Category: Ag News

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 08:50:24 CDT

Oklahoma Farm Bureau members ages 18 to 35 have the opportunity to participate in a variety of OKFB Young Farmers and Ranchers competitive events during the organization’s annual meeting Nov. 11-13.

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Wed, 05 Oct 2022 08:45:27 CDT

The National Bison Association (NBA), in cooperation with Ruhter Bison LLC and the Illinois/Indiana Bison Association, will hold its next Regenerative Bison Ranching Field Day in and around Crystal Lake, IL …

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 08:42:44 CDT

NIAA invited animal agriculture leaders from across the country engage with CDC professionals at their home office in Atlanta, Georgia.

In August, The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) …

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 08:15:00 CDT

Mondays, Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry. This analysis is a part of the weekly series known as …

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 16:48:50 CDT

Governor Kevin Stitt announced today his signing of HB 1006 XX, a measure allocating an additional $20 million in drought relief for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers.

In the midst of a historic drought, O…

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 15:26:52 CDT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture are now putting the Daily Cash Grain Report into a PDF format – we are saving that PDF and archiving them for today’s specific report. To see today’s update, click on the PDF report link at the bottom of this story.

In addition to the PDF of the daily report, you can also listen to the Cash Grain Report by calling 405-621-5533. Push 2 for the grain report.

Click here: 04199_OklaCashGrain10042022.pdf

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 14:40:25 CDT

Click here to listen to audio

Listen to today’s report with Justin Lewis, by clicking or tapping on the LISTEN bar

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 14:01:59 CDT

Last week, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) proposed legislation that would exclude agriculture from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) climate disclosure rulemaking.

The Protect Farmers from the SEC Act is supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Cotton Council, National Corn Growers Association, National Pork Producers Council, USA Rice, American Sugar Alliance, American Soybean Association, National Potato Council, United States Cattlemen’s Association, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Agricultural Retailers Association, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, and the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association.

Industry leaders and Members of Congress representing America’s farmers and ranchers issued statements of support for the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act:

“Farmers in Central Washington and across the country are struggling due to overreaching regulations, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and skyrocketing inflation. Imposing even more regulations on the men and women who produce the food for our families would be devastating at any time, but it may well cripple the entire industry when food prices are already at a 40-year high. The SEC’s proposed climate rules are a major government overreach and would make it nearly impossible for farmers to continue to farm the way they do-keeping sustainability and conservation in mind,” said Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse. “I am proud to stand up for our nation’s farmers, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and ensure U.S. farmers and ranchers can continue to survive and thrive.”

“The farmers across Virginia’s 5th Congressional District work hard to feed their families and ours. Like so many other critical industries, the Biden Administration is putting unnecessary strain on family farmers by imposing burdensome environmental mandates. The Protect Farmers from the SEC Act will counteract Biden’s extreme agenda and recognize that Virginia’s farmers already know how to bring agriculture products to market while caring for the environment,” said Congressman Good (R-VA).

“Oklahoma Farm Bureau members appreciate Rep. Frank Lucas’ tireless work to protect family farmers and ranchers from the flawed SEC emissions rule proposed earlier this year,” said Rodd Moesel, OKFB President. “Our agricultural producers strive to produce the safest, most affordable and most abundant food supply in the world, and this burdensome and expensive rule would threaten many of our family farmers. Without the changes laid out in this bill brought forth by Rep. Lucas, the proposed SEC regulations would be nearly impossible to comply with and the ramifications would be felt throughout our nation’s food supply and by our consumers. We applaud Rep. Lucas for his continued efforts to advocate for farmers and ranchers across our state and nation.”

“The SEC is considering rules that would create an overwhelming documentation burden on Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers requiring data that doesn’t exist nor is it necessary,” said Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey. “OCA greatly appreciates the leadership of Representative Lucas to file this legislation to stop the overreach of liberal environmental ideals that are not factual but rather detrimental to Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers.”

