Gov. Stitt signs 'Truth in Food Labeling' bill into law

Governor Signs 'Truth in Food Labeling' Bill into Law

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, today commented on the governor signing into law a bill that will require manufactured-protein food products to be clearly labeled as distinct from meat.

House Bill 1126, will require food manufacturers, distributers and retailers to clearly disclose that cell-cultivated or cultured products or those that come from a lab, plants or insect proteins are not meat. Those convicted of false advertising could face a misdemeanor.  

"I wish to thank Governor Stitt for signing House Bill 1126 into law," Grego said. "This is an effort to help protect beef producers, such as myself, against the flood of products claiming to be meat. Many of these products are derived from plants, insects, or even originate in a Petri dish. I believe if you as a consumer wish to consume these products there should be no doubt as to how they were produced. This bill really is a truth in labeling bill."

Humphrey considers legislation to support state's ranchers

Humphrey to Consider Legislation to Support State's Ranchers

OKLAHOMA CITY (August 17th) – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, today said he is considering proposing legislation that could be brought forward in the House's current special session to assist Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in the current drought.

House advances measure to add meats to 'Oklahoma Certified' list

House Advances Measure to Add Meats to 'Oklahoma Certified' List

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, today won unanimous House passage of a bill that would expand the list of meats on the "Oklahoma Certified" list.

Currently beef (bovine) is the only meat on the list. Under House Bill 2368, swine, goat, lamb, poultry and fish would be added.

"Getting meat locally from a safe and trusted source while at the same time helping our Oklahoma farmers and ranchers is vitally important," Grego said. "This is especially true in this current climate where gas prices, supply chain breakdowns and inflation are significantly raising the price of many products. The more 'Oklahoma Certified' meats we have, the better we'll be able to feed people here in the Heartland."

Lucas, Inhofe: Biden's death tax plan hurts farmers, ranchers

Biden's Stepped-Up Basis Plan Hurts Farmers, Ranchers

by Sen. Jim Inhofe and Rep. Frank Lucas

(December 11, 2021) You don’t have to travel very far in Oklahoma to understand how important farming and agriculture are to our state. We are the second-largest beef-cow-producing state and fourth-largest wheat producing state in the nation. Oklahoma is also home to over 86,000 farms, covering 35 million acres. Farms and ranches have been passed down in many families from generation to generation—our agricultural roots run very deep.

Take the Brandon family from Kay County for example. Charlie Brandon and his wife, Lindsey, grow wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans and oats on their family farm. They also own a hay business and a cow-calf and stocker operation. The Brandon farm has been passed down from generation to generation starting with Charlie’s great-grandparents. Charlie and Lindsey’s children, Piper, Baylin and Bowen, will be fifth-generation farmers—a very special opportunity. We are proud to know many families in Oklahoma who share the Brandons’ story—family farms are part of our state’s identity.

Back in 2017, Congress made history by enacting the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the first comprehensive tax reform legislation in 30 years. This critical legislation continued Congress’ commitment to ensure farmers like the Brandon family aren’t disproportionately taxed on their assets. Our friend and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Sen. John Boozman, said it best in Fox News:

“Farmers are land rich and cash poor. Their farmland is equivalent to a farmer’s 401(k). Instead of traditional retirement accounts, farmers and ranchers invest in cropland and pastureland, and tirelessly work that land in an effort to create a more prosperous future for their loved ones.”

Democrats are trying to get rid of the stepped-up basis, consequently increasing taxes on hard-working farmers like the Brandon family to pay for their socialist agenda for coastal states like New York and California. They would like you to believe that stepped-up basis is a government subsidy for wealthy heirs and that the wealthiest family dynasties absorb the overwhelming majority of the benefit. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Lucas' cattle bill passes House, aims to bring transparency to market for producers

Lucas' Cattle Contract Library Act Passes House

Washington, DC – Tonight, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5609- the Cattle Contract Library Act. Introduced by Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), and Frank Lucas (R-OK), the bipartisan bill would direct the United State Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) to establish a contract library for cattle producers, ensuring more transparency in the cattle market for producers. Congressman Frank Lucas released the following statement praising the passage of the Cattle Contract Library Act:

