october 21, 2011

PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

®

October 21, 2011

Fall colors coming soon

A grove of trees near Stillwater is slowly beginning to show its autumn colors as the seasons change. The recent 5-inch rain parts of Oklahoma received has turned the landscape a brighter shade of green, just before orange and red shades take over.

Oklahoma is still in a drought, but with fall now here, farmers and ranchers are hoping more moisture is just around the corner.

Three weeks and counting until OFB Annual Meeting Oklahoma Farm Bureau will celebrate its 70th birthday at the upcoming annual meeting, Nov. 11-13, in downtown Oklahoma City. The convention provides an opportunity for members to vote on OFB policies and recognize the achievements of those who have made a difference in the organization over the past year.

The OFB Trade Show will once again be held on the first floor of the Cox Convention Center. Organizers report a record number of vendors are committed for the event, and hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Booth space is still available and can be reserved by calling Kelli Beall at (405) 523-2470.

The first three rounds of OFB’s discussion meet will kick off at 9 a.m. Friday with finals scheduled from noon to 1:15 p.m. Featured speakers on this year’s schedule include Channel 9 meteorologist Gary England for Friday’s opening session at 1:30 p.m. County awards, announcement of the discussion meet winner and a presentation of the Farm Family of the Year finalists also are scheduled for Friday’s opening business session.

On Saturday, voting delegates for the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting will be selected during the 9:30 a.m.

general session while the 2:15 afternoon session will feature OFB’s presidential address and presidential election. Country music star Joe Diffie will headline Saturday night’s awards banquet, scheduled for 7:45 p.m., where winners of the Farm Family of the Year, Excellence in Ag, Oklahoma YF&R Achievement and YF&R Farm Lifetime Legacy Bureau Awards also will 70th be announced. To Annual purchase banquet tickets, see Amy Meeting Wilson in the Meteorologist Gary England (left) trade show area. will speak during Friday’s 1:30 p.m.

A vespers and opening session. Country music memorial session singer Joe Diffie (right) will perform at will round out Saturday night’s banquet. the weekend’s events Sunday morning, with music provided. A detailed convention schedule will be included in the Nov. 4, issue of Perspective.

Member Benefits

• HughesNet – High-speed internet

available by satellite. New customers can call 1-866-556-9661 with their OFB membership ID and save an instant 10 percent.

• Atwoods – For farm, home and auto. In-

store specials for OFB members only. Visit atwoods.com for a list of Oklahoma locations.

OFB highlights a few benefits in each issue of Perspective as a reminder of the savings available to OFB members.

Find a complete list of savings online at okfarmbureau.org.

OFB Calendar OFB Annual Meeting November 11-13, 2011 • OKC Contact: Monica Wilke, (405) 523-2303 FBW Rally December 2-3, 2011 • OKC Contact: Marcia Irvin, (405) 523-2405 YF&R State Committee Meeting December 9-10, 2011 • OKC Contact: Chris Kidd, (405) 228-4001

One bridge at a time – Gov. Mary Fallin announced Oct. 3, a new plan to revamp the state’s bridge system. The “Bridge Improvement and Turnpike Modernization Plan” will identify and repair the Oklahoma state highway system’s 706 structurally deficient bridges by the year 2019.

Her plan also calls for projects that would reduce congestion on the Creek and Kilpatrick turnpikes. All improvements are promised without increasing taxes or tolls due to a raise in the annual ROADS fund increases.

“Having a safe, reliable and modern transportation infrastructure is important for Oklahoma’s economy and important for the safety of our citizens,” she said. “Our new ‘Bridge Improvement and Turnpike Modernization Plan’ will ensure that Oklahoma’s poor rankings become a thing of the past.”

For more on the bridge improvement plan, visit www.ok.gov/governor

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Monitor the latest Farm Bureau and agricultural news and information online at okfarmbureau.org.

Currently online: • Agriculture Headlines – Looking for the latest state agriculture news?

OFB’s homepage is updated daily with news and links on stories from the state capitol, the AFBF and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

• AFBF Annual Meeting – Hawaii in January! Visit the OFB website for details on this year’s AFBF Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, and find contact information for how to register.

www.okfarmbureau.org

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Oklahoma Country magazine on its way

Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Oklahoma Country publication is scheduled for delivery next week.

A free magazine for all OFB members, the upcoming fall issue features a mother/ daughter team working to promote authentic “Made in Oklahoma” products. Also, check out the story on cattle broker Eastern Livestock Company and how their bankrupty affected cattlemen here in Oklahoma.

This issue of Oklahoma Country also includes an annual meeting preview, a YF&R profile, the latest state Farm Bureau news, classifieds and tasty fall-flavored recipes!

Register now for AFBF Convention The 93rd American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting is Jan. 8-11, in Honolulu, Hawaii. To register, FB members should call their State Farm Bureau office.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s AFBF annual meeting contact is Melisa Neal. Call her at (405) 523-2475 for event details and travel arrangements.

Questions answered on Oklahoma’s business activity tax

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County Annual Meetings – District 1 Director Ervin Mitchell (left) visits with Cimarron County Farm Bureau President Larry Crews during the Cimarron County FB annual meeting, Sept. 29, in Boise City.

YF&R establishes new award m

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(See Business Activity Tax, page 4)

Oklahoma Farm Bureau is slated to sponsor the Tulsa Farm Show’s annual Herd Builder Private Treaty Cattle Sale, Dec. 8-10. Hosted by Midwest Shows, Inc., the event will be held at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds.

