LMD Oct 22

Riding Herd Saying things that need to be said.

October 15, 2022 • www.aaalivestock.com

Volume 64 • No. 10

by LEE PITTS

Prey It’s Now or Never For Me LEE PITTS

S

NEWSPAPER PRIORITY HANDLING

adly, there will be a World War III someday. At this point the only question is will it be a financial war or a military conflagration, you know, the kind with bombs and soldiers and such. We already know who will be “the Axis and the Allies,” to use the terms of the combatants in the last World War. On one side will be the West, which is very misleading because it includes countries from all across the globe including America, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, much of Europe and part of Africa. The ‘Axis’ will be what are now known as the BRIC countries, which is an acronym for the developing nations of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. BRIC currently includes the two biggest countries by population with China at 1,425,887,337 people and India with 1,417,173,173. The United States is in third place at 338,289,857. You math whizzes will quickly see that we have only about one tenth of the population of the two of the biggest BRIC’s.

Population is just one reason that most economists and politicians feel that the BRIC countries will be THE dominant suppliers and users of manufactured goods, services, food, and raw materials by 2050. As currently conceived, BRIC also includes three of the largest countries by size and, if you want to get really dramatic about it, three of the four BRIC countries already have well developed nuclear weapon capabilities and the fourth, Brazil, does possess some of the key technologies needed to produce nukes.

Historians say that a great upheaval like a war or a global

pandemic occurs in the world about once every 80 years. Let’s see, if we add 80 years to the time of the last World War we get 2020! And one wrong move by the mad man Putin, like unleashing one of Russia’s nukes,

50 to 100 million. COVID 19 doesn’t even compare to the death toll of AIDS at 25 to 35 million people. So although COVID has changed our world forever in countless ways, it is not the BIG EVENT historians

Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway. followed by China rolling over Taiwan, and we could be facing another World War. Only this one would be far more deadly after the proliferation of nuclear weapons across the globe.

Some people will argue that the COVID 19 pandemic was our “80 year event,” but harsh as this may sound, COVID didn’t kill enough people to qualify.

It’s estimated that COVID 19 killed 5 million people but compare this to the Black Death (Bubonic Plague) at 200 million deaths, Smallpox at 56 million, and the Spanish Flu of 1918 at

are talking about.

And so one is left to wonder, in the event of a BIG financial or military war where and how will American agriculture fit in the picture?

A World Away Hopefully, we’ll manage to avoid armed conflict but this concept of the BRIC countries on one side with America on the other is a rapidly developing fact of life. It’s no secret that already the BRIC countries are developing their own currency, possibly gold backed, that they

Environmental Groups Sue Over Mexican Wolf Restoration Program

BY HOWARD FISCHER CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES

E

nvironmental groups are suing the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) over what they say is the agency’s failure to follow federal law in approving a program to restore Mexican wolves to Arizona.

The lawsuit filed in federal court contends the agency arbitrarily — and illegally — determined that creating and maintaining an experimental population of about 200 wolves is “not essential” to the continued existence of the endangered species. The agency said that’s because there are captive populations that could produce more if necessary.

But the issues, according to attorney Matthew Bishop of the Western Environmental Law Center, are more concrete. That includes a prohibition against wolves north of Interstate 40, with the requirement that wolves found on the other side of the highway must either be captured and returned to the area south of the road or placed in captivity.

“In order to really be able to conserve the species, they need to be able to move into arcontinued on page 4

plan to use to replace the dollar which has been the de facto currency for international trade for nearly a hundred years. If BRIC does manage to replace the dollar, and it will at some point, it will have major political and economic ramifications. This is happening at the same time that deglobalization is already causing countries, including the U.S., to onshore their manufacturing instead of offshoring it.

Following the COVID crises we are in a phase where we are questioning and rethinking our participation in one-world concepts like the WHO (the World Health Organization), the United Nations and the WTO (World Trade Organization). And this brings us, granted in a roundabout way, to our primary topic. Who could have ever imagined that it would take a global health crisis and a potential World War III to finally bring back mandatory country of origin labeling (mCOOL) for beef?

According to R CALF USA, when the President and Congress enacted what they called the “Inflation Reduction Act” it “signaled a seismic shift from Congress’ submissive adher-

continued on page 2

USDA Secretly Makes Wolf Depredation Compensation Impossible

A

fter 18 years operating under one set of standards, ranchers in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona learned in late September that the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services (WS) has changed the evidence standards for confirming Mexican wolf kills on their livestock. With the new standards, there will be few if any confirmed or probable wolf kills.

Under the proposed New Standards, the only evidence that is actually relevant in finding a Confirmed Kill is “subcutaneous hemorrhaging and tissue damage,” where “subcutaneous hemorrhage” is defined to “refer to heavy or uncontrolled bleeding from the blood vessels under the skin layer and/or in the muscle tissue… and includes significant muscle tissue damage.”

Apparently, WS has already been using this new standard as far back as July 22. There has been no public notice of the new evidence standard or its application. There was no comment period, which is becoming the norm for government agencies relative to the Mexican wolf program.

“The proposed changes in the management continued on page 4

W

orking with animals like we do, we quickly learn that they can easily be divided into either prey or predator. Baby lambs, calves and purse dogs are prey to predators like wolves, coyotes and eight-year-old 4H showmen. Antelope, horses, crippled bison, female joggers wearing headphones and guys on bicycles are prey to mountain lions. Homeowners are prey to couples in nice clothes peddling religion door to door while pretty much every living thing in the sea is prey to the 150ton blue whale. Looky-loos on car lots are prey to used car salesmen, heavy-footed drivers are prey to highway patrolman, cows fall prey to predatory veterinarians with long arms on preg checking day and girly boys in school are prey to bullies on the football team.

Sometimes roles can change and something can go from being the predator to the prey and vice versa, like the coyote who attacks sheep who then falls prey to the human predator with a rifle. Or rattlesnakes whose poisonous fangs make them dangerous predators but become prey to ranchers and roustabouts with sharp shovels. The tormenting bully is a predator until he becomes the prey who is expelled from school by a predatory principal. Consider the mosquito who is a painful predator every time I go outside but I turn into the predator when I nail a mosquito with a nasty slap to my own face. (In that case I’m both the predator and the prey simultaneously.)

The best example of a human who can be either be prey or predator is someone who ranchers deal with regularly: their banker.

I’ve known two bankers in my life who are named Jim and they are both nice, honest, and fair, and they bent over backwards to lend money to well-meaning folks with a dream. In my case Jim loaned me $300 so I could buy my first show steer even though all I had for collateral was a three-legged dog. In my case, I was the predator and Jim was the prey. But Jim did more than loan me money; he gave me a tour of the bank, took me inside the

continued on page 3

Page 2

Livestock Market Digest

October 15, 2022

NOW OR NEVER

You only work the day shift. Of course, there’s 24 hours in a day.

Justin Ware

Farm Credit of New Mexico has been farmer and rancher owned for more than a century. Year in and year out, we’ve provided financial services to family-owned businesses of all sizes, helping them grow and prosper.

That’s the difference between being a bank and being customer owned.

What can we do for you?

farmcreditnm.com | 1-800-451-5997

from pg. 1

ence to the World Trade Organization-enforced national treaty obligations.”

Did you know Congress has been extending a $7,500 tax credit for every Made-in-China electric car imported into the United States? I sure didn’t. But no more. Says R CALF, “The Inflation Reduction Act provides the $7,500 tax credit only for electric cars that meet certain origin conditions, including final assembly in North America. This effectively ends a significant subsidy enjoyed by electric car manufacturers under the jurisdiction of the Communist Party of China.”

According to R CALF CEO, Bill Bullard, “Congress has purposefully signaled it will no longer blindly adhere to outdated international trade rules when such rules run counter to the best interests of the United States. And Congress’ new direction should pave the way for enactment of the American Beef Labeling Act that requires mandatory country of origin labeling (mCOOL) for beef.”

Any cowboy with his or her permanent teeth will recall that we once had mandatory country of origin labeling for beef in this country and during the years it was in place we had the most profitable years for the cow-calf producer of any period during this writer’s lifetime. As R CALF reminds us, “The 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills required mandatory country of origin labeling for beef being sold in the United States. However, Congress repealed the mandatory country of origin labeling law for beef in 2015 when the WTO previously ruled the United States was violating its trade obligation when mCOOL for beef was first implemented in 2009. In response to that ruling, Congress repealed mCOOL for beef in 2015.”

But that was long ago and worlds away.

A Window of Opportunity

For advertising, subscription and editorial inquiries write or call:

Livestock Market Digest (1SSN 0024-5208) (USPS NO. 712320) is published monthly except semi-monthly in September in Albuquerque, N.M. 87104 by Livestock Market Digest, Inc. Periodicals Postage Paid at Albuquerque, N.M.

POSTMASTER-Send change of address to: Livestock Market Digest, P.O. Box 7458, Albuquerque, N.M. 87194

Subscribe Today

Livestock Market Digest P.O. Box 7458 Albuquerque, N.M. 87194 Telephone: 505-243-9515 Fax: 505-349-3060 www.aaalivestock.com EDITORIAL and ADVERTISING STAFF CAREN COWAN . . . . Publisher LEE PITTS . . . . . . . . . Executive Editor CHUCK STOCKS . . . . Publisher Emeritus RANDY SUMMERS . . Sales FALL MARKETING EDITION AD SALES

RANDY SUMMERS, 505-850-8544 email: rjsauctioneer@aol.com

NAME

FIELD EDITOR

ADDRESS

DELVIN HELDERMON, 580/622-5754 1094 Koller Rd, Sulpher, OK CITY

STATE

ZIP

— MY CHECK IS ENCLOSED FOR —

One Year: $25

Two Years: $35

Single copy: $10

Clip & mail to: Livestock Market Digest, P.O. Box 7458, Albuquerque, N.M. 87194

ADMINISTRATIVE and PRODUCTION STAFF JESSICA DECKER...Special Assistance KRISTY HINDS.........Graphic Designer

In the coming days and months, you will be hearing more about the American Beef Labeling Act. It is a proposed piece of legislation that would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling on beef being sold in the United States and would ensure that only beef born, raised, and harvested in the U.S. could legally have a “Product of U.S.A.” sticker on the package.

