Feeder Lambs Higher, Fat Prices Mixed
Feeder lambs for the most part were a couple of dollars higher this week, with demand good on the winding down numbers still available. Slaughter lambs found higher prices on Midwest markets, but Texas markets were weak to $3 lower. Slaughter ewes were about steady in Texas, steady to $3 higher on Midwest markets.

Plains Feeders, Packers Back In Familiar No-Trade Pattern
Plains cattle feeders and packers at midweek remained at odds on price, as usual. The two sides came together on Wednesday last week, moving a sizeable volume of cattle at $67. That was about a dollar less than feeders wanted but still better than the previous week’s late trade, which was itself a $2 jump from the week before.

Texas Slaughter Goat Prices Up And Down But Bulk Steady
Most Texas slaughter goats were steady this week, though Goldthwaite tacked on $3-5 and Fredericksburg lost the same amount, San Angelo was weak and Texas direct sales were steady to $2 lower.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Shoshone Sisters’ Herd Seized In Dispute Over BLM Grazing
As more than 30 armed federal agents stood by Sunday, Bureau of Land Management officials seized 227 head of cattle they say two Western Shoshone sisters were grazing illegally on public land in northeast Nevada.

Veneman Announces $752 Million Drouth Assistance For Stockmen
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman late last week announced that approximately $752 million is being made available for a new program, the Livestock Compensation Program, for cattle, sheep and buffalo producers in counties that have received primary disaster designation due to drouth in 2001 and/or 2002. In addition, producers in counties which have disaster designation requests pending as of last Thursday and which are subsequently approved will also be eligible to participate in the program.

NM Rounders Award Goes To Man Who Started Team Roping Assn.
The Governor of New Mexico said the best people in the state gathered at the Governor's Mansion this month to honor a team roper.

Lower Corn Production Figures Fail To Support Futures Price
After reaching life of contract highs in early September, price bids for most corn futures contracts weakened this past week, even after USDA dropped the corn production estimate by an additional 37 million bushels to 8.849 billion bushels in the September 12 supply/demand report. 

Campaign To Revoke PETA’s Tax Status Shifts Into High Gear
Eco-terrorists blamed for setting a ski resort fire and committing other acts of violence are receiving funding from such anti-meat industry groups as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, prompting two activist groups to seek an end to the animal rights group's tax-exempt status, according to a Fox News story.

Valley Receives Much-Needed Rains; More Would Be Welcome
Scattered heavy rains in extreme South Texas from remnants of Tropical Storm Fay are providing some relief to the parched Lower Rio Grande Valley, but much more rain is needed to provide significant drouth relief, water experts say.

Toxin Fatal To Horses Found In Samples Of Texas Corn Crop
Fumonisin, a toxin that is produced almost exclusively in corn and can be fatal to equine and rabbits, has been found in corn samples from the 2002 corn crop harvested in certain portions of Texas.

ConAgra Sale Final; Swift Is New Owner
Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Inc. and Booth Creek Management Corp. have completed their previously announced $1.4 billion acquisition of the fresh beef and pork processing business of ConAgra Foods Inc.

August Beef, Red Meat Output Sets Records
Monthly record highs were set in August for beef and red meat. Commercial red meat production for the United States in August was up two percent at 4.14 billion pounds.

Shawn Franklin Earns Win At New Mexico State Fair
Calf roper Shawn Franklin proved that hard work and determination really do pay off.

Yearling Feeder Cattle Higher, Calf Prices Uneven Nationally
Yearling feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher across the country in active trading last week. Calf prices through the mid-section of the United States traded steady to weak as offerings continue to grow. However, most Southeastern calf markets were steady to $2 higher as demand from wheat-country backgrounders was good enough to match supply. The exception to this trend was in Kentucky and Tennessee, where orders have not yet caught up with the heavier receipts and prices were lower again.

Fed Cattle Moved Higher Last Week; Feedlots Wanted More
Packers were met with some resistance early Thursday as they raised the fed cattle market $1. Feedlots were looking for another $2 raise after a strong movement a week earlier and thinking of fewer market ready-cattle available.

Cattle On Feed Off 6 Percent In Seven Main Feeding States
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter September 1 in the seven leading feeding states totaled 8.85 million head, down six percent from the same date in 2001 and one percent below September 1, 2000.

Angelo Feeder Lambs, Cattle Trade Steady
Feeder lambs sold steady this week, slaughter lambs weak to $2 lower, slaughter ewes weak; nanny goats and kids were weak. Receipts totaled 15,941 head, around 60 percent slaughter ewes, 15 percent feeder lambs, five percent slaughter lambs and 20 percent goats.

Mason, San Saba Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher last week in Mason and San Saba, slaughter cows and bulls steady, stock cows $30-50 higher, pairs steady. Receipts totaled 1460 at the two sales.

Frozen Meat Supplies 30% Above A Year Ago
Total red meat supplies in freezers on August 31 at 950.6 million pounds were four percent above July 31 and 30 percent above August 2001.

Junction Sheep, Goat Classes Sell Steady
All of classes sheep and goats sold steady on receipts of 4288 head.

Most Abilene Feeder Cattle Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 lower, stock $10-20 lower. Receipts totaled 1094 head.

Domestic Wool Slow, Aussie Wools Higher
Wool trading remains seasonally slow under light to moderate demand for light supplies held in firm hands.

Milano Feeder Steers, Heifers Show Strength
Feeder steers under 500 pounds sold steady, 500-700 pounds steady to $2 higher, over 700 pounds weak, heifers under 400 pounds steady, over 400 pounds $1-3 higher, slaughter cows steady to $1 lower, bulls steady. Receipts totaled 1025 head.

Hamilton Steers Up, Heifer Prices Steady
Feeder steers sold $1-4 lower, heifers steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady, stock cows and pairs higher. Receipts totaled 437 head. Lambs sold $2-5 lower Monday, slaughter ewes steady, kid goats $1-3 lower, nannies $2-5 lower. Receipts totaled 2351 head.

Fredericksburg Lambs Mixed, Goats Lower
Feeder lambs sold $2-3 higher, slaughter lambs $2-3 lower; stock goats were steady, slaughter goats $3-5 lower. Receipts totaled 3188 head.

Goldthwaite Lambs Steady, Goats Higher
Slaughter lambs sold steady on a light test; stock goats were $5-7 higher, slaughter goats $3-5 higher. Receipts totaled 1158 head.

Brownwood Feeders Steady To Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher on receipts of 551 head.

Most Coleman Cattle Prices Called Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 higher, stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 1299 head.

Decatur Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Lower
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 lower on receipts of 1849 head.

Fredericksburg Steers Higher, Heifers Mixed
Feeder steers sold strong to $1 higher, heifers under 480 pounds $2-4 higher, heavier heifers $1-3 lower, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 higher. Receipts totaled 2095 head.

Billings Feeder Lambs Move Sharply Higher
Feeder lambs weighing more than 90 pounds sold steady to $2 higher, lighter weights $3-6 higher. Receipts totaled 3379 head.

Llano Feeder Steers Off, Heifers Steady
Feeder steers sold $2-3 lower, heifers steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 801 head.

Cuero Feeder Steers, Heifers About Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold about steady, slaughter cows and bulls a little higher. Receipts totaled 1716 head.

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
September 28 — R. A. Brown Ranch Horse Production Sale in conjunction with the AQHA Ranch Horse Versatility Show, at the ranch, Throckmorton, Texas. September 28 — Special Fall Replacement Female Sale, Gillespie Livestock Auction, Fredericksburg, Texas. September 28 — Special Replacement Female Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas.