August 9, 2013

PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

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August 9, 2013

OKFB hosts Southern Region Legislative Conference More than 100 public policy staff members and their families from 13 southern state Farm Bureaus gathered in Durant, July 28 - Aug. 1, for the Southern Region Legislative Conference hosted by OKFB. Staff members from each state presented their successes from the recent legislative sessions and discussed upcoming policy issues affecting agriculture.

“This annual event is a beneficial way to share ideas and learn what works for other public policy staffs,” said John Collison, OKFB vice president of public policy and media affairs. “It’s a chance for like-minded states to build consensus on the best ways to handle issues and better represent our members.”

Attendees were also treated to true Oklahoma hospitality as they participated in several outdoor activities and tours, including sporting clays at the home of Bryan County FB members Jim and Amy Ford, a visit to the Noble Foundation in Ardmore, a striper fishing expedition on Lake Texoma and a trip to Lake Murray State Park to hear OU Professor of Law Drew Kershen speak about how water law differs between states.

Participants also enjoyed a reception at the home of former Congressman Bill Brewster and his wife Suzie and a fish fry at the Marietta Rod and Gun Club.

LEFT – SRLC attendees visit the trophy room of former Congressman Bill and Suzie Brewster near Marietta. The Brewsters are avid hunters and have more than 90 mounts displayed in the room.

RIGHT – Conference participants inspect the BoarBuster feral hog trap during a tour of the Noble Foundation in Ardmore.

The trap on average can catch about 15 hogs at a time as opposed to one or two at a time with traditional methods.

Australian farmers tour Oklahoma agriculture BELOW – Custer County FB member Allen Entz (center) discusses his farming operation with Australian farmers who were traveling through Oklahoma as part of a month-long agricultural tour across the U.S. The Aussies also spent time at Logan Co. board member Rick Davis’ farm and dairy near Guthrie.

ABOVE – Keenen Taylor (left), a crop consultant, talks to Australian farmers in a soybean field near Hydro.

The Australians were in Oklahoma July 23-24, and had the opportunity to experience Ft. Reno and the OKC Stockyards, in addition to several agricultural operations.

Member Benefits • Gold Buckle Construction offers Oklahoma Farm Bureau members a 10% discount on construction services.

Contact Dusty Gracia at (580) 309-0988 for more information.

OKFB highlights a benefit in each issue of Perspective as a reminder of the savings available to OKFB members.

Find a complete list of savings online at www.okfarmbureau.org.

OKFB Calendar August Area Meetings August 12-27 • Statewide Contact: Holly Carroll, (405) 301-6610 State Farm Family Applications Due August 15 • State Office Contact: Marcia Irvin, (405) 523-2405 Oklahoma State Fair Livestock Judging Contest September 13 • Oklahoma City Contact: Holly Carroll, (405) 301-6610

Plant biotechnology companies begin new conversation about GMOs and how food is grown The agricultural biotechnology companies that develop genetically modified seeds - or GMOs - are coming together to launch a broad, new initiative to provide accurate information and answer the toughest questions about GMOs and how our food is grown.

GMO Answers (www.GMOAnswers.com) is a new conversation, public Q&A and central online resource for information on GMOs, their background, use in agriculture and research and data in one easy-to-access public resource for the first time.

“GMOs are a growing topic of discussion today, with a wide range of questions and emotions on the topic,” said Cathleen Enright, Ph.D., spokesperson for GMO Answers. “Food is personal, so we want to open the door for personal discussions.

We recognize we haven’t done the best job communicating about GMOs - what they are, how they are developed, food safety information - the science, data and processes.

We want people to join us and ask their tough questions. Be skeptical. Evaluate the information and decide for yourself. We look forward to an open conversation.”

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

Currently online: • Agricultural News – Oklahoma Farm Bureau features a new agriculture-related story every day on its site. Read about both AFBF and state Farm Bureau news by visiting the homepage.

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• OKFB Harvest Watch Blog – The second annual OKFB Harvest Watch blog season is underway. Visit www.okfarmbureau.org and click on the OKFB Harvest Watch link to follow the six farm families.

