The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) is midway through its annual fall gathering meetings across the state. Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey, who says the atmosphere has been upbeat. “Great crowds, a real mix of young and old, a lot of great discussion, and a lot of good attitudes,” he noted, describing the strong turnout and enthusiasm among members. Despite the positive mood, Kelsey said there has been “one rather large elephant in the room,” referring to recent comments from former President Donald Trump about the price of beef.
Kelsey explained that the President’s comments have caused unnecessary disruption in an otherwise strong market. “Up until about two weeks ago, nobody was talking about the price of beef,” he said. “Consumers certainly aren’t saying that beef is too high. And yet, when the President says beef is too high, that just wrecks our market.” He emphasized that while the cattle industry appreciates Trump’s support in many areas, “He’s wrong on this issue. Beef is not too high. It’s finally at a point where, in our opinion, it’s at the value that it should be.”
Despite the political noise, Kelsey remains confident in the underlying market fundamentals. “We still have a good market, considering the fundamentals—supply, demand, etc.—we’ll be okay,” he said. He noted that analysts continue to see “much, much stronger prices” ahead, pointing out that “the supply side is very much in our favor, and consumer demand is at an all 40-year time high.” According to Kelsey, as long as consumers continue to purchase beef, “the fundamentals are there. They’re great. We don’t need these interruptions and static… we’re in a good spot.”
Kelsey also discussed the challenges and decisions producers are facing regarding heifer retention. “It’s a very mixed bag,” he said. “Some producers are saying, ‘You bet I do,’ and so I’m keeping a few heifers… If they don’t have the resources, then no.” He explained that factors such as water, forage, and labor are all playing into those individual decisions. “Some producers are like, you know, I’m at the age where I’m not going to sell out, but I’m not going to build anymore,” he added, acknowledging that others are nearing retirement and naturally downsizing.
Kelsey reaffirmed the resilience and skill of Oklahoma’s cattle producers. “Our producers are fantastic at what they do,” he said. While recognizing that rebuilding supply takes time, he emphasized optimism and patience: “We don’t need these interruptions… we’re in good shape. Let’s keep moving forward.”
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