Lamb Price Trends Open 2002 Mixed
Lambs opened the new year with contrasting price patterns. Some areas didn’t give any price comparison, while others were sharply higher or sharply lower.

Fed Cattle Trade On Plains Stalled By $4-Plus Price Gap
Plains feedlots and packers were $4 or more apart on price at midweek with packers bidding in the neighborhood of $64 and cattle feeders asking $68 or better.

Slaughter Goat Prices Sharply Higher At Most Texas Markets
Slaughter goats moved sharply higher in most Texas markets this week. Goldthwaite was $10-15 higher, Junction $4-10 higher and Fredericksburg $8-10 higher.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Max Katz Has Been Trading On Dimes For Well Over 60 Years
Eighty year-old Max Katz is still tough as ever. He's been trading cattle for well over 60 years. Those who have dealt with him over the years say he's the kind of trader who will haggle over a dime to get cattle bought.

Man Can Improve Environment, Wyoming Ag Director Insists
Man can improve nature, says Wyoming rancher Ron Micheli, who was appointed director of agriculture for the state in 1995.

Simple Math Calculates Feed Increase For Cows In Cold
Mathematics plays a major role in helping to keep cows comfy during cold, winter weather.

Analyst: Economics Have Always Driven Cattle Industry Shifts
In 1868, Charles Goodnight and Charles Loving gathered cattle in Texas, then trailed them west and north through New Mexico and Colorado and delivered them to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

House, Senate Set To Parley On Ag Terrorism Provisions
In the days after the Sept. 11 attacks, residents in farm country began worrying about a different type of target than big-city office towers or the Pentagon: the nation's food supply.

Pecos River Water Resolution Too Narrow For Some NM Critics
A resolution dealing with water in the Pecos River drainage submitted at the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau recently met with criticism from other producers in the state.

Species Act Provokes Heated Discussion At Ag Conference
At least one panel discussion generated enough heat last week to justify the name of the annual farm and ranch conference here called The January Thaw.

Amendment Would Cut Eco Funds For Large Feeding Operations
Environmental activist groups are rallying behind legislation that would limit federal aid to large-scale livestock operations to store and treat animal waste.

Strong Dollar, Weak Economy Worldwide Ill Omens For Ag
The sluggish world economy and the strong U.S. dollar offer little hope to American farmers for a turnaround in crop prices this year. That means Congress will be under pressure either to pass a new farm program quickly or provide growers a fifth bailout in as many years.

Protected Birds So Numerous They Have Become Eco-Hazard
A federal ban saved the double-crested cormorant from extinction, but now experts say there are too many of the birds in the state.

Cattlemen Given Class-Action Status In Lawsuit Against IBP
A lawsuit by a group of cattle producers accusing the nation's largest meatpacker of cornering the beef market was granted class-action status late last month by a judge in Alabama. As a result, more than 30,000 producers from across the country could join in the lawsuit against IBP Inc.

Prescribed Burn Board Taking Applications For Certification
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs has announced that the Texas Prescribed Burning Board, an interagency group created in 1999 within the Texas Department of Agriculture, is accepting applications for individuals who want to be certified as prescribed burn managers or prescribed burn instructors.

Nevada Rancher Garners Second Conviction For Illegal Grazing
A Nevada rancher battling what he considers government tyranny was convicted last month for the second time in a year of illegally grazing his cattle on national forest land.

First Woman To Head BLM Taking Office
Kathleen Burton Clarke takes over this month as the new head of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Scrapie Meeting Set Jan. 16 In Angelo
Dr. Diane Sutton with USDA-APHIS in Washington will be here Jan. 16 to meet with sheep producers regarding the new scrapie regulations.

N.M. Ag Secretary Given Eppers Award
New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Frank DuBois was honored last month at the Joint Stockmen's Convention here with Bud's Contract Award.

Whitfield Wins Texas Circuit Finals Calf Roping Average
Fred Whitfield of Hockley, Texas, claimed the calf roping average title at the recent Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo in Waco. Not only did Whitfield make $3618, he earned a trip to the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho, March 13-16.

Cattle On Feed Little Changed In Seven Main Feeding States
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter December 1 in the seven leading feeding states totaled 10.2 million head, down slightly from the same date in 2000, but up two percent from December 1, 1999.

