Feb. 5, 2016

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OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

Feb. 5, 2016

2016 Legislative Preview: Preparing agriculture for the future

By John Collison OKFB Vice President of Public Policy t’s that time again when the new year gets older and we at Farm Bureau look forward to another year at both Capitols.

This year, however, is a special year for Oklahoma Farm Bureau. 2016 marks the 75th anniversary that we have been lobbying legislators at both the Oklahoma Capitol and in Washington, D.C. In these 75 years, many lobbyists have gone before us and have paved the way to the success we enjoy today. Your OKFB has led the way for 75 years, and will continue to lead the way in agricultural policy in the future.

Water Water will always be our No. 1 priority. We were blessed in 2015 with an abundant amount of rainfall, and for that we are thankful. However, we know drought is

cyclical. The best time to work on water issues is when the state is not facing massive water shortfalls. You, as the members and voice of this organization, came together in Oklahoma City this year and spoke in overwhelming support for maximizing Oklahoma’s water to its fullest potential. We now are calling on the leaders of the state to make sure your vision of moving water and maximizing its use is heard. This is an issue that will take years, but there is no time like the present to solve a problem for future generations.

As we go into our 75th anniversary at OKFB, our state faces many issues. The lack of revenue at 23rd and Lincoln will be the issue that draws all the attention, but I want to encourage members to look to the future and ask that we build out our water

infrastructure to benefit all of Oklahoma.

Feral Hogs Feral, or wild, hogs are always a concern, and this year is no different. We are working with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to stop the movement, and outright proliferation, of wild hogs in Oklahoma. Again, you were loud and clear when you stood up and said, “We want to eliminate this problem in Oklahoma.”

I encourage you to call Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese and ask ODAFF to put rules in place that will stop the transportation of wild pigs and will force the disposal of all trapped pigs.

(See legislative session, continued on page 3)

OKFB launches OKAgPolicy social media accounts o expand its public policy reach, Oklahoma Farm Bureau has launched OKAgPolicy, a news outlet designed to educate farmers, ranchers, legislators and consumers about laws and regulations affecting Oklahoma agriculture. The goal of OKAgPolicy is to become the state’s leader in agricultural policy news and information.

The first phase of the OKAgPolicy launch is the introduction of the effort’s social media accounts. OKAgPolicy news and information can be found by following @ OKAgPolicy on Twitter and liking OKAgPolicy on Facebook.

The second phase of the launch will include a website with news and resources concerning the state Capitol.

Stay tuned for more information as we continue to roll out this exciting new resource.

Relieving Oklahoma’s economic drought

By Tom Buchanan Oklahoma Farm Bureau President ver the past several years, Oklahoma experienced a severe water drought.

While it was relieved last year by heavy rains, our state now faces another crisis: an economic drought.

Beginning Feb. 1, the Oklahoma Legislature will search for answers to the $900 million budget shortfall. But, what if I told you our state watched $4.2 billion flow out of the state last year alone?

Yes, you read that right. $4.2 billion with a B. With the extreme rainfall in 2015, Oklahoma released approximately 65 million

acre feet of water out of its borders. Raw, agricultural water–the cheapest form of water–sells for $65 an acre foot.

Feel free to break out your calculator.

Sixty-five million acre feet multiplied times $65 equals $4,225,000,000. That’s more than four times the amount of Oklahoma’s budget shortfall.

Last year’s rainfall was rare; the state is unlikely to see rains like that every year.

Yet even in a drought, Oklahoma allowed approximately 20 million acre feet to flow out of the state, worth at least $1.2 billion.

Why don’t we utilize the revenue from

that excess water to prepare Oklahomans for the next drought? By growing our water resources, we will create jobs and revenue, leading to economic growth.

It is time for us to stop sitting on our hands and waiting for the rain to fall; as a state, we must take action! By developing Oklahoma’s water, we can help relieve our state’s economic drought.

Water is our state’s most important asset; let’s make sure we steward it wisely. We at Oklahoma Farm Bureau call on our state’s leaders to address how we can best utilize our water resources.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Attorney General Scott Pruitt speaks on importance of Right to Farm In a story from Brownfield Ag News, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt explains why State Question 777 is important for all rural Americans. He also discusses how Right to Farm will preserve private property rights in Oklahoma. Find the link on our Facebook page.

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AFBF Annual Convention and IDEAg Tradeshow photos posted on flickr Want to check out what happened last month as OKFB members visited Orlando, Florida, for the American Farm Bureau Federation convention?

Find photos from the week in an album on our Flickr page at www.flickr.com/okfarmbureau/.

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Yates named OKFB director of public policy field operations he Oklahoma Farm Bureau Public Policy Division recently named Mark Yates its director of field operations.

In the new position, Yates will serve as the face of Oklahoma Farm Bureau at various community and civic organizations and events. He will work to educate urban citizens on the importance and impact of agriculture in Oklahoma.

“Oklahomans need to know the importance of agriculture in their every day lives,” Yates said. “I’m excited to serve as another voice representing agriculture and Farm Bureau.”

To educate urban citizens, Yates will become a fixture in larger Oklahoma cities including Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Lawton, Stillwater and more.

