October 16, 2021

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Volume 33 Number 25 • October 16, 2021

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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net

A Look Inside Colin Woodall of NCBA discusses the world food system... ...................................... Page 2 Beef cattle market update is provided by Paul Dykstra of CAB............................. Page 12 Dick Perue recounts the market price for cattle in the Saratoga area in 1894................ Page 14 Lee Pitts discusses the local auction market closing.. Page 20

Quick Bits GMO Ban The Mexican Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks declined to authorize the import of transgenic corn, incorporating genetic technology that global ag and chemical giant Bayer calls HT3 and SmartStax, which allows corn to resist glyphosate. This decision is a sensitive issue in regards to the trade relationship between U.S. and Mexico, which is a major importer of U.S. agricultural products.

Drought Tool The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin taking applications for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farmraised Fish Program (ELAP), which was updated this year to include feed transportation costs, as well as a lowered threshold for when assistance for water hauling expenses is available. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.

USTR reviews China trade agreements, market purchases Completed in 2020, the U.S.-China Phase One Agreement was a historic and enforceable trade deal in which China committed to a substantial amount of purchases of U.S. goods and services throughout

2020 and 2021. U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Katherine Tai shared, the U.S. agricultural markets stabilized under the Phase One trade deal with focused market purchases, though a

2021

WGFD

new strategy may be needed to address the continuation of the trade relationship and hold China accountable to finishing the agreement. According to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the Phase One trade

deal included $80 billion in combined ag purchases for the 2020 and 2021 calendar years, which expire at the end of 2021. Currently, ag purchases are roughly $5 billion short of the agreed Please see TRADE on page 12

Landowner of the

Year Awards

LANDOWNERS RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION On Oct. 11, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) recognized seven landowners from across the state with the 2021 Landowner of the Year Award. According to WGFD, this is the 26th year these awards have been given to honor outstanding work and practices in wildlife management, habitat improvement, access for hunters and anglers and conservation techniques. “Today’s landowners are more than ranchers or farmers, they are key partners,” said WGFD Director Brian

Nesvik. “Landowners preserve critical migration corridors, they improve habitat through costly enhancement projects and they provide importance access, which allows for our hunting and angling heritage to continue into the future. Thank you.” The award recipients are nominated by WGFD employees and selected by regional leadership teams. Sponsored by the WYldlife Fund, the landowners who Please see WGFD on page 13

Animal Ag The Animal Agriculture’s Alliance 2022 Stakeholders Summit is set for May 11-12 in Kansas City, Mo., and is themed “Come Together for Animal Ag: Be Informed, Be Ready, Be Here.” The summit includes a diverse group of representatives from farms, ranches, allied industries, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, legislatures, universities, government agencies and media. Registration will open in early 2022 and a tentative schedule will be shared.

Ag Funds The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of $4.7 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to historically underserved farmers and ranchers. The partnerships will support participation in the Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs, including those that are a part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.

Averi Hales photo

Nutrition and reproduction Veterinarians discuss growth production and breeding soundness exam for young bulls In a recent Kansas State University (KSU) Beef Cattle Institute (BCI) podcast, dated Oct. 1, veterinarians from BCI highlight several options producers should consider as they focus on breeding soundness exams (BSE) in young bulls. Phillip Lancaster, Bob Larson, Brian Lubbers and Brad White, all professors within BCI, discuss the importance of exams, growth perspective and changing diets, as well as forage quality, in addition to several other management tips for growing young bulls. Issues in growing bulls Larson discusses some of the issues with growing bulls and how these factors can affect the outcome of BSEs. “The challenge with young growing bulls is they need to grow fast,” he explains. “They are big animals and they change a lot in weight between weaning and yearling age when we’re going to do their first BSE and get ready for their first breeding season.” Please see BCI on page 5

Cotton set to retire Casper – For over 28 years, Scott Cotton has been involved in agriculture Extension, working as the area Senior Extension Educator for three central counties – Natrona, Niobrara and Converse for eight years. Scott’s family has been in northern Wyoming since 1868. Growing up between Sheridan and Gillette on a legacy ag-production farm, Scott has always known he wanted to be involved in agriculture. “I wanted to find something that helped producers with their needs and this is what lead me to the Extension position: Trying to help producers deal with issues by providing solutions with research-based information.” Scott holds degrees in range, animal science, ag communications and range and watershed ecology, he shares. He studied a majority of his studies at the University of Wyoming, in addition to earning one degree at Sheridan College. Oct. 16 will be his last official day at the University of Wyoming Extension office, though he shares he still plans to be involved post-retirement. Active involvement “I’d like to continue working with the livestock and producer organizations I am a member of and see if there is something I can help them with from a personal aspect,” says Scott. He continues, it’s important to stay involved. Scott is currently involved with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, Wyoming Wool Growers Association and the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation. In addition, Scott Please see COTTON on page 19

WOMEN in Ag

UW professor utilizes platform Laramie – Hannah Cunningham-Hollinger grew up in Kaycee on her family’s ranch, raising Hereford and Angus cattle and Suffolk sheep. Growing up, she was very active in 4-H and FFA. Upon graduating high school, Hannah pursued her post-secondary education at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., where she received a Bachelor’s of Art in Biology. Hannah shares, “St. Olaf did not have an ag program, and while I valued my education greatly, I knew I needed to

return to my ag roots.” This led Hannah the University of Wyoming (UW) where she received her Master of Science in Animal and Veterinary Science with a focus on ruminant nutrition, where she shares she developed a passion for teaching and research. Upon receiving her master’s degree, Hannah went on to obtain her PhD in Animal and Veterinary Science with a focus in animal genetics. Today, she teaches as a profes-

periodical

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Please see AG on page 7


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