Oklahoma AG Scott Pruitt Sues EPA Over 'WOTUS' Overreach

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers alleging that the redefinition of the "Waters of the United States" is executive overreach, flatly contrary to the will of Congress. The action by the Oklahoma AG makes our state the 28th state to pursue a legal remedy over Gina McCarthy's Clean Water Rule. Pruitt contends that the Agencies violated three federal statues with this rule- the Clean Water Act, the Commerce Clause and the Administrative Procedure Act. 


The lawsuit alleges that the EPA's broad redefinition of long-standing regulatory jurisdiction places virtually all land and water under an untenable regulatory burden. The EPA's regulatory jurisdiction has historically been limited to the "navigable waters" - a term that has always been understood to include only large bodies of water capable of serving as pathways for interstate commerce.


"Respect for private property rights have allowed our nation to thrive, but with the recently finalized rule, farmers, ranchers, developers, industry, and individual property owners will now be subject to the unpredictable, unsound, and often byzantine regulatory regime of the EPA," Attorney General Pruitt said. "I, and many other local, state and national leaders across the country, made clear to the EPA our concerns and opposition to redefining the 'Waters of the U.S.' However, the EPA's brazen effort to stifle private property rights has left Oklahoma with few options to deter the harm that its rule will do."


Click here for copy of the lawsuit.  

After an encouraging performance in April, exports of U.S. beef and pork lost momentum in May, falling below year-ago levels in both volume and value according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).


Beef exports moved counter-seasonally lower in May, dropping 14 percent from a year ago to 88,466 metric tons (mt). Export value dipped lower year-over-year for the first time since January, reaching only $556.7 million (down 6 percent). For January through May, exports totaled 430,393 mt, down 10 percent from the same period in 2014. Export value remained ahead of last year's pace at $2.68 billion (up 2 percent).


January-May beef exports equated to 13 percent of total beef production and 10 percent for muscle cuts only - down from 14 percent and 10.6 percent, respectively, last year. Export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $291.70, up 9 percent from a year ago. 

Click here to read more about how South Korea is a bright spot for U.S. beef and how pork exports to key destinations Japan and Mexico took a step back in May.

Peel Offers Mid Year Review of 2015 Cattle Markets and Profitability

As we reach the midyear point for 2015, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel reviews the cattle markets. He said for the first half of the year, beef production has been smaller than expected with slaughter down over seven percent. He said slaughter levels have been down sharply for cows and heifers and lower for steers. The heavier carcass weights have helped offset those lower numbers, but in spite of that he said U.S. beef production is down.


"That's kept boxed beef prices and fed cattle prices generally strong through the first half of the year and feeder cattle prices have stayed strong as well," Peel said.


In looking at the profitability throughout the beef supply chain, not everyone has been profitable in 2015. Both feedlots and packers both have struggled with their margins. Even with lower grain costs, Peel said the higher cost of buying feeder cattle has squeezed feedlot margins. At the packer level, he said they have struggled with buying fed cattle and selling boxed beef. Recently boxed beef prices and fed cattle prices have dropped seasonally, so packer margins have been more sideways. Throughout the year, he said packers have also dealt with lower by product values. After the Fourth of July holiday, wholesale boxed beef prices were lower on Monday and Tuesday as holiday beef sales were lower than expectations.


I featured Dr. Peel on our latest Beef Buzz, as heard on great radio stations across the southern great plains. Click or tap here to listen to this feature.   

We Talk Investment in Youth, 777 and Wild Hogs With AFR's Terry Detrick

Even when the general farm organization was dealing with the red ink from their insurance company due to huge losses from claims being paid out, Terry Detrick and his Board of Directors for the American Farmers and Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union did not cut into their support of young people in the state of Oklahoma. Today, the organization continues with that commitment to the tune of $300,000 annually into leadership development and youth programs.  

This month, AFR will launch a new program called Leadership, Education And Development, otherwise known as LEAD. It's a program that has been aimed at young adults in the farming/ranching community.  With new technology, research and information, President Terry Detrick said today's young people are facing a whole different set of challenges than previous generations, so the LEAD program is designed to help producers meet that challenge and give them exposure to a lot of experts on a wide variety of topics. He would also like to see the program evolve into a mentorship program to benefit both the younger and older generation ag producers. Detrick said AFR will have a big kickoff for the program on Saturday, July 18th at the Oklahoma City Dodgers game.


