Well thank the Lord for another good rain, two weekends in a row. Another 1-3 inches fell across Wise County late Saturday night into Sunday morning early, so for April total 5-6-inches. Year to date 15 inches. I have a new rainfall app that is dead on accurate so when I asked you how much rain you got don’t tell me a yarn. LOL! This morning, we have a dense fog over the county which is kind of strange for almost May. Soil and Air Temperatures are still cool for this time of year, but they will be warming up this week according to the weatherman. In the Rainfall department March was good but April was even better, let’s just hope it continues in May and June. I don’t think Mr. El Nino is in any hurry to leave, and that is fine by me. Because of the cooler weather pattern our warm season grasses are slow in coming on for the most part. But we have lots of winter grass now although it’s all headed out and watery, but it is providing forage for our cattle even though the protein and energy levels have dropped quite a bit after heading. Most of our cattle look fat and happy on the winter grass while the summer grass is coming on slowly. Our Coastal Bermudagrass hay fields are coming on and where there is no winter grass competition it is doing very good and has more growth own it than it would otherwise. As for fertilizing it’s all over the place this year, some got it out rather early, some waited until the winter grass headed out and some still haven’t got it out. Even the weeds are confused. Like I said before everyone has their own agenda/management plan that works for them, so each to his own. As for our wheat to harvest, it looks really good and could possibly make up to 60-70 bushels I’m told. I was told that some of the wheat over to the east of us got some freeze damage back in late March when we had that last cold spell. A lot of our wheat was cut for hay this time and some of it has been rained on at least once, some more, but with it cool so late this year, and some heavy dews like this morning, it’s been hard to get it to dry. Its good and making a lot of bales but the moisture content could be a little higher than normal with producers trying to get it rolled up before it gets rained on again, usually one rain on it doesn’t hurt it too bad but after that it usually does cut down on the quality, and protein and TDN levels and mold. Anyway, buyer beware and ask some questions!
I take pride in saying our Wise farmers and ranchers are some of the most honest guys in the business and they will shoot straight with you. A producer up in north Wise said that the corn crop looks good and is really coming on. The milo crop is all up, but a farmer down south told me the other day that it wasn’t looking that good in his opinion, at least not yet. It’s struggling with the cooler weather and some of it was planted too early in my opinion, especially on a year like this one. I’m always ask this time of year if one should get their winter grass off of their improved grass hayfields, and my answer is always yes, the winter grasses are competition for your improved warm season grasses so if you haven’t already, I would graze it off, OR, cut and bale it off, AND you’ll both be, better off! But hey Hoss, you’re the Boss!
Cattle Markets as of 4-27-24
Slaughter Cattle $182
Futures-Live $185
Feeders $249
750 lb Feeders $255
550 lb Stockers $312
Good six weight weaned steers averaged $3.00 and same weight weaned heifers averaged $2.92. High dressing slaughter cows averaged $135 and average bulls $166.
Decatur Livestock Market as of 4-22-24. 747 Head Thankful for the good, widespread rainfall this past weekend! The market on calves continues to be steady on most classes. Continued demand for young, take-home kind of breeds and pairs. High yield packer cows were a little cheaper this week compared to last week. Not as many good, lean packer bulls so market was $7/cwt lower.
https://www.decaturlivestockmarketllc.com/current-market-report
