Volume 34 Number 3 • May 14, 2022
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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside Livestock Board addresses drought concerns in Wyoming.. ....................................Page A2 Dick Perue shares the importance of Arbor Day.....Page A10 Activists vs. Agriculture recalls vegan experience.......... ....................................Page B1 Lynn Harlan highlights drones in ag.............................Page B3
Quick Bits Pandemic Aid The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on May 5 a commitment of $50 million to assist eligible apparel manufacturers of worsted wool suits, sport coats, pants or Pima cotton dress shirts; Pima cotton spinners; and wool fabric manufacturers and wool spinners. The new Cotton and Wool Apparel program is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.
Meeting reviews hard-to-draw hunt areas and wildlife damages Casper – On May 9, the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee met to discuss several topics impacting agriculture across the state. The purpose of the meeting was to begin the commit-
tee’s interim work. During the meeting a range of topics were discussed with in depth conversations regarding hardto-draw deer, elk and pronghorn hunt areas and elk population management and
control. Hard-to-draw hunt areas Wyoming Rep. Jeremy Haroldson provided some background statements on hard-to-draw hunt areas for deer, elk and pronghorn. “The reality is none
of us are guaranteed a tag draw,” he noted. “These hard-to-draw areas of deer, elk and antelope are all on a lottery basis.” Haroldson shared a story of his father not being able Please see MEETING on page A4
Immersive sheep camp Rockpile Museum brings sheepherding history to life with festival Gillette – The Campbell County Rockpile Museum hosted the first ever Powder River Basin Sheepherders Festival May 6-7 to celebrate Wyoming’s working sheep culture. The festival featured working sheepdog demos, presentations on Basque culture, food and music and a
32-hour immersive sheep camp, which included a historic hands-on sheep wagon loaned to the museum and a modern sheep wagon used by Devils Tower Goats. Sheepherders of all kinds were welcomed to the Please see SHEEP on page A8
SWE Report Wyoming’s snowpack/ Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) is 84% of median, with a basin high of 116% in the Wind River Basin and a basin low of 72% in the Lower Green Basin. Last year, the state SWE was at 75% of median, and at 69% in 2020. For more information, visit wrds.uwyo.edu/ wrds/nrcs/nrcs.html.
USDA Webinar On May 17-19, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host a virtual event on mental health support for farmers and ranchers. The webinar is free and open to the public. Sessions will include information on federal agency response to farm stress, as well as presentations from the USDA Rural Health Liaison team and Department of Health and Human Services. To register, visit zoomgov.com/meeting/ register/vJIsduipqz4pHhs6lu fiv_9I08wOwDiwL50.
Growing Grapes On May 21, the University of Wyoming (UW) Extension will offer a oneday educational program on growing grapes in Wyoming, to be held at Central Wyoming College Lander campus. The symposium will provide attendees with information they need to start their own vineyards as well as a hands-on demonstration at a local vineyard. The event will take place 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite. com/e/growing-grapes-inwyoming-symposium-tickets-318978281627?aff=ebds oporgprofile.
WYLR photo
Fire management Wildfire safety recommendations discussed In a recent University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) BeefWatch podcast dated May 3, Nebraska Extension Educator Randy Saner discusses “Protecting farms and ranches from wildfire,” from the May issue of the BeefWatch newsletter. During the podcast, Saner reviews safety measures and other tips producers should consider in an effort to avoid and minimize fire damage. Current conditions and strategic planning As producers look towards spring and summer drought conditions, wildfires may continue to be present across the West. Saner recommends producers have windmills turned on and ensure there is a good water supply in case of a fire. “One thing we want to make sure on the farm or ranch is we have adequate water supply,” he shares. “People need to be turning on their windmills and making sure their tanks are full because the local fire departments will use the tanks if they need to fill with Please see WILDFIRES on page A9
Students participate in ag expo Rawlins – On April 28, fourth graders from around Carbon County gathered at the Carbon County Fairgrounds to learn about a variety of topics related to traditional and nontraditional agriculture. Topics discussed highlighted the importance of agriculture’s role in providing food, clothing, medicines and a variety of products. After two years of not being able to hold the event due to COVID-19, the event celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022. Activities During the event, students rotated through several stations every 14 minutes. Stations included the following topics: technology in agriculture; beekeeping; soil babies (grass heads); wildlife services; branding; weeds of the West; welding; tools of a vet; water quality; agriculture Olympics; cuts of beef and beef byproducts; beef cattle; horses; and working cowdogs. Each student spent an equal amount of time at each station to get a feel for different aspects of ranch life and the impacts of agriculture. They were able to see and understand where their food comes from and have a chance to interact with live animals. “The event offered a variety of topics and was an opportunity to teach kids and get them excited about agriculture,” says Carbon County Administrative Assistant Krista Steiner. It gave kids who don’t see ranch life on a daily basis an opportunity to learn and the kids who do come from an agriculture background an opportunity to see a different perspective of ag, she explains. Please see EXPO on page A5
UW Extension offers gardening tips As gardening season approaches, many growers are considering how they can grow an abundance of produce this year. Increasing pollination in the garden is one way to help plants flourish and produce nutritious fruits and vegetables University of Wyoming (UW) Extension hosted a webinar May 6 on pollination in the garden and how gardeners can donate excess produce. Which plants to pollinate Natrona County Horticulture Extension Educator Donna Hoffman notes certain plants benefit more than others from pollination. “Quite a few vegetable garden plants don’t need pollinators to produce food,”
she says. This includes vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, bok choy, cabbage, parsley and dill, Hoffman notes. She also says plants with edible stems don’t require pollinators for the edible portion of the plant. “Asparagus, celery and onions are typically plants which don’t have pollinators on them,” she adds. Hoffman mentions some plants are insect pollinated while others are wind pollinated. “Quite a few vegetables are wind pollinated and don’t require an insect pollinator,” she says. “Most grains are wind pollinated.”
periodical
periodical
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 34 No. 3 • May 14, 2022
What To Do? If you are in the beef business, all of the talk the last year or so has been what to do with the major meatpackers. Especially the four major beef processors and their huge profits they have been racking up the last few years. From the There are three major parts of Publisher Dennis Sun the beef business: the producer, feeder and the meatpackers, all three are critical to the chain. In the last few years, only the packer has been profitable. Since last fall, as beef prices have gone up dramatically at the meat counters, some have blamed those prices on rising inflation, which in turn has made the problem a political one. My feeling is it could get us in trouble. As we all know, beef products are a commodity rising and falling on supply and demand, just as gasoline, oil and grains do. At times it can cause unfair results. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan of the major meatpackers, but they have been getting these huge profits because they can. We do need to do some fixing, but we have to be careful as numbers of cattle are trending down and the demand is rising. The trend is flipping over. In the past, some of the major meatpackers have not played fair and have been fined millions of dollars. One packer voluntarily paid those fines, I think to stop the investigation from going further. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has an ongoing investigation into the workings of the four major meatpackers, and we have heard nothing about the case. It has always been the practice of the DOJ to keep quiet until they find a wrong and bring charges, but there is a chance we may never hear from them. The current administration and some members of Congress have held hearings, and the cattle feeders and beef producers welcomed them to find solutions, but remember the government has a very poor record of fixing anything. I’m not sure we need more government in the meat business. We do need some laws changed to reflect better transparency, grid marketing and methods of pricing and buying of fat cattle. We also need to be very careful on what countries we let import meat into the U.S. Currently, the president and some members of Congress want beef prices to drop to help the rising cost of inflation. I’m not sure how much concern some have for the cattle feeders and beef producers making more dollars, they just want inflation to drop to help them in the upcoming election. A knee-jerk decision now could hurt the beef business. Around 650,000 head of cattle are processed every week, with the four major meatpackers slaughtering the majority. Smaller packinghouses will not make a major difference, but will help local producers. With the upcoming election this fall, everything is political. Somehow, we need to keep politics out of the meat issue. I’m not sure it’s possible these days. “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner” is great, but getting the steak to the plate is not easy.
