Following is an Op-ed from Farm Policy Facts.

The 2018 Farm Bill, signed into law in December of 2018, expired on September 30, 2023. An extension at the tail end of last year shifted that expiration date to September 30, 2024. The current situation in farm country looks vastly different than it did in 2018, and the conditions for a farm financial crisis are brewing on the horizon.

Key agriculture groups have repeatedly sounded the alarm, making clear the untenable situation that many are facing after years of rising input prices, declining commodity prices, and natural disasters. Yet, some lawmakers still say that they feel there is not enough time to pass a new bill by the end of the year.

Here at Farm Policy Facts, we deal in facts. And the fact is that farm country can’t wait. We need a Farm Bill NOW. 

Why? Let’s start with the fact that farmers are facing skyrocketing input prices and plummeting crop prices, and – as a result – are quickly depleting their liquidity and working capital.

The Oklahoma Wheat Commission promotes greater use of wheat in domestic and international markets through research, market development and public education.

Our Commissioners develop policy and programs, direct the funding, represent producer interests and, of course, promote Oklahoma wheat!

Learn more about the Oklahoma Wheat Commission by clicking here for their website. 

According to State Climatologist Gary McManus, drought continues to intensify across the state, especially in Southwest Oklahoma, where Extreme drought now covers 47% of that area, the highest coverage since October 24th of last year. Conditions have worsened over the last two months, and those changes aren’t confined to just SW OK.”

McManus says we have seen some improvements, but those are mainly concentrated in the strips of heavier rainfall that we’ve seen in specific places across the state over the last month or so, ” Mangum has gone 94 consecutive days without at least a quarter-inch of rain in a single day!”

McManus says we are on the cusp of seeing some exceptional drought reintroduced into the state if we don’t see showers pretty soon, “Should we start getting those dry fall cold fronts with the low humidity and strong SW to NW winds…watch out.”

With hot, dry conditions comes the risk of fire danger, so McManus reminds folks to stay weather aware on those windy days as our vegetation is going backward this year, “Easy to see from OK-FIRE’s relative greenness map that our vegetation is going backward a bit early this year, acting like it’s fall already when the growing season is still going strong.”

Luke Bowman Calls the Simmental Breed Truth Seekers in the Quest for Profitability in the Cattle Business

On today’s Beef Buzz, Oklahoma Farm Report’s Ron Hays features comments from a recent conversation that Farm Director KC Sheperd had with Luke Bowman, Director of SimGenetic Development with the American Simmental Association to rehash the Simmental Fall Focus event known to provide solid information for producers.

“Fall Focus is a great fellowship option for folks that aren’t in the Junior business,” Bowman said. “We have our National Classic which is the Junior Fan Fare that we have every summer. Fall Focus is a learning seminar for our adult membership tied with our fall board meetings so members can participate in the meetings.”

The event, held in Amarillo, Texas, focused on where the industry is going in terms of the marketing of beef cattle currently and in the future. It featured a great lineup of speakers including speakers from the University of Missouri and West Texas A&M University talking about in-product merit and comparing current beef cattle marketing methods with past ones.

“We had some folks who felt like it was very refreshing because they’ve been living in West Kansas, West Texas, or the panhandle of Oklahoma where all the cattle are fed. They focused on carcass traits for a long time, so they enjoyed what they heard,” Bowman said. “But some folks from the outer parts of the country, like the far East or the far North, where they don’t feed a lot of cattle were trying to connect the dots and see how through the use of high-quality life cycle indexes, they can make genetic progress, and that’s what people felt good about.”

Following the release of the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) farm income and balance sheet estimates, House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) issued the following statement: 

“USDA’s September update to the farm financial outlook continues to present a bleak picture. Declining commodity prices, record farm production costs driven by the reckless spending of the Biden-Harris Administration, the largest agricultural trade deficit on record, and an outdated farm safety net threaten to wipe out family farms across the country. 

“These numbers are more than data points on spreadsheets, they tell a story of struggling American farmers desperate for relief, certainty, and stability. The bipartisan Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 is the legislative remedy our rural communities so desperately need.

“It’s time to put partisan bickering and red lines aside and pass a farm bill.”

Last week, ASA led a coalition letter expressing great concern with EPA’s proposed interim decision for the insecticide, dimethoate.

Dimethoate is an organophosphate insecticide registered for use in soybeans and several dozen other specialty and row crops. In soybeans, it is registered to treat loopers, aphids, bean leaf beetles, leafhoppers, Mexican bean beetles, spider mites, three-cornered alfalfa hoppers, and grasshoppers.

EPA proposes terminating uses of dimethoate in soybeans due to an ecological risk assessment that found it and about a dozen other uses to be too low in benefit relative to the alleged risks they pose.

Dimethoate is an important tool for many U.S. farmers and other users. It is relatively affordable, effective, and is a vital component to the insect management strategy of thousands of farmers and businesses across the country.

Oklahoma’s tax revenues have grown steadily over the last 12 months, reflecting a 0.12% increase, according to the latest Gross Receipts Report. This slight growth comes after a 0.30% rise in July and highlights the state’s continued economic resilience. In August alone, Oklahoma brought in $1.27 billion in tax revenue, an increase of $24.2 million, or 1.9%, from the same month last year.

Oklahoma families likely contributed to the increase in sales tax through back-to-school shopping, purchases made during the state’s tax-free weekend, and spending on last-minute summer trips. These trends show that many Oklahomans are continuing to invest in their households, even during times of economic uncertainty.

State Treasurer Russ commented, “As the Federal Reserve prepares to adjust interest rates, many taxpayers might see lower costs on mortgages and loans. However, those with savings and investments should expect lower returns. Balancing financial decisions will be key in the months ahead.”

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