LMD Jan 2021

“The greatest homage we can pay to truth is to use it.”

– JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL

January 15, 2021 • www.aaalivestock.com

Volume 63 • No. 1

The Conscience of the Cattle Industry Harvey Dietrich — 1934-2020

BY LEE PITTS

H

e was called “Hard Hearted Harvey” by fellow cattle traders but I came to know him as anything but. When the courageous cattleman, meatpacker, businessman and philanthropist Harvey Dietrich passed away from COVID on Christmas Eve the cattle industry lost its conscience.

Making A Name For Himself

NEWSPAPER PRIORITY HANDLING

Although Harvey knew as much about a cow and what it took to turn a bovine into a beefsteak as much as anyone in history, he came into this life a city kid on November 16, 1934 born to Simon and Anne Dietrich near Boston, Massachusetts. The family lived there until Harvey was eight years old when Simon’s asthma issues forced the family to more hearthealthy climes, first to Phoenix and then to Los Angeles.

Harvey’s father worked in the meat business in Boston and that is where he found work in Los Angeles. Harvey too entered the meat business at a tender age. In a story called ‘Arizona’s Last Jewish Cowboy’ in The Jewish News, Harvey recalled, “When I was 15 years old, a guy told my dad, ‘Send the kid down here and we’ll teach him to be a cattle buyer. I didn’t know a cow

from a dog. I was a city kid.”

Imagine being picked up at 3 a.m. five days a week during the summer to work 13 hours a day at a meatpacking plant cleaning water troughs, feeding cattle and unpinning the shrouds from cow carcasses. And imagine loving every minute of it! So much so that he worked at the plant after school and during family vacations. No doubt this is where Harvey became the hard-driving, hard-working workaholic that he would be for the rest of his life. Harvey briefly attended Pierce Junior College in L.A. to appease his parents but that’s not where Harvey received his education... it was at the Globe meatpacking plant where he caught the eye of one of the owners, Lou Krassen.

Even back then Harvey caught everyone’s eye.

Gerald Timmerman, one of Harvey’s best friends and a fellow icon in the beef business, remembers his grandfather and father always referring to Harvey in a complimentary way, only it was in the meatpacker’s rough, sarcastic way of talking by always referring to him as that “@#$%^&* Harvey”. Geralds says, “For the longest time I thought Harvey was his last name!”

Lou Krassen quickly saw Harvey’s potential, and started taking him on cattle buying trips and at the age of 19 Harvey became a full time cattle buyer with an independent Los Angeles packer. At 21 years of age Harvey and his first wife, Sheila, moved to Phoenix to replace a highly respected cattle buyer in Arizona who was retiring.

Harvey was a natural and in 1963 took a new cattle-buying job with a L.A.-based company for double the salary and 10 percent of the profits. In 1967 alone, his bonus was $75,000!

That’s when the “city kid” first started plunking down his own money to invest in the cattle business.

We Changed The Industry One of those investments was in SunLand Meat Packing Company. Gerald Timmerman recalls that the plant outside Phoenix in Tolleson, Arizona,

was built by Swift and it went through two ownership groups before a group that Harvey was a part of bought the plant.

Shortly thereafter Ralph’s Grocery, with 165 stores primarily in Southern California, came to Harvey and said that too many of their customers were complaining that their beef was too tough. This was a common complaint back when ranchers were experimenting with 80 different breeds to get their cattle bigger and bigger. Not many people noticed that as the cattle got bigger their meat didn’t taste as good and as a result beef consumption in America plummeted by 20 pounds per person per year. One breed exec said that “buying a steak in a grocery store was like playing Russian Roulette, you had a one in six chance of getting a good one.”

Under Harvey’s direction SunLand hired scientists to study the problem and they found that if Holstein-cross calves were kept in feedlots from birth and given high-energy feed the resulting meat was

far more tender than what was That doesn’t sound like any currently being produced by Hard-Hearted Harvey to me! the meatless wonders. It just so happened that at the time The Cattle, Not Chemicals LA Milk Shed was overflowing The next time I wrote about with Holsteins. It was proba- Harvey was after I’d written bly the largest concentration of a story about Dr. Ray Rodridairy cattle in the country and guez, another longtime friend Harvey estimated that 90 per- of mine who’d eaten at a steakcent of the cattle in Arizona and house and then became deathly Southern California were Hol- ill. His Doctor told Ray that it steins. By concentrating on ten- was because of the beta agoderness, SunLand Beef immedi- nists used in the cattle industry. ately began to sign agreements Beta agonists like ractopamine with cattle feeders and together are compounds that are fed to they produced a product called beef cattle and pigs to improve California Grown Beef that was weight gain, feed efficiency, and well received by the consumer. reduce carcass fat. But in the “”It had never been done be- process they tend to reduce fore, where a company that big marbling so steaks taste toughdepended on one supplier for er, are less juicy and less tender. beef,” said Harvey. “We changed This is not to mention what the the whole way you feed cattle. drugs were doing to the cattle.

We changed the whole industry.” Comments from Professor TemWhen Harvey left SunLand ple Grandin and others then Beef in 1997, the company had surfaced in the Wall Street Jourgrown from 92 to 1,200 employ- nal, CNN, MSNBC and Fox ees and was conducting $500 outlets in which she said she’d million in sales annually. While observed heat stress, lameness, he worked at SunLand Beef, the hoof problems and aggressivecompany paid for 100 percent ness in feedlot cattle fed beta of his employees’ health-care benefits. continued on page two

Page 2

Livestock Market Digest

January 15, 2021

HARVEY DIETRICH

continued from page one

agonists. “In hot weather, I have said emphatically that the drug retailer and most importantly seen open mouth panting and Zilmax® was safe. We knew that the consumer in mind. Only a few animals were non-ambu- Merck was not going to give up two had the courage to take on latory after fed beta agonists,” that easily on Zilmax®. They the fifth leading drug maker in said Temple. laid low, waiting for the heat to the world with annual sales of After my story ran I heard die down but it never did be- 46.84 billion dollars and those from two friends of mine, Har- cause Harvey and Gerald kept it two men were Gerald Timmervey and Gerald Timmerman dialed up to high. Then Merck man and Harvey Dietrich. I can who agreed with me and want- did something that was beyond honestly say that I believe their ed to do something about it. our wildest dreams... they took actions saved human lives.

They were probably the only Zilmax® off the market. They two packers and feeders in the said it was just part of aplan He Could Judge People Too country who had the courage to bring Zilmax® back to the Most people who are ranchto take on the big drug compa- market. The Wall Street Journal ers today were born into it, but nies. “We think FDA-approved reported that Merck planned a not the self-described city kid beta agonists do not belong in 250,000 head cattle study but it who pulled himself up with his the beef industry,” said Harvey. failed to materialize. own bootstraps to become one “In addition to animal welfare, Much to our amazement of the 20 biggest meatpackers. we are also concerned about de- and satisfaction Zilmax® has But you’ve only heard part of creased quality and tenderness. not come back on the market. Harvey’s incredible story. For We are in the beef business, not Harvey said, “Ranchers and the past 38 years Harvey has the chemical business. The con- consumers would prefer a beta also operated the Diamond A sumers here and abroad do not agonist-free beef industry. For Ranch which is the largest catwant their food produced with consumers. For animal well-be- tle ranch in Arizona, covering lab-produced chemicals, cou- ing. For our economy. The USA 750,000 acres from Seligman pled with no food labeling and boasts having the world’s pre- to the north edge of the Grand lack of transparency.” miere beef. Let’s keep it that Canyon. Harvey once said, “The So I wrote another story in way.” most important thing for me which I interviewed Harvey and After Merck stopped the sale and the way I look at things is Gerald and then they formed of Zilmax®, many cattle feeders what you leave in people hearts something called Beef Additive simply switched to a competing and the quality of life you’ll have Alert™ with their own personal beta agonist from Elanco called if you have the opportunity to money. They hired a smart pub- Optaflexx, also known as racto- change people’s lives.” One of licist gal that told them that if pamine. Twenty seven countries those lives that Harvey changed they presented their program of the European Union, China, is that of his business partner as a petition drive that would Taiwan, Russia and 160 oth- Rick Kieckhefer. Together they protect them under the First er other countries banned the lease The Diamond A from the Amendment. Next they bought importation of meat produced Navajo Nation and run their space on the big digital bulletin with ractopamine and South cattle under the name Cholla board in Times Square in New Korea found U.S. imported beef Cattle Co. York City. All of us in our own with traces of beta agonists in it.

Interestingly, Victorio Catway were trying to get the drug Just before Thanksgiving tle Company, the multi-facetZilmax® off the market which Harvey called me and asked if I ed beef operation owned by was produced by Merck and had “one more fight left in me.” Peter Wray and his wife, were brought in $159 million a year.

He told me that he and Gerald the previous leaseholders and Then on March 11, 2014, wanted to go after Optaflexx® Harvey worked for them as a Reuters publicized a Texas Tech next and that we’d get started cattle buyer but when Victorio and Kansas State University after the New Year if I was ready. blew up big time Harvey got the study titled “U.S. Cattle Deaths I said I was. But now the beef lease in 1982. Rick bought half Linked to Zilmax Far Exceeded industry has lost our conscience of Cholla in 2018. It turns out Company Reports.” with the passing of Harvey and that Harvey was just as good of Through all this Merck kept Elanco is probably thinking they judge of people as he was with emphasizing that their product dodged a big bullet. cattle. Rick was born and raised was safe when used as directI’ve known a lot of meat pack- in Arizona and his family has ed. I got a call from one of their ers in my time but I can only been there since the 40’s. “My lawyers and another from one think of two who always had father knew Harvey,” says Rick, of their hired college professors the well being of the cow/calf “and my father said, ‘If you’re who were benefitting from a man and woman, stocker oper- gonna partner with someone I little “salary enhancement”. He ator, feedlot owner, meatpacker, can’t think of anyone better.”

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“I learned a lot from Harvey,” says Rick, “and he was so eager to share. It was very important for Harvey that he leave a legacy. He chose me to continue that legacy. I cherished the time I got to spend with him. Nobody alive knows as much as Harvey about the cattle business. Nobody.”

Last year Cholla ran 6,000 cows and 8,000 steers on the Diamond A and in addition Rick also manages his own family’s 3,000 mother cows and extensive farming operation.

“It was a good partnership,” recalls Rick, “because we believed in the same thing, natural calves raised on the outside. We had a great relationship. Harvey was stern and straightforward.

He always said, ‘Think about what you’re gonna say and then do it.’ I talked to Harvey two and three times per day and even at his age he was eager and had a lot of enthusiasm.”

A Man to Ride the River With While all this was going on Harvey was also feeding cattle in partnership in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Arizona and any other state that had a feeding industry. A lot of the time he was partnering with Gerald and his family’s Timmerman Feeding. “There was no good reason for it, other than we had a lot of fun together,” said Gerald.

When Harvey was given the Chester A. Reynolds Award by the Cowboy Hall of Fame it was his old compadre Gerald who made the introduction. Gerald said, “We did a lot of business and it didn’t require a lawyer or even a handshake. It was his word whether it was a hundred dollars or a million. Harvey’s the real thing. If you had friends and partners in business like Harvey this world would be a hell of a lot easier.”