“Urban citizens really need to hear the perspective of farmers and ranchers,” said John Collison, OKFB vice president of public policy. “Mark gives OKFB an extraordinary opportunity to join the larger, statewide conversation.”

A native of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, Yates received a bachelor’s degree in history education from East Central University. He also holds a master’s degree in secondary administration.

After 11 years in education, Yates said he looks forward to traveling and representing Farm Bureau across the state.

Yates resides in Edmond, Oklahoma, with his wife Stacy and 18-month-old daughter Londyn.

Mark Yates

(Legislative session, continued from page 1) These animals are an invasive species, not a sporting species, and must be treated as such. With your help, we can either slow this problem or stop it.

We must eliminate wild pigs; doing so will add thousands of dollars to agriculture’s bottom line. These are million-dollar investments that will pay billions into the future.

Right to Farm

our industry and our livelihood at the ballot box. Your future as a producer in Oklahoma relies on the outcome of this state question.

At OKFB, we have persistently worked to raise awareness and fund the campaign, but we cannot do it without you. As an OKFB member, you are the campaign’s greatest asset. You are active in your churches, schools and community — John Collison organizations.

Strike up a conversation with your friends and neighbors about the upcoming state question. Tell them of its importance to

I encourage all of you to stay vigilant and active to solve the problems we face. Without your steady input and involvement, we accomplish little at the state Capitol.

Of course, our most important issue this year is State Question 777, or the Right to Farm amendment. In November, Oklahomans have the power to safeguard

you, to their food supply, and to the state of Oklahoma. If you’d like to learn more about SQ777, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Stay Involved I encourage all of you to stay vigilant and active to solve the problems we face.

Without your steady input and involvement, we accomplish little at the state Capitol.

We encourage you to be in contact with your legislators. Call them on the phone, send them an email, or even make a trip to the state Capitol.

We look forward to seeing each one of you throughout the year and if you’re ever at the Capitol, please make sure to say hello.

Thank you for your support and active service.

Member Benefits

Calendar

Wyndham Hotel Group

Oklahoma Legislature Convenes Feb. 1 – Oklahoma City Contact: John Collison 405-530-2681

Looking for a Valentine’s Day getaway? Wyndham Hotel Group offers OKFB members discounts for stays at their hotel properties. With 15 hotel brands and more than 7,300 hotels, Wyndham offers a wide array of hotels no matter where your travels take you. To access the discount information, visit the benefits page of our website.

www.okfarmbureau.org/benefits

National YF&R Leadership Conference Feb. 12-15 – Kansas City, Missouri Contact: Holly Carroll 405-523-2307 State Legislative Leadership Conference March 7-8 – Oklahoma City Contact: John Collison 405-530-2681

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Published by Oklahoma Farm Bureau Published Oklahoma Farm Bureau Postmaster:by Send address corrections to: Postmaster: Send address corrections to: Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332 Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332

STAFF DIRECTORY

Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2501 N. Stiles Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126

Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 131 Okla. City, OK.

Executive Director Monica Wilke 405-523-2303 VP of Strategic Corporate Communications Becky Samples 405-523-2528 VP of Public Policy John Collison 405-523-2539 Director of Corporate Communications Dustin Mielke 405-530-2640 Director of Public Policy Communications Hannah Nemecek 405-523-2346

OKFB urges members to submit comments on ODAFF feral hog rules ast week, Oklahoma Farm Bureau submitted comments on the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry’s proposed rules regarding feral hogs.

The proposed rules create a feral swinefree zone which includes 11 northwest Oklahoma counties. They also increase recordkeeping requirements for transporting, handling and sporting facilities.

Restrictions on bringing feral swine into the state also are made permanent by the rule.

ODAFF claims the rules will “adopt aggressive measures for the eradication of feral swine in the state of Oklahoma.”

Yet OKFB found the rules lenient, saying the “proposed rules have the appearance of

being a step in the right direction; however, they are not aggressive enough to even begin to achieve the goal of feral hog eradication.”

At its annual meeting in November, the OKFB delegate body adopted strong anti-feral hog policy including opposition to the transportation of live feral hogs and commercial sport hunting. The policy also adamantly supports the complete eradication of feral hogs.

Feral hogs have invaded each of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. In 2007, the Noble Foundation estimated Oklahoma’s feral hog population between 617,000 and 1.4 million. To prevent the population from

growing, at least 70 percent of the feral hogs must be eradicated each year. The invasive species cost farmers and ranchers in the U.S. an estimated $1.5 billion annually.

OKFB urges its members to email a comment to ODAFF stating, “The proposed rules for feral hogs do not go far enough!”

Comments should be emailed to bennett. abbott@ag.ok.gov. The comment period ends Feb. 15.

For a copy of OKFB’s complete comments or a copy of ODAFF’s proposed rules, contact Marla Peek at marla.peek@okfb.org or 405-523-2437.

OKFB recently featured on Ron Hays’ In the Field segment John Collison, OKFB vice president of public policy, recently was featured on In the Field with Ron Hays, a segment hosted each Saturday morning on News9 in Oklahoma City and New on 6 in Tulsa. Collison visited with Hays about OKFB’s priorities in the 2016 legislative session.

During the segment, Collison focused on developing Oklahoma’s water for the future, a main issue for OKFB this year. Find the full segment from Saturday, Jan. 30 at www.news9.com.

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