From: Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.ccsend.com] on behalf of Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 6:12 AM
To: Hays, Ron
Subject: Oklahoma's Farm News Update
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oklahoma's latest farm and ranch news
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON for Tuesday September 6, 2011
A service of Producers Cooperative Oil Mill, Midwest Farm Shows and KIS Futures!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-- Heat and Drought Delays Wheat Seeding Efforts in Oklahoma
-- OSU's Dr. Derrell Peel Talks Cow Slaughter and Herd Dynamics this Fall
-- Forums to be Held on the Listing of Lesser Prairie Chicken on Endangered Species List
-- Oklahoma Forestry Service Announces Funding to Help Against Beetle Infestation
-- Oklahoma Conservation Program Helping Producers Recover From Drought
-- Fall Seminar Assisting Producers with Livestock Management Practices
-- Farm Service Agency Reminds Producers of Disaster Assistance Deadlines
-- Did You Get Your Steak?
-- 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 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 of the springtime Southern Plains Farm Show as well as the Tulsa Farm Show coming this December- December 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.


Heat and Drought Delays Wheat Seeding Efforts in Oklahoma
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Oklahoma Wheat Commission hosted their annual Junior Wheat Show earlier this week and we sat down with Mike Schulte, CEO of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, to discuss why this program is important to them and what wheat planting prospects look like for grazing and as we prepare for the 2012 crop season.

The Junior Wheat Show is an educational opportunity for 4-H and FFA members to learn the importance of maintaining new technologies and new varities when it comes to wheat production, as well as, learn the new ways to produce better wheat with higher yields says Schulte. The Oklahoma Wheat Commission gave out over $20,000 in prizes and scholarships to the participants in this year's Junior Wheat Show.

However, many wheat producers across the state are struggling with the decision for the 2012 wheat crop. Schulte says it is safe to say that most producers are concerned going into this next planting season, especially in southwestern, western Oklahoma and the panhandle region. Schulte says across the state there has not been any wheat planted yet because of high temperatures and high soil temperatures.

According to Gary McManus, Associate State Climatologist and an Oklahoma Climatological Survey, the heat has been fed by extreme drought that began nearly a year ago. The statewide average precipitation total from October 1, 2010-August 31, 2011, finished at 18.59 inches, 14.29 inches below normal and the third driest such period on record. That 11-month period was the driest on record for the Panhandle, north central, west central and southwestern Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Mesonet sites at Boise City, Grandfield, Goodwell and Hooker all recorded less than 6 inches of rainfall since October 1.

Click on the LINK below to hear the rest of our conversation with Mike Schulte on the current wheat situation and what Oklahoma can expect for the 2012 crop season.

Click here for more information on wheat seeding across the state


OSU's Dr. Derrell Peel Talks Cow Slaughter and Herd Dynamics this Fall
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cow slaughter continues at a pace well above last year in the Southern Plains. In this week's look at the cattle marketplace, OSU Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel says that beef cow slaughter in federal Region 6, which corresponds to the worst drought area, is averaging 150 percent of year ago levels for the past eight weeks.

For the year to date, beef cow slaughter in the region is 123 percent above a year ago. Beef cow slaughter in all other regions for the year to date is down 6 percent, resulting in a total national beef cow slaughter that is 101 percent of last year. However, beef cow slaughter outside of Region 6 is 4.5 percent above year ago levels for the past eight weeks resulting in total beef cow slaughter higher last last year for the past few weeks.. Additionally, significant numbers of cows have moved out of Texas and Oklahoma to other regions, though it is hard to know how many cows have been relocated. All of this likely means that cow culling for the remainder of the year will not follow typical seasonal patterns both inside and outside of the drought areas.

Dr. Peel adds that one unknown that will start to be seen this fall is how much lower than normal is the number of beef cows that were successfully bred during the hot end of the summer season. Some reports suggest that pregnancy evaluations are, in some cases, showing significantly reduced pregnancy rates due to the effects of the drought and this may lead to some additional culling this fall.

Click here to read Derrell Peel's full analysis about the cattle market situation as we move past Labor Day.


Forums to be Held on the Listing of Lesser Prairie Chicken on Endangered Species List
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The office of U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, along with Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment Gary Sherrer, will hold forums in Woodward and Edmond with newly confirmed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Dan Ashe concerning the potential listing of the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered or threatened species. Agreement from Ashe to hold the meetings was secured by Inhofe in May.

Senator Inhofe: "I am pleased that FWS Director Dan Ashe has accepted my request to visit Oklahoma to discuss the impacts of the potential listing of the lesser prairie chicken, and I look forward to welcoming him to Woodward and Edmond. This decision could have especially negative consequences for jobs and economic development in our state and Oklahomans will benefit from the chance to express their concerns. Instead of going through with an ESA listing, I hope that we can come to an agreement that will implement a public-private partnership, which will help us make progress on protecting the species while ensuring that economic growth is sustained."

The lesser prairie chicken has been a candidate species for over the previous ten years. However, beginning in January 2011, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated the listing process for the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act. The Service expects to issue a proposed rule on whether to list the species by September 30, 2012.

The first meeting will be held in Woodward, Okla., at 5:00 p.m. on September 7, at the High Plains Technology Center, Seminar Room, 3941 34th Street,Woodward, OK 73801.

The second meeting will be held in Edmond, Okla., at 9:00 a.m. on September 8, at the University of Central Oklahoma, Nigh University Center, Room 300, 100 North University Drive, Edmond, OK 73034.

