Wyoming Livestock Roundup 5.25.24

NCBA strengthens international partnerships

Over the past few weeks, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has been busy furthering international partnerships between cattle producers in an effort to promote sustain-

Office Closed

The Wyoming Livestock Roundup office will be closed on May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. The Roundup teams wishes all of our friends and readers a safe and happy holiday while remembering and honoring brave military heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting for our freedom.

Snow Report

In the 23rd and last snow report for Water Year 2024, the state’s snowpack telemetry data reads 100% of median, with a basin high of 159% and a basin low of 77%. Last year, the state was at 101% and at 86% 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

New programs

On May 15, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new programs, partnerships, grant awards and an additional $10 million in funding to expand the markets for organic products and help producers transition to organic production. These programs will support the development of new and better markets for domestic organic products, provide hands-on training to producers transitioning to organic production and ease the financial burden of obtaining organic certification.

Scholarships

The Wyoming Natural Resource Foundation is now accepting applications for the Gary Beach Scholarship. This award is open to applicants enrolled in a junior level or higher at the University of Wyoming or an accredited Wyoming community college eligible bachelor’s degree program in the majors of environment and natural resources, water resources, rangeland ecology and watershed management or a related field. Applications are due July 7. For more information or to apply, visit wynaturalresourcefoundation.com/whatwe-do/education-2/

ability of the cattle industry.

On May 8, NCBA and Cattle Australia (CA) signed a joint statement at the Beef 2024 Convention in Rockhampton, Australia, and a week later, on May 15, the

organization signed a second joint statement with the Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas (CNOG) and the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) during the CNOG 2024

Convention in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

Both partnerships are dedicated to advocating for greater oversight of labgrown protein sources and

COAL LEASING CLOSED

BLM proposes amendment to end future coal leasing

On May 16, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued two final supplemental environmental impact statements (SEIS) and proposed amendments for its Buffalo Field Office and Miles City Field Office land use plans, both of which recommend ending future federal coal leasing across Northeastern Wyoming and Eastern Montana.

USDA invests in livestock health

On May 17, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it will award more than $22.2 million to enhance prevention, preparedness, early detection and rapid response to high-profile diseases threatening the nation’s livestock.

The funding will be awarded through the 2018 Farm Bill’s National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) to fund 81 new projects across 48 states.

“Bolstering animal disease preparedness is crucial because these diseases devastate livestock and hardworking farmers whose animals are affected and threaten America’s access to safe, healthy and affordable food,” said Jenny Lester Moffitt, under secretary for USDA Marking and Regulatory Programs. “APHIS plays an important leadership role in protecting against current and future threats to U.S. animal health, and these investments are key to supporting this work.”

NADPRP

In an effort to help individual states create effective plans to quickly control disease outbreaks, APHIS will award a majority of its investment to 74 projects through the NADPRP.

This $16.2 million award will be used to train responders, increase biosecurity measures and educate producers, among other things.

The Wyoming Livestock Board was among the 74 recipients in the program, receiving $156,795 to help implement

These actions come in response to a 2022 order from the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, requiring the BLM to evaluate alternatives based on updated information and analysis regarding climate and non-climate health impacts of developing fossil fuels in the area and ultimately select one of its proposed alternatives.

Powder River Basin – In a May 16 statement, the Bureau of Land Management announced it selected a preferred alternative for its Buffalo Field Office and Miles City Field Office land use plans, which would end future federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana.

Courtesy photo

Agricultural Bankers Conference

Industry leaders gather to support and promote agricultural banking

The Wyoming Bankers Association (WBA) serves as the professional and trade organization supporting commercial and savings banks in Wyoming.

On May 16-17, WBA hosted its 2024 Agriculture Bankers Conference held at the Bomber Mountain Civic Center in Buffalo.

Each year during the conference, WBA provides first-class educational opportunities, while promoting Wyoming agriculture and its rural communities. From federal farm policy updates and crop and livestock market reports to best management practices for ag industry leaders, this conference provides information and knowledge sought by the modern agricultural lender.

During the convention, attendees had the opportunity to visit with multiple vendors, tour the Mountain Meadow Wool Mill or the Historic Occidental Hotel and hear from various presenters including DayWeather, Inc. President and

Don Day, Jr. presents at the WBA Conference

Day Weather, Inc. President and Meteorologist Don Day, Jr. offered a long-range weather outlook for 2024 and provided a critical look at climate policy during the annual Agriculture Bankers Conference, held May 16-17 at the Bomber Mountain Civic Center in Buffalo and hosted by the Wyoming Bankers Association (WBA).

Day recapped last year’s spring conditions, indicating Wyoming’s greener spring occurred due to Pacific changes from La Niña to El Niño.

“When there is more water vapor in the air in the subtropical Pacific, we will have more rain and snow, and last year it was perfectly timed,” Day stated. “It was also responsible for the decent snow-

pack here and in the Central and Southern Rockies for the last two years.”

According to Day, Wyoming is no longer affected by El Niño, but La Niña is coming back. Although conditions will be drier, Day does not predict a severe drought.

2024 outlook

“As the Pacific changes phases, the jet stream has pushed north, and El Niño jet streams are pushing south,” Day said. “This means we are going to be in La Niña by July, bringing afternoon and evening thunderstorms. This will be a big source of rain for us, but it will be a weaker-thanaverage monsoon season.”

When living in a Western state with a low population, good representation in Congress is really important. In addition to two senators, there is only one representative in Congress to meet Wyoming’s needs. I’ve heard people from other states tell me how lucky Wyoming is to have our current delegation in place. I always respond, “We are fortunate and proud of it.”

One of the reasons we feel so fortunate is our Congressional delegation understands issues such as water, public lands, endangered species, Western infrastructure, agriculture, energy and small communities.

We also appreciate their professional demeanor while accomplishing their duties in Washington, D.C. and here at home. They always show respect for others, which is evident in the fact they all are selected for leadership roles in Congress.

Those leadership roles are so vital to Wyoming and the West. Being a ranking member of a committee carries a lot of weight in Congress.

Most people in Wyoming and across the West realize some individuals in Congress and the current administration want to change agriculture, energy and our way of life. They do this by ignoring Congress and the Supreme Court, printing more money, agency rules and presidential executive orders.

This socialistic method of bypassing Congress and the Supreme Court is going to take years to undo. Top-down government overreach is not what a democracy should look like. Some in Washington, D.C. are selecting Republican states for the most overreach.

As many know, Wyoming is facing issues with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) regarding the removal of the last two processing centers from Casper and Cheyenne and moving them to Billings, Mont. and Denver.

This is part of the USPS Delivering for America plan, which is trying to be more efficient and make more money. What they fail to consider is Wyoming is not a metropolis. It has a number of small communities with large distances between them.

Also, the USPS has been raising postal rates twice a year. This has really hurt the Roundup in the last few years, as our cost for mailing the paper has gone through the roof.

We owe our thanks to our Congressional delegation for their response and leadership on this issue. Here in Wyoming, I get the feeling the USPS wants to do away with all print newspapers, and raising rates while delaying the mail is the way to do it.

In response to a group of senators, the Postmaster General has agreed to a pause the plan until next year and get an advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission on these proposed changes. Hopefully, the USPS will have a change of direction, but if not, I know our Congressional delegation will be on top working for us.

Most people don’t realize how busy our Congressional delegation is in their leadership roles. Most of our state issues start as national issues, and I’m very proud of the leadership roles they fill. I also thank them for coming back to Wyoming most every weekend and visiting the communities to get feedback. Take time to thank them as you realize why other states are envious of our delegation.

GUEST OPINIONS

American Agriculture Needs Farm Workforce Modernization

By Rep. Mike Simpson and Madi Clark

307-685-8213 • denise@wylr.net

ANDREA ZINK, General Manager • andrea@wylr.net

CURT COX, Director of Livestock Field Services • 307-630-4604 • curt@wylr.net CALLI

American farmers feel like the little red hen working alone to grow the wheat, mill the flour and make the bread, as they struggle to meet labor demands across sectors.

Few domestic workers find agricultural employment attractive, and our nation’s visa program to hire foreign workers for agricultural work simply does not work for employers or employees.

From spring pruning to fall harvest, farm labor demands go unmet across every crop and region, as workers both unwilling and willing sit idly by wondering who will grow the bread.

H-2A visa program

Farmers and ranchers in the U.S. have grown reliant on the H-2A visa program to hire temporary foreign workers due to the absence of American workers willing to take farm jobs. H-2A visas grant a pathway for farmers to address labor shortages, and reliance on the program is only growing.

H-2A visa participation grew by 226 percent from 2010-19. Despite an increase from 79,000 workers in 2010 to 258,000 in 2019, farms are still short on workers and some farms needing year-round employees, like dairies, are barred from the program.

As for farms feeling

like the little red hen, those operations have had to wait for decades as legislation designed to make H-2A workable for agriculture go unapproved by the U.S. Senate.

Instead, the most recent government effort to “fix” the ag labor market came from the Biden-Harris administration in the fall of 2023, in an obscure grant program which promises financial relief if farm operations are willing to adopt costly employment practices.

The Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program throws $65 million of taxpayer money at an issue which, in the real world, requires actual labor to solve the problem, not dollar signs. Throwing hard-earned taxpayer money at a government-created issue isn’t solving the problem but only masking the consequences.

Farm Workforce Modernization Act

In the story of the little red hen, money by itself cannot grow the wheat to make the flour to make the bread. It took the physical hard work of the hen.

This is the solution American food security needs today. We need legislation which allows the physical hard work of agriculture to continue unhindered by complex and

redundant bureaucracy.

This is exactly what the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA) allows. The FWMA favors work solutions over monetary bandages, aligns closely with recent recommendations of a Congressional working group on ag labor and is supported by over 250 agricultural groups and organizations.

But, redundancy on this issue is becoming the norm. Not only has the U.S. House of Representatives successfully passed the FWMA multiple times, these 250 groups and members have spoken about ag labor reform for years and nothing has changed.

For decades, farms have sought improvements to the H-2A program without success, and out of necessity, have adopted expensive new technology, increased human resource costs to navigate the H-2A system, outsourced hiring to farm labor contractors or gone out of business.

Additionally, the skyrocketing wage rate used in the H-2A program the FWMA seeks to freeze and reform is becoming unsustainable for farmers across the country.

Reforming the H-2A visa program for temporary workers is critical for protecting the future of Amer-

ican agriculture. If enacted, the reforms outlined in FWMA would improve efficiencies in filing, reform wages and control volatile fluctuations, reduce housing costs, meet year-round labor needs and mandate E-Verify for the agricultural sector. It’s time the little red hen had a little support, especially when neighbors are more than willing to help – if only the farmer would open the gate.

Adopting policy reforms like the Farm Workforce Modernization Act would begin much-needed and long-awaited reform for agricultural labor, bringing stability to farmers, improving food security and providing good jobs to those willing to put in the actual work to produce and harvest America’s crops.

Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID) is currently serving his 13th term in the House of Representatives for Idaho’s Second Congressional District. He serves as chairman of the House Interior and Environment Subcommittee on Appropriations. Madi Clark is a senior policy analyst for the Mountain States Policy Center, an independent free-market research organization based in Idaho. This opinion column was originally published by Capital Press on May 9.

