Jan. 8, 2016

Perspective OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

WWW.OKFARMBUREAU.ORG

Jan. 8, 2016

AFBF’S 2016 Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show features workshops on regulations, technology and more

lection of a new president and vice president to lead the American Farm Bureau Federation, great speakers and dynamic educational workshops will highlight the organization’s 2016 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show in January. The event takes place Jan. 9-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Nearly 7,000 Farm Bureau members from across the nation are expected to gather to hear from distinguished leaders and participate in a grassroots policy-setting process that will guide AFBF through 2016.

During the annual convention’s business session, voting delegates will select new leaders for the nation’s largest farming and ranching organization.

Farm Bureau members may choose from two dozen workshops covering a variety of topics and issues on Sunday, Jan. 10 and Monday, Jan. 11. Topics covered will include environmental regulations, the latest ag technology trends, trade, food

safety and transparency, economic issues affecting today’s farmers, and skills and ideas leaders can take home and apply at their county and state Farm Bureaus.

Also during the convention, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher members will participate in YF&R competitive events. Clint and Jessica Wilcox will compete for the YF&R Achievement Award, Tyler and Beth Norvell for the Excellence in Agriculture competition, and Charlie Coblentz in the YF&R Discussion Meet.

Convention kickoff The convention will kick off with the opening general session on Sunday morning, when AFBF President Bob Stallman will share Farm Bureau’s direction for 2016. At the closing general session on Monday morning, acclaimed real estate mogul and “Shark Tank” investor Barbara Corcoran will give the closing keynote address, providing insights on teamwork

and courage when faced with pressure-filled situations.

Cultivation Center On Sunday and Monday, the Cultivation Center on the IDEAg Trade Show floor will serve as the educational centerpiece of the trade show. Located in the middle of the show floor, behind the AFBF booth, the Cultivation Center features a seating area where exhibitors, sponsors, educators and ag enthusiasts will present 15- to 30-minute sessions. Topics will include exhibitors’ newest and best ideas, FRED Talks (Farmer and Rancher Education) and previews of upcoming convention sessions.

The Cultivation Center is also the location for the AFBF Presidential Candidates Forum (Jan. 9) and the Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet “final four” round (Jan. 11).

For more information,visit www.annualconvention.fb.org.

Vegetarian and ‘healthy’ diets could be more harmful to environment, researchers say

By Shilo Rea, Carnegie Mellon University ontrary to recent headlines – and a talk by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger at the United Nations Paris Climate Change Conference – eating a vegetarian diet could contribute to climate change.

In fact, according to new research from Carnegie Mellon University, following the USDA recommendations to consume more fruits, vegetables, dairy and seafood is more harmful to the environment because those foods have relatively high resource uses and greenhouse gas emissions per calorie.

Published in Environment Systems and Decisions, the study measured the changes in energy use, blue water footprint and GHG emissions associated with U.S. food consumption patterns.

“Eating lettuce is over three times worse in greenhouse gas emissions than eating bacon,” said Paul Fischbeck, professor of social and decisions sciences and engineering and public policy. “Lots of common vegetables require more resources per calorie than you would think. Eggplant, celery and cucumbers look particularly bad

when compared to pork or chicken.”

Fischbeck, Michelle Tom, a Ph.D. student in civil and environmental engineering, and Chris Hendrickson, the Hamerschlag University Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, studied the food supply chain to determine how the obesity epidemic in the U.S. is affecting the environment. Specifically, they examined how growing, processing and transporting food, food sales and service, and household storage and use take a toll on resources in the form of energy use, water use and GHG emissions.

On one hand, the results showed getting weight under control and eating fewer calories has a positive effect on the environment and reduces energy use, water use and GHG emissions from the food supply chain by approximately 9 percent.

However, eating the recommended “healthier” foods – a mix of fruits, vegetables, dairy and seafood – increased the environmental impact in all three categories: Energy use went up by 38 percent, water use by 10 percent and GHG emissions by 6 percent.

“There’s — Paul Fischbeck a complex Professor, CMU relationship between diet and the environment,” Tom said. “What is good for us health-wise isn’t always what’s best for the environment.

That’s important for public officials to know and for them to be cognizant of these tradeoffs as they develop or continue to develop dietary guidelines in the future.”

CMU’s Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research and the Colcom Foundation funded this research.

Eating lettuce is over three times worse in greenhouse gas emissions than eating bacon.

Video highlights California farmer’s struggles with federal regulators on water issues A new video produced by the American Farm Bureau Federation highlights the struggles a California farm family has encountered with federal water regulations. The video also illustrates how the climate regarding water regulations will likely become much worse and encompass the entire nation under the widely-reviled Waters of the U.S. rule. Find the video by visiting www.fbvideos.org.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online AFBF Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show this week If you’re not headed to Orlando, Florida this week, make sure to follow Oklahoma Farm Bureau on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates on convention events including policy changes, AFBF awards and more.

facebook

twitter

2 | perspective

pinterest

instagram

flickr

wordpress

Ballot measure the next step in protecting farming rights Featuring John Collison, OKFB vice president of public policy, the High Plains Journal last week published an article detailing State Question 777, or the Right to Farm constitutional amendment, to be voted on in November. Find the link to the story on the OKFB Facebook page.

soundcloud

youtube

www.okfarmbureau.org

Samples named vice president of strategic corporate communications klahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies recently promoted Becky Samples to vice president of strategic corporate communications. In her new role, Samples will work with senior leadership and oversee communications for Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies.

