Location: Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center
2025 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1: Enable climate-smart decision-making by developing science-based, region-specific information, tools and technologies for agricultural and natural resource managers, and provide assistance where possible to enhance adoption and implementation of the same. The work will be conducted as the Southern Plains USDA Climate Change Hub and will be coordinated with NRCS, FS, and other USDA and non-USDA organizations in accordance with guidance found in the USDA Climate Change Hubs Charter, and Terms of Reference.
Objective 2: Provide capacity to expand and enhance the hub’s climate-science, social-science, and economic-science resources and tools via enhanced collaboration with ARS research teams and other research partners to ensure impactful integration of ARS research outcomes from across the region into Hub outreach assets.
Approach
The climate hubs relate directly to the Sustainable Agricultural Systems Research National Program (NP216) Action Plan (2018-2022), Component 3. Achieving Agroecosystem Potential and these problem statements: Problem Statement 3a. Sustaining Intensified Production; Problem Statement 3b. Enhancing ecosystem services; and Problem Statement 3c. Enabling decision support for sustainability.
Progress Report
Novel groundwater conservation strategies are urgently needed to insure sustainability of agriculture and community livelihoods in the High Plains (Ogallala Aquifer) region. Under Objectives 1 and 2, the Southern Plains Climate Hub translated research results from studies conducted at three ARS labs in Texas to facilitate farmer access to this information. Seventeen factsheets were developed for submission to the Southwest Climate Hub Water Adaptation Techniques Atlas (WATA). Factsheets covering topics ranging from drought resilient crops to sensor-informed irrigation management, are now available on the WATA platform. A complementary effort involving a 25-year time-series analysis of Agricultural Census data for Ogallala Aquifer counties is currently underway. This study will determine trends in irrigated land as well as crop and livestock production in the region.
Many ranchers and farmers in the Southern Great Plains are interested in using livestock to enhance grassland soil health. Under Objective 1, the Southern Plains Climate Hub partnered with the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research network during fall 2024 to host a webinar series that focused on grazing land management and soil carbon. Webinars were attended by 535 participants from 45 states and recordings posted online have received more than 700 views. The audience included USDA field staff, farmers, ranchers and producer organizations, ag service and tech providers, among others. Almost all 266 participants who completed a post webinar poll reported having increased understanding of how grazing management affects soil health parameters. Eleven fact sheets, one per 2024 webinar, have been developed and are awaiting approval for publication. In addition, a meta-analysis of research studies conducted in the United States investigating the influence of grazing management on soil health parameters is close to completion.
Oklahoma ranks second in the United States in number of beef cattle. This industry contributes approximately $2.7 billion annually to the state’s economy. Hot temperatures and elevated relative humidity during the summer can cause considerable economic loss associated with cattle heat stress conditions. Under Objective 2, Southern Plains Climate Hub and ARS researchers analyzed a 20-year weather data series to determine recent trends in the number of days when critical cattle heat stress thresholds are crossed. The study found that between 1988 and 2022, the number of days when critical heat stress thresholds were crossed increased in 60% of Oklahoma counties. Also, counties with greater frequency of summer days where cattle heat stress thresholds were crossed, experienced a decrease in beef cattle inventories over the period of this study. In addition, efforts to model weather vulnerabilities of the beef cattle industry in the Southern Plains continue. A system dynamics model of the High Plains cattle feeding industry is currently being validated and is close to completion.
Farmers and ranchers in the Southern Great Plains suffer billions of dollars in losses annually due to drought. Although there are numerous drought planning resources available online, accessible information about year-to-year carryover effects of droughts are lacking. Under Objective 1, the Southern Plains Climate Hub developed a fact sheet titled ‘Precipitation Legacies on Grassland Productivity’ that uses plain language to explain the mechanisms responsible for post drought recovery lag times of cool- and warm-season rangeland forage species.
Improving science literacy among the next generation of decision makers is critical to building resilient agricultural economies in the Southern Plains. Under Objective 1, two science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) focused events with approximately 150 Oklahoma K-12 students from Tulsa and Binger-Oney Public Schools were held. Workshops offered teachers and students opportunities for hands-on, immersive experience with topics such as the carbon and water cycles, rainfall infiltration and soil erosion in relation to ground cover using a simulator, pollinators, among several other topics. Activities were designed to spark curiosity about science and the environment.
Under Objective 1, the Southern Plains Climate Hub collaborated with partners on three projects funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). These efforts aim to provide support to specialty crop farmers of Oklahoma and Texas, and cattle ranchers of the Great Plains by facilitating peer-learning networks and educational resources to cope with the impacts of heat on watermelon crops in Oklahoma, water scarcity on pecan orchards of Texas, or the influence of drought and woody plant encroachment on beef cattle ranches throughout the region.
