Oklahoma Agriculture Blog

Oklahoma’s Official Agricultural Information Site

  • Welcome!

    Terry Peach, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture

    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

  • Pages

  •  

    June 2009
    M T W T F S S
    « May   Jul »
    1234567
    891011121314
    15161718192021
    22232425262728
    2930  
  • Archives

  • Meta

Archive for June 5th, 2009

The Land & Livestock Post: Unwanted horse populations continue to grow

Posted by carson4575 on June 5, 2009

Photo from Land & Livestock Post website

Photo from Land & Livestock Post website

One of my favorite agricultural publications I receive is the Texas based Land & Livestock Post. Beverly Moseley is a superb agricultural writer and always has some interesting stories. In the June 2 issue she addresses the problems of unwanted horses.

Click here for her article, “Unwanted horse populations continue to grow.”

On a related note, the American Quarter Horse Association has a new DVD that addresses this issue. They are offering it online (you have to pay for shipping and handling, though). For the AQHA press release and DVD information click here.

–Jack Carson

Posted in Animal Industry | 2 Comments »

AMERICAN FARMERS & RANCHERS ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Posted by carson4575 on June 5, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma based American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR), general farm organization and insurance company, announced today the 2009 State AFR Scholarship recipients. AFR presented twenty-five $1,000 awards to active participants of the organization’s youth program. In addition to AFR involvement, winners were selected based on academic achievement and leadership activities.

“Our scholarships are simply another way we support the leaders of tomorrow,” said Terry Detrick, AFR President and CEO. “The premiums paid to Oklahoma based American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company enables the organization to have an active role in developing Oklahoma’s youth through scholarships and other agricultural events like speech contests, livestock judging and leadership summits. We are happy to invest Oklahoma insurance premium dollars in Oklahoma youth rather than see those funds sent to an out-of-state corporate headquarters never to be seen again.”

“Being able to award these scholarships is the most rewarding part of my job. Educational costs continue to rise, but we at AFR believe a college education is critical to the quality of life. Scholarship funds are essential in helping students turn their dreams into reality,” added Shelly Bilderback, AFR Director of Education. “These kids are the best of the best and we’re happy to be involved with developing their future.”

The 2009 AFR State Scholarship recipients are:
Cheyenne Allen, Newcastle, Okla.
Jarred Campbell, Haworth, Okla.
Heath Burchfield, Fairview, Okla.
Tara Burchfield, Fairview, Okla.
Andrea Chapman, Buffalo, Okla.
McKenzie Clifton, Kingfisher, Okla.
Stephen Eller, Haskell, Okla.
Elizabeth Golliver, Agra, Okla.
Nikki Holt, Kingfisher, Okla.
Karli Hostetler, Billings, Okla.
Shelby Latta, Gage, Okla.
Colin Lowe, Chickasha, Okla.
Blake Matlock, Tecumseh, Okla.
Levon Nichols, Ringwood, Okla.
Cody Ott, Fairview, Okla.
Kelby Rounsaville, Tecumseh, Okla.
Carly Schnaithman, Garber, Okla.
Travis Schnaithman, Garber, Okla.
Brent Smith, Haworth, Okla.
Justin Strate, Garber, Okla.
Lindsey Thomas, Cache, Okla.
Ashley Willis, Kingfisher, Okla.
Brandon Womack, Madill, Okla.
Brian Womack, Madill, Okla.
Brent Womack, Madill, Okla.

Posted in Ag Education | Leave a Comment »

4-H and FFA Commercial Cattle Grading Contest Scheduled For Next Week

Posted by carson4575 on June 5, 2009

Five counties in Oklahoma and Arkansas will sponsor a commercial cattle grading contest for 4-H and FFA youngsters on Thursday, June 11th. The event will be held at the Stilwell Livestock Auction in Stilwell, Oklahoma.

The contest is open to youngsters from Adair, Cherokee, Delaware and Sequoyah counties in Oklahoma and Washington County, Arkansas.

Kent Barnes, area livestock specialist for the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES) explained that the contest will “help youngsters learn how to describe different classes of beef cattle. What that means is they’ll be able to pick up a market report and understand exactly what’s meant by phrases such as ‘medium-framed, number one muscle steer’ or ‘boner cow.’”

Barnes credited Jim Loftin, president of the Cherokee County Cattlemen’s Association, as being the driving force bringing this event together. Loftin said that there used to be a similar event in Stilwell years ago and he thought it would be a good idea to re-start it. He presented the idea to his association, then to one in Adair County.

“Then we met with the 4-H and FFA folks from the counties adjacent to Adair County, those served by the Stilwell Livestock Auction, and pulled together the prime players which became our organizational group,” Loftin explained. “After that, we contacted Gary Bledsoe, market development coordinator with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry. He agreed to teach the school and then serve as the official for the contest.”

“Everyone has chipped in,” Loftin said, “with each party focusing on the part they do best. The cattleman’s associations are sponsoring the awards, the Livestock Auction is contributing the facility and labor and some of the cattle, local financing organizations have agreed to feed the youngsters, and we’ve just had a lot of cooperation and contributions to help create this opportunity for these youngsters. I have just been tickled to death with the relative ease with which we’ve been able to put this together.”

Bledsoe will start the day by offering a school about the USDA grading system, explaining it and providing some examples. Then there will be the contest for the youngsters, where prizes will be awarded.

“Our goal is to help our communities, organizations and youngsters to be better able to interpret and understand the USDA market reports that they read in the paper or hear on the radio,” Loftin added. “Some folks might hear the price of a 450-pound steer and figure that’s the price for any 450-pounder. But there’s a significant difference in the price offered for good animals than also-ran’s.”

Loftin asserted that this type of information and education has a tremendous impact. “To improve an industry you need to inject new ideas to change it, and younger folks are generally more receptive,” he said. “From my own past experience, when I would come home from classes at OSU, my Dad was always asking me about what I’d learned, looking for ideas that would help our program. I think if our young folks have new ideas to try, their parents and grandparents will be receptive to trying them, and that’s how change takes place. If we can help young folks be more knowledgeable of the USDA grades and classifications, then I think everyone benefits.”

The contest will begin with registration at 9 a.m., and prizes will be awarded in several categories. No pre-registration is required and there is no registration fee.

Posted in FFA & 4H | Leave a Comment »