The deadline for OKFB’s Campaign Management Seminar has been extended to January 27. The seminar will be held Feb. 13 – 14 in Oklahoma City. The two-day seminar is open to any candidates running for public office, at any level, along with their spouses and campaign managers. The seminar will cover a variety of topics including budget preparation, campaign structure, and handling interviewers. Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are eligible to receive a discount of $40 to the seminar. If anyone is interested in the seminar, you can download the registration form and brochure here or you can contact the public […]
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Oklahoma Farm Bureau backs amendment reinstating funding for horse slaughter inspections
Oklahoma Farm Bureau supports Sen. Jim Inhofe and Rep. Markwayne Mullin as they present an amendment to strike a provision in the omnibus appropriations bill that makes it illegal for the USDA to inspect horse processing facilities. The bill is expected to be considered, passed and signed by the President by the end of the week and will fund the federal government through Sept. 30, 2014. “Our Oklahoma delegation understands these horse slaughter facilities are humane solutions to the challenge of abandoned, abused and otherwise neglected horses,” OKFB President Tom Buchanan said. “We applaud their efforts to obtain funding for […]
Farm Bureau delegates set public policy positions for 2014
Voting delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 95th annual meeting approved resolutions that will provide the organization with authority from its grassroots members to push Congress toward the goal line on unfinished issues like the farm bill and ag labor. “Securing victories on those issues is critical to our competitiveness as individual farmers and ranchers, and to our nation’s success as a food producer,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman, who was re-elected to his eighth two-year term as the organization’s president. “Farm Bureau made progress on our priorities this past year, more so than most other organizations, and this […]
American Farm Bureau Convention kicks off on Jan. 12
The American Farm Bureau’s 95th Annual Convention starts this weekend, Jan. 12, in San Antonio, Texas. The convention will offer a variety of speakers and workshops for those attending. The convention starts with the opening general session on Sunday morning with AFBF President Bob Stallman. Other speakers will be Alan Robertson, a brother and star from the popular show “Duck Dynasty”, Gen. Stan McChrystal, and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. There will also be more than 25 educational workshops offered during the convention. The workshops are organized into five tracks: Building Better Advocates. Just talking about the issues is not enough […]
Ag Hall of Fame nominations sought
Oklahoma has a rich agricultural history thanks to dedicated farmers. In 1998, the Governor’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Agriculture was created to recognize those who have helped lead the industry while demonstrating exemplary personal values and pursuing agricultural achievements in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is accepting nominations for this award through Feb. 7. The award winner will be inducted into the Oklahoma Agricultural Hall of Fame located at the agency headquarters in Oklahoma City. Examples of eligible agriculture enterprises are: livestock and crop production, agribusiness, forestry, horticulture and nursery management. In addition to considering the […]
Deadline approaching for 2014 farm energy audits
For farmers with a new year’s resolution to save money on operating costs, an agricultural energy management plan (AgEMP), commonly called a farm energy audit, is a good place to start. Funding is available for AgEMPs, through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Farm energy audits generally identify opportunities to reduce between 10% and 35% of total farm energy use, which enables farmers to take greater control of their energy use and increase their energy independence. Funding is limited for 2014, with several states facing funding deadlines early in the new year. Application deadlines vary from state to state, […]
Duck Dynasty’s Alan Robertson to speak at AFBF meeting
Alan Robertson, the “beardless brother” on A&E’s hit reality TV show “Duck Dynasty,” will be the keynote speaker at a general session at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2014 Annual Convention, Jan. 12-15, 2014, in San Antonio. Before rejoining Duck Commander in 2012, Alan was a full-time minister at White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ in Louisiana for more than 25 years. He and his wife, Lisa, enjoy helping carry out the family’s commitment to spreading the gospel of Christ through their love of hunting and the great outdoors. More than 7,000 Farm Bureau members from across the nation are […]
Agricultural education travels Oklahoma roads
Agricultural education has never been more important. And now, thanks to a trio of Oklahoma institutions, it has never been more mobile either. This winter, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation’s youth education and outreach program – Noble Academy, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, and the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation launched a new mobile agricultural education trailer called the Grown For You mobile classroom to provide students a fun, fast and factual look at Oklahoma agriculture. Grown For You provides an interactive look into agriculture and highlights the commodity crops grown in Oklahoma. “This trailer was designed to illustrate the importance of […]
Oklahoma Farm Bureau names 2013 Champion Award recipients
Fifteen of the state’s top agricultural advocates – including Gov. Mary Fallin – will receive the Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2013 Champion Award during the OKFB Leadership Conference, Feb. 17-18, at the Skirvin Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Board of Directors is recognizing the state leaders and legislators for going above and beyond to protect and improve agriculture and rural Oklahoma during the 2013 legislative session. “As the state’s largest agricultural organization, we are committed to preserving the livelihood and legacy of our fellow farmers and ranchers,” OKFB President Tom Buchanan said. “It is an […]
Proposed food safety rules miss the mark
The first major reform of food safety laws in seven decades, the Food Safety Modernization Act, was enacted in January 2011 with the intent of making food safer and reducing foodborne illness. However, the Food and Drug Administration’s plans to put FSMA rules in place are too broad to do the job well, according to farmers. Among Farm Bureau’s top concerns with the proposed regulations is FDA’s apparent unwillingness to focus on commodities that are associated with foodborne illness. “We urge FDA to reconsider standards that take into account the relative risks and comparative benefits associated with individual commodities. FDA […]
