Light Lamb Meat Higher, Heavies Off
Carcass lamb prices late last week found mixed trading, with lightweights $4-6 higher and those over 75 pounds $3 lower. Currently on the East Coast, carcasses 75 pounds and down leveled out at $169.50-170, 75-85 pounds $164.50-165 and over 85 pounds $159.50-160.

Plains Fed Cattle Movement Stalled Once More At Midweek
Plains feedlots were quiet through midweek as bids and asking prices stood $3-4 apart following last week's $1 decline on modest movement.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Horses And Southwest Themes Dominate Art Of Sandy Lemon
Sandy Lemon is a woman in love. Growing up in the lush green rain forests of the Pacific Northwest, she questioned the sanity of moving to the arid Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico, but as she has grown to know the area and the people, she has fallen in love with parts of it.

Burning Association Takes Lead On Prescribed Fires In Summer
Ranchers, particularly in the Edwards Plateau, are showing increasing interest in using summer burns to control cedar and prickly pear. The Edwards Plateau Prescribed Burning Association, now into its third year, appears to be fueling that growing interest.

Computer Can't Evaluate Range Management If Data Is Wrong
Garbage in, garbage out. Dr. Jerry Holechek says computers are only tools, not silver bullets. The information that comes out of them is only as good as the information that goes into them.

USDA Proposes Scrapie Rule Restricting Sheep Movement
A proposed rule to help the sheep industry control scrapie by restricting the interstate movement of sheep was issued last week by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

SD Cattlemen Warned That Feds Seek More Active Role In Waste
Regulation of phosphorous from livestock feeding operation wastes may be unavoidable, South Dakota Cattlemen's Association members were told last week.

USDA Forecasts No Increase In Ag Exports For Next Year
The Agriculture Department says there probably will not be any improvement in U.S. farm exports over the next year, further dampening farmers' hopes for a recovery in commodity prices.

Fundamentals Look Favorable For Retained Calf Ownership
While most of Texas had excellent spring rain, the fall period has been disappointingly dry, and the forage situation has deteriorated completely.

USPB Dividends Up, Stock Up As Well
U.S. Premium Beef Ltd., a U.S. producer-owned beef marketing company, recently announced that the company's patronage dividends for fiscal year 1999 were $10,079,267. On a per-head basis, it totaled $17.99.

Poll Finds "Wilderness" Idea Unpopular When Facts Intrude
Citing a recent poll, a conservative group says public support for adding more wilderness designations in Colorado is not as enthusiastic as environmental activists have claimed.

Clinton Treasury Department Caught Shredding Indian Files
In a case in which the Clinton administration's Interior Department is already in deep hot water, the Treasury Department may now be facing obstruction of justice charges.

Forest Service "Task Force" To Probe Nevada Attitudes
Rural Nevadans don't have much use for the federal bureaucrats who come in from outside and dictate the use of most of the land in their state — typically without local consultation or explanation.

Ranch Groups Oppose Bank Info To Greens
Livestock industry groups want a federal judge to block the release of information about how much money ranchers have borrowed against federal grazing permits.

Combs Notes Texas Hay Hotline Still Active
With dry conditions intensifying across the state, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs is reminding Texas livestock producers that the Hay Hotline, which links buyers with hay sellers, is still in operation.

LAP Program Okayed In 128 Texas Counties
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs announced last week that 128 Texas counties are currently approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency for the Livestock Assistance Program.

Many Options Exist For Pesticide CEUs
The Texas Department of Agriculture offers pesticide applicators several options for getting the continuing education units necessary to renew their license, notes Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs. Many pesticide applicators face a Feb. 28, 2000 renewal date.

Clinton's WTO Stance Said Harmful For Ag
U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel and Rep. Doug Bereuter, two of Nebraska's Republican delegates, had harsh words Friday for President Clinton following his suggestion that worldwide labor standards be enforced with trade sanctions.

Feeder Cattle Buyers Bullish Despite Softer Consumer Demand
Feeder cattle buyers were even more bullish than normal last week, despite some unnerving news on the screens. Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-3 higher across the country, calves $3-6 higher in several places.

Texas Fed Cattle Mostly Lower In Thursday Trading Last Week
Slaughter steers and heifers sold $1 lower in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading. Trade was active for a short time at mid-day Thursday, slow to inactive the rest of the week.

Angelo Feeder Lambs Firm, Cattle Higher
Feeder lambs sold firm this week compared to two weeks ago, slaughter lambs steady, and slaughter ewes weak. Receipts totaled 15,101 head, about two percent feeder lambs, 10 percent slaughter lambs, 60 percent slaughter ewes and 25 percent goats.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Higher
Feeder steers sold $4-12 higher last week in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba, heifers $4-10 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 1817 head.

U.S. Meat Production 1.2% Below A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 895.4 million pounds, 15 percent more than during the previous holiday-shortened week and 1.2 percent less than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was up 2.1 percent at 42.2 billion pounds.

Graham Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers sold steady to $1 higher, heifers steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady, stock cows steady, pairs $10 higher. Receipts totaled 2074 head.

Most Llano Feeder Cattle Called Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady with recent advances except for weights around 550 pounds, which were $2-3 lower, slaughter cows steady, bulls $2 lower. Receipts totaled 661 head.

Kansas Direct Feeder Steers Trade Higher
Feeder steers were steady to $2 higher in light Kansas direct trading last week, heifers too few to test. The weather continues dry and mild. Sales were confirmed on 2046 head.

San Saba Cow Sale Totals 3000-Plus
More than 3000 cattle sold here at Jordan Cattle Auction's annual winter replacement sale. Choice pairs ranged from $750 to $1020 per pair, smaller pairs $650-750, choice young bred cows $700-1020, tigerstripe heifers at $1200, short bred heifers $550-720, open $450-700, and 20 open registered Angus brought $810.

Lampasas Auction Offers 1678 Cattle
No price comparisons were available because of last week's holiday closing. Receipts totaled 1678 head.

Colorado City Sale Offers 1113 Cattle
No comparison was reported due to the previous holiday. Feeder steers: medium and large No. 1 200-300 lbs. $108-117,50, 300-400 lbs. $102-110, few $111-115, 400-500 lbs. $94-104, few $106-108, 500-600 lbs. $84-90, few to $94, 600-700 lbs. $77-81, 700-800 lbs. $72.50-77, 800-900 lbs. $70-76.

Cuero Feeder Calves Sell Sharply Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $4-10 higher. Receipts totaled 2577 head.

Most Fredericksburg Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $4-5 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1 higher. Receipts totaled 2594 head.

Domestic Wool Slow, Aussie Wools Lower
Wool trading remained slow across the U.S. again last week. Demand and seller interest were light.

Coming Up...
December 10 — Producers Video Auction’s Internet Sale, Fort Worth, Texas. December 11 — Special Sale of Finewools from the flock of the late Dr. Wesley Wise, Wise Farm Barn, Brownwood, Texas. December 11 — Special Stocker Cow and Heifer Sale, Tri-County Livestock Market Inc., New Summerfield, Texas.