Recently, I had the chance to chat with the new Dean and Vice President of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University, Dr. Jayson Lusk. Hays and Lusk talk about Lusk’s return to OSU after several years and his priorities going forward.

Lusk said there were a number of factors that pulled him back to OSU.

“One is just the importance of agriculture in this state, and the ability to have an impact on students,” Lusk said. “Really strong enrollment growth in the college of agriculture that attracts students from all over the country. Moreover, the importance of agriculture to the university is clear. The university’s strategic plan really highlights important parts of agriculture that they see as important to the future of the university.”

Lusk said that on the priority list for the President of OSU, Dr. Kayse Shrum, is investing in extension. Dr. Shrum’s interest in the integration of health and agriculture, Lusk said, is a new opportunity for the ag college.

“I look forward to working with her in a partnership that I think is fairly unique even when you look across land grand universities that have a president that really has this focus on agriculture,” Lusk said.



Midwest Farm Shows is proud to produce the two best Farm Shows in the State of Oklahoma annually- the Tulsa Farm Show each December and the Oklahoma City Farm Show each April.

The Tulsa Farm Show is Oklahoma’s premier agricultural and ranching event- and returns to the SageNet Center (Expo Square) December, 7-8-9, 2023. 

Now is the ideal time to contact the Midwest Farm Show Office at 507-437-7969 and book space at the 2022 Tulsa Farm Show.  To learn more about the Tulsa Farm Show, click here.

September Weather Outlook Looks Hot and Dry

September has arrived, and with it, is hot and try weather, according to State Climatologist Gary McManus.

“The heat and dry weather roared back with a vengeance, however, and flash drought erupted for the second consecutive summer," McManus said.

This week’s drought monitor shows how triple digit temps and very few rain showers have impacted the state so far.

“Only 13 percent of the state was in drought on August 8, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, contained entirely in small patches across far southwestern and north-central Oklahoma," McManus said. "That amount had increased to 36 percent in just three weeks’ time, and the percentage of the state in at least severe drought rose from 6 percent to 20 percent over that period. The entirety of that increase occurred in the southern half of the state where some Oklahoma Mesonet sites had gone as many as 53 days without a quarter-inch of rain in a single day. The flash drought left much of southern Oklahoma with flagging soilmoisture, dead and dormant vegetation, and critical wildfire conditions.”

USDA Forecasts 23% Drop From 2022 Farm Income Levels

USDA’s most recent Farm Sector Income Forecast, released Aug. 31, dropped net farm income expectations for 2023 lower than initial February estimates to $141.3 billion, down 23% from 2022’s $183 billion. This $41.7 billion decline nearly erases the $42.9 billion increase that was forecast between 2021 and 2022 but is smaller than the $46 billion gain between 2020 and 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic. When adjusted for inflation, net farm income, a broad measure of farm profitability, is expected to decrease $48 billion (25.4%) in 2023. The forecast also shows farm and ranch production expenses continuing to increase, rising by $29.5 billion (7%) in 2023 to $458 billion, following a record increase of $56 billion in 2022.

It is important to note USDA finalized net farm income for 2022, which has been forecasted until this release. In February, USDA had estimated 2022 net farm income at $162.7 billion, a 16% increase over 2021. This was adjusted to $183 billion, a 31% increase over 2021. USDA made upward revisions to cash receipts received in 2022 by over $6 billion and downward revisions to production expenses over $12 billion, explaining much of the difference.

Direct government payments are estimated to decrease by $3 billion, or 19%, between 2021 and 2022 to $12.6 billion. This marks the third consecutive decrease in government payments for producers since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 but is higher than the $10.2 billion in payments forecasted in February. The decrease corresponds to near total reductions in both USDA pandemic assistance, which included payments from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and other pandemic assistance to producers, and non-USDA pandemic assistance programs, such as the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. Ad hoc and supplemental program payments, which include payments from the Emergency Relief Program (ERP), Quality Loss Adjustment Program and other farm bill designated-disaster programs, are expected to decrease from $11.3 billion to $7.4 billion, a 34% decline.

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am featuring a “best of” edition, visiting with the senior vice president of global marketing and research at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Jennifer Nealson, about beef promotion.

