Agricultural News
AFR's Scott Blubaugh Reflects on a Successful Year Despite Its Difficulties
Thu, 30 Dec 2021 17:29:51 CST
Although 2021 is probably not going to be remembered as a great year, it has been full of wins for the American Farmers and Ranchers Cooperative. For starters, members got to meet in person which was a change compared to 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Today, AFR President Scott Blubaugh covered a handful of highlights from 2021 with KC Sheperd, director for the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network.
"I would say our number-one issue that we worked on this year was probably the cattle market antitrust issues," Blubaugh said. "We have been talking about that for two years, but it escalated this year at Congress, with the Senate having a hearing."
Blubaugh, himself, spoke at the U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing to review the state of the livestock industry in the fall.
"We got their attention in the White House and in both branches of Congress," Blubaugh said. "We still have a lot of work to do, but it seems like there is definitely a will to do something now."
On a more obscure note, Blubaugh said he also represented AFR at the Oklahoma State Capitol speaking in support of Senate Bill 1103, which would create central daylight time (CDT) in Oklahoma.
"After a lot of discussions and a lot of different folks, the evidence is very strong that every time we change times, we see an increase in car wrecks, heart attacks, suicides, lost productivity, sleep deprivation - all of these things that are not good for your health," Blubaugh said. "We have been able to actually document it and have evidence to show."
Thus, AFR fully supports the push for Oklahoma to adopt CDT.
"We would like to lock in those winter months in daylight saving time and have more daylight at the end of the day, rather than the beginning," Blubaugh said. "From a farming point of view, a lot of our farmers and ranchers have a job in town now and (adoption of CDT) gives them an opportunity to come home and have an extra hour that they can do chores and take care of cattle with."
Studies show kicking daylight saving time to the curb benefits most people, Blubaugh said.
"It also gives older people an opportunity to exercise in the daylight, after work," Blubaugh said. "It is a little bit warmer at the end of the day than it is at the beginning of the day in the winter."
Until the federal government authorizes the change, SB 1103 will not change anything for Oklahomans. According to Blubaugh, the bill simply prepares Oklahoma for when the federal makes that change.
Hit the LISTEN BAR below to hear KC Sheperd and Scott Blubaugh reflect on 2021, including the state of the cattle industry, medical marijuana in Oklahoma, going back to hosting in-person meetings and more.
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