Roundup for 6.1.24

USDA invests in domestic fertilizer projects

On May 23, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the agency will invest in 17 domestic fertilizer projects through the Fertilizer

Quick Bits

ELAP Tool

On May 28, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and FarmRaise launched a new online Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and FarmRaised Fish Program (ELAP) Decision Tool. The tool is designed to help agricultural producers who have been impacted by natural disasters access available program support. For more information or to access the tool, visit fsa.usda.gov

Investment

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will build on its wetland restoration efforts with up to $50 million in the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership in Fiscal Year 2024 to support conservation partners with local projects which help protect, restore and enhance critical wetlands and mitigate climate change on agricultural lands. For more information or to apply, visit arcs.usda.gov

Summer Event

Following its sudden and unfortunate cancelation last year, Flaming Gorge Days is back for 2024, and tickets are now on sale. The 66th event will kick off on June 28 with a vendor fair at Evers Park in Green River. On June 29, the day will begin with a singles horseshoe tournament at 9 a.m., followed by the Flaming Gorge Days Parade at 10 a.m., a doubles horseshoe tournament at 1 p.m. and a country music concert from 6-8 p.m. on Expedition Island. For more information, visit flaminggorgedayswy.com

Horse Show

Uinta County 4-H will host a three-part 4-H horse show series to help youth prepare for fair season. The first show will be held at the Uinta County Fairgrounds in Evanston on June 10 at 5 p.m. and will feature classes in Western Pleasure, Reining and Trail. The entry fee is $10 per horse and $3 per class. To register, visit 4h.zsuite.org For more information, contact 307-783-0570 or e-mail skrieger@uwyo.edu.

Production Expansion Program (FPEP) in an effort to strengthen competition for U.S. ag producers.

“The Biden-Harris administration and USDA are committed to bolstering

the economy and increasing competition for our nation’s farmers, ranchers and small business owners,” Vilsack states.

“The investments announced today, made

possible through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), will increase domestic fertilizer production and strengthen our supply chain, all while creating

2024 Farm Bill Advances

U.S.

House Agriculture Committee approves $1.5 trillion farm bill proposal

nities. From production and processing to delivery and consumption, this bill strengthens the rural economy across every region, state and district,” he adds.

Conference highlights

USMEF members examine consumer trends, promotion of underutilized cuts

A few days later, Thompson delivered opening remarks during the 2024 Farm Bill markup, which passed after 12-plus hours of debate on May 24.

“When I became chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, I took seriously my mandate to protect our food supply and enhance the impact of our nation’s agricultural value chain,” Thompson states.

“Across each title of this bill are new and better tools and resources for our farmers and rural commu-

After lengthy deliberations, the House passed its version of the 2024 Farm Bill, introducing more than 50 amendments in the 942-page proposed legislation, which passed in a 33 to 21 vote.

The five-year bill introduced by Thompson would expand farm commodity support, shrink Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and reallocate nearly $20 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act intended for climate-smart farm practices.

Please see

2024 pasture conditions optimistic

Conditions at the beginning of the 2024 forage growing season suggest producers may be able to plan grazing and hay production with less restriction compared to recent years.

However, in some cases, pastures and ranges still need time to recover from extended drought conditions.

On May 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Crop Production report, identifying significantly improved pasture conditions and beginning hay stocks are in better shape compared to 2023.

NASS surveyed approximately 8,300 producers across the country in preparation for the Crop Production report, and according to the report, total U.S. hay stocks as of May 1 were 21 million tons, up 46.6 percent year-over-year.

Record-high hay stocks were estimated in Montana, Oklahoma and Utah.

Current May 1 total stocks were 8.9 percent higher than the 10-year average from 2013-22, and one year ago May 1 stocks were 25.7 percent below the 10-year average. This improvement indicates producers got through the winter in better shape and still have some forage reserves going forward.

Hay stocks report

According to the USDA NASS Crop Production report, May 1 hay stocks for the largest beef cow states, including Texas, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Montana, representing just over

In response to a proposed ordinance to ban existing and future livestock harvest operations in Denver – which has already qualified for the November ballot – the Regional Economic Development Institute at Colorado State University (CSU) recently published a report on the implications of closing down operations in the Centennial State’s lamb processing hub.

With proponents arguing policy change is needed to support animal welfare and opponents arguing the ordinance will result in economic impacts while severely affecting the agriculture industry and livestock producers, CSU set out to understand the potential tradeoffs of this policy option.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) wrapped up its spring conference on May 24 with a closing general session focused on the red meat industry’s efforts to build demand in international markets for beef and pork cuts with limited domestic use.

USMEF Director of Trade Analysis Jessica Spreitzer moderated a panel of USMEF representatives working in Mexico, South America, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, who highlighted marketing efforts showcasing the attributes of underutilized U.S. cuts.

Spreitzer discussed USMEF strategies to develop demand for cuts specifically from the pork loin and beef round primals, pointing to estimates loin exports now account for about 20 percent of U.S. production, up from roughly 10 percent five years ago. Regarding export demand for underutilized beef cuts, she noted export markets account for 42 percent of total U.S. production of the gooseneck round, 30

Potential impacts to Colorado’s lamb processing hub

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service, Colorado is currently home to the third largest sheep and lamb inventory in the U.S and second behind California for total slaughterready lamb inventory.

In total, 21 USDA-inspected sheep and lamb slaughter plants operate in Colorado, reporting a capacity of 400,000 lambs in 2022.

If passed, the proposed ordinance would require the closure of Superior

On May 21, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) introduced the Farm, Food and National Security (Farm Bill) Act of 2024.

WYLR photo

is Waiting

On May 23, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee started discussing the new farm bill. The farm bill has always been contentious, and the way some members of Congress act today, it will surely be a battle to not only get the bill passed by the House, but also by the Senate.

Remember, this is an election year and commonsense seems to go by the wayside during election years. But for those in agriculture, it is important legislation is passed.

It is of importance to all Americans. Americans spend around 12 percent of their income on food, probably more in the last few years with high inflation, but it is still the lowest in the world.

The farm bill comes up for review every five years, and it usually takes a couple of years to pass or they can vote for a continuing resolution. It does take a lot of work by members of both agriculture committees to start discussing it a year ahead.

Last summer, Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis (both R-WY) invited Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) to hold a hearing with ag leaders from across Wyoming and to tour a ranch southwest of Casper.

The U.S. House Ag Committee started their meeting on May 23 and passed their $1.51 trillion farm bill markup out of committee, with a 33 to 21 vote early Friday morning with four Democrats joining the Republican members. It will now go to the floor of the U.S. House for a vote.

As with this farm bill and other past years, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the main stumbling blocks. Most everyone knows it as the food stamp program, which is over 80 percent of present and past farm bills. It is a much-needed part of the farm bill, but with the amount of money involved, there needs to be some better management of who qualifies.

This year, the SNAP and climate-smart programs are both discussed along party lines. The Biden administration’s reevaluation has led to a significant increase in SNAP costs, which Republicans argue was excessive at an increase of over $250 billion. Remember, it is an election year.

Those involved in agriculture were happy to hear of some movement by Congress and I hope it keeps going, but the argument of how we are going to pay for it will surely lengthen discussions.

Multiple farm groups from around the nation spoke out last Friday in support of the action of the U.S. House Ag Committee.

Mark Eisele, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and a rancher from Cheyenne, released a statement saying, “Cattle producers are thankful the House Agriculture Committee has advanced a farm bill which delivers on needs of rural America. This farm bill protects the cattle industry from animal disease, supports producers’ voluntary conservation efforts and safeguards our food supply, recognizing our food supply is national security.”

“On behalf of cattle farmers and ranchers across the country, thank you to Chairman Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee for passing this bill,” Eisele adds. “I hope the full House will take the next step and pass this bill soon.”

All of rural America is waiting.

GUEST OPINIONS

Biden's Endangered Species Regulations are Wreaking Havoc on the West

By Sens. Cynthia Lummis, Dan Sullivan and Pete Ricketts

Last year, the Biden administration began the process of unrolling Trumpera Endangered Species Act (ESA) reforms and using the law as a Trojan horse for its restrictive policies which drastically limit landowners and erode our way of life.

The purpose of the ESA is to recover endangered and threatened species and protect their habitats. However, in the time since this administration began its Green New Dealdriven ESA campaign, only

two percent of species have been recovered.

Despite this embarrassingly low recovery rate, the Biden administration has weaponized the ESA, causing significant economic harm in many of our rural communities.

The only thing the Biden administration’s implementation of ESA does is hinder landowners, ranchers and our permitting process for critical infrastructure projects. It may score political points with environmental

• 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 WILLIAMS, Livestock Field Services Rep. • 605-695-1990 • calli@wylr.net

extremists, but it hurts hardworking Americans in states like ours.

The Trump administration recognized the value in partnering with – not punishing – landowners to restore endangered species. They opted to implement commonsense reforms to the ESA which ensured a critical habitat designation didn’t paralyze landowners.

President Trump realized part of creating a more workable ESA included eliminating the “blanket rule” under Section 4(d) which automatically provides endangered level protections to species listed only as threatened and instead required threatened species to be managed with tailored plans.

It also allowed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to research and share the economic impacts of a listing determination under the

From the Publisher Dennis Sun

NEWS BRIEFS

Wyoming joins lawsuit

The state of Wyoming has joined an Alabama-led, 19-state coalition asking the Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional the efforts of California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey and Rhode Island to dictate the future of American energy policy.

These five states have brought unprecedented litigation against the nation’s most vital energy companies for an alleged “climate crisis” and are demanding billions of dollars in damages.

As litigation proceeds in their state courts, California and other states threaten to impose ruinous penalties and coercive remedies which would affect energy and fuel consumption and production across the country, including Wyoming.

