Proposed EPA Expansion Illustrates Need for Statutory Reform, Lucas Says 

Tuesday's proposal by the EPA to redefine the waters covered by the Clean Water Act has prompted indignant reactions from landowners and politicians alike. In a wide-ranging interview with me, Frank Lucas, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, touched and on that issue and many more. 

Some lawmakers have called yesterday's EPA proposal an attempt by the agency to massively increase its authority to regulate even the smallest bodies of water including drainage ditches and rain puddles. Lucas said it is emblematic of other regulatory actions taken by the Obama administration.

"Let me just simply say that this is another example of why we need to reform the statutes that deal with clean water, the endangered species act, there are a number of things out there that since their passage through rules and regulations and interpretation by various bureaucrats in the executive branch have taken on a life all on their own. While the particulars in this case, I don't think, are dramatically different than some other things in a lot of cases, it just means we need to do something about these old statutes that were not intended to take away control of peoples' property rights and their ability to make a living or to enjoy their property."

Lucas said Tuesday's announcement should not have come as a surprise to anyone given the statements made by the President in the past, but it does not make the proposal any more palatable.

"The President has said repeatedly over the course of the last year and a half that if he couldn't get Congress to do what he wants Congress to do, then he would use executive authority, he would use instructions to his staff in the entire executive branch, in effect, to do what he wanted to do. That is so contrary to the Constitution. The Constitution says the Congress shall pass laws. The President can either veto or sign them. If Congress determines they want to override by two-thirds, then the law still becomes law. But the bottom line is this: the President doesn't write the laws, under the Constitution the Congress does. The President is supposed to administer the laws. This is another example, some people say, of the President trying to rule by decree through the bureaucracy and that's just wrong."

Click here to listen to my interview with Congressman Lucas, or to read more of this story.   

AND- WE REMIND YOU- On Saturday, April 5th, I will be hosting Chairman Frank Lucas in an Ag Townhall Meeting at the Carriage Hall at State Fair Park as a part of the Oklahoma City Farm Show Festivities. It's an hour long session that will start at 10:00 AM and we urge you to come to get the latest from the Chairman on the Agricultural Act of 2014 and it's implementation- the Battle Ahead to Preserve Crop Insurance as the Major puzzle piece for our safety net, and what might be ahead for issues like COOL and GIPSA.  Come and join us- we'll save a seat for you- and afterwards- you can enjoy touring the Farm Show.  Admission and parking are free!!!

Canola Crop Condition Reports Misleading, Sholar Says; 'Ugly is not Poor' 

The latest Oklahoma Crop Progress and Condition report lists 61 percent of the state's canola crop in poor or very poor condition. Ron Sholar with the Oklahoma Oilseed Commission and the Great Plains Canola Association says those USDA numbers could be a little misleading. He said he just came back from a field tour and with the exception of southwestern Oklahoma, the crop does not reflect the story told by the USDA figures.

Sholar said the crop's progress is running about three weeks behind the last two years when blooms were beginning to show by this time. He said compared to that, the crop does look worse than last year, but that's not the whole story.

"Here's the truth of the matter: We've been looking at the crop reports and, actually, we've had a lot of internal and external conversations. What observers have to understand is that ugly is not poor. When the crop was in its winter status, kind of hanging out out there, there's still photosynthesis going on. The crop never really goes completely dormant unless we just get obliterated by a horrible winter which did not happen as bad as it was. There's still green material out there. It's still photosynthesizing, just hanging out, then it begins its reproductive phase.   But all winter long these plants have had that old Fall growth that browned down and is still hanging on. It's going away right now. It's sloughing off.

"I think what we've seen, Ron, as folks looked at these fields and called it poor conditions, they weren't poor; it's ugly. There's a difference."

You can listen to my interview with Ron Sholar or read the rest of this story by clicking here.

 

State Ag Secretary Says There's a Lot for Oklahomans to Celebrate on Ag Day

Ag Day activities at the Oklahoma state capitol this week highlighted the tremendous diversity and value of agricultural production in the state of Oklahoma.   I caught up with the state's Secretary of Agriculture, Jim Reese, who talked about various issues and initiatives on exhibit at the capital. 

