Multi-species grazing can benefit Wyoming operations Pages A10-11
Groundwater easements may provide water solutions in the West Page B5
Four States Irrigation Council honors ag leaders Page B7
LREC project observes effectiveness of burros as livestock guardian animals Page B11
The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) announced March as National Ag Month and March 17-21 as National Ag Week. Themed “Together We Grow,” ACA will host several national events on March 18, which has been designated as National Ag Day. Starting at 8:30 a.m., the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host Ag Day at USDA on the USDA Whitten Patio in Washington, D.C., followed by a Celebration of National Ag Day in the Russell Senate Office Building from 5:30-8 p.m. The event will be livestreamed for free starting at 9 a.m. For more information and to access the livestream, visit agday.org
In the 12th snow report for Water Year 2025, the state’s snowpack telemetry data reads 98% of median, with a basin high of 106% and a basin low of 46%. Last year, the state was at 95% and at 117% 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
History was made during the 2025 National Reined Cow Horse Association’s (NRCHA) World’s Greatest Horseman, when Erin Taorimino of Lipan, Texas was the first woman to ever win the prestigious event on nine-year-old red roan stallion Hazardouz Material by Metallic Cat, the first sire to achieve three back-toback wins, making for four World’s Greatest Horseman championships in total.
Tickets are now on sale for the University of Wyoming’s (UW) Laramie River Rendezvous Rodeo, scheduled for April 25-27 at the Cliff and Martha Hansen Teaching Arena in Laramie. Adult tickets are $30 and youth tickets are $15. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit gowyo. com/tickets
Throughout the month of February, representatives from numerous agricultural groups testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on the state of the U.S. ag industry and called on Congress to pass an updated farm bill as soon as possible.
The first hearing, held on Feb. 5 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. featured farming industry representatives from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), National Farmers Union (NFU), National Cotton Coun-
cil, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), National Barley Growers Association, National Sorghum Producers, American Soybean Association, American Sugarbeet
“Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges, Today” was the theme of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 101st Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, held Feb. 27-28 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va., where industry stakeholders from across the U.S. and worldwide gathered to discuss all things agriculture.
In order to expand on the conference theme, the plenary session held on the first morning of the event included a panel of professionals who addressed current
The Trump administration’s planned tariffs on U.S. exports took effect on March 4, including a 25 percent tariff on Mexico and Canada, with one exception for Canadian energy exports, which has a 10 percent tariff in place.
President Donald J. Trump also raised current tariffs on imports from China to 20 percent, targeting all three countries for not doing more to help the U.S. counter the fentanyl crisis.
The tariffs were initially set to go into effect last month, but Trump opted to delay them, citing progress in negotiations with the three countries.
“Trump is proceeding with implementing tariffs on Canada and Mexico under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to combat the extraordinary threat to U.S. national security, including our public health posed by unchecked drug trafficking,” a White House press release states.
However, Mexico and Canada have since retaliated with their own duties on U.S. goods but Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has promised to address retaliatory tariffs, stressing the importance of resolving trade disagreements to help farmers focus on their work.
During Trump’s Congressional speech, he announced another sweeping “external” agriculture tariff which will take effect April 2, but did not specify which products would be impacted or whether any exceptions would be made.
He did acknowledge the economic repercussions of his tariffs, asking the American people to bear with him through the adjustment period.
challenges faced by those in agriculture today.
The panel was moderated by Oklahoma State University Vice President and Dean of Agricultural Programs Jayson Lusk and featured South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers, Farm Foundation President Shari Rogge-Fidler and National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Executive Vice President of Policy Development and Strategies Jaime Castaneda
Please see CHALLENGES on page A7
USDAʼs annual forum forecasts future of agriculture since 1923
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) held its 101st Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum on Feb. 27-28 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va., themed “Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges, Today.”
The 2025 program featured remarks by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, a presentation on agricultural markets and trade by USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer, numerous distinguished speakers and 30 breakout sessions covering timely agricultural, food, market and environmental issues.
While the forum was held in a hybrid format, onsite attendees had the opportunity to visit booths showcasing important missions and activities of various USDA agencies, as well as recent USDA-funded innovations.
About the forum
According to USDA’s website, the first Agricultural Outlook Forum was held in 1923 to distribute and interpret national forecasts to farmers in the field.
Organized by USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist, along with other
Members of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) gathered in Washington, D.C. Feb. 24-26 for the 2025 NASDA Winter Policy Conference, themed “United We Thrive.”
By the end of the three-day event, the association had adopted 17 policy amendments and 10 action items on a wide range of topics from food safety and labor reform to water conservation and animal disease research.
Hot topics
As cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continue to wreak havoc on the U.S. poultry industry, enacting a national response to the outbreak was top of mind for NASDA members. During the conference, the organization amended its policy to support the implementation of a national action plan for the detection, surveillance, response and containment of HPAI and passed two action items to initiate the first steps in executing this policy.
NASDA calls on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to develop and implement a national vaccine strategy and urges Congress to enact legislation in support of APHIS’s indemnity and compensation program for foreign animal disease outbreaks.
In the age of tariffs, wars and worldwide markets, the agriculture industry, like a number of other industries, finds itself in a smaller world. While at times this is positive, other times it can hurt.
I’ve wondered, if we can stop wars by sitting down and having a discussion, why can’t we set world prices of commodities by talking it over? There has to be a price where we can all make money.
Maybe I’m a little Pollyanna here, but one feels so helpless in times like this, when everything is out of our control.
I realize President Donald J. Trump needs to do something drastic to get America out of the trade deficit we find ourselves in and secure our border from illegal immigrants and drugs, such as fentanyl.
I read only one percent of fentanyl in the U.S. came through the Canadian border, and the rest through the Mexican border, which is exported from China.
Fentanyl has become a commodity in its own right. We need to stop the supply, but here at home, we need to cure the demand for fentanyl. If the demand didn’t exist, it would stop the supply.