The coalition raises the grave constitutional problems with California’s extraordinary tactics and asks the Supreme Court to take up a multi-state lawsuit.

The Supreme Court will decide whether to hear the 19-state lawsuit against California and the other four proposed defendants. The coalition argues traditional energy sources like oil, natural gas and coal are essential for American prosperity.

The states also argue the matter is of utmost importance because federalism gives each state no more power than any other state.

In addition to Wyoming, the Alabama-led suit was joined by Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

Lightning kills rancher

A Jackson County, Colorado rancher was struck and killed by lightning on May 25.

Multiple news outlets reported Mike Morgan, age 51, was feeding hay to cattle from the back of a trailer following a day of branding when the tragedy occurred.

The lightning bolt struck on wide open pasture outside the town of Rand, Colo., about 80 miles northwest of Denver, according to George Crocket, the county coroner. Crocket said the lightning that struck Morgan also knocked about 100 cows and calves off of their feet, killing 34 of them.

“As best I can tell, it hit him on the trailer. The cattle were bunched up around the trailer, and it hit them all,” Crocket said.

Morgan’s father-in-law was driving a tractor hooked to the trailer when the lightning struck, and Morgan’s wife was nearby, leading horses toward a horse trailer to load them. They had just finished branding for the day.

A Facebook post from His Cavvy Foundation, a nonprofit helping ranchers with serious medical issues, said Morgan’s wife was horseback about 200 feet away when the lightning struck, knocking her off of her horse.

MBA celebrates graduates

Two years ago, the Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program – managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff – hit 20,000 graduates. Today, the program celebrates an additional 5,000 graduates – reaching a new milestone for advocacy in the beef industry.

Created in 2009, the MBA program is a free, selfguided online course providing members of the beef community – from farmers and ranchers to students, supply chain members and consumers – with the tools and resources needed to become a strong advocate for the beef community.

In 2021, the MBA program launched MBA NextGen, which updated training modules, splitting the course into five online lessons.

After completing NextGen, MBA graduates can enroll in MBA Continuing Education where graduates can continue their education with more lessons on beef’s nutrition, sustainability and animal welfare among more. Graduates can also access monthly newsletters and join the program’s Facebook community where updates are given on the latest consumer trends.

Colorado faces shutoff

According to an April 26 High Plains Journal article by David Murray, agricultural producers in the Republican River Basin in northeast Colorado are facing the shutoff of their groundwater irrigation by the end of 2029 if they do not retire 25,000 acres of irrigated farmland in the southern portion of the basin.

Of those, 10,000 acres must be retired by the end of this year, but voluntary retirements under two buyout programs are well on track.

The acreage retirements are what the state of Colorado must do to abide by a resolution approved by the Republican River Compact Administration in 2016. Over several decades, Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska have negotiated the terms of the Republican River Compact originally established on Dec. 31, 1943 to allocate the river’s waters.

If the state of Colorado and the Republican River Water Conservation District do not meet the acreage retirement set by the resolution within the timeframe, producers owning more than 500,000 acres of irrigated farmland could face a mandatory shutdown of their groundwater wells.

The compact allocates 49 percent of the river’s water to Nebraska, 40 percent to Kansas and 11 percent to Colorado.

DOI invests in water projects

The Department of the Interior (DOI) announced a $179 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for innovative water reuse projects to strengthen drought resilience across the West, increasing water security and resilience across Western communities. Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support four projects in California and Utah to help communities create new sources of water to support water reliability. These investments support the department’s new LargeScale Water Recycling Program, launched in 2023 as a result of new funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The new program incentivizes conservation projects at a larger scale, with no cap on project size and will play an important role in helping communities develop local, drought-resistant water supplies by turning unusable water sources into clean, reliable ones.

Checkoff gains partnership

With baseball and softball season underway and the kickoff to summer grilling season fast approaching, the “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner” brand, funded by the Beef Checkoff, is excited to announce its partnership between beef and baseball/softball as a proud partner of the Little League World Series this year.

“This partnership provides a unique opportunity to reach a younger audience and their families with facts about beef and recipes they will love,” said Dan Gattis, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association federation division chair. “With approximately two million players annually, Little League teams account for 70 percent of youth baseball in the U.S. and makes them an ideal partner for the Beef Checkoff.”

Last year in Wyoming there were 24 leagues with an average of 270 players per league.

The partnership, which will name beef as the official sponsor of the Perfect Home Plate with Little League, will include a variety of advertising opportunities, including a digital video series to inspire consumers to choose beef.

It will culminate with a beef dinner the night before the opening game of the Little League Baseball World Series to fuel young athletes with high-quality protein and help them prepare for 11 days of competition. Beef is always a crowd pleaser, but nutrition is key when fueling young athletes and busy families. This partnership will help educate consumers about beef’s unmatched nutrition package of high-quality protein and 10 essential nutrients, helping them keep their families nourished throughout the day and introducing the next generation to the “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner” brand. To see recipes and more content from the partnership, visit beefitswhatsfordinner.com

Demand for meat goats continues to grow

The nuances of the meat goat market make numbers harder to track compared to other livestock, but demand definitely continues to rise, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Expert Jake Thorne.

Thorne, PhD and AgriLife Extension sheep and goat specialist, said meat goats are a specialty item and not marketed via traditional livestock producer-to-consumer logistical chains.

“Meat goats do not typically follow the traditional livestock harvest pattern of other livestock. You don’t have large numbers going to a feedlot for several months, harvested at a large-scale commercial facility and individual cuts distributed to retail grocery stores,” he said.

“Some goats are fed and then processed at a heavier

weight, but many are not. And it is common for whole carcasses to be sold as opposed to just individual cuts,” he added.

Meat goat numbers hard to track Herd numbers and the economics of the meat goat market are difficult to pinpoint because the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) doesn’t track them with the same detail as cattle, hogs or even lambs.

Most meat goats are taken to butchers or smaller harvesting facilities which handle 100 or less animals per week, making the actual number of meat goats processed harder to gauge.

For example, during a recent weekly sale at Producers Livestock Auctions in San Angelo, Texas, 2,500 goat kids designated for processing were sold. Sales

in Fredericksburg, Texas; Goldthwaite, Texas and Hamilton, Texas – the three next largest small ruminant auctions in the state – combined for 8,000 meat goats.

However, USDA does report the number of animals processed in larger federally-inspected facilities and for goats, Thorne said this number is consistently around 10,000 to 12,000 animals per week.

“This shows there is a significant percentage of goats which aren’t being accounted for in the USDA report,” he said. “Texas accounts for 33 percent of the nation’s meat goat inventory, and those four auctions make up the bulk of Texas sales so it gives us a rough idea about total nationwide.”

The median herd size is around 20 animals, accord-

ing to the 2019 USDA goat industry study, which Thorne said is the most comprehensive study of the national goat industry available. And, whereas the number of meat goats has decreased some over the

last several years, prices continue to rise, which is good news for producers.

Rising prices and seasonal demand

The price of meat goats has been steadily on the rise for the last decade, according to Thorne. As the U.S. population continues to grow and more people immigrate to the U.S. from countries where goat meat consumption is the norm, Thorne expects demand and prices to remain strong.

“Going back about 10 years, we can see average prices have increased from about two dollars per pound to an average price of about $3.50 per pound,” he said.

Thorne said those numbers can go up during times of higher demand, which tend to peak before religious and/or cultural holidays where goat is traditionally consumed. The middle of summer, usually after the Fourth of July, is typically the low point for the goat market. Prices can fall as much as one dollar per pound.

Thorne said prices for producers can be based on the ebb and flow of supplies at sale barns as much or more than seasonal demand.

Goat prices trend higher in the late winter and early spring and then fall in the middle of summer and early fall. Goats are typically sold for processing between three to five months of age and at weights between 50 to 70 pounds.

And, while Thorne said there are clear indicators consumption increases on seasonal trends, he is not convinced producers should target marketing their animals to meet increased demand because a significant number of animals are marketed at these times.

“The premiums which typically come with an increase in demand don’t always come to reality because of the sudden spike in supply,” he said.

Lower prices in the summer are related to the glut of three- to four-month-old goats born in the spring, coupled with lower seasonal demand. On the other hand, producers who can raise fall-born goats can capitalize on higher prices driven by fewer animals and increased demand in January, February and March.

Impact of COVID-19

Despite the strong mar-

ket, goat prices and herd numbers have slipped compared to pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, goat numbers for Texas were about 842,000 compared to less than 790,000 now.

The pandemic impacted livestock markets in various ways during market and logistical disruptions in the following years, according to Thorne. Producers experienced astronomical prices above four dollars per pound in 2021-22.

As goat inventories decreased and prices increased over recent years, Thorne said more producers began raising goats. He also noted increasing land costs and fragmentation have made goats an attractive and feasible option for producers with less acreage. Goats can fit a production system of five to 50 acres.

Other sources of revenue from goats

About 90 percent of the U.S. goat inventory is raised for meat, but they are also raised for their milk, hair and other ancillary demands like livestock shows, pets and for targeted grazing.

Commercial market kid goat hair – the finest hair for textiles – usually brings $13 to $17 per pound and even lower-quality hair from mature goats can still bring six to eight dollars per pound. Each animal can be sheared twice a year, resulting in a total of six to 10 pounds of Mohair per goat.

Goats are also increasingly being used for brush control with cities, companies and even government agencies hiring producers. This service is also utilized for wildfire prevention.

As targeted grazing becomes more popular, the number of producers providing this service are growing, as well as their herd size.

“They’re an excellent biological tool to graze land that might be overgrown or has the potential for wildfire,” Thorne said. “I don’t foresee the demand for goat meat, goat products or goat services doing anything but growing in the next decade.”

