Water Pioneer Award Given to Mike Thralls at the Governor's Water Conference

Mike Thralls, recently retired Oklahoma Conservation Commission executive director, received the Oklahoma Water Pioneer Award at the Governor's Water Conference hosted by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board at the Cox Convention Center.


Since 1985, the award has been presented annually to honor Oklahomans who have made significant contributions in the planning, development, management and conservation of Oklahoma's water resources. During his 17 years of service to the Conservation Commission and on his own farm, Thralls has made considerable contributions. His vision led to the creation of the state's first Locally-Led Conservation Cost-Share Program, enabling almost 10,000 Oklahoman's to participate in voluntary natural resource conservation since 1998. He also oversaw establishment of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which has improved water quality in northeast Oklahoma by planting 107,773 trees that filter water runoff from 9,588 acres of land.


"Mike's public service to Oklahomans has manifested in many ways throughout his long and distinguished career," said OWRB executive director J.D. Strong. "The Oklahoma Water Pioneer Award has been awarded to a renowned group of Oklahomans, who just like Mike, have gone above and beyond to ensure that all Oklahomans have access to clean water resources for many decades to come. Having worked alongside Mike for many years, it is an honor for me to be a part of recognizing his dedication and service to Oklahoma's water users." 

Click here to read more about Thralls and Past award recipients of the Water Pioneer Award. 

A new provision included in the 2014 Farm Bill has the potential to be a "lifeline" for farmers following crop losses due to severe weather events and natural disasters. The Actual Production History Yield Exclusion, or APH, allows farmers to exclude yields from exceptionally bad years, such as those brought on by severe weather or natural disasters from their production history when calculating yields used to establish their crop insurance coverage. 

"The rollout of the APH program is a lifesaver for soybean farmers in so many parts of the country. It quite literally means the difference between continuing to farm following disastrous years, and being forced out of business," said American Soybean Association First Vice President Wade Cowan, who farms in Brownfield, Texas, and has experienced significant drought in each of the last four growing seasons. "Weather is the single biggest external factor in soybean farming. We have no control over its effects, but with the APH program, we can better respond to its impacts." Click here for more reaction from ASA.

"On behalf of NAWG and the 22 states we represent, I thank Secretary Vilsack for working with his team to implement the APH provision for 2015 spring crops," said Paul Penner, National Association of Wheat Growers President and wheat grower from Hillsboro, Kan. "This provision will be another tool for wheat growers across the country to strengthen their safety net, particularly for growers who have experienced multi-year disasters. We are hopeful that USDA will continue to work on implementing this provision for our winter wheat growers this year."  Click here for more from NAWG.  

National Cotton Council Chairman Wally Darneille said, "Many producers across the Cotton Belt have incurred yield losses due to severe weather, particularly the past three years. This will greatly assist our producer members who are already making plans for next season." Click here for more from NCC. 

USDA Launches Climate Hubs Website

The US Department of Agriculture launched their Climate Hubs website Wednesday. The new site provides a portal for farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and others to find useful, practical information to help cope with the challenges and stressors caused by a changing climate. The site provides resources related to drought, fire risks, pests and diseases, climate variability, and heat stress, and links users to the network of USDA conservation programs and resources that provide producers with technical and financial assistance to manage risks.


Each region also has its own site. For more information, see the "USDA Climate Hubs Website: Connecting Stakeholders to the Hubs". Click here to access the USDA Climate Hubs website. To read more about the website from USDA Climate Hubs National Leader Randy Johnson, click here.   

Angus Demand Continues to Make Higher Highs

There's never been a better time to be in the Angus business. That's according to American Angus Association Chief Executive Officer Bryce Schumann, who reports the organization has experienced growth in nearly every category in fiscal year 2014.


"We just closed our 2014 fiscal year and its a very successful year for Angus," Shumann said. "Our key processing areas are up with registrations up over 9,500 registrations. We're nearing 300 thousand registrations, which is quite significant given the fact that the national cowherd cattle numbers are at 50 year plus record lows and we're increasing business. That's very positive."


