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which was a little more upbeat about test weights than what we heard Sunday evening- and then also we have details from the first Plans Grains harvest report of the season.   

By the way- rain has returned to the state- we had thunderstorms and rain in mostly northwestern Oklahoma last night with an inch of rain reported in Arnett and 1.3 inches of rain in Alva.

There are slight chances of rain developing today in the state- and better rain chances come in much of Oklahoma by Thursday and Friday.

Legacy of the Late Richard Gebhart Continues Through Junior Leadership Program

The late Richard Gebhart's passion for the beef industry will continue. His family is establishing a legacy foundation in his honor through the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation. OCA Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey said this will support a leadership program for the youth leaders in the cattle industry.


"Richard and his wife Susan and their family grew up in the junior cattlemen's association and the leadership process that the junior cattlemen developed in his two girls - Erica and Roxanne," Kelsey said. "They were just so proud of that and so dedicated to it."


Those interested in supporting the effort can send financial gifts to the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation, 2500 Exchange Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73108. Donors should specify that the donation is for the Richard Gebhart foundation and all donations are tax deductible.


"You can be assured that it all go towards an endowment of some type of leadership program and we're excited to work with the family to do that," Kelsey said.


Kelsey said for the family to set up this endowment for leadership is so fitting and he knows Richard would be proud. This effort will further strengthen the Oklahoma Junior Cattlemen's Association that sponsors the summer preview show, steer feedout program and scholarship opportunities. 


I featured Kelsey on the Beef Buzz- as heard on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network. Click or tap here to read or have the opportunity to listen to today's Beef Buzz.  

'Right to Farm' Tops Legislative Victories for Oklahoma Farm Bureau

The 2015 Legislative session was fairly calm for the state's largest farm organization. The biggest victory out of the legislative session was the passing of the 'Right to Farm' amendment. Oklahoma Farm Bureau Director of National Affairs LeeAnna McNally said it was about three years ago when Oklahoma Farm Bureau members expressed their support for a bill that would make farming and ranching a constitutional right. Several years ago, a similar piece of legislation was signed into law that has made hunting and fishing a constitutional right. The 'Right to Farm' initiative was introduced by Representative Scott Biggs and State Senator Jason Smalley. McNally said the legislation passed overwhelmingly with support by the House and Senate.


"Really, the base of this is really about consumer choice and farmers and ranchers being able to produce a safe and affordable food supply into the future." McNally said. "...All types of farmers and ranchers should be able to produce safe and affordable food supply with a variety of products, whatever they want to grow."


The 'Right to Farm' amendment will be voted on by Oklahomans in November 2016. She said it has already received great constituent support from rural areas as well as some of the urban areas too. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation has launched a campaign to educate Oklahomans about the amendment. They will be hosting and speaking at numerous meeting across the state explaining what 'Right to Farm' does and why Oklahoma Farm Bureau believes the legislation is needed.   November 2016 will also be a Presidential election, so McNally said voter turnout will be need to get 'Right to Farm' adopted.
 

I interviewed McNally about the 2015 Legislative session. Click or tap here to listen to the full interview. 

Long-Awaited BoarBuster Deliveries Begin this Month

Written by Joshua Gaskamp, Noble Foundation Wildlife & Range Consultant


There is an abundance of feral hog traps on the market that landowners and land managers can purchase at their local feed store, farm and ranch store, or welding shop. Many of these traps are readily available and easily moved from point A to B, but they leave a lot to be desired in terms of effectiveness.


Feral hogs are extremely intelligent. They balk at the sight of panels at ground level, narrow openings to walk through or door thresholds to cross. All of these characteristics are limitations of conventional box and corral traps. The hogs' hesitancy to enter a trap is referred to as trap shyness.


In addition to the feral hog's keen eye for structures designed to entrap them, they learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of others. Imagine a sounder (group of feral hogs) of 20 hogs continuously visiting a bait source. After a trap is set, five of the 20 hogs walk inside and trigger the trap. This leaves 15 hogs uncaptured outside of the trap. Those 15 hogs that witnessed the commotion associated with entrapment of their fellow cohorts may now be "educated" to the dangers of traps, leading to more difficulty in trapping these hogs in the future.

Click here to read more about the revolutionary BoarBuster trap.
 

Checkoff Shares Protein Science with Nutrition Experts

The beef checkoff, in partnership with the Egg Nutrition Center and National Dairy Council, recently shared checkoff-funded protein research with the Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN) Dietetic Practice Group (DPG) at their annual symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., with 430 Registered Dietitians (RD) in attendance.


"The evidence-based Advanced Practice Protein Summit held during the symposium provided a great opportunity for the checkoff to discuss protein science, misperceptions and contemporary applications for practitioners," says Jo Stanko, Nutrition & Health Subcommittee co-chair and cow-calf producer from Steamboat Springs, Colo. "It was also a venue to share valuable checkoff-funded protein research with nutrition communicators for the purpose of continued relationship-building."


Over the course of the 120-minute session, the speakers presented on:

-- Questions and misconceptions related to protein intake and quality (Nancy Rodriguez, PhD, RD)

-- Proteins and the post-prandial period, along with a review of the overall role of dietary protein for optimal gut function, stability of the post-prandial period, etc. (Harvey Anderson, PhD)

-- Optimizing protein across the adult lifespan with a focus on interactions with exercise (Stuart Phillips, PhD)  

Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains-  Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.

Oklahoma Cattlemen to Visit Red Carpet Country Thru 25th Annual OCA Summer Ranch Tour

 The 25th Annual Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (OCA) Summer Ranch Tour is scheduled for June 29 and 30 and will take participants through Red Carpet Country - Northwest Oklahoma. Northwest Oklahoma has been Cowboy Country since the days of the Chisholm Trail and also saw the last great buffalo herd in the 1870s.


"Our tour begins the first day with a different educational twist as we look at how feed and forage makes its way to the cattle on our ranches. We will look at everything from soil farming to salt harvesting to milling feed," said Jeff Jaronek, OCA Tour Coordinator. "On day two, we will return to our roots and visit a few ranching operations on our way home after a fun stop that morning. This year promises to be an interesting tour that has been 25 years in the making and you won't want to miss out!"


Register soon to ensure your seat on the bus. Participants are responsible for reserving their own hotel room. An agenda, registration information and hotel information can be found online by clicking here.
 

COOL Retaliation Could Top Three Billion Dollars

Canada and Mexico are seeking the go-ahead from the World Trade Organization to impose just over $3 billion in tariffs against U.S. exports in retaliation for losses they claim to have suffered because of U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements.

In a joint statement, the governments said their request for authorization to retaliate was filed with the WTO and will be considered by the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body on June 17. Canada is seeking retaliatory tariffs totaling about CA$3 billion (about $2.4 billion U.S. dollars) and Mexico will seek authorization for $653 million in sanctions, bringing the total to about $3.053 billion US dollars in damages.  

The statement from Canada and Mexico also looks to the US for action:  

"We continue to call on the United States to repeal COOL legislation for beef and pork and comply with its international obligations.

"The Canadian and Mexican governments will continue to work closely to resolve this important trade issue with the United States in order to defend our farmers and ranchers and maintain jobs and economic prosperity throughout North America."