Jack Dillard's Double D Auction, weekly column, and livestock listing, serving Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas

This is a great time to be in the cattle business

08-29-10

Due to the type of weather we had the latter part of last week it leads me to start our visit this Sunday without comments on the temperature.

Cowboy Logic! “The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose but mosquitoes and gnats come close.” This quote is from Kit Pharo, Cheyenne Wells, Colorado.

If you are in the cattle business and not enjoying it, best you search another area. Think about the facts. Fat cattle were selling for $1 per pound last week. This is August. Some 450 pound steer calves sold for $1.50 per pound in a video. Corn prices have leveled off. Cow numbers continue to decline. The latest estimate for the nations cattle herd is 93.7 million. That is 10 million head less than 1996. The demand for beef both in the USA and abroad is increasing. Folks, this is a great time to be in the cattle business and it looks like it could continue for some time. Now is the time to set aside profits. What goes up comes down so just be prepared.

If you can find energy for a fall garden they produce well and now is the time to get one going. Even container plantings will do. Choose varieties that have the shortest days to harvest. The shorter days and cool nights make the right selection of varieties a must. Transplants of broccoli, cabbage, collards, kale and Brussels sprouts plus beets, carrots, radishes, and turnips should be seeded soon. Do not be discouraged we will probably have a few more 100 degree days, but only a few.

Adrian Rogers said, “God’s greatest gifts are Jesus and time.”

Shucks! The alignment of I-69 is being brought up again with the land in the LSU AgCenter Pecan Research and Extension Center a major part of the project. This information is from a meeting held August 3 and 4. I believe it would be a mistake to take any of that land that has been in such a successful and needy program as pecan research. I received a well written protest to my thinking from a landowner-producer which I guess was having I-69 go across his land and I do understand. Politics costs and pays. This year is no different than many before.

It seems like at times it takes an occasion or happening to allow us to reflect on portions of the past that needs to be reemphasized. Chris Noles passed away earlier in August and I was pleased to be asked to assist with the funeral service.

Chris was a dedicated 4-H Extension employee in Sabine, Red River and Desoto parishes, managed the Co-op in Ringgold, was a part of Louisiana Department of Education working with the FFA program for over 20 years and managed a ranch out of McAlister, Oklahoma but never moved there. While enjoying 87 years, Chris served his country in the Pacific (New Guinea) in World War II and was a tireless worker for whoever he served. Thanks to his wife, Evelyn, their son, Russell and daughter, Amy for allowing me to be part of your loved one’s memorial service.

Will Rogers said, “Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.”

LSU AgCenter has changed the Ag Extension Districts around again. Under the direction of Dr. Patrick Coyler, Red River Research Station, is Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Red River, Natchitoches, Sabine, Desoto, Lincoln, Jackson, Winn, Claiborne and Bienville Parishes.

This year in August, the month has 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays and 5 Tuesdays. That will not happen again for 823 years. You will have to pass that along; don’t believe I’ll be around.

Thanks to the broiler industry in eleven parishes in Louisiana, there will be 178,000 tons of litter (manure and bedding material) available to fertilize our pastures and hayfields. The approximate 2000 broiler houses are in Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Sabine, Union, Vernon, Webster and Winn Parishes. Poultry litter is a positive for soils and gives a lingering boost to forage production. The Hill Farm Research Station in Homer is active in poultry research.

“The best plan for the future is to get the present in order.”

The hummingbirds are moving. We have from six to eight and along with the feeders they are enjoying the flowers.

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