GUEST OPINIONS Wyoming Drought Concerns By Wyoming Livestock Board According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data and Riverton National Weather Service meteorologists, conditions indicate a warming climate in Wyoming, which threatens to significantly alter spring runoff. Articles recently published in the Casper StarTribune and The Ranger state, “Much of northwest Wyoming, the Wind River Range and north central Wyoming remains in extreme drought conditions, according to the Wyoming Drought Monitor. Drought conditions have improved in the southern and southwest portions of the state, but even those areas still have a significant deficit to overcome. Despite strong snowfall in the Cen-
tral Rockies, the extended 23-year drought gripping much of the West continues to stress water resources in the Colorado River Basin, which extends into southwest Wyoming.” The state entered winter with all four major basin regions below median snowpack for this time of year, while soil moisture also remains below average for much of the state, according to the November Wyoming Hydraulic Update and Outlook published by Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS). Even if the state gets socked with heavy springtime snows – which typically come mid-April to mid-May – the state is likely to see an early springtime runoff season with a signif-
icant amount of moisture lost to persistently warm and dry conditions. Seasonal runoff has occurred earlier in the year in many river basins, posing challenges for agriculture, wildlife, recreation opportunities and other vital aspects of the state’s economy. As droughts develop regionally, affected producers may experience increased management challenges and costs. Drought conditions require a sequence of producer actions, which could include modified pasture and water management, increased supplemental feeding, additional feed purchases and perhaps relocation or liquidation of part or all of the herd.
Drought affects livestock in several ways. With less water feeding the natural dams and grasses, there will be reduced natural forages available in the pastures for them to consume. Drought-affected stock may ingest large quantities of sand and dirt, which may cause impaction of the gut. Hungry stock may ingest poisonous plants or eat excessive amounts of indigestible roughage. Combatting this may mean supplementing with hay or protein to provide adequate nutrition through the summer. Nutritional deficiencies also have an adverse effect on conception rates, especially if adult females are thin at calving. Conception rates will first decline
Please see DROUGHT on page A9
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 34 No. 3 • May 14, 2022
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NEWS BRIEFS WBC funds research study
The Wyoming Beef Council (WBC) recently voted to fund a research proposal from University of Wyoming’s (UW) Meat Science Professor Dr. Cody Gifford, PhD and his assistant McKenzie Phillips. The study will look at how to add value and palatability to the beef round through aging and nontraditional cookery methods. The research will take place at UW’s Meat Science Lab in Laramie and is expected to be completed by May 2023. The proposal submitted by Gifford was in response to a request for proposal (RFP) issued by the WBC. The RFP committed $15,000 to a research project in one of four areas: preharvest beef safety, beef product quality, human nutrition and sustainability. Successful projects are funded by Beef Checkoff dollars collected in Wyoming, which requires the results be nonproprietary and available in the public domain. Gifford’s project will use aging and combination cookery methods to assess potential improvements to the palatability of cuts from the round with varying degrees of marbling. This study will provide better insight into whether improved palatability of cuts from the round, which have traditionally been less sought after, will increase beef carcass value. The study will use a sensory attribute panel consisting of six to eight individuals who are trained in flavor and aroma attributes of food. The results of the research study are expected in May. In addition to this project, the WBC board approved an additional $15,000 for another research project which will fit within the guidelines of the original RFP with a start date of September 2023. Interested parties should contact the WBC for specific guidelines for making a proposal. The WBC can be reached by calling 307-777-6399 or by e-mailing ann.wittmann@wyo.gov.
ADMB to meet
The Animal Damage Management Board (ADMB) will meet in Casper and via Zoom May 17-18. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. on May 17 and at 8 a.m. on May 18. During the meeting, the ADMB will consider grant applications from Predator Management Districts across the state, receive updates on various issues and cover any other business as needed. The public is welcome to attend and there will be an opportunity for public comment on each day of the meeting. The in-person part of the meeting will take place in Casper at the Game and Fish Regional Office at 3030 Energy Lane, Casper, WY 82604. The meeting will also take place on Zoom via phone or computer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, special assistance or alternate formats will be made available for individuals with disabilities upon request in advance of the meeting. For a complete agenda or more information, visit wyadmb.com or contact Jerry Johnson at 307-777-6781.
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Drought conditions reported The week ending May 8 brought above average temperatures to most of Wyoming, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Temperatures were highest in the northern portions of the state, while areas of the southeast experienced below average temperatures. Rainfall totals varied, but in most portions of the state precipitation was below normal. In outlying areas of the northwest and southeast, averages were above normal. Isolated areas of central Wyoming benefitted the most with as much as two inches of rain and above. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for May 5, the amount of land rated as abnormally dry was 5.9 percent, unchanged from last week. Moderate drought was present across 38.4 percent of the state, an increase of 3.2 percent from 35.2 percent last week. Severe drought covered 47.6 percent of the state, compared to 40.6 percent last week. Extreme drought conditions improved, falling to 8.1 percent of the state compared to 18.3 percent the previous week.
Extension offers workshops Keeping records up to date on the farm or ranch is important but can be a complicated task. Nebraska Extension is offering two workshops in Rushville at the Sheridan County Extension Office, 800 S. Loofborrow St., Rushville, NE 69360, on May 23. These workshops will help participants develop an easier process in keeping records by using tools, resources and tips taught during the sessions. The first workshop, “Collect. Balance. Reconcile. File.,” will be from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. This workshop will focus on four steps to prepare books for an accountant or producer. Nebraska Extension Educator Jessica Groskopf will discuss collecting the necessary documents, balancing a check register or financial software, reconciling accounts and filing operations paperwork. This workshop is free to attend, but registration is required. To register, call the Sheridan County Extension office at 308327-2312. “Quicken for Farm and Ranch Record Keeping” will be the second workshop offered from 1-4 p.m. Groskopf will teach how to use Quicken, a popular commercial recordkeeping package, which is user-friendly, inexpensive and easy to find. Quicken is flexible for ag and non-ag business enterprises and separates out family living expenses. The hands-on training will include computer time with Quicken. Groskopf will also show how to run reports helpful for financial decisions. To register for the Quicken workshop, call the Sheridan County Extension Office. This workshop is limited to 10 participants. The cost to attend the workshop is $20 per participant.
