Despite the assurances of legislative leaders that only a limited number of bills would be considered, the activity inside the state Capitol resumed at a rapid pace last week. The House and Senate addressed over 400 measures during a two-week return to session. Most of the attention centered on a flurry of significant actions that took place on May 13. Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed the entire $7.8 billion general appropriations bill and three other funding measures, but the state Legislature successfully overrode those vetoes before the end of the day. A large amount of agricultural legislation was advanced for floor […]

Farmers and ranchers will decide which political candidates would best uphold the values of rural Oklahoma as the Ag Fund – Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s political action committee – kicks off its grassroots process over the next few weeks. Funded by voluntary dues and donations from OKFB members, the Ag Fund allows farmers and ranchers to endorse and/or financially support candidates for elected positions in Oklahoma that best represent agriculture and rural Oklahoma. The grassroots political action committee begins its process at the county level, where members make recommendations on local elections. A county representative then takes those suggestions to the […]

On Monday, May 4, the Oklahoma Legislature returned to the state Capitol to launch the final phase of an unorthodox and challenging 2020 session. Leaders from the House and Senate unveiled a $7.7 billion budget agreement that will be $238 million or 3.0% less than the current fiscal year. Under the plan, the $1.4 billon deficit that was projected in April by the Board of Equalization will be offset by using reserve funds and state agency appropriations reductions of 4% in most cases. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry would receive a 7% cut and the Department of […]

Following Congress’s recent funding replenishment of the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, Oklahoma Farm Bureau will host a call on Tuesday, April 28 to provide details and information for farmers and ranchers. The meeting is set for Tuesday, April 28 at 7 p.m. To join the call, please dial 1-408-638-0968. When prompted, enter the webinar ID 951 5696 4346. Participants also may join the call via the Zoom app on a phone or computer using this link. The call will feature SBA District Director Dottie Overal and BancFirst’s Kent Faison, who will share details on how farmers and ranchers can take advantage […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau will host a panel discussion about recent volatility in the cattle industry during a webinar to be held Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. Panelists on the webinar include Oklahoma State University’s Dr. Derrell Peel, American Farm Bureau Director of Congressional Relations Scott Bennett and AFBF Economist Michael Nepveux. Dr. Derrell Peel Dr. Derrell Peel is the Charles Breedlove Professor of Agribusiness in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University focusing on livestock market outlook and marketing/risk management education for livestock producers. He has also served as the Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist since he came to […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau is grateful for the work of Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur this week as she urged U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to provide relief for the state’s beef cattle producers. In a letter, Arthur asked Perdue to direct resources from the recent Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act to the beef cattle industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She also encouraged support for a USDA investigation into to investigate the price disparity in cattle markets. “Relief for cattle producers from the current economic crisis is imperative in order to keep beef operations of all types and […]

Under strict health and safety measures, the Oklahoma Legislature convened for a historic special session on Monday, April 6 to respond to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s statewide health emergency declaration. Both the House and Senate affirmed the governor’s unprecedented emergency actions as legislators entered the severely restricted state Capitol for the first time since March 17. Now in effect, the declaration allows the executive branch to centralize state and county health department response efforts, let first responders know if they are responding to a location with a COVID-19 patient, and the governor to waive certain laws and rules for the purpose […]

Farmers and ranchers from across the state had an opportunity to express their concerns surrounding the impact of the coronavirus during a recent conference call with Sen. James Lankford and Oklahoma Farm Bureau leaders. After the U.S. Senate passed a historic $2 trillion coronavirus aid package late Wednesday, March 25, Lankford shared with OKFB members some of the tenets of the package including additional borrowing authority for the Commodity Credit Corp. and aid for livestock and specialty crop producers. Under the bill, the CCC receives an additional $14 billion and Secretary Sonny Perdue receives $9.5 billion to allow for unknowns, […]

Even in uncertain times, Oklahoma Farm Bureau will remain the steady and unwavering voice for farmers, ranchers and rural Oklahomans. Many businesses and organizations – even the state Legislature and Congress – are tampering down operations, but we know and understand that work on the farm never stops. That’s why Farm Bureau leaders and staff will continue to vigilantly monitor the issues that impact OKFB members. Facing increasing concerns over public health, the Oklahoma House of Representatives on March 16 took unprecedented action to authorize the Republican and Democratic caucuses to designate a single proxy representative to vote on behalf […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau is encouraging members to contact their state representative and urge a no vote on HB 2776 by Rep. Lonnie Sims. The legislation would allow the governing body of a county – or county commissioners – to create a hazard mitigation district funded by a new property tax, upon approval of voters in the county. The district would include all territory within the county. Unincorporated land is not exempted, which would subject farmers, ranchers and landowners to an additional property tax burden. Authorized uses for the funds generated by the new tax include, but are not limited to: […]