10 NMCGA President’s Message by Bronson Corn, President
12 Just the Facts ... & Then Some by Caren Cowan, Publisher New Mexico Stockman
16 New Mexico CowBelles Jingle Jangle
26 News Update: Push to Tighten EPA Rules On CAFOs; State Officials Remind Horse Owners to Vaccinate Against West Nile Virus; Sam’s Club Expansion Planned
32 Food & Fodder by Deanna Dickinson McCall
36 Riding Herd by Lee Pitts
42 View from the Backside by Barry Denton
43 New Mexico’s Old Times & Old Timers by Don Bullis
46 In Memoriam
50 New Mexico Federal Lands News by Jerry Schickedanz
51 Marketplace
52 Seedstock Guide
55 Real Estate Guide
62, 65 Beef It’s What’s for Dinner
63 New Mexico Beef Council Bullhorn
70 In The Arena by Sage Faulkner
76 Advertisers’ Index
18 Fly Control
FEATURES
18 Fly Control Management for Livestock by Megan Van Emon, Montana State University
20 ‘Time is of the Essence’: USDA Threatens Mexico Over Fast-Moving Flesh Eating Fly by Robert Mcgreevy, Daily Caller
25 Consumers are Seeking More Protein for Health & Taste in 2025
Source: Business Wire, Cargill
28 Navigating the Bureau of Land Management PRIA, FLPMA, RITF and Section 8 by Mike Casabonne
30 Endangered Species or Endangered Logic? by Rob Gordon
34 USDA Cancels Biden Era Climate Slush Fund, Reprioritizes Existing Funding to Farmers
40 Using Fecal Nutrient Analysis to Determine Grazing Cow Supplementation by ksubci (Kansas State University)
45 Administrator Zeldin Announces Major EPA Actions to Combat PFAS Contamination
48 Does It Pay to Castrate, Wean, Vaccinate? by Andrew Griffith, University of Tennessee, Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA
66 Phases for Successful Starter Replacement Heifer Development
Source: Purina Animal Nutrition
68 Kaden Miranda New Mexico High School Rodeo Association by Julie Carter
74 Catch Roberts New Mexico Junior High School Rodeo Association by Julie Carter
on the cover
Spring by Gary Morton highlights one of the best seasons of the year. For more about this and other works by Gary, contact him at garymortonart.com . Morton began cowboying on different ranches as a teen and ultimately became wagon boss on the historic Bell Ranch in New Mexico.
The life of cowboying makes Gary more than familiar with his subjects. Gary was honored as the 2015 recipient of the “Rounders Award”, a lifetime achievement award given in New Mexico, for his artistic contributions to the West. The Rounders Award honors those who “live, promote, and articulate the Western way of life”. Gary has spent over 30 years at the easel depicting contemporary cowboy life. Both his art and subjects are authentic. After a 10-year cowboy sabbatical, Gary is back at the easel.
Arrowquip mineral feeder ($350.00 value) with purchase of an Arrowquip chute while in
M-1500
This manual chute utilizes traditional closure with a long lever arm for secure fast operation.
S-1500 SELF CATCH CHUTE
Features easy-use headgate that allows automatic headcatch with simple adjustments for different size animals.
and ArrowlockArrowquipimproved chutes in stock. We also have the new Easylock 33 series Arrowquip economy priced chute!
BRANGUS ANGUS RED ANGUS
by Bronson Corn NMCGA President PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Bronson Corn President Roswell
Tom Paterson President-Elect Luna
Dave Kenneke NW Vice President Cimarron
Jeff Decker SE Vice President Lovington
Roy Farr SW Vice President Datil
Cliff Copeland NE Vice President Nara Visa
Becky King-Spindle Vice President at Large Moriarty
Shacey Sullivan Secretary/Treasurer Peralta
Loren Patterson
Immediate Past President Corona
Randell Major Past President
Ihope everyone had a wonderful, family-filled Easter. There is such comfort in knowing that someone loved you so much that they volunteered their life for your own! The recent weeks have been some of the busiest times of my life. I have gone from putting together meetings to fight the NIETC, NMCGA regional meetings, interviews about our issues, figuring out everything that has happened with session, all on top of trying to figure out how to run a ranch! It is a unique challenge that has taught me more than I ever thought I could learn.
The latter part of April, we had the Northeast Regional Meeting in Tucumcari, and our Northwest Regional Meeting in Cuba. The Northeast meeting was well attended with lots of concern over private property rights, which has consumed the bulk of my time since January 2025.
If you look up what is happening over the entire state of New Mexico, we have roughly 8,520,000 acres of ranch land that is subject to be severely hampered from production agriculture or removed completely! Sentinel Group will encompass 2.3 million acres, Lincoln National Forest revision plan can encompass 420,000 acres, the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor encompasses 1.9 million acres, and the Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge will encompass approximately 3.9 million acres in New Mexico.
It baffles me to no extent that the groups who are pushing these do not understand where their food comes from. I believe they think that their food magically appears on the shelf at Walmart. I do not know how to make them understand that 1.6 percent of the population of the United States feeds the other 98.4 percent of the population. Do they not care about food security, do they not care about the ethical way of how their food is harvested?
The United States is currently producing more pounds of beef on less head of cattle in recorded history. Thinking about that, we not only are the lowest percentage of people involved in production agriculture in our nation’s history, but we are also the most efficient ranchers in history!
That is something we should be proud of. We in agriculture are the minority in the United States. Everything that our state and congressional legislature passes affects the Ag community more than any other demographic of our population. That is terrifying when you think about it. A huge number of our legislators are so far removed from agriculture that they do not have any clue how it affects production agriculture. I am not talking about backyard flocks and small garden plots; I am talking about the agriculture that feeds our country. Not taking anything away from small farm flocks and garden plots as we need them to be successful as well, but the fact of the matter is they produce a fraction of what a large-scale family-owned farm and ranch does on an annual basis.
I had a new friend contact me, and this is what she told me. “Me and my husband, along with my husband’s family, and my family have been a part of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association for nearly 20 years. It was not until this year that I knew what Cattle Growers really did!” When she said that, it kind of shocked me! I have said this in a letter before, but I will say it again.
We as Cowboys and Cowgirls are very humble people. I will make fun of myself before I ever say what I have done right! That is not who we are; we do not brag on ourselves. So, we can be publicly recognized with a lot of gratitude, we do what we do because it is the right thing! There has been a misconception that the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association is nothing but a good old boys club. All we do is sit around and tell war stories and sing kumbaya! I can assure you that if that were the case I would not be a part of this leadership. I have so much to keep me busy that if this were just a good old boys club it would be a waste of my time! We make a difference. We are at the legislative session from start to finish. We are the ones having those uncomfortable conversations. We spend more time fighting for you and your family than we get to spend with our own. I can promise you one thing, your NMCGA team works hard day in and day out so that the next generation has a fighting chance, and we are proud to do it!
“Ya’ll Have A Good’en”
Bronson Corn
by Caren Cowan, Publisher New Mexico Stockman
At the Risk of Becoming a OneTrick Pony…
Wolves are top of mind again this month. I think of my dad most every day. This is one time that I am glad he isn’t around to see what is going on in Cochise County.
My great-grandfather settled in Cochise County in the 1880s. My dad carried on the family ranching tradition until a couple of years prior to his death in 2009.
In the late 1990s when I went home with the story on what was happening with wolves, he had one thing to say... “I would shoot the damn things.”
If he were still here I think he just might. What his (our) neighbors are suffering is really hard to stomach. This is just what they needed when the border finally got closed.
However, I hate to say it, having a new population of wolves in southeastern Arizona is a God-Send for New Mexico ranchers who have been suffering for literally decades. Those folks have a congressional delegation that cares about them and will take action to help.
The new mantra of some radical environmentalists is that the reason ranchers in wolf country are struggling is the lack of water. The photo below taken with a game camera in New Mexico’s elk hunting unit 16A demonstrates that wolves, not water are the problem. It also explains the lack of hunting opportunity in wolf country.
Hope on other horizons
President Trump is willing to take on the Endangered Species Act (ESA). There is already a new regulation out redefining “harm.” Comments are due on that rule by May 19. To see the rule and comment
The proposed rule relies in large part on a 30-year-old dissent written by Justice Scalia in Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Great Oregon, a case in which the majority of the Supreme Court upheld the regulatory definition of harm.
The proposal also preemptively invokes the Loper Bright decision, which overturned the Chevron doctrine and eliminated the courts’ mandatory deference to a federal agency’s interpretation of ambiguous statutes, according to Environmental Law and Policy Monitor.
In Congress the House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) introduced the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments Act of 2025 to make critical reforms to the ESA.
The bill makes critical reforms to the ESA by establishing clear statutory definitions, focusing on species recovery and streamlining the ESA permitting process. The legislation also provides incentives for the recovery of listed species, promotes accountability for agency actions, and creates a backstop against frivolous litigation.
Ї Codifies the listing work plan structure to establish flexible deadlines, which will allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (Services) to make better-informed listing decisions.
Ї Streamlines the approval of voluntary conservation agreements and incidental take permits by removing
duplicative permitting processes.
Ї Gives regulatory certainty that critical habitat will not be designated if a private landowner is working to implement a plan that conserves the listed species in question.
Ї Allows states to develop and submit recovery strategies for species that are candidates for listing or listed as threatened.
Ї Requires federal agencies to establish objective, incremental recovery goals for threatened species and provide regulatory relief as recovery goals are met. Once all recovery goals are met, the Services shall provide for state management of the species in preparation for delisting.
Ї Requires agencies to act on five-year review determinations of listed species.
Ї Prohibits judicial review within the five-year monitoring period after a species is delisted.
Ї Requires agencies to disclose to Congress all costs associated with ESA-related lawsuits.
Ї Streamlines the ESA Section 7 permitting process by clarifying the meaning of jeopardy, eliminating agency bias towards the species during the permitting process, requiring retrospective review of agencyrecommended modifications to federal projects, and prohibiting mandatory mitigation.
Ї Removes duplicative permitting processes related to non-native species.
Ї Clarifies that the Services lack the authority to prohibit lawful activities
Mid-Year Meeting
Ruidoso, NM | June
1-3, 2025 2 0 2 5
Preparedness
June 2, 2025 | 8:45am
General Session
Frannie Miller, NMSU
Mental Health During a Catastrophic Event
June 2, 2025 | 9:45am General Session
Robert Homer Financial and Estate Planning
June 2, 2025 | 10:45am General Session
Brett Stuart, Global Agritrends
Cattle Cycles and Expectations
June 2, 2025 | 11:45am Joint Luncheon
Jim Richards, Cornerstone
D.C. Update
June 2, 2025 | 3:15pm
General Session
Water Law and How it Affects You
June 3, 2025 | 8:30am Natural Resources General Session
Ruth Woiwode, UNL Cattle Handling and Infrastructure
June 3, 2025 | 9:30am Natural Resources General Session
Karen Budd Falen, Budd Falen Law Department of the Interior
June 3, 2025 | 10:30am
Natural Resources General Session
Vonda Frost, Michelle Greeman, Erin Smith
Aging in Rural New Mexico: Navigating the Challenges of Growing Older in Remote Areas
June 3, 2025 | 11:30am Joint Luncheon
through regulations aimed at reducing the mere potential impact on a species.
Screw Worms
On page 20 of this issue we report on the letter from US Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to the Mexican government with an April 30 deadline for response or the border will close. At press time there has been no further information. However, that could happen before you read this.
Proposed Heat Rule Will Have Huge Impact on Agriculture
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has submitted a petition to the Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) to adopt a new rule aimed at preventing heat-related illnesses and injuries in the workplace. Set to take effect in July 2025, the rule would apply across industries and working environments—indoor and outdoor—throughout the state.
The 60-day comment period opened on April 1. For details on the proposed rule and the comment portal visit: https://www.env. nm.gov/occupational_health_safety/ heat-illness-and-injury-prevention/
The proposed regulation would require employers to implement specific workplace safeguards when the heat index exceeds 80°F, including:
Ї Acclimatization plans for new and returning workers to gradually increase workload over several days.
Ї Access to drinking water (at least one quart per hour per employee), with hydration breaks encouraged every 15 minutes.
Ї Rest periods based on the heat index and work intensity. For instance, in high heat (above 100°F), workers doing heavy labor in full sun may require 40-minute rest breaks after every 20 minutes of work.
Ї Cooling areas with shade or mechanical ventilation, located close to worksites.
Ї Monitoring systems such as buddy checks, self-assessments, or pre-shift safety briefings.
Ї Training and documentation for employees and supervisors on recognizing, preventing, and responding to heat-related symptoms.
The rule also recognizes the role of heat index and sun exposure as risk factors. Direct sunlight can raise the experienced heat index by up to 13°F, and additional protections are needed when workers wear protective gear that retains heat.
Draft Comments:
New Mexico Environment Department Occupational Health and Safety Bureau 1190 St. Francis Drive, Suite N4050 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
RE: Proposed Heat Illness and Injury Prevention Rule
I am writing in regards to the “Proposed Heat Illness and Injury Prevention Rule” by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHSB).
I am directly involved in agriculture. Requiring so many and such detailed regulations on this industry is not workable, nor feasible. We in the agricultural industry do not always get to choose when we go out to work or what the conditions are when we have to attend to the animals and/or crops. Animals and crops don’t wait for the conditions to be optimal solely for human benefit.
Farming and ranching are century-old practices that have endured the test of time…and heat. Most employers use common sense and will do all that
is possible to take care of their employees without being forced by the government to do so. If not, such an employer most likely won’t have employees for any length of time.
The proposed Heat Illness and Injury Prevention Rule is oppressive and unattainable in most cases. It lacks sufficient data to justify its stringent requirements and fails to properly address the economic impacts that it will have on the employers, workers, and the state of New Mexico as a whole. This proposed rule is a classic example
of government overreach; impossible to apply evenly across the numerous industries, is burdensome to both businesses and employees, is out of touch with reality, is expensive to implement, and is impossible to enforce statewide.
I respectfully request that NMED withdraw the Proposed Heat Illness and Injury Prevention Rule.
Sincerely,
Special thanks to the Otero County Cattlemen’s Association for the draft comments.
Theme
All stories have a theme. And for the New Mexico CowBelles, I think our Creed is definitely the theme of our organization. It embodies all we stand for. All we believe. And what our story is made
ant getting back to the Creed and foundation is. The theme of all we do. We appreciate everyone that attended and hope you received some tools to help tell the story and add some characters to it.
