USDA is increasing funding for its regenerative agriculture pilot program to $1 billion for fiscal year 2027, following strong producer interest during the program’s first year.

USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce spoke with Associate Farm Reporter Carli Davenport about the increased investment, what USDA learned during the pilot’s first year and what producers can expect moving forward. Fordyce also discussed the upcoming 2027 Dairy Margin Coverage enrollment period, which begins Oct. 5.

Strong Producer Interest Drives Regenerative Program Increase

The regenerative pilot program was announced in late 2025, with USDA beginning implementation during 2026.Fordyce said it took some time for producers and USDA staff to fully understand the program, but interest eventually surpassed the available funding. “Once that happened we really had a lot of interest, and ultimately by the time we ended the 2026 fiscal year, the program was oversubscribed,”Fordyce said.

That demand led USDA to increase funding from $700 million in fiscal year 2026 to $1 billion for fiscal year 2027.

Fordyce said the program centers around two primary goals: improving soil health and encouraging whole-farm conservation planning. “Both of those things really resonate with folks, and so we knew we needed to earmark some additional dollars over and above what we did in 2026 for the fiscal year 2027,” Fordyce said.

USDA Learning From the First Year

Fordyce said the first year of the program also provided USDA with an opportunity to learn more about how regenerative practices fit different farming and ranching operations.

He said healthier soils can help improve the resiliency of agricultural operations, particularly during periods of unfavorable weather. “We know that healthier soils grow healthier plants,” Fordyce said. “That could be a row crop, that could be a specialty crop, an orchard, forage, really across the board when it comes to agriculture production.”

Fordyce said improving soil health can also help farms and ranches become more resilient during dry conditions. “If those soils are more resilient, those soils are more healthy, they’re going to carry that crop a little bit longer,” he said.

He added that the potential benefits can extend to the bottom line over time as producers improve soil health and potentially reduce the amount of inputs needed to produce crops or forage. “It will ultimately require less inputs, which means, you know, better returns and looks better on the bottom line if we’re putting less—if we’re spending less money to grow that crop or to grow that forage because we’re improving the soil health,” Fordyce said.

More Local Input Coming in 2027

For 2026, USDA administered the regenerative pilot through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program.

Fordyce said USDA plans to continue using those programs in 2027 while allowing more input from individual states when determining priority practices. “What we’ve decided to do this time is to have, you know, a little bit more local input”.

He said recommendations can come from farmers and ranchers through a grassroots process and help states tailor the program to their own agricultural needs. That could mean different priorities in different parts of the country.

Fordyce pointed to practices such as cover crops and nutrient management as examples, but said the practices that make the most sense can vary depending on the region and production system. “It will vary what practices and how we approach that improvement to soil health,” Fordyce said.

He added that research from land-grant universities and agricultural commodity checkoff programs is also helping USDA better understand soil health across different geographies and cropping systems. “The more we learn, the more we understand how we can contribute to the improvement of soil health,” Fordyce said.

Producers Encouraged to Start With Local NRCS Office

For farmers and ranchers who are unfamiliar with the regenerative pilot program, Fordyce said the best place to start is with their local Natural Resources Conservation Service office. “I would encourage folks to contact their local NRCS office, and you know they’ll be able to have that conversation with you,” Fordyce said.

He emphasized that the program is designed to be voluntary and tailored to individual operations. “I think it really does start with a conversation: What are you trying to accomplish? What do you want to see improved on your farm?” Fordyce said.

He said producers can work with local NRCS staff to identify their conservation goals and determine which practices may fit their operation. “It’s voluntary, and you ultimately make the decision about what you want to do,” Fordyce said. “What direction you want to go. What are your goals? Where do you want to be five years from now?”

Fordyce said enrollment in the regenerative pilot is generally targeted around a five-year period, allowing producers to begin at a comfortable level and build additional conservation practices over time.

2027 Dairy Margin Coverage Enrollment Begins Oct. 5

Fordyce also discussed the 2027 Dairy Margin Coverage program, with enrollment scheduled to begin Oct. 5. He said recent changes allow dairy producers to make use of an increased Tier I production history limit, which moved from 5 million pounds to 6 million pounds.

The program also gives eligible dairy operations an opportunity to update their production history to better reflect current production.

Fordyce said that can be particularly important as dairy operations continue to improve production efficiency. “We’re certainly seeing that in dairy operations as well,” Fordyce said. “It seems like every sector of agriculture is just getting better at doing what they do.”

