Considerations for ag diversification provided by Little Jennie Ranch Manager Faith Hamlin Page 4
UW’s contributions to Wyoming’s economy outlined Page 7
Ron Rabou discusses the importance of strong leadership Page 8
UW releases new findings on the economic impact of invasive weeds in Wyoming Page 9
Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts elects new leadership Page 14
The Wyoming Livestock Roundup Office will be closed on Jan. 1, 2025 in observance of New Year’s Day. The ad deadline for the Jan. 4, 2025 paper is Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 12 p.m. We wish all of our friends, families and dear readers a very happy and prosperous New Year.
In January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact beekeepers nationwide during the Bee and Honey Production, Disposition and Income Inquiry to gather information on colony numbers, honey production, stocks and sales. The information helps evaluate conditions from year to year and promote programs designed to ensure the viability of beekeepers and agricultural pollination services. To make it as easy as possible for producers to participate in the survey, NASS offers the option of responding online, by telephone or by mail. The results of this survey will be available in aggregate form only, ensuring no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law. This and all NASS reports are available online at nass.usda.gov/Publications/
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture will host its 2025 Winter Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. Feb. 24-26, 2025. Here, commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture from around the nation will gather with federal agencies, congressional leaders and industry stakeholders to address pressing ag and food policy issues. Early bird rates will close on Jan. 24, 2025. For more information or to register, visit nasda.org/2025-winter-policy-conference/
Activists petition for four-state “metapopulation” of grizzly bears, but the same groups are seeking permanent federal protection for wolves, grizzlies and bison.
On Dec. 11, Earthjustice issued a press release proclaiming grizzly bears
in the Northern Rockies are not recovered and the grizzly bear recovery plan should be revised in accordance with “A New Vision for Grizzly Recovery.”
This “new vision” includes a map of “potential grizzly range with revised recovery plan” which encompasses
much of western Wyoming. It’s not just national forests and national parks that would be included, as the southern extent of this envisioned grizzly range is about 30 miles north of Rock Springs.
This year, University of Wyoming (UW) Extension employees received state, regional and national honors from professional associations in their fields.
These outstanding staff members were recognized at an annual UW Extension Conference in Sheridan earlier this month.
NACAA recognizes Marshall and Arndt
Chance Marshall of Fremont County received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA). This award is given to an exceptional educator who has served Extension for over 10 years, created effective programming and actively worked to improve Extension.
Marshall joined UW Extension as a Fremont County educator in 2014.
“Marshall has shown impeccable leadership and exceptional programming on artificial insemination in cattle and other livestock,” says Jeremiah Vardiman, past president of the Wyoming Association of County Agricultural Agents.
Jaycie Arndt earned the Achievement Award from the NACAA, which is given to an outstanding educator who has been with the association for less than 10 years.
Arndt joined Extension in 2020 and currently works as coordinator of the Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems (IMAGINE) and as an assistant research scientist at the Sheridan Research and Extension Center.
“As a newer educator in our association, she shows a
CoBank predicts ag industry challenges will continue into new year
In addition to the challenges many already face in their day-to-day operations, rising inflation, ongoing drought conditions, devastating natural disasters, dangerous legislation and seemingly ceaseless anti-ag attacks made 2024 another tough year for the nation’s agricultural producers.
Yet, with grit, grace and dignity, the industry battled through the storm, securing a few major wins along the way, and with the past year’s highs and lows in the rearview, many are looking forward to the year ahead.
2024 ag highlights
Throughout the past year, U.S. producers have faced severe ongoing drought conditions, the aftermath of the gray wolf reintroduction in Colorado, port strikes along the East and Gulf coasts and multiple natural disasters, including two major hurricanes in the South and devastating wildfires sweeping across the West.
Close to home, a large grass fire west of Cheyenne was sparked at the beginning of March marked the beginning of one of Wyoming’s worst wildfire seasons, with more than Please see 2025 on page 16
UW specialist discusses ways to maintain herd performance during drought
University of Wyoming (UW) Department of Animal Science Assistant Professor and Extension Beef Specialist Dr. Shelby Rosasco presented during the Progressive Rancher Forum on Dec. 9 at the annual Wyoming Stock Growers Association Winter Roundup Convention and Trade Show held at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center in Casper.
Rosasco earned her PhD in animal science from UW, where her research emphasized cattle nutrition and reproduction.
She has worked closely with producers across the state to deliver practical solutions and information for improving beef production.
During her forum presentation, she discussed the impact of drought and provided information on how to help Wyoming beef producers improve herd management practices and profitability.
Priority
“We need to think about animals’ requirements throughout the year,” Rosasco stated. “And in a drought situation, we have to think about additional forage intake to meet those requirements, especially if we have lactating cows.”
She mentioned providing
On Dec. 9, during the Wyoming Stock Growers Association’s Winter Roundup Convention and Trade Show, University of Missouri Extension Agriculture Business and Transition Specialist Wesley Tucker presented on succession planning.
Tucker is a cattle producer with over 23 years of experience assisting agricultural producers throughout the U.S.
As a transition specialist, he assists families through complicated situations which may affect their operations and trains them on how to thrive for future generations, allowing families to remain a family.
“Would you be happy if the day after your funeral, livestock trailers show up to
haul all of your animals to the sale barn, the estate auction is scheduled to sell the machinery and the farm is listed with the realtor?” Tucker asked. “Is this what you want the future of your farm to be?”
“If not, I suggest you take farm succession seriously. If you don’t, there’s a decent chance for a portion of you this may very well be your legacy,” he added.
According to Tucker, succession planning is a gradual process involving five phases and should include a slow transition of management and ownership from one generation to the next.
Time away
Part of running a successful business
As the current year comes to a close, I try to guess what will happen in 2025 in a positive light. The indications are for a better year for most in agriculture.
I realize there are two issues agriculture can’t control – one, of course, is the weather and the other is politics. At least in politics we can lobby, show up and voice our opinions.
Agriculture has had a tough go the last four years, especially in regards to public lands. I realize public land issues are never easy, but I also know in the last four years, we’ve had people in power who didn’t understand agriculture or were against it.
The most positive story in 2024 was the high price of cattle, and those in the know are saying these high prices may last through 2027, as it takes time for cattle numbers to replenish.
This should keep beef prices high, but despite the low numbers now, we are currently seeing cattle being processed that are heavier than ever.
Beef consumers, both nationally and worldwide, are demanding U.S. beef. Even a strong dollar is not stopping high exports. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service projects per capita consumption of chicken, turkey, beef and pork to remain stable or grow two percent from 2024 to 2025.
The price of some grains are lower these days and are not expected to rise. These low prices are making it cheaper to feed cattle, hogs and sheep but are terrible for family farmers and their high cost of farming.
Countries like Russia and those in South America are leading markets for grains now as their prices are much lower than the U.S.
President-Elect Trump has campaigned on import tariffs and immigration, which makes agriculture nervous. The U.S. exported $184 billion worldwide in ag products in 2023.
Agriculture and construction are the two domestic industries which are the most reliant on immigration labor. Also, a recent joint study by the national corn and soybean associations esti mates the 2018-19 trade war with China cost the U.S. a total of $27 billion in agricultural sales to China over those two years.
Ag is also concerned about tariffs on Mexico and Can ada, as farmers have used these countries to fill in lost sales to China. Mexico has become our largest importer overall in 2024. Everyone is concerned with the new administration in Mexico and their friendly ways with Venezuela and Cuba.
U.S. policy is important to agriculture, and Congress has their work cut out for them. It looks like a farm bill will not be passed this year, but it needs to be extended before the year’s end.
The farm bill is the single most important policy platform for rural America and U.S. agriculture.
The 119th Congress will have a long list to do in 2025 as they have been kicking the can down the road in 2024. Besides the Senate nomination hearings for 24 cabinet-level positions, the whole of Congress will have to deal with the federal debt limit in early January.
I sure hope they don’t raise the debt limit again, but instead start limiting the debt. Currently, it takes $1 trillion to service the debt every four months.
Luckily, we will have a president who will make America great again.
Have a great New Year.
Jan. 1 is the beginning of a new year, and for most of us this is good enough. It inspires us to make resolutions – that we hopefully keep – and it gives us the feeling of a fresh start, which translates into wanting the year ahead to be the best one we have had so far.
There are some folks who need this freshness more than others.
If you have been struggling for a while, then your verve for making 2025 a great 12 months could be a tad bit weak. Sometimes it just makes sense to grab your bootstraps and pull yourself out of reluctance, so you can get to the next level.
Resolution and willpower need to go hand in hand if you want to make a significant impact on yourself or the world. Just because you get a new calendar, doesn’t mean a new life comes with it. This is something each of us has to create on our own.
The good news is most of us have
By Barton Goldsmith
making it happen.
Getting something new going or fixing a part of your life which has taken a wrong turn are great goals. Unfortunately for most, it is easy to get stuck at the starting gate.
Remember no matter how hard you think about something, life doesn’t move forward telepathically, you have to get up, get out and push your life to where you want it to be.
What the New Year gives us is a little emotional springboard. When we feel we are struggling, usually all we need is a little inspiration to overcome the burden, and it is the gift of having a brand-new year waiting for us.
It is up to you how you look at and accept whatever you can from this spirit of newness. Taking it to heart can open new doors and help you walk past the ones that have closed.
Life – and the problems that come with it – has a way of working itself out if we let it happen. Part of mak
any little thing that even smells like it can make your world better. By investigating new opportunities, even if you don’t think you’re qualified, you will make things happen.
Once you decide on a direction, keep knocking on doors. One will open, and probably sooner than you expect. It is consistency, persistence and the ability to keep yourself moving toward your goals, even if you have been discouraged by the past, which will allow things to happen for you.
Using 2025 to make your life better is more than a resolution, it is a declaration you want things to be better for all concerned. It’s your year and your choice. Make it incredible.
Dr. Barton Goldsmith is an awardwinning psychotherapist and humanitarian, as well as a columnist, the author of eight books and a blogger for PsychologyToday.com. This column was originally published in the Quincy Valley Post-Register on Dec.
Thanks to a tremendous grassroots community effort, Riverton Medical District is proud to announce construction of a new, locally-owned and governed hospital will begin Dec. 12. The new hospital is being created to focus on having essential medical services close to home for over 22,000 residents in the Riverton region.
The new two-story, 71,000-square-foot hospital will be located in Riverton’s Eastern Shoshone Business Park.
The hospital and clinic will provide a wide range of healthcare services to serve local needs, with 13 inpatient beds, including labor and delivery and intensive care services; two surgical suites; an emergency department featuring a trauma bay and helicopter pad; state-of-the-art radiology, laboratory and pharmacy services and an outpatient clinic for primary and specialty care.
Once fully operational, it will offer high-quality primary, acute, emergency and specialty care services such as trauma, orthopedics and 24/7 surgery availability.
The new, combined hospital and clinic are scheduled for completion in late 2026 and will employ an estimated staff of 140. An additional 90 jobs will be created during construction.
The Riverton community will have an opportunity to celebrate the momentous occasion of breaking ground on this new hospital and clinic with a cornerstone ceremony planned for the spring of 2025.
This event will recognize the collective efforts of the entire Riverton community, from those who gave generously to those who offered encouragement and support every step of the way.
For more information on Riverton Medical District and its mission to strengthen rural healthcare access, visit rivertonmedicaldistrict.com
For those interested in learning how to safely preserve food at home, a University of Wyoming (UW) Extension educator will help teach an online course in collaboration with the University of Idaho Extension.
The six-week course titled “Preserve@Home” is organized by Idaho Extension educators and is offered annually.
This year, the course runs from Jan. 16 through Feb. 27, 2025. Real-time discussions occur every Thursday at 1 p.m.
Food preservation can help consumers reduce food waste, create high-quality food products and gain more control over food additives, such as salt or sugar.
The Preserve@Home course presents one lesson each week. Topics are foodborne illnesses; spoilage and canning basics; canning acidic food using a boiling water bath; canning low-acid foods with a pressure canner; canning specialty foods such as jellies, salsas or fermented foods and drying and freezing foods.
The course teaches current research-based food safety practices which may be relevant to participants of all experience levels.
For each lesson, class members read assigned materials, respond to a discussion board prompt and take a quiz on the lesson topic. Weekly real-time Zoom sessions allow participants to discuss lessons and other food preservation questions with instructors. All meetings are recorded and made available to participants during the six-week course.
The course also provides supplementary information about other subjects, including canning at high altitudes, using root cellars to store food and the nutritional value of preserved foods.
Preserve@Home is a non-credit course and cannot be taken for college credit, but participants have the opportunity to earn a certificate of completion.
Registration for the course is $35 and closes on Jan. 13, 2025. Registration can be completed online at bit.ly/register-preserve
For more information, contact Vicki Hayman at vhayman@uwyo.edu or 307-746-3531.
Beginning in January 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey more than 40,000 cattle operations nationwide to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. cattle inventories.
During the first two weeks of January, producers will have the opportunity to report their beef and dairy cattle inventories, calf crop, death loss and cattle on feed operations.
In addition, USDA NASS will begin to measure dairy inventories across thousands of operations including the number of milk cows in the herd, cows milked and total milk production, as well as inventories of sheep and goats, wool and mohair production through multiple nationwide surveys.
Operators surveyed will be asked to provide information about their sheep and goat inventories, lambs and kids born during 2024, production and prices received for wool and mohair, plus predator and nonpredator death losses of sheep and goats.
NASS will also send out a Hemp Production and Disposition Inquiry to over 400 producers in January to collect information on the total planted and harvest area, yield, production and value of hemp in the U.S. in 2024, as well as a survey focused on farm economics and production practices from producers across the region.
According to NASS Mountain Regional Field Office Director Rodger Ott, the 2024 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) is the only survey which currently measures the financial well-being of producers and their households.
