OFB President Buchanan Believes a Better Year is Ahead for Oklahoma Agriculture

Oklahoma Farm Bureau had a great 2014 and the grass roots organization is looking forward to an even better 2015. President Tom Buchanan said this past year the organization had several mile stones in growing membership and having a successful session at the state legislature in addressing private property rights and taxes.


Not everything was rosy in 2014 as the drought continued to impact agricultural producers this year. Western Oklahoma's cattle producers continue to see the residual impact of the drought. Buchanan said region's cattle numbers are still down significantly from what they were predrought. Because of the slow process in rebuilding the state's cattle numbers, he said there is a bright spot in that the beef market has reached record levels.


The drought is a very personal subject for Buchanan as sees the effects of the drought first hand on his farm in southwest Oklahoma. The region sets new records everyday in terms of drought impacts. As a irrigated cotton farmer the drought has been devastating and this year was the fourth consecutive year Buchanan has not been able to produce a cotton crop.


"Which has never been seen before in our part of the world," Buchanan said. "So the drought is really just bearing its teeth and getting ugly, ugly, ugly in southwest Oklahoma."


I interviewed President Tom Buchanan about the past year and the outlook for 2015. Click here to listen to Buchanan talk about the upcoming legislative session.  

Tom will also be joining me for our weekly In the Field report on KWTV News9 in the Oklahoma City market on Saturday morning at 6:40 AM.

Is Wheat Toxic?, Carver Responds

The safety of wheat has come under attack. A recent blog post questioned the safety of wheat in mentioning a common wheat harvest protocol in the United States in applying the herbicide Roundup on wheat fields several days before the crop is harvested. Oklahoma State University Wheat Breeding and Genetics Chair Dr. Brett Carver along with his OSU colleagues Angela Post, OSU Weed Specialist and Jeff Edwards, OSU Wheat Extension Specialist responded to the claims about the safety of wheat.  


First Carver addressed the use of Roundup, also known as glyphosate on wheat. He said there is no doubt glyphosate is used on wheat and the application is legal. Secondly the team addressed to what extent is glyphosate applied and could it be harmful to the consumer.   Carver said application must be done according to the product label where residues that might end up on the grain but they are not going to be in amounts that will be of any concern to a consumer.


"We're talking about a quart over an acre, which really amounts to a light mist," Carver said.


The other question is how much Roundup is applied prior to harvest. Roundup can be used as a means to kill the plant prior to harvest, but how much of the country uses this practice? Carver said that really depends region to region as there are certain pockets of wheat production that use this practice more than others. In areas like the Southern Great Plains, he said practice is hardly ever used. As a herbicide, Roundup may be used during the growing season to kill weeds. Carver said when the weed pressure was really bad in the panhandle this past year Roundup was used as a weed control measure. 


In a interview with Carver, he also addresses concerns over gluten.  Click or tap here to listen to the full interview, plus the link to the full response from Carver, Post and Edwards and a link to the blog "Best Food Facts" that featured the Wheat Improvement Team from OSU.  

The US Department of Agriculture predicts farm profitability will weaken for 2014. The Economic Research Service reports the 2014 net farm income forecast will be $96.9 billion this year, down 23.4 percent from the 2013 estimate of $126.5 billion. The 2014 forecast looks to be lowest since 2010, but will remain $14.5 billion above the 10-year average of $82.4 billion.  


I featured Iowa State University Livestock Market Economist Lee Schulz on the Beef Buzz program earlier this week. Schulz said he likes to look at the financial report to see the balance between the crop and livestock sectors of agriculture. In looking at the total percentage of all commodities typically cattle represents about 20 percent of the total commodities and corn represents about eight percent.   In the drought stricken years of 2011 and 2012, corn was king in looking at farm receipts. In looking at the forecast for 2014, Schulz said there is a large increase in cattle receipts which reflects what has been seen in cash cattle trade as well as the moderation of corn prices.


Livestock receipts are expected to increase by more than 14 percent to $25.7 billion due to a 23 percent increase in dairy, 19 percent increase in cattle and eight percent increase in hog receipts. Crop receipts are forecast to decrease 12 percent in 2014 to $27.2 billion. That is led by a $10.5 billion decline in corn and $7.9 billion drop in soybean receipts. In looking ahead at the financial health of agriculture, Schulz said it also shows the need for strong demand for commodities that US farmers and ranchers are producing. 


 

Click here to listen to Schulz as he talks about the outlook for 2015 for crop and livestock prices as well as a link to the full USDA 2014 Farm Sector Income Forecast.   

Sorghum Commanding Higher Price Than Corn

Sorghum is out pricing corn in parts of the US. Oklahoma State University Grain Marketing Specialist Dr. Kim Anderson said this is true much of the state. He said if you are anywhere outside of the panhandle sorghum is being priced higher than corn. In the Oklahoma panhandle, corn prices remain slightly higher than sorghum. In this weekend's edition of SUNUP, Anderson addresses why this is taking place.


