OCA Week In Review:
February 17, 2014
Provided by the staff of the OCA
For more information please contact
Michael Kelsey at [email protected] 
Sunshine, Exciting Times, OCA District Meetings

 

We are very thankful for the moisture, however, the sunshine was a welcome site when it started shining mid-way though last week!  Not only did the sun melt away Oklahoma's snow and ice, it improved everyone's mood!  Did you notice?!?!? Moisture in any form is a blessing here in Oklahoma, but we all enjoy a little sunshine afterward.

 

Calving season is in full swing for many of our members and we hope that you were able to make it through the extra cold conditions without too many problems.  Really it's an exciting time of year  (and busy) for cattlemen as a new calf crop hits the ground and yearlings are taken to market with all time market highs.

 

OCA District Meetings are quickly approaching.  District meetings provide an opportunity for members to fellowship over a steak dinner and stay informed.  Updates will be provided from the Oklahoma Beef Council and OCA staff including legislative updates.  

Click here to learn more and see dates and locations.

Last Week at the Capitol

 

Multiple bills that we have been watching were heard by committee and several of those made it out with a do pass motion.

 

�         SB2099 that deals with trespass concerning land surveyors failed for lack of a motion in committee.

 

�         HB2556 regarding tax credits received a do pass fail in committee.

 

�         HJR1081 by Representative Denney passed out of committee and permits a school district to levy up to 5 mills on the dollar valuation of tax property in the district when approved by a majority of electors in the district.  This revenue would be used for operational expenses, specifically the payment of salaries of certified employees.  We will continue to monitor this bill as it moves forward.

 

�         SB1559 amending the Oklahoma Wind Energy Development Act was probably the biggest story last week.  It implements bonds that have to be held by the developer and establishes set back requirements for windmills.  It also requires addressing the relationship of the landowners, including adjacent landowners and other landowners in the vicinity of a wind energy facility.  This is a bill that we will be working on in the weeks to come to help ensure that it takes into consideration what is best for private property owners and our membership.

 

You can see from our "OCA Bills on the Grill" tracking list we have several new bills that we will be working this week.  Also, on Tuesday we will be hosting the House and Senate Ag Committees for a ribeye steak luncheon here at the office.

Legislative Tracking Files

    

Whole Herd of BillsThese lists will include every 'critter' that has been filed, within that particular category, no matter how far from the cow it may be.  

Click topics below to view bills of that subject matter

 

OCA Branded BillsThis list will include all the bills that OCA staff has determined might have an impact on your business.  We will be watching these bills closely and working with their respective authors to shape them appropriate to OCA policy. 


OCA Bills on the GrillThis list will include 'Branded Bills' that are on the current week's agenda as well as bills that OCA staff may be actively working this week. 

 

Scholarship to NCBA Legislative Conference
CLA & YCLC Alumni Apply Today!
 
Have you participated in the Cattlemen's Leadership Academy or the Young Cattlemen's Leadership Conference and want to take your involvement to the next lever?  Complete a brief application for a chance to win a scholarship to the NCBA Spring Legislative Conference to be held April 8-10, 2014, in Washington, D.C. 

The scholarship will cover registration, airfare and hotel for one individual. You must be a current OCA member to apply for this scholarship.


By completing this application, you commit that you are willing and able to attend the convention if selected.  Completed application forms should be submitted to Tiffani at [email protected]. Applications must be received by February 25, 2014, and the selected applicant will be notified by March 5, 2014.
Cattlemen's Leadership Academy Seeking Participants for Class 22 

 

The Cattlemen's Leadership is a year long program of the OCA designed for cattlemen ages 25-40.  The goals of the CLA program is to educate individuals involved in the Oklahoma Beef Industry, ignite the next generation of leaders for the OCA and enhance leadership and production practices.  If you are interested in the program or know someone who is, you can download an application below.  Deadline is June 1, 2014.  Those selected will be notified by July 1.

CLA Application Form

Deadline for Comment Period for Brazilian Beef Rule  -  This Friday

 

In late December, APHIS published a proposed rule for importation of fresh beef from Brazil and a separate rule for Argentina. The deadline for comments on the Brazilian rule is this Friday. OCA has learned that APHIS intends to extend that comment period 60 days to a deadline in April.  

 

To read the rule and to make comments, visit the www.regulations.gov  website and enter the docket number for Brazil, APHIS 2009-0017 and for Argentina, APHIS 2013-0105 and click on open docket folder to view the USDA APHIS risk analysis documents for both countries as well as the other supporting documents. For Argentina, several of these documents appear on the website exclusively in Spanish.  We encourage you to provide comments on these important rules.  OCA will be providing comments in opposition to the proposed rules. If you have questions, please give Michael a call at the OCA office.   

Lesser Prairie Chicken Conservation Plan
Landowner/Producer Sign-up Period Open 

 

Landowner/producers can apply to enroll their land in the Lesser-prairie Chicken Conservation Program through Feb 28, according to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA).

