Scott Mason, a fifth-generation farmer and rancher from Cordell, has been appointed by President Donald Trump as the 14th regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) South Central Region. Farm Director KC Sheperd spoke with Mason on Tuesday during a Farm Tour and Stakeholder Meeting at Davis Angus, just south of Burns Flat. 

The phrase, “It’s a new day at EPA,” has been tossed around under the new Trump administration, and Sheperd asked for clarification of its meaning to farmers and ranchers. “It really means a lot better relationships with our state and local partners; working together – being collaborators, not adversaries,” Mason said.

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- 

U.S. winter wheat condition was rated 50 percent good to excellent, down from 52 percent last week, according to USDA NASS’ latest Crop Progress report of the year, released on Tuesday.

Oklahoma's Winter wheat conditions were rated 46 percent good to excellent, 40 percent fair, and 14 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 56 percent good to excellent, 35 percent fair, and 9 percent poor to very poor.

As for our neighbors, Kansas winter wheat conditions rated 48 percent good to excellent, down from 49 percent last week. Meanwhile, Texas wheat conditions rated 26 percent good to excellent, down from 32 percent last week.

Oklahoma's pasture and range conditions rated 54 percent good to excellent, 34 percent fair, and 12 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 54 percent good to excellent, 36 percent fair, and 10 percent poor to very poor.

OSU’s Derrell Peel on Herd Rebuilding: “We’re Moving in That Direction”

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays talked to OSU Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel after the latest USDA Cattle-on-Feed Report was released on Friday afternoon, and Dr. Peel analyzed the likely attitudes of cow calf producers in the countryside. Click here to listen to the first part of their conversation in which Dr. Peel evaluated the number of cattle on feed.

He noted that the only real data point suggesting that rebuilding may be starting is that the heifers on feed number in the April report was at the lowest it has been in five years. “Heifer slaughter in the last five weeks has dropped more significantly; steers have too, for that matter,” he said. “If you put heifer and cow slaughter together and think about female slaughter as a percent of total cattle slaughter, it continues to come down. It is still well above levels that would confirm that we are actively rebuilding the herd, but we are certainly moving in that direction.”

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) applauds the appointment of Jimmy Emmons to serve as Assistant Chief of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

“Jimmy Emmons is a trusted and steadfast voice for soil and water conservation,” said NACD President Gary Blair. “A third-generation farmer and cow-calf operator, Jimmy brings to this role vast experience implementing conservation on his own land and educating others about conservation benefits. NACD and our nation’s conservation districts look forward to working with Jimmy in his new role to continue to grow participation and trust in our nation’s voluntary, locally led conservation delivery system.”

American agriculture continues to grapple with the ever-evolving definition of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, while also increasingly facing concerns surrounding Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Farm Director KC Sheperd recently discussed these topics with Courtney Briggs, Senior Director of Government Affairs at the American Farm Bureau.

Briggs addressed the long-standing uncertainty surrounding WOTUS and explained the historical context when questioned about the persistent lack of a permanent rule. The conversation then shifted to the emerging concern of PFAS contamination in agriculture. Briggs detailed how these chemicals are finding their way onto farmland and offered crucial advice to farmers regarding PFAS risks.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Cherokee County Farm Bureau and the Grand River Dam Authority recently purchased more than 200 life jackets for the public to use free of charge as they enjoy the Illinois River during the 2025 recreation season.

The coalition, along with the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce, worked to update the loaner jacket program along the popular Illinois River corridor in Cherokee County to provide the quality flotation devices to help prevent accidental drownings as the summer recreation season begins.

Bill to Boost Demand for Cotton Dropped Into the Hopper

Senator Cyndy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced legislation developed in cooperation with the National Cotton Council to boost demand for U.S. cotton. Titled the “Buying American Cotton Act,” this bill would offer a transferrable tax credit to end-stage sellers of products that are made in whole or in part from U.S. cotton.

Under the legislation’s framework, items either fully manufactured in the U.S. or imported into the U.S. would be eligible for the credit, which is scalable depending on the degree of domestic cotton content or cotton processing. In addition, the seller would receive a higher credit for eligible items processed either wholly in the U.S. or in a country with which the U.S. has a free trade agreement. Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) has cosponsored the “Buying American Cotton Act,” along with Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Roger Marshall (R-KS).