'Confessions of a Farm Wife' Blogger Finds Her Voice as an Ag Advocate 

Emily Webel thought she wanted to get away from the farm and rural life, but, despite serious efforts on her part, she found herself being drawn back to her roots. And not only has she wholeheartedly embraced that which she once sought to escape, but she has now become a very popular blogger writing "Confessions of a Farm Wife."

She spoke Tuesday at the Bayer Crop Science Ag Issues Forum in San Antonio, Texas, where she sat down with me for an interview.   

You might say that Webel is a convert to agriculture even though she was raised in a rural setting.

"I grew up in a small town. My dad was an ag teacher at a local community college. I had a corn field in my back yard and I decided, like any teenager, 'I'm just going to go and go to college and be a city girl.'"

Webel got her degree in education and planned to teach, one day, in the big city of Chicago. In the meantime, however, she met and married her husband who was in corporate agriculture. By and by the couple decided they wanted to return to their roots and become full-time farmers.

In trying to become re-acclimated to rural life, Webel says she searched ag publications, but couldn't find anyone writing about the subject that resonated with her.

Strangely enough, Webel credits Oprah Winfrey with encouraging her to write about farm issues. When Oprah Winfrey made disparaging comments about beef that ultimately led to a lawsuit, Webel says she wanted to add her voice to the discussion to counter the detractors of the beef industry who seemed to get more press than they deserved.

Click here to read more of this story or to listen to my interview with Emily.  You'll also find a link to her blog.  

What's Next? NAWG Exec Looks to Effects of the Farm Bill, TPP and GMOs 

As the flurry of activity that culminated in the passage and signing of the 2014 farm bill dies down, various agricultural industry leaders have been going over the new law with a fine-toothed comb. They have also had time to begin looking at other international and domestic challenges.

Jim Palmer, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers recently spoke with me at the Commodity Classic about his group's assessment of the bill and what he sees on the horizon for wheat farmers.

"As far as crop insurance, we're very satisfied that we were able to hold it together. And, also, just because of Oklahoma, Texas and that area, we're looking at stronger price-support levels than what we thought we might have."

Farmers will have to make choices under the provisions of the new law and Palmer says they are looking toward their extension economists to give them a good analysis of which of the two choices will make the most sense for their operations. 

You can read more of Jim's comments about Trans-Pacific trade and strategies for adopting GMOs by clicking here.  You'll also find our full audio conversation.

Comprehensive Tax Reform Plan Unveiled to Mixed Reviews

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) introduced a comprehensive tax reform plan in Washington, D.C. yesterday.  For individuals, it would consolidate tax brackets and reduce rates.  It would also eliminate or reduce numerous deductions and exemptions.

Several ag groups examined the bill and found portions of it to their liking and other portions troublesome.

American Soybean Association President Ray Gaesser said, ""ASA strongly supports the measures proposed to allow farmers to continue utilizing cash-based accounting regardless of size. This accommodates the uncertain and potentially inconsistent nature of farm incomes and crop values across multiple years."  You can read more of his comments by clicking here.

Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Ethanol Council said, "While the draft plan falls well short of the goal of ensuring that the multi-trillion dollar global clean energy sector sets up shop in the United States, Chairman Camp should be commended for taking tough positions on many of the most distortive oil and gas subsidies in the federal tax code."  Click here for more of her comments.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman lauded the agreement but reserved offering a full endorsement until an in depth review of the details could be made.  " Farmers and ranchers are grateful for the long-standing willingness of the chairman, as well as his colleagues, to listen to our concerns on issues like cash accounting."  You'll find the rest of his statement by clicking here.

Canola College 2014- Angela Post Talks About Getting Ahead with Weed Control

As more Oklahoma wheat producers add canola to their rotation, Oklahoma State University Weed Science Extension Specialist Angel Post says it is very important to understand their options for effective weed control. 

She spoke at the recent Canola College in Enid and says it is always best if producers can get out in front of their canola crop and control weeds even before seeding.

"The important part is, definitely, you want to decrease your weed competition with your crop-in any crop-and in canola in particular because, especially as it's getting established, you're going to need to make sure you give those plants a really start. And if you do your weed control early in the season, you're going to decrease that weed competition and increase your yields in the long run."