Susan Himes is a writer and media relations specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife. This article was

AgriLife photo by Courtney Sacco

FARM BILL

In addition to increasing funding for conservation, Thompson and other supporting members say the $1.5 trillion measure would go a long way toward protecting farmers from weather-related disasters and falling commodity prices, by strengthening subsidized crop insurance and boosting payment rates in crop programs.

However, the House version of the farm bill will now head to the full chamber for consideration. The Senate also released an outline of its version of the farm bill but has not set a markup.

National support

With nearly five hours of opening statements, the 54-member committee embarked on an extensive course of marking up and voting on the proposed farm bill.

Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), a former committee chairman, states the bill represents the first step in a long journey and credits Thompson for putting forward a good bill.

“The real struggle is not getting the bill out of committee, but passing the bill on the House floor,” he states.

While the bill has received mixed reactions from both parties, several national organizations are in support of this version of the 2024 Farm Bill.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) comments, “We thank the House Agricul-

ture Committee for passing the next farm bill, known as the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024. This farm bill includes top priorities for cattle farmers and ranchers including cattle health, voluntary conservation and food security provisions.”

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, also supports the House bill, stating, “We thank Thompson and his staff for including so many investments for specialty crops in his bill, as well as the countless Democrats and Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee who expressed strong support for them during the markup.”

“Investments like these are vital to maintaining and enhancing the competitiveness of our growers across the U.S. and to support a healthier America, and it’s essential they appear in the final conference report,” the alliance continues.

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall released a statement in favor of the House bill, saying, “AFBF appreciates the work of Thompson and the entire House Agriculture Committee for its work in drafting a new, modernized farm bill.”

He continues, “America’s farmers and ranchers need the stability the farm bill provides so they can withstand the unforeseen challenges of growing the food, fuel and fiber Amer-

For more information on the U.S. House Farm Bill proposal, visit agriculture.house.gov/news.

ESA continued from page 2

ESA and provided flexibility in defining a critical habitat rather than completely ignoring the economic consequences communities must contend with.

The Trump-era improvements also established standards to ensure analysis for proposed actions was limited only to “activities that are reasonably certain to occur” instead of using hypothetical, worst-case scenarios as a standard which were unlikely to happen.

Regrettably, the Biden administration quickly unraveled these improvements, serving up the ESA as a vehicle for environmental activists to punish landowners and surrounding communities.

The new rules set forth by Biden’s FWS and NOAA undo these critical reforms. They blow past the economic devastation some communities endure under the ESA’s antiquated

ica’s families rely on. Conservation and research programs help farmers protect the resources they’ve been entrusted with and enable American agriculture to remain on the forefront of innovation. Nutrition programs also give a helping hand to families struggling to make ends meet.”

“We look forward to taking a deep dive into the House farm bill draft in advance of next week’s markup. We hope to see the Senate Agriculture Committee’s version soon so we can move forward with getting the farm bill passed. It’s too important to wait. America’s families are counting on Congress to get this done,” he concludes.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) also supports the House farm bill, which includes a federal fix to California’s Proposition (Prop) 12 issues affecting pork producers.

“The 2024 Farm Bill is a golden opportunity to address a top issue for pork producers across the country – Prop 12 – and I’m pleased to see the U.S. House Agriculture Committee seize the opportunity to stop a potential 50-state patchwork of differing on-farm regulations,” says NPPC President Lori Stevermer.

Other supporters include the U.S. Dairy Export Council, Pheasants Forever, American Soybean Association and the National Cotton Council.

While farm commodity groups have expressed support for the House bill, environmental and hunger groups have opposed it.

them to be partners in species recovery.

policies and once again allow unelected Washington, D.C. bureaucrats to use obscure hypotheticals and fear mongering to appeal their strongest, onesize-fits-all regulations to an area designated as a critical habitat.

Together, we recognize the danger these rule changes pose to property and state’s rights, goodpaying jobs and access for hunters, anglers and other outdoor recreationalists across the country.

This is why we have partnered to use the Congressional Review Act to block this administration from further burdening rural communities.

Farming, ranching, tourism and energy are the lifeblood of our states, and we know better than most, our farmers, ranchers, indigenous communities and landowners are the original conservationists. We want to empower

Challenges ahead

With varying support for this version of the farm bill, some who voted for the bill state, “It just may not be enough support to get it passed, the bill needs major changes before it can be passed into law.”

“Everyone knows this bill would never become law. The Senate won’t accept it, and the administration won’t accept it,” says Rep. David Scott (D-GA), a ranking member on the committee. “And while this bill is a giant misstep, it nevertheless begins our journey toward passing a farm bill.”

The farm bill funds programs across 12 titles for five years and pulls together support for agriculture producers, energy and conservation programs on farmland and food and nutrition programs for families in need.

However, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack raised concerns about the House proposal adjusting SNAP benefits by $30 billion over 10 years, which is based on estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.

Nutrition programs account for the majority of farm bill spending, and there are more than 41 million people who use SNAP benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The farm bill must remain budget neutral, so lawmakers must fit their proposals into a baseline projection of how much the government would spend over the next 10 years if the current farm bill was extended.

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

OBITUARIES

Barbara Jean Epler

April 22, 1933 – May 26, 2024

Barbara Jean Epler, age 91, a longtime resident of Hillsdale, passed away peacefully at her home on May 26 following a brief illness with pancreatic cancer. Born the youngest of 12 siblings, Barbara’s life was marked by her love, curiosity and commitment to her family and community.

Barbara farmed and ranched in Hillsdale with her husband Harry L. Epler and their three sons, Casey, Alan and Curt. A lifelong learner, Barbara became a Reiki master, a master gardener, a jeweler and collector.

Her commitment to her community was remarkable. Barbara played the piano at the Hillsdale Methodist Church for many years and was a vital part of the vacation Bible school. As a leader in 4-H, she mentored countless young people, sharing her wisdom and fostering their growth.

Her spirituality was a cornerstone of her life, providing her with strength, comfort and insight.

Barbara was known for her generous spirit

and warm heart. She was a giver in every sense, always ready with love, energy, understanding or encouragement. Her impact on her family and community was profound and her legacy of kindness will continue to inspire those who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband Harry L. Epler; her parents Tony (Antionette Babette) Brambora Federer – emigrated from BohemiaCzechoslovakia – and John Federer and her 11 siblings Francis “Fran,” Walter, Ruth, Lydia, Johnny, Doris, Esther, Alice Mae “Betty,” James “Jim,” Kenneth “Tuffy,” Melvin “Bud” and nieces, nephews and cousins.

Barbara is survived by her sons Casey (Bonnie) Epler, Alan Epler and Curt (Patty) Epler; Rex (Cindy) Dolan; her grandchildren Reba Epler, Rhett Epler, Lani Epler, Harry Epler, Ali Epler, Paige (Cody) Anderson, Justin Dolan, Kristen Dolan Wendt and Brian (Eryn) Dolan; her 17 great-grandchildren and nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held on June 7 at 4 p.m. at the Hillsdale Methodist Church Community Center, 1474 Markley Ave, Hillsdale, WY 82060, with a reception to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hillsdale Methodist Church, in honor of Barbara’s lifelong dedication to her faith and community.

We will not sit back and passively allow this administration’s extreme version of the ESA to be the death knell of local communities bound by its onerous and antiquated policies. It is time to restore the ESA to better meet its original purpose to protect species without punishing rural communities.

We will continue to promote commonsense reforms until this goal is achieved.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) chairs the Senate Western Caucus and serves on the Environment and Public Works, Banking and Commerce committees. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) also sits on the Environment and Public Works Committee. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) is a former governor of Nebraska and a member of Environment and Public Works. This opinion column was originally published on May 15 by AgriPulse

IT'S THE PITTS

by Lee Pitts

The Big Pink Blob

I’m a big Temple Grandin fan, and in one of her articles Grandin explained how when a sudden scary event happens for the first time in an animal’s life it can create “fear memories” which can last a lifetime.

The first time I hauled my wonder horse Gentleman, I had to do it in the only trailer available to me – my grandpa’s old twohorse trailer he won at a roping in the 1940s. Gentleman loaded easily enough, but then he had to try to

remain in an upright position while straddling the trailer axle and without putting too much weight on the floorboards because they were rotten.

If it wasn’t for the accumulated manure, there wouldn’t have been any structure for Gentleman to stand on at all.

Gentleman did not enjoy his first trip in the old trailer, and when I opened the tailgate, he pulled back with such force he broke the rope halter and came flying out of there. When I finally

caught him a mile away, Gentleman was still shaking like a meadowlark trying to pass a peach pit.

As a result, a fear memory was imprinted on Gentleman’s brain, and henceforth, not even the offensive line of the Kansas City Chiefs, several four-by-four fenceposts, a skid steer and an assortment of chains, ropes and a garden hose could have gotten him to load.

Grandin didn’t say so, but I think fear memories can also be imprinted on the human brain.

Because I didn’t have a lot of money to start out with, I raised sheep instead of cattle, figuring I’d do my learning and experimenting with cheaper stock. It turned out to be a wise move because I needed more experience in calving heifers and

cows, so I learned on sheep. I found it relatively easy to grab on to the head and two front feet of a lamb, and after making sure the feet belonged to the right head, I could pull a lamb.

By the time I had three seasons of lambing a flock of sheep behind me, I felt ready to tackle cattle. I’d taken a course in artificial insemination and felt I knew my way around the inside of a cow, so I started out with what I called “oneshot” cows, figuring these old grannies wouldn’t have any problems with calving and I could gradually learn on the job.

But this idea of starting with older cows instead of bred heifers presented its own set of problems.

One day while Gentleman and I were checking on the cows, I was shocked

to see an old cow with a gigantic pink blob hanging out of her butt. It was my first experience with a uterine prolapse, and I was so stunned by the big pink blob, it created a fear memory in my brain which has never gone away.