“The Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed climate disclosure rule could create substantial costs and legal liabilities for farm families. Unlike large corporations, farmers don’t have teams of compliance officers or attorneys dedicated to handling SEC compliance issues,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “We appreciate Rep. Lucas for his efforts to ensure the SEC remains focused on Wall Street while farmers remain focused on putting food on the table for America’s families.”

“The SEC’s climate disclosure rule would lead to unintended consequences for small businesses like farms and ranches and adds yet another regulatory burden on cattle producers. NCBA is grateful to Rep. Lucas for protecting cattle producers from more federal overreach,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director of Natural Resources Kaitlynn Glover. “The SEC should stick to regulating Wall Street, not main street.”

“NAWG thanks Congressman Lucas for introducing this important legislation addressing the inclusion of farming in SEC regulation,” said National Association of Wheat Growers President and Washington State wheat grower Nicole Berg. “This regulation could add layers of reporting requirements on wheat farmers that are focused on producing a quality wheat crop for domestic and international customers. With all the uncertainty in agriculture today, we don’t need additional regulation, we need to focus on keeping farming operations productive.”

National Cotton Council Chairman Ted Schneider said the U.S. cotton industry welcomes Representative Lucas’ bill which will prevent more unnecessary regulation of this nation’s producers and ranchers. The Louisiana cotton producer said, “The cotton sector already has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and our producers are escalating that and other key conservation practices under the umbrella of the industry’s U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol sustainability initiative. The SEC’s proposal would just complicate the efforts of cotton producers’ who already are dealing with a plethora of regulations, weather challenges and market volatility.”

“Not only would the SEC’s proposed climate rule be wildly burdensome, expensive and impossible for many farmers to comply with, but it also raises serious data privacy concerns,” said Minnesota farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Tom Haag. “That is why we are appreciative of Congressman Lucas for introducing this legislation, which ensures farmers are not subject to SEC’s reporting requirements and can remain focused on sustainably feeding and fueling a growing world.”

“USA Rice applauds Congressman Lucas’ introduction of the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act,” said Kirk Satterfield, a Mississippi rice farmer and Chair of USA Rice. “This legislation would protect farmers against undue regulatory burden and overreach, and we hope that Congress will pass this bill.”

“For sugar farmers, sustainability is already a key component of our production. Our farmers and employees work around the clock to make sure consumers have access to this essential ingredient. While we appreciate that Chairman Gensler has stated that the SEC’s proposal is not intended to regulate the thousands of family farms and ranches that already operate on razor thin margin; we are grateful to Representative Lucas for advancing legislation that makes the law clear on this point,” said Ryan Weston, Chairman of the American Sugar Alliance. “The Protect Farmers from the SEC Act puts farmers first and prevents any danger of regulatory overreach.”

“While we understand SEC’s intentions, requiring all partners and suppliers of publicly traded companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions places a burden on farmers that they realistically are not equipped to shoulder. ASA appreciates congressional support to exclude farmers and ranchers from climate disclosure rulemaking and applauds Rep. Lucas for introducing the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act,” said Pam Snelson of the American Soybean Association and soy farmer from Wann, Oklahoma. “As its name implies, this legislation would protect our soy farmers and others from SEC rulemaking that would place cumbersome, costly regulatory and reporting requirements on our farmers without real benefit to what the commission aims to accomplish.”

“If finalized in its current form, the SEC’s climate disclosure rule would reach into every corner of U.S. agriculture, all the way down to our family farms,” said Jared Balcom, National Potato Council 2022 President and potato grower from Washington state. “The costs and burdens to comply with this new mandate from a Wall Street regulator would be devastating for rural America. We appreciate Congressman Lucas and the 101 original cosponsors of the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act for supporting American agriculture by opposing this governmental overreach.”

