National Feeder Cattle Weekly Summary St. Joseph, Mo. January 11,2002 Report Supplied By USDA NATIONAL FEEDER CATTLE SUMMARY for week ending Jan. 11. Receipts: This week 238,900; last week 41,400; year ago 276,400. This week’s re ported volume included 49% over 600 lbs. Compared to last week: feeder steers and heifers opened the week slightly higher, especially on heavier weights that have a chance to finish with an April basis. However, pressure late in the week quickly forced prices south and the yearling market finished the week steady to 2.00 lower. Steer and heifer calves traded steady to 2.00 higher this week with good demand reported in most areas by the USDA’s Livestock Market News Service. Many markets, especially in the Southeast, are just now getting back to business following the holiday break, so price comparisons were difficult. Buyers ganged up on heavy yearlings in hopes of hitting this spring’s projected lull in market-ready slaughter cattle. These cattle will have to hurry to be fat in time, but things may work out if the weather continues mild and feedlot performances remain outstanding. ren: / * W 1 The PA Crop Insurance Assistance Program has been extended for crop year 2002. Benefits include: To receive insurance www.RMA@usda.gov. Enrollment Deadline: Pennsylvania encourages growers to have crop insurance protection as part of their farming risk management plan. AH policy fees and approximately 20 percent of net premium costs are paid for growers. Sponsored by the PA Department of Agriculture with cost share support from RMA/USDA. Cattle feeders are just desperate to find something that will work and a simple breakeven would be great, com pared to these triple-digit per head losses. Trading activity slowed late in the week and buyers turned cautious. Pack ers used their favorite haggling tech nique by holding feedlots at bay amid higher market indicators, until the fu tures turned lower on Thursday and then offered steady money. This week’s 3-day Superior Video Auction featured 90,000 head of feeder cattle and calves. Thursday’s early trad ing was active and prices were generous on predominantly yearlings in the South Central Region. However, Friday’s video sales were much calmer with the fancier North-Central Region yearlings selling for less with additional pressure from sharply lower CME Feeder Cattle Fu tures. Dressed beef prices have held their own following the holidays, but heavy carcasses continue to weigh on the mar ket’s potential. The heavier weights are not necessarily from putting-off fat cattle sales, but rather an attempt by feeders to hit the sweet spots in grid pric ing. Feedlots must put weight on, to take advantage of cheap feed and achieve the marbling required for premiums. The cattle feeders that are still selling on a negotiated price are paying the pen- s » FREE “CAT” Coverage Discounted Premiums & Fees (Paid for “BUY-UP” Coverage) these agent Sam Hayes Secretary of Agriculture Pennsylvania Crop Insurance Program benefits, contact a crop List available at today. March 15 - Spring crops alty for these heavier cattle. Despite the slim chance of making a dollar, buyers continue to pay more for feeder cattle than their pencil’s say they should. The same is true for farmers and back grounders, who continue to pay well over 1.00 per pound for five-weight steer calves It’s not that they think they can make it work, it’s only that they already have the facilities and the feed and it’s what they’ve always done. This perspec tive makes the