From: Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.ccsend.com] on behalf of Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 7:27 AM
To: ron@oklahomafarmreport.com
Subject: Oklahoma's Farm News Update
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Oklahoma's latest farm and ranch news
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON for Wednesday February 10, 2010
A service of Johnston Enterprises, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy and American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company!
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-- Anti Antibiotic Story Hits on CBS
-- Anti Biotech Group Claims Genetically Modified Wheat Would Drastically Drop US Wheat Market
-- AFR Annual Convention Set to Begin on Friday
-- National Corn Growers Say Latest Report Shows Adequate Corn Stocks and Robust Use for Ethanol
-- I HEART Beef- Now, Where's my Filet?
-- Gotta Feed Your Canola!
-- Climate Change Hocus Pocus
-- Let's Check the Markets!

Howdy Neighbors!

Here's your morning farm news headlines from the Director of Farm Programming for the Radio Oklahoma Network, Ron Hays. We are pleased 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!

It is also great to have as an annual sponsor on our daily email Johnston Enterprises- proud to be serving agriculture across Oklahoma and around the world since 1893. For more on Johnston Enterprises- click here for their website!

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Anti Antibiotic Story Hits on CBS
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The US Livestock industry had been waiting on this story to hit for more than a week- and part one aired last night on the CBS Evening News, as anchor Katie Couric painted the poultry and pork industries in a very negative light. Using terminology like "factory farming" and trying to tie food safety issue to the use of antibiotics by livestock producers. It was a relatively long piece- more than seven minutes, which is forever in TV news- and will be followed by another segment tonight. It is speculated that Couric is trying to beat the drum for Congresswomen Slaughter of New York who wants a ban on antibiotic use in animal agriculture.

CBS interviewed Kim Howland of Lahoma back in January for this two part series- she was seen claiming that hog producers use antibiotics "Constantly, constantly, constantly" and that she fears she brought MRSA infection home to her husband and daughter. CBS also talked about MRSA among those who work with poultry in Batesville, Arkansas at a Pilgrim's Pride processing plant in that community. The claim that antibiotics are used non stop is disputed by Missouri hog producer Chris Chinn, who says on Twitter that "antibiotics are expensive- we do NOT feed them everyday." She adds that she works with her Vet to strategically use antibiotics when it will help protect the health of the animals and the safety of the food supply.

It was harder for Couric and her writers to tie chickens or hogs with antibiotics in the meat you see at the grocery store- but they tried. However, livestock industry officials remind us that "All meat is antibiotic free when it arrives at the meatcase. Farmers follow withdrawal times before animals are processed."

Click here for the transcript of the CBS story from Tuesday night. We also have links from the National Cattleman's Beef Association about the use of antibiotics in beef production- click here for that from NCBA. AND, we have the facts that the National Pork Board has been touting in recent days on the use of antibiotics in the pork industry- click here for the pork industry view of this issue.


Anti Biotech Group Claims Genetically Modified Wheat Would Drastically Drop US Wheat Market
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Introduction of genetically modified (GM) wheat would drastically drop the price of wheat for farmers in the United States, according to a report released by the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC). A Review of the Potential Market Impacts of Commercializing GM Wheat in the U.S. concludes that wheat buyers in Europe, Japan, and other Asian countries are likely to switch to GM-free wheat from other countries if GM wheat is introduced in this country.

"Introduction of genetically modified wheat in the United States is a risky proposition," said Dr. Neal Blue, author of the report.
Dr. Blue analyzed the likely reaction of foreign customers if any GM wheat variety is approved and grown in the United States.
"Consumer attitudes in the European Union and Japan are not ready for GM wheat," according to Dr. Blue's report. "In addition, Asian countries such as South Korea and Taiwan are leery about importing GM wheat. Major customers of U.S. wheat, particularly the EU and Japan, have labeling and traceability requirements that make it difficult to sell GM wheat."

Click on the link below for more on this story- and a link to the WORC website and the full report from this reseacher from Ohio.

Click here for more on the WORC criticism of GM wheat possibilties.


AFR Annual Convention Set to Begin on Friday
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The 105th Annual Convention of the American Farmers & Ranchers kicks off this Friday at the Biltmore Hotel in Oklahoma City. In the official convention program, AFR President Terry Detrick says "Welcome to the 105th Annual AFR Convention! "New Directions" is the theme of our two-day convention. The theme reflects not only the challenges that we as a company and organization have faced since the last convention but also new opportunities to create a roadmap of stabilization and future growth."

We sat down and talked with Detrick about the 2010 meeting, which will include an extensive educational component on Saturday, and you can hear our conversation with him by clicking on the Listen Bar below. Detrick is running for his first full term as President of AFR, after being elevated to that position by virtue of the resignation of Ray Wulf right after the 2009 convention last February. Detrick is being challenged by Keith Miller of Wynnewood for the top spot in the organization.

