American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented late Friday on the ping pong of court orders that ended with a court-ordered reprieve from Treasury Department reporting requirements for many small businesses.

Earlier this month, a federal court halted the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirement from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. On Monday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reinstated the Jan. 1, 2025, deadline. In a third about-face, late last night, the court reversed that order until arguments can be heard, delaying the reporting requirement indefinitely.

“Farm Bureau appreciates the court’s recognition that a last-minute reinstatement of reporting requirements caused an unwelcome scramble for small businesses, including more than 230,000 farmers. The latest court decision to postpone the filing requirement is the right thing to do, but the legal back and forth created a stressful holiday season for many farm families. Lack of guidance and poor public outreach from the government have left many farmers in the dark about whether they’re expected to file.”

Under the BOI requirement, businesses that fail to file or do not update records when needed could face criminal fines up to $10,000 and additional civil penalties of up to $591 per day. Failure to file could also lead to felony charges and up to two years in prison.

Read the latest court order here.

Read a Market Intel on the Beneficial Ownership Information requirement here.

The vision of the Oklahoma Beef Council is to be a positive difference for Oklahoma's farming and ranching families and the greater beef community, and its mission is to enhance beef demand by strengthening consumer trust and exceeding consumer expectations. 

To learn more, visit www.oklabeef.org. Also, don't forget to like its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oklabeef for stories on Oklahoma's ranching families and great beef recipes. 

And Check out this video below that helps you learn more about the Beef Checkoff-

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays continues his conversation with Dakota Moss, Livestock Risk Services President, the first part of which was posted Friday. Today, they are discussing the value of LRP as a risk management tool.

Moss’s consistent advice to producers asking whether it is the right time to lock in LRP is to do it if the current market conditions will keep them in the black on their cattle.

Hays and Moss spoke on December 19, 2024, and at that time, the market was down $3.50 on the futures contracts, so locking in that afternoon may have been lower than if a producer had acted that morning.

“It is good to hope for something better the next day, but nothing is guaranteed, so when you are in the black to cover those cattle, get it done,” Moss advised.

How Great Plains Manufacturing Meets Today’s Farming Challenges with Innovative Solutions

Founded in 1976, Great Plains Manufacturing focuses on helping producers through a variety of trials, such as labor shortages, maximizing yields, and more. Plus, it was one of the first entities to dive into sustainable agriculture. Oklahoma Farm Report’s Maci Carter had the opportunity to speak with Great Plains Manufacturing’s Ag Division President James Shurts about providing farmers with sustainable solutions to agriculture.

“We are all about finding solutions for the market,” Shurts said. “It really started with seeding solutions. We created the first folding box drill in the industry. It is about creating innovations to solve customer needs.”

The company remains true to those roots even after being purchased by Kubota in 2016. “’The harvest starts here’ is our tagline, and that is what we do. Whether it be tillage or seeding solutions, we are in the dirt with our customers and with our dealers to make sure we are listening and reacting to provide those market needs to help them be more productive and profitable.”

According to Shurts, Great Plains understands that in order for producers to be as efficient and profitable as possible, therefore the company hasn’t taken mass pricing changes in nearly three years.

He was often called "the Peanut Farmer" because that was a big part of who he was. Former President Jimmy Carter passed away yesterday at his home in the town of Plains, Georgia, according to a statement from family members. Carter was the only US president to live to 100 years old. 

A former US Naval officer turned peanut farmer, the Georgia native and Democrat entered politics in 1963 as a state senator, rising to become governor in 1971 while championing civil rights. In 1976 he was elected president, beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford by a 50.1-48.0% margin. Carter's single term in office was marked by an economic slowdown, the Iran hostage crisis, and the aftereffects of the Vietnam War. He ultimately lost the 1980 election to Republican Ronald Reagan in an electoral landslide, 489-49. 

Congressman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District referenced the picture above as he offered the following statement on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter:

“America has lost a faithful and selfless public servant. While he faced a number of political challenges throughout his time in office, it was President Carter’s generosity, honesty, and deep religious roots that characterized his life.

“It was the same generosity and honesty that brought then-President Carter back to Elk City, Oklahoma in 1979 after he promised Elk City Mayor Larry Wade he’d be back if he won the ’76 election. Very few have forgotten the warm greetings and smiles shared with President Carter as he graced our community for a town hall meeting and a Sunday church service. I extend my deepest condolences to the Carter family in this somber hour.”

