Howdy Neighbors!

Here's your morning farm news headlines from the Director of Farm Programming for the Radio Oklahoma Network, Ron Hays. Our email this morning is a service of Midwest Farm Shows, featuring the Tulsa Farm Show December 7-9, 2006 and the Southern Plains Farm Show in Oklahoma City April 19-21, 2007. Check out details of both of these exciting shows at the official website of Midwest Farm Shows by clicking here.

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.

Several Democratic state lawmakers also expressed their disgust with the lack of action in the just concluded Lame Duck Session of Congress. State Senator Jeff Rabon of Hugo has said this past week that the state must step forward with a comprehensive package for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, saying "there must be a sense of urgency to get this done at the state level." Rabon says the state should act quickly to assist farmers and ranchers with funding from the state's current budget surplus of nearly $100 million and with money from the Rainy Day Fund.

We talked with Secretary Peach about the disaster declaration game, as well as asked him to look ahead over the next several years to tell us what to expect from the second term of Brad Henry as it relates to agriculture. This conversation is linked below.

Click here for the second half of our conversation with State Ag Commissioner Terry Peach.

We were looking forward to getting an update from the Congressman about where he stands on Committee assignments for the House Ag Committee in 2007. It was announced by House Ag Committee Chairman Colin Peterson of Minnesota that Tim Holden of Pennsylvania, who was the ranking member on the committee that Frank Lucas chaired the last couple of years, Conservation and Research, will be the Vice-Chairman of the full Committee and will have his pick of Subcommittee chairmanships. Peterson told reporters that they are looking at a new subcommittee to be formed in 2007 that will include jurisdiction over Energy, Land Stewardship(Code for Conservation) and Research. The Congressman from Pennsylvania is expected to chair that subcommittee, and it is expected that Lucas will take the ranking minority seat unless term limits that the Republicans impose on themselves for committee leadership posts get in the way.

When last we talked with Congressman Lucas, he was excited about the prospects of being on this newly formed subcommittee as it almost certainly will catch a lot of action as we write a "greener" farm bill in 2007 that will include a significant Energy title as well. I would guess we would know where out Third District lawmaker will be placed in a matter of days.

The lone candidate being considered by OSU for the Animal Science position was originally one of three recommendations from the search committee- but one of those three apparently took the open Head of Animal Science position at Kansas State- while the third finalist withdrew in recent days after taking another position as well.

That leaves OSU with one finalist that is now a part of the Animal Science Department at Purdue University and has been advanced by the Search Committee, has been on campus, has met with the University and key players in the animal agriculture industry here in Oklahoma and now the University leadership is considering their options. This candidate has an OSU background, as he received both his Masters and Doctorate in Stillwater. He currently is involved in teaching and research that relates back to beef nutrition and management- and has also been active in extension, working with Indiana cattle producers on various value added and quality assurance projects. I have confirmation of who the candidate is from a couple of sources, but am waiting on the University before I report a name for either the Animal Science post or the finalists for the Ag Econ position.

KTJS 1420 AM in Hobart was a fixture in southwest Oklahoma before Hays came to the state in 1977 to establish a statewide ag radio network. KTJS was one of the original affiliates on that network- and is now changing horses to join the Radio Oklahoma Network and bring Ron Hays back on the air. Final details on programs being carried are being worked out- and we will have a schedule to share with you in a few days on when you can hear our agricultural information on KTJS at 1420 on the AM dial.

Another of those original radio affiliates that hooked up with Ron in 1977 was KWEY AM in Weatherford. We are pleased to announce that KWEY at 1590 on the AM Dial and KWEY FM at 95.5 on the FM dial joins the Radio Oklahoma Network family as of January 2, 2007!!! These stations are known as "The Coyote" and have been a major source of farm and ranch news for decades in west central areas of the state- on both sides of I-40 west of Calumet all the way to the state line. Look for our programming lineup on "The Coyote" in the next few days as well. We really appreciate the support and confidence that these radio stations are showing in our efforts to keep you informed on the latest farm and ranch news, as well as up to the moment market information. Let these fine stations know that they have chosen wisely- and if we are not on your local station yet- give the station manager a call- and tell them, "We want Ron on RON!!!"

We have linked below to our web site and specifically to our Beef Buzz web page. Scroll down to today's date and click on that date to hear this program with Jay O'Brien. And- you will see that we have already loaded shows for the rest of the week with Jay O'Biren- so you have first chance at hearing all of his comments on some of the great things going on with the Beef Checkoff as we wrap up 2006 and jump into 2007!

Click here to be teleported to our Beef Buzz page on OklahomaFarmReport.Com

As always, if some unusually important agricultural story should come up later this week- we will be offering you special coverage.

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