What Dairy Producers Need to Know About DMC

Fordyce said producers who selected the multi-year Dairy Margin Coverage election in 2026 still need to complete the annual enrollment process. He said nearly a record number of dairy operations enrolled in DMC in 2026, with many choosing the multi-year option through 2031.

Those producers received a 25% discount on premiums by making the multi-year election, but Fordyce said they still need to go to their local Farm Service Agency office each year and confirm they have an active dairy operation and sign the necessary application.

The Dairy Margin Coverage program is designed to provide protection when the margin between the price of milk and certain feed costs falls to a covered level.

Fordyce said the feed component used in the calculation includes corn, soybean meal and high-quality alfalfa. “It’s specifically for that margin between, again, the price of milk and the price in the feed component,” Fordyce said.

Dairy producers can select different margin and production coverage levels, with Fordyce emphasizing that those decisions ultimately depend on each operation’s individual risk-management needs. “Those decisions are based, you know, on what that farm is comfortable with, and what kind of risk management based on that margin that they’re comfortable with, and they feel like they need to support their operation,” Fordyce said.

The post USDA Raises Regenerative Agriculture Pilot to $1 Billion for 2027 first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

 Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, today announced it will host the 2026 Komen OKC MORE THAN PINK Walk bringing together survivors, those living with metastatic breast cancer, families and supporters for a day of purpose and action. The event, taking place on Saturday, October 31, 2026, will raise critical funds to accelerate lifesaving research, expand patient support services, support critical public policy efforts and help ensure every person facing breast cancer has access to the high-quality care they need.

Breast cancer continues to impact communities across the country. About every two minutes, someone in the U.S. hears the words, “You have breast cancer,” and nearly every 12 minutes, someone in the U.S. loses their life to the disease. Diagnoses among women under 50 are also increasing, underscoring the urgent need for continued action. While tremendous progress has been made in improving breast cancer outcomes, too many people still face delayed diagnoses, unequal access to high-quality care, and barriers that can impact their ability to receive timely, lifesaving treatment. For some, today’s treatments won’t be enough, making continued research essential to discover the next lifesaving breakthrough. In 2026, an estimated 3,550 people in Oklahoma will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 580 will lose their lives to the disease.

This year, Komen aims to raise $250,000 at the 2026 Komen Oklahoma City MORE THAN PINK Walk. Funds raised through Oklahoma City MORE THAN PINK Walk help address both the immediate and long-term needs of the breast cancer community by supporting patient care, groundbreaking research, essential education and advocacy efforts that improve outcomes and expand access to high-quality care.

In FY 2026, more than 5 million people turned to Komen’s breast health and breast cancer information to make informed decisions about their health care. During the same period, Komen’s Patient Care Center provided 181 patient navigation services to 133 individuals across Oklahoma, helping patients overcome financial, logistical, and systemic barriers that can delay or disrupt access to care. Through Komen’s Financial Assistance Program, 74 people in Oklahoma undergoing breast cancer treatment or living with metastatic breast cancer received $36,600 in direct financial support to help address critical needs.

Beyond direct assistance, Komen’s patient navigators helped thousands of patients access vital resources — responding to more than 9,000 financial assistance inquiries last year and securing nearly $3 million from 230 external sources to support transportation, housing, food, medical expenses, and other essential needs.

As part of Komen’s commitment to empowering people with the knowledge and resources they need to take action, Komen is also encouraging Breast Honesty— promoting open conversations about breast health, helping people understand their personal risk, prioritizing screening and getting accurate, evidenced-based information to help make informed health care decisions.

“Every person diagnosed with breast cancer deserves the opportunity to receive the care, support and resources they need, regardless of where they live or the barriers they face,” said Alisa Pope, Development Director. “The Komen Oklahoma City MORE THAN PINK Walk shows the power of community. Together, we are funding lifesaving research, advocating for an equitable health care system, supporting people living with breast cancer and driving progress toward a future where no one dies from breast cancer. We couldn’t do this work without the commitment of our community.”

Event Details

What: 2026 Komen OKC MORE THAN PINK Walk

When: October 31, 2026

Where: Scissortail Park, Downtown OKC

Registration: www.komen.org/okcitywalk

The 2026 Komen Oklahoma City MORE THAN PINK Walk is made possible, in part, through the generosity of our local sponsors: MidFirst Bank, SSM Health, Gaming Capital Group, Integris Health, Premier Breast Health Institute, Red Carpet Car Wash, and Thunderbird Casino.

