BETWIXT THE DELUGES that El Niño has brought to both coasts, West Texas is still waiting patiently for just a fraction of the rain the soggy seaside dwellers would love to give away. Every few days the region is tantalized by big storms to either side, then gets nothing but scattered showers and half-hearted drizzle. These crossbred cows north of San Angelo are nursing juicy calves helped along by a mild winter, but they won’t stay that way without significant spring moisture.

Fat, Feeder Lambs Find Soft Market
Feeder lambs in most Texas markets were a little lower this week, though Midwest lambs traded about steady. Slaughter lambs in the Midwest markets were about $3 off early but regained most of that later. Slaughter ewes were a couple of dollars lower in Texas and about steady elsewhere. Exports to Mexico last week totaled 5300 head.

Stronger Trend On Fed Cattle Slows Plains Trade To Crawl
The mood was a little brighter around Plains feedlots this week, but it didn’t translate into any appreciable sales through Wednesday. Positive news from the beef complex late last week appeared to have reversed the live cattle price plunge, prompting a slew of $62 sales on Friday after topping at $60 earlier.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Cattlemen Hear From Western Author And Hollywood Actor
Honoring the past and paying tribute to the accomplishments of the beef industry were the focus of speakers’ presentations during the opening general session of the recent National Cattlemen’s Beef Association centennial convention here.

Winfrey Suit Judge Tosses Out Texas Law As Basis For Damage
The judge in the Oprah Winfrey beef defamation trial has stripped cattlemen of their best weapon.U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson on Tuesday ruled that the case could not proceed under a Texas law designed to protect agricultural producers from deliberately false statements about their products.

Researchers Announce Vaccine Against Deadly E. Coli Strain
Researchers have developed a vaccine against the strain of E. coli bacteria that causes a sometimes deadly form of food poisoning. The National Institutes of Health says the genetically engineered vaccine seems to protect volunteers against the bacteria for at least six months.

NLFA Receives Scrapie Update; Live Animal Tests Are Pending
A variety of topics from animal health to changes in food safety regulations were on the agenda at the recent National Lamb Feeders annual convention here.

Colorado Lawmakers Quiz BLM On Plans To Expand Wilderness
The conflicting demands on Colorado's public lands took center stage here recently when a legislative committee questioned a federal agency's right to consider setting aside more wilderness.

San Angelo Researcher Receives Grants For Gene Therapy Study
Dr. Andres de la Concha, research project leader at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center here, recently earned two Texas Agricultural Experiment Station competitive grants for cutting-edge research in gene therapy.

Weak Asian Markets Affecting Packers’ Drop Credit Values
The by-product value, or drop credit, of processed animals has declined substantially in recent weeks, putting pressure on the economic bottom line of packers. That’s because packers sell not only meat but a variety of animal by-products such as hides and internal organs.

Utah House Passes Ecoterrorism Bill
The Utah House has passed a bill that would enhance penalties for so-called "eco-terrorists" attacking agriculture, mining and logging industries.

Livestock Congress Set February 25-27
Representatives of the international beef industry, from rancher to retailer, will meet February 25 through February 27 here to focus on long-term strategic planning, including how best to ensure consistent tenderness as well as safety in the worldwide beef supply.

Cattle Raisers To Meet In Dallas April 4-8
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association members will gather at the Wyndam Anatol Hotel in Dallas April 4-8 for their annual convention.

Ty Murray Is Back; Working On Seventh World Championship
It’s official: Ty is back. A three-year battle with knee and shoulder injuries behind him, six-time world all-around rodeo champion Ty Murray earned more than $11,500 and the saddle bronc riding average title at the recent Southwestern Livestock Exposition and Rodeo in Fort Worth.

Angelo Feeder Lambs Lower, Cattle Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold firm to $1 higher last week, slaughter cows firm to $1 higher, bulls steady, stock cows and pairs steady.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady last week in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba, lightweight steers steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady, stock cows and pairs $25-50 higher.

Graham Feeder Steers, Heifers Fully Steady
Feeder steers sold steady with weights over 500 pounds $1-2 higher, heifers $1-2 higher, slaughter cows $1-2 higher, stock cows fully steady.

Light Llano Steers, Heifers Sell Higher
Lightweight feeder steers and heifers sold $2-4 higher, others fully steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady.

Letters To The Editor

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
February 20 — Superior Livestock Auction’s Video Sale, Superior Offices and Studio, Fort Worth, Texas. February 21 — Special Cow Sale, Pearsall Livestock Auction, Pearsall ,Texas. February 21 — New Mexico Hereford Association’s 20th Annual Smart Cattleman’s Bull Sale and Junior Heifer Futurity Sale, Roswell Livestock Auction, Roswell, New Mexico. February 21 — 4th Annual 7P Ranch Spring Bull and Commercial Female Sale, Longview Livestock Commission Company, Longview, Texas.