From: Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.ccsend.com] on behalf of Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.com]
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 8:23 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 Friday April 16, 2010
A service of Producers Cooperative Oil Mill, Midwest Farm Shows and KIS Futures!
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-- Nowata FFA and Rogers County 4-H Claim Top Team Awards in Commercial Cattle Grading Contest
-- Watch the Wheat Market Waller as Kim Anderson Offers the Play by Play
-- Congressman Frank Lucas Fully Expects Another Climate Change Bill Will Get a Serious Push Yet This Year
-- Wheat Weed Disease Continues to Be Very Light Here in 2010
-- ELAP Back Open for Livestock Producers for Loses in 2008 and 2009
-- R-CALF USA Continuing Efforts to Stop Beef from Brazil Because of FMD Fears
-- A Closer Look at February Beef Trade Statistics
-- Let's Check the Markets!
-- Reminders from the Calendar!!!!

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.

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 springtime Southern Plains Farm Show, as well as the Tulsa Farm Show, held each December. Click here for more information on the Southern Plains Farm Show, now underway today and tomorrow!

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.


Nowata FFA and Rogers County 4-H Claim Top Team Awards in Commercial Cattle Grading Contest
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Grading of Commercial Cattle was the focus of the contest held on Thursday on the opening day of the Southern Plains Farm Show. A total of $6,300 in scholarship commitments were handed out to contestants of this event, with over 260 participating this year. The main sponsor of the Contest is the American Farmers & Ranchers, with the Rick Jones Memorial Scholarship sponsored by OKC West Livestock.

The High Individual of the Event- Marco Ortiz from Hulbert FFA received the Rick Jones Memorial Scholarship of $2,000 for his efforts. Top Individual for the 4-H division was claimed by Tyler Compton of Wyandotte 4-H.

The top team of the contest was the Rogers County 4-H team, which included Erick Welch, Michaela Branen, Lyndee Branen and Reighly Blakely. Top FFA team was one of the teams from Nowata FFA- team members included Hannah Allen, Katie Bell and John Franke.

We have pictures of the highest scoring teams and the top individuals on our website at the link below- we also list the other top placings at the Commercial Cattle Grading Contest. In addition, you can hear a little more about the contest from Terry Detrick , President of the AFR, the major sponsor of the event.

Click here for more on the Commercial Cattle Grading at the Southern Plains Farm Show


Watch the Wheat Market Waller as Kim Anderson Offers the Play by Play
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OSU Grain Marketing Economist Dr. Kim Anderson says that the wheat market is stuck in a trading range for right now, right at that five dollar level, basis the July Kansas City wheat contact. He told Clinton Griffiths of OSU's weekly TV show, SUNUP, that it is wallering around that level- and he admits he unsure about which direction it will go, up or down, when it finally breaks out.

He says it's good to see the crop in much better condition this spring than one year ago. We have Kim's comments for us, courtesy of the SUNUP folks, and you can hear them now before you see Kim and the rest of the SUNUP program on Saturday morning on OETA.

Click on the link below for the latest on the wheat market with Dr. Anderson, as well as a complete rundown of what you will see on SUNUP this weekend.

Click here for the latest on the wheat market, as seen by OSU Grain Marketing Economist Dr. Kim Anderson.


Congressman Frank Lucas Fully Expects Another Climate Change Bill Will Get a Serious Push Yet This Year
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Cap and trade as passed by the House is dead, but a bill that would do many of the bad things that the House bill proposed for the US economy may well be in the soon to be released proposal of three US Senators on or about the 26th of April.

This is one of the topics that Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas talked to Dustin Mielke of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau about earlier this week when the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Congressional Action Tour was in Washington, DC. Besides Cap and Trade and dealing with the EPA on environmental issues, Lucas also talked with him about the soon to come 2013 Farm Bill hearings this year, as well as the attack on the pot of money that funds the Crop Insurance Program.

Click on the link below- and check out this conversation, which we have posted on our website as one of our Ag Perspectives Podcasts. That means if you have an Itunes account, you can go searching in the Podcasts section of their store and find this and download it there- or even subscribe so that anytime we have a new Podcast release- you get it right away.

Click here for this Ag Perspectives Podcast, which features Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas talking Ag Policy Issues.


Wheat Weed Disease Continues to Be Very Light Here in 2010
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The news continues to be good from OSU Plant Pathologist Dr. Bob Hunger, who traveled in part of the Oklahoma wheat belt earlier this week. Here's his report that he sent to us via email.

"Brian Olson (A&P, Wheat Pathology) and I traveled different routes between Stillwater and Lahoma stopping at many fields. Wheat was mostly at growth stage 7-8, but an occasional field at GS 6-7 was noted. No rust was observed but we did see light and scattered powdery mildew and septoria along with occasional spots of light to moderate bird cherry-oat aphids. In plots around Stillwater this week, we did find some stripe rust on Jagalene again and have sent samples to Washington State for identification. In some plots (usually earlier planted) powdery mildew is moderate to severe on lower leaves, but is absent in other plots. Still no leaf rust detected."

