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Welcome to our 2008 American Farm Bureau Convention Blog- we will be posting items of interest during this meeting in New Orleans, La. as we cover the annual event- and keep up with the efforts of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau delegation that will be on the scene. Check back during the week for the latest from this meeting of the largest general farm organization in the country!

January 15 7 PM- We just got back in from New Orleans for the 2008 AFBF meeting- it appears that they have wrapped up in the Big Easy as they have elected their slate of officers and added a couple of new names to the Board of Directors. Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling was elected to the AFBF board, as was the new President from California. President Bob Stallman was reelected as President of the general farm organization. The new Vice President is Barry Bushue of Oregon, who defeated Bob Peterson of Ohio for the job.

January 15 9:30 am- “Get er done!!!” That was the message from all of the delegates at the American Farm Bureau Convention in New Orleans. The very first order of business taken up by the delegate body this morning was a special order that restated exactly what the Farm Bureau wants in the farm bill- and they stated that they want no part of a one or two year extension- and that they want the President to stop his veto talk and sign a farm bill as quick as it comes to him. You can click to listen to Philip Nelson of Illinois offer and read the resolution, the supporting debate and the unanimous voice vote.

January 15- 7 AM: Good morning! As we continue to report from New Orleans, today is the day for the policy of the AFBF to be formulated by the voting delegates. And, either later today or tomorrow morning, AFBF members will vote for a new Vice President- either Bob Peterson of Ohio or Barry Bushue of Oregon. In today’s Beef Buzz we feature a look at a key trade issue through the eyes of Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner. Conner tells us that he will not budge from demanding the Japan and South Korea adhere to internationally accepted BSE safety standards when it comes to taking our beef- we asked him about this during the 89th annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau. Click here to listen to today’s Beef Buzz with the Acting Secretary.

January 14- 6 PM: We have three interviews that we wanted to share with you from New Orleans.  First, we talked exclusively with Bob Stallman, President of the American Farm Bureau about the farm bill debate and more- Click on Bob’s name to listen to that interview.
Also on Monday, we talked with Carol House, the Deputy Administrator with NASS of the USDA about the 2007 Census of Agriculture- Click and listen to Carol as she describes the reasons why you need to do your part and fill out the Ag Census.
Finally, before the Trade Show Showcase closed down this afternoon- we talked with Keith Kisling about the effort of fixing cinnamon rolls and bread for thousands here in New Orleans at the AFBF meeting- Click on Keith’s name to hear why the Wheat Commission is willing to partner with folks like the Oklahoma Farm Bureau in this type of project.

January 14 6am- Almost everything that is newsworthy at this meeting is revolving around the Farm Bill- and we have two audio updates that we will share with you in regards to the Farm Bill- First, we have comments from a gang inteview that several farm broadcasters had with Mary Kay Thatcher of the AFBF Washington office- as she talks about the naming of conferees, timing, the Bush Veto threat and more. Secondly, we have some of the highlights from the News Conference held by Chuck Conner, Acting Secretary of Agriculture as he was asked mostly farm bill questions.

January 13- Here is the conversation that we had with Mike Spradling of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau here in New Orleans from Sunday morning as the meeting cranks up.

 January 13, 2008- We are reporting from the Big Easy and this 2008 AFBF Convention. The Oklahoma Delegation is led this year by Mike Spradling, new Oklahoma Farm Bureau President. Mike reported at the opening breakfast with OFB members here in New Orleans that Steve Kouplen will be honored at the General Session on Monday as an outgoing member of the AFBF Board of Directors. He also recognized Kathy McNally for 32 years of service to Oklahoma Farm Bureau as she leaves the farm organization’s employ and joins the Division of Agriculture at Oklahoma State University as their Director of Development. She will be working as the key go-between with the Division of Ag and the OSU Foundation.  She starts her position with OSU next Monday, January 21.

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