Bullard says the American Beef Labeling Act, “embodies the same boldness for achieving the best interests of United States cattle farmers and ranchers and consumers as Congress has now accorded to the domestic supply chain for electric cars.”

The American Beef Labeling Act is a bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate in 2021 by Senators John Thune (R-SD), Jon Tester (D-MT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). Despite having attracted additional bipartisan cosponsors the bill has languished without action in the U.S. Senate agriculture committee.

In March 2022, a bipartisan companion bill was introduced in the U.S. House by Representatives Lance Gooden (RTX) and Ro Khanna (D-CA).

The American Beef Labeling Act reverses Congress’ repeal of mCOOL for beef by requir-

ing beef to be reinstated among the various other foods currently subject to the U.S. mCOOL law, including fruits and vegetables, fish, chicken, and lamb.

Those items, by the way, never lost their mCOOL protection.

Say Thune and Tester, “We’ve found that the adverse mCOOL ruling by the WTO nearly a decade ago remains the greatest obstacle to broad congressional support for mCOOL for beef, even though this common-sense measure has broad public support.”

So at a time when our connection with the WTO seems weaker than it’s ever been, we may have been given a window of opportunity in which to get mCOOL reinstated as the law of the land. It may be a matter of now or never.

While Thune and Tester may be from different political parties, “We share the strong view that the highest quality beef in the world is raised right here in the United States. We also agree that the beef labeling system in our country needs to change.

Currently, imported beef that is neither born nor raised in the United States, but simply finished here, is allowed to be labeled as ‘Product of the U.S.A.’ The ground beef you picked up from the grocery store to fire up on the grill this weekend during the game could have originally come from a country half way around the world, but just because it was packaged here in the United States, there could still be a misleading label on it. At that point, the only thing that’s potentially made in the U.S.A. is the packaging it’s wrapped in — if that.”

Thune and Tester explained in a joint letter that first appeared on Agri-Pulse.com, “Our American Beef Labeling Act would require the U.S. trade representative, in consultation with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, to develop a WTO-compliant means of reinstating mCOOL for beef. Specifically, our bill would give the USTR six months to develop a reinstatement plan followed by a six-month window to implement it. If the USTR fails to reinstate mCOOL for beef within one year of enactment, it would automatically be reinstated.

That would ensure when you see a ‘Product of the U.S.A’ label on your beef, you can trust it.”

“Our legislation currently has eight cosponsors in the Senate, and a bipartisan companion bill has also been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. We will continue working to build support from our colleagues to advance this important legislation because having transparency in labeling that benefits producers and consumers alike is just common sense.”

Says R CALF’s Bullard, “We fully expect the bold action taken in the Inflation Reduction Act, which reflects an acknowledgement that WTO trade rules are now outdated and inadequate, will further empower Congress to begin serving America’s interests by enacting mCOOL for beef, which will most assuredly help strengthen America’s domestic protein supply chain.”

And The Poll Says...

Besides sending a signal that America will no longer go along with global, one world groups that often are diametrically opposed to our laws and belief systems there’s another,

October 15, 2022 and far better reason to reenact mCOOL...An overwhelmingly majority of American consumers want it.

According to a poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the Coalition for a Prosperous America, 86 percent of American voters support the American Beef Labeling Act that reinstates mandatory country of origin labeling for beef.

According to the poll....

■■

90 percent of voters are concerned that foreign importers of beef can legally put a “Product of U.S.A.” sticker on a package containing beef that was born, raised, and harvested outside the United States.

■■

89 percent of voters are concerned that foreign importers of beef can legally put a U.S. food safety inspection sticker on a package containing beef that was born, raised, and harvested outside the United States.

■■

77 percent of voters believe it’s important that the beef they purchase was born, raised, and harvested in the United States.

■■

An overwhelming majority of voters—including 86 percent of Democrats, 83 percent of Independents, and 90 percent of Republicans—support the American Beef Labeling Act.

■■

The poll further reveals that registered voters from all regions within the U.S. overwhelmingly support the American Beef Labeling Act – 82 percent of Northeast voters, 90 percent of Midwest voters, 87 percent of voters in the South, and 84 percent of voters in the West.

“We hope lawmakers,” says Bullard, “will carefully review this poll and quickly join this legislation as cosponsors to ensure its swift enactment.”

Talk About Hypocrites!

An interesting side story is that while all this mCOOL talk is resurfacing, R CALF is taking another case to the Supreme Court against suing the USDA, its subagency, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the heads of those agencies. They are taking them to the Supreme Court over the government’s effort to phase out the use of metal eartags, brands, backtags, and similar low-cost means of identifying livestock and replacing them with mandatory radio frequency identification (RFID) eartags to trace livestock.

So at the same time the Big Four packers and their packer-backers at the NCBA are saying that we don’t need our beef identified as to country of origin, they are fighting tooth and nail to get the implementation of mandatory labeling of all beef animals in this country.

They want your cattle identified with an RFID chip in their ear but when it comes to properly identifying the beef they produce... NOOOOO! RFID traceability would allow the USDA and any other federal agency (including the IRS) to know exactly how many cattle you own and when you sell them. It would also make the “cow tax,” for any climate change caused by cows, much

Livestock Market Digest more doable by the bureaucrats. Such a measure would also mean that many small cattle producers would either be forced out of the cattle business or leave simply because they couldn’t afford the cost of compliance.

How, on the one hand can the NCBA and the Big Four say we don’t need our beef identified but they demand that you put a radio ear chip in every beef animal you own?

Talk about hypocrites!

There may be something else in the recent poll that might prompt lawmakers to get off their collective duffs and finally vote to reinstate mCOOL. According to the poll an overwhelming majority of voters (74 percent) say they would be more likely to vote for a U.S. Senate or U.S. House candidate who supports the American Beef Labeling Act. Nearly three-quarters of Democrats (72 percent) and four in five Republicans (79 percent) say they are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports the Act. Sadly, those are the only kind of numbers that persuade politicians these days.

▫

PREY FOR ME

Page 3 continued from page 1

vault and made me feel like have a fabulous collection a real businessman and as a of bank bags from bankrupt result I banked with the bank banks. My mom’s job was Jim was employed by for 40 to get rid of all the loans on years until they were swal- the books of the broke banks lowed up by a huge bank that and in thousands of cases this didn’t have any Jims working meant telling good loyal bank for them. customers that they’d have My next experience with a to either pay off their loan banker was not so great. My or find alternative financing. wife and I had an agreement Immediately! This turned my to borrow $100,000 to build mom into the most menacing our dream home on a great predator in the country. piece of real estate we used as One day at a bank in collateral. But when it came western Colorado a rancher time for the bank to give looked at my mom’s name us the first one-third of the badge and said, “Pitts, huh. money the predatory banker You wouldn’t by chance be informed us that there might related to that guy who writes be a problem with the loan. for the newspaper?”

To make a long story short, She replied proudly, “Yes, we finally got the money, he’s my son.” paid off the entire loan within Prior to my mom’s admisthree years and have not bor- sion I had several newspapers rowed money from a banker and magazines in the area ever since! who used my column but My mom dealt with banks within three months I had every day because she worked none. Zero! Zip! Nada! I told for the FDIC after my folks my mom, “You have to quit divorced. Her job was to trav- telling people you’re related el all over the country shut- to me. It’s killing my busiting down banks that had ness!” gone belly up. As a result, I So, in the future if you

can’t find my column you’ll know I was a victim of my deceased mom, the predator, who made “Pitts” a bad name from coast to coast. www.LeePittsbooks.com

▫

Page 4

SUE

Livestock Market Digest continued from page 1

eas of suitable habitat in that region,” he told Capitol Media Services. And he said the “best available science” shows there are some areas north of I-40 that should be open to wolves.

Bishop also said the agency’s rules “allow for too much take and killing of Mexican wolves in the wild.”

So now Bishop, on behalf of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project and other groups, wants a judge to order the federal agency to go back and revisit its plans — and do so in compliance with the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. If the claims sound familiar, they should.

U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer Zipps ruled more than four years ago that the agency ignored the advice of “leading wolf scientists” in adopting its own recovery plan. And the judge said Fish and Wildlife officials acted in an “arbitrary and capricious” manner in deciding what to do.

However, the only thing the judge could do is order the agency to redo its plans.

But Bishop said those revisions still fall short of what the law requires — and what the scientists said is necessary to have a viable wolf population.

And he said at least part of that is political.

“I don’t mean like Republican or Democrat,” Bishop said.

“A lot of people just don’t want to see wolves on the

land,” he said, at least not in are “not essential.” the amounts and in the ar“The FWS said if the entire eas where they could thrive. experimental population in the “They’d rather see a single, wild died, it would not appresmaller population in more iso- ciably reduce the prospects for lated areas.” future survival of the subspeBut that, said Bishop, is not cies in the wild because capa factor that FWS can take into tive populations could produce consideration. more surplus wolves for rein“The law requires them to troduction,” he told the judge. find the best available science Bishop said the 2018 court in terms of what’s best for ruling against the agency wolves and conservation,” he changed little, with Fish and said.

Wildlife maintaining the same There was no immediate re- population area as before, insponse from the agency. cluding the I-40 northern What happened is, sever- boundary. al individual Mexican wolves The lawsuit seeks reversal were captured in Mexico, be- of the agency’s “not essential” coming the basis of a captive designation with the limits it breeding program overseen by proposes.