Every registration, donation and act of support helps fund innovative research, provide vital patient services and advocate for systems and policies that improve outcomes for the breast cancer community. 

Bank of America is the national presenting sponsor, Natera is the national premier sponsor and Daiichi Sankyo, Guardant Health, Lilly and Novartis are national series sponsors for the MORE THAN PINK Walk and Race for the Cure events.  

The post Oklahoma City Rallies Together to Take Action at Susan G. Komen® MORE THAN PINK Walk on Saturday October 31st first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

In our last segment, we discussed the dangerously thin cash cattle market. Today, we’ll explain how unpriced formula contracts helped drive that market to such a low level, and how to restore competition.

The negotiated cash market is where producers and packers bargain directly over price. Those transactions also establish benchmarks used to price cattle sold through other arrangements.

Under an unpriced formula contract, a producer commits cattle to a packer before knowing the base price. Payment depends on a cash price established later, perhaps a regional or packer purchase average. A premium above that future price still leaves the dollar base unresolved.

As more cattle are committed in advance, fewer remain available for independent cash bidding. Packers can draw on contracted supplies before buying cash cattle. That reduces their need to compete in the market that establishes their contract prices.

These arrangements also discourage aggressive bidding. A higher cash bid can raise payments on cattle already secured under contract. A lower benchmark reduces those payments. The packer gains an additional financial incentive to keep cash prices down.

Consider the average of roughly ninety thousand fed cattle slaughtered per weekday reported by Oklahoma State University in November 2025. Assuming fourteen-hundred-pound cattle, a one-dollar-per-hundredweight price reduction across that volume would reduce the value of a day’s cattle slaughter by over one and a quarter million dollars.

That illustrates how even a small price reduction can translate into substantial producer losses.

Packers have used formula purchases to shift large volumes of cattle out of the negotiated cash market. USDA data show formula purchases increasing from 33.2 percent in 2005 to 63.3 percent in 2025. Over the same period, negotiated cash purchases fell from 52.1 percent to 17.8 percent.

Investigators must identify which formula purchases commit cattle before establishing a base price and tie payment to future cash transactions.

The consequences reach beyond the feedlot. Weaker bids and delayed sales can increase feeding and financing costs. Contract sellers also receive the affected benchmark. Lower returns on finished cattle can reduce what feeders pay for feeder cattle, transmitting harm to stocker operators and cow-calf producers.

A premium may benefit an individual seller while the pricing arrangement weakens the market for producers collectively.

R-CALF USA’s position is clear: contracts that bind producers before establishing a base price, then tie that price to future negotiated cash transactions, should be prohibited.

Packers and feeders can retain the benefits of a contractual relationship with a known base price. They can agree on delivery schedules, cattle specifications, and quality incentives when they agree on that price. Requiring a firm base price preserves those benefits while protecting the producer’s opportunity to compare competing offers before committing cattle.

USDA and the Justice Department should use the Packers and Stockyards Act to investigate these arrangements, Obtain contracts, bids, delivery schedules, payment records, and internal communications. And then establish the effects on competition, prices, and producers’ selling opportunities.

We recommend five reforms to restore competition.

First, require a firm base price when cattle are committed. Preserve verifiable quality premiums and discounts agreed upon in advance. Cover side agreements and transactions called negotiated grids.

Second, require open competition for advance contracts. Give multiple independent buyers an opportunity to bid, with workable access for small and midsize producers. We recommend limiting binding commitments to six months, followed by a fresh opportunity for competitive bidding.

Third, require written agreements for every cattle transaction. Producers should receive complete terms covering price, delivery, payment, adjustments, and financial obligations. Protect producers who seek competing bids, reject prohibited terms, or cooperate with investigators.

Fourth, prevent packers from replacing prohibited contracts with cattle they own, feed, or effectively control. We recommend a narrow logistical exception of no more than seven calendar days before slaughter. Cover affiliates and imported cattle destined for American plants, including control established before importation.

Fifth, prohibit preferential delivery, volume, and loyalty payments unrelated to cattle value. Preserve verifiable quality premiums and legitimate service payments under objective, nondiscriminatory standards.

