Volume 33 Number 43 • February 19, 2022
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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside North American trade policy is discussed between the U.S., Mexico and Canada..................................C1 State veterinarian provides animal health update at Fremont County event............................................. B1 CAB reviews the 2021 cattle market and looks ahead to 2022........ B6 Dick Perue details Martha Washington’s life in Postcard from the Past .. ................................................... A10
Gordon sees Wyoming on an upward trend in 2022 Cheyenne – In his Feb. 14 State of the State address, Gov. Mark Gordon likened the current situation for Wyoming to a long, brutal day of trailing cattle, noting, “Here in Wyoming, we have had a hard pull,
too, over the past couple of years, and folks are wondering if the end will ever come into view. But I believe we are beginning to see the first rays of our sunrise.” Gordon continued, despite the challenges which
hit the state, Wyomingites kept working, learning and moving forward, even continuing to stand up for their values when mandates from Washington, D.C. emerged. “Despite tremendous challenges, Wyoming is
getting stronger and stronger,” he said. “We are strong because of our character, resilient because of our nature and optimistic because Wyoming people are doers.” Please see GORDON on page A5 WYLR photo
Quick Bits
Super Tag The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s (WGFD) Super Tag raffle program sold 124,602 tickets and raised $1.6 million for conservation efforts in 2022. WGFD Director Brian Nesvik said, “Super Tag revenue goes to support WGFD programs addressing Wyoming’s top issues for wildlife – like funding Wyoming Mule Deer Initiative projects, chronic wasting disease management, reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and inspiring the next generation of conservationists.”
Beef Inventory The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture inventory report showed the U.S. cowherd declined by 700,000 head – the largest one-year decline since 1996. The same report revised the Jan. 1, 2020 cowherd inventory down 314,000. This is over a 1.5 million head reduction in the beef cowherd during this phase of the cattle cycle. Further contraction is expected with high feed costs and continued drought.
SWE Update According to the Feb. 15 snowpack/snow water equivalent (SWE) from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wyoming’s SWE is 84% of median. The basin high is held by Laramie Basin at 98% and the basin low is held by South Platte Basin at 60%. At this time last year, the state SWE was 88% of median and 116% in 2020.
Relisting decision California judge overturned 2020 FWS rule to delist gray wolves
Avocado Trade The U.S. government has suspended all imports of Mexican avocados “until further notice” after a U.S. plant safety inspector in Mexico received a threatening message, according to Mexico’s Agriculture Department. Avocado exports and growers are the latest victims of drug cartel turf battles in the Mexican state of Michoacan, the only state fully authorized to export to the U.S. market, and has nearly $3 billion in annual exports.
Adobe Stock photo
SOIL CARBON BENEFITS Carbon markets discussed during WESTI Ag Days On Feb. 15 during WESTI Ag Days in Worland, University of Wyoming Extension Educator Dr. Caitlin Youngquist, Western Sustainability Exchange (WSE) Ranch Programs Director Chris Mehus and Indreland Ranch Owner Rodger Indreland discussed carbon markets in agriculture and how producers can benefit from carbon credits through an extensive rotational grazing plan. What is the carbon cycle? “The basic carbon cycle takes carbon out of the atmosphere, into the soil, then back into the air,” said
Youngquist. “Photosynthesis is what drives the carbon cycle – plants are taking carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the air, with the energy from the sunlight, converting CO2 and water into glucose, then the oxygen goes back out again.” Carbon can be found in plant tissue and in the soil system. This is the basic process which occurs when talking about pulling carbon out of the atmosphere or when talking about carbon markets and crops. It all starts with photosynthesis, noted Youngquist. Please see CARBON on page A4
Many organizations, agencies and producers are disappointed in a decision made by northern California’s U.S. District Judge Jeffery White, which returns gray wolves to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) list in 45 states. This decision overturns a 2020 rule by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to remove wolves from the ESA list in the lower 48 states. According to White, the 2020 rule relied too heavily on thriving gray wolf populations near the Great Lakes and in the Rocky Mountains and did not take into consideration populations in the rest of the contiguous United States. “The FWS did not adequately consider threats to wolves outside of these core populations,” he wrote. “Instead, the FWS avoids analyzing these wolves by concluding, with little explanation or analysis, wolves outside of the core populations are not necessary to the recovery of the species.” Please see WOLVES on page A8
Tributes paid to Christensen On the U.S. Senate Floor, Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) paid tribute to Leland Christensen. Christensen was formerly a member of the 19th Special Forces Airborne Army and the Wyoming National Guard, a sheriff, a Teton County commissioner, state senator, deputy director of the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security and the state director for Sen. Lummis’ office. The Alta resident passed away Feb. 3 at age 62. “Leland was all Wyoming,” Lummis said. “He was tough as nails, endlessly patient and unwaveringly Leland Christensen kind.” She continued, “Words cannot truly convey the loss we as a team feel since Leland passed away. I’ve worked with hundreds of colleagues, many of whom I’ve cared for very much. But rarely do I come across someone whose sincere humility, generosity and selflessness come close to those of Leland Christensen.” “Every day spent with Leland was a better day,” Lummis said. “He was the definition of both civil servant and statesman, and on behalf of the people of Wyoming, I want to say thank you for his service to our state and our country.” Gov. Mark Gordon said, “Leland was a kind and committed public servant and a good friend who represented the best of Wyoming. I am grateful for his service in the legislature and as deputy director of the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security. He will be deeply missed.”
Roots run deep in sixth generation cattle operation
Mountain View – Madi Lupher and her family are passionate about their sixth generation cattle operation, Lupher Ranch, and strive to leave a legacy behind for the next generation. Madi explains Carter and Hamilton Lupher first homesteaded the ranch over 100 years ago. The land Madi and her fam-
ily ranch on today holds history and traditions which are valued by family members. “My dad is a big fan of the ranch’s history and hearing him tell stories about the original homesteads has inspired me to continue being involved with the operation,” says Madi. Madi hopes to leave behind something “worth keeping around.” “It’s really cool being part of the sixth generation on the ranch. I want to be like my dad and past family members,” she adds. Traditional ways of ranching Tractors are rarely seen in action on the ranch.
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Please see LUPHER on page A9