We hope to see you in Ruidoso for our Mid-Year Meeting June 2. Registration information is on our website NewMexicoCowbelles.org
— Corrina Casler
New Mexico CowBelles President
Yucca CowBelles and Wool Growers held the monthly meeting Tuesday March 25th in Artesia at CVE. Stephanie Tilton was hostess. Meeting called to order by President Joan Kincaid, 12 members attending. Becky Waldrop led the Pledge of Allegiance and Michelle Brown read the CowBelle Creed. Minutes were read and approved, and Tricia Monk gave the Treasurer’s report. Discussion was held on the price of tickets for the Quilt raffle at the County Fair, and it was decided the price would remain the same. Some yearbooks still
need to be distributed; Carol, Kyler and Joan will deliver them. Becky announced the T-shirts will be here soon and she will deliver them. Grammy’s House donation items were collected to be delivered. The district meeting to be held in Artesia was discussed. A good turnout is expected. There will be a Library tour on Friday March 28th at 3:30 and then dinner at La Fonda at 5:00. Workshop on Saturday March 29th from 9-2 at the Hampton Inn. 4-H and FFA activities were reported on. Sandi Wilkie mentioned that this is the first year Loving has an FFA program and is doing well. Some of group’s Junior members are doing well and continue to compete at State. This is Addyson Folmar’s last year to compete. Swayzee Folmar, Makayla Monk and Jenna Marbach are going to State. April meeting will be at CVE in Artesia, and the group will be cutting out brands for the Quilt. Meeting adjourned. The program was presented by Julie Foster and Bunny Mason with the Artesia Garden Club, showing different floral designs using all different kinds of plants from live to dried plant material and the rules for entering them for competition. Respectfully submitted, Tina Kincaid Secretary
Powderhorn CattleWomen met April 10, 2025. Twelve members of the Powderhorn CattleWomen of De Baca and Guadalupe Counties met at the home of Sarah Fitzgerald with Kelsey McCollum as co-hostess. Special guest was New Mexico CowBelles’ President, Corrina Casler. New members, April May and Erica Jaramillo, were welcomed. Corrina updated the group on NMCB activities including monthly zoom calls, booth for the upcoming
Women in Ag Leadership Conference in Ruidoso and dues increase to be discussed at the Mid-Year Meeting. Details for Powderhorn’s brand-napkin scholarship fundraiser were finalized. Due to objections from other NMCB local members, it was agreed to limit Powderhorn’s brand sales to its own local members and to De Baca and Guadalupe County landowners and ranch operators. In addition to their brand on the napkin, non-members will receive either a complementary membership or bundle of napkins for their donation. Napkins will sell in bundles of 100/$50 and 50/$25 during Powderhorn’s annual Old Fort Days Beef BBQ in June. Mary McClain and Joan Key reported on the educational and entertaining District Meeting in Artesia. Who knew that the first hamburger was served in 1904 or that NMCB was 501c5? This designation allows lobbying without jeopardizing tax-exempt status. Also, Powderhorn’s public outreach programs are covered under NMCB’s liability insurance. Kari Henry asked for help with Ag Day and Mary, Erica and Ann Sleep volunteered. Pat Knowlin Scholarship applications were submitted for Allison Sleep and Kagan Bequette. Sarah reported that the New Mexico Beef Council is working with Lubbock’s National Ranching Heritage Center to produce an elementary school curriculum based on John Erickson’s Hank the Cowdog books. NMBC is working on approval from the New Mexico Public Education Department. On April 26th, the Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner will have a free event with lunch and a speaker on the role of New Mexico forts in the cattle industry with emphasis on the Goodnight-Loving Trail. The meeting was adjourned for lunch and door prizes. The
Artesia District Workshop
May meeting will be held at the ranch home of Brenda Copeland. Respectfully submitted, Karen Kelling
Mesilla Valley CowBelles outreach committee met virtually April 7, 2025. Fita and Mary Esther will present at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum for Dona Ana Explorer May 6-7. The topic will be “have you eaten any soil today?” and talk about how much the food is grown in soil. Janet had an inquiry for license plates and the group decided to purchase additional ones to have on hand, and they were received for 10 @ $7 plus shipping $76.45 total.
New Mexico CowBelles: Thank you to all who have submitted their news to Jingle Jangle. As a reminder, please send minutes and/ or newsletters to Jingle Jangle, Janet Witte, 1860 Foxboro Ct., Las Cruces, NM 88007 or email: janetwitte@msn.com by the 14th of every month. Have a great year! ▫
Silver City District Workshop
Where’s the Beef-Silver City District Workshop
Fly Control Management for Livestock
by Megan Van Emon, Montana State University
Fly control in livestock has been a hot topic in the last few years due to potential resistance to conventional fly tags and the introduction of garlic as a feed ingredient to mitigate flies. Fly control management is important to minimize the spread of disease and the negative impacts on production.
Several methods can be used to aid in fly control, including dust bags, pour-ons, injectables, fly tags, back rubbers, feed ingredients such as insect growth regulators (IGR) and garlic, and insecticide strips placed on mineral feeders or ear tags. Each fly control method has advantages and disadvantages which should be considered when making management decisions.
Three main fly species affect livestock: stable fly, horn fly, and face fly. Horn flies can have detrimental effects on cow and calf production. Horn fly eggs are laid in the
manure, will hatch within a week, and have a 10-to-20-day lifespan. Horn flies are typically located on the back, shoulders, and sides and then will move to the belly during the heat of the day.
Horn flies are a detriment because they are blood-sucking, which causes extreme discomfort to livestock. The economic threshold for providing fly control when
horn flies are present is when levels reach more than 200 flies per animal. Economic loss in the U.S. to horn flies is approximately $1 billion.
Face flies are located around the eyes, mouth, and muzzle and feed off the secretions. Face flies lay eggs in manure and have a life cycle of approximately 21 days. The main issue with face flies is that they can transmit pinkeye throughout the herd.
Face flies are typically found on cattle in shady areas and near waterways. Between 12 and 14 face flies can reduce the grazing time of the cow by up to an hour.
Stable flies are mainly located on the front legs and are most common in feedlots and dairies. Larvae are located in decaying organic matter, such as wet hay, or in winter feeding areas.
Cattle will bunch up, stand in water, or stomp their feet to remove the flies, which disrupts grazing. Stable flies are also a blood-sucking species and can reduce production. The economic threshold for treatment is approximately five stable flies per leg.
Dust bags and back rubbers (oilers) are good fly control methods, but cattle must be forced to use them. Placing them near mineral tubs or water tanks can aid in this.
Sprays and pour-ons are another effective method to control flies, but they must be reapplied every seven to 21 days, depending on the product. Oral products are also an effective method of fly control; however, intake should be consistent to maintain control. Effectiveness is difficult to measure if neighbors are not providing fly control.
Photo by Brenda Richey, MSU Extension
need to be treated every seven to 21 days.
In addition to the tools listed, fly tags can be an effective method of fly control. There are three main active ingredients for fly tags: pyrethroids, organophosphates, and avermectins. However, there has been evidence that horn flies may be becoming resistant to pyrethroids.
Flies can travel between ranches, and this may minimize fly control management. When considering fly control management options, make sure to read product labels carefully. Some insecticides are only labeled for certain fly species. The only form of stable fly control is in the spray form, which is not always economical if cattle
It is generally recommended that the active ingredient of the fly tag should be alternated every year to aid in minimizing resistance. Fly tags should be applied as late as possible (June 1 or later) to aid in fly control throughout the summer months. Tags should be applied to cows and weaned calves. Tagging the cow usually provides sufficient fly control for the calf.
There are numerous brands and tags on the market; take care to read the label to determine the length of fly control and the active ingredient. Fly tags also come in a wide range of costs; determining the best and most economical tag for your operation is key to fly control management.
Providing garlic to cattle as a method of fly control has been a popular discussion for the past three to five years. However, minimal research has been conducted on the use of garlic as a fly control option.
One study in Canada did observe some positive impacts from feeding garlic and reducing defensive behaviors and fly abundance in cattle (Durunna and Lardner, 2021). Therefore, there is optimism this could be an alternative to conventional methods and aid in reducing insecticide resistance. However, more research must be conducted to determine garlic’s potential as a fly control method.
Several fly control methods are available, but advantages and disadvantages should be considered when making management decisions. Additionally, the economics and feasibility of use should also be considered. Small and large-scale operations may require different management tools.
Feedlots and pasture operations may also need different fly management tools. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to fly control, and in some instances, multiple tools may need to be used.
Megan Van Emon is an MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist and an Associate Professor in Animal and Range Sciences. ▫
‘Time is of the
Essence’: USDA Threatens Mexico Over Fast-Moving Flesh Eating Fly
by Robert Mcgreevy, Daily Caller
United States Agriculture Secretary
Brooke Rollins has threatened to close American ports to Mexican animal exports if they don’t allow the U.S. to help eradicate a deadly flesh eating insect outbreak.
Mexican customs officials are imposing burdensome import fees on American aviation equipment which is crucial to a joint effort between the two countries to fight a continuing outbreak of New World Screwworm, a parasite which feasts on the flesh on live mammals.
Rollins gave Mexico until April 30 to waive customs duties on U.S. eradication equipment which she said was crucial for
Villanueva •
Bull Purchased is Worth
Face flies massed on the face of a dairy cow.
Face fly (Musca autumnalis).
The Darnells Continue a 132-Year-Old Family Tradition of Raising Good-Doin’ Hereford Cattle Jim, Sue, Jeep, Meghan & Jake Darnell
TEXAS/NEW MEXICO RANCH 5 Paseo De Paz Lane, El Paso, TX 79932 Jim 915-479-5299 Sue 915-549-2534
Email: barjbarherefords@aol.com
OKLAHOMA RANCH Woods County, Oklahoma
helping quell the outbreak.
Rollins also asked that Mexico grant a minimum one-year permit to Dynamic Aviation, a company which the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) contracted to help fight the outbreak, to fly in Mexico rather than the temporary 60-day permit it’s currently on.
Additionally, she requested that Dynamic be permitted to fly seven days a week, rather than their current permissions for six days.
“The success of the operation requires consistent flights 7 days per week-including direct flight permissions, pilot credentialing, facility access, and full control over their logistical and technical operations,” she wrote to Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture Julio Antonio Berdegue Sacristan.
New World Screwworm larvae feed exclusively on the flesh of living animals and humans. The flies lay their eggs in open wound and mucus membranes of warmblooded animals. If left untreated, screwworm infection can be deadly, according to USDA sub-agency Animal and Plant Health Infection Services (APHIS).
The parasites are endemic to Cuba, Haiti,
the Dominican Republic and other countries in South America. The United States eradicated them in 1966 using sterile insect technique, a process of introducing sterile male flies into a population of fertile females, according to APHIS.
While the USDA considers the pest eradicated in the U.S., the agency also says it is a constant fight to keep eradication status. The current outbreak in Mexico began in 2024, prompting APHIS to disburse $165 million in emergency funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation.
The United States has established biological barriers in Central America at the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia to try and prevent northern spread. As part of the sterile insect technique, the U.S. and Panama produce 20 million sterile screwworms every week which they then release on the Darien Gap, according to APHIS.
If able to spread to the U.S., the pest could devastate southern livestock populations.
“If NWS were to spread to the United States, it would result in significant economic losses and threats to animal health and welfare,” Jenny Lester Moffit, a former USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, said in December. ▫
Judge Won’t Toss Challenge to Florida’s Cultivated Meat Ban
by Melissa Sue Sorrells, meatingplace.com
Chief Judge Mark Walker of the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida granted UPSIDE Foods an initial victory in its challenge to Florida’s first-in-the-nation ban on cultivated meat.
In a ruling released in late April, Walker denied an attempt by the state to dismiss UPSIDE’s lawsuit, meaning that the case will continue moving forward in the trial court.
“UPSIDE is not looking to replace conventional meat, which will always have a place at the table,” UPSIDE CEO Uma Valeti told Alt-Meat. “All we are asking for is the right to compete, so that Floridians can try our product and see that it is possible to have delicious meat without the need for slaughtering animals.”
Represented by the nonprofit law firm Institute for Justice, Berkeley, Calif.-based UPSIDE in August 2024 filed its challenge to Florida’s ban on cultivated meat, which went into effect on July 1, 2024.
The lawsuit alleges that Florida’s ban on cultivated meat violates the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution by shielding conventional meat producers from competition by out-of-state producers of cultivated meat. The lawsuit also argues that Florida’s law is preempted under the federal laws that regulate the interstate market for meat and poultry products.
“One of the primary reasons for the enactment of the Constitution was to secure a national common market. Today’s ruling is an important vindication of the principle that states cannot close their borders to innovative out-of-state competition, and a warning to other states that are considering banning cultivated meat,” Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Paul Sherman told Alt-Meat.
UPSIDE in 2023 gained approval from the FDA and the USDA to distribute its cultivated chicken product throughout the United States. Only two other companies — GOOD Meat and Mission Barns — have received such an approval in the US.
Meanwhile, Florida’s state-wide ban was swiftly followed by Alabama and Mississippi. Nebraska is expected to enact a cultivated meat ban this year. ▫
Consumers Are Seeking More Protein for Health & Taste in 2025
Source: Business Wire, Cargill
People are eating more protein than ever before, with 61 percent of Americans increasing their protein intake in 2024 versus just 48 percent who did so in 2019. These are only a few of the major findings from Cargill’s 2025 Protein Profile, an annual trends report that provides a comprehensive look at trends in protein consumption for the year ahead.
This year’s report also found that animal proteins like beef, chicken and eggs are the preferred protein sources for most consumers due to their taste, nutrition and versatility. The research – from Cargill’s North American Food Business Marketing and Insights team – reveals more than 75 percent of people typically include animal protein in their evening meals, with 74 percent saying eating meat is an important part of their diet.
At the same time, how we consume protein is also evolving. Social media is driving food experimentation from secret menus at foodservice chains to high-protein diets with the influence of diet trends including “carnivore diets.”
As a result, brands, retailers and foodservice operators must adapt to meet these changing demands – by delivering protein-forward solutions that balance affordability, quality and innovation.
Notable findings from Cargill’s 2025 Protein Profile include:
1. Protein Reigns Supreme as the Most Critical Macronutrient: People are eating more protein than ever before, with 61 percent increasing their protein intake in 2024, up from 48 percent in 2019. Meat, poultry and other animal proteins are high on shopping lists, based on factors like taste, nutrition and satiety. Many consumers are seeking out protein on labels, with 57 percent of those who look at nutrition labels check-
ing for protein content. For Millennials and Gen Z, protein is becoming vital beyond traditional meals, as on-the-go formats like protein bars, shakes and handhelds become must-haves.
2. Value-Driven Shoppers Seek Both Affordability and Indulgence: Even as shoppers tighten budgets, they continue to prioritize high-quality protein experiences. Many are buying in bulk and freezing portions to manage costs, while others are splurging on restaurant-quality cuts for at-home indulgence. For retailers and foodservice operators, this dual dynamic presents an opportunity to provide both value and premium offerings — with research showing strong demand for pre-marinated proteins, heat-and-serve options, and premium but accessible cuts like steak.
3. Social Media is Reshaping the Protein Landscape: With 52 percent of people trying new foods from the influence of social media, digital platforms like TikTok and Instagram are fueling the rise of high-protein lifestyles, global flavors and creative meal solutions. Gen Z is leading the charge, embracing bold and multicultural protein meals. Meanwhile, GLP-1 users are shifting portion sizes, seeking smaller high-protein meals that satisfy without excess calories. These emerging subcultures are opening new opportunities for brands and retailers to cater to diverse and evolving protein needs.
“How consumers think about and engage with protein is evolving, and that presents new opportunities across the food industry,” said Gonzalo Petschen, Group President, Cargill North American Food Business. “Whether it’s developing high-protein snacks, offering convenient meal solutions, or tapping into social media-driven food trends, our goal is to help our customers stay ahead of what’s next while delivering on consumer demands.”
With protein remaining essential in consumers’ diets, retailers, foodservice operators and brands have the opportunity to innovate, refine offerings and better connect with shoppers looking for both value and quality.
To learn more about these trends, additional findings and Cargill’s recommendations for retailers, foodservice companies and brands, download Cargill’s 2025 Protein Profile report by visiting cargill.com/meat-poultry/the-2025-protein-profile
ROSWELL LIVESTOCK AUCTION SALES, INC. &
ROSWELL LIVESTOCK AUCTION TRUCKING, INC.
900 North Garden · P.O. Box 2041 Roswell, New Mexico 88201 575-622-5580 www.roswelllivestockauction.com
CATTLE SALES: MONDAYS • HORSE SALES
BENNY WOOTON CELL 575-626-4754
SMILEY WOOTON CELL 575-626-6253
Producers hauling cattle to Roswell Livestock New Mexico Receiving Stations need to call our toll-free number for a Transportation Permit number before leaving home. The Hauling Permit number 1-800-748-1541 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Trucks are available 7 days a week / 24 hours a day
Roswell livestock Auction Receiving stAtions
ATTENTION RECEIVNG STATION CUSTOMERS, To be able to schedule trucking, all cattle need to be permitted by 1:00 p.m.
LORDSBURG, NM
20 Bar Livestock Highway #90 at NM #3 – East side of highway. Receiving cattle for transport 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month. Smiley Wooton, 575622-5580 office, 575-626-6253 cell.
PECOS, TX
Jason Heritage is now receiving cattle every Sunday. For information to unload contact Jason Heritage 575-840-9544 or Smiley Wooton 575-6266253. Receiving cattle every Sunday.
VAN HORN, TX
800 West 2nd, 5 blocks west of Courthouse. Bob Kinford, 432-284-1553. Receiving cattle 1st & 3rd Sundays.
MORIARTY, NM
Two blocks east and one block south of Tillery Chevrolet. Smiley Wooton 575-622-5580 office, 575-626-6253 mobile. Receiving cattle every Sunday
SAN ANTONIO, NM
River Cattle Co. Nine miles east of San Antonio on U.S. 380. Receiving cattle for transport 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month. Smiley Wooton 575-626-6253.
