Howdy Neighbors!

As thousands of FFA members head to Indianapolis for the 2025 National FFA Convention, Oklahoma FFA President Cooper Kline is preparing for what he calls a “great opportunity” to lead and represent his state on the national stage. Senior Farm And Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Kline recently, who reflected on his transition from delegate to leader. Kline shared, “I’m really excited to have this moment, this opportunity with this new team.

We’ve been really building together as one these last few weeks.” This year, he’ll help lead one of the organization’s delegate sessions, working alongside other state officers, including Iowa’s Chloe Zittergreen, to guide discussion and decisions that shape the future of the National FFA. Kline explained the importance of the delegate process, which gives state leaders a voice in how the FFA evolves.

“Each year there are six delegate sessions… chaired by state presidents or state secretaries,” he said. “This is how we form our recommendations that get sent to the National Board of National FFA. This is how we inflict change within our organization on a national level.” Those changes, Kline added, begin in Indianapolis with collaboration between state officers and delegates from across the country. Looking back on his previous year’s work, Kline described his involvement on the National Competitive Events Committee, which explored expanding FFA’s contests and events.

Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry. High cattle and beef prices are suddenly receiving intense scrutiny from politicians, consumers and the media. While it seems to many that the situation has only recently happened, it has, in fact, been developing for several years. The beef cow herd on January 1, 2025 was 27.86 million head, down 3.78 million head, or 11.9 percent, from the cyclical peak of 31.64 million head in 2019. The beef cow herd is currently the smallest inventory since 1961. The projected 2025 calf crop is 33.1 million head after declining for seven consecutive years and is the smallest since 1941.

What began as modest cyclical herd liquidation in 2020, accelerated and extended from 2021 through 2024 as a result of widespread, roving drought that impacted most of the beef cattle production across the country. Lack of forage and adverse production conditions forced producers to reduce herds, significantly more than intended.

The beef cattle industry is complex and unique among livestock industries. Cattle are slow-growing animals that reproduce one at a time. One feature that is particularly important is that breeding cattle and cattle used for beef production originate from the same set of animals. This means that herd liquidation temporarily increases cattle slaughter and beef production.

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with the board Chairman of the Cattlemen’s Congress, Tyler Norvell. The 2026 Cattlemen’s Congress is gearing up for another exciting year. Norvell recalled the event’s miraculous beginning in 2020 when the National Western Stock Show in Denver was canceled due to COVID-19. Thanks to leadership from the Oklahoma State Fair, the city of Oklahoma City, and Jarold Callahan, organizers were able to launch the first-ever Cattlemen’s Congress. “We told everybody we were doing it one year,” Norvell said, “and here we are six years later.” He described how everything had to align perfectly to make that first show happen, and now it’s become a staple in the cattle industry.

Producers quickly embraced the event for its convenience, affordability, and cattle-focused mission. Norvell emphasized that Cattlemen’s Congress is “a show for cattlemen, ran by cattlemen,” distinguishing it from traditional fairs that include carnivals or rodeos. The show’s board is made up entirely of cattle producers, ensuring that it remains true to its agricultural roots. This authenticity, Norvell explained, is what drew people in and helped the event thrive. Over the years, the show has grown and evolved, adding new features and improving logistics while staying centered on serving the beef industry.

To continue improving, Norvell and the organizing team have established a new advisory committee made up of cattle producers. This group provides direct feedback on how to enhance the event’s structure and experience. One major suggestion from the committee was to move the sale facility from the Super Barn to Barn 3, bringing it closer to the cattle and making it more accessible to participants and buyers. “Sometimes you don’t see the trees for the forest,” Norvell admitted, crediting the committee with fresh ideas that improved efficiency and convenience.

Oklahoma is set for a major weather shift this week, as State Climatologist Gary McManus heralds the true arrival of “real fall” after a prolonged period of dry, summer-like conditions. A significant storm system is expected to disrupt the recent pleasant weather pattern, bringing much-needed rainfall and a dramatic temperature drop.

McManus notes that Oklahomans have been enjoying a “glorious stretch of fall weather,” characterized by warm afternoons and comfortable mornings. However, that pattern is quickly ending. “Enjoy the next two days of light-jacket weather in the mornings and shorts in the afternoons,” McManus advised, “Because after that, real fall looks to intrude, and with it comes some decent chances for rain.” The primary focus of the week is a substantial storm system expected to arrive late Tuesday and persist through Wednesday and Thursday. This rainfall is viewed as crucial, particularly given the recent expansion of abnormally dry conditions and drought across the state.

Agricultural Relief: The incoming moisture is vital for the state’s agricultural sector. McManus stresses, “We need the moisture to stave off flash drought and to get the winter wheat crop up and going. This is a critical time for the wheat.” Rainfall Forecasts: While the heaviest rain is forecasted for the southeastern parts of the state (with totals potentially reaching 2–3 inches), the outlook is promising for nearly all regions. McManus stated, “Most of the state looks to get at least a half-inch to an inch, which would be fantastic,” underscoring the importance of every drop in combating the expanding dryness.

Soybean farmers were among those on Sunday praising a trade framework announced by U.S. and Chinese leaders that could end China’s freeze on buying U.S. agricultural products, according to Chris Clayton at DTN. The U.S.-China framework was laid out on Sunday while Trump administration officials were holding talks in Malaysia. The administration also announced four smaller trade deals with Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam — all of which have provisions to open those markets to more U.S. food and agricultural products as well.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made the rounds on Sunday news programs saying he thinks a trade “framework” has been negotiated to set up for President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping who are set to meet Thursday in South Korea. The news injects some optimism into commodity markets that have been suppressed in part because of the lack of export sales to China. The announcements could push prices back towards September highs, “at the very least,” said DTN Lead Market Analyst Rhett Montgomery.

