In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am featuring comments from Farm Director KC Sheperd’s visit with the Senior Director of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Tanner Beymer talking about Livestock Mandatory Reporting and more.

“Unfortunately, we are in much of the same place we have been for the last three years, which is, ‘hurry up and wait and see,’” Beymer said.

“Livestock Mandatory Reporting is obviously a very critical market transparency tool for cattle producers. It is supposed to be authorized by Congress every five years. It last expired in September of 2020.”

Almost three years later, Beymer said Congress has not provided a clean authorization.

“This is a farm bill year,” Beymer said. “That means that a lot of focus is going to be on the ag committee and the kind of bills it turns out, so we may see some renewed optimism and a renewed push to try and get that legislation over the finish line.”

Ultimately Beymer said NCBA’s main message to Capitol Hill is that whatever it takes, the LMR program must not expire. Seeing some progress on this issue, Beymer said, will rely on Congress finding the time.



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On Wednesday, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) joined his colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee for a hearing with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan.

Lucas questioned EPA Administrator Regan about the EPA’s disregard of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientific evidence regarding chlorpyrifos use and other mitigation measures used on America’s farms and ranches. Lucas, Chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee also stressed the importance of EPA Administrator appearing before congressional committees with primary oversight and jurisdiction of the EPA.

On EPA ignoring USDA scientific expertise

“From my perch as Chair of the House Science Committee I have seen issues arise when Agency scientists at USDA and EPA are at odds. A prime example is the EPA’s action regarding chlorpyrifos uses. When USDA’s Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP) provided your agency with evidence that certain uses could be retained to meet safety standards, but EPA chose to ignore that evidence.  

“In your written testimony you talk about your ‘strong desire to work closely with the farming and ranching community to identify practical science-based policies that protect the environment and ensure a vibrant and productive agricultural system.’

Introducing Josh Hering of the Perkins-Tryon FFA Chapter, Your 2023 Central Area Star in Agribusiness

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.

This week, our coverage of the 2023 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists continues with Agribusiness competitor Josh Hering of the Perkins-Tryon FFA chapter representing the Central Area.

After raising beef and swine, Hering said he decided he wanted to give processing a try, so he started his business in 2021.

Hering said he processes the cattle and pigs he raises himself. Some of the biggest challenges, Hering said, include time and money.

After high school graduation, Hering said he plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in meat science.

During Ag Day at the Capitol, Farm Director KC Sheperd got the chance to visit with Cathy Vaughan, a pork producer from Northwest Oklahoma about the pork industry. Vaughan represented the Oklahoma Pork Council during the event, and talked to Sheperd about the critical role the pork industry plays in Oklahoma.

“Oklahoma has a really good, strong, and thriving pork industry,” Vaughan said. “We have 34,000 different jobs in the state of Oklahoma. You break that down, and that is one in 50 Oklahomans that are working in the pork industry.”

Vaughan talked about how pork producers in the state have been impacted by the drought.

“Water availability is huge for all of us right now, whether you are growing crops or you are trying to make sure you have enough water for your animals,” Vaughan said. “Out in Northwest Oklahoma, we are feeling it just as much, if not more than everybody.”

As water availability is a struggle for pork producers, Vaughan said she is grateful for the work that is being done at the Capitol to help producers circumvent some of those additional costs

NCBA Files Comments on USDA Traceability Rule

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) filed comments on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed rule “Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison” to emphasize the importance of electronic animal identification to protect the cattle industry from the threat of a foreign animal disease. USDA’s proposed rule would apply to cattle 18-months or older only when moving interstate.

“An outbreak of a foreign animal disease in the United States, like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), would be catastrophic to the cattle industry and our way of life,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “Traceability is about risk protection and ensuring we have the tools to quickly identify and respond to an outbreak while strengthening consumer trust in our high-quality beef. Our comments emphasize the importance of protecting the U.S. cattle herd from the threat of a foreign animal disease while also protecting producers’ private data, limiting the cost of tagging devices, and operating at the speed of commerce.” 

Without a national traceability system in place, the impact of a foreign animal disease outbreak would be magnified. For example, an FMD outbreak in the United States would lead to an immediate stop of all livestock movement for at least 72 hours. Most major export markets would close to U.S. beef and the estimated economic impact could be as high as $228 billion.

USDA Announces Funding Availability to Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Options

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of up to $125 million through two new grant programs that will create more options for meat and poultry farmers by investing in independent, local meat and poultry processing projects that increase competition and enhance the resiliency of the food supply chain.

These new grant programs, the Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program and the Local Meat Capacity Grant Program, are part of the broader $1 billion American Rescue Plan investment by the Biden-Harris Administration to expand processing capacity for small and midsized meat and poultry processors.

“This is the latest step in USDA’s transformational work to fill gaps and help small and underserved producers market their products, support thriving local and regional food systems by investing in processing capacity that’s closer to farms, and alleviate major bottlenecks in food and agricultural supply chains,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Importantly, we’re also taking steps to increase the overall availability of protein from indigenous animals like bison, reindeer and salmon, which have been the backbone of tribal food systems for generations.”