Angus seedstock sales reported to the Association set a record this year, generating nearly twice as much income as they did four years ago.


"Everybody knows that we had a good year in the cattle market but not ever more than what we are seeing in the Angus business," Shumann said. "Total gross sales top 326 million dollars. That's up 61 million dollars in the Angus business over last year. That's a 23 percent increase in value. Those are real dollars back to Rural America."   

A record year also included Angus bull sales and Certified Angus Beef.  Click here to read or to listen to this Beef Buzz feature.   

Kyle Hilbert Ready to Serve and Hoping to Hear His Name Called in Louisville Next Week

The 2014 National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky will be a defining moment in the life of 42 individuals vying to become a National FFA officer. Kyle Hilbert of the Depew FFA Chapter will represent the state of Oklahoma. He is excited for the opportunity because of the influence and impact national officers have on FFA members.


"I know from the opportunity to serve as a chapter and state officer, there's a unique way to connect with members that happens that's only available in the blue jacket," Hilbert said. "There is something really special about that and the way that younger FFA members will come up to you and ask for advice and help and the way you are able to convey your life stories to help them deal with whatever they have going on in their life."


I interviewed Hilbert about his FFA experience.  Since June he has been training and preparing for the extensive interview process.  Click here to hear or to read about the full interview as he talks about trying out to become a National FFA Officer.    

At that link- we also have the video of the In the Field segment that we had with Kyle and Gatlin Squires this past Saturday morning on KWTV, News9  

Strong Interest in US Beef and Pork at Paris Food Show

Billed as one of the largest international food shows in the world, SIAL 2014 in Paris is an outstanding venue for showcasing U.S. beef and pork. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) participates in SIAL through support from the USDA Market Access Program (MAP).


About 150,000 participants from more than 100 countries are in attendance at the five-day event. A majority of those attending are from the European Union, but SIAL also attracts a large number of buyers and other food industry professionals from Russia, the Middle East and many Asian countries including Japan and China.


"U.S. beef and pork are strongly represented at SIAL," said Dan Halstrom, USMEF senior vice president of marketing and communications. "We have NHTC-approved suppliers here on the beef side, but we also have several pork packers in attendance and a large number of traders and purveyors as well. SIAL is an excellent opportunity for them, as the event provides access to many prospective buyers." 

Click here to read more about international beef and pork trade to Europe, Russia, Middle East and Japan.   

This N That- Jack and Zach, Joni and Her Porkers and Stupid Is as Stupid Does

I posted this picture yesterday on our Facebook page- and it's a reminder of our upcoming coverage of the 2014 National FFA Convention.  Zach Weichel is one of more than a thousand FFA members from Oklahoma that will be Louisville next week for the Convention and Expo- and he will be busy meeting the media, top donors of the organization and more- as Zach- from the Cordell FFA Chapter- is a Finalist to become the Star Farmer of America for 2014. Here, Zach gets some advice from State FFA Advisor Jack Staats during the "Workout" hosted by the Oklahoma FFA yesterday for individuals and teams to practice and fine tune their presentations ahead of the judging that will come next week.

We remind you our coverage is sponsored by the Oklahoma FFA Association, the Oklahoma FFA Alumni and your Oklahoma Ford Dealers.   Watch for stories here in the Email, on Twitter (Jack promises he will be following Ron_on_RON there), Facebook, our website, our National FFA Convention FLICKR page and our reports on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network.   

It's going to be a fun week.

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Joni's pigs have grown up.  Last spring, Iowa US Senate candidate  Joni Ernst produced an ad that featured her remembering those times on the farm when boar pigs needed to be castrated- it went viral on Social Media and helped her to become the GOP candidate.  Now, in the final days of the campaign, she is dead even in the polls  with her Democratic opponent- so it's time to show the pigs again- here ya go-

Lot

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Finally, in the words of Forrest Gump twenty years ago- "Stupid is as Stupid Does."

The Los Angeles City Council has approved a proposal to ask the City Attorney's office to draft a measure to make the city GMO free. The proposal, largely supported by council member