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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oklahoma's latest farm and ranch news
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON for Friday January 7, 2011
A
service of Producers Cooperative Oil Mill, Midwest Farm Shows and KIS
Futures!
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-- House Ag Committee Presses USDA to Base Biotech Product Decisions
on Sound Science
-- Cleanup of Differing Ideas of What Animal Husbandry Is Now in
Negotiation
-- Wheat Price Rise Has Been "Mind Boggling" Since This Past
June
-- Oklahoma Beef Cookoff Set for This Saturday in OKC
-- Oklahoma Angus Breeders Dominate Carlot and Pen Bull Show at
National Western Stock Show in Denver
-- FFA and USDA Sign Strategic Alliance Deal
-- Democrats Chosen to Be a Part of House Ag Commitee
-- 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. When you call them- ask them about their great Iphone App which provides futures quotes 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. 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. | |
House Ag Committee Presses USDA to Base Biotech Product Decisions on Sound Science ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Members of the
House Agriculture Committee delivered a clear message to Secretary of
Agriculture Tom Vilsack Thursday: deregulate herbicide-tolerant biotech
alfalfa, without onerous restrictions, and do it quickly. Vilsack's first
encounter with the Republican-majority committee found no supporters in
either party for an option that would impose stringent conditions on
biotech alfalfa planting in order to protect organic and non-biotech
fields.Recently, USDA's final environmental impact statement (EIS) concluded that GE alfalfa does not pose a plant pest risk. Typically, if a product is found to not be a plant pest, USDA deregulates it thereby making it available for commercialization. However, USDA has proposed an option in relation to GE alfalfa that would partially deregulate the product and impose geographic restrictions and isolation distances. This option would be a departure from existing policy. Oklahoma Congressman and Chairman of the Ag Committee Frank Lucas says
"I appreciate Secretary Vilsack and Mr. Conner taking the time to
participate in our forum today. Agricultural biotechnology is important to
the future of American agriculture; and it was important for USDA to hear
from the Committee on this issue in advance of its decision on genetically
engineered (GE) alfalfa. It is my hope that USDA will use sound science to
guide its decision-making process. As we seek to find solutions to the
challenges of identity preservation, it is important that we not pursue
strategies that inhibit grower choice or pit producer against producer."
Lucas added that the Plant Protection Act is "a pure science statute" and
that consideration of "coexistence" between biotech and organic crops is
"a political objective and is outside the scope of legal
authority." Click on the LINK below for our coverage during the Forum where we have the Q&A that Congressman Lucas and Secretary Vilsack engaged in on this subject. Click here for more on the House Ag Committee Forum on Biotech Direction at USDA. | |
Cleanup of Differing Ideas of What Animal Husbandry Is Now in Negotiation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There has been
a lot of heartburn over this past summer and fall between animal
agricultural interests and the State Vet Medical Board of Examiners. The
board, smarting from the passage of HB 3202 in the 2010 State legislative
session, had responded to that law by saying there needed to be a
definition of what "Animal Husbandry" is and drafted emergency rules- got
those approved by Governor Henry and declared that companies that do
reproductive services are in violation of the law if they do not have a
Veterinarian doing those procedures. This prompted loud screams of protest
from several lawmakers- and a lawsuit from the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal
Foundation.
In recent weeks however- the attitudes of both sides has mellowed. A week ago, the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners has voted to withdraw emergency rules requested and signed into law by then-Governor Brad Henry to help define the term "animal husbandry," in order to clarify who can provide medical services on livestock. The Farm Bureau Legal Foundation backed off and withdrew their lawsuit. Now the two sides, having both given some ground, are negotiating.
Cathy Kirkpatrick, Executive Director of the Vet Board, tells us that the
negotiations center around these reproductive services- and Tyler Norvell
of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau agrees. Both sides tell us that they are
working toward getting a certification of responsible parties that are not
Vets but are trained in these specific practices to be allowed to work
legally here in the state of Oklahoma. | |
Wheat Price Rise Has Been "Mind Boggling" Since This Past June ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wheat
producers have seen a "mind boggling" price move from harvest in June 2010
to here in early January, as OSU Extension Grain Marketing Economist Kim
Anderson tells us that we have moved cash wheat prices in Oklahoma from
just below $3 a bushel at harvest to now almost $8 a bushel here in mid
January. The factors that he cites as he talks with Lyndall Stout of SUNUP
is demand being higher than expected, production less than expected and US
wheat stocks being lower than the one billion bushel stockpile we were
told to expect back last summer.