FWS. And Bishop said all Mex“The best available science ican wolves in existence today reveals the experimental popuare derived from seven individ- lation of roughly 200 Mexican uals. wolves in the wild in the UnitAll that led to the plan to ed States are essential to the establish an experimental pop- continued existence of Mexiulation in Arizona and New can wolves in the wild,” Bishop Mexico — but only south of wrote. He said that number Interstate 40. And the agency would have the genetic variarule said it would “promptly tion that, if lost, would “apprecapture” Mexican wolves that ciably reduce” the survival of leave the area and either “re- the subspecies. lease it within the recovery area, And Bishop said the captive put it into the captive popula- breeding program is unable to tion, or carry out any other replace the 200 wolves in the management measure.” wild, saying the breeding popBy 2015, there were 75 Mex- ulation “is aging and has lost ican wolves in the wild through much of its genetic diversity.” the reintroduction program.

Other plaintiffs in the lawThere are now about 200. suit include WildEarth GuardBut Bishop said that the ians, Western Watersheds Projagency rules and restrictions on ect, Wildlands Network and where wolves are allowed still the New Mexico Wilderness don’t guarantee the survival Association. in the wild. And that is underlined, he said, by the agency’s declaration that those animals

▫

October 15, 2022

USDA

continued from page 1

of the Mexican Wolf Program will make it almost impossible for the Arizona Department of Agriculture to meet our statutory mandate to protect the livestock operators in this state,” wrote Arizona Department of Agriculture Director Mark Killian in a letter to Keith Wehner, Director, Western Region APHIS Wildlife Services.

“Your proposed New Standards disregard the concerns of ranchers who are already waiting on depredation payments and will raise the standard of proof to an impossibly high level. There is evidence that you are already following your New Standards without due process for livestock owners,” wrote the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association and the Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association in a joint letter.

Nelson Shirley, a rancher living with wolves, said “The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) action taken earlier this year to remove the population cap on wolves means that wolf density will increase dramatically in Arizona and New Mexico. The WS decision this summer to change the evidence standards means that there can be few if any findings of confirmed or even probable wolf depredations on livestock. FWS

Bill Aims to Help Ranchers Recover Losses to Wolves

BY JESSIE ROGERS SPECIAL TO THE COPPER ERA

H

ouse Resolution 8475 would reimburse ranchers 100 percent of market value for livestock losses attributable to Mexican gray wolves.

Equality in economy and ecology is a continuing battle in eastern Arizona. Cattle ranchers find themselves fighting for compensation for livestock loss due to wolf attacks, while wildlife enthusiasts celebrate ecological gain of increased wolf population.

Rancher Doug Stacy runs cattle on more than 8,000 acres in eastern Arizona, losing a cow to a wolf attack means losing time and effort invested in that cow. He says it’s important to raise every calf just to stay afloat.

Congressman Tom O’Halleran, a Democrat who currently represents Arizona’s District 1, and Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, a Republican who currently represents New Mexico’s District 2, have introduced legislation to expand predator support programs for Arizona and New Mexico ranchers dealing with livestock losses. The current programs reimburse a livestock loss at 75 percent of the market value. This new bill proposes 100 percent of market value reimbursement and an emergency relief program.

According to the Defenders of Wildlife, the population of Mexican gray wolves increased by 5.5 percent, raising the number to 196 in 2021. The recovery plan calls for an average of 320 wolf population sustained

will be relieved of responsibility to remove wolves that repeatedly kill our livestock.

These actions will make ranching unsustainable here in the Southwest.”

Wehner told ranchers, who heard that changes in the evidence standards were being made and who pressed the issue, that they had to provide comments by September 23.

Regardless, given that there was no published notice of a comment period, comments from interested parties should be sent immediately to Wehner as well as other USDA officials involved, including but not limited to Janet Bucknall, WS Deputy Administrator; Wendy Anderson, WS Assistant Program Manager; and Jennifer Moffitt, Secretary for Marketing & Regulatory Programs.

Here are email addresses for these agents: Mr. Keith Wehner, keith.p.wehner@usda.gov Janet Bucknall, janet.l. bucknall@usda.gov Wendy Anderson, Wendy.

Anderson@usda.gov Eric Steuber, Eric.Steuber@usda.gov David Bergman, David.L.Bergman@usda.gov Jon Grant, Jon.L.Grant@ usda.gov

▫

for eight years in order for the Mexican gray wolves to be removed from the endangered species list.

Federal reintroduction began in 1998 in Arizona and New Mexico with 11 wolves. In 2009 the population grew to 40. Now 196 wolves roam over 14,000 square miles in the mountains of eastern Arizona and New Mexico. They prey on elk, deer, javelina, small animals and livestock. The Arizona Game and Fish Department saw the highest number of wolf attacks in 2019. As the wolf population increases and drought in the region also increases they expect to see more wolves interacting with livestock.

Jim de Vos with Arizona Game and Fish said the new legislation would be an important contribution to balance the competing interest of the Mexican wolf recovery.

“The funding that is available now is limited,” he said.

“O’Halleran’s bill will increase

House Resolution 8475 would reimburse ranchers 100 percent of market value for livestock losses attributable to Mexican gray wolves.

October 15, 2022 the balance and make effective compensation to the livestock owners. It’s a step in the right direction and the department of game and fish supports its passing.”

The Arizona Livestock Loss Board was established in 2015 to compensate livestock operators for wolf depredation and administer the livestock compensation fund. In 2021 the board paid 51 livestock loss claims.

The livestock compensation fund consists of federal monies, legislative appropriations from the state general fund, public and private grants, and private donations. The board reviews and approves compensation claims, and adjusts compensation amounts for depredations based on market value.

“A problem with compensation is finding the location of an animal that has been killed,” rancher Stacy said. “The loss has to be a confirmed wolf attack.”

Even with evidence of wolves in the area, the remains of the calf may not be found in time to prove it was killed by wolves.

When ranchers find an animal that has been attacked, they must call wildlife services to investigate. The investigator evaluates the attack and checks for certain criteria. If the attack is shown to be from a wolf, a claim is sent to the Livestock Loss Board for consideration.

“The current system requires ranchers to constantly be near their cow herds to identify the cattle killed by the wolf,” rancher Ben Menges said. “In a state where more ranchers need 60 to 100 acres per cow this is an incredibly daunting task.”

The livestock loss board meets monthly to take action on the claims. If the claim is approved by the board it is then forwarded to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to request payment for reimbursement to the rancher. This process can take a month.

“HR 8475 bill uses data from a study done by a team led by George Frisvold from the University of Arizona in order to determine what the dollar amount should be,” Menges said. “If the bill were to pass, it would be the first time in history ranchers were fairly compensated for wolves being on their operations.”

“Ranchers have long believed that current reimbursement is not sufficient, and it is extremely hard to get the compensation.

We welcome the attention to the issue,” Cattle Growers Association spokesman Jeff Eisenberg said.

He noted that the pay “may not cover the entire loss of income over time but it is an important step forward.”

According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s quarterly reports, as of June 2021, there were nine confirmed livestock losses in Arizona. This year reports are much higher, as of June 2022, there were 30 confirmed losses.

The Livestock Loss board also pays out federal grant money to ranchers to take measures to prevent future loss such as installing electric fencing and fladry fencing. In 2019 the Range Rider program was established to further prevention efforts. Range Riders are game and fish employees who assist in the management of wolf activities on the ground. These riders are skilled in deterring wolves and help to keep the animals

Livestock Market Digest separated from livestock.

Killing a Mexican wolf is a violation of state law and the Federal Endangered Species Act and can result in criminal penalties of up to $50,000, and/ or not more than one year in jail, and/or a civil penalty of up to $25,000, AZGFD said.

More than $30 million has been spent on the wolf recovery program since 1998. The vast majority is through federal funding and sources of funding.

Government agencies working for the recovery include the Arizona Game and Fish Department, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, USDA Forest Service, USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, White Mountain Apache Tribe, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. National Park Service along with several non-government agencies such as Defend-

Page 5

ers of Wildlife, Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity.

On average, Americans consume over 200 pounds of meat a year. Farmbase.com estimates the beef from one cow is enough to feed a family of four for a year.

Arizona’s economy benefits from the ranching industry. According to the Arizona Cattle Growers Association, ranchers and the beef community contribute $431 million to Arizona’s gross domestic product.

At this time, the bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.

Advertise to Cattlemen and Ranchers!

Call 505-243-9515 for more information

▫

Do You or You and Your Neighbor Have 300+ Acres of Clean Farm or Pasture Land? Lease Us Your Land!

300 acres or more relatively level, clean farm or pastureland with a large transmission line crossing?

Lease Your Land for Solar Power Production Extraordinary income to the right property owner(s) If your property qualifies or your property along with neighbors qualify you may potentially receive long term income. (20 – 40-year lease) $800 - $1200 Per acre Per year with incremental increases

Do You Have Power Lines Like This On Or Adjacent To Your Land?

• • •

Can Not be Subtranssmision Lines Must be Transmission Power Lines Must be 115 Kv to 345 Kv

Please Note the Four Essential Requirements Below Transmission lines crossing or within 200 yards of property

300 or more acres (must be in recent cultivation or in pasture or clear open range)

No timberland or clear cuts

State or count y maintained road bordering the proper t y

CALL (828)-817-5400 or (828)-817-9101

Email Us at: InnovativeSolarFarms@gmail.com

Visit our website at innovativesolarsystemsllc.com to view recent projects

Page 6

It’s Time to Rein in Government Agencies with Political Agendas

BY JAMES OLIVER

B

y now, many of you have heard about the Securities and Exchange Commission’s plan to require publicly traded companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions.

The proposed rule, issued earlier this year, requires these companies to disclose not only direct and energy-related emissions, but also those of every downstream supplier, known as Scope 3 Emissions.

As you might imagine, this presents significant concerns for cattle producers who find themselves in the supply chain of many publicly traded companies, restaurants and retailers.

The federal government has already acknowledged collecting the data will be nearly impossible. There is also no agreed-upon scientific method for measuring agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from livestock in a pasture.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and many other agricultural organizations raised an army of opposition to the proposed rule during the commission’s comment period.

