Perspective Oklahoma Farm Bureau
www.okfarmbureau.org
February 6, 2015
Rep. Scott Biggs (right) issued a proclamation to Attorney General Scott Pruitt on Wednesday, Jan. 28, in support of his efforts against the Humane Society of the United States. Biggs signed the proclamation along with Rep. John Echols, Rep. Mark McBride, Rep. Casey Murdock, Rep. Tom Newell, Rep. John Pfeiffer and Rep. Mike Sanders.
Leadership Conference Feb. 16-17 in Oklahoma City
Statement from OKFB President Tom Buchanan on HSUS lawsuit against Attorney General Scott Pruitt klahoma Farm Bureau continues to work with all state leaders to preserve and protect agriculture and the lifestyle of farmers and ranchers across Oklahoma. “We know the mission of HSUS is to end modern production agriculture, as we know it. It is therefore no surprise that HSUS has engaged with the former Oklahoma attorney general — who opposed Oklahoma agriculture during his tenure — to shift the focus of the discussion away from improper fundraising activities of HSUS.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau has no direct knowledge of the legal proceedings other than what we have seen in the media. One of Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s goals has always been to protect Oklahoma farmers and ranchers from out of state groups, such as HSUS. OKFB welcomes an attorney general who gives Oklahoma agriculture a fair and equitable starting position on any issues today and in the future.”
Oklahoma Farm Bureau will host their annual Leadership Conference Feb. 16-17 in Oklahoma City at the Renaissance Oklahoma City Convention Center Hotel. The conference focuses on updating members on the legislative issues at state and federal levels for the year. For a full schedule of events, visit okfarmbureau.org. There is no registration required for the conference, but to make hotel room reservations, call the Renaissance Convention Center Hotel at 405-228-8000.
Farm Bureau Week is Feb. 16-20 Farm Bureau Week is quickly approaching! Newspaper ads promoting OKFB membership and involvement are available for those counties interested in running them in their local newspapers. Proclamations are also available to have signed by local officials and are a great way to spread the word about Farm Bureau. For more information about Farm Bureau Week and for access to the ads, contact Kelli Beall, OKFB Field Services Division, at (405) 523-2470. OKFB will be featuring county events on the OKFB website, so submit your county’s Farm Bureau Week activities to Karolyn Bolay at karolyn. bolay@okfb.org or at (405) 523-2320.
The truth about our investment in Oklahoma By Richard Newberry General Manager, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company s the largest domestic property and casualty writer in Oklahoma, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company has always been deeply committed to all 77 counties of our great state. Since 1946, OFBMIC has been here when our insured members need us most, providing the best customer service and issuing billions of dollars in claim payments. Our No. 1 goal has been and continues to be to help our insured members recover monetarily due to loss and damages from tornado, fire, hail, automobile, personal injury losses and much more. While other insurance companies talk about their investment in Oklahoma, we at Oklahoma Farm Bureau have invested millions of dollars in building brick and mortar offices in every part of our great state to serve our members. We employ more than 500 Oklahomans and we have a presence in all 77 counties. Additionally, we have invested millions of dollars in Oklahoma over the past 69 years as a corporate citizen supporting education, agriculture and people who need a helping hand. Another investment Oklahoma Farm
Bureau makes every year is paying premium taxes. Since 1994 we have paid $90 million in Oklahoma premium tax. As an Oklahoma insurance company with our home office located here, we have been able to enjoy a tax credit called the home office tax credit which amounts to a significant saving we use to help retain employees in every county across the state. Before talking about the tax credits, one must understand how Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company is taxed by the state of Oklahoma. Simply stated, our insurance company pays approximately $4 million every single year in premium taxes. This $4 million is paid regardless of profit or loss. Yes — that is correct — regardless of profit or loss! No other — Richard Newberry industry in our state has this type of punitive tax burden with no regard to financial loss. Imagine losing $81.9 million dollars during two years of catastrophic loss —which occurred in 2008 and 2009 — and not be allowed to file for a return. OFBMIC experienced eight long years of losses, all the while paying premium tax of approximately $32 million
As an Oklahoma insurance company with our home office located here, we have been able to enjoy a tax credit called the home office tax credit which amounts to significant savings we use to help retain employees in every county across the state.
during the same period. With this scenario, does OFBMIC appear to be a company that should lose any tax credit? A tremendous amount of challenges have been addressed within our company since 2009. The strategic changes made are now allowing our company to begin recovery. At the time of print for this column, it appears we should post a $10 million dollar profit for 2014. If we were in any other industry, and paid the highest corporate tax rate, we would owe $700,000 to the state of Oklahoma, which is grossly less than the $4 million we do pay. We would actually have to make a $57.1 million dollar profit (which has never happened since our inception in 1946) to be taxed at our current $4 million rate. Does this sound like an environment that attracts and retains Oklahoma based businesses serving and employing Oklahomans? Does OFBMIC appear to warrant losing our home office tax credit and be faced with an additional $1 million per year tax increase? We have one of the strongest grassroots organizations in Oklahoma, and that is only possible because of our members and their willingness to be heard on issues important to them. I urge you to stay aware of issues such as our home office tax credit. We may ask you to contact your state elected officials to let them know you oppose the elimination of any home office tax credit that would increase the current oppressive premium taxes for Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online #okfb15
Lincoln to Local
With a new year and new legislative session beginning, we have already begun using the 2015 hashtag for OKFB: #okfb15. Be sure to use the hashtag when you tweet so other Farm Bureau members can see what you are saying and contribute to the conversation.
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Now that the 2015 legislative session is underway, OKFB will once again be producing the Lincoln to Local video segment on YouTube. Each video will feature an update about what is happening with bills regarding OKFB members’ interests at the state Capitol. Be sure to watch at youtube.com/okfarmbureau.
