Two Oklahoma Farm Bureau members described some of the challenges facing the state’s farmers and ranchers in a series of stories aired on KJRH Channel 2 News in Tulsa this week.
Muskogee County Farm Bureau board member Bart Wiedel, a cattle producer near Muskogee, explained how his family’s haying business has been impacted by the weather this year.
While heavy spring rains and flooding delayed hay and other crops, a rainy summer and fall took a toll on harvest.
“No matter what it’s always tough to be in the farm and ranching business,” Wiedel said in the KJRH story.
Farmers across the state this year have faced a number of difficulties from heavy rains and flooding, high production costs and unpredictable trade tariffs.
“It is a tough, tough time for ag producers,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur in the story.
Cattle producers are struggling due to low cattle prices and increasing production costs, McIntosh County Farm Bureau President Josh Emerson told KJRH Channel 2 in a separate story.
“I would say we were probably making $400 to $500 a calf profit during the good times, and now I would say on average maybe around $100 profit, if that,” Emerson told KJRH.
Despite the tough times, Emerson told KJRH he plans to weather the storm in hopes of passing on his passion to his children.
Read more about the struggles facing farmers and ranchers on our Real Farm Talk page.
