From: Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 07:06
To: ron@oklahomafarmreport.com
Subject: Oklahoma's Farm News Update
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Oklahoma's latest farm and ranch news
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON for Tuesday April 3, 2007!
A service of Midwest Farm Shows
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-- Moisture Supplies Dramatically Improve in latest Crop Weather update.
-- Key Senators and Beef Industry Agree- NO FTA with South Korea until beef is flowing through to consumers!
-- Sixteen Days and Counting! The Southern Plains Farm Show is just around the corner!
-- Farm Bureau Applauds Congressman Boren and Congresswoman Fallin for Farm Truck Regulatory Help.
-- Latest AgWeather Update is now available.
-- Governor's Conference on Ag goes regional in 2007 along I-40 west and east.
-- Thanks to those of you that stopped by and said hello in Woodward Saturday...

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 Southern Plains Farm Show in Oklahoma City April 19-21, 2007, as well as the Tulsa Farm Show held each December. 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.


Moisture Supplies Dramatically Improve in latest Crop Weather update.
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The rains that we have documented the last week of March have proven to be a major blessing in helping move the process of recharging subsoil moisture supplies in Oklahoma- as well as to bring us a level of 86% adequate to surplus on our topsoil moisture readings. That amount of topsoil moisture has translated into runoff for ponds and small lakes across a lot of the state- and even Lake Altus in southwest Oklahoma is feeling the benefits- as we have almost caught up with the water levels of last spring after being several feet below a year ago as we began 2007.

Subsoil Moisture supplies now stand at 60% adequate to surplus, versus 63% short to very short at this point in 2006. It's almost a full 180 turn on winter wheat crop conditions as well- as we now have a crop rating in Oklahoma of 74% good to excellent for our winter wheat- compared to 62% poor to very poor in 2006. Kansas wheat also looks very good at 77% good to excellent and the Texas wheat crop, which also is almost a total turnaround from 2006, stands at 67% good to excellent.

Back in Oklahoma, we now have 28% of the expected corn acreage planted and have just begun some early planting of soybeans. The wheat crop is ahead of normal development, with 74% now in the jointing stage, about ten percentage points ahead of both last year and the five year average. That could be worrisome if we get a late freeze in the next couple of weeks.

As far as our pasture and range conditions are concerned, the rains of March have improved grass prospects, with our range conditions down to 35% poor to very poor, and 43% rated in fair shape.

Click here for this week's Oklahoma Crop Weather Update.


Key Senators and Beef Industry Agree- NO FTA with South Korea until beef is flowing through to consumers!
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It was literally minutes before the absolute deadline for a deal to be done when the US and South Korea were able to announce a Free Trade Agreement had been reached. Beef is a small part of the actual agreement itself, as apparently tariffs will wind down to zero on US beef over a fifteen year period.

However, what will dictate how Congress will vote on the FTA- and for that matter apparently even when they get it from the Bush Administration to consider it all hinges on a phone conversation that President Roh and President Bush had on Friday about fully reopening beef trade into Korea as the negotiations went into "overtime." In a televised speech to the Korean people, President Roh Moo-hyun made a rather remarkable promise public that he offered to George W. Bush. "In a recent telephone conversation with President George W. Bush, I made the following promise and confirmation: First, the Korean Government will continue to engage in the negotiations in good faith. Second, in the process, Korea will uphold the recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health and intends to open the Korean market at a reasonable level. Third, Korea will try to implement the agreement procedures within a reasonable time frame." President Roh adds "The Korean Government will keep its promises. As we carry out the promises faithfully, we will be able to come up with a possible date for importing beef. It is not correct to argue that the provision represents an unconditional promise to import beef or even that there is a secret deal."

Below, we have linked a conversation that we had yesterday afternoon with a tired Gregg Doud, Chief Economist with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. He was on the phone multiple times with the US Trade team in Seoul as the weekend progressed and offers his thoughts on what we now have as we wait on the OIE final ruling on the US being a "controlled risk" country when it comes to BSE. Between May 20th and the end of June, it could get very interesting regarding the movement of US beef back into Korea. Between now and then, it remains to be seen if the Koreans are willing to back off the fine comb approach of inspecting US beef for bone chips that are pea sized or smaller- and allow younger beef under 30 months in a commercially viable way to reach stores and restaurants.

Click here to listen to Ron visit with Greg Doud of NCBA on the South Korea- US FTA deal.


Sixteen Days and Counting! The Southern Plains Farm Show is just around the corner!
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The Southern Plains Farm is just around the corner- set to begin on Thursday April 19 and running through Saturday, April 21 at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. This will be the third year for this show under the Midwest Farm Show Management- and they have lined up their best effort yet for this spring event that was originally started as a tiny equipment show by Ernie Shiner of the Oklahoma Farmer Stockman a bunch of years ago.

Here in 2007, there will be several hundred vendors showing off the latest farm equipment and technology that reflects the high tech world of agriculture today. Displays will be in four different buildings, plus out on the parking lots between the buildings- so there will be lots to examine and talk about with exhibitors. The Oklahoma Cattlewomen will be holding the 2007 edition of the Oklahoma Beef Cookoff the Saturday of the event- Craig Cameron will be offering twice daily "gentle horse training" sessions, there will be the Youth Cattle Grading Competition on Thursday morning and we have a special Thursday morning event at the Radio Oklahoma Network that we hope you will take advantage of.

The opening day of the 2007 show will be a special Farmer Appreciation Breakfast from 8 am til 10 am at the brand new Barn 3 Cafe, right behind the big Cox Exhibition building(what we used to call the "Bubble" building). We are working with the Oklahoma Beef Council and Lopez Foods to bring you beef sausage along with biscuits, gravy and eggs to get your Thursday morning off to a great start! Come and join us for that Thursday morning- we look forward to saying hello to you- and getting you oriented about all that is going on at this year's Southern Plains Farm Show. We have the link to the show elsewhere in this email- so check it out and be sure to make plans for April 19, 20 and 21- the show opens at 9 am all three days!


