The 2022 Census of Agriculture data has been released, and Associate Farm Editor, Reagan Calk, had the chance to talk with USDA’s Troy Marshall about the results and how that data compares to the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

Marshall said one of the biggest highlights from the census was 10.4 percent decrease in farm numbers compared to 2017. In Oklahoma, that equates to a loss of over 8,000 farms to 70,378 reported in the 2022 census.

“Every farm is important, not only here in Oklahoma, but across the country,” Marshall said. “We did see a little bit of a decline in the actual land that is farmed, but that number of farms that we had was really one that was impacted.”

Even with less farms, Marshall said there was an increase in the value of marketed product, and a billion dollars more of agricultural product was produced in 2022 than 2017 in Oklahoma.

“We know that some of that is due to those higher prices, but we also experience a lot of higher input costs as well,” Marshall said.

The census saw an increase in the average age of agricultural producers, Marshall said, now at 57.7 years of age. Regarding internet usage on farms, Marshall said there was an increase in Oklahoma, showing that 78 percent of farmers have access to the internet.



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New agriculture census data released by USDA today is cause for concern as the number of farms operating in the United States and the number of farm acres have both fallen significantly. The 2022 Census of Agriculture reports 141,733 fewer farms in 2022 than in 2017. The number of farm acres fell to 880,100,848, a loss of more than 20 million acres from just five years earlier.

“The latest census numbers put in black and white the warnings our members have been expressing for years,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Increased regulations, rising supply costs, lack of available labor and weather disasters have all squeezed farmers to the point that many of them find it impossible to remain economically sustainable.

“Family farms not only help drive the economy, they allow the rest of the nation the freedom to pursue their dreams without worrying about whether there will be enough food in their pantries. We urge Congress to heed the warning signs of these latest numbers. Passing a new farm bill that addresses these challenges is the best way to help create an environment that attracts new farmers and enables families to pass their farms to the next generation.”

American Pecan Council and Promotion Board CEO Emphasizes Strategic Plan to Boost U.S. Pecan Industry

At the American Pecan Council and American Pecan Promotion Board Meetings in Dallas, I had the chance to visit with the CEO of both groups, Anne Warden.

“It is a real honor to be able to work for pecan growers in the industry,” Warden said. “I have a deep passion for being able to work for farmers. I have a big belief in the importance of making sure consumers understand where their food comes from, but the reason I came to the pecan industry is because we are sitting on this goldmine of a food product that is chocked full of nutrition that has this incredible taste that consumers love and has so many more versatile uses than many other products. We have a ton of potential to grow, and I want to be a part of that.”

Warden said it is an advantage as a commodity to have both the American Pecan Council and the American Pecan Promotion Board working toward the same goals.

“The American Pecan Council has the ability to promote American pecans, particularly in key export markets,” Warden said. “We have programs in India now thanks to the reduced tariffs there, in China as well as Europe, countries that really have an opportunity for expansion that consume a lot of nuts but are not currently consuming a lot of pecans.”

At the 2024 CattleCon held in Orlando, Florida, I talked with the president and CEO of the United States Meat Export Federation, Dan Halstrom, about beef exports in 2024.

Our coverage from the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Orlando is being powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

While 2023 may have been a challenge for U.S. beef exports, Halstrom said he believes 2024 will yield better results. Halstrom said the number one struggle in 2023 was the lack of food service rebound in Asia.

“The first half of 2023, there was no official tourism policy for all of these countries,” Halstrom said. “That has since changed, and we are starting to see that rebound.”

Halstrom said he has seen the food service turning a corner in Korea in a recent trip, so it is only a matter of time before food service picks up the pace.

“What we have been working on and the industry has been working on is talking about other parts of the carcass,” Halstrom said. “What can we do with the inside round, or the knuckle, or the top sirloin, and maybe getting more familiarity with parts of the carcass they traditionally haven’t used.”

Members of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) gathered in Guatemala City, Guatemala, for the first day of the Council’s 21st International Marketing Conference and 64th Annual Membership Meeting, held Feb. 14-16, to discuss the current state of feed grain and biofuel markets around the world and update attendees on the Council’s plans for 2024 and beyond.

USGC Chairman Brent Boydston opened the event with a welcome address and an overview of his tenure thus far. Boydston then introduced the day’s first speaker, Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala Patrick Ventrell.

“My theme for this year, Growing the Future, reflects both the opportunities and challenges of the current trade environment,” Boydston said. “At this meeting, we gather to discuss issues facing our industry and explore future demand for feed grains, distiller’s dried grains with solubles and ethanol around the world.”

Chief Agricultural Negotiator from the Office of the United States Trade Representative Doug McKalip addressed attendees later in the morning, highlighting the importance of his office’s work in Guatemala and Central America. Farm Broadcast colleague Tony St. James is at the conference and provided the audio of Ambassador’s McKalip’s remarks- click here to listen:

Wednesday’s agenda also included a discussion on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), which is designed to reimburse nonprofit agricultural trade organizations for their work in international markets. USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand, USGC Vice President Cary Sifferath and USGC Senior Director of Global Strategies Kurt Shultz explained what RAPP will mean for the Council and the scope of its work in the future.

On Feb. 6, 2024, the U.S. District Court of Arizona issued a ruling that vacated the registration of dicamba for use in agriculture.

Since that time- Ag groups and associations have called on EPA to allow farmers to use existing stocks here in 2024. Yesterday- they did just that- click here for the order.

Among the reaction- NASDA CEO Ted McKinney issued this statement:

“As co-regulatory partners with EPA committed to preserving environmental stewardship, protecting the rural economy and securing a healthy food supply chain, NASDA commends EPA on issuing an existing stocks order for dicamba that is inclusive of products that are in the possession of growers or in the channels of trade. Today’s action will prevent severe detrimental impacts to our food, fuel and fiber availability.” NASDA CEO Ted McKinney.

American Farm Bureau's Zippy Duvall is also pleased: “We are grateful to EPA for hearing farmers’ and ranchers’ concerns and addressing them quickly to ensure we have access to the critical tools needed to protect our crops this season. Without EPA stepping in, farmers and ranchers across the country were facing uncertainty and financial risk.”

Burns Introduces Bill to Create Rural Hospital Replacement Grant Program

Sen. George Burns, R-Pollard, introduced a measure aimed at addressing healthcare needs in rural communities. Senate Bill 1269 creates the Rural Hospital Replacement Grant Program under the State Department of Health, providing vital funding to support the construction of new hospitals to replace qualifying rural hospitals.

“Access to quality healthcare is essential for all Oklahomans, especially those in rural areas,” Burns said. “This bill underscores our commitment to ensuring that residents in underserved communities have access to the medical services they need.”

The proposed Rural Hospital Replacement Grant Program defines a qualifying rural hospital as a licensed facility located in a county with a population of 50,000 or less and a poverty rate of not less than 19 percent. The Department of Health will establish an application process and scoring criteria to determine eligibility for grant funding.

Furthermore, the measure establishes the Rural Hospital Replacement Revolving Fund, which will consist of monies appropriated by the Legislature to support the program’s initiatives.

SB 1269 is available to be considered.