Lots of folks have already hit the celebration mode- our family did an early Christmas with some of our family in Arkansas this past weekend- some we won't see on Christmas Day and some that we will.

I hope that you and yours have enjoyed some of the amazing light shows that many communities have set up for December. The picture above is the Enid Christ tree- always an amazing sight- Kyle Williams and family lead a great organization that put Enid on the December map the last few years in this regard. We are honored to have our radio reports heard on Kyle's radio stations in Enid- KOFM and KGWA.

For the Ag industry- a lot of folks have been busy this week and will be off this coming week or will be on a skeleton schedule between December 25th and January first.

Of course- there are no days off for our livestock producers- animals will be cared for- and we are grateful for your hard work that helps feed the US and the world.

It's a normal day of trade for our Ag Futures today- they close at normal times today and will reopen early on Tuesday, December 26- grains have a preopen trade at 6 AM and Livestock have a preopen at 8 AM on Tuesday.

Virtually all of our Livestock Auction Markets are done for 2023- and start coming back as early as January 2nd- although many of our markets will take two weeks off and reopen for 2024 starting Monday, January 8- as always- check with your market before getting cattle to haul to town.

The one thing that will be gearing up next week in the week between Christmas and New Year's is Cattlemen's Congress- check out their website for the schedule of things happening starting next weekend and running to January 11th.



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. 

The newest addition to the National Family is Dakota Moss- and Livestock Risk Services.

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 back talking with Terrain’s Chief Research and Analytics Officer, Don Close, for part two about the cow that stole Christmas in 2003.

Close said the biggest impact of the first case of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) in the U.S. 20 years ago was on exports.

“Exports accounted for roughly ten percent of U.S. beef production,” Close said. “Far and away, our largest customer at that time was Japan. Overnight, our exports went from ten percent of production to zero, or essentially zero. We had that additional tonnage of product on the domestic market that only further compounded the erosion in the beef market.”

Close said it took months of negotiations with Japan to even begin to reopen the market.

“Initially, we were aging all of the cattle, and we were implementing the 30-month rule, so there were big fights over whether we were using bone ossification for age determination, or we could use dentition,” Close said.

Close added that there were also issues regarding the use of head meat.

“Packers were having to go in and remove all of that spinal cord from the split carcasses,” Close said.

Part One, Part Two and our complete conversation with Don Close can be accessed via the Blue Buttons below.

Oklahoma Drought Conditions See Decreases in All Categories this Week

According to the latest Oklahoma drought monitor report, exceptional drought remains at zero, unchanged from the past three months.

Extreme drought or worse is now at .19 percent, down from last week’s 1.15 percent.

Severe drought or worse is now at 4.49 percent, down from last week’s 10.38 percent.

Moderate drought or worse is now at 26.15, down from last week’s 32.88 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are now at 61.81 percent, down from last week’s 67.68 percent.

According to the 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map, the eastern half of the state and parts of western Oklahoma are leaning below a 33 to 40 percent chance of precipitation through December 30. Southwestern Oklahoma and the panhandle lean below a 40 to 50 percent chance of precipitation through that date.

Well. Christmas look a lot different this year because I can’t run after anyone or anything. In fact if you are chasing me, I can already tell you I’ll just give up! I had my knee replaced on December 13^th and so far this has been a long and tedious process full of some of the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life, but also some of the sweetest well-wishes from all of you. So thank you for that, and I do feel your prayers. The girls and Jordan have done a fantastic job taking care of me, (along with Tabitha and Owen, the dogs) so I’m hoping these first 2 weeks are the worst, and I’ll be back in action after that.

Not sure what traveling is going to look like, but we are planning on heading out to the farm to wake up there on Christmas Morning. We always have as I have the best memories about waking up at my mom’s house for Christmas and now the girls love doing that as well. This Year Cross has requested nothing but softball stuff, so Santa is bringing her a new glove and a new bat.. Her dad has been trying to give her that bat since we got it in September! But So Far Santa has prevailed! Londyn sang at Elk City Rotary Thursday and everyone loved it. She will be singing and playing the piano at my mom’s Churches Christmas Eve Service. She wants to sing “We 3 Kings” and “Mary did you know”. So all of her Christmas presents this year have been musical. A Beat Mixing Orb she will love, new musical hoodies and new music books. There’s a couple of things they are getting together to play outside with their friends like laser tag and a jazz Minton set. They still love playing outside in the middle of Winter, so anything that makes that more fun, we will do! Gigi will make homemade noodles with the girls, and we’ll eat a Prime Rib with all the fixings. We will all be together, full, safe and happy, which is exactly what you want at Christmastime, and not everyone will get to feel that, so never forget to count your blessings.

