May 06
Dear Oklahoma friends and neighbors, In this edition of the Lankford Letter: Funding for the Department of Homeland Security Protecting Us from Terrorism Military Operations in Iran Okies in Washington, DC Keeping You in the Loop Spring in Oklahoma usually means severe weather. So far, every part of the state has had“ one of those …
May 06
The beef industry is in the perfect storm right now with one of the smallest cow herds on record while experiencing continued demand for high-quality beef and an increasing per-capita consumption of beef. Beef producers are seeing record-high prices for the cattle they are selling. This is a perfect time to invest in the future …
May 06
A new article detailing the tragic death of 14‑year‑old Taylor VanderWeele underscores the urgent need for increased adoption and funding of rollover protective structures (ROPS) on older farm tractors. The article, part of the Telling the Story Project, recounts the VanderWeele family’s experience following a fatal tractor rollover on June 24, 2009, when Taylor was hauling …
May 06
In their April 8, 2026, Southern Ag Today article, Will Maples and Wendiam Sawadgo explained why futures markets matter for producers. Futures markets help farmers manage price risk, but speculators also play a useful role. Speculators add liquidity and take the “other side” of hedges, assuming price risk. But there is a second question worth …
May 06
At the recent NAFB Washington Watch event in Washington, D.C., Val Dolcini, Head of Public Affairs for Syngenta Crop Protection North America, provided attendees with a deep dive into the current political and economic pressures facing the agriculture industry. With nearly three decades of experience in agricultural policy, Dolcini highlighted the transactional nature of the …
May 06
Nitrogen fertilizer has always been one of the most powerful tools available to forage-based cattle producers, but it is also one of the most expensive. Nitrogen is produced from natural gas, so fertilizer prices tend to rise and fall with energy markets. As fertilizer costs increase, the key question for cow–calf producers is not “Can I …
May 06
RON’s Dave Lanning has a pre-opening look at today’s agricultural Markets. Click the audio tab below for today’s report.
May 05
Farmer sentiment fell in April as concerns about rising input costs, tighter availability and global instability continued to weigh on the agricultural outlook. The April Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped to 121, down from 127 in March. The decline was also driven by a decrease in confidence about current conditions, which dropped by 11 points, …
May 05
At the 100th Oklahoma State FFA Convention in Stillwater, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays caught up with 2026 State Prepared Public Speaking Champion Cierra Collins, a standout student from Frederick FFA who is bringing a unique and timely topic to the national stage. “I appreciate it,” Collins said after earning the top honor. …
