From: Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.ccsend.com] on behalf of Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.com]
Sent: Friday, December 31, 2010 6:52 AM
To: Hays, Ron
Subject: Oklahoma's Farm News Update
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Oklahoma's latest farm and ranch news
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON for Friday December 31, 2010
A service of Johnston Enterprises, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy and American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company!
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-- Top Farm News Story of 2010- Lucas Claims Chairmanship of House Ag Committee
-- One of the Big Five Beef Stories of 2010- Best Cash Cattle Prices and US Beef Exports Since 2003 Help Cattle Industry Profitability
-- By the way- here are links to our other Top Beef Stories of the Year
-- Texas Files Lawsuit Against EPA Over Attempts to Commandeer Texas Air Permitting Program
-- Conaway's 'No New Programs' Language Included in New House Rules
-- Happy New Year!!!!
-- 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 pleased to have American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company as a regular sponsor of our daily update- click here to go to their AFR web site to learn more about their efforts to serve rural America!

It is also great to have as a longstanding sponsor on our daily email Johnston Enterprises- proud to be serving agriculture across Oklahoma and around the world since 1893. One of the great success stories of the Johnston brand is Wrangler Bermudagrass- the most widely planted true cold-tolerant seeded forage bermudagrass in the United States. For more on Johnston Enterprises- click here for their website that features their grain, ports and seed business!

And we are proud to have P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy as one of our regular sponsors of our daily email update. P & K is the premiere John Deere dealer in Oklahoma, with ten locations to serve you, and the P & K team are excited about their new Wind Power program, as they offer Endurance Wind Power wind turbines. Click here for more from the P&K website.

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Top Farm News Story of 2010- Lucas Claims Chairmanship of House Ag Committee
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The story of the night of November second could also legitimately claim to be the story of the year for Oklahoma agriculture- as that first Tuesday in November saw Oklahoma lay claim to having it's first Chairman of the House Ag Committee ever. Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas has been the ranking minority member of the House Ag Committee in 2009 and 2010, serving under Democratic Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota. However, with the Republicans seizing control of the US House in the midterm elections, those roles will be reversed in 2011 and 2012. Here's our story that we had on that historic evening for Oklahoma agriculture, putting Frank Lucas in the role as a key player in the writing of the 2012 Farm Bill.

The expectation that Congressman Lucas will step into this major role was called the "story of the night" by Tyler Norvell, who lobbies for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Norvell and other farm leaders in Oklahoma are very excited about this new high profile role for the Roger Mills County rancher.

On that night in November- Lucas himself expressed excitement about the opportunity to be the Chairman- and looks forward to helping shape the next farm bill to be written in either 2011 or 2012. Lucas says that there will be fewer dollars to work with- but pledges that he will work hard to protect the interests of farmers as this bill is developed.

Click on the LINK below to read our full story- and you can click on the listen bar there to listen to our conversation of the night of November 2nd when we were at the Republican Watch Party and caught up with Congressman Lucas for our exclusive conversation with him that night about his victory and the expectations that came true that night of a GOP grab of the House- and the chairmanship that he was in line for- Agriculture.

Click here for our top farm news story of 2010- Frank Lucas to be the new Chairman of the House Ag Committee


One of the Big Five Beef Stories of 2010- Best Cash Cattle Prices and US Beef Exports Since 2003 Help Cattle Industry Profitability
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We have profiled five of the top beef industry stories in 2010 this week on our Beef Buzz reports. Today, the fifth story of our list reflects the dynamic nature of this current cash cattle market. Even as we were listing these top beef stories this week- cash cattle prices hit their high of 2010- and the best cash cattle price in the southern plains since 2003- as feedlots were paid $107 for market ready cattle on Wednesday.

In addition to seven year highs on cattle ready to be harvested, calf and yearling cattle prices have also been at historic highs in 2010 as well. Dr. Derrell Peel says the tightness of supplies of cattle suggest that the highs of 2010 may be exceeded in the new year- but by how much will be dictated by how consumers react to higher retail beef prices. We feature comments from Dr. Peel from earlier this month on today's Beef Buzz.

The other side of this top beef story is the US Beef Export component. One of the reasons we have had strong cattle prices in the US in 2010 have been US Beef Export sales that are way ahead of 2009- and will match or exceed 2003 levels, based on value.
Click on the LINK below to hear our final Beef Buzz of 2010, with comments from both Dr. Peel as well as from Gregg Doud of the NCBA who is talking about the amazing run we have had this year in the beef export marketplace.

Click here for today's year ending Beef Buzz on cattle prices and US Beef Exports.


By the way- here are links to our other Top Beef Stories of the Year
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On Monday, we started our series on the top Beef Stories of the year. In no particular order, we called the following five stories five of the top beef stories of 2010. Honorable mention would likely be the Eastern Livestock debacle- and clearly if you have been impacted by the Eastern check bouncing scheme- that story is unfortunately the most devastating event of 2010 to you.

Click on the links within each description to jump to that story.

