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It's time for the Friday Farm Funny! Farming and ranching can be stressful so enjoy a little laugh!

According to the latest Oklahoma Drought Monitor report, exceptional drought remains at 0 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 have emerged in Tillman County, covering a majority of the county.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions have considerably spread in southeastern Oklahoma. According to the 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map, northwest Oklahoma is leaning above 40-50% chance of rain, western Oklahoma is leaning above 33-40% chance of rain, eastern Oklahoma is looking at near normal conditions, and southeastern Oklahoma is leaning below 33-40% chance of rain.

In the southern plains, For the long-term drought areas designated in Texas, a round of heavy precipitation (more than 1.5 inches) this past week resulted in 1-category improvements. Based on the 120-day SPI and NASA SPoRT soil moisture, D0 was expanded across southwestern Oklahoma with the addition of a small moderate drought (D1) area. 30 to 60-day SPIs along with declining soil moisture supported an increasing coverage of D0 across the Texas Panhandle and Edwards Plateau.

Associate Farm reporter Carli Davenport spoke with Dr. Amy Hagerman from Oklahoma State University, who explained how the new One Big, Beautiful Bill builds on the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. “Some of those provisions have been drawing down over time. Some of them are still at that level, but would have expired in 2025. The One Big, Beautiful Bill tax components actually extended or made permanent a lot of those changes.” She noted that while the bill may look like a overhaul, “some of those changes had already been in place for a couple of years.”

For farmers, Hagerman emphasized the importance of working closely with tax professionals to make the most of these provisions. “Have a conversation with your tax preparer ahead of time about the timing of those because timing is really going to matter on some of these,” she said. Decisions about large sales, improvements, or asset purchases could have very different outcomes depending on how they are handled under the new rules.

Passing farms down to the next generation is another area where the bill could provide relief. Hagerman explained that it builds on “stepped-up basis” rules that prevent heirs from being burdened with heavy taxes on inherited land. “We’re going to have very few farms that won’t fall under that level that is in the One Big, Beautiful Bill going forward,” she said. She also pointed to expanded crop insurance subsidies for younger producers, calling it a meaningful step to help new farmers get established.

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Industry Consultant Dr. Nevil Speer, the focus turned to the question of herd rebuilding. Dr. Speer noted that while there are plenty of opinions on the subject, one of the most reliable indicators remains the cow slaughter rate. “What I watch is the cow slaughter rate. It’s probably as good a litmus test or indicator that we have,” he said. So far this year, he explained, producers are neither aggressively cutting numbers nor retaining large numbers of replacement heifers. As a result, herd size is expected to remain stable heading into January, though not positioned for major growth.

Speer pointed out that high cow prices are also influencing herd dynamics. With cows bringing around $1.80 at the sale barn, producers are more willing to cull older or problem animals. “It’s every incentive to get rid of older cows, or any cow that’s a problem… We’re probably working towards a younger cow herd,” he explained. This shift, he suggested, shows producers are deeply committed to their herds for the next five to ten years, setting the stage for stabilization and gradual growth after several years of contraction.

Genetics will play an important role in this rebuilding phase. Reflecting on the last cycle of herd rebuilding, Speer emphasized that producers are again focused on improving quality. “No question, and it’s exactly what’s happening,” he said. Many cattlemen are intent on culling out cows at the end of their reproductive life while retaining or buying only the best replacement heifers. “We want to get better genetics… no question, we’re going to make the cow herd better,” he added, stressing that quality improvements will be a central feature of this rebuilding process.

More than 100 pork producers from 20 states traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to call on Congress to deliver an urgent legislative fix to California’s Proposition 12, which is driving up costs for consumers, threatening small family farms, and disrupting interstate commerce.

During their time on Capitol Hill, producers met with Members of Congress and staff to share firsthand accounts of how Prop. 12’s costly requirements are forcing sweeping changes across the pork supply chain. Producers emphasized that without federal action, family farms will be left behind, and pork prices could continue to rise.

As part of the fly-in, the National Pork Producers Council rolled out a food truck on Capitol Hill, serving breakfast to lawmakers, staff, and media. Branded with the message “Breakfast is Essential. So is Fixing Prop 12,” the truck spotlighted how a patchwork of state laws, spurred by Prop. 12, threatens affordable access to everyday staples like bacon, ham and sausage.

