PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
Governor signs five Farm Bureau bills into law By Kinsey Money, OFB Director of Research & Policy Development Governor Mary Fallin recently signed three Oklahoma Farm Bureau priority bills into law along with two other OFB-supported bills that aid in protecting the rights of landowners and those involved in agriculture. HB 1310 contains the comprise language between OFB and the veterinary community, and it protects animal husbandry practices by establishing a certification process for those performing “for hire” reproductive services in ruminant animals. Additionally, the bill creates an Animal Technology Advisory Committee. Composed of individuals from both the veterinarian and livestock community, the committee is charged with classifying new technology as animal husbandry or veterinary medicine. HB 1310 was authored by Rep. Phil Richardson and Sen. Eddie Fields, and it was signed by Governor Fallin on April 20. Current law requires the words “NOT FOR HIRE” to (see Farm Bureau bills, page 3)
May 6, 2011
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Communications division welcomes new employee Gail Banzet of Stillwater is the new Publications and Online News Coordinator in the Corporate Communications/Public Relations division at Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Banzet is a 2005 OFB corporate communications intern and a 2006 graduate of Oklahoma State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communications. For the past four years, she has worked as a news reporter/morning host for KOSU radio in Stillwater broadcasting news and weather updates as well as producing audio features on the great people, places and events of Oklahoma. While working as a reporter, Banzet’s interest in agriculture played a role in her feature reporting, and now she’s looking forward to promoting the grass-roots message of OFB. “I’m excited to return to my agricultural roots and work for such a well-respected organization,” Banzet said. “I can’t wait to meet the members and help tell the story of Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s farm families.” Banzet’s hometown is Edna, Kan., where her family raises commercial Angus cattle.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau hosts African interns Oklahoma Farm Bureau has been privileged to host two African interns over the past couple of weeks. Ugandan radio broadcaster Samuel Kazibwe interned in the corporate communications division and wrote about his experience ...
It was a bright, windy afternoon on April 3, 2011, when I first set foot on the United States soil. I was part of a team of 12 people from Kenya and Uganda who were to participate in a five-week U.S. State Department Professional Exchange Program. The program was made possible by a grant project titled “Improving Food Security by Catalyzing Communication Networks between Key stakeholders: Linking Media, Policies, and Communities in Kenya and Uganda.” The journey from Uganda to Oklahoma State University where I was to stay for 4 weeks elicited a mixture of exhaustion and fascination. It took us over 30 hours; moving through four airports and flying on four planes! I later discovered my internship at Oklahoma Farm Bureau turned out to be the most exciting part of my professional exchange program. In my country of Uganda, we rarely focus on agriculture (see African interns, page 4)
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Interns Samuel Kazibwe (left) and Beatrice Namaloba (right) visited Oklahoma on a food securities grant made possible through African stakeholders and Oklahoma State University.
Member Benefits
Legislative Visit
• Grainger – Offers members a 10%
discount on catalog prices and special pricing on other merchandise. www.grainger.com
• Atwoods Farm, Home and Auto Stores –
Offers in-store specials to Oklahoma Farm Bureau members only. See their ad in every issue of Oklahoma Country for a coupon.
OFB highlights 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 State Legislature Adjourns May 27, 2011 • State Capitol Contact: Tyler Norvell, (405) 523-2402 Farm Bureau Safety Seminar June 6-8, 2011 • Tatanka Ranch, Stroud Contact: Justin Grego, (405) 523-2391 National Ag in the Classroom Meeting June 22-25, 2011 • Ft. Lauderdale, FL Contact: Marcia Irvin, (405) 523-2405
RIGHT – Major County Farm Bureau member Adam Martens (left) talks with county president Scott Neufeld during a recent legislative dinner for Garfield, Major and Noble Counties in Enid. Rep. Mike Jackson and Sen. Patrick Anderson attended to discuss legislation with Farm Bureau members.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Monitor the latest Farm Bureau and agricultural news and information online at www.okfarmbureau.org. Currently online: • About Us – Looking for more information about the organization, what we believe or how to contact us? Check out the “About” section of the website. Also add us as a friend on Facebook and learn more about upcoming events. • Legislative Update – Recent legislative activity on Oklahoma Farm Bureau priority legislation is updated frequently on OFB’s website. Public policy staff record action on legislation of interest to keep members informed.
www.okfarmbureau.org
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LEFT – Senator Patrick Anderson met with members from Alfalfa, Garfield and Major counties during a legislative visit April 20. From left: Ryan Pjesky, Dennis Flaming, Jim Hadwiger, Richard Castle, Senator Patrick Anderson, Desi Milacek and District 7 Board Member Roland Pederson outside the Oklahoma Senate Chamber.
AFBF food newsletter available online The American Farm Bureau Federation’s public relations department offers a free newsletter for all of those food enthusiasts out there! The May issue of Foodie News includes features on the All-American hot dog getting a makeover, how Asparagus is a spring-time favorite, why the natural sweetener Susta can satisfy the sweet tooth of diabetics and other popular food trends. The publication also includes healthy food tips and recipes along with information on the food service industry. Register for free to read, download and print the latest issue of the newsletter by visiting the website foodienews.posterous.com.
Women’s Committee members attend national conference Nine members of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Committee attended the American Farm Bureau Federation National Women’s Leadership Conference in Baltimore, Md., April 15-19. The theme of the conference was Changing Perceptions, Unlimited Possibilities, and committee members had the chance to tour Maryland’s State House and the Homestead Gardens. State Women’s Committee Margaret Ann Kinder (left) Lena Henson chairwoman Kitty Beaver said (center) and Roberta Hughes (right) visit the many of the workshops and Homestead Gardens near Baltimore. sessions focused on changing the perceptions many people have of agriculture. “Overall, it was a great conference, and all of the women had a great time,” she said. The committee also donated $500 to the White/Reinhardt Fund for Education.
