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 American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company as a regular sponsor of our daily update- click here to go to their AFR web site to learn more about their efforts to serve rural America!

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We talked about several topics including:
The ACRE program within the Commodity Title of the 2008 Farm Law. Schafer promises once again that rules will be out "soon." He offered no guidance on whether it would be a 2006-2007 baseline or a 2007- 2008 baseline, which he contends could cost taxpayers as much as a billion dollars if implemented with those baseline numbers. Schafer added that they are working in all titles within the Farm Bill to complete as much as they can between now and January 20 when the Bush Administration comes to a close.

Mandatory COOL: Secretary Schafer says that it is his hope that USDA will complete work and get the final rules out before January 20 saying "I think we will get it finalized before we leave office." And, the Secretary adds that he is satisfied at this point in what is being said by the major packers in how they intend to label meat under the COOL regulations. Schafer believes that the industry is moving in the right direction.
Food Prices and Ethanol: Secretary Schafer says that he believes that supporters of ethanol have been vindicated in their earlier claims that ethanol has had a slight impact on food prices- but has not been a major factor in exploding food costs at retail. Like others, he is wondering why food prices have not fallen much if any with the falling energy and raw ag commodity prices in the last couple of months.
We have more on our conversation, as well as the conversation itself on our website as our top story this Thursday morning- click below and take a look and listen.

Click here for more about our Q&A with Secretary Ed Schafer

"It won't be an easy feat, but I believe we can accomplish the goal of 25 percent by 2025. Moreover, Oklahoma can play a major role in achieving that goal through our development of biofuels, wind energy and other renewable energy sources. It is a very important step that we can take to achieving energy independence." The 25x'25 effort hopes to increase energy security, economic well-being and environmental protection while reducing the amount of oil imported into the U.S., currently a $600 billion per year transfer to foreign nations.

Oklahoma is one of the top producers of fossil fuels in the nation, producing nearly 10 percent of the country's natural gas and 3 percent of all crude oil in the U.S. But the state also possesses significant renewable energy resources. According to a study by the University of Tennessee Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma ranks 11th nationwide in the potential economic impact of a 25x'25 renewable energy future, generating an additional $13.6 billion in annual economic activity, including an increase of $1.3 billion in net farm income, and creating an additional 135,000 jobs. Renewable energy accounted for more than 10 percent of the domestically-produced energy used in the United States in the first half of 2008, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The locations include
December 2, 2008- Pittsburgh County.
McAlester, Pittsburgh County Fairgrounds

December 4, 2008- Creek County
Kellyville- Creek County Fairgrounds

December 9, 2008- Noble County
Morrison- Morrison Grain

December 11,2008- Woodward County
Approximately 13 miles S of Woodward at the W.B. Johnston Grain Elevator.

All pesticides will be taken no matter the size. There is no cost for the first 2,500 pounds of pesticides brought by a participant. Anything over 2,500 pounds will be charged to the participant at a $1/pound for all pesticides except mercury based pesticides, wherein participants will be charged $2.22/pound for disposal. Clean Harbors will accept payment in the form of check or credit card at the disposal site. No cash will be accepted!
The link below goes to the OSU based website that explains more about these collection points and what you can take to be dumped in a safe manner.

Click here for more on the Unwanted Pesticide Drop Days in December

Dr. Selk uses as a reference for this decision a long term study that was conducted by North Dakota State University. He says that approximately 17% of your cow herd may need to be recycled annually- a number to start with if you want to maintain the size of the beef cow herd.

We talk with Dr. Selk about all of these decisions and he has some good answers for Cow-Calf operators on this issue on our Thursday Beef Buzz. The Beef Buzz is heard on great radio stations across the state on the Radio Oklahoma Network- and is also a daily audio feature you find on our website, WWW.OklahomaFarmReport.Com. Click below for today's program- and look over the previous Beef Buzz programs anytime by clicking on the Beef Buzz link on the left hand side of our website pages.

Click here for today's Beef Buzz with Dr. Glenn Selk

"The effect of this memo is that premises registration under NAIS (National Animal Identification System) is now mandatory for producers engaged in interstate commerce and who participate in any one of the dozen or more regulated disease programs, despite APHIS' express promise to the industry and to Congress that NAIS would remain a voluntary system," said R-CALF USA President/Region VI Director Max Thornsberry, a Missouri veterinarian who also chairs the group's animal health committee. This memo declares that the Premises Identification Number (PIN) established under the agency's NAIS "is to be the sole and standard location identifier for all VS program activities," and that premises "will be registered in the NAIS."

"This agency action by APHIS is unlawful," Thornsberry emphasized. "We request immediate retraction of this memo, and we additionally request that APHIS be directed to immediately inform each state animal health official that the agency no longer is requiring the registration of premises as a condition of producer participation in regulated animal disease programs, or for any other purpose."

If you want to read the Memo from APHIS that has R-Calf Unhappy with USDA- Click here.

To that end, the association works to encourage collaboration among agricultural scientists in the region, as well as inform those who fund agricultural research about priorities, impacts and status of projects. "Think of it as an expansion and enhancement of our land-grant research activities in each state, which have the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for residents," he said.

Watson, who has served as OAES associate director since April 2006, provides leadership for the planning and development of statewide research projects, develops and manages state and federal grants and contracts, and works with state commodity groups, legislators, government agencies, community leaders and university officials to ensure OAES research thrusts are addressing issues of importance to Oklahoma. He also serves as director of the Sun Grant Initiative's South-Central Region, headquartered at OSU. The Sun Grant Initiative is a national program established to create new solutions for America's energy needs and to revitalize rural communities by working with land-grant universities and their federal and state laboratory partners on research, education and extension programs.

Dr. David Kohl of Virginia Tech is considered one of the best in the business when it comes to someone who can dissect the business of agriculture today- and how to financially manage your farm, ranch or even agribusiness in these challenging times. He will offer a full morning of great information that can prepare you to survive and prosper.

The program is set for Thursday, November 20, with Dr. Kohl set to take center stage beginning at 9:00 AM. There will be a break for lunch, a Q&A session after lunch and door prize drawings that will wrap up the day. For more information, click on the link below or call Diane Beach at AgPreference in Altus- 1-800-727- 3276. They do need to hear from you by November 14 to have an accurate count for lunch.

Click here for more on the 9th Farmer and Rancher Conference on November 20

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- One Pager From Country Hedging- looks at all three US Wheat Futures Exchanges 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.