For the second day in a row- the Democrats who are members of the EPW Committee refused to show up for a confirmation vote for Scott Pruitt.  This time, the GOP majority said- we are voting and so, in an 11-0 vote, the US Senate Environment & Public Works committee approved Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. At this point, Pruitt now awaits a vote from the full senate to confirm officially confirm him to the post of EPA Administrator.

And while their Democratic counterparts chose to boycott the vote, the move by committee Republicans to advance Pruitt, won the praises of Oklahoma Senator and EPW Senior Member Jim Inhofe.

"I applaud Chairman Barrasso for working to hold this vote and I look forward to once again finding common ground with my Democrat colleagues," Inhofe said. "Once confirmed by the Senate, Scott Pruitt will be an exceptional EPA Administrator."

Click here to read Inhofe's full statement expressing his thoughts regarding both parties' participation in yesterday's vote to approve Scott Pruitt.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan, too, sang their praises back here from Pruitt's home state.

"The EPA is in need of an administrator who will protect the environment without inhibiting economic growth. We believe Attorney General Pruitt is the right person for the job. He believes in sound science, is committed to a transparent rule-making process, and understands how regulations affect the lives of Americans.


"We are pleased with the efforts of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Chairman John Barrasso and Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe in advancing Attorney General Pruitt's nomination, and look forward to his confirmation on the Senate floor."


To read Buchanan's complete statement, click here.

For the fourth time, Clay Burtrum of the Oklahoma Beef Council, has been selected to serve on the Beef Checkoff Operating Committee. I caught up with him during the Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville this week to ask him about his work on that committee that oversees the Checkoff's budget, appropriating each 50 cent of each national dollar producers pay every week at the sale barn.

"I'm very honored to serve, going into my fourth term of that group," he said. "It's not taken lightly and takes a lot of studying and effort put in to that process."

Burtrum has seen the committee's work evolve over the years, having watched it function on the sidelines, years before earning a seat at the table. He says that as we've seen the dollar shrink, not just from fluctuations in the number of cattle being run across the country, but in buying power alone - considering the return on investment is paramount today.

"We have a limited number of dollars and we have to make cuts," Burtrum asserts about the allocation process, "and we have to make cuts across the board."

For more on Burtrum's return to the Checkoff's Operating Committee and the work they do, plus a chance to hear my interview with him, click here.

When asked about his expectations for harvest prices, OSU Grain Market Specialist Dr. Kim Anderson referred to a recent conversation he had. He claims a well-reputed analyst told him that based on his calculations, he only expects harvest delivered wheat prices to reach $2.75 - $2.80 in July near the Oklahoma and Kansas City area.

Anderson however, insists he is not quite that pessimistic - and suggests that on the safe side, he could see prices ranging anywhere from $3.75 - $4.25.


To reach the top-end of that range though, Anderson continues beating the same drum, insisting that it will take a wheat crop with high protein levels of at least 11.6 - 12 percent and a test weight of 60 lbs.

Anderson will make his regular appearance this week on OETA's SUNUP! But to get the scoop early on Anderson's conversation with Dave Deken, you can listen to it and learn much more about this week's episode, right now by clicking here.

Until recently, Oklahomans were under the impression the threat of adding the Lesser Prairie Chicken to the Endangered Species List, was laid to rest with conservation efforts in place that seem to be yielding positive results. However, the issue has reared its head once again, with the US Fish & Wildlife Service engaging in a new status review of the species. Ethan Lane from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's DC office, works on issues concerning endangered species. I sat down with him at the NCBA convention happening this week in Nashville, to get his take on why the Lesser Prairie Chicken is getting so much attention these days.


"It's the species issue that doesn't seem to want to go away," Lane said, explaining the resurgence of action to list this species as endangered after being left alone for some time now. "What seems to be a politically motivated move to bring that species back up at the top of the list - If you're being charitable, probably the most reasonable explanation is the fear of litigation."


Obviously, this is a species that exists in oil and gas country as well as the wind energy and farming and ranching, Lane points out. He asserts that from the perspective of the environmental community that may be hostile to these industries, "the Lesser Prairie Chicken is one of the best weapons you've had over the last few years."


"They're not going to go quietly on this issue and the Fish & Wildlife Service knows they will receive legal pressure if they don't reinitiate the status review of that species," Lane suggested. "If they weren't afraid of that litigation pressure from outside sources, they'd be able to more accurately prioritize those species for review and in that kind of environment we feel like the Lesser Prairie Chicken, in its current state rebounding with a new population survey coming in June, would be lower on that list."

Continue reading this story or listen to my our full conversation to learn more about the "sue and settle" tactics being used by radical environmental groups to push their agenda of blocking energy and agricultural industries, plus learn about the growing concern of the Black vulture in our area, by clicking here.

Later this afternoon, Texas cattlewoman Anne Anderson will end six years of service on the Cattlemen's Beef Board- with one of those years as the Chairman of the full board. 

She will pass the gavel to Brett Morris of Ninnekah, Oklahoma who has served the past two years as Secretary-Treasurer and Vice Chairman. 

And Morris won't be the only Oklahoman as an officer of the CBB. Davis, Oklahoma cattleman Chuck Coffey will be offered up by the Nominating Committee as their choice to be Secretary-Treasurer for the coming year. 

This is the first time that two Oklahomans have served as officers at the same time for the CBB- and we are researching whether any state has ever had two officers at the same time or not. 

We talked yesterday with Anne Anderson on her last full day as Chair of the CBB- she is a delightful interview- and has a rich history with the beef checkoff, having served as an executive of the Texas Beef Council back in the 1990s and after being away from beef industry promotion and marketing efforts for some 16 years- came back six years ago- bringing with her institutional knowledge about the beginnings of the beef checkoff and those early days of passion of turning beef demand around. 

We have our full interview with Anne up as a Podcast on our website- click here to jump there and take a listen.  There's a lot to learn from this special lady.

Mouthwatering steaks, juicy burgers and delectable roasts. That's what consumers here in the U.S. love. But what about the underutilized parts of the beef animal? If we don't consume them here in the U.S., where do they go, and who uses them?


"I think about the world of possibility and potential that's floating out there, especially if we are able to gain access to China," says Louisiana beef producer Amelia Kent. "This past year, our checkoff has invested $7.2 million in export growth programs, primarily conducted through the U.S. Meat Export Federation. That's investing in work in international communities on how to utilize American beef and why it is safe. We just need to think not only about our marketing environments today but also think about the beef industry for the future."


The leading beef export markets (by value) in 2016 were Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Canada, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Additional promising markets are located in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Central and South America and Africa.

Through aggressive promotion of the unique attributes (quality, safety, sustainability and nutritional value) of U.S. beef in more than 80 countries worldwide, an average of $258.48 per head for fed slaughter is added in value back to U.S. beef producers.

"It has become abundantly clear that when it comes to convincing our friends and neighbors of the value of international trade, U.S. agriculture still has a long row to hoe," said Philip Seng, U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO. "However, for the sake of future generations, it's essential that we continue to look forward and never stop extolling the benefits of global trade."

Click here and learn more about what parts of the beef carcass are underutilized in the US, where they go and how they increase the value of cattle here at home.