UW Extension outlines similarities and differences between profitability and efficiency
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Tips offered for choosing chicken breeds to produce colorful eggs Page A9
Enhancing digital marketing efforts benefits ag operations
Page A11
Legislation to protect petroglyphs on state lands passes Page B8
In the 15th snow report for Water Year 2025, the state’s snowpack telemetry data reads 105% of median, with a basin high of 113% and a basin low of 50%. Last year, the state was at 96% and at 123% in 2023. The report and a map displaying basin snow water equivalent percentages of median for the state may be found at wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/nrcs/ nrcs.html
The Weston County Natural Resource Conservation District, in collaboration with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Mule Deer Foundation, Thunder Basin Grasslands Prairie Ecosystem Association and Pheasants Forever, will host a two-part workshop on low-tech, process-based restoration. Virtual presentations will take place April 16, April 30 and May 14 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Then, a two-day in-person workshop will take place May 20-21 in Weston County. For more information or to register, visit westoncountynrd. org/ltpbr-workshop/.
The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) is now accepting nominations for the John V. Robbins Distinguished Service Award, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the betterment of RAAA services. For more information and to fill out a nomination form, visit bit.ly/2025RAAAawards com. The deadline for nominations is April 11.
The American Gelbvieh Association is seeking interns for the 2025 Grand Ole Gelbvieh Junior Classic in Lebanon, Tenn. June 21-27. Individuals who want handson experience should apply by submitting a cover letter, resume and three references to info@gelbvieh.org by April 1. For more information, visit gelbvieh.org/ juniors/agja-events/juniorclassic
U.S. Sens. Dr. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran (both R-KS) introduced the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act of 2025 on March 7. This new legislation will
enable community banks to manage agricultural real estate loans by providing them with tax-exempt status on earned interest.
The ACRE Act is not a new government program,
but a tool for agricultural lenders which pairs well with other U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs already being used by beginning and disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
The ACRE Act benefits American families, farmers and rural communities across the country by making loans more accessible and affordable for rural and
As spring thaws winter’s chill and the landscape starts to turn green, it can be exciting – and a bit of a relief – to finally turn ranch horses out to pasture.
However, experts remind horse owners extra time and care should be taken when returning horses to pasture to avoid laminitis, colic and/or diarrhea.
A sensitive system
Horses are known for having a unique monogastric digestive system, in which plant matter is broken down via microbial fermentation in the hindgut.
Microbes in the digestive tract vary depending on
Gov. Mark Gordon, chairman of the Wyoming Stable Token Commission (WSTC), announced on March 20 Wyoming is making significant strides toward the launch of the Wyoming Stable Token (WYST).
Gordon’s announcement came after the monthly sevenmember commission meeting, which included an executive session.
According to the press release, testing is expected to begin in coming weeks for the first fiat-backed and fullyreserved stable token issued by a public entity in the U.S. WYST seeks to enhance financial transactions and further establish Wyoming’s position as a leader in blockchain innovation and anticipates a launch date in July 2025.
“WYST is designed to be a digital representation of the U.S. dollar, fully backed by U.S. Treasuries, cash and repurchase agreements. It will maintain a statutory requirement of not less than 102 percent capitalization to bolster stability,” Gordon announced. “The token will operate on blockchain technology, offering transparency, security and efficiency in financial transactions.”
Moving forward
Wyoming’s proactive efforts in advancing blockchain legislation have established the state as a prominent leader in the realm of digital assets.
Since 2016, the state has passed over 45 pieces of sector-specific legislation, including outlines for Special Purpose Depository Institutions and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, demonstrating Wyoming is setting the
what the animal eats, and when the diet changes, so must the microbial population.
Since these microbes are highly sensitive to changes in the diet and because sudden feed changes do not give the microbial population time to adjust, it is recommended to change a horse’s diet gradually over the course of a few weeks to avoid issues with colic and/or diarrhea.
Additionally, Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) Equine Extension Educator Laura Kenny notes early spring growth tends to be high in non-structural
Please see HORSES on page A5
USDA provides update on strategy to combat HPAI and lower egg prices
In her first month in office, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has taken a strong stance against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), announcing a $1 billion comprehensive strategy to combat HPAI and lower egg prices just two weeks after she was sworn in as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 33rd secretary.
More recently, Rollins released an update on the USDA’s advancements, announcing an expansion of biosecurity assessments and emergency funding.
A press release published by USDA on March 20 notes, less than a month after the five-pronged plan’s rollout, the agency has seen significant improvements across all areas.
“Egg prices are falling, farmers are getting the relief they need and we are seeing meaningful progress in the fight against avian flu,” Rollins states. “USDA is making targeted investments and driving innovation to keep our food supply strong and affordable – delivering real results for American families and producers.”
Biosecurity measures
Under the first component
Recently, the Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) signed an agreement to allow brands on cattle to be used as official identification for cattle moving between Utah and Wyoming.
This agreement was made in response to changes in official identification requirements set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A virtual informational meeting was held on March 21, the same day the agreement became official.
“We have a large number of cattle moving between Utah and Wyoming each year,” stated UDAF Animal Industry Director Leann Hunting. “This agreement has been made to lessen the bur-
den placed on the many livestock producers who move cattle between our two states.”
WLSB Director Steve True reiterated WLSB does not have any issues with traceability. The board has tracked all proposed changes to the Animal Disease Traceability Rule and is strongly against the application of a mandate in the new final rule.
True said WLSB believes the 2013 version of the rule has worked well and allowed producers to voluntarily choose the method of official individual ID, which worked best for them.
“When Hunting approached us and
To consumers, most meats are high priced, and to meat producers, prices are in line with the value of the meat product. With higher inputs, meat producers need high prices to stay in business.
A recently released Power of Meat report revealed some positive facts for the livestock and poultry industries. This report was conducted by 210 Analytics on behalf of the Meat Institute and the Food Industry Association (FMI).
Meat Institute President and Chief Executive Officer Julie Anna Potts said, “With most Americans – 74 percent – so confident in meat as a nutrient powerhouse which is top of the mind for protein needs, it’s no surprise people are buying more meat than ever. Meat Institute members are committed to making the nutrient-dense meat Americans need and keeping America’s farm economy thriving, today and for generations to come.”
The report, which has sales and purchase dynamics data provided by Circana for the 52 weeks ending on Dec. 29, 2024, showed consumers, on average, purchase meat more than once a week. This places meat as the largest fresh food department in grocery sales.
To me, this means it is bigger than the fresh vegetables and fruit section.
The report claimed 98 percent of American households purchase meat, and 73 percent of Americans view meat as an overall healthy choice. Ninety percent view protein as very/somewhat important to Americans, and animal proteins, including eggs at 83 percent, chicken at 82 percent and beef at 76 percent, top the list of foods most consumers view as protein-rich foods.
The report noted the average American shops for meat 54 times per year and spends $16.12 on meat per trip. The top three purchases for refrigerated meat include beef, chicken and pork, and the top three purchases for prepared meat include lunchmeat, bacon and sausage.
I would imagine the reason beef tops the list is because of the popularity of hamburger.
Rick Stein, FMI vice president of fresh foods, said, “The report defined the shoppers’ definition of value has expanded to include price, quality, relevance, convenience and experience. They are including meat in 90 percent of home-cooked dinners and looking for various options to suit their schedules, tastes and interests.”
He also said, “Whether shoppers are looking for the convenience of new ground meats or incorporating semi-prepared options in their meal prep, the meat department delivers.”
I also read a headline which said, “The U.S. beef industry just experienced its best year in history, record prices on a larger volume.”
Based on numbers by the Livestock Marketing Information Center, the beef demand index indicated a strong demand in 2024. The components used to measure the index are the all-fresh retail beef price, per capita consumption, the consumer price index and the own-price elasticity for beef. This has caused the cattle and beef industry to focus towards beef demand in 2025.
Cattle producers and the beef industry are both looking at record prices for beef products. These prices are expected to stay current or rise over the next couple of years as heifer retention has not showed up yet to grow the U.S. cattle herd.
A growing demand, both in the U.S. and other countries, will be the key. Demand dictates the U.S. beef industry provide a safe, healthy, tasty and a high-protein product for all consumers.
HANNAH BUGAS, Managing Editor • hannah@wylr.net
MELISSA ANDERSON, Editor • melissa@wylr.net
CANDICE PEDERSON, Production Coordinator • candice@wylr.net
JODY MICHELENA, Advertising Director • jodym@wylr.net DENISE OLSON, Classified Sales Manager • 307-685-8213 • denise@wylr.net ANDREA ZINK, General Manager • andrea@wylr.net
By Wyoming Department of Agriculture
Data may not be the first thing one thinks about when they hear the words agriculture, ranching or farming, but this doesn’t mean it’s not of vital importance to each. Gathering data in agricultural operations not only helps producers make better decisions, it helps protect their operations and allows them to make plans for the future.
The tools available to producers continue to grow and evolve to assist in almost every aspect of the industry. Developments in precision agriculture, resource optimization, animal health and more are constantly evolving and providing opportunities to improve the industry and the commodities produced.
Having the right data can make a big difference in any operation. It can help improve decision-making on the ranch by helping guide the best time to sell their cattle based on market trends and other variables, as well as help with grazing and herd manage-
ment strategies. It can also increase efficiencies in an operation by following the feed conversion and growth rate of specific breeds and by determining which areas of land are best suited for grazing at any given time. Data can be utilized to monitor grazing lands, improve animal health, help guide business decisions and more.
Not only does having good data help producers, it can also help protect grazing allotments by showing the positive impacts of agriculture into the future.
A good example of the importance of data can be found in the Rangeland Health Assessment Program (RHAP) through the Wyoming Department of Agriculture.
This program started in 2010 and helps researchers and producers gather important data to the industry. It has been providing an avenue for cooperative monitoring, education and important data collection since its inception.
The RHAP program’s principal focus is centered on the cooperative involvement of all parties, beginning with the design of the project, education related to methodology and determining the health of rangelands, which can lead to sustainable grazing now and into the future.
This program provides an avenue for permittees to be more involved in adaptive management strategies, founding decisions based on scientifically defensible data and credible monitoring data for National Environmental Policy Act requirements essential for permit renewals on federal lands.
The program provides sound scientific data which can be used to guide future management decisions, as well as provide data for permit renewal.
The RHAP program is just one example of data collected to help optimize and move the industry forward.
Data from across operations can
University of Wyoming (UW) Extension will offer its fifth annual Wyoming Ranch Camp June 9-13 at the Ladder Ranch in Carbon County.
Taught by UW Extension personnel and local producers, the five-day camp is geared toward current and aspiring ranchers ages 18 and up. Ag professionals, including teachers and FFA advisors, are also welcome to attend.
From livestock genetics and soil ecology to ranch economics and human resources, Wyoming Ranch Camp introduces a multidisciplinary approach to managing agricultural operations in Wyoming. The program balances seminarbased learning with hands-on activities like cattle branding, sheep docking, soil sampling and range evaluation.
Throughout the week, Wyoming Ranch Camp attendees collaborate with their peers to create a ranch plan tailored to their host ranch. The program culminates in a presentation of each group’s plan to a panel of judges, including the owners of Ladder Ranch, industry partners and a county commissioner.
Prior experience with ranching, while helpful, is not required.
To apply, visit bit.ly/wy-ranch-camp-app-25 and complete the online application form by April 4. The cost is $200 per student. Meals and lodging are included. Full scholarships are available.
For more information, e-mail mbrinton@uwyo.edu or call 307-828-4093.
help producers make sound business decisions, while continuing to be the best stewards of the land and maintaining the agricultural culture and heritage of the state of Wyoming into the future. The more useful data that can be collected and utilized, the more successful an operation can be.
