Number of American farms in rapid decline; without support they may not come back

Farm-with-Silos

Important Takeaways:

  • Over 140,000 Farms Lost in 5 Years
  • Between 2017 and 2022, the number of farms in the U.S. declined by 141,733 or 7%, according to USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, released on Feb. 13. Acres operated by farm operations during the same timeframe declined by 20.1 million (2.2%), a loss equivalent to an area about the size of Maine. Only 1.88% of acres operated and 1% of farm operations were classified under a non-family corporate farm structure.
  • While the number of farm operations and acres operated declined, the value of agricultural production increased, rising from $389 billion in 2017 to $533 billion in 2022 (40% nominally and 17% adjusted for inflation).
  • Between 2017 and 2022 all states but five (Alaska, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey and Rhode Island) lost farms. Texas had the largest numerical loss – nearly 18,000 farm operations – followed by Oklahoma (-8,153) and Missouri (-7,433).
  • The challenges faced by farms of all sizes has raised calls for a robust and comprehensive farm bill that could provide support to the operations most at risk and to those providing the lion’s share of the American food supply, helping both to navigate economic uncertainties and regulatory complexities, to undertake innovative and sustainable practices, and to promote the long-term viability of a diverse agricultural landscape across the nation. The Census of Agriculture paints the picture of what we have lost, and of what more could be lost without firm support.

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16 Tornadoes touch down and more on the way; Severe storms forecasted for central America

Luke 21:25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves

Important Takeaways:

  • Over a dozen tornadoes hit America’s Heartland, with more in the forecast
  • At least 16 tornadoes were reported across five U.S. states overnight — Louisiana, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center
  • Some of the worst damage was reported in and around Noble, Oklahoma, about 30 miles south of Oklahoma City, where a tornado struck homes and businesses, according to local ABC affiliate KOCO.
  • More severe weather is expected to hit the region on Friday with huge hail, some tornadoes and damaging winds in the forecast.
  • The highest threat for hail and tornadoes will be from Kansas City, Kansas, to Des Moines, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska.
  • The highest threat for damaging winds will be from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Dallas, Midland and San Antonio, Texas.
  • Some areas in Texas could see up to 10 inches of rain over the weekend into early next week, according to the National Weather Service.

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Oklahoma drought being compared to the Dust Bowl

Oklahoma Wheat Drought

Luke 21:25 ““And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves

Important Takeaways:

  • ‘I think we’re to the Dust Bowl.’ Oklahoma farmers say wheat crop is worst in decades
  • “We had less than half of a crop last year, and we’re probably going to have half of that this year. It’s terrible,” said 75-year-old Burlington farmer Keith Kisling. “We’re in the most severe drought I’ve ever seen.”
  • Farmers and agricultural businesses are bracing for the impact of a winter wheat harvest devastated by prolonged drought across much of the United States, including north-central and western Oklahoma. More than half of the Sooner State’s wheat crop is in poor condition, and producers warn that consumers and local economies likely will face financial impacts.

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Trans Activists entered Oklahoma’s State Capital demanding Lawmakers stop protecting Minor’s from Sterilization

Romans 1:28 “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”  2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Important Takeaways:

  • ‘Militant Trans Activists’ Take Over State Capitol, Demand Lawmakers Stop Protecting Minors from Sterilization
  • A large group of transgender activists entered the Oklahoma Capitol on Monday, protesting new proposals by the state legislature that would ban gender-altering procedures for young people.
  • The activists were protesting four proposed bills that ban genital reassignment surgeries as well as cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers that sterilize young people.
  • SB129 would prohibit gender transition procedures for those under 26, while SB252 caps the law at 18 and younger, according to The Washington Free Beacon. SB129 would also punish physicians for providing such procedures. Under the proposed measure, doctors would also lose their license to practice and would be criminally prosecuted.
  • The bills have not yet come up for a vote in the legislature.