My vet was tied up elsewhere so I called on my neighbor Jeep to come help put the 30-pound mass back inside of the cow where it belonged. We got the cow standing up in my squeeze chute and did the best we could cleaning the filthy blob, then Jeep said we needed a five-pound sack of sugar to coat the blob to reduce its size.

I don’t know how we did it, but we managed to make the blob disappear. Then we had another problem – how do we keep the cow from giving birth to her

own uterus again as she was attempting to do?

Jeep requested a Mason jar filled with water and the lid on real tight. Then Jeep had me put this jar inside of the cow, hoping the weight of the water in the jar would keep the uterus inside.

Finally I sewed up the vulva of the cow, allowing enough room to pee but not enough for her to give birth to her uterus again.

After she’d fattened up a bit, she looked pretty good, so I sent the old gal to the auction, completely forgetting I hadn’t removed the Mason jar like I was supposed to. I’ll bet a real fear memory was created in the next rancher – who probably bought her as a “oneshot” cow as well – when the old gal gave birth to twins – a calf and a Mason jar.

On May 16-17, the Wyoming Bankers Association (WBA) hosted the 2024 Agriculture Bankers Conference in Buffalo where DV Auction Commercial Cattle Manager and Livestock Market Analyst Corbitt Wall closed out the annual convention with a presentation on the history of cattle, beef market sales and fed cattle markets.

reports and commentary on livestock events on National Beef Wire

Wall, a fourth-generation cattleman, is wellknown for his daily market

National Beef Wire is an interactive platform for the display of real-time pricing and news relevant to the cattle and agriculture industries

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and hosts Wall’s program “Feeder Flash.”

Cattle markets

The five-area reporting region includes Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico; Kansas; Nebraska; Colorado and Iowa and Minnesota.

“Colorado is limited to releasing information based on confidentiality, so we don’t see much information coming from Colorado,” Wall noted. “But, the cash market is higher for fed cattle and boxed beef this week.”

The futures for live cattle were steady across contract months, and cash prices for feeders were lower across weight classes.

Wall explained feeder futures prices were lower and volatility levels for live and feeder cattle futures have decreased in recent weeks.

Boxed beef prices continue to soar, while the Choice spread narrowed just a touch, thanks to a stronger Select cutout.

“Feeder cattle contracts were up sharply, gaining good ground,” Wall said. “Cattle feeders are pricing cattle higher than last week, and the negotiated fed cattle market has traded up weekto-date.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cattle report, the U.S. cattle inventory will likely decline further in 2024.

“The total number of cattle on feed in U.S. feedlots of all sizes as of Jan. 1 was 14.2 million head, two percent higher than 2023, while the number of cattle outside of feedlots on Jan. 1 was about four percent below a year ago,” the report reads. “The five-area steer price for 2024 is forecast to average a record $180 per hundredweight (cwt), eclipsing 2023’s record $175.54 per cwt.”

Issues

Wall discussed a few issues he feels the cattle

market is facing, including the packer monopoly, formula-fixed pricing and labgrown meat.

According to Wall, “If we don’t get competition back in our cattle markets, the trickle-down effect will go on and on, and we’ll see our agriculture communities dry up and fade away.”

“Negotiation is the best way to sell anything. If you can’t negotiate, how do you ever get a higher price? This is what we are missing in the cattle industry today,” he added. “Increased formula trading has resulted in a continual decline in competition. Setting a minimum requirement for negotiated cash sales will cause significant change and drastically help our cattle markets.”

There are thousands of ranchers, stockers and feedlots, but only a handful of packers, and it’s reported four major packers account for 80 percent or more of industry capacity in each year.

“There are just a few packers playing, and they do almost all of the business,” said Wall. “Mandatory price reporting isn’t as good as what it was and what it should be.”

“And then with the fire at the Tyson plant in Kansas, we found out just how truly vulnerable we really are. Ranchers don’t have any leverage anymore. It’s a sad situation. So much of our industry is relying on the cash fat cattle price, and whenever a catastrophe hits, producers are left dealing with the aftermath,” he continued.

“The meatpackers in the U.S. are controlling producers through formula and forward cattle pricing, and reducing the num-

ber of slaughters restricts cash trades and manipulates future contracts,” he added. “This weakens producers’ ability to negotiate fair returns for their products.”

However, USDA addressed this issue, and on March 5 it announced the finalization of Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. According to the USDA, the final rule will be effective 60 days following publication in the Federal Register and establishes clearer, more effective standards under the P&S Act for prohibited practices relating to discrimination, retaliation and deception in contracting.

“The update in the P&S Act will help producers and growers who have suffered from increasingly consolidated markets over the last 30 years by enhancing market integrity and ensuring fair access to economic opportunities,” reads the USDA website.

In Wall’s presentation, he showcased what producers are truly dealing with right now. For instance, the topic of fake meat.

“Beyond Meat’s mission statement is to eliminate farm animals from protein production,” he said.

“This newly-created product will show up in schools and prisons first, and Brazil has started investing in sustainable insect-based animal protein.”

He further warned of the dangers of the beef industry going by the wayside, just like dairy and pork production.

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

UW welcomes faculty

The University of Wyoming (UW) College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources welcomed three new faculty members to the Department of Veterinary Sciences.

With diverse experience in immunology, epidemiology and wildlife pathology, the new faculty are well positioned to serve the state as animal disease researchers, educators and diagnosticians.

David Pascual, professor of veterinary sciences and Wyoming Excellence Chair in brucellosis, joined UW in late March. Prior to joining UW, Pascual served as professor of immunology in the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine. From 2005-12, he worked in Montana State University’s Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, where he maintained an affiliate professorship.

Pascual was elected to the Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology in 2019. His research focuses on brucellosis and developing vaccines for livestock to protect against infection transmitted by wildlife.

Associate Professors Raphael Vanderstichel and María Forzán assumed their new posi-

tions in April.

Vanderstichel, a veterinary epidemiologist, is currently wrapping up his position as associate professor of epidemiology and assistant dean of veterinary admissions at Long Island University.

In addition to serving as a veterinary surgeon in the United Kingdom, Vanderstichel has studied infectious diseases in multiple aquatic species, including farmed and wild salmon. As a complement to his aquacultural experience, he has also conducted research on parasites hosted by red fox and dairy cattle as well as free-roaming dogs.

Wildlife Pathologist María Forzán, who also previously served as an associate professor at Long Island University, has collaborated with Vanderstichel on various research projects. In particular, she brings extensive experience in the study of amphibious and avian pathogens to UW.

Among other positions, Forzán has worked as a pathologist at Cornell University’s Wildlife Health Laboratory and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, where she gained expertise in diseases affecting free-roaming ruminants and other wildlife species.

PASTURE

51 percent of the total beef cow inventory of the country, were collectively up 81.4 percent year-over-year and are 9.4 percent above the 10-year average, accounting for 54 percent of total U.S. hay stocks.

Hay stocks for these states were mostly higher year-over-year, with South Dakota up 52 percent from last year. Missouri and Kentucky had fractionally lower hays stocks this year.

Hay stocks on Montana farms and ranches as of May 1 totaled a record high 1,590,000 tons, an increase of 253 percent from stocks of 450,000 tons on hand last year. Hay production for 2023 totaled 5.3 million tons, 28 percent higher than production in 2022.

The USDA NASS Crop Production report states Wyoming’s hay stocks as of May 1 totaled 515,000 tons, an increase of 171 percent from stocks of 190,000 tons on hand last year, and hay production for 2023 totaled 2.55 million tons, six percent higher than production in 2022.

South of the Cowboy State, Colorado hay stocks totaled 800,000 tons, an increase of 371 percent from record-low stocks of

170,000 tons on hand last year, while hay production for 2023 totaled 3.12 million tons, 14 percent higher than the record-low production in 2022.

Pasture and range reporting

USDA NASS also released its seasonal report on pasture and range conditions on May 13, showing the percent of U.S. pastures and ranges in poor to very poor condition was 24 percent, compared to 33 percent at the same time one year ago, with 47 percent of pastures and ranges currently rated in good to excellent condition, compared to 34 percent last year.

The report further shows regional pasture and range conditions underwent significant improvement yearover-year.

The Climate Prediction Center’s seasonal forecast is calling for above average temperatures and below average precipitation for the next three months in the majority of beef cattle country, while the U.S. currently has less drought than any time in the last four years.

The Great Plains states of Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and North and South

Dakota have 12.29 percent of pastures and ranges in poor to very poor condition, compared to 31.29 percent one year ago. The Southern Plains, consisting of Oklahoma and Texas, have 26.5 percent of pastures in poor to very poor condition this year, compared to 47.5 percent last year.

The eight states west of the Great Plains region have 14.63 percent of pastures and ranges in poor to very poor condition, compared to 20.5 percent one year ago.

Local reporting Released on May 26, the USDA NASS Crop Condition and Progress report states Wyoming’s pasture and range condition is reported to be good to excellent, an improvement from last year’s report.

Goshen County reported greener pastures due to precipitation received during the week, while Lincoln County reported rain received during the week, along with cool temperatures during the day, helping rangeland conditions immensely along with slight progression of crop growth.

The local report continues to note Platte County is experiencing windy conditions, with adequate water supply for the season, planting progression and greener pastures, due to the precipitation received.

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

good-paying jobs which will benefit everyone,” he continues.

The FPEP

American agriculture producers have faced increasing issues stemming from rising fertilizer prices, which more than doubled between 2021-22 due to the war in the Ukraine and a lack of competition in the fertilizer industry, among other factors.

ernize equipment, adopt new technologies and build production plants, among other things, which will ultimately help strengthen supply chains, create new economic opportunities and support climate-smart innovation.

FPEP projects

Today, USDA and the administration have invested $251 million in 57 projects across 29 states through FPEP, and the agency’s recent efforts will award $83 million to 12 states including California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon and Washington.

