with sandy and loam soils often are the best candidates for planting into a stale seedbed because soil crusting with intense rain is less likely. However, all soils are most susceptible to erosion losses when intense rain comes right after tillage and before drying cycles have had the opportunity to help restore soil aggregate stability.

Cash trade—or even the rumor of it—was basically non-existent throughout the first half of last week, with not even 1,500 head sold by Wednesday evening. Packer bids only developed late Wednesday, and at $123-124 live and $198 dressed, they lagged behind offers by $5-7.

The April Cattle on Feed report (COF) came out Friday, April 19. The report covers numbers of cattle on feed in feedlots of 1,000 head or greater capacity as of April 1, and the number placed and marketed during March. The biggest surprises came from the number of cattle placed, which was well above both year ago levels and pre-report estimates.

Across the Rockies and Plains areas, snowfall totals for the month have hit record highs; but, along with those much needed inches of moisture, there were record temperatures, on the bottom end of the thermometer. In fact, according to records, April temperatures were the coldest in 30 years in some areas, and snowfall totals were the highest.

Despite the fact that the industry continues to provide a safe, abundant food supply to a growing population, some big names in Hollywood have joined the animal rights social media blitz wagon, sharing their political views on topics relating to animal rights.

We know that calf death will occur. However, that does not mean we accept the death of a calf. Instead, we see it as a challenge to our management abilities. The recent cold spells and spring snows are a challenge for those who chose to have their cows calve early or, for all practical purposes, at the traditional calving time.

“The production side is looking for something bigger to cover their increased costs,” he said, “but the retail and foodservice sides are looking for [more units of] something much smaller that’s easier to manage from a portion-control standpoint and a unit-cost standpoint.

Boxed beef started to move higher last week and beef markets were turning more active for middle meats. Let’s hope that folks feel an overwhelming need to fire up the grills after several weeks of pent up demand from the delay of grilling season. Lateseason snows have hammered Plains states the past few weeks.

The heated water debate in Oregon’s Klamath Basin got a little warmer last week when Klamath County Commission and Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber both declared a drought emergency.

“If producers with spring calving herds have thin cows now, they need to put those cows on a diet that allows them to gain weight,” Lemenager said. “That’s challenging because those cows are approaching peak lactation, but if you don’t make adjustments, fertility can suffer.