Perspectives Podcast - Oklahoma Farm Report

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays talked in depth about several key beef industry issues with industry consultant Dr. Nevil Speer. Among the topics that Hays and Speer discussed- the 300,000 metric tonnes that President Trump asked foreign countries to send to the US at a discount price to help with beef prices that consumers have been facing, the President’s concerns about the Big Four Meat Packers, his interest in MCOOL, the reopening of the Mexican border for cattle from Mexico to start flowing into the US again…and more.

The post On Our Latest Ag Perspectives Podcast- Ron Hays Talks Lean Beef, MCOOL and More with Dr. Nevil Speer first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

A surprising September USDA Cattle on Feed report may deliver a bullish jolt to the cattle market on Monday, signaling a potential shift in narrative for livestock producers heading into the fall.

According to Dr. Derrell Peel, Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist at Oklahoma State University, placement numbers came in significantly lower than industry analysts anticipated, while marketings exceeded pre-report expectations.

“For the second month in a row, we got very low placements,” Peel said during a recent interview on the Oklahoma Farm Report with Ron Hays. “Placements in August came in down 9% [to 90% of a year ago]… Marketings were down 3%… So the on-feed total came in 0.7% larger than one year ago.”

Ahead of the report, many market watchers expected a continuation of recent trends—total cattle on feed remaining above year-ago levels because marketings were declining faster than placements. However, August’s sharp drop in placements disrupted that pattern, pulling the overall on-feed total back down.

Peel noted that both placement and marketing figures fell completely outside the pre-report trade estimates, a rarity that typically triggers a strong market reaction.

“Both of these numbers are outside anybody’s guesses,” Peel noted, adding that placement estimates were expected to bottom out around 93.8% of year-ago levels, but landed right around 90%. “This is way, way outside the range… I think this will be taken as a pretty bullish number for cattle markets.”

He expects the total on-feed number to drop back below year-ago levels within the next couple of months and remain lower for the foreseeable future.

Several factors contributed to the sharp drop in feedlot placements during August:

While auction prices experienced heavy pressure earlier in the summer due to broader economic news and market corrections, prices have begun recovering. Peel expects fundamental market strength to continue pushing prices higher—a movement that would run counter to the typical seasonal fall decline in calf prices.

Looking ahead, cattle producers in the Southern Plains are watching weather patterns closely. A break in late-summer temperatures accompanied by needed rainfall could provide additional support to calf markets through winter wheat pasture demand.

“If this weather changes… and we get some moisture, there’ll be some wheat pasture demand for these lightweight calves that we haven’t had up to this point,” Peel explained.

Beyond short-term price movements, the data offers early hints regarding long-term herd rebuilding. While persistent drought conditions across portions of the country remain a concern, slaughter trends suggest producers may be quietly attempting to retain replacement heifers.

“Heifer slaughter so far this year is down about 10% to 11%,” Peel said. “It’s actually down about twice as much as steer slaughter is down… The heifer slaughter is falling at a rate now where I think it’s beginning to tell us maybe that we have been trying to hold on to some heifers.”

If pasture conditions improve into the winter and spring, that heifer retention process could mark the formal beginning of long-awaited herd expansion across the region.

The post On Our Latest Ag Perspectives Podcast- Ron Hays Talks September Cattle on Feed with Dr. Derrell Peel first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

On the sidelines of the Summer Cattle Industry Business Meeting being held in Denver, Oklahoma Farm Report’s Ron Hays sat down to talk about the state of Beef Industry with the longtime Chief Executive Officer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Colin Woodall.

NCBA is one of three groups that has gathered in Denver for meetings, along side the American National Cattle Women and the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion Board.

For the NCBA- the summer meeting is very important as Woodall says this is very much a working meeting for committees on both the policy side and for the Federation on the checkoff.

There’s no shortage of issues to explore- from New World Screwworm to completing a farm bill to the politics leading us to the midterm elections.

On the New World Screwworm- they discuss the response by the Trump Administration and stakeholders in Texas with the first cases showing up in the United States in June. They also explored the education of cattle producers to be ready in case NWS is found on their farm or ranch.

Listen to Ron and Colin as they talk about all of this and more. Click on the audio bar above to hear their visit.

Our coverage of the 2026 Summer Cattle Industry Business Meeting is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

The post NCBA’s CEO Colin Woodall Talks State of Cattle Business with Ron Hays on Ag Perspectives Podcast first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

Our latest Ag Perspectives Podcast features Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays talking with Donnie Robertson, vice president of Express Ranches, about the remarkable legacy of one of the nation’s top seedstock operations after the Funk family announced plans to disperse the ranch’s beef cattle operation.

