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 […]
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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 […]
Applications for Conservation Stewardship program due Jan. 17
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is opening the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for new enrollments for federal fiscal year 2014. Starting today through Jan. 17, 2014, producers interested in participating in the program can submit applications to NRCS. “Through the Conservation Stewardship Program, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners are going the extra mile to conserve our nation’s resources,” NRCS Chief Jason Weller said. “Through their conservation actions, they are ensuring that their operations are more productive and sustainable over the long run.” The CSP is an important Farm Bill conservation program that helps established conservation […]
Cost of classic Thanksgiving dinner down for 2013
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 28th annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $49.04, a 44-cent price decrease from last year’s average of $49.48. “The cost of this year’s meal, at less than $5 per serving, remains an excellent value for consumers,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman, a rice and cattle producer from Texas. “America’s farm and ranch families are honored to produce the food from our nation’s land for family Thanksgiving celebrations,” he said. “During this holiday season, many farmers and […]
Buchanan named new Oklahoma Farm Bureau president
Voting delegates at the 72nd Oklahoma Farm Bureau Annual Meeting elected Jackson County Farm Bureau member Tom Buchanan to serve as president of the organization, Nov. 16, in Norman. Buchanan has represented District 2 on the OKFB Board of Directors for six years. “Oklahoma Farm Bureau is the voice for rural Oklahoma and agriculture, and that’s my passion,” Buchanan said. “Through my service at the county level and then as a state director, I feel I have a background with the federation and with the insurance company, and I’m looking forward to serving our members.” Buchanan raises a commercial beef […]
Temples receive YF&R Lifetime Legacy Award
Raymond and Mary Temple are the recipients of Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Lifetime Legacy Award. The announcement was made Nov. 15, at OKFB’s 72nd Annual Convention in Norman. The YF&R Lifetime Legacy Award serves as a living memorial for members by recognizing their life achievements. It is intended to honor an individual or a couple who have spent their lives enriching and inspiring rural Oklahomans’ quality of life. Raymond grew up on a farm in Colorado, and Mary was raised on a cotton farm in Washita County. Together they have built a cow-calf herd and raise stocker […]
Brock, Matthys named OKFB Journalists of the Year
John Brock of the Sapulpa Daily Herald and Venius Matthys of The County Times in Cache were recognized with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Journalist of the Year awards at the OKFB 72nd Annual Meeting, Nov. 15, in Norman. The newspaper journalists were honored for their contributions made reporting accurately and regularly about agricultural issues and their importance to Oklahoma and the nation.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau names CHAMPION Award winners
Oklahoma Farm Bureau recognized Jim Grego, Sherry Schauer, Sen. Larry Boggs and Syd Morgan as CHAMPION Award winners during the OKFB 72nd Annual Convention in Norman, Nov. 15. CHAMPION stands for Contact Helps Achieve More Priority Issue Objectives Now, and the award honors individual members for their efforts to achieve Farm Bureau policy at the state and national levels Grego, vice president of the Latimer County Farm Bureau, and Boggs, board member of the Latimer County Farm Bureau received the CHAMPION Award for their work to achieve Farm Bureau policy at the local level. The received a jacket, plaque and […]
Comanche County honored with top YF&R award
Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Comanche County Young Farmers and Ranchers committee is the 2013 recipient of the Charles L. Roff Award. The award was announced in Norman at the OKFB 72nd Annual Convention, Nov. 15. The Charles L. Roff Award encourages county YF&R groups to improve their local committees and activity participation while strengthening the Farm Bureau organization. Comanche County YF&R’s highlight activities for the year included sponsoring a farmhand Olympics, assisting at several county livestock shows, hosting speech contests and coordinating the OKFB fire safety trailer at local schools. Comanche County YF&R received a traveling plaque in recognition for their […]
Okmulgee County Farm Bureau recognized for local affairs
Oklahoma Farm Bureau named Okmulgee County the Lewis H. Munn Farm Bureau Builders award winner during the OKFB 72nd Annual Convention, Nov. 15, in Norman. The award is named after the second president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau, and each year a specific area of involvement is judged for the award. This year’s area was local affairs. Okmulgee County worked hard to present a day of agriculture education to the local youth through the local multicultural association. By partnering with the Southwest Dairy Growers, the county presented a local program that included using a dairy cow to demonstrate the milking process […]
