Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm).

Lamb Prices Continue To Climb
Lamb meat prices have shown some strength every week this year. Live lambs likewise continue to move higher.

Plains Fed Cattle Trade Mired Again, Motionless At Midweek
Plains feedlots were in a standoff with packers again at midweek, a continuation of the pattern that has obtained for some time now. Packer bids ran generally $77, asking prices $80 with some to $81. An offer of $79, it's said, would buy cattle.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Despite Sagging Stock, eMerge To Be Cash-Flow Positive Soon
eMerge Interactive Inc., the unique new company that is trying to become the beef industry's leading technology partner, has hit some rocky times. At least that's what their stock price would indicate.

Ecos Drain Feds' ESA Budget, Complain When Money Runs Out
A radical anti-grazing activist group is now insisting that the federal government shouldn't spend money on agriculture if it can't afford to fund the activists' pet causes first, despite the fact that it's the group's own fault the money is gone.

Drilling Case Ruling So Broad It Concerns Water Districts
In what most water officials expected to be a narrow ruling, the Seventh Court of Appeals here this month came out with a broad decision that worries some water authorities.

Economist Predicts Farm Bill Debate To Hit Heart Of Issue
Dr. Edward Smith, Extension economist for marketing and policy, says he expects to see emergency appropriations again this year for the farm sector if parts of the country are hit by floods, drouths or natural disasters.

New Twist In Eminent Domain Seizes Land For "Green Space"
Property rights issues are not limited to the West. Larry Halper, a third generation Piscataway farmer, may lose his farm because Piscataway has started condemnation proceedings against him. They want the farm for "green space."

USDA Spokesman Outlines Lamb, Sheep Mandatory Report Rules
The reports that USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service will begin generating in April under the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act include slaughter cattle, boxed beef, slaughter swine, slaughter sheep, boxed lamb and lamb carcasses.

Ag "Guest Worker" Plan Draws Support From Many Directions
Both President George W. Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox support boosting legal, temporary immigration to the United States. So do lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties. Even farm workers and the agricultural industry have found common ground.

Public Lands Ranchers Hoping For Rules Relief Under Bush
Ranchers who rely on the two million acres of federal grazing land in South Dakota hope the Bush administration will let management decisions be made locally.

Beef Industry Faces Challenges Arising From Its Own Structure
Variability, predictability and complexity are the challenges facing the beef industry in Texas today, according to Dr. Charles Long, resident director of the Texas A&M agricultural research and extension center at Overton.

French Develop Test For Mad Cow Disease
French scientists have developed a test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease.

Continued Shrinkable In Cattle Herd Portends Good Price Year
The cattle market has improved significantly during the past four years, especially last year when prices for feeder calves reached record highs and prices for most other categories reached eight-year highs. It appears that the outlook for the rest of this year is relatively bright as the size of the U.S. herd continues to decrease.

Cloud Seeders Claim Documented Results In Mexico Experiments
Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research here believe they have succeeded in increasing rainfall in existing storm clouds and quantifying the results.

TSCRA Sets Successful Ranching School March 24-25 In Austin
Cattle producers attending the 7th annual TSCRA School for Successful Ranching will be able to beef up their knowledge on toxic plant identification and the best methods of handling cattle to ensure quality beef.

Clinton's Roadless Forest Plan On Hold
The Bush administration is delaying for at least two months a ban on road-building in a third of the country's national forests.

Odds Good For Federal Tax Changes Long Sought By Ag
Agricultural groups have tried for years without success to get Congress to eliminate inheritance taxes and enact several other tax reforms sought by farmers. This year, farmers may get them.

Cattle-Fax Predicts Higher Cattle Prices Through 2001
Cattle prices were higher in 2000 and that trend is expected to continue in 2001, according to Cattle-Fax, a Denver-based market information and analysis service. Despite continued declines in total cattle numbers, 2000 beef production was the highest on record. Stronger prices were a result of improving demand for beef, both domestic and abroad, the organization said.

Unique Partnership To Conserve Western Lands And Livelihoods
A unique partnership of cattlemen, conservationists and Western governors has released a report supporting the creation and use of publicly funded "Purchase of Development Rights" to protect rapidly disappearing farm and ranch land and to conserve agricultural lands and wildlife habitat in the West.

