Coming on the heels of a long and difficult year, the first session of the 58th Oklahoma Legislature brought with it many challenges as Oklahoma Farm Bureau worked to advocate for farmers, ranchers and rural Oklahomans at the state Capitol in the face of limitations from the lingering pandemic. Despite some obstacles, OKFB accomplished a number of wins for Farm Bureau members as it took the organization’s policy priorities to 23rd and Lincoln. Agricultural Sales Tax Exemption In the early months of 2021, OKFB heard from numerous members who experienced difficulties in obtaining or renewing a state agricultural sales tax […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau encourages its members to attend congressional redistricting town hall meetings to represent the voices and perspectives of rural Oklahoma. Five in-person town halls will be hosted in each congressional district, along with two virtual town halls. The meetings provide Oklahomans an opportunity to offer input as House and Senate redistricting committees prepare to draw new congressional district lines. “Just as we did with legislative redistricting, the legislature is committed to an open and transparent process for congressional redistricting,” Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, chair of the Oklahoma Senate Select Committee on Redistricting, said. “We encourage those interested in […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau discussed the top provisions in the state budget for agriculture and rural Oklahoma with the House Appropriations and Budget Committee Vice Chair Kyle Hilbert during a recent Lincoln to Local episode. After announcing its more than $8 billion budget agreement on May 13, state legislators this week sent the four dozen budget bills to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk for approval. The budget includes several benefits for agriculture and rural Oklahoma including dollars for broadband expansion, meat inspectors, Oklahoma State University Extension, county roads and bridges and more. $42 million for broadband expansion Signaling a commitment to bringing […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau has joined four fellow Oklahoma agriculture groups to form a task force to develop solutions to the issues facing farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses from the exponential growth of the medical marijuana industry across Oklahoma. The Medical Marijuana Impacts on Oklahoma Production Agriculture Task Force – comprised of American Farmers & Ranchers, Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council and Oklahoma Farm Bureau – was created to focus on crafting state and federal solutions to the increasing impacts of medical marijuana on production agriculture across Oklahoma. “Many of our farm and ranch members have […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel today released the following statement applauding Gov. Kevin Stitt’s announcement of a return-to-work initiative to help address labor shortages in Oklahoma. “As Oklahoma farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses continue to struggle to find a reliable workforce, we appreciate Gov. Kevin Stitt’s plan to help put Oklahomans back to work. Dependable workers are critical to our agriculture producers as farmers and ranchers grow and raise food, fiber and fuel for our state, our country and our world. “As we’ve seen all too often throughout the pandemic, uncertainty in the agricultural workforce jeopardizes the availability and accessibility […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau members heard Rep. Markwayne Mullin’s views on issues facing farmers and ranchers in our nation’s capital during an online meeting on Wednesday, May 12. As a rancher himself, Mullin represents Oklahoma’s Second Congressional District, which is comprised of portions of eastern Oklahoma. Rep. Mullin highlighted four topics farmers, ranchers and rural Oklahomans are concerned about during the call. 1. Investigating issues in the cattle market  While discussing the state of the current cattle market, Mullin said he is concerned by meat packers’ influence on the market. “While we don’t want hamburgers to be $25, we have to […]

The state Legislature now has less than two weeks until it is constitutionally required to adjourn this year’s session. The next two weeks are expected to be light in policy bills as the focus shifts to the last major task of passing the budget. House and Senate leadership, along with Gov. Kevin Stitt, announced on May 13 an $8.3 billion budget agreement had been reached. In the final weeks of the session, Gov. Stitt signed into law several bills Farm Bureau has monitored throughout the session. Last week, he approved both the House and Senate redistricting bills, giving final approval […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are encouraged to attend a congressional meeting featuring Rep. Frank Lucas on Thursday, May 27 at 6 p.m. at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Pioneer Cellular Event Center in Weatherford. While the ongoing impacts of the pandemic prevent members from traveling to Washington D.C., to visit Oklahoma’s congressional delegation, the meeting with Rep. Lucas will provide members the opportunity to discuss the leading issues in our nation’s capital affecting farmers, ranchers and rural Oklahomans. A farmer and rancher from Cheyenne, Rep. Lucas represents the Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District, the state’s largest congressional district, covering the north-western […]