People, Places & Events

What high corn prices mean to cow-calf producers
By Brian Cummins
Van Zandt County Extension Agent
CANTON–Every year there are new challenges for cattle producers to deal with.
In 2005 and 2006, we had to deal with drought and a lack of forage for cattle to eat.
In 2007, East Texas producers have had to deal with
high corn prices, increased costs of transportation and too much rain to make good hay.
Cow-calf producers are going to have to make changes in their operations in order to maintain profitability.
The price of corn has
readjusted the market. Bigger, faster growing calves will be the ones in demand.
Cattle feeders will want genetically superior calves because they will feed cheaper on the high dollar corn.
Just to show you that feeders are looking for heavier calves, this week an order buying company put out some orders for crossbred
heifer calves at various weights.
They wanted to buy the 350 to 400 pound heifers for $1.12 a pound or less. The same class of heifers weighing 475 to 500 pounds were to be bought for $1.04 per pound.
The bigger sisters to
these same type of heifers weighing 550 to 600 pounds were to be bought for
$1.02 or less per pound. That is only a 10 cents a pound spread between a 400 pound
heifer and a 600 pound heifer of the same class.
The type of bull used will be important. Producers can nolonger afford a “cow freshner” or just any bull to get cows bred.
When corn prices are scaring $4 per bushel, cattle feeders look for top performing cattle because they can not afford to waste feed.
What do these calves need to look like? They need to be heavier muscled and stand on good bone. As far as color goes, the cattle need
to be solid colored (black, yellow or red) and may have a white or brockled face.
Spotted calves and odd-colored cattle are to be
avoided. They may be pretty to you, but most buyers will use those calves to cheapen the other cattle up, if they can even put those colored calves on an order.
If you have those type of cattle, just understand that the buyers discriminate and will discount those calves.
Calves with too much Brahman or Bos indicus influence will also receive discounts. A cresty neck or “bee sting” on the neck is usually an indication of too much Bos indicus.
Some smaller cow-calf producers may want to switch to running stocker calves or yearlings.
You can run two to three yearlings on the same grass where you run one cow/calf pair. This will allow you to let the calves get to a marketable size and still maintain your numbers for cash flow.
Stockers do require a little more management and attention when you first get them in, but after you get the yearlings straightened out, they are no more work than a cow and calf operation. You are still merchandising your grass through a beef animal.
If you would like more information contact the Extension office at (903) 567-4149.
 

BBB warns of locksmith swindle
Special to The Monitor
TYLER–You may have been a victim and not even known it.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) today is warning consumers to beware of untrustworthy locksmith companies that are ripping off consumers across the country.
Victim complaints to the BBB reveal that several locksmith companies, all using similar methods, are significantly overcharging consumers, charging consumers for unnecessary services, using intimidation tactics, and failing to give refunds or respond to consumer complaints.
Ironically, these companies operate under names like “Dependable Locksmith,” but in reality they exploit the vulnerable situation of consumers who are locked out of their house or car.
We’ve found that some locksmiths have made taking advantage of consumers’ misfortune part of their business model.
Complaints about locksmith services to the 114 BBBs serving the U.S. increased almost 75 percent from 2005-06, and have continued to come in steadily during the first half of this year.
The BBB has identified “Dependable Locksmith,” which operates under more than a dozen different names, as a particularly disreputable locksmith.
This company poses as a local locksmith in cities across the country and advertises in the yellow pages using local phone numbers and fake local addresses.
A consumer might think he is dealing with a local locksmith but his phone call is actually connected to a call center located in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Consumers are quoted a reasonable price over the phone but when the locksmith arrives – typically in an unmarked vehicle – he demands significantly more money than originally quoted, often only accepting cash.
A complaint on one Dependable Locksmith, operating under the name “Superb Solutions,” alleges the company quoted fees of $39 and $84 for separate jobs, but the bill ended up at $471, which included add-on fees such as a $65 breaking in fee and a $58 fee to uninstall old locks.
Another complainant reported that the locksmith sent to let her into her car demanded she pay twice the price quoted over the phone.
The locksmith offered to drive her to an ATM to get cash – feeling unsafe, the victim refused.
The victim was ultimately forced to write a check made out personally to the locksmith as he would not let her into her car until she did so.
She cancelled payment on the check the next morning, but eventually filed a police report after the locksmith harassed her with continuous phone calls about payment.
The BBB has also heard many complaints from victims who say they were charged for unnecessary services.
For example, complainants suspect locksmiths sent over by “Dependable Locksmiths” of pretending they couldn’t simply pick the lock so that they could charge more and install all new locks in homes.
Some of “Dependable Locksmith’s” aliases include “Superb Solutions,” “Locksmith 24 Hour, Inc.,” “USA Total Security,” “Priceline Locksmith” and “S.O.S. Locksmith.”
Two other locksmith contractors fleecing consumers are “Basad, Inc.” – which operates under more than 50 names nationwide, such as “A-1 Locksmith Service,” “A-1 24 Hour Locksmith,” “A-1 Lock & Key Locksmith” and “AAA Locksmith 24 Hour” and “Liberty Locksmith.”
Similar to “Dependable Locksmith,” they pose as local locksmiths and run full-page yellow pages ads with multiple phone and address listings.
The phone numbers appear to be local, but connect to national call centers such as Liberty’s in New York City, while the addresses end up belonging to other established businesses in the local area, or are simply non-existent.
Like others, “Liberty Locksmith” and “Basad, Inc.” use common cons such as quoting one price over the phone, but then charging significantly more on site.
These companies are very good at posing as trustworthy locksmiths.
Before you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being locked out of your car or house, do your research and find a truly dependable locksmith in your area.
Ask around and always check with the BBB first to find reputable businesses.
If you feel you’ve been taken advantage of by “Dependable Locksmith,” “Liberty Locksmith,” “Basad. Inc.,” or others, please contact the BBB to file a complaint, or do so online at www.bbb.org .