Lamb Carcass Prices Fall Second Week
Lamb carcasses on the East Coast fell $3-11 last week to reach the lowest levels since late July. This is the second week in a row of sharp losses, and prices now are down around $8-17 for the two weeks. Weights over 65 pounds held up the best while those under 55 pounds suffered the most.

Plains Fed Cattle In Same Rut; Trading Nil Through Wednesday
"Plains fed cattle trading" has become something of an oxymoron, at least through the first three days of the week; most of the time nowadays, there is no such animal.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Western Movie Veterans Lament Loss Of Old Ways In Business
Sitting in a ballroom at the Lubbock civic center last weekend, movie stunt man Dean Smith stopped a panel discussion on western movies to point out a man in the audience.

Retailers Demanding Tighter Beef Product Specifications
Some say change is inevitable and progress is optional. The inevitability of change was about all that Texas A&M University beef cattle researcher Dr. Bill Mies was willing to guarantee while speaking at a recent stocker cattle conference here. That and the fact that more and more retailers are beginning to enforce stricter product specification guidelines.

Self-Taught Horseshoer Covers Lots Of Country In His Trade
"I bought her when she was two years old," Della Moyer said. "Don's been keeping me on her for 16 years." The 18 year-old mare, A Lou Step, is by Big Step out of a Leo mare, and she's pigeon-toed.

Brazil Hoping To Coerce U.S. Into Taking Beef, Using Wheat
Brazil's Agriculture Minister is quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying that he expects Brazilian beef to be exported to the United States by May of next year despite animal health concerns. U.S. wheat exports are the apparent bargaining chip.

For Indians, Lost War Sowed Seeds Of Eventual Salvation
Despite the defeat and suffering, a Cheyenne chief says the Red River Indian War of a century ago across what is now the Texas Panhandle is significant to the humanity of his tribe and others who fought there.

Ecos Protest Grazing In Wilderness Area
Two New Mexico environmental activist groups have filed protests with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management over a decision to allocate forage in a wilderness study area on six grazing allotments.

McGegor Military Range Could Conceal Oil And Gas Deposits
McGregor Range sprawls over 600,000 acres of public lands in southeastern New Mexico. The Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1986 largely removed it from use and reserved the land for military training. To continue using McGregor after 2001, the military was required to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement consistent with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and apply for an extension of the withdrawal in accordance with Department of the Interior regulations.

Scientists Test Use Of Raised Pens For Quality Production
Producing superior quality lamb and wool is becoming more and more critical for sheepmen serious about making a living in the business today. Being paid for that quality is an entirely different issue.

Bill Would Cut Agencies Slack In Meeting Species Survey Laws
The Senate is expected to decide this month whether to give federal agencies more leeway on the surveys of rare plants and animals required before logging and other activities are allowed on federal land.

Farm Bureau Rep Is "Hopeful", Not "Optimistic" About Cuba
If time spent with U.S. delegations is any indication, Fidel Castro is interested in importing agricultural products from the United States.

Kansas Ag Leaders At Odds Over Price Reporting Laws
Mandatory price reporting in Kansas is not the answer to low livestock prices, Kansas Agriculture Secretary Jamie Clover Adams said Saturday at a farm forum broadcast live from the Kansas State Fair.

Anti-Grazing Activists Pan Domenici Permit-Saving Plan
Anti-grazing activists — predictably — are criticizing a proposal by U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., that would allow ranchers on public rangeland to renew their grazing permits even if environmental reviews of their ranching operations have not been completed.

Hearing Set In Racketeering Case Against BLM Officials
A hearing is set for mid-October in U.S. District Court here on a motion to dismiss a suit brought by a central Wyoming rancher against seven employees of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, accusing them of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Steers, Heifers Firm To $1 Up In Angelo Special Sale Monday
Steers and heifers were firm to $1 higher here Monday in the season's sixth special feeder sale at Producers Livestock Auction Co.

Anti-Technology Activists Plan New Attacks On Biotech
Opponents of genetic engineering have come up with a new tactic to stop the spread of altered crops: antitrust lawsuits against the companies responsible for the technology.

Big Grain Companies' Merger Drawing Nays
Nebraska Attorney General Don Stenberg opposes the proposed merger of Cargill Inc. and Continental Grain Co., saying the deal would hurt farmers and consumers.

