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| Vol. 50 - No. 44 | Thursday, November 5, 1998 | $25 Per Year |
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 SHEEP COUNTRY comes with all sorts of background scenery, whether the crested bluffs of the Texas hill country or these mountains near Dillon, Mont. One characteristic shared by all good sheep range, however, is an abundance of forbs — weeds to most of us — that may not appeal to other livestock but put pounds on woolies. It's a bonus if everyone else wants the forbs controlled, be they broomweeds in Texas or leafy spurge in Montana. |
Feeder
Lambs Strong, Fats A Bit Softer
Lightweight feeder lambs found a little daylight
this week despite lower fat lamb prices that tended to
weaken heavyweight feeders. Fat lambs were a couple of
dollars lower following the $5 lower carcass market late
last week. East Coast lightweight carcasses were quoted
at $146.50-147, 55-65 pounds $149.50-150, 65-75 pounds
$151.50-152 and over 75 pounds $151.50.
Plains
Fed Cattle Standoff Underway Again At Midweek
Plains fed cattle trading was hung on top dead
center at midweek as packers offered $63 or less and
feedlots sought $65 or better. Texas Panhandle feedlots,
with a scant showlist of fewer than 73,000 head, appeared
little inclined to give ground, though observers said $64
would probably buy plenty of cattle. Movement at
presstime stood at 35,500 head for the week, including
about 28,500 captives.
Subdivisions
Displacing Farms And Ranches In Gallatin Valley
The Gallatin Valley, one of the more fertile valleys in
all of Montana, looks much different than it did in the
days of John Paugh's childhood. The change has been
gradual, but in the last five to 10 years the differences
have become more pronounced.
TX
Cattle Feeders Admonished To Change Marketing Process
Bob Sims found no shortage of challenges during his year
as president of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
"In my opinion, most of the market challenges this
year we've brought on ourselves because we're such poor
marketers," Sims told TCFA convention-goers here
last week in his parting comments as president.
Working
Cowboy Association Ranch Rodeo Finals Planned
Cowboys from a dozen ranches will be here to ride
for their brands this month in the World Championship
Ranch Rodeo Finals. Twelve ranches from across the nation
have qualified for the 1998 World Championship Ranch
Rodeo Finals Nov. 12-14 in Amarillo.
Burning
Association Pooling Labor, Equipment, Expertise
Before it was burned it was a cedar break so thick
that it was impossible to ride a horse through it, so
thick that livestock and even wildlife got little use
from it.
NM
Water Officials Accuse Feds Of Taking Over Pecos
The federal government has illegally seized control of
the Pecos River to help an endangered minnow, New
Mexico's state engineer says.
Phosphorus
On Wheat Equals More Forage, Greater Gain
While the rest of the Lone Star State suffered
through a long, dry summer, the northern tip of the Texas
Panhandle had some good rains this past summer. The rains
stopped in mid-August, however, and many wheat producers
postponed planting.
Federals'
"Endangered" Species Policy Almost Costs Man's
Life
On a snowy September night in 1989, John
Shuler stepped out of his ranch house in northern Montana
when he heard grizzly bears attacking his sheep. Clad
only in his shorts and socks, but carrying his rifle,
Shuler saw three bears near the sheep pen and frightened
them off with shots over their heads. Thinking the danger
was over, Shuler turned toward his house.
Wyoming
Suing Feds Over Sewage Discharges At Yellowstone Park
Environmental activists and big-government
liberals are always campaigning to "protect"
land by taking it away from private owners and turning it
over to bureaucrats. That despite abundant evidence that
some of the worst environmental messes can be found on
government-managed lands.
Friend
Admits Espy Asked Him To Lie, Pay Brother's Debts
A friend of former Clinton administration
agriculture secretary Mike Espy admitted in court here
last week that Espy asked him to help pay off his
brother's campaign debts and to lie to FBI agents.
Catch-All
Budget Bill Also Includes Ag Loan Provisions
Highlights of the disaster assistance package in
the 1999 Omnibus Appropriations Act which was passed by
Congress and signed by the President on Wednesday,
October 21, 1998, were provided last week. While specific
details of the 3800-page, 40-pound bill are still scarce,
it appears that the bill also includes a number of
favorable farm credit provisions.
Willingham
Not Optimistic Europeans Will Accept Beef
Despite rulings by the World Trade Organization,
the European Union continues to delay allowing beef from
the United States to be sold on the Continent. A Texas
cattleman says that could change, but not without some
effort.
Wyoming's
State Vet Wants New Bangs Plan
Interim Wyoming state veterinarian Jim Logan wants
to limit areas where cattle are tested for brucellosis to
only those where there is a high risk that the disease
will spread.
Food
Processor Turns Waste Into Rations For Livestock
Hundreds of Holstein heifers jockeyed for position
at the feed stanchions on a recent Tuesday, chomping
hungrily on a pungent blend of hay, honeydew melon and
peach pits.
Executive
Committee At NCBA Reconsiders Trade Case Vote
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association
executive committee on Tuesday voted to support standing
for a countervailing duty case against Canada, to oppose
an anti-dumping case against Mexico and to remain neutral
on an anti-dumping case against Canada.
Trade
Petition Against Mexico, Canada Causing Industry Rift
Some Texas cattle owners have complained for years
that too many Mexican cattle enter the Lone Star state,
contributing to an existing beef glut and driving down
cattle prices.
