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FAT COWS on lush pasture are a scarce sight from about San Angelo west, but the country gets progressively greener toward the east, and these girls in Central Texas look like they haven't seen a lean day. A few recent rains in the drouth zone have at least improved the humor of stockmen there, as well.

Feeder Lambs Mixed, Fats Trade Lower
Slaughter lamb prices turned a little softer around the country as the carcass trade lost ground on all weights except 55 pounds and down. This was the first price change on carcasses since early in January. Feeder lambs were mixed but mostly steady.

Plains Fed Cattle Trading "Iffy" At Midweek On $65
Plains fed cattle trading through midweek was expected to look a lot like last week's no-show market, though some sales at presstime suggested that could change.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Spur Maker Came To His Art Only After String Of Detours
Earlon Shirley probably works harder at being retired than most people do at their day jobs. Just a couple of miles south of Cal's Cafe on Interstate 40 here, Shirley can usually be found in his shop behind the house, cutting, welding and engraving spurs.

Cattle Raisers Sample H-E-B's Fully Cooked Beef Products
In terms of retailers in Texas, H-E-B Grocery Company is one of the beef industry's biggest backers. Those attending the recent Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association annual meeting here had the opportunity to sample some of H-E-B's new fully cooked beef brisket as well as the newest addition, their seven-minute pot roast.

Ranchers' Lamb Initiating Plan For New Fabrication Facility
Ranchers' Lamb of Texas, now a year and a half old, is slowly outgrowing its fledgling status. Proof of that comes in the form of the company's most recent plans to add a fabrication facility to its existing lamb slaughter plant here.

Weather Forecast Not Promising For Moisture In The Southwest
Look for drier conditions in the Southwest and Southern Plains states through June, say forecasters with the National Weather Service. There should also be less severe weather for the southern U.S., while the Mid-Mississippi Valley up through the Ohio River Valley to the Great Lakes will see more rain and severe weather.

Feedlot Industry Built On U.S. Model Taking Hold In Indonesia
Ever seen Bali beef cattle? If not, you are in for an experience. The country of Indonesia, also known as the Spice Islands, boasts its own indigenous cattle breed (Bos zondaicus) which looks like a hartebeest from Africa. The breed is hardy, and it is accustomed to the tropical climate along the equator.

Panhandle Rancher Recognized For Environmental Stewardship
A Gray County rancher is the 1999 recipient of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society's Environmental Stewardship Award.

Rancher Feels Cattle Hostage To Wolves And Federal Laws
Jerry Cundall knew he had a problem the moment he saw the dead cow moving slowly over the hilltop. Dead cows, the rancher knew, shouldn't be moving around in his pasture.

Fuel Cell Technology Maturing, May Be Feasible Before Long
Thirty years from now, millions of American homes and businesses may get their electricity from small on-site generators that create no pollution and require no power lines.

First Cattle Kills Chalked Up To Mexican Wolf Release Scheme
Ranchers' concerns that the Clinton administration's Mexican gray wolf reintroduction scheme would lead to livestock predation appear to have been realized as an eastern Arizona rancher reported wolves killed a calf and crippled a dog.

Overall Ag Outlook Still Weak Despite Signs Of Improvement
While corn and feedgrain markets have been showing signs of improving this spring, early forecasts indicate that the agricultural situation, which weakened abruptly in 1998, will remain weak into 1999. Some of this recent market improvement is being supported by early indications of lower corn and feedgrain planting intentions and that the U.S. is moving forward on a food-aid package to Russia.

Campaigning Gore Touts Price Discovery, China Ag Agreement
Campaigning in farm country last week for next year's presidential race, Vice President Al Gore avoided repeating his recent gaffe about being raised as a country boy. He did announce the administration's belated endorsement of packer price disclosure, however, and took virtually single-handed credit for hashing out an ag trade agreement with China.

Roper Fred Whitfield Racks Up One Of Winter's Best-Ever Runs
Fred Whitfield of Hockley, Texas, has had one of the most successful winter rodeo runs on record. He leads the Crown Royal all-around standings with $67,484. The timed-event hand has earned money in team roping and calf roping to lead second-place all-around contender Herbert Theriot of Poplarville, Miss., by a whopping $37,614.

Colorado Lynx Release Scheme Rushed To Meet Political End
In December 1994, farm bureaus in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana were in Wyoming federal district court to bar Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt from releasing Canadian wolves in their states. During the testimony of Babbitt's wolf expert, the judge asked what would happen if he permitted the reintroduction to take place and then decided it was illegal and ordered removal of the wolves.

USDA Contends Excel Cheated Pork Producers With
The battle lines are drawn between the U.S. Agriculture Department and meat packer Excel Corp. as the agency moves forward with charges that the processor underpaid Midwestern hog farmers by about $1.8 million.

Opponents Of Low-Level Bomb Sorties Speak Out At Hearing
Faced with the possibility of mock B-1 bombing raids over his ranchland, Rich Anderson was throwing down the gauntlet.

N. Dakota Houses Passes Bill Limiting Canadian Ag Imports
Risking an international trade brawl, the North Dakota state House last week approved an import ban on Canadian livestock or grain if they contain chemicals that cannot be used in this country.

