn to Spring Break and the upcoming Oklahoma Youth Expo. This year's expo runs March 12-21 at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

OYE Executive Director Tyler Norvell spoke with me about the success of last year's show and preparations underway for the show's 99th edition in March. He will be my guest on tomorrow's "In the Field" segment on News 9 about 6:40 a.m. and he says last year's show continued a trend of increasing numbers.

"Our numbers were excellent last year in terms of the number of exhibitors and the amount of money given to the kids. Our sale of champions set a record of almost $75,000. We gave out $875,000 that night to over 200 young people which was just humbling with the amount of support from our great sponsors and new buyers that came into that program."

The nomination process for 2014 is drawing to a close and Norvell says, despite increasing costs for feed and livestock, the number of competitors has stayed the same or kept growing.

You can also listen to our audio interview or read more of this story by clicking here. 

Tight Cattle Supplies Have Become the Dominant Market Force as 2014 is Ushered In

Cattle prices were record high in 2013 with tight supplies finally becoming the dominant market force instead of drought and surging feedstuff costs taking center stage. Calendar year 2014 is forecasted to bring more record highs. But the lesson of the last two years is that high prices don't always mean profits. Feedlot closeouts gushed red ink until the last few months of 2013. Many cow-calf operations recorded their highest costs ever due to huge winter feeding bills.

The USDA-AMS 5-market average steer price was above $120.00 per cwt. each quarter of 2013 and annually eclipsed the prior record high set in 2012 by over $3.00 per cwt. Calf and yearling prices were generally on a downward trajectory in the first half of 2013, but as soon as improved corn crop prospects and forage conditions came onto the scene the market direction changed dramatically. In the fourth quarter, yearling and calf prices were higher than any time in history. Instead of the normal softening of calf prices during the fourth quarter of the year, prices took off. In the Southern Plains, 500-to 700-pound steer calves averaged over $187.00 per cwt. in the fourth quarter, 16% above 2013's. Yearling steers (700- to 800-pound) averaged over $167.00 per cwt. in the final three months of 2013, 14% above a year earlier.  

Click here for more of this report from the Livestock Marketing Information Center.   

Water Source Development Supports Rotational Grazing

Chuck Coffey, senior consultant-pasture and range, with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation writes in their latest newsletter:

One of the primary limitations to developing and implementing a rotational grazing system is water - especially during times of drought. During the summer months, it is quite common for an animal to consume 2 percent of its body weight in gallons. In other words, a 1,000-pound cow will drink 20 gallons of water per day, while a 500-pound calf will drink 10 gallons. Therefore, a herd of 100 cows and their calves will require a minimum of 3,000 gallons per day in August. And remember, most of your cows weigh more than 1,000 pounds.

It would also be wise to have a three-day supply of water on hand at any time just in case something does not go the way you plan. This means you need 9,000 gallons of water on hand at any time for 100 cows plus their calves.

This information may not apply if you have unlimited water from a pond, creek or electric submersible pump. But if you depend on a windmill or solar pump, this information will be critical to your operation.

You can read more from Chuck Coffey by clicking here.

 

Cattle Industry Carries Good Momentum Coming Out of 2013 and Into 2014, Colin Woodall Says

With 2013 now over and 2014 just beginning to unfold, Colin Woodall, vice president for government affairs with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, says the beef industry posted quite a few successes last year which provides a great deal of momentum going forward.

"We started off 2013 with getting additional access to the Japanese market. And because of that we are going to finish up 2013 with well over a billion and a half dollars for the product exported to Japan. Those are huge numbers and they are great for the bottom line of this industry.

"To make it even better, in May, the OIE, which is the world organization for animal health actually upgraded our BSE status to 'negligible' status which is the lowest one out there. That will help us as we continue to open up new markets and to try to get back into markets such as China. So, on the trade side, it's been a very successful year for us."

Woodall said there have been numerous accomplishments in the regulatory and legal arena as well.

Colin joins me on the latest Beef Buzz.  Click here to go there.

 

Propane Farm Incentive Program Available to Farmers in 2014

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has renewed the funding for propane-fueled farm equipment. Farmers who purchase propane in 2014 will be eligible for up to $5,000 in purchase incentives through the 2014 Propane Farm Incentive Program. PERC works directly with original equipment manufacturers to develop and commercialize new propane-fueled farm equipment.

According to PERC, the program saw record results in 2013, with PERC distributing more than $627,000 in purchase incentives to producers across the U.S. A total of 219 farmers purchased new propane irrigation engines, grain dryers and other qualifying equipment, and provided PERC with feedback and performance data.

"The success of the 2013 program shows that farmers are taking notice of the cost-saving benefits that American-made propane has to offer," said Mark Leitman, director of business development and marketing at PERC. "New technologies are helping farmers cut their input costs and increase their profits, while reducing harmful impacts to the environment."

Click here to read more of this story and to find a link for additional program information.