At the Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s annual meeting, Farm Director KC Sheperd spoke with Scott Mason, EPA Regional Administrator for the South Central region, about how he believes it’s “a brand new day at the United States EPA.” Mason emphasized that under President Trump, Administrator Zeldin, and his own leadership, the agency is making a concerted effort to listen to farmers and ranchers and ensure their voices shape environmental policy.
Listening to Farmers: The DEF Example
Mason cited a key example from a roundtable in Burns Flat, Oklahoma, where producers raised major concerns about diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) and its impact on equipment. “They said, if you do nothing else, please do something about DEF,” Mason recalled. He explained that after hearing those concerns, he “got on the phone to headquarters and the administrator” to push for change. As a result, “all model year 2027’s will have a much slower D-rate,” and EPA is now working with manufacturers so farmers can have adjustments made to existing equipment. “Know that it all started with a roundtable in western Oklahoma,” Mason said, adding that this is “a prime example that we can change this country by what farmers are experiencing and them sharing with us.”
A Farm Background Inside the EPA
Sheperd noted Mason’s agricultural roots, asking if that background gives him a different perspective at the agency. Mason agreed, saying, “It’s actually made it a little easier,” because he maintains direct contact with producers back home. “If I don’t know the answer to something, I just pick up the phone to one of my buddies in Beckham County or Washita County and say, Hey, what are you experiencing on this issue?” He added that his own small cow-calf operation keeps him connected to the realities of rural producers.
EPA and Agriculture: A Partnership
Mason stressed his goal of rebuilding trust between the EPA and agriculture. “I want folks to know that this EPA is listening to farmers and ranchers,” he said. Beyond that western Oklahoma roundtable meeting he mentioned, the agency has launched listening sessions with state agriculture secretaries and conservation commissions from across Region 6 — including Arkansas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. These meetings, Mason explained, are designed to ask, “What are ways that this EPA cannot be a burden, but can actually help the farmers and ranchers and the states that are dealing with whatever issue it may be?”
Policy Updates: WOTUS and Pesticides
Turning to regulatory updates, Mason addressed the ongoing debate over WOTUS (Waters of the United States). He made his position clear: “I know that my stock tanks are not a waters of the United States, nor are any other farmers’ and ranchers’.” He said the EPA is reexamining the definition to ensure it aligns with its “original intent” and to provide clarity that will benefit producers. Mason also shared progress on chemical and pesticide reviews, noting that the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention is “going through our backlog of pesticides,” with “great updates coming on the way.”
