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The next round of USDA crop production and supply demand numbers will be out at 11:00 AM central time on this Monday morning. And the common thread that you can see from the various market watchers is that while the production numbers will be eye catching- with record size crops in the mix- the real numbers that will determine market outlook going forward will be the demand figures buried down in the WASDE supply demand report.


According to DTN, Pre-report estimates for USDA's November round of numbers play to the old saying of "Big crops get bigger."

Thanks to Justin Lewis- we have a concise pre report sheet of the main numbers from a month ago along with the guesses of the analysts leading up to 11 this morning- and a spot to pencil in the actual numbers once released by USDA. Click here for this morning's Top Ag Story and you can click on the PDF file link there to grab that two pager.

We will have coverage of the Crop Production numbers on our website later today- comments with Justin as well as with Tom Leffler in addition to a summary of what the Crop Production numbers have to say about Oklahoma crops and those in our surrounding states.  Those stories will start appearing soon after the reports are released at 11 AM.

We're Here From the Federal Government to Help You- USDA Seeks Input to Establish New Separate Beef Checkoff 

US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is wasting NO time in pushing his will upon the US Beef Industry when it comes to a new separate Beef Checkoff- to be established under the 1996 Generic Commodity Act which would give the USDA substantially more control over the running of the promotion, research and education program.

On Friday- USDA announced they were looking for feedback from beef cattle producers and industry groups on exactly how the new beef checkoff order should be written.  

In the feedback request- The agency assumes that all beef industry players want the USDA to set this new program up as the one question not asked is- "In your opinion, is a new separate checkoff program needed?"

"Beef industry representatives agree that this important program needs more resources. USDA is stepping up at a critical juncture to help achieve the industry's goal," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "With this action we can boost research investments, increase beef exports, and encourage folks here at home to support American beef producers."

To review the full list of things that USDA wants feedback on- click or tap here.

USDA has put this request on the fast track as they want this information back by December 10th- Secretary Vilsack has signaled he will quickly propose an actual beef checkoff program based on this input and wants to have it up and running in about a year.

To this point- the only national groups that seem enthused about the USDA interjecting themselves into this conversation are the National Farmers Union, R-Calf and US Cattlemen's Association.

Lopez Foods Featured in YouTube Video About the McDonalds McRib

Oklahoma City and Lopez Foods were featured in one of the YouTube videos that have been produced by McDonalds in their series called "Our Food- Your Questions." The menu item under the microscope in this case was the McRib pork sandwich, which has been a seasonal favorite for the Golden Arches for years.

Wes Bellamy, a school teacher from Virginia , was the "skeptic" in this video and was flown to Oklahoma City to visit Lopez Foods, where the pork for the McRib sandwich is ground and then processed into the rib looking mini slabs of meat, flash frozen and then ready to be transported to McDonalds stores. 


At the end of the video, Bellamy and the host of the series, Grant Imahara were able to assemble their own McRibs in the test kitchen at the Lopez facility. It was Bellamy's first time to eat a McRib and he pronounced it "pretty good man- actually, really good."

Here's the video as seen on YouTube.

Our food. Your questions. What are McRib patties made of?

AQHA's World Show is in Full Swing at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City

The first weekend is now in the record books at the 2014 World Championship of the American Quarter Horse Association- and Tom Persechino with AQHA says that the 2014 show is the biggest and best yet in the 41 year history of the world championship. 

We talked with Tom about the show- you can click or tap here for our audio conversation as well as the chance to see our video visit as seen Saturday morning during our In the Field segment as seen on KWTV News9 in OKC.

The AQHA World Show is the pinnacle event for American Quarter Horse owners and exhibitors around the world, who must qualify for the event by earning a predetermined number of points to compete in each of the classes representing English, over fences, western, speed, cattle and halter events. More than 3,610 entries from the United States, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Mexico and Switzerland are competing for 100 world championships at this year's event.  

Jason Norsworthy Declares War Against Weeds Now Resistant to Glyphosate

A University of Arkansas researcher said the over-reliance and over use of Roundup is one of the worst mistakes made in recent history of crop production. University of Arkansas Professor and Chair of Weed Science Dr. Jason Norsworthy believes the  continuous use of Roundup has resulted in the agricultural community losing of one of the world's greatest herbicides.  

We talked with Norsworthy at the recent Oklaholma Ag Expo- and he contends we may never see another herbicide that was as effective as Roundup in our lifetime. Instead- weed control has become a more complicated multi product battle as weeds are continuously adapting.

Glyphosate resistance has become a widespread problem across the US. In Oklahoma this includes glyphosate resistance in Palmer Amaranth, Kochia as well as some other weeds. As a result Roundup is being used on a lot less acres than five years ago. Norsworthy said he is seeing multiple glyphosate resistant weeds in a single field. This is leading to the use of alternative herbicides to control those weeds as well as the development of new technologies to fight back. 

Click here for our full story on what the industry is doing to get back on its feet after losing the full effectiveness of Roundup in recent years- including our audio conversation that we have that you can listen to.

RMA Rolls Out Whole Farm Revenue Protection as a Policy Option for 2015 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) unveiled at the end of this past week their new Whole- Farm Revenue Protection insurance policy- now available for the 2015 crop year. The policy allows producers to insure between 50 to 85 percent of their whole farm revenue and makes crop insurance more affordable for producers, including fruit and vegetable growers and organic farmers and ranchers.


Whole- Farm Revenue Protection allows these growers to insure a variety of crops at once instead of o ne commodity at a time. That gives them the option of embracing more crop diversity and helps support the production of a wider variety of foods. "USDA is committed to making crop insurance available and affordable to as many producers as possible. Whole - Farm Revenue Protection is another example of how we're working with, and listening to, producers to create a safety net that meets their specific needs, " said RMA Administrator Brandon Willis. 

Click or tap here for more details- including information from a Memo sent out this past week by Willis to RMA offices and others this past week on the program.  

Donna Dollins of Payne County Named National 4-H Volunteer of the Year

A 4-H volunteer leader from Oklahoma does everything she can to help club members follow the 4-H motto "To Make the Best Better." Her dedication to the 4-H program was recognized recently when she was named the National 4-H Volunteer of the Year.

Donna Dollins, who has served as a 4-H volunteer leader in Payne County for 10 years, was honored during the 2014 National Association of Extension 4-H Agents meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Being involved in 4-H is nothing new for Dollins. She grew up in a 4-H family, was a member of the Hennessey 4-H Club for nine years and was active in the sheep, swine and sewing projects.

Her volunteer career began a decade ago when she asked the leader of the Perkins 4-H Club if she needed help during one of the regular club meeting- and the rest is history.  

Read more here about Donna's involvement with the 4-Hers in her community.