As the final weeks of the 2023 Oklahoma State Legislative Session come into focus, I talked Friday with Steve Thompson, Vice President of Public Affairs for Oklahoma Farm Bureau about the work still to be done before lawmakers can declare Sine Dei in May.

Thompson says the overriding issue when lawmakers get back from celebrating Easter will be to hammer out a deal between the House and Senate leadership over Education. Thompson says “Both the House and Senate have passed different versions of Education spending bills- we were very supportive earlier in the session of the House bill- it had a heavy influence on rural public schools and smaller schools that we worry about” but adds that now that the Senate has developed their own proposal “we hope that they can come together” and hammer out a plan that will be good for common education.

Thompson says that as you look at both measures- they acknowledge the need to have some tax credit dollars flowing to private education attendance and home school attendance as well as public school teacher pay raises. “We are optimistic that as long as the air conditioning continues to work in our newly renovated Capitol that they will be able to work through this- we are still in early April- we have got a lot of time left but I think the attitudes and tempers over there indicate we are already in May.” Thompson adds that this issue will need to be put to bed before other issues will have a chance to be resolved.



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Facebook Warning- Ron Hays Has Been Hacked

A Note from Ron Hays- Sunday evening- my personal Facebook account was hacked and since several of you are friends with me on that account- this is quickest way I can warn you not to accept any friendship invites with that account or respond to any help requests via Messenger. I am locked out of that account and there appears to be no help from Facebook on getting it back.

Our Network page- Oklahoma Farm Report/Radio Oklahoma Ag Network is safe and can be trusted.

Once I set up a new account- I will let you know details and we will work on reestablishing contact on that platform. I apologize in advance if these people have bothered you in any way.

Associate professor in the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine and certified veterinary pharmacologist, Brian Lubbers, is our guest on this Beef Buzz, explaining the upcoming June 11th FDA regulation changes for antimicrobials.

On June 11, Lubbers said the FDA is moving the remaining over-the-counter antimicrobial human medically important medical products to a prescription-only status.

“Two or three years ago now, I think it was, the veterinary feed directive went fully into place, so any antimicrobials that go through the feed, those required a veterinary feed directive,” Lubbers said. “Many of the injectable antimicrobial products that we use have already been prescription status, and so these are kind of that last percentage, and ten percent might actually be a high number.”

Some of the products moving to prescription-only, Lubbers added, include injectable penicillin products, some injectable tetracycline products, and a few oral sulfa products. “The things that you can pick up at a farm and feed store that were labeled over the counter, the FDA is requiring or asking those manufacturers to move them from an over-the-counter status to a prescription status just like all the other injectable products that we currently use,” Lubbers said.

Because the FDA has been working on implementing these regulations for a while, Lubbers said this should not blindside anyone in the livestock industry.

Introducing Emily Cook, Oologah FFA- Your 2023 Northeast Area Star in Agriscience

During the month of April, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report are spotlighting the 17 Area Stars of Oklahoma FFA that are among the highest achievers in the organization.

The stars come from the five areas in four categories- Star in Ag Placement, Star in Agriscience, Star in Agribusiness, and Star in Agricultural Production.

One Star Finalist featured in the coming days from each of the categories will be named the State Star Award Winner during the 97th Oklahoma State FFA Convention coming up on May 2nd and 3rd in Tulsa, Okla.

Today- we wrap up our spotlighting of the three Area Stars in Agriscience with competitor Emily Cook of the Oologah FFA chapter representing the Northeast Area.

Through the years, Cook has conducted research on aquaponics, aloe vera, and more. Cook’s project this year is an overview of all of her projects from years past- the most recent being food science related.

“I did different marination methods in skirt steaks, and in case you are wondering, olive oil and salt is the most effective method at marinating skirt steaks,” Cook said.

Because Cook plans to major in meat science at Oklahoma State University following graduation from high school, she said her study of different marination methods has helped her discover her interests.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented this past Friday on President Biden’s decision to veto the Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution that would have overturned the Environmental Protection

Agency’s overreaching Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The CRA was a bipartisan, bicameral effort by Congress to halt implementation of the flawed rule.

