New information about one of Oklahoma’s most famous cold cases may soon see the light of day. A multi-county grand jury has investigated the 40-year-old murder of Osage County rancher E.C. Mullendore III.
This took Marty a month to write. Pass it on. He sent it before they threw him in the hole unjustly.
Timely topics and tough issues will be addressed during the breakout sessions at the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA)133rd Annual Convention March 19-21 in Fort Worth, Texas. Convention participants can be a part of more than 10 breakout sessions on Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21.
Good cattle can keep getting better. It only takes a little communication, focus and cooperation working toward that common goal. Allan Sents has seen it happen. In fact, he sees that potential to improve as the silver lining in every closeout.
A turn of events took place this week in with live and feeder cattle futures. Both had been moving higher the past few weeks on solid gains in both the general economy and wholesale beef prices.
Join us from the American Angus Association for Cattlenetwork.com’s weekly cattle market report by USDA’s Corbitt Wall. Visit www.cattlenetwork.com or www.angus.org.
The cattle market had a good week. Yes, the futures lost some ground,
but the markets were overbought and due for a correction. Cash cattle
trade was steady, which was good considering the weakness in the
futures.
Jackson County Sheriff’s officials say they found dozens of emaciated
cows and some deceased cattle on a North Bend farm this month.
This week an Oklahoma rancher called with a question about how to feed
his replacement heifers that he was removing from wheat pasture after
first hollow stem (next week).
Compared to last week’s sharp gains, feeder steers and heifers weighing over 700 lbs sold mostly steady with several areas reporting newfound weakness to offset those that were still realizing strength left over from last week. Stocker cattle and calves continued in high demand with price levels firm to 3.00 higher and some instances quoted as much as 7.00 higher than last week’s advances.
Domestic markets have gotten most of the attention in the beef industry
the past year and for good reason. International beef trade, while not
viewed as a major market weakness, has not been recognized as
supporting markets a great deal as well.
The total number of layers during January 2010 averaged 339 million, down 1 percent from last year.
NBCDFW.com reports the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(SPCA) seized malnourished cattle following a tip from the Van Zandt
County Sheriff’s Department the previous day.
USDA’s February cattle on feed report said we started the month with
2.6% fewer cattle than a year ago and the lowest number for any
February since 2003.
U.S. restaurant operators’ sentiment improved last month, a promising sign for beef, pork and dairy producers hurt by a prolonged slump in foodservice demand.
The National Restaurant Association’s Expectations Index rose to 100.1 in January, up 0.2 percent from December, according to survey results released today.
Sow prices reached record highs this week. On Wednesday, the national weighted average price for sows exceeded $60/cwt live for the first time ever (at least I cannot find a similar day). Why? We are not exactly sure.
Open interest up over 308,000 contracts. Long/Short spread widens.
Weekly beef production highest in 3 weeks. High this year: 515.6 mp; Low this year: 482.5 mp.
Cow prices in the U.S. up $2.60 in February. Arizona up $4; Arkansas up $2.50.
Pit-traded Chicago Mercantile Exchange hogs Friday repeated Thursday’s
one-month highs fueled by relatively bullish market fundamentals.
Technical momentum and early jitters about potential planting delays
pushed Chicago Board of Trade corn futures to their highest price in
six weeks Friday.
Crude oil futures got a boost Friday by a weaker dollar and strong
macroeconomic data. Crude’s strength also helped fuel a late-day surge
of buying in expiring gasoline and distillate contracts.
The Waterways Council (WCI) has developed and begun airing a new
30-second TV commercial, “Keep America Moving,” which highlights the
critical value of the inland waterways system to jobs, to the
environment and energy efficiency, and to traffic congestion relief.
A slow-moving winter storm smacked the Northeast on Friday, unleashing heavy snow, rain and hurricane-force winds as it knocked out power to more than a million homes and businesses, turned Maine beachfront streets into rivers and piled on the misery in places hit by three major blizzards in less than a month.
Natural gas futures ended slightly higher Friday as traders weighed
forecasts for more cold weather over the next few weeks against signs
that natural gas output may be on the rise.
