high to high or low. to low. That hasn’t

high to high or low. to low. That hasn’t changed. Last year was probably the low. That was compounded by com selling at the unheard price of $5 per bushel. Com this year is more normal, and that has helped the feed lot recovery. I’m seeing some recovery in prices, and I'm hopeful we're turned the comer."

He said Eldon Farm had not done "anything special" to cope with the declining prices, but in 1994, the farm began keeping computer records on every cow. "We’ve taken a close look at every cow in our herd, and any cow that is not producing a good sized calf is eliminated," he said.

Mr. Oliver notes that the average cow herd in Virginia is 30 cows. Obviously that means the average herd is only one part of a varied fanning operation or the farmer has another source of income. "I haven't seen a lot of people going out of the business as a result of the low prices,” he said. "If they have hung in until now, they will* probably stay in, and 10 years from now if you are working for the newspaper, you will probably be asking the same question," he said. He predicted the beef cattle industry will continue to be part of the Rappahannock County economy as long as there is open space for grazing.

Newbill Miller sells registered purebred Angus cows and bulls, and said the drop in beef prices "hasn't hit me yet."

His cows mostly sell to other purebred growers, but almost all his bulls go to commercial producers. They have continued paying "a decent price," he said. He said they understand "good bulls can make them money through genetics."

He said before the recent drop in prices, producers had a series of good years, and they are continuing to pay for his tested bulls.

Still he is concerned about the future of the beef industry and knows that many commercial beef producers are "really threatened."