If only...

[15444]

If only we could grab prices like these:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SF_LS750.txt

Compared to:

http://www.vjvauction.com/vjvold/pages/market_reports.htm

But even with prices at the Canadian sale, we have come to the point where we really aren't that far off from prices last year? Calves in the 5-6 weight range fetching 90 cents to a dollar? Seems similar to what they were offering last year. Maybe the whole 40 cent calves thing for the fall was all blown out of proportion?

[15444]

After reading the regulations for the new set-aside program for calves, I would think that the program gives guys some incentive to keep their cull and open cows (and possibly even buy uber cheap cows) this year as they could then count them in the program as having dead calves and (in some cases) claim up to 100% of their live calf crop, instead of the 40% alloted.

A few years back, had about 3 cows that rolled on their backs before they calved. Considering that even those cases would be allowed to enroll in such a program as this, I wonder how many cows I could say we lost before they had their calves in 2004? If producers look at different scenarios, this program might show some actual worth!