Howdy Neighbors!

Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Megan Langley, who—along with her husband Kyle—operate Egg Drop Farm in far northeastern Oklahoma. Langley joined other Oklahoma and Arkansas poultry growers at a meeting earlier this week in Bentonville to discuss the latest in the battle over chicken litter in the Illinois River Watershed. 

Langley explains that they run breeder houses and produce hatching eggs. “We built them for Tyson 10 years ago, and then about four years ago, we switched to Simmons,” she says, noting they now contract with Simmons and carry the full financial responsibility for their facilities.

Langley outlines the economic structure growers face when entering the poultry business. Producers must secure a contract first, then take on all borrowing and building costs. As she explains, “The financial responsibility is solely on us… We own our houses. We own the land. They basically just pay us to take care of their birds.” That reality makes the current legal tensions in the Illinois River watershed especially daunting for growers like her.

Autumn Schultz, daughter of Brandon and Loni Schultz, was awarded the overall Grand Champion award showing her Doublestop CL Plus variety in the 2025 Oklahoma 4-H/FFA Junior Wheat Show. Schultz placed 1st in milling and production and 9th in baking, earning her the title of 1st place as the 4-H champion, and overall grand champion of the 4-H/FFA Junior Wheat Show. Schultz is from the Okeene 4-H Club. Schultz also placed in the top 10 with her Strad CL Plus wheat variety.

Jayce Schultz, also daughter of Brandon and Loni Schultz, placed 1st overall on the FFA side in the FFA division while showing her Doublestop CL Plus variety. Jayce placed 1st in the milling and production and 23rd in the bake contest earning her the title of 1st place and FFA champion overall. Jayce Schulz also placed in the top 23 with her Strad CL Plus wheat variety. Jayce is a member of the Okeene FFA Chapter in Blaine County.

Autumn Schultz, a member of the Okeene 4-H club in Blaine County, received $3000 in scholarship money for her accomplishments with her Doubelstop CL Plus variety. Autumn also won a $500 premium from Oklahoma Genetics Inc. (OGI) for winning 1st place and then Grand Champion overall in the 4-H/FFA competition. Jayce Schultz, a member of the Okeene FFA chapter in Blaine County, received $2000 in scholarship money for her accomplishments with her Doublestop CL Plus variety. Jayce finally maxed out her total scholarship allowance with her winnings that are allowed with the program this year along with previous awards over her 4-H and FFA career. 

Joby Young, Executive Vice President of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), recently outlined the organization’s policy priorities to Intern Karleigh Erramouspe, focusing on regulatory relief, the slow completion of the Farm Bill, and the challenging economic landscape facing U.S. farmers and ranchers.

Young began by discussing the AFBF’s input on the MAHA Commission, which is focused on childhood illness and food safety. He emphasized the industry’s commitment to providing the safest food system in the world.

“We work on those issues every day and so we love the ability to advocate for farmers and ranchers and bring their views forward… about just how we approach that, you know, both in terms of an industry and then also how the system we’ve created in this country to create the healthiest and safest food system in the world,” Young stated.

John Stika, president of Certified Angus Beef, discussed the brand’s long history, global reach, and current market challenges and opportunities. Stika noted that Certified Angus Beef (CAB), founded in 1978 was the first USDA-certified branded beef program, and has established itself as the gold standard when it comes to branded beef.

International growth has been a major part of that success since CAB entered overseas markets in 1990. Despite recent global disruptions, Stika emphasized that the brand’s momentum remains strong. Stika explained that international sales faced headwinds this past year due to “tariffs and price and currency exchange rates and closed markets,” which caused some decline.

Still, he pointed to bright spots: “Aside from Mexico, which last year grew by 32%, we were up in every other Latin American market and we were up in more than half of [the 77] countries” where CAB is sold. He stressed that the strategy remains consistent—drive quality and demand so CAB is positioned for accelerated growth when global conditions stabilize.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today issued the following statement after being notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of a new detection of the New World screwworm (NWS) in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico, approximately 120 miles south of the Texas border. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the case in a 22-month-old bovine transported from Veracruz to a feedlot in Nuevo León. “The New World screwworm is one of the most devastating livestock pests ever encountered in North America,” Commissioner Miller said. “We have beaten it before with resolve and science, and we’ll do it again, but Texas must stay vigilant.”

The Oklahoma Farm Report also talked with Dr. Rod Hall, State Vet for the Oklahoma Department of Ag- who said that USDA briefed State Vets first thing on Wednesday and said the lone positive was a heifer found in the same feedlot as the positive discovered just south of Laredo back several weeks ago.

While it's concerning that another positive animal was transported from southern Mexico where the New World Screwworm is active- Dr. Hall is confident that the Mexican officials should be able to lock down the flies connected with the infected female just discovered. Dr. Hall adds that he feels we have very little chance of the screwworms getting into Oklahoma for the next several months as cold weather has arrived.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Stacy Simunek issued the following statement in response to news of Tyson Foods considering poultry operation reductions in eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas due to the long-running State of Oklahoma v. Tyson Foods, Inc., lawsuit.

“Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are deeply concerned by the recent news that Tyson Foods is considering reducing the number of farms with which they contract in both eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas due to the decades-long litigation that the state of Oklahoma has waged against Arkansas-based poultry companies over water quality in the Illinois River watershed.

“Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers are proud stewards of the land who work daily to sustainably produce the food products that we all rely upon. Farmers and poultry growers in the Illinois River watershed have worked diligently over the last several decades to implement voluntary measures to improve water quality. Poultry growers are committed to following their state-approved nutrient management plans, which are based on phosphorous limitations, to protect water quality."

An Oklahoma invasive species has become a haven for another problematic species, which has the potential to create a range of problems for human, wildlife, and livestock health, as well as the environment.

Native to the rocky areas of eastern Oklahoma, eastern redcedar has been documented spreading through grasslands across the state, which affects rangeland quality and livestock productivity, as well as having negative impacts on water resources. According to studies, the trees spread by 40 square miles per year in Oklahoma.

Eastern redcedars use a significant amount of water, which reduces the amount of water running off into streams and reservoirs where it is needed. Not to mention, once it’s established, eastern red cedar proves to be a highly flammable fuel for wildfires. Now, ticks, particularly the lone star tick, are also spreading across the state into western Oklahoma. Is this a coincidence? According to Scott Loss, OSU professor of natural resource ecology and management, and Bruce Noden, OSU professor of entomology, it’s not.

Over the years, premiums paid for preconditioned calves have generally increased alongside rising calf prices, according to Paul Beck in a recent cow calf article. Preconditioning reduces morbidity and mortality from bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and improves subsequent performance by getting calves better prepared for the stressors of the marketing and production systems. 

Historic calf prices and Oklahoma Quality Beef Network (OQBN) premiums over the last 12 years were summarized by Kellie Curry-Raper in a previous Cow-Calf Corner article. Last year, 500- to 600-pound preconditioned steer calves received a $23.36/cwt premium over non-preconditioned steers.

This $128 per-head premium can only benefit stocker and feedlot operators if the increased revenue and decreased production costs outweigh the added purchase cost. Data from multiple research sources were compiled to evaluate whether reduced health risk and improved performance provide sufficient economic return to justify paying premiums for preconditioned calves.

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