Under Objective 2, in partnership with the Southwest Climate Hub and ARS researchers, developed tools used by the USDA Farm Services Agency to determine eligibility for emergency grazing and haying of farmland enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program during droughts. A tool to automate weekly county designations was completed and validated. This work in support of drought alleviation for the region’s farmers and ranchers will continue into the next fiscal year.
Small and beginning farmers and ranchers of Oklahoma who are engaged in small scale horticulture, small ruminant, or cattle production have specific unmet training and information needs. Under Objective 1, training and information sessions were offered for small farmers and ranchers in the towns of Okmulgee, Porter, and Seminole. The emphasis of these sessions was on practical information about water saving strategies, animal health, use of goats to control invasive plants, goat fencing, among others. Participants were also made aware of USDA programs that support farmers and ranchers in the region. Approximately 80 farmers and ranchers attended these events.
Under objective 1, the Southern Plains Climate Hub quarterly newsletter was sent out in August and December 2024 to approximately 365 stakeholders including farmers, ranchers, and allied industry. Based on newsletter links accessed by recipients, stakeholders showed the greatest levels of interest in information shared about the grazing lands webinar series, drought update webinars, cover crop research, and sustainability of irrigated agriculture in the Ogallala Aquifer region.
Accomplishments
1. Translated research about irrigated crop production under declining groundwater availability in the Ogallala Aquifer region. Novel groundwater conservation strategies are urgently needed to insure sustainability of agriculture and community livelihoods in the High Plains (Ogallala Aquifer) region. ARS researchers of the Southern Plains Climate Hub in El Reno, Oklahoma, translated research results from studies conducted at three ARS labs in Texas to facilitate farmer access to this information. Seventeen factsheets were developed for submission to the Southwest Climate Hub Water Adaptation Techniques Atlas (WATA). Factsheets covering topics ranging from drought resilient crops to sensor-informed irrigation management, are now available on the WATA platform. Access to this information is critically important to crop growers in the High Plains.
2. Translated research about grazing land management and soils. ARS researchers of the Southern Plains Climate Hub in El Reno, Oklahoma, partnered with the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research network to host a series of 11 webinars that translated region-specific results on the influence of grazing on soil health parameters from long term grazing research studies. Webinars were attended by 535 participants from 45 states and recordings posted online have received more than 700 views. Almost all 266 participants who completed a post webinar poll reported having increased understanding of how grazing management affects soil health parameters. The information provided is essential for ranchers and farmers in the Southern Great Plains interested in using livestock grazing to enhance grassland soil health.
3. Long term trends in cattle heat stress conditions in Oklahoma were identified. Cattle heat stress is responsible for significant losses to the livestock industry in the Southern Great Plains. ARS researchers of the Southern Plains Climate Hub in El Reno, Oklahoma, and collaborators analyzed a 20-year weather data time series to determine recent trends in the number of days when critical cattle heat stress thresholds are crossed. They found that between 1988 and 2022, a significant increase in such events was recorded in 60% of Oklahoma counties. Also, counties with greater frequency of summer days when cattle heat stress thresholds were crossed, experienced a decrease in beef cattle inventories over the period. This research is critical for beef cattle producers in the region seeking to reduce risk associated with extreme weather.
4. Provided training and education for farmers. Small and beginning farmers and ranchers of Oklahoma who are engaged in small scale horticulture, small ruminant, or cattle production have specific unmet training and information needs. ARS researchers of the Southern Plains Climate Hub in El Reno, Oklahoma, and collaborators offered training and information sessions for small farmers and ranchers in the towns of Okmulgee, Porter, and Seminole. The emphasis of these sessions was on practical information about water saving strategies, animal health, use of goats to control invasive plants, goat fencing, among others. Approximately 80 farmers and ranchers attended these events.
5. Provided training and education to K-12 teachers and students. ARS researchers of the Southern Plains Climate Hub in El Reno, Oklahoma, and partners held two STEM-focused events with approximately 150 Oklahoma K-12 students from Tulsa and Binger-Oney Public Schools. Workshops offered teachers and students opportunities for hands-on, immersive experience with topics such as the carbon and water cycles, rainfall infiltration and soil erosion in relation to ground cover using a simulator, pollinators, among several other topics. Activities were designed to spark curiosity about science and the environment . Improving science literacy among the next generation of decision makers is critical to building resilient agricultural economies in the Southern Plains.
Review Publications
Sawalhah, M., Cibils, A.F., Prileson, V., Wesley, R., Mullinkiks, T., Peterson, M. 2024. Social interactions and movement patterns of rangeland-raised beef cows and their calves. Livestock Science. 290. Article 105594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105594.
Steiner, J.L., Lisonbee, J., Kremen, A., Cibils, A.F. 2024. Pathways to sustaining agriculture and communities in the Ogallala region. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 79(6):99A-105A. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2024.1001A.
Lee, S., Moriasi, D.N., Cibils, A.F., Barker, P. 2025. Increasing frequency and spatial extent of cattle heat stress conditions in the Southern plains of the USA. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99621-5.