With a possible House vote in the works this coming week to accept the Senate amendments to Right to Farm, both Republican and Democratic House members from rural areas have gone on record for their support of HJR 1012. The measure passed the Oklahoma Senate Tuesday with overwhelming support, on a vote of 39-6.


Rural House Democrats said Wednesday they are grateful to see the legislation pass the Senate by an overwhelming margin. Those Democrats have always stood for rural Oklahoma and against outside interests telling farmers and ranchers how to run their operations. Operations that not only provide food and fiber for Americans but for the world. Operations that are the envy of people across the globe.  Click here to read more from the House Democrats.


The Oklahoma House of Representatives Republican Rural Caucus is in full support of a constitutional amendment to protect the rights of agricultural producers in rural Oklahoma, the caucus chair said.


"In this day and age, there is a concerted war being waged on the rural way of life," said state Rep. Dustin Roberts, R-Durant. "Environmental and animal rights activists have made life more difficult for farmers and ranchers throughout the U.S. Now, the Oklahoma Legislature is putting forth a solid, constitutional protection for agricultural producers. I could not be more proud of the progress of HJR1012 through the legislative process."

 

Click here to read more from the Oklahoma House of Representatives Republican Rural Caucus.   

Congress Battling EPA to Finish Line Over 'WOTUS'

The battle over the 'Waters of the U.S.' (WOTUS) proposed rule from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers continues. The proposed rule went through a lengthy public comment period through the Federal Register. Agriculture fought back with the campaign to "Ditch the Rule". Now EPA is in the process of getting the final rule out the door. National Cattlemen's Beef Association Vice President  for Government Affairs Colin Woodall said 'WOTUS' continues to be a big deal for the cattle business and they are hopeful Congress will have a chance to weigh in on this end game.


"We had a great move last week by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that passed out legislation that basically would tell EPA to rescind this proposed rule and start over from scratch and more importantly start over by bringing in the stakeholders that are going to be impacted by this rule," Woodall said. "So that is a good start, but right now it's a race to see who can finish this process first, whether it's EPA or Congress." 


A revised version of the 'WOTUS' proposal has been sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy sent the rule to OMB for their analysis for possible publishing for the general public.


"We don't know what those revisions are, we don't know how they are going to impact or address our concerns, but we do know that OMB is looking at it and I think she (McCarthy) did that knowing Congress was going to start taking some pretty swift action," Woodall said. 

 

To read more or to listen to this Beef Buzz, click here.  

OSU Wheat Pathologist Bob Hunger Finds Rust, Mildew and Mite-Transmitted Viruses in Crop

Bob Hunger, Extension Wheat Pathologist in the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology at Oklahoma State University released the following Wheat Disease Report on Thursday, April 23, 2015.


"Oklahoma: Again, a cool and moist week in Oklahoma with rain and cool temperatures in the forecast through the weekend. Wheat is mostly at flowering around Stillwater but by early next week will likely be past flowering. From what I hear across the state, wheat is quickly approaching, at, or will be quickly past flowering (depending on what part of the state, when planted, and how much drought stress was endured).


"Around Stillwater there has been an increase in stripe rust and powdery mildew (especially stripe rust). Leaf rust also has increased, but not to the same extent (incidence or severity) as stripe rust. Dr. Brett Carver (OSU Wheat Breeder) indicated he saw significant stripe rust in his nurseries at Lahoma (north-central OK). Gary Strickland (Jackson County Extn Educator) also has observed an increase in stripe rust (and to a lesser extent, leaf rust) in far southwestern Oklahoma. My impression is that stripe rust has activated again with the cool and wet weather, and continues to spread across Oklahoma. This Thursday and Friday there will be field days in central Oklahoma, so look for a more extensive report next week."

More details on disease issues here in Oklahoma's wheat crop- as well as what is being seen in Texas and Kansas are

Kim Anderson Analyzes Oklahoma Wheat Crop and Price Outlook

Spring rains have renewed optimism for the Oklahoma wheat crop. Oklahoma State University Grain Marketing Specialist Kim Anderson has been traveling the state talking with farmers and walking fields.   The U.S. Drought Monitor shows the southwestern part of the state has been hit the hardest by drought, but he has found the area around Altus and Frederick with probably the best wheat in the state. He found the crop around Clinton looks relatively close to average. In northern Oklahoma, he said they are looking at about 50 - 75 percent of a normal wheat crop, as the moisture came too late. For this crop to reach its potential, Anderson said the weather needs to stay cool. If it get hot and dry, that will shrink the berries and the crop's yield potential will decrease.


In looking at wheat market, Anderson said the July Kansas City wheat contract has come down to $5.10, which appears to be a floor, as wheat has bounced back up 15 - 20 cents. In this weekend's edition of SUNUP, host Lyndall Stout asks about the factors driving the wheat market. Anderson said the weather, along with the funds and the value of the U.S. dollar.


"That high value of that dollar relative to other currencies, that is really having a negative impact on our prices," Anderson said.


In looking at the outlook for wheat prices at harvest, Anderson is predicting $5.25 for mid-June. If the weather turns hot, then he said the price could go up to $5.50. Depending on location, cash prices would be 15 to 20 cents lower than that.   

We've got Lyndall and Kim's full interview for you to hear- and a complete rundown of this weekend's SUNUP program to be seen on OETA- just click or tap here. 

House Subcommittee Reviews Reauthorization of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act

Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee's Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee, held a public hearing to review the reauthorization of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act.


First enacted in 1999, the Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting Act was developed in response to changing markets with an increasing number of animals being sold via marketing arrangements under which prices were not publicly disclosed. As these structural changes continued, livestock producers requested that the voluntary price reporting mechanism be made mandatory. The resulting Act mandated price reporting for live cattle, boxed beef, and live swine, and allowed USDA to establish mandatory price reporting for lamb sales. Subsequent reauthorizations modified swine reporting provisions and reporting of wholesale pork cuts. The current 5-year authorization expires on September 30th of this year.


"Today's hearing allows us to start the legislative process of reauthorization by hearing from industry and stakeholders on the challenges they are facing," Chairman Rouzer said. "It is vital to have industry groups work together to find the best solution. As the committee works on reauthorizing the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act, it is the goal and intent of our committee to bring all parties together and strike a balance that promotes fairness, transparency, and stability in the market. No one knows how to make this process work better than those directly involved, and I appreciate their willingness to work together and with the committee to make this happen." 

Propane-Powered Irrigation Engines Reduce Fuel Costs

Growers who irrigated with emissions-compliant, propane-powered irrigation engines reduced fuel costs by more than 40 percent in 2014, according to research results from the Propane Education & Research Council's Propane Farm Incentive Program.


"Results show that propane engines are economical, reliable, and offer the performance needed by today's farmers," said Cinch Munson, PERC's director of agriculture business development. "Alternative fuel engines running on propane cost less to purchase and operate than Tier-4-compliant diesel options, and the performance is excellent."


Participating growers from 21 states installed and tested 87 propane-powered irrigation engines from seven different manufacturers. Over the course of 2014, participants used the engines to irrigate nearly 9,000 acres of 10 different crops.


Propane engines also garnered positive performance and satisfaction ratings from growers. In a post-season survey, 95 percent rated engine performance as a four or five on a five-point scale. The same percentage said they would purchase another propane engine and recommend propane engines to other growers.  Click here to read more on how propane increases efficiency and fuel savings.   

Oklahoma Beef Council Telling Runners About the Power of Lean Beef at OKC Memorial Marathon

This weekend, the Oklahoma Beef Council is exhibiting at the Health and Fitness Expo, an integral part of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. With its efforts to educate consumers who are advocates for a healthy lifestyle about the benefits of lean beef, the Expo is an excellent opportunity for lean beef promotion and education.  

With more than 25,000 people attending the Expo, Beef Council Executive Director Heather Buckmaster says this is a tremendous opportunity to share the story of Oklahoma ranchers caring for their animals and producing beef in a responsible, sustainable way- and at the same time sharing lean beef recipes and information about the power of protein in Lean Beef as part of a healthy lifestyle.


From its inaugural race in 2001 with just shy of 5,000 participants, the event now hosts over 25,000 runners and walkers from every state and several foreign countries. The Mission of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is to celebrate life. It has been voted as one of the 12 'must-run' marathons in the world by Runner's World magazine.

More on the Beef Council's involvement at the Health and Fitness Expo is available here- including a quick visit that we had with Heather about the value of reminding these fitness fanatics that beef is perfect to be a part of their diet and lifestyle.