From: Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.ccsend.com] on behalf of Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.com]
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 6:57 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 July 15, 2011
A service of Johnston Enterprises, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy and American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company!
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-- U.S. Wheat Associates Meeting Underway in Tulsa This Weekend- Showcasing the Home State of US Wheat Chairman Don Schieber.
-- Governor Mary Fallin Calls on Oklahomans To Pray for Rain
-- OSU's Dr. Kim Anderson Analyses Recent WASDE Report for Wheat- and we have your SUNUP preview
-- American Farmers and Ranchers Host Teen Leadership Summit
-- OSU's Dr. Glenn Selk says Testing Forage Before Cutting is Critical
-- National Cattlemen's Beef Association Praises House Votes to Stop EPA Overregulation
-- American Farm Bureau Federation Outlines Steps for Congress to Take Towards Alleviating Regulations
-- 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!

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U.S. Wheat Associates Meeting Underway in Tulsa This Weekend- Showcasing the Home State of US Wheat Chairman Don Schieber.
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It was a tough year for wheat producers across Oklahoma this year with the severe drought but the quality of the wheat was still good said Mike Schulte, Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission. Protein and test weights held strong despite rough weather conditions and they seem to be across the U.S. All of this will be up for discussion at the upcoming U.S. Wheat Associates meeting in Tulsa on July 15 to July 18.

Schulte says the meeting is a great opportunity for Oklahoma to show the U.S. Wheat Associates what producers are doing in our state. It is also a chance for Oklahoma and the 19 other member states that make up the U.S. Wheat Associates to discuss the key issues that face all wheat producers.

One issue in particular that will be discussed is biotech wheat. Schulte says Oklahoma producers are fortunate to have a very strong public breeding program that is being led by Dr. Brett Carver at Oklahoma State University. Schulte tells us that while Oklahoma producers are very willing to work with the companies that want to bring biotech to the table, we do not want to lose the variety choices and genetics that go hand in hand with a breeding program that is hitting on all cylinders like we have at this time in Stillwater.

The key reason that the meeting is being held in Tulsa here in 2011 is to celebrate the Chairmanship of Oklahoma wheat producer Don Schieber. Schieber is the third Oklahoma wheat farmer in recent memory that has served as the Chairman of US Wheat Associates(following Henry Jo Von Tunglen and Keith Kisling). Don farms in Kay County- and our friendship goes back thirty years as we were both a part of Class One of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program. Don had the unfortunate task of rooming with me when the class went to China, Taiwan and Japan- as I would often be up in the wee hours of the morning trying to get a phone report back for our radio network that we worked for at the time.
Don's leadership will be honored on Sunday evening during the Chairman's Reception at the Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa- we will be there and one of the program features of that night will be a look at Weather Trends for the US Wheat Belt as presented by Travis Meyer from the News on 6 in Tulsa.

Tomorrow morning during our regular In the Field segment on KWTV News9, Mike Schulte joins me as my guest to talk about the wheat crop and the US Wheat board meeting. Check it out around 6:40 AM. You can also click on the LINK below to listen to the rest of our conversation with Mike Schulte on the U.S. Wheat Associates meeting taking place this weekend.

Click here for additional information on the U.S. Wheat Associates meeting


Governor Mary Fallin Calls on Oklahomans To Pray for Rain
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In light of the sustained drought, Governor Mary Fallin today asked all Oklahomans to set aside time this Sunday, July 17, to pray for rain.

Dry conditions have helped contribute to over 140 wildfires this year, resulting in the loss of dozens of homes. Earlier today, Fallin signed an executive order issuing a burn ban in 45 counties.

Low-levels of rain fall, which match rainfall deficit records dating back to the Dust Bowl, have also lead to significant hardships in the agricultural sector.

"I encourage Oklahomans of all faiths to join me this Sunday in offering their prayers for rain," Fallin said. "For the safety of our firefighters and our communities and the well-being of our crops and livestock, this state needs the current drought to come to an end. The power of prayer is a wonderful thing, and I would ask every Oklahoman to look to a greater power this weekend and ask for rain."

Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese said he appreciated the governor's call for prayer and would be saying his own this Sunday.

