At the 2025 AFR Convention held in Norman this past weekend. Congressman Frank Lucas set in on a Panel with National Farmers Union President Rob Larew to talk about current issues farmers are facing throughout the Nation. After the panel, Farm Director KC Sheperd caught up with Congressman Lucas to talk about the upcoming March 14 deadline to fund the government, USDA cuts, and more. Lucas emphasized the challenges of navigating a politically divided Washington while striving to support agricultural producers.
Budgetary Challenges and Potential Government Shutdown
With critical deadlines approaching on March 14th, Congress faces the daunting task of passing a budget resolution and a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government until the end of September. Lucas acknowledged the difficulty of this task, stating, “The struggle it will face this week when we go back to Washington DC is to pass a budget resolution and the CR to fund the government for the rest of the year till the end of September.”
He highlighted the importance of these measures, not just for agriculture but for all essential government functions. “It’s important not just for ag, but defense – everything – we need to not have a shutdown on March 14,” he stressed. Despite the potential for gridlock, Lucas, a Western Oklahoma wheat farmer, remains “eternally optimistic.”
USDA Staffing Concerns and Political Appointees
Concerns about USDA staffing cuts in Oklahoma were also a key topic. Lucas acknowledged farmers’ worries regarding Ag Mediation, FSA, and NRCS, stating, “That’s part of the challenge we face as members of the delegation on the Ag committee and in the Oklahoma delegation is to work through and with the various federal entities, in this case, USDA, to explain to them why these positions are critically important and why they cannot be dismissed.”
He attributed some of the staffing challenges to the current political climate, explaining, “Right now I’ve got a problem where I have a secretary and I’ve got career people because on inauguration day present Trump fired all the political appointees so I don’t have a bunch of deputies and assisted secretaries.” He assured constituents that he and his colleagues are “working it every day and every way” to address these issues. Lucas also mentioned that many of the terminations are “subject to challenge in courts” which will “slow the process down.”
Farm Bill Extension and Future Considerations
The Farm Bill, a perennial topic of discussion, remains a work in progress. Lucas confirmed that the December extension pushed the deadline to September 2025, with $10 billion allocated for disaster relief. “Unfortunately, in December, when we couldn’t get a new comprehensive farm bill, we got a one-year extension to the end of September 2025 and $10 billion to address a variety of disasters that occurred around the country,” he explained. He emphasized the urgency of distributing these funds, stating, “Now we need to get that money out the door ’cause that’s the mandate to have it out in the next few weeks.”
Looking ahead, Lucas expressed a desire to refine the existing Farm Bill rather than starting from scratch. “We don’t have to reinvent the farm bill it’s turning the knobs to reflect what inflation and Covid and European wars and all manner of things have done to producers out in the field trying to raise food and fiber,” he said.
He also addressed the challenges of working with a slim majority in both houses of Congress, noting, “Today out of 435 members I am a part of a two-seat Republican Majority.” He pointed out the potential for unforeseen events to disrupt the legislative process, emphasizing the delicate balance of power.
Tax Code and Future Outlook
Regarding tax issues, Lucas expressed support for maintaining the current tax code, stating, “I think there’s a strong body of support for just continuing the tax code as it was plugged into place in 2017 and that’s beneficial to us as producers both, on income taxes and estate taxes.” However, he acknowledged the challenge of finding funding mechanisms for extensions.
In closing, Lucas acknowledged the “roller coaster ride” ahead, citing factors such as trade issues, federal budget decisions, and the Farm Bill. He urged farmers and producers to remain resilient, stating, “It’s a necessary roller coaster, and we’ve gotta ride it to conclusion because we can’t fail.”
