A6 - THE PERKINS
JOURNAL,
Thursday,
December 27, 2012
Back Page
By Payne County Extension Educators
Nathan Anderson, Agriculture Educator
Dea Rash, FCS Educator
Brett Morris, 4-H Youth Development
Keith Reid, Horticulture Educator
$uzette Baffa, Rural Development
http://oces.okstate.edu/payne
Ag News
Census Countdown
Begins for Oklahoma
Farmers and Ranchers
Farmers and ranchers in
Oklahoma will soon have
the opportunity to make
a positive impact on their
Communities by taking
part in the 2012 Census
Of Agriculture. Conducted
every five years by the
U.S. Department of Agri-
culture's(USDA) National
Agricu!t M i Statistics Ser-
vice (NASS), the Census is
a complete count of all U.S.
farms, ranches and those
who operate them.
"The Census remains the
0nly source of uniform,
comprehensive agricul-
tural data for every county
in the nation," said Wilbert
Hundl, Jr., director of the
NASS Oklahoma Field
Office. "It's a critical tool
that gives farmers a voice
to influence decisions that
will shape the future of
their community, industry
and operation."
The'Census looks at land
use and ownership, operator
characteristics, production
practices, income, expen-
ditures and other topics.
This information is used by
all those who serve farmers
and rdral communities from
federal, state and local gov-
ernments to agribusinesses
and trade associations. For
example, legislators use the
data when shaping farm
policy and agribusinesses
factor it into their planning
efforts.
"Your answers to the For more information, visit
Census impact farm pro- www.agcensus.usda.govor
grams and rural services that contact the USDA-NASS
support your community," ' Oklahoma Field Office at
Hundl, said. "So do your (888)525-9226.
part and be counted when
you receive your form, Combining Limited
because there's strength Access of Hay withNight-
in numbers that only the time Feeding
Census can reveal." Cow-calf producers have
In the 2007 Census ofAgri- always wished for the
culture, farmers reported a calves to be born in day-
total of 86,565 Oklahoma light. If cows go into labor
farms. This showed a 3.9 in daylight, it is easier to see
percent increase from the the cows and it is easier to
2002 Ceils,us: Additionally, get help if extra assistance
in 2007, land in farms, at is required to help with the
35.09 million acres, was up delivery.
1.42 million acres from the The easiest and most
33.66 million acres reported practical method of inhib-
in 2002. The market value iting nighttime calving at
of agricultural products present is by feeding cows
sold in 2007, at $5.8 bil- at night; the physiological
lion, was up $1.3 billion mechanism is unknown, but
from the previous Census. some hormonal effect may
This telling information be involved. Although
and thousands of statistics some cows will still give
are only available every birth in the middle of the
five years as a direct result night, the percentage of
of farmer responses to the cows calving in the daylight
Census of Agriculture. will increase if the feeding
NASS will mail out Census activity is done late in the
forms beginning December day. Research has shown
29th thru January 3rd to col- that cows fed at, or after
lect data for the 2012 calen- dusk will have a 2 or 3 to
day year. Completed forms 1 ratio of calves born in
are due by February 4, daylight versus those born
2013. Producers are encour- at night.
aged to fill out the Census This year will provide an
online via a secure website, extra challenge for some
www.agcensus.usda.gov, producers. Those that need
but may also returo their to stretch the hay supplies
form by mail. Federal law as much as possible may
requires all agricultural choose to limit access to
producers to participate in the hay. Limiting the time
the Census of Agriculture to 4 to 6 hours per day that
and requires NASS to keep cows have access to the
all individual information big round bales (in bale
confidential, feeders) has been shown
to improve .hay feeding
efficiency. However, lim- CHURCH
ited access to the hay may Continued from Page A5 ............
be difficult to accomplish by governing our actions by moral principles, not selfish
with "nighttime feeding", desires. Now we have come to the last Sunday of Advent.
If the cows are turned in The Advent wreath is fully lighted, the day of Christ's birth
with the hay at dusk, they into this world draws near. In the gospel, Elizabeth is happy
must- be removed from the before Mary arrives. She has been blessed in becoming the
hay at 10:00 pm to mid- mother of John the Baptist. Her happiness goes to a new
night--in the dark. This is level today. Mary has shown what faith is. She has agreed
neither easy, or convenient to God's invitation, even if she was initially confused by
to accomplish, it. Her faith is deeper than the doubt that seeks to limit
Perhaps a better solution it. So she conceives. She has also heard of the blessing
would be turn the cows into bestowed on Elizabeth and wastes no time in going to her
the area with the hay bale to rejoice with her. The happiness that Elizabeth has in the
just before noon and use the greatest blessing she could have hoped for; being a mother,
protein supplement such as is nothing compared with the blessing she receives at the
range cubes to coax them greeting of Mary. The voice of Mary, the words she speaks
into the adjoining pasture at bring what Elizabeth could have never dreamed of; the gift
dusk. This would allow the of the Holy Spirit. Mary trusted in God, she did what the
cows access to the big round gospels these past three weeks call us to do and something
bales for about 5 hours, then marvelous happened to her and to people for all time. Mary
they will eat the supplement brought Jesus into the world. This gift to Mary quickly
over the next hour. The became a gift to others, Elizabeth being the first to rejoice
shift to daylight calving in Mary's gift. My friends the joy of Christmas is the ever
may not be as dramatic as new presence ofGodtous as one of us. While we celebrate
would be accomplished this event specifically at one time of the year, what it means
with total night time feed- is to have an effect every day of the year. The lessons of
ing, however some compro- Advent are not just for four weeks, but for the whole year.
mise is necessary in times of If we stay alert to God's presence, if we constantly seek to
limited forage. There will turn toward him and show it in how we govern our lives,
still be a need for those 2: then we become like Mary. Our words, our presence can
00 am heifer checks ! Be bring Christ into the lives of others and we, like Mary, can
sure to have enough feeder be vessels through which the world around us is filled
space for all of the cows to with the Holy Spirit.
have access to the hay bales
at once.
Horticulture News
Even though we are soon
nearing the end of Decem-
ber, the Stillwater Farmers
Market continues to offer a
selection of locally grown
produce and value-added
garden products in their
Saturday market. In the
winter, the market is located
at the NOC campus at the
intersection of Hall of Fame
and Monroe from 10am-
lpm. Our local growers are
a very progressive group
and some of their facili-
ties allow them to extend
the growing season well
beyond what one might
expect.
We Do
All Minor
Repairs
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T" AMERICA N i
J FARm.s a I .c.Hs I;'
MIITI~,,,.J,. INSUP, AHCE COIIPJUff" [
PERKINS INSURANCE
AGENCY, INC.
MARY A. MORRIS, AGENT
JOSHUA E. MORRIS, AGENT
121 N. Main • P.O. Box 136
Perkins, OK 74059
p.o. Box 842 Stillwater, OK 74076-0842
405-372-3367
Legal notice published in The Perkins Journal Dec. 27, 2012
T~ S'I A'I~ OF OKLAHOMA TO; Ultk~'~ ~ Of Efi[l I~, I~
S~, if~y, Of Bill I~, D~I
TAKE NOTICE tl~t ~u have ~ ,~ued by Reve~ b~o~ ~luti~, lr~,, a~d thai
@
Tyler Candles now at
Perkins Drug
S
Experience The Difference
Site Development
740600 S. 3380 Rd. • Perkins, OK 74059 • 405-547-2600
246 S. Main, Perkins • 40S,547-2414
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