August 26, 2020 Issue, Page 5 of 8

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Agriculture Wednes: , August 26, 2020 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Page 5 Meating Oklahoma’s needs: FAPC offers resources for meat processing opportunities ence could prove to be det- Food Supply Stability Plan play in the meat industry. rimental to individuals seek- for Oklahoma meat proces- The information is com- ing to open their own meat sors. piled into a single webpage processing facilities,” Nel- “The grant money is an for easy access to links that son said. “The planning pro- exceptional opportunity for can answer any questions cess for this type of endeav- our Oklahoma meat process- on the topic of meat science. or should include thoughts ing industry to add process- The online database is just about the design and con- ing capacity,” said Blayne one example of how FAPC struction of the facility, pur- Arthur, secretary of agricul- is developing a research and chase of necessary equip- ture. She adds the money extension program, empha- ment, application for grants will allow Oklahoma meat sizing the aspects of further of inspection, creation of processors to build or ex- processing of _ livestock, contingency plans, consider- pand their businesses and poultry and aquatic muscle ation of insurance plans and create additional meat pro- and solving short- and long- more — of which can quickly cessing capability within the term problems relating to become overwhelming.” state. further processing and val- With both the direct pur- To help with the newly ue-added products. chase of meat and the cre- increased public interest on Visit FAPC’s Meat Sci- ation of a new facility, Nel- this topic, the FAPC team is By Megan Silveira, Food consumer demand for meat, “An increase in the di- son said, “Frustration and providing several resources ence webpage to learn more and Agricultural Products particularly beef, has in- rect marketing of beef from about the direct purchase of Center communications creased,” said Jake Nelson, the livestock producer to confusion can be greatly to eliminate confusion and beef, creation of a meat pro- graduate assistant Oklaho- meat processing specialist reduced by effective com- help individuals succeed in the meat processing indus- cessing facility, contact in- the consumer has been ob- munication and education.” ma State University at the Oklahoma State Uni- served,” Nelson said. “For formation for FAPC’s meat What’s causing this in- try. STILLWATER - Changes versity Robert M. Kerr Food this type of marketing ex- science experts and more. have been seen on a glob- and Agricultural Products perience to be successful, a creased interest? According From fact sheets break- FAPC, a part of OSU’s to the Oklahoma Depart- ing down various scenarios al scale for the past few Center. critical middle party must be Division of Agricultural ment of Agriculture, Food to “Tech Talks” offering the months. As consumers learn Nelson said individuals involved — the meat proces- Sciences and Natural Re- and Forestry, in addition to information in a condensed to adapt and adjust to the are coping with the shortag- sor.” sources, helps to discover, being part of the effects of version and even to sample outcomes of the pandemic, es by considering the pursuit There are many compo- develop and deliver techni- the nationwide pandemic, floor plan and layout exam- producers and workers in of their own ventures in the nents to this process, and the public interest in the meat ples of meat processing fa- cal and business informa- the meat industry especially meat processing industry. average consumer might not industry is growing due to cilities, the FAPC team has tion that will stimulate and have been impacted. These ventures include the have all the knowledge they the state’s CARES Act Coro- put together a one-stop des- support the growth of value- “During the COVID-19 direct purchase of beef from need to reach the highest navirus Relief Fund. The de- tination to answer any ques- added food and agricultural pandemic, the meat indus- producers and processors, as. level of satisfaction with this partment has made available tions individuals may have products and processing in try has experienced short- well as developing new meat interaction. $10 million in grants for the about the role they could Oklahoma. ages, while at the same time, processing establishments. “The same lack of experi- Deere & Company reports Pandemic can bring net income of $811 million new level of stress for recent quarter Beckham County Exten- feel unsure in how to talk safe getting out. These sim- sion Office about them with those they ple ways of connecting also By Robert Connelly, Mo- workforce and dealer orga- very dynamic environment Tf there ever has been time care about.” are great ways to check inon line Dispatch and Rock Is- nization, John Deere deliv- and that’s given us a lot of of stress, 2020 is the year. A solid step forward is how others are holding up.” land Argus ered a strong performance confidence on the path we’re Not only are families deal- becoming more aware of Asking how others are Deere & Co. - which oper- in the third quarter in the going on,” said Ryan Camp- ing with the normal stressors common mental health is- dealing with the crisis cre- ates John Deere - reported a face of a serious global pan- bell, Deere’s chief financial of life, this year has ushered sues and having those con- ates a space that allows them net income of $811 million demic and uncertain market officer. in COVID-19, which brings versations can help remove to organize their thoughts for the fiscal quarter that conditions,” said John May, The other aspect of the a new level to the chaos that the stigma. Understanding about what is going on. This ended Aug. 2. Deere’s CEO and Board smart industrial redesign is a is called life. the basics of how depres- process can help others think That’s $2.57 per share Chairman, in a news release. focused approach on its pre- Demands of _ isolation, sion, anxiety, suicide and more logically about the for the Moline-based ag “As we manage through cision ag, or the use of tech- working from home and dis- substance abuse issues de- situation and whether their and construction equipment the pandemic, Deere’s num- nology by operators in their tance learning for students velop and affect individu- manufacturer, compared to ber-one priority continues to current response