Featured Story:

In comments submitted to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) President Gene Schmidt expressed concern with the proposed National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Reporting Rule. Specifically, NACD is concerned about EPA's recommended options for gathering information under the rule; the potential for the disclosure of private information to the public; and the agency's potential engagement in regulatory overreach in light of current law.


"As conservationists, we believe that locally-led, voluntary efforts are the best approach to protecting our nation's water, air and land," said Schmidt. "NACD is concerned that EPA's proposed rule will disturb locally-led efforts, and create undue burdens and uncertainties for owners and operators of CAFOs."


NACD is opposed to the proposed options for obtaining information from CAFOs. Rather than using new methods for collecting information about CAFOs, the best way to advance conservation is by working directly with established partnerships at the local level and through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

Click here to read more of the NACD concerns- and we have a link to the full letter submitted to Lisa Jackson from NACD on this issue.  

Keystone XL Pipeline Rejected by President Obama- Oklahoma Loses Jobs and Tax Revenues 

Based on the recommendation of the U.S. State Department, President Obama has decided to reject the Keystone XL pipeline permit. The pipeline would transport Canada's tar sands through six states to be refined in the south.

It appears the Obama Administration wants to include in its final decision the final route around the Sand Hills region of North-Central Nebraska. The state of Nebraska is working with pipeline owner TransCanada to find a suitable route around the Sand Hills.

Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns believes - the President apparently lacks faith in Nebraska's ability to select a route. By arguing that the Nebraska route could force them to deny the permit, he's implying Nebraska can't get it right. The Senator says, - to suggest a few dozen miles of the route in Nebraska affects the overall public interest for more than 1,600 miles of pipeline is laughable and reeks of political gamesmanship.

Several statements were released on Wednesday afternoon in reaction to the news reports coming out of Washington that President Barack Obama was ready to fully reject the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The proposal would have included a new pipeline that would have run from Cushing, Oklahoma south to the Gulf of Mexico.

Governor Fallin and Congressmen Lucas and Cole were among those that sent us their reaction to the Obama decision- and as you might expect- they disagree with the President. Click here to jump over to our story to read their statements and more on the Keystone XL Decision.

USDA Allocates Money for 2011 Disaster Recovery

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday an important package of disaster assistance to help farmers, land owners, communities and others recover and rebuild after a year in which a wave of natural disasters swept across all regions of the United States.

The funding, totaling $308 million, provides financial and technical assistance to help rebuild and repair land damaged on account of flooding, drought, tornadoes and other natural disasters in 33 states and Puerto Rico. Funding is provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) as well as the Farm Service Agency's Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP).

Oklahoma will receive slightly over five million dollars of the total pie- most of that coming under the Emergency Water Protection Program- we have more on the programs that USDA unveiled on Wednesday- and charts of exactly which state is getting money for what- click here to read more.  

Modern Beef Production- Good for the Environment!

Dr. Jude Capper of Washington State University has done some outstanding research that shows modern beef production in the United States has a smaller carbon footprint than production of a couple of decades back. And, she has also shown that cattle fed a grain based diet for the last part of their lives has a very favorable environmental impact versus cattle raised strictly in a grass fed regimen.

The American Angus Association has produced a video with Dr. Capper where she discusses her research and talks about what a great story the US beef cattle industry has in being good stewards of the environment.

We have this video- click here to jump over to our website and read more about Capper's work- and a chance to see this video with Jude Capper and the positive side of modern beef production system and the impact on the global environment.

Lowest-cost Registration Deadline Looms for 2012 Oklahoma No-Till Conference

Farmers and ranchers seeking to benefit from the latest developments in no-till cropping systems have until February 10 to receive the lowest cost for attending the Feb. 21-22 Oklahoma No-Till Conference in Norman.

"A key advantage of attending the conference is the opportunity to interact with both technical specialists and experienced no-till farmers," said Chad Godsey, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension cropping systems specialist. "It's a great way for producers to get answers to any number of questions they may have about no-till systems."

The conference will take place at Norman's National Center for Employee Development (NCED), located at 2801 State Highway 9 East. Conference sessions will begin at 8 a.m. on both days and will finish mid- to late-afternoon.

Click here for more details about the conference and about how to register for the 2012 event.   

Express Ranches Dominates Angus Bull Competition at the 2012 National Western Stock Show

Angus producers competed for top honors during the 2012 National Western Stock Show (NWSS) Angus Carload & Pen Show, Jan. 14 in Denver, Colo. Three carloads and 34 pens-of-three were showcased in the Yards during the 106th NWSS. Oklahoma's Express Ranches took top honors and two other Oklahoma exhibitors also won Pen of Three Classes at this year's event.


Earlier in the week- Express Ranches were a part of the group that owns the Grand Champion Bull in the Angus Show at the National Western. Dameron First Impression claimed the grand champion bull title after first earning the intermediate champion title. Express Angus Ranches, Yukon, Okla.; Seldom Rest Farms, Niles, Mich.; and Dameron Angus Farm, Lexington, Ill., own the May 2010 son of S A V Brillance 8077.
74-51 Cattle Company LLC, Stillwater, Okla., owns the reserve grand champion bull. 74-51 Changing Time 060 is an April 2010 son of Exar Lutton 1831 and was first named junior champion. 

Click here for the full rundown on the Carlot and Pen of Three Show  for the Angus breed at the 2012 National Western.  

Four Companies Join Up with the Made in Oklahoma Coalition

Made in Oklahoma Coalition recently added four new members to its group of local food companies that process, produce or distribute their product in Oklahoma. The new members include Suan's Foods, Henderson Coffee, The Bama Companies and Split-T Hickory Sauce LLC.


"We are excited to grow the coalition and add these new companies to the group," said Jerry Dyer, president of Made in Oklahoma Coalition. "These Oklahoma-based companies offer great products for Oklahomans to enjoy, adding variety to the coalition."

Click here to read more about these four newest members of MIO- and a link over to the MIO website as well.