With Chairman GT Thompson pushing and pulling- the House Agriculture Committee early Friday morning advanced a farm bill after pushing back on Democratic efforts to halt cuts to nutrition and changes to conservation programs.

The bill, HR 8467, the $1.5 trillion “Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024,” passed out of committee on a 33-21 vote with four Democrats joining 29 Republicans to back the bill. DTN has a comprehensive look at the bill that has come out of Committee- click here to read more.

Former Chairman of the House Ag Committee- Frank Lucas- was right there at the side of GT. Thompson as he got it done- “I applaud Chairman Thompson for completing the gargantuan task of passing this Farm Bill out of Committee. As a former Chairman of the House Ag Committee, I know firsthand just how difficult this process can be. Not only does this bill continue the good work done by the Committee over the last decade, but it secures much needed investments into the farm safety net and conservation title, all while assuring our neighbors that they have the calories they need. I am happy to support this essential piece of legislation and I look forward to working with the Chairman and my colleagues to advance this legislation on the House Floor.”

However- on the other side of Capitol Hill- Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow has NO interest in working with the Republicans- “I’m glad that Chairman Thompson is working to move the process forward so that we can complete our work on the 2024 Farm Bill this year. Despite areas of common ground, it is now clear that key parts of the House bill split the Farm Bill coalition in a way that makes it impossible to achieve the votes to become law. And it is also clear that we do not have time to waste on proposals that cannot meet that goal."

Several Ag groups stayed up and offered immediate reaction to the work by the Committee- I am sure we will share many more later in the day on Friday- Click on the name of the group to see these early reactions:

National Cattlemen's Beef Association

National Milk Producers Federation

National Pork Producers

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According to the latest Oklahoma drought monitor report, exceptional drought and extreme drought remain at zero percent, unchanged from the start of the calendar year.

Severe drought or worse is unchanged from the past two weeks at 5.91 percent.

Moderate drought or worse is now at 11.37 percent, improved from last week’s 12.13 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse is now at 29.60 percent, improved from last week’s 32.64 percent.

According to the 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map, the majority of the panhandle and southern Oklahoma are leaning above a 40 to 50 percent chance of precipitation through June 1st. The rest of the state is leaning above a 33-40 percent chance of precipitation through that June 1st date.

Present and Future of Beef Industry Technologies Discussed at Cattlemen’s Conference

At Cattlemen’s Conference Part Two: Blueprint for the Future, I had the chance to catch up with the Executive Vice President of the American Hereford Association, Jack Ward, and talk about new technologies in the beef industry discussed at this year’s conference.

At last year’s conference, Ward said as he wrapped up discussions on the last day, he felt there was more to cover, hence the need for a part two.

“Last year we heard from some of the presenters about how we have turned the corner in terms of demand for beef and high-quality beef,” Ward said. “It is a more consistent product than what we did. We increased per capita consumption, we heard a lot about consumer preferences, we heard a lot from presenters in terms of the value of soil health and trying to work your way through that.”

Comparing this conference to last year’s there is a larger focus on regenerative ranching, heterosis, and gene editing. In his role working within a breed association, Ward said when it comes to new technologies, one thing to consider is what will be accepted by breed associations in years to come.

From the Oklahoma Wheat Commission- Oklahoma wheat harvest made good strides the last few days in parts of Southwest, Oklahoma. Producers as far North in the Okarche and Reeding area also were able to start earlier in the week before rains delayed progress on Wednesday morning. Samples and small cuttings were taken in at Greenfield. Cooler temperatures made for a late start in a lot of areas yesterday. High humidity, cloudy weather, with fog and mist today have hindered anything being cut this morning. Predicted rains late this afternoon/evening and over the weekend most likely will stall progress over the Memorial Day weekend. Wheat being taken in at all locations show favorable yields and quality.

