Texans watch out.

[kenny thomas]

Some info from today:
Wildfire Update - May 7, 2011 - 10:47 a.m.

Current situation:

Extremely critical fire weather conditions are possible Sunday in portions of Northwest and West Texas.

The wildfire season is in a transition phase from a winter wind driven event to a summer season where fires are fuel driven. Rates of spread will not be as dramatic but fire behavior can be more explosive with a higher difficulty of control.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday, May 5, "the 7 month precipitation total from October 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011 will be about 6.00". This will be the driest such 7 month period ever on record. Data extends back to 1895. The previous record was 6.36" back in 1950/1951."

 

[Kingfisher]

Some info from today:
Wildfire Update - May 7, 2011 - 10:47 a.m.

Current situation:

Extremely critical fire weather conditions are possible Sunday in portions of Northwest and West Texas.

The wildfire season is in a transition phase from a winter wind driven event to a summer season where fires are fuel driven. Rates of spread will not be as dramatic but fire behavior can be more explosive with a higher difficulty of control.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday, May 5, "the 7 month precipitation total from October 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011 will be about 6.00". This will be the driest such 7 month period ever on record. Data extends back to 1895. The previous record was 6.36" back in 1950/1951."

The wind is blowing steady here again............it is getting crispy around here I suppose.................it ain't going to be pretty if it happens I fear............

 

[chrisy]

Due to the dry weather and unknown heat for this time of year, there have a few wild fires here across the Country, even as far up as Scotland, rain was needed and thankfully the weather prevailed and there was a nice steady down pour through the night last night, it is now a very nice sunny morning.
Hope you don't get to many fires (none would be nice) and stay safe everyone near the areas.

 

[backhoeboogie]

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday, May 5, "the 7 month precipitation total from October 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011 will be about 6.00". This will be the driest such 7 month period ever on record. Data extends back to 1895. The previous record was 6.36" back in 1950/1951."

It is not quite as bad as'03 was here. That was the year cactus turned into purple cardboard. Cactus is still green and in bloom. Of course, '03 was localized. Upper flood plains of the brazos put a flood on us here. We burned and burned.

 

[dewey]

there isnt any grass around here to catch a fire. maybe alot of smoking cow piles. before long wont be any cows around here with as many of them being sold and most cows going to the packer. most pairs are split and cows go to the packer along with good young bred cows that should be going back to the pasture. no one local has grass and they are selling out so not to have to buy anymore high dollar hay. five years of going thru droughts and buying over priced hay plus with the cost of fuel alot are getting out. it hard not to sale out with prices of cattle being what they are with the conditions we have right now.

 

[1982vett]

there isnt any grass around here to catch a fire. maybe alot of smoking cow piles. before long wont be any cows around here with as many of them being sold and most cows going to the packer. most pairs are split and cows go to the packer along with good young bred cows that should be going back to the pasture. no one local has grass and they are selling out so not to have to buy anymore high dollar hay. five years of going thru droughts and buying over priced hay plus with the cost of fuel alot are getting out. it hard not to sale out with prices of cattle being what they are with the conditions we have right now.

Dewey...not only overpriced hay and fuel costs....but all of the outrageously expensive input costs compared to risk/reward vs return, at some time you have to quit :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: and understand quitting or getting out isn't a sign of failure....it means you finally understand the econimics of the situation. Just as all the Mom and Pop stores are a thing of the past, a farmer/rancher can't feed the world if he can't feed and cloth himself!

By the way...in my ovservations...I'd consider splitting the calves from the cows before they enter the ring...packers would not be buying pairs then reselling the calf if they couldn't make money doing it. They would make the auction split before buying...why give them that premium that should be yours. This is where knowing what is happening in your market and how your cattle generally sell can make a few more bucks for you.

 

[dewey]

the packers arent buying the calves just the cows. the pairs are being split with the packer taking the cows and calves be sold to the feedlot or who ever. that may happen in places and i have seen it done but i havent seen the packer buyers buy a pair and then sale the calf here lately. the guy starting the cattle splits them in the ring.

 

[kenny thomas]

Pairs are being split here also and we have so much grass the cows can't keep up. Kill price is just too good for many of them to go back home.