OVER MY SHOULDER
Little went on in November
J.D. SARTWELLE

November seemed to be an almost do-nothing month. The month started dry in most areas, saw moisture related activity at mid month and then saw it again while temperatures with few exceptions were rather moderate. During the month just like the month before not much happened in the export trade, not much happened or rather not resolved on the political scene, crude oil galloped toward the dollar mark before backing off, while diesel climbed out the roof.

Mid-month rains spurred a little activity among the grazing guys and toward the end of the month with even more moisture and even a good bit of wet snow, grazing prospects became a little brighter.

On the export scene, it seems we had another month of talking with our so-called trading partners without a whole lot of progress. The Farm Bill was stalled in the Senate during the first of the month and then forgotten about when the Congress took their Thanksgiving break. Trade was resumed on older Canadian cattle and product from older cattle just after the middle of the month. Not a lot happened as our neighbors to the north have to sort out what they can do with high-priced grains, currency issues and how they'll verify some of the cattle or product that they'll send down here.

In the feedyards, the month started slow with fed prices in the low nineties. A few good things were going on, such as supplies tightening up and lower live slaughter weights but the turkey day holidays kept a damper on things until the end of the month when prices climbed back to the mid nineties. The month ended with futures at a discount to cash.

At the markets after about two months of watching the light and middle weight calves take some pretty good hickies, moisture activity perked up the light calf trade by a few dollars and at least let us come up on the last month of year in better shape than we had been during most of the fall. At month's end, the light weight calves put on anywhere from $5 to $15. Slaughter cows and bulls tracked sideways for the entire month and saw very little movement.

Total numbers at the market once again were only moderate and did not pressure the trucking situation.

Our production year is coming to a close. It was a good year until the rains stopped coming making things a bit tougher, but all in all, it was a very good year with lots of healing up.

Not much usually happens in the market place during the last month, but it will be a time for us beef guys to really push beef for the holidays.

Let's hope that we still have a lot of 70 degree days in the mix and can string them together.