Early reports in all locations show test weights ranging from 60 to 65 lbs. per bushel. Proteins ranging from 10.5% to 13.5%, with an overall average of proteins being reported at 11.0% to 11.2%. The wheat being harvested in Southwest Oklahoma has not been stressed as much, so it is thought proteins will get higher as harvest progresses North where we have drought stress. Early yields being reported at 40 to 45 bushels per acre in most regions. Higher yields being reported on intensively managed wheat with some yields on a few fields being reported in the mid 60’s to low 70’s. The regions where this is being reported is considered the bright spot of the state for growing conditions this year. The state has received a large amount of hail damage in South Central, Southwest, and Northern, Oklahoma over the past two weeks. Producers are hoping future predicted storms for tonight and over the weekend subside. The next harvest report to be published will be Tuesday, May 28th. 

Kim Anderson Recommends Selling Wheat Throughout the June to August period

This week on SUNUP is Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Kim Anderson. During this week’s edition, Anderson gives his weekly update from the fields of Lahoma at the OSU Lahoma Field Day.

“Out here, the farmers and ranchers are learning about raising wheat,” Anderson said. “They are learning how to produce it, they are learning soil fertility, and they are learning about production. All of that information on production has no value unless you can convert it to economics. You have got to know what the bottom line for each alternative is, and what the probabilities are that it is going to generate profit so you can select the one with the highest profitability to keep you in business.”

Looking at the prices from 2009 to 2013, Anderson said Oklahomans can easily see that is best to sell their wheat throughout the June, July, and August time period.



“The big point is, from the high to the low on the average, was $1.83, plus or minus 90 cents,” Anderson said. “Losing $1.83 because you sold it at the wrong time is a big problem. What you need to do when you are selling your wheat is to stagger it over that three-month time period, because you don’t know if the highest price is going to be at the beginning or the end.”

If You are Following the Conversation about Reference Prices… Here are a Few Facts

There was a time when agricultural economists who focus on farm policy didn’t take a position on a farm bill proposal.  At least the authors of this article were taught by our mentors…just describe what’s in a policy proposal and don’t take a position…that’s not your job.  Good and bad was for others to decide…primarily elected officials since it is, in fact, their job.  Those days are over.  In the last two weeks since the House Agriculture Committee majority released details of their bill, there has been a steady stream of articles talking about the proposal’s reference price increases as being tilted to the South and Southern crops. 

We thought we would instead try to provide facts and information that you can use to help decide whether any proposed bill—House or Senate—is providing a safety net for all U.S. farmers.

Fact #1 

During the development of every farm bill, there are people who say unequivocally that one or more commodities are advantaged relative to others.  In the current environment – with ARC and PLC as the Title I safety net programs – since they are both countercyclical, producing a map that shows payments are higher in one area really means very little.  It very likely means that prices for those crops are lower and triggering payments, not that the farm bill was titled toward producers of those crops.

OSU Extension Offers Proven Methods for Homesteaders

Homesteading has become more mainstream within the past decade as interest climbs in gardening and locally sourced products. With more than a century of experience and research, Oklahoma State University Extension is a valuable resource for homesteaders.

“People want to get back to their roots,” said Cheyenne Patrick, Osage County Extension agriculture educator and Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program educator for the Osage Nation, who has organized local workshops on beekeeping, backyard chickens and breadmaking. “They want to learn how their grandma cooked because there for a while, many of us got pretty far away from that. Now we want to know what’s in our food and either make it or raise it ourselves.”

Mayes County resident Rachel Pritchett and her husband became interested in homesteading 20 years ago with a few backyard chickens. They garden, preserve fruit from their small orchard and manage a beehive. The family enjoys a form of modern homesteading that includes hunting, fishing and raising meat goats while creating content for their Hidden Heights Farm YouTube channel.

“The pandemic has exposed a need for homesteading,” Pritchett said. “It was a wake-up call for everybody when they couldn’t find bread and eggs were so expensive. How were people supposed to buy meat or milk? We’ve seen an increase in farmers markets with people going straight to the source.”