Expand Your Beef Cow Herd Sooner Rather Than Later, Derrell Peel Advises 

Improved weather conditions and moderation in feed prices could show continued improvement for livestock markets in 2014, according to Dr. Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist and professor of agribusiness at Oklahoma State University. Peel addressed farmers and ranchers from across the country Sunday during an issues conference at the American Farm Bureau Federation's 95th Annual Convention.

"The latter part of 2013 turned things around for most of the country, with drought conditions receding and increased market prices for beef," Peel said. "Livestock markets are looking strong for 2014."

Peel expressed extreme optimism for the cattle sector, predicting herd expansion for the next several years.

"Depending on the market and weather conditions, we have the potential to be in expansion mode for the rest of this decade. We haven't seen this scenario since the '90s," Peel said.

With cattle numbers at record lows since the 1950s, Peel said farmers and ranchers need to focus on expanding herds and responding to current markets. Peel says that if you are planning to add females to your herd in the next two or three years- now is the time- "the sooner the better." Producers and their bankers may cringe at the price tags on replacement females right now, but Peel believes they will only get more expensive in the next couple of years.

Click here to listen to my interview with Derrell Peel- we have a lot of stuff with Dr. Peel on an ongoing basis- but this interview is really worth your time to listen to- if you are in the cattle business and want to not just survive but prosper in 2014 and beyond. We cover a lot of territory in a hurry!   

High Fire Danger Exists Across Oklahoma 

Outdoor burning is not advised for Tuesday due to the dry, windy conditions that are present over most of the state. Officials from Oklahoma Forestry Services, a division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, report that there were several wildfires across the state  since the weekend and conditions continue to extremely dry.

OFS received notice of the first burn ban for 2014 from county commissioners in Stephens County. The ban will remain in place for a 30-day period.

"Any fire that starts will spread rapidly so we are urging everyone to delay any outdoor activity that might spark a blaze," said George Geissler, Oklahoma State Forester. "Though the highest danger today will be seen near and west of a line from Alfalfa County to Cotton County the entire state will experience high fire danger." 

News9's Matt Mahler reports "Fire danger continues to be an issue across Oklahoma and will enhance again Tuesday afternoon. Two of the main ingredients will be prime for wildfires: low relative humidity and strong wind gusts.

"Relative humidity values will range from 10 to 20% in western Oklahoma and wind gusts are expected from the northwest at 35 to 45 mph between 9 and 5 p.m.

"The drought situation continues in western Oklahoma. The short term forecast doesn't look good as significant rainfall isn't showing up over the next 7 to 10 days.

"While Tuesday will have the highest fire danger, the concern will last through the week into the weekend."

Click here to view a statewide map showing where the great wild fire danger is later today and really for much of he balance of the week.

GMOs Offer the Hope of Feeding Nine Billion Mouths in 2050

Ensuring access to biotechnology was the topic that Dr. Cathleen Enright of BIO- the Biotechnology Inudstry Organization, presented on during the American Farm Bureau's 95th annual convention this week in San Antonio.

Dr. Enright is the Executive VP for Food and Agriculture at BIO. Her presentation focused on the need to advocate on behalf of biotech in light of challenges from activists and others. She also drove home the point that farmers and ranchers need to have access to this technology.

"The current climate is challenging as I'm sure you are aware. There is a lot of opposition that has come on the last couple of years. Folks are making very good use of social media with an online presence. Our industry hasn't done a very good job of that. These folks had an agenda and they did a really good job of making their case. We just weren't there. Now, we have a website to begin the conversation. It is one piece of a multi-pronged strategy that we have to pay full attention to and invest in."

Dr. Enright stated that GMO's are the only technology that allows us to make multi-year gains in a single season. She added that this means profitability for farmers and the ability to meet the world's food demand and feed 9 billion people by 2050.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

 

USDA Secertary Vilsack Says Call Congress- Tell Them Get Farm Bill Done

With a new farm bill still in limbo, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urged farmers and ranchers to work to increase the understanding of agriculture, during his remarks at the general session at the American Farm Bureau Federation's 95th Annual Convention. You can find a link to listen to the Secretary's Address to Farm Bureau members by clicking here.

"Passage of a farm bill is long overdue," Vilsack said, adding, "producers understand this." He characterized passage of a new farm bill as the number one issue affecting American agriculture today.

"Every American should be concerned" with the lack of congressional action on the farm bill, Vilsack said. "We need this farm bill and we need it now," he added, encouraging Farm Bureau members to contact their members of Congress and let them know passage of the bill is important."

Click here for more of Tom Vilsack's remarks. 

 

NRCS Accepting Applications for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP)

Gary O'Neill, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist for Oklahoma, has announced that applications are being accepted for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP). Applications will be due on January 31, 2014. O'Neill explained "This program provides funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farmland in agricultural uses. NRCS may provide funds and join with other conservation partners such as state, tribal, local governments, and non- governmental organizations to acquire easements."

O'Neill said "The FRPP program came about due to the rapid urban sprawl which continues to threaten the nation's farm and ranch land. Social and economic changes are increasing the rate at which land is converted to non-agricultural uses. USDA has determined that it is in the state and national interest to protect agricultural lands and keep as much prime farm and ranch land in production as possible."

NRCS is seeking proposals from local, state and federally recognized tribal governments and non-governmental organizations interested in working together to acquire conservation easements on farms and ranches. Eligible entities must submit applications on or before January 31, 2014, to receive consideration for funding in fiscal year 2014. The entities must have an established farm and ranch land protection program, have the authority to hold and manage easements; have the capacity to acquire, manage, and enforce the easements; and the funds to match the Federal contribution. 

You'll find the rest of this article on our website.  Please click here to go there.

State Beef Councils Utilize Federation Initiative Fund to Expand Checkoff Efforts

State beef councils in Georgia and Minnesota have extended the reach of the Beef Checkoff Program through checkoff funds made available through the Federation Initiative Fund, which helps funnel beef checkoff dollars from cattle-producing states to states with large consumer populations. The Federation Initiative Fund is coordinated by the Federation of State Beef Councils.

The Georgia Beef Board (GBB) utilized a $15,000 Initiative Fund grant to help sponsor the Georgia Nurses Association Conference in October. The GBB was able to make valuable connections with key health professionals in the state as a result of its participation.

The Minnesota Beef Council (MBC) utilized part of a $5,600 grant to conduct a beef industry tour and two workshops for culinary students in the state, positively influencing attitudes of future chefs about beef. Combined with a subsequent workshop conducted in partnership with Sysco Foods, nearly four dozen students and 10 future chef/instructors participated in these MBC culinary efforts, far surpassing initial project goals.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

 

From Farm Bureau to the International Livestock Congress- Got Ya Covered!

We have moved on from San Antonio and I am wrapping up our email this morning in Denver, Colorado- getting ready for a day long program called the International Livestock Congress- and while Livestock is in its name- it is really all about the beef business- where we have come from- where we are today and where we are going. 

It's like a mini think tank overview of the business as the structure of the US industry will be examined, how to best rebuild the US Beef Cow herd, beef exports and how to keep them climbing, animal well being and consideration of how we have been dealing with the consumer and how to better do it in the future. We will be tweeting as the day unfolds and several stories about the industy will spring forward from these sessions with some of the brightest minds in the US beef cattle industry involved.

We will also be monitoring what the delegates hammer out in San Antonio at the 2014 AFBF meeting- they will be setting policy for the nation's largest general farm group as their 95th annual meeting winds down.