At the Cattlemen’s Congress, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays had to opportunity to talk to father and daughter duo, Nick and Lily Judd, of Judd Ranch located near Pomona, Kansas. They represent two of the three generations currently living and working on the ranch.

The Judd Ranch was established in 1981 by Nick’s parents who soon settled on raising Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle along with Red Angus. They chose those breeds because they complement each other well to fit what is commonly desired in the commercial market.

“Growth and performance are at the forefront of our production goals, but also breeding longevity into the cows,” Lily offered. “The cow is the backbone of any operation, so we want to make sure that we can provide that for any commercial or registered breeder that buys our cows.”

Gelbvieh cows are known for their mothering ability which originally attracted Nick’s father to the breed. Today, Judd Ranch is honored to be the American Gelbvieh Association's number one breeder and owner of Dams of Merit and Dams of Distinction for 20 of the past 21 years.  “We are trying to deliver those genetics that keep the cow man in business for longevity,” Nick added. “Fertility and milk are some of the backbones that keep you in business. On top of that, producing the pounds per cow to sell dollars off of them keep you going every year.”

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 2024 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 3-4-5, 2025.

Now is the ideal time to contact the Midwest Farm Show Office at 507-437-7969 and book space at the 2025 Oklahoma City Farm Show.  To learn more about the Oklahoma City Farm Show, click here. 

A breakdown on the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer December results can be viewed at https://purdue.ag/barometervideo. Find the audio podcast discussion for insight on this month’s sentiment at https://purdue.ag/agcast.

Farmer sentiment drifted lower in December as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell 9 points to 136. Although the barometer weakened somewhat in December compared to November, producers still retained much of their post-election optimism about the future. The Index of Future Expectations dropped just 8 points to 153, leaving that index 59 points higher than in September and 29 points above the October reading.

The Index of Current Conditions declined 13 points to 100, indicating that producers’ appraisal of current conditions in U.S. agriculture and on their farms is weaker than their views regarding the future. Despite this month’s decline, the Current Conditions Index remains 24 points above its September low and 5 points higher than in October. Optimism about the future appears to be motivated primarily by producers’ expectations for a more favorable policy environment in the years ahead. The December barometer survey took place from December 2-6, 2024.

Attend the Cattlemen’s Congress Commercial Female Sale This Thursday, January 9, at 1 p.m.

While attending the fifth annual Cattlemen’s Congress, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays got to talk with Matt Sims, owner of MCS Auctions, about the inaugural Cattlemen’s Congress Commercial Female Sale which will be held at the Super Barn Sales Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds on Thursday, January 9, at 1 p.m. Check out this article for more details about the sale.

The sale began with the intent of getting the commercial side of the industry more involved with the show that already draws the attendance of enthusiasts from 44 states and roughly 15 foreign countries.

“It’s an event that brings millions of dollars into the state of Oklahoma each year,” Sims said. “I’m always proud of the state because we are resilient in how we figure out a way to do things. This is a perfect example of that because when most of the major shows during the COVID years were canceled, these guys picked up the torch and ran with it. It has blossomed into the largest event of its kind at this point in time.”

With expansion in mind, the committee came up with the Commercial Female Sale and has gotten a good response with a great set of consignments numbering more than 850 head including calves.

Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, today was officially named as the new leader of the Senate after a full vote by the Senate during the chamber’s bi-annual Organizational Day.

“It is the absolute honor of a lifetime to be voted on by my peers to hold this prestigious title,” Pro Tem Paxton said. “I humbly thank the members of the Senate who voted for me today and have entrusted me with this distinction. I will do everything in my power to ensure the integrity and honor of the Senate is upheld and will always do what is right for the citizens of the state of Oklahoma. Together, we have proven that when the Oklahoma Senate works with purpose, determination and unity, we can deliver results that positively impact the lives of Oklahomans.

“I thank my family, friends, citizens of District 23 who have continued to elect me to the Senate and especially my wife Misti, who all have shown their confidence in me to assume this new role. The Senate will continue to be at the forefront of advancing policies that will make Oklahoma a better place to live, work and raise a family. I look forward to continuing this important work. Oklahoma’s best days are ahead of us.”

Pro Tem Paxton was confirmed by a vote of 39-8, along party lines.

Even though it has been a warm Winter so far, Winter storms and frigid temps have arrived in the state. According to State Climatologist Gary McManus, we have tied the record for warmest year on Record. Still, we knew Winter would hit eventually, and it did, with temps dipping into the single digits across the state.

According to McManus, this week is going to stay on the cool side, “Northern Oklahoma got theirs yesterday, now the rest of the state gets to play later this week, most likely starting early Thursday into early Friday, and again most likely an I-44 to the south and east type of snowfall.” The latest from the National Weather Service is now calling for a southeastern Oklahoma snow event- Ardmore and Durant might see 3-4 inches of snow, and Broken Bow/Idabel as much as 5 inches. The northeastern corner of Texas back down to the Dallas area will have snow and ice and sleet.

The NWS office in Shreveport believes that the heaviest snow will be Thursday night in that far southeast corner of Oklahoma. McCurtain County may see both snow and some ice.

A new year, a new administration, a new Congress, and new challenges. Regardless of what does or doesn’t happen this year, buckle up. And welcome to 2025. So says the CEO and President of the National Milk Producers Federation Gregg Doud.

"The watchword of the year is change. Voters demanded it, and members of Congress and the new administration are vowing to deliver. At the same time, what those changes may be, how they occur, and which ones happen when, remain very open questions. Until new leaders in federal agencies are in place, and until congressional coalitions begin to coalesce, where dairy’s priorities fit into the broader picture remains to be seen – and as last month’s column stated, sorting out what’s real and what isn’t, and acting accordingly, is itself a critical area of emphasis in 2025. 

"But we do know this: We at NMPF are ready to pursue and seize the opportunities for better farm policy that will undoubtedly present themselves over the course of the next year."

When to Assist with the Calving Process – the Three Stages of Parturition with Mark Johnson

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. Derrell Peel, Johnson, and Paul Beck. Today, Johnson talks about when to assist with the calving process.

Parturition, or the birthing process, has three stages. Understanding the stages is critical in order to know when/if we need to provide assistance during calving season to increase the likelihood a live calf is born alive and off to a good start.

Stage 1: Dilation of the Cervix. The may take hours or days to complete and can easily go unnoticed. Uterine muscular activity is quiet during this stage as the cervix softens and the pelvic ligaments relax. During this stage, you may notice switching of the tail and a thick clear mucus string hanging from the vagina. Cow’s appetite may decrease and they may separate themselves off from the herd. Increased uterine contractions at the end of this stage push uterine contents against the cervix causing further dilation.