One of the key initiatives of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture has been its Ag in the Classroom program. It brings together people and resources from the Agriculture Department, the Department of Education, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Oklahoma State University, to name a few.

"Everyone is supportive," Reese said. "It is very important for kids to know where their food comes from. It's not just on the grocery store shelf. It takes work to provide it. I just really appreciate all the teachers and administrators and school districts that actually do participate because it is a good, rigorous curriculum and it teaches them about agriculture."

Click here to read more and to listen to my interview with Jim Reese.

Watch for our stories in tomorrow's email on the winners from the Ag in the Classroom celebration as well as more on our Ag Hall of Fame Inductee Rodd Moesel.

 

Hereford Genetics Offer Key Traits to More Efficiently Feed Growing Population

Jack Ward, chief operating officer and director of breed improvement for the Hereford Association tells Radio Oklahoma Network's Ron Hays that Hereford breeders are ready to step up and play a big role in providing high-quality protein for the world's population that is expected to double by 2050.

On survey after survey regarding beef improvement, Ward said cattle producers consistently say they want calving ease, low maintenance cattle with good dispositions, cattle that are efficient, convert well, and have as much in-carcass merit as possible. He said the Hereford breed is poised to help deliver those traits.

"There is a demand out there for some hybrid big-ear and heterosis in the cow herd and that's been the biggest driving force behind the demand for Hereford cattle over the last few years over the fact that they work so well on the predominantly black commercial cow herd in providing some heterosis for fertility, longevity, feed efficiency, health and some of those things that are kind of hard to measure. A little dose of Hereford heterosis really helps."

Jack is my guest on the latest Beef Buzz.  Click here to listen in or to read more of this story.

 

OSU Researcher Changing Traditional Biofuel Process

For many years, researchers around the globe have been searching for viable ways to produce biofuels.

This is true for Oklahoma State University Biobased Products and Energy Center (BioPEC) faculty members, who strive to enhance existing, and develop new, bioconversion technologies. Hasan Atiyeh, assistant professor in biosystems and agricultural engineering, recently received a South Central Sun Grant Award to advance the development of a new hybrid conversion process.

"The hybrid gasification-syngas fermentation technology, when further developed, has the potential to provide 35 percent more biofuel from the same amount of biomass compared to other available conversion technologies," he said. "For example, the use of the hybrid technology is expected to reduce the production cost of cellulosic ethanol by 16 cents per gallon compared to the sugar platform."

Biorefineries have an opportunity to save millions of dollars every year through this technology.

You can read the rest of this story by clicking here.

Glenn Selk Looks at the Importance of Energy Intake in Post-Calving Cows

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

The winter of 2013-2014 has brought challenges in the form of very high feed prices, cold weather, and in some instances, short hay supplies. Cows in many Midwestern herds are calving in marginal body condition. Unfortunately, this is a season where maintaining or gaining body condition on spring calving cows is really quite difficult. Warm season grasses have not yet begun to grow. Dormant grass (what little is left) is a low quality feed. Cows cannot, or will not, consume a large amount of standing dormant grass at this time year. If the only supplement being fed is a self-fed, self-limited protein source, the cows may become very deficient in energy. Remember, the instructions that accompany these self-fed supplements. They are to be fed along with free choice access to adequate quantity and quality forages.   

There is another factor that compounds the problem.   A small amount of winter annual grasses may begin to grow in native pastures. These are the first tastes of green grass many cows have seen since last summer. The cows may try to forage these high moisture, low energy density grasses, in lieu of more energy dense hays or cubes. The sad result is the loss of body condition in early lactation beef cows just before the breeding season is about to begin.   
 

Click here to read more from Glenn Selk.

Last Call for Surviving the Elements Finale Coming on Friday

It will be week four for the Surviving the Elements at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum this week- starting at 9:00 am on Friday morning.

Featured Speakers this week include rancher Chet Vogt, Oklahoma Water Resources Board Executive Director JD Strong and young farmer Seth Pratt.

Cost can't be beat- it's just $10 and includes lunch and free cokes (The Oklahoma City Coca Cola Bottling Company is the principle sponsor) and you can click here for more details and how you can still register online for this final session of this symposium designed to look at drought and rural issues in the American West and focusing on stewardship and conservation of land and water.