The Wyoming Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of Wyoming’s agriculture, natural resources and contribution to Wyoming’s quality of life. For more information, visit agriculture.wy.gov
After a competitive application process, 10 new Trailblazers have been selected for the program’s fourth cohort of beef community spokespeople.
The Trailblazers program, developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, takes advocacy to an unprecedented level by giving participants the tools and training they need to promote beef to new audiences while addressing and correcting myths.
New Trailblazers will collaborate with previous Trailblazers to promote community, mentorship, connection and continue creating opportunities to elevate voices from the grassroots level.
They include Emma Coffman and Tyler Schuster of Texas, Tierra Kessler Duke of Oregon, Dylan Gilbert of Alabama, Meredith Halweg and Kim Rounds of Colorado, Mike McMillan of Arkansas, Lauren Moylan of Kansas, Stephanie Teskey of Arizona and Calli Williams of South Dakota.
Trailblazers receive in-depth training to become expert communicators, excel in media interviews and understand how to build confidence in beef-related practices when talking to consumers. Throughout the year, Trailblazers experience advanced training from subject matter experts, learning how to effectively engage on various social media platforms, interact with the media and enhance public speaking skills.
Trailblazers will meet online and in person to foster constant growth and refinement of skillsets when speaking about beef. Upon joining the advanced advocacy program, Trailblazers serve as industry spokespeople and inform beef advocates at the local and state levels on advocacy, media and spokesperson best practices.
Every year, 10 new Trailblazers are accepted into the community building program.
For more information on the Trailblazers program and other beef advocacy efforts, contact Chandler Mulvaney at cmulvaney@beef.org.
Less than a year after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced it was nixing a major cattle inventory report, the agency now says it’s bringing it back.
USDA NASS announced the July Cattle Inventory report will be reinstated this year, which will provide a midyear check of the size of the U.S. cattle herd at a time when supplies are critically low.
In April 2024, NASS broke the news that due to budget cuts in the appropriations bill, the agency was forced to discontinue several reports. One of those was the July Cattle Inventory report, and at a time when cattle supplies were historically tight, the announcement drew intense criticism from market analysts.
“We recognize the importance of these critical data releases and made it a priority to find a way to restore them,” Lance Honig, chair of the USDA NASS Agricultural Statistics Board told Farm Journal. “All data are important, but the current situation in the cattle industry makes the mid-year inventory update the July cattle report provides invaluable.”
This announcement was met favorably by multiple ag groups across the country.
On March 24, U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy resigned after nearly five years in the position, leaving as the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency has floated the idea of privatizing mail service.
DeJoy said last month he planned to step down, but hadn’t set a date. He leaves the agency with an uncertain future.
President Donald J. Trump has said he is considering putting USPS under the control of the U.S. Department of Commerce in an attempt to stop losses at the $78 billion-a-year agency, which has operated as an independent entity since 1970. It has struggled at times to balance the books with the decline of first-class mail.
Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino will take on the role until the Postal Service Board of Governors names a permanent replacement for DeJoy, who became postmaster general in the summer of 2020 during Trump’s first term.
On April 3, the University of Wyoming (UW) College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources (CALSNR) will facilitate a Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership (RMAL) seminar in Powell addressing ways to expand traditional agricultural operations.
The seminar, hosted by Northwest College, is titled “Wyoming AgVentures: Exploring Agriculture, Agritourism and Ranch Life.”
During the seminar, Park County Extension Educator Makayla Getz and Hailey Sorg, Wyoming’s Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Institute Extension educator, will address agricultural marketing and how traditional agricultural producers can benefit from agritourism.
Lincoln County Extension Educator McKenna Julian will speak about dual species grazing. Barton Stam, Hot Springs County Extension educator, will talk about working with government agents and other partners and practicing regenerative grazing.
The event begins at 5 p.m. in Northwest College’s Yellowstone Building and is also available via Zoom.
Community members can register at bit.ly/rmal-series UW and community college students can register by e-mailing Randall Violett, associate director of the RMAL program, at rviolett@uwyo.edu.
The 2025 seminar series will conclude with an all-day leadership symposium at the Laramie Research and Extension Center on April 17.
Montana State University (MSU) Extension and the Montana Feed Association will co-host the annual Montana Nutrition Conference and Livestock Forum on April 8-9 at the Best Western Plus GranTree Inn in Bozeman, Mont.
The theme for this year’s conference is “Beefing Up the Herd: Developing, Backgrounding and Evolving for Success.”
Beef cattle experts from MSU and other institutions will share expertise on heifer nutrition, backgrounding steers, vaccination protocols for backgrounding calves, breed genetics, the radio frequency identification tag requirement and more.
Graduate students in the MSU Department of Animal and Range Sciences will share livestock research and other agriculture-related research during a networking social and poster contest. A trade show will be held throughout the conference, with industry and other representatives showcasing products and services.
Gov. Mark Gordon has taken action on the final outstanding bill of the 2025 legislative session, allowing House Enrolled Act 57/House Bill 0156, Proof of voter residency-registration qualifications, to go into law without his signature.
First and foremost, the governor reiterated his confidence in how elections are conducted in Wyoming. He believes only citizens who are residents of Wyoming should vote, but questioned the arbitrary nature and the legality of the act’s 30-day residency requirement.
The governor noted in his letter the 30-day residency requirement conflicts with federal law which prohibits a durational residency requirement to vote for the president or vice president of the U.S.
The governor also noted the act’s “any indication” standard for rejection of voter registration might present challenges for clerks to administer with any degree of certainty. He wondered whether the changes made through this act are an improvement over the existing “provisional ballot” process, whereby a questionable ballot is not counted until fully vetted and verified.
The full text of all bills can be found at wyoleg.gov
A list of bills the governor has taken action on during the 2025 Legislative Session can be found at governor. wyo.gov
The state of Wyoming will host the Wyoming State Government Jobs Expo, an event designed to highlight available state jobs and promote careers in public service. The event will be held at the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne and at participating workforce centers statewide on April 8.
The Wyoming State Government Jobs Expo welcomes a wide variety of job seekers, including students, recent graduates, career changers and professionals looking for new opportunities.
Representatives from multiple state agencies will be available to visit with attendees to discuss open positions, career paths and the benefits of working in public service.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with hiring managers, learn about job openings and speak with state benefits and retirement experts about compensation, career growth and work-life balance.
For those interested in applying, on-site application assistance will be available at the Capitol location. Admission to the Wyoming State Government Jobs Expo is free.
For more information, visit statejobs.wyo.gov
University of Wyoming (UW) Extension will host the Central Wyoming Tree Care Workshop on April 5. This conference is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about trees and their care.
The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. It will take place at the Agricultural Resource and Learning Center in Casper.
Certified arborists may be able to earn International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) continuing education units by attending the event.
Speakers include ISA Master Arborist Bill Scott, Jr., who will present about how roots, soil and microorganisms can influence tree health.
UW Extension Plant Pathologist Jean Williams-Woodward will address how to identify and manage diseases, pests and other problems afflicting Wyoming tree species.
Scott Skogerboe of the Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery in Colorado will discuss the history of the High Plains Arboretum outside of Cheyenne and how the plants grown there have impacted tree diversity and availability in Wyoming.
Finally, Chrissy Land, western Nebraska community forestry specialist with the Nebraska Forest Service, will present about pruning trees and shrubs.
Early bird registration, which is open through March 31, costs $40. Registration after March 31 will cost $60. Participants are asked to register in person or send a check to the Agricultural Resource and Learning Center, 2011 Fairgrounds Road, Casper, WY 82604. Checks should be made out to UW Extension of Natrona County.
A catered lunch will be provided for registered participants. On-site registration will open at 7:30 a.m., if space is still available.
For more information, visit natronacounty-wy.gov/treecare, e-mail dhoffman@natronacounty-wy.gov or call 307235-9400.
The Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) reminds all livestock producers to vaccinate for anthrax in areas where it has previously occurred. Vaccinating livestock prior to grazing in anthrax endemic areas can prevent death loss and be economically advantageous for producers.
Anthrax vaccination is not recommended for livestock grazing outside of anthrax endemic regions. The anthrax vaccine is highly effective in preventing anthrax infection in livestock. The vaccine must be administered annually, prior to the grazing season, to be effective. Do not skip a year. A decrease in anthrax vaccine immunity will occur in livestock, and death losses may occur from anthrax exposure.
In Wyoming, livestock grazing within a six-mile radius of the town of Elk Mountain should be vaccinated annually every spring. Since anthrax occurs sporadically, often due to weather conditions or soil disturbances, livestock should be vaccinated in all known endemic areas.
Cattle eight weeks of age and older should be vaccinated. Naive cattle should receive an initial vaccination and a booster two to three weeks later. Following the booster, cattle should be vaccinated annually each spring. For other livestock species, discuss vaccination with a veterinarian.
Anthrax vaccination is available by prescription through a local veterinarian. For any questions regarding the risk of anthrax exposure or vaccination, contact a local veterinarian.
Remember, anthrax is a reportable disease. In cases of mass morbidity or multiple unexplained sudden deaths in livestock, immediately report the incident to a veterinarian and WLSB.
Individuals can report cases by calling WLSB at 307-777-7515 or using the online reporting form available at wlsb.state.wy.us/public
Montana’s spring wheat varieties are making waves beyond state lines, with impressive performances in recent Washington variety trials.
In the 2024 Washington State University Spring Wheat Trials, Montana’s hard red spring wheat varieties MT Dutton and MT Carlson ranked in the top four for yield and quality, securing their place among the best.
Approximately one-third of Washington’s spring wheat acres are dedicated to hard red varieties, and Montana’s wheat breeding program is clearly making its mark.
The standout results are a testament to the hard work of Jason Cook, the spring wheat breeder at Montana State University, and his dedicated team.
Washington’s 2024 wheat trials, conducted across 12 sites, showed the importance of variety selection in managing the challenges posed by heat waves during grain fill.
MT Dutton and MT Carlson, among other varieties, demonstrated excellent yield potential, quality traits and disease resistance, making them highly competitive in the Pacific Northwest.
carbohydrates (NSC), which includes sugars, fructans and starches that may cause problems in some horses.
“These carbohydrates are an important energy source for horses, but they trigger laminitis for some horses with certain health conditions, such as laminitis, insulin dysregulation, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and Cushing’s disease,” she explains in a Jan. 10 Penn State Extension publication.
A gradual transition
Horses that have been kept in confinement during winter months are at highest
risk of experiencing issues during spring turnout and should transition to pasture gradually.
Multiple sources agree it is best to wait until pastures have six to eight inches of new growth before turning horses out to graze, even if it is for short periods of time. This allows plants time to recover and grow new leaf tissue.
Once pastures are ready to graze, horses should be turned out for short periods of time – 15 to 30 minutes a day for the first few days – which can be slowly increased each day.
“In other words, allow horses to graze for 15 minutes on day one, 30 minutes on day two and 45 minutes on day three, on through day 20,” explains Dakota Farmer Senior Editor Curt Arens in a Feb. 26 article. “This gradual increase in grazing time each day allows the microbes in the gut of the horse to adjust to the change. By day 21, they should be able to graze with no time restrictions, unless there are other health concerns.”
Experts also recommend turning horses out early in the morning when sugar levels in the grass are lowest and after feeding hay so they aren’t grazing on an empty stomach.
In situations where individuals can’t gradually reintroduce horses to pasture, Kenny suggests using grazing muzzles, which allow horses to drink water and take small bites of grass but prevents them from consuming large amounts of forage.
She notes muzzles have been shown to reduce pasture intake by 30 to 80 percent, but multiple factors influence their effectiveness.
“It can take some trial and error to find a style of grazing muzzle that works for your horse, but luckily there are many on the market,” she states. “When trying out grazing muzzles, realize it will take the horse some time to learn how
to use it, especially if they have never had it on.”
