Fat Lambs Begin Post Easter Fall
With Easter just around the corner, the push for lamb meat diminished and fat lamb prices lost a couple of dollars this week. Slaughter last week at 90,000 head was the largest since last Easter.

Fed Cattle Movement On Plains Fairly Active At $79 Wednesday
You wouldn't know it from USDA's mandatory non-reporting program, but Plains fed cattle trade was fairly active as early as Wednesday morning.

Texas Goat Prices Take Another Fall
For the second week in a row, slaughter goats in selected Texas markets fell $5-10.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Top Gun In Texas Water Law Explains Bill In Panhandle
The most powerful man in Texas water politics was in the Texas Panhandle this month, explaining the water law changes in Senate Bill 2 to a group of landowners at the Roberts County courthouse.

Ranchers Learn About Toxic Plants During TSCRA School
Toxic plants were part of the focus at the recent Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association School for Successful Ranching, held in conjunction with the organization's annual convention.

Foreign Beef Buyers Apprised Of Changes Affecting U.S. Beef
Change is a theme that constantly faces the beef industry. Terry Stokes, executive vice president and chief financial officer of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, focused on current indicators of change at the recent Vision 20/20 conference here.

Maryland Plan Subsidizes Manure Removal For Livestock Operators
In a development that may prove of interest to Plains cattle feeders, a Maryland program to transport manure from poultry operations has been expanded to include all animal feeding operations in the state.

Norton Critical Of Last-Minute Clinton Monument Designations
Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton is criticizing the Clinton administration for its last-minute designation of more than one million acres as national monuments, a decision that prompted fury from many western lawmakers.

New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness, Forest Subject Of Ecos’ Focus
A radical environmental group is suing the U.S. Forest Service, claiming the federal agency has failed to establish a baseline ecological condition in the Gila National Forest. Another activist group is challenging a New Mexico study that recommends resuming grazing in part of the Gila Wilderness.

Range Management Workshops Show Piñon-Juniper Management
Using controlled burns to slow the spread of piñon and juniper trees on New Mexico rangelands will be the theme of an April 19 workshop near Truth or Consequences sponsored by the New Mexico Section of the Society for Range Management.

Pickens, Water District Reach Deal To Allow Pumping Permit
The Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District recently tabled his request to pump water from his Texas Panhandle ranch for sale to thirsty cities downstate, but T. Boone Pickens says his group of Roberts County landowners, operating as Mesa Water Inc., and the groundwater district have now reached agreement and the pumping permit will be granted.

Brits Bar Stockmen From Meeting On FMD
Livestock producers are furious after being barred from a meeting in which British officials explained their slaughter policy.

Planting Intentions Report Shows Grains Off, Beans Up
Markets reacted sharply to USDA'S initial U.S. planting intention report, released on March 30, indicating plans to plant less corn and wheat, more sorghum and soybeans and slightly more cotton.

"New Environmentalist" Picked For Number Two Interior Slot
President Bush announced this month that he intends to nominate Patricia Lynn, co-host of the TechCentralStation, where she oversees the New Environmentalism site, to be assistant secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget, the department's number-two job.

World Track Gathering Gives Canada FMD Fears
As hundreds of foreign athletes come to the University of Alberta for the world track and field championships, the university is implementing foot-and-mouth disease safeguards at its research farm.

Judge Rules Roadless Scheme Violated Law
A federal judge says the U.S. Forest Service violated federal law by approving a plan to put millions of acres of forest land off-limits to roads.

Antis Target Dodge Over Rodeo Support
Radical environmentalists plan to attend a shareholders meeting in Germany this month to try to convince the company to withdraw support for Dodge sponsorship of U.S. rodeos.

Japan Blames E. Coli Episode On U.S. Meat
Japanese officials are blaming a recent E. coli outbreak on meat imported from the United States.

Daschle Demands Ban On Imports Of Cattle Over Disease Issues
The government should ban all imports of livestock until it can assure the public that there are adequate controls to prevent diseases now ravaging European livestock from reaching the United States, the Senate's top Democrat said last week.

Economists See Tough Situation Facing Ag Operations This Year
Farm incomes should continue declining this year because of low commodity prices and high fuel and fertilizer costs, though ranchers might see an improving picture, according to a report compiled by Texas A&M economists.

Embattled Cattleman Has Cattle Shot In Face Of Federal Threats
A Utah rancher in trouble for failing to remove cattle from the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument hired a hunter to shoot 27 of his animals from the air.

