Wyoming Livestock Roundup 5.11.24

Quick Bits A Look Inside

Snow Report

In the 21st snow report for Water Year 2024, the state’s snowpack telemetry data reads 93% of median, with a basin high of 118% and a basin low of 0%. Last year, the state was at 117% and at 96% in 2022. The report and a map displaying basin snow water equivalent percentages of median for the state may be found at wrds.uwyo.edu/ wrds/nrcs/nrcs.html

L.E.A.D. Class

Applications are now being accepted for Wyoming Leadership, Education and Development (L.E.A.D) Class 18, which will begin in September. The deadline to apply is June 10. Eligible participants must be a Wyoming resident for at least one year and should be a minimum of 25 years old. Preference will be given to applicants involved in the ag or natural resource industries. A selection committee will interview eligible participants and select up to 16 men and women for the class. For more information or to apply, visit wylead.com

WyRED Set

Wyoming Society of Range Management and Pathfinder Ranches are partnering up for the 28th Annual Wyoming Resource Education Days (WyRED), held June 17-20. This event is great for youth and adults who want to learn more about all aspects of natural resource management. The week is spent on the ground working with local ranches and resource management groups to see conservation at work. Registration is due June 12 and can be found at forms.gle/UQzMCY8zxhR4Wf7X8/

WBC Jobs

The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) is looking for two individuals with a passion for Wyoming to join their team as a startup grants manager or a broadband manager. For more information or to apply, visit wbc. pub/startupgrantsmgr1 or wbc.pub/broadbandmgr

At the beginning of April, the U.S. Department (USDA) of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced it will discontinue the July Cattle Report

and Cotton Objective Yield Survey, as well as all county estimates for crops and livestock beginning with the 2024 production year, due to recent budget cuts. The announcement sent

a shockwave through the agriculture industry, which uses the data for various purposes.

On April 9, the same day as the NASS announcement, National Cattlemen’s

Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane stated, “It is disingenuous for the same agency which touts its commitment to

FARM BILL OUTLOOK

House and Senate release different approaches for 2024 Farm Bill

The most significant piece of legislation affecting farmers and ranchers across the U.S. is the farm bill, and after more than a year of hearings and listening sessions, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) released a title-by-title overview of his draft farm bill on May 1, making it a significant milestone. While the Agriculture Committee seeks to increase farm safety net programs, enhance crop insurance and expand conservation programs, it vows not to cut nutrition funding.

UW recognizes faculty, staff and students

With spring semester quickly coming to a close, the University of Wyoming (UW) recognized outstanding faculty, staff and students during the month of April, including a few from UW’s College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources (CALSNR).

Presidential Scholarly Achievement awards

In an April 25 press release, UW Ag News announced President Ed Seidel awarded faculty members who demonstrated high achievement in scholarship through the 2024 Presidential Scholarly Achievement Awards.

“Started by Seidel in 2022, the awards include two tracks – one for tenured faculty members and one for early-career faculty members,” reads the release. “Each track includes a monetary award and recognition at the President’s Commencement Dinner on May 9.”

“This year’s cohort of faculty receiving the Presidential Scholarly Achievement Awards show exceptional commitment to scholarship to advance their disciplines, UW and the state of Wyoming,” Seidel says. “I am grateful to have such talented faculty at UW.”

This year, tenured faculty honorees came from UW’s colleges of business and education and included Ali Bicer, associate professor of mathematics education; Todd Cherry, John S. Bugas Chair and professor of economics; Ana Houseal, professor of elementary and early education and Linda Price, professor and Dick and Maggie Chair of Business Administration.

The Presidential Scholarly Achievement Awards for

“This bill is a product of an extensive and transparent process, which included soliciting feedback from members of both political parties, stakeholder input from across the nation and some tough conversations,” Thompson states in a press release published the same day.

However, U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released a more detailed version of her farm bill after Thompson, introducing the Rural Prosperity and Food

National Beef Month

Support local producers and purchase beef products to celebrate National Beef Month

Beef is an American household staple, and ranching communities across the U.S. are stepping into the spotlight this month.

For some beef producers, the month of May is spent branding calves or turning cattle out, but it is also known as National Beef Month.

National Beef Month has been celebrated in May for over 30 years, honoring hardworking ranchers and farmers who raise quality beef for American tables, while recognizing the rich tradition of beef production.

In the 1980s, beef production thrived and consumer demand soared, but the industry still faced difficulties as producers struggled with financial hardships and volatile markets.

Promoting and celebrating the beef industry every May brings awareness and appreciation for farmers and ranchers involved in beef production and bolsters the beef product market.

The month-long celebration focuses on everything beef related, from juicy steaks and burgers to flavorful roasts. So fire up

On May 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released the Wyoming Basin and Water Supply Outlook Report for May 2024, which analyzes snowpack, precipitation, streamflow and reservoir storage across the state of Wyoming.

The report assesses the water supply outlook for the entire state of Wyoming, as well as individual basins including the Snake River, Madison Headwaters, Yellowstone River, Wind River, Big Horn River, Shoshone River, Powder River, Tongue River, Belle Fourche River, Cheyenne River, Upper North Platte River, Lower North Platte River, Laramie River,

Sweetwater River, South Platte River, Little Snake River, Upper Green River, Lower Green River and Upper Bear River basins.

Snowpack and precipitation

According to NRCS, as of May 1, snow water equivalent (SWE) across Wyoming was 93 percent of median.

The Laramie River Basin reported the highest SWE in the state at 105 percent of median, while both the Belle Fourche and Cheyenne River basins reported the lowest SWE at zero percent of median.

The Powder River Basin saw the highest amount of precipitation for the month of May at 126 percent of median,

WYLR photo

The Food Supply

When talking about the nation’s food supply, people might look at you like you’re crazy because there is always food at the grocery store.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were some shortages on grocery shelves, especially at the meat counter. Other products, like baby formula, were also in short supply, but this was due to a manufacturing issue – most of the short supply was caused by distribution issues.

Lately, we have heard about food shortages linked to climate change. I know Earth’s climate has always been changing, but I’ve never figured out the cause of these changes. I think most of it is just natural.

Those involved in agriculture realize the need for an increased food supply to fill the needs of a more populated Earth, as well as the needs of a growing middle class. The world’s agriculture industry has been very successful in improved genetic selection and modern technology to meet the world’s food supply.

Raising livestock and farming has come under fire recently as a cause of climate change, and there is a push to do away with them. While some countries have been successful in eliminating these practices, others have proven they are not the cause of climate change using improved management.

Take Iceland for instance – a country of glaciers, lava rock and a five-month growing season. They have learned to be somewhat sustainable. It is true they have to import some food into the country, but using large greenhouses and barns, they have established quite a produce, horse and sheep industry.

I had lunch in a huge greenhouse that grew tomatoes. One greenhouse had 37,000 tomato plants growing in it. There was no soil to speak of, just a two foot by two foot box around a foot high for the plant’s roots. Fully-grown plants were around 10 meters long. Most of the plant was horizontal, with the growing end vertical.

A drip system with minerals and plant food in the water dripped on the root boxes. Heat for the greenhouses came from shallow geological hot water wells, and electricity came from steam generated by local geysers.

I was there in April and there were oranges, pineapples and all of the fruits and vegetables one would find in grocery stores.

While most of the horses stayed outside and were fed hay, the sheep were in big barns all winter. They told me disease was not an issue with their genetics. If an animal leaves the island, they are never allowed back.

Some in different countries are looking for alternative meats or plant-based meats to be a protein source. It started with a lot of fanfare, but lately, interest has dropped quite a bit after people started reading the list of ingredients and real ized beef, pork and lamb are healthier to eat.

Currently, the global protein market is dominated by ani mal-sourced protein and totals about $2 trillion in revenue annually. In almost every country there are lands best suited for grazing. Proper grazing is a good tool to improve those lands.

With this amount of revenue to go around, animal-based protein should be here to stay. Grazing sure doesn’t need to be so political.

GUEST OPINIONS

I grew up the daughter of ranch managers. We did not own the places, the houses or any of the livestock – with the exception of a few good horses and dogs – but I witnessed the care, heartbreak and hard scrabble spirit of the West modeled daily by my parents.

I saw and learned firsthand what it took to make a living in and survive God’s country.

My childhood looked a lot like that of any Army brat, but in place of military bases, I spent my younger years living on a few of the most rare and incredible ranches on Earth – Heart Bar Heart Ranch in Ovando, Mont.; Elk Mountain Ranch in Wyoming; Willow Creek Ranch in Northern California, and in my adult years,

The Cost of Paradise

By Jessi Johnson

visiting my parents as they ran the B4, RDS and L-T ranches north of Sunlight Basin in Wyoming.

But living in paradise comes at a cost, and the toll nature takes on a working ranch is not for the faint of heart. You trade the flexibility to take vacations for the satisfaction of working with your hands and the fulfillment of having an impact on your immediate surroundings.

You swap urban niceties for a – hopefully – welltrained horse and dog. You give up Whole Foods stores for the practice of knowing your food and a soul-deep connection to the land. You gain understanding of the violence of nature and the impermanence of life.

I am a hunter now. I take months off of work to spend

time in the mountains pursuing elk, deer, antelope and a different kind of table fare than the homegrown beef I grew up on.

I no longer live on the working ranches of my childhood, but the lessons learned in youth have had a marrow deep impact on me.

The similarities between the hunter’s mindset and that of the old ranchers I grew up with are striking and many.

I work for the Wyoming Wildlife Federation as the government affairs director, and my job is to establish wildlife- and conservationbased policy for the state of Wyoming.

What I have witnessed in the fracture between agriculture and hunting leaves me confused and critical of behavior on both sides of the

coin, recently highlighted by the debate around House Bill 60 in the 2024 Wyoming Budget Session, regarding overpopulation of elk and costly damage to forage and private property.

When I was five, the ranch in Montana was hit by a scary and fast wildfire. Dark plumes of choking smoke, a flurry of opened gates to move livestock and horse trailers lining the roads for a quick escape are all part of a terrifying childhood core memory.

Wildlife fled before the flames, finding wetlands and riparian areas to take cover, and a small group of eight elk got mired in the mud of a beaver pond bog.

The day after the fire ripped through, my dad and

From the Publisher Dennis Sun

NCBA reacts to rule

On May 2, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) reacted to the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) final Phase Two rule amending the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which will make the process even more burdensome for livestock producers.

“In a time when the Biden administration should be focusing on reducing regulatory burdens on themselves and their partners, this new NEPA framework does the opposite. The Biden administration largely ignored the requirements Congress passed in the Fiscal Responsibility Act which would streamline NEPA processes. Instead, this final rule changes the focus of NEPA, making it more ambiguous, less targeted and nearly impossible to navigate,” said Kaitlynn Glover, NCBA executive director of Natural Resources and PLC executive director.

“This rule will make federal permitting – including for grazing permits – so much more difficult and expensive and gives radical activists groups further license to weaponize NEPA against ranchers and rural communities,” Glover added.

Legislation introduced

On May 8, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced legislation which would prevent federal government overreach on the operations of farmers and ranchers. The bill would prevent the Secretary of Agriculture from implementing any rule or regulation requiring the mandatory use of electronic identification (EID) tags or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on cattle and bison.

In January 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a proposal to require breeding cattle and bison moving interstate to have visually and electronically readable tags.

This proposed rule would also require records to be entered into a Tribal, state or federal database, allowing the federal government to access this information.

“South Dakota cattle producers don’t need Washington, D.C. bureaucrats telling them how to manage and track their livestock,” said Rounds. “USDA’s proposed RFID mandate is federal government overreach, plain and simple. I’m pleased to be introducing this legislation to block the Secretary of Agriculture from mandating the use of EID tags in cattle and bison herds. If farmers and ranchers want to use EID tags, they can do so voluntarily.”

This legislation is endorsed by the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association and R-CALF USA.

To read the bill in its entirety, visit rounds.senate. gov/imo/media/doc/rounds_rfid_legislation.pdf

Ground beef tests safe

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said all of the ground beef samples sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory for polymerase chain reaction testing were negative for highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) bird flu virus.

Farm Policy News said USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service collected 30 samples of ground beef from retail outlets in the states with dairy cattle herds that tested positive for H5N1. The national laboratory reported all samples tested negative for the virus.

“These results reaffirm the meat supply is safe,” USDA said.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says preliminary results of testing additional dairy products continue to show pasteurization inactivates the bird flu virus. The FDA has tested 297 total retail samples of pasteurized dairy products, and the results released represent tests on 201 of those samples to date.

BLM to host adoptions

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming will hold three wild horse and burro adoptions this May. Animals will be offered to qualified adopters both online and at in-person competitive bid adoptions for a $125 minimum fee.

Adoption events include the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Online Corral Adoption May 6-13, offering recently gathered mares from the McCullough Peaks Herd Management Area at wildhorsesonline.blm.gov/

On May 17, the Wheatland Off-Range Corral will host its monthly adoption event, offering up to 30 animals from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The competitive live auction will begin at 9 a.m.

On May 17-18, the Wyoming Honor Farm Adoption will offer approximately 46 trained animals, which can be previewed on May 17 from 1-3:30 p.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. on May 18, with the competitive auction beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Animals will include 30 saddle-started horses, eight halter-started horses and eight pack-trained burros.

To see the available animals, visit flickr.com/photos/134389515@N06/albums/

As part of their efforts to find every horse and burro a good home, BLM offers up to $1,000 to adopt an untrained animal. Learn more about the adoption incentive program at blm.gov/whb

For more information about the events and locations, visit blm.gov/whb/events or contact the national information center at 866-468-7826 or wildhorse@blm.gov.

Administration invests millions

The Department of the Interior announced a $147.6 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to help communities prepare and respond to water reliability challenges due to drought and other water scarcity concerns.

