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PerspectiveOKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

OCTOBER 17, 2014

Farm bill meetings to be held this fall

he Farm Service Agency will be holding informational meetings

regarding the implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill, October through December, across the state. Manydifferentspeakerswillbepresenting during the meetings includingOklahomaStateUniversity,FarmServiceAgency,RiskManage-ment Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Develop-ment and National Agricultural Statis-tics Service. Along with the meetings listed below through the end of October, the FSA, RMAandOSUwillhostbreakoutsessionsonthistopicduringtheOkla-homa Ag Expo, Nov. 3, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and during the OKFB Annual Meeting, Nov. 14, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. For a full list of meetings through December,visitokfarmbureau.org.PleaseRSVPwiththecounty’sOSUExtensionofficeifyouplantoattend.

Oct. 16 — Gordon Cooper Tech CenterShawnee, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 22 — Muskogee County Ext. OfficeMuskogee, 9:30 a.m.

Oct. 23 — Kingfisher County FairgroundsKingfisher, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 28 — Payne County Expo CenterStillwater, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 29 — Autry Tech CenterEnid, 5:30 p.m.

ountyFarmBureauofficesacrossOklahomaareonceagainservingas

drop-offlocationsforGov.MaryFallin’sfifthannualFeedingOklahomaDrive.Thegoalof the food and fund drive is to raise enough food and funds to provide 2 million meals to help feed fami-lies, children and seniors in the state. Themonth-longfooddrivewillbenefittheRegionalFoodBankofOklahoma,theCommunityFoodBankofEasternOkla-homa and their partner agencies. “Timeandagain,Oklahomanshave proven themselves to be the most caring and giving individuals inthenation,”Gov.Fallinsaid.“Lastyear,Oklahomansfromall77coun-ties came together and donated over 2 million meals in time for the holiday season.Thisyear,wecandoevenmore for the hungry in our state.” Morethan675,000Oklahomansstrugglewithhungereveryday.TheRegionalFoodBankprovidesenoughfood to feed more than 110,000 peopleeachweek,37percentofwhicharechildren.TheCommunityFoodBankofEasternOklahomadistributes more than 335,000 meals perweek.Demandincreasesduringthe holiday season. “OklahomaFarmBureauisproudtoparticipateinthishonorableefforttofeedhungryOklahomans,”saidOKFBPresidentTomBuchanan.“Farmers and ranchers produce an abundanceofsafeandaffordablefood, which should be shared with those who need it most.”

Oklahoma Farm Bureau partners with governor’s food drive

ThefooddriverunsthroughOct.31andGov.Fallinisencouragingbusinesses,orga-nizationsandindividualstomakedonationstoherFeedingOklahomaDriveinorderto

meet the needs of our hungry neigh-bors this winter. For a complete list of participating businesses, or to makeamonetarydonation online,

visitwww.feedingoklahoma.org.Alldona-tionsaretaxdeductibleandwillbenefithungryOklahomans.

Gov. Mary Fallin kicked off her fifth annual food drive on Oct. 1. Farm Bureau offices across the state will serve as drop-off locations for the food drive.

Time and again, Oklahomans have proven themselves to be the most caring and giving individuals in the nation.

— Gov. Mary Fallin

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Oklahoma Farm Bureau OnlineOKFB Convention schedule released

The preliminary schedule for the 2014 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Annual Meeting has been released on the OKFB website. Visit our home page to learn more about the theme of this year’s convention and what you can expect to see on the agenda. Be sure to mark your calendars to attend the convention Nov. 14-16 in Tulsa.

www.okfarmbureau.org

Facebook: County annual meeting photosThe OKFB field representatives and staff have been traveling

the state to attend a majority of the county annual meetings. OKFB has been working hard to share photos from many of the county meetings to keep members across the state informed about topics discussed at each location.

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Oklahoma Country hits mailboxes

he fall issue of Oklahoma Country has found its way to

members’ mailboxes in the last coupleweeks!Besuretotakealookatyourprintcopy,orclickthroughthe online version under the publica-tionslinkatokfarmbureau.org. Themagazinefeaturesstoriesaboutawestern-Oklahomacornmaze and an urban teacher who is bringing agriculture to her classroom. Insideyoualsowillfindalistofpolitical candidates supported by the OKAgFund and a preview of what this year’s convention will bring. Also included is the popular All AroundOklahomasection,aswellastheCountryClassifiedsandcolumnswritten by OKFB’s president and executive director.

