Howdy Neighbors!

US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins unveiled multiple steps that USDA is planning to take to aggressively push back on the advance of the New World Screwworm that has traveled from Panama through Central America and now into Mexico. . Secretary Rollins spoke of four specific actions USDA is moving on to deal with the New World Screwworm, which at last report, is 370 miles south of the US- Mexican border. Listen to Secretary Rollins by clicking on our "read More" below.

Rollins announced Friday in Austin, Texas that USDA will build a new Sterile Fly Production Facility at the old Moore Air Base near Mission, Texas. The Secretary said the facility will, once up and running, be able to produce 300 million sterile flies weekly to help eradicate the New World Screwworm. This facility will bolster the production of the COPEG facility in Panama and the soon to be opened facility being reconfigured from a former fruit fly breeding and sterilization plant in Metapa de Domínguez, Chiapas, Mexico into a New World screwworm (NWS) sterile fly production plant. Rollins said the US facility would have a price tag of $750 million dollars and indicated that it will be fast tracked and could be operational in about a year. She added it will bring 300 jobs to south Texas.

Secretary Rollins also announced that $100 million dollars would be made available to involve public and private researchers and industry to develop cutting edge technology that could help in defeating the New World Screwworm. Details of the multipoint plan advanced by the Secretary is available here.

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture: Following the rollout of USDA’s five-pronged plan to combat New World screwworm, NASDA CEO Ted McKinney issued a statement of support for USDA’s new actions. “NASDA is grateful for USDA’s investment in defending the U.S. against an outbreak of new world screwworm and for recognizing states as critical partners in helping prevent, mitigate, and eradicate foreign animal diseases,” McKinney said.

American Farm Bureau Federation: President Zippy Duvall commented today on USDA’s announcement that it will open a domestic sterile fly production facility to battle the New World screwworm. “Farm Bureau commends Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and the Trump administration for committing the necessary resources to continue the battle to prevent the New World screwworm from entering the United States and affecting our cattle herd. Secretary Rollins and USDA have answered the call of cattle producers across the country by establishing a domestic sterile fly production facility in Texas.

Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association: "These steps, in addition to the five original protocols, are excellent. We must have a facility of our own, and this plan is set to get that done as soon as possible. OCA greatly appreciates Secretary Rollins' bold leadership on these strategies.  That being said, we must continue to be proactive, now working on plans for when the fly does arrive in the US, specifically how we will monitor and control its movement while keeping the food supply chain robust." 

Farm Bureau members across Oklahoma are gearing up for a busy fall season focused on grassroots policy development, youth engagement, and innovation. Farm Bureau’s Director of Public Policy, Dustin Mielke, joined Farm Director KC Sheperd to outline a packed calendar of events designed to give members a voice and prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders.

The fall season begins with the annual August Area Meetings, which Mielke described as “the kickoff to our grassroots policy season.” These meetings, taking place in each Farm Bureau district, are designed to give members a direct say in the organization’s policy priorities for the coming year. “Our grassroots policy that our members write… will guide our work both at the Oklahoma State Legislature as well as at the national capital,” Mielke stated. The meetings provide a forum for farmers and ranchers to discuss the issues they face and begin shaping the resolutions that will be debated later in the year.

The easiest way for members to find a meeting near them is to visit the Oklahoma Farm Bureau website, okfarmbureau.org. Mielke added that the website features a graphic that makes it simple to click and find meeting locations and schedules.

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Executive Vice President of the Cattlemen’s Congress Bray Haven. Bray Haven reflected on the event’s journey as it heads into its sixth year. “It is pretty remarkable to think about being the sixth show we wondered whether we were going to continue to have a show even after the first one was complete,” he said. Haven credited the success to strong leadership and visionaries who launched the first event in 2021 during COVID-19. “The market kind of spoke, the exhibitors spoke and decided to come back for year two, and we’ve continued to grow ever since.”

Haven emphasized Oklahoma City’s strategic location in “the heart of cattle country” and its accessibility for producers nationwide. He explained that the city’s central location makes Cattlemen’s Congress attractive to a wide range of participants. “Whether you want to call us the south or Midwest it’s easy for anybody from any of the popular places to get to Oklahoma City,” he said, noting that this regional advantage continues to fuel the event’s growth.