The disease pressure south of us in Texas seems to be worse- Here's the report that Dr. Hunger included in his email that comes from Dr. Amir Ibrahim, Wheat Breeder, Texas A&M:
Crops: Winter wheat, spring wheat, winter/facultative oat, and spring oat
Diseases: wheat yellow rust (WYR), wheat leaf rust (WLR), wheat powdery mildew (WPMD), wheat stem rust (WSR), and oat crown rust (OCR)
The conditions at Castroville, TX (about 12 miles west of San Antonio) continue to be conducive to diseases, especially WYR. WYR has killed the entire leaf area of few highly susceptible genotypes such as TX05A001822. The nursery received about two inches of rain over the last 24 hours. Reliable WYR notes can be taken up to early next week, in my opinion, especially in early and medium maturing genotypes.
The Lr24 and Lr39/41 virulents are increasing in severity (> 60S). I expect WLR to intensify rapidly over the next 10 days. The presence of both WYR and WLR on the same leaf makes it difficult to estimate the severity of the latter. Our crews will be back in Castroville beginning April 24th for WLR and OCR notes and selections.
PMD is also heavy here. Lines such TAM W-101, are covered with it in the lower to mid-canopy.


ELAP Back Open for Livestock Producers for Loses in 2008 and 2009
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Changes have been made in eligibility provisions for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish program. These changes make it possible for producers who experienced losses that took place in calendar years 2008 and 2009 to sign-up, even though the original sign-up period has passed. Producers now have through May 5, 2010 to sign-up for the program. Check with your local FSA office if you have questions about this new window of opportunity to access this program.

ELAP provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish that have losses due to disease, adverse weather or other conditions, including losses due to blizzards and wildfires. ELAP assistance is for losses not covered under other Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance programs, specifically the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program.

ELAP modifications include allowing producers who did not replace their honeybees or fish that were lost due to a natural disaster to be eligible for ELAP payments based on the fair market value of the honeybees or fish that were lost. In addition, the requirements to document losses for honeybee producers who suffered losses due to Colony Collapse Disorder were modified to allow documentation by an independent third party for losses in 2010 through Sept. 31, 2011. Producers can self certify losses due to CCD for 2008 and 2009.

Click here for the full release from USDA on this reopening of the ELAP program.


R-CALF USA Continuing Efforts to Stop Beef from Brazil Because of FMD Fears
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R-CALF USA is continuing efforts to put a stop to an agreement to recognize the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, as free of foot-and-mouth disease, rinderpest, classical swine fever, African swine fever, and swine vesicular disease. USDA's proposed rule is to be published in the Federal Register today. R-CALF USA calls the lifting of foot-and-mouth disease restrictions in Santa Catarina inaccurate and unscientific.

R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard says USDA has a 100 percent failure rate in its attempts to regionalize, or carve out regions, within FMD-affected countries that export meat to the United States. Bullard cites information from the World Organization for Animal Health that shows the state of Parana continued to have new outbreaks of FMD into 2006, just four years ago. And the proposed rule fails to mention the 669 cases of FMD within the past five years in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, which borders Parana and is in close proximity to Santa Catarina.

Bullard believes it is time for Congress to rein this agency in before USDA causes the introduction of FMD in the United States. According to Bullard, we've already had too many near misses because of USDA's unrealistic, inaccurate and unscientific evaluation of the true risks of FMD, which is the most contagious disease known to cattle. R-CALF USA encourages producers and consumers to urge their members of Congress to take steps to stop USDA from lifting essential FMD protections.


A Closer Look at February Beef Trade Statistics
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Dr. Greg Doud, Chief Economist of the NCBA, provides us with an interesting look at the most recent beef export figures that we reported earlier this week from USDA and USMEF.

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) February trade statistics came out this week and indicated that February beef exports were up 15 percent in value and nine percent in volume compared to February 2009. Through the first two months of 2010, beef and beef variety meat exports were up nine percent in volume and 11 percent in value ($481 million or $501 million if processed beef products are included). However, when looking at these percentages, we have to keep in mind that during this period last year the world economy was still in shock from the meltdown of late 2008 and the U.S. dollar was very strong when compared to most currencies around the world.

"Through the first two months of 2010, the top ten markets for U.S. beef are Mexico (down 30 percent in value versus the same period in 2009), Canada (+31 percent), Japan (+34%), South Korea (unchanged), Vietnam (+2%), Taiwan (more than double 2009), Hong Kong (more than triple 2009), EU (double 2009), the Caribbean (+44%), and Egypt (+36%). Number 11 on this list would be Russia at $11 million compared to just under $3 million in trade during January and February 2009. These eleven markets accounted for 98 percent of the total value of U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports through February. As you can see from these percentage changes, there are two distinct trends emerging thus far in 2010. The first is the continuation of the decline in demand for U.S. beef in our top export market. It's quite shocking to see that Jan.-Feb. U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports to Mexico are 43 percent lower than the first two months of 2008 and these comparisons to 2008 (versus 2009) are probably a better way to measure the trend. A closer look indicates that Jan.-Feb. 2008 variety meat exports to Mexico were $93 million compared to only $25 million in 2010. This continuing free-fall in variety meat exports accounts for three-quarters of the difference in sales to our top market versus 2009."

Read more of Greg's analysis by clicking here.


Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, PCOM, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy, Johnston Enterprises, AFR 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!

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 $7.60 per bushel, while the 2010 New Crop contracts for Canola are now available are $7.80 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.


Reminders from the Calendar!!!!
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The Southern Plains Farm Show Continues through Saturday afternoon at the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. Come by and see us at our booth in the Cox Building and sign up for the Prefiert 40 Foot Round Pen that is being used in the Horse Training Sessions with Scott Daily.

The First Annual Southeastern Oklahoma Yard & Garden Expo is being held at the Pushmataha County Fairgrounds today, Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17. Experts will discuss soil fertility, beekeeping, organic gardening, production of small fruits and tree fruit, fire ant control, sustainable agriculture, turf insects and diseases, and other topics related to lawns and gardens.



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