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- and their IPHONE App, which provides all electronic futures quotes is available at the App Store- click here for the KIS Futures App for your Iphone.

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.

And we salute our longest running email sponsor- Midwest Farm Shows, producer ofthe recent Southern Plains Farm Show as well as the Tulsa Farm Show held each December. Click here for the Midwest Farm Show main website to learn more about their lineup of shows around the country!

We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network weekdays- if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click here for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays on RON.

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.

USDA reported that half of the canola in Oklahoma had been harvested as of the beginning of this week.

Click on the LINK below to enjoy our visit with Heath Sanders about the harvest season for 2011- as well as what to expect for yields across the state of Oklahoma.

Canola TV can be found on Youtube- click here to jump to the WinterCanolaTV channel we have deveoped for PCOM on this popular site and check out some of our previous episodes that focus on producing canola in the southern plains.

Click here for the latest edition of Canola TV as we talk harvest with Heath Sanders.

We also have reports we have consolidated this morning from the Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association, the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and the Kansas Wheat Alliance. The Wheat Commission report shows harvest expanding into the Panhandle with indications of just starting yesterday in the Hooker area. One of the more impressive reports for the 2011 crop comes from Burlington- again from the Wheat Commission- "Harvest for this area expects to run about a week longer. Showing test weights of 60 pounds or better. Moisture coming in around 9 - 10 percent. Yields averaging around 40 bushels per acre."

Click on the LINK below to read all of the reports from across Oklahoma into southern Kansas. AND- we would love to hear your specifics on wheat and canola harvest for 2011- and pictures are always appreciated as well! Send them to ron@oklahomafarmreport.com.

Click here for more on wheat harvest 2011.

Preplant and burndown weed control

Because of its slow initial growth, sesame will not compete with early-season weeds and stands can quickly be lost due to over-growth of weeds. Therefore, it is very important to start the growing season with a clean, weed-free field. For broad-spectrum weed control, several glyphosate products are labeled for pre-plant applications and can be used any time prior to sesame planting. Sesame is very sensitive to glyphosate and should not be used after planting, unless the seed is adequately covered with soil.

For no-till production, 2,4-D can be added to glyphosate to improve control of many broadleaf weeds, such as marestail or pigweed. However, like many other sensitive crops, sesame should not be planted immediately after spraying 2,4-D. Previous research conducted by OSU and in Texas indicates that 2,4-D should be applied at least 2 weeks prior to planting. Other burndown herbicides, such as Sharpen®, should not be used prior to planting sesame.

Click here for more ways to control weeds within sesame

Over heating is sporadically encountered in cattle, but is really a rare problem. High humidity contributes to the likelihood of heat stroke or prostration because water evaporation from the oral and nasal cavities is decreased, in spite of rapid panting. At an environmental temperature of about 88 degrees, heat dissipation mechanisms such as sweating and evaporative cooling must take place to prevent a rise in body temperature. Sweat gland activity in cattle increases as the temperature goes above the thermoneutral zone. Panting is an important heat regulatory device in cattle.

The signs of overheating may develop suddenly and depend upon the environmental conditions and the health of the cattle exposed to the heat. Panting often occurs at rectal temperatures at or above 104 degrees F, but may begin even at lower body temperatures. Some animals manifest restlessness, excitement, and spasms of certain muscles. However, other animals may be dull and depressed. A protruding tongue may be covered with saliva, and frothy mucus discharged at the nostrils. Rectal temperatures of overheated cattle have ranged as high as 107 to 115 degrees F.

Click here for Glenn Selk's specific ways to manage cattle during summertime heat

Other OSU offspring, as developed by Dr. Brett Carver, are also showing strength as Endurance, Centerfield and Garrison have also been at the top of the lists in various locations.

You can click on the LINK below for the OSU Wheat website- where there are links for each of the six locations to date- Frederick, Olustee, Apache, Elk City, Homestead and Kingfisher.

Click here to see the location by location results of the OSU Wheat Plots for 2011- at least those reported to this point.

Congressman Boren gave no hint of future political plans on Tuesday as he made the announcement. Here is the statement released by his office about the decision:

"I have made the decision not to seek re-election next year for another term in Congress. This is not an easy decision for me. It was based on the demands of constant campaigning, and most importantly spending too much time away from my family which includes two very young children.

"I will spend the next 18 months focusing on committee work which includes my position as ranking member of the Indian Affairs Subcommittee, a member of the Intelligence Committee, a member of the Blue Dog Leadership team, and as co-chair of the House Natural Gas Caucus. At the end of this term, I will have served a decade in elected office which includes the Oklahoma Legislature and the Congress. I am proud of the record of independence and bipartisanship that our office has undertaken.

"There are no better people than those in the Second District of Oklahoma. It has been an honor serving them. It is my intention to serve out the balance of my term and not letting up until my time is completed. I want to thank my family, especially my wife Andrea, our wonderful staff, and again the great people of the Second District of Oklahoma."

Click here for Congressman Boren's website- which includes the statement about not seeking reelection.

In February the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts honored Gard with its President's Award. In presenting the award, Trey Lam, outgoing OACD president, commended Gard for his courage and perseverance. Gard suffered a tragic motorcycle accident in February 2010 that left him partially paralyzed. Despite that personal tragedy and a rigorous rehabilitation program, Gard missed only one Conservation Commission meeting and continued his role of public service almost without missing a beat, Lam said.

In spite of the paralysis Gard has suffered for over a year, he stood to make remarks, under his own strength, at both the Commission meeting and the reception afterward.

Gard became a cooperator with the Major County Conservation District in 1989 and joined the board of directors in 1993. He has served on the OACD executive board as Area I director and vice president. A board member of the Fairview Chamber of Commerce for four years, he also served as vice president in 1997 and president in 1998. He has served as a member of the steering committee for the OSU Extension Program for Major and Dewey Counties and is a certified instructor for trap and archery under that program. He has served as a board member and president of both the Oklahoma Alfalfa Hay and Seed Association and the Major County Surface and Mineral Owners Association. He served as the director of the membership committee for the National Forage and Grasslands Council. He also serves on the Oklahoma Biofuels Advisory Board.

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.