Howdy Neighbors!

Its time for the friday farm funny! Farming and ranching can be stressful so enjoy a 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 has spread into jackson county, Pottawatomie county, Seminole county, Noble county and Cotton county. Abnormally dry or worse conditions have considerably spread in southwestern Oklahoma, Central northern Oklahoma and Eastern Oklahoma.

According to the 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map, northwestern Oklahoma is leaning below 33-40% chance of rain, central Oklahoma has near normal conditions, and southeastern Oklahoma is leaning above 33-40% chance of rain through September 27.

In the southern plains, More widespread rainfall, some locally heavy, overspread western and northern Texas, western Oklahoma, and far southern Texas. Drier conditions and seasonably warm temperatures warranted some degradations across central, southern, and eastern Texas, as well as the eastern two thirds of Oklahoma.

This week on SUNUP, OSU Agriculture Economist Dr. John Michael Riley discusses the latest WASDE report. On corn, Riley noted a national yield of “186.7 bushels per acre… the trade was looking for that to be a little bit lower, and I think there is still an expectation that that is going to drop.” He reminded listeners that “a big jump in that yield for corn” appeared in August, but it “came down a little bit this month relative to August.” For soybeans, USDA pegged yields at “53.5 bushels per acre, right in line with what trade was expecting,” though Riley added, “there is still a thought that that is going to continue to decline.”

Focusing on Oklahoma, Riley said USDA held the corn estimate steady at “130 bushels per acre,” while soybeans rose to “29 bushels per acre four bushels per acre higher than that August report.” He credited the increase to “condition ratings and some of the preliminary yield results coming in as harvest is slowly starting up.”

One key surprise, Riley explained, was in corn acreage: “In August, a big adjustment on corn acreage relative to the June survey, and we saw more revision to corn in this September report.” He pointed to Farm Service Agency data as the driver, calling it “a new way that USDA is bringing information into these numbers.”

Senior Farm And Ranch Director Ron Hays speaks with Dr. Glynn Tonsor, extension livestock market economist at Kansas State University, and lead author of the Meat Demand Monitor, who said the latest data shows beef demand remains resilient. “August is the most recent data that we have to speak to and I would say that was a really good demand update,” he explained. Seven of the eight tracked protein categories, across both retail and food service, showed higher willingness-to-pay values compared to July.

Tonsor noted that food service demand has been a particular point of interest. “I’ve been emphasizing the away from home part of that, because there’s been a lot of concern during 2025 about food service,” he said. He suggested late-summer travel and vacations may have boosted restaurant demand, adding, “We’ll see if that continues in the months ahead. I obviously hope it does.”

The Meat Demand Monitor is built on monthly surveys of more than 3,000 U.S. residents, which Tonsor described as “a nationally representative effort.” Respondents report their willingness to pay, along with the factors most important to their protein purchases. According to Tonsor, “Taste, freshness, price and safety regularly are the top four and then conversely, things like environmental impact, animal welfare, origin, traceability, use of hormones and antibiotics are the four that are most often in the bottom four bucket.”

The Animal Agriculture Alliance issued two updated reports this week on the current state of the vegan and animal activist movement in the U.S. The Major Animal Activist Groups Web highlights the strategic, interconnected nature of the animal activist movement. The Radical Vegan Activism report details trends in activism and illuminates the true intentions of key players in the movement. View the reports here.

“Animal activist group tactics are becoming more extreme in nature, putting farmers, ranchers, and food workers – not to mention food security – at risk,” said Hannah Thompson-Weeman, president and CEO, Animal Agriculture Alliance. “While some groups may outwardly appear more moderate in goals and beliefs, they are all connected by one key mission: to eliminate animal agriculture and take a nutrient-dense food group off of the menu.”

New findings in the updated Radical Vegan Activism report show that nearly one in four animal rights extremist attacks target farmers and food workers, including 189 actions taken against agriculture in 2024 and 62 against food services. Documented actions include: 59 incidences of vandalism, 43 cases of animal theft and/or release, 31 trespasses, 5 arson cases.

