Experts warn of livestock skin concerns to watch for this summer Page 7
July WASDE Report continues to predict record-high corn yields Page 8
UW Extension outlines ways to stretch feed resources in Wyoming Page 9
Postcard from the Past recalls the invention of the sheep wagon Page 10
Wyoming Women in Agriculture will hold their 32nd annual symposium Nov. 6-7 at the Red Lion Hotel in Gillette. The two-day event will feature a keynote speech by the popular Peterson Farm brothers, as well as educational breakout sessions, tours of local operations and plenty of networking opportunities. For more information or to register, visit wywomeninag.org
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kemmerer Field Office plans to issue a categorical exclusion to install fences in critical riparian areas to control and exclude livestock grazing. The project is located in Uinta County within the Uinta Priority Habitat Management Area for Greater sage grouse. The exclusion will disturb less than 10 acres and is more than 0.6 miles from the perimeter of an occupied core-area lek. For more information, call 307828-4500 or e-mail Kemmerer_WYMail@blm.gov.
Gov. Mark Gordon issued a statement applauding a ruling from the Washington, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals which dismissed a challenge to more than 4,000 oil and gas wells in Wyoming and New Mexico. The judge ruled the plaintiffs in the case had not established any injury traceable to every challenged well. The Wyoming Attorney General’s Office intervened in the case. Gordon said, “It is gratifying to see the Court of Appeals clearly saw through these fabricated arguments. Fringe environmental groups tried a shotgun approach to challenge thousands of legitimate oil and gas leases on federal lands. The court saw this veiled attempt to stop oil and gas development through this scattershot approach, one which would have had significant impacts to energy production in Wyoming.”
On July 15, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources narrowly voted in favor of advancing House Resolution 281 (HR281), the Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2025.
Originally introduced in January by Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY),
alongside Reps. Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing (both R-MT), the legislation supports the delisting of grizzlies from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and will now move to the House floor for debate.
Meanwhile, its companion bill in
the Senate, S316, which was introduced by fellow Wyoming delegate Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), awaits committee consideration.
Key provisions
Ultimately, the Grizzly Bear State
The 2025 National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) wrapped up in Rock Springs. Held July 13-19 at the Sweetwater Events Complex, the national competition drew talent from five different countries to the Cowboy State for a week of high-level
University of Wyoming
(UW) President Ed Seidel has informed the UW Board of Trustees he will step down from his position as president when his contract expires on June 30, 2026.
Seidel shared his plans with the board now to allow ample time for a thoughtful, inclusive search for the university’s next president and to assist in a smooth and seamless leadership transition.
“Serving as president of UW has been a tremendous honor for me,” Seidel said.
“It has been a great privilege to work on behalf of our students, our university community and our state. I’m deeply proud of all we’ve accomplished together during the past five years.”
Seidel became UW’s 28th president on July 1, 2020.
During his tenure, UW has enjoyed numerous advancements and pivotal achievements, including status as a Carnegie R1 Research and Carnegie Engaged University; the launch of a School of Computing; an academic reorganization supporting efficiencies and thematic synergies in several colleges; helping to create the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP)
competition from the next generation of rodeo stars. Cowboys and cowgirls representing the state of Wyoming took top honors in the face of fierce competition, and Team Wyoming rounded out the week sitting
Please see NHSFR on page 14
Shrinking labor force poised to threaten U.S. economic growth
Declining labor force participation, lower birth rates and a collapse in net migration are combining to squeeze the U.S. labor supply. The looming labor shortage could begin to weigh on businesses and strain economic growth as soon as later this year, according to a new quarterly report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. With the labor supply about to get tighter, businesses and industries operating in rural America should be increasing their focus on technology to overcome labor availability challenges.
The labor force participation rate has trended downward since 2000, and the trend may be accelerating. Nearly 2.5 million working-aged people dropped out of the labor force in the past eight months alone.
The U.S. fertility rate has plummeted since the Great Financial Crisis in 2008, reducing the number of native-born citizens entering the workforce. The loss of those new workers coincides with baby boom generation retirements, amplifying the impact on the overall labor supply. Those two factors, combined with more restrictive immigration policies and
On July 9, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed plans to impose a steep 50 percent tariff on all Brazilian imports, effective Aug. 1. If enacted, the tariff could have a significant impact on the beef industry.
The announcement comes at a time when the U.S. cattle herd is at its lowest numbers in decades, consumer demand for beef is surging and beef prices are already high.
Analysts and cattlemen groups say the tariffs could lead to a short-term boost for U.S. beef producers by reducing competition from outside markets and directing demand to the domestic front, but there are also concerns about record-low herd num-
bers in the U.S. and fears about the broader strain on the market driving consumer costs even higher.
Beef industry impact
The U.S. beef industry relies on foreign imports to supplement its domestic supply chain. Brazil is one of the leading exporters of beef globally, with the U.S. being one of Brazil’s most important markets second only to China.
According to Reuters and livestock analysts, the proposed 50 percent tariff would be levied on top of a pre-existing 26.4 percent tariff, amounting to a staggering combined rate of 76.4 percent on imported Brazilian beef.
The threat of the New World screwworm (NWS) is real and knocking at our door. Impacts to the cattle industry have been making the news, but in reality, this pest affects all warm-blooded animals – large or small.
NWS was last eradicated from the U.S. in 1966 and as far south as Panama in 2000. From there, it started to make a northernly comeback in 2022 and has been on the move in Central America and southern Mexico. In the last year, the fly has crossed two biological borders in southern Mexico, which is why U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has stopped all livestock from Mexico from entering the U.S.
Recently, NWS was detected only 370 miles from the U.S. border, which is one of the reasons why the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is so nervous, as we all know the pest poses a risk to human health, animal health and food security in the U.S.
But remember, in southern Texas and other places, there are no fences at the border, so cattle and wildlife can cross over from Mexico as they please.
I’ve also read NWS can travel up to 12 miles to find new animal hosts.
Those living in northern states have an advantage as NWS larvae can’t survive in temperatures below 46 degrees Fahrenheit, but it sounds like the pest could be troublesome in the summer.
From an economic standpoint, NWS could stop all movement of cattle from affected areas of the country.
The fly got its name because it lays its eggs in or near wounds of warm-blooded animals. When the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the wound and eat the flesh around the wound. If not treated, the animal will die of infection.
The best way to eradicate the fly is to utilize the Sterile Insect Technique, a process where mass-produced sterile male flies are released in affected areas. Male flies then mate with wild females, resulting in unfertilized eggs. Since female flies only mate once, numbers shrink until the population is eradicated.
Currently, the biggest problem is the only place producing sterile flies is located in Panama. USDA has come up with $8.5 million to build a facility in Texas, but it will take time.
U.S. cattle numbers are at long-time lows, and an infestation would be costly to southern livestock producers, especially those in Texas, where the estimated cost of an outbreak is nearly $1.9 billion annually.
Eradicating or even reducing NWS would take years, maybe even decades.
Simply stopping it at the U.S. border is not going to get the job done. The U.S. is going to need to take the lead in eradicating NWS from Mexico, all of Central America and Cuba to fully stop the threat. This would mean applying political pressure to countries where livestock producers live with the issue every day and have no plans to control the fly.
As we look ahead to the upcoming academic year at a time of intense nationwide scrutiny of higher education, it’s worth noting the University of Wyoming’s (UW) most important truth – UW is Wyoming’s university.
This is not just a tagline or a matter of geography. It’s a constitutional commitment, written into the very foundation of our state before Wyoming achieved statehood in 1890.
Our charge is to provide a college education “as nearly free as possible” to the people of our state and to do so in a way which reflects Wyoming’s values, supports its industries, serves its communities and prepares its young people to lead.
This is the university’s founding purpose.
Over the next six months, we are planning a series of monthly opeds highlighting the incredible people who are carrying this mission forward today. This is a team of high performers – dedicated educators, scientists, mentors and professionals – who
By Ed Seidel
believe in Wyoming, who love this university and who are working every day to ensure UW remains a place of excellence, access and relevance.
I want to begin with where we will end – UW is not like most other universities, and it’s a good thing.
At a time when public confidence in higher education has declined nationally, UW stands as a clear exception to the trend.
In Wyoming, college remains affordable. Thanks to legislative support and careful stewardship, in-state tuition at UW is among the lowest in the country for four-year public institutions, and more than one-half of our students graduate with zero student loan debt – a striking contrast to the national average, where over 60 percent of graduates leave college with financial burdens that can last for decades.
We are proud to welcome students this fall into newly opened residence halls – modern, welcoming facilities designed to support learning and community.
We anticipate one of the largest
groups of Wyoming students in our freshman class ever, and our focus now turns to ensuring their experience at UW is as remarkable as the buildings they’ll live and learn in.
What sets UW apart is not only affordability, but also alignment. Our programs, research and partnerships are tied directly to the future of this state. We support Wyoming’s legacy industries – minerals, agriculture and tourism – while also helping to chart new paths in applications of computing, entrepreneurship, healthcare and advanced manufacturing, as they apply to Wyoming.
Our faculty and staff work handin-hand with communities across the state, listening carefully and responding to real-world challenges with practical solutions.
And, we prepare students not just for jobs, but also for meaningful lives. This includes equipping them with the tools today’s economy demands – digital skills, communication, hands-on
For those interested in connecting with local artists and agriculture, University of Wyoming (UW) Extension has launched a series of self-guided Ag and Art tours.
The second 2025 Ag and Art tour will take place on Aug. 9 in Albany County, and the third tour will occur in Laramie County on Aug. 23. Both events last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Participants may visit three agricultural operations within each county at their own pace in any order. All three operations will host artistic and educational booths for attendees to explore. At each of the sites, attendees will experience hands-on demonstrations of the everyday operations of the farm or ranch. Extension educators will provide information about subjects from agriculture to nutrition, showing the range of services UW Extension offers.
Finally, local artists will create and sell work on-site. Many forms of art will be on display, from fiber arts to photography. To register for the event, visit bit.ly/ag-art-tour. The cost is $10 per person for ages 11 to 64. Guests 65 or older and children 10 and under may attend for free. College students may attend for a discounted rate of seven dollars. All participants, including those attending for free, are asked to pre-register for the event.
Event organizers request participants leave pets at home, as pets may not be safe at the working agricultural operations hosting the events.
Free food is available at each site from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, visit bit.ly/ag-art-site or e-mail wyagandarttour@gmail.com.
On July 23, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced for the first time in 20 years, Australia will accept shipments of fresh and frozen U.S. beef, ending decades of bureaucratic red tape and prolonged negotiations which have prevented American cattle producers from accessing the Australian market.
NCBA thanks President Donald Trump for delivering yet another trade win for America’s cattle farmers and ranchers.
“For 20 years, U.S. beef was denied access to Australia while Australia exported $29 billion of beef to U.S. consumers. The lack of two-way, science-based trade has been a sticking point for many years, and we are pleased Trump has successfully opened the Australian market to American beef,” said NCBA President and Nebraska Cattleman Buck Wehrbein. “NCBA has spent decades working to correct this trade imbalance, and we are proud to have a president who is willing to fight for American farmers and ranchers, expand export markets and fix unfair trade agreements across the world.”
The U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement took effect in 2005 and was intended to allow U.S. beef to be sold in Australia. Over the last 20 years, Australia has used countless tactics to delay implementation of the agreement and prevent any shipments of fresh or frozen U.S. beef from entering Australia. Over the same 20-year period, Australia has sold $28,759,340,461 worth of their beef in the U.S.
On Aug. 7, the University of Wyoming (UW) will host a field day at the James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center (SAREC) near Lingle.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 2753 State Highway 157. All ages are welcome.
The field day will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration and refreshments. Field tours will start at 9:30 a.m.
During field tours and poster presentations, UW faculty, staff and students will share information about current agricultural research projects from across the state. Topics include carbon markets, pulmonary hypertension in cattle, resilient forage systems, dry bean breeding, wildfire and invasive grasses and using drones to predict sugarbeet yields.
Throughout the day, attendees are encouraged to visit posters highlighting student and faculty research. They may also examine agricultural equipment at vendor booths.
SAREC is co-hosting the event with Eastern Wyoming College (EWC). Three interns from EWC have spent the summer at SAREC providing support to researchers and assisting with day-to-day station upkeep. During the field day, they will briefly share their experiences with the public.
Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m.
From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., local agricultural equipment dealerships will provide in-field demonstrations of some of their latest technology, including irrigation systems and drones utilizing ground-penetrating radar.
A guest speaker from ALA Engineering, which produces self-driving systems and custom vehicles, will demonstrate their autonomous cattle-feeding technology and share information about the company.