Financing and profit-sharing arrangements also need safeguards. Credit terms and accumulated losses should not trap producers into supplying additional cattle. Otherwise lawful financial benefits that create undue preferences should be discontinued or made available on equivalent, fair terms.

Congress should put these protections into law, close avenues for evasion, and provide effective enforcement and producer remedies. USDA and the Justice Department should pursue the actions available under existing law while supporting those changes.

So, establish the base price while producers can still seek another buyer. Preserve contractual benefits and restore bargaining power throughout America’s cattle industry, and that’s how we begin restoring competition to America’s cattle markets.

The post R-Calf Weekly Address Unpriced Contracts: How Packers Weaken the Cash Cattle Market first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

Wildfire mitigation and soil water retention remain high priorities across the state, prompting the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to expand programs targeting invasive species and infrastructure resilience. Farm Director KC Sheperd recently sat down with Trey Lam, executive director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, to discuss the ongoing efforts to manage invasive red cedars, mitigate wildfire hazards, prepare soils for incoming moisture, and maintain crucial flood control dams across Oklahoma.

Following an intense wildfire season, Lam pointed out that eastern red cedars serve as significant fuel loads that intensify burns and disperse embers far ahead of active fire lines. To combat this hazard, the Commission is deploying multiple management strategies. Prescribed fire serves as the primary tool. Landowners receive professionally written prescribed burn plans and assemble the required personnel, equipment, and optimal weather conditions to consume built-up fuel before an uncontrolled blaze occurs. Lam noted that a previous burn conducted on the south side of Karsten Creek Golf Club successfully stopped advancing flames during fires around Stillwater.

Another major initiative focuses on establishing brush-free zones around communities. In many rural and suburban towns, neighborhoods back directly up to dense cedar thickets. During wildfires—such as the blaze in Caddo County—burning cedars generate heavy black smoke and shoot embers up to a quarter of a mile away. By collaborating with adjacent landowners, the Commission creates 100- to 300-foot buffer zones that allow emergency vehicles access and create space to stop advancing fires before they reach residential structures.

Beyond fire risks, red cedars place a heavy burden on Oklahoma water resources during periods of drought. As part of the Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed program, the Commission operates a 5,000-acre research project in Woodward County. By using soil moisture probes to compare cleared areas against uncleared plots and native rangeland, researchers discovered that removing cedars returns approximately 50,000 gallons of water back into the soil. With roughly 15 million acres of cedar across the state and an estimated 7% annual expansion rate reported by Oklahoma State University, widespread eradication could significantly enhance water flow into local springs, streams, and reservoirs like Canton Lake.

Landowners seeking to remove cedars can access financial and technical assistance through state cost-share programs administered by local conservation districts. The programs rotate through targeted geographic areas each year, assisting landowners with the costs of mulching, cutting with chainsaws, or pulling trees from the ground.

Lam also addressed preparations for shifting weather patterns, particularly anticipated rains from an incoming El Niño cycle following extended dry conditions. When heavy rain falls on hard, bare dirt, the surface quickly seals over, resulting in rapid runoff rather than absorption. Maintaining ground cover—such as crop residues or growing summer vegetation—helps deflect rainfall impact, slows water movement, and directs moisture down into root channels.

When surface runoff does occur, Oklahoma relies on a network of 2,107 upstream flood control dams. While these structures currently have capacity due to drought, many are around 50 years old and require routine upkeep to address wind and wave erosion, deteriorating pipes, and aging risers. Lam noted that the Oklahoma Legislature provided $3 million in funding over the past year to repair front slopes and prevent catastrophic breaches that could threaten downstream properties and lives.

Looking ahead to seasonal activities, Lam emphasized several key conservation initiatives available to the public. In addition to cedar control efforts under the Terry Peach program, the Commission matched a $100,000 state investment with wildlife funding to assemble roughly $3 million for wetland restoration. These wetland projects aid aquifer recharge and support local wildlife habitats. Producers are also encouraged to participate in the Soil Health Improvement Program (SHIP). Landowners interested in cedar management, wetland restoration, or soil health practices should reach out to their local conservation district office for application details.

The post Oklahoma Conservation Commission Tackles Invasive Red Cedars and Flood Infrastructure first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Missouri cattle producer and Hereford breeder Glen Klippenstein, one of the cattlemen involved in the early development of the Beef Checkoff.

Klippenstein was recently recognized with the Beef Checkoff Visionary Award for his work helping establish the program in the 1980s. Looking back, he says getting the checkoff approved was anything but easy. Part one of this story can be found here.

