The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) recently held its annual meeting. This year, it was held in Indianapolis, and a lot was covered. Farm Director KC Sheperd spoke with the Oklahoma State Board Representatives who were at the meeting. Brent Bolen, from Idabel, represents the southeast district and Clay Burtrum, from Stillwater represents the northeast district. Both were appointed to their positions by Governor Kevin Stitt.

Burtrum highlighted the exceptional representation of Oklahoma by Ag Secretary and Commissioner Blaine Arthur, who was well respected by other attendees and at that event, handed her role as NASDA President over to Arkansas Department of Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward for the 2024-2025 term. He noted that despite the meeting being held in Indiana, Oklahoma was effectively hosting it. He also mentioned that the meeting showcased the common issues faced by different states, particularly those with animal agriculture.

“The theme was Cultivating Common Ground,” Burtrum noted. “From my perspective, when you bring these various state officials together, it is about collaboration. From high-path avian influenza to drought management, and other things. It’s a collaboration of how we can work together to tackle the problems within each state.”

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Lots of Ag Production Will be Slammed Into by Helene

What is turning into a monster hurricane, Helene, is expected to slam into the Big Bend area of Florida by this evening- and it appears that it will roll with speed and power across a small sliver of Florida and then into south Georgia slamming towns like Valdosta and Albany before heading north toward Atlanta.

The area that has Helene has in its cross hairs is prime peanut country for US peanut production in both Florida and especially Georgia. USDA reported Florida peanut harvest was 19% done at the start of this week- while Georgia is just getting underway with 3% harvested- a lot of peanuts may be in jeopardy.

Also a worry- pecan orchards in Georgia- the high winds may well make short work of a lot of pecan operations that in Helen's path.

Prayers for all who face this storm in the next 24 hours- and that includes our farm friends in the southeast.

Earlier this year, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays talked with Bob Weaber of Kansas State University about being intentional with heterosis. This is the second part of the conversation; the first of which can be found here.

Both small and large herds can be improved with intentional heterosis, or mixing different breeds of cattle, but the methods and sophistication depend to some extent on the operations’ infrastructure.

Weaber explained, “There may be a number of operations that use a two-breed rotation to build their replacement heifers. Once cows reach a certain age, they may be moved to another division of the ranch to get mated to terminal bulls.”

Those operations would have the physical capacity to move animals around and the infrastructure to hold them in different areas.

Hank Baker Talks Beekeeping and Its Benefits to Agricultural Production

While attending the Women in Agriculture Conference in Edmond, Oklahoma, Stevie White spoke to Langston University Honey Bee Extension Officer Hank Baker to talk about the interesting and useful insects.

To get established as a beekeeper, Baker recommends taking a class first with one of the many beekeeping organizations in Oklahoma, such as the Central Oklahoma Beekeepers Association, the Northeast Oklahoma Beekeepers Association, or the Oklahoma Beekeepers Association. “They all offer classes,” he said. “You can also reach out to someone like me who offers mentorships.”

In addition to honey, a hive of bees can also provide other marketing opportunities such as beeswax, pollen – which is a strong, healthy protein commonly added to salads and yogurt, and once a hive becomes established and healthy, it will procreate a large number of bees providing bees, themselves, as a marketable product.

A looming U.S. east coast port strike would have severe consequences for food and many other farm products shipped from American farm and ranch families to international buyers. This article outlines the far-reaching effects that might result if the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) cannot come to an agreement before their contract expires on Sept. 30.

The ILA is the largest union of maritime workers in North America, representing nearly 85,000 longshoremen across the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, Great Lakes, major U.S. rivers, Puerto Rico, Eastern Canada and the Bahamas. Their members load and unload cargo at ocean port terminals, particularly in container and roll-on/roll-off operations. On the employer side, USMX represents approximately 40 ocean carriers and terminal operators where ILA members work.

The union is reportedly seeking wage increases exceeding the 32% won last year by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents many West Coast port workers. Additional demands include a higher starting wage for new employees, enhanced health care benefits, increased employer contributions to retirement plans and keeping provisions that prohibit automation to prevent job losses.

At today’s 2024 Annual Meeting, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture hosted National Agricultural Law Center’s Director Harrison Pittman, Senior Staff Attorney Rusty Rumley and Staff Attorney Brigit Rollins for a discussion on the potential impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the Chevron doctrine during the Natural Resources and Environment Policy Committee meeting.

The Chevron doctrine is a legal precedent that guided judicial deference to federal agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes for four decades. Established in the 1984 Supreme Court case Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., the Chevron doctrine allowed federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency to implement and enforce regulations based on their interpretation of laws passed by Congress. When NASDA spoke with Pittman on this discussion, Pittman said the recent reversal could lead to significant changes in how environmental regulations are created, interpreted and enforced.

“This landmark decision will take years to fully play out, but the potential consequences for a host of laws applicable to agriculture, including the Endangered Species Act, wetlands regulation, the Clean Water Act and pesticide regulation cannot be understated,” Pittman said.

State agriculture departments work closely with federal agencies to implement environmental programs, and in many cases, as co-regulators with other state agency counterparts.

“We’re extremely proud to be a resource to NASDA on this and other important issues facing agriculture,” Pittman said.

NASDA thanks Pittman for his insights to this developing situation and will continue to monitor the impacts of this decision. NASDA is committed to advocating for clear and effective environmental policies that enhance agricultural productivity and protect natural resources.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond launched a new campaign today to help capture some of Oklahoma’s most wanted fugitives from justice.

Drummond has partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service and other federal, tribal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies to identify 10 Most Wanted fugitives and to work to hold them accountable for their actions. Individuals on the Most Wanted list pose serious threats to public safety.

“The fugitives on this list are a threat to public safety. It is critical that we work together to hold these individuals accountable for their alleged crimes,” Drummond said. “We hope to enlist the help of all Oklahomans in this campaign to get these dangerous criminals off the street.”

In some cases, financial rewards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 are offered for anyone who can provide information directly leading to the arrest of a fugitive on the Most Wanted list. These fugitives are wanted for murder, sex crimes, assault, drug trafficking, robbery and other serious offenses. Several of these fugitives should be considered armed and dangerous.

OSU’s Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Series to Feature Legendary Beef Producer Minnie Lou Bradley

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The Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle team will host a one-time Rancher’s Thursday Lunchtime Zoom session with pioneering cattle rancher and OSU alumna Minnie Lou Bradley on Oct. 10 at noon.

Bradley resides in Childress, Texas, where she and her family own and operate Bradley 3 Ranch. In 1953, she became the first woman to receive a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry from OSU, previously named Oklahoma A&M College. She was the first woman to compete on the OSU livestock judging team, winning the top beef cattle collegiate judging title at the 1952 American Royal livestock judging contest. Bradley also earned high individual at the Chicago International judging competition in 1952.

The Bradley family’s ranching business dates back to the late 1800s with Longhorns and commercial Hereford cattle before Bradley’s management input led to the integration of Angus genetics. Bradley was the first female president of the American Angus Association, the largest beef breed in the world.

She and her husband, Bill, established the third generation of the Bradley ranch, Bradley 3, with 20 cows and 3,300 acres in the southeastern Texas Panhandle. Their commercial Angus herd transitioned to an Angus seed stock operation in 1958. Today, the family’s Angus and Charolais progenies are known nationwide for their high-performing genetic traits and resiliency in rugged terrain and harsh weather.