From the Publisher Dennis Sun

WSGLT announces exhibit

The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust (WSGLT) is excited to announce an exhibit in the Capitol Connector of the Wyoming State Capitol Building during the 2025 legislative session.

This exhibit, titled “Inspired by the Land: 25 Years of Conserving Wyoming’s Working Lands,” will celebrate 25 years of agricultural land conservation with the land trust.

This exhibit will capture historic and ongoing relationships between people and the land, stewardship of the land and the many benefits Wyoming citizens and visitors gain from conserving agricultural lands.

WSGLT hopes the display will help people feel connected to and be inspired by working lands, learn how those attachments to conserved lands are a historical part of Wyoming’s agricultural heritage and support cultural identities deeply rooted in rural places.

WSGLT is extending an invitation for the public to contribute to this exhibit. The display will be very intentional, telling an inspiring story of connections to the land. Contributions should signify a personal connection to the land and could include art, poems, lyrics, stories, objects, photos and more.

Contributions will be selected by a committee made up of the exhibit curator, Wyoming State Museum staff, WSGLT board and staff members, artists, founding board members and landowners.

Fire safety encouraged

Memorial Day weekend is a great time to celebrate Wyoming public lands with friends and family. While out, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) encourages individuals to remember preventable wildfires threaten lives, property and precious resources every year.

“Our firefighters are working very hard with our partners around the state to be prepared for fire season. With so many places to enjoy in Wyoming, please be careful to prevent wildfires this Memorial Day weekend and throughout the summer,” said Richard Putnam, BLM Wyoming acting state fire management officer.

Be aware of local public safety area closures and take precautions before venturing out, and be careful with anything that could start a fire.

If towing a boat or trailer, ensure safety chains are properly secure and not dragging on the ground.

Never park a vehicle over dead grass and avoid driving through tall grass – vehicles can ignite fuels and start a fire.

When camping on public lands, never leave a campfire unattended. Ensure the campfire is “dead” out before leaving or turning in for the night. If the campfire is too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.

If target shooting, take all of the proper precaution measures to be fire-safe – select an area free of flammable materials and bring a fire extinguisher or water to extinguish any flames.

Exploding targets and tracer ammunition is prohibited for use on all public lands in Wyoming, per the year-round wildfire prevention restrictions.

For the most up-to-date fire conditions and restrictions, visit blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/ wyoming/fire

CROSSWORD

NASDA receives funding

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) has been awarded $5 million through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Regional Agricultural Promotion Program, as announced by USDA and USDA FAS Administrator Daniel Whitley during “A Taste of the States: Chicago” at the National Restaurant Association Show.

The program aims to diversify market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products by expanding markets beyond the top regions U.S. food and agricultural products are currently exported to.

“We are excited for NASDA members to have additional resources to bolster international marketing opportunities for U.S. agricultural producers,” NASDA Chief Executive Officer Ted McKinney said. “With this new investment in diversifying markets and increasing trade, we can support rural and agricultural communities through developing long-term economic impacts.”

The USDA FAS cites for each one dollar invested in export market development, U.S. agricultural exports have increased by more than $24.

NASDA will use the funding to develop emerging markets by fostering robust relationships, maintaining and improving market access and expanding export opportunities for small and medium-sized U.S. food and beverage companies.

Sale schedule announced

The Diamond-McNabb Ranch Horse Sale has announced its 16th annual sale will begin with a preview day on May 31. Gates open at 3 p.m., and attendees are welcome to browse the arena and view the horses in an unofficial preview session throughout the afternoon.

Diamond-McNabb and consignment riders will be available on the arena grounds to answer any questions about individual horses ahead of the June 1 auction.

Following the unofficial preview, there will be a barbecue dinner at 5 p.m. and a demonstration from Ken McNabb at 6 p.m.

Additionally, Wyoming Singer Matt Robertson will be performing during the unofficial preview and barbeque dinner. The barbeque dinner is $20 per plate, and all are welcome to attend at the Powderhorn Ranch.

On June 1, the doors will open at 8 a.m., with an official preview session kicking off at 9 a.m. The sale will start at 1 p.m.

Online and phone bidding are available. For more information, visit dmhorses.com

Award finalists selected

Three ranch and farm families are finalists for the Montana Leopold Conservation Award.

The award honors ranchers, farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.

Named in honor of renowned Conservationist Aldo Leopold, this award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 27 states. In Montana, the $10,000 award is presented with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Rangeland Resources Committee.

This year’s award finalists are Franck and Kari Groeneweg of Three Forks in Broadwater and Jefferson counties, Thomas Herefords Ranch of Gold Creek in Powell County and Wickens Salt Creek Ranch of Hilger in Fergus County.

The award recipient will be revealed in June.

For more information on the award, visit leopoldconservationaward.org

Wyoming hosts “RanchHER”

RFD-TV is excited to present the highly-anticipated fourth episode of its acclaimed series, “RanchHER,” featuring the legendary Pitchfork Ranch. This show profiles the extraordinary women of the ranching industry – highlighting their grit, grace and glory and offering an exhilarating lineup to inspire audiences nationwide.

In this episode, viewers will join Lindsey Anson on the historic Pitchfork Ranch in Meeteetse where stockmanship, stewardship and high-quality beef are the name of the game.

Anson and her husband Ben are dedicated ranchers who cherish their cattle, horses and the cowboy lifestyle. They spend their days gathering and shipping pasture-raised, grain-finished cattle. Anson began riding at a young age, quickly falling in love with jumpers and dressage horses.

In college, she transitioned to riding ranch horses and now enjoys integrating the fundamentals of dressage into her training program at the ranch.

As an entrepreneur, Anson cofounded “Range Market,” a brilliant and unique female-owned online marketplace connecting small-scale ranchers with the means to sell beef, chicken and pork directly to their consumers.

As a businesswoman and cowgirl, Anson honors the tradition of “RanchHER” with her passion for ranching and horses and connecting consumers to where their food comes from.

The new episode of “RanchHER” aired on May 21 at 7 p.m. “RanchHER” episodes will repeat weekly on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 8 p.m.

Meteorologist Don Day, Jr. and Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R-WY).

“WBA appreciates the support of our vendors and sponsors to our annual ag conference,” stated WBA President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Meier.

“By all accounts, this year’s conference was an enormous success, both from an attendance standpoint as well as from a speaker lineup. It definitely raises the bar for next year.”

Closing out the two-day event, DV Auction Commercial Cattle Manager and Livestock Market Analyst Corbitt Wall provided convention guests with a market analysis of fed cattle.

Issues facing ag lenders Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) Senior Vice President of Agriculture and Rural Policy Mark Scanlan provided an overview of agriculture policy issues facing ag lenders.

Scanlan has more than 30 years of agricultural policy experience and serves as the secretary for ICBA’s Agriculture-Rural America Committee, which includes agricultural bankers from virtually every geographic region in the U.S.

“In the last six or seven months, there’s been about 5,000 pages of new regulations,” Scanlan stated. “Key ag policy issues impacting bankers for years to

come include the farm bill, farm credit systems, AgPay Xpress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Express Loan Act.”

The USDA Express Loan Act would enable the Farm Service Agency to issue ownership and operating loan guarantees up to $1 million within 36 hours of the lender signing off on the loan, eliminating lengthy wait times for their farmer and rancher customers.

In exchange for the expedited approval, lenders would receive a reduced guarantee on these loans of 50 to 75 percent once they make a credit determination.

He added, “ICBA testified before Congress on the proposal earlier this year, testifying before the Senate Agriculture Committee’s subcommittee on commodities. Verlin “Gus” Barker of First Community Bank in Newell, Iowa testified the ICBA-proposed USDA express program would improve access to timely credit for family farmers and ranchers.”

Educational opportunities

Abrigo Senior Advisor Rob Newberry discussed stress testing ag loan portfolios and how to recognize margin of error in credit risk.

“Understanding different stress testing methods and how those results impact a financial institu-

tion’s capital ratios is key,” Newberry stated, “How much can one lose in a loan portfolio before capital becomes an issue?”

In this session, he reviewed recent ag loan performance trends and the definition of concentrations and discussed some common practices used to effectively assign risk to ag loans.

Returning presenter Bell Bank Senior Vice President and Director of Agribusiness Development Lynn Paulson recapped factors influencing the future outlook of agriculture, including margin compression, commodity prices, interest rates and crop insurance.

Following Paulson, MountainWest Valuations, LLC Certified General Appraiser Steve Hickstein conducted an open question and answer session in which the audience asked questions focused on agricultural properties.

Hickstein also discussed several topics related to agricultural appraisal practices, including state and federal grazing leases, surface compensation from energy production, recreational properties and agricultural land transitioning to other use.

RanchRight, LLC

Owner John Haskell offered livestock asset management strategies to improve ranch profitability.

“Many ranches’ livestock assets represent a large and volatile store of

value, and learning how to manage the value of the asset and convert volatil-

Michael Schmitt - Torrington, WY

Ty Thompson – Lusk, WY 307-340-0770

Cody Thompson - Lusk, WY 307-340-0150

ity into cash flow presents many opportunities for ranchers,” Haskell said. “Understanding these strategies is important for bankers to significantly increase cash and profitability for their customer.”

Conservation easements Agricultural producers face continued challenges, from weather to economic pressures to succession planning, impacting their ability to stay in production.

Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust Executive Director Jessica Crowder offered a tool to assist producers meet their operation, conservation and financial goals – an agricultural conservation easement.

Conservation easements help to maintain working lands, important wildlife habitats and wide-open spaces.

Crowder stated, “We became a 501(c)(3) in 2001 and placed our first conservation easement in Carbon County the same year. Since then, the organization has conserved over 300,000 acres of agricultural land and worked with 92 families.”

State agency

Wyoming Department of Agriculture Director Doug Miyamoto helped close out the 2024 Ag Bankers Conference with an update on producer and consumer protection.

Miyamoto highlighted

state programs to protect consumers and talked about the state’s role in agriculture. For instance, Wyoming’s meat processing and the growth the meat industry has placed on the state.

“There’s been a lot of attention in our state meat program since the pandemic,” he said.

“At the time, under the Federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act, we allocated funds to increase the state’s food supply chain security and approved applications to develop their meat processing operations.”

He then explained the different types of meat processing facilities, including federal and state inspected, custom exempt and wild game plants.

“There’s a lot of regulations and compliance involved in operating a meat processing facility, and it can be very expensive as well,” he continued. “We have to make sure our state stays safe and the wholesomeness of the product is equal to federally-inspected quality.”

Recently, Miyamoto called a meeting with Wyoming meat processors to address concerns about the state’s inspection program.

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

Serving the state – The Wyoming Bankers Association hosted its 2024 Agricultural Bankers Conference May 16-17 in Buffalo. Pictured are a few of the 2023-24 ag committee members, including, from left to right, Kip Post, Ken Wright, Eli Pierson, Mike Morrison, Brett Malm, Victor Allen and Chairman Levi Clark. WYLR photo

Agriculture in Wyoming – Wyoming Department of Agriculture Director Doug Miyamoto presented to area bankers at the annual Wyoming Bankers Association Conference. WYLR photo

LETTERS

Submit your letters to: Editor, Wyoming Livestock Roundup, P.O. Box 850, Casper, WY, 82602, or e-mail to roundup@wylr. net. We reserve the right to edit letters. It is the policy of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup that we do not print letters attacking individuals, groups or organizations within the Wyoming agricultural community.

