December 26, 2020

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Volume 32 Number 35 • December 26, 2020

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

A Look Inside Chance Marshall explains how to best utilize hay resources this winter..................................pg 4 USDA researchers find new treatment for sheep parasite..... ...........................................pg 7 Prepare for risk of winter wildfires in dry conditions.........pg 8 Invasive grass is targeted through collaborative efforts in Wyoming..........................pg 11

Quick Bits Small Grains

County-level estimates for 2020 small grains are now available, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service. The estimates, based primarily on surveys conducted with farmers and ranchers this fall, can be accessed at quickstats. nass.usda.gov. The commodity estimates include barley for Arizona, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming, oats for Montana, Durum wheat for Arizona and Montana, spring wheat for Montana and winter wheat for Colorado and Montana. County-level estimates for late-season crops and hay will be published in February and April 2021, respectively.

Coronavirus aid package includes $13 billion in ag relief Agreement was reached for a new round of coronavirus aid with a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, including $26 billion in relief for nutrition assistance, agriculture and rural programs. Half of the fund-

ing was provided to the House Agriculture and the House Education and Labor Committees for nutritional assistance, while the other $13 billion goes directly to agricultural assistance and programs.

While the bill was not expected to clear Congress until Dec. 21, Congress and the White House reached agreement on Dec. 20. The relief deal was combined with a $1.4 trillion funding bill for Fiscal Year 2021.

“As our citizens continue battling this coronavirus this holiday season, they will not be fighting alone,” says Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) while Please see AID on page 6

WINTER HERD MANAGEMENT Producers need to keep several things in mind when managing the herd during winter Those with spring-calving cows spend the winter months preparing their herds for calving, early milk production and the upcoming breeding season, while producers who calve in the fall are focused on maintaining their cows’ body condition so they can meet full lactation and breeding requirements.

While every cattle operation has their own unique needs, there are a few common management decisions can increase profits during the winter months. Monitoring body condition Experts in the beef industry agree monitoring body Please see WINTER on page 15

NIPF Input The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking public input on Nonindustrial Private Forest Land (NIPF) related to technical and financial assistance available through conservation programs of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to assist with the development of guidance about how to identify NIPF for program enrollment purposes. For more information or to submit a comment, visit regulations.gov.

Farm Loans Farm loans outstanding at commercial banks declined in the third quarter and non-performing loans edged slightly higher. Reduced lending at agricultural banks contributed most significantly to the further decline in outstanding loan balances. Alongside lower levels of farm debt, delinquency rates on agricultural loans continued to trend higher at a gradual pace.

Cody Office The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission met on Dec. 16 through teleconference for a brief December meeting. During the meeting, the commission approved payment of $209,755 to Plan One Architects for completed architectural work on the new Cody Regional Office. This expenditure was previously budgeted for by the commission.

Hannah Bugas photo

WySRM awards Range managers and students awarded for work during WySRM meeting During the Wyoming Section of the Society for Range Management (WySRM) annual meeting, held virtually Dec. 3-4, members were recognized for their contributions to the organizations and students competing in applied rangeland management contests were awarded for their efforts. Society awards The WySRM Award of Merit, given to those who have made noteworthy contributions to the section, was awarded to Julie Elliott from the Colorado Section of the Society for Range Management (SRM) and Chuck Butterfield from WySRM. Elliott and Butterfield served as co-chairs of the planning committee for the 2020 International SRM meeting held in Denver, Colo. Feb. 16-20. The Outstanding Man of Range Award was presented to University of Wyoming (UW) Northwest Area Range Extension Educator Barton Stam for his work as an educator and his leadership for the UW Extension Range Initiative Team. “Over the course of his career, Barton has emerged as the leader of public lands grazing issues,” said UW Rangeland Extension Please see WySRM on page 9

RHDV2 confirmed in Wyoming

Program helps landowners improve soil health

An infectious viral disease of rabbits, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2), has recently been confirmed in a wild eastern cottontail rabbit in Albany County. This disease has also been reported in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah, in both domestic and wild rabbits. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have been conducting RHDV2 enhanced passive surveillance in wild and feral rabbits across the state since RHDV2 is highly contagious, fatal and affects domestic, feral and wild rabbits, including hares, jackrabbits and cottontails. RHDV2 is caused by a calicivirus, a viral pathogen which has been shown to affect rabbits in North America and in other parts of the world. Humans, non-rabbit domestic pets and livestock have not been shown to become infected with RHDV2. This viral pathogen can cause sudden death in rabbits and can be spread through direct contact with other infected rabbits, their meat or fur or materials coming in contact with them. The virus can survive in the environment for an extended period of time. This virus is not related to coronavirus. Currently, there are no licensed RHDV2 vaccines produced in the United States. The Center for Veterinary Biologics is approving importation of two RHDV2 vaccines. Accredited veterinarians may import vaccine at the discretion of the state veterinarian and USDA

“There are towns in Wyoming, such as Jackson and Laramie, looking to be carbon neutral by 2030 or 2040,” says Encore Green Environmental President John Robitaille during the 2020 Wyoming Stock Growers Association Winter Roundup and Convention General Session Dec. 9. “Rangeland is one of the largest carbon sinks in the world and provides a perfect opportunity to combine grass and grazing with soil health.” In cooperation with partners Encore Green Environmental and Synergy for Ecological Solutions, the Carbon Asset Network (CAN) is a new program

Please see RHDV2 on page 7

available for landowners to improve soil health, and in turn, decrease the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Meeting in the middle CAN works by bringing together different groups of people to satisfy very different, but related needs, according to Encore Green Environmental General Manager Jeff Holder. “On one hand, we have change agents, or those who want to make a difference by putting money towards soil health and atmospheric carbon reduction,” Holder explains. “On the other hand, we have landowners dedicating acres toward soil

periodical

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Please see SOIL on page 5


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