Jurupa Valley, Calif. which uses insects to recycle food waste into organic nutrient fertilizer.

“Through this funding, the facility is expected to produce 11,400 tons annually, which will provide domestic fertilizer for approximately 90 producers in the region,” USDA explains.

For more information on the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program or for a complete list of projects, visit rd.usda.gov.

independent retailers.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net. USDA continued from page 1

To combat these issues, President Joe Biden and USDA created FPEP, promising up to $900 million through the CCC for the program.

USDA explains FPEP provides grants to business owners to help mod-

The department also notes FPEP is part of a broader effort to help producers boost production and therefore, help with global food insecurity.

“It is also one of the many ways the administration is promoting fair competition, innovation and resiliency across food and agriculture, all while combating climate crisis,” USDA states.

USDA notes the funding will help facilities in these states increase their domestic fertilizer production, strengthen competition and lower costs for producers.

For example, USDA explains 4420 Serrano Drive, LLC of California will use its $25 million grant to build and equip a food waste upcycling facility in

In Florida, Cog Marketers Ltd. will use a $4 million grant to build and equip a manufacturing facility in Lake City, Fla., which is expected to produce two million gallons of fertilizer annually and provide domestic fertilizer to more than 200

Closer to home, the MidKansas Cooperative Association, a farmer-owned cooperative with 11,000 members and 600 employees in Canton, Kan., will use a $2.38 million grant to construct a new state-of-the-art facility, supporting production of 3,000 tons of liquid fertilizer a year for 250 local producers.

Additionally, Ray Farm-

ers Union Elevator Company of Ray, N.D. will use a $1.49 million grant to increase dry fertilizer capacity by 7,025 tons to a total of 11,425 tons, which will benefit new and existing customers and improve fertilizer supply logistics.

David Pascual Courtesy photo

Raphael Vanderstichel Courtesy photo

Maria Forzán Courtesy photo

percent of the chuck shoulder clod and 18 percent of top inside round.

“The export side adds pricing competition, potential customers and ultimately brings added value to these underutilized cuts,” said Spreitzer.

Marketing and promotion

Lorenzo Elizalde, USMEF’s director of trade and marketing in Mexico, highlighted USMEF’s mobile training program, which utilizes a variety of U.S. meat promotional vehicles to educate importers and distributors and their customers on underutilized cuts.

Elizalde described how USMEF is also utilizing these vehicles for month-long promotional campaigns for specific cuts such as U.S. pork loin, beef knuckle and outside round. The U.S. meat trucks also park outside major supermarket outlets, sampling and promoting cuts displayed inside of the stores.

USMEF Latin America Director Homero Recio focused his comments on merchandising of underutilized cuts in Colombia, Peru and Chile and how USMEF is working to promote new

uses for U.S. pork and beef in these markets.

Recio highlighted a USMEF research effort in Chile designed to promote rotisserie pork using loin rib end. In Colombia, where beef liver is popular, USMEF is promoting new dishes such as beef liver brochettes with pineapple.

“For U.S. pork, as an example, we’re working to move the trade beyond simply offering ‘pork chops’ to packaging and merchandising U.S. pork ribeyes and cowboy steaks,” said Recio.

“We’re also encouraging the trade and their customers to utilize pork in new products such as pulled pork in a waffle cone and Boston butt in a ground pork burger.”

Japan Marketing Manager Taichi Uemura explained the majority of Japan’s chilled pork imports are loins, mostly sold thinly sliced at retail for use in popular Japanese dishes.

Uemara described USMEF’s new roast pork initiative in which USMEF is working to expand consumers’ usage of the U.S. loin. While explaining many Japanese households do not have

ovens, he said the new marketing program works to teach consumers how to create a roast pork dish using U.S. pork loin slices.

Taiwan’s beef import market is traditionally competitive and price sensitive, and USMEF has been aggressively promoting a range of alternative U.S. beef cuts for about 10 years.

Alex Sun, USMEF’s senior marketing manager, said the strategic focus for the foodservice sector in 2024 is on the outside round flat and the top round.

Sun explained importers are typically not familiar with the versatility of these cuts so USMEF conducts educational seminars showing them how to fabricate them for foodservice. The importers’ foodservice customers are then presented with ideas for new dishes utilizing the cuts.

Elly Sung, senior marketing manager in Korea, reported USMEF is working to expand U.S. pork’s usage by comparing its quality and versatility alongside domestic product for importers, distributors and their customers.

USMEF is also promoting usage of U.S. pork with home meal replacement and restaurant meal replacement

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1

companies, pointing out a recent product development success in which U.S. pork is utilized in a crispy, cheesy pork cutlet which is gaining popularity with Korean consumers.

Insights from consumer experts

The general session on May 23 featured U.S. consumer insights from AnneMarie Roerink, meat consumer expert and author of the Power of Meat report.

Joining her for a panel discussion were USMEF Vice President of Economic Analysis Erin Borror and USMEF representatives from Japan, Central America and South Korea who shared market observations and described how consumer trends guide market development strategies and tactics.

A common theme through Roerink’s presentation and the ensuing panel discussion was how consumer behaviors – domestic and international – have changed due to inflation and the sharp rise in food prices since 2019. At the end of the day, Roerink said people are simply adjusting their household budgets and trying to do more with less.

“We see some massive differences in where people are getting their meal inspi-

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ration ideas. For Gen Z, it’s all about the visual and it’s all about the digital – Tik Tok, YouTube and Instagram,” said Roerink. “Then you look at some of the older generations and you’ll see it’s all about routine. So the big question is, how can we make meat a routine in those younger generations as well?”

Lucia Ruano, USMEF representative in Central America and the Dominican Republic, brought up a recent survey in Guatemala showing family, friends and social media are the top three influences in consumers’ food purchasing decisions.

Ruano described how USMEF utilizes social media in the region to establish itself as a trusted resource for consumers on nutrition, food handling and safety, sustainability and how to properly prepare pork and beef to get the best eating experience.

Taz Hijikata, USMEF’s senior director of consumer affairs in Japan, discussed the country’s overall awareness about protein’s importance, especially in the aging population but also among younger generations.

USMEF targets Japanese consumers through social media, often with content from influencers which includes messaging about how U.S. beef and pork can meet their daily protein needs.

Jihae Yang, who is based in Korea and serves as

USMEF’s vice president of the Asia Pacific, said it is critical for the red meat industry to monitor and understand the evolving purchasing behavior of younger generations and to evolve along with them.

“Across all markets, younger consumers are looking for convenience, nutrition, quality and to reduce food waste and save money,” Yang said. “And there are foodies who are also looking for professional information about cooking.”

“We are increasingly using social media influencers, which is a cost-effective way for us to reach younger audiences with relevant information and the right messaging about U.S. beef and pork,” Yang continued.

The May 23 program also included meetings of USMEF’s standing committees, examining issues of specific interest to the pork, beef, feedgrains and oilseeds and exporter sectors.

USMEF members will meet at the organization’s Strategic Planning Conference, which is set for Nov. 6-8 in Tucson, Ariz.

USMEF collects and analyzes market intelligence, implements promotional programs and collaborates with industry stakeholders and governmental agencies to increase U.S. red meat exports. This article was originally published on May 24.

The most fundamental beef cow feeding strategy remains the use of pasture, which is considered the lowest cost feed resource. Therefore, many cattle operations aim to maximize pasture time annually to benefit from labor, manure management, physical activity and nutrition advantages.

However, even operations which make full use of pasture must have a supplemental feeding strategy.

This is where silage comes into play. Providing silage is generally considered essential to address nutritional deficiencies caused by seasonal variations, adverse weather conditions or inadequate diets.

Preserving high-quality forage

Whether composed of alfalfa, corn, grass-legume mix, sorghums or oats, silage must be of high quality.

For these higher-quality forages – often supplemental and generally smaller forage crop sizes – many cattle operations now prefer to pack it into bags. This allows cattle operations tremendous flexibility in adjusting feed rations, managing herd size fluctuation year to year and improving herd health.

“Bagging silage is an important tool for managing forage. With cattle, producers don’t want to get caught in a drought and not have a feed bank. Supplemental bagged silage can make up for shortages and give cattle what’s needed for a proper diet,” says Kevin Huffman, owner of Huffman Farms in McGregor, Texas.

Huffman Farms, established decades ago, initially focused on stocker cattle and cropping. In 1999, Huffman decided to begin offering custom harvesting services for various crops like corn, milo, sorghum, wheat, grass and swath.

Today, the operation spans roughly 530 square miles, encompassing 4,200 acres of cropland, 1,800 acres of rangeland and a herd of 170 beef cows.

According to Huffman, the challenge is silage quality must be high to ensure a healthy response.

While piles, pits and bunkers are often used to store forage and silage, the quality can quickly degrade when exposed to air and the environment unless it is used promptly. Some estimates suggest spoilage and loss can amount to as much as 30 percent.

“As we open up a pile and expose it to air, it will begin to mold and deteriorate, so the quality of feed is going to go down fast,” says Huffman.

He notes utilizing piles can still be viable for a product like corn silage if it is used rapidly.

However, bagging silage is often preferred over piles for crops used less frequently or in smaller quantities.

Bagging proves to be a more cost-effective method which offers greater nutrient yield per acre compared to any other approach for harvesting and storing feed. If feed conditions become unfavorable, such as excessive dryness, moisture, prolonged storage,

maturity or exposure to rain, it poses no problem as the bag remains sealed and can withstand these adversities while maintaining favorable fermentation conditions.

“There are advantages to putting higher-quality forages in a bag. We can keep it fresher, more stable and the quality is better,” adds Huffman.

He notes some bagging equipment is designed to last for many years and can be easy to maintain.

