The popular CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as part of CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio, Texas, shared expert market and weather analysis yesterday.

After the seminar, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays got with Vice President of Industry Relations and Analysis Kevin Good to talk about what was shared.(Kevin is pictured above at the Outlook event)

The U.S. beef industry is poised for another year of strong market performance, driven by tight cattle supplies and robust consumer demand. As the beef cowherd enters a stabilization phase following years of contraction, the resulting supply constraints have shifted market leverage decisively in favor of cattle producers.

Weather conditions will remain a critical factor influencing grazing availability, herd expansion and cattle prices. Meteorologist Matt Makens said La Niña this winter brings rather volatile weather changes across North America with the majority of weather extremes affecting those in the Central to Eastern U.S. For Mexico and the Southwestern U.S., producers will see drought acreage increase as it has nationwide since June.

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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 29, 2024, when it was 41.57%.



Severe drought or worse conditions are unchanged from 0.33 percent since January 2nd.

Moderate drought or worse, conditions have increased to 7.75 percent, up from 5.24 last week.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions have increased to 68.31, up from 26.11 percent last week.

As for our neighbors, above-normal temperatures and the absence of this week’s precipitation led to widespread degradations across the Texas panhandle, along the Red River. Last week, a band of heavy rainfall fell, leading to improvements in central Texas, along the eastern edge of the Oklahoma-Texas border, along the Red River.

Like much of the central part of the country, the High Plains were 5 to 10 degrees warmer than usual. Little precipitation led to minor improvements in northeast Kansas.

Kansas Drought Monitor shows Moderate Drought only slightly down from 24.94 percent last week to 24.64. Texas Drought ratings decreased slightly from 42.35 percent a week ago to 41.26 percent.



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

Click here for the US Drought Monitor details for this week.

Analyzing the Impact of the 2024 Cattle Inventory Report with Terrain’s Don Close

At the NCBA’s CattleCon 2025, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, spoke with Terrain’s Chief Research and Analytics Officer, Don Close. Coverage of CattleCon 2025 is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The 2024 Cattle Inventory Report released last week showed that total cattle numbers were down 1 percent from last year, and the nation’s herd is the smallest it has been since 1951. According to Close, that 1 percent is significant.

“Those inventory numbers are such large base numbers that a one percent shift in those numbers is like turning an ocean liner,” Close said. “I think the fallout from that report will be longer lasting than what the initial market reaction was.”

Comparing the 2024 report to that of 2014 – another low point – Close said that, currently, there are 1.5 million more cattle on feed than then. The increase is due to the extended days on feed, the rise of beef on dairy, and growing the cattle bigger before processing; however, the available supply of cattle outside of feedyards is down half a million head from last year.

Don’t miss the inaugural Farmers Market Symposium on Wednesday, February 12, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.!

Farm Director KC Sheperd jumped at the opportunity to speak with Natasha Robinson, Farmers Market Manager, and Eric Himan, Scissortail Park’s VP of Programming.

The one-day symposium “Bridging the Rural and Urban Agriculture Gap” is designed to highlight farmers’ markets and Oklahoma agriculture of all sizes featuring keynote speaker, New York Times bestselling author Forrest Pritchard from Smith Meadows Sustainable Farm.

He is a seventh-generation farmer and New York Times bestselling author, holding a B.A. in English and a B.S. in Geology from the College of William & Mary. He grew up in the Shenandoah Valley on his grandparent’s diversified farm and spent summers with his non-farming grandparents in the Appalachian highlands and the Ohio River Valley.

Pritchard’s 2013 book “Gaining Ground, A Story of Farmers’ Markets, Local Food and Saving the Family Farm” chronicles his agricultural adventures. It was named a top read by Publishers Weekly, The Washington Post, and NPR’s The Splendid Table, and made the New York Times Bestseller list. Learn more at forrestpritchard.com.

People across the country will celebrate National FFA Week from Saturday, February 15, through Saturday, February 22. This event gives the organization’s more than one million members, as well as alumni and supporters, the opportunity to come together with the common goal of sharing FFA’s value and impact from their own hometown. 

The National FFA Organization works to develop young leaders through classroom instruction in agricultural education, leadership opportunities, and hands-on learning (known as SAEs or Supervised Agricultural Experiences). This is the first time National FFA Week has been celebrated since the record-breaking announcement of the organization’s milestone of reaching more than one million members. 

“National FFA Week serves as a powerful reminder of the vital role that agricultural education and leadership development play in shaping our future,” said National FFA Advisor Dr. Travis Park. “It’s a time of celebration and reflection as FFA members, advisors, and supporters come together to honor the impact of this extraordinary organization. National FFA Week strengthens the bond between members and their communities, ensuring the legacy of agriculture and education thrives for generations to come.”

The six National FFA Officers will connect with chapters throughout the week by leading workshops, delivering keynotes and interacting with students on a more personal level. President Thad Bergschneider will be traveling to South Dakota. Secretary Luke Jennings will be traveling to Washington. Central Region Vice President Mary Schrieber will be traveling to South Carolina. Eastern Region Vice President Caroline Groth will be traveling to North Dakota. Western Region Vice President Abigale Jacobsen will be traveling to Missouri. Southern Region Vice President Jack Lingenfelter will be traveling to Pennsylvania.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)weighed in Thursday on Mexico’s action to declare ineffective measures concerning genetically engineered (GE) corn that the United States successfully challenged in the USMCA dispute. Today’s action safeguards approximately $5.6 billion in U.S. corn exports to Mexico. USDA, in coordination with USTR, will continue to monitor Mexico’s compliance with its USMCA commitments.

“Mexico’s action declaring ineffective these GE corn measures is a major victory for U.S. farmers and a testament to President Trump’s decisive leadership on trade. Prompted by President Trump’s leadership and a USMCA panel ruling, Mexico’s action in response to the United States’ successful challenge in the USMCA litigation protects billions of dollars in U.S. exports,” said Kailee Buller, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “The Trump Administration will continue to stand up for U.S. farmers and producers, including tackling countries’ unjustified barriers to products of agricultural biotechnology.”

Meanwhile- Farm Bureau and the National Corn Growers also cheered the word from Mexico-

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on Mexico’s decision to formally repeal a ban on biotech corn imports from the United States.

“Farm Bureau applauds Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum for repealing her country’s ban on biotech corn imports from America. Her predecessor’s attempt to limit trade between the two countries was a clear violation of the USMCA trade agreement, which was recently confirmed by a USMCA panel decision.

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The National Corn Growers Association expressed optimism today after Mexico rescinded portions of a decree that banned genetically modified corn.

The development is an outgrowth of corn grower advocacy that led to a dispute panel that ruled in late December last year that Mexico had violated its commitments under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement when it banned the imports.

“We are encouraged by today’s development and pleased by the impact of corn grower advocacy,” said Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr . “Mexico must comply with the report and eliminate all measures that ban or restrict the trade of genetically modified corn.”