"Farmers across the state are really suffering under these conditions," said Reese. "I'm glad the governor is issuing this call to prayer, and I hope it helps deliver the rain we need soon."

Fortunately over the last few days- a few people have received rainfall- only it has been very spotty. Gary McManus of the Oklahoma reports "A wandering tropical system has given Oklahoma a brief interlude from the dry weather over the last couple of days. A couple of areas received quite generous totals. Kay and Osage counties in northern Oklahoma totaled 2-4 inches with localized amounts of more than 5 inches according to the radar estimates. And the far western Panhandle received upwards of 2 inches. Not a massive total, but for that area, it's a huge gulp of water."

However, unfortunately- the drought is alive and thriving. McManus also provides us some color commentary on this week's Drought Monitor Index- "the heat and drought remain untouched for the most part, however, and the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report reflects that. Exceptional (D4) drought now covers more than 40 percent of Oklahoma, including the entire western one-third of the state. Extreme (D3) and Severe (D2) drought continue their eastward march as well as the heat withers vegetation and dissipates the remaining soil moisture. Exceptional-to-extreme drought now covers 58 percent of the state, up 14 percent from last week. Again, a testament to the heat and its ability to hasten the drought's impacts."

Click here to see the latest Drought Index for Oklahoma that is current as of July 14, 2011


OSU's Dr. Kim Anderson Analyses Recent WASDE Report for Wheat- and we have your SUNUP preview
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Grain Marketing Specialist from Oklahoma State University, Dr. Kim Anderson gives an analysis of the recently released USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, specifically on the wheat prices and production. Production of wheat came up in this report from last months coming in at 2.11 billion, says Anderson.

The ending stocks for wheat were at 670 million bushels, which is down about 22% from previous reports. However, wheat prices were higher and seem to have leveled off and are remaining higher, says Anderson. Prices have risen to about $7.65, which Anderson says prices are in a temporary sideways pattern and producers should expect prices to break, either going up or going down.

Finally, Anderson says there is still a lot of information out as the rest of the northern hemisphere needs to finish up wheat harvest and to expect more solid results around the end of August.

Click on the LINK below to hear the rest of Dr. Anderson and Austin Moore's conversation on the recently released WASDE report- and how it is checks in with wheat.

Click here for more from Dr. Kim Anderson and for your SUNUP preview


American Farmers and Ranchers Host Teen Leadership Summit
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Youth from across the state of Oklahoma attended the American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) annual Leadership Summit held at the Quartz Mountain Resort Arts & Conference Center. The teen session, grades 7-9th was held on July 11-13 with the senior session planned later in the summer.

Summit focuses on developmental leadership tools that will help prepare youth for achieving goals and working closely with teams. "Influence, Class, Spirit and Legacy, " is the theme for this year's sessions. Motivational speakers Dustin Galyon and Caroline Bremer focused on two points in their opening speech, "Who has left an influence in their life?" and "How can you influence the lives of others?" which instructed the students to think about all the opportunities of growth and leadership in their lives.

"AFR Leadership Summit is a fantastic event, that presents youth with the opportunity to acquire skills and tools to take back and leave an impact in their communities," Bremer said.

Youth and education programs are a partnership of the AFR Farm and Cooperative Organization and the AFR Mutual Insurance Company.

"AFR contributes a large amount of resources to youth across the state of Oklahoma," said AFR President Terry Detrick. "Believing in the future of Oklahoma Agriculture is key through good times and bad, through drought and sufficient moisture, and the AFR Leadership Summit is just one way of demonstrating our support and reinvesting in the future of communities across Oklahoma."

Click here for more on the AFR Youth Advisory Council


OSU's Dr. Glenn Selk says Testing Forage Before Cutting is Critical
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Hot dry summer weather brings about heat and drought stress on summer annuals. Stressed plants such as the forage sorghums can occasionally accumulate dangerous concentrations of nitrates. According to Dr. Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist, these high nitrate plants, either standing in the field, or fed as hay, can cause abortion in pregnant cattle, or death if consumed in great enough quantities.