Bagged silage promotes better nutrition

High-quality bagged silage plays an essential role in assuring proper nutrition for beef cattle during many important periods.

For breeding herds, the silage can help achieve satisfactory body condition at calving, maintaining milk production and calf growth and ensuring adequate nutrition to facilitate fertility.

Supplementation of cows grazing pasture with highquality silage can reduce the incidence of grass tetany, a livestock disease caused by magnesium deficiency.

Silage can be fed to calves as young as three months, but some supplementary concentrates are required. Superior silage can also be fed to weaners and feeder cattle to maintain the growth rate of young cattle to ensure they reach a satisfactory weight-for-age by the start of the finishing period.

For all classes of beef cattle, high-quality silage can provide a long-term forage reserve for drought, bushfires or floods to help ensure survival and/or production. Having silage on hand can eliminate the high cost of purchasing feed during such emergencies. Silage also provides the option to cost-effectively finish cattle during a drought.

To further promote herd health, silage can be mixed with proteins, minerals and other feed additives into total mixed rations (TMR) for cattle whenever desired. TMR is a proven nutritional approach which allows cattlemen to mix and match forages, commodities and feed additives according to stage of production and nutritional requirements.

High-quality silage supplementation in low-quality pasture has shown positive liveweight gain responses. The use of silage supplements can enhance individual animal production and decrease pasture intake, facilitating higher stocking rates.

Proper packing equals better nutrition

One key to producing and preserving high-quality bagged silage is superior packing.

Fortunately, as cattlemen and ranchers have used silage bagging over the years, the equipment has continued to improve.

According to Huffman, he has used a high-speed bagger from Versa for over 10 years. High-capacity baggers like Versa’s ID1014, which is self-propelled, can be used to bag up to 14-foot diameter and 500-feet long bags.

To maximize the effectiveness of their equipment, cattlemen should prioritize packing

pressure as a key factor to consider for equipment selection. With silage bagging, oxygen is removed almost instantly and fermentation begins promptly.

The sealed bags protect silage quality and maintain favorable fermentation conditions, even amid unfavorable conditions such as exposure to rain, moisture, excessive dryness or prolonged storage.

Among silage bagging equipment, packing is approached in various ways, which can affect productivity.

One bagging system utilizes a cable system with a heavy net backstop. With such a system, after each bag is filled, the cables must be rewound and the backstop moved to the next location – a cumbersome process.

For greater efficiency, Versa created an innovative cable loop density system which uses a single adjustable cable inside the bag. The OEM also developed a heavyduty belt system which facilitates tighter packing of longer silage bags than the industry norm, which minimizes air pockets and spoilage while maximizing storage capacity.

Today, the process of creating bagged silage for cattle ranchers is relatively simple. Essentially, they back up a truck, dump the feed in and start bagging. Capacities generally range from two to five tons per minute for side unloading wagons to higher capacity truck rear-end loading models which handle from four to 16 tons of bagged silage per minute

The largest model the OEM offers can switch between 12 and 14 bags as part of the machine design and can be easily transported to different sites due to a narrow 12-feet width.

With silage an essential means of feed management for cattlemen, the use of bagging is

now becoming an industry best practice used in conjunction with more traditional methods.

Cattlemen who take advantage of this cost-effective, superior technology will

promote the

and

duction of their herd, as well as the efficiency and profitability of their operation for many years to come.

Carlo Chatman is the

Jamboree and Rodeo

June 17-20

June 17-22

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/

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.

June 8 Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Event, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Deerwood Ranch Public Off-Range Pasture, Laramie. For more information, visit blm.gov/whb/events, call 866-468-7826 or e-mail wildhorse@ blm.gov.

June 8 Spring Mustang Rendezvous, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Goshen County Fairgrounds, Torrington. For more information, visit blm.gov/whb/events, call 866-468-7826 or e-mail wildhorse@blm.gov.

June 8-9 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.

June 9-15 College National Finals Rodeo, Ford Wyoming Center, Casper. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit cnfr.com

June 10 Uinta County 4-H Horse Show, 5 p.m., Uinta County Fairgrounds, Evanston. For more information call 307-783-0570 or e-mail skrieger@uwyo.edu.

June 10-11 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.

June 10-12 7 Triangle 7 Cattle Co., LLC Artificial Insemination Clinic, Akron, Colo. For more information, visit 7triangle7.com or call 970-481-3921.

June 10-14 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.

June 12-13 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

June 13 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.

June 14 Chris LeDoux Days Early Arriver’s Friday Night Rodeo, 7 p.m., Kaycee. For more information, visit chrisledoux.com

June 15 Chris LeDoux Days Rodeo, 1:30 p.m., Kaycee. For more information, visit chrisledoux.com

June 15 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.

June 15-16 Woodchopper’s Jamboree and Rodeo, Encampment-Riverside Lions Club Arena, Encampment. For more information, visit woodchoppersjamboree.org

June 15-16 Laurie Gardner Memorial Ranch Days, Fremont County Fairgrounds, Riverton. For more information or to signup, visit csshaclub.com or call 307851-3820.

June 16 55th Annual Jordan Xtreme Bronc Match, 2 p.m., Jordan, Mont. For more information, follow @JordanXtremeBroncs on Facebook.

June 17-18 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

1460# $13700

1 Spotted Cow, 1320# $12850 Johnson, Jerry - Thermopolis

1 Red Cow, 1265# $13650 Griemsman Livestock - Worland

1 BWF Cow, 1315# $13450

1 Blk Cow, 1560# $13200

1 Blk Cow, 1590# $13050 McCarthy, Roalene - Omaha 1 Blk Cow, 1250# $13300 Lazy T Ranch LLC - Ten Sleep 2 Red Cows, avg. 1233# $13100 Redland, R. Rolly - Basin

1 Blk Cow, 1640# $13100 Kirby Creek Ranch Ltd - Thermopolis

1 Blk Cow, 1515# $13000 Redland, Adam - Burlington

1 BWF Cow, 1280# $13000 Gratman, Brian - Cody

1 XBred Cow, 1400# $12900

Jones, Randall - Otto 1 BWF Cow, 1530# $12900 River Valley Land & Livestock - Lovell

1 Blk Cow, 1490# $12700 Fiddle Back Farms - Casper 1 Blk Cow, 1150# $12350 Bain, C. Joy - Hyattville

1 Hrfd Cow, 1500# $12300 Triple C Hay Farms - Riverton

1 Blk Cow, 1585# $12100 HEIFERS

Harriet, Joseph - Buffalo

7 Blk Hfrs, avg. 641# $26500 20 Blk Hfrs, avg. 751# $25300 McCarthy, Roalene - Omaha 1 BWF Hfr, 1845# $14400 PAIRS Mastre Farm - Worland 5 Blk Pairs

$3050/Hd. Nation, John - Lovell 6 Blk Pairs $2900/Hd.

(307) 331-2222 July 25 – All Class Cattle, Sheep & Goat Aug. 8 – All Class Cattle Aug. 22 – All Class Cattle, Sheep & Goat

June 19-20

June 20

June 21

June 21-22

June 10-11

June 3

June 15

June 15

June 20-21

July 2

July 8-10

July 8-12

July 22-24

2024 National Rambouillet Show and Sale and National Junior Show, Animal and Plant Sciences Center and Arena, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas. For more information, contact Robbir Eckhoff at rambouilletassn@gmail.com or 409-256-3687 or Lee Munz at tsumunz@yahoo.com or 254-379-6857.

Idaho Wool Growers Association and Western Range Association 2024 Range Tour, Etcheverry Sheep Company, Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. For more information, visit idahowoolgrowers.org

U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Outcomes Webinar, 12 p.m., online. For more information or to register, visit nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-outcomes-webinar?utm_campaign=0514wildlifeconserv

Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Event, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Wheatland Off-Range Corral, Wheatland. For more information, visit blm.gov/whb/events, call 866-468-7826 or e-mail wildhorse@blm.gov.

Platte River Rodeo, 7 p.m., Buck Springs Arena, Saratoga. For more information, call Randy Arnold at 307-329-5769 or Cathy Cox at 307-710-7208.

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

Urlacher 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

Thus was the headline in the June 2, 1926 issue of the Branding Iron, the student newspaper at the University of Wyoming (UW). Following is the news item.

Next Tuesday morning will witness the graduation of the class of ’26, the largest graduation class in the history of UW and the first graduation class to be “fathered” by President A.G. Crane, the present senior class having entered the university at the coming of Crane to the university four years ago.

The seniors made their appearance on the campus attired in cap and gown for the first time at honor assembly yesterday morning and last night voted to wear these garments during the remainder of commencement week.

Commencement week was officially opened last Friday with the president’s reception to the class of ’26 and will be resumed next Friday evening at 8 p.m. by the giving of the pageant “The Indian Paintbrush.”

Following the pageant, the seniors will give the annual Black and White Ball.

Next Saturday evening, in the auditorium,

Miss Clara Young will appear in a piano recital.

Sunday will be marked by several events – the breakfast for senior women at 9 a.m. at Hotel Connor, the baccalaureate address in the auditorium by Bishop H. Lester Smith and the reception to visitors and friends at Hoyt Hall.

Monday afternoon will be the meeting of the university’s alumni association, and on Monday afternoon, the various sororities will be at home to students and visitors at a tea to be given on the university campus. Later in the afternoon, swimming exhibitions will be staged by men and women in the

Department of Physical Education, and Monday evening at 6:10 p.m. will be held the annual alumni banquet.

All those who are to attend this occasion are urged to make their reservations at once. “Class night” will conclude the commencement events of Monday.

