GOOD RAINS across much of western Texas last winter and spring were but a memory going into fall. The country missed its sometimes-customary September moisture, by and large, and spotty showers through midweek had done little more than settle the abundant dust. These cattle east of San Angelo remain in good flesh, but they face an unpromising winter.

Fat, Feeder Lamb Prices Soften Again
The downward spiral in lamb prices doesn't seem to have reached bottom yet.

Plains Fed Cattle Sell Early, But The Price Declines By $1
Plains feedlots did most of their selling early this week, the bulk of movement developing Tuesday.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Lamb Feeder Finds His Niche In Grazing Out Cornfields
Don Beerwinkle doesn't play chess, but he ought to. In the time-honored game of strategy, chess winners are determined while their minds plot paths to success they reach to make their first move.

Ecotourism Quickly Becoming Largest Industry In Texas
Just a few years ago, "ecotourism" was not a popular term among those in the ranch community.

TSCRA Board Hears Perspectives From Lender And Cattle Feeder
Former bank examiner David Mager, now with Herring National Bank, gave participants in the recent Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association fall board meeting here an overview of what to expect in terms of securing financial backing from today's lending institutions.

Clinton's Rivers Initiative: Politicians Run Through It
President Bill Clinton has announced an American Heritage Rivers Initiative, under which he intends to designate 10 rivers annually as "American Heritage Rivers."

Morris Stock Farm Wins Beef Challenge
Vance Morris and Sons Stock Farm of Gruver, Texas, had the grand champion carcass in the 1997 Texas Cattle Feeders Association Fed Beef Challenge.

Feds Rule That States Can't Exempt Ag Chemical Haulers
In the busy weeks next spring before farmers start planting their crops, those almost-daily trips for more fertilizer or pesticide are going to be even more bothersome.

Fall Cut From New Alfalfa Not Worth Risk To Plants
To alfalfa producers who planted a new stand in August, watched some nice rains help get it off to a good start in September and are tempted to harvest some forage this fall by cutting or grazing: Wait!

Latest E. Coli Scare Blown Out of Proportion By Media
Because of a large beef recall last month, undue attention is being focused on a tainted meat scare in Virginia that brought federal inspectors to a processor here, company officials said.

Agencies Okay Plan To Manage Buffalo Herd At Jackson Hole
State and federal agencies last Thursday announced they had approved a long-term management plan for Jackson Hole buffalo herd that would cap the herd at 350 to 400 animals.

Future Of Texas Water Rests With The Voters In November
Texans soon will have a chance to vote on our state's future. Two amendments on the Nov. 4 ballot will change the state's constitution and play a critical role in making sure Texas has enough water for the next century.

NCBA Urges Glickman To Review S. Korean Handling Of E. Coli
National Cattlemen's Beef Association President Max Deets, Beloit, Kan., this week urged USDA Secretary Glickman to review the process used by the South Korean government.

Media Taking Off The Gloves In Global Warming Promotions
The Founding Fathers of the United States understood that democracy would not work if the voters acted in ignorance. That is why freedom of speech and the press holds the honored position of first amendment.

Tyson Lobbyist Again Indicted Over Espy
A Tyson Foods Inc. lobbyist once again stands accused by a federal jury of providing illegal favors to former Clinton administration Agricutlure Secretary Mike Espy and then lying to investigators about it.

One Dead Songbird Brings Feds Flying
An attempt to scare off pigeons nesting on downtown buildings here has resulted in a federal investigation because someone found a single dead goldfinch.

Angelo Feeder Lambs Weak, Cattle Lower
Feeder lambs sold weak in a light test this week, making up only about 15 percent of the run.

Isa Beefmaster Bull Sale Averages $2336
Isa Cattle Company's 36th Beefmaster bull sale here saw 211 bulls selling for $493,050, an average of $2336 per head.

ASU To Host Field Day October 17
Angelo State University's Agriculture Department will host a beef cattle field day Friday, Oct. 17 at ASU's Management, Instruction and Research Center five miles north of San Angelo on Hwy. 87.

Steer And Heifer Prices Weak In Angelo Special Sale Monday
Steers and heifers sold weak here Monday in the season's seventh special feeder sale at Producers Livestock Auction.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Higher
Choice feeder steers sold steady to strong in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba last week.

6666's Stud Sells For $17,000 At Remuda Sale
A total of 73 head of two year-old fillies and two-year-old stallion prospects as well as geldings of various ages averaged $5889.

Llano Feeder Cattle Move To Lower Levels
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-3 lower except yearling heifers steady, plain kinds $3-5 lower, cows and bulls steady,

Coming Up ...
Oct. 10—Special High Dollar Calf and Yearling Sale, Junction Stockyards, Junction, Tex. Oct. 11—Shiner Ranch's Partners Brahman and F-1 Replacement Cattle Sale, Nixon Livestock Auction, Nixon, Tex. Oct. 11—Mid-Texas Angus Association Bull Sale, Somervell County Expo Center, Glen Rose, Tex. Oct. 11—Special Replacement Female Sale, Milano Livestock Exchange, Milano, Tex. Oct. 11—Special Replacement Female Sale, Stamford Farmers and Ranchers Livestock Auction, Stamford, Tex.