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Just a scoop full(Sept. 19)--Fall has arrived and it feels good. But along with fall comes the temperature swings which make calves sometimes harder to keep healthy. There is always a debate for some ranchers whether to wean their calves or sell them right off the cows. The calf prices have slipped some--with some areas receiving moisture and some still needing rain. There is also talk of some wheat farmers not grazing them on wheat, this year, because of better wheat prices, while other farmers may stock their fields lighter. Then there are others, like myself, that are only trying to produce something green for the cattle. Some farmers have said with expenses such as fuel and fertilizer being so much higher, they will definitely take in cattle to help pay back some expenses. Even with grain prices being higher, cattle prices are good enough that there is good incentive to buy calves. The wheat prices are extremely high, presently; however, most farmers have already sold most of their wheat, earlier, at a lower price because, like most of us, they needed to cut down their debt. Next year, July 2008 wheat prices are expected to be better than normal at this point, but a lot lower than the present market. I expect in the wheat market there will be a point that Las Vegas would be a lot less risky. But it is hard to know where that point is. Don't get caught up in these high emotions on wheat unless you can afford the risk. Feeder cattle have slipped a little but are still a good price. We were at prices on feeders, for a few weeks, that looked risky to me. We need all the smaller feeder buyers to make money in the feedlot most of the time. We definitely need them, in our business, in order to keep a competitive market. Editor's Note: Jerry Nine, Woodward, Okla., is a lifetime cattleman who grew up on his family's ranch near Laverne, Okla.
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