From: Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.ccsend.com] on behalf of Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 6:32 AM
To: Hays, Ron
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 Wednesday July 13, 2011
A service of Johnston Enterprises, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy and American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company!
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-- Emergency Haying of CRP Land Authorized in 25 Oklahoma Counties
-- Blue-Green Algae and Water Quality Problems Need Attention from EPA says Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts
-- Part 3 with Bryan Weech, Says Not Moving Forward with Sustainability is Dangerous
-- July Crop Numbers Leave Size of Oklahoma Wheat Crop Unchanged- Kansas Sees a Slight Increase
-- Higher Quality Cattle Means Less Risk in Marketing
-- Noble Foundation Seminar Focusing on Improving Stocker Cattle Operations
-- Bayer CropScience Takes to Twitter to Fund Flood Relief Efforts
-- 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 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!

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Emergency Haying of CRP Land Authorized in 25 Oklahoma Counties
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In response to extreme drought conditions, twenty-five counties in Oklahoma have been authorized for emergency haying of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres by USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA). The counties are: Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Grady, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, Major, McCurtain, Roger Mills, Tillman, Washita, Woods and Woodward. Haying authorization will end on August 31, 2011.

"Eligible producers who are interested in emergency haying of CRP must request approval and obtain a modified conservation plan before haying eligible acreage," said Francie Tolle, Executive Director of Oklahoma Farm Service Agency.

Upon approval of emergency haying, producers must leave at least 50 percent of each field or contiguous field unhayed for wildlife. For those counties that are eligible for emergency haying and grazing, the same CRP acreage cannot be both hayed and/or grazed at the same time. For example, if 50 percent of a field or contiguous field is hayed, the remaining unhayed 50 percent cannot be grazed; it must remain unhayed and ungrazed for wildlife.

In addition, participants are limited to one hay cutting and are not permitted to sell any of the hay. There will be a 25 percent CRP payment reduction depending on the number of acres actually hayed.

To take advantage of the emergency haying provisions, authorized producers can use the CRP acreage for their own livestock or may grant another livestock producer use of the CRP acreage for the purpose of haying. All haying activity must be completed by August 31, 2011. Emergency grazing of CRP is also authorized in these counties upon request and approval by the local FSA county committee. Emergency grazing may begin upon approval and continue through September 30, 2011.

Click here for more information from the FSA office.


Blue-Green Algae and Water Quality Problems Need Attention from EPA says Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts
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The recent rash of water quality alerts in Oklahoma, including blooms of blue-green algae and increased levels of E coli bacteria in certain lakes shows the need for additional resources dedicated to addressing nonpoint source pollution in water according to Joe Parker, President of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD). In addition, Parker said that these events also help highlight the folly of recent actions taken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) including cuts made to federal funding to control nonpoint source pollution in water and the rejection in 2008 of a water quality management plan for the Grand Lake Watershed. It also shows the challenges that could be created by proposed cuts to Farm Bill Conservation programs.

"Events can speak louder than words," Parker said. "For months now we have been expressing our dismay at the cut by EPA to the Clean Water Act section 319 program (319), the primary fund that we use to control nonpoint source pollution in water. We also were disappointed when the EPA rejected the watershed plan for the Grand Lake Watershed some time back and we are concerned about what could happen to our efforts if we see some of the cuts proposed to federal conservation funding become law. We talk and talk about the water quality challenges we are facing and what these cuts could mean but I guess it takes headlines about lakes closing before the message hits home."

In early July, a bloom of blue-green algae in Northeast Oklahoma's Grand Lake resulted in warnings for visitors to avoid swimming in the lake over the 4th of July weekend. Later that same month an increase in E coli bacteria in parts of Lake Arcadia in Central Oklahoma was sighted as the reason for closing several beach areas on that water body. This past week blue-green algae blooms were detected in Fort Gibson Lake and Keystone Lake with another possible bloom in Lake Tenkiller. Parker said that these events show that while Oklahoma has made great strides in the area of water quality protection, now is not the time to abandon water quality work in the name of balancing the federal budget.

"In late May the Oklahoma Conservation Commission was notified that roughly 20% of the funds it receives through the 319 program would be cut," Parker said. "These are the funds we use to partner with landowners to undertake best management practices on land in priority watersheds. These cuts would also reduce the funds used by the Conservation Commission to monitor whether or not these practices are actually working and resulting in reductions of nutrients, bacteria and sediment. Using these dollars in partnership with USDA Farm Bill Conservation programs including help from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Oklahoma has been able to show reductions of nutrients as high as 70% in some watersheds. Now, both the 319 funds and USDA Conservation programs are on the chopping block. These recent water quality events show why that's a bad idea."

Click here for more information on funding from the OACD


Part 3 with Bryan Weech, Says Not Moving Forward with Sustainability is Dangerous
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We have part three of our story with Bryan Weech, Director of Livestock Agriculture with the World Wildlife Fund, concerning sustainability in beef cattle production. Weech says we have got to move forward with increasing sustainability because it is dangerous not to.

Weech says one significant side effect to not moving forward on this issue is an increase in legislation. If food value chains don't do their part with sustainability, there is going to be an increase in legislation and with that there will be a stifling of innovation and challenges with obtaining continuous improvement with legislation that limits it, says Weech.