WGFD welcomes public comment
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) is hosting a public meeting to discuss proposed changes to mountain lion and gray wolf hunting seasons May 17 at 6 p.m. at the Park County Library in Cody. Proposed changes will be highlighted in the draft regulations which are available online at wgfd.wyo.gov, under the “Get Involved” tab. Regulations and harvest strategies are evaluated every three years for mountain lions. Written comments shall be accepted through 5 p.m. June 3 at public meetings or by mailing WGFD, Regulations, 3030 Energy Lane, Casper, WY 82604, or online at wgfd.wyo.gov. Copies of the proposed regulations are available on the WGFD website and at the address above in accordance with Chapter One Regulation Governing Access to Public Records. Written comments shall be presented to the Game and Fish Commission prior to the public hearing at their July 2022 meeting in Evanston.
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 34 No. 3 • May 14, 2022
NEWS BRIEFS WWPC changes twine color
The Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC), in partnership with the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA), is excited to announce a new twine color for NAISMA certified weed-free hay. Any forage or hay certified as weed free will now be marked with blue and orange twine or will be accompanied by either a certification form or a transit certificate. The weed-free twine program helps limit the spread of noxious weeds through the movement of forage or hay. Many federal and state lands require certified weedfree forage to prevent the spread of invasive weeds. The new bright blue and orange colors will make it easier to identify weed-free hay. “It’s important to use weed-free forage whenever possible,” said Larry Smith, WWPC president. “It ensures it’s free of invasive weeds and helps offset the billions of dollars it takes to control those weeds. It helps us keep Wyoming’s natural beauty alive.” Noxious weeds are increasingly damaging to the landscape and livestock in Wyoming. Invasive weeds are usually unpalatable and sometimes poisonous to livestock. Additionally, the management of invasive weeds in the U.S. costs upwards of $130 billion each year. Certifying hay or buying certified weed-free hay prevents the spread and can lower the cost of prevention. Previously, weed-free hay was identified with purple and yellow twine. It may still be common to see the old twine color as it is phased out. The new orange and blue twine can only be purchased by the WWPC to provide to certified hay producers. Visit wyoweed.org to find certified weed-free hay or how to get products weed-free certified. Torrington Livestock Markets PO Box 1097 • Torrington, WY 82240 307.532.3333 Fax: 307.532.2040
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MEETING continued from page A1
WLSB announces meeting The Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) scheduled a public meeting for May 23 beginning at 10 a.m. at Clarion Inn At Platte River, in the Jackson Hole Hall B room. Topics for discussion include: approval of April 21 minutes, update from the director, legislative updates, brand updates, animal health updates, emergency rule Chapter 26 highly pathogenic avian influenza mitigation, Chapter 12 rules and regulation governing brucella ovis certification, Chapter 14 presentation of official forms by licensed and accredited veterinarians, statute 11-19-401 through 407, election of officers and other administrative board business and matters. An executive session to discuss legal and personnel issues if needed.
Steamboat Mountain area closes The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rock Springs Field Office is temporarily closing the Steamboat Mountain area northeast of Rock Springs to motorized vehicles. The closure lasts from May 10-July 1 to protect sensitive elk calving and deer fawning areas, as indicated in the Green River Resource Management Plan. Signs will be posted to notify the public of the temporary closure. BLM law enforcement rangers and other employees will also patrol the area to inform the public and enforce the seasonal vehicle restriction. The closure includes both sides of Steamboat Rim as well as the Johnson, La Fonte and Box canyons. A map of the protected area is available at the Rock Springs Field Office. For more information, contact Mark Snyder at 307352-0368. Lex Madden 307-532-1580 Michael Schmitt 307-532-1776 Chuck Petersen 307-575-4015
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to draw an area seven type one elk tag for a 15-year timespan before he drew again. He explained he doesn’t want to see hunters lose out on their opportunity to hunt. Haroldson suggested a delayed draw system by saying, “If you drew a hard-to-draw deer, elk or pronghorn tag, there would be a delayed period of time where a hunter could not apply for a hard-to-draw area.” Further discussion would need to determine the parameters of the change and the way it would work, but he said, “I believe we are at a point where we can clean up a flawed system, and make it where people can more consistently draw without the use of a preference point system.” Haroldson and Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) Director Brian Nesvik have had several conversations regarding the proposed plan and agree it could be viable, but future conversations need to take place with everyone involved. “I don’t think any one of us knows the perfect situation but together we can find it,” Haroldson noted. “I hear on a regular basis from hunters – it is a real issue no doubt,” added Nesvik. “One of the things the Wyoming Wildlife Task Force will be tackling before it’s done, is this issue.” There are a lot of different ideas on how to solve the issue, but one of the ideas with support from hunters is similar to the example Haroldson provided, Nesvik mentioned. “I think the delayed period idea is one that has merit and support,” Nesvik said. “But there is certainly a number of people who like the preference point or bonus point system.” He explained the preference point system was originally intended for nonresidents who wanted to hunt deer, elk and pronghorn, but it isn’t working very well. Elk population management The WGFD, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and the Wyoming Wildlife Tasks Force have heard from several ranchers throughout the state with significant concerns in regards to damages from elk populations and elk population management, shared Nesvik. During the meeting, WGFD Wildlife Division Chief Rick King provided a brief overview of the current issue and recommendations given by the commission. “We had the opportunity to visit with the Game and Fish Commission and the commission has provided the department some direction to tackle some of these issues,” said King. “We see elk highly distrib-
uted across the state, and with this, there has been a distribution change – a lot of elk on private property.” Through the years there have been a variety of tools to manage elk, with a hunting season structure being one management tool, he explained. Longer seasons, abundant licenses and an active damage program are a few examples WGFD have attempted in an effort to address elk numbers and damages. In addition, an AccessYes Program has been implemented for a long time and has been successful in some localized spots, he added. “Our current challenges revolve around this distribution of elk and private property damage concerns,” he noted. “The commission has directed us to go back and look at some of the tools we currently have in place and see if we can improve those to better address our elk management challenges.” One of the first things the commission has directed the WGFD to do is to look at their current damage regulation and see if there are some changes they can make to better compensate landowners when they have an excessive number of elk on their property, he explained. They also recommended the WGFD look at their depredation season regulation. “In addition to our normal hunting seasons, WGFD has a depredation season regulation which allows the chief game warden and commission to set some very specific seasons in some very specific areas to address elk numbers,” King explained. “We have not used this tool often in the last 20 years, primarily because of the way it is written – it really needs to be updated in order to make it easier for us to implement.” A public comment period will be open this summer on the depredation and damage regulations, and WGFD will present the comments and findings to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission in September, he continued. Going forward, the most challenging issue will be addressing private property owners who aren’t negatively affected by large numbers and have no interest in having the herds managed, Nesvik said. “For Fiscal Year 2021, the WGFD had 40 elk damage claims and paid out $358,000,” said King. “Elk are about a third of the WGFD damage payments – they are a big chunk.” “At the end of the day, we have the responsibility to manage Wyoming wildlife,” concluded Nesvik. Brittany Gunn is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 34 No. 3 • May 14, 2022
EXPO continued from page A1 Attendance One hundred fifty-four students from a total of six schools participated in the ag expo. Local teachers expressed happiness their kids were given an opportunity to learn about an important aspect of their county and the state of Wyoming. “While we are a rural county, it is a surprise to know how many students haven’t seen a branding iron, held a rope, thought about the connection between wildlife and or weeds and agriculture,” says Education and National Environmental Policy Act Coordinator Leanne Correll. “Some had never touched a horse before the event. It was an emotional experience for the horse station presenter when one young lady was in tears and elated as she touched a horse for the
first time.” “Both presenter and participant will remember this day to come,” she adds. Extension support Many students who participated in the event are active 4-H members, but even nonmembers participated. “I love this event because I get to see a lot of my kids who are 4-Hers already, as well as some youth who have been to a one-time 4-H event, and they recognize me and are making the connection,” shares Carbon County University of Wyoming Extension Educator Emily Haver. “I would love for every youth in Carbon County to become a 4-Her, but the real point of this event is to reach all youth with the understanding agriculture touches many aspects of their lives.”
