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The early arriving cold temperatures into Oklahoma earlier this month did little harm to the 2015 Oklahoma Hard Red Winter Wheat Crop- so says OSU Extension Small Grains Specialist Dr. Jeff Edwards. Edwards says that the majority of the crop handled the blue norther that hit Oklahoma with ease.

He does say that a very small percentage of the wheat that was planted early may have gotten too far along in development before the colder weather set in- and there were a few fields where the wheat got confused about the season and was trying to head out. Edwards reports "I've seen some of those wheat fields go ahead and start to head out this fall- due to day length- they thought it was May instead of August or September. And in those cases, I expect that this last freeze event will terminate much of the crop in those fields." He believes it becomes a rescue effort to get something out of those fields- "it becomes a salvage operation at this point if you're in that situation- the key is to get a lot of cattle out there to utilize that forage, because what you have is about all you're gonna get."


Except for these few fields where the cold weather proved to be a killer- the 2015 wheat crop looks promising- Edwards says "It really is a testament to the wheat plant and how amazing it is in how it is able to adapt that quickly and handle the cold conditions- I know it handled the cold better than I did."

In talking with Dr. Edwards, he compares the wheat crop to this point in 2014 to one we were growing a year ago- he says it is very similar- and that moisture between now and April will determine if we improve on the historically poor wheat crop produced last year  here in 2015.

Click here to read more and to listen to our full conversation with Jeff Edwards- including his thoughts about what wheat farmers need to be paying attention to as they manage their crop over the winter season.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Friday announced it will not issue a final 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)

Required Volume Obligation (RVO).  According to statute, EPA is supposed to finalize each year's RFS rule by the previous November.  Agricultural organizations are responding to the announcement.

National Chicken Council President Mike Brown said "EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said EPA would use the 'most up to date' numbers to set the 2014 standards - that was in April, nearly five months into the compliance year, and more than six months ago. Waiting to set the standards after the fact is irresponsible and discriminatory, but unfortunately, the standard practice."  Click here for more from NCC.

Advanced Ethanol Council Executive Director Brooke Coleman said,"Pulling back on the 2014 RFS rule is the right thing to do at this stage in the game when it comes to preserving the integrity of the program. While the cellulosic biofuel industry will not get the policy certainty it needs from this decision, it does suggest that the Administration is listening when it comes to our concerns about giving oil companies too much power to avoid its obligations under the RFS going forward."  Click here for more from AEC.  

National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling said, "Today's announcement by EPA shows the Administration recognizes the proposed rule was inherently flawed and based on an unworkable methodology. We will continue to work with EPA to ensure that the 2014 and 2015 renewable fuel requirements are consistent with what Congress set forth in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)."  Click here for more from NCGA.  

American Soybean Association President Ray Gaesser said, "The continued delays create great uncertainty for the biodiesel industry and soybean farmers and limits the industry's ability to invest and expand.  The Proposed Rule was unacceptable and would have taken biodiesel backward from the amounts produced and utilized in 2013. However, ASA believes that EPA can and should finalize a 2014 rule that sets the biomass-based diesel volumes at or above the nearly 1.8 billion gallons that were produced and consumed in the U.S. in 2013."  Click here for more from ASA.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said, "This significant delay and inability of the EPA to set standards for the Renewable Fuel Standard Program creates unneeded uncertainty in the marketplace. Even though EPA took the appropriate course in reconsidering its proposed rule after receiving substantial pushback from rural America, Farm Bureau continues to believe that adhering to the framework of the RFS2 remains the best approach."  Click here for more from AFBF.

Ok Beef Council Promoting Beef through Local to Global Projects

From Oklahoma to Japan, the Oklahoma Beef Council is working to make sure producer get the best value for their checkoff dollar. Oklahoma Beef Council Executive Director Heather Buckmaster said in 2015 the state beef council will continue to work with Oklahoma teachers to talk about where beef comes from along with expanding international beef marketing in offering beef education in key global markets.


In 2015 the Oklahoma Beef Council will continue to support and work with teachers through the Ag and the Classroom program. Buckmaster said they will continue to support teachers tours along with offering a screening of the documentary film Farmland for teachers and will hold a panel discussion afterwards.


The Oklahoma Beef Council will continue their collaboration with the Oklahoma Academy of Family Physicians. Buckmaster said they are bringing in a speaker to discuss the use animal health products in food production.


The beef checkoff will continue to target millennials, the generation born between 1980 and 2000. This is the largest demographic of the United States on-line. Buckmaster said its important to reach this demographic. On a daily basis millennials initiate about five million on-line food related searches each day. She said this is an excellent opportunity for the checkoff digital marketing campaign. 


I interviewed Buckmaster on the "In the Field" segment Saturday morning on KWTV News9 in Oklahoma City.  Click here to learn more about 2015 marketing efforts. 