The funding will support 42 projects in 10 states which will build new infrastructure or upgrade existing infrastructure, recharge aquifers, advance water recycling and treatment and strengthen innovative technologies to address water scarcity challenges for water users.

For a portion of the projects, the Bureau of Reclamation is using funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to help reduce the cost-share for domestic water supplies projects which support disadvantaged communities. The selected projects will help bring clean, reliable drinking water to communities through investments in domestic water supply systems for communities that do not have reliable access to domestic water supplies.

To view a complete list of projects, visit usbr.gov/ drought/docs/2024/FY-2024-WaterSMART-Drought%20 Resiliency-Project-Grants.pdf

Bill passes House

A bill supported by Western lawmakers to remove protections for the gray wolf under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is now awaiting consideration in the Senate.

House Resolution 764 by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) would reinstate a rule approved during President Donald Trump’s administration and shield it from judicial review.

The bill, which passed on a 209 to 205 vote on April 30, would direct the U.S. Department of the Interior to remove the wolf’s protections.

“For far too long, farmers and ranchers have been powerless to defend their livestock from gray wolf attacks,” Boebert said after the vote. “Rather than celebrating the success story of the gray wolf recovery, leftists and activist judges want to cower to radical environmentalists and leave this apex predator on the ESA list in perpetuity, preventing scarce taxpayer resources from going to endangered species that actually need help being recovered.”

In late 2020, the Trump administration handed down a final rule removing the gray wolf as a protected species from the ESA. However, in February of 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California vacated the rule, and the U.S. Department of Justice is currently appealing the decision.

NEWS BRIEFS

Hog survey announced

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is contacting producers for the June Hogs and Pigs Survey. The agency will survey pork producers for detailed information on market hog and breeding stock inventories, as well as pig crop and farrowing intentions.

“According to the most recent Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report in March, there were 74.6 million hogs and pigs in the U.S.,” said Rodger Ott, director of the NASS Mountain Regional Field Office. “The June survey and resulting report will continue to provide important indicators for the industry of what changes are occurring, if any.”

NASS will mail the questionnaires in May to all producers selected for the survey. To ensure all survey participants have an opportunity to respond, NASS interviewers will contact producers who do not respond by mail or online to conduct an interview.

As with all NASS surveys, the results of this survey will be available in aggregate form only, ensuring no individual operation or producer can be identified. NASS will publish the survey results in the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report on June 27. These and all NASS reports are available online at nass.usda.gov/publications/

For state specific questions, contact USDA NASS Wyoming State Statistician Leslee Lohrenz at 800-392-3202.

Meeting set

The Pinedale Anticline Project Office Board of Directors will hold an in-person meeting on May 14, with a Zoom option. The board will review and make decisions concerning overall budget and projects for 2024.

The meeting will take place from 1-4 p.m. at the Sublette County Library in Pinedale.

The meeting is open to the public. Those who are not able to attend in person, can join via Zoom at blm. zoomgov.com/j/1601462868?pwd=UDVLOGowaHgz R3B6Z0U3R3V2YmZndz09

The meeting agenda can be found at eplanning. blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/77515/510

For more information, contact Amber Robbins at 307-367-5321 or arobbins@blm.gov.

WVM reorganizes

The shareholders of Western Video Market, Inc. (WVM) have recently made the decision to restructure the company to ensure its longevity and cement the company’s role as the marketing outlet of choice for livestock producers.

This change has been a long time in the making, but both the previous and new shareholders felt the time was right to make this transition.

“Everyone involved in this change has been a key part of the company – some from the very beginning and some in more recent years,” said John Rodgers, cofounder of WVM. “All of the participants share the same goal of providing the same personal customer service to our consignors and buyers which is the trademark of who WVM always has been and will continue to be.”

The new ownership group includes members who have been part of WVM since its beginning in 1989, including Founders Ellington Peek and John Rodgers. As part of this restructure, Peek has been named chairman emeritus in recognition of his significant contributions to livestock marketing and the formation of WVM.

The company will be kicking off the marketing season and this new chapter with a video sale to be broadcast live from Harris Ranch Resort in Coalinga, Calif. on May 2. The sale will start at 10 a.m. and can be viewed on wvmcattle.com/ or Dish 998.

Status updates requested

The Office of State Lands and Investments is requesting project status updates from all entities receiving American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding through one of three programs appropriated to the State Loan and Investment Board – human and health services, water and sewer projects and/ or local government.

Those who are eligible should submit a survey for each project funded through one of the three above identified ARPA programs. Be sure to submit surveys individually for each project.

Surveys must be submitted no later than June 1.

Individuals with executed contracts, engineering/design and/or construction can e-mail surveys to slf-grantsandloans@wyo.gov using the grant number as the subject title.

UPCOMING SALE SCHEDULE

Florida bans lab-grown meat

On May 1, the first bill banning lab-grown meat was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL). The bill prohibits the manufacture for sale, sale, holding or offering for sale or distribution of cultivated meat in the state.

“Today, Florida is fighting back against the global elite’s plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish or bugs to achieve their authoritarian goals,” said DeSantis. “Our administration will continue to focus on investing in our local farmers and ranchers, and we will save our beef.”

“We’re fighting back against an ideology which ultimately wants to eliminate meat production in the U.S. and around the globe,” DeSantis said. “In the state of Florida, we’ve put down the marker very clearly. We stand with agriculture. We stand with cattle ranchers. We stand with farmers because we understand it’s important for the backbone of the state. It’s important for our culture. It’s important for our heritage, so the bill I’m going to sign today is going to basically say ‘Take your fake, lab-grown meat elsewhere. We’re not doing that in the state of Florida.’”

Currently, lab-grown meat is only approved to be sold in the U.S. and Singapore. Italy was the first country in the European Union to ban lab-grown meat, a decision made in February 2024.

USBBC elects officers

The U.S. Beef Breeds Council (USBBC) met in late April to elect new officers to preside over the organization and discuss upcoming goals.

Vice President Mark Anderson of the North American Limousin Foundation oversaw the meeting and election of officers. Anderson was elected president and will serve a two-year term. American Angus Association Chief Executive Officer Mark McCully was elected as well and will serve as vice president.

The USBBC is comprised of U.S. beef breed executives. While addressing shared concerns and goals all breed associations are faced with, USBBC also oversees the appointment of the Ultrasound Guidelines Council executive director and board of directors.

“The U.S. Beef Breeds Council is an opportunity for the executive officers of the national beef breed associations to network, exchange ideas and identify common ground where we can speak as one voice to support America’s beef industry in areas of critical and common interest” says Anderson.

Sellers

Lot 1 – JSA Greater Good 3136 – Price: $28,000

DOB: 3/28/23 Sire: G A R

Greater Good Dam’s Sire: Baldridge Bronc EPDs: BW: +1.6, WW: +80, YW: +144 and Milk: +23 Buyer: Wicks

Cattle, Richardton, N.D.

Lot 5 – JSA Three Rivers 3162 – Price: $16,000

DOB: 3/30/23 Sire: Ellingson Three Rivers 8062

Dam’s Sire: JMB Traction

292 EPDs: BW: +4.2, WW: +89, YW: +162 and Milk: +32 Buyer: Don Fish, Oral, S.D.

Lot 11 – JSA Three Rivers 3326 – Price: $14,500

DOB: 3/25/23 Sire: Ellingson Three Rivers 8062

Dam’s Sire: S Power Point

5503 EPDs: BW: +5.7, WW: +104, YW: +179 and Milk: +19 Buyer: Darc Duprel, Vale, S.D.

Lot 3 – JSA Three Rivers 3143 – Price: $10,500 DOB: 3/28/23 Sire: Ellingson Three Rivers 8062

Dam’s Sire: HA Cowboy Up 5405 EPDs: BW: +3.3, WW: +89, YW: +157 and Milk: +26 Buyer: Don Fish, Oral, S.D.

Lot 86 – JSA 8275 3332 – Price: $10,500 DOB: 4/25/23 Sire: JSA Tour Of Duty 8275 Dam’s Sire: V A R Generation 2100 EPDs: BW: +2.6, WW: +77, YW: +124 and Milk: +32 Buyer: Darc Duprel, Vale, S.D.

Trace Lewis 45 Blk/Bwf 1st

early-career faculty were given to several instructors in CALSNR, including Grace Shearrer, assistant professor of human nutrition and food; Ellen Aikens, assistant professor of zoology and physiology in the School of Computing and the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources; Curt Davidson, assistant professor of outdoor recreation and tourism management in the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and Riley Bernard, assistant professor of zoology and physiology.

Other awardees include Dana Caulton, assistant professor of atmospheric science in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences; Katelyn Kotlarek, assistant professor of craniofacial disorders and imaging in the College of Health Sciences; Alison Mercier, assistant professor of elementary education in the College of Education; Kasey Stanton, assistant professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences and Patrick Witz, assistant professor of accounting and finance in the College of Business. UW School of Graduate Education awards

On April 24, the UW School of Graduate Education and Graduate Council recognized graduate students and their mentors for outstanding teaching and research.

In recognition of the commitment to graduate

student mentoring by an outstanding faculty member with 10 or more years of academic experience, the 2024 Distinguished Graduate Faculty Mentor Award was presented to Department of Modern and Classical Languages Professor Conxita Domenech.

The John P. Ellbogen Outstanding Graduate Assistant Teaching Award was presented to five individuals, including Department of Psychology’s Christopher Cannon of Raleigh, N.C.; Division of Kinesiology and Health’s Aimee Gray of Pinedale; Ecology, Evolution and Life Sciences Program’s Jonathan Lautenbach of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Creative Writing Program’s Lena Newlin of Laramie and Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management’s Cesar “Gerardo” Freyre Pinto of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

Additionally, UW recognizes a graduate student for their exemplary master’s thesis with the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award, as well as a graduate student for their exemplary doctoral dissertation with the Outstanding Dissertation Award.

ChooiKim Lau of Laramie, a student in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management, received the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award, while Tayler LaSharr of Glendale,

Ariz., a student in the Program of Ecology and Evolution, was presented the Outstanding Dissertation Award.

Corrine Knapp, an associate professor in the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, was the recipient of the EarlyCareer Graduate Faculty Mentor Award, which is given to a faculty member with less than six years of experience for their commitment to mentoring graduate students.

The Mid-Career Graduate Faculty Mentor Award, given to a member with six to 10 years of experience at UW, was presented to Department of Plant Sciences Associate Professor Randa Jabbour and Division of Kinesiology and Health Associate Professor Evan Johnson.

A new award, the UW School of Graduate Education Dean’s Distinguished Service Award, was given this year to a UW administrator or staff member for their exceptional service to the university’s graduate students.

The first individual to receive this award was Zebadiah Hall, vice president of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Top first-year instructors Earlier in April, 36 UW instructors – including four from UW CALSNR – were presented with the 2024 Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Awards as well.

“PIE Award recipients were nominated online by first- and second-year students, and then they were

Presidential Scholarly Achievement Award – Grace Shearrer, assistant professor of human nutrition and food in the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources, was one of the faculty members recognized by President Ed Seidel. UW Ag News photo

selected by a committee based on the number of nominations and students’ comments. The committee reviewed nearly 400 nominations this year,” explains an April 11 UW Ag News press release.

PIE Award recipients receive a pie from UW Residence Life and Dining Services, and five-time recipients get an individualized pie plate.

The four CALSNR instructors who received the award are Timothy Collier and Brian Sebade of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Mark Lyford of the Department of Botany and Jonathon Prather of the Life Sciences Program.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

PIE Award honorees – Four instructors from the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture,

among the 36 recipients of this year’s Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award honorees. Pictured from left to right are Jonathan Prather, Brian Sebade, Tim Collier and Mark Lyford. UW Ag News photo

the whole crew of ranch hands spent the next 12 hours pulling every one of those elk out successfully. One cow elk spent the night in the calving barn with heaters on to recover.

I learned that day part of the responsibility of taking care of the land is to also take care of the wildlife which depend on it.

One winter when the snow was piled high enough the elk could jump the stackyard fences, my dad and I spent a week sleeping in a small camper with our two cow dogs, waking up a few times a night to shoot cracker shells over the hungry and circling backs of elk to haze them out of the hay and letting the dogs out to

and the Lower Green River Basin saw the least amount of precipitation at 52 percent of median.

Streamflow

For May through September, USDA NRCS fore-

chase lingering herds out of the area.

I learned a few choice cusswords that season and watched my dad run himself ragged trying to keep the elk from destroying fences, hay and our ability to make it through the winter.

The stress and cost to live alongside iconic wildlife is not always remembered by those who do not go through it.

The debate around House Bill 60, which ultimately failed in the Senate this year, left me remembering both lessons.

As a hunter, the idea of thriving elk herds in the present day is a story of incredible conservation success – a species which 150

years ago we thought may go extinct has made a comeback of the century. A herd which is 4,000 animals over objective is celebrated in the hunting and conservation community.

As a rancher, I understand this comeback has come at a cost. Landscapes have changed – we have more humans and less habitat, more private and public lands with differing managements and constraints. Markets have changed, ranching is less productive and certainly less economically stable than it was.

Thriving elk herds means more work, more damage and a notch tighter on the belt loops. It is understandable a population over objective is met with frustration.

This difference in sen-

timent has driven a wedge between the communities of agriculture and hunters, so much so, it has risen to the level of legislative debate, and our common values have been lost to rhetoric about access for hunting and conflict around funding.

What I am starting to believe is these issues should not be solved at the statute level but rather the solution lies within hard work of both communities to lean on the bad behavior within our respective ranks.

Hunters – access to private land to hunt is a privilege, treat it as such. Close gates, stay on the roads, set up access asks early and offer work trades before hunting season. Get after other hunters who do not follow the rules.

