Howdy Neighbors!

Associate farm reporter Carli Davenport spoke with OSU area livestock specialist Britt Hicks about the upcoming Five States Beef Conference, scheduled for October 14 in Beaver, Oklahoma. Hicks outlined the day’s program, noting a diverse lineup of expert speakers covering timely beef industry topics.

“Our first speaker is Dr. Jason Smith, he’s a beef cattle specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife out of Amarillo, talking on cow-calf and stocker grazing efficiency,” Hicks explained. He added that Emma Briggs, a Kansas State researcher who earned her PhD at OSU, will give a research update. Jonathan Kam, an OSU entomologist, will then speak on “pests of cattle, new and old.” The program also features Dr. Paul Beck from OSU on “management and economics of dairy beef crosses in stocker cattle,” Logan Thompson from Kansas State on life cycle analysis and carbon markets, Dr. Tommy Perkins from West Texas A&M on beef genetic technologies, and Mary Beth Day from Texas A&M AgriLife on “the economics of cow herd expression.”

Hicks highlighted the conference’s history, saying, “We started the first one in 2009. It was a joint effort between five states, Colorado, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, and Oklahoma organized it”. He explained that the event rotates locations: “Last year we did one in Boise City, Oklahoma, and Coldwater, Kansas. This year we’re going to do one in Dalhart on October 15 and do our one in Oklahoma in Beaver. We try to do it in Oklahoma every year since we are the organizers.”

Despite facing significant headwinds in key sectors, John Newton (Executive Head of Terrain) expressed optimism for the future of the farm economy during a discussion at the Ag Outlook Forum. Speaking with Farm Director KC Sheperd, Newton pointed to expected political action, regulatory relief, and strategic investments as reasons for his positive outlook.

Newton acknowledged the “tough time right now” but expressed confidence in the administration’s commitment to supporting agriculture.

Trade Negotiations and Support: Newton believes President Trump “is going to get an agreement with China,” though he admitted, “it might still take a while.” He views the administration’s recent announcement of support as a recognition that they “may need a longer runway to negotiate.” Regulatory Relief and Biofuels: Optimism is also fueled by expected regulatory reforms from the Secretary of Agriculture, which he said will “certainly help reduce cost.” Additionally, the potential for year-round E15 to be passed in a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) package is a significant tailwind for the corn market. Investment in Ag: Newton commended Congress for making “historic investment in the Farm Bill” and listened to farmers by making many of the tax provisions from the Tax Cut and Jobs Act permanent. He asserted that they “made an investment in farmers… and the communities these farmers call home.”

Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays features comments with Dr. Ron Gill, extension livestock specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, to discuss the importance of low-stress livestock handling—particularly when it comes to transportation. As Gill explained, “These are very valuable animals, especially given current cattle prices, and we need to take care of them.” He reminded producers that cattle often experience multiple rounds of transport over their lifetime, and each move can trigger health challenges. “Particularly on young cattle, their greatest risk of respiratory disease follows transportation,” he said, adding that factors like commingling and diet changes compound the stress. “It’s going to be stressful—we just have to limit the stress as much as we can.”

Gill emphasized that cow-calf producers should start by inspecting their facilities well before shipping day. “We may not use our load-out facilities but once or twice a year,” he noted. “So we really need to make sure they’re in good repair—make a trip through them, see if you see anything protruding that would cause injury to cattle, or make sure the gates work and swing easily and latch properly.” He also urged producers to plan around the weather when possible.

Beyond facilities, Gill reminded producers to pay close attention to their trailers and equipment before loading. “Make sure you check it out before you start loading those cattle—just a thorough pre-trip inspection on all the hitches and latches,” he advised. “I’ve seen trailers show up to load cattle, and the spring shackles be broken on them, hangers be broken, bolts missing.” Neglecting such details, he warned, could turn a routine haul into a serious problem.

Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, says Increasingly, cattle producers, consumers, and policymakers are asking how high cattle prices will go; when will they reach a peak; and what happens after the peak. Questions about the cyclical peak in cattle prices and the trajectory of prices past the peak depend on factors that are still unknown at this time. We do not yet have any definitive indication of a cyclical bottom in cattle inventories – let alone the path of herd rebuilding to follow.



 Three-quarters of 2025 have passed with no solid indication of heifer retention. The only direct data was the mid-year Cattle report, which showed the lowest beef replacement heifer inventory in the history of that particular data set. The 2025 U.S. calf crop is projected to be the lowest since 1941 leading to the July estimate of feeder cattle supplies outside of feedlots that is the lowest ever for that data set.

 Industry response to rising cattle prices has been uncharacteristically slow to this point. The sharp decrease in beef cow slaughter (down roughly 40 percent since 2022) is enough to stabilize the cow herd at the current low level. The beef cow inventory could be fractionally larger in 2026. 