For more information on future events, visit wyoextension.org or sercd.org.
RIGHT: Soil health – Carbon County University of Wyoming Extension Educator Emily Haver and Rangeland Extension Educator Abby Perry teach the importance of soil while participants make soil babies. Courtesy Photo
BELOW: New technology – Mark Dunning shares how technology and drones can be used in modern ranch management. Courtesy photo
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More importantly, she adds, “The things they do every day can impact agriculture and the health of this planet – from water use, to responsible recreation, to local beef, hunting and predator management and so much more,” she adds. Major co-sponsors included the Saratoga Encampment Rawlins Conservation District, University of Wyoming’s Carbon County Extension office staff, Carbon County Stock Growers, Carbon County Farm Bureau Federation and Snowy Range CattleWomen. Each student left with a honey stick, beef jerky, marshmallow and gummy candy – all products created in agriculture. “We were unable to hold the event in 2020 and 2021, so this was our grand, ʽWe’re back’ event,” Haver concludes. “We hope to continue every year like before.” Brittany Gunn is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Wyoming water – Fourth grade students crowd around the Medicine Bow Conservation District Stream Trailer to learn about water resources. Courtesy photo
JUNE 6-11, 2022
Event Center at Archer / Cheyenne, Wyoming SCHEDULE OF EVENTS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8
10 am 1 pm 2-4 pm 5 pm 6 pm
THURSDAY, JUNE 9
8 am 3 pm 6 pm
FRIDAY, JUNE 10
8 am 9 am 6:30 pm
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
10 am
Junior Fitting Contest National Wool Show, Dave Julius, Judge Wool Workshop, Whit Stewart, U of WY Fleece Sale goes live Corn Hole Tourney Junior Show, Bryce McKenzie, Judge Natural Colored Show & Production Show Host Barbeque Futurity Comeback Show Open Sheep Show, Justin Benz, judge Awards Banquet and Annual CSBA Auction National Sale To request a sale catalog:
WWW.COLUMBIASHEEP.ORG 507-360-2160 Like us on Facebook Junior Fitting Contest, Wool Show, Junior Show, Production and Natural Colored Shows, Futurity Comeback Show, Open Show, and National Sale will be available on Facebook Live
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 34 No. 3 • May 14, 2022
May 2022
Getting Started in Ag:
Risk Controls Available at RightRisk.org It does not take long when starting out in production agriculture
These reports include prices for grains, livestock and hay. Links
to discover just how much risk is involved in the industry, especially
to information for leasing rates, cash rents and grazing fees are
with today’s volatility. Risk and uncertainty plays a part in so many
included as well.
aspects of both crop and livestock production; there are numerous
Federally‑backed crop insurance has become a widely used
variables outside of the manager’s direct control, while in other
and necessary part of production risk management for most
cases risk management options exist. Manager must weigh the
operations nationwide. In these times of high input costs and
benefits and costs of alternatives when options exist to evaluate
volatile commodity markets, crop insurance programs are a proven,
which risks are worth mitigating.
cost‑effective way to limit marketing and production risk and
Weather events, unstable markets, human resources and
provide some level of guaranteed income. Links are provided for
other uncertainties all contribute to the overall risky nature of the
information on crop and livestock insurance. One notably useful
business. Managers have three basic choices when dealing with
feature on the Risk Controls page is the Cost Estimator, available
risk: ignore it and accept the consequences, avoid it where possible,
at RMA’s website. This tool allows users to select an insurance plan
or manage it.
and estimate premium costs across various levels of coverage.
Risk management is about exploring and implementing strategies to increase the chances of positive outcomes, and/or reducing the consequences of negative outcomes. In other words, risk and the associated variability it introduces is almost always present, so the more the manager can plan for uncertainty the better the chances for a positive outcome. Gathering as much information as possible is one of the best ways to account for uncertainty. Think of information as the
EXAMPLE USDA ESM GRAZING FEE REPORT COW/CALF PAIRS 2021 Western Wyoming 18.00–40.00 Mostly 25.00–35.00 Instances 40.00
2020 18.00–35.00 Mostly 25.00–35.00 Instances 40.00
Eastern and Central Wyoming
22.00–45.00, Mostly 30.00–35.00
18.00–45.00 Mostly 25.00– 35.00
Western Nebraska Mostly Instances
40.00–70.00 45.00–55.00 65.00–70.00
35.00–60.00 Mostly 40.00–50.00 Instances 65.00
foundation for building a sound risk management plan. Basing planning and decision‑making on solid, up to date information is crucial to long term profitability. The professionals at RightRisk. org have developed a resource to help agricultural mangers access important information for their risk management planning. The list of Risk Controls, available under the Resources tab, provides links to a wide range of important risk information and reports generated by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and others. These controls are categorized under the headings: Market, Production, Legal (or Institutional), Human and Financial Risk.
PRODUCTION RISK The Risk Controls page has links to resources dealing with weather, irrigation and drought risk. These resources can provide invaluable information in planning for inevitable weather‑related challenges, especially where the climate can be such a wildcard. Producers can access links to National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather data and forecasts; these can help make production management decisions such as
MARKET RISK Accurate, up to date market information is key to making
cropping plans or stocking rates. National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) reports for water supplies, snowpack, runoff/
profitable marketing decisions. It is not an effective marketing or
flooding forecasts and reservoir status are available under this
pricing strategy to rely on word‑of‑mouth or local coffee‑shop‑talk
section as well. Links to several drought and climate center
for commodity pricing. The Market Risk section of the Risk Controls
monitors can be useful in setting production planning for the short
page outlines numerous reports from USDA Agricultural Marketing
and long term. Disaster and other insurance programs such as
Service (AMS), Ag Statistics, Risk Management Agency (RMA), and
Forage Insurance and Rainfall Index‑Pasture, Rangeland, Forage
others that offer detailed information by state, including Wyoming.
Insurance (RI‑PRF) through RMA are addressed as well.
Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 34 No. 3 • May 14, 2022
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LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL RISK
USDA‑NASS are listed and can provide
are taking, allowing you to adjust your
Legal (or Institutional) risk deals with
insight into the direction credit markets
management strategies accordingly.
the uncertainty linked to the farm business structure: areas such as contracts, liability, statutory compliance and taxes. While at times it may be an uncomfortable subject to address, especially when just starting out in production agriculture, it is an important aspect of today’s farms and ranches. The
RIGHTRISK ANALYTICS FROM RIGHTRISK.ORG
The RightRisk Analytics Toolbox contains several risk analytics tools to help with budgeting, forage leasing, machinery costs and whole farm budgeting. To view or download the toolbox: • Browse to RightRisk.org • Select Risk Management Tools under the Resources Tab.
page provides links to many important national government agency websites, the American Agricultural Law Association and National Agricultural Law Center.
HUMAN AND FINANCIAL RISK If your business has employees, it is important to stay apprised of labor markets, regulations, and requirements. The RightRisk.org Risk Controls page includes links to the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) data for farm labor. Chances are your business uses some form of credit, whether for operating or for larger purchases. Financial Risk links are provided for lending resources including farm loans through USDA, the Farm Credit System, and the Small Business Administration. Current Federal Reserve reports, as well as price reports from James Sedman is a consultant to the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics in the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and John Hewlett is a farm and ranch management specialist in the department. Hewlett may be reached at (307) 766‑2166 or hewlett@uwyo.edu.
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 34 No. 3 • May 14, 2022
SHEEP continued from page A1 event, and the general public was encouraged to attend and learn more about the history of the sheep industry in Wyoming. Museum Educator Stephan Zacharias said the event focused on educating people on the Basque culture, as well as the Scots and the Quechua herders from
South America. “The way it works in our region of the Big Horns is the Scots came as herders before the turn of the 20th century. By pre-World War I, the Scots were ranch owners and had their own flocks, and so they started hiring the Basque people to be the herders,” he said.
“I wanted to show and share with people there are still herders out there living with their herd,” – Carolina Noya, Devils Tower Goats
Zacharias mentioned in today’s modern era, the Basque people in Johnson County and southern Campbell County are hiring shepherds from South America, mostly from Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile, with Peruvians being the dominate herders in Wyoming and Colorado. Educational event Wyoming is the fourth state for wool production in America, according to Zacharias, but he feels many Wyomingites aren’t aware of the sheepherding history and the daily practices sheepherders use in the state.
“I am constantly thrown aback here in Gillette by peoples’ perceptions of sheepdog trial demos,” he said. “When it comes to sheepdog trial demos, everyone imagines a big white dog lying around. This has always thrown me off.” Zacharias said there’s a big difference between livestock guardian dogs and working dogs such as collies, Australian shepherds and blue heelers. “I felt this event was a way to challenge peoples’ perceptions of what a sheepdog is,” he said. Michelle Miller presented multiple working dog demos throughout the event with her dogs and sheep. Viewers were able to understand what a sheepdog actually does and the importance of having a well-trained dog on an operation. Zacharias also mentioned people often see a sheep wagon and consider it to be a piece of history from a long time ago, assuming it is no longer used. “I run into many people who see a wagon and think it’s a pioneer wagon, but there’re still people using these wagons and doing this kind of work in Wyoming,” he said. Carolina Noya, goat herder, said the event was a great opportunity to help people understand sheep wagons are still utilized in the present day by many
Historical melodies – American Poet David Romtvedt shared his knowledge of Basque history through stories, poetry and traditional music at the Powder River Basin Sheepherder' Festival. WYLR photo
Wyoming herders, like herself. “I wanted to show and share with people there are still herders out there living with their herd,” she said. Sheep camp Noya brought a wagon she uses during the year to showcase during the festival. She spends much of her time in this wagon at the foot of Devils Tower and throughout northeastern Wyoming while she works. “The wagon I brought with me is the wagon I live in six months out of the year,” she said. Noya uses her goat herd to graze noxious weeds, such as leafy spurge. “I live in this wagon so I can herd the goats to the areas needing grazing,” she said. “Because of the predators, I have to be with the herd day and night.” Workers bed down the herd at night and keep the goats within a portable electric fence to ensure they’re safe, Noya said. This also helps the guardian dogs protect the herd. “Without the guardian dogs, we wouldn’t be able to keep our herd on the range,” she said. “The border collie is good company, but the
guardian dogs keep us in business.” Conserving the land Noya mentioned grazing animals are giving back to the environment, and events like this showcase the importance of grazing animals. She is aware of what the West would look like without these animals. “I believe this land here in the West is not suitable for farming, but perfect for a migrating animal to graze the forage, aerate the soil with their hooves and fertilize the land with their manure,” she said. “The animals can utilize what grows there and produce delicious protein we can utilize in the form of lamb chops.” The festival helped the public understand what a sheepherder does and what their lifestyle looks like. “I hope to show people this side of a herder’s life,” shared Noya. “We are not only herding to produce meat and fiber, but in the process, we improve the soil and land. It’s a win-win for everybody.” Kaitlyn Root is an editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.
NRCS COMMUNITY ADVISORY MEETING MAY 26, 2022 • 10 AM CONVERSE COUNTY LIBRARY DOUGLAS BRANCH 300 WALNUT STREET, DOUGLAS, WY This is your opportunity to voice your opinion on how Farm Bill funds should be allocated in Converse, Natrona and Niobrara counties. The meeting will be facilitated b Julie Daniels, University of Wyoming Extension. The public and any agencies with an interest in conservation issues are invited to participate in a Local Work Group meeting. The 2018 Farm Bill states that conservation programs must continue to be locally led. Through stakeholder meetings, the public is given an opportunity to help local conservation leaders set program priorities. These meetings are open to the public. Attendance in person is encouraged. Participation online or by phone will be available through Microsoft Teams. Contact Michelle at (307) 624-3151 for a Teams invitation. Converse County - Kaitlin Hasler (307) 624-3146 kaitlin.hasler@usda.gov Natrona County - Kenny Wolfley (307) 462-5598 kenneth.wolfley@usda.gov Niobrara County - Clint Anderson (307) 334-2953, clint.anderson@usda.gov USDA is committed to providing inclusive and accessible programs and events for all participants. If you need an accommodation to participate in this event, contact Edward Berg, NRCS Business Support Specialist at 307-233-6776 by May 20, 2022. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 34 No. 3 • May 14, 2022
in lactating first-calf heifers and young ewes because they still need nutrients for growth, in contrast to mature females. Lactation increases nutrient requirements substantially. Continued nursing further delays a female’s return to estrus when nutritional deficiencies occur during a drought. Early weaning of calves and lambs may be the most efficient management practice available for maintaining reproductive performance when nutritional stress occurs. Other effects drought may have on livestock are the potential for diseases such as dust pneumonia, the emergence or surfacing of spore forming bacterial pathogens such as anthrax and clostridium species, starvation, malnutrition, poor body growth and reduced feed conversion. In the case of sheep, there can also be effects on wool growth, reduced staple length and fiber breaks, which at market time will impact the price per pound. Reduced water flow, ground water and runoff can pose risks of the uptake of certain potential toxins into plants and water such as nitrates, oxalates, selenium and sulfates. These can all produce toxicity in livestock species leading to
illness or death. Livestock producers should regularly assess resource conditions such as water availability, vegetation vigor and soil condition during drought periods. Drought also leads to increased risk of fire activity, which necessitates livestock producers formulate a plan for livestock relocation and protection should a fire occur. Ranchers can adjust distribution of livestock, moving or removing herds as needed and utilizing portable water troughs to improve livestock distribution to reduce the impacts on vegetation, soils and permanent water supplies during drought years. This helps protect livestock from the adverse effects of drought. More information regarding drought status, mitigation management efforts and assistance can be obtained from the University of Wyoming Extension, NRCS, U.S. Weather Service Drought Monitor and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency. This article is courtesy of the Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB). The WLSB assists the state in brand recordkeeping, brand inspections, animal health and law enforcement.
