At the start of this week, I had the chance to catch up with Congressman Frank Lucas and talk about the latest update regarding the farm bill.

The biggest hurdle now, Lucas said, is sorting out who will be Speaker of the House.

“Chairman Thompson, of course, like everyone and everything else in the United States House, is kind of handicapped until we sort out the Speaker situation,” Lucas said. “Which, I would like to think would be any day now. G.T. (Thompson) and the committee staff, and the committee members, I think, have done the hearings, they have laid the groundwork to move forward. We just need to have this leadership situation sorted out in the House, so we will know when the time is available to consider something on the floor.”

Farm Bills are about as complicated as it gets, Lucas said, because of the many moving parts and parties involved.

“We will get it done, as we have, it’s just hard, and in a year like this, it is a little harder,” Lucas said.

Extending the 2018 Farm Bill would be more complicated than it might seem, Lucas said, because if it is extended, it must be extended for at least one year. That would extend it right into the heart of the 2024 Election season next fall- Lucas sees lots of incentives among the major players to pull out all the stops and get a new Farm Bill done well before then.



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.



Made in Oklahoma, OK Pork and Homeland Give away Shopping Spree and Free Pork Lunch

To celebrate National Pork Month on October 24, a free Prairie Fresh pork lunch was served, courtesy of the Made in Oklahoma Coalition, Oklahoma Pork Council, Head Country, and Homeland Stores. Following the lunch, an MIO product sweepstakes winner was drawn from over 3,000 entries.

Farm Director, KC Sheperd, had the chance to visit with the winner, Mary Huddleston, who had the chance to fill her shopping cart with MIO products during a seven-minute shopping spree.

“I am so thankful and grateful for the opportunity,” Huddleston said.

Over 100 people had already been through the line when we arrived around 12:30, including Ag Secretary Blayne Arthur and Deputy Commissioner JanLee Rowlett.

USDA Bolsters Investments in International Trade and Food Aid

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $2.3 billion to help American producers maintain and develop markets for their commodities and use U.S. commodities to bolster international food aid.

Consistent with a bipartisan request from the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, USDA is utilizing funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to address challenges related to trade and food insecurity impacting U.S. farmers and the international community. USDA will use:

• $1.3 billion for the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program and support for specialty crop industries to diversify export markets.
• $1 billion to help address global hunger.

“The Commodity Credit Corporation continues to address the needs of American producers as significant and unpredictable challenges arise, including impacts to international commodities markets and global food insecurity in the wake of ongoing conflict and a changing climate,” said Secretary Vilsack. “The Commodity Credit Corporation and USDA’s market development and aid programs are critically important at this time, and with this additional support we can strengthen U.S agriculture’s presence in existing markets, open up new market opportunities, and build on our relationships and connections to ensure that high-quality American agriculture and food products reach where they are needed in the world.”

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are pleased that U.S. wheat growers now have the opportunity to increase global food assistance and expand export market access under new USDA funding programs announced Oct. 24, 2023. USW and NAWG thank Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for releasing the new funds that will directly benefit U.S. wheat farmers and their overseas customers. Additionally, we thank Senators Stabenow (D-MI) and Boozman (R-AR) for their August 28 letter to Secretary Vilsack formally requesting additional support for trade promotion and food assistance.

Food Assistance

U.S. wheat farmers have been partners in U.S. food assistance programs for more than 60 years and take pride in sharing their harvest to address critical hunger needs around the world. Through the USDA’s Food for Progress and USAID Food for Peace programs, the American people have donated more than one million metric tons of wheat annually for the past three years.

Export Market Development

Organizations like USW that participate in USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) export market development programs were very encouraged when the Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) program was established in 2019 as part of a program to ease the effects of trade retaliation against U.S. farmers and exporters. Those funds originated from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and FAS awarded grants to almost 60 cooperating organizations to be invested by 2024.

Click on the Blue Button below for more on the Wheat Industry reaction- and we have a second Blue Button that takes you to the reaction from Senators Stabenow and Boozman,

And- it's not just the Wheat industry that is cheering the USDA announcement- click on the group names below to see their reaction:

US Meat Export Federation

National Milk Producers

National Association of State Departments of Ag

American Soybean Association

National Corn Growers Association

US Grains Council

Fall-planted wheat could benefit from El Nino Winter

Wheat producers attending the recent Rural Economic Outlook Conference at Oklahoma State University heard forecasts for markets and weather, both of which indicated upside potential in the year ahead.

At the moment, fall planting conditions vary widely across the state.

“We just got our wheat in,” said Jordan Shearer, a farmer and loan officer from Shattuck who attended the conference. “In our area, we’ve got good prospects for wheat pasture for the first time in three years.”

Fred Schmedt, a certified seed grower from Ardmore, said he hadn’t even considered getting out the drill.

“We’re terribly dry,” he said.

That could change by the end of the year, according to TV meteorologist and agricultural weather consultant Brian Bledsoe, a conference presenter from Colorado Springs.

“Be prepared for a little snow and maybe a lot of snow,” he said in his weather outlook.

Student Leaders Prepare for the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis

FFA members and supporters from across the country will celebrate agriculture and agricultural education next week during the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. Pictured here is Oklahoma FFA Member Gianna Nichols of Edmond FFA who will represent our state in the National Prepared Speaking Contest next week.

This time-honored tradition, hosted by the city of Indianapolis, will be held next week, Nov. 1-4.

More than 65,000+ FFA members from the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands are expected to participate in the event.

Those attending will participate in general convention sessions hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium, be inspired by their peers as they are recognized for their accomplishments and hear from keynote speakers. Convention attendees will also explore various career paths at the National FFA Expo in the Indiana Convention Center, participate in career success tours, and more.

We reported earlier that it is expected that more than 4,000 Oklahoma FFA members and supporters will be in Indy for the 2023 Convention and Expo- check out our conversation with State Executive Secretary Trevor Lucas as we preview the Oklahoma involvement this year.

We are proud to announce that our Oklahoma coverage of the 2023 National FFA Convention is being sponsored by Oklahoma Farm Bureau- Click here for their website to learn more about how Farm Bureau is making a difference- Together- We Are Rural Oklahoma!