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GREEN PICKINGS are popping up over a wide stretch of western Texas following recent general rains, the first significant moisture in many areas since last fall. These ewes and lambs near Eden can just get at the emerging weeds and short grasses, and it will take considerably more rain to keep them coming.

Lamb Prices Softening; Kill Declines
Fat and feeder lamb prices struggled this week as Easter came and went. The demand for lightweight lambs for slaughter diminished rapidly in most areas, but a large share of that supply is still going for slaughter.

Plains Fed Cattle Trade Idled Again Through Middle Of Week
Plains fed cattle movement was on hold again through midweek as feedlots sought to sustain their recent rally and packers tried to nip it in the bud.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

TSCRA Members Hear From Both Sides Of Beef Checkoff Debate
The battle over the beef checkoff plan took the stage at the recent annual convention of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association here. Producers heard from Lyle Gray, a Leon, Kansas, cow-calf operator and chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, and from Hatch Smith, Llano producer, auction operator and national president of the Livestock Marketing Association.

Economist Gazes Into Crystal Ball For Future Of Cattlemen
The beef industry is changing, and cattlemen are going to have to figure out where they will fit in a new order.

Prairie Dogs And Plutonium Both Part Of Pantex Program
The nation's nuclear weapons assembly plant here does more than build and take apart atomic bombs. They're also studying prairie dogs.

Farm Credit Bank Spokesman Says System Will Persevere
The agricultural commodity market is and has been in a financial crisis for several years running. Because of that, the future of agricultural financing is heavy on many producers' minds these days.

Refuge Uses Old, New Methods To Run Longhorns And
Drive through the entrance to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and you step back 100 years in history.

Appeals Court To Hear Dispute Over Yellowstone, Idaho Wolves
A federal appeals court will hear oral arguments May 13 on the lower court order invalidating wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park and the central Idaho wilderness.

New Zealand Lamb Promoted In W. Texas Restaurant Menu
A well known restaurant chain opened in San Angelo last week, and square-dab in the middle of the center page of their menu is Rack of Lamb.

Wyoming Wool Growers Pan Feds' Water Plan
Wyoming sheep producers have joined the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts in a lawsuit over the latest federal initiative to enforce the Clean Water Act.

Planting Intentions Lower On Many Crops
This season's wheat plantings could be the lowest in 26 years while soybean production will likely rise, the Agriculture Department said last week.

TSCRA Beef "Hotline" Draws AP's Derision
"Got a beef with the beef industry? You might want to keep it to yourself unless you want a visit from a new Texas beef task force."

SD Packer Legislation Veto Easily Overturned
South Dakota lawmakers, insistent on sending a strong message to packers and the federal government, recently overturned a technical veto of a bill that says packers may not conspire to control livestock and poultry prices.

Calf Roper Leads All-Around With .818 "Batting Average"
Fred Whitfield, the three-time world calf roping champ, is batting .818 in the rodeo arena. The timed-event hand from Hockley, Texas, won $4032 and the all-around title at the recent $103,510 Walker County Fair and Rodeo in Huntsville, Texas. The win means Whitfield has earned money at 18 of the 22 rodeos he has roped in this year.

Nation’s Feeder Cattle Prices Took No Clear Trend Last Week
Feeder cattle price trends were mixed across the country last week. No clear-cut trend emerged, with prices ranging on either side of steady. However, occasional price strength may have started appearing by week's end.

Texas Fed Cattle Prices Higher After Liberal Two-day Movement
Slaughter steers and heifers sold steady to $1 higher last week in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading. Trade was slow until late Wednesday, then turned active through midday Thursday.

Angelo Feeder CattleSteady, Lambs
Feeder lambs weighing under 60 pounds sold $10-15 lower this week, heavier weights firm, slaughter lambs weak and slaughter ewes uneven, mostly weak to $2 lower. Receipts totaled 7868 head.

Fredericksburg Feeder Steers, Heifers Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 lower. Receipts totaled 732 head.

Goldthwaite Feeder Lambs Trade Higher
Feeder lambs sold $8-12 higher, slaughter lambs $3-5 lower, slaughter ewes and bucks $3 higher; slaughter Angora nannies steady, kids $5-7 higher; slaughter Spanish nannies steady, other slaughter goats $7-12 higher, stock nannies steady. Receipts totaled 2850 head.

Most Graham Feeder Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-2 higher except steers over 700 pounds $1 lower, slaughter cows and bulls steady, bred stock cows $10-20 higher. Receipts totaled 1380 head.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Active
Trading on feeder steers and heifers was active in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba last week; slaughter cows and bulls sold steady to strong, replacement heifers steady to $150 higher. Receipts totaled 2152 head at the three sales.

Hales Angus Bulls Avg. $1840 Per Head
Hales Angus Farms sold 74 bulls for an average of $1840 at their fourth annual bull and heifer sale here; 29 heifers averaged $1017.

Kansas Direct Feeder Cattle On Weak Side
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to weak in Kansas direct trade last week. Weather was mild with high winds drying out feedyards. Sales were confirmed on 6121 head.

Most Lampasas Steer, Heifer Prices
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 lower. Receipts totaled 634 head.

Colorado City Steers Steady, Heifers Higher
Feeder steers sold steady, heifers steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady, bred cows $30 higher, pairs $50 higher. Receipts totaled 303 head.

U.S. Meat Production .7% Above A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 843.3 million pounds, 1.8 percent less than a week earlier and .7 percent more than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was up 1.5 percent at 115.55 billion pounds.

Milano Feeder Steers Hold, Heifers Higher
Feeder steers sold firm, heifers $3-5 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 972 head.

Domestic Wool Slow, Aussie Sales Closed
Wool trading remains slow around the country, but it is picking up momentum as shearing activity increases in the western area. Demand remains light. Selling interest is also light at current price levels, and the majority of the wool is going into storage. Processors continue work limited hours.

Llano Feeder Steers, Heifers Move Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 152 head.

Letter To The Editor

Coming Up...
April 9 — Superior Livestock Auction’s Video Sale, at the studio, Fort Worth, Texas. April 10 — Cullen Johnson Equipment and Auction’s Equipment Sale of J. W. Shadden Estate, Williamson Farms and Neighbors, Abernathy, Texas. April 10 — Riverside Ranch and Diamond S Cattle Co. All Breed Steer and Heifer Club Calf Sale, Hills Prairie Livestock Auction Barn, Bastrop, Texas.