On Tuesday morning, the week’s activities will be brought to an end by the commencement exercises which will be featured by an address by Dr. George Willard Frasier, president of Colorado State Teachers College. At the graduation exercises next Tuesday, the faculty will continue to observe the commencement ceremonies by appearing in cap and gown and marching with the seniors from the administration building to the new gymnasium. In the procession will also march the members of the University Board of Trustees in session at the time. The trustees will also attend the alumni banquet on Monday evening.

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 24, 2024

Compared to last week slaughter lambs steady to 15.00 Lower. Slaughter ewes mostly steady to 5.00 higher. Feeder lambs not well tested. At San Angelo, TX 9,442 head sold in a two day sale. Western Video sold 1450 feeder lambs in Idaho and 1,000 feeder lambs in California. In direct trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs not tested. 3,545 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 115-130 lbs 180.00-220.00. Ft. Collins: wooled and shorn 120-130 lbs 215.00-230.00. South Dakota: wooled and shorn 125-130 lbs 234.00-237.00. 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 235.00-260.00, few 262.00-273.00; 60-70 lbs 230.00-258.00, few 264.00; 70-80 lbs 228.00-258.00, few 266.00-267.00; 80-90 lbs 228.00-264.00; 90-100 lbs 228.00-250.00; 100-110 lbs 204.00-244.00. wooled and shorn 43 lbs 243.00; 60-70 lbs 230.00-242.00; 70-80 lbs 232.00 248.00, few 270.00; 80-90 lbs 232.00-244.50, few 290.00; 92 lbs 294.00; 111 lbs 284.00. Ft. Collins: wooled and shorn 68 lbs 235.00; 70-80 lbs 230.00240.00; 80-90 lbs 240.00-260.00; 90-100 lbs 235.00-260.00; 100-110 lbs 225.00-260.00; 110-120 lbs 215.00-230.00. hair 55 lbs 245.00; 60-70 lbs 215.00-222.50;80-90 lbs 227.50-240.00; 90-100 lbs 205.00-230.00; 100-110 lbs 205.00-215.00; 110-120 lbs 205.00-217.50. South Dakota: wooled and shorn 40-50 lbs 277.50-287.50; 50-60 lbs 260.00-285.00; 60-70 lbs 261.00-285.00, few 290.00; 70-80 lbs 242.00-259.00; 80-90 lbs 237.00-251.00, few 264.00; 90-100 lbs 236.00-243.00, few 248.00; 104 lbs 230.00; 110-120 lbs 236.00238.00. hair 50-60 lbs 220.00-240.00; 60-70 lbs 215.00-230.00; 75 lbs 190.00; 91 lbs 155.00. Billings: no test.

Slaughter Ewes

San Angelo: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) no test; Good 2-3 (fleshy)

80.00-106.00, hair 80.00-108.00; Utility and Good 1-3 (medium flesh) 110.00-122.00, hair 102.00-120.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 85.00-92.00, hair 80.00-110.00; Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) 74.00, hair 70.00; Cull 1 50.00.

Ft. Collins: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) 92.50-127.50; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 80.00-120.00; 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) 80.00-110.00, hair 85.00-110.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 70.00-85.00; Cull 1 65.00-85.00, hair 75.00.

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

Feeder Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2

San Angelo: hair 39 lbs 258.00; 45 lbs 256.00; 50-60 lbs 246.00-260.00. Ft. Collins: 40 lbs 252.50; 53 lbs 250.00. South Dakota: 30-40 lbs 320.00-345.00; 56 lbs 295.00. hair

36 lbs 220.00.

Billings: no test. Replacement Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2 San Angelo: yearling hair 100-125 lbs 180.00-201.00/cwt; young hair 100-110 lbs 125.00-132.00/cwt.

Ft. Collins: no test.

South Dakota: no test.

Billings: no test. Sheep and lambs slaughter under federal inspection for the week to date totaled 33,000 compared with 35,000 last week and 33,000 last year.

Source: USDA AMS Market News, San Angelo, Texas

National

Source: USDA- CO Dept of

Wyoming Hay Summary

As of May 30,

Compared to last week hay prices steady on thin test of the market. Demand was light. Some producers are thinking of starting next week on alfalfa production especially in fields that have a lot of weeds like mustard. Cool weather continues across the region and the eastern 1/3 of the state is abnormally dry per US drought monitoring. Per Nass: Barley planted at 92% and emerged at 87%. Corn planted at 80%, emerged at 30%. Dry bean planting is ahead of last year with 32% in the ground. Sugar beets are 52% emerged a little behind the normal average for this time of year.

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

Nebraska Hay Summary

As of May 30, 2024

Compared to last week hay sold steady on thin test of the market. Demand remains light. Quite a few producers are green chopping there first cutting alfalfa and its going to dairies

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.

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, 701-400-4812 6/1

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

Brands

WALKING M REGISTERED WYOMING

BRAND: Renewed to March 1, 2031, RRC, RSS, RTH, single iron, branding iron included. $4,000 OBO. Call 307714-2484 6/1

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

REGISTERED WYOMNG BRAND: RSC, registered until 2027. Single iron.

Dogs

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

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 719217-8054 (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 605641-8272. 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 PEM-

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

Limousin

www.gottschcattlecompany.com

Come Join the Gottsch Livestock Feeders Family! Gottsch Livestock Feeders is looking for Cowboys/Pen Riders for their feedyard in Red Cloud, NE. The main focus of the Cowboy/Pen Riders are spotting, pulling, diagnosing and taking cattle to the hospital and shipping fat cattle. This person will need to be a team player who is seeking a long-term position. You will have the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the best in the industry. We offer a benefits package that includes health insurance, dental, vision, 401(k), health savings, life insurance and paid vacation. Retention bonus offered to full-time employees. Incentives paid out at 6 months and 1 year of employment. If you are interested stop by and fill out an application or visit our website at Call Brandon Furr at 402-257-7769 or 402-746-2222 for more information.

HELP WANTED, VALLEY FOODS, SARATOGA, WY:

Experienced meat cutter needed, will train the right person. Please contact us via e-mail with your qualifications at valleyfoods9024@hotmail. com 7/20

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 6/8

FARM/RANCH HAND WANTED: Looking to hire general labor to help in maintaining irrigation and haying equipment. Will also help with small cow/calf operation. Full-time and seasonal positions available. Call 307-351-4175 for more information 6/22

SIGN-ON BONUS!! Full- or part-time 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, 801641-4109 6/1

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% employerpaid 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

WANTED RECIP COWS: Must be open!! Two to 6 years old, Red Angus or Angusbased cows. For more information, call Corie Mydland, 406-855-5598 (cell), Trans Ova Genetics 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

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 6/22

REGISTERED BLACK YEARLING LIMOUSIN BULLS FOR SALE: Performance tested. Contact Nolz Limousin, Mitchell, S.D. Call 605-999-7035, visit www.nolzlimousin.com 6/8

FOR SALE PRIVATE TREATY:

REGISTERED YEARLING ANGUS BULLS. Sired by some of the best genetics in the breed as well as our top-end herd bulls. NEVER BEFORE offered. Deep set of CALVING EASE heifer bulls and POWERFUL cow bulls available. Semen tested and up-todate 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 6/22

SPENCER & SONS ANGUS: Offering yearling Black Angus bulls. Sons of Sterling Pacific, Schiefelbein Showman 338, Powerball and Crawford Guarantee, plus grandsons of Bomber. Thirty-one years AI breeding. Reasonably priced. Fromberg, MT. Call 406-425-3814 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 406-6873315, 406-989-3315 or 907232-6093 6/29 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, 435-8281320, barlazytlranch@gmail. com 6/30

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

Hay & Feed

VALLEY VIDEO HAY MARKETS, LLC: Hay available. Go to www.valleyvideohay. com or call Barry McRea, 308-235-5386 6/22

HAY FOR SALE: 3x3 and round bales. Call 605-8400015 6/1

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

PASTURE WANTED for 2,000 yearlings and 500 pairs. Can split into smaller bunches. Call 701-523-1235 7/6

Ranch Lease Wanted

LARGE RANCH NEEDED:

Generational family ranching business seeking large ranch for lease. Turnkey management services available: Robust ecological stewardship, ranch owner personal needs, upgrading ranch infrastructure to support intensive grazing programs. For contact information visit www.ranchlands.com 6/22

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 307-8994714, 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

Park County Fair Grounds | Powell, Wyoming 50 High Quality Hand Selected horses will be sold.

TACK AUCTION

Preceding Sale Promptly at 12 p.m.

Saddles & Tack

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Scott Heny (307) 272-3743 Nancy Knight (307) 431-2109 WWW.HENYAUCTIONWY.COM Email: henyauctioneering@gmail.com

BOOT UP for the COLLEGE NATIONAL FINALS RODEO with 20% $AVINGS ON BOOTS!! HONDO, BOULET, JUSTIN WORK BOOTS, TWISTED X (boots and shoes) and more!! WE CAN ship!! Shop Moss Saddles, Boots and Tack, 4648 West Yellowstone Highway, Casper, WY; 307-472-1872. Our family serving yours for 50 years!! Check us out on Facebook or our website 6/1

LS CUSTOM LEATHER: Belts, tack, cell phone cases and much more!! Contact Lester, 307-631-1053, leave a message. Located in Riverton, WY 6/1

ARE YOU IN NEED OF A NEW HERDER CAMP OR A PERSONAL RANGE CAMP FOR YOUR FAMILY? Contact us at Western Range Camps and see what we can build for you. We specialize in quality, handcrafted camps built to your specifications. Contact us today to design the camp just right for you. Western Range Camps, 435-4625300, heidi@wrcamps.com, 1145 S. Blackhawk Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, UT 84647 6/1

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

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

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

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 307-6749092 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: New Holland 7’ sickle mower. Rowse 16’ vrake. IHC 656 tractor, gas, wide front. John Deere 7000 6 row narrow, 3 pt. mounted 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. John Deere 2155 diesel tractor, wide front, fenders, 3 pt., nice acreage tractor. Lorenz 16’x29’ stack mover. 12’ box scraper. All in very nice condition!! Call 605-999-5482 6/1

