Some portions of ag country are experiencing an arctic blast right now, which they have not seen in decades.
The Northern Plains are seeing temps as low as -30º and snow is on the beaches of Florida. That causes concern for Florida’s citrus and strawberry crops and sugarcane in Louisiana.
On the other hand, over-wintering crops like wheat stand to benefit from the snow cover which acts like insulation from the bitter cold.
USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey addressed the cold’s impact on livestock:
“All of this cold comes with some risk for livestock. We do have the bitter cold, in some cases high winds accompanying that. The one piece of good news is that we don’t have a lot of wetness or wind or snow as just flat-out cold. We are watching some increased stress on the animals. A little tougher to keep the weight on the animals this time of year, as a lot of the energy goes into staying warm.”
Now that cold has also reached Texas where the state’s port activity was impacted by the rare winter storm.
The Port of Houston closed its public facilities while Freeport had very limited vessel activity. Both areas experienced heavy snow, ice, and high wind gusts.
Roger McEowen of Washburn University School of Law joined us to discuss key legal and tax issues ranchers should consider as they recover from recent prairie fires across the Southern Plains.
March 03, 2026 01:06 PM
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Dry conditions may tighten hay supplies before summer growth. John Mays of Central Life Sciences joined us to discuss the risks of extended grain storage, how quality can be affected over time, and what growers can do to protect their grain while waiting for market opportunities.
March 02, 2026 02:21 PM
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Britt Hilton with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau joined us to discuss current conditions, producer impacts, and the road to recovery following the Ranger Road Fire.
February 27, 2026 02:18 PM
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The Ranger Road Fire is fully contained after burning nearly 300,000 acres. Ranchers face significant cattle and fence losses, with recovery efforts underway.
February 26, 2026 01:04 PM
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Strong export demand supports barge markets, but weather risks remain.
February 26, 2026 07:00 AM
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Michael Kelsey of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association joined us with the latest on the Oklahoma wildfires, recovery efforts for ranchers, and the role agriculture leaders are playing in supporting rural communities.
February 25, 2026 12:13 PM
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