Dear Editor,

I’m not sure what best describes the circumstances surrounding sage grouse –“insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” or a quote from Ronald Reagan, which states, “I’ve always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

Think about the last 40 some odd years. We’ve quit using poisons because they kill non-target species. We have more and more regulation of rangelands. Hundreds of riders keep cattle off of riparian areas. The number of livestock on rangelands in the West keep getting lower and lower.

Yet, according to some data, sage grouse numbers keep going down. Don’t get me wrong. It’s

been pretty exciting to be a part of the changes we’ve made in land management. Ranchers everywhere have embraced changes needed to grow more grass and have healthier soils as soon as they’ve heard about them. If they were already doing them, they did more.

There’s more grass, solid stream banks and cleaner water everywhere you look. But, there are always tradeoffs, and sage grouse could be collateral damage.

The one thing that tracks hand in hand with decreasing sage chicken populations is an increase in regulation. How can you change almost everything happening on the rangelands of the West and not expect some fall out, and then come back and say we need to do more?

If we looked at it strictly

continued from page 1

protecting cattle from disease.

Lab-grown meat and animal disease

According to NCBA’s May 8 press release, the joint statement signed with CA focuses on both countries’ commitment to proper labeling of lab-grown meat and protecting cattle health.

NCBA notes, while there are no lab-grown beef imitation products currently on the market in the U.S., several companies are attempting to create them.

“It is critically important these products are properly vetted by regulatory authorities so they do not pose a potential risk to consumer health and food safety, and it is important they are labeled in a way that is transparent to consumers so they can choose between naturallyproduced beef and lab-grown proteins,” says NCBA.

While both the U.S. and Australia have been free of foot and mouth disease for decades – the U.S. since 1929 and Australia since 1872 –the two countries also agreed in their statement to utilize vaccine banks to counter the threat of the economicallydevastating disease.

Additionally, the U.S. and Australia agreed to continue sharing information on cattle industry sustainability and promoting the benefits of cattle production while engaging with their respective governments to secure policies in favor of the indus-

from a sage grouse perspective, we would have unregulated grazing and go back to burning leaded gasoline.

To be honest, I have not read the entire document on how many different ways one can manage for sage chickens. But, there would have been a headline somewhere announcing the deregulation of the West in hopes sage grouse numbers rebound.

I can see it now, “In an unprecedented act, the federal government realized if they would of stayed in their own lane 50 years ago, sage grouse wouldn’t be in declining numbers today.”

I doubt we’ll ever know, but it would be interesting to know if fire was a surprise or if it was part of the agenda when the green groups set out to shut down logging and grazing.

An average range fire didn’t used to change things much in the long run. They would burn through the old, dense sagebrush and leave a mosaic effect. Now that we’re trying to save the world from ourselves, we get massive fires which scorch the Earth for miles and miles.

try regarding the aforementioned priorities.

“America’s cattle producers stand with Australia’s cattle producers and look forward to being partners in combatting foreign animal diseases, promoting sustainability and ensuring proper oversight of lab-grown proteins,” says NCBA President and Wyoming Rancher Mark Eisele.

“As a rancher, I understand the importance of proactively talking about the good work we do in both countries,” he adds. “Cattle producers provide significant benefits to the global population, from providing safe, wholesome, real beef to implementing conservation practices which conserve millions of acres of prime wildlife habitat in the U.S. and Australia.”

“This joint commitment will strengthen the partnership between American and Australian producers and support our efforts to educate the public on the benefits of raising cattle,” Eisele continues.

CA Chair Garry Edwards further comments, “In signing this joint statement of priorities, we are encouraging the Australian and U.S. governments to join forces in combating devastating foreign animal diseases, promoting sustainable global trade to encourage efficient production practices and ensuring science-based food

If you want to reverse climate change, turn the cowboys and loggers loose.

My career included working as a range aid for the state of Idaho while the Bureau of Land Management was trying to implement their first environmental impact statement, while also working public and private lands ranches in Wyoming.

In the early days, we had what was called sacrifice areas, where animals congregated for salt, water or cover. They were ugly and often too big, but they provided ideal habitat for sage grouse. There was a huge variety of plants, many of them small annuals ideal for baby chicks to eat. The open areas were ideal for strutting grounds in the spring, and the edges were ideal for cover with a view.

I never liked sacrifice areas and did a lot of different things to get rid of them, but anybody who was riding a colt in the early 80s figured there were way too many sage chickens anyway.

In more recent years, in self defense, I was doing my own lek counts on the

safety and marketing regulations of emerging food technologies such as lab-grown proteins.”

Open markets and import oversight

While NCBA’s agreement with CNOG and CCA addresses these same goals, the three organizations also penned a letter to U.S. Trade Rep. Katherine Tai, Secretaria de Economía Raquel Buenrostro Sanchez and Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng urging their respective governments to re-open markets for beef exports and provide more science-based oversight of beef imports.

“Unfortunately, the three governments have expanded market access for beef imports while providing little opportunities for beef exports,” reads NCBA’s May 15 press release. “If this continues, it will place North American cattle producers at a competitive disadvantage to other beef producers, including South America.”

While signing their agreement, NCBA brought up their ongoing concern with Brazil’s failure to report cases of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and the country’s access to the American market.

“These atypical cases occur spontaneously, but countries are required to report any cases within 24 hours to the World Organization for Animal Health,” explains NCBA. “The U.S.

“It is critically important these products are properly vetted by regulatory authorities so they do not pose a potential risk to consumer health and food safety, and it is important they are labeled in a way that is transparent to consumers so they can choose between naturally-produced beef and lab-grown proteins.” – National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

ranch I was managing. The big leks were showing fewer males, but there were males strutting in a lot of different places.

During the breeding season, I would often find two to six males strutting in open areas just under the crest of a ridge. These birds were usually in proximity of the bigger established leks, and numbers reflected the decline in count on the big leks. I don’t know what would cause these guys to scatter like this except the presence of raptors.

One morning, I was watching a lek and saw it go empty in a matter of seconds when a golden eagle was just a dot in the sky. The closest power line was miles away.

I doubt oil and gas can share much of the blame. It’s a small portion of the overall picture, and some disturbance can do a bit of good in its own way by increasing diversity. And, it also had less regulation when sage grouse numbers were high.

If it was really about the sage grouse, we would allow animal damages to use 10 to 80. Sheep produc-

has upheld the 24-hour requirement continuously, but Brazil has often delayed reporting cases from anywhere between 35 days and up to two years. This lack of transparency increases the risk to food safety and makes Brazil an unreputable trading partner.”

Eisele states, “I am pleased American, Mexican and Canadian cattle producers are standing together to hold our trade partners accountable. For the U.S., we have significant con-

ers would be subsidized so they could make more bed grounds which would result in more annual plants. There would be big blocks of land allowing the increase in livestock numbers while monitoring both the range and bird numbers. With the right wording, green groups could even get money to make this happen. Heck, they could even sue somebody. A lot of assumptions could be put to rest by doing this kind of study. It would also give these groups a chance to prove to the world this is about an endangered species and not the land grab it appears to be. Who knows, maybe they do care about another species besides their portfolio manager.

If you are going to blame man for the decline in sage grouse numbers, then you probably ought to blame the ones who pass laws to regulate something they know nothing about instead of letting the people who know everything about it do their job.

Sincerely, Brent Winter Buffalo

For more information on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and their international partnerships, visit ncba.org.

cerns Brazil continues to have access to the U.S. market, even though they have a repeated history of failing to disclose animal health concerns, including cases of atypical BSE,” “We continue urging our respective governments to protect the beef supply by blocking Brazilian imports,”

Eisele continues. “We are pleased to be partners on these issues and act as the voice of cattle farmers and ranchers to our respective governments.”

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

NCBA

RAAA announces two staff promotions

The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) announced two staff promotions within its communications and DNA departments.

Katie Martin, based in Torrington, has been promoted to director of communications, while Ariana De La Garza of Greeley, Colo. assumes the role of DNA programs manager. Martin transitioned into the assistant director of communications role last May following seven years serving on RAAA’s commercial marketing team. The strong relationships developed with RAAA’s members, commercial customers, industry partners and staff during her tenure will continue to yield dividends as director of communications.

She holds a master’s degree in animal breeding and genetics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has a lifetime of beef industry expertise garnered from involvement in her family’s ranching operation, Ochsner Roth Cattle Company.

De La Garza is a 2018 graduate of Kansas State University, holding a bachelor’s degree in animal science, with a focus in communications and marketing. After a stint as a consultant in the oil and gas sector, she redirected her career back to the cattle industry, joining RAAA in July 2023.

De La Garza has swiftly demonstrated her strengths in the DNA department and has emerged as a valuable asset at RAAA’s headquarters in Commerce City, Colo.

For more information about RAAA or marketing programs for Red Angus-influenced cattle, visit redangus.org

Day noted according to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) between June 1 to Aug. 3, Wyoming is predicted to be an inch to two inches below average summer precipitation.

However, the Climate Forecast System (CFS) reports above-average summer precipitation for the same date range, which Day believes is “terribly optimistic.”

“The ECMWF model tends to report drier conditions, whereas the CFS model tends to report wetter conditions, but the Canadian Global Environmental Multiscale Model reports a little of both,” he said.

Utilizing all three models to predict summer temperatures is a good compromise and lends to warmer – but not terribly hot – temperatures for Wyoming.

“If I’m concerned about the dryness this summer, it would be the I-80 corridor in Southwest Wyoming because the monsoon season is weaker there. This part of the state will not see

afternoon and evening thunderstorms,” he said.

Day noted Wyoming residents need to pay attention to the equator between South America and Northeast Australia. As water gets colder, then warmer, La Niña will go straight through the summer and into fall but will fade at the beginning of winter.

“Currently, the Indian Ocean and parts of the Central and Northern Atlantic Ocean are in a cooling trend going into fall and winter this year,” he said. “If it stays a bit warmer up north and cooler down south, we will have a cold winter.”

Climate policy

“When it comes to laws being passed and policies being enacted, everyone needs to be aware of what is happening,” Day stated.

He presented information from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The IPCC is a United Nations body which assesses science related to climate change. The primary objective of the panel is to disseminate

and help develop climate policy.

Day said, “Even the IPCC working group reported long-term predictions of future climate conditions is impossible because the climate system is a coupled non-linear chaotic system.”

During the presentation, Day updated the group on RCP8.5, which represents the worst-case climate change scenario by 2050 and is driving policy decisions.

“There are three other protocols out there to help drive these decisions, but unfortunately the federal government is only utilizing RCP8.5 projections. The model is 13 years old,” he stated. “The other model’s climatologists have predicted the climate future is much better.”

He continued, “Our weather is not following the RCP8.5 trend right now, and the model should not be used.”

Researchers are calling attention to RCP8.5 as an unreliable source to predict the future of climate change.

Roger Pielke, Jr., a

University of Colorado professor in the environmental studies department, has been challenging RCP8.5.

