Volume 33 Number 51 • April 16, 2022
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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside County commissioner reports NACO conference.......... Page 2 Barnyards to Backyards offers tools to analyze fertilizer and input costs............Page 8-9 Dick Perue celebrates Easter with newspaper highlights.......... ..................................... Page 10 Lee Pitts defends cowboy lifestyle.............................. Page 16
Quick Bits Emergency Act On April 8, U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined Republican colleagues to introduce the Real Emergencies Act to clarify President Biden does not have the authority to declare a national emergency on the premise of climate change. Extreme environmental groups have been calling on President Biden to enact a National Climate Emergency and ban fossil fuel development. The act reinforces President Biden does not have the ability to declare a national emergency solely on the basis of climate change.
State veterinarian discusses recent HPAI detections in Wyoming Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is rapidly spreading through commercial, domestic and wildlife flocks across the U.S. since its initial detection in February, and the flu has made its way into Wyoming.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Highly pathogenic avian influenza occurs mainly in birds, is highly contagious among birds and can be deadly, especially in
domestic poultry.” Wyoming State Veterinarian Dr. Hallie Hasel warns poultry producers of the flu, saying, “The strain of HPAI this year is highly fatal, often causing death loss of an entire flock within 48 hours.”
Confirmed cases On March 29, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported the first HPAI case in Wyoming – detected in a non-commercial mixed-species backyard Please see HPAI on page 15
STATE FFA CONVENTION Wyoming FFA elects new state officers for leadership Cheyenne – The Wyoming FFA State Convention took place in Cheyenne April 6-9. Members and guests from across the state participated in general sessions, competitive events, educational tours, leadership workshops, visits with colleges and more. This year’s event was a suc-
cess, with great numbers in attendance. In conclusion, nine youth leaders were selected by a nominating committee to serve the Wyoming FFA Association. The newly elected officer team is President Sarah Please see FFA on page 5
PLC Grants
The application period is now open for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 grants from the Public Lands Council (PLC). Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 6. Applicants are strongly encouraged to secure the support of one or more state partners to strengthen their application. Application instructions, research questions, deadlines and more can be found at publiclandscouncil.org/grants.
Invasive Species The U.S. Department of Agriculture declared April 2022 Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month (IPPDAM). This national outreach month is dedicated to highlighting the impact invasive species have on plant health nationwide and educates Americans about the simple actions they can take to help reduce their spread. Hungry, invasive pests threaten the nation’s crops, gardens and natural resources. IPPDAM aims to raise public awareness about the threat, which can devastate livelihoods, food security and forests.
Grizzly Attack Idaho Fish and Game confirmed a grizzly bear killed livestock in Naples, Idaho on April 8. The grizzly is also suspected to have killed additional livestock. On April 5, a llama and a sheep were killed, and officials found grizzly tracks. The bear came back in the early morning on April 8. Officers checked their cameras and confirmed it had killed two more sheep and a goat.
New officer team – The Wyoming FFA State Convention took place in Cheyenne April 6-9. Nine youth leaders were selected to serve the Wyoming FFA Association. Back row, left to right: Vice President Bree Coxbill, Treasurer Kaya Pehringer, Third Vice President Miranda Dickinson, Sentinel Conor Christensen and Reporter Calista Dugger. Front row, left to right: President Sarah Turner, Secretary Tanner Rogers, Second Vice President Haylie Turley and Parliamentarian Rebecca Schilt. Dirt Road Wife Photography photo
Outgoing FFA president recalls year Cheyenne – Jonah Zeimens grew up helping his dad on an organic wheat farm outside of Cheyenne. Being involved on the wheat farm was his first exposure to production agriculture. He notes he didn’t grow up showing livestock, but has had a long-time passion for the blue and gold jacket – representing the Wyoming FFA Association. Zeimens was elected to serve as the Wyoming FFA Association president from 2021-2022, and it was a dream come true, he shares. Serving the association as president “Serving as the president was a blessing of a lifetime for me,” shares Zeimens. “I was so humbled to have the opportunity, and it was great to serve people and members of the association.” Going into the process, he put his best foot forward and gave it his all, no matter the sacrifice, he adds. “I said I would give up every success I had in life up to that point if I got to serve as a state officer,” he shares. “Just being a part of the state officer team was beyond belief, but getting the opportunity to serve as president is just absolutely humbling and certainly came from God.” In 2021, Zeimens vied against 25 other candidates for the position, with only nine being chosen to serve as a state officer. He offers some words of advice for future candidates looking to interview for a state officer position. “The best piece of advice I think I could give anyone is to know yourself well and be able to talk about yourself,” he says. “Going into the interview room, there is Please see ZEIMENS on page 5
Western drought Conditions threaten producers with potential impacts on grazing season Western producers are facing a continued damaging drought as they head towards this year’s grazing season, leaving many worried about managing their pastures. On April 6, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) BeefWatch podcast welcomed UNL Extension Beef Educator Ben Beckman to discuss the impacts drought can have on perennial pastures. “We are heading into spring already depleted this year,” he says. “As plants start to grow, they’re going to be struggling for moisture and utilizing whatever precipitation they have.” Plants during drought As producers in the West continue to receive less and less precipitation, plants are unable to maintain their photosynthesis process and store energy, notes Beckman. “When plants are not provided with the proper amount of water to fuel photosynthesis, it’s a major stressor on the plant,” he says. Please see DROUGHT on page 4
NCBA official highlights proposals In a recent Beltway Beef podcast dated April 7, Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane provides an update on the work being done by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). During the podcast he discusses the latest legislative and regulatory proposals and encouraged members to engage in conversations with elected officials. Representing the industry “We start and end every week around here with the same objective, to never giving up fighting for producers,” says Lane. “The goals to defend producers is everchanging, because so is Washington. As much as we would like to set the agenda, we are typically responding to a lot of
other people’s agendas.” “It’s an election year, and this always means sort of a bad idea factory here in Washington,” he says. “We’re going to spend a lot of time over the next few months educating folks on Capitol Hill about what producers really need to be successful, what they need to make sure this industry continues to grow and what would be damaging to those producers around the country.” Several topics of discussion will include: improving processing capacity, defending the cattle industry in light of inflation and the budget and appropriations process, he mentions.
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Please see NCBA on page 7