U.S. pork exports, which posted a strong finish in 2022, maintained momentum in January, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). U.S. beef exports were record-breaking in 2022 but slowed late in the year. This trend continued in January, as shipments were well below the large totals from a year ago.

January pork exports totaled 236,767 metric tons (mt), up 13% year-over-year, while export value climbed 16% to $643.4 million. Exports to Mexico, which finished 2022 on a remarkable run on the way to an annual record, set another volume record in January. Exports also trended significantly higher year-over-year to China/Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Honduras and the ASEAN region.

“While Mexico is certainly the pacesetter for U.S. pork exports, it’s encouraging to see such broad-based growth,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Market diversification is always a point of emphasis for the U.S. industry, and it’s more important than ever to find new opportunities for U.S. pork in both established and emerging markets.”

Beef exports declined to several major destinations in January, though shipments increased sharply to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines and Africa. January volume fell 15% year-over-year to 100,942 mt, valued at $702.3 million (down 32%).

Beef inventories swelled in some key markets near the end of last year, contributing to a challenging environment for U.S. exports.



National Livestock was founded in 1932 in Oklahoma City. National’s Marketing Division offers cattle for sale weekly at the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City. The Finance Division lends money to ranchers across several states for cattle production. The Grazing Division works with producers to place cattle for grazing on wheat or grass pastures. 

National also owns and operates other livestock marketing subsidiaries including Southern Oklahoma Livestock Auction in Ada, Oklahoma, OKC West Livestock Market in El Reno, Oklahoma, and the nation’s premier livestock video sale, Superior Livestock Auction. National offers customers many services custom made for today’s producer. To learn more, click here for the website or call the Oklahoma City office at 1-800-310-0220.

For the third week in a row, exceptional drought remains at 8.86 percent, and extreme drought or worse remains at 36.64 percent. Rains this week will hopefully be reflected in next week’s report.

According to State Climatologist, Gary McManus, there is no guarantee that the current drought in northwest Oklahoma will end soon. However, there is hope for more rainfall, as the weather patterns are constantly changing and the region is prone to strong storms and heavy rainfall.

Severe drought or worse has improved only slightly, moving from 53.52 percent last week to 51.53 percent this week.

Moderate drought or worse has improved from last week’s 66.88 percent to 59.92 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions have improved significantly this week, moving from last week’s 77.15 percent to 67.07 percent.

According to the 6-10-day precipitation outlook map, the majority of the state aside from the panhandle area is leaning above a 33 to 40 percent chance of precipitation through March 18th. The panhandle area is leaning above a 40 to 50 percent chance of precipitation through March 18th.

OYE Jumping Into Road Gear 

Thursday was opening day for the Commercial gilts and commercial heifers at the 2023 Oklahoma Youth Expo.

Dark Cross Commercial Gilt Champion was shown by Kensley Whittington while the Commercial Heifer Champion was shown by Kyan Herrmann.

Today- the commercial gilt show continues with the light cross show- and the Supreme Commercial Gilt selection follows the light crosses. The plan is to pick around 60 commercial gilts for the Night of Stars Sale that happens this coming Wednesday.

The Purebred Gilt show will start around 1 PM this afternoon unless the Commercial Gilt selection takes longer. Durocs. Landrace and Polands will show this afternoon.

The Dow Showmanship gets underway in the Super Barn Arena at 10:30 this morning- and the Wether Dam Breeding Doe show follows the showmanship.

Also this morning- KC Sheperd is back with a OYE Morning Minute live shot on Facebook. You can see her live on OYE's Facebook page as well as on Kennedy Ventures page.

Our coverage of the 2023 Oklahoma Youth Expo is sponsored by Hilliary Communications- who deliver the latest cutting-edge communications services supporting tens of thousands of customers across 22 counties throughout Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa. Click here to learn more about Hilliary Communications.

And- check out our pictures on Flickr- our 2023 OYE Album is available here.

In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, I am back visiting with California cattle producer, Mike Smith, with more about the conversation on Environmental, Social and Governance and the problems he sees down the road for cattle producers. Smith was on the program at the International Livestock Congress that focused on ESG.

