From: Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.ccsend.com] on behalf of Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.com]
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 6:53 AM
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 Monday March 23, 2009
A service of Producers Cooperative Oil Mill, Midwest Farm Shows and Johnston Enterprises!
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-- Grand Champions Selected at the Oklahoma Youth Expo
-- Oklahoma Peanut Expo Set for Tuesday
-- Cattle On Feed Shows Smaller Placements Than Expected
-- District Attorney John Wampler of Southwest Oklahoma Honored by Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers
-- Well-being of Sows the Same in Gestation Pens or in Group Pens
-- Organic Food Supporters Spotlighted in New York Times Sunday Article
-- Oklahoma Senate Ag Committee Meeting This Afternoon
-- 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. It is wonderful to have as a regular 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!

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.
And we salute our longest running email sponsor- Midwest Farm Shows, producer of the April 2009 Southern Plains Farm Show in Oklahoma City. This year's show dates are April 23,24 and 25. Check out details of both the Southern Plains Show and the Tulsa Farm Show 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.


Grand Champions Selected at the Oklahoma Youth Expo
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The three market animals that will help lead off the 2009 Oklahoma Youth Expo later today were selected last night at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. The Grand Champion Market Steer was shown and owned by Ky Stierwalt of the Leedey FFA Chapter; the Grand Champion Market Lamb was shown by Charlsey Vinyard of the Altus FFA and the Grand Champion Market Hog was shown by Colin Listen of the El Reno FFA Chapter.

In addition, there was over $140,000 worth of scholarships presented during the Sunday evening festivities- and the sale order was set during the last couple of days for the Premium Sale of the Top Animals later today- starting at 4 PM at the State Fair Arena. The sale will include 70 steers, 65 hogs, 45 market lambs and 15 meat goats.

We have posted lots of news on our Blue Green Gazette websection since Friday from the 2009 Oklahoma Youth Expo. Here are direct links to several of those stories plus the link below to the Blue Green Gazette page that is our main page for the Youth Expo information. You need to check back there later int he day and you will need more stories from the OYE- a visit with the judges, a visit with the top two Scholarship Award winners for 2009, Kela Kelin of Fairview and McKenzie Clifton of Kingfisher and there will be more. We will have coverage of the Premium Sale this evening- and of course will detail it in tomorrow's email.

Some of the links that you may find of interest that are already on our website:
Grand Champion Market Steer Details and the Steer Breed Winners
Grand Champion Market Lamb and the Lamb Breed Winners
Grand Champion Market Barrow and the Barrow Breed Winners
Cooper Newcomb Wins the Master Showmanship Competition on Saturday evening at the OYE
Full Listing of the Scholarship Award Winners as Introduced on Sunday evening at the OYE.
Pictures from the Oklahoma Youth Expo Up and Available to View on Flickr (more to be added later in the day)

Click here for the Blue green Gazette Websection of the OklahomaFarmReport.Com for more stories later today from the Oklahoma Youth Expo


Oklahoma Peanut Expo Set for Tuesday
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Another record crop all across the peanut belt and large carryover stocks has Oklahoma farmers pondering planting decisions and marketing strategy for 2009. In an effort to assist farmers in evaluating options, the Oklahoma Peanut Commission, OSU Extension and Sheller interests in the state have collaborated to host the 2nd Annual Oklahoma Peanut Expo on March 24. The 10am to 3pm event will be held at the Quartz Mountain Resort, 18 miles north of Altus and is open to everyone with an interest in peanuts.

Out of state speakers will address timely topics of Food Safety, Supply & Demand, Ag Research Funding and Peanut Outlook issues affecting state producers. OSU's peanut improvement team will address economics, variety recommendations and new releases; plus production tips, including disease & weed management. Plus there will be an overview of cooperative promotion, research and education efforts of the National Peanut Board and the Oklahoma Peanut Commission.

At the conclusion of the conference, producers from Beckham, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa, Roger Mills, Tillman and Washita counties will caucus to nominate four peanut farmers; two to be selected by Gov Brad Henry to serve a three-year term, from District 3 on the Oklahoma Peanut Commission, effective July 1. Current Commissioners, Joe D. White of Frederick and Les Crall of Weatherford are eligible for nomination.

We have more details linked below- check it out and head for Quartz Mountain and the 2009 Oklahoma Peanut expo tomorrow.

Click here for more on the 2009 Oklahoma Peanut Expo.


Cattle On Feed Shows Smaller Placements Than Expected
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There were fewer cattle on feed than expected at the start of the month, according to the USDA. On March 1, there were 11.228 million head of cattle on feed in the United States, down 5% from March 1, 2008. Placements during February came out at 1.678 million head, a decline of 3%, when the average pre-report estimate was 101.3%. February marketings were reported at 1.682 million head, 5% less than a year ago.

Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities calls this report a friendly report for the summer months, with placement numbers significantly under what the pre report guesses of 101.3% of a year ago came in at.

We have Tom's take on the report- plus the link to the full set of numbers from USDA on our website- click on the link below for that story.