Anderson said the higher price for sorghum can be attributed to increased demand from China. He said the Chinese government has put a tariff on corn, which has made importing corn more expensive. He said this is an effort to protect the farmers and corn prices in China. With no tariff on sorghum, Chinese feed millers are buying US sorghum and shipping it in. Anderson said central Oklahoma has access to transportation to ship it to the Gulf of Mexico for export, so sorghum is getting a higher price. He said in the panhandle transportation costs to the Gulf are higher, plus feedlots prefer feeding corn over sorghum, so corn remains at a higher price.


In looking at the commodity market, wheat has had a good run up in prices. On November 10th cash prices in Oklahoma were at $5.45. On December 1, prices peaked at $6.33. Since then prices have backed down to $6.12. On the futures market, Anderson said wheat prices have gone through the resistance levels of $6 and $6.20. The March 2015 Kansas City wheat contract has gotten above $6.60. Click here to hear Anderson talk with Dave Deken of SUNUP and to learn about the factors that are pushing the wheat market higher.  You also find a full lineup for this weekend's edition of SUNUP.   

Toby Keith Partners with Cusack Family to Offer Premium Meats

Just in time for the holiday season, country music star and entrepreneur Toby Keith, along with his partners the Cusack family, proudly introduce a selection of premium meats for beef lovers on your holiday guest list and gift list. His Dream Walkin' Farms Premium Meats™ offers the exceptionally flavorful, tender and juicy Certified Angus Beef ® brand and delivers it right to their door.


Dream Walkin' Farms Premium Meats™ -- the vision of Keith and the Cusack family, offers fans an online collection of Keith's favorite, hand-selected meats and their joint, hometown commitment to quality and service. Brothers Al and Donnie Cusack begin by offering and cutting only with the finest meats, including premium Certified Angus Beef ® cuts -- world-renowned for flavor, tenderness and juiciness. Available in their selection: tenderloin, ribeye, strip, T-bone and porterhouse steaks, along with all-beef frankfurters and burgers. Hickory smoked brisket and prime rib roast also add to Dream Walkin' Farms' holiday favorites list, which includes hickory smoked turkey and hickory smoked bone-in ham.


"Toby Keith is not only a music icon, but a recognized star in the beef community as well," notes Tracey Erickson, vice president of marketing for Certified Angus Beef LLC. "We couldn't be more excited to partner with him and our longtime friends, the Cusack family, to make Dream Walkin' Farms Premium Meats™ available to beef lovers across the country."

 

Click here to learn more about Dream Walkin' Farms Premium Meats.   

Citing the inadequacy of past, centrally planned food security policies, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) President Alan Tracy Thursday proposed an initiative to provide "genuine food security to the world's wheat importers" by fully liberalizing global wheat trade. Tracy presented the concept of a global wheat food security initiative at the 25th Annual International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) Mideast & Africa Conference & Expo in Cape Town, South Africa.


"Wheat is the most important food grain in the world," Tracy said. "It provides 20 percent of the calories consumed every day on earth and 20 percent of the protein for the poorest half of human population. Demand is growing, but not every country that consumes wheat can produce wheat. Thus, wheat is both the world's most planted grain and the most traded. Creating a government-to-government sectoral trade agreement, similar to the current initiative to achieve global free trade in environmental goods under the World Trade Organization (WTO), that eliminates trade barriers would assure importing countries of guaranteed access to the world's exportable wheat supplies."


Tracy said real food security is possible when markets are allowed to work and governments invest to improve infrastructure that supports local production and improves access to world food supplies through trade. Policies that intervene in market dynamics, while implemented with good intentions, have only distorted trade and encouraged unsustainable investments.   

Click here to read more about the Global Wheat Food Security Initiative, including comments from Paul Penner, a Hillsboro, Kan., wheat farmer and president of the National Association of Wheat Growers.  

Oklahoma Wheat Commission Honors David, Roger and Rick with Staff of Life Award  

The Oklahoma Wheat Commission presented the group's "Staff of Life" award to Dr. David Porter, Department Head of the Plant & Soil Sciences Department at Oklahoma State University, Mr. Roger Gribble, recently retired NW Oklahoma Area Agronomist, Extension Research Specialist and Rick Kochenower, Oklahoma Panhandle Area Agronomist and Extension Research Specialist at their board meeting on Thursday afternoon in Enid.   This award was given to each individual to honor them for their exceptional leadership and service to the Oklahoma wheat industry.


The Staff of Life is the most prestigious award that is given by the Oklahoma Wheat Commission to individuals who have had a strong commitment and dedication to growing wheat,  advancing research or working to expand market promotion in both the domestic and international area for the Oklahoma Wheat industry.   

Read more by clicking here about the award and these honorees.  These are some of my favorite people and they are much deserving in being given this honor by the wheat industry in our state.


 

33rd Annual Oklahoma Select Bull Sale and Super Bull Competition Set for Saturday

The 33rd Annual Oklahoma Select Bull Sale and Super Bull Competition is coming up at Noon TOMORROW, Saturday, December 6, 2014 at the Atoka Stockyards. 

This is a new Location this year. The Atoka Stockyards are located at 800 East B Street, just east of Highway 69 and 75 in Atoka.  

There will be 75 top notch Limousin and Lim Flex bulls that will be offered- for more details- jump to our auction page by clicking here and take a look.

You can also give Ken Holloway a call for details at 580-581-7652