“From there, all eyes will be on Trump and Xi Thursday. It seems like the markets are ready and looking for a good reason to spark the post-harvest rally and this may be it,” Montgomery said. “From there we will see what the fine details say regarding soybeans, but I still tend to think we don’t necessarily need a huge commitment of volume from China to make the balance sheet interesting, just an elimination (or vast reduction) of the 23% tariff would immediately make U.S. beans the most affordable option for Chinese crushers. Of course, any volume commitment would likely be seen as extremely bullish in the short term to the soybean market, and traders may worry later if the goals are attainable or sustainable in the long run.”

USMEF Statement on USTR’s Announcement of Trade Deals with Southeast Asian Countries: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced agreements on reciprocal trade with Malaysia and Cambodia and frameworks for agreements on reciprocal trade with Thailand and Vietnam. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement: USMEF greatly appreciates USTR’s tireless efforts to address both tariff and non-tariff barriers that have kept the U.S. as a minor supplier of red meat to the ASEAN region. With the U.S. beef industry currently lacking access to China, improved access to Southeast Asia is desperately needed to provide competing bids for beef cuts that are popular in Asia, but not demanded by American consumers.

Corn Growers Express Appreciation for Asian Markets Announcement: The Trump administration announced today a series of trade deals and frameworks with several Asian countries, some of which include new market access for ethanol as well as additional opportunities for corn and corn products, like distiller dried grain solubles. In response to this announcement, National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower released the following statement: “This is all very good news for the nation’s corn growers. Eliminating tariffs on ethanol exports to Malaysia and Cambodia will boost demand. We are encouraged to see that the framework for Thailand included agriculture purchases of corn and DDGS

American soybean association Welcomes New Southeast Asia Trade Deals: This morning, the United States signed two trade deals with Malaysia and Cambodia and announced a framework for reciprocal trade with Vietnam and Thailand. As part of these announcements, the White House has noted multiple provisions favorable to U.S. soybean exports, including: The elimination or reduction of tariff barriers for U.S. agricultural products into all four countries A commitment from Thailand to purchase U.S. soybean meal, among other U.S. feed commodities, on a per annum basis totaling $2.6 billion. The elimination or reduction of major non-tariff barriers in each country, including favorable language on biotechnology regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary provisions (SPS), and other non-tariff barriers. 

Mexico’s government is pressing for a deal to resume live-cattle exports to the United States after a months-long shutdown over a screwworm outbreak, according to a report posted by RFD-TV.. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Agriculture Minister Julio Berdegué will travel to Washington in the near future to meet with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in hopes of reopening the border, which has been closed to live cattle imports since May due to cases of New World Screwworm being found as close as 70 miles from the US Border.

Sheinbaum said her country has contained the flesh-eating parasite in the northern state of Nuevo León, though U.S. officials remain cautious. The screwworm, a pest that infests warm-blooded animals, has spread north from Panama since 2022 and was reported to be found in southern Mexico in November 2024, threatening livestock and straining U.S.–Mexico trade ties. Secretary Rollins has publicly criticized Mexico’s handling of the outbreak, citing ongoing risks to U.S. herds.

One US Official who is supportive of a possible reopening is Texas Commissioner of Ag Sid Miller. In a news release this past week- he offered five points that he contends would improve on Secretary Rollin’s plan to help the US cattle industry- and one of those points was to “Allow Targeted Imports of Live Mexican Cattle to Stabilize Supply.”

Animal health specialists with Oklahoma State University Extension caution poultry producers to protect their flocks after highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in a wild swan and a resident Canada goose in Tulsa County last week.

Signs and symptoms include: Coughing and sneezing. Nasal discharge. Diarrhea. Difficulty breathing. Extreme depression. Lack of energy. Decrease in feed or water intake. Swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, wattle and legs. Decrease in egg production or misshapen eggs. Sudden unexplained death. Quietness among the flock.

Preventative biosecurity measures can help protect a flock and include: Restrict visitor access to birds. Prevent contact with wild birds (especially waterfowl). Refrain from visiting other poultry operation locations. Set aside clothing and footwear to wear only when working with birds. Disinfect footwear before entering a barn or coop.

Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling birds. Reduce availability of food, water and any potential nesting areas for wild birds. Fix holes in roofs, screens and walls of poultry barns or coops. Report sick or dead birds to a veterinarian. Do not share equipment with other bird owners. Birds that have been near other poultry should be quarantined from the rest of the flock for at least 30 days.

Checking the Markets...

Cassie Fish who writes the commentary the Beef Read says it's over- "The greatest cattle bull market in history has ended. CME cattle futures have posted highly likely monthly key reversals that will be confirmed on Friday with a lower close on the month- In one of the most devastating outside events in cattle market history, the angry focus by some politicians to ‘bring down the price of beef’ was all it took to topple the market. The cattle and beef industry is shell shocked at the bull market’s demise occurring so dramatically and quickly."

Boxed beef values continued their bullish march on Monday, with the Choice cutout rising $2.12 to $377.88/cwt and Select jumping $3.69 to $361.66/cwt, bringing the spread down to $16.22. This marks the highest Choice value since September 23 and caps a $13.97 gain since October 13, with prices climbing in 8 of the last 10 sessions. Load counts were moderate at 117, indicating steady demand.

Oklahoma National Stockyards had 3,555 head on Monday after significant rains slowing down movement- Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers 30.00-40.00 lower in limited supplies. Steer and heifer calves mostly 40.00-50.00 lower. Prices tumbled with futures down the limit last Friday and again on Monday,

Joplin had 6,301 on Monday and also huge drops in prices- Compared to last week feeder steers sold 25.00-40.00 lower. Feeder heifers sold 20.00-40.00 lower

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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