Lamb Prices Turn Upward, Ewes Up Too
Lamb prices firmed up considerably this week, fats rising a couple of dollars in most areas while feeder lambs were firm and in some instances a couple of dollars up. Slaughter ewes were sharply higher in Texas, a little softer in Midwest markets.

Plains Fed Cattle Steady At Midweek, Volume Modest
Plains feedlots sold a modest volume of cattle Wednesday at steady to slightly better money. The Texas Cattle Feeders Association had tallied 33,000 head by midafternoon and expected to pick up several thousand more; prices ranged from a bulk of $69 to as much as $69.75. The showlist stood near 61,000 head, and captives added another 31,000.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Raymond Adams Doesn't Fear Change, Just Falling Behind
Private, modest and unassuming, the kind who doesn't like to draw attention to himself. Those are words one might use to describe lifelong cattleman Raymond Adams.

Ranchers Regrouping Following Dismissal Of Suit Over
New Mexico cattle growers were consulting with their attorney this week after a federal judge dismissed their lawsuit aimed at stopping the reintroduction of wolves in the Southwestern U.S.

New Effort To Reform Species Act Launched; Ecos Not Amused
Rep. Joe Skeen says the Endangered Species Act has gotten out of hand. ``Right now, just about everything is getting settled in court. That's millions and millions of dollars that are used up in court that aren't going to help the species,'' said the New Mexico Republican, who was among House GOP members who introduced a major overhaul of the law last week.

Clinton Hails Baca Ranch Deal But Vows To Veto Funding Bill
In his weekend radio address, President Clinton announced that the federal government has completed an agreement to buy a scenic northern New Mexico cattle ranch from a Texas family for $101 million.

Specialist Advocates Careful Attention To Cattle Immmunity
Developing a herd immunity program depends upon where a producer lives, what the cattle are exposed to, the production system and what the rancher does with the cattle after weaning.

Babbitt Thumbs Nose At Congress Again
The Secretary of the Interior has raised the ire of Congress by refusing to provide a list of proposed national monument sites.

Protesters Demand Rehearing On Canadian River Decision
Despite a unanimous ruling by the Texas Supreme Court, a land dispute over the Canadian River bed seems to have taken on a life of its own.

Lender Supporting Ranchers Against Anti-Grazing Radicals
A New Mexico bank has filed court papers siding with ranchers in a legal attack on an important financial underpinning of ranching.

8-Month U.S. Livestock Imports/Exports Decline
For the most part, livestock imports and exports to and from the United States are showing considerable declines this year, according to U.S. Department of Commerce figures from the Foreign Agriculture Service.

Full Court Upholds Rejection Of Extreme Clean Air Rules
A federal court last Friday reaffirmed a decision blocking the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing tougher air pollution controls on smog and soot.

Clinton's No-Roads Decree To Face Scrutiny By House
House Resources Committee Chairman Don Young last Thursday asked the White House and Agriculture Department for records related to President Clinton's decision to place 40 million acres of federal forest land off-limits.

Glickman Promises Proposals For Agriculture Policy Revamp
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman says the ``farm economy stinks'' and promises to have some proposals to overhaul the market-oriented 1996 farm law that will provide more assistance to farmers when commodity prices are low.

Public Lands Council Needs Funds For Supreme Court Case
The Public Lands Council says rangeland "reform" regulations instituted by the Clinton administration in 1995 are threatening the livelihood of ranchers and farmers and reducing their ability to provide open space and wildlife habitat. PLC continues to fight those regulations and push for change, and is seeking donations to help bring their case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Montana High Court Ruling Could Have Sweeping Impact
It may be years before the full effect is known of the recent state Supreme Court decision guaranteeing Montanans' constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment.

Beef Experts Say Beef Demand Up Last Quarter By 4.5 Percent
Several economic factors seem to indicate beef demand may be stabilizing for the first time in 20 years, say beef industry experts.

Wounding Noisy Owl Earns Man Huge
A California man has been fined $10,000, spent two days in jail, must perform 100 hours of community service and was sentenced to three years probation for using a slingshot to scare away a barn owl outside his home.

County Mulling Action On Pantex Water Issue
Carson County is considering hiring a mediator to deal with a nuclear weapons facility in the Texas Panhandle.

