From: Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.ccsend.com] on behalf of Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.com]
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 6:37 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 Monday, October 24, 2011
A service of Producers Cooperative Oil Mill, Midwest Farm Shows and One Resource Environmental!
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-- Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and other Pleased with President Obama Signing FTAs
-- Kaylen Baker, Kyle Hilbert and Hallie Barnes Nab National Championships at the 2011 National FFA Convention
-- Also From Indy- Three National Profiencies in 2011- National VIP Citation for Ron- and Flickr Photos Maximus
-- Coburn Vote Catches Class Envy Wind- and Sails to Easy Passage Even as Frank Lucas Pursues "Hurry Up" Farm Policy Strategy
-- Tariff On U.S. Pork Lifted By Mexico
-- Large Banks Cut Rates and Boost Farm Lending says Federal Reserve Ag Finance Databook
-- Cattle on Feed Numbers Five Percent Above Year Ago Levels
-- A Great Route 66 Deal Coming Friday in Our Legendary Restaurants Series
-- 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. A new sponsor of the daily email is One Resource Environmental. Farm and ranch operators who have gas or diesel storage on their place may be facing regulations that spring out of the Federal Clean Water Act. These folks can help you determine if you need a plan and then if you do- help you get that plan in place. Click here for their website- FarmSPCC for more details.

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 of the springtime Southern Plains Farm Show as well as the Tulsa Farm Show held each December- this year's dates are the 8th through the 10th. 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.


Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and other Pleased with President Obama Signing FTAs
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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement on President Obama signing into law three trade agreements and workers' assistance expected to support tens-of-thousands of American jobs:

"Today, President Obama signed a major piece of his jobs agenda into law: new trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. These agreements will support tens of thousands of jobs here at home, put unemployed Americans back to work, and open new opportunities for American businesses. For America's farmers and ranchers, the trade agreements are an opportunity to strengthen U.S. agriculture, already a bright spot in our economy.

Click here for more from Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack on these free trade agreements.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman heralded President Barack Obama's signing of three bilateral free-trade agreements between the United States and Korea, Colombia and Panama, but stressed that the job is not done until the pacts are implemented.

"This day was four years in the making and America's farmers and ranchers are now one step closer to realizing $2.5 billion in projected new agriculture exports with the implementation of these free trade pacts," Stallman said. "Farm Bureau thanks the president for signing the agreements today, but we cannot rest on our laurels. U.S. officials must not delay in implementing the accords so that the U.S. economy and U.S. farmers and ranchers can reap the benefits of free and open markets with Colombia, Panama and South Korea."

Click here for more from Bob Stallman and the AFBF.

Leaders of the U.S. wheat industry applauded President Barack Obama's signing on Friday of three long-pending free trade agreements, with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

"Since June, Canadian wheat exports to Colombia have doubled versus last year while U.S. wheat exports have fallen 20 percent," said Wayne Hurst, National Association of Wheat Growers President. "We need the U.S.-Colombia FTA implemented quickly to get our tariffs to zero and put us back on equal footing with Canadian wheat again."

Click here for more from the wheat growers on implementation of these trade agreements.

National Cattlemen's Beef Association President Bill Donald said the long-awaited implementation of free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea is nearing. On Oct. 21, 2011, President Barack Obama signed the three agreements and the renewal of Trade Adjustment Assistance. Donald said the official signing is a step in the right direction.

"The swift passage of the trade agreements was a refreshing move of bipartisanship. We strongly urged the president to follow suit by signing these agreements. He did that and we commend him for understanding the importance of free and open trade to job creation and economic growth," said Donald. "Cattlemen welcome the opportunity to respond to growing global demand for safe and nutritious beef raised by farm and ranch families throughout the United States."

Click here for more from the NCBA regarding the trade agreements.


Kaylen Baker, Kyle Hilbert and Hallie Barnes Nab National Championships at the 2011 National FFA Convention
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For the second year in a row- Oklahoma is the home of the National Champion in the Prepared Public Speech Contest at the 2011 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Last year- it was Tara Newton of the Kingfisher FFA Chapter- here in 2011, it's Kaylen Baker, a Senior at Yukon High School and the President of her Yukon FFA Chapter.

Baker spoke on the topic Miniature Cattle. She developed her original speech and did the research needed to defend her comments in a period of questions after the speech was delivered. Click here for a chance to hear our visit with Kaylen after her name was called out as the winner in the Prepared Public Speech contest at the 2011 Convention.

