In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Anne Anderson, who says her journey with Speckle Park cattle began in Canada during efforts to build a supply alliance. “We went out to buy some cattle and the one that brought the most money was speckled. Well, you’re a new company trying to get started, and if you can get $30 more for this hide that’s speckled, I thought we’re gonna go buy all the speckled cattle we can find.” She started small, purchasing ten head, and was surprised by the results: “They called back and said, These were wonderful. These are Y1 primes.”

As she continued testing groups of cattle, the pattern held true. “For the most part, not much fat on the outside, internal marbling. The cattle were moderately sized.” When carcass data was shared with Canadian breeders, demand exploded. “People thought, if I can just get $2,500 for my top heifers, that would be great. I want you to know, the top heifer bought by the people from Australia brought $18,000.” That global attention made it increasingly difficult for her to purchase cattle, as values skyrocketed in the early days of selling this breed.

Anderson recalled how Australia quickly seized on the opportunity. “At that sale, Australia brought every straw of semen they bought. We couldn’t afford to buy any because by that time, I decided I wanted to bring them to Texas.” Eventually, she was successful in bringing Speckle Park genetics from Canada into Texas, noting that “it’s not just the purebred animals, but the crosses are phenomenal as well.”

She compared the breed’s efficiency to her past experiences with Wagyu. “I fed them, and I decided I was going to feed one group of 30 out by ourselves… it took me 32 months and a fortune to get them ready for the market. So then we did some Speckle Park babies… they could finish in 20 months, in contrast to 32 months, and the performance was similar.” That discovery led her to crossbreeding.

The Speckle Park breed is one of the more interesting stories that has come out of the early years of Cattlemen’s Congress- and it’s expected a strong showing of the emerging breed will be again shown and be a part of their national sale planned for the sixth Cattlemen’s Congress this coming January in Oklahoma City. 

Partnering with Oklahoma cattleman Brett Morris, Anderson expanded into Speckle Park-Angus crosses. “We crossed them with Angus and then we had those two comparisons, and the Angus Speckle Park performed better than the Wagyu Speckle Park. So we gravitated, we sold the Wagyu cattle, because for us, we could make more money with Angus Speckle Park crosses.” She admits the purebred population is still small, but sees strong potential: “It’s just early days of the industry… but it’s a really good cross.”

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Anne Anderson Shares the Speckle Park Story: From Canada to Texas first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Bray Haven, Executive Vice President of Cattlemen’s Congress, who reflects on the success of the most recent show held this past January. He noted that “our entries and the numbers shown were up five to six percent across the board, sales were up about 15%,” and highlighted the debut of their first-ever commercial female sale, which he called “incredible” and something they plan to continue. Haven explained that their focus is on attracting more producers from the countryside, saying, “That’s what this show’s about, connecting the cattle industry.”

Haven described Cattlemen’s Congress as a premier event in the livestock world, comparing it to a championship setting. “It really, truly is kind of like a Super Bowl,” he said, noting that they draw participants from “45 plus states, even other countries like Canada.” He emphasized that no other cattle show in the U.S. has the same level of entries, which makes winning at Cattlemen’s Congress especially prestigious.

He also discussed unique elements of the show that set it apart, including the implementation of open female and open bull supreme drives in addition to the junior drives. “You do kind of get this Mecca, the best in the world type of event,” Haven explained. This, he said, brings excitement not only for exhibitors and cattle owners, but also for spectators who come to watch.

The Oklahoma setting, Haven emphasized, plays a big role in the show’s atmosphere and identity. “Cattle are part of our heritage in Oklahoma,” he said. With visitors driving past stockyards and fields of cattle on their way into Oklahoma City, Haven shared that many attendees express appreciation for what Oklahoma and the event mean to the cattle industry in North America and beyond. “It really is fascinating, and it’s been humbling to be a part of it,” he added.

Looking ahead, Haven pointed out the strong presence of American breeds as a key factor in the show’s growth. “We’ve had really strong numbers, and we’ve really seen that be a big part of our growth at Cattlemen’s Congress,” he said, noting that they even host a separate supreme drive for American-influenced cattle. He explained that Oklahoma’s central location and abundance of these cattle make it an ideal host. Preparations for the next show are already underway, with entries opening in November for the upcoming event set to begin January 4, 2026.