Understand a great many

of our wildlife success in conservation history is due to the large tracts of connected private land and working landscapes. Sometimes we have to pay for some of it to help make ends meet and keep working lands open. This is not a handout, it is an understanding and acknowledgment of value.

Ranchers – part of the responsibility of working land is working with the wildlife. They were here first. A large portion of what makes Wyoming so special to live in is it is the last state that has all of the big game animals and large carnivores.

This requires more work on your part to help mitigate it and to find balance in management between livestock and wildlife. Lean on your

neighbors who forget that. Our common values outnumber our differences. The table we sit at is small and neighborly, and it is the greatest blessing of Wyoming. Our children grow up knowing where their food comes from, the realities of nature and the responsibilities to ourselves.

We must not forget we bear the cost of this paradise together. Wildlife and working lands must work hand in hand if we are to save the last best place.

Jessi Johnson is the Wyoming Wildlife Federation director of government affairs and can be reached at jessijohnson@wyomingwildlife.org. This opinion column was originally published in the spring 2024 edition of CowCountry Magazine

casts streamflow yields from all basins in Wyoming – except the Green River, Little Snake River and Cheyenne River basins – at 82 percent of median.

For these three excep-

tions, median streamflow yields from May through July are predicted to report 86 percent of median in the Green River Basin, 99 percent of median in the Little Snake River Basin and 60 percent of median in the Cheyenne River Basin.

According to USDA

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NRCS, streamflow yields for individual basins across Wyoming include the Powder River Basin at 67 percent of median, the Tongue River Basin at 71 percent of median, the Yellowstone River Basin at 84 percent of median, the Shoshone River Basin at 87 percent of median and the Lower North Platte River Basin at 91 percent of median.

Additionally, the Upper North Platte River, Wind River, Big Horn River, Laramie River and Sweetwater River basins are forecast to yield 104 percent, 105 percent, 105 percent, 107 percent and 112 percent of median, respectively.

Reservoir storage

USDA NRCS further notes reservoir storage across the entire state of Wyoming averaged 106 percent of median.

All reservoirs reported numbers near or above median, with reservoirs in the Belle Fourche River

Basin at 93 percent of median, reservoirs in the Lower North Platte River Basin at 97 percent of median and reservoirs in the Cheyenne River Basin at 100 percent of median.

Likewise, reservoirs in both the Wind River and Big Horn River basins reported numbers near median at 101 percent, and the Lower Green River Basin at 102 percent.

Reservoirs in the Little Snake River Basin and the Upper Green River Basin,

as well as the Buffalo Bill Reservoir on the Shoshone, had storage numbers above median, respectively reporting 112 percent, 117 percent and 118 percent of median. Reservoirs in the Upper North Platte River Basin reported the highest numbers at 121 percent of median.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.

Multi-Party liquidation auction Saturday May 18th – Starting @ 10AM 2092 Ridley Rd., Cheyenne WY

Tractors, Trailers, Vehicles, & Equipment • John Deere 6115D MFWD tractor w. 563 loader & grapple. LHR, 3 pt., dual PTO, dual remotes, 18.4-38 tires. Sells w/ 2600 hrs. SN 1P6115DKAH020951 • 2009 Easley GN Stock trailer. 6.8’X20’ w/ 3 cuts (4x8x8), 4’ side ramp, & slider rear gate • welding trailer that will incl. a Bobcat 250 welder/generator (CC/CV, AC/DC) w/ 570 hrs., 10K generator, oxy/acetylene torch, • (2) portable panel trailers that will haul up to 50 panels per trailer • Tow Master 24’ GN flatbed trailer. (20’ deck w/ a 4’ dovetail) W/ attached ramps, 10K axels, “D” ring tiedowns every 2’, elect. jack • John Deere 4020. 101 HP 2WD tractor w/ cab, 3 pt., & PTO • 8’ wide tandem disc • John Deere drill w/ dbl. disk openers, grain & grass seed boxes, packer wheels. • International 3688 tractor w/ cab. 18.4-38 rear tires, 3 pt., 2 remotes, 1000/540 pto, • Ford 3910 Diesel utility tractor. 3 pt., • (2) batwing mowers incl. a B&E 20’ mower • Lely Roterra rotary tiller • 2000 International Navistar 9100i4x2 semi truck. 10 sp. Trans., Cummins eng., • 2004 Ford F250 crew cab w/ V10 gas eng., 4WD, manual trans., steel flatbed, • 1988 Ford Bronco II. 4 WD. Auto trans. Showing 78K miles. Accuracy not confirmed • 2006 Ford F150 crew cab shortbox w/ 5.4L Triton eng., custom wheels • 1999 Ford F350 crew cab dually w/ 7.3 diesel eng. Hay, Fencing Material & Misc • (10) 21 bale bundles of 2nd cutting, grass/alfalfa mix hay. 30/70 ratio, stored inside, horse hay quality. 2023 crop • asst. of fence posts, both steel & wood posts in a variety of sizes. • lg. offering of guardrail • mult. Pcs. Of decking from a former pedestrian catwalk. • extensive offering of woven wire in good shape • 14’ cattle guard with side wings Light Plant, Skid Loader Attachments, Shop, Riding Mower & Misc. • 2 light plants: Magnum unit w/ 5304 hrs. Model MLT4060MMH, SN 071871 W/ A 6000 watt generator • Handy Attachment rotating pole clamp. Skid Loader attachment. Model HSRC12 • set of 4 solid skid loader tires. (10-16.5 L514PR) • Sweepster skid loader mount broom • 50 sticks of 2 3/8” pipe • lg. offering of asst. structural steel incl. rectangular, round, & square tubing ranging in size from 1 ¼” to 3” • asst. of jointed sucker rod in a variety of diameters • Hustler “O” turn riding mower. 72” deck, converted to propane, (gas tank is available to switch it back to gas) 883 hrs. w/ the Hyper-Drive Industrial drive system. • 7 spare propane bottles (will fit the Hustler mower, fork lifts, etc.) • Jacobsen LF100 Reel mower, diesel • Storage trailers, portable sheds, upright units • Mult. Semi storage trailers • 2 portable steel framed buildings. 1. 8’X12’, completely surrounded w/ OSB, fully insulated & wired w/ outlets (needs only to be plugged into 110) w/

in pots. McnaMee auction co, llc 307-532-4976 or 307-534-5156 www.mcnameeauctioncompany.com

WATER continued from page 1

WYLR photo

By Paul Dykstra

CAB Market Insider

Federally-inspected cattle slaughter during the last week of April totaled 613,000 head, down 7,000 on the prior week. Aside from this downtrend, April averaged 611,000 head on an impressive uptick from March’s abysmal 589,000 weekly average.

Slaughter capacity improvement seen in fed steers and heifers

All of the improvement in recent slaughter capacity utilization has come in the fed steer and heifer segment. Comparing the past four weeks in April to the prior four in March shows a 4.5 percent or 21,000 head weekly average increase.

The year-over-year contrast for the two months shows quite a difference with March’s slow pace totaling just 95 percent of a year ago, while the April total was two percent larger than a year ago.

The remaining one-fifth of federally-inspected cattle harvest is comprised of cull dairy and beef cows, plus a tiny 1.5 percent bulls. Together, these head counts

have drawn dramatically lower by 14 percent year to date.

The trend has been sharply lower since early February when 2024 cow counts peaked at 127,000 head that week, down to the latest 109,000 head confirmed total in early April.

Fed cattle prices showed resiliency during the last week of April with a slightly higher average of $183.10 per hundredweight (cwt).

Early trade in Texas at $181.91 per cwt represented the low end of the range, while Iowa and Minnesota topped the market with an average of $185.49 percent cwt, highlighted by the region’s highest reported $187 per cwt.

Weakness in boxed beef values are currently the important theme as spring grilling demand has yet to create any signs of surge in prices. The comprehensive U.S. Department of Agriculture cutout resting at just $299 per cwt is six cents per cwt lower than a year ago and well below the mid-

Protein exports reported

March exports of U.S. pork were steady with last year’s volume and edged higher in value, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Pork exports totaled 260,430 metric tons (mt) in March, up 0.1 percent from a year ago, valued at $740.8 million – up two percent year-over-year and the seventh highest on record.

March shipments to South Korea were among the largest on record, while exports also increased substantially to Central America, Colombia, Oceania, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Pork export value per head slaughtered averaged $70.85, the highest in nearly three years and the fifth highest on record.

March beef exports totaled 108,218 mt, down 10 percent from the large volume posted a year ago but still the highest of 2024. Export value was $889.9 million, down slightly from a year ago but the highest in nine months. March export value equated to $454.62 per head of fed slaughter, the highest since mid-2022.

March highlights included the third-largest volume on record to the Caribbean, including an all-time high to the Dominican Republic, and shipments to the Middle East strengthened significantly. While March volumes to South Korea and Mexico were below last year, export value still trended higher.

March exports of U.S. lamb were 35 percent below last year at 246 mt, while export value fell five percent to $1.5 million. But, March shipments to the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada all trended significantly higher than a year ago.

First quarter lamb exports fell five percent in volume to 819 mt, but value increased 19 percent to $4.7 million. Value growth was led by the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada, but exports also trended higher to Taiwan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

A detailed summary of the first quarter export results for U.S. beef, pork and lamb, including market-specific highlights, is available at usmef.org

March $315 per cwt yearto-date high.

Price spreads across the carcass quality spectrum are notably narrower at present compared to the three-year average, as marbling levels and quality grades are holding at record historical levels in recent data.

Combined Choice and Prime carcasses account for 84 percent of the carcass mix while the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) carcass certification rate two weeks ago was 40.9 percent.

Heavy carcass weights recently drove Prime carcass tonnage above a year ago, while Choice supplies are nearly par. The latest increases in slaughter should reflect more of the same.

Middle meats lower, ends hold up

Beef carcass cutout values have continued a precipitous decline since midMarch, tracking a five percent lower trend in this period. This is firmly

against the trend charted in the previous three-year average when the comprehensive cutout moved 9.5 percent higher in the same six weeks.

Market observers may pin the cause on the announcement of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cows for the apparent softer demand. This factor was strongly causative with the precipitous decline in live cattle futures contract prices beginning in late March, but is likely less correlated to the dip in boxed beef prices.

Smaller weekly slaughter levels would seemingly spell higher cattle prices, especially in the spring. But, larger April head counts resulted in 4.4 percent larger fed cattle totals than last year in the past four weeks.

With fed cattle carcass weights 27 pounds heavier than a year ago as well, the resulting fed beef tonnage suddenly landed well above

last year in the past month, just a few thousand head short of the same period in 2022.

Short-term production volume is not nearly as low as it was in March.

Another lesser-known feature of today’s beef market is the price weakness of the highest-valued middle meats.

Ribeye and tenderloin prices have recently fallen below a year ago. Wholesale CAB brand ribeyes in the last week of April’s report averaged $9.70 per pound, a dollar lower than a year ago and lower than the same week in any of the previous three years.

CAB tenderloins during the last week of April averaged $13.42 per pound, $3.28 per pound lower than the record-high $16.70 per pound set the same week last year.

The third coveted middle meat steak item – the 0x1 strip loin – stands in contrast to the former two

cuts, lately listed at $8.30 per pound, a premium of $1.54 per pound higher than a year ago.

Strip loin prices pressed rapidly higher from February through March, hitting the $10 per pound ceiling before pulling slightly lower in April. End users have shown greater demand for strip loins even at this spring’s elevated levels, preferring to substitute them over higher-valued ribeyes.

A degree of waning demand for ribeyes and tenderloins may be a sign of the times, economically, here in the U.S. This is further evidenced by stronger year-over-year prices recently for some chuck and round items, precipitated by sharply lower cull cow slaughter and lean grinding beef availability.

Paul Dykstra is the director of supply management and analysis at CAB. He can be reached at pdykstra@certifiedangusbeef. com.

Market Report • May 8, 2024

I’m really hard on myself. I always have been.

I spend a lot of time thinking about all of the mistakes I’ve made in my life – all the cows I bought but shouldn’t have and the ones I should’ve bought but didn’t, rolling a forklift over an embankment, burning my six-year-old hand on the hot exhaust stack on my dad’s Kenworth, rounding over the threads on a half million dollar compressor in the oilfields, thinking I could make a living in the cattle business without any land or money, throwing an egg

IT'S THE PITTS Whoops! AG of Heart

by Lee Pitts

at the principal’s daughter and getting kicked out of school for three days as a result.

I think you get the picture.

Every time I get depressed and down on myself, I realize there’s a good chance most of what is good in American life came about as a result of someone’s mistake. This goes all the way back to our beginning. After all, Christopher Columbus meant to sail to Asia, not America. In 1886, a pharmacist was trying to concoct a tonic for people who were

BY AMANDA RADKE

Around the Dining Room Table

Gathered around the table is where the best memories are made.

Families come together. Nourishing food is passed around. Heads bow in

tired, nervous or had sore teeth. When he and his assistant tasted the concoction, they found it to be lipsmacking good.

When the assistant cooked up a second batch, he made the mistake of using carbonated water instead of water, and today, people all over the world drink over a billion cans and bottles of Coca Cola a day.

I think you can guess what William Frisbee invented after making the mistake of ordering far too many pie pans for his baking company in Connecticut.

Kimberly Clark was in the business of making filters for gas masks in World War I, but after the war ended, they had so many left over, they advertised the filters to women for taking off their makeup at night. When women complained their husbands were using them to blow

prayer. Laughter and stories are shared. Serious discussions are had. A pause to reflect. A moment to regroup. A meal made with love, received by those you love most.

As I think about some of my favorite moments in life, chances are it was spent at the table sharing a meal with someone I cherish.

