During testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works March 24, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Vice President Bob Drake expressed the urgent need for increased supplies of domestic natural gas. The Davis rancher told the committee natural gas is an important energy source for agriculture and associated manufacturing industries. “Natural gas is the primary ingredient in virtually all commercial nitrogen fertilizers, accounting for 90 percent of the farmers’ total cost of anhydrous ammonia,” Drake said. “Unfortunately, high natural gas prices are threatening our nation’s fertilizer industry and could further exacerbate America’s dependence on foreign energy sources. Drake said […]

Several Oklahoma youth recently competed for $9,600 in savings bonds and scholarships during the Ninth Annual Young Farmers and Ranchers Speech Contest sponsored by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. The contest was held March 15 at the OSU-OKC campus in Oklahoma City. The YF&R Speech Contest was broken up into three age divisions: Junior, nine-12 years old; Intermediate, 13-15 years old; and Senior, 16-18 years old. The youth gave speeches in three division categories, including Agricultural Production, Agriculture Policy and Environment & Natural Resources. Speeches for the Junior Division were three to five minutes in length; five to seven minutes for […]

In order to draw attention to the efficiency and productivity involved in farming and ranching, Oklahoma producers will celebrate National Agriculture Day March 20 during National Agriculture Week. “Every American should understand where food comes from, how it’s produced and why agriculture is essential to our economy,” said Steve Kouplen, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. “National Agriculture Day allows us to highlight the importance of agriculture on a nationwide scale.” From oxen and horses drawing equipment through a field to tractors with on-board computers and the power of up to 300 horses, American farmers have increased their production capacity to keep […]

NOTE: This event is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 5, 10 a.m. at Crest Foods, 2200 W. 15th, Edmond, OK. Three lucky shoppers at Crest Foods in Edmond will receive free groceries Thursday, Feb. 5 as part of national Food Check-Out Day. The grocery give-away is being sponsored by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. “We want to celebrate our farmers’ and ranchers’ skill in producing a safe, high quality, affordable food product,” said Clara Wichert, Fairview, committee chairperson. At approximately 10 a.m. three shoppers will be randomly chosen for the free groceries as they enter the check-out area. Non-food items, […]

The Ronald McDonald Houses in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, as well as food banks and homeless shelters throughout the state, will receive free groceries Feb. 5 courtesy of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. “We’re celebrating National Food Check-Out Day, the day Americans have earned enough income to pay their food bill for the year,” said Clara Wichert, Fairview, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Committee chairperson. In addition to the food donations, volunteer farm leaders also will sponsor grocery give-aways at various locations throughout the state. According to the latest statistics compiled by the U.S. Agriculture Department, American families and individuals […]

Voting delegates at the recent American Farm Bureau convention reconfirmed their support for Country of Origin Labeling but struck down a policy banning packers from owning livestock. Oklahoma Farm Bureau had supported the ban but the organization’s president said they were able to add language protecting the producer. “We convinced the delegates to adopt language on captive supply, which will attempt to make sure the packers cannot regularly alter the market with their captive supplies of cattle,” Steve Kouplen, OFB president said. “The emphasis is now on making sure the livestock producer is protected.” The Farm Bureau delegates passed a […]

Note: Steve Kouplen is president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau, the state’s largest and most influential farm organization. He is an Okmulgee County cattle producer with bachelor and master degrees from Oklahoma State University and past chairman of the Oklahoma Beef Industry Council. Statement by Steve Kouplen, President Oklahoma Farm Bureau The overall safety of our food supply is not in question. Overall, beef remains a safe choice for consumption. Oklahomans and Americans should continue eating beef. I know it will be on my table during the holidays. Despite the isolated detection of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in Washington State, Dec. […]

Delegates to the Oklahoma Farm Bureau annual convention set the legislative agenda for the state’s largest farm organization in 2004 and installed two new state leaders in Oklahoma City Nov. 22-24. The delegates, representing the more than 155,000 members from the 77 counties, voted to make returning severed mineral interests to the landowner a priority issue for 2004. Severance of mineral ownership from surface ownership over the years has resulted in the creation of minute and scattered mineral interests. It has increased abstracting costs, and adversely impacted oil and gas exploration due to the difficultly and costs of leasing. The […]

Alfalfa County’s Keith and Marlene Kisling were named Oklahoma Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year Nov. 23 at the 62nd annual state convention in Oklahoma City. A panel of judges selected the Burlington family from 21 entries in the annual contest, which honors the farm family who best represents farming and ranching and the spirit of Oklahoma agriculture. They received use of a new Dodge pickup for a year, an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, and other gifts in recognition of their accomplishments. The couple has three adult children, sons Brent and […]

More than 800 delegates will gather Nov. 22-24 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City for the 62nd annual Oklahoma Farm Bureau convention to set organizational policy, elect leaders and hear from several top-notch speakers. The delegates, representing all 77 county Farm Bureaus, will chart the future for Oklahoma’s largest and most influential farm organization during the three-day meeting. “Cultivating Oklahoma’s Future” is the theme for our convention, and our delegates will enact policies that we believe will definitely have a positive impact on the future of our great state,” said Executive Director Matt Wilson. “The policies our delegates […]