It is hard to know with China, but I think Canada and Mexico are really trying to keep out of a trade war with the U.S. Both have worked to curb the supply of drugs into the U.S., but they also have some tariffs which hurt the U.S.
There are also goods coming across the border that the U.S. needs. A number of paper mills in the U.S. have stopped producing newsprint and now produce cardboard boxes for Amazon, so here at the Roundup, our printer gets their newsprint from Canada. This and higher prices at the post office will really hurt.
Paper mills are like meatpacking houses in that they almost have total control and they most always make money.
As for beef, America needs to stop accepting it from Paraguay. In 2024, they exported over 19,000 metric tons of frozen, boneless beef into the U.S. and American meatpackers used their beef as trimmings. Trimmings are lean beef U.S. beef processors mix with leftover tallow for hamburger.
It is a good use for U.S. tallow, but Paraguay doesn’t have the same strict regulations over the health of their cattle as the U.S.
Ranchers across the country are worried about imported meat bringing in disease, especially foot and mouth disease (FMD). If FMD ever got in American cattle, it would be devastating. No cattle could be transported anywhere, and it would really tie up the beef industry.
The first vaccine-based FMD control programs for cattle started in in the 1960s. By 1972, most South American countries had joined cooperative initiatives to combat FMD through mass vaccinations and surveillance. However, after 30 years of fighting FMD, Paraguay got tired of not meeting the expected result of elimination.
While Paraguay still exports beef to some countries, China does not allow their beef into the country either.
Agriculture always gets hurt by tariffs, as proven during Trump’s first term when China stopped buying American farm products, especially soybeans.
So, the trade wars will continue, and as Trump said, “There will be some pain.”
We hope it wonʼt last long or hurt too bad.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have triggered a hot debate among Republicans over visas for foreign tech workers, but little is being said about the fact critical aspects of America’s food production are increasingly strained by a lack of workers and a foreign visa program which chronically fails to fill the needs of America’s farmers.
Without new legislation from Congress, the H-2A visa system for foreign guest workers in agriculture has been stuck in first gear, and as a result, more of our food production has moved to foreign countries.
The need for skilled workers in the technology industry is certainly of national importance, but it makes no sense the entire
By Dave Puglia
foreign visa debate is centered only on this sector of our economy.
Securing America’s ability to feed itself must rank as the highest imperative.
As President Donald J. Trump acts to restore America’s manufacturing dominance and self-sufficiency, especially in critical goods, it should raise alarms the fresh and nutritious foods central to the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda are increasingly imported from foreign countries, particularly Mexico.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2023 the U.S. imported $32.5 billion more in fruits and vegetables than we exported – a trade deficit increase of more than 600 percent over the last 20
years. More than one-half is attributable to the increasing amount of fresh produce from Mexico sold in U.S. stores and restaurants.
Many Americans seek careers in technology, and it is undeniable their path could be complicated by increasing the number of temporary visas issued to foreign workers. But no one in this country raises their kids to become farmworkers – not even farmworkers.
As the existing farmworker population ages into retirement, farmers must increasingly seek foreign workers willing to come on a temporary basis to weed our fields, prune our trees and vines and harvest our fruits and vegetables.
Existing farmworkers are equally essential to
our national food security. Many came to our country long ago in contravention of immigration laws for the sole purpose of working on our farms.
Deportation of those who have committed felony crimes or present a threat to national security is strongly supported by most Americans and certainly by the farmers I represent.
But indiscriminate sweeps resulting in the deportation of essential workers in farming who do not present the same public safety threat would, at minimum, be economically counterproductive for a great country seeking to reshore its essential industrial capabilities, starting with food production.
Please see REFORM on page A4
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On March 5, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced legislation to help combat the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in the U.S.
The Avian Influenza Vaccination Strategy Act would require the U.S. Trade Representative and the secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to negotiate with trade partners on a strategy for a HPAI poultry vaccine.
“HPAI continues to impact millions of birds across the U.S., which hurts our producers and our supply chain,” said Rounds. “While our leaders continue to work toward a solution, we must make certain this solution includes communicating with our trade partners about our vaccine strategy. If trade partners won’t accept birds that have been vaccinated against HPAI, this could have further implications for producers.”
The legislation is supported by Dakota Provisions and the National Turkey Federation.
Additionally, many poultry producers believe an HPAI vaccine will provide significant relief. However, the deployment of a vaccine for poultry is contingent upon negotiations with trade partners. If trade partners cannot agree on a vaccine campaign, they could move to block imports of American poultry.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett are preparing a strategy to respond to HPAI, including a focus on biosecurity and medication. USDA has conditionally approved a vaccine for poultry which is deployed by individually injecting each bird.
Once the vaccine is fully approved, deployment will vary from species to species.
Karen Budd-Falen, a Cheyenne lawyer and rancher, is headed back to the nation’s capital, taking a highlevel U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) job in President Donald J. Trump’s administration, she told Cowboy State Daily in a phone interview.
The DOI has not announced the appointment, and a media representative said the department had no comment.
Budd-Falen worked in Trump’s first administration as deputy solicitor for wildlife and parks at DOI. Now, she has accepted a new job in the department – a stressful decision, she said, because she much prefers her country lifestyle to the urban sprawl of the Washington, D.C. area.
She said she was tapped for the job by DOI Secretary Doug Burgum, as well as by Kate McGregor, Trump’s choice to be deputy secretary of the department.
Budd-Falen said her appointment does not require Senate confirmation. She said she has secured housing in the Washington, D.C. area and expects to start her new job this month.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on March 2 it will no longer enforce the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) or the associated beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements.
Furthermore, the agency announced, “Not only will it not enforce any penalties or fines associated with the BOI reporting rule under the existing regulatory deadlines, it will further not enforce any penalties or fines against U.S. citizens or domestic reporting companies or their beneficial owners after the forthcoming rule changes take effect either.”
The department said it will further be issuing a proposed rule which will narrow the scope to foreign reporting companies only.