Federal Court Rules on Push to Tighten EPA Rules On CAFOs
by Chris Moore, meatingplace.com
Afederal appeals court has denied a petition from environmental groups seeking stricter regulations on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), ending a years-long legal effort to overhaul federal oversight of large livestock farms.
In a decision issued by the Ninth Circuit, the court upheld the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2021 rejection of a 2017 petition that called for new permitting requirements and reinterpretation of exemptions for agricultural storm water discharges. The court ruled the EPA’s decision was not “arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law.”
In its ruling, the court noted the EPA acknowledged the environmental concerns raised and has committed to further studying CAFO-related water pollution and updating effluent guidelines, rather than launching an immediate rulemaking process.
Food and Water Watch and the Center for Biological Diversity led the lawsuit, which argued the EPA has authority to narrow exemptions and require more CAFOs to obtain permits even without direct discharges.
Agriculture groups including the National Pork Producers Council and American Farm Bureau Federation backed the EPA in court, arguing current rules are effective and that many CAFOs already meet zero-discharge standards or face stricter state-level regulations.
State Officials Remind Horse Owners to Vaccinate Against West Nile Virus
State officials are reminding horse owners to vaccinate their animals against West Nile virus. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) and the New Mexico Livestock Board, encourages horse owners to contact their veterinarian about vaccination.
West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, such as Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis, pose serious health risks to horses. Horses become infected through mosquito bites, and while many may not show symptoms, some can experience serious neurological illness, or even die. Clinical signs may include fever, stumbling, muscle tremors and behavior changes.
“Vaccinating horses against West Nile virus is one of the most effective steps owners can take to protect their animals during mosquito season,” said Dr. Samantha Holeck, New Mexico State Veterinarian. “Prevention through vaccination is far safer – and often less costly – than trying to treat the horse after infection.”
In 2023, New Mexico saw 19 confirmed cases of West Nile virus
in horses—six of which were fatal. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, West Nile virus vaccination is considered a core equine vaccine.
“There is no specific cure for West Nile virus in horses,” said Dr. Erin Phipps, NMDOH Public Health Veterinarian. “Vaccination is the best protection.”
For more information on equine vaccination guidelines, visit aaep.org or see NMDA’s West Nile virus fact sheet. ▫
Growth Spurt
Sam’s Club Expansion Planned
by Melissa Sue Sorrells, meatingplace.com
Walmart-owned warehouse store
Sam’s Club plans to open 15 new stores per year and remodel all of its 600+ locations across the country, according to executives speaking at Walmart’s investor day.
The new and redesigned stores will follow the company’s recent redesigned store in Dallas, which is all digital, has no checkout lanes and incorporates a larger area for e-commerce orders and home deliveries.
“This is one of the fastest, most scalable
transformations happening in retail today,”
CEO Chris Nicholas said. “We’re investing with intention — in our fleet, our associates and the member experience — to become the world’s best club retailer.”
With this growth, Nicholas said the store also plans to double its membership in
concert with the growth of its stores.
Rival warehouse brands Costco and BJ’s are also planning expansions, with Costco aiming to open 28 new clubs during fiscal 2025 and BJ’s aiming for 30 new locations over the next two fiscal years. ▫
Navigating the Bureau of Land Management
PRIA, FLPMA, RITF and Section 8
By Mike Casabonne
When we talk about federal land grazing especially in New Mexico the topic of “Section 8” or “Section 8 consultation” often comes up, but what does that really mean and how did it come about?
Regulated grazing on federal land in the western states began with the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934. Before that time, it was open range on the unappropriated rangeland and much of the west was subject to “the tragedy of the commons”. Most of the public domain grazing land in the arid west was continually overused because no one was responsible for the damage overuse caused.
The Taylor Grazing Act led to the establishment of grazing districts and District Grazing Advisory Boards consisting of local stockmen elected by their peers who established permit boundaries and stocking rates of those permits. There were lots of disagree-
ments, occasionally resolved at gunpoint, but ultimately permit boundaries were settled. District Grazing Advisory Boards continued to play a significant role in federal land grazing management until they were abolished during the Clinton administration.
Until 1946 the Federal Grazing Service and the General Land Office oversaw the advisory boards and federal land management. That year the Bureau of Land Management was formed to assume those duties.
In 1976 congress passed the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The Taylor Grazing Act was successful in ending the tragedy of the commons by granting the attribute of ownership to the permittee, if not of the land itself, at least to ownership of the preference right of renewal of a permit every 10 years. FLPMA, enacted by an increasingly environmentally conscious congress, began to erode that ownership by
allowing restrictions to be placed on ranchers’ management discretion. Those restrictions often led to conflict between permittees and BLM managers.
At least partly to ease some of that conflict, the Public Rangelands Improvement Act (PRIA) was passed in 1978. PRIA was sponsored by Congressman Teno Roncalio of Wyoming but there were bipartisan cosponsors from across the western states including both of New Mexico’s congressmen, Harold Runnels and Manuel Lujan, Jr. (New Mexico only had 2 congressional districts back then. Harold Runnels was a Democrat from southern New Mexico, Manuel Lujan, Jr. was a Republican from the north.)
PRIA amended FLPMA in some significant ways. The grazing fee was one. FLPMA directed the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to conduct a study to come up with a grazing fee and report to Congress. PRIA amended FLPMA’s grazing fee section with what we know as the PRIA formula. That provision expired in 1985 but President Ronald Reagan extended it by an executive order that is still in effect today.
Another significant amendment was Section 8 of PRIA. It amended FLPMA Section 402 concerning grazing leases and
permits. The original version of 402 gave the Secretary the authority to do about anything he wanted with grazing permits including shortening the 10 year term and developing or modifying allotment management plans in “consultation” with the permittee. Sometimes that consultation was not a two-way communication.
PRIA required allotment management plans to be developed or modified “in careful and considered consultation, cooperation and coordination with the lessees, permittees, and landowners involved, the district grazing advisory boards established pursuant to section 403 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1753), and any State or States having lands within the area to be covered by such allotment management plan.” That wording gave permittees greater standing in the process than the original FLPMA language.
At about the same time a young, untenured Range Science professor at New Mexico State University came up with the idea of an interdisciplinary team of scientists and academics to serve as independent, third party fact-finders to help resolve disagreements between permittees and federal land man-
agers. Jerry Shickedanz was the first coordinator of the Range Improvement Task Force at NMSU. It was established and funded by the NM state legislature in 1978.
In 1980 Governor Bruce King and State BLM Director Arthur Zimmerman signed a Memorandum of Understanding that called for the state, represented by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, “to further expand the concept of consultation, cooperation, and coordination expressed in Section 8 of the Public Rangelands Improvement Act into additional phases of the Rangeland Management Program and thus complement the Congressional intent of the Act.”
In 1987 USDA Forest Service Regional Forester for the Southwest Region Sotero Muniz signed a similar MOU with NM Secretary of Agriculture Bill Stephens. These MOU’s developed from the “careful and considered consultation, cooperation and coordination” language in PRIA brought the RITF officially into the process and has resolved many conflicts.
The Forest Service later decided that PRIA didn’t apply to them and do not recognize Section 8 although RITF has assisted in data collection when allotment owners
requested their help.
New Mexico is the only western state that has an organization like the RITF and MOU’s that allow the Task Force to assist in collecting and analyzing credible data to inform range managers. It has been a valuable asset to federal land ranchers as well as the agencies involved.
One other interesting aside, if you do an internet search for Section 8 of PRIA you may not find it. When PRIA, FLPMA and other legislation is encoded into law the language and annotation of sections is changed to a different format. PRIA and FLIPMA and the Taylor Grazing act are listed as amended. The original language as passed and signed into law can be found in the text of the bills on the US Congress website. ▫
Endangered Species or Endangered Logic?
by Rob Gordon
The past few months have exposed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for what it has become—a powerful weapon for thwarting human activities and taking others’ property in all but title.
In January, we learned that the snail darter, the three-inch-long star of a 1978 Supreme Court case that made the ESA ‘the pit bull of environmental laws,’ is actually the same species as the stargazing darter, and should never have been listed as endangered. Then, the California fires highlighted the bizarre imbalance of the ESA, where infinite value is assigned to protected organisms and infinitesimal value assigned to the life and well- being of millions of people.
All too often, these protected organisms do not actually qualify as endangered. One plant, Braunton’s milk vetch, is a nearly perfect microcosm of what’s wrong with the ESA – a species weaponized with exaggerated peril to exact a price or stymie human activities at bureaucratic whim.
The left has argued that the devastating California fires resulted from natural events and its unfair to lay any of the blame at the smoldering doorstep of policies like those governing the ‘endangered’ Braunton’s milkvetch. The reality is that in California and elsewhere, endangered species regulators have dictated reservoir and river flow levels, removed dams, and manufactured hurdles to reducing fuel loads and land management activities that can be beneficial.
That the ESA exacerbated the California fires through its pervasive tripwires seems more than likely. The untold story is that the data used to proclaim many species ‘endangered’ is, as in the case of Braunton’s milk-vetch, dubious at best.
Little can be done in the golden state without jumping through ESA hoops and Braunton’s milk-vetch is part of the circus.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was fined $2 million and required to conduct mitigation because they removed 182 of these ‘imperiled’ plants when widening a fire-access road and replacing old wooden utility poles to improve fire-and wind-resistance.
In Orange and San Bernardino Counties the Metropolitan Water District had to jump too. It agreed to numerous conservation
measures “to avoid, minimize, and offset impacts to a level of insignificance” for Braunton’s milk-vetch in a 2020 Biological Opinion (BO) covering operation and maintenance of water supply pipelines.
Consulting with the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and getting the agency’s opinion protects those engaging activities that ‘may affect’ an endangered species provided that they abide by the terms and conditions.
One of dozens of conservation measures imposed by the 59-page Metropolitan Water District BO (covering several species) requires preconstruction surveys for Braunton’s milk-vetch “for all areas within 100 feet of project impacts,” submitting the results prior to undertaking actions, and if any Braunton’s milk-vetches are found, checking if further “consultation” is necessary.
In addition, a biological monitor is to observe ground-disturbing activities for special-status species and to identify any areas to avoid.
The BO has other measures for the Santa Ana Sucker – a fish that is not even believed to occur in the affected area, and mitigation (setting aside or restoring acres of habitat) at a ratio of up three new acres to one old acre for a bird subspecies. There are provisions
for contributing to an endowment for longterm management of such mitigated lands.
Such regulatory webs stem from the FWS’s determination that a species is endangered with extinction, a finding that is supposed to be based on the best available data. The most fitting acronym for this standard would be BAD.
In 2023 FWS asserted that no population information for Braunton’s milk-vetch ‘was given’ when the plant was declared endangered in 1997. Whether by oversight or intent, this is false.
FWS had estimated the plant population “to be fewer than 100.” The agency reported that the largest number estimated at any one location was 400—observed more than a decade before—but that these had all ominously vanished. Further, FWS estimated
that the naturally dispersed seeds (the seed bank) for A. brauntonii had perhaps the capability of generating a paltry 1,000 more plants. Things looked grim indeed.
In realty, Braunton’s milk-vetch – not to be confused with almost 20 other federally protected milk-vetches or over 60 more the FWS considers milk-vetches “of concern,” was and is much better. The reported occurrences in 1997 included perhaps six. By 2023, however, FWS reported nearly 60 known “element occurrences.”
More dramatically, while the number of plants at any discovered location fluctuates with environmental conditions and the plant’s two-to-three-year lifespan, the plant’s total population dwarfs the number justifying its regulation. Numerous occurrences have been estimated in the thousands, two
recorded as peaking at over 30,000 each.
For some other populations the numbers were large enough that FWS simply reports them as of “massive extent” or with an unusual term for describing plant populations, “tons.”
Massive population miscounts, range underestimations, and threat overestimations plague the ESA program. Another ‘endangered’ milk-vetch (the Deseret) was stricken from federal rolls and dishonestly touted as ‘recovered’ after tens of thousands were discovered. (Most purportedly ‘recovered’ endangered species were really data errors).
The heliotrope milk-vetch is yet another example. When it was added to the list, its population was estimated at 10,000. Subsequent FWS data puts this milk-vetch’s
population between 400,000 and 2,000,000. Nevertheless, it still languishes as a federal ward. These are just some of the different kinds of ‘endangered’ milk-vetches, something most have never heard of.
In fact, the Braunton’s milk-vetch may not constitute a biological species after all. According to a recent FWS document, botanists have identified another milk-vetch south of the US-Mexico border to be close kin to Braunton’s; so close in fact, that they combined the two together as variants of the same species which could complicate Braunton’s endangered status.
Ignoring botanical nomenclature rules, FWS simply decreed, “We will continue to refer to the original taxon in the United States simply as Astragalus brauntonii, and will not consider Astragalus brauntonii var. lativexillum further.” So there.
For those genuinely concerned about conservation, wasting dollars on species that are not in need, and imposing bigger and ultimately harmful burdens on people is outrageous. For many, however, federally regulated species are useful tools—jurisdictional hooks for federal land control.
The snail darter and Braunton’s milk-
vetch are not rare cases, but examples of a rampant problem of species illegitimately declared ‘endangered’ to provide regulators and groups that sue with a club.
A researcher opined in 1998 that “because of its apparent fire-dependence” – Braunton’s seeds germinate after fires –“accurate surveys of this plant are nearly impossible unless one carries a flamethrower.” While tragically this quandary may now be moot, the massive regulatory con and its enormous but untallied burden is yet another slow-rolling national disaster.
Gordon served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Environmental Management at the Department of the Interior, and Senior Advisor at the U.S. Geological Survey.
RANCH FOOD & FODDER
by Deanna Dickinson McCall
Cowboy Sundaes
Irecently got to attend the Art of the Cowgirl, held in Wickenburg, Arizona. It was an awesome experience. The celebration is based on ranch women. It also includes women saddle makers, gear makers, various kinds of artists, and photographers all based on ranching culture. It would be a great event for folks to attend who are not familiar with ranching.
Art of the Cowgirl covers so many things, and I think to city folks it would be so educational. Many don’t realize where the tools, gear and art of our culture actually come from. For those not acquainted with our
Rob
lifestyle it is a real eye-opener to learn about these very capable women.
The women’s genuine smiles on friendly faces that show they are accustomed to spending most of their days outdoors was heartwarming. Real-deal ranch-based women, the kind who know what it is like to get caught checking heifers or ewes in their pajamas; or having to jump in and help in the corral the one time they have to put on a dress and heels for a bridal shower.
An all-woman ranch rodeo is held as part of the event, and those gals had big, soggy calves to handle, and they did it well. Horses entered in the horse sale must be trained by a woman and ridden by a woman. The horses are shown and put through the paces before the sale.
The mounts were phenomenal, with the high seller bringing $200,000. It made me proud to know there are women so capable and so talented in all the areas being represented at Art of the Cowgirl. In addition to this they also have a scholarship program to learn from the masters, covering everything from horsemanship to fine arts and gear making.
As is usual with most events there were food trucks galore, touting everything “fried golden brown and delicious” from a pizza in a cone, (eek!) to sandwiches. We were told by one of the Directors to go to a chuckwagon and eat there if we wanted the best food. We went to the wagon and visited with the cooks while our order was being prepared.
We had decided on the Cowboy Sundae, it sounded interesting. It wasn’t just interesting; it was really good. We were handed red solo cups, a napkin and a plastic spoon.
This is probably one of the shortest, easiest recipes I will ever write about. I can see it as the King of Leftover Recipes. It will come in handy if you want to plan it for the main meal and have time to cook and prepare the day ahead of time when you’ve got a big crew to feed. It will also be handy if you’ve served barbeque meat or ground meat the day before to the main crew.
Often, we still have remnants or other things to handle the next day after most of your help has gone home. Last, but not least, you can also pull leftover meat and beans out of the freezer and just throw some coleslaw together and grab a bag of corn chips off your shelf.