The U.S. is bracing for a record grain harvest totaling 21.5 billion bushels of corn, soybeans and grain sorghum this fall. The bumper crop arrives during a period of heightened uncertainty surrounding the future of the U.S. trade relationship with China, low export market demand for U.S. soybeans and depressed crop prices. Meanwhile, grain storage and transportation logistics are shaping up to be much more complicated than usual.

According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, grain storage space will be extraordinarily tight this fall with grain merchandisers charging higher fees due to limited capacity and strained infrastructure. While grain elevators stand to benefit from buying cheaper basis and capturing wider carries in the futures markets, the profit opportunities are not without risk.

“The challenge for elevators will be prioritizing scarce grain storage,” said Tanner Ehmke, grains and oilseeds economist with CoBank. “Among the top 12 corn-producing states, the U.S. is facing a 1.4-billion-bushel shortage of upright grain storage this year with elevators relying more on bunkers and emergency storage like ground piles. This year’s shortage stands in stark contrast to last year when those states had a combined 361 million bushels of excess storage.”

Farming is more than a job; it’s an identity, a calling, and a generational promise. Yet, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) reports that many farmers are reaching their breaking point due to many stressors.

Farmers face risk through rising input costs, low commodity prices, new tariffs, shrinking margins, labor shortages, and unpredictable weather. For the 12-month period ending June 30, 2025, there were 282 Chapter 12 farm bankruptcy filings in the U.S. The Southern region alone accounted for 101, or 35.8% of those filings. Compared to the prior 12-month period (July 2023 to June 2024), this is a 55.8% increase nationally and a 68.3% increase in the South. These statistics reflect more than financial struggles; they reveal livelihood, farming legacies, and farmland at the risk of a loss. When the future of the farm feels threatened, stress can sink into despair and take a serious toll on mental health.

Too often, farmers cope in silence, pushing through the work while avoiding honest conversations with family, friends, or professionals about the financial stress they’re carrying. Studies confirm this reality of coping in silence. Fear of being judged and shame keep many farmers from reaching out for mental health support. Although the stigma around seeking help has eased slightly in recent years, it continues to prevent many from getting the care they need. A 2019-2021 AFBF study found an 11% drop in farmers and farm workers who see the stigma as a barrier, yet 61% still report it as an obstacle.

Last Wednesday, October 1, 2025, after last-minute negotiations collapsed, the federal government shut down. Congressional leaders remain at an impasse over a short-term funding bill—particularly whether to include an extension of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits. Federal agencies are executing their lapse in appropriations plans and furloughing staff.

This shutdown lands on top of broader budget maneuvering that has injected uncertainty into federal farm programs. Farmers across the country are already struggling as crop prices hit record lows, production costs have never been higher, and many have lost foreign markets due to tariffs and the Administration’s trade negotiations. 

“Congress must reopen the government and stabilize core supports—extending ACA premium tax credits, protecting WIC and SNAP operations, and getting USDA service centers fully back online. Farmers need predictability, not policy whiplash.” said David Howard, Policy Development Director with the National Young Farmers Coalition.

Each October, approximately one-fifth of CLO agricultural lease lands are appraised and offered at public auction for farming, grazing, and recreational use. Revenue generated from these auctions supports Oklahoma schools, contributing over 88 million dollars in the past five years.

Tracts which go unleased at public auction are offered on a first come, first served basis through the end of the year. Remaining unleased tracts are offered through a sealed bid auction the following year.

Tuesday, October 7th's auction will take place at the Woodward County Event Center and Fairgrounds. The auction will begin at 10am and will feature leases from Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Major, Woods, and Woodward Counties.

Checking the Markets...

Boxed beef prices were higher on Monday, marking only the second day of gains in the past 23 sessions. Choice cutout closed at $363.34, up $1.07, while Select ended at $347.97, up $2.59, bringing the Choice/Select spread to $15.37 on 143 loads.

Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City had 5,500 head on Monday- Compared to last week: Feeder steers mostly steady. Feeder heifers over 700 lbs steady to 4.00 higher; under 700 lbs 1.00-4.00 lower. Steer calves 10.00-20.00 higher. Heifer calves mostly steady. Demand is good for all classes. Quality plain thru attractive. Few more yearling type cattle included.

Joplin Regional Stockyards reports 5.541 head on Monday- Compared to last week feeder steers generally sold steady steady to 15.00 higher except five weights sold 10.00-25.00 higher with four weights selling 5.00-15.00 lower. Feeder heifers sold unevenly across various weight ranges from 8.00 higher to 8.00 lower. Supply was moderate with good demand.

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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