“This is a victory for commonsense,” said U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “Today’s action is part of President Donald J. Trump’s bold agenda to unleash American prosperity by reining in burdensome regulations, in particular for small businesses which are the backbone of the American economy.”
Following this announcement, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association thanked Trump and Bessent for suspending enforcement of the CTA and limiting the scope of the law to protect family farms and ranches from excessive regulations.
On Feb. 27, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Tom Schultz will serve as the 21st chief of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Upon being sworn in, Schultz will replace Chief Randy Moore, who recently announced his retirement in a message to all USFS employees after serving the agency for over four decades.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be the next chief of USFS. I will work tirelessly to further support and protect our rural communities,” said Schultz. “Working with our partners, we will actively manage national forests and grasslands, increase opportunities for outdoor recreation and suppress wildfires with all available resources, emphasizing safety and the importance of protecting resource values.”
The USFS chief is responsible for the leadership and success in accomplishing the mission of USFS. Established in 1905, USFS manages 154 national forests and 20 grasslands across 43 states and is the foremost leader in federal forest management, research and development and wildland firefighting.
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) promising new partnership with the University of Wyoming and the Intermountain West Joint Venture to address the threat of cheatgrass in northwest Wyoming saw a productive first year.
Together, the partners supported a new invasive annual grass (IAG) coordinator position to work with Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie county weed and pest districts, private landowners, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, BLM and other agencies.
The IAG coordinator advances a cohesive, cross-boundary strategy to tackle cheatgrass infestations on both public and private land in the Big Horn Basin.
IAG Coordinator Nancy Webb and her team have covered 20,000 acres and collected over 1,000 points of vegetation data on both untreated lands and those previously treated for cheatgrass. Detailed maps and summaries of the monitoring data from those efforts are now being used by the many partnering agencies to help them in their cheatgrass management planning.
Monitored locations will be revisited within two years of herbicide application to understand treatment longevity and effectiveness, vegetation health and recovery and to provide land managers with a guide for where to apply treatment if further treatment is needed.
Additionally, five herbicide demonstration plots were sprayed in easy-to-reach locations in Hot Springs, Park and Washakie counties for future education and outreach purposes.
Interested individuals, groups and agencies will be able to see the benefits and effectiveness of different herbicides on cheatgrass and associated native vegetation and may begin to imagine their own future possibilities and successes in combatting cheatgrass.
The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum is thrilled to announce the 44th Annual Western Spirit Art Show and Sale, showcasing over 300 pieces of Western art from talented artists across the country.
The exhibition will run from March 8 to April 19, offering visitors an opportunity to experience and purchase exceptional artwork which celebrates the spirit of the West.
The event kicks off with an opening reception on the evening of March 8 at the museum. Doors will open at 5 p.m. for museum members, followed by general admission at 6 p.m. Guests will enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks and a first look at the incredible artwork on display.
During the reception, the Best in Show and Winners of Each Medium – acrylic, drawing, mixed media, oil, pastel, photography, print making, sculpture and watercolor –will be announced.
Tickets are $65 for museum members and $75 for the general public.
Unlike the museum’s summer art show, the Western Spirit Art Show and Sale is a juried exhibition, showcasing a curated selection of the finest works of Western art.
Earlier on March 8, the museum will host the Western Spirit Seminar, featuring workshops and presentations beginning at 9 a.m. Attendees will also enjoy a provided breakfast and lunch as part of the seminar experience.
Artwork featured in the Western Spirit Art Show and Sale will be available for purchase both in person and online starting at the opening reception and continuing through April 19.
For more information or to explore the collection online, visit oldwestmuseum.org/western-spirit
Thousands of milk producers across the country, including approximately 450 producers in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming will receive surveys from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), as the agency collects information for the 2025 April Milk Production Survey.
NASS conducts the survey every January, April, July and October.
The survey asks producers to provide the number of milk cows in their herd, cows milked and total milk production for the first day of the month. The survey also collects information on hay purchased to feed the dairy herd.
By participating in the survey, milk producers can ensure NASS provides timely, accurate and useful data all sectors of the U.S. milk industry can use to make sound business decisions.
“At NASS, we have a strong commitment to respondent confidentiality,” said Rodger Ott, director of the NASS Mountain Regional Field Office. “We are required by law to protect the privacy of all responses and publish data only in aggregate form, ensuring no individual producer or operation can be identified.”
Survey results will be published in the Quarterly Milk Production Report released on April 22.
All NASS reports are available online at nass.usda. gov/publications/. For state-specific questions, contact NASS Wyoming State Statistician Leslee Lohrenz at 800-392-3202.
