From: Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.ccsend.com] on behalf of Ron Hays [ronphays@cox.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2012 6:27 AM
To: Hays, Ron
Subject: Oklahoma's Farm News Update


 
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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network weekdays- if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click here for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays on RON.

 

 

Let's Check the Markets! 

 

 

Today's First Look:  

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.

 

Okla Cash Grain:  

Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- as reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture.

 

Canola Prices:  

Current cash price for canola is $12.86 per bushel at the Northern Ag elevator in Yukon as of the close of business yesterday.

 

Futures Wrap:  

Our Daily Market Wrapup from the Radio Oklahoma Network with Ed Richards and Tom Leffler- analyzing the Futures Markets from the previous Day.

 

KCBT Recap: 

Previous Day's Wheat Market Recap- Two Pager from the Kansas City Board of Trade looks at all three U.S. Wheat Futures Exchanges with extra info on Hard Red Winter Wheat and the why of that day's market. 

 

Feeder Cattle Recap:  

The National Daily Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.

 

Slaughter Cattle Recap: 

The National Daily Slaughter Cattle Summary- as prepared by the USDA.

 

TCFA Feedlot Recap:  

Finally, here is the Daily Volume and Price Summary from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.

 

Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News

 

Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
   Thursday, July 26, 2012
Howdy Neighbors! 

Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 
FarmBillFolliesFeatured Story:
Farm Bill Follies- House Leaders Still Shun Debate on House Ag Committee Passed Bill But Extension is Possible as is Stand Alone Livestock Disaster Assistance

 

 

It's hard to tell the players without a score card- and events continue to unfold- and depending on your perspective- they are coming either really fast or in slow motion. 

 

On Wednesday, we listened to the Chairlady of the Senate Ag Committee, Debbie Stabenow, appeal for Plan A- which would be for the House to take up the House Ag Committee Farm Bill, pass it quickly and allow she and Frank Lucas to go to Conference in August to craft what Chairman Lucas has called more than once the "ultimate farm bill."  Click here to hear her full comments- we posted them as an Ag Perspectives Podcast yesterday.  Stabenow said that talk of an extension was still premature- and that everyone would be better served with a full five year bill.

 

David Rogers with Politico.Com wrote yesterday evening about the farm bill scramble- quoting Chairman Frank Lucas as saying

"I do believe, just like past farm bills, given a chance on the floor that we'll achieve the coalition of the middle and move forward. But I don't control the floor schedule and I'm asking politely." Rogers says Lucas was seen in an animated conversation on the House Floor with Majority Leader Eric Cantor on Wednesday.  He also says that Lucas is warming to the idea of a one year extension of current farm policy- saying that could provide some certainty to producers. based on the latest in Politico- click here to read the full article- that Republican leaders still have no interest in bringing the Committee's bill to the floor- at least not yet.

Click here for our Thursday morning farm news as heard on the Radio Oklahoma Network- we have audio from Stabenow as well as Deputy Whip Tom Cole of Oklahoma- who sticks up for his colleague from Oklahoma- and says if the bill comes up- he sees it passing with the bi- partisan vote.  We also have audio from our Colin Woodall interview where he offers concerns about how many amendments might be offered when the bill is brought to the floor- which could result in a protracted floor fight which could last for days if not weeks.

FINALLY- there is a Bloomberg report out from last night that the House Republicans- including Frank Lucas- are now working on a Livestock Disaster package- and that could be what ends up being voted on next week on the House floor.  Click here to read this latest twistin the farm policy arena as the clock runs out in advance of the August Congressional Recess.

And- always a good read- click here for the Thursday FarmPolicy.Com farm bill update- it pulls together lots of the moving pieces as we watch all of this unfold- Keith Good does good work.

Sponsor Spotlight

 

We welcome Winfield Solutions and CROPLAN by Winfield as a sponsor of the daily email- and we are very excited to have them join us in getting information out to wheat producers and other key players in the southern plains wheat belt more information about the rapidly expanding winter canola production opportunities in Oklahoma.  CROPLAN has had three varieties in the winter canola trials this year- all three Glyphosate resistant- HYC115W, HYC125W and HYC154W.  Click here for more information on the CROPLAN lineup for winter canola.     

 

 

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. 

