Fueled by record performances in Mexico, Central America and Colombia, November exports of U.S. pork reached the highest value since mid-2021, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). U.S. beef exports slowed in November, recording the third lowest value of 2023.

November pork exports totaled 258,601 metric tons (mt), up 5% from a year ago and the highest in six months. Export value was up 2% to $737.4 million, the highest since May 2021 and the seventh highest on record. For January through November, exports totaled 2.64 million mt, up 8% from a year ago, valued at $7.39 billion (up 5%). 

“The momentum for U.S. pork exports is remarkable and very broad-based,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “While Mexico accounts for much of the past year’s export growth, there are success stories throughout the Western Hemisphere and across the entire globe."

Beef exports totaled 99,029 mt in November, down 14% from a year ago and the second lowest of the year, while value fell 7% to $786.2 million. For the first 11 months of the year, beef exports were 13% below the record pace of 2022 at 1.18 million mt, while value declined 17% to $9.11 billion. 

“There are certainly bright spots for U.S. beef, with exports rebounding in Mexico and demand in several Western Hemisphere markets the strongest we’ve seen in years,” Halstrom said. “But economic conditions in our largest Asian markets and the sharp rebound in Australian production and exports have been persistent obstacles over the past year, making it a sharp contrast with the tremendous 2022 performance for U.S. beef exports. Despite these challenges, we still see sustained demand for chilled U.S. beef, and the U.S. remains the dominant supplier of chilled beef entering Korea, Japan and Taiwan.”

Final Day for Cattlemen's Congress

What a run it has been- and the final shows for the 2024 Cattlemen's Congress are happening today at the OKC Fairgrounds- this morning- the Jim Norick Arena will see the National Western Brangus Show start at 8 AM and the Brahman Show at 9 AM.

They have moved the American Supreme Drive for Junior Female. Open Female and Open Bull at 3 PM- and that will be a wrap.

Like all the other shows since December 30th- the activities today can be seen in person at the Fairgrounds- or via LiveAuctions.TV.



Oklahoma Farm Bureau works to improve the lives of all Oklahomans by supporting our state’s agriculture community. As Oklahoma’s largest general farm organization led by Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, OKFB takes grassroots values and advocates for agriculture at the state Capitol and in Washington, D.C., to ensure our way of life continues for generations to come.

Farm Bureau hosts leadership events, supports our state’s agricultural youth and connects consumers with agriculture in order to build a brighter future for our state. Become an OKFB member today online at okfarmbureau.org/join. Together, we are rural Oklahoma.

Mark McCully Sees 2024 as Another Year of Angus Genetics Leading the Beef Industry

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am talking with CEO of the American Angus Association, Mark McCully. On the sidelines of the 2024 Cattlemen’s Congress, McCully and I talk about a vision for the Angus breed for 2024 that the Angus industry Executive has.

As about 80 percent of the market share of the beef industry is Angus genetics, McCully said this means that Angus is essential.

“We have got to have those really good Angus females that can go back into these commercial herds and stick around for a long time and do a really great job for our commercial producers, and then we need genetics that the cattle feeder and packer are looking for.”

Ultimately, McCully said it is critical to focus on the genetics the consumer seeks.

“That will be our continued charge, is making sure we have got Angus genetics that can do all of those things,” McCully said. “We have got great diversity in the breed right now, and because of the tools and technology and data, we are better able to identify which genetics we plug into those different recipes better than we ever can before.”

Cattle Needs Rise as Temperatures Drop

Cattle producers need to follow recommended livestock-care checklists to mitigate significant dangers that arctic blasts bring to animal health and production, said Oklahoma State University experts.

Ranchers might not typically think about frozen water sources during a mild winter, for example.

So it’s important to remember that cattle in southern Great Plains states are relatively naïve when it comes to the presence of ice in the field, said David Lalman, OSU Extension beef cattle specialist and holder of the university’s Harrington Endowed Chair in Animal Science.

“Calves, yearlings and young cows may never have experienced ice-covered water sources, so they’re more likely than older cattle to walk into the middle of a pond as a group,” he said. “Breakthroughs can be a disaster and possibly even fatal. Keep the water open or move them to a less risky situation such as an automatic water tank.”