In the words of old time cowboys Harvey was “one to ride the river with.”

Over the years Gerald and Harvey partnered on lots of deals, “cattle, real estate, you name it. “Harvey was the best partner you could ever have,” said Gerald. “You could leave your checkbook with him for ten years and when you got it back there’d be more money in it than when you left it. Harvey knew more about a packing plant and how it works than anyone. From the meat to the hides, I learned a lot from him,’ said Gerald. “He had a passion for the business and was a workaholic. And he was like a bulldog, you had to hit him in the nose to make him drop the bone.”

and the third kept emphasizing that Harvey was the smartest cattleman in the world. Perhaps no one knew all sides of Harvey better than Connie Cowan who was Harvey’s banker for 20 years. Connie managed ag loans for Valley National Bank which was bought by Bank One where Connie oversaw all their ag loans for the western US. The last few years Connie helped Harvey with his insurance. “He was tough,” recalls Connie, “and a hard worker because the times demanded it. He expected the best and got the best.” Last year Connie helped get Harvey appointed by Governor Ducey to the Arizona Beef Council which meant a lot to Harvey. “He was excited about that,” says Connie.

Even at Harvey’s age he was still looking for ways to produce better beef. “The last few years he was working on a project with flax seed to feed to cattle that would make the beef more tender and lower the stress in cattle. He was always focused on the consumer,” says Connie.

“He believed in benefits of natural beef and the idea of fake beef disgusted him.

“Harvey had the most common sense of anyone I’ve ever met, recalls Connie, “and his guiding light in life was he was focused on what was right.”

Turns out, underneath the bluff exterior beat a heart of pure gold. Although he never sought the big stage or publicity many organizations have benefited due to he and his wife Marnie’s generosity. They were tremendous philanthropists and were strong supporters of the Jewish National Fund, the Jewish community and many hospitals.

In the words of Steve Gaynor, one of Harvey’s many friends, “He brought honor to the tribe even without trying.”

Harvey Dietrich truly was the cattle industry’s courageous conscience. In my mind two of the secrets to his success were that he never feared failure and he lived life to its fullest. Towards the end Harvey said, “The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.”

Words to live by, my friends.

Words to live by.

Harvey is survived by his wife Marnie and his son and daughter from his first marriage, Steven and Lisa. A memorial service for Harvey will be held at a time in the future when it is safe for people to gather. Donations in Harvey’s memory, may be made at Jewish National Fund, JNF.ORG and the Arizona Jewish Historical Society www.azjhs.org/ azjhs

▫

A Heart of Solid Gold Harvey was a legend and a man of greatness. I interviewed three people for this story. One cried, another choked up and kept insisting how good a human and partner Harvey was

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January 15, 2021

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suitable for life than our own.”

This article also appeared in the journal Astrobiology. I let my subscription to that august publication run out but you’d think some scientists read it. If they did they’d know researchers made a list of traits that “superhabitable planets” would have. For example, an improved Earth would be larger, wetter, and get this... a better Earth would be warmer!

STOP THE PRESSES!

by LEE PITTS

Brrrr!

BY LEE PITTS

D

on’t scientists talk to each other?

For years the Union of Concerned Scientists has told us the polar bears are dying and Hollywood is gonna be underwater (we wish) due to global warming, but if they read the Grower’s Guide out of Colfax, Washington, they’d realize we need to speed up global warming, not slow it down.

I read the Grower’s Guide religiously and not only because they carry my column. Recently I read a fascinating article in it that said Earth is not the best planet in the universe for humans to live. According to the article by Sara Zaske, first appearing in Washington State University News, we don’t have the best of everything. Sara says “there are 4,500 known exoplanets beyond our solar system.” Researchers looked at all of them and “identified two dozen planets outside our solar system that may have conditions more

We’re spending trillions trying to stop global warming when according to these researchers the mean surface temperature of Earth would be more ideal if it was five degrees Celsius or 8 degrees Fahrenheit HOTTER! Even though scientists in Sweden have found that during the last 70 years their country experienced a change in their temperature of exactly ZERO degrees, Al Gore insists the earth has experienced a net degree change since 1850 of ONE degree due to man-made greenhouse gases. If we’re going to feed everyone, and if Earth needs to be five degrees Celsius hotter to achieve maximum food production, and if we only increased by one degree in the last 170 years that means we won’t reach our ideal temperature on Earth for 850 YEARS! Do you realize what this means? It means we need MORE farting cows, more fossil fuel burning F350 Ford pickups and Chevy Tahoes and we need to rid the world of Priuses.

In light of this new information Smart Cars really are stupid cars. We need to restart those coal plants if we’re to have any chance of reaching our ideal temperature. We don’t need to stop global warming, we need to speed it up. Get rid of that energy efficient refrigerator, tear the solar panels off your roof, let the air out of your tires so you get worse gas mileage and better yet, buy a jet like the one Leonardo DiCaprio

rides around in to attend global warming conferences.

Ask for a straw even if you don’t use one, don’t ride share, peel out every time the traffic light turns green and quit freezing in your own home. Crank that thermostat up to 72 degrees and leave it there, even when you’re not home, and for gosh sakes, quit planting trees and Brussel Sprouts (yuck!) because they consume carbon dioxide which lowers the temperature here on Earth.

Something called Project Drawdown says the best thing we can do to prevent global warming is to educate more girls because the more education the girls get the less children they’ll bring into this world and the smaller carbon footprint they’ll leave behind. If we need to speed up global warming should we then consider going back to all male schools?

We don’t have much time to waste. The researchers also found that our sun is not ideal either because it has a relatively short life span of ten billion years and we wasted the first 4.5 billion when no form of complex life lived here. That means the human race only has 5 billion years or so left to live. And more bad news... if you’re thinking we can just escape to one of those 24 planets that are more ideal to life keep in mind that the closest ones are one hundred light years away and one light year is six trillion miles. That’s a 6 with 12 zeroes!

Elon Musk better get on this problem right away or we’re all going to freeze to death when the sun goes out. www.LeePittsbooks.com.

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Wyoming Should Adopt Legislation Allowing for the Termination of Old, Unused Easements TERESA L. SLATTERY FALEN LAW OFFICES, LLC

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asements for transmission lines and oil and gas pipelines help grow and sustain portions of Wyoming’s economy. However, when purchasing a property for ranching or farming, a primary concern is whether there are these types of encumbrances on the property that could interfere with your operations. Typically, these right-of-way easements are permanent property interests in the real property, regardless of whether any infrastructure was ever built, or if it was built but has not been used for many years. These old easements have the potential to cause a lot of headaches and expense in dealing with the easement holder if and when they decide to utilize the easement. The Wyoming legislature should adopt legislation to provide for the termination of old, unused easements for transmission lines and oil and gas pipelines.

Prior to the 1980s, it was not uncommon for easements in Wyoming to grant a right-of-way over an entire section of land, or a number of sections of land, with no exact alignment for the rightof-way being identified. These easements granted the right to install one or more pipelines or telephone lines at any location to be identified by the Grantee at any time. This is exemplified by this language from an easement for an oil and gas pipeline in Niobrara County in the 1950s: “The right to lay, construct, operate, inspect, maintain, repair, renew, change the size of and remove a pipe line and all appurtenances thereto for transportation of oil, petroleum, gas, the products of each of the same, water, other liquids and gases, and mixtures of any of the foregoing, at a location and on a route to be selected by Grantee.”

“The right, at any time, to lay, construct, operate, inspect, maintain, repair, renew, change the size of and remove additional pipe lines on, in, over, and through the above described land, upon payment of the consideration above recited for each additional line so laid; provided, that each such additional line shall be subject to the same rights and conditions as the original line.”

“The right of ingress and egress in, on, over, across and through said above described land, and any adjoining lands owned by GRANTOR, for any and all purposes necessary or convenient to the exercise by GRANTEE of the rights and easements herein granted.”

The Wyoming legislature has already acknowledged such broad grants, with no location identified or limitation on the time-period for identification of the location, are problematic. Pursuant to Wyo. Stat. § 34-1-141, easements that do not specifically describe the location of the easement are null and void and of no force and effect unless the agreement provides for the location of the easement to be identified within one year of the effective date of the easement.

However, this statute only applies to easements created after the effective date of the statute, May 20, 1981. See Edgcomb v. Lower Valley Power and Light, Inc., 922 P.2d 850 (1996); Mueller v. Hobcontinued on page four

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Livestock Market Digest

WYOMING lyn, 887 P.2d 500 (1994); Wyo. Stat. § 34-1-141.

Wyo. Stat. § 34-1-141 applies broadly to all easements created after May 20, 1981, regardless of the purpose of the easement.

However, under current Wyoming law, permanent easements with indefinite location terms created before that date are valid until terminated. There are very limited ways an easement can be terminated such as by operation of law when the dominant and servient estates merge, by an express agreement between the easement holder and the property owner to terminate or release the easement, or by abandonment. Unfortunately, these are not likely to be viable options for a property owner seeking to terminate an old easement on their property.

Even if the current owner of an old, unused easement can be located, reaching an agreement to terminate an easement can be complicated. Additionally, simple nonuse of the easement, no matter for how long that nonuse continues is not sufficient for the abandonment of an easement under common law principles in Wyoming. Mueller, 887 P.2d at 505 (citing Restatement of Property, § 504 (1944). For an easement to be terminated by abandonment, there must be conduct illustrating an intentional relinquishment by the easement owner. Id. The Wyoming legislature should consider adopting legislation to provide a remedy to property owners to terminate old, unused easements for transmission lines and oil and gas pipelines encumbering their property. Wyoming would not be the first state to adopt legislation to terminate unused easements. For example, North Carolina recently adopted a statute to terminate unused easements owned by a utility company.

Under N.C.G.S.A. § 62-193, a property owner, whose land is encumbered by a utility easement for which construction has not been commenced by the utility company within 20 years of the date of the easement, can seek an order from the Public Utilities Commission to terminate the easement. Under this North Caroline statute, the util-

continued from page three

ity company can prevent termination of the easement if it can prove that the easement is necessary or advisable for the utility company’s long-range needs.

Id. Additionally, if the property owner is successful in having the Public Utilities Commission determine that the easement should be terminated, the property owner must pay the utility company the current fair market value of the easement.

In a slightly different context, South Dakota has adopted legislation placing the burden on the owner of a severed mineral interest to prevent abandonment. See S.D.C.L. § 43-30A, et seq. (Abandoned Mineral Interests). Although the South Dakota statue broadly defines “mineral interest,” it encompasses mineral interests that are real property interests which is akin to easements. Additionally, similar to an easement, when a mineral interest is severed from the surface dominant and servient estates are created. Under the South Dakota Abandoned Mineral Interests statute, a “mineral interest is abandoned if it has not been used for a period of twenty-three years or more.

Title to an abandoned mineral interest vests in the owner of the surface estate in the land in, or under, which the mineral interest is located on the date of abandonment.” S.D.C.L. § 4330A-2.

