PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
®
July 29, 2011
Historic drought tightens grip on farmers and ranchers Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers are trying to stay optimistic this summer despite a drought and triple-digit temperatures. As the hottest months of the year progress, crops and livestock are suffering. Cotton farmer and Jackson Co. Farm Bureau member Matt Muller said his cotton plants are surviving but will not make much of a crop this year due to the lack of rain. “You see plants that are about 8 inches tall with very little fruit on them,” he said. “We should have 2-feet cotton blooming and we’re nowhere close to that.” Muller said irrigation also is now limited, abandoning the cotton during the peak month of August when it needs
moisture the most. In such dry conditions, the farmer said it is difficult to stay positive. “We take pride in growing a crop and harvesting a crop, and knowing that’s not going to happen three or four months in advance is very discouraging,” Muller said. In the farmer’s opinion, cattle producers have it even worse in times of drought. Commercial cattleman and Jefferson Co. FB member Gary Carter said he sold his summer grass calves early in order to free up more pasture space for cows. “It’s kind of a snowball effect,” Carter said. “You’re moving cattle daily to make sure they have adequate water.” Dry crops, little grass and water shortages are likely to continue as meteorologists pre-
dict more of the same. Officials with the National Weather Service in Norman said the August outlook from the Climate Prediction Center shows above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall. Even so, rancher Gary Carter said he looks ahead to the fall knowing the drought cannot last forever.
“We’re closer to rain every day,” he said. To help Oklahoma farmers and ranchers make wise operational decisions when rains arrive, OFB plans to host a drought conference in late August. Event details on location, dates and times are expected in the coming weeks.
Hot weather and dry conditions leave little moisture for crops to grow.
Governor amends emergency declaration August Area Gov. Mary Fallin signed an amendment to Oklahoma’s State of Emergency declaration on July 20, to include all 77 Oklahoma counties. The amendment is in response to severe heat and drought conditions throughout the state. The executive order ensures Oklahoma is eligible for any and all federal assistance made available for drought relief.
Also due to dry conditions, the governor has issued an executive proclamation banning outdoor burning for much of the state. Oklahoma Forestry Services, a division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, recommended the ban based upon an analysis of fire activity, wildland fuel conditions and the predicted continued drought. The governor’s burn ban covers 45 counties in western and southcentral Oklahoma. County commis-
sioner burn bans remain in effect in some counties not covered by the governor’s proclamation. Extreme fire conditions are increasing with the extraordinary drought and with no significant rainfall predicted, the number of counties with burning restrictions could increase. “The number of wildfires we have had over the last few months is extremely tough on our state firefighters,” Fallin said. “It’s a drain on their resources as well as a physical drain. Anything that can be done to minimize fires will help to keep both our firefighters and the public safe. I’m asking all Oklahomans to be vigilant and to do their part in preventing fires.”
Meetings begin
August Area Meetings begin Monday, Aug. 1, with District 3 in El Reno. Visit okfarmbureau. org for a complete meeting schedule.
FB applauds truck weight change Oklahoma Farm Bureau supports Gov. Mary Fallin’s July 22, executive order allowing truckers to haul larger loads of hay. “This will make it possible for livestock producers to get hay to hungry livestock quicker,” said OFB President Mike Spradling. The rule effectively doubles the number of bales a truck can carry without an additional permit.
Member Benefits
• Langston’s – Offers 10% off regular priced
merchandise at all store locations with proof of OFB membership. For store locations, visit langstons.com.
OSU Big Three Field Days
• Sears Commercial – Offers OFB members
special discounts on items available on the Sears Commercial website and not Sears Retail stores. For more information, call (918) 289-1614.
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 okfarmbureau.org.
OFB Calendar August Area Meeting, District 3 August 1 • Canadian Co. office, El Reno Contact: Thad Doye, (405) 523-2307 August Area Meeting, District 8 August 2 • Aldridge Hotel, Ada Contact: Thad Doye, (405) 523-2307 August Area Meeting, District 7 August 4 • Cherokee Strip Conv. Ctr., Enid Contact: Thad Doye, (405) 523-2307
ABOVE – OSU Big Three Field Days judgers evaluate a class of Hereford heifers during beef day on July 20. The annual contest featured a day each of sheep, beef and swine judging. RIGHT – OFB Vice President of Public Policy Tyler Norvell talks the placings on a class of market steers. RIGHT – OFB Field Representatives Todd Honer (far left) and Burton Harmon (far right) help award a team of beef judging winners during the competition. More than 100 awards and scholarships were distributed to top participants.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Monitor the latest Farm Bureau and agricultural news and information online at okfarmbureau.org. Currently online: • August Area Meetings – August is here so visit OFB’s website and check out the August Area Meeting schedule! See dates, locations and times and plan to take part in OFB’s public policy process. • Photo Galleries – OFB Women’s Committee members recently attended their summer conference in Bartlesville. Visit the news section of our website and select “photo galleries” to see pictures from the July 8-9 event.
