|
|
|
Just a scoop full(June 11)--There is lots of talk about expenses in the agriculture world. Fuel is a very big item. Fertilizer costs are making some decide it is too high to fertilize. Others are putting on some fertilizer and simply cutting back. I have heard of several ranchers in states east of Oklahoma who normally fertilize their grass who have simply decided to run less cattle and not fertilize. I'm sure that will show up in not only the amount of cattle they can run but also in their gains. We are right on a line where to the east of us they have lots of moisture and a lot of them would say too much moisture, right now. Immediately to the west it gets very dry. And, if you go 100 miles west and more, their grass looks like the dead of winter. A few years ago, we got lots of moisture and most of us thought the gains would be very good off grass that year. However, that year, the grass was too washy and the cattle gained only fair. It is disappointing for fat cattle to fall back in price, particularly when we have never gotten to a break-even point. Corn has gotten a lot higher. It appears there are a few more feeder cattle showing up at the auction. However, I think those numbers make it look like there are more feeders out there than there are. I say that because I think a lot of cattlemen who normally put all their cattle in the feedlot have taken some to the auction to sell, as they are sick of this high cost of gains and low fat cattle prices. For quite some time, fat cattle futures have showed the fat cattle price would be better later. But, for whatever reason, we never get there when they get fat. It is easy to think retailers or packers are selling the close fat cattle futures hard enough to keep a lid on fat cattle prices. Whatever the case is, my red ink pen has just run out of ink--and I do not want to borrow yours. Editor's Note: Jerry Nine, Woodward, Okla., is a lifetime cattleman who grew up on his family's ranch near Laverne, Okla. 6/23/08 Date: 6/18/08 Advertisement
1
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2009. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
Market Snapshot Inside Futures |