Attendees are encouraged to RSVP for the field day by contacting Kelly Greenwald at kgreenwa@uwyo.edu or 307-8372000.
Queen Bee Gardens of Lovell is voluntarily recalling select lots of its whipped honey products due to the possible presence of a foreign material.
This recall is being initiated out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety and quality of the company’s products.
Products affected include pure whipped honey, lot number 206235; huckleberry whipped honey, lot number 206305 and raspberry whipped honey, lot number 206235.
Purchase dates affected include products purchased between June 1 and July 16.
Consumers who have purchased any of the listed products are urged to discontinue use immediately, take a picture of the bottom of the jar with the lot number and e-mail contact information and a picture to queenbee@queenbeegardens.com with the subject line “Recall.”
For questions or further assistance, contact Queen Bee Gardens at 307-548-2818.
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) is seeking nominees to fill four positions on the American Lamb Board, as current members’ terms will expire in early 2026.
ASI is encouraging sheep producers and lamb feeders to apply to be placed on a nominating slate for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to consider when appointing a director on the Lamb Checkoff board.
ASI is now gathering nominations for one producer with 100 or fewer lambs; one producer with more than 500 lambs; one feeder at large and one first handler.
ASI encourages interested individuals to visit sheepusa. org or contact the ASI Office for a nomination form. Completed forms must be submitted to ASI by Aug. 22.
In addition, ASI is seeking nominations for one producer director and a director with experience in finance and management to serve three-year terms on the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC) Board of Directors. Bob Buchholz of Texas and Faye Schalesky of South Dakota currently hold these seats.
ASI is accepting NSIIC nominations through Aug. 22, ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s submission deadline of Sept. 8.
For more information, contact Peter Orwick at 303771-3500, ext. 103 or peter@sheepusa.org.
The Wyoming FFA Foundation and the Wyoming Natural Resource Foundation invite the public to join in on the Cowboy Cornhole Tournament, set for Aug. 12 during the Wyoming State Fair in Douglas.
Held in the Event Tent, this friendly competition welcomes players of all ages and skill levels. The adult division will kick off at 11 a.m., followed by the youth division as soon as the adult bracket wraps up.
Registration is now open and entry costs $75 for adult teams, $40 for individual adults, $20 for youth teams and $10 for youth individuals.
All registered players will receive two drink tickets. Adults may choose between alcoholic or non-alcoholic options, while youth participants will receive non-alcoholic drink tickets only.
Prizes will be awarded to top finishers in both divisions. Day-of registration will be available until the brackets are full, but early sign-ups are encouraged to lock in a spot. Proceeds from the Cowboy Cornhole Tournament support agricultural education and natural resource conservation efforts across Wyoming.
For more information or to register, visit form.jotform. com/251774419743162
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) program, administered by Nebraska Extension since 1992, will cease operations effective Sept. 30, as federal funding for the program was eliminated earlier this month.
As part of the termination in funding, 10 staff positions, as well as several graduate and student worker positions supported by SNAP-Ed funding will be eliminated, effective Sept. 30.
Nebraska Extension receives approximately $2 million in funding annually for SNAP-Ed programming and educational programming for youth, adults with developmental disabilities and others who qualify for SNAP benefits. The goal of these programs is to help SNAP-eligible Nebraskans adopt healthy habits, stretch their benefits and combat obesity.
In 2024, SNAP-Ed in Nebraska reached nearly 120,000 individuals through educational programming. Nebraskans who interacted with faculty and staff providing SNAP-Ed programming used SNAP benefits more efficiently and ate more nutritiously than those who didn’t. They also had better health outcomes.
Nebraska Extension will continue other statewide food, nutrition and health programming, which reaches Nebraskans through school-based nutrition education, food safety training for foodservice workers and more.
learning experiences and resilience.
Our student success efforts aim to ensure our graduates enter the workforce prepared and confident. This is what some of our graduates call the “unfair advantage” we give our students, and we are proud of it.
But our mission is broader than just workforce readiness. College is also about personal growth – learning to think critically, live ethically and
engage productively in a democratic society.
This is why we have strived to make UW a national leader in free expression, institutional neutrality and the open exchange of ideas. We are a place where students are exposed to diverse perspectives but not told what to think.
Strong support from state legislators, governors and other elected officials has been key to UW becoming what it is today
– a land-grant and flagship university reaching the highest level of American research universities – with research that helps advance our state.
We recently became one of the top 4.8 percent of institutions nationwide designated as an R1 university by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation.
This support has also allowed UW to continue meeting its constitutional mandate. State investments have kept higher education within reach for generations of Wyoming-
ites, and they have enabled us to maintain our impact in every corner of the state.
As we look ahead, this partnership remains vital. While state funding has provided incredible facilities such as the new residence halls, our operational funding from the state has been relatively flat over the past decade.
We have made a number of reductions and changes to be more efficient, but further reductions would necessitate elimination of programs serving Wyoming people, and in the competitive world of
higher education, we need to make sure our faculty and staff salaries allow us to recruit and retain the best and brightest educators and researchers.
We are not perfect. We continue to evolve, to listen and to improve, but we do so always with Wyoming in mind – with a clear sense of the past and an ambitious vision for the future.
Wyoming’s challenges are unique, but so is our opportunity. With the right focus and support, UW can continue to be a cornerstone of economic development, civic vitality and
individual opportunity for decades to come and to help us navigate the winds of change that will come our way. We look forward to sharing more in the months ahead and to showing you what Wyoming’s university, powered by Wyoming people, is doing and is preparing to do in the future.
Ed Seidel is the 28th president of UW. He will be stepping down when his contract expires on June 30, 2026. This opinion column was originally published by Cowboy State Daily on July 14.
Today we discuss a very delicate subject – women.
I feel sorry for females. I sincerely do. They have to undergo nine months of craving pickles, experiencing the excruciating pain of trying to pass a basketball through a grapefruit-sized hole and then do most of the major lifting in raising the resulting child.
I haven’t even mentioned ballooning in size so she looks like she’s got a soccer ball under her shirt which also kicks like a soccer player.
And the average American mother repeats the entire process all over again, averaging 2.07 kids, while all the father has to do is pass out cigars and accept congratulations.
So who can blame a woman for the occasional bad mood, irritability, territorial behavior, becoming a little testy or transforming into a raging lunatic?
As a kid, I was always told it was a fair deal – the
by
women raised the kids while the men went off to war. But 84.3 percent of females have had a biological child while only 6.1 percent of males serve in the military and a large percentage of them never see combat. And 56.8 percent of women not only have to experience the pain of childbirth but go back to work soon after.
Our government calls moms who don’t enter the workforce “non-working women,” but I contend there is no such thing. It’s almost as bad as days of old when a woman gave birth in the back of a covered wagon in the morning and was expected to cook dinner that night. Does this sound like a fair deal to you?
The biggest enemies of motherhood are hormones like estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, oxytocin, uteininizing hormone, follical stimulating hormone (FSH), relaxin, human chorionic gonadotropin hormone
(HCG) and so on.
They are all engaged in a nine-month biochemical tug of war in the pregnant female’s brain and body, and there’s not one “happy hormone” amongst them. Even after the baby is born these hormones are not done terrorizing and tormenting.
I know about all of this stuff because I’ve raised a lot of cows and sheep – not that I’m equating cows with human moms, mind you. Do you think I’m crazy? The last thing I’d want to do is invite the ire of the 5,359,550 pregnant women in this country who are subject to extreme mood swings and are also handy with a baseball bat.
Here’s an animal example to make my point.
We purchased a heifer at the county fair that would eat alfalfa cubes out of your hand, appreciated a good neck massage and was so sweet, we called her Angel. But as her pregnancy progressed, Angel turned into the devil.
Try to feed her out of your hand and she’d run right over the top of you and eat YOUR lunch. Try to get close enough to rub her neck, and she’d kick like a mule.
She plowed right through a five-wire fence just so she could upend my horse Gentleman who had previously
Call the Office 307-532-3333 or email: betty@maddenbrothers.com
enjoyed a peaceful relationship with her. From then on Gentleman was never the same and approached every cow as if she were pregnant, which is actually not a bad policy with people too.
Then there were the 20 bred cows I bought on a whim one day at the auction because they were super cheap. They were Holsteins carrying Angus embryos. I thought I’d get a decent calf and then sell the cows and make a little money, but they were absolutely the worst cows to ever set foot on the place.
When they calved, every single one took one look at the hairball trying to attack their flanks and ran away with Secretariat-like speed. I never did get one to accept her calf, and our barn was filled with hungry calves.
I had made the mistake of expecting those cows to use nature’s own formula in feeding their calves with the idea being “as long as you got ‘em, you might as well use ‘em.”
But the cows, who’d never had contact with their offspring before had other ideas, all because man has intervened in the hormone hostilities in the Holstein brain.
And don’t get me started on the horrible “horrormones” at work in the sheep’s brain – or lack thereof.
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The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, will soon conduct fish stocking in frontcountry and backcountry lakes outside of Dubois and Lander. This initiative will include lakes in the Shoshone National Forest.
Over the summer, 16 lakes will be stocked with more than 40,000 fingerling-sized fish. The fish won’t grow to a catchable size for at least two years.
The species to be stocked include kokanee salmon, splake – a brook trout-lake trout hybrid – golden trout, rainbow trout and Yellowstone cutthroat trout.
A small percentage of high-elevation lakes throughout the state are stocked on a rotational basis every two to four years. However, most remote waters support naturally reproducing fish populations and don’t require stocking.
Many waters this year are accessible by vehicle and will be stocked by WGFD hatchery staff with stocking trucks. Three backcountry lakes near Togwotee will be stocked by helicopter near the end of July.
“This is a very efficient way for us to stock multiple remote lakes at one time and in one flight. In addition, fish released through this method typically have higher survival rates than older, slower methods of stocking,” said Lander Region Fisheries Supervisor Joe Deromedi.
“Fish that will be stocked were raised with exceptional care at several fish hatcheries and rearing stations across the state, including Dubois, Daniel, Clark’s Fork, Ten Sleep, Tillett and Wigwam. Our goal is to provide high-quality fish which will thrive and offer excellent fishing opportunities for everyone,” he continued.
For more information, contact Deromedi at 307335-2608.
On July 16, U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) and Zach Nunn (R-IA) introduced the Strong Farms, Strong Futures Act (SFSFA), which directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to establish region and production-specific climate change mitigation bundles within the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
This expands options available to producers and increases financial support for practices to improve climate resilience and provide additional benefits like increased soil health and water quality.
These incentives will help producers expand their climate stewardship and empower more producers to be leaders of America’s ongoing efforts to build innovative conservation systems.
“The SFSFA provides ever greater producer choice in the CSP. This bill strengthens CSP’s ability to provide robust cost-share for producers building complex, innovative conservation systems on their farms – conservation systems to make them more resilient, profitable and ecologically sound,” said Jesse Womack, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition conservation policy specialist.
The SFSFA builds on previous legislation introduced by Underwood, creating even more options for producers in CSP. The bill provides increased cost-share for important climate and conservation production systems, focusing the highest levels of cost share on producers doing the most complex conservation work within their operation.
This bill ensures producers who accept the risk of leadership in their conservation efforts are eligible for the highest levels of federal support.
Management Act of 2025 directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to remove the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) grizzly population from the ESA, restoring a 2017 ruling issued by President Donald Trump during his last presidential term.
The rule was later vacated by a federal circuit court, and under the Biden administration, the agency reversed its decision, recommending the grizzly stay on the list and under federal jurisdiction.
Additionally, this bill would bar judicial review of the reissued rule, making it immune to federal court challenges, and transfer management authority of GYE grizzlies to individual states including Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)
Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) will host its annual open house on Aug. 20 near Whitman, Neb. The event invites all cattle producers and industry professionals to attend for the latest updates in the beef industry and current
Population recovery
Hageman notes the bill was penned in response to “years of federal lethargy and wildlife policy dictated by special-interest lobbyists,” emphasizing the grizzly’s removal from the ESA is “long overdue” based on recovery data.
In a Jan. 11 press release, Hageman explains the GYE grizzly bear has been listed as “threatened” under the ESA since 1975, with an original recovery goal in Wyoming of 500 bears.
Today, the population has more than doubled to 1,100 bears, far exceeding the agency’s recovery benchmark. Yet, under the Biden administration, federal agencies continued delaying delisting, citing “no factual basis for the decision.”
“The GYE grizzly
population has exceeded FWS’s recovery goals for over two decades,” Hageman said during the committee’s markup hearing. “Since a mere three percent of species listed under the ESA have ever been delisted, the ESA desperately needs a success story like the GYE grizzly bear. The grizzly is, in fact, the poster child for how the ESA has failed in terms of what it was intended to do and how it has actually been implemented.”