Although not yet finalized, the agency is continuing to advance its proposal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

The SEC’s actions highlight a growing and troubling trend — federal agencies actively working to achieve political agendas.

Activists and politicians are increasingly using the power of executive orders and administrative rulemaking to bypass the legislative branch and create regulations that would not pass Congress.

Livestock Market Digest It’s easy to understand the reasoning, especially since navigating Congress is so challenging today. Unfortunately, the officials who lead these government agencies are appointed, not elected. By circumventing our elected representatives in Washington, D.C., they also circumvent the citizens who elected them.

Fortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court and many legislators are growing tired of these tactics.

This summer, the Supreme Court struck back at the Environmental Protection Agency for overstepping its rulemaking authority, emphasizing that “administrative agencies must be able to point to ‘clear congressional authorization’ when they claim the power to make decisions of vast ‘economic and political significance.’”

Congress is also fighting back.

In the case of the SEC’s greenhouse gas reporting plan, several bills have been filed to expressly limit the commission’s authority to implement such reporting requirements.

One of the latest bills, the Scope 3 Act filed by Texas Congressman Troy Nehls, has broad bipartisan support. Co-sponsors from Texas include Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo; Jake Ellzey, R-Midlothian; Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen; Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo; Pete Sessions, R-Waco; Randy Weber, R-Alvin; and Roger Williams, R-Austin.

Despite the growing headwinds, the current administration and agency officials show few signs of abandoning their current efforts. The SEC continues to march forward with its reporting requirements, and a wide range of proposed rules at other agencies continue to advance, as well.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association will continue to fight the burdensome and unrealistic regulations cropping up at government agencies, but Congressional action will also be critical.

As you head to the polls this November, please make sure

you know where the candidates stand on these regulatory issues.

More importantly, though, consider their stance on the ability of regulatory agencies to pursue political agendas without the “clear congressional approval” noted by the Supreme Court.

The decisions we make this November will have lasting implications on our ability to continue raising cattle and caring for our land.

James Oliver serves on the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association board of directors and chairs the natural resources and wildlife committee.

▫

October 15, 2022

Cattlemen Praise Bill Shielding U.S. Farmers & Ranchers from Proposed SEC Rule

M

ore than 100 members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation that would shield agricultural producers from a climate disclosure rule proposed earlier this year by the Securities Exchange Commission.

The “Protect Americas Farmers from the SEC Act” prohibits the SEC from requiring an issuer of securities to disclose greenhouse gas emissions from upstream and downstream activities in the issuer’s value chain arising from a farm.

The SEC’s proposed rule issued earlier this year stated that registrants would be required to disclose information about its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions and “climate-related risks.” The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) submitted public comments in June opposing the rule.

USCA President Brooke Miller issued the following statement: “U.S. farmers and ranchers absolutely need this exemption from the Securities Exchange Commission’s climate disclosure proposal.

“Our producer members already face nearly insurmountable proposed and ongoing regulatory burdens from an array of federal agencies. Their main job should be putting American beef on American plates, not managing the complex clerical duties of SEC compliance rules.

“USCA appreciates Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma for his leadership on introducing this important legislation.”

▫

Alt-Meat Exec Charged With Assault

BY MELISSA SUE SORRELLS / MEATINGPLACE.COM

D

oug Ramsey, COO of Beyond Meat, was arrested on charges of “terroristic threatening” and third-degree battery, court records show, following allegations that he attacked another man during an altercation in a parking garage after a college football game in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on September 17.

The company said that Ramsey had been suspended from his position. A senior vice president will assume his duties on a temporary basis.

Ramsey was allegedly waiting

to exit Stadium Drive Parking Garage near Razorback Stadium following Arkansas’ victory over Missouri State when a Subaru made contact with the front passenger-side tire of his Bronco, according to a local media report.

Ramsey got out of his car and “punched through the back windshield of the Subaru,” according to the report. When the Subaru owner exited his own car, Ramsey allegedly started punching the owner of the car and also “bit the owner’s nose, ripping the flesh on the tip.” He also “threatened to kill” the other man, according to the report.

Ramsey was arrested at 10:27 p.m. and taken into custody at

the Washington County jail. He was released the next morning on an $11,085 bond, and he is due in Fayetteville District Court on October 19.

Ramsey was hired by Beyond Meat in December 2021, charged with helping expand Beyond’s operations, supply chain and manufacturing and developing efficiencies. Beyond did not immediately reply to Alt-Meat’s request for comment.

Prior to joining Beyond, Ramsey had worked at Tyson Foods since 1992, where he held several executive titles, including president of global McDonald’s business. A Tyson spokesperson told Arkansas’ KNWA Fox 24 that Ramsey left the company last year on his own accord.

▫

October 15, 2022

Livestock Market Digest

REAL ESTATE GUIDE

SOCOR PLAZA RE www.scottlandcompany.com

rms

erTY

y.com

mitt, TX 79027 Scott - Broker lifying Broker am/10:00pm company.com

R SMALL!

uadalupe Co., eded & 519 anch on both g flow daily) mner; wildlife, buyer looking New Mexico

RANCH & FARM REAL ESTATE ■ PRICE REDUCED! CEDARVALE, NM – 7,113acre ranch (5,152 ac. +/- Deeded – 1,961 ac. +/Livestock Digest State Lease) well fencedMarket & watered w/good pens, new barn.

■ COLFAX COUNTY NM GETAWAY – 1,482.90 ac.+/- grassland (1,193.59 ac. +/- Deeded, 289.31 ac. State Lease), great location near all types of mountain recreation.

■ PRICE REDUCED! UNION CO., NM – 2,091.72 ac. (1,771.72 Deeded, 320 ac. -/+ State Lease), well watered w/three wells, two sets of steel pens.

■ ANGUS, NM – 250 +/- acres with over a 1/2 mile of NM 48 frontage. Elevations from 6,800 to 7,200 feet. Two springs along a creek. Ideal for future development or build your own getaway home.

■ HIDDEN GEM – 941 acres +/- in Randall Co. NW of Canyon, Tx. STUNNING VIEWS OVER LOOKING PALO DURO CREEK. Turn key cow/calf operation w development potential. Property includes: 3/3/3 ranch style home, 4 wells, large shop plus shed, enclosed livestock working facility w/hydraulic chute, livestock pens & shed, miles of 5 & 6 barbed wire fence & over 7000' of pipe fence. YOU WILL NOT WANT521 TOWest MISS Second THIS! Canyon District.

St. •School Portales, NM 88130 ■ DEAF SMITH CO., TX.or– 575-226-0672 651 ac. +/-, 7 milesfax N 575-226-0671 of Dawn, TX, 1 mile E of FM 809. 349 acres native Buena Vista grass with well-maintained fencing Realty and 302 acres of cultivated dry land. Qualifying Broker: A.H. ■ DALLAM CO,(Jack) TX –Merrick 1,216.63575-760-7521 ac. +/- of CRP/ www.buenavista-nm.com ranchland w/irrigation, re-development potential, wells & pipelines already in place.

■ CASTRO CO., TX – Drip irrigated farms with cash leases available. 2,080 acres (will divide); 1,715 acres; 640 acres; 320 acres.

■ CASTRO CO., TX. – Sprinkle farms with • 83 acre wood homeirrigated with barns, ½ mile pivots. 656 acres; 640 acres; 320 acres; Cash leases meadows available. and woods. Fronts State ■ CASTRO CO., TX – 661 acres, ½-mile pivot, 4 Rd. $545,000 wells, 3 miles NW of Hart.

■ PRICE REDUCED! LET’S LOOK at these two acretractsRanger Eastland choices• 160 80-acre of dryland located Co, in close proximity one to the other in Wilbarger County near $560,000 Vernon, Texas.

PRICE REDUCTION! TURN-KEY RESTAURANT • 270FORacre MitchellOne County, - READY BUSINESS! of the Texas best steak houses in the nation just out of Amarillo & Canyon ranch. Investors dream; excellent at Umbarger, TX., state-of-the-art bldg., w/complete facilities.cash flow. Rock formation being

TEXAS & OKLA. FARMS & RANCHES

Page 7

Bottari Realty SOCORRO Paul Bottari, Broker PLAZA REALTY 775/752-3040

Selling residential, farm, Selling commercial residential, farm, ranch, and ranch, commercial and relocating properties. relocating properties.

On the Plaza

Donald Brown Nevada Farms Qualifying Broker & cell 505-507-2915 505-838-0095 fax raNch PrOPerTY 116 Plaza

COLETTA RAY COLETTA RAY Pioneer Realty

Pioneer Realty 1304 Pile Street, Clovis, NM 88101 1304 Pile Street, Clovis, NM 88101 575-799-9600 Direct

575-799-9600Office Direct 575.935.9680 575.935.9680 575.935.9680 Office Fax 575.935.9680 Fax coletta@plateautel.net coletta@plateautel.net www.clovisrealestatesales.com www.clovisrealestatesales.com

www.bottarirealty.com

PO Box 1903 Socorro, NM 87801 www.socorroplazarealty.com dbrown@socorroplazarealty.com

AG LOANS AGLAND LAND LOANS AsLow LowAsAs 3% As 4.5% OPWKCAP 2.9% OPWKCAP 2.9%

INTEREST RATESAS AS LOW 3% INTEREST RATES LOW ASAS 4.5% Payments Scheduledon on2525 Years Payments Scheduled Years

521 West Second St. • Portales, NM 88130

575-226-0671 or 575-226-0672 fax Joe Stubblefield & Associates 13830 Western St., Amarillo, TX 806/622-3482 • cell 806/674-2062 joes3@suddenlink.net Michael Perez Associates Nara Visa, NM • 575/403-7970

Buena Vista Realty

Qualifying Broker: A.H. (Jack) Merrick 575-760-7521 www.buenavista-nm.com

521 West Second St., Portales, NM 88130

575-226-0671 towww.buenavista-nm.com Cattlemen

Advertise and Ranchers!

