Agricultural News
American Farmers and Ranchers Discuss Issue of Oklahoma Drought with British Broadcasting Corporation
Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:51:20 CDT
A news crew from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) program BBC World News covering the state drought and current agriculture economics wrapped up production Monday following a southwestern Oklahoma tour with American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) leadership and staff.
Business reporter Paul Mason, based in London, along with a video journalist and senior news producer, visited the farm of AFR member Brett Porter, west of Hobart, viewing cotton and hay crops and seeing first-hand the drought toll on State cattle producers. Mason interviewed Porter and his family, who have already sold part of their herd and intend to sell additional cattle next week.
Porter primarily sells his calves to Premium Natural Beef in Hobart but recently has sent some of his core herd to the sale barn because of lack of forage and little hay supplies. AFR President Terry Detrick was also interviewed on the Porter farm.
"This was an opportunity for us to tell the world how agriculture in Oklahoma is coping with changing weather, economics and politics," said Detrick. "Our members were able to tell that story on a very personal basis and how all of the issues are impacting them. The crew was particularly interested in the political environment in Washington, D.C. and how future policies may impact state producers."
Paul Jackson, AFR farm and cooperative programs director, coordinated the two-day event which also included a stop in El Reno at OKC West Livestock Auction Inc., to video the shipment of cows to market as a result of the drought. Last week this auction and others in the western part of Oklahoma recorded record numbers headed for market with increasing negative weather conditions.
Francie Tolle, Oklahoma Farm Service Agency State Executive Director, was also interviewed by the news team in El Reno.
The program is projected to air late next week on the BBC World News program which is on OKLA, part of the OETA Network, 6 a.m. daily.
American Farmers & Ranchers is a 106-year-old company, headquartered in Oklahoma City, providing educational, legislation, cooperative programs and insurance products across the state.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