The statute defines a variety of actions constituting “use of interest,” including recording a statement of claim. S.D.C.L. § 43-30A-3. Recording a statement of claim within the twenty-three-year period is sufficient to prevent abandonment of the mineral interest even if no other actions or use occurs.

S.D.C.L. § 43-30A-3, 4. If the surface owner seeks to succeed in ownership for an abandoned mineral interest, they must give notice of the lapse in the mineral interest both by mail to the last known address of the mineral interest owner and by publication. S.D.C.L. § 43-30A-6. To prevent abandonment after the notice and publication are completed, the mineral owner must record a statement of claim within sixty days. S.D.C.L. § 43-30A-5.

The statutes discussed in this article illustrate that there are numerous ways the Wyoming legislature could address the issue of old, unused transmission line and oil and gas pipeline easements. For example, the legislature could amend Wyo. Stat. § 34-1-141 to apply retroactively to transmission and pipeline easements created prior to May 20, 1981 that provide for future construction of facilities with no location identified and which were never built. This could be accompanied by a grace period of one year to allow easement holders to comply with location requirements. Alternatively, for facilities constructed and then later abandoned, the legislature could impose a burden on the easement holder to assert their interest in an easement not being used to ensure that property owners are aware of current interest holders and to potentially provide greater use of the property by terminating easements no one is actively utilizing. Finally, for old, unused transmission line or oil and gas pipeline easements, the legislature can create a process whereby easements that are not being used and which are not necessary for a transmission line or oil and gas pipelines long-term needs can be terminated, with compensation if appropriate.

Although there is no one answer on how to address terminating unnecessary and unused encumbrances, there are many options that the legislature can and should consider.

Teresa L. Slattery is an Associate Attorney with Falen Law Offices, LLC with a primary focus on property rights, environmental, and natural resources law. Falen Law Offices, LLC, has attorneys licensed to practice law in Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. This article should not be understood to state or imply that any lawyers of this law firm are certified as specialists in a particular field of law. Colorado does not certify lawyers as specialists in any field. The Wyoming State Bar does not certify any lawyer as a specialist or expert. Anyone considering a lawyer should independently investigate the lawyer’s credentials and ability, and not rely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. This article is informational and is not legal advice. Use of this article or contact with this law firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. .

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January 15, 2021

January 31 Deadline for CAB Colvin Scholarship

BY MORGAN MARLEY BOECKER

S

ometimes all a person needs is a little boost, a reassuring message: “You’ve got this.”

Since 1999, the Certified Angus Beef (CAB ) brand has provided that by awarding $289,500 to 86 Colvin Scholarship recipients. In 2020, 10 students earned their shares of $42,000, but each year that number seems to grow.

The fund honors Louis M. “Mick” Colvin, CAB co-founder and executive director for its first 22 years, for his vision and tireless efforts to help the brand become reality. It was established after his retirement to carry on the legacy of achieving dreams and inspiring others.

Applications are open until January 31, 2021 for students pursuing a degree in meat science, animal science, economics, marketing, business, communications or other beef-related fields.

To apply, visit the brand’s careers webpage and click on 2021 Colvin Scholarship links under “Open Positions, Scholarships and Seminar Opportunities.”

At least five sophomore, juniors or seniors will be awarded a scholarship next spring. Applicants must submit transcripts along with two letters of recommendation and two essays. An essay of up to 1,000 words should detail how CAB can ensure its reputation in the competitive market for branded Angus beef, with a second essay of up to 500 words explaining their career path.

Graduate-level scholarships are available to those pursuing research on the advancement of high-quality beef production and increasing beef demand. Graduate applicants should also submit a report outlining the details of their research.

First-place undergraduate and graduate winners will receive $7,500 and an all-expense-paid trip to the 2021 CAB Annual Conference in Marco Island, Fla., where they can connect with the brand’s partners in production, packing, retail and foodservice. A golf tournament and auction at the event provide funding for the scholarships, with totals regularly setting new records.

Selected by the Colvin Scholarship Fund Committee, applicants are judged on their activities, scholastic achievement, communication skills and reference materials. Applicants will be selected to win their share of $50,000, and winners will be notified in March.

For 42 years, the brand has remained dedicated to adding value to Angus cattle by providing a consistently high-quality eating experience. Based in Wooster, Ohio, CAB annually sells more than a billion pounds of the best beef worldwide through a network of 19,000 licensed partners. ®

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To learn more visit www.certifiedangusbeef.com/press/colvin.

Join us for South Texas Charity Weekend’s 2021 Virtual Event!

■■ ■■ ■■ ■■

Thursday, January 14 Live and Silent Auctions Open Thursday, January 28, @7 PM CST Live Stream Event

S

ince the mid 2000s, the King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management has been a beneficiary of an annual fund-raising event called South Texas Charity Weekend. Proceeds from the event provide essential funding for research, student support and operations at KRIRM. We are exceedingly grateful for the continued support that South Texas Charity Weekend provides and we invite you to join us this year for the first live online event!

For nearly thirty years, a Kingsville group of volunteers has organized a fund-raising event in support of wildlife research, healthcare and education in South Texas. To date, South Texas Charity Weekend, Inc. has raised more than $16,000,000 and has distributed the proceeds among several local charities: the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, the King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management, Christus Spohn Hospital-Kleberg, and Halo Flight.

This year, South Texas Charity Weekend is hosting our first live online event. The event will include both a silent and live auction as well as a live streaming broadcast. Registration and participation in this year’s virtual event are complimentary. To bid in the auctions, please visit our REGISTER TO BID page. Visit our website for updated information as the event draws near and don’t forget to join us on our 2021 LIVE STREAM page the night of January 28th to watch the event live!

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®

January 15, 2021

Congress Passes New Law to Ban Horse Doping on Race Day

BY COAST NEWS STAFF

Livestock Market Digest

I

n a victory for animal welfare, President Donald Trump signed into law on Dec. 27 the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, concluding an eight-year campaign to end medication abuses leading to equestrian breakdowns, injuries and deaths on tracks across the nation.

The act, which was included within a federal $900 billion year-end spending bill, promises to end the era of widespread

FOIA Lawsuit Seeks to Highlight Just How Little ‘Advice and Consent’ Went into the Paris Agreement

BY KEVIN MOONEY / WASHINGTON POST

G

etting documents out of a government agency is a heavy lift. That’s what the nonprofit organization Energy Policy Advocates aims to do in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, seeking State Department documents that describe how the Obama administration circumvented the Constitution to join a United Nations climate treaty.

A joint status report filed earlier this month suggests something of a “deep state” effort could be underway to delay the release of any such documents until after Joe Biden becomes president.

For reference, Inauguration Day is January 20. In response to the suit, which was filed in November 2019, the State Department indicated it does not expect to begin releasing any of the requested documents until January 26 and has proposed a deadline of February 9 for another joint status report filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Energy Policy Advocates has rejected the January 26 deadline for the initial release of documents. The State Department, in turn, has rejected a proposed compromise date from the plaintiffs of Jan. 19 for the department to begin releasing documents and of Jan. 29 for a new joint status report.

Environmental Policy Advocates had sought to break loose the Obama-era Paris Agreement documents prior to the 2020 election so that voters could have insight into how the Obama administration sidestepped the Senate’s “advice and consent” role. But in September, the district court denied a motion for a preliminary injunction to compel the State Department to release records pertaining to the Paris Climate Agreement.

Under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, the president “shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur ...” The idea of allowing unaccountable U.N. bureaucrats to gain control over U.S. energy policy is not exactly a great idea, which helps to explain why Obama decided to bypass the Senate and join the U.N. climate treaty by way of an executive agreement. How did this happen, and what exactly went down while Biden was serving as vice president?

Government Accountability and Oversight, the public interest law firm that filed the FOIA suit on behalf of Energy Policy Advocates, has available on its website an 18-page document its client obtained detailing how Team Obama bypassed the constitutional process.

At issue is what’s known as a Circular 175 memo, which refers to the legal procedure that administrations follow when entering into treaties and other international agreements. If the document in question is the Circular 175 memo, then “it represents a major political and legal scandal with significant implications for U.S. participation in Paris, and the effort to bind the U.S. without following the Constitution,” Chris Horner, an attorney with GAO, says in a press release. The key arguments the Obama administration used to avoid activating the Senate’s “advice and consent” role amount to an insistence that the Paris Agreement was akin to other precedent executive agreements.

Horner is also the co-author of a report from the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington, that finds “the Paris Climate Agreement is a treaty by virtue of its costs and risks ...” Horner also warns in his report that it “endangers America’s capacity for self-government” since “it empowers one administration to make legislative commitments for decades to come without congressional authorization, and regardless of the outcome of future elections.”

The president-elect has vowed to rejoin the treaty. So, what might come next?

Patrick Michaels, a senior fellow in energy and environment with the Competitive Enterprise Institute, sees a path forward to protect American independence and secure American energy. In a recent piece for the Washington Examiner, Michaels proposed that President Trump submit the Paris Agreement to the Senate as a treaty where it will most certainly fall short of the two-thirds vote needed for its approval.

This way, even if Biden proceeds to rejoin the U.N. treaty through executive action, there will be ample openings for those victimized by the regulations to challenge those regulations in court. Now would be a good time for Trump to act.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Kevin Mooney (@KevinMooneyDC) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. He is an investigative reporter in Washington, D.C., who writes for several national publications.

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Page 5

doping of horses in Thoroughbred racing. The legislation includes a ban on race-day doping and the establishment of a uniform national standard for rules and regulations for U.S. horseracing overseen by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

“We don’t allow doping of athletes in cycling, baseball, and other professional sports,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “It’s should be a no-brainer to forbid this form of cheating and dangerous treatment of horses in American Thoroughbred racing, too.”

The doping of American racehorses has been the subject of congressional attention over the past five years with hundreds of horses dying on racetracks weekly, and the indictment of 37 trainers and veterinarians in March of 2020.

The bill has the support of Animal Wellness Action (AWA), the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF), Horses for Life Foundation, the American Horse Protection Society, the Center for a Humane Economy, and key players throughout the horse racing industry, including all three Triple Crown race-

tracks. Churchill Downs, which runs the Kentucky Derby, is the most recent corporation to get on board.

“The signing of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act is the greatest gain for horse protection in half a century, will put the welfare of the horses at the center of the enterprise, and put the sport on a level playing field that aligns with the rest of the world,” said Marty Irby, executive director at Animal Wellness Action.

The effort continues to enjoy the support of the Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity (CHRI), which includes The Jockey Club, the Breeders Cup, Keeneland Racecourse, the New York Racing Association, The Stronach Group, the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association, the Water Hay Oats Alliance, U.S. Harness Racing Alumni Association, and Animal Wellness Action.

Key Provisions The law establishes an independent and self-regulatory nonprofit organization, Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), to create uniform performance and safety

standards; develop and implement both a horseracing anti-doping and medication control program; and a racetrack safety program. The horseracing industry, not the federal government, will be responsible for funding the organization.

Furthermore, the organization will be required to create a set of uniform anti-doping rules, including lists of prohibited substances and methods, protocols around the administration of permitted substances and laboratory testing accreditation and protocols.

Lastly, HISA will also create a racetrack safety program, consisting of a uniform set of training and racing safety standards and protocols to protect the health and safety of racehorses and jockeys.