Rural Properties around Portales, NM 1242 NM 480 - Nice home on 59.7 acres, grass 427 S Rrd P 1/2Call - Large home,atlots of barns or 24+ Buena nice Vista Realty 575-226-0671 the ac listing agent 1694 S Rrd 4, Lori Great home, barns, cattle pens, location Bohm 575-760-9847, or Melody Sandberg 575-825-1291.

2344 S Rrd K east of Dora, NM, great - Near wind farms Many good pictures on MLS or www.buenavista-nm.com All properties excellent homes & can have horses, etc.

Call

As Low As 198 AC Fanninco, TX OPWKCAP Good Country Rd. Frontage, INTEREST RATES A Rural Water, Electricity, 35 mi NE of Dallas, SO of Bonnam $20,000 Per Acre

SCOTT MCNALLY

521 West Second St. • Portales, NM 88130

www.ranchesnm.com 575-226-0671 or 575-226-0672 fax 575/622-5867 575/420-1237

Buena Vista Realty

Qualifying Broker: Ranch Sales575-760-7521 & Appraisals A.H. (Jack) Merrick www.buenavista-nm.com

AG LAND LOANS As Low As 3.5% OPWKCAP 3.5%

INTEREST RATES AS LOW AS 3.5% Payments Scheduled on 25 Years

A SOURCE FOR PROVEN SUPERIOR Joe Stubblefield & Associates REDWestern ANGUS 13830 St., Amarillo, TX 806/622-3482 • cell 806/674-2062 GENETICS

joes3@suddenlink.net Michael Perez Associates 14298 N. Nara Atkins Rd., Lodi, CA 95240 Visa, NM • 575-403-7970

270 AC Miticelle Co., TX 1 mi off I-20, 6 Elect, Trurans Rock Formation Irrigation Well and Sprinkler. All Bring Case, Modest Home & Barns Price $2.2 million 270 AC Pine Timber & Hunting, Anderson Co., TX Co. Rd. Frontage, Small Lakes $7,250 Per Acre

Joe Priest Real Estate

1-800/671-4548

joepriestre.net • joepriestRE@gmail.com

209/727-3335

MAJOR PRICE REDUCTION – CALL PAUL FOR DETAILS

10 Acres of commercial property, incredible highway visibility and access from either east or west directions on Hwy 60, 3 miles East of Garden Inn Truck Plaza and 4 miles west of Willow Springs.

Natural gas may be available on site. LOCATION PLUS! This property is well suited for many types of businesses (Restaurant, Retail, Motel, Business of any kind!) A MUST SEE PROPERTY. MLS#11402703

See all my listings at: paulmcgilliard.murney.com Paul McGilliard, Broker Associate Residential / Farms/Ranches / Commercial 417-839-5096 or 800-743-0336

521 West Second St. • Portales, NM 88130

575-226-0671 or 575-226-0672 fax

505-243-9515

for more information

crushed and sold; wind turbans, some minerals. Irrigation water developed, crop & cattle, modest improvements. Just off I-20. Price reduced to $1.25 million.

Buena Vista Realty

Qualifying Broker: A.H. (Jack) Merrick 575-760-7521 www.buenavista-nm.com

521 West Second St. • Portales, NM 88130

575-226-0671 or 575-226-0672 fax

• 840 Immaculate, Hunt Co, TX. 740 ± Acres of unimproved native grassland Ranch. Pastures, 40 tanks, and lakes. Beautiful located four home, milesbarns, west of Roswell in the Six Mile Hill area with frontage along U.S. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RANCH PROPERTY and other improvements. Some 31 years ranch business see www.ranch-lands.com videos &of brochures Highway 70/380.

This parcel is fenced onin thethree sides- and adjoins 120foracres additional minerals, game galore. All for $1.35 DUANEinvestment. & DIXIE McGARVA RANCH: approx.per 985 acres Likely, CA. with about 600+ acre gravity flood land that may be purchased. Great $600 acre. million. irrigated pastures PLUS private 542 AU BLM permit. About 425 acres so of the irrigated are level to flood

EIGHT MILE DRAW LAND

COWBOY DRAW RANCH

excellent pastures with balance good flood irrigated pastures. NO PUMPING COST! Dryland is perfect for expansion to pivot irrigated alfalfa if desired. Plus BLM permit for 540 AU is fenced into 4 fields on about 18,000 acres only 7 miles away. REDUCED ASKING PRICE - $3,125,000

SOLD DRE# 00963490

O’NEILL LAND, llc

s southeast of Corona, NM in Lincoln Scott McNally, Qualifying Broker M Lease Acres and 2,240 NM State P.O. Box 145, Cimarron, NM 87714 • 575/376-2341 • Fax: 575/376-2347 Bar M Real Estate, LLC • www.swranches.com land@swranches.com UYL. Water provided by five wells and corrals. The ranch had a good summer P.O. Box CHICO428, CREEK RANCH, Colfax County, NM.NM NEW LISTING. CIMARRON ON THE RIVER, Colfax County, NM. 7.338 +/Roswell, 88202 6,404.26 +/- Total Acres, Located approximately 10 miles east of deeded acres with 4.040 acre-feet per annum out of the for a brochure or view on my website.

Springer New Mexico. 3,692.60 +/deeded acres575-420-1237 with balance Maxwell-Clutton Ditch. Custom country-chic 2,094 +/- sq ft Office: 575-622-5867 Cell:

y limits of Roswell, NM. Six total acres ved with a 2, 200 square foot residence, room and loafing shed. Price: $400,000

Bar M Real Estate

TEXAS & OKLA. FARMS & RANCHES AG LAND

See these and other properties at www.buenavista-nm.com

Excellent small cattle ranch located in Joe Priest New Real Mexico Estate approximately southeastern 50 miles northwest of Roswell on the BEAVER CREEK RANCH: about 82,000 acres - with 2,700 deeded acres plus contiguous USFSChaves/ & BLM +/- w/water permits for 450 pair; 580+- acres irrigated alfalfa, pasture, and meadow from Beaver Creek water rights and & a beautiful irrigation well.

3 homes, 2 hay barns, 4 feedlots each w/ 250 ton 2 large reservoirs, can run up toBLM Lincoln county line. 7,455 totalone acres with 2,600 deeded with thebarns,balance federal 1-800/671-4548 3 bathrooms, 500-600 cows YEAR ROUND. REDUCED ASKING PRICE - $5,400,000. etal shop. joepriestre.net lease acres.• joepriestre@earthlink.com Permitted for 151 animal units yearlong with an additional 30 animal units BEAR CREEK RANCH: Approx. 1,278 acres winter range ground and recreational property. Located on Bear Creek and accessed from South Cow Creek Valley Road. Should be great hunting for deer, wild turkey, wild on a temporary nonrenewable basis. twoin Bearwells andaccess several water pigs, quail &Watered owner states goodwith trout fishing Creek. Deeded easement miles thru neighborof ranches.

No improvements & very private inside the ranch. pipeline. Two larger open drawsNowrun through the ranch that provide overflow areas to only $700 per acre - $894,600 enhance grazing. The terrain is open andWRIGHT, rolling with good LAND turf. The ranch hasINC. had good BILL SHASTA SERVICES, summer rains with no cattle since last530-941-8100 spring. The• ranch is •inwww.ranch-lands.com excellent condition. Call for a brochure andoperated come take a look. Price: $1,350,000 ch that has been owned and

R ACT

116 Plaz PO Box 19 Socorro, NM www.socorroplaza dbrown@socorropla

We need listings on all types of ag properties large or small!

980 ac. +/past, land lays e of Hwy. 54. on Co., NM – and w/statey remodeled in very good n pvmt. . +/- heavily listing r livestockagent w/ 75-825-1291. ences etc., on ta-nm.com e front gate. ic ac. +/- on d by Lincoln in Pines & ed meadow Penasco. This uild a legacy

4 ac. irr., on exico, adjoins l.

POTENTIAL xline Special,

Qualifying B

505-507-29 505-838-00

in state lease. Excellent grass and water. Two plus miles of the

home. Owns both sides of river in places. Horse/cow/chicken/

Additional wells and dirt tanks. Nice historic head quarters privately located with shade trees and excellent views of the property. Shipping pens in central portion of property. $2,837,318

it’s finest, in town, but in a world of your own. Very special on river. Appointment only. $650,000.

Chico Creek meandering through the center of the property. vegetable garden/greenhouse/orchard set up. Country living at Website: www.ranchesnm.com

WAGON MOUND RANCH, Mora/Harding Counties, NM. 8,880.80 +/- Total Acres, a substantial holding with good mix of

RATON MILLION DOLLAR VIEW, Colfax County, NM. 97.68 +/- deeded acres in 2 parcels with excellent home, big shop, wildlife, a true million dollar view at the end of a private

O’NEILL Buena Vista Realty LAND, llc P.O. Box 145, Cimarron, NM 87714 • 575/376-2341 • Fax: 575/376-2347 land@swranches.com • www.swranches.com

ELM Qualifying Broker: A.H. (Jack) Merrick 575-760-7521 www.buenavista-nm.com

CAPULIN -SIERRA GRAND VIEW, Union County. NM. 520 +/- deeded acres with HQ 1.5 miles off highway, 3 bedroom 2 bathroom home with landscaped yard and volcanic rock walls, nice outbuildings, 3 registered wells including 1 registered as an irrigation well and an excellent solar well. Close proximity to Des Moines, NM. $898,000 EAGLE NEST ESCAPE, Colfax County NM. 78.42 +/- deeded acres overlooking Eagle Nest Lake, private pond, 3 bedroom 2 bathroom home, large shop garage able to store 2 big RV’s. Improvements almost half mile off highway. $825,000 MAXWELL 45, Excellent irrigated pasture with utilities in back of property, including installed septic system, with private views of mountains. 40 irrigable acres and a domestic water meter installed. Great to put down home and bring horses. $249,000 BAR LAZY 7 RANCH, Colfax County, Moreno Valley 594.38 +/- deeded acres, accessed off blacktop between Eagle Nest and Angel Fire. Historic headquarters.

