A little over five years ago, I began putting together some of the top stories of that day- and sending them to a small list of farmer and rancher friends each weekday morning.  The feedback I got from those folks was very positive- so much so that  the daily farm and ranch news concept was born- and has become a staple of what we do each day as a part of our plan to touch as many folks in agriculture as we can with the power of information.  Since 2006- we have posted more than 1,200 of these daily emails- almost all of them have looked very much the same- until this morning.   

Today- with some help from the designers at Constant Contact and our Ag New Media Director here at the Radio Oklahoma Network- Karolyn Bolay- we take the wraps off of what we hope is a more readable and usable email that will continue to land in your electronic mail box each morning.

Let me point out a few features of our new look- first, a lot of things remain the same- we have at the top of the email- the headlines of the stories we have for you that day.  You can still take a quick look at those headlines and decide if there is something you want to check out further.  Our stories will be the same as they have in the past- complete with links for more information back on our website or other spots on the internet. 

You may have some blank spots where graphics should be- and if you right click over those blank areas- it should give you the option of loading pictures- accept that option and you will get the full effect of all the features our emails will offer! 

What is different is that we now have a left hand column.  In that left hand column- you will see the logos of our sponsors- you can click on any of those logos to learn more about the folks who keep this coming your way on a daily basis- I think the lineup of sponsors that support us is even more impressive when you see the logos in that column compared to just reading the names and a bit of information we have given you about them.  

You will also see links to join the mailing list (if you have this email forwarded to you for example) as well as links to our Twitter account, Facebook page, YouTube Channel and Flickr Sets of pictures.  We have some of our key "links" that go back to our website- www.OklahomaFarmreport.Com - and then we have the Daily Markets.  This is the information that has always been at the bottom of the email in the past.  NOW- it's on the left hand side and I think easier to locate and click onto then ever before!

We appreciate your patronage down through the years- and I hope that this new look will help our daily information more valuable to you than ever before.  If you have comments about what we do- about this new look or about our content- please email me and let me hear from you- just click here and drop me a note- I am always happy to hear from you.  

We were pleased to be there on Friday in Stillwater to help salute and honor three great Oklahoma ag leaders who are all graduates of Oklahoma State University's College of Agriculture. Terry Forst, out of the Animal Science Department, Don Schieber out of Plant and Soil Science and Scott Dewald out of Ag Communications were spotlighted for their impact on agriculture by Dean of Agriculture Robert Whitson and his team within the Division of Agriculture in Stillwater.

We have a couple of stories on our website where you can read more about these high achievers- and you can click on the Flickr button in the LEFT HAND Column of today's email to go and find the set of pictures that we snapped on Friday at the three receptions. Click here for our story that features a quick conversation with OSU Dean Robert Whitson- as we talked about all three Alums that were recognized by the University.   

And- click here for our story that spotlights the two honorees that have been big contributors to the well being of the Oklahoma Beef Cattle Industry- Scott Dewald and Terry Forst.  This webstory features an audio Q&A with Dewald about the award and his time on campus as an Ag Communications major- PLUS the end of the interview includes his take on how the cattle industry stands as we head for winter after this exceptional drought we have been dealing with most of 2011.  

The North Dakota Farm Bureau is planning on getting a vote on next year's general election ballot that would put into their constitution the right for farmers and ranchers to use modern production practices- without being dictated to by out of state activists.

The proposal would add to the state constitution: "The right of farmers and ranchers to engage in modern farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state. No law shall be enacted which abridges the right of farmers and ranchers to employ agricultural technology, modern livestock production and ranching practices."

We have an AP article on this effort up in North Dakota- Click here to jump over to read more about the efforts by farmers in that state- and some of the early reaction from the HSUS folks.

In a letter to Roll Call published this past week, the National Corn Growers Association, American Farmland Trust and the National Farmers Union explain why maintaining a strong safety net for growers remains important even as farm programs face reform.

The authors note that, while farmers support reform that will help our nation during these difficult economic circumstances, government support of a farm safety net is necessary if American agriculture is to remain robust.