“U.S. farmers and ranchers absolutely need this exemption from the Securities Exchange Commission’s climate disclosure proposal. Our producer members already face nearly insurmountable proposed and ongoing regulatory burdens from an array of federal agencies. Their main job should be putting American beef on American plates, not managing the complex clerical duties of SEC compliance rules,” said USCA President Brooke Miller. “USCA appreciates Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma for his leadership on introducing this important legislation.”

“I would like to thank Representative Lucas for his leadership in introducing this legislation and ensuring that farmers and ranchers across the country are not forced into costly reporting requirements based on commitments made by public companies hundreds-or even thousands-of miles from a corn field in Indiana or a dairy barn in Idaho,” said Chuck Conner, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. “Agricultural producers and their co-ops are already implementing many practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address other critical resource concerns. To encourage this trend, the adoption of these practices must remain voluntary, incentive-based and guided by the science-not something that is dictated to producers by either government agencies or public companies.”

“The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is proud to support Congressman Lucas’ legislation, Protect Farmers from the SEC Act. These days, farmers and ranchers are being asked to produce more using fewer resources while also being responsible for decreasing GHG emissions. The ag retailers that supply those producers are doing what they can to provide voluntary and incentive-based options for growers to help solve these issues. The SEC’s proposed reporting rule would be extremely burdensome to both ag retailers and their grower customers, and this legislation addresses those issues at a critical time. American farmers are the true conservationists and are doing everything they can to preserve the land and address climate issues while feeding a growing population. Now is not the time to stifle progress in these areas via onerous regulatory oversight.”

Lucas was joined by 101 original cosponsors, including Representatives John Rose (TN-06), Austin Scott (GA-08), Ron Estes (KS-04), Mike Rogers (AL-03), Dan Meuser (PA-09), Tom Cole (0K-04), Bill Johnson (OH-6), Rick Crawford (AR-01), Jake La Turner (KS-02), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Bob Gibbs (OH-07), Barry Moore (AL-02), Jim Baird (IN-04), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Randy Weber (TX-14), John Curtis (UT-03), Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Ken Buck (CO-04), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Mary Miller (IL-15), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), Kat Cammack (FL-03), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Sam Graves (MO-06), Julia Letlow (LA-05), Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), Rob Wittman (VA-01), David Rouzer (NC-07), Chris Stewart (UT-02), Ted Budd (NC-13), Rick Allen (GA-12), Scott Franklin (FL-15), Michael Guest (MS-03), Bruce Westerman (AR-04), Ashley Hinson (IA-01), Liz Cheney (WY-AL), Greg Murphy (NC-03), Steve Womack (AR-03), Tim Walberg (MI-07), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Richard Hudson (NC-08), Greg Pence (IN-06), August Pfluger (TX-11), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Jerry L. Carl (AL-01), Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Young Kim (CA-39), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Yvette Herrell (NM-02), Bill Posey (FL-08), Mike Bost (IL-12), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Mike Flood (NE-01), Claudia Tenney (NY-22), Mike Carey (OH-15), David McKinley (WV-01), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Clay Higgins (LA-03), Bob Good (VA-05), Drew Ferguson (GA-03), Larry Bucshon (IN-08), Chris Jacobs (NY-27), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Neal Dunn (FL-02), Michael Waltz (FL-06), Andy Barr (KY-06) Kelly Armstrong (ND-AL), Brad Wenstrup (OH-02), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Mike Johnson (LA-04), Mayra Flores (TX-34), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Kevin Brady (TX-08), Ben Cline (VA-06), Troy E. Nehls (TX-22), Vicky Hartzler (MO-4), Matt Rosendale (MT-AL), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Roger Williams (TX-25), Brian Babin (TX-36), Tom Emmer (MN-06), Matt Rosendale (MT-AL), Trent Kelly (MS-01), Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), Tony Gonzales (TX-23), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Darin LaHood (IL-18), Brad Finstad (MN-01), and David Kustoff (TN-8).

Read more about the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act here.

For bill text of Protect Farmers from the SEC Act, click here.

For a summary, click here.