A less cautious approach
On the other hand, horses that spent their winter out on big pastures instead of in confinement will require less caution on the producer’s end, as they can transition themselves to spring grass by grazing as it begins to grow.
Kenny notes very little grass will be available at first so horses won’t eat much, but as more grass comes in, their digestive tracts will naturally adjust to the new feed source. However, producers should continue to feed hay in to the spring to help with this transition.
“While this is less desir-
able from a plant biology and pasture health perspective, it means horses will be fine if they are turned out while pastures are greening up,” Kenny says.
“An exception would be laminitis-prone horses with EMS or insulin dysregulation, as the NSC content of spring grass can become quite high and cause undesirable health issues,” she concludes. “It is always best to consult with a veterinarian when making pasture grazing decisions for laminitis-prone horses.”
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
BY RON RABOU
What are the most valuable things in the world?
Last week, as I sank myself into the incredibly comfortable seat of a beautiful red Lamborghini Huracan and smelled the Italian leather, I pondered this question.
As I fired up the engine, the power of the 10-cylinder, 580-horsepower engine was almost deafening, the power irrefutable. As I took the car to the track, its agility was shocking and its speed exhilarating.
At 190 miles per hour, the auto gripped the track with stunning surety and instilled confidence in its driver that this was home. This is what it was meant to do.
As I finished my final lap and pulled into the pit, I was able to witness all three of my boys live this very same experience themselves. Each, of course, had chosen their own Lamborghini. These were truly some of the most valuable automobiles in the world.
Later on that same day, our search continued for the most valuable things in the world.
My boys, having contracted my affliction for fine watches, decided it was time
to window shop for some of the world’s most exquisite. I will emphasize the words “window shop,” but if you don’t dream big, you’ll never get what you want.
We found some of my favorite brands – Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, Ball and Hublot – some of which I am proud to own, but then there were the extremely valuable watches like Richard Mille, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. Their price tags, well into the millions, were far beyond the budget and probably even the desire of this dirt farmer.
There is no doubt these are some of the most valuable things in the world.
As we strolled down the street, there were buildings, theaters and monuments, all with some of the most incredible architecture, each unique but fabulous in their own way. Some were what seemed to be miles high, others were covered in crystalclear glass, while some represented an era or a moment in time, representing its own historical significance.
Their magnificence was undisputable and their grandeur undeniable. Surely, these were some of the most valuable things in the world.
As we enjoyed each other’s company that evening, it was a great time to reflect on all we had done and all we had experienced. On this short day, we truly witnessed some of the most valuable things in the world.
Valuable, that is, if money and things are what you consider to be valuable.
“What is valuable?” I asked my boys. “And just because it is valuable, does it have value?”
There was a pause of introspection. It’s fun to see and do amazing things, but if we only see extrinsic things as valuable, where does it leave us as people? If we buy and do certain things because it makes us feel valuable, then our perspective is wrong and there is no value.
Our value, I suggested, is in who each one of us is as a person. If we value our body, we should not seek to harm it or defile it and we should not engage in activities which would jeopardize this.
If we value our health, we should seek practices to help to protect it.
If we value our minds, we should not subject ourselves to people or things which negatively affect it.
If we value our soul, we should nurture it.
If we value relationships, we should embrace them.
If we value our family, we should show them.
If we value our friends, we should tell them.
If we value love, we should share it.
And if we value time, we should never waste it.
When we value the intrinsic things in life –
meaning the things which are truly essential to our own well-being – then our contribution to this world and to others becomes valuable, not because of what we have, but because of who we are.
Our world is confused, and it is overtaken by stimulants distracting us from discovering our value. It could be any number of things –our phones, our habits, our vices or our jobs.
Often, what we need isn’t more things or more commitments, but rather, a chance to peel away from everyday life to race some crazy sports cars to bring into perspective what’s really the most valuable – time together. Time
Spear D Ranch - Basin
1 Red Cow, 1490# $14200
1 CharX Cow, 1445# $13900
1 Red Cow, 1525# $13800
Hinckley Ranch LLC - Shell
1 Blk Cow, 1300# $14100
George Sinn & Sons - Worland
Bull, 2050# $18100
1 Blk Bull, 2065# $18000 Yoder, Cole - Meeteetse
1 Hrfd Bull, 1755# $17650 Lyman Ranch Co. - Ten Sleep
1 Blk Bull, 1905# $17400 Otter Creek Grazing Assoc - Ten Sleep
1 Blk Bull, 1495# $16900
Gifford, Max - Cowley
1 Red Bull, 1575# $15900
Rusatt Ranch, Inc. - Basin
1 Blk Bull, 1665# $15300 COWS
Whitlock, Robert - Lander
1 Blk Cow, 1255# $17800
2 Blk Cows, avg. 1480# $13950
Diamond Tail Ranch LLC - Greybull
1 Blk Cow, 1105# $16000
2 Blk Cows, avg. 1363# $13500
1 Blk Cow, 1530# $13950
1 Blk Cow, 1605# $13600
Starbuck Ranch LLC - Ten Sleep
1 Blk Cow, 1410# $13900
Geis, Jack - Greybull
2 Blk Cows, avg. 1368# $13900
1 Blk Cow, 1400# $13650
Dale Lyman Ranch - Ten Sleep
1 Blk Cow, 1390# $13900
Hoggs Black Diamond Cattle - Meeteetse
1 Blk Cow, 1355# $13600
Lungren, Luke - Worland
1 Blk Cow, 1175# $13550
By Jedidiah Hewlett, UW Extension Educator
Efficiency and profitability go hand in hand, but they are not equivalent. Let’s look at why this is.
Efficiency can be applied to many factors on the farm or ranch. Before investigating where it can be measured, it may be helpful to define what is meant by efficiency. Basically, efficiency can be understood as the quantity or value of output in relation to the number of resources used to produce an output.
A common example is the fuel economy of a vehicle. Fuel consumption can vary from 10 miles per gallon (mpg) or less for larger trucks to 40 mpg or more in
highly efficient cars.
What is the underlying question? How many miles – the output – will the vehicle go on one gallon of fuel –the input.
There are many other measures of efficiency which apply to agricultural businesses.
Profitability is a term often used in business management and fundamentally related to financial performance. To calculate profitability, total expenses must be deducted from total revenue. If expenses are greater than revenue, it is called a loss rather than profit.
Sometimes, many enterprises are nested under one
business title or entity. It can be helpful to tease apart the revenue and expenses related to each individual enterprise such as custom feeding, hunting and outfitting, hay or crop production, cow/calf or real estate leasing activities.
Even though an operation may be showing a profit at the end of each period, it may be surprising to find the profits made in one enterprise may be compensating for losses in another.
While efficiency influences profitability, it is only part of the equation. An operation may be extremely efficient but unprofitable because of various reasons.
On the other hand, a business may be profitable even though it is not as efficient as others. Managers must carefully weigh the costs and returns associated with efforts to increase efficiency.
Physical efficiency
Activities on a farm or ranch are often limited by mechanical, biological or physical barriers which can be difficult to overcome.
Physical efficiency is
FEEDERS
measured by units of output per unit of input.
A classic example is tons of hay or bushels of corn harvested per acre. Yields are influenced by many factors including the type of equipment used, as well as natural variables like the amount of water, nutrients and sunlight available.
Similarly, the feed conversion efficiency of a weaned calf is influenced by genetics and the environment, among other factors.
Although the weather may be hard to control, choices regarding equipment, infrastructure or management practices can change physical efficiency.
Economic efficiency
Measures of economic efficiency are often driven by the efficiency of physical factors but usually reported as dollar values per unit of input or as a percentage of capital use.
Economic efficiency can be calculated as the dollar value of output divided by the cost of input used to produce the output.
Matt & Cody Haun 120 Mx Strs, 700-800#, Weaned a long time, Been on a Grower Ration, Shots: 7-way w/Somnus (2x), Vista Once (1x), BoviSheild Gold 5 (1x), Safeguard Wormer, No Implants
Bryan & Shelly Bruch 45 Blk few Hereford Hfrs, 650-800#, Weaned a long time, Bunk Broke, Running out on grass supplemented with Hay as needed, Complete Vac. Program, Bangs Vac., Home Raised, Home Raised
WEANED CALVES
Bruce & Deb Murray 170 Hereford few Blk Strs, 550-650#, Weaned since January, Bunk Broke, Hay Fed and Creep Feed, 2 Rounds of Shots: Vira Sheild 6 w/Somnus, 7-way, Home Raised Zale Vacher 60 Mx Strs & Hfrs, 550-600#, Weaned a long time, Been on Long Stem Hay Only, Complete Vac. Program, Multimin (2x)
Bennet Creek Cattle Co. 40 Blk Strs & Hfrs, 500-600#, Weaned since Oct., Hay Fed and Lick Tubs, Complete Vac. Program, I-Site, Booster Shots: Nasalgen 3 PMH, Poured w/Clean-up, Home Raised, Producer All Natural, Sired by Reg. Blk Angus Bulls, Steers are Knife Cut, Hfrsare Bangs Vac. Jo Reilly & Amy Applegarth 40 Mostly Blk few Bwf Hfrs, 500-600#, Weaned a long time, Running out on Rye Pivot, Bunk Broke, Branding Shots: Multimin, Vision 7 w/Somnus, Vira Shield 6, Once PMH Nasal, Pre-cond. Shots: Multimin, Vira Shield 6, Vision 7 w/Somnus, Nasalgen 3 PMH, On March 21: Bangs Vac, Wormed w/Safeguard, Producer All Natural, Sired by Low Birth Weight Paint Rock Angus, ZumBrunnen Angus, Ochsner-Roth Blk Angus Bulls Kaden Vacher 25 Mx Strs & Hfrs, 500-550#, Weaned a long time, Been on Long Stem Hay Only, Complete Vac. Program, Multimin (2x) Zach Vacher 15 Mx Strs & Hfrs, 450-500#, Weaned a long time, Been on Long Stem Hay Only, Complete Vac. Program, Multimin (2x) CALVES Tom Herbst 16 Blk Strs/Hfrs, 400-450#, No Shots, Coming off the Cows Cattle Country Video – 1 pm MT Wright Brothers 90 Steers. 80% Blk/Bwf, 20% Red/Rwf. Base Wt: 635 lbs. Wt Stop: 670 lbs. 2-way Slide: .14 cents. Location: 6 miles South of Brandon, SD. Delivery: 4/5/25 to 4/12/25. Origin: Raised/Purchased from MT & Western SD. Frame: Med to Med-Large. Flesh: Medium. Wt Var: SL Uneven. Feed: Ground corn stalk, wet alfalfa balage, wet distillers, silage w/ rumensin. Shots: BoviShield Gold 5, 7-way/Somnus & Endovac at Precond & Booster. Poured with Ivermectin. SafeGuard. Weigh: Early morning gather from empty bunk. Sorted going to buyer’s pre-weighed truck. Load and hauled 6 miles to Brandon, SD or approx. 10 miles to Larchwood, IA and weighed w/a 3% shrink on truck. Comments: Could go to grass or feedlot. Rep: Richard Zweifel 605-209-6307 www.cattlecountryvideo.com
FRIDAY, APRIL
BREDS Vern Black 50 Mx Cows, ST, Bred to Blk Bull, CF: May 1
BRED HEIFERS
Travis & Shelly Rodewald 20 Blk Angus Heifers, 1000#, Bred to Registered Blk Angus, CF: May 1, Full Vaccine Program as calves, Pre-breeding Shots: Bovi-Shield Gold FP5 L5
SALE RESULTS -FEEDER/CALF SPECIAL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 - 3314 HD
Kathy Mehling 19 Blk Strs 718 323.00 $2319.14/H
Kathy Mehling 56 Blk Strs 817 296.50 $2422.41/H
Red Cap Ranch 60 Blk Strs 864 292.00 $2522.88/H
Greg Starck 47 Bwf Strs 789
Economic efficiency is affected by the selling price and quantity of outputs, as well as the quantity and prices of inputs used. Revenue generated from the sale of outputs divided by units of input used – i.e. tons of feed, gallons of water or hours of labor – would be considered a measure of economic efficiency.
