Southern Plains Farm Show Features 290 Exhibitors, Daily Demonstrations, Giveaways 

The Southern Plains Farm Show kicks off Thursday at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City and John Sampson of Midwest Farm Shows says farmers are optimistic and the overall positive farm economy makes this a good year for farm shows.

"They're very optimistic. You know, they're pleased the economic situation hasn't affected them as adversely as some of the industry segments that are out there. Agriculture and food are basic elements to any farm economy. Generally, they're pretty dog gone positive. You know, the commodity prices are staying fairly stable, cattle prices are very good and they're looking stronger all the time."

Sampson expects good crowds at the farm show. Two hundred and ninety exhibitors are signed up to show off more than 1,000 lines of equipment, products and services. There will be livestock handling demonstrations all three days of the show and there will be a commercial livestock evaluation competition and OSU Extension speakers.

Giveaways will include a Hustler mower, a Priefert round pen, an Arctic Cat ATV, and $1,000 that can be spent any way the winner likes at the farm show.

"By gosh, there's just so much going on it's hard to talk about it all in just a short period of time," Sampson says.

Click here for an interactive website that shows the location of all the exhibitors.

You can also find more information by clicking here, as well as an interview with the show's owner, John Sampson.

Ag Committee Elects to Make Farm Bill Budget Reductions in Food Stamp Program 

The House Committee on Agriculture passed the Agricultural Reconciliation Act of 2012 with a voice vote along party lines. The measure recommends budget cuts required by the House Budget Resolution be met entirely by reforms, elimination of loopholes and the reduction of waste, fraud and abuse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program.

With the disapproval of most Democratic members, the Agriculture Committee majority approved achieving these requirements by suggesting more than $33 billion in savings from SNAP over the next ten years.

Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said over the past ten years, the cost of SNAP nearly tripled, increasing by 270 percent, but that the reductions proposed by the Agriculture Committee cut only four percent over the next decade. While Lucas said he felt the reductions in the proposal are prudent for a program that makes up almost 80 percent of agricultural spending, he emphasized that the measure does not prescribe what will be in the Farm Bill.

"Let me remind my colleagues that this is just an exercise," Lucas said. "When we write the Farm Bill, we will consider reductions from all areas."

Please click here to read more about the Agriculture Committee's business meeting.

NPPC Fires Back at Humane Society Over Campaign Waged Against Pork Producers

The National Pork Producers Council fired back at the Humane Society of the United States in the ongoing campaign waged by HSUS against pork producers. In a news release today, the HSUS says it has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission seeing "prompt FTC action to stop the NPPC from deceiving consumers through its misleading animal care representations."

The NPPC released the following statement:

NPPC has learned that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, claiming that NPPC is "engaging in deceptive advertising related to animal well-being."

NPPC will analyze the complaint once it actually is made public and will vigorously defend against the absolutely false claims made by HSUS as set forth in a press release it issued today.

You can read more about the NPPC's response to the HSUS complaint by clicking here.

OSU's Food and Agricultural Products Marketing Workshop to be Held in May 

Oklahoma State University's Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center is holding a Marketing Workshop designed for FAPC Basic Training graduates and Oklahoma small businesses.

The workshop will be held May 10, 2012, at the FAPC in Stillwater, Okla.

"The fact is a good marketing program is essential to survive and succeed in the highly competitive marketplace," said Jim Brooks, FAPC business and marketing services manager.

FAPC's Basic Training Workshop is the first step in learning how to start a food business. The Marketing Workshop serves as the next step workshop and will provide information and insight to move small businesses forward in the areas of retail grocery stores, foodservice and restaurant industry, and gourmet/specialty foods. 

You can find more information about the FAPC Marketing Workshop by clicking here.

