PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
®
July 13, 2012
Congress passes transportation bill Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling praised Oklahoma’s congressional delegation for their diligent efforts in passing the federal transportation bill June 29. “Oklahoma farmers and ranchers owe a huge debt of gratitude to their elected representatives in the nation’s capitol for supporting the highway bill,” Spradling said. The farm leader singled out U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and Rep. James Lankford for their work on the federal legislation. They were members of the conference committee to reconcile differences between the House and Senate measures. Last year, Lankford authored H.R. 2414, the Farmers’ Freedom Act, which allows farm trucks a limited commercial exemption from federal regulations when they travel within 150 air-miles of their farm. The language was strongly supported by Inhofe and Rep. Dan Boren, who has been working on the legislation for the past several congressional sessions.
“They have worked tirelessly the past two years to pass language exempting farm trucks from burdensome commercial vehicle regulations,” Spradling said. “This legislation allows our members to efficiently transport and market their commodities. It is especially critical for farmers and ranchers living near state borders who often need to transport commodities to markets across the state line.” (Continued on page 3)
In This Issue • Transportation bill approved • Farm bill moves forward • New north central field rep • Watch for rabies in Livestock • Choice hotels number changes • OFB award deadline nearing • Pollinator habitats in CRP-SIP
The transportation bill exempts operators of certain farm vehicles from requirements such as medical certificates, hours of service, inspection requirements and more. See page three for more details on the bill’s agriculture provisions.
Farm bill: Senate bill draws questions from OFB leaders, house spells their bill FARRM As Congress barrels toward August recess, farm bill action is heating up. The U.S. Senate passed their version of the farm bill in June, while the House announced their version of the farm legislation in early July. Scott Neufeld, Chairman of OFB’s Farm Bill Committee, said the U.S. Senate’s version of the farm bill leaves farmers vulnerable to steep price declines.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma and Ranking Member Collin Peterson of Minnesota released a discussion draft of the House’s Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act July 5. The committee said FARRM is a bipartisan bill that saves taxpayers billions, reduces the nation’s deficit, and repeals outdated policies while reforming, streamlining, and consolidating others. “This draft offers a strong safety net for farm income using a combination of crop insurance and price protection,” said OFB Farm Bill Committee
Chairman Scott Neufeld of Fairview. “We strongly support Cong. Lucas in his efforts as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee to pass a farm bill that would be equitable for all regions of the country.” However, the Senate’s bill, which was approved June 21, has raised eyebrows among OFB leaders. The main concern, said Neufeld, is the lack of price protection in years when commodity prices are low. “We’re disappointed that most of the risk management tools included in the Senate bill are revenue based with very little focus on the price components of actual marketing,” Neufeld said. “There is no mechanism to manage risk when steep price declines happen, and they will happen, and when they may last for several marketing years.” (Continued on page 2)
Member Benefits
• National Car Rental and Hertz – Offer
members special discounts on auto rental rates. For information or reservations call: National Car Rental at 1-800-CAR- RENT and use the National/OFB recap #5504661 to make reservations. Hertz Rent A Car at 1-800-654-3131 and use the Hertz/OFB recap #314386 to make reservations.
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 OSU Big 3 Field Days July 17-19 • Stillwater Contact: Thad Doye, (405) 523-2307 OYLA Conference July 23-26 • Stillwater Contact: Holly Carroll, (405) 205-0069 State AITC Meeting August 3 • Norman Contact: Marcia Irvin, (405) 523-2405
A tale of two farm bills continued ... Neufeld closely followed the Senate’s actions and believes they fell short of passing legislation that could truly help Oklahoma agriculture. The northwest Oklahoma farmer is also concerned about the so-called “shallow loss” provision of the Senate bill. “We can manage crop losses up to 15 percent, but deeper losses need to be protected,” Neufeld said. “I would rather have real protection in years when deep losses are experienced than have minimal protection year to year.” Despite his primary concerns for the bill, Neufeld praised the Senate for the bipartisan, timely effort. “By quickly passing the bill, the Senate paved the way for the House to bring their version to the floor,” Neufeld said. Highlights from the House bill at press time included: • FARRM saves more than $35 billion in mandatory funding. • FARRM repeals or consolidates more than 100 programs. • FARRM eliminates direct payments, streamlines and reforms commodity policy that saves taxpayers more than $14 billion. • FARRM improves program integrity and accountability in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that saves taxpayers more than $16 billion. • FARRM consolidates 23 conservation programs into 13, which improves program delivery to producers and saves taxpayers more than $6 billion. • FARRM provides regulatory relief, including H.R. 872, to mitigate burdens farmers, ranchers, and rural communities face. “We encourage farm groups to work together to support Cong. Lucas to get the new farm bill passed quickly,” Neufeld said. “We must work together to expedite this process to ensure certainty for the future of the agricultural industry.” For the latest on the house’s bill during the fast-moving process, visit the House Committee on Agriculture’s website at agriculuture.house.gov.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Monitor the latest Farm Bureau and agricultural news and information online at okfarmbureau.org. Currently online: • OFB Award App Deadlines – The application deadlines for OFB awards are only a couple of months away. See the Women’s and YFR pages under the Programs button to download applications such as the Farm Family of the Year award. • Harvest Watch – OFB’s four farming families are reviewing harvest and planning for other summer activities on the OFB Harvest Watch blog. See our OFB homepage to click on the logo.
www.okfarmbureau.org
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New Choice Hotels member service rate code now in effect As you make your summer travel plans, be sure to use the new special rate code #00209760 when booking hotels with Choice International. Choice Hotels offer OFB members discounts of up to 30 percent at thousands of locations when booked in advance. Book a room for any upcoming trips by calling 800-4CHOICE or by visiting www.choicehotels.com.