Ott notes all of the data gathered by USDA NASS is used to help producers make timely, accurate and informed business decisions and to inform local and federal policies and programs affecting farm and ranch families.
To make it as easy as possible for producers to participate in the survey, NASS offers the option of responding via the internet, telephone or mail.
NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data in aggregate, ensuring no individual producer or operation can be identified.
The January Cattle and Sheep and Goat reports will be released on Jan. 31, 2025 and the hemp report will be released on April 17, 2025. All NASS reports are available online at nass.usda.gov/Publications/
For state specific questions contact the Wyoming State Statistician Leslee Lohrenz at 800-392-3202.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the addition of two prominent speakers to the agenda for the 101st Agricultural Outlook Forum, “Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges, Today,” scheduled for Feb. 27-28, 2025.
Jeff Schmid, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Mo., will address the forum with a plenary speech on the morning of Feb. 27. His remarks will focus on his outlook for the macroeconomy and monetary policy based on his perspective as the Federal Reserve’s leader for the 10th District, a region covering much of the central U.S. and includes a significant agricultural footprint.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen will be the dinner speaker on the evening of Feb. 27, where he will discuss his vision for making Nebraska a frontrunner in building a biobased economy while promoting practices to maximize the productivity of the state’s agricultural resources.
The forum will bring together leaders from government, industry and academia to discuss the wide range of issues facing agriculture and opportunities to improve the well-being of farmers, businesses, consumers and the environment.
The forum will be held in person at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va., and all sessions will be livestreamed on a virtual platform.
For more information about the forum program and to register to attend, visit reg.eventmobi.com/USDAOutlookForum2025
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the reappointment of four members to serve on the American Lamb Board (ALB). Each member will serve a second three-year term beginning January 2025 and ending January 2028.
The newly-reappointed members are Jimmy Parker of Vinemont, Ala., representing producers with 101 to 500 head; David Fisher of Sonora, Texas, representing producers with greater than 500 head; Stephen J. Schreier of Tracy, Minn., representing feeders with 5,000 head or more and Andrew Allman of Gill, Colo., representing first handlers.
The 13-member ALB is composed of six producers, three feeders, three first handlers and one seedstock producer. Industry representation and diversity was top of mind when the Mandatory Lamb Checkoff was planned so every sector the U.S. sheep industry who pays assessments is represented.
Each spring, USDA seeks nominations for the board from industry organizations which have been certified by USDA.
For more information, visit lambboard.com/
During the first breakout session of the 31st Annual Wyoming Women in Agriculture (WWIA) Symposium, held Nov. 7-8 in Laramie, Little Jennie Ranch Owner and Operator Faith Hamlin shared her expertise on ag diversification.
Nestled in the dramatic mountainscape of Sublette County just outside of Jackson Hole, the Little Jennie Ranch is home to a working cattle operation and outfitting business, providing year-long authentic Western experiences for individuals from all walks of life.
Traditionally a cow/calf operation, Hamlin and her family have taken steps in recent years to add additional revenue streams to their bottom line, including snowmobiling tours, sleigh rides, chuckwagon rides, guided hunting trips, ranch tours, ranch experiences and directto-consumer beef marketing, to name a few.
“Over the last several years, my family has been working to foster multiple businesses at the ranch, and growing these businesses has helped complement what we do on the cattle side of things as well,” Hamlin said.
“I am by no means an expert in resiliency and building multi-generational ranches, but I think with enough determination and passion, each of us can do just about anything we set our minds to,” she added.
Cattle and beef
In continuing her pre-
sentation, Hamlin shared some of the ways Little Jennie Ranch has been able to diversify their business in both the cattle and tourism industries.
She noted the cow/calf operation is still the “heart and soul” of the ranch, and the family is focused on raising hardy cattle tough enough to withstand cruel winter conditions in Bondurant, which she believes to be the coldest, snowiest place in Wyoming.
However, the Hamlins have also expanded their cattle operation to include yearlings and direct-to-consumer marketing.
“We are not just selling our calves, we also sell yearlings and bred heifers to hopefully bring a little bit more stability to this area of the business,” she said.
The yearling operation sparked a direct-to-consumer beef business, which started when the family was looking for ways to capitalize on outlier steers that didn’t make the truck.
“We’ve grown the direct beef business over the past couple of years, and now we are actually going beyond the animals that may not fit the bill and keeping more animals in order to provide for a growing customer base,” she explained.
Outfitting and agritourism
Four years ago, the Hamlins were presented an opportunity to obtain outfitting permits, which ultimately kickstarted many of
the Little Jennie Ranch’s current agritourism ventures.
“It’s probably one of the best decisions we have ever made,” Hamlin stated. “We have been able to build our entire ranch holistically while supporting the beef cattle business and being an advocate for agriculture through the outfitting business.”
Today, the ranch offers snowmobiling tours, guided hunting trips, overnight pack trips, sleigh rides and ranch tours, as well as a venue for a variety of events.
Another unique opportunity offered at the Little Jennie Ranch are authentic cowboy day experiences, which provide intimate, genuine Western experiences for individuals across all skill levels.
Hamlin admitted this venture was one she struggled to implement at first.
“I really did not want to host people being a cowboy with us for the day,” she confessed. “For lack of a better way of explaining it, it was almost sacred to me. It is a really special part of our operation, and to share it with complete strangers all the time felt like we were going to get taken advantage of.”
But, after working with several clients who Hamlin believed “fit the bill” and creating a program her and her team felt comfortable with, the Hamlins started hosting small groups of people to help with everyday tasks on the ranch.
“Frankly, I made it really
For more information about the Little Jennie Ranch, visit thelittlejennieranch.com.
expensive to keep it exclusive and ensure only people who really want to do it can do it,” she explained. “I also only made it available for small groups of people –maximum three people per day – so it is very intimate.”
Hamlin further explained, with the help of a guide, these guests go out with the ranch’s cattle crew and do whatever work they have planned for the day. The guide talks them through each task, explains why they are doing it and helps them understand the values of cowboys and cattlemen.
In turn, the Hamlins’ outfitting business grew, as well as their platform for agricultural advocacy.
“I brought in more clients because they were specifically looking for this sort of experience – one with a little bit more authenticity than other folks were able to provide,” she shared. “And, I was promoting the ag and cattle industry in line with our values.”
She continued, “What was super cool about building something I really did not want to do is these clients are some of our best and most loyal. They are selling my business and my brand all of the time because they have had one of the more intimate and special experiences at the ranch.
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So this has been a really big success.”
Additionally, the ranch has become known for its popular skijouring event, held each year in March.
Considerations
As Hamlin alluded to in her own experiences, diversifying an operation can be a scary change for producers.
She encouraged those interested in pursuing new ventures to ensure their ideas or opportunities align with their mission and values, support current operations and use their resources well.
Individuals should also evaluate what additional resources and expenses are needed to grow the business and if the endeavor is worth the change and/or inconvenience.
“If you can’t build the project to be worth the inconvenience, you’ll never be happy with it, and you’ll never be successful doing it,” she said.
“There are a lot of crazy ideas out there that will probably never work for my operation or for other businesses,” she noted. “But what I find to be really important is to have an open heart and an open mind.”
With this, Hamlin further noted saying no to the wrong opportunities is just as important as saying yes to the right ones.
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Hamlin also explained it is important to promote a growing business venture, encouraging individuals to stay connected to friends, neighbors and the community, as well as to build a strong online presence.
“Use social media to talk about what you are doing and tell your story,” she suggested. “Post random, mundane things throughout the day. This sells your story a lot better than a staged photo. People want to know you are a real life human and to see what you do in a day.”
To conclude, Hamlin mentioned those interested in diversifying their businesses don’t have to go at it alone.
“There are companies and programs out there that are already doing the work for you, and this is where I recommend a lot of people get started,” she said.
Hamlin encouraged individuals to work with the Wyoming Tourism Office and their local Chamber of Commerce and to look into programs like Farmstay or Harvest Hosts to scratch the surface of what is available when it comes to diversifying an operation’s revenue stream.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
“I get really excited and want to say yes to everything. But over time, I’ve learned saying no is just as powerful,” she said
On Dec. 10, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA is investing $6.3 billion in rural and Tribal communities across 44 states to expand access to a clean and reliable electric grid, provide safe drinking water and create good-paying jobs.
More than 200 projects are being financed to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure in rural places, growing the American economy from the middle out and bottom up.
USDA is providing $5.7 billion in funding through the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to help utility providers and electric cooperatives build and improve electric infrastructure and smart-grid technologies in 23 states.
These projects will help ensure everyone in rural America has access to reliable electricity to increase economic opportunity and improve quality of life.
USDA is also investing nearly $642 million to expand access to clean and reliable drinking water, sanitary waste disposal and storm water drainage for people in 41 states.
The department is making the investments through the Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program and the Solid Waste Management Grants program, and the funds are expected to help state and local governments, private nonprofits and federallyrecognized Tribes build or improve rural wastewater systems.
Funding under both programs will help people living in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
For more information, visit usda.gov
Starting at the southeastern corner of Idaho where it meets northern Utah at Bear Lake, the map envisions potential future grizzly range in Wyoming to include not just all the communities of Star Valley and those in Sublette and Teton counties, but also encompasses LaBarge, Farson, Eden, Atlantic City and South Pass and eastward to encompass Boysen Reservoir, before jaunting north to cover everything to the Montana border.
Fremont County’s Lander, Riverton, Hudson, Kinnear, Crowheart, Dubois, Fort Washakie, Ethete and Arapahoe would be included as well.
This is just Wyoming’s portion of the proposed fourstate grizzly bear “metapopulation” which would be “managed as a single, interconnected population in the U.S. Northern Rockies” with its range extending across most of western Montana, central and northern Idaho and northeastern Washington.
The new vision and petition for a revised recovery plan were put forth by 14 activist organizations and are based on a proposal by former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Grizzly Recovery Coordinator Dr. Chris Servheen.
The petition says FWS “must revise its more than 30-year-old recovery plan and bring it up to date with current best available science” to align with Servheen’s proposal.
The 1993 recovery plan, which has been supplemented several times since its adoption, sets out requirements for grizzly bear recovery in each bear recovery zone – all of which have been met for the Yellowstone population.
The plan envisioned the delisting of each grizzly population as it achieved recovery goals, and FWS has been trying to delist the Yellowstone grizzly population for the last 15 years. But each time it tries, the
agency is sued by activist organizations, resulting in court orders mandating new issues the federal agency must examine before it can begin the process anew.
Earlier this month, the state of Wyoming won a lawsuit resulting in a court order in which FWS must issue a final decision on delisting the Yellowstone grizzly population within 45 days.
This deadline falls on Jan. 20, 2025 – the day the presidential administration transitions from President Joe Biden to President Donald J. Trump. It’s also just a few months shy of the 50-year anniversary of grizzly bears being listed as a federally-protected species.
Revising recovery
The petition calls for abandoning the current approach of considering each grizzly bear ecosystem on its own in favor of a landscapescale approach encompassing all five grizzly recovery ecosystems and the connecting habitats between them into one U.S. Northern Rockies population.
Servheen takes issue with changes in state laws in Montana and Idaho allowing for more wolf and black bear hunting and alleges, “The greatest threats today to grizzly bear recovery and to eventually achieving grizzly bear delisting are the state legislatures and governors who are passing legislation which implements harmful anti-predator policies that are not informed by science and the lack of effective management of private land development adjacent to grizzly bear habitat on public lands and the negative impacts of such development.”
For grizzlies to be recovered, states will need to reverse what he calls “regressive anti-carnivore policies,” by instituting regulatory mechanisms which would permanently eliminate all wolf trapping and neck snaring in all areas of the Northern U.S. Rockies except between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, 2025 when most grizzlies are in dens; perma-
On Dec. 13, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), a coalition of more than 150 farm, food, conservation and rural organizations, called on Congress to prioritize additional funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) working lands conservation programs as lawmakers finalize an extension of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.
In a letter sent to key congressional leaders, NSAC highlighted the widespread popularity of USDA conservation programs among farmers and ranchers, noting many can-
nently eliminate all shooting of wolves and other carnivores at night using bait, artificial lights or night vision scopes in all areas in the Northern U.S. Rockies except between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, 2025 and permanently eliminate all hound hunting of black bears in all portions of the Northern U.S. Rockies and prohibit sport hunting of grizzly bears in the Northern U.S. Rockies until this new vision of grizzly recovery is achieved.
Servheen proposes Yellowstone National Park’s model of closing areas either temporarily or permanently to human entry should be undertaken on national forests, and public land managers should impose a system to manage human use levels, timing and distribution in this metapopulation’s four-state landscape.
It also proposes private land development should be treated as a threat to grizzly bears, and this should be used “to assist counties in their land management evaluation and decision processes” for regulating private lands.
The petitioners
Supporters of the petition for a revised recovery plan using Servheen’s proposal include Wyoming Wildlife Advocates, Western Watersheds Project, Sierra Club, WildEarth Guardians, Center for Biological Diversity, Humane Society of the U.S., Humane Society Legislative Fund, Endangered Species Coalition and a few other local or regional activist groups.
In a press release announcing the petition, Kristin Combs of Wyoming Wildlife Advocates was quoted as saying, “Those who are blind to the threats grizzly bears are facing will say the goalposts for recovery keep moving.”
But, she defends moving the goalposts by indicating science has changed so the plan should change.
There are strong indications the petition for a new recovery plan is made in hopes delisting will never
occur. The first indicator is the statement on Wyoming Wildlife Advocates’ website saying grizzly bears should be permanently protected.
The second indicator is some of the same groups petitioning for this new vision of grizzly recovery have also joined together to seek permanent federal protection for grizzly bears, gray wolves and bison as
proposed in the Trinity Act sponsored by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).
