May 16, 2014

PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

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May 16, 2014

OKFB proudly supports Oklahoma FFA program BELOW – OKFB YF&R State Secretary Josh Emerson visits with an Oklahoma FFA member about YF&R programs and activities during the state FFA Convention in Oklahoma City, April 30.

ABOVE – OKFB President Tom Buchanan (left) helps present a plaque to the 2014 Oklahoma State Star in Agriscience Gatlin Squires of Kingfisher during the state FFA Convention, April 30. Representatives from McDonalds and Atwoods Farm and Ranch are also pictured.

OKFB is proud to support Oklahoma’s FFA members.

ABOVE – State FFA Reporter Joshua Haven (left) and Oklahoma FFA Foundation board member Keith Kisling (right) accept an $11,000 donation from OKFB Executive Director Monica Wilke during the state FFA Convention, April 30. Oklahoma Farm Bureau was a Silver Level Sponsor of this year’s state FFA Convention.

YF&R sponsors Bushels for Books As wheat harvest approaches for many around the state, the OKFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee and the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation are asking producers to participate in the new Bushels for Books program created to educate Oklahoma youth about agriculture.

The program allows farmers to donate a few bushels from their wheat harvests – either by check or through their local co-ops – to purchase bushel baskets of accurate agricultural books to be placed in Oklahoma schools.

“The Bushels for Books program is an easy way for farmers across the state to ensure students understand the importance of agriculture,” OKFB YF&R Chairman Marty Williams said. “It is essential for students to have access to resources that accurately describe the agricultural industry

so they can grow up to be the next generation of producers or informed consumers.”

Teachers will be given the opportunity to apply for the books starting in August 2014. Applications will be sent to all Oklahoma schools and county Farm Bureau offices to encourage participation.

The program is open to all farmers, and donations are 100 percent tax deductible.

For questions about Bushels for Books, please contact OKFB YF&R Coordinator Holly Carroll at (405) 523-2397 or visit www.okfarmingandranchingfoundation.org to download a donation form.

Spring issue of Oklahoma Country now available The spring issue of Oklahoma Country hit mailboxes last week and is also available online in a digital format.

The current edition features stories about the state’s water supply, Caddo County FB member Karen Krehbiel’s book and a new OKFB member benefit. Visit www.okfarmbureau.org to find the digital version.

Member Benefits • Stroke Prevention Plus offers OKFB members a $25 discount on screenings for stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral vascular disease and osteoporosis. Contact your local county Farm Bureau office today to learn more.

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 Youth Leading Agriculture Conference June 23-26 • Oklahoma City Contact: Holly Carroll (405) 530-2681 OKFB Summer Conference July 11-12 • Midwest City Contact: Marcia Irvin (405) 523-2405 OSU Big 3 Field Days July 15-17 • Stillwater Contact: Holly Carroll (405) 530-2681

The session that wasn’t

By John Collison OKFB Vice President of Public Policy and Media Relations As we hit the last few days of the session we need to look back at the beginning to see what went wrong. Understand when I say wrong, I am referring to a session that saw nothing but crazy politics. From the very beginning, the session got off to a slow start when Rep. T.W. Shannon stepped down as Speaker of the House to pursue the open U.S. Senate seat. With the dominos that fell, it threw the House into turmoil. Leaders of committees fell and were replaced by loyal members to the new speaker, Rep. Jeff Hickman. Bill authors were changed and new committee assignments were handed out. This is usually done prior to session, but the new speaker had no other options.

We saw a session where tax increases to landowners and the oil and gas industry

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 annual OKFB Harvest Watch blog season is underway. Visit www.okfarmbureau.org and click on the OKFB Harvest Watch link to follow families from the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.

were on the table, and the push back that was created caused the butterfly effect to reign. We saw a session where 30,000 teachers descended upon the Capitol to ask for more money, yet Common Core and reading scores fell as the politics of John Collison the day ruled. We saw a session that told us it was ok to say “Merry Christmas” but not ok to talk about water and how we use it. We saw a session that had coon hunters attempting to take away property rights that you have fought so hard to maintain. We also saw a session where your Oklahoma Farm Bureau was able to put a stop to the elimination of the home office tax credit that would have cost your counties a million dollar tax increase.

As historians look back on 2014, I am sure they will talk about the session that was not. The session that saw the largest majority of republicans ever seen at the Capitol, yet they could not decide what to do with many important issues. I hope as we go though the election process, we elect men and women who look down the road to major issues that face Oklahoma. Issues like making sure our kids rank at the top in education or making sure we have a competitive environment for our farmers and ranchers to thrive. I also sincerely hope we will address the most pressing issue of the future – water.

We can no longer afford to waste such a valuable commodity. It will take years of leadership and commitment but I know we will have leaders in the future who will face this issue head on. As we move into next year’s session, I hope we can hit the reset button and work on issues that truly make a difference in Oklahoma.

