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Just a scoop full(July 9)--On Wednesday, our area received some much needed rain. In spots we could have sure received more, but it was very much appreciated. Most of what I have heard is from half of an inch to 2 inches. As you go further west, it is definitely very dry and they need rain bad. Fat cattle have finally gotten some higher. Most feedlots in our area are down in numbers, as much as half capacity. I am told a lot of the bigger corporations have stayed fairly full. But as far as most of the smaller ones and most customer-based feedlots--they are struggling to keep their numbers up. It is so important that we keep as many individual cattle feeders willing to feed cattle. It all boils down to profit and loss. Most cattle feeders that I know realize there is some risk involved. But after this past year, most of us have had all the fun we can stand and need to see some profit. Cattle futures show that most believe we can get fat cattle to record high levels. It is a good thing for cattlemen selling feeder cattle that these fat futures are high because, with these high grain costs, feeders would be very cheap without this. I think our markets should get a lot better. But how much better they will get is anybody's guess. For myself, I am tired of always betting on a better market. I guess, for myself, I plan to stay diversified as much as possible. And if I can see a good profit on these feeder cattle, then I plan on taking it. The killing cow market is very good. Some say we are not buying as much foreign competitive beef because of the cost of getting it here. That would be the first thing good I had heard about high fuel costs, unless a person owned a nice gas or oil well--which I don't. Editor's Note: Jerry Nine, Woodward, Okla., is a lifetime cattleman who grew up on his family's ranch near Laverne, Okla. 7/21/08 Date: 7/16/08
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