Ranchers Taking Border Patrol Function Into Their Own Hands
Roger Barnett is no longer a Cochise County sheriff's deputy, but he still wears a badge.

Researcher Says Deer, Goat Conflict Is Not Inevitable
There is a range war brewing on West Texas ranches, but the key combatants aren't human. The controversy is between goats and white-tailed deer, and the feeding competition between them.

Dakota Cattlemen Trying Co-Op Again
Cattlemen from the Dakotas may be getting another chance to form a producer-owned cooperative to sell their cattle as high-end beef

"Wounding" Vegetation Produces Pollution
Eco-radicals long ago declared war on livestock grazing and more recently began attacking lawn mowing because of "polluting" mower engines. Now they have something else to squawk about.

Livestock Assistance Payments To Go
Livestock producers in 31 states who suffered grazing losses because of drouths or other natural disasters should begin to receive $200 million in federal assistance this week, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said.

Nolan Ryan Pitches Texas Ag Products
He's headed to the Hall of Fame for throwing baseballs, but right now Nolan Ryan's pitching fruits and vegetables.

USDA Contends Crop Insurance Program Open For Much Abuse
For some farmers, the best crop is the one they don't harvest.

Minnow Controversy Could Spawn Trouble On Rio Grande
Corky Herkenhoff is a farmer whose livelihood depends on the water he can take each year from the Rio Grande.

Feeder Cattle And Calf Prices Higher Across Nation Last Week
Prices were generally higher for feeder cattle and calves across the country last week. Steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher, some $3 up. Both calves and yearlings shared in the price gain.

Texas Fed Cattle Moved Higher Last Week In Limited Trading
Slaughter steers and heifers sold steady to $1 higher in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading last week. Trade was slow all week with the cash market never fully established.

Superior Livestock Video Sale Offering Totals 43,000 Cattle
Superior Livestock Auction offered more than 43,000 mostly feeder cattle at their regularly scheduled video auction. Feeder steers and heifers sold a bit stronger than at the last sale. Delivery is mostly current through September.

Kansas Direct Feeder Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-2 higher in Kansas direct trade last week. Weather was mild with traces to two inches of rain. Sales were confirmed on 8922 head.

Angelo Lambs Firm, Feeder Cattle Higher
Feeder and slaughter lambs sold firm this week, slaughter ewes firm to $5 higher. Receipts totaled 9515 head.

Most Fredericksburg Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-4 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $2 higher. Receipts totaled 993 head.

Goldthwaite Feeder Lambs Trade Lower
Feeder lambs sold $3-4 lower, slaughter lambs $5 higher, slaughter ewes steady; slaughter Angora kids $5 lower, other slaughter Angoras $3-5 higher; slaughter Spanish goats steady to $3 higher, stock nannies $5 higher. Receipts totaled 4000 head.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Higher
Feeder steers sold $1-4 higher last week in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba, some lightweights $6 higher, heifers steady to $4 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady to $1.50 higher, stock cows and pairs steady to $35 higher. Receipts totaled 1455 head at the three sales.

Cuero Cattle Termed Strong On All Types
Feeder steers and heifers were strong on all classes, slaughter cows higher. Receipts totaled 1306 head.

Colorado City Cattle Prices Move Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-4 higher, slaughter cows $1-2 higher, bulls steady, bred stock cows $20 higher, pairs $30 higher. Receipt totaled 921 head.

Graham Feeder Steers, Heifers Mostly Higher
Feeder steers sold $1-4 higher, heifers $1-2 higher, slaughter cows $1 higher, bulls steady, pairs $20-40 higher, bred stock cows $10-30 higher. Receipts totaled 2442 head.

Most Lampasas Cattle Prices Termed Higher
Feeder steers and heifers weighing less than 600 pounds sold $1-3 higher, heavier weights steady to $1 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 higher. Receipts totaled 700 head.

Most Junction Sheep, Lambs Trade Higher
Feeder lambs sold $3 higher, slaughter ewes $3-5 higher; slaughter Angora kids $5-8 higher, other slaughter Angoras steady to $2 lower; stock Spanish nannies $4 higher, slaughter kids $5-8 higher, other slaughter goats $2-4 higher. Receipts totaled 5500 head.

Llano Feeder Steers, Heifers Called Lower
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-3 lower, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 348 head.

Abilene Feeder Steers Higher, Heifers Steady
Feeder steers sold $1-2 higher, heifers steady, slaughter cows and bulls mostly steady, stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 1281 head.

Domestic Wool Slow, Aussies On
Wool trading remains at a near standstill in many areas. Demand remains light to very light, and mills and processors continue to report limited business, both short and long term. Producer selling interest is light with most opting to put wool in storage until a later date.

Letter To The Editor

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
April 16-17 — Spring Horse Sale, Roswell Livestock Auction, Roswell, New Mexico. April 17 — Bobby Edmond Horse Sales’ Heart of the Panhandle Classic Consignment Horse Sale, Amarillo Livestock Auction, Amarillo, Texas. April 17 — Special Replacement Female Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, Mason, Texas.