Oklahoma FFA Partners with Devon Energy For Agriscience Education

Oklahoma agriculture education students will have the opportunity to develop agriscience projects related to the oil, gas and agriculture industries thanks to a new Devon Energy
Agriscience Initiative.


Through the partnership, the Oklahoma FFA Foundation and Association will offer opportunities and incentives for agriculture education students to research, develop, conduct and evaluate Agriscience Fair projects.


Student projects may address issues such as wildlife conservation, protecting natural habitats, noise reduction, water management and soil science that are relevant to the agriculture and oil and gas industries.


State FFA President Garrett Reed, of the Locust Grove FFA chapter, is thrilled with the new partnership and what it will mean to the FFA and its members.


"This new partnership with Devon Energy will be significant in preparing agricultural education students and FFA members to explore and seek opportunities in the workforce," Reed said. "We are ready to meet Devon's challenge." 

Click here to learn how this initiative includes financial incentives for participants and teachers who participate in the Agriscience Fair at the OSU State Agriscience Interscholastic competition in April 2015.  

Cash Cattle Trade to Trump Cattle on Feed Report, Says Leffler

The US Department of Agriculture's monthly cattle on fed report looks to have little impact on the market. Tom Leffer of Leffler Commodities said most of the numbers came in close to industry expectations, minus the placements figure. Leffler looks for the market on Monday to be determined by what happens with cash cattle trade. He said there are indications of cattle selling at $172 in the south, which is equal to a week ago. He said there are also indications trade could be higher at 173 or 174 .


As of November first, the US had 10.633 million head of cattle on feed. Leffler said this was 100 percent of ago and higher than predictions at 99.8 percent. This was 5.7 percent below the five year average. This is also the first year over year increase in the monthly cattle on feed numbers since August 2012. Leffler said Nebraska was up three percent, over a year ago. Kansas and Texas was up one percent versus last year. Leffler said this was the largest on feed number in the past six months.

The number of cattle on feed placed on feed was larger than expected. USDA estimated placements at 99 percent, which was higher than trade analysts predictions of 95.7 percent. Leffler said this was the bearish part of the report. Placements were one percent lower than year ago.   Leffler said placements in Kansas was down 11 percent, Texas was unchanged and Nebraska was up five percent over a year ago. 
 


Radio Oklahoma Network's Leslie Smith interviewed Leffler after the report came out. Click here to read or to listen to Leffler's full analysis on this report and USDA's cold storage report.   

Despite Record Beef Prices, USMEF Says International Demand Remains

Americans love their steaks and hamburgers, but that leaves a lot of beef on the counter. The US Meat Export Federation Assistant Vice President International Marketing & Programs Greg Hanes said while there is strong demand for steaks and hamburger domestically, their job is to promote the under utilized cuts abroad.


"All these other cuts really are big items here in the US, but if you look at the different cooking styles and the way they prepare products overseas, especially in Asia," Hanes said. "The cuts that they utilize and really have a high demand for are totally different. Those are things like the hanging tenders, inside skirts, tongues, variety meats, things like that."


In the US those items would likely be put into trim for a dollar up to couple dollars a pound. Hanes said these same items can be exported overseas and get two, three, or four times as much. For example beef tongue sells for $1.50 a pound in the US. Hanes said if you look at the international markets we selling it for $6 - $7 a pound.


"That significant for every cattle producer here," Hanes said. "That's adding $300, which as you know especially in difficult times that can be difference between make and break. Now in the market that's just extra gravy on top of what we are able to do now."   

I recently caught up with Hanes in Stillwater after he briefed the Oklahoma Beef Council board about the export situation and outlook for beef. Click here to listen to the full Beef Buzz feature as Hayes discusses how the US continues to deal with tight supplies. 

Weekend Rainfall Blesses Altus, Hobart and Points East- Otherwise- Forget About It

Rainfall across mostly south central and parts of southwest Oklahoma was most welcome by farmers and ranchers in those counties that received the rain from Friday and Saturday. Rainfall totals exceeded three inches at a number of Mesonet stations in Comanche, Stephens, Cotton, Jefferson and Carter Counties. Ketchum Ranch in Stephens County wins the prize for more than four inches in the Mesonet rain gauge.


In addition, a lot of locations got an inch or more- including Altus and Hobart both picking up an inch of rain, Fort Cobb right at an inch and a half, Apache two inches and Chickasha just under three inches. The line of rain versus little or no rain was pretty clear- Minco got 1.3 inches of rainfall while El Reno recorded just .12 of an inch. The El Reno rainfall was the norm for west central, north central and northwestern Oklahoma. The rain did stretch from Altus across south central Oklahoma as far east as Okemah that recorded two and half inches of rain and Sallisaw that got 1.3 inches at their Mesonet station. 

Click here for a chance to review the map of the weekend rain- and to check out Alan Crone's blog of what is ahead for this Thanksgiving Day week.