Standards include racetrack design and maintenance, oversight of human and equine injury reporting and prevention and procedures for undertaking investigations at racetrack and non-racetrack facilities related to safety violations.

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36th Annual Production Sale Monday, February 15, 2021 55 COMING 2-YEAR-OLD BULLS

Registered Black Angus PAP testing since 1991 at an elevation of 7500’ BVD, Fertility, PAP, Trich Tested & Carcass Ultrasounded

50 COMMERCIAL BRED HEIFERS Featuring Sons of These & Other Weaver Ranch Bulls S Chisum 255 Connealy Combination 0188 GDAR Heisman 1705 Paintrock Mountain Man

+12 +6 +16 +7

-.4 -1.0 -3.0 -.3

+57 +55 +49 +53

+89 +95 +91 +82

+19 +18 +17 +21

+9 +3 -7 +6

Over 61 years of selecting for

+.21 +.57 +.56 +.30

+.65 +.41 +.38 +.55

+.030 +.023 +.026 +.006

Easy Calving, Carcass Quality & Disposition

Page 6

Livestock Market Digest

The View FROM THE BACK SIDE

BY BARRY DENTON (The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of this publication.)

3 Masquerades

T

here is still a lot happening on the political scene as the election is not yet settled as it seems to be stolen once again. This happened another time in recent history with the election of John F. Kennedy over Richard Nixon in 1960.

Nixon supporters urged the candidate to contest the results.

Kennedy was also leading in Nixon’s home state of California which was critical. A count of absentee ballots gave Nixon his home state several weeks later, after he had conceded it to Mr. Kennedy. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley was accused of using his political machine to stuff the ballot box in Cook County, Illinois. We seem to know now that Mafia kingpin Sam Giancana was instrumental in Illinois as well.

In Texas the same thing was accused of happening with Lyndon B. Johnson’s heavy political influence. On November 9th,, 1960 Richard Nixon conceded the election to John Kennedy.

His friend journalist Earl Mazo had written a series of articles about election fraud.

Mr. Nixon asked his friend to

stop writing the articles which he did. Mr Nixon’s view was that the country could not afford the agony of a constitutional crisis.

Perhaps, that was one of his first mistakes, as noble a gesture as it was. However, with the Kennedys getting in bed with the mob guy to pull off a win really backfired on them.

In other words John Kennedy and his brother Bobby would have been better off had JFK lost the election. Bobby Kennedy, the President’s brother was appointed Attorney General after the election. Bobby then began a crusade against the mafia. The very people that were most responsible for getting his brother elected President.

It was not an intelligent crusade as it ended up getting them both killed. You cannot bite the hand that feeds you and get away with it, especially if it was the mafia of that era. Presently, we might get stuck with a President of the United States that actually lost the election. If Joe Biden does become President I doubt he will be very effective with the majority of the country viewing him as illegitimate.

We took some cattle to the sale here in Arizona a few weeks ago and things had changed.

First off, the local sale barn had new owners for the first time ever and with new owners you do expect some changes. Hopefully the changes are positive and help all the sellers.

We brought the same type of top end cattle that we always have, yet they were discounted when we received our check.

When I inquired about it, they

said that our cattle did not have proof of vaccination. Vaccinate for what, Covid? I was amazed that when I dropped my cattle off a day before the sale all the other cattle there had their masks on and of course mine did not.

I did some investigating and this is what I learned: two to three weeks prior to weaning they want these calves to have IBR for Rhino, BVD for Viral Diarrhea, P13 For Influenza, and BRSV for Respiratory Virus. Then they want you to repeat this same round of vaccines 1 week after weaning.

This looks to me like the feedlot owner is getting you to do his job for him at your expense. Now granted the calves will sell better, but is it a new expense that the grower needs to incur? Perhaps if you have a small herd you would be better off selling to the folks that like natural beef?

I’m sure you regular cowman probably have some opinions on this. By the way, I just can’t tell you how thrilled I am to see the charge for the communist beef checkoff tax each time I get a cow check, now they have come up with something else to aggravate you with. Who benefits the most from this?

Let’s talk about the well worn subject of Covid for a minute. I contend that we now have a self appointed and anointed group known as, “The Stars Of Covid”.

If you listen to the rhetoric coming from the left they want to force you to take the vaccine, but then they still want you to lock down for several months after the vaccine is distributed.

I thought vaccines eradicated the virus? In other words, these Democrat governors in states such as Michigan, New York, California, New Mexico, Virginia, Oregon, and a few others are really enjoying their power trip since Covid came along. Their actions speak louder than any-

January 15, 2021 thing I could say.

When they are sitting at the breakfast table each morning I’m quite certain they are trying to figure out how to scare their constituents into being controlled just a little bit longer.

These Democrat governors, just seem to revel in their roles. Dr. Anthony Fauci obviously enjoys his fame so much, that he probably never wants Covid to go away. I mean no one had ever heard of him outside the medical community prior to Covid and now he’s on every television channel and in every newspaper.

Mr. Fauci appears to revel in being a media whore.

Our biggest fear these days should be Communist China.

They seem to be dictating what happens in our world more and more. China virus, the purchase of over 2000 important American companies, and the closing of democratic rule in Hong Kong.

It also looks like China has taken over our Democrat party here in the United States. Oh yes, the Justice Department has the Joe Biden’s son Hunter under investigation for receiving great amounts of money from China and no one realized that Hunter had any skills worthy of the gargantuan payments he has been receiving. The leftists seem to be celebrating the, “Un-American” today. .

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Mike Siemens, PhD Joins Protect The Harvest Board of Directors

D

Angus. America’s Breed.

Radale Tiner,

Regional Manager

New Mexico Texas

A reliable business partner is difficult to come by. Contact Radale Tiner to locate Angus genetics, select marketing options tailored to your needs, and to access American Angus Association® programs and services. Put the business breed to work for you.

Contact Regional Manager Radale Tiner: Cell: 979-492-2663 rtiner@angus.org

3201 Frederick Ave. | St. Joseph, MO 64506 816-383-5100 | www.ANGUS.org © 2020-2021 American Angus Association

r. Mike Siemens joins the Board of Directors at Protect The Harvest.

Dr. Siemens was raised on a diversified farming operation in Northern Indiana. Dr. Siemens obtained his B.S. from Purdue University and his M.S. & PhD from the University of Missouri.

Following his time at the University of Missouri, Dr. Siemens took a tenured faculty position with the University of Wisconsin as their State Beef Cattle Specialist. Following his 10 years at the University of Wisconsin he then took a position with Smithfield Foods, Inc. as their Director of Integrated Meat Technology where he was responsible for animal welfare oversight.

In 2006, Dr. Siemens and his family moved to Wichita, Kansas where he joined Cargill as their Global Leader - Animal Welfare and Husbandry. In this role, Dr. Siemens oversaw all animal welfare efforts for the Global meat businesses.

In 2017, Dr. Siemens joined Arrowsight Inc. as their Sr Vice President - Global Animal Welfare Officer where he works with major food companies to help them enhance their efforts in the areas of animal welfare and husbandry.

Dr. Siemens is or has been a member of the Animal Welfare Committees for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Board, and the North American Meat Institute where he was a past committee chairman. Dr. Siemens has been a member of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and also advised the US and Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. He currently serves or has served on numerous animal welfare advisory boards in North America for companies and organizations in the animal protein industry.

Dr. Siemens is married to Dr. Angie Siemens, Cargill Vice President – Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory. They have one son Nicholas, a student at Kansas State University.

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Gelbvieh Association Awards Commercial Producer of the Year

L

oren Fischer of Nevada, Missouri, was honored as the American Gelbvieh Association’s (AGA) 2020 Commercial Producer of the Year during the awards banquet held virtually on December 5, 2020.

The AGA Commercial Producer of the Year Award honors individuals who use Gelbvieh and Balancer® genetics in progressive commercial cattle operations and are proactive in their promotion of the Gelbvieh and Balancer breeds.

Loren and his wife, Marcy, along with their five children, own and operate Fischer Cattle Company, a diversified cattle and farming operation located in west central Missouri, near the community of Rich Hill.

Currently, Fischer Cattle Company runs about 500 commercial cows and replacement females. Like many operations in Missouri, the Fischers split their herd into two calving seasons, with 60 percent calving in the fall and 40 percent calving in the spring.

Loren shares that he has been purchasing Balancer bulls for more than six years now and appreciates the added growth and performance he has seen from implementing a crossbreeding program. He notes that introducing Balancer bulls was a smart, profitable and easy choice for him, and has allowed him to maximize hybrid vigor in his herd.

“We were looking to make a change and get away from straight Angus; we wanted to see the gains of crossbreeding,” Fischer says, “We have been really happy with our calves. Our goal, just like everybody’s goal, is to put pounds on. We have done that and seen an improvement in the disposition of our calves.”

Fischer Cattle Company raises their own replacement heifers, and the added maternal strengths the genetics provide is another area of added value that Loren has found in the incorporation of Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics into his herd.

Known for both fertility and stayability, Gelbvieh genetics help to maximize cowherd profitability through good breed back and reproductive longevity.

Both traits add up to more live calves on the ground throughout the herd life of a female and translate to increased herd profitability.

The Fischers also background their calves and have retained ownership in the feedyard for the last several years, making average daily gain, along with yield and grade, important components in the operation’s profitability.

Overall, Loren says that he is pleased with the results he has been seeing from Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics. And he attributes much of his operation’s genetic improvement and success in the commercial beef industry to the breeds’ genetics.

Congratulations to Loren Fischer, Fischer Cattle Company, for winning this prestigious award.

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January 15, 2021

Livestock Market Digest

Page 7

REAL ESTATE GUIDE

July 15, 2019 Selling residential, farm, ranch, commercial and relocating properties.

COLETTA RAY

Pioneer Realty 1304 Pile Street, Clovis, NM 88101

575-799-9600 Direct 575.935.9680 Office 575.935.9680 Fax coletta@plateautel.net www.clovisrealestatesales.com

TEXAS & OKLA. FARMS & RANCHES 208 ACRES, 39 MILES OUT OF DALLAS – High traffic count, long frontage on U.S. Highway ready for a developer. $14,000 per acre, 25 acre $700. Ready to develop.

230 ACRE GAME & RETREAT that is a dream. Lakes, woods, meadows, game galore, 35 miles out of Dallas, Kaufman County.

133 ACRES – 24 Miles out of Dallas, ready to develop. $13,000 per acre Paul Bottari, Broker 313 ACRES 775/752-3040 NORTH OF DALLAS ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS 121 & Nevada Farms 69 – Nice horse barn with living quarters. $11,500 &

BenDigest G. Scott – Broker Livestock Market www.scottlandcompany.com

Krystal M. Nelson – NM QB 800-933-9698 5:00 a.m./10:00 p.m.

RANCH & FARM REAL ESTATE

We need listings on all types of ag properties large or small!

■ NORTHEASTERN NM – 10,730 total acres +/- (6,290 deeded acres +/-, 3,840 +/- Kiowa National Grassland & 600 +/- New Mexico State Lease), nice home w/beautiful landscaping & state-ofthe-art livestock barn w/vet room, cattle & horse pens, large, virtually new set of steel pens w/hydraulic chute, lead-up alley & tub, loading/ unloading chute w/lead-up alley & tub, on pvmt. & all weather roads.