When discussing elite seed-stock programs in the U.S., Express Ranches has long stood alongside some of the industry’s most respected names. The ranch built a reputation for producing high-quality genetics that influenced commercial and purebred cattle operations across the country. Since acquiring Angus cattle in 1996, the ranch grew exponentially to become the largest registered seed-stock operation in the United States. 

Hays and Robertson talk about the history of Express and their plans to disperse the Angus herd of over 2400 females and several hundred bulls this fall and early in 2027.

Listen to the full conversation by clicking on the Audio tab above.

The post Latest Ag Perspectives Podcast Looks at the Legacy of Express Ranches- Ron Hays Talks with Donnie Robertson first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

Today’s Ag Perspectives Podcast features a Hall of Famer that has helped thousands of livestock producers in the southwest get top dollar for their animals through his sixty plus years at the Oklahoma National Stockyards. Oklahoma Farm Report’s Ron Hays sat down with Tom Gilliam at the market known as the “World’s Largest Stocker and Feeder Cattle Market” just a month ahead of his 90th birthday and talked with him about growing up in southwest Oklahoma, graduating from Oklahoma State University and starting his life’s work at one of the Commission Firms at the Oklahoma National Stockyards.

The story of Tom Gilliam’s career at the Oklahoma National Stockyards began in 1959 at the Farmers Commission Company. For the modest sum of $100 a week, Gilliam’s first role was far from glamorous: he was responsible for washing the manure from the hog pens.

Opportunity knocked just a few months into his tenure when the company’s veteran hog salesman fell ill. Asked if he could step into the role, Gilliam didn’t hesitate. He accepted the challenge, even though it meant he had to continue washing the pens while taking on the responsibilities of a salesman—all for the same $100 a week. From there, he moved on to Interstate Commission and moved over from hog buying to cattle.

Fast forward through the years and being involved in working for multiple Commission Firms the late 1980s. Gilliam and long time partner Bill Griffeth purchased Stockman Livestock Commission Co. in 1987. They were inaugural inductees into the Cattle Marketers Hall of Fame in 2019. Earlier in his career- Gilliam was inducted into the Oklahoma Ag Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Oklahoma Pork Council Hall of Fame in 2006.

Ron and Tom talked about his life in the business, how the business has changed, his family, faith and more.

The post An Oklahoma Treasure- Ron Hays Visits with Livestock Market Hall of Famer Tom Gilliam first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

At CattleCon26 in Nashville, one of the highlights was the annual Cattlefax Industry Outlook that happened on the final day of the gathering of cattle producers. CEO of Cattlefax, Randy Blach and his team looked at cattle prices, feed prices, beef demand and lots more.

Oklahoma Farm Report’s Ron Hays talked with Blach after the presentation- and they covered some of the big picture issues that are “Center of the plate” for the beef cattle industry.

Coverage of CattleCon 2026 is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The post Latest Ag Perspectives Podcast Features Big Picture Outlook with Randy Blach of Cattlefax first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

“The Hess Address” is a new quarterly feature on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network designed to keep producers directly connected to Oklahoma State University leadership. In this series, Farm Director KC Sheperd sits down with OSU President Dr. Jim Hess to go beyond the headlines and discuss the real-world impact of higher education on rural Oklahoma. In this episode, President Hess opens up about the challenges of managing a snow-covered campus, unveils the ambitious “Code Calls” fundraising campaign, and explains why upgrading OSU’s agronomy research facilities is a critical legislative priority for the state’s wheat growers.

The post On Today’s Ag Perspectives Podcast- KC Sheperd Presents the Hess Address first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

Oklahoma Farm Report’s Ron Hays spent time with NCBA’s dietician Dr. Shalene McNeill just days after the Trump Administration released their 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines, which they called a historic reset of nutrition policy. Important for the beef cattle producers that McNeill works for through the Beef Checkoff, the USDA says in their news released on the new guidelines- at the top of the list of guidelines that explain their plan- Prioritize protein at every meal.

Hays and McNeill look at that means to the consumer- and how that will impact eating habits over the next several years.

Listen to their full conversation by clicking on the Listen Bar above.

The post Dietician Shalene McNeill and Ron Hays Do Deep Dive on New Dietary Guidelines- It’s All About Protein first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

Oklahoma Farm Report’s Ron Hays caught up with Michael Kelsey, Executive Vice President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association at the 2026 Cattlemen’s Congress and talked about the value of Congress to the Oklahoma cattle industry- and then moved on to spend most of their time previewing the 2026 OCA Winter Policy Meeting, set for January 21st at the Embassy Suites Northwest Oklahoma City from 9 AM to 4:30 PM.

