GREEN PICKINGS have these ewes scurrying for short growth, almost in spring mode. Rain has fallen in recent weeks on parts of West Texas that remained dry during the deluges that swept the rest of the state. It's too late to grow cow grass on drouthed-out range, but the conditions bode well for winter grasses and weeds. One thing they won't have to contend with is competition.

Fat Lambs Off, Feeders Fare Better
Fat lamb prices fell a couple of dollars in most marketing areas following last week's sharp decline in the dressed trade. Feeder lambs found better going by $2-3 in most areas, with the full advance on the lightweights.

Plains Fed Cattle Trade Quiet As Bids $2 Below Asking Price
A two dollar gulf separated bids and asking prices across the Plains Wednesday as packers offered $62 and feedlots sought $64. Observers expected something to happen Thursday, as has become common.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Brush Busters Make Big Impact With Small-Scale Treatments
The number of acres of mesquite treated annually in Texas using the "Brush Buster" program has topped 450,000 and that number continues to climb.

Tenderness Proves Tough Nut For Beef Industry To Crack
A lack of tenderness is a tough problem for the beef industry, says one Texas A&M researcher. In the 1991 National Beef Quality Audit, consumers rated palatability problems sixth and toughness seventh. In 1995, tenderness problems ranked second and palatability third.

Replacements Are Best Bought Now If Planning To Restock
Ranchers contemplating restocking in the coming months should consider doing so now. That was part of the message delivered by Extension specialists and nutritionists at the recent West Texas Rancher's Conference here.

Research Group Issues Report Debunking Claims Of "Warming"
As politicians gather this week in Buenos Aires for global warming talks, a research group is releasing a report claiming there is no warming trend.

Jackson Hole Residents Told To Expect Wandering Wolves
Jackson Hole may soon have some unique visitors: wandering wolves from Yellowstone National Park. Wolf pups born two years ago in Yellowstone will soon be searching for new territory, according to Ed Bangs of Helena, Mont., director of the federal wolf recovery program.

Utah's Prop 5 Shields Wildlife From Meddling By Eco-Activists
Wary of meddling by well-financed environmental extremists from out of state, Utah voters have erected a constitutional barrier to protect hunting and fishing, livestock interests and wildlife managers against encroachment by animal-rights activists.

Tax Changes Make It Worthwhile To Plan Before End Of The Year
As the end of the year approaches, it becomes important to review planned financial activities in an attempt to reduce tax liability, not only for 1998 but also for years into the future.

Feds' "Instant Check" Scheme On Gun Sales Is Anything But
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is advising sportsmen — and the same heads-up applies to ranchers, of course — that the federal government's new "instant check" system for firearms purchases could foil last-minute buying plans.

USDA Prohibits Certain Hunting Use Of Acreages In CRP Program
Operators of private hunting reserves in Kansas were stunned by a recent notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that they may be operating illegally.

Hedge-To-Arrive Grain Deals Ruled Illegal By CFTC Judge
An administrative law judge with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission in Washington, D.C., has ruled that hedge-to-arrive grain contracts sold by the former Grain Land Cooperative are illegal and unenforceable.

Lawsuit Over NM Water Rights Dumped Over "Standing" Issue
A judge has thrown out a lawsuit that challenged a plan to buy water rights along the Pecos River and allow more water to flow into Texas.

Dakota Ag Groups Protest Ads In Anti-Corporate Campaign
Officials from several South Dakota farm groups complained last Thursday that the Farmers Union and others urging passage of a constitutional amendment limiting corporate agriculture have hurt the image of the farm industry.

Co-Op, R-Calf Projects Fail To Garner North Dakota Funds
Two large projects aimed at helping cattle producers have failed to get state funding. Dakota Beef Development Corp., which wanted to form a producer-owned beef processing and marketing enterprise, had requested $84,000 from the state Agricultural Products Utilization Commission.

Study Says Fungus Plays Big Role In Health Of Rangeland
Earth's rich carpets of grasslands owe their diversity to partnerships with underground fungi, new research published late last week suggests. The findings could prompt scientists to rethink ways of restoring endangered habitats such as America's shrinking tallgrass prairies, and help farmers become more productive.

Espy Trial Finds Much Laxity In Regard To Ethics Standards
A Washington consultant testified last Thursday he saw nothing amiss in hiring the girlfriend of former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy, even though some of his clients did business with Espy's department.

Air Force, Ranchers Talk On Flights Suit
The U.S. Air Force and Otero County ranchers have begun private talks aimed at settling a lawsuit against plans to expand low-level training flights over southern New Mexico and West Texas.

EU Blocks British Beef Export Plan
Veterinary officials from five European Union countries last week blocked a plan to significantly ease the 1996 European Union ban on British beef exports.

