Producers across the nation contribute to the national Beef Checkoff program every time they sell cattle. For every dollar per head collected in each state, fifty cents of that dollar is given to the Cattlemen's Beef Board to fund efforts in promotion, education and research. The other half of that dollar stays in that state to perform the same function. In recent years, several states have elected to augment their state checkoff programs, adding an additional dollar to be collected for its state checkoff program. This October, producers in Oklahoma are in the process of getting their own state checkoff approved and implemented. However, during this process, the referendum has roused some challengers.

According to Michael Kelsey, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association which is spearheading this effort, the checkoff referendum here in Oklahoma is being ran just as they've been in every other state. He says one of the concerns being raised by challengers, is that young members of the cattle industry should not be allowed to vote in the process, speaking of 4-H and FFA members who own and sell cattle but are not of legal voting age for say a presidential election. But, Kelsey is pushing back.

Kelsey says the members of the OCA, as a grassroots organization, are very much invested in the ballot process - wanting it to be a fair and unbiased approach. But even other organizations in the state have acknowledged the need for such a program and understand the benefits of having one. So far, the cause has won the endorsement of American Farmers & Ranchers as well Oklahoma Farm Bureau, and several junior and breed associations, too.

Unfortunately, those in protest, Kelsey says, have all come from out-of-state to bring the legality of this referendum into question. Kelsey says that is highly discouraging to see outsiders come in and try to disrupt a process that will positively impact the cattle business in the state - when it is the ones who will be impacted, the local producers, that are backing it.

Read more about what Kelsey had to say regarding the protests of challengers to the proposed state checkoff and learn about how they are trying to lower voters' confidence by clicking here.

According to a statement released last week by the American Chemical Council, IARC has been accused of deliberately omitting critical evidence regarding the truth about glyphosate and its links to causing cancer.

The National FFA Convention gets kicked off this week in Indianapolis. One of the major highlights of the convention each year is to see the installation of the next National FFA Officer team. This year, Piper Merritt of Owasso will be traveling there to represent Oklahoma as the state's National FFA Officer candidate.

Piper told me in a recent interview that she has undergone extensive preparation for this week. She will be participating in some very intensive interviews and up against stiff competition, all of whom are competing for the chance to serve the National FFA Organization and its members across the country.

Our thanks to ITC, your Energy Superhighway for helping sponsor our 2017 reports- as well as the Oklahoma FFA and the Oklahoma FFA Alumni.

Just this week, US Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue made the final decision to at last, officially withdraw the so called GIPSA rule, left over from the Obama administration that first appeared in the 2008 Farm Bill. The regulation's intended purpose was to create fairness in the markets and level the playing field between producers and packers. Over the years, some have been for the regulation - mostly populist groups like the National Farmers Union, RCALF-USA and the US Cattlemen's Association. Those opposing it have included the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the National Pork Producers Council and the National Chicken Council. And, stuck in the middle - the American Farm Bureau Federation. Whatever your politics, though, the rule is no more and Colin Woodall, NCBA's lead lobbyist, told me that although it has been a long battle, he is glad Perdue pulled the plug on GIPSA.


"(GIPSA) was USDA's opportunity to get right in the middle of cattle marketing," Woodall explained. "In essence, it would tell cattle producers how they could or could not market their cattle. And, they did so by trying to define what is fair. We can all agree that the last group we want defining fairness is the US government - regardless the administration."


By ridding the USDA of this rule, Woodall says that producers can go back and run their operations as they see fit. He says it will allow ranchers to be able to focus on the value-added marketing programs that their industry has spent so many years trying to build. And, the good news is that even though there have been multiple unsuccessful attempts to quell this rule, Woodall says Perdue's decision this time is final and it won't be able to be resurrected.


"The decision made by Sec. Perdue to withdraw this rule is the final kill shot, so it is deader than a doornail," he remarked. "Sec. Perdue understood the impact it was going to have on our marketing opportunities and we just can't thank him enough for his decision to protect our ability to market cattle how we want to, where we want to and under the circumstances that make us the most money possible."


Listen to Woodall and I discuss Secretary Perdue's decision to officially withdraw the GIPSA rules, on Friday's Beef Buzz - click here.

Obviously, when it comes to wheat, variety selection plays a major role in the outcome a crop's potential quality. But according to OSU wheat specialists Brett Carver and David Marburger, farmers shouldn't rely simply on genetics to produce high-protein wheat.

With such low levels of protein in recent wheat crops here in the state, they admit that it is only natural to wonder how much the Oklahoma Wheat Improvement Team considers protein content in their breeding efforts. Quite a lot, actually. But Carver, head of the wheat improvement team, says there is only so much of that outcome they can control. The rest must come from a combination of environment and growing conditions.

Members of the National Association of Wheat Growers held their annual fall conference in Charleston, SC this past week. Committees covered a range of topics but talks regarding the 2018 Farm Bill and ongoing trade negotiations rose to the top of discussions.

Trade has become a foremost priority for the current administration. NAWG held a joint committee meeting with their colleagues from US Wheat Associates to discuss the industry's plan of action regarding its influence over trade matters in DC. From the committee, a resolution was made to encourage the administration to expedite the creation of bilateral trade agreements as stated or promised to increase agricultural trade.