Fueled by another outstanding performance from Mexico, August exports of U.S. pork increased year-over-year, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). U.S. beef exports were below year-ago levels in August while lamb exports trended higher, posting the largest volume since January.

August pork exports totaled 238,989 metric tons (mt), up 6% from a year ago but the second lowest of 2024. Export value increased 8% to $702.9 million. In addition to the strong results in Mexico, exports trended higher to Central and South America, the Caribbean and the ASEAN region.



Meanwhile on the Beef Export side- Beef exports totaled 102,682 mt in August, down 6% from a year ago and the lowest since January. Export value fell 4% to $845.9 million. Through the first eight months of the year, beef exports were 3% below last year at 856,834 mt, but were 4% higher in value at just under $7 billion.

According to Dan Halstrom, President of the USMEF, “Beef demand in our major Asian markets seemed to lose a bit of momentum in August, but exports held up well to Mexico, Taiwan and the Middle East.

“The headwinds in Asia remain formidable, but we are encouraged by the region’s ongoing tourism rebound. The late-September removal of Colombia’s restrictions on U.S. beef is also a positive development. While this came too late to impact the August results, it will help bolster fourth-quarter demand in Latin America.”

Dating back to 1891, Stillwater Milling Company has been supplying ranchers with the highest quality feeds made from the highest quality ingredients. Their full line of A & M Feeds can be delivered direct to your farm, found at their Agri-Center stores in Stillwater, Davis, Claremore and Perry or at more than 125 dealers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. We appreciate Stillwater Milling Company’s long time support of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and we encourage you to click here to learn more about their products and services.

The USDA Small Grains Summary showed a little more than 108 million bushels were produced with the 2024 Oklahoma hard red winter wheat crop- compared to last year’s 68.6 million bushels. Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays got the rundown from Oklahoma Wheat Commission’s Mike Schulte.

“We saw a ten bushel per acre yield increase, and we also had more harvested acreage this year at 2.8 million acres compared to 2.4 million acres the year before,” Schulte said.

 Wheat yields also increased across the United States and given the political climate worldwide and the exports from other countries, the large volume of wheat has been more challenging to market.

“We have had some challenges with being competitive in the export market,” Schulte admitted. “I think we are seeing the market react to some things that are going on globally. As we know, drought situations in Russia and Eastern Europe are returning.”

We also talked with Schulte about the Wheat Commission's efforts to work with OSU Administration to improve the OSU Wheat Improvement Team's tools in both the new Ag Hall as well as the soon to come new greenhouses at the OSU Agronomy Farm on Highway 51 on the west side of Stillwater. You can hear that part of the conversation by clicking on the blue button below.

OSU Receives $739,432 Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Project Grant from USDA

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced a more than $46 million investment in projects supporting America’s veteran, underserved, and beginning farmers and ranchers to help aspiring producers enter the business and improve their skills and knowledge to sustain their operations for years to come.

Among the projects being funded by USDA is one proposed by Oklahoma State University, with their new extension specialist for Beginning Farmer and Rancher programs, Dr. Josh Campbell. Campbell will be the project director for the $719,432 project authorized by NIFA.

According to the project grant– “Many agencies serve Oklahoma Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (BFRs), but no systematic and collaborative effort currently exists to develop new BFRs. This project will establish such a program and strengthen Oklahoma agriculture through activites focusing on experiential learning, apprenticeships, and mentorship of underserved BFRs. The primary emphasis will be supporting new specialty crop producers within the scale of $10,000 – $100,000 in sales to become more viable businesses and launching first time indigenous BFRs into sustainable farm businesses. Our program will work with farm apprentices and mentees to address the need to grow more growers and scale farms beyond $100,000 in gross sales."

Recently, the Noble Research Institute announced the release of a free educational program for livestock producers for which they partnered with Certified Angus Beef. The program introduces the six soil health principles and how they work with the ecosystem processes. Land Stewardship, set to launch in November 2024, will be accessible worldwide entirely online and self-paced to meet the needs of busy farmers and ranchers.

Farm Director KC Sheperd caught up with Noble Research Institute Public Relations Specialist Kim Leaston. According to Leaston, the partnership with CAB highlights the organizations’ shared dedication to supporting producers in caring for the land and grazing livestock in the best way possible to ensure better production, improve the environment, and provide a better future for their communities around the country.

“The course is intended to build the foundation of what regenerative agriculture is, and then they will learn how the six soil health principles work together with the ecosystem processes,” Leaston said.

On today’s Cow-Calf Corner, Dana Zook, NW Area Livestock Specialist talks about the direct impacts of eastern redcedar.



In many areas of the state, the Eastern Redcedar tree has been present in the landscape for a long time and it can be easy to overlook its true impact on rangelands. This species can thrive in many different soil types and under a variety of weather conditions and it seems that no landscape is immune. Some might not feel like the cedar tree is an issue but research on the impacts to forage production and water use tells the true story. 

As Eastern Redcedar trees grow, they shade out forage plants that are used for wildlife and livestock production. Areas dominated by the Eastern Redcedar may see reductions in rangeland carrying capacity (stocking rate). This might be hard to initially identify but evidence of this could be detected by increased feed costs or earlier need for supplementation compared to the past.

Recently, Oklahoma State University Natural Resources Extension published an infographic documenting the change in Eastern Redcedar Tree Cover from 1950 to 1985. The impact is astonishing. In that time, the amount of land taken up by this species statewide went from 1.5 million acres to 3.5 million acres (140% increase). In Northwest Oklahoma, the increase went from 92,750 acres to a staggering 697,350 acres (652% increase). If we simply say that 1 acre of native grass produces 1,000 pounds of forage that would be a substantial loss for livestock production. There is no denying the spread of the Eastern Redcedar has reduced forage production. You can view the post @Oklahomalands on Facebook.

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has donated $10,000 to a number of state Farm Bureau relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Relief efforts are in full force after the devastating hurricane hit parts of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina and Tennessee in late September.

American Farm Bureau has accumulated a list of relief efforts and funds coordinated by several state Farm Bureaus. OKFB members wishing to donate to Hurricane Helene relief are encouraged to give directly to any or all of the funds listed below.

Florida Farm Bureau

• Hurricane Relief Fund for Agriculture

Georgia Farm Bureau

• Weathered But Strong: Hurricane Relief Fund to Aid Georgia Farmers

North Carolina Farm Bureau

• North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund

South Carolina Farm Bureau Agricultural Aid Foundation

• Donations for Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief

Tennessee Farm Bureau

• Farm and Forest Families of Tennessee Disaster Relief Fund

For more information, visit AFBF’s Hurricane Helene relief webpage.