Terry and I also talked about the AFR's support of State Question 777- the RIght to Farm measure that will appear on the ballot in Oklahoma next November.  He says his organization is solidly lining up with other ag groups in the state to offer a united front that will promote a "Yes" vote next November. He adds that this constitutional amendment is all about protecting those future generations of farmers and ranchers and their ability to continue to use modern production practices that will help them produce food and fiber for the billions of new consumers in the years to come.

AND- we also talked the growing rural problem of feral swine- the damage they can do and how we need to regulate the movement of wild hogs in the state in order to protect domestic swine from disease that is often found in the feral hog population. 

You can hear our full conversation with AFR's Terry Detrick by clicking or tapping here.

 

Selk Recommends Producers Closely Monitor Medicated Mineral Intake

Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist, writes in the latest Cow-Calf Newsletter.


Medicated minerals are available and frequently used to help prevent the blood-born disease, anaplasmosis. A consistent and appropriate intake of the mineral is critical to a successful anaplasmosis prevention program. Cow calf operators will want to monitor mineral consumption closely to be certain that the label-recommended amounts are being consumed by the cattle.   In the near future, a "Veterinary Feed Directive" (VFD) will be necessary for most antibiotic feeding in mineral supplements. Contact and work with your local large animal veterinarian about the appropriate VFD for your operation. For more information and access to the full VFD rule, visit the FDA/CVM website at fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary.


The most popular means of anaplasmosis prevention is the use of mineral mixes that contain chlortetracycline (CTC). When fed at a rate of 0.5 mg/lb. of body weight CTC will reduce the risk of anaplasmosis infections. (November, 2013 Veterinary Entomology vol. 6, issue 4) It is important to note, however, that CTC is added to minerals for several different reasons, and these other uses require different levels of drug in the mineral. Make sure that the product you choose states on the label that it is formulated at a rate for the prevention of anaplasmosis, and gives the specific amount of daily consumption needed to supply that level. The next step is to monitor your herd to make sure that the product is being consumed at the appropriate rate. If not, you may need to look at other products or change your management practices in order to correct consumption deficits. Recovered animals will be carriers of the disease and a source of infection for susceptible individuals. Clear them of the organism with high levels of antibiotics administered parentally, isolate them from susceptible animals, or cull them from the herd.  Click here to read more from Dr. Selk.   

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.

'Farm a Month: Where Does Our Food Come From?' New Learning Kit Targets Pre-K to 1st Graders

"Farm a Month: Where Does Our Food Come From?" is a new learning kit developed by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture for pre-K to first-grade students.


The Farm a Month kit provides an exciting way for teachers, families and classroom volunteers to engage preschool and elementary-aged students in agricultural-based lessons throughout the year. The kit was developed with the goal of helping foster conversations about where food and fiber comes from.


"Premiere educational resources like the Farm a Month kit are an outstanding jumping-off point for young learners," said Julie Tesch, executive director of the Foundation. "But there is nothing quite like meeting a farmer face-to-face. We encourage educators and parents to also contact their local county Farm Bureau to connect with farmers and ranchers in their area."


Farm a Month kits are equipped with 12 activities, each focusing on a different commodity: maple syrup, popcorn, peaches, pears, apples, oranges, lettuce, grapes, cheese, pumpkins, turkeys and cranberries. Suggested snacks and related books to read are included for each activity. 


Click here to read more about the Farm a Month kit and how to purchase kits.

Parade of Beef Meetings Line Up Between Now and Mid August- Check Our Calendar!

Starting next week- there are a bunch of meetings and events aimed at the Beef Producer and in many cases- his family.

In Oklahoma, there are a pair of National Junior Breed Shows next week.  The Brangus National Junior Show runs most of the week in Duncan, Oklahoma while the National Junior Angus Show also runs the full week at Expo Square at the Tulsa Fairgrounds.   

Also running next week is the Summer Cattle Industry Conference in Denver- which is the umbrella event for the summer meetings of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, American National Cattlewomen and the Cattle's Beef Promotion Board.  

The next week- June 23rd thru 25th will find the 63rd annual convention of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association under way.  OCA returns to the Reed Center in Midwest City for their annual event which also includes the annual meeting activities of the Oklahoma Cattlewomen and the Oklahoma Junior Cattlemen's Association.  

As we end July and get into August- there are more events on the horizon- the Cattle Trails Wheat and Stocker Conference in Lawton, the Texas A&M Beef Short Course and the Southern Plains Beef Symposium returning to Ardmore.  

Click on the name of any of these events to get details that are found on our calendar at Oklahoma Farm Report.Com.