Although efficiency measures are extremely helpful, using total revenue and total expenses results in an average for the period. This may mask efficiency fluctuations occurring throughout the period.
For the record
Recordkeeping is an important practice in any business. Without recordkeeping, evaluating the impact of management decisions can be difficult to quantify and determine if things are moving in the right direction.
Efficiency measures can be calculated – or at least deduced – based on historical records. Comparing current performance and production with historic levels may be helpful to identify trends of improvement or decline. As more data is collected, decisions to make a change will be better informed and more reliable.
For example, did calf weaning weights change after using a growth implant? Did more lambs survive because of a change in lambing date?
The influence of fertilizer on crop yields would be another example of a change in practices that could be easily documented.
Application of concepts
It may be helpful to see how these concepts are applied in an example.
A fictitious cow/calf operation carries 300 mother cows year-round. Since the operation experienced a five percent death loss, only 285 calves were sold for $1,500 each. The total revenue for the enterprise equals $1,500 × 285 = $427,500.
Assuming cow costs
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 - FEEDER/CALF SPECIAL
APRIL 4 - BRED COW/ALL CLASSES
FRIDAY, APRIL 11 - ALL CLASSES
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were $900 per head, including feed, labor, depreciation and equipment, total expenses would be $900 × 300 head = $270,000. If the total value of output produced is divided by the cost of the output, it would equal an economic efficiency of $427,500 ÷ $270,000 = 1.58. This indicates, on average, each dollar of expense associated with the cow/calf enterprise resulted in a revenue of $1.58.
However, since money was spent on cows that did not raise a calf until sale time, there is some inefficiency in the system. The costs associated with those 15 cows are $900 × 15 = $13,500. We can subtract this from the total herd costs.
Therefore, if the economic efficiency is recalculated, then $427,500 –$256,500 = 1.67 is the economic efficiency associated with only the productive cows.
In this case, the operation is losing nine cents on the dollar because of inefficiency: $1.67 – $1.58 = $0.09.
Eliminating all causes of inefficiency can be difficult if many factors are involved. However, active observation of the enterprise can provide insight where management can have a positive impact on efficiency and potentially influence profitability. In the basic outlined example, total profit equals $427,500 – $270,000 = $157,500. There are many other ways this profit may be reported – per acre, per calf sold, per cow exposed, etc.
Physical efficiency tells how many calves were raised per ton of hay fed or units of another input used. Economic efficiency measures the ratio of revenue to expenses, while profitability quantifies their difference.
Jedidiah Hewlett is the University of Wyoming Extension agriculture and natural resources educator serving Converse County. He can be reached at jhewlett@ uwyo.edu or 307-358-2417.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is opening a 15-day public comment period on a draft environmental assessment surrounding the right-of-way for the Southeast Wyoming Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Project.
If approved, Tallgrass Energy would be authorized to use 480 acres of subsurface federal pore space for the permanent geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) east of Cheyenne. The company is also applying for Class VI underground injection control well permits to construct and operate CO2 injection wells, which are permitted and regulated by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.
The right-of-way application involves the use of BLM-administered federal pore space and does not currently propose surface use for related infrastructure.
The BLM completed public scoping in December 2023 and is now seeking public comment on the parcels, potential deferrals and the related environmental analysis.
The BLM will use the input from the public to help complete its review of each parcel and determine if leasing conforms with all applicable laws, policies and land use plans.
Additional information is available at eplanning. blm.gov/eplanning-ui/home, where comments may be submitted through the “Participate Now” option. The comment period will close on April 3.
For more information, contact the Rawlins Field Office at 307-328-4224.
Richard Edward Haun
Feb. 23, 1941 – March 24, 2025
Loving husband, father, grandfather and greatgrandfather Richard Edward Haun went to be with his trusted Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 24.
Richard was born on Feb. 23, 1941 to Jake Haun, Jr. and Dorothy Eisemann Haun. He was born just a few miles north of Riverton, near the land he would farm most of his life.
At age three, he lived in Missouri Valley for a short while before moving to the family farm north of Riverton. He helped on the farm from an early age, and when he wasn’t working, he was undoubtedly teasing and pestering his three sisters, all of whom he loved dearly.
Richard was an active lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Riverton. On April 6, 1941, he received the gift of holy baptism and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on May 1, 1955. Richard was actively involved in the church and considered members of Trinity his church family.
Richard’s teachers put up with him for 12 years. While in school, he was active in sports, FFA and other activities. He was a proud graduate of Riverton High School in 1959. Richard often talked about his classmates and school days, enjoyed class reunions and continued to follow the athletics and activities of Riverton High School throughout his life.
Richard and Janice (Carpenter) Haun were married and blessed with 65 years together. They raised their three children – Kent, Sheila and Cindy – on the family farm, where the kids had plenty of room to roam, grow and dream. He was employed at Gas Hills for a short while and then worked with his dad on the family farm, which he had done since childhood. Richard bought his first 77-acre farm in 1969.
He leased land in the Riverton Valley, including acreage where Riverton High School, Central Wyoming College and the Riverton Country Club are currently located. He bought more acreage and ran a cow/calf and feedlot operation.
He knew the hard yet satisfying work of beef production and growing crops, raising registered Hereford cattle for a time and growing alfalfa hay, corn silage and barley. For several years, Richard ran an alfalfa hay-cubing operation, Haun Haycubing, and fed and sold hay cubes locally and around the area.
Richard’s favorite part of farming and ranching was calving season, and in his later years, raising buffalo.
He said the early morning hours were his favorite part of the day, as the day was new and the air was fresh. In the same conversation, he said spring was his favorite Wyoming season as crops began to grow and baby calves were born.
Richard was a member of the Dubois Grazing Association from 1965-79, where he co-owned a ranch east of Dubois. Grazing permits were included in the ranch, so cattle were trailed up in the late spring and trailed down in the fall from Shoshone National Forest.
This made for great sto-
rytelling and camaraderie amongst the cowboys. Richard often recalled this part of his life and relived it by sharing tales of the time.
Richard served on the Riverton Conservation District Board. He was a director at High Plains Power and also served on the Wyoming Rural Electric Association. He served on the FFA Advisory Board and Fremont County Cattlemen’s Association and was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
He received numerous awards and recognition for his service to various boards and work in the agricultural community.
Even though Richard took great pride in the cattle and buffalo he raised and the land he worked, his greatest joy came from spending time with his family. He and Janice attended every activity they could involving their children or grandchildren.
He knew his family was his greatest blessing in a life of many blessings. He affectionately nicknamed his grandchildren – and occasionally others – and he loved all of his grandchildren dearly. He could joke and tease anyone, but he especially loved teasing his grandchildren.
Preceding Richard in death were his mother and father, Dorothy Mae Eisemann Haun and Jake Haun, Jr.; beloved sisters Carolyn Haun Hamilton and Janice Haun Cole and many loved aunts, uncles, cousins and family members.
CUMMINS, 18 SPD TRANS., 46,000 LBS REAR, 390 RATIO WET KIT, 1 LIFT AXLE – $59,500 2013 MACK 600, 306,406 MILES EXTENSIVE ENGINE WORK DONE – $39,500
2006 INTERNATIONAL 9200 DAY CAB, 292,298 MILES, 12,695 ENGINE HOURS, CAT C-13 ACERT ENGINE, 10 SPD SHIFT TRANS., JAKE BRAKE, STATIONARY 5TH PLATE – $39,500
2007 CTS BDT-40 T/A BELLY DUMP – $26,500
2019 BOBCAT T870 SKID STEER, 2145.1 HRS – $49,500
2018 BOBCAT T650 SKID STEER, 2274.5 HRS – $ 39,500
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1500 MILES $7,000.00
Richard is survived by his beloved wife Janice (Carpenter) Haun; son Kent (Shelli) Haun; daughters Sheila (Brad) Haun McPherson and Cindy (Eric) Haun McDonald; grandchildren Lori (Bryan) Haun Crippen, Casey and Kendra Crippen, Brandon (Lindsey) Haun, Bronson and Weston Haun, Erin (Thaddeus) McPherson Galloway, Carter Galloway, Kayla (Jeff) McPherson Eckart, Grant, Whitley and Livienne Eckart, Cortnee (Lucas) Fabrizius Johnston, Treyce and Tysen Hilim and Tylynn McDonald.
He is also survived by his beloved sister Sandy Haun Cole and husband Terry, of Cody; brothersin-law Clayton Hamilton of Sheridan, Jerry Cole of Riverton and Jim (Diana) Carpenter of Arvada, Colo. and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Memorials in memory of Richard may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran School or a charity of the donor’s choosing in care of Davis Funeral Home.
Visitation for family and friends will be held at Davis Funeral Home in Riverton on April 2 from 5-7 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Riverton on April 3 at 10 a.m., with burial to follow at Mountain View Cemetery.
March 25, 2025
Riverton Livestock Auction, Riverton Auctioneer: Greg Goggins
47 Registered Angus Bulls Avg. $6,957
Top Sellers
Lot 8 – DA Chisum 355 – Price: $11,000 DOB: 4/2/2023
Sire: JCH Chisum 0004 Dam’s Sire: Larsen Recharge 575 EPDs: CED +10, BW +0.3, WW +72, YW +119, Milk +26 and PAP 40 Consignor: Davidson Angus Buyer: Bill and Julie Haun, Worland
Lot 23 – Obsidian Alcatraz 871 – Price: $10,500 DOB: 1/28/2024 Sire: HHR Jailbreak H 111 Dam’s Sire: Obsidian Nitro Express 671 EPDs: CED +15, BW -1.8, WW +71, YW +127, Milk +29 and PAP 35 Consignor: Obsidian Angus Buyer: Graves Land and Livestock, Thermopolis Lot 31 – Obsidian Growth Fund 895 – Price: $10,500 DOB: 3/7/2024 Sire: Obsidian Summit 3292-768 Dam’s Sire: MW Dnamite EPDs: CED +14, BW -2.5, WW +57, YW +107, Milk +28 and PAP 37 Consignor: Obsidian Angus Buyer: Jason and Chawna Weichmann, Ten Sleep Lot 30 – Obsidian Growth Fund 882 – Price: $9,500
DOB: 2/24/2024 Sire: Obsidian Summit 3292-768 Dam’s Sire: MW Dnamite EPDs: CED +11, BW -0 .7, WW +65, YW +120, Milk +27 and PAP 39 Consignor: Obsidian Angus Buyer: Jason and Chawna Weichmann, Ten Sleep Lot 37 – Obsidian Nitro Express 898 – Price: $9,500
DOB: 3/20/2024 Sire: Obsidian Nitro Express 671 Dam’s Sire: JR Fast Forward EPDs: CED +10, BW -1.2, WW +65, YW +111, Milk +34 and PAP 36 Consignor: Obsidian Angus Buyer: FD Cattle Ranch LLC, Kemmerer Lot 29 – Obsidian Growth Fund 891 – Price: $9,000
DOB: 3/3/2024 Sire: Obsidian Summit 3292-768 Dam’s
Sire: Obsidian Hoover Dam 382 EPDs: CED +6, BW +0.9, WW +58, YW +107, Milk +31 and PAP 36 Consignor: Obsidian Angus Buyer: Brewster Ranch, Ten Sleep
Hummingbirds are small, colorful birds from the trochilidae family, which weigh less than a nickel and can flap their wings more than 80 times a second, causing the characteristic humming sound.
