USDA Recommends Deregulation of 2, 4-D-Resistant Corn and Soybean Traits 

In a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released Friday, the USDA said it prefers full deregulation for Dow AgroSciences' corn and soybean traits resistant to the herbicide 2, 4-D.

The genetically-engineered corn and soybean traits in Dow's Enlist Weed Control System are the first to be developed that are resistant to 2, 4-D.

Dow has been working with the USDA for several years and said that 86 percent of corn, soybean and cotton farmers in the South are affected by herbicide resistance. Sixty-one percent of farmers in the Midwest report problems with herbicide-resistant weeds.

"Growers need new tools now to address this challenge," Dow noted in a statement released after the USDA published its draft EIS.

Several environmental groups quickly responded to the USDA's announcement.

Scott Faber, executive director of Just Label, It said, "Relying on dangerous weed killers like 2,4-D to combat the growth of super weeds will just keep us the same chemical treadmill. No wonder consumers want the right to know whether their food is from the GE crops that have caused the explosion of super weeds. As today's USDA study shows, super weeds have now spread to 27 states."

Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety called on the Obama administration to overturn the USDA's proposal.

Click here to read more of this story.

 

New University Analysis: No Changes Needed to 2014 and 2015 Renewable Fuel Requirements

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to slash 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending requirements is unwarranted, according to a new analysis released today by Iowa State University's Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD). The 16-page report shows that 2014 statutory RFS requirements could be easily met with no new investment in refueling infrastructure, and 2015 requirements could be achieved with only modest infrastructure investments.

In November, EPA proposed to reduce the 2014 requirement for renewable fuel by 10 percent from the statutory level of 14.4 billion gallons to just 13 billion gallons. The Agency cited the so-called E10 "blend wall" as the key factor in its decision to propose the cut.

According to CARD economists Bruce Babcock and Sebastien Pouliot, "...the assumption by EPA that a 14.4 billion gallon ethanol mandate in 2014 was not feasible is not correct. ...meeting a 14.4 billion gallon ethanol mandate is feasible in 2014 with no new stations, modestly lower E85 prices, and judicious use of available carryover RINs."

You can read more of this story by clicking here.

 

Kim Anderson Says Wheat Prices May Continue to Slide

Kim Anderson, Oklahoma State University Extension Grain Marketing Specialist, says producers need to watch wheat prices closely over the next few months.   

"Since the 1st of December, cash wheat prices are down 71 cents. Since October the 23rd, cash wheat prices are down $1.35. If you're watching the Kansas City Board of Trade March or July contracts, both of these have support at $6.35, about where that price is right now."

If futures markets break that $6.35 mark today, Anderson says, the next support level is $6.

"The good news over the last couple of months is that the basis has held steady, around a minus 20 cents below the Kansas City contract or, if you're looking at the harvest contract or the harvest forward contracts, a minus 40 cents. There's been no change in the basis, essentially, since harvest of 2013."

Anderson says that we saw an 80-cent rally in September due to dry conditions in Australia before harvest, but that quickly evaporated when yields came in higher than expected. He said that a record number of planted acres in India and export sales from ample government stockpiles will further pressure wheat prices throughout the spring.

You can listen to Kim Anderson's full analysis or read more of this story by clicking here.

 

Macau- a Great Place to Help Chinese Consumers Develop a Taste for US Beef 

For the second consecutive year, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) collaborated with the Nebraska Beef Council for a major U.S. beef promotion in Macau. As a special administrative region of China that allows legalized gaming, Macau attracts about 30 million visitors per year to its 35 casinos and other entertainment venues. This outdoor barbecue event attracted meat buyers, chefs and other foodservice professionals representing many of these businesses.   

Myron Danner, a rancher and cattle feeder from Burwell, Neb., who serves on the Nebraska Beef Council, attended the beef promotion and provides his thoughts on the potential demand for U.S. beef in Macau.   

