TAA Fails- TPA Passes- and the US House Pushes Resolution into This Week- Maybe 

Trade Promotion Authority is not dead. The US House first appeared to kill any chances for President Obama to get "Fast Track" authority as Democrats deserted the President in huge numbers- led by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in the vote for TAA. There was expected to be first a vote on the section of the overall bill meant to appeal to Democrats- the extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs that provide cash and technical assistance to workers, farmers and businesses harmed by surges in imports. For the House to vote on TPA proper, it had been announced that the TAA would have to pass the House. The Senate earlier this month had approved both TAA and TPA.


It became clear as Congresswoman Pelosi announced her opposition to TAA, saying it was time to slow down Fast Track, that the vote on TAA would go against the President. It turned out to be a huge no vote on a measure that has been linked with Trade Promotion Authority for years- given as an olive branch to Big Labor to bring enough votes along for TPA passage. TAA failed by a vote of 126 for and 302 opposed.


Then the unexpected happened. The GOP Leadership decided to hold a vote on Trade Promotion Authority even though TAA had failed. Democratic lawmakers say that caught them off guard- a five minute vote was held and Trade Promotion Authority was approved 219- 211.  Click here to read more about Friday's votes on trade.    

Several Ag Groups offered statements on Friday afternoon regarding their thoughts on the trade votes: 

"I'm pleased that the House has the votes to approve Trade Promotion Authority," said National Association of Wheat Growers President Brett Blankenship. For those voting yes, it was a courageous vote in favor of keeping American agriculture in the lead on international trade. Removing trade barriers and accessing international markets is critical for wheat farmers across the country, and I'm hopeful that House Leadership can find a path forward for concluding action." 

"We are deeply disappointed that the House did not pass the trade package today," said Michael Kelsey, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association Executive Vice President. Trade is so important to beef cattle ranchers and all of agriculture. We appreciate Representatives Cole, Lucas and Mullins for supporting Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers with their 'yes' vote and we hope that the House will reconsider this important legislation next week."   

"We are disappointed by the House of Representatives' inability to move forward with the full package of trade legislation," said National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling.

"This is a blow to American farmers, livestock producers, businesses, and workers. We hope that both houses of Congress and the White House can quickly resolve their differences and find a path forward." 

Fundraising for State Question 777 Yes Vote Kicked Off This Past Week in Yukon

An early fundraiser to kick start raising money for the "Yes for State Question 777" campaign was held this past week at the Yukon home of Bob Funk, sponsored by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Several dozen representatives of the major farm organizations in Oklahoma, state lawmakers, agribusiness leaders and more were a part of the gathering, who heard from Forrest Lucas, the founder of Lucas Oil and Protect the Harvest, who called the battle to pass State Question 777 vitally important to not just Oklahoma, but to agricultural interests across the United States.


Lucas called Oklahoma agricultural leadership and the state lawmakers who worked to approve HJR 1012 in the Oklahoma State House and Senate this year very courageous for being willing to stand up to anti production agricultural interests that have lots of resources that have allowed them to get their way in several states around the country.


Tom Buchanan, President of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, talked with us after the short program at the fundraiser and says that he is excited to get the ball rolling in communicating the need for this addition to the Oklahoma State Constitution. If approved by a vote of the people in November 2016, State Question 777 will amend the state constitution and declare that the right to farm and ranch in this state will be protected. The specific language of the state question has yet to be developed- and will be written by State Attorney General Scott Pruitt.


Buchanan and Brian Klippenstein of Protect the Harvest both told us that passage of this state question will be of great benefit to future generations of farmers and ranchers in the state- but will also be very important to consumers, who will benefit from making sure that groups won't be able to prevent farmers and ranchers from being able to avail themselves of the most productive and safe food production practices- helping assure a continued safe, affordable and adequate food supply for generations to come. 

Click here to read more and a chance to listen to our audio overview of where we stand on State Question 777 and the early organizational efforts being made to get all of Oklahoma agriculture heading in the same direction to work for a Yes vote.

U.S. Wheat Uses Harvest as Promotional Tool with Foreign Buyers

South African millers are getting a firsthand look at wheat production in Oklahoma this week. The nation's wheat checkoff often hosts trade teams during harvest, so international wheat buyers can evaluate the crop. U.S. Wheat Associates Sub-Saharan Africa assistant regional director Gerald Theus said this has become an effective tool in strengthening relationship between millers from around the world and the American farmers that produce wheat.


"It gives them a chance to meet with the farmers and the producers and talk about the crop, the quality," Theus said. "They have choices, they can buy from the U.S. just like they can buy from Russia and Black Sea wheat and we've found it's been a very good marketing tool for us. I mean, they stay really loyal to purchasing U.S. wheat."


South Africa is one of 42 countries the U.S. Wheat Associates Sub-Saharan office works with. One of those visiting Oklahoma this past week was Jaco Venter, a Mill Manager for RCL Foods in Pretoria, South Africa. The company processes about 84 - thousand bushels of wheat a day.   By having him in Oklahoma, Theus said this allows U.S. Wheat Associates to showcase the superiority of U.S. wheat over other wheat from around the world.  

I caught up with Gerald Theus of U.S. Wheat Associates while visiting Oklahoma. Click here to listen to the full interview. 

