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A coalition of state lawmakers announced on Friday they have filed legislation to phase out Oklahoma's personal income tax in such a way that the state would have the lowest overall tax burden in the continental United States. The coalition includes several key rural lawmakers, including Don Armes, Leslie Osborn, Mike Sanders and Harold Wright.


The lawmakers said their proposal, while still a work in progress, would phase out the personal income tax in a responsible manner over 10 years and would not necessitate raising other tax rates or cutting funding to core services currently provided by state government.


"Our goal is to transform Oklahoma into the best place to do business, the best place to live, find a quality job, raise a family and retire in all of the United States. Not just better than average, but the very best," said Rep. Leslie Osborn, one of 23 members of the state House of Representatives who have signed on as principal authors of House Bill 3038.

Lawmakers contend that the proposal would not require raising or expanding any other existing tax rates, such as property or sales taxes, nor would it require introducing any new forms of taxation. 

Click here to read more about this proposalrolled out this past Friday- including the full list of lawmakers who have signed on to the legislation. 

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Signup for 2012 Commodity Programs Begins Today- Monday, January 23rd

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Bruce Nelson today announced that enrollment for the 2012 Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) and the Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE) will begin on Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. The last day for producers to sign up for either program will be June 1, 2012.

USDA urges producers to make use of the electronic DCP (eDCP) automated website to sign up, or producers can visit any USDA Service Center to complete their 2012 DCP or ACRE contract. eDCP saves time, reduces paperwork and speeds up contract processing at USDA Service Centers.

To read more about how to signup for the 2012 commodity program, click here..

Oklahoma Livestock Relief Coalition Formed to Facilitate Humane Treatment of Abused Animals

Fifteen organizations that are interested in the well being of farm animals are forming the Oklahoma Livestock Relief Coalition- and will be front and center at the State Capitol on Monday morning as they receive the blessing of Governor Mary Fallin, State Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese and others.


The OLRC mission is to provide emergency financial resources to local law enforcement agencies that have seized abused and neglected large animals and assure humane care of the animals. The OLRC structure allows concerned citizens to donate funds intended to assist Oklahoma law enforcement agencies with large animal neglect, abuse, and abandonment cases. Contributions will be used to provide feed and reasonable emergency care for seized animals during the initial 30-day phase of these cases.


We talked at the end of this past week with Scott Dewald of the one of the Charter members of the Coalition, the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, and he gives us some background about how these groups identified a problem- and have come together to solve it by bringing private sector resources to the table to assist local law enforcement entities in caring for horses, cattle, sheep, swine and other animals that might be seized after suffering mistreatment. 

Click here for more on this Coalition- including the list of member groups- and you can listen to our conversation with Scott Dewald about how these groups have come together under this common banner of caring for farm animals that need it.   

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Friday's Cattle on Feed Numbers Were Right on the Money with the Pre Report Guesses 

The latest Cattle on Feed Numbers are out on Friday afternoon, January 20, 2012, and showed inventory 3 percent above year ago levels. The report showed no surprises and came in close to expectations. It should have no effect on the markets when trading begins Monday morning. With record highs set in many cattle futures this past week, a lot of the positive aspects will already be built in to the markets.

Placements were six percent less than a year ago in December 2011, while marketings were off two percent from a year earlier.  

Our own Ed Richards talked with Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities on Friday after the report was released- and you can hear Tom's review of all of the numbers- including the weight and state by state breakdowns.  Click here to jump to our review of the numbers- a link to the full USDA report and the audio of Ed talking with Tom.   

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DEKALB Celebrates 100 Years of Performance, Innovation and Customer Service in 2012

Today marks an exciting milestone for DEKALB, one of the nation's leading corn brands. On Jan. 20, 1912, a group of 11 northern Illinois farmers, bankers and county officials laid the foundation for the DEKALB brand, establishing a legacy of industry-leading performance and innovative firsts.

As of this past Friday,  DEKALB officially started its 100th anniversary celebration and the company invites farmers and dealers to join in the festivities all year long.

"DEKALB is proud to celebrate 100 years of service to the agricultural industry," says Jason Hoag, DEKALB Marketing Lead. "We are very appreciative of the support of generations of farmers and DEKALB dealers who have helped the brand reach this historic milestone."  

Click here for more details about the 100th birthday of DEKALBand some of the ways the company plans to celebrate over the next twelve months.  

Charlotte Richert and Randy Pirtle Honored by Oklahoma Extension

Tulsa County Extension Director Charlotte Richert was awarded the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service's most prestigious field staff honor this past week, the statewide organization's Distinguished Educator Award. 

Richert has been with the Tulsa County Extension Office since 1981, serving in various professional positions and roles to help county and state residents improve the quality of their lives and the lives of their families.


As OSU Cooperative Extension director for Tulsa County, Richert is responsible for providing administrative leadership; coordinating staff development experiences; promoting Extension's 4-H youth development, agriculture, and family and consumer sciences programs, reporting the impact of county Extension activities; and managing county Extension fiscal responsibilities and facilities. 

 Click here to read more about Richert's career in Tulsa County serving via the Extension Service.  

Also being honored at last week's statewide Extension conference was Randy Pirtle.   Pirtle is the Washington County Extension Director and their Ag Educator- and he has done a tremendous job over the past 26 years.  

As Ag Educator, Randy created and manages the OSU Cattle Conference and Trade Show, a 15-year annual event in Dewey that attracts more than 5,000 beef producers; started the county's Master Gardener Program in 1999, which has trained more than 250 volunteers who provide more than 250,000 hours of service annually; and maintains research and demonstration plots to showcase beneficial management of and the science behind pasture weed control, fescue pasture fertility, turf disease control, wheat varieties, oat varieties, cattle fly control, vegetable varieties, pecan varieties and beef cattle supplementation programs. 

Read more (by clicking here) about Pirtle's accomplishments during his tenure in the Cooperative Extension Service and learn why he joins Charlotte Richert in being honored this year by this part of Division of Ag at Oklahoma State University.

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Busy Week as January Winds Down- No Till, Cattle Conference and Wheat Industry Meetings Ahead

This week and next- the calendar is full of meetings and opportunities to better yourself as a producer- and in some cases, to allow you the chance to better your industry.  One such opportunity is happening in Salina, Kansas on Tuesday and Wednesday when about 1300 folks will be gathering for the 16th Winter Conference of No Till on the Plains.  Their theme for 2012 is "Building a Solid Foundation" and we will be on the scene serving this year as their emcee. Click here to learn more about this year's event- and a chance to hear a conversation we did a few days ago with Brian Lindley of No Till on the Plains. 

Our friend Brad Tipton is another one of those great Ag Extension Educators within the Cooperative Extension Service- and Brad does a wonderful job in Canadian County.  He's hosting several state extension specialists this Thursday that will present a new program that they will be carrying to other counties as well this winter and into the early spring- Transitioning and Investing in the Cattle Industry.

OSU Extension Ag Economics Specialists, Dr. Derrell Peel, Dr. Damona Doye, and J.C. Hobbs will make presentations about livestock production outlook, financing herd rebuilding and tax issues respectively. Each speaker will focus on how cattle producers can best cope with the impacts of drought as we enter a new year filled with challenges and opportunities. Click here for more details about the meeting on Thursday night. 

Finally, we call you attention to the Winter Wheat Industry Meetings that kick off this Thursday and run into the weekend in our nation's capitol. Both US Wheat Associates as well as the National Association of Wheat Growers will be meeting and talking issues that range from biotech in wheat to wheat's position as the 2012 farm bill discussion do a reboot. Click here for more detailsabout these meetings of those who are involved in the production of wheat here in the US.    

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