California’s controversial Proposition 12 stands, as the Supreme Court on Thursday sided with the state and the law that prohibits the sale of pork in the state not produced according to California’s production standards.

The ruling is a significant loss for the pork industry. Livestock groups have argued that if California’s law stands, then other states can set separate requirements, making it harder to meet each state’s production standard.

In a 5-4 ruling, the court affirmed a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. That court dismissed a lawsuit filed by agriculture interests against the law, on the grounds the industry groups did not state a claim of damages.

Proposition 12 makes it a criminal offense and civil violation to sell whole pork meat in California unless the pig it comes from is born to a sow that was housed within 24 square feet of space and in conditions that allow a sow to turn around without touching an enclosure. Proposition 12 applies to any uncooked pork sold in the state, regardless of whether it was raised in California.

Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for a majority that included Justices Clarence Thomas, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett, declaring the type of meat sold in California is not a constitutional issue.



The Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program knows this is a hard time for farmers and ranchers. We want you to know we are still open, and we are still here for you. The Ag Mediation program is a free service that provides mediation to agriculture producers who may need help with ag-related disputes.

At Oklahoma Ag Mediation, we have been helping people in agriculture resolve conflicts since 1987. We know firsthand about working together to resolve conflicts, so you don’t have to go through the court systems. Let our professional mediators help you. Mediation is allowed for lease issues, farmer/neighbor disputes, family farm transitions, and more. These services are available at no cost for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in all 77 counties. For more information, you can go to ok.gov/mediation, or give us a call at 800 248 5465.

Another week has gone by- and the standoff between the House, Senate and Governor continues on Lincoln in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma Farm Bureau's Steve Thompson summed it for us- "House and Senate have adjourned until Monday. No caucuses scheduled the rest of this week. They aren’t completely out of time yet; could suspend some rules next week and get things done in an expedited fashion, but the traditional schedule for passage of all the budget and affiliated items is out the window. And the outlook for a major education funding package is dim, which clouds the outlook for virtually every other funding item."

What.A. Mess.

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Another group of people that are racing the clock happen to be in Washington- we are talking about the top leaders of the House and Senate Ag Committees- they met President Biden and his Ag Secretary (Tom Vilsack) at the White House Thursday- and Senators Stabenow and Boozman and Congressmen Thomson and Scott came out gushing with resolve- "“Today, the four leaders of the Agriculture Committees had a conversation with President Biden and Secretary Vilsack on the importance of passing a bipartisan Farm Bill this year. The Farm Bill is a jobs bill. It is a safety net for farmers and consumers, and it is an investment in our rural communities and the health of the American people. The Agriculture Committees have a long tradition of bipartisan cooperation, and we look forward to continuing that tradition through our work on the 2023 Farm Bill.” 

Read the calendar- It's mid May- nothing seems to be ready for markup- the 2018 Farm Law expires September 30- ANYTHING is possible but this won't be easy is the kindest way I can say it.

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Finally- it was a disappointment for animal agriculture yesterday as the the Supreme Court slammed the door shut on the idea that one state can't dictate to other states how they will produce products for that first state- California being allowed to tell the rest of the US- because they have a huge market- how to produce( in this case) pork.

Not everyone is unhappy about this ruling- based on her social media comments- the Executive Director of the Kirkpatrick Foundation, Louisa McCune- is very pleased with the outcome. Her post on Facebook says it all- "OMG OMG WE WON! JOY OF JOYS! BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER! Moved to tears!!!!!"

You may remember that Kirkpatrick was a significant opposition voice when Oklahoma Ag interests pushed for and failed to get State Question 777- Right to Farm- passed.

Minimal Improvements in This Week’s Drought Monitor, Only One Category Showing Decline

According to the latest Oklahoma Drought Map, exceptional drought is unchanged from last week, remaining at 10.09 percent.

Extreme drought or worse has decreased only minimally, changing from last week’s 33.47 percent to this week’s 33.10 percent.

Severe drought or worse also saw minimal changes, improving slightly from last week’s 48.9 percent to this week’s 48.07 percent.

