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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Oklahoma Farm Bureau women's committee members have made food donations to Oklahoma's Ronald McDonald houses. Committee members shoped for groceries and purchased gift cards for the houses. The value of the donations totaled more than $2,000 to the houses in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

After the Farm Bureau Women finished their shopping for the Oklahoma City Ronald McDonald house, we sat down and visited with the Major County farmer about this annual celebration that Farm Bureau has developed to signify that it takes only about six weeks of working for a typical family to pay for food purchases for the entire year.

Click on the link below to hear our visit with Clara- as well as learn more about Food Check Out Week and how the story is being told in supermarkets as well as through Social Media of our safe, affordable and wholesome food supply.

Click here for more on the Food Checkout Week Activities with Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women.

Dr. Hunger writes on Thursday "Not much different in Oklahoma today as compared to a year ago as temperatures around Stillwater for the last week have been in the 20s at night and generally about 35-40 through the day. Very light and scattered leaf rust and powdery mildew pustules are still apparent in susceptible varieties, and no aphids were seen. Although differences between resistant and susceptible lines are visible in my soilborne/spindle streak nursery, the spring flush of growth has not yet occurred so the differences are not yet striking. HOWEVER, compare todays report to my update from one year ago where I indicated that I had already rated the SB/SS nursery for the first time, and Dr. Brett Carver had observed, plenty of live leaf rust pustules on green tissue at Lahoma in the mid-canopy, but only in areas where the stand is lush and where canopy closure is complete.

There are concerns about Stripe Rust for the folks in Texas- and with a strong south wind or two- for us in Oklahoma as well. Dr. Hunger says "On 22-Feb-2010, I received the following update from Rex Herrington (Research Associate, Dept. of Soil & Crop Sciences, Texas AgriLife Research, College Station, TX). He indicates that he found heavy stripe rust in nurseries around College Station, in fact, the heaviest stripe rust he has ever seen in this particular nursery. Texas has been cool and wet, which favors stripe rust, but I have not seen or heard of any stripe rust yet being found in Oklahoma.

During a quick check of our College Station nursery Saturday, I found a lot of stripe rust on our border strips of TAM 110 wheat. I went back yesterday, and found that the stripe rust was WIDE SPREAD throughout the nursery, which is surrounded by TAM 110 rust spreader borders. The rust was on the lower 1/3 of leaves, and appears to have been there for several weeks or more, possibly from a fall infection. It appears that almost 100% of TAM 110 plants are infected, leaving the ground orange in places. This is the most stripe rust that we have ever had in the nursery here. The wheat is in the vegetative stage, and about 6"-8" tall. Here in central and south Texas, we have had an abnormally wet fall and winter. Temperatures here are generally ranging now from the low 30's to the mid 60's. TAM 110 also has a light infection of leaf rust on the lower leaves.

They have an impressive lineup of exhibitors for their 2010 show, as well as several free features that you may want to check out. Those features include border collie sheep dog working demonstrations both days of the show, autograph signing by a pair of rodeo cowboys, Calf Roper Stran Smith and Bareback Rider Will Lowe (both days of the show!) as well as several educational sessions planned by the Texas AgriLife folks on both the 10th and the 11th.

We talked with the new Show Owner/Operator Daren Dale and you can hear our conversation with Daren about the show by going to the link below. Admission and parking are free for this March 10th and 11th event.

Click here for more on the Wichita Falls Ranch and Farm Expo happening March 10 and 11.

"Agriculture is a major consumer of fossil fuels, and any attempt to limit energy inputs in our state would cause severe economic hardships for food and fiber producers," said Justice. "The EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from farms and ranches could lead to costly and burdensome mandates on Oklahoma's food and renewable fuel producers."

Senator Bingman added that the EPA's efforts to regulate greenhouse gases will have a detrimental affect on Oklahoma's crude oil and natural gas industry. "Any federal action that would negatively impact the energy industry will only worsen the state's current economic woes," said Bingman. "The EPA proposals will impose additional regulatory barriers, eliminating jobs and reducing the state's oil and natural gas production. We invite our fellow state legislators to come together and stand in defense of Oklahomans and the industries that move our state forward."

Oklahoma's oil and natural gas industry accounts for roughly 25 percent of the taxes paid in the state through taxes on oil and natural gas production, income taxes, motor vehicle taxes and other fees and taxes imposed on the industry. The Senators believe that EPA's Endangerment Finding could devastate the energy energy in the state- and that would be bad news for Oklahoma's state government budget.

Click here for more on the concerns raised by these two Republican State Senators about the EPA Endangerment Finding.

He also talks about the need to make marketing decisions now and then execute those plans by selling your wheat later as you have it in hand as it is harvested. Dr. Anderson's comments will be a part of this weekend's SUNUP program- and we have an early preview of what he wll tell the TV audience if you click on the link below.

We also have weekend details of the SUNUP program at that same link- click to see what the program highlights are for the OSU Ag Communications produced show.

Click here for more with OSU Grain Marketing Associate.

Jared Cullison writes in a brief email from one of the Class member's Blackberries "Oh the power of the coop. Covap is the largest operation in southern Spain located in Pozoplanco was a true marvel. Their operation was not quite the same as our coops in the states. Here members are required to purchases and feed Covap approved and supplied diets, this to assure a more uniform product. And of course the ham, you will not have a better piece of ham, after 2 to 4 years of curing the Iberian pigs hams and sausage is at the top of the quality scale. And should not be missed when traveling to this country of rich culture and tradition."

Michael Marlow also weighed in on what they saw at the giant Coop they visited on Thursday- "Another great day of learning. We spent much of the day at COVAP the main milk Cooperative for the southern half of Spain. It was started by a group of farmers 50.years ago. Today they have divisions including milk products, feed, livestock processing and specialized meats. They have managed to grow in a tough region adding value and making their farmers a profit most years. They were proud of their company and the brands they have created."

Featuring 80 Home-raised service-age Angus bulls, (selling several ET full and half brothers with performance and ultrasound data furnished.) Owner Barry Pollard writes in the sale catalog about this year's set of bulls -"These young herd sires are as uniform, powerful and rugged as any bulls we have sold in the past. Through extensive embryo transfer and intense artificial insemination, we have put together a strong set of genetics that will work in all facets of the industry. The genetics behind these bulls are full of performance and longevity that should work in your operation."

You can call Pollard Farms for more information at 580-758-1464 or click on the link below for our calendar listing for the Pollard Farms sale on March 6. You will have the option there of going on to their website where you can download the catalog or view it online.

Click here for more on the Pollard Farms Spring Bull Sale on March 6.

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.