Agricultural News
American Farmers & Ranchers President Terry Detrick Reflects on Oklahoma's Ag Industry in 2016
Thu, 15 Dec 2016 16:12:57 CST
This week Farm Director Ron Hays sat down with American Farmers and Ranchers President Terry Detrick for his reflections on agriculture in the state this year and what his focuses will be heading into 2017.
Regarding this year's wheat crop at home and abroad and the market's response, Detrick says there is a lot of concern coming from his members out in the countryside.
"Our prices are really depressed and frankly, there were a lot of yields last year that were double their normal yield and with half the price, hopefully they can pay their bills," Detrick empathized. "However, indications are that accounts receivables are really mounting up in our local cooperatives and input suppliers - and that's a real concern. They're going to have trouble surviving also."
Although he says he is thankful for the safety net programs we have now, Detrick asserts one of the agriculture's most imperative challenges is reexamining the Farm Bill. He says work on this matter needs to start immediately. Otherwise, many people will never have the chance to take advantage of whatever help is negotiated in the end.
Detrick implies that right now, the agricultural community should take every opportunity to prepare for future problems that may arise. A Farm Bill that works and works well, is a step in the right direction, as he forecast up to three years before the grain markets improve. But also, he says we should take into account and learn from the lessons that the failure of State Question 777 - Right to Farm taught us.
"We did not anticipate properly, the lengths to which the 'NO' promoters would take," Detrick said. "Did we not tell the right story - or did we not tell the story the right way? I'm not sure."
Detrick says the defeat of 777 and the passage of the Massachusetts' Sate Question 3, which put restrictions on the sale of pork, poultry and veal, is just a taste of what the opponents of agriculture have in store for the future. He says it will be up to us, the farmers and ranchers, to educate the general public about what we do on the farm, and equip them with the knowledge to understand the agenda being pushed by anti-agriculture groups.
Looking ahead, Detrick says he will take these lessons learned and apply them to his work in the coming year, which he says will focus on developing AFR's budget, promoting rural education, and fighting for tax emptions for agricultural inputs.
Listen to Hays' entire conversation with Detrick as he reflects on 2016 and looks ahead to the new year, by clicking or tapping on the LISTEN BAR below.
Detrick will join Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays for his weekly In the Field segment on KWTV News9 in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday morning at 6:40 a.m.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