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Oklahoma Country to hit mailboxes next week
The Magazine of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Volume 68 No. 1
Legacy Generations
of
Faith, family and farm drive our Farm Family of the Year.
The Tug of Leadership
OKFB members step up to serve.
Lincoln to Local
OKFB gears up for 2015 legislative session.
Consider the Benefits
Fire safety trailer saves lives through education.
he first 2015 edition of Oklahoma Country will be arriving in members’ mailboxes soon with a variety of information regarding OKFB and its members. The 52-page, newly redesigned issue features a story about the Krehbiels of Caddo County, Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Farm Family of the Year, as well as a story about the more than 40 Oklahoma Farm Bureau members who serve in the Oklahoma Legislature. The issue includes familiar content such as the Presidentially Speaking and Insurance Matters columns as well as the
popular All Around Oklahoma section. In an effort to provide more information to our members, we have added several new sections of content to Oklahoma Country. The “Lincoln to Local” section will be featured in each issue with information about OKFB public policy. A new “Consider the Benefits” portion has been added to highlight the numerous member benefits associated with a Farm Bureau membership. A “Convention Review” section has also been included to recap the news and award winners from the 2014 OKFB Annual Meeting.
Comanche County Farm Bureau recruits 17 new members at membership drive he Comanche County Farm Bureau membership drive proved successful on Jan. 19 in Lawton. The drive allowed Comanche County to sign up 17 new Oklahoma Farm Bureau members. “We are so proud and excited that Comanche County took the initiative to hold a membership drive and recruit more Farm Bureau members,” said Jennie Bruning, Oklahoma Farm Bureau member benefits coordinator. “They did a great job of spreading the word about what Oklahoma Farm Bureau does, and we hope more counties will hold membership drives like this to recruit more members.”
The membership drive in Lawton featured numerous speakers who talked about the benefits associated with an OKFB membership as well as the history of OKFB. There were 55 members and guests in attendance with dinner graciously donated by the Oklahoma Beef Council. If your county is interested in holding a membership drive, be sure to contact Jennie Bruning at the home office at (405) 530-2696 or at Jennie.Bruning@okfb.org. The membership and organization staff has a variety of tools and information available to help each county increase their membership in the next year.
Congressman Frank Lucas and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack celebrated the one-year anniversary of the 2014 Farm Bill in El Reno on Friday, Jan. 30. The two discussed the impact of the farm bill on the state of Oklahoma.
Member Benefits
Calendar
Orlando Vacations
OKFB Leadership Conference Feb. 16-17 — Oklahoma City Contact: Sara Rogers (405) 530-2681
Orlando Vacations is offering a number of discounts to OKFB members from now through Valentine’s Day. For more information about specific discounts, contact Jennie Bruning at (405) 530-2696. 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
Farm Bureau Week Feb. 16-20 — Statewide Contact: Kelli Beall (405) 523-2470 Registration Deadline for Congressional Action Tour March 2 — Washington D.C. Contact: Sara Rogers (405) 530-2681
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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
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STAFF DIRECTORY
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
Oklahoma Invasive Species Conference to be held March 13 in Norman he annual Oklahoma Invasive Species Conference will be held March 13 at the National Weather Center in Norman. The full day conference will incorporate a variety of invasive species issues important to the state of Oklahoma such as: crop weeds and pests, invasive species management, successful biocontrol of invasives and information on many different invasive species including invertebrates,
pathogens, plants and mammals. The effect of invasives on crops, natural areas and urban systems will be covered. The $30 registration fee will include full day conference participation, resource bag, lunch and break snacks and beverages. In-service credits and CEUs will be offered. More information and online registration is available at www.okinvasives.org.
Congressional Action Tour April 12-16, 2015 Deadline to register is March 2, 2015. Contact: Sara Rogers OKFB Public Policy Department (405) 530-2681 Sara.Rogers@okfb.org
FDA: Voluntary compliance, not enforcement, key to food safety regulations orking under tight court-mandated deadlines to finalize a series of Food Safety Modernization Act rules, Food and Drug Administration Deputy Commissioner Mike Taylor said his agency is focusing on three broad themes in implementing the 2011 law: the farm-to-table approach, practical common standards, and holding imports to the same standards as domestically produced foods. FSMA, Taylor said, codified the agency’s farm-to-table approach for food safety, which means everyone from farmers and ranchers, to transporters, food processors, retail outlets and consumers have a role in food safety. In drafting rules that work across a broad spectrum of farm types and regions, the agency is aiming to craft consistent standards applicable across the food system while ensuring those standards are
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workable for everyone. “It’s our job to be clear about expectations—practical expectations—and to work with the [regulated] community to achieve them,” Taylor said. Central to FDA’s efforts with FSMA is ensuring imported food is as safe as U.S.grown food. Currently, FDA inspectors only get a good look at 2 percent of imports. The proposed FSMA rules would shift that onus from FDA to importers who provide verification that the food meets U.S. standards. In putting all of these rules in place, FDA is focusing on voluntary compliance, rather than enforcement, Taylor emphasized. “Our operating assumption is that most people want to do the right thing. We’ll get a bigger public health bang for our buck if we’re working together with stakeholders on implementation,” he said. “We really see
the agriculture community as a primary constituency, a collaborative partner.” Taylor also touched upon the agency’s implementation of a voluntary process to phase out the use of medically significant antibiotics (those used to treat humans for illness) for feed efficiency and animal growth promotion, while retaining their use for the treatment and prevention of specific diseases, under veterinary supervision. “Most important in transitioning to this oversight is ensuring adequate access to veterinary services,” he said. “This is something we’re working on with USDA and AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association.).” Taylor was speaking to a group of farmers and ranchers from across the country during a workshop at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 96th Annual Convention.