PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
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July 12, 2013
Farm Bill decision reaches critical time frame
TOP – Congressman Frank Lucas meets with Payne County residents in Stillwater on July 2 to discuss topics including the farm bill, nutrition programs and other issues seen in D.C. Lucas plans to accomplish 50 town visits this year.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau recently called on the Oklahoma federal delegation to reengage Congress in the farm bill legislation. With only a few weeks left on the legislative calendar before Congress adjourns for the August recess, Oklahoma farmers are pushing lawmakers to restart the farm bill debate. The U.S. House defeated the farm bill in June after a controversial debate over the nutrition program section of the bill. Without a new bill, the law requires farm programs to revert to the 1949 law, which is more expensive and less applicable to today’s modern agriculture. “It is imperative that Congress rejoins the effort to pass a bill that is good for both farmers and consumers,”said Mike Spradling, president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau. “This bill should give farmers the
protection and ability to manage risks with a solid crop insurance program, and assure a stable, high quality food supply for consumers. We need a new farm bill now to help plan for the next crop, which goes in the ground beginning in September.” Spradling voiced disappointment in the June defeat; however, he praised Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, for his efforts to pass the bill. “The bill’s defeat was difficult to swallow, but I cannot imagine how much worse it could have been without Rep. Lucas fighting for us,” Spradling said. “Oklahoma’s agriculture industry is 100 percent behind Lucas and we will work with him and our entire Oklahoma delegation to get a new farm bill before the August recess.”
Youth gain leadership insight at OKFB conference Seventeen of Oklahoma’s best and brightest high school seniors spent four days learning about leadership, team building and agriculture at the second annual Oklahoma Youth Leading Agriculture conference, June 24-27, in Oklahoma City. OYLA is hosted by Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. Mason Bolay, chairman of the YF&R Committee, said OYLA participants were handpicked based on their leadership experience, academic excellence and agricultural interests. “We know we picked 17 of the state’s top high school seniors who are going to be the face of agriculture in the future,” Bolay said. The conference was designed to prepare high school students for a future career in agriculture and advance youth leadership. The group learned about media training, money-spending habits and agricultural advocacy. They toured companies such as Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Chesapeake
Energy, P&K Equipment and Whole Foods. “The purpose of OYLA is to expose rural Oklahoma students to careers in agriculture and related fields that are right here in Oklahoma,” said Holly Carroll, OYLA coordinator. “We want to help them find ways High school seniors from across Oklahoma spent to stay in our state after four days with Oklahoma Farm Bureau at OYLA. graduation, because we hold so dear,” Carroll said. know that they are the key to the future Gatlin Squires, a senior at Kingfisher success of Farm Bureau and Oklahoma High School, said OYLA has helped him agriculture. We also focus on developing network with industry professionals and leadership and communication skills while other agricultural enthusiasts his age. increasing their networking abilities.” “We’re at very impressionable ages Carroll said the conference promotes right now,” Squires said. “We’re trying to gaining confidence, overcoming challenges develop a sense of who we are and by doing and gaining some agricultural education. “We want them to know the importance that we’re developing friends and we’re of agriculture in Oklahoma and the role (See OYLA, page 3) they play in continuing the traditions we