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 conditions remain at zero percent, unchanged since the week of October 29, 2024.

Severe drought or worse conditions remain at 14.10 percent, unchanged from last week.

Moderate drought or worse conditions remain at 47.52 percent, unchanged from last week.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions have decreased to 75.46 percent, down from 76.95 percent last week.

As for our neighbors, southern Texas received record-breaking rainfall (12+ inches), leading to widespread improvements in drought-related conditions, while generally dry conditions prevailed across areas of western Texas, Arkansas, and southern Mississippi.

In Kansas, short-term dry conditions (past 30-60 days) led to the expansion of isolated areas of drought in the southwestern and northeastern parts of the state. Generally dry conditions prevailed with some small accumulations (0.5 to 1 inch liquid) observed in southeastern Kansas.

Kansas Drought Monitor shows Moderate Drought increased from 56.84 percent last week, to 59.27 percent. Texas Drought ratings decreased from 69.66 percent a week ago to 67.65 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.

As Oklahoma’s largest John Deere dealer, P&K Equipment is proud to serve our communities & the surrounding areas through 18 Oklahoma locations & 2 Arkansas locations. The entire P&K team is ready to keeping your equipment up & running. So, when it comes time to buy John Deere parts, look no further than GetGreenParts.com.

Shop 24/7 from the convenience of wherever you are & have the parts shipped directly to you! This spring and summer- P&K is committed to making it easier than ever to really own your John Deere equipment. And long after the sale- P&K will be here to support you at every step.

At the 2025 Oklahoma City Farm Show, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays visited with John Riles of Midwest Farm Shows.

The Oklahoma City Farm Show is the final event of the company's 2024 – 2025 show season, and despite, or perhaps because of, rainy weather, the show had a good turnout on Thursday afternoon and will continue today and tomorrow at OKC Fairgrounds in the Bennett Event Center.

Riles believes that farm shows of old were based on gathering information when information wasn’t so easy to get, so brochures were the popular items more so than the latest technology on equipment; however, some things haven’t changed.

“Obviously, you can get a lot more things online, now, but you still have that person-to-person selling and talking about what you need and what is in stock and when can you take delivery,” Riles pointed out. “Those are important things to talk about when you are making that buying decision. A lot of people will sell you something, then tell you after the fact that it might not show up for four, eight, or twelve weeks. It is good to talk to somebody directly and make sure that you are both on the same page of what the transaction is all about.”

There are lots of opportunities to do just exactly that at the 2025 Oklahoma City Farm Show- and if you make it to the show- stop by and say howdy to us- we are in booth 6032- as we sit in our booth- we are looking straight at the big machines brought in by Warren Cat.

Mike Simone Gives Insights on Consumer Beef Demand Amid Economic Pressures

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays is visiting with the Executive Director of Market Research and Intelligence for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Mike Simone, about keeping up with today’s beef consumer.

Despite economic pressures like inflation and higher beef prices, Simone says that consumer demand for beef is at an all-time high with record sales – $40 billion worth of beef. He detailed how beef accounts for more than half of the fresh meat in consumer diets. The 6 billion pounds of beef in volume this past year didn’t quite break records, but it is a remarkable amount of beef sold, all things considered.

“Consumers have stuck with us, but a year ago at this time, we didn’t quite think that would be the case with tighter supplies, contraction of the cattle herd, and fewer cattle going to harvest,” Simone explained. “The market responded. There are heavier cattle now. They are staying on feed longer. Greater weights and increases in imports helped offset the losses in total number of head going to harvest.”

Despite the market challenges, consumers continue to love beef and purchase it even with the elevated prices. Beef continues to be the number one choice; chicken did better in volume of sales, but Simone attributed that to the lower price value due to the current economic climate.

USDA has announced plans for a funding opportunity to explore prevention, therapeutics, research and potential vaccine candidates to fight highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). USDA will invest up to $100 million in these projects.

