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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Featured Story:

OSU Remembers Former Dean of DASNR CB Browning- After His Passing on December First

 

 

 

You can read Dr. Coon's full tribute to Dean Browning by clicking here. 

 

The presenting sponsor of our daily email is the Oklahoma Farm Bureau - a grassroots organization that has for its Mission Statement- Improving the Lives of Rural Oklahomans."  Farm Bureau, as the state's largest general farm organization, is active at the State Capitol fighting for the best interests of its members and working with other groups to make certain that the interests of rural Oklahoma are protected.  Click here for their website to learn more about the organization and how it can benefit you to be a part of Farm Bureau.

Noble Foundation Helps Give Birth to the Soil Health Institute Ahead of World Soil Day This Saturday

 

 

With more than one million organisms in a single teaspoon of Earth, soil is the starting point for plant, animal and human life. It is the foundation for society, providing the basis for food production, healthy families and economies.
 

To ensure that soil continues to be a vital natural resource for generations to come, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and Farm Foundation, NFP, today announce the formation of the Soil Health Institute. The announcement coincides with World Soil Day (Dec. 5) and celebrates the 2015 International Year of Soils.
 

The Soil Health Institute's mission is to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of the soil. It will work directly with conventional and organic farmers and ranchers, public- and private-sector researchers, academia, policymakers, government agencies, industry, environmental groups and consumers - everyone who benefits from healthy soils.
 

The organization will serve as the primary resource for soil health information, working to set soil health standards and measurement, build knowledge about the economics of soil health, offer educational programs, and coordinate research in all aspects of soil and soil health.

 

Learn more about the formation of the Soil Health Institute and the Noble Foundation's efforts to get this new, permanent organization offer the ground by clicking here.

 

USDA Report Warns Climate Change Likely to Impede Progress on Global Food Security

 

Climate change is likely to impede progress on reducing undernourishment around the world in the decades ahead, according to a major scientific assessment released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on global food security and its implications for the United States. The report, entitled Climate Change, Global Food Security and the U.S. Food System, identifies the risks that climate change poses to global food security and the challenges facing farmers and consumers in adapting to changing climate conditions. U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack released the report during the COP-21 Paris Climate Conference.


In the absence of response measures, climate change is likely to diminish continued progress on global food security through production disruption that lead to constraints on local availability and price increases, interrupted transport conduits, and diminished food safety, among other causes. The risks are greatest for the global poor and in tropical regions.


President Obama has pledged to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in the range of 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. U.S. agriculture is helping meet this goal, and American farmers, ranchers and foresters have demonstrated their leadership in recognition that their contributions send a strong message to the rest of the world.


Changes in climate are expected to affect U.S. consumers and producers by altering the type and price of food imports from other regions of the world, as well as by changing export demand, and transportation, processing, storage, infrastructure that enable global trade.  Click here to read more about how adaptation can reduce food system vulnerability to climate change and reduce detrimental climate change effects on food security.

Environmental Defense Fund Responds to USDA's Climate Change & Agriculture Report

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new scientific assessment Wednesday that found climate change will pose a significant threat to food security as well as to U.S. and global agriculture.


The following is a statement from Rebecca Shaw, Associate Vice President, Ecosystems, Environmental Defense Fund:


"Today's report represents an urgent call to action for food companies, policymakers and agribusinesses to reduce emissions from food production and implement farming practices that increase resiliency. The risk that climate change poses to farmers, especially in developing countries, is unprecedented.


But we also face unprecedented opportunities - we know how to make agriculture more sustainable, and we have the right tools and practices at our fingertips. Fertilizer efficiency and soil health measures such as cover crops can also mean cost-savings and yield benefits for farmers. In order to implement these measures at scale, we need increased investment from the private sector, and collaboration across the agricultural supply chain. We need to go beyond commitments and towards on-the-ground support for farmers."

U.S. Climate Smart Farm Leaders Call on COP21 To Address Role of Ag in Battling Climate Change

 

Leaders of the North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (NACSAA) told policy makers and others attending climate talks in Paris this week that agriculture can provide impactful and measurable contributions to global efforts to reverse climate change.


Speaking at a panel discussion sponsored by Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) and the sustainable agriculture group Field to Market, the U.S. farm leaders today called on participants in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, also known as Conference of the Parties, or COP21) to embrace the three pillars of climate smart agriculture (sustainable intensification of production, adaptive management and resiliency, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions), and adopt the policies and mechanisms that promote and incentivize the agricultural practices that mitigate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are increasing global temperatures.


The panel event showcased opportunities for positive climate action by companies and growers around the world to support governments' carbon reduction targets while fostering productivity and global competitiveness. The NACSAA contingent is in Paris to share grower perspectives on opportunities to achieve large-scale GHG reductions while also improving resilience; with a focus on the engagement, technology, resources and policies needed to feed a world population that is expected to reach 9.5 billion by mid-century.

 

 

Among those mitigation services the sequestration of carbon in soil through practices like conservation tillage and cover crops.

Click or tap here to read more about agricultural sequestration protocols.

Animal Ag Alliance Analyzes Tactics of Animal Rights Groups

 

There are activist groups that don't like modern production agriculture, specifically animal agriculture. Hannah Thompson of the Animal Ag Alliance works to keep tabs on animal rights groups that don't like how meat is produced in the U.S.


"Obviously their motive is to end animal agriculture and they put a lot of information out there to try to drive consumers toward that mission," Thompson said.


These animals' rights groups, like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and PETA, have gone around the legislative process to make changes in food production by pressuring retailers and restaurants to make changes. Animal Rights groups are also targeting other audiences for support of their cause. One new audience is law enforcement. Thompson said different activist groups have been sponsoring awards and offering training on animal cruelty.


"I think you see why that's problematic to have an animal right's organization telling law enforcement what animal cruelty looks like," Thompson said.


Activists groups are also targeting religious organizations.  Thompson talks about these tactics and what farmers and ranchers can do in response.  Click or tap here to listen to today's Beef Buzz- which is part one of a two day run on the Beef Buzz with Hannah.

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Monsanto Fights Climate Change With New Carbon Neutral Crop Production Program

 

As agriculture and farmers around the world work to mitigate and adapt to the complex challenges posed by climate change, Monsanto Company Tuesday announced plans to make its operations carbon neutral by 2021 through a unique program targeted across its seed and crop protection operations, as well as through collaboration with farmers.


"Climate change is one of the biggest issues we face in agriculture, as well as one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity," said Hugh Grant, Monsanto chairman and chief executive officer. "That's why we have pledged to do our part within our own business and to help support farmers and others. While progress has been made to reduce agriculture's carbon footprint, we must work collectively to do even more if we are going to sustainably feed 9.6 billion people by 2050. Agriculture is uniquely positioned to deliver climate change solutions, and we hope that policy makers recognize the role agriculture, farmers and crops can play in mitigating carbon emissions."

 

The company's efforts focus on several key areas, including Seed Production, Crop Protection, Sharing Data and Increasing Adoption of Best Practices.  Click or tap here to read more about how Monsanto will drive carbon neutral crop production.

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