Perspective OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
WWW.OKFARMBUREAU.ORG
AUGUST 22, 2014
OKFB to hold press event at Port of Catoosa with U.S. Rep. Mullin klahoma Farm Bureau will be hosting a press event on Aug. 28, 2014, at Gavilon Grain at the Port of Catoosa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event, beginning at 9 a.m., will provide valuable discussion among water leaders in our state about the economic impact on agriculture provided by the Port of Catoosa and waterway systems. “The Port of Catoosa and the Navigational Waterway System is vitally important to Oklahoma’s agricultural industry,” said OKFB President Tom Buchanan. “We must
continue to invest in this critical infrastructure to ensure we are making the most of our water resources in the state.” Attendees will hear from Buchanan, as well as director of the Port of Catoosa Bob Portiss, U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin and Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese. Mullin will shed some light on the subject of the proposed — Tom Buchanan EPA rulings, including the Waters of the United States rule and the Water Resources Reform Development Act. Reese will discuss the importance of
The Port of Catoosa and the Navigational Waterway System are vitally important to Oklahoma’s agricultural industry.
multimodal transportation centers to the agricultural industry in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are encouraged to attend the event to ask questions and educate themselves on the topic of water in Oklahoma. “Our members, along with many other Oklahomans, are interested in our water resources when it comes to agricultural production,” Buchanan said. “This is the prime opportunity for them to hear from experts on the issue and ask questions.” A representative from Gavilon Grain will also be at the event to talk about the impact of grain shipments at the Port. For more information about the event, contact Sam Knipp by phone at 405-5232347 or by email at Sam.Knipp@okfb.org.
August Area Meetings District 1
OKFB’s John Collison talks public policy development with District 1 August Area Meeting attendees on August 14 in Woodward. Water, ad valorem taxes, oil and gas booms in western Oklahoma and wind energy topped the list of policy concerns from members in the district.
District 3
OKFB board member Rodd Moesel participates in policy discussion at the District 3 meeting in El Reno on Aug. 12. Key topics included statewide water quality and quantity, county road conditions and the Endangered Species Act.
2014 OKFB Annual Meeting
Sustainability highlights upcoming cattle seminar
Nov. 14-17 in Tulsa, Oklahoma The Oklahoma Farm Bureau annual meeting will be held Nov. 14-17 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The annual meeting will be held at the Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center. For information, call the hotel at 918-307-2600. The overflow hotel, which is now taking reservations, is the Marriot Courtyard. You can contact them at 918-994-4500, or you can follow the link on the OKFB website to view the hotel’s site. For more information, contact Melisa Neal at 405-523-2475.
Convention Highlights: • YF&R Discussion Meet • Breakout Sessions • Award Recognitions • Tradeshow • Saturday Night Entertainment: The Peterson Brothers
Members of the OKFB Women’s Leadership Team sponsored the Oklahoma Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference in Oklahoma City, Aug. 7-8. The women set up a booth and recruited new members from across the state to join the Women’s Leadership Team.
s fall approaches, beef cattle producers in the Southern Great Plains are preparing to wean calves and developing plans to get the cow herd through the winter months. To provide regional livestock producers with the information to make better, more informed decisions, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation will host a Fall Cattle Seminar from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the Noble Foundation Kruse Auditorium. “Cattle producers in the Southern Great Plains have many reasons to be optimistic,” said Deke Alkire, Ph.D., Noble Foundation livestock consultant, “such as spring rains, record cattle prices and lower feed prices. This seminar will provide cattle producers with the information to capture as much profit as possible.” This seminar will focus on issues that are key to the process: supplementation strategies for weaned calves and wintering cows, developing replacement heifers and marketing considerations based on price outlook. David Lalman, Oklahoma State University professor, will discuss increasing efficiencies of the cow herd. A producer panel will conclude the seminar discussing how they are preparing now for the winter. While there is no registration fee, preregistration is encouraged. To register for this seminar, please visit www.noble.org/ agevents or contact Jackie Kelley at 580-224-6360.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Rains help him go from despair to hope! OKFB’s Sam Knipp visits with Guthrie, Oklahoma, farmer Paul Freundt about his successful growing season. Freundt grows grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat and grass hay on his northwest Oklahoma farm. You can visit the OKFB website to listen to all the Ag First radio spots — we put a new segment up every weekday!
2 | perspective
flickr
wordpress
Twitter: #okfb14 To keep up with all things OKFB on Twitter, search for the hashtag #okfb14. Our communications team has recently been using it to update our followers about August Area Meeting discussions, but you can also use it to stay up to date on county resolutions and engage with other OKFB members. Join the conversation!
soundcloud
youtube
www.okfarmbureau.org
No-till on the Plains Tour
Matt Alig, Kingfisher County Farm Bureau member, shows participants the products of his Okarche, Oklahoma, farm.
Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee Chairman Marty Williams (right) hosts members of the No-till on the Plains bus tour on his farm near Red Rock, Oklahoma.
Jay Leno to address 96th AFBF Convention
Jay Leno
cclaimed late night TV host Jay Leno will give the closing session keynote address at the 96th AFBF Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show in San Diego on Jan. 12, 2015. About 7,000 Farm Bureau members from across the nation are expected to gather in San Diego Jan. 11-14 to hear from distinguished leaders and participate in a grassroots policy setting process that will guide the American Farm Bureau Federation through 2015. Leno, an admired stand-up comedian and former host of The Tonight Show, is also a best-selling children’s book author, TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering
car builder and mechanic, and philanthropist. He has been characterized as “the hardest-working man in show business.” “We are excited to have Jay Leno as one of our keynote speakers,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “We will be considering some very important policy issues during our time in San Diego, so it will be nice to take a break from the business at hand and share a lighter moment with Jay Leno.” Farm Bureau members can register for the 96th AFBF Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show through their state Farm Bureaus or online through AFBF at http://annualconvention.fb.org starting Sept. 1, 2014.
Member Benefits
Calendar
Case IH
Press Event with U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin Aug. 28 at 9 a.m. — Port of Catoosa Contact: Sam Knipp (405) 523-2347
Case IH provides Oklahoma Farm Bureau members with $300-500 discounts on popular farm equipment and utility vehicles including tractors, balers and various mower conditioners. OKFB highlights a benefit in each issue of Perspective as a reminder of the savings available to OKFB members. You can find a complete list of savings on the Oklahoma Farm Bureau website.
www.okfarmbureau.org/benefits
YF&R Award Applications Due Oct. 1 — Statewide Contact: Holly Carroll (405) 523-2307 County Resolutions Deadline Oct. 10 — Statewide Contact: Sara Rogers (405) 530-2681
oklahoma farm bureau | 3
Published by Oklahoma Farm Bureau Published Oklahoma Farm Bureau Postmaster:by Send address corrections to: Postmaster: Send address corrections to: Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332 Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332
Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2501 N. Stiles Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126
STAFF DIRECTORY
Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 131 Okla. City, OK.
Executive Director Monica Wilke 405-523-2303 VP of Public Policy and Media Relations John Collison 405-523-2539 Directors of Corporate Communications Sam Knipp 405-523-2347 Dustin Mielke 405-530-2640 Communications Specialists Karolyn Bolay 405-523-2320 Samantha Smith 405-523-2346
Buchanan appears on FOX-TV klahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan was interviewed by FOX-TV regarding the recent proposed rulings by the Environmental Protection Agency. Buchanan talked about the national “Ditch the Rule” campaign and how the proposed WOTUS rulings would affect farmers, ranchers and homeowners.
FOX-TV photographer Anthony West interviews OKFB President Tom Buchanan about the national “Ditch the Rule” campaign.
Oklahoma Forestry Services conducting inventory in several counties hat type of forest or woodlands is present in Harper, Hughes, Seminole and Woodward Counties? What tree species? Is our forest healthy? These and many other questions will be answered as a Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) crew from Oklahoma Forestry Services begins collecting data on plots in these Oklahoma counties. Foresters began this important data collection in 2009. Each subsequent year, foresters continue gathering information about the amount of land under forest cover, the type of forests and tree species that are present, tree size, invasive species and forest health issues. “Healthy forests and woodlands provide Oklahoma with many valuable goods and services,” said State Forester George
4 | perspective
Geissler. “We are collecting information about our forests in all 77 counties which will improve our planning and management strategies and ensure our citizens receive the greatest benefit possible.” The analysis is conducted on randomly located plots across private, industrial, and public lands and includes both forested and non-forested areas. Private landowners are contacted directly by mail if a plot falls on their land. The information gathered from this analysis determines the status of the local forest resource and shows trends seen in the forests of Oklahoma. This data also contributes to similar nationwide efforts of the USDA Forest Service. “The information we collect is added to the national database to give policymakers the data they need to make informed deci-
sions for the future of our forest resources,” said Forestry Inventory and Analysis Coordinator Carri Abner. “We appreciate landowners allowing us access to their land so we will have an accurate assessment of Oklahoma’s trees and forests.” Crews will be traveling in marked Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry vehicles and will be carrying proper identification with them. Landowners and lessees can assist in this endeavor by granting crews access to property if an FIA plot falls on their land, as well as telling others about the program. They are also welcome to be present when the crew is conducting the measurements. If you would like more information, contact Carri Abner at 918-290-9208 or carri.abner@ag.ok.gov.