Parts of western North Dakota received anywhere from a trace to an inch of snow and rain this past weekend. Based at Dickinson, Stockmen’s Livestock Exchange owner Larry Schnell described the conditions up to this point as ‘dire’. “We had no snow or moisture basically all winter long. Some of the grass is turning green, some is not. It’s just not a good situation at all.” The ramifications of drought are trickling down to the auction barn. Sales are already being held two days a week. Normally, that does not happen until October. There is already good movement of cull cows, bred females and cow/calf pairs. Schnell says replacement quality heifers are also in the mix. “Right now, we have over 2,000 feeder cattle on the list for Thursday. Normally this time of the year we’d be seeling very few, if any, feeder cattle. The sale on Thursday, May 6 featured 2,600 feeder cattle, along with 1,050 pairs and females. 236 young cow-calf pairs averaged $1,720. Bred females ranged from $900-to-$1,300. Schnell has more in this Red River Farm Network interview.