The Checkoff Faced an Uphill Battle

Klippenstein says the effort to establish the checkoff encountered setbacks before cattle producers eventually succeeded in getting the program in place. “It might have failed twice, and it was kind of an internal deal that made it fail,” Klippenstein said. “That’s the lesson. I’m not going to spill any names or anything, but yes, it was.”

Eventually, the effort was reorganized and brought directly to cattle producers. “And finally, finally, we liquidated that and got it on our own,” he said.

Klippenstein says the value of the checkoff becomes easier to appreciate when considering how much the cattle industry and individual animal values have changed since the program began.

What the Checkoff Has Done for the Cattle Industry

When the checkoff started, Klippenstein says cattle producers were paying just $1 per head. Today, that same $1 investment remains relatively small compared with the value of the cattle being marketed. “It’s amazing what we’re doing with a little bit of money that we have,” he said.

Klippenstein points to the dramatic increase in cattle values over the decades as one way to put the checkoff investment into perspective. “Our cattle have gone from—I don’t know what they were then. They weren’t that much—but you know, to a $2,500 weaned calf today, compared to maybe a $500 one then,” he said. “You know, just think what would have happened, and that’s scary to think about it.”

He says the checkoff has also had implications beyond the individual cattle producer. “What we wouldn’t have done, what would have happened to our industry, if we, the people that are involved in industry, whose communities thrive from the beef cattle business, if we wouldn’t have had the checkoff,” Klippenstein said.

More Research Could Tell Beef’s Sustainability Story

Looking ahead, Klippenstein says research should be a major priority for the beef industry, particularly research that can help consumers better understand beef production and sustainability. “We need to invest more in research. Absolutely, we do,” he said. “The pitiful amount that we’re putting into our research that feeds this nation—almost a third of our land mass in this country—is owned and managed by cattlemen.”

Klippenstein says the industry needs research that can help connect beef consumption with the broader environmental and economic role cattle producers play. “And the least that we can do is to do the research that, eventually, I hope, will allow everybody that takes a mouthful of beef to think, ‘Hey, I not only enjoy this and it’s good for me, but it’s also good for the planet, and it’s sure good for the sustainability of our rural communities and our individual ranchers,’” he said.

Don’t Take the Industry’s Success for Granted

Klippenstein also says the cattle industry should use the current period of strong demand and cattle values as an opportunity to invest in promotion and build consumer confidence. “When we were Glenkirk Farms at one time, we got to really going good,” he said. “And I told our guys, ‘Hey, we’re going to spend more on promotion and advertising, and we’re going to make sure that we can confirm and verify that what we are saying is what these cattle will do.’”

“That’s what we need to do,” Klippenstein said. “Give people confidence. Make them our partners. Make them sing our song with us.”

Stay Ahead of What Comes Next

Klippenstein says the tools available to cattle producers and the demand for beef today are far different from what existed when the checkoff was first created. “I mean, we’re a success story, but let’s not rest on our laurels,” he said.

He says the next generation of cattle industry leaders needs to stay engaged and be prepared for changes rather than simply reacting to them.

“I tell you, I don’t want to start over again,” Klippenstein said. “Of course, I’m way past that point. But these young leaders, and we’ve got some great young people that are kind of into it. But make sure, stay with the program because things change, and let’s not be reactive. Let’s be pro.”

Klippenstein summed up his philosophy with a lesson from sports. “I never won a ball game when I didn’t have the ball,” he said.

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR above for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Beef Checkoff Pioneer Glen Klippenstein Reflects on Its Beginnings and Future first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

Last year, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Natural Grocers v. Rollins that portions of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (Standard) be set aside and sent back to a lower court. After being directed by the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law, USDA established the Standard in a 2018 Final Rule for the purpose of regulating the disclosure and labeling of Bioengineered (BE) foods. Specifically, the Standard required that food manufacturers, importers, retailers, and other food labeling entities disclose if a product included a BE food or ingredient. In 2020, a group of food and agricultural organizations challenged three aspects of the Standard – 1) the exclusion of highly refined foods from the BE foods definition, 2) the requirement to use the term BE, and 3) the allowance of QR codes or text-messaging to accomplish the required disclosures (electronic disclosures).