WILDFIRES continued from page A1 back up water.” During some fires, operations may lose electrical power, so it will be important to have these tanks readily available, he says. Farmers and ranchers should avoid driving all-terrain vehicles, tractors and bale feeders through dead, tall grass. “If there is any kind of spark or increased heat from catalytic converters, they can actually start a fire,” he notes. “Producers should stay out of tall grass if at all possible.” For farmers and ranchers using irrigation systems, he suggests keeping these areas free of combustible materials. Some systems take fuel to run, but, if at all possible, an electrical irrigation system poses a lower risk of
damage during a fire. “Producers may want to run an irrigation well to wet things down,” he adds. “They should also check things around houses and buildings and make sure these areas are free of weeds, dead grass and other debris – dead trees and any kind of brush.” Producers are encouraged to park tractors and other equipment away from fuel sources – gas, fuel tanks, buildings, hay stacks and storage containers. Above ground fuel storage should be at least 40 feet away from buildings. “If tractors are hooked up to a disk, producers may use the equipment to make a fire break,” Saner adds. Safety measures There are several safety
the insects pick up the pollen and transfer it between plants. “Many flowers attract flies,” she adds. “There’re a variety of different flies which will visit quite a few different species of flowers, and as they visit the flowers, the hairs on their bodies collect pollen and transfer it from flower to flower.” Hoffman says butterflies and moths are also helpful insects when it comes to pollination. “Butterflies and moths have some hairs on their body, but mostly scales, which pick up pollen they transfer from flower to flower,” she adds. Hoffman notes one of the reasons pollination works so well is flowers are open for a particular part of the season. “If one species of flower is all that’s open at a particular time, then that’s where the insects are going to collect the pollen. They’ll take it from flower to flower in a particular species,” she says. Pollinator or pest? Hoffman says many times pollinating insects can be a bit of a nuisance for gardeners, but she encourages producers to remember the insects offer more benefits than damage
to the garden. “Butterflies and moths lay eggs which become caterpillars, and the larvae are there consuming some product in the garden,” she says. “Caterpillars are voracious eaters but in order to have beautiful adult pollinators, we need to provide a food source for them in the garden.” “We may be willing to offer up one or two of our plants so the butterfly and moth have a food source during the growing season,” she adds. Bringing pollinators into the garden makes gardening more enjoyable for kids and benefits all of the flowers in the garden, she says. She urges gardeners to embrace the pollinating insects instead of trying to get rid of them. “The more pollinators we bring into the garden, the better it is for pollination to occur with the plants we want pollination to happen on,” Hoffman says. Grow and give Gardeners are left with an excess of fruits and vegetables they can’t seem to eat quick enough. This is where the Cen$ible Nutrition Program (CNP) comes into play. According to their website, “CNP is a cooking and nutrition program serving families and individuals with lim-
will really help.” In addition, producers should have emergency numbers posted in a central location, including the fire and police departments, local emergency response coordinators and others who can provide emergency assistance. Having fire extinguishers in all barns, vehicles and tractors is highly recommended as well, they share. During a fire In the newsletter, Saner and Eirich note human life must be the first priority, property comes second. When firefighters arrive, they may ask what to save first – livestock, machinery or feed. Be prepared beforehand, they add.
If someone becomes trapped in a burning barn or building, practice fire safety: get out quickly; stay low and cover your mouth with cloth; close doors after escaping rooms to slow the spread; keep doors closed if smoke is pouring in the room at the bottom of the door and the door feels hot; open a window to escape or for fresh air while waiting to be rescued; and if no smoke is coming under the door and it is not hot, open it to escape. Available resources If producers are impacted by a fire, there are several resources available to help. Fighting fires takes a mental toll on firefighters and producers impacted by the fire. Saner encourages
TIPS continued from page A1 Wind pollinated plants can often be enhanced by hand pollination, Hoffman notes. Tomatoes are a common wind pollinated plant and can also be hand pollinated. “They often will install something on the supports for tomatoes in green houses to shake plants in order to help with wind pollination,” she says. “If you are out in the garden, it doesn’t hurt to grab a hold of the stems and shake them a bit so the pollen is moved inside the individual flowers and goes from the stamens to the style where it is sticky and receptive to the pollen in order to make more seeds in each of the flowers.” Helpful insects Bees come to mind when thinking of pollinating insects, but Hoffman says many different insects found in Wyoming are useful pollinators. “We have a variety of insects visiting gardens and doing a majority of the pollination,” she says. “Bees are the biggest pollinators we have in our flower and vegetable gardens.” Hoffman recommends planting flowers in the garden for nectar and pollen sources. These sources attract flies, bees, hummingbirds, ants, etc., and measures producers should consider prior to fire season. In the article, Saner and Nebraska Extension Educator Rob Eirich encourage producers to install and maintain smoke detectors. They can be installed in barns and buildings and should be checked at least once per month, with batteries changed once per year. Producers should develop an escape or evacuation plan, which should include how to transport animals and livestock in case of a fire. “If you can get livestock out – if they are in a barn, just turning them out of the enclosure will help them be able to get away from the fire in most cases,” Saner says. “If producers can move them before hand, it would be a good idea – this doesn’t always work or is feasible, but if they can, it
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ited resources in Wyoming. CNP educators live in communities across the state and teach free classes about healthy lifestyles and cooking. We also work with community partners on amazing projects at gardens, food pantries and schools.” CNP Educator Shannon Tippit offers advice for gardeners planning to donate to local food banks this season. She notes all fresh produce is welcome. Tippit mentions broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, potatoes, spinach, summer squash and tomatoes are the most wanted fresh produce items. More difficult items to get rid of include kale, other leafy greens, parsnips and winter squash. Tippit encourages gardeners to donate any excess produce they might have, even if it’s not in high demand. “If producers grow the harder to donate items, they can still donate and the educator in their area will give educational information about the specific vegetable or fruit and recipes to go with it,” she says. Kaitlyn Root is an editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net. producers to utilize a rural health or suicide prevention hotline. Some rural departments can help with livestock and feed needs, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture has some programs designed to help producers who are impacted by catastrophic fires, he notes. “Make sure during a fire, a producer’s first priority is to get themselves and their family out safe,” Saner concludes. “We don’t want to lose human lives – make sure everyone is safe because it’s the most important thing.” Brittany Gunn is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 34 No. 3 • May 14, 2022
CALENDAR
May 21
Submit your events to: Editor, Wyoming Livestock Roundup, P.O. Box 850, Casper, WY, 82602, or e-mail to roundup@wylr.net.
