Featured Story:

The US Meat Export Federation has had tremendous success in the last couple of years opening markets to U.S. producers. I caught up with USMEF's Phil Seng at the recent International Livestock Congress-USA in Denver, Colorado and asked him about USMEF's encore after so much success.

"In 2013 we looked at the Japan market with its opening to 30-month cattle as being very momentous. And, obviously, with the fact that we're up 57 percent on our exports to Japan this year over last year, that's proved to be the case.

"I think where we are this year is we're looking at the Chinese market, maybe, as the one market that's going to have a lot of promise and potential for us. It looks like that's going to be midsummer at the earliest, but I think that what Japan was for us I think China will portend that, hopefully, for 2014.

"I think another market that's very important for the beef industry is the Russian market. We've been out of that Russian market now in February it will be 12 months. And although that's going at a glacial pace at this point in time, if we could get China and Russia back up to speed we would have a very good year next year.   

"I'd also have to add that just like everybody else here in this industry we're concerned about the paucity of cattle, the paucity of supply, the prices that that is going to drive as far as the export market. A lot of these countries where they've got duties of 30 to 40 percent in addition to the price of the product, it makes it very, very prohibitively expensive. So these are things we're looking at as well." 

You can read more of this article or hear my full conversation with Phil Seng by clicking here. 

RFA-Commissioned Study Touts Corn Ethanol Over Fracking and Tar Sands 

A comprehensive new study (with appendix) conducted by Life Cycle Associates found that the carbon footprint of corn ethanol continues to shrink, while the carbon impacts associated with crude oil production continue to worsen as more marginal sources are introduced to the fuel supply. According to the report, "As the average carbon intensity of petroleum is gradually increasing, the carbon intensity of corn ethanol is declining. Corn ethanol producers are motivated by economics to reduce the energy inputs and improve product yields."

The study, commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), found that average corn ethanol reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 32% compared to average petroleum in 2012. Importantly, this estimate includes prospective emissions from indirect land use change (ILUC) for corn ethanol. When compared to marginal petroleum sources like tight oil from fracking and oil sands, average corn ethanol reduces GHG emissions by 37-40%.

As more unconventional crude oil sources enter the U.S. oil supply, and as corn ethanol production processes become even more efficient, the carbon impacts of ethanol and crude oil will continue to diverge. By 2022, average corn ethanol reduces GHG emissions by 43-60% compared to petroleum, the study found.

You can read more of this story and find a link to the full study by clicking here.
 

NRCS: Good Job, farmers and Ranchers! 2013 a Banner Year for Voluntary Conservation 

The 2013 numbers are in and they show the importance of voluntary, locally based conservation. Data just released by the Natural Resources Conservation Service shows how the USDA agency in partnership farmers and ranchers across the country conserved and protected natural resources on tens of millions of acres of America's privately-owned lands last year.

Just some of the accomplishments of NRCS and conservation-minded farmers, ranchers and other partners:

-- Developed conservation plans for more than 43.8 million acres.

-- Enrolled more than 279,000 acres into conservation easements, setting aside valuable wetlands, grasslands and farmlands. These landscapes help create wildlife habitat, clean air and water and lead to other environmental benefits. 

-- Worked with producers in the Ogallala Aquifer region, the nation's breadbasket, to implement conservation practices that use water wisely on more than 70,000 acres. 

You can read more of this story on our website by clicking here.  

Rural Development Undersecretary Outlines 'Promise Zone' Designation Impact for Choctaw Nation

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development earlier this week announced the designation of five communities as Promise Zones. The communities will benefit from a comprehensive approach to development with the assistance of the federal government.

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is one of the five communities selected for the project.

USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Rural Development Doug O'Brien spoke with me about the program and what it means for the Choctaw Nation.

"To qualify for this round of Promise Zones, the communities and regions needed to indicate that they had significant poverty and also that they had significant capacity to implement a successful strategy."


He said these strategies are designed to help improve the quality of life and economic opportunities.

Click here to listen to our conversation. 

Top 10 Ways Chicken Contributes to a Healthy Diet

According to health professionals and nutritionists, protein is the cornerstone of a healthy and balanced diet. Chicken is one of the best sources of what nutritionists call "high-quality" protein. The body uses it to create new cells, repair existing ones and produce the enzymes necessary to boost metabolism and promote healthy digestion.

There are a number of benefits to gain, simply by incorporating chicken into your diet.  Among the top ten:

1. Only 4 grams of total fat in a skinless chicken breast serving-only 6 percent of the daily recommended intake.

2. 5 to 7 ounces of protein should be eaten by Americans on a daily basis, according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. A 3.5 ounce serving of chicken has half the daily recommendation of protein.Chicken is a high quality protein because it contains all of the essential amino acids and has a great nutrient per calorie ratio. The American Heart Association also promotes chicken as one of the best ways to keep cholesterol levels down naturally.

Please click here to read the rest of the list. 

Baby Calves' Passive Immune Status Impacts Long-term Health and Performance

Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist, writes in the latest Cow-Calf Newsletter:

You have heard the warning: "What happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas!!!" Perhaps you have not heard: "What happens in the first 24 hours, impacts the rest of a calf's life"! Veterinary scientists, while with the USDA experiment station at Clay Center, Nebraska monitored health events and growth performance in a population of range beef calves in order to identify associations of production factors with baby calf passive immune status.

Blood samples were collected at 24 hours after calving from 263 crossbred calves to determine the amount of passive maternal immunity that had been obtained from colostrum.     Colostrum is the first milk produced by a cow upon giving birth. The baby calves were classified with "Inadequate" or "Adequate" Passive Immune status based on that blood sample at 24 hours of age. Growth performance and health events in the study population were monitored from birth to weaning, and after weaning throughout the feedlot phase.

The lowest levels of passive immunity were observed among calves that were sick or died prior to weaning. Calves with "inadequate" passive immunity had a 5.4 times greater risk of death prior to weaning, 6.4 times greater risk of being sick during the first 28 days of life, and 3.2 times greater risk of being sick any time prior to weaning when compared to calves with "adequate" passive transfer.

Click here for more from Glenn Selk.  

Fire Danger High- But Not Red Flag High on Thursday- the Latest Maps! 

Weather conditions for today across Oklahoma have the state set up to face midday and afternoon wildfire conditions.

Alan Crone with the News on 6 sums it up well in his Thursday morning blog- "The fire danger is very high today across most of the state with critical fire weather spreads across central and western OK. Criteria for Red Flag Warnings will not be met regarding the daytime temperatures, but humidity and wind issues will be primed for erratic wild fire growth. You are encouraged to refrain from outdoor burning."

We have two maps and a third graph that you can see by clicking here.  The top map is a fire zone map that shows almost all of Oklahoma have the right kind of conditions to burn in a heartbeat- the second graph show where Red Flag warnings are today- north of us up in Kansas- and the bottom graph gives you a feel of the next nine days and how dangerous it could be if a fire gets started anywhere in the state.

Our thanks to Jed Castles of News9 for pulling together these stats in graphic form for us all to see.