Attorney General Scott Pruitt to speak at 2014 OKFB Annual Meeting in November

KFB is pleased to welcome Attorney GeneralScottPruitttothe2014

AnnualMeetingasakeynotespeaker.Pruittwillspeakduringtheopeningsessionofconvention on Friday, Nov. 14, at 1:30 p.m. Scott Pruitt was elected the attorney generalofOklahomainNovember2010.As attorney general, he is dedicated to fightingcorruption,safeguardingOkla-homa’s vulnerable citizens, championing public safety measures to reduce violent crime and protecting the interests of the StateofOklahomaanditscitizens.PruittestablishedOklahoma’sfirstfederalismunitintheOfficeofSolicitorGeneraltocombatunwarranted regulation and overreach by

the federal government. He is a national leader in the cause to restore the proper balance of power between the states and federal government, having served two terms as president of the Republican Attor-neysGeneralAssociation. PruittfiledthefirstlawsuitchallengingtheimplementationoftheAffordableCareAct, is a leading advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda, and is leading a multistate lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of theDodd-Frankfinanciallaw.Beforebeingelected attorney general, he served eight yearsintheOklahomaStateSenatewherehewasaleadingvoiceforfiscalresponsi-bility, religious freedom and pro-life issues.

Attorney General Scott Pruitt spoke with members during the Canadian County Farm Bureau annual meeting and also is slated as a keynote speaker for this year’s annual meeting in November.

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Member Benefits CalendarChoice HotelsOKFB members can save up to 20 percent off their next stay at thousands of Choice Hotel locations when they call in advance. The offer includes hotels such as Comfort Inn, Econolodge and Sleep Inn among others.

OKFB highlights a benefit in each issue of Perspective as a reminder of the savings available to OKFB members. You can find a complete list of savings on the Oklahoma Farm Bureau website.

State Resolutions Meeting Oct. 21-22 — Oklahoma CityContact: Sara Rogers (405) 530-2681

OSU Rural Economic Outlook ConferenceOct. 31 — StillwaterContact: Kareta Casey (405) 744-9836

OKFB Annual MeetingNov. 14-16 — TulsaContact: Melisa Neal (405) 523-2475 www.okfarmbureau.org/benefits

Farm Bureau urges Senate to ditch proposed water rule

he American Farm Bureau Federation is urging the Senate to tell the EPA

to withdraw its proposed Waters of the U.S.Ruleandrestoretheintegrityoftherulemakingprocess. In a letter sent to all members of the Senate, AFBF cited a recent letter sent by theSmallBusinessAdministration’sOfficeof Advocacy to the EPA. After a thorough evaluation,theSBAoffice’slettercalledonthe EPA and the Corps of Engineers to with-drawtheWOTUSrule. “TheSBAOfficeofAdvocacyfoundthatEPAandtheCorpsusedconflicting

and even incorrect data in order to claim minimal impacts on small business and thattheycherry-pickedthedatausedintheir economic analysis,” AFBF wrote. Farm Bureau has vigorously articulated its view that the Environmental Protection Agency’s analysis of its proposed rule is flawedandthemannerinwhichithasconductedthisrulemakingisbroken. “TheSBAOfficeofAdvocacyhasnowvalidated our concerns,” American Farm Bureau wrote. “Now is the time for all sena-torstojointhebipartisanefforttohavethisrule withdrawn.”

Oklahoma Farm Bureau had a busy night at the Tulsa State Fair Livestock Premium Auction on Oct. 2. OKFB was recognized as the volume buyer for the 2013 Tulsa State Fair Livestock Premium Auction and OKFB, along with the Oklahoma Pork Council and the Tulsa Ringmasters, bought in on the grand barrow shown by Delynna Beard with El Reno FFA.

OKFB’s Sam Knipp visited with Rep. Bill Shuster and Rep. Markwayne Mullin, both members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, after their tour of the Port of Muskogee on Oct. 7.