Moderate drought or worse is unchanged from last week, remaining at 52.47 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions have actually worsened since last week, moving from 59.42 percent to this week’s 60.81 percent.

According to the 6-10-day precipitation outlook map, the northeastern corner of the state is standing at a “near normal” chance of precipitation through May 10. East of the panhandle down through central Oklahoma and into the southeast corner of the state is leaning above a 33 to 40 percent chance of precipitation. The panhandle, down through the southwest corner stands at a 40 to 50 percent chance of precipitation. Lastly, the far western corner of the panhandle is likely above a 50 to 60 percent chance of precipitation through May 10.

To view this week's Oklahoma drought numbers, click the Oklahoma drought map above the story.

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am featuring comments from Farm Director KC Sheperd’s visit with Oklahoma State University State Extension Beef Veterinarian, Rosslyn Biggs about the upcoming regulatory changes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is making regarding antimicrobials.

Starting on June 11, The FDA will be changing the status of over the counter “medically important” antimicrobials used in animals to prescription only. Without a relationship with a licensed veterinarian, obtaining these antimicrobials will be much more difficult, as they have previously been accessible with no prescription.

“FDA came out with guidance about two years ago that put us all on notice that they have asked pharmaceutical companies to voluntarily transition their over-the-counter antibiotics,” Biggs said. “So, common ones we would see in the beef cattle industry would be penicillin, oxytetracycline, that sort of thing, is going to go from the feedstore shelf back under veterinary prescription.”

These over-the-counter antibiotics, Biggs said, will soon need a veterinary prescription to obtain.

“We do see a number of our feedstore-type outlets that are getting pharmacy licensed, so the convenience of it in many cases may not change, other than you are going to have a veterinary prescription, and in order to have a veterinary prescription, you have to have a veterinary client-patient relationship, and in most cases, that is going to require you to have an evaluation of an individual animal in that case or your herd,” Biggs said.

Wheat Stocks to Stay Tight into Next Marketing Year, says OSU’s Kim Anderson

This Week on SUNUP is Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Kim Anderson. During this week’s edition, Anderson talks about the latest in the grain markets and the upcoming WASDE (World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates) report.

As the USDA will release the May WASDE report on Friday, May 12, Anderson said those estimates will be important because it is the first time the USDA will release the estimates for the 2023 and 2024 crop year numbers.

“I think the most important numbers, though, are the ’22 and ’23 crop years for wheat that ends in May for corn and beans that end in August and for cotton that ends in July,” Anderson said. “I think those numbers are important because they set the foundation for the next year.”

Anderson also talked about the supply and demand for wheat. World wheat stocks, he added, are tight.

“I think the best way to look at that is ending stocks,” Anderson said. “You could look at the stocks to use, but I like those ending stocks. You look at the world for the ’22-’23 marketing year- 9.7 billion bushels. Your average is 10.5.”

The industry’s wheat ending stocks estimate for 2023 (not USDA’s estimate), Anderson said, was slightly lower at 9.5 billion.

“Looks like wheat stocks are going to stay tight into the next marketing year,” Anderson said.  

Oklahoma man arrested for writing $187,650 bogus check for cattle

Truth Allen Stephens of Guymon, Oklahoma was arrested May 4 on felony charges for a writing a fraudulent check. The arrest is the result of an investigation led by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Bart Perrier and the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office.

In March, Stephens allegedly wrote a check from a closed account for $187,650 to buy cattle from an Okmulgee County rancher. Stephens took possession of the fraudulently purchased cattle totaling 139 cows and 46 newborn calves.

He allegedly transported them to western Oklahoma to sell them. Soon after, the rancher discovered the check was not valid and attempted to contact Stephens. Stephens avoided the victim, refusing to provide a valid form of payment for the cattle.

According to Perrier, Stephens purchased additional large sets of cattle, along with horses, tack and a Peterbilt semi-truck using the same sequence of checks from the closed checking account. TSCRA Special Rangers are continuing to investigate and request any other potential victims in the Oklahoma area who believe they may have been victimized by Stephens contact Perrier at 918-440-8360.

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