Simmons Ranch/Don & Karen Simmons 276 Extra Fancy Blk Angus Strs, 700-1000#, Weaned a long time, Been on a Grower Ration, 3 Rounds of Modified Live Vac. Program, Home Raised ****260 Extra Fancy Blk Angus Hfrs, 700-850#, Weaned a long time, Been on a Grower Ration, 3 Rounds of Modified Live Vac. Program, Home Raised, No Replacements Kept, Many of These Should Go Back to Breed Bob Pingetzer 120 Red Strs, 850-900#, Been on a Grower Ration, Complete Modified Live Vac. Program, Home Raised ****4 Red Strs/Hfrs, 1450-1600#, Complete Modifed Live Vac. Program, Home Raised HTK Ranch/Ron & Samantha Beck 4 Blk Strs, 900-950#, Been on a Feeder Ration of Millet Hay, Corn, Cake, Protein Tubs, Mineral Program, Branding Shots: Pyramid 5+Presponse, 7-way, Long Range, Multimin 90, Pre-cond. Shots: Pyramid 5+Presponse, 7-way, Poured, Weaning Shots: Pyramid d5+Presponse, Multimin 90, Producer All Natural, Home Raised WEANED CALVES Falls Ranch Limited 636 Fancy Blk Hfrs, 550-700#, Weaned a long time, Bunk Broke, Been on a Light Grower Ration, 2 Rounds of Shots this Fall, Bangs Vac., Home Raised, Vermilion Genetics, Home Raised, Replacement Quality Jimmy & Tiffany Wiser 130 Red Angus-x Strs & Hfrs, 400-500#, Weaned 80 days, Alfalfa/Grass Hay Fed, Branding & Pre-cond. Shots: Vira Shield 6, Vision 7 w/Spur, Steers are Knife Cut Ron & Wanda Russell 49 Blk few Bwf Strs, 600#, Weaned since Oct. 15, Been on a Light Grower Ration, Booster Shots after Weaning: Nasalgen 3 PMH, One Shot, Pinkeye, Foot Rot, Wormed w/Safeguard, Poured w/Clean-up, Wintered for grass, Purchased as calves thru Torrington Livestock Markets
WEBO Angus 35 Blk Strs, 500-550#, Weaned since Oct., Been on a Light Grower Ration, 3 Rounds of Modified Live Vac. Program (Branding, Precond. And Weaning), Poured, Wormed, Home Raised, Sired by WEBO Angus Bulls, Producer All Natural Robert Freeman 21 Blk Strs & Hfrs, 400-475#, Weaned since Oct. 30, Been on Ground Oats and Alfalfa Hay, Branding Shots: Vision 7, Vista Once Cattle Country Video – 1pm MT Wright Brothers 142 Steers. 80% Blk/Bwf, 20% Red/Rwf. Base Wt: 800 lbs. Wt Stop: 835 lbs. 2-way Slide: .10 cents. Location: 6 miles South of Brandon, SD. Delivery: 3/15/25 to 3/22/25. Frame: Med to Med-Large. Flesh: Medium. Shots: BoviShield Gold 5, 7-way/Somnus & Endovac at Precond & Booster. Poured with Ivermectin. SafeGuard. Weigh: 3% shrink on truck. Comments: Good long hair. Will keep growing and gaining. BQA. Rep: Richard Zweifel 605-209-6307. www.cattlecountryvideo.com
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wyoming State Office issued a decision to continue its wild horse gentling and adoption partnership with the Wyoming Department of Corrections.
The five-year contract will provide funding for the space, feeding, training and care of up to 200 excess wild horses and burros at the Wyoming Honor Farm in Riverton.
The BLM completed public scoping and comment in 2024, and corresponding documents can be found at eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2034597/510
The Wyoming Honor Farm, located one mile north of Riverton, is classified as a minimum-custody facility and is part of the Wyoming Department of Corrections.
The BLM and the Honor Farm have worked cooperatively since 1988 to train and adopt wild horses gathered primarily from Wyoming’s public lands. Trainers and wild horses make positive strides together by learning to respect and trust each other, and men are transitioned in a positive way back into society.
Two adoptions are held at the Honor Farm each year and are accompanied by gentling clinics, during which inmate trainers demonstrate the techniques they use to train wild horses, including catching a horse, advance and retreat, picking up feet and beginning to ride.
In general, approximately 35 halter and saddle-started horses, as well as some halter-started wild burros, are available at each adoption.
High school and middle school students are encouraged to hop online on March 17 at 6 p.m. for Wyoming 4-H’s Fifth Annual Virtual Career Night.
Hosted on Zoom, the event provides an opportunity for young people to interact with professionals in fields ranging from agriculture and wildlife management to medicine and marketing.
From a tactical pilot who specializes in aerial firefighting to a former National Football League cheerleader turned motivational speaker, the 2025 event highlights a wide variety of potential careers.
While the career fair is organized by Wyoming 4-H educators, it is free and open to any young people who are interested in attending. To register and learn more about this year’s presenters, visit bit.ly/ wy-4h-career-fair
The evening will kick off with a presentation by Missouri 4-H Alumna and nationally-renowned Motivational Speaker Shannon McKain. Former Albany County 4-H Member Jake McElwee, who now serves as diving operations supervisor for a marine construction company, will also make an appearance.
Additional presenters include a landscape architect, Colorado State University Extension veterinary specialist, anesthesiologist and agricultural loan officer.
After two featured presentations, participants have the opportunity to attend two additional presentations of their choice. Each session allows time for a live question and answer (Q&A) session with the presenter.
The event concludes with a group wrap-up and Q&A session at 7:25 p.m.
All presentations, including those from previous years, are recorded and can be viewed at bit.ly/wycareer-library. Brief bios and contact information for each speaker are also provided.
For those interested in sponsoring the 2025 event, visit bit.ly/wy-career-sponsor
For more information, e-mail amwall@uwyo.edu or call 307-347-3431.
Fire hydrants are great as long as there is plenty of water and water pressure in the system. America has great farms and farmers, but without a strong and reliable supply of workers, our farms can’t produce our food.
Sweeps and deportations of foreign-born farm employees who are simply working on our farms would be like emptying the reservoir that supplies water to the fire hydrants while hoping there won’t be a fire.
If we don’t create a national policy apparatus to enable America’s farmers to secure the workers they need, then we can expect at least two things to happen.
First, we should expect to pay far more for healthy fresh foods as they become scarcer. And secondly, we can expect even more fresh produce grown in Mexico and South America to find its way into our grocery stores.
Most of us would rather our food be grown in America by American farmers and produced abundantly and affordably. This is not the path we are currently on. Maybe it’s time to worry as much about America’s farmers and food supply as we do about Silicon Valley.
Dave Puglia is the president and chief executive officer of the Western Growers Association and can be reached by visiting wga.com. This article was originally published by AgriPulse on Jan. 31.
Growers Association, U.S. Peanut Federation and USA Rice.
Three weeks later, the committee heard from the livestock and poultry sectors on Feb. 26 at the Hart Senate Office Building, including representatives from the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), National Turkey Federation (NTF) and United Egg Producers (UEP).
Farm safety net
As the first line of defense against unpredictable weather and ongoing drought conditions, NAWG President Keeff Felty noted crop insurance is one of the strongest pillars of the farm bill’s safety net.
