Perspective OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
Oklahoma Farm Bureau partners with governor’s food drive
ounty Farm Bureau offices across The food drive runs through Oct. 31 and Oklahoma are once again serving as Gov. Fallin is encouraging businesses, orgadrop-off locations for Gov. Mary Fallin’s fifth nizations and individuals to make donations annual Feeding Oklahoma Drive. The goal to her Feeding Oklahoma Drive in order to of the food and meet the needs of fund drive is to our hungry neighraise enough bors this winter. food and funds For a complete to provide 2 list of participating million meals to businesses, or to help feed famimake a monetary — Gov. Mary Fallin lies, children donation online, and seniors in the state. visit www.feedingoklahoma.org. All dona The month-long food drive will benefit tions are tax deductible and will benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, the hungry Oklahomans. Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and their partner agencies. “Time and again, Oklahomans have proven themselves to be the most caring and giving individuals in the nation,” Gov. Fallin said. “Last year, Oklahomans from all 77 counties came together and donated over 2 million meals in time for the holiday season. This year, we can do even more for the hungry in our state.” More than 675,000 Oklahomans struggle with hunger every day. The Regional Food Bank provides enough food to feed more than 110,000 people each week, 37 percent of which are children. The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma distributes more than 335,000 meals per week. Demand increases during the holiday season. “Oklahoma Farm Bureau is proud to participate in this honorable effort to feed hungry Oklahomans,” said OKFB President Tom Buchanan. “Farmers and ranchers produce an Gov. Mary Fallin kicked off her fifth annual food drive on abundance of safe and affordable Oct. 1. Farm Bureau offices across the state will serve as food, which should be shared with those who need it most.” drop-off locations for the food drive.
Time and again, Oklahomans have proven themselves to be the most caring and giving individuals in the nation.
WWW.OKFARMBUREAU.ORG
OCTOBER 17, 2014
Farm bill meetings to be held this fall he Farm Service Agency will be holding informational meetings regarding the implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill, October through December, across the state. Many different speakers will be presenting during the meetings including Oklahoma State University, Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Development and National Agricultural Statistics Service. Along with the meetings listed below through the end of October, the FSA, RMA and OSU will host breakout sessions on this topic during the Oklahoma Ag Expo, Nov. 3, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and during the OKFB Annual Meeting, Nov. 14, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. For a full list of meetings through December, visit okfarmbureau.org. Please RSVP with the county’s OSU Extension office if you plan to attend.
Oct. 16 — Gordon Cooper Tech Center Shawnee, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 22 — Muskogee County Ext. Office Muskogee, 9:30 a.m. Oct. 23 — Kingfisher County Fairgrounds Kingfisher, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 28 — Payne County Expo Center Stillwater, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 29 — Autry Tech Center Enid, 5:30 p.m.
Attorney General Scott Pruitt spoke with members during the Canadian County Farm Bureau annual meeting and also is slated as a keynote speaker for this year’s annual meeting in November.
Attorney General Scott Pruitt to speak at 2014 OKFB Annual Meeting in November KFB is pleased to welcome Attorney General Scott Pruitt to the 2014 Annual Meeting as a keynote speaker. Pruitt will speak during the opening session of convention on Friday, Nov. 14, at 1:30 p.m. Scott Pruitt was elected the attorney general of Oklahoma in November 2010. As attorney general, he is dedicated to fighting corruption, safeguarding Oklahoma’s vulnerable citizens, championing public safety measures to reduce violent crime and protecting the interests of the State of Oklahoma and its citizens. Pruitt established Oklahoma’s first federalism unit in the Office of Solicitor General to combat unwarranted regulation and overreach by
the federal government. He is a national leader in the cause to restore the proper balance of power between the states and federal government, having served two terms as president of the Republican Attorneys General Association. Pruitt filed the first lawsuit challenging the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, is a leading advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda, and is leading a multistate lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Dodd-Frank financial law. Before being elected attorney general, he served eight years in the Oklahoma State Senate where he was a leading voice for fiscal responsibility, religious freedom and pro-life issues.
Oklahoma Country hits mailboxes he fall issue of Oklahoma Country has found its way to members’ mailboxes in the last couple weeks! Be sure to take a look at your print copy, or click through the online version under the publications link at okfarmbureau.org. The magazine features stories about a western-Oklahoma corn maze and an urban teacher who is bringing agriculture to her classroom. Inside you also will find a list of political candidates supported by the OKAgFund and a preview of what this year’s convention will bring. Also included is the popular All Around Oklahoma section, as well as the Country Classifieds and columns written by OKFB’s president and executive director.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online OKFB Convention schedule released
Facebook: County annual meeting photos
The preliminary schedule for the 2014 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Annual Meeting has been released on the OKFB website. Visit our home page to learn more about the theme of this year’s convention and what you can expect to see on the agenda. Be sure to mark your calendars to attend the convention Nov. 14-16 in Tulsa.
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The OKFB field representatives and staff have been traveling the state to attend a majority of the county annual meetings. OKFB has been working hard to share photos from many of the county meetings to keep members across the state informed about topics discussed at each location.