Livestock Producers Push Back on HSUS Dictating Animal Husbandry Demands

Lawmakers and representatives from animal agriculture joined forces to educate nearly 100 people about the deliberate emphasis farmers and ranchers place on caring for the health and well-being of their animals. During a briefing hosted by Congressmen Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), congressional staff learned about multiple voluntary, producer-led animal care programs and about the concerns farmers and ranchers have with legislation introduced in the House that would mandate strict on-farm production practices.

National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) President J.D. Alexander joined Amon Baer, an egg farmer from Minnesota; Betsy Flores, director of regulatory affairs for the National Milk Producers Federation; and Bill Luckey, a hog producer from Nebraska on a panel to explain how they care for their livestock and poultry. Each speaker raised serious concern with H.R. 3798, legislation that would codify an agreement between the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the United Egg Producers (UEP) to seek federally mandated production practices for the egg industry. Alexander, who is a Nebraska beef producer, said a one-size-fits all approach to animal agriculture won't work.

"No two farms or ranches are the same. What works for my neighbor may not work for me because all farmers and ranchers have to adapt to meet the needs of their animals, to comply with regulations and, ultimately, to satisfy consumer demand," Alexander said. "My biggest concern with H.R. 3798 is that outside groups with no knowledge of the industry will be dictating my livelihood and potentially compromising the welfare of my livestock. This legislation creates a slippery slope. Today, it's egg farmers but tomorrow it could be any other segment of animal agriculture and we're not going to let that happen."

Click here for more on the livestock industry pushing back on the HSUS-UEP deal that has resulted in proposed legislation that could set a precedent of how on farm production practices could be decided in the future.

Ag Committee Moves Forward with Farm Bill Process and Announces DC Hearing Schedule

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas announced another series of hearings on the 2012 Farm Bill to begin next week in Washington, D.C. The six Subcommittees will hold the hearings throughout April and May to hear from national agricultural stakeholders advocating for policy priorities. It is the next step in the Farm Bill development. This announcement comes as the Committee prepares for their final "Field Hearing" on the 2012 farm bill on Friday in Dodge City, Kansas.

Last June, Chairman Lucas began the effort when the Agriculture Committee held 11 audit hearings on agriculture programs to look for ways to improve programs for farmers, increase efficiency, and reduce spending. Chairman Lucas then took Committee Members to the countryside to hear directly from producers in the field. The hearings slated for Washington will round out the information gathering in advance of writing legislation.

"It's important to consider a variety of perspectives when writing comprehensive legislation. We are continuing our efforts to gather as much information as possible so we can write sound and effective farm policy that works for all of agriculture. We have reviewed spending trends and have heard from our producers on the ground. Now it's time for national agricultural leaders and stakeholders to present their views on farm policy," Lucas said.

You can find a full list of hearings and topics to be discussed by clicking here. 

Domestic Fuels Act Designed to Make Alternative Fuels Available to More Consumers

Weakening imported oil's grip on Americans necessarily means expanding the availability and use of domestically-produced renewable fuels. Addressing the inaugural Renewable Fuels Association's Washington Legislative Forum, Senator John Hoeven detailed the elements of the bipartisan Domestic Fuels Act, introduced in late March.

Specifically, the Domestic Fuels Act would:
* Streamline the process so that all fuels, both traditional and renewable, can be stored and dispensed with common equipment. The bill requires the EPA to develop streamlined criteria so that underground tanks can be used to dispense gasoline, diesel, ethanol or some combination of fuels, rather than requiring the use of separate tanks.
* Provide liability protection for retailers that meet the streamlined EPA standards, so that they can sell multiple types of fuel with less red tape, providing consumers with more choice and lower fuel prices.
* Establish a new pathway for retailers to ensure that their equipment is safe and legally recognized as compatible to sell new fuels, thereby reducing the cost of entry for many retailers.

"We need to make all fuels available to American consumers and businesses, and we need to do so by using market-based measures that increase competition and remove bureaucratic obstacles to producing and marketing renewable fuels," Hoeven said.

More information about the Domestic Fuels Act is available by clicking here.