According to the latest Oklahoma Drought Monitor Report, exceptional drought increased from last week’s 12.83 percent to this week’s 15.27 percent.

Extreme drought or worse is virtually the same, moving from last week’s 37.30 percent to 37.99 percent.

Severe drought or worse is unchanged from last week, remaining at 48.59 percent.

Moderate drought or worse has moved from last week’s 53.68 percent to 53.65 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are virtually the same, moving from last week’s 60.31 percent to this week’s 60.30 percent.

According to the 6–10-day Precipitation Outlook map, the majority of Oklahoma is leaning above a 40 to 50 percent chance of precipitation through April 15th. The western half of the panhandle, along with eastern Oklahoma, is leaning above a 33 to 40 percent chance of precipitation. Further east, the chances of precipitation are near normal.

To view Oklahoma's drought numbers for this week, click the Oklahoma drought map above the story.



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.

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am visiting with the Director of Performance Programs at the American Angus Association, Dr. Esther Tarpoff, about data collection to improve the cow herd.

Working with Angus breeders across the country, Tarpoff said a large portion of her focus is on data collection. Data collected, Tarpoff added, includes information such as birth weights and weaning weights.

“We are taking that information; we worked hand in hand with AGI, Angus Genetics Incorporated, to then produce the EPDs that Angus members get back on their registered Angus cattle,” Tarpoff said.

There are many opportunities, Tarpoff said, to collect phenotypes and make selection tools for Angus members and their customers. With many ways to collect that information, Tarpoff recommends starting small.

“Do what you can,” Tarpoff said. “Do what you are comfortable with to start and do what you can do well.”

Tarpoff also talked about genomically enhanced EPDs.

“We are very fortunate to be able to use those for sure in the Angus industry, but in the entire beef industry to make better selection for those calves early in their life,” Tarpoff said.

Introducing Sarah Simons of the Morrison FFA Chapter, Your 2023 Northwest Area Star in Agriscience

During the month of April, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report are spotlighting the 17 Area Stars of Oklahoma FFA that are among the highest achievers in the organization.

The stars come from the five areas in four categories- Star in Ag Placement, Star in Agriscience, Star in Agribusiness, and Star in Agricultural Production.

One Star Finalist featured in the coming days from each of the categories will be named the State Star Award Winner during the 97th Oklahoma State FFA Convention coming up on May 2nd and 3rd in Tulsa, Okla.

This week, our coverage of the 2023 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists continues with Agriscience competitor Sarah Simons of the Morrison FFA chapter representing the Northwest Area.

“My freshman year, I did research over honeybees’ behavior, and how aminicolpred insecticide affects it, and my junior and senior year, I did research over investigating the habituation of a microscopic organism called the tardigrade,” Simons said.

In other words, Simons said she studied whether or not an insecticide could change the way a honey bee learns and behaves. The answer, she added, is yes- an insecticide can negatively impact the way a honeybee thinks.

“Even if you are having a sublethal exposure to an insecticide to honeybees, it is still going to damage how they think cognitively and physically,” Simons said. “I personally think that is the reason why the bee population is declining is because bees will get that, and they won’t be able to find their way back to their hive.”

Easter Greetings from KC and Her Easter Bunnies

Beef exports totaled 105,057 mt in February, down 3% from a year ago, while export value dropped 16% to $757.8 million. For the first two months of the year, exports were down 9% from last year’s large volume to just under 206,000 mt, while export value dipped 24% to $1.46 billion. February exports to Japan and South Korea increased slightly from a year ago, though value trended lower. Through February, beef exports trended significantly higher year-over-year to Mexico, the Caribbean, the European Union and South Africa.

“On the beef side, it was encouraging to see a modest rebound compared to January,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “With Asian markets continuing to ease indoor mask mandates and eliminate travel restrictions, we expect to see a continued boost in restaurant traffic and foodservice demand as the year progresses.”

U.S. pork exports remained robust in February, achieving double-digit increases over last year in both volume and value, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports were lower year-over-year but improved from the low totals posted in January.

Southwest Ranchers Bull and Female Sale Tomorrow

The Southwest Ranchers Bull and Female Sale will be held at the Wheeler's Farm Sale Facility in Chickasha, Oklahoma on April 8.

There will be 138 lots, including 115 Angus, Hereford and Red Angus Bulls, and 23 registered open Angus heifers.

Good Friday Has Become a Bit More Personal

As many of you know- I was honored to travel to Israel with Class XX of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program back in February- and the trip showcased amazing ag and the ancient culture of that land.

I won't speak for the others- but those memories will pale in comparison to living for a few days in the physical locations where Christ was born, grew up, had his earthly ministry and then offered His Love to Us by taking on the sin of all of us.

The picture above is at Station V of what is called the Via Dolorosa- Luke 23:26 tells of Simon from Cyrene who was in Jerusalem from the nearby countryside- perhaps a local farmer- he was grabbed by the Roman guards and forced to carry the cross of Christ along the street that leads to the hill of Calvary. Tradition says that at this point Jesus put his hand on the wall and over the centuries- pilgrims have placed their hand in the spot where Jesus- bleeding, in agony, rested for a moment. For just a few seconds- I put my hand there and thought of that "Good" Friday- the most pivotal day in history for mankind and our relationship with God.

Walking along the Via Dolorosa in Jersusalem made Good Friday just a bit more personal- reminding me of what Our Lord did for us all. The sunrise you see here was over the Sea of Galilee few days later- and I contemplated that morning about that AWFUL Friday for Jesus- and the fact that He came through it to Resurrection Sunday- giving us a chance to have a relationship with His Dad.

The word for it is Agape. I ran across these words that I want to share with you-

Agape love is unconditional, selfless, sacrificial love. It is love that has no boundaries; it has no end. It is love that never fails; it is love that gives us hope.

Our heavenly Father demonstrated agape love when He permitted His only begotten Son, Lord Jesus, to die in our place. He sacrificed His beloved Son to redeem us. Jesus displayed agape love as He gave up His holy dwelling and the riches of Heaven to live among us and then die on the cross as the price for our sins. He continued to bless us with agape love as He imparted to us His sweet Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Leader of our souls. He expressed His love as He made the blind see, the lame walk, and the dead arise. There is no greater love than the love that our Triune God has demonstrated toward us.

Come to our King and Savior, Jesus Christ, and experience the unconditional, selfless, sacrificial love that we can only receive through Him. 

If you want to talk about this open invitation that was made real 2000 years ago in that- drop me an email- my address is at the bottom of today's email.

AND from Jan and I- we wish you a wonderful Easter- and that you may know God's Agape Love.