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More than 1,000 Oklahoma agricultural leaders are expected to fill the Cox Convention Center Nov. 11-13, in downtown Oklahoma City for the annual Oklahoma Farm Bureau Convention.

"This is our most important meeting of the year," said OFB President Mike Spradling. "This is when our leaders decide policy for the organization to follow in the coming year."

The convention kicks off Friday, Nov. 11, with contests for the young farmers and ranchers followed by the opening session. Featured speakers in the opening session include Oklahoma Lt. Governor Todd Lamb and KWTV News9 Meteorologist Gary England.

2011 is an election year for the Presidency of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau- Mike Spradling of Tulsa County is running for re-election this week- and he has a challenger- OFB Board Member and current Vice President Tom Buchanan from Jackson County. The vote for President will happen on Saturday afternoon as a part of the General Session planned after lunch.

A unique feature of this year's convention will include a food drive where convention attendees are invited to bring nonperishable food donations for Gov. Mary Fallin's "Feeding Oklahoma" food drive campaign.

"We are proud to support Gov. Fallin's efforts to meet the needs of hungry Oklahomans," said Spradling.

Click here for more on the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Convention. 

New Report Finds That Agricultural Innovation Benefits National Economy

The use of crop protection products, including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, helps U.S. agriculture to remain a key economic driver, according to a new report released by CropLife America (CLA).

Using the resources of economists and agricultural sources within the U.S. government, agronomist Mark Goodwin (Mark Goodwin Consulting Ltd.) authored the new report, titled "The Contribution of Crop Protection Products to the U.S. Economy," in conjunction with CLA, the national trade association representing the manufacturers, formulators and distributors of plant science technologies.

The report reveals that across the U.S., the increased crop production and resultant economic spin-offs that stem from the use of crop protection products generate $33 billion in wages for over 1.05 million American workers. These jobs span beyond the farming industry to additional sectors, including manufacturing, food services, construction, transportation and more.  

Click here for more from CropLife America and a link to this report.

National Association of Conservation Districts Supports Efforts to Uphold the Clean Water Act

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is calling on the Senate to support an amendment by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Dean Heller (R-NV) to defund the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' attempt to expand its jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The amendment was introduced as part as of H.R. 2354, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill for Fiscal year 2012.

"We agree with Senators Barrasso and Heller that the jurisdictional reach of the Clean Water Act should not be expanded," said NACD President Gene Schmidt.

"As conservationists, we fully support the common goal of achieving cleaner, healthier watersheds across the nation. The best way to achieve clean water is through locally-led conservation efforts, rather than a one-size-fits-all, top-down federal regulatory approach. States, local governments and private landowners play a critical leadership role in water management."

Click here for more from NACD on the Clean Water Act efforts.

R-CALF USA Files Formal Complaint Regarding Multi-Agency Investigations

R-CALF USA issued the following news release as the group is angry about the Final Rule and Interim Rule that came out of the GIPSA Marketing Rule Proposal from June 2010.  Here's a portion of their release:

"R-CALF USA filed a formal complaint seeking multi-agency investigations from the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA ) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

The complaint alleges that corporate meatpackers unlawfully manipulated either or both the cash cattle market and the cattle futures market.

R-CALF USA believes the corporate packers began manipulating the market on the eve of Secretary Vilsack's announcement that he was surrendering to the corporate packers' demands to withdraw the GIPSA rule so as not to interfere with their unfair, abusive and anticompetitive cattle buying practices."

Click here for more on R-CALF USA's formal complaint.

OSU's Dr. Glenn Selk says to Observe Bulls During First of Fall Breeding Season

The fall breeding season is about to begin. Herds that aim for a September 1 first calving date, will turn bulls with the cows in the latter part of November. According to Dr. Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist, bulls that have been recently added to the bull battery, and bulls that have not been used since last year, should pass a breeding soundness exam before the breeding season begins.

Any newly purchased bull, that has been previously exposed to cows, should also have passed a test for the venereal disease "trichomoniasis". Reports from the Oklahoma state veterinarian indicate that 2.5% of bulls routinely tested have been found to be positive for this disease. Visit with your veterinarian soon about breeding soundness exams and "trich" tests to avoid reproductive problems next year and beyond.

A good manager keeps an eye on his bulls during the breeding season to make sure that they are getting the cows bred. Occasionally a bull that has passed a breeding soundness exam may have difficulty serving cows in heat, especially after heavy service.

Click here for more from Dr. Glenn Selk on bulls in the breeding season.

Former Ag Secretary Stands Up for Farm Safety Net Need 

Keith Good with FarmPolicy.Com is doing an excellent job in sorting out the ins and outs of the 2012 farm bill talk- as we wait for some sort of breakthrough within the House and Senate Ag Leadership. 

Good- in some of his writings this morning- has highlighted an op-ed article penned by former US Secretary of Agriculture Clayton Yeutter- saying yes- we need a farm safety net. "Non-farm media has given considerable attention recently to suggestions that these programs [so-called Title I crop subsidies] simply be eliminated. But those suggestions typically come from people who know little or nothing about farming and the risks it entails.

"Farmers have risks they cannot predict, risks that are unique to agriculture, and risks that the private sector cannot or will not fully insure. Weather volatility makes crop insurance a risk management program of the first order. Crop insurance needs to be properly designed and readily available in all parts of the country...[O]ne specific proposal now before the Congress is known as Brown-Thune-Lugar-Durbin. It seeks to meet this composite of risk management challenges. It is certainly the most aggressive proposal on this topic to date. And it would significantly reduce farm program costs, an imperative at the present time. So it deserves careful consideration by the Congress." Click here to read the full opinion piece authored by former Secretary Yeutter. 

National Pork Board to Mark 25th Anniversary in November

Meeting 25 years and a few days after the first National Pork Board convened, members of the National Pork Board will gather Nov. 15-16 in Des Moines to celebrate the board's silver anniversary and to continue the work begun with the launch of the Pork Checkoff in November 1986.

"I was looking at the minutes of that first meeting recently and noticed some striking similarities with today's board," said Everett Forkner, a Richards, Mo., pork producer and president of the National Pork Board.

"Virgil Rosendale of Illinois was the first elected producer leader of the new board and he noted at that first meeting that there were many challenges ahead. The minutes show he also talked about how ensuring producer involvement would be very important to the new board's success. I can say the same things today," Forkner said.

Click here for more from the National Pork Board on their 25th Anniversary.