“As we continue to have conversations about the reauthorization of the farm bill, NAWG will continue to place crop insurance as one of our top policy priorities,” Felty said during his testimony. “NAWG opposes any proposed cuts to crop insurance and supports efforts to make crop insurance more affordable for producers.”
Felty also brought up the issue of outdated reference prices and the need for a stronger Title I program.
NFU President Rob Larew; NCGA President Kenneth Hartman, Jr. and AFBF President Zippy Duvall reiterated this sentiment in their respective testimonies.
Larew remarked, “The farm safety net should ensure family farmers and ranchers can achieve sustainable net farm income. Unfortunately, farmers continue to face high input costs, high interest rates and low commodity prices which are often below the cost of production. Many farmers are struggling to break even, and the current safety net is inadequate to protect farmers in today’s economic environment.”
Larew was also one of several industry representatives who commented on expanding disaster assistance and risk management programs.
In his testimony, Larew called on Congress to establish permanent disaster programs in the farm bill, written with “appropriate eligibility and payment caps, provisions to incentivize the use of con-
servation-focused farming practices and safeguards to avoid practices which could undermine crop insurance.”
He was joined in this opinion by ASI President Ben Lehfeldt, NCBA President Buck Wehrbein, NMPF Board Member Harold Howrigan and Duvall.
Labor reform
Workforce shortages have plagued the ag industry for years and with President Donald J. Trump back in office, the discussion on labor reform has resurfaced stronger than ever.
Nearly every representative to testify mentioned ag labor issues.
Duvall stated, “One of the greatest domestic policy threats to American agriculture is the persistent inaction to find a solution to our workforce needs. In short, the costs are too high, the domestic willingness to work is too low and family farms are closing down. This is our heartbreaking reality, and it has direct and tangible impacts on our rural communities.”
In their testimonies, Lehfeldt, Wehrbein, Howrigan, Larew and NPPC President Lori Stevermer called on Congress to reform the H-2A Visa Program, including access to year-round workers, the ability for processors to utilize the program and to move the program under the administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture where producers are better understood.
Howrigan reiterated the importance of a yearround workforce, noting milk production is a sevendays-a-week, 365-days-ayear endeavor where cows require constant, daily care and handling – like many other livestock operations.
“Simply put, dairy farmers in the U.S. must rely on immigrant workers to ensure their herds are cared for and milked, ensure a strong milk supply system in the U.S. and keep the price of milk and dairy products affordable to U.S. consumers,” he said.
“Unfortunately, this nation’s single agricultural visa program focuses on a seasonal or temporary need for workers and excludes dairy farms with year-round needs from participation,” he added.
Additionally, Larew urged the committee to con-
sider new grant intitiatives like the previous administration’s Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program to improve the supply, stability and training of the ag workforce.
“Increasing wage costs, a lack of available workers and farmworkers’ fears of deportation because of recent executive orders leave many farmers uncertain if they will soon be without access to a workforce,” Larew stated. “Congress should pass comprehensive immigration reform modeled on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in the 116th, 117th and 118th Congresses.”
“Farmers need a longterm solution to these labor challenges, including the ability to hire skilled workers,” he continued. “We also encourage collaborative work between the Department of Labor and USDA to update the Adverse Effect Wage Rate to address the rising costs of H-2A wages.
Additionally, in his testimony, Lehfeldt noted ASI has re-established an industry H-2A working group with plans to present regulatory recommendations to Congress during the last week of March. Animal health and disease
In the throes of a devastating highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak, multiple livestock and poultry representatives brought up the need for strong animal disease preparedness and response measures.
“The HPAI outbreak is a prime example of how important the farm bill is to our industry and the animal agriculture community,” said NTF Chairman John Zimmerman. “Foreign animal diseases can devastate the agricultural sector, posing longterm threats to the economic viability of U.S. livestock and poultry production.”
He continued, “The new farm bill must address these animal health risks while strengthening U.S. animal agriculture’s longterm competitiveness in the global market, ensuring a safe, wholesome and affordable food supply produced sustainably.”
The poultry industry has taken a brutal hit, with 162 million birds euthanized due to HPAI and an exponential fall in egg supply.
In response, UEP Board Member Tony Wesner noted the importance of adopting an aggressive vaccination
strategy – and trade strategy to avoid harming exports –correcting indemnity calculations for laying hens and pullets; addressing inter-species transfer of HPAI and establishing an HPAI Strategic Initiative to develop new methods for prevention, detection and response.
While HPAI is not fatal to dairy cows like it is to poultry, Howrigan explained the outbreak has still had an impact on dairy productivity and voiced support for vaccine development.
Foreign animal disease (FAD) is also a priority in the livestock industry.
In her testimony, Stevermer urged Congress to continue funding FAD programs including the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank, National Animal Health Laboratory Network, National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program, National Veterinary Stockpile, Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program and Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection Services User Fees Program.
Trade and marketing
Trade and marketing are also essential to all sectors of the ag industry, and provisions regarding the two were mentioned in almost every testimony.
Larew was one of several industry representatives who commented on the need for fair, open and competitive markets, urging Congress to pass a farm bill with provisions to strengthen livestock competition law enforcement; protect the Packers and Stockyards Act; initiate the development and expansion of alternative, local and regional markets and establish the right to repair farm equipment.
He and Howrigan voiced support for doubling funding for the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Develop Program.
He also reminded Congress to be mindful of the far-reaching impacts implementing tariffs will have.
“If used carefully, tariffs can be important tools for trade negotiations and for shielding domestic producers from the effects of unfair foreign trade practices,” Larew stated. “As Trump begins implementing his 2025 trade agenda, policymakers should remember the significant impacts of past trade wars on the farm economy.”
“Although our trad-
ing partners must be held accountable to agreements, past tariffs on goods from China resulted in severe and damaging retaliation against American family farmers and ranchers,” he added. “Our members suffered significant losses from the trade dispute with China and lost valuable market share, particularly for soybeans, to competitors like Brazil.”
With this, he noted the upcoming six-year review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement poses an opportunity to create a more beneficial trade model.