Opposition and concern
While Hageman’s legislation has garnered support across the West, the hot-button issue also has some critics.
In fact, several Democrats, Tribal leaders and environmental groups have voiced strong objection, making the argument that blocking judicial oversight is unconstitutional and risks sidestepping sciencebased governance and that the 2018 court decision invalidated the 2017 delisting due to “the insufficient consideration of genetic viability and long-term regional impacts.”
Conservationists also believe state-managed hunts or predator control methods could spur population declines, fragment the bear population and
GSL research. The open house will begin at 8 a.m. with registration, followed by a cattle market update and a long-range weather forecast.
Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in interactive sessions, learn more about
ongoing research at the ranch and hear from UNL researchers, educators and specialists.
The afternoon session will feature Keynote Speakers Terryn and Tom Drieling, who will discuss the common stockmanship principle of good movement and how it can
be applied in other areas of life.
Registration is free, and lunch will be sponsored by Merck Animal Health.
Interested individuals should RSVP by Aug. 15 for an accurate meal count.
Located in the Nebraska Sandhills, the GSL spans
Grant, Hooker and Cherry counties. The former Rafter C Ranch was leased by UNL from the University of Nebraska Foundation in 1981 to serve as a hub for research in the Sandhills.
GSL plays a key role in developing environmentally and economically sustainable plant and animal
to roundup@ wylr.net.
production systems for the Nebraska Sandhills, using ranch economics across various research areas. The open house serves as a way to share this research with producers and community members across the state.
For more information and to RSVP, visit go.unl. edu/gslopenhouse
Oct. 11, 1950 – July 11, 2025
Calvin W. Hancock, lovingly known as “Cal,” was born on Oct. 11, 1950 in Riverton to William S. and Ada M. Hancock. He was raised in the Gas Hills area east of Riverton, where he learned the ways of the cowboy under the guidance of his father.
excelled academically, earning numerous awards through FFA and as a member of the livestock judging team.
After graduating, Cal attended Casper College for a couple of years before the pull of the wide-open spaces brought him back to the ranching life he loved.
In June of 1979, he married Eunice Dow. During their 17 years together, he became a devoted stepfather to her three children, and together they welcomed their daughter Angela.
est ranches in New Mexico. Wherever he went, Cal earned a reputation as a “top hand” – someone you could count on to get the job done right. His dedication, reliability and work ethic were unmatched.
edge of livestock and range stewardship with his daughter Angela and son-in-law Tyler. He adored his granddaughters Annabella and Arianna and could often be found telling them stories – some rooted in truth, others in tall tales – about the history of the ranch and the land he loved.
Cal passed away on July 11 following an accident on the ranch. He was surrounded by loved ones at the Wyoming Medical Center in Casper.
daughter Angela and her husband Tyler, along with their daughters Annabella and Arianna of Pavillion; stepdaughters Christie of Torrington and Brandy of Pavillion, her husband Mark and their children Brianna of Virginia and Austin of California; his aunt Edna Bringoff of Buffalo and numerous cousins and extended family members. A memorial service was held on July 21 at Sunnyside Nazarene Church in Pavillion.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sunnyside Nazarene Church in Cal’s memory. Calvin
During his youth, Cal attended school in both Shoshoni and Riverton. Known for his sense of humor and love of joking, Cal also
Jan. 23, 1939 – July 15, 2025
Mace Warren Countryman, age 86, a lifelong Wyomingite, passed away on July 15. Mace was born Jan. 23, 1939 at Bishop Randall Hospital in Lander to Manuel Ward (Hoot) Countryman and Abbiegal (Bessie) Carner. They lived at Crowheart but moved to the Countryman Ranch at Sweetwater in 1941.
Mace’s mother taught him through the first six years of school, then he spent winters in Lander to finish his schooling. He met his wife Elizabeth Anne Tully at the original Charles R. Countryman Ranch near Split Rock. They were married on Nov. 24, 1956 in Rawlins. Mace ranched on the Sweetwater for 20 years until 1977 when he moved to the
Cal spent his life working as a cowboy throughout Fremont County, with the exception of one memorable year on one of the larg-
East Fork near Dubois where he had a contracting business. Later he moved to his final home on Dinwoody Creek.
Mace was an amazing father. He started his family with Elizabeth and was eager to have kids. They had three children together. He enjoyed taking his family camping, rock hunting and spending time together on the ranch.
He was also an avid collector of vehicles and enjoyed working on them. His mechanical abilities
Outside of ranching, Cal had a deep passion for photography. He was often asked to capture life’s important moments –graduations, weddings and Wyoming’s breathtaking sunsets. His photographs reflected the rugged beauty of the land and lifestyle he so deeply cherished.
Cal continued to work on the family ranch until his passing, sharing his knowl-
spread through the family. He always had a passion for trading and collecting, as well as visiting with friends. Mace is survived by his wife Elizabeth “Beth” Countryman; brother Vance (Jana) Countryman; children Valorie (Doug) Wilson, Monte (Sarah) Countryman and Ida (Wes) Johnston; grandchildren Erin (Anthony) Cobranchi, Kyle (Heidi) Wilson, Justin (Tiffany) Johnston, Morgan Johnston, Bridger (Marlene) Johnston and Shan-
Cal is preceded in death by his parents William and Ada Hancock and his brother David Hancock.
He is survived by his
non Goodsell and greatgrandchildren Vaughn and Rayne Hess, Hallie and Jay Wilson, Hunter (Jordann), Macen, Zane and Kandis Johnston, Julia (Dylan) and Payton Bauman and Alessandra Goodsell, as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He will be greatly missed.
Services were held on July 21 at Hudson’s Funeral Home in Lander.
Most livestock species have thicker skin than humans, but it’s still vulnerable to harsh summer conditions. Sun exposure, bacterial infections and increased activity of parasite-carrying insects can all take a toll on livestock skin.
Each year, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) receives samples revealing how sweltering summers affect livestock health. It’s essential to act promptly to prevent skin irritation from becoming painful and causing serious harm.
Effective diagnostic testing paired with veterinary care can help guide treatment and protect both animals and producers’ livelihoods.
Dr. Erin Edwards, veterinary pathologist at TVMDL, explains three common summer skin conditions to watch for in warm weather.
Photosensitization
Just like humans, animals can experience a fiery reaction to summer rays.
“Effects of photosensitization are like a really severe sunburn,” Edwards said. “Livestock owners might see signs of redness, swelling and ulceration. Usually, the skin will start sloughing off, and it’s very uncomfortable for animals.”
Primary photosensitization occurs when livestock become overly sensitive to sunlight after eating toxic plants containing the photosensitizing agent phylloerythrin. The harmful compounds are concentrated in the skin, making it more susceptible to the sun’s rays.
“Burns are usually found on areas with less hair or pigmentation, like the nose or around the eyes,” Edwards said. “Lighter colored animals, in general, are usually more susceptible to burns.”
Secondary or hepatogenous photosensitization is the most common form of skin disorder. The prefix “hepato” comes from the Greek word “hepar,” meaning liver.
This form of photosensitization is caused by liver damage.
Liver damage may result from a range of conditions, one of which is the consumption of toxic plants. When the liver fails to break down and eliminate substances like phylloerythrin, they begin to build up in the blood, increasing photosensitivity and causing the skin to react severely to sunlight.
In severe cases of photosensitization, skin, ear, lip and udder tissues may die and peel away, and secondary bacterial infections often occur after skin sloughing, leading to additional health concerns and delayed healing.
Furthermore, if livestock continue to consume toxic plants, liver damage could worsen and lead to death.
If livestock show signs of sunburn or peeling, producers should move affected animals to shade immediately, contact a veterinarian for diagnosis and care and remove liver-damaging and phototoxic plants such as Bishop’s weed and largeleaf lantana from pastures.
caused by the bacterium
Dermatophilus congolen sis typically develops when pasture animals spend long hours in rainy conditions.
softens the skin, allowing bacteria to enter, even with out visible wounds.
be a minor skin irritation at first, but it can quickly worsen without proper care.
crusty, matted hair and patchy hair loss, typically starting on animals’ backs or around their feet; sores along the back or lower legs and/or raw, pink or bleeding skin in severe cases.
parasitic worms transmitted by flies, especially as fly activity increases during the summer.
An immature habronema worm enters the body through the bite of a fly, specifically by a housefly or stable fly.
Horses, donkeys and mules are most at risk, but other livestock can be affected.
Signs of summer sores include red, round wounds that won’t heal; sores near eyes, lips or existing wounds and/or inflammation and intense itching, caused by the worm burrowing inside the skin.
“The flies are attracted to areas where there’s moisture,” Edwards said. “They bite around the eyes, lips and especially where there are wounds or damaged skin.”
To protect livestock, owners should consider fly control in barns and pastures. They should also con-
attention could lead to sec ondary infections extending into the bloodstream or organs.
Consult a veterinarian to speed up healing, ease discomfort and prevent death. Summer sores
Summer sores, or cutaneous habronemiasis, are open wounds that won’t heal. They’re caused by
The July World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report, released on July 11, didn’t have a lot of bombshell surprises for traders to digest, although
the agency’s assessment of the current corn crop still assumes record-high peracre yields and total production.
Grain prices generally
saw moderate cuts immediately following this report.
Of particular note, December corn futures faded to $4.11. This was the third day out of four where prices hit a contract low. Corn
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made no changes to its per-acre yield estimates for July, still assuming an average of 181 bushels per acre (bpa).
However, the agency slightly lowered its production estimates from 15.82 billion bushels in June, down to 15.70 billion bushels in July. This was also a bit below the average trade guess of 15.73 billion bushels.
USDA trimmed total usage by 50 million bushels, based on lower feed and residual use. The season-average farm price remained unchanged at $4.20 per bushel.
Domestic ending stocks also decreased slightly from 1.36 billion bushels in June down to 1.34 billion. Analysts were expecting to see this number hit 1.35 billion bushels.
Robust foreign demand for U.S. corn in recent months prompted USDA to hike its export forecast for the fourth month in a row.
USDA raised estimated 2024-25 U.S. corn exports by 100 million bushels, or almost four percent, to a record 2.75 billion bushels, which would slightly top the
previous record of 2.74 billion bushels in 2020-21.
The revision surpassed analysts’ expectations for an increase of 50 million to 75 million bushels. USDA now sees U.S. corn exports at a record for the current year.
In South America, Brazilian production potential remained steady at 5.19 billion bushels. Argentina’s production potential was also unchanged with 1.96 billion bushels.
In the meantime, lower supplies in the U.S. and China led to moderately lower 2025-26 global ending stocks, which shifted from 275.24 million metric tons (MMT) in June down to 272.08 MMT.
In contrast, analysts were expecting to see this volume rise to 277.46 MMT.
Soybeans
USDA is still expecting to see soybean yields come in at 52.5 bpa, mirroring
analysts’ expectations. Production is expected to fade slightly lower, moving from 4.34 billion bushels in June down to 4.33 billion bushels. This nearly matched the average trade guess.
USDA also assessed a “higher crush, reduced exports and increased ending stocks compared to last month.”
The 2025-26 soy crush was raised 50 million bushels to 2.54 billion, which the agency notes is due to higher demand for soy oil used for biofuel and references the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule for required Renewable Fuel Standard volumes in 2026-27.
Domestic ending stocks were unchanged at 350 million bushels. This was modestly below the average trade guess of 358 million bushels.
The season-average farm
price faded 15 cents lower compared to June at $10.10 per bushel. Soymeal prices also fell $20 per short ton to $290, but soy oil prices trended seven cents higher to 53 cents per pound.
South American production estimates held steady, with Brazil at 6.21 billion bushels and Argentina at 1.83 billion bushels.
Global ending stocks for 2025-26 increased from 125.3 MMT in June up to 126.07 MMT.
Wheat USDA pegged all-wheat production for the upcoming 2025-26 season at 1.92 billion bushels, which was 14 million bushels above the average trade guess. Of this total 1.34 billion bushels are winter wheat, 504 million bushels are spring wheat and 80 million bushels are durum.
Domestic ending stocks were steady at 851 million bushels. Ending stocks for 2025-26 eased from 898 million bushels in June down to 890 million. This is still five percent higher yearover-year, however.
Wheat export expectations moved 25 million bushels higher to 850 million based on a “strong early pace of sales and shipments,” according to USDA. The season-average farm price (SAFP) held steady at $5.4 per bushel. This is modestly below last year’s SAFP of $5.52.