Funding is available, through a competitive process, to for-profit organizations, including manufacturers of vaccines, biologics, and therapeutics, states, universities, livestock producer organizations and other eligible entities. USDA will prioritize proposals that address one or more of the following:  

• Development of novel therapeutics and improved diagnostics to address HPAI in poultry.
• Research to further understand risk pathways of avian influenza for producers and to inform improved biosecurity and response strategies.
• Development of novel vaccines to protect poultry from HPAI while promoting biosecurity.  

The notice of funding opportunity, including application instructions and additional information, is available on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website. Applicants can also find information on the ezFedGrants website or Grants.gov by searching USDA-APHIS-10025-VSSP0000-25-0015. Deadline to apply is May 19.

March 24th through March 27th 2025, representatives from the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) and the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) annual spring fly-in. This event provides NACD members the opportunity to build relationships with congressional representatives, highlight the importance of locally led conservation, and advocate for strong federal conservation policies.

The Oklahoma delegation met with all seven of the state’s congressional representatives and their staff to address key issues, including the Farm Bill, federal funding freezes impacting grant-related work, tariffs, and workforce reductions at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Oklahoma has long been recognized for its strong partnership between NRCS, the state commission, and local conservation districts. Workforce reductions at Oklahoma NRCS offices impact the timeliness and efficiency of conservation technical assistance provided to farmers and ranchers. With nearly 92% of NRCS offices co-located alongside conservation districts, delivering essential services to producers is a collaborative effort that depends on sufficient staffing and resources.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 2025 Ag Tour will visit agricultural enterprises and local businesses across western Oklahoma on May 6-8.

The annual tour will provide OKFB members with a look into western Oklahoma agriculture, industry and attractions over the course of three days’ worth of tours and visits in the Elk City area. The tour will depart from and return to the OKFB home office in Oklahoma City.

Highlights of the 2025 Ag Tour will include stops at Entz Auction, Cudd Energy Services, the Taylor Ranch, the National Route 66 Museum, Keith’s Butcher Shop, a shooting range, a feed lot, and more. A full itinerary will be provided to tour registrants.

The cost of the tour is $450 for a single registration and $600 for a couple, and includes bus transportation, two nights of hotel stays, meals, and any applicable site entry fees.

The tour is limited to 50 Farm Bureau members, and registration is on a first come, first-served basis. Registration is available online at OKFB’s website using the form below, and spots will only be reserved once the full tour payment is received. Payment checks must be mailed to the OKFB home office to save a tour spot, and invoices for payment will be provided to members when registering.

For questions about the tour, contact Marcia Irvin by phone at (405) 523-2300 or online using the contact form.

Denim Ball this Weekend at The 1st National Center

 It’s almost here!

Get ready to celebrate cotton in style at the annual Denim Ball THIS WEEKEND in OKC! Join us for an unforgettable weekend of delicious food, great company, and fun!

Every dollar raised during this special event goes directly to the Committee for the Advancement of Cotton (CAC), helping to promote, protect, and advance the interests of Oklahoma cotton producers. Your attendance makes a difference and helps support the hardworking families who keep Oklahoma cotton thriving.

If you haven’t registered, there is still time!

Visit OkieCotton.com, put on your best denim and we’ll see you there!

Cantrell- Grissom Bull and Female Production Sale Set for Saturday 4/5/2025

The 2025 C-G Cattle Company Bull & Female Production Sale

is set for tomorrow, Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 12:30 P.M.

The sale will be happening in the new Cantrell-Grissom Cattle Co. Sale Facility located at 35351 E111 Road, Earlsboro, Oklahoma 74864

Over 225 head will sell- including

65 Spring Angus Bulls

20 Fall Angus Bulls

12 Two-Year-Old Charolais Bulls

20 Spring Calving Registered Angus Cows

10 Spring Calving Registered Angus Heifers

10 Fall Calving Registered Angus Cows

5 Fall Calving Registered Angus Heifers

60 Open Commercial Heifers

Come and participate in the sale onsite or bid and watch at LiveAuction.TV

Matt Sims is the Sale Manager- click here for the catalog

Call Matt for more information at 405-641-6081

Learn more about the Cantrell- Grissom Cattle Company by going to their website- available here.