This proposal also includes provisions for permanent closure of livestock grazing allotments and prohibitions on lethal predator control on public lands.
Western Watersheds Project supports the Booker proposal, as does the Sierra Club, Humane Society and
the Endangered Species Coalition – whose member organizations also include Wyoming Wildlife Advocates, Wyoming Untrapped, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Wyoming Outdoor Council and Earthjustice. Cat Urbigkit is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
not access critical funding due to overwhelming demand.
The letter emphasized programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) help farmers increase productivity, improve soil health, build resilience to extreme weather, mitigate climate impacts and protect natural resources like clean water and wildlife habitats.
Despite an $18 billion investment approved by Congress in 2022 through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), demand for conservation funding continues to outpace available
resources. In Fiscal Year 2023 alone, tens of thousands of farmers across the country were turned away from CSP and EQIP, with 24,645 farmers denied from CSP and 100,228 farmers denied from EQIP.
The letter urged Congress to continue investments in conservation programs by permanently increasing USDA’s funding for working lands conservation. It emphasized the importance of protecting the long-term viability of the nation’s farm economy by ensuring farmers have access to the resources they need to implement sustainable farming practices.
high-quality supplemental feed to compensate for the reduced nutritional value of pasture is important to meet the needs of a lactating cow during a drought, but testing forage quality will help make a more informed decision.
“Testing forage quality is important because knowing forage quality will help the producer know what sort of supplementation they will need to add during different points of time,” Rosasco added.
Estimates of protein, mineral and vitamin content can be made relatively easily through forage testing, but it should be done regularly.
“If an analysis was done last year or two years ago when it was a good year, the results will not be accurate now, and new testing should be done,” she mentioned.
“Testing costs a little bit of money, but it will help make better strategic decisions for the future.”
Grouping cows together to improve nutritional efficiency allows each group to be fed a more precisely-tailored diet, minimizing waste and maximizing the utilization of nutrients for optimal milk production and overall herd health.
She continued, “Based on cows’ age and gestation, it’s best to match feed resources with the animals’ requirements to avoid nutritional gaps.”
Splitting cows into groups with tailored feed
rations allows for precise nutrient utilization and reduces feed costs while maintaining or even increasing performance.
Protein
“Another thing to think about as we talk about supplementation during a drought is energy – it’s going to be the most limiting nutrient to worry about,” Rosasco said. “Especially in the winter, we need to think about protein requirements.”
Energy and protein limit a cow’s performance, so supplementation should be evaluated when added to a nutrition program.
She added, “The protein level will drive a cow’s forage intake, but during a drought situation where forage is limited, producers will need to add supplements closer to 15 to 20 percent protein to not drive her intake even farther and utilize more forage which is already limited.”
When forage supply is critically low in a drought, meeting the cows’ energy requirements using the most economical feed available is a priority.
Body condition scores
Body condition score (BCS) indicates a cow’s body composition or relative fatness.
“Obviously, we are not all going out and weighing each cow every day, so the easiest way to assess the condition of the animals is to record a herd average,” Rosasco said. “If the BCS
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decreased from a five to a four, then we know we are not meeting the herd’s nutritional requirement. If the BCS went from a five to seven, we are overfeeding.”
Rosasco noted UW has a three-step BCS guide, which is very useful and easy to use.
“We usually want to see cows somewhere around a BCS five, but what does it take to ensure they stay there during a drought situation and stay productive?” she asked.
In recent research, a cow’s BCS score around calving correlates to the conception and pregnancy rate.
Rosasco stated, “So we know if she is in good condition at calving, we’re going to generally have a good pregnancy rate.”
If a cow has a low BCS at calving, it is extremely hard to get her to gain weight while lactating with a calf by her side.
“There will always be some fluctuation in BCS, so it’s a good idea to keep an
eye on BCS as cattle move through the year, as these scores correlate with summer and fall nutrition and stage of gestation,” she added.
Reducing nutritional requirements
“If we think about reducing nutritional requirements, one of the biggest ways is obviously culling, but the second way is early weaning,” Rosasco stated. “There are certainly some pros and cons to early weaning.”
One of the advantages of early weaning is it can improve a cows’ BCS. Recent research prove early weaning reduces a cow’s nutrient demands, as she is no longer lactating and can put some weight on.
She added, “The challenge is what is considered early weaning – 30 days, 60 days or when the calves are six weeks old.”
According to some literature, if the calf is weaned at six months of age – 30 days early – the cow’s daily energy requirement declines by 18 percent.
Other research shows weaning calves as early as 45 days of age has been used by producers to encourage cows to cycle and rebreed while giving them time to increase their BCS.
However, weaning calves at this age may be a viable alternative if forage is scarce in the latter part of the grazing season.
In this situation, cows usually have better body condition because nutrients are not needed for lactation.
“It is estimated for every two and half days the calf is removed from the cow, there is an extra one day of forage available for grazing,” she stated. “So, for every 100 calves weaned 60 days early, a producer will save enough forage to maintain six to seven additional cows for one year.”
She reminded the group early weaning is not a fixall solution, but it can allow cows on the cull list to be removed earlier.
Immunity
“We need to protect our
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum filed a final appeal of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) updated Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota, following two previously unsuccessful attempts to convince the BLM to change the plan in response to the state’s concerns.
The state’s protest, filed in September, contained input from more than a dozen state agencies and elected officials who thoroughly reviewed the draft RMP filed earlier this year.
The finalized RMP would block leasing on over four million acres –
or nearly 99 percent – of federal coal acreage in North Dakota and close off 213,100 acres – or 44 percent – of federally-owned fluid mineral acreage from leasing. It also would cost the state an estimated $34 million per year in revenue from oil and gas royalties and taxes and could eliminate more than 12,000 coal-related jobs in the state.
Burgum again recommended changes to the plan in his Oct. 9 consistency review, an appeal process reserved only for governors.
The BLM’s state director responded saying they “do not find it necessary to change” the RMP, so
calves and think about their immunity during a drought,” Rosasco said. “The first thing we think about when building their immune system is colostrum.”
The first line of defense for a calf is to make sure it receives colostrum. However, depending on the situation, it could be challenging.
“Colostrum builds the calf’s immune system, and the longer the calf waits for colostrum, its immune system will start to decrease,” she mentioned. “In this case, the producer will need to make sure the calf’s system continues to develop, and vaccination is a great tool to have in the toolbox.”
Managing a drought situation requires implementing multiple practices to reduce stress and improve immunity during and after gestation for both the cow and calf.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Burgum filed his final appeal to BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. In the appeal, Burgum contends the BLM state director’s response was “not an earnest attempt” to comply with the consistency review process.
As part of the appeal, Burgum is also requesting Stone-Manning recuse herself from the matter because it’s been announced, beginning in February 2025, she will begin serving as president of the Wilderness Society, which has previously intervened in litigation to defend BLM public land management rules being challenged by North Dakota.
very high quality of work, especially leading a statewide organization like IMAGINE,” says Vardiman, who also highlights Arndt’s ability to connect with her community.
4-H educators earn state, regional, national honors
Several UW Extension employees were recognized by the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4HYDP).
Awards are given to NAE4-HYDP members who are leaders in their communities and create innovative youth programming.
Former Teton County 4-H Educator Glenn
A Nov. 12 University of Wyoming (UW) press release reports the university has significantly increased its contribution to the state’s economy over the past decade.
A recent research study titled “Economic Footprint of the UW,” conducted by UW’s Center for Business and Economic Analysis and led by UW College of Business Assistant Dean and Economist Anne Alexander, found UW’s contribution to the gross state product (GSP) grew from 0.3 percent in the Fiscal Years 2013-14 to 1.8 percent in Fiscal Years 2022-23.
When considering the additional impact of UW alumni living and working in Wyoming, the report finds the estimated total earnings of alumni is around $394 million annually.
However, the valueadded impact is approximately $640 million to the state’s economy, bringing the total contribution to $1.36 billion.
The 2024 report
A similar study was conducted in 2014, but the recent report corroborates the university supports nearly 14,700 jobs and adds more than $720 million in value annually, not including the impact of UW alumni.
“The report quantifies economic impacts that would not occur in Wyoming but for the university’s presence – including externally funded research support, direct expenditures by nonresident students and visitors and spinout and startup businesses directly resulting from UW research,” reads the UW press release.
“As Wyoming’s landgrant and flagship university, UW is a powerful engine supporting the state’s growth, as it attracts and spends money which otherwise would not flow to Wyoming,” UW President Ed Seidel states. “But the university’s impact on the state is much broader than just technical eco-
Owings won the Achievement in Service Award, which recognizes an employee who has been a member of NAE4-HDP for three to seven years.
Laramie County 4-H Educator Kristi Nagy won the Distinguished Service Award, given to those who have been members of NAE4-HYDP for seven to 14 years.
Erin Persche, who joined Weston County Extension as a 4-H educator in 2022, was named the 2024 Wyoming Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals Rookie of the Year. This award recognizes an exceptional 4-H
nomic impacts, as it provides broad access to educational opportunities and contributes in many ways to the full social, business, cultural, creative and economic environment of the state.”
In a Nov. 17 Wyoming Tribune Eagle article by Ivy Secrest, Alexander states, “One of the biggest contributors to this growth is nonresident students and research funding.”
However, the study notes faculty are applying for and receiving more outof-state grants for research, and while the enrollment of nonresident students is down, the amount they bring from out-of-state tuition dollars and additional spending has gone up.
In addition UW’s research enterprise contributes significantly to the state’s economy, with research expenditures totaling well over $150 million and supporting over 2,800 jobs in Fiscal Years 2022-23, notes the report.
This creates nearly $90 million in labor outcome, adds over $127 million to
educator who has been a member of UW Extension for less than three years.
Persche also received the state and regional Individual Periodical Publication awards for the Weston County monthly 4-H newsletter. In addition, she won the state and regional Individual Social Media Package awards for her “This Week in Weston County 4-H” weekly Facebook updates.
Finally, Persche earned the state, regional and national Individual Promotional Piece awards for a postcard which ultimately boosted re-enrollments in Weston County 4-H.
Emily Haver, Carbon County 4-H educator, received the state Excellence in Natural Resources
and Environmental Education Award for revitalizing the Carbon County 4-H summer camp. She also earned the state and regional Jim Kahler Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics awards for creating an after-school maker camp.
Campbell County 4-H Educator Makala Riley received state and regional recognition for a book club she created for 4-H volunteers.
Riley also earned several accolades for her work on the Campbell County 4-H newsletter, including state and regional honors for her personal column introducing the newsletter.
Riley, fellow Campbell County 4-H Educator Kim
the GSP and contributes over $230 million in economic impact.
UW received about $570,000 in licensing and dividend income from startup and spinoff businesses in the 2022-23 fiscal year, as UW’s technology transfer office facilitated 40 invention disclosures, 33 patent applications and the granting of 17 patents.
The university has incubated nine active startups and spinoffs, including several which have been acquired.
Nonresident student tuition, fees and expenditures generate more than $23 million annually in state economic activity and create nearly 200 jobs.
UW graduates working in Wyoming see their financial investment in a university education pay off between 1.63 and 2.5 years.
The report further notes, “UW’s presence around Wyoming includes providing courses and degrees for those who can’t come to Laramie; research which advances fundamental understanding and practical solutions for business, industry and government
challenges; academic programming, workshops and seminars and access to legal services, health services and library databases.”
Fry and Campbell County Administrative Assistant Treasure Boller received the state and regional Team Periodical Publication awards for the newsletter as a whole.
UW Extension’s Food, Fun, 4-H Program won the state Team Educational Package Award. This innovative program, created by UW Extension Educators Kellie Chichester of Niobrara County, Joddee Jacobsen of Natrona County, Mary Louise Wood of Park County and Erin Persche of Weston County, encourages youth to cook with their families.
Finally, Emily Swinyer of Sheridan County earned state and regional Individual Educational Package awards for organizing and leading a childcare and babysitting course for older 4-H’rs.
“UW’s staff, students and faculty view themselves as partners with and contributing members of our communities across Wyoming,” the report continues. “What UW does, in collaboration with our stakeholders around Wyoming, provides jobs, creates economic value, increases human capital and citizenship and enhances the viability of communities for the long term.”
Maya Kate Gilmore is a writer and editor for UW Extension. This article was originally published by UW Ag News on Nov. 26.
The report also notes UW’s presence outside of Laramie plays an important role in the reach of its economic impact. Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
BY RON RABOU
Leadership Matters
It’s rare these days to tune in to any news outlet without hearing the political spin of the day. It seems the American populus is obsessed with politics.
After all, politics –agree with it or not – is a major driver behind what happens in each of our lives each day and has a major impact in every community across our nation.
With 24-hour news programs, podcasts and social media in today’s modern world, it is almost as if one can’t escape it.
Lately, one of the biggest news stories nationally is the blanket pardon issued for the son of our current president. Another is the presumptive executive orders our incoming president has suggested he will issue regarding illegal immigration. A third, is the decision by a New York judge to ignore the rules he set forth in a case
when the jury’s decision did not provide the initial verdict he wanted.
In all three of these examples, we have leaders from different political affiliations who are acting unilaterally, and each has come under intense criticism.
Much of this criticism, I would argue, stems from the root of what causes extreme concern by the American people in nearly every circumstance. This is, leaders who take any situation into their own hands by removing due process – decisions which repudiate their constituents’ influence and send the message their authority is ultimately what is important.
This type of leadership is – and should be – massively concerning at all levels of government and circumstances where anyone is serving the public’s interests.
Many have heard me
say it before – leadership matters. All of us are always setting an example, whether we realize it or not. Especially, those who have been elected to serve must exercise extreme caution when it comes to acting in an autocratic way.
