Yeah, some of my family raises cattle. We're in the same cycle we were a few years ago. Right now people are almost giving cattle away because the land can't support them. Give this a year or so and beef prices are going to skyrocket, just like last time.
MattG was correct in the almost biblical nature of what we're seeing here in the Lone Star State. I keep expecting to see four figures a'horseback shimmering in and out of focus there in the heat waves, the blazing sun heliographing off the sickle that one of the group carries.
I will argue that the current cattle prices are actually pretty decent, especially compared with droughts we've had in the recent past (e.g. 1996) when the perfect storm trifecta of no rain, high feed (grain) prices, and low cattle prices. That's a silver lining for cattle producers, but it will result in the lowest national cattle population since the 1950s, which will, in turn, result in higher beef prices at the auction barn and the grocery.
According to USDA and NOAA, we've only got a 25% chance of the drought breaking before the first of the year. It's a pretty ugly deal all around.
Hopefully this helps remind us all that, as the old bumper sticker states, "If you eat, you're involved in agriculture." Similar to sleeping safe in our beds thanks to the "rough men", we enjoy one of the safest and least expensive food supplies in the world thanks to those men and women who go forth and wrest our sustenance from "gentle Gaia" on a daily basis.
WV: blityr. As used in: I certainly hope the weather doesn't turn blityr than it already has this year.
I've certainly got no real inside view to the beef market; I'm practically a city boy, anymore. When I want to know an expert's view on it, I talk to the experts.
Friend's in-laws have a ranch in western OK, they say everybody is selling their livestock because A: with the drought there's no grass for them and B: feed is too expensive, also largely because of the dry.
Had a news story the other day, the stockyards are full, they're damn near having to make appointments to sell the cattle for slaughter.
Walmart had 1.5 liter bottle of Pepsi products in display the other day... I guess that's to go along with the 3 quart "gallons" of ice cream in the frozen food section...
What we surely don't want is any sort of reprise of the drouth of the fifties. It began in late 1947 and held through 1956.
One serious problem for both city and country folks is that the population which needs drinking water is about triple that of those times. Then there are the industrial users--which means jobs.
Bottom line: We're not yet into a drouth. This is just a dry spell. BTDT; don't need another tee shirt. (No rain at the Terlingua house since August 21st, last year.)
Yeah, some of my family raises cattle. We're in the same cycle we were a few years ago. Right now people are almost giving cattle away because the land can't support them. Give this a year or so and beef prices are going to skyrocket, just like last time.
ReplyDeleteFarmer Frank's prayers may be belatedly answered. The sky has opened and all the water in Midwest is falling on White and Tippecanoe County.
ReplyDeleteThis ought to make the group run even more fun this afternoon. *sigh*
Shootin' Buddy
MattG was correct in the almost biblical nature of what we're seeing here in the Lone Star State. I keep expecting to see four figures a'horseback shimmering in and out of focus there in the heat waves, the blazing sun heliographing off the sickle that one of the group carries.
ReplyDeleteI will argue that the current cattle prices are actually pretty decent, especially compared with droughts we've had in the recent past (e.g. 1996) when the perfect storm trifecta of no rain, high feed (grain) prices, and low cattle prices. That's a silver lining for cattle producers, but it will result in the lowest national cattle population since the 1950s, which will, in turn, result in higher beef prices at the auction barn and the grocery.
According to USDA and NOAA, we've only got a 25% chance of the drought breaking before the first of the year. It's a pretty ugly deal all around.
Hopefully this helps remind us all that, as the old bumper sticker states, "If you eat, you're involved in agriculture." Similar to sleeping safe in our beds thanks to the "rough men", we enjoy one of the safest and least expensive food supplies in the world thanks to those men and women who go forth and wrest our sustenance from "gentle Gaia" on a daily basis.
WV: blityr. As used in: I certainly hope the weather doesn't turn blityr than it already has this year.
I've certainly got no real inside view to the beef market; I'm practically a city boy, anymore. When I want to know an expert's view on it, I talk to the experts.
ReplyDelete(And have been doing just that, recently.)
Friend's in-laws have a ranch in western OK, they say everybody is selling their livestock because A: with the drought there's no grass for them and B: feed is too expensive, also largely because of the dry.
ReplyDeleteHad a news story the other day, the stockyards are full, they're damn near having to make appointments to sell the cattle for slaughter.
And 'gentle Gaia' my ass; she'll convert you to fertilizer in a heartbeat, and farmers and ranchers have lots of ways for it to happen.
ReplyDeleteI know YOU'VE got it, but far too many don't
I've got nothing worth contributing here, since being a Hoosier the only thing we know is corn and soybeans.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I've got the best WV I've ever seen on Tam's blog and I'll be damned if I'm gonna let it pass unrecognized.
gvi
WV: ancestra Tired of being disturbed by visions of departed relatives? Ask your doctor if 'ancestra' is right for you.
Walmart had 1.5 liter bottle of Pepsi products in display the other day... I guess that's to go along with the 3 quart "gallons" of ice cream in the frozen food section...
ReplyDeleteDann in Ohio
What we surely don't want is any sort of reprise of the drouth of the fifties. It began in late 1947 and held through 1956.
ReplyDeleteOne serious problem for both city and country folks is that the population which needs drinking water is about triple that of those times. Then there are the industrial users--which means jobs.
Bottom line: We're not yet into a drouth. This is just a dry spell. BTDT; don't need another tee shirt. (No rain at the Terlingua house since August 21st, last year.)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"(No rain at the Terlingua house since August 21st, last year.)"
ReplyDeleteIt's because I didn't bring my wife to Big Bend last October, Art. I'm not sure that I could get her to go. . .
Trying to put together a Tam/JPG/Matt/LD visit, though. But dadgummed it's hawt.