The National Livestock Companies are pleased to announce their support, once again, for the All American Beef Battalion (AABB). Later today, the Oklahoma National Stockyards will auction a calf for the benefit of the AABB, along with National Livestock providing lunch for those in attendance.

The AABB crew is bringing in their cooker and will be preparing a ribeye lunch. Lunch will begin at 11:00 a.m. and the actual sale will take place at approximately 12:30 p.m. in the sale arena of the Stockyards. The calf to be auctioned is again being donated by 3C Cattle Feeders and the Clyde Runyan family of Mill Creek, Oklahoma.

If you can be there and support the Steaks for Troops efforts- you are welcome. If you can't make it- you can call Debbie Wedel at  800-310-0220. You can also go the group's website by clicking here and contributing.

More details are available here. You can also check out this story that features KC Sheperd talking with Jon Fort of the AABB about their efforts to feed troops being deployed or returning from deployment.

Off to a Fast Start in 2023- DASNR Dean Jayson Lusk Looks Forward to 2024

It's been a non stop six months for the new Vice President and Dean of the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dr. Jayson Lusk, after assuming his position at OSU in July of this year. I caught up with Dr. Lusk at the Christmas Party hosted by Alumni of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program for Class XXI of OALP.

This is Jayson Lusk’s second stint at OSU- he was professor and the WIllard Sparks Endowed Chair in Ag Economics from 2005 to 2017 in Stillwater. Starting in 2017, he served Purdue University as a distinguished professor and head of the Agricultural Economics Department before the move back to OSU this past summer.

Dr. Lusk has arrived in the middle of the building of the New Frontiers New Ag Hall building project- and he tells me that the race is on to get that facility complete. “The scheduled completion date is the end of July- we have classes scheduled in the building for the end of August- we better get done because I don’t know where we have classes if it’s not finished. But progress is well under way- it’s wonderful to see that building come up- that facility is being made possible by the generosity of our many alums and donors around the state and around the country- it’s just great to see the support we have out there to support the next generation of students.”



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.

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays recently had the chance to catch up with Western Oklahoma Farmer and Vice President of No-till on the Plains, Jimmy Emmons, about their winter conference coming up in January.

On January 22, the 28th annual conference of No-till on the Plains will take place in Wichita, Kansas. Registration is now open and early bird rates are available until January 5, 2024.

No-till on the Plains, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit educational organization providing information for producers to adopt high-quality continuous no-till systems, and to further develop those systems. While adopting high-quality continuous no-tillage and utilizing the best agronomic practices has the potential to improve producers’ efficiency and profitability greatly, many other benefits accrue to society, such as greatly reduced soil erosion of cropland, less sedimentation of rivers, lakes, and streams along with improved wildlife habitat, all while sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide in soil organic matter.

“We have got a great conference lined up and great speakers also,” Emmons said.

Derrell Peel Believes Lower Cow Herd Numbers in 2024 Are Inevitable

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am talking with Oklahoma State University Livestock Market Economist, Derrell Peel, about beef cow herd numbers.

The USDA will release the next set of beef cow inventory numbers in a little over a month. The expectation is that those numbers may be less than they were in January of 2023.

Peel says there is simply no way to avoid a lower beef cow herd number at the end of January 2024.

“The indications, even coming into 2023, was that we would likely see some additional herd liquidation,” Peel said. “As we have gone through the year and monitored heifer slaughter and cow slaughter through the year, I have actually sort of raised my forecast of how much we will drop on January 1.”

Peel said he expects to see at least a two percent decrease in the cowherd going into 2024. In fact, Peel added, that decrease could easily be 2.5 percent.

Today the U.S. Treasury Department issued guidance on eligibility for the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) tax credit enacted in Section 40B of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued the following statement in response:

“In an important first step, the Biden administration has recognized the merits of using the GREET model in its guidance for eligibility in the 40B Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) tax credit. America’s biofuel producers and their farm partners continue to innovate with myriad technologies that are further reducing the carbon intensity of low-carbon bioethanol, and we are ready to lead the aviation sector into a lower-carbon future. This guidance signals our potential ability to participate in the SAF market.  

“New investments in SAF are highly dependent on the pending GREET modeling updates, however, and the industry needs more clarity around the proposed changes before we have certainty around market access. Today, under this guidance, SAF produced from other biofuels including Brazilian cane bioethanol qualifies for the 40B tax credit, but the path for American-made corn-based bioethanol remains unclear. U.S. tax policy shouldn’t advantage foreign firms over domestic ones. 

“Any GREET update must follow sound science and account for the proven environmental benefits of American-made bioethanol. The Department of Energy’s Argonne-GREET model —widely accepted as the gold standard carbon model by the nation’s scientists, academics, and researchers—already reflects the latest science showing bioethanol’s limited impact on land use and its significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Biden administration should hold fast to this widely accepted science and ignore those who seek to limit SAF opportunities by pushing an inaccurate and outdated narrative about bioethanol...." 

Public Comment Period for OWRB 2024 Rule Changes Open Now

The OWRB is proposing to amend its administrative rules relating to dam safety application fees, the inspection reporting process for dam owners, and public notice for groundwater applications. New rules are being proposed to address interference with the stream water permits and operations of Tom Steed and Lugert-Altus reservoirs. The OWRB also proposes to make permanent the emergency rules related to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) process.

The public comment period for proposed rules begins on December 15, 2023, and will continue to 5:00 p.m. on January 16, 2024. A public hearing will be held during the regular meeting of the OWRB beginning at 9:30 a.m. on January 16, 2024, at 3800 N. Classen Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73118. Questions may be directed to Chrystal Krittenbrink at Cris.Krittenbrink@owrb.ok.gov or (405) 530-8801.Learn more about the OWRB’s 2024 proposed rule changes.

NPPC Hosts Pork Action Group Meeting for Top Producers

What happened: The country’s top pork producers convened at NPPC’s annual Pork Action Group (PAG) meeting in Marco Island, FL, held Dec. 13-15. The event provided a platform for insightful discussions on critical issues within the industry, featuring expert insights on retailer and foodservice dynamics, as well as the continuing challenges facing the industry throughout the value chain.

Distinguished speakers included the Animal Ag Alliance President and CEO Hannah Thompson-Weeman, C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. Corporate Manager of Perishable Meat Purchasing Jay Pooler, and Bryan Valladares, director of sustainability for Darden Restaurant Group, one of the world’s largest full-service restaurant companies, which owns Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and many others.

NPPC Vice President of International Affairs Maria C. Zieba moderated a panel on international trade with updates from former deputy U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Rufus Yerxa, who now is senior adviser with McLarty Associates; and former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative of Agricultural Affairs Sharon Bomer, principal and founder of AgTrade Strategies. Brett Stuart, Founder and President of Global AgriTrends spoke about trends and issues in global red meat trade and policy.