Nov 14
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Strategic Planning Conference wrapped up Friday in Oklahoma City with the election of a new officer team. Dean Meyer, a corn, soybean and livestock producer from Rock Rapids, Iowa, is the new USMEF chair. In addition to raising corn and soybeans, Meyer’s diversified operation – which he oversees with …
Nov 14
At the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) this week, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack highlighted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s initiatives and investments in climate-smart agriculture and forestry, noting that global food security depends upon the ability of farmers and producers worldwide to increase their productivity while strengthening their climate resilience and minimizing …
Nov 14
Milk, even pre-pandemic, has been one of the most requested but least available items to food banks due to its perishability and refrigeration requirements. In July 2020, Dairy MAX worked with Feeding America to create a solution to the lack of dairy in food banks due to unavailable storage setups by creating a program that …
Nov 13
Sun, 13 Nov 2022 20:07:26 CST
The resolution process really starts with the August area meetings for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau- followed by County Farm Bureau meetings where members are able to offer resolutions which if adopted by the county- are forwarded on to the State Resolutions Committee which meets in October. That Committee debated and adopted 83 resolutions for the state delegates at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau to consider this past weekend in Norman.
One resolution was withdrawn by the Resolutions committee- the other 82 resolutions were adopted. Four resolutions were brought up to the delegate body as what they decribe as a “Callback” and one of those met the two thirds majority standard to be considered by the delegates- that a proposal from Oklahoma and Logan Counties on biosolids. Delegates approved that measure as the last item to become a part of the general farm organization’s policy for 2023.
According to Steve Thompson, VIce President for Government Affairs for Oklahoma Farm Bureau, several issues rose to the top on Saturday. Among those topics:
-School Vouchers (discussed & debated multiple times within the State Resolutions Committee meeting and then at the State Convention on Saturday morning and afternoon, but no action approved- meaning the organization has no position on the books for 2023.
-Delegates approved multiple resolutions opposing ESG (Environmental Social Goverance)- including one from Custer County stating “No criteria based on Environmental Social Governance (ESG) scoring shall be used against state or federal government, businesses, groups, or citizens of the USA as a condition of financing, pricing, services, or as a penalty or restriction of our Constitutional rights.”
-Delegates opposed Campaign dark money.
-Delegates offered strong support for Rural fire department support- at least three resolutions were adopted- including “We support a state and federal program supporting a grant for volunteer only fire departments to buy higher gallons per minute/pounds per square inch (gpm/psi) trucks to support fire rating standards” as offered by Kiowa County Farm Bureau.
-Delegates approved support for four relatively minor marijuana regulatory revisions- the four were brought up and disposed of favorably in a matter of moments. One of the four was offered by Rogers County- “We support requiring marijuana grow operations to post a bond for the cleanup of abandoned marijuana grow operations that have been abandoned for one or more years. “
-Delegates approved various property tax resolutions- including one from Garfield County- “We oppose protested taxes being held in escrow for longer than two years. The schools need to get their funding.”
-Delegates approved a resolution from Okmulgee and Washington Counties on mapping broadband service- “We support accurately mapping broadband infrastructure in Oklahoma to clearly identify non-served and underserved geographical areas. All new broadband services must be designed to deliver minimum download and upload speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps). Speeds lower than 100 Mbps would be considered an underserved area. This map should be available for public review.”
Thompson tells Oklahoma Farm Report that “Bottom line is the delegates affirmed a serious distrust of the federal government on a wide variety of issues, while only requesting a few adjustments to state government operations. With support expressed for the current state funding for rural hospitals, economic development and drought relief.
Nov 12
Sat, 12 Nov 2022 22:51:05 CST
The opening general session of the the 80th Annual Meeting of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau welcomed the soon to be new junior Senator for Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin. Mullin says that his rural roots- growing up in Westville just a few miles from the Arkansas state line, has provided him a foundation that includes a strong moral compass, a work ethic and a belief that failure is not an option. Mullin said those attributes helped him succssfully represent eastern Oklahoma’s second District in the US House- and will allow him to serve the next four years in filling the term being vacated by Senator Jim Inhofe.
Mullin told the Farm Bureau members about living on a small ranch in Adair County helps him understand the challenges they face farming and ranching daily.
Mullin tells Oklahoma Farm Report’s Ron Hays that when he becomes Olahoma’s next Senator that he intends to quickly begin to build alliances and relationships- and that he wants to make sure he gets on the “right” committees. At the top of his wish list- The Senate Armed Services Committee. Beyond that- he belives that he needs to also pursue Senator Inhofe’s other major COmmittee- the Environment and Public Works Committee which has oversite on regulations handled by the EPA. He also expects to be asked to serve on the Native Affairs Committee, since he will be the only member of the Senate that has Native American heritage.
Mullin doesn’t expect to seek a seat on the Senate Ag Committee- as he believes that Congressman Frank Lucas serving on the House Ag Committee in the new year covers Oklahoma’s bases in that area.
Listen to Hays and Senator- Elect Mullin’s conversation by clicking on the Audio Link above.
Ron Hays talks with Senator Elect Markwayne Mullin at the Oklahoma Farm Bureay Annual Meeting
Nov 11
Fri, 11 Nov 2022 14:55:14 CST
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture are now putting the Daily Cash Grain Report into a PDF format – we are saving that PDF and archiving them for today’s specific report. To see today’s update, click on the PDF report link at the bottom of this story.
In addition to the PDF of the daily report, you can also listen to the Cash Grain Report by calling 405-621-5533. Push 2 for the grain report.
Click here: 05035_OklaCashGrain11112022.pdf
Nov 11
KC Sheperd, Farm Director, got chance to visit with the marketing director for USMEF Japan, Satoshi Kato, at the United States Meat Export Federation’s Strategic Planning Conference in Oklahoma City. Kato talked about how campaigns in Japan have brought attention to U.S. pork products. The Eat at Home campaign was started in 2020, Kato said, …
Nov 11
The Interamerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) convened its first-ever “Sustainable Agriculture in the Americas” pavilion at the UN Climate Summit (COP27) and partnered with the Protein PACT and other stakeholders to convene a total of 9 events focused on animal agriculture’s key role in sustainability solutions. The Protein PACT events included a November …
Nov 11
This fall marks the centennial crowning of Oklahoma King, a progeny of Oklahoma State University’s purebred Duroc operation that was declared Grand Champion Barrow at the 1922 International Livestock Show. At 14 months old and weighing in at 550 pounds, The Duroc Journal reported that Oklahoma King reigned the land: “In competition with all breeds …
Nov 11
KC Sheperd, Farm Director, is visiting with Bob Rodenberger, a partner with Stockman Oklahoma Livestock Marketing, as he talks about the latest in the cattle markets. “Monday morning, when we got there, it kind of shocked me,” Rodenberger said. “We started out with 10,000 and ended up with a little over 11,000 there Monday, and …
