January 10, 2014

PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

®

January 10, 2014

Comanche County FB hosts annual legislative dinner RIGHT – Rep. Ann Coody, R-Lawton, discusses the upcoming legislative session during the Comanche County Farm Bureau legislative dinner, Dec. 30, in Lawton. Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, and Rep. Don Armes, R-Faxon, also spoke about issues affecting Oklahoma agriculture and the successful 2013 session. More than 70 people attended the event to hear from their area legislators.

LEFT – Comanche County Times reporter Venius Matthys (left) and outgoing Comanche County FB President Don Hankins are recognized during the Comanche County FB legislative dinner, Dec. 30, in Lawton. Matthys was named an OKFB Journalist of the Year during the annual meeting but was unable to attend in November. Hankins was recognized for serving 15 years as president.

Mikles joins Oklahoma Farm Bureau field services staff Brittany Mikles of Elk City is Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s new southwest field representative. Mikles started her new position with OKFB January 2.

“I’m excited to join the Farm Bureau team and to work closely with the dedicated members in southwest Oklahoma,” Mikles said. “I really appreciate the organization’s mission to protect rural Oklahoma, and I look forward to promoting Farm Bureau’s continued support of Oklahoma agriculture.”

The Turpin native recently graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in agricultural leadership. As a stu-

dent, she interned with the USDA Risk Management Agency in Oklahoma City.

Mikles’ family operates a farm in Texas County, raising cattle and growing wheat and milo, and has been involved in Oklahoma Farm Bureau for several years.

Follow OKFB for AFBF Convention information Can’t make it to San Antonio for the 95th Annual AFBF Convention, Jan. 12-15? Be sure to follow OKFB on social media for convention highlights and news.

Photos and information will be posted daily, and you can use #AFBF14 to follow the action on Facebook and Twitter.

Brittany Mikles

Member Benefits • Great Wolf Lodge offers OKFB members a 20 percent discount. Use the code OKFB105A. Visit www.greatwolf.com for more information or call (866) 925-9653.

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 Oklahoma Legislature Convenes Feb. 3, 2014 • Oklahoma City Contact: John Collison (405) 523-2539 OKFB Women’s Leadership Team Our Food Link Day Feb. 11, 2014 • Oklahoma City Feb. 12, 2014 • Tulsa Contact: Marcia Irvin (405) 523-2405 OKFB Leadership Conference Feb. 17-18, 2014 • Oklahoma City Contact: Sara Drozdowski (405) 530-2681

My American Farm releases global agriculture game The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has released a new educational game entitled “The Great Seed Search” that gives learners the opportunity to experience the global nature of the agriculture industry.

In this simulation game, players enter coordinates and pilot a plane around the world collecting important seeds. Through challenges in the game, players learn about other cultures, geography and agricultural products.

The game and supporting educational resources can be found at http://www.myamericanfarm.org/games/ great_seed_search/.

This game was developed with guidance from The Asia Society and The Longview Foundation, who served as global literacy subject matter experts. Technical experts volunteered their time to support content development, research and review.

“Agriculture is global. Exposing our students to this fact at a young age is im-

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.

perative both for their education as well as for the success of the industry. Asia Society is proud to partner with American Farm Bureau and Longview Foundation on this important initiative,” said Heather Singmaster, assistant director of education for The Asia Society.

My American Farm is an educational game platform launched in 2011 to engage pre-K through fifth grade learners in the discovery of relevant agricultural issues. Today the free site offers 19 agriculturally-themed games and more than 100 free educator resources such as lesson plans, activity sheets and comics.

The My American Farm educational resource is a special project of the Foundation. The site and resources are made possible through the generous support of title sponsor, DuPont Pioneer. To take advantage of the free My American Farm resources, games and activities, visit www.myamericanfarm.org.

OKFB president shares outlook on All Around Oklahoma Ag Don’t miss OKFB President Tom Buchanan’s perspective on the state of Oklahoma’s agricultural industry in one of the latest editions of OKFB’s audio feature All Around Oklahoma Agriculture.

Buchanan discusses commodity profitability and the impact of water deficits in the western half of the state. All Around Oklahoma Agriculture is accessible through the OKFB website or www.soundcloud. com/okfarmbureau.

USDA’s Economic Research Service releases food price outlook for 2013-2014

YF&R Committee Planning District 1 YF&R Committee members Derek and Mary Crain (left) share ideas with District 5 representative JT Bain during the committee’s initial planning meeting Friday, Jan. 3. The group discussed events and activities for 2014, including the annual YF&R leadership conference and a youth video contest. Visit the YF&R website at www.okfarmbureau.org/yfr or follow them on Facebook for more information about activities throughout 2014.

Ag Hall of Fame nominations sought Oklahoma has a rich agricultural history thanks to dedicated farmers. In 1998, the Governor’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Agriculture was created to recognize those who have helped lead the industry while demonstrating exemplary personal values and pursuing agricultural achievements in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is accepting nominations for this award through Feb. 7. The award winner will be inducted into the Oklahoma Agricultural Hall of Fame located at the agency headquarters in Oklahoma City.