is lacking fields. In other words, Deere have left many feeling over- als and families is critical to needed steps in more fully net income of $899 million, be safeguarding the health is moving to position itself whelmed, said Matt Brosi, effective intervention. This or $2.81 per share, for the and well-being of its em- as the Apple of Ag. Oklahoma State University understanding also plays a adapting to the crisis. Also, quarter that ended July 28, ployees. Thanks to aggres- But that use of technology, Extension family science role in the implementation during this connecting time, 2019. sive measures taken early in specialist. of prevention strategies. ask people how they are cop- Deere reported net income the crisis, we have had suc- such as having a sprayer turn “Being disconnected from “Unfortunately, the vast ing and if they need support of $1.993 billion, or $6.30 cess keeping our employ- off between plants instead of normal resources and rou- majority of folks who die by to deal with the stress. per share, for the first nine ees safe, our factories and running the entire time, cuts tines, such as social gather- suicide, about 90% in fact, “Helping others become fiscal months, compared to parts centers functioning, overhead expenses for farm- ings, attending church or have a mental health disor- more grounded in the pres- $2.532 billion, or $7.87 per and our customers served.” ers. going to school, leads to iso- der that likely could be treat- ent can be helpful. Some- share, for the same period a Company officials provided Two years of international lation, which can compound able, but went unrecognized times, stress overload leaves year ago. specifics on some of the trade wars seemed to come the situation even further,” and untreated,” he said. people feeling chaotic, in In May, the company had steps taken this fiscal year as to an end when the U.S. and Brosi said. “With many Mental Health First Aid despair and unable to re- released a projected fiscal it embarks on a corporate re- China signed off on the first adults being laid off or fur- USA recommends using the solve any of their problems forecast that projected net organization, or what Deere phase of a new trade deal in loughed, this financial stress acronym ALGEE when talk- effectively,” Brosi said. income between $1.6 billion has called its Smart Indus- January, but the coronavi- has tipped the scale for thoseing to others about mental “Using proven mindfulness and $2 billion for the year, trial Redesign. tus leveled economic blows who are dealing with job- health issues. strategies to slow down ones a revision from February’s Deere plans to spend $435 to both countries. China lessness and the inability to A-— Assess for risk of sui- breathing and thinking about pre-coronavirus projection million this fiscal year on has increased purchases of manage all of the bills.” cide what they do have control of $2.7 billion and $3.1 bil- one-time moves, such as American-made goods, such To combat these stressors, L = Listen non-judgmen- over can be a first step to- lion. $138 million earlier this as crops, as promised in the unfortunately some people tally ward more clearly thinking As of Friday, Deere is pro- year for salaried-employee deal, but still has a ways to engage in using poor and G - Give reassurance and about available resources jecting its yearly net income buyouts and $175 million go to meet goals. highly addictive coping information can be used to deal with the to fall between the two pre- on salaried-employee re- Cory Reed, president of mechanisms such as the use E-— Encourage appropriate situation. It could be just vious projections and reach ductions. Other cost saving Deere’s agriculture and turf of alcohol and drugs. In ad- professional help enough to assist in calling about $2.25 billion, which measures include shutting division for production and dition, stress also affects in- E — Encourage self-help a mental health profession- could be impacted by the down a small tractor manu- precision ag, said nearly all teractions with families with and other support strategies. al for assistance, calling a continuing COVID-19 pan- facturing facility in China, a of the company’s advanced domestic violence, and child “Oklahomans know the demic. $37 million cost for the cur- precision features saw high- abuse and neglect rates con- importance of resilience in lender to work out a pay- Worldwide net sales and rent fiscal year, and selling tinue to rise. the face of adversity. We’ve ment plan or simply calling revenues decreased 11%, to a lawn-mowing business in er take rates by customers “We're reaching a stress dealt with it time and time a trusted friend or clergy to $8.925 billion, for the third Europe. than previous years. pileup all-time high, so the again. Now is the time to just sit with them and listen.” quarter and declined 12%, to Those moves are pro- That demonstrates “cus- importance of talking openly double down and support For additional informa- $25.809 billion, for the nine jected to save about $260 tomers’ willingness __ for about mental health is more one another,” Brosi said. tion, contact Kristy Spald- fiscal quarters. Net sales of million on an annual basis sustained investment in critical now than ever,” he “Subtle ways to stay con- ing, Beckham and Washita the equipment operations moving going forward. Of- technology in the face of said. “However, talking nected including calling to Counties’ FCS Extension were $7.859 billion for the ficials have said they would uncertain market conditions, about mental health issues check on family and friends, Educator, at kristy.spald- quarter and $22.612 billion be evaluating operations for specifically we see the sig- still carries a major stigma dropping off a loaf of banana [email protected] or 580- for nine months, compared months. nificant levels of investment in our society, leaving many bread or cookies on your 928-2139 for Beckham with $8.969 billion and “We've taken some lay- in solutions that have the people feeling uneasy about neighbor’s porch or offering County Office or 580-832- $26.182 billion last year. ers out of the organization. highest demonstrable impact addressing their own mental to make a grocery store run 3356 for Washita County Of- “With outstanding support We've been able to respond on customer economics,” he health needs, while others for those who may not feel fice. from our dedicated global much quicker in this very, said.