November exports of U.S. red meat posted year-over-year gains across all categories, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). U.S. pork exports remained on a record pace, while beef and lamb shipments also increased substantially from November 2023.

November beef exports increased 10% year-over-year to 109,288 mt, while value climbed 11% to $872.7 million. For January through November, exports increased 5% in value ($9.56 billion) from the same period in 2023, despite a 1% decline in volume (1.18 million mt).

USMEF's Dan Halstrom says “Despite continued economic headwinds in Asia, demand for U.S. beef strengthened in South Korea, China and Taiwan, and exports were fairly steady to Japan. The strong performance in Mexico and outstanding demand for variety meat in Egypt were also critical for bolstering carcass value.”

Beef exports to leading value market South Korea reached 21,499 mt in November, up 20% year-over-year and the largest since March. Export value increased 29% to $207.7 million, also the highest since March. For January through November, exports to Korea achieved a 5% increase in value ($2.01 billion) despite a 7% decline in volume (210,282 mt). 

Beef export value equated to $428.70 per head of fed slaughter in November, up 13% from a year ago and the highest since June. This pushed the January-November average to $412.58, up 5%. Exports accounted for 14.4% of total November beef production and 11.8% of muscle cuts, up substantially from the year-ago ratios of 12.7% and 10.4%, respectively. January-November exports accounted for 13.8% of total production and 11.5% of muscle cuts, down slightly from 13.9% and 11.7%, respectively, during the same period in 2023.   

P&K Equipment is the largest John Deere dealer across Oklahoma, with 18 locations, as well as an additional two locations in Arkansas. We are proud to serve our communities & the surrounding areas. P&K is committed to keeping your equipment running strong. In these colder months, sign up for our P&K Advantage maintenance & inspection specials. And year-round, it’s easier than ever before to buy genuine John Deere parts online at GetGreenParts.com. Pick up your order in stores or have it shipped directly to you! P&K Equipment is committed to taking care of you long after the sale.

Begun in 2012, Linz Heritage Angus started with ten young cows and their calves. Now, located in Byars, Oklahoma, the ranch is comprised of more than eight hundred mama cows. While attending the Cattlemen’s Congress, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays met up with Owner and CEO Fred Linz to talk about the family business that includes Blue Branch Ranch and Meats by Linz.

Linz said, “The whole idea was to create a "conception to plate" program for our restaurant partners where we have control of the product all the way from the beginning to the end. We do a lot of business in the white tablecloth industry between independent steakhouses and chain restaurants, hotels, country clubs, cruise lines, you know, anything in the white tablecloth center of plate proteins.”

Meats by Linz was started in 1963 by Linz’s grandfather, Marty Linz, making Linz’s son, Zach who runs the day-to-day operations, the fourth generation of Linzs in the business.

“Currently, under our umbrella, we have the meat processing: we just moved into a brand-new facility at the end of June in Hammond, Indiana,” Linz explained. “Going on two years ago, we acquired a 10,000-head feedlot in Rocky Ford, Colorado. Then, the ranch that we moved to Byars, OK in 2021.”

Drought Conditions in Oklahoma are Unchanged in Latest Drought Monitor Report

According to the latest Oklahoma drought monitor report, exceptional drought remains at zero percent, unchanged from the start of the calendar year.

Extreme drought or worse remains at zero percent, we last had extreme drought numbers the week of October 29th when it was 41.57%.



Severe drought or worse conditions are unchanged from 0.33 percent last week.

Moderate drought or worse, conditions are unchanged from 5.52 percent last week.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are unchanged from 29.72 percent last week.

As for our neighbors, based on 30 to 120-day SPI, 28-day streamflow, and soil moisture, a 1-category degradation was made to portions of the Edwards Plateau of Texas. SPIs at various time scales and soil moisture supported a 1-category degradation as well for parts of the Rio Grande Valley. Heavy rainfall during late December supported additional improvements across southeastern Texas. Recent rainfall (1 to 2 inches) prompted a 1-category improvement to parts of Mississippi. Although precipitation was lighter this past week, the lack of any support among the indicators for D0 and D1 led to improvements to much of Arkansas.