At the 2024 Cattlemen’s Congress, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Intern Maci Carter had the chance to talk with one of the show’s vendors from Rock Creek Distillery, Tiffany Shultz.



Since 2021, Rock Creek Distillery has operated out of Shattuck, Oklahoma.

“We have got vodka and rum, we grow the wheat that our vodka is made from on our farm, and we have ventured over into bourbon,” Shultz said. 

Rock Creek Distillery has attended Cattlemen’s Congress from the start, Shultz said, and the show makes them feel right at home.

“We love Cattlemen’s Congress because it is our people,” Shultz said. “We showed, my kids grew up showing, we have got a daughter that is a senior, so these are our people.”

Rock Creek Distillery products are sold in over 400 locations throughout the state of Oklahoma. Products can also be ordered online at https://www.rockcreekdistillery.com/

CHS Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2024 Earnings

CHS Inc., the nation’s leading agribusiness cooperative, today released results for its first quarter ended Nov. 30, 2023. The company reported quarterly net income of $522.9 million compared to $782.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023.

First quarter fiscal year 2024 highlights:

• Earnings were strong across our segments, although down from record first quarter earnings in fiscal year 2023.
• Revenues were $11.4 billion, compared to $12.8 billion in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023.
• Our Energy segment experienced favorable market conditions in our refined fuels business, reflecting sustained global demand for energy products.
• In our Ag segment, continued robust meal and oil demand drove strong earnings in our oilseed processing business that were offset by weak U.S. export demand for grains and oilseeds.
• Equity method investments performed well, with our CF Nitrogen investment being the largest contributor.

“CHS earnings were strong for the first quarter, despite a relative decline from last year’s record earnings,” said Jay Debertin, president and CEO of CHS Inc. “Our focus on execution and efficiency improvements bolstered results across all operations. We continue to see the benefits of our diversified ag and energy portfolio, our strategic footprint and investments in our supply chain. The success of our domestic soybean and canola processing business and our international origination capabilities have helped us add value to our farmer-owners’ businesses.”

AFR Insurance Named on the 2024 Forbes America’s Best Insurance Companies List

AFR Insurance has been named on the 2024 Forbes list of America’s Best Insurance Companies. This prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The awards list was announced Sept. 26, 2023, and can currently be viewed at forbes.com.

Forbes’ 2024 America’s Best Insurance Companies were identified in an independent survey based on a vast sample of more than 15,000 participants across the nation. The participants were asked to evaluate the insurance companies they have held a policy with within the last three years. The survey considered customer recommendations, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. Additionally, six sub-dimensions were also taken into consideration: Advice, Customer Service, Price/Performance ratio, Transparency, Digital Services and Damage Service. The recommendations and ratings were transformed into score values and aggregated toward a final score.

In total, 155 companies were awarded in five insurance types: Auto, Homeowners, Renters, Term Life and Permanent Life.

Drummond testifies to U.S. House Committee that Biden Administration failure to secure border endangering Oklahoma

Attorney General Gentner Drummond testified today before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee that the failure of the Biden Administration to secure the nation’s southwest border is seriously endangering public safety in Oklahoma. The Capitol Hill hearing was part of that committee’s impeachment proceedings against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Drummond noted that the flood of illegal immigrants into the U.S. under Mayorkas has allowed criminal enterprises, primarily populated by Mexican and Chinese nationals, to jeopardize public safety through drug trafficking and other crimes. He recounted the details of a November 2022 quadruple homicide at an illegal marijuana farm in Kingfisher County where a Chinese national allegedly killed four people.

“The carnage of that day is but one tragic example of a failed system plagued by failing leadership,” Drummond said. “Throughout Oklahoma, law enforcement comes into daily contact with foreign nationals who entered our country illegally or who remain here illegally – or both. This is all too common in Oklahoma’s marijuana grow operations.”

He told the committee that criminal illegal immigrants have heavily infiltrated Oklahoma’s legal medical marijuana industry to manufacture and distribute black-market marijuana. Drummond noted that these criminal organizations also produce and distribute fentanyl and engage in sex trafficking and labor trafficking.