The Chairman of he House Ag Committee, GT Thompson, also reflected on the life of the 39th President:

“Penny and I join the nation in mourning the loss of Jimmy Carter—a President, Governor, State Senator, and dedicated leader who represented the state of Georgia and the American people with honor and distinction. Jimmy Carter grew up on his family’s farm in Plains, Georgia—where he later became the owner and operator of the family business. His humble beginnings and deep roots in agriculture taught him the values that guided his tireless, decades-long career as a selfless public servant. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Carter family during this time of mourning.”

Though lower feed costs in 2024 have provided opportunities for profitability, hog producers have a long way to go to make up for their 2023 losses, when farrow-to-finish operations lost $31 per head.

According to USDA’s most recent Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report, the inventory of all U.S. hogs and pigs was 75.8 million hogs, up 1% from the fourth quarter in 2023. This report, issued four times per year, presents information on inventory, class, weight group, farrowings and farrowing intentions for the current U.S. pig crop. The fourth quarter report was released on Dec. 23.

Breeding Herd and Pig Crop

The breeding inventory was 6 million head, also up about 1% from 2023 but slightly down from last quarter. The September-November pig crop was 35.2 million, up nearly 2% from 2023. Sows farrowing between September and November were 2.96 million, down a quarter of a percent from last year and representing 49% of the overall breeding herd. Pigs saved per litter were a record-high 11.92. The rise in pigs saved per litter more than makes up for the 2% decline in farrowings for the fourth quarter. Farrowing intentions for the first quarter of 2025 are 2.95 million, up about 1% from 2024. The slightly higher farrowing intentions, if paired with continued high pigs saved per litter could increase inventory numbers, which would put downward pressure on prices to start out the new year.

Op-Ed by Kenneth Corn provided by USDA Oklahoma Rural Development

Most of my adult life has been in service to the great State of Oklahoma, first, as an elected State House Member out of Poteau, Oklahoma; next, as a State Senator representing LeFlore and Sequoyah Counties; and then a seven-year stint as Anadarko’s city manager. Yet none of these roles have been as meaningful and impactful to me as the opportunity to represent rural Oklahomans as their State Director for USDA Rural Development under the appointment of President Joe Biden.

I could tell you that I’ll most fondly remember the more than $3.3 billion invested in Oklahoma or the over 8,000 projects USDA supported during my tenure. However, the truth is that my most cherished memories come from witnessing how these investments changed the lives of everyday rural Oklahomans. Abraham Lincoln aptly coined the phrase “The People’s Department” when establishing the Department of Agriculture. It’s easy to see why: America simply cannot thrive without a robust rural economy, which supports our essential needs for food, fuel, timber, electricity, and much more.

One of my most fulfilling experiences has been helping to reopen a closed hospital in Frederick, Oklahoma. In the past, when a rural hospital in our state closed, there was little hope for its return. Residents were often forced to drive an hour or more for essential healthcare or leave their hometowns to access life-saving services. However, through bipartisan collaboration, including the leadership of Congressman Tom Cole, State Representative Trey Caldwell, former Speaker of the House Lloyd Benson, and the Biden Administration, we set aside partisan gridlock to focus on practical solutions. The groundbreaking ceremony for Memorial Hospital in Frederick was a stark reminder of the importance of this job—seeing the joy and relief on people’s faces as they welcomed back life-saving healthcare services was profoundly moving.

The Fifth Cattlemen's Congress Kicks Off This Coming Weekend

The Cattlemen’s Congress is a stock show for cattlemen and women managed by cattlemen and women. The Cattlemen’s Congress is an opportunity for breeders across North America to showcase their top genetics and connect with fellow beef producers in a central location, in the heart of cattle country. Set for January 4 – 16, 2025, in Oklahoma City, the event is not one to miss.

Earlier this month- we featured a conversation that Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, had with Chairman of the Board for Cattlemen’s Congress Tyler Norvell talking about the fifth annual Cattlemen’s Congress and the great success it has become in the five years since its inception.

It was a two day feature in our Beef Buzz series- jump over to part one by clicking here...part two can be listened to by clicking here.

Cattle start arriving after New Year's day- the first of the shows and sales at Congress happen this coming Sunday, January 6th. Click here for the complete schedule of the 5th Cattlemen's Congress.