The PrimeTIMES - Nov. 2022

NOVEMBER 2022

REITER’S BLOCK

Way, Way Up. And a Little Down.

What a wild fall! Some extreme highs and heartfelt lows from this camp. Way more of the good stuff – the highs – I am happy to report, but some significant lows as well. You can’t say it wasn’t predicted however, the good stuff anyway. The tea leaves were easy to read for coming market trends, but it sure seems like profits and prospecting have arrived more quickly and more aggressively than anticipated…it’s interesting and exciting to say the least.

Some of these sales are phenomenal. The 6-figure baby bovine has become a new fixture of the scene. They pop up all over, it seems, and cause plenty of chatter among those in the crowd, virtual or otherwise. Watching people react to extremely high-priced items of any kind is good entertainment, especially livestock people. Some react with actual applause and genuine smiles; sometimes we stop the auction for photos and hugs. Some kick the dirt or slam their phones in anger. Some roll their eyes and shake their heads in disbelief. Everyone has an opinion but in each instance only three opinions really matter: the seller, the buyer, the contending bidder. Everything else is just chatter. But it sure is entertaining.

Aside from the eye-poppers however, the demand for cattle of all kinds is robust across the board. Our fall sales have seen hearty increases in year-over-year income and there are lots of nicely priced cattle moving in the country. The demand is strong because the valuations among most breeding cattle are still very attractive. It’s still a great time

to buy and expand when you do the simple math about supply and demand and then factor in special programs now at work in many states. I will be excited to watch what happens in the coming years.

Sadly, our business lost some great friends in the past month. Larry Lindsey, FL, was a friend and customer for many years. I sourced many winning steers for him and he always liked to remind me that I bought him the world’s best Charolais bull for $2800. He was a great guy that helped many juniors in central Florida. I liked him a lot and it knocked the wind out of me when I learned that he passed.

Rod Ferguson, OH, owned Chippewa Valley Angus Farm. We talked in September about how excited he was for the future and we communicated frequently to promote his annual auction. He died unexpectedly just a few days before his Cattlemen 4 Cattlemen Sale last month. I’ll never forget the courage of his wife, Laurie, who delivered the news to the crowd before the auction.

Scott Stockslager, OH, was a fixture at Ohio shows and sales for as long as I can remember, and longer. He was easy to spot for his distinctive dress and he was easy to like for his laid-back demeanor. We did our first business in one of the first auctions I ever managed, The Ohio Shorthorn Breeders Showcase, back in the early 90’s and remained friends ever since. He is already missed. Life is short. Buy the cows you want. Buy. Sell. Be Happy.

Craig Reiter, Publisher