December 13, 2013

PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

®

December 13, 2013

OKFB Board of Directors welcomes two new members The two newest members of the Oklaon the Ottowa County FB still dealing with a drought. homa Farm Bureau Board of Directors board and being named the We need to look at ways to may come from opposite sides of the state, OKFB Farm Family of the get them the water they need but they both agree on the primary issues Year in 1996. and helping our fellow Oklaaffecting agriculture and the strong role “Farm Bureau represents homans across the state.”

OKFB’s grassroots policy development every farmer and rancher Monte Tucker represents process plays in providing solutions. at a grassroots level – startthe OKFB members of DisJames Fuser represents ing in each of trict 2. He and his wife DanDistrict 6 on the board. He the counties ielle grow wheat and have a and his wife Candy have been – and we are cow-calf herd, a stocker cattle married 44 years and raise able to sucoperation and a feedlot on corn, wheat and soybeans on cessfully work their place near Sweetwater. their farm near Afton. They together on Tucker is the fourth generaDistrict 2 Director tion to work his family’s farm also have a cow-calf herd and issues that affect Monte Tucker a stocker cattle operation. us as producers,” and said his involvement in Fuser was the third genFuser said. “For Oklahoma Farm Bureau allows eration to live on the family’s example, water is a big issue him to work on issues that affect his family homestead, and his oldest son for us right now. I’m in the and fellow producers. recently moved to the place northeastern area of the state, “Farm Bureau is a mechanism to get and is carrying on the family and we have an abundance my word out,” Tucker said. “Farmers and legacy of farming and ranching. District 6 Director of water right now, but when I ranchers are concerned about the Fuser has been in Farm Butalk to farmers and ranchers in James Fuser (See Board, page 2) reau for several years, serving western Oklahoma, many are

Merry Christmas from

Kingfisher County FB members Scott and Kerryann Dallas prepare a Christmas tree for a customer at their farm south of Kingfisher. The Dallases raise more than 5,000 trees at Frontier Farm. Visit the OKFB website to learn more about Frontier Farm and the Oklahoma Christmas tree industry on the All Around Oklahoma Agriculture audio feature.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau

Member Benefits • Beltone Hearing Aid Centers offer OKFB members a free, no obligation hearing evaluation, plus a 15 percent discount on hearing aid purchases at all eight Oklahoma locations. For the Beltone Center locations, call 1-800-BELTONE. 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/benefits.

OKFB Calendar 95th AFBF Annual Convention Jan. 12-15, 2014 • San Antonio Contact: Melisa Neal, (405) 523-2475 Oklahoma Legislature Convenes Feb. 3, 2014 • Oklahoma City Contact: John Collison (405) 523-2539 OKFB Leadership Conference Feb. 17-18, 2014 • Oklahoma City Contact: Sara Drozdowski (405) 530-2681

OACD recognizes Craig County Farm Bureau members Craig County Farm Bureau’s Morgan Brothers Farm was awarded the Oklahoma Association of Conservation District’s Outstanding District Cooperator award for Area III, Dec. 4, in Vinita. The Morgan family works the land side-by-side near Welch, with matriarch Valeria and her four sons, her grandchildren Oklahoma Conservation Commission Area III and now great grandDirector Scotty Herriman (second from left) presents children all involved the Oklahoma Association of Conservation District’s in the operation. The Outstanding District Cooperator award for Area III family grows pecans, to Morgan Brothers Farm, Dec. 4, in Vinita. Several corn, milo, soybeans Morgan Family members were present to accept the and wheat, and they award (from left): Harold, Herriman, Melvin, Valeria, also have a dairy and Willie, Dex, Dusty, Katrina, V.O. and Konnie. raise beef cattle.

The family was recognized for their wide variety of conservation application. practices. The Morgans have participated in The family’s application for OutstandEQIP and WRP projects, used cost-share ing District Cooperator will next be judged programs through the Craig County Conon the state level, with results announced servation District and frequently sample April 1, 2014. their soils to ensure optimum nutrient

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.

www.okfarmbureau.org 2

• 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.

(Board, from page 1) regulations coming down from Washington, D.C., which can put undue burdens on farmers and ranchers, and we’ve got increased pressure from activist groups who are well-funded but misinformed. We’ve got to stand together to send our message straight from the farm to the people.”

Tucker said he hopes his two young sons will one day return to the family operation to become fifth-generation farmers and believes technology will help to make that feasible.

“I would really like to farm side-by-side with my boys like I’m getting to do with my dad,” Tucker said. “I think agriculture has a bright future, and the technology we have now is making it easier to care for the land, as we become more efficient. Technology is really helping to improve our standard of living.”

Sen. Inhofe discusses regulation overreach with OKFB board

The OKFB Board of Directors meets with Sen. Jim Inhofe, Dec. 4, in Oklahoma City. Sen. Inhofe spoke to the group during an open meeting and specifically addressed how environmental regulation overreach affects agriculture.

