Feeder Lambs Steady, Fats Move Higher
Feeder lambs held fairly steady across the country this week, while slaughter lamb prices were sharply higher in Texas and steady in the Midwest. Slaughter ewes were $3-7 lower. Carcass lamb was steady.

Mandatory Non-Reporting Rule Frustrates Info On Fed Cattle
USDA's new "mandatory reporting" program kicked in this week, but the results clearly were not what supporters had planned on. An obscure confidentiality provision known as the "three/60 rule" has virtually assured that on any given day, "mandatory reporting" will end up being "mandatory non-reporting" instead.

Texas Goat Prices Move Sharply Lower
Slaughter goat prices moved $3-10 lower in various Texas markets this week. Slaughter under federal inspection around the country the week ending March 17 was 9025 head.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Aerial Gunning, Once Praised, Is Now Under Attack By Ecos
Ranchers are defending the federal government's program of shooting coyotes from aircraft, saying it protects wildlife as well as livestock. Ranchers' support comes in response to a lawsuit filed last week by a coalition of environmental activist groups that seeks to halt the longtime practice across the West.

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital Has Ties To Ranching Industry
A large landscape painting of Centralia Draw hangs in the atrium of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. The draw runs through the Rocker b, a 173,000-acre ranch that straddles the Irion and Reagan County line in West Texas, and is a reminder of the hospital's roots and in particular its strong ties to the ranching industry.

Champ Says Rodeo Bull Fighting Better Than Working For Living
"I'd starve if I had to work," Lance Brittan grins. Most people would rather work in an office than do what the 26 year-old Brittan does for a living. His office is a dirt arena. His business uniform is a pair of cutoff jeans, athletic shoes, an oversized shirt and well worn hat instead of a suit and tie. The makeup on his face belies the serious nature of what he does.

Mesa Water Group Expanding Its Holding Of Water Rights
Mesa Water Inc. has had its pumping permit tabled by the Panhandle Ground Water Conservation District, but the confederation of landowners making up the company continues to expand their water rights in the Texas Panhandle.

Eco-Terrorists Convicted In NY After FBI Finally Gets Serious
Three teenagers, one of them the son of a New York City policeman, are facing up to 20 years in federal prison today after pleading guilty to ecoterrorism.

Cattle Raisers Address Animal Disease Issues At Convention
Members of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association approved policy during their annual convention here asking elected representatives and agencies at both the state and federal levels to help strengthen the United States’ capabilities to prevent, detect and control animal diseases.

Texas Cattle Imported From Europe To Be Killed, Tested
The United States Department of Agriculture says cattle it has been monitoring in Texas for BSE will be destroyed this spring.

Far West Texas Water, County Officials Oppose Senate Bill 2
County officials in far West Texas, along with local water district boards, are opposing Senate Bill 2 that would centralize the state's water management and impose a one dollar fee on each resident in the state.

Bills In Congress Get Support From Private Property Backers
Property rights groups are heralding new legislation being introduced on Capitol Hill. The American Land Rights Association, a Virginia-based private property rights group, says the proposed legislation will promote wise use of federal lands.

Farm Bureau Seeking Ban On Name Release
The Farm Bureau is asking a federal court for an injunction to block the release of names of ranchers and farmers benefiting from the federal government's Livestock Assistance Program.

Mexico Agrees To Rio Grande Water Release
Mexico will deliver nearly 200 billion gallons of water into the Rio Grande this year as part of a repayment timetable announced at the White House.

Argentina Reports 13 New Foot, Mouth Cases
Argentine officials say there have been 13 new foot-and-mouth outbreaks in this South American country.

Argument Of Broad Government Ag Responsibility To Be Aired
Four farmers recently sued the federal government over what they say is the government's responsibility to place farmers and ranchers on an equitable economic footing with other segments of the economy. The four will join their lawyer in a public meeting here Monday, April 9, to explain their position.