Same Story- different contest when it comes to the National Extemporaneous Speech Contest in Indy- For the second year in a row- Oklahoma is the home of the National Champion in the Extemporaneous Speech Contest at the 2011 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Last year- it was Ashton Mese of the Kingfisher FFA Chapter- here in 2011, it's Kyle Hilbert, a Senior at Depew High School and the President of his Depew FFA Chapter.

We talked with Kyle backstage at the National FFA Convention after his name was called and he became a National Champion- click here to jump to our story with Kyle and a chance to hear our conversation with him in Indy.

Finally, here's a name that we have not spoken about at this point- Hallie Barnes of Porter FFA. She's a National Champion as she had the HIGH score in what is commonly known as the Meats Judging Contest. The official title of the event is Meats Technology and Evaluation Career Development Event. Hallie, a freshman, helped her Porter FFA team achieve a fifth place finish. The highest team placing of any Oklahoma squad this year was the Horse Evaluation team from Adair FFA- they were second in the nation. We have the full list of the teams and individuals that placed this past week at the National Convention-click here to jump to that rundown on our Blue Green Gazette- our coverage courtesy of the Oklahoma FFA Association and the Oklahoma Alumni Association.


Also From Indy- Three National Profiencies in 2011- National VIP Citation for Ron- and Flickr Photos Maximus
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The harvest was not quite as large in 2011 as the last couple of years- but still a it was a great Friday afternoon for three young FFA members from Oklahoma- as they claimed National Proficiency Awards. Click on the FFA members' name to see more details about their win and to hear a conversation that we had with them backstage at Indy.

Joshua Conaway of Ringwood, winner of the National Diversified Horticulture Award.

William Maltbie of Burlington FFA, winner of the National Proficiency Award in Landscape Management

Tanner Miller of Mulhall-Orlando, winner of the Small Animal Production category.

Friday morning was pretty special for me- as I had the chance to walk on stage at the National Convention with nine other incredible supporters of FFA as we were honored with what is called a VIP Citation for Service to the blue and gold organization. In conversations with some people about this award- it is the highest recognition that FFA gives at the National Level to an individual for their support of the FFA and down thru the years- few if any other agricultural journalists or farm broadcasters have received it. Listening to the great stories of these other folks, I am not sure I should have been there- but am grateful to the Oklahoma FFA Association- especially Kent Boggs and Jack Staats- for their belief in me and nomination submitted to the National FFA. If you want to read a little more about the award- and enjoy another picture of Riley Pagett in his official role as National FFA President- click here.

We have other stories that you may find of interest from the National Convention already posted- included a run down of the new National Officers for 2011-2012- and we have a few other items we will be posting as we go along this week. I think we have updated our FLICKR page with all of our pictures now from the 2011 National Convention- and want to say thanks to several of the Oklahoma State Officers for taking a camera and shooting quite a few of the more than 360 pictures in the set. A special shout out to Brandon Baumgarten- State Secretary- he took the Canon and cruised through the Career Show and got some great shots of lots of people enjoying that aspect of the Convention. Click here for the Flickr set of the pics from the 2011 National FFA Convention and enjoy.


Coburn Vote Catches Class Envy Wind- and Sails to Easy Passage Even as Frank Lucas Pursues "Hurry Up" Farm Policy Strategy
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Early Friday morning, Senator Tom Coburn authored an amendment that would prohibit anyone with $1,000,000 of adjusted gross income from receiving direct farm program payments was considered by the full Senate. It passed easily by a 84 to 15 vote. Click here for more on the Coburn amendment from the end of this past week.

"Rather than tax millionaires, the first thing we ought to do is quit giving them subsidies," said Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), the lead sponsor. Senate Agriculture Committee leaders vainly appealed for their colleagues to wait until promised reforms in the new farm bill, but with the handwriting on the wall, even old allies deserted sending the final tally up to 84-15 for Coburn's language.

Senator Coburn claims that the most recent year that CBO was able to provide him numbers that $49 million dollars went to people who would be above the million dollar cutoff.

Based on signals from the House and Senate Ag Leadership- the measure will become a moot point when a new farm bill is offered, as it appears unlikely that Direct Farm Payments will be a part of a new, leaner Commodity title that will be a part of the 2012 farm bill. Instead, Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas and other Ag Committee leaders seem to be pointing more to a revenue assurance type safety net coupled with Crop Insurance. It could have impact on the last year of the current farm law- as 2012 is the last crop year covered in the 2008 Farm Law.

MEANWHILE- the House and Senate Ag Committee Chairs have a "Hurry Up" strategy on writing that 2012 bill- and it could be done- all 15 titles- by this time next Monday. We have more on that- audio speculating that direction as well as a link to an excellent article from the Des Moines Register on how Frank Lucas and Debbie Stabenow hope to short circuit the tedious process of nursemaiding a farm bill through Congress subject to being torn apart along the way. Click on the LINK below to learn more about what's coming down this week in the farm policy arena.

