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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Oklahoma Farm Bureau Delegates Re-Elect Tom Buchanan for Second Term as State President  

 
Voting delegates at the 74th Oklahoma Farm Bureau Annual Meeting re-elected Jackson County Farm Bureau member Tom Buchanan to serve as president of the organization November 14 in Oklahoma City. Buchanan has served as OKFB president for the past two years and previously represented District Two on the OKFB board of directors for six years.


Right after the general session where the delegates reelected Buchanan by acclimation, we talked with Buchanan about his election for a second two year term as well as discussing the actions of the delegates during the resolutions deliberations that happened on Saturday.

"Agriculture, rural Oklahoma and Farm Bureau are my passions," Buchanan said. "Over the past two years, I've remained committed to Farm Bureau's mission of improving the lives of rural Oklahomans, and I'm thankful for another opportunity to serve our members."

In addition to Tom Buchanan being elected by the delegates- several other leadership positions were filled for the next year. Click here to read more as well as to listen to our conversation with Tom right after the Saturday afternoon general session.

We will be offering a complete overview of the policy session from Saturday at the 2015 OKFB Convention in tomorrow's daily email.

 

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El Nino Will Bring Cold, Wet Winter to Southern Plains, DTN's Bryce Anderson Says La Nina May Show Up in 2016 

 

El Nino will be the big driver of the winter weather in the Southern Plains. DTN Senior Ag Meteorologist Bryce Anderson said the likelihood of getting a colder and wetter winter is shaping up with a strong El Nino event, plus a sustained tropical jet across the Southern Plains. The region hasn't seen much impact from El Nino yet, as Anderson said these storms have been moving too quickly, but he looks for that to change.


"I think what we're going to see is, the pattern bring us a fairly chilly and wet winter over the Southern Plains and then into the Delta and the Gulf Coast," Anderson said. "You get farther north, the Northern Plains, the Dakotas and eastward into Minnesota, Illinois and on east across Indiana and Ohio, I think they're going to be fairly warm and dry. That's going to be I think pretty good for getting field work going next spring, but we get into the late spring into summer I think there's going to be some questions on soil moisture in those parts of the Corn Belt."


The El Nino weather pattern is influenced by the water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. These temperatures can switch rapidly from very warm to cool. That was seen in 1987-1988 and 2009 -2010. Anderson said so it's possible the region could go from El Nino to a La Nina weather pattern. In late February into April, he will be watching for a switch in the Pacific character. Anderson has seen the weather pattern go from El Nino to La Nina in 1988 and it only took about six to seven weeks.

I caught up Anderson at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting in Kansas City. Click or tap here to listen to the complete interview.

Payn-Knoper Says Open Communication Needed with Today's Consumers

 

It's time for agriculture to have a critical conversation with consumers. That's according to agricultural advocate and dairy producer Michele Payn-Knoper from Indiana. She said it's time for cattle producers to explain to consumers why animal agriculture utilizes antibiotics.


"I'm not only a Holstein breeder, I'm a mom first and foremost," Payn-Knoper said. "So, when I'm talking with other women, I relate to them as a mom, instead of just as a farmer."


Payn-Knoper encourages ag producers to make sure they are being relatable to consumers. She said this will show producers are a reliable source, that they care and this provides the opportunity to share some of their practices. For example, Payn-Knoper was talking to an audience about mastitis. She asked this female audience if any of them had ever had mastitis. This infection is very painful and hard on the human body. The same holds true for cows. This opened up a dialogue about the use of antibiotics to treat an infection. 

We have Michele explaining her ideas on how to dialogue with consumers about antibiotics in our latest Beef Buzz. To listen to this featured interview, click or tap here.

Matt and Kellie Muller Named Oklahoma Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year- YF&R Honor Wilcox and Norvell Families

 
Matt and Kellie Muller of Altus, along with their children Taylor, Levi, Luke and Lincoln, were named the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year during OKFB's 74th Annual Meeting Nov. 13 in Oklahoma City.

The Mullers, one of four OKFB district farm family finalists, were chosen for their embodiment of the best traditions of Oklahoma agriculture and rural life.

"It's very humbling to be representative of all the many thousand neighbors we have across the state," Matt Muller said. "It's just very humbling." After their names were announced at the 2015 Oklahoma Farm Bueau Convention, we talked with Muller about the award and their farming operation in Jackson County. They also talked about what farming may look like for his children in the years ahead.

Click here to listen to that complete conversation and to read more about their farming operation in southwestern Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Young Farmers and Ranchers of the OKFB honored two families- Clint and Jessica Wilcox of Major County receiving the Achievement Award and Tyler and Beth Norvell winning the Excellence in Ag Award.

You can click on the names of these two families to read more about their on farm and off farm efforts.

Both families will be representing Oklahoma as they compete in Orlando in January at the American Farm Bureau Convention in their respective category.

