July 15, 2011

PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

®

July 15, 2011

Farm Bureau Women’s Summer Conference 2011 The annual FB Women’s Summer Conference was held July 8-9, in Bartlesville. The event included a photo contest, silent auction, guest speakers and breakout sessions. BELOW – KOTV news anchor LeAnne Taylor speaks on her inspiration for life after surviving breast cancer.

U.S. farm exports reach all-time high According to a report released last month by the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. farm exports reached an all-time high of $75 billion during the first half of fiscal year 2011.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said the FY 2011 farm export total is 27 percent higher than last year’s, suggesting the U.S. will reach its current USDA export forecast of $135.5 billion by the end of the year.

Vilsack said China continues to rank as America’s top export market accounting for close to 20 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports.

“Both the value and volume of exports rose in the first half

of the year with the volume of bulk shipments up 5 percent from last year,” he said.

The agriculture secretary said wheat and cotton volumes showed the most growth at 64 and 44 percent. Also, the month of March proved to be the highest-grossing month ever for U.S. agricultural exports.

“America’s farmers and ranchers are helping lead the way to recovery from the worst economic recession in decades,” Vilsack said. “The gains in U.S. agricultural exports are particularly encouraging news for those who live in rural America or earn a living in farming, ranching and agriculture-related industries because exports are creating jobs here at home.”

LEFT – Rogers Co. FB women Shirley Froese (left) and Joann Orr (right) enjoy meeting up every summer to learn about FB policy and promote agriculture. A total of 115 women attended this year’s conference.

BELOW – Tulsa Co. FB women sign up to purchase various items during the silent auction.

August Area Meetings approach Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s August Area Meetings are just a couple of weeks away so plan now to attend and participate in FB’s public policy process. Noted * daytime meetings are scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nighttime meetings are from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

District 1 – Monday, Aug. 22 in Guymon (Hunny’s BBQ) or Tuesday, Aug. 23 in Woodward (Northwest Inn) District 2 – Monday, Aug. 15 in Altus (Hobart Career-Tech) District 3 – Monday, Aug. 1 in El Reno (Canadian Co. FB office) District 4 – Tuesday, Aug. 16 in Ardmore (Cattle Rustlers) or Wednesday, Aug. 17 in Duncan (Stephens Co. FB office)* District 5 – Thursday, Aug. 25 in McAlester (Expo Center) District 6 – Thursday, Aug. 11 (a.m.) in Vinita (Cowboy Junction)* or Thursday, Aug. 11 (p.m.) in Muskogee (Muskogee Co. FB office) District 7 – Thursday, Aug. 4 in Enid (Cherokee Strip Convention Center) District 8 – Tuesday, Aug. 2 in Ada (Aldrige Hotel) District 9 – Thursday, Aug. 18 in Sapulpa (Creek Co. Fairgrounds) 6:30 p.m.

Member Benefits

• Air Evac Lifeteam – An emergency air

service for rural areas that offers members a reduced annual fee. Applications are available at county offices.

• Clearvalue Hearing – Offers members free hearing assessments and discounts on hearing instruments. Call 888-497-7447 to activate the offer.

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 OSU Big Three Field Days July 19-21 2011 • Stillwater Contact: Chris Kidd, (580) 228-4001 Production Agriculture Workshop July 28-29, 2011 • Oklahoma City Contact: Kelli Beall, (405) 523-2470 Ag in the Classroom Summer Conference July 29, 2011 • Moore Contact: Marcia Irvin, (405) 523-2405

Kisling appointed to AC21 committee Keith Kisling of Burlington is among 22 new appointees to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21). Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointments last month.

Kisling is a member of Alfalfa County Farm Bureau and serves as chairman of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission. He is among a diverse group of leaders in the agriculture and biotechnology industries including food manufacturers, farming communities and state government officials. The purpose of AC21 is to advise the secretary of agriculture on issues related to coexistence such as the parallel use of organic, conventional and modern biotechnology in agriculture production.

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe recently congratulated Kisling on his appointment.