Anderson says he thinks wheat prices will stay close to where they are now until early March- and at that point the markets will react to the crop conditions as the US Hard Red Winter Wheat Crop comes out of dormancy. If we get rain and the crop responds- prices could easily fall from the current close to $8 level to around $6. But, if dryness persists and export demand stays strong- $10 wheat is not out of line for later here in the spring of 2011. Click on the LINK below to read more of Kim's thoughts on the wheat
market this week- and hear his conversation with Lyndall Stout of SUNUP a
day early. Anderson talks about pricing a portion of your wheat crop at
this time- and you can evaluate what he says- and act on it if you choose
to do so while the markets are open and trading on this Friday. | |
Oklahoma Beef Cookoff Set for This Saturday in OKC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oklahoma's
premier beef cooking extravaganza is getting underway today during the
Oklahoma City Home and Garden Show January 21-23 2010, at the Oklahoma
State Fair Park in the Carriage Hall. Later today, the aroma of delicious beef recipes will tantalize your taste buds as various beef experts prepare their favorite beef dishes. They will provide tips such as cooking with beef on a budget and how to have a healthy lifestyle with beef. On Saturday, January 22, eight finalists from across the state will
compete in the bi-annual Oklahoma Beef Cook-Off. The recipes focus on
America's passion for beef and special times spent with family over beef
dishes. The categories are: A World of Beef - Beef Entrée; Small Plates,
Big Tastes - Beef Appetizers; Kid Pleasers - Beef dish prepared by a
child/parent or legal guardian team. The winner of each category will win
a cash prize, and the overall winner will win a grand prize of
$1,000. The Beef Cooking Extravaganza will conclude on Sunday, January 23, with
the first Oklahoma Beef Chef Competition. Six Oklahoma chefs will have an
hour to prepare a center-of-the-plate entree with a side, sauce or garnish
if so desired, using an inside round cut of beef and incorporating a
mystery basket of Made in Oklahoma products. A panel of five judges will
select three of the six entrees to advance to the second heat. The chefs
will create an entree with a side, sauce or garnish using a Chef's
Requested 200-Calorie Steak plus the items in the mystery basket. First
place will receive $1,000, second place $750 and third place $500. Each
chef will receive $100 for his or her participation. Click here for more details about the 2011 Oklahoma Beef Cookoff and more. | |
Oklahoma Angus Breeders Dominate Carlot and Pen Bull Show at National Western Stock Show in Denver ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Angus
producers competed for top honors during the 2011 National Western Stock
Show (NWSS) Angus Carload & Pen Show, earlier this month in Denver,
Colorado.
Express Angus Ranches, Yukon, Okla., claimed grand champion carload, with 10 January and February 2010 bulls sired by EXAR 263C, Sitz Upward 307R, Stevenson Moneymaker R185, EXAR Titlelist T011, BR Midland and Rito 6EM3 of 4L1 Emblazon. The group weighed an average of 1,383 pounds and posted an average scrotal circumference of 39.3 centimeters. Express Angus Ranches of Yukon also won in the Pen of Three
Competition, as they showcased the grand champion pen of three with
January and March 2010 sons of EXAR Lutton 1831 and Rito 6EM3 of 4L1
Emblazon. The trio posted an average weight of 1,295 pounds and an average
scrotal circumference of 37 centimeters. The bulls first won early calf
champion pen of three. More details on these top Angus Genetics can be had by clciking here. | |
FFA and USDA Sign Strategic Alliance Deal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The National
FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation have entered into a new,
strategic alliance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National
Council for Agricultural Education designed to develop agriculture
students' skills, leadership qualities, personal growth and career
success."This agreement is aimed at preparing and motivating the youth of America to undertake the challenges and reap the rewards associated with life in rural areas," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Working with our partners, we want to provide educational support and promote career opportunities in agriculture. This partnership will help meet the Obama administration's goal of raising a generation of Americans who are well educated, ready to lead their communities and strengthen the American economy." Under the agreement, FFA will work with USDA to identify needs and interests of agriculture teachers, students, communities, farmers, agribusiness and related groups. FFA will also collaborate with other USDA programs, such as 4-H and Agriculture in the Classroom, to extend efforts to educate and inform students about agriculture and promote awareness of career opportunities within the agriculture industry. The National FFA Foundation will pursue grants, cooperative agreements and contracts from both the public and private sectors to secure funding for collaborative projects. The agreement was signed on Thursday by Secretary Vilsack after a meeting in Washington with representatives from FFA, the National FFA Foundation, USDA and council. Click here for additional details of this alliance set up by USDA and the FFA | |
Democrats Chosen to Be a Part of House Ag Commitee ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ U.S. House
Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn.,
announced this week the Democratic members who will serve on the
Agriculture Committee during the 112th Congress. "The Agriculture Committee oversees a wide range of issues, including farm programs, nutrition programs, crop insurance, renewable energy, conservation, commodity markets and rural development. These members bring a great deal of expertise and a commitment to addressing the challenges of those who live, work and raise their families in rural America. I look forward to working with them, along with the new majority, in this Congress," Peterson said. The Democratic Caucus today named 20 Democrats, including 13 returning members and seven new members, to the House Agriculture Committee. We have the full list- click on the LINK below to see it. You may remember that Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas told us earlier that he intends to take a good bit of time this year to educate his Committee and other new members of the Congress about production agriculture- and based on where several of these new members are from (Maine- Vermont- Connecticut and the Northern Mariana Islands)- he's got a lot of educating to do!!! | |
Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, PCOM, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy, Johnston Enterprises, American Farmers & Ranchers, KIS Futures and Big Iron Online Auctions 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. | |
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 $9.95 per
bushel, while the 2011 New Crop contracts for Canola are now available are
$10.50 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: | |
God Bless! You can reach us at the following: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
email: ron@oklahomafarmreport.com
phone: 405-473-6144
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