Ingredients
Cooked, pulled meat or cooked ground beef
Ranch or Southwestern style beans, canned or homemade
Corn chips
Grated cheese, optional
Salsa of choice
Coleslaw, purchased or homemade
Cherry tomatoes
Directions
Heat the meat and beans. In a single serving size bowl or a disposable cup mix the meat, beans, corn chips, cheese, and salsa (if using).
Top with coleslaw or sour cream and place a cherry tomato on top to complete the sundae.
Mac Langford, President/CCO
Gordon Morris, Chairman of the Board/EVP
Colten Grau, Vice President
USDA Cancels Biden Era Climate Slush Fund, Reprioritizes Existing Funding to Farmers
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced the cancellation of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC). Following a thorough line-by-line review of each of these Biden era partnerships, it became clear that the majority of these projects had sky-high administration fees which in many instances provided less than half of the federal funding directly to farmers.
Select projects may continue if it is demonstrated that a significant amount of the federal funds awarded will go to farmers. We continue to support farmers and encourage partners to ensure their projects are farmer focused or re-apply to continue work that is aligned with the priorities of this Administration. With this action, USDA is cutting bureaucratic red tape, streamlining
reporting, lowering the paperwork burden on producers and putting farmers first. Additionally, we have reformed and overhauled the Biden-era Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities initiative into the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative, and the USDA has identified changes to align the initiative with current Trump Administration priorities. USDA will review existing grant agreements based on three Farmer First policy priorities:
Ї A minimum of 65 percent of federal funds must go to producers;
Ї Grant recipients must have enrolled at least one producer as of 12/31/2024; and
Ї Grant recipients must have made a payment to at least one producer as of 12/31/2024.
“The Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative was largely built to advance the green new scam at the benefit of NGOs, not American farmers,” said Secretary Rollins. “The concerns of farmers took a backseat during the Biden Administration. During my short time as Secretary, I have heard directly from our farmers that many of the USDA partnerships are overburdened by red tape, have ambiguous goals, and require complex reporting that push farmers onto the sidelines. We are correcting these mistakes and redirecting our efforts to set our farmers up for an unprecedented era of prosperity.”
USDA will contact current partners individually to provide information about their future participation. USDA will honor all eligible expenses incurred prior to April 13, 2025. This reform effort will utilize existing funding, with no new funding made available for these partnerships.
Audit Coming at Brazilian Plants
by Meatingplace Editors
Some of the 55 Brazilian beef facilities currently allowed to export beef to the US could be inspected between May 5 through 22 by a technical team from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), FSIS and Brazil’s beef exporters association Abiec confirmed to Meatingplace.
“The purpose of this upcoming routine audit is to verify whether Brazil’s food safety inspection systems governing raw and processed beef and pork products remain equivalent to the FSIS inspection system,” an FSIS spokesperson said.
In June 2017, the US halted Brazilian fresh beef imports citing recurring concerns about the safety of the products intended for the American market. From March-June 2017, the USDA said 11 percent of the Brazilian fresh beef shipments that arrived in the US were refused entry into the country due to public health concerns, sanitary conditions and animal health issues.
FSIS said it “routinely reviews” regulations and inspection procedures of countries allowed to export to the United States, reinforced by in-country audits to verify implementation. The most recent FSIS “onsite equivalence verification audit” of Brazil was conducted in September 2022. Previous audits were conducted in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Abiec called the audits part of a routine process outlined in the sanitary equivalence protocol agreed between the two countries. The Brazilian beef industry welcomes the audit “with complete transparency” and “reinforces its confidence in the solidity of the Brazilian inspection system and its commitment to international quality and food safety standards,” Abiec said. The US is Brazil’s second-largest beef export market after China. Brazil exported 164,642 metric tons to the US in the first quarter of 2025, up 46.7 percent from the same period in 2024, worth $557.15 million, 68.7 percent higher by value than the year-ago pace, according to beef industry association Abrafrigo.
At least one national beef group has called for more than a routine audit.
ANIMAL & RANGE SCIENCES
The Department of Animal & Range Sciences is part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
The Department of Animal & Range Sciences is part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
Students can major in Animal or Rangeland Resources and are provided with the very best of “hands on” academic instruction by our faculty. Fully equipped labs allow students access to cutting-edge research in:
The Department also offers pre-veterinary studies –our graduates have a high acceptance rate into veterinary medicine programs. We offer graduate degrees at the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy levels. The M.S. or Ph.D. in Animal Science can emphasize nutrition or physiology, and offers a Ph.D. in Range Science to study range management, range ecology and watershed management.
John Campbell –575/646-6180
Shanna Ivey – 575-646-2515
• The Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (The College Ranch) –64,000 acre ranch just outside of Las Cruces
• The Corona Range & Livestock Research Center – 28,000 acre ranch & facilities in Corona, NM
• Student organizations, including a Block & Bridle Club, Pre-Vet Club, Range Club, Horsemen’s Association, Therapeutic Riding Club, & Judging Teams
• Clayton Research Center hosts research on shipping protocols, particularly evaluating the health and performance of newly received cattle, and nutrition and management from feedlot to slaughter
Dr. John Campbell – 575-646-6180
Wildlife & Range Management Consulting
Charles E. Dixon, PhD
■ Monitoring wildlife and/or rangeland health.
Certified: Wildlife Biologist
■ Evaluation of hunting and/or fishing enterprises.
■ Assess properties for wildlife potential before purchase.
Fmr. Professional in Rangeland Fmr. Management Range Management Consultant
■ Provide management options for improving wildlife habitat.
■ Assess land for prescribed fire and plan the process.
I’m worried about losing my occupation and I have no pension or skills that anyone is willing to pay for. I’m also 73 years old so my options are either bagging groceries or being a greeter at WalMart. But I’m not a people person who can put on a smile and be pleasant for eight hours. I’m too old to join the Army and although I can stand around with six other guys and watch one guy dig a hole, the county is not hiring.
Because I’ve been a rancher I guess you could say I’ve been in the food industry the last 50 years so I’ve been checking for jobs in that industry and found that McDonald’s is swapping out their people with robots and the grocery store is replacing their checkers and baggers with self-help machines. So, although I’ve never had to write a resume in my life because I’ve been self-employed for the last 50 years I decided that my writing time could best be spent polishing up a resume/job application just in case the bottom falls out of the market for syndicated columnists. So here goes...
Name: Lee Pitts
Sex: Not that I can remember
Marital Status: I have a black belt in
marital arts.
Objective: I want an easy job where I can make the most money with the least amount of work. And I want a big pension like my neighbor, the postman who retired at 55 with a full benefit package and a good monthly income.
Desired salary: If the fire chief of Los Angeles was getting half a million a year I deserve at least that much. I can stand around and watch homes burn just as well as she did.
Preferred position: I think I should either be the President of your company or be in charge of procurement because I like buying stuff. I’ve never worked in an office environment and don’t play well with others so I haven’t developed any bad habits. My wife would probably like it if I was gone at least four days a week and my paycheck be automatically deposited into her account.
Education: I got a BS degree in animal science in three years at a school you’ve never heard of and another year studying in Australia where I learned a third language. Now I speak English, Australian and a few words in Spanish, although judging by the response, I think they’re dirty words.
Work experience: I’ve picked lemons and avocados and been a roustabout in the oilfields. I’ve also been a cowboy, rancher, writer, ad pimp, and a ring man at auctions. I’ve been a professor at a junior college for one year and dusted furniture in my Grandpa’s furniture store.
Special skills: Thyping and I’m a very good speller too. I’m also very good at shoveling ••••. I can sheer sheep and I know how to castrate a ram lamb using my teeth. I’m skilled in the leather arts, can engrave silver, I was first chair alto saxophone in my high school marching band, I know how to do some great card tricks, can juggle and I make a great peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Communication skills: You won’t have to worry about me standing around smoking while staring at my phone because I don’t smoke and don’t own a cell phone. I also hate talking on the phone so I don’t think my skills would be best put to use in a call center in India to irritate people every day for eight hours. Besides, I don’t think my wife wants to relocate to a third world outpost.
Notable achievements: I was self-employed employee of the year for 40 years and I’m an organ donor.
Reason for leaving last job: I got in a fist fight with a fellow employee. I lost my job but the fight ended in a draw.
References: Fortunately, all the people I worked for are now dead. But I give you my permission to talk to them about me.
Availability: Like Billy the Kid, there is only one known photo of me and I’m not available to be interviewed on a Zoom call, whatever that is. I am willing to pee in a jar for a drug test.
I certify that almost all of the above is mostly true. ▫
RIDING HERD
■ Homes, Mobile Homes
■ Scheduled Equipment, Hay, Cattle, Horses
■ Autos, Pickups, RVs, Motorcycles, Boats, Jet Skis, Four Wheelers
■ Personal/Commercial Liability, Umbrellas, Bonds
■ Corporate & Personal Ranches, and more!
Trump Sketches Plan to Deport Many & Recall Some Migrants for Farm, Hotel Jobs
by Neil Munro, Breitbart
President Donald Trump used his cabinet meeting on April 10 to outline his plans to recall some of the illegals he is deporting from jobs in the farm and hospitality sectors.
“It is a very big self-deportation operation that we’re starting,” he told the cabinet, adding:
We’re going to work with people so that if they go out in a nice [legal] way and go back to their country, we’re going to work with them right from the beginning on trying to get them back in legally. So it gives [them] a real incentive [to leave]. Otherwise, they could never come back.
The exit and return process may be 60 days, Trump suggested.
In a conversation with Kristi Noem, chief of the Department of Homeland Security, Trump said:
We’re also going to work with farmers that if they have strong recommendations for their farms for certain people, we’re going to let them stay in for a while and work with the farmers and go through a process, a legal process.
But we have to take care of our farmers and hotels and, you know, various, various places where they need the people. And we’re going to work with you very carefully on that. So a farmer will come in with a letter concerning certain people, saying they’re great, they’re working hard. We’re going to slow it [deportation and enforcement] down a little bit for them, and then we’re going to ultimately bring them back.
“They’ll go out [and] they’re going to come back as legal workers. … I think it’s very important,” Trump added.
“Thousands of people have already self-deported,” Noem said. “We have 20, 21 million people that need to go home because they’re here breaking our laws,” she said. “So we’re encouraging [illegal migrants] people … to register, and we’re working on the resources and funding to buy them a plane ticket to send them home,” she added.
Trump is facing pressure from real estate investors and hotel operators whose stock market wealth slumps when pay raises
reduce projected profits.
“I’m not super worried about this because I’m skeptical anything’s going to happen,”
Mark Krikorian, director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors less migration and more productivity, said.
For example, he said, farmers can import as many farmworkers as they wish via the H-2A program, but the H-2B for manual laborers has caps. “H-2A is doable because it’s an unlimited program, but H-2B has numerical caps, and so there’s a limit to how much of that he can do,” Krikorian said.
But regardless of the practical politics, the proposal is also bad policy, Krikorian said:
The President says different things all the time, but if it is applied widely, it makes it much harder for less-skilled workers — immigrants or Americans — to bargain for better wages. It also reduces the incentive for employers, farmers especially, to come up
with ways of using less labor [by] using [productivity-boosting] labor-saving technology.
If the President just said, “You don’t have to invest money in a lettuce harvesting machine,” why would they do it?
Farmers are reluctant to invest heavily in untested machinery, in part because loans are risky if farm income drops.
If applied broadly, he said, the policy would become an amnesty for the migrant workers and their employers, he said:
“[It looks like] the ‘Touchback’ dodge that was floated a number of times in the previous amnesty pushes, where illegal immigrants would step back into Mexico and then come back into the United States …
What they called it in the 50s was “Drying out the wetbacks.” Literally, the Border Patrol would catch people working on farms, would drive them to the border. They’d cross, they’d walk right back and get some kind of
farmworker paper and then be delivered back to the farm that they were illegally working at. So this is a long-standing strategy for satisfying employer demand for cheap labor in a way that seems like its not condoning illegal immigration, when in fact it is. It is a guest-worker amnesty.
The employers get an amnesty as well because they’re not held responsible for the employment of these illegal immigrants. In fact, the government kind of blesses it by giving them back their workers after their sins have been washed away in the Rio Grande.
“I’m not sure he’s particularly worried about it,” Krikorian said. “This is something that he thinks is a good idea, and [for him] if it happens, fine, and if it doesn’t happen, that’s okay too.” ▫
Using Fecal Nutrient Analysis to Determine Grazing Cow Supplementation
by ksubci (Kansas State University)
Determining nutritive value of grazed forage is difficult and producers generally make assumptions about when forage nutritive value is low enough to warrant supplementation. The assumptions are not always correct because forage nutritive value is dynamic depending upon climate conditions and grazing management. Thus, cows are sometimes over or under supplemented.
supplementation strategies and timing. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a tool to quickly determine the chemical composition of a feedstuff or a fecal sample. Chemical analysis of fecal samples for protein and digestibility using NIRS coupled with a simple nutrition model can improve supplementation strategies of grazing cattle. This can be done with the help of the Grazingland
A recent study evaluated the use of the NIRS and a nutrition model in a cow herd in west Texas. The study compared two NIRS calibration analyses: a U.S.-scale calibration and a west Texas calibration. The U.S.-scale calibration poorly predicted the forage protein, but the west Texas calibration prediction of protein was much better indicating that regional calibration may be necessary
The west Texas calibration coupled with the nutrition model was moderately accurate and precise in predicting body condition score of the cows. Possibly more importantly, the west Texas calibration coupled with the nutrition model was able to estimate changes in body condition score over time.
Forage nutritive value would change before body condition score. Being able to monitor changes in forage nutritive value through fecal analysis coupled with the nutrition model prediction of body condition changes would allow implementation of supplement strategies before changes in body condition occur. In conclusion, fecal analysis can be useful in determining supplementation strategies, but care should be taken that the NIRS calibration matches the local
VIEW FROM THE BACKSIDE
by Barry Denton
To Tariff or Not To Tariff?
(The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association or this publication.)
That has got to be on everyone’s mind these days just from listening to the rhetoric from wherever you get your news.
It’s actually a very simple question to answer because tariffs give you power to determine your destiny. In other words, should you get up in the morning, go to work, and lose money or make money? The best
thing about tariffs is that they can be adjusted to suit your needs.
Let’s talk about the US Constitution for a minute. I think that most clear-thinking people would agree that the 16th Amendment is truly the worst amendment, and it had nothing to do with the principles the founding fathers fought so hard and sacrificed so much for. In case you are fuzzy with the US Constitution the 16th Amendment was ratified on February 3rd, 1913. It granted the Congress the authority to impose and collect taxes on income.
How did America survive for 137 years prior to the 16th amendment? Tariffs and excise taxes. After Congress passed the 16th amendment who was the American President who signed it into law?
That would be Woodrow Wilson the 28th US President or what I would call the anti-American President with that act. Consider this, after the income tax became law and Congress had a new source of revenue, they were no longer overly concerned with tariffs.
Now consider that tariffs were collected from foreign countries and income tax was collected from American citizens. Congress has been very content to collect money from its fellow citizens for so long that we now
have astronomical trade deficits with foreign countries.
The foreign countries used to foot the entire bill before the income tax. This practice is disgusting, and we ought to throw every damn member of Congress out on the street and re-elect new ones.
Remember that the founding fathers fought a revolution over this very thing. There should have been another revolution in 1913 and every year the income tax exists. President Trump shows his brilliance in negotiating these tariffs. It will only make America prosper in the long run.
While we are at it, my sources tell me that for 2024 we had a 45-billion-dollar trade deficit on cattle with Canada for 2024. Why?
To me this is just plain stupid. There is no point in losing money to Canada that we do not need to. I don’t know about you, but I must look at my bottom line each year when it comes to running my ranch.
President Trump is right when he says that we would be better off annexing Canada as the 51st state. Our bottom line would be much healthier. This is a great argument for increasing tariffs.
Let’s not forget that tariffs will help manufacturing, not just agriculture. Just in, former US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen just said, “that revitalizing Americas manufacturing base is a pipe dream.”
Less than an hour after Yellen made that statement NVIDIA the American multinational corporation and technology company announced that they had a new 500-billion-dollar investment plan for building America’s first supercomputer.
Many car companies are bringing back their manufacturing back to Detroit. John Deere has also stated that they are not moving any additional manufacturing to Mexico where they have had a presence since 1952. Stellantis which owns Chrysler, Dodge, and Ram has stifled their plants in Canada and Mexico.