Food insecurity affects communities nationwide, but its impact is disproportionately felt in rural areas. To combat this issue, the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) is partnering with Feeding America to ensure that more Americans have access to healthy meals.

In a recent conversation, Linda Nageotte , President and CEO of Feeding America, and Dru Montri, Vice President of Agri-Food Engagement, discussed the critical issue of food insecurity. They highlighted a new partnership with the National Association of Farm Broadcasters to combat the disproportionate impact of hunger on rural communities.

The Alarming Reality of Hunger: Nageotte pointed out that hunger is a pervasive issue, with “over 47 million people in America who are experiencing food insecurity, including 13 million children.” She stressed that food insecurity rates in rural areas are often much higher than in urban centers. “We know that in many rural communities, child food insecurity rates can be as high as nearly 50%,” she stated.

To address this need, Feeding America is collaborating with its extensive network of “200-plus food banks [and] over 60,000 faith-based and community-based organizations that all work together to ensure that people facing hunger have access to the nutritious food that they need.”

More than 260 agriculture organizations, representing constituencies in all fifty states and Puerto Rico, signed a letter urging Congress to further support America’s farmers and ranchers through the passage of a Farm Bill 2.0.

The letter to leadership in both the House of Representatives and the Senate thanks them for their commitment to America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities, while signaling that the support provided through recent legislation is not a substitute for a full Farm Bill. The letter continues that there is more work to be done in the form of passing the full suite of programs provided by a complete Farm Bill.

“While Farm Credit is extremely grateful for the vital provisions included in the budget reconciliation bill that strengthen long-term stability and competitiveness, further legislation is needed to meet the evolving needs of U.S. agriculture,” said Farm Credit Council President and CEO Christy Seyfert.

Overseeding cool-season annual forage crops such as annual ryegrass and small grains (cereal rye, wheat, oats, and triticale) is a widely used establishment practice in the South for grazing or hay production.

These crops can produce high-quality forage in late fall, winter, and spring, depending on establishment method and fertilization. They can be established using tillage or by overseeding existing pastures. The biggest challenge for managing these cool-season annual forage crops when overseeding is to manage the growth of the warm-season grass component (i.e., bermudagrass or bahiagrass) so that it does not impede the annual ryegrass or small grain germination and establishment. The following tips can be used as guidelines to ensure a successful stand when overseeding perennial warm-season pastures:

Take a representative soil sample, and make sure the perennial warm-season pasture is grazed or clipped short (about 3 inches). Annual ryegrass can be drilled or broadcasted. Plant annual ryegrass seed at 20 pounds per acre if drilling or 30 pounds per acre if broadcasting the seed. For overseeding with small grains, prepare the seed bed by lightly disking to increase seed-soil contact. After seeding, use a chain harrow or roller to make sure that all seed reaches the ground and is not stuck in the warm-season stubble.

On Wednesday, September 10, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Lucas voted in favor of the legislation and released the following statement.

“For the 65th consecutive year, Congress came together to fulfill the paramount duty of supporting America’s warfighters, bolstering military installations, and improving America’s military readiness,” said Congressman Frank D. Lucas. “Not only does this legislation deliver on President Trump’s promise to restore America’s military standing, but it also includes critical funding for Oklahoma’s Third District.” 

Checking the Markets...

According to DTN- "October live cattle closed $1.12 higher at $232.27, December live cattle closed $1.45 higher at $234.12 and February live cattle closed $1.25 higher at $235.25. No new cash cattle trade developed throughout the day, but bids were offered all day in both Nebraska and Kansas. Asking prices for cattle left to trade remain firm in the South at $243 and in the North at $378 plus. So far this week, Northern dressed cattle have traded from $375 to $378, which is $5.00 to $8.00 lower than last week's weighted average and no Southern live cattle have traded."

Boxed beef values slid again Thursday, marking the sixth consecutive day of declines and the lowest level since August 15th. Over that stretch, the cutout has fallen $15.22. Choice cutouts dropped $4.85 to $400.79/cwt, while Select fell $3.73 to $379.95/cwt, narrowing the spread to $20.84. Total loads were lighter at 112, down from 136 yesterday

Woodward sold 1,243 on Thursday- Compared to last week: Feeder steers 5.00 to 6.00 higher. Feeder heifers 10.00 to 15.00 higher. Steer calves mostly steady. Heifer calves steady to 6.00 lower. 

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