TSCRA Lobbyist Outlines Issues Still Facing Texas Legislators
West Texas is going to lose some representation in the Texas Legislature. That was the message attorney Ed Small brought to the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association at its annual convention here last week.

Swill Feeding Of Hogs Seen As Likely Way To Spread FMD
Feeding food scraps to hogs, the practice now blamed for Europe's foot-and-mouth epidemic, is still legal in 33 states and Puerto Rico, even though improperly cooked pig swill long has been recognized as a sure way to spread disease.

Domenici Wants Forest Service To Allow Salvage Wood Gathering
U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, R-New Mexico, is pressuring the U.S. Forest Service to adhere to Congressional intent in allowing local communities and organizations to gather small diameter timber as a means of improving forest health.

Ranchers, Pragmatic Ecos Join In Progressive Grazing Seminar
Ranchers and environmentalists — two groups who are often at odds in the Southwest — met here recently to exchange ideas.

Fertilizer Price Hike Involves Trade Tiff As Well As Gas Cost
It's almost planting time, and some growers have a dilemma. Ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer that helps corn grow by boosting nitrogen in the soil, is a lot more expensive than last year, for reasons unrelated to food or farming.

Eco Activists Demand Aerial Ban On Coyote Hunting By USDA
A coalition of environmental activists and animal rights groups wants aerial hunting of coyotes stopped.

Montana Officials Insist Feds Not Living Up To Buffalo Pact
Montana officials claim the federal government is not doing its part in a joint plan for managing buffalo that wander outside of Yellowstone National Park.

Tyson Asks Judge To Void Deal That Would Have Purchased IBP
 buy meatpacker IBP Inc., has asked a judge to void the purchase agreement.

Feds Re-Release Trio Of Wolves In National Forest In Arizona
Three wolves have been re-released in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest this month after having been captured and held at a wildlife refuge.

Oklahoma Governor, Ag Leaders Lobby For Reform Of Death Tax
Robert and Lynda Barnett worry another chunk of their farm will die when they do.

Collar Users’ Name Release Case Going To Court July 9
A July 9 trial date has been set in federal court in a lawsuit pitting ranchers against animal rights activists and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Former PLC Executive May Be Interior Pick
President Bush has indicated that he plans to nominate William Gerry Myers III to be Solicitor of the Department of the Interior.

Cattle Raisers Hear Perry Quip About FMD
Animal health was one of the leading topics at the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association convention here in late March.

USDA Rejects EU Call To Ease Beef Limits
The United States is rejecting a European Union request that the ban on European meat imports be limited to only those countries having reported actual outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.

Clinton Head Of Forest Service Stepping Down
The Chief of the U.S. Forest Service has resigned. Mike Dombeck notified the National Leadership Team last month that he would step down as chief forester effective March 31.

New Mexico Livestock Board Conducts Foot, Mouth Exercise
Recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain and Europe have prompted the New Mexico Livestock Board to implement an emergency plan for the Land of Enchantment.

Animal Disease Scares, Hoopla Not Affecting U.S. Consumers
Americans love their beef. They spent a record $52 billion on the red meat in 2000 and ate 70 pounds of it per person. Although concern about livestock diseases in Europe has grown in recent weeks, Americans apparently aren't ready to ignore their cravings for a juicy T-bone just yet.

Nation’s Feeder Cattle Prices Followed Two-Way Price Trends
Feeder cattle sold steady to $2 higher across the midsection of the nation last week. In the Southeast, feeder cattle prices fell under heavy receipts, closing weak to $3 lower. A positive tone returned to the market and trading was much more active than the previous week.

Texas Fed Cattle Trade Stalled Until Friday Noon, But Gains $1
Slaughter steers and heifers sold mostly $1 higher last week in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading. Trade and movement were at a complete standstill each day until midday Friday, when all of the week's sales occurred.