As a kid, meals were squeezed in between the

their noses in, Kleenex was invented.

When one of the workers forgot to turn off a soap making machine when he left for lunch, too much air got into the soap. When the worker returned to work, he discovered his mistake produced a soap that floated on water. People really liked it because it came to the top of the tub when they lost it, and Ivory Soap was born.

When Ruth Wakefield was using a cookie recipe dating back to the 1830s, she didn’t have any chocolate powder so she cut up a Nestle chocolate bar thinking it would melt. When she took the cookies out of the oven, chocolate chip cookies were invented, and a grateful nation has gobbled them up ever since.

Charles Goodyear was trying create rubber that didn’t melt if it got too hot

business of running the family farm. It didn’t matter how busy we were, somehow my mom managed to put together a hot meal for us to refuel before we got back to work, and she always made it feel special, even in the busy seasons.

The table was always set. Dessert always followed a meal. And she was always, always ready for unexpected guests to pop in – they never went hungry – because that’s how she loved.

Perhaps she learned it from her mother and grandmother. They had a huge garden and harvested as much as possible each year. Much love and work was put into planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, prepping, canning and storing away for those cold winter days.

Whether it was a hot crockpot of chili or beef stew waiting for us after a long morning of pushing snow and feeding cattle in a blizzard or a cold glass of lemonade and ham and cheese sandwiches served on the tailgate of the pickup out in the hay field, I realize it wasn’t the food that makes those moments stick out in my memory, it was who I shared the meal with.

Life in production agriculture isn’t always easy, but when you have each

or shatter when it got too cold when he accidentally dropped a blob of rubber mixed with sulfur on a hot stove. Today you ride on the result.

Just think, had it not been for his mistake there’d be no Goodyear blimp at football games.

In 1903 when a shipload of coffee beans from Europe to America got waterlogged, Dr. Ludwig Roselius roasted the beans anyway and accidentally discovered they were 97 percent caffeine-free.

Potato chips came about in 1853 when a chef named George Crum lost patience with a frequent customer who constantly complained his French fries were too thick. As a joke, Crum sliced a potato into paper-thin slices, and the customer and everyone else loved his potato chips.

You gotta love the fact

other, you have it all.

I recently gathered around the table for a meal shared with 500 beautiful women at the Farmer’s Cooperative Ladies Night in Crete, Neb. I was invited to speak on the joys and challenges of agriculture and the important role women play in it all.

A sold-out event and a great crowd, I was honored to share my message with these women.

It was an evening of celebration, laughter and tears and of reminding each other we aren’t alone in this journey. We have each other. We have community. We have our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

And while working the land and tending to the livestock is so fundamentally important and many of these women have off-farm jobs, as well, what society tends to forget and overlook is the most important role women play is loving and nurturing our families.

Yet, in the hustle and bustle of life, we have abandoned some of these simple truths. Our kids don’t need fancy vacations or the latest gadget. What they need is a mom and a dad who love them, who spend time with them, who instill in them strong values and who prepare them for the future.

I was struck by all of

chips were invented by a guy named Crum.

Post-it notes were mistakenly invented in 1968 when a 3M researcher was trying to make a better adhesive and ended up with one that was hardly sticky at all. Another 3M researcher was a member of his church choir and used the semi-sticky glue on bookmarks in his hymnal. Now one wonders how we ever lived without Postit notes.

I could go on and on.

Penicillin was the result of a mistake, as was the pacemaker. Mistakes aren’t always bad things. In fact, if you read about all of the mistakes which resulted in wonderful and even life-saving products, one realizes maybe the key to success in life is to make more mistakes more often.

But, I could be mistaken about that.

this as I presented my message to these women.

While celebrating what makes the heart of rural America great, I was inspired by a lady in the audience who had four children, 13 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. I’m quite certain the days were long at times in those early days, but as they say, the years are so very short.

As she spoke of her family, you could just instantly see the pride, joy and contentment. She had done her job well, and no matter where life takes her, it’s the family around her who makes life worthwhile. Are young people hearing this message? Do they truly know the value of having family and community to wrap around and support them all the days of their lives?

As I wrapped up my speech that night, I acknowledged America faces some mountainous challenges. However, the solutions lie with us, right at home in the heart of rural America. When we gather around the table, goodness abounds. But we must prioritize it. We must prioritize family. We must extend the invite to our neighbor and love them well. And if we support those values and ideals, small rural towns will thrive.

FARM BILL

Security (RPFS) Act.

The RPFS Act is similar to the Agriculture Committee’s farm bill draft, aiming to expand crop insurance and conservation programs, but it makes greenhouse gas reductions a major focus of the proposal and protects the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) recent changes to the Thrifty Food Plan to raise Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

According to a statement released by Stabenow, “This is a serious proposal which reflects bipartisan priorities to keep farmers farming, families fed and rural communities strong. The foundation of every successful farm bill is built on holding together the broad, bipartisan coalition of farmers, rural communities, nutrition and hunger advocates, researchers, conservationists and the climate community.”

Thompson continues, “Each title of the farm bill reflects a commitment to the American farmer and viable pathways to funding those commitments and is equally responsive to the politics of the 118th Congress.”

Stabenow adds, “I welcome my Republican colleagues to take it seriously and rejoin us at the negotiating table so we can finish our work by the end of the year. Farmers, families and rural communities cannot wait any longer on the 2024 Farm Bill.”

Thompson hopes for unanimous support in this

endeavor, which would bring stability to producers while protecting the nation’s food security and revitalizing rural America. He intends to move the bill through by Memorial Day.

Key points

The 2024 Farm Bill framework provides a titleby-title summary of key points.

Under the commodities title summary, the bill proposes increasing support for the Price Loss Coverage and Agriculture Risk Coverage programs, modernizing marketing loans and sugar policy, bolstering dairy programs and enhancing disaster programs by expanding eligibility for assistance.

According to the conservation title summary, the bill proposes to reallocate $14.4 billion in Inflation Reduction Act conservation dollars and enhance working land programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program while promoting agriculture.

The trade title summary explains expanding the reach and impact of the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program mitigates global food insecurity while providing U.S. producers new markets, improving local economies and lessening the damage of this administration’s ineffective trade agenda.

Under the nutrition title, the summary focuses on

supporting access to benefits for families formerly disallowed from receiving them, investing in food distribution programs, promoting program integrity and advancing policies related to healthy eating, healthy behaviors and healthy outcomes.

U.S. producers borrow more capital in a single season than most Americans do in their entire lives, and with interest rates exploding, it has created challenges for younger and less established producers. The credit title summary offers solutions to help producers start and maintain their operations.

Programs offered by USDA Rural Development play a vital role in enhancing rural life and fostering economic growth.

According to the rural development title summary, the bill outlines the long history of bipartisan support for rural development initiatives and implements essential improvements to ensure a robust rural economy.

Digging deeper

Keeping U.S. agriculture at the forefront of innovation and productivity through cutting-edge research, the bill’s research, Extension and related matters title summary focuses on supporting agricultural research facilities, maintaining funding for Extension programs and funding scholarships for students at 1,890 institutions.

Under the forestry title summary, the bill promotes forest management through incentivizing public-private partnerships, revitalizing rural communities while reducing wildfire risk and improving forest health to ensure healthy

and productive forests.

Another section of the 2024 Farm Bill focuses on energy. This title summary addresses the need to increase access to energy systems and provide efficiency updates for farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses while encouraging growth and innovation for biofuels, bioproducts and related feedstocks.

Critical investments to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and protect plant health are discussed under the horticulture, marketing and regulatory reform title summary and delivers commonsense regulatory reforms necessary to relieve U.S. farmers and ranchers from overregulation.

The crop insurance title summary discusses how agricultural producers are greatly affected by numerous factors outside of their control, ranging from

extreme weather to geopolitical instability.

It further states crop insurance – a vital risk management tool – needs to be available to help producers manage the unique risks of farming and is delivered through an effective publicprivate partnership in which the federal government shares in the cost of the premiums, which would otherwise be unaffordable for most farmers.

The last section of the 2024 Farm Bill is a miscellaneous category. In this title summary, the bill brings together provisions related to livestock health and management, foreign animal disease preparedness, young and beginning farmers and other key areas.

The miscellaneous title directs additional resources to protect the entire U.S. livestock and poultry industry in the U.S. from foreign animal diseases.

The next step in the 2024 Farm Bill process will be the House Agriculture Committee’s markup on May 23. Committee members will have the opportunity to offer amendments to the chairman’s bill, speak for or against individual provisions and vote on whether to advance the bill to a floor vote. Currently, the Senate markup date has yet to be announced, but changes can occur through floor amendments and during a Conference Committee between the House and Senate. Keep an eye on next week’s edition of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup for an outline on the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act proposed by Stabenow. Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

WYLR photo

Accounting for Risk

Getting Started in Ag: Risk Scenario Planning

These are challenging times to be involved in commercial agriculture. Depending on what enterprise mix your farm or ranch is involved in, your markets may be good or bad. Grain markets are experiencing low prices compared to just a few years ago, while hay markets are spotty. Cattle markets are at or near record highs, but remain extremely volatile; prices can shift dramatically in just a few days.

If you are new or just starting out in production agriculture, it is imperative that you account for as much uncertainty in your operation as possible and develop a solid risk management plan to address it. Every level of production and planning requires at least some risk management. It is important that a manager is able to properly recognize and address inherent risk not just in the production side of their business, but also in the many planning and budgeting aspects as well. Accurate budgets can help you efficiently allocate resources to the most profitable outcomes and achieve your longterm objectives.

Risk Scenario Planning Concept

Partial budgeting is an important part of risk management. The basic premise of a partial budget is to determine the potential effect on net income from a proposed change in a business or enterprise. Examples of these changes could include expansion, a machinery or equipment purchase, crop rotation changes, a change in marketing strategy, or choosing between custom hiring and purchasing equipment.

A partial budget categorizes potential decisions into four areas: added revenues,

reduced expenses, reduced revenues and added expenses. The net effect of a decision equals the potential benefits (added revenue and reduced expenses) minus the potential costs (reduced revenues and added expenses).

From a risk management perspective, the primary challenge posed by partial budgets lies in their dependency on estimated values. Projected figures frequently fail to adequately consider variable yields, prices, or expenses, ultimately leading to an incomplete accounting for inherent risks. This shortfall often arises due to the complexities involved in accurately quantifying these variables, potentially leaving decision-makers exposed to unforeseen financial vulnerabilities.

Partial budgets are often simply a “best guess” or forecast of the value for a given variable. The problem arises when a budget and the subsequent decision is based on these assumptions without also accounting for variability. For example, if you are looking at changing from one crop to another, what price should you use to calculate the expected revenue for the new crop? If this price changes,

how will it affect the partial budget used in your decision-making process? Finally, what’s the probability that the change in cropping practice will result in a positive net return?

The Risk Scenario Planning (RSP) tool and the online learning module developed by RightRisk.org were designed to give managers a way to account for at least some of this uncertainty by assigning a range of probable outcomes associated with a change in certain variables, such as prices or yields. This can help account for at least some of the variability and result in better production decisions.

RSP Module from RightRisk.org

It is important to remember that risk doesn’t necessarily imply a negative outcome, but instead an uncertain outcome that could be positive, negative or neutral. One point of risk management planning is to reduce the chances of negative outcomes and increase the chances for positive outcomes. Risk management should be as much about

James Sedman is a consultant to the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics in the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources, and John Hewlett is a farm and ranch management specialist in the department. Hewlett may be reached at (307) 766-2166 or hewlett@uwyo.edu.

The RightRisk Analytics Toolbox contains several risk analytics tools, covering a wide range of agricultural risk management areas and issues such as budgeting, forage leasing, machinery costs and whole farm analysis.

maximizing positive opportunities as it is about minimizing negative outcomes.

The RSP module provides an overview of the different types of risk: financial, production, human, institutional and marketing/price. The Risk Management Framework section of the module discusses how to implement a solid risk management culture for your business. Effective risk management should be viewed as a competitive advantage, proactive response, a priority and an integral part of the organization.

In addition to explaining each level of the Risk Management Framework, the module demonstrates how to apply the framework to an individual operation.

RSP Tool From RightRisk.org

The Risk Scenario Planning (RSP) tool was designed as a partial budgeting resource to eliminate as much of the “best guess” problem as possible. The tool is arranged in the form of a typical partial budget, with sections for added and reduced costs and returns.

The tool’s analysis section challenges producers to decide which variables should be allowed to fluctuate. This unique feature offers users the chance to enter a range of data—minimum, maximum and most likely— for up to two variables, such as price and yield, under consideration. The tool then generates a probability distribution showing the range of potential outcomes and their associated probabilities, as well as the estimated net benefit given the range of variables entered.

Users can read off the probabilities for various potential outcomes estimated by the analysis, providing a much clearer picture of the potential impact of the decision compared to the “best guess” approach (using a single value for the uncertain variable).

The probability curves generated by the RSP tool illustrate the range of outcomes that might be expected, as well as the most likely outcome. This tool can be extremely useful because it allows users to select and analyze which variables have the greatest effect on estimated net benefits.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

OBITUARIES

Mary Scott

Jan. 13, 1937 – April 27, 2024

Mary Catherine (McClure) Scott passed away peacefully on April 27 with family by her side.

She was born Jan. 13, 1937 in Gillette to Lloyd and Matilda “Tillie” (Gregerson) McClure. Mary was raised on the family ranch west of Gillette, along with her three sisters Lois, Meta and Linda.

She married Marion Harold Scott on Jan. 31, 1953, and she graduated from Campbell County

The impact of fungal pathogens on global agriculture is staggering, with gray mold fungus alone infecting more than 200 plant species and causing losses exceeding $10 billion annually worldwide.