cow-calf business look appealing. Now, get ready to pay near a thousand dollars per head for bred heif ers or young bred cows and try to com pete with millionaires and conservationists for some ranch ground Lynchburg Weekly State Graded Feeder Cattle Richmond, Va. January 15,2002 Report Supplied By USDA STATE GRADED FEEDER CATTLE for Mon., Jan. 14; 1427 head; 787 steers; 640 heifers. Prices follow with average weights and average prices in parentheses where applicable. STEERS: Med. and Lge. 1: 13 head 300-400 lb (361 lb) 114-115.00 (114.85); 76 head 400-500 lb (460 lb) 102.50- 105.50 (104.59); 119 head SOO-600 lb (551 lb) 93-93.50 (93.43); 95 head 600- 700 lb (640 lb) 82-83.50 (83.20); 36 head 700-800 lb (735 lb) 79-79.75 (79.65). Med. and Lge. 2: 21 head 300-400 lb (352 lb) 114-119.00 (118.54); 43 head 400-500 lb (459 lb) 103-103.50 (103.37); 50 head 500-600 lb (547 lb) 89.50; 27 head 600-700 lb (634 lb) 81-81.50 (81.33); 6 head 700-800 lb (742 lb) 74.50. Med. and Lge. 3; 6 head 300-400 lb (375 lb) 97.00; 14 head 400-500 lb (448 lb) 83.50-87.00 (85.80); 11 head 500-600 lb (547 lb) 80.25; 5 head 600-700 lb (640 lb) 77.50. SmaU 1: 13 head 300-400 lb (367 lb) 94- 105.50 (103.24); 42 head 400-500 lb (452 lb) 85-94.00 (92.93); 30 head 500-600 lb (544 lb) 75-83.00 (82.19); 9 head 650-700 lb (653 lb) 76.75. HEIFERS; Med. and Lge. 1: 12 head 300-400 lb (367 lb) 94-105.00 (103.24); 42 head 400-500 lb (454 lb) 86.75-88.00 (87.65); 88 head 500-600 lb (541 lb) 77.50-78.50 (77.77); 53 head 600-700 lb (637 lb) 75-75.75 (75.23); 6 head 700-800 lb (741 lb) 69-74.75 (70.89). Med. and Lge. 2: S 3 head 300-400 lb (458 lb) 99.50-99.75 (9.70); 118 head 400- 500 lb (448 lb) 85.25-88.75 (86.19); 68 head 500-600 lb (542 lb) 79.25; 22 head 600-700 lb (648 lb) 73.75-76.50 (75.64). Med. and Lge. 3: IS head 300-400 lb (364 lb) 88.50-91.50 (89.74); 40 head 400- 500 lb (446 lb) 78-81.50 (80.87); 25 head 500-600 lb (537 lb) 74.75-76.26 (75.28). Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 19,2002-Al5 Small 1: 30 head 300-400 lb (376 lb) 80- 90.75 (89.36); 81 head 400-500 lb (453 lb) 76.50-82.00 (81.64); 38 head 500-600 lb (541 lb) 74.00. REGULAR WEEKLY AUCTION, Jan. 14: FEEDER CATTLE: 815 head. Prices based on in weights. HOLSTEIN STEERS; 20 head. Med. and Lge. 2: 300-500 lb 74.00; 500-700 lb 66.00. BULLS: 295 head. Med. and Lge. 1: 300-400 lb 110-115.00; 400-500 lb 91- 111.00; 500-600 lb 85-86.50. Med. and Lge. 2:200-300 lb 100-108.00; 300-400 lb 111-116.00; 400-500 lb 91-107.50; 500- 6001 b 82-83.00. Sheep and Goats Direct Buying Market Nashville, Tenn. January 15,2002 Report Supplied By USDA Possum Hollow Sheep and Goat Direct Buying Market at McMinnville, Tenn. Prices updated every Tuesday as of 1/15/02. Estimated receipts this week 1,500 head: last week 2,300.* Trends: Lambs steady; ewes and rams steady to 2 00 higher. Kid goats 2.00 to 5.00 lower; mature goats steady to 3.00 lower Prices per CWT. SHEEP. Prime and Choice Slaughter Lambs 40-60 lbs 90-110.00,60-80 lbs 75- 90 00; 80-110 lbs 60-75.00; 100-120 lbs 55.00-65.00 FEEDER LAMBS: 40-60 lbs 75-85,00; 60-80 lbs 68-75.00 SLAUGHTER EWES & RAMS. All Weights 32-40.00 GOATS: KIDS; Prime and Choice JO -45 lbs 82-90 00; 50-75 lbs 88-95 00 GOOD KIDS & YEARLINGS- 30-45 lbs 72-80.00, 50-70 lbs 72-80 00 BOER CROSS KIDS 30-45 lbs 85-95.00; 50-70 lbs 90-100.00. MATURE NANNIES- Choice 60-85 lbs 55-65.00; 85 lbs and up 53-62.00. Good All Weights 45-50 00. MATURE BILLIES- Choice and Good 75-110 lbs 70-80.00, 110 lbs and up 68- 78.00. le;t: m WF' t/MAMM(jUm/^