News Stories

Oklahoma Delegates Help Form Policies To Guide Farm Bureau In 2003 Voting delegates at the 2003 American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Tampa, Florida, agreed with Oklahoma farmers and ranchers to make country of origin labeling voluntary. Congress recently passed language in the 2002 farm bill mandating country of origin labeling. "We felt like it was important to give farmers and ranchers more time and flexibility," said Steve Kouplen, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. "This should allow us to take better advantage of the labeling law." Delegates also voted to oppose banning packer ownership of livestock within 14 days of processing. […]

YF&R Winter Conference is set for Jan. 31 – Feb. 2 in Shawnee1/10/2003 Contact: View posting details… Young agricultural producers as well as those interested in the agriculture industry are invited to attend Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 2003 Young Farmers & Ranchers Winter Conference which will be held Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 in Shawnee. Geared toward establishing a connection with other young people in the business, the three-day conference will focus on fun, fellowship and agriculture. Young farmers and ranchers will discuss agricultural ideas, learn about YF&R state and national contests, tour Shawnee agricultural areas, and be briefed on legislative […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau, along with several other organizations and state agencies, will be hosting an ethanol workshop in Oklahoma City Jan. 28. Fuel ethanol production has reached historic levels. In some states, it supports rural economies. In others, fuel ethanol reduces air pollution. All across the U.S., ethanol reduces dependence on imported oil and provides consumers with energy diversification and added fuel choice. The workshop, “Setting the Stage for Ethanol in Oklahoma,” will delve into such questions as: Could Oklahoma tap its own resources to produce some of its own transportation fuel? What would be involved? What would be the […]

After two years and more than 12,000 public comments, the Environmental Protection Agency has revised the controversial Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) regulations into " a more reasonable and less burdensome package," Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s regulatory specialist said today. "You can’t beat common sense, responsive government," said Marla Peek. Farm Bureau has questioned the accuracy of EPA data used to formulate CAFO rules, which would have expanded EPA’s regulatory scope from an estimated 3,000 livestock operations to 39,000 nationwide. Under the new rules, 12-15,000 operations will be covered. When the rules to reduce residue from livestock waste were first announced […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Visits Cuba Fidel Castro wants to buy Oklahoma wheat and Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Steve Kouplen says he’s ready to sell! Kouplen, a Beggs farmer and rancher, has just returned from a seven-day trade mission to Cuba sponsored by Farm Bureau. "We made it clear to the Cuban government we’re willing to sell our products to them," Kouplen said. Cuba’s struggling economy, mired in a decades-long slump, is a major stumbling block to trade with the U.S. So is the political climate. Current U.S. law allows exports of food and medicine, but only on a cash […]

OFB establishes political agriculture fund Saying it was time to step up and strongly support friends of agriculture, delegates at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau annual meeting voted to establish a political action fund. The delegate action occurred during the farm group’s 61st annual meeting, Nov. 9-11 in Oklahoma City. Carefully avoiding the term “political action committee”, Farm Bureau members said they wanted to elect legislative leaders who understand agriculture without getting mired in the negative connotations of a PAC. Officially the committee is referred to as the OK Ag Fund. “Shrinking rural populations combined with legislative term limits have set […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau has launched a new Web site featuring online classified ads. The new site, The Sale Ring, is designed to offer OFB members a place to buy, sell or trade agricultural products online. All visitors to the new site are welcome to browse the categories listed. Ad placings are FREE for Oklahoma Farm Bureau members. Those who are not yet Farm Bureau members have the opportunity to register online for OFB membership, thus ensuring their ability to place ads on this unique site. The Sale Ring allows members to buy, sell or trade a variety of products and […]

Water and water rights issues topped the list of policy recommendations submitted by county Farm Bureaus for consideration by members of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Resolutions Committee Oct. 29-30. Committee members edited and consolidated more than 600 resolutions addressing state and national issues at the Oklahoma City meeting. The list was categorized to integrate similar ideas in preparation for OFB’s 61st annual meeting Nov. 9-11, where delegates from the 77 counties will meet at Oklahoma City’s Cox Convention Center to determine organizational policy for 2003. Many policy recommendations submitted dealt with controversial water and water rights issues. The recommendations committee […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau & Affiliated Companies was a major buyer at the 2002 Tulsa State Fair Junior Livestock Premium Auction Oct. 4. The state’s largest farm organization purchased 22 of the prize-winning animals that made the annual premium auction. Farm Bureau was recognized with the 2001 Volume Buyer Award, marking the second consecutive year the organization was the buyer of the largest number of animals in the sale. The exhibitors of the prize-winning animals Farm Bureau purchased were: ø Carla Church of Sentinel for a market steer. ø Lacey Deatherage of Fairland for a market steer. ø Brianna Smith of […]

Almost 600 youngsters participated in the 12th annual Oklahoma Farm Bureau-sponsored Oklahoma State Fair Livestock Judging Contest Sept. 28 in Oklahoma City. The contest gave youngsters the opportunity to test their judging skills on cattle, swine and sheep while competing for $2,000 worth of prizes plus plaques and ribbons. Results in the senior 4-H division, which was for 4-H members 14 and older, were: • Teams: McCurtain County’s (Valliant 4-H) Courtney Coffman, Jake Mullens, Sabrina Meeks and Chelsea Coffman, first; Kay County’s Gayle Buellsefeld, Salye Bersman, Justin McMurtrie and Ross Kubik, second; and Washita County’s (Canute 4-H) Kylie Kupksa, Caittyn […]