Similarly, the rice blast fungus annually destroys more than 50 million tons of rice – enough to feed one billion people.

An increase in fungicide application has given rise to resistance to these devastating pathogens. The changing population dynamics of fungal pathogens under global warming also make monitoring and prevention increasingly difficult.

A University of Wyo-

High School in 1955 through correspondence classes due to marriage.

She also gave birth to their first two daughters during this time – Marilyn and Debbie. She was valedictorian of her class, although it was not recognized by the school because of her marriage – a custom at the time.

Mary and Marion had two more daughters, Cathy and Cindy, and raised their family north of Gillette on the family ranch known as the P Cross Bar. The couple raised beef cattle and were proud of their guided hunting operation, P Cross Bar Trophy Hunts, both of which still operate today.

Mary loved the Lord, her family, hunting, fishing, scoring heads as a Master Measurer for Safari Club, photography – for which she received many awards at county fair – gar-

ming (UW) researcher was part of a recent study which has led to the design and development of a synthetic sensor using the bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) technology to monitor an important enzymatic process in autophagy biogenesis.

The sensor can be used for the identification of promising fungicide candidates capable of inhibiting the fungal autophagy process.

“We have designed and developed a synthetic sensor to monitor an important enzymatic process in autophagy biogenesis of gray mold. With the sensor, we have performed high-throughput drug screening to identify chem-

dening, bowling, cake decorating – including many family birthday and wedding cakes – crocheting, card games and following her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to every activity she could possibly make it to.

She was a member of Campbell County Cattlewomen, Wyoming Cattlewomen, Wyoming Stock Growers Association, Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association (WYOGA), Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Grand Slam/OVIS, Boone and Crockett and Family Life Church, where she helped with vacation bible school for many years. She was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and was a 4-H leader for over 40 years.

Mary and Marion were lifetime members of Safari Club International. They received the coveted C.J. McElroy Award in 2007 for being active hunting guides and outfitters throughout their marriage.

They have hunted British Columbia, the Northwest

ical inhibitors for fungal autophagy,” says Eunsook Park, an assistant professor in UW’s Department of Molecular Biology.

Published study Park was a co-corresponding author of a paper titled “Attenuation of phytofungal pathogenicity of Ascomycota by autophagy modulators,” which was published recently in Nature Communications, an open access, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing highquality research in all areas of the biological, health, physical, chemical, Earth, social, mathematical, applied and engineering sciences.

Jongchan Woo, a senior research scientist in UW’s

Territories, the Yukon, Mexico and throughout the U.S.

They received the Outstanding North American Professional Hunter Award from Safari Club International together on Jan. 23, 1993. Mary was a founding member of SCI Sables, and together they founded the SCI Rocky Mountain Chapter.

Mary completed her Grand Slam in Sheep when she was 69 years young.

Her first sheep was a Desert Big Horn Sheep shot in the Baja of Mexico in 1978, followed by a Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep shot in Wyoming. The third was a Fannin Sheep shot in the Ruby Range, Yukon Territories in 2005. The final sheep was a Dall, also shot in the Yukon in 2006.

Marion completed his Grand Slam in 2004. Mary was the 46th lady hunter to complete it, and they were only the 30th couple to ever achieve it together.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Lois Perkins, her daughter Cathy Morrison, her great-grandson Coyle

Allee and her great-granddaughter Korbi Groene.

Mary is survived by her loving husband Marion Scott; sisters Meta (Dennis) Bowker of Hot Springs, S.D. and Linda (Micky) Shober of Gillette; brother-in law Gary Perkins of Oregon; daughters Marilyn (Dudley) Mackey, Debbie (Butch) Knutson and Cindy Scott Lovelace, all of Gillette and grandchildren Amanda (Patrick) Fiedor of Gillette, Scott (Carey) Mackey of Gillette, Kimberly (Shane) Goode of Zebulon, N.C., Kelly (Jason) Groene of Torrington, Clint (Erin) Knutson of Gillette, Tammy (Chris) Abma of Lexington, Mo., Nate Morrison of Interior, S.D., Nick (Ivy) Morrison of New Caney, Texas, Mark Allee of Gillette, Stacy (Dustin) Smoot of Golden, Colo. and Taylor (Ruben) Kriseldi of Huntsville, Ala.

She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Brittany (Jake) Anderson of Lonetree; Ty Maya of Gillette; Jerzey and Jarek Fiedor of Gillette; Preston

Department of Molecular Biology, and Seungmee Jung, a UW graduate student working in the Eunsook Park Lab, were co-first authors of the paper.

Scientists from the University of California-Davis, Texas A&M University and Seoul National University in South Korea were also part of the study.

The study not only sheds light on the intricate relationship between autophagy and fungal pathogenicity, but also marks a significant step toward the development of effective and sustainable fungicides for global agricultural protection, Park says.

“We have identified ebselen, a small chemical

Mackey of Gillette; Macie Mackey of College Station, Texas; Klacie, Carter and Colby Groene of Torrington; Courtney, Gavin and Natalie Goode of Zebulon, N.C.; Clancy and Klaire Knutson of Gillette; Tyler and Gracie Morrison of New Caney, Texas; Janessa Abma of Lexington, Mo.; Sadi Maul-Allee of Gillette and Eliza Kriseldi of Huntsville, Ala., as well as her great-great-grandchildren Weston, Orin, Leroy and Maya Anderson of Lonetree; Hazel Maul-Allee of Gillette and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

Those interested in making a donation in Mary’s memory may consider giving to Campbell County 4-H, the Rockpile Museum, WYOGA or the Women’s Resource Center. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at gillettememorialchapel

compound, as an inhibitor. We have proven ebselen is an effective fungicide against phytofungal pathogens,” Park says. “Ebselen is a new drug candidate under clinical trial for human diseases, indicating ebselen is relatively safe for humans compared to existing fungicides against plant fungal pathogens.”

During the study, researchers demonstrated ebselen effectively prevented fungal infection in agronomically and horticulturally important hosts, such as grapes, strawberries, tomatoes, rice and roses. Additionally, ebselen has been known to have a clinical benefit for human noise-induced hearing loss, Park says.

Importance of authophagy

“Our drug screening platform using the synthetic sensor is easy and versatile for identifying drug candidates targeting autophagy involved in certain human diseases,” Park says.

Autophagy means “selfeating” in Greek, according to Park.

Autophagy is a fundamental process found in cells which is preserved in different species, from yeast to humans. Autophagy controls the breakdown of both cellular parts that do not work and toxic materials and then recy-

cles them within the cell in response to external stimuli.

Fungal autophagy plays pivotal roles in the life cycle and disease development of fungal pathogens.

“Autophagy, a crucial intracellular process for maintaining eukaryotic homeostasis, has recently gained importance, particularly in its role in fungal pathogenicity,” Park says.

“This indicates targeting the autophagy process is a promising strategy for the development of novel fungicides.”

The study began a decade ago at the University of California-Davis, where Park and Woo were senior research specialists at the time. The two continued their research at Seoul National University, where Park was a non-tenure track assistant professor for two years.

Park and Woo eventually landed at UW and conducted the final stages of their research.

The study was funded by National Science Foundation-Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and National Institutes of Health-INBRE IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence grants.

Economic importance – UW researchers developed a new technology to discover ebselen, which may prevent fungi from proliferating on economically important crops, including strawberries. Adobe Stock photo

the grill and gather around the table, it’s the season to acknowledge those who raise cattle from pasture to plate.

In the beginning Beef production has been traced back to the early 1500s and evolved as settlers expanded westward, shaping the agricultural industry of today.

With the development of efficient transportation in the 1800s and the expansion of the railroad, beef production surged.

As technology advanced, it brought significant changes to the beef industry. With the introduction of barbed wire and refrigerated railcars, beef producers could raise cattle in enclosed pastures and

ship fresh products. By the mid-1900s, the beef industry expanded again by introducing feedlot systems to maximize production.

The introduction of feedlots spurred the beginning of beef genetics, as producers began to breed cattle to grow faster and maximize yield selectively.

This advancement in the beef industry brought forth quality meat for consumers, and as time passed, beef producers began focusing on cattle nutrition and feed efficiency.

Today, advancements in feed formulations and the utilization of various feed sources have reduced cattle’s carbon footprint, and new technology has allowed producers to make better deci-

CONNECTING AG to CLIMATE

By Averi Reynolds

Grass-Cast Translates Weather Forecasts into Grassland Forecasts for Ranchers

Ranchers across the Great Plains are in a neverending game with Mother Nature when it comes to weather, especially when trying to predict how much grass will be available during the grazing season.

Precipitation on Western rangelands varies greatly from year to year, only increasing the challenge producers face when trying to match livestock demand with available forage supplies.

Adding to the challenge of making plans for the summer grazing season, weather forecasts might not provide enough information for ranchers to base their stocking decisions on.

With this in mind, a team of researchers from

the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University, University of Arizona and the National Drought Mitigation Center set out to provide producers with a forecast more directly relevant to stocking and grazing decisions.

The Grassland Productivity Forecast (Grass-Cast) was created to help ranchers reduce the economic uncertainty related to forage availability for livestock.

Grass-Cast estimates the productivity or the future forage growth of native rangelands throughout the Great Plains and Southwest, which can help inform stocking rates, grazing decisions and proactive drought management.

sions to optimize their herds. Celebrating beef

While beef is on the menu year-round, National Beef Month provides an opportunity to encourage family and friends to add more beef to their plates and join in celebrating the ranching way of life with a nostalgic cookout.

Not only is May National Beef Month, it is also the unofficial kick-off to summer. As the weather gets warmer, it is a perfect time to fire up the grill and celebrate with beef – the easy choice.

However, consumers can also honor National Beef Month in May by celebrating National Hamburger Month at the same time.

In 1993, White Castle founded National Hamburger Month, paying tribute all month long to one of

The science behind the tool

Grass-Cast combines almost 40 years of historical and current weather observations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with a well-trusted grassland growth model.

Information from the model about soil moisture and water loss through evapotranspiration are correlated with greenness measured across rangelands, which is then translated into the amount of available forage forecasted for the upcoming grazing season.

This forecasted amount of forage is compared to the 36-year average for the local area.

Because weather in the Great Plains and Southwest is so hard to forecast during the growing season, Grass-Cast provides users with three different “what-if” scenarios – what if an area receives above-normal, near-normal or below-normal precipitation for the rest of the growing season through August?

The three Grass-Cast maps below show forecasted vegetation growth under each precipitation scenario.

The accuracy of Grass-

National Egg Month is also recognized during May

The month of May is also National Egg Month, celebrated since the 1960s, although it has been recognized during different months throughout the year.

As eggs’ reputation soured for a period of time so did National Egg Month, and in the 1990s the American Egg Board reestablished National Egg Month in May.

National Egg Month is a special occasion recognizing and celebrating eggs’ incredible versatility and nutritional value.

It’s a time to appreciate the humble and extraordinary egg and all of the delicious ways it can be enjoyed.

Eggs are not only a staple ingredient

America’s favorite foods.

Specifically, May 15 is National Slider Day and May 28 is National Hamburger Day. Unfortunately these dates are commonly overlooked.

in many dishes but also a symbol of new beginnings and fertility.

During the month of May, egg producers have the opportunity to showcase the versatility, nutritional value and culinary delights eggs offer.

Visit a nearby farm to support local producers and to learn about sustainable farming practices, the care given to the hens and the importance of supporting local agriculture.

May is a time to appreciate egg producers, show support, purchase fresh eggs directly from the farm and enjoy their superior taste and quality.

The original slider was a square, two-inch hamburger on a small bun, created by White Castle restaurant in 1921. This spurred National Slider Day, which was first celebrated in 2015.

hamburgers are a staple in the American diet, and almost 50 billion burgers are eaten annually.

Although no one knows when the first National Hamburger Day was instituted, there is no denying

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Why are some counties in gray with no data?

Readers may notice some counties are not covered by Grass-Cast, especially in western parts of Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. This is because the Grass-Cast model relies, in part, on data from sat-

Cast improves as the growing season unfolds, so producers and managers are encouraged to consult the tool every two weeks when it is updated with newlyobserved weather data.

Interpreting Grass-Cast maps

After looking at the three Grass-Cast maps for an area, one might wonder which of the three maps is most likely.

To answer this question, visit the NOAA website at cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/ and view seasonal precipitation outlooks for spring and summer months to see if the odds are leaning towards above-, near- or below-normal precipitation for the area.

This will tell individuals if the odds are leaning towards Grass-Cast’s left, middle or right map. If NOAA indicates equal chances, then all three GrassCast maps are equally likely.

ellites, which cannot easily see through shrubs or trees to measure how much the grasses are greening up. For this reason, Grass-Cast cannot provide an accurate prediction in rangelands dominated by shrubs or trees.

While Grass-Cast is a useful tool for informing grazing decisions, it is important to know its limitations. Producers and land managers should not rely upon GrassCast as their sole source for setting stocking rates, determining turnout dates or other important grazing decisions.

Ranchers will get the most value from the forecast when they combine it with their knowledge of local soils, plant communities, grazing history and any other tools typically used in their decision-making process.