In a 2022 ruling, the District Court for the Northern District of California agreed with plaintiff’s claims on electronic disclosure regulations but rejected the other two. Though the electronic disclosure regulations were invalided by the lower court, they were remanded without vacatur to USDA for further consideration. This means that the regulations, though found unlawful, could still be enforced while the agency made the changes mandated by the court. However, in the fall of 2025 the plaintiffs appealed the ruling to the Ninth Circuit.

In an October 2025 decision, the Ninth Circuit agreed with the challengers that claims 1 and 3 should be set aside. However, the Ninth Circuit did not reject claim 2 and found that the use of term “BE” was appropriate for disclosure. Regarding claim 1, the court rejected the Standard’s position on highly refined food by finding that highly refined foods which have modified genetic material “as a component or constituent part” are considered BE even if the genetically modified material is not detectible. Thus, the court determined that those foods would be required to comply with disclosure rules. With this conclusion, the Ninth Circuit determined that USDA’s interpretation was incorrect and that the agency should reconsider the regulations.

As for claim 3, the Ninth Circuit looked to the Standard’s electronic disclosure regulations. Specifically, the court considered whether the lower court’s decision to send the regulations back to the agency without vacatur was improper. Here, the Ninth Circuit found that the lower court’s decision was improper and remanded the regulations back to the district court.  It instructed the lower court to gather input from the parties to help the agency overturn portions of the regulations as needed.

At the District Court 2026

After instructing both parties to file briefs in response to the Ninth Circuit’s decision, on August 3, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California published an order establishing January 1, 2028 as the effective vacatur date for those regulations. This means that there is now a deadline for when the current regulations will expire. Thus, food manufactures may comply with the current BE disclosure rules until January 1, 2028. However, they should be on the lookout for related agency rulemaking. In its 2026 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, USDA indicated its intentions to propose rules that would revise the Standard “based on the Ninth Circuit [ . . .] decision.”

For more information on the Ninth Circuit decision, click here for NALC article “Ninth Circuit addresses ‘Natural Grocers v. Rollins.”

Stone, Emily. “Update for National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard.” Southern Ag Today

The post Update for National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

Following the release of the USDA Small Grains Summary and Quarterly Grain Stocks report, Oklahoma wheat marketing decisions are top of mind for producers navigating tight margins and heavy global export competition. Farm Director KC Sheperd recently sat down with Oklahoma State University Extension crop marketing specialist Todd Hubbs to examine the numbers and discuss risk management strategies for regional growers.

Looking at the wheat balance sheet, Hubbs indicated that final production numbers aligned closely with industry projections, though domestic usage came in slightly stronger than anticipated.

“In wheat, not really,” Hubbs said regarding major surprises. “It was pretty close to where everybody thought and the trade thought, both on production. A little bit stronger first-quarter usage in wheat than I think some expected, but it’s not a huge number.”

The larger market disruption stemmed from corn inventory adjustments.

“I guess the biggest surprise for most people was the corn stocks number,” Hubbs explained. “It was higher than expected, which is going to push up ending stocks into the out year, and we saw that reflected in the market. They basically lowered last year’s acreage slightly, and it implies feed and residual use, in particular residual, was much smaller in the fourth quarter.”

Global Pressures on Oklahoma Wheat Marketing

Despite a tighter hard red winter (HRW) wheat crop domestically, cash bids continue to struggle because U.S. export values remain uncompetitive on the world stage. Hubbs noted that aggressive export flows from Russia and Ukraine have kept international tender values well below U.S. Gulf offers.

“Well, we had a small crop in HRW, and we’re not really moving it,” Hubbs said. “Our price is still well above the world price and our major competitors. I think you’ve seen some of that premium put in from the Black Sea getting taken out of the wheat market a bit as Russia has been moving more of their wheat than maybe some people expected in September. We’ve seen their trade flows be a little bit higher than a lot of the trade was expecting. They’re moving it through the Azov and the Baltic, and Ukraine is moving theirs as well.”

Hubbs pointed out that international purchases of HRW wheat have largely been limited to Mexico and Japan. While white wheat exports have performed well, HRW sales continue to lag.

For producers planting wheat solely for grain production, input expenses present a challenging breakeven calculation. Hubbs emphasized that growers should keep their crop insurance guarantee top of mind.

“I think folks need to remember that the projected crop insurance price for HRW in Oklahoma came in at $8.11, which is well above where we’re currently at both cash and in the futures,” Hubbs said. “When you’re thinking about marketing, your breakeven, if you took crop insurance—which I think most people do—be thinking about that as part of your risk management plan.”

