Volume 33 Number 2 • May 8, 2021
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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside Range monitoring goals and methods shared............ Page 4 Sexed semen provides opportunity for genetic improvement.. ...................................... Page 6 God’s plan for making mothers explained..................... Page 10
Position created to assist Wyoming businesses A new staff position has been created by Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) to assist Wyoming businesses. The Director of Business Outreach was established to help businesses access resources and
navigate hurdles and opportunities with the federal government, according a news release from the office of Sen. Lummis. “This position is kind of new to the Wyoming delega-
Lee Pitts tells of tall ranch conversations.................... Page 16
Quick Bits WGFD Input The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has opened a comment period to gather public input on proposed regulations for gray wolf hunting seasons and furbearing animal hunting or trapping seasons. A public meeting to discuss proposed regulations for the furbearing animal hunting or trapping seasons and the gray wolf hunting seasons will be held at the Sheridan Regional Office on May 20 at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit wgfd. wyo.gov/regulations.
NWS Radar For 10 days beginning May 6, the National Weather Service (NWS) WSR-88D radar operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Riverton will be down for the replacement of the generator, fuel tanks and accompanying components to support the radar’s operation during hazardous weather. During the downtime, adjacent radars include Billings, Mont., Cheyenne, Pocatello, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Please see STAFF on page 15
University of Wyoming Extension publication aids producers in fall feeder cattle prices “Price slides are integral at all levels of beef cattle production,” says University of Wyoming (UW) Graduate Student Tevyn Baldwin. From a ranching family in Scottsbluff, Neb., Baldwin studies stocking rate, marketing date and price slides on yearling steers in northeastern Colorado. Baldwin, who graduates this spring, recently coauthored a new UW Extension publication titled The
SWE Update
According to the May 3 Wyoming Crop Progress Report, corn was reported at 9% planted, compared to 23% planted last year at this time. Sugarbeets were reported at 50% planted and 10% emerged this week. Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 13% very short, 21% short and 66% adequate compared to 14% very short, 15% short, 70% adequate and 1% surplus last week.
owners to ensure federal policies remove burdens and spur growth, instead of stifling it.” Business outreach In February, Sen. Lummis hired Cheyenne native
PRICE SLIDE PUZZLES
Current statewide snowpack or snow water equivalent (SWE) is at 89% of median. Basins west of the Continental Divide saw 10 to 20% decreases in SWE due to active snowmelt below 9,000 feet. Central and north central basins generally saw similar or small increases in snowpack. The Powder and Tongue watersheds have the highest SWEs in the state with 129% and 124%, respectively. The Upper Bear Basin holds the state low at 57% of median.
Crop Progress
tion state-based staff,” Sen. Lummis explained. “The business community keeps Wyoming going, driving innovation and creating real prosperity. I’m committed to partnering with Wyoming business
Averi Hales photo
Stocker Steer Quandary: The Price Slide along with her advisor, Interim Associate Dean and Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics John Ritten. Ritten shares, this publication is aimed toward helping producers understand how fall feeder cattle prices can be affected by weight, feed prices and finished cattle prices. All of these factors affecting price may impact decisions on how producers manage cattle in the spring and throughout the summer. Study background Baldwin notes there have been previous publications studying the price slides for lightweight calves in Wyoming. She and Ritten set out to expand the work in Wyoming, as well as make it applicable for yearling stocker producers in Colorado. “The cattle weight data used in our model is gathered by researchers at the Central Plains Experimental Range (CPER) outside of Nunn, Colo.,” Baldwin says. “This price slide information helps with the understanding of economic returns for the cattle used in research at CPER.” Producers within the Crow Valley Grazing Association on the Pawnee National Grassland provide yearling steers for the study, and many are forward contracted for the end of the grazing season. Using the tool The publication provides yearling stocker producers a tool to estimate price slides, come up with a feeder cattle price and figure out the value of gain in their operation. “While the data originated in northeastern Colorado, any yearling stocker producer in the Please see PRICE on page 6
Lambing preparation Former veterinarian explains precautions producers should take before and during lambing season Lambing season is underway, and those producers lambing in coming weeks should start taking precautions to prevent issues during the season. “Producers should start taking precautions and making preparations for lambing season,” shares Dr. Cindy Wolf, a veterinarian and professor at the University of Minnesota during an American Sheep Industry Association podcast hosted by Jake Thorn. “Producers who make preparations before lambing season allow themselves time to enjoy lambing.” Preparations Every operation is run differently, and make various preparations to get ready for lambs. “Preparations really start before breeding season,” Wolf states. “I like to try to get my ewes as fertile as possible because I want as many twins as I can get.” To accomplish this, she goes over body condition score (BCS) prior to breeding season. Please see LAMB on page 5
Honorary degrees awarded During the University of Wyoming (UW) commencement ceremonies this May 14-15, Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) Executive Vice President Jim Magagna will earn the university’s highest award, the honorary doctoral degree. The university will also posthumously honor Northern Arapaho Elder Jim Magagna Crawford White Eagle, Sr. The Doctor of Humane Letters degree recognizes individuals who embody the university’s high ideals, exemplify values of excellence, service and integrity and possess distinguished accomplishments in their professions, public service or service to humanity, according to UW. Nominations for the honorary degree come from UW alumni, current or former trustees and faculty members and are referred to a joint committee of trustees and faculty members, who send their recommendations to the Board of Trustees for approval. Exemplary service “Jim’s background, life and career have influenced ranching, open space conservation and state and federal policies that impact Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain West,” said UW College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean Barbara Rasco. “He has dedicated his life to helping Please see DEGREE on page 9
Chute makes loading easier For years Terry Kudlock, owner and operator of Kudlock Ranch in Belle Fourche, S.D., fussed with oldstyle wheeled loading chutes when it came time to load, haul and unload his livestock. “My family and I have dealt with flat tires, compromised wheel bearings and the reduced speeds required to haul trailer chutes,” he explains. “We knew there had to be a better way.” Therefore, the Kudlock family set out to find a better, easier way to haul, load and unload their livestock, and in a matter of years, with an inventive take on the traditional livestock load-
ing chute, they had accomplished just this. Getting started In an effort to solve the ageold problems that came with traditional loading chutes, the Kudlocks invented the EZ Load Chute, which can be hauled on the back of any bale bed truck and significantly decreases the amount of time, effort and money needed to haul it compared to other loading chutes. Before sharing their idea with other ranchers, the family decided to first try the chute out on their own operation.
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Please see CHUTE on page 9