Oklahoma Agriculture Blog

Oklahoma’s Official Agricultural Information Site

  • Welcome!

    Terry Peach, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture

    As agriculturists our jobs haven’t changed much from generation to generation but the way we do them sure has! Our roles as providers of the nation’s food and fiber and stewards of the land remain the same but just as we rely on new technologies to become more efficient as producers, we find we now need to find new ways to use them to communicate with each other.

    That’s why we have created this blog. Almost 60 percent of the population now depends on the internet for news and other information. The daily and weekly newspapers are still out there (and we still depend on them to reach thousands of Oklahomans) but for all of you who prefer the speed and convenience of electronic communications, this blog is for you.

    Let us know what you think and please interact on this site with your thoughts and comments. We are counting on you to let us know what you think and suggest things and ideas that will improve this site and provide you with the information you are looking for.

    Terry Peach, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture

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Archive for April, 2009

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USDA SEEKS APPLICATIONS FOR COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTER GRANTS

Posted by carson4575 on April 29, 2009

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today USDA is accepting applications for grants for cooperative development centers to improve economic conditions in rural areas.

“These cooperative development centers provide rural Americans with stronger technical and managerial skills helping small businesses become more profitable and creating jobs in rural communities,” said Vilsack.

Grants of up to $200,000 may awarded to colleges, universities and non-profit groups to create and operate centers that help individuals or groups establish, expand or operate rural businesses, especially cooperatives. The grants are being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Cooperative Development Grant program.

The centers promote President Obama’s goal to bring increased economic opportunities to rural residents by giving them tools to help their businesses grow. Cooperative program grants can be used, among other things, to conduct feasibility studies, create and implement business plans, and help businesses develop new markets for their products and services.

USDA may award up to $4.4 million in grants through this notice. Grants may finance up to 75 percent of the cost of establishing and operating the cooperative centers. Recipients must match 25 percent of the total project cost.

Applications are due by the close of business June 29, 2009. The application guide for this grant program can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops.htm Also see the April 29, 2009, Federal Register, page 19485.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development fosters growth in homeownership, finances business development and supports the creation of critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov .

Posted in Grants | Leave a Comment »

County-Level Cash Rent Data to be Released May 1

Posted by carson4575 on April 29, 2009

[Oklahoma City, OK] – The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will publish county-level data on cash rental rates for agricultural land on May 1 at 3:00 p.m. EDT.

“The information will include average rental rates for non-irrigated cropland, irrigated cropland and pastureland collected during the 2008 calendar year,” said Wilbert Hundl, Jr., Director of the NASS Oklahoma Field Office. “NASS is providing the county data in response to requests from customers as well as the new requirements of the 2008 Farm Bill. “

Since 1997, NASS has published land value and rental rate data at the state level. The release on May 1 will mark the first time NASS is publishing the information at the county level.

The data will be based on information NASS gathered from 700,000 agricultural producers nationwide during the 2008 end-of-year surveys: the biannual cattle survey, the biannual sheep and goats survey, the quarterly crops/stocks survey, the annual acreage and production survey, and the first-ever county-level cash rents survey.

The county-level data on cash rental rates will be available online through Quick Stats, NASS’s agricultural statistics database, found at www.nass.usda.gov. Users will be able to access cash rental rates at the state, county or crop reporting district level.

Posted in Ag Statistics | Leave a Comment »

MIO Recipe of the Week: Braised Filet with Mushroom Sauce

Posted by carson4575 on April 29, 2009

filet__mushroomsmioblog
Braised Filet with Mushroom Sauce
An Original Recipe by Chef Kurt Fleischfresser

2 Chef’s Requested Bacon Wrapped Filets
Shawnee Mills Flour for dusting
Salt and pepper to taste
2 T olive oil
1⁄2 each red onion, sliced
4 oz. JM Farms Cremini Mushrooms
1⁄2 C Made in Oklahoma Red Wine
1⁄2 C water
2 t dried chopped parsley

Slightly pound out the filets to about 1 inch thick. Season with salt and pepper, then flour. Sauté in the oil over a medium-high heat until nice and brown on both sides and remove to a plate. In the same pan, sauté the mushrooms and onions until they are nice and brown and add the wine and reduce by half. Once the wine is reduced, add water and parsley and bring to a boil, then turn the heat to a simmer and finish cooking the filets. Serve immediately. Serves 2.

Posted in MIO Recipe | Leave a Comment »

Consumers can eat pork with no concern for swine flu

Posted by carson4575 on April 28, 2009

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Shoppers should not shy away from pork products over concerns regarding reports of swine flu across the country, said Purdue University experts.

Purdue Extension nutrition specialist Melissa Maulding said the flu virus is not a food-borne pathogen, and there is no risk to the food supply.