These fascinating birds efficiently travel from flower to flower, extracting nectar and feeding on small insects.
In doing so, they play a vital role in pollinating flowers and plants and contributing to the food chain by serving as a source of nourishment for raptors and other predator species.
With more than 350 species in North, Central and South America, it makes them excellent subjects for research due to their unique interactions with the environment and their undeniable beauty.
While hummingbirds offer viewing pleasure for people of all ages, researchers at the University of Wyoming (UW) have been studying them for many years.
According to research, there is data on hummingbird arrival dates, migration routes and breeding times, but much of their basic biology remains unknown.
New research
Hummingbirds are small yet remarkably resilient creatures. Some species migrate over 5,590 miles each year, and their journeys are mainly powered by nectar, sipping from wildflowers to store as fat, reports UW researchers.
Recent land use changes are making the distribution of wildflowers along their migratory routes increasingly unpredictable, and
WSTC continued from page A1
standard for innovation in this competitive space.
“Our forward-thinking legislators and policymakers have laid the foundation for Wyoming to lead in digital innovation. The launch of WYST will not only reinforce Wyoming’s position as a leader in digital assets, but also demonstrate how thoughtful regu-
lation can translate into realworld implementation,” Joel Revill, WYST commissioner and chief executive officer of Two Ocean Trust, recounts in the press release. Wyoming, known for its strong energy and tourism industries, is expected to generate new revenue streams from WYST through interest earned from its reserve assets
being able to adapt to these challenges, hummingbirds enter a state called torpor, which is a form of overnight hibernation.
Researchers from UW and the University of New Mexico (UNM) investigated how hummingbirds use torpor during migration and recently published their findings in the January edition of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, a biological research journal.
UNM Department of Biology Doctoral Candidate Shayne Halter and UNM Professor of Biology Blair Wolf, along with Carlos Martinez del Rio, a professor emeritus in the UW Department of Zoology and Physiology, explored torpor frequency and duration in hummingbirds.
The researchers examined two species of migra-
– funds which can be used to support education and infrastructure.
The initiative is designed to foster an environment which attracts both businesses and talent in emerging sectors, including artificial intelligence and energy.
“Following an extensive and months-long procurement process, with results shared in the public forum, the Commission’s Evaluation Committees (CEC) have
tory hummingbirds, the Calliope (Selasphorus calliope) and Rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) at a site along the Mimbres River in New Mexico and measured how the birds’ temperatures changed overnight.
Overnight hibernation
The paper reports torpor is characterized by a sharp decrease in metabolic rate and body temperature for several hours – overnight hibernation. Although torpor can save energy, it leaves hummingbirds vulnerable, making it a risky strategy.
The researchers looked at overnight metabolic measurements and body fat and found they could predict when hummingbirds would enter torpor and how long they would remain in a torpor state.
They discovered hum-
completed scoring and ranking qualified vendors,” the press release states.
Currently, the CEC is in the process of negotiating contracts with the top-ranked participants. Once agreements are in place, these partners will support the development of the stable token and infrastructure required for its management and monitoring, Gordon reports.
Partners According to the press
mingbirds require a certain amount of fat in the morning to get them started toward their next meal. However, maintaining a normal body temperature during the night would cause their morning fat reserves to fall below a critical value, so hummingbirds entered torpor.
“I think it’s almost magical,” says Martinez del Rio. “Imagine if we could sense how much fat we have and suddenly drop our temperature to stay in a state of suspended animation. The length of our animation is dictated so we come out of it with the amount of fat needed the next day.”
Migrating hummingbirds face challenges in maintaining their energy levels due to the changing timing and availability of nectar sources along their migration routes.
release, nine candidate blockchain platforms – including layer-one networks Solana, Ethereum, Avalanche, Sui, Stellar and layer-two networks such as Polygon, Arbutrium, Base and Optimism – are under consideration for hosting WYST.
“The CEC will work with partners to test tokens on these networks before determining which chain to utilize at launch, potentially exploring a multi-chain deployment,” reads the governor’s press release.
New amendments to the procurement rules for rolling qualifications have been added, allowing the review and inclusion of additional blockchains which previously lacked the required capabilities.
This new research aims to provide a model predicting the frequency and duration of torpor, as well as fat reserves in these birds. By doing so, it will help assess their ecological health, define their energetic thresholds and limits and identify conservation strategies.
“Conservation is important because hummingbirds pollinate many wild plants, including Wyoming’s state flower, the Indian paintbrush,” says Martinez del Rio. “They are also super interesting models which can inform issues that matter to human health. Finally, we must conserve them and study them because they are beautiful and fascinating.”
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
first fiat-backed and fullyreserved stable token issued by a public entity in the U.S. Apollo states, “As of today, we have exciting news to share – WYST is formally engaged with LayerZero to be its token development and distribution partner.”
Gordon emphasizes Wyoming’s commitment to transparency and innovation, underscoring the potential of blockchain technology to create a secure and efficient financial ecosystem.
37 Angus, 32 SimAngus Cross Bulls and 8 Ranch Broke Horses
“This initiative underscores Wyoming’s commitment to transparency and innovation,” says Gordon. “By leveraging blockchain technology, we aim to create a secure and efficient financial ecosystem benefiting both individuals and businesses.”
“WYST is not just about fortifying the dollar, it’s about laying the foundation for a new era of financial infrastructure. From public transparency to potential future applications like tokenized commodities and real estate, this project positions Wyoming as a global leader in blockchain technology,” states WSTC Executive Director Anthony Apollo, highlighting broader implications of the initiative.
Test phase
At D.C. Blockchain Summit 2025, hosted by the Digital Chamber and held at the Capital Turnaround in Washington, D.C on March 26, Apollo moderated a discussion with Gordon, highlighting Wyoming’s pioneering role in digital asset innovation and marking a significant milestone.
During the fireside discussion, Apollo announced WSTC has entered its testing phase across several blockchain networks, a key step towards launching the
“We are thrilled to share Wyoming’s vision for state leadership in the nation’s capital,” Gordon notes. “Our forward-thinking approach to blockchain and digital asset legislation has positioned Wyoming as a model, not only for other states but the federal government as well.”
Gordon highlights the benefits of WYST for both the state and its users, including a statutory requirement to over-collateralize the stable token’s backing with cash and U.S. Treasuries to mitigate the risk of de-pegging and the deposit of interest derived from those treasuries into the state’s school foundation fund.
Apollo and Gordon note WSTC will continue its vendor engagement process to establish other key aspects of WYST deployment and management, including standing up a reserves management function and building a robust internal controls framework, amongst other features.
“The next phase of testing and customizing smart contracts is an imperative step towards delivering the best product for Wyoming and stable token holders,” Apollo adds. “Once launched, WYST will grant holders the ability to transmit dollar-denominated transactions of any value anywhere in the world, nearly instantly, with significantly reduced fees compared to traditional ACH or wires.”
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
As egg prices rise due to shortages, more people are opting to raise backyard chickens for a sustainable and cost-effective supply of eggs.
In addition to providing a reliable source of eggs, backyard chickens can also produce stunningly vibrant colors to the nesting box.
From olive to blue and speckled to chocolate brown, colored eggs are trending in the backyard chicken world.
When selecting breeds for a backyard flock, it’s important to consider egg production as a primary factor. However, choosing breeds based on egg color can add variety.
With so many options available, navigating choices to find the best breed can be overwhelming.
Egg color
Genetic traits inherited from both roosters and hens determine the type and intensity of pigments, leading to distinct eggshell colors among different breeds.
In an April 2022 Texas A&M AgriLife Today article by Paul Schattenberg, Texas A&M Extension Specialist Dr. Gregory Archer states, “A good way to guess what color of eggs a chicken will lay is to take a gander at the hen’s ear lobes. More often than not, chickens with lighter earlobes also have white feathers and produce white eggs. Those with colored feathers and darker earlobes will likely produce colored eggs.”
All eggshells start white inside the hen because shells are primarily calcium, but as the hen forms the shell, pigments called porphyrins are secreted from cells within the hen’s uterus to add color, he explains.
Breeds like Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds lay brown-shelled eggs because a pigment known as protoporphyrin is deposited onto the shell. This happens late in the process of shell formation, and the pigment doesn’t penetrate the shell’s interior.
“This is why, when you crack open a brown egg, you will see the interior of most shells remains white,” Archer adds.
However, a pigment called oocyanin is deposited on the egg of the Ameraucana
breed, penetrating both the exterior and interior of the shell and making them blue.
“An olive egger results from a cross between a hen and rooster from a brownegg-laying and a blue-egglaying breed,” he explains. “The hen produces a brown pigment which penetrates the blue shell of the egg, resulting in a greenish-hued egg. The darker the brown pigment, the more olive-colored the egg appears.”
Archer notes different shades of eggshells can also come from the same bird on different days, because the bloom – a thin protective layer put on right before the egg is laid – contains a fair amount of pigment.
The speckles found on speckled eggs are simply extra deposits of calcium and can form when the process of calcifying the egg –which shapes its shell – is disrupted.
“Another possible cause is a defect in the hen’s shell gland,” Archer adds. “Additionally, the presence of excessive calcium in the hen’s system could also lead to this phenomenon.”
Breeding for colored eggs
Poultry breeders have discovered even more unique egg colors, like deep pink or dark green, by crossing different breeds.
Each chicken carries two eggshell color genes, either dominant blue, recessive white or one of each, but breeds that lay a blue or white egg do not carry any tint overlay genes.
Research studies conclude a bird carrying “tint” genes deposits a brown overlay color over the shell of her eggs. The tint can be light cream, medium brown, terracotta or dark chocolate if certain genes are present.
However, if one parent carries tint overlay genes, all of the offspring will inherit it in some form, even if lightly.
Hens which lay blue eggs possess at least one dominant blue egg gene and no tint overlay genes, but hens which produce the most vibrant blue eggs typically carry two blue egg genes.
Breeding homozygous blue egg layers – those with two blue egg genes – will ensure exceptionally blue
eggs are laid.
The easiest way to achieve this is by purchasing Whiting True Blue or Crested Cream Legbar chicks from a hatchery or true Ameraucana chicks from a reputable breeder.
On the other hand, oliver eggers are bred by crossing chocolate or dark brown egg layers with a homozygous blue egg gene rooster or a blue egg-laying hen with a rooster which hatched from a dark Marans or Welsummer egg.
Multiple egg colors can
be created, including sea glass or sea foam Easter eggers, power blue, spearmint or teal.
To create an eye-catching colored egg basket, keep a homozygous blue rooster, a dark Marans rooster and a Speckled Olive Egger rooster that hatched from a unique egg, as they generally allow for unusual egg colors.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
A March 21 WyoFile article written by Dustin Bleizeffer reports the owner of the Kemmerer coal mine laid off 28 workers, according to a Kemmerer Operations LLC press statement. The job losses, which amount to roughly 13 percent of the mine’s workforce, followed months of rumors of possible cuts in the southwest Wyoming energy town.
Employees who received pink slips will work until sometime in April, according to Lincoln County Commission Chairman Kent Connelly, who said he received a call regarding the layoffs.
The company also announced it will move from three shifts to two shifts, which means the mine will no longer be a 24-hour operation, according to Connelly.
The commissioner said he doesn’t know who in particular is being laid off, though the job losses are sure to hit hard in the small towns of Kemmerer and Diamondville. Many workers at the mine commute from all over the southwest region, including from Evanston, Mountain View, Lyman and even towns in Utah and Idaho.
informed us of their stance, we began discussing available options, and one of those was brands registered with the recognized authority and accompanied by a certificate, as long as agreed to by the shipping and receiving states, which this agreement does,” True stated.
However, the agreement does not apply to any other states at this time nor does it change the livestock import requirements for Utah and Wyoming. Therefore, producers should check import requirements for both states before making any such movements.