On Saturday evening, the group will honor two long time pillars of the rural community, former Oklahoma Farmers Union President George W. Stone, who still serves on the AFR board, and recently retired Larry Watkins of the Oklahoma Association of Rural Electric Coops.
Click on the link below to hear from Terry Detrick about the 2010 meeting- and we have linked there the full program for this year's meeting.

Click here for more on the AFR Convention Coming Feb. 12 and 13 in Oklahoma City


National Corn Growers Say Latest Report Shows Adequate Corn Stocks and Robust Use for Ethanol
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The latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate, released by USDA, estimates a slightly higher demand for corn to produce ethanol and a minor decrease in corn exports from the 2009 crop. President Darrin Ihnen, a grower from Hurley, South Dakota, says - NCGA consistently advocates for government policies that reflect the important role that ethanol plays for growers and the public as a cost effective, environmentally friendly domestic fuel option. Corn prices held stable during the period at $3.70 per bushel.

NCGA says - this report reinforces the importance of ethanol to corn growers across the country. Estimated demand for corn from the ethanol industry increased by 100 million bushels to 4.3 billion bushels total, which takes into account approximately 1 billion bushels of distillers grains derived in the ethanol production process as livestock feed. Over the same period, estimated exports dropped by 50 million bushels due to increased competition from Argentina.


I HEART Beef- Now, Where's my Filet?
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During a time when sales of middle meats are traditionally slower, the checkoff's food and nutrition communications team, using conclusions drawn from checkoff-funded market research, is gearing up to capitalize on a month that boasts many familiar holidays and special occasions. Thus, the beef checkoff has initiated an “I Heart Beef” campaign.

The program was specifically designed to help strengthen interest in beef middle meats, cuts that have a proven return on investment for beef producers, by reminding consumers of their passion for great steaks like the T-bone and tenderloin. Not only that, but February is Heart Health Month.

Kim Essex representing the Beef Checkoff joins us on the Beef Buzz- and she gives us a great overview of the concept and workings of the I Heart Beef campaign. Click on the link below and take a listen!

Click here and go Beef Buzzing with us as we talk I Heart Beef for February.


Gotta Feed Your Canola!
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Oklahoma winter canola producers are reminded there is a tendency to under-fertilize their crop for needed sulfur and potassium to obtain top yields this spring. Gene Neuens, Producers Cooperative Oil Mill field representative and Plains Oilseed Products cooperative executive director, reminds growers sulfur demands of the crop can be satisfied with dry ammonium sulfate in the 21-0-0-24S level or 12-0-0-26S liquid ammonium thiosulfate as sources of sulfur.

Potassium demands for winter canola scheduled fall preplant 0-0-60 for spring potassium needs. Liquid suspensions or dry may be applied in top-dress timing, Neuens said. And foliar potassium can be used just prior to "bolting," (when the winter canola plant begins its spring growth spurt) and when there is a good canopy in the crop.

Oklahoma farmers planted 85,000 acres of winter canola for the 2010 crop, Neuens said. With plenty of ground moisture to help the crop grow, proper fertilization is an important task that will help the farmers get top yields, Neuens said.


Climate Change Hocus Pocus
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Two quick hits on Global Warming before we ship this out to you- yesterday, we enjoyed the presentation by our colleague and friend Gary England as he spoke to the quarterly board meeting of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association. The quality of our recording was not very good- so we will catch up with Gary in the next few days and do an interview with him about his contentions that claims that man is drastically changing the climate is a lot of baloney. (I think that is a meteorological term)

We did "Tweet" during his presentation and told folks following us that "Climate changes- we have been colder & we have been warmer-claims of man made global warming are bogus" and also "Gary England of @news9 says lots of dishonesty in claims abt global warming." Gary grew up in northwest Oklahoma- and the cattlemen loved his presentation.

The other hit on global warming comes from those ornery staffers who work for Senator Inhofe. They sent us a link to a very funny picture from the Washington snow scene- and I understand that Keith Olbermann has said bad things about the Inhofe family- click here for the YouTube of that and click on the link below of the great picture that shows the new home of Al Gore in our nation's capitol!

Click here for the picture from the Inhofe folks poking a little climate change fun at the former Veep.


Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, PCOM, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy, Johnston Enterprises, AFR and KIS Futures for 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!

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


Let's Check the Markets!
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We've had requests to include Canola prices for your convenience here- and we will be doing so on a regular basis. Current cash price for Canola is $7.50 per bushel, while the 2010 New Crop contracts for Canola are now available are $7.70 per bushel- delivered to local participating elevators that are working with PCOM.

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- Two Pager From The Kansas City Board of Trade looks at all three US Wheat Futures Exchanges with extra info on Hard Red Winter Wheat 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.



God Bless! You can reach us at the following:
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phone: 405-473-6144
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