 

 

  
  
ascongresspreparesAs Congress Prepares for August Recess, NCBA's Colin Woodall Keeps Tabs on Legislative Progress 

 

Cattle industry insiders are watching a number of issues very closely as Congress's August recess approaches. Colin Woodall of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association spoke with Ron Hays at the Summer Cattle Industry Conference being held in Denver.

Woodall said one of the big issues that was resolved this week was the House's passage of the Family Farms Preservation Act. The bill bars the Department of Labor from enacting proposed rules making it almost impossible for children to work on the farm. Woodall said the bill was necessary despite reassurances from Labor Department that the rules would not be promulgated.

"It still sends a very strong signal to Secretary Solis and the Department of Labor that they need to really shelve this thing and never dust it off again. This is something we've been working on for more than a year now and really was a surprise to all of agriculture, but agriculture mounted a huge offensive to take this fight back to the secretary. And because of that she announced back in May that she was going to withdraw that rule. This bill that passed the House, Mr. Latham's bill, would just provide a little insurance to make sure it stays on the shelf and doesn't see the light of day again."

 

Colin spoke at length on a number of issues.  Click here to listen to our full conversation.

 

farmbureauconcursFarm Bureau Concurs with Congressional Report Showing Real Harm of Estate Taxes

 

The American Farm Bureau Federation today said it concurs with a Joint Economic Committee report that details the financial harm posed by estate taxes on family businesses. The JEC, a bipartisan committee composed of members from the House and Senate, issued its report, "Costs and Consequences of the Federal Estate Tax," on Wednesday.

According to the report, there are extensive costs associated with the estate tax in terms of the dissolution of family businesses, slower growth of capital stock and a loss of output and income over time. This can be particularly hard on farm families, who own 98 percent of the nation's 2.2 million farms.

"With the average age of a farmer being 58 years old, the estate tax creates even a steeper barrier for young farmers and ranchers to take up the profession at a time when farming is already difficult to enter," said AFBF President Bob Stallman.

Economists on the Republican staff of the Joint Economic Committee point out the "Death Tax," as some label it, has robbed almost as much capital stock from the U.S. economy as this tax has generated in revenue in its 96 years of existence. The total revenue produced by this tax in almost a century is only $1.2 trillion, which would barely cover the federal deficit during this budget year alone.

 

You'll find more on this story by clicking here.

 

The other major ag player on the Death Tax issue- NCBA- has also weighed in- you can hear Colin Woodall on this subject by checking out our interview with him that is found earlier in this email.

 

earlyweaningspringEarly Weaning Spring-born Calves Could Allow Cows to Maintain Better Body Condition

 

In the latest edition of the Cow-Calf Newsletter, Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University emeritus Extension Animal Scientist takes a look at the pros and cons of early weaning.

The summer of 2012 has again diminished pastures and harvested forages. Those producers that still own spring calving cows that are nursing calves should consider the option of early weaning the calves to give the cows the best opportunity to maintain some body condition going into winter.South Dakota State scientists examined this scenario (using mature cows) by comparing the effect of weaning date on performance of the beef cows. They weaned half of the cows at the time of the first real cool spell (September 14). The other half of the cows had their calves weaned at a traditional time (October 23). The scientists then monitored body condition and rebreeding performance of the cows. Note that this study included two different nutritional levels: 1) A low group to mimic an early winter or a dry summer; 2) A moderate group to mimic more ideal summer and early winter seasons. Only the data for those cows exposed to the low nutritional group are presented here. They more nearly reflect what may happen for young cows in a drought than will the moderately fed cows.

This data indicates that the 40 days earlier weaning allow the cows to maintain more body condition score (0.5 BCS) going into winter. More of the early weaned cows were cycling at the start of the breeding season, conceived early in the breeding season and should wean heavier older calves the following year. In addition a small amount of high protein supplement (i.e. cottonseed meal or soybean meal) will enhance the cow's ability to utilize the declining quality of the late summer forage and/or low quality grass hay. Therefore allowing more body condition to remain on the young cows before frost arrives. This combination of management techniques should be a cost effective way to slow the decline in re-breeding rates of drought-stressed, spring calving cows. 

 

For more of Glenn Selk's recommendations on early weaning spring calves, click here. 

 

oklahomawomeninOklahoma Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference set for Aug. 9-10

 

Oklahoma's Statewide Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference is open to all women from across Oklahoma and will take place Aug. 9-10 at the Moore-Norman Technology Center.

"The focus of the two-day conference is to provide the latest information on topics that empower women to solve issues and concerns of importance to them, their families and communities," said Damona Doye, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension farm management specialist.