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Farm Bureau urges Senate to ditch proposed water rule he American Farm Bureau Federation is urging the Senate to tell the EPA to withdraw its proposed Waters of the U.S. Rule and restore the integrity of the rulemaking process. In a letter sent to all members of the Senate, AFBF cited a recent letter sent by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy to the EPA. After a thorough evaluation, the SBA office’s letter called on the EPA and the Corps of Engineers to withdraw the WOTUS rule. “The SBA Office of Advocacy found that EPA and the Corps used conflicting
and even incorrect data in order to claim minimal impacts on small business and that they cherry-picked the data used in their economic analysis,” AFBF wrote. Farm Bureau has vigorously articulated its view that the Environmental Protection Agency’s analysis of its proposed rule is flawed and the manner in which it has conducted this rulemaking is broken. “The SBA Office of Advocacy has now validated our concerns,” American Farm Bureau wrote. “Now is the time for all senators to join the bipartisan effort to have this rule withdrawn.”
OKFB’s Sam Knipp visited with Rep. Bill Shuster and Rep. Markwayne Mullin, both members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, after their tour of the Port of Muskogee on Oct. 7.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau had a busy night at the Tulsa State Fair Livestock Premium Auction on Oct. 2. OKFB was recognized as the volume buyer for the 2013 Tulsa State Fair Livestock Premium Auction and OKFB, along with the Oklahoma Pork Council and the Tulsa Ringmasters, bought in on the grand barrow shown by Delynna Beard with El Reno FFA.
Member Benefits
Calendar
Choice Hotels
State Resolutions Meeting Oct. 21-22 — Oklahoma City Contact: Sara Rogers (405) 530-2681
OKFB members can save up to 20 percent off their next stay at thousands of Choice Hotel locations when they call in advance. The offer includes hotels such as Comfort Inn, Econolodge and Sleep Inn among others. 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
OSU Rural Economic Outlook Conference Oct. 31 — Stillwater Contact: Kareta Casey (405) 744-9836 OKFB Annual Meeting Nov. 14-16 — Tulsa Contact: Melisa Neal (405) 523-2475
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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
Register now to attend Oct. 31 Rural Economic Outlook Conference at OSU
Six district farm families named
gricultural lenders, producers, agribusiness managers and rural leaders planning to attend the Rural Economic Outlook Conference taking place Oct. 31 on Oklahoma State University’s Stillwater campus should register now. “This year’s conference will focus on trends and expectations regarding the rural economy and agriculture,” said Damona Doye, OSU Cooperative Extension farm management specialist. “Speakers will address global and local issues that should inform decisions for the coming year.” Cost is $50 if registering by Oct. 24 and $75 thereafter or at the door. Registration includes the Oct. 30 catered reception and breakfast, lunch and refreshment breaks during the Oct. 31 conference. Registration forms are available online or by contacting Kareta Casey of the OSU department of agricultural economics at 405-744-9836. Doye said participants are asked to pre-register, if possible. “Not only is there a cost savings, it greatly aids the planning process and helps ensure that sufficient numbers of meals, refreshments and conference materials are on hand,” she said. “We want to make the conference as useful and enjoyable as possible to all participants.” The 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday conference will take place at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, located on Hester Street across from the Student Union. “We’re especially pleased to have as a
ix Oklahoma Farm Bureau families from across the state have been nominated for the prestigious Farm Family of the Year award. The winner will be announced during the OKFB Annual Meeting in November and will receive a plaque and an expense-paid trip to the 2015 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. For more information about each family, visit okfarmbureau.org. Nominated families are listed below in numerical order by district.
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keynote speaker Mr. Michael Swanson of Wells Fargo, an agricultural economist and senior vice president with the largest commercial agricultural lender in the United States,” Doye said. “He will discuss why the grain and livestock markets are not about population and gross domestic product.” Based in Minneapolis, Swanson’s responsibilities include analyzing the impact of energy on agriculture and forecasting for key agricultural commodities and livestock sectors. He helps develop credit and risk strategies and performs macroeconomic and international analysis on agricultural production and agribusiness. Additional sessions will provide the latest information and insights about the challenges and dangers of Eastern redcedar encroachment on Oklahoma lands; a Farm Bill update; Oklahoma water issues; searching for the “new normal” as the U.S. and Oklahoma economies recover; land values, rental rates and farm characteristics; and the grain and livestock markets. Sessions will be led by Garey Fox, interim director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Center at OSU; Sam Fuhlendorf, OSU Groendyke Chair for Wildlife Conservation; and agricultural economists Doye, Jody Campiche, Larry Sanders, Dave Shideler, Kim Anderson and Derrell Peel; all of the university’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Anyone seeking additional information about the conference should call the agricultural economics department at 405-744-9836.
District 1: The Mayer Family Tyler and Naomi — Texas County
District 3: The Krehbiel Family Karen and Brittany — Caddo County
District 4: The Fisher Family Roger and Kayla — Cotton County
District 6: The Morris Family Tony and Kathy — Nowata County
District 8: The Temple Family Raymond and Mary — Garvin County
District 9: The VanCoervering Family Gene VanCoervering — Payne County