Featured Story: It Becomes a Waiting Game for Kyle Hilbert as He Completes National Officer Candidate Interviews Today

The National FFA Nominating Committee has cut the number of National Officer Candidates from 42 down to 21- with the next announcement to come on Saturday afternoon- when the 2014-2015 National Officer team is unveiled- and six of the 21 will jump and run to the stage to begin a non stop ride until next fall and the 2015 National Convention.


Kyle Hilbert of Depew FFA is the Oklahoma National Officer candidate- and Kyle is one of the 21 that has moved into the final selection process. Hilbert is studying Agribusiness with a Pre-Law Option at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Last night- we talked with Hilbert about the process and he offered a detailed look at how his week unfolded and the various methods used by the Nominating Committee to show them which Candidates might best represent the organization by wearing the Blue and Gold jacket one more year. You can hear that conversation by clicking or tapping here- and our story also includes a list of the National Officer candidates that are waiting for Saturday afternoon.

Our thanks to our sponsors of our National Convention coverage- the Oklahoma FFA, the Oklahoma FFA Alumni and your Oklahoma Ford Dealers!

By the way- this morning- we have added a few more pictures to our FLICKR album of the National FFA Convention- and that album will grow as some of the State Officers take our camera and go looking for pictures of Oklahoma interacting at the 2014 Convention.

OKFB Leaders Pass Resolutions on Water, Wind Energy, EPA and USDA

The grassroots policy of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau is adapting to the changing political challenges from the local to the national level. Earlier this fall county Farm Bureau Chapters developed resolutions to be sent to the state organization's resolution committee. This year 40 members served in the process in reviewing about 200 resolutions during a two-day meeting October 21-22 in Norman.  


I interviewed Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan of Jackson County about the resolutions process. Buchanan said the resolution's committee was made of Farm Bureau members and they were challenged to combine and consolidate similar resolutions to be brought and voted on by members during the annual OKFB convention November 14-16 in Tulsa.   One major federal issue was the 'Water of the US' (WOTUS) proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers. The committee passed a resolution to stop the regulation of farm ditches and other waters that are not navigable. Buchanan said members have voiced their concern with the rule.


"We just reaffirmed our commitment that's the wrong way to go," Buchanan said. "That EPA does not to be regulating that much quality of water, that deep. It's really a land grab is what that is in our opinion. We're adamantly opposed to that."

 

With the ongoing drought, one reoccurring theme was the importance of federal crop insurance. Buchanan said members expressed their need for the implementation of the Actual Production History (APH) adjustment.  The committee also passed a resolution to keep the US Department of Agriculture from administering the beef referendum 

State level amendments addressed private property rights, wind power development, water and the right to farm.  Click here to read more about the proposed resolutions.  

Buchanan will be the featured guest Saturday morning for the In the Field segment as seen on KWTV, News9 in Oklahoma City- at about 6:40 AM. 

Blach Says Market Responding to Herd Building

One of the featured speakers at this year's Texas Cattle Feeders Association Annual Convention held this week in Oklahoma City was Cattle Fax CEO Randy Blach. He believes herd building is already underway. The US Department of Agriculture will release the next National Cattle Inventory report in January. Blach said it will show growth in several classes.


"Up about 300 thousand head on January 1 and we think up another three quarters of a million head a year from now if the current trend continues," Blach said.


That would put another million head back into the herd by January 2016. Blach said all systems are go right now and this is exactly what the beef industry needs.


"This is what we've needed, if we're going to support our feeding and packing infrastructures in this country, keep beef in the center of the plate, we have to respond to this economic signal as an industry now," Blach said. 


I interviewed Blach in Oklahoma City this week at the TCFA convention about the market outlook.  With a increasing number of heifers being held out of the market chain that is already impacting cattle prices.  Click here to listen to my interview or to read the full article on the price outlook.  

Dairy Partners Pursue Growth Opportunities for Milk

Igniting innovation in fluid milk and milk based beverages to meet the growing demands of both foreign and U.S. consumers is the objective of seven wide-ranging partnerships announced by Dairy Management, Inc.(DMI) Wednesday. These seven partners, supported by DMI who represents America's dairy farm families and importers, are committing an unprecedented investment to unlock innovation and put milk back in the center of the rapidly growing health and wellness beverage market.