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Bray Haven Part Two: Record Growth and Global Reach Highlight Cattlemen’s Congress Success first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Texas Cattle Feeders Association Chairman Robbie Kirkland, who said he came away encouraged after attending the announcement in Austin about new federal funding to fight the New World screwworm. “It was a good day. It was a day that the federal government came up with a large sum of money, $750 million for sterile fly production as well as another $100 million in R&D research and development,” Kirkland said. “The federal government saw we’re going to protect the U.S. cattle herd against New World screw worm.”

Kirkland emphasized the importance of the new sterile fly production plant being built in South Texas. He noted that the facility would produce about 300 million flies weekly, which could help push the screwworm back across Mexico. “What I’d like to think is we never get them in the United States, and then this ultimate facility helps us push those out of Mexico back down into South America and eliminate them,” he explained.

Even with this progress, Kirkland admitted that cattle feeders are feeling the impact of the border remaining closed to Mexican feeder cattle. He pointed to frustrations with Mexico’s response. “I think a lot of it goes back to the lack of reaction from the Mexican government,” he said. “If we’d have seen the Mexican government push on a little harder earlier we might have the border open today, but we don’t, because those cases continued to kind of trickle north.”

Still, Kirkland sees the U.S. announcement as an important step toward eventually reopening. “We do want to get the border open, but we do believe this is one step in the right direction,” he said. He added that USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has emphasized increased surveillance in Mexico, and that progress will be key. “I do believe that they will reopen the border,” Kirkland said.

Finally, Kirkland stressed that the current inspection process at the border is thorough and effective. “Those cattle are triple inspected on the Mexican side twice by Mexican veterinarians, then they’re moved to the U.S. inspection pens on the Mexican side of the border, inspected there, and then they’re dipped and then crossed,” he explained. After visiting the border earlier this year, he concluded: “We believe that the process at the border is very sound.” Click here to read the Texas Cattle Feeders Association statement about the sterile fly facility.

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Robbie Kirkland: New Sterile Fly Facility Key to Protecting U.S. Cattle Herd first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, who emphasized the importance of the USDA’s announcement in Austin regarding plans to build a new sterile fly facility to combat the outbreak of the New World screwworm. USDA invited Secretary Arthur to attend the news conference held by Secretary Rollins to announce her latest efforts to battle the New World Screwworm. “For Oklahoma, and especially for our cattle producers, we appreciate so much that Secretary Rollins has us as such a high priority,” Secretary Arthur said. She noted the significance of millions of dollars being invested in a new facility in Texas, as well as in research and innovation aimed at finding long-term solutions.

Arthur stressed just how close the threat feels to Oklahoma livestock producers. She described the most recent findings as “certainly too close for comfort for many of us,” and emphasized the importance of strong federal and state cooperation. She also praised Texas leaders for joining the effort, noting, “To have the governor there today with Secretary Rollins, just shows that everybody knows how important this is, and we want to get it right and protect our livestock producers.”

The secretary praised the wide-ranging steps USDA announced, including sterile fly production, research funding, and coordination with Mexico. “It is certainly very impressive to see the collaboration between Secretary Rollins and Mexico,” Arthur said. She highlighted that both U.S. and Mexican officials recognize the need for cooperation to safeguard livestock industries on both sides of the border.

Still, Secretary Arthur acknowledged concerns from Oklahoma cattle producers about ongoing restrictions on Mexican cattle imports. Secretary Arthur reassured producers, ” We will continue to work with the USDA and do all we can to protect the livestock industry.” While understanding the frustration, she stressed the priority is containment: “We’ve got to make certain that we have a handle on the screw worm situation.”

Arthur concluded by emphasizing Oklahoma’s preparedness efforts. “Everyone is trying to proactively do as much as we can,” she said, praising the work of State Veterinarian Dr. Hall, Oklahoma State University, extension services, and practicing veterinarians. She added, “My hope would be that we do all of this work and then don’t have to deal with the situation in Oklahoma. But if we do, we’re going to be as ready as we possibly can.”

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Secretary Of Agriculture Blayne Arthur Praises USDA’s Aggressive Action Against New World Screwworm Threat first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Executive Vice President of the Cattlemen’s Congress Bray Haven. Bray Haven reflected on the event’s journey as it heads into its sixth year. “It is pretty remarkable to think about being the sixth show we wondered whether we were going to continue to have a show even after the first one was complete,” he said. Haven credited the success to strong leadership and visionaries who launched the first event in 2021 during COVID-19. “The market kind of spoke, the exhibitors spoke and decided to come back for year two, and we’ve continued to grow ever since.”

