Tulsa County OSU Extension Center

On Aug. 5 and Aug. 12, you're invited to learn about the program and what applicants can expect along the way on the journey to becoming a Tulsa Master Gardener. ⤵️ Find a link to the story in the comments.

🌾 August Tulsa County Ag Newsletter Highlight 🌾
August can be one of the most challenging months for agriculture in northeast Oklahoma. With high temperatures, drought concerns, declining forage quality, and increased stress on ponds and livestock, now is the time to stay proactive.

📬 In this month's Tulsa County Ag Newsletter, you'll find:
✅ Late-summer livestock management tips
✅ Pond management strategies during drought conditions
✅ Beef cow herd planning recommendations for August
✅ Information on aquifer water depletion and water conservation
✅ Upcoming educational opportunities, including wildlife food plots and the Fall Prescribed Fire Workshop & Field Day

💧 One of this month's featured articles focuses on protecting one of your operation's most valuable resources: water. Learn how declining pond levels can affect livestock performance, water quality, and drought preparedness.

As always, OSU Extension is here to provide research-based information to help you make informed management decisions for your operation.

📖 Read the full August newsletter here:

Volume 3, Issue 8 Tulsa Co Ag News | PDF to Flipbook Created with the Heyzine flipbook maker

In the summer, deer eat lots of native forbs, aka weeds! These plants are drought resistant and used by many wildlife. Land managers can promote these plants without the cost associated with food plots or supplemental feed. Want to learn more? Check out their YouTube channel and our upcoming Wildlife Food Plot Virtual Program!

Weeds for Deer? Native Summer Forage Plants In the summer, deer eat lots of native forbs, aka weeds! These plan...

Contact the Tulsa County Extension Office for more information! 918-746-3709 or [email protected]

🍀 There’s a place for you in 4-H!

A new 4-H year begins tomorrow, bringing new opportunities to explore your interests, build valuable life skills and connect with 4-H’ers throughout Oklahoma. Whatever sparks your interest, Oklahoma 4-H offers opportunities to learn, lead and grow. ✨

🔗 Enrollment for 2026-2027 opens Aug. 1 at 4h.zsuite.org.

AI: Friend, Tool... or Future Boss?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere lately. From helping write emails to recommending your next movie, AI is changing the way we work and live. But what exactly is AI? Should we be worried?

AI is probably already part of your day. You may use AI more often than you realize! Most of these technologies quietly work in the background to save us time and make everyday tasks easier. AI powers many everyday tools, including:
• Voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant
• Email spam filters and Smart Reply suggestions
• Predictive Text in emails, text messages, notes
• Online shopping recommendations
• Netflix and Spotify recommendations
• Face recognition to unlock your phone
• GPS apps that suggest the fastest route around traffic
• Fraud detection that alerts your bank to suspicious purchases
• Precision agriculture tools that help farmers monitor crops and livestock

Will AI Replace Human Workers? The short answer is: No, not entirely.
AI is very good at repetitive tasks, organizing information, finding patterns, and generating ideas. But it still lacks qualities that people bring every day:
• Empathy
• Relationship building
• Critical thinking
• Creativity
• Ethical decision-making
• Understanding emotions and context

Many experts believe AI is more likely to change jobs than eliminate them. Just as computers became tools for nearly every profession, AI is becoming another tool that can help people work more efficiently. The most successful workers will likely be those who learn how to use AI effectively—not those who avoid it.

The Benefits of AI:
• Saves time on routine tasks
• Helps organize and summarize information
• Makes learning and translation more accessible
• Assists with brainstorming and creativity
• Improves customer service and accessibility
• Helps detect fraud and improve safety

The Challenges
• AI can make mistakes or provide incorrect information.
• It may reflect biases found in the data it was trained on.
• Privacy matters—avoid sharing sensitive personal or financial information with AI tools.
Overreliance on AI can reduce critical thinking if we stop checking facts ourselves.

Different AI platforms each have their own strengths and are designed for different types of tasks. One thing they all have in common is that they generate responses based on the information they have been trained on and the prompts you provide during your interactions. Some AI tools also generate links or cite sources that appear legitimate, but those references may be inaccurate, outdated, or even fabricated. That's why it's important to verify information using trusted sources and do your own fact-checking before relying on AI-generated content, especially when making important decisions.

The Bottom Line
Think of AI like a calculator or GPS. These tools are incredibly helpful, but you still need to know when they're wrong and make good decisions. The best approach is to use AI as a thinking partner, not a thinking replacement. Ask questions, verify important information, protect your personal information, and continue using the skills that make us uniquely human. After all, technology works best when people are still in the driver's seat.

Sources:
• Pew Research Center, Americans and AI 2026 (June 2026)
• Pew Research Center, About 1 in 5 US Workers Now Use AI (Oct 2025)
• NIST AI Risk Management Framework
• AI.gov — Federal AI Strategy

Silverleaf Nightshade, Buffalo Bur & Carolina Horsenettle are toxic plants but they are rarely consumed by livestock. They don't compete with forage grasses and are generally not a problem in pastures but can indicate disturbance or overgrazing. Some fruits are eaten by wildlife and flowers can be a nectar source for pollinators. If control is necessary, options include mechanical and chemical treatments.

Nightshades, Nettles and Burs Oh My! | Silverleaf Nightshade, Buffalo Bur & Carolina Horsenettle Silverleaf Nightshade, Buffalo Bur & Carolina Horsenettle are toxic...

In an effort to make our bi-monthly newsletter more accessible to all recipients, we are trying out a new electronic newsletter using the Microsoft Sway web-based app.

Just click on this link to view the Newsletter:

https://sway.cloud.microsoft/sY0Nz6sjTfoHbRa5?ref=Link

In the event that you find this format difficult to read, please read below for better accessibility options!

For better accessibility within the app:
Go to the far-right top corner and click on the three dots next to the word "Share" and then click on "Accessibility View." The background colors will be removed to hopefully make reading a little easier. (Use the same process but click "Exit Accessibility View" to return to the regular format.)

Also, notice at the bottom right corner of the newsletter, a little box with a couple of dots and some lines. If you click on that, you will see a table of contents that will allow you to go directly to the section that you would like to read without having to scroll through the other sections.

We hope you enjoy our new and hopefully improved Newsletter!

Family and Consumer Sciences News: Strengthening Oklahoma Families July/August 2026

✨ Roasted Cushaw Squash ✨

One of Oklahoma's hidden gems is the cushaw squash! With its naturally sweet, mild flavor and creamy texture, it's perfect for roasting and makes a delicious side dish for just about any meal.

All I did was:
Cut it into slices
Drizzle with olive oil
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and a few fresh herbs
Roast until fork tender and lightly caramelized

Simple ingredients, incredible flavor!

Have you ever cooked with cushaw squash? If so, what's your favorite way to prepare it? Share your ideas below—I’m always looking for new recipes to try!

This upcoming program is now going to be held virtually- email or call us today to sign up!

You can join the meeting from anywhere on any smart device with the provided zoom link

Farm or ranch succession planning is one of the most pressing issues in production agriculture. Unfortunately, it can feel like a formidable task to take on. Join us on July 30th at 6PM for a discussion on first steps, considerations, and resources to help your operation navigate this process. The program is free to attend and will be held at the Tulsa County OSU Extension Center in Tulsa- call us today to RSVP!