Howdy Neighbors!

National Wheat Statistics: Winter Wheat Planted reached 34 percent, down three points from the previous year and down two points from the five-year average. Winter Wheat Emerged reached 13 percent, equal to the previous year and up one point from the five-year average.

National Corn Statistics: Corn dented reached 95 points, equal to the previous year and down one point from the five-year average. Corn mature reached 71 percent, down two points from the previous year and down three points from the five-year average. Corn Harvested Reached 18 percent, down two points from a year ago and down one point from the five-year average. Corn Conditions are rated 66 percent good to excellent, equal to the previous week.

As for our crops in oklahoma: Winter wheat planted reached 33% up twelve points from the previous year and up seven points from the five-year average. Corn crop conditions are now at 70% good to excellent versus 66% a week ago. Corn grain harvested reached 56% Soybean crop conditions are at 51% good to excellent versus 43% a week ago. Cotton conditions are rated 71% good to excellent, versus 69% last week. Grain Sorghum is at 72% good to excellent versus 72% a week ago. Grain Sorghum harvested reached 25%, down eight points from the previous year and up five points from the five-year average. Pasture and Range conditions are at 55% good to excellent this week, versus 58% a week ago.

The U.S. agricultural sector is facing severe economic stress, masked by high aggregate numbers, with a profound disconnect emerging between the crop and livestock segments. Seth Meyer, USDA Chief Economist, emphasized this “tale of two sectors” at the Ag Outlook Forum, highlighting falling crop cash receipts, rising input costs, and a looming cash flow crisis that threatens farm solvency.

Meyer cautioned against the overall U.S. farm income forecast, which is expected to “rise sharply in 2025,” because this number “gives the wrong impression” of the sector’s health. When direct government payments (economic assistance for previous years) and cattle receipts are subtracted, farm income is actually “coming down, not up.” Meyer stated that overall aggregate farm income is “not the number that tells you what’s going on” because it fails to capture the distinct differences between the crop and livestock sectors.

The crop sector is under immense pressure, with crop cash receipts at their lowest level since 2007. Receipts are “consistently declining” across major commodities, including corn, soybeans, fruits and vegetables, and wheat, leading to “not great prospects on the crop side.”This decline is happening because “almost across the board you see falling prices.”

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays reports on a new world screwworm update given at the Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City, Steve Boren of Boehringer Ingelheim shared his concerns about the New World screw worm and what it would mean if it entered the United States. “If we do allow new world screw worm into this country, cattle producers are going to be dealing with this thing around the clock,” he said. Boren stressed the enormous labor involved: “Each and every calf that’s born, and every animal that’s run through the brush that has a contusion or abrasion on it will be required to be treated.” He also reminded the audience that “the average rancher in the United States is 63 years old, and we don’t have a lot of folks that are following in their footsteps. It is highly, highly labor intensive.”

Drawing on his company’s global experience, Boren explained the economic stakes. “We have a lot of experience with new world screw worms, both populations, the one that’s in the continental part of South America, as well as in Central America,” he noted. The financial burden would be massive. “The only thing that I’ve seen so far is $1.8 billion in the state of Texas. That’s just the state of Texas. Now it is a major cattle producing state, but it has a major economic impact.”

Boren also underscored the danger of wildlife spreading the parasite. “This is truly a major, major concern. All mammals can be inflicted by screw worms,” he said. To illustrate, he gave a personal example: “You probably can’t see I’ve got a small puncture wound on the side of my finger a tick bite or a puncture wound is enough for a screw worm fly to lay its eggs into.” He warned that “all deer, pigs, any type of animal that’s there can carry screw worms. It’s not just domesticated livestock.”

In this week's Cow Calf Corner- OSU's Dr. Derrell Peel talks cattle markets. The U.S. cattle and beef industry is arguably one of the most complex set of markets in the world. One of many factors that adds to cattle industry complexity is the wide range of environments and the diverse production systems that are used to successfully produce cattle in those environments. Cattle production is the primary use of forages across the country with cattle necessarily produced in climates ranging from sub-alpine to sub-tropical. Cow-calf and stocker production take advantage of the climatic adaptability of mammals and the flexibility of ruminant biology to utilize a wide range of grazing resources in all parts of the country.

