PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
®
March 11, 2011
Farm Bureau offers private treaty cattle sale
Key OFB priority legislation advances
Oklahoma Farm Bureau, in cooperation with WW Livestock Systems in Thomas, is sponsoring a private treaty cattle sale April 7-9 in the Carriage Hall building at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds. The sale will run concurrently with the Southern Plains Farm Show. “This sale puts buyers and sellers together in a unique setting,” said Thad Doye, OFB vice president of Field Services. “We are excited to offer this sale as another member service for Farm Bureau members.” The sale is open to all breeds. There is a $50 per head charge for heifers and $100 per head charge for bulls. A five percent discount is applied for groups of five or more animals. “We had great success at last year’s spring show and again in December at the Tulsa Farm Show,” Doye said. “This (See Farm Bureau, page 2)
The 2011 legislative session is in full swing with two key pieces of Oklahoma Farm Bureau priority legislation passing out of the originating chambers, and several bills supported by OFB making it out of committee. On March 3, SJR 37 by Sen. Mike Schulz passed the Senate. One of OFB’s top issues this legislative session, SJR 37 would send to a vote of the people an amendment to change the initiative petition process. Under SJR 37, in order to have a measure placed on the ballot, signatures from an equal percentage of voters in each congressional district would be required, as well as the completion of a fiscal analysis. SJR 37 goes a long way toward ensuring out of state interests do not manipulate the initiative right held by Oklahomans by promoting their interests without regard for the interests of Oklahomans. Only 23 states provide the right of initiative to their citizens. Of those 23, 13 have signature requirements similar to the one included in SJR 37. The bill will now go to the House for a hearing and vote. Rep. Leslie Osborn is sponsoring the bill in the House. An OFB priority issue, HB 1249 by Rep. Wade Rousselot passed out of the House on March 3. The bill removes the exemption under current trespass law that allows owners to retrieve animals by entering the property of another without permission. The current loophole has provided criminals the opportunity to enter private property under the guise of retrieving livestock and instead steal livestock belonging (See OFB priority, page 2)
By Kinsey Money, OFB Director of Research and Policy Development
Food Check-Out Week
RIGHT – State FBW Committee leaders, from left, Desi Milacek, Kitty Beavers, Margaret Ann Kinder and Roberta Hughes loaded their carts full of groceries at Crest Foods, then delivered the groceries to the Oklahoma City Ronald McDonald House Feb. 25 in celebration of Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Week.
LEFT – The state Women’s Committee donated food items and Braum’s gift certificates Feb. 23 to the Tulsa Ronald McDonald House in celebration of Food Check-Out Week. From left, are Committee Members Lena Henson and Beverly Delmedico, the House’s Executive Director Glenda Love, OFB Director Phyllis Holcomb and FBW Coordinator Marcia Irvin.
Member Benefits • Stroke Prevention Plus – Stroke Prevention Plus owner, Doug White, will be contacting each County Office Manager and County President in 2011 to schedule medical screenings in each county in the state. 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 National Agriculture Week March 13-19 • Nationwide www.agday.org YF&R Speech Contest March 14 • Oklahoma City Contact: Chris Kidd, 580-228-4001 YF&R Scholarship Deadline March 15 • Statewide by District Contact: Chris Kidd, 580-228-4001
Farm Bureau offers private treaty cattle sale... (continued from page 1) demonstrates there is a need to provide this type of private treaty opportunity.” Entry forms are available online at www.okfarmbureau.org, from OFB field representatives, or contact Doye at (405) 523-2307, or thad. doye@ okfb. org. The deadline to enter is April 1.
Highway advertising control on private property By Kinsey Money, OFB Director of Research & Policy Development Landowners have raised concerns over the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) efforts to control signage along Oklahoma’s interstates and federal-aid primary highways. ODOT has been conducting audits of all illegal signage throughout the state. Landowners with signs in violation of the Oklahoma Outdoor Advertising Control Act are receiving letters notifying (See Highway, page 4)
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Monitor the latest Farm Bureau and agricultural news and information online at www.okfarmbureau.org. Currently online: • YF&R Conference – An agenda for the annual Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference is now available for download online. The four-day conference will be held March 31 - April 3 at the Quartz Mountain State Lodge. • Private Treaty Sale – Download an entry form online for the OFB-sponsored Private Treaty Cattle Sale, which will be held April 7-9 at the state fairgrounds during the Southern Plains Farm Show. The sale is open to all breeds.