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 307-6749092 6/15

MONTANA RAILROAD SERVICES: Railroad ties, switch ties and other railroad materials for fencing and landscaping. Best pricing and quality in the region. Call 406-962-3514, Silesia, MT. Located 10 miles south of Laurel, MT (off of Clarks River Rd., the old highway). Visit our website www.mtrrservices.com 6/1 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

Hay Equipment

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

LEGEND FENCING: Specializing in livestock fences. Call 307-887-2855 for a free estimate. Serving Southeast Idaho and Western Wyoming 6/1

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

Reinke center pivot sales

wire is being stolen from electrically powered pivot systems world-wide. Many growers

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

OREGON RANCH, Baker City, Baker County, OR. The Alder Creek pasture contains over 2,000 acres of native spring, summer and fall pasture. The rangeland is situated just east of Baker City, OR. The property is in good condition and has good perimeter fencing. The range is gently south facing slope with a variety of native grass. FIRST-TIME OFFERING at just over $500 per acre for deeded and contiguous ownership, $1,095,000. Please give us a call for further information, Greg Sackos, 541-5234434 (office) or 208-598-0267 (cell), Intermountain Realty, www.intermountainland.com 6/15

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 Property for Sale

SPAETH RANCH | GILLETTE, WY

Located adjac ent to Gillette, 6,472± mostly deeded acre ranch offers a unique opportunity for future city growth and current ability to operate a livestock operation with good fresh water sources and modest improvements.

OFFERE D AT $8,268,000

Contact: Peter Widener | pwidener@hallandhall.com

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. 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, 307-532-1750 6/22

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, 307-5786345. 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, 541-5234434 (office) or 208-598-0267 (cell), Intermountain Realty, www.intermountainland.com

6/15

AMISH BUILT CABIN WITH SEPARATE SHOP/HOME ON 141 ACRES: Adorable 679 sq. ft. cabin, with one bedroom and a full bath, island with electric cooktop, woodstove and gas backup heat, electric HW and fully wired. The shop/ home is 1,500 sq. ft. on the main, with additional 480 sq. ft. of loft. Four bedrooms, full bath, smooth concrete floor, well insulated and heated with propane. Wiring installed in the shop/home. Borders 1,000’s of acres BLM land. Located in Roundup, MT. $795,000. Call 541-480-9567, Sonya Gangstead, Broker, Realty Pros Inc., e-mail brokersonya@ gmail.com 6/1

Miscellaneous

48V SOLAR HOUSE POWER 5KW, EXPANDABLE TO 12 KW: Panels, battery, controller and accessories included. BMI STEEL GUITAR (early 1980s) and FENDER Twin Reverb (late 1970s, black with silver screen) Amp. $2,300. 50 GALLON HEATING STOVE, 6” stack, $250, with leveling cooking top, $400. Lovell, WY. Calls only, no texts, 307-2509663. To view photos, go to www. wylr.net in the classifieds 6/1

WE WILL PICK UP SCRAP

IRON: On-site processing and removal. Receive $$$ top dollar $$$ for your junk!! Call for details: Pacific Steel and Recycling, 307-234-6006. Casper/ Central Wyoming 6/1

Farms, a 100 percent employee-owned facility with a workforce of more than 170 people, harvesting approximately 300,000 lambs in 2022 as one of only five lamb harvest facilities in the nation with an annual harvest capacity greater than 100,000 and accounting for 15 to 20 percent of total lamb harvest capacity in the U.S.

“Shutting down this facility is likely to substantially impact the U.S.-based lamb supply chain and would severely strain existing facilities, thus reducing the volume of Colorado lamb available for purchase in Colorado and the rest of the U.S.,” reads the CSU report. “Additionally, lamb producers in the Mountain West Region would have limited options for marketing harvest-ready lambs in an already over-burdened meat processing sector.”

Further, CSU notes the total annual output of the animal processing sector in Denver exceeds $382 million, provides nearly 600 jobs and creates over $45 million in employee compensation.

“The most pessimistic potential economic impact to the Colorado economy is a reduction of $861 million in current economic activity and 2,787 jobs after accounting for multiplier effects,” says the report.

Other implications

While the slaughter and processing sector will feel the sharpest sting of the proposed ban, other sectors

such as animal production, animal food manufacturing, forestry, grain farming, truck transportation and the wholesale sector, would see losses caused by a ripple effect as well.

“The meat and slaughter processing sector in Denver County, Colorado is intertwined with other value-added food businesses who rely on the meat slaughter and processing sector of inputs,” CSU notes. “Thus, adapting the local economy to the ban will be long lasting and costly. In short, this impact is felt across all livestock species, not just lamb.”

Additionally, despite proponents claiming the slaughter ban aligns with voter values, CSU has found evidence suggesting consumers have an increasing preference for locallysourced food products.

However, the proposed ban would eliminate the “only substantial local source of meat slaughter and processing for producers engaged in direct marketing sales,” which would likely be replaced by imported product.

“The ban has a disproportionate impact on lamb, which has a steady and growing demand among consumers, particularly

among some ethnic markets,” notes CSU. “Moreover, the ban will likely increase the price and reduce the availability of lamb in a time where many households already have concerns about rising food prices.”

The third argument made in CSU’s report is the ban counters recent federal initiatives to enhance the resilience of the food system.

Most recently on April 19, USDA announced the availability of $125 million in two grant programs – the Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program and the Local Meat Capacity Grant Program – through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, designed to create more options for producers, increase competition and enhance the resiliency of the food supply chain.

According to the April 19 USDA press release, “These programs are part of the broader $1 billion American Rescue Plan investment by the BidenHarris administration to expand processing capacity for small and midsized meat and poultry processors.”

However, the proposed Denver slaughter ban does the very opposite – reducing the resilience of the meat supply chain and

increasing costs for smalland medium-sized producers who will likely have an even harder time finding available alternatives.

“The CSU study underscores how the Denver ballot measure ban is unfair, ineffective and simply the wrong approach,” states Colorado Wool Growers Association Executive Director Bonnie Brown in a May 29 press release published by CSU.

“Eliminating a local food source not only eliminates over $800 million in economic activity, it also hurts the environment by forcing restaurants and grocery stores to import lamb products from overseas while unnecessarily driving up food costs for consumers,” she adds

“Banning a single Denver business won’t improve animal welfare in Colorado, but it will eliminate hundreds of jobs,” adds Zach Riley of the Colorado Livestock Association. “This study shows the ban not only eliminates 170 jobs at the employeeowned plant in Denver, but it also threatens thousands of other related jobs across the state.”

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

To read the Colorado State University Regional Economic Development Institute’s report in its entirety, visit csuredi. org/redi_reports/the-proposed-denver-ordinancebanning-animal-slaughter-implications-for-theanimal-sector-and-economy/.

UW Extension publishes guide

University of Wyoming (UW) Extension recently released a free digital publication designed to help smallacreage landowners and others make decisions about land management.

The publication, titled “Photo Monitoring Vegetation for Small Acreages,” provides easy-to-follow instructions to gather, analyze and store data about which plant species are present in an area.

Traditional point sampling methods are precise but time consuming and difficult to utilize. In contrast, this publication explains how to use a cell phone to take photos and analyze photos with free online software called SamplePoint. Users can refer to data collected in previous years and easily customize what data is recorded.

Photo vegetation monitoring helps users more effectively meet aesthetic, recreational or practical goals for their land. Instead of using herbicides every year, for example, a landowner could wait until the number of weed species is above a certain threshold. This makes management more consistent over time and limits herbicide use and expense.

Gathering data removes the guesswork from many management decisions. It can help control weeds, mitigate erosion and promote species diversity. The publication provides several other examples, including using this guide to understand why certain plant species are disappearing or assess when to stop grazing a pasture.

To view the new publication, visit bit.ly/monitor-vegetation. Contact Derek Scasta at jscasta@uwyo.edu or 307766-2337 with questions.

Lummis secures extension

U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) secured language in the Water Resources and Development Act of 2024 to extend authorization for a University of Wyoming (UW) project to expand the network of stations to monitor snowpack and soil moisture throughout the plains areas of the Upper Missouri River Basin.

The project will produce critical data to help Wyoming and surrounding states mitigate flooding and better understand how they can manage valuable resources and maximize access to water ranchers and landowners rely on.

“Access to water is life in Wyoming, and as a rancher I know firsthand how important it is to always be improving our understanding of how we can be good stewards of our natural resources,” said Lummis.

“I am proud UW is spearheading the effort to expand upon our base of knowledge and lead us into the future. Seeing Wyoming tax dollars sent to Washington, D.C., come back and be spent to better our state is truly the best use and a rare departure from the usual wasteful spending in Washington, D.C.,” she added.

1 Cow, 1205#

2 Cow, 1465# $150.00

SHOSHONI

5 Cow, 1241# $146.00

KINNEAR

1 Cow, 1175# $145.50

SHOSHONI

1 Cow, 1175# $143.00

1 Cow, 1545# $141.00 PAVILLION 1 Cow, 1735# $140.00 CASPER 2 Cow, 1455# $139.50 RIVERTON 2 Cow, 1572# $139.00 SHOSHONI 6 Cow, 1353# $138.50 HEIFERETTES

POWDER RIVER

Heiferette, 965# $230.00

Heiferette, 967# $222.00

Heiferette, 963# $217.50

4 Heiferette, 971# $212.00

2 Heiferette, 1010# $205.00

JEFFREY CITY 1 Heiferette, 1060# $192.00 BULLS

1 Bull, 1700# $165.50 CASPER 2 Bull, 1867# $161.50 PAVILLION

TUESDAY, JUNE 11