Volume 30 Number 30 • November 24, 2018
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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside 2018 was record-breaking for the wool market, says Larry Page....... ..............................................Page 7 Wyoming Farm Bureau members were recognized for their achievements throughout the last year. ..... .........................................Pages 8-9 The Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts recognized the contributions of its members and partners........Pages 12-13 Lee Pitts tackles tough vocabulary, including paradigm and sustainability, in his latest column........Page 20
Quick Bits Farm Labor
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $14.47 per hour during the October reference week based on USDA’s Farm Labor report. This was up 8% from the previous year. Wage rates differed depending on the U.S. region. Field workers received an average of $13.74 per hour, up 7% from the 2017 October reference week. Livestock workers earned $13.38, up 9% from the previous year.
Investing in technology requires deliberate steps Cheyenne – “Wyoming is really trying hard to position itself as a leader in technology in all different areas,” said Sen. Ogden Driskill of Devils Tower. “I have been gifted to be a part of blockchain and BeefChain in Wyoming.”
Following a look at the future by renowned Futurist Michael Rogers, a panel at the Governor’s Business Forum looked at the future of technology in the state of Wyoming in a discussion titled, “Cryptocurrency and Computer Science: in the Cowboy
New Business The Wyoming Business Council has hired Wendy Lopez as its new business recruitment manager. Lopez is a fifth-generation Wyomingite originally from Cody, where her family has lived since 1885. She hopes to use her sales background to find new ways to recruit businesses to the state. She is already working to start a Business Ambassador partnership with the University of Wyoming (UW) Alumni Association and Foundation to tap into the vast network of UW alumni.
ESA Bills
Most of the issues the Public Lands Council (PLC) and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association are dealing with during the lame-duck session of Congress involve the Endangered Species Act (ESA), says PLC’s Ethan Lane. The groups have worked with a bipartisan initiative by the Western Governors’ Association for three years to develop recommendations, and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) turned those recommendations into bipartisan legislation the groups hope to see passed in 2018.
sor of IT Carla Hester-Croff and Rogers, looked at the future of continued technology investment in the state. Driskill continued, “We’re working really hard for Wyoming to be a fertile environment for technolPlease see TECH on page 5
HONORING LEADERS Wyoming Farm Bureau recognizes organization leaders in awards ceremony
Sheridan – The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) 99th annual meeting was capped by recognition of a set of outstanding members and leaders who were recognized for their service and dedication to the organization. The annual meeting, held Nov. 7-9 in Sheridan, brought together WyFB members from across the state to learn about the latest issues facing the agriculture industry and allowed members to revisit their policy book, renew expiring policies and pass new policies.
In recognizing their membership, WyFB first recognized Executive Vice President Ken Hamilton with the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Distinguished Service Award during the awards ceremony, which was held Nov. 8. The award is given to those who have gone above and beyond in their service to agriculture. “We are proud to recognize Ken for his dedication to agriculture and Farm Bureau in Wyoming,” said Todd Fornstrom, WyFB president. “Ken is a dedicated leader
Please see WYFB on page 8
Please see MEAD on page 7
2018 Water In the Nov. 16 Wyoming Hydrology Update, highlights from water year 2018 were provided. Top statistics showed above to well-above average peak runoff flows along central to northern Wyoming rivers and above to well-above average snowmelt streamflow volumes across central and northern Wyoming drainages. It also showed much-below average snowmelt streamflow volumes across southern Wyoming basins.
States; How Wyoming is Pioneering Digital Frontiers.” A panel of technology experts, including Gannet Peak Technical Services CEO Erin Moore, Green House Data CEO Shawn Mills, Western Wyoming Community College Associate Profes-
Distinguished Service Award – Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President Ken Hamilton (right) received the WyFB Distinguished Service Award from WyFB President Todd Fornstrom (left) at the organization’s 99th annual meeting. Hamilton was joined by his son Ian Hamilton and wife Kathy Hamilton. Courtesy photo
Wyo. Legislature selects leaders Cheyenne – Party caucuses on Nov. 16-17 resulted in the election of leadership and committee assignments in the Wyoming House of Representatives and Wyoming Senate. Members of leadership and newly elected legislators will be sworn in during opening ceremonies on the first day of the legislative session, which is slated to begin at 12 noon on Jan. 8. In the House of Representatives, Rep. Steve Harshman of Casper was elected Speaker of the House; Rep. Eric Barlow of Gillette was elected Majority Floor Leader; Rep. Albert Sommers of Pinedale was elected Speaker Pro Tempore; and Rep. Tyler Lindholm of Sundance was elected Majority Whip. Rep. Cathy Connolly of Laramie was elected Minority Floor Leader; Rep. Charles Pelkey of Laramie was elected Minority Whip; and Rep. John Freeman of Green River was elected Minority Caucus Chairman. On the Senate side, Sen. Drew Perkins of Casper was elected President of the Senate; Sen. Dan Dockstader of Afton was elected Majority Floor Leader; and Sen. Ogden Driskill of Devils Tower was elected Vice President. Sen. Chris Rothfuss of Laramie was elected Minority Floor Leader; Sen. Liisa Anselmi-Dalton of Rock Springs was elected Minority Whip; and Sen. Mike Gierau of Jackson was elected Minority Caucus Chairman. The following Senate committee assignments have been made for the 65th Wyoming Legislature. • Judiciary – Chairman Tara Nethercott, Liisa AnselmiDalton, Brian Boner, R.J. Kost and Michael Von Flat-
Please see WYO on page 6
High altitudes Holt informs ranchers about PAP EPDs Boulder – As ranchers start looking for young, fertile bulls to turn in with their cows and heifers next spring, many in Wyoming – and particularly in western Wyoming – have a specific focus on bulls that can perform about 5,000 feet in elevation. A large part of bulls’ success for their operations depends on their heart health at high altitudes, where high mountain disease or brisket disease can quickly kill bulls, cows and calves. Brisket disease is congestive heart failure that brings fluids into the chest to swell and suffocate stricken animals’ lungs. It is generally considered to be inheritable, according to Timothy Holt, a veterinarian who pioneered the science of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) testing at Colorado State University (CSU). Holt is the reason many Wyoming beef producers know how important a sire bull’s PAP scores are to a herd’s future if his weaknesses are passed down. By compiling thousands of bits of data, Holt and others studying pulmonary diseases are testing cows of calving age, as Please see PAP on page 10
Eirich: Proper storage of medication critical Properly storing vaccinations and medications can be key to ensuring animal health, according to Nebraska’s Beef Quality Assurance director. Rob Eirich told producers during a recent Animal Health Stewardship and Product Care webinar that antimicrobial resistance is real, and producers need to use good antimicrobial stewardship to properly diagnose, treat and dose animals. Using the proper method of therapy and the right route of administration is also important, he noted. “The key is realizing that antimicrobial stewards seek to achieve optimal clinical outcomes related to antimicrobial use,” he explained. “Minimize toxicity and other adverse events
reduce costs of healthcare for infections and limit the selection for antimicrobial resistant strains.” Vaccine storage “Handling and storage of vaccines and antibiotics is important. Don’t leave it on the floorboard of the pickup or in the dash,” Eirich explained to producers. Performing a test of his own, Eirich used a thermometer to determine the temperature in his pickup in December. “It was 24-degrees Fahrenheit in the cab, and an hour later, it was 84 degrees on the dash, with the heater running. The temperature outside was 22 degrees,” he said. Eirich notes that from studying the
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Please see EIRICH on page 11