Addtl. 14,000 ac +/- may be available for more acreage if desired.

■ ALAMOSA CREEK RANCH – Roosevelt Co., NM – 14,982 +/acres (10,982 ac. +/- deeded, 4,000 ac. +/- State Lease). Good cow ranch in Eastern NM excellent access via US 60 frontage between Clovis and Fort Sumner. Alamosa creek crosses through the heart of the gently rolling grassland.

■ TRINCHERA CREEK – Colfax Co., NM – 1,513 +/- acres (1,313.57 +/- deeded, 200 +/- State Lease). Located off the northern rim of Johnson Mesa. Features of the ranch include: 1,300 feet of elevation change, elk hunting, Trinchera custom built home, 521great West Second St. •Creek, Portales, NMlog88130 horse facilities incl. indoor arena, pine trees, lake and tanks, irrigation 575-226-0671 or 575-226-0672 fax rights, etc…

■ QUAY CO., NM –Buena 775 ac. +/-Vista (455 ac.Realty +/- deeded, 320 ac. +/- state lease), nice home, barns, pens, 14 old irrigations wells Qualifying (not in use) & a complete line of farmBroker: equipment included w/the sale, on pvmt.A.H. (Jack) Merrick 575-760-7521 www.buenavista-nm.com ■ COWEN ROAD FARM – Sedan, NM – two circles in CRP until 2023, one circle sown back to native grasses, all weather road.

■ EAST EDGE OF FT. SUMNER, NM – a 900 hd. grow yard w/ immaculate 7.32 ac. +/-, a beautiful home, & other improvements w/a long line of equipment included, on pvmt.

■ PRICE REDUCED! OTERO CO., NM – 120 scenic ac. +/- on the • 83isacre wood home withForestbarns, Rio Penasco surrounded

by Lincoln National lands covered in Pines & opening up to a grass covered meadow along 3,300 feet meadows and woods.

Fronts State +/- of the Rio Penasco. This property is an ideal location to build a legacy mountain getaway home.

Rd. $545,000 ■ PRICE REDUCED! PECOS RIVER RANCH – a scenic, 968 +/- ac., will sell in tracts of 418 ac. & 550 ac., live water ranch that lies along both sides of theacre Pecos River between Eastland Santa Rosa & Ft.Co, Sumner, NM. • 160 Ranger Wildlife, water & cattle make an excellent pairing for the buyer who is looking $560,000 for top tier assets in a rugged New Mexico Ranch.

■ SWEETWATER CREEK – Wheeler Co., TX – 640 acres of scenic ranch land traversed by seasonal Sweetwater Creek just a few miles 270Mobeetie, acreTX.Mitchell Texas west of•New 200 feet ofCounty, elevation change.

MINERALS INCLUDED!

REAL ESTATE GUIDE

SOCORRO PLAZA REALTY

Bar M Real Estate

On the Plaza

Donald Brown

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Qualifying Broker

505-507-2915 cell www.ranchesnm.com 505-838-0095 fax 575/622-5867

116 Plaza PO Box 1903 Socorro, 87801 RanchNM Sales & Appraisals www.socorroplazarealty.com dbrown@socorroplazarealty.com

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Scott Land co.

Ranch & Farm Real Estate

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1-800/671-4548

joepriestre.net1301 • joepriestre@earthlink.com Front Street, Dimmitt, TX 79027 Ben G. Scott - Broker Krystal M. Nelson - NM Qualifying Broker 800-933-9698 • 5:00am/10:00pm www.scottlandcompany.com

WE NEED LISTINGS ON ALL TYPES OF AG PROPERTIES LARGE OR SMALL!

TEXAS & OKLA. FARMS & RANCHES

■ PRICE REDUCED! MALPAIS OF NM – ■ PECOS RIVER RANCH – Guadalupe Co., Lincoln/Socorro Counties, 37.65 sections +/- NM – Scenic, 968 +/- ac. deeded & 519 (13,322 ac. +/- Deeded, 8,457 ac. +/- BLM +/- state lease acres, live water ranch on both Lease, 2,320 ac. +/- State Lease) good, useable sides of the Pecos River (strong flow daily) improvements & water, some irrigation w/water between Santa Rosa & Ft. Sumner; wildlife, rights for 2 pivot sprinklers, on pvmt. & all-weather paired w/water & cattle for the buyer looking road. for top tier assets in a rugged New Mexico ■ UNION CO., NM – 955 ac. +/- w/excellent ranch! improvements for a stocker or cow/calf operation, ■ LOGAN/NARA VISA, NM – 980 ac. +/modern ¼ mi. sprinkler, all-weather roads on three w/940.6 ac. CRP, irrigated in the past, land lays ranch. Investors dream; excellent sides, 374 ac. +/- CRP. good & is located on the north side of Hwy. 54. cash flow. Rock formation being ■ MIAMI SPECIAL – Colfax Co., NM – 40 ac. ■ TOP OF THE WORLD – Union Co., NM – +/- w/irrigated pastures, great cattle working & 5,025.76 +/- ac. of choice grassland w/statecrushed and sold; wind turbans, handling facilities & a beautiful home, on pvmt., of-the-art working pens, recently remodeled some minerals. Irrigation water irrigated from Miami Lake. bunk house, barbed wire fences in very good ■ WE CAN NOW DIVIDE – THE PAJARITO to new condition, well watered, on pvmt. developed, crop & cattle, modest RANCH – Guadalupe Co., NM as follows: 3501.12 ■ SANTA ROSA, NM – 78 ac. +/- heavily improvements. Just off I-20. Price Buenawater VistawellRealty at 575-226-0671 ac. +/- of grassland w/aCall commercial improved for horses, cattleor&the otherlisting livestockagent w/ Lori Bohm 575-760-9847, or Melody Sandberg 575-825-1291. located adjacent to I40 w/capability of producing virtually new barns, pens, cross fences etc., on reduced to $1.25 million. pictures onwater, MLS w/internet or www.buenavista-nm.com large incomes together w/aMany great good set of pens, a city access to the front gate.

17,000 gal. water storage tank, overhead cake ■ OTERO CO., NM – 120 scenic ac. +/- on bin, hay barn & other stock wells. 700.89 ac. the Rio Penasco is surrounded by Lincoln • 840 Immaculate, Hunt Co, TX. +/- of grassland can be purchased in addition National Forest lands covered in Pines & Qualityto the ranch property in northern ChavesupCounty, New Mexico approximately miles 40 northwest Ranch.20 Pastures, tanks, andof 3501.12 ac. The located beautiful, virtually new opening to a grass covered meadow built homeinw/all a large deeded Elida.custom Configured twoamenities tracts and of 7,200 acres andof the 640Rio acres state lease. by three along 3,300 feet +/Penasco.ofThis lakes.Watered Beautiful home, barns,wells virtually new metal barn w/an apartment inside property is an ideal location to build a legacy and pipelines. capacity to be 130 animal units yearlong. Pricedandatother $370improvements. per deededSome acre. on 40 ac. canGrazing be purchased separatelyestimated or w/the mountain getaway home. ranch.

Adjoins the Boylan Ranch if more acreage minerals, game galore. All for $1.35 Call foris desired. more information and a brochure. ■ TEXLINE SPECIAL – 472.4 ac. irr., on Dalhart/Clayton hwy. in New Mexico, adjoins million.

■ THE BOYLAN RANCH – Newkirk, NM - 2,360 the Grassland w/Organic Potential. ac. +/- w/useable house & pens, a large domestic ■ GRASSLAND W/ORGANIC POTENTIAL well for lvstk./wildlife watering w/potential for – Union Co., NM - adjoins the Texline Special, commercial water sales, all weather road. Adjoins 927.45 ac. +/-, on pvmt.

Pajaritolocated Creek Ranchapproximately if more acreage is desired.

Cattletheranch 50 miles northwest of Roswell, New Mexico along and on both sides of the ■ FT. SUMNER, NM – 17 ac. +/- w/water ■ BROWN CO., TX – near Brookesmith 424.79 Lincoln/Chaves County line. Acreage includes deededin alfalfa acres,& a3,600 rights 3,048 currently planted beautifulNM State Lease acres and 11,905 ac. +/-, very scenic ranch w/one mi. of Clear Creek, home built in 2007 w/3 bdrms., 3 bathrooms, FederalhighlyBLM leaseranch acres (18,900 Total Acres).

Grazing capacity set at 450 animal units yearlong. Divided into improved w/fencing, well watered, an oversize garage & a 24X50 metal shop. home, hunting cabin & abundant wildlife.

CALDWELL RANCH

GALLO RANCH

Joe Priest Real Estate

1-800/671-4548

joepriestre.net • joepriestre@earthlink.com

four larger pastures and two smaller holding traps. Headquarters improvements include residence, barns and pipe pens with scales. Water is provided by four wells and buried pipeline. The Gallo Draw runs through the entire ranch provides significant overflow areas of giant sacaton. Most of the permitted animal units utilized the Gallo Draw throughout the summer. Not many ranches in the area are blessed with this asset. Come take a look.

Price: $3,995,000 (8,880.00/Animal Unit). Call for more information and a brochure.

Scott McNally, Qualifying Broker

SULTEMEIER RANCH – First time offering of a ranch that has been owned and operated Bar Real Estate, by the same family for over 70 M years.

Fifteen miles LLC southeast of Corona, NM in Lincoln County. 11, 889 Deeded Acres,428, 1,640 Roswell, Federal BLM Lease Acres and 2,240 NM State P.O. Box NM 88202 Lease Acres. Grazing Capacity estimated at 300 AUYL. Water provided by five wells and Office: 575-622-5867 Cell: 575-420-1237 pipelines. Improved with two residences, barns and corrals. The ranch had a good summer Website: with abundant grass.

Good mulewww.ranchesnm.com deer habitat. Call for a brochure or view on my website.

