Howdy Neighbors!

It's Time for the Friday Farm Funny! Farming is hard and stressful, so enjoy a little laugh.. Maybe.. the jokes are always bad, so prepare yourself.

Oklahoma Senator James Lankford recently discussed the recently passed “Big, Beautiful Bill,” highlighting its significant impact on Oklahomans, particularly the state’s agricultural producers and businesses. In an interview with Farm Director KC Sheperd, Senator Lankford clarified key components of the extensive 940-page legislation, which he noted was a “struggle” due to its broad scope.

Crucial Farm Bill Updates Included Senator Lankford emphasized that a substantial portion of the long-overdue Farm Bill was unexpectedly included as the very first chapter of this new, omnibus legislation. “Hardly anybody talked about, but me, the first chapter of it is most of the Farm Bill was actually included in the one big beautiful bill,” he stated. He specifically noted that critical elements like reference prices, along with many other aspects that “needed to be updated were finally updated.” These long-awaited changes are expected to bring tangible benefits and be “felt pretty quickly” by commodity producers across the state.



Lankford clarified that while this bill represents a “major portion of the farm bill in dealing with all of our commodity prices,” it is not the complete Farm Bill. Aspects related to research entities and other programmatic details, which could not be included in this type of cost- and tax-focused legislation, will still need to be addressed in future Farm Bill negotiations. Despite this, he underscored the significance of finally achieving these updates, which had been a point of contention with Democratic colleagues in the previous session.

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 zero percent, unchanged since the week of May 29, 2025.

Moderate drought or worse conditions remain at zero percent, unchanged since last week.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions have persisted this week in parts of Greer county, Beckham county and Kiowa county.

According to the 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map, most of the state of Oklahoma is leaning below 33-40% chance of precipitation through July 26, while the panhandle is at near normal conditions through that same date.

At the recent Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with the President and CEO of US Meat Export Federation Dan Halstrom. Our Coverage from San Diego is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

Yesterday, we featured the first part of our conversation with Halstrom- click here to read and listen to read and listen to that Beef Buzz. Today, Dan Halstrom emphasized that despite current challenges, particularly the loss of access to China, global demand for U.S. beef remains strong going into the second half of 2025. “We got to remain flexible around China,” Hallstrom noted, “but with that in mind, demand even at a $400 choice cutout, is still moving. It is not slowing down.” He highlighted surprising strength from regions like Central America and Mexico, which traditionally weren’t viewed as high-spending markets but “continue to buy,” offering a positive outlook despite trade obstacles.

While acknowledging a slight decline in exports—“we’re down about 5% year to date on volume about 3% down on value”—Halstrom framed it as expected. He said, “our forecast for the year was down between five and 7%… which means that we’re going to continue to have very good demand.” He pointed out that regaining access to China could quickly reverse that trend. “If you throw China back in that mix, those numbers improve,” he said. “That, of course, is the hope and a goal.”

President Trump has picked an assistant U.S. Trade Representative to serve as the agency’s chief agricultural negotiator. Julie Callahan, AUSTR for agricultural affairs and commodity policy, was announced as the nominee for the deputy USTR slot on Thursday. Callahan has been with the agency since 2016, serving first as senior director for agricultural affairs, then deputy AUSTR. She was promoted to AUSTR in 2020.

Dr. Callahan previously served as a Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative and Senior Director in the USTR Agriculture Office, focusing on strategic engagement in UN organizations, EU, UK, Turkey, and Eastern European Sanitary and Phytosanitary Issues and agriculture-related Technical Barriers to Trade.

Prior to joining USTR, Dr. Callahan held senior leadership positions in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, executing strategic and operational planning, aligning FDA analytical and policy approaches to preempt or resolve regulatory issues that arise in international trade, and promoting U.S. public health objectives in US trade positions, including in WTO SPS and TBT Committees, trade negotiations, and FTA implementation. 

USMEF Statement on Julie Callahan’s Nomination as USTR’s Chief Ag Negotiator

The White House announced this morning that President Trump has nominated Julie Callahan to serve as chief agricultural negotiator at USTR. Callahan is currently the assistant U.S. trade representative for agricultural affairs and commodity policy. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement: At this especially critical time for agricultural trade, President Trump has tapped a proven leader who is a tireless advocate for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and all of U.S. agriculture. Julie Callahan brings an unparalleled level of knowledge, experience, and dedication to this position, and USMEF urges her swift confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

U.S Grains Council Statment Callahan Nominated For Chief Ag Negotiator Role

Today, Julie Callahan, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative (AUSTR) for agricultural affairs and commodity policy, has been nominated by President Trump for the role as Chief Agricultural Negotiator. “We appreciate President Trump for working expeditiously to nominate the AUSTR Callahan for this critical job,” said U.S. Grains Council President and CEO Ryan LeGrand. “The Council and I, personally, have worked with Julie for many years and I know, once approved, she will have the producers and agribusinesses top of mind as she conducts her work with trading partners around the world.” Callahan has been with the agency since 2016, serving as senior director for agricultural affairs before being promoted to deputy AUSTR in 2020. The President now has nominated people to serve in all of the traditionally held USTR deputy roles.