Farm Bureau Applauds Congressman Boren and Congresswoman Fallin for Farm Truck Regulatory Help.
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U.S. Congressman Dan Boren and U.S. Congresswoman Mary Fallin have introduced federal legislation that would make it easier for Oklahoma's agricultural producers to transport goods across state lines. H.R. 1757 would adjust the federal definition of commercial motor vehicles to include only those that weigh more than 26,000 pounds. "Oklahoma borders six other states and our farmers often need to cross those state lines," Boren said. "I am hearing from farmers across my district who are already facing fines from these regulations that were never meant to apply to them in the first place. This bill protects the safety of our roads while lifting this burden on our farmers and ranchers."

Current Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations give states discretion in deciding whether vehicles under 26,001 pounds are considered commercial vehicles within their own borders, but hold those traveling from one state to another to a much more prohibitive federal standard of 10,001 pounds. H.R. 1757 would change the definition of a commercial motor vehicle to include only those that exceed 26,000 pounds, making it consistent with most states' laws. The bill maintains current safety standards for vehicles of any weight that transport 16 or more passengers or hazardous materials. "I am proud to be cosponsoring a bill that removes bureaucratic red tape for our farmers and allows them to operate efficiently and without government interference," Fallin said. "I'd like to thank Congressman Boren for working hard on a piece of legislation that will help farmers in Oklahoma and all across the country."

"The Oklahoma Farm Bureau commends Congressman Boren and Congresswoman Fallin for introducing H.R. 1757," Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Steve Kouplen said. "Farmers, ranchers and others who engage in interstate commerce throughout this nation need the ability to conduct their business in a fair and efficient manner. We believe that H.R. 1757 will provide much needed uniformity between state and federal law which will allow for agricultural commodities to be transported more freely across state lines." H.R. 1757 has been assigned to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.


Latest AgWeather Update is now available.
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The latest issue of AgWeather from the Oklahoma Mesonet folks showcases the wild world of springtime weather here in the southern great plains- and looks at tools available on the agweather site of the Oklahoma Mesonet that can help you track thunderstorm activity.

In her lead article on how the severe weather in Oklahoma often roughs up the fortunes of farmers and ranchers, Laura McKay speaks of the protection that farmers and ranchers avail themselves of from USDA's Risk Management Agency. "According to Dr. Barry Dodson, acting director of the Oklahoma City Regional Risk Management Office, there were 17,954 crop insurance policies and 95 livestock insurance policies in 2006. Of the more than 18,000 policies, 12,366 were claimed and agricultural producers received millions of dollars in insurance money for crop losses last year. “There was approximately $133 million in insured crop losses in Oklahoma during 2006, due in the most part from weather related incidences."

We have the link below for the latest Oklahoma AgWeather newsletter linked below- check it out!

Click here for the latest AgWeather update from the Oklahoma Mesonet!


Governor's Conference on Ag goes regional in 2007 along I-40 west and east.
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This year’s Governor’s Conference on Agriculture has a distinctly new theme: “The Oklahoma Farm and Ranch Summits: Bringing Innovative Ideas to Agricultural Producers” will be held in two locations beginning here in April. A western regional summit is scheduled for April 26-27 at P-Bar Farms near Weatherford and an eastern regional meeting will be held at The Grape Ranch in Okemah May 10-11.

“Every other year we take this conference out of Oklahoma City and hold it in areas where more producers have the opportunity to attend,” said State Secretary of Agriculture, Terry Peach. “Both summits will focus on many of the same topics such as agritourism, alternative fuels, water issues, and animal identification but we’ve also tailored a portion of each program to best fit that particular region of the state.” The western meeting, between Weatherford and Hydro, will focus a portion of the day on no-till farming practices. The eastern regional summit will devote part of its agenda to prescribed burning practices as well as available assistance from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry’s Forestry Services division.

For those who pre-register by April 20 the cost of the meetings are $10 for the Thursday night programs only, $20 for the Friday programs, or $25 for both days. Registration at the door will be $15 for Thursday programs, $25 for Friday programs and $35 for both days. Pre-registration information is available online. (we have the link provided below) To register by telephone contact Amber Lawles, Associate Commissioner of Agriculture, at (405) 522-5489.

Click here for the registration form on the two regional Summits that will make up the 2007 Governor's Conference on Agriculture.


Thanks to those of you that stopped by and said hello in Woodward Saturday...
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That's the word from Ed Richards, our colleague at the Radio Oklahoma Network. Ed got the rock star treatment as lots of listeners stopped by and wanted to say hello to "Farmboy" and told Ed that they enjoy our farm news and markets from the Radio Oklahoma Network on K101, 101.1 on the FM dial!

Ed was participating in the annual spring K101 Farm and Home Expo on Saturday- and tells us he really enjoyed meeting so many folks that afternoon.

We are proud of our big 100,000 watt outlet in Red Carpet country- and remind you that our RON reports can be heard weekdays on K101- in fact, we have a link below that gives you a complete rundown of the times of our daily reports- in and around complete weather updates, great country music and lots of fun with live and local announcers serving the northwestern quarter of the state!

Click here for the complete K101 radio schedule of farm and ranch news and markets to be heard from Ron and Ed on the Radio Oklahoma Network!


Our thanks to Midwest Farm Shows for their support of our daily Farm News Update. Go to their website at the link at the top of today's email for more information on either the Tulsa Farm Show or the Southern Plains Farm Show.

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



God Bless! You can reach us at the following:
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phone: 405-473-6144
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