Agriculture

Ever since I arrived in Washington, I have been working to improve the future of agriculture in Oklahoma. I recognize the importance of the family farm to our state and to this nation. I served as a conferee on the 2002 and 2008 Farm bills. Additionally, I have worked to provide tax relief, less government regulation and promote fair trade in agriculture. I will continue to be a strong voice for production agriculture and work to ensure that farmers have the necessary resources to not survive, but to thrive.

As Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, I have long been a champion of voluntary agriculture conservation programs. During the drafting of the 2002 Farm Bill, I worked to secure the largest ever increase in programs such as Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Reserve Program, and many others. In the 2008 Farm Bill, I advocated for renewable energy provisions to be included in the farm bill which would allow rural areas to play a larger role in making the U.S. less dependent on foreign sources of energy. I am proud that the 2008 Farm Bill devotes a funding stream to renewable energy research, development, and production.

I have been proud to receive recognition from various agriculture groups for my work in support of their concerns. The American Farm Bureau Federation has presented me with its “Friend of Farm Bureau” award for supporting Farm Bureau issues in Congress in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006. In both 2002 and 2003, the National Farmers Union recognized me with the “Presidential Award for Leadership” for issues important to rural America. NFU also recognized me with the “Golden Triangle Award”, which is given to those who have demonstrated outstanding leadership on issues affecting family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. In 2002 the Oklahoma Wheat Commission presented me with their “Staff of Life” award for voting in favor of wheat growers and farmers 100 percent of the time. And for two years running, the National Association of Wheat Growers named me one of only 11 “Wheat Champion” Members of Congress for superior action in Congress in support of the wheat industry.

More on Agriculture

Lucas Applauds $69 Million Rural Electric Investment in Western Oklahoma

October 30, 2020 Press Release
Cheyenne, OK – Last week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $69 million to build and improve rural electric infrastructure in western Oklahoma.

Congressman Lucas Joins Johnson & Conaway in Introducing Cattle Reform Legislation

October 1, 2020 Press Release
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) joined Congressman Dusty Johnson (SD-AL) and House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member Mike Conaway (TX-11) in introducing the Price Reform in Cattle Economies (PRICE) Act, a bill to increase transparency in the cattle market, improve risk management, and support new and expanding meat processors.

Lucas Applauds USDA’s CFAP 2 Inclusion of All Wheat Varieties, Additional Assistance to America’s Ag Producers

September 18, 2020 Press Release
Cheyenne, OK – Today, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP) to better address the needs of all of America’s wheat growers. The CFAP 1 only covered assistance to hard red spring and durum wheat farmers, which only encompasses a piece of the wheat industry. President Donald Trump and USDA announced today that the Agency would provide an additional $14 billion for agriculture producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19, including growers of all classes of wheat.

Lucas, Colleagues Urge USDA to Provide Relief for Nation’s Wheat Growers

September 4, 2020 Press Release
Cheyenne, OK – Today, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (MN-07), House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Mike Conaway (TX-11), and 23 other House colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting funds in the CARES Act be provided to wheat growers of all wheat varieties to address price impacts from COVID-19.

Lucas Applauds USDA’s Streamlining of Emergency Haying & Grazing in Conservation Reserve Program

August 7, 2020 Press Release
Cheyenne, OK – Today, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes for emergency haying and grazing use of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). These changes, advocated for by Lucas in the 2018 Farm Bill, streamline the authorization process for Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers.

Lucas, Inhofe, Stitt, Arthur Applaud Trump Administration Investment of More Than $29 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Oklahoma

August 6, 2020 Press Release
Cheyenne, OK – U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (OK-03), U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Governor Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur today applauded the Trump Administration announcement that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than $29 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Oklahoma. This investment is part of the $100 million in grant funding made available for the ReConnect Pilot Program through the CARES Act.

High Plains Journal: USDA's packer analysis aims to prevent future market shifts

July 29, 2020 In The News
The results of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s boxed beef and fed cattle price spread investigation, launched by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue August 2019, has been eagerly awaited by many in the cattle industry.

Tulsa World: Inhofe, Lucas seek to curb foreign involvement in food supply chain

July 27, 2020 In The News
Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have stoked long-simmering concerns about foreign investment in U.S. agriculture and triggered action last week by U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and 3rd District Congressman Frank Lucas.

KOSU: Bill Seeks to Boost Small Scale Meat Processors Amid Meatpacking Shutdowns

July 27, 2020 In The News
Large meatpacking plants across the country shut down after outbreaks of COVID-19 among employees, causing supply chain disruptions for farmers, ranchers and consumers. But a new bill in the U.S. House seeks to address the problem by boosting small scale meat processors.

Lucas Statement on USDA’s Boxed Beef & Fed Cattle Price Spread Investigation Report

July 22, 2020 Press Release
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) released the following statement after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released an analysis of market conditions in the context of the ongoing beef market investigation. USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced on August 29, 2019 that USDA’s Packers and Stockyards Division would investigate beef pricing margins after a fire at a Tyson Food’s beef processing facility in Holcomb, Kansas. Following the spread of the coronavirus resulting in the divergence between box and live beef prices, Secretary Perdue later expanded the investigation to include developments related to the COVID-19 outbreak.