I'm back talking about next year’s Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City with the Executive Vice President of the show, Bray Haven.

“We are not going to be complacent,” Haven said. “We are going to be continuing to look at ways that we can encompass more people and encompass the general producers across Oklahoma.”

Haven said the show is looking into implementing new ideas to attract more international producers in 2025.

“Already had some post-show meetings with our state government, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry,” Haven said. “Obviously, the leadership there and even the Governor of our state, he has bought into what we are doing here, so really some of the governmental side and maybe trying to engage the university side.”

Haven said Cattlemen’s Congress has had good interest from Mexican cattle producers as well as growth in interest from producers in South America, too.

“Those people are interested in all breeds of cattle, not just some of the ones you might expect,” Haven said. “Not just necessarily the American breeds, but they are interested in all breeds.”



The Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program knows this is a hard time for farmers and ranchers. We want you to know we are still open, and we are still here for you. The Ag Mediation program is a free service that provides mediation to agriculture producers who may need help with ag-related disputes.

At Oklahoma Ag Mediation, we have been helping people in agriculture resolve conflicts since 1987. We know firsthand about working together to resolve conflicts, so you don’t have to go through the court systems. Let our professional mediators help you. Mediation is allowed for lease issues, farmer/neighbor disputes, family farm transitions, and more. These services are available at no cost for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in all 77 counties. For more information, you can go to ok.gov/mediation, or give us a call at 800 248 5465.



Farm Strategy President Andrew Hoelscher Discusses Trials and New Growth in Wheat Industry

At the OCIA/OGI Meeting in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Farm Reporter Maci Carter had the chance to visit with the president of Farm Strategy, Andrew Hoelscher.

“We at Farm Strategy build ingredient-based supply chains, so we work with those downstream-based customers, the mills, and the bakers, and we figure out what quality wheat is worth to them, and how do we drive that value all the way back down to the producer and the seedsman to improve the industry overall,” Hoelscher said.

Farm Strategy conducts multiple bakery trails, Hoelscher said, with goals stemming from removing additives, improving bread quality, and more. Hoelscher said that Dr. Brett Carver, regents professor, and wheat genetics chair in the Oklahoma State University Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, has played a significant role in these trials.

“What Dr. Carver has developed is definitely driving value in the industry and building good supply chains in the future,” Hoelscher said.

Hoelscher also discussed a cost stack breakdown regarding the wheat industry,

Noble Research Institute Helps Pecan Growers Minimize Input Costs and Maximize Profits

At the American Pecan Council and American Pecan Promotion Board Meetings in Dallas, I had the chance to visit with the manager of pecan systems at the Noble Research Institute, Charles Rohla.

“Right now, we are focusing on developing courses,” Rohla said. “We have been approved to start working on developing regenerative pecan courses and research related to pecans and also silvopasture, which involves any kind of tree.”

Beginning in March, Rohla said the Noble Research Institute is going to start working on meeting with growers focusing on soil health management. Rohla said he plans to have discussions with growers to learn more about the different soil health management principles they are implementing on their properties.

“Also, for me, the big question is why they are going away from traditional management and what has pushed them,” Rohla said. “A lot of them have mentioned input costs, but also, a lot of growers are more focused on the health of their soil, realizing that our typical management has led to problems, and their thoughts are that a lot of those problems are because of the type of management they have used in the past.”

When it comes to regenerative management, Rohla said producers can still be extremely profitable.

Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry as part of the weekly series known as the “Cow Calf Corner,” published electronically by Dr. Peel and Mark Johnson. Today, Dr. Peel talks about the cattle markets and more.

 The first week of February 2024, 500-pound steers (M/L #1) in Oklahoma posted a new weekly record price of $321.34/cwt., surpassing the previous high of $312.72/cwt. in November 2014. For the first three weeks of February, the price of these 500 pounds steers has averaged $323.64/cwt. For the 800 pound (M/L #1) steers, prices in February have averaged $235.36/cwt., still below the September 2023 record of $253.58/cwt., which exceed the previous high in October 2014 of $241.79/cwt. The overdone feeder market correction in late 2023 took the price of 800-pound steers to a low of $216.47 in December with the feeder price rallying back some $19/cwt. thus far in 2024. Oklahoma feeder auction volume thus far in 2024 is down 14.6 percent year over year.

