Dec 01
Farm director KC Sheperd spoke with Mike Stranz, vice president of advocacy for the National Farmers Union, at the National Farm Broadcasters Convention in Kansas City. The conversation centers on current challenges facing farmers, beginning with concerns about the aftermath of the recent government shutdown and what comes next for federal trade assistance. Stranz emphasizes …
Nov 28
Farm director KC Sheperd spoke with Michael Langemeier of Purdue University, who began with an introduction to the Ag Economy Barometer, a monthly survey conducted by Purdue to track the sentiment of U.S. agricultural producers. Langemeier explained that the survey has been ongoing for about a decade and involves polling 400 producers every month. “We …
Nov 28
At the National Farm Broadcasters Convention, Farm Director KC Sheperd spoke with Paul Paplow of U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. (USCHI), to discuss the dynamic, high-stakes life of custom harvesting and the critical role these mobile crews play in American agriculture. Paplow’s own operation exemplifies the massive scale of the work, running a route that covers …
Nov 28
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, released this week, delivers a mixed signal to Oklahoma’s agriculture sector. While rainfall and management efforts have helped reduce the overall extent of severe and moderate dryness, an entrenched area of Extreme Drought (D3) remains a major threat to winter wheat, forage, and water supplies in the southern and …
Nov 27
Thanksgiving is a time to slow down, gather with the people who matter most, and enjoy the dishes that feel like home. For many Southern families, no holiday table feels complete without one standout ingredient: the sweet potato. Whether baked, mashed, candied, or topped with toasted marshmallows, this humble crop has become a Thanksgiving staple …
Nov 27
Stockyards City Main Street invites everyone to join the festivities for the Annual Cowboy Christmas Parade in historic Stockyards City on Saturday, December 6th! Parade Details The excitement kicks off at 10:00 a.m. with the majestic Slash O Ranch Longhorns leading the way. The parade features a mix of fun entries, including: The parade route …
Nov 27
While many associate the Super Bowl with football, for USDA food safety experts, the real high-stakes game is Thanksgiving. According to Meredith Carothers, a food safety expert with the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline, Thanksgiving is their “food safety Super Bowl of the year”. The holiday presents numerous food safety challenges because there are “so …
Nov 26
Following a recent lapse in government funding, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is working hard to bring its vital statistical reports back on schedule. In an interview with Farm Director KC Sheperd, Joe Parsons of USDA NASS discussed the agency’s mission to recover from the hiatus and underscored the irreplaceable value of farm …
Nov 26
Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Sean Voskhul from AARP. Voskhul began with recognition of the vital role caregivers play across the country. Voskhul highlighted that “835,000 caregivers in Oklahoma provide that labor of love every day, taking care of individuals so they can stay at home where they want to be …
Nov 26
Geoff Cooper, CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), spoke with Intern Karleigh Erramouspe about the current market dynamics for U.S. ethanol, revealing record-setting export levels and highlighting a major new opportunity in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Legislative Roadblocks for E15 Cooper began by outlining the core function of the RFA: representing U.S. ethanol producers, …
