Feeder Lambs Continue Up, Fats Mixed
Feeder lambs are in limited numbers almost everywhere and prices inched higher again this week, the better end frequently taken off by killers. Slaughter lambs on the open market are also limited and generally sold steady, except for higher prices in some Texas markets. Slaughter ewes were a couple of dollars higher in Texas, steady on Midwest markets.

Plains Fed Cattle Movement Virtually Nil At Midweek
Plains feedlots were holding for steady $64 money at midweek in the face of a few desultory $61 bids, and virtually nothing was moving.

Texas Slaughter Goat Prices Take Sharp Upward Hike
Slaughter goat prices on Texas markets moved sharply higher the week after the Fourth of July holiday, most kids $6-10 higher and nannies $2-9 higher.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Cleanup Has Begun Following Massive Central Texas Floods
The rains of the past week or so were welcome for most of South and Central Texas, but flood waters of the San Antonio, Guadalupe, Colorado and other rivers caused the loss of many head of livestock as rising water cut off access to pastures and ranges in river bottoms.

Panhandle Groundwater District Head Concerned Over Water Deal
The dry south wind whips the dirt raised by the big red tractor around Charles Bowers' pickup as Bowers talks about water.

"Trail Boss" Hollan Has Hauled Cattle Going On 67 Years
Hubert Hollan is a legend in the livestock trucking business. After all, this 82 year-old has been hauling since FDR’s first term in the White House.

Property Rights Attorney Offers Insight Into "Takings" Legality
Karen Budd-Falen, a Wyoming attorney, says the first dictionary written by Daniel Webster has a foreword explaining that he didn't write the dictionary to improve the nation's spelling. He wrote it, he says in the foreword, because the founding fathers were concerned that the courts would start to change the meaning of the terms in the Constitution.

Court Grants Stay On Beef Checkoff
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit Wednesday granted a request for stay by the Department of Justice (DOJ), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, of the June 21, 2002 decision by the District Court in South Dakota that would have ceased collection of assessments under the Beef Checkoff Program. The stay allows the beef promotion program to continue without interruption while the appeal is pending.

Ag Groups, White House Meet To Discuss USDA/APHIS Move
Representatives from nearly 40 different agriculture groups met at the White House last week with Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials.

New CEO Stokes Touts NCBA's Service To Cattle Industry
The new chief executive officer of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association was at the Wyoming Stock Growers Association last month, reminding them what NCBA has done for them.

Idaho Bangs Case Hits Close To Home For Wyoming Rancher
A brucellosis scare hit close to home this spring, says a former head of a Wyoming livestock group.

R-CALF Leader Outlines Group's Stance On Beef Industry Issues
The head of R-CALF USA said his group was successful in getting country of origin labeling included in the new farm bill, but he said they were not able to get a packer ownership ban on livestock passed in Congress this year.

Few Direct Fed Cattle Mixed, Big Gap Between Bids, Offers
Direct trading was moderate in the North Plains last week with moderate to good demand through 10 a.m. Friday. Dressed sales were $2 lower, live basis steady.

Texas Confirms Its First Equine West Nile Virus Case Near Katy
Preliminary tests on a sick horse that was euthanized Saturday, June 29, near Katy in far west Harris County, indicate that the animal was infected with West Nile Virus, a form of "sleeping sickness" first detected in Texas in two dead blue jays June 18 on the northwest side of Houston. The Texas Department of Health says another 29 infected birds have since been found.

TP&W Seeks Input From Public On Outdoor Needs For Future
What does the public want the outdoors to be like in 10 years? The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is looking for input on the future outdoor recreation and resource conservation needs of Texas during a statewide series of upcoming public meetings.

Justice Files Request To Stay Ruling Against Beef Checkoff
 The U.S. Department of Justice last week filed a request for a stay of an injunction that would otherwise stop collection of $1 per head beef checkoff assessments effective July 15.

TDA Continues Voluntary Wheat Seed Testing For Karnal Bunt
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs announced last week that the Texas Department of Agriculture will continue its voluntary program for producers and storage facility managers to have their 2002 wheat seed tested for Karnal bunt.