Nation’s Feeder Cattle Higher, Big Winter Storm Cuts Receipts
Old man winter showed his face again last week as receipts were reduced in some areas due to snow and ice storms across the Midwest and High Plains. Feeder steers and heifers were mostly steady to $3 higher. The greatest advance was on calves that are to be turned out on grass in the upcoming weeks.

Most Texas Fed Cattle Steady Last Week In Thursday Trading
Slaughter steers and heifers sold steady, instances 50 cents higher last week in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading.

Angelo Lamb, Feeder Cattle Prices Steady
Feeder lambs were too limited this week for a test, slaughter lambs sold steady, and slaughter ewes firm to $1 higher; goats sold firm. Receipts totaled 6630 head, 35 percent slaughter ewes, 10 percent slaughter lambs, five percent feeder lambs and 50 percent goats.

Most Fredericksburg Feeder Cattle Higher
Feeder steers sold $2-4 higher, heifers $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls strong. Receipts totaled 1446 head.

Cuero Cattle Trade Active, A Bit Lower
Feeder cattle were active, slaughter prices a little lower. Receipts totaled 1234 head.

Milano Feeder Steers, Heifers Sharply Higher
Feeder steers weighing less than 400 pounds sold $3-5 higher, heavier weights $1-4 higher, heifers under 400 pounds $3-4 higher, heavier weights steady to firm, slaughter cows steady, bulls steady to $1 higher. Receipts totaled 521 head.

Producers Internet Offers 1200 Cattle
Producers Internet Auction offered 1200 feeder cattle from Texas, Mississippi and Florida. Delivery was mostly current to May.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Higher
Feeder steers sold $1-6 higher last week in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba, heifers steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady, pairs and bred cows steady. Receipts totaled 1449 head at the three sales.

U.S. Meat Production 8.5% Below A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 816.4 million pounds, three percent less than a week ago and 8.5 percent below a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was down 5.4 percent at 5.06 billion pounds.

Kansas Direct Feeder Cattle Prices Steady
Feeder steers sold steady in Kansas direct trade last week, heifers mostly steady. Sales were confirmed on 8179 head. A major snow and ice storm hit the area Thursday night with 3-9 inches of snow and winds 20-40 miles per hour. Some snow drifts were 3-4 feet high. Eastern Kansas had rain and ice before the snow.

Colorado City Feeder Cattle Prices Mixed
Feeder steers and heifers weighing less than 600 pounds sold $1-5 higher, heavier weights steady, slaughter cows steady, bulls $2 lower, bred stock cows $20 higher, pairs steady. Receipts totaled 408 head.

Most Graham Cattle Prices Called Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows $1 higher, bulls $1-2 higher, bred stock cows $10-15 higher, pairs fully steady. Receipts totaled 917 head.

Goldthwaite Fat Lambs Steady, Goats Higher
Feeder lambs were too few to test the market, slaughter lambs steady; feeder goats steady, slaughter $1-3 higher. Receipts totaled 1398 head.

Domestic Wool Finds Best Action In Months
Domestic wool trading was moderate to fairly active last week with demand moderate and much broader than in many months. Prices were steady to firm on comparable sales.

Most Lampasas Cattle Prices Termed Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 higher. Receipts totaled 786 head.

eMerge Internet Sale Offers 8000 Cattle
The eMerge CattleinfoNet Internet auction offered 8000 feeder cattle from 10 south central, north central and southern states. Delivery was current to May.

Junction Lambs Sell $2-4 Higher
Feeder lambs sold $2-4 higher, other classes of sheep and goats steady. Receipts totaled 1436 head.

Abilene Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady to strong, stock cows and pairs $10-20 lower. Receipts totaled 874 head.

Rain, Muddy Pastures Cut Llano Receipts
Rain and muddy pastures reduced receipts to only 147 head. Trading was active and prices fully steady.

Coming Up...
February 17 — New Mexico Hereford Bull and Futurity Heifer Sale, Roswell Livestock Auction, Roswell, New Mexico. February 17 — Texas Bison Association’s 4th Annual Bison Auction, Four County Auction Center, Industry, Texas. February 17 — Select Replacement Female Sale, Hamilton Commission Company, Hamilton, Texas. February 17 — Bradley 3 Ranch Bull Sale, at the ranch, Estelline, Texas.