Oklahoma’s Secretary of Agriculture, Blayne Arthur, highlighted the importance of a unified effort between state and federal agencies to address the challenges faced by the agriculture industry. During her comments at Express Ranch during Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins’ Visit, Arthur emphasized that challenges are an inevitable part of agriculture, and the key to overcoming them is collaboration.
“In agriculture, we’re always going to have a challenge,” Arthur stated. “I don’t think that any of us would have thought that the new world screw worm would have been the challenge that we would be navigating through.” The New World screwworm is an insect that can infest livestock and other animals, and its recent re-emergence has been a concern for agricultural producers. Arthur praised the “incredible responsiveness” of the Secretary and her team at the USDA, who have committed hundreds of millions of dollars to combat the threat through measures like building a new sterile fly production facility in Texas.
A Partnership with Governor Stitt
Arthur also expressed her pride in working for Governor Kevin Stitt, whom she described as “very attentive to the ag industry here in Oklahoma.” She noted that the governor always takes her phone calls, a gesture she appreciates. Governor Stitt appointed Arthur as Oklahoma’s first female Secretary of Agriculture in December 2018.
Teamwork for the Future
Arthur believes that the best path forward for Oklahoma’s agricultural sector is through cooperation. She said, “We’ve got good folks who are working together and will continue to work together to find solutions to whatever challenge we run into in agriculture.” This sentiment extends to both state and federal levels.
She spoke with confidence about the ability of the U.S. to continue providing food and fiber for the world, thanks to its exceptional ag producers and natural resources. Arthur concluded her remarks by stressing the importance of continued collaboration to tackle future challenges. “I hope there’s confidence that we will all work together, both at the state and federal level, to tackle those and make sure that the United States continues to provide the food and fiber for the world.”