“Market strains have highlighted the vulnerabilities our cattlemen and women face day in-and-day out. For far too long, cattle producers have operated under volatile market conditions, forced to accept declining prices for live cattle while the cost of beef goes up at the grocery store. In order to guarantee greater competition, price discovery, and transparency, producers must be able to leverage marketing data while negotiating the price of cattle- and the Cattle Contract Library Act does just that,” said Congressman Frank Lucas. “I thank my House colleagues for passing the Cattle Contract Library Act, which will help America’s cattlemen and women better negotiate higher prices for their cattle. As Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers know, data drives marketing decisions and the Cattle Contract Library Act will improve transparency and give more leverage to Oklahoma’s cattle producers. I thank Congressman Johnson and Congressman Cuellar for their leadership on this issue, and I look forward to working with our Senate colleagues to move this legislation forward.”

Currently, USDA maintains a pork contract library, and following significant volatility in the cattle market and the release of the July 2020 Boxed Beef & Fed Cattle Price Spread Investigation Report, the creation of a cattle contract library was recommended by experts and stakeholders.

Lucas helps introduce bill to help meat and poultry processors meet demand

Lucas, Peterson Introduce RAMP-UP Act Helping Meat & Poultry Processors Access Inspection to Meet Demand

Cheyenne, OK – Today, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (MN-07) introduced the Requiring Assistance to Meat Processors for Upgrading Plants (RAMP-UP) Act.

The RAMP-UP Act would establish a program to make facility upgrades and planning grants to existing meat and poultry processors to help them move to Federal Inspection and be able to sell their products across state lines. The legislation would also require the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to work with states and report on ways to improve the existing Cooperative Interstate Shipment program.

“Right now, America’s meat producers and processors are facing unprecedented market challenges. At a time when producers are experiencing increased demand for high-quality meat, meat processors across the United States are racing to increase their capacity to meet the demands of consumers and producers,” said Congressman Lucas. “The RAMP-UP Act gives processors the tools to become federally inspected facilities, which widens their customer base while maintaining strong inspection standards. I’m proud to join my friend and Agriculture Committee Chairman, Congressman Collin Peterson in expanding the opportunities for not only Oklahoma’s processing facilities but meat processors across the United States.”

“We have seen the importance of having meat and poultry processors of all sizes in Minnesota and across the country over the past few months,” said Chairman Peterson. “The RAMP-UP Act will provide grants to help these rural small businesses meet that demand, wherever their customers live.”

State legislators Attack Beef Problems

Legislators Attack Beef Problems

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 18th) – An Oklahoma beef task force designed to analyze problems in marketing and processing beef has been organized by State Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, and State Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant.

The two legislators have invited independent ranchers, meat buyers, meat processors, livestock auction owners and meat inspectors to convene and identify financial obstacles and structured solutions that will provide a process for long-term financial gain for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers.

 “Four major meat packers, Tyson Foods, Cargill, JBS (Brazilian owned) and National Beef are controlling about 87 percent of beef processing and sales,” Humphrey said. “They have considerable control over what ranchers are paid for cattle and what consumers pay for meat. The beef price is very low for ranchers and extremely high for consumers while meat packers are making millions of dollars. This is not acceptable.”

Congressman Lucas comments on DOJ investigation of beef-processing industry

Lucas Statement on DOJ Investigation of Beef-Processing Industry

Cheyenne, OK – Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) released the following statement after reports surfaced that the U.S. Department of Justice has issued civil subpoenas to the titans of the beef-processing industry: JBS USA Holdings Inc., Tyson Foods Inc., Cargill Inc. and National Beef Packing Co.:

“The reports of the Department of Justice’s continued investigation into the meatpacking industry is encouraging news for cattle ranchers across America. The coronavirus pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of America’s food supply chain and accentuated the challenges beef producers face with a market that is controlled by the actions of a few, mostly foreign-based firms.”

Lucas continued, “The DOJ’s investigation could shed light on these unsettling competition and security problems in our supply chain, and I join my fellow cattle ranchers in thanking the Department for their checks and balances on an increasingly competitive food industry. I urge U.S. Attorney General William Barr to share the findings of the Department’s investigation with Congress as soon as possible so that policymakers can address the concerns of their investigation and restore confidence back into cattle markets.”

