Tuesday was Agriculture Day at the Oklahoma Capitol! At the event, Farm Director KC Sheperd visited with legislators, ag industry leaders, and more. One of the individuals Sheperd talked with at the Capitol was the Chairman of the House Ag Committee for Oklahoma, Dell Kerbs, who represents Oklahoma’s 26th district.

“Ag Day is such a great time to see what the industry has, anything new, to reminisce, and to visit with old friends,” Kerbs said.

In the Capitol rotunda, Kerbs said 39 booths represented agricultural groups from across the state, Made in Oklahoma products, and more.

“Ag is everywhere, every day, all the time,” Kerbs said. “We live it, and we breathe it. Let’s just enjoy it. Today at the Capitol, that is what we are doing here at Ag Day.”

Kerbs also discussed how the event is beneficial for educating legislators and other individuals about agriculture who may not have an agricultural background.

“It is very important to have this day of recognition here at the Capitol on Ag Day so those folks remember, ‘Hey, I am part of agriculture too,’” Kerbs said.

As the premier John Deere dealer across Oklahoma & Arkansas, P&K Equipment is proud to serve our 20 communities and the surrounding areas. From residential, small ag & hay, large ag, & compact construction equipment- the P&K team makes it easy to buy & own your John Deere equipment. You’ll find transparent pricing & easy financing options on the website & in stores. You’ll have technology, sales, parts, and service support long after the sale. So when you’re ready to experience the ease of operating John Deere equipment- you can trust the experts at P&K Equipment.

I am visiting with Kansas State University Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Glynn Tonsor about results from the latest Meat Demand Monitor, which Tonsor releases each month with Kansas State University. The latest release references data for March.

Tonsor shared encouraging news for the beef industry, revealing that retail demand showed a promising increase in March compared to February. This positive trend was observed across five of the eight products tracked and examined in the monitor, with some products even surpassing the demand recorded in March 2023.

“As we have started here in 2024, retail demand has been okay, food service demand has been a little softer, and the cost of a meal has reflected elevated labor costs and other things,” Tonsor said. “More and more households concerned about their budget have consumed more at home, and demand has been higher for at home.”

For the average American in March, Tonsor said taste, freshness, safety, and price remain the four most important factors for consumers when purchasing protein. Conversely, Tonsor said factors such as environmental impact, origin traceability, animal welfare, and the use of hormones and antibiotics ranked much lower.

To check out the latest Meat Demand Monitor, CLICK HERE!

Introducing Peyton Simic of the Garber FFA Chapter, Your 2024 Northwest Area Star in Ag Placement

This week, our coverage of the 2024 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists continues with Ag Placement competitor Peyton Simic of the Garber FFA chapter representing the Northwest Area.

Farm Director KC Sheperd interviewed all 18 Star finalists recently in Stillwater after they were judged in their respective areas- and you can hear KC talk with Peyton by clicking on the Blue Button at the bottom of this story.

“I am a third-generation farmer at Simic Farms, and I have been working there my whole FFA career,” Simic said. “Some of my jobs include running combines, planters, sprayers, and things like that.”

Simic said he farms corn, wheat, soybeans, milo, and sesame seeds with his family at Simic Farms. A couple of valuable skills Simic said he learned through his project include time management and record keeping.

After graduating high school, Simic said he plans to attend Northern Oklahoma College in Enid to pursue an associate’s degree in Agribusiness, before returning to the family farm.



“I will be coming back and will be the next generation of Simic Farms,” Simic said.

Our coverage of the Stars and the 2024 State FFA Convention is powered by Hilliary Communications.

This isn’t just a job; it’s the ultimate influencer adventure! John Deere, with the help of quarterback Brock Purdy, launched an epic hunt for the company’s first-ever Chief Tractor Officer (CTO) — a witty and charismatic content creator ready to help the iconic American brand celebrate farmers, contractors, groundskeepers, and brand fans.  

Just imagine- You’re making stops at some of the most iconic stadiums and sporting landmarks, capturing the perfect striping in the outfield. Another day, you’re at Yellowstone National Park creating a #DayInTheLife maintaining the most scenic roads in America. It’s all in a day’s work for the CTO.  

“Behind every part of our daily lives — from your breakfast, to your clothes, to the roads you drive on — there are unsung heroes behind the scenes with a story to tell,” said Jen Hartmann, Global Director of Strategic Public Relations and Enterprise Social Media. “The role of the Chief Tractor Officer isn’t just about creating content, it’s about creating compelling stories about the people and industries supporting all of us.”  

To apply, candidates must submit a short-form video with their pitch for the position, showing the creativity, humor, and passion they’d bring to the job. Candidates are also encouraged to publish their entries to TikTok and/or Instagram tagging @JohnDeere.   

For more information on Deere & Company, visit www.deere.com/en/news/.

Does Your Selection and Mating Program Create Profit Potential?

Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist, offers herd health advice as part of the weekly series known as the “Cow Calf Corner,” published electronically by Dr. Peel, Mark Johnson, and Paul Beck. Today, Johnson talks about a cattle producer’s selection and mating program in relation to profit.

One of the most important decisions cattlemen and cattlewomen face today is how to engineer their selection and mating program to add value to their next calf crop. In 2024 we have more genetic information on which to base selection decisions than ever before. Pedigreed, registered seedstock animals are sold with a registration paper documenting their age, pedigree and estimates of their breeding value for over 20 traits. These estimates of breeding value, in the form of EPDs, serve as a roadmap for meeting breeding objectives, improving additive genetic merit and thereby, adding value to your next calf crop.

So what does this all mean? The intended marketing endpoint of your calf crop (at weaning, as yearlings or as fed cattle on a carcass value system) should have a profound impact on the bull selection and mating decisions you make. How you intend to use a bull (as a terminal sire or a maternal sire) should have a profound impact on your bull selection and mating decisions as well.

This topic will lead off the 2024 Cattlemen’s Conference Blueprint For The Future – Part 2 at OSU on Wednesday, May 22 – 23, 2024. An economic simulation based on current input expenses, the value of calves, yearlings and fed cattle and the impact of additive genetic merit and heterosis on the traits of value at these marketing endpoints will be presented in a panel discussion featuring key industry leaders in the first session on Wednesday, May 22. https://www.cattleconference.com/presenters

Biosecurity Approaches to Mitigate Wildlife Disease

Biosecurity measures are critical in safeguarding livestock health and productivity by minimizing the risk of infectious diseases. Wildlife can serve as reservoirs for infectious agents that present threats to livestock health, leading to illness, economic losses, and potentially public health concerns. Implementing effective biosecurity strategies is essential to mitigate the transmission of diseases from wildlife to livestock.

Operations should select a biosecurity manager. This individual is responsible for developing a biosecurity plan in cooperation with the operation’s veterinarian. This plan should be written and reevaluated at least on an annual basis. Training of the operational team should occur and, the biosecurity manager should stay in tune with any changes involving new disease identification and outbreaks.

Monitoring animal health of both domestic and wildlife species is a critical biosecurity practice. Livestock should be monitored on a daily basis and any signs of illness documented. Developing a herd health plan advised by a veterinarian, including vaccination and treatment protocols, is essential. Any abnormal or unusual signs of illness or death, including those seen in wildlife, should be reported to the operation veterinarian and animal health officials.

Protecting livestock health against wildlife-borne diseases requires an ever changing multifaceted approach that combines practical and economically feasible management strategies. By implementing operation specific biosecurity measures tailored to the risks posed by wildlife, producers can mitigate disease transmission, promote animal welfare, and create environmentally sustainable production systems.

More information about biosecurity can be found at www.bqa.org and www.securebeef.org