Fall cattle prices

[TheBartman47]

Or who remembers the late 70s with "The Incredible Edible Egg" (and a reprise in the mid 90s of the same slogan)... cycles

 

[paul]

The milk mustaches a few decades ago. Seems everyone has a check off these days, they get into promotions off and on.

Rrlund, I’m not sure what you are asking of me.

Paul

 

[rrlund]

The milk mustaches a few decades ago. Seems everyone has a check off these days, they get into promotions off and on.

Rrlund, I’m not sure what you are asking of me.

Paul

No offense intended at all, I just wondered if you have cattle? I don't know where the information you posted came from. It sounds like most of what you listed pertains to Canadian dairy, not American beef.

 

[paul]

I’ve had 5-30 head for my farming career, towards the lower end currently.

I need to fill out the animal unit permit plan and be inspected every 5 years, they are letting me get by without a manure plan so far but if I had more animals or less land I’d need it for sure.

You need a ‘relationship’ ($$$$ per year) with a vet to get any type of animal drugs, down to medicated milk replacer.

Need that beq (is it?) paperwork to sell to some buyers at the sales barn. It’s less of a deal now I think than it originally was, but it sure was a deal early on.

Dairy neighbor has to be inspected for animal welfare once a year this non farm inspector can shut him down if he feels like it. In addition to the regular milk inspector. This welfare stuff applies to his calves/ feeders since on the same farm. I’m sure it’s on the horizon for all beef or critters?

Neighbor got inspected because ‘he didn’t keep manure far enough away from a tile intake.’ But then the inspector couldn’t say what field, where, so it appeared to be a witch hunt, but it still was a tough confrontational situation with regulatory threats. My neighbor couldn’t ’show the inspector where’ because my neighbor had no idea what it was about.

Paul

 

[rrlund]

I’ve had 5-30 head for my farming career, towards the lower end currently.

I need to fill out the animal unit permit plan and be inspected every 5 years, they are letting me get by without a manure plan so far but if I had more animals or less land I’d need it for sure.

You need a ‘relationship’ ($$$$ per year) with a vet to get any type of animal drugs, down to medicated milk replacer.

Need that beq (is it?) paperwork to sell to some buyers at the sales barn. It’s less of a deal now I think than it originally was, but it sure was a deal early on.

Dairy neighbor has to be inspected for animal welfare once a year this non farm inspector can shut him down if he feels like it. In addition to the regular milk inspector. This welfare stuff applies to his calves/ feeders since on the same farm. I’m sure it’s on the horizon for all beef or critters?

Neighbor got inspected because ‘he didn’t keep manure far enough away from a tile intake.’ But then the inspector couldn’t say what field, where, so it appeared to be a witch hunt, but it still was a tough confrontational situation with regulatory threats. My neighbor couldn’t ’show the inspector where’ because my neighbor had no idea what it was about.

Paul

Things are sure different where you live. The vet and antibiotic part, yes, but that's the only part of it that applies to beef in Michigan. We have a premisis ID and they have to have an RFID tag to leave the farm, but it's been that way for so long that we don't even think about it anymore. When we get to the sale barn and pull up to unload, they just say "Got their ear rings?". That's all there is to it. If they don't have tjhem in, they'll put them in for you for $5. $8 if you don't have tags and have to use theirs. If you use theirs, they need your premises ID number.

The animal welfare stuff doesn't apply to dairy here either. The state milk inspector has the power to do something about it if it appears that your dairy cattle are being abused or neglected, but otherwise, you're not going to be bothered unless somebody calls local animal control and reports you. I know one guy why had a complaint filed on him for his cow calf herd about 20 years or more, because he had a couple of thin old cows, and he said it was the state milk inspector who came out because of that complaint. The inspector told him not to worry about it, he was fine.

You need a manure management plan if you have enough "animal units" to be considered a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) , but the species of animal determines the number required to be called an animal unit. More hogs than cows, more poultry than hogs.

 

[cjunrau]

I wonder which part of the chain you're talking about. Except for the antibiotics, I don't see a whole lot there that pertains to cow/calf? Do you have any cattle Paul?