Cost is $50 per participant if registering by Aug. 1 and $60 thereafter. Registration includes two breakfasts, two lunches, all refreshment breaks, conference materials, post-conference training and a Taste of Oklahoma reception on Thursday evening, Aug. 9.

Links to registration forms and additional information are available by clicking here, or by calling the OSU department of agricultural economics at 405-744-9836.

 

MeatlessFlap Between NCBA and USDA Over Meatless Mondays Comes and Goes Wednesday Afternoon

 

 

It was a a story that came and went in a heartbeat- but blood pressure levels were raised here in Denver at the Summer Cattle Industry Conference as this all unfolded.

 

It started this week when the USDA posted on their website statements embracing "Meatless Mondays" which is a concept promoted in recent years by Vegan groups wanting consumers to give up meat for a day to help the environment and perhaps get some of them on their way to a vegetarian lifestyle.

 

On Wednesday afternoon, having seen the webpage on the official USDA website, JD Alexander, President of the National Cattlmen's Beef Association, blasted USDA in a news release that we received at 2:15 pm- the release saying the fact that "the agency embraces the "Meatless Monday" concept calls into question USDA's commitment to U.S. farmers and ranchers. USDA stated "one simple way to reduce our environmental while dining at our cafeteria is to participate in the "Meatless Monday" initiative," which Alexander said is an animal rights extremist campaign to ultimately end meat consumption."

 

NCBA adds "USDA goes one step further in its quest to reduce meat consumption, according to Alexander, by specifically calling out beef and dairy production as harmful to the environment. Additionally, the USDA cites health concerns related to the consumption of meat. These concerns are not at all based in fact, according to Alexander, but simply spout statistics and rhetoric generated by anti-animal agriculture organizations. The fact is the consumption of beef is not only healthy, but the carbon footprint of the production of beef has dramatically decreased as a result of innovative environmental stewardship implemented by America's farm and ranch families throughout the country."

 

Well, USDA apparently read the NCBA release and something hit the fan in Washington. An email statement from USDA came to our inbox at 4:13 PM- calling the support for "Meatless Mondays" a rumor and offered this terse one sentence statement- "


"USDA does not endorse Meatless Monday. The statement found on the USDA website was posted without proper clearance and it has been removed."

 

NCBA responded to USDA in another news release at 4:44 pm- with a statement attributed to JD Alexander-  "We appreciate USDA's swift action in pulling this disparaging statement off its website. USDA publicly stated today that it does not support this campaign. We appreciate USDA making this right. The agency is important to all cattlemen and women, especially as we face unprecedented challenges, including drought and animal rights extremist groups spreading fiction to consumers who need to know the importance of beef in a healthy diet.


"USDA did right by scrapping this statement and acknowledging the important role of America's farm and ranch families in providing food for the world. USDA denouncing support of the Meatless Monday campaign is an important step in correcting misinformation about the safety and sustainability of U.S. beef production." 

 

Case closed.

 

 

 

chefsnutritionistsChefs, Nutritionists Attack Bi-Partisan Ag Committee Farm Bill as 'Flawed'

 

More than 60 chefs, authors, food and agriculture policy and nutrition experts, business leaders and environment and health organizations have sent an open letter to Capitol Hill objecting that the House agriculture committee's proposed farm bill would "steer the next five years of national food and farm policy in the wrong direction."

The signatories urged lawmakers "to vote a resounding 'no' should the legislation come to a House floor vote , unless the bill is extensively rewritten through the amendment process."

Signers include Chefs Mario Batali and Ann Cooper, Food Inc. film director Robert Kenner, authors Michael Pollan and Laurie David, New York University nutrition professor Marion Nestle, pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp and medical expert Dr. Andrew Weil.

"The House bill will leave millions of people without enough food to eat, help fewer farmers and contribute to the loss of millions of acres of wetlands and grasslands," said Ken Cook, president of Environmental Working Group. "Meanwhile the cost of crop insurance is poised to set another record---at the expense of the American taxpayer." 

 

There's more to this story and a link to the coalition's letter on our web page.  Click here to go there.

 

Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, PCOM, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy, Johnston Enterprises, American Farmers & Ranchers,  CROPLAN by Winfield, KIS Futures and the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Associationfor 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 

 

 

God Bless! You can reach us at the following:  

 


phone: 405-473-6144
 

 


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