The private treaty sale is open to all breeds and includes heifers, bred heifers and cow-calf pairs. Also, health certification by a licensed veterinarian must be provided for all animals, and owners are required to be present during the sale. They also will be responsible for feeding and watering the animals along with stall upkeep. For more details about the Herd Builder Private Treaty Sale at the Tulsa Farm Show, call OFB Vice President of Field Services Thad Doye at (405) 523-2307.

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Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s public policy division has recently received several calls regarding the state’s business activity tax and what it means for farmers and ranchers.

To answer any questions OFB members might have, the public policy division offers the following information.

Before 1969, Oklahoma collected taxes on intangible personal property. Intangible personal property includes items such as trademarks, patents, royalties, copyrights, customer lists and goodwill.

Oklahoma stopped collecting taxes on intangible personal property tax when State Question 460 was adopted in 1968. State Question 460 amended the Oklahoma Constitution by adding Article 10, Section 6A, which provided a list of intangible personal property exempt from ad valorem or other tax. After this amendment was added to the Oklahoma Constitution, taxes were no longer collected on intangible personal property.

Then, the Oklahoma State Board of Equalization assessed taxes against intangible personal property owned by the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for the tax years 2005, 2006 and 2007. Southwestern Bell claimed all of its intangible property was exempt from ad valorem taxation. Southwestern Bell challenged the assessment in court, and the case made it to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. In 2009, the court found the exemption of taxes on intangible personal property only applied to those items specifically set forth in Article 10, Section 6A of the Oklahoma Constitution.

The ruling in the Southwestern Bell case raised concern throughout the Oklahoma business community. The case opened up the opportunity to once again assess tax on intangible personal property.

To address this issue, the legislature passed SJR 61 in 2010, which temporarily established the business activity tax (BAT). The BAT was created to act in lieu of all state

OFB sponsoring Tulsa cattle sale

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Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers organization will recognize the winner of a new award at this year’s annual meeting, Nov. 11-13, in Oklahoma City.

The OFB YF&R Lifetime Legacy Award will serve as a living memorial for any FB member and also recognize their life achievements. YF&R coordinator Chris Kidd said award winners will be judged on all life accomplishments and their life’s story – not just OFB success.

“Simply put, the Legacy Award is designed to recognize an individual who has spent their life enriching, inspiring, and elevating the quality of life of Oklahomans and rural Oklahomans alike,” he said.

“There’s a quote from JFK that sums it up, ‘I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we too, will be remembered not for the victories or defeats in battle, or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.’”

The first recipient of the YF&R Lifetime Legacy Award will be announced during the OFB Annual Meeting’s evening awards banquet Saturday, Nov. 12.

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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 Gail Banzet, 523-2346

Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2501 N. Stiles Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126

Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 131 Okla. City, OK.

Perspective/Online News Editor Traci Morgan, 523-2346 Monica Wilke, 523-2303 Perspective/Online News Editor Executive Director Sam Sam Knipp, Knipp, 523-2347 523-2347 Vice Vice President President of of Communications/PR Communications/PR Tyler Norvell, 523-2402 Vice Norvell, President of Public Policy Tyler 523-2402

Marla Peek, 523-2437 Vice President of Public Policy Director of Regulatory Affairs Marla Peek, 523-2437 Kinsey Money, 523-2539 Directorofof Regulatory Affairs Director Research & Policy Development

OFB remembers Taylor family sons After recently remembering James C. “Jim” Taylor, Oklahoma Farm Bureau also send its condolences to the family of J. Joseph “Joe” Taylor. Both are sons of OFB’s first president, John I. Taylor.

Joe Taylor of Elk City passed away April 15. He was 83.

Taylor worked as a rancher in the Saddle Mountain area until his retirement in 1994.

Both he and his brother, Jim, carried on the family tradition of supporting Oklahoma Farm Bureau and serving as lifetime members.

Taylor was a 1951 graduate of Okla-

homa A&M (Oklahoma State University) and, throughout his life, also was a member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and the Saddle Mountain Round Up Club, which originated on his ranch.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and their four children along with many grandchildren. The family requests memorial contributions be made to Oklahoma State University at 201 Conoco Phillips Alumni Center, c/o Oklahoma State University Foundation, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74074.

(Business Activity Tax, from page 3) and local ad valorem taxes on intangible personal property. Simply put, the BAT established a $25 annual flat tax on persons doing business in Oklahoma, so the BAT is paid instead of assessing taxes on intangible personal property. There are other provisions of the BAT, including provisions dealing with tax credits and franchise taxes that should be discussed with a tax professional.

The BAT will expire on Dec. 31, 2012.

When SJR 61was enacted, it established a task force to analyze the BAT. The task force will report their recommendations to the legislature in January 2012. At that time, the legislature will determine whether to permanently adopt the BAT or amend the Oklahoma Constitution to exclude all intangible personal property tax.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau is working closely with other groups to explore the possibility of a constitutional amendment.

For more information on SJR 61, contact the OFB Public Policy Division at (405) 530-2681.

DOL wants changes to youth labor rule

To the highest bidder – Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling gives the opening bid for the reserve grand champion steer at the Tulsa State Fair Livestock Premium Auction, Oct. 7. Also pictured is the auction’s master of ceremonies, Sam Howry. OFB was recognized as the volume buyer for the 2010 Tulsa State Fair Livestock Premium Auction.

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The Department of Labor is proposing requirements for farm and ranch employers that would place restrictions on youth labor.

Farm Bureau is concerned that the proposed rule would increase legal liabilities to farm families and force them to change the way they plant, harvest, handle livestock and work on the farm every day. Contact OFB Public Policy for information on submitting comments to the DOL. The comment submission deadline is Nov. 1.