The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) successfully concluded its 2025 Winter Policy Meeting, where OCA members gathered to discuss and adopt policies addressing critical issues impacting the cattle industry. The meeting brought together cattle producers from across the state to ensure the voice of Oklahoma’s ranchers is heard on matters of state and national importance.

“Our policy meetings are essential in shaping the direction of our association’s efforts,” said Michael Kelsey, Executive Vice President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. “The policies adopted reflect the collective priorities of our members and will guide us as we work to protect and advance the interests of Oklahoma’s cattle industry.”

Following the meeting, Senior Farm and Ranch Director Ron Hays connected with Kelsey to discuss the topics covered in the meeting.

“Our members’ active participation ensures that our policies reflect the realities of life on the ranch,” said Kelsey. “Together, we are building a stronger future for Oklahoma’s cattle industry.”

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The winners of the National Wheat Foundation Top-Quality Wheat Contest were announced last week during the Annual Wheat Quality Meeting. Started in 2016, the contest’s objectives are to improve the overall productivity, quality, and marketability of the U.S. crop, communicate the importance of yield, quality, and profit to all segments of the wheat industry, and develop best management practices to achieve high yield, high quality, and higher profits.

This was only the third year that the yield contest included an evaluation of grain quality, but since then, quality has become a major component.

Oklahoma Farm Report’s Stevie White is featuring comments from the NWF Wheat Quality Meeting.

U.S. Wheat Associates Vice President and Director Steve Wirsching explained why producing quality is so important for producers, “Generally, U.S. wheat is priced higher than our competition, so we need to market our wheat on price times quality and value. We try not to talk about price so much and we try to enhance conversations about quality so we can increase the value of the wheat to our customers.”

In many foreign markets, this has been accomplished, and the customers are paying more for their wheat because they recognize the value of it.

The Remarkable Growth of Certified Angus Beef Prime

During Cattlemen’s Congress, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays had the opportunity to sit down with Executive Vice President of Production for Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Bruce Cobb. They discussed the quality improvements in beef, the sky-high demand, and the impending herd rebuild and what it will do for the beef industry. This is the second part of that conversation, the first part can be found here.

Cobb said that Certified Angus Beef Prime is one of the most exciting parts of the business. “Last year, we experienced double-digit sales increases in our Certified Angus Beef Prime – production volume, also double-digit. They go hand in hand.”

Even more remarkable was the CAB Prime Cutout Value’s increase in 2024. “That is not what we do in agriculture,” Cobb noted. “It is typically supply that goes way up, and price struggles in a downward cycle. CAB Prime is not doing that. Supply is going up; Price is going up. When those two things come together, that is the sweet spot.”

He explained that consumers drive the markets by sending their signal to the retail and food service operations who then signal the packers.

What happened: President Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, had her confirmation hearing before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. She is expected to get full Senate approval soon.

During the hearing, Rollins agreed with Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, who raised the issue, that Congress must address the problems caused by California’s Proposition 12. 



Rollins said Prop. 12 “…is not just affecting California. It’s affecting multitudes of other states, multitudes of other parts of the ag community, including our hog family farms.”

Rollins committed to working with Congress on implementing a Prop. 12 fix.

NPPC’s take: NPPC supports Rollins’ nomination as secretary of Agriculture and is urging the Senate to quickly confirm her.

Why it matters: The Agriculture secretary oversees USDA’s various agricultural programs, including ones related to conservation, forestry, and nutrition policy, foreign animal disease preparation and prevention, and export promotion. The secretary in the Trump administration will help shape the new five-year Farm Bill.

Recognizing the vital role that four-legged friends often play on family farms and ranches, Farm Bureau launched the Farm Dog of the Year contest several years ago – now a popular feature of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Convention.

The winner of the 2025 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year award is Sirius, a 6-year-old Maremma sheepdog owned by Florida Farm Bureau members Jorge and Debbie Garcia-Bengochea. AFBF, with support from Nestlé Purina PetCare, recognized Sirius and a People’s Choice Pup today at its convention.

“Farm dogs often play a dual role as both working dogs and companions to farm and ranch families,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Farming is very rewarding but stressful at times. Farm dogs can help ease the burden. It has been a pleasure partnering with Purina for the seventh annual Farm Dog of the Year contest, providing the public a glimpse of daily life on the farm.”

Rounding up livestock, chasing off predators, opening gates, fetching or carrying tools/buckets, and greeting visitors are among the many tasks performed by farm dogs. The contest celebrates the diverse ways farm dogs support farmers and ranchers.

Taking care of your herd is part of the job of every stockman, and it’s the right thing to do. While you’re not committed to cattle care for recognition, you could be rewarded for holding a current Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification.  

Through two incentive opportunities, Certified Angus Beef (CAB) and Sysco are recognizing producers who go above and beyond to show commitment to their herd.  

Raised with Respect™, a campaign that highlights a shared commitment to cattle care through BQA, is a partnership between Certified Angus Beef (CAB) and Sysco. It elevates the cattle industry’s work to address consumer concerns about animal welfare and reinforce trust in producers, which helps to ensure future demand for beef. 

“By partnering with Sysco and collaborating with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association at Cattle Con, we are able to support and recognize producers who value continued education,” says Kirsten Nickles, Ph.D., CAB sustainability and animal care scientist. “Because CAB has relationships with every segment of the beef supply chain, we value the opportunity to come alongside BQA education at Cattlemen’s College.”  

Bits and Pieces from the 106th American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio

The 2025 AFBF Convention reaches it's final day today in San Antonio- as the delegates gather to set policy for the general farm organization for the coming year.

President Duvall was asked about what might be on the delegate's minds- he mentioned the usual suspects- Farm Bill, Trade Policy, Ag Labor and taxes. He expects a few more off the radar issues may surface as well before it's all wrapped up.

We hope we visit with Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel once that policy session is over to get an Oklahoma view of the body of work.

In San Antonio- Two Oklahoma county Farm Bureaus have been sharing their unique programs with fellow Farm Bureau members from around the country during the past few days at the American Farm Bureau.

On Monday- Gripp, a startup from Indiana that offers farmers an operator-centric way to keep records of assets in combination with communication tools to keep everyone connected, was named the 2025 Ag Innovation Challenge winner, while Labby from New York was named runner-up. Gripp will receive a total of $100,000 in prize money sponsored in part by Farm Credit, Bayer Crop Science, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services and T-Mobile.

Winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitions were announced. Kade and Morgan Hodges from Texas won the Achievement Award, Abby Campbell of Ohio won the Discussion Meet and Marshal and Taylor Sewell from Florida won the Excellence in Agriculture Award.

Also during the convention, members of the AFBF YF&R Committee elected a new executive team. Ryan MacKay of Massachusetts will be the committee’s chair for 2025, taking over the position in March at the end of the FUSION Conference, and will serve for one year. He will also serve a one-year term on the AFBF board of directors.

Daniel Jones of California was elected vice chair and Allison Whiten of South Carolina was elected secretary. They will each serve one-year terms.

Oklahoma has landed a member on the national YF&R Committee for this year- Tulsa County Farm Bureau member Tommy Salisbury has been appointed to serve on the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.

Salisbury farms about 3,200 acres of soybeans and milo, has a custom hay baling operation, runs more than 200 cow/calf pairs and 500 yearlings, and owns the Collinsville Livestock auction. He also owns the Collinsville feed store to provide a resource for urban and local 4-H and FFA students.

Throughout his Farm Bureau career, Salisbury has served on the Tulsa County Farm Bureau board, and he and his wife, Chalaynna, have served as the at-large representatives for the state YF&R committee for the last year.