Polls Finds Public Distrusts Activists
The Animal Industry Foundation says the American public trusts farmers and ranchers more than it does animal rights activists.

Murray And Ohl Post Big Wins At Recent Washington Rodeo
Reigning world rodeo champions Ty Murray and Cody Ohl are seeing gold. Murray, the 1998 world all-around and bull riding champ from Stephenville, Texas, won the saddle bronc riding title in Ellensburg, Wash., over the weekend, while Ohl, the reigning calf roping world champ, also of Stephenville, won the calf roping title.

Nation’s Feeder Cattle Prices Continue Longterm Upward Trend
Feeder cattle prices across the country continued their almost unabated upward spiral last week, steers and heifers trending steady to $2 higher.

Texas Fed Cattle Move Higher In Half-Day Trading Last Week
Slaughter steers and heifers sold steady to 50 cents higher in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading last week. Fed cattle prices trended slightly higher as mixed trends were noted in wholesale boxed beef cutout values.

U.S. Wool At Stalled, Aussie Sharply Higher
Domestic wool trading was at a complete standstill last week, demand and seller interest both light. Bidding levels continue to decline with producers and warehouses unwilling to accept bids.

U.S. Meat Production .1% Below A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection during last week’s holiday-shortened period was estimated at 781.6 million pounds, 14.2 percent less than the previous week and .1 percent below a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was up 2.2 percent at 31.34 billion pounds.

U.S. Corn Crop Off 4%, Soybeans Record High
The September 1 corn production forecast for 1999 is down four percent from a year ago. The National Agricultural Statistics Service expects yields to be down 2.2 bushels at 132.2 bushels per acre. If realized, this would be the fourth largest production on record and the third highest yield. Acreage for harvest is estimated down two percent from a year ago at 71 million acres.

Angelo Feeder Lambs Lower, Cattle Higher
Feeder lambs sold weak to $2 lower this week, slaughter lambs poorly tested and slaughter ewes generally steady. Two day receipts totaled 17,050 head, around 10 percent feeder lambs, 55 percent slaughter ewes and 35 percent goats.

Kansas Direct Feeder Steer Prices Firm
Feeder steers sold steady to firm in Kansas direct trade last week, heifers too limited for an adequate test. Weather was after some weekend rain showers. Sales were confirmed on 4179 head.

Milano Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers sold firm to $4 higher, the full advance on weights under 500 pounds, heifers under 500 pounds steady, heavier weights $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 lower. Receipts totaled 2084 head.

Junction High Dollar Special Sale Higher
Feeder steers sold steady to $3 higher and heifers steady to $4 higher in the special High Dollar calf and yearling sale at Junction Stockyards. Receipts totaled 1119 head.

Most Abilene Cattle Prices Termed Higher
Feeder steers sold $1-3 higher, heifers $2-3 higher, slaughter cows steady to $1 higher, bulls mostly steady, stock cows $20-30 higher, pairs strong. Receipts totaled 1650 head.

Llano Feeder Cattle Trends Move Upward
Feeder steers sold $2-4 higher, heifers steady to $3 higher, slaughter cows $2-3 lower. Receipts totaled 710 head.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Strong
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $1 higher last week in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba, slaughter cows and bulls steady, pairs in fair demand, bred cows active. Receipts totaled 2208 head in the three sales.

Colorado City Auction Offers 1790 Cattle
No price trends are available because of last week's holiday. Receipts totaled 1790 head.

Graham Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers sold steady to $2 higher, heifers steady to $1 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $2 lower, stock cows steady to $20 lower, pairs $20 lower. Receipts totaled 2415 head.

Lightweight Lampasas Feeder Steers Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady except steers under 400 pounds $1-2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 lower. Receipts totaled 1114 head.

Most Cuero Cattle Strong To Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to strong, slaughter cows 50 cents to $1 higher, bulls steady. Receipts totaled 1978 head.

Fredericksburg Feeder Steers, Heifers Rise
Feeder steers sold $2-4 higher, heifers $1-2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1 lower. Receipts totaled 1500 head.

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
September 14-17 — Agri-Concepts Inc.’s Low Cost Cow/Calf Production School, Billings, Montana. September 16 — Monthly Horse and Tack Sale, Rio Grand Classic, El Paso, Texas. September 18 — Special Fall Horse Sale, Rio Grand Classic, El Paso, Texas....