Since being named President-elect Donald Trump's nominee as administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt made his first public appearance at a Bartlesville Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting Thursday morning. KWON Radio News Director Charlie Taraboletti had the chance to visit with Pruitt briefly at the breakfast, where Pruitt offered some comments regarding his stance on a couple issues he will soon be given authority over, the Waters of the US rule (WOTUS) and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).


"I think the states across the country and the Sixth Circuit obviously has spoken to this already; that there is great concern about the definition that's been deployed and established," Pruitt said, referring to the WOTUS rule and the way it was implemented. 


Looking at the Renewable Fuel Standard, Pruitt contends that like many other well-intended rules that have failed to meet their expectations and objectives, he thinks it wise for congress to consider revisiting and reevaluating.


"I think the congress needs to look at that and say, 'is it (working) today?'" Pruitt suggests, "and I think there are some that are looking into that."


Listen to Pruitt speak with Charlie Taraboletti of KWON Radio.

MEANWHILE- there is a lot of buzz across the country regarding Scott Pruitt's expected nomination by President Elect Trump- two of our Oklahoma Congressmen weighed in on Pruitt to EPA- Congressman Frank Lucas and Tom Cole.  Click or tap on their names to see their view that this great news for Oklahoma and for America.

Not so positive things have been said by others. The website Mother Jones has posted a piece that looked at what they are calling good news for "big ag"- the naming of Pruitt to EPA as well as Iowa Governor Terry Branstad to be Ambassador to China. Click here to read this piece which paints these picks in a less than favorable light. 

Click here to read more about October pork and beef export numbers.

The Oklahoma Beef Council has had several great success stories over this past year in their continuous effort to promote beef production in the state. OBC's Executive Director Heather Buckmaster joined me in the studio this week to share some of those stories as well as some of the priorities the Beef Council plans to focus on in the coming year. 


"We participated with other state beef councils this year, as part of a five-state marketing campaign, really focused on keying in on those key population states such as California and New York," Buckmaster said. "We want to go where the people are and we want to be able to invest where the people are."


Targeting a younger audience and working to educate them about beef, from preparation to nutrition to its production, has been a particular focus for the organization as well.


"Specifically this year, we've made it a goal and we will continue to have it as a goal, and that's the Dietetic Intern program," Buckmaster insists. "This year we had about 45 dietetic interns that went through the program in different formats and we'll continue to do that into 2016 and also additionally into 2017. We're very excited."


Planning for 2017, Buckmaster reveals it is the board's intentions to continue their involvement in supporting the export market as one of their main priorities.


Listen to Buckmastnr talk more about OBC's programs over the last year.


Heather will join me for my weekly In the Field segment on KWTV News9 in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday morning at 6:40 a.m.

The National Corn Growers Association was pleased with Thursday's release of "A Framework for Local Coexistence Discussions." This document, produced by the USDA's Advisory Committee on Biotechnology & 21st Century Agriculture (AC21), provides guidance on improving communications and ensuring the future success of the American system of agricultural coexistence. Representing wheat growers nationally on the committee is Oklahoma farmer Keith Kisling of Burlington, Ok.


NCGA applauds the work of AC21 and recognizes the important role such cross-industry groups can play in achieving successful outcomes without the creation of unnecessary regulation. Through this dialogue, many stakeholders involved in diverse agricultural production systems came together to better identify ways to foster communication and collaboration to further agricultural coexistence.


Furthermore, NCGA supports Secretary Vilsack's attentive consideration of the issue of coexistence and his steady work to see this through to completion. 


Click here to read more about the AC21 Committee and find a link to the complete report.

Oklahoma State University Extension Grains Market Analyst Dr. Kim Anderson talks wheat prices with SUNUP's Lyndall Stout this week - this time sharing both some good and bad news for producers.


Starting with the bad news, Dr. Anderson points out that collectively, world wheat supplies are some of the highest they've ever been with world totals coming in at 9.2 billion bushels.


This year, the US could see a threat to its trade channels as export markets will be flooded with excess grain stocks. The former Soviet block countries are projected this year to export approximately 2 billion bushels; 1.1 billion of that contributed by Russia alone, securing the nation's place as the current No. 1 exporter in wheat. The US is projected to export under that at 975 million bushels.


The good news is, India has suffered poor crops two years in a row now and are heavily ramping up their imports. In addition, although HRW exports were relatively low for the US last year, exports are actually up 91 percent. Plus, Dr. Anderson reports that over the last month, wheat prices have seen a bump of $0.34, which he finds very encouraging. His advice to producers though, remains stuck on the same message as it has for several weeks now.


"Raise a quality product," he says. "If you have a product quality that the millers want to buy, our prices will go up."


You can watch their visit tomorrow or Sunday on SUNUP- but you can click here to listen to Dr. Anderson's comments right now. 

Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore-designate Mike Schulz on Thursday announced his appointment of Sen. AJ Griffin as chair of the Senate Rural Caucus.


The Rural Caucus chair is a member of Senate Leadership. Sen. Ron Justice, who left the Senate in 2016 due to term limits, served as chair of the Rural Caucus for 12 years.


"Oklahoma is a great state, and the cities and towns of rural Oklahoma have a lot of assets and resources to offer to help the entire state grow and prosper. Rural Oklahoma faces unique issues, and members of the Rural Caucus do a great job advocating on behalf of their citizens on issues like property rights, agricultural regulations, and natural resource conservation," said Schulz, R-Altus.