OklahomaFarmBureau2501 N. StilesOklahomaCity,OK73105-3126

Non-ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 131Okla. City, OK.

Published by Oklahoma Farm BureauPostmaster: Send address corrections to:

Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332

Executive Director Monica Wilke 405-523-2303

VP of Public Policy and Media Relations John Collison 405-523-2539

Directors of Corporate CommunicationsSam Knipp 405-523-2347Dustin Mielke 405-530-2640

Communications SpecialistsKarolyn Bolay 405-523-2320Samantha Smith 405-523-2346

STAFF DIRECTORY

Published by Oklahoma Farm BureauPostmaster: Send address corrections to:

Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332

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Register now to attend Oct. 31 Rural Economic Outlook Conference at OSU

gricultural lenders, producers, agri-business managers and rural leaders

planning to attend the Rural Economic OutlookConferencetakingplaceOct.31onOklahomaStateUniversity’sStillwatercampus should register now. “Thisyear’sconferencewillfocusontrends and expectations regarding the rural economy and agriculture,” said Damona Doye,OSUCooperativeExtensionfarmmanagementspecialist.“Speakerswilladdress global and local issues that should inform decisions for the coming year.” Cost is $50 if registering by Oct. 24 and $75thereafteroratthedoor.Registrationincludes the Oct. 30 catered reception and breakfast,lunchandrefreshmentbreaksduring the Oct. 31 conference. Registration forms are available online orbycontactingKaretaCaseyoftheOSUdepartment of agricultural economics at 405-744-9836. Doyesaidparticipantsareaskedtopre-register, if possible. “Not only is there a cost savings, it greatly aids the planning process and helps ensurethatsufficientnumbersofmeals,refreshments and conference materials areonhand,”shesaid.“Wewanttomakethe conference as useful and enjoyable as possible to all participants.” The8:30a.m.to4p.m.FridayconferencewilltakeplaceattheConocoPhillipsOSUAlumni Center, located on Hester Street acrossfromtheStudentUnion. “We’re especially pleased to have as a

keynotespeakerMr.MichaelSwansonof Wells Fargo, an agricultural economist and senior vice president with the largest commercialagriculturallenderintheUnitedStates,” Doye said. “He will discuss why the grainandlivestockmarketsarenotaboutpopulation and gross domestic product.” Based in Minneapolis, Swanson’s respon-sibilities include analyzing the impact of energy on agriculture and forecasting for keyagriculturalcommoditiesandlivestocksectors.Hehelpsdevelopcreditandriskstrategies and performs macroeconomic and international analysis on agricultural production and agribusiness. Additional sessions will provide the latest information and insights about the challenges and dangers of Eastern redcedar encroachmentonOklahomalands;aFarmBillupdate;Oklahomawaterissues;searchingforthe“newnormal”astheU.S.andOklahomaeconomiesrecover;landvalues,rentalratesandfarmcharacteristics;andthegrainandlivestockmarkets. SessionswillbeledbyGareyFox,interimdirectoroftheOklahomaWaterResourcesCenteratOSU;SamFuhlendorf,OSUGroendykeChairforWildlifeConservation;and agricultural economists Doye, Jody Campiche,LarrySanders,DaveShideler,KimAndersonandDerrellPeel;allofthe university’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Anyone seekingadditionalinformationabouttheconference should call the agricultural economicsdepartmentat405-744-9836.

Six district farm families named

ixOklahomaFarmBureaufamiliesfrom across the state have been

nominated for the prestigious Farm Family of the Year award. Thewinnerwillbeannouncedduringthe OKFB Annual Meeting in November and will receive a plaque and an expense-paid trip to the 2015 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. For more information about each family,visitokfarmbureau.org. Nominated families are listed below in numerical order by district.

District 1: The Mayer FamilyTyler and Naomi — Texas County

District 3: The Krehbiel FamilyKaren and Brittany — Caddo County

District 4: The Fisher FamilyRoger and Kayla — Cotton County

District 6: The Morris FamilyTony and Kathy — Nowata County

District 8: The Temple FamilyRaymond and Mary — Garvin County

District 9: The VanCoervering FamilyGene VanCoervering — Payne County