House Appropriations Passes 2015 Ag Appropriations Bill 

The House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2015 ag appropriations bill by a vote of 31 to 18 Thursday.

The committee rejected an amendment from House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Sam Farr of California to strike the provision in the bill requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture to grant waivers regarding the school meal nutrition requirements by a vote of 29 to 22 - according to The Hagstrom Report. Democrats supported Farr's amendment and Republicans opposed it.

The committee approved amendments regarding horse meat inspection, banning the purchase of Chinese-processed chicken in the school lunch program and vending machine calories.

Read more about this study by clicking here.

Following the passage of the House Ag Appropriations Bill, R-CALF USA Chief Executive Officer Bill Bullard issued this response:

"Today the majority of U.S. Representatives on the House Appropriations Committee have demonstrated their loyalty to the multinational meatpackers and their disdain for U.S. farmers and ranchers by passing what amounts to an amnesty bill for packers. The majority not only supported language that insulates meatpackers from any accountability for engaging in abusive buying tactics that force independent producers out of business, but they actually voted to defeat an amendment that would have made it unlawful for meatpackers to retaliate against independent producers for registering a complaint with their member of Congress," Bullard said.

 To read more comments from Bill Bullard click here.

Ag Groups Want More Time To Comment on Proposed 'Waters of the US' Rule 

The National Pork Producers Council and 71 national and state agricultural organizations are requesting extensions of the comment periods on a proposed regulation and accompanying agricultural exemptions rule related to changes in the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) that could negatively affect farmers and ranchers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in April issued a proposed rule that would greatly expand the agencies' authority under the CWA over various waters. Currently, that jurisdiction includes "navigable" waters and waterways with a hydrologic connection to navigable waters.

In requesting the extensions, the agricultural groups pointed out that an EPA study of the connection between intermittent waters and wetlands and larger bodies of water has yet to be completed. They also said the timing of the comment period and stakeholder public meetings coincide with one of the busiest times for farmers, who are "preparing soil for planting, planting and replanting seed, applying crop nutrients and crop protection products, and harvesting hay and winter wheat crops." 

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Governor Fallin Urges County Commissioners to Issue Local Burn Bans if Appropriate

The burn ban issued by Governor Mary Fallin on May 5 covering 36 counties is set to expire this coming Wednesday, June 4. Due to the significant rain fall received in some areas of the state over the last week, the governor does not expect to renew that burn ban for any county. However, many areas of the state remain in conditions of extreme drought (see more by clicking here). County Commissioners in all 77 counties have the authority to declare countywide burn bans should conditions warrant.

"Thankfully, many parts of Oklahoma have received rain over the last several days," Fallin said. "That helps to mitigate the danger of wildfires and is certainly good news for our farmers and ranchers as well as our lakeside communities.

"We must, however, remain vigilant against the threat of wildfires. Many parts of the state are still extremely dry and expected to be so for some time. County Commissioners should take all appropriate steps to protect their communities. If they feel a countywide burn ban is appropriate, they should issue one immediately after the state burn ban expires."

 

Glenn Selk Offers More Hay Storage Tips to Save More Hay

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

Last week's Cow Calf Corner Newsletter discussed some of the potential losses to large round bales due to differing storage methods. Continuing with the train of thought of preserving as much harvested hay as possible, other important storage concepts can be used as the hay is being harvested this spring and summer.

The storage site is an important consideration in reducing bale losses. Select a site that is not shaded and is open to breezes to enhance drying conditions. The site should also be well-drained to minimize moisture absorption into the underside of the bales. As much as 12 inches of the bottom of a bale can be lost through moisture absorption resulting from the wicking action.. Ground contact can account for over half of the total dry matter losses. Where practical, keep bales off the ground using low cost, surplus materials such as discarded pallets, racks, fence posts, railroad ties, and used tires. Another alternative is to use a layer of crushed rock about six inches deep to ensure good drainage within and around the storage site. 

Click here for more from Glenn Selk and a link to an OSU fact sheet on hay storage.

 

When Is A Blue Jean Not A Blue Jean?

On May 20, 1873, an American icon was born when Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis were given a patent for their copper rivet fasteners for denim trousers. The blue jean has since secured its place in American culture and in world fashion as a "go to" garment. Changing fashion styles and attitudes altered the look of the blue jean over time, but until recently, the blue jean had remained true blue to its cotton origins. The recent influx of man-made fibers into blue jeans is not a good fit for many consumers, and could affect the care, wear and expected five-year longevity of their beloved blue jeans.

From dungarees to designer denim, blue jeans have historically been all, or mostly, cotton. When the price of cotton fiber reached a record high three years ago, some brands and manufacturers sought to cut cost by diluting the cotton with higher percentages of man-made fibers. Cotton prices have since returned to more competitive levels, but the denim category remains rife with man-made fiber additives.

"Consumers love denim," explains Kim Kitchings, Vice President Corporate Strategy and Program Metrics at Cotton Incorporated. "We know from our Lifestyle Monitor™ data that U.S. consumers own an average of seven denim items and wear jeans an average of four days a week," Kitchings adds. "We also know that 60 percent of consumers would pay a little extra to get more cotton back into those jeans."

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

 

Prescribed Burning Offers Many Benefits to Producers, Public

Prescribed burning is an effective technique to reduce fuel build up that contributes to wildfire, reduces eastern red cedar pollen and is a critical aspect of land resource management, but it must be used in a safe and proper manner.

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Oklahoma State University Extension Service, Oklahoma Prescribed Burn Association (OPBA), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service will co-host a two-day Prescribed Burning Workshop to discuss the benefits and proper use of prescribed burning for land management to landowners. This workshop, which is open to the public, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, and Thursday, June 26, at the Marietta High School Cafeteria, located at 800 SW 4th Ave. in Marietta, Oklahoma.

This workshop is aligned with the educational outreach objectives of the OPBA, a newly formed statewide organization to educate the public and policymakers about the need to use prescribed fire and the safety of this management practice. The workshop will help landowners and others who are interested learn the steps of how to safely and successfully implement prescribed fire. It will focus on the prescribed burn written management plan, the most important aspect of a prescribed burn. 

Click here for more.

 

Early this Morning- Northern Oklahoma at the Tail End of Big Rain Making System

As we get ready to send out this morning's email- we are watching a prolific rain making storm that stretches from the Oklahoma City Metro to way up north- well into Iowa and beyond.    

For Oklahoma- it has brought in rainfall amounts well above an inch quickly where it has traveled.  Radar based estimates suggest some of Beaver County got more than an inch of rain from this system- while places like Cherokee has their Mesonet station showing over three inches of rain (3.19 to be exact) and Lake Carl Blackwell just west of Stillwater has reported over four inches of rainfall.  

Click here for a real time look at the rain totals as this system continues to dump rain in north central and into northeastern Oklahoma as we write these words.

And click here for the Central and western Oklahoma weeklong forecast as put together by David Payne and his team at News9- they show a chance of rain again by Thursday night and Friday- temps for this first week of June will get into the low 90s.  You can also click here for the eastern Oklahoma weeklong forecast courtesy of Travis Meyer and the News on 6 weather gurus- likewise- they also see rain as a possibility by about Friday.