House Ag Committee Chair Frank Lucas Says Whip Count is Crucial to Proceeding with House Debate of Farm Bill Next Week 

The Chairman of the House Ag Committee, Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas, talked with me about the latest farm bill developments yesterday. Chairman Lucas says that a lot of progress has been made in the last couple of days, and he is very pleased that the Speaker of the US House, Republican John Boehner of Ohio, has publically stated his support for the 2013 Farm Bill as passed by the House Ag Committee last month.

"I've got concerns about the farm bill, as I told our members," Boehner said after a closed House Republican Conference meeting. "But doing nothing means that we get no changes in the farm program, no changes in the nutrition program. And as a result, I'm going to vote for the farm bill to make sure that the good work of the Agriculture Committee and whatever the floor might do to improve this bill gets to a conference so that we can get the kind of changes that people want in our nutrition programs and our farm programs."

Lucas said he expects the farm bill to come up on the House floor next week, assuming that the whip count shows that they are close to the 218 votes needed for final passage. He expressed his hope that by Monday the Rules Committee would put out a call for amendments - which he expects hundreds of. Lucas says he has had conversations with the Chairman of the House Rules Committee and that he is expecting the Rules Committee will sort through the amendments, realize redundancy isn't a good use of time and limit the number of amendments on each subject. The Lucas definition of an "open discussion" on the floor of the House is not for every one of two or three hundred amendments to be heard and possibly voted on- but for all major points of view to have their concerns aired and voted on. This would result in each of the major areas of the bill to be open for consideration in an open but orderly process and the Chairman believes the House will end up voting on 30 to 40 amendments covering every title- including food stamps, sugar, dairy, conservation and crop insurance.

Click here to read more or to listen to our full conversation. 

Congressman Mullin, State Lawmakers and Farm Bureau All Applaud Supreme Court Water Decision 

Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-2) applauded the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous decision today siding with Oklahoma's water laws.

"This is great news for Oklahoma's water rights," said Mullin. "Oklahoma's water should be kept in Oklahoma for our economic development, agricultural uses and recreation. Given the drought we have experienced, we must protect our water supply."

The Supreme Court's decision today upholds lower court rulings in favor of Oklahoma's right to protect the state's natural resources.

The Tarrant Regional Water District, which serves 11 counties in fast-growing north-central Texas, unsuccessfully tried buying water from Oklahoma and others and then sought a water resource permit from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to take water from Oklahoma. When the request was denied due to Oklahoma state laws, the district sued based on its interpretation of the Red River Compact.

Other Oklahoma state legislators issued statements of their approval of today's Supreme Court decision including Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, and State Senator Kyle Loveless. 

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling also weighed in on the issue saying, "We've always believed Oklahoma has the sovereign power to the state's water resources." 

Click here for more and to find a link to the Supreme Court ruling.

After Weather-Delayed Start, Wheat Harvest Proceeds at a Rapid Clip, Schulte Says

The USDA estimates that eight percent of the state's wheat crop had been cut as of Sunday. Mike Schulte, executive director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, says harvest crews are making rapid progress and the pace should continue if the weather continues to cooperate. He spoke with me about how harvest is looking after getting off to a late and slow start. (Schulte will also appear on this week's "In the Field" segment on News 9 at about 6:40 a.m. Saturday.)

"The storms kind of slowed us down last week and things just weren't quite ready. It was taking a little longer for producers to get back in the field than they would have liked. No doubt they were glad to receive the moisture, but I'm thinking right now they're just wanting to take this opportunity, hoping that Mother Nature will cooperate with them for the next seven or eight days and maybe we can get a lot of this wheat cut out in all areas of the state."

Schulte says 60 to 70 percent of the crop has been harvested in the southwest part of the state with the custom cutters moving on to the south central parts of the state from Hydro to Okarche to south of Enid. 

You can read Mike's detailed harvest progress report or listen to our interview by clicking here. Mike's coverage of the 2013 wheat harvest is part of our WheatWatch2013 series of reports sponsored by the Oklahoma Wheat Commission- working  hard for the Oklahoma wheat producer- click here for the OWC website to learn more about their mission to serve the Oklahoma wheat farmer.

High Wheat Prices at Harvest Call for Modified Marketing Strategy, Kim Anderson Says

Wheat prices of the Kansas City Board of Trade continue their downward slide, but are, for the moment, holding about the $7.11 support level, says Oklahoma State University Grain Marketing Specialist Kim Anderson. He says we have a long way to go to reaching the five year average price at harvest of $6.40 a bushel, but we could reach it. Part of the reason for the declining prices, he says, is the rebound that has occurred in some fields due to almost-ideal weather conditions in late spring.