With tighter supplies and higher prices, Nealson said one of the efforts the Beef Checkoff has focused on is teaching consumers how they can stretch their dollar and do more with the beef they purchase at the grocery store.

“The strategy we are deploying now is to help people understand how you cook beef once and serve it twice, and also beginning to reduce the barriers to entry,” Nealson said. “I think when you have higher prices, people are less likely to buy because they are worried they don’t know how to cook it.”

Nealson said more content is being released to help people choose what to buy at the supermarket and prepare it properly. A big message being pushed, Nealson said, is that beef can be cooked for more than just special occasions.

The Oklahoma Beef Council will host the second annual Steak & Grape wine pairing event on Friday, September 15th at Will Rogers Theater in Oklahoma City. As of today- there are still just a few tickets left!

The beneficiary of this year’s event is Pepper’s Ranch, Oklahoma’s premiere foster care community in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Located on 240 serene acres near Guthrie, Oklahoma, Pepper’s Ranch is home to Oklahoma’s premiere trauma trained foster families and serves 125-150 youth each year from within the child welfare system.

Peppers Ranch seeks to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect through a neighborhood of loving homes, counseling, and growth-oriented activities Their safe and nurturing community inspires and equips each child to break the cycle, reach their full potential, and become productive citizens of society.

The support of the attendees of the Oklahoma Beef Council’s Steak & Grape event will allow Peppers Ranch to continue to pour into Oklahoma’s youth and families together building a stronger, healthier Oklahoma for all. Steak & Grape will feature a four-course meal of beef expertly paired with robust wines. 

The night will also feature an opportunity to further support Pepper’s Ranch through a live auction with offerings of incredible trips, original artwork and BEEF! 



On behalf of Oklahoma’s beef farming and ranching families, the Oklahoma Beef Council is honored to have your support at this event and in this opportunity supporting Oklahoma foster youth.

Drought, Record Heat Threaten U.S. Soybean Crop at Critical Growing Stage

Prolonged drought and record heat are threatening soybean yields in several key growing states across the Midwest. With most of the soybean crop still in the critical pod-setting phase that depends on moisture in August, persistent dry conditions are lowering yield projections and raising concerns about the availability of supplies.

Scouts participating in the recent Pro Framer Crop Tour found sporadic and highly variable yields for both corn and soybeans, especially across the western Corn Belt. Record high temperatures and dry conditions in August have negatively impacted both crops. At this stage of the growing season, yield loss due to ongoing heat stress is a much greater risk for soybeans than for corn. 

According to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, soybeans have a much tighter supply situation than corn due to the loss of planted acres. USDA estimates soybean planted acreage fell 4.6% year-over-year this spring to the lowest level since 2020.

“If hot and dry conditions in the Midwest continue and yield loss for soybeans increases, the U.S. soybean supply will tighten further, resulting in stronger interior cash basis and lower exports,” said Tanner Ehmke, lead grains and oilseeds economist for CoBank.

OSU’s Derrell Peel- Cattle Prices March Higher…and Higher

Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry as part of the weekly series known as the “Cow Calf Corner” published electronically by Dr. Peel and Mark Johnson. Today, Dr. Peel talks about sharply higher calf and yearling cattle prices seen over the last several months.

Feeder cattle prices have increased sharply in 2023. Figure 1 shows the increase in Oklahoma combined auction feeder prices that started in late 2022. In the last four weeks, prices for lightweight calves and stockers under 600 pounds have averaged about 45 percent higher year over year, with heavier feeder cattle prices up slightly less, from 37 to 40 percent over last year. 

Cattle prices are trending higher in response to ever tightening cattle and beef supply fundamentals. The beef cow herd on January 1, 2023 was the lowest since 1962 and is still getting smaller. The projected 2023 U.S. calf crop is 2.5 million head smaller than the recent peak in 2018 and leads to an estimated July 1 feeder cattle supply down 3.6 percent year over year and the smallest since 2017.  Feedlot inventories have been smaller year over year since September 2022. Cattle slaughter is down 3.9 percent so far this year, leading to a 4.9 percent year over year decrease in beef production for the year to date.