Developing Practical Oklahoma Wheat Marketing Plans

With diesel fuel fluctuating and fertilizer holding steady, overall profit margins remain compressed. Hubbs advised producers holding old-crop grain to evaluate their carry costs carefully rather than speculating on extended rallies.

“If you’re sitting on some old-crop grain, this weakness we’ve seen recently, I don’t know if we’re going to come back barring some kind of issue,” Hubbs said. “That issue would probably be early into next year because we’ve seen Black Sea, particularly Russian wheat planting, be really slow thus far for next year’s crop. But that’s a long time to wait and speculate on something like that. If you’re still hanging onto it and you’re not planning to carry any, you might want to think about getting rid of that.”

Given favorable cattle prices, grazing out wheat pasture may offer a more dependable return than holding grain for a speculative spring run.

“I’m not expecting a huge rally in the spring, but sometimes these things occur,” Hubbs noted. “It’s all about the weather and these geopolitical issues, and those are very uncertain. You need to sort of plan out and think, ‘Where would I need to be cash on grain relative to grazing it off?’ And it’s sort of leaning toward grazing off if you’re in that situation, the way I see the market playing out.”

When looking at overarching wildcards over the next 90 days, Hubbs concluded that geopolitical developments and their direct impact on input and energy costs remain paramount. Effective Oklahoma wheat marketing will require staying nimble as trade corridors and global energy prices evolve.

“I think it’s just the geopolitical issues, both in the Gulf and in the Black Sea,” Hubbs said. “If there’s any kind of resolution to this Iran conflict and we could see energy prices come down, maybe get diesel prices even a dollar lower, that would be tremendous. We could see some things start to move around for us based on our margins and just our shipping and our ability to export.”

The post Oklahoma Producers Weigh Grain Marketing Decisions Amid Tight Margins and Supply Pressures first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

American Farmland Trust has named Ben Kurtzman as Director of the National Agricultural Land Network and Senior Advisor, where he will lead network development and programming to ensure that the NALN meets its goal of building capacity among agricultural land protection and planning professionals. Kurtzman previously served as AFT’s Director of Land Protection Projects.

“I’m excited to move into the NALN Director role and build on AFT’s long history of providing support to the agricultural land protection community,” said Kurtzman. “The future of agriculture in America depends on our ability to work together to keep agricultural land in production. The NALN empowers agricultural land practitioners to share knowledge, collaborate on new strategies and tools, and respond to the urgent threats facing farm and ranchland.”

Launched in 2020 to elevate the cause of agricultural land protection across America, the NALN works to strengthen the collective capacity of public agencies, planning entities, land trusts, and farm and conservation organizations working to retain and protect agricultural land, and was designed to grow the capacity and momentum needed to elevate the cause of saving agricultural land across America.

Kurtzman hopes to expand the network’s programming to provide additional support to professional groups including attorneys, appraisers, realtors, and land managers working in agricultural land protection and retention. In April 2027, the NALN will host AFT’s national Saving America’s Working Lands Conference in Dallas, which convenes the nation’s leading farmland protection practitioners to explore scalable strategies to save America’s irreplaceable working lands and expand opportunities for the farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. “The National Agricultural Land Network is an important piece of AFT’s work to save the land that sustains us,” said AFT Vice President of Farmland Protection and Strategic Priorities Jenny Lester Moffitt. “By connecting public agencies, land trusts, planners and other practitioners concerned about agricultural land loss, and providing them with new tools as well as forums for increased peer learning and collaboration, we can ensure that America’s farm and ranch land remains productive for generations to come.”

Kurtzman succeeds NALN founding Director Cris Coffin, who will continue her role as AFT Senior Policy Advisor, helping to shape and guide AFT’s federal and state policy development and advocacy, primarily around working lands protection, land access, and farm transfer and succession. Coffin will also continue to be involved in planning AFT’s Saving America’s Working Lands National Conference scheduled for April 7-9, 2027 in Dallas, TX. The conference will showcase and explore strategies to save America’s irreplaceable working lands and expand opportunities for the farmers, ranchers, and rural communities that steward them.