“This veto flies in the face of President Biden’s promise to support farmers and ranchers. This rule is a clear case of government overreach that leaves farmers wondering whether they can farm their own land. It’s a shame the President is standing with bureaucrats instead of with the people who stock America’s pantries.

“The President’s decision to disregard the bipartisan will of Congress also causes farmers, ranchers and all Americans to doubt his often-repeated commitment to work with Congress when Members come together on a bipartisan basis. They did so and he rejected their will with the stroke of a pen. Mr. President, you let us down.”

The Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval passed in the Senate with bipartisan support by a vote of 53-43 and passed in the House of Representatives with bipartisan support by a vote of 227-198.

Besides Farm Bureau- the Chairman of the House Ag Committee- GT Thompson- also was disappointed with the President on his veto- you can read his statement by clicking o the blue button below.

Turmoil in the commercial banking sector over the past month has created a new and unpredictable variable in the U.S. economic outlook. For now, the situation appears to be contained and the economic impacts have been relatively modest. But as lending standards and credit availability tighten for smaller banks, small businesses and consumers will have fewer funding sources. That will create a downdraft in the economy in the coming months.

According to a new quarterly report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, inflation remains the biggest economic challenge ahead. Even as general inflation moves in the right direction, headline inflation is still at 5% year-over-year. That’s well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target and points to the likelihood the Fed will raise rates again in May.

Gains in disposable personal income are powering consumer spending, although the pace of growth is slowing. The job market remains strong, and that demand for labor is preventing the economy from cooling too quickly. However, corporate profits are falling from their lofty levels during the pandemic, which portends hiring weakness in coming quarters.

“Several indicators point to an oncoming recession, with inverted bond yields being the most closely watched,” said Dan Kowalski, vice president of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “But predicting the timing of that slowdown has been particularly tricky in the face of a resilient labor market. We still expect a shallow, relatively short recession in 2023, but probably not before late in the third quarter or into the fourth.”

Read more from Co-Bank- including what they see ahead in the crops and livestock sectors by clicking on the blue button below.

There are many ways to increase diversity in a regenerative ranching operation, be it in the livestock you run or the forage species you grow. Another way is to provide an environment that’s conducive to a variety of wildlife species.

Josh Gaskamp, consultation manager and wildlife and range consultant at Noble Research Institute, says being aware of the wildlife on your land is important for a number of reasons.

The presence of deer, small mammals and even their predators is an important indicator of how well a ranch is being managed in sync with nature. At the same time, diverse wildlife species give back to the land, serve as a renewable recreational resource and provide an important ecosystem service to the public at large.

“If you have three ruminant species – cattle, sheep and goats, for instance – on a ranch, that’s better for the soil and vegetation community than just having one of those three,” Gaskamp says.



“Same thing goes for wildlife. Different wildlife species have different niches. They use different plant species, have different digestive systems and different ways of scattering seed,” he says. “The differing impacts to the soil and vegetation community help to get carbon back in the ground instead of in the atmosphere. More species create more opportunity to build the soil, if managed correctly.”

Nominations Open for 2024 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year Contest

Farmers are invited to submit nominations for the 2024 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, which comes with cash prizes and bragging rights. This is the sixth year of the contest, supported by Purina, which celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers and ranchers in producing nutritious food for families and their pets across America.

The grand prize winner – Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year – will win a year’s worth of Purina Pro Plan dog food and $5,000 in prize money. The winner will be recognized at a Farm Dog of the Year award ceremony at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, in January 2024. Up to three regional runners-up* will each win $1,000 in prize money.

The 2024 Farm Dog of the Year will also be featured in a professionally produced video. The profile of 2023 Farm Dog of the Year Tough can be viewed in the video box below. The contest has proven to provide a link to the farm for pet-loving Americans who vote for their favorite farm dog online.

“Through this popular contest, we’re able to provide a glimpse into daily life on the farm or ranch for people who may not have the opportunity to experience it for themselves,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Farm dogs play an important, dual role. They help lighten the workload for their families and also provide playful companionship.” Rounding up livestock, chasing off predators and greeting visitors are among the many tasks performed by farm dogs.