~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oklahoma's latest farm and ranch news
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON for Thursday April 22, 2010
A
service of Producers Cooperative Oil Mill, Midwest Farm Shows and KIS
Futures!
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-- Vilsack Proclaims the Next Farm Bill Should Emphasize Rural
Development and Pay For It with Farm Safety Net Monies
-- Congressman Lucas Tangles With Secretary Vilsack Over Limited
Emphasis on Farm Program Safety Net and Conservation Programs
-- Senate Ag Committee Passes on a Party Line Vote a Major Financial
Overhaul Bill
-- Oberstar Dredges Up Battle over "Navigable Waters" language in
Clean Water Act
-- To Apply or Not To Apply Fungicides This Season- Now Is the Time
for That Question
-- Farm Bureau Weighs in on EPA Blog Blunder
-- Shorthorn Breed Gathering for Oklahoma Coming Saturday April 24 in
Duncan
-- Let's Check the Markets!
Howdy Neighbors! Here's your morning farm news headlines from the Director of Farm Programming for the Radio Oklahoma Network, Ron Hays. We are proud to have KIS Futures as a regular sponsor of our daily email update. KIS Futures provides Oklahoma Farmers & Ranchers with futures & options hedging services in the livestock and grain markets- Click here for the free market quote page they provide us for our website or call them at 1-800-256-2555. We are also excited to have as one of our sponsors for the daily email
Producers Cooperative Oil Mill, with 64 years of progress through
producer ownership. Call Brandon Winters at 405-232-7555 for more
information on the oilseed crops they handle, including sunflowers and
canola- and remember they post closing market prices for canola and
sunflowers on the PCOM
website- go there by clicking here. If you have received this by someone forwarding it to you, you are welcome to subscribe and get this weekday update sent to you directly by clicking here. | |
Vilsack Proclaims the Next Farm Bill Should Emphasize Rural Development and Pay For It with Farm Safety Net Monies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesday, Ag
Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed the current and next farm bills before the
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture chaired by Collin
Peterson. Vilsack presented a national perspective on the challenges
facing rural America based on his travels to rural communities throughout
the country. He also discussed the state of agriculture today, the need
for a strong farm safety net, and new approaches to create income
opportunities and generate wealth in a stronger, more prosperous rural
America for generations to come.
As for the next farm bill, Vilsack said it is important that we approach this new legislation with an eye toward truly making a difference in the future of the lives of millions of rural Americans. If we set our goals appropriately, Vilsack said, we can properly assist and strengthen production agriculture, while also building and reinforcing the future of rural communities. The Secretary had lengthy written statement that he immediately ignored and talked to the Committee "from the heart." He then spoke of Rural America often and spoke little of programs that will be of direct impact US farmers and ranchers. He did praise the American farmer to feeding more people than ever, but decried the lack of jobs in Rural America, saying that is a problem that he wants to address in the next farm bill. He did not speak of any monies from nutrition programs going to these Rural America support efforts- but only of redirecting resources from the other 25% of the total pricetag of the farm bill. Click on the link below and you can jump to the story we have on our website that addresses the Vilsack's written testimony and also features the audio of his actual presentation to the Committee. Click here for the picture of Rural America Drawn by USDA's Tom Vilsack. | |
Congressman Lucas Tangles With Secretary Vilsack Over Limited Emphasis on Farm Program Safety Net and Conservation Programs ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Ranking
Minority Member of the House Ag Committee, Oklahoma Republican Frank
Lucas, took off the white gloves and asked USDA's intentions about keeping
farm safety net programs as a primary element in the next farm bill. He
also asked if the Secretary if the Administration is prepared to provide
services to rural America with the intention of turning it into one big
bedroom community.
The Secretary did not deny that the Administration wants a reduction in farm program direct payments, a reduction in crop insurance monies and some conservation funds to boot- but he claims what he has in mind will provide services and improvements in Rural America. And no, the Secretary says there is no interest in turning Rural America into one big Bedroom Community. Lucas wasn't buying it, and pointed out Democrats and Republicans
overrode President Bush's veto of the 2008 Farm Bill in a fight also over
the direction of U.S. farm policy. Lucas served notice to Vilsack that
with farm bill budget dollars rapidly dwindling, ag lawmakers will fight
for producers. | |
Senate Ag Committee Passes on a Party Line Vote a Major Financial Overhaul Bill ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ During the
Senate Ag Committee's markup session for the Wall Street Transparency and
Accountability Act yesterday, Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss pointed out
the committee is responsible for oversight of the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission and derivatives regulation is an area that we
constantly monitor. The Senator called appropriate regulation of
derivatives, and specifically the swaps market, a critical component of
such legislation.
Chambliss hoped there would be changes to the bill. But, his substitute was defeated 9 to 12. For instance, he said, - Farm Credit System institutions - despite attempts to ensure that they are not subjected to all of these new mandates, I understand that the chairman's mark may have in fact not exempted them. Chambliss said , this is exactly what I fear, unintended consequences resulting from applying complicated regulations too broadly. The vote was 13 to 8, with one Republican joining the Democrats on the
Committee in a yes vote. Senator Charles Grassley crossed the aisle and
voted for the measure. | |
Oberstar Dredges Up Battle over "Navigable Waters" language in Clean Water Act ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If a bill
written by Minnesota Representative James Oberstar passes Congressional
muster, The Clean Water Act would affect all fresh waters. Advocates say
it was the intent of the law, passed in 1972, to include all fresh water.
