Howdy Neighbors!

Farmer sentiment dipped again in August as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index fell 10 points to 125. Producers were markedly less optimistic about the future in August as the Index of Future Expectations dropped 16 points to 123. This was the lowest reading for the future index since last September. Producers’ perspective on current conditions changed little this month, with a Current Conditions Index reading of 129 versus 127 in July.

Sentiment differed widely among producers depending on whether their farm is primarily a crop operation or a livestock operation. Responses from crop producers this month were much less optimistic than those from livestock producers, which indicates the disparity in profitability between crop and livestock enterprises. Beef cattle operations in particular are experiencing record profitability as the smallest cattle inventory since 1951 has pushed cattle prices to record levels. This stands in sharp contrast to returns for crop production which have weakened in 2025. The August barometer survey took place from August 11-15, 2025.

Farmers again reported that they expect weak financial performance for their farms in the year ahead. The Farm Financial Performance Index remained below 100 for the second month in a row with a reading of 91, virtually unchanged from July’s index value. Crop prices that are below many farms’ total cost of production help explain why more farmers expect weaker incomes in the upcoming year than expect incomes to rise. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its August Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates during the week the August survey was conducted. 

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Dr. Dale Woerner of Texas Tech University, who says the beef industry needs better ways to measure red meat yield, because weight alone no longer tells the full story. As he explained, “Red meat yield is important for our industry, because ultimately we’re trying to produce beef. Today, in the cattle population, weight of the animal is just simply not a good enough scale of producing beef. There’s so much variation It relates to efficiency, it relates to profitability, it relates to all of the things that are on top of the mind of the consumer, like greenhouse gasses and carbon.”

He pointed out that new tools, while not brand-new to science, are just now being applied to the beef business. “We’re looking, generically speaking, at X-ray technologies. We’ve looked at a variety of those, where we’ve landed is CT scanning. That’s just a millimeter-by-millimeter or a slice-by-slice look at muscle, fat, and bone within that carcass. And then with computing technology, and artificial intelligence, there’s a lot of additional opportunity with that technology to do a lot of really cool things.”

Momentum is already building. According to Woerner, “National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is gathering leaders within the industry, pulling together the thought leaders. We’re looking at research projects to really further evaluate CT, take a look at the cattle population in a three to five year time frame, I think we can make some really serious headway.”

Associate Farm Reporter Carli Davenport spoke with Morgan Satterwhite, co-founder of The Twelves, who shared the story behind the year-round agritourism destination. “The Twelves is a byproduct of college friendship and the need to stay in ag,” she explained. The venue, located near Oklahoma State University, features a pumpkin patch, seasonal events like ladies’ nights and mom’s day gatherings, and also hosts weddings, showers, and college functions.

Satterwhite said the idea started when she and her husband purchased a farm with a two-story barn. She called her college best friend, Megan, to help bring the space to life. “She said, ‘Sure, what are we doing with the barn?’ I said, ‘I don’t know, show up and we’ll figure it out.’” Drawing on Megan’s background in New York agritourism, the idea quickly grew into something much larger than originally imagined. “It was wholeheartedly supposed to be a pumpkin patch and it has exploded in a life of its own,” Satterwhite said.

Reflecting on her roots, Satterwhite described how her upbringing in FFA, 4-H, and cattlemen’s associations shaped her path. “It gives you a sense of wanting to give back,” she said. She credited mentors who encouraged her to get involved in everything from paging at the Capitol to speaking on radio and TV about agriculture. For her, giving kids exposure to farming and ranching remains vital. “You don’t have to be born into it to want to see it succeed,” she emphasized.

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has released “Our Industry, Our Promise,” its 2024-25 State of the U.S. Animal Food Industry Report, spotlighting the industry’s economic footprint, policy priorities, safety, sustainability efforts and international trade initiatives.



Through highlights in global engagement, ingredient sustainability and workplace improvements, the interactive annual report reflects the industry’s commitment to safe, nutritious and sustainable animal food while navigating a rapidly evolving business and political environment.

“This report is a testament to the dedication, innovation and resilience of our members,” said Leigh Ann Sayen, 2024-25 AFIA board chair and chief executive officer of The Peterson Company. “From advancing safety and sustainability to expanding global market opportunities, the U.S. animal food industry is not just feeding animals, we’re fueling economies, supporting communities and shaping a stronger, more sustainable future.”