Transportation bill continued ... Spradling said farmers were not asking for safety exemptions, as they want to ensure the roads remain safe for the traveling public. “Farmers are not commercial truckers who are on the roads every day,” Spradling said. Lankford, a member of the House Transportation Committee, said the old transportation legislation was another example of government over regulation.
“We were slowing down commerce with burdensome regulations,” Lankford said. “I am not antigovernment, but I am against big, inefficient Rep. James Lankford government.”
Transportation bill clarifies longstanding issues with farm vehicles Included in the bill are exemptions for farmers and ranchers and covered farm vehicles from several federal regulations. The language helps to clarify current transportation laws and removes inconsistencies that make it more difficult for Farm Bureau members to transport their products. The language exempts a covered farm vehicle, including the individual operating that vehicle, from requirements to obtain a commercial driver’s license, medical certificates, hours of service restrictions and any requirement relating to vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance. These exemptions apply for any properly marked farm vehicle that weighs less than 26,001 pounds, and also for farm vehicles that weigh more than 26,001 pounds and are traveling within the state or within 150 air miles of their farm if that vehicle were to cross a state line. The conference report also includes the Senate language that extends by one year, through fiscal year 2012, the Secure Rural Schools Program. The program funds county outlays for public schools, road improvement and maintenance projects, and forest restoration and improvement projects in and around national forests.
OFB award deadlines nearing; Dist. Farm Family apps due Aug. 1 Application due dates for some of OFB’s top member awards will be here soon. Visit OFB’s website to download forms and for more information on the award programs. August 1
• District Farm Family of the Year August 15
• YF&R Excellence in Agriculture • YF&R Achievement • State Farm Family Applications October 5
• Other Awards Due
OFB’s 2011 Farm Family of the Year
Livestock owners warned to watch for rabies symptoms The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry cautions livestock owners to be aware of rabies symptoms. “It seems as if we’re seeing more rabies cases in livestock this year,” said State Veterinarian Rod Hall, D.V.M. “Veterinarians need to be aware of this issue and educate their clients about the
risks of this disease.” Unusually aggressive behavior in cattle or other herd animals may be a symptom of rabies infection. Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vast majority of cases reported each year occur in wild animals like skunks, bats, coyotes, raccoons, and foxes. A dog or livestock animal can get the disease by being bitten or scratched by an infected wild animal. Infected livestock may become aggressive toward humans and other animals and exhibit
an unusual amount of drooling. Saliva around the mouth may appear thick and foamy. Infected animals may become hypersensitive and react violently to even slight sounds or movements. The importance of properly vaccinating dogs and farm animals is a topic veterinarians must continually share with clients. Although vaccinating an entire herd may not be economical, Hall encourages livestock owners to at least vaccinate show animals or animals they will be near for extensive periods of time. “When you’re talking to your clients about their dogs and cats, remember to talk to them about the licensed vaccines available for many of our livestock species,” Hall said. For additional information about rabies and rabies vaccines for livestock, contact any of the staff veterinarians in the ODAFF Animal Industry Division at (405) 522-6141.
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Staff Directory Staff Directory Dustin Mielke, 530-2640
Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2501 N. Stiles Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126
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Multimedia Producer and Writer 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 Kinsey Money, 523-2539 Director of Public Policy Tyler Norvell, 523-2402
Marla Peek, 523-2437 Vice President of Public Policy Director of Regulatory Affairs MarlaKidd, Peek,523-2539 523-2437 Chris Director of of State Regulatory Affairs Affairs Director and National
Whitmore joins Field Services as north central field rep Justin Whitmore of Coyle is Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s new north central field representative. Whitmore started his new position with OFB on June 25. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with Oklahoma Farm Bureau members to help build the organization and promote agriculture,” Whitmore said. The Coyle native helps run all aspects of his family’s farm. In addition to a 150-head cow/calf operation, the Whitmore family grows vegetables to sell alongside some of their beef at five different farmers markets in central Oklahoma. Whitmore was involved in FFA during high school, and he received his American FFA degree. Whitmore graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in agriculture business with an option in marketing and economics. Before coming to OFB, he worked for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry as a Market Development Coordinator where he helped coordinate farmers markets around Oklahoma. When he is not traveling throughout north central Oklahoma as a field rep or working on the farm, Whitmore said he enjoys time outdoors hunting, fishing and snow skiing.
FSA now accepting pollinator habitats in continuous CRP Pollinator habitats will now be accepted as a Continuous Sign-up Conservation Reserve Program practice. Pollinator habitats are areas of permanent vegetation located in an agricultural landscape that support a variety of pollinator species. Habitats include field edges, field middles, odd corners or any agricultural location that is suitable for establishing pollinator habitat. Participants of newly enrolled pollinator habitat practices are eligible to receive a $150 CRP Sign-up Incentive Payment per acre. The SIP is a one-time payment issued to CRP participants after the contract is approved. The following practices qualify for the $150 SIP: • Pollinator Habitats • Wetland Restoration & Wetland
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Restoration (non-floodplain) practice, which restores the functions and values of wetland ecosystems that have been devoted to agricultural use • Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds practice, which provides food and cover for quail and upland birds in cropland areas The SIP for all other continuous sign-up practices remains unchanged at $100 per acre. Approximately three quarters of all flowering plants rely upon external assistance to pollinate their flowers. In the United States, insects pollinate crops that produce $40 billion worth of products annually. Studies indicate that birds, bees, bats, and other pollinators are in significant decline across the country and around the
world. Nearly 80% of the crops grown in the world require pollination. For additional information about the continuous conservation reserve program contact your local FSA office or visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/ok.