Weech also says it is critical for meat production to focus on science-based research and not to focus on just one area but six to seven factors at once. We have got to figure out and agree on ways to measure sustainability and then work together as an industry to make improvements, says Weech.

Click on the LISTEN bar below to hear more from Bryan Weech on why it is critical for meat production to begin making changes in sustainability.

Click here to listen to more on the importance of sustainablity to beef production


July Crop Numbers Leave Size of Oklahoma Wheat Crop Unchanged- Kansas Sees a Slight Increase
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There were a pair of reports issued on Tuesday morning by the USDA- one was the July first Crop Production numbers which updated the size of the 2011 US wheat crop- while the other was the monthly crop supply demand numbers that come from the ERS.

Looking at the wheat crop predictions- USDA left the 2011 Oklahoma wheat crop unchanged at 74.8 million bushels. This number is based on 3.4 million acres harvested this year with an average yield per acre of 22 bushels. This is a 38% smaller harvest than 2010 when Oklahoma wheat farmers put 120.9 million bushels into the bin.
The Kansas crop got just a few bushels bigger than the June estimate, with the July estimate bumping the yield per acre up a bushel in Kansas from 34 to 35 bushels per acre with a resulting increase of four percent- giving the Kansas wheat crop an estimate of 273 million bushels here in 2011- off 33% from a year ago. NASS also upped the Texas wheat crop from 46.8 million bushels to 52 million bushels as they increased the acres to be harvested to 2 million acres total- up from 1.8 million harvested acres estimated in June. To see the full July first Crop Production numbers- click here to jump to that report.

The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates were considered slightly bullish for corn and the corn futures moved higher on Tuesday as a result- September and December contracts were 21 to 25 cents a bushel higher. Click on the LINK below for our analysis from Tuesday morning with Tom Leffler in advance to the trading session- he majors on the corn stocks numbers.

Click here for details of the Tuesday Monthly Supply Demand Numbers from USDA.


Higher Quality Cattle Means Less Risk in Marketing
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Higher quality of cattle is very important to Oklahoma cattle producers. And Tom Brink, President of J&F Oklahoma Holdings, the cattle ownership arm of Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, says it is important to them to market cattle of only the highest quality. J&F Oklahoma Holdings market up to 2 million finished cattle for Five Rivers every year. Most of the cattle marketed through J&F Oklahoma Holdings are sold on grids, which means they are priced through a carcass merit system.

Brink says higher grading cattle are important to them because they will have a better basis, which means a lot to them as risk managers when they are lifting those hedges to know that the basis will be a little more effective. High quality cattle also allows for more flexibility because marbling begins at a younger age.

Brink says this allows them to market the cattle a little early or a little later dependant on the market, which is essential in this volatile market because it allows to manage the risk.

Click on the LINK below to watch the video with more from Tom Brink with J&F Oklahoma Holdings about why higher grade cattle is important for managing risk.

Click here for more information on managing risk through higher grade cattle


Noble Foundation Seminar Focusing on Improving Stocker Cattle Operations
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The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation will host a Winter Pasture/Stocker Cattle Seminar from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 26, at the Noble Foundation Kruse Auditorium.

Stocker cattle production is the primary agricultural industry in the Southern Great Plains. Noble Foundation agricultural consultants and invited speakers will provide attendees with information about stocker health and nutrition, forage production and management, market outlook, and an owner's perspective on managing a successful stocker operation.

"This seminar is a great opportunity for producers to brush up on management techniques for their operations," said Clay Wright, Noble Foundation livestock consultant. "As input costs continue to creep up, it is more important than ever to be as efficient as possible to ensure the vitality of our cattle and our operations."

There is no registration fee, but preregistration is encouraged. For additional information or to register, call Tracy Cumbie at 580.224.6411 or register online.

Click here for more registration information.


Bayer CropScience Takes to Twitter to Fund Flood Relief Efforts
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Historic flooding throughout much of the Midwest, South and Southeast has prompted Bayer CropScience to raise money for American Red Cross relief efforts. To help raise awareness of the issue, the company is linking its donation to Twitter engagement.

During the course of a new, two-week program, anyone can tweet the hashtag #BCSFloodRelief. For each tweet including the hashtag, Bayer CropScience will make a $5 donation to the American Red Cross. The fundraising effort will run from July 11 to July 23.

The #BCSFloodRelief program was announced during an event held at the company's Northern Field Technology Station near Sabin, Minn. The total amount raised will be announced during the Ag Media Summit in New Orleans, July 24.

"It is important to Bayer CropScience that we are an active partner in the communities where we do business," notes Jim Blome, President/CEO for Bayer CropScience. "The flooding we've seen this spring and summer has devastated so many lives. To us, contributing financially to the relief efforts was just one piece of the puzzle. Increasing the awarness and engaging others through Twitter engagement, we hope to remind everyone that the impact of the floods is not over and additional help is needed."

The #BCSFloodRelief program allows for one tweet per account, using the #BCSFloodRelief hashtag. The program will run until July 23 and will cap at $20,000.


Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, PCOM, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy, Johnston Enterprises, American Farmers & Ranchers and KIS Futures 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.

Click here to check out WWW.OklahomaFarmReport.Com


Let's Check the Markets!
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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 $12.92 per bushel- as of the close of business yesterday, while the 2012 New Crop contracts for Canola are now available are $12.74 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:
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.



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