Price: $4,400,000 $4,100,000

U N DER

19TH STREET FARM – Located just outside the city limits of Roswell, NM. Six total acres with 5.7 acres of senior artesian water rights. Improved with a 2, 200 square foot residence,

Bar M Real Estate

Page 7

Selling residential, farm, ranch, commercial and relocating properties. www.ranchesnm.com

SCOTT MCNALLY COLETTA RAY

575/622-5867 575/420-1237 575-799-9600 Direct

Pioneer Realty 1304 Pile Street, Clovis, NM 88101

Ranch Sales & Appraisals 575.935.9680 Office 575.935.9680 Fax coletta@plateautel.net www.clovisrealestatesales.com

SOCORRO PLAZA REALTY 521 West Second St. • Portales, NM 88130 On the Plaza 575-226-0671 or 575-226-0672 fax Donald Brown

Qualifying Broker

Buena Vista Realty

505-507-2915 cell Qualifying Broker: 505-838-0095 fax A.H. (Jack) 116 Merrick Plaza 575-760-7521 PO Box 1903 www.buenavista-nm.com

Socorro, NM 87801 www.socorroplazarealty.com dbrown@socorroplazarealty.com

Realty AG LAND LOANS AGBottari LAND LOANS AsLow Low 3% As AsAs 4.5% Paul Bottari, Broker OPWKCAP 2.9% OPWKCAP 2.9%

775/752-3040

INTEREST RATESAS AS LOW 3% INTEREST RATES LOW ASAS 4.5% Payments Scheduledon on2525 Years Payments Scheduled Years

Nevada Farms & Joe Stubblefield & Associates raNch PrOPerTY 13830 Western St., Amarillo, TX

806/622-3482 • cell 806/674-2062 joes3@suddenlink.net Michael Perez Associates Nara Visa, NM • 575/403-7970

www.bottarirealty.com

521 West Se

575-226-0

B

A.H. (J ww

AG LAND LOANS

521 West Second St., Portales, NM 88130

575-226-0671 As Low As 3.5% www.buenavista-nm.com OPWKCAP 3.5%

INTEREST RATES AS LOW AS 3.5%

Rural Properties aroundPayments Portales,Scheduled NM on 25 Years 1242 NM 480 - Nice home on 59.7 acres, grass 427 S Rrd P 1/2 - Large nice home, lots of barns 24+ ac 1694 S Rrd 4, Great home, barns, cattle pens, location 2344 S Rrd K east of Dora, NM, greatJoe - Near wind farms Stubblefield & Associates Western St., Amarillo, All properties excellent homes & can13830 have horses, etc. TX 806/622-3482 • cell 806/674-2062

joes3@suddenlink.net See these and other properties at www.buenavista-nm.com Michael Perez Associates

AS PROV R

14298 N.

Nara Visa, NM • 575-403-7970

10 ACRES OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. Incredible highway visibility & access from either East or West directions on Hwy. 60, 3 miles East of El Rancho Truck & 4 miles West of Willow Call Buena Vista Realty atPlaza 575-226-0671 or the listingSprings. agent Natural gas may be available on LOCATION PLUS! Thisorproperty well suited 575-825-1291. for many types Lorisite.

Bohm 575-760-9847, MelodyisSandberg of businesses. (Restaurant, Retail,Many Motel,good Business of anyon kind)!

A or Must See Property. MLS#11402703 pictures MLS www.buenavista-nm.com GREENFIELD TRADING POST. Available for sale at the corner of Hwy. 160 (Grand) & H Hwy. Newer tile floors, ADA bathrooms, outside storage tanks, 4 double side gas pumps. Owner reports a brisk business with sales around $1M last year. Store features a bait room for fishing at nearby Stockton Lake. Property has roll up garage door for easy storage of equipment and inventory. Vendor for popular Hunt Pizza with small eat-in area. Multiple coolers, coffee makers & shelving are included in sale. 2080 sf in store, 1120 sf for storage of inventory. This is an unbranded station. MLS# 60140876

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RANCH PROPERTY 31 years in the ranch business - see www.ranch-lands.com for videos & brochures

O’NEILL LAND, llc

DUANE & DIXIE McGARVA RANCH: approx. 985 acres Likely, CA. with about 600+ acre gravity flood irrigated pastures privateCimarron, 542 AU BLM permit.

About 425 acres so of the irrigated are level to flood P.O. PLUS Box 145, NM 87714 • 575/376-2341 • Fax: 575/376-2347 land@swranches.com • www.swranches.com excellent pastures with balance good flood irrigated pastures.

NO PUMPING COST! Dryland is perfect for expansion to pivot irrigated alfalfa if desired. Plus BLM permit for 540 AU is fenced into 4 fields on about WAGON PLACE, Mora HIDDEN PLACE, Colfax 18,000 acres only MOUND 7 miles away. REDUCED ASKING PRICECIMARRON - $3,125,000

CONTRACT P E N D IN G

County, NM 8.202 +/- deeded acres on

County, NM. 1.66± deeded acres with

outbuildings and many trees would

rooms and two bathrooms, edge of

BEAVER CREEK RANCH: 82,000 acresMound - with 2,700 deeded acres plus & BLM with western edge of about I25/Wagon a 2,304 sq contiguous ft homeUSFS updated permits 450homes, pair; 580+-abundant acres irrigatedwater alfalfa, pasture, meadowremodels from Beaver including Creek water rights andopen has for two with andrecent large one irrigation well. 3 homes, 2 hay barns, 4 feedlots each w/ 250 ton barns, 2 large reservoirs, can run up to one well, two springs and pond. Other kitchen vaulted tin ceiling, three bed500-600 cows YEAR ROUND. REDUCED ASKING PRICE - $5,400,000.

suitCREEK manyRANCH: purposes. townand amazing BEAR Approx.$190,000.

1,278 acres winter range ground recreationalviews. property.$295,000 Located on Bear Creek and accessed from South Cow Creek Valley Road. Should be great hunting for deer, wild turkey, wild COLMOR-OCATE CREEK, pigs, quail & owner states good DOLLAR trout fishing in Bear Creek. Deeded access easement thru neighbor Colfax ranches. and RATON MILLION VIEW, Mora County, NM 853 +/- deeded No improvements & very private inside the ranch.

Colfax County, NM. 97.68 +/- deeded Now only $700 per acre - $894,600 acres split by I25 and Ocate Creek.

acres in 2 parcels with excellent home, Suit cattle operation, with some wildbig shop, wildlife, a true million dollife drawn to water holes BILL WRIGHT, SHASTA LAND SERVICES, INC.in creek. lar view at the end of a private road. $617,000 530-941-8100 • DRE# 00963490 • www.ranch-lands.com $489,000. Also listed with the house and one parcel for $375,000 EAGLE NEST ESCAPE, Colfax County, NM. 78.42± deeded acres in off HWY MIAMI 20 ACRES, Colfax County, 64 overlooking Eagle Nest Lake, priNM quality 2,715 sqft adobe home, vate pond, two elk tags, 3 bedroom home with and large shop garage barn, grounds, fruit trees and P.O. Box 145, Cimarron, NM 87714 • 575/376-2341 • Fax: 575/376-2347 land@swranches.com • www.swranches.com able to store your RV and big toys. mature trees. Extremely private setImprovements a mile ting.

REDUCED $320,000.

ThisLISTING. is a CIMARRON CHICO CREEK RANCH, Colfax County, NM. NEW ON THE RIVER, almost Colfax County,half NM. 7.338 +/- off highway. an escape. must 6,404.26see. +/- Total Acres, Located approximately 10 miles east of deeded acres with Truly 4.040 acre-feet per annum$850,000 out of the

O’NEILL LAND, llc

Springer New Mexico. 3,692.60 +/- deeded acres with balance in state lease. Excellent grass and water. Two plus miles of the Chico Creek meandering through the center of the property.

Additional wells and dirt tanks. Nice historic head quarters privately located with shade trees and excellent views of the property. Shipping pens in central portion of property. $2,837,318

Maxwell-Clutton Ditch. Custom country-chic 2,094 +/- sq ft home. Owns both sides of river in places. Horse/cow/chicken/ vegetable garden/greenhouse/orchard set up. Country living at it’s finest, in town, but in a world of your own. Very special on river. Appointment only. $650,000.

E

E

Page 8

Livestock Market Digest

Baxter BLACK

relations.

They soon discovered that ON THE EDGE OF rhinos cycle acCOMMON SENSE cording to the www.baxterblack.com length of daylight hours. Martha, on Equatorial Daylight Time, r. Fosse, once of was never quite synchronized Pretori, told me with Arthur, on Tropic of Capabout Martha ricornical Time. When he was and Arthur, two randy she had a headache and star crossed rare white rhinos. when she was cuddly he was In a governmental gesture of not in the mood.

However, our team of deep goodwill, South Africa agreed thinkers figgered a way around to ship Arthur to Tanzania to mate with Martha. Brilliant it. They’d artificially insemveterinarians, competent game inate Martha! I can just see management officials, long these characters squatting unwinded reproductive special- der an Acacia tree, breakin’ ists and the press discussed at out a case of Congo Lite and length the procedures involved drawing their plans in the dirt and the benefits that would ac- with pipettes.

But since Martha wasn’t cocrue with these international

Rhino Love

D

Angus Internship Applications Now Open Four hands-on internship opportunities are available to college students.

BY KAREN HILTBRAND, AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION

I

n agriculture, learning by doing has proven to be the best form of experience. Applications are now open for college-age students to apply for the American Angus Association, Angus

Journal® and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) 2021 summer internships. These 10-week internship programs provide a unique hands-on experience that will challenge and instill confidence both professionally and personally.

“It was truly incredible to be involved in such purposeful work, serving breeders each day in ways that we could make their experiences better,” says Peyton Schmitt, 2020 Communications intern. “Team Angus made me feel like I was a true member of the team.”

Not only are these internships valuable in helping students build specific skills, but they provide participants op-

January 15, 2021

operating anyway and no sweet smelling rhino geldings were around, they decided to collect Arthur’s semen with an electro ejaculator.

Enlisting the aid of their agricultural engineers, they built a homemade ejaculator out of wire, copper electrodes, a hand crank and lots of electrical tape.

Arthur was quite tame so on the big day they led him out with a loop around the horn and tied him to a thorn tree.

With proper lubrication, the head mogul inserted the prod and set the cowboys to crankin’. Alas, Arthur showed no response.

“He’s probably packed with dry feces which is interfering with conduction of the current,” interjected the rhino

physiologist.

So they attempted to clean him out while he stood there compliantly. Then they tried again... no luck.

“Being a desert beast, possibly there is a lack of internal moisture,” observed the rhino hydrologist. “How ‘bout an enema?”

They hung a twenty gallon container from the tree, inserted a hose and the water disappeared like a Diet Sprite in the Sahara. “More water!” they cried. Another twenty gallons were fetched and inserted. Arthur stood unruffled.

Agreeing that should have certainly lubricated Arthur, the chief acting assistant veterinary cowboy technician strode forth and inserted his plastic sleeved arm to evacuate the bowel. Ar-

portunity to extend their professional network. Interns at Angus are assigned responsibilities and guided by experts in their career field to help instill confidence and ensure success.

The four internships being offered are:

intern will truly gain valuable agricultural communications experience. Applicants should have strong writing and design skills and have completed coursework in news and feature writing, editing and design. Experience in photography, video and social media would be helpful.

Angus Journal: This writing-intensive opportunity offers the chance to join a multi-media effort, which includes the Angus Journal print publication and the AJ Daily electronic newsletter, as well as the Angus Journal’s website and social media presence. The internship can be tailored to the intern’s strengths, but many duties can be anticipated, including traveling to industry events. Experience in news and feature writing, editing and photography are strongly suggested.

Communications: From print stories to video scripts, photography, graphic design and more, the communications

Emergency Extension for Commercial Hauler Hours of Service Relief Extended SOURCE: FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

T

he U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an extended and expanded national emergency declaration to provide hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting v accines and emergency relief in response to the nationwide coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.

“America’s truck drivers have been heroes in keeping this nation’s supply chains open and are now on the front lines of this historic effort to safely deliver the COVID-19 vaccine,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.

“Under Secretary Chao’s leadership, FMCSA is helping lead the way to allow for an efficient and effective distribution of the first COVID-19 vaccines.