I’m excited to wake up with the Girls on Christmas day! Everything is more fun through a child’s eyes. I love how much they love Jesus and talk to me about him. When I got home from the hospital Cross said “Mom, God is Good, and I said, “All the Time”.. So while this Christmas is more painful than any I’ve had in the past, its still so special to have a healthy family with me to help pick up the slack and get the girls where they need to go. I also appreciate my work family for being able to jump in for me when I need a break. Everyone has been so great about checking on me, so thank you so much for reaching out. As you all know, Farmers don’t stop.. even when they have their knee replaced, so it really puts things in perspective.

I hope Everyone has the best Christmas and that this El Nino really does come through for us this year with lots of rain and snow! I hope your family is blessed this Holiday season, and If you need a beautiful Christmas Eve service to go to (or watch online) We’d love to have you at Crossings We are so grateful for your continued support in trusting us for all your farm and ranch news! I’m so grateful for the team we have and excited to see what 2024 brings! Merry Christmas!

-KC And Family 

From the Mesonet Ticker- Gary McManus is talking weather- and he has decided to weave it into what one day might be a classic Christmas Carol- but you may not want to hold your breath on that: anyway- here tis- in all it's glory:

We Wish you a Merry Christmas, Okie Style

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

But in Oklahoma, it's so delightful.

And since we've no idea what's in store,

Let it storm, let it freeze, let it pour!

Oklahoma's weather, oh, it's such a funny thing,

One day it's summer, then winter's icy sting.

Tornado warnings and a hailstorm too,

We wish you a weather-proof Christmas, it's true!

In the morning, it's sunny and clear,

By lunchtime, it's snowing, isn't that weird?

Grab your umbrella, your parka, and sunscreen,

Oklahoma's weather, it's a wild scene!

Driving through rain, then a dust storm appears,

Tornado Alley, where you face your fears.

But we'll brave the elements, come what may,

In Oklahoma, it's a weather buffet!

Oklahoma's weather, it keeps us on our toes,

From tornado drills to dodging hail that throws.

No snowplows, just sunshine and sleet,

We wish you an ever-changing Christmas treat!

So here's to the holidays in Oklahoma's embrace,

Where the weather's a puzzle, a true weather chase.

No matter the forecast, come join the cheer,

Merry Christmas, and may the weather be clear!

Thanks Gary- and Merry Christmas!!!!

2023 has been a year of blessing for Jan and I and for our family- and you see three of our grandson blessings in the pic above- this was from earlier this week at our grandson Simeon's first music program (He's the one in the Santa hat) We have been joined in 2023 by his little brother Judah who is being held here by his Mom Rachel (My youngest daughter) and who is becoming aware of all the sights and sounds around him- he is a true miracle and gift from our God. He's our tenth grandchild that Jan and I have- and I must say he is a "Perfect Ten" in the eyes of his Granddaddy.

Also here in 2023- I have been blessed by a friend that I have gotten to know in Sarasota by the name of Phil Brown- what a prolific writer this Godly man is and he penned a few words about the Sheperds that we read about in Luke's account of the birth of Jesus- I want to share with you- read and contemplate who we are in this world:

Shepherds, God dispatched a mighty angel to proclaim the birth of a King to the most humble of men. In God’s great love, He deems every one of us worthy. Even at our worst, God sees His best. How wonderful, how glorious, is my Savior’s love for me! The Son of God came as a baby, He forsook nobility, He sought the company of sinners, He took the form of a bondslave to nobodies, He died a criminal’s death for you and me. Who can grasp this kind of love? Who am I that a King should bleed and die for? I ask again, “Who am I?”

”But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)“

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV

As always- it's our prayer for each of you that we consider family with this daily email being our link to one another- it's our prayer that you will be filled with the love and joy brought by the baby the Sheperds worshipped- and if you have questions about that- give me a shout- email me or call me and I will be honored to chat.

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Hays family- and from all of our Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report team!!! We are honored to have been able to serve you again over this past year- and look forward to continuing in 2024!!!!

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