That depends on where you are. If you have more than a certain amount of cattle you must have a manure plan here. Need a manifest to transport cattle, need a dumb number to sell, buy etc. all so the feds can come in and do what they want. Need a vet check your yard every year for a $3-400 charge. For me I hide under the radar and get all my needs from my brothers who have 100+ cows/. I have 10. I live in the booneis and so far have gotten away with it. when I sell at the auction they write there own number in the paper work and keep there mouth shut. some day that will end and we will be paying out of pocket or just sell out. I find all this antibiotic nonces is crazy. At the cost of it who other than the big time guys would use it on every animal. I know the feedlots use a whole lot of it and every calf gets a shot as it comes there, whether it needs it or not. My dad has only 14 cows left and a 16 thousand dollar bull. Vet didn't want to give him penicillin for an abscess without her coming and doing her LOOK around garbage. she would come in a week. In the meantime who cares about the bull. My dad wouldn't stand for it and eventually she gave him one does only. He went to my brother after that and got a bottle like I always do.

 

[TheBartman47]

The milk mustaches a few decades ago. Seems everyone has a check off these days, they get into promotions off and on.

Rrlund, I’m not sure what you are asking of me.

Paul

Yep...

 

[Rbellucci]

Way too early. Corn and weather are wild cards. November prices are a guess right now.

 

[john in la]

What gets me is while inputs are up some; cattle are selling for all time record prices. Then something happens that brings cattle prices down a few cents per lb but still well above normal prices and all of a sudden everyone that owns a cow is going bankrupt.

 

[moresmoke]

In the 1990s the big advertisements were for beef... just pointing out it goes in cycles, waves, not that any one particular product replaces all others, not even for a time, but rather simply a slightly higher market share percentage that changes over time.

I wonder what they are doing with the checkoff dollars right now? No need to advertise.

 

[rrlund]

After a week to settle down, he's what's happening from the fallout.

"Stay Out of Our Lane": Cattle Producers Say Trump's Beef Import Plan Feels Like Betrayal

Ground beef demand remains strong as cattle producers push back on nnalert’s latest beef import plan that sent cattle prices sinking. Ranchers say consumers don’t have a beef price problem—they have a fuel price problem.

www.agweb.com

 

[ss55]

After a week to settle down, he's what's happening from the fallout.

"Stay Out of Our Lane": Cattle Producers Say Trump's Beef Import Plan Feels Like Betrayal

Ground beef demand remains strong as cattle producers push back on nnalert’s latest beef import plan that sent cattle prices sinking. Ranchers say consumers don’t have a beef price problem—they have a fuel price problem.

www.agweb.com

I suspect those Farm Journal stories are written to make farmers and ranchers feel better. Post something like that for the general public to read and the comments would be brutal.

 

[rrlund]

I suspect those Farm Journal stories are written to make farmers and ranchers feel better. Post something like that for the general public to read and the comments would be brutal.

They've been brutal enough on here.

 

[rrlund]

I guess hope and optimism weren't enough. I just checked Monday's sale barn results. Dairy bull calves are off by $500-$1000 a head. Fats are off by over 20%. But what the heck, we've been making too much money anyway according to the communist leaders on this forum who have the power and authority to make those decisions.

 

[farmersamm]

I will tell y'all for fact................this is the death knell for the small producer.

The big guys, by sheer numbers of head, have greater contribution to overhead. Small guys like me, are marginal at best. We don't have the numbers to offset setbacks/costs. We can't spread costs over a larger number of head going to market. If market conditions change in a bad way, it's catastrophic for us. Doggone shame.......last coupla years made it all worthwhile. All those lean years worth it.

 

[Steve in VA]

I will tell y'all for fact................this is the death knell for the small producer.

The big guys, by sheer numbers of head, have greater contribution to overhead. Small guys like me, are marginal at best. We don't have the numbers to offset setbacks/costs. We can't spread costs over a larger number of head going to market. If market conditions change in a bad way, it's catastrophic for us. Doggone shame.......last coupla years made it all worthwhile. All those lean years worth it.

I would argue the opposite but my heart wouldn't be in it because....you're right.