Farm Bureau Calls Clean Water Rule Life Changing for Farmers and Ranchers

Don't believe the Environmental Protection Agency won't be regulating land use. That's a message being put out by the American Farm Bureau Federation over the 'Waters of the U.S.' final rule. AFBF General Counsel Ellen Steen has read the Clean Water rule and found it's harmful to agriculture.


"It really is a marketing campaign and it is highly deceptive and it's aimed at persuading farmers and ranchers that they're not going to be affected by this rule and their life isn't going to change under this rule and that farming activities are not going to be subject to wide scale federal permitting requirements and those are false statements and we have rebutted some of those statements in some of the papers we put out and so I would like to be sure that message is coming out from us loud and clear that when this rule goes into effect and that's going to be 60 days after it appears in the Federal Register. The lawsuits may not come the first week and they may not come the second week, but enforcement of this law is coming. It's coming to the countryside and when it hits, life is going to change significantly for a lot of farmers and ranchers."


The Farm Bureau analysis, now available online, makes available to the public details the EPA has refused to address in public meetings over the past year.  (Go to our link below to jump to the complete set of documents released by AFBF at the end of this past week)

 

I featured Ellen Steen and Bob Stallman of American Farm Bureau on our latest Beef Buzz, as heard on great radio stations across the southern great plains. Click or tap here  to read more and hear their comments on the Clean Water Rule. 

We also have a link to the complete teleconference featuring Stallman, Don Parrish and Ellen Steen in our story that you can jump to here. 

Wheat Harvest Stands Still as Rain Sidelines the Combines and Remains in the Forecast

The latest wheat harvest report from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission was released on Friday afternoon, after rains had started to shut down the 2015 wheat harvest for the time being.

Executive Director Mike Schulte reported on Friday that "Harvest throughout the state has been hindered today because of light rains throughout the Western part of Oklahoma."  That turned into heavier rains as the weekend went on- with Hollis topping the ten inch rainfall amount from Friday morning through this morning. Besides Hollis, three more Mesonet stations topped five inches of rainfall(Hobart, Bessie and Mangum), two with more than four inches and and another twelve locations saw rainfall totals greater than three inches since Thursday night/Friday morning.  

And it does not look like the rain is done as of yet.  Chances of precipitation remain high today and tonight- and at least moderate for a day or so after that.  

Before the rains shut down harvest, the Wheat Commission reported "Test weights have been averaging 57 lbs. to 59 lbs. per bushel with concerns that the predicted rains for this coming weekend will potentially lower that average in Northern Oklahoma. Protein averages are ranging anywhere from 10% to 13% throughout the state with an average of protein readings statewide being estimated at 11.5%. Yields across Oklahoma have been ranging from the low 20's to the low 40's for the most part, with some higher yields and test weights reported around the Okarche and Cashion areas."

You can read the complete report issued Friday by the Oklahoma Wheat Commission by clicking here.  

There is more on those rainfall totals and what is ahead further down in the email. 

New Study Finds Lean Pork Can Be Included in the DASH Eating Plan

Adults following the health-promoting DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan to help lower blood pressure can also include nutrient-rich lean pork as the primary source of protein in their diets, according to new research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.


Purdue University researchers found that when adults ate lean pork, instead of the typical chicken and fish as their main protein source in the health-promoting DASH diet, they had the same blood pressure benefits regardless of protein source - with systolic blood pressure decreasing around 7 to 8 points and diastolic around 4 to 5 points after six weeks, based on a 24-hour blood pressure monitoring system.


"While the traditional DASH diet includes chicken and fish, our research suggests that lean pork may also be a part of this healthy eating pattern," said study lead author Dr. Wayne W. Campbell, Nutrition Science Professor at Purdue University. "Many Americans enjoy red meat, so the recommendation to limit red meat in the typical DASH diet could be a potential barrier to adapting this eating plan. Swapping in lean pork could help more people follow this healthful eating plan."


The DASH diet, one of the best-studied eating approaches, has been recognized by government and health organizations as an eating pattern that can improve health and help lower the risk of chronic diseases.  Click here to read more about the DASH diet.

Rainfall Totals Include Ten Inches in Hollis- and Rainfall Chances Continue This Week

As we mentioned in the wheat harvest story- rainfall totals in southwest Oklahoma are massive- led by the 10 inches of rainfall received since last Friday morning in Hollis.  Our snapshot of the Oklahoma Mesonet as of 5:00 AM this morning shows the big totals from Hollis and also from Mangum, Hobart and Bessie that are above the five inch total.

The forecast for today shows best chances for rain this afternoon and evening will be in the southeastern two thirds of the state- and rain chances remain intact for Tuesday, especially Wednesday and even into the second half of the week.  

NOAA is predicing heavy rains in a Crescent shape from Houston to Corpus Christi northward across east Texas, Eastern Oklahoma, northwest Arkansas, St. Louis, Indianapolis and points east.  Predicted rainfall for eastern Oklahoma between now and next Monday could be five to seven inches of rain- east Texas could see more than eight inches if the current model is correct.

This coming Wednesday looks especially wet in east Texas and up into central and eastern Oklahoma.

As for wheat harvest- when you dig down into the current rainfall totals- northwest and northcentral Oklahoma got most of their rain from this current system on Friday- have been mostly dry since then so if they can stay away from rainfall- we could be close to being able to get combines back into the fields once again in at least some fields.