From: Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.ccsend.com] on behalf of Ron Hays [ron@oklahomafarmreport.com]
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 6:19 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 Monday March 8, 2010
A service of Johnston Enterprises, P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy and American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company!
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-- Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Talks Farm Program Cuts, Beef to Japan and More
-- Talking CRP with Secretary Vilsack
-- OSU's Jeff Edwards Reports First Hollow Stem Now Being Seen in the Oklahoma Wheat Belt
-- USDA Confirms Pork Agreement With Russia
-- Orange Peel Not Friendly to EColi and Salmonella
-- National Association of Conservation Districts Concerned About the Impact of Sage Grouse Listing
-- Hall-Coyote Hills Limousin Bull Sale Coming This Saturday
-- 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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Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Talks Farm Program Cuts, Beef to Japan and More
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Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack talked with reporters after his speech to the General Session of the 2010 Commodity Classic in Anaheim on Friday. He addressed a variety of subjects in his almost thirty minutes with the media.

We have an audio overview that captured four of the answers that Vilsack gave to reporters gathered in Anaheim. Among the topics that we have audio on our website-
His defense of what the Administration is proposing on cutting farm program payments- specifically what they want to do regarding direct payments.
Give and Take with a Nebraska Farm Broadcaster discussing what former Secretary Mike Johanns said about the Toyota recall and Japan's slowness in dealing with the US on allowing more beef into their country- Vilsack says the Obama Administration is doing better than the Bush Administration in that they agree with those in the industry are willing to work with Japan on incremental progress.

Vilsack talked about the DOJ/USDA workshops that begin later this week in Ankeny, Iowa to look at Competition Issues within agriculture.
And Secretary Vilsack also answered a question about the shelving of the NAIS and where the agency is going to develop animal disease traceback in this country.

Click on the link below to join the News Conference and listen in to what the USDA Secretary is thinking on these key subjects that he was asked about in the Friday morning News Conference at the Commodity Classic.

Click here for the answers that Secretary Vilsack gave to reporters on the four subjects we mentioned above.


Talking CRP with Secretary Vilsack
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We were able to get a question in towards the end of the News Conference with Secretary Tom Vilsack- and we asked about the next general signup for the Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP.

We asked Secretary Vilsack about the Obama Administration's intentions on the direction of this legacy Conservation program- and also asked about rental rates this go round- and if there will be adequate resources to attract the number of acres that USDA would like to bring in. Click on the Link at the bottom of this story to jump to our story on the website WWW.OklahomaFarmReport.Com and to be able to hear the Secretary's full response.

In addition, if you would like to hear the full address by Secretary Vilsack to the Commodity Classic where he emphasized exports as well as biotechnology, click here for the Agri-Pulse website and look on the left hand column of their front page where it says "SPECIAL UPDATE for Friday, March 5 - Audio of USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack's speech at Commodity Classic in Anaheim, CA." You can click on the arrow there and here one of the Secretary's first speeches to a "production agriculture" audience in the last several months.

Click here to head to our website and hear Secretary Tom Vilsack's comments on the CRP Program Signup that will kick off later in the spring.


OSU's Jeff Edwards Reports First Hollow Stem Now Being Seen in the Oklahoma Wheat Belt
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Here is the latest first hollow stem report, courtesy of OSU State Wheat Specialist Dr. Jeff Edwards. He writes "the varieties Fannin, Greer, Jagger, Overley, Shocker, Santa Fe, and TAM 401 are all past first hollow stem in plots sown September 21 at Stillwater.

"None of the varieties at our El Reno location are at first hollow stem. The wet conditions have really affected the growth of this site, however, and waterlogged wheat will have enough problems without extended grazing adding to the list of problems. So, this is one case where I would not graze until first hollow stem. If you have wheat in southwest OK that is not growing well due to wet feet, then it would probably be a good move to go ahead and look for a place to move the cattle whether you have reached first hollow stem or not.

"In the southern part of the state, OSU's Mark Gregory reported finding first hollow stem in early maturing varieties sown September 15 near Waurika. Temperatures across much of the state will hit 70 F today (Friday), so I expect the list of varieties at first hollow stem will expand significantly around the first of the week. We will keep you posted."


USDA Confirms Pork Agreement With Russia
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USDA has confirmed an agreement between the United States and Russia that will re-open the Russian market to U.S. pork. By the end of last year, Russia had delisted virtually all U.S. pork facilities, prohibiting them from shipping pork to the country. National Pork Producer Association President Don Butler applauded the agreement.