From a moisture standpoint, the summer of 2025 has been good for many Oklahoma cattle producers. As a result, many of us have ample standing forage. This week we address the Oklahoma Gold and Oklahoma SuperGold supplementation programs as a means of adding profit potential. Both programs were designed to cost effectively improve the growth of calves and stocker cattle grazing pastures in late summer and fall. Both are based on limit feeding high protein supplements.

Crude Protein (CP) content and digestibility of warm season grasses declines during mid-summer and fall. No doubt many Oklahoma producers watched green pastures turn brown during August when there was little rain coupled with several weeks of intense heat. This weather pattern corresponds with declining quality of standing forage. In late spring and early summer calves can gain 2 – 3 lbs./day on the same pastures that now may be limiting gains to less than half that amount, even with ample standing forage.

Why? Because cattle’s growth performance is based on the most limiting nutrient in their diet. The same grasses that would have contained over 10% CP in late spring and early summer are now likely well below that level. Regardless of our warm season forage type, (native grasses, Bermuda, sorghum Sudan or millet), the same maturity pattern holds true. A 500 lb. calf gaining 1.5 lbs./day requires a diet containing a minimum of 10% CP. Bottomline: at this point, CP has become the growth limiting factor in a calf’s diet.

One of the nation’s top farmers, testifying today before members of a trade panel established by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, praised the Trump administration for investigating Brazil’s trade practices and encouraged quick action to address any wrongdoing.

“Unfortunately, Brazil does not value a level playing field and unfairly penalizes U.S. corn growers,” Illinois farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman Jr. told the panel. “Over the past decade, Brazil has taken targeted trade actions aimed at evaporating current and future demand for U.S. farmers.”

The testimony comes after USTR initiated a probe, under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, to determine whether Brazil engaged in unfair trade practices. U.S. corn growers and ethanol producers once enjoyed a level playing field with Brazil. But in 2017, without provocation, Brazil imposed a 20% tariff on U.S. ethanol. The tariff was suspended but was later reinstated at 16%. Then, in early 2024, Brazil increased the tariff to 18%.

Whether baking bread in a home kitchen or managing a commercial food plant, the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center at Oklahoma State University is offering fall workshops to help Oklahoma’s food businesses grow, innovate and succeed.

The fall schedule includes certifications, regulatory training, food safety courses and hands-on product development experiences. Programs are tailored for food processors, entrepreneurs, growers and industry professionals looking to expand their skills and remain competitive.

“FAPC serves as a resource for Oklahoma’s food companies, from startups to long-established processors,” said Rodney Holcomb, Food and Agricultural Products Center assistant director. “These workshops are just a few that provide access to nationally recognized certifications and practical training that directly impact business success. Our goal is to ensure Oklahoma’s food industry continues to grow, innovate and thrive.”

Allendale, Inc. a Chicago area agricultural commodity brokerage and analysis firm projected the US corn crop at 16.631 billion bushels and a soybean crop of 4.268 billion bushels. The 36th annual Nationwide Producer Yield Survey was conducted from August 18 – 29.

The surveys were conducted directly by our brokers, the Allendale website, and social media platforms. These estimates were based on producer-calculated yields in 25 states. Ample surveys gave us the numbers needed to project yields in 12 states. This covers 87% of corn production and 84% of soybean production. For this survey, the smaller states were assumed using the USDA’s August 12 estimates. All harvested acreage was assumed using USDA’s August 12 estimates.

Checking the Markets...

Superior Livestock is holding the final of their special summertime sales today- their 2025 Labor Day sale- featuring 43,650 head starting at 8 AM Central. For more info- click here for more info on the offering.

Boxed beef prices moved higher Wednesday, with the Choice cutout up $2.59 to $416.01/cwt, the highest level of 2025 and the highest ever for September.

OKC West in El Reno had another historic market this week- their manager, Bill Barnhart, offers these comments "7,500 sold this week at OKC West. Even with the board sharply lower most of the day the feeder market keeps rocking along, steady to 5.00 higher today. Lots of unweaned and unworked calves are coming to town taking advantage of the market. National Beef Wire reports on the week that OKC West has had- "The market was carrying its record-setting momentum into September with 26 new barn records set this week, following a historic August. The barn posted new all-time highs for 4-, 5-, and 8-weight steers, with seven of the top ten highest five-weight prices ever recorded now belonging to this week" 

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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