Former Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Broadcaster, Sam Knipp, had the chance to visit with Tim Bates of Mutual Oklahoma about his opportunity to travel to Berlin, Germany, this January for the International Meeting of Young Farmers and the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture.
The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) isan international conference on central issues of vital importance for global agricultural and food policies. As the only American farmer to be participating in the forum, Bates talks about this unique opportunity.
Bates is a first-generation farmer, and he also does quite a bit of custom farming. Personally, Bates grows mainly hay crops and grazes stocker cattle in the winter.
The forum, Bates said, focuses on how farmers and ranchers can combat the global food crisis. The message Bates wants to share at the forum is that is critical to find ways to grow more food for the growing population.
“We have to do better about fighting the drought control and, from my standpoint, have better moisture control so we can continue to raise crops year in and year out despite droughts or any other kind of things that mother nature could throw at us,” Bates said.
Bates said he is looking forward to sharing how Oklahoma produces quality crops with individuals at the forum.
“I feel that American producers are the best in the world,” Bates said.
