August 12, 2011 by Matrix Digital Media Inc

PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

August 12, 2011

FB announces new agriculture advocacy foundation Oklahoma Farm Bureau is pleased to announce the creation of a new agriculture advocacy effort called the Oklahoma FARM (Farming and Ranching Matters) Foundation. The new not-for-profit foundation was recently established to enhance the awareness and understanding of production agriculture in Oklahoma. In today’s world, the general public’s attitude toward agriculture is largely formed through the actions of environmentalists and activists creating an atmosphere where agriculturalists are constantly defending their practices and way of life. Now, through the Oklahoma FARM Foundation, OFB has a new avenue by which to educate youth and adults about agriculture before environmentalists and animal

rights activists misinform the next generation. The FARM Foundation will provide a funding mechanism for OFB to educate the public about agriculture and begin a legacy of industry support. OFB is home to a network of internal potential donors who are passionate about promoting agriculture from the right perspective, and it is that group of people who will help the FARM Foundation educate the general public about our industry. Potential FARM Foundation activities will revolve around educating and promoting farmers, ranch-

ers and the general public about how an abundant, safe and affordable food supply is produced. As a result, consumers will have a true understanding of agriculture and the people who are a part of its industry. “All of us at Oklahoma Farm Bureau are excited to launch this new foundation and tell the true story of agriculture,” said OFB Executive Director Monica Wilke. “It’s time to play offense as we assist our farmers and ranchers in promoting their industry.” The new foundation will consist of a 15-member board of directors, five at-large posi-

Oklahoma FARM Foundation

tions, and six at-large donor positions. OFB’s president and vice president will serve as members of the board, and the OFB executive director and vice president of public policy will serve in an ex-officio/advisory capacity. This inaugural year provides a unique opportunity for charter donors to invest at the ground floor of the Oklahoma FARM Foundation. Charter donor levels include platinum at $2,500, gold at $1,000, silver at $500 and bronze at $250. To contribute as an inaugural charter donor, please submit a contribution form before Dec. 31, 2011. Forms can be found online at okfarmfoundation. org or call the OFB Executive Office at (405) 523-2303 to learn more.

August Area Meetings in full swing August Area Meetings kicked off Aug. 1, with District 3 at the Canadian Co. FB office in El Reno. In addition to Farm Bureau public policy, the status of Oklahoma’s drought was a popular topic of discussion. A day later, District 8 members gathered in Ada at the Aldridge Hotel where they turned their attention to the subjects of drought, water rights, pet abandonment in rural areas, horse slaughter and other rural animal issues. On Aug. 4, District 7 members met in Enid to discuss subjects including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act, water rights, spray drift and the state budget. See the Aug. 26, issue of Perspective to read the latest on more August Area Meetings.

District 3 – Canadian Co. Farm Bureau President Clint Reuter (left) and Canadian Co. FB board member Henry Heinrich (right) discuss FB policy during the District 3 August Area Meeting in El Reno, Aug. 1.

District 8 – Oklahoma Farm Bureau Field Representative Holly Carroll writes down FB members’ suggestions and concerns about FB public policy. The District 8 meeting was held at the Aldridge Hotel in Ada on Aug. 2.

District 7 – Major Co. Farm Bureau member Clint Wilcox voices his priorities for the 2012 Farm Bill during the District 7 meeting held in Enid’s Cherokee Strip Convention Center, Aug. 4.

Member Benefits

• M. Rhodes Company – Offers members

a 33% discount from nationally published prices on ALCOA steel or vinyl siding. Call (405) 721-2807 for more details.

Production Advantage workshop features new technology

• TSC Security, Inc. – Offers free installment of a home security system in any member’s home in exchange for a three-year monitoring service agreement. Call 866-321-4177 or visit tscsecurity.com. 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 2 August 15 • Hobart Career-Tech Contact: Thad Doye, (405) 523-2307 August Area Meeting, District 4 August 16 • Ardmore, Cattle Rustlers Contact: Thad Doye, (405) 523-2307 August Area Meeting, District 4 August 17 • Duncan, Stephens Co. FB Oﬃce Contact: Thad Doye, (405) 523-2307

ABOVE – Technology workshop attendees Ryan Pjesky and Tony Morris act as feedlot owners selling cattle during the Feeder Packer game. INSET – Other participants used handheld devices to represent cattle buyers. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Field Services division hosted an agricultural technology workshop, Production Advantage, in Oklahoma City, July 28-29. Workshop attendees had the opportunity to learn more on how to incorporate computers and technology into their farming and ranching operations. Sessions

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Monitor the latest Farm Bureau and agricultural news and information online at okfarmbureau.org. Currently online: • OFB Sale Ring – Looking for an agricultural classified site? See OFB’s “Sale Ring” section by visiting our home page or the commodity information page under the Membership tab. • News Releases – Oklahoma Farm Bureau has sent out several press releases over the past month. From the creation of a new farm foundation to detail’s on the governor’s efforts to help with drought, learn more by visiting “news releases” under the News tab.

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covered topics including web soil surveys, Green Seeker/N-Rich nitrogen detectors, EZ Ranch software and the Feeder Packer insight cattle simulation game. “My favorite part was the livestock simulation,” said participant Tony Morris. “I thought it was real helpful and worth my time.”