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Oklahoma Farm Bureau recently helped sponsor Oklahoma State University’s Big Three Field Days livestock judging competition in Stillwater, July 19-21. Close to 1,300 4-H and FFA members participated in the three-day judging event.
USFRA encourages farmer involvement U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance “farmer activation” activities are now available through the first phase of the USFRA’s new communications plan. The organization is a newly-formed alliance consisting of a wide range of prominent farmer- and rancher-led groups and agricultural partners. The alliance’s website can be found at usfraonline.org, and advertisements will begin appearing on agricultural websites and media outlets. The new site offers a number of resources for alliance affiliates, supporters, and individual farmers and ranchers including a “Get Involved” section. A video, banner ads and print advertising are all easily accessible materials in the section. Also, farmers can use the website to tell the USFRA what they want Americans to know about their food. Visit usfraonline.org to learn more.
County Farm Bureaus host summer socials BELOW – Legislative talk – From left state legislators Sen. Jim Halligan, Rep. Lee Denney, Rep. Dennis Casey and Rep. Corey Williams spoke at the Payne Co. Farm Bureau “Meet Your Legislator” ice cream social in Stillwater, July 12. The legislators discussed redistricting, the state budget, the federal budget deficit and school consolidation. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau public policy team continues to work closely with state legislators during the summer recess. A total of 12 state bills were signed into law last session with the help of OFB support.
ABOVE – Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members and other county FB leaders help dish out ice cream during the Noble Co. Ice Cream Social on July 11, in Perry. The evening’s program included an update on redistricting from State Sen. David Myers, a county commissioner report and a state legislative review from OFB Vice President of Public Policy Tyler Norvell. Pictured counterclockwise are Elfreida Wagner, Tracy Robertson, Julie Milligan, Ryan Luter, Melanie Williams and John Inselman.
Experts advise ranchers to shop for quality hay Quality hay in large quantities is hard to find across the state of Oklahoma right now as farmers and ranchers battle a relentless drought. Pasture conditions continue to decline in the southern Great Plains states, making it increasingly likely that much of the hay required for winter feeding of livestock will be imported from other states. “I’ve been up in Kansas and I’m buying a lot of hay from there and Missouri,” said rancher Raymond Temple of Garvin County. “I’ve been building my cow herd for 52 years, and I’ve got good cattle so I’m going to do everything I can to save them.” Forage specialists says ranchers like Temple who are bound and determined to find hay should be cautious of purchasing low-quality bales. “More often than not, low-quality hay sells for about the same price as high-quality hay; the major difference being that low-quality hay requires additional protein or energy supplementation which, in the long-term, adds increased
“The type of hay is important because, as a general rule of thumb, legume hays usually will be of higher quality than grass hays,” Redfearn said. “Also, cool-season grass hays should be of higher quality than warm-season grass hays assuming each was properly harvested and stored.” According to Redfearn, hay quality declines as it ages unless it is stored in a well-constructed barn with minimized moisture accumulation. When protected in a quality-constructed shelter, the roughage loses less nutritional value. “If it was high-quality hay going into the barn, it should still be high-quality hay coming out of the barn,” Redfearn said. “In contrast, quality of hay stored outside and uncovered is pretty much guaranteed to decline.” The forage specialist said it is a good idea to have hay Whether in a drought properly sampled to estimate its or a wet season, quality quality with most forage quality hay is critical to cattle analyses costing $10 to 20 per nutrition. sample. (See Hay, page 4)
production costs,” said Daren Redfearn, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension forage and pasture management specialist. Redfearn recommends that producers seek the answers to three key questions when determining the potential value of hay prior to having a forage analysis: • What type of hay is it? • When was the hay produced? • What were the storage conditions of the hay?
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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
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Talking Beef and BBQ RIGHT – OFB Vice President of Corporate Communications Sam Knipp interviews Troy Black, BBQ chef and spokesman for the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour. The tour stopped in Midwest City July 8. (Hay, from page 3) “A forage analysis is the only way to determine whether or not additional supplementation is required,” Redfearn said. “The cost to determine if additional protein or energy is needed would be recovered in feed savings or improved animal performance.”
Looking for hay?
Rural Development Task Force Members of a subcommittee for the Rural Economic Development Task Force met at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau office in Oklahoma City, July 20. Pictured clockwise from left to right are John Nichols of John Nichols and Associates; Neal McCaleb of Chian, Patel and Yerby; Western Oklahoma Agritourism coordinator Lori Coats; Kingery Drilling Co. President David Little; Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Executive Vice President Chris Meyers; Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma Executive Vice President Kenny Simpson; Secretary of Environment Gary Sherrer; and OFB President Mike Spradling.
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Supplies might seem dire right now, but there is still hay available. You just have to know where to look! Farmers and ranchers can post agricultural classifieds through the OFB Sale Ring website at http://www. thesalering.com/classifieds/. Other sites to also try include hayexchange.com, oklahomahay.com, haybarn. com or visit Oklahoma’s state website at ok.gov and find the hay directory.