Fat Lambs, Lamb Meat Prices Up
Fat lambs moved a couple of dollars higher where tested this week, following the higher dressed trade last week. Feeder lambs were mostly steady in Texas but higher in the Midwest.

Plains Cattle Trade Remains Quiet Again Through Midweek
It was another game of wait-and-see this week around Plains feedlots, as packers bid mostly $64 and feeders sought $66 to as much as $68.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Sheep And Goat Raisers Hear Plans For Angelo Lamb Plant
Ranchers' Lamb of Texas Inc. is about to celebrate its second birthday. In the course of these two years, the predominantly producer-owned lamb packing facility here has established itself as a meat company that's here to stay.

Military Jets Still Training For Obsolete Low-Level Flights
My teenage son, Martin, and his hiking partner, Ryan, were climbing up a steep arroyo in the Capitan Mountains near Arabella, New Mexico, when without warning a jet thundered down the canyon. It was so loud it momentarily deafened and scared them witless.

NCBA Keeping An Eye On EPA As Clean Water Rules Evolve
A lot of federal regulators have water on the brain — clean water, that is. While the federal Clean Water Act affects everyone who uses water, from recreation to municipalities, the parts of the act that most affect livestock operations are those addressing "confined animal feeding operations" and "animal feeding operations."

British Beef Emerges From "Mad Cow" Mania
The European Union was set to resume importing British beef this week, ending a three-year ban imposed after an outbreak of so-called "mad cow" disease.

Judge's Ruling Cuts Both Ways In S. Dakota Disclosure Case
U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann allowed no testimony on the farm crisis at a recent trial. Nor did he permit witnesses to complain about the upper hand meatpackers have in the marketplace.

Meat Goat Study Shows Legs More Tender Than Loin Cuts
Legs more tender than loins? That was one revelation from a meat goat study recently completed by researchers at Texas A&M University.

Aussie Sheepmen Begin Embassy Tariff Protest
Australian lamb producers began Sunday what they say will be a one-month picket of the United States embassy in Canberra to protest U.S. lamb import restrictions.

Georgia Producer Satisfied With Cattle Tracing System
As the National Cattlemen's Beef Association spins off a new corporation designed to help identify cattle going through the nation's production chain, a Georgia rancher has already started singing the praises of such a system.

Groundwater Contamination Plagues Neighbors Of Pantex
Waste from a nuclear weapons plant is contaminating the water beneath ranch land in the Texas Panhandle.

Excel Rep Says Company Well On The Way To Data-Gathering
About 10 to 15 years ago the Excel packing company embarked on a process to try and determine what kind of cattle they wanted, says company spokesperson Marcine Moldenhauer.

APHIS Launching Second Round Of Studies At Cattle Feedlots
The National Animal Health Monitoring System is launching a feedlot study this month.

S.Dakota Packer Law Produces Fireworks From Several Sides
At least three other states passed laws this year requiring meatpackers to report all prices they pay for livestock, so why was South Dakota's singled out in a federal court challenge?

Ag Crisis Provides Fodder For Clinton Radio Address
The 1996 farm law that ended a Depression-era system of price supports does not aid farmers enough and new legislation is needed ``to help farmers and ranchers thrive over the long term,'' President Clinton said Saturday.

Cowboy Fondly Remembers A Dog That Was Just Too Good To Keep
Everyone is entitled to have a good dog at least once in their lifetime. I have had a few that will stand out in my memory forever.

Feedyard Drug Theft Prompts Help Request
State and local law enforcement officers are searching for about $22,000 worth of dewormer and antibiotics that disappeared from a feedyard near here.

Wolf Removal Suit Goes Back To Court
A federal appeals court heard arguments last week on whether the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should be forced to honor its promises and remove Canadian wolves reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho.

World Champ Bulldogger Wins Big In Utah And Idaho Rodeos
Reigning world champion steer wrestler Mike Smith pocketed $9687, more than any other PRCA cowboy, by winning checks at three rodeos in Utah and one in Idaho.

Steers, Heifers Weak To Off In Angelo Special Sale Monday
Steer and heifer prices were weak to $1 lower here Monday in the season's fourth special feeder sale at Producers Livestock Auction Co.