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 12:44:08 CDT

We live in a hyperconnected world where we have access to more information than ever before. Recognizing this shift in how people, especially youth, receive and consume information is pivotal in continuing t…

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 12:41:51 CDT

By Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation

October is significant in the NMPF calendar. Many years, including this one, it features our annual meeting, when dairy farmers gather to share a common voice on important policies and represent the best practices and advances this industry has to offer. It’s also National Co-op Month, a time dear to our own hearts as the nationwide federation of dairy cooperatives. The principles of self-help and pursuit of common goals that cooperatives embody are core values of our organization, ideals we see lived by our members every day.

A very public example of how co-op leadership combined with sound public policy can advance dairy and serve broader communities came in September, as NMPF members received a significant portion of USDA’s $2.8 billion in funding for 70 projects in the first round of awards under the department’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative. California Dairies Inc., Dairy Farmers of America, Land O’Lakes, and the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association are leading or partnering on specific projects that may receive up to $245 million in funding that will further industry goals on greenhouse gas emissions reductions, optimal resource use and sustainability.

These member cooperatives, along with others in dairy who are building a better future through climate-smart agriculture projects, should be commended for taking a proactive approach to continuing dairy’s leadership within all agriculture. Following on the heels of the Inflation Reduction Act – which promises more opportunities for solutions that create both a more sustainable planet and a sustainable future for many dairy farms – it’s a powerful investment, and a significant signal from USDA that co-ops have the tools to succeed in meeting 21st century challenges.

Speaking of challenges … anyone who has followed industry discussions since the 2020 pandemic knows of the need to modernize the Federal Milk Marketing Order system, as well as NMPF’s leadership in crafting a plan that can gain broad-based support from farmers across the country. After more than a year of examination of important and relevant issues by our Economic Policy Committee, along with a task force created to craft consensus on critical topics, and wide-ranging discussions with our leadership and throughout the industry, we’ve gained important insights into what changes are critical and which ones need extra attention to get right.

For example: Any solution that works for farmers and the entire industry needs to address FMMOs comprehensively. Milk-pricing formulas, to name one area, need to reflect milk component composition in 2022 – not the lower levels assumed by the industry experts of nearly a quarter century ago. Pricing formulas also should better reflect what dairy products are being sold in 2022 so that price reporting covers the right markets, in the right proportion for a fair price. At the same time, addressing make-allowances – which haven’t been adjusted in nearly 15 years and don’t fully reflect present-day manufacturing costs – is important.

It’s also clear that changes made to FMMOs must be implemented gradually enough to keep markets calm. Most importantly, solutions need broad buy-in from farmers first, closely followed by everyone else. Proposals that have advanced from our task force are ones that had strong support among many of the experts who crafted them, ensuring that a firm consensus stands behind our proposals.

To some, that may slow down progress; but proposed progress that ends up being eventually rejected leaves everyone back where they started. Our goal is to move forward and forge lasting solutions work for all regions of the country, all sizes of farms, and perspectives from across dairy.

We’ve come a long way toward meeting that goal, in no small part due to the ethic that we, as a federation of cooperatives, follow of making sure that our efforts benefit all. But our work is far from over: Any plan we advance will need to go before a USDA-directed federal order hearing – we’re aiming for next year – that would be subject to a producer vote on a modernized FMMO system, if USDA approves a plan. In the meantime, as our members create consensus, we’re also consulting with other farmer groups, other industry organizations, and experts from across dairy to make sure our proposal addresses widely shared concerns and attracts wide support.

As the largest dairy-farmer organization in the United States, as well as the one that, due to the structure of cooperatives, also represents farmers invested in their own milk processing capacity, we’re well positioned to lead Federal Milk Marketing Order system modernization, and we’re looking forward to discussions that yield a proposal that will nourish this entire industry for a generation, and potentially beyond.

That is how our members lead, and that’s what we will celebrate, both at our annual meeting, throughout National Co-op Month, and as we move forward on FMMO modernization. The work is never-ending. But neither is our progress.