Click here more on the March 2009 Cattle on Feed Report from USDA


District Attorney John Wampler of Southwest Oklahoma Honored by Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers
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Oklahoma District Attorney John M. Wampler was recognized Saturday at the TSCRA convention for his commitment to prosecuting livestock theft and related crimes. Wampler was named the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Prosecutor of the Year during the opening general session of the association's annual convention and trade show, Vision of Excellence, at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Wampler is serving his fifth term as the District Attorney for the Third Judicial District which is made up of Jackson, Kiowa, Greer, Harmon and Tillman counties. He was chosen for the award from a pool of finalists nominated by TSCRA's special rangers.

Special Ranger Scott Williamson, who nominated Wampler for the award, said the DA always makes time for TSCRA and has never turned down or failed to prosecute - and win - one of their cases. He said Wampler and his staff have been an invaluable asset in serving TSCRA members and the agricultural community to effectively deal with and control criminal activity.
In the past 18 months alone, Wampler has accepted or convicted suspects in TSCRA cases accounting for 34 charges on 13 individuals with convictions ordering 97 years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and court-ordered restitution for $37,136.


Well-being of Sows the Same in Gestation Pens or in Group Pens
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A report released by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology looked at many studies of how pregnant sows are housed, with respect to their wellbeing. According to the report - many scientific evaluations have concluded that the state of being of the pregnant sow is equivalent whether sows are kept in Individual Gestation Accommodations or in group pens.

The report continues - first, one might decide that, because sow welfare is equivalent in either IGAs or group pens, and because capital and operating costs are less with IGA systems, then IGAs should be scientifically refined to improve sow welfare in systems where sows are kept in IGA. At the same time the report says - group keeping systems should be scientifically refined to improve sow welfare in systems where sows are kept in groups.

The report concluded - As the choice is being made, it must be borne in mind that although the choice will range from relatively trivial to virtually nonexistent with respect to its overall effect on the pregnant sow's state of being, it will be of substantial consequence with respect to sow and piglet health, the cost of pork production, and the availability and price of pork product.

CLick here for the link to the full report as issued by CAST at the end of this past week.


Organic Food Supporters Spotlighted in New York Times Sunday Article
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With the Obama Administration leading the way, organic food supporters feel the love, even though their higher priced fare is meeting a sales downturn at this time. We have linked below an article from this weekend that we found in the New York Times.

The article's writer says the organic movement feels that their time has arrived. "This has never been just about business," said Gary Hirshberg, chief executive of Stonyfield Farm, the maker of organic yogurt. "We are here to change the world. We dreamt for decades of having this moment." After being largely ignored for years by Washington, advocates of organic and locally grown food have found a receptive ear in the White House, which has vowed to encourage a more nutritious and sustainable food supply."

"The most vocal booster so far has been the first lady, Michelle Obama, who has emphasized the need for fresh, unprocessed, locally grown food and, last week, started work on a White House vegetable garden. More surprising, perhaps, are the pronouncements out of the Department of Agriculture, an agency with long and close ties to agribusiness."
This article agrees with a lot of what I and other farm journalists are seeing in Washington right now- a chilly reception these days in the halls of USDA for what we have called mainstream agriculture- those who produce the bulk of the nation's food- and those who have an agenda for several things- including locally produced food, organic food and a general anti technology attitude when it comes to food and fiber production.

Click here to see and read the article "Is a Food Revolution Now in Season?"


Oklahoma Senate Ag Committee Meeting This Afternoon
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We have the link below of the agenda for the Senate Ag Committee that meets at 3:30 PM this afternoon at the State Capitol in Room 534-A.

There are four bills on the agenda, including HB2151, which is the House version of the so called Livestock Preemption bill- the Senate companion to that measure is SB452, which was amended and passed the House Ag Committee last week.

Also on their agenda today is the Dale Dewitt measure HB 1482, which is considered a strengthening of the Right to Farm law that we now have in Oklahoma. This measure passed the full House by a 99 to nothing vote.

Click here for the complete agenda for the Senate Ag Committee Meeting Planned for this afternoon


Our thanks to Midwest Farm Shows, Producers Cooperative Oil Mill and Johnston Enterprises for their support of our daily Farm News Update. For your convenience, we have our sponsors' websites linked at the top of the email- check them 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!

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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The Woodward Livestock market had 9,156 head of cattle on Friday- and saw higher prices during the day compared to the Previous Friday. Steer yearlings were steady to $2 higher, while steer calves were up $2 to $5 higher. The five to six hundred pound steers brought $108.85 to $121, while the seven to eight hundred pound steers closed from $90 to $98. Click here for the full Woodward livestock auction report- it should be up at this web location after 8 AM on Monday- hit refresh and it will likely come up after that time.
ALSO- click on the Daily Volume Report from the Texas Cattle Feeders below- it has the info on cash cattle sales jumping up two dollars on Friday in feedlot trade.

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.



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phone: 405-473-6144
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