In a season marked by unpredictable weather, Oklahoma producers are navigating a complex landscape of planting delays, concerns about crop vigor, and the potential for double-cropping opportunities. OSU Precision Nutrient Management Extension Specialist Dr. Brian Arnall shared his observations and advice with Farm Director KC Sheperd, highlighting the resilience of some crops while emphasizing strategic planning for others.

Dr. Arnall’s overarching advice for producers in this volatile season is to “have a plan, but be ready to pivot on a moment’s notice.” He urged producers to consider post-harvest management strategies for muddied fields and to capitalize on the current soil moisture. “Let’s take advantage of this moisture while we can,” he said.

The vision of the Oklahoma Beef Council is to be a positive difference for Oklahoma's farming and ranching families and the greater beef community, and its mission is to enhance beef demand by strengthening consumer trust and exceeding consumer expectations. 

To learn more, visit www.oklabeef.org. Also, don't forget to like its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oklabeef for stories on Oklahoma's ranching families and great beef recipes. 

And Check out this video below that helps you learn more about the Beef Checkoff- .

“Monumental” is a title of a recent issue of The Beef, a daily market column written by Cassandra Fish, a beef industry expert with Consolidated Beef Producers. Her column is read and relied on by thousands of industry professionals in more than thirty countries. Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays got to talk to Fish shortly after it was published. In the first part of their conversation, they discussed the monumental rally of the cash fed cattle market. Today, they are discussing the red ink that is the reality of what the major packers are facing in the fed cattle market. 

The change from profitable to not happened so quickly and deeply that Fish believes it is unsustainable. She said, “You can’t pay $8 or $10 more for your raw material – for your cattle – each week, and then unless you can charge enough for boxed beef prices… You can only lose so much money for so long, no matter what business you are in. From that standpoint, it is unsustainable for them.”

Mark Z. Johnson: Cow-Calf Sector of Beef Production

Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist contends cattle production is the most important U.S. agricultural industry, consistently accounting for the largest share of total cash receipts for agricultural commodities. In 2024, U.S. cattle production represented about 22 percent of the $515 billion in total cash receipts for agricultural commodities. With rich agricultural land resources, the United States has developed a beef industry that is largely separate from its dairy sector. The U.S. beef industry is unique when compared with other countries.

Dr. Johnson explains in this commentary that it will be a long slow process in rebuilding the US Beef Cow herd after drought resulted in liquidation of the number of beef cows found across the US. He says "Bottomline: when we begin to retain heifers (on a large scale), we are a couple of years away from increasing the cow inventory, and at least 30 months away from increasing the supply of weaned calves, and so on, regarding yearlings and fed cattle. That being stated, the basic fundamentals of supply and demand favor strong prices for all categories of cattle until cow inventory begins to increase, and that will take some time."

In an otherwise tough time in the beef business, sales and supply records have been a bright spot. The positive numbers mean that quality beef production has not let up, and beef demand is holding. Consumers have proven the value proposition: the good stuff is worth a little more money, for a better eating experience.

Based solely on head count, the end of March produced the second largest week of CAB-certified carcasses at 134,330, second to a week in February 2021 at 135,758—with the 2021 number largely due to a pandemic-driven backlog in processing. If we take a step back and look at the numbers overall, brand-certified carcasses are up +1% year-over-year, despite fed steer and heifer harvest being down -3.5%. And when looking at the data further, the brand has seen Certified Angus Beef acceptance rates at 40% or higher for 10 weeks this spring, kicking off in March. For comparison, the average acceptance rate for fiscal year 2024 was 37.4%, up from 36% in fiscal year 2023.

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol today announced its sixth consecutive year of growth, marking an expansion in both planted acres and enrolled growers. The program now represents 2.58 million planted acres, an 18% increase from the previous year, planted by 1,512 participating growers – a 14% rise compared to 2024. This growth underscores the program’s increasing value to U.S. cotton farmers, particularly in today’s challenging environment with fluctuating input costs, changing weather, and evolving market conditions.

By participating in the Trust Protocol, growers receive actionable data-driven insights that help them understand their environmental footprint, optimize farming practices, and improve overall efficiency. This allows them to demonstrate their commitment to responsible practices through measurement and verification.

In a formal letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), R-CALF USA’s Animal Health Committee called for swift approval to add ivermectin as an oral feed-through in livestock and wildlife feeds as a precaution against the potential introduction of New World Screwworm (NWS).

R-CALF USA expressed support for using feed-grade ivermectin as a proactive and proven measure to protect both domestic herds and wildlife in the southern border regions, particularly near Mexico. The organization noted that this control method has been successfully used to combat the spread of cattle fever tick.

Oklahoma Tax Revenue Slows After April Peak, Reflects Broader National Cooling

Oklahoma tax revenues dipped in May following a record-setting April, with the latest monthly tax revenue totaling $1.28 billion—a 36% decline from April largely due to the end of tax season. But broader trends in employment, inflation, and consumer spending signal that Oklahoma’s economy remains steady but guarded, mirroring national patterns.

Over the past 12 months, the state collected $16.88 billion in tax revenue, down just 0.3% from the previous year, indicating a stable fiscal base even as certain sectors adjust to tighter monetary policy and shifting demand. “This month’s numbers reflect the natural downshift after tax season, but the year-long picture shows Oklahoma’s economy holding steady,” said State Treasurer Todd Russ. “Consumers are still spending, sales tax revenues are holding, and manufacturing is showing strength—key signs that support continued resilience.”