American farmers are about to get protected from China. There are already many great things happening regarding tariffs. I do not have enough room in this article for a list that long. This has been an adjustment that America has needed for many years. This is the time for it! ▫
NEW MEXICO’S OLD TIMES & OLD TIMERS
by Don Bullis, New Mexico Author donbullis@msn.com
Socorro Vigilantes
Los Colgadores
Los Colgadores literally translates from Spanish to English as “the hangers.”
They were Socorro, New Mexico’s vigilantes in the last quarter of the 1800s. The group was also variously called the Committee of Safety, the Committee of Justice, or simply the vigilantes.
Following the arrival of the railroad in 1880, lawlessness in Socorro became a problem. Newspaper publisher A. M. Conklin was shot to death on Christmas Eve of that year as he left church services. Three young members of the locally important Baca family were accused of the crime. It was said that they were angry with the editor because he had asked them to leave the church after they created a disturbance during services. They left town soon after the killing.
A prominent citizen, and former military man, named Ethan W. Eaton feared that local law enforcement and the courts could not handle the matter, and the miscreants would escape punishment so he founded the Committee of Safety. Before the Conklin affair was settled, one of the suspects had
been lynched, another shot to death, and the third was tried and acquitted.
But Los Colgadores were not finished. They lynched several others, notable among them a rancher and rustler named Joel “Joe” Fowler. By 1883, Fowler had established a solid reputation as a drunkard, bully, thief, and killer in White Oaks, Santa Fe and Socorro. One source called him the human exterminator; another asserted that sixteen skeletons were found buried in his ranch’s corral, west of Socorro, after his death.
In November of that year Fowler went to Socorro and proceeded to get himself into what a local newspaper called “a state of crazy intoxication.” At about six o’clock in the morning, as Joe shot up the Grand Central Hotel barroom, a group of men descended on the drunkard and took his guns away from him. Unfortunately, Fowler had a knife hidden on his person. He withdrew it and plunged it into the chest of James Cale, a clothing salesman from Vermont. Fowler was quickly taken into custody and jailed. Cale lived long enough to make a dying declaration which sealed Fowler’s fate.
(Note: One wonders why there was “a group of men,” including an itinerant salesman, present in a hotel barroom at six o’clock in the morning or was drinking booze a twenty-four hour a day pastime back in the day?)
Because of the money Fowler had—largely ill-gotten gains no doubt—he was able to hire some of the best-known attorneys in the territory: Thomas B. Catron of Santa Fe and Neill B. Field of Socorro. No amount of money or legal legerdemain, though, could
persuade a jury that Joe was anything but guilty. He was convicted of first-degree murder on December 8 and sentenced to hang. Tom Catron, of course, filed notice of appeal while Fowler remained in the local jail past Christmas and on into the next year.
Socorro County Sheriff Pete Simpson was said to have feared for Fowler’s safety but in late January he was obliged to leave town in pursuit of train robbers (the success or failure of that effort is not known, nor is the necessity of it).
In the early morning hours of January 23, 1884, Los Colgadores, about 200 strong according to estimates, entered the Socorro County Jail. They met little resistance as they removed Fowler from his cell. The killer did not go quietly. According to one eyewitness, he “…was howling and begging for his life,” as he lost control of his functions. A witness reported that the condemned man called for protection from heaven, and someone in the mob answered, “It’s a cold night for angels, Joel. Better call on someone nearer town.”
Attorney Neill Field arrived on the scene and appealed to the crowd to spare Fowler’s life. He told them that if they persisted in the illegal execution, he would leave Socorro and never return. No one seemed impressed and his pleadings fell on deaf ears.
Fowler was placed on a wagon and hauled to the edge of the city where there stood a cottonwood tree with a convenient limb. The vigilantes simply put the noose around his neck and drove the wagon out from underneath him. One witness reported that
continued on page 46 >>
ROUND WATER TROUGHS
“Ten Thousand Commandments”
Report on Federal Regulatory Burdens Identifies Problems, Reforms
by Clyde Wayne Crews, Competitive Enterprise Institute
The Competitive Enterprise Institute has released its annual Ten Thousand Commandments report on the cost burden of federal regulations, revealing a cost exceeding $2 trillion, an annual average cost of $16,000 per U.S. household.
“Washington regulations got worse under President Biden because his administration sought to impose progressive rules against energy and consumer appliances, labor, banking, online speech, and other sectors of the economy,” said Wayne Crews, the Fred L. Smith fellow in regulatory policy and author of the report.
“Accountability was stripped away from the regulatory process; and agencies were tasked with imposing DEI mandates like racial and gender equity, environmental justice, and climate change.”
“The Trump administration and Congress together can lift regulatory burdens and achieve ambitious reforms that help entrepreneurs and small businesses
compete and succeed, empower consumer choice, and help American households build financial security,” said Crews.
Key reforms include:
Ї Terminate departments, agencies, commissions, and programs that no longer serve a legitimate purpose, instead restoring sovereignty to states, local governments, and communities.
Ї Systematically cut unneeded red tape, such as through a Regulatory Reduction Commission;
Ї Restore agency focus on core missions;
Ї Require congressional approval for major rules;
Ї Do better cost analysis for major rules;
Ї Increase regulatory transparency, such as with a regulatory “report card”;
Ї Put sunset dates on all new regulations;
Ї Limit agency guidance documents (“regulatory dark matter”).
The Ten Thousand Commandments report serves as a snapshot of the regulatory state, examining data such as the Federal Register, guidance documents, public notices, the watchdog role of the White House Office of Management and Budget, rules impacting small businesses, and the “Unconstitutionality Index” – rules promulgated by regulators that dwarf the number of laws passed by Congress.
View the report at cei.org/10kc
Administrator Zeldin Announces Major EPA Actions to Combat PFAS Contamination
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin outlined upcoming agency action to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). In this suite of actions, Administrator Zeldin announced a long list that included in part the designation of an agency lead for PFAS, the creation of effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for certain PFAS to stop these forever chemicals from entering drinking water systems, and initiatives to engage with Congress and industry to establish a clear liability framework that ensures the polluter pays and passive receivers are protected.
In line with Administrator Zeldin’s Powering the Great American Comeback initiative, EPA’s work in this space will advance Pillar 1: Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American, and Pillar 3: Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and CrossAgency Partnership.
These actions are guided by the following principles: strengthening the science, fulfilling statutory obligations and enhancing communication, and building partnerships. With this approach, EPA will provide the foundation and investment necessary for a toolbox that will help states and communities dealing with PFAS contamination. This list is the first, not the last, of all decisions and actions EPA will be taking to address PFAS over the course of the Trump Administration. There will be more to come in the future across EPA’s program offices to help communities impacted by PFAS contamination.
Strengthening the Science
Ї Designate an agency lead for PFAS to better align and manage PFAS efforts across agency programs
Ї Implement a PFAS testing strategy under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 4 to seek scientific information informed by hazard characteristics and exposure pathways
Ї Launch additional efforts on air related PFAS information collection and measurement techniques related to air emissions
Ї Identify and address available
information gaps where not all PFAS can be measured and controlled
Ї Provide more frequent updates to the PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance—changing from every three years to annually—as EPA continues to assess the effectiveness of available treatment technologies
Ї Ramp up the development of testing methods to improve detection and strategies to address PFAS
Fulfilling Statutory Obligations and Enhancing Communication
Ї Develop effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for PFAS manufacturers and metal finishers and evaluate other ELGs necessary for reduction of PFAS discharges
Ї Address the most significant compliance challenges and requests from Congress and drinking water systems related to national primary drinking water regulations for certain PFAS
Ї Determine how to better use RCRA authorities to address releases from manufacturing operations of both producers and users of PFAS
Ї Add PFAS to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) in line with Congressional direction from the 2020
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18
National Defense Authorization Act
Ї Enforce Clean Water Act and TSCA limitations on PFAS use and release to prevent further contamination
Ї Use Safe Drinking Water Act authority to investigate and address immediate endangerment
Ї Achieve more effective outcomes by prioritizing risk-based review of new and existing PFAS chemicals
Ї Implement section 8(a)7 to smartly collect necessary information, as Congress envisioned and consistent with TSCA, without overburdening small businesses and article importers.
Ї Work with Congress and industry to establish a clear liability framework that operates on polluter pays and protects passive receivers
Building Partnerships
Ї Advance remediation and cleanup efforts where drinking water supplies are impacted by PFAS contamination
Ї Work with states to assess risks from PFAS contamination and the development of analytical and risk assessment tools
Ї Finish public comment period for biosolids risk assessment and determine path forward based on comments
Ї Provide assistance to states and tribes on enforcement efforts
Ї Review and evaluate any pending state air petitions
Ї Resource and support investigations into violations to hold polluters accountable
A Record of Leadership
In 2019, the Trump EPA announced the PFAS Action Plan. This historic Plan responded to extensive public interest and input the agency received and represented the first time EPA built a multi-media, multi-program, national communication and research plan to address an emerging environmental challenge like PFAS. EPA’s Action Plan identified both short-term solutions for addressing these chemicals and long-term strategies that will help provide the tools and technologies states, tribes, and local communities need to provide clean and safe drinking water to their residents and to address PFAS at the source—even before it gets into the water. ▫
OLD TIMES
<< cont from pg 43
he thought Fowler was dead, of fright, before he was hanged. Another reported that after the hanging was complete, someone in the crowd shot the killer a couple of times for good measure, no doubt.
A coroner’s jury ruled that Fowler had died by strangulation “at the hands of persons unknown.” Of course, the coroner’s jury was likely made up of the very people who had done the deed. Sheriff Simpson returned to town early the next day.
Neill Field left Socorro the following day and established his law practice in Albuquerque. He remained there for the rest of his life.
The final chapter in this story involved Fowler’s wife. The widow quickly took charge of her late husband’s money and left town. One source reported that she left with a gambler named Jack Acres; another suggested that her escort was the unnamed foreman of Fowler’s ranch. She is not known to have ever returned.
The lynching of Joel Fowler was the last killing committed by Los Colgadores.
Guy Peterson, Nara Visa, 27, died on April 8, 2025, in a tragic horse accident near Nara Visa. Guy was born on June 19, 1997, in Hettinger, North Dakota to Todd Peterson and Joyce (Rosenau) Peterson.
Guy worked at the S Ranch in Montana for two years and then rode horses for the Hawk family in Montana. He then worked for the Babbitt Ranches in Flagstaff, Arizona where he met Katherine Westlake. They were married on July 10, 2020, in Williams, Arizona. Together, they worked for the T4 Cattle Company, Montoya for two years, and at the time of his death, he was working for Michael and Jamie Nixon near Nara Visa, New Mexico.
Survivors include his wife Katherine, their daughter Helen Praise Peterson, son Isaac Guy Peterson and unborn on Uriah Scott Peterson; his parents: Todd and Joyce Peterson; three sisters, Lacy Troester and husband Kelly, Katie Harrington and husband Garrett and April Lucht and husband Dan; one brother Gus Peterson and wife Sarah; grandmother Jarenda Peterson; father-in-law and mother-in-law Scott and Victoria Westlake; three sisters-in-law Rebecca Koen and husband T.K., Lauren Westlake and Samantha Westlake. Along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Condolences for the Late Emery Chee, Eastern Land Board Member and U.S. Army Veteran.
On behalf of the Navajo Nation Office of the President, I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and community of Mr. Emery Chee, who passed away on
April 4, 2025, at the age of 80.
Mr. Chee, of the Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House) clan, born for Tó’dik’ozhí (Salt Water), dedicated his life to serving the Navajo people — as a veteran of the United States Army, a proud member of the Bááháálí Veterans Group and through his decades of public service.
He was a committed land steward, having served more than 12 years on the Eastern Navajo Agency Land Board representing Bááháálí, Church Rock, and Red Rock Chapters. Most recently, he had just been re-elected to another four-year term — a testament to the trust and respect his community placed in him. He also served 30 years with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Natural Resources across the Eastern and Chinle agencies, and remained a lifelong rancher deeply rooted in our way of life.
Mr. Chee’s passing is a profound loss, not only to Bááháálí Chapter, but to the entire Navajo Nation. He left behind a legacy of service, humility, and strength that will continue to inspire generations to come.
As we reflect on his life, we are reminded how important it is to hold our elders close — especially those who have served with such honor and heart. Leaders like Mr. Chee are the pillars of our communities. Their wisdom, their sacrifices, and their quiet strength shape the future of our Nation. We must continue to cherish, listen to, and uplift our elders while we still can.
To his three children and extended family, we lift you in prayer and walk with you in your time of mourning. May the Creator bring you comfort.
Ahe’hee’, Mr. Chee, for your life of selfless service and love for the Navajo people.
-Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren
Kent Holt Cosner, 71, Logan, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2025. He was born on October 27, 1953 in Clovis to Brent (Jr.) and Bernice Cosner.
Kent attended San Jon Public School and graduated in 1971. He lettered in baseball and basketball while in school. He was active in 4-H and FFA. He earned the FFA State Farmer Degree.
He attended New Mexico State University and majored in Agricultural Education. He loved to rodeo and was on the Rodeo Team while at State.
He graduated in 1975. After graduation Kent moved to the ranch in Tucumcari. He studied for and received his auctioneering license. He was also a real estate broker for Quay County.
Kent loved ranching and being a cowboy. He was passionate about team roping and
race horses. He was very competitive and enjoyed the camaraderie. He was a lifetime member of the Elks Club, the New Mexico Horse Breeders, the American Quarter Horse Association and the New Mexico Realtors Association.
Kent is survived by his brother, Craig (Linda) Cosner, his cousin Carol (Tommy) Thomas, his niece Christy (Todd) McCutcheon, as well as many other relatives.
Kent’s family would like to extend special
thanks to the Hospice Staff at Dr. Dan C. Trigg Hospital and to the caretakers at Autumn Blessings.
Editor’s Note: Email caren@aaalivestock.com. Memorial donations may be sent to the a’ Foundation, a 501(c)3, tax deductable charitable foundation serving the rights of ranch families and educating citizens on governmental actions, policies and practices. Cattlegrowers Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 7517, Albuquerque, NM 87194. The New Mexico Stockman runs memorials as a courtesy to its readers. If families & friends would like to see more detail, verbatim pieces must be emailed to us, & may be printed at 10¢ per word.
Does It Pay to Castrate, Wean, Vaccinate?
by Andrew Griffith, University of Tennessee, Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA
For an extension educator, there is a constant battle whether to focus time on advanced subjects vs. the basics. For instance, the Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center is employing several
technologies related to precision livestock production, which can lead to advanced practices that may increase profitability. Yet, all it takes to be reminded of aspects of cattle production taught for decades that are still not employed by many cattle producers is to look at USDA Market News reports.
Market News reports prices for most classes of cattle and the quantity of cattle that were in each of those categories. It helps provide a better understanding of the price difference in steers coming straight off the cow, weaned and vaccinated steers, and bull calves.
It also provides a clear picture that a good number of producers still find it easier to sell bull calves instead of castrating them prior to selling. Thus, this would be a good time to look at the relative value of these animals during the past 14 months to see how instituting management protocols may or may not have a return.
Fig. 1 contains values ($ per head) for 525and 625-pound (lb.) steers, bulls and value-added steers from January 2024 through February 2025. This information allows a person to compare selling a bull to selling a steer of the same weight at two different weight classes, value-added steers vs. same-weight steers coming straight off the cow, and even the prospect of carrying a 525-lb. steer to 625 lb. and being weaned and vaccinated.
Fig. 1: Steer and bull values, $ per head, in Tennessee from January 2024 through February 2025
It should be noted here that the “value-added” term in Market News can have several definitions, but the term is most often used in Tennessee to refer to weaned and vaccinated cattle.
During the 14-month period evaluated, 525-lb. bull calves were discounted $88 per head compared to same weight steers, while 625-lb. bull calves were discounted $125 per head compared to same-weight steers. Perhaps by coincidence, 525-lb. steers and 625-lb. bulls averaged the same value during this 14-month period at $1,512 per head. Taking it a step further, 525-lb. value-added steers sold for $85 more per head than sameweight steers not designated as value-added. This
from January 2024 through February 2025
difference in 625-lb. steers was $116 more per head for value-added steers than sameweight steers with no designation.