Wehrbein commented on the importance of holding trade partners to America’s high standards in an effort to prevent FADs, especially foot and mouth disease, from crossing the border, and Stevermer requested comprehensive trade agreements that eliminate or reduce tariffs and nontariff barriers to U.S. exports.
“While our two million
U.S. farms and ranches are the backbone of America’s food and agricultural sector, the impact of decreased exports and resulting economic fallout reverberates throughout the economy,” Duvall remarked. “We believe an agricultural trade agenda must focus on maintaining existing markets and completing trade agreements to expand market access for U.S. agricultural products.”
“By eliminating and reducing foreign tariff and nontariff trade barriers, American producers will gain export market opportunities. Congress must protect American agriculture and modern production practices from undue burden and respect farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to innovate and solve problems,” he concluded.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
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Possible resolution
According to a March 5 press release published by the White House, “At the request of companies associated with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the president is giving them an exemption for one month so they are not at an economic disadvantage.”
The three automakers Trump spoke with were General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Stellantis.
“The president expects the automakers to move production back to the U.S,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt states during the press conference.
However, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick signaled a possible agreement between the Trump administration and leaders of Canada and Mexico which could resolve some of the tariffs imposed on both nations.
On March 6, Trump released a statement saying Mexico won’t be required to pay tariffs on any goods falling under the USMCA until April 2, but made no mention of reprieve for Canada.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins told Bloomberg News, “Everything is on the table, and I’m hopeful the Trump administration could decide on providing relief for the agricultural sector.”
In a recent interview with Farm Journal at Commodity Classic, U.S. Department of Agriculture Economist Seth Meyer says he has been instructed by Rollins to be ready for a relief program, and he’s started calculating what possible relief could look like.
Recently, state lawmakers with strong agriculture interests spoke with the Trump administration to carve out tariff exemptions for fertilizers and other products critical for growing U.S. crops.
Reaction from the ag industry
Support for agricultural tariffs presents mixed opinions among farmers and ranchers.
Some support tariffs as a means to advocate for fairer trade deals and protect American industries, while others express concerns
over the potential negative impacts on their businesses.
In a March 4 press release, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall states, “Farmers support the goals of ensuring security and fair trade with other nations, but additional tariffs, along with expected retaliatory tariffs, will take a toll on rural America.”
“Approximately 85 percent of total potash supply – a key ingredient in fertilizer – is imported from Canada,” he adds. “For the third straight year, farmers are losing money on almost every major crop planted. Adding even more costs and reducing markets for American agricultural goods could create an economic burden some farmers may not be able to bear.”
On the same day, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) released a statement of their own.
“Farmers are facing a troubling economic landscape due to rising input costs and declining corn prices. We ask Trump to quickly negotiate agreements with Mexico, Canada and China to benefit American farmers while addressing issues important to the U.S. We call on our trading partners to work with the president to resolve these issues so we can restore vital market access,” states NCGA President and Illinois Farmer Kenneth Hartman, Jr.
Also voicing concern is the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
“USMEF is obviously disappointed no agreements have yet been reached to avoid or postpone tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as the tariff increase on goods from China,” USMEF President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Halstrom states. “We are reviewing the retaliatory measures announced by Canada and China and are watching for details on the response from Mexico. These three markets accounted for $8.4 billion in U.S. red meat exports last year, including nearly $4 billion to Mexico.”
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
This week, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) welcomed Anthony Peña as the new policy manager.
Peña brings valuable experience from his nearly three-year tenure as government relations manager at the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA). Before PNWA, Peña served for several years with U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) as regional district director and representative.
He is from Vancouver, Wash. and attended Eastern Washington University to earn his Bachelor of Arts.
“I’m honored to join NAWG and build on my experience advocating for the infrastructure wheat growers depend upon,” said Peña. “Having worked on waterway issues critical to moving wheat to market, I understand the interconnected challenges facing the industry. I look forward to working directly with wheat producers to learn more and advance the policies which enhance their competitiveness and profitability.”
Short-term challenges
When asked about their take on the industry’s shortterm challenges – things producers should focus on over the next six to 12 months – the experts agreed industry uncertainty is at the top of the list.
“I think something we can all agree on is the uncertainty we’re seeing right now, and there are a whole host of interpretations on this,” Weathers stated.
He noted there is uncertainty as a new administration transitions into office, uncertainty regarding low margins resulting from softening markets and high input costs, uncertainty surrounding what will be included in the next farm bill and when it will come about, uncertainty in the regulatory environment and, overall, uncertainty for the global positioning of agriculture.
Rogge-Fidler agreed, noting she believes policy and economics are core uncertainties at the moment.
“When I reached out to farmers to ask them how these uncertainties are actually affecting them, I noticed they are undertaking some very different strategies,” she shared. “Some of them are going to put new investments and expenses on hold, while others have started leaning in and watching for new opportunities to pop up to expand their diversification strategies in an effort to mitigate the uncertainty.”
The panel agrees labor is
also a short-term challenge.
Rogge-Fidler mentioned President Donald J. Trump’s recent actions regarding immigration have caused anxiety among producers, especially specialty crop farmers, and noted many are calling for reform of the H-2A Visa Program.
“I totally agree with the notion of labor. We need to address labor issues,” added Castaneda. “Farms don’t have the labor force they need, and let’s face it, a lot of folks in the U.S. don’t want to do the work to milk a cow. It isn’t about what producers pay – they pay well, they have benefits, they provide housing and they offer insurance. It’s just a fact of the matter – Americans don’t want to do that type of hard work.”
Another short-term challenge the panel brought up was risk management, which broadly covers crop insurance, market risks and weather volatility, and to round out the discussion, Castaneda brought up the issue of American ag constantly selling itself short.
“The U.S. needs to think of itself as a top producer of great-quality products,” he stated. “It annoys me people think they need to go to fancy food stores and travel oversees to buy European products, just for the sake of buying European products. What they don’t know is our cheese is actually the best in the world. Parmesan cheese from Wisconsin beat every
single Parmigiano Reggiano from Italy in an international taste contest.”