The pending February Cattle on Feed is expected to show lower January placements but with a February 1 feedlot total still higher than one year ago. Feedlots are quite full in many cases and are dealing with muddy conditions and lost performance due to winter weather in December and January. The sluggish pen conditions resulted in sluggish cash fed market conditions with fed prices dropping back about a $1.00/cwt this past week to $180/cwt. As feedlots clean up pens, on-feed numbers are expected to tighten up in the coming months as the reality of limited feeder supplies becomes apparent. Estimated feeder supplies were down 4.2 percent year over year in the January Cattle report, the lowest level in data back to 1972. The key once again is the question of heifer retention. If and when heifer retention begins, feedlot inventories will drop more sharply.

Statewide Discussion: Warm and dry conditions will dominate the forecast this week, although looming fire danger concern will remain largely at bay with the lack of strong, fire-effective weather systems. Initial attack activity is expected to increase although large fire activity potential is limited given good composite fuel moisture values and the lack of critical fire weather. Private land and agency prescribed fire implementation is likely to increase this week with favorable conditions forecasted.

Today: A weak cold front will dip into Oklahoma from the north this morning and may spur some very light precipitation in the far northern counties. That front will stall out along the I-35 corridor with northerly winds west and southerly winds east. Afternoon relative humidity values will remain above 30% over the bulk of the state reserving the drier air for the Panhandle and western tier counties. Overall, new wildfires will exhibit moderate for season fire behavior offering good opportunity for successful initial attack efforts. As the front settles across the area, northwest winds sustained 8-14 mph with some higher gusts should be expected thisafternoon.

Burn Bans: (None currently in effect)

National Cotton Council Survey Suggests U.S. Producers to Plant 9.8 Million Acres of Cotton in 2024- Oklahoma to Plant 6.9% Less

U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 9.8 million cotton acres this spring, down 3.7 percent from 2023, according to the National Cotton Council’s 43rd Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey. (see table attached)

Upland cotton intentions are 9.6 million acres, down 4.3 percent from 2023, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 202,000 acres represent a 37.7 percent increase. The detailed survey results were announced today during the 2024 National Cotton Council Annual Meeting.

Dr. Jody Campiche, the NCC’s vice president, Economics & Policy Analysis, said, “Planted acreage is just one of the factors that will determine supplies of cotton and cottonseed. Ultimately, weather and agronomic conditions are among the factors that play a significant role in determining crop size.”

Using ten-year average abandonment rates along with a few state-level adjustments to account for current moisture conditions, Cotton Belt harvested area totals 8.1 million acres for 2024 with a U.S. abandonment rate of 17.9 percent. Using the five-year average yield for the Southeast and the Midsouth and the 10-year average yield for the Southwest and the West generates a cotton crop of 14.6 million bales, with 14.0 million upland bales and 538,000 ELS bales. 

Growers in the Southwest intend to plant 5.2 percent less cotton. Kansas growers expect to plant 0.8 percent less cotton, while Oklahoma producers expect to reduce cotton acreage by 6.9 percent. Texas acreage is expected to decline by 5.1 percent. Southwest respondents indicated an increase in corn, sorghum and wheat for 2024.  

That Oklahoma acreage estimate for 2024 falls under 400,000 acres to 391,000, according to the National Cotton Council.

Local Communities Support Future Agriculture Leaders Through Zoetis Industry Support Program

Veterinarians and animal health distributors continue to show support to the next generation of agriculture through the Zoetis Industry Support Program. From Feb. 1 through April 30, 2024, customers may designate a portion of sales from eligible Zoetis Cattle and Equine products to their local FFA chapters. Last year, more than $375,000 was donated to 1,175 FFA chapters with over 25,000 students benefiting from the contributions.

FFA chapters use the program funds in a variety of ways from helping to defray travel and event costs to funding community projects and scholarships. Christy Schuler, an FFA advisor in Bridgeport, Nebraska, used funds to purchase FFA jackets for new student members. “It’s a special way to welcome members into the chapter and show them the opportunities that they have in FFA and agriculture. They will make so many memories wearing those jackets.”

“As an organization, we are committed to supporting the next generation of agriculture and recognize the vital role that FFA plays in shaping tomorrow’s leaders,” said Jared Shriver, Senior Vice President, Head of Livestock, Equine and Platinum Performance at Zoetis. “The Industry Support Program provides our customers a unique way to support this mission in their own backyard. We’re proud to have continued this program with the National FFA Foundation and our customers for over 15 years.”

Schuler echoed the importance of community engagement and support. “The community is what built the [FFA] program and the community is what keeps it going.”