In a Feb. 19 blog post, Pielke stated, “Even though the climate community knows RCP8.5 is outdated and misleading, peer-reviewed studies using the scenario continue to be published at a rate of approximately 25 times per day. Climate advocates and the media promote some of these studies. In 2020, there were 17,000-plus RCP8.5 studies in the literature, and now the number sits at more than 45,000.”

Even the Biden administration relied on RCP8.5 to justify its liquefied natural gas export pause.

“There is a disconnect between what is being observed and what the RCP8.5 model is actually representing,” Day concluded. “The question we should ask is why we are creating policies based on a fantasy model which has no chance of being real.”

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

an electronic identification traceability system at one of the state’s livestock markets.

Several other projects across the West received funding through the program, including one in Montana, Nebraska and Utah; two in New Mexico and Oklahoma and four in Colorado and Texas.

This includes $88,567 to the Montana Department of Livestock, $26,165 to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and $73,768 to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food for projects to develop and enhance emergency response plans.

New Mexico State University received $227,569 for a project to support animal disease movement decisions in the case of an outbreak and $247,319 for animal disease preparedness and response training for law enforcement officers and emergency stakeholders.

Oklahoma State University received $238,098 to help improve local containment for swine in the case of a disease outbreak, as well as $218,731 for a project to advance the development of sheep and goat vaccines.

Colorado State University was awarded $267,638 for a project supporting livestock and poultry biosecurity measures; $591,927 for a project supporting outreach and education; $500,002 to develop a national-level equine operation and population dataset to inform decision-making in the case of an out-

break and $95,251 for agriculture incident safety officer training and curriculum development.

Texas A&M University received $199,948 to secure milk supply and biosecurity program evaluation and implementation; $171,189 to enhance mass disposal of poultry mortalities and poultry products; $146,578 for livestock agribusiness training development and $182,665 for a tri-state feedlot readiness assessment for foot and mouth disease (FMD) prevention and response.

Additionally, on the national level, a $111,110 award was given to the American Sheep Industry Association and American Wool Trust; a $78,750 award to the National Institute for Animal Agriculture; a $257,552 award to the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and two awards totaling $859,272 to the National Milk Producers Federation.

NAHLN

APHIS will also award over $1 million to seven NAHLN-funded projects, as well as an additional $5 million to NAHLN laboratories for infrastructure needs.

Overall, these projects will focus on enhancing early-detection of animal

diseases and improving emergency response capabilities across NAHLN laboratories.

Only two NAHLNfunded awards will benefit entities close to home, including $170,950 to the state of Montana in order to develop a cellphone application and enhance an exisiting website to allow standardized data capture and submission to any NAHLN lab, as well as $200,000 to the state of Texas to build and refine previous work on time-to-detection and cost deficiencies of aquatic viruses.

NAVVCB

In addition, the agency has announced several investments in the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB), which allows APHIS to stockpile animal vaccine to use in the event of an outbreak.

In July 2023, APHIS announced it would invest $6 million in NAVVCB purchases during 2024, including FMD vaccine and diagnostic test kits. APHIS also announced it will use $900,000 in farm bill funds to replenish its inventory of classical swine fever vaccine.

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

more information on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s

Katie Martin Courtesy photo

Ariana De La Garza Courtesy photo

As spring arrives and the weather begins to warm up, gardeners need to be on the lookout for aphids – tiny, soft-bodied, plant-sucking insects.

In a February 2003 article, Gail Gredler, a home horticulturist with the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service, says aphids especially love tender young plant growth, which is prevalent this time of year.

Aphids are born pregnant and multiply quickly, and most aphids are “naked” – without a hard exoskeleton – but some species have a soft cottony substance over their bodies and can be just about any color.

She notes, “Some aphids have wings, and some do not. They are about onetenth of an inch long with long, hypodermic needlelike mouth parts, adapted to pierce and suck out plant juices.”

OSU Extension offers strategies to keep aphid damage at a minimum without resorting to toxic chemicals because there are so many kinds of aphids with varying life cycles. Gredler recommends diverse aphid control strategies, including sticky traps, smart landscaping and natural aphid predators. Non-toxic strategies

The first line of defense would be to squish a few

aphids, releasing a chemical signal to attract natural enemies like lacewings, ladybird beetles and parasitoid wasps.

OSU Extension suggests following up with a strong spray of water from the hose to wash remaining aphids to the ground, blast the bottom of the leaves as they often congregate there and repeat every few days until numbers go down.

Periodically spraying water can work wonders with aphids on rose shoots and buds, bean plants, young broccoli and cabbage shoots and other tender garden foliage.

“Aphids are poor climbers,” Gredler states. “They are less likely to reestablish because they run a high risk of getting eaten by groundroving predators, such as spiders and beetles.”

Aphid numbers can explode on nitrogen-rich plants, and it’s a good idea to use organic fertilizer or a slow-release synthetic fertilizer that will provide pests less readily available nitrogen.

“Keep plants healthy and prune off damaged foliage,” Gredler adds. “Plants with adequate supplies of nutrients, water and light can fend off aphids more easily than sickly or stressed plants but avoid over fertilizing.”

Tender new growth

attracts aphids, so OSU Extension suggests using slow-release or organic fertilizers to avoid an overdose of nutrients to plants.

Most aphids secrete honeydew – a sweet, sticky substance which is a food source for ants, bees and flies – and some forms of aphids spread plant viruses from dripping honeydew, leading to sooty mold growth on many plants.

Gredler recommends gardeners utilize a smart landscape design to deter aphids from the garden and encourage predatory insects to eat aphids.

“Do not have aphidattracting plants where aphids or their honeydew will do harm. For example, birches are notorious aphidattractors,” she points out. “Don’t plant birches near driveways or decks, or vehicles and decks will be sticky with honeydew.”

Additional methods

Gredler mentions using sticky, yellow aphid traps, which are sold in garden stores and trap flying aphids in a non-toxic, sticky substance, and to quarantine aphid-infested plants if possible.

OSU Extension recommends introducing or encouraging natural aphid predators and to avoid the use of broad-spectrum pesticides which kill aphid pred-

USDA recruits exporters

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is accepting applications from current and potential U.S. exporters for a trade mission to Vietnam Sept. 9-13. Participants will attend events in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi and will also have the opportunity to engage with visiting buyers from Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia and Thailand.

“Markets in Southeast Asia hold immense opportunity for U.S. exporters,” said USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor. “In 2023, the

U.S. exported $3.1 billion of agricultural products to Vietnam, maintaining a sizable market share across several food and ag-related categories, including cotton, dairy, distillersʼ grains, fresh fruit, poultry, soybeans and tree nuts.”

“Through the Vietnam trade mission, as well as new efforts with the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program and the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports initiative, USDA is confident we can continue to help U.S. exporters grow and diversify their markets in Southeast Asia and boost economic returns for America’s farmers, ranchers and agri-

businesses,” she continued.

Trade mission participants will begin the week in Ho Chi Minh City and end it in Hanoi, connecting with key importers for businessto-business meetings and learning about local and regional market conditions through site visits and briefings by FAS staff, industry experts and government officials.

To apply to participate in the mission and to learn more about export opportunities in Vietnam and the Southeast Asia region, visit fas.usda.gov/topics/trademissions/vietnam-september-2024. Applications must be submitted by June 4.

ators such as ladybugs and green lacewings.

“Do not purchase adult ladybird beetles, as they tend to disperse on release. A better predator to purchase may be the green lacewing, available for sale as eggs or larvae,” she says.

According to Gredler, the best strategy is to grow plants which attract and foster natural predators.

These include yarrow, wild buckwheat, white sweet clover, tansy, sweet fennel, sweet alyssum, spearmint, Queen Anneʼs lace, hairy vetch, flowering buckwheat, crimson clover, cowpeas, common knotweed and caraway.

If all else fails

If the above strategies don’t seem to do the trick, Gredler recommends trying the least-toxic method of chemical control of aphids – commercial insecticidal soaps.

These soaps are available at most lawn and garden stores and eliminate only the insects that come in direct contact with the soap.

“This means you have to spray the soap solution directly on aphids to eliminate them,” says Gredler. “Make sure to check the underside of leaves and other hard-to-see areas for aphids. And remember, the soap spray is only effective as an insecticide until it

dries. For plants in the sun, test an inconspicuous part of the plant first to see whether it will cause leaf burning. Always follow label instructions.”

Utilizing insecticidal soap on aphids allows predator insects with harder bodies to survive and naturally control aphids.

Gredler adds commercial formulations of these types of soap have been extensively tested on plants, so they are safer than homemade solutions. Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

BLM announced Alternative A as its preferred alternative, which recommends BLM-managed coal resources in the planning areas end future leasing.

Alternative A

Under the BLM’s proposed alternative, existing coal mines in Wyoming would be able to continue operations until 2041.

North of the state line, the plan would allow the Spring Creek Mine, owned by the Navajo Transitional Energy Company, to continue production through 2035 and the Rosebud Mine, owned by Westermoreland, to continue production through 2060. However, the plan would close nearly 1.2 million acres to new coal leasing.

Overall, the Powder River Basin accounts for 85 percent of federal coal

production and 40 percent of the nation’s total annual coal production, with the Spring Creek and Rosebud mines producing a combined 18.5 million short tons of coal in 2022.

In its announcement, BLM noted this number is down 28 million short tons from 2007, while the 220 million short tons of coal produced by 12 active surface coal mines in the Buffalo Field Office were down roughly 400 million short tons from 2008.

“Both U.S. total coal production and Powder River Basin coal production peaked in 2008 and have since declined steeply, according to the Energy Information Administration,” says BLM Spokesperson Mark Jacobsen in a May 17 article written by Blair Miller and published

in the Daily Montanan

“Coal has powered our nation for many decades, but technology, economics and markets are changing radically,” adds Western Organization of Resource Councils Board Chair Paula Antoine. “BLM’s announcement recognizes coal’s era is ending, and it’s time to focus on supporting our communities through the transition away from coal, investing in workers and moving to heal our lands, water and climate as we enter a bright clean energy future.”

Other alternatives

As with all decisions made through the National Environmental Protection Agency process, the BLM chose Alternative A from a set of multiple alternatives.

According to the May 17 Federal Register, Alternative B, also known as the no action alternative, would “allow approximately 48

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billion short tons of recoverable BLM-administered coal within the Coal Development Potential Area established in the 2019 Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Final SEIS be available for further consideration.”

Alternative C would allow a reduced level of about 1.24 billion short tons of recoverable BLMadministered coal be available for leasing within the Coal Development Potential Area.

“The BLM further considered three additional alternatives but dismissed them from detailed analysis, as explained in the pro-

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"From the ring, to the video, and in the country, we market your livestock the competitive

way."

Market Report • May 21, 2024

Good crowd for our spring turn-out bull sale, with higher quality bulls selling on a strong market. Light test on replacement and feeders, consisting mostly of heifers with a good demand for replacement quality. Weigh up cows steady, weigh up bulls steady to slightly stronger market.

Thank you and we appreciate your business!

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posed RMP amendment and final SEIS,” reads the Federal Register

Negative response

While environmental groups who pushed the administration to end new coal leasing called the BLM’s decision a “sea of change,” it has angered several Republican leaders hailing from both states.