“I’ve enjoyed the chance to establish and grow a network designed to support practitioners seeking tools and strategies to keep working lands working,” said Coffin. “We launched the NALN in 2020 with a 37-state webinar series that helped thousands of practitioners and advocates understand how they could use AFT’s Farms Under Threat: The State of the States findings in their state to support and increase agricultural land retention and protection. The interest that series generated made us realize how valuable the network could be in fostering connections, both within states and across the U.S., among those seeking to stem the loss of working lands.” Coffin notes how the network’s programing has built important connections and peer learning– from virtual roundtables focused on single states or topics, to a virtual community networking platform, to multi-year projects like Soil Health Stewards and Land Transfer Navigators, which have trained hundreds of land conservation practitioners to support farmers and ranchers seeking to improve soil health or transfer their farm to the next generation.

“Our members are eager to share and learn from each other, and thirsty for new tools and strategies to keep working lands in production. Ben will do a terrific job in continuing to grow the NALN to meet this demand.”

“Looking to the future, we will continue to provide high-level professional networking content to our membership of more than 1,600 organizations and individuals that reflects the current issues and conditions impacting farmland protection practitioners around the country. I’m looking forward to bringing the experience I’ve developed as a land protection practitioner to the Network’s programming,” Kurtzman said.

Kurtzman joined AFT in 2005 and has served in a variety of farmland protection roles. As Director of Land Protection Projects, he oversaw AFT’s in-house land trust function, including the completion of 43 individual farmland protection projects totaling nearly 17,000 acres. In this role he developed and implemented new Easement Acquisition and BPS programs while overseeing all aspects of easement stewardship and fee land management activities, including AFT’s response to easement assignments, amendments and violations. Before joining Land Protection Projects, Kurtzman spent 10 years with AFT’s Farmland Information Center, where he managed law and policy research and authored numerous research reports, fact sheets, and technical memoranda on farmland protection. He also coordinated AFT’s annual surveys of State and Local PACE programs and tracked key state and federal legislation related to farmland protection. Kurtzman is a producer of “The Barber Farm,” an award-winning film documenting his in-laws’ efforts to protect their farm in Vermont.

The post AFT Names Ben Kurtzman Director and Senior Advisor, National Agricultural Land Network first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15) championed vital investments of $13.8 billion in the farm safety net improvements through the Working Families Tax Cuts that are now being administered by the Farm Service Agency. They issued the following statement as farm families are experiencing the benefits delivered with improvements to the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) including increased reference prices, modernized payment limitations, and the allocation of 30 million new base acres.

“Farming is an inherently risky business. America’s producers need adequate risk management tools that deliver certainty and predictability to continue growing our food and fiber. After years of operating under an outdated farm safety net, congressional Republicans delivered enhanced policies to protect and manage against market volatility and diminished yields. The ARC and PLC payments farmers are receiving this month are critical to supporting our hardworking farm families, strengthening the stability of the industry and planning for a future in farming.”

These updates are the first meaningful investments to the farm safety net since 2002. Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts will provide $13.8 billion in ARC/PLC support, more than double what farmers were expected to receive before these changes.

Implementation for improvements to ARC and PLC follows the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of other Working Families Tax Cuts provisions, including expanded access to and eligibility for standing disaster programs including the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) and Livestock Forage Program (LFP), in addition to making crop insurance more affordable.

The post Boozman, Thompson Highlight $13.8 billion ARC/PLC Support Under Improved Farm Safety Net first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) championed vital investments of $13.8 billion in the farm safety net improvements through the Working Families Tax Cuts that are now being administered by the Farm Service Agency. They issued the following statement as farm families are experiencing the benefits delivered with improvements to the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) including increased reference prices, modernized payment limitations, and the allocation of 30 million new base acres.
 
“Farming is an inherently risky business. America’s producers need adequate risk management tools that deliver certainty and predictability to continue growing our food and fiber. After years of operating under an outdated farm safety net, congressional Republicans delivered enhanced policies to protect and manage against market volatility and diminished yields. The ARC and PLC payments farmers are receiving this month are critical to supporting our hardworking farm families, strengthening the stability of the industry and planning for a future in farming.”
 
These updates are the first meaningful investments to the farm safety net since 2002. Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts will provide $13.8 billion in ARC/PLC support, more than double what farmers were expected to receive before these changes.
 
Implementation for improvements to ARC and PLC follows the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of other Working Families Tax Cuts provisions, including expanded access to and eligibility for standing disaster programs including the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) and Livestock Forage Program (LFP), in addition to making crop insurance more affordable.

The post Thompson, Boozman Statement on Enhanced Commodity Payments first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.