It would be rare for someone to wean and vaccinate a calf and it be sold at the same weight it was weaned. Thus, it is appropriate to compare the value of 525-lb. steers coming straight off the cow and the value of 625-lb. value-added (i.e., weaned and vaccinated) steers.
During the 14 months evaluated, the 625-lb. value-added steer was worth $241 more per head than the 525-lb. steer being sold the day it was weaned. In other words, if you were to achieve an average daily gain (ADG) of 2 lb. per day for 50 days with your calves and it cost less than $241 to do it, then you could benefit from a profit standpoint.
Some producers may not have the infrastructure to employ such management. If that is the case, they are likely carrying more breeding stock than they would be able to if they were preconditioning calves, which means more calves to sell.
The purpose of this article is not to point fingers or call anyone out for participating or not participating in certain management practices. It is simply meant to report the value differences in the class of animals evaluated so producers can be more informed and make management decisions based on data. Some producers may benefit by making changes; others may not.
Editor’s note: Andrew Griffith is assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Tennessee. [Lead photo courtesy University of Tennessee.]
Fig. 1: Steer and bull values, $ per head, in Tennessee
by Jerry Schickedanz
Heads Up
The views and opinions expressed do not represent those of the Board of Regents of NMSU nor the New Mexico Stockman
Donald J. Trump was elected to the Office of President with one of his goals being to cut, waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government agencies. The Government Accounting Office reported that the federal government loses between $233 billion and $521 billion dollars due to fraud based on data from fiscal years 2018 to 2022. It is my understanding that the U.S. Treasury Department was scheduled to take in $2 trillion dollars less than the expenditures last year amounting to a $2 trillion deficit.
The intention to reduce the budget by a significant amount will require that the expenditures be reduced by $2 trillion dollars to balance the budget for the fiscal year. Then, the painful process is to reduce the size of the budget in a meaningful way
for a measurable reduction in force of the employee base and overall size of the agency. We are talking about trillions of dollars to be reduced.
I have just recently been able to think of millions of dollars in the budget process, but a trillion is not in my gray matter way of thinking. An explanation that makes some sense of understanding for me is that a million seconds will pass in 12 days, a billion seconds will pass in 31 years and a trillion seconds will pass in 31,688 years. A trillion is enormous and in dollars it is almost impossible to grasp.
Our federal government must work seriously toward balancing the budget. Our state budget is required to be balanced and if our household budget does not balance, we will be in bankruptcy in a few years. The federal government should be required to follow this same standard, or the America we grew up in will never come to pass again
President Trump issued an Executive Order, “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production,” which is designed to increase timber production and reduce environmental laws that have reduced logging in the United States. However, “this is easier said than done”, as the logging and timber industries are almost nonexistent. There will have to be some longevity in new regulations and laws that are promulgated before any major sawmill development will attract investors into the logging industry. The industry has been reduced because of endan-
gered species regulations and environmental pressures.
Revision of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is on the table with the Trump Administration. The ESA was passed by Congress in 1973. It was last authorized more than 20 years ago and needs revision. In my estimation, the ESA implementation has been used to destroy enterprises in agriculture and timber industries.
ESA species in New Mexico that have a track record of destroying business are the Mexican Spotted Owl, Mexican Wolf, and the Meadow Jumping Mouse. The regulations surrounding the management of these species have become unbearable for the property owners that have to live with these species.
I cannot believe that the authors of the ESA ever intended to put citizens out of business over the management of an endangered species. A bill has been introduced to legislate ESA reform and is a copy of the bill introduced last year. Reform is needed.
Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule will be revised by the Environmental Protection Agency to more closely follow the guidance of the Supreme Court Sackett Decision. The WOTUS rule has been back and forth with the last several administrations in defining their interpretation of what constitutes waters of the U.S. Hopefully, a less stringent interpretation will come out of the rule and be codified by law.
Plenty of things to keep your eyes on the horizon for things to come. ▫
JANUARY — Wildlife; Gelbvieh; Joint Stockmen’s Convention Results
FEBRUARY — Beefmasters; Texas Longhorns
MARCH — Limousin; Santa Gertrudis
APRIL — Dairy MAY — News of the Day
JUNE — Sheepman of the Year
JULY — Directory of Agriculture
AUGUST — The Horse Industry
SEPTEMBER — Charolais; Fairs Across the Southwest
OCTOBER — Hereford; New Mexico State Fair Results
NOVEMBER — Cattleman of the Year; Joint Stockmen’s Convention Preview; Angus, Brangus, Red Angus
DECEMBER — Bull Buyers Guide
you would like to see your breed featured email caren@aaalivestock.com To Reserve Advertising Space email chris@aaalivestock.com or call Chris at 505.243.9515, ext. 2
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PERFECTION IN EVERY WAY. GORGEOUS LANDSCAPING. HORSE FACILITIES. SHOP. ALMOST LIKE LIVING IN TOWN BUT IN THE COUNTRY. 700 ACRES WEST OF ROSWELL. KNOWN AS THE ANTELOPE SPRING PROPERTY. BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINS.
60 ACRE HORSE FACILITY WITH 40 ACRES ARTESIAN WATER RIGHTS. OLD PRIORITY DATES, HORSE PADDOCKS, AMPLE STALLS, 3,166 SQUARE FOOT HOME, SMALL FEEDYARD ON DRYLAND
Contact Cherri Michelet Snyder – 575-626-1913 or Jan “JJ’’ Graham – 806-782-1986 For More Information, Michelet Homestead Realty, Roswell, NM
THE SAND CAMP RANCH
The election is over and there is optimism in the ranch real estate and cattle markets. It is time to invest in a quality cattle ranch. The Sand Camp Ranch fits the bill with an excellent grass cover and above average very functional improvements. It has been blessed with abundant moisture and is in excellent condition. Located in southern Chaves County east of the productive Pecos River Valley. The ranch is comprised of 2,380 +/- deeded acres, 6,074 NM State Lease Acres, 23,653 Federal BLM Lease Acres and 480 acres Uncontrolled, 32,107 +/- total acres (50.17 Sections). Grazing Capacity set by a Section 3 BLM grazing permit at a realistic 405 Animal Units Yearlong. The ranch is watered by five primary wells and an extensive interconnected pipeline system. This ranch is ready to go, no deferred maintenance. Price: $3,672,000 This is one of the better ranches in the area. It is nicely improved and well-watered. You won’t find anything comparable for the price. Call or email for a brochure and an appointment to come take a look.
575-420-1237 Website: www.ranchesnm.com
Cherri Michelet Snyder Qualifying Broker 920 East 2nd, Roswell, NM 88201 • 575-623-8440
Milky Ranch – Apache County, Arizona: 450 AU including 37,518 deeded acres with an additional 7,680 acres of Arizona State grazing lease located between Holbrook and Saint Johns, Arizona. The ranch is located directly off of US Highway 180 including seven miles of highway frontage. All access to the ranch is via private property and is contained behind locked gates and provides one-of-a-kind privacy with vast views of the National Park. Also included is an additional 7,270 deeded acres located outside the ranch fence. Price: $14,000,000
Hay Hollow Property – Navajo County, Arizona: 19,458 deeded acres located between Holbrook and Snowflake, Arizona along the Little Colorado River. Stunning views of painted desert scenery accessible by County roads yet great privacy and the feeling of seclusion. This could be a great investment or development property for solar, wind or residential use. Price: $6,500,000
80- Acre Mountain Retreat – Apache County, Arizona: 80 deeded acres located in the foothills of the White Mountains and overlooking the town of Eagar. Numerous building sites with amazing views over 100 miles & mountain side privacy yet only 5- minutes from town shopping and dining. The White Mountains provide year-round recreation including winter activities such as snow skiing and snowmobiling. Spring, summer and fall provide opportunities for hiking, fishing, camping & hunting. Property also includes 160-acres of Arizona State Lease land used for livestock grazing. Price: $799,000
RANCHES/FARMS
*SOLD* 472+/- Acre Organic
Apple Orchard offered in 5 Tracts Tract 1 – 158+/- Acre with approximately 131 ac of trees, 24,075+/- s.f. of apple processing facilities, cold storage, retail center, two homes, & wells.
*PENDING* Farm - Apache Grove, AZ – 335+/- total acres along the scenic Gila River. 120+/acres of decreed water rights. Pivot and pastures planted in Bermuda. Owner runs 150 head. One bedroom apartment over garage/ office, 30’ x 150’steel barn, plus smaller steel barn, shop/ feed room/tack room, excellent corrals, with squeeze chute, calf table and scale. Must see! $2.5M
*SOLD* 1883.45+/- Acres, McNeal, AZ – Frontier Roads. Good access, 2 registered wells, dirt tanks, fully fenced. Current owner runs 80+/- head seasonally $941,725 Reduced to $847,552 Call Paul Ramirez 520-241-3333.
150+/- Acre Farm, Willcox, AZ
– 120 Acre full circle pivot with two wells. Ideal location for hay, pecans, pistachios, wine grape cultivation or other crops. Good water, productive soil. Convenient access to I-10. $525,000
*SOLD* 305+/- Acres of Land on Ash Creek Pearce, AZ –
Excellent potential for agricultural development, qualifies for organic farming, cleared of Mesquites in 2010, good prospect for pecans, wine grapes, corn, cotton, hay. FAA approved landing strip, two domestic wells, fenced and cross fenced. Ask about the solar options available with this property. $457,000
*SOLD* 98+/- Deeded Acre Farm, Bonita, AZ – Great farm in a picture-perfect setting! Two small pivots with 35 acres of water rights. 3 BR, 2 BA Shultz mfg home; 3-sided hay/machine shed, 1,560+/- s.f. shop, hay shed, Connex box, nice set of guardrail and steel corrals with crowding tub, squeeze and scale. 250 gpm irrigation well with 20 HP motor and 13,500+/- gallons of storage. Runs about 40 head of cattle. $750,000
*SOLD* 200-300 Head Cattle Ranch, Marana, AZ – 112.8 +/- Deeded ac; 150+/- ac of pasture, 3,700+/- ac of sublease, 14 +/- ac of farm fields, HQ on State Land. 2nd mfg home on deeded. 2 sets of good steel pipe corrals $1.9M
*SOLD* Hale Ranch, Patagonia, AZ – 218+/- Acres and 60 Head USFS Grazing Allotment. Coming Soon. Subject to Sale Prior to Auction.
HORSE PROPERTIES/LAND
*SOLD* Auction 19+/- Ac, 3-BR, 2.5-BA, 2,220+/- s.f. Mountaintop Estate, Sonoita Hwy, Vail AZ –This estate comes complete with 360-degree wrap-around porches with million-dollar views of the surrounding mountains and city lights below. Open floor plan with soaring vaulted wood plank ceilings, granite countertops, solid wood doors, fireplace, all steel Kodiak home with 900+/- s.f. detached 3-car garage. This property will sell at Auction starting November 3, 2024. The online only auction will continue through December 3, 2024 and will start closing at 5:00 p.m.
*SOLD* Auction 10+/- Acre Country Estate in Scenic Sonoita, AZ – This country estate comes complete with a hilltop home, stunning mountain and grassland views, horse stable, large shop, orchard, chicken coop and water features and is the perfect sustainable property. This property sold as a result of our accelerated marketing program. Ask Paul Ramirez about that program today.
*SOLD * ONLIN E AUCTION , Pearce, AZ - Four offerings located in the grasslands at the foot of the beautiful Dragoon Mountains. Sold prior to Auction Lot 1 featured stunning, custom 3 BD, 2 BA territorial style home on 5.5 +/-. Sold Prior to Auction Lots 3, and 4 included 3 vacant, 1+ acre land parcels for a total of 3+/- acres each. Sold at Auction Lot 2 – 3- 1+/- acre lots for a total of 3+/- acres.
■ NE NEW MEXICO – 1,120 ac. +/- on pvmt. & on county roads, irrigated by ¼ mile pivot sprinklers, wells & underground pipe. One ¼ section in grass.
■ QUAY COUNTY ALFALFA AND LIVESTOCK – 255.474 ± acres a few miles southeast of Tucumcari, NM in Quay County. A total of 112.3 ± acres irrigated, 107 ± acres of native grassland, and 40 ± acres of dry farmland is combined with a 20’ x 80’ shop with concrete flooring and electricity.
■ TELL TX HALF SECTION – 320 ± acres just a few miles south of Tell, TX on the northern end of Cottle County. With the majority of the ranch being native pasture, it lends itself to grazing opportunities, hunting or recreational use. Along with perimeter and interior fencing, a 60 ± acre portion of the property is tilled ground.
■ UNION CO., NM – divided into three tracts for rotational grazing of 1,822 ac. +/- enrolled in the new Grasslands Conservation Reserve Program & 120 ac. +/- of the property in the standard CRP program. GCRP can be grazed year-round each year. Excellent fencing, one mile of hwy. frontage together with all-weather roads on the remainder, equipped with almost new set of steel working pens with scale, a second set of almost new working pens, watered by subs on electricity with pipelines furnishing water for drinkers in each pasture. Gramma & buffalo grasses. Broker owned.
■ UNION CO., NM – Just out of Clayton, a large feedyard w/four circles irrigated by ¼ mile sprinklers, five irr. wells, one domestic well for office & feedyard & just across the hwy. an 800 ac. grass lease.
■ MULESHOE HOME AND FARM – Irrigated farm of 160 ± acres with a 2017 built home in Bailey County 4.5 miles west of Muleshoe on FM 1760. The home has 3 br, 2 ba and an office. Other improvements on the property include a 4,032 sq.ft. pole barn with attached shed housing horse pens and cattle working pens. A 5 tower Zimmatic center pivot irrigates approximately 70 acres with three irrigation wells equipped with submersible pumps producing a total of approximately 150 GPM.
■ PRICE REDUCED! CHOICE 320 ac.+/-, irrigated farm, w/pivot sprinklers, irrigation wells & an older home which would be liveable or could be moved. Located on pvmt. in prime farming area of Castro Co., TX.
■ COCHRAN CO., TX. – 160 ac. +/- native grass, existing oil production. The tract is located roughly 21 miles north of Plains, Texas and 32 miles southwest of Whiteface, Texas. Mule deer in the area. Good small hunting, grazing ranch.
■ CASTRO CO., TX – 3 farms with good water, owner will sell and cash lease back: 1,319 ac. +/-, 2 half mile pivots; 1,715 ac. +/-, drip irrigated; 1,440 ac. +/-, drip irrigated.
■ 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.
■ CLAYTON, NM. – 44 acres located approx.. 2 miles south of Clayton, NM on Hwy 87 on the East side of the highway. This property has about ½ mile of highway frontage and would be great for residential housing, commercial development or addtl. RV development (adjoins the 16.75 ac. RV park).
■ CLAYTON, NM – 9 ac. +/- located on pvmt. behind a large convenience store on which has been partially begun infrastructure for an RV park. This property will also lend itself well as a large development such as new or existing businesses expanding their company.
■ DALLAM CO., TX – 480 acres in native grass in northeastern Dallam County. Possible wind potential.
■ PALO DURO CREEK TREASURE – 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,
Paul Ramirez 520-241-3333
UNDER CONTRACT! PARKER RANCH/GANADO
ALLOTMENT – PARKER, AZ
The Parker Farm consists of +/-364.41 acres of irrigable farmland near Parker Arizona. The farm is located on state land secured by a long-term ag lease serviced by a 1,700 gpm well serviced by natural gas. The Ganado allotment is contiguous to the farm with a carrying capacity of 153 CYL on a 86,800 acre BLM allotment. The allotment has eight wells and is secured by a base water which transfers upon sale. Priced at $1,750,000 Submit all offers.
SOLD!
