Featured Story:

The House voted late Wednesday to take country of origin labels off of meat products sold in the United States. The vote was 300-131 in favor of removing the labels. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.  

The bill, introduced just last week, followed the most recent ruling, the latest of several, by the World Trade Organization in May that the law creates unfair trade barriers for Canada and Mexico. Both countries have threatened retaliatory trade actions against U.S. exports. Total retaliation proposed by the two countries totals $3.6 billion dollars annually.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association was quick to praise the strong yes vote for repeal. NCBA President Phillip Ellis of Wyoming says "COOL has been without benefit to the U.S. cattle industry and producers like myself. And now with retaliation eminent from our largest trading partners, it is time this legislation is repealed. There is no other fix that can be put in place to bring value to this program or satisfy our trading partners."

Also in response to the House vote, the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) issued a statement calling it "an essential first step." "Chairman Conaway and Representative Costa have shown incredible leadership in encouraging the U.S. live up to its obligations and abide by World Trade Organization rules," NAMI President and CEO Barry Carpenter said in the statement. "It's an issue of marketing, and that should be decided in the marketplace. We hope the Senate will move quickly to vote for repeal so the President can sign the bill and put this failed experiment behind us."

Opponents of COOL repeal called the move by the House premature. Roger Johnson of the National Farmers Union described the move as a "disappointing, knee-jerk overreaction" and says they will focus on the Senate to slow this process down and consider other options besides repeal.

Johnson noted that in past disputes, WTO members found ways to work together to arrive at a resolution that worked for all parties. "Unfortunately, today's action by the U.S. House of Representatives does not work towards a resolution that maintains the integrity of COOL and satisfies WTO obligations. It instead signals an acceptance of defeat when there are still viable alternatives," he said.    

Senate Environment Committee Votes to Stop EPA's 'WOTUS' Rule

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works advanced legislation Wednesday to force the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to rewrite their Waters of the United States rule, a move applauded by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the Public Lands Council. Senate EPW Committee Chairman Inhofe expressed his concerns over the rule in a letter sent to the EPA. In the letter, he said according to the Army Corps, 60 percent of the substantive comments received on the proposed rule opposed the rule. Yet, the bill was finalized with problematic terms and little regard for stakeholders. The rule still claims jurisdiction over areas located within a 100-year floodplain and ambiguously defines areas with a significant connection to water ways.


In his opening remarks, Inhofe said this bipartisan legislation will stop the final rule and make EPA and the Corps of Engineers go back and redo it. He said EPA cannot avoid consultation with states and local governments, they will have to do a full economic analysis, including an unfunded mandates analysis, and they will have to review the impacts on small businesses and small local government.


"It sets up the right process and the right principles to make sure that the agencies can protect water quality without taking control over huge swaths of private property," Inhofe said.

"Thousands of farmers, ranchers and land owners raised numerous concerns about the rule during the formal public comment period, but looking at the final rule it's clear no one at EPA was listening," American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said. "Farmers and ranchers are committed to protecting the land and resources we use to raise the food, fuel and fiber we all consume. We're grateful that congressional lawmakers are willing to step up to safeguard both farmers and their land."  Click here to read more from AFBF.


"The Committee's action today is an important first step in protecting farmers, ranchers and their co-ops from an unprecedented expansion of federal jurisdiction that goes well beyond anything envisioned when the Clean Water Act was passed or reauthorized," said National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) President and CEO Chuck Conner. "Without question, the WOTUS rule finalized late last month by EPA and the Corps would result in greater federal regulatory controls of day-to-day farming operations, higher costs and inefficiencies, and no real improvements to water quality."  Click here to read more NCFC.

Click here to read more from Wyoming Senator John Barrasso and NCBA President President Philip Ellis.

USDA Trims Size of Oklahoma Wheat Crop to 114.8 Million Bu- Ups Kansas Crop From May Guess

The June US Department of Agriculture Crop Production Report slightly trimmed the expected size of the 2015 Oklahoma Hard Red Winter Wheat Harvest compared to the May 2015 estimate. The estimate, based on information from June first, predicts 114.8 million bushels will combined and hauled out of the wheat fields in the state of Oklahoma. That compares to 118.9 million bushels estimated in May of this year.


The June report shows one bushel per acre less than the May report- with the expectation that Oklahoma Farmers will harvest an average of 28 bushels per acre- versus the 29 bushel per acre guess a month earlier. USDA continues to expect Oklahoma wheat farmers to harvest 4.1 million acres.


The Texas wheat crop was also reduced from the May estimate. USDA reduced the yield in Texas from 35 bushels per acre to 32 bushels per acre and cut the total production figure from 131.25 million bushels down to 120 million bushels.


In both the Oklahoma and Texas estimates- the size of the 2015 crop is far larger than the drought ravaged 2014 crop- Oklahoma's expected production is up 141% in 2015 versus 2014 and the Texas production expectations are up 77% from a year earlier.


The Kansas Crop increased from the May report to the June release- increasing by 42.5 million bushels- an increase month to month of 15.4%.  Click here to read more

"So, the wheat took the biggest hit today, going to be a lot of controversy about - is this really reflecting that much of a positive increase in Kansas or is there more problems with the additional rain than what they are NOT accounting for," said Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities.  "The next thing is, with the rain that's in the forecast starting tomorrow that runs into next week, that's not going to be good news for the wheat market, so we might have over done it a little bit today to the downside."

