Oklahoma's Wheat Crop 'In Really Good Shape,' According to OSU's Jeff Edwards 

The state's wheat crop is about midway through its dormancy period and Dr. Jeff Edwards, Oklahoma State University Extension Wheat Specialist has been assessing this year's crop. He spoke with me recently about what he's seen so far..

"We're in pretty good shape, especially if you compare this year to the last couple of years, we're in really good shape. The real wheat belt in Oklahoma has some moisture. The wheat got off to a good start prior to dormancy. Due to the cold snap that we had, we actually have dormancy this year so the wheat is just kind of holding in place. So, we're in pretty good shape."

Edwards said there are some exceptions to that, particularly producers near Altus and in the western tier of counties. He said unless they got some snowfall in late December and early January, the crop is in rough shape in those areas, but, overall, conditions across the rest of the state have been ideal so far.

"We're really looking at a crop where in most cases the rows have either closed or come close to it and that's really where we need to be whenever we come out of dormancy and start jointing. We need the drill rows to close and normally it takes three to four tillers to do that and I think we're set up to be in optimal shape. Now if we can just get some moisture throughout the spring to go ahead and fuel that canopy, we'll be in really good shape."

With that kind of potential, Edwards said it is important for producers to begin top dressing applications early.

Click here to listen to my interview with Jeff Edwards or to read more of this story.   

Go to our website later this morning or check our APP to see the video of Dr. Edwards being our guest on our Saturday In the Field segment. 

Cole and Pruitt Say No to Running for Remainder of Coburn Senate Seat, The Hill Says Lankford will Run 

Sunday evening- within about ten minutes of each other, Congressman Tom Cole and Attorney General Scott Pruitt put out news releases saying they had looked at the race to fill the last two years of the Dr. Tom Coburn Senate seat- and both came to the conclusion that they were in a better position to be of service to Oklahomans where they currently serve.   

Cole is well up the food chain in the GOP Leadership and he pointed to that seniority as being a positive to the state in general and to his district in particular.  Click here for his Sunday Night statement.  

Pruitt, in saying he plans to stay put and run for another term as state attorney general, contends that "Oklahomans elected me Attorney General to fight to restore the proper balance between the federal and state government, and I have. From the very first day I held elected office, I had one vision in mind: to fight for the principles and ideals of our nation's founding. Our nation is at a tipping point. The balance of power has tilted too far in favor of the federal government. Serving as Oklahoma's Attorney General has put me in the center of that very fight. It has provided me an opportunity few others have to hold Washington accountable, to fight for the rule of law and the preservation of our constitutional system."  Click here for his complete statement.

Meanwhile, one in state publication and one inside the beltway publication proclaim that Oklahoma's fifth district Congressman James Lankford will toss his hat into the ring- perhaps later today.  Lankford's staff offered no direction- but promised to let us know when a possible news conference would be. Lankford is in his second term as a Congressman- and The Hill.Com cited one source as saying Senator Coburn "plans to endorse Lankford for his seat, a development that would catapult him to the front of the primary pack and provide him with some credibility with skeptical conservatives in the special election to replace him."

Lankford was a political newcomer when he first ran for Congress four years ago- having served Oklahoma Baptists as the director of the largest youth camp in the world at Falls Creek in southern Oklahoma prior to what he described as a call to public service by God.

There are two other challengers on the GOP side of the aisle that have been mentioned most prominently. One is Tulsa Congressman Jim Bridenstine, who would be welcomed as a more conservative choice and the other is Oklahoma House Speaker T W Shannon.  The Hill claims Bridenstine may shy away from the GOP primary while Shannon may jump in with both feet.  

What do you think?  Of these various men, who might be best for agriculture and rural Oklahoma?  Are there others you want to see run?  Is there a Democrat that could flip this safe Republican seat to a follower of Harry Reid?  I would love to know what you think- email me and we'll share what the mood is among farm and ranch and agribusiness folks.

Farm Bureau Approves Strategic Action Plan for 2014

Following the delegate session of the American Farm Bureau Federation's 95th Annual Convention, which wrapped up last week in San Antonio, the organization's board of directors met to set AFBF's strategic action plan to address public policy issues for 2014.

The board-approved plan includes focusing the organization's attention on the following key issues: agricultural labor reform, support for renewable fuels, support for biotechnology, protecting farmers' interests in regard to new technology systems and data compilation, opposition to expanded federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act, and protecting farmer and rancher interest regarding fiscal policy and tax reform issues.

