Farmer and rancher delegates from Oklahoma and 49 other states and Puerto Rico to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 105th Convention adopted policies to guide the organization’s work in 2024 on Tuesday. After the work was done, I talked with the Vice President of Public Policy for Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Steve Thompson, about the highlights of the body of work from Oklahoma’s perspective.

For Oklahoma, “It’s really a reaffirmation of issues that we have been working on for awhile- EPA rules and regulations and how they are formulated- from the countless new water rules we have been fighting over to really specifically the pesticide rule they have put in place that is tied to the Endangered Species Act and the frustrations we have with EPA and how they have implemented things we think are bad. for the real world.”

We also talked about the resolutions established or reaffirmed that dealt with the farm bill debate, crop insurance, ag labor, the beef checkoff, a Prop 12 legislative solution and more.

And Thompson said he was not only working with the Oklahoma delegates at the session in Salt Lake City- he was also talking with state lawmakers back in Oklahoma as they get ready for the Special Session next week on income taxes and the General Session that follows on February 5th. Click on the blue button to hear our full conversation with Steve as the AFBF convention came to a close.



It’s time to gain the Advantage with P&K Equipment’s inspection & maintenance specials. As the premier John Deere dealer across Oklahoma & Arkansas, the P&K team will keep your equipment on the cutting edge. With service specials on tractors, combines, sprayers, hay equipment, construction equipment, turf equipment, & more, you’ll save big at P&K! And when you book two inspections, you’ll get a third inspection for FREE! Now through February 28^th, P&K is also offering free pickup & delivery options. Schedule your John Deere equipment inspections & maintenance at PKEQUIPMENT.COM/ADVANTAGE.



At the 2024 Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association’s annual policy meeting, I caught up with OCA’s Executive Vice President, Michael Kelsey, and talked about the association’s positions on particular policies as the group gets ready for the 2024 State Legislative Session.

“We modified our opposition to the removal of the state income tax to be not only against eliminating it but also understanding that if legislators are going to take a quarter percent, if you will, there is a trigger mechanism that they also pass at the same time that would raise the tax back or replace the tax, should something fall, like state revenue or something like that…,” Kelsey said.

Kelsey said there were a few new policies introduced, including one regarding deals with natural asset companies. Kelsey said natural asset companies purchase the ecological value of land.

“If they purchase that, then they have the ability to affect what happens on that land because it may impact, positively or negatively, that greenspace in the air or so forth,” Kelsey said.

While a private landowner has the freedom to do as he or she pleases on their land when it comes to signing agreements with natural asset companies, Kelsey said OCA membership is concerned with the impacts of natural asset companies purchasing the ecological value of state-owned or federally owned land.

John Deere Precision Upgrades Introduces Precision Ag Essentials Kit

Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Intern Maci Carter recently had the chance to visit with John Deere, Marketing Manager for Precision Upgrades, Yancy Wright, about how Precision Upgrades is helping farmers invest in greater technology to improve their operations.

Previously branded as John Deere Performance Upgrades, John Deere Precision Upgrades is a group within John Deere that is focused on bringing the latest technology to as many producers as possible to help upgrade producers’ current equipment.

Some of these upgrades include equipment such as planter kits, row units, metering systems for planters, and more. While these upgrades are a big focus for the team, Wright said they are also focused on bringing more precision ag products to the market.

“An example is that we just introduced this Precision Ag Essentials kit through upgrades,” Wright said.

The Precision Ag Essentials kit includes a G5 universal display, a Starfire 7500 position receiver, and a JD Link M or R Modern modem that allows the vehicle to connect with the operations center for data.

Despite increasing pressure from declining commodity markets, rising interest rates and inflation, the land market seems to be moving into 2024 maintaining the value increases it has built during the past three years. 

The sharp increase in land values from a year ago that was primarily driven by strong commodity markets has slowed, but those values are being maintained, which is evidenced in Farmers National Company sale results logged in the past six months. Buyer demand remains strong for good quality cropland across the Midwest, while the supply of land for sale remains limited. 

“These factors further play into the dynamics of the supply/demand scenario and remain a large factor in supporting current values in early 2024,” said Paul Schadegg, senior vice president of real estate operations, Farmers National Company. 

Who are the buyers? 

Successful farmland buyers continue to be local farmer/operators in nearly 80 percent of transactions. Available cash has played a significant role in how aggressive buyers are able to bid at land sales within the past several years.  

OSU Students Eligible for Free Cooking Classes on Campus

Students at Oklahoma State University are well-versed in attending classes, taking notes and test preparation. Still, some may need assistance with developing skills in food preparation, healthy cooking techniques, food safety and nutrition.

Cooking with Extension and Pete’s Pantry is a joint effort of OSU Extension, Community Nutrition Education Programs, Pete’s Pantry, Basic Needs Resources and the University of Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Nutrition Information and Education Project. The free, five-week pilot program in the fall of 2023 proved to be so successful that a second five-week course will be offered this spring semester, beginning in February.

Each class combines 30 minutes of classroom learning and 30 minutes of cooking to teach students how to prepare delicious and nutritious meals.

Parker Jackson, Community and Nutrition Education Programs educator and program coordinator with OSU Extension, said the collaborative effort began with a discussion between the Community Nutrition Education Programs and Pete’s Pantry, OSU’s on-campus food bank, in the summer of 2023. The Oklahoma Nutrition Information and Education Project provided the curriculum for the classroom segment, and the food was donated by Pete’s Pantry.

It’s Not Too Late to Register for CattleCon24

In a few short days, thousands of cattlemen and women will gather in Orlando, Florida, for CattleCon24, the largest cattle industry event in the country. Registration is available online or on-site, so make plans to join the excitement in the Sunshine State.

Arrive early for an engaging half-day Grazing Management Workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 30, where experts will discuss benefits of pasture and grazing management, assessing pasture condition, forage growth and quality, the latest technology resources, fencing strategies, drought management and water resource management. The workshop will feature targeted breakout sessions, based upon average annual rainfall, providing grazing solutions that are catered to different regions across the country. Producers will be provided with a grazing workbook so they can leave with a completed grazing management plan for their operation.

CattleCon24 officially kicks off on Wednesday, Jan. 31, with Buzz Brainard, host of Music Row Happy Hour, returning as emcee. The Opening General Session will feature former professional football player and sleight-of-hand magician, Jon Dorenbos, sharing his humbling story. Dorenbos played professional football for 14 years before a life-threatening heart condition ended his athletic career. Adversity didn’t keep Dorenbos down, whose passion for magic made him a top contender on America’s Got Talent.