APHIS Move To Homeland Defense Panned By State Ag Dept. Group
The president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture is questioning the inclusion of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the new Department of Homeland Defense.

Combs Views Mexico Water Deal Harshly
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs last week termed the recent Mexican water release agreement a "bad deal for Texas and an insult to the agricultural producers and all the citizens of the Rio Grande Valley."

Candidates Solicited For USDA Rural Board
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman has announced that USDA is accepting applications for the newly created National Board on Rural America.

Deer Program Started For Edwards Plateau Ranchers
Most people are familiar with the old saying that cotton is king in the South.

USDA And Interior Departments Offer Wasting Disease Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of the Interior have delivered Congress a national plan for assisting states, federal agencies and tribes in controlling the growing threat to elk and deer from chronic wasting disease.

Holiday Earnings Move Bail To Lead In All-Around Race
Even before Jesse Bail won the all-around title at the College National Finals Rodeo in 2000, the rodeo world knew he would make waves in the professional ranks.

Feeder Cattle Movement Light In July Fourth Holiday Period
The Fourth of July holiday slowed last week’s feeder cattle movement to a point that made a nationwide trend difficult to establish.

Angelo Feeder Lambs Higher, Fats Steady
Feeder lambs sold firm to $4 higher this week, slaughter lambs steady, slaughter ewes firm to $2 higher, instances $5-7 higher on thin ewes; nanny goats were $5 higher and kids $10 higher. Receipts totaled 12,000 head, around 55 percent slaughter ewes, 10 percent slaughter lambs, five percent feeder lambs and 30 percent goats.

Junction Goat Prices Take A Sharp Bounce
Most livestock sold higher; kid goats were $10 higher and nannies $5-9 higher. Receipts totaled 2783 head.

Fredericksburg Lamb, Goat Prices Higher
Feeder lambs sold $2-3 higher on a light test, slaughter lambs $5-10 higher; stock and slaughter goats were $8-10 higher. Receipts totaled 2508 head.

Graham Feeder Steers, Heifers Trade Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $1 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 higher, stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 646 head.

U.S. Meat Production 4.3% Above A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection during last week’s holiday-shortened period was estimated at 763.1 million pounds, 17.8 percent less than a week earlier and 4.3 percent more than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was up 3.1 percent at 23.4 billion pounds.

Domestic Wool Slow, Aussie Wools Lower
Domestic wool trading was nearly at a standstill during the past holiday-shortened week. Demand was light to moderate and at least one processor has curtailed operations due to the annual holiday closing.

Replacement Cattle Prices Tabulated
In the High Plains medium and large 1-2 young to middleaged 850-1100 pound cows 4-8 months bred brought $500-660 per head, a few aged bred cows $450-550, young to middle-aged 850-1150 pound cows with 100-150 pound calves $550-700, a few in Kansas with 300-400 pound calves $750-910 per pair.

Decatur Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows steady to $1 lower, stock cows and pairs steady to higher. Receipts totaled 1210 head.

Milano Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows $1-2 lower, bulls steady. Receipts totaled 814 head.

U.S. Livestock Exports To Mexico Near Double
U.S. livestock exports to Mexico for the first six months of the year were up 72 percent over the same period last year.

Hamilton Sheep, Goat Prices Termed Higher
Lambs sold $3-6 higher and slaughter ewes $5-8 higher; nanny goats were $2-4 higher and kids $3-6 higher. Receipts totaled 1706 head.

Llano Feeder Steers Uneven, Heifers Up
Feeder steers 550-650 pounds sold $2-4 higher, other weights steady, heifers steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Weather-reduced receipts totaled 281 head.

Most Abilene Cattle Prices Called Steady
All classes of cattle sold steady on a light test, due to heavy rains in the area. Receipts totaled 422 head.

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
July 11 — Special Stocker and Feeder Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas. July 15-17 — Angelo State University’s Livestock Judging Clinic, Ag Department, Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas. July 20 — Bobby Edmond Horse Sales Special Summer Riding Horse Sale, Amarillo Livestock Auction, Amarillo, Texas.