Water Conservation and Resource Expansion are Vital for Healthy Ag Expansion, Tom Buchanan Says 

The success of agriculture is tied directly the availability of ample supplies of water. Tom Buchanan, the manager of the Altus-Lugert-Altus Irrigation District spoke to Oklahoma Farm Bureau members about water issues at their recent Leadership Conference. After his presentation, he spoke with me about how the state should proceed on water issues.

"Without a doubt the first thing we've got to do is to address true conservation measures and they've got to start happening today. In western Oklahoma, in southwestern Oklahoma which I know about, we are running out of water as we speak. Most of our municipal supplies look like they're good for two years, but two years happens real, real quick. And if demand were to increase or if this drought were to escalate, evaporation alone can cut that two years down to where we're looking at very quickly being out of water. So, conservation has to be the first thing that comes to mind. We've got to make it happen today.

"In addition to that, additional development's got to start happening. In Oklahoma w rely greatly on surface water and all our surface impoundments are old, antiquated. Some of the newest lakes we have were built in the mid- to late 70s. So we have our newest infrastructure to store water is old today. And it's incumbent upon this generation to pick up the banner and pick up where the other one left off and do new infrastructure development to store water with for future generations of Oklahomans."

You can catch our conversation or read more by clicking here.

 

Senators Urge USTR to Quickly Address Russian Import Ban on US Meat 

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee, urged U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to quickly address Russia's new import ban on U.S. beef, poultry and turkey - which would cost the U.S. economy $600 million annually - as the ban is unfounded, not based on sound science and violates World Trade Organization rules. The trade violation stems from Russia's zero-tolerance policy regarding ractopamine, a feed additive for livestock approved by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Codex Alimentarius Commission, an international organization that sets science-based food safety standards.

Stabenow and Cochran wrote in a letter that "Russia has now banned U.S. beef, pork and turkey imports as it imposes its new zero-tolerance standard. With this trade worth $600 million annually, Russia's standard is an egregious trade barrier with no scientific merit."

"With your swift action and use of all enforcement tools available, it is our sincere hope that the issues surrounding Russia's import ban can be quickly and decisively resolved thereby ensuring a stable and predictable trading environment for U.S. livestock producers and exporters." 

Click here for the full letter and a full list of signatories.  

Oklahoma Peanut Commission Seeks National Peanut Board Nominees

The Oklahoma Peanut Commission seeks eligible peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board. The OPC will hold a nominations election to select two nominees each for member and alternate to the NPB during the Oklahoma Peanut Expo on March 15 at 12:45pm at the Quartz Mountain Resort near Lone Wolf, OK. All eligible peanut producers are encouraged to participate. Eligible producers are those who are engaged in the production and sale of peanuts and who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop.

Gayle White of Frederick is the current Oklahoma NPB member and Les Crall of Weatherford serves as the alternate. The term of the current Oklahoma board member and alternate expires Dec. 31, 2013.

USDA requires two nominees from each state for each position of member and alternate. The National Peanut Board will submit Oklahoma's slate of nominees to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, who makes the appointments.

To read more, click here.

Supreme Court Entertains Arguments in Monsanto Seed Case  

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Feb. 19 in Bowman v. Monsanto, a case that hinges on the extent of control that the developer of genetically modified seed can exert through multiple generations of seed.

Vernon Bowman, a 75-year-old Indiana grain farmer observed as the U.S. Supreme Court weighed arguments over his right to plant and use seeds that he purchased legally. Bowman legally purchased seeds at a grain elevator, which bought them from farmers who had, with Monsanto's authorization, used the genetically modified Monsanto seeds to grow their soybean crops.

Bowman challenged the enforceability of Monsanto's patent rights after taking the unconventional step of buying soybeans containing the patented technology from a local grain elevator and, from 1999 to 2007, repeatedly planting, cultivating, and harvesting them to create his own supply of soybeans containing the technology. 

Monsanto claims that Bowman infringed its patents on herbicide-resistant plants and seeds by using the grain elevator seeds to grow his soybean crops. Bowman asserts that Monsanto's sales of the original seeds to authorized purchasers exhausted Monsanto's patent rights and therefore Monsanto cannot enforce its patents against second-generation and later seeds that resulted from planting the original seeds.

