Cheyenne, Oklahoma Rancher Jimmy Taylor assumed the chairmanship of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board in February of this year- and is chairing the CBB meetings in San Diego at the summer business meetings.

Between meetings- I caught up with Jimmy Taylor to talk about his efforts to lead the checkoff process here in 2023.

Taylor says he is honored to lead the group of cattle producers from around the country who volunteer their time to be a part of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board as they make decisions about how to invest checkoff dollars collected from each sale of a beef animal across the US. According to the law that established the Beef Checkoff in 1985- those dollars are to be used for promotion, education and research.

The summer business meetings are very important for CBB members- as they will be reviewing current projects authorized last year at the start of the 2023 Fiscal year- and then they are getting a first look at the proposals from checkoff contractors that could be funded in fiscal year 2024, which starts October first.

Our coverage from San Diego is being powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.



Dating back to 1891, Stillwater Milling Company has been supplying ranchers with the highest quality feeds made from the highest quality ingredients. Their full line of A & M Feeds can be delivered direct to your farm, found at their Agri-Center stores in Stillwater, Davis, Claremore and Perry or at more than 125 dealers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. We appreciate Stillwater Milling Company’s long time support of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and we encourage you to click here to learn more about their products and services.

Executive Director of the Oklahoma Soybean Board Rick Reimer on Keeping Soybeans in the Conversation

Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Intern, Maci Carter, had the opportunity to visit with Rick Reimer, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Soybean Board, last week at the 2023 Annual Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show. Together, they discussed what is next for the Soybean Board, where the industry stands, and how they are looking to continue growing the industry.

“The Soybeans Spectacular, we will bring elementary, even middle school and some high school teachers to Stillwater, put them up for the night, and they will have all day with the curriculum that we teach them how to use the curriculum, and then give them about $200 worth of supplies to take back to their classroom,” Reimer said.

This Soybean Spectacular program, Reimer said, is designed to educate teachers with an agricultural curriculum that they can implement in their own classrooms.

“Those are new uses of everything from biodiesel, soy ink, soy paint, so plastics, and a new uses for the soybean meal,” Reimer said. “It’s almost endless. We call it the miracle crop of many uses.”

Farmers and Ranchers Reject Rep. Victoria Spartz’s Anti-Checkoff Amendment

Ag Organizations Representing Indiana’s Top Commodities Unite Against Spartz Amendment

Today, the producer-led organizations representing several of Indiana’s top commodities announced their joint opposition to an amendment introduced by Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) that attacks commodity checkoff programs. The amendment was introduced to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2024, the legislation that funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA): “Rep. Spartz’s amendment targets programs like the Beef Checkoff and is a direct attack on America’s farmers and ranchers,” said NCBA Policy Division Vice Chair Tim Schwab, an Indiana cattle producer. “The Beef Checkoff conducts critical nutrition and food safety research, strengthens consumer demand for beef, and helps farms and ranches stay in business. I hope Rep. Spartz withdraws her amendment and sides with Indiana agriculture over animal rights activists.”

Several other groups have voiced opposition to the Spartz amendment. In an article from the Southeast Ag Network- Ethan Lane, Vice President of Government Affairs calls out the Congresswoman for not understanding how checkoff programs work- explaining that checkoff programs are regulated by USDA- but no federal appropriated dollars are used as the Checkoffs cover those costs of USDA's oversight.

On Tuesday afternoon- Lane had a big grin on his face in the Media room at the Summer Cattle Industry Business meetings as he showed me this screen shot from Congresswoman Spartz-

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, was featured in the Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast episode titled “Howdy Neighbors!” The Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast group is currently made up of Brian Arnall, Josh Lofton, Randy Taylor, and Dave Deken. The first part of the latest podcast episode talks about a summer crop update, including issues with chinch bugs, getting ready for wheat planting, and more.

Summer crops are progressing well, Lofton said, as corn is beginning to mature. As much of the corn in the state progresses, Lofton said, on average, it will be about four or five weeks until harvest begins.

