Category Archives: Business

Specialty Crop Farmers Assistance

By Staff Report

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $1 billion in Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program assistance for specialty crops and sugar, commodities not covered through the previously announced Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program. These one-time bridge payments will help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation, and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports. Specialty crop producers have until March 13, 2026, to report 2025 acres to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

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Foreign Money Backs SQ832?

By Jonathan Small, OCPA

State Question 832 would mandate annual increases in Oklahoma’s minimum wage based on increases in the cost-of-living in the nation’s urban centers, as measured by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.

That would effectively mandate rapid increases in wages far above market rates in Oklahoma, based on the cost-of-living in places like San Franscisco and New York City.

It’s worth asking who is bankrolling this insane idea—particularly after recent revelations.

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Support Local Small Businesses

By Melanie Nelson

For Tulsa community members, busy parents, shift workers, retirees, and new neighbors, supporting local small businesses is no longer a feel-good extra; it’s community-driven commerce that keeps paychecks circulating and streets active. The tension is simple: neighborhood entrepreneurs face rising costs, thinner staffing, and unpredictable demand, so random “shop local” intentions can miss the mark. When local support is steady and targeted, the local small business impact shows up in everyday life: more stable jobs, stronger nearby services, and a safer-feeling city block. This is about protecting Tulsa’s economic benefits of local support before more storefronts go dark.

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Global Gas Prices Report: OK Lowest

By David Arnett

Zutobi has released its 2026 Global Gas Prices Report, analyzing fuel costs across all U.S. states.

Oklahoma stands out with the lowest average gas price in the country. At $2.31 per gallon, Oklahoma prices reflect a 14.77% decrease compared to 2025, when prices averaged $2.72 per gallon. This combination of low prices and a significant year-over-year drop puts Oklahoma at the top nationally for fuel affordability.

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Securing Critical Water Resources

By David Arnett

In a Tuesday afternoon, the Secretaries of State and Agriculture celebrated a new commitment between the United States and Mexico that strengthens implementation of the 1944 Water Treaty, providing greater certainty for farmers, ranchers, and producers in South Texas who rely on consistent water deliveries from the Rio Grande.

The Rio Grande meanders between Texas and Mexico
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