Farm Director KC Sheperd spoke with Cotton Assistant Extension Specialist at Oklahoma State University, Maxwell Smith, who provided insights into this year’s cotton season. Cotton growers in southwest Oklahoma are experiencing a positive shift this year, thanks to improved irrigation conditions and early-season rainfall. “Definitely a change of pace from the last three years,” said Smith. “About a week and a half ago, the water out of Lake Altus-Lugert was opened up and moving down the canals, and by Wednesday, it was being applied to the field.” He noted that producers are more optimistic than in recent seasons: “The crop is looking really good, pest pressure has been really, really low thus far this season.”

Compared to previous years of extreme drought or excess rainfall, this year began on a much better footing. “We started this year with a really good moisture profile in our soil, and planting conditions were really good,” Smith said. While there was some early weather damage that led to replanting, “intermittent rainfall for about a month” helped establish strong early growth and delayed the need for irrigation, conserving water for later in the season.

Despite the early-season rains, Smith acknowledged the faucet may already be turning off. “In the last two to three weeks, it hasn’t rained very much… but getting all that moisture early really stretches us further into the season without relying on irrigation,” he explained. This reserve will be critical as the cotton enters peak bloom in late July and August, when plants are most vulnerable to stress. “We have that irrigation water still in our reserves… to help us finish a good crop.”

Tommy (Tom) John Glazier was born January 5, 1943, to Marvin and Eileen (Garms) Glazier in Kingfisher, OK, and left his earthly home on July 15, 2025, at the age of 82.

Glazier served both the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and the Oklahoma Wheat Growers during his lifetime of being a wheat producer. Friends and family will have an opportunity to celebrate his life on Saturday at the Lomega High School Auditorium at 10:00 AM.

Tom was a dedicated farmer, proud supporter of the FFA, and served in many local and state capacities over the years, including the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association, Oklahoma Wheat Commission, Lomega School Board (for twenty years) as well as the Lomega Lions Club.

Memorials in Tom’s memory can be made to the Lomega Education Academic Foundation, PO Box 1275 Kingfisher, OK 73750.

Sorghum Growers Invited to Hands-On Field Day Focused on In-Season Crop Management July 29, 2025 — Dacoma, Oklahoma

Oklahoma agricultural producers are invited to an exclusive field day dedicated to maximizing sorghum production through real-time, in-crop learning. Scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 29, this immersive event will take place in a working sorghum field near Dacoma, Oklahoma, offering practical, field-based education during the critical stages of crop development.



Dr. Josh Lofton, Oklahoma State University Extension Cropping Systems Specialist, said the event is designed to bring growers face-to-face with the crop, the tools, and the research driving success in today’s sorghum industry.

“This isn’t about slideshows or lecture halls,” said Dr. Lofton. “It’s about being in the field, looking at the plant, and understanding what’s happening in real-time. It’s about giving growers the knowledge they need, exactly when they need it.”

Checking the Markets...

At the Woodward Livestock Market on Thursday- the National Beef Wire offered two examples pf a very strong market- "Woodward Livestock reports 83 Steers (921 lbs) @ $303.00 - and then 64 Heifers (721 lbs) @ $313.00.

In the country for cash cattle trade- Cassie Fish with The Beef reported midday Thursday "In Kansas a regional paid $231, higher than last week’s $229.68. Major packers are trying to hold the line and protect margins and they own more inventory thanks to last week’s negotiated fed cattle trade volume of 72k head, which was larger than any weekly volume purchased over the prior 4 weeks. Of course to get that done, packers paid the second highest average price for fed cattle of 2025."

OKC West is our Market Links Sponsor- they sell cattle three days a week- Cows on Mondays, Stockers on Tuesday and Feeders on Wednesday- Call 405-262-8800 to learn more.

Click here for our Markets Page on OklahomaFarmReport.Com- there you will find many of the reports we have linked on the right hand column found on the previous format of our email.

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