On May 16, both Gov. Mark Gordon and Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) issued statements on the BLM announcement, calling it an attack on Wyoming’s natural resources industry.

“With this latest barrage in President Joe Biden’s ongoing attack on Wyoming’s coal country and all who depend upon it, he has demonstrated his lack of regard for the environment, for working people and for reliable, dispatchable energy,” states Gordon. “This decision, compounded by the recent Environmental Protection Agency rules, ensures Biden’s legacy will be about blackouts and energy poverty for Wyoming’s citizens and beyond.”

“This SEIS is not about making a well-informed decision. It is about Biden’s partisan, vindictive and politically-motivated war on America’s abundant, cheap, efficient and consistent energy sources –one which holds practical and achievable goals to remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere,” he adds. “This administration touts its preference for ‘best available science,’ yet only chooses to highlight science advancing their job- and career-killing agenda.”

Gordon continues, “As governor, I am profoundly disappointed our nation’s highest executive leadership has chosen to ignore innovation and opportunity to grovel at the feet of coastal elites. I promise the state of Wyoming will fully utilize the opportunities available to kill or modify this record of decision (ROD) before it is signed and final. The issues we face globally right now are too important and too urgent to dither away with incoherent policies and wrongheaded initiatives. As with the other attacks on Wyoming’s fossil fuel industries, the Attorney General is actively pursuing options to challenge these destructive decisions.”

Barrasso further comments, “President Biden continues to wage war on Wyoming’s coal communities and families. This short-sighted plan will kill future coal leases in Wyo-

ming’s Powder River Basin – the most energy rich area in the country. This will kill jobs and could cost Wyoming hundreds of millions of dollars used to pay for public schools, roads and other essential services in our communities. Cutting off access to our strongest resources surrenders America’s greatest economic advantages – to continue producing affordable, abundant and reliable American energy.”

Gov. Greg Gianforte and three GOP members of Montana’s federal delegation expressed similar concerns, noting they believe moving away from using coal and oil and gas in Montana will hurt the state’s power grid and cost workers their jobs.

“Every action taken by the Biden administration is driving up the cost of affordable energy and threatening the reliability of our electrical grid. Affordable power generated by coal keeps the lights on in Montana and fuels manufacturing across the country and world,” Gianforte says. “This announcement is nothing more than a gift to China and our adversaries and a slap in the face to hardworking Montanans.”

U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) adds, “BLM either does not understand or does not care their unreliable green new deal energy sources are not feasible in places like Montana and pose real threats to our economy and national security.”

Public protest

Following publication in the May 17 Federal Register, the BLM opened a 30-day public protest period which will end on June 17.

According to the bureau, the protest period presents the final opportunity for the administration to review the proposed land use planning decisions before adopting an approved RMP. All protests must be submitted online through the BLM’s ePlanning website or written and mailed to BLM Director, Attn: Protest Coordinator, Denver Federal Center, Building 40, Lakewood, CO 80215. The bureau is required to evaluate and respond to each protest, and responses to protest issues will be compiled and documented in a Protest Resolution Report. The BLM will then issue an ROD and approved RMP.

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

on May 4.

He was born to the late Lawrence (Tuffy) and Mariann (Splichal) Robinett on Feb. 4, 1962 in Casper. Kevin graduated from Natrona County High School in 1981 and received certification from Casper College.

Kevin was an active member of the Casper Eagles 306 Aerie and Auxiliary. He was a member of numerous shooting and hunting clubs.

Kevin grew up on the family farm and ranch

Ila (Chamberlain) Sturgeon was born in Rifle, Colo. on Dec. 9, 1943 to Delora Olive (Morrow) and Archibald Chamberlain. She left this life and went on

Shirley Tanner passed away peacefully on May 3 in Casper. She has now joined her beloved husband John.

Shirley was born April 1, 1936 in LaPama, Calif., joining her older brother Richard. In her younger years, after her mother passed away, Shirley and her sister Loretta moved to Big Piney to live with their aunt and uncle Inez and Rod Bennett.

While attending high school in Big Piney, Shirley met John, the love of her life. During her time in Big Piney, she was an active part of the Buss and Mardell Fear family, and they became an important part of her life. She helped on the ranch feeding their family and ranch hands, while being active in school.

Shirley was involved in cheerleading, a member of student council, 4-H

where he learned many skills that carried him into being a “Jack of all Trades,” a badge he wore proudly. He had numerous business ventures from handyman, trucking, welding, construction, farming and ranching, mechanic and his final venture in hospitality.

Kevin was eager to teach anyone his knowledge of vast information if you were patient and willing to listen. He took a break from the grind and spent about half a year traveling and living in Alaska, where he enjoyed long summer days of fishing and exploring the great wilderness.

Kevin enjoyed the outdoors and looked forward to

hunting season every year.

Kevin is survived by his three children Randy and Shannan Robinett of Casper, Kenny and Tanesia Robinett of Casper and Lea and Josh Hendrickson of Devils Tower; brothers Dan (Debrah) Robinett and Keith (Millie) Robinett; sisters Linda Haines and June (Bill) Kossert; grandchildren Shad, Austin, Delilah, Kevin, Chance and Wade; numerous cousins and other family and friends and his sidekick pup Tuffy, who was seldom not by his side.

Services or a celebration of life will be held at a later date to allow others who would have to travel time to make arrangements.

to her next journey on May 13 in Meeker, Colo. Ila met the love of her life Pat Sturgeon on a blind date, and from this day forward, they were inseparable. They eloped on Aug. 11, 1960 and were married for 63 years. They had two daughters, Shawna in 1963 and Nancy in 1966. Ila devoted her life to her family and to Cross Six Sheep, which she and Pat worked and cared for tirelessly. Many of the stories they shared and experiences they had while in the forest, trailing sheep and throughout life as sheep ranchers could be in a book.

Ila was active in Rio Blanco County Wool Growers and helped 4-H kids for decades. She touched many lives in many ways, and we are all better because of it.

Proceeding Ila in death were her parents Archibald Chamberlain and Olive Coombs, sister Avis Warren, brother Ed Chamberlain and brother-in-law George Warren. She lost the love of her life Pat Sturgeon in September 2023.

Those left to cherish Ila are her brothers Roy (Rhonda) Coombs, Harold (Zita) Coombs and Dale (Gail) Coombs; daughters Shawna (Wes) Eubanks and Nancy (Loren) Owens; grandchildren Shaun Eubanks, Amanda Eubanks, Jake (Denie Noble) Swin-

dell, Josh (Kayla) Swindell, Jenna (Luke) Holt and Caroline (Garrin Barnett) Copeland; great-grandchildren Zoe Holt, Carter Swindell, Rylee Swindell, Kaylee Swindell, Lily Barnett, Jace Swindell and Jax Swindell; special “daughters” Samantha Peterson and Jane (John Rogers) Turnburke and a slew of nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Those who loved Ila can take comfort knowing her and Pat are together once more, forever working side by side. They and their dogs are herding and caring for their sheep, doing what they love.

A graveside service for Ila was held on May 24 at the Highland Cemetery in Meeker, Colo.

and Future Homemakers of America and the Glee Club.

After high school, Shirley attended the University of Wyoming, where she earned a bachelor’s degree. During her freshman year, she lived at Hoyt Hall with her best friend Sally Budd, along with two other ladies who became lifelong friends.

She pledged to the Kappa Delta sorority after her freshman year with Sally, and later, the two moved in with one of her roommate’s grandmother, who had a home in Laramie.

Shirley and John were married on Sept. 29, 1956. They both went to work at the family ranch – the Budd Hereford Ranch – where Shirley cooked for the hired hands, was active in all aspects of being a rancher’s wife and became active in the community again.

The two became parents to Lynn in August of 1957, then Gayle came along in January of 1960, and Shirley became involved in their activities. She was a Campfire Girls leader, a 4-H leader and was active in the Eastern Star and Jobs Daughters. She was also a substitute teacher in the Big Piney schools, which neither Lynn nor Gayle enjoyed very much.

Shirley was very proud and supportive of her chil-

dren and all of their friends, following them around the state to all of the events, making prom dresses with a few days’ notice, typing papers for them and keeping them busy and out of trouble.

Shirley easily included all of these tasks in her already busy daily life as a rancher’s wife, cooking for the ranch crew, running to Pinedale for tractor parts, keeping books for the cattle they ran on the ranch and the many other tasks needing done daily.

The only thing Shirley never did was milk the cows. This was on the advice of John’s grandmother Lulu.

In 2017, she was awarded the Cowbelles Lifetime Award from the Sublette County Cowbelles.

After John left ranch life, Shirley became the Big Piney town clerk for many years and continued to be an active community member. When John finally retired, they became snowbirds and spent their winters in Arizona camping, riding four-wheelers and walking the deserts looking for treasures.

Throughout these years, they met many new lifelong friends, making a home in Kingman, Ariz. where they continued their community spirit, having many gatherings with new and old friends. They also shared their new surroundings with many Sublette County friends who came to visit.

Freda Marie Wall

July 29, 1947 – May 8, 2024

Freda Marie Wall passed away May 8 in Salt Lake City following a short illness. She was born in Higgins, Texas on July 29, 1947, to parents Gilbert and Helen Geiger. The family later moved to Evanston, where she met the love of her life Daniel O. Wall. They were married on Aug. 1, 1964.

Freda lived a happy life in Robertson on the ranch with her husband Dan, their son Monte (Laurie), two grandsons Jesse (Jen) and Justin (Cierra) and four great grandkids Kaden, Kayla, Kelsey and Kadee.

Freda loved being a ranch wife and was a very active partner on the ranch. Whether horseback or driving semi, she could do it all. She enjoyed every season of ranch work, was a great cook and an allaround loveable and hardworking ranch hand. She was always very self-sufficient and knew how to doctor any animal or friend

In 2019, they moved to Casper to be closer to their kids and grandkids. Above all, Shirley loved her family and friends. She was a great role model and always welcomed friends and anyone who needed a place into the house for a cup of coffee and a chat, and she always had some sort of goody to serve.

She loved to cook, craft, paint and crochet. She also loved the mountains and the desert. You could always find her sitting and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, watching the wildlife or reading a good book.

She was a quiet soul with a heart as big as the sky. She will be missed by many and remembered by all.

She is survived by her daughters Lynn (Mike) Rodell of Casper and Gayle (Bill) Holder of Casper; granddaughter Lindsey (Andrew) Burgess of Big Piney; grandson Clint (Jordon) Holder of Casper and great-grandchildren Sydney Burgess, Avery Burgess, Sutton Holder and Zy Holder.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Central Wyoming Hospice, the Southwest Sublette County Pioneer Senior Center or the Green River Valley Museum in Big Piney, all organizations Shirley loved.

Services will be held graveside at the Plainsview Cemetery on June 29 at 3 p.m.

the fun projects at club.

Freda joined in the fun of the Robertson Bunco Club and would always say, “I’m just here for the fun!”

Freda would welcome anyone to their home and offer a treat, cold drink and a good visit.

One friend is quoted as saying, “She was the most enjoyable person I ever knew.”

She saw the good in everyone and always had something nice to say. Just a few minutes spent with Freda and you were feeling pretty good about life.

