The Battle for Atrazine--Worth Drawing a Line in the Sand 

The drumbeat of pressure from the EPA and environmentalists against atrazine continues unabated. The agricultural compound is one of the most effective and inexpensive herbicides. It is the most widely used herbicide in conservation tillage systems worldwide. There have been many claims made about atrazine's association with birth defects in amphibians, but even the EPA admits that over 200 studies, including some of its own, don't prove a connection.

Still, the drumbeat and lawsuits continue.

Rex Martin, head of industry relations with Syngenta, the maker of atrazine, said the important agricultural chemical needs to be protected.

"For over 50 years atrazine's been a staple for corn, grain sorghum and sugar cane farmers. We need to keep that product on the market. We know that it delivers a lot of economic benefits."

Despite the deluge of studies, despite decades of undeniable economic benefits, Martin said he feels his company's product is in the EPA's crosshairs. He said this battle is an important one and one that the agricultural industry would do well to draw a line in the sand on.

To read more about the battle for atrazine or to hear our interviews with Martin and Dr. David Bridges, click here. 

Talking Pork with Roy Lee Lindsay at the 2012 National Pork Forum  

National Pork Forum ended a three day run on Saturday- and according to Roy Lee Lindsay of the Oklahoma Pork Council, there is cautious optimism within the pork industry for 2012. Lindsay told us in a Saturday morning interview that Steve Meyer with Paragon Economics is estimating an average return of $12 per finished hog in 2012, which Lindsay says would result in a very profitable year for pork producers if realized. He does express concern about the high costs of production, which means if anything goes wrong, like a short corn crop or a pull back in pork exports- the positive outlook for 2012 could easily go out the window.

Lindsay says there has been a lot of discussion about the gestation crate issue in Denver, and that the two groups are likely to have a resolution coming out of their meetings to relook at all of the "sound science" when it comes to sow housing here in the US. He tells us that probably 35% to 40% of the sows that call Oklahoma home are now in group housing, with more conversations to happen over the next few years. 

Read more about our visit with Roy Lee- and you can also listen to our visit by clicking here to jump over to our website.  

National Farmers Union Kicks Off Their 110th Annual Convention

The National Farmers Union opened its 110th Anniversary Convention with remarks from Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Howard G. Buffett. NFU President Roger Johnson delivered his annual "State of the Farmers Union" address. More than 500 Farmers Union members from across the country met at the LaVista Conference Center in LaVista, Neb., for the four-day event. Several members of the American Farmers & Ranchers, led by President Terry Detrick, are at the Nebraska meeting representing the interests of Oklahoma at the 2012 convention. 

"This is a critical year for agriculture as we work to complete the 2012 Farm Bill," said Johnson. "We must continue working to ensure that the next farm bill benefits family farmers and ranchers. We know it will be challenging to get everything that we need in this budget environment. That is why NFU worked with the University of Tennessee to study a Market-Driven Inventory System, which will provide farmers and ranchers with income stability and decrease the cost of the farm program to the federal government."

Details of the NFU proposal are to be unveiled today at their 2012 convention.

Click here for more of their opening night activities for the general farm organization.   

Beef Buzz Times Two- The BOLD Study is a Gamechanger

We featured a pair of Beef Buzz reports at the end of this past week on the BOLD study which shows lean beef eaten regularly can be a positive part of a heart healthy diet.   

Our conversation both shows is with Dr. Shalene McNeill, the executive director of human nutrition research at NCBA- and she tells us more about the study- and how the beef cattle industry plans to spread the news on the study to key health industry influencers in the next several months.

"We've shown with really good science that you can add lean beef and build a really healthy diet. I think the next phase of our research will move into showing that beef is an essential part of helping people stick to healthier diets."

The cattle industry had talked in the past about finding ways to "give consumers permission" to eat beef in a hostile marketing environment. McNeill said the BOLD study goes far beyond simply giving consumers an excuse to eat beef.

Click here for the first of these two Beef Buzzes that details the fact that lean beef is compatible with a heart healthy diet.  Click here for the second of these Beef Buzz spotlights on the BOLD study, as McNeill explains that this study really turns some of the conventional wisdom upside down when it comes to beef in a diet.

Groups Urge Oklahomans to Celebrate Bake & Take Month in March

Oklahoma State University's Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center, the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and the Made in Oklahoma Coalition is teaming up with Oklahoma 4-H to promote and celebrate Bake and Take Month in March.

The purpose of the Bake and Take promotion is to encourage participants to bake a product made from wheat and take it to a neighbor, friend or relative, said Renée Albers-Nelson, milling and baking specialist for the FAPC.

"The Bake and Take promotion is a wonderful way to get our young people to experience the joys of baking and understanding the importance of the cereal grain and wheat, grown in our state," Nelson said.

Read more about "Bake and Take" by clicking here.

Oklahoma in International Report on Carbon Markets

The voluntary carbon sequestration program run by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission is included in a new report on government programs and carbon markets. The publication by Ecosystem Marketplace is entitled Bringing it Home: Taking Stock of Government Engagement with the Voluntary Carbon Market.. Oklahoma is one of three U.S. states included in the report alongside ten other countries including Australia, China, Thailand, and the Netherlands. The Commission describes the Oklahoma Carbon Program as another example of the successful Conservation Partnership in Oklahoma between the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, NRCS and Conservation Districts who work together to deliver voluntary programs that assist farmers and ranchers.

"We are thrilled to be included in the report," said Stacy Hansen, director of the carbon program. "Through this program, we promote healthy ecosystems rather than simply the air quality aspects of carbon sequestration. We also collect data on soil health and management systems that we hope will help agriculture producers cope with severe weather events and a changing climate." Another reason the program is so successful, said Hansen, is because of the Commission's ongoing support from EPA's Clean Water Act grants.

"With EPA's financial and technical support, we have one of the top water quality programs in the nation," said Hansen. "By overlapping the water quality program and the carbon program, we are able to expand and synergize environmental benefits beyond the resource management goals of individual programs. Such programmatic partnering is essential, especially in these times of budget cuts."

Click here to read more about Oklahoma's inclusion in the report on carbon markets.

 Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack talks Farm Bill and More at Commodity Classic

If a Farm Bill is written this year, it needs to be about more than just "tinkering with the payment system" by investing in agricultural research and beginning farmers and ranchers, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said during the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville this past Friday.

"The first and most important thing we can do this year is to pass a Farm Bill and pass it now," he said. 

He also adopted the theme in his speech to the crop and oilseed producers of the need for the farm bill as well as future tax policy to carefully consider how to help establish the next generation on farms and ranches. Vilsack says he often wonders exactly how the next generation will be able to make things work in this capital intensive industry- and he believes that part of the solution is to tilt the next farm bill that direction.

We have the Secretary's full speech- and you can listen to it by clicking here for our story on his appearance at the joint meeting of the Wheat, Grain Sorghum, Corn and Soybean organizations.