 

[farmersamm]

I would argue the opposite but my heart wouldn't be in it because....you're right.

Think about it........................

For years, an old bull would bring 75 cents to a dollar. This changed the last coupla years. You got what he was worth. We're taking a giant step back.

 

[rrlund]

Think about it........................

For years, an old bull would bring 75 cents to a dollar. This changed the last coupla years. You got what he was worth. We're taking a giant step back.

We're taking a giant step back, tripping and hitting our head on a rock.

 

[farmersamm]

What gets me is while inputs are up some; cattle are selling for all time record prices. Then something happens that brings cattle prices down a few cents per lb but still well above normal prices and all of a sudden everyone that owns a cow is going bankrupt.

If you recall the lean years, which I do........this is indeed a disaster in the making. Sure........prices are still holding somewhat steady in my market, but I see the writing on the wall.

There's more to it than you see when you drive down the highway, and see some bovines grazing.

Cost of land, even if it's passed down. The cost to keep it producing.

Cost of equipment. The costs are high, believe me. I don't believe I've ever seen a part that wasn't at least $400. They seem to like that number.

The cost of death. Yeah, they have a tendency to take a LONG NAP on occasion. That gets expensive. The money you put in the animal, the money to replace it.

Or the time it takes to produce another animal like it.

The emotional costs. This can't be quantified, but it dam sure is relevant.

I took over about 35yrs ago. I had to purchase, and haul in, equipment from Colorado. All bought at auction. This was during the Farm Crisis back then. I CANNOT COUNT ON MY FINGERS THE NUMBER OF AUCTIONS I ATTENDED WHERE THE OWNER WASN'T DRUNK AS A SKUNK, AND SOMEWHAT AGGRESSIVE. These were bad times. I felt like a heel taking advantage................but I need the equipment. When Grama went senile, the nice neighbors stole everything on the place. I started from scratch. Had to take care of her, while getting the place back up and running.

These are the "soft" costs that don't appear on a balance sheet, or income statement.

So yeah..............I'm not very happy right now...........and a lot of other people aren't either.

 

[rrlund]

If you recall the lean years, which I do........this is indeed a disaster in the making. Sure........prices are still holding somewhat steady in my market, but I see the writing on the wall.

There's more to it than you see when you drive down the highway, and see some bovines grazing.

Cost of land, even if it's passed down. The cost to keep it producing.

Cost of equipment. The costs are high, believe me. I don't believe I've ever seen a part that wasn't at least $400. They seem to like that number.

The cost of death. Yeah, they have a tendency to take a LONG NAP on occasion. That gets expensive. The money you put in the animal, the money to replace it. View attachment 162775 Or the time it takes to produce another animal like it.

The emotional costs. This can't be quantified, but it dam sure is relevant.

I took over about 35yrs ago. I had to purchase, and haul in, equipment from Colorado. All bought at auction. This was during the Farm Crisis back then. I CANNOT COUNT ON MY FINGERS THE NUMBER OF AUCTIONS I ATTENDED WHERE THE OWNER WASN'T DRUNK AS A SKUNK, AND SOMEWHAT AGGRESSIVE. These were bad times. I felt like a heel taking advantage................but I need the equipment. When Grama went senile, the nice neighbors stole everything on the place. I started from scratch. Had to take care of her, while getting the place back up and running.

These are the "soft" costs that don't appear on a balance sheet.

So yeah..............I'm not very happy right now...........and a lot of other people aren't either.

I remember going to an auction in the 80s and the Sheriff's car was sitting in the driveway. The auctioneer was a well known guy, had two or three auctions a week for several years there. He made an announcement that the sale would go on but the owner wouldn't be out to answer any questions. He was kind of talking in code, telling us that the owner had some business in the house with the sheriff and that if you bought something and pay for it, you own it, but he advised us to get things out of there immediately after the auction and not to leave anything there. So ya, most of those guys didn't want to quit back then. I used to hear a lot of stories like that from guys who went out and hauled reposessed equipment to a central location to be auctioned off. There was a sale over by the west county line that I didn't make it to. A neighbor who was there told me that a State Police officer ended up leading the owner there away in handcuffs during the sale.