For example, while I understand executive orders are “legal” for the most part, this is not the point. The point is the perception and distrust this type of action creates in the public’s eye.
Regardless of these issues, or how small they might seem, decisions made with this type of mindset are setting a dangerous precedent.
In a state like Wyoming, I’ve always thought we were fortunate enough to elect politicians who, for the most part, honor the will of our citizens. Of course there are always exceptions, but most are open-minded and willing to listen to both sides of the issue.
This is part of what makes good, effective leaders – a desire to hear and truly listen to arguments from all sides, without being influenced by or exerting their own personal bias prematurely.
Afterall, this is what
we have elected and entrusted them to do – to provide equal representation to everyone they were elected to serve. Our expectations are to be heard, whether they agree with us or not. This is the beauty of a republic.
Unfortunately, if we agree with the resulting decision, we often do not care how it was obtained, but if the shoe is on the other foot, we feel betrayed.
When there is a process in place for the public to be heard, it is almost never a good decision for politicians to circumvent the process, but when elected officials think they are empowered to forgo or cancel altogether the process of hearing from the very people they were duly elected to serve, then it is up to the electorate to hold them accountable.
If they refuse to honor this responsibility of accountability and take the necessary corrective action, then the electorate must ensure they are not elected to office again.
It is imperative we the people are vigilant and constantly engaged so we do not allow this type of behavior to take hold in our communities, our state or our nation.
The recent action taken by the Laramie County School District #2 Board of Trustees regarding the consideration of a new elementary curriculum is a prime example of what I am talking about.
While there were already publicized, specific dates for public review, this board unilaterally decided it would cancel those dates and, thus, the opportunity for the public to appropriately review such curriculum and provide comment. Then the board eliminated consideration of the curriculum altogether.
When people in the community contacted the board to ask them to reconsider this action, to their credit, three board members were in favor of doing so. However, the remaining majority would not think of it.
To be perfectly clear, I have not seen the curriculum myself, so I am neither advocating for or against it. I am simply stating elected officials who will not honor even their own review processes, should not be serving in this capacity.
It may very well be the worst curriculum ever developed or contain components which are not a
reflection of what we want our children to be influenced by, and if it is, after the full review process has been completed, then and only then, the board should vote against it. But this is not what happened. These people are my neighbors. I truly appreciate their service and commitment, and I do not question each has good intentions. But this is the problem.
Famous Author Jim Collins says, “Bad decisions made with good intentions are still bad decisions.”
This couldn’t be more true, and it couldn’t be more true because no matter if the board ultimately decides to rescind this decision and allow the process to take place, the damage has already been done. The distrust and divide in the community has already grown roots and failed leadership is to blame. Leadership matters. The smallest things matter. Let us not ever forget this. Ron Rabou is president of Rabou Farms, Inc. in southeastern Wyoming, a nationally-known author and speaker and co-host of the nationally-syndicated podcast AgInspo. For more information, visit raboufarms.com
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) convened in San Antonio, Texas during the first week of December for their annual meeting, presented by Anipro Xtraformance Nutrition and AgRisk Advisors, and in partnership with USCA affiliate Independent Cattlemen’s Association of Texas.
The meeting provided ample opportunity for networking, education and policy discussions.
The Wyoming Stock Growers Endowment Trust expresses our sincere gratitude to the many individuals, businesses, and organizations that have contributed to our 2024 Wildfire Relief Fund. Your thoughtfulness and generosity have enabled the fund to assist approximately 30 ranching operations across the state that were impacted by major wildfires this year.
Rock Springs Grazing Association
Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation, Inc.
Reg Philips
Berger Ranches
Powering Up Wyoming
Wyoming Livestock Roundup
Rodger & Lindy Schroeder
McCoy Inc.
Princess Killebrew
39 And Holding LLC
Salt Creek Cattle, LLC
Double 4 Foundation
Elizabeth Warner
CCW, Inc.
Carma Jean Henry
Carol Price
Robert C. Chase
Gerene Dianne Chase Ferguson
Richard L. Chase
Cullen Ranch
Fiddleback Farms
WSGA Endowment Trust
Farm Credit Services of America
James & Terry Wilson; V Ranch
Cooksley Ranch Company
Custom Cowboy Shop
Steven and Jackie Palm
Dan & Jeanne Scott Family Foundation
L Raymond Allemand
Norsworthy Livestock
Springfield Ranch
Richard Kaysen
OnX Maps Inc.
Carbon County Farm Bureau
Diamond Tail Ranch, LLC
Montana Stockgrowers Foundation
Wyoming Agri-Women
Mark and Jennie Gordon
Wyoming Bank & Trust
Crawford Gordon Family
Plank Stewardship
Ferguson Cattle-Intermountain, LLC
Torrington Livestock Markets, LLC
Wayne Weinmeister
Brooks Shepard
Lander Nicodemus
Joseph Skavdahl
David Johnson
Thomas Baker
Schaneman Farm Account
Houts Cattle Company LLC
First Interstate BancSystem Foundation
Clear Creek Cattle Co. (Hendry)
Christina and Dennis Kats
Galen & Jill Chase
Marguerite Herman
Michael Yin
Hellyer
Limited Partnership
Shawn Taylor
Panel presentation topics this year included emerging technologies, the Beef Checkoff, livestock risk protection and mandatory animal identification.
In addition, Certified Angus Beef Director of Commercial Industry Relations Troy Marshall shared a look at the industry and how the
branded beef program has impacted its history. Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Zach Ducheneaux provided an overview of the tools FSA has to support its producers. USCA reviews its policies every two years and accepts new policy submissions at the annual meeting. This year, new policies were presented regarding animal health and identification, all of which will be sent to the membership on the year’s official ballot. USCA also welcomed newly appointed board of directors members who will be placed on the upcoming ballot, including Todd Clemons of Region 11 – Florida and Georgia; Luke Frantz of Region 14 – Ohio, Wisconsin and Illinois and Curtis Thomas of Region One –Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii.
Ken Haas Angus Offering 102 Bulls Featuring 88 Yearling Angus Bulls, 2 Sim Angus Yearling
FOR CAB!
Ken, Heather, & Kendall Haas 4766 State Hwy 151 LaGrange, WY 82221 (307) 834-2356
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Agricultural economists and invasive weed specialists at the University of Wyoming (UW) have released a new report on the economic impacts of 10 invasive weeds in Wyoming.
The pilot study, which assesses both current and potential economic impacts, was developed in response to Gov. Mark Gordon’s 2020 Invasive Species Initiative Report.
Collaborators include all Wyoming weed and pest districts and the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council Guiding Principles Committee.
“This report represents an important step to better understanding the impacts of invasive weeds on Wyoming’s agricultural economy and gives some insight into how bad it could be if such weeds were left unchecked,” says coauthor Brian Mealor, director of the Sheridan Research and Extension Center and the Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems.
Economic analysis
To estimate each weed’s statewide and county-level economic impacts on agriculture, the study examined current grazing and crop value losses due to infestation and losses if each species were permitted to spread, unmanaged, into all
To view a free downloadable copy of the University of Wyoming’s report, visit bit.ly/invasive-weed-report-2024. For more information, contact Brian Mealor at bamealor@uwyo.edu or 307-673-2856.
potentially suitable habitat.
The 10 species analyzed in the new report are cheatgrass, hoary cress, leafy spurge, medusahead, Palmer amaranth, perennial pepperweed, Russian knapweed, Russian olive, ventenata and yellow starthistle.
For each weed, direct economic impacts were estimated as losses in cash rent for agricultural land currently or potentially infested.
The authors found “while current estimated statewide grazing losses are in the tens of millions of dollars annually, countylevel impacts vary widely.”
Of the 10 weeds included in the study, cheatgrass poses the most economically-damaging current and future threat to Wyoming agriculture. The authors estimate the weed’s future impact may exceed $110 million annually if left unmanaged.
While it may be tempting to focus on cheatgrass and other species currently of highest concern, the
authors advise against this tactic.
“Preventing further spread of species with very limited range in Wyoming is a higher-leverage approach than waiting for them to have broad-reaching impacts before implementing a strategic management approach,” the report states.
In addition to direct economic impacts, the pilot study also estimated the “ripple effects” of lost agricultural rent.
“Each year, invasive plants reduce the value of both forage and crop values across Wyoming. Beyond this, part of every dollar lost by an agricultural producer to weeds would otherwise be spent at the local feed store, restaurant or doctor’s office,” says Amy Nagler, research scientist in the UW Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and coauthor of the report. “Estimating these economic losses due to weed infestation is an important tool for prioritizing limited funds
Lot 37 – CRS Diamnd
Level Best 3358 – Price:
$30,000 DOB: 5/19/23
Sire: Red SSS Big Shot
for control.”
Conclusion
The new report serves as a potential model for future studies, establishing methods for estimating the impacts of individual weeds on Wyoming’s agricultural economy.
However, the authors acknowledge their estimates are likely quite conservative because they accounted only for economic losses
due to grazing reduction. Key factors like ecosystem services, recreation, wildfire and wildlife habitat were not incorporated into the pilot study.
Opportunities for further research include consideration of these factors as well as analysis of impacts to specific crops, irrigated versus non-irrigated cropland, parcel-level land area and use and public versus private rangelands. UW Extension serves Wyoming communities by helping residents apply university research and resources to practical problems. Since 1914, UW Extension has provided educational programs and tools to the state’s 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation. To learn more, visit uwyo.edu/uwe or call 307-766-5124.
Reported By: Curt Cox, WYLR Field Editor Dec. 9, 2024
Cross Diamond Cattle Company Sale Facility, Bertrand, Neb. Auctioneers: Charly Cummings and Cody Lowderman
231 Coming-Two-Year-Old Red Angus Bulls Avg. $11,121
396 Commercial Bred Heifers Avg. $3,352
50 Commercial Bred Three-Year-Old Cows Avg. $3,465
Top Sellers
Lot 148 – Pope
Chisum L006 – Price:
$33,000 DOB: 4/21/23
Sire: Brown Top Tier
G242 Dam’s Sire: Bieber CL Stockmarket E119
EPDs: BW: -2.5, WW: +79, YW: +136 and Milk: +24 Buyer: Cross Diamond Cattle Company, Bertrand, Neb.
Lot 34 – CRS Diamnd Influence 3132 – Price:
$31,000 DOB: 4/25/23
Sire: Axtell Dominator 6010 Dam’s Sire: LSF
RRDrover 0308X EPDs: BW: -5.5, WW: +67, YW: +107 and Milk: +27 Buyer: Rough Diamond Ranch, Elwood, Neb.
Reported By: Curt Cox, WYLR Field Editor Dec. 13, 2024
Sugar Valley Stockyards, Gering, Neb.
Auctioneer: Kyle Schow
60 Coming-Two-Year-Old Angus Bulls Avg. $8,462 Cross Diamond Cattle Company
Sellers Lot 62 – Bowman Panhandle 352 – Price: $23,500 DOB: 2/6/23 Sire: Marcy’s Panhandle 214-9 Dam’s Sire: Brooking
4040 EPDs: BW: +3.9, WW: +75, YW: +136 and Milk: +24 Buyer: Wytah Farms, Burns
Lot 38 – Bowman Resilient 377 – Price: $21,500 DOB: 2/6/23
703G Dam’s Sire: CRS
Diamnd Dynamic 172
EPDs: BW: -2.4, WW: +76, YW: +110 and Milk: +28 Buyer: Rough Diamond Ranch, Elwood, Neb.
Lot 149 – Pope Conagher L020 Price – $28,000 DOB: 4/23/23 Sire: Brown
Top Tier G242 Dam’s Sire: Bieber CL Stockmarket E119 EPDs: BW: -4.2, WW: +67, YW: +123 and Milk: +24 Buyer: Loonan Red Angus, Corning, Iowa
Lot 24 – CRS Diamnd Level Best 3081 – Price:
$27,000 DOB: 4/23/23
Sire: Red SSS Big Shot
703G Dam’s Sire: HLH Right Kind 8271 4135
EPDs: BW: -3.4, WW: +70, YW: +115 and Milk: +27 Buyer: Right On Cattle Company, Bertrand, Neb.
Sire: Sitz Resilient 10208 Dam’s Sire: S A V Territory 7225 EPDs: BW: +2.1, WW: +87, YW: +155 and Milk: +22 Buyer: Jack Payne, Hemingford, Neb. Lot 17 – Bowman Black Powder 306 –Price: $18,000 DOB: 2/7/23 Sire: Bowman Black Powder 904 Dam’s Sire: Baldridge Titan A139 EPDs: BW: +2.4, WW: +85, YW: +145 and Milk: +21 Buyer: Harding Ranch, Meriden
October beef exports totaled 105,269 metric tons (mt), up one percent from a year ago, while value increased three percent to $860.4 million. Shipments to Mexico maintained their impressive 2024 performance in October, while exports rebounded to South Korea and Hong Kong and increased year-over-year in Central America, the Caribbean and the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) region.
For January through October, beef export value was four percent above last year at $8.68 billion, despite a two percent decline in volume – 1.066 million mt. Pork exports reached
252,411 mt in October, up three percent from a year ago, while value also climbed three percent to $710.4 million. Although shipments to leading market Mexico declined slightly, this was more than offset by growth in Japan, Central America, the Caribbean, Oceania and the ASEAN region.
Through the first 10 months of 2024, pork exports increased five percent from a year ago to 2.49 million mt, valued at $7.07 billion –up six percent. For the year, exports are projected to surpass three million mt for the first time, exceeding the 2020 volume record at 2.98 million mt and topping last year’s
value record at $8.16 billion. October exports of U.S. lamb totaled 185 mt, up two percent from a year ago, though value fell about eight percent to just over $1 million. Exports to the Caribbean trended higher in October, led by strong demand in the Bahamas, but shipments were lower to Mexico and Canada.