Haven emphasized Oklahoma City’s strategic location in “the heart of cattle country” and its accessibility for producers nationwide. He explained that the city’s central location makes Cattlemen’s Congress attractive to a wide range of participants. “Whether you want to call us the south or Midwest it’s easy for anybody from any of the popular places to get to Oklahoma City,” he said, noting that this regional advantage continues to fuel the event’s growth.

Following the most recent show, Haven and his team sought input from producers through an advisory committee led by Jennifer Callahan. “We found some people that represented different breeds, different types of operations and said, let’s get together here in Oklahoma City, walk through the facility, talk through what works, what doesn’t work, what can we do better?” The feedback led to planned changes, including repositioning the trade show and sales area for better traffic flow and efficiency.

Haven also highlighted facility upgrades at the OKC Fairgrounds, including the new Coliseum. “It’s a beautiful state-of-the-art facility a great venue to exhibit livestock, period,” he said. Additional improvements include upgraded electrical infrastructure in all stalling barns. These changes aim to make the show smoother for exhibitors, and part of that effort includes shortening the schedule by one day “to kind of pack it in tighter and make it a little better experience.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Haven predicted continued growth fueled by a strong commercial cattle market. “We’ve added one breed’s national show the Gelbvieh and Balancer national show so their numbers should be up.” He also noted the Brahman Association moved its national sale from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City because “their numbers were so strong here.” These changes, he said, show the event is meeting the needs of the industry.

Haven pointed out that several breeds have their largest annual entries at Cattlemen’s Congress, even when their national shows are held elsewhere. “Some of that pressure has led them to move their national show here, or at least include us in a rotation,” he said. To him, that’s “really a testament to what we’re doing here” and the positive reputation the show has built in just 5 years.

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Bray Haven: Cattlemen’s Congress Now Well Established and Ready for 6th year in January first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

In today’s Beef Buzz, Oklahoma Farm Report intern Karleigh Erramouspe spoke with Dr. Ramon Tosta of New Life Veterinary Services. Dr. Tosta described estrus synchronization as “one of the greatest tools that we have developed as cattlemen,” emphasizing that “our cows need to be pregnant in order to be profitable for the ranch.” He explained that “the only way that we’re going to get those cows pregnant is we efficiently make them come into a heat If the cows are not calving every year, we have open cows” and thats bad for the bottom line.

When asked about other ways to improve reproductive efficiency, Dr. Tosta noted that producers “can enhance the value of bulls that are evaluated every year through a bull soundness exam.” He also encouraged “utilizing pregnancy diagnosis” and “evaluating your heifers,” pointing out that “your heifers have the highest genetic potential in your herd” and “you should be aiming at getting them pregnant every year” to introduce better genetics.

Discussing embryo transfer, Dr. Tosta said it can “basically change the genetic component of your herd.” He tells producers that “by doing embryo transfer, you’re going to turn 50 years of genetic improvement into five.” With superior cows, “the best way to do multiplication is through embryo transfer,” producing “many, many embryos” that can be “transferred fresh or frozen for a long period of time” to use later.

Tosta stressed that adopting technology doesn’t mean starting with the most advanced methods. “A great technology is just by having a breeding season within 60 to 90 days,” he explained, which will “allow calves to be born at the same time,” creating “a better group of contemporary calves” with “higher weaning weights” and “more sale power at the right time.”

Summing up, Dr. Tosta told producers to “take advantage of simple plans, strategies that will help them be more profitable.” He said, “We’re looking at pounds of beef per acre, and that’s the measurement that’s going to separate you from being efficient and from being inefficient in your herd.”

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Dr. Ramon Tosta: Simple Breeding Strategies Can Boost Herd Efficiency and Profit first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Michael Kelsey about the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Ranch Rodeo. “This is our 41st annual ranch rodeo,” Michael Kelsey began, referring to the long-standing tradition once known as the Range Roundup. “We changed the name to ranch rodeo, but this is our 41st edition up at the Lazy E.” He noted the strong relationship with the venue and proudly added, “This is about our 21st year to partner with the Children’s Hospital Foundation, and we are just a shade over $700,000 that we have raised for them.”

Kelsey highlighted both the legacy and the fresh energy of the event. “We’ve got a couple of new teams in it this year. Some of our older teams, you know Tim Drummond, they’ve been in every one of these.” He emphasized authenticity: “These are real cowboys and cowgirls. They’re going to go back to work on Monday morning on the ranch.”

As for the competition, Kelsey said, “It’s bragging rights only. If you win the whole thing, you get a set of spurs. Win an event, you get a nice belt buckle. But that’s about it.” He stressed the focus is on raising funds for the Children’s Hospital Foundation: “We’re just so blessed to have that facility here in Oklahoma, and I’ve talked to a lot of our OCA members who’ve used it with their children.”