Nitrates do not dissipate from suncured hay (in contrast to prussic acid), therefore once the hay is cut the nitrate levels remain constant. Therefore, producers should test hay fields before they cut them for hay. Stop by any OSU County Extension office for testing details. Testing the forage before cutting gives the producer an additional option of waiting and allowing for the nitrate to lower in concentration before harvesting the hay. The major sources of nitrate toxicity in Oklahoma will be summer annual sorghum type plants, including sudan hybrids, sorgo-sudans, sorghum-sudans, millets, and Johnsongrass.

Drought-stressed corn plants have been recently sampled in North Central Oklahoma and have been reported to test well above the 10000 ppm nitrate concentration that is considered potentially lethal to cattle. Other plants also may accumulate nitrates.

Some of the management techniques to reduce the risk of nitrate toxicity (Note: the risk of this poisoning cannot be totally eliminated), include:

1. Test the crop before you harvest it. IF it has an elevated concentration of nitrates, you still have the option of waiting for normal plant metabolism to bring the concentration back to a safe level. And experience tells us that we cannot estimate nitrate content just by looking at the field.

2. Raise the cutter bar when harvesting the hay. Nitrates are in greatest concentration in the lower stem. Raising the cutter bar may reduce the tonnage, but cutting more tons of a toxic material has no particular value.

Click here for more management techniques from Dr. Selk


National Cattlemen's Beef Association Praises House Votes to Stop EPA Overregulation
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The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act (H.R. 2018) Wed., July 13, 2011, by a vote of 239-184. National Cattlemen's Beef Association Deputy Environmental Counsel Ashley Lyon said the legislation would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from overruling state decisions on water quality.

Lyon said under the Clean Water Act, states have primary responsibility for protecting waterways after EPA signs off on their plans. Unfortunately, according to Lyon, EPA approves a state's plan for protecting U.S. waters and then reverses its decision by proposing "burdensome and scientifically unfounded regulations." The best example is in Florida where EPA approved the state's plan and then unilaterally proposed federal standards, preempting the state's right to develop its own scientifically-based water quality criteria.

"EPA is out of control and often acts as activists rather than a taxpayer-funded government agency that is expected to use sound science when imposing regulations. We cannot allow EPA to jeopardize economic growth by placing opinions over science," said Lyon. "We fully support this bipartisan legislation and oppose any effort to veto this commonsense bill."

H.R. 2018 was sponsored by Representatives John Mica (R-Fla.) and Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) as a way to restore cooperation between the federal government and the states. Lyon said this legislation would stop EPA from running "roughshod" over states' science-based policies. She said EPA's actions would likely result is lost jobs and economic hardship in many states that are already struggling. As a result of an amendment offered by Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), which passed 268-152, the legislation would also require EPA to consider the impact of its decisions on jobs and economic activity.

Click here for more information on the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act


American Farm Bureau Federation Outlines Steps for Congress to Take Towards Alleviating Regulations
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Congress must help alleviate the burden of an ever-increasing array of federal environmental regulations on agriculture, according to Arizona Farm Bureau President Kevin Rogers, who testified today before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee. Representing the American Farm Bureau Federation, Rogers told the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy that the breadth and extent of the regulatory challenges facing U.S. agriculture are tremendous.

According to Rogers, the regulations cover a broad range of issues, including: Clean Air Act requirements, Clean Water Act permitting and other requirements, restrictions on pesticides and other farm in-puts and regulatory burdens involving both crops and livestock operations.

While not all regulations can be quantified, some can, explained Rogers, and some are substantial. He outlined the following steps Congress can take to alleviate agriculture's regulatory burdens:

-The House should adopt language in the House Interior Appropriations bill that incorporates the provisions of H.R. 910, a bill that would allow Congress, not the Environmental Protection Agency, to determine how to regulate greenhouse gases.

-Congress should adopt language that would prevent EPA from regulating agricultural dust, forcing many rural areas into non-attainment status.

-Congress should approve H.R. 2458, which would provide a realistic interval for updating national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).

Click here for additional information from AFBF on EPA overregulation


Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, PCOM, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy, Johnston Enterprises, American Farmers & Ranchers 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- 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 $13.07 per bushel- as of the close of business yesterday, while the 2012 New Crop contracts for Canola are now available are $12.99 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- A 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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