Keep in mind, GrassCast provides a forecast of total production, not grazeable production. So, if it says an area might have 20 percent less pounds per acre than usual, and producers follow the “take-half, leave-half” rule of thumb, then this could translate into a 40 percent reduction

in grazeable forage. To view the most recent maps, zoom into a local area, watch a tutorial video or learn more about the science and team behind the tool, visit grasscast.unl.edu/ Averi Reynolds is an ORISE science communications fellow for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Northern Plains Climate Hub, serving Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. The USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub strives to provide unbiased information about adaptation and mitigation strategies for ranchers, farmers and foresters to help increase their operations’ resilience to weather variability and a changing climate. For more information on the Northern Plains Climate Hub, visit climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/ northern-plains

April 29-May 20 Dooley Auction Firearms, Ammo, Coins and Collectibles Online Auction, 406-696-0412, dooleyauction.com

May 17-18

May 18

May 2-16 4-H Horse Club Event, 5-8 p.m., Pepsi Equine Center, Wyoming State Fairgrounds, Douglas. For more information, visit wystatefair.com

May 6-13 Wyoming Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Online Corral Adoption, online. For more information, visit wildhorsesonline.blm.gov/

May 13 U.S. Department of Agriculture FMD Outbreak Livestock Grazing Guidance Webinar, 12 p.m., Zoom. For more information or to register, visit zoomgov.com/j/1601496343

May 13-15

Uinta County Cattle Artificial Insemination Clinic, 8 a.m., Evanston. For more information, call 307-783-0570 or e-mail McKenna Julian at mbrinton@ uwyo.edu.

May 14 USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Veterans Webinar Series, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Zoom. For more information or to register, visit nrcs.usda.gov/events/ usda-beginning-farmer-and-rancher-veterans-webinar-series-1

May 14 Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust Community Discussion on Conservation Easements, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Ag Resource and Learning Center, Casper. For more information, contact Sarah Kauer at 307-772-8751.

May 14 Pinedale Anticline Project Office Meeting, 1-4 p.m., Sublette County Library, Pinedale. For more information, contact Amber Robbins at arobbins@blm.gov or 307-367-5321.

May 16 Industrial Siting Council Second Quarterly Meeting, 8 a.m., Hampton Inn and Suites, Green River. For more information, contact Christopher Toalson at christopher.toalson@wyo.gov. To view the livestream, visit meet.google.com/ fsj-ixkn-kmq

May 17 Wyoming Bureau of Land Management Wheatland Off-Range Corral Adoption Event, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Wheatland Off-Range Corral, Wheatland. To view available animals, visit flickr.com/photos/134389515@N06/albums/

May 17-18 Wyoming Bureau of Land Management Honor Farm Adoption Event, Wyoming Honor Farm, Riverton. To view available animals, visit flickr.com/ photos/134389515@N06/albums/

May 17-19 7 Triangle 7 Cattle Co., LLC Artificial Insemination Clinic, Akron, Colo. For more information, visit 7triangle7.com or call 970-481-3921.

May 17-19 Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show, Sheridan. For more information, visit leathercraftersjournal.com

May 18 Wyoming State Fair Volunteer Days, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Wyoming State Fairgrounds, Douglas. For more information, contact the Wyoming State Fair Office at 307-358-2398.

May 18 Public Dart Tournament, Fort Caspar, Wyoming State Fairgrounds, Douglas. For more information, visit wystatefair.com

May 21 USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Veterans Webinar Series, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Zoom. For more information or to register, visit nrcs.usda.gov/events/ usda-beginning-farmer-and-rancher-veterans-webinar-series-1

May 25 National Junior Angus Association and Angus Journal Photography Contest Deadline. For more information or to submit photos, visit angus.org/ njaa/home/contests

May 25 Wyoming Food Bank Distribution, 9-11 a.m., Grandstands Parking Lot, Wyoming State Fairgrounds, Douglas. For more information, visit wystatefair.com

May 28 University of Wyoming Extension Breeding Days, Campbell County. For more information, contact Kim Fry at kim.fry@campbellcountywy.gov or 307682-7281.

May 29 University of Wyoming Extension Breeding Days, Fremont County. For more information, contact Chance Marshall at cmarsha1@uwyo.edu or 307332-1018.

May 31 Wyoming State Fair Endowment Fund Golf Tournament, 8 a.m., Three Crowns Golf Course, Casper. For more information, contact sarah.raiserco@ gmail.com.

June 1 Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame Nomination Deadline. Winners will be presented with a belt buckle and a poster during the 2024 Wyoming Ag Hall of Fame Picnic, held in conjunction with the Wyoming State Fair. For more information or to fill out a nomination form, visit wylr.net, e-mail roundup@wylr. net or call 307-234-2700.

June 3-8 2024 Wyoming High School State Finals Rodeo, Sweetwater Events Complex, Rock Springs. For more information, call 307-351-1327.

June 4 Natrona County Predator Management District 2024 Budget and Board Meeting, 6 p.m., Wyoming Wool Growers Association Office, Casper. For more information, e-mail ncpmd1@charter.net.

1 Blk Cow, 1430# $13600 Greet, Brandon - Ten Sleep 1 Blk Cow, 1500# $13500 Sinn, George - Worland 1 Blk Cow, 1695# $13400 2 Blk Cows, avg. 1408# $12800 Hoffman, Ronnie - Thermopolis

2 Blk Cows, avg. 1188# $13100 Wiechmann, Jason - Ten Sleep 1 Blk Cow, 1265# $13100 Baird, John - Thermopolis

1 Blk Cow, 1555# $12900

2 Blk Cows, avg. 1365# $12800

3 Blk Cows, avg. 1483# $11950 Hopkin Livestock - Lovell

1 Blk Cow, 1135# $12900 Turnell Cattle Company - Meeteetse

3 Blk Cows, avg. 1437# $12850

2 Blk Cows, avg. 1350# $12100 Riley, Michael - Burlington 1 Red Cow, 1370# $12700 Diamond Tail Ranch LLC - Greybull

1 Blk Cow, 1220# $12700 Nielsen, Jr. Jack - Greybull 1 Blk Cow, 1385# $12650 Rogers, Don, Jr. - Boulder

BHR LLC - Dallas 1 Blk Cow, 1405# $12400 Geis, Jack - Greybull

2 Blk Cows, avg. 1243# $12000 Galloway, Clayton - Manderson 1 Red Cow, 1255# $11800 Carter Cattle Inc. - Ten Sleep 1 Blk Cow, 1210# $11400 HEIFERETTES Greet Ranch, Inc. - Ten Sleep 4 Blk Hfrettes, avg. 910# $19250 TD & Sons LLC - Ten Sleep 2 Blk Hfrettes, avg. 1065# $17000 PAIRS

Farmers and Ranchers Livestock Commission Ranch Horse Competition and Spring Spectacular Catalog Horse Sale, Salina, Kan., 785-825-0211, 785-826-7884, fandrlive.com

Multi-Party Liquidation Auction, 2092 Ridley Road, Cheyenne, 307-5324976, 307-534-5156, mcnameeauctioncompany.com

May 25 15th Annual Full House Horse Sale, Newcastle, 307-746-5690, 307-6840789, fullhousehorsesale.com

June 10-11

Superior Livestock Auction Corn Belt Classic, 800-422-2117, superiorlivestock.com

June 15 46th Annual Wyoming All Breed Gaited Horse Sale, Park County Fairgrounds, Powell, 307-272-3743, 307-431-2109, henyauctionwy.com

June 15 Big Country Select Horse Sale, Garfield County Chamber Arena, Jordan, Mont., 406-853-0974, facebook.com/bigcountryselecthorsesale

June 20-21

July 2

Northern Livestock Video Auction Early Summer Special, 866-616-5035, northernlivestockvideo.com

Cattle Country Video High Plains Showcase Sale, UW Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center, Laramie, 888-322-8853, cattlecountryvideo.com

July 8-10 Western Video Market, Silver Legacy Casino Resort, Reno, Nev., 530-3473793, wvmcattle.com

July 8-12

July 22-24

Superior Livestock Auction Week in the Rockies, 800-422-2117, superiorlivestock.com

Northern Livestock Video Auction Summertime Classic, 866-616-5035, northernlivestockvideo.com

July 29-Aug 2 Superior Livestock Auction Video Royale, 800-422-2117, superiorlivestock.com

Sheep Shearing Don’ts

A few don’ts for the guidance of sheep farmers in the shearing shed

By J. T. Ritch

Thus were the headlines in the April 16, 1916 issue of the Carbon County Journal

The accompanying article reads:

1. Don’t start until organization is complete.

2. Don’t raise the dust when driving sheep into the shed.

3. Don’t allow sheep to stand in damp or dirty pens.

4. Don’t have a dark shed so you cannot see what you are doing.

5. Don’t undertake to do more than you can manage well.

6. Don’t work yourself, but supervise.

7. Don’t have a cramped place for shearers or shearers shearing all around you.

8. Don’t allow shearers to “race” in their work.

9. Don’t allow fleeces to be broken.

10. Don’t allow the fibers of the wool to be cut in half.

11. Don’t allow sheep or shearers to stand on the fleece.

12. Don’t allow the sheep to be ill-treated.

13. Don’t allow shearers to pick up wool.

14. Don’t have a dirty floor and wool lying about.

15. Don’t come out of the shed, leave laborers to do the work and expect good results.

tally pens.

18. Don’t neglect the most trivial detail.

19. Don’t allow wool to be baled before inspection.

20. Don’t work without a system.



From the internet comes this information:

To shear sheep today, many sheep farmers use electric shears. But before electric shears were invented, they used hand shears.

Hand shearing is common in areas where electricity is limited. A handsheared sheep will produce more wool than an electric-sheared sheep.

Hand shearing is not an easy task. It takes practice to ensure the task is completely safe and minimally stressful to the sheep.



How to hand shear a sheep

Preparing the wool

Step 1 – Wash sheep thoroughly, removing any debris that may get in the way. Pick out the larger chunks.

Step 2 – Hold the sheep’s mouth closed with your hand under the jaw and around the nose. Stand over the sheep and position it so its bum is on the ground and back

is against your legs. The sheep will naturally slump into a concave position, belly up.

Step 3 – Trim any discolored hairs on the sheep’s belly by the scrotum or udders. Pull taught as you shear. The belly area is sensitive. Shearing the belly first will make the rest of the process easier. It will take up to three clips of the shears to clear the belly.

Step 4 – Hold one hind leg and, with one or two clips, trim the inside of the back legs. Roll the sheep slightly to shear the outside of the legs and tail. Three clips on each leg and three on the tail will shear it.

Step 5 – Shear the topknot wool on the back of the sheep’s neck in one or two cuts.

Open the fleece Step 1 – Open the fleece at the neck with one or two cuts to clear around the ears and behind the head. Shear the shoulder, the leg and as high as the shoulder blade goes.

Step 2 – Lay the sheep down and shear over the shoulders in long cuts up the hips toward the neck. Start at the hip and go up the neck.

Step 3 – Keep working up the backbone. Clear the sheep

Step 1 – Clear up the top of the face and work down the neck, rolling the sheep as you go. Shear down the neck, off the shoulder and off the leg.

Step 2 – Bring the head up and continue down the body and out the leg.

Step 3 – Clear off whatever is left over the bum and you’re done.

$13000 Greet Ranch, Inc. - Ten Sleep

1 Red Cow, 1345# $12450 Dooley Livestock - Worland 1 Blk Cow, 1445# $12400

(307) 331-2222

16. Don’t pass over the slightest mistake.

17. Don’t allow shorn sheep to get mixed, but see they go into individual shearer’s

Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News, Torrington

Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News, Greeley, CO National Sheep Summary

As of May 3, 2024

Compared to last week slaughter lambs mostly steady to 30.00 lower, except at San Angelo firm to 15.00 higher. Slaughter ewes mostly steady to 12.00 lower. Feeder lambs not well tested. At San Angelo, TX 7,768 head sold in a one day sale. No sales in Equity Cooperative Auction. In direct trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs not tested. 2,571 lamb carcasses traded with no trend due to confidentiality. All sheep sold per hundred weight (CWT) unless specified.

Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 San Angelo: wooled and shorn 110-145 lbs 190.00-218.00.. Ft. Collins: wooled and shorn 120-130 lbs 230.00-250.00; 155-160 lbs 210.00-222.50.

South Dakota: wooled and shorn 120-160 lbs 210.00-265.00. Billings: wooled and shorn 120-150 lbs no test. Equity Coop: no sales.

Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 1-2 San Angelo: hair 40-60 lbs 260.00-302.00, few 303.00-310.00; 60-70 lbs 270.00-302.00, few 304.00-308.00; 70-80 lbs 248.00294.00, few 296.00; 80-90 lbs 248.00-270.00; 90-100 lbs 220.00-260.00; 100-110 lbs 220.00-252.00. wooled and shorn 45 lbs 310.00; 50-60 lbs 278.00-306.00; 60-70 lbs 270.00294.00; 70-80 lbs 262.00-288.00, few 304.00; 80-90 lbs 250.00-282.00; 90-105 lbs 232.00-242.00. Ft. Collins: wooled and shorn 60-70 lbs 272.50-292.50; 7080 lbs 273.00-307.50; 80-90 lbs 265.00-315.00; 100-110 lbs 250.00-275.00. hair 80 lbs 280.00; 90-100 lbs 267.50-270.00; 100-110 257.50-290.00.

South Dakota: wooled and shorn 50-60 lbs 250.00-270.00; 60-70 lbs 245.00-285.00; 70-80 lbs 225.00-250.00; 80-90 lbs 225.00-255.00; 90-100 lbs 225.00-265.00; 100-110 lbs 225.00-235.00. hair 54 lbs 235.00; 64 lbs 230.00; 108 lbs 220.00. Billings: no test.

Slaughter Ewes

San Angelo: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) no test; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 83.00-110.00, hair 78.00-104.00; Utility and Good 1-3 (medium flesh) 112.00-120.00, hair 97.00-124.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) hair 82.00-102.50; Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) hair 70.00-84.00; Cull 1 40.00.

Ft. Collins: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) 92.50-120.00; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 82.50-112.50; Utility 1-2 (thin) no test; Cull 1 no test. South Dakota: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) 64.00-110.00; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 67.00-115.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 56.00-75.00; Cull 1 21.00-80.00.

Billings: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) no test; Good 2-3 (fleshy) no test; Utility 1-2 (thin) no test; Cull 1 no test.

