An online survey – http://usdaprograms.questionpro.com/ – launched by the American Farm Bureau Federation will collect feedback from farmers and ranchers about their experiences with 10 Agriculture Department programs housed in three agencies. Results will be used by AFBF to develop recommendations on how USDA can enhance its programs and make them more useful to farmers and ranchers. All farmers and ranchers, not just Farm Bureau members, are encouraged to take the survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete. “Farmers and ranchers sometimes find it confusing and complex to participate in USDA programs,” said former AFBF President Bob Stallman. “At […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau is excited to launch OKAgPolicy, a brand-new outlet for Oklahoma agricultural policy information. Found at www.OKAgPolicy.org, the site serves as a resource for those interested in how legislation and regulation affects the agricultural industry. “When policy decisions are made in Oklahoma, agriculture is not always at the forefront of the conversation,” said Tom Buchanan, OKFB president. “Our family farmers and ranchers work hard to provide food and fiber for our state and our nation. As the voice of Oklahoma agriculture, OKAgPolicy is just one more way we can help protect those who produce our food.”  Along with […]

The Oklahoma House of Representatives Agriculture and Rural Development Committee today considered and approved several key bills affecting the agricultural industry. Each of the below bills now are available for consideration by the full House chamber. HB 2250, coauthored by Rep. Brian Renegar and Rep. John Enns, prohibits animal rights charitable organizations from raising funds inside Oklahoma for political purposes outside or inside the state. The bill passed out of committee unanimously. The bill is designed to protect Oklahomans and their charitable contributions by ensuring the donations help local animal shelters, rather than political agendas, Rep. Renegar said.  HB 2500, authored […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau will host its annual Legislative Conference March 7-8 in Oklahoma City at the Aloft Hotel. The conference is designed to inform members of legislative issues at the state and federal levels. Highlights of the two-day conference include updates on the State Question 777 campaign, the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation, the current legislative session and more. Attendees also will be able to attend a reception with OKFB’s 100 Percent Club. OKFB’s Champion Award winners, state leaders and legislators chosen for going above and beyond to protect and improve agriculture and rural Oklahoma, also will be recognized during […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau recently submitted comments on the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry’s proposed rules regarding feral hogs. The proposed rules create a feral swine-free zone which includes 11 northwest Oklahoma counties. They also increase recordkeeping requirements for transporting, handling and sporting facilities. Restrictions on bringing feral swine into the state also are made permanent by the rule.  ODAFF claims the rules will “adopt aggressive measures for the eradication of feral swine in the state of Oklahoma.” Yet OKFB found the rules lenient, saying the “proposed rules have the appearance of being a step in the right direction; […]

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Public Policy Division recently named Mark Yates its director of field operations. In the new position, Yates will serve as the face of Oklahoma Farm Bureau at various community and civic organizations and events. He will work to educate urban citizens on the importance and impact of agriculture in Oklahoma. “Oklahomans need to know the importance of agriculture in their every day lives,” Yates said. “I’m excited to serve as another voice representing agriculture and Farm Bureau.” To educate urban citizens, Yates will become a fixture in larger Oklahoma cities including Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Lawton, […]

OKFB President Tom Buchanan issued the following statement in response to Gov. Mary Fallin’s proposal to allow for increases in property taxes to fund local schools. “In the State of the State address today, Gov. Mary Fallin proposed changes in the manner ad valorem taxes are used for school districts. “As landowners, Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers know and understand that school district buildings belong to the patrons, or landowners, of the school district. Therefore, it is the patron’s responsibility to either build new buildings or maintain the existing buildings. The state’s current ad valorem, or property, tax process has served […]

The following article is from the winter 2016 edition of Oklahoma Country magazine’s Lincoln to Local column by OKFB Vice President of Public Policy John Collison. It’s that time again when the new year gets older and we at Farm Bureau look forward to another year at both Capitols. This year, however, is a special year for Oklahoma Farm Bureau. 2016 marks the 75th anniversary that we have been lobbying legislators at both the Oklahoma Capitol and in Washington, D.C. In these 75 years, many lobbyists have gone before us and have paved the way to the success we enjoy […]

An op-ed by Tom Buchanan, southwestern Oklahoma farmer, Lugert-Altus Irrigation District manager and Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. Over the past several years, Oklahoma experienced a severe water drought. While it was relieved last year by heavy rains, our state now faces another crisis: an economic drought. Beginning Feb. 1, the Oklahoma Legislature will search for answers to the $900 million budget shortfall. But, what if I told you our state watched $4.2 billion flow out of the state last year alone? Yes, you read that right. $4.2 billion with a B.  With the extreme rainfall in 2015, Oklahoma released approximately […]

As the 2016 legislative session approaches, Oklahoma Farm Bureau has invited state legislators to a welcome back reception Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. at the OKFB home office. Gov. Mary Fallin, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, Attorney General Scott Pruitt, Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese and other state leaders also are invited to the reception.  “We want our legislators to know who Farm Bureau is and what we stand for,” said Tom Buchanan, OKFB president. “Our welcome back reception is another opportunity for us to communicate with those making the decisions for our state.” Held each year, the reception allows […]