PINEVETA
RANCH – ASH FORK, AZ
The Pineveta Ranch is a working cattle ranch consisting of a total of +/- 23,680 acres of deeded, state lease, and private lands with a grazing capacity of 300+ cattle. The acreage includes +/- 483.64 deeded acres; 5,640.27 acres of ASLD Lease; and 17,556 acres of deeded grazing and mineral rights on adverse private properties. This one pencils out with gentle country, good feed, good water and excellent access. Some cattle are available through private treaty. Offered at $2,500,000
SOLD! BUCKHORN RANCH IN WICKENBURG, AZ – The Buckhorn Ranch located 15 miles East of Wickenburg, Arizona is a 251 cow, plus 5 horse permit. With 359 deeded acres plus State and BLM leases totals 20,500 +/- of prime Sonoran Desert grazing. Abundant water, workable facilities and diverse feed make this ranch a cattleman’s paradise. $2,000,000
UNDER CONTRACT! RK RANCH IN PRESCOTT, AZ
The RK Ranch is a smaller working cattle ranch located approximately 25 miles north of Prescott, Arizona. The RK Ranch encompasses approximately +/-6,736 total grazing acres supporting up to 45 CYL. With 110 deeded acres surrounded by USFS this little ranch is truly a gem of a gentleman’s ranch. Equipment and cattle included.
SOLD! RANDALL RANCH IN ASH FORK, AZ – !This well-watered, working cattle ranch includes 85.88 deeded, non-contiguous acres, 5,749 leased acres from the State of Arizona and 12,000 acres of adverse grazing. The current owner operates a cow-calf operation. The ranch historically runs 250 mother cows producing high quality Angus calves with weaning weights between 500 to 550 pounds. $1,250,000
SOLD! RAWHIDE RANCH IN AGUILA, AZ – The Rawhide Ranch is a well appointed working cattlemen’s ranch. Located in Salome Az. 255 AU comprised of State Lease, BLM permit and adverse land as well as 10 acres of deeded. Functional headquarters with APS power and CAP water rights. Offered fully stocked with located desert cows and Charolais bulls. $1,800,000
BROKEN
HORN D RANCH IN PRESCOTT, AZ –
The Broken Horn D Ranch provides a unique turnkey opportunity to own a remarkable cattle ranch/beef business property nestled in the picturesque Williamson Valley, Arizona. This distinctive offering is the perfect balance between seclusion and accessibility. With 77 acres of deeded land including 50 acres irrigated pasture, state and private leases this ranch runs 130-180 cattle. Equipment and cattle included. $3,389,000
SOLD! TRIANGLE C RANCH IN RESERVE, NM – This working cattle ranch is located east of Reserve, New
MORE HUSTLE, LESS HASSLE
— 575-258-8656 •
Keli Cox • 575-937-4616
Nick Cortese • 575-760-3818
Kelly Sparks • 575-760-9214
Rye Richardson • 575-430-0777
Jymmy Kay Cox • 512-921-8877
Donda Richardson • 575-937-1056
Jackie Higgins • 806-787-5814
Jenna Lawrence• 575-937-8849
Dixie Brown • 575-937-1049
Nestled in the tall pines of northern New Mexico, a bubbling perennial stream bisects the acreage with a broad grassy meadow. The property is an inholding, surrounded by Forest Service land on three sides, and this is an unparalleled opportunity for a mountain retreat. The land sits at an elevation of 8,700 feet, an idyllic landscape representative of the lower reaches of the Rocky Mountains. This property has had only three owners in the past 100 years.
O’NEILL LAND, llc
MAXWELL PLACE, 39.65 +/- deeded acres, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom 2 story home. Property is off pavement with big views of the mountain range, mature cottonwood trees, 1 apricot tree, irrigation rights, domestic water meter, older well, barns, useable outbuildings, including root cellar compliment this property. 461 Elm Tree Rd. Maxwell NM 87728 $499,00
UTE PARK DREAM, 3 bedroom 2 bathroom 2,321 sq ft home built 2009 with amazing back covered porch and attached garage. 29665 HWY 64 Ute Park, NM 87729
$599,000 $549,000
MIAMI 80+/- ACRES, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with water shares, roping arena, steel barn with shop. Other historic barns, Pipe corrals. Far enough off road to be private. Includes 80 shares of irrigation 2350 SHW 21, Miami NM 87729. $569,999
MIAMI DREAM, 14.70 +/- deeded acres. Approx 1,583 sq ft 2 bedroom 1 bath home. Real country living with barn wood siding, porches, recent remodel for remote workspace. Irrigation and horse facilities, 57 Wampler St., Miami, NM $370,000 $335,000
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 of property as well. Presented “ASIS” New Survey, $3,800,000 $3,629,000
SPRINGER VIEW, 29.70 +/- deeded acres. Large house being remodeled, shop, trees, old irrigation pond. All back off highway with great southern aspect. 311 Hwy 56, Colfax County. $209,000 $205,000
GABRIEL
ATARQUE RANCH | FENCE LAKE, NM
Located in GMU 12 the ranch offers a total of 109,308± acres, 97,825± deeded, and 11,483± acres of State lease. The ranch has been adjudicated 59± acre-feet of water rights. Outstanding wildlife, livestock operation and functional improvements. $68,500,000
K6+ | MINERAL WELLS, TX
The K6+ Ranch is a refined 870± deeded acre estate near Mineral Wells, Texas. The agricultural and recreational functions tastefully incorporate multiple residences, resort-style amenities, equestrian facilities, and diverse water resources. $19,895,000
LAKE SUMNER RANCH | FORT SUMNER, NM
Lake Sumner Ranch is a diverse 19,907± total acre working livestock ranch situated between Fort Sumner and Santa Rosa. Set along the Pecos River and Lake Sumner, it provides wildlife habitat and a unique grazing operation with supplement income. Reduced to $12,650,000
KUBACAK VINEYARDS | LUBBOCK, TX
A rare offering of 140± acre producing vineyard property in the desirable Texas High Plains American Viticultural Area. Meticulously maintained and improved with 60± acres of vines, consisting of 12 varietals of grapes known to produce award-winning wine. $6,500,000
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Classic Beef Gravy
Preparation
Step 1
Heat butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until melted. Stir in flour; cook 5 to 7 minutes until mixture is deep brown, stirring often. Whisk in broth until smooth; simmer 3 minutes, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened. Stir in bouillon granules and pepper; stirring until combined. Season with salt, as desired.
Cooking Tip: You may substitute homemade beef stock for beef broth.
Pecos Valley Alfalfa
Since 2022
State-Wide BEEF Billboards in May
May is Beef Month and what better way to recognize the importance of the beef industry in our state and to celebrate the farmers and ranchers who work hard every day to raise & care for cattle while preserving the land and environment. The New Mexico Beef Council worked with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) to secure 13 billboards in strategic locations on our major highways to promote beef. The images, designs and messaging are attention grabbers and sure to be noticed by hundreds of thousands of travelers throughout our state during the month of May, including Memorial Day weekend.
BEEF and Basketball… a Winning Combination!
NMBC is a proud sponsor of the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) which manages interscholastic activities in the State of New Mexico. In March the NMBC had the opportunity to showcase BEEF at the state high school basketball championship games that were held at the “PIT” on the University of New Mexico campus. Over 2,600 packets of local beef jerky were handed out to game attendees along with beef recipes, cuts charts and nutrition information to booth visitors over 3 days of boys and girls basketball games with teams from all over our state. The NMBC and Creamland Dairy provided beef jerky and chocolate milk to all teams and coaching staff that had games on championship day Saturday. Congratulations to all teams that played in the state championship games for an awesome season and hope to see you again next year!
COOK
IT RIGHT:
TRANSFORMING STUDENTS INTO BEEF ENTHUSIASTS!
Dr. Julie Book, Family & Consumer Science Educator from Des Moines High School just East of Raton, wrote in to New Mexico Beef Council to “thank you for the opportunity that we have had to learn about beef cuts, preparation, safety, and handling”. She sent in these awesome photos of her students’ hands-on experience practicing the beef cooking methods they had learned. For more information on the Beef Grant Program please visit nmbeef.com
We've created a popular local beef directory. If you'd like to be included, please scan the QR code to join today.
Classic Beef Shepherd’s Pie
45 Minutes
4 Servings
7 Ingredients
Ingredients
1 pound Ground Beef (93 percent lean or leaner)
1.5 cups Classic Beef Gravy
1-1/2 cups chopped onions
1-1/2 cups frozen peas and carrots blend
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2-1/2 to 3 cups mashed potatoes
Thanks
Garnish:
2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese or cheddar cheese (optional)
Preparation
Step 1
Prepare Classic Beef Gravy. Classic Beef Gravy: Melt 1/4 cup butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until melted. Stir in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; cook 5 to 7 minutes until mixture is deep brown, stirring often. Whisk in 2 cups reduced-sodium beef broth until smooth; simmer 3 minutes, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium-low heat; cook 2 to 3 minutes until thickened. Stir in 1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Season with salt, as desired.
Step 2
Preheat oven to 450°F. Heat 10 to 12 inch cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef and onions; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Stir in gravy, frozen vegetables and pepper.
Cooking Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground Beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Color is not a reliable indicator of Ground Beef doneness.
Step 3
Top beef mixture with potatoes, spreading evenly; sprinkle with cheese, if desired. Bake in 450°F oven 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly and cheese begins to brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Cooking Tip: Shepherd’s Pie can also be baked in a 2-quart baking dish. Following step 1, transfer meat mixture to baking dish and top with potatoes and cheese. Baking times are the same.
Nutrition information per serving: 408 Calories; 171 Calories from fat; 19g Total Fat (10 g Saturated Fat; 6 g Monounsaturated Fat;) 112 mg Cholesterol; 690 mg Sodium; 30 g Total Carbohydrate; 4.7 g Dietary Fiber; 31 g Protein; 4.1 mg Iron; 7.7 mg NE Niacin; 0.6 mg Vitamin B6; 2.8 mcg Vitamin B12; 7.1 mg Zinc; 23.7 mcg Selenium; 101.9 mg Choline. Nutrition Tip: This recipe is an excellent source of Protein, Iron, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Zinc, and Selenium; and a good source of Dietary Fiber, and Choline. ▫
N., Moriarty, NM 87035
Home: 505/832-9364
Cell: 505/379-8212
ww w.jcangus.com Email: info@jcangus.com
Phases for Successful Replacement Heifer Development
Source: Purina Animal Nutrition
When’s the most important time to focus on nutrition during development of replacement heifers?
There isn’t just one time frame. Focus on nutrition throughout a heifer’s first two years of life, with special emphasis during three critical phases: the fetal to pre-weaning phase, the weaning to breeding phase and the breed-back phase.
Three critical phases of replacement heifer development:
1. Fetal to pre-weaning phase
Caring for replacement heifers should begin before heifer calves are even born. Research shows if you do not take care of the cow while she’s pregnant, the resulting heifer calves could suffer the consequences. Fetal programming can impact the heifer’s overall health at birth and during her entire life span.
That means it’s imperative to keep cows at a good body condition score year-round,
through the nine months of gestation and beyond. Once the calf is born and at the cow’s side, cow nutrition continues to be important because she’s providing critical nutrients to the calf.
If a creep feed is offered to supplement calves, try to avoid getting calves too fat, which can cause potential lower milk production later on, as cows. Keep feed intake at one percent of body weight or less. Feeds with intake modifying properties can help address over-conditioning by encouraging calves to eat smaller, more frequent meals spread throughout the day.
2. Weaning to breeding phase
The second most critical time in a heifer calf’s life is when she’s weaned. If we provide quality nutrition throughout the cow’s gestation and keep the cow/calf pair in good condition prior to weaning, we need to make sure we’ve got a top-notch weaning program, or our efforts could be wasted.
Starter ration selection will likely depend on resources and preference. Use a complete or semi-complete starter feed in a hand-fed scenario and complete feed with intake modifying properties for a self-fed situation.
After two or three weeks on a starter ration, we recommend developing heifers in the same environment that they’re going to work in as productive cows. If you have some pasture and forage available to develop heifers, that’s the way to go.
A gain of 1.25-1.75 pounds per day is suggested during this phase to avoid over-conditioning. High-quality, cool-season forages may provide the nutrition needed to achieve such gains. On medium- to low-quality forage, more supplementation may be needed to maintain appropriate gains leading up to breeding.
Once heifers are bred, they should be big enough to sustain themselves more efficiently in a forage-based scenario. If ample forage is available, provide a baseline protein supplement, which should allow heifers to cruise into the third, and final, critical phase.
3. Breed-back phase
If we don’t take good care of heifers
Kaden Miranda
New
Mexico High School Rodeo Association
by Julie Carter
By way of West Texas to Mule Creek, the Miranda family relocated about six years ago after searching for the right ranch to run cows. “It’s beautiful here,” Kaden, soon to be 18, said. “Water, trees, rugged canyons, it right away felt like home.” Kaden, the youngest of three has homeschooled since arriving, giving him plenty of time to help with the ranching and breaking colts along with competing in the event of his heart, saddle bronc riding.
Kaden’s story with broncs started young. At nine, he climbed onto his dad’s colt that bucked with him and he told his dad, “I kind of like that feeling when they buck and I stay on.” He was hooked. At 13, he started riding saddle broncs at home and at the local rodeos and has been a student of the event ever since. Kaden also rides ranch broncs with the same mind set he rides saddle broncs, refusing to let fear creep into his head. “If you let it get in your mind, you’re done,” he said.
Broncs are not his only skill. As a preteen, Kaden calf roped and team roped in junior rodeos. The ranch life demanded that versatility, and Kaden delivered.
Kaden’s dad Mike is his hero, his mentor, his support and his teacher –about life and riding broncs. “I’ve always wanted to be like
Kaden Miranda (courtesy photo)
him,” Kaden said. “And bronc riding? It’s a beautiful sport that takes skills that run much deeper than just holding on. There’s so much more to it.” Kaden is mastering every part of it, with his eyes set on the professional level of the game. The ink on his PRCA permit he’ll get in June won’t be dry before he’s on the rodeo road to fill it, get his card and use what he can of the dozens pro rodeos left in the season.
Mike, a quiet man who doesn’t waste words, has helped shape Kaden’s path. Mike taught him to handle the 50 or 60 horses they broke together, from colts in the pen to their string of bucking horses. “Couldn’t be here without him,” Kaden admitted. In his polite, articulate way, he also spoke of help from Darrell Tripplet and Shane Faulkner who have shared tips, wisdom and encouragement.
Daily life for Kaden is a couple hours of school, then ranch work: moving cows, fixing fences, or breaking colts. He usually has 9-10 colts going using a “strap on a saddle and hope for the best method.” Twice a week, he and his dad load five or six of their bucking horses and haul them an hour one way to Duncan, Ariz. to the practice arena for Kaden to keep his skills sharp. With no bucking arena set up at home, it’s just part of what they do get done what they need to do.
Last year, Kaden won the PBRA ranch bronc year champion title and qualified for the WCRA finals. At the Junior NFR, his first-round ride scored an 86-point. He was also the 2024 New Mexico High School Bronc Riding champion both for the finals and the year end. He is currently at the top of the leaderboard for 2025.
Faith has always anchored him. Raised in a Christian family, Kaden keeps God first, a priority that has steadied him through the chaos of rodeo and ranch life. “I wouldn’t be here to do what I do without God and I really do give Him all the glory,” he said.
In the rodeo world, Kaden says he has always admired Dawson Hay for his form and style, and Stetson Wright for a newer way of riding. Offers from college rodeo coaches are coming in, but right now, his heart is leaning toward staying on the ranch, working with his dad, and chasing the UPRA and PRCA circuits.
Whatever leaderboard he’s lighting up, Kaden won’t be hard to follow or find. His humble roots and kind demeanor go where he goes, and so do the fans he’s built in New Mexico.
(top) Kaden Miranda, 86 point ride on Black Jack to win the round at the Junior World Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada last December.
(bottom) Kaden Miranda in the Magdalena Ranch Bronc Riding, 80 points on War Boss. (Photo by Julie Carter)
Rodeo Roundup
Graduation is a’Coming
Most folks who know us know that our children have been called the feral Faulkners since they were tiny. A dear friend exclaimed that they were feral once, and it stuck. Now, they are mostly house-broke but probably still really just as feral, only now they are off doing it on their own.
My youngest, Keelin, will graduate high school this month and has signed with Dodge City Community College rodeo team. She hopes to breakaway rope her way through college and to prepare for an adult career that will combine her passions.