Cattle prices, sales breaking records The U.S. cattle market has performed well so far in 2011, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s livestock economist. “While fed cattle prices have dipped a bit in the last couple of weeks, the recent rally has obliterated all previous price records,” John Anderson said in the April 2011 AFBF Livestock Market Update. “Retail beef prices have also been very strong, posting new record highs in each of the past three months.” On a state level, livestock analysts are keeping an eye on the high prices and are cautious of how they are affecting Oklahoma’s cattle inventory. “It’s a little bit of a dilemma for producers,” said Oklahoma State University livestock marketing specialist Darrell Peel. “High prices have encouraged cattle sales, but that has brought up the issue of keeping heifers or rebuilding their herds.” Also, Peel said Oklahoma’s drought conditions have not had a major impact on the cattle industry yet, but that could change in the near future. “Dry conditions throughout the winter have changed sale trends regarding wheat pasture grazing,” he said. “We think we’re at the point now because of drought, we’ll see some forced sales.”
Registration now open for annual Safety Seminar in Stroud Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s annual summer safety camp for teenagers is scheduled this year for June 6-8, at Tatanka Ranch in Stroud. The purpose of the seminar is to inform youth on the importance of farm and traffic safety through real-life simulations and a series of safety demonstrations. Now in its 43rd year, OFB Safety coordinator Justin Grego said the camp’s main highlights will be texting and driving, ATV safety, DUI prevention, and farm safety. Teenagers ages 14 to 17 years are eligible to attend. For more information about the safety seminar, contact Justin Grego at (405) 523-2391 or visit your county Farm Bureau office for a registration form.
(Farm Bureau bills, continued from page 1) be displayed on both sides of a non-commercial vehicle transporting horses or livestock, but SB 95 repeals this language. SB 95 was authored by Sen. Eddie Fields and Rep. Skye McNiel. The governor signed the bill into law on April 20. SB 530 has two key provisions to protect those in the livestock industry. First, it provides a non-judicial process for foreclosing on agistor liens. Second, it contains measures to protect the future rights of Oklahoma livestock owners by granting an owner’s lien that will secure payment of the sales price. The intent of this provision is to protect livestock owners from situations similar to those experienced when the cattle brokerage company Eastern Livestock failed. SB 530 was authored by Sen. Sean Burrage and Rep. Don Armes, and it was signed by the governor on April 26. OFB also supported HB 1472 and SB 147. HB 1472 increases the check-off fee per bushel to two cents on all wheat sold by producers in the state. HB 1472 was authored by Rep. Don Armes and Sen. David Myers and signed by the governor on April 20. SB 147 changes the requirements for incorporating a town, requiring more involvement from agricultural landowners and establishing a more accountable petition process. SB 147 was authored by Sen. Don Barrington and Rep. Corey Holland and signed into law on April 25. Three OFB priority bills, SB 124, SB 248 and SB 494, will return to their house of origin in the next couple of weeks due to amendments passed by the opposite house of origin. SB 124 prohibits the power of eminent domain for siting or building wind turbines on private property. SB 248 reduces the current groundwater permit administration fee from $50.00 per permit to $25.00 per permit. SB 494 creates the “Oklahoma Private Lands and Public Recreation Act”, which allows any law enforcement agency to issue a ticket for recreational trespass violations. All three bills are expected to receive a floor hearing in the coming week. Only 3 weeks remain in the 53rd session of the Oklahoma Legislature, and OFB public policy staff members are pleased with the agricultural-related legislation recently signed into law by Governor Mary Fallin. To contact an OFB public policy staff member, call (405) 530-2681.
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Published by Oklahoma Farm Bureau
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Gail TraciBanzet, 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 ViceNorvell, President of Communications/PR Tyler 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
Above – Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling meets with the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program class XV during their Oklahoma City seminar April 20. OFB hosted the 21 OALP class members as they learned about agricultural policy and water law.
Above – Oklahoma Farm Bureau communications administrative assistant Staci Armstrong (left) visits with Marshall County Farm Bureau president Willie Bridgeman during Ag Day at the Capitol on April 13. The event promoted the agriculture industry and Farm Bureau programs.
(African interns, continued from page 1) in our news reporting Yet, it is our nation’s main stay; nearly 80% of the people in Uganda depend on agriculture, but it does not seem to be a big deal in the local media. My experience in the U.S., especially my internship at Farm Bureau, taught me that it is possible to specialize in agriculture reporting. The internship further offered me the opportunity to move far and wide in the state of Oklahoma; visiting farms and ranches, brushing shoulders with legislators at the Oklahoma State Capitol, as well as touring media houses. I marveled as I observed all these people execute their respective duties with due diligence. Farmers farm with passion, news reporters report with dedication while legislators legislate with the utmost degree of soberness. Through my interactions with big farmers in the United States, I learned that we need to use science and technology in Uganda’s agriculture if we are to produce enough food for all people. Due to science and technology, less than 2% of the U.S. population that engages in agriculture has been able to feed the entire country. Yet with our poor technology, the 80% of the population that engages in agriculture in Uganda cannot feed the entire nation. It is against this backdrop that I find my Oklahoma experience enriching and thought-provoking as well as an eye opener; I cannot think about this whole exposure without bowing in gratitude to all the people who have made this professional exchange program a success. To read Samuel’s story in its entirety, follow the “read more” link Samuel Kazibwe learns about hay production from OFB crop insurance manager Scott Bulling. at OFB’s homepage, okfarmbureau.org.
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