She says that most producers are starting their weed-control program even before planting by using a burn-down application.  

Click here for more of this story and my interview with Angela Post.

Asia and Africa Home to 95 Percent of Global Agricultural Population

The global agricultural population----defined as individuals dependent on agriculture, hunting, fishing, and forestry for their livelihood----accounted for over 37 percent of the world's population in 2011, the most recent year for which data are available. This is a decrease of 12 percent from 1980, when the world's agricultural and nonagricultural populations were roughly the same size. Although the agricultural population shrunk as a share of total population between 1980 and 2011, it grew numerically from 2.2 billion to 2.6 billion people during this period, writes Worldwatch Senior Fellow Sophie Wenzlau in the Institute's latest Vital Signs Online trend (www.worldwatch.org). 

Between 1980 and 2011, the nonagricultural population grew by a staggering 94 percent, from 2.2 billion to 4.4 billion people----a rate approximately five times greater than that of agricultural population growth. In both cases, growth was driven by the massive increase in the world's total population, which more than doubled between 1961 and 2011, from 3.1 billion to 7 billion people. 

In 2011, Africa and Asia accounted for about 95 percent of the world's agricultural population. In contrast, the agricultural population in the Americas accounted for a little less than 4 percent. 

You will find the rest of this story on our website by clicking here.

Selenium is Key Ingredient in Producing Healthier Meat For Humans, Brazilian Study Finds

Selenium may be a key ingredient to producing healthier meat and lowering animal cholesterol levels according to researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil. The study aimed to determine the effects of canola oil as a fat source when combined with the antioxidants vitamin E and selenium, as well as determine the metabolic lipid oxidation and nutritional value of the beef. The result - a meat enriched with vitamin E and selenium with lower levels of cholesterol.

Selenium, an essential nutrient for animals and people, is a powerful antioxidant and plays a critical role in metabolism, reproductive health and the body's natural defense system. The organic selenium used in the USP study was Sel-Plex®, from Alltech, a natural source of selenium enriched yeasts with higher bioavailability than inorganic sources. Sel-Plex is the only FDA reviewed and the first EU approved form of organic selenium for all animal species.  

Click here to read the rest of this story.

This N That- Last Call for Oklahoma Pork Congress as well as an Organic Conference and-  First Gentleman Talking Ag

For the Oklahoma Pork Industry, it will be a full day of education, networking and recognition as the 2014 Oklahoma Pork Congress will be happening at the Reed Center in Midwest City.  

Keynoter for the 2014 event will be presented by Jim Wiesemeyer, vice president of Informa Economics. From his position in Washington D.C. he will share information on the state of national affairs and how they will affect the U.S. pork industry and economy as a whole.

You can look at the entire lineup for the day by clicking here. 

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Organic Oklahoma 2014 will take place Feb. 28 and March 1 in the Agriculture Technology Building on the OSU/OKC campus. Lynn Malley, OSU Cooperative Extension assistant state specialist, solid waste management programs, said this two-day conference is the first of its kind.


Ray Archuleta, conservation agronomist at the NRCS East National Technology Support Center in Greensboro, N.C., will serve as the keynote speaker. Archuleta has 25 years of experience with the NRCS and is a certified Professional Soil Scientist with Soil Science Society of America. Ray is the USDA guru when it comes to the Soil Health initiative.

You can review the highlights of this sustainable ag meeting planned for tomorrow and Saturday by clicking here.

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Governor Mary Fallin's husband, Wade Christensen, kept busy at the recent National Governor's Conference while his wife served as the Chair of the event. Christensen used his farming expertise to do a little educating of the other spouses at the event about the importance of US Agriculture.

Christensen, who is a fourth-generation farmer from Thomas, Oklahoma, moderated the weekend's "signature session," which focused this year on agriculture. The session, titled "America's Farms: Feeding and Strengthening Communities," highlighted the important role farming and ranching operations play in providing a safe and healthy food source in the U.S. and throughout the world. It also highlighted the importance of the agricultural sector to the U.S. economy, national security and public health.   

Read more about how Wade used his bully pulpit as First Gentleman to benefit farming and ranching- click here for this story on our website.