Lambs Trade Steady While Lamb Meat Off
Fat and feeder lambs held fairly steady this week despite a $3-5 decline in the dressed trade. Some Midwest markets had lower fat lamb prices, but numbers there are limited. A large share of feeder lambs are now going into feedlots with retained ownership.

Plains Fed Cattle Rise Again, Most Movement Coming Tuesday
Rare Tuesday trading this week saw Plains feedlots still on a roll. After gaining $1-2 on heavy volume last week, fat cattle piled on another $2 or more late Tuesday and early Wednesday.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

National Farms CEO Stresses "Rational" Business Approach
Because of its size, National Farms, like many large corporations, is often accused of driving prices up, be it in real estate or the cattle market, but CEO Bill Haw says the company has always been disciplined in their buying.

Texas Supreme Court Ruling Backs Landowners On Canadian
A spokesman for the Texas General Land Office says a Texas Supreme Court ruling on a Canadian River land dispute will probably not be appealed to the federal level.

J.H. Davis Still Making Cattle Deals At 80
J.H. Davis turned 80 this past April, and after more than 42 years in the business, his customers and friends drew up a resolution declaring him a full-fledged cattle buyer. It's said by those he's outtraded as well as those he's traded for that he can figure payweight and paychecks in his head faster than it can be done by calculator.

Saltcedar, Once Freely Planted, Now Recognized As Curse On Land
Officials at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge are having a hard time getting rid of salt cedar — the water-swilling shrubs that have infested every river system in the Southwest since being brought to the United States nearly 200 years ago.

Report On German Fighter Jet Collision May Remain Secret
The investigative report on the recent crash of two German Air Force Jets near Carlsbad, New Mexico may never be made public. Although the collision occurred in airspace regulated by the FAA and during training sponsored by The U.S. Air Force, neither agency is involved in the investigation.

Feds' Wolves Continue To Kick Off, But Livestock Kills Mount
The federal government's wolves keep biting the dust. The Center for Biological Diversity, a Tucson-based environmental activist group, says two pups from a reintroduced Mexican gray wolf pack that had been relocated from the wild to the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge have died.

Gene-Modified Crops Provide Benefits But Also Liability
It's fall in the Texas Panhandle and time for Lewis Davis and his family to harvest their corn.

Cattle Raiser Members Talk Of Past But Focus On The Future
A panel of speakers this week at the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers fall board meeting here offered some fond memories of bygone days and hopeful expectations of what is to come in the cattle business.

Meat Inspection Pilot Program Increases Plant Responsibility
A government meat inspector's job has not changed for generations. All day long, inspectors sit in one place along a production line, poking each chicken or hog or cattle carcass passing by as they look for defects, stray feathers or hair, and telltale signs of contamination.

New Breed And New Politics Predominate At BLM Of Today
New Mexico rancher Alonso Gallegos remembers a time not too long ago when renewing a grazing permit with the Bureau of Land Management was just a matter of filling out paperwork.

Next CRP Sign-up Scheduled Early In The Upcoming Year
The next signup for the Conservation Reserve Program will be from Jan. 18 through Feb. 11, 2000.

Latest Clinton Royal Land Grab Targets 40 Million Forest Acres
In a move described by critics as the height of arrogance, President Bill Clinton on Wednesday was expected to announce a scheme that would permanently lock away 40 million acres of national forests — as much as two-thirds of all currently roadless forests in the country.

USDA Forecasts More Corn Grower Woes
The stockpiles of grain that have kept commodity prices depressed for two years are growing, the government said last Friday. That could mean another tough year for growers in 2000 and keep the cost of federal farm programs soaring.

London Company Touts Waterbeds For Cattle
Every night, according to a marketing executive, 12 million cows go to bed hurting. Kenneth Dangelo, a marketing executive with the UniPoly Group, the parent company of Atlanta Water Beds manufacturer Georgia Duck, says a British innovation which recently made its North American premier at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show can provide these cows comfort, hygiene and welfare.

USDA Grain Stocks Inventory Good For Feeders, Not Farmers
While bearish for grain farmers, the grain stocks report at the end of September could mean more profits for cattle feeders.

Defense Spending Bill Lifts Sanctions On Ag
Sanctions could be permanently lifted on sales to India and Pakistan of U.S. farm commodities, airplanes and other products under legislation headed for final approval in Congress, lawmakers said.

Scientists Fret About Reaction To Genetically Modified Crops
Scientists worry that a public backlash against genetically modified foods could slow the development of crops that could improve health and nutrition.

After 50 Years Black Bears Are Back In Big Bend Park
The yellow, diamond-shaped signs posted along the twisting road leading up to the Chisos Mountains serve as a warning.

Time To Control Snakeweed Is Now
For ranchers in eastern New Mexico and West Texas having broom snakeweed problems, now is the most cost-effective time to control it, says Dow-Elanco range and pasture specialist Bob Capps.

