Roundup for 3.27.2021

Page 1

Volume 32 Number 48 • March 27, 2021

®

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

A Look Inside

Legislature begins final sprint to finalize 2021 General Session

UW Extension provides educational course on meat processing ......................... Page 7

Cheyenne – The end of the 2021 General Session of the Wyoming Legislature is quickly approaching, with less than two weeks until April 7, when all Joint Conference Committee reports are due, and

Improve confidence in genetic improvement with genetic merit scorecards.................. Page 11 Wyoming FFA sees membership growth and success.......... .................................... Page 13 Check out photos from Roundup readers impacted by Winter Storm Xylia ..... Page 14

Quick Bits Water Level The Bureau of Reclamation will begin the annual filling of Alcova Reservoir on April 1. Recreationists and reservoir users are advised to take proper precautions with rising water levels. During April, the reservoir will rise approximately 10 feet to the summer irrigation operating level. The rate of rise will average five inches per day until the fill is completed by May 1 to allow water delivery to the Casper-Alcova Irrigation District Canal.

adjournment of the body is scheduled by midnight. “We’re on the downhill slide from here. Now that crossover has happened, we’re taking up Senate files in the House and vice versa,” Rep.

Hans Hunt (R-Newcastle) said. “The major bills concerning the budget and education funding are still alive.” “Because the major bills are still alive and well, the rest of the pro-

cess is still alive and well. This has been an amicable session between the parties in our state, and things are going well. We hope it continues this way,” he added. Please see SESSION on page 13

AGRICULTURAL TRANSPORTATION HAULS Act provides much needed flexibility The Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety (HAULS) Act was reintroduced to the Senate on March 17 by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN). This legislation would extend hours-of-service (HOS) exemptions for agricultural and livestock haulers past designated planting and harvesting seasons, as well as clarify the definition of agricultural com-

modities, and most importantly, authorize a 150-airmile exemption from HOS requirements to the final destination for commodity and livestock transportation. “Nebraska’s ag and livestock haulers provide a critical service transporting food and fuel across the nation,” Fischer shares. “However, certain federal regulations fail to account for the unique Please see HAULS on page 23

Breed Bash Several state cattle associations, breeders and volunteers have joined forces to plan the Breed Bash multibreed youth cattle event at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Brush, Colo. on June 5-6. This event will allow juniors a place to practice contests and exhibit cattle prior to their respective Junior National events. The collaborative field day will include educational contests, showmanship and breed shows.

Leslie Mortimer photo

Hog Numbers The quarterly U.S. Department of Agriculture Hog and Pig Report shared the U.S. hog and pig inventory on March 1 was 74.8 million, down 2% from March 1, 2020 and down 3% from Dec. 1, 2020. Colorado hog inventory was 660,000 head, up 5% from Dec. 1, 2020. Utah hog inventory was down 3% to 970,000 head.

U.S. Drought For the contiguous 48 states, the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) showed 43.55% of the area in moderate drought or worse, compared with 44.14% a week earlier. Drought now affects 81,036,896 people, compared with 77,188,536 a week earlier. For all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, the USDM showed 36.40% of the area in moderate drought or worse, compared with 36.90% a week earlier. Drought now affects 81,370,049 people, compared with 77,582,586 a week earlier.

Legislative conference PLC executive director shares direction of administration pertaining to land management During the Public Lands Council (PLC) Legislative Conference 2021 opening session March 23, PLC Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover shares a review of the executive orders issued by the Biden administration, certain agenda setting items for the administration, promises of the campaign and how the agenda might be carried out through the first year. “We are paying close attention to legislation and those initiatives that have been a little different from Congresses in the past,” she notes. “We are, of course, also looking at legislative and executive branch overlap, where the Senate provides advice and consent for the president’s nominees for a variety of areas.” Executive orders “There has been no shortage of executive orders in this administration, as well as administrations in the past,” Glover explains. “Executive orders on day one are the most expedient way for any new president to start moving in a certain direction while still working on getting staff in place.” While many note President Biden certainly took advantage of this executive Please see PLC on page 12

Williams joins WYLR team Calli (Pritchard) Williams joins the Wyoming Livestock Roundup this week as livestock field services representative. Originally from Aurora, S.D., Calli and her husband Tate own and operate their purebred Angus seedstock operation, TW Angus, near Mitchell, S.D. Considered millenCalli Williams nial ranchers, Calli and Tate built their operation from the ground up and offer bulls for sale each spring via private treaty and market beef direct to consumers. Together, they have a two-and-a-half-year-old son, Jack, and are expecting their second child in August. Calli’s passion for agriculture started at a young age as she was active in both 4-H and FFA. She showed beef cattle, pigs and sheep during her 4-H career and served as the first female president of her FFA chapter. Calli continued her involvement and leadership in the beef industry through serving as the South Dakota Beef Ambassador in 2009 as well as internships with both Zoetis and Certified Angus Beef. Currently, Calli holds leadership roles for the Davison-Hanson Please see TEAM on page 11

Gordon supports SCALE Act Gov. Mark Gordon has joined a bipartisan group of governors in writing a letter of support to Congress on the Storing CO 2 and Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Act. This piece of legislation is co-sponsored by Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY). The SCALE act The bill will support the building of infrastructure necessary to transport CO 2 from places it is captured to places it can be utilized, specifically manufacturing or safely and securely sequestered underground. The letter is co-signed by Gov.

Kevin Stitt (R-OK), Gov. John Bel Edwards (D-LA) and Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA). The governors urge strong support for the legislation, which according to their letter “aims to develop an interconnected CO2 transportation and storage infrastructure to help the U.S. reach net-zero carbon emissions and meet mid-century climate goals.” “We urge Congress to prioritize the inclusion of this critical legislation in a broader infrastructure package, given its essential role in helping to achieve net-zero emissions economy-wide,”

periodical

periodical

Please see SCALE on page 6


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.