Feeders will continue to see losses for the next several months. That's according to Kansas State University Livestock Market Economist Glynn Tonsor. He periodically figures the expected outcome of feeding cattle in the Southern Plains, especially in Kansas. As of September 10th, Tonsor said the projected close-outs or net returns through May of 2016 were $100 to up to $300 losses. The worst month is projected to be November with losses of $292 per head. Since September 10th, the cattle markets have fallen at least $5/cwt in most of those months. That's roughly $60 to $70 per head of losses to add onto the September 10 figures.


"All of those negative numbers that range from $100 to almost $300, to be fair here, you would have to add another $60 to $70 losses to them at that point in time of projections," Tonsor said.


All of these projections are all based on a cash strategy.   Tonsor said it assumes no hedging at the time of placement and feed prices are based on current local prices for corn. While that may not match anyone's marketing strategy, he said it does pick up the profitability trends of the industry. Tonsor said projections for the second half of 2015 into 2016 have been projected to have bad close out returns and they continue to get worse.


Tonsor adds in today's Beef Buzz that he thinks that last week's Cattle on Feed report did offer a small ray of hope that with smaller placements compared to what the trade was expecting- numbers of market ready cattle will be smaller in the first quarter of 2016.


Click or tap here to listen to Glynn's take on the flow of red ink and how the industry deals with that going forward.

Armyworms continue to invade pastures and crops in Oklahoma, with OSU Extension Entomologist Dr. Tom Royer calling it a "huge year for fall armyworms in pastures, sorghum, and now wheat and canola." Royer wrote in an Extension release last week that "Fall armyworms have been very active this summer and fall. As wheat planting progresses, producers need to check fields regularly after seedling emergence. Scout for fall armyworms by examining plants in several (5 or more) locations in the field. Fall armyworms are most active in the morning or late afternoon.


"Look for "window paned" leaves and count all sizes of larvae. Examine plants along the field margin as well as in the interior, because they sometimes move in from road ditches and weedy areas. The suggested treatment threshold is 2 - 3 larvae per linear foot of row in wheat with active feeding. We won't get relief from fall armyworms until we get a killing frost, so keep vigilant!"

Royer, in a Wednesday evening email- added to those comments by saying armyworms have been found in newly planted canola- so scout those fields as well and if you find one caterpiller per foot row in canola- that's the the threshold to use as justification to spray. He adds that "we don't have a positive ID on the caterpillars in canola but they are either beet armyworm or fall armyworm."

If you have discovered armyworms in your fields at those threshold levels- OSU has a newly updated Fact Sheet on dealing with pests in winter wheat- click here to go grab Fact Sheet CR-7194 for their recommendations.

Researchers at The Noble Foundation and Michigan State University (MSU) recently received a four-year, $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).


The grant will enable Wolf Scheible, Ph.D., principal investigator, and co-principal investigators, Michael Udvardi, Ph.D., and Patrick X. Zhao, Ph.D. (all with the Noble Foundation), and Hideki Takahashi, Ph.D. (MSU), to identify and study targeted molecules, small signaling peptides (SSPs), in a model legume species, Medicago truncatula, as well as alfalfa, a commercially significant crop.


"We want to understand how these under-studied molecules affect plant development, especially root growth and nodulation," Scheible said. "Currently, all we know is that a few such peptides are key components in signaling pathways that manage the internal developmental decisions plants make."


Noble Foundation researchers further expect that SSPs, which are encoded by many, often poorly marked genes, may also control plant metabolism, plant-microbe interactions and nutrient stress tolerance. This grant will enable this exploration.  Click here to read more about how this research will increase understanding of important genes.

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


The fall breeding season is about two months away. If you have not assessed your bull battery recently, time is running out. Contact your local large animal veterinarian and make arrangements to see that your bulls of all ages pass a breeding soundness exam. Late summer high temperatures may reduce bull fertility for several weeks after the weather has moderated. In addition, ask your veterinarian about the need for a trichomoniasis test. Trichomoniasis is a reproductive disease of cattle that will result in a large percentage of open cows at preg checking time. If the bulls' feet need to be trimmed, this would be an excellent opportunity to get that done as well.