“This is one agreement, and itʼs only for the movement of defined classes of cattle between Utah and Wyoming,” True explained. “We do not have agree-
ments with any other states at this point.”
Clarification
Under federal law, official identification is required for dairy cattle, cattle going to a show, exhibition, rodeo or recreational event or sexuallyintact beef cattle and bison over 18 months of age.
Official identification aids state animal health officials in tracing exposed animals if disease outbreaks occur.
Brands can only be used as the means of official identification if they are registered with the state. There is an agreement between the state of origin and state of destination, and animal movements are accompanied by a brand inspection certificate.
Cattle requiring offi-
cial identification and those being transported to states without this brand agreement are required to be identified with an official individual identification tag such as an “840” radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or metal tag placed prior to Nov. 5, 2024.
Other official forms of identification are a registration tattoo, if accepted by the state of destination, or a group or lot identification number when allowed.
For additional guidance, Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) under this agreement must comply with the receiving stateʼs import requirements and commuter permit requirements, if applicable.
Also under this new agreement, the brand inspection certificate number and brand inspec -
tion certificate must be attached to the CVI, as veterinarians may not issue a CVI until they receive a copy of the brand inspection certificate.
However, CVIs are not required by Utah or Wyoming for cattle going directly to an inspected slaughter plant, cattle returning to the state of origin that grazed on a commuter permit or cattle moving between properties on a contiguous premises permit.
Import requirements
Utah cattle import requirements include a CVI and an import permit if coming from the brucellosis Designated Surveillance Area (DSA).
Another requirement is a brand inspection or proof of ownership, along with the statement, “These cattle have not been commingled with bulls of positive
or unknown trichomoniasis status.”
Requirements for females include a brucellosis vaccination or brucellosis test within 30 days of import unless going to a qualified feedlot, and for bulls this includes a trichomoniasis test within 30 days of import for animals over 12 months of age unless they are rodeo bulls or show bulls being imported for a single event.
For dairy cattle, additional requirements include a tuberculosis (TB) test if they are over two months old and a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) test within seven days if they are lactating.
For rodeo cattle, the requirement is a TB test within 12 months of import.
In the state of Wyoming, cattle import requirements include a CVI, and for all sexually-intact
The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) recently submitted a letter of support for the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments of 2025 Act – House Resolution 1897 – to House Nat-
ural Resource Committee leadership and Water, Wildlife and Fisheries subcommittee leadership in
Austin Snook • 307-290-2161
Taylor Snook • 307-290-2273
Craig Deveraux • 307-746-5690
Dan Catlin • 406-671-7715
Clint Snook • 307-290-4000
Cheyenne Seymour • 605-641-0638
advance of their hearing on March 25.
A major source of frustration of ESA processes
Kyle Kallhoff • 605-881-1526
Casey Sellers • 307-217-2614
Jim Forbes • 307-351-5932
Tye Curuchet • 307-351-8666
"From the ring, to the video, and in the country, we market your livestock the competitive way."
Light test on all classes of cattle selling on a strong market. Thank you and we appreciate your business!
CHERYL CUNNINGHAM, SHERIDAN
falls within Title Three. Species frequently maintain their threatened or endangered status even after species status assessments clearly show a recovered population.
The amendments also require federal agencies to establish objective, incremental recovery goals for threatened species and provide regulatory relief as recovery goals are met. Once all recovery goals are met, the services would transition the species to state management in preparation for delisting.
The proposed changes under Title IV emphasize accountability and transparency in species recovery. These changes would compel the U.S. Fish and Wild-
females entering the state, a brucellosis vaccination is required. For sexuallyintact females entering the DSA, individual official identification such as an “840” RFID or metal tag applied prior to Nov. 5, 2024 is also required.
Bulls imported into Wyoming must have a trichomoniasis test within 60 days if they are over 18 months of age unless they are rodeo bulls or show bulls being imported for a single event.
The requirement for lactating dairy cattle includes a HPAI test within seven days prior to import, and for rodeo cattle, additional requirements include a TB test within 12 months of import.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
life Service and National Marine Fisheries Service to look at species designations holistically, utilizing the best available data.
The analysis of economic and national security impacts for each listing and critical habitat designation will provide stakeholders and state and federal agencies with a complete picture of the impacts of a decision.
Finally, the act encourages and incentivizes nonlethal management and voluntary conservation efforts. It rewards management strategies by pausing critical habitat designation as private landowners implement land management plans which conserve the affected species.
During Fremont County Farm and Ranch Days, held in Riverton Feb. 5-6, University of Wyoming Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator Brenna Litynski offered tips on how producers can enhance their agricultural marketing strategies in today’s digital world.
“I’ve noticed, through my personal experience in the Albany County community, there are a lot of agricultural producers and businesses who don’t market themselves digitally,” she shared. “They have a network in place, which is great, but there is another level of success to be found in incorporating the right tools and skills when presenting to a wider audience.”
Litynski continued, “There is a Bill Gates quote saying, ‘If your business is not on the internet, then your business will be out of business,’ and I think this is especially true for the agricultural sector.”
Digital marketing
Through digital marketing, producers are able to engage with a wider audience, interact with consumers directly and promote all of their different enterprises in one place.
“Not only are producers able to establish connections with a lot of different people who they may have never met before, they are also becoming an integral part of the broader community, which is really important for the longevity of their business,” she stated.
Digital platforms also allow producers to be more accessible to their consumers and utilize tools like online storefronts, which Litynski believes “open up a whole new world of productivity.”
“We live in an age of instant gratification,” she remarked. “Consumers want things, and they want to be able to access them very easily. So having an efficient, well-built digital storefront and/or e-commerce option is really important.”
Although there are some upfront costs associated with breaking into the digital space, Litynski encouraged
To start her presentation, Litynski defined digital marketing as any form of online promotion, including social media platforms, websites and e-mail communication, to name a few.
producers to view it through the lens of making an investment in their future, just like they would with a new piece of equipment or a bull.
Setting goals and storytelling
When creating or enhancing an online presence, Litynski said it is important for producers to set goals and tell their unique stories.
“Setting a benchmark and realistic goals is going to be really crucial to one’s success,” she stated. “This will keep producers motivated and set a direction for where they want the business to go.”
Storytelling is also critical for an ag business.
“Consumers crave connection. They want to know where their food is coming from and the story behind who the producers are and what they are doing,” she said.
She further noted many people live vicariously through their electronic devices, especially those in urban areas who don’t have the opportunity to experience agriculture in person.
In order to be successful in this venture, Lityn-
ski recommended producers reflect on who they are, what services they provide, what sets them apart from the competition, why they do what they do and why their services are important.
“Producers have to be able to articulate this information to their audience,” she said.
Litynski also explained a critical piece of digital marketing is defining one’s audience and finding the right niche. This allows producers to tailor their content to specific demographics and increase their chance of success.
To wrap up her presentation, Litynski touched on the importance of branding a business.
In regards to having an online presence, she encouraged individuals to put together a “digital packet,” including clear, concise and easily recognizable content which sets them apart from their competition.
One of the most important aspects of a digital packet is a logo, which Litynski noted can be done one of two ways – using a clear, concise, communica-
tive and more visually complex logo that tells a story or using something simple and easily recognizable.
“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” she stated, noting a logo can be something as simple as a cattle brand. “But always make sure to finalize a logo with appropriate trademarks and copyrights.”
Additionally, Litynski noted it is important to evaluate which digital marketing strategies to use and social media platforms to target.
Since marketing an ag business is based heavily on storytelling, she recommended using more of a visual channel such as Instagram, Facebook and/or Tik Tok. She also mentioned visual storytelling should be uniform and professional.
“Individuals don’t want to post a picture of their cattle and then a picture of their daughter in a ballet recital. While we would all love to see it, it’s important to make sure they are marketing their business in the most effective way and that everything is uniform,” she said.
“Ag producers are not only trying to sell a prod-
Almost 270 organizations representing farmers, ranchers, forest owners, agricultural cooperatives and industry stakeholders have sent a letter to Congressional leaders, asking for a permanent extension of Section 199A in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
This provision has been crucial in keeping farmer cooperatives competitive with corporations by providing tax benefits.
The letter highlights how Section 199A has supported rural America by fostering
job creation, economic growth and helping farmers navigate challenges like the pandemic, global instability, low commodity prices and high inflation. The provision is set to expire at the end of 2025.
The letter reads, “Section 199A has been essential in keeping co-ops and their farmer members competitive with corporations which benefited from the permanently reduced corporate tax rate in the 2017 act. Each year, farmer coopera-
tives pass roughly 95 percent of the benefit, totaling over $2 billion, directly back to farmers across rural America. The deduction has fueled job creation, economic growth and rural investment. It has been instrumental in helping producers navigate unprecedented challenges, including a pandemic, global instability, prolonged periods of low commodity prices and the highest inflation in a generation.”
“However, without Congressional
uct, they’re also trying to form connections,” she added. “Ag is a very community-oriented business. Not only are producers marketing their product to clients, but also to potential business partners – someone they may want to pursue a business venture with in the future.”
For websites, Litynski noted the most successful often have a continuous color palette, an online storefront with clear instructions and applicable pricing, separate “Contact” and “About” pages, easily accessible contact information and a customer privacy policy.
Additionally, Litynski said branding should be continuous across all platforms.
“Everything in a marketing package – both digital and traditional content – should be branded appropriately, and whenever other people see this material, it should be easily recognizable as your brand,” she concluded.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
action, Section 199A will expire at the end of 2025, leaving individual farmers with significantly higher tax burdens – many facing double-digit increases,” the letter continues. “Farmers operate in one of the most unpredictable industries. Ensuring tax fairness is not just good policy, it is essential for the stability of rural America. Making Section 199A permanent will provide much-needed certainty as producers plan for future investments.”
March 31 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Calculating Annual Cow Costs Webinar 6:30-8 p.m., Zoom. For more information, contact Aaron Berger at aberger2@ unl.edu or 308-235-3122. To register, visit go.unl.edu/cow_costs
April 3
University of Wyoming 2025 Ranching in the West Wyoming AgVentures: Exploring Agriculture, Agritourism and Ranch Life Seminar, 5-7 p.m., Yellowstone Building, Northwest College, Powell. For more information or to register, contact Dr. Randall Violett at rviolett@uwyo.edu or 307-766-4239.
April 5 Central Wyoming Tree Care Workshop, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Agricultural Resource and Learning Center, Casper. For more information, visit natronacounty-wy.gov/treecare, e-mail dhoffman@natronacounty-wy.gov or call 307235-9400.
April 5 2025 Ram Test Field Day, Laramie Research and Extension Center, Laramie. For more information, e-mail kkoepke@uwyo.edu or dlaverell@uwyo.edu.
April 7 University of Wyoming 2025 Ranching in the West Ranching Stewardship at High Elevations: Opportunities and Challenges Seminar, 5-7 p.m., Laramie Research and Extension Center, Laramie. For more information or to register, contact Dr. Randall Violett at rviolett@uwyo.edu or 307-766-4239.
April 8 Wyoming State Government Jobs Expo, Wyoming State Capitol, Cheyenne. For more information, visit statejobs.wyo.gov
April 8-9 Montana Nutrition Conference and Livestock Forum, Best Western Plus GranTree Inn, Bozeman, Mont. For more information or to register, visit ecommerce.montana.edu/abio/
April 9 American Sheep Industry Association Scrapie Free in the U.S. – Moving from an Eradication to a Surveillance Program, Kansas City, Mo. For more information or to register, visit animalagriculture.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/ animalagriculture/event.jsp?event=706
April 9 2025 Yonts Water Conference, Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center, Scottsbluff, Neb. Further information will be released at a later date.