Global ending stocks for 2025-26 eased from 262.76 MMT in June down to 261.52 MMT. This was modestly below the average trade guess of 262.69 MMT. Ben Potter is a senior editor of Farm Futures. This article was originally published by Farm Futures on July 11.
July 23, 1941 – July 14, 2025
Bonnie Dee Orme Spackman, age 83, passed away peacefully on July 14. She was born on July 23, 1941 in Brigham City, Utah to Herbert Emery and Berma Alice Chlarson Orme. She grew up on
a dairy farm in Honeyville, Utah and was a graduate of Box Elder High School.
As a teenager, Bonnie would spend the summers at her grandparents Lyman and LaVoy Chlarson’s ranch in Robertson. She enjoyed spending time with the Chlarson family and was often the designated babysitter for her younger cousins.
When Bonnie started to date Kenneth Roger Spackman, he would join her on the ranch in the summers and work for local ranchers David and Delbert James. On Oct. 6, 1960, she married Roger in the Logan Temple. In the early years of
By Makayla Getz, UW Extension Educator
their marriage, they lived in Honeyville, Utah and then in 1967 they moved to Robertson to work full time for the James Ranch.
In 1979, they moved back to Honeyville, Utah for six years, but the ranch and the beautiful Bridger Valley called them back to Robertson where they continued to ranch and raise their family.
Bonnie was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). She loved working with the youth and held many callings in the Young Women, Primary and Scouting organizations.
For many years she was a 4-H leader for the Smithfork Stockman 4-H Club and the Rocky Mountain Livestock 4-H Club in Honeyville, Utah and served on the Uinta County Fair Board and Stock Sale Committee.
For her family, summer vacations were spent at the fair. She was a member of the Uinta County Cattlewomen’s Organization and was a football booster mom for her sons Scott and Chad.
Bonnie loved to cook and put on big meals for the branding and riding crews. Count yourself lucky if you were a recipient of her homemade cinnamon rolls.
She looked forward to putting on a big spread when the cows were put on the forest for summer grazing. Many friendships were built around her kitchen table or on the back of the pickup truck.
She was the best homemaker and taught her children how to cook, sew and clean. She loved flowers and growing a garden. One of her many hobbies was making flower arrangements.
As a grandmother, Bonnie was an avid supporter of her grandchildren’s activities whether it be a rodeo, soccer or football game, band concert or any other academic achievement. She loved following her grandchildren throughout their high school rodeo careers and was very proud of their accomplishments.
Her favorite rodeos were the local rodeos, as she loved watching her grandkids compete at the Cow Country Junior Rodeo and Bridger Valley Ranch Rodeo.
Bonnie always had a camera in her hand and took every opportunity she could to get photographs of her family. As cows were being shipped, branded or trailed, her camera was capturing pictures of her family. She was proud of her family’s ranching legacy, espe-
cially living in her beloved Bridger Valley and wanted those memories to be remembered.
Bonnie is preceded in death by her parents Herb and Berma Orme, her husband Roger Spackman and her son Scott Spackman. Survivors include her brother Paul Orme; children Toni (Quinn) Martin of Robertson, Tami Spackman of Honeyville, Utah and Chad (Stephanie) Spackman of Robertson; grandchildren Dylan (Taylor) Martin, Blace (Annamarie) Martin, Shaylyn (Ryley) Smith, Weston Spackman, McCoy Spackman, Kolter Spackman and Spenser Anson and greatgrandchildren KC Martin, Kirbe Martin, Haizley Martin, Klyne Martin, Heath Martin and Remi Smith. Services were held on July 22 at the Mountain View LDS Chapel.
Wyoming ranchers know all too well the challenges of feeding their herd through long winters, dry summers and unpredictable hay supplies. When forage is short or feed costs climb, it’s time to think outside the bale.
Building an alternative feeding strategy can help maintain reproductive efficiency, support calf growth and keep input costs in check, all while using what’s locally available.
Begin with a strategy
A sound feeding program begins with clear goals, including keeping cows on track for rebreeding and calving on schedule; maintaining calf weight per cow and minimizing feed cost per pound of calf sold.
To meet these goals, consider the following Wyoming-adapted feeding principles.
Use what you’ve got. Maximize the use of local feeds – grass hay, millet, corn stalks, straw or whatever’s affordable and available.
Test and balance. Get a forage analysis and build rations to meet the cow’s nutritional needs – not more, not less.
Supplement wisely.
Low-quality roughages like wheat straw or late-cut hay can work if paired with the right protein and energy sources.
Feed smart. High-need animals like lactating cows or growing heifers should get the best feeds.
Save lower-quality roughage for cows in midgestation.
Make the most of hay and grain
A good rule of thumb is one pound of grain can replace about two pounds of alfalfa or three pounds of grass hay.
Grain isn’t always easy to feed on pasture or rangeland, but Wyoming producers have found creative solutions – barrels, split pipe, old bunks and even feeders mounted on trailers.
For some, moving cows to a drylot during winter or drought can make it easier to feed limit-fed, highenergy rations. These grainheavy diets reduce forage demand and lower feed costs, but they also require close management.
Limit intake, monitor condition and always provide at least 0.5 percent of body weight in roughage to support rumen health.
Transition cows slowly to high-grain diets over seven to 10 days. Start with two to three pounds of grain per head and free-choice hay, then increase grain and reduce hay gradually. Provide plenty of bunk space, feed twice a day if possible and keep a close eye on body condition.
Alternative feed options
In addition to hay and grain, a variety of byproducts and crop residues can supplement the Wyoming cow herd.
Corn stalks, millet hay, wheat straw and sorghumsudan are often cheaper but need protein supplementation. Note, millet hay and sorghum-sudangrass may have nitrate issues under
drought, so stop by a local Extension office and ask about testing forages.
Soybean hulls contain 10 to 16 percent protein, are a good source of energy and can be fed with or without hay.
Wheat middlings are high in both protein – at 18 percent – and energy.
Corn gluten feed are high in protein – at 25 percent – and great with a forage base.
Cottonseed hulls are low in protein but energydense, and should be paired with protein supplements.
Always provide a good mineral mix – especially calcium and phosphorus –and consider adding vitamin A during the winter or when feeding low-quality roughages.
Thinking outside the bale
During tough years, like the 2018 drought or COVID-era feed disruptions, producers have turned to unconventional feeds – distillers’ grains, cull potatoes and even sweet potatoes.
For example, “cow lasagna” is a popular way to stretch wet distillers’ grains. To do this, roll a cheap grass hay bale, layer on the wet grains, then repeat. Pack it down, cover it with plastic and let it ferment for 30-plus days. The result is a preserved, silage-style feed that lasts longer and reduces spoilage.
feeding plan or interpreting forage tests? Contact a local Extension office.
is the UW Extension agriculture and natural resources educator serving Park County. She can be reached at 307-7548836 or mgetz@uwyo.edu.
If feeding root crops like cull potatoes, process first to reduce choking risk, especially in competitive feeding settings. Monitor cows carefully when introducing new feeds or switching diets abruptly and always evaluate the nutritional and economic value of any alternative before committing.
The bottom line is Wyoming beef producers are no strangers to tough decisions, especially when it comes to feed. But with smart planning, local resources and flexible thinking, producers can keep cows productive even when the hay pile is running low.
Need help building a
July 21-Aug. 2 Albany County Fair, Laramie. For more information, visit albanycountyfair.org
July 22-25 2025 American Lamb Summit, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. For more information or to register, visit lambboard.com
July 22-26 Park County Fair, Powell. For more information, visit parkcountyeventsandfair.com
July 23 Northeast Wyoming Sage Grouse Local Working Group Meeting, 1 p.m., Peregrine Global Services, Gillette. For more information, visit wgfd.wyo. gov/wyoming-wildlife/sage-grouse-management/sage-grouse-local-workinggroups
July 23-26 Sublette County Fair, Big Piney. For more information, visit sublettecountyfair.com
July 25 Wyoming State Fairgrounds Volunteer Day Three, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Wyoming State Fairgrounds, Douglas. For more information, visit wystatefair.com
July 25-26 Red Desert Roundup Rodeo, Sweetwater Events Complex, Rock Springs. For more information or to purchase a ticket, visit rdrodeo.com
July 25-Aug. 2 Niobrara County Fair, Lusk. For more information, visit facebook.com/NiobraraCountyFair
July 25-Aug. 3 Campbell County Fair, Gillette. For more information, visit campbellcountywy. gov/2280/Fair-Week-Activities
July 25-Aug. 3 Platte County Fair, Wheatland. For more information, visit plattecountyfair.org
July 26 Fifth Annual Art and Music Festival, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Crazy Woman Square, Buffalo. For more information, visit jcahc.org, call 307-217-1979 or e-mail jcahc16@gmail.com.
July 26-Aug. 2 Crook County Fair, Sundance. For more information, visit crookcofair.com
July 26-Aug. 2 Fremont County Fair, Riverton. For more information, visit fremontcountyfair.org
July 26-Aug. 2 Goshen County Fair, Torrington. For more information, visit goshencounty. org/226/Goshen-County-Fair
July 26-Aug. 2 Hot Springs County Fair, Thermopolis. For more information, visit facebook. com/hscfairgrounds
July 26-Aug. 2 Uinta County Fair, Evanston. For more information, visit uintacountywy. gov/1080/Uinta-County-Fair
July 26-Aug. 3 Johnson County Fair, Buffalo. For more information, visit johnsoncountyfairgrounds.com/fair
July 26-Aug. 3 Sweetwater County Fair, Rock Springs. For more information, visit sweetwaterevents.com
July 26-Aug. 3 Weston County Fair, Newcastle. For more information, visit westoncountyfair.org
July 27-Aug. 4 Sheridan County Fair, Sheridan. For more information, visit sheridancountyfairgrounds.com
July 28-Aug. 3 Big Horn County Fair, Basin. For more information, visit bighornfair.com
July 30-Aug. 9 Laramie County Fair, Cheyenne. For more information, visit laramiecountyevents.com/fair
July 31-Aug. 1 National Strip-Tillage Conference, Iowa City, Iowa. For more information or to register, visit striptillfarmer.com
Aug. 1-9 Lincoln County Fair, Afton. For more information, visit facebook.com/LincolnCountyFair
Aug. 2-9 Carbon County Fair, Rawlins. For more information, visit carboncountyfairgrounds.com
Aug. 3-8 Great American Farmers’ Market, National Mall, Washington, D.C. For more information, visit usda.gov/gafm
Aug. 4 99th Anniversary of the Wyoming Pioneer Association Annual Meeting, Ruthe James Williams Memorial Conference Center, Wyoming State Fairgrounds, Douglas. For more information, visit wyomingpioneer.org
Aug. 6-7 Four States Irrigation Council’s Central Nebraska Tour, multiple locations, Nebraska. For more information, visit 4-states-irrigation.org
Aug. 6-8 High Plains Journal Live, Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center, Wichita, Kan. For more information or to register, visit hpjlive.com
Aug. 7 North Platte Valley Ag Expo and University of Wyoming Field Day, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Lingle. For more information, call 307-532-8267 or e-mail mwinchell@ewc.wy.edu.
Aug. 8-9 Colorado Outdoorsman Days, Pathfinder Park, Florence, Colo. For more information, visit coloradooutdoorsmandays.com or call 719-275-4077.
Aug. 9 Inaugural University of Wyoming Extension Ag and Art Tour, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Albany County. For more information, visit bit.ly/ag-art-site or e-mail wyagandarttour@gmail.com.
Aug. 12 Cowboy Cornhole Tournament, 11 a.m., Event Tent, Wyoming State Fairgrounds, Douglas. For more information or to register, visit form.jotform. com/251774419743162
Aug. 12-16 Wyoming State Fair, Wyoming State Fairgrounds, Douglas. For more information, visit wystatefair.com
Big Horn Basin Livestock Auction will be having their last summer sale Thursday, June 26.
We will be tearing out the indoor ring to put in ring scales the months of July and August. Due to the construction, we will not be having any live auctions during these months.
We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. If you have livestock that you need to market during these months, please contact Danny Vigil at 307-388-0781 or the office at 307-347-9201. We will start with our first Thursday sale on September 4, 2025.
We appreciate your understanding.