January through October lamb exports were 12 percent above last year at 2,298 mt, while value climbed 14 percent to $12.1 million.
A detailed summary of the January through October export results for U.S. beef, pork and lamb, including market-specific highlights, is available at usmef.org
Livestock Roundup, P.O. Box 850, Casper, WY, 82602, or e-mail to roundup@wylr.net.
Jan. 1, 2025 Wyoming Livestock Roundup Office Closed. The ad deadline for the Jan. 4 paper is Tuesday, Dec. 31 at noon. Wishing all of our readers a happy and prosperous New Year.
Jan. 4 Big Horn County Farm Bureau Federation Open Goat Roping, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Big Horn County Fairgrounds, Basin. For more information or to register, call or text 307-410-9301 or 307-272-5499.
Jan. 7-10 33rd Annual No-Tillage Conference, Louisville Marriott Downtown Hotel, Louisville, Ky. For more information or to register, visit no-tillfarmer.com
Jan. 10 Bureau of Land Management Kemmerer Field Office Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey, Lincoln County. For more information, call 307-828-4517.
Jan. 11 Bureau of Land Management Pinedale Field Office Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey, Sublette County. For more information, call 307-367-5359.
Jan. 11 14th Annual Women’s Agriculture Summit, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Hampton Inn and Suites, Buffalo. For more information or to register, visit johnsoncountycattlewomen.com/women-s-ag-summit
Jan. 14 Bureau of Land Management Newcastle and Nebraska Resource Management Plan Public Meeting, 3:30-7:30 p.m., Crook County Courthouse, Sundance. For more information, visit eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2013064/510
Jan. 15 Bureau of Land Management Newcastle and Nebraska Resource Management Plan Public Meeting, 3:30-7:30 p.m., Newcastle Lodge and Convention Center, Newcastle. For more information, visit eplanning.blm.gov/ eplanning-ui/project/2013064/510
Jan. 15 Beef Cattle Research Council Foot and Mouth Disease Webinar, 7 p.m., online. For more information or to register, visit beefresearch.ca
Jan. 15-18 American Sheep Industry Association Convention, Scottsdale, Ariz. For more information, visit sheepusa.org
Jan. 16
Bureau of Land Management Newcastle and Nebraska Resource Management Plan Public Meeting, 3:30-7:30 p.m., Niobrara County Fairgrounds, Lusk. For more information, visit eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/ project/2013064/510
Jan. 16-18 Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer and Rancher Conference, Cody. For more information, visit wyfb.org
Jan. 16-Feb. 27 University of Wyoming Preserve@Home Course, every Thursday at 1 p.m., Zoom. For more information, contact Vicki Hayman at vhayman@uwyo.edu or 307-746-3531. To register, visit bit.ly/register-preserve
Jan. 22-25 National Bison Association Winter Conference, Omni Interlocken Hotel and Resort, Broomfield, Colo. For more information, visit bisoncentral.com
Jan. 23 Bureau of Land Management Newcastle and Nebraska Resource Management Plan Public Meeting, 5-7 p.m., Zoom. For more information or to access the Zoom link, visit eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2013064/510
Jan. 24-25 National Bison Association 2025 Gold Trophy Show and Sale, National Western Stock Show, Denver, Colo. For more information, visit bisoncentral.com
Feb. 4-6 CattleCon 2025, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas. For more information, visit convention.ncba.org
Feb. 5-6 Fremont County Farm and Ranch Days, Fremont Center, Fremont County Fairgrounds, Riverton. For more information, call 307-332-2363.
Feb. 5-21 2025 Clear Out West South America Cruise. For more information, call 855530-0131.
Dec. 15-Jan. 21 Beaver Creek Ranches Silent Auction, 918-413-7016, 307-672-7434, 307461-0906, 307-674-6947, 307-752-6949, beavercreekranches.weebly.com
Jan. 6 Western Video Market, North Platte Stockyards, North Platte, Neb., 530-3473793, wvmcattle.com
Jan. 11 Rafter T Angus Annual Bull Sale, Buffalo Livestock Marketing, Buffalo, 307736-2415, 307-299-4569, raftertangus.com
Jan. 16 Ingalls Angus and Quarter Horses Annual Production Sale, Riverton Livestock Auction, Riverton, 307-349-3097, 307-349-1894, 307-690-7557
Jan. 18 Redland Angus Annual Range Calved-Range Raised Production Sale, Buffalo Livestock Marketing, Buffalo, 307-250-1548, redlandangus.com
Jan. 21 Ken Haas Angus 44th Annual Right Combination Bull Sale, at the ranch, LaGrange, 307-834-2356, kenhaasangus.com
Jan. 23 Marcy Livestock 63rd Annual Angus Bull and Female Sale, Gordon Livestock Auction, Gordon, Neb., 308-430-2005, marcylivestock.com
Jan. 24 McConnell Angus Bull and Female Sale, at the ranch, Dix, Neb., 308-2355187, 308-230-0430, 970-215-3204, mcconnellangus.com
Jan. 25 Little Goose Ranch Eighth Annual Production Sale, Buffalo Livestock Marketing, Buffalo, 307-751-1535, 307-622-8330, 307-673-0049, littlegooseranch.com
Jan. 25 21 Angus 31st Annual Top Cut Bull Sale, at the ranch, New England, N.D., 701579-4221, 21angus.com
Jan. 26 Triangle J Ranch 35th Annual Bull Sale, at the ranch, Miller, Neb., 308-6275085, 308-457-2505, 308-293-9241, trianglejranch.com
Jan. 27 Douglas Booth Family Angus 33rd Annual Bull Sale, Torrington Livestock Market, Torrington, 307-532-5830, 307-532-6207, boothfamilyangus.com
Jan. 27
Bullis Creek Ranch Spring Production Bull Sale, at the ranch, Wood Lake, Neb., 402-376-4465, bulliscreek.com
Jan. 30 Ridder Hereford Ranch Annual Sale, at the ranch, Callaway, Neb., 308-8364430, 402-450-0431, ridderranch.com
Feb. 5 Durbin Creek Ranch 13th Annual Bull Sale, Big Horn Basin Livestock Auction, Worland, 307-867-2404, durbincreekranch.com
Feb. 6 K2 Red Angus Winter Bull and Female Sale, K2 sale barn, Wheatland, 307331-2917, k2redangus.com
Feb. 7 Powder River Angus Annual Bull Sale, Buffalo Livestock Marketing, Buffalo, 307-680-7359, 307-680-8266, powderriverangus.com
Feb. 7 Elkington Polled Herefords and South Devons 45th Annual Range Raised Cattle Sale, at the ranch, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 208-521-1774, 208-681-0765, elkingtonpolledherefords.com
Feb. 11 G Bar H Genetics Angus Bull Sale, Torrington Livestock Market, Torrington, 307-575-5520, 307-575-0373
Feb. 13
Booth’s Cherry Creek Angus 52nd Annual “Progress Through Performance” Bull Sale, at the ranch, Veteran, 307-534-5865, 307-532-1805, 307-532-1532, boothscherrycreekranch.com
The Jan. 1, 1909 issue of the Newcastle News-Journal editorializes:
Happy New Year! The glad greeting rings out on every hand. A new 12 months have been ushered in with all its mystery of “the things which are to be.”
The newness of the new year is essentially a newness of spirit. A new man will always enjoy the new year.
When another January arrives, it is distinctively the time to slough off the old and to put on the new. There is an old nature to be discarded, and a new spiritual manhood to be assumed.
The trouble with many people, however, is they try to remake and to reform themselves, forgetting few good resolutions – more or less loosely kept – can at best only touch the outside and possess no interior efficacy in the recesses of the spirit.
The new man who is really worthy of the name is the new man in Christ Jesus. Where Jesus is there is always newness of experience, renovation of the moral nature, freshness of hope and a resiliency of elastic joy.
It is not necessary to wait until the first of January in any approaching year to win the wisdom of such a heavenly faith or to experience the benefits of such a spiritual quickening. The promise of God is now, to everyone who believeth.
Each morning may be a resurrection day, each evening a time of golden promise fair, yet not as fading as the sunset. The New Year joy is for all of life, all the time.
It is stimulating and encouraging to feel a brand-new year is offered for happy employment. The old records with their motley pages, some still vacant and others marred and, perhaps, here and there blotted with tears, may be put away, and fresh, unstained pages substituted in their place.
It is helpful to remind oneself those broken resolutions of 1908 may be renewed in 1909, and, what is better, reinforced by more of the prayer and divine grace for want of which the idealizing resolves of the past year were soon forgotten or went so sadly unfulfilled.
The new year means, accordingly, a new hope, a new song, a new endeavor, a new outlook, a new inspiration, a new determination and a new grace – every new thing which is good appears to be possible in its gift.
A hope like this makes any doubter optimistic and gives to existence the character of a life worth living.
A wide chasm seems to intervene between the old and the new. Into its depths should be cast every regret, every halting doubt and every hampering fear which belongs to the past period of our experience and which would burden and hinder our worthy efforts and spiritual
progress in the new year.
Let us take up our new duties and meet our fresh opportunities in a free, gladsome and hopeful spirit, knowing God, who has purposed them for our uplift, will give us grace to carry us safely through.
Happy New Year! The message is sent far and near. Let the glad greeting be heard on all sides.
There is a prophecy and a promise in the new year. Even to those who are bent with grief or lonely by reason of bitter bereavement, it is possible and timely to say, though with lowered tone and softened accent, “Happy New Year!”
Every year will be a happy or at least a peaceful one in which the presence of the Lord is realized, which is spent under the protection of his wings, while its duties are discharged in his fear and its responsibilities are borne with the assistance of His grace.
For the Christian, every year should be an improvement on the past and offer its additional opportunities for growing in grace and Christ likeness. The Christian is a convinced and convincing optimist for having a heavenly hope which the world can never give or take away. He can, in every condition of life, find a basis for an assured happiness expressing itself in the oft-quoted dictum, “The best of all is, ‘God is with us.’”
A New Year’s Prayer By Davis Cory God grant that I the new year through may strive with heart and soul to do those things which are most good and true.
God grant that I each morning start my duties with a cheerful heart and cheerfully perform my part.
To wear a smile all through the day, to banish thoughts unkind away, and when my bedtime comes, to pray.
To say my prayers with folded hands as night comes softly o’er the lands, to Him, who always understands.
And when the bells on New Year’s dawn proclaim the bright New Year is born, and I awake on New Year’s morn.
I pray Him whisper, low and sweet to help me guide my wayward feet, lest I forget my prayer to meet.
– Poem from Dec. 27, 1910 Uinta Chieftain
Reported By: Curt Cox, WYLR Field Editor Dec. 16, 2024
Hosted online by Angus Live Sale Manager: Wyoming Angus Association
10 Angus and Hereford Heifer Calves Avg. $4,250
Two Angus and Hereford Bred Heifers Avg. $3,500
One Flush $3,550
Three Embryos Avg. $250
Five Semen Units Avg. $255
Angus
Lot 3 – GO MS Domain
75M – Price: $6,000 DOB: 2/11/24 Sire: Sitz Domain 12371 Dam’s Sire: Connealy Power Surge 382C EPDs:
BW: +1.3, WW: +81, YW: +137 and Milk: +23 Consignor: Ochsner-Roth Cattle, Torrington Buyer: Clayton Barch, Wiggins, Colo.
Lot 4 – GO MS J94
Trustee 158M – Price:
$5,750 DOB: 2/21/24 Sire:
K C F Bennett Trustee
Dam’s Sire: S A V Birthstone 8258 EPDs: BW: +2.4, WW: +93, YW: +144 and Milk: +30 Consignor: Ochsner-Roth Cattle, Torrington Buyer: Clayton Barch, Wiggins, Colo.
Lot 1 – JLF Lady 4024
– Price: $4,750 DOB: 4/2/24
Sire: Hill Valley Reckoning 931 Dam’s Sire: S A V
involves creative thinking and building relationships.
“Succession planning could be seen as a road or treasure map,” he stated. “If you don’t have a map, too many things can affect the outcome, like divorce or death.”
In phase one, it’s important for successors to leave the family operation and take time away to gain exposure to new ideas and people.
“Encourage kids to go away before they are allowed to come back home,” he added. “It doesn’t necessarily mean extra schooling, but they should learn additional skills to bring back to make the operation better.”
When they return, they can apply their new skills and knowledge to create opportunities for the farm business.
He encouraged successors to get on-the-job training at another farm or business to interact with different bosses, coworkers and vendors.
In the next phase, individuals are encouraged to hire the successors as paid employees and establish clear expectations for them through written job descriptions, employment policies and business agreements.
“Treat this trial period as a test,” he continued. “Sometimes we discover the friction between fam-
Brilliance 8077 EPDs: BW: +4.1, WW: +67, YW: +106 and Milk: +17 Consignor: JL Farms, Billings, Mont. Buyer: Clayton Barch, Wiggins, Colo.
Lot 11 – Miss Ego
70M – Price: $4,250 DOB: 4/15/24 Sire: Lazy JB Ego 1428 Dam’s Sire: Musgrave 316 Stunner EPDs: BW: -0.4, WW: +54, YW: +93 and Milk: +23 Consignor: Lake Livestock, Laramie Buyer: Aspyn Hamilton, Worland Hereford Lot 5 – GO MS E33 King M30 – Price: $6,000 DOB: 4/14/24 Sire: GO King E33 Dam’s Sire: MCM 6964 Varsity 801F EPDs:
BW: +0.3, WW: +65, YW: +104 and Milk: +41 Consignor: Ochsner-Roth Cattle, Torrington Buyer: Tate Chamberlain, Casper
ily and business roles is too much, and if we continue to try to force the business relationship, we may destroy the family ones.”