The index of prices received by U.S. farmers for their products in
February was down 4.3% From January, but up 5.6% From a year earlier,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday.
Dairy farms in New Hampshire and across New England are in dire straits. It costs about $1.80 to produce a gallon of milk, but our local farmers are only getting about $1.25 for their effort.
On Tuesday, livestock and poultry groups hosted educational briefings
on Capitol Hill to share the facts about the importance of tools like
antibiotics in raising healthy food animals.
Week after week I receive news releases from the Department of Agriculture explaining the need to more closely connect consumers with the farmers who supply their food and to encourage an increase in marketing of locally grown “fresh, nutritious food.”
Bruce Barber and Terry Long are avid outdoorsmen on a mission. Their
goal is to return the Leon County land they co-own back to its natural
state.
A report released by two environmental groups says toxic seepage from
coal ash ponds at Four Corners Power Plant is contaminating a major
water source for cattle and wildlife.
The Wyoming Business Council Agribusiness Division is sponsoring
activities during National Ag Week to honor Wyoming’s agriculture
industry and recognize the hard work of Wyoming’s farmers and ranchers.
The Brown County Commission says the beef plant under development in Aberdeen will not get the benefit of tax increment financing bonds until it pays $131,000 in past-due property taxes.
Born 100 years too late, Roddy Dean Pippin rides a horse down the main drag, doing his best John Wayne.
He still fits the part of the cowboy in this spit of Texas near the Red River, with its church-steepled skyline and landscape of mesquite trees and tumbleweeds.
Jake Otte’s banker suspected He may have stolen cattle when he cashed
Otte’s check from Wahoo Livestock knowing Otte didn’t own any cattle as
reported by The Chadron Record.
Young chickens slaughtered during January 2010 averaged 5.64 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from January 2009.
Marcia Gorrell writes “Semi View” for the Marshall Democrat-News. It’s commentary on the ag business as seen through the eyes of a small family farmer. A little blurb on the newspaper web site describes her this way: “Marcia Gorrell is the agriculture reporter for The Marshall Democrat-News.
Arlen and Becky Sawyer raise registered Angus cattle — and enjoy the benefits of Certified Angus Beef — near Bassett, Nebraska. This video is a part of the I Am Angus series.
The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office says deputies who answered an animal cruelty complaint found 180 to 200 head of neglected livestock in a rural part of the parish.
Spokesman John Sonnier (SOHN’-yea) says several animals were dead, and it was clear they all had been lacking food and medical care.
Patrick Michaels, a climatologist from George Mason University, will
explain the implications of climate change for agriculture during the
featured presentation March 5 at Kansas State University Cattlemen’s
Day in Manhattan.
Box Z Ranch is owned and operated by Steven Zunker and Louis Christa.
They both come from families that have raised purebred and crossbred
cattle.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has announced it will make a number of changes to its ground beef purchase program, based on received recommendations from the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
Cornbelt Update is a weekly summary of news from Extension,
government, and other attributable sources, focused on marketing, farm
management, and other issues that are of interest to Midwestern farm
owners and operators.
While wholesale beef prices have not officially turned lower, the gains
are getting harder to make. Today’s midday beef report indicated a
slight 25 cent gain for choice and 18 cent gain for select.
Stormy weather will gradually subside across the Northeast, although
breezy conditions and snow showers will persist in some areas through
the weekend. A disturbance producing light rain in the South will reach
Florida on Saturday, while a new storm will cross the West.
Lean hogs & boxed beef hit high of the year. Corn and wheat down.
Traders who were long after two days of hog rallies on the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange might pocket profits Friday, which could weigh on
some contracts.
Chicago Board of Trade corn futures are expected to open higher Friday
on short-covering following Thursday’s losses and early jitters about
the crop.
Pork production totaled 1.81 billion pounds, 11 percent below the previous year. Hog kill totaled 8.90 million head, 10 percent below January 2009. The average live weight was unchanged from the previous year, at 272 pounds.