Citizen Suit Case May Backfire On Ecos
When Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972, it included a citizen suit provision authorizing individuals to sue polluters and collect fines that otherwise would go to the federal treasury.

Bill Could Restrict Wilderness Lockaways
Environmental activist groups and federal land managers say a bill that would force decisions to be made on wilderness designation within 10 years could keep any land from being declared wilderness.

Chafee's Death Opens Chair Of Powerful Eco Committee
Sen. Jim Inhofe's bid to become chairman of a committee that oversees environmental issues may have been scuttled by the withdrawal of a former Republican senator who has now withdrawn from the presidential race.

Whitfield Out To Set More Than One Record At '99 NFR
Fred Whitfield has led the Crown Royal world all-around rodeo standings most of the year, but he's not content with that. He's looking to become the first African-American world all-around champion in prorodeo history this December at the National Finals Rodeo — and he's breaking records along the way.

Feeder Steers, Heifers Weak In Angelo Special Sale Monday
Steer and heifer prices were weak here Monday in the season's seventh special feeder sale at Producers Livestock Auction.

Nation’s Feeder Cattle Prices Followed Fats Lower Last Week
Feeder cattle prices were steady to $3 lower around the country last week, a few places $4-5 lower.

Texas Fed Cattle Higher Last Week In Wednesday-Only Trade
Slaughter steers and heifers sold mostly $1 lower in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading last week. Most trades took place on Wednesday afternoon, when many yards sold out.

Angelo Feeder Lambs Firm, Cattle Lower
Feeder lambs sold firm this week, slaughter lambs firm to $2 higher, slaughter ewes $5-6 higher. Receipts totaled 12,320 head, around 60 percent slaughter ewes, 10 percent feeder lambs, five percent slaughter lambs and 25 percent goats.

U.S. Meat Production 1.8% Above A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 913.6 million pounds, .5 percent less than a week earlier and 1.8 percent more than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was up 2.4 percent at 37.8 billion pounds.

Kansas Direct Feeder Cattle Prices Lower
Feeder steers sold weak to $1 lower in Kansas direct trade last week, heifers $1-2 lower on light receipts. The weather was mild and dry. Sales were confirmed on 6326 head.

Most Lampasas Feeder Cattle Termed Steady
Feeder steer and heifers sold steady, instances $1 lower, slaughter cows steady, bulls $1-2 lower. Feeder steers: medium and large No. 1 200-300 lbs. $101-112, 300-400 lbs. $99-107, 400-500 lbs. $89-102, 500-600 lbs. $83-89, 600-700 lbs. $70-78, 700-800 lbs. $69-76.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Mixed
Feeder steers and heifers weighing more than 650 pounds sold $1-4 higher in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba last week, lighter weights $1-4 lower, slaughter cows and bulls steady, pairs and bred cows in good demand. Receipts totaled 4996 head at the three sales.

Graham Cattle Steady On Rain-Short Supply
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady, bred cows and pairs fully steady. Heavy rains held receipts to 878 head.

Most Fredericksburg Cattle Sell Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 2048 head.

Abilene Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers sold $1-3 higher, heifers $1-2 higher, slaughter cows steady to strong, bulls fully steady, stock cows steady to strong. Receipts totaled 1273 head.

Better Llano Feeder Cattle Hold Steady
Better grading feeder steers and heifers sold steady while lower grading kinds were $2-3 lower, slaughter cows and bulls $2 lower. Receipts totaled 810 head.

Colorado City Feeder Cattle Show Strength
Feeder steers and heifers sold firm, steers around 500 pounds $1-3 higher, slaughter cows steady and bulls, bred stock cows and pairs higher. Receipts totaled 643 head.

Most Milano Cattle Prices Called Steady
Feeder steers sold steady, heifers steady except 500-600 pounds $1-2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 1171 head.

Domestic Wool Trading Slow, Aussie Wool Prices Improve
Wool trading remained slow across the nation last week, though some improved trading activity was noted by a few warehouses, and Texas warehouses sold shorter wools. Shearing of lambs was underway in both Texas and California, and the fall shearing of some ewes in Idaho.

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
November 5 — Superior Livestock Auction’s Video Sale, Fort Worth, Texas. November 5-7 — "Big" Fall Horse Sale, Southwest Livestock Auction, Los Lunas, New Mexico. November 6 — The Fall Gatherin ‘99 Commercial Female Sale, Joplin, Missouri.