....first thing I agree the added slaughtering capacity is a good thing(sometimes  wonder why we as  an industry never had insight to process further up the chain before)...but like others I hope the proposed plants besides the big two do come online...

... if the packers were making just 65$/hd that would mean their losing 100$/hd since the border opening plus the higher increase in energy costs...maybe but I do find the 65 bucks a little hard to believe...

  ....guess one thing about the drought  as a producer  we were in control of  how we managed the situation...  as in the BSE situation you may agree or not  we had to rely on govt policies...whether it was for the border openings...or should we test OTM's for markets(we know the jury is still out on that one)... and then our only control as a producer how far up the chain with the live animal would we go... some have joined proposed packing plants as future hope... as for myself I am confident I can raise a calf and background as efficient as most...as for myself going higher up the chain... I'll maybe buy some stocks...

...as for 05 I would have to admit  it has been a good year for the backgrounder but  the cow calf  guy took a royal kickin in fall of 04...part of that chain thing... right... :wink: