The prices for cattle are skyhigh right now. After years of barely making it and doing outside jobs to support the cow habit and make the ranch payment and property taxes, it is sure nice, but of course there are a lot of factors going on in the cattle market right now. Cow herds are the lowest they have been since the early 50s. Hay is profitable, especially with the overseas market tempting ranchers to sell their hay, rather than put it through their cows. The drought in various states has affected the market and the average age of a rancher is in the 60s. We have young people coming up, but many find the 7 day work week not very appealing. Then there are the wolves!! For those of us who have ridden out the low years and there were many, we are all warily enjoying this time, waiting for the other boot to drop and budgeting for next years hay and fuel cost increases and trying to pay down debt incurred during the lean years!
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 14:58:15 +0000