"There were over 200 people there in attendance. In fact, John Lamb with USMEF in Hong Kong said he thought it was over half of the food and beverage industry from Macau that were represented at this event. And the quality of the food at this barbecue was as good as you're going to find anywhere. It was just superb."

U.S. beef is not currently eligible for mainland China, but Macau allows imports of U.S. beef under the same trade practices employed in Hong Kong. Danner says promoting U.S. beef in Macau has the added benefit of reaching millions of prospective customers who live in mainland China, which could help bolster demand when China reopens to imports of U.S. beef.

Myron joins me on the latest Beef Buzz.  Click here to listen in or read more.  

Ambassador Kennth Quinn Makes Case for GMO Crops as a Tool of Peace and Global Security

State Legislative Ag Committee Chairmen from across the US gathered in Oklahoma City over the weekend for the 13th annual Legislative Agriculture Chairs Summit. Sessions covered a lot of policy ground- covering topics from animal welfare through rural first responders to water policy. On Saturday morning, the state lawmakers heard from Ambassador Kenneth Quinn of the World Food Prize Foundation, who told the ag leaders that they represent the most important Committee that their state legislature have- namely a committee that is directly involved in the our food production efforts in this country, which impacts the entire world.

Dr. Quinn told lawmakers that the world- and especially the poorer parts of the world- desperately needs all the tools that the developed world can provide to help them raise enough food in the years ahead to feed a population that is expected to double by the year 2050. Quinn says that includes biotechnology- adding that those who are well nourished have no right to withhold such advances from the developing world as some who fear GMOs might like to do.

We talked with Dr. Quinn after his presentation- you can listen to our visit with him and read the rest of this story on our website- click here to do so.

By the way- Our thanks to Senator Eddie Fields, the Chairman of the Oklahoma Senate Ag Committee, for inviting us to sit in on the sessions of SARL- they don't usually include media in their meetings and we appreciate the invite. 

Breeding Plans Made Easier with Free Estrus-Synchronization Planner

When it comes to artificial insemination, there are many options for today's cattle herd. Protocols can be confusing, but animal scientist Sandy Johnson says that they don't have to be. She is part of the multi-university beef reproductive task force, a group that created a free estrus-synchronization planner to help.

"They need to think about how much heat detection they want to do and, then, based on the amount of heat detection either all heat detection, some heat detection or no heat detection, we have systems for them to select from that have different lengths and other options. But, essentially, we have those three different categories. Decide how much heat detection you want to do, have a short list to pick from, and apply it."

The group aims to help producers develop a plan that's easy to follow.

"Understand that our synchronization programs these days can really provide some excellent results. Don't be afraid to try fixed-time A-I. It's uncomfortable for a lot of people used to breeding on heat to breed a cow they didn't see stand, but our experience has shown that we can still get excellent results. Apply the protocol as described. Breed them. Go on your way. Don't sweat it."

Click here to watch the video version of this story or to read more.

Wind Chills Nasty This AM- but Nothing Like the Northern Plains 

Windchills are below zero across a substantial section of Oklahoma on this Monday morning- we have a  graphic on our website from News9 provides a good overview- click here to check it out.  

Wind Chills range early on this Monday from 6 above to 19 below across Oklahoma. Nationally, reports have come in from North Dakota of some windchills in that state as low as sixty degrees below zero, with most readings early this morning from thirty to fifty degrees below zero wind chills for much of the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa and Northern Illinois. 

Alan Crone with the News on 6 writes in his Monday morning weather blog that "The weekend snow and cold air will continue to keep the air mass frigid both today and tomorrow before the shallow arctic air slides eastward and modifies quickly. But the short term will feature a strong arctic surface ridge of high pressure building across northern OK this morning. This will keep the sky mostly clear and the temps very cold."

Temperatures will remain frosty today- but start moderating on Tuesday with some chances of precipitation back in the mix by the middle of the week.