Dual Office Spat Escalates as the Governor, Attorney General, Legislature and State Courts All Engaged

It all started with a request by the Democratic Senator from Norman, Mary Boren, who asked Attorney General Gentner Drummond for an opinion on Tim Gatz having the legal right to hold multiple posts in state government. Before the ruling, he was Governor Stitt’s Secretary of Transportation, the Director of the Department of Transportation and the Director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

The AG ruled that Gatz was in violation of state law that prohibits a person to hold dual state offices. Gatz resigned and then was reappointed as the Director of ODOT.

Apparently, the AG’s ruling was only about Gatz, but the Stitt Administration was proactive in filing a lawsuit in Oklahoma County district court, seeking clarity with the courts regarding the AG Opinion on cabinet secretaries also holding agency leadership positions. Three of Stitt’s Cabinet officers, Secretary of Ag Blayne Arthur, Secretary of Human Services Deb Shropshire and Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Shelley Zumwalt are listed on the lawsuit along with Governor Stitt.

Very quickly, Ag groups put their heads together and worked with several key lawmakers- found bill SB1196 that was already filed and that could be utilized to become the vehicle to exempt the Secretary of Agriculture from any ruling that might pop up later from the Attorney General.

It passed both bodies with no dissenting votes- but the Governor vetoed it anyway- fearing it could hurt his lawsuit.

The real silver lining in all of this is how the Ag Groups and lawmakers worked in harmony and swiftly- in literally just 8 days- and pulled together what amounts to be a ringing endorsement of Secretary Arthur.

The Speaker has agreed to delay a veto override vote for now as they will give the District Court a little time to act on the lawsuit. But if the measure is needed- that vote will come and Secretary Arthur(and those who follow her) will have the multiple hats that she wears protected by the state legislature.



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I am back talking with National Cattlemen’s Association executive director of government affairs, Kent Bacus, about more on the new “Product of USA” labeling rules from USDA. To listen to part 1 of the conversation, CLICK HERE.

Because the cattle sector markets cattle in many different ways, Bacus said this new ruling may allow retailers and packers who want to capture more added value to find more ways to do so. The ruling is voluntary, Bacus added, so if some decide there is no market value, they can choose not to engage.

Bacus added the USDA ruling simply sets guidelines for those who use “Product of USA” labeling in the domestic market.

“There is now some direction from USDA as to how to go about doing that,” Bacus said. “What I am hopeful for is that on the other end of that, there are producer opportunities. In order to meet that differentiation claim and to be able to market those products, that is something that will be rewarding for producers.”



Bacus said producers have already capitalized on local demand and various attributes that consumers identify with. If country of origin labeling is going to provide more value, Bacus said producers will want to capitalize on that aspect.

Lankford Demands Biden Admin Increase Agricultural Exports

Senators James Lankford (R-OK), John Thune (R-SD), John Boozman (R-AR), and Mike Crapo (R-ID) urged US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to increase US agricultural exports and improve the competitiveness of US products abroad. 

“We expect trade to fluctuate in response to macroeconomic factors and market conditions,” wrote the Senators. “However, the current sharp decline in US agricultural exports is directly attributable to and exacerbated by an unambitious US trade strategy that is failing to meaningfully expand market access or reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. While the Biden Administration continually refuses to pursue traditional free trade agreements, China, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and others continue to ink trade pacts that diminish American export opportunities and global economic influence.”

The letter was also signed by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tim Scott (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).

View full letter here or below. 

Farm Director KC Sheperd had the chance to talk with a German farmer, Franz-Josef Berg, about the differences between German farming and farming in Oklahoma. Berg is the father-in-law of David Misener, the President of U.S. Custom Harvesters, and has had the opportunity over the years to visit David and his daughter at their own Oklahoma Farm.

One of the most significant differences in farming in Germany, Berg said, is that in the U.S., there is more acreage. Berg also added that Germany has a long rainy season, “To the North, there is more grass, but in our country its more cabbage. Its good for us, because we have enough rain, but not too much rain.” Berg said in Germany they have the opposite problem we have here in Oklahoma, which is too much rain, “It can rain from October to now, and last winter we had too much rain and we could not seed wheat.”

In the fall, Misener said the fields in Germany are muddy due to lots of moisture, so it was difficult driving through the fields and not getting stuck.

“I went one time in the summer, and we were harvesting wheat, and the wheat yields there are much more than here,” Misener said. “They always have more than 100 bushels wheat, so they spray the wheat to make it to where it doesn’t grow so fast and so tall, so that way it will stand up. Otherwise, the wheat will lodge a lot and fall down on the earth because it has such a big head and is such a big yield.”

On Wednesday, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is pleased to announce that the State of Texas Agriculture Relief (STAR) Fund has received an overwhelming response, with over 1,600 individual donations totaling over $800,000 to support relief efforts for Texas farmers and ranchers devastated by the Panhandle wildfires. These donations will provide critical financial assistance, helping them rebuild and recover from the unprecedented damage.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to the STAR Fund to support our fellow Texans in their time of need,” Commissioner Miller said. “The overwhelming response demonstrates the strength of our Texas spirit and our commitment to standing together in times of crisis.”

The STAR Fund, administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), provides financial assistance to agricultural producers who have suffered losses due to natural disasters, including wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and droughts. The funds collected will be distributed directly to those in need to help cover expenses such as livestock feed, fencing repairs, and other essential recovery efforts.

For those who wish to contribute to our STAR Fund, please visit the Texas Department of Agriculture website for more information on how to donate.

Tax Reporting for Crop Insurance

With tax season in full swing, knowing how to properly report crop insurance premiums and indemnities is important to ensure accurate tax reporting. Many producers have CPAs or accounting firms that manage their finances and taxes. However, understanding how to report crop insurance proceeds is a great on-farm skill when maintaining accurate financial records.

The Schedule F, “Profit and Loss from Farming,” is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) form that allows producers to report net profit (or losses) from their agricultural production (IRS, 2022). The Schedule F shows income and expenses pertaining to principal farming activities, such as grain and livestock sold, any income from cooperatives, program payments, and federal crop insurance distributions. Crop insurance proceeds (or indemnities) must be included on a Schedule F as farm income regardless of how much proceeds a producer receives to cover the producer premium. Importantly, crop insurance proceeds can be reported in several ways depending on when you sell your grain. 

Commercial Gilt Show Continues Today at the OYE

It's day two of the MoorMan ShowTec Commercial Breeding Gilt show- with the Light Cross division at 8 AM- the Supreme Cross Drive will follow the Light Cross classes late this morning.

At 1 PM(or 30 minutes after the Cross bred Supreme Selection)- the gilt show continues in Barn 6- with the Purebred classes begin- with Chester, Duroc, Hereford, Landrace and Poland gilts to show this afternoon.

Over in Barn 8- the Commercial Heifers will show at 9 AM.

Meanwhile- does and breeding ewes will begin to arrive today.

Click here for the complete schedule of the 2024 OYE.

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