A cherished but lesser-known part of the event is the “kids rodeo.” Kelsey explained, “On Saturday afternoon, we invite kids and their families from the hospital to come out. For them to see a horse, to touch it, and then to ride it is really a cool experience.” He added, “Every year the moms and dads come to us and say, ‘Thank you so much. I haven’t seen him laugh like that in a long time.’”

Kelsey emphasized how meaningful this interaction is for the participants: “Every year I’ll have a team tell me, ‘We’re going to ride as hard as we can tonight, but that Saturday afternoon was worth the whole thing.’” For many teams, he said, “Awards don’t matter. That was it. And so that’s just part of why we do this.”

Discussing what fans can expect, Kelsey shared, “We’ve got five events: saddle bronc, team doctoring, team pinning, wild cow milking, and team branding.” He noted a new twist: “We substituted out the stray gathering, and it’s going to be exciting.” He added, “Wild cow milking can get a little Western sometimes, but it’s always a lot of fun.”

Highlighting audience engagement, he explained the “Pass the Boot” fundraiser: “We started this about eight or nine years ago. One hundred percent of that boot fund goes straight into the children’s network.” He added, “It gives us an opportunity to bring our board members in, and we’ll have some of those kids there with us and tell their story.”

Kelsey praised the associated trade show: “Doors open at 5 PM, the event starts at 7. Our trade show is Western: saddles, bits, swag, clothing, jewelry.” A standout feature, he said, is “the Happy Toy Maker. He sets up right there, and it’s a great place for some little ones to play. Kenny just does a wonderful job for us.”

Wrapping up, Kelsey reiterated how special the Lazy E is to the event: “We’re just so blessed to be able to go out there. It’s a premier event from a facility standpoint.” He urged fans not to miss it: “August 15 and 16. It’s too stinkin’ hot to be outside, so come on up to the ranch rodeo. Get tickets on our website or Lazy E’s website. It’ll be a lot of fun.” Click here for the webpage on the OCA website about this year’s Ranch Rodeo.

The teams listed to compete are as follows:

Drummond Land And Cattle Co.

Daube Cattle Co.

3C Cattle Co.

Creason Cattle

Buford Ranches

Barron Highsmith Cattle Co

Short Ranch

A Bar Ranch

Stuart Ranch

Gray G Bar Ranch

Lazy Rafter Slash Ranch

Mcphail Land And Cattle

Slash K Cattle Co.

Trentman Ranch

Stierwalt Ranch

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post ICYMI: OCA Ranch Rodeo Returns to Lazy E This Weekend first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Pat McFerron of CMA Strategies, who warns that Proposition 12 in California, which dictates pork and egg production standards, is a gateway for anti-animal agriculture groups to expand restrictions nationwide. “The anti-animal agriculture crowd would like to spread the Proposition 12 chaos to other species and other states, including Oklahoma,” he said. McFerron explained this challenge to the Oklahoma Pork Congress, stressing that the impact reaches beyond just economics. “We’ve got to continue to educate people about the importance of agriculture and agribusiness, not just to our economy, but also to our values and our core structure of who Oklahomans really are.”

He noted that Oklahoma’s political makeup makes it a tempting target for activist groups. “Oklahoma is a target for them… if we can make a difference here, we can do that anywhere, it’s kind of their mindset.” The state’s relatively low campaign costs make it even more vulnerable. “Compared to other places, [it’s] relatively cheap entry to run a State Question, to run a campaign, to buy television and radio, and so it puts us at the tip of the spear in these kind of fights.”

McFerron warned against complacency and division within agriculture. “They know the phrase divide and conquer, and that’s their goal. They’ll say, ‘Hey, today we’re going after pork… we’re not going to touch you.’ And then three years later… they’ll come again.” He urged unity across all livestock and related industries, from beef to poultry to rodeo, in order to resist piecemeal attacks on different sectors.

He also stressed the importance of continuous outreach. “You can never stop telling the story… what you do, why it’s important, how you’re serving the public, how you’re serving your community, how you’re employing people… We’ve got to do a better job about bragging about the importance of what we do and how these kind of efforts really jeopardize that.” McFerron emphasized that every part of animal agriculture has “a good story” to share and that telling it is essential to counter misinformation.