Following the most recent show, Haven and his team sought input from producers through an advisory committee led by Jennifer Callahan. “We found some people that represented different breeds, different types of operations and said, let’s get together here in Oklahoma City, walk through the facility, talk through what works, what doesn’t work, what can we do better?” The feedback led to planned changes, including repositioning the trade show and sales area for better traffic flow and efficiency.

Recent Beef Checkoff-funded research adds to a growing body of evidence reinforcing the important role fresh beef plays in a healthy, sustainable diet. Animal-sourced foods, such as red meat, are often assumed to be associated with obesity risk. However, Texas Tech University researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of available research on the relationship between unprocessed red meat intake and obesity, finding no significant effect of such intake on weight gain or related metabolic issues in adults.

“Beef contains high-quality protein and other essential nutrients, and people enjoy this key source of nourishment – yet they’re often discouraged to consume red meat based on recommendations primarily driven by observational evidence,” noted the lead researcher, Nikhil V. Dhurandhar, PhD, chair of the Department of Nutritional Sciences and associate dean for innovation for the College of Health & Human Sciences. “Our study is the first to fully review the totality of causative evidence, which shows no protective or adverse effect of unprocessed red meat intake on obesity.”

Dhurandhar explains that previous related studies are based primarily on observational data, which often rely on self-reported dietary and lifestyle information that can be inaccurate and confound study results and conclusions. Instead, the researchers used rigorous research methods by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 human clinical trials.

In a US Wheat Article by Dalton Henry, the USW Vice President of Policy, he says History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme, or so quipped Mark Twain. A casual reading of headlines in any given week this year might give the impression that the U.S. has steered its trade policy into uncharted waters along with Huckleberry Finn, but the reality is that trade tensions, bilateral deal-making and pressure campaigns between governments is hardly new. In fact, these negotiation strategies, while turbulent at times, are more the norm than the exception over the scope of modern history than broad free trade policies, which have nominally only existed for around three decades.

If we accept this fact as a truth, the pressing question becomes – how do we find the opportunities in the quick-changing trade environment to set the policy stage for market success?

Modern U.S. trade policy was built on the principle of comparative advantage, which assumes two countries benefit from specializing in the production of a good and then trading with each other. In practice, however, trade has always come with a healthy dose of protectionism and management for certain sectors.

Congressman Josh Brecheen announced the following in-person town halls for the month of August. Constituents are invited to attend and share their thoughts and ask questions on policy issues impacting Washington, D.C. and Oklahoma.

Congressman Brecheen has so far held 106 in-person town halls since his first term in office, visiting every county in Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District.

The First Town Halls will start on August 25 and continue through August 28th. You can find out which one is closest to you by clicking below.

Tammi Didlot, a third-generation farmer, successful business owner, and lifelong conservative, today announced her candidacy for the Oklahoma State Senate. With deep roots in Southwest Oklahoma and a proven record of service in business, agriculture, and community leadership, Didlot is running to represent the people of Oklahoma with integrity, common sense, and a steadfast commitment to the values that unite us.

“I believe in an Oklahoma where families are strong, communities are safe, and opportunity is within reach for everyone,” said Didlot. “I’m running for the State Senate to protect what makes our state special, to support those who serve, and to ensure our children and grandchildren inherit a future full of promise.”

Raised on a farm and ranch in Jackson County, Didlot learned early the importance of hard work, faith, and personal responsibility. She and her husband have lived in Moore for more than 25 years while continuing to operate the family farm—raising cattle, wheat, and cotton. Didlot purchased and grew a successful background screening and drug testing company before retiring to focus on agriculture and community service.

Checking the Markets...

There was no cash cattle trade in the southern great plains- asking prices from cattle feedlots were reported at $237- and managers were signaling they were not gonna budge. According to the Texas Cattle Feeders, that was about a dollar higher than what was seen a week ago at $236.

Meanwhile- Boxed Beef has closed at its hfghest level for all of 2025 as of Friday- at $400.57/cwt, up $6.78 from Thursday, marking the first time in 2025 that Choice has topped the $400 mark.

It's technically not a market report- but one of the blue bloods in the seedstock business, Express Ranches roared into record territory with their Big Event this past Friday and Saturday. The two day total was record setting, as 447 lots grossed $9,394,500 to average $21,017, according to James Besller.

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.

Our daily email is free because of our Sponsors!

© 2025 Oklahoma Farm Report - All rights reserved