Unapproved Biotech Corn Alleged In Vegetarian Brand Of Corndogs
A variety of biotech corn that prompted nationwide recalls of food products last fall has shown up in yet another product, Kellogg's-made veggie corn dogs, the anti-biotech group Greenpeace said last week.

Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Makes First Stop June 10 In Oregon
The world's best rodeo contestants will head west for the first stop of the 2001 summer Wrangler ProRodeo Tour, slated to take place June 10 at the Sisters (Ore.) Rodeo and to air July 1 on ESPN2.

Spring Fever Pushes Nation’s Feeder Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder cattle prices ranged steady to $3 higher across the country last week, advances noted in every area reported. The Southeast region showed significant gains as rains made livestock movement difficult and receipts were much lighter. Also, stocker orders from the High Plains are on the rise as turn-out dates for most summer pasture approach.

Fed Cattle Trade Higher Last Week, Volume Down
In the five major direct trading areas, last week’s reported slaughter cattle volume from Monday through 3 p.m. Thursday was 273,900 head. Slaughter steers and heifers traded $1-2 higher.

Superior Livestock Video Sale Offering Totals 42,000 Cattle
Superior Livestock Auction offered more than 42,000 mostly feeder cattle at their regularly scheduled video auction. Consignments were from 23 states. Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-3 higher.

Angelo Feeder Lambs Lower, Cattle Steady
Feeder lambs sold weak to $2 lower this week, slaughter lambs weak, slaughter ewes $3-4 lower; nannies goats $5 lower, kids $10 lower. Trading and demand were moderate. Receipts totaled 7564 head, around 60 percent slaughter ewes, 15 percent feeder lambs, five percent slaughter lambs and 20 percent goats.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Mixed
Feeder steers sold steady last week in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba, lightweight heifers $1-3 lower, yearlings $1-2 higher, slaughter cows $2-4 lower, bulls steady, stock cows and pairs steady to $15 lower. Receipts totaled 1008 head at the three sales.

Cuero Feeder Cattle Prices Termed Mixed
Feeder steers and heifers sold mixed, slaughter cows steady to $1 higher. Receipt totaled 1017 head.

Kansas Direct Feeder Steer Prices Higher
Feeder steers sold firm to $1 higher last week in Kansas direct trade, heifers too few for a market test, the undertone firm. The weather is getting into its "spring mood," foggy most of the time. Sales were confirmed on 9672 head.

Junction Lambs, Goats Trade At Lower Levels
Feeder and slaughter lambs sold $1-3 lower, goats $2-5 lower. Receipts totaled 2224 head.

Milano Steers Steady, Heifers Mostly Steady
Feeder steers sold steady, heifers mostly steady except weights over 600 pounds $2-3 higher, slaughter cows $2-4 higher, bulls steady. Receipts totaled 573 head.

Abilene Cattle Prices Move To Higher Levels
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 higher, stock cows and pairs $10-20 higher. Receipts totaled 861 head.

Lampasas Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and bulls $1-1.50 lower. Receipts totaled 962 head.

Goldthwaite Feeder Lambs Weak, Fats Off
Feeder lambs sold steady to weak, slaughter lambs $5-7 lower, slaughter ewes $5-7 lower; all classes of goats $8-10 lower. Receipts totaled 4420 head.

Graham Feeder Steers Higher, Heifers Strong
Feeder steers sold steady to $2 higher, heifers steady to strong, slaughter cows and bulls steady to strong, stock cows and pairs strong. Receipts totaled 1041 head.

Most Llano Cattle Prices Termed Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows $2 higher, bulls steady. Receipts totaled 410 head.

Hamilton Steers Hold, Heifers Move Higher
Feeder steers sold steady, heifers $2-4 higher, slaughter cows steady to 42 higher, pairs and bred stock cows were higher. Receipts totaled 434 head.

Fredericksburg Feeder Steers, Heifers Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 1043 head.

U.S. Meat Production 3.2% Below A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 822.5 million pounds, 2.7 percent less than a week earlier and 3.2 percent below a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was down 4.3 percent at 11.79 billion pounds.

Domestic Wool Slow, Aussie Wools Higher
Domestic wool trading was slow last week, demand moderate to good. The undertone was steady to firm in most areas. Shearing remains later than normal in all areas.

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
April 12 — Producers Video Auction’s Internet Sale, Fort Worth, Texas. April 17 — Premium Stocker/Feeder Sale, Abilene Livestock Auction, Abilene, Texas. April 18 — Special Stocker and Feeder Show and Sale, Union Stock Yards, San Antonio, Texas.