Looking ahead, McFerron acknowledged that some are seeking federal action to roll back Proposition 12, but he remains cautious. “Maybe I’m a little jaded or cynical, but I don’t have a lot of faith in Washington D.C. being able to do a whole lot of things right now… I don’t think we can rest and wait on that. We’ve got to be girded for battle here.” He warned that both state and national groups—such as the Kirkpatrick Foundation and the Humane World for Animals—have “lots of money… to convince voters that it’s the right thing to do to restrict farmers [and] ranchers from how they raise their livestock and care for them.”

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Pat McFerron Warns Anti-Ag Groups Targeting Oklahoma, Urges Unity Across Livestock Species first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Vice President of Marketing for Express Ranches, Donnie Robertson. “This is our 29th year to have the big event,” Robertson said, regarding the sale this Friday and Saturday. “ Bob’s motto was, it’s never done till it’s overdone, and Bob always wanted to have a big sale, because he loved to entertain.” Robertson explained that Friday will feature fall-calving cattle—“cows that have got baby calves on them and young cattle”—alongside a Friday night party. Saturday, he said, is “what we generally call the big event,” featuring spring pairs, donor prospects, young cattle, and “a really select group of show heifers.”

Robertson expressed excitement about the genetics on display. “We had a bull by the name of Ambitious and a bull by the name of True Balance that we both use extensively. And we’re very happy with the calves. This will be really the first set of calves that we’ve sold out of this Ambitious bull, and we like them.” He added, “We try to offer every need in the big event we think we have something for everyone, regardless if you’re needing a donor cow or a new up-and-coming donor for you.”

The event, Robertson said, attracts buyers from far beyond Oklahoma. “We get a wide band of national people that come from all over, just about every state, for the most part, are represented somehow as they come to the big event.” He emphasized the appeal for all types of cattle buyers, from serious breeders to young people seeking “really good show heifers.”

Discussing the focus on females in this sale, Robertson reflected on the ranch’s breeding philosophy. “One thing that we have always strived to do is that we want to raise a great looking product that also has superior genomic EPDs, and it’s not always easy to get.” Their goal, he explained, is “to make sure that that cow has all the traits needed to produce those bulls that still has a good look about her, that is functional, that has a maternal look about her, which is what Angus has been famous for.”

In closing, Robertson reaffirmed Express Ranches’ balanced approach. “We try to get a little bit of both. We believe that we raise a great looking cow that also has a really good set of EPDs.” The Big Event, he said, is built to showcase that philosophy, offering genetics and cattle “for years to come” to a diverse, nationwide audience.

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Express Ranches’ 29th Big Event Showcases Elite Genetics and Nationwide Appeal first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.

In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks again with Jennifer Nealson, Vice President for Global Marketing and Research, who emphasized that beef has a compelling health message that resonates with consumers. “Beef is so nutritious,” she said. “We also know from the market research that we do over time that most people do perceive the value of the protein component of beef. But one of the things that we continue to work on is people to also perceive it as healthy.” She noted that a recent federal health initiative recognized beef’s value: “We were one of the only studies cited and that was a great honor.”

Nealson also discussed the success of digital and e-commerce marketing efforts supported by the Beef Checkoff. “We just wrapped up a campaign with a major retailer,” she explained, referencing a $400,000 investment that resulted in $23 million in incremental beef sales. “It was $59 per dollar spent in advertising. So we know that these programs are returning.” The data, she explained, showed that consumers exposed to the ads were significantly more likely to purchase beef.

The industry’s shift to digital advertising has been driven by tighter budgets and the need for efficiency. “As everybody knows, there’s just not as many cows anymore, and so that means a reduction of the checkoff dollars,” Nealson noted. “To do that, we work very closely with the state beef councils and we can do that much more effectively online.” Digital targeting allows them to reach more specific audiences while stretching limited funds further.

She shared that the NCBA’s media strategy includes tailoring content to more than 100 unique consumer segments. “We find that when we’re targeted in that way, the response rate is much higher,” she said. Additionally, their collaborative model is saving money across the board: “We have about 35 state beef councils that contribute funds…and we’ve been able to save state beef councils this year about $450,000 in agency fees.”

Despite higher beef prices, Nealson emphasized that strong demand is a result of beef’s unmatched value. “It’s the highest demand in 40 years,” she said. “It tastes good, it’s nutritious, and it is the best of the best.” The strategy moving forward is clear: “We just want to continue to lower the barriers to entry,” she explained, by sharing recipes, promoting beef’s versatility, and helping consumers “see that the value is there, even if it is a little bit more expensive.”

The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

The post Beef Checkoff Marketing Yields Big Gains: $23 Million Boost from Digital Campaign first appeared on Oklahoma Farm Report.