Congress is failing to come together on an economic-aid package because both parties remain locked in a standoff over funding.

At this point, the two sides appear so locked in their positions that $10 billion to $12 billion in potential economic aid could be scrapped as a result. The impasse prompted Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, to call for farm-state lawmakers to oppose the year-end supplemental legislation if economic aid is not included.

Republican leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees early Saturday released a joint statement blaming Democratic leaders in Congress for rejecting a $12 billion package for farmers. Their complaints come after Republican leaders rejected a $10.7 billion plan proposed by Democrats that also would have beefed up the farm bill by adding roughly $14 billion in funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) just days earlier.

House Speaker Johnson is pushing for an economic assistance package for farmers. Democrats are asking for a host of provisions in exchange, including a Haiti trade program, The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, museums honoring women and Hispanics, 100% FSK bridge cost share, 2nd Chance Act and more.

House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson says opposition to the CR is justified- “The failure to include economic assistance will have devastating and lasting consequences on our farm families, the rural communities in which they live and American agriculture. For that reason, we intend to oppose any supplemental spending package that does not provide meaningful assistance to our farmers. Our farmers work too hard and risk it all each year so we can have the safest, most abundant, and most affordable food supply in the world. They deserve our help now.”

Click here for our Top Ag Story that includes the comments from Rep Thompson and Senator Boozman as well as from the American Farm Bureau.

Lots of other groups have also weighed in- click on the name of the group to read their reaction:

National Association of Wheat Growers

American Soybean Association

National Sorghum Producers

National Cotton Council

National Corn Growers Association

National Association of Conservation Districts

American Farm Land Trust

National Council of Farmer Coops

NASDA

A heavily disputed federal plan to use about 600 miles of Oklahoma land as a corridor for a national electrical transmission line has been halted after push-back from Oklahoma residents and legislators.

Several Oklahoma Lawmakers including Attorney General Gentner Drummond, incoming state Speaker of the House Kyle Hilbert, the incoming leader of the State Senate Lonnie Paxton as well as Sen. Tom Woods and Sen. Casey Murdock, have issued statements supporting the decision.

House Speaker-Elect Hilbert applauded the decision- as did the incoming leader of the Senate Lonnie Paxton. Sen. Woods commended Oklahoma landowners who stood in opposition to the proposed electric transmission corridor. Sen. Murdock said he also stands with local landowners in opposition to federal land grabs. Prior to the decision, Attorney General Drummond issued a statement opposing the proposal.

Known as the Delta-Plains National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor, it is one of several proposed corridors across the U.S. intended to expand the nation’s power grid. It would have stretched from the western panhandle through the Arkansas border, measuring up to 18 miles in width along the way.

Click on the name of the state official above to see their full statement.

Midwest Farm Shows is proud to produce the two best Farm Shows in the State of Oklahoma annually- the Tulsa Farm Show each December and the Oklahoma City Farm Show each April. 

They would like to thank all of you who participated in their 2024 Tulsa Farm Show. 

Up next will be the Oklahoma City’s premier spring agricultural and ranching event with returns to the State Fair Park April 3-4-5, 2025.

Now is the ideal time to contact the Midwest Farm Show Office at 507-437-7969 and book space at the 2025 Oklahoma City Farm Show.  To learn more about the Oklahoma City Farm Show, click here. 

How the Certified Angus Beef Ranch to Table Program Connects Producers with Consumers

Oklahoma Farm Report’s Ron Hays talked with the CAB’s Director of Producer Engagement, Kara Lee, about the Ranch to Table program, which allows producers to sell products directly to consumers and businesses with the Certified Angus Beef ® brand logo on their packaging, so the consumer can rest assured they’re getting the highest quality beef straight from the source.

The program has been running for a little over a year, but it started with producer demand. Prior to its introduction, all CAB-stamped beef was sold through a licensed packer with a USDA grader evaluating each animal for the ten requirements of CAB.

“Today, as we see more and more producers taking more hands-on, direct-to-consumer beef merchandising roles, we began to see a lot more demand from within the membership of the American Angus Association to have more access to CAB branding when working with custom processors,” Lee explained.