“And, we can say the same about so many of our different products,” he added. “I think a challenge in the future is we have to think about ourselves in a better light.”
Long-term issues
Lusk then asked the panel to look further into the future – five to 10 years – and share what long-term industry challenges they see in the cards.
Again, the panel agreed on one overarching issue –cultivating the next generation and ensuring agriculture sustainability.
“We need to make sure the next generation wants to stay on the operation because we are seeing more ag kids go work somewhere else,” said Castaneda.
Weathers reiterated this sentiment, stating, “When we look at some statistics, the average school teacher in the U.S. is 42 years old, the average lawyer is 46, the average doctor is 48 and when we get to production farmers, we are bumping the 60-year mark. Where is our next generation coming from?”
Castaneda also cited the significant decline in ag operations and land in farms today.
“When I started with NMPF about 25 years ago, we had 60,000 dairy farms. Today, we probably only have about 25,000, and this
number is going to keep declining,” he pointed out.
On this note, RoggeFidler said some of the longterm challenges she sees in the industry include land and water use – both urban and rural.
“In urban areas, pressure on farmland is a conversation we continue to have across the whole U.S., and in rural communities, we see data centers springing up – solar, energy, wind, etc. – and farmers are having to make those trade-offs of what to do with their land. I just wonder, will we have enough farmland for the future?”
She continued, “Water use is a persistent problem around the globe, as well, and certainly one in the U.S. we to need to figure out together.”
Additionally, RoggeFidler brought up the issue of shifting consumer demand, especially in an era where many consumers have turned to Ozempic or other similar appetite suppressants and are, in general, consuming less.
“What are the broad implications for the food and agricultural system as patterns completely shift in terms of consumer demand for foods?” she asked. “Figuring this out, especially what the impact on our farming and ranching sectors will be, is key.”
On the other hand, she
noted many futurists talk about reaching “peak global population” and wonders how the ag industry is poised to feed a growing world.
Lusk chimed in to note his concern for long-term challenges in agriculture is the decline in investments made for agricultural research in the U.S.
“Frankly, some of our competitors on the world stage, like China, are spending much more than we are on ag research today,” he said. “We probably won’t see the effects until 10 to 15 years from now when we haven’t developed new crop varieties or practices to help us stay productive.”
Industry optimism
In an effort to avoid sounding too pessimistic, Lusk asked the panel to touch on some “bright spots” that make them excited for the future of ag.
Rogge-Fidler noted, in her area, she has heard some positivity regarding short-term relief on energy costs and, personally, she is excited about the future of innovation in the industry.
Castaneda commented on the shift in popularity to animal-based diets, with dairy consumption – especially cheese – consistently increasing in the U.S. and a growing interest in expanding protein production.
Weathers agreed, noting consumers have become more interested in nutrient-
dense diets and are spending more time shopping the outer aisles of the grocery store for fruits and vegetables, dairy and meat.
Castaneda noted one bright spot many take for granted is the luxury of food security, as American ag producers can be counted on to feed the world.
“There are many people in this country with anti-animal agriculture views, but they live in a wealthy country and they don’t know what hunger is,” he said. “I grew up in a developing country where people would do anything for meat, dairy or eggs – anything to give them some nutrition, which is a luxury in a developed country.”
He added, “The most important thing about agriculture is that it feeds the world.”
Snowballing off of this, Weathers said, “Despite everything anti-ag groups have attempted to try to prevent the American people and others across the world from consuming animal protein, the evidence is in the popularity of steakhouses and the price of beef on the menus, as well as in the ever-increasing per capita consumption of cheese, yogurt and butter.”
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Labor reform and biofuels were also hot topics among NASDA members.
In a an approved policy amendment, the organization expresses its support for an exemption to the “threefourths guaranteed contract clause under the H-2A Department of Labor Farmworker Protection Rule for employers who experience natural disasters or unexpected hardships,” and in a corresponding action item, urges Congress to develop strategies to address
ag labor challenges and border security.
Two amendments were passed regarding biofuels, including one which increases support for domestic and global demand of American-produced biofuels and another to support federal biofuel tax policy, with preference for the usage of
domestic feedstock for U.S. biofuel production.
Multiple policy amendments were also passed in support of programs dedicated to increasing economic growth through access to local foods.
NASDA members voted in favor of policy to support the permanent establishment
For more from the 2025 National Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s Winter Policy Conference, visit nasda.org.
and funding of the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Program administered by USDA and for policy to update the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program in an effort to reduce administrative burdens, emphasize the procurement of local foods and assist districts with the cost of preparing and storing food, as well as easing procurement regulations for schools to be able to purchase foods from in-state sources.
The topic of food safety and nutrition continued to dominate the conversation, with NASDA members passing another four policy amendments and one action item on the subject.
Policy included seeking continued uniformity between the USDA and the Food and Drug Administration regarding produce safety and updating language so it aligns with current nutrition and dietary guidelines.
NASDA also announces its support for the utilization of federal funding to create food as medicine programs, opposes any effort to divide nutrition spending in the farm bill and urges Congress to restore funding for ag programs.
Additional policy amendments
Six other policy amendments were passed during the organization’s annual meeting, including one in support of the creation of state block grant programs which provide technical assistance to farmers and another which seeks assistance for USDA resources to help growers comply with Endangered Species Act requirements regarding pesticide use.
Additionally, NASDA passed policy in support of the development of federal tax credits, grants and other incentives to improve the affordability of anaerobic digesters on ag operations; investments for controlled environment agriculture facilities and the con-
tinued development of “efficient, reliable, ecologicallyfriendly and cost-effective” petroleum and gas pipelines.
Other action items
Another six action items were also passed by NASDA members.
To acknowledge the contributions of women in agriculture and to show support for the United Nations’ resolution which declares 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, NASDA encourages domestic and international efforts to celebrate women in the industry.