"I'm talking to farmers and producers that say some of them may have record yields this year. Some of the wheat looks a lot better than we expected it to a couple of months ago."

According to the latest WASDE report released Wednesday, U.S. total wheat production is expected to be below the five-year average while world wheat production is projected to be above that average. U.S. ending stocks are projected to be almost 25 percent lower than the five year average and, Anderson says, that would tend to indicate higher prices for wheat. But, he says, he thinks the USDA may be underestimating total world production which would tend to make the U.S. ending stocks number too low.

Anderson says if prices stay above $7-$7.25 as harvest progresses, producers might want to consider selling a higher percentage of their crop now. He said producers that normally follow the strategy of "a third, a third, and a third," might want to sell about 50 percent at harvest and then 25 percent in September-October and the final 25 percent in November-December.

Click here to listen to Kim Anderson's analysis and to see the lineup for this weekend's SUNUP show.

Inhofe Leads Bipartisan Letter Requesting Six-Month Delay, Amendment to Lesser Prairie Chicken Decision

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), today sent a letter to Dan Ashe, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), requesting a six-month delay of the listing of the lesser prairie chicken (LPC).

The letter also requests Ashe to consider amending the settlement agreement governing the LPC listing decision so that a final listing decision is not required until June 11, 2014. This additional ten weeks would provide the maximum amount of time to consider the listing decision allowed under federal law, enabling the states to demonstrate the effectiveness of their range-wide conservation plan.

Inhofe led the letter with Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), and all ten Senators from the five states that would be affected by a listing, including Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). This is the first bipartisan letter addressing the lesser prairie chicken.

You can read the full letter by clicking here.

RFA-Commissioned Analysis: No Direct Correlation Between the Renewable Fuel Standard and Rising Food PricesPricing

ABF Economics released a detailed analysis commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association showing no direct correlation between the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the overall increase in food prices.

The study specifically examined "the relationship between the RFS and recent changes in consumer food prices. Specifically this includes an examination of the relationship between corn prices and consumer food prices, the factors that affect corn prices, the role of the major industry participants in determining consumer food costs, and the relative importance of components such as agricultural commodities and energy on consumer food prices."

Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, weighed in, "Today's ABF Economics analysis provides definitive evidence that ethanol and the RFS are not driving food prices. That canard has been nothing but a distraction propagated by those wanting to continue profiting from government subsidized grain and those seeking to keep us ever dependent on petroleum. This report should end the food vs. fuel debate for good."

Click here to read more and to find a link to the full study.

This N That- Coburn's Reasons for Voting No on Senate Farm Bill, PGI Calls Oklahoma Wheat Harvest 15% Done and Michael Peters Newest Member of OWC

Some of you have asked- so we have asked- why did the two Senators from Oklahoma vote NO on the final passage of the 2013 Farm Bill approved by teh US Senate?  We have emailed both of the Senators- have not heard back from Senator Inhofe as of yet- but have heard from Senator Tom Coburn.  Here's the brief statement we have received from Senator Coburn's staff on why his vote was NO. "Regarding his vote on the farm bill, Dr. Coburn offered 13 amendments which aimed to reduce wasteful spending and duplication, prevent exploitation of farm subsidy programs, and reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program which accounts for 80% of the bill's cost.  Only one was considered, and Dr. Coburn's other attempts to call up amendments were blocked because Senate leadership will not allow its members to take tough votes.  This, combined with the bill's cost, led to his vote against final passage."

We'll share Senator Inhofe's comments once we receive something from his office. 

By the way- there was little support for the Senate's farm bill in our region- both Texas Senators voted no while Kansas Senator Jerry Moran voted aye while former House Ag Committee Chairman Pat Roberts voted no- Roberts saying the bill has agriculture looking too much in the rear view mirror.

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Plains Grains released their latest harvest update late last night- it shows Oklahoma has now harvested 15% of this year's crop and is moving fast- while the Kansas harvest has just begun.  Click here for the complete report from Plains Grains, Inc.

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We alsio got word late Thursday evening that the newest member of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission has been named by Governor Mary Fallin- Michael Peters of Canadian County is the new Commissioner for District Three- click here for details about the appointment and a quick introduction to Michael.  Under the category that it is a small world- this past weekend- we were helping pick up debris in the wheat field of his dad- Freddie Peters- as we worked with Levi Clifton and the Field of TEAMS effort.  

Speaking of Field of TEAMS- if you can help- they are still picking up debris- give her a call to see what you can do this weekend.  Here number is 405-301-1626.