April 9-10 University of Wyoming Extension Rancher’$ EDGE Program, 1 p.m., Sheridan. For more information or to register, visit wyoextension.org/ranchmanagement/?page_id=7
April 16
Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration Virtual Workshop, 8:30-11:30 a.m., online. For more information or to register, visit westoncountynrd.org/ltpbrworkshop/
April 22 University of Wyoming Extension Private Pesticide Applicator Program, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Midvale Fire Hall, Pavilion. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Lander Extension Office at 307-332-2363 or rfisk@uwyo.edu.
April 23 Bureau of Land Management Wyoming Resource Advisory Council Meeting, Location TBD. For more information, visit blm.gov/get-involved/resourceadvisory-council/near-you/wyoming
April 23 Washakie County Agriculture Disaster Training and Emergency Planning, 9 a.m.-4 pm., Washakie County Fairgrounds, Worland. For more information or to register, e-mail wccd@rtconnect.net or call 307-347-2456, ext. 101.
March 31
Snowshoe Cattle Company Annual Bull Sale, at the ranch, Arthur, Neb., 406-647-5233, snowshoecattle.com
March 31 Gray’s Angus Ranch Second Century Performance Bull Sale, at the ranch, Harrison, Neb., 308-668-2525, 308-668-2520, graysangusranch.com
March 31
March 31
April 1
April 1
April 1
Sidwell Ranch and Frank Herefords Ninth Annual Production Sale, Sidwell Barn, Columbus, Mont., 406-861-4426, 307-631-6012, sidwell-land. com, frankherefords.com
Axtell Cattle Company Annual Production Sale, Sterling Livestock Commission, Sterling, Colo., 970-383-2332, 970-554-1132, axtellcattlecompany.com
Webo Angus Annual Turning Grass into Greenbacks Bull Sale, at the ranch, Lusk, 307-216-0090, 307-340-1182, 307-340-1499, weboangus.com
Bar 69 Angus 37th Annual Production Sale, Belle Fourche Livestock, Belle Fourche, S.D., 605-892-2875, bar69angus.com
Doubet Cattle Annual Bull Sale, Billings Livestock Commission, Billings, Mont., 303-638-2625, 303-681-7086, 720-302-3291, doubetranch.com
April 1 Gunsight Angus Bull Sale, Red Mountain Ranch, Laramie, 307-460-1649, 307-399-4665
April 3
April 3-4
April 5
April 5
April 5
April 5
April 8
Arntzen Angus Ranch 49th Annual Production Sale, at the ranch, Hilger, Mont., 406-350-4000, 406-350-1612, 406-350-1728, arntzenangus.com
Midland Bull Test, Columbus, Mont., 406-322-5597, midlandbulltest.com
Pitchfork Charolais Fourth Annual Bull Sale, Loma Livestock, Loma, Colo., 970-589-4584, 785-741-5204
Big Country Genetics Bull Sale, at the ranch, Cody, 231-878-1908, bigcountrygenetics.com
Wagner Charolais 14th Annual Bull Sale, at the ranch and online, Nunn, Colo., 970-420-2336, wagner-ranch.com
Botts Angus Ranch 12th Annual Customer-Oriented Bull Sale, at the ranch, Huntley, Mont., 541-263-0988, 541-263-0589, 308-430-2005, bottsangusranch.com
Beckton’s 80th Anniversary Bull and Heifer Sale, at the ranch, Sheridan, 307-674-6095, 307-674-8162, becktonredangus.com
April 8 Tri Brothers Equipment Semi-Annual Consignment Auction, live onsite, 6663 Heritage Avenue, Torrington, 307-575-2427, 913-755-5694, kerrauction.com
April 9
April 9
April 9
April 10
April 10
April 11
April 11
Pass Creek Angus Ranch 51st Annual Bull Sale, at the ranch, Wyola, Mont., 406-343-2551, 406-679-3391, passcreekangus.com
Triple T Land and Livestock Annual Production Sale, Buffalo Livestock Marketing, Buffalo, 307-746-8509, bar-t3livestock,com
Maddux Cattle Company Phase 1: “Maternalizer” Mature Bred Cow Herd Dispersal, Ogallala Livestock Auction, Ogallala, Neb., 308-350-1133, 308414-6682, madduxcattle.com
McClun’s Lazy JM Ranch Angus and Polled Herefords Annual Production Sale, Torrington Livestock Sale Barn, Torrington, 307-575-3519, 307-5752113, 307-534-5141, mcclunranch,com
Reich Charolais Ranch 68th Annual Bull Sale, Belle Fourche Livestock Market, Belle Fourche, S.D., 605-892-4366, 605-580-2393
Salmon Select 26th Annual Mule Sale, Lemhi County Fairgrounds, Salmon, Idaho, 208-756-2125, salmonselectsale.com
5L Red Angus Spring Profit $eeker Sale, at the ranch, Sheridan, Mont., 406596-1204, 5lbulls.com
Compiled by Dick Perue rrichardperue@gmail.com
Hatchery officials hold the record for making the largest catch in the shortest time
Thus reads the headline on the front page of the Nov. 15, 1917 issue of The Saratoga Sun. The news item follows: Superintendent O.N. Baldwin and a crew of men from the federal hatchery near town furnished amusement for a considerable audience when they seined the river above and below the bridge last Friday afternoon to procure a stock of rainbow trout for use at the hatchery.
Many local fishermen, who observed Baldwin’s preparations for seining the pool above the bridge, offered varied opinions as to what his catch would be, the general opinion being he would do exceedingly well if he brought out 50 trout from a pool which had been fished so continuously throughout the season.
Some even declared he would do well if he caught 20, and all were indeed astonished at the large number of fine trout – mostly rainbow, with a
few of the Loch Laven, German brown and speckled varieties – which were captured.
Over 100 of the largest and best of these were saved, and another pull made, this time below the bridge, when fully as many more were secured. A great many of the smaller trout were returned to the river, as well as hundreds of pounds of suckers.
About 300 rainbow trout of suitable size and condition for breeding purposes were secured
and removed in cans to the fishery station, a couple of miles from town.
On Thursday afternoon, the men had seined a couple of pools in the east branch of the river above town, where they secured 200 or more, bringing the total for the two days to about 500.
Baldwin was well pleased with his catch and expects to soon be able to supply young fry of the rainbow family to various other hatcheries, which have heretofore been unable to get sufficient rainbow spawn to supply the demand.
The National Fish Hatchery four miles north of Saratoga was opened in 1915 and has been in continuous operation since. Rumor has it, it may be shut down in the near future, but then, that’s another fish tale.
As of March 27, 2025
Compared to last week reported hay sales sold steady. Buyer inquiry picked up some this week as hay producers are advertising available hay on social media and selling hay to producers in the southern plains and in the eastern USA. Quite a few tons of hay left to sell in various areas of the state. Barley planting underway with some producers stating about halfway through the planting process. As of March 24, the state’s SNOTELs are reading 105% of median with a basin high of 113% and a basin low of 50%. Last year the state was at 96%, and at 123% in 2023.
Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News Torrington
Nebraska Hay Summary
As of March 27 2025
Compared to last week bales of alfalfa and grass hay sold steady. Ground and delivered hay and alfalfa pellets steady. Overall, most of the state is relatively dry and some buyers are starting to fill empty stackyards with hay. With a few feedlots contracting hay or buying several loads to have on hand. Still quite a lot of old crop forages around the state that will be carried over. Which isn’t all bad as the state is dry and more than likely will be fed sometime this year.
Central
of their plan, USDA will expand biosecurity assessments and audits available to commercial poultry producers nationwide, with priority placed on egg-laying facilities in top-producing states to help lower egg prices for American consumers.
The agency notes more than 130 facilities have undergone assessments in 2025, with 38 assessments completed during the week of March 17 alone.
Now, USDA will offer two free and voluntary biosecurity assessments – one focused on wildlife risk mitigation and the other on general biosecurity improvements.
Through Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Wildlife Services will conduct onfarm assessments and provide recommendations to producers regarding facil-
ity repairs and wildlife management techniques.
USDA notes these assessments will include a series of “regular engagements” including wildlife hazard identification and wildlife abundance surveys and wildlife management strategies on the premises.
Through Biosecurity Incentives-Focused Assessments APHIS’s Veterinary Services will work with producers to review biosecurity plans.
“This is a proactive approach for premises outside of HPAI control areas to identify and mitigate potential biosecurity gaps to prevent disease introduction,” the agency explains.
Additionally, as outlined in a December 2024 interim final rule, commercial poultry operations which have been confirmed positive for HPAI must pass an Infected Premises Restock Biosecurity Audit before they can
resume restocking if they wish to be eligible for indemnity for the restocked poultry.
“The interim final rule also requires commercial poultry premises moving poultry into designated buffer zones to pass a USDA Buffer Zone Placement Biosecurity Audit to be eligible for federal indemnity for any birds moved on to the premises,” USDA explains. “USDA will share up to 75 percent of the costs to fix the highest-risk biosecurity concerns identified by the assessments.”
Relief, regulatory burdens and supply
In an effort to provide financial relief and support faster bird repopulation, USDA also increased the indemnity rate for layer heads by 2.31 times on Feb. 27, raising compensation to $16.94 per bird.
Additionally, USDA is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and several industry stakeholders to find solutions to help safely expand supply,
minimize burdens on producers and consumers and promote innovative approaches to disease management.
Another component of USDA’s five-pronged approach is to explore temporary import and export adjustments to stabilize supply.
Under this part of the plan, USDA announced they have secured new egg import commitments from Turkey and South Korea, with ongoing discussions in other countries to further expand short-term supply.
“Additionally, U.S. shell egg exports have declined by eight percent, ensuring more eggs remain in the domestic market to help stabilize prices,” USDA says.
Research and vaccine development Research and vaccine development have been hot topics in regards to the current HPAI situation, and on March 20, USDA APHIS – in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and FDA – announced the launch of a $100 million funding opportunity to support research of HPAI prevention, therapeutics and potential vaccines.
With the help of HHS, USDA will also explore prevention strategies and promote biosecurity to ensure there is a limited impact on American farmers, and the agency will test the efficacy of therapeutics to prevent HPAI and treat infected flocks.
Funding will be awarded through a competitive process and is available to forprofit organizations including vaccine, biologics and therapeutics manufacturers; states; universities; livestock producer organizations and other entities.
Priority will be given to projects focused on the development of novel therapeutics to address HPAI in poultry, advance research on HPAI risk pathways to
improve biosecurity and outbreak response and explore vaccines to protect poultry while minimizing trade disruptions.
To provide more information on this funding opportunity and tips for submitting a project proposal, USDA will host a webinar on April 1 at 10 a.m. Webinar registration is available at events.gcc.teams.microsoft. com/event/745d11c3-012e4d98-b827-40e34416318f@ ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867ee03cfa0d4697
Project applications are due on May 19. For more information or to fill out an application, visit aphis.usda.gov/funding, usda.gov/about-usda/ general-information/staffoffices/office-chief-financial-officer/ezfedgrants or grants.gov/search-grants Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Lunch at Noon • Sale at 1 p.m. Archer Complex in Cheyenne, WY Located 5 miles east of Cheyenne on I-80
Featuring our Reserve Jr. Bull Calf Champion Carload at the 2025 National Western Stock Show and our Jr. Yearling Division Champion Pen of 3 bulls also at the 2025 National Western Stock Show.
• 35 head of Registered Hereford Bulls horned and polled, coming 2 year olds and yearlings
• Top quality sons of Churchill W4 Sherman, Churchill Big Jake and Churchill Roughneck Videos & data available on request.
agricultural borrowers.
Showing support
Those in support of the act include Sens. Angus King (I-ME), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), who emphasize the importance of reducing high interest rates to support rural housing and agriculture.
