PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
By Tyler Norvell, OFB Vice President of Public Policy
November 2nd was a historic night in the state of Oklahoma. For the first time ever, a congressman from Oklahoma will chair the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. Rep. Frank Lucas will take over as chairman next year when the new Congress convenes. Republicans regained the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives by picking up at least 60 seats, with some elections still undecided at press time. On the Senate side, the Democrats maintained their majority, but gave up six seats to the Republicans. The Democrats now hold a 53 to 47 advantage over Republicans in the Senate. Oklahoma Farm Bureau is looking forward to working with the new Congress and especially those members on both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees as we begin discussion on the 2012 Farm Bill. November 2nd also was a very historic night on the state level. Not only did Oklahoma elect Mary Fallin as the state’s first female governor, but for the first time in history, Oklahoma has a Republican-controlled legislature as well as a Republican governor, simultaneously. In addition, all statewide elected offices were won by Republicans, including Todd Lamb, Lt. Governor; Scott Pruitt, Attorney General; Ken Miller, State Treasurer; Gary Jones, State Auditor & Inspector; Janet Barresi, Superintendent of (See One historic election for Oklahomans, page 3)
OFB’s Monica Wilke is 2010 Woman of the Year in Agriculture Oklahoma Farm Bureau Executive Director Monica Wilke has been named 2010 Woman of the Year in Agriculture by the Diamond Hats organization. The prestigious award is presented to a woman in agriculture who has worked tirelessly to promote Oklahoma’s agricultural industry as well as offering support to those involved in the industry. She accepted the honor October 30 at the Diamond Hats Ball in Oklahoma City at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. “I am humbled and honored to have received this (See Monica Wilke, page 2)
Tyler Norvell named head of OFB’s Public Policy Division Tyler Norvell has been named Vice President of Public Policy for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Norvell most recently has served the organization as director of national and state affairs and first joined OFB as a legislative specialist in 2006. Norvell replaces Lori Peterson, who has been named Executive Director of the Oklahoma Railroad Association. “We are extremely pleased and excited to have someone of Tyler’s abilities ready to step into this critically-important position,” said Monica Wilke, executive director, OFB and affiliated companies. (See Tyler Norvell, page 2)
Coverage of the 69th Oklahoma Farm Bureau Annual Meeting will be included in the next issue of Perspective. Until then, photos, releases and more will be available for viewing following convention on OFB’s website at www.okfarmbureau.org.
Grassroots involvement helped defeat SQ 744 The strong willingness to stand up for personal convictions by thousands of rural Oklahomans contributed to the defeat of State Question 744, claimed Mike Spradling, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. Passage of State Question 744 would have forced the state of Oklahoma to increase educational spending by an estimated $1.7 billion, much of it on State coming from Question 744 possible increases in property taxes. “Our people got out and fought against this issue beginning as early as last spring,” Spradling said. “We knew it was going to be a long, uphill battle as early polling showed the majority of voters supported the issue. But, once Oklahomans were presented both sides of the issue, it was evident SQ 744 was not right for (See Grassroots, page 4)
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One historic election for Oklahomans
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November 19, 2010
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OFB will highlight a few benefits in each issue of Perspective as a reminder of the savings available to OFB members. Find a complete list of savings online at www.okfarmbureau.org.
OFB Calendar OFB Annual Meeting November 19-21 • Oklahoma City Contact: Monica Wilke, 405-523-2303 FBW Rally December 3-4 • Tulsa Contact: Marcia Irvin, 405-523-2405 AFBF Annual Meeting January 9-12, 2011 • Atlanta, GA Contact: Melisa Neal, 405-523-2475
Farm groups urge estate tax relief this year AFBF recently joined a coalition of 29 other agricultural organizations in asking members of the House and Senate to urge congressional leaders to reform current estate tax laws before the end of this year. “This action will strengthen the business climate for farm and ranch families while ensuring agricultural businesses can be passed to future generations. Allowing estate taxes to be reinstated without an exemption and rate that protects family farms puts many operations at risk and threatens succession to the next (See Farm groups, page 4)
Tyler Norvell........
(continued from page 1) Norvell is a graduate of Amber-Pocasset High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University. While at OSU, he was named Animal Science Outstanding Senior and was a member of the National Champion Livestock Judging Team.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Monitor the latest Farm Bureau and agricultural news and information online at www.okfarmbureau.org. Currently online: • Convention Coverage – Visit OFB online following convention for photos, news and information from the 69th Oklahoma Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. Coverage will include a photo gallery and releases on award winners. • Publications Viewer - OFB now has a “PDF Viewer” on its website, which allows visitors to view/read online publications much easier! Read the latest issues of Oklahoma Country magazine and the Perspective newsletter online.
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Monica Wilke... (continued from page 1) award,” said Wilke. “Agriculture has been a part of my family’s life for generations. Therefore, to have been selected among the many distinguished ag leaders in this state as the recipient of such as special award is an honor that I cherish more than words can express.” The Diamond Hats organization is a group of women whose mission is to support 4-H and FFA youth programs in Oklahoma. Wilke is a past president of the Diamond Hats and helped the organization raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support youth in the state of Oklahoma in recent years. Wilke began her career with Farm Bureau in 1999 with the governmental relations division and worked on state and national policy issues as well as serving as director of political education and assistant general counsel. She then was promoted to general counsel and mutual company lobbyist for the organization, and was named executive director of Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies in September 2009. In that position, she leads the grassroots, agriculture organization in the state of Oklahoma. Wilke grew up on a farm in the southwestern Oklahoma town of Grandfield, where she was actively involved in 4-H and FFA. She served as state FFA secretary during her freshman year at Oklahoma State University. After earning a bachelor degree from OSU in 1996, she was accepted into the Oklahoma University School of Law where she received her juris doctorate in 1999. Wilke and her husband, Jason, and their two children reside in Edmond.