July 28-Aug 1
Superior Livestock Auction Video Royale, 800-422-2117, superiorlivestock.com
Aug. 2 Montana Horse Progress Days Sale, Moore, Mont., 406-366-4667, montanahorseprogressdays.com
Aug. 11-12
Aug. 12-13
Aug. 18-19
Aug. 18-22
Aug. 23
Aug. 23
Aug. 23-26
Aug. 24
Aug. 30
Aug. 30
Sept. 9
Sept. 11
Sept. 12-13
Sept. 13
Sept. 15
Sept. 16
Oct. 11
Oct. 22
Western Video Market, Little America, Cheyenne, 530-347-3793, wvmcattle.com
Cattle Country Video Oregon Trail Classic, Gering Civic Center, Gering, Neb., 888-322-8853, cattlecountryvideo.com
Northern Livestock Video Auction Early Fall Preview, 866-616-5035, northernlivestockvideo.com
Superior Livestock Auction Big Horn Classic, 800-422-2117, superiorlivestock.com
Memory Ranches Third Annual Foal Sale, at the ranch, Wells, Nev., 208412-6156, 208-695-0399, memoryranches.com
Colorado Horse Sale, Adams County Fairgrounds, Brighton, Colo., 970-7448989, coloradohorsesale.com
Lauing Mill Iron L Ranch 20th Annual QH Production Sale, online auction only, prohorseservices.com, 605-347-6193, 605-280-0698, 605-280-0398, lauingmillironlranch.com
RQHBA 25th Annual Horse Sale, Besler’s Cadillac Ranch, Belle Fourche, S.D., 605-347-1964, 605-639-9482, rqhba.com
Proffit Ranch 24th Annual Labor Day Horse Sale, Diamond X Barn, Evanston, 307-723-5857, proffitranch.blogspot.com
Huskerland Horse Sale Extravaganza, Burwell Livestock Market, Burwell, Neb., 308-383-0039, dvauction.com
97th Annual Wyoming State Ram Sale, Wyoming State Fairgrounds, Douglas, 307-265-5250, wyowool.com/ramsale
Cattle Country Video Frontier Fall Roundup, Cheyenne Frontier Days Event Center, Cheyenne, 888-322-8853, cattlecountryvideo.com
Van Norman and Friends 29th Annual Production Sale, Elko County Fairgrounds, Elko, Nev., 775-934-7404, vannormansale.com
Open Box Rafter Ranch Quarter Horses 32nd Annual Production Sale, Rapid City, S.D., 605-538-4450, rafterranch.com
Northern Livestock Video Auction Fall Premier, 866-616-5035, northernlivestockvideo.com
Western Video Market, Haythorn Ranch, Ogallala, Neb., 530-347-3793, wvmcattle.com
Colorado Horse Sale, Montrose County Fairgrounds, Montrose, Colo., coloradohorsesale.com, 970-744-8989
Micheli Cattle Company Bull Sale, at the ranch, Ft. Bridger, 307-747-7786, 307-747-3897, micheliranch.com
Compiled by Dick Perue rrichardperue@gmail.com
Prior to reading last week’s Roundup I had a different Postcard in mind. However, the sheep festival news item reminded me of a past article worth repeating about the invention of “Wyoming’s home on the range.”
A Carbon County blacksmith by the name of James Candlish is credited with building the first authentic sheep wagon in Rawlins in 1884 from an idea given to him by George Ferris, pioneer sheepman, mine operator and businessman.
Born in 1841 in Canada, Candlish was raised in Montreal where he learned wagon making and blacksmith trades. He came to the U.S. as a young man and was hired as a blacksmith by the Union Pacific (UP) Railroad.
Candlish followed the building of the UP tracks in the 1860s and settled at Ft. Fred Steele, 12 miles west of Rawlins in southcentral Carbon County.
At the fort, Candlish entered the employ of the U.S. Government and remained there until the early 1880s when the troops were being taken away. He moved to Rawlins and opened a blacksmith shop of his own and, among other things, built sheep wagons for local ranchers.
For nearly 140 years, the sheep wagon – sometimes called a “Home on the Range” or more poetically “The Ship of the Desert” has housed herders who tend the flocks in Wyoming.
But, then, that’s another Postcard.
When the fifth annual meeting of the Wyoming Wool Growers Association was held in Rawlins in 1909, W.M. Daley, one of the first sheep ranchers in Carbon County and secretary of the Carbon County Woolgrowers, supervised the designing and making of 500 commemorative watch fobs for distribution to convention delegates. The fob was comprised of three gold disks held together by links. The top disk reads, “5th Annual Convention, Wyoming Wool Growers’ Assn., Rawlins, Jan. 11-12, 1909” encircling a sheep’s head. The second disk is a portrait of James Candlish encircled with “The Inventor James Candlish.” The third disk shows a replica of the first sheep wagon surrounded by the wording, “First Modern Sheep Palace was made in Rawlins 1884.” It was noted the Carbon County Museum in Rawlins has a picture of the fob – shown here – but that the depository does not have an actual fob and hopes someday one of the 500 will surface and be donated to the museum which has an extensive display of Wyoming’s sheep industry.
Photo courtesy of Carbon County Museum. Historical Reproductions by Perue
to reflect net grower prices. Wools shorter than 75 mm typically discounted .10-.20 clean. Classed and skirted wools usually trade at a .10-.20 premium to original bag
US
Pinto
Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News, Torrington
Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News, Greeley, CO National Sheep Summary As of July 18, 2025
Compared to last week slaughter wooled and shorn lambs sold steady. Slaughter ewes sold unevenly steady. All sheep sold per hundred weight (CWT) unless otherwise specified. Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 1-3 San Angelo: wooled and shorn 50-60 lbs 260.00; 60-70 lbs 258.00.00-265.00; 70-80 lbs 256.00-268.00. Billings: 70-80 lbs 214.00; 90-100 lbs 212.50. Ft. Collins: 60-70 lbs 205.00-222.50; 70-80 lbs 200.00; 80-90 lbs 200.00-205.00; 90-100 lbs 190.00-200.00; 100-110 lbs 200.00-205.00; 120-130 lbs 185.00-195.00. Sioux Falls: 60-70 lbs 230.00-245.00; 70-80 lbs 225.00240.00; 80-90 lbs 226.00-235.00; 90-100 lbs 220.00-235.00; 100-110 lbs 220.00-225.00; 110-120 lbs 225.50-233.00, 120130 lbs 224.00-233.00; 130-140 lbs 220.00-236.00; 140-150 lbs 231.00-240.00. Equity Coop: No test. Slaughter Ewes San Angelo: Good 2-3 94.00-116.00.
Billings: Good 2-3 80.00-102.00; Good 3-4 80.00-96.50. Ft. Collins: Good 2-3 80.00-115.00; Good 3-4 88.50-130.00. Sioux Falls: Good 2-3: 80.00-100.00; Good 4-5: 100.00; Utility 1-2: 65.00-90.00. Feeder Lambs: Medium and Large 1 San Angelo: No test.
Billings: 40-50 lbs 240.00-245.00; 50-60 lbs 232.00-240.00; 60-70 lbs 232.00-239.00; 70-80 lbs 229.00-240.00; 80-90 lbs 220.00-230.50; 90-100 lbs 210.00-222.00; 100-110 lbs 204.00215.00; 110-120 lbs 199.00-208.00.
Ft. Collins: No test.
Sioux Falls: 40-50 lbs 270.00-295.00; 50-60 lbs 265.00277.50; 60-70 lbs 230.00-260.00; 70-80 lbs 225.00. Equity Coop: 90-100 lbs 223.50. Replacement Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2 San Angelo: No test.
Ft. Collins: No test.
South Dakota: No test.
Billings: Medium and Large 1-2 open young 100-140 lbs 130.00-180.00; open aged 120-190 lbs 87.00-93.00. Sheep and lamb slaughter under federal inspection for the week to date totaled 33,000 compared to 34,000 last week and 35,071 last year.
Source: USDA AMS LPG Market News, San Angelo, Texas
Source: USDA- CO Dept of Ag Market News Service, Greeley, CO
Wyoming Hay Summary
As of July 24, 2025
Compared to two weeks ago, all reported hay sales sold steady. Demand was mostly light, instances moderate. Some buyers started to procure pretty large amounts of tonnage in the last two weeks. Hay quality and tonnage has been all over the place this year. Some producers are still selling old crop hay. Some producers out west finishing up on first cutting of hay. Producers in the east are starting on the second cutting or have finished. Dairy quality hay across the state is in short supply. Western areas remain dry with some areas in the east getting spotty rain showers. Overall it has been a very trying year across the state for the hay producers. Central Wyoming
normally put up much of their own hay,
Publication in this newspaper does not guarantee the legitimacy of any
or solicitation. Take reasonable steps to evaluate an offer before you send money or provide personal/financial information to an advertiser. If you have questions or believe you have been the victim of fraud, contact the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Unit, 109 Capitol Building, Cheyenne, WY 82002, 307-777-6397 TFN
UP IN ARMS, LLC FLEA MARKET AND GUN SHOW AUG. 29-31 Gillette, WY at the CAMPLEX. Open to the public. Fri., Aug. 29, 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Sat., Aug. 30, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Aug. 31, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Giving away a .22 pistol Sunday at 2 p.m., must be present to win, 21 years of age and able to pass background check. Buy, sell, trade. Adults $6, children 12 and under free (when accompanied by an adult). For more information, contact Lisa, 208-4202295 8/23
COYOTE DAYS 2025: The largest gathering of predator control and fur harvesting experts in the world. Twenty instructional demos on all aspects of the industry. Come learn about an outdoor activity that can be very rewarding. Aug. 1516, Niobrara Co. Fairgrounds, Lusk, WY. Vendors, drawings, banquet, fur fashion show and more. For more information, call 307-334-9930 8/9
Currently hiring for multiple positions at multiple locations! Call 307-237-9301 for details. Equal Opportunity Employer Vets, Disability
LOOKING FOR A FULL-TIME FARM/RANCH EMPLOYEE:
Seeking a motivated individual to assist in day-to-day operations of our working ranch. The role supports the current foreman and works alongside to ensure smooth and efficient operation of livestock, haying, equipment and facility management. Applicant must have a strong agricultural background and a hands-on approach to problem solving and daily ranch work. The position is long term and offers a clear path to increased responsibilities, pay and leadership over time. Location of the ranch is remote. Housing is provided and on a school bus route. Position open immediately. Please send resume with references by mail or e-mail to: PeeGee Ranch, 1251 Lower Powder River Road, Arvada, WY 82831, pgranch@rangeweb.net. Call 307-736-2461 8/9
CORRECTIONS AGRICULTURE
CORPS PROGRAM SUPERVI-
BULLS FOR SALE: Registered yearling and 2-year-old Black Angus range bulls for sale private treaty. Good selection for heifers and cows. From popular sires and industry leaders. Semen tested and ready to go. CLAY CREEK ANGUS, 307-762-3541, www. claycreek.net TFN
BULLS FOR SALE:
package that includes health insurance, dental, vision, 401(k), health savings, life insurance and paid vacation. Retention bonus offered to full-time employees. Incentives paid out at 6 months and 1 year of employment. If you are interested stop by and fill out an application or visit our website at Call Brandon Furr at 402-257-7769 or 402-746-2222 for more information.