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OFB priority legislation... (continued from page 1) to the landowner. HB 1249 still allows for the retrieval of animals once permission is granted, thus safeguarding livestock owners and reducing criminal opportunity. The bill is now awaiting a hearing in the Senate. Sen. Kim David is sponsoring the bill in the Senate. HB 1471 by Rep. Don Armes passed the House Agricultural, Environment, and Wildlife Committee. The bill restructures the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to consist of five veterinary members, the state veterinarian, and one lay member. The five veterinary members will represent each congressional district. Nominations will be made by secret ballot from veterinarians in each district and then the governor will appoint them. The lay member is appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate. The state veterinarian is housed in the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry. HB 1471 is the last component of the compromise language between OFB and the veterinarian community. Requiring landowner consent for assessments related to the creation of municipal street improvement districts is the intent of SB 172 by Sen. Roger Ballenger. SB 172 was passed by the General Government Committee unanimously. Under SB 172, failure to consent would relieve the landowner of liability to pay for any assessments stemming from the improvement district. SB 172 still allows for street improvement districts if consenting property owners agree to pay the assessment. HB 1044 was passed out of the Administrative Rules and Agency Oversight Committee. Authored by Rep. George Faught, HB 1044 (See OFB priority, page 4)
‘Team Beef’ lines up for Memorial Marathon The Oklahoma Beef Council is once again supporting Team Beef in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon on May 1. The Beef Council is looking for runners and walkers who love beef and want to promote the “Power of Protein in Lean Beef ” as part of a healthy lifestyle in the marathon and half marathon races. “Our goal is to create a sustainable community of ‘Beef ’ runners and walkers in Oklahoma,” said Heather Buckmaster, executive director of the Oklahoma Beef Council. “For our Team Beef participants, we are going to provide Team Beef running shirts and sponsor a pasta dinner the evening before the race at 6:00 p.m.” For more details, please email Buckmaster at hbuckmaster@oklabeef.org.
FBW’s Farm City Festival will be held April 6 The Farm Bureau Women’s annual Farm City Festival will be held Wednesday, April 6 in the rotunda at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Each year, Farm Bureau Women feed state legislators and their staff during the special luncheon to emphasize the major role agriculture plays in the state economy. For more information, contact FBW Coordinator Marcia Irvin at 405-5232405 or mirvin@okfb.org.
AFBF backs bills to pre-empt EPA Greenhouse gas regs AFBF supports legislation introduced recently in both the House and the Senate that would pre-empt regulation of greenhouse gases by the Environmental Protection Agency based on climate change considerations. The Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 was introduced in the House by Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.). In the Senate, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Environment & Public Works Committee, introduced a companion bill. In separate letters sent to Upton and Inhofe, AFBF President Bob Stallman commended the lawmakers for introducing the legislation and pledged to work with them in achieving passage. Stallman said the legislation is important because it would prevent EPA from regulating GHGs without prior congressional approval.
National Ag Day is March 15 National Ag Day will be celebrated March 15 during National Ag Week, March 13-19, 2011. National Ag Day, sponsored by the Agriculture Council of America, is promoted through awareness efforts in communities across America. Ag Day is about recognizing and celebrating the contribution of agriculture in our everyday lives. The program encourages Americans to learn more about how food and fiber products are produced, value the essential role of agriculture
in maintaining a strong economy and to appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products. Visit the Ag Day website at www.agday.org for event ideas, promotional materials, interactive media (web banners, logos, etc.), videos and fun facts about food. You may also register for national Ag Day events in Washington, D.C., online.