Tucker suggested allocating one, two or three years to the trial period, setting a planned end date and treating it as a deadline.
“If they are not able to run the operation after five years, then we are failing them if we allow them to continue the family operation,” he stated.
The key is not letting this phase continue in perpetuity. Failing to move past this phase pegs a successor as an employee instead of recognizing the successor.
Involvement
In phase three, the successor needs to start managing a small portion of the operation and earning or buying an ownership share, both management and ownership.
Tucker remined the group, parents tend to micromanage their children, but in this phase, they have to feel more empowered and given the opportunity to make decisions.
Tucker gave an example of a large cattle producer in his area, a father who came to his son the day after middle school graduation and pointed to an empty pen, telling the son to go buy some calves and feed them out that summer.
The father promised not to tell him what cattle to
I’m a tinkerer. Please note I said tinkerer, not thinker – BIG difference. And before I tell you some things I’ve built from scrap, I should state I’m not an inventor – BIG difference.
One of my best friends is an inventor and he spends most of his time in high-level talks with lawyers, model makers, professors and his income tax team.
A tinkerer consults with no one and makes no money, so he doesn’t require the services of H&R Block, let alone an entire team.
A tinkerer never knows what he’s making until it’s finished. This was certainly the case with my first creation at the age of 10. I thought I’d just built the world’s first automatic dog feeder, but there was only one problem – my dog wouldn’t eat out of it.
Turns out, I’d just invented the world’s best automatic squirrel feeder instead.
buy, what to feed or when to sell them, as it was his pen to manage.
The father was there to answer questions if asked. However, the father admitted his son made some mistakes the first summer, but he allowed him to learn by doing.
“Preparing successors starts when the kids get their first set of chores. Don’t micromanage them, rather manage and train them to be their own problem solvers,” he added.
When it comes to ownership, heirs must acquire a share in something, otherwise they won’t know they are building their own future
My next creation was the chicken lasso. I hate to admit this, but 60 years ago we raised a lot of layers, and when they got old, we’d catch them, dress them out and gag them down in soup.
The accepted method to catch chickens back then was to take a wire coat hanger, double up the end to make it stronger and then bend it in the shape of a hook. Then, we tried to snare the chicken’s foot with it. I suppose it worked okay, but it could hardly be considered fun or morale building.
So one day, I was messing around and cut one of the cotton ropes off of my mom’s clothesline. For the millennials and Gen Zers, this is how we dried our clothes back in the dark ages.
For lack of any calves to rope, I started roping chickens. Talk about fun.
I was thinking about selling a few chicken lariats until my mom discovered I’d already reduced
and not someone else’s.
Advancement
During phase four, the successor should slowly take on more management responsibility, including finances.
“Many families get to this phase but can’t bring themselves to turn over the checkbook,” he added.
Tucker told the story of a successful farmer who continually told him his kids were going to lose the operation after he was gone.
The farmer kept an iron fist on the checkbook and operations and did not teach his children because he was too afraid of them losing it.
“I don’t know if his kids lack financial management
the capacity of her clothesline by 25 percent.
I’m pretty sure I’m the first person to come up with truck reins, which allowed me to steer the truck from the pickup bed while feeding cows and standing on hay stacked three bales high in granny gear.
I wrapped some rope around the steering wheel in the two o’clock position and ran it out the driver’s side window, leaving enough slack so I could hold the reins on top of the haystack from the rear of the vehicle, before putting the lariat through the passenger side window and attaching it to the steering wheel in the ten o’clock position.
This way, before I was about to enter one of the many rock piles on the ranch, I tugged on my reins which turned the truck, thus avoiding the rock pile. Believe it or not, this worked – with some adjustments. The eleven o’clock and one o’clock position worked much better.
Everything was fine and dandy until I was too late one time and I got tangled up in the rocks, the reins were jerked from my hands and I sailed off the truck like a rodeo cowboy off the back of a bull.
Needless to say, I
skills, but he never gave them a chance to learn. Now, they’ll face a steep learning curve when they inherit the farm, having never seen its finances,” Tucker shared. If a successor is to be successful, they need to understand not only the production factors but also the finances, purchasing requirements and marketing responsibilities.
Majority
Successors become the majority managers of the operation in phase five, holding a majority stake and making most of the business decisions.
didn’t stick the landing.
Laying there on the rocks, I realized I sprained my ankle really bad so I had to hop as fast as I could to stop the truck before it entered the slow lane of the highway bordering the ranch. The contraption I’m most proud of is my Water Pik-like device.
My teeth are slowly rotting out because of all the nasty drugs the docs gave me, and I’ve had 13 teeth pulled so far. OUCH! My dentist suggested maybe we could slow down the rot if I used a Water Pik.
When I found out how much they cost, I figured I could make my own using my airbrush and my shop compressor. I set my compressor at 125 psi, put some toothpaste in the paint cup and pulled the trigger on my airbrush. I think I may have set the pressure too high because it knocked me on my butt and dislodged two teeth, roots and all.
At $595 apiece – the going rate to have a tooth pulled in my neck of the woods – I figure my Pitts Pik already saved me $1,200, and I think I may have just accidentally invented the world’s fastest and least painful way to pull teeth.
“Again, this does not mean tossing the keys and walking away,” he said. “It means our roles change and we shift from focusing on our own success to helping our kids be successful.” It may be necessary to transfer ownership of assets and separate operating assets, such as livestock and machinery, from land ownership. However, an advantage to asset transfer before death is the next generation has the certainty of knowing they are investing in a future they own.
The transition may be difficult, but start the process gradually and work through these five phases to make the shift smooth. Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
TO ALL INTERESTED PER -
SONS: You are hereby notified that on Feb. 13, 2025 , at 2 p.m. the Commissioners for the Casper-Alcova Irrigation District will hold a public hearing to consider the Third Amended Bylaws of CasperAlcova Irrigation District. A copy of the proposed Third Amended Bylaws of CasperAlcova Irrigation District are available on the Casper-Alcova Irrigation District website ( www.caidwyoming.com ) and in the Casper-Alcova Irrigation District office located at 755 Connie St., Mills, WY, 82644. The Third Amended Bylaws of Casper-Alcova Irrigation District will update the current bylaws and are proposed pursuant to CasperAlcova Irrigation District’s duties under W.S. § 417-303. On Feb. 13, 2025, at 2 p.m., the Commissioners for the CasperAlcova Irrigation District will hold a public hearing to hear public comment and consider the Third Amended Bylaws of Casper-Alcova Irrigation District. Additionally, prior to the public hearing, any interested person may submit his/her written views on the proposed Third Amended Bylaws of Casper-Alcova Irrigation District to the office of the Casper-Alcova Irrigation District, PO Box 849, Mills, WY 82644 1/4
NOTICE: Publication in this newspaper does not guarantee the legitimacy of any offer or solicitation. Take reasonable steps to evaluate an offer before you send money or provide personal/financial information to an advertiser. If you have questions or believe you have been the victim of fraud, contact the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Unit, 109 Capitol Building, Cheyenne, WY 82002, 307-7776397 TFN
LIVESTOCK FEEDERS LLC Red Cloud, NE
BULLS FOR SALE: Registered yearling and 2-year-old Black Angus range bulls for sale private treaty. Good selection for heifers and cows. From popular sires and industry leaders. Semen tested and ready to go. Call 307-7623541 TFN
150 BLACK ANGUS BRED HEIFERS: South Dakota origin, OCVD, exposed to proven LBW Black Angus bulls for 45 days. Start calving Feb. 1, 2025. References available. Call 785-3941955 (cell), 785-394-2374 (home) or 785-731-5067 1/11
FAITHFUL FEEDERS: Heifer development, backgrounding, and grass calf prep. Billings, MT. Call Ryan, 406-696-0104 4/12
PASTURE WANTED AND/OR RANCH OR FARM LEASE, northwest Wyoming or south-central Montana. References available. Call 307-851-2426 12/28
DEVILS TOWER FOREST PRODUCTS INC., A LUMBER MANUFACTURER IN HULETT, WY, IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FULL-TIME BOILER/KILN OPERATOR, MILLWRIGHT AND PLANER PRODUCTION OPERATOR: Benefit package includes company paid medical and dental insurance (including dependents), life insurance, company-matching 401(k), safety incentives, holiday pay, paid vacation and sign-on bonus. Mandatory employment and random drug testing is conducted. EOE. Starting wage D.O.E. Online applications are available at wwww.neimanenterprises. com. E-mail applications to joe.ortner@devilstowerfp.com or fax to 307-467-5418, contact Joe Ortner at 307-467-5252 with additional questions 1/4
REMOTE NORTHEAST WYO-
MING RANCH IS LOOKING FOR A FULL-TIME FARM/ RANCH EMPLOYEE: This position is open immediately. Applicant must be self-motivated, reliable and responsible with knowledge of haying and farming. Mechanical skills are a must. Farming duties include swathing, baling and raking hay, etc. THIS IS NOT A COWBOY POSITION, but applicant will need to assist in all aspects of cattle work as well. Those duties include calving heifers, feeding hay, branding and gathering, etc. Nearest big town is 60+ miles and nearest K-12 school is 30+ miles away. Housing is provided and on a school bus route. Please send resume with references by mail or e-mail to: PeeGee Ranch, 1251 Lower Powder River Road, Arvada, WY 82831, pgranch@rangeweb.net. Call 307-736-2461 12/28
CATTLE/HAY OPERATION
LOOKING FOR YEAR-ROUND
HIRED MAN: Wages plus housing provided, 1/2 beef/year and can run a few cattle. Call 406-3662052 or 406-428-2133 1/11
Come Join the Gottsch Livestock Feeders Family! Gottsch Livestock Feeders is looking for Cowboys/Pen Riders for their feedyard in Red Cloud, NE. The main focus of the Cowboy/Pen Riders are spotting, pulling, diagnosing and taking cattle to the hospital and shipping fat cattle. This person will need to be a team player who is seeking a long-term position. You will have the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the best in the industry. We offer a benefits package that includes health insurance, dental, vision, 401(k), health savings, life insurance and paid vacation. Retention bonus offered to full-time employees. Incentives paid out at 6 months and 1 year of employment. If you are interested stop by and fill out an application or visit our website at Call Brandon Furr at 402-257-7769 or 402-746-2222 for more information.