Feeder Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2

San Angelo: hair 40-50 lbs 282.00-290.00. Ft. Collins: 50-60 lbs 275.00-295.00.

South Dakota: 29 lbs 305.00; 30-40 lbs 310.00-315.00; 40-50 lbs 222.50-300.00; 50-60 lbs 270.00-290.00; 66 lbs 273.00; 92 lbs 181.00.

Billings: no test.

Replacement Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2

San Angelo: young hair 90-145 lbs 130.00-174.00/cwt.

Ft. Collins: no test.

South Dakota: ewe lambs 93 lbs 232.00/cwt; yearlings 135.00-265.00/ head; young 140.00-260.00/head; aged 150.00/head. Billings: no test.

Sheep and lambs slaughter under federal inspection for the week to date totaled 36,000 compared with 34,000 last week and 34,000 last year.

Source: USDA AMS Market News, San Angelo, Texas

National Wool Review As of May 3, 2024

Domestic wool trading had no confirmed trades reported this week. Prices reflect trades FOB warehouse in original bag or square pack, bellies out, some graded, and 76 mm or longer. No allowance made for coring, freight, or handling fees at the warehouse level to reflect net grower prices. Wools shorter than 75 mm typically discounted .10-.20 clean. Classed and skirted wools usually trade at a .10-.20 premium to original bag prices.

Source: USDA- CO Dept of

Wyoming Hay Summary

As of May 9, 2024

Compared to last week all reported hay sold steady on a thin test. Demand was very light to light. A load here and there mostly going to people with horses. Few, cattlemen getting a load of hay to feed until they can go to summer grass.

Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News

Nebraska Hay Summary

As of May 9, 2024

Compared to last week round bales of alfalfa sold steady. Ground and delivered alfalfa in the Platte Valley area sold 10.00 lower. Out west ground and delivered hay and large squares sold steady. Demand was mostly light throughout the week. Best demand was for large squares going out of state. Early talks on standing alfalfa started this week with a few throw-outs offers from 60.00-70.00 per ton. Last year standing hay for first cutting was costing 125.00 per ton. Per NASS week ending May 5: Corn planted was 31%, behind 49% last year and 48% for the five-year average. Emerged was 7%, near 8% last year, and equal to average. Soybeans planted was 18%, behind 30% last year and 28% average. Emerged was 1%, equal to both last year and average.

Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News, Kearny,

South Dakota Hay Summary

As of May 3, 2024

Movement has been slow this past week, with some farmers out of

until they start harvesting next month. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor Website South Dakota is mostly under normal soil conditions except for Western conditions.

Dogs

Brands

ERS NEEDED FROM WORLAND TO CASPER, WY: Nighttime hours, $30/HOUR TO START. Must have CDL, pass background check and clean MVR. SIGN-ON BONUS!! E-mail resumes to dingoboy6342@yahoo.com or call Matt, 801-641-4109 5/18

BIG HORN REDI MIX IS LOOKING FOR A MIXER/ END DUMP DRIVER FOR ITS POWELL, WY PLANT: Applicant must have a Class A or B CDL with a clean MVR and must pass a pre-employment drug test. Position is full-time, Mon.-Fri. Benefits include 100% employer-paid insurance (medical, dental, vision, life) and paid vacation after one year. Pick up an application at 355 E. North St. in Powell, WY or request one by e-mail at bhrmoffice@rtconnect.net 6/1

RANCH HAND WANTED: Cow work/calving, irrigating, haying, fixing fences. Wages based on experience. Call 307-250-8475 5/25

EXTENSION AGENT, SEVERAL

POSITIONS ACROSS EASTERN MONTANA, INCLUDING PLENTYWOOD, BILLINGS, SIDNEY, BAKER, CULBERTSON, MILES CITY, FORSYTH, POPLAR AND BROADUS: Will assess local needs, then develop, implement and evaluate Extension programming to meet those needs, in the areas of Agriculture and 4-H/Youth Development. Complete information and application instructions at www.montana.edu/extension, click on “careers.” Equal Opportunity Employer, Veterans/ Disabled 5/25

HOT SPRINGS COUNTY

WEED & PEST IN THERMOPOLIS, WY IS SEEKING A PROGRAM LEADER: Our ideal candidate enjoys working outdoors, has strong leadership skills and has an interest in weed science and natural resource management. This is a permanent, full-time position with benefits. EOE. Contact hscwpsupervisor@gmail.com or 307864-2278 for a complete job description and application information 5/11

HELP WANTED, VALLEY FOODS, SARATOGA, WY: Experienced meat cutter needed. Please contact us via e-mail with your qualifications at valleyfoods9024@hotmail. com 5/25

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!! 5/18

OLD REGISTERED WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: LRC, LBH. Hasn’t been used for 10 years. Expires 2032. $3,000. Call 307259-2062 5/11 ALL TYPES

FOR SALE: Single iron Wyoming registered brand. One hot iron available. RRC, RSS, RHH. Registered until 2031. $7,500. Call 307-254-2790 5/25

Dogs

REGISTERED PEMBROKE

WELSH CORGI PUPPIES FOR SALE: They will be 8 weeks old on May 23 and ready to go to their new homes. Asking $750. Text or call 701-260-1207. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/18

BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG PUPPIES: These adorable puppies are AKC registered, microchipped and up-to-date with shots and wormer. Parents are fully DNA and genetic health tested. Males and females available. Shipping and flight nanny available, $2,500, Whitewood, S.D. Call 605-641-8272. Visit us on Facebook at Black Hills Bernese Mountain Dogs. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 6/1

AKC REGISTERED PEMBROKE WELSH CORGIS: I have 3 adorable male pups left from my Christmas litter. They are show quality, healthy, loving and robust young dogs. Parents are genetically tested clear for major problems. They have been raised in my home and are very loving and well mannered. They get along with other dogs and are very social. Vaccinated, dewormed, dewclaws removed and tails docked to show ring standards. $1,500 with full breeding rights or $1,000 as pets. Will trade for horse quality hay or useable farm equipment. Call Sonya Gangstead at 541-480-9567 or e-mail me for pictures and pedigrees at brokersonya@gmail.com. Located in Roundup, MT 6/1

SUPER QUALITY, PURE-

BRED BLUE HEELER PUPS: Two males and 4 females. $600 each. Call 307-272-1915. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 5/11

AKC BERNESE MOUNTAIN

DOG PUPPIES: All first shots, microchipped and vet checked. $1,200. Call or text 605-6802571. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/11

GET YOUR LITTLE RANCH

TRUCK BUDDY!! Two male Dachshund puppies. Purebred, smooth coat, red with some small white markings. Have had their first shots and dewormed. Socialized and super sweet!! They are ready to go home with you!! $600. Call or text for more information, 307-343-5190. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/11

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERDS RAISED ON THE PUPPY CULTURE PROGRAM AND CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE PROTOCOLS: We specialize in placing puppies for emotional support and service dog work, as well as with families and individuals who love the Australian shepherd breed! See our website for details, including pictures of our available puppies www.panhandleaustralianshepherds.com Call 208-892-4186. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/18

MOUNTAIN CUR PUPS: Eight weeks, 2 males, 3 females. Parents are on hand and used for hunting, camping, around the farm and companions. Acclimated to kids, chickens, goats, cows and horses. First shots and fully weaned, available April 1. Located in Cody, WY, $400. Feel free to make an offer. Call Jon, 307-202-3345. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/18

AIREDALE TERRIER

OORANG PUPPIES: AKC registered, will be large calm protective dogs. Great farm/ ranch protectors from mountain lions, bears, coyotes, vermin... For more information, call 307-219-2217 or 719-2178054 (cell) 5/11

YEARLING ANGUS BULLS: These bulls are grown, not fattened, will get out and cover cows. Many will work on heifers. We will deliver. Call Joe Buseman, 605-351-1535 5/25

ANGUS BULLS FOR SALE: Calving ease, growth and good carcass data. AI sired, docile. Delivery available. Earhart Farms, Powell, WY, 307-2728876 5/1

200 BLACK 3-YEAR-OLD PAIRS: Full vaccination program. Ran at high elevation last year. Calves are out of Vermillion or SimAngus bulls. $3,400/pair. Call 307-7092375 with any questions. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 5/25

SPENCER & SONS ANGUS: Offering yearling Black Angus bulls. Sons of Sterling Pacific, Schiefelbein Showman 338, Powerball and Crawford Guarantee, plus grandsons of Bomber. Thirty-one years AI breeding. Reasonably priced. Fromberg, MT. Call 406-425-3814 5/18

REGISTERED BLACK ANGUS YEARLING AND 2-YEAR-OLD BULLS: For sale private treaty. Performance and fertility tested. Delivery available. REPLACEMENT HEIFERS available. TRANGMOE ANGUS RANCH, Glendive, MT. Call 406-6873315, 406-989-3315 or 907232-6093 6/29

200 BLACK HEIFER PAIRS: All ran at high elevation last year in Cora, WY. Full vaccination program. All calves out of Vermillion bulls. Calves tagged to match. $3,200/pair. Call 307709-2375 with any questions. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 5/25

FOR SALE PRIVATE TREATY:

REGISTERED YEARLING ANGUS BULLS. Sired by some of the best genetics in the breed as well as our top-end herd bulls. NEVER BEFORE offered. Deep set of CALVING EASE heifer bulls and POWERFUL cow bulls available. Semen tested and up-to-date on summer kickout vaccinations. Ready to go to work for you. Selling on first come, first served basis. Volume discounts apply. Free delivery available. MILLER ANGUS FARMS, Estelline, SD. Kody, 605-690-1997 or Brady, 605690-5733. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/25

REGISTERED BLACK ANGUS BULLS ROYLANCE ANGUS

PRIVATE TREATY: Bulls are balanced, displaying calving ease, explosive growth and impressive structure. Sires of the best proven maternal bulls in the breed including Coleman Charlo 0256, Coleman Bravo 6313 and Coleman Triumph 9145. Bulls are semen tested, guaranteed and ready to work. Call, text or stop by the ranch in Charlo, MT, Adrian, 406-214-4444 5/11

REGISTERED ANGUS BULLS, BRIDGER, MT • Some suitable for heifers • Performance data available • Sires Include • Iron Horse • Thedford • Movin On • Winding River Angus, Louis & Kathy Dubs, 406-652-7515, 406208-8643 or e-mail windingriverangus@gmail.com 5/18

RED ANGUS 2-YEAR-OLD FORAGE BULLS FOR SALE: Bulls for heifers and cows. Smaller framed, efficient, easy fleshing, good dispositions. Not fat, but in great shape and ready to go to work. Have been worked with dogs, on foot and horseback. Raised in rugged, rough, steep, rocky, high elevation country. Red Fork Red Angus, Ken & Cheri Graves, Kaycee, WY, phone 307-7382247, cell 307-267-0724, email gravesredfork@rtconnect.net 5/11

RED ANGUS HIGH-ELEVATION YEARLING BULLS FOR SALE IN NORTHEASTERN UTAH: Out of AI and bull-bred sires. Will be trich, semen tested and fed for free until May 1. $2,500/head. Bar Lazy TL Ranch, David, 435828-1320, barlazytlranch@ gmail.com 6/30

SIMANGUS BULLS FOR SALE: 18-month-olds and yearlings. Sired by TJ Chief, Tehama Tahoe, TJ Big Easy, TJ Flatiron, MR SR Highlife, EWA Peyton or sons of TJ Main Event and SAV Rainfall. Call James Dilka/Dilka Cattle, 970-396-8791, thedilkas@ aol.com 5/18

John Paul & Kara Stoll 307-856-4268 • Pavillion, WY

WANTED: Sugar Bars and non-Sugar Bars-bred saddle horses for the 22nd ANNUAL SUGAR BARS LEGACY SALE SUN., SEPT. 22 Held in Sheridan, WY. Please contact Jim, 406-812-0084 or email deerrunranch@gmail. com for consignment and sale information 5/11

Offering 20 head of black, polled 2-y-o bulls private treaty for 2024

SAMANTHA CAMPBELL REGISTERED HEREFORD

BULLS: Open house Saturday May 18 and 25 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 28698 WCR 74 Eaton, CO 80615. For more information, contact Kristy Campbell, 970405-6093 5/11

Open house Saturday May 18 and 25 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 28698 WCR 74 Eaton, CO 80615 For more information, contact: Kristy Campbell 970-405-6093

Hereford

CHAROLAIS BULLS

• 20-months-old

• Registered • Performance plus calving ease

• Ready to work

• $4,000

• Pedigrees and videos: www.WagnerCharolais.com

• Call 970-420-2336

SHORTHORN BULLS FOR SALE PRIVATE TREATY: Yearlings up to mature bulls available. Developed conservatively so they hold up. Remember a red Shorthorn bull on your homozygous black cows will give you black calves. Shorthorns are excellent maternal cattle that produce quality beef. Francis-Millvale Shorthorns, Gene and Roberta Francis Family, 701-331-2403, e-mail francis. millvale@gmail.com. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/11

Ranch Lease Wanted

PASTURE WANTED: I am looking for a ranch lease or summer pasture lease for 250-500 pairs. Call Joe, 605-830-2210, jrcredangus@yahoo.com 5/18

PASTURE WANTED for 2,000 yearlings and 500 pairs. Can split into smaller bunches. Call 701-523-1235 5/25

REGISTERED TEXAS LONG-

HORNS: Brush clearing, lowmaintenance cattle, trafficstopping colors, fascinating to watch, great pedigrees. Gentle pairs, steers, heifers, solid and colorful bulls. Raise for excellent beef, fun to show, simple handling. Herd package discounts available. Westhaven Ranch, 209-274-9917, e-mail swestmoore@gmail.com, website www.westhavenlonghorns.com To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/25