Smith has concerns that corporate America is interested in demanding information about greenhouse gas emissions without providing any value back in return to the producers who participate.

“A lot of these companies that are asking the industry to do these things have publicly stated they have no intention whatsoever of providing premiums to those who can meet these requirements,” Smith said. “So, effectively, it is ‘play our game, abide by our rules or tough kittens.’”

Smith said is time for the beef industry to push back. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has taken a position to keep government out, Smith said, but he has concerns because NCBA also says to keep from requiring farmers and ranchers from reporting this information, and to just require publicly traded companies to do so.

“Therein lies the rub, because even though there is not going to be direct requirements to the government of cow-calf operators, there very well could be requirements coming down the supply chain,” Smith said. “So, big corporate America. It is the Burger Kings, it is the McDonalds, it is the Wendy’s.”

These publicly traded companies, Smith said, will want to make certain they have access, either to borrow capital or have asset management groups invest in their corporations. To get these investments, Smith said publicly traded companies will have to ‘play the ESG game’ to receive preferential treatment.

Kim Anderson Talks Wheat Yield and Prices Going Forward

This Week on SUNUP is Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Kim Anderson. During this week’s edition, Anderson talks about the latest information in the grain markets.

Anderson said it is 80 days until Oklahoma starts cutting wheat, and in 100 days, the harvest will be going ‘full blast.’ As of now, Anderson added, farmers are wanting to know where yields and prices will be.

“I don’t know about yields, and I don’t believe anybody knows about price, but there are some indications of what price will be,” Anderson said. “If you look at the forward contract price for harvest delivered wheat, say in the Pond Creek-Medford area, that is about $7.50. Research has shown that price is about the best price to use for prediction of harvest price.”

Anderson sees that price as being somewhere in between $7.50 and $8.50.

“There is a possibility that we could see what prices as low as 6 dollars or as high as 10 or 11 dollars,” Anderson said.

Covid is out of the market now, Anderson said, but things are still being impacted by the war in Russia and Ukraine.

“If something happens, we could see 13-dollar wheat again, but if we will get the war taken care of and we get Covid taken care of, I think that six to nine dollar range is good as long as we got relatively tight stocks, and when we get more stocks, it is going to fall below six (dollar) and maybe even go down to four (dollars),” Anderson said.

The American Farm Bureau Federation and CNH Industrial brands, Case IH and New Holland, signed a memorandum of understanding today that provides farmers and ranchers the right to repair their own farm equipment. The MOU follows a similar agreement AFBF entered into with John Deere earlier this year. 

“Our members urged us to find a private sector-solution that gives them access to repair their own equipment and I’m pleased months of discussions have again paid off,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Farmers and ranchers are more dependent on technology than ever before, so it’s critical they have access to the tools to keep things running on the farm so the food supply chain keeps running, too.”

“We understand the work our customers do is time-sensitive and critical for a safe and abundant food and fiber supply,” said Sally Johnson, Vice President, New Holland Agriculture North America. “This agreement is the next step in delivering on New Holland’s promise to better serve our customers, and in a way that helps them safely and effectively manage and maintain their equipment uptime.”

“This agreement underscores CNH Industrial’s commitment to empowering our customers by providing them with resources and tools that allow them to safely self-repair their equipment in a timely matter,” said Kurt Coffey, Vice President, Case IH North America.

Statement by Secretary Vilsack on the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget

The President’s Budget for USDA invests in an equitable and climate-smart food and agriculture economy that protects and improves the quality of life for all Americans.

The Biden-Harris Administration today released the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2024. The budget details a blueprint to grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out, lower costs for families, protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security, and reduce the deficit by ensuring the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share—all while ensuring no one making less than $400,000 per year pays more in taxes.

“The President’s budget provides USDA with the tools needed to serve all Americans by providing effective, innovative science-based public policy leadership at home and around the world. It contains critical investments that will help rural communities provide the fuel, food, and fiber upon which our nation depends and will drive solutions that will lead to more market opportunities for producers,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

More Stories For Your Weekend Reading