“Most of the early planted milo has got heads out, you know, in different maturities,” Lofton said.

Overall, Lofton said summer crops are looking great, but one concern he is hearing from producers is about cotton.

“Some areas are not getting enough heat to push that cotton crop along enough,” Lofton said.

Looking at the high plains, Arnall said that the western cotton crop was a little late getting in the ground. The cotton crop does well in the mid to low 90s, Arnall said, temperature-wise.

A big issue at the moment, Lofton said, is chinch bugs and false chinch bugs. These pests are not only an issue for sorghum, Lofton said, but also corn.

Top 10 Ways to Make Cow Herds More Profitable

Noble Research Institute livestock consultant Robert Wells offers best management practices that can help ranchers survive market- and weather-related disruptions and allow for more profit year-in and year-out.

The ranching business has always been subject to the variability and extremes of external factors, such as market volatility and weather extremes. Neither of these seem to be letting up any time soon. 

So for ranchers to economically survive market downturns as well as capitalize on good times, it helps to get back to the basics, fine-tune their operations and plan for the long-term. An extremely viable strategy is to start working more with nature and less against it through implementation of regenerative ranching principles. 

The following is a Top 10 list of management practices and concepts to consider that can help keep you from paying to be in the ranching business and losing money for the next few years. Remember, the difference between someone who is a hobbyist or professional is if they pay to do it or they are paid for what they do. 

Pro Tem Treat Comments on Attorney General Drummond Intervention into Ongoing Tribal Litigation Over Gaming Compact Dispute

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, today released the following statement after Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed an entry of appearance in the litigation between the state and tribal nations over gaming compacts that have been ongoing since 2020.

“I appreciate Attorney General Drummond’s dedication to the rule of law and his willingness to intervene in this case,” Pro Tem Treat said. “His involvement is our best and most expeditious path forward. The governor has wasted untold amounts of taxpayer money on these lawsuits that have been an abject failure. Continuing them does nothing but alienate our tribal partners and undermine the very goals that the governor says he’s trying to achieve. The McGirt and Hooper cases are deeply troubling but our actions to mitigate their potential negative impact need to be lawful, strategic, effective, and respectful of the tribal leaders that are also fellow Oklahomans. Heretofore, his actions fail on all four metrics. I am hopeful that with the attorney general warranted intervention and recent legislative action that Oklahoma can start to move down a more effective pathway.   

“The Oklahoma Supreme Court has already ruled twice in favor of lawsuits filed by the legislature, determining the governor acted illegally. He then doubled down and has been trying to get a federal court to invalidate state sovereignty and the rule of law to get his way. It cannot continue, which is why the attorney general’s entry of appearance is a welcome development.”

The news of the attorney general’s involvement comes a week after the pro tem responded to a different letter encouraging his involvement. 

County Farm Bureaus Support Members Through Personal Development and Mental Health Opportunities

By Sydney Garrett

Through its annual County Activities of Excellence Awards, the American Farm Bureau Federation celebrates county Farm Bureaus for their unique, volunteer-driven programming. Gallia, Clinton and Pike County Farm Bureaus were among 24 county Farm Bureaus recognized for their programs and activities in 2021 and 2022. The programs featured here focused on member services.

Meat your Local Butcher – Gallia County Farm Bureau, Ohio

Gallia County Farm Bureau wanted to provide their members with an opportunity to connect with local butchers and meat science professionals to learn more about meat products and distribution. “Meat Your Local Butcher” accomplished that goal with 30 county members in attendance learning more about the processing sector of the livestock industry.

Each attendee went home with meat cuts breakdown sheets from the lamb, beef and pork associations and a better understanding of the butchers in their area.

Applications are now open for the 2024 County Activities of Excellence. Up to 24 counties will display their winning activities at the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention in Salt Lake City in January. County award winners receive up to four free registrations to the Annual Convention (cost of travel and housing not included) and a $2,250 stipend to apply toward the cost of travel and exhibition.