As agriculturists our jobs haven’t changed much from generation to generation but the way we do them sure has! Our roles as providers of the nation’s food and fiber and stewards of the land remain the same but just as we rely on new technologies to become more efficient as producers, we find we now need to find new ways to use them to communicate with each other.
That’s why we have created this blog. Almost 60 percent of the population now depends on the internet for news and other information. The daily and weekly newspapers are still out there (and we still depend on them to reach thousands of Oklahomans) but for all of you who prefer the speed and convenience of electronic communications, this blog is for you.
Let us know what you think and please interact on this site with your thoughts and comments. We are counting on you to let us know what you think and suggest things and ideas that will improve this site and provide you with the information you are looking for.
Terry Peach, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture
Posted by carson4575 on January 31, 2009
George Geissler, the person keeping track of which counties are coming off the ban and which ones are declaring burn bans, has provided a new update that came in late this afternoon and I’m just now getting to post it here.
Kiowa County is now under a burn ban. Click here for the list of counties and map showing which counties are currrently banning outdoor burning.
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Posted by carson4575 on January 30, 2009
Cleveland County has let its burn ban expire while Woods County has issued its first ban of the year.
Here are the updated list and map of Oklahoma counties and their current burn ban status.
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Posted by carson4575 on January 30, 2009
This morning Steve Couch, Forester V for the Northeast Area, met with the Adair County Commissioners and Adair County Emergency Manager to discuss progress made thus far and to organize response for the next few days.
This morning, ODAFF-Forestry has committed ten Dozers and twenty-two personnel. The resources are organized into four Task Forces, each with Dozers and Saw Teams. Each Task Force has been assigned a specific geographic area in Adair County. Work in these areas is anticipated to be completed by Sunday, February 1st.
ODAFF-Forestry personnel accomplishments to date:
Adair County – approximately 30 miles of roads opened
Delaware County – approximately 10 miles of roads opened
Mark Goeller, Ass’t Director
Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
Forestry Services
Posted in Forestry Services | Leave a Comment »
Posted by carson4575 on January 30, 2009
Fire Situation Report
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
Forestry Services
Time Period: 0800 thru 0800, 01/29/09 thru 01/30/09
PROTECTION AREA STATISTICS*
NE Area – 0 fires
EC Area – 0 fires
SE Area – 0 fires
Discussion: Significant moisture occurred over the Protection Area during the last few days. Snow and ice accumulations will raise fuel moistures and minimize fire weather concerns for the short term. ODAFF-Forestry personnel from the Northeast Area today will continue to assist Adair County by opening roads. The roads closed by trees and limbs brought down by the Ice Storm of January 26th and 27th.
Oklahoma being the weather enigma that it is, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for much of western Oklahoma. The moisture received earlier in the week has helped raise the 10-hour and 1,000 hour fuel moistures which will, for a short time, help to reduce a fire’s intensity.
However, in areas where an accumulation of snow and ice does not exist, the 1-hour fuels (grass and leaf litter) will dry significantly today. Temperatures will warm into the 60s, winds will be gusty out of the west to northwest, and humidity readings will be in the low teens to mid-twenty percent range. These fire weather conditions will cause any fire that starts in grassy areas to quickly spread.
The counties with the highest fire danger today will be: Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Woodward, Ellis, Dewey, Custer, Washita, Beckham, Greer, Harper, Jackson, and Kiowa. In these counties, expect temperatures in the 60s, humidity readings in the low teens and possibly single digits, and winds gusting to near 20 mph.
Numerous counties are currently under a County Commissioner’s Burn Ban. For a complete listing click here for the official Burn Ban Webpage
http://www.forestry.ok.gov/burn-ban-information
* Protection Area Statistics do not reflect local fire department’s fire run information. Statistics are for the ODAFF-Forestry Services’ eighteen county Fire Protection Area in eastern Oklahoma unless otherwise noted in the Discussion section of this report.
Prepared by Mark Goeller
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Posted by carson4575 on January 30, 2009
Today’s (Jan. 30) issue of the Journal Record contains a bonus publication, Engage Oklahoma. The cover calls it the “2009 Guide To Business And Economic Development.”
It features ten outstanding Oklahoma entrepreneurs and Todd Griffith, T.G. Farms in Newcastle, is one of the ten. The publication also has a feature called “10 Products Made with Oklahoma Pride” and includes two of our MIO companies including Bedr`e Chocalates, Pauls Valley; and Grape Ranch, Okemah.
The publication is sponsored by the Journal Record publishing company, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and public and private sponsors across the state.
Copies are available through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce at (405) 815-6552 ir (800) 879-6552.
Jack Carson
Posted in MIO | 1 Comment »
Posted by carson4575 on January 29, 2009
Kingfisher and Jefferson counties have decided to extend their ban on outdoor burning.
Here are the updated list and map of counties under burning bans. Our total is now 26 counties under a burn ban.
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Posted by carson4575 on January 29, 2009
McClain County Commissioners today removed the county burn ban. Here is a link to a fully updated map of counties under burn bans and list of their names
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Posted by carson4575 on January 29, 2009
Jason Harvey is reminding us that next Friday, February 6 is the deadline for the 2009 Oklahoma Agriculture Hall of Fame nominations.
Nomination forms are available from the ODA by calling Jason Harvey, (405) 522-5563, at the link above or by writing Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, Ag Hall of Fame, 2800 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105.
Any living person who derives the bulk of their income, or has retired from an agricultural enterprise, is eligible for nomination. Candidates for consideration are agricultural leaders who have exemplified personal values, dedication to community service, excelled in production and performance and who have provided a strong role model for the state’s youth.
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Posted by carson4575 on January 29, 2009
Red Earth Ribeyes
Submitted by Mary Shivers, Ada
2006 MIO Recipe Roundup Contest
Grand Prize Winner
Mouthwatering Main Entrée Category OKLAHOMA
Computer problems prevented us from getting this week’s MIO Recipe of the week posted yesterday. This would make a great Super Bowl entrée!
INGREDIENTS
Steaks:
4 (8 to 10 oz.) Oklahoma beef ribeye steaks
1 (1½ oz.) pkg. Daddy Hinkle’s O’riginal dry and liquid seasoning
Glaze:
½ C. diced red onion
¼ t. minced garlic
½ C. Coca Cola
½ C. packed dark brown sugar
¾ C. KJ Vinyards white grape juice
1 t. Garden Club cider vinegar
1/3 C. Teriyaki marinade & sauce
½ t. Tabasco sauce
1 T. cornstarch
1 T. water
DIRECTIONS:
1 Sprinkle a light coat of dry seasoning on both sides of steak; press in. Evenly drizzle liquid marinade as desired on both sides of steaks. 2 Let steaks rest at room temperature
for about 20 to 30 minutes.
3 Grill steaks over hot coals or gas grill to desired doneness, turning once.
4 While steak is marinating, bring all glaze ingredients except cornstarch and water to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium reducing mixture to half stirring often.
6 Stir cornstarch and water together in small bowl. Stir into glaze until mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
7 Place each steak on a serving plate. Serve glaze on steaks or in small bowls as desired. Serve immediately.
Serves 4
Posted in MIO Recipe | 2 Comments »
Posted by carson4575 on January 29, 2009
No fires were reported in the Protection Area yesterday.
ODAFF-Forestry personnel responded to requests from Adair and Delaware counties to assist in clearing roads impacted by the recent ice storm. Crews will continue this assistance today.
No fire contol problems are anticipated today.
Submitted by Mark Goeller
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