IBP Recalls Ground Beef Over E. Coli
Tests on meat sent by IBP to a distributor confirmed the presence of E. coli bacteria and a voluntary recall of 556,226 pounds of beef was merited, federal officials said last Friday.

Russian Deal Suggests Wheat Price Increase
Wheat prices, now at their lowest levels in 11 years, are expected to rise slightly due to an aid deal with Russia, the government said Tuesday.

Guy Allen Claims Record 13 World Steer Roping Titles
Guy Allen's name isn't just written in the record books, it's chiseled. "The Legend" claimed a record 13th world steer roping title — more single-event titles than any other competitor in history — at the National Finals Steer Roping Oct. 30-31 in Guthrie, Okla.

Texas Fed Cattle Some Lower Last Week, Mostly Thursday
Slaughter steers and heifers closed steady to 50 cents lower last week in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading. Trade on fed cattle was non-existent until Thursday as a standoff occurred most of the week. Feedlots finally became willing sellers and buyers scrambled to accumulate immediate needs. Most feedlots moved all or parts of showlists with some carryover noted.

Nation’s Feeder Cattle Prices Worked Lower, Calves Off Most
Feeder cattle and calf prices turned lower last week after several weeks of rising prices. Steers and heifers sold weak to $3 lower with calves often at the full decline.

Superior Livestock Video Sale Offering Totals 32,000 Cattle
Superior Livestock Auction offered 32,000 cattle at their regular video sale with consignments from 21 states and Mexico. Trade and demand were termed good, delivery current through December, with several loads for early 1999.

Angelo Feeder Lambs, Cattle Trade Higher
Feeder lambs sold firm to $2 higher this week, slaughter lambs $2-3 lower, slaughter ewes firm to $2 higher. Receipts totaled 8100 head including 40 percent ewes and 45 percent goats.

Kansas Feeder Cattle Prices Termed Weak
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to weak in Kansas direct trading last week. Rain across the state ranged from 1.5 to 13 inches. Central and eastern Kansas caught most of the moisture, with major flooding around Wichita and south.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Steers Stronger
Feeder steers sold steady to strong in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba last week, thin fleshed under 500 pounds $2-8 higher, yearlings $1-4 lower, heifers steady, slaughter cows steady, bulls $1-3 higher, pairs and bred stock cows steady. Receipts totaled 2419 head at the three sales.

Most Lampasas Steers, Heifers Steady To Off
Feeder steers and heifers weighing under 600 pounds were $1-2 lower, heavier weights steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 1370 head.

Abilene Feeder Steers Higher, Heifers Steady
Feeder steers sold steady to $4 higher, the advance on weights under 500 pounds, heifers fully steady, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 higher, stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 1850 head.

Most Graham Cattle Prices Termed Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, better quality lightweight steers $2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady, bred cows steady to $10 higher. Receipts totaled 1948 head.

Goldthwaite Sheep, Goats Steady To Up
Feeder lambs sold $3-5 higher, slaughter lambs fully steady, slaughter ewes $2 higher; slaughter Spanish kids $3-5 higher, other slaughter goats fully steady, stock nannies steady; slaughter Angoras $3-4 higher. Receipts totaled 3200 head.

Milano Feeder Steers Higher, Heifers Hold
Feeder steers sold steady to $1 higher, the advance on weights under 600 pounds, heifers steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 2010 head.

U.S. Meat Production 4.9% Above A Year Ago
Total red meat production under Federal inspection last week was estimated at 909.6 million pounds, 1.6 percent more than a week ago and 4.9 percent more than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was up three percent at 37.6 billion pounds.

Colorado City Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers sold firm to $2 higher, heifers $2-6 higher, slaughter cows steady to $2 higher, bulls steady, bred stock cows lower, pairs steady. Receipts totaled 946 head.

Light Llano Feeder Steers, Heifers Up
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $3 higher, the advance on weights under 600 pounds, slaughter cows $2 higher, bulls steady. Receipts totaled 342 head.

Cuero Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Mixed
Feeder steers and heifers sold mixed, slaughter cows weak, stock cows and pairs much higher. Receipts totaled 2293 head.

Fredericksburg Steers Mixed, Heifers Higher
Feeder steers weighing under 575 pounds were $2-4 higher, heavier weights $1-3 lower, heifers $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 1404 head.

Domestic Wool Slow, Aussie Wools Higher
Domestic wool trading was at a complete standstill the past few weeks. Demand was light for finewools and lighter still for medium and coarse wools.

Letters To The Editor

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
November 12 — Special Bull Consignments, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas. November 14 — TLA West Texas Classic Limousin Bull Sale, Producers Livestock Auction, San Angelo, Texas. November 19 — Special Calf and Yearling Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas.