For the 12th time in 13 years- the folks at the Oklahoma National Stockyards stopped their final Monday sale of the year and did a special fundraiser for the All American Beef Battalion (SteaksForTroops.Com) that was founded by Bill Broadie from western Kansas- The 870 pound calf was sold 27 times midday in the sale arena- and then the calf was actually sold to raise more money for the AABB- $7.25 a pound! With additional pledges still coming in Monday evening, the 2023 tally is right at $57,000.

I talked with Chris Carroll of National Livestock and Ben Hale with Western Livestock Commission about the 2023 efforts- and we also reached back to 2019 when we talked with founder Bill Broadie about how this all began- click the Blue Button below to hear our 2023 wrap as well as our complete 2019 interview with Vietnam War Vet Broadie, who passed away a couple of years ago.

Before the start of the fundraiser on Monday- the eleven previous sales had generated $586,835 for the Steaks for Troops efforts. The 2023 event has pushed the cumulative total to over $640,000 since 2011. The website that is dedicated to these efforts explains the mission- “Organize and sponsor steak feeds, entertainment, programs, meetings, and projects with Service Members and their families.” To date- the All American Beef Battalion has served over 425,000 steaks in 26 different states across America.



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For more information on our services or to find a location near you, visit our website here.



In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am talking with the Vice President of the Livestock Marketing Association, Mike VanMaanen, about changes in the beef cattle business he and fellow cattle auction owners have seen. LMA represents around 800 auction facilities across the United States.

VanMaanen owns an auction barn, Eastern Missouri Commission, in Bowling Green, Missouri.

“I think it has changed in the fact that smaller producers are struggling to stay in business,” VanMaanen said.

In many cases, VanMaanen said it is hard to give the next generation enough incentive to come back and keep the ranch going, and he has noticed a lack of young people wanting to be involved in the cattle business.

“There are lots of job opportunities for young people that pay benefits and may not have to work as hard as ranching is these days,” VanMaanen said.

Through having the chance to be part of the LMA, VanMaanen said he has found it challenging, yet interesting to represent all regions of the U.S. and help producers voice their opinions and needs.

U.S. Grains Council Works to Stay Ahead of Industry Issues to Aid Farmers

Farm Director, KC Sheperd, recently had the chance to visit with the Director of Trade Policy for the U.S. Grains Council, Andrew Brant, about the latest from the Grains Council and more.

According to Brant, the U.S. Grains Council works to promote corn, sorghum, barley, and ethanol around the world to increase exports for farmer members.

“Here at the U.S. Grains Council, we are more focused on the long-term,” Brant said. “The work we are doing and the programs we are executing around the world are designed to develop markets five to 15 years from now.”

Brant talked about some exciting opportunities looking ahead, including the opening of a U.S. Grains office in India last year.

“As far as I know, we are the first U.S. cooperator to have an office in India,” Brant said.

Africa and Southeast Asia are also areas of great opportunity, Brant said, where U.S. Grains is working to lay the groundwork for the future.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau applauds Attorney General Gentner Drummond for his efforts to uphold Oklahoma’s constitutional process to determine fair wages through his opposition to Initiative Petition 446, which would be put to a vote of the people as State Question 832.

Drummond filed a brief last Thursday with the Oklahoma Supreme Court in support of the OKFB Legal Foundation’s challenge to Initiative Petition 446, which would establish the state question to raise minimum wage.

Drummond sided with the OKFB Legal Foundation in the brief, calling the measure “an unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority” with intent to delegate legislative power to a federal entity, a practice prohibited by the Oklahoma Constitution.

State Question 832 would increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2029 and annually increase it starting in 2030. The increase would be based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, a projection that inaccurately reflects much of Oklahoma.

“Oklahoma Farm Bureau members regularly visit with their state legislators about important agricultural and rural issues, including fair wages,” said Steve Thompson, OKFB vice president of public policy. “State Question 832 takes away the state legislature’s responsibility to set minimum wage and places it in the hands of a federal government agency. We appreciate Attorney General Drummond for upholding the processes already in place by the Oklahoma Constitution.”

The OKFB Legal Foundation weighed in on State Question 832 in late November, joining the State Chamber of Oklahoma in a formal protest against the issue. OKFB’s grassroots policy, which is voted upon by Farm Bureau members, opposes increasing the minimum wage through initiative petitions or referendums.

Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs Receive 2018 Farm Bill One Year Extension, Farmers Can Now Enroll for the 2024 Crop Year

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers can now enroll in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. Producers can enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year starting Dec. 18, 2023. The deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15, 2024. 

On Nov. 16, 2023, President Biden signed into law H.R. 6363, the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-22), which extended the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334), more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill, through September 30, 2024. This extension allows authorized programs, including ARC and PLC, to continue operating. 

“Having the Farm Bill extension in place means business as usual for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage program implementation for the 2024 crop year— nothing has changed from previous years,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “These programs provide critical financial protections against commodity market volatilities for many American farmers so don’t delay enrollment. Avoid the rush and contact your local FSA office for an appointment because even if you are not changing your program election for 2024, you still need to sign a contract to enroll.” 

BASF showcases commitment to innovation in agriculture in 2023

Growers faced unprecedented challenges in 2023, including weed control, drought pressure and more. As a leader in innovation, BASF Agricultural Solutions steps up to address these challenges head on, continuing to introduce new products and solutions for growers.

From the launch of 11 new soybean seed varieties to the unveiling of new product solutions and cutting-edge technologies, innovation is the driving force behind the BASF advancements. This is further exemplified through the company’s substantial investment in research and development of agricultural products.

“In the midst of agricultural uncertainties, BASF is committed to supporting farmers by bringing impactful solutions to market that will lay the foundation for future growth,” said Scott Kay, Vice President of U.S. Agricultural Solutions at BASF. “2023 was a strong year for innovation and we’re looking forward to further expanding our portfolio with additional solutions set to launch in 2024.”