Enrollment open for MBA Program Enrollment is currently open for the Oklahoma Beef Council’s Masters in Beef Advocacy (MBA) Program. The MBA program is a self-directed online training program designed to equip beef producers and industry allies with the information they need to be everyday advocates for the beef industry. MBA candidates will be required to complete six courses in beef advocacy, including: • Modern Beef Production – Sharing the many benefits of modern, efficient U.S. beef production. • Animal Care – Explaining our commitment to raising healthy animals. • Beef Safety – Communicating why producing safe food for consumers is a top priority. • Beef Nutrition – Explaining how great-tasting beef strengthens and
sustains our bodies. • Environmental Stewardship – Sharing how we’re protecting the environment for future generations. • The Beef Checkoff – Communicating the value of your investment in growing demand for beef. Following completion of these courses, each candidate will be invited to attend a “commencement” training session focusing on online advocacy, public speaking and working with the media. The training session, facilitated by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, will be held April 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the OSU-OKC campus in Oklahoma City. For more information about the Masters in Beef Advocacy Program, or to enroll online, visit www.beef.org/mba.
CONSERVATION – OFB Field Representative Robin Landrum, left, visits with Alfalfa County’s Scott Cormack, center, and Comanche County’s Damon Doye during the recent Oklahoma Conservation Districts Annual Meeting at the Reed Center in Midwest City.
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Published by Oklahoma Farm Bureau
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Staff Directory Traci Traci Morgan, Morgan, 523-2346 523-2346 Perspective/Online Perspective/Online News News Editor Editor Sam Knipp, 523-2347 Sam 523-2347 Vice Knipp, President of Communications/PR Vice President of Communications/PR Tyler Norvell, 523-2402 Vice President of Public Policy Tyler Norvell, 523-2402 Marla Peek, 523-2437 Vice President of Public Policy Director of Regulatory Affairs Kinsey Money, 523-2539 Marla Peek, 523-2437 Director of Research & Policy Development Director of Regulatory Affairs
Highway advertising control on private property... (continued from page 2) them of the violation and detailing the steps that must be taken in order to come into compliance with the Act. The origins of the Federal Outdoor Advertising Control Act can be traced to 1958. While the program began as a voluntary measure states could opt into in order to receive bonus funds for the cost of highway construction, it has evolved into a program requiring participation by all states. A state’s failure to comply with the Act causes a 10 percent reduction in the state’s annual Federal-aid highway funds. Oklahoma Farm Bureau has been contacted by members and state legislators with concerns regarding the Act. Undoubtedly, the provisions of the Act infringe on private property rights and have substantial economic impacts on rural communities. Concern over these issues prompted OFB to investigate the provisions of the Act and determine if any legislative action could be taken to remedy the ramifications of the Act. Unfortunately, the Oklahoma Outdoor Advertising Control Act was enacted in order to comply with the Federal Highway Beautification Act and thereby allow Oklahoma to continue to receive federal funding. Therefore, while the Oklahoma legislature is willing to remedy the situation, efforts at the state level would be futile. Federal law supersedes state law. Nonetheless, the ODOT acknowledges the detrimental economic impact the Act has on rural landowners and businesses. As a result, the ODOT is in the process of trying to work out an arrangement with the Federal Department of Transportation to
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make an exception for directional signs in the state. OFB has submitted a letter in support of the directional signs exception. OFB members are urged to contact their congressional representatives and encourage them to support the exception and urge support for repeal of the requirements. The main number to the U.S. House of Representatives is 202224-3121. The main number to the U.S. Senate is 202-224-3121. ODOT informed OFB that every effort is made to find a provision to allow signs to remain. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions imposed by the federal government, it isn’t always possible to find an exemption for every sign. A copy of the letter OFB submitted to ODOT is available on OFB’s website.
OFB priority legislation... (continued from page 2) would require proposed agency rules seeking to, 1) establish or increase fees, or 2) govern trades and professions under Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes to be approved by the legislature before the end of each legislative session. This has been a longtime priority issue for OFB. Finally, one of OFB’s priority bills and an issue that has affected many members that will be voted on in the coming weeks is HB 1296 by Rep. David Derby. OFB strongly encourages all members to contact their representatives as soon as possible and encourage support for HB 1296 (requiring landowner consent before municipal annexation). The number to the House of Representatives is (405) 521-2711, or toll free at (800) 522-8502.
OALE – Sam Knipp, OFB vice president of Corporate Communications/Public Relations, leads a spokesperson training course for the 2011 Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership Encounter (OALE) class during the group’s recent visit to the home office.