According to a New York Times story on the arguments- "

A lawyer for Monsanto, Seth P. Waxman, a former United States solicitor general, was allowed to talk uninterrupted for long stretches, which is usually a sign of impending victory." 

A number of independent organizations and individuals filed amicus curiae ("friend of the court") briefs urging the Supreme Court to uphold the lower courts' rulings in favor of Monsanto.  This broad group included leading universities and research institutions; national farm groups representing virtually all of the nation's corn, soybean, sugar and wheat growers; biotechnology companies; professors of economics and intellectual property; and representatives of the computer software industry. The briefs from the farm organizations highlighted the importance of patent protection in supporting agricultural innovation, which continues to bring about higher-yielding crops that are better equipped to withstand increased environmental stresses.

It's a lengthy aricle that appeared in the New York Times- click here to jump to their website to read it in full.  A ruling from the nine justices will likely come in May or June of this year.

NCBA Brings New Congressional Members Up to Speed on Beef Issues

With the new Congressional session underway, lobbyist Kristina Butts with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association says "Job 1" for her organization is to bring the 98 new members, 14 in the Senate and 84 in the House, up to speed on the issues important to cattle producers.

"I think what it's going to go back to is trying to get those new members comfortable with the farm bill and how that not only impacts those of us in agriculture, but everybody the farm bill does impact-whether it's on the consumer side, whether it's on the production side, whether it's on the trade front, food safety, you name it-all those capacities are touched by the farm bill.

"So, the NCBA, we're really kind of beefing up our efforts on Capitol Hill to make sure that we're introducing ourselves to the new members on the ag committee. We have quite a few on the Democratic side. A lot of them are there because of their interest in nutrition. So, we're trying to make sure they can relate to those of us in the beef world and understand our priorities on the farm bill."

Click here for more from Kristina Butts.

 

USDA Announces Funding to Improve Rural Electric Service for Customers in 12 States

Rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 12 states, including Oklahoma, will receive loan guarantees to improve generation and transmission facilities and implement smart grid technologies. The announcement was made by USDA Rural Utilities Acting Administrator John Padalino during the annual meeting of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in New Orleans.

The announcement includes support for more than $8 million in smart grid technologies, which help utilities make efficiency improvements to the electric grid and help consumers lower their electric bills by reducing energy use in homes and businesses.

In Oklahoma, the Cotton Electric Cooperative won a $24.8 million loan guarantee to build 229 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan includes $1.3 million in smart grid projects.

There is more of this story on our website.  Click here to go there.

Protect The Harvest Condemns Attacks on Oklahoma Representative Skye McNiel

A House vote on HB1999 may happen either today or on Thursday- and in advance of that- the Humane Society of the US has been ruthless in their constant attacks on the author of the measure, State Representative Skye McNeil. Click here for our earlier story with Skye on the measure and her belief that this is truly a HSUS versus all of Oklahoma Agriculture issue- based on how the organization has tried to bully her.

Now  Protect The Harvest, a pro-agriculture and sportsmen advocacy group, has weighed in and condemned the extreme tactics employed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other animal rights activists to intimidate McNeil.

"Rep. McNiel is simply trying to further the discussion on humane horse treatment," said Protect The Harvest Board member Erik Helland. "The attacks on Rep. McNiel are reactionary and unproductive and we believe that animal-rights extremists led by HSUS are trying to intimidate rural legislators like Rep. McNiel because they stand up for agriculture."

Click here to read more of the statement released by the New Mexico based advocacy group- standing up for McNeil and other lawmkers who are likely to pass HB1999 on the floor of the House this week.

One additional note to this story- after Governor Mary Fallin declared this week as Oklahoma Farm Bureau week- a group of reporters- including yours truly- talked briefly with her about drought issues and rural Oklahoma- and I also asked her about HB1999 and whether she supports it or not.  She said no decision had been made for or against this measure- so supporters of this proposal have some work to do to make sure the Governor will sign the bill if it reaches her desk.