Freda was preceded in death by her parents Gilbert and Helen Geiger, brothers Floyd and Donald, parentsin-law/best friends Eldon and Edna Wall, brothers and sisters-in-law Wayne and Pat Wall and Arnold and Linda Whittaker.

Freda served on the Fort Bridger Cemetery District Board for over 30 years. She was an active member of the Willow Creek Homemakers Club, serving in all of the officer positions over her 60-year membership. She had a cute personality and enjoyed and thrived on all

Freda will be missed by all who knew her, especially Dan, her husband of almost 60 years; her son Monte (Laurie) Wall; grandsons Jesse (Jen) Wall and Justin (Cierra) Wall, great-grandchildren Kaden, Kayla, Kelsey and Kadee; sister Wanda Roth; sister-in-law Coleen Schultz; nieces and nephews Donald Schultz, Kathy (Rod) Jones and family, Sherrie Gillespie and family, Coralee Schultz and family, Leslie (Greg) Greenhaw and family, Elliott Whittaker, Curtis (Angela) Whittaker, Owen Wall and Mauri Wall; several cousins; her unofficial adopted daughters, sisters and grandchildren and all of her very close friends whom she thought of as family.

A celebration of life was held on May 18 in Mountain View at the Presbyterian Church.

Kevin Lee Robinett, 62, of Jeffrey City passed away

June 8-9

June 9-15

June 10-11

May 27 Wyoming Livestock Roundup office closed in observance of Memorial Day. Wishing all of our readers a safe and happy holiday.

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 29 University of Wyoming Extension Sheep Task Force Managing Parasites Workshop, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Fremont County Extension Office, Lander. For more information or to register, visit tiny.cc/STFFAMACHA or contact Micah Most at 307-684-7522 or McKenna Julian at 307-783-0570.

May 31 Wyoming Wildland Fire Interagency Briefing, 9:30-10:15 a.m., Wyoming Forestry Division Maintenance and Fabrication Shop, Cheyenne. For more information, contact Melissa DeFratis at melissa.defratis1@wyo.gov or call 307-777-6434.

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.

June 5 Nebraska Tractor and Equipment Safety Certification Course, 613 E. 3rd Street, Gordon, Neb. For more information or to register, visit go.unmc.edu/ tractor-safety-training

June 5-7 Wyoming Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show, Wyoming State Fairgrounds, Douglas. For more information or to register, visit wysga.org

June 6 Nebraska Tractor and Equipment Safety Certification Course, Legacy of the Plains Museum, Gering, Neb. For more information or to register, visit go.unmc.edu/tractor-safety-training

June 6 State Loan and Investment Board Public Meeting, 8 a.m., Capitol Complex Auditorium, Cheyenne. For more information, visit lands.wyo.gov

June 7-8 36th Annual Overland Stage Stampede Rodeo, Green River. For more information, call 307-872-0514.

avg. 1615# $13700

Blk Cow, 1250# $13250

Blk Cow, 1505# $13100 Holland, Pamela - Worland

Blk Cow, 1340# $13600 Lazy B V Cattle - Meeteetse 2 Blk Cows, avg. 1360# $13500 Lewton, Justin - Ten Sleep

1 Blk Cow, 1445# $13500

1 Blk Cow, 1240# $13300 Axtell, Chip - Thermopolis

2 Blk Cows, avg. 1358# $13450 Ward, Paul - Thermopolis

1 Blk Cow, 1305# $13400

2 Blk Cows, avg. 1320# $13200

1 BWF Cow, 1145# $12700 Herman Livestock LLC - Thermopolis

1 Blk Cow, 1470# $13350 Shumway, Leroy - Thermopolis

1 Blk Cow, 1510# $13300

Anderson Ranch Co. - Ten Sleep

1 Red Cow, 1450# $13300 Diamond Tail Ranch LLC - Greybull

1 Blk Cow, 1450# $13250

1 Blk Cow, 1325# $13150

Nielson, Hunter - Worland

1 Blk Cow, 1420# $13000 Whit, Ash - Thermopolis

1 Blk Cow, 1355# $12800

1 Hrfd Cow, 1365# $12300

Calvo, Joe - Burlington

2 Red Cows, avg. 1258# $12550

Blk Cow, 1235# $12300 Renner, Paddy - Meeteetse

Blk Cow, 1215# $12100

Joel - Lander

Blk Cow, 1345# $11900 Zeller Ranch - Meeteetse 1 Hrfd Cow, 915# $11700 Linebaugh, Dustin - Powell

June 10-12

June 10-14

June 12-13

June 13

June 14

June 15

June 15

June 15-16

June 16

June 17-18

June 17-20

June 10-11

June 3

June 15

June 15

June 20-21

July 2

July 8-10

July 8-12

July 22-24

28th Annual Wind River Flywheelers Antique Tractor and Engine Show East Park, Shoshoni. For more information, contact Carlta Witthar at cmaule@ wyoming.com or call 307-856-1164.

College National Finals Rodeo, Ford Wyoming Center, Casper. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit cnfr.com

University of Wyoming Livestock Judging Camp, University of Wyoming Campus, Laramie. For more information or to register, contact Landon Eldridge at landon.eldridge@uwyo.edu or call 979-224-1340.

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

University of Wyoming Extension Wyoming Ranch Camp, Padlock Ranch, Ranchester. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/wrc-2024 or contact Hudson Hill at hrhill@wyo.edu or 307-885-3132.

Bureau of Land Management Wyoming Resource Advisory Council Meeting, Holiday Inn Express, Lander. For more information, visit blm.gov/ get-involved/resource-advisory-council/near-you/wyoming

Wyoming Water and Waste Advisory Board Meeting, 9 a.m., Zoom. For more information, contact Gina Thompson at gina.thompson@wyo.gov or 307-777-7343.

Chris LeDoux Days Early Arriver’s Friday Night Rodeo, 7 p.m., Kaycee. For more information, visit chrisledoux.com

Chris LeDoux Days Rodeo, 1:30 p.m., Kaycee. For more information, visit chrisledoux.com

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.

Laurie Gardner Memorial Ranch Days, Fremont County Fairgrounds, Riverton. For more information or to signup, visit csshaclub.com or call 307851-3820.

55th Annual Jordan Xtreme Bronc Match, 2 p.m., Jordan, Mont. For more information, follow @JordanXtremeBroncs on Facebook.

Wyoming Water Association and Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts Upper Green River Basin Project Tour, Pinedale. For more information, visit wyomingwater.org or conservewy.com

Wyoming Society of Range Management’s 28th Annual Wyoming Resource Education Days, Pathfinder Ranch, Casper. For more information or to register, visit forms.gle/UQzMCY8zxhR4Wf7X8/

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

Urlahcer Angus Spring Bull Sale, Bowman Auction Market, Bowman, N.D., 701-824-4129, urlacherangus.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

our bravest and our best.

By T. C. Harbaugh

A Memorial Day tribute in the May 28, 1920 issue of the Star Valley Independent of Afton reads:

A tattered flag with a riven star at the head of a thin blue line, A muffled drum says “Here they come –the men of the oak and the pine.” Fame weaves a wreath for the marchers old whose locks are as white as the snow –A wreath that is plucked by loving hands on the fields of the long ago.

They all recall, ‘neath the flags that wave, the deeds they did in their prime, and hearts beat fast as they go past down the avenues of Times. They thrill at thought of captured hill, the old, old camps they see, and they march again o’er shot-torn plain, on, on to victory.

They live in the Nation’s heart today, enshrined in a people’s love, the waving grass beneath their feet, the arching skies above. No trumpet’s blare disturbs them now, no long roll breaks their rest, as on they march with heads erect,

Their pride is in the land they saved on many a field of fame, their thoughts are with their comrades dead, each one they love to name.

As on they march let flowers fall, hats off to the thin blue line!

“They come, they come!” says the muffled drum.

“The men of the oak and the pine.”

Before them rise toward the skies life’s last and grim redoubt, and countless tears will fall when all are finally mustered out.

A tattered flag with a riven star is a symbol of deeds well done, and our brave will live on the roll of fame as long as the rivers run!

(Navy) Beans

US #1 Pinto Beans

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 17, 2024

Compared to last week slaughter lambs mostly weak to 10.00 Lower, except at Kalona, IA 10.00-20.00 higher. Slaughter ewes mostly steady to 5.00 higher. Feeder lambs not well tested. At San Angelo, TX 5,798 head sold in a one day sale. Equity Cooperative Auction sold 420 Feeder lambs in South Dakota. In direct trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs not tested. 4,826 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 140-180 lbs 175.00-188.00. Ft. Collins: wooled and shorn 120-165 lbs 192.50-275.00. South Dakota: wooled and shorn 120-155 lbs 208.00-222.00. 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 250.00-270.00, few 280.00; 6070 lbs 240.00-272.00, few 272.00-278.00; 70-80 lbs 230.00 270.00, few 275.00; 80-90 lbs 230.00-266.00; 90-100 lbs 208.00-258.00; 100-110 lbs 202.00-246.00. wooled and shorn 40-50 lbs 254.00-270.00; 50-60 lbs 266.00-275.00; 60-70 lbs 241.00-262.00; 70-80 lbs 240.00-243.00; 80-90 lbs 231.00246.00; 90-100 lbs 220.00-240.00; 100-110 lbs 208.00-230.00. Ft. Collins: wooled and shorn 60-70 lbs 240.00-250.00; 70-80 lbs 272.50-285.00; 80-100 lbs 275.00-285.00; 100-110 lbs 265.00-310.00; 110-120 lbs 270.00-272.50. hair 95 lbs 290.00. South Dakota: wooled and shorn 50-60 lbs 260.00-285.00; 60-70 lbs 255.00-275.00; 70-80 lbs 235.00-252.50; 80-90 lbs 225.00-247.50, few 265.00-280.00; 100-110 lbs 225.00-244.00. hair 50-60 lbs 205.00225.00; 84 lbs 205.00. Billings: wooled and shorn 46 lbs 240.00; 50-60 lbs 225.00-237.50; 60-70 lbs 231.00-242.50; 70-80 lbs 227.50-240.00; 80-90 lbs 227.50235.00; 90-100 lbs 231.00-232.50, few 240.00; 100-110 224.00244.00. hair 48 lbs 50-60 lbs 228.00-229.00; 60-70 lbs 222.50-229.00; 70-80 lbs 232.00-237.50; 81 lbs 225.00. Slaughter Ewes San Angelo: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) no test; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 58.00-100.00, hair 90.00-100.00; Utility and Good 1-3 (medium flesh) 115.00-130.00, hair 104.00-124.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 79.00-100.00, hair 78.00-101.00; Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) 68.00-74.00, hair 50.00-70.00; Cull 1 47.50-62.00. Ft. Collins: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) 115.00-125.00; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 75.00-130.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) no test; Cull 1 no test. South Dakota: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) 75.00-95.00; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 75.00-110.00, hair 95.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 70.00-90.00, hair 80.00-85.00; Cull 1 55.00-765.00, hair 65.00. Billings: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) 88.00-95.00; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 82.00-97.00, hair 82.00-85.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 72.00-85.00, hair 89.00; Cull 1 45.00-46.00. Feeder Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2 San Angelo: hair 30-40 lbs 268.00-270.00; 40-50 lbs 262.00274.00; 56 lbs 258.00.

