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 Big Iron Unreserved Online Auctions as one of our great sponsors of the daily Email. Their next auction is Wednesday, March 9 - featuring Low Hour, Farmer Owned Equipment. Click here for their website to learn more about their Online Farm Equipment Auctions.

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.

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The U.S. Senate is scheduled to consider that Continuing Resolution this week which includes provisions that would prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from implementing its approved waiver for E15 ethanol blends in America's fuel supply, and prohibit construction of blender pumps and ethanol storage facilities - both measures that would deepen our addiction to foreign oil and further hurt our economy by limiting consumer access to the only commercially viable fuel alternative to foreign oil: American ethanol.

The seven groups urged the Senate to oppose any efforts that would block the Administration from implementing policies that would reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs and strengthen our national security.

Click on the LINK below and read more- including the text of the full letter that has been sent to all US Senators as they head back to Washington this week.

Click here for more on the Letter Sent by Farm Bureau and Others Urging Support of American Ethanol in the Senate

One market reality that the second group does not understand is that if the ethanol market went away- corn farmers would be growing fewer bushels of corn for two markets instead of three- feed grains and the export market.

The third group is where most livestock producers fall into- ethanol is an industry that has had a reasonable amount of time to develop- and that it is now a mature industry using billions of bushels of grain- and no longer deserves federal government subsidies. Most livestock producers don't have a problem competing with ethanol in the market for corn- as long as the government is not subsidizing its competition.
The position of the livestock industry was pretty well summed up in the latest Texas Cattle Feeders Association newsletter as they write "TCFA agrees that multiple factors are involved in food inflation. But there is no question that federal ethanol subsidies are the major reason that feedgrains prices are soaring. Cattle feeders must pay the higher cost of corn without the help of any federal subsidies. TCFA continues to fight for the elimination of federal supports for ethanol and is encouraged by the action in the House."

A series of meetings in Oklahoma will help Sooner State ranchers capitalize on this premium market, according to a news release from Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB). Purina Land O'Lakes, Pfizer, Oklahoma State University (OSU) and the Oklahoma Angus Association will join in to present "Best Management Practices for Quality Beef Production" sessions in three locations. We talk about these meetings on today's Beef Buzz with Gary Fike of the CAB Program.

Haines Land and Cattle, Lexington, Okla., will host the first event on April 5; the next day moves to the Kiamichi Technology Center in McAlester, Okla.; and the April 7 seminar is set for the Rogers County Building in Claremore, Okla. All meetings begin with registration at 8:45 a.m., include a Certified Angus Beef lunch and adjourn at 2 p.m.

Click on the LINK below to hear our Beef Buzz with Gary Fike and learn more about these meetings- we also have a PDF brochure about the meetings on our webstory that you can download to learn even more.

Click here for more on the CAB meetings coming in early April across Oklahoma.

Last week in Stillwater I observed large, "old" pustules of leaf rust on low leaves of Jagalene planted next to some of Dr. Carver's breeder lines. This strip of Jagalene was planted relatively early (mid-September) and has not been cut back or "grazed" as have the plots in the field. Hence, the growth is high and rank with the upper leaves obviously having been frozen during the cold spells. Leaf rust pustules were observed on the lower leaves. These pustules were faded orange in color indicating that although these spores are viable, they are relatively old and new spores have not yet started to be produced.

The rain we had in the Stillwater area at the end of this past week along with mild temperatures coming will start the production of new leaf rust spores. However, the dry conditions over the state most likely mean that leaf rust should be fairly limited at this time. PLUS, I have not yet heard any reports of wheat rusts in southern Texas, which typically have been reported by early to mid-February. I also observed some aphids in the Jagalene - most likely bird cherry oat."

Dr. Hunger also has some information from other states that he promises will be up on the OSU plant pest website- as well as pictures of what he is now seeing when it comes to the latest hints of disease that may be out there. Click on the LINK below for that update- it should be showing up as a "Wheat Disease Update" on this page later on Monday.

Click here for the OSU Plant Pest Update page- Bob Hunger's latest Wheat Disease Report with Pictures Should be there later on Monday.

Along with participating in the agriculture committee meetings we will be attending a number of other legislative committee meetings. At this point we are most interested in what could potentially happen in the House Appropriations Committee. No agenda has been posted but we do know that HB 1292 by Derby R, Owasso has been assigned to this particular committee. HB 1292 amends existing law by inserting the following language:

"In addition to any other requirement of law, in order to qualify for any exemption authorized by Section 1358 (ag sales tax exemptions) of this title and to qualify for a permit pursuant to this section a person shall file a sworn affidavit with the Oklahoma Tax Commission attesting that the person is actively engaged in the practice of farming, ranching or a combination thereof and derives at least a majority of their gross income from farming, ranching or a combination thereof."

Scott goes on to say "The way we read this a rancher would not be eligible for the exemption if he/she derives more than 50% of their income off the ranch. While we do not like it many of us have had to seek part/full time occupations off the ranch to help meet our obligations. The impact this would have on our members is huge. It is patently unfair to discriminate against those who have a diverse flow of income. The principle reason for the exemption is to avoid paying taxes on the same thing twice. For instance, without the exemption we would pay sales tax on the feed we use to produce the beef we sell which we end up paying income tax on."

Dewald adds that "Late Friday afternoon we visited with the Chairman of the Appropriations and Budget Committee, Representative Earl Sears, R-Bartlesville about this bill. Representative Sears has invited us to his office first thing Monday morning so we can discuss this bill and address this issue before it "gets legs." We sincerely appreciate Representative Sears and his leadership."

Dewald promises to keep us up to date on this measure.

"Under the resolution announced, USDA and Hispanic and women farmers will be able to move forward and focus on the future," said Assistant Attorney General West. "The administrative process being established will give Hispanic and women farmers who believe they suffered discrimination the chance to have their claims heard."
The claims process offers a streamlined alternative to litigation and provides at least $1.33 billion in compensation, plus up to $160 million in farm debt relief, to eligible women and Hispanic farmers and ranchers. This announcement follows the Obama Administration's settlement of longstanding litigation brought by African-American farmers and Native American farmers.

The program announced today provides up to $50,000 for each Hispanic or woman farmer who can show that USDA denied them a loan or loan servicing for discriminatory reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and 2000. Hispanic or female farmers who provide additional proof and meet other requirements can receive a $50,000 reward. Successful claimants are also eligible for funds to pay the taxes on their awards and for forgiveness of certain existing USDA loans. There are no filing fees or other costs to claimants to participate in the program. Participation is voluntary, and individuals who opt not to participate are not precluded by the program from filing a complaint in court.

Click here for more details of the latest round of settlements and cash being offered

Also this week- the Oklahoma Cotton Industry is officially welcoming Dr. Randy Boman, who is the new state cotton specialist for the state. Randy fills the shoes that have been worn for a lot of years by JC Banks, who retired this past year. Boman has been located in Lubbock- working for Texas Agrilife Extension- and is an Oklahoma native. Click here for details of the reception planned for Randy tomorrow in Altus.

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture has a Farmers Market Seminar planned for this week in Stroud- which makes it fairly easy for folks in either central or northeast Oklahoma to get to. That meeting is planned for Thursday- and we have details by clicking here.

Click here for our Calendar page to see even more events on the horizon as we head straight for March.

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

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.