EVENTS
May 16 May 17
May 17 May 17-18 May 19-21 May 20-22 May 23 May 23 May 23 May 23-24 May 23-27 May 25
May 26 May 26-27 May 27-29 June 3-4 June 4-5 June 7 June 7-11 June 8 June 8 June 8-9 June 8-11 June 9-11 June 11 June 11-12 June 10 June 12-18
Upper Green River Basin Sage Grouse Working Group Meeting, 1-5 p.m., Sublette County Conservation District conference room, Pinedale, or virtually via Teams at bit.ly/3vYkheu. Invasive Grass and Weeds Workshop, 3-6 p.m., University of Wyoming Crook County Courthouse Community Room, Sundance. For more information, visit uwagnews.com/2022/04/01/invasive-grass-weed-workshops-in-gillette-sheridansundance-may-3-10-17/. Wyoming Game and Fish Department Meeting, 6 p.m., Park County Library, Cody. Animal Damage Management Board Meeting, Wyoming Game and Fish Regional Office, Casper. For more information, visit wyadmb.com or contact Jerry Johnson at 307-777-6781. American National CattleWomen’s Region V Convention, Cody. For more information and to register, visit ancw.org/event-4591167. Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show, Sheridan. For more information, visit leathercraftersjournal.com. Wyoming Livestock Board Meeting, 10 a.m., Clarion Inn At Platte River, Casper. Nebraska Extension Collect. Balance. Reconcile. File. Workshop, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Sheridan County Extension Office, Rushville, Neb. To register, call 308-3272312. Nebraska Extension Quicken for Farm and Ranch Record Keeping Workshop, 1-4 p.m., Sheridan County Extension Office, Rushville, Neb. To register, call 308327-2312. Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce Meeting, 8 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn, Casper. Wyoming Ranch Camp, Queen Mountain Lodge, Broadbent Ranch, Evanston. For more information, e-mail hrhill@uwyo.edu or cmarsha1@uwyo.edu. Applications will be accepted until registration is full. Pinedale Anticline Annual Planning Meeting, 10 a.m., Bureau of Land Management Field Office, Pinedale. For more information, visit blm.gov/wyoming/jio-papo/ papo or contact Brandon Teppo at 307-367-5382 or bteppo@blm.gov, or Doug Linn at 307-367-5302 or dlinn@blm.gov. NRCS Community Advisory Meeting, 10 a.m., Converse County Library, Douglas Branch, Douglas. For more information, contact Kaitlin Hasler at kaitlin.hasler@ usda.gov or 307-624-3146. Sandhills Cattle Association’s 83rd Annual Convention, Atkinson Community Center, Atkinson, Neb. For more information and to register, visit sandhillscattle. com/. Buck Brannaman Horsemanship Clinic, Seven Downs Arena, Spearfish, S.D. For more information, contact Deb Shimon at debshimon@yahoo.com or call 605515-3995. Overland Stage Stampede Rodeo, Green River. For more information, call 307872-0514 Breed Bash Youth Cattle Event, Morgan County Fairgrounds, Brush, Colo. For more information, e-mail breedbash@gmail.com. Natrona County Predator Management District Budget and Board Meeting, 6 p.m., Wyoming Wool Growers Office, Casper. For more information, e-mail ncpmd1@charter.net. Columbia Sheep Breeders Association National Show and Sale, Archer Event Center, Cheyenne. For more information, visit columbiasheep.org/national-showand-sale. Wool Workshop: Tools for Evaluation, 2 p.m., Archer Event Center, Cheyenne. Wyoming Beef Council Beef Quality Assurance Training, 2 p.m., Little America, Cheyenne. To reserve a spot, contact Gary Gwin at gary.gwin1@wyo.gov or call 307-777-7396 Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce Meeting, 8 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn, Casper. Wyoming Stock Growers Association 150th Anniversary Celebration and Summer Meeting, Little America, Cheyenne. For more information and to register, visit wysga.org. Youth Entrepreneur Development Weekend, Casper. For more information, contact Kellie Chichester at kelliec@uwyo.edu or 307-334-3534. East Campus Discovery Days and Farmers’ Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska. For more information, visit discoverydays.unl.edu/ vendors. 75th Annual Hulett Rodeo, Hulett. For more information, visit Facebook @Hulett Rodeo or rodeohulettwy.com/. Wyoming Leadership, Education and Development Application Deadline. For more information, visit wylead.com or contact Cindy Garretson-Weibel at wylead@ gmail.com or 307-214-5080. College National Finals Rodeo, Ford Wyoming Center, Casper. For more information, visit cnfr.com.
Big horn Basin
LIVESTOCK AUCTION LLC
bighornbasinlivestock.com
Worland, WY
Call to Consign Cattle Sale Barn: 307-347-9201 Danny Vigil: 307-388-0781
Danny Vigil • Northern Livestock Represenative
Broadcasting and Online Bidding Available At lmaauctions.com. Please visit to fill out an application and view auctions.
May 12 – 357 Head • Cows $2 to $4 Lower and Bulls Steady BULLS Lyman Ranch Co. - Ten Sleep 1 Blk Bull, 2,125# ....................... $11650 1 Blk Bull, 1,950# .......................$10450 Rusatt Ranch Inc. - Basin 1 Blk Bull, 1,735# ....................... $11200 1 Blk Bull, 1,850# .......................$10900 1 Blk Bull, 1,800# .......................$10900 1 Blk Bull, 2,010# .......................$10300 Haight, Wyatt - Thermopolis 1 Blk Bull, 2,175# .......................$10450 Turnell Cattle Company - Meeteetse 1 Blk Bull, 2,080# .......................$10100 Blackstar Cattle Company - Hyattville 1 Blk Bull, 2,255# .........................$9850 Mendez Brothers - Otto 1 Blk Bull, 1,720# .........................$9250 Brazelton, Roger - Powell 1 Hrfd Bull, 2,155# .......................$9100 COWS Lungren, Luke - Worland 3 Blk Cow, avg. 1,233#................$9150 Lewton, Lonnie - Ten Sleep 1 Blk Cow, 1,590#........................$8300 1 Blk Cow, 1,290#........................$7300 Schlager, John - Worland 1 Blk Cow, 1,020#........................$7250 Carter Cattle Inc - Ten Sleep 1 Blk Cow, 1,495#........................$8300 3 Blk Cow, avg. 1,568#................$8050
2 Blk Cow, avg. 1,628#................$8000 2 Blk Cow, avg. 1,563#................$7750 Gifford, Edward L. - Byron 1 Blk Cow, 1,360#........................$7900 Rusatt Ranch Inc. - Basin 1 Blk Cow, 1,515#........................$8000 Lazy T Ranch LLC - Ten Sleep 3 Red Cow, avg. 1,412# ..............$8050 4 Red Cow, avg. 1,460# ..............$7850 6 Rd/RWF Cow, avg. 1,204# ......$7750 3 Red Cow, avg. 1,508# ..............$7650 4 Red Cow, avg. 1,283# ..............$7500 LLC Tag Double H Cattle - Carmel 1 Blk Cow, 1,345#........................$7750 2 Blk Cow, avg. 1,238#................$7400 2 Blk Cow, avg. 1,325#................$7350 Mendez Brothers - Otto 1 Blk Cow, 1,465#........................$7750 1 Blk Cow, 1,455#........................$7200 1 Blk Cow, 1,435#........................$6850 Caldwell, Brad - Dallas 1 Blk Cow, 1,150#........................$7000 Wieland, Gary Lee - Hyattville 1 BWF Cow, 1,440# ....................$7650 Hook, Jace - Thermopolis 1 Blk Cow, 1,340#........................$7600 Blackstar Cattle Company - Hyattville 1 Blk Cow, 1,055#........................$7550 Steele, Edward Jr - Deaver 1 Hrfd Cow, 1,405# ......................$7500