Ft. Collins: 30-40 lbs 240.00-250.00; 52 lbs 237.50. South Dakota: 3 20-30 lbs 315.00-370.00; 40-45 lbs 290.00-

305.00; 50 lbs 280.00.

Billings: no test. Replacement Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2

San Angelo: young hair 100-145 lbs 132.00-170.00/cwt. Ft. Collins: no test.

South Dakota: no test.

Billings: young 167 lbs 88.00/cwt; ewes and lambs 220.00/ family. Sheep and lambs slaughter under federal inspection for the week to date totaled 35,000 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 17, 2024

Domestic wool trading had 505,723 lbs of clean and 517,629 lbs of greasy wool 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. Australian Wool Exchange

the

Source: USDA- CO Dept of Ag Market News Service, Greeley, CO

Wyoming Hay Summary

As of May 23,

Compared to last week all reported hay sold steady on a thin test. Demand was very light. Overall, most alfalfa fields are a tick behind schedule as cold or cooler weather has been prevailing. Some reports of 32 degree temperatures Wednesday morning across the state. Frost like conditions slow the growth of forages. Some producers are busy in the fields planting new crop alfalfa in there crop rotation. Per Nass: corn planted is at 61% compared to 54% this time last year, Sugar beets 98% planted compared to 88% last year. Barley is 90% planted, with 84% emerged, last year it was 88% planted with 67% emerged. Prices are dollars per ton and FOB they field or hay barn unless otherwise noted. Eastern Wyoming

- Fair/Good

Source: USDA AMS Livestock,

Nebraska Hay Summary

As of

CLASSIFIEDS

The Natrona County Predator Management District is holding its 2024 Budget/Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 4th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. This meeting will be held at the Wyoming Wool Growers, 811 N. Glenn Road, Casper. All producers, Wyoming Game and Fish representatives, Wildlife Service representatives and the public are invited to participate. The purpose of this meeting is to review the 20242025 proposed budget submitted to the Department of Audit and Animal Damage Management Board (ADMB). For additional information, please contact the NCPMD office at ncpmd1@charter.net.

SIGN-ON BONUS!! Full- or parttime DRIVERS NEEDED FROM WORLAND TO CASPER, WY: Nighttime hours, $30/HOUR TO START. Must have CDL, pass background check and clean MVR. E-mail resumes to dingoboy6342@yahoo.com or call Matt, 801-641-4109 6/1

REGISTERED PEMBROKE

WELSH CORGI PUPPIES FOR SALE: Eight weeks old on May 23. Asking $700. Call or text me at 701-260-1207 for more details. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 6/1

Help Wanted

FARM EQUIPMENT OPERATOR WITH SOME MAINTENANCE EXPERIENCE WANTED: We are looking for someone dependable to come and join our team working on our 5,000 acre family farm south of Tappen, N.D. We grow small grains, row crops and alfalfa under center pivot irrigation. Must be able to run front end loader as well as other farm equipment. Mechanic experience and CDL helpful. Close housing available. Noon meals provided. Must have valid driver’s license and vehicle to get to work. Families welcome. Sign-on bonus and benefits discussed in interview. Wages depend on experience. Falk Farms, call Sara, 701-4004812 6/1

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

Services

Services

RANCH HAND WANTED: Cow work/calving, irrigating, haying, fixing fences. Wages based on experience. Call 307-250-847 5/25

Financial Services

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!! 6/15

Financial Services

ALL TYPES OF EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLE FINANCING. Great service!! Great rates!! Call Chuck Brown at C.H. Brown Co., WY LLC, 307-3223232 (office), 307-331-0010 (cell) or e-mail chuckbrown@ wyoming.com 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 5/25

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

Furr at 402-257-7769 or 402-746-2222 for more information.

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

AKC BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG PUPPIES: All first shots, microchipped and vet checked. $500. Call or text 605-680-2571. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 5/25

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) 6/8

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 541480-9567 or e-mail me for pictures and pedigrees at brokersonya@gmail.com. Located in Roundup, MT 6/1

TWO-YEAR-OLD BULLS FOR SALE: We have a good selection of moderate frame, easy fleshing 2-year-old Angus, SimAngus, Red Angus, Hereford/Angus and Balancer bulls for sale. Many are low birthweight bulls that are suitable for use on heifers. All bulls have been semen tested and have passed a breeding soundness exam. Visit www.jauerangus. com/private.html or call Kurt, 712-253-8710 for more information 6/8

HISTORIC REGISTERED WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: RSC, RSS, RSH, renewed to Jan. 1, 2025, comes with irons. Asking $4,000. Call 307-714-2484 5/25

WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: LSC, LSH. Renewal fee paid to December 2032. Irons are included, $3,000. Call 307-6749092 6/15

HISTORIC WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: Lazy PN has been a registered brand since 1912. LRC, BS, LSH. Renewed to January 2033. Two sets of irons available. SELLER WILL PAY transfer fees. $3,500. Call 307-272-4215 5/25 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

REGISTERED WYOMNG BRAND: RSC, registered until 2027. Single iron. $1,700 OBO. Call 307-4610356 6/1

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 406-687-3315, 406-989-3315 or 907-232-6093 6/29

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

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 307-709-2375 with any questions. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/25 Angus

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 406425-3814 6/1

ANGUS BULLS FOR SALE: Calving ease, growth and good carcass data. AI sired, docile. Delivery available. Earhart Farms, Powell, WY, 307-2728876 6/1

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 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 upto-date on summer kick-out 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, S.D.. Kody, 605-690-1997 or Brady, 605-690-5733. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/25

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 5/25

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, 435-828-1320, barlazytlranch@ gmail.com 6/30

REGISTERED BLACK YEARLING LIMOUSIN BULLS FOR SALE: Performance tested. Contact Nolz Limousin, Mitchell, S.D. Call 605-9997035, visit www.nolzlimousin. com 6/8

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. FrancisMillvale 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 6/8

REGISTERED LONGHORN BULLS FOR SALE: Solid blacks and a few solid reds. Wyoming Longhorn Ranch, call 307-5487111 or 307-272-7171 6/1

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 307-2540554 6/22

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

REGISTERED TEXAS LONGHORNS: 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

Call Case Rundel 785-443-0590

2023 HAY FOR SALE: First and second cutting, grass/alfalfa mix. ALSO, milo, oat and corn stover hay. All in net-wrapped round bales. Semi load delivery available. Call for pricing, ask for Clint, 701-290-4418, send a text if no answer or keep trying 6/15

HAY FOR SALE: Grass and alfalfa hay. ALSO, OAT HAY AND STRAW. Small squares, 3x3s, 3x4s and round bales. Delivery available!! Call 307630-3046 6/15

BARLEY STRAW: Certified weed-free small squares, $4/ bale. ALSO, 5x6 round bales, $125/ton. GRAIN/OATS, $20/ cwt. Greybull, WY area. Call 307-762-3878 or 307-899-4714, leave message 6/15

650 TONS GRASS/ALFALFA IN LARGE ROUNDS, baled green but cut slightly mature; 150 LARGE ROUND BALES GRASS/ALFALFA/CHEATGRASS, grind or build windbreak.... Will deliver!! For sale by Cheyenne, WY area producer. Call 307-630-3768 6/8

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, 970-203-5019 6/8

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 6/8

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

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

2012 DODGE RAM 1500: 132,500 miles, new engine professionally installed with 15,000 miles, 1 year left on 3 year warranty. Excellent condition, 1 owner, always garaged, $17,000. Can text pictures. Call 307-250-1987 6/15

1991 KENWORTH T600 60 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 406-860-5448 5/25

FOR SALE: 1995 FREIGHTLINER FLD 132, 3406 B CAT, 100 miles on overhaul, 64” sleeper, 9 speed. Loaded with all options. Ready to go to work. Asking $30,000 OBO. Have other stuff to go with it. For details call Don, 719-7432330 6/15

2015 WILSON 53’ TRIPLE AXLE CATTLE POT: Air ride suspension, 11’ nose, crank up nose deck, virgin tires. Can text pictures. For more information, call 605-680-1444 6/8

GRAHAM HOEME CHISEL PLOW: 12’, 12 double spring shanks with cylinder and hoses, $2,750. 24-FOOT JOHN DEERE 1100 CULTIVATOR 3 pt. hookup, $3,250. INTERNATIONAL 5100 12’ single disc drill with small seed box, $3,750. Call 307-674-9092 6/15 GOOD WORK TRUCK, 2001 FORD F-250 WITH OMAHA UTILITY BED, 7.3 Powerstroke, 169,300 miles. Recent engine work, $12,000 OBO, located in Powell, WY. Call 307-254-1088 6/1

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 605999-5482 6/1

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’

ing extensions and tandem 14 ton running gear. Two John Deere 716A chuckwagons with John Deere

Limousin

Longhorn

Hay Equipment

NEW HOLLAND 560 ROLL BELT BALER, bale count 178 bales, in shop every night, $55,000. 2001 MACDON 9250 SWATHER with 922 auger head, 1,771 hours on tractor, 1,384 hours on head, $43,000. Area fields are being subdivided. Call 307-674-9092 6/15

Fencing

LODGEPOLE PRODUCTS, 307-742-6992, SERVING AGRI-BUSINESSES SINCE 1975!! Treated posts, corral poles, buck-and-rail, western rail, fence stays, rough-sawn lumber, bedding. SEE US at www. lodgepoleproducts.com and click our “Picking A Fence Post” tab to see why folks choose our posts!! TFN

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. Located in Roundup, MT. $795,000. Call 541-480-9567, Sonya Gangstead, Broker, Realty Pros Inc., e-mail brokersonya@gmail.com 6/1

Pipe Pipe

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, 541-523-4434 (office) or 208-598-0267 (cell), Intermountain Realty, www.intermountainland.com 6/15

PIPE FOR SALE!! 2 7/8”, 3 1/2” tubing, 4” drill pipe, 4 1/2” casing, 5” casing, 7” casing. Rods 3/4”, 7/8” and 1” located in Montana, can ship anywhere. Call Mike, 602-758-4447. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 9/21

OILFIELD PIPE: 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” are on average 31.5’ long per joint. Pierce, CO. Call for details, 970-324-4580 7/27

Irrigation

APPROXIMATELY 1,400 FEET, 8” ALUMINUM GATED PIPE, with trailer and butterfly valves. ALSO HAVE 2 IRRIGATION PUMPS, one with 10 HP motor. $4,000 OBO. Call 307-575-1122 5/25

QUARTER MILE WHEELINES: 5’ tall, 5” aluminum pipe with movers. Five (used) $5,400 each, Gallatin Valley, MT. Call 406-551-0879 6/1