WE’RE HIRING!! LOOKING TO FILL THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS AND ARE WILLING TO TRAIN: MEAT CUTTER, SLAUGHTER FLOOR OPERATIONS AND WRAPPERS. Located in Dayton, WY about 20 miles from Sheridan, WY. Starting pay is dependent on experience. We are starting between $20-$30/hour and will train you. If interested in any of the positions, please call 307-655-2551. You can also stop into our plant to apply or for more information, Valley Meat Co., 297 Hwy. 343, Dayton, WY 82836. If you have any questions about the positions, please feel free to send us an e-mail at sam@ valleymeatco.com. Thank you and looking forward to your application!! 8/16
SOR: Are you a seasoned ag leader wanting to make a real difference? Join Wyoming’s Department of Corrections as a Corrections Agriculture Corps Program Supervisor in Riverton, WY. You’ll manage everything from seed planting to harvest, supervise inmate workers and teach essential life and vocational skills while supporting livestock feed programs and sustaining farm equipment operations. Three to 4 years’ experience in agriculture/farming or bachelor’s in ag. Knowledge of crop science, irrigation and farm equipment. Strong leadership and safety awareness. Rewarding opportunity to contribute to public safety and inmate rehabilitation. $24.78/hour plus full benefits: Tuition reimbursement, retirement, health care. Riverton, WY, Wyoming Honor Farm. Learn more and apply: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/wyoming/ jobs/4943010/corrections-agriculture-crops-program-supervisor-2025-01356. Grow with us, help cultivate futures, both in the field and beyond. #WyomingJobs #Agriculture #Reentry #PublicService #LeadershipOpportunity 8/2
HEREFORD SEEDSTOCK OPERATION NEAR CHEYENNE, WY LOOKING FOR FULL-TIME RANCH EMPLOYEE. Duties include: Calving, extensive AI program, calf wintering and extensive fencing and corral repair. Plenty of cattle work but not a lot of riding. Housing and utilities provided and good schools on a bus route within 20 miles of home. Salary and DOE. Please send resume and references to jaberryherefords@msn.com or call 307-634-5178 7/26
DEVILS TOWER FOREST PRODUCTS A LUMBER MANUFACTURER IN HULETT, WY IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FULL-TIME PLANER, SAWMILL, MILLWRIGHT AND BOILER POSITIONS: Benefit package includes company paid medical and dental insurance (including dependents), life insurance, company matching 401(k) retirement program, safety incentives, holiday pay and paid vacation. Mandatory employment and random drug testing conducted. D.O.E. Contact Joe Ortner at 307467-5252 you can also send your application with resume to joe.ortner@devilstowerfp. com E.O.E 8/2
AGRI-ONE FINANCIAL: Farm/ranch and all commercial loans. RATES AS LOW AS 5%. We have been helping with all aspects of agricultural, commercial financing and management for years. LET US HELP YOU on a consulting level with management to increase profitability, deal with and fix credit problems and for all your financing needs. WE CARE AND HAVE WORKING PROGRAMS designed for the farmer/rancher and not the banker. Please call Steve, 303-7733545 or check out our website, www.agrionefinancial.com. I will come to you and get the job done!! 8/9
MINI SHEEPADOODLES: Mom (mini sheepadoodles) first generation AKC Old English sheepdog/AKC toy poodle. Sire of this litter is 5 lb. AKC toy poodle. Perfect little lap babies. Small healthy home raised beautiful babies. UTD on shots, vet checked, microchipped, pellet box trained. $900-$2,000. May be able to help with delivery. Call 307-272-3180. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 8/16
MULTIGEN MEDIUM BERNEDOODLES AVAILABLE!! Pups are non-shedding hypoallergenic, come with UTD shots, microchipped, dewormed and health guarantee, 50-60 lbs. full grown. Happy to arrange delivery or do a FaceTime. Visit www.yellowstonedoodles.com Price $3,500. Please reach out with questions. Call 307-272-5976. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 8/2
SPRINGER SPANIEL PUPPIES FOR SALE: Great hunters and family dogs. Health tested. AKC registered. Wyoming Springer Spaniels, 307-575-5703. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 7/26
“SCOUT”: MALE MERLE, MINI AUSSIE: Born June 4, $750, Laramie, WY. Call 307761-2449. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 7/26
AKC LABRADOR RETRIEVER PUPPIES, yellow, ready July 10, will be vet checked, first shots and dewormed. Very cute and playful. Call 307-272-6738 7/26
for heifers and cows. Smaller framed, efficient, easy fleshing, good dispositions. Not fat, but in great shape and ready to go to work. Have been worked with dogs, on foot and horseback. Raised in rugged, rough, steep, rocky, high elevation country. Red Fork Red Angus, Ken & Cheri Graves, Kaycee, WY, phone 307-7382247, cell 307-267-0724, email gravesredfork@rtconnect.net 8/2
RANCHERS QUARTER HORSE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION SALE AUG. 24: Located at Besler’s Cadillac Ranch, Belle Fourche, S.D. Selling 81 head. Yearling Futurity $3,000 added. Featuring a yearling in-hand trail class!! All 2024 foals eligible to win in 2025. Ranch Horse Futurity, added money, open to 2and 3-year-olds sold through the sale. Invitational saddle horse session, have 21 riders and 7 yearlings. Online bidding available day of sale with pre-approval through Tri-State Livestock at www.thestockshow. hibid.com/auctions/current For more information, call Clete Schmidt, 605-641-0669 or Susan Riesland, 605-6399482, www.rqhba.com. “The Sale Where You Can Buy With Confidence” 8/16
Saddles & Tack
GET READY FOR STATE FAIR AT MOSS SADDLES, BOOTS AND TACK!! Ride with pride, LARGE selection of TOP brand names and QUALITY tack!! $AVE on BOOTS: HONDO, BOULET, JUSTIN WORK BOOTS, TWISTED X (boots and shoes) and more!! WE CAN ship!! Shop Moss Saddles, Boots and Tack, 4648 West Yellowstone Highway, Casper, WY; 307-472-1872. Our family serving yours for 50 years!! Check us out on Facebook or our website 7/26
CUSTOM FEEDING AND FINISHING FOR CATTLE AND SHEEP. Cactus Hill Ranch Company, Fort Collins, CO. Contact AJ Nelson, 970372-8273 8/2
FAITHFUL FEEDERS: Heifer development, backgrounding, and grass calf prep. Billings, MT. Call Ryan, 406-696-0104 4/11
WEANER
HAMP/SUFFOLK CROSS, POLYPAY/DORSET CROSS RAMS FOR SALE: These rams are big boned, heavy muscled and high performing. They are not tall frame sheep. We sell all across the Midwest. Call DJ, 605-929-0337 8/16
GERDES HAMPSHIRES HAS 32 REGISTERED PUREBRED HAMPSHIRE RAMS: Born in the winter of 2025. Our rams are big framed, fast growing with plenty of depth, muscle and bone. These are wether producing type Hampshires without excessive leg length but possess tremendous thickness of loin and leg. Rams are sired by stud rams purchased from leading Hampshire sheep breeders at national sales and are sired by sons of Unicorn, UFFDA and Jackalope. For more information, call or text Darrell Gerdes of Madison, S.D. at 402-760-0104. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 8/30
1/17
PARK COUNTY, WY RANCH
NEAR CODY, WY IS AVAIL-
ABLE FOR A LONG-TERM
LEASE: The ranch has over 50,000 acres and supports an irrigated hay base with BOR water rights. Carrying capacity is 700 animal units year-round with hay production. Willing to split the hay ground and grazing. Please e-mail Honora Beirne (hbeirne@acpg.com) and Melanie Giliati (mgiliati@acpg. com) for details 8/16
VERY NICE, FIRST OR SECOND CUTTING ALFALFA FOR SALE: Located in the Sterling, CO area. Call 970520-7775 8/16
HAY FOR SALE: Alfalfa, mix and grass. Rounds and squares. Call 605-670-9242 7/26
VALLEY VIDEO HAY MARKETS, LLC: Representing 40 of the best growers in eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska. Call now for your summer/fall needs, Barry McRea, 308-2355386, www.valleyvideohay. com 8/16
ROUND-BALED GRASS: 2024 crop $30/bale, need to move. ALSO, 2025 crop 1,000 lb. netwrapped bales. Cody, WY area. Call, don’t text, Anthony at 307-254-2645 8/16
BARLEY STRAW : Certified weed-free small squares, $4/ bale. ALSO, 5x6 round bales, $125/ton. GRAIN OATS, wheat and barley, $20/cwt. Greybull, WY area. Call 307762-3878 or 307-899-4714, leave message 8/9
2025 CERTIFIED GRASS HAY
SMALL SQUARE BALES: Barn stored, $10/bale, 71 lb. average. 2025 GRASS ROUND BALES, net wrapped, $220/ton. 2025 ALFALFA ROUND BALES, net wrapped, $240/ton. 1,300 lb. average on rounds. No rain on any. ALSO, some 2024 net-wrapped grass and alfalfa bales available. Bales handled with skid steer 8 pack and tractor with bale spear. Powell, WY. Call 307254-4865 8/9
TONS AND TONS OF HAY FOR SALE!!! Alfalfa, alfalfa/ grass mix, straight grass (crested wheat and native grasses), winter wheat, 1,3001,350 lb. net-wrapped round bales. Deliveries are available if needed or come and get it. Sheridan, WY area. Call the ranch, 307-737-2680 or 307751-2068 (cell) 8/2
CERTIFIED WEED-FREE
PURE ALFALFA HAY: Small squares, averaging 70-80 lbs. each. 2025 first cutting available for $225/ton. ALSO, 100+ tons of 2024 hay with weather damage. Would be good cow hay or great for compost. $50/ton. Will load trucks and any open trailer. MONIDA OATS: $16/cwt. Combine run. Will auger into truck, trailer or large totes/ag bags. Located between Powell and Cody, WY. Call or text Knopp Farms for details, 307-254-0554 8/16
CERTIFIED BARLEY STRAW FOR SALE, 3x4 bales. Cody, WY. Call 307-899-1952 TFN
2025 HAY AVAILABLE: Round bales and small squares. Grass/alfalfa mix and alfalfa. ALSO, have certified grass and alfalfa. Located in Powell, WY. Call JK, 307254-8201 8/16
CERTIFIED ORGANIC ALFALFA/GRASS MIX HAY: No chemicals, 3x3 squares and round bales. Adrian Troyer, Byron, WY. Call 307-6314104 12/27
HAY FOR SALE: Approximately 430 tons of 2024 straight rye grass and grass/alfalfa mix. No sorting, Cody, WY. Call 307899-4532, early mornings or before 9 p.m. 7/26
HAY FOR SALE: 2022 first and second cutting alfalfa. 2023 first and second cutting alfalfa, milo and grass/alfalfa. 2024 first and second cutting alfalfa, grass/alfalfa. ALSO, haybet barley, call for feed analysis. GRINDING HAY also available. UPCOMING 2025 NEW CROP, first cutting alfalfa and grass/alfalfa mix. All in net-wrapped round bales. Semi load delivery available. Call for pricing, ask for Klint, 701-290-4418, send a text if no answer or keep trying 7/26
90 NET-WRAPPED ROUND BALES, 1,500 lbs. grass/alfalfa mix, 2024 crop, $125/ton. Located in Cody, WY. Calls only, 307-899-3737 7/26
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, FARMER RETIRING: John Deere 71 Flex 8 row corn planter on a 24’ stackable bar. AC Model 1300 30’ ripper with rakes. A 20’ Krause offset disc (new blades in front). 24’ Model 630 John Deere tandem disc. Safety pull with a bull hitch. 2003 IHC 9400I Eagle semi fifth wheel truck, Cat engine, 26’ end dump trailer with roll tarp. 1997 Kenworth T800, Detroit engine, 20’ box with hoist, roll tarp, both beet and grain end gates. John Deere front suitcase weights. IHC front suitcase weights. Contact Greg Keller at 406679-1136 8/16
Please Contact Brett Osborne at 307.262.1235 about any Commercial Vehicle
2025 RAM Tradesman crew cab, gas, 8’ flatbed in stock SheridanMotors.com
2012 FORD F650 FLATBED: 6.7L Cummins, Allison automatic. Good condition, 18’ flatbed, Vanair PTO driven air compressor, 161,000 miles. Best offer. Golden, CO. Call Eric at 720-312-9582. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 8/2
FEATHERLITE 2001, 3-horse, gooseneck, slant load. Large, carpeted tack room, water tank and excellent tires. $8,750. Leave message, 307-6348410, Cheyenne, WY 8/2
Mention this special discount code: WLR725
1960 JOHN DEERE 95 COMBINE, round back, 16’. All new belts, stored inside, overhaul on engine. $2,500. Call Ivan, 307-629-0974 TFN
NEW HOLLAND 7150 HAYBINE: 18’ head. Stored inside off season, 300 acres on guards and sickle, $19,000. Call 701-269-3621 7/26
2009 JOHN DEERE 6430 TRACTOR: 2,850 hours, MFWD, 16 speed powerquad, L.H. reverser, 18.4R34 tires, with John Deere 673 loader, 7’ bucket, excellent condition. $79,500. 2011 JOHN DEERE 6430 PREMIUM TRACTOR: 1,540 actual hours, MFWD, 24 speed autoquad, L.H. reverser, 18.4R38 tires, many options, with 2015’ John Deere H340 self-leveling loader and 8’ grapple bucket. ONE OWNER. Like new. $107,500. Call 651-338-6861. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 8/16
FOR SALE: Lorenz 16’x29’ 17 ton balemover. Tonutti 7 wheel finger rake. Rowse 9’ pull type mower. Rowse 9’ 3 pt. mower. H&S 14 wheel high capacity v-rake. New Holland H7460 16’ pull type discbine. J&M gravity box with 12 ton gear and truck tires. 2024 AGT mini excavator H13R with tracks, new machine, $5,000. Ford 7N tractor with wide front, runs great. John Deere 3975 silage cutter with 3RN green cutter head. Burns portable calf creep feeder. Burns portable loading chute. ForMost cattle working chute with palp cage and automatic headgate. 2016 Mack semi with MP7 engine and automatic transmission. 2020 Freightliner, automatic transmission, DD13 engine, 178” wheelbase, 407,673 miles, runs and drives nice. Miller Pro 5100 18’ chuckwagon with bunk feeding extensions and tandem running gear. H&S 7+4 18’ chuckwagon with bunk feeding extensions and tandem 14 ton running gear. 12’ HD box scraper with tilt. All in very nice condition!! Call 605-999-5482 7/26
