Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays caught up with the Vice President of Operations at Farm Data Services and Oklahoma cattle producer Clay Burtrum to discuss the critical importance of risk management programs in today’s cattle markets.

“Every time we think these cattle prices can’t go any higher, they go higher,” Burtrum states. “It is a good time to be thinking about risk management strategies whether you are a cow calf producer or that guy that is buying smaller weight calves to run on grass for this next fall.”

Burtrum noted that most cow calf operators are almost finished with calving season at this point. He said that they don’t have to know the total number of steers and heifers they will have before they get risk protection. He used the example of a producer with 100 cows and suggested that he insure forty steers and forty heifers so that he doesn’t miss out on the currently high prices; then, he can capture the rest on a different plan after he knows what else he has.

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.

A coalition of groups sent a letter earlier this week to Governor Kevin Stitt urging he back away from any thought of dismantling the Oklahoma Forestry Service.

The letter states "On behalf of the undersigned organizations with a collective interest in public and property safety in the State of Oklahoma, we write to express our deep concern over recent comments questioning the continued existence of Oklahoma Forestry Services (OFS). We strongly urge you to reconsider any effort to eliminate or diminish this agency’s response capability, which has served as a critical partner and force multiplier for fire departments across Oklahoma.

"OFS has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with local firefighters during large-scale, complex wildfire incidents for decades, bringing with them specialized equipment, operational expertise, and a depth of experience that cannot be replicated at the local level. Their rapid deployment and coordination during the recent March 14-16th fires helped prevent significant loss of property and ensure the health of our residents."

Among the groups signing the letter by having their logo attached- Oklahoma Wheat Growers, Oklahoma Cotton Council, Oklahoma Livestock Marketing Association, OkPork, Oklahoma Ag Educators, AFR and the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association.. Read the letter by following the link in the blue box below.

Introducing Alex Mackey of the Oologah-Talala FFA Chapter, Your 2025 Northeast Area Star in Agscience

During the month of April, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report are spotlighting the 19 Area Stars of Oklahoma FFA, who are among the highest achievers in the organization.

This week, our coverage of the 2025 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists continues with Agriscience competitor Alex Mackey of the Oologah-Talala FFA chapter representing the Northeast Area.

Mackey began his project in the eighth grade by testing the decibel levels of everyday tools; then, he expanded to the multiple tools being used during shop class and the decibel levels in different areas of the shop. He has also checked the changes in different sizes of shops by visiting shops in nearby schools. He has also measured the levels emitted by tractors and skid steers.

“This project was inspired just to test my abilities with an agriscience project,” Mackey admitted. “Seeing that tools are affecting different people’s hearing, I decided to see if they were affecting the ag teacher’s hearing.”

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey in April 2025. More than 1,500 Oklahoma & Texas farmers and ranchers will be asked to participate in the survey online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. The survey is an opportunity for producers to provide accurate information about hired farm labor, including total number of hired farm workers, total hours worked, and total wages paid for the weeks of January 12-18, 2025 and April 6-12, 2025.

“We ask about two separate time periods each time we collect these data in order to publish biannual data and capture seasonal variation,” said Wilbert Hundl, Southern Plains Region Director. “This method reduces the number of times we survey farms, while ensuring useful data are available.”

USDA and the U.S. Department of Labor use the survey data to estimate the demand for, and availability of, seasonal agricultural workers, establish minimum wage rates for agricultural workers, and administer farm labor recruitment and placement service programs.

Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist, offers herd health advice as part of the weekly series known as the “Cow Calf Corner,” published electronically by Dr. Derrell Peel, Johnson, and Paul Beck. Today, Johnson talks about horn fly management.

One of the realities of beef production in Oklahoma is dealing with significant fly populations. The Oklahoma beef cattle industry loses millions of dollars each year due to external parasites. Blood loss, irritation and annoyance lead to reduced levels of performance due to flies. Horn flies are considered the most important external parasite of cattle causing an estimated $1.8 billion impact on the cattle industry as a whole annually. Although this fly is small and feeds from the back down the side and onto the belly of cattle it is the sheer numbers of these flies on a per animal basis that cause stress to cattle. Considering that an individual Horn fly will feed on an animal 25 times per day, large numbers of flies will certainly cause significant stress. In a cow – calf system the horn flies on the cow or heifer impact weaning weights in calves due to the impact of that stress causes decreased milk production but when combined with direct fly numbers on the calf then the impact can be greater. 

Recent rains, humidity and warmer temperatures mean that Oklahoma now serves as an ideal breeding ground for these annoying -pests that rob profit potential. Horn flies are holometabolus, meaning they have complete life cycle (egg, larvae, pupae, adult). The females need a blood meal to reproduce. Horn flies are a greater problem in pastured cattle because the females need an intact fresh manure pad to complete the life cycle. The life cycle can be completed as quickly as two weeks.

The Oklahoma Well Owner Network program offered through Oklahoma State University Extension and OSU’s Oklahoma Water Resources Center will host a “Get Well-Informed” free well water testing event for residents in 11 counties across southeast Oklahoma this spring.

The locations listed below will receive samples from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday, May 2. Analysis results will be provided directly to well owners via email (or mail if email is not an option).



• Atoka County Extension
• Coal County Extension
• Hughes County Extension
• Latimer County Extension
• LeFlore County Extension
• McCurtain County Extension
• McIntosh County Extension
• Okfuskee County Extension
• Pittsburg County Extension
• Pushmataha County Extension
• Seminole County Extension
• Talihina Conservation District

Well owners interested in the free well water analysis are encouraged to contact their local county Extension office for instructions on collecting a sample, or they can visit the Oklahoma Well Owner Network website.

Jared Stone named 2025 Ferguson College of Agriculture Outstanding Senior

Jared Stone of Chandler, Oklahoma, was recently named the Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture 2025 Louis and Betty Gardner Outstanding Senior.

Stone will receive bachelor’s degrees in animal science and agribusiness with a minor in microbiology this spring. He is the son of Caleb and Amanda Stone.

The Louis and Betty Gardner Outstanding Senior Award is the highest honor given to a senior in the Ferguson College. This award is supported by an endowment established by Brent and Kent Gardner, both previous recipients of the award, in honor of their parents, Louis and Betty.

Stone received a Remington bronze sculpture along with a scholarship for his achievements.