The Agency is continuing to provide additional regulatory

Events and Education: The intern will assist in planning and executing youth events hosted by the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA), including preparations, correspondence and coordination for junior shows and events. Applicants should be self-starters, detail-oriented and outgoing with the ability to work well with others. Livestock and event-planning experience is a plus but not required. Travel to the 2021 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) conference and other events is

relief to our nation’s truckers to get critically important medical supplies, food, and household goods to Americans in need. We will continue to support them and help protect the health and safety of the American people,” said FMCSA Deputy Administrator Wiley Deck.

FMCSA’s expanded and extended declaration provides for regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts intended to meet immediate needs for: Vaccines, constituent products, and medical supplies and equipment including ancillary supplies/kits for the administration of vaccines, related to the prevention of COVID-19.

Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19.

Supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap, and disinfectants.

Livestock and livestock feed.

Food, paper products, and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores.

The declaration stipulates that direct assistance does not include routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of

thur had had enough.

He clamped his powerful aft torpedo door shut just above the hapless white smocked invader’s elbow. They thundered off through the brush!

The crew followed in the Land Rover, eating their sack lunches and videoing the chase.

A hundred yards down the track the offending appendage popped out followed by 40 gallons of pent up colored water.

The invader lay like a drowned muskrat left in the furrow. Arthur raced off to the other side of the game park.

“Yer right,” I told Dr. Fosse, “we couldn’t have done it better.”

▫

expected.

AGI: Students pursuing their master’s degree or doctorate in animal breeding and genetics should apply for the AGI summer internship. The intern will have the opportunity to work with one of the world’s largest beef genomic databases.

The internship will be focused on research that involves data analysis, so candidates should have experience in analyzing animal breeding data sets and genomic data.

Additionally, Angus Media is finalizing an internship structure with the Angus Beef Bulletin that will likely include a parttime schedule on a quarterly basis. Look for details to come.

Students interested in applying should send a resumé, cover letter and references to careers@angus.org by Feb. 1, 2021. Visit angus. org careers for internship descriptions and requirements.

▫

the emergency declaration. To ensure continued safety on the nation’s roadways, the emergency declaration stipulates that when a driver is moving from emergency relief efforts to normal operations, the driver must receive a minimum of 10 hours off duty if the total time a driver operates conducting emergency relief efforts, or a combination of emergency relief and normal operations, equals 14 hours.

The declaration has been extended to Feb. 28, 2021.

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, FMCSA has taken unprecedented action to support the nation’s motor carrier industry and protect America’s supply chains— including the first ever hours of service national emergency declaration, actions to allow drivers to still get access to commercial driver’s licenses and permits, assistance in the distribution of more than 3 million protective face coverings, and efforts to ensure rest stops and truck parking remain open.

A full listing of FMCSA’s emergency actions can be found at: www.fmcsa.dot. gov/COVID-19

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January 15, 2021

Taiwan Opposition Party Urges More Protests Over Ractopamine

BY SUSAN KELLY / MEATINGPLACE.COM

T

aiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s decision in August to allow imports of U.S. pork containing ractopamine has become a political hot potato in the country, with the main opposition party calling for two days of protests outside parliament this week, Reuters reported.

The Kuomintang opposition party succeeded in rallying its supporters to take to the streets in protest last month. It is also trying to organize a referendum on U.S. pork imports, Reuters said.

Taiwan Premier Su Tsengchang recently announced that his government will not mandate any labeling on U.S. pork imports containing ractopamine, a leanness-promoting feed additive banned in Europe and China.

The American Institute in Taiwan said all U.S. food exports to Taiwan and other trade partners are safe, and U.S. pork has been “needlessly politicized,” creating unfounded safety worries among Taiwan consumers, the Reuters report said.

Starting January 1, Taiwan will begin importing U.S. pork containing ractopamine, as well as U.S. beef of cattle aged over 30 months.

Most pork consumed in Taiwan is raised domestically, but Taiwan’s government hopes that easing restrictions on U.S. pork imports will pave the way for a free trade deal with Washington, according to the Reuters report.

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Livestock Market Digest

A Climatic Circus

L

ast month I wrote of Biden’s initial nominees and how climate change seemed to be the emphasis. Primary was John Kerry who was nominated for a new position, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. About his nomination, John Kerry said, “America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat that it is.”

More nominees have been announced and the emphasis on climate change is even more pronounced. In fact, the whole kit and caboodle is referred to as Biden’s “Climate Cabinet.”

Let’s take a look at the most prominent two.

Haaland at Interior U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland (DNM) is the nominee for Secretary of Interior. Haaland has established herself among the most progressive wing of the Democrat party, with a special interest in climate change, federal lands and tribal issues. Her own words demonstrate her position on these issues, and here are some quotes from Haaland: “The majority of America wants action on climate change.

The majority of America thinks we should regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant. And the majority of America thinks we should prioritize solar and wind infrastructure over fossil fuels.

Those are impressive majorities, ones that every office seeker and office holder should heed.”

“I’m concerned that if we don’t do more to protect our

open spaces and reduce climate change, there will be devastating and lasting impacts on us and future generations.”

“Over-dependence on finite resources, like oil, ignores the ability of our great minds to develop alternative energy for the masses, and in doing so ignores climate change and sets up our students and workforce for failure by not educating them about the needs of our future.”

“Loss of natural areas threatens our water supply, national security, farms, and health.”

Haaland has introduced legislation, “The Thirty by Thirty Resolution to Save Nature”, which sets a goal of protecting thirty percent of the land in the U.S. and thirty percent of the ocean under U.S. control.

When introducing the legislation, Haaland stated, “Our communities deserve fresh air to breathe, clean water to drink, and a livable planet, but right now inaction on climate change is putting everything at risk, particularly in communities of color.”

Gina McCarthy at the White House McCarthy, the former head of the EPA in the Obama Administration, will serve as the leader of the newly formed White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy. Her mission will be to drive policies to address climate change beyond the usual departments’ work on it, and to coordinate planning across government agencies.

Here are some McCarthy quotes: “Climate change is the greatest threat of our time” “Greenhouse gas pollution, through its contribution to global climate change, presents a significant threat to Americans health and to the environment upon which our economy and security depends.”

Page 9 Concerning how climate change will be approached in the Biden Administration, McCarthy said, “It is being treated as a systemic issue, not something uniquely given to EPA or the Department of the Interior, but something that is all about using the entire federal budget, and the strength of the entire Cabinet, to actually move this issue forward in ways that were not available to us before.” McCarthy also said, “I think this administration is ready to run.”

National Emergency We should note that both Kerry and Haaland used the term “national security” in their comments about climate change. That, of course, plays right into the hands of the enviros who are lobbying hard for Biden to declare a national climate emergency.

According to a report by Clearview Energy Partners a climate emergency could give Biden the authority to circumvent Congress and fund clean energy projects, shut down crude oil exports, suspend offshore drilling and curtail the movement of fossil fuels on pipelines, trains, and ships.

“The president’s powers to address climate change through an emergency are very, very large,” said Kassie Siegel, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, which is lobbying Biden’s team to act. “This is No. 1 on the list of things the Biden administration should do.” “Let’s call this emergency what it is,” said Siegel, “There’s so much [Biden] can do without Congress.” The Center for Biological Diversity and groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, were among 500 organizations that called for the next president to declare a national climate emergency last year.

President Trump used the emergency provisions to move

money out of the Department of Defense budget and divert it to building the border wall.

Who knows what Biden could do with a national climate emergency?

Coronavirus ‘Relief’ Bill I try to end this column with something positive or humorous. Many folks were pleased that Congress finally passed a coronavirus stimulus bill. Problem is, it has turned out to be a 5,536 page, $900 billion porker that goes far beyond anything related to the pandemic. For instance, it includes this provision: “Of the funds appropriated under title III of the Act that are made available for assistance for Pakistan, not less than $15,000,000 shall be made available for democracy programs and not less than $10,000,000 shall be made available for gender programs.” That’s right, $10 million for a gender program in Pakistan! There is also $86 million for assistance to Cambodia; $130 million to Nepal, $135 million to Burma, $453 million to Ukraine, and $700 million to Sudan. Does that strike you as being positive or humorous?

No, it is just another monstrosity created by the swamp creatures in D.C. What I did like, though, was the President’s response. Trump tweeted: “I hope we never find life on another planet because there is no doubt that the U.S. government will start sending them money!”

Until next time, be a nuisance to the devil and don’t forget to check that cinch.

Frank DuBois was the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003, is the author of a blog: The Westerner (www.thewesterner. blogspot.com) and is the founder of The DuBois Rodeo Scholarship and The DuBois Western Heritage Foundation

▫

GROWTHY bulls

bred to provide much more value than just PAY WEIGHT...

Check out their quality and convenience traits...

The whole bunch averages:

• • • • • •

SOUTHERN FORTUNE TELLER ASA 3382993

Top 10% for Marbling Top 15% for Stayability Top 5% for API Top 20% for BW Top 7% for TI Top 20% for Docility

BAR CK PENDLETON ASA 3370554

Featuring fresh genetic lines that broaden our genetic base.

REMEMBER, all the hard to influence traits respond more positively when you add HETEROSIS.

GW SPARKY 369E ASA 3242849

Jim and Tom Butcher Jim 406-350-0467 • Tom 406-350-0979 butcher@3riversdbs.net • 2109 Joyland Road, Lewistown, MT 59457 www.gatewaysimmental.com Chris Miller, Larry Hagenbuch, Logan Butcher, Brock Butcher

41ST Annual Gateway Bull Sale Monday, February 1, 2021 at Noon

Featuring the best 250 out of 460 bull calves weaned. More uniformity than ever. They sell at the Ranch near Lewistown, MT.

Page 10

Livestock Market Digest

Nevada Researchers Study Cattle MicroRNA Effects on Meat Quality, Human Health Team combines agriculture and nutrition programs with bioinformatics and molecular medicine

A

team of scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno are investigating how cattle microRNAs and the genes they influence affect the human body and health. MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules involved in the regulation of gene expression that convert DNA code into proteins that carry out cellular functions, such as development, differentiation, growth and metabolism.

The interdisciplinary team of researchers is seeking to understand how feeding cattle different diets will affect the microRNA profile in beef; how microRNAs may be used as biomarkers for meat quality; and how these small molecules may affect human health, specifically chronic diseases.

In cooked and digested beef, the team will identify microRNAs that may be absorbed by the intestines and further regulate pathways associated to cancer, coronary artery disease, apoptosis of cardiac cells, repression of breast cancer, inflammatory diseases and

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January 15, 2021

diabetes.

“This nutritional value relationship to elements of meat has never before done in Nevada,” Amilton de Mello, a veterinarian and assistant professor of meat science and food safety in the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, said. “We’re looking at grass fed versus grain fed – and their nutritional values.

We’re not looking at vitamins and minerals, but at a molecular level, small nucleotides, part of our DNA and how much from the animal goes to our genes.”

The team, including three graduate students, will also look for biomarkers for meat tenderness when comparing grain-fed versus grass-fed cattle and map all the variables.