Currently used as summer grazing, pond and trees accessed off county road on rear TO of property as well. Presented SACRAMENTO “ASIS” New SALE Survey, $4,000,000 $3,800,000 HWY 4 STOCKTON UTE PARK RIVER PLACE 6.83 J17+/MAR ACRES, 450 +/- feet of the Cimarron RiverIPOSA RD VALLEY HWY 99 and more than that of Ute Creek are the HWY 120 south and east boundaries of this unique ESCALON SALE MANTECA one of a kind water property. 2HEADQUARTERS bedroom Facility loc 1 bathroom cabin, year round access off MODESTO 25525 Eas Hwy 64. $589,000 $570,000 CIMARRON BUSINESS, FrontageTO FRESNO Tree Road Escalon, C opportunity, house, big shop and office buildings, easy view off Hwy 64. Formerly known as “The Porch.” $295,000 MIAMI 40 ACRES, Colfax County NM, private 2 bedroom getaway with elevated fantastic view, nice porch, little casita, irrigation and pole barn. Extremely private setting. Right below mesa. $450,000 COLFAX TAVERN & DINER, Colfax County, NM. Aka “COLD BEER”, turn key legendry regional icon and destination, with anchor staff/team willing to stay on. Prime business on front range. $1,500,000 FARMINGTON

40

Donald Br

CONTRACT PENDING

#N CONTRACT PENDING ESCALON LIVESTOCK MARKET, I CONTRACT ING LIVESTOCK SALES PEND 3 days per week on

Monday, Wednesday, & Friday

MONDAY: Beef Cattle WEDNESDAY: Dairy Cattle S

NT IGNME CONS OME! WELC r more

Call fo ation inform ning sig on con stock. your

MIGUEL A. MACHADO President Office: 209/838-7011 Mobile: 209/595-2014

FRIDAY: Small Animals Poultry – Butcher Cows

Patronize Our Advertisers

ker

On the Pl

Ben G. Scott – Broker Krystal M. Nelson – NM QB 800-933-9698 5:00 a.m./10:00 p.m.

TATE GUIDE

alty

Page 7

JOE VIEIRA Representative Mobile: 209/531-4156 THOMAS BERT 209/605-3866

CJ BRAN Field Represen 209/596-

www.escalonlivestockmarket.com • escalonlivestockmarket@ya

Page 8

Livestock Market Digest

October 15, 2022

Pasture Management & Water Distribution A Tide That Raises All Ships

T

he desert of southeast Arizona can be a tough place to run a ranch. Pastures are big and sometimes rough and rocky, and cows have to hustle and rustle to make a living. Mesquite and other brush can dominate the landscape. Running cows in country like this means you have to work with the land, even when the land doesn’t want to work with you.

When the land doesn’t want to work with you is when good pasture management, and the right kind of supplement, can make the difference between weaning a good calf crop or not.

That’s what Carter Williams, manager of the Cienega Ranch near Wilcox, Arizona, has learned.

“Cienega” translates to a seep, spring, or small water hole in the desert. And in a desert environment, water is the foundation of all life.

The original ranch is more than 100 years old and spread across a huge chunk of the state. Over time, the size diminished and the previous owners ran just a small portion of the original outfit. As the family retired, the present owner bought the land and set about rebuilding the ranch, Williams said. A big part of that rebuilding process, in addition to acquiring some of the ranchland that was part of the original operation, is pasture improvement.

Williams and his crew are accomplishing that by drilling wells and running miles upon miles of pipeline to provide water in parts of pastures where none was available before. And they’re building dams in the draws and arroyos that run from the mountain country into the flats.

The Cienega Ranch is high, about 4,600 feet above sea level, and runs from love grass flats to rough mountain pastures. Surprisingly, it has a 22-inch annual rainfall, thanks to the Monsoon season that runs from mid-July through September.

Cattle Market Reform Cannot Wait

BY US CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR, BRETT CROSBY

A

blog post published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on July 12, 2022, claimed that Congress is “rushing” to consider “aggressive legislation to regulate beef markets.”

Boy, if only that were true.

In February 2020, the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) hosted its annual Cattle Producer’s Forum at the Public Auction Yards in Billings, Montana. It was there that a group of producers discussed the idea of reigniting a concept previously advanced by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa to improve the cash cattle market.

That concept was introduced by Iowa’s senior senator in 2002 as the Transparency for Independent Livestock Producers Act. It would require 25 percent of a packer’s daily kill to come as a result of purchases made on the daily, open market or spot market.

That was 20 years ago.

Since that time, we’ve seen a 75 percent decrease in the number of cattle feedlots – from 55,472 in 2002 to 13,379 in 2017 according to U.S. Census of Agriculture data. We’ve also lost approximately 1,200 cow-calf producers and backgrounders each year.

“Rushing” into legislation? While we continue to hem and haw over whether or not bold Congressional action is needed, independent producers will exit the business.

From an outsider’s view, it can certainly seem like all this talk of consolidation and anticompetitive practices in the U.S. beef and cattle industries suddenly sprung up. But USCA and other stakeholders have worked towards restoring leverage and true price discovery in the cattle marketplace for decades. Congressional passage of the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act and the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act represents a significant step toward achieving that goal.

In testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Dr. Stephen Koontz of Colorado State University observed that, “There are no other industries outside of cattle and beef…that work in their entirety in this type of setting – whereby supply decisions, demand revelation, and changing the product form are in distinctly different industries. Coordinating the system is difficult.”

“Difficult” is certainly understated, but the point remains: The U.S. cattle and beef industries’ marketing process and dynamics are entirely unique. In our business, we need a referee to ensure a competitive playing field free from interference. We also need a healthy and viable cash market to keep our independent producers in business.

Not many have accused Congress of moving too quickly. Democracy is designed to be a slow, laborious process. Momentum for these two historic pieces of legislation grew over nearly two years from an idea conceived by a small group of from concerned producers to widespread support from producers and consumers, grassroots organizations, Members of Congress, and the White House.

Now it’s time to finish what Senator Grassley began twenty years ago: Set aside the interests of multinational meatpackers and secure the future of our sovereign food system.

▫

Brett Crosby currently serves as Region IV Director for the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, representing Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado.

October 15, 2022 Damming the draws not only provides surface water for the cattle during the dry winter months, but keeps more water on the land, Williams says, instead of letting it run off and cause erosion. So the entire ecosystem—wildlife, plants, everything—benefits from the water conservation efforts on the Cienega Ranch.

The ranch is home to around 900 cows that roam more than 60,000 acres.

When Williams took over ranch management the first year, the calves were already on the ground. “It was a 50 percent calf crop; no tubs, no supplement whatsoever,” he said.

So Williams and his crew went to work. “The last three years I’ve been here I went from 80 percent to dang near 92 percent calf crop.” Putting numbers to that statement, he said they branded 125 more calves in 2022 than the year before.

And in 2021, they branded 50 more calves than in 2020.

He attributes that largely to having Riomax® tubs in front of the cows year around. “A lot of it is because these cows are staying in such good shape, especially through the winter and spring when it’s dry here,” he said. “June is one of the driest months down here in this coun-

Livestock Market Digest try. If you can get through June and hit the summer rain, you’re doing pretty good. But a lot of it’s because these tubs get them through the deal so their body scores are staying good and they’re cycling back when the bulls are hitting them.”

The cow herd is Angus based, with a few Red Angus and black baldies sprinkled in. On the bull side, all the genetics are from Gardiner Angus in Ashland, Kansas, which Williams says has improved their performance.

The ranch retains ownership of some of the steers. For the past several years, Williams says the steers have consistently graded 90-95 percent Prime, which affords a lot of opportunities to enhance their take-home pay by marketing through several value-added channels.

Breeding season begins in March, just as the country is entering its driest time of the year.

If cows aren’t in good body condition coming out of the winter, conception rates will be dismal, as they were when Williams took over running the ranch. Now, cows go into breeding season at a 6 or 7 body condition score, ideal for cows on the range.

In fact, it was dry weather that caused Williams to start on Riomax®. Not too long ago, the land suffered through several

Revision to Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan Outlines Actions to Reduce Human-Caused Mortality

T

he U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) has announced the availability of a final revised recovery plan for the Mexican wolf. The Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan, Second Revision (final revised recovery plan), provides new site-specific recovery actions to improve protections for Mexican wolves in the wild.

“These revisions will improve protections for Mexican wolves in the wild and increase their chances at survival,” said Brady McGee, Service Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator. “Collaboration, flexibility, and communication remain the cornerstones of this program. We will continue working with our local, state, federal and Tribal partners to achieve our recovery goals.”

On October 14, 2021, the District Court of Arizona remanded the 2017 recovery plan to the Service to address the threat of human-caused mortality, including illegal killing.

The revised plan includes new site-specific management actions to address the threat of human-caused mortality, including illegal killing. The revisions address the part of the plan remanded by the court, and do not include any changes to the recovery strategy or criteria.

Recovery plans provide a framework for the recovery of a species so that Endangered Species Act protection is no longer necessary. The Mexican wolf recovery plan provides objective, measurable criteria that, when met, will ensure threats have been alleviated sufficiently for the Service to pursue delisting. The recovery plan uses the best available science to chart a path forward for the Mexican wolf that can be accommodat-

ed within the species’ historical range in the Southwestern United States and Mexico.