OKFB partners with OSU to teach animal advocacy skills

OKFB’s Sam Knipp (center) interviews a student in the Animal Agriculture and Policy Advocacy course at Oklahoma State University, Dec. 4. While visiting the class, Knipp discussed the need to tell agriculture’s story and provided media training tips to the nearly 100 students.

Water woes parch five counties, Governor taps drought relief funds Gov. Mary Fallin recently approved $300,000 in drought costshare funds to help Tillman, Harmon, Jackson, Greer and Texas Counties as they suffer through Gov. Mary Fallin extreme-toexceptional drought. The assistance is made possible through the Emergency Drought Relief Fund. The fund was created last spring through the passage of HB 1923, a piece of legislation strongly supported by Oklahoma Farm Bureau.

“I am pleased to approve funding for the conservation districts in the designated drought counties to provide assistance to our ag producers whose operations have been devastated over the past two and a half years by the severe drought,” Fallin said.

The Oklahoma Conservation Commission worked with conservation districts in the five affected counties to determine the amount of cost-share funds needed by landowners and cooperators to provide water for livestock producers and restore pasture and range land. OCC’s request was approved by the Emergency Drought Commission on November 8, 2013. The Emergency Drought Commission is comprised of Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese, Oklahoma Conservation Commission Executive Director Mike Thralls and Oklahoma Water Resource Board Executive Director J.D. Strong.

While the drought relief funds will be managed by OCC and conservation districts the same way as the statewide conservation cost-share program, the $1.3 million OCC approved for that program in September is separate from the drought relief funds, which will be used specifically for implementing drought relief measures in the five counties.

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Published by Oklahoma Farm Bureau Postmaster: address corrections to: Published bySend Oklahoma Farm Bureau

Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332 Postmaster: Send address corrections to: Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332

Staff Directory Staff Directory Monica Wilke, 523-2303

Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2501 N. Stiles Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126

Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 131 Okla. City, OK.

Executive Director

Traci Morgan, 523-2346 John Collison, 523-2539 Perspective/Online News Editor

VP of Public Policy and Media Relations

Macey Hedges, 523-2346 Sam Knipp, 523-2347 Director of Corporate Communications Vice President of Communications/PR Sam Knipp, 523-2347 Director of Corporate Communications Tyler Norvell, 523-2402

Dustin Mielke, 530-2640 Vice President of Public Policy

Director of Corporate Communications

Karolyn Marla Peek, Bolay, 523-2437 523-2320 Communications SpecialistAffairs Director of Regulatory

Popular Farm Bill conservation program seeks producer participation, deadline Jan. 17 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is opening the Conservation Stewardship Program for new enrollments for federal fiscal year 2014. Now through Jan. 17, 2014, producers interested in participating in the program can submit applications to NRCS. “Through the Conservation Stewardship Program, farmers, ranchers and forest landowners are going the extra mile to conserve our nation’s resources,” NRCS Chief Jason Weller said. “Through their conservation actions, they are ensuring that their operations are more productive and sustainable over the long run.”

The CSP is an important Farm Bill conservation program that helps established conservation stewards with taking their level of natural resource management to the next level to improve both their agricultural production and provide valuable conservation benefits such as cleaner and more abundant water, as well as healthier soils and better wildlife habitat.

Weller said the announcement is another example of USDA’s comprehensive focus on promoting environmental conservation and strengthening the rural economy, and it is a reminder that a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill is pivotal to continue these efforts. CSP is now in its fifth year and so far, NRCS has partnered with producers to enroll more than 59 million acres across the nation.

The program emphasizes conservation performance —producers earn higher

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payments for higher performance.

In CSP, producers install conservation enhancements to make positive changes in soil quality, soil erosion, water quality, water quantity, air quality, plant resources, animal resources Photo courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and energy.

Monitoring grazing areas in pastures is just one of the Some eligible enhancements through the CSP. popular enhancements used by farmers and ranchthe 2014 federal fiscal year. While local ers include: NRCS offices accept CSP applications • Using new nozzles that reduce the drift year round, NRCS evaluates applications of pesticides, lowering input costs and during announced ranking periods. To be making sure pesticides are used where eligible for this year’s enrollment, produc they are most needed; ers must have their applications submitted • Modifying water facilities to prevent to NRCS by the closing date. bats and bird species from being A CSP self-screening checklist is avail trapped; able to help producers determine if the • Burning patches of land, mimicking program is suitable for their operation. prairie fires to enhance wildlife habitat; The checklist highlights basic informa• Rotating feeding areas and monitoring tion about CSP eligibility requirements, key grazing areas to improve grazing stewardship threshold requirements and management. payment types.

Eligible landowners and operators Learn more about CSP by visiting the in all states and territories can enroll in NRCS website at nrcs.usda.gov.

CSP through Jan. 17 to be eligible during