KC Sheperd, Farm Director, is back talking with Bob Rodenberger, a partner with Stockman Oklahoma Livestock Marketing, as he gives the latest on the cattle markets.
Morale is high for cattle producers this week, Rodenberger said, as many have received some good rains.
“Even the ones that have had good moisture, their next statement was, ‘We have got to have pond water now,’” Rodenberger said. “We are starting to replenish our soils, but we have got to have some pond water.”
Wheat pasture, Rodenberger said, is hit or miss throughout the state.
“We have got customers that have cattle on wheat that the wheat is outrunning the cattle, and we have got customers that are barely going to make a wheat crop,” Rodenberger said.
There were lighter runs this week to auction, Rodenberger said, mainly due to the weather.
“These grazing cattle weighing 600 and down, that market is still exceptional,” Rodenberger said. “These feeder cattle, we have seen a softness in them this week.”
The market is a little cheaper now, Rodenberger said, because many cattle are coming off of wheat all at once.
“They’ll clean the pipeline out, and everybody will be back doing business as normal,” Rodenberger said. “I am still very optimistic. We may hit a plateau here for a minute to let everybody regenerate and rethink this thing.”
While demand is good, and he is optimistic about the industry, Rodenberger still recommends that cattle producers should use price protection.
