The deadline for Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Congressional Action Tour is set for March 3, 2014. The tour will be held April 6 – 10 and will feature many activities during the tour. New to the schedule this year is an option for a tour of Gettysburg during one of the free days. There will also be a President’s Welcome Reception and many Congressional briefings. Participants will also have the opportunity to hear from American Farm Bureau Federation and attend a reception at the House Committee on Agriculture. For more information or questions, contact Sara Drozdowski at 405-530-2681 or at sara.drozdowski@okfb.com. […]
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Oklahoma Farm Bureau backs amendment reinstating funding for horse slaughter inspections
Oklahoma Farm Bureau supports Sen. Jim Inhofe and Rep. Markwayne Mullin as they present an amendment to strike a provision in the omnibus appropriations bill that makes it illegal for the USDA to inspect horse processing facilities. The bill is expected to be considered, passed and signed by the President by the end of the week and will fund the federal government through Sept. 30, 2014. “Our Oklahoma delegation understands these horse slaughter facilities are humane solutions to the challenge of abandoned, abused and otherwise neglected horses,” OKFB President Tom Buchanan said. “We applaud their efforts to obtain funding for […]
Oklahoma Farm Bureau names 2013 Champion Award recipients
Fifteen of the state’s top agricultural advocates – including Gov. Mary Fallin – will receive the Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2013 Champion Award during the OKFB Leadership Conference, Feb. 17-18, at the Skirvin Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Board of Directors is recognizing the state leaders and legislators for going above and beyond to protect and improve agriculture and rural Oklahoma during the 2013 legislative session. “As the state’s largest agricultural organization, we are committed to preserving the livelihood and legacy of our fellow farmers and ranchers,” OKFB President Tom Buchanan said. “It is an […]
Oklahoma Farm Bureau names CHAMPION Award winners
Oklahoma Farm Bureau recognized Jim Grego, Sherry Schauer, Sen. Larry Boggs and Syd Morgan as CHAMPION Award winners during the OKFB 72nd Annual Convention in Norman, Nov. 15. CHAMPION stands for Contact Helps Achieve More Priority Issue Objectives Now, and the award honors individual members for their efforts to achieve Farm Bureau policy at the state and national levels Grego, vice president of the Latimer County Farm Bureau, and Boggs, board member of the Latimer County Farm Bureau received the CHAMPION Award for their work to achieve Farm Bureau policy at the local level. The received a jacket, plaque and […]
Oklahoma Farm Bureau disappointed with water resources board ruling
Oklahoma Farm Bureau commented today that private property rights of landowners in five southern counties were restricted last Wednesday when seven of nine members on the Oklahoma Water Resources Board voted to reduce the maximum annual yield for landowners overlying the Arbuckle Simpson Aquifer from two acre feet of water per year to 0.2 acre feet per year. “When a landowner purchases property he’s virtually purchasing a bundle of sticks or a bundle of private property rights,” said LeeAnna Covington, director of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation. “Each time a decision of this magnitude is made, it removes a […]
OKFB leaders continue grassroots policy development process
A measure supporting more research on effectively using the state’s water supply was among more than 50 resolutions passed by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau state resolutions committee Oct. 22-23, in Norman. The resolutions meeting is just one part of Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s grassroots policy development process, where members from each county help determine priority issues for upcoming legislative sessions. “As primary water consumers, Oklahoma farmers and ranchers are eager to find practical ways to transfer surface water from excess supply areas to water deficient areas of the state,” said Jimmy Wayne Kinder, Oklahoma Farm Bureau resolutions committee chairman. “We’re proposing […]
Oklahoma Farm Bureau releases statement regarding vote on crop insurance
OKFB’s John Collison, vice president of public policy and media affairs, released the following statement regarding a vote on crop insurance later today. “Recently, Congressman Paul Ryan put forth a resolution supporting the linkage of Means Testing to Crop Insurance. Earlier this year, the House rejected a similar farm bill amendment from Congressman Ron Kind. Kind’s amendment would have imposed a means test and cut crop insurance delivery. The 2013 Farm Bill includes provisions to strengthen, improve and expand crop insurance. Congressman Ryan’s resolution would create a barrier to this goal. Means testing in the crop insurance program impacts all […]
Lesser-Prairie Chicken Range-Wide Conservation Plan complete; meeting on Sept. 17
A fourth version of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Range-Wide Conservation Plan is now complete. The RWP is an effort by the state fish and wildlife agencies of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas to conserve the LPC with the intent to preclude the need to list the species as threatened or endangered under the ESA. In the event it is listed as a federally protected species, this plan provides a timely pathway to delisting. Click here to see a copy of the RWP plan. Also, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will be holding an informational meeting on the RWP […]
Arbuckle-Simpson water usage still under review


The Arbuckle-Simpson groundwater basin covers approximately 520 square miles across Carter, Coal, Johnston, Murray and Pontotoc Counties. The basin provides Oklahomans a water source for a variety of uses, including farming and ranching. In Oklahoma, groundwater is considered to be private property belonging to the surface owner. Although this concept seems particularly straightforward, it has proven otherwise. A variety of groups and individuals are concerned about the quantity of water that may be withdrawn from the Arbuckle-Simpson basin in the future. However, Oklahoma Farm Bureau has supported its members who are concerned the outcome will severely limit how much water […]
American Farm Bureau encourages farmers, ranchers to Bring the Heat to Washington
To spur progress on national legislation that affects food, fiber and fuel production on America’s farms, ranches and agribusinesses, American Farm Bureau is asking Farm Bureau members to “Bring the Heat to Washington.” The campaign is focusing on three critical pieces of national legislation: End the inaction on immigration and farm labor reform Break the logjam of inaction on improving our waterways and transportation Get the Farm Bill Done You can learn more about these important issues learn how to add your voice to the discussion at AFBF’s Bring the Heat website.
