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: […]

The 2020 legislative session quickly hit high gear and is now running at a rapid pace. As February comes to a close, Oklahoma Farm Bureau is engaged in a large number of critical pieces of legislation. Below is a snapshot of a few the bills that are beginning to advance through the process. HB 1992 would create the Oklahoma Public Safety Protection District Act, which allows municipalities to propose a new form of property tax to fund police, fire and emergency medical services. OKFB successfully worked with other stakeholders to include an amendment that increases the vote threshold for approval […]

Six of Oklahoma’s top advocates for agriculture and rural Oklahoma were presented with the 2019 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Champion Award during the organization’s leadership conference held Feb. 17-18 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. The award is presented to state lawmakers who went above and beyond to represent farmers and ranchers in the 2019 legislative session. “Oklahoma farmers and ranchers have the crucial job of feeding and clothing our country and our world, so it’s vital that the decisions made at the state Capitol preserve our ability to grow food and fiber,” said Rodd Moesel, OKFB president. […]

As an Oklahoma Farm Bureau member, you can have the opportunity to help shape the policy that affects the agriculture industry and rural Oklahoma. Over the next four months, OKFB staff will represent you at the state Capitol by advocating for your grassroots policy. Below, find four simple ways you can be engaged and involved in the legislative process this year. Sign up for OKFB legislative action alerts We know you’re busy on your farm or ranch each and every day, so we’ve made it simple for you to lend your voice to the conversation at the state Capitol. By […]

As the second session of the 57th Oklahoma Legislature began on Monday, Feb. 3, state legislators wasted no time getting to work on more than 4,500 pieces of legislation. The session began with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s State of the State in which he highlighted opportunities to improve rural health care as well as rural roads and bridges, two areas of importance to Farm Bureau members. A number of bills from last year were carried over into this session and are on the fast track to the floor, including legislation on some of OKFB’s priority issues. Farm Bureau staff continue to […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel released the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced a new clean water rule to replace the 2015 Waters of the United States rule. “Oklahoma Farm Bureau members deeply value clean water because it is crucial to our very livelihoods as farmers and ranchers. Today, we applaud the announcement of a new clean water rule that brings clarity and certainty to farmers and ranchers across the country. “We’re grateful that the new regulation frees farmers and ranchers to continue protecting our valuable water resources without […]