“As Chairman of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, Keith has been a long-time supporter of advancing agriculture in our home state of Oklahoma,” Inhofe said. “As a new member to this committee, I know he will continue to support agriculture initiatives and assist farming communities throughout the nation. I look forward to working with him in the future to effectively meet the needs of our nation’s farmers.”

OFB accepting trade show registration Exhibitors can now begin registering for Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 2011 trade show held in conjunction with the OFB annual meeting.

Tentative times for the trade show are Friday, Nov. 11, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 12, from 8 to 5 p.m.

All trade show booths will be located inside Oklahoma City’s Cox Convention Center.

For booth pricing and other information, contact Thad Doye at (405) 523-2307 or thad. doye@okfb.org

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Monitor the latest Farm Bureau and agricultural news and information online at www.okfarmbureau.org.

Currently online: • Award Applications – Deadlines are slowly approaching for some of Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s annual awards.

Learn more about the awards and view the Farm Family application on our website.

• Radio Ag News – Oklahoma’s wheat harvest may be over, but farmers are now moving on to their next crop. Listen to OFB Ag-First radio shows under the “News” section and learn more about how the statewide drought is affecting farmers.

www.okfarmbureau.org 2

Failes appointed to wheat board Alfalfa County Farm Bureau member and wheat farmer Kenneth Failes of Cherokee was recently appointed to the Oklahoma Wheat Commission Board by Gov. Mary Fallin.

Failes will serve a five-year term for the wheat commission’s District 1 covering the counties of Alfalfa, Garfield, Grant and Major. His responsibilities include working with other commission members to develop and manage the implementation of policy and programs, approving budgets, directing research funding, representing producer interests and promoting Oklahoma wheat.

Failes is a 2003 recipient of the AFBF Crop Advisors Award. He currently operates Failes Family Farm LLC with his wife, Marcia.

FB Women support Ag in the Classroom initiatives

National Conference Ft. Lauderdale, FL

ABOVE – OFB Women participated in the Ag in the Classroom activity “Bring it to the Table” on June 29. The day-long trip across Oklahoma invited teachers and other school nutritionists to connect with farmers and learn more about state food production. Pictured above are Edmond farmer Steve Hill (left) with state Farm to School Program director Chris Kirby (right).

ABOVE – Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members attended the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, June 22-25. The conference offered interactive workshops to educators on how to incorporate real-life agricultural applications into their daily lessons. Each year, OFB Women sponsor Oklahoma’s Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year trip to the national conference. The 2011 Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year is Cheryl Hyde. Pictured from left are Clara Wichert, Lowayne Piercey, Margaret Ann Kinder, Kitty Beavers, Marcia Irvin, Lena Henson and Nadine Butler.

FMCSA encourages producers to submit comments

Farm Bureau supports farm truck legislation

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a public notice requesting comment on previously published regulatory guidance on the distinction between interstate and intrastate commerce, specifically with regard to agricultural operations. The notice also requests public comment concerning the distinction between private and for-hire farm vehicle operations and whether implements of husbandry operated on public roads for limited distances are considered commercial motor vehicles.

OFB members are strongly encouraged to submit comments. It is vital OFB members communicate to FMCSA the potential impacts the proposed regulations will have on agriculture, including reduced food availability and increased food costs.

The deadline for submitting comments has been extended to August 1. For more information on submitting comments or to view the publication, contact the OFB Public Policy Division at (405) 523-2539.

Oklahoma Fifth District Congressman James Lankford’s bill allowing broader weight restrictions on farm trucks is receiving strong support from Oklahoma Farm Bureau.

Lankford introduced the Farmers’ Freedom Act July 7, to allow farmers to haul commodities across state boundaries without violating weight limits. Current law forces farm trucks to be covered under more restrictive federal regulations when loads exceed 26,000 pounds. This is especially burdensome when the trucks cross borders, even though the truck may be

considered legal within each state.

“We have many producers who live near state borders and transport grain and livestock to the nearest market, which may be across the state line,” said Mike Spradling, president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau.

“This bill would make it easier to transport our goods to market and continue to ensure a safe, affordable food supply.”