DO YOU WANT TO RETIRE AT THE TOP OF THIS MARKET AND KNOW YOUR LAND IS IN GOOD HANDS? Regen, LLC is a business that provides for ranchers/landowners the service of professional ranch management. We work to understand your needs on your ranch and provide a professional management team tenancy where you no longer need to worry about the work, get paid competitive rent and can keep the ranch legacy intact. Instead of selling, please consider renting the ranch to our team. We are a family business, based in Wyoming and with expertise in all arrangements of federal, state and deeded land and work every day to accomplish our mission. We steward land with regenerative principles, where animals thrive by connecting rich heritage to vibrant futures. Call Sage, 307-351-4875 or e-mail at saskin12@gmail.com 5/11

285 PLUS TONS OF 2023

GRASS HAY: 3x4, $175/ton, Encampment, WY. Call 307321-1444 TFN

CERTIFIED BARLEY STRAW FOR SALE, 3x4 bales. Cody, WY. Call 307-899-1952 TFN

Sheep

DORSET/RAMBOUILLET

CROSS EWE LAMBS FOR SALE

January/February Dorset sired ewe lambs out of Rambouillet ewes. Weaned 60 days, tails docked and have been vaccinated with CDT twice. Asking $350/head or $300/head if you take them all. Will sell in groups of five. Call Case Rundel 785-443-0590

Hay & Feed

HAY FOR SALE: Grass, alfalfa and grass/alfalfa mix hay. ALSO, OAT HAY AND STRAW. Small squares, 3x3s, 3x4s and round bales. Delivery available!! Large quantities still available. Call today for best price, 307-630-3046 5/18

2023 HAY FOR SALE: First and second cutting, grass/ alfalfa mix. ALSO, milo, oat and corn stover hay. All in netwrapped round bales. Semi load delivery available. Call for pricing, ask for Clint, 701290-4418, send a text if no answer or keep trying 5/18

WEANER PIGS FOR SALE,

OPEN POLLINATED SEED CORN out produces hybrid for silage and grazing quality grain, $67/bushel +S/H. Call 217-8573377 or cell/text 217-343-4962, visit website www.borriesopenpollinatedseedcorn.com 5/18

Hay & Feed

ROUND BALES: QUALITY GRASS HAY FOR SALE, bales weigh approximately 1,400 lbs. each, Laramie, WY. Call 307-7608429 5/18

2023 ALFALFA AND ALFALFA/ GRASS MIX HAY, 3x3 bales, barn stored. ALSO, SOME FEEDER HAY and BARLEY STRAW available. Call 307-350-0350, Farson, WY 5/25

CERTIFIED WEED-FREE PURE

ALFALFA HAY: Small squares, all covered. First, second and third cutting available. Will load trucks and any open trailer. OATS: Combine run. Will auger into truck, trailer or large totes/ag bags. STRAW: Small squares available. Located between Powell and Cody, WY. Call or text Knopp Farms at 307254-0554 6/22

VALLEY VIDEO HAY MARKETS, LLC: Hay available. Go to www.valleyvideohay.com or call Barry McRea, 308-2355386 5/25

ROUND BALED GRASS HAY FOR SALE: Cody, WY area, 1,000 lb. net-wrapped bales, $50/ bale. Call, don’t text, Anthony at 307-254-2645 5/11

GOOD QUALITY OAT HAY: 3x4 bales, barn stored, $90/ton, tests available. ALSO, grass hay or alfalfa, barn stored, $125/ton. Lusk, WY. Call Paul Hicks, 970-2035019 5/11

BARLEY STRAW: Certified weed-free small squares, $4/ bale. ALSO, 5x6 round bales, $125/ton. GRAIN/OATS, $20/ cwt. Greybull, WY area. Call 307762-3878 or 307-899-4714, leave message 5/18

FOR SALE: John Deere 7000 4RW corn planter. 2016 Volvo semi (daycab), D13 Detroit engine 435 HP, Volvo I-Shift automatic transmission, 309,000 miles, air slide 5th wheel, very clean and nice. H&S 7+4 17’ chuckwagons with bunk feeding extensions and tandem 14 ton running gear. Two John Deere 716A chuckwagons with John Deere running gear and bunk feeding extensions, been shedded, nice condition. Phoenix H14 42’ rotary harrow. 10’x24’ heavy duty bale hauler. John Deere 2155 diesel tractor, wide front, fenders, 3 pt., nice acreage tractor. Lorenz 16’x29’ stack mover. 12’ box scraper. All in very nice condition!! Call 605-999-5482 6/1

LEGEND FENCING: Specializing in livestock fences. Call 307887-2855 for a free estimate. Serving Southeast Idaho and Western Wyoming 5/11 LODGEPOLE PRODUCTS, 307-742-6992, SERVING AGRI-BUSINESSES SINCE 1975!! Treated posts, corral poles, buck-and-rail,

800 TONS NICE, green grass/ alfalfa mix (80/20); 600 TONS MIX with rain and/or weeds (cow/grinding hay); 300 TONS GRASS HAY, green; 1,000 TONS TRITICALE HAY, mostly green, some with rain; SEVER AL LOADS MILLET HAY, nice!! All types, mostly round bales, some 3x4/4x4. Delivery avail able. Please call 307-630-3768. Marketed by the Cheyenne, WY area producer 5/11

1991 KENWORTH T600 series with 1987 BEALL 40’ BELLY DUMP TRAILER Very good condition, ready to work. ALSO, 1978 CHEVROLET TITAN, Cummins, 10 speed, in very good shape. Call 406860-5448 5/11

• Handles Calves up to 300 lbs.

• Operates off tractor, bale bed or remote

WORK TRUCK, 2001 FORD F-250 WITH OMAHA UTILITY BED, 7.3 Powerstroke, 169,300 miles. Recent engine work, call 307-2541088. $12,000 OBO, located in Powell, WY 5/18

PRICE REDUCED!! RPJ Enterprises, Inc. 2 3/8” and 2 7/8” is available. Used for fencing, corrals, cattle guards, etc. 2 3/8” and 2 7/8”

Equipment

FOR SALE: 7140 International Magnum tractor. 9600 John Deere combine with 930 30’ grain header and a 893 8 row 30” corn header. 20’ Krause offset disc (new blades in front). ALSO, 8 feeder pigs. Contact Greg Keller at 406-6791136 5/18

New herd sire, TREF Kombat 283K, raised by Treftz Limousin

Irrigation Systems

The choice is simple.

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.

Big Horn Truck and Equipment Manderson, WY rairdenjlw@tritel.net • 800-770-6280 No wire to steal! Easier On You.

AMISH BUILT CABIN WITH SEPARATE SHOP/HOME ON 141 ACRES: Adorable 679 sq. ft. cabin, with one bedroom and a full bath, island with electric cooktop, woodstove and gas backup heat, electric HW and fully wired. The shop/home is 1,500 sq. ft. on the main, with additional 480 sq. ft. of loft. Four bedrooms, full bath, smooth concrete floor, well insulated and heated with propane. Wiring installed in the shop/ home. Borders 1,000’s of acres BLM land. $795,000. Call 541480-9567, Sonya Gangstead, Broker, Realty Pros Inc., e-mail brokersonya@gmail.com 6/1

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 & calving facilities. Natural tree-lined draws for livestock protection. Hawk Springs, WY. WAS $5,100,000 NOW $4,700,000!! Pictures and video at www.buyaranch.com Call Casey Essert, Land Broker, 307-532-1750 5/11

transparency in livestock markets to arbitrarily cease publication of reports which provide just that.”

“While it may be politically expedient to blame appropriators in Congress for today’s decision, cattle producers know better than to believe discontinuing a handful of reports will result in substantive cost savings for the department,” Lane added.

The agencies admit the decision was not taken lightly, and to ease concerns, have hosted several data users’ meetings over the past month.

On May 8, the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB) hosted an online meeting to spotlight available data for the recently discontinued programs.

Available data

ASB Director Troy Joshua noted NASS has related data points available, although, he admitted, this data does not replace that of the discontinued programs.

He pointed out NASS will still release the January Cattle Report once a year, as well as monthly reports regarding cattle on feed; milk produc-

Property for Sale

OLD FARM WITH 4 ACRES: Nice out buildings, hundreds of trees, well, natural gas. Three bedroom, 1 bathroom house, needs remodeled. ALSO , included 2,500 sq. ft. steel building in excellent condition. Powell, WY, $349,000. Call 307-219-2217 or 719217-8054 5/11

OREGON RANCH, Baker City, Baker County, OR. The Alder Creek pasture contains over 2,000 acres of native spring, summer and fall pasture. The rangeland is situated just east of Baker City, OR. The property is in good condition and has good perimeter fencing. The range is gently south facing slope with a variety of native grass. FIRST-TIME OFFERING at just over $500 per acre for deeded and contiguous ownership, $1,095,000. Please give us a call for further information, Greg Sackos, 541-5234434 (office) or 208-598-0267 (cell), Intermountain Realty, www.intermountainland.com 5/18

tion, including total number of milk cows; livestock slaughter and end-ofmonths stocks for meat and dairy products.

“We also publish the Census of Agriculture, which is the most complete assessment of the agriculture industry,” he said. “This information is published at the state, county and national levels.”

In addition, ASB Chair Lance Honig noted there is other data available for county crop estimates through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Risk Management Agency (RMA).

“For FSA, part of the work they do comes in contact with a great deal of information about crop acreage – in particular, producers who want to participate in any of the programs administered by FSA and others at USDA,” Honig explained. “They are required to report and certify acreage planted information for various crops.”

He directed listeners to the FSA website, where the agency will post Excel spreadsheet updates throughout the growing season on this data at the

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

5/18

Property for Sale

66.856 ACRES, JUST NORTHWEST OF RED LODGE, MT BORDERING THE GOLF COURSE: This property is presently agriculturally zoned, current use is hay and pasture and it is fenced and cross fenced. Enjoy views of several mountain ranges and lots of water, including Spring Creek frontage, mature trees and lush grass. Could be zoned commercially, allowing for development of a number of homesites and/ or other commercial ventures. This property is simply loaded with possibilities. Access is off Willow Creek Road. DNRC Right Nos. 43D 216331-00 and 43D 200020-00, Pryde Ditch and West Fork of Rock Creek. $2,300,000. Property to be shown by appointment only and listing agent shall accompany all showings. Sellers ask that prospective buyers respect their privacy. Call Bill at 406-698-9266 for a tour of this parcel TFN

county level.

“Additionally, RMA is responsible for overseeing and administering crop insurance programs at USDA, and as a result of their work, have a great deal of data and information about crops grown and insured across the U.S.,” Honig said.

“These are both great sources of information we believe are out there to utilize in lieu of the county estimates data NASS was publishing,” he added. Budget cuts

During the webinar, Honig reiterated the need for the department to cut these programs due to lack of funding.

He explained, “In midmarch, NASS received our appropriations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 – $187.5 million dollars – which is pretty far below the president’s budget for FY 2024 and well below our actual appropriations for FY 2023. Combine this with increased costs and an implemented pay increase, we had a fairly significant budget gap that we needed to account for as we move through the remainder of FY 2024.”

Honig further explained the department began by taking a criti-

cal look at internal operations to find any cost savings they could, including things like reducing travel and training expenses, reanalyzing direct interactions with producers through conducting surveys and virtually ending all efforts underway to modernize aging systems.

“We did everything we could to not have a direct impact on our customers, but unfortunately, at the end of the day, that in itself was not enough,” he said.

Therefore, on April 9, the agencies announced the elimination of the July Cattle Report, the Cotton Objective Yield Survey and all county estimates for crops and livestock.

Reversal request

Since this announcement, industry groups including NCBA have urged the agencies to reverse their decision and continue these programs.

On May 3, U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry; Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry and U.S. Sen. Jerry

Miscellaneous

48V SOLAR HOUSE POWER 5KW, EXPANDABLE TO 12 KW: Panels, battery, controller and accessories included. BMI STEEL GUITAR (early 1980s) and FENDER Twin Reverb (late 1970s, black with silver screen) Amp. $2,300. 50 GALLON HEATING STOVE, 6” stack, $250, with leveling cooking top, $400. Lovell, WY. Calls only no texts, 307-250-9663. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 5/18

Moran (R-KS) penned a letter with 70 of their colleagues to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to continue publishing the reports.

“Droughts, wildfires, sky-high inflation, market fluctuation and input costs have all driven producers’ risk to an all-time high,” said Mann “USDA’s decision to cancel the July Cattle Report and discontinue the Cotton Yield Objective Survey and all county estimates for crops and livestock only exacerbates this risk.”

“Farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers in the Big First and across the country are doing their best as they bear the weight of feeding, clothing and fueling the world,” Mann continued. “Secretary Vilsack should immediately reverse this decision and give our producers at least some of the certainty they desperately need and deserve.”

The letter has garnered support from NCBA, the National Grain and Feed Association, the National Cotton Council, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Livestock Marketing Association, Beef Alliance and the Livestock Marketing and Dealers

Association.

“The data provided by USDA NASS in these canceled reports is vitally important to cattle producers, especially in this current period of the cattle cycle,” said NCBA President and Wyoming Rancher Mark Eisele. “USDA’s decision to cut the July Cattle Report and county estimates will only fuel more uncertainty in the market. NCBA thanks Mann, Costa and Moran for leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers in urging USDA to reverse this decision.”

“AFBF is disappointed in NASS’ decision to drop these crucial reports,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “County crop and yield estimates provide important data for markets and research, and the decision to cancel the July Cattle Report runs counter to USDA’s previous commitments to improve fair, competitive and transparent markets. We appreciate Moran, Mann and Costa for their continued support to reverse NASS’ decision.” Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.