The House companion bill was introduced by Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Don Davis (D-NC) and Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), which would help sustain and grow rural America by making it easier for farmers, ranchers and rural communities to access low-cost credit.
According to a statement released by Marshall, the ACRE Act will assist community banks in tackling one of the biggest challenges for rural communities – high interest rates.
He states, “High rates raise the cost of doing business for family farms, makes it harder for small businesses to grow and leaves home ownership unattainable for many. The ACRE Act is commonsense legislation to reverse these trends.”
The ACRE Act is also supported by banking and agricultural organizations like the American Bankers Association (ABA) and Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), who praise its potential to lower borrowing costs and sustain rural economies.
ICBA President and Chief Executive Officer Rebeca Romero Rainey adds, “This important legislation will help community bank lenders revive and sustain rural economies struggling to overcome the impact of higher interest rates.”
How will it help?
The ACRE Act could lower the cost to purchase land and farmers and ranchers would have increased access to commercial credit while reducing the need for USDA programs.
In addition, the act will allow all federally-insured and regulated financial institutions to leverage a tax policy that government-sponsored enterprises are already using to support rural and agricultural lending.
By freeing up more capital, it will help farmers and ranchers directly, ensuring rural communities can prosper with the help of sound and productive credit provided by local community farm banks.
According to the ABA, the ACRE Act removes taxation on interest income earned by the Federal Deposit Insurance Company, which insures institutions on new farm real estate loans and home mortgage loans throughout the country’s 17,000 rural areas and towns.
This will enable community banks to lower interest rates and expand access to low-cost sources of credit.
The ACRE Act is estimated to save rural communities up to $1.18 billion in annual interest payments and offers a simple solution to help farmers, ranchers and rural homeowners without new government payments or programs.
The ongoing impacts of high inflation and supply chain disruptions are increasing the cost of running farms and ranches across America. Simultaneously, elevated interest rates are affecting farmers’ profitability.
By reducing costs for rural borrowers, the ACRE Act aims to support agricultural producers and rural communities during this challenging period.
Data points
As inflation and supply chain disruptions are driving up the cost of running America’s farms and ranches, it forces farmers to rely more heavily on credit. Nearly $360 billion in real estate debt in 2024 – a 4.5 percent increase from 2023 – was held by farmers.
The interest expense for real estate debt in 2024 totaled more than $19 billion, the USDA reports.
The ABA announces improving competition in a real estate market would lead to a reduction in the cost of credit for farmers.
“If passed, the ACRE Act will deliver approximately $1.18 billion worth of annual interest expense savings to farmers and ranchers in 2024, approximately $1
On March 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of Dr. Jaye L. Hamby as the director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). As director, Hamby will lead USDA’s efforts to advance agricultural innovation, community outreach and foster the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Hamby, a Tennessee native, grew up on his family’s cow/calf operation and developed a deep connection to agriculture through 4-H and FFA, eventually serving as a national FFA officer. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from the University of Tennessee before completing his master’s and doctorate degrees in agricultural education at Oklahoma State University.
Over the course of his career, he has directed hundreds of research efforts specializing in concept testing, product marketing, value driver analysis and following market trends and strategies to support agricultural producers.
billion for loans secured by farmland and $180 million for rural mortgages,” ABA estimates. “This savings would equal 119 percent of farmers’ annual personal property taxes in 2024.”
According to ABA, the ACRE Act would have a significant local impact in Wyoming.
Specifically, 11,938 farms would qualify for interest savings on loans secured by real estate. The total annual savings from farm real estate loans would amount to $6,298,452, while the savings from rural mortgages would total $619,798. In total, the esti-
mated annual savings would be $6,918,250. Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
by
Roger was a plunger –not in a janitorial sense, but in a business one. He was a compulsive go-getter who married the exact opposite.
Dorothy was definitely not a plunger, but a steadyas-she-goes conservative who liked to have every waking hour planned down to the last minute.
So, one can imagine her state when, on their way to Lake Tahoe for their honeymoon, they stopped for a fast food burger and Roger saw a poster for a heavy equipment auction which, lo and behold, was just a few
miles out of their way.
“Don’t worry,” Roger told Dorothy. “We’re just gonna watch.”
He kept saying this right up until the time he bought an old dump truck, skiploader and trailer by maxing out every credit card the two of them were carrying. Three hours prior, Dorothy had been married to a bread truck driver, and now they owned a construction company.
Instead of spending a few days at Caesars Palace on the shores of Lake Tahoe, Dorothy was now following Roger home in a
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is further postponing the effective date of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) final rule to Feb. 1, 2026.
APHIS is also taking public comment on the delay.
On Jan. 24, APHIS
dump truck. Little did she know this would be their life together for the next 40 years.
Roger hit the ground running and built his construction company from scraping manure at feedlots and dairies to bidding and building multi-million-dollar roads and bridges. He was seldom home for supper.
Their first child was Leonard, a frail, retiring type who just wanted to be left alone to read books in his bedroom. He hated when his dad made him tag along on a construction job. It was on one such trip Roger saw an auction flyer for a club calf sale which, amazingly, was just a few miles away.
“Don’t worry son, we’re just gonna watch,” said Roger as they sat in the sale bleachers.
An hour later, they were looking for a ride home for
Leonard’s first show steer. Although, if his dad had bothered to ask, Leonard would have much preferred a lamb if he had to raise a show animal at all.
Leonard was on the small side and the steer drug him all over the landscape and stepped on his toes every chance he got.
Leonard hated the steer, but not as much as his father hated seeing him handed a red ribbon at the fair. This was unacceptable, no kid of his was a loser, so there were many more such auctions where they “we’re just gonna watch.”
The middle child was a girl, Tina, and she dreamed of becoming either a makeup artist or a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, certainly not a real cowboy. But one day, on a whim, Roger took the family to a purebred cattle auction.
announced it was postponing the effective date of the rule for 60 days from Feb. 1 to April 2, with the exception of the section authorizing the training of horse inspectors, which previously went into effect on June 7, 2024.
APHIS will further postpone the effective date for the rule
– other than the training section – to Feb. 1, 2026. Additionally, APHIS is requesting public comments on whether the agency should further extend the length of this postponement and is also soliciting additional information to help inform a decision on the appropriate length of the postponement.
“Don’t worry,” Roger said. “We’re just gonna watch.”
This is how Tina got roped into being a rancher for life.
Then one day, Roger took his youngest son Robbie to a farm equipment auction. Robbie loved fast cars and restoring hot rods, not Farmall tractors.
“Don’t worry,” his father reassured him. “We’re just gonna watch.”
A couple of hours later, Roger had bought enough worn out farm equipment to keep Robbie away from cars for years.
As his many enterprises prospered, Roger put Leonard in charge while he went to auctions to buy heavy metal, cattle and more land. Tina ran the cattle, and Robbie kept busy restoring the old tractors his father now collected. His wife Doro-
The docket is currently on public inspection and will be available for comment at regulations.gov/docket/APHIS2022-0004 beginning on March 21. The comment period will close on May 20.
On March 14, APHIS shared an information update to stakeholders for the upcoming horse
TUESDAY, APRIL 1
BULLS
1035#
1240#
1225#
1255#
1155#
1330#
Bull, 1315#
Bull, 1080# $7,000.00
Bull, 1050# $6,750.00 H
BURLINGTON
1 Bull, 1940# $6,750.00 H 1 Bull, 1185# $6,500.00 H
MEETEETSE
1 Bull, 1415# $6,500.00 H
1 Bull, 1200# $6,500.00 H WEIGH BULLS
GREEN RIVER
1 Bull, 1985# $174.00
ROCK SPRINGS
2 Cow, 1270#
4 Cow, 1316# $134.00
3 Cow, 1435# $133.00
2 Cow, 1392# $132.50
1 Cow, 1205# $131.00
1 Cow, 1320# $128.50 FARSON
1 Cow, 1485#
1 Bull, 1260# $10,500.00
1 Bull, 1695# $169.00
RIVERTON 1 Bull, 2175# $169.00
1 Bull, 1820# $165.50
KINNEAR
1 Bull, 1740# $156.00
GREEN RIVER 1 Bull, 1740# $154.00 FARSON 1 Bull, 1860# $152.00
1 Bull, 1795# $151.50 HEIFERETTES CROWHEART
1 Heiferette, 1125# $200.00
RIVERTON
2 Heiferette, 882# $198.00 BRED HEIFERS PINEDALE
23 Bred Heifer, 877# $3,585.00 H 2 Bred Heifer, 842# $3,500.00 H 4 Bred Heifer, 887# $3,450.00 H
SO Cattle Co- 30 Blk Ang Yearling bulls. PAP Tested, Semen tested. Ready for turn out! For more information call Mark McConnell @ 307-438-1218 CALVES
Max Boroff- 5 Blk Ang Strs 550-650#. Rec 2 rounds of shots. Poured. Hay fed. High elevation.
TUESDAY, APRIL 8
BRED COW & PAIR SPECIAL • BREDS @
BULLS
Lazy BV Cattle- 20 Yearling Bulls (Sim/Ang & Reg Blk Ang) PAP Tested, Semen tested, out of ABS AI Sires. Calving ease bulls! For more information call Alan @ 307-868-9250 or 307-921-0839.
Hagen Land & Livestock- 14 Yearling Registered Red Angus Bulls. PAP Tested, Semen tested, out of ABS AI Sires. Calving ease bulls! For more information call 307-272-8075.
JOH Ranch- 3 Yearling Registered Black Angus Bulls. PAP Tested, Semen tested, out of ABS AI Sires. Calving ease bulls! PAIRS
Fluer De Lis Cattle- 50 Blk Ang 2 yr old Heifer Pairs. Tagged to match. Big, Good March born calves. Calves sired by Lucky 7 & Reyes Blk Ang Bulls. Fancy Heifer Pairs!
Dennis Horton- 8 Blk Ang 3yr old pairs & 4 Blk Ang 4&5 yr old pairs. Big, fancy calves. Vaccinated & ready for turn out! High desert & reputation!
Bitterroot Ranch- 8 Blk Ang 3-5 yr old pairs. Tagged to match. Lucky 7 Angus genetic cows for multiple generations & sired by Lucky 7 Angus bulls. Low PAP. High quality genetics! BREDS Dixon Ranch- 35 Blk Ang Mixed Age Bred Cows.
TUESDAY, APRIL 15
YEARLINGS
Arapahoe Ranch- 350 Blk AngX Strs & Hfrs 500600#. High elevation. IMI Global certified. No hormones. Rec Bovishield Gold 5 & 7 way. Weaned
thy wanted to sell it all and see the world, at least the part of it one could get to in a 42-foot mobile home with four slide outs and a fullsize tub.
Then one day, Roger fell over dead at age 64 from a massive heart attack.
Pastor Coglin and the family sat at the kitchen table planning Roger’s service. When the pastor asked Leonard if he would like to say a few words at the funeral, the shy young man got a frightened look on his face. What could he say about a father he loved, but deeply resented?
Dorothy made eye contact with each of her offspring and saw in their faces a reflection of her own unrealized dreams.
“Don’t worry kids,” Dorothy spoke those famous last words. “We’re just gonna watch.”
show season in light of a recent court decision impacting the new rule.
The HPA is a federal law prohibiting sored horses from participating in shows, exhibitions, sales or auctions. The HPA also prohibits the transportation of sored horses to or from any of these events.
45-60 days. Hay fed. Sired by Diamond Peak & small % Colyer Hereford bulls. Very high quality! Fluer De Lis Cattle- 220 Blk Ang/AngX Spayed Hfrs 650-675#. Received Pyramid 5 W/Presponse,
TUESDAY, APRIL
TUESDAY, MAY 6
TUESDAY, MAY 13 ALL CATTLE CLASSES
TUESDAY, MAY 20
&