Congressman Frank Lucas shared details about the $16 billion Coronavirus Food Assistance Program recently made available to eligible agriculture producers during a live webinar with Oklahoma Farm Bureau members on May 27. Lucas was able to address some of the leading concerns of Oklahoma farmers and ranchers regarding the program after a recent meeting with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. Hard red winter wheat, Oklahoma’s dominant crop, was excluded from the list of commodities eligible for assistance. But, Lucas said the commodity’s CFAP eligibility may be reconsidered in the future if a need is proven. In his meeting with Perdue, […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau will host a live webinar Wednesday, May 27, featuring Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas to discuss assistance for agricultural producers available through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. The webinar will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. central time on May 27. Lucas will be joined by Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel to discuss the program and to address common concerns and questions about the CFAP and its implementation. Questions can be submitted before the webinar in the form below, or using the Q&A feature during the Zoom webinar. CFAP, which is administered through the United […]

Farmers and ranchers dealing with the significant impacts of the coronavirus may begin applying for direct payments from the $16 billion Coronavirus Food Assistance Program on May 26, as announced today by President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. CFAP will provide direct payments to agricultural producers who have “suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline or who had losses due to market supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and face additional significant market costs,” according to the USDA. Agricultural producers may apply through county USDA Farm Service Agency offices beginning May 26. “Over the past several years, Oklahoma farmers […]

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 […]