Good Progress Being Made on Farm Bill Implementation, Says NCGA's Jon Doggett

With implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill now well underway, producers are beginning to see how it will affect them. Jon Doggett, vice president for public policy with the National Corn Growers Association recently spoke with me about several issues of importance. So far, he said, his organization has been pleased with the implementation of the bill.

"The USDA's done a tremendous job to start implementation practically from the moment the President's pen hit the paper.   That was important. They were well prepared. They are reaching out. They are asking for input. They are asking for suggestions. They are asking for opinions. They are very, very engaged. And we think it's going to be a good process."

Doggett said he believes the education being done with farmers and county USDA personnel so that everyone can understand how to make the best choices given the options included in the new programs is very important. He is also impressed with the work that has been done with regard to crop insurance and the provisions addressing conservation.

On other issues, Doggett said his group is in favor of federal legislation covering the labeling of GMO crops rather than a patchwork of different regulations from each state. 

"I don't think there's anybody who can take a look and see how having several dozen different labeling laws across the country will work for anybody. It won't work for the consumer; they will be charged more money. There's going to be less product variety available. It's going to create a lot of problems." 

Click here to listen to my interview with Jon Doggett or to read the rest of this story.

Cropland Prices Stall- Ranchland Values Rise in Latest KC Fed Survey of Ag Credit Conditions 

Tighter profit margins for crop producers were a drag on farm income in the seven-state Tenth District during the first quarter of 2014, despite improved profitability in the livestock sector, according of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's quarterly Survey of Agricultural Credit Conditions. 

Low corn and soybean prices combined with relatively high input costs tempered farm income and cropland values as spring planting approached. In addition, winter wheat growers were concerned that poor yields would limit profits despite a rally in wheat prices.

With lower income, more crop producers borrowed to pay for operating expenses and bankers reported an uptick in carry-over debt compared with last year. Looking ahead, 40 percent of the bankers surveyed expected 2014 farm income would fall short of 2013 levels. 

Click here for more. 

Reports are coming in that Oklahoma's 2014 wheat crop is going to be one of the worst in many, many years. In his preview for this weekend's SUNUP program, Oklahoma State University Extension Grain Marketing Economist Dr. Kim Anderson says he concurs.

"I think those reports are probably correct. You'd have to go back '50s to get production this low. I think the market may have already taken this short crop into consideration and maybe thinks that it's a little bigger than it was a couple of weeks ago."

He says a fall off about 50 cents in grain prices over the last few weeks tends to show that traders think there may be more wheat out in the field than first thought. He says that if the Kansas City July contract breaks below $8 in the coming week, then it will fall to the $7.60 support level. Domestic prices may have reached their peak for the year.

Read more of Kim Anderson's analysis by clicking here.  

Yearly Survey Shows Fewer Bees Dying, but Losses Remain Significant

A yearly survey of beekeepers, released yesterday, shows fewer colony losses occurred in the United States over the winter of 2013-2014 than in recent years, but beekeepers say losses remain higher than the level that they consider to be sustainable. According to survey results, total losses of managed honey bee colonies from all causes were 23.2 percent nationwide. That number is above the 18.9 percent level of loss that beekeepers say is acceptable for their economic sustainability, but is a marked improvement over the 30.5 percent loss reported for the winter of 2012-2013, and over the eight-year average loss of 29.6 percent.

More than three-fourths of the world's flowering plants rely on pollinators, such as bees, to reproduce, meaning pollinators help produce one out of every three bites of food Americans eat.

"Pollinators, such as bees, birds and other insects are essential partners for farmers and ranchers and help produce much of our food supply. Healthy pollinator populations are critical to the continued economic well-being of agricultural producers," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "While we're glad to see improvement this year, losses are still too high and there is still much more work to be done to stabilize bee populations."

You can read the rest of this story on our website.  Please click here to go there. 

