NMS June 2022

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seems unlikely at this point. In this case, the net herd culling rate would be just under 13 percent (though still a record level) and the 2023 beef cow herd could be roughly 29.2 million head, down about three percent year over year. All of these outcomes depend on drought in the coming weeks and months. Dramatic and immediate improvement in drought conditions could allow the industry to avoid these rather dire results. The next few months will likely have impacts on the cattle industry for several years. Drought conditions that result in the levels of liquidation described above would also prevent retention of replacement heifers. This implies that, if conditions do not improve until late this year or into next year, better conditions in 2023 would, at best, allow the industry to stabilize inventories and lay the groundwork to begin recovery in 2024 at the earliest. There is, however, some optimism. As May begins, we are seeing some rainfall in parts of western Oklahoma that have seen very little moisture in six months. The latest Climate Prediction Center seasonal drought outlook map now shows prospects for some drought improvement in the Plains, though drought is expected to continue. The next few weeks are critical.

On that fateful summer day in 1876, every member of Custer’s Seventh Cavalry COLLECTORS fell at the hands of the Native American CORNER warriors. It was one of the worst losses the by Jim Olson United States Army ever suffered. The soldier who carried this weapon, just like all other members under Custer’s charge, did not survive. Here is what has been found out about our gun over the years. The carbine in this tale was picked up from the battlefield by a Native American warrior and spirited away as a spoil of war. The Native American warrior who wound magine if you will the tale of a gun. It’s a up with this gun was named High Eagle. A Springfield Model 1873 carbine which member of the Sioux tribe, and only about was issued in 1874 through the Spring- 14 at the time. High Eagle was later noted field Armory. A gun that was issued to a by historians as a well-documented particmember of the Seventh Cavalry. A carbine ipant in the battle. High Eagle is also that, as it turned out, was carried into battle historically linked to the Sitting Bull arrest on June 25th, 1876 in Montana—at the during the Ghost Dance uprising at Pine battle of the Little Bighorn! Ridge and also Wounded Knee. High Eagle obviously cherished this gun as is evident by its tacked decorations and wellworn appearance. It even has a small “H” tacked into the stock using brass nails. It also has an old repair using wire and tacks to strengthen the wrist area of the stock, a standard Native

Little Bighorn Native Capture Gun

I

Mondays, Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry. This analysis is a part of the weekly series known as the “Cow Calf Corner” published electronically by Dr. Peel and Mark Johnson. Today, Dr. Peel talks about how the drought has influenced and will continue to influence beef cow inventory.

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JUNE 2022

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