The seven partners from across the supply chain include Dairy Farmers of America (DFA); Darigold/Northwest Dairy Association; The Kroger Company; Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Inc.; Shamrock Farms; Southeast Milk, Inc and The Coca-Cola Company - all working aggressively to pursue growth opportunities for fluid milk through infrastructure, capital, human resource and marketing investments.


"These dairy partners are making an unprecedented investment over the next few years - more than half a billion dollars in capital and other resources," said Tom Gallagher, CEO of DMI. "With our check-off resources and dedication to fluid milk innovation, we're excited to see how unique partnerships will help us drive ingenuity and generate new offerings and sales in the fluid milk category." 

Click here to read more on how these seven partners will push innovation and investment in building demand for milk.   

Cattlemen Pushed to Respond to Consumer Trends

Times are changing, that includes consumer opinion. Zoetis Animal Health meat scientist Brad Morgan said it is the responsibility of cattlemen to educate consumers. The former Oklahoma State University meat science professor said cattle feeders can influence others in sharing information and talking about the use of technology today.


"Things we can do to make things grow quicker, produce more inexpensive food," Morgan said. "So we're just trying to make food affordable and make sure people understand that we are very good at what we do and very fortunate to live in this country where we can produce food."


Morgan said cattlemen need to respond to consumer ideas that begin with local food, but sometimes shift to avoiding all modern technology. This concept was tried by Great Britain in producing food without using technology and buying local. As a result Great Britain produced enough food to last the country for eight months. When they realized their cupboards were going to be bare in eight months, the country began to rethink and reevaluate their view of technology.  

Click here to read more on why cattlemen need to be engaging more with consumers.  

OQBN Preconditioned Calf Sales Start This Week

Gant Mourer, Oklahoma State University Beef Value Enhancement Specialist

The Oklahoma Quality Beef Network (OQBN) has many sales scheduled this fall across the state. For a producer to take advantage of these value-added opportunities, the cattle must be enrolled in the OQBN Vac-45 program, follow one of three health protocols, weaned by the deadline, and third party verified by extension personnel.

OQBN will return to Cherokee Livestock (Oct. 29) and Elk City Livestock (Nov. 7) for the second straight year and will host a sale at South Coffeyville (Nov. 21) for the first time.

Other sales are scheduled for McAlester Stockyards (Nov. 4), OKC West (Nov. 5 and Dec. 3), Pawnee Livestock (Nov. 15), Blackwell Livestock (Nov. 22) and Tulsa Stockyards (Dec. 1).

For additional information or questions about the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network or type of cattle at the sales, contact your local OSU Extension Office or Gant Mourer, OQBN Coordinator at 405-744-6060  or at gantm@okstate.edu . Additional information may also be found by clicking here. 

This N That- Blue and Gold Notes from Louisville and Apache Replacement Sale Happening This Saturday 

For the first time since 2008- Oklahoma will not have a National Public Speaking winner in either of the most prestigious national speech contests held at the National FFA Convention.  The Oklahoma speakers in both the National Prepared Speech Contest and the National Extemporaneous Contest were unable to advance to the National Final Four that will be held today here in Louisville.  

Gatlin Squires of Kingfisher made the national semifinals of the Extemp contest- as he drew a topic on "Government Regulations- are the good or bad for agriculture?"  

Speaking today in the National Creed Contest is Kale Parker of the Indianola FFA Chapter. Many of the team contests crank up today- as does the judging of the more than 40 National Proficiency categories.  

On the convention stage- US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will come and offer greetings from the Obama Administration this morning- he will also meet briefly with reporters after his remarks on stage.

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The Apache Auction Special Replacement Female Sale will be held this Saturday, November 1st 11:00 am at Apache, Oklahoma.

 

Stockman's Livestock in Apache is expecting to sell 700-800 head total including 400 AI'd heifers off the Nault Ranch. 

Other consignors include Hutchison Ranch- 120 head crossbred cows, 4-8 years old, fall & spring calvers

Glott Ranch- 80 head black northern cows, December to February calvers

Slash K Ranch- 100 head black cows, 6-9 years old, January to March calvers  

Click here for more details and a link over at our Auction page on the Oklahoma Farm Report website.