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 welcome National Livestock Credit Corporation as a regular sponsor of our daily email update. National Livestock Credit Corporation works diligently to provide unsurpassed service to their customers in the area of livestock financing. Check out the National Livestock Family of Services website by clicking here.

Another of our sponsors on our daily email service is Cusack Meats, and Al Cusack wants everyone to know that he APPRECIATES Oklahoma's Farmers and Ranchers! You can go to the Cusack website and select some great gift packs of meat for giving- or for yourself! And, our email this morning is also a service of Midwest Farm Shows, producer of the Tulsa Farm Show coming up December 6-8, 2007, as well as the Southern Plains Farm Show in Oklahoma City next spring. Check out details of both of these exciting shows at the official website of Midwest Farm Shows by clicking here.

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At this point, Farm Bill Deliberations are not on the agenda today and we may see another attempt to move the process next week- but it is now very doubtful that we can finish the Senate's work on this bill before their Thanksgiving recess that begins at the end of next week.

One word that has been uttered by several lawmakers in recent days- including our own Oklahoma lawmaker on the House Ag Committee, Mr. Lucas, is the "E" word- Extension. However, one veteran lobbyist that we have heard from says that an extension is simply not acceptable- because if we wait another year or two to write farm policy- the budget baseline will look even worse than it is this year. In addition, there are already some "winners" from the process thus far and those groups and interests will not willingly let go of what they have achieved in the 2007 Farm Bill debate- they want to see this process pulled through to a successful conclusion.

Senator Coburn's solution would be to help farmers build capital through government assistance- which will allow them to better withstand the ups and downs of the business of farming and ranching.

In addition, the Senator does plan on offering some amendments regarding crop insurance- specifically, he wants to offer an amendment that will require all producers to buy crop insurance if they want ANY government aid from farm programs- he says that should help bring down the cost of crop insurance for all if everyone is participating. We have our farm bill conversation with the Senator linked below- take a listen.

Click here to listen to Ron talk with Senator Tom Coburn about the 2007 Farm Bill.

Earlier this week, the House voted to override 361-54. In a statement, a White House spokesman said "We understand that members of Congress are going to support the projects in their districts. Budgeting is about making choices and defining priorities- it doesn't mean you can have everything. This bill doesn't make the difficult choices- it says we can fund every idea that is out there."

Coburn acknowledged that he will be the only member of the Oklahoma delegation to vote against the override, as all five House members supported the override vote in that body. Senator Coburn offered us several reasons as to why he considers this measure bad policy because it turns over all the decision making to the appropriators because the Army Corps of Engineers have a major backlog of projects for the money given them annually- and Coburn contends this bill adds to that backlog and does nothing more. Click below to take a listen to the Senator's comments.

Click here for Senator Tom Coburn on the WRDA veto override.

Cowart said he is excited about the opportunity to serve on the committee. "I am honored to be considered," he said. "The committee already has some cotton knowledge, but my past experience has provided me with an understanding of issues beyond just warehousing of cotton, including marketing and textiles." As director of warehouse operations, Cowart manages the cotton warehouse storage and shipping facilities of the Oklahoma Cotton Cooperative Association located in Altus, Okla.; Frederick, Okla.; Liberal, Kan.; and Memphis, Texas and the Rolling Plains Cooperative Association located in Sweetwater, Texas; Hamlin, Texas; Rule, Texas; and Flower Mound, Texas.

"One of my main responsibilities is overseeing the storing and protecting of the integrity of the cotton once we receive it from the gins," Cowart said. "Once the cotton has been purchased, I help make sure the cotton is ready for the buyer." Cowart said he is preparing for a busy year. PCCA's warehouse storage and shipping facilities have a capacity of storing 1 million bales, and it is projected the facility will receive 1.5 million bales. Cowart said he is working on an effective way of stacking the bales for both efficient use of space and shipping. Communication between the buyer and the warehouse helps give the facility more lead time to accommodate for efficient shipping. Cowart has held several local, state and national positions that he believes will help him in his new role as a member of the Industry Advisory Committee. Some of these positions include board member and secretary of the Oklahoma Cotton Council, warehouse delegate and board member to the National Cotton Council, secretary of the Cotton Growers Warehouse Association, member of the Bill Fitzwater Cooperative Chair Advisory Committee and member of OSU's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Dean's Advisory Committee. "I am looking forward to working with the FAPC," Cowart said. "I think what the FAPC is doing is very beneficial to the state of Oklahoma."

OWGA is still working on their speaker lineup for the 2008 meeting. They will once again, as they have the last couple of years, meet at the Express Event Center in Oklahoma City, 8512 NW Expressway.

David Burleson, Fairland, Okla., and Scott Morris, Balko, Okla., led the reserve grand champion bull. QLC Authority 2785 is a February 2005 son of Sedgwicks Powerstroke 7502 and first topped the senior division.
Congratulations to David and Scott!

Speaking of the Angus Breed, one of their biggest show events comes up next Monday and Tuesday at the North American Livestock Exposition in Louisville. Their National Roll of Victory Bull Show is next Monday, while the National Roll of Victory Heifer Show happens next Tuesday.

In comments from this past weekend, Conner remains baffled how one dairy cow from Canada in 2003 could still be blocking trade from what used to be our first and third largest international beef customers. The attitude that we heard a couple of weeks ago from Dr. Chuck Lambert of USDA that the Bush Administration will not be happy with a step by step process of reopening trade in these countries- but instead is pushing with intensity for a full reopening NOW.

Others from our country that have worked with the nations and cultures involved for many years advocate the step by step approach. Phil Seng, President of the US Meat Export Federation thinks we will have to accept the Japanese and South Korean plans to gradually open their markets- first to beef aged 30 months of age or younger in Japan- up from the 21 month limit now in place- and up to 30 months of age beef- boneless and bone-in for South Korea. Seng thinks we will be able to recover those markets- but trying for a complete buy-in of the OIE recommendations makes it a lot more difficult. You can hear what Secretary Conner has to say about this issue by clicking below and taking a listen to today's Beef Buzz from the Radio Oklahoma Network- it reveals a little of where the Administration's "head" is on this subject.

Click here to listen to today's Beef Buzz with Ron and USDA's Chuck Conner.

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