 At one extreme of production environments in the country is the cattle industry in south Florida. Last week I had the pleasure and honor to travel with a group of Extension professionals from the South Florida Beef and Forage Program as they traveled to Oklahoma and Texas to see and learn about the destination of Florida calves. Almost all Florida calves are shipped north and west to stocker operations and feedlots in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. These calves originate in a unique environment that not only impacts the production systems used for cow-calf production, but also how they are managed after shipping and ultimately how they are marketed for harvest. 

The cow-calf production environment in south Florida provides production opportunities and challenges. The sub-tropical environment provides ample precipitation and year-around frost-free forage production. Use of Bos indicus genetics in cows is advantageous. However, some production practices must be adapted in respect to the hot and humid climate. 

A panel of agricultural experts at the Ag Outlook Forum—Hosted by Agripulse’s Phil Brasher, Paul Neiffer (Farm CPA Report), Roger McEowen (Washburn University), and Harrison Pittman (National Agricultural Law Center)—discussed the significant, yet complex, provisions for agriculture contained in the recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OB3). The legislation introduces significant changes to commodity program payments, tax strategies, and farm financing, all while the industry faces ongoing financial pressure and trade uncertainty.

The OB3 introduced a new structure designed to simplify farm operations and increase payment flexibility for multi-owner entities. Qualified Pass-Through Entity: The legislation creates a “new type of structure called qualified pass through entity” for LLCs, S-corps, general partnerships, and qualified joint ventures. This allows payment limits to be based on the number of people in the entity, rather than the entity itself. Impact on Liability: This is a “very good provision” because it allows multi-sibling or multi-partner operations to convert from a general partnership (with unlimited liability) to an LLC while retaining the ability to receive multiple payments.

Simplification: Neiffer noted that for some operations, this could eliminate “six of those entities and bring it down to one,” simplifying the structure and eliminating unnecessary tax returns. Definition of Farm Income: The bill expands the definition of gross farm income used for qualifying for extra payment limits. Beginning next year, equipment gains, agritourism, and direct marketing of commodities will be automatically considered farm income. This resolves a prior struggle where CPAs and attorneys had difficulty classifying primarily farming clients as farmers because their non-cash income sources weren’t included.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert Announces Updated Committee Assignments

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert announced the updated committee assignments for the second session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature. These changes follow recent shifts in House membership and primarily detail the composition, chairs, and vice chairs of various committees and their subcommittees.

Key Committee Leadership The announcement focuses heavily on the Appropriations and Budget Committee (A&B), its numerous subcommittees, and other major committees. Appropriations and Budget Committee. Chair: Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Faxon) Vice Chair: Rep. John Kane (R-Bartlesville) The committee includes a large membership of 24 Republicans and 6 Democrats.

Specifically for Ag- The Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee has Chair – Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow and Vice Chair – Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Mulhall. Under that oversight Committee- there is the Ag Committee with Chairman Rep. Kenton Patzkowsky, R-Balko and Vice Chair – Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener.

Hello, Oklahoma agriculturists! My name is Eddie Fields, and I am honored to serve as your Oklahoma Farm Service Agency State Executive Director. I come to you as a lifelong Osage County cow/calf producer and a former Oklahoma State Legislature, but more importantly, as someone who understands the challenges and rewards of working with the land.

I believe in a simple but powerful principle: Farmers First. Our farmers and ranchers form the backbone of this state. It is my mission to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you as we navigate an industry that can be both volatile and uncertain.

Whether it is drought, shifting markets, or regulatory hurdles, I know how tough this work can be. That is why I am committed to making sure Oklahoma producers have the tools, resources, and support you need to thrive. Through federal programs and partnerships, I want to ensure our state’s agriculture community has every opportunity to grow stronger for the next generation.

This Presidential disaster declaration allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

Triggering Disaster: Severe Storms, Fires, and Winter Storms Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency Designated Osage and Washington counties as areas where natural disasters have affected the region. On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.

Checking the Markets...

Choice Boxed Beef prices declined for the 18th consecutive session on Monday, falling a total of $45.33 during that stretch. The Choice cutout closed at $370.68, down $0.75 from Friday, while Select fell $3.55 to $348.89. The Choice/Select spread increased to $21.79, and total volume rose to 117 loads, up from 95 on Friday.

Oklahoma National Stockyards had 4,800 head on Monday- Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers steady to 3.00 lower in a very light test. Steer and heifer calves 5.00-10.00 lower on lesser quality.

Joplin had 9,306 head sell on Monday-- Compared to last week feeder steers sold from 10.00 lower to 5.00 higher. Feeder heifers sold unevenly across all weight ranges from 5.00 lower to 5.00 higher

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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