Howdy Neighbors!

Here's your morning farm news headlines from the Director of Farm Programming for the Radio Oklahoma Network, Ron Hays. We are pleased to have American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company as a regular sponsor of our daily update- click here to go to their AFR web site to learn more about their efforts to serve rural America!

It is also great to have as an annual sponsor on our daily email Johnston Enterprises- proud to be serving agriculture across Oklahoma and around the world since 1893. For more on Johnston Enterprises- click here for their website!

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Cletus Carter (Chairperson)
Carter, from Beaver County, Okla., owns a farming and ranching operation and farm consulting business. He has served on the Beaver County and Northwest Oklahoma Community Development Council and also held a position on the Deans Advisory Council in Oklahoma State University's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

Steve Nunley
Nunley, from Marlow, Okla., has served as a board member on the Stephens County Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation. He has been awarded the Oklahoma Young Farm Family of the Year Award and National Western Region Dairy and Crop Production Proficiency Award.
Brenda Neufeld
Neufeld, from Fairview, Okla., is an integral part of her family farm where she is involved in the production of dairy quality alfalfa hay, wheat and cattle. She also serves as a tax accountant for Curtis D. Karber & Associates. In addition, Neufeld is active in her local community serving as Major County Progressive Farmer Safety Day coordinator, Ag in the Classroom presenter, teacher tour host and an active member of the Major County Farm Bureau Women's Committee.

Steve Butler
Butler, from Wagoner, Okla., served on the Wagoner County FSA Committee for more than two decades before his appointment to the Oklahoma FSA State Committee. Butler previously served on the USDA State Committee from 1993 to 2000. In addition to his public service, Butler has owned and operated a dairy farm since 1971. After attending Texas Tech University and Northeastern State University, Butler joined the U.S. National Guard.
Jack Sherry
Sherry, from Holdenville, Okla., is part owner of a 2,000 acre farm and ranch. He also is the current president of Holdenville's Chamber of Commerce and president of the Holdenville Public School Board. Sherry's extensive leadership experience includes a stint as president of both the Hughes County Young Farmers and Hughes County Cattlemen's Association. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Oklahoma State University.

In an email announcing the USDA appointments- Oklahoma FSA Director Francie Tolle told us that "This is an incredible group that will do an outstanding job representing Oklahoma agriculture."

Bill Buckner and I had the chance to talk about several issues- including his thoughts on the Climate Change debate and why it is vital that agriculture take an "in your face" kind of attitude and make sure they stay engaged when and if further negotiations happen- Buckner says that bad things can occur if you neglect to be part of the process.

We also talked about glyphosate and how Bayer wants to be part of the solution in discovering new chemistry that will follow this highly effective chemical that is gradually finding itself vulnerable to resistant weeds around the world. Click on the link below- and you can hear our special Ag Perspectives Podcast with Bill Buckner from this Weed Resistance Conference in Miami Beach.

Click here for our conversation with Bill Buckner of Bayer Crop Science North America.

Congressman Lucas adds that he is agreeable to cooperate with House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson to start the process of hearings for the 2012 Farm Bill, but doesn't think radical changes to the farm safety net are warranted. Lucas says he knows that Peterson is a champion of the revenue based farm program concept- but he thinks there are still too many bugs in the equations to fully move the farm safety net that direction.

Click on the link below to hear comments from the Oklahoma lawmaker who is the top GOP member on the House Ag Committee.

Click here for our story with an audio overview from OKlahoma Congressman Frank Lucas

National Corn Growers Association President Darrin Ihnen has released the following statement related to the decision announced today to oppose H.R. 2454, The American Clean Energy and Security Act.
"Since the passage of this bill by the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2009, the National Corn Growers Association has maintained a neutral position on the legislation pending further review. Although our neutrality has often put us at odds with the majority of other mainstream agricultural groups, we believe it was critical to remain engaged with lawmakers while the economic impacts were analyzed, and last year NCGA retained Informa Economics of Memphis, Tenn., to study the potential impacts on agriculture.

"Now, based on the recently completed economic analysis, NCGA has no choice but to oppose H.R. 2454. The results of the Informa study indicates that every corn grower in the country will experience increased costs of production resulting from H.R. 2454. In the early years of this legislation, these higher production costs will be relatively minor. However, over time these prices will significantly increase, placing an unnecessary burden on growers."

Click on the link below for the rest of the NCGA statement on their decision to pile on in opposition to the House passed Climate Change proposal.

Click here for more on the National Corn Growers and their statement on Climate Change efforts in Congress.

"In the absence of such an international agreement, it would be foolish for our country-from both an economic and an environmental standpoint-to undertake such regulatory action as contemplated by EPA. Administrator Lisa Jackson testified before the Senate last summer that the U.S. acting on its own cannot affect the global climate," Stallman wrote. "Yet, it is clear that a regulatory scheme such as that contemplated under the endangerment finding would have significant negative effects on the economy."

In the letter, Stallman noted a resolution passed unanimously by delegates to AFBF's 91st annual meeting last week that not only expressed opposition to cap-and-trade legislation but that "strongly supports any legislative action that would suspend EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act."

Click on the link below and check out our story on our website, www.OklahomaFarmReport.Com. Our story includes a link to the full letter from American Farm Bureau to all members of the US Senate.

Click here for more on the Farm Bureau call to stop the EPA from moving forward on regulating carbon dioxide as a danger to the environment and to mankind.

The Senators said - we are concerned the proposed cuts to the crop insurance industry, in addition to cuts made as part of the 2008 Farm Bill, could force some companies out of business. They added, - our rural economies can't stand to lose the jobs and necessary incomes that would occur as a result of these cuts.

They also voiced a concern for a reduction in the quality of the service provided to farmers, and in some parts of the country could mean farmers might be required to drive for hours to sit down with their agents to discuss coverage decisions. They concluded, - this program is highly valued by our farmers and their bankers, especially in such a volatile economic environment.

Click here to jump to our story on the website- which is where you can go and click and read the full letter sent by lawmakers to USDA.

That was the case again in 2009 for those who have completed the two year program known as the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program. Alums from all thirteen classes that have graduated participated in the annual challenge laid down by the Noble Foundation of Ardmore. In 2009, the Noble Challenge Grant was for $25,000. For every dollar that was given to OALP by an alum- the Noble folks would match it one for one, up to a maximum of $25,000.

The Grant was met and exceeded once again in 2009, even as many Alums were struggling in these challenging economic times. The Alums not only met the goal, but blew right past it, with contributions to the running of the statewide Ag Leadership Program offered by more than a hundred of the grads of the program. When all was said and done, the Alums of the OALP had contributed just over $32,000 in 2009, easily earning the all important match from the Noble Foundation.
By the way, the current class- the 14th group that has gathered under the OALP banner is getting ready to leave in a just a few weeks for their international travel experience. You can click on their website to learn more about the OALP- and I would personally invite you to give me a call if you have any interest in being considered for Class 15 of the program- we are looking for a few good folks for the next class- and your involvement in that process is very important.

Click here for more on the OALP program, as seen on their website.

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

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.