OKFB offers home warranty programs for members Oklahoma Farm Bureau is pleased to announce an exclusive member benefit that provides protection and peace of mind for homeowners. A variety of home warranty programs are now available through Global Home, USA, in conjunction with alliance partner Wingspan Insurance Services.

Home warranties help safeguard homeowners by covering the repair and/or replacement costs of home appliances, major systems such as heating and cooling and other components of a home not normally covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy.

Global Home, USA provides competitive pricing, customizable programs and a dedicated support team to help OKFB members protect their homes.

“We know what makes a project succeed.

With an industry-leading reputation for delivering quality work, quick turnarounds and supplying an experienced staff for each project, we have proven our ability to produce desired results for some of the leading financial institutions in the world,”said E.J. Kite of Wingspan Insurance Services.

“We look forward to demonstrating those

abilities and results through an exclusive home warranty product offering for Oklahoma Farm Bureau members.”

Global Home, USA offers OKFB members three exclusive home warranty options: Gold Plan: provides piece of mind with sensible coverage that fits everyone’s budget.

Platinum Plan: this premium package includes all of the major home systems and appliance covered by the Gold Plan as well as those that might easily be overlooked.

Elite Plan: the most comprehensive package includes many coverage options providing the highest level of protection for added security from unexpected repairs.

Home warranty products are available for existing homes and can help defray expenses related to aging appliances and systems. In addition, home warranties are often purchased or included during the sale of a home. Sixty-six percent of homebuyers report the failure of two major items in

their home within the first year of ownership. Whether you have lived in your home for an extended period of time, or you are buying or selling a home, a warranty is a wise investment.

“Our partnership with Global Home, USA and Wingspan Insurance Services is just another way we are striving to help members protect their property while adding value to their Oklahoma Farm Bureau membership,”OKFB Executive Director Monica Wilke said.

“We are proud to offer a number of discounts and services that save money and make life easier.”

For more information or to sign up for your home warranty, please contact E.J. Kite at ej.kite@wingspanadvisors.com or (214) 254-2180.

School storm shelter

Safety OKFB’s Todd Honer teaches students about tractor mower safety during the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day, May 7, in Alva. The Woods County Farm Bureau helped sponsor the event.

Natural Resource Journey

A group of Elgin fourth graders participate in the Natural Resource Journey at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, May 2. Comanche County FB members annually serve as volunteers for the outdoor learning experience that reaches nearly 1,000 area students.

Shelter Oklahoma Schools presents a $100,000 check to Fairview Public Schools, May 1, to help build a storm shelter for Fairview students.

The funds include a donation from the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation made after last spring’s deadly tornadoes.

District 7 Rep. John Enns visits with District 7 Farm Bureau leaders about agricultural issues during a legislative dinner in Enid, May 1. The group also heard from Sen. Patrick Anderson.

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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

OKFB Leadership Team teaches more than 1,200 elementary students about agriculture, gives away bikes RIGHT – OKFB Leadership Team member Roberta Hughes presents a new bike to Landon, a third grader from Winding Creek Elementary, during the event, May 8.

ABOVE – OKFB’s Chris Kidd (right) plays one of the My American Farm online educational games with students from Cleveland Elementary during the Kids, Kows and More Super Ag Day, held May 8-9, at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

LEFT – OKFB Leadership Team chair Kitty Beavers presents a new bike to Carlos, a third grader from Houchin Elementary, during the event, May 9.

Ag census: OK producers aging slower than national rate Oklahoma remains fourth in the nation in number of farms, according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agriculture census occurs every five years and takes into account details specific to the operations of farmers, ranchers and other ag producers across the United States.

Farmer demographics is included in the data compiled. The 2012 numbers reflect the average age of the Oklahoma producer is equal to that of the national average; 58.3 years old. However, the age of Oklahoma producers has slowed since 2007; perhaps indicating an increase in young producers returning to the farm.

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Like all producers, younger farmers were not immune to the obvious increase in production expenses. From 2007 to 2012 there was an increase in the market value of ag products sold. There was also an increase in production expenses. However the increase in production expenditures outpaced the increase in total ag products sold by 5%.

In Oklahoma, livestock, poultry and their product values outpaced the crop values by a rate of nearly 3:1. This is in contrast to the US trend where crop values dominated the market values for the first time since 1974.

In Oklahoma of the $6.7 billion total production expenses, $3.7 billion was livestock or poultry purchases and feed expenses.

Producers began receiving census forms in December 2012. Following a two year mission, the Census of Agriculture culminates in a full report detailing millions of pieces of information outlining the structure of Oklahoma’s agriculture. Like the products reported on in the ag census, the data would not be possible without the support and participation of farmers and ranchers.

“I would like to thank Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers for responding to the Ag Census,” said Oklahoma State Statistician Wilbert Hundl. “It’s a privilege to work with ODAFF as they continue to cooperate with USDA NASS to provide detailed facts about Oklahoma’s agriculture.”