The following are some of the new site-specific recovery actions in the revised plan to address these threats in the U.S. and Mexico: 1. Conduct education and outreach in local communities within occupied Mexican wolf range in the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area and other areas where wolves disperse in order to improve hunter, trapper, rancher, and public awareness and tolerance of wolves, including materials with biological and legal information and conflict reduction techniques; 2. Increase law enforcement presence in areas identified as mortality hot spots to assist in public education, deter illegal killing, investigate wolf mortalities, and coordinate with law enforcement from other agencies; 1. Install enhancements to facilitate Mexican wolf movement across existing and new roads and reduce vehicle collisions; and 2. Implement livestock conflict avoidance measures in hotspots of depredation activity to reduce depredation-related wolf removals. Examples of such measures include pasture rotations of livestock, the use of fladry around sensitive areas such as calving areas, fence repair and maintenance, hazing, and range riders.

Human-caused mortality includes vehicle collisions and

Page 9

years where it received only 8 inches a year. Williams knew he had to do something, and Riomax® was the answer.

Because Riomax® helps the rumen digest feed more efficiently, cows can stay on pastures longer than typically happens. That helped Williams and the cattle get through a very dry 2021. “I had to use some pastures (longer) to save other pastures to go back to if I had to.

And the tubs really helped the cows out. None of them really got poor,” he said.

Calf health shines as brightly as the hair coats.

“I really haven’t had to doctor any calves,” he said. “When the steer calves hit the grow yard where we ship them to, they were really impressed with those calves. Very little sickness they had to fight with. And the calves didn’t bawl.”

He shares a similar story about the replacement heifers.

They are born to cows that have been on Riomax® year-round and “a lot of times their calves are outweighing the main herd cows and our heifers aren’t dropping off. They stay healthy and rebreed with a 90-95 percent conception rate,” he says.

What’s more, neighbors are starting to notice. “I’ve had some neighbors drive through here

illegal killings (take). This take includes illegal shooting with a firearm or arrow and illegal trap-related mortalities by the public. In 2020 (the last year of published data), 14 wolves were identified as having been illegally killed and 6 were identified as having died from vehicle collisions. The wild population of Mexican wolves has continued to grow in recent years despite these mortalities. At the end of 2021, there were a minimum of 196 Mexican wolves in the United States (Arizona and New Mexico) and around 35 in Mexico.

The Service received more than 48,000 public comments on the draft revised recovery plan, which was released in April 2022. The final revision includes refinements based on these comments and peer review but does not deviate significantly from the proposed revision.

Next year, the Service will produce its first five-year status review of the 2017 recovery plan, which will determine if the recovery strategy is proving effective or needs revision, in coordination with states and the Mexican government.

▫

For more information, please visit: https:// www.fws.gov/program/mexican-wolf.

with me and look at these cows.

[They ranch on] similar country and can’t believe our cows are in way better shape than their cows. And it’s the same grass, just across the fence, basically.”

Typical weaning weights in that country are 450 to 500 pounds. “And people are happy with it. The last three years we’ve had them on the tubs, we’re weaning 600, 650-pound calves off these cows. And the cows aren’t jerked down. So I think the tubs have really helped us out a lot.”

That’s particularly true with his older cows. “I’ve got a few old cows I need to cull. Their teeth are short but their bellies are full and they’re staying in really good shape and raising nice calves; their calves are just as big as the rest of them.”

Williams admits the Riomax® tubs are costly upfront.

“But the end result is where it’s at. It brings it back to you in the long run. I think they pay for themselves. You might even make a little on the deal.”

▫

What Is The Best Advertising Value In Western Livestock Industry?

Page 10

Livestock Market Digest

CLASSIFIEDS Kaddatz Auctioneering & Farm Equipment Sales

New & Used parts, Tractor & Farm Equipment.

Salvage yard: Tractors, Combines, Hay & Farm Equipment Online auctions: We can sell your farm, ranch & construction equipment anywhere in the U.S. Order parts online at www.farmstore.com – 15% rebate www.kaddatzequipment.com

254-221-9271

g•u•i•d•e angus

Bradley 3 Ranch Ltd. www.bradley3ranch.com Ranch-Raised ANGUS Bulls for Ranchers Since 1955

Annual Bull Sale February 11, 2023 at the Ranch NE of Estelline, TX M.L. Bradley, 806/888-1062 Cell: 940/585-6471

BEEFMASTER

210.732.3132 • beefmasters.org 118 W. BANDERA ROAD BOERNE, TX 78006

BRANGUS

R.L. Robbs 520/384-3654 4995 Arzberger Rd. Willcox, Arizona 85643 Willcox, AZ

Don’t Fence Me In Virtual fences

BY FRANK DUBOIS

E

verywhere you turn we have virtual this and virtual that, and now we have virtual fences.

The BLM is working with ranchers to do just that, install virtual fences.

Funded in part by a grant from the Natural Resource Conservation Service, plus money from the BLM and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, this first-ever virtual fencing program has grown from one rancher with about 135 cows to now more than 2,000 cows. They have installed 10 towers in two counties that are pinging livestock on over 500,000 acres.

Hilary Boyd, assistant field manager in the BLM’s Colorado River Valley Field Office says, “How can we manage livestock without structure? Now there are endless possibilities. You can sit on your screen, figure out where you want to send your animals, how long you want them there and how you are going to move your animals across the landscape.”

So why do you need a rancher? It turns out the cattle need to be trained on the new system. Each cow has a collar that makes a noise as they approach a virtual fence, and if need be, a shock is applied to their ears.

The younger cows, being turned

October 15, 2022 out for the first time, quickly adapt to the system. The older cows who are accustomed to roaming the range, take a little longer to adapt. One article says a rancher can take up to two weeks to get the cattle to respond appropriately. Personally, I’m not sure who is being the most trained, the cow or the rancher.

The University of Idaho has received a grant for a ‘four-year field project for researchers at U of I and Washington State University to test the safety and efficacy of a prototype virtual fence system that uses novel features to manage cows, sheep and other grazing livestock with minimal ecological footprint.” The rationale here seems to be a little different. Karen Launchbaugh, director of the U of I Rangeland Center, says, “As wildlife habitat becomes increasingly fragmented and recreational activities on rangelands continue to grow, maintaining unobstructed corridors for movement of wildlife and humans is critical.”

More hikers and more wildlife means more control over the rancher and his livestock.

All we need now is some virtual post hole diggers, and maybe even a virtual BLM range con.

Until next time, be a nuisance to the devil and don’t forget to check that cinch.

Frank DuBois was the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003, is the author of a blog: The Westerner (www.thewesterner. blogspot.com) and is the founder of The DuBois Rodeo Scholarship and The DuBois Western Heritage Foundation CORRECTION: In last month’s column, while discussing the Bison Preserve, I wrote the BLM had issued a grazing permit for sheep on 60.000 acress of federal land. That should hae been for bison, not sheep.

▫

Collector 's o r n Cowboy e r Spurs

BY JIM OLSON

S

purs! Are they simply a tool used as a signal between horse and rider? Are they cowboy bling to be shown off and collected? Or perhaps instruments of torture? Depending on how they are used—and who you talk to—they can be all three.

The history and lineage of spurs is an important place to start—and it looks a bit like this: People have been using spurs just about as long as they have been riding. We know there are examples from the Celts and Romans. European horseman used them widely by the middle ages.

Pretty much every horse culture, who also had knowledge of forging metal, used them. They first came across the Atlantic ocean into the North American continent in two ways; with the British, who brought them to the Northeastern part of what is now the United States and with the Spaniards, who brought them into “New Spain” or what is now Mexico.

The Spanish style spur was much larger and more ornate than those used by other Europeans, and the lineage of today’s Western style spur follows more closely with the Spaniard’s version. The Spanish style spur made its way north, into the American Southwest with the

Invasive Asian Longhorned Tick Spreading Through US

BY LACEY VILHAUER / HIGH PLAINS JOURNAL

I

n a recent webinar, Dr. Denise Bonilla, DVM, cattle fever tick eradication program manager at U.S. Department of Agriculture, discussed the Asian longhorned tick and its impacts on United States agriculture.

Known scientifically as Haemaphysalis longicornis, Asian longhorned ticks originated in northeast Asia and expanded into Australia and New Zealand. They were probably introduced to the U.S. in the last 10 to 15 years, but the first confirmed case was on a sheep in New Jersey in 2017. Asian longhorned ticks have been confirmed in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Bonilla said Virginia leads the count with 38 known infested counties.

The presence of this tick in the U.S. is particularly concerning because they are capable of asexual reproduction or parthenogenesis. This allows females to lay eggs without mating with male ticks therefore tick populations can increase much faster.

One female can generate 1,000 to 2,000 eggs at one time, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Asian longhorned ticks can transmit anaplasmosis, bovine theileriosis and babesiosis.

Asian longhorned ticks are

considered a possible vector for Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus, which is an emerging infectious disease in China. Since the tick is not native to the U.S. researchers are not sure of this arachnid’s capabilities when it comes to carrying Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

“These ticks vector protozoal, bacterial and viral pathogens to animals and humans,” Bonilla said. “There are good chances for this tick to potentially move into new areas and just because this tick hasn’t been confirmed in your state yet, it doesn’t mean that you’re not at risk of getting this tick where you live.”

Asian longhorned tick will infect and spread through wildlife hosts such as deer, raccoons, possums, foxes, rabbit, groundhogs, skunks, birds and mice.

Bonilla said Asian longhorned ticks are comparative in size to the deer tick commonly seen in the High Plains.

“These ticks don’t really like humans, but they will bite people sometimes and we’re getting a lot of reports of larval ticks on kids that are playing outside,” she said. “We see a lot in dogs and it’s possible that they are moving ticks around when people travel with them.”

She said although it is not known exactly how the ticks were introduced to the U.S., based on the genetics of the ticks that have been collected, there have been at least three different introductions into this

Photo of an adult female Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, on a blade of grass. (Photo courtesy James Gathany via the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.)

country.

“Cattle seem to be one of the favorite hosts for these ticks, but they have also been found on sheep, goats and pigs,” she said. “Whatever livestock you produce, you need to be on the lookout for this tick.”

Apart from vectoring disease, animals can die from exsanguination if enough are present.

