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 E-Mail. KIS Futures provides Oklahoma Farmers & Ranchers with futures & options hedging services in the livestock and grain markets- Click here for their "new look" website or call them at 1-800-256-2555.

Our email this morning is also a service of Midwest Farm Shows, producer of the Tulsa Farm Show that is held each December, as well as the just concluded Southern Plains Farm Show in Oklahoma City. Check out details of both of these exciting shows at the official website of Midwest Farm Shows by clicking here.
Finally, we are pleased to have as our newest Daily Email sponsor The Oklahoma Bioenergy Center: cultivating the future of Oklahoma's renewable energy industry- click here to check out their website!

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A bioenergy crop amendment championed by Senator Inhofe is a part of the Conference Report. The provision, which Senator Inhofe worked with Congressman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) to develop and enact, provides transitional assistance to farmers who produce bioenergy crops, like switchgrass and sorghum. "While Oklahoma has long been a leader in oil and natural gas production, our state is quickly emerging as a leader in the field of cellulosic biofuels," Inhofe said. "Today, world-class scientists at Oklahoma State University and the Noble Foundation are working with farmers across Oklahoma to develop cellulosic bioenergy crops, like switchgrass, that don't compete with feed for livestock." Senator Inhofe has pushed to address corn-starch ethanol mandates which contribute to driving up food and fuel prices, something this provision addresses. Language similar to Senator Inhofe's amendment to the Senate passed Farm Bill giving priority consideration to grant proposals to find innovative ways to make use of animal waste, specifically that of poultry waste, was also included in the bill.

In explaining his "no" vote, Dr. Tom Coburn said in a statement released by his staff "Congress has put their elections and parochial interests ahead of traditional farmers and middle class families."

"After more than a year of negotiations on the Farm Bill, Congress has produced a bill that is bad for American agriculture, consumers and taxpayers. It is clear that elected leaders in Washington have lost sight of what this bill means to so many making an honest living providing food for our nation. Congress has put the priorities of special interest non-farm lobbyists over the long-term interests of Oklahoma farmers and ranchers. This is not a farm bill. It is a nutrition/social programs bill, with a few farm programs thrown in," said Dr. Coburn.

To read more of what the two Oklahoma Senators had to say- and what many others are saying about the measure as well- jump to our Farm Bill webpage by clicking here.

National Cotton Council Chairman Larry McClendon says that "given the prevailing budget and political considerations, this is the best option available for production agriculture." He urged President Bush to reconsider his plans for a veto.
Meanwhile, Tim Lust with the National Sorghum Producers says "While we took a small cut in direct payments, we believe that under the circumstances, with the current political environment in Washington, D.C., this bill is as good as can be expected. We are pleased to have the bill to this point with significant victories for the sorghum industry."

Both the American Farm Bureau and the National Farmers Union also issued strong statements of support for this soon to be 2008 Farm Law. We have links to their statements on our Farm Bill webpage- the link that is just above this story- so go there and check them out!

Ray tells us that he is glad to finally have some certainty for farmers and ranchers across the country with the great votes we saw in both the House and Senate- and he adds that while we need to be vigilent in making sure that no minds are changed if the President does veto the bill- he feels good about where we stand when it comes to the likely conclusion that this bill will become law very soon.

Besides our TV conversation, we also had an audio conversation that we explored a little more in depth what Wulf and his organization like about this bill- and we have that interview linked below- take a listen!

Click here to listen to Ron and Ray Wulf on the endgame of the 2008 Farm Bill.

The ranches that will compete in 2008 include the defending champion Drummond Land & Cattle Company of Pawhuska;
Adcock's Lazy 71 Ranch & MR Cattle, Collinsville;
Broken O's Ranch, Ft. Supply
Cross S Ranch and Kelly Ranch, Pawhuska/Shidler;
Gray B Bar Ranch, Grainola
Hall Ranch & Daube Cattle Company, Loco/Ardmore;
Hitch Ranch, Guymon;
Holcombe Ranch, Bartlesville;
Jamison Ranch, Beggs;
Kelly Ranch, Marlow;
Kettle Ranch & Lynn Ranch, Lenapah;
and the McFarlin-Ingersoll Ranch, Inola.

We talked with Scott Dewald of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association about the event- and we have that conversation linked below- remember that you can order tickets on the phone by calling 405-948- 6807.

Click to listen to Ron and Scott talk about the 24th Annual OCA Range Roundup- "The REAL DEAL"

The measure calls for a veterinary training program for rural Oklahoma to be administered by the Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. The program will be developed and implemented in order to provide opportunities and incentives for students pursing a veterinary medicine degree at OSU to locate their veterinary practice in rural Oklahoma communities, and receive specialized training targeted to meet the needs of livestock producers in rural communities.

"In recent years, more and more veterinarians have chosen to practice near large cities and town," Ballenger said. "As a result, rural communities face a harsh reality: a shortage of large and small animal veterinarians. We have to do something to help slow or reverse this trend."
The measure adds that if funds are available, each year the veterinary school may enter into program agreements with up to three first-year veterinary students or currently practicing large animal veterinarians with qualifying school loans.

The qualifying participants will receive financial help not to exceed $20,000 per year for not more than four years for tuition, books, supplies, and other school expenses, and travel and training expenses incurred by the student in pursing a veterinary medicine degree. Participants must also engage in a full-time veterinary practice in any Oklahoma community which has a population not exceeding 25,000 for a period of at least 12 continuous months for each separate year a student receives assistance under the program, unless the obligation is otherwise satisfied.

Click here to read more on Senate Bill 70.

USDA scientists perform a battery of measurements to further confirm whether or not samples are Africanized honey bees. After an extensive battery of measurements, the samples were determined to be European honey bees. The European variety is common throughout the United States, and is less aggressive than their Africanized cousins. "The USDA results lend more evidence that hybridization is occurring between these two groups," Grantham said. "Our DNA test only indicates that at some point the honey bee collected has an Africanized queen in its lineage."

Phil Mulder, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service entomologist, said people who are outdoors need to be aware of their surroundings and use caution in approaching any potentially dangerous situation involving honey bees. Disturbing colonies of established bees of either variety poses the potential for a stinging attack; however, foraging honey bees are rarely a threat. "If several honey bees are actively visiting blooms for nectar or pollen, they are usually quite harmless unless somebody attempts to threaten them," Mulder said. "Even then, they will often simply retreat or fly away."

For more on The developing Honey Bee population in our state- check this OSU website.

Fewer placements and more marketings are expected in the report, as the average pre-report guess is for the report's on feed number to stand at 98.6% of a year ago; 94.4% placements of cattle in April compared to one year ago and the number of marketings expected to hit 108.1% of a year ago.

ALSO THIS MORNING- We hope to see some of you at the OSU Wheat Field Day at the Lahoma Field Station- Tours start rolling at 9 AM!

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. Previous Day's Energy Market Recap- also from Country Hedging
The National Daily Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
The National Daily Slaughter Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.