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Agricultural News


Oklahoma Ag Leaders Gather to Celebrate USDA's 150th Anniversary

Tue, 15 May 2012 19:13:55 CDT

Oklahoma Ag Leaders Gather to Celebrate USDA's 150th Anniversary

About 40 ag leaders, legislators and farm organization representatives gathered at the Oklahoma State capitol to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the creation of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Several speakers with decades of experience in working in or with the department addressed everything from the history of the agency to successful agricultural and conservation programs that have impacted the state.

Francie Tolle, the State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency, read a proclamation by President Barack Obama, commemorating the anniversary. She went on to describe the successes of the department including its contribution to the overall economy. She said agriculture is the only segment of the U.S. export economy that is running a trade surplus. She called agriculture "the unsung hero of the American economy."

Conservation issues are another of the success stories highlighted during the celebration. Clay Pope, the executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, said Oklahoma has been a tremendous originator of and beneficiary of conservation programs sponsored by the USDA.

Pope said the Sooner state lost 13 million out of 16 million acres of farm ground during the Dust Bowl. He said since that time, those 13 million acres have been returned to production or have been reclaimed for conservation purposes.

Larry Watkins, the retired executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, described how instrumental the USDA was in encouraging and assisting the electrification of rural Oklahoma. He said of all the loans the USDA has made for infrastructure projects throughout the rural United States, not a single one has ever defaulted and all have paid interest back to the government.

Most of the speakers mentioned how important the upcoming farm bill is to the USDA's ability to continue assisting in rural development and agricultural issues, especially the marketing of U.S. commodities around the world.


To hear more comments from Francie Tolle on today's celebration, click on the LISTEN BAR below.



   
   

Jim Apel speaks with Francie Tollie about the USDA's 150th anniversary.
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