The fourth Cattlemen's Congress has officially arrived with the OKC Fairgrounds opening up today for the first breeds to be unloaded.

The first breeds that will start arriving today at 12 noon include Texas Longhorns, Gelbvieh, Miniature Herefords and Speckle Park.

Friday- five more breeds will start coming into OKC- Braunvieh, British White, Charolais, Highland and Limousin.

The first shows begin on Saturday, December 30th- with the Miniature Texas Longhorns to show at 1 PM and the Texas Longhorn Non Halter Show will follow at 4 PM.(the picture above is of the non halter show in 2023)

The complete schedule for the Fourth Cattlemen's Congress is available here- and we will be doing regular audio updates on our Beef Buzz and via the Cattlemen's Congress Conversation Podcast- starting this coming Monday, January first.

Just over 8,000 entries will make Congress over the next the next 15 days the largest Beef Cattle Show Event in the United States. And remember- it's not just shows- but also world class sales of top animals and genetics- and then there is an incredible trade show that will be happening in the days ahead as well.



The vision of the Oklahoma Beef Council is to be a positive difference for Oklahoma's farming and ranching families and the greater beef community, and its mission is to enhance beef demand by strengthening consumer trust and exceeding consumer expectations. 

To learn more, visit www.oklabeef.org. Also, don't forget to like its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oklabeef for stories on Oklahoma's ranching families and great beef recipes. 

And Check out this video below that helps you learn more about the Beef Checkoff- It's latest Drive in Five.

2003 was in it’s final days- everyone had their mind on the Christmas holiday- and then the cattle industry in the US got a hard jolt of reality about the fragile state of it’s well being. Michael Kelsey is one of those who lived through the event that was coined by some in the business as the “Cow that Stole Christmas” as December 23rd brought news that BSE had been found in a dairy cow in the state of Washington.

I have also lived through this event- and we talk with Kelsey about the announcement of Mad Cow Disease being found in the US- and how the industry responded and what was learned from what you might call an early black swan event. Listen to their conversation by clicking on the audio button above.

Kelsey says that he and his wife were visiting family in North Carolina when the call came in. Cell service was not great where they were- and it took a call to the house phone that finally reached Kelsey. He was serving as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Beef Council at that time and he was told that USDA was planning a news conference shortly that was expected to have serious animal disease news.

That news conference held by then USDA Secretary Ann Veneman announced a “presumptive positive” case of BSE had been found- but she stressed it was not an act of terror and that the nation’s food supply was safe.

Kelsey tells Hays that the immediate concern of the Beef Council was to assure the public of the safety of the US Beef Supply- and early interviews with the media were designed to tell that story.

2024 Agriculture Innovation Trends From AgriThority

AgriThority is a global group based in Kansas City- and they have come up with ten trends for the new year that they believe could be a part of agriculture in the US and around the world.

Here's the first three of them:

1. The push for biologicals, biostimulants in particular, continues. Biostimulants are today what seed treatments were in the 90s. Biostimulant development and launches are booming, and for good reason as global market growth is expected to reach 6.8 billion by 2028 and farmer biostimulant adoption is the highest globally of all the biological categories.
2. Climate-smart farming is getting smarter. Measurements behind the carbon market are maturing. Researchers are learning how much carbon is sequestered and emitted, which will then allow companies to better measure the impact of their climate-smart farming innovation. Universities, companies and farmers are acquiring and sharing more knowledge. More ways to drive practices that minimize emissions on the farm are emerging. Innovations like those focusing on water utilization efficiency and nutrient optimization can become additional ways to drive carbon credits, which are an additional form of revenue for agriculture. Agriculture can become part of the solution for climate change.
3. Precision ag is continuing to evolve. The onset of artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT (Internet of Things) are driving the integration of positioning, sensors and imagery into powerful analytics. Adoption, however, depends on the ability to demonstrate real benefits, especially ROI, for farmers so they can see the real benefits of all that technology.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has a cooperative agreement with Oklahoma under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and Oklahoma are working together to offer over $6.3 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. Oklahoma is accepting applications for this Infrastructure Grant funding through Feb. 23, 2024.

In May 2023, USDA announced the availability of up to $420 million through RFSI to strengthen local and regional food systems. Through this program, AMS has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood, or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states or U.S. territories. RFSI is authorized by the American Rescue Plan.

“We’re excited the RFSI Program will provide a new opportunity for the many people and businesses responsible for helping feed, fuel and clothe the world. This program should be a great resource for Oklahoma producers while also helping to benefit our food supply chain,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur.

Those interested in receiving a subaward should apply directly through ODAFF by Feb. 23, 2024. AMS encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities.

Flower Hill Institute Provides Technical Assistance on USDA Meat and Poultry Processing and More

Farm Director, KC Sheperd, is talking with Dave Carter about his involvement with the Flower Hill Institute. Carter is a director of the Flower Hill Institute and works to provide technical assistance to those who are working to expand and develop meat and poultry processing facilities.

Flower Hill Institute is a Native-owned, community-directed nonprofit. The objectives include preserving and enhancing cultural resources, preparing youth to inherit leadership, improving economic self-sufficiency, agriculture, food sovereignty and security, and improving outcomes to climate change.

Flower Hill also works nationally, doing outreach and providing technical assistance on the USDA Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance program and the USDA Farm Service Agency Outreach, Education, & Technical Assistance program.

“We have been out working with folks all the way from Puerto Rico to the Northern Mariana Islands who are doing a whole variety of really innovative things,” Carter said.

Going into Wednesday night's Texas Bowl battle against Texas A&M, the goal for Oklahoma State was to get that 10th win. Mission accomplished for the Cowboys, and they never trailed doing so in a 31-23 bowl game win over the SEC's Aggies.

Quarterback Alan Bowman threw for 402 yards and two scores, and Doak Walker winner Ollie Gordon II picked up 118 yards on 27 carries and a score.

OSU finished the season 10-4. Texas A&M finished 7-6.

Kyle Williams and the folks in Enid promised if OSU won their bowl game- the Enid Christmas tree would be in lit in orange- and here it is.