Volume 33 Number 20 • September 11, 2021
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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside Mary Budd Flitner shares importance of tending to others and ourselves.................page 4 Beef market update provided by Certified Angus Beef............ .......................................page 5 WYLR photo contest results posted.............................page 6
Changes to HOS exemption impact livestock transportation On March 13, 2020 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) made an emergency declaration in response to the national state of emergency caused by COVID-19 to ensure the transportation
of necessary supplies and safety of motor carriers. The emergency declaration was modified and extended on June 15, 2020, Aug. 15, 2020, Dec. 1, 2020, May 26, 2021 and again on Aug. 31, 2021. The most
recent extension and amendment of the Emergency Declaration, Number 2020-002, is valid through Nov. 30. “Although the number of COVID-19 cases began to decline in the U.S. following widespread introduction of
vaccinations, the delta variant and lagging vaccination rates reversed the downward trajectory and have resulted in a rapid rise in infections and hospitalizations across the country,” the FMCSA Please see HOS on page 8
University restructure
Shelby Rosasco evaluates pregnancy detection in cowherds..............................page 7
Quick Bits USDA ELAP In response to severe drought conditions in the West and Great Plains, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to help cover the cost of transporting feed for livestock that rely on grazing. USDA is updating the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to immediately cover feed transportation costs for drought-impacted ranchers. Details will be provided at fsa.usda.gov/elap.
Lek Count
Remembering the
American spirit
“Twenty years after the devastating day every American who was alive that day remembers, we witnessed the American people’s resolve and the best of our spirit, even in a time of tragedy,” said Gov. Mark Gordon. “We remember that day and honor all those who sacrificed so much, who answered the call and who continue to ensure the world remembers there is no better friend, no worse enemy than the people of the United States of America,” Gordon continued. “It is right that we honor all those this day and in so doing, we can affirm all that day cost us has not been in vain.” A wreath-laying ceremony will be held on the 20th
CAPITOL CEREMONY HONORS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11
anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to honor the lives of 2,997 men, women and children lost that day. Moments of silence will be held to coincide with the timing of American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 hitting the north and south towers of the World Trade Center, American Airlines Flight 77 crashing into the Pentagon and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. “This event will preserve the memories of the lives lost and serve as remembrance of those who responded to this awful act of terrorism,” said Wyoming Veterans Commission Director Tim Sheppard. “We vowed to never forget, and on this day we will remember.”
The number of sage grouse at leks decreased in spring 2021, according to new data analyzed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The decline in lek attendance was expected for 2021, due to the sage grouse’s cyclical population trend and added drought conditions observed in Wyoming. Despite this decline, Wyoming remains a sage grouse stronghold.
Wool Market The weaker tones evident at the end of the previous selling series carried into this week, resulting in overall losses in the Australian wool market. The national offering increased by 6,876 bales to 35,119 bales. Buyer sentiment was not as strong as in the previous series and the prices achieved were well below the close of last week. The 17 micron Micron Price Guide in Melbourne is 1,085 cents higher than this time last year.
U.S. Drought For the contiguous 48 states, the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) showed 45.61% of the area in moderate drought or worse, compared with 46.63% a week earlier. Drought now affects 72,224,884 people, compared with 73,800,220 a week earlier. For all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, the USDM showed 38.19% of the area in moderate drought or worse, compared with 39.03% a week earlier. Drought now affects 73,125,672 people, compared with 74,484,527 a week earlier.
From the Saddle Photography by Gwen Shepperson photo
Butler crowned MRW 2022 The Miss Rodeo Wyoming Association (MRWA) announced Sierra Butler of Star Valley was crowned Miss Rodeo Wyoming (MRW) 2022 at the Wyoming State Fair. Butler was the reining Miss Lincoln County Fair and Rodeo Queen coming into the pageant. “As a Wyoming cowgirl, Sierra embodies what it means to represent the Cowboy State,” reads a press release from the MRWA. “Growing up in Star Valley, Sierra is an Sierra Butler avid supporter of Wyoming’s Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2022 agricultural industry, showing both horses and pigs in her local 4-H club.” Butler was joined by four additional MRW 2022 contestants, including 2021 Thermopolis Cowboy Rendezvous Queen Holly Reisland of Cheyenne, Miss Teton County Fair and Rodeo 2021 Jordan Lutz of Jackson, Miss Laramie Jubilee 2020 Madelaine McElwee of Laramie and Miss Sheridan WYO Rodeo Shayla Conner of Cheyenne. The contestants were judged in multiple categories including horsemanship, personality and appearance. Category winners announced during the crowing ceremony include: Knowledge, Madelaine McElwee; Congeniality, Jordan Lutz; Scrapbook, Holly Reisland; Photogenic, Please see BUTLER on page 7
Largest UW reorganization in history impacts ag college programs Laramie – On July 13, the University of Wyoming (UW) Trustees announced a plan to “reconfigure UW’s colleges; discontinue or reorganize some academic programs; build on UW’s existing Tier-1 Engineering, Science and Trustees Education initiatives; advance the new Wyoming Innovation Partnership; and launch a School of Computing, a Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and a Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Initiative,” according to a press release. Among reorganizational efforts are a series of academic department discontinuations, degree program discontinuations, creation of new academic units and relocation or reduction in academic units, resulting in estimated savings of approximately $13.3 million. In addition, up to 65 faculty and staff positions could be affected in the reorganization, as well as 10 department head positions. The reorganization is authorized under UW Regulation 2-13, which provides for academic program reorganization, consolidation, Please see UW on page 14
BLM plans emergency gather In August, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a plan to capture wild horses and burros in the western part of the country. The announcement of an emergency gather comes in response to severe drought conditions across the region. A press release from the agency states, “The BLM estimates more than 6,000 additional wild horses and burros should be gathered from public lands by the end of September through emergency actions, which can be taken in response to lack of water or forage, or due to impacts from wildfire or disease.”
Over-utilized rangelands According to the BLM, the reason for this emergency gathering is to prevent the overpopulation of wild horses and burros. Western states have struggled through drought, and rangeland resources are stretched thin in terms of forage and water. The BLM states, “Now faced with exceptional drought conditions, these animals are left with very little water or forage to survive the summer and winter, and some have become dependent on unreliable private sources.” The BLM reported a total of 86,000
periodical
periodical
Please see BLM on page 8