Bulls that do not pass a breeding soundness exam will need to be replaced before the start of breeding. Purchase the replacement from a production sale or nearby seedstock producer as soon as possible. It is advantageous to move the bull to his new environment several weeks before breeding. If the bull has been consuming a high energy, grain-based diet, this will give you time to gradually reduce the grain and increase the forage intake. The rumen will take some time to adjust to the forage-based diet that he will consume during the breeding season. A very sudden, steep decline in energy intake could cause a decrease in bull fertility. Therefore a gradual change over several weeks will produce more positive results.  Click here to read more about keeping bulls. 

The Oklahoma State Fair provides an opportunity for livestock producers to show their best stock. It also provides a gateway for consumers to meet local producers and buy products directly from the farm.


McDaniel's Guernseys of Oklahoma City brought three of the six dairy cattle breeds in showing Guernseys, Milking Shorthorn and Jersey cattle. In showing at the fair, Lisa Everett said they feel it's important that consumers know where their milk comes from. During their time at the fair, they are often asked if they sell milk off the farm. She said having more direct consumer sales has helped their farm mitigate the effects of drought and volatile hay prices.


McDaniel's Guernseys like to show off their cattle and they have eight youth that are involved in 4-H and FFA. Everett said they have youth from four to 16 years of age that are caring for and showing their cattle. Annually McDaniel's Guernseys will also show their cattle at the Cleveland County Fair and the Sooner Dairy Show. The Centennial Farm was established by John McDaniel's family in 1911.


Our Leslie Smith interviewed Lisa Everett at the Oklahoma State Fair. Click or tap here to listen to the interview.

When most people think about innovators, they think about technological advances in the industrial sector. The ranching industry has a group of innovators that are making headlines. This group of people are out in front making changes in their day- to- day operations, introducing new ranching methods and procedures and creating new ways to do business.


One such example is Blooming Grove, Texas ranchers Gary and Sue Price. These stewardship-award winning ranchers are making history for the way they are guiding ranch management into the future.

The Prices are just one of several agriculture industry innovators that will be featured at the upcoming 6th National Conference on Grazing Lands Dec. 13-16, 2015, at the Hyatt Regency DFW near Grapevine, Texas. Hosted by the National Grazing Lands Coalition, the conference brings together people who are passionate about innovation and the exchange of ideas, as well as information on grazing land environmental and economic practices and issues.  Click here to read more on the upcoming 6th National Conference on Grazing Lands.

 

 

The regular every other Friday sales schedule for Superior Video Livestock Auction is back up and running- with their next sale tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM central time. 

Over 26,000 head of cattle will be offered- including 4,250 yearling steers, 3,750 yearling heifers, 10,300 weaned calves and 3,800 calves on cows.

You can call Superior at 1-800-422-2117 for more information or jump over to the Superior website for this listing about this Friday's sale.

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The 18th annual Pollard Farms Female Production Sale is set to roll at high noon this coming Saturday- September 26th at the Farm , Waukomis, Oklahoma.

Barry and Roxanne have over 170 head that will be selling as 111 Angus lots- Donor Dams, Donor Prospects, Fall Yearling Heifers, Spring Heifer Calves, Fall Pairs and Heavy Breds and Spring Pairs and Bred Females.

Click here for their website where the sale catalog and videos of the offering can be found- or call the ranch for more information at 1-580-758-1464.

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Today is Day One of the 2015 edition of the Heart of America Farm Show- being held at the Tulsa RV Ranch near Beggs. This is the third annual Heart of America Farm and Home Show- and the number of exhibitors continues to grow- and it looks like great weather is on tap for the three day event.

Steve Schiffner, co host of the Radio Oklahoma Hook and Hunt Show heard Saturday mornings will be manning our booth today- I will be around during the day on Friday- and hope you will stop in and say howdy- and on Saturday, Steve will be back along with our own Leslie Smith.

Click here for their website to learn more about this year's show- admission is free.