1 Hrfd Cow, 1,090# ......................$7300 1 Hrfd Cow, 1,435# ......................$7200 Boardman, Jared - Frannie 1 Blk Cow, 1,245#........................$7450 Losey Living Trust, Aaron - Powell 1 BBF Cow, 1,720#......................$7450 PAIRS Rush, Curtis L. - Thermopolis 18 Bk/BWF Pairs ............... $1,675/Hd. Darby, Chanda - Basin 1 BWF Pair ......................... $1,425/Hd. Rush, Curtis L. - Thermopolis 8 Blk Pairs .......................... $1,175/Hd. HEIFERETTE Lewton, Lonnie - Ten Sleep 1 Blk Hfrtt, 1,005# ...................... $11600 Big West Land and Cattle - Riverton 1 Blk Hfrtt, 870# ......................... $11500 Open Lock Ranch Inc - Worland 5 Blk Hfrtt, avg. 950# ................. $11000 Lazy T Ranch - Ten Sleep 11 RWF Hfrtt, avg. 1,089#...........$9550
• Upcoming Sales • May 19 – All Class Cattle, Sheep & Goat May 26 – Weigh-Up Special
May 27-29 June 3 June 6 June 15-16 June 16 June 15-19 June 18 June 23-24 July 6 July 11-13 July 11-15 July 18-20 July 30 Aug. 1-5 Aug. 9-10 Aug. 15-16 Aug. 22-23 Aug. 22-26
SALES
Final WYO Quarter Horse, Arena, Ranch Broke Gelding and Production Sale, Hot Springs County Fairgrounds, Thermopolis, 307-864-5671, 307-2720593, wyohorses.com Pitchfork Ranch Horse Sale, Pitchfork Ranch, Meeteetse, 307-272-8792, pitchforkhorsesale.com Healing Horse Ranch Horse Sale, Parshall, N.D., 701-721-9248 Urlacher Angus Spring Bull Sale, Bowman Auction Market, Bowman, N.D., 701-824-4129 Superior Livestock Auction Corn Belt Classic XXIIII, The Marriott South Sioux Riverfront, South Sioux City, Neb., 800-422-2117, superiorlivestock.com Coyote Creek Angus Complete Dispersion, at the ranch, Hayden, Colo., 307276-2190, 970-214-5414, coyotecreekangus.com Jake Clark’s Mule Days Events & Auction, Ralston, 307-272-8792, saddlemule.com 44th Annual Wyoming All Breed Gaited Horse Sale, Park County Fairgrounds, Powell, 307-272-3743, 307-431-2109, hennyauctionwy.com Northern Livestock Video Auction Early Summer Special, 866-616-5035, northernlivestockvideo.com Cattle Country Video High Plains Showcase Sale, Goshen County Rendezvous Center, Torrington, 888-322-8853, cattlecountryvideo.com Western Video Market, Silver Legacy, Reno, Nev., 530-347-3793, wvmcattle.com Superior Livestock Auction Week in the Rockies XXXIIII, Cheyenne, 800-4222117, superiorlivestock.com Northern Livestock Video Auction Summertime Classic, 866-616-5035, northernlivestockvideo.com South Dakota’s Elite Horse Sale, Martin Arena, Sturgis, S.D., 605-515-0503, southdakotaselite.com Superior Livestock Auction Video Royale XXX, Winnemucca, Nev., 800-4222117, superiorlivestock.com Cattle Country Video Oregon Trail Classic Sale, Gering Civic Center, Gering, Neb., 888-322-8853, cattlecountryvideo.com Western Video Market, Little America, Cheyenne, 530-347-3793, wvmcattle.com Northern Livestock Video Auction Early Fall Preview, 866-616-5035, northernlivestockvideo.com Superior Livestock Auction Big Horn Classic XVIII, Sheridan, 800-422-2117, superiorlivestock.com
POSTCARD from the Past
Compiled by Dick Perue rrichardperue@gmail.com
Arbor Day Proclamation A proclamation by Wyoming Gov. Bryant B. Brooks in the April 16, 1909 issue of The Casper Press reads: The year is repeating the earth-old story. We are coming once more to its most charming chapter. The balmy air, the echoing mountains, the barren desert flushing with renewed promise of ample sustenance, the resurrection of the leafless vine, the naked tree budding forth into new life and beauty, all proclaim the miraculous change. “To most men only the cessation of the miracle would be miraculous, and the exercise of God’s power seems less wonderful than its withdrawal would be.” By the planting of trees about the home and school and along the ditch and lonely wayside, all the people of Wyoming should give concrete expression of their gratitude for the blessings of spring. Concerted efforts will be amply rewarded and every home, school and hamlet will be morally, intellectually and economically benefitted thereby. Now therefore, following the law and custom of our state, I hereby proclaim April 13, 1909 as ARBOR DAY and earnestly recommend the broad, practical and earnest observance of tree planting day by old and young, making it a fact and not a mere form. Yep, I know it’s a little late for Arbor Day, but in Wyoming it’s never too late
to plant a tree and then enjoy its beauty. A short history of Arbor Day, as swiped from the internet, notes: As pioneers began moving into the Nebraska Territory, the lack of trees was felt deeply. Not only did the new residents miss the trees they left behind, they were also left without the trees they needed as windbreaks to keep soil in place, for fuel and building materials and for shade from the hot sun. Nebraska newspaper editor J. Sterling Morton had an enthusiasm for trees and advocated strongly for individuals and civic groups to plant them. And on Jan. 4, 1872, Morton first proposed a tree planting holiday to be called
“Arbor Day.” The celebration date was set for April 10, 1872. It was estimated more than one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day. Shortly thereafter Wyoming law establishes the last Monday in April as Arbor Day. On this day, according to the statute, a “tree shall be planted on state grounds in a simple ceremony.” Pioneers in many Wyoming towns tried to plant and maintain trees in their communities. For instance, in Laramie in 1874, the town council passed an ordinance stating “no horse, mule or other beast of burden” could be “tied to any tree without the owner’s permission.” Further, the ordinance stated up to a $50 fine could be assessed on anyone “who shall willfully, without the permission of the owner, destroy or mutilate any growing tree” within the town’s borders. And the rest is history you can look up on the internet.
Two cents postage stamp commemorating the 60th anniversary of Arbor Day. From the internet. Historical Reproductions by Perue
Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 34 No. 3 • May 14, 2022
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 34 No. 3 • May 14, 2022
CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONS ARE MADE MADE ARE IN CASPER CASPER IN
JUNE 12-18 12-18 JUNE
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