PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
®
August 23, 2013
OKFB kicks off first round of August Area Meetings Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are currently meeting statewide to begin the annual policy development process during August Area Meetings. District leaders meet with OKFB staff members to learn about current and upcoming legislation and have the opportunity to present local issues of concern for staff members to research. “We want our members to have a voice during this important grassroots policy development process, and meeting with them allows us to understand their priorities,” said John Collison, OKFB vice president of public policy and media relations. “We are also able to educate them about current discussions going on in the state and national political arenas so they can be well-informed when proposing policy.” Water continues to be the most popular topic, as members discuss water supplies in different areas of the state. Creating infrastructure to move water, the control of groundwater and surface water, and the prospect of selling water are all conversations taking place at the meetings. Other areas of interest include property rights, feral hog eradication, energy and the impending farm bill.
Leadership Team member Roberta Hughes updates Dist. 8 members during their meeting, Aug. 12.
Washita Co. FB President Larry Peck visits with Sen. Mike Schulz during the Dist. 2 meeting, Aug. 13.
Dist. 3 members review public policy materials before their meeting, Aug. 13.
YF&R Chairman Mason Bolay talks about the committee’s activities during the Dist. 7 meeting, Aug. 15.
Arbuckle-Simpson water usage still under review By LeeAnna Covington OKFB Director of National Affairs The Arbuckle-Simpson groundwater basin covers approximately 520 square miles across Carter, Coal, Johnston, Murray and Pontotoc Counties. The basin provides Oklahomans a water source for a variety of uses, including farming and ranching. In Oklahoma, groundwater is considered to be private property belonging to the surface owner. Although this concept seems particularly straightforward, it has proven otherwise. A variety of groups and individuals are concerned about the quantity of water that may be withdrawn from the ArbuckleSimpson basin in the future. However, Oklahoma Farm Bureau has supported its members who are concerned the outcome
will severely limit how much water will be available for future use. In 2003, legislation was passed imposing a moratorium on the issuance of temporary ground water permits for certain water supplies overlying particular areas. The legislation specifies a time period the moratorium shall remain in effect, until the OWRB conducts and completes a hydrological study and approves a Maximum Annual Yield subject to specifications. A Maximum Annual Yield (MAY) is used to describe an amount of groundwater that can be withdrawn while allowing a minimum 20-year life of the basin. Determining a MAY is a four step process: hydraulic investigation,
tentative determination, public hearing(s) and final order (determination) issuance. In September 2011, the hydrological study was published, however the MAY determination process is ongoing. The OWRB is currently evaluating all evidence and in the process of making a final determination. The determination will likely be announced in the fall. OKFB has been a long time advocate for private property rights. The organization supports the property owners’ rights to use any water above or below ground on their property as specified by state law. If you have questions please contact LeeAnna Covington at leeanna.covington@okfb.com.
Member Benefits • LifeStation offers OKFB members a discount on monthly service fees with no equipment charges. Visit www.lifestation.com 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.
Congressmen host town hall meetings during August recess RIGHT – U.S. Rep. Tom Cole visits with constituents about recent events in Washington, D.C., during a town hall meeting in Moore, Aug. 6. BELOW – OKFB’s John Collison (left) engages U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin in a farm bill discussion during a town hall meeting in Oologah, Aug. 9.
OKFB Calendar District 1 August Area Meeting August 27 • Guymon Contact: Holly Carroll, (405) 301-6610 District 5 August Area Meeting August 27 • McAlester Contact: Holly Carroll, (405) 301-6610 Oklahoma State Fair Livestock Judging Contest September 13 • Oklahoma City Contact: Holly Carroll, (405) 301-6610
U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (right) meets with Woodward County Farm Bureau President Wes Crain during a town hall meeting in Woodward, Aug. 7.
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.
OKFB launches new radio series A new audio feature on OKFB’s website is focused on providing a unique perspective on the state’s agriculture industry. The feature, All Around Oklahoma Agriculture, is produced by Sam Knipp. “This program gives us an opportunity to provide an in-depth look at critical ag topics without the time constraints of our more traditional radio reports,” Knipp said. “This gives listeners a chance to hear timely reports from the field as we travel around the state each week visiting with industry officials and OKFB leaders.” The program is produced several times a week and will often feature a weekend edition. To listen to the program, go to www.okfarmbureau.org and click on the “more audio stories” button. The program is also available on our OKFB Facebook page.