As the public discussion on GMOs continues, the scientists who develop biotech seeds along with farmers who grow them want to make information about GMOs easier to find and understand.

“This type of open conversation, connecting consumers to experts in academia, government and the industry, is absolutely necessary to advance food and agriculture research to ensure that everyone has access to the highest quality most sustainably produced food. Having grown up on a small farm and spent much of my life in academia I can relate to the issues on several levels.

I’ve offered to address questions submitted to GMO Answers openly, based on my personal insights, experience and research,” said Professor Martina Newell-McGloughlin, director, International Biotechnology Program, University of California Davis. “I know that many of my colleagues have committed to do the same because we feel consumers have every right to ask questions about how their food is grown, and they deserve an open and honest response so that they can make informed decisions.”

GMO Answers is produced by the members of The Council for Biotechnology Information, which includes BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences LLC, DuPont, Monsanto Company and Syngenta.

“We are inviting questions and providing accurate information about GMOs. Go to GMOAnswers.com today and submit your questions. Scientists, health and safety professionals, farmers, and other independent experts are excited to share their answers,” Enright said. “In addition to collecting questions online, we will be conducting a nationwide survey to find out the top 10 questions consumers have about GMOs, then we will answer them publicly. We hope to be reliable resource on how our food is grown.”

For more information or to ask your questions go to www.GMOAnswers.com.

Diamond Hats plan gala to raise money for youth in agriculture Oklahoma Farm Bureau is proud to once again help sponsor the Diamond Hats Gala, Friday, Sept. 6, at the Reed Conference Center in Midwest City. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and will include a night of dinner, dancing, live entertainment and wonderful auctions.

Proceeds from the event benefit scholarships and support for Oklahoma youth in agriculture. Through sponsorships and auctions, the Diamond Hats have raised more than $200,000 for Oklahoma youth

dedicated to enriching their lives through agriculture.

In addition, a select group of students will be honored as Agricultural Academic All State recipients, a program designed to recognize students for their outstanding achievement and dedication to success.

Tickets to the 7th annual Diamond Hats Gala are $100. For more information about sponsorship opportunities and purchasing tickets please contact the Diamond Hats at 405-235-0404.

Other sponsors include Bank of Western Oklahoma, Express Ranches/Express Employment Professionals, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, SelectForce, Circle A Welding/G Mann Barns and Charmasson Club Lambs.

OKFB offers course for candidates The 2014 elections will be here before we know it, and OKFB is once again hosting a campaign management seminar for members interested in running for public office, Sept.

12-13, at the OKFB home office in OKC. The campaign seminar will include sessions on candidate evaluation, campaign issues, raising campaign funds, working with the news media, recruiting volunteer cam-

paign workers and using polling data to your advantage.

The seminar is open to candidates, spouses and campaign managers. Contact your county Farm Bureau office or Marla Peek at (405) 523-2437 or marla.peek@okfb.org for more details on the course or registration fees.

The deadline to register has been extended to Aug. 23.

OKFB announces vice president of field services Oklahoma Farm Bureau recently named Holly Carroll as vice president of field services.

In her new position, Carroll will lead OKFB field representatives as they serve as liaisons between the counties and the state Holly Carroll Farm Bureau. She will also work with other OKFB divisions to ensure counties are informed about issues affecting agriculture and rural Oklahoma.

“I am confident in Holly’s ability to lead our field services staff as they fulfill a critical role in communicating with our members and leaders in each county,” said Monica Wilke, executive director of Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies. “Holly’s tremendous leadership skills and her dedication to Oklahoma agriculture make her a great fit for this position.”

Carroll has been serving the organization as a field representative since 2009. In addition to her new role, she will also continue as coordinator of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee.

“I am eager to build our presence in each of the counties and to continue offering superior service to our boards and county secretaries,” Carroll said. “It is an honor to work for an organization that values its members and is committed to developing the next generation of farmers and ranchers.”

Carroll grew up on a beef and tobacco farm in central Kentucky. She served as Kentucky’s state FFA president and graduated from Western Kentucky University before moving to Oklahoma.