Direct payment issue will spark delegate debate Proposals to either keep direct payments or shift them to other forms of farm assistance in the 2012 farm bill are expected to be matters Farm Bureau delegates will consider in the January AFBF voting delegate session in Atlanta, AFBF President Bob Stallman told reporters recently in Washington. Reporters were aware that the Oklahoma Farm Bureau has taken a position favoring direct payments, while the Iowa Farm Bureau has taken a position to oppose them. “It won’t just be Iowa against everybody else; I can pretty well assure that. They
were just the first ones out there with a proposal,” Stallman said. Direct payments have strong support in southern and Plains states, and the incoming Republican chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma supports them. However, Stallman said the direct payments represent one of the few pots of money lawmakers have available to fund other parts of the farm bill. “There’s more budget pressure this time around than there ever has been before,” Stallman said.
CQ Roll Call publishes guide to 112th Congress CQ Roll Call has published a handy guide to the new Congress, which will see significant changes. The PDF file can be accessed at http://innovation.cq.com/ newmember/2010elexnguide.pdf. The guide includes profiles of new congressional members, a preview of legislative action and the impact the election will have on both House and Senate committees.
One historic election for Oklahomans......... (continued from page 1) Public Instruction; John Doak, Insurance Commissioner; and Mark Castello, Labor Commissioner. There also were many contested elections in the Oklahoma Legislature. In the state Senate, Republicans picked up six seats to increase their 32to 16-majority over Democrats, while Republicans in the House picked up eight seats and increased their majority 70 to 31. On election night Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly defeated State Question 744. The measure received 828,589 “no” votes, which is over 81 percent. Thanks to the work of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau membership, we defeated State Question 744 through our grassroots efforts. Several state questions did pass on election night, including term limits
Elections
2010 on statewide elected officials (State Question 747), English as the official language (State Question 751), and voter ID (State Question 746), just to name a few. Whether Democrat or Republican, Oklahoma Farm Bureau has a long history of working closely and productively
with members of both parties. This organization will continue its nonpartisan support of issues facing rural Oklahomans, including taxes, private property rights and environmental regulations. In addition to the grassroots lobbying efforts of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, the OKAgFund, the political action committee of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, has been an effective tool to support the election campaign of agriculture and rural-friendly legislators. In 2010, the OKAgFund contributed a total of $135,500 in 77 races across the State of Oklahoma. The OKAgFund contributed to candidates in the primary, run-off and general elections, supporting a winning candidate in 61 of 69 contested races, for an 88 percent success rate.
OFB sponsoring cattle sale at Tulsa Farm Show Oklahoma Farm Bureau is sponsoring the Herd Builder Private Treaty Sale during the annual Tulsa Farm Show, which is presented by Midwest Shows, Inc. The sale is set for Dec. 9-11 at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds in Tulsa. An expansion of the popular bull sale, this private treaty sale is open to all breeds. It will include heifers, bred heifers, cow-calf pairs and more offerings. The sale is open to everyone attending the Tulsa Farm Show for the entire three days. Cattlemen interested in offering animals should call Doye at 405-523-2307. Health certification by a licensed veterinarian must be provided for all animals. Owners should be present throughout the sale, and will be responsible for the feeding, watering (water tub and water source will be provided) and stall upkeep.
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Traci Morgan, 523-2346 Perspective/Online News Editor Sam Knipp, 523-2347 Vice President of Communications/PR Tyler Norvell, 523-2402 Vice President of Public Policy Marla Peek, 523-2437 Director of Regulatory Affairs, OFB Legal Foundation
Cost of Thanksgiving dinner up slightly in 2010 Menu items for a classic Thanksgiving dinner including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the basic trimmings increased about 1.3 percent in price this year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. AFBF’s 25th annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $43.47, a 56-cent price increase from last year’s average of $42.91. This year’s meal is actually $1.14 cheaper than what shoppers paid two years ago, when the total was $44.61. The AFBF survey shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10. There is also plenty for leftovers. The big ticket item—a 16-pound turkey—was actually cheaper this year, at $17.66. That was roughly $1.10 per pound, actually a decrease of about 6 cents per pound, or a total of 99 cents per whole turkey, compared to 2009. While the whole bird was the biggest contributor to the final total, it was also the largest price decline compared to last year.
Grassroots involvement helped defeat SQ 744... (continued from page 1) Oklahoma, nor was the timing right for such a question.” Oklahoma Farm Bureau was one of the lead organizations contributing to the One Oklahoma Coalition, established to fight the state question. “Throughout rural Oklahoma you saw signs asking voters to defeat the state question,” Spradling said. “Those signs, along with numerous meetings and conversations with neighbors were key to our victory on this issue.”
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Farm groups urge estate tax relief..... (continued from page 2) generation of farmers,” the coalition of 30 farm groups said in a letter sent to members of Congress on November 9. “If estate taxes are allowed to be reinstated at the beginning of 2011 with only a $1 million exemption and top rate of 55 percent, the negative impact on our industry will be significant. We support permanently raising the exemption to no less than $5 million per person and reducing the top rate to no more than 35 percent. It is also imperative that the exemption be indexed to inflation, provide for spousal transfers and include the stepped-up basis,” according to the letter.