Edmond Bonjour

Director - Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program and Associate Extension Specialist -Entomologist for Stored Products

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

@cropsandclucks @BrianBledsoe See you in Stillwater!

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

OALP Class XX arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel on Feb. 12. We are ready to begin our agricultural visits and learn about many of their innovations on Monday.

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

On January 10 and 25, Carol Jones and I helped train certified fumigation applicators for the Uni. of Missouri Extension as part of their Pesticide Applicator Training. I have been helping with this training since 2002. Hopefully next year, we will be back in person in Columbia.

[Oklahoma State University Extension @okstate_ag]

Through the end of 2022, the OSU Soil, Water and Forage Analytical Laboratory is reducing its prices on tests that can help with drought management. 🌱🌾

Details here: https://t.co/NvyywbpoG6

Need help managing farm stress? Call 9-8-8 or visit https://t.co/N1l9ay69LK

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

OALP is beginning a 3-day adventure to the Oklahoma panhandle. Our first stop was at Breckinridge Wind Energy Center east of Enid. They have about 1,000 wind turbines in Oklahoma.

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

We are conducting a Fumigation Workshop at OSU today. It is wonderful to have two speakers from Decatur, Illinois to share information about Planning your Fumigation and Profume. We have a good crowd in attendance.

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

Happy National Ag Day! I was helping train fumigators today to keep them and others safe when treating grain. Good quality grain is necessary to help feed the world!

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

OALP learning from Dalton Henry of U.S. Wheat Associates about trade policy. Future free trade agreement possibilities are UK, Asia Pacific, and Kenya (African continent).

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

OALP hearing from Mark Fowler at U.S. Wheat Associates. Wheat quality starts at the breeder then the producer. The top wheat exporting countries, in order, are EU, Russia, Australia, Ukraine, and U.S. Globalization concerns include food safety, traceability, consumer awareness.

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

OALP at U.S. Wheat Associates listening to President Vince Peterson. Wheat uses the largest amount of crop land in the world. There are 17 member states and the U.S. exports 50% of what it produces. Top customers are Mexico, Philippines, and Japan.

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

Kent Bacus of NCBA shared that 85% of processed beef in the U.S. is consumed here. Only 11% of beef is imported (8% of that is grass-fed lean beef trimmings). Our processors sell everything!

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

Sigrid Johannes of NCBA sharing about federal land issues such as reintroduction of predatory species, wild horses, wild fires, and WOTUS. This is her first day on the job.

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

Allison Rivera of NCBA talked about labor issues. The H2A labor policy does not work for the cattle industry because it is a year-round venture. Plus, they want no caps because they do not know how many workers are needed at any one point in time.

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

Danielle Beck with NCBA talking about tax policy. She states that we need to preserve stepped up basis. They have produced Beltway Beef Tax Talks to educate people on the Hill.

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

Tanner Beymer of NCBA telling OALP about price discovery, negotiated trade, market transparency, cattle contract library, and processing capacity.

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

OALP at NCBA in Washington, D.C. listening to Ethan Lane. There are 46 affiliates in 44 states. 26,000 members vote on issues in the beef industry.

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

OALP visited a 90-acre Amish farm near Hershey, PA. It costs about $300 per acre to plant corn with an eight-horse team pulling a four-row No-till planter.

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

Carol Jones and I helped with the recertification process for fumigators in Missouri this afternoon, via Zoom. Being in person in Columbia is much better - maybe next year!

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

The OALP had a joint session in Kansas today with the KARL program. The interactions have been great and will continue this evening in Wichita. Thanks to Jill and Susan for helping coordinate this adventure!

[Edmond Bonjour @EdmondBonjour]

OALP enjoyed a “harvest meal” this evening prepared by OALP alumna Karen Eifert Jones with serving help from her husband Rod, an alumnus of the KARL (Kansas) program. It was delicious! They shared about their farm operation.