 

Those with land in the lesser prairie-chicken range willing to implement conservation practices beneficial to lesser-prairie chickens are eligible. Landowner/producers who are accepted will receive a sign-up incentive and payments for implementing conservation practices designed to maximize the value of their property to lesser-prairie chicken. Those practices include mechanical brush removal, prescribed grazing, and establishment and management of planted native grass stands. Only producers not currently enrolled in federal farm bill programs will be eligible to apply for five- and 10-year contract options.


The WAFWA will rank applications based on their value to lesser prairie-chickens and select the highest ranking offers for enrollment. Accepted landowner/producers located in the high-priority locations can receive payments of up to 125 percent of the estimated cost of implementing the conservation plan. If the species becomes federally listed, participating producers will be exempt from the take prohibition of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) if the take occurs while implementing the practices prescribed in their conservation plan.  Producers who are interested in the program should contact their local state wildlife agency office for more details or to complete an application.  

 

After the sign-up period is complete, the WAFWA will also be developing similar conservation plans for producers who just want to be exempted from the take prohibitions of the ESA. The management prescriptions in these plans won't be as conservative, and landowners won't receive payment for implementing them. However, if the species is listed, any take that occurs while implementing the prescribed practices will be exempt from the take prohibitions of the ESA.  Producers interested in this type of conservation plan should also contact their local state wildlife agency.  

 

The WAFWA consists of 23 state and provincial wildlife agencies that have primary responsibility and authority for protecting and managing fish and wildlife in the western United States and Canada.  The state wildlife agencies in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado are members of the WAFWA. Through the WAFWA, those five state wildlife agencies worked cooperatively over the last two years to produce the Lesser-prairie Chicken Range-wide Conservation Plan (RWP) as a means to preclude a federal listing of the species under the ESA. On October 23, 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) endorsed the RWP as "a comprehensive conservation plan that reflects sound conservation design and strategy that, when implemented, will provide a net conservation benefit to the lesser prairie-chicken." To date, the RWP is the only plan that has been endorsed by the USFWS and is the only pathway that has the potential to lead to a not warranted final decision. The amount of voluntary enrollment in the RWP will likely weigh heavily into the final listing decision that must be announced by the end of March. 

Surviving the Elements: Land and Water Issues

 

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum announces a symposium focusing on rural issues to be held in March. The program titled Surviving the Elements: Land & Water Issues of the West aims to increase awareness of drought and rural issues in the American West, by focusing on stewardship and conservation of land and water.
Be on the Lookout

 

On 02/13/2014,  the Pratt County Sheriff's Office took a report of 12 head of stolen heavy bred cows:
 
- Black and Black -White face
- Weighing approximately 1300-1500 lbs each. 
- Cattle had a WF brand on the right rear hip
and red ear tags in the right ear
 - DW stamped on one side and the name "David Woydziak - 620-653-4883" on the opposite side.
- Owners had been trucking the cattle out over a period of the last several days and had the cattle in a collection area located just off NW 140th Avenueapproximately 3 miles North of US 54 Highway, Pratt County, Kansas. 
 
- The cattle were all accounted for on 02/11/2014 around 19:00 hrs, and discovered missing on 02/12/2014 around 07:30 hrs. 
 IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS CASE
PLEASE CONTACT THE PRATT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT 620.672.4133 AND EMAIL [email protected]

Upcoming Cattle Sales

Feb. 19 - OK & T Angus Association Sale, Buffalo, OK

Feb. 21 - Beef Maker Bull and Female Sale at Debter Hereford Farm Sale Facility, Horton, AL
Feb. 21 - Hoffman Herefords Bull Sale, Thedford, NE
Feb. 22 - VanNice Angus Production Sale, Hanna, OK
Feb. 22 - South Central Red Genetics Sale, Overbrook, OK
Feb. 24 - Oklahoma Panhandle State University Bull Test Sale, Goodwell, OK
Feb. 24 - The Hereford Heritage Sale, Mulhall, OK
Feb. 26 - Quartermaster Creek Angus Bull Sale, Leedey, OK
Feb. 27 - GG &T Catte Company Production Sale, Quinter, KS 

 

 
Upcoming OCA & Other Events

Feb. 25 - NW District OCA Meeting, Woodward, OK

Feb. 27 - NC District OCA Meeting, Stillwater, OK

Upcoming County Events
Feb. 20 - Garvin County Cattlemen's Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Fairgrounds in Pauls Valley

 

Is your county having a meeting or event??? Let us know and we'll help you promote it by putting on this calendar.
In This Issue
Sunshine does more than give light!
Last Week at the Capitol
Legislative Tracking Files
Scholarship to NCBA Legislative Conference
Cattlemen's Leadership Academy Seeking Participants for Class 22
Cattlemen's Leadership Academy Seeking Participants for Class 22
Lessor Prairie Chicken Conservation Plan
Surviving the Elements
Be on the Lookout
Calendar of Events
Click the image for details.
 
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* The information contained in OCA's Week In Review does not necessarily represent the views or official policy of the organization. The information is a collection of articles directly or indirectly affecting the U.S. beef cattle industry. The news is not written by OCA staff.