Recent wildfires have devastated Oklahoma’s agricultural landscape, leaving producers reeling. In a recent interview, with Farm Director KC Sheperd, Oklahoma State University’s Dr. Amy Hagerman offered crucial advice for those affected and outlined available assistance programs.

“Yeah, the first thing is always safety when getting back into those areas,” Dr. Hagerman emphasized. “Make sure the hotspots are out, and you’re cleared to get back into those areas. Then it’s assessing damages safely.”

The fires, characterized by their intensity and widespread impact, have resulted in significant losses, including livestock, barns, machinery, and pastures. Dr. Hagerman stressed the importance of meticulous documentation. “Pictures and video are going to be really important early on. Document those losses, and get them into the appropriate organizations,” she advised, urging producers to contact the Farm Service Agency (FSA), crop insurance agents, and insurance companies promptly.

Navigating the various assistance programs can be complex, as different types of losses require different approaches. “We’ve got a fact sheet coming out in the next couple of weeks and in it, we’ll walk through each one of those programs that are for each different kind of loss that a producer experiences,” Dr. Hagerman explained.

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.

Oklahoma is experiencing a severe dry spell, with drought conditions intensifying across much of the state. According to State Climatologist Gary McManus, the situation is becoming increasingly dire, marked by a prolonged lack of significant rainfall.

“The last time Medford received at least a quarter-inch of rain (or melted snow/ice) in a single day was back on Nov. 18 at 0.59 inches. They’ve only received 1.01 inches since,” McManus reports. This stark statistic highlights the severity of the dry period, emphasizing the minimal precipitation received in recent months.

Looking at the broader state picture, historical rainfall data reveals alarming trends. “NW OK has had their 2nd-driest last 120 days in the last 100+ years, an average of 4″ below normal,” McManus notes. This places the current dry spell within a historical context, illustrating the rarity and severity of the current conditions.

While some areas are faring slightly better, the overall picture remains concerning. “Some areas are a bit better off, but still mostly top-15 driest last 120 days on record. So a bit better, but still really bad,” McManus clarifies.

Dr. Derrell Peel: Cattle Producers in Northern Mexico are Facing Dire Circumstances

Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, was invited to speak at the annual meeting of the Unión Ganadera Regional De Chihuahua in Chihuahua, Mexico last week. The cattle industry there is facing multiple threats simultaneously that has cattle producers on the defense and struggling to survive. Dr. Peel shared his observations with Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays.

“The Chihuahua Cattlemen’s Union was having their annual meeting and asked me to speak at that,” Dr. Peel explained. “I learned a number of things down there that really reenforced what we have been seeing.”

Drought has been the major issue in northern Mexico the past two years. Chihuahua receives just a little over 16 inches of rain per year on average but has received a total of only 19.2 inches in the last 28 months, since the end of the rainy season in 2022.  Drought has forced producers to liquidate cows and reduce the herd in the region. Pastures are bare and feed is in short supply. Some cows have been relocated to central Mexico, where conditions improved in 2024 after a drought in 2023. Cattle producers are trying to hold onto remaining animals for now, hoping that a normal rainy season will arrive in June.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has passed a measure prohibiting the manufacture and sale of cultivated meat products in the state.

House Bill 2829, authored by Rep. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee, would make it unlawful to manufacture, sell, hold or offer for sale any cultivated meat product in Oklahoma. Violators would be guilty of a misdemeanor upon conviction and food sellers could face suspension or revocation of their licenses. The measure allows the Oklahoma State Department of Health to adopt rules for enforcement and provides an exemption for research conducted by governmental entities or institutions of higher education.

“Oklahoma has a proud agricultural heritage and this bill is about protecting our ranchers, farmers and consumers from an unregulated and potentially misleading industry,” Burns said. “Real meat comes from real animals and we want to ensure that Oklahoma’s food supply remains transparent and safe for our citizens.”

Cultivated meat, also known as lab-grown meat, is produced from cultured animal cells rather than traditional livestock. Supporters of HB2829 argue that banning its sale in Oklahoma will protect the integrity of the state’s meat industry and prevent consumer confusion.

HB2829 passed the House 72-18 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Today, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) member and chairman of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA) Robby Kirkland testified before the House Ways and Means Committee. In the hearing titled American Trade Negotiation Priorities, Kirkland highlighted the benefits of past trade agreements for U.S. cattle producers and the need for greater access to foreign markets. This is also the time for the U.S. government to hold our trading partners accountable for unfair practices and non-equivalent food safety standards.

“U.S. cattle producers produce the highest quality beef in the world and benefit greatly from market-based, science-based, and rules-based trade policies. Unfortunately, in recent years, our government stepped back from market access negotiations while our competitors negotiated robust trade agreements and gained a critical advantage in key markets where U.S. agricultural products face higher tariffs and a brick wall of non-tariff barriers,” said TCFA Chairman and Texas cattle producer Robby Kirkland. “It is long past time for the U.S. to re-engage in trade talks to secure preferential access with our allies like the United Kingdom and in key markets in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.”

The U.S. cattle and beef industry has greatly benefitted from robust trade agreements that leveled the playing field for U.S. farmers and ranchers and improved many rural economies across our country. However, not all trade partners have lived up to their commitments and must be held accountable.

Editor's Note- Texas Agrilife Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. David Anderson offers this analysis on how we are doing in getting eg production back on track across the US.

While some of us might be tired of reading (and writing) about eggs, there is some new data out that sheds some more light on the pace of production recovery. USDA released its Chickens and Eggs report on Friday, March 21st. For eggs, two of the most important numbers in the report are: the number of table egg layers and the number of pullets on March 1st. These numbers tell us where we are currently in short-term supplies and where we are headed in flock rebuilding.

The report indicated that there were 285.1 million table egg layers on March 1. That was down 8.7 million from February 1 and down 28.3 million from last March. It was the fewest table egg layers for any month since October 2015 and the fewest for March 1 since 2011. HPAI continued in full swing during February, far outstripping the ability to replace lost birds.  

The number of pullets, young hens heading to egg production, of all types was up 6.8 million or 5.5 percent over March of 2024. About 500,000 more were available than in February. While pullet production facilities have not been immune from HPAI occurrences, their numbers are growing as the industry responds to high prices and short supplies. Beyond the increased number of pullets, more eggs in incubators and eggs per 100 layers running ahead of a year ago indicate some more growing supplies.