I am in a daze, mostly, at how darn fast it all went by. One of my favorite Keelin stories of all time was during my mother-in-law Barbara’s funeral. Dear friends had come to celebrate her life with us, and after spending a day with the feral Faulkners, Mr. Donnie leaned down and earnestly told Keelin, “You are really well-behaved kids!” To which she responded, equally as earnestly, “Not at home we aren’t!”
I hope her college days are fun and filled with new experiences. I hope she uses the lessons learned and continues to work hard and build opportunities. I hope she remembers to take a deep breath when she gets mad, and to eat her veggies and lots of beef, and that the best way to pass a class is to show up.
More than anything, I hope she knows that her dad and I have her back, along with her brother and sister, until the end of time.
For the rest of the graduating class of 2025, congratulations! I hope each of you also remembers how far you have come and how proud your family and loved ones are of you. To our rodeo and ag kids, always remember your roots. Your work ethic will likely be one of the best tools in your belt going forward. Congratulations, again, to the class of 2025 and eat lots of beef!
New Mexico High School Rodeo Association
Results for Clovis, NM April 4-6, 2025
HIGH SCHOOL
Boys All-Around
Treyden Gonzales
Girls All-Around
Caydence Roberts
Pole Bending
Channing Robinson
Saddle Bronc
Kaden Miranda
Bull Riding - no qualified rides
Goat Tying
Wacey Trujillo
Calf Roping
Treyden Gonzales
Breakaway
Caydence Roberts
Barrel Racing
Callie Potter
Team Roping
Casey Siow/
Haize Price
Steer Wrestling
Pike Ketcham
Light Rifle
Addison Tixier
Trap Ross Kohler
JUNIO R HS
Boys All-Around
Catch Roberts
Girls All-Around
Bonnie Montoya
Bull Riding
Jason Vigil
Pole Bending
Kady Osborn
Steer Saddle Bronc
Catch Roberts
Boys Goat Tying
Maison Chavez
Girls Goat Tying
Macklee Cain
Ribbon Roping
Waylan Valdez/
Taycee DeHerrera
Steer Bareback
Jace Wild Green
Calf Roping
Waylan Valdez
Girls Breakaway
Hollyn Mitchell
Boys Breakaway
Haxton Haynes
Barrel Racing
Taylor Armenta
Team Roping
Paislee Foster/ Seth Lujan
Chute Dogging
Lane Peralta
Long Rifle
Macklee Cain
SCHEDULE : May 1-4, 2025
Farmington, NM
– Cody Reed
Memorial Rodeo
May 22-25, 2025
NMSHRA/ NMJHSRA State Finals
For more information or to join please go to www.nmhsra.com
NMHSRA Clovis
rodeo pictures courtesy of Tasha Trujillo
Madrid
Keelin Faulkner
Bryce Roanhorse
High School BA – Wacey Trujillo
High School Broncs – Hardy Osborn
High School Bulls – Noah Gonzales
High School – Dax Sullivan BN230
High School Poles – Anastasia Herrera
Jr. High SSB – Catch Roberts
Jr. High RR – Elise Martinez
High School Poles – Keelin Faulkner
Jr. High BA – Kenzie Acuna
Jr. High Barrels – Mackenzie Enriquez
Jr. High SSB-BN08 – Pistol Barnes
during the breed-back phase, all of the investment that we have in them up to this point is gone because we’ll have to cull a heifer that we can’t get bred back.
The breed-back phase can be challenging because heifers are still growing and have high nutritional needs. Increase supplementation, supplement at least 45 days before breeding season starts and continue for at least 45 days into the season. This strategy keeps first-calf heifers on an upward plane of nutrition going into the second round of breeding.
Forage quality will dictate how much additional supplementation is needed. If heifers have quality forage available, then an average of five pounds per head per day supplement is a realistic target. If grazed forage or hay quality is low, first-calf heifers may require an average of 10 pounds per head per day supplement.
A common mistake we see is that nutrition of first calf heifers is not pushed hard enough leading up to breed-back. You don’t want to play catch up and miss the window that may impact the next generation.
Once that female is bred-back for a second time, she should be well on her way to being a productive cow. ▫
GALLUP LION’S CLUB RODEO
June 7th
June 12
June 13
June 14
JANUARY — Wildlife; Gelbvieh; Joint Stockmen’s Convention Results
FEBRUARY — Beefmasters; Texas Longhorns
MARCH — Limousin; Santa Gertrudis
APRIL — Dairy
MAY — News of the Day
JUNE — Sheepman of the Year
JULY — Directory of Agriculture
AUGUST — The Horse Industry
SEPTEMBER — Charolais; Fairs Across the SW
OCTOBER — Hereford; State Fair Results
NOVEMBER — Cattleman of the Year; Angus; Brangus; Red Angus: Joint Stockmen’s Convention Preview
DECEMBER — Bull Buyers Guide
Rodeo Roundup
Catch Roberts
New
Mexico Junior High School Rodeo Association
by Julie Carter
Diamond C Buckers is the bucking steer and bull string owned by Casey Roberts and his 11-year-old son Catch. It started with one, and now there are pens full of constant rotation. “I wanted to make sure Catch was getting on age-appropriate buckers, and now I contract them to others for the same reason,” explains Casey. Diamond C Buckers had 16 weekends of rodeos contracted last year.
Catch crawled on his first bull in competition when he was only 6. “Curly Moe was his name,” said Casey. “And I bought that bull and brought him home so he would learn to ride him.” And the story behind that was, Catch had been riding sheep but on that one day he decided to get on a bull, with no practice behind him. “I knew I could ride him,” he said in true Catch Wade Roberts over-abundance of self-confidence fashion. While he admits to not making the whistle, it just made him hungrier and more determined. The sticky little roughie from Rincon, N. Mexico has become an arena favorite everywhere he goes.
He and Casey won the Father/Son Bull Riding at the Casper Baca Series a couple of
times. Also an entrepreneur, Catch wanted a stickier rosin so he started making his own, and markets it as “Hang up Rosin” which has gotten pretty popular among his peers.
After joining his older barrel racing sisters (Caydence and Cylee Jo) in the Roberts household, Catch began a long journey on the bucking chute end of the
arena. He was 4 when he rode his first sheep, but he also has all kinds of natural skills on the time event end of the arena. He’s been known to jump-ride his sister’s barrel horse and out run her, as well as tie a fast goat and use a rope successfully in any of the roping events. But his heart is at the bucking chutes. He said the pressures of working seven
Catch Roberts with his dad Casey looking on at the Artesia JH Rodeo. Photo by Julie Carter
Catch Roberts. Photo by Julie Carter
Catch Roberts, 6, on Curly Moe, his first bull ride. (courtesy photo)
events on both ends just took the fun out of it and he removed himself for now to a life with a bag full of bull and steer riding gear. Before he separated himself out, he won the JH Rookie of the Year title as a 5th grader and has been to JH Nationals every year in the JH Bull Riding, Steer Bareback Riding and Steer Saddle Bronc Riding.
The Roberts have a steel fabrication business in Las Cruces so Catch was welding by the age of 8. He’s also a hunter and fishman, even so far as giving up a rodeo to do some hunting. The family lives on an expansive desert ranch that takes lots of miles horseback to tend to the cattle they run, as well as those in the pens at home. That works well for the horses his mom Chancie deals with in her training/trading business, giving them a place and people to get them ridden. “The feed trucks are on steady rotation at our place,” Casey laughs. “I don’t count her horses and she doesn’t count my bulls,” he grins.
Catch said out of the many pens of bulls, Godzilla and Pugsley are his favorites. Godzilla because he’s the biggest and Pugsley cause he has the biggest belly. “I like them for their personalities,” he grinned.
If you ask him who he wants to draw at the next rodeo, he’ll give you a couple names and then says with a cocky grin, “if I ride them, it’ll be epic.” ▫
... to everyone who made the 46th Annual Baca Rodeo Series in Bosque Farms, New Mexico, a success. A lot of hard work by the crew and volunteers is what makes it all come together. We were made for this and it’s our pleasure to bring you this historic event. Bosque Farms Rodeo Association continues to improve the facilities to accommodate a series of this magnitude. Thank you.
photo by Nessa Grande
Casey and Catch Roberts (photo by Julie Carter)
A Lazy 6 Angus Ranch 20, 53
AgTrust Farm Credit . . . . 2
American Heritage Bank / Colten Grau 33
American International
Charolais 53
Bar G Feedyard . . . . . . . 27
Bar J Bar Herefords 21, 52
Bar M Real Estate . . . . 55, 56
Beaverhead Outdoors 57
Bill King Ranch 11
BJM Sales & Service Inc 53
Border Tank Resources 44
Bradley 3 Ranch, Ltd . . . . 53
Brinks Brangus / Westall Ranch, . . . . . . 6, 53
Brownfield Ranch & Farm Properties 56
Brushmaster 52
C Bar Ranch 53
Carter Brangus . . . . . 43, 64
Carter’s Custom Cuts 75
Casey Beefmasters . . . . . 53
Casper Baca Rodeo 75
Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction 47
Cauthorn & Griffin Insurance 3
Caviness Packing Co ., Inc . . 32
Chas S Middleton & Son 60
Chase Ranch . . . . . . . . 78
Chip Cole Ranch Real Estate 60
Clark Anvil Ranch . . . . . . 54
Clovis Livestock Auction 31
Conniff Cattle Co , LLC 53
Corvus, LLC (formerly Aerotech) 78
Dexter Livestock
Commission 14
Diamond Seven Angus . . 52
2025 Diamond Jubilee 73
Domenici Law Firm, PC 46
Environmental Science U S , Inc 13
Express Scales Services . . 15
Farmway Feed Mill 29
FBFS / Larry Marshall . . . 41, 50
FBFS / Monte Anderson 47
Five States Lvsk Auction, 38
4G Mountain Angus . . . . 52
4 Rivers Equipment 9
Genex / Candy Trujillo . . . 52
Grau Charolais 23, 53
Grau Ranch . . . . . . . . 52, 79
Hall & Hall 61
Harrison Quarter Horses 52
Hartzog Angus Ranch . . . 54
Headquarters West / Traegen Knight . . . . . 56
Headquarters West Ltd / Sam Hubbell . . . . . . . 56
OTHERS. I have seen this on Bumper stickers in Silver City. What does it mean? I think it means if we would concentrate on Others this world would be a lot better place. We probably wouldn’t need rules, regulations, insurance, permits, regulations, laws, law makers aka Politicians and no offense to our friendly lawyers but we likely could live without lawyers as well. What a place that would be!
But I can tell you, whether it’s the DOE’s plan to appropriate private, state and federal lands for huge rights-of-way for electrical infrastructure; USFS taking away permits from ranchers; BLM eliminating ranching on vast tracts of land for solar fields; or the USFWS reintroducing wolves and expecting us to survive with them, we are in your corner and fight for your rights.
if you are not a member let me tell you a little about NMFLC. Although our organization is focused on protecting our members on issues with Federal and State Land, we have and will take up the fight for private property rights or any other matter that our members tell us to do.
However, and I’ll be the first to admit it’s hard to think about Others when we must fight so hard for ourselves just to stay in business, much less raise our kids and survive in this world we live in. Even so I’m guilty of this as well as it’s much more appealing to worry about our own problems than Others.
As President of NMFLC I can assure you I/we strive to think of Others when we tackle issues. And we have plenty of issues and Others to worry about these days. I have been, and currently am, a member of several organizations over the years and when asked to take this role I decided I would take it so I could help everyone in any way I could.
Many of the organizations I have been involved with have been really good, but they often get caught up in working more for the people with money funding the organization or the ones in power, which often is the same group or the loudest and most vocal about their issue takes over. Arguably, we need funding and people willing to step forward that not only understand the issues, but also those willing to take the time to communicate the issues to the rest of us that may not see the train coming down the tracks. We are fighting so many issues that I won’t even attempt to mention them all.
Back to Others, the DOE plans are not a Southeastern NM issue. It’s all our issue and it goes way beyond New Mexico if you look at the larger plan. Likewise, wolves are not a Catron County issue. In fact it is now a Catron, Sierra and Grant County issue and several counties in Arizona. If you don’t have wolves now count your blessings because they are coming to a calf near you soon.
The DOE plan will likely affect us in southwestern NM as well and probably worse because we have less private land to argue over and they will just bulldoze this plan over us without any recourse. My point is we need to fight all of these issues as vigorously as if they were occurring in our home ranches.
How do we accomplish taking care of all these issues? I think if we all worked as hard to take care of Others as we do ourselves we would be in a much better place. I remember years ago I lobbied a local State Representative not to co-sponsor a Bill that would end Cock Fighting in New Mexico. I argued with her that if the wackos had this to worry about, they would leave us alone on other issues.
Well, they got Cock Fighting outlawed and look where we are today. No trapping on public lands, wolves, National Monuments and more planned, Wild and Scenic Rivers and the list goes on and on.
And now proposed changes to New Mexico Game and Fish name and more importantly the mission and latitude to change the purpose of the agency. There may not be a way out of this. And if there is, it will just be back next year.
Before I ask you to renew your dues or
We are not affiliate members of any other organization and we won’t be unless our members tell us to. Often the National organizations don’t represent our issues in New Mexico and some of our members have fought these fights long ago and have the wisdom to keep us from supporting groups that don’t get it.
Fact is our members run this organization and everyone has a voice. We do not make executive decisions; we ask our members what direction we should take.
We are planning a trip to DC to lobby for our rights and discuss our issues very soon. I thank all those that have agreed to go and those that have raised the money to do it. And thank you to those of you that have taken the time to bring and explain the issues we all face. We would welcome any input you have as we prepare to go and fight for you and Others.
Sincerely,
Ty Bays, President ▫
CHASE RANCH OPEN HOUSE
Visit the Historic Chase Ranch founded in 1869! Explore the grounds and corrals! Tour the Main House museum! Swing to live local music artists! Savor smoked goodies from a BBQ food truck!
Capture Gretchen Sammis’ vision to use the Chase Ranch for educating today’s youth about ranching and to preserve the heritage of the Western lifestyle! Scan for details and to register:
Plant-Based Meat Maker Files for Bankruptcy
by Joanne Cleaver, meatingplace.com
Plant-based food maker Atlantic Natural Foods LLC, which produces the category-creator Loma Linda brand and the alt-tuna brand TUNO, has filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code. The shelf-stable plant-based foods maker didn’t give a specific reason in filed court documents.
Atlantic, based in New Orleans, listed 20 unsecured creditors in its court filings, as well as two equity holders: ANF Holdco LLC, of New Orleans, with a 60.4 percent interest; and Above Food USA Corp., with a 39.6 percent stake. ANF is a limited liability company incorporated in Delaware. Saskatchewan-based Above is listed on the NASDAQ and processes plant-based food ingredients.
The three largest unsecured creditors, according to court filings, are:
Ї Pataya Food Industries Ltd., which is owed $1.28 million;
Ї Nestle, owed $345,338; and
Ї Mid Atlantic Warehouse, owed $256,505.
The remaining creditors list shippers, logistics companies, technical companies and industry suppliers, including:
Ї International Food Products Corp., owed $29,494;
Ї Trivium Packaging, owed $68,447; and
Ї General Tuna Corp., owed $142,971.
Atlantic also owes a children’s charity, Hidden Villa Ranch, $27,560.
The company is being represented throughout the Chapter 11 process by the law firm Fishman Haygood.
The Loma Linda brand was founded in 1890 in part to supply members of the Seventh Day Adventist Christian sect with foodstuffs to fulfill the religion’s “healthful diet” dictate, which the faithful interpret as eschewing animal proteins. ▫
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR BUYERS THIS YEAR — FROM MEXICO TO FLORIDA!
GRAU GRAU RANCH RANCH
THEY’RE BETTER BECAUSE THEIR SIRES & GRANDSIRES ARE GRAU RANCH BRED
Grau Ranch bull sired the Grand Champion Carcass steer in San Antonio in the production division with 87 head entered. The calf was a purebred Charolais steer.
STATISTICS ARE:
Quality Grade: Prime plus Yield Grade: 2.3
Ribeye: 16.5
Fat thickness: .4
Dressing %: 62%
The Calf was fed and entered by Andrew Louis Jones from Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch.
These kinds of calves weigh more and bring more money than the others.
