Oklahoma food banks will be the benefactors of generous farmers and ranchers collecting non-perishable food this fall as part of a nationwide effort to help feed hungry people. Greg Lucas, Altus, is spearheading the food drive. “It’s only natural for farmers, those who are the first to harvest the food, to share it with others as part of a second harvest,” Lucas said. The southwest Oklahoma farmer encourages all Farm Bureau members attending the state Farm Bureau convention in Oklahoma City Nov. 22-24 to bring a sack of non-perishable food items. The food can be deposited in the Regional Food […]

A U.S. District Court has struck down a rule designating critical habitat for the Arkansas River Shiner in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 17 agricultural organizations, water districts and a municipal water authority representing land owners and residents in four states. "This is a huge victory for land owners," said Steve Kouplen, president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and coalition member. The court ruled the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wrongly designated critical habitat for the shiner by failing to conduct a proper economic analysis. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service basically said there was no […]

Farmers and ranchers with on-farm fuel storage tanks could be forced to pay up to $25,000 to bring the tanks into compliance with new EPA water quality regulations that are unnecessary and unlawful, Steve Kouplen, Oklahoma Farm Bureau President, told a Senate subcommittee in Washington D.C., today. The Beggs rancher, testifying on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation, told the Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee many of the EPA’s regulatory requirements for establishing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) under the Clean Water Act (CWA) exceed the agency’s authority. “What disturbs us the most is the EPA’s enforcement of […]

The rights of private property owners carry significantly more weight than the presumed rights of a county government to condemn property for use by private business, according to a recent ruling by the court of civil appeals of the state of Oklahoma. The September 9 ruling was in the case of Muskogee County versus Ed and Mary Lowery. The Lowery’s own a farm south of Muskogee. "We are ecstatic our property has been protected," said Ed Lowery. "It’s not right the county can take your property and just give it to a large company." The land battle started when Muskogee […]

Agriculture producers should not be forced to go thirsty in order to meet the water needs of the growing urban population is the message Oklahoma Farm Bureau president Steve Kouplen will deliver Aug. 14 at a regional water conference in Austin, Tex. "Water 2025: Preventing Crises and Conflict in the West" is the last of eight regional conferences sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The goal of the conferences is to develop solutions to chronic water supply problems. "Our biggest concern is that agriculture will take a back seat to recreation when water usage decisions are made," Kouplen […]

World renowned rodeo star Shoat Webster, Lenapah, Okla., is featured on the cover of the summer issue of Oklahoma Country, the official publication of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Webster’s illustrious career spans 50 years in the saddle. This is one of several articles on rural Oklahoma featured in the magazine. Concerns over the explosion of meth labs in rural Oklahoma is also covered in this issue of Oklahoma Country. Illegal meth labs are an epidemic sweeping across the state, says Mark Woodward, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. The article focuses on the economic impact […]

In what appears to be a step backwards the U.S. House of Representatives has failed to fund Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), causing Oklahoma Farm Bureau leaders to voice concern this could delay implementing the program. "It will be difficult to implement COOL by September 2004 (as required by law) without adequate funding," said Steve Kouplen, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. The Beggs rancher has just returned from Washington, D.C. where he lobbied extensively for the COOL program. Farm Bureau supports COOL because it gives consumers a choice between domestic and foreign produced beef, Kouplen said. "It appeared they (Congress) were […]

Young farmers, ranchers are invited to Summer Conference at Roman Nose July 18-20 Young agricultural producers as well as those interested in the agriculture industry are invited to attend Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 2003 Young Farmers & Ranchers Summer Conference which will be held July 18-20 at Roman Nose State Park in Watonga. Geared toward establishing a connection with other young people in the business, the three-day conference will focus on fun, food, fellowship and agriculture. Young farmers and ranchers will play golf at the Roman Nose Golf Course, tour the Watonga Cheese Factory, discuss safety issues and be briefed on […]

FARM BUREAU TESTIFIES IN SUPPORT OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is as much a consumer issue as it is a producer issue, Steve Kouplen, president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau, said during a USDA committee hearing in Kansas City, May 6. Speaking before a standing-room-only crowd, Kouplen said consumers want to know if their food is domestically or foreign produced. "Research has shown consumers prefer products made in the U.S.," Kouplen said. Quoting a 2002 survey in Chicago and Denver, Kouplen said consumers were willing to pay a premium for steak labeled "Guaranteed USA: Born and […]

Young farmers, ranchers meet with legislators during leadership conference In hopes of keeping legislators aware of issues important to rural Oklahoma, young farmers and ranchers recently met with their elected officials while in Oklahoma City for Farm Bureau’s 2003 Young Farmers & Ranchers Legislative Leadership Conference. "It’s our duty as young producers and leaders to represent agriculture at the State Legislature," said Francie Tolle, state YF&R Committee chairman. "With increasing urban leadership at the State Capitol, we must make sure rural voices are heard." Each year young farmers and ranchers gather in Oklahoma City for a day of lobbying and […]