  

USDA Launches Conservation Effort for Monarch Butterflies in Southern Great Plains and Midwest

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new conservation effort to help agricultural producers provide food and habitat for monarch butterflies in the Midwest and southern Great Plains. This targeted ten-state effort by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest $4 million in 2016 to help combat the iconic species' decline. Assistance is being made available to landowners in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.


"These once-common butterflies are growing less familiar, and we know private lands will continue to play a crucial role in aiding the recovery of this species that serves as an indicator of ecosystem health," NRCS Chief Jason Weller said. "America's farmers, ranchers and forest landowners are stewards of the land, and this effort helps them make voluntary improvements that benefit working lands and monarchs."


This new conservation effort was unveiled during the annual conference of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters in Kansas City, Missouri. The 10-states targeted are at the heart of the monarch migration. The orange-and-black butterflies make their annual, multi-generational migration from central Mexico to as far north as Canada. Monarch populations have decreased significantly over the past two decades. NRCS Spokesperson Sarah Haymaker said that has been partly attributed to the decrease in native plants like milkweed - the sole source of food for monarch caterpillars. 

 

 

Our Leslie Smith caught up with Haymaker to talk about this new effort.  Click here or tap here to read more or to listen to the full interview. 

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OSU's Horse Show Management Seminar Slated for Dec. 12

 

Oklahomans interested in learning more about horse show classes need to make plans now to attend Oklahoma State University's Open and 4-H Show Management and Exhibitor Seminar Dec. 12.  The seminar will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Totusek Arena located west of the OSU campus.  Kris Hiney, OSU Cooperative Extension equine specialist, said the seminar is geared toward exhibitors, managers and volunteers who are involved with 4-H and Open Horse Shows.


"This seminar will help educate those involved with the horse shows about the criteria for horse show classes, and specifically with the Ranch classes," Hiney said. "There are new skills and safety considerations involved and we want to make sure everyone is aware of any changes before participating in the State 4-H Horse Show."


Hands-on learning will be featured during the seminar, as well as a live demonstration with cattle to cover Ranch Riding, Ranch Roping, Boxing and Ranch Trail. Participants will be allowed ample opportunities for questions and hands-on experiences during the seminar.  Click or tap here to read more about this free workshop that is open to all ages.

This N That- Snap Krackle Pop is 2015 Super Horse, It's Gonna Rain and Hall of Fame Video

 
One of the highlights of the 2015 Lucas Oil World Show of the American Quarter Horse Association was the Sunday night selection of the Farnam Super Horse-

Snap Krackle Pop, owned by Twylla Lynn Brown of Perry, Missouri, was crowned the 2015 Farnam Superhorse. The 2010 gray mare, who is by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Brandys Silver Sheik, was bred by Masterson Farms LLC of Somerville, Tennessee. Snap Krackle Pop was shown by AQHA Professional Horseman Blake Weis of Moberly, Missouri, and AQHA Professional Horsewoman Jill Newcomb of San Marcos, California.

Read more about this year's Super Horse by clicking here.

The World Show continues this week at State Fair Park in OKC with their amateur competition.

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It's gonna rain- we scrolled through a sample across the state of Mesonet sites this morning- and the chances of rain are forty to fifty percent in the Panhandle- Ninety percent in Woodward and 100% virtually everywhere else in the state- this for Monday night.  Along with the rain- there is an opportunity that severe weather might spring up here in the fall- Jed Castles of News9 has a graphic showing where that is a possibility- here's the News9 take on possible severe weather this evening-




Check in later today with News9 in central and western Oklahoma- and News on 6 in eastern Oklahoma for what they see developing on what could be an active night of weather in our state.

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In talking with folks at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau convention over this past weekend- several asked me about the NAFB Hall of Fame honor that I received last Thursday evening- and asked if I might tell a little more about it- the National Farm Broadcasters Hall of Fame was established in 1986- and most years- two individuals are inducted- this year- Mike Hergert of the Red River Radio Network and yours truly made up the Class of 2015. 

Here's the video that was shown on Thursday evening to the banquet audience in Kansas City-

Again- thanks to so many of you for offering your congratulations and kind words after details of this were released. I am honored to be able to do what I do- and this recognition really belongs to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers who have listened to me- and read my words and rants since 1977- I appreciate being a part of your family as we ride down the road together, sit in the tractor cab together, eat breakfast or lunch together and encounter one another at all times of the day or night when you have a moment to read these email updates.

By the way- thanks to Todd Johnson of OSU for snapping the photo that we used for the plaque they made for us- Todd took this photo you see when I was named a DASNR Champion by Oklahoma State University a few years ago- have always really liked it and was proud to provide it to NAFB to use for this recognition.

Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, American Farmers & Ranchers, KIS Futures, Stillwater Milling Company, Farm Assure,  CROPLAN by Winfield, Pioneer Cellular , National Livestock Credit Corporation and the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association for their support of our daily Farm News Update. For your convenience, we have our sponsors' websites linked here- just click on their name to jump to their website- check their sites out and let these folks know you appreciate the support of this daily email, as their sponsorship helps us keep this arriving in your inbox on a regular basis- at NO Charge!

 

 

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