This means the ticks feed to the point where they drain the animal of blood and they can’t live anymore.

“We’ve seen situations like this where the animals don’t seem to be sick when they die, they just have thousands and thousands of ticks on them,” Bonilla explained. “The good news is we haven’t seen any pesticide resistance so far. Not all approved tick repellants or treatment for animals state they will work against Asian longhorned ticks, but all repellents will still be effective against this pest.”

▫

October 15, 2022 Conquistadores and other explorers. These expeditions then left behind herdsman to establish settlements and tend to livestock all across what is now northern Mexico and the American Southwest. These herdsman transitioned over time into what eventually became known as the Mexican vaqueros. The descendants of these early settlers were already tending to livestock when the first Americans came along and started learning how to ranch on open ranges during the infancy of the cowboy era in the 1800s. History tells us the Vaquero had a lot of influence over early cowboy gear—and the spur is no exception.

The very best horseman in the world understand that a pair of spurs is little more than a signaling tool between horse and rider. Vaqueros had become fine horseman during the couple-hundred-year period between when the Spanish first introduced livestock to the area, up until the Americans came along and started developing their own ranches. During that time, a horseback culture had evolved to a level never seen before. It was not uncommon for a vaquero to be at a level of horsemanship whereby he would show off by removing the bridle from his horse and perform difficult maneuvers using nothing more than body signals to guide his mount. It takes a highly trained animal to perform like this and a pair of spurs is one way signals are passed from rider to horse. If a rider is abusive with spurs, naturally his mount would run off or buck, not perform at a high level of control.

So to an expert horseman, a pair of spurs are definitely a signaling tool.

On the other hand, a pair of spurs worn by the wrong rider can be used as an instrument of pain and can be a danger to both horse and rider. Unknowledgeable people look at a pair of spurs (especially ones with large rowels) and imagine the worst.

They don’t realize that spurs,

Livestock Market Digest

Page 11

just like most anything else, can folks with low morals who will will not intentionally try to debe used for bad or good depend- try to sell an inferior pair as be- fraud someone and on the rare ing on the user and application. ing one that is highly desirable), occasion they get it wrong, they For example, a butter knife can fake hallmarks on spurs is not will make it right once the misbe used to butter your bread, or uncommon. The best rule is to take is discovered. Always be to commit murder. A car can always deal with reputable sell- cautious of a “buyer beware” sitget your child to the doctor, ers and also to educate yourself. uation when investing your hard or it can be used in a robbery. Not everyone gets it right all of earned money.

And spurs can be used to signal the time, but an honest seller In conclusion, collecting a horse, or to harm one. It is how the instrument is used that matters and a pair of spurs to an experienced rider are useful tools—not items of torture.

Today, there are numerous collectors from all parts of FROM THE BACK SIDE the world who collect spurs.

To many they are collectibles or even “cowboy bling.” Some BY BARRY DENTON issued a proclamation orderspurs carry a pretty high price ing a pause in the construction et this, according of the border wall going up on tag, and they are collected right to television sta- our southern border,” Governor along with many other forms of tion KOB in Al- Ducey said. “Since then, illeWestern memorabilia. Among buquerque, New gal activity in Yuma and other the most desirable spurs to an avid collector are antiques which Mexico, illegal immigration is border communities have skyhave survived the test of time. If up 267 percent over last year. rocketed. Arizona could not just they were made by a well-known Many are calling upon New stand by and allow this situation maker and are appealing visual- Mexico’s Governor Grisham to to continue.” ly (usually mounted with silver), help with the border situation, While I commend Governor they tend to be more valuable. but their calls are unanswered.

Ducey and the legislature for According to Breitbart, getting this accomplished, it is However, modern-day cowboys also collect spurs from con- Hildago County Sheriff, War- quite evident that much more temporary makers. It is like a ren Walter pleaded for help. needs to be done. However, rebadge of honor to wear a fancy “The citizens aren’t protected,” cently our Vice President Kamapair of spurs by a sought after he said. “We need to have more la Harris told us that the southspur maker. A pair of spurs by manpower.” ern border was secure.

“While I’ve been to this area a well-known contemporary arSheriffs from the southwest tisan can often match or exceed of the border many times,” the states, such as Arizona, Texas, the value of a pair made by a fa- governor stated. “I haven’t seen New Mexico, and California mous maker from 100 plus years anything that indicates that we are hosting a meeting in Coago. It really comes down to the have an emergency crisis here at chise County, Arizona in Septaste of the collector or user. the border and that’s important tember to discuss illegal human The collector’s market remains to talk to New Mexicans about. smuggling, kidnapping, and the very strong to this day for quali- I also think it is important to increasing drug problem. ty items and many spurs are put talk to the nation about.”

I would say that they are not Instead, Governor Grisham buying Ms. Harris’s proclamainto collections where they will be on display and never see ac- commits $10 million to build an tion that the border is secure. abortion clinic near the southtual use again.

On a positive note, here is a Who would have thought ern Texas border. Am I to sur- statistic that you will find interthat a tool used by horsemen for mise that killing people is more esting, and I suspect that it is over 2000 years would evolve important than saving them? probably similar in your state.

In Arizona illegal immigrainto a form of cowboy art? Those According to Dr. Jim Lytle Celtic and Roman blacksmiths tion is up almost 10 times that of DVM, Wickenburg, Arizona, would likely be amazed that the New Mexico, at 4005 percent. “two thirds of those of us that simple, almost crude, forms of During the month of August, do ranch and food animal work spurs they used to make would Arizona governor Doug Du- are over 50 years of age with evolve into an art form which cey filled in 3,820 feet of open the majority being over 70 years can now-a-days sell for many border areas near businesses in old.”

Yuma with double stacked shipthousands of dollars!

One thing about it, we have Finally, because of the dollar ping containers. some damn tough old vets help“On the day that President ing our ranchers in Arizona, but amount commanded by certain spur makers (of course there are Biden was sworn into office, he the problem is that there will

The View

G

spurs can be a fun and interesting adventure. There is a lot to learn and a lot of history will be available to you. New doors will be opened and friendships made. You are encouraged to give it a try! Happy collecting!

▫

Things We Need to Take Care of not be too many of them left to work in the near future.

Dr. Lytle’s objective is to create a self-sustaining fund to help disadvantaged ranch kids to receive a higher education after high school. He related that the cost of a veterinarian’s education is currently $180,000.

His thought is that if the fund could help defray the cost, then students might be more willing to come back to a rural area to practice. I think he is on to something here. If you care to find out more or help, you can contact Dr. Lytle at cowdoc52@gmail.com.

In Yavapai County, Arizona, we have the country’s largest copper mine at Bagdad known as Freeport McMoRan. It has proposed to double in size, and it will need about 2800 transient workers for that expansion.

They want to build apartment buildings for them in rural Kirkland, Arizona, which has a population of 1600. Then they would bus them to the mine that is 38 miles away.

They also want to add a store, gas station, sewer plant, parking, and so on, all on 100 acres. Essentially, they will be urbanizing a rural area overnight if allowed to proceed.

The fight is on to try and save this beautiful and peaceful ranching area. I will keep you posted on this one.

▫

Animal Rights Protester Storms Field Then a Pro Bowl Linebacker Makes Him Regret It

BY ABBY LIEBING / THE WESTERN JOURNAL

D

uring the Monday Night Football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams, two animal rights protesters invaded the field, and the second one was tackled by the Rams’ pro bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner.

The first protester, wearing a t-shirt that said “Right to Rescue,” ran on the field in San Francisco’s Levi’s Stadium during the first quarter but was caught by security, SFGate reported.

The second protester made it further, leading security on a chase until Wagner tackled him to the ground, assisted by his teammate Takkarist McKinley,

NBC Sports reported.

Since the protesters were carrying pink smoke bombs across the field, at first, the announcers thought it was perhaps some sort of gender reveal.

But the protesters were from a group in the Bay area called Direct Action Everywhere, and they said they were protesting on behalf of members Wayne Hsiung and Paul Darwin Picklesimer, who allegedly broke into

Utah’s Circle Four Farms, took two piglets and are now facing criminal charges, SFGate reported.

“That guy is headed to the slammer,” announcer Kevin Harlan said after the second protester was tackled and taken off the field.

Later, Direct Action Everywhere tweeted a press release,

not apologizing for what happened, but advocating for the members who are on trial for stealing the piglets from the Utah farm.

“BREAKING: Activist disrupts MNF game with pink smoke flare to elevate the #SmithfieldTrial and support the #RightToRescue. If the masses are not allowed to see

Fluty and Taylor Monday before the game (Credit: Direct Action Everywhere)

the trial, we will bring the issue to the masses,” the organization tweeted.

The press release from the activist group then went on to outline that Hsiung and Picklesimer “rescued” the pigs because they were sick and mistreated and to claim the resulting criminal charges they were facing “typifies a troubling pattern of repression via a justice system that has been weaponized by powerful political interests … and is at odds with the public’s interest in transparency and due process.”

This group has staged protests like this at other major sporting events, such as the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Rams at SoFi Stadium on September 8, USA TODAY Sports reported.

The group also protested at NBA playoff games, particularly at three separate Minnesota Timberwolves games, SFGate reported.

The video of the pitch invader spread across Twitter and got particularly popular after the “Manningcast” shared it — with analysis from the Manning brothers, Eli and Peyton.

“Yes! That’s what we’re talking about. Wagner, a veteran, right, get him down, now get out and let these (security) guys take over,” Peyton commented.

Wagner has been playing in the NFL for 11 years and, despite the Rams’ loss to the 49ers, managed to get five tackles in the first half of the game, NBC Sports reported.

“While it surely was not the second protester’s intention to end up on Wagner’s highlight reel, they can now say they have been tackled by the eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker who is likely headed to the Hall of Fame,” SFGate noted. “Granted, the incident showed how painful it can be to take a hit from an NFL defender.”

▫