Nation’s Feeder Cattle Prices Uneven; Some Higher, Some Off
Feeder cattle and calves sold unevenly steady across the country last week, different locations ranging from mostly $2 higher to $2 lower; there were a few more on the plus side.

Texas Fed Cattle Sell Steady In Thursday Trade Last Week
Slaughter steers and heifers sold mostly steady in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading last week.

Superior Livestock Video Sale Offering Totals 166,000 Cattle
Superior Livestock Auction offered more than 166,000 feeder cattle and breeding stock here in their four-day annual Video Royale sale.

Angelo Feeder Lambs Steady, Cattle Weak
Feeder lambs sold steady this week, slaughter lambs too limited for a test, slaughter ewes fully $2-4 lower, instances $5-7 lower. Receipts totaled 13,925 head in a two-day trade, 60 percent slaughter ewes, 10 percent feeder lambs and near 30 percent goats.

Domestic Wool Trade At Total Standstill
Domestic wool trading remained at a complete standstill last week. Demand was light for both grease and clean wool. No sales of wool were reported in any area as producers are reluctant to sell at current levels and continue to store wool. A wool processor announced late last week that it was moving into Chapter 11 proceedings for financial protection.

Most Llano Feeder Cattle Prices Lower
Feeder steers sold steady to $2 lower, heifers $1-3 lower, slaughter cows steady, bulls $2 lower. Receipts totaled 936 head.

Milano Feeder Steers, Heifers Trade Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows steady to $2 higher, bulls steady. Receipts totaled 1104 head.

Producers Video Sale Offers 7400 Cattle
Producers Video Auction offered 7400 feeder cattle at their regular sale. Trade and demand were termed good.

Junction Lambs Steady, Most Goats Sell Higher
Feeder lambs sold steady, slaughter ewes and bucks steady; slaughter Angoras $1-3 higher; stock Spanish nannies $5 higher, slaughter kids $4-7 higher, other classes $2 higher. Receipts totaled 7500 head.

Abilene Feeder Cattle Prices Mostly Steady
Feeder steers weighing less than 700 pounds sold steady, heavier weights $1-3 higher, feeder heifers mostly steady, instances $1 lower, weights over 700 pounds $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $2-3 higher, stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 1666 head.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Strong
Lightweight feeder steers sold steady last week in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba, weights 400-500 pounds $1-3 higher, over 600 pounds steady to $2 higher, heifers steady to strong, slaughter cows and bulls steady to $1 higher, pairs and bred cows steady. Receipts totaled 2929 head at the three sales.

Kansas Direct Feeder Cattle Steady To Firm
Feeder steers sold steady, heifers steady to firm. Weather was hot with very little moisture. Feedlot losses are minimal at this stage. Sales were confirmed on 13256 head.

29% Of U.S. Farms Have Internet Access
A total of 29 percent of U.S. farms now have Internet access, compared to 13 percent in 1997. A total of 47 percent of farms had access to a computer in 1999, compared to 38 percent in 1977. Forty percent of all U.S. farms own or lease a computer, up from 31 percent in 1997. Farms using computers for their farm business increased from 20 percent in 1997 to 24 percent in 1999.

U.S. Meat Production 1.6% Above A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection for last week was estimated at 858.9 million pounds, 1.1 percent above a week earlier and 1.6 percent more than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was up 2.5 percent at 26.14 billion pounds.

Lampasas Lightweight Feeder Cattle Higher
Feeder steers and heifers weighing less than 400 pounds sold $2-3 higher, heavier weights steady, slaughter cows $2-3 lower, bulls steady. Receipts totaled 952 head.

Graham Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $1 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady, bred stock cows $10-15 higher, pairs fully steady. Receipts totaled 1732 head.

Cuero Cattle Prices Reflect Mixed Levels
Feeder steers and heifers sold mixed, lightweights much higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 1269 head.

Most Fredericksburg Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $2 higher. Receipts totaled 1354 head.

Colorado City Feeder Cattle Mostly Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady, some 300 pounds $1-3 higher, slaughter cows steady, bulls $3 higher bred stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 791 head.

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
August 6-7 — Texas Registered Rambouillet Show and Sale, New Sutton County 4-H Civic Center, Sonora, Texas. August 7 — Rafter 7 RAnch Ram Sale, University of Nevada/Reno, Reno, Nevada. August 7 — Special Replacement Female Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, Mason, Texas.