Not
Much Expected Of "Warming" Confab
Faced with intense opposition in Congress, the
Clinton administration no longer expects a global warming
treaty to be ratified before President Clinton leaves
office in two years.
Global
Grain Forecast Sees Slight Reduction
Global grain production this season will be
marginally lower than expected, according to a new
forecast issued last Thursday by the International Grains
Council.
Dairying
Dangerous In Some Quarters
Dairymen in the U.S. are fighting over who gets to
set the price of milk and how big a subsidy the
government should give them despite record prices.
Udder-pullers elsewhere have more basic concerns, it
appears.
Mike
Johnson Seeks Sixteenth Appearance At National Finals
Mike Johnson has been doing the same thing the
last week in December each of the last 15 years —
roping calves at the National Finals Rodeo. Last weekend,
he was doing everything possible to make 1998 the
sixteenth year.
Steers,
Heifers To $2 Higher In Angelo Special Sale Monday
Steers and heifers were firm to $2 higher here
Monday in the season's eighth special feeder sale at
Producers Livestock Auction. Trading was fairly active,
demand good and the quality attractive, including
numerous large bunches of fresh preconditioned cattle.
Texas
Fed Cattle Prices Higher Despite Softer Support Factors
Slaughter steers and heifers closed 50 cents to mostly $1
higher in Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma direct
trade last week.
Nation’s
Feeder Cattle Prices Enjoy Continued Upward Spiral
Feeder cattle and calves sold steady to $2 higher
around the country last week, instances $3-4 up. Feeders
received some support from a higher fed cattle market
while corn prices didn't do much.
Angelo
Feeder Lamb, Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder lambs sold firm to $2 higher this week, the
greatest advance on weights under 70 pounds, slaughter
lambs firm, slaughter ewes uneven with good and choice
firm to $2 higher, other grades weak to $2 lower.
Receipts totaled 9143 head and included around 60 percent
slaughter ewes, 25 percent goats.
Graham
Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers sold $1-2 higher, heifers $2-3
higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1-1.50 lower, bred
stock cows and pairs $20 higher. Receipts totaled 2041
head.
San
Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Strong
Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly strong in
Mason, Brownwood and San Saba last week, 400-500 pound
steers $2-5 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1-3 lower,
stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts at the three sales
totaled 4887 head.
Meat
Imports Total 30 Million Pounds
Meat passed for entry into the United States
totaled 30.3 million pounds last week, the equivalent of
three percent of the 892.5 million pounds of domestic
production. Most of the meat, 16.3 million pounds, was
from Australia.
Kansas
Feeder Steers, Heifers Trade Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold firm to $1 higher
in Kansas direct trade last week. The weather was mild,
highs in the upper 70's, lows in the 30's. Sales were
confirmed on 11,141 head.
Most
Milano Cattle Prices Move Higher
Feeder steers sold steady to $3 higher, heifers
steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows $1-3 higher, bulls
steady to firm. Receipts totaled 1532 head.
U.S.
Meat Production 3.2% Above A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection
last week was estimated at 892.5 million pounds, down .7
percent from a week earlier and 3.2 percent more than a
year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date
was up three percent from last year at 36.7 billion
pounds.
Giddings
Steers $2-4 Higher, Heifers Hold
Feeder steers sold $2-4 higher, heifers steady,
slaughter cows and bulls weak, stock cows active.
Junction
Feeder Lamb, Angora Prices Higher
Feeder lambs sold $3-5 higher, slaughter lambs
mostly steady, ewes and bucks steady; stock Angora
nannies and muttons $2 higher, slaughter muttons $5
higher, other slaughter Angoras $1 higher; Spanish
slaughter kids, yearlings and nannies $2-4 higher, other
slaughter goats fully steady, stock nannies steady.
Abilene
Feeder Cattle Trade Sharply Higher
Feeder steers sold $2-3 higher, weights under 600
pounds $3-5 higher, heifers $1-3 higher, under 400 lbs.
$4-6 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady, stock cows
and pairs steady.
Most
Llano Cattle Prices Termed Steady
Feeder steers sold fully steady, heifers steady to
$2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts
totaled 850 head.
Fredericksburg
Feeder Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers sold $2-4 higher, heifers strong,
slaughter cows and bulls $2-3 higher. Receipts totaled
2137 head.
Goldthwaite
Lambs, Stock Angoras Higher
Feeder lambs sold $2 higher, slaughter lambs $3
higher, slaughter ewes and bucks $1 lower; stock Angora
nannies $8 higher, slaughter Angoras fully steady; stock
Spanish nannies $5 higher, slaughter goats $2 lower.
Receipts totaled 4,800 head.
Lampasas
Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-3 higher,
slaughter cows and bulls $2-4 lower. Receipts totaled
1750 head.
Colorado
City Feeder Steers, Heifers Firm
Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly firm, with
steers under 500 pounds $3-8 higher, slaughter cows $2
lower, bulls steady, bred stock cows and pairs higher.
Receipts totaled 1202 head.
Cuero
Feeder Cattle Prices Termed Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold at higher levels
the first sale after major flooding in the area,
slaughter cows steady, stock cows and pairs higher.
Receipts totaled 1350 head.
Coming
Up...
November 7 — Fall Gatherin’ 98, Joplin
Regional Stockyards, Jopline, Missouri. November 7
— 1st Fall Performance Tested All-Breed Bull Sale
Plus 600 Commercial Brangus and Braford Females, Four
County Auction, Industry, Texas. November 9-12
— Ag