JOHN DEERE 106 COMBINE FOR PINTO BEANS: Spike tooth cylinder, folding belt conveyor, bean leg, Sund pickup, stored inside, well maintained. Comes with extra parts, $4,500 Minto, N.D. For more information, call 701360-3181 7/26
FOR SALE: WATER TRAILER with (4) 1,500 gallon water tanks, 3 cones, 2 pumps, 50 ft. hose, electric start. ALSO, International 1256 tractor and John Deere 4520 tractor. Call 701-290-2504 8/9
CASE IH 8920: Clean tractor, always shedded, 4,343 hours., MFWD, 3 remotes, 18 speed power shift, 172 HP, tires very good, 540/1000 PTO, rear duals, everything works. $73,500. Call 307-331-0446. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 8/2
2023 KIOTI RX7320: Power shuttle with creep, 73 HP, 3 remotes, live hydraulics to the front, fluid in tires, block heater, 92 hours and Bluetooth stereo. $48,500. For more details, call 307-388-3300 8/9
ARTSWAY 786A BEET DEFOLIATOR: 6 row 22 inch, 1 steel, 2 rubber drums. Steerable wheels, scalpers, extra parts. Very good working condition. Call 406-5910797 8/2
JOHN DEERE 4230, 70-SERIES: Cab, A/C and heat, power shift with John Deere 158 loader, 9,000 hours. $15,000 or consider trade. Call 406-847-2636 7/26
CASE 1070 TRACTOR: 5,000 plus hours, with Du-Al loader and grapple. $12,500. Calls only, 307899-3737 7/26
RAIL TIES: #1-9 ft., #1 and #2-8 ft. USED CULVERTS: Three ft., 2 ft., 18” and various lengths. ALSO, 14 pieces of heavy duty schedule 80 PVC, 3.5” ID, 20’ long with stainless steel couplers. Call EMC2, 307-630-2345 or 307-5345253 7/26
MANUFACTURER OF HEAVY DUTY CONTINUOUS FENCE: Corral panels, farm gates, free standing panels and more. Call for pricing and delivery, Rocky Ridge Welding, Nevada, MO, 417-549-1077 8/9
MONTANA RAILROAD SERVICES: Railroad ties, switch ties and other railroad materials for fencing and landscaping. Best pricing and quality in the region. Call 406-962-3514, Silesia, MT. Located 10 miles south of Laurel, MT (off of Clarks River Rd., the old highway). Visit our website www.mtrrservices. com 7/26
Save $100s. Free shipping, www.balerbelts.com. Call Hammond Equipment, 334627-3348 10/25
Please call 605580-0493 7/26
2015 GRAIN AUGER 14122
FARM KING: Less than 100,000 bushels ran through it. The flighting and tube on this auger are twice as heavy as a Westfield. Hydraulic swing out, $40,000 would consider any reasonable offer. ALSO, 2001 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC, long hood C15 Cat engine less than 100,000 miles on complete overhaul at Butler machinery, 18 speed tag axle, new steering tires, drive tires over 60%, wet kit with 4 remote tower in cab. Day cab, would be willing to pull engine and sell separately, $60,000 for complete truck. If interested in engine or want more details, call 605-228-0471 8/9
RETIREMENT SALE!! Corral panels, Cattle Master squeeze chutes, John Deere 6400 tractors ($40,000/each), Peterbilt 379, step deck trailer. Call 208-6518698 8/2
LODGEPOLE OUTDOOR FURNACES, 307-223-2046. Your authorized Central Boiler Dealer. Get your outdoor wood furnace today!! $2,000 tax credit on qualifying models!! Efficient wood heat. Heat multiple buildings. Invest in your heating, don’t just pay for it!! See us at www.cb.lodgepoleproducts. com!! 7/26
LODGEPOLE PRODUCTS, 307-742-6992, SERVING AGRIBUSINESSES SINCE 1975!! Treated posts, corral poles, buck-and-rail, western rail, fence stays, rough-sawn lumber, bedding. SEE US at www.lodgepoleproducts.com and click our “Picking A Fence Post” tab to see why folks choose our posts!! TFN Copper wire is being stolen from electrically powered pivot systems world-wide. Many growers
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11th overall.
Local talent was on display in the four-legged athletes as well, with the majority of bucking stock provided by Summit Pro Rodeo of Laramie in addition to several Wyomingbased subcontractors.
Wyoming winners
Hadley Thompson of Yoder etched her name in the NHSFR history books this year with championship finishes in the breakaway roping and goat tying. Thompson collected an impressive 1,520 points throughout the week across four events –barrels, breakaway, team roping and goat tying – to secure the All-Around Cowgirl title.
These honors come less than a month after Hadley’s sister Haiden Thompson earned the All-Around Cowgirl title at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper.
In an interview with WyoPreps, Hadley credits her wins in the goat tying and breakaway roping to her horse “CD Smokin’ Miss Kitty” – a six-year-old registered Quarter Horse mare she calls Salty.
“Salty, she’s one of a kind,” Thompson says. “I couldn’t do it without her. We got her when she was a yearling, and I did everything with her from the first ride to now. She’s been such a huge blessing to me.”
Together, Thompson and Salty clocked fast times of 2.95, 2.24 and 2.05 seconds in the breakaway and 6.54, 7.17 and 6.31 seconds in the goat tying. Both championship runs were the fastest times of the entire rodeo.
Salty finished the American Quarter Horse Association Girls Horse of the Year contest in first place with 1,350 points – a more than 500-point lead over the second-place finisher.
NEW MEXICO RANCH 209+ ACRES, 38 miles to Albuquerque, N.M. Incredible mountain views and your livestock from a 1,000+ sq. ft. deck. 2,843 sq. ft., 3 bed, 2 bath home. Two car carport, 2 car garage and RV bay. Pipe corrals, grow out pens, hay/implement/livestock barns, horse/tack/tool, riding arena, round pen area, vet clinic. $1,450,000. First Class Realty Services, Susan Wilson qualifying broker/realtor 505-328-4172, contact Jay 505-263-7419. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 8/2
WE WILL PICK UP SCRAP
IRON: On-site processing and removal. Receive $$$ top dollar $$$ for your junk!! Call for details, Pacific Steel and Recycling, 307-234-6006. Casper/Central Wyoming 7/26
“My horse worked great, I did my job, and it all worked out in my favor,” Thompson continues. “It feels great to know all of my hard work has paid off. I couldn’t do it without my sponsors, my family and my parents.”
Other Wyoming athletes left their mark in Rock Springs as well.
Taylor Hernandez of Kemmerer was named first runner up in the Queen Contest and Emeree Tavegie of Newcastle finished sixth in the pole bending. Brenson Bartlett of Cheyenne had a good week in the bull riding, finishing fourth with an aggregate score of 208 points.
Rough stock and steer wrestling
In the bareback riding, Braylon Johnson of Team Arizona took first with an aggregate score of 236 on three horses. Brody Dent of Team Oregon came in second with 234.5 points, followed by Daxtyn Feild of Team Utah in third with 234 points.
In the saddle bronc riding, Team Idaho’s Trey McFarlane reigned supreme with an aggregate score of 229 points. Bryett Larson of Team Utah finished second with 217.5 points, followed by Sutton Avedisian of Team Florida in third with 215 points.
The bull riding crowned Team Louisiana’s Ty LaVergne as champion with an aggregate score of 253 points. Team Idaho Cowboy Wyatt Bowman finished second with 229.5 points, followed by Carter Shaw of Team Louisiana in third with 228 points.
In the steer wrestling, Riley Currin of Team California took first with a total time of 17.25 seconds on three head. Dally Trussel of Team Oklahoma came in
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) awarded Powder River Energy Corporation (PRECorp) as the recipient of the 2024 Industry Wildlife Stewardship Award.
This award recognizes private companies in Wyoming who have significantly contributed to wildlife stewardship projects and have collaborated with WGFD to go above and beyond standard regulatory requirements to help conserve habitat and wildlife in the state.
Recipients for this award are selected from nominations submitted by WGFD personnel.
During the award presentation, WGFD Director Angi Bruce noted PRECorp’s environmental planning process takes into consideration the unique, potential impacts and risks to avian species which can be linked to power lines and associated infrastructure.
PRECorp’s conservation efforts include a development and implementation of its own internal Avian Protection Plan and Sage Grouse Protection Plan, which were implemented in 2005 and 2008, respectively. The company is currently an active member of the Northeast Wyoming Sage Grouse Local Working Group and has previously served on the Governor’s Sage Grouse Implementation Team.
PRECorp Program Manager Brenda Green expressed the company’s
excitement about receiving the award and viewed it as a clear reminder its ongoing conservation projects and efforts are far from complete.
“We see this award as recognition not as much for what we have done, but for what we will continue to do,” Green said. “We see this as a call to continue to keep improving our efforts, our engineering and the processes we have in place. We are committed to maintain and remain a consistent partner in conservation with WGFD.”
second place, followed by Ace Austin of Team Utah in third with times of 18.69 and 21.77 seconds, respectively. Team roping and tie-down roping
Team Kansas partners Dexton Hoelting and Jhett Vander Hamm took first place in the team roping with a total combined time of 21.2 seconds. They were followed by Hayden Hutchison and Trey Bohmback of Team North Dakota in second place with 21.48 seconds and Team Utah duo Koda Peterson and Heath Hammerstrom in third with 23.97 seconds.
Team Texas took all three top slots in the tiedown roping. Brodey Clemons finished first with 26.05 seconds on three calves, followed by Kyan Wilhite and Kolton Grimsley in second and third with aggregate times of 27.5 seconds and 28.99 seconds, respectively.
Barrel racing and breakaway roping
The battle for the top spot in the barrel racing was closely contested.
Team Louisiana Cowgirl Rylee Jo Maryman reigned supreme with an aggregate time of 51.79 seconds on three runs.
Team Mississippi’s Raegan Chance secured second with a time of 51.80 seconds, followed closely by Sam Mai of Team Idaho in third with 51.81 seconds.
Team Wyoming’s Hadley Thompson came out on top in the breakaway roping with a total combined time of 7.24 seconds.
Second place was split between Dally Exposito of Team Florida and Jessica Caspers of Team South Dakota whose aggregate times each amounted to 8.97 seconds.
Goat tying and pole bending
Thompson snagged another personal buckle and added some more points to Team Wyoming’s tally
For more information, visit nhsra.com/25nhsfrresults/.
with a first-place finish in the goat tying, clinching the championship title with 20.02 seconds on three head.
Nebraska cowgirl Sophie Hruby, who rodeos for Team South Dakota, took second place with an aggregate time of 21.5 seconds. Team Iowa’s Augusta Warren came in third with 21.81 seconds.
The pole bending competition crowned Gracie Snyder of Team Oklahoma as champion with 59.12 seconds on three runs. Zoey Wagoner of Team North Dakota landed second with runs amounting to 59.50 seconds. Team Nebraska Cowgirl Maci Herrington rounded out the top three with a total combined time of 60.34 seconds.
In the reined cow horse average, Talen Barry of Team Kansas finished first with a total combined score of 877 points. Calli Olson of Team Nebraska took second with a score of 873.5 points, followed by Team Colorado’s Landri Lisac with 872 points to finish third.
Makenzie Cowan of Team Oklahoma took home the girls cutting championship title with a score of 672. She was followed by Preslie Green of Team Texas in second with 670.5 points and Ashtyn Brown of Team Tennessee in third with 664 points.
The boys cutting champion was Team Tennessee’s Cody Gann with a score of 676. Tate LeBlanc of Team Texas finished second with 646 points, followed by Landon Beason of Team Mississippi in third with 644 points.
All-Around and team standings
In the overall team standings, Texas reigned supreme with 9,982 points. Utah and Idaho followed in second and third places with 9,878 and 7,889 points, respectively. Wyoming finished 11th overall with 3,750 points.
The champion girls’ team was Oklahoma with 4,355 points, followed by Texas with 3,985 points and Utah with 3,823 points. Wyoming ladies landed
sixth with 2,860 points. The champion boys’ team was Utah with 6,055 points, followed by Texas with 5,997 points and Idaho with 5,675 points. Team Wyoming placed 25th in the boys’ standings with 1,060 total points.
The All-Around Rookie Cowboy was Cooper Martin of Team North Dakota with 280 points, and the All-Around Rookie Cowgirl was Channing Robinson of Team New Mexico with 510 points.
The All-Around Cowboy was Cort Jones of Team Iowa with 1,020 points. The All-Around Cowgirl was Hadley Thompson, representing Team Wyoming, with an impressive 1,520 points. Full results from the 2025 NHSFR are available at nhsra.com. The 2026 NHSFR is set to rotate from Rock Springs to Lincoln, Neb. next summer.
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
aggressive deportation efforts, will put significant stress on the U.S. labor supply with the potential to impede economic growth.
U.S. economy
While the economy appears to be running well, as evidenced by low unemployment and easing inflation concerns, consumer sentiment remains historically low. A major reason for the sour mood among consumers is the escalating cost of housing.
The monthly cost of homeownership in the U.S. rose 60 percent between 2021-24. Rising unaffordability of homes has driven the homeownership rate lower for the first time since the aftermath of the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis.
For homebuilders, the economic situation and outlook are equally painful. New single-family housing starts have dropped by 16 percent over the last three months and the index of publicly traded homebuilders is down about 30 percent since late 2024.
U.S. government affairs
President Donald Trump scored a major legislative victory with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. As with all budget reconciliation efforts, politics took center stage, and this one may have caused the deepest political rift in a decade.
Fights over the farm program policy and funding addressed in the act left the traditional farm bill coalition in Congress fractured and longstanding industry alliances in doubt. Farmers and ranchers still walked away with significant wins, but rural economic development programs were cut or left out entirely and domestic food assistance received its largest funding cut in history.
In all, total farm bill program funding took a nearly $200 billion hit.
Grains, farm supply and biofuels
Favorable growing conditions in the U.S. and South America are pressuring corn prices, which fell seven percent last quarter on the prospects for a record U.S. harvest this fall.
Export demand for oldcrop U.S. corn and soybeans remains strong, but new-crop export sales are sluggish amid ongoing trade uncertainty.
Sales of new-crop soybeans are historically low due to the lack of Chinese demand.
The U.S. winter wheat harvest on the Plains has been hampered by heavy rains, but crop yields are set to be the best in years. U.S. wheat stocks available for blending were up 22.1 percent yearover-year, as of June 1.
Agriculture retailers and farm supply cooperatives enjoyed strong spring agronomy sales due to good weather conditions and increased corn acres. However, pre-sales for the 2026 growing season are projected to soften due to tariff uncertainty, higher interest rates and farmer profitability constraints.
As farmers look to minimize losses, many may choose to limit chemical applications. Agriculture retailers are delaying buying decisions and inventory builds due to higher input prices.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest cost of production estimates show a slight increase fro, 2025-26 with no relief in sight.
Lingering uncertainty surrounding U.S. biofuels policy continues to cast a shadow on the outlook for production and demand.
Renewable volume obligations, small refinery exemptions and the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit are the three legs the biofuels industry will be balancing on as the year progresses.
Soybean oil may be the winner in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed RVO change, as it likely shifts more domestic soybean oil to be used for biofuels. EPA indicated it would make its determination of small refinery exemptions by release of the final RVO rule at the end of October, which will also impact overall biofuels demand.
Animal protein and dairy Record-high beef cattle prices continue to support strong margins for cow/ calf producers and feedlot operators, while squeezing packers.
Calf prices hit a record $405 per hundredweight (cwt) in May, up 25 percent year-over-year. Tight sup-
plies have pushed feeder and fed cattle futures up at a similar pace. Feeder cattle futures for the nearby August contract were trading at $302 per cwt, up 18 percent from a year ago.
The supply of Prime and Choice graded beef is at its highest level since 1988, as U.S. beef producers have focused on improving meat quality to effectively boost demand.
Domestic and international demand for pork is gaining momentum with the start of grilling season and lower cold storage inventories.
Hog prices have jumped significantly through June. Lean hog futures on the CME surpassed $112 per cwt in June – the highest since July 2022. The pork carcass cutout value rose to average $103 per cwt in the second quarter.
Inventories of pork in cold storage were down seven percent year-over-year, signaling strong international demand for U.S. pork.
Domestically, new marketing campaigns are promoting pork’s taste and flavor, encouraging an upward move in prices for producers.
The U.S. broiler sector entered 2025 well positioned to serve the restaurant industry’s desire to show consumers an inflation-busting animal protein offering. Promotional activity and new chicken menu items throughout the quick service restaurant sector are meeting consumer demand for a valueadded meal.
Production of eggs and broiler meat are improving and setting new records to help meet the growing demand.
Broiler prices have seen an extraordinary boost from value-added product interest. Seasonal market pressure is likely as the year progresses, but demand should remain relatively stable.
The U.S. dairy herd is continuing to grow with 90,000 cows added since January. Most of this growth has occurred in Texas, Idaho, Kansas and South Dakota, all states with new dairy processing assets coming online.
Producer margins have been favorable enough for dairy farmers to retain cows for milk production rather than sending them to slaughter to capture record beef prices.
U.S. milk production increased by 1.6 percent year-
over-year in May – the highest monthly growth in over two years. Strong production has pushed butter exports to reach 87 percent of last year’s total through May.
Cotton, rice and sugar
Expectations for the second-smallest U.S. cotton crop in 10 years have lifted cotton prices, but not enough to cover farmers’ cost of production. Following two years of drought and disappointing yields, U.S. cotton farmers on the Plains are expected to enjoy bigger yields this year, but on a much smaller planted acreage.
USDA expects planted acreage for the 2025-26 crop to fall 9.5 percent to 10.1 million acres. Persistent pressure from a record Brazilian cotton harvest and uncertainty over trade policy with China, continue to limit prices from climbing to profitable levels for U.S. farmers.
Inclement weather during planting season in southern parts of the U.S. curbed long-grain rice acres, while medium-grain acreage in California rebounded as rejuvenated reservoirs allowed farmers to irrigate more acreage.
The shortfall in long-
grain rice will impair the U.S. exports program and domestic millers will compete for scarcer bushels.
Global rice prices continue to struggle under the weight of a flood of rice released from record Indian stockpiles. Strong U.S. exports of medium-grain rice, particularly to Japan, are a bright spot for U.S. rice farmers.
Sugar demand faces a multitude of headwinds, including widespread usage of GLP-1 dietary medications reducing consumer demand for snack foods.
World and U.S. sugar prices fell last quarter as a result of softening demand. Sugar manufacturers note consumer packaged goods companies have reduced forward bookings, resulting in higher-than-normal inventories.
Globally, lower fuel and ethanol prices have caused raw sugar mills to send sugar to the export market rather than to ethanol producers, increasing global sugar supplies.
Food and beverage
KPMG’s April 2025 consumer survey found 69 percent of consumers are eating more at home, with 85 percent of those citing budget constraints.
Restaurants are feeling the shift in consumer spending. Virtually all major chains in the country have experienced notable declines in recent quarters. Restaurants laser-focused on delivering value have had the best success in recent months.
CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. Headquartered outside of Denver, Colo., CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.
Food and beverage brands are reporting lessthan-stellar earnings in the most recent quarter, with companies from PepsiCo to Kraft Heinz lowering their fiscal year guidance. Others are taking a wait-and-see approach to the impact of tariffs and higher prices on their overall performance.
If the tariff does take effect, U.S. importers will be faced with a decision between paying the cost of Brazilian beef or obtaining it from other higher-cost sources.
Currently, Brazilian beef accounts for roughly 23 percent of U.S. beef imports. Cattle sourced from Brazil are key suppliers of the lean grind used in ground beef –one of the most popular beef products among American consumers.
A recent reduction of lean grinding beef produced domestically has caused meatpackers to rely heavily upon imports. Domestic cow slaughter has decreased dramatically in the past two years, with experts crediting the reduction to drought, rising production costs and a record-high cattle market.
“Liquidation resulted in not only a much smaller cow inventory, but also a much younger and more productive cow herd,” comments
John Nalivka, president of Sterling Marketing, Inc. in an opinion piece for Drovers “Consequently, cow slaughter has been sharply reduced
during 2024-25 as cattlemen now maintain herds in the face of record-high prices.”
Although the looming tariffs may present a short-term boost by directing demand back to the domestic front, experts warn weather conditions and high input costs may hinder the American market’s ability to expand quickly.
For now, Brazil appears to be preparing for the tariff to go into effect, with exporters beginning to pull back on cattle purchases in anticipation of decreased demand from American markets.
Cattlemen’s groups voice support
Several U.S. cattlemen groups are praising the proposed tariffs as a win for the domestic cattle market, including R-CALF USA and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).
Statements from representatives of each group credit the tariff as a potential boost for the domestic supply chain and a safeguard against health and safety concerns surrounding Brazilian beef.
R-CALF Chief Execu-
tive Officer Bill Bullard is in full support of the increased tariff against Brazil, viewing it as a win for the American market.
“It appears the Trump administration is looking out for our domestic supply chain, while previous administrations, for many years, bowed to the free-trade ideal,” Bullard states. “We cannot both continue allowing Brazil and other countries to penetrate our market with their beef and rebuild our diminished beef supply chain, which is necessary to protect our national food security.”
“President Trump’s 50 percent tariff on Brazilian beef is an excellent start, and we hope he will soon do the same for Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, which – like Brazil – are contributing to the dismantling of our domestic food chain,” Bullard concludes.
NCBA has also voiced support for the tariff, crediting a long history of concerns regarding Brazilian health and safety standards when it comes to imported beef.
“For many years, NCBA has called for a full suspension of imported Brazilian beef due to their abys-
mal lack of accountability on cattle health and food safety,” says NCBA Director of Government Relations Kent Bacus. “A 50 percent tariff is a good start, but we need to suspend beef imports from Brazil so we can conduct a thorough audit and verify Brazil’s claims.”
Consumer impact
Tighter restrictions on imports could mean increased prices on supermarket shelves.
The latest inflation report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows ground beef prices are already at an all-time high of $6.12 per pound, up 12 percent year-over-year. This trend is expected to continue to increase following the proposed tariffs, as meatpackers work to keep up with demand in the face of rising import and production costs.
In a statement for Al Jazeera, David Ortega, a food economist and professor at Michigan State University, says, “U.S. importers will either have to pay the higher cost of Brazilian beef or obtain it from other higher-cost sources. This could lead to higher prices for certain beef products, particularly ground beef and
hamburger meat.”
The cost of dining out could rise as well, as restaurants rely heavily upon imports to keep up with demand.
“Dramatic tariff increases could affect menu planning and food costs for restaurants as they attempt to find new suppliers,” says Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs at the National Restaurant Association. “Our industry relies on a steady supply of imported goods which cannot be produced in the U.S., and we urge the Trump administration to pursue policies that will secure fair trade agreements.”
As Americans continue to prioritize protein in their diets, keeping beef in the lineup may be a nonnegotiable in spite of increasing prices. Other industry representatives predict a boost in other animal protein sales, like pork and chicken. As noted by Jim Eadie in an article for swineweb. com, the full impact of the tariff will depend on how long it stays in place and whether retaliatory measures or supply chain adjustments amplify the shockwaves. Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
with Wyoming’s community colleges and the governor’s office; campuswide principles and programs regarding freedom of expression; the launch of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; creation of the Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Institute and new initiatives for student, faculty and dean support, with increases
in student retention and success rates, creation of numerous professorships and endowed chairs and UW’s first four endowed deanships.
Statewide appreciation
Kermit Brown, chairman of the UW Board of Trustees, expresses appreciation for all Seidel has done to guide UW.
“We deeply appreciate Seidel’s commitment to this university,” Brown
said. “He has moved us forward in innumerable ways, and we are grateful for his leadership and dedication. We look forward to his support and assistance in our transition to new leadership.”
“I thank Seidel for his commitment to making UW one of the finest universities in the country,” Gov. Mark Gordon commented. “He has led through significant challenges with a forwardlooking vision and a steadfast commitment to the
university’s future. He has moved the university forward, and I especially appreciate his leadership in establishing WIP, which has strengthened higher education and workforce development. We will continue to work together with the trustees in the next year to ensure UW continues to thrive. I wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Moving forward
Seidel said he is fully committed to building on the foundation he has laid.
“In the coming year, I
look forward to continuing our work along with the Board of Trustees, the leadership team, our faculty, staff and students, as well as our alumni, donors and partners across Wyoming, to build momentum for UW’s next chapter,” Seidel said.
Student success and faculty excellence will remain as key priorities for UW and Seidel.
Rob Godby, chair of UW’s Faculty Senate, welcomed the opportunity to help UW in its transition
to new leadership.
“We thank Seidel for all he has done to advance the university,” Godby said. “We look forward to working with the president and the administration to best position UW for the future.”
The Board of Trustees will establish a search process for UW’s next president. Details of the search process will be announced as they are determined. This article was originally published by UW News on July 21.
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