As part of the agreement, the United States has developed an Export Verification program for pork going to Russia. The verification program will provide a new veterinary certificate to ensure that U.S. pork exports meet specific Russian microbiological and tetracycline-group antibiotic residue requirements. U.S. plants that want to export to Russia must apply for approval with USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.

National Pork Producers Council President Don Butler said our pork meets U.S. and international standards, so we did not see the need for the EV program. But the Russians wanted the program, and we wanted to get back in the market. Butler added we now need to get China to re-open its market to U.S. pork.

Click here for comments from the National Pork Producers Council on the USDA Friday Announcement


Orange Peel Not Friendly to EColi and Salmonella
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Research Presented At The 2010 Beef Industry Safety Summit indicates that the essential oils in orange peel and pulp kill E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. This ongoing study is looking at these natural byproducts, created by making juice, as a potential feed ingredient for cattle.
More than 200 experts from every sector of the beef industry gathered in Dallas for the eighth annual summit this past week to share research and identify ways to improve beef safety.

Developing on-farm safety solutions was one area of focus at the summit, which was hosted by the Beef Industry Food Safety Council (BIFSCo). Since its founding in 1997, BIFSCo has led the implementation of important post-harvest safety innovations. Bolstering safety at the pre-harvest level is the next step in advancing U.S. beef safety.
The citrus research is one of 13 safety studies funded by cattlemen in 2009. Lead researcher Todd Callaway with USDA's Agricultural Research Service found that dietary orange peel and pulp reduced Salmonella populations in the intestinal tract of sheep. Callaway expects the next phase of the study to yield similar results for reducing E. coli O157:H7.

"Research continues to find new ways beef producers can make the food chain even safer and reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. This is important work, and it's why leaders from all segments of beef production gather at this summit each year to discuss the latest research, share their best practices and set goals for the future," said James O. Reagan, Ph.D., chairman of BIFSCo and senior vice president of research, education and innovation for the NCBA.
"We know that the number of beef recalls has declined in recent years, but the folks at this meeting remain committed to eliminating E. coli O157:H7 from the food supply," said Reagan.
The summit also included sessions about traceability, recall lessons and sub-primal interventions.


National Association of Conservation Districts Concerned About the Impact of Sage Grouse Listing
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The National Association of Conservation Districts has expressed concern following Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's announcement on behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that listing of the greater sage grouse is “warranted but precluded,” and that the bird has been deemed a candidate species for listing.

“NACD recognizes the importance of conserving wildlife habitat for all species, and our member conservation districts across the nation work with landowners every day to implement practices that improve wildlife habitat,” said NACD President Steve Robinson, a producer from Marysville, Ohio. “That said, the annual review process that is required for all candidate species leaves the status uncertain and subject to constant litigation.”

“Landowners and managers need regulatory certainty to conduct economically viable operations,” Robinson said. “Under these circumstances, it will be difficult for landowners to implement conservation knowing their actions could be invalidated at any time.”

Click here for more on this story as found on our website- WWW.OklahomaFarmReport.Com


Hall-Coyote Hills Limousin Bull Sale Coming This Saturday
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The Hall-Coyote Hills All-Black, All Polled Limousin Bull sale is scheduled for Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 1 p.m. at the ranch, Chattanooga, Oklahoma. The ranch is located one mile west, two miles south and one west of Chattanooga, OK on Highway 5.

Ken Holloway writes in the sale catalog for the upcoming sale "The Coyote Hills Ranch Annual Bull Sale offers some of the top Limousin and Lim-Flex bulls to be offered anywhere in the country. The bulls have been carefully selected and well developed here in the shortgrass country of southwest Oklahoma. All of the Coyote Hills Ranch and most of the Lance Hall cows run here on the ranch as well as several of the Brandon Rogers and Barton Limousin cows. Again, Bruce Lawrence of Anton, Texas, is a guest consignor and offers a stout set of bulls of similar bloodlines of our own program."

On offer will be 96 Black (all are polled) LIMOUSIN & LIM-FLEX BULLS. There will be a lot of information on each bull, including carcass and performance EPDs. For more information, you can click on the link below- or call Ken Holloway at 580-597-2419.

Click here for more information on the Hall-Coyote Hills Ranch Bull Sale- click here.


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 saw Cash Cattle trade occur on Friday at steady levels with the last couple of weeks- most sales were completed at $92, according to the Texas Cattle Feeders. Here is the Daily Volume and Price Summary from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.

Current cash price for Canola is $7.50 per bushel, while the 2010 New Crop contracts for Canola are now available are $7.65 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.



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phone: 405-473-6144
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