Eco-Activist Outfit Files Flurry Of Suits
An Arizona-based radical environmental group has launched its latest round of attacks in court in connection with so-called "endangered" species.

Army's McGregor Range Lease Gains 25 Years
President Clinton has signed a bill extending the Army's lease of the 608,000-acre McGregor Range in southern New Mexico for another 25 years.

Billy Etbauer Secures Ranking With Oklahoma State Fair Win
Two-time world champion saddle bronc Billy Etbauer took home $4015 and the saddle bronc riding title at the recent State Fair of Oklahoma PRCA Championship Rodeo in Oklahoma City. The win secures Etbauer's fourth-place ranking in the Crown Royal World Standings.

Nation’s Feeder Cattle Prices Back In Higher Trend Pattern
Consumer demand for beef has been a godsend to the cattle industry this year, with all segments sharing in the wealth. Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher across the country last week, several places showing calves $3-5 higher.

Texas Fed Cattle Trade Higher, Most Sales Made On Wednesday
Slaughter steers and heifers sold $1-2 higher in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading last week. Trade was slow and at a standstill until late Wednesday, when buyers raised bids and became aggressive.

Angelo Feeder Lambs, Cattle Trade Steady
Feeder and fat lambs sold steady this week, slaughter ewes weak to $5 lower, the greatest decline on good and choice grades. Two day receipts totaled 13,234 head and included around 65 percent slaughter ewes, 10 percent lambs and 25 percent goats.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Active
Better grading feeder steers and heifers sold active in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba last week, lower quality kinds steady to $1 lower, slaughter cows and bulls steady, bred stock cows $25-75 higher, pairs in poor demand. Receipts totaled 4499 head at the three sales.

Cuero Feeder Cattle Prices About Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold about steady, slaughter cows and bulls higher. Receipts totaled 2606 head.

Junction Lambs Steady, Stock Angoras Higher
Feeder lambs sold steady, slaughter ewes and bucks steady to $2 lower; stock Angora goats $2-3 higher, slaughter Angoras steady, Spanish kids $1-3 higher, nannies and billies steady. Receipts totaled 4750 head.

Angelo Select Female Sale Offers 2800 Head
Receipts totaled 2800 head at Producers Livestock Auction's special select female sale. All cows and heifers sold by the head or by the pair.

Junction High-Dollar Sale Moves 1219 Head
Feeder steers sold $2-3 higher at the special High-Dollar calf sale, heavyweight heifers $1-3 higher, lightweights steady. Receipts totaled 1219 head.

Heavyweight Abilene Feeder Cattle Steady
Feeder steers and heifers weighing more than 500 pounds sold mostly steady, lighter weights $1-2 lower, slaughter cows $1-2 lower, bulls steady, stock cows $20 lower. Receipts totaled 2317 head.

Domestic Wool Slow, Aussie Wools
Wool trading remains slow. Demand is light to narrow, following continued decline in the Australian market.

U.S. Meat Production 2.4% Above A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 925.5 million pounds, unchanged from a week earlier but four percent more than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was up 2.4 percent at 35.04 billion pounds.

Llano Feeder Steers Steady, Heifers Up
Feeder steers sold fully steady, heifers $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $2 lower. Receipts totaled 899 head.

Kansas Direct Feeder Steer Prices
Feeder steers sold steady to $1 higher in Kansas direct feeder cattle trading, heifers too few for a market test. The weather was mild, some western areas receiving up to three inches of rain. Sales were confirmed on 5114 head.

Heart Of Texas Female Sale Averaged $832
The Heart of Texas special female replacement sale offered 1041 cattle and averaged $832 per head. Pairs averaged $1006, bred cows $856 and open females $627.

Graham Feeder Cattle Prices Termed Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady, bred stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 2251 head.

Fredericksburg Feeder Steers, Heifers Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and bulls $1 higher. Receipts totaled 2348 head.

Colorado City Feeder Cattle Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows $1-2 lower, bulls steady, young bred stock cows higher. Receipts totaled 765 head.

Most Lampasas Cattle Prices Turned Lower
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-2 lower, slaughter cows and bulls $1-1.50 lower. Receipts totaled 1868 head.

W4 Ranch 2 Year-Old Bulls Average $1737
The W4 Ranch bull and female sale sold 39 two year-old bulls for an average of $1737 per head. Forty-two and three-quarter yearling bulls averaged $1358, 42 Hereford cows bred to Brangus bulls averaged $1181, and 62 Hereford heifers bred to Brangus bulls averaged $635. The 80¾ bulls averaged $1546 per head overall.

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
October 14 — Special Stocker Feeder Sale, Lubbock Stockyards Inc., Lubbock, Texas. October 14 — Schmidt Hereford Ranch’s Annual Bull and Female Sale, at the ranch, Mason, Texas. October 14 — Special Stocker and Feeder Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas.