As legislators convened at the state Capitol to begin work on more than 3,000 pieces of legislation, Oklahoma Farm Bureau leaders and staff hit the ground running on a number of issues of importance to its grassroots farm and ranch members. For several years, Farm Bureau members have been involved in discussions at the state Capitol concerning new ad valorem taxes and the 2021 session will be no different. Only four days into the first week of committee work, a bill advanced that would allow voters within a municipality to vote on a resolution to create a Public Safety Protection […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel discussed the top issues expected to be addressed by the state Legislature this year with Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat and Speaker of the House Charles McCall during OKFB’s Leadership Week. Below read Farm Bureau’s five takeaways from the conversation with the state Legislature’s top leaders. 1. Progress on rural broadband expected With an estimated 30% of Oklahomans considered underserved in broadband services, both legislative leaders said they expect to see progress this year on bringing high-speed internet to all Oklahomans. “It’s not something that just happens overnight, but there’s been a lot […]

Because most Farm Bureaus members are busy on their farms and ranches each day, they do not have time to visit with legislators about every agriculture or rural issue the Legislature considers. Members instead rely on Farm Bureau leaders and staff to carry out their message for them. But sometimes, state representatives and senators need to hear directly from farmers and ranchers. Through OKFB’s legislative action alerts, members have the ability to quickly and easily advocate for agriculture and rural Oklahoma right from their farm or ranch. But what should members do when they receive an action alert text message? […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau members has announced a new opportunity for members to engage in the legislative process. Every Friday at 12 p.m. starting Feb. 5, members are invited to participate in a legislative update Zoom call with the OKFB public policy team. The member-only call will allow members to learn about the legislative process, ask questions, voice concerns, and offer feedback. For details on how to join the weekly call, please contact your Farm Bureau field representative. Members can find more ways to be involved in and informed about OKFB’s legislative efforts by viewing our 2021 Advocacy Guide at okfarmbureau.org/advocate21.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau has announced the organization’s priority issues for the 2021 state legislative session as set forth by its grassroots farm and ranch members. The top issues for Farm Bureau members across all 77 counties include expanding rural broadband internet access, protecting landowners from property tax increases, safeguarding the state agriculture sales tax exemption, increasing access to quality health care in rural communities, securing improved funding for roads and bridges, and ensuring support for Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. “After a challenging year for Oklahoma agriculture producers, Oklahoma Farm Bureau is eager to bring the voice of our grassroots farm […]

Though the global pandemic may pose some challenges to the way Oklahoma Farm Bureau typically engages with the state legislature, OKFB members still can – and should – play an important part in our work to speak for farmers, ranchers and rural Oklahomans at the state Capitol this year. Though working with state lawmakers this year is likely to look different than normal, members can remain active and involved in the policymaking process by using some of agriculture’s trademark innovation and creativity. Below are four ideas for safely and effectively advocating for agriculture in the upcoming legislative session. 1. Sign […]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced additional assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. The new assistance includes expanded eligibility for certain commodities and producers established in the recently passed relief package, as well as updated payments for producers who were eligible under previous iterations of the program. Producers may submit new applications or modify existing applications through the USDA Farm Service Agency between Jan. 19 and Feb. 26, 2021. Expanded CFAP 2 eligibility Contract producers of swine, broilers, laying hens, chicken eggs and turkeys who suffered a drop in revenue in 2020 as compared to their 2019 revenue because […]

Five Oklahoma Farm Bureau members joined farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 102nd Annual Convention in adopting grassroots policies to guide the organization’s work in 2021. Delegates from Oklahoma included Rodd Moesel, OKFB president; Monte Tucker, District Two Director and Roger Mills County Farm Bureau member; James Fuser, District Six Director and Ottawa County Farm Bureau member; Karen Dodson, Women’s Leadership Committee member and Caddo County Farm Bureau member; and Cody Goodknight, Young Farmers & Ranchers chair and Comanche County Farm Bureau member. “I love this part of it, that we get to set policy for what […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel recently hosted Congresswoman-elect Stephanie Bice for a conversation on her preparations to serve Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District in Congress. Elected on Nov. 3, she will be sworn into the 117th United States Congress on Jan. 3, 2021. Below, read five things we learned from our visit with Bice. 1. She has ties to agriculture.  Although Bice did not grow up on a farm or ranch, she is not too far removed from the agriculture industry. Her husband’s family continues to farm near the Okarche area in central Oklahoma. Through her conversations with family, she […]