JBS USA Holdings, Tyson Foods, Cargill, and the National Beef Packing Co. account for roughly 73% of the beef processing capacity in the United States.

Lucas, Oklahoma delegation ask USDA to provide findings of Beef pricing investigation

Members of Congress Ask USDA to Provide Findings of Beef Pricing Investigation As Soon As Possible

Cheyenne, OK – Today, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) led a bipartisan letter with 24 of his House colleagues to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting that he provide the findings of the Agency’s beef pricing investigation to Congress as soon as possible. Following the announcement of the USDA’s Packers and Stockyard Division investigation in August of 2019, Secretary Perdue, extended USDA’s investigation last month to determine the causes of divergence between live beef and box prices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Beginning in the first few weeks of the crisis, cattlemen have seen prices drastically decline, with cattle futures falling 29% between the month of January and April, all-the-while beef prices increased on market shelves. While we do recognize the complexity of the beef markets generally, the devastating effect this has had on many of our constituents in the last few weeks is clear. This is of great concern to us for a variety of reasons but chief among them being the doubt it casts on our markets as a whole. When market participants begin to believe that markets are not competitive or transparent that suspicion has a dangerous industry-wide ripple effect. That is why we applaud you for expanding the ongoing investigation into the cattle market's reaction to the 2019 plant fire in Holcomb, Kansas to encompass the more recent CV-19 related market concerns. This oversight role the agency plays is an immensely important one that helps ensure that our markets are equipped to function properly,” the Members of Congress wrote.

State Rep. Humphrey requests AG investigate beef industry, packing over market manipulation

Humphrey Requests AG Investigation of OK Beef Industry

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, last week met with Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter regarding his request of an investigation into the Oklahoma beef industry. On Tuesday, he sent a follow-up letter expressing appreciation for Hunter’s quick response to his initial request and commending Hunter’s staff for how quickly they addressed his concerns.

Humphrey said Hunter’s staff directed him to webinars and Zoom meetings presented by leading powerbrokers in the beef industry. After listening to hours of discussion, he wrote Hunter to report back his conclusions.

“First, it is very important to know and understand that COVID-19 did not create the crises now presented within the beef industry,” Humphrey wrote. “The virus merely accelerated and exposed multiple factors pertaining to market manipulation within the industry. The beef packing industry is a critical component of an extremely complex beef market network. Many organizations designated to represent beef producers may have acquired an unbalanced perspective of the importance of the packers verses the producers. These organization have used their potential to peddle influence on behalf of the packing industry to establish an unfair, and I believe, an unlawful market advantage. This type of manipulation will result in the eradication of the present beef producer model and lead to a commercialization of the beef industry, which has already materialized in the pork and poultry industries.”

OK Cattlemen release list of producers selling beef direct to consumer

From the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association:

Selling Beef Direct to the Consumer . . .

is not a new idea, but it has definitely gained popularity during the recent disruption in the meat supply chain due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’ve compiled a list of our members who are selling beef direct in an effort to connect consumers with beef cattle ranchers. We hope this list will be a win for consumers and producers. Beef producers take pride in the delicious, nutritious protein that they produce. The opportunity to market direct connects beef cattle ranchers and consumers on a more intimate level.

This list includes members of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association that raise cattle and sell beef direct to consumers. We encourage consumers to reach out to the member of your choice.

OK Cattlemen's Association compiling list of members selling beef direct-to-consumer

CLICK HERE TO VIEW UPDATE: OK Cattlemen release list of producers selling beef direct to consumer

Consumers are Looking to Buy Beef Direct. OCA is working to Compose a List of Producers that are Selling Beef Direct

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. April 28, 2020 – The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) is working to compile a list of OCA members who sell beef direct to the consumer.

“With the current COVID-19 pandemic and the meat supply chain being disrupted by sickness of employees at packing plants, the demand to buy beef direct is at an all-time high!” said Mike Weeks, President of the OCA. “After several inquiries, we have decided to compose a list of OCA members  who sell beef direct.”