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Jerry Nine(Aug. 29)--The U.S. has had record beef and beef variety meat sales to Canada and Mexico the first six months of 2007. We have sold $254 million which is well above the $196 million for the same time last year going to Canada. And Mexico was $12 million ahead of last year this time. Exports of beef going to Mexico have climbed to where they are the industry's best market. The beef checkoff has funded a lot of dollars toward inventing new beef products. This has been great allowing a lot of less desirable parts of the beef become a lot more desirable. There are not 9900 retailers carrying new steak cuts from the chuck up from 321 in 2003. Doing our share of keeping everything up to the best standards and raising excellent cattle is only a small part of getting it to the public and them knowing what we have to offer. It is fun to be in the cattle business when things are going well. It is great to see cattlemen making money. I was talking to a cattleman fromFlorida who said their calf numbers were lower and would probably stay lower. I asked him why? He said a lot of their land is being taken out of productivity because of the government calling it wetlands. He also said that a lot is being consumed by big cities moving farther out and being consumed by businesses and housing. Our calf numbers are some less because of the drought in 2006 and some before. It's an interesting year again with a lot of variables thrown in--all affecting our profit or loss. A rancher had just accumulated a new son-in-law. So, he said, "Welcome to the family. I am going to make you a 50 percent partner in this operation. I am going to put you in charge of all the pasture land." The new son-in-law said, "No way--I'm allergic to a lot of weeds." The father-in-law says, "OK--you can be in charge of the farming. I have just bought a new tractor with a TV and all the luxuries you would ever want." The son-in-law said, "No way--I have claustrophobia--I can't stand to be confined like that." The new father-in-law said, "Well what am I going to do?" The son-in-law said, "I guess--buy me out." Editor's note: Jerry Nine, Woodward, Okla., is a lifetime cattleman who grew up on his family's ranch near Laverne, Okla. Date: 9/5/07
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