www.gottschcattlecompany.com
AGRI-ONE FINANCIAL: Farm/ ranch and all commercial loans. RATES AS LOW AS 5%. We have been helping with all aspects of agricultural, commercial financing and management for years. LET US HELP YOU on a consulting level with management to increase profitability, deal with and fix credit problems and for all your financing needs. WE CARE AND HAVE WORKING PROGRAMS designed for the farmer/rancher and not the banker. Please call Steve, 303-773-3545 or check out our website, www.agrionefinancial.com. I will come to you and get the job done!! 12/28
ONE-IRON WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: LRC, LTH. Comes with 1 fire iron. Dues paid to December 2024, $5,000. Call 605-3904797 1/4
WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: LSC. Ear marks available, dewlap registered with brand. No cattle with brand. $2,000 OBO. Call 307-365-1393. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 12/28
LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN PUPS: Kangal and Anatolian shepherd, 9 weeks old, first 2 shots. $800. Call 406-2241078 1/11
FOR SALE: Three-year-old bred cows. Longtime heifer development program X Bar Cattle Co., Laramie, WY is proud to offer 35 head bred to calve March 1 for 45 days. Home raised and purchased from reputation ranches in Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska. Running at 7,400 feet at the base of Sheep Mountain. Fancy, deep bodied, gentle and already have one calf under their belt. Out of and bred to front end, highly maternal, low PAP, registered Black Angus bulls selected specifically for good feet, structure, performance in the feedlot and longevity in the cow herd from all the top programs i.e. Sitz, WXW, TJS, XLAR and more. For information, photos and video, call 307-760-3837 1/4
FOR SALE: 125 registered and commercial Blank Angus and black baldy BRED HEIFERS. Two groups AI bred to our 2 new herd bull purchases: SCR Feat 202K and GB Mogul M64J, 2 elite calving ease bulls. Two groups pasture bred to “sleep all night” low birthweight, calving ease performance Angus bulls. AI bred: Group #1 due March 15. AI Group #2 due March 28. BULL BRED: Group #1 due April 7 for 21 days. Group #2 due April 15 for 14 days. Group #3 due May 1 for 30 days. Vaccinated, poured/dewormed. Full mineral program. Available FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. Pictures and videos available. Delivery and volume discounts available. MILLER ANGUS FARMS, Estelline, S.D. Kody, 605-6901997, Brady, 605-690-5733 or Greg, 605-690-4399 1/11
48 BRED HEIFERS FOR SALE
IN LARAMIE, WY: Seventeen AI’d to calve March 1. Thirty-one bull bred to calve March 15 for 30 days. Bred to 100% registered, low PAP, strong maternal, calving ease, Black Angus bulls from Sitz, Walter and Beartooth Angus. Ranch developed, deep bodied, medium framed. Electric fence, cake broke and gentle. Top shelf vaccine and deworming program. FMI, photos and video, call 970556-5657 1/4
WANTED GRASS FOR YEARLINGS SUMMER OF 2025, references available. Maddux Cattle Company, 308-350-1133 1/4
PASTURE WANTED for 2,000 yearlings and 500 pairs. Can split into smaller bunches. Call 701-523-1235 1/4
AQHA WEANLINGS AND 1 YEARLING CURRENTLY AVAILABLE: Bloodlines include Frenchman’s Guy, Freckles Playboy, Poco Bueno and many more. Douglas, WY. For more information, call 970-768-4597 or visit www.lefflerlivestock. com 1/11
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM MOSS SADDLES, BOOTS AND TACK!! We appreciate all your past patronage and look forward to serving you and yours in 2025!! $AVE on BOOTS: HONDO, BOULET, JUSTIN WORK BOOTS, TWISTED X (boots and shoes) and more!! WE CAN ship!! Shop Moss Saddles, Boots and Tack, 4648 West Yellowstone Highway, Casper, WY; 307-472-1872. Our family serving yours for 50 years!! Check us out on Facebook or our website 1/11
WEANER PIGS FOR SALE, located in Powell, WY. For more information, call 307271-1014 1/18
AKC BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG PUPPIES: All first shots, microchipped and vet checked. Ready for their new homes now!! $750. Call or text 605-680-2571. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 12/28
WORKING BRED AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD PUPS (NO SHOW LINES), ASCA/ AKC guaranteed to work. Dad heads, mom head/heels, gritty, biddable, sweet, extremely smart, works with relatively little training. Has an off switch but needs a job like most cattle dog breeds. Pincie Creek lines. Ready second week of January. Located in Mountain View, WY. Health tested parents. Two males, 3 females, all black bicolored, $200, high-quality pups. Contact Lacey at 801-7218620, accepts texts. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 1/4
200 tons 2023 GRASS/ALFALFA in large rounds, cut slightly mature but baled green!! Also, selling 2024 LR CERTIFIED WHEAT STRAW and 200 tons MILLET HAY. Will deliver!! For sale by Cheyenne, WY area producer. Call 307-630-3768 1/18 CLEAN ALFALFA AND SOME BARLEY HAY FOR SALE in Riverton, WY area with some trucking available. Call 307-8514532 1/18
bulliscreek.com • 402-376-4465
HAY FOR SALE: 600 tons total of first, second and third cutting straight alfalfa. Tests available, RFV 140-184. Hay is located between Basin and Otto, WY. ALSO, 200 tons of certified barley straw available as well. All in 3x4 bales. Call 307-2543456 1/4 FOR SALE 80 TONS FOURTH CUTTING ALFALFA: John Deere 5x6 big rounds, net wrapped. RFV 218, protein 20.7%. Delivery available. Call 308-430-0428 1/11
1,000 BIG ROUND FORAGE WHEAT HAY BALES FOR SALE: Put up dry and right. No nitrates. Feed tests available. Appraised at 55 bushels per acre. Net wrapped 3 times. Weighing 1,200 lbs. to 1,300 lbs. Asking $65/bale. Call 605-848-0291. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 1/11
OAT HAY – LOTS OF OATS: 4x4 bales, $55/bale, bales weigh 1,200 lbs. Good cow hay. Wiggins, CO area. 250 bales available. Call Shawn, 970-3908111 1/11
STRAW FOR SALE: 250 TONS OF BARLEY STRAW, 4x4 squares, $40/ton. Located west of Powell, WY. Call or text 307-202-0532 for more information 1/11
SUPERIOR 2024 HAY FOR
SALE: For horses, cows, dairy cows. Protein 16-18%, RFV 140-175. Lab tested. Lab reports available. Large round net-wrapped bales, 1,500 lbs./ bale. We arrange trucking and participate in trucking costs for buyers. Price negotiable. Buffalo, WY. Call 307-2170386 1/11
LOTS AND LOTS OF HAY FOR SALE!!! Alfalfa, alfalfa/ grass mix, straight grass (crested wheat and native grasses), winter wheat, 1,300-1,350 lb. net-wrapped round bales. Deliveries are available if needed or come and get it. Sheridan, WY area. Call the ranch, 307737-2680 or 702-501-4243 (cell) 1/18
GRASS HAY FOR SALE: 2023 crop, 3x4x8 bales, 1,200 lbs., $100/ton. 2024 crop, $135/ton. Call Kelly Foianini, don’t text, 307-780-7027 or Bronson Foianini, 307-7602263, Lyman, WY 1/11
MILLET AND BARLEY HAY, 4x4 square bales for sale, $135 and $140 a ton. ALSO, have third and fourth cutting alfalfa available. Located near Douglas, WY. Call 307-3514175 1/11
VERY NICE, CLEAN GRASS
HAY FOR SALE: First and second cutting, round bales and some small square bales. For more information, call 307-7545864 12/28
HAY FOR SALE: 3x3 and round bales of grass or alfalfa/grass mix. Prices starting at $70/ton. FOB. Delivered only. Call 605840-0015 12/28
EXCELLENT QUALITY OATS FOR SALE, $12/cwt. ALSO, WRANGLER ALFALFA SEED, $2.50/lb. Greybull, WY area. Call 307-272-9259 1/11
VALLEY VIDEO HAY MARKETS, LLC: Hay available. Go to www.valleyvideohay.com or call Barry McRea, 308-2355386 1/4
2024 HAY FOR SALE: First, second and third cutting alfalfa/orchardgrass mix, roughly 50/50, round bales. If tests wanted, they can be obtained. Thirty miles east of Valentine, NE, trucking available needed. Call or text for more information, 402-759-2033 1/4
HAY FOR SALE: 250 tons of first year, first cutting alfalfa, 4x4 bales, $110/ton. 200 tons of first year, second cutting alfalfa, 4x4 bales, $150/ton. Call 307-765-4393, near Greybull, WY area 12/28
HAY FOR SALE: 2023 and 2024, alfalfa, sainfoin, grass and combine grass/straw. Small squares and 3x3x8 bales. Test results available for 2023 and 2024. Will load 3x3s in open truck and trailer. Call 307-250-6005 12/28
HAY FOR SALE: Very fine stemmed alfalfa, good horse hay, 3x4x8 bales, 200 available. Call for pricing, 307-254-0152, Rivers Bend Ranch, LLC, Greybull, WY 12/28
CERTIFIED WEED-FREE PURE
ALFALFA HAY: Small squares, covered. 2023 first cutting available for a reduced price. 2024 first, second and third cutting available. Will load trucks and any open trailer. MONIDA OATS, $16/cwt. Combine run. Will auger into truck, trailer or large totes/ ag bags. Located between Powell and Cody, WY. Call or text Knopp Farms for details, 307254-0554 1/4
HAY FOR SALE: 2023 milo and grass/alfalfa. 2024 first cutting 90% alfalfa/10% grass mix, grass mix, grass/alfalfa, millet, milo, CRP cut early, green and high, non-raked and clean. ALSO , 2024 haybet barley, nitrates low, protein high. All in net-wrapped round bales. Semi load delivery available. Call for pricing, ask for Klint, 701-290-4418, send a text if no answer or keep trying 12/28
BARLEY STRAW: Certified weed-free small squares, $4/ bale. ALSO, 5x6 round bales, $125/ton. GRAIN OATS, wheat and barley, $20/cwt. Greybull, WY area. Call 307762-3878 or 307-899-4714, leave message 12/28
HORSE QUALITY GRASS HAY, third cutting, 3x4 square bales, $200/ton. ALFALFA HAY, second cutting, round bales, $175/ton. OAT/PEA MIX HAY, round bales, $150/ ton. COW HAY, nice green millet, 3x4 bales, $110/ton. Square bales barn stored. Tests available. Lusk, WY. Call Paul Hicks, 970-2035019 12/28
GRASS AND ALFALFA HAY FOR SALE: Cow and horse quality. Large quantities!! Small squares, 3x3 square bales and 3x4 square bales. Delivery available!! Call 307630-3046 12/28
ROUND-BALED GRASS: 2023 $40/bale; 2024 $50/ bale. 1,000 lb. net-wrapped bales. Cody, WY area. Call, don’t text, Anthony at 307254-2645 3/1
HORSE QUALITY GRASS HAY, 3x4s barn stored, $175/ ton. 2024 GRASS COW HAY, 3x4s barn stored, $135/ton. 2023 GRASS COW HAY, 3x4s barn stored, $115/ton. Encampment, WY. Call 307321-1444 TFN
CERTIFIED WHEAT STRAW FOR SALE, large round bales. Call 303-898-8496 or 303-500-2685 12/28
CERTIFIED BARLEY STRAW FOR SALE, 3x4 bales. Cody, WY. Call 307-899-1952 TFN
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, FARMER RETIRING: 9600
John Deere combine with 930 30’ grain header and an 893 8 row 30” corn header. A 20’ Krause offset disc (new blades in front). 24’ Model 630 John Deere tandem disc. Safety pull with a bull hitch. John Deere front suitcase weights. IHC front suitcase weights. Round John Deere wheel weights. Two 1,000 gallon fuel tanks with pumps. 500 gallon round fuel tank with stand. Contact Greg Keller at 406-679-1136 1/4
OPEN POLLINATED SEED CORN out produces hybrid for silage and grazing quality grain, $69/bushel +S/H. Call 217-857-3377 or text cell 217343-4962, visit website www. borriesopenpollinatedseedcorn.com 12/28
2007 KIOTI FRONT END LOADER, BACKHOE AND SNOWPLOW: 30 HP diesel, 200 engine hours. Pictures available upon request. Call 303-4427543, leave a message. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 1/11
WANTED TO BUY ENGINE FOR INTERNATIONAL W9 TRACTOR or would consider whole tractor. Contact James at 307-254-0087 1/4
FOR SALE: 2008 FEATHERLITE LIVESTOCK TRAILER, 24’, aluminum, 14 ply tires, new mats. Just gone through Carl’s Trailer Sales, $18,000. Call 307-680-9834 1/11
1996 PETERBILT 379: Lots of recent work, immaculate, well cared for, good tires, retiring. Call 308-320-0905 12/28
2000 GMC 2500: 4x4, long bed, regular cab, automatic, toolbox, headache rack, air conditioning, power windows, very good tires, 173,000 miles. Runs as it should.
$5,900 OBO. 2011 FORD
FOR SALE: Vermeer BP8000 bale processor. Helm 285 mixer wagon. Vern’s loading chute. Summers hydraulic rock picker. John Deere 3020 gas tractor, with fresh overhaul, fenders and 3 pt. Landoll 36’ cushion gang disc with 3 bar mulcher. 2016 Mack (day cab), automatic transmission, MP7 engine, air ride, A/C, cruise control, 185” wheelbase, 488,000 miles, very clean truck, runs great. 2019 Freightliner, automatic transmission, DD13 engine, 184” wheelbase, 614,413 miles, runs and drives nice. Miller Pro 5100 18’ chuckwagon with bunk feeding extensions and tandem running gear. H&S 7+4 18’ and 16’ chuckwagons with bunk feeding extensions and tandem 14 ton running gear. John Deere 716A chuckwagons with John Deere running gear and bunk feeding extensions, been shedded, nice condition. Rowse 14 wheel v-rake with wind panels. 12’ HD box scraper with tilt. Erskine 60” snowblower for skid loader. Farm King 8’ snowblower with hydraulic spout. All in very nice condition!! Call 605-9995482 1/11
FOR SALE: ONE CANNONBALL HAY UNROLLER. Excellent condition, on 2001 Dodge pickup that leaks oil out steering gear. $8,000. Call 307-6809834 1/11
F450: 6 .7 diesel, 4 door, 4x4, long bed, dually, automatic, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, locks, custom rims and tires, bedliner, 103,000 miles. Absolutely a head turner, very beautiful, ready to go to work. $39,500.
2018 DODGE RAM LARIAT
3500: 6.7 diesel, 4x4, 4 door, loaded, dually, automatic, air, sliding rear window, 200 gallon slip tank, tires are like new, ready to go to work. Private party, located in Powell, WY. Call 307-219-2217 or 719-217-8054 (cell). To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 1/4
ALLOWAY STALK CHOPPER: Model WR18, 8 row, side discharge. Field ready, $8,200 OBO. Call 303-651-2665 or 720-413-3707 12/28
1/4 LODGEPOLE PRODUCTS, 307-742-6992, SERVING AGRIBUSINESSES SINCE 1975!! Treated posts, corral poles, buckand-rail, western rail, fence stays, rough-sawn lumber, bedding. SEE US at www.lodgepoleproducts.com and click our “Picking A Fence Post” tab to see why folks choose our posts!! TFN
PIPE FOR SALE!! 2 7/8”, 3 1/2” tubing, 4” drill pipe, 4 1/2” casing, 5” casing, 7” casing. Rods 3/4”, 7/8” and 1” located in Montana, can ship anywhere. Call Mike, 602-758-4447. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 2/22
OILFIELD PIPE: PRICE REDUCED!! RPJ Enterprises, Inc. 2 3/8”, 2 7/8” and 4.5” is available, pricing is coming down. Used for fencing, corrals, cattle guards, etc. 2 3/8” and 2 7/8” are on average 31.5’ long per joint. Pierce, CO. Call for details, 970-324-4580 1/11
Systems
The choice is simple.
715-ACRE LIVESTOCK
FARM IN THE BIG HORN BASIN with 4 pivots irrigating 541 acres with free water. Functional improvements, 4 bedroom home, larger shop with attached apartment, livestock barn, large metal building, metal equipment building, corrals and feed pens. $2,950,000. RuraLands Real Estate, frank@ruralands. com, 307-851-2426 12/28
JAN. 13-14: PETSKA FUR WILL BE BUYING ALL RAW/ DRY FUR DEER/ELK HIDES AND ANTLER IN THE FOLLOWING TOWNS AND LOCATIONS: JAN. 13: Pine Bluffs 3:45-4 p.m., Sinclair; Burns 4:154:30 p.m., Antelope Truck Stop (drive thru, call Greg); Cheyenne 4:50-5:10 p.m., Home on the Range Processing (drive thru).
Copper wire is being stolen from electrically powered pivot systems world-wide. Many growers have resorted to 24-hour guards, razor wire, floodlights and daily disassembly to protect themselves. T-L’s hydraulically powered pivot systems can be designed with little or no wire to steal. Stop theft and discover T-L’s reliability, simplicity and low maintenance cost. T-L irrigation systems are easier on you - for life.
