PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
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April 6, 2012
In This Issue
Congressional Action Tour 2012
• Congressional Action Tour • YF&R Golf Classic • OYE Sale of Champions • YF&R Speech Contest • YF&R Leadership Conference • Legislative Visits/Dinners
March 25-29, Washington, D.C.
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1. Oklahoma Farm Bureau leaders and members recently visited the nation’s capitol to discuss agricultural policy issues with Oklahoma’s senators and representatives. For a press release on the event, see the News section at www. okfarmbureau.org. To view additional photos, select the “galleries” section 4. under the News tab. PHOTOS (1) – OFB members on capitol hill. (2) – members with 5th District Rep. James Lankford, (3) – 4th District Congressman Tom Cole, (4) – Sen. Jim Inhofe discusses current policies in Washington, (5) 3rd District Rep. Frank Lucas addresses the prospect of a new 5. farm bill in 2012.
Four bills pass through committee By Chris Kidd, OFB Director of State and National Affairs FARM BUREAU
Legislative Update Oklahoma lawmakers in the House and Senate are now well into the second rounds of committee and floor work with many Oklahoma Farm Bureau key pieces of legislation passing out of their assigned committees. HB 2994, authored by Rep. Tom Newell and Sen. Dan Newberry, protects landowners from being forced to fund the majority of a paving district without a majority of the acres consenting. It passed out of the Senate General Government Committee. HB 1952, authored by Rep. McNiel and Sen. Gary Stanislawski, limits the authority of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to weigh vehicles at temporary scales. It passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee and has also been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Finally, HB 2188 and HB 2189 prohibit the commercial production and transportation of castor beans. Authored by Rep. Dewitt and Sen. Schulz, the bills unanimously passed the Senate floor and have been sent to the governor’s desk.
OFB cattle sale to feature extension talks A series of cattle extension specialists are scheduled to speak Friday, April 20, during the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Herd Builder private treaty sale. The sale will be held in conjunction with the Southern Plains Farm Show at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, April 19-21. The extension talks will cover topics such as reinvesting in your beef herd and pasture recovery from drought. All presentations are free and open to the public. In addition to the cattle presentations on Friday, ranchers are still welcome to participate in the Herd Builder sale, open to bulls, cows and heifers. For more information about the extension talks or to register for the Herd Builder sale, call Thad Doye at (405) 523-2307. Extension Talk Schedule Friday, April 20 10-11 a.m. – livestock market outlook and reinvesting in the beef herd, Rodney Jones 11-11:30 a.m. – livestock and forage insurance as risk management tools, JJ Jones 12-12:30 p.m. – pasture recovery following drought, Daren Redfearn 12:30-1 p.m. – current tax issues, JC Hobbs 1-1:30 p.m. – ag leasing issues, Shannon Ferrell