Monday- we focused on the demise of the National Animal ID System- and where the Obama Administration wants to go on animal disease traceback and Animal ID

Tuesday- No Movement by Japan to Widen Access to US Beef.

Wednesday- Fighting Over the GIPSA Rule for the Marketing of Livestock

Thursday- The GOP-Obama Tax Deal Delivers Estate Tax Reform

Friday- Best Cash Cattle Prices and US Beef Exports Since 2003 Help Cattle Industry Profitability


Texas Files Lawsuit Against EPA Over Attempts to Commandeer Texas Air Permitting Program
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The State of Texas Thursday filed a legal action challenging the federal government's attempt to take over Texas' air permitting program. Court documents filed by the State explain that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's improper overreach violates the Clean Air Act, which mandates a cooperative relationship between the federal government and the states.

Texas has asked the federal court in the District of Columbia to issue an emergency stay to prevent the EPA from taking over that state's air permitting program as of Sunday. According to the news release from the Texas Attorney General's office, "The State's legal action involves the EPA's unprecedented effort to regulate so-called greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Like many other states, Texas law does not currently deem greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide to be pollutants. However, unlike every other similarly situated state, Texas - and only Texas - was singled out by the EPA, which is attempting to take over the State's air permitting program effective Jan. 2, 2011. The State's petition for review and request for emergency stay were filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and ask the federal court to immediately halt the EPA's improper attempt to commandeer Texas' air permitting program."

Click on the LINK below to read the rest of our story on this push back by Texas against the EPA- they hope to get an immediate response from the court for a stay against the January second takeover by EPA of the permitting process in their state.

Click here for more details on the Texas lawsuit against EPA over Greenhouse Gases


Conaway's 'No New Programs' Language Included in New House Rules
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The House Office of Majority Transition released Dec. 23 the new House rules for the 112th Congress. Included in the rules is Congressman Mike Conaway's (R-TX) language to 'Cut-as-you-go', previously introduced as the 'No New Programs' legislation, which requires cutting spending in existing programs for any increases in mandatory programs of equal or greater cost.

"After six years of pushing for this commonsense legislation, I am thrilled that the new Republican Leadership has included the 'Cut-as-you-go' language in the House rules for the 112th Congress," said Conaway. "Congress should refrain from passing any legislation that would create new Federal programs without providing for direct dollar-for-dollar and program-for-program offsets. Increasing the size of government with new Federal programs will defeat any effort by Congress to reduce Federal spending."

The 'Cut-as-you-go' language states that tax increases cannot be used to pay for new mandatory spending. This rule will, in practice, replace the Democrats' "pay-go" rule.
Conaway, who is a member of the House Ag Committee, adds, "Setting priorities for federal spending is extremely difficult and not always popular, but representatives were elected to make tough decisions."


Happy New Year!!!!
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As we wind down the old year and look forward to 2011- it's my chance to say thank you for your support and interest in what we do on the radio, TV, website, Facebook, RON Value Book, Twitter and of course, this daily email. 2009 was a rough year for many media companies- and our advertising revenue was down as well- but 2010 we saw a respectable recovery for which I am thankful.

While my big boss "gets it" when it comes to super serving your audience as we try to do- you still gotta pay the bills and I would strongly recommend that when you see a sponsor mentioned here- or you hear one of our sponsors on the radio- take note and give these folks a chance to earn your business when you need their product or service. Of course, let them know that you appreciate their support of Ron's email and of our radio reports.

AND- for those of you that hear us on our wonderful radio stations across the state and region on the Radio Oklahoma Network- please let those stations know that you appreciate their support of agriculture that results in their carrying Ron Hays and Ed Richards with our daily reports from the Radio Oklahoma Network. We will be spotlighting our radio stations in the days ahead- and we'll let you know more precisely when you can hear Ron on RON!

We look forward to continuing to keep you up to date on the latest farm and ranch news as it relates to Oklahoma and the Southern Great Plains in 2011- it will be a busy January right out of the box and we promise that we will do our very best to keep you ahead of the curve on news that can impact the way you earn your living in the world of agriculture.
God Bless you one and all- have a safe New Year's Eve and a prosperous 2011!!!!


Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, PCOM, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy, Johnston Enterprises, American Farmers & Ranchers, KIS Futures and Big Iron Online Auctions 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- FREE!

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.

Click here to check out WWW.OklahomaFarmReport.Com


Let's Check the Markets!
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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 $9.90 per bushel- as of the close of business yesterday, while the 2011 New Crop contracts for Canola are now available are $10.65 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:
Our Daily Market Wrapup from the Radio Oklahoma Network with Ed Richards and Tom Leffler- analyzing the Futures Markets from the previous Day-
Ron on RON Markets as heard on K101 mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
Previous Day's Wheat Market Recap- Two Pager From The Kansas City Board of Trade looks at all three US Wheat Futures Exchanges with extra info on Hard Red Winter Wheat and the why of that day's market.
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- As Reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture. <
The National Daily Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
The National Daily Slaughter Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
Finally, Here is the Daily Volume and Price Summary from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.



God Bless! You can reach us at the following:
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phone: 405-473-6144
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