Click here for more information on the Lesser Prairie Chicken forums


Oklahoma Forestry Service Announces Funding to Help Against Beetle Infestation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oklahoma Forestry Services (OFS), a division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, encourages Oklahoma landowners to apply for funding to prevent the ravages of a Southern Pine Beetle infestation that can devastate stands of pine forest.

"Over 600,000 acres of pine forests in the southeast Oklahoma counties of LeFlore, McCurtain and Pushmataha, as well as adjoining counties are at risk of being lost to damage from these insects," said George Geissler, Oklahoma State Forester. "With the current drought conditions, these pine trees are stressed and become the perfect haven for these destructive pests."

The funding is available from OFS and is made possible through its partnership with the US Forest Service. Landowners can receive grants of $40 to $60 per acre to help them with activities to reduce the risk of infestation such as developing forest management plans and implementing practices such as forest thinning.Oklahoma has had relatively little pine beetle damage in recent years. This is likely due to seasons of good growing conditions and improved forest management.

"OFS is committed to ensuring that Oklahoma has healthy productive forests for future generations," Geissler said. "Over 90 percent of the state's forestlands are owned by private landowners and we are asking these individuals to take advantage of this program and help us protect their forests."

Click here for more information on eligibility requirements from the OFS


Oklahoma Conservation Program Helping Producers Recover From Drought
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Oklahoma Conservation Commission has announced Program Year 13 of the state's Locally-Led Conservation Cost-Share Program. The agency approved guidelines for the latest program at its Sept. 1 meeting. The program began in 1997 with the goal reducing soil erosion and improving water quality by providing financial assistance to landowners for applying soil and water conservation practices. A few changes were made with the goal of going further to help landowners recover from the effects of the exceptional drought this year.

One change is that the program is being opened up earlier than most years. The Cost-Share Program overlaps years because it is designed to extend through two growing seasons to allow ample opportunity, under normal conditions, to install the conservation practices. In past years the program has opened at different times of the year from October to February, and the run for 16-24 months for completion of installation of the practices. Only once before has it begun in September and only once has it begun earlier. The first year of the Cost-Share Program, 1997, it began in August, also a year of exceptional drought.

"With the losses the state's agricultural producers have endured this year, it's important we help them recover and the conservation cost-share program will be of great assistance," said Gov. Mary Fallin. "I appreciate the Commission expediting these funds more quickly than normal to help producers prepare for the next rain event," she added.

"This is a great time to expand our water holding capacity on farms for when it does rain," said Jim Reese, state Sec. of Agriculture and Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

Click here to read more about this cost-share program that can help producers respond to the drought.


Fall Seminar Assisting Producers with Livestock Management Practices
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Oklahoma State Extension and the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network will host a Basic AG Fall Management Seminar to assist new producers prepare their livestock for the upcoming season.

The event, which is offered at no cost and is open to the public, will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15, at the OKC West Sale Barn (located at 7200 East Highway 66 in El Reno, Okla.).

"Good animal husbandry is the cornerstone of every livestock operation," said Clay Wright, Noble Foundation livestock consultant. "The Basic AG Fall Management Seminar will provide fundamental information for those new or just getting started in the livestock industry."

Seminar attendees will learn elements of the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, focusing on proper injection sites and techniques. The workshop will feature a live chute-side presentation and a chance for hands-on participation. Following the chute-side presentation, Doug McKinney will present information about the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network, a value-added marketing program for commercial producers.

Click here for more information on this cattle management seminar


Farm Service Agency Reminds Producers of Disaster Assistance Deadlines
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Bruce Nelson reminded producers today about upcoming deadlines for disaster assistance. Nelson emphasized that losses must be the result of a weather event occurring on or before Sept. 30, 2011.

"This year brought a host of extreme weather challenges for America's farmers, ranchers and producers," said Nelson. "USDA is committed to use the resources at our disposal to reduce the impact of these conditions and help producers get back on their feet. And this year, especially, it's important for producers to be aware of program deadlines and to have their records in order so that they get the assistance they need."

The 2008 Farm Bill authorizes coverage of disaster losses through these five programs:

-Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE);
-Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP);
-Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP);
-Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the
-Tree Assistance Program (TAP).

SURE applications for 2010 crop losses will be accepted later this fall. SURE applications for 2011 crop losses will be accepted in the fall of 2012, when the 2011 farm revenue data required by statute becomes available.

FSA is required to determine that the claimed loss was because of a disaster occurring on or before Sept. 30, 2011. FSA must determine if a qualifying loss meets the established disaster relief criteria for at least one crop.

Click here for more dates and deadlines on disaster assistance


Did You Get Your Steak?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In case you missed it on Friday- there are still a few vouchers left from our Friday kickoff for the Legendary Restaurants of Oklahoma from Freddie Pauls in Stillwater- Just $25 for $50 of hand cut steaks and everything else on the Freddie Pauls menu- click here to check that out. AND- this coming Friday, the second Legendary Restaurant offer will be available- and it's another great beef promoter- Johnnies with several locations in central Oklahoma. Details on this Legendary offer are available if you click here. < /a>

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!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 $13.18 per bushel, while the 2012 New Crop contracts for Canola are now available are $13.16 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:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
phone: 405-473-6144
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forward email

This email was sent to ron.hays@radiooklahoma.net by ron@oklahomafarmreport.com |  

Oklahoma Farm Report | 10700 Whitehall Blvd | Oklahoma City | OK | 73162