Sep 25
In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays features comments from Ethan Lane, senior vice president for governmental affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, following a National Association of Farm Broadcasters webinar. Lane discussed the ongoing push for mandatory country of origin labeling and concerns about outside groups influencing livestock policy …
Sep 25
While national coverage of the extended U.S.-China trade truce focuses almost entirely on Midwestern soybeans, the practical impact for Oklahoma agricultural producers comes down to three specific commodities: grain sorghum, upland cotton, and beef carcass cutout value. The decision by Washington and Beijing to push their tariff ceasefire deadline out to January 10 temporarily stabilizes …
Sep 24
The Kansas Livestock Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and Texas Cattle Feeders Association are closely monitoring reported U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity affecting agricultural communities in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. Our organizations respect the responsibility of federal agencies to enforce the law. At the same time, cattle producers, feedyards, dairies, livestock markets, processors, and …
Sep 24
Volatile crop markets and planting uncertainty are creating a challenging backdrop for Oklahoma producers as fall fieldwork gets underway. After starting the week on solid ground, commodity markets gave back their gains and then some, with hard red winter wheat contracts dropping roughly 30 cents from Monday’s highs. Farm Director KC Sheperd recently sat down …
Sep 24
To view the latest Oklahoma drought map, CLICK HERE. Oklahoma’s drought situation continues to worsen, with exceptional drought now covering 20.79% of the state—the highest percentage of exceptional drought in the nation. With moderate to extreme drought affecting all of Oklahoma and no part of the state currently drought-free, conditions remain especially concerning across western and …
Sep 24
Rural electric cooperatives across the nation are facing unprecedented shifts in electricity demand as large-scale data center projects increasingly target rural communities, according to Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The NRECA represents more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives that are now balancing how to accommodate massive industrial loads …
Sep 23
Oklahoma drought relief may finally be approaching as a strengthening El Niño pattern offers hope to parched agricultural lands, according to State Climatologist Gary McManus. Speaking with Farm Director KC Sheperd at a recent Drought Commission meeting, McManus outlined the harsh reality currently facing the state’s agricultural producers while presenting a more promising long-term outlook …
Sep 23
Oklahoma State University hosted food industry professionals and researchers Thursday, Sept. 17, for a workshop exploring how high-pressure processing technology can improve food safety, extend shelf life and create new opportunities for the beef industry. Oklahoma Farm Report intern Haden Snelson visited with researchers from OSU and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln during the HPP workshop …
Sep 23
In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays features audio with Bob Funk Jr. about the upcoming dispersal of the Express Ranches cattle operation. Funk’s comments come from a recent conversation that he and longtime Express Ranches’ management Donnie Robertson and Kevin Hafner had about the decision to disperse the historic herd …
Sep 22
The Oklahoma Drought Commission convened to address intensifying dry conditions across the state, formalizing plans to open application access for $2 million in reallocated relief funds. Farm Director KC Sheperd visited with Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur during the meeting to discuss the rapid expansion of drought severity and what it means for producers …
