Farm & Ranch

The cooler temperatures have surely been welcome in our Fair Valley of the Pecan over the past several days. Those of us that received rain felt fortunate, while the few that were not as well blessed are surely looking forward to the next cool front. It appears that this next tropical storm that coming across will, more than likely, head on up the Eastern seaboard and harass those folks of more northern extraction.

Receipts totaled 1866 head for the week. The market was active and strong. Stocker steers sold $2 higher and stocker heifers were steady to $2 higher. Feeder steers and heifers were steady. Packer cows and bulls sold steady with strong demand. Steers: choice lightweight calves 128-175, choice medium weight calves 113-142.50, choice heavyweight calves 109-113.50 Heifers: choice lightweight calves 118-137.50, choice medium weight calves 108-132, choice heavyweight calves 105-12 ...

By the looks of the calendar, it appears that we have about a week left of this hot month of August. September should be welcomed by most all the folks around our parts. Several reasons that readily appear in my estimation would include the beginning of Dove season, some cooler days, football on all levels, more enjoyable fishing weather, and cool fronts coming down that might bring rain.

Receipts totaled 1872 head for the week. Stocker heifers were steady while stocker steers sold $2 lower. Feeder heifers remain steady and feeder steers were $3 lower. Packer cows and bulls sold steady on last week’s increases. Stocker cows and pairs are selling in good demand. Steers: choice lightweight calves 130-149, choice medium weight calves 120-138, choice heavyweight calves 110-119 Heifers: choice lightweight calves 118-136, choice medium weight calves 110-123, c ...

The Sheep & Goat Predator Management Board (S&GPMB) is busy preparing for another biennial election to elect one director from each of their three districts. Directors whose terms expire in 2010 are: Dwight Childress from District One, Jason Bannowsky from District Two, and Robin Giles from District Three. Start thinking about who you would like to see as a director to represent your District.

HS Bronc Riding: 1st - Chase Huddle - Coleman HS Tie Down Roping: 1st - Turner McQuaid - Marble Falls 2nd - Kolt Hill - Comanche 3rd - Danny Trowbridge - Santa Anna Pee Wee Barrels: 1st - Ginny Arnold - Coleman 2nd - Graci Phillips - Comfort 3rd - Skyler Smith - Big Lake 4th - Sassy Wilson - Blanket GS Boys Ca ...

AUSTIN "Anthrax cases are not unusual; especially at this time of year. This is peak season for anthrax to resurface and affect livestock and deer," Dr. Dee Ellis, Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) Executive Director and State Veterinarian, said. "Ranchers and livestock owners should be aware of recent anthrax confirmations in their area and consider vaccinating their livestock to protect against the disease." Anthrax can occur anywhere, but in Texas, cases m ...

There comes a time, on occasion, with each of us that we just flat don’t feel up to a certain task. Penning a regular column ranks fairly high as one of those weekly tasks that sort of drag on you, periodically speaking. Anyhow, If you happen to finish this week’s column and remark that we didn’t have a whole lot to talk about, then I’d probably have to agree with you.

Receipts totaled 2895 head for the week. The market was active on a choice offering of calves. Light stocker steers and heifers sold steady while 500 weight steers sold $3 lower. Feeder steers and heifers were steady. Fleshy calves and bull calves sold $3 to $5 lower. Packer cows and bulls were $1 higher.

A new voluntary cattle health program can help ranchers market their breeding animals by reassuring buyers that bulls are free of cattle trichomoniasis, an infection that can be spread during breeding, and which can cause cows to abort and take a long time to become pregnant again. Bill Hyman, executive director for the Independent Cattlemen’s Association of Texas (ICA), which represents about 8,000 cow-calf ranchers, explained that trichomoniasis is caused by a miscroscopic protozoan.