"This plan represents those issue areas where we believe the American Farm Bureau Federation and its grassroots members will have real opportunities to achieve success this year, as well as challenges we must tackle to help safeguard our members' and their abilities to operate their farms and ranches," said AFBF President Bob Stallman.

Click here for more of this story.  

NCGA Thanks Growers, Encourages More EPA Responses

The National Corn Growers Association last week thanked the thousands of corn farmers and their allies around the country who have submitted comments urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to retract its proposed 10 percent cut in the amount of corn ethanol in the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard.

"We've seen a terrific grassroots response on behalf of our growers and our state affiliates, who have pulled out all the stops to make sure the farmer voice is heard loud and clear," said NCGA President Martin Barbre, an Illinois corn grower. As the deadline approaches, we urge those who have not yet spoken out, to do so immediately."

Barbre cited, in particular, a deceptive new "robocall" campaign by the American Petroleum Institute that left pre-recorded messages on voicemails across the country, even on farmers' phones.

"Seeing how great our response has been, it's not surprising Big Oil is feeling the heat," he said. "But if they think that harassing farming families with impersonal dinnertime calls is a smart tactic, we're happy to see them waste their money."

You can read more of this article by clicking here. 

Big Wins on Waterways Funding, Ag Research, Other Soybean Farmer Priorities in Appropriations Bill

The farmers of the American Soybean Association welcomed action last week by both the House and the Senate to pass the FY2014 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. The bill, which easily passed both the House and the Senate, combines all 12 appropriations bills for various spending categories-including Agriculture, Energy & Water, and other areas that impact soybean farmers-into one measure, and allocates funding for programs within each. Several of these programs represent significant policy priorities for soybean farmers, including those addressing waterways infrastructure, agricultural research, food aid and market reports.

The bill's Energy & Water section includes provisions that will significantly increase funding for waterways components. These provisions are strongly supported by ASA and have been priorities for the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), the authorization bill that is currently in conference committee. Under the bill, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction General Account receives $1.6 billion and revises the FY14 cost-sharing formula for the Olmsted Lock & dam project to 75 percent General Funds and 25 percent from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF). Currently the cost-share is split evenly and has resulted in the Olmsted project consuming nearly all of the IWTF funds. The revised cost share will free up $81.5 million for other projects that have been delayed because of Olmsted's cost overruns.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

 

USDA Researchers Say American Adults Eating Better

American adults are consuming fewer calories from fat and saturated fat, eating less cholesterol, making better use of nutritional information and eating at home more often, the USDA's Economic Research Service said Thursday as it released a new report.

The study, titled "Changes in Eating Patterns and Diet Quality Among Working-Age Adults, 2005-2010", analyzed individual dietary intake data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which collects data from a sample of 9,839 individuals that's designed to be nationally representative.

Between 2005 and 2010, daily caloric intake dropped by 78 calories. ERS researcher Jessica Todd also noted a 3.3-percent drop in calories from total fat, a 5.9-percent drop in calories from saturated fat, and a 7.9-percent drop in cholesterol intake.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

 

This N That- Congrats to OSU Livestock Judging Team for Winning National Western, Roger Mills County Bull Sale and MLK Day Reminder

The 2014 OSU Livestock judging team won the 2014 National Western Livestock Judging Contest in Denver this past week. The judging Contest was held last Thursday, with the banquet where the results were announced was held last Friday evening.  

The team won every division- which includes the swine, sheep/goat, cattle and oral reasons categories. Oklahoma State won the overall contest by 90 points.

The five OSU team members all finished in the top ten overall individuals, led by Ashley Judge who was second overall, Jake Bloomberg who place third overall, Austin Kindschi who placed fourth overall, Mari Palacio who placed fifth overall and Gary Agar who was seventh overall in the competition.  Along with the North American Livestock Judging contest each November, the National Western is considered one of the most prestigious contests to compete in and win on an annual basis. 

Click here to see a picture of the winning squad.

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The Roger Mills County All Breed Bull Sale is set for Saturday, February first- and you can review all of the bulls that are consigned by going to our auction page for the sale- we have a link to the PDF of the sale catalog- and details on several late entry bulls.  

Click here to go and check it out.  For information,  call Lynda Lucas at 580-497-7366, Earl Bottom at 580-821-0633 or Ashlea Yager at 580-497-7124.

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Today is the Martin Luther King federal holiday- which means federal government offices are closed, banks are close, ag futures are closed and more.

Many cash feeder cattle auctions that normally run on Mondays will be selling as normal today- check with the sale barn you patronize to double check their schedule.