New resources added to ag gaming and learning site The American Farm Bureau Federation for Agriculture’s educational gaming platform, myamericanfarm.org, has introduced a new set of resources. My American Farm is a free online education game targeting third- through fifthgrade students to engage in fun, interactive games as they learn about agriculture. The site has now expanded to include a game called “Equipment Engineer.” Sponsored by John Deere, “Equipment Engineer” invites students to learn about different types of equipment used in agriculture around the world while sharpening their vocabulary and problem solving skills. In addition to the new game, the educator resources section of the website offers lesson plans and supplements to help educators bring agriculture to the classroom. Learn more about resources, games and activities at myamericanfarm.org.

OFB planning drought recovery summit Due to the serious impact Oklahoma’s drought continues to have on farmers and ranchers, Oklahoma Farm Bureau plans to host a drought recovery summit in Oklahoma City, Aug. 30. Event organizers hope to provide agriculturalists with the knowledge and tools needed to survive the drought and beyond. “Once rains do arrive, we want them to understand grass and other roughage will still be thin until the land and producers have had time to recover,” said OFB Vice President of Field Services Thad Doye. The drought recovery summit’s agenda includes the latest on Oklahoma’s weather patterns from climatologist Gary McManus, details on how the drought is affecting Oklahoma’s economy from State Agriculture Secretary Jim Reese and tips on pasture management from representatives of the Noble Foundation.

Other presenters, such as Dr. Duane Gill of Oklahoma State University’s sociology department, will discuss how such a severe drought takes a psychological toll on farmers and ranchers. Gill has experience studying and working with other disaster victims and will offer advice on how to handle the stress of a relentless drought. “We want our farmers and ranchers to know that we care and are prepared to help them deal with and get through the drought,” said OFB President Mike Spradling said. “There are many things in life over which we have no control, but we can control what we do about those things.” The summit is free to all participants. A complete schedule of events is available at okfarmbureau.org. To RSVP for OFB’s drought recovery summit, call Kelli Beall at (405) 523-2470 or Staci Armstrong at (405) 523-2320.

USDA issues disaster declaration for 74 Oklahoma counties

tough year for Oklahoma farmers,” Gov. Fallin said. “This declaration will help those who have been hard hit by drought and other bad conditions to get the assistance they need.” Seventy-four Oklahoma counties are currently covered under the USDA declaration. Nowata, Craig and Ottawa counties are not. Federal assistance includes FSA emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program. Farmers in designated counties have 8 months from the date of a secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loan assistance. For more details, contact your local FSA office.

The United States Department of Agriculture recently issued a secretarial disaster declaration in 69 Oklahoma counties and five contiguous counties. The declaration is in response to a June 10 request by Gov. Mary Fallin for the USDA to issue a disaster declaration. The declaration would provide federal assistance from the Farm Service Agency to farmers affected by the drought and wildfires. “The weather has made this an extremely

BBC television crew ﬁlms John Steinbeck documentary

Live on location – BBC cameraman Simon Fanthorpe shoots B-Roll footage of Hydro farmer Merlin Schantz disking a ﬁeld.

ABOVE – Cracks in pasture land located in Logan Co. measure three inches wide due to Oklahoma’s severe drought.

Major Co. YF&R hosts softball tournament beneﬁt Members of the Major Co. Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers group hosted a benefit softball tournament Aug. 6, for the family of a fellow YF&R member. Proceeds from the tournament and lunch were donated to the family of David Koehn, the late father of Major Co. FB YF&R member Daniel Koehn. David recently passed away unexpectedly of cancer. A total of 10 slow pitch softball teams participated in the tournament in Fairview. A BBC television film crew visited the Hydro area on July 26-27, to tape scenes for an upcoming documentary on the life of John Steinbeck. Filming stops in Oklahoma followed the journey of the Joad family from Steinbeck’s novel the Grapes of Wrath. A BBC director/producer and cameraman were on location to shoot scenes of farmer Merlin Schantz and local resemblances of the “dirty 30’s” such as a droughtstressed corn field. Schantz said he enjoyed hosting the British crew on his farm. “We’re bringing the world together,” he said. Director/producer Chris Walker said he was pleased with the footage they shot on their Oklahoma visit. The documentary debuts in England this fall.

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Cotton Incorporated Meeting

Ag in the Classroom Summer Conference ABOVE – Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Committee member Lena Henson helps a group of teachers with an agricultural-related project they can take back to their students this fall. OFB Women’s Committee members assisted with the Ag in the Classroom State Conference in Oklahoma City, July 29.

LEFT – Cotton Caucus – Members of the Cotton Incorporated caucus met at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau ofﬁce in Oklahoma City, July 25. The group met to select a nominee to serve on the organization’s board for another three-year term. The group re-elected current board member and cotton farmer Steven Clay of Carnegie. Pictured from left to right are OFB President Mike Spradling, Patricia O’Leary and Bob Stanley of Cotton Incorporated and Jay Cowart of Plains Cotton Cooperative.

OCA Convention and Tradeshow ABOVE – Oklahoma Farm Bureau Field Representative Robin Landrum visits with Payne Co. FB member Will Cubbage during the 2011 Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Tradeshow, July 28-30, in Midwest City. OFB hosted a booth at the tradeshow.