AAMs begin soon OCA Convention Comanche Co. FB member Rep. Don Armes (left) and Jackson Co. FB board member Bob Howard (right) visit with OKFB’s Chris Kidd and Justin Whitmore at the OKFB booth during the 2013 Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association convention, July 26, in Midwest City.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s August Area Meetings begin Aug. 12. Don’t miss your opportunity to participate in this important step in the grassroots policy development process. For a complete schedule, visit www.okfarmbureau.org. If you can’t attend your district’s meeting, follow the conversation on Twitter by searching for #OKFBgrassroots.

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Staff Directory SHedges, taff D irectory Macey 523-2346

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Director of Corporate Communications

Traci Morgan, Monica Wilke, 523-2346 523-2303 Perspective/Online News Editor Executive Director John Collison, 523-2539 Sam 523-2347 VP of Knipp, Public Policy and Media Relations Vice President of Communications/PR Chris Kidd, 523-2402 VP of Organization and Membership

Tyler Knipp, Norvell, 523-2402 Sam 523-2347 Vice President of Public Policy Senior Dir. of Corporate Communications Marla Peek, 523-2437 Marla Peek, 523-2437Affairs Director of Regulatory Director of Regulatory Affairs

Farm Bureau members encouraged to ‘Bring the Heat’ during congressional recess Farmers and ranchers are a little hot under the collar, and it has little to do with fieldwork and a lot to do with the job Congress is - or more precisely, isn’t - doing in Washington. With work all but ground to halt on three of agriculture’s top issues - farm bill, labor and waterways infrastructure - lawmakers at home for the August recess can expect to get an earful from their producer constituents.

“Throughout the month of August, farmers and ranchers will ‘bring the heat’ to their members of Congress,” said Dale Moore, American Farm Bureau Federation executive director of public policy. “As part of a Farm Bureau grassroots effort, they’ll be at town hall meetings, having one-onone conversations and making quite a few phone calls to get lawmakers fired up about finalizing the farm bill, pushing through immigration reform legislation that meets agriculture’s labor needs and moving waterways transportation legislation.”

Measures addressing farm policy, ag labor and waterway improvements are necessary to provide a measure of certainty in an otherwise very uncertain industry.

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“Farmers count on having farm programs in place when they’re making planting decisions for the year ahead, for example,” explained Moore. “Similarly, specialty crop growers need to know they’ll have workers to care for their plants and trees and harvest those fragile crops during the few weeks per year they’re ripe for the picking.”

As for the Water Resources Development Act, with more than 60 percent of corn grown by farmers for export shipped via inland waterways and 95 percent of agricultural exports and imports moving through U.S. harbors, new projects for flood protection, port improvements and upgrades to the nation’s aging locks and dams infrastructure authorized under WRDA can no longer be overlooked.

As the saying goes, timing is everything, and farmers and ranchers are hoping to make the most of their lawmakers’ time at home. In grassroots action in its truest form, producers will be personally reaching out to their lawmakers and bringing them out to their farms and ranches to show them what’s at stake for rural America if Congress doesn’t get going on these key issues.

Lawmakers are hardly starting at zero, Moore pointed out.

“The House- and Senate-passed farm bills have more similarities than differences,” he said. “The Senate has already approved an immigration reform bill that includes a fair and workable farm labor provision and the House Judiciary and Homeland Security committees have passed a series of immigration reformrelated measures.”

The Water Resources Development Act is well on its way, too.

“The Senate this spring passed a WRDA bill and House transportation leaders have been working since then to lay the groundwork for passage of a bill in that chamber,” Moore said.

When Congress returns in September, lawmakers will have a mere few weeks before the Sept. 30 expiration of the 2008 farm bill extension and the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1.

“Through the grassroots Bring the Heat campaign, farmers and ranchers hope to have Congress as committed as rural America is to seeing these issues resolved quickly,” he said.

Oklahoma Farm Bureua members are encouraged to meet with their members of Congress during the August recess. For a list of Oklahoma town hall meetings, visit www.okfarmbureau.org.