Farm Director, KC Sheperd, caught up with the president of the Oklahoma CattleWomen’s Association, Cheyenne Sparks, and talked about the upcoming WIRED event and about her participation in the Cowgirl 30 Under 30 weekend.

“It (Cowgirl 30 Under 30 Weekend) was absolutely a humbling experience because I could not fathom, number one, the honor of being chosen for this award, you know, being put up on stage with 29 other fantastic women in the western industry was humbling and so honoring, and I have no words for how much I felt doted on,” Sparks said. “They really spoiled us with their sponsors. It was incredible.”

Regarding the upcoming WIRED event, Sparks said women from all backgrounds in Oklahoma and outside states are welcome.

“These aren’t just ranchers,” Sparks said. “These are women that have either grown up in ranching or haven’t. They’re consumers, everybody that came is just someone that loves the beef industry loves learning and knows that WIRED is definitely the place to get that knowledge.”

The Oklahoma WIRED event, Sparks said, is set to take place on Saturday, May 6.

“It’s actually going to be the day after our region meeting which is going to take place in the stockyards at the Cattlemen’s Steak House Special Events Center on Friday,” Sparks said.



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In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am visiting with the president and CEO of the United States Meat Export Federation, Dan Halstrom about headwinds on beef exports.

Because of high levels of beef exports throughout most of 2022, Halstrom said those numbers were expected to take a hit at some point.

“There are some headwinds out there,” Halstrom said. “We have been talking about those headwinds for quite a long while in the last part of last year. We’ve got that strong U.S. dollar, especially in Asia, especially in Japan, Korea, and a little bit effecting China as well. You still have inflation or impacts on pricing there, possibly slowing down some spending.”

Although exports are down 15 percent from last year, Halstrom said demand is still good and there has been success in a few key countries.

“Mexico had a very large month, up 20 percent,” Halstrom said.

Food service is in full swing in the Caribbean, Halstrom said; they are also up significantly.

Former State Lawmaker Mike Sanders Tabbed as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office

After considering more than 40 candidates from across the nation, the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board has voted unanimously to hire former Oklahoma State Representative Mike Sanders as executive director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office.



“I’m honored to be asked to serve in such an important role to benefit the state of Oklahoma,” Sanders said. “This effort builds on previous work to connect the entire state with the economy of the 21^st Century. The benefit to families, farms, businesses, and communities is this generation’s equivalent to the impact of rural electrification of the 1930s and the interstate system of the 1950s.”

Governor Kevin Stitt praised the board’s decision to hire Sanders.

“Mike’s extensive work at the state House and his time serving in the George W. Bush administration give him the unique ability to understand this process and how to best navigate the complicated DC bureaucracy to make sure these federal dollars are distributed fairly and align with our vision to deliver high-speed internet access to 95% of the state by 2028,” Stitt said.

Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, who serves on the governing board, expressed his confidence in Sanders.

“Mike has the experience to lead the effort to bring high-speed internet to every corner of our state. From his time with the USDA to serving on utility and transportation committees in the State House, he has the relevant background for this job. Just as important, Mike has a passion for and knowledge of Oklahoma that’s needed in this role. I trust him to make sure these dollars are invested fairly across the state. I look forward to working with him,” Pinnell said.

Wheat Markets Look For Weaker Dollar As Purchasing Conditions Improve

With recent breaks in U.S. and global wheat futures and lower freight rates, the wheat market seems to have turned a corner to favor buyers after two years of volatility and risk.

Despite the improved general outlook, inflationary pressures persist, influencing macroeconomic conditions both in the U.S. and for our customers overseas. For example, major runups in the U.S. dollar in the second and third quarter of 2022 impeded wheat trade. Yet even with recent strengthening, the U.S. dollar index has decreased 7% from the highs hit in September 2022, providing some relief for wheat importers.

As world wheat importers are keenly aware, a strong dollar erodes the purchasing power of foreign currencies, making U.S. commodities more expensive to customers.

The factors driving currency markets are often complex, but the recent dollar strength can be primarily attributed to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s reaction to the rising inflation triggered by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

New research on waxy starch in sorghum by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers shows that waxy starches can have undesirable effects on the human gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is an ecosystem of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract.

The Nebraska Food for Health research project focused on sorghum starch content, and its findings, were recently published in the journal “Gut Microbes”: “The waxy mutation in sorghum and other cereal grains reshapes the gut microbiome by reducing levels of multiple beneficial species.”

While starch is part of a healthy diet, it’s important to note that not all starches are created equal. Typically, native starch comprises 20 to 25% amylose and 75 to 80% amylopectin, while waxy starches contain no amylose and are composed almost entirely of amylopectin molecules due to a naturally occurring mutation in starch synthesis genes. Normal starches often have physicochemical properties that are undesirable for food processing, while waxy starches are known for their high digestibility, desirable viscous properties in food processing, and unique organoleptic characteristics, such as sticky rice.

Livestock Groups Support Bill to Expand Options for Packing Capacity

National livestock groups have come together to support Congressional efforts to expand opportunities for industry to invest in meat packing capacity.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sheep Industry Association, Livestock Marketing Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, and United States Cattlemen’s Association sent a letter to the Chairpeople and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees expressing the groups’ support of legislation to allow livestock market owners and operators to own or invest in small or regional livestock packing facilities.

The bipartisan legislation, the Expanding Local Meat Processing Act (S. 813), was reintroduced by Sens. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) last week. This is the Senate companion to the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (APLUS) Act (H.R.530), being led by U.S. Representatives Mark Alford (R-MO), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD). If enacted, these bills would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to update a regulatory prohibition under the Packers and Stockyards Act which bars livestock auction owners from owning or investing in packers.

“This is an antiquated rule that does not fit with the current, transparent method of selling livestock at an open auction where sellers can view the transaction either in person or by streaming the auction online,” the letter states.  

Upcoming Professional Opportunity with Ag in the Classroom

Join Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom for a special professional learning opportunity over National AITC’s new resource “Ag Badging Field Guides.” This resource was specifically created for 3rd-5th grade students, but it could be used at Ag Days or with 4-H students.

Follow this link to preview the resource: https://agclassroom.org/matrix/resource/1236/.

We have 5 professional development workshops available throughout the state which will include hands-on training and a local farm tour. Each participant will leave with 30 guides for students. Limit of 20 teachers per workshop, and lunch will be provided for participants.

Register at the link below and email Emily.ague@ag.ok.gov with any questions. You will be notified within 48 hours (possibly longer on weekend) of applying if you are accepted to attend the workshop.