Feeder Cattle Trading Scant Across The Country Last Week
Too few feeder cattle were marketed across the nation the last couple of weeks to allow trend comparisons. Many markets remained closed for New Year’s, but the limited sales available revealed a firm undertone.

Nation’s Fed Cattle Not Tested Last Week
Fed cattle price trends were not fully tested through Thursday during last week's holiday-shortened period. Limited tests on a dressed basis were $2-3 higher with live sales showing a firm undertone.

Angelo Sheep, Cattle Trends Not Available
No price trend comparisons were made for this week's sheep trade following a two-week market hiatus. Two day receipts totaled 15,013 head, around 50 percent slaughter ewes, 20 percent slaughter lambs, five percent feeder lambs and 25 percent goats.

USDA Issues Goat, Goat Meat Grades
In a move that is intended to improve understanding of price quotations, USDA's Market News Service has issued new designations of visible qualifications for live goats and goat carcasses.

Corps Of Engineers Rejects Breaching Snake River Dams
The agency that built four dams on the lower Snake River has concluded the huge structures should not be breached to improve officially "endangered" salmon runs.

Aussies Hit Imported Beef Quota Once More
For the second year in a row, Australia has filled its U.S. beef quota. Once the annual quota of almost 417,000 tons is reached, further imports of Australian beef into the U.S. are subject to a 26.4 percent tariff.

Most Abilene Cattle Prices Called Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady to $2 higher, stock cows and pairs steady to $20 higher. Receipts totaled 1991 head.

Junction Goat Prices Turn Sharply Higher
Kid goats sold $4-10 higher, stock nannies $5-10 higher, sheep untested. Receipts totaled 2201 head.

Mexico-U.S. Livestock Trading Shows Decline
Livestock trading between the U.S. and Mexico was in a decline last year. Cattle imports were off eight percent, while total livestock exports were off three percent.

Texas Cattle Feeders Economist Offers Price Forecast For 2002
A market economist with the Texas Cattle Feeders Association thinks feeder cattle prices will drop off over the next few months, forced down by feedlots that are losing money.

Fredericksburg Lambs Mixed, Goats Higher
Feeder lambs sold $5-10 lower on a light test, slaughter lambs $3-5 higher; slaughter goats were $8-10 higher. Receipts totaled 2225 head.

Hamilton Sale Offers No Cattle Price Trend
No price trends were offered on the first cattle sale of the year. Receipts totaled 777 head.

November Set Record For Red Meat Output
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.97 billion pounds in November, up one percent from the 3.92 billion pounds produced in November 2000 and a new record high for November.

November U.S. Meat Supplies Off A Bit
Total red meat supplies in freezers November 30 were slightly below a year ago at 879.9 million pounds.

Goldthwaite Lamb, Goat Prices Higher
Slaughter lambs sold $4-5 higher, stock and feeder goats $8-10 higher, slaughter goats $10-15 higher. Receipts totaled 1444 head.

Holiday Period Wool Trading Almost Nil
Domestic wool trading was at a standstill in most areas through the holiday period.

San Saba Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers sold $2-6 higher, heifers $2-4 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady to $2 higher. Receipts totaled 479 head.

Kansas Direct Feeder Steers Trend Steady
Feeder steers sold steady, heifers too few for a test, but had a steady undertone. Temperatures were single digits in the mornings and high teens to 20's in the afternoons with no moisture. Sales were confirmed on 3422 head.

Llano Feeder Steers, Heifers Sell Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-4 higher, slaughter cows steady, bulls $2 lower. Receipts totaled 666 head.

Colorado City Feeder Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady, Stock cows steady. Receipts totaled 916 head.

U.S. Meat Production 3.2% Below A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 742.9 million pounds, 8.3 percent more than a week earlier but 3.2 percent less than a year ago. Cumulative meat production was 29.9 percent less than a year ago at 538.3 million pounds. There was one fewer work day this year than a year ago.

Most Graham Cattle Prices Trend Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1-3 higher, stock cows and pairs $25-30 higher. Receipts totaled 1779 head.

Cuero Feeder Steers Steady, Heifers Up
Feeder steers sold steady, heifers higher, slaughter cows $1-2 higher. Receipts totaled 1210 head.

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
January 14 — Special Stocker and Feeder Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, Mason, Texas. January 15 — Special Consignment Sale, Hamilton Commission Company, Hamilton, Texas. January 17 — Premium Weaned Stocker and Feeder Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas.