Think its time to sell the cows

[jlsmith]

Im thinking about selling all my cows before the market falls. Im thinking were are gona have a rough spring here in the south. Just wondering if anybody else was thinking this.

 

[wally hamma]

If you spring calve now is not the time to sell.Wait till they calve then sell.
Around here il. people are getting lazy @ want some one else to calve for them. I think the will just keep getting better. 600lbs. steers are 1.30 to1.50,
Pound cows .60.

 

[bp fick]

I've been watching commodity prices carefully. They are absolutely trending upward. The question always is when prices are up on the beef or poultry or whatever is this: How much is my feed and other costs rising in relation?

It's the margins that concern me most.

 

[dmccarty]

One of the columns in Progressive Farmer said that corn might get to $7 a bushel in the March time frame. The report was in the last issue.

Later,
Dan

 

[jlsmith]

I've been watching commodity prices carefully. They are absolutely trending upward. The question always is when prices are up on the beef or poultry or whatever is this: How much is my feed and other costs rising in relation?

It's the margins that concern me most.

Thats true, Im concerned about drought where im at. The beef prices are not where id like them to be right now. If we dont get the rain we need our hay season aint gona be good which will affect alot of folks in the area. Not to mention the price of fuel up to 5 to 6 dollars this summer.

 

[jlsmith]

If you spring calve now is not the time to sell.Wait till they calve then sell.
Around here il. people are getting lazy @ want some one else to calve for them. I think the will just keep getting better. 600lbs. steers are 1.30 to1.50,
Pound cows .60.

Thats true and i have over 100 head. I have plenty of hay and feed to last the winter and let a few more cows calve out. I worried about the lakes drying up and not having enough water for them. Ill prob sell out and just bale everything next season that i can and then get a few more head of cattle.

 

[bp fick]

If, as you say, you have the feed to finish the winter, already laid up, then you can be patient a little while longer, I should think. Futures look good for beef, near term. I don't see much of anything backing down, price wise.

Feed prices are jumping. Fuel is heading nowhere but north of 4-5 bucks.

I'd say your concerns, especially about water, is a real one. Who is to say what the weather will bring any of us? but, You might keep a few of the older calves as a hedge against the future, but sell off the main bunch, say, no later than March. I guess I'd take that gamble and keep a couple dozen weaned calves.

It's not the price for beef dropping that would concern me too much. It's the inflationary pressures on everything else that got most of us worried.

 

[sweettractors]

I think everyone should sell because that would make mine worth more. Ken Sweet

 

[beppington]

I think everyone should sell because that would make mine worth more. Ken Sweet

Isn't it the opposite of that? :confused2:

 

[smstonypoint]

Isn't it the opposite of that? :confused2:

It depends on how long he holds on to them.

Steve

 

[sweettractors]

Isn't it the opposite of that? :confused2:

When the nation's cattle herd liquidates for what ever reason, the smaller population that is left will profit from higher prices because of the shorter supply of beef. Ken Sweet

 

[sweettractors]

It depends on how long he holds on to them.

Steve

I would never sell in a distressed market. That is the same reason the banks are still holding the mortgages. Prices will go back up, if they can hold long enough and maintain the physical structures. Ken Sweet

 

[smstonypoint]

Thats true and i have over 100 head. I have plenty of hay and feed to last the winter and let a few more cows calve out. I worried about the lakes drying up and not having enough water for them. Ill prob sell out and just bale everything next season that i can and then get a few more head of cattle.

Just curious. Are any of the farmers/ranchers in your area using the rainfall-index form of crop insurance? RMA Expands PRF Insurance Availability for 2011 Crop Year

Steve

 

[dieselbeef]

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