OKFB Leadership Team sponsors statewide Women in Agriculture Conference Women from across the state met in Moore, Aug, 8-9, for the 2013 Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference. Participants attended workshops focused on a variety of high-profile topics about agriculture, alternative enterprises and business and finance, all aimed at empowering women working in agriculture. Keynote speakers for the event included family business consultant Jolene Brown and Celeste Settrini, owner and operator of Couture Cowgirl ‘n Co., a media, graphic design and communications agency in Salinas, Calif. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Leadership Team is a proud supporter of the conference and hosted a booth for attendees to learn more about getting involved in OKFB. LEFT – OKFB Leadership Team Chairman Kitty Beavers (center) and Leadership Team Programs Director Marcia Irvin (left) discuss OKFB benefits with a conference participant.
OKFB accepting 2013 Annual Meeting trade show registration Exhibitors can now begin registering for the 2013 trade show held in conjunction with the OKFB Annual Meeting, Nov. 15-17, at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Norman. Tentative times for the trade show are Friday, Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All trade show booths will be located inside the Embassy Suites. For booth pricing and other information, contact Kelli Beall at (405) 523-2470 or kellibeall@okfb.org,
or Whitney Bender at (405) 523-2401 or whitney.bender@okfb.org.
Limited time offer available for members Looking to get away this fall? Now is the time to book your stay at Great Wolf Lodge and take advantage of reduced room rates with your OKFB membership. Dates are available through Nov. 21, but rooms must be booked by Sept. 9. Visit www.greatwolf.com and use company code OKFB105A.
Members attend wheat and stocker cattle conference Bart Fisher (third from left), chief economist for the House Agriculture Committee, spoke to agricultural producers during the Cattle Trails Wheat and Stocker Conference, Aug. 13, in Lawton. The annual conference is joint effort between Texas’ AgriLife Extension and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and provides wheat growers and stocker cattle operators the most up-to-date information on topics that influence profits. Pictured with Fisher are (from left) Damon Doye, Jimmy Wayne Kinder, Fisher, Roger Fisher, Lance Shenold and John Swihart.
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Jackson County Farm Bureau members Matt and Kellie Mueller (left) and Rick and Carolyn Fuerth, of Woodslee, Ontario, Canada, visit the OKC Stockyards during the 24th annual International Leadership Alumni Conference, hosted by the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program, Aug. 14-17, in Oklahoma City. Conference participants were past members of their state or country’s agricultural leadership program. Matt Mueller was a member of the OALP Class X. While in Oklahoma City, participants toured several agricultural businesses and operations in central Oklahoma.
USDA’s Avalos to visit Stillwater, tour Payne County Federal official Edward Avalos of the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be in Payne County Aug. 28-29, getting a firsthand look at area agricultural operations and related business, community, family and youth enterprises and programs. “In many ways, we in Payne County will be representing not only ourselves but our peers in communities and counties similar to our own,” said Nathan Anderson, Payne County Extension director and agricultural educator. “It’s a fairly unique opportunity. Undersecretary Avalos has expressed his desire to interact with grassroots individuals and visit with people who are involved with as many different undertakings as possible.” The USDA’s undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, Avalos will attend the Payne County Fair, tour area agribusinesses, interact with local groups and visit campus facilities associated with Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. “OSU Cooperative Extension wants to offer an invitation to community organizations, com-
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modity groups, civic dignitaries, government agency representatives and the general public to attend an open forum featuring undersecretary Avalos on Aug. 29,” Anderson said. The open forum will take place at the Payne County Expo Center’s DL Fisher Sales Coliseum, located three miles east of Stillwater on State Highway 51. The forum will begin at 4:30 p.m. and end about 5:30 p.m. Avalos expects to speak for 20 minutes about current agricultural issues and then take part in a question-andanswer session while visiting with participants. “Undersecretary Avalos grew up on a farm in New Mexico,” Anderson said. “He is very interested in attending as many exhibitions, displays and competitions at the fair as possible.” Anderson said he sent Avalos the fair schedule and the undersecretary singled out numerous events, including the Pheiffer Museum, antique tractor parade, dairy cattle show and draft horse pulling competition, among others. “Undersecretary Avalos also expressed his strong desire to visit local agricultural enterprises such as farmers markets, crop and livestock operations and supportive agribusinesses,”
Anderson said. “We in Payne County Extension are excited about showcasing the diversity of what our county provides in terms of services and the importance of Extension programming to local stakeholders.” James Trapp, associate director of the division’s statewide Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, agrees with Anderson, citing Extension programs are as vital today as they have ever been. “We’re about to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Cooperative Extension in 2014, and one thing is very clear: Extension successes are ultimately the successes of those we serve, be it enhanced crop and livestock efficiency, business or family management, improved consumer awareness, youth development or any number of programs which all have as their basis the land-grant mission of helping people improve the quality of their lives,” he said. Anyone seeking additional information about the Avalos visit or the Aug. 28-31 Payne County Fair should contact the Payne County Extension Office at 405-747-8320.