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. Click here for more on the December 2010 Tulsa Farm Show, including information on how you can be an exhibitor.

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As for the next farm bill, Vilsack said it is important that we approach this new legislation with an eye toward truly making a difference in the future of the lives of millions of rural Americans. If we set our goals appropriately, Vilsack said, we can properly assist and strengthen production agriculture, while also building and reinforcing the future of rural communities.

The Secretary had lengthy written statement that he immediately ignored and talked to the Committee "from the heart." He then spoke of Rural America often and spoke little of programs that will be of direct impact US farmers and ranchers. He did praise the American farmer to feeding more people than ever, but decried the lack of jobs in Rural America, saying that is a problem that he wants to address in the next farm bill.

He did not speak of any monies from nutrition programs going to these Rural America support efforts- but only of redirecting resources from the other 25% of the total pricetag of the farm bill. Click on the link below and you can jump to the story we have on our website that addresses the Vilsack's written testimony and also features the audio of his actual presentation to the Committee.

Click here for the picture of Rural America Drawn by USDA's Tom Vilsack.

The Secretary did not deny that the Administration wants a reduction in farm program direct payments, a reduction in crop insurance monies and some conservation funds to boot- but he claims what he has in mind will provide services and improvements in Rural America. And no, the Secretary says there is no interest in turning Rural America into one big Bedroom Community.

Lucas wasn't buying it, and pointed out Democrats and Republicans overrode President Bush's veto of the 2008 Farm Bill in a fight also over the direction of U.S. farm policy. Lucas served notice to Vilsack that with farm bill budget dollars rapidly dwindling, ag lawmakers will fight for producers.
We have the full exchange between Lucas and Vilsack that you can listen to- click on the link below and decide for yourself about this exchange between two people that have little in common when it comes to beliefs about how to best enhance the vitality of farmers, ranchers and all of Rural America.

Click here for our story with the six minute exchange between Congressman Lucas and USDA Secretary Vilsack.

Chambliss hoped there would be changes to the bill. But, his substitute was defeated 9 to 12. For instance, he said, - Farm Credit System institutions - despite attempts to ensure that they are not subjected to all of these new mandates, I understand that the chairman's mark may have in fact not exempted them. Chambliss said , this is exactly what I fear, unintended consequences resulting from applying complicated regulations too broadly.

The vote was 13 to 8, with one Republican joining the Democrats on the Committee in a yes vote. Senator Charles Grassley crossed the aisle and voted for the measure.
The National Farmers Union said three cheers to the bill as well, with President Roger Johnson saying the measure will "better regulate unfair manipulation of commodity markets."

Click here for a One Pager on the bill released by the Senate Ag Committee after passage of the measure.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association is not amused. "Removing the word 'navigable' from the definition of waters of the United States is a non-starter for us," said Tamara Thies, NCBA chief environmental counsel. "Navigability is essential to maintain the appropriate federal-state balance that has always been the hallmark of the Clean Water Act. Without it, the reach of the federal government's strong arm will be limitless. While this bill claims to exclude 'prior converted croplands' from regulation under the Act, it actually takes away the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to determine which lands meet that definition and gives it to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

"In addition, it's perplexing that the author claims that the bill will not regulate groundwater when a groundwater exclusion is not included in the statutory language of the bill. This bill would take away state and private property rights and would only lead to endless litigation and bureaucratic red tape. The result would actually hamper our nation's ability to maintain clean waters."

Click here to read more about the NCBA's opposition to this measure.

"Examining plots and trials around Stillwater I found powdery mildew, leaf rust and stripe rust. Wheat was mostly in at full boot with some heads just starting to emerge. Later planted wheat was approaching boot. Barley yellow dwarf virus was observed in several trials around Stillwater; however, no or only very few aphids were seen. Presence of BYDV was indicated by flag leaf discoloration, which is indicative of spring infection. In one early planted trial differences in height also were noticeable, which is more indicative of fall infection.

"Where powdery mildew was previously found, it has increased significantly on lower leaves (F-3, F-4) and was easily in the 65-90S range. In some early planted Jagalene, I found powdery mildew, leaf rust and stripe rust with leaf rust (25-40S) being the primary disease present. Flag leaves were still clean and infection on the F-1 leaf was still low (10% range). Stripe rust was present here and elsewhere, but at a relatively low incidence. Dr. Art Klatt (OSU wheat breeder) and Sarah Wright (graduate student) also have reported seeing stripe rust in there breeder lines here at Stillwater. Leaf rust also was observed in several plots and trials around Stillwater. These observations indicate to me that for Oklahoma the decision to spray a foliar fungicide onto higher-yielding fields is here - especially for central and southern OK. The wheat in this area is between growth stage 10-10.5 (full boot-heads fully emerged), and the window to spray will quickly close as fungicides cannot be applied after heads are fully emerged. This is especially true for the earlier planted wheat. In northern, northwestern and the panhandle of Oklahoma, the wheat probably is not quite as far along, but weather for the last 4-5 days and the forecast for the next 4-5 days has been and is favorable for infection and spread of foliar diseases."

If you are weighing your foliar disease treatment options, click here for OSU info on Foliar Disease and Fungicide Options- This is a NEW update on this subject

"The American Farm Bureau Federation is concerned with the recent blog post by an Environmental Protection Agency intern on the agency's official blog, "Greenversations." In the post, the intern promotes going meatless because of environmental and animal welfare concerns.
Interns like all Americans are entitled to their own opinion on subjects being discussed in public forums. But they, like all government employees, should have an understanding that they are not just representing themselves, they are representing the particular government agency--in this case the EPA.

"While this is a position taken by an intern of the agency, EPA should control its blog space. What is written on its blog comes across as its official position toward farmers and ranchers that it regulates and shows a terrible disregard for them and the agriculture industry."

At the Blog itself- this young lady has been given the "what for." Our friend Trent Loos wrote on the Response section "This is an official government website with misinformation presented about the health of the planet and should not be allowed." Click on the link below and you can read it for yourself as well as lots of feedback thrown straight at EPA .

Click here for the offensive blog and you can register your disgust with the EPA folks in the feedback section.

Among the lots that will sell will be Fancy Show Heifer Prospects, Bulls, Bred Females and Cow/Calf Pairs.
A total of fourteen Shorthorn breeders are consignors at the 2010 sale.

For more information, contact Sammy Richardson, Chairman of the Oklahoma Shorthorn Association at 580-658-2709 or 580-467-8267.
You can also call Steven W. Crow, State Association Secretary at 405-820-9725. You can click on the link below for the catalog for the 2010 Shorthorn Classic.

Click here for the catalog and more info on the animals and genetics to be offered at the 2010 Sooner Classic Shorthorn Sale.

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.