Thousands of FFA members in their Blue and Gold jackets will be descending on downtown Tulsa May 7th and 8th for the 98th Convention of the Oklahoma FFA. The Convention officially kicks off Tuesday morning with the Opening General Session at the BOK Center- and many of the events will also be happening at the Cox Convention Center. That includes the 2024 Career Show, with over 125 exhibitors interacting with FFA members from across the state and their Ag Education teachers.

According to Oklahoma FFA Executive Secretary Trevor Lucas, approximately 14,000 members and supporters of the organization will be in downtown Tulsa for event. Sixth Convention Sessions will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday. On the final session Wednesday evening, 713 of the best of the best Seniors in Ag Education and FFA will be awarded the State FFA Degree and those attending that session will have the chance to hear from Life Church Senior Pastor and motivational author Craig Groeschel- and to celebrate with the new State FFA officer team for 2024-2025.

The 2023-24 State Officer team is led by Caleb Horne from the Morrison FFA Chapter. Horne and his team will lead all of the Convention sessions and congratulate several hundred award winners during the Convention. The high point of those awards will come on Wednesday afternoon when the Stars over Oklahoma FFA will spotlight the Star Farmer, Star in Agribusiness, Star in Ag Placement and Star in Agriscience. Those four "cream of the crop" awardees will collectively receive over $120,000 for their achievements- for the third year, the Carl Anderson Innovator Awards will be given to the four stars- each of them receiving $30,089 for use as a post secondary scholarship or operating capital grant.

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At the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) annual Washington Watch event in Washington, D.C., Farm Director KC Sheperd caught up with Senator James Lankford and talked about disaster relief in Oklahoma after devastating tornadoes, his border security package, and more.

“On Sunday, I was in Sulphur with the cleanup, getting the chance to visit with folks and find out what is going on,” Lankford said.

Lankford talked about how these disaster events have brought up conversations relating to boosting rural healthcare resources in rural areas.

“I have got seven different bills we are working on right now to try to get passed to be able to protect our independent pharmacies to be able to keep them open,” Lankford said.

Regarding Lankford’s border security package released in February, he said many individuals are starting to have a better understanding of the issues presented in the bill.

Introducing Chloe Silka of the Locust Grove FFA Chapter, Your 2024 Northeast Area Star Farmer

This morning, our coverage of the 2024 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists concludes with Agricultural Production competitor Chloe Silka of the Locust Grove FFA chapter representing the Northeast Area.

Farm Director KC Sheperd interviewed all 18 Star finalists recently in Stillwater after they were judged in their respective areas- and you can hear KC talk with Chloe by clicking on the blue button at the bottom of this story.

Silka said her projects involve goat production, beef production, and small animal production

“My beef production SAE began with a herd of commercial cattle that my parents helped me purchase from a young age,” Silka said.

As for her goat production SAE, Silka said it began with market wethers she showed at local and state levels. Eventually, Silka said she gained an interest in the breeding side of things, which led to her own herd of breeding does.

“My small animal production SAE began with registered Border Collies that I would market on the local and state level through Facebook groups and newspapers,” Silka said.

You can find all 18 finalists in the four Stars categories in the Blue Green Gazette section of our website- go read and listen to their stories.

Our coverage of the Stars and the 2024 State FFA Convention is powered by Hilliary Communications.

At the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Washington Watch Event, Farm Director KC Sheperd had the chance to visit with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Chief Counsel of Government Affairs, Mary-Thomas Hart. In this latest Beef Buzz- I am featuring comments from the conversation regarding the latest on WOTUS (Waters of the U.S.)

Last year, the Supreme Court ruled against the Biden Administration’s WOTUS rule, forcing the EPA to make major changes before the rule was approved. Hart follows up on what has happened since.

Hart said the Biden Administration’s rule containing significant nexus, which was shot down by the Supreme Court was replaced with a rule containing “relative permanence,” which means femoral features and isolated ponds and wetlands will not be regulated by the federal government.

“I think this shift really does make sure that EPA’s resources and EPA’s time is being put toward the water sources and water features that need the most protection,” Hart said.

From NCBA’s perspective, Hart said there are a few questions, but for the most part, they are satisfied with that final rule.

“We have some loose ends to tie up, specifically related to, what is the breadth of interstate waters as a category of jurisdictional waters and what features are going to be considered interstate waters,” Hart said. “Also, getting some more clarity on how the EPA is going to treat femoral features or features that only carry water after a rain or snowstorm.”

March Pork Exports Steady with Year-Ago; Beef Export Value Highest in Nine Months

March exports of U.S. pork were steady with last year’s volume and edged higher in value, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports were below last March’s large volume but export value was the highest since June 2023. 

Pork exports totaled 260,430 metric tons (mt) in March, up 0.1% from a year ago, valued at $740.8 million – up 2% year-over-year and the seventh highest on record. Through the first quarter, pork exports increased 6% to 762,784 mt, while export value climbed 7% to $2.11 billion. 

“Another strong month on the pork side, and one that illustrates the importance of export market diversification,” noted USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Shipments to Mexico cooled a bit, reflecting the earlier timing for Easter, and yet the global total remained very robust through increases to Korea, Colombia, Central America and Australia. When export value exceeds $70 per head slaughtered, that’s welcome news for pork producers and the entire supply chain.” 

March beef exports totaled 108,218 mt, down 10% from the large volume posted a year ago but still the highest of 2024. Export value was $889.9 million, down slightly from a year ago (-0.3%) but the highest in nine months. January-March exports totaled 311,865 mt, down 4% from the first quarter of 2023, but export value increased 6% to $2.48 billion. 

“Beef demand in the Caribbean was outstanding in March, and we continued to see a strong rebound in the Middle East as well as some positive signs in Korea and Japan, where the foodservice recovery is making progress,” Halstrom said. “It’s a challenging situation in terms of supply availability, but the value U.S. beef commands internationally is very encouraging – as evidenced by March export value climbing to more than $450 per head.”

Timing seems to be everything this Monday morning as we wait on a possible severe weather event to unfold. By early to mid afternoon- storms could be happening in northwest Oklahoma and will start to move east into central and north central Oklahoma- risk of tornados and large hail is very real.

News9 in Oklahoma City is now calling it an evening ahead in Central Oklahoma with a high risk for tornadoes.

The thinking is that it won't be a huge rain event over a wide area- but localized storms that could be really dangerous.

The graphic below captures where the storms could happening- you have several hours for any preparation you need to make to get animals and/or equipment in place ahead of hail, wind and tornadoes.

Pick your preferred weather information source- and pay attention as the day unfolds- it could be a wild ride.

NACD Commends Committee Chairs for Calling to Integrate IRA Conservation Investments, Encourages Congress to Pass a Bipartisan Farm Bill

This week, the House Committee on Agriculture Chairman GT Thompson and the Senate Committee on Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow released individual farm bill frameworks. NACD commends both Chairs for supporting NACD’s top priority by calling for the incorporation of the remaining Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) conservation investments into the conservation title of the bill. NACD encourages committee leaders to continue working in a bipartisan manner to pass a farm bill that supports our producers and locally led conservation. 

“NACD greatly appreciates that both Chairman Thompson and Chairwoman Stabenow’s proposals would integrate IRA conservation investments into the farm bill and help more producers across the country adopt effective, locally led conservation practices over the long-term,” said NACD President Kim LaFleur. “It is incredibly important for our farmers and our country’s conservation efforts that Congress works together to pass a farm bill as soon as possible.