Gary England Sees No Systems Coming in the Next Two Weeks Bringing Frigid Weather to Oklahoma 

What are the chances of a late season freeze causing damage to the 2012 Winter Wheat Crop across the Southern Plains? With the crop two to three weeks ahead of normal development- there has been a lot of talk about what happens if we get a mid April 2012 freeze event? (Pictured here is wheat damaged from freezing conditions back in 2009)


Well, we decided to talk to veteran meterologist Gary England of KWTV, News9 about the prospects. England says that looking about as far out as you can- early indications show no cold weather events for a sustained amount of time below 32 degrees for the next 16 days or so. He cautions that the further out you go- the less reliable is the data you have to consider- but he says there is a chance we could dodge the bullet of an economically devastating freeze across Oklahoma this month.


We also talked with Gary about the chances of having a hot summer this coming July and August because of a warm March. He tells us there is no relationship between the early spring conditions- and those we will face in mid summer.


You can hear our complete conversation about the weather with Gary England by clicking here.

Jack Givens Receives Governor's Outstanding Achievement Award in Agriculture- Inducted Into Oklahoma Ag Hall of Fame 

During a special ceremony at the state Capitol, Gov. Mary Fallin announced Jack M. Givens the recipient of the Governor's Outstanding Achievement Award in Agriculture. The Greer County farmer became the 15th member of the Agriculture Hall of Fame. Givens talked with us about this honor on Thursday at the State Capitol- and you can hear that conversation by clicking here. We also asked Governor Fallin about the lifetime of service that Givens gave to Oklahoma and to Agriculture.

Over the years, Givens' commitment to working hard reached far beyond his own cotton fields. He served two terms as Chairman of the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service. A lifelong member of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, he served first as the Southwest Director and later as the State President of the organization. He served the cotton industry on a national scale acting as director for both the Cotton Incorporated Board and the National Cotton Council. Givens has also been a Regent and Chairman for Oklahoma State University and A&M Colleges. He has also been an active member of the Mangum First Baptist Church.

Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese presented Givens with a citation for his contribution to the Oklahoma agriculture industry.

You can read much more about Jack Givens on our web page by clicking here.  You will also find a link there to pictures from the ceremony at the State Capitol.
 
 

Kim Anderson Talks About Surprising Grain Markets Following Crop Plantings Reports

OSU Grain Marketing Specialist Dr. Kim Anderson says the markets presented a surprising mix this past week. He spoke with SUNUP's Lyndall Stout on the markets' odd gyrations in light of two reports which were released last week.

"We were concentrating on the plantings report. Corn came in at 95.9 million acres. We had expected 94.7, so about 1.5 million above expectations. Wheat came in below expectations at 55.9 million acres. We expected about 57.4. And soybeans came in at about 73.9 million acres which was below the trade estimate of 75.4."

"You look at those numbers and you think, 'Corn is going to be down strong. Wheat is going to be steady, maybe a couple of cents higher and beans pick up 15 to 20 cents.'

"What we saw was corn up the limit, 40 cents, on Friday, up another 12 on Monday, a total of 52 cents. Wheat was up 43 cents on Friday and beans were up 48 cents. The price increases were well above expectations."

You can hear more of the preview of Kim Anderson's SUNUP discussion of last week's markets by clicking here.

Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom Salutes Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year- and Student Winners at State Capitol

Earlier this year, a 31-year veteran of the classroom was named Oklahoma's latest Ag in the Classroom State Teacher of the Year. Shirley Lettkeman, a fourth grade and gifted education teacher in Watonga, was originally honored in a special school assembly- and was further honored on Thursday during the Ag Day celebration at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City.

We have a video that Shirley's class produced- and that was honored as the top video in a contest held by the Ag in the Classroom folks here in 2012- and we have lots of pictures of all of the kids that received awards yesterday at the state capitol.  

The full list of those students can be found in our story as well- click here for more on the Ag in the Classroom events at the State Capitol on Ag Day 2012.

EWG's Scott Faber Goes After Crop Insurance Support in Washington Times Opinion Piece

The Washington Times ran this opinion piece by Scott Faber, the Environmental Working Group's vice president of government affairs. Faber examines what is at stake in the federal farm bill which is up for renewal this year:

From 1995 to 2010, taxpayers provided nearly a quarter-trillion dollars in subsidies to farm businesses. Only one-third of America's farmers grow crops that are even eligible for these subsidies, and the top 10 percent of these operations collected 74 percent of available funds. More and more farm payments are being delivered as premium subsidies for farm insurance policies. As more farm businesses purchased government-subsidized insurance, the cost to taxpayers has exploded: from $2.4 billion in 2001 to nearly $9 billion in 2011.

Nevertheless, some farm lobbyists have proposed extending these costly insurance subsidies - with no means-testing or payment limits - and creating new entitlement programs. In particular, some lobbyists want to guarantee up to 95 percent of the income for the same farm businesses that have absorbed the lion's share of subsidies.

In combination with increasingly expensive insurance subsidies, the bill to the taxpayers for this new "safety net" could be at least $120 billion over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Click here to read more of Farber's take on the 2012 farm bill.

Easter Holiday Notes and Thoughts

The Good Friday holiday is a holiday for some- and not a holiday for others. The ag futures markets and the equity markets are off for a three day Easter weekend as of today- they will reopen late Sunday for the overnight trade in our grains and cotton futures.

However, the federal government does not recognize Good Friday as a holiday and those offices are open.  Some businesses choose to give their employees off on this Friday- others do not- you might call and check before driving to town if the business you need to deal with is open or not.

Of course, for those that understand what Good Friday is all about- it's an incredibly important day in the life of a follower of Jesus.  On the surface, there was nothing really "good" about it.  The followers of Jesus scattered like dandelion seed being blown into the wind- with one of his closest friends, Peter, caught up in the fear of the moment as he denied who Jesus was- once, twice, three times. For Jesus, it was the day to die.  He gave His life on that hill just outside of town- His body was taken and put into a cave and sealed away.  The authorities thought- that's it- it's over.   

On this side of these events- we know that was not the case.  On what the Jews called the first day of the week- Sunday- ladies went to anoint the dead body of this man- but that body was gone- Jesus that weekend faced death- defeated death and rose to newness of life that He shares as a free gift to those who choose to accept it.

Back to this best friend Peter.  The good thing about him was that his story did not end on Bad Friday.  He turned back to Jesus and was used to help change the world- forever.  

Easter is a holiday of hope and renewal.  If you don't know about that- drop me an email and we can chat.  If you do know about that- I hope you will go and celebrate with others on this coming Sunday morning- it's gonna be a Glorious day! 

Don Serapio's Celebrates 31 Years in Business, Joins Legendary Restaurants of Oklahoma

Next time you're in El Reno, check out Don Serapio's, our newest Legendary Restaurant of Oklahoma.

Jim and Janie Meadows continue a family tradition that started back in 1954. It's easy to find, right on Highway 66.

Don Serapio's specializes in true, authentic homemade Mexican food.   They cook their food fresh each day and prepare each item to order. Each item is homemade from their special beans and rice to their desserts. From their own fajita marinades to their tamales. Even their tortillas are homemade.
 

You can buy $50 worth of Don Serapio's delicious Mexican food for only $25 by clicking here. 

Click here to hear owner Jim Meadows talk about the great things they do to satisfy their customers and keep them coming back year after year.