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This week during The Ag Minute, Chairman Frank Lucas discusses the efforts of the House Agriculture Committee to uncover the whereabouts of the roughly $1.2 billion in customer funds that remain missing from bankrupt MF Global, and to determine who is responsible for these losses.

Last week the House Agriculture Committee held the first hearing on the MF Global bankruptcy with three panels of witnesses, including former CEO of the company, Jon Corzine. Chairman Lucas stresses that the committee will continue to monitor the investigation into MF Global's actions and will work to ensure that customers receive fair treatment throughout the process.

A portion of the transcript is below.

"Across the country, customers who invested with MF Global want answers about what went wrong and when their money will be returned.   

"The House Agriculture Committee is trying to get to the bottom of this and held a hearing to examine MF Global's bankruptcy. Although many questions remain, we did gain some insight."

Click here for the complete transcript and a link to listen to The Ag Minute by Chairman Lucas.

Hunting Pheasant Won't Hurt Long-Term Population Numbers 

Hunters in Oklahoma are in the middle of their first month of the two-month pheasant season, and some may have noticed a decline in population numbers.

Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist, Dwayne Elmore, said the numbers are down this year due to the drought and excessive heat that much of the state experienced throughout the summer.

"There was little chick production, but we do have some carry over adult birds available for hunting," he said.

With the decrease in population size, should hunting be halted to allow the birds to recover?

"Only male pheasants can be legally shot, and males breed with many females," Elmore said. "Thus, only a few males are required for breeding each year." 

Click here for more information on pheasant hunting this fall.  

NCBA President-Elect J.D. Alexander Prepares for 2012

J.D. Alexander, a cattleman in Nebraska, is preparing to take over the National Cattlemen's Beef Association as President in February 2012 at the end of the Cattle Industry Convention. Alexander has been involved in the cattle industry officially since 1984, when he took over the ownership of Alexander Cattle & Farms.

We talked with Alexander about a variety of issues that NCBA could be facing in the upcoming year and how he plans to take on these issues in 2012. Alexander says that they are looking forward to 2012 after a successful year in 2011 with the final passing of the free trade agreements, which they have been battling for the past five years.

Alexander adds that the estate tax is another issue that farmers and ranchers will be facing in 2012. Alexander says that the issue of the death tax has always been high on the list for NCBA and they are going to work towards a plan that will allow producers to pass on their business to the next generation.

Also, there is always the issue of legislation. Alexander says that the NCBA has a strong presence in Washington, D.C. with their office to help make sure that regulations aren't overburdensome on farmers and ranchers.

Click here to listen to our conversation with President-Elect J.D. Alexander. 

Roger Beachy Makes the Case for More Dollars to Ag Research

A leading scientist recently told American millers that U.S. investment in agricultural research is less than 1 percent of the total farm gate value of goods, which must be increased by developing a greater voice for "the science of agriculture" through cross-sector efforts.

Dr. Robert Beachy, former head of USDA's National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and a trustee of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, spoke at the North American Millers' Association annual meeting earlier this fall.

From his unique perspective as a former Obama Administration official and a leader of a major, non-profit research center, Beachy described for NAMA members his view of opportunities and challenges for both U.S. and global agriculture.

Click here for more from Roger Beachy and a link to his complete presentation. 

Biodiesel Industry Urges Congress to Extend Tax Incentive

Representatives of the U.S. biodiesel industry urged Congress at a Senate hearing Wednesday to pass a seamless extension of the biodiesel tax incentive to avoid putting thousands of jobs at risk.

"Like the rest of the industry, RBF has seen a tremendous increase in demand for its product during 2011. We are running our facility harder than ever," Paul Soanes, president and CEO of Texas-based Renewable Biofuels, Inc. (RBF), said in testimony before the Senate Finance Committee at a hearing on renewable energy incentives. "But stable, long-term federal incentives are necessary for this industry to continue to grow."

Soanes emphasized the turnaround his company has seen with the reinstatement of the tax incentive after it was allowed to expire in 2010. RBF has increased production at its plant in Port Neches, Texas, from 9 million gallons in 2010 to more than 62 million gallons this year, hiring new employees and investing in capital improvements. 

Click here for more information on the biodiesel tax incentive. 

US Forest Service Tracks Lesser Prairie-Chicken Movements Using Satellite Telemetry

The US Forest Service (USFS) is using satellite telemetry to track the movements of Lesser Prairie-Chickens (LEPC) on an almost 24-hour basis throughout their lifecycle. The purpose of the project is to monitor LEPC movements-particularly during nesting and brood rearing-and potential avoidance distances of human-made structures such as oil and gas wells. Ultimately, data will be used to help plan habitat restoration and improvement projects on the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands and inform decisions to lessen impacts from USFS programs such as grazing, oil and gas, and fire and fuels.

"By knowing the movements and habitat usage of the chickens throughout the year, this project will help us better plan habitat improvement projects and manage resources to protect this species within the national grasslands," says Andy Chappell, a wildlife biologist at Cimarron National Grassland.

To accomplish the task, USFS is using GPS/satellite telemetry to monitor LEPC movements. In the spring of 2011, staff from Comanche National Grassland and Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism trapped three male Lesser Prairie Chickens and attached transmitters using a rump mount.

Click here for more from the Forest Service on tracking the lesser prairie-chicken. 

This & That- Cattle on Feed- Happy Birthday Russell and Christmas Cheer with Bob

USDA's December Cattle on Feed report is set for release on Friday afternoon at 2 PM central time- Rich Nelson with Allendale offers his pre report guesses- and we wanted to share them with you-  

"November Placements are expected to be 2.4% smaller than last year. We expect smaller supplies of medium and heavy feeders to offset continued calf liquidation in the South. Cattle placed in November will be marketed from April to August.

"Allendale anticipates a Marketing total 0.2% higher than November of 2010. There was no adjustment made due to days on the calendar this month. We have adjusted our estimate to reflect the discrepancy between USDA's COF marketing number and actual steer and heifer slaughter over the past nine months.

"Total Cattle on Feed as of December 1 will be 3.1% larger than last year."

This coming Saturday afternoon- a triple digit birthday will be celebrated at the Express Event Center in northwest Oklahoma City- legendary farm broadcaster Russell Pierson has turned 100 this month- and that deserves a BIG party. That party is coming Saturday afternoon- Pierson was seen on Channel 4 in Oklahoma City and heard on WKY Radio in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Contact daughters LaNese Craft (405-203-0998) or Patricia Sholar (405-613-2096) if you plan to attend

And- Dr. Bob Whitson- Dean of the Division of Agriculture at Oklahoma State University is holding a Christmas reception this evening on the DASNR Homestead in Barn A- the invite says spurs are optional- contact Diana Ward at 405-744-2474 for more information.