The annual American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) Convention was held this weekend in Norman. Farm Director KC Sheperd talked with Re-Elected AFR President Scott Blubaugh about key issues facing Oklahoma farmers and ranchers. Fresh off his reelection, Blubaugh outlined the organization’s priorities and concerns.
“Well, thank you,” Blubaugh began, acknowledging his recent reelection. “I just finished up my second term, so today, I guess I’ll start my third term as president.”
The convention’s policy session focused on several critical areas. “A lot of the things, education, the education system here in Oklahoma and all the challenges going on with that, our members are very concerned about that,” Blubaugh explained. “We’re also [concerned about] private property rights; you know, that’s kind of a big deal across the state right now.” He emphasized the complexities of these issues, stating, “Where one person’s property rights start, and another one’s end is a real grey area, and so it’s difficult sometimes to sort all that out.” However, he praised the policy committee’s work, saying, “I think our policy committee did a great job. It’s sorting that out and coming up with some really good policy that we can now use the lobby at the state capital on our property rights.”
Looking ahead, Blubaugh discussed the upcoming National Farmers Union convention in Oklahoma City. “I think it’s probably been 30 years or longer since the National Farmers Union had their convention here in Oklahoma City, and in two weeks, we will have that,” he said. “We’ll get to take our policy and try to get as much of it in the national policy as we can, and all the other states are trying to do the same, and there’s usually a compromise in there somewhere.” He encouraged participation, adding, “If you really wanna see how policy made, the National Farmers Union policy is quite a show, and they there’s a lot of people with a lot of opinions, and they are loud about it.” Blubaugh also commended the National Farmers Union officers, “We’ve got a great Parliamentarian, and its actually just an art to watch him work that that group, but it’ll be fun; I encourage anybody that would like to know more about the Farmers Union or AFR to come out to that national convention it’s gonna be down at the Omni downtown.”
However, the conversation quickly turned to pressing concerns regarding federal funding cuts. Blubaugh expressed alarm over recent layoffs and funding reductions, particularly within the USDA. “We’re very concerned, and just in the last two days, I’ve heard of an incident here in the state where we’ve lost some funding,” he revealed. “One was our ag mediation program here in the state that’s funded by about a third of that comes from the state of Oklahoma, about 2/3 from USDA funding, and the USDA part has been that contracts were canceled.” He called for intervention, stating, “We hope that Congressman Lucas will work on trying to get it back because they are breaking things, and they don’t know what they’re breaking, and they’re having to come back and try to repair the damage other places.”
Blubaugh highlighted the challenges of obtaining accurate data, saying, “I’m also hearing stories, and it’s really difficult to get good data because the government is not turning loose of it.” He cited reports of significant staff reductions within the Farm Service Agency. He said, “We’re hearing that at the farm service agencies may have a cut of 600, and that would just be devastating. I don’t know how in the world we would ever be able to administer a farm bill or get the money out the door that Congress has already approved.”
Blubaugh talked about getting an extension to the farm bill last year. Still, He expressed skepticism about the timely disbursement of economic loss assistance, stating, “In that law, it called for a 90-day window that the Department of Ag would have to pay out those benefits within 90 days; well, that’s rolling up here in March, and it’s right around the corner, and there’s no one even working on that. So I’m very skeptical that that money will get out in time like Congress intended.” He warned, “If they don’t have employees in those county offices, in the state offices, I’ve heard as much as 50% cuts there, it’s just gonna be very, very difficult to get the help out to the farmers who need it that Congress is already approved.”
On the topic of EPA regulations, Blubaugh acknowledged potential benefits to this administration and emphasized the need for a strategic approach to budget cuts, stating, “We know there’s frivolous spending—we all know that—but let’s be a little more strategic and find that stuff and get it out. Let’s just don’t break the whole system and then say, oh well, we gotta, we gotta go back and fix it now.”
Despite the challenges, Blubaugh highlighted the strong sense of community at the AFR Convention. “We have around 900 delegates here at the convention. There are 60,000 members across the state, and it’s great to get everybody together and talk about the issues learned. We have a lot of education sessions during our convention. Congressman Lucas is going to be addressing us here just shortly. We also had a national cattle speaker earlier; we will have the attorney who represents us in the cattle lawsuit here this afternoon to give a presentation. Part of that suit has been settled; the JBS firm and the Big Four were all named in the suit by the National Farmers Union and R-calf. That was five years ago, and so now JBS has settled their portion of that case, and so the attorney will be bringing us up-to-date on that and how ranchers that were damaged selling fat cattle at that time can apply for the courts for some of that money.”
Blubaugh concluded with a reminder of the National Farmers Union Convention coming up in OKC March 9-11th in Oklahoma City at the Omni Hotel.