But, on two occasions the U.S. Supreme Court has decided that the Clean
Water Act applies only to waters deemed navigable. That would exclude
small water bodies, intermittently flowing streams and wetlands.A similar measure passed the Environment and Public Works Committee- but has shown little traction in getting a vote on the Senate floor. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association is not amused. "Removing the word 'navigable' from the definition of waters of the United States is a non-starter for us," said Tamara Thies, NCBA chief environmental counsel. "Navigability is essential to maintain the appropriate federal-state balance that has always been the hallmark of the Clean Water Act. Without it, the reach of the federal government's strong arm will be limitless. While this bill claims to exclude 'prior converted croplands' from regulation under the Act, it actually takes away the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to determine which lands meet that definition and gives it to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. "In addition, it's perplexing that the author claims that the bill will not regulate groundwater when a groundwater exclusion is not included in the statutory language of the bill. This bill would take away state and private property rights and would only lead to endless litigation and bureaucratic red tape. The result would actually hamper our nation's ability to maintain clean waters." Click here to read more about the NCBA's opposition to this measure. | |
To Apply or Not To Apply Fungicides This Season- Now Is the Time for That Question ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The latest
wheat disease report from OSU Plant Pathologist Dr. Bob Hunger tells us
that the weather is ideal in many locations for rapid spread of foliar
diseases- and you will need to hit the window of opportunity soon if you
decide to spray- or it will be too late for this season. Here's the full
Oklahoma Wheat Disease update that Dr. Hunger has provided us:
"Examining plots and trials around Stillwater I found powdery mildew, leaf rust and stripe rust. Wheat was mostly in at full boot with some heads just starting to emerge. Later planted wheat was approaching boot. Barley yellow dwarf virus was observed in several trials around Stillwater; however, no or only very few aphids were seen. Presence of BYDV was indicated by flag leaf discoloration, which is indicative of spring infection. In one early planted trial differences in height also were noticeable, which is more indicative of fall infection. "Where powdery mildew was previously found, it has increased significantly on lower leaves (F-3, F-4) and was easily in the 65-90S range. In some early planted Jagalene, I found powdery mildew, leaf rust and stripe rust with leaf rust (25-40S) being the primary disease present. Flag leaves were still clean and infection on the F-1 leaf was still low (10% range). Stripe rust was present here and elsewhere, but at a relatively low incidence. Dr. Art Klatt (OSU wheat breeder) and Sarah Wright (graduate student) also have reported seeing stripe rust in there breeder lines here at Stillwater. Leaf rust also was observed in several plots and trials around Stillwater. These observations indicate to me that for Oklahoma the decision to spray a foliar fungicide onto higher-yielding fields is here - especially for central and southern OK. The wheat in this area is between growth stage 10-10.5 (full boot-heads fully emerged), and the window to spray will quickly close as fungicides cannot be applied after heads are fully emerged. This is especially true for the earlier planted wheat. In northern, northwestern and the panhandle of Oklahoma, the wheat probably is not quite as far along, but weather for the last 4-5 days and the forecast for the next 4-5 days has been and is favorable for infection and spread of foliar diseases." | |
Farm Bureau Weighs in on EPA Blog Blunder ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's been all
over Twitter and Facebook in the last few days- an EPA Blog that has run
amuck with a posting on the need to go meatless to save the planet. Bob
Stallman, President of the American Farm Bureau, has issued a statement
telling EPA that the Interns should not be running the ship- at least when
it comes to blasting a major part of US agriculture.
"The American Farm Bureau Federation is concerned with the recent blog
post by an Environmental Protection Agency intern on the agency's official
blog, "Greenversations." In the post, the intern promotes going meatless
because of environmental and animal welfare concerns. "While this is a position taken by an intern of the agency, EPA should
control its blog space. What is written on its blog comes across as its
official position toward farmers and ranchers that it regulates and shows
a terrible disregard for them and the agriculture industry." | |
Shorthorn Breed Gathering for Oklahoma Coming Saturday April 24 in Duncan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The 2010
Oklahoma Sooner Classic Shorthorn Sale is set for this Saturday, April 24,
2010 at the Stephens County Fairgrounds in Duncan. The sale will begin at
1:00 PM
Among the lots that will sell will be Fancy Show Heifer Prospects,
Bulls, Bred Females and Cow/Calf Pairs. For more information, contact Sammy Richardson, Chairman of the
Oklahoma Shorthorn Association at 580-658-2709 or 580-467-8267. | |
Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, PCOM, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy, Johnston Enterprises, AFR and KIS Futures for their support of our daily Farm News Update. For your convenience, we have our sponsors' websites linked here- just click on their name to jump to their website- check their sites out and let these folks know you appreciate the support of this daily email, as their sponsorship helps us keep this arriving in your inbox on a regular basis! We also invite you to check out our website at the link below to check out an archive of these daily emails, audio reports and top farm news story links from around the globe. | |
Let's Check the Markets! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We've had
requests to include Canola prices for your convenience here- and we will
be doing so on a regular basis. Current cash price for Canola is $7.50 per
bushel, while the 2010 New Crop contracts for Canola are now available are
$7.65 per bushel- delivered to local participating elevators that are
working with PCOM.
Here are some links we will leave in place on an ongoing basis- Click
on the name of the report to go to that link: | |
God Bless! You can reach us at the following: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
email: ron@oklahomafarmreport.com
phone: 405-473-6144
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