“The flu is a virus that is transmitted through interaction with people,” she said. “The biggest defense against catching the flu is to wash your hands.”

Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have indicated that influenza is not passed through food.

Paul Ebner, assistant professor of animal sciences, said that while the current strain infecting humans is an H1N1 virus that is normally associated with pigs, it is not a classic swine virus.

“It has changed, obviously in a dramatic way that has allowed it to more easily infect humans,” he said. “Previously there were a few occurrences of humans catching the flu from pigs, but this strain is different.”

The Indiana Board of Animal Health confirms that this particular flu strain that is infecting humans has not been identified in Indiana’s swine population.

Hog futures fell sharply Monday (April 27) after reports that confirmed cases of swine flu in humans increased over the weekend in the United States. U.S. grains and oilseed prices also fell over concerns that any reduction in pork consumption would result in less demand for feed products to produce that pork.

Purdue Extension economist Chris Hurt said the continuing economic impact on agriculture will depend on how the flu spreads through the human population and how the world responds.

“Swine flu will likely be an ongoing story over the next few weeks,” he said. “We’ll be watching to see whether other countries restrict pork imports, if the worlds’ consumers reduce pork consumption and if the disease is significant enough to further jeopardize already fragile world economic growth.”

Writer: Beth Forbes, 765-494-2722, forbes@purdue.edu

Posted in Swine | Leave a Comment »

Got Milk? Tour Coming to Oklahoma

Posted by carson4575 on April 28, 2009

milkmustache
The “got milk?” Milk Mustache Mobile – Drink Well. Live Well. – Tour is stopping in Oklahoma City from April 26 – May 1 hosting a series of free, community events to help residents achieve overall wellness.

Who: The “got milk?” Milk Mustache Mobile Drink Well. Live Well. Tour and the local dairy processors Borden Milk Products, Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Stores and Hiland Dairy Foods.

What: “got milk?” and local milk processors are hosting a series of events in the Oklahoma City area for community residents. At these events, residents can:

- Experience the “Wellness Oasis” and get tips on how to achieve wellness and balance in their life

- Receive health assessments from a registered dietitian

- Sample low fat and fat free milk and yogurt from local dairies

- Relax with five-minute chair massages from a licensed massage therapist

- Pose for their own celebrity-inspired Milk Mustache photos to keep as souvenirs

- Enter for a chance to win a healthy meal prepared by a personal chef and a year’s supply of milk

Why: From March to August, the national “got milk?” Milk Mustache Mobile’s Drink Well. Live Well. Tour is traveling coast-to-coast to reintroduce Americans to milk—a nutrient powerhouse.

When & Where:

· Oklahoma City Zoo on April 29 for the Kick-off event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

· Outside the OKC-Red Hawks Baseball game on April 30 from 5-7 p.m.

· Norman Homeland on May 1 from 5-7 p.m.

This is the 12th annual “got milk?” Tour that is conducted in an effort to educate Americans on the health and wellness benefits of drinking three glasses of milk each day. While food scientists have worked to duplicate milk’s benefits in manufactured new age beverages, none are as wholesome, nutritious and delicious as milk. Milk is nature’s wellness drink and local milk processors are generous enough to sample their low fat and fat free milk to consumers nationwide.

Since drinking the recommended three glasses of low fat or fat free milk each day gives you the powerful payback of nine essential nutrients and at only 25 cents per 8-ounce glass, milk is a bargain.

This is the message that local milk processors are striving to get across to Americans with this year’s Milk Mustache Mobile – Drink Well. Live Well. –

Posted in Dairy | 2 Comments »

HSUS says animal rights fight will continue: Admit they do not take sound science into consideration

Posted by carson4575 on April 28, 2009

In today’s Oklahoma Farm Report, Ron Hays reports on a session with President Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States. This is a must read story for all livestock producers. Pacelle believes animal abuse and cruelty are the rule rather than the exception in production agriculture.

He essentially sees no difference between activities such as dog fighting and livestock production.

Click here for the link to Ron’s interview with Wayne Pacelle

–Jack Carson

Posted in Animal Industry | Leave a Comment »

04/27 07:47 CDT World animal health body says swine flu wrong name

Posted by carson4575 on April 28, 2009

PARIS, April 27 (Reuters) – The flu virus spreading around the world should not be called “swine flu” as it also contains avian and human components and no pig was found ill with the disease so far, the World Animal Health body said on Monday.  A more logical name for it would be “North-American influenza”, a name based on its geographic origin just like the Spanish influenza, another human flu pandemic with animal origin that killed more than 50 million people in 1918-1919.  “The virus has not been isolated in animals to date.  Therefore it is not justified to name this disease swine  influenza,” the Paris-based organisation said in a statement.  Fears of a global flu pandemic are growing around the world after 103 people were killed in Mexico and new infections were found in the United States and Canada and possible cases as far afield as Europe, Israel and New Zealand.  The OIE warned that if the virus was shown to cause disease in animals virus circulation could worsen the regional and global situation for public health.  Fears there could be a global flu pandemic which would hurt fragile world economies has led to a broad-based decline in stocks, oil and other commodity markets on Monday.  Grain and oilseed markets fells sharply on concern that the outbreak could reduce feed demand for grain-hungry pigs. 

(Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide, Editing by Peter Blackburn) (sybille.delahamaide@thomsonreuters.com; +331 4949 5145; Reuters Messaging: sybille.delahamaide.reuters.com@reuters.net))

Posted in Animal Industry, Swine | 4 Comments »

Swine Influenza Statement Posted

Posted by carson4575 on April 27, 2009

Statement By Secretary Of Agriculture Vilsack Regarding Human Cases of Swine Influenza A (H1N1)

“I would like to express my deepest sympathies for those who have lost loved ones to the flu as well as those who have been sickened.

I also wanted to reassure the public that there is no evidence at this time showing that swine have been infected with this virus.

According to scientists at USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food so you cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork or pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills all viruses and other foodborne pathogens.

USDA has in place, and did so before the last week’s events, a surveillance system to monitor animal health. As an additional precautionary measure, I have asked USDA to reach out to agriculture officials in every state to affirm that they have no signs of this virus type in their state.

USDA will continue to work with other government agencies to monitor the situation and keep the public informed.”

Here are some websites Oklahoma State Veterinarian, Becky Brewer, suggested for more information on swine influenza.

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/swine_flu.shtm

Posted in Animal Industry, Swine | 1 Comment »

USDA TO CONDUCT FIRST WIDE-SCALE SURVEY OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

Posted by carson4575 on April 23, 2009

Comment: This is great news! We receive many inquiries from the media and the public for hard statistics about organic production. It will be a great resource.–Jack Carson

This spring, USDA will conduct the first-ever, wide-scale survey of organic farming in the United States, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said today, to find out how the growth of organic farming is changing the face of U.S. agriculture.

“The Organic Production Survey is a direct response to the growing interest in organics among consumers, farmers, and businesses,” said Vilsack. “This is an opportunity for organic producers to share their voices and help ensure the continued growth and sustainability of organic farming in the United States.”

2007 Census of Agriculture counted more than 20,000 U.S. farms engaged in organic production.

The survey will look at many aspects of organic farming during the 2008 calendar year – from production and marketing practices, to income and expenses. It will focus not only on operations that are currently engaged in organic production, but also on those making the transition to organic agriculture.

The results will help shape future decisions regarding farm policy, funding allocations, availability of goods and services, community development and other key issues. In addition, the information can help producers make informed decisions about the future of their own farming operations.

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail the survey in early May to all known organic producers in the United States, who are asked to respond by June 17. NASS will publish results in winter 2009.

Participants can mail back their forms or complete the survey online at www.agcensus.usda.gov. Survey participants are guaranteed by law (Title 7, U.S. Code) that their individual information will be kept confidential. NASS uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes data only in tabulated totals.

Posted in Organic | 1 Comment »

Preliminary Tests Indicate Cattle TB Infection in Texas Dairy

Posted by carson4575 on April 23, 2009

Preliminary test results indicate that a dairy in west Texas is infected with cattle tuberculosis (TB). Cattle TB is caused by the Mycobacterium bovis bacteria and can cause internal lesions in animals. Milk from commercial dairies is pasteurized, killing bacteria with heat, so there is not public health concern from this herd detection.

“Animals from the 2,600-head dairy were being prepared for sale and some reacted to TB skin tests. The follow-up blood tests on these animals also were positive,” said Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas state veterinarian and executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission, the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. “Samples were collected from two of the cattle slaughtered for examination, and the tissues were submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa for additional testing. The lesions are microscopically compatible with TB, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests on the tissues have detected the DNA, or the basic genetic material of the disease. The final confirmation is based on a culture, which may take several weeks. It involves identifying bacterial growth from the tissue samples as Mycobacterium bovis.”

“We will be determining the dispensation of the herd in the next few days,” said Dr. Hillman. “An epidemiological investigation has been launched to determine the source or possible spread of the disease.”

Texas regained cattle TB-free status in fall 2006, after losing the coveted status in spring 2002. Dr. Hillman noted that one TB-infected herd will not affect the state’s status, but two infected herds within a 48-month period will result in a loss of TB-free status. Texas’ most recent TB-infected herd was a dairy, detected in 2004 and depopulated. California lost its TB-free status in September 2008, and Minnesota, Michigan and New Mexico are split states, meaning areas within these states have different TB statuses. All other states currently are TB-free.

Posted in Animal Industry | Leave a Comment »

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