News Stories

The state’s largest farm organization supports Gov. Mary Fallin’s executive order allowing truck drivers to haul larger loads of hay. “This will make it possible for livestock producers to get hay to hungry livestock quicker,” said Mike Spradling, president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. The drought has destroyed local hay fields, forcing producers to seek hay supplies from areas less affected by the drought. Current rules require hay loads not to exceed 11 feet in width. The executive order increases the limit to 12 feet. A standard large round hay bale is six feet wide. The rule effectively doubles the […]

More than 100 rural women leaders from across Oklahoma participated in the annual Oklahoma Farm Bureau summer conference in Bartlesville, July 8-10. “This was a great opportunity for women to learn how they can be leaders in their community,” said Kitty Beaver, OFB Women’s Committee chairperson. Guest speaker LeAnne Taylor, KOTV Channel 6, Tulsa, spoke to the group about her career, her struggle with cancer and her passion for preventing the disease. Breakout sessions on wildfire prevention and animal and agriculture advocacy provided participants with helpful information they can use to improve the lives in rural communities. The conference was […]

Oklahoma Fifth District Congressman James Lankford’s bill allowing broader weight restrictions on farm trucks is receiving strong support from Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Lankford introduced the Farmers’ Freedom Act July 7, to allow farmers to haul commodities across state boundaries without violating weight limits. Current law forces farm trucks to be covered under more restrictive federal regulations when loads exceed 26,000 pounds. This is especially burdensome when the trucks cross borders, even though the truck may be considered legal within each state. “We have many producers who live near state borders and transport grain and livestock to the nearest market, which […]

Farm Bureau members wanting to learn about new technology are invited to attend the Production Advantage workshop, July 28-29, OFB office, 2501 N. Stiles, Oklahoma City. “We want to show how new technology can be used to improve production,” said Burton Harmon, OFB field services representative and workshop coordinator. The two-day seminar includes social media training, demonstrations of Green Seeker technology and ranch management software, marketing training and use of the Internet for soil surveys. “The Production Advantage Seminar will give producers who attend a production advantage because they will learn about new technology and resources that can move them […]

At a capitol press conference on May 11, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and other organizations such as the State Chamber thanked state house members who voted 80-15 to pass HB 1381. The bill, which previously passed the State Senate on a 39-9 vote, now heads to Governor Fallin for her approval. “Having a well-funded health care system in Oklahoma is important to improving the economic climate in Oklahoma,” said State Chamber CEO Fred Morgan. “It is important to employers, employees and all health care consumers that we do everything we can to reduce or eliminate cost-shifting which occurs when government programs […]

An overwhelming 80 percent of the FFA members visiting the Oklahoma Farm Bureau exhibit during the Oklahoma FFA convention, May 2-4, said they are optimistic about the future of agriculture. “That does not surprise me as these kids tend to be a pretty optimistic group in general,” said Chris Kidd, south central OFB field coordinator and Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee coordinator.    The OFB exhibit was a project of the YF&R committee in an effort to encourage FFA members to get more involved in agriculture leadership organizations.    The strong optimism was offset somewhat by the 61 percent who […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers committee helped raise more than $15,000 for the OFB Ag Legal Foundation during the annual YF&R Golf Classic held May 6, in Seminole. All proceeds benefit the OFB Ag Legal Foundation’s efforts to protect the rights of farmers and ranchers and represent them regarding other agricultural issues. “It’s heartening to see some of the same people turn out every year for the tournament,” said OFB Legal Foundation Director Marla Peek. “It’s a testament to some of our members’ support of the foundation’s activities.” More than 20 teams participated in the annual event hosted […]

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is partnering with several other agricultural organizations, including Oklahoma Farm Bureau, to help prevent spray drift and crop damage to fields. State Department of Agriculture crop specialists advise farmers to be aware of certain crops grown in their area that are sensitive to herbicides such as 2,4-D. Those crops can include cotton, grapes and canola. Agency leaders say it is a good idea to know what neighbors have planted and consider wind speed, temperature, humidity and atmospheric inversion conditions when spraying herbicides. Also, they advise avoiding applications during hot or humid times […]

Gail Banzet of Stillwater is the new Publications and Online News Coordinator in the Corporate Communications/Public Relations division at Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Banzet is a 2005 OFB corporate communications intern and a 2006 graduate of Oklahoma State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communications. For the past four years, she has worked as a news reporter/morning host for KOSU radio in Stillwater broadcasting news and weather updates as well as producing audio features on the great people, places and events of Oklahoma. While working as a reporter, Banzet’s interest in agriculture played a role in her feature […]

Earth Day is Friday, April 22, and the farm and ranch families of Oklahoma Farm Bureau are available to answer questions and help Oklahoma celebrate this annual event.  Despite the prolonged drought, today’s farmland is not blowing away. Even though it is drier than it was in the notorious “Dirty ‘30’s” or Dust Bowl days, we do not see huge piles of dirt in the ditches or large dust clouds on the horizon. Thanks to improved farming methods, more of the land’s soil is staying in place and giving farmers a chance to produce food with limited natural resources. Did […]