Six Finalists Named for Oklahoma Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year Award

Six Oklahoma Farm Bureau families from across the state have been nominated for the prestigious Farm Family of the Year award.


The winner will be announced during the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in November in Tulsa and will receive a plaque and an expense-paid trip to the 2015 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in San Diego, California.


The contest honors Farm Bureau members who best represent farming and ranching and the spirit of Oklahoma agriculture. Each family must display excellence in strong family involvement in all phases of farm management and production, innovation of farm operation and management, use of modern agricultural techniques and active leadership in Farm Bureau and their community. 

The six finalists include the Mayer Family of Texas County, the Krehbiel Family of  Caddo County, the Fisher Family of Cotton County, the Morris Family of Nowata County, the Temple Family of Garvin County, the VanCoervering Family of Payne County.  Click here to read more about each of the six nominated families.  

Oklahoma Food Leaders Commit $1 Million for OSU Food Safety Program

Oklahoma's food and agricultural leaders are keeping food safety a priority in food-processing facilities and supporting the education to prepare students to work in food safety and the food-processing industry.


The advisory board of Oklahoma State University's Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center provided more than $1 million as a lead gift toward a $3.4 million fundraising goal to create an OSU food safety program, which includes a curriculum proposal for a food-safety option and a food-safety faculty position in the department of animal science.


"Once the food-safety option is approved and implemented, OSU will be among the first to offer an undergraduate food-safety option, according to our research," said John Griffin, president and CEO of Griffin Foods in Muskogee, Okla., and spokesperson for FAPC's advisory board.


 With the support of the advisory board, FAPC implemented a Global Food Safety Initiative program.  Click here to read how this will aim to meet a growing demand for safe quality food products.  

A diverse coalition of more than 40 national organizations, including commodity groups, agriculture associations, conservation and environmental NGOs, and major agriculture corporations, have joined together in "A Common Vision Statement on Cover Crops and Soil Health." The statement, submitted earlier Friday to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), American Soybean Association (ASA) and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), provides encouragement for further work on cover crops and soil health through relevant USDA agencies and major program areas.


"Cover crops and soil health have been capturing the attention and involvement of farmers and organizations all across the U.S.," stated the groups. "These practices represent a systems-based approach to enhancing crop production and profitability, protection of soil and water resources, and land stewardship."


In the vision statement, the coalition recognized the importance of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service national soil health campaign, and many other soil-health partnerships across the nation.  Click here to read more on how cover crops and other soil-health conservation practices is paying off across the nation.   

Fall Rains Bring Mixed Emotions for Oklahoma Farmers

The weather outlook is a touchy subject for some farmers right now. The feeling is relative to where a farmer lives and how much rain has fallen. In recent weeks farmers in northeast Oklahoma have received over 12 inches precipitation. That is more rain than what has fallen in the last three months across the panhandle and southwest Oklahoma, where the drought remains the most intense. So depending on where you, might indicate if you want some more rain this fall.   


For Scotti Herriman who farms around South Coffeyville in Nowata County, harvest has been slow progressing this fall. Radio Oklahoma Ag Network's Leslie Smith talked with Herriman about the long harvest. His crew began harvesting corn in mid September, but the crop was too wet averaging averaging 18 - 19 percent moisture, which is too wet for long term storage of the crop. The early loads have indicated it will be an excellent crop with test weights averaging 61 but he hasn't harvested enough of the crop to predict where his yields will average, but it looks to be exceptional crop.


Herriman switched over to harvesting milo. But like the corn his milo has also been a little too wet. With high moisture levels he has been able to market this crop to Gavilon at the Port of Catoosa where they can dry the crop before it is loaded onto a barge. Overall he is finding a better than average crop.  

Click here to listen to Leslie's report with Herriman- and there are more details about his challenge to finding storage for his 2014 crops.  

LMIC's Jim Robb Says Beef Exports Levels Show Economic Strength

US beef exports levels provides insight into the state of the global economy. Livestock Marketing Information Center Director Jim Robb said exports levels paint the picture the US economy is doing well, while other parts of the world aren't as stable.


"Especially Russia is heading toward recession, Europe is in a very weak economic environment and China is weak, as is Japan, so some of these markets have slowed a little bit in terms of US beef export tonnage," Robb said. 


Part of that can be attributed to exchange rates. The value of the US dollar has gone higher. In the latest report from the US Department of Agriculture beef exports on a tonnage basis were down about four percent from August last year. The total value of beef exports was still up from a year ago.


US beef imports were up 46 percent from a year ago in the month of August. Robb said imports are still well below the levels of five or six years ago. This shows the beef that normally goes from Australia into Russia and Europe is coming in the US, as strong beef prices make the US market more attractive. 

Click here to read or to listen's to Robb's perspective on beef demand on our Beef Buzz program.   

TAHC Releases All Vesicular Stomatitis Quarantines in Texas

Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials have released all premises quarantined for Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in Texas after releasing one premises in Bastrop County and another in Travis County.


The first case of VS was found in Kinney County on May 28, 2014. Since then, the TAHC has quarantined a total of 62 premises in 13 Texas counties. The counties included Bastrop, Guadalupe, Jim Wells, Falls, Hidalgo, Kinney, Lee, McLennan, Nueces, San Patricio, Travis, Val Verde and Williamson.


The Texas livestock affected by VS was limited to equine and cattle. However, other susceptible livestock include, sheep, pigs, deer and other cloven-hooved animals.   


Several states and countries may still impose enhanced entry requirements on VS susceptible livestock coming from Texas. Producers are encouraged to contact the state of destination for official requirements. As of now the following state do have required entry requirements; California, Georgia, New Mexico, and North Dakota. Click here for more information on those requirements.
 

Memorial Service for John Poindexter Set for This Afternoon in Pauls Valley

Funeral services for John Poindexter, the President and CEO of Farm Credit of East Central Oklahoma, will be held this afternoon, October 20, 2014 at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Pauls Valley officiated by Dr. Joe Elam.

John was a 33 year veteran of Farm Credit here in Oklahoma and spent the past 7 years as the President/CEO- based in Broken Arrow.  

He started his career with Farm Credit in Pauls Valley back in 1981- he and his wife Karen were married by Joe Elam back in 1984- they celebrated 30 years of marriage earlier this year. 

According to the Obituary posted on the Funeral Home's website, "In 1998, he and his family moved from Pauls Valley to Broken Arrow where he assumed the responsibility of Vice President Operations for East Central and was the Executive Vice President serving as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Credit Officer for the association from 2002 to February 2007. John served as Acting President from Feb. 18, 2007 to April 2007 when he was named President/CEO."

John was just 56 years old- and the cancer that took him home this past Thursday night claimed him quickly.  

John is truly one of those leaders in Oklahoma Agriculture that will be sorely missed- as his leadership is one of the key reasons why the Farm Credit brand in Oklahoma has prospered across our state.