 "Failure to adequately assist farmers and ranchers in managing risks they have no other option to protect themselves from will, at best, invite dramatic consolidation of farms and, at worst, make American citizens dependent upon foreign countries for food just as we depend on others for oil," the joint letter notes. 
  

Click here for the link to a copy of the letter.  

The nuisance of Eastern redcedar trees has been well documented in Oklahoma and surrounding states during the past several years. They are a fire danger, an over-powering competitor for water among surrounding plants and are incredibly invasive.

 However, researchers at Oklahoma State University are looking for a way to use this tree, which caused an estimated economic loss of $447 million to Oklahoma landowners nearly 10 years ago, as a natural resource. This pesky species has done nothing but grow and expand its coverage of land over that time, so losses are much higher now. 

One of those researchers is Mark Wilkins, assistant professor in the department of biosystems and agricultural engineering, who is working on a project to make ethanol from the cedar trees. 

Click here for more on this reseach on Eastern redcedar trees.

Monsanto is working with local farmers across the country to help give back to rural America. The "America's Farmers Grow Communities" campaign is kicking off to help farmers give back to non-profit organizations in their local communities. Counties across the country that have more than 30,000 acres of corn, cotton, soy and/or vegetables are eligible to participate in the campaign.

 The following counties are eligible counties in Oklahoma to participate: Garfield, Grant, Jackson, Kay, Leflore, Noble, Ottawa, Texas, Tillman and Wagoner. Farmers in these counties have until November 30 to enter to win $2,500 which will be donated back to the non-profit organization in their local community of their choice. 

Linda Arnold, Monsanto Company Community Outreach Lead, says the Monsanto Company has historically given back to the communities where their employees lived and worked but decided to expand this across the U.S. after it was suggested by the farmers themselves. 

Click here to listen to our conversation with Linda Arnold and for the link to register for this campaign online.

October saw drought impacts improve with substantially above normal rain amounts along the I-35 corridor from the Red River to the Kansas border. Along that path, Oklahoma Mesonet stations reported 4-7 inches of rain with widespread totals of 3-4 inches radiating outward. The heaviest rains fell from Jefferson through eastern Kingfisher and western Logan counties. Some parts of the state were still significantly below normal after missing a couple of the month's rain chances.

The Oklahoma Panhandle had less than an inch for the month, in general, but did see its first light dusting of snow during the last week of October. With the "haves" and "have nots" figured in, the statewide average rainfall total through October 27 was 2.75 inches, or about a quarter inch below normal. For much of western Oklahoma, totals were 1-4 inches above normal and for much of eastern Oklahoma and the Panhandle, totals were near normal to 4 inches below normal.

Combined with September, the fall season remained dry overall with an average rainfall total of 4.4 inches, more than 2 inches below normal. The driest area of the state for this period was the eastern half with deficits of 4-8 inches. 

Click here to see the rest of the 30 day weather outlook. 

Dr. Keith Good is the editor of an online newsletter called FarmPolicy.Com and he has compiled a fairly complete rundown of current farm bill proposals and recommendations that have sprung up from farm groups, consumer advocacy groups, lawmakers and even the Obama Administration.  As we approach the final decisions being cobbled together by the staff and the Leadership of the House and Senate Ag Committees that will likely be forwarded to the Super Committee this week- we thought you might want to browse through some of the ideas that are out there on this hurried up version of the 2012 Farm Bill Process- click here for Keith's List of Farm Bill Ideas.

We are in Amarillo this Monday morning- ready to cover the day's activities at the 2011 Texas Cattle Feeders Association Convention- they have a great program lined up for today and tomorrow- including a farm policy session planned for this morning featuring House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma and top Republican on the Senate Ag Committee, Pat Roberts of Kansas- Also on their program are NCBA President Bill Donald and CBB Chairman Wesley Grau- We will be TWEETING from the event this morning and we invite you to check out our tweets- either on the right hand side of our webpage- or by clicking here or on the Twitter symbol up on the left hand column of today's email! Our Tweets are like a mini blog of what is happening from an event- hope you will enjoy our "play by play" this morning live and direct from the TCFA.