“Becky is a tremendous asset to our organization, and we look forward to her leadership in this new role,” said Monica Wilke, executive director, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies. “As the state’s largest general farm organization, Becky will lead OKFB’s efforts to efficiently and effectively communicate with our

membership, including policyholders of our insurance company.”

Previously, Samples served as strategic communications director of OKFB. Before joining OKFB, she served as the communications manager for Groendyke Transport in Enid, Oklahoma and as public relations director for the City of Enid.

She is a native of north Alabama and earned her Bachelor of Arts in public relations from Auburn University. Samples is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma Class XXVIII.

AFBF: Farmers’ year-long push results in congressional action on tax incentives ongress’ recent passage of legislation making permanent or extending several tax provisions important to agriculture is a great example of how the groundwork farmers and ranchers have laid all year can pay off. Over the past 12-plus months they have been explaining to their lawmakers how tax provisions like section 179 small business expensing and bonus depreciation make the difficult business of running a farm more manageable.

In the past, Congress had approved one- or two-year extensions—sometimes retroactively—of these critical provisions.

Though that was helpful, not knowing from one year to the next whether key small business tax provisions would be available made it extremely challenging for farmers

and ranchers to make the best decisions about equipment purchases and other farm and ranch improvements and investments.

This year though, lawmakers made permanent a number of Farm Bureausupported tax incentives, including Section 179 small business expensing, with a maximum amount of $500,000 and indexed for inflation. Also made permanent are provisions related to the donations of conservation easements, food donations (expanded for people using cash accounting), deductions for state and local sales taxes and charitable contributions to ag research organizations.

Congress also provided for an additional 50 percent bonus depreciation for the purchase of new capital assets, including

agricultural equipment, through 2017, 40 percent for 2018 and 30 percent for 2019.

Provisions for home-grown, renewable fuels, which expired at the end of 2014, are extended through 2016.

Alongside the package of tax provisions, lawmakers on Capitol Hill headed off more than $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs from Canada and Mexico by repealing mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef, chicken and pork sold in the U.S. Looking to 2016, farmers and ranchers will continue to build on the foundation they’ve laid this year on issues related to voluntary GMO labeling, Endangered Species Act reform, agriculture’s labor needs and more.

Member Benefits

Calendar

Farm Bureau Bank

2016 AFBF Convention Jan. 10-13 — Orlando Contact: Melisa Neal 405-523-2475

Start off the new year right by making sure your finances are in order!

Farm Bureau Bank offers access to a broad array of financial services for members. Checking, loans, CDs, money markets and credit cards are just a sampling of the services available only to members. Learn more by calling 800-492-3276 or visiting www.farmbureaubank.com.

www.okfarmbureau.org/benefits

OKFB Campaign Management Seminar Jan. 15-16 – Norman Contact: Marla Peek 405-523-2437 Oklahoma Legislature Convenes Feb. 1 – Oklahoma City Contact: John Collison 405-530-2681

oklahoma farm bureau | 5

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

STAFF DIRECTORY

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

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

Executive Director Monica Wilke 405-523-2303 VP of Strategic Corporate Communications Becky Samples 405-523-2528 VP of Public Policy John Collison 405-523-2539 Director of Corporate Communications Dustin Mielke 405-530-2640 Director of Public Policy Communications Hannah Nemecek 405-523-2346

Kislings make donation to Farming and Ranching Foundation he Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation is proud to recognize Keith and Marlene Kisling as Silver level supporters.

The Kislings farm near Burlington, Oklahoma, and are active in promoting production agriculture across the state and the nation.

Keith Kisling currently serves on the board of directors for Oklahoma Farm Bureau and has served as chairman of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission Board and chairman of the U.S. Wheat Associates Board.

He has received State and American

Honorary FFA Degrees and the Kisling Family has been honored as the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year.

“Our generous donors are one of our greatest sources of pride,” said Jeramy Rich, President of the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation. “Keith and Marlene Kisling have devoted their lives to producing food and fiber and supporting production agriculture through their state and national leadership roles. It is encouraging for them to see the importance of our programs and to choose to commit their resources to this foundation.”

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Oklahoma

Farming and Ranching Foundation is committed to enhancing awareness and understanding of agriculture’s importance to the state. Through educational programs for citizens of all ages, the Foundation aims to help Oklahomans understand the positive impact agriculture has on the state and the importance of protecting it for future generations.

For more information on the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation and its programs, please visit www. okfarmingandranchingfoundation.org, or contact Amanda Rosholt at amanda. rosholt@aggiving.org or (405) 202-1463.