CODY, WY PROPERTY FOR TRADE OR OUTRIGHT SALE: 8.5 acres in Diamond Basin on Big Sky Road. Seven acres with water rights. Half is developed with pasture, new fencing and gated pipe. There are 3 dwellings in process. Sewer system in place, water tap is paid for, 700 feet of line is in place and hooked up to all three locations. The bunkhouse is about finished. In the other 2, concrete is done, rough plumbing in the ground, sewer in place, ready to be framed. Have 7/16 and 5/8 sheeting OSB, trusses, windows, doors, door knobs, some 12/2 wiring. Lots of 2” rigid styrofoam. Walking path to BLM, under Carter Mountain, pond and gravel road. I have to stop building to have a couple of surgeries. Good opportunity for a builder. Outright sale as is $670,000 or will trade for about anything of equal value in Basin, Greybull, Shell, Powell, Cody, WY areas. Farm ground, older house, shop, etc. Call and visit for more details, 307-578-6345. ALSO, have 2 city lots in Shadow Mountain Subdivision 6/8

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, 541523-4434 (office) or 208-5980267 (cell), Intermountain Realty, www.intermountainland. com 6/15

2,170 ACRES OF PRIME AGRICULTURAL NON-IRRIGATED FARMLAND: Soils consist primarily of silt and sand loams. Located east of Hawk Springs, WY along the Wyoming/Nebraska state line. Professional care is dedicated to optimizing soil health. Divisible into smaller parcels to meet your investment needs. No improvements. $1,900,000. 4,752± DEEDED ACRES, LAGRANGE, WY: A top-end grass ranch with 10 wells optimized for maximum cattle production of 250 cows. Includes a stunning brick 5 bed, 3 bath home. Livestock barn with hydraulic chute, tube, concrete and pens. Shop and Steel pens for calving and concrete bunk space. Elk, deer, antelope. $4,900,000. 3,316± DEEDED ACRES consisting of improved meadow grass and lush hard grasses. Run 250± cows through 12 pastures. Outstanding condition. Nice home plus excellent corrals and calving facilities. Natural tree-lined draws for livestock protection. Hawk Springs, WY. WAS $5,100,000 NOW $4,700,000!! Pictures and video at www. buyaranch.com. Call Casey Essert, Land Broker, 307532-1750 5/25

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

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, 307-2509663. To view photos, go to www. wylr.net in the classifieds 6/1

HESSTON 4590 SMALL SQUARE BALER: Excellent condition, $13,000. THREE WHEEL HAY RAKE, $800. Email wachobdoug@gmail.com or call 307-413-0767 6/15

in a casket since that day.

Recently, a telemarketer phoned to discuss what he called my “end of life options.”

Subsequently, I have left very specific instructions for my wife. I don’t want a funeral, memorial service, an obituary or any suggestion as to where people should donate their money.

Frankly, I find funerals to be morbid affairs, and I try not to go to them. They either turn out to be uncomfortable family reunions or pageants to enrich the mortician where

people stand up and lie about the departed.

I’ve made it a point to never look at a cadaver in an open casket ever since I was a small tyke and saw my greatgrandfather in one. I still have nightmares about it. Everyone said how great he looked.

“Didn’t the mortician do a wonderful job?” they asked.

Everyone commented about how peaceful he looked, but who were they kidding?

The old geezer looked deader than a tuna sandwich, and I’ve never looked at a dead person

There are several reasons I don’t want a funeral, but chief amongst them are I won’t be there to smell the flowers or hear the beautiful songs and all of the lies someone says about me. And quite frankly, I’m a little worried about the turnout.

I don’t know who said it first but it’s not very comforting to know the main thing deciding the size of one’s funeral is the weather.

Having a funeral would be a big gamble for me, and I worry the only four people present would be me, my wife, the padre and some guy impatiently waiting on a backhoe, just hoping it’s a short service and he can get the hole filled and knock off a little early.

I suppose I could hire professional mourners, but that’s a little like going to everyone

else’s funeral while you’re alive, hoping they will reciprocate and come to yours. Think about that logic for a second. It ain’t gonna happen! I read about one option which interested me at first. When some rich guy back East died, he requested all of his assets be divided equally amongst those who came to his funeral, but I don’t think this would work the way I wanted because many people would show up just to make sure I was dead.

I certainly don’t want them inheriting any of my money. I liked what a tribe of Indians and Egyptian pharoahs did when they were buried with all of their possessions. Who says you can’t take it all with you?

A traditional burial wouldn’t be very green of me. Did you know every

year we bury 64,000 tons of steel, four million gallons of embalming fluid and 1.6 million tons of concrete in cemeteries? Not to mention all of the new suits purchased and worn only once.

I briefly considered cremation, but ever since I was seven and had my bed burn up beneath me when my electric blanket caught on fire, I have been deathly afraid of flames. So why would I want my body to be cooked at 2,000 degrees for two hours? Besides, think of all the pollution caused when the flames torched this old bag of BS. There is also the option of being buried at sea, but while I’ve always loved looking at the ocean, I’ve never really liked being IN the ocean. The one time I went on a charter fishing boat, I discovered they don’t bring those big

old boats back to shore just because some wimp is barfing his brains out over the starboard side.

Considering the cost of a funeral, I think I’ve finally come up with a cheap alternative. I call it a “cowboy funeral.” I want a friend to dig a deep hole in some outof-the-way place and another cowboy friend to throw my body into it. Initially I wanted to be shrouded in one of my favorite woolen Pendleton blankets, but then I considered where I might be headed and decided I’d already be warm enough. Plus, why ruin a nice blanket?

I’m sure being buried like this is against some law, but hey, I’m the one who did it and deserve any punishment that’s due. If the bureaucrats don’t like it, they are welcome to come and get me.

The Field

BY RON RABOU

Happiness is… Farmer's

Spring is full of things to do. As a parent with children, this to-do list seems to never end –school concerts, chaperoning field trips, sports, banquets, contests and conventions, graduations and social gatherings.

For those of us in the Cowboy State, spring is extra special for us, because most years, it’s the first time since October we’ve been able to leave the house without a parka, snow boots and multiple layers of underclothes.

Maybe, just maybe, we’ll even encounter a day allowing us to wear a t-shirt without a coat.

As a farmer, it seems there are never enough hours in a day. Mother Nature waits on no one, and every field needs attention, all at the same time. When spring hits at our farm, it seems no matter how well we prepped and planned over the winter, we always run short on time.

Our days are filled with field work, playing mechanic, planting, shipping grain, chasing repairs, delivering fuel, shuffling equipment from location to location, yard work – we have over 30 structures on over 10 acres which need to be maintained – and an endless sea of paperwork I

need to keep up with in my office. And that’s all to just scratch the surface.

Each of our family members, as well as our employees, all play an important role.

Usually, this time of year, I manage things tightly to make sure we are all being as efficient as possible, both on the farm and in our family. For those of us who are farmers, we understand the pressure to get things done in a timely manner, and we need all hands on deck to ensure all of the work gets done when it’s supposed to or at least as much as the weather allows us to accomplish each day.

As I was working in my office this week, I looked out my window and noticed my youngest son Mason, who was supposed to be cleaning up the 200 square foot sandbox, sitting on his tire swing, just staring up at the sky, rocking back and forth.

In an instant, I was up, out of my chair, ready to

Advocates charged with lobbying

The Colorado election office began proceedings against an advocate for wolves in Colorado over allegations of illegally lobbying during the 2024 session at the state capitol.

Initially, a second individual was also accused of illegal lobbying, but this complaint has been dismissed.

Rhonda Dern of Evergreen, Colo. and Stephen Capra of Montana were charged with illegally lobbying at the state capitol. Charges against Dern were dismissed, but charges against Capra will move forward.

The complaints, filed

in March by John Williams who operates Colorado Wolf Tracker, claimed Capra and his organization, Bold Visions Conservation, lobbied multiple legislators on behalf of a paying client, all without registering and without disclosing the client’s identity as required by law.

The Elections Division of the Secretary of State launched the proceedings against Capra, who insisted his actions were innocent and his whole purpose was to get a reasonable bill passed which would give ranchers tools to protect their cattle.

The bill would have required landowners to use only nonlethal management tools to deal with wolf depredation.

“It’s all politics, the ranchers coming after me,” Capra told Colorado Politics. “It’s a great example of doing something good, and it can blow up in your face.”

The bill Capra was lobbying on was House Bill 1375, which was sponsored by Rep. Tammy Story (D-HD25). It failed on a four to nine vote in the House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee on April 1.

go have a talk with him about focusing on and actively working on the tasks at hand. There’s just no time to waste.

As I reached my office door, I stopped in my tracks. All at once, it occurred to me our older boys often did the same thing when they were young. I stood there for several minutes, just watching him enjoying the sunshine, as he observed the occasional puffy, white cloud that would pass in front of the clear, blue sky.

I returned to my seat, as my mind wandered back to my boyhood. Those were the days free from trouble, stress, time constraints and commitments. Those were the days filled with adventure, wonder and a carefree spirit. Those were the days where I was truly free – free to explore, free to observe, free to think and free to be who I wanted to be.

As I reflected in the moment, I realized how being an adult often causes us to lose the precious

things we once had. A dear friend of mine taught me what she has done with each of her kids at night to reflect on the day. It’s called “Happy Crappy.” The rules are each person must name one thing that happened during the day to make them happy and then name one thing they didn’t like, otherwise known as the crappy.

So, at the end of each day, I’ll ask Mason, “What’s your happy crappy?”

On this particular day, the moment I nearly interrupted him in my desire to make sure we are always in “accomplishment mode,” just so happened to be his happy. But this wasn’t all. As he slid off the swing, he began to play in the sandbox and said he found tremendous satisfaction making mud with Dr. Pepper and Root Beer.

Again, in an instant, my mind raced back to my childhood. It was the midseventies at the Albin Day

Parade where the theme for the year was, “Happiness is…” As parade participants, everyone dressed up, performed and decorated floats of all kinds to fill in the blank about what happiness was to them. Mine? Mudpies. As the parade marched down main street, I vividly remember pulling my blue, radio flyer wagon full of mudpies, as my hands and clothes were covered in mud. It’s the only year I took first place. And what a celebration that victory was! Mudpies for everyone! As I told Mason this story and how I had reigned as the mudpie champion, we both laughed, and he invited me to the sandbox someday to make mud with his favorite sodas. It’s an invitation I gladly accepted.

I already know on that day, this moment will be my “happy.” It’s amazing what a profound effect just taking a deep breath and living in the moment can do for your soul.

AFBF calls for passage of farm bill

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall on the House Agriculture Committee’s Farm, Food and National Security Act.

“AFBF appreciates Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) for his work in drafting a modernized farm bill, which we support. The Farm, Food and National Security Act recognizes the challenges and opportunities facing America’s farmers and ranchers,” Duvall said.

“Included in the House’s farm bill is a much-needed investment in the farm safety net, including making crop insurance more affordable,

which will help farmers withstand inflation and supply costs which have outpaced current programs,” he added.

“New investments in specialty crop programs and research, along with preserving interstate commerce of agricultural products, will enable farmers to remain competitive in an ever-changing marketplace,” Duvall continued. “Improvements to dairy programs will provide transparency, and more conservation resources will help farmers protect the resources they’ve been entrusted with. The farm bill also consists of important nutrition programs to help

families facing hunger.”

“Committee passage of the Farm, Food and National Security Act would be a good start, but important legislative steps remain in this process,” he concluded. “We thank Thompson and Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA) for their leadership on the House Ag Committee and encourage bipartisan passage in the House. We also call on the leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee to follow the House’s lead and begin working on text to ensure America’s families continue to have access to a stable, affordable food supply.”