As an organization that believes in sustainability across the board, CAB found a way to make it happen. Currently, there are slightly more than twenty members actively engaged in Ranch to Table production.

Karstyn Cantrell has been selected as the Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture’s orange gown recipient for the fall 2024 semester. Cantrell will wear the distinguished orange gown and represent the college as its gonfalon carrier during the fall commencement ceremonies in Stillwater on Dec. 14.

Every semester, one graduating student from each academic college is selected to wear the orange cap and gown at commencement based on their achievements, involvement, and academic success during their time at OSU.

Cantrell will receive a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications. She is from Collinsville, Oklahoma, and is the daughter of Steve and Michelle Cantrell.

“Karstyn is a student whose drive for excellence is matched by her genuine commitment to serving others,” said Cynda Clary, associate dean of the Ferguson College of Agriculture. “Her passion for making a difference is unwavering, and she approaches every challenge with a joyful spirit that inspires everyone around her.”

Her time in Stillwater was put on pause for a year as she stepped away to serve as a National Officer of the FFA- Ron Hays talked with her several times during that journey including in Indianapolis as she was wrapping up her year of service- click here to listen to that conversation.

Farm Director KC Sheperd caught up with Bayer WestBred’s Marketing Manager Carrie Mitchell Roach to discuss this year’s National Wheat Yield Contest winners, as 12 of the 26 winners are WestBred varieties.

“It really shows that when you take high-performing growers and pair them with high-performing products, a lot can happen in the field,” Roach said. “Really, it’s about their management practices in their area, and planting the right variety for their area.”

She said that the best way to find the correct variety is to talk to a local seed supplier about challenges in the field and management practices.

“WestBred takes great pride in making sure that we are helping you find the right variety for the right acre,” Roach stated.

Choosing the right variety can be challenging, even for the experts, considering Oklahoma’s widely variable weather patterns. Roach described how some wheat fields that were shaping up very well this year were destroyed by torrential rain.

Rep. Gabe Woolley, R-Broken Arrow, today issued the following statement about fee increases by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

“Any fee increases from the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority should be approved by the state Legislature, as this would put the power back into the hands of the people via their elected officials.

“Having to pay to drive across your own home state is already frustrating enough for many Oklahomans. Citizens feeling like they are further removed from having a say in the process is perhaps even more frustrating. I do not support these turnpike fee increases or the manner in which they are determined and enforced. I am, however, encouraged to hear that there is interest among the state Legislature to hold the Turnpike Authority accountable to the people of Oklahoma.

“I encourage Oklahoma state elected officials to push for any financial adjustments that impact the people of Oklahoma to be approved by the state Legislature.”

COMING This Afternoon- ONSY to Auction Calf Benefiting All American Beef Battalion

Later today, December 16th, the Oklahoma National Stockyards will auction a calf for the benefit of the AABB, along with National Livestock providing lunch for those in attendance. The AABB crew is bringing in their cooker and will be preparing a ribeye lunch. Lunch will begin at 11:00 a.m. and the actual sale will take place at approximately 12:30 p.m. in the sale arena of the Stockyards.

The calf to be auctioned is again being donated by 3C Cattle Feeders and the Clyde Runyan family of Mill Creek, Oklahoma. A very special thanks go out to Penny, along with her sons Casey and Bear, who have donated the calf for 11 years. Clyde was with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam and always considered this as a privilege to be able to give back to the troops. Runyan passed away in 2019 and his family continues the legacy of donating the calf in his honor.

Over the years- over $651,000 has been raised to support AABB by this end of the year effort in Oklahoma City.

Many organizations and individuals have joined together for this worthy cause each year. The efforts of many have made this successful and we thank all our partners and friends for their help. Through these auctions, approximately 65,000 troops have been fed an American ribeye steak upon their return home from deployment or prior to their deployment.

Anyone may support this effort by calling 800-310-0220 and speaking with Debbie Wedel. If you are unable to attend but would still like to support the cause, you can call Debbie for your proxy bid or you may also visit the All American Beef Battalion web site (www.steaksfortroops.com) and make your donation. National Livestock will invoice bidders and contributors and will forward all funds to the AABB. All checks should be made payable to the All American Beef Battalion.