NORTHEAST OREGON, THE DLX RANCH: Located near Baker City, OR the DLX is noted as one of the most productive and finest ranches around. It is well balanced and contains 17,000 deeded acres with 4,000 acres of irrigated meadows and cropland. Native and improved rangeland provides good spring and summer pasture. The ranch is well improved with nice homes, excellent livestock working facilities and is noted for its production and ease of operation and management. Abundant water and over 6 miles of the Powder River running through the ranch provide for not only production but unbelievable waterfowl and upland game bird habitat. The ranch also provides good populations of elk and mule deer. Situated in the heart of the Baker Valley, the ranch enjoys very scenic mountain views and is very private yet only a short drive to Baker City, OR. Currently operated as a commercial cow/calf operation with a permitted feedlot. The ranch would also make an ideal yearling or combination operation. It is rare to find this quality of a ranch and particularly a property that is a going concern. This is a first-time offering and we look forward to hearing from you. $32,500,000. Livestock and rolling stock available by separate treaty. Please give us a call for further information, Greg Sackos, 541-5234434 (office) or 208-598-0267 (cell), Intermountain Realty, www.intermountainland.com 12/28
The Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts (WACD) held its 79th Annual Convention in Jackson Nov. 20-22.
After six years at the helm, President Todd Heward of Shirley Basin announced he would be passing the torch to a new leader.
Heward guided the organization through a leadership transition following the departure of longtime Executive Director Bobbie Frank and virtual annual meetings due to COVID-19 related restrictions. During his tenure, the organization saw marked growth and success.
Heward’s steady leadership and commitment to WACD’s mission of conserving natural resources for the future left a lasting legacy within the organization.
Fieldgrove elected president
During the business meeting, voting delegates unanimously elected Ryan Fieldgrove of Buffalo to his first two-year term as president.
Fieldgrove has served on the Clear Creek Conservation District Board of Supervisors since 2010 and as their chairman since 2017. Fieldgrove has also served on the
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GOSHEN COUNTY, WY: Selling 640 acres of pasture grass near Torrington, WY. This is a State of Wyoming Grazing Lease. A 10-year lease with the right to renew. Excellent native grass. No improvements. One well. Selling is the leasehold right. $185,000. NEW PRICE!! 3,316± DEEDED ACRES consisting of improved meadow grass and lush hard grasses. Run 250± cows through 12 pastures. Outstanding condition. Nice home plus excellent corrals and calving facilities. Natural tree-lined draws for livestock protection. LaGrange, WY. $3,900,000!! 1,230 ACRES OF PRIME AGRICULTURAL NON-IRRIGATED FARMLAND: Soils consist primarily of silt and sand loams. Located east of Hawk Springs, WY along the Wyoming/Nebraska state line. Professional care is dedicated to optimizing soil health. Divisible into smaller parcels to meet your investment needs. No improvements. $1,100,000. Pictures and video at www.buyaranch. com. Call Casey Essert, Land Broker, 307-532-1750 TFN
WACD Board of Directors since 2018 and most recently served as the vice president.
In addition to serving as a conservation district leader, Fieldgrove manages the Fieldgrove Ranch, a purebred Red Angus operation which also runs a small herd of meat goats for weed control.
Under his leadership, Fieldgrove Ranch received the 2011 Leopold Conservation Award in recognition of its conservation practices.
A further testament to Fieldgrove’s dedication to conservation, he serves on the Northeast Sage Grouse Working Group and has implemented many practices on his own ranch to enhance habitat for Greater sage grouse.
For 25 years, Fieldgrove has served the agricultural community through his career in banking. He is currently the chief credit officer and agricultural trust specialist for the First Northern Bank of Wyoming.
According to Fieldgrove, “My role continues to be the same as the former leadership who developed the structure of the association with the main goal of conserving
JAN. 14: Cheyenne 7:20-7:50 a.m., Tractor Supply; Chugwater 8:30-8:45 a.m., Stampede Saloon (drive thru); Wheatland 9:45-10:05 a.m., Wheatland Travel Plaza; Guernsey 10:3010:45 a.m., Crazy Tony’s (drive thru); Fort Laramie 11-11:15 a.m., Ft. Laramie Bar/Grill (drive thru); Lingle 11:30-11:50 a.m., Ty’s Pit Stop; Torrington 12:1012:40 p.m., Insight Precision Arms; Scottsbluff, NE 1:50-2:20 p.m., Murdoch’s (north side). For more information, call Greg, 308-750-0700 or visit www. petskafur.net 1/4
and implementing beneficial practices providing value for both private and public interests. We work for all of our constituents but specifically serve the 34 conservation districts across the state. These districts utilize locally-led decision-making to best implement their unique conservation resource issues in their part of our state.”
“Our board will work to make sure they have the financial and technical support needed to continue their quest to be both proactive and rehabilitative with their conservation work, whether it’s a well-designed Annual Plan of Work or one of mother nature’s wild card events,” he continued.
Landers selected as vice president
To fill the role of vice president, the voting delegate selected Coke Landers of Pinedale.
Landers has served on the WACD Board of Directors since 2013, previously served on the Medicine Bow Conservation District Board from 2007-09 and is now on the Sublette County Conservation District Board of Supervisors.
Landers is the fifth generation to grow up on
his family’s ranch in Laramie County. He attended the University of Wyoming and graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management. In 2003, he married his wife Molly and they now have three daughters. Landers is currently managing Murdock Cattle Company, which runs cow/calf pairs and yearlings on the historic Green River Drift.
Landers also serves as president of the Upper Green River Cattle Association.
In his spare time, he can be found chasing his daughters around to many of their athletic events if he is not in meetings or on the ranch.
WACD Executive Director Holly Kennedy looks forward to working with Fieldgrove and Landers to usher in the next era of Wyoming’s conservation legacy by continuing the organization’s mission to conserve natural resources.
WACD is a nonprofit organization representing Wyoming’s 34 conservation districts and their 170 elected board members. For more information, visit conservewy.com
2,000 fires burning over 850,000 acres.
The industry also fought some nasty animal disease, including an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy herds, a few cases of anthrax in Carbon County and most recently, a confirmed case of bovine tuberculosis in South Dakota.
Additionally, ag producers faced an onslaught of potentially devastating legislation.
The federal government kicked January off with a bang by announcing the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which would require operations with under 20 employees to file beneficial ownership information to the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network starting Jan. 1, 2025.
January also marked the start of a year-long battle with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on the public lands front. In addition to tension around the BLM’s Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP) announced the year before, the agency also released back-to-back controversial rules including the Public Lands Rule, the Greater sage grouse management plan and the Buffalo RMP, sparking a flurry of frustration.
May saw the rise of anti-
agriculture attacks when it was confirmed Pro-Animal Future received enough signatures to get the Slaughterhouse Ban and the Fur Ban on the ballot in Denver.
This was carried into November when the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee published its initial report encouraging Americans to replace red meat with beans, peas and lentils.
During this same month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s controversial Animal Disease Traceability Rule went into effect.
Despite all of this, the nation’s producers walked away with a few major wins.
The aforementioned CTA was rolled back for the time being, the Senate passed a Congressional Review Act to ban Paraguayan imports, several anti-ag measures failed at the voting booth in November, trending diets such as the carnivore and animal-based diets are getting younger consumers back to the meat counter and a new administration was voted in to office, giving many hope for the year to come.
Looking ahead
While many are optimistic for the coming year, CoBank Knowledge Exchange warns rural America of some challenges yet to come.
In its 2025 Year Ahead Report, CoBank notes rural
On Dec. 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $1.13 billion investment to support local and regional food systems, building upon the department’s previous investments in the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) programs.
industries will likely be “disproportionately exposed to federal policy and face downside risks in the coming year, adding to their already long list of headwinds and challenges.”
“The environment we enter in 2025 hasn’t fully defined itself yet, but many of the policies proposed by the incoming administration would likely have a negative impact on U.S. agriculture,” said CoBank Director Rob Fox. “Open access to export markets and labor availability are critically important for agricultural producers and processors. Depending on how policy plays out, those two areas could be big challenges in 2025 and beyond.”
CoBank experts believe President-Elect Donald Trump’s promise to enact import tariffs and reduce immigration may not play out as positives for the ag industry’s economy.
Grains, farm supplies and biofuels
“A strengthening U.S. dollar, combined with the potential for trade disputes and record-large South American crops weigh heavily on the outlook for grain and oilseed prices in 2025,” CoBank explains.
The report further notes farmers will likely see decades-low profitability in the wake of high production costs and row crop prices falling nearly 50 percent from their highs in 2022.
“The bearish outlook for oil prices diminishes
the demand picture for ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel,” CoBank continues. “Uncertainty over U.S. biofuel policy under the new administration also clouds the demand outlook for biofuels.”
Animal protein and dairy
On the flip side, CoBank believes the future is looking fairly bright for an already booming livestock sector.
Although costs of labor, construction, equipment and land are still high, falling feed costs and increased producer margins have renewed interest in livestock production.
Additionally, consumer demand is expected to hold steady with the potential to grow through the coming year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service projects per capita consumption of
chicken, beef, pork and turkey will grow up to two percent from 2024-25.
CoBank further notes the U.S. beef herd is not expected to expand until 2026-27, due to volatile markets and poor pasture conditions.
“The shrinking herd will further support higher feeder and fed cattle values, and it would not be surprising to see fed cattle values eclipse $200 per hundredweight in the coming year,” CoBank says. “Tight feeder supplies, low feed costs and excellent beef demand have yielded heavier carcass weights, which rose nearly 30 pounds or three percent in 2024.”
When it comes to dairy, CoBank explains the U.S. will likely see an unprecedented $8 billion investment in new dairy processing through 2026, one-half of which will go towards the
This round of funding, announced on Oct. 1, will allow states, territories and federallyrecognized Tribes to purchase wholesome, locally-produced foods for distribution within their communities to emergency food providers, schools and child care centers. Those interested in applying
for this round of LFS or LFPA, which now includes funding for child care centers, should visit ams.usda.gov
Producers wishing to receive information about becoming a vendor for LFPA or for LFS should contact their respective state, territory or Tribal purchasing authorities.
USDA will allocate up to $471.5 million for states and territories to purchase local, unprocessed or minimally-processed domestic foods for use by schools participating in the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs and up to $188.6 million for use in child care facilities participating in the Child
cheese sector. Some plants are even set to come online in 2025.
“The expected surge in cheese and whey output will likely put downward pressure on dairy product prices in the second half of the year,” CoBank’s report reads. “Sourcing additional milk supplies to fill new plant capacity is a looming question.”
CoBank continues, “2023 and 2024 will go down as the first back-toback years since the late 1960s that U.S. milk production took a downturn. On the flip side, higher component levels in farmgate milk, largely butterfat and protein, have lifted finished product yields.”
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
and Adult Care Food Program.
Additionally, USDA will allocate up to $471.5 million for states, territories and Tribal governments to use in local feeding programs, including food banks, schools and other organizations that reach underserved communities.
Of this, $100 million will go to Tribal governments.
8way
3 & 8 way @ weaning. No Implants. 60 days weaned, hay fed. High elevation & Green! Flying A/Britain- 130 Mostly Blk Strs & Hfrs 500600#. Rec 2 rounds of shots. Weaned Oct 1st. High desert & Green!
Linda Strock & Kenny Whitt- 100 Blk Ang & AngX Strs & Hfrs 525-625#. Comp vacc & multi min @ branding & weaning. 90 days weaned. Hay fed. Fancy & high elevation!
Mitch Benson- 100 Blk Ang & AngX Strs & Hfrs 525650#. Rec Vista Once & Vision 7 w/Somnus @ Branding, knife cut. Preconditioned and poured on 11-10, 50 days weaned in corrals, bunk & water trough broke. Weaned on Vitaferm Stress & Conserve Tubs, Protein Meal, Redmond Salt & Alfalfa/Grass Hay. No Implants. Sired by Angel Angus and Hancock Registered Bulls. Nice and
Fancy calves!
Abernathy Ranch- 100 Blk Ang & AngX Strs & Hfrs
525-550#. Rec 2 rounds Vista Once & Vision 7 w/Somnus, poured this fall. Weaned a long time. High desert, reputation calves!! Seth Jones- 100 Blk Ang & AngX Strs & Hfrs 500550#. Rec 2 rounds Vista Once SQ & Vision 7 w/Somnus, poured this fall w/ ivomec. 60 days weaned, hay fed. High desert, reputation calves!!
Steve & Trudy Slagowski- 74 Blk Ang & AngX(F1) Hfrs 480-520#.
6 Blk Ang & AngX(F1) Strs 520-600#. Rec 2 rounds Vista Once & Vision 8. Weaned over 60 days. Bunk broke. Sired by Low PAP Durbin
Creek Herefords & Diamond Peak Black Angus bulls. High elevation, fancy calves!
Huxtable & McKee- 70 Blk Ang & AngX Hfrs 550650#. Rec Vista Once SQ & Vision 7 w/Somnus @ branding & Precon 9-13. Weaned 10-8. Sired by Hancock & Northwest Angus Black Angus bulls. High elevation, High Quality Calves!!
Jay Rodewald- 57 Blk Ang & AngX Strs & Hfrs 500600#. Rec Vision 7 w/Somnus + Spur, Vista 5 & Once PMH IN @ branding & Precon, Safeguard this fall. Knife cut. Fenceline weaned 11-1-24. Bunk Broke. No growth hormones. Sired by Powerful Blk Angus bulls. Full access to minerals. High desert! Bill & Shirley Tschannen- 36 Blk Ang & AngX Strs & Hfrs 600-700#. Rec Vista Once IN, Vision 7,
Safeguard and knife cut @ brand. Vista Once SQ, Vision 7 w/Somnus, Safeguard and Clean-
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14 COW SALE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4