Oklahoma State University Scores a Million Bucks for Climate Change Research from USDA  

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced yesterday that USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded $6 million to 10 universities to study the effects of climate on agriculture production and develop strategies to provide farmers and ranchers with the solutions they need to supply the nation with quality food. Vilsack made the announcement during remarks at "The Frontier of Climate Change: State and Local Action in the Heartland" conference held at Drake University.

"With longer growing seasons and an increased number of extreme weather events, climate-related changes are increasingly posing new challenges and risks for America's producers," said Vilsack. "Every day, farmers and ranchers see the impact that changes in climate patterns have on their operations, and they are contending with drought, floods or extreme temperatures. The discoveries these grants will lead to will be invaluable for American farmers whose livelihoods directly depend on the nation's land and water resources."

Oklahoma State University is the largest beneficiary, receiving $1,000,000 to provide some of the first climate adaptation tools for beef production systems in the form of water management resources and lead to the development of beef cattle that are adaptable to climate change induced drought.

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USDA Celebrates Earth Day by Supporting Water Quality Projects in Oklahoma, 39 Other States

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack celebrated Earth Day by announcing record support for 116 projects--four of those in Oklahoma--that will improve water and wastewater services for rural Americans and benefit the environment.

"Having reliable, clean and safe water is essential for any community to thrive and grow," Vilsack said. "I am proud that USDA helps build rural communities from the ground up by supporting water infrastructure projects like these. I am especially proud that we can help communities that are struggling economically and those that have urgent health and safety concerns due to their failing water systems."

It is the largest Earth Day investment in rural water and wastewater systems. Nearly $387 million is being awarded to 116 recipients in 40 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 

Among projects funded this year, the city of Weleetka, Okla., is receiving $5.4 million to construct a new wastewater treatment plant. The USDA is also funding water treatment plant improvements in Pittsburg, Pushmataha and Okfuskee Counties. 

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DuPont Pioneer Corn Plants Better Withstand Drought Stress

DuPont Pioneer announced its scientists have made a significant advancement in developing corn plants that successfully withstand drought stress. In an upcoming edition of the scientific publicationPlant Biotechnology Journal, Pioneer scientists reveal a new finding that higher yielding corn plants succeed under drought conditions when naturally occurring ethylene stress hormone levels in the plant are reduced through a transgene. The study, "Transgenic Alteration of Ethylene Biosynthesis Increases Grain Yield in Maize under Field Drought-Stress Conditions" by Jeff Habben and colleagues is the most in-depth research effort of its kind reported to date in peer-reviewed scientific literature.

"This advancement is particularly crucial at a time when the U.S. is experiencing a historic drought in places like California, and much of the world is worried about the continued availability of water to grow food crops, " says Jerry Flint, vice president for Biotech Affairs and Regulatory at DuPont Pioneer. "The new advances in drought tolerant corn reflect the DuPont Pioneer commitment to identifying sustainable solutions to increase food availability to meet the needs of the people today, without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same."

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Volume Pressures Boxed Beef Lower, but Softness Likely Fleeting, Jim Robb Says

Cattle prices are remaining in record territory in both the fed cattle and feeder cattle markets. A slight decline in prices last week is reflective of the red ink flowing in feedlots as they attempt to close out and get their operations back in the black. That's according to Dr. Jim Robb, director of the Livestock Market Information Center.   

"We did have a softness in the boxed beef cutout so that would make four consecutive weeks, but as we moved through last week, the boxed beef market actually got stronger on rather adequate volume. In fact, it was volume that was maybe even a little bit stronger than we would expect on the week before Easter. That was the good news. It looks like some of the falling or eroding in the boxed beef market, down fully $20 per hundred weight from its peak on a weekly basis, seems like that has about run it's course and maybe some of the temporary softness in the fed-cattle market will do the same."

Feeder and stocker cattle are working sideways right now, but Robb says, they are at a higher plateau than ever before. 

Jim Robb joins me for the latest Beef Buzz.  Click here to listen in or to read more of this story.

 

National Land & Range Contest Draws Competitors from Across U.S.

Approximately 1,000 FFA and 4-H Chapter members, parents, coaches, and teachers from across the United States will converge on Oklahoma City from April 29 - May 1, 2014, as they have for more than six decades, to compete in the National Land and Range Judging Contest. This 63rd annual three-day event stresses soil and plant science and land management and conservation.

After two days of opportunity for contestants to visit practice sites (April 29 - 30), official events will begin on the morning of Thursday, May 1. Land judging and homesite evaluation events will begin at 9:15 a.m. and range judging will begin at 9:30 a.m. The contest events will be followed by an evening awards banquet at in the Great Hall of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Championship trophies will be awarded to team and individual winners in each category.

The Land Judging contestants qualify for the national event by placing among the top five teams at contests in their home states, according to contest cochairman Kim Farber. Farber is president of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, one of the contest's principal sponsors.

You will find more of this story on our website by clicking here. 

This N That- Big Iron, Restored Tipton Valley Research Center Dedication Happens May 2nd and so does Final Farm Transitions Seminar- This One in Stillwater 

The first of 622 items in this week's Big Iron auction begin closing at 10 o'clock this morning.  The weekly online sale includes agricultural, construction and transportation items.

Check out the sale at BigIron.com or give District Manager Mike Wolfe a call if you'd like to know more about how to buy and sell the Big Iron way.  Mike's number is 580-320-2718.  You can also reach him via email at mike.wolfe@bigiron.com.

Click here for our interview from earlier in April with Mike Wolfe about what's new with Big Iron and how you can take advantage of their services in your operation- big or small.

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Oklahoma State University's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is issuing an open invitation to agricultural producers and the public to take part in a May 2 field tour and dedication ceremony at the Tipton Valley Research Center.

Established in 1938, disaster struck on Nov. 7, 2011, when a multiple-vortex EF-4 tornado destroyed all standing structures at the site, located four miles south of Tipton on Highway 5.

"A new facility with integrated office, laboratory and shop space has been constructed that will provide considerable enhancements well into the future," said Randy Boman, research director and OSU Cooperative Extension cotton program leader of DASNR's Southwest Research and Extension Center in Altus.

Participants will get a firsthand look at the new facilities and learn about the latest science-proven insights relative to wheat, grain sorghum and cotton practices, concerns and issues. The event will kick off at 8:30 a.m. and finish early in the afternoon. There is no cost to attend and a steak lunch is being provided free of charge.

Although there is no cost to attend, participants are asked to RSVP to the Tillman County Extension Office at 580-335-2515- you can also click here to read more on the day that is planned.

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A one-day workshop for family farmers and ranchers interested in learning about the components of a successful farm transition is set to take place May 2 in Stillwater. Four of these workshops have already occurred with the one planned on campus as an "add-on" because of high interest.


Managing Farm Transitions: Connecting Landowners, Farmers, and Families will take place at the Wes Watkins Center for International Trade and Development on Oklahoma State University's main campus. The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 6 p.m.

This workshop is hosted by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service with funding from the USDA Risk Management Agency through the Southern Risk Management Education Center, and sponsored by Farm Credit of East Central Oklahoma. The cost for attendees is $25 for a family of four and includes lunch, refreshments and two farm transition workbooks. Additional registrations are $10 per person. Registration deadline is April 28. To register, contact Kareta Casey at 405-744-9836 or via email by clicking here.