Widespread precipitation (1 to 2 inches, liquid equivalent) was observed throughout eastern Kansas, Missouri. Total snowfall amounts were near or more than a foot in portions of these areas.

Kansas Drought Monitor shows Moderate Drought decreased from 28.72 last week to 24.63 this week. Texas Drought ratings decreased slightly from 43.51 percent a week ago to 43.63 percent.

Click here for the Kansas Drought Monitor Page and Click here for the Texas Drought Monitor Page.

The next three days offer non stop opportunities to see some of the best cattle in the world at the fifth Cattlemen's Congress. Click here for the latest schedule of the action. (Picture above is the 2025 Red Angus Pen Show from midweek)

Today- the Jim Norick Arena features the National Hereford Bull Show and the Shorthorn Junior Breeding Heifer Show in the morning and the Maine Anjou Junior and Open Heifer Show after lunch- plus the Aberdeen breed's Junior and Open show starts at 2 PM.

The Performance Arena will feature the Super ROV Angus Pen and Carload show this morning- while Shorthorns will be in that venue at 2 PM.

Two major sales are later today- the National Angus Bull Sale is at 2 PM while the National Hereford Sale is set for 6 PM- both in the Super Barn Sales Arena.

On Saturday- bright and early at 8 AM- the Super ROV Angus Open Female show and the National Hereford Open Female show will be in the Jim Norick arena.

Maine Anjou and Shorthorns will have Pen Shows on Saturday- while the Sale lineup includes National sales for the Chianina, Shorthorns and Maine Anjou.

Sunday also has a full day with three breeds and their composites are showing- Maine Anjou, Chianina and Shorthorns. You also have the Belted Galloway show later Sunday afternoon.

Sales on Sunday include National Sales for the Salers and the Bricktown National Simmental Sale.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) announced this evening that they have reached a tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year master labor contract covering ports on the East and Gulf Coasts. The two sides agreed to extend the current contract until the ILA’s full Wage Scale Committee can schedule a ratification vote and USMX members can ratify the terms of the new contract.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement:

This tentative contract agreement is great news for red meat exporters and for all of U.S. agriculture. The assurance that there will be no work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports eliminates a cloud of uncertainty and bolsters the U.S. industry’s reputation as a reliable supplier of pork, beef and lamb. On behalf of USMEF’s membership, I want to thank the ILA and USMX for reaching this agreement and ensuring the continued movement of cargo.

Molly Van Lieu of the International Fresh Produce Association is talking about how produce prescriptions may transform healthcare in the U.S. Oklahoma Farm Report’s Stevie White is featuring comments from her panel discussion at the most recent National Association of Farm Broadcasters Convention. Click here to read and listen to a conversation Van Lieu had with our own Maci Carter.

“We define ‘Food is Medicine’ as a produce prescription which is a standard practice of clinical care,” Van Lieu explained. “A produce benefit that is prescribed by a health care provider and is paid for by your health insurance company.”

Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables has long been known to result in better pharmaceutical outcomes, but for some, affordability is a major issue.

“When a health care provider tells a patient to eat more fruits and vegetables, and the patient has affordability issues, that can be a really hard conversation to have,” she said. “This provides a solution for them.”

Agricultural Land: To Own or To Rent?

American Farm Bureau offers their latest MarketTel report on Ag Land in the United States.

In 2022, 39% of agricultural land was rented – a proportion that has remained relatively stable for over 50 years. When deciding how to acquire land, rising farm real estate values can be a valuable asset or an extra hit to growing production expenses. Farmers and ranchers who operate a mix of owned and rented land make up over half of agricultural land in production and are affected by both sides of land value spikes.

Land Tenure

USDA has three different classifications for land “tenure”: Full owners who only operate land that they own outright; Part owners who operate a mixture of owned and rented land; and tenants who exclusively rent their land. According to USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, there are over 880 million acres of agricultural land – comprising all cropland, rangeland and forestry land – in the United States, down more than 15 million acres from 2017. Full owners operate nearly 312 million acres of ag land, and this was the only tenure classification that increased from 2017 to 2022 despite the decreases in overall ag land acres. Still, 52% of ag land is operated by part owners, and less than 10% of ag land is operated by someone who exclusively rents land. Overall, this amounts to 39% of all acres being leased.