Kelsey tells Hays that they have invited Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond to come and explain his position as he represents the State of Oklahoma in the poultry lawsuit that has been revived after laying dormant for over twenty years. OCA is also inviting the Poultry Federation to send a representative to offer their position in this battle that finds poultry contract growers in the middle and threatens their way of life. This issue also raises real questions about the court being able to dictate environmental policy and overrule established science based regulations at the state and federal levels. Kelsey says his members will consider if they need to update their policies as a result of the developments in this case.

OCA will also welcome Colin Woodall of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to the meeting, as Woodall will offer an overview of the federal issues impacting the cattle industry just ahead of CattleCon 2026 which will be happening in early February in Nashville, Tennessee. OCA will review their federal policies ahead of the Nashville meeting when several members will be weighing in during Committee meetings there.

Lots of other issues will be considered- including state tax policy and possible changes in property taxes that will be considered by the State Legislature starting in February. Kelsey also expects a conversation about the efforts to keep New World Screwworms out of the US and Oklahoma.

Ron and Michael have a wide ranging conversation previewing the meeting- click on the audio button above to listen.

Share your thoughts, exercise your membership voting power and help chart the course for a successful Oklahoma beef industry! Member Engagement is Vital to the Success of Policy Development! Be sure to attend the 2026 Annual Winter Policy Meeting. 

$50 Early Registration Fee, Lunch Included.

The post Our Latest Ag Perspectives Podcast- Ron Hays Previews OCA Winter Policy Meeting with Michael Kelsey first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

State Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur: Leadership, Resilience, and the Road Ahead for Oklahoma Agriculture

Blayne Arthur has never been just a bystander in Oklahoma’s agriculture scene. Since becoming Oklahoma’s Secretary of Agriculture in December 2018—making her the first woman in the state’s history to hold the post—Arthur has woven together policy expertise, practical experience, and a deep connection to rural living, earning praise from both ends of the political spectrum. Senior Farm and Ranch broadcaster Ron Hays sat down just before Christmas to talk with Secretary Arthur- and she spoke of her longevity within the Kevin Stitt Administration- her journey is not just a story about her but also about the unique resilience and collaborative spirit of Oklahoma agriculture.

To call 2025 a challenging year for Oklahoma agriculture would be an understatement. Producers began the year facing the growing threat of the New World Screw Worm—a pest that posed significant economic and animal health risks. Though, as of late 2025, no active cases were confirmed within the state, preparedness remained a top priority. State officials, led by Oklahoma’s State Veterinarian Dr. Rod Hall and in close coordination with the USDA under Secretary Brooke Rollins, adopted a proactive stance, closing borders and increasing surveillance (OSU Extension, USDA).

A Collaborative, Nonpartisan Approach

If there’s a secret sauce to Oklahoma’s agricultural resilience, it might be the collaborative, nonpartisan nature of the work. Arthur’s career has spanned transitions through both Democratic and Republican administrations. While political winds have shifted, she’s found that practical agricultural policy rarely fits neatly into a partisan box. “Most farmers and ranchers just want to make a living and have the government stay out of their way,” she’s often said—a maxim her husband helps keep top of mind.

Arthur gives much credit to both Governor Stitt and the state legislature for their hands-on, bipartisan approach to agricultural issues. The Governor has stood with producers through contentious issues—especially where state and federal interests clash, as with recent poultry industry litigation and environmental regulations. Time and again, Arthur and her team have emphasized the importance of “thoughtful conversations” with lawmakers and keeping open lines with commodity groups like Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, and others (Oklahoma Farm Bureau).

Preparing for What’s Next

As Governor Stitt’s term approaches its end, Arthur is focused on ensuring a seamless transition for whoever leads next, both in the legislature and within the Department of Agriculture itself. That means bolstering strong leadership teams, shoring up forward-thinking ag policies, and making sure regulatory decisions are always made with a producer’s reality in mind.

If you ask Arthur whether she foresaw all these responsibilities when she took the job—running an agency, leading the Board of Agriculture, sitting on higher education boards and state land commissions—the answer comes with a laugh and an honest “No.” Still, she sees all those “extra hats” as a way to serve the people who, like her, head down a gravel road each night to the real work of feeding the state and the nation.

For Blayne Arthur and the community she represents, the story of Oklahoma agriculture is one of resilience, collaboration, and hope—come drought, disease, or whatever else the next season brings.

The post Reflecting on 2025 with Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.