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Oklahoma Assistant DA in jail for possessing child porn, unfortunately he’s not the only official who’s been busted for similar crime

Romans 1:28 “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”

Important Takeaways:

  • Oklahoma Assistant D.A. Accused of Possessing Child Pornography
  • Kevin Etherington, 53, was charged with one count of aggravated possession of child pornography and one count of violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).
  • On September 1, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children gave 14 cyber tips to the OSBI Internet Crimes Against Children Division (ICAC), which ended up being linked to a single suspect, later identified as Etherington, the OSBI said in a statement.
  • District Attorney Laura Austin Thomas, whom Etherington worked for, announced that he was fired following the news of the charges, per the Oklahoman.
  • Etherington is currently being held in a Payne County Jail.
  • There have been several public officials who have recently been either accused or found guilty of possessing child pornography.
  • In October, Breitbart News reported that a Democrat former mayor from Beaverton, Oregon, Dennis Doyle, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography.
  • In September, a Democrat former councilman from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 14 to 30 months in jail after pleading guilty to child pornography charges.

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Beef could be $50 per pound soon Ranchers predict

Revelations 18:23 ‘For the merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.’

Important Takeaways:

  • Oklahoma Ranchers Predict Beef To Rise To $50 per Pound
  • The whole state of Oklahoma is currently classified in a state of drought. Some areas are considered “abnormally dry” while others are listed as experiencing “extreme” drought status, but that’s not painting the full picture that is happening across the entire beef industry right now.
  • During periods of past drought, it hasn’t historically been a widespread occurrence. It’s usually one region or another suffering from dry conditions, and the other regions have been able to support those in need.
  • This drought isn’t currently limited to Oklahoma and a handful of other states… It’s almost the entire western half of the country, and the pain we’re feeling now in the store is nothing compared to what ranchers are warning us of.
  • Thanks to the unending economic symptoms of the pandemic and 2022’s inflation double-punch, average beef prices are currently about twice what they were in 2019. Add in the deepening widespread drought, a shortage of hay and feed, skyrocketing prices, transport costs, and various other metrics, some Southwest Oklahoma beef producers suggest cheap ground beef could eventually top $50 per pound.
  • Between the current inflation and the weather, we could be headed towards another Dust Bowl and Great Depression: Part Deux.

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Seminole Oklahoma hit by two tornado events leading to massive power outage

Important Takeaways:

  • 2nd tornado cluster ravages towns in Oklahoma and Texas
  • The community of Seminole, Oklahoma, has been ripped apart by two tornado events in three days, including a multi-tornado outbreak Wednesday evening, leading to massive structural damage and power outage in the city.
  • The second tornado of the evening touched ground at approximately 8:48 p.m. CDT, after the area was already shaken from the prior hour’s damage. Seminole County was unable to sound the area’s tornado sirens due to power outages, leading to a potentially dangerous situation for those needing to take safety precautions.

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Oklahoma House votes 70-14 on Pro-Life Bill

Exodus 20:13 ““You shall not murder.”

Important Takeaways:

  • Oklahoma Legislature Passes Near-Total Abortion Ban
  • Oklahoma’s Republican-led State Legislature passed a law on Tuesday which would ban abortion in nearly every circumstance and punish physicians who perform abortions with heavy fines, jail time, or both.
  • The Oklahoma House voted 70-14 to pass SB 612, sending it to Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), who has previously vowed to sign “every piece of pro-life legislation” that comes across his desk
  • The House also passed a resolution on Tuesday designating January 22, 2022, the “Day of Tears” in Oklahoma because the Supreme Court “erroneously ruled” that abortion was a constitutional right in Roe v. Wade on January 22, 1973.
  • “Since that ill-fated day, over sixty-one million (61,000,000) preborn children in the United States have perished,” the text states.

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Oklahoma State Officials investigating first case of Avian Flu in bird population

Revelations 6:8 “And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.”

Important Takeaways:

  • First case of avian influenza detected in Oklahoma
  • Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry say a wild duck in Payne County is the first wild bird in Oklahoma to be confirmed to be infected with Eurasian H5 type of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
  • “I encourage poultry owners of all kinds to continue to remain vigilant, practice good biosecurity and report sick or dying birds immediately.”
  • At this point, the virus is considered low-risk to people. However, it can be detrimental to poultry species.

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Kingston Oklahoma hit by Tornado

Important Takeaways:

  • Monster tornado sweeps Oklahoma, leaving residents trapped in their homes: report
  • While several injuries have been reported through the Kingston area, there have been no reported deaths.
  • The Oklahoma Department of Transportation was forced to close US-70 as its crews cleared the roadways for safe use, Fox 25 of Oklahoma City reported.
  • Photos taken at the scene show the carnage left behind as homes were wrestled down to their foundations, vehicles were flipped over, and debris sprawled for miles.

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