“We’re also looking for what modulates sensory traits like flavor and tenderness,” de Mello said. “So we’re looking for microRNAs for tenderness and will silence the gene so it doesn’t let the meat get tough.”

The team is led by de Mello. He said this work, evaluating the interactions between genomics and nutrition, is part of a new branch of science called nutrigenomics. Nutritional values of foods are commonly related to carbohydrate, fat, protein, mineral and vitamin content. But in this approach, they are looking at how microRNAs of cattle may affect human health.

“This is the first project done here in Nevada where we’ve fed animals and analyzed growth performance, meat quality and nutritional values at a molecular level,” he said. “We’re marrying our agriculture and nutrition programs, and bringing in bioinformatics and molecular medicine, looking at the nutritional value relationship to the elements of meat.”

As part of the project led by animal scientist and Assistant Professor of Agriculture Mozart Fonseca, the team remodeled the Main Station Field Laboratory feedlot to meet the needs of the research, adding gates, electronic water troughs, a weather station, new fences, panels on fences to minimize wind and a shade structure for the animals. The 900-acre Field Lab in east Reno is part of the College’s Experiment Station. Among other things, it is home to 520 cattle, of which 24 are being used in this study. All 24 cattle were pasture fed, and then as their 110-day finishing diet, 12 were grass fed and 12 were corn fed.

“First, we want to know if feeding corn or grass will increase the expression of microRNAs that silence genes that are antagonists to tenderness and fat deposition, affecting meat quality,” de Mello said. “Second, we will identify the microRNAs from each type of beef – corn fed or grass fed – that are in high quantities after being digested. This will allow us to also then compare the beef microRNA profiles to other diets that do not contain animal protein. Our goal is to first understand what beef-derived microRNAs can promote at the small intestine level and then compare that with plantbased protein diets, for example.”

The three-pronged research – animal growth performance, meat quality and the functional role of beef microRNAs in humans – will focus on identifying microRNAs in both fresh and digested beef.

The microRNA profile in fresh beef will allow the team to identify biomarkers associated with the expression of genes relevant to their research.

While Fonseca is responsible for conducting the animal feeding trials at the Main Station Field Lab and for calculations for statistical and mathematical modelling, de Mello and Bradley Ferguson, in the College’s nutrition department, will identify the microRNAs in digested beef that may be associated with human diseases and possibly absorbed by the human intestines after cooking and digestion. De Mello is also responsible for evaluating quality parameters of the meat and identifying the microRNAs and genes of interest that modulate genes affecting tenderness and intramuscular fat deposition. Tong Zhou, from the University’s School of Medicine, will develop models evaluating which microRNAs can silence specific genes.

Ultimately, their project will identify what animal diet affects the expression or suppression of desirable microRNAs from a human nutrition standpoint, and hypothesize nutrigenomic effects on human health.

The work began in January 2020 and will run through the end of 2021, and is funded by the College’s Experiment Station and Hatch Act funds.

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Osage Nation Cuts Ribbon on New Meat Processing Plant

BY CHRIS SCOTT / MEATINGPLACE.COM

O

fficials of the Osage Nation have launched a new meat processing plant in Hominy, Okla., that will provide fresh, locally raised beef, bison and pork to tribal members.

The 19,000-square-foot facility is expected to address food security disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic this year, as well as long-term needs of Osage residents, by allowing local processing of livestock from the Nation’s 43,000-acre ranch and wild game, officials announced in a news release.

The meat plant is part of a food processing complex that includes a new greenhouse and aquaponics facility near Pawhuska, Okla., that opened Dec. 21. A retail store also will operate at the facility.

Tribal leaders announced plans for the project – all backed in part by Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds – in October with an opening date originally targeted for early 2021.

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LMA Applauds Congress for Passing Livestock Dealer Statutory Trust, Ensuring Payment Protection for Livestock Sellers

T

he Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) applauds Congress for passing Dealer Statutory Trust in the COVID relief package. A Dealer Statutory Trust will provide sellers of livestock much needed payment protection during dealer payment defaults.

“LMA is grateful for the tremendous leadership of Congress to correct a fundamental unfairness in the current law where livestock sellers often cannot get livestock back when payment does not come through,” said LMA President Larry Schnell.

“This is a top priority issue for livestock auctions, which pay producers whether or not we are paid by buyers, and have been devastated by past defaults.”

The creation of a Dealer Statutory Trust, modeled after the existing Packer Statutory Trust, will give unpaid sellers of livestock first priority in livestock or if the livestock have already been resold, the proceeds/ receivables from livestock.

While this protection for livestock sellers has long been needed, the volatile down market in cattle prices due to COVID-19 increased the urgency of addressing this issue.

Special thanks go to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (DMN), both of whom have been instrumental in moving this legislation forward. Recognition is also due to the original lead co-sponsors of Securing All Livestock Equitably (SALE) Act, (H.R. 6067, S. 3419), which would create a Dealer Statutory Trust. Congressmen Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Jim Costa (D-CA) led this effort in the House and Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Tina Smith (D-MN) championed the cause in the Senate.

Additional co-sponsors of the SALE Act include Representatives Don Bacon (RNE), Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D-GA), Anthony Brindisi (DNY), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Liz Cheney (R-WY), James Comer (R-KY), TJ Cox (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Eric A. Crawford (R-AR), Rodney Davis (RIL), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Jim Hagedorn (R-MN), Josh Harder (D-CA), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Dusty Johnson (RSD), Trent Kelly (R-MS), and Terri A. Sewell (D-AL). Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Michael B. Enzi (R-WY), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (RNE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Doug Jones (D-AL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Jon Tester (D-MT), and John Thune (RSD) are additional co-sponsors of the SALE Act in the Senate

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January 15, 2021

Farm Credit Bank of Texas Announces Board Election Results

T

exas Farm Credit District stockholders recently elected Dr. Larry Boleman of College Station, Texas, and reelected Jimmy Dodson of Robstown, Texas, to the Farm Credit Bank of Texas board of directors. Both will serve threeyear terms beginning Jan. 1, 2021.

Boleman, a retired Texas A&M University executive and animal science professor, has

No Free Climate Lunch SOURCE: AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE

I

t’s that time of year again. Yes, the time when we compare the glowing descriptions of China’s climate change behavior to the actual outcomes, and don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Either way, if the incoming Biden administration intends to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, not just talk, it faces an unpleasant confrontation with Beijing.

The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency has measured greenhouse emissions back to 1970. On December 21, 2020, they reported 2019 results. This is reassuring compared to emissions data being published the same year or shortly after, because accurate global data can’t be compiled that quickly. The 2019 upshot: China’s 2019 greenhouse gas emission level was 14 billion metric tons carbon-dioxide equivalent, expanding 420 million tons over 2018.

The three-percent increase is current reality, versus Xi Jinping’s promise of how much better things will be in 2060 (both do involve a lot of hot air).

The comparable American figures for 2019 were a 110-million ton drop to 6.6 billion tons, less than half of China’s. The global total was 52.4 billion tons, rising 570 million. China accounted for close to 27 percent of that total and, painfully, 74 percent of the 2019 increase.

The numbers are stark, but let’s try to stir in some “fairness.”

China’s share of global population was about 18 percent in 2019, where America’s was barely over 4 percent. While the 2019 change in American emissions remains welcome and that in Chinese emissions remains terrible, the levels look completely different when adjusting for population. It’s just not clear how, or even why, this should matter.

Politically, Beijing is responsible for that bloc of emissions, and would denounce any suggestion otherwise as a sovereignty violation. More specifically,

Livestock Market Digest

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served on the Capital Farm Credit board of directors for the past eight years. He is currently chair of Capital’s governance committee. He and his wife, Pat, operate Boleman Cattle Company, a cow-calf business with operations in Brazos and Burnet counties.

Boleman retired from the Texas A&M System in 2018 as professor and associate vice chancellor emeritus. His lifelong university career involved teaching, executive administration and extension work with ranchers, farmers and rural youth. As a state beef cattle specialist, he founded and chaired Texas A&M’s popular Beef Cattle Short Course.

He is past president of the Texas Purebred Cattle Alliance and a former member of the Independent Cattlemen’s Association and the Texas Beef Council boards. He currently

is the superintendent of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest.

Boleman succeeds Lester Little, who served on the Farm Credit Bank of Texas board for 12 years.

Jimmy Dodson was first elected to the board in 2003 and has served as board chair since 2012. He is one of the board’s financial experts on the bank’s audit committee and serves on the compensation committee.

In addition, he chairs the Tenth District Farm Credit Council and the national Farm Credit Council board. A farmer, who grows cotton, corn and milo, Dodson also serves on the boards of the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council and Gulf Coast Cooperative.

He is past chair of the National Cotton Council of America,

the American Cotton Producers and the Cotton Foundation. Previously, he served on the boards of Cotton Incorporated and FCC Services.

Other members of the seven-person bank board include Ralph “Buddy” Cortese, Fort Sumner, New Mexico; Jack Dailey, Extension, Louisiana; Linda C. Floerke, Lampasas, Texas; M. Philip “Phil” Guthrie, Dallas, Texas; and Dorothy Nichols, Reston, Virginia.

The board sets policy for the $27.3 billion Farm Credit Bank of Texas, which is headquartered in Austin. The bank provides funding to 14 local lending cooperatives that finance farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, and rural landowners and homeowners in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas.

China has chosen to produce half the world’s steel and nearly half its coal, easily outpacing its population share and with similar figures for cement, aluminum, and so on. China’s heavy industry dominance doesn’t get to come at the expense of foreign producers and workers yet also be someone else’s climate responsibility.

Another angle on per capita figures: The combined Indian and American populations were about 20 percent larger than China’s in 2019. The combined emissions were 25 percent lower. There’s concern about India’s emissions trajectory, and combined Indian and American annual emissions were 700 million tons higher in 2019 than 2010.

Chinese emissions were 2.7 billion tons higher.

Another fairness consideration is history.

The US probably started as the global emissions leader when the large European empires broke up. On available data, the US led every year from 1970-2003, when China took over. For 1970-2019 cumulatively, the US still led but the gap had narrowed to the point that China will take this unwanted lead in 2021.

It’s sometimes been said that China won’t act seriously on climate change unless the US acts first or at the same time. A generation’s worth of data shows otherwise. Annual American emissions were about the same level in 2019 as in 1996.

Chinese emissions were 9 billion tons higher, accounting for a bit more than half the rise in annual global emissions. The 1996-2019 correlation between the two countries’ emissions was negative.

While it’s far too short a time period, this negative correlation sharpened during President Obama’s eight years in office.

Annual American emissions fell 390 million tons while China’s rose 3.13 billion tons. During the first three years of President Trump’s time in office, annual American emissions rose 20 million tons while China’s rose 970 million tons.

Chinese emissions depend on Beijing’s development model, not American behavior. President Trump tried to use tariffs to change a comparatively minor aspect of that model and failed. A few climate activists may insist this is different, because it’s in China’s interest to

cut emissions. The 2019, and 2018 and 2017, results indicate that Xi and company disagree.

This holiday season might have

been a good time for future Biden administration officials to consider what they’re prepared to do.

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Livestock Market Digest

January 15, 2021