Luckily my particular area has received three or four rains in the past three weeks changing that area where we finally look very green. Some of the areas that are close are not that green.
Where I normally could run 1,000 head, we had less than 100 head and we were hauling them everything they were eating for several months. Now there is lots of green and all I need is a second banker because I have enough nerve—that is not a problem. It is amazing the difference a little rain can make.
I want to publicly tell God “thank you” as we are terrible poor farmers and ranchers without rain. After the drought we went through a few years ago I think it made an impression as a month ago I had several ranchers say if it does not rain soon, “I’m selling my herd. I’m not feeding them all summer.” I said it will rain but when I said that I was thinking I hope it does.
They came out with the estimates on cattle on feed for April. Their guess put the total on feed at 104.9 percent compared to last year with placements guessed at 91.1 percent and marketing at 106 percent. I still say even with more on feed that isn’t all that negative as we were killing fat cattle 30 days ahead of schedule and with all the extra placements, which some were very light because of the drought, it should make the latter fat cattle market better.
Packers were trying to tie up cattle for next month delivery early trying to break the market it appeared but demand has been great. If you are a negative person don’t visit with me long I get enough of that and I’m not even married (LOL).
A lot of you may think this is too off colored but after 18 years you should be used to my sense of humor. A cattle customer texted me the other day and meant to say—I’m sorry I missed your calls—only with spell check or hitting a wrong button his text said, “I’m sorry I missed your balls.” Then he changed it to say calls. Soon he texted me and said, “Oh my gosh, I’m glad that text went to you instead of my boss. LOL.”
I drove by my sister’s and brother-in-law’s house and they were both working in the yard together—I stopped my pickup and acted like I was taking a picture of that. Then I hollered, “a couple that prays together stays together—those that work in the yard together generally get a divorce.”
Editor’s note: Jerry Nine, Woodward, Oklahoma, is a lifetime cattleman who grew up on his family’s ranch near Slapout, Oklahoma.