The Texas Cattle Feeders’ Association (TCFA) is holding its annual convention from October 12-14 in Fort Worth. According to Brady Miller of the TCFA, the event is designed with two key goals in mind: “education and informing our members,” and to also include “a splash… of inspiration and just kind of help motivate our members”. Miller anticipates a strong turnout, with about “500 attendees” expected to participate. He noted that while the event is in Texas, the association represents producers from Oklahoma and New Mexico, as well as participants “from all over the US”.

The convention’s agenda is set to cover a range of critical industry topics. The event will begin with a chairman’s address from Robbie Kirkland, which is a highlight for members to hear about current issues and “how things may move forward”. Following that, Buck Wehrbein, the president of the NCBA, will provide a national perspective on the beef industry from what Miller calls “a 30,000-foot level”. Attendees can also expect to get together and discuss “cattle markets and any of those hot topics like screw worms”.

The convention will also feature two speakers designed to provide motivation and inspiration. These include Chad Wright, a U.S. Navy SEAL, and a “Lone Rider” named Filipe Masetti Leite, whose story Miller described as “tremendous”.

From treats like churros to daily staples like bolillo bread, Mexican consumers love wheat-based foods. High-quality U.S. wheat is the critical ingredient for these staples, but strong partnerships between U.S. wheat farmers and their Mexican customers are what truly keep Mexico as the top U.S. wheat market. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) leaders explored the important link between quality, logistics and relationships during a recent supervisory mission to Mexico.

“As I’ve traveled across the United States and met with wheat producers, I’ll occasionally get asked whether wheat quality still matters to international flour millers,” said Mike Spier, USW president and CEO. “After visiting Mexico, I can confidently say that quality remains essential.”

Mexico is consistently the largest buyer of U.S. wheat, importing an average of 3.56 million metric tons (MMT) (130.8 million bushels) each year, based on the five-year average. As of August 28, 2025, sales this marketing year are up 24% from last year at this time at 2.12 MMT (77.9 million bushels).

The 20th Annual 2025 Diamond Hats Gala brought together a lot of great supporters of 4-H and FFA youth in our state on Thursday evening- the fundraiser filled the Great Hall at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

For 19 years, Diamond Hats has been impacting the lives of thousands of Oklahoma young people through scholarships, donations, leadership training and motivational events. The annual Gala is their biggest single fundraiser to make that all happen.



Oklahoma Farm Report’s KC Sheperd and Ron Hays served as co- emcees- and at the end of the evening- were able to announce that a record $353,505 had been raised to help the Diamond Hats support their efforts at the 2026 Oklahoma Youth Expo- that’s over $65,000 above the previous record of $287,000 raised in 2023. Congrats to Ruth McEndoo, President of the Diamond Hats and all of their members who care about the future of our state by investing their time and resources to encourage and support our rural youth.

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The 28th Annual Pollard Farms Female Production Sale will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 12 noon at the ranch in Waukomis, Oklahoma. Dr. Barry and Roxanne Pollard will be offering 112 Registered Angus Lots- including Young Fall Pairs and Heavy Breds, Fall Yearling Open Heifers, Spring Open Heifer Show & Donor Prospects, Donor Dams, Spring Bred Cows with Calves and Spring Bred Heifers.

You can attend the sale in person at the ranch in Waukomis or participate on LiveAuctions.TV- available here. The sale book can be seen here- the videos of the sale lots can be seen here and the video of Lot 1 and Lot 1A can be seen here.

Sale manager for the Pollard Farms for this sale is Matt Sims- call Matt for more information at 405-641-6081.

Checking the Markets...

DTN reports the live cattle complex was able to round out the day higher on Thursday as the market continues to chop in its tight, sideways trading range. October live cattle closed $1.27 higher at $232.37 while December live cattle closed $1.47 higher at $234.15. A few deals have been marked in Nebraska at $370 to $376, which is anywhere from steady to $6.00 lower than last week's weighted average. Asking prices are firm in the South at $240 plus, but have still not been established in the North. It's possible that trade could be delayed until after Friday's Cattle on Feed report

Boxed beef continued its slide on Thursday, September 18, 2025, marking the 11th straight daily decline. Choice closed at $385.81, down $2.37 from Wednesday, and has now fallen $30.20 over that stretch. 

Woodward had 1,251 head on Thursday- Compared to last week: Feeder steers mostly steady. Feeder heifers 5.00 to 12.00 lower. Steer and heifer calves mostly steady with very few weaned calves in the offering.

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.

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