Extreme Weather

Extension educator highlights management for cold-stressed livestock

Cold stress

To begin, Most explained cold stress occurs when animals are pushed outside of their thermal neutral zone, and therefore, have to increase heat production through

Gov. requests disaster aid

On Feb. 20, Gov. Mark Gordon and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture announced Wyoming livestock producers should take actions to prepare for winter weather. Preparing for storms and caring for livestock is critical across the West.

Harsh winter

The 2022-23 winter has been hard for many Wyoming sheep and cattle producers. According to Gordon’s press release, winter started early and has resulted in significant snow levels and considerable drifting, with significant livestock loss across the state. Numbers are expected to rise into this spring.

“We are well aware of the cumulative impacts this winter has brought to our ag producers,” said Gordon. “The state of Wyoming is already at work with partners, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Farm Service Agency (FSA), to determine losses, the period of impact and the geographic scale of impact due to these extraordinary conditions.” fall freezes are more of a stressor than late spring freezes.”

Livestock loss, together with information from producers, will be used to submit a request for a secretarial disaster designation. Producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA office as soon as possible so required information can be submitted.

“Wyoming ranchers always have a lot of adversity to overcome, but this winter has been overwhelming as we rarely see so many bad weather variables persist throughout the winter the way they have this year,” said Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) Director Doug Miyamoto.

Most also noted the importance of knowing the difference between acute stress and chronic stress. He explained

Please see COLD on page A11

Rural business

USDA Rural Development offers grant program

On Feb. 2, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Wyoming Business Programs Loan Assistant Lynelle Barber gave a presentation on RD’s Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program.

Purpose of program

The purpose of RBDG is to provide a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging rural business opportunities and business enterprise projects serving rural areas.

Eligible businesses include a business which has 50 or less new employees and less than $1 million in gross revenue. A rural area is considered a space with a population of 50,000 people or less.

Applications for Fiscal Year 2023 are due no later than 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 28.

Eligibility

Barber noted for-profit organizations are not eligible for funding, and the project must be located in a rural area. Eligible applicants can include state

Please see USDA on page A7