I like Fauquier Banshares (FBSS) below $15, it only has an ADV of 1000 shares so be careful bidding. Lloyds Banking Group plc (LYG) at $7.25 is a good buy. My target for both is $25-$28 range.
September 17, 2009Personally I thought the idea of people paying to use coin counting machines was insane. But I was wrong. They put those Coinstar (CSTR) machines in and the people came. There were lines at the supermarket to use it. I couldn’t believe it. But that was then. The “change” must have run out. I haven’t seen one of those machines used in some time. Coinstar does have other machines and an investment in Red Box, but the easy money days of counting change appear to be over.
Costco (COST) saw decreased sales this quarter and missed their numbers, but the real reason I may downgrade — they are starting a trial at two NYC area stores to accept food stamps. Costco, because it charges a membership fee, is like an oasis in the urban jungle. If they start accepting food stamps, it will make it no different than any other large city retailer, think Target or K-Mart.
Mr. Gioia points to the Costco on Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City, Queens, in his district. First opened in 1996, the store is within walking distance for nearly 30,000 residents of three public housing projects: the Queensbridge, Ravenswood and Astoria Homes. “Why Doesn’t Costco Accept Food Stamps?”New York Times, November 11, 2008.
How could anyone not want to shop with them? One of Costco’s reason for never applying to sell food stamps is the $50 yearly fee. Considering the government uses debit cards for the food stamp program so that recipients aren’t shamed, they will probably cover the cost of the membership.
May 28, 2009With the advent of commodity based ETFs and their growth in popularity, gold now has the opportunity to be treated in the same manner as a tech stock.
Investment in gold is nearing 50% of all gold consumption, and one third of that is ETFs. The price of gold has been kind to ETFs. And ETFs have been kind to the price of gold. Investors invest in ETFs as the price of gold climbs. With gold showing recent weakness, I believe that we will begin to see investors “profit take” thus forcing ETFs to divest ….. divest …. liquidate ….. cash markets will have to absorb this inventory.
The skew on the puts currently reflects anticipation of increasing implied volatility. If the spot price continues breaking through levels of support look for an increase in implied volatility in gold ETF put options across all months.
March 4, 2009Just buy it. UBSI @ $15.32
CEO said forget the TARP funds.
CEO is a West Virginian who just bought more stock than he makes in a year.
Long 9 Sep Corn @ 377¼
vs.
Short 4 Sep Beans @ 860¾
Long 5 MS @ $20.00
Short 1 GS @ $80.00
Taken off now results in a net of $23.25 in the cash register. Cha-ching.
Price Target: $220
Position closed March 5, 2009: $220.00
January 7, 2009It’s always time to buy something, but what (is it time to buy now)?
Here’s what I like:
Genuine Parts Company (GPC) $37.35 – - 39¢ quarterly dividend
Equitable Resources Inc. (EQT) $32.20 – - 22¢ quarterly dividend
Olin Corp. (OLN) $16.95 – - 20¢ quarterly dividend
And here’s one I love:
BP Plc. (BP) $45.25 – - 84¢ quarterly dividend (this is almost a 7.5% dividend folks)
All have healthy dividends, strong stable balance sheets, and room for growth.
December 30, 2008Morgan Stanley: $16.00
Goldman Sachs: $73.00
The spread we bought for a credit of $3.25 is now at $7.00
November 10, 2008Long 5 shares of Morgan Stanley(MS) @ $26.25
vs.
Short 1 share of Goldman Sachs(GS) @ $134.50
Net cost: – $3.25
Can’t sell stock? Buy a deep put or sell a deep call for the GS leg.
Coca-Cola (KO) – Sell ($53.39)
Chesapeke Energy (CHK) – Buy ($38.57)
Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP) – Buy ($33.57)
Joy Global (JOYG) – Buy ($51.55)
Goldman Sachs (GS) – Sell ($108.00)
Morgan Stanley (MS) – Buy ($22.55)
Fifth Third (FITB) – Buy ($15.96)
I have my own research methods. Don’t ask.
September 19, 2008