At the 2024 CattleCon held in Orlando, Florida, I had the chance to talk with Todd Wilkinson as he wrapped up his year as president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Our coverage from the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Orlando is being powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

One of the biggest issues the industry will be faced with soon, Wilkinson said, is the complications of the death tax.

“The urban public out there doesn’t really understand the ag part of it, because probably we are such a small portion of the population,” Wilkinson said. “What they look at, is you know, we own farmland, we own cattle, we own machinery, and they think we have all the money in the world. What they don’t understand is the nature of our business is so asset-intensive.”

By the end of 2025, Wilkinson said those deductions farmers and ranchers are accustomed to could be cut in half. Without action, Wilkinson said there will be a 40 percent tax rate for land that is transferred to family members.



Midwest Farm Shows is proud to produce the two best Farm Shows in the State of Oklahoma annually- the Tulsa Farm Show each December and the Oklahoma City Farm Show each April. 

They would like to thank all of you who participated in their 2023 Tulsa City Farm Show. 

Up next will be the Oklahoma City’s premier spring agricultural and ranching event with returns to the State Fair Park April 4-5-6, 2024.

Now is the ideal time to contact the Midwest Farm Show Office at 507-437-7969 and book space at the 2024 Oklahoma City Farm Show.  To learn more about the Oklahoma City Farm Show, click here. 

Most everyone that gathered at the 2024 I Believe Gala on Saturday had a story about how FFA has impacted their life(pictured above is current FFA State President Caleb Horne). Current and past FFA members and supporters of the Blue and Gold were there to celebrate FFA and to raise money to help pay for the 2024 annual convention of the Oklahoma FFA coming up in May in downtown Tulsa.

Brent Kisling is the current chairman of the Oklahoma FFA Foundation and a past State FFA President in 1991-92. I talked with Kisling towards the end of the event held in Omni in downtown Oklahoma City about the Foundation and how it has stepped up to support in a major way. “The Foundation, ten years ago, was very much a small mom and pop organization, raised maybe a couple of hundred thousand dollars to host this biggest convention in the state every year. Now, it’s a million dollar organization- it’s a grown up big boy operation and everybody who wants contact with the best young people in the state want to be involved in this organization.”

One lawmaker in attendance had to work for his supper- and it was clearly a labor of love. The Speaker Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Kyle Hilbert, was a State District Vice President of FFA in 2012-13 and he served as the Emcee for the evening.

Hilbert credits FFA for providing leadership and life skills that have helped him succeed in his efforts to serve the citizens of District 29 and the state of Oklahoma at the State Capitol since 2016.

In our story linked below- you can listen to our conversations with both Kisling and Hilbert and read more about the I Believe Gala held this past Saturday night in OKC.

CattleFax Forecasts Continued Producer Profitability with Herd Expansion on the Horizon

Our coverage from the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Orlando is being powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

The popular CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as part of the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Orlando, Florida, shared expert market and weather analysis Friday morning.

We were there and after the session- we talked with Kevin Good with Cattlefax about the price predictions- you can listen by clicking the Blue Button below.

The smallest beef cow inventory in the last 50 years, coupled with historically strong demand, led to the highest average fed cattle and calf prices in 2023. As reduced cattle numbers and beef production continue over the next three years, leverage and profitability will continue to favor cattle producers.

Despite record prices, expansion will likely be delayed once again. Lingering drought, high input costs, limited labor availability, high interest rates, and market uncertainty all serve as headwinds against growing the cowherd.

Beef and Cattle Price Outlook highlights include:

All Fresh Retail: $7.90 a pound, up 30 cents

Composite Cutout: $300/cwt, Up $4

Fed Steer: $184/cwt, up $9

800 lb Steer: $240/cwt, up $20

550 lb Steer: $290/cwt, up $28

Utility Cows: $115/cwt, up $16

Bred Cows: $2,600/head, up $600

At the 2024 CattleCon held in Orlando, Florida, I had the chance to talk with the new executive chef of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Dagan Lynn.

“My background spans from resorts to casinos to 3-Star Michelin in New York,” Lynn said. “I have dragged my family around the country a few times over the years and even out of the country in Puerto Rico.”

Lynn said beef is what drives the menu at a restaurant. In times like today where beef prices are much higher, Lynn said NCBA works to keep beef on the menu by educating consumers and restaurant staff about different ways to serve beef.

“We have a beautiful culinary center in Denver, Colorado, we have lots of great equipment, and these big groups are welcome to come learn how to cook beef and play with beef, an ideate and have some fun,” Lynn said.

At the NCBA culinary center, Lynn said chefs from restaurants have the chance to come in and learn new ways to put beef on the table. Creativity is encouraged, Lynn added, as they learn how to use different cuts and reduce costs.

“It is such a versatile product, and it is top of the menu all the time,” Lynn said.

Featured on https://www.beefitswhatsfordi

nner.com/ is a “how to” series with different recipes using beef and more resources!

Total U.S. Soy Exports Add $39.8 Billion to U.S. Economy in Marketing Year 22/23

U.S. Soy complex exports (whole soybean, soybean meal and soybean oil) added $39.8 billion[1] to the U.S. economy in marketing year (MY) 22/23 on a volume of 67.6 million metric tons (MMT). The shining star: U.S. soybean meal exports broke records for both volume and value at 13.2 MMT and $6.91 billion, respectively.

“U.S. Soy exports in marketing year 22/23 were nothing short of extraordinary. A standout achievement was the record-breaking performance of soybean meal exports, reaching unprecedented volume and value levels,” said Steve Reinhard, United Soybean Board Chair and Ohio farmer. “As we strive to meet the growing international demand and address global food security challenges, sustainability remains at the forefront of our mission, ensuring that our products nourish and uphold environmental responsibility. With a commitment to innovation and sustainability, U.S. Soy continues to lead as a global force in agriculture, providing quality, reliability, and a vision for a better tomorrow.”

NRCS Oklahoma Announces Second FY2024 Application Deadline

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing Friday, March 1, 2024, as the second batching date for applications submitted for Fiscal Year 2024 funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

“NRCS-Oklahoma recognized in ranking the FY24 EQIP applications from the previous batching date that funds are still available,” said State Conservationist Jeanne Hamilton. “EQIP is one of the cornerstone programs for NRCS, and we have the ability to connect more landowners with financial and technical assistance thanks to the additional funding provided through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).”

NRCS uses batching dates for EQIP as a tool to review, approve and fund applications. NRCS accepts applications on a continuous basis, and applications received after a batching date will automatically be considered during future funding cycles. This additional batching date will include conventional funding and /or funding through the IRA to include variances of the EQIP program.