Farm Director KC Sheperd is back talking with Bob Rodenberger, a Stockman Oklahoma Livestock Marketing partner, as he gives the latest on the cattle markets.
According to Rodenberger, cattle markets are “tremendous.” He said, “We are in a seller’s market. The cow calf man is in the driver’s seat, and he can heal up a lot of wounds.”
He expressed sympathy for buyers as they are charged with making things work after paying so much for cattle.
He is concerned about the effects that tariffs will have on cattle markets, but expressed support for the way they are being used for negotiation leverage. “I think we are just trying to level the playing field, and it’s going to hurt for a little while, but hopefully, in the long run, it will balance everything out.”
He’s looking forward to the rain expected this weekend and next week to fill ponds and water pastures and wheat fields. “We are in agriculture, we need a rain all of the time,” he said. “Everybody I’ve talked to is in pretty good shape on pond water, but we’ve got to have a rain. If you are in sandy ground, you are suffering quite a bit right now with all of this wind, but we are in a lot better shape than I thought we were after talking to a lot of people.”
He doesn’t expect a huge turnout at the upcoming sale in Oklahoma City on Monday, due to both rain and the Easter holiday, but he’s looking forward to the Special Cow Sale in Apache on Saturday, May 3rd. He expects 500 nice cows, with 400 of them having calves on their sides. The sale will begin at 11 a.m.
“You can buy online,” he said, then warned. “If you are going to buy online, don’t wait until Friday or Saturday morning. Go ahead and call in and update your financials so they can register you as a buyer online.”
