Oct 19
In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Dr. Shalene McNeill, executive director of Nutrition Science, Health and Wellness for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, which works with the Beef Checkoff. McNeill has been examining the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and what their increased emphasis on protein could mean …
Oct 19
Agricultural producers across the region are tracking a massive climate driver dominating the southern tier: a powerful, historic El Niño pattern sitting across the equatorial Pacific. According to State Climatologist Gary McManus, the unusually warm ocean waters extend hundreds of feet below the surface, supplying sustained energy that will influence Southern Plains weather straight through …
Oct 19
Ben Smith, a fifth-generation dairy farmer from Bealeton, VA, shows that dairy advocacy often begins with an honest conversation and the courage to speak from experience. “I believe everybody’s got something to teach and offer,” he said. “I’ve been so grateful to be around other people in this industry that have inspired me. I hope …
Oct 19
Oklahoma FFA state officer Annie Schneider is preparing to represent Oklahoma at the 2026 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she will serve as a delegate and compete in the national extemporaneous public speaking contest. Schneider, a member of the Seiling FFA chapter, spoke with Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays about her …
Oct 19
The most recent USDA Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade report shows that beef production among major world producers for 2027 is projected at 60.031 million metric tons, down fractionally from 2026 and down 3.7 percent from the peak in 2025. Among major beef producing countries, production is down in Brazil, the U.S., China, …
Oct 19
Kenny Burdine writes in Southern Ag Today: For most cow-calf operations, winter feed is the single largest cost and one of the biggest drivers of overall profitability. As we move through fall, hay feeding is becoming a major focus: some operations are preparing, some have just started, and some have been feeding hay for quite …
Oct 19
The National Cotton Council (NCC) appreciates the Trump Administration’s announcement allowing the stacking of endorsements for area-wide coverage, a policy change that will provide cotton producers with additional flexibility and risk management options as they navigate ongoing economic and production challenges. “Effective risk management tools are essential for cotton producers as they make decisions for …
Oct 19
Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins visited Giesenschlag Farms in Caldwell, Texas, where she announced two new actions under the Great American Cotton Plan to strengthen support for American cotton producers. “Under the last administration, the United States lost our title as the world’s top cotton exporter. Our cotton growers have been squeezed …
Oct 19
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is delivering approximately $ 307 million farm safety net and conservation program payments to Oklahoma farmers, ranchers and landowners. USDA recently announced nationwide historic safety net assistance totaling $13.8 billion in gross payments through the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs …
Oct 19
Nevada rancher Michael Bardsley testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission on behalf of R-CALF USA, describing how competition from imported lamb has contributed to lost buyers, devastating price swings and the disappearance of family sheep operations. Bardsley, representing John Espil Sheep Company and serving on R-CALF USA’s Sheep Committee, testified at the injury hearing …
