More cattle are moving through Minnesota auction barns. In July, Bagley Livestock Exchange co-owner Billy Bushelle says the auction moved waves of slaughter cows and bulls, and close to 2,000 cow-calf pairs. Bushelle anticipates moving more pairs in August. “We’ve had a good response from a large area, coming up and buying the animals as families. The price topped at $1,750 on pairs and the lower quality pairs are selling from $1,000-to $1,300.” Bushelle cannot remember a time when cow-calf pairs have been sold due to dry pasture conditions and says Minnesota’s farmers and ranchers aren’t as prepared. “This is a once and a lifetime thing for us. In June, I was saying it’s northern Minnesota, what are you talking about? One weekend of rains can change the scope of things, but it’s gotten worse.”