Click here for more on the Hurry Up Strategy of writing the 2012 farm bill.


Tariff On U.S. Pork Lifted By Mexico
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The National Pork Producers Council praised the U.S. and Mexican governments for following through on resolving a trade dispute over trucking. Mexico lifted tariffs on U.S. exports, including pork, and the U.S. government last week granted the first permit to a Mexican trucking firm to haul goods into the United States.

The two governments in July signed an agreement resolving the trucking issue, with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) crafting a cross-border trucking program and the Mexican government cutting the retaliatory tariffs by 50 percent. The remaining tariffs were suspended after DOT issued the trucking permit.

"America's pork producers are very pleased that the United States issued the first Mexican trucking permit, which has led today to the Mexican government removing the remaining retaliatory tariffs on our products," said NPPC President Doug Wolf, a producer from Lancaster, Wis. "Mexico is a very important market for the U.S. pork industry and for many other sectors. More than 6 million U.S. jobs depend on trade with Mexico."

The long-standing dispute between the nations was over a provision of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The trucking provision was set to become effective in December 1995, but the United States failed to abide by it. Mexico imposed tariffs on 89 U.S. products in March 2009, after Congress failed to renew a two-year-old pilot program that allowed a limited number of Mexican trucks into the United States. Mexico added products, including pork, in August 2010 after the Obama administration failed to present a proposal for resolving the trucking dispute.

Click here for more on the lifting of these tariffs and what it means for U.S. pork


Large Banks Cut Rates and Boost Farm Lending says Federal Reserve Ag Finance Databook
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Despite softer national farm loan activity, larger banks cut interest rates on non-real estate loans to boost farm lending in the third quarter, according to the Federal Reserve System's Agricultural Finance Databook.

Large banks, those with farm loan portfolios greater than $25 million, dropped the average effective interest rate on non-real estate farm loans to 3.6 percent during the quarter, well below the rate charged at small or mid-sized banks. These lower interest rates spurred sharp annual gains in non-real estate loan volumes at large banks, compared to declines at small or mid-sized banks. Large banks originated most of their loans with floating interest rates, whereas small and mid-sized banks extended variable rates on less than half of their loans.

Still, overall farm lending was flat in the third quarter as strong agricultural profits limited non-real estate loan demand. Operating loan volumes held steady with higher input costs, but equipment and livestock loan volumes fell below year-ago levels.

In contrast, farm real estate loans accounted for a larger share of farm lending during the third quarter. National farmland values climbed higher in the second quarter, with anecdotal evidence of further gains during the third quarter. Annual farmland value gains reached record levels in many states, most notably in the Corn Belt and Northern Plains where land prices rose more than 25 percent above year-ago-levels.

Click here for a link to the complete release of the Agricultural Finance Databook


Cattle on Feed Numbers Five Percent Above Year Ago Levels
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The latest Cattle on Feed Numbers were out on Friday afternoon, October 21, 2011- showing Cattle on Feed up 5 percent from year ago levels. We saw the second largest October On-Feed numbers since 1996. According to Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities, the latest USDA numbers should not have a big influence on the market Monday morning, but the report is looked on as slightly bearish.

Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.47 million, slightly above 2010. Net placements were 2.40 million head.

Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.81 million, 1 percent above 2010. Other disappearance totaled 74,000 during September, 37 percent above 2010.

Click on the LINK below for our story that includes a link to the full USDA report issued on Friday afternoon- and those comments from Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities.

Click here for the lowdown on the Friday Cattle on Feed Numbers from USDA


A Great Route 66 Deal Coming Friday in Our Legendary Restaurants Series
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A new supporter of your daily email are the Legendary Restaurants of Oklahoma- each Friday at 8:30 AM central time- another great Oklahoma restaurant will be featured with a special half priced deal- you will be able to but a fifty dollars worth of certificates for just $25! The next restaurant to be featured will be White Dog Hill in Clinton, Okla., which opened in 2007, is fairly new to the restaurant business, but the restaurant building has been around since 1926--when it was constructed to be a clubhouse for the Clinton Country Club. Located on the historic Route 66, White Dog Hill is known for their exquisite view of the Oklahoma countryside and mouth-watering food! Click here to read more and then set your calendar alarm to grab your half price deal from this great eatery this coming Friday morning.

Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, PCOM, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy, Johnston Enterprises, American Farmers & Ranchers ,One Resource Environmental- operators of FarmSPCC.Com, 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 $11.64 per bushel, while the 2012 New Crop contracts for Canola are now available are $11.70 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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