Lankford, a member of the House Transportation Committee, said current federal transportation legislation is another example of government over-regulation.

“We are slowing down commerce with these types of burdensome regulations,” Lankford said. “I am not anti-government, but I am against big, inefficient government.”

Joining Lankford as lead authors of the legislation is Second District Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren. Rep. Boren worked with former U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin on similar legislation in the last session of Congress.

LEFT – Large semi tractor trailers often travel the state’s highways and interstates as farm vehicles, transporting grain, hay and livestock.

3

Published by Oklahoma Farm Bureau Postmaster: address corrections to: Published bySend Oklahoma Farm Bureau

Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332 Postmaster: Send address corrections to: Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332

STAFF DIRECTORY STAFF DIRECTORY Gail Banzet, 523-2346

Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2501 N. Stiles Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126

Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 131 Okla. City, OK.

Perspective/Online News Editor Traci Morgan, 523-2346 Monica Wilke, 523-2303 Perspective/Online News Editor Executive Director Sam Sam Knipp, Knipp, 523-2347 523-2347 Vice Vice President President of of Communications/PR Communications/PR Tyler Norvell, 523-2402 Vice Norvell, President of Public Policy Tyler 523-2402

Marla Peek, 523-2437 Vice President of Public Policy Director of Regulatory Affairs Marla Peek, 523-2437 Kinsey Money, 523-2539 Directorofof Regulatory Affairs Director Research & Policy Development

Producers can qualify for livestock sale tax deferrals The drought has caused many Oklahoma producers to sell or exchange more livestock than in a normal year. Some producers, including poultry growers, may postpone reporting the gain from the sale or exchange of these animals until next year.

Producers whose principal trade or business is farming and that use the cash method of accounting can qualify for the deferral if they can show under usual business practices they would not have sold or exchanged the additional animals this year, except for the weather-related condition.

Additionally, the weather-related condition must have caused the area to be designated as eligible for assistance by the federal government. If a producer sold or exchanged livestock before the area became eligible for federal assistance, the transaction will qualify if the weather-related condition that caused the sale or exchange also caused the area to be designated as eligible for federal assistance.

The FSA is currently processing the governor’s request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation due to the drought and other weather related incidents in Oklahoma.

For more information, see IRS Publication 225, available at http://www.irs.gov/ pub/irs-pdf/p225.pdf. Producers should contact a tax professional to determine if they qualify for the deferral. This article is being provided for informational purposes only and producers should not act on the information contained in this article without seeking advice from a tax professional.

4

Workshop to feature N-Rich Strip technology Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s upcoming Production Advantage workshop will cover a variety of topics including the N-Rich Strip nitrogen application.

Developed at Oklahoma State University, the technology consists of applying a strip of nitrogen to a test plot and returning months later with a sensor to detect soil nitrogen levels.

OSU Assistant Professor of Precision Nutrient Management Dr. Brian Arnall said the N-Rich Strip application is gaining popularity as companies develop less expensive, more producer-friendly options.

“Most of our grain-producing counties now have sensors in their county extension offices,” he said.

According to Arnall, 500,000 acres of wheat, corn, sorghum, canola and cotton in Oklahoma currently have the N-Rich Strip technology. Also, producers can receive support from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s EQIP program to begin the nitrogen application process. Once in place, Arnall said the N-Rich strip has proven itself as a beneficial tool to farmers.

“We show an increase in profits $10 an acre in winter wheat and $20 an acre in corn production,” he said. “It’s good for the environment and the pocket book because it makes sure the crop gets what it needs but never too much.”

Arnall said the technology also is very efficient taking only five minutes to apply and another five minutes to read.

The OSU official plans to discuss the N-Rich Strips and sensors during OFB’s

Oklahoma Farm Bureau has applied an N-Rich Strip to the state office lawn in preparation for the new Farm Bureau Production Advantage workshop scheduled later this month.

Production Advantage workshop July 2829, in Oklahoma City.

To learn more about the workshop or to RSVP, call Kelli Beall at (405) 523-2470 or contact your local field representative.