Oklahoma’s cattle producers are pointing to Japan’s refusal to lift the beef import ban as another good reason to keep Canadian cattle out of the United States. Citing continued concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), Japanese officials said moving too quickly to end the ban on U.S. beef could cause consumers to lose confidence in U.S. beef. “That is exactly why we are concerned about prematurely reopening our border with Canada,” said Steve Kouplen, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. “BSE has been found in Canadian cattle but has not shown up in an American-born cow,” Kouplen said. The USDA plans to […]

Threatened litigation by Oklahoma’s Attorney General’s office against the poultry industry is the focus of a public relations campaign launched Jan. 3 by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. At issue is the state wanting to make the industry pay for alleged water quality infractions in Oklahoma. In a series of television and newspaper ads poultry grower Randy Allen, Jay, and a member of the Delaware County Farm Bureau, states the industry has not broken any laws. "My family and I have been poultry farmers here in eastern Oklahoma for years,” Allen said. “We do everything we can to see that our […]

Threatened litigation by Oklahoma’s Attorney General’s office against the poultry industry is the focus of a public relations campaign launched Jan. 3 by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. At issue is the state wanting to make the industry pay for alleged water quality infractions in Oklahoma. In a series of television and newspaper ads poultry grower Randy Allen, Jay, and a member of the Delaware County Farm Bureau, states the industry has not broken any laws. "My family and I have been poultry farmers here in eastern Oklahoma for years,” Allen said. “We do everything we can to see that our […]

The sanctity of private property rights was reaffirmed when the Oklahoma Supreme Court overruled a petition by the city of Seminole to rehear a case on municipal annexation of land without a reasonable purpose. Seminole originally lost the case in a July, 2004 decision by the court. This latest court ruling could be the final chapter in the case of local landowners versus the city of Seminole. Seminole wanted to "strip" annex an area 3 feet wide and 10 miles long to gain access property near I-40. The annexation would have increased the city’s municipal tax base without providing additional […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau honored two well-known agricultural leaders with Distinguished Service Awards during its 63rd annual meeting Nov. 14 in Oklahoma City. The pair of awards is designed to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to agriculture and to Oklahoma Farm Bureau, according to Matt Wilson, executive director. Stillwater’s Dr. Robert Totusek and Mangum’s Jack Givens were honored in ceremonies before the convention body. Totusek was presented with the Distinguished Service to Oklahoma Agriculture Award while Givens received the Distinguished Service to Oklahoma Farm Bureau Award. The 77-year-old Totusek has been involved in agriculture for more than half a […]

Canadian County’s Burton and Audrey Harmon were recognized with Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award Nov. 14 at the 63rd annual convention in Oklahoma City. The award recognizes successful young people 35 or younger who are involved in farming but whose primary occupations are not farming or owning an agricultural business. The award is based on their involvement in agriculture and participation in Oklahoma Farm Bureau and other community organizations. The Harmons, who reside at Yukon, have three children, Benjamin, 5; Aaron, 2; and Jared, 11 months. Burton manages a 1,100-acre cow-calf operation and Audrey is a part-time […]

Logan County young farmer Tim Bartram survived three preliminary rounds plus a final to win the 2005 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet during the 63rd annual meeting in Oklahoma City Nov. 13. The Discussion Meet contest is designed to simulate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each committee member. The strength of Farm Bureau is in its ability to involve members in analyzing their agricultural problems and deciding on solutions which best meet their needs. During the four Discussion Meet rounds, contestants discussed issues such as Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), […]

Alfalfa County’s Ryan and Hope Pjesky were named Oklahoma Farm Bureau YF&R Achievement Award winners Nov. 14 at the 63rd annual convention in Oklahoma City. The YF&R Achievement Award honors the state’s top young farmer or farm family for their achievements in the farming business and their leadership in the agricultural community. A panel of judges selected the Goltry couple for the award. They received an expense-paid trip to the 2005 American Farm Bureau convention in Charlotte, N.C., to represent Oklahoma in the national contest where they will compete for Dodge pickups and Arctic Cat four-wheelers. As the Oklahoma winner, […]

Tom Lindley, columnist for the Daily Oklahoman and Tommy Hawthorne, Editor and Publisher of the Cache Times, received Journalist of the Year honors from the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Nov. 15 at the farm organization’s annual convention in Oklahoma City. The award recognizes accurate and concise reporting on rural and agriculture issues during the year. “There has never been a greater need than today for telling the farm story,” said Sam Knipp, Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations for Oklahoma Farm Bureau. “Farmers and ranchers are faced with many challenges from the weather to government regulations. It’s important the non-farm […]

Payne County’s John and Kay Williams were named Oklahoma Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year Nov. 14 at the 63rd annual state convention in Oklahoma City. A panel of judges selected the Coyle family from 16 entries in the annual contest, which honors the farm family who best represents farming and ranching and the spirit of Oklahoma agriculture. They received use of a new Dodge pickup for a year, an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation meeting in Charlotte, N.C., and other gifts in recognition of their accomplishments. The couple has three adult sons, John III, Carl […]