Examples of eligible agriculture enterprises are: livestock and crop production, agribusiness, forestry, horticulture and nursery management. In addition to considering the nominee’s production agriculture involvement, the application also recognizes leadership in agricultural and state organizations as well as additional awards and honors. The winner will be someone with at least 25 years in agriculture who derives the bulk of his or her income from agriculture or has retired from an agricultural enterprise.

Previous award-winners have repre-

sented different areas of Oklahoma as well as a variety of agricultural groups and commodities. Past recipients have guided their families and communities to success by excelling as dairymen, cattle ranchers, pork producers, wheat farmers, conservationists and educators. Uniting previous Hall of Fame inductees is their service to their community in addition to their contribution to the agriculture industry.

“The Governor’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Agriculture gives us the opportunity to recognize those individuals who have made a positive and lasting impact on agriculture in our state,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese.

The deadline for all nominations is Friday, Feb. 7 at 5 p.m. The recipient will be selected by a committee of representatives from agricultural commodity organizations and farm and ranch organizations.

Any questions regarding the nomination procedure or completion of the official nomination form can be directed to Jason Harvey at (405) 522-5563. The nomination form can be found at www.ag.ok.gov/ odaff-halloffame.htm.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service has released its Food Price Outlook for 2013-2014.

Based on current conditions, ERS’s 2013 inflation forecast predicts increases of 1.25 to 1.75 percent for all food prices, with food-at-home prices predicted to increase 0.75 to 1.25 percent. This means prices are likely to increase less than they did in 2012 and that annual inflation should be lower than the 20-year historical average of 2.8 percent. Food-at-home prices are on track for the fourth-lowest annual increase since at least 1980.

The impact of the 2012 drought on retail food prices has been less than initially forecast. The inflationary pressure of the drought has been offset by factors such as decreased exports and increased imports of many U.S. agricultural products, a stronger U.S. dollar, low energy price inflation, and decreased prices for many commodities unaffected by the drought.

Looking ahead to 2014, ERS forecasts that food price inflation will return to a range closer to the historical norm.

Inflationary pressures are expected to be moderate, given the outlook for commodity prices, animal inventories, and ongoing export trends. Retailer margins, having contracted since the drought, may expand in 2014 given moderate input prices, which should contribute to inflation. The food, food-at-home and food-away-from-home consumer price indices are expected to increase 2.5 to 3.5 percent over 2013 levels. This forecast is based on an assumption of normal weather conditions; however, a resurgence of the drought in key agricultural areas or other severe weather events could potentially drive up food prices beyond the current forecasts.

Looking ahead to 2014, ERS forecasts that food price inflation will return to a range closer to the historical norm.

Inflationary pressures are expected to be moderate, given the outlook for commodity prices, animal inventories and ongoing export trends.

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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

National Corn Growers Association names 2013 yield contest winners For nearly a half century, the National Corn Growers Association’s National Corn Yield Contest has provided corn growers the opportunity to compete with their colleagues to grow the most corn per acre, and several Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are being recognized for their efforts to help feed and fuel the world. The contest not only gives participants the recognition they deserve, but the opportunity to learn from their peers.

Winners receive national recognition in publications such as the NCYC Corn Yield Guide, as well as cash trips or other awards from participating sponsoring seed, chemical and crop protection companies. In San Antonio, Texas, during the 2014 Commodity Classic, state winners will be recognized at the NCYC Breakfast and national winners will receive awards at the Awards Banquet.

Below are the 2013 NCGA National Corn Yield Contest winners from Oklahoma: Rank

Entrant

1 2 3

Gayla Ledbetter Wayne Sloan Steve Sloan

City

Hybrid Brand

Number

Yield

Okmulgee Gore Gore

Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer

P2088YHR P1395R P0876HR

214.8723 172.5475 156.90553

Non-Irrigated

No-Till/Strip-Till Non-Irrigated 1 2 3

Scotty Herriman Cody Sloan Ritchie Farms LLC

S. Coffeyville Gore Garvin

DEKALB Pioneer Pioneer

DKC64-69 P2023HR P2088YHR

222.9866 210.8846 111.0009

1 * 2 3

Colby Thrall Ed Keezer Bruce McDaniel Connie McDaniel

Boise City Clayton Felt Felt

Pioneer DEKALB Pioneer Pioneer

P1625CHR DKC62-97 P1768AMX P1625CHR

292.2456 264.0787 259.9323 255.8780

T&S Farms Ed Keezer MMB Farms

Texhoma Clayton Texhoma

Channel DEKALB Channel

217-08VT3P DKC64-69 215-52VT3P

330.3495 303.4677 294.3622

Irrigated

No-Till/Strip-Till Irrigated 1 2 3

* National Corn Yield Contest rules state that each individual membership is eligible to win only one national and one state trophy in the contest. If an entrant enters two or more hybrids and all place as a winner or runner-up, a trophy will be awarded only for the highest ranked (not necessarily highest yield) hybrid. We use the asterisk (*) to indicate that there is an entry under the same membership number that has placed higher and been awarded a trophy, which in turn knocks out the asterisked entries from being awarded a trophy.

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