Angelo Feeder Lambs, Cattle Sell Steady
Feeder lambs sold steady this week, slaughter lambs $3-5 higher, slaughter ewes $3-5 lower; kid goats $8-10 lower, nannies steady. Two day receipts totaled 13,113 head, around 60 percent slaughter ewes, 20 percent feeder lambs, five percent slaughter lambs and 15 percent goats.

Fredericksburg Feeder Steers, Heifers Rise
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 272 head.

Domestic Wool Slow, Aussie Wools Lower
Domestic wool trading was slow to moderate last week, demand moderate to good. Seller interest was light to moderate with most sellers in no hurry to trade. Shearing continues well behind normal in all areas.

Most Hamilton Feeder Steers, Heifers Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to lower, the decline on heavyweights, slaughter cows and bulls steady, pairs lower. Receipts totaled 488 head.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Mixed
Heavyweight feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher last week in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba, lightweight steers $1-2 lower, heifers steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady, pairs $40-60 higher, bred stock cows firm. Receipts totaled 784 head at the three sales.

U.S. Meat Production 2.4% Below A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 847 million pounds, .5 percent less than a week earlier and 2.4 percent below a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was down 4.4 percent at 10.96 billion pounds.

Colorado City Feeder Cattle Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows $1-2 lower, bulls steady, bred stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 589 head.

Littlerobe Angus Bulls Average $1915 Per Head
Littlerobe Angus Ranch sold 51 bulls for an average of $1915 per head at their sixth production sale.

Most Abilene Cattle Prices Termed Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady to $1 higher, stock cows and pairs $10-20 higher. Receipts totaled 934 head.

Kansas Direct Feeder Trade Mostly Steady
Feeder steers sold steady to weak, heifers mostly steady on a light offering. The weather was mild with some scattered showers. Sales were confirmed on 4776 head.

Graham Feeder Steers, Heifers Move Higher
Feeder steers sold $1-2 higher, heifers $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady, pairs and bred cows steady. Receipts totaled 925 head.

Llano Feeder Steers, Heifers Trade Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-4 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady to $2 higher, pairs and bred stock cows steady. Receipts totaled 736 head.

Cuero Feeder Cattle Prices Called Mixed
Feeder steers and heifers sold a little lower except 500-700 pound heifers higher, slaughter cows $1 lower, stock cows strong. Receipts totaled 976 head.

Milano Feeder Steers, Heifers Trend Higher
Feeder steers sold steady to $4 higher, the advance on weights under 400 pounds, heifers $1-3 higher, instances $5 higher, slaughter cows steady to $3 lower, bulls steady. Receipts totaled 626 head.

Goldthwaite Fat Lambs Up, Goats Off
Feeder lambs sold steady, slaughter lambs $3-5 higher, stock goats steady, slaughter goats $3-5 lower. Receipts totaled 2952 head.

Munday Resigns From Cattle Raisers Post
Steve Munday resigned as executive vice president of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association on Monday, said TSCRA president John Dudley.

WT Brangus Breeders Avg. $1711 On Bulls
The West Texas Brangus Breeders Association sold 48 registered bulls that averaged $1711, and 61 female lots that averaged $1164.

Hales Angus Bull Sale Topped Out At $5250
Hales Angus Farms sold three two-year old bulls for an average of $2967 per head, 24 fall yearlings averaged $2716, 60 spring yearlings $2162, nine bred heifers $1633, and 45 spring yearling heifers $1412.

Lampasas Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Lower
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 lower, the decline on weights 400-600 pounds, slaughter cows steady, bulls $2-2.50 lower. Receipts totaled 251 head.

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
April 6 — Springer and Oldcrop Lamb Sale, Mills County Commission Co., Goldthwaite, Texas. April 6 — Superior Livestock Auction’s Internet Sale, Fort Worth, Texas. April 7 — Complete Dispersal Sale of Kelley Ranch, at the ranch, Vinita, Oklahoma.