Click here to listen to the full interview with Tom Leffler about the latest crop production and WASDE report.  

EPA Abused Rulemaking Process, American Farm Bureau General Counsel Steen Tells Senate

The Environmental Protection Agency abused and distorted the normal rulemaking process to pre-determine the outcome of its highly controversial "Waters of the U.S." rule, American Farm Bureau Federation General Counsel Ellen Steen told the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday.


Instead of inviting and openly considering public input, the EPA conducted an aggressive advocacy campaign to obscure the on-the-ground impact of the rule and to smear groups, like Farm Bureau, that dared to explain those impacts to the public, Steen told the committee.


"The notice-and-comment procedure for rulemaking is designed to ensure that agencies take honest account of the thoughts and concerns of the regulated public," Steen said. "Legitimate concerns over how the rule would affect agriculture, in particular, were subtly twisted and then dismissed as 'silly' and 'ludicrous' and 'myths.' Public statements from the agency's highest officials made it clear that the agency was not genuinely open to considering objections to the rule."


The full text of Ellen Steen's testimony can be found by clicking here. 

Wheat Harvest Over Half Done in Southwest Ok - Other Regions Just Really Starting 2015 Harvest

During the month of June, the Oklahoma Wheat Commission will be releasing regular wheat harvest reports. Wednesday's report from Executive Director Mike Schulte is the latest report of the 2015 harvest season. Here is his report as of Wednesday afternoon, June tenth:


Harvest is continuing to move forward from the Oklahoma/Texas border to the Oklahoma/Kansas border with machines just getting a good start in the Northern regions of the state. In the far regions of Southern Oklahoma along the Oklahoma/Texas border in some places they are 85% to 90% complete. In South Central regions and Central regions of Oklahoma most areas are running anywhere from 20 percent complete to 55 percent complete depending on locations. If producers can get the next couple days in without rain in Southern and Central Oklahoma, completion in some of these areas will be much closer. Crop quality in this report is showing yields and test weights to be ranging all over the board with lighter test weights showing up in the Northern regions of the state on the early samples received. Elevator managers and producers are hopeful this trend might change once they get into better wheat, however the predicted rains this coming weekend, if received, will not help that matter. Proteins that are being reported are averaging 11 to 11.5 percent with some higher proteins around 13 being reported in places of Northern Oklahoma. 

Click here to read more about regional reports from southwest, central and northern Oklahoma.  

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.

House Agriculture Committee Holds Hearing: Past, Present, and Future of SNAP

The House Agriculture Committee Wednesday continued its full-scale review of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as the Past, Present, and Future of SNAP, by examining the tools that are available to help SNAP recipients climb the economic ladder. Members of the committee heard from a panel of witnesses who have extensive on-the-ground experience working with individuals to help them enter, re-enter, and remain in the workforce.


"SNAP plays an important role in the lives of nearly 46 million Americans, but the program does not operate in a vacuum and cannot take on the larger challenges of poverty alone," Chairman Conaway said. "Employment is what makes it possible for individuals and families to climb the economic ladder and rise out of poverty. To do that, many individuals need additional help and resources before, during, and after employment is found. Though SNAP has long had an employment and training component, it has decreased its level of engagement with recipients when the opposite should be happening. I appreciate the valuable insight from our witnesses who strive to address the individual challenges faced by vulnerable Americans through strong case management and engagement."


Click here for more information, including Subcommittee Chairman Conaway's opening statement, the archived webcast. and written testimony.  This includes testimony from Mr. Patrick Raglow, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

This N That- State Question 777, Durant and BrucePac and Rain Chances Remain Huge Into the Weekend

We'll have more details tomorrow morning in our Friday email- but Mr. and Mrs. Bob Funk opened their home for a fundraiser for the Yes Campaign for State Question 777 last night- good crowd who gathered and heard comments from the Protect the Harvest folks- including the founder of the group, Forrest Lucas of Lucas Oil.   

Oklahoma Farm Bureau's Tom Buchanan was a co-host with the Funks in welcoming Forrest Lucas back to Oklahoma, who vowed strong support to helping pass the Right the Farm amendment in November 2016.  

**********

It's a really positive story from Little Dixie- one of new jobs and what looks like will be a really good corporate citizen for Durant and the state of Oklahoma.   

We are talking about BrucePac and their decision to come to southeast Oklahoma and establish a third meat processing plant for their company. BrucePac, which is headquartered in Woodburn, Oregon, specializes in chicken, beef, turkey and pork products, currently produces 1.3 million pounds of product per week.  

They have taken over the facility that did house JC Potter before it's exit from the business in 2014.

You can learn more about how BrucePac was sold on the idea of southeastern Oklahoma and how the OSU Food and Ag Products Center helped Durant land this company by clicking here. 

**********

Rainfall prospects continue to evolve for this weekend- but the amounts of rain are not changing much- it could be very very wet in northwestern Oklahoma from this system if the latest "QPF" is correct.  Our friend and old radio colleague Bryce Anderson posted this graphic on Twitter earlier this morning:

Best chances of rain now appear to be Friday and especially Saturday and Sunday.