'Waters of the U.S.' Proposal Likely to Spur Litigation

The National Cattlemens Beef Association is very worried about 'clean waters of the US proposal' from Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers. NCBA Environmental Counsel Ashley McDonald says this proposal would expand the government's authority to regulate all waters in the country, regardless of size or continuity of flow. She says that is not the intent of the 1972 law, the Clean Water Act originally passed by Congress. 

Through the public comment period there is potential for a large number of comments to be submitted and it seems unlikely that the EPA will withdrawal the rule. If the rule takes effect, litigation becomes likely. 

"No question, I think ultimately there will be litigation, probably on both sides of the issue even, challenging whatever comes out in final form, " McDonald said. "That is something we're always preparing for and thinking about.

"If it comes to that, hopefully it doesn't," McDonald said, "Hopefully this administration does realize what a terrible idea this proposal is and will decide to ultimately pull it back, start over, have some outreach with the agricultural community from the beginning, so we can get more clarity, which is the reason they want this proposal out in the first place, but that is not what this proposal does."

Ashley joins me on the latest Beef Buzz.  Click here to listen to our conversation.  

Young Farmers and Ranchers Launch 'Bushels for Book's Program

This year's crop looks to support agriculture literacy. "Bushels for Books" is a new program from the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee and the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation to help educate Oklahoma youth.

Farmers can donate a few bushels either by check or through local co-ops to purchase bushel baskets of accurate agricultural books to be placed in Oklahoma schools. 

"The Bushels for Books program is an easy way for farmers across the state to ensure students understand the importance of agriculture," OKFB YF&R Chairman Marty Williams said. "It is essential for students to have access to resources that accurately describe the agricultural industry so they can grow up to be the next generation of producers or informed consumers." 

Teachers will be able to apply for the books starting in August 2014. Applications are being sent to all Oklahoma schools and county Farm Bureau offices to encourage participation.  

Click here for the rest of this story.

This N That- Drought Monitor Updated- and It's Not Good, Wheat Commission Nominees Named and Welcome to Leslie Smith!  

The latest Drought Monitor is out- and it's not good, although the wettest part of the state of Oklahoma is actually out of drought for the time being. According to Gary McManus, "So we now have 50% of the state in at least Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) drought, and 65% in at least Severe (D2) drought. What's scary is that it looks so 2011-ish to me."

Click here for the complete Mesonet Ticker from Gary as released on Thursday morning.

We boil down what Gary says in the report our website- and feature the graphic that depicts the latest drought monitor conditions- click here to check our view of Oklahoma's drought conditions.

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Earlier this week, the Oklahoma Wheat Commission held their election for nominees to be considered for board membership on the Oklahoma Wheat Commission for District Four- which is the southwestern part of the state.   

We got the nominees from Mike Schulte, Executive Director of the OWC- here they are:

The three candidates to be submitted to the Governor will be: David Gammill-Chattanooga, Oklahoma  

Bob Howard--Headrick, Oklahoma  

James W. Kinder--Walters Oklahoma.

Gammill is the incumbent.   

It's impossible to predict when the Governor may decide to announce her choice of the three names being given to her. Governor Fallin has been fairly quick turning these sort of nominations around- which could mean as early as the latter part of next month or sometime latter in the summer. 

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Finally, we are pleased to announce that we have a new member of our Radio Oklahoma Ag Network family- Leslie Smith joined our team as of May 15- she has been a farm broadcaster for the last several years at KNEB, Scottsbluff, Nebraska- in 2012, she was awarded the Horizon Award by the National Association of Farm Broadcasters- which is judged by her peers and is given to an outstanding young farm broadcaster who has been in the business for five years or less.  

I know she is looking forward to getting involved in Oklahoma Ag Circles- so ladies- drop her an email and tell her more about your involvement with Oklahoma agriculture- and maybe you can give her some good "welcome to Oklahoma" tips about things to do, people to meet, places to eat and more- I know she would like a woman's perspective on that!   

Email her by clicking here.  She is taking the place of Jim Apel, who is transitioning into a full time sales position with our network in the next few weeks.