“The action item encourages the U.S. government to provide leadership in support of the International Year of the Woman Farmer and urges states to implement additional programs to help women in agriculture gain access to credit, land and technology through training and mentorship opportunities,” reads a Feb. 26 NASDA press release.
In another action item, NASDA requests the Department of the Interior study the feasibility and potential water saving benefits of establishing incentives for homeowners to replace older, less water efficient turfgrass with drought-tolerant varieties.
NASDA further expresses support to protect the U.S. shrimping and catfish industries from illegal and harmful imports and the horse industry from the Horse Protection Act, set to go into effect on April 2.
The agency also recommends providing adequate funding to states to allow for proper operation of inspection programs under the U.S. Grain Standard Act and encourages Congress to retain the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative as a program in the upcoming farm bill with base funding of $36 million annually.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is adjusting its New World screwworm (NWS) sterile fly dispersal strategy to push the devastating pest away from the U.S. and back toward the previously established biological barrier in Panama.
APHIS is shifting its dispersal efforts to Mexico –the northernmost point of the outbreak – using a scientifically-proven eradication model. The agency successfully implemented the approach in previous eradication efforts, and it remains the most effective strategy.
APHIS identified two locations for sterile fly dispersal centers in Mexico. As APHIS transitions to these sites, it will continue operations using dispersal centers outside of Mexico to ensure program continuity. By adjusting dispersal locations, the agency will ensure the greatest number of sterile flies are released in critical areas.
While sterile fly dispersal will shift north, APHIS remains committed to working closely with Nicaragua, Honduras and regional partners to support onthe-ground outbreak response activities, including surveillance, animal health outreach and early detection efforts.
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these two species don’t go well together.
“Cattle and sheep are two really important livestock animals throughout the Intermountain West and especially in southwest Wyoming,” said Montgomery. “They’re both really important to the economy and culture of the area, but there’s a stigma going around on both sides that the two don’t mesh.”
“People think cattle and sheep are just too different. They don’t go together, and it’s hard to run them on the same operation,” he continued. “But we are going to go over why this is not necessarily the case and why there are good benefits to utilizing both cattle and sheep on a grazing operation.”
Comparative physiology and grazing habits
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high-fiber, less-digestible plants. Sheep also fall into the intermediate feeder category with goats, elk and antelope. Animals in this category can select certain parts of a plant and utilize high-fiber forage.
Montgomery explained, “Cattle are primarily grazing grass at about 70 percent of their diet across all different landscapes. They take in big mouthfuls of grass, almost like a vacuum cleaner. Because of their anatomy, they are less able to select for non-grass plants, so they won’t pick around weeds.”
“Sheep on the other hand, can use their narrow lips and flexible tongues to select around undesirable plants and pick out the best parts of plants which might otherwise have been less palatable or nutritious for them,” he continued.
“Sheep are grazing about 50 percent of grass – although this number fluctuates – and the rest is browse.”
As ruminants, cattle and sheep are both specialized herbivores with four-chambered stomachs and the ability to chew their cud, ferment feed in the rumen and utilize otherwise undigestible material.
The two species also have the ability to transform non-protein nitrogen into a useable source of protein.
Of course, Montgomery noted, there are also some pretty obvious differences as well, including stomach size and feed intake.
The first two chambers of the stomach, known together as the reticulorumen, are where fermentation takes place and are by far the largest section of the digestive tract in both species.
However, the omasum –which serves as a filtration system – is larger in cattle, while the abomasum – the “true stomach,” which is lined with glands to break down feed using hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes – is larger in sheep.
“Cattle and sheep eat similar amounts relative to their size but, of course, a 1,300-pound cow is going to eat a lot more than a 150pound ewe,” Montgomery stated. “For instance, a lategestation ewe is going to eat 3.5 to 4.4 pounds of dry matter a day, whereas the late-gestation cow eats up to 18.6 to 27 pounds a day.”
Additionally, Montgomery noted there are some similarities and differences in grazing habits between sheep and cattle, and while many producers assume the two are either too similar or too different, their similarities and differences actually allow them to graze the landscape together pretty effectively.
According to Montgomery, grazing animals are categorized into three groups. These include concentrate selectors, like deer and moose, which select for areas of the plant with the highest concentration of nutrients such as leaves, seeds, fruits, etc.
Cattle, sheep and bison are considered grass and roughage eaters, and their large rumens allow them to consume bulk quantities of
Montgomery also noted cattle typically tend to graze taller grasses and are more picky about the landscape they graze in, preferring lower, flatter riparian areas.
Comparatively, sheep are able to graze lower to the ground, allowing them to get more out of a sparser landscape and will often graze areas cattle avoid outright.
“They graze around manure piles and thorny plants a lot better. Thistles and cactus don’t bother them near as much,” said Montgomery. “They’ll utilize slopes and rougher terrain a lot more readily than cattle will, as well.”
Multi-species grazing strategies and benefits
When grazing both cattle and sheep, there are multiple strategies producers may consider.
Montgomery noted targeted grazing allows producers to capitalize on species, duration and time of year to enhance the landscape by changing plant composition.
“Sheep will eat forbs and broadleaf weeds we don’t want in the cow pasture because cattle will avoid them, which prevents those weeds from taking over,” he stated.
Sheep can also be used to target plants that are toxic to cattle, such as leafy spurge and larkspur, since they have a higher tolerance.
“Larkspur contains really toxic alkaloids that are extremely fatal for cattle. It takes as little as 0.5 percent of their overall body weight to kill a cow or a calf,” he explained. “Sheep on the other hand, take four to six times their body weight to see toxic effects, and there is a lot of research that has been done showing sheep can be used to decrease larkspur ahead of grazing cattle.”
Julian pointed out several other benefits to grazing cattle and sheep together,
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especially across Wyoming’s varied landscape.
“Obviously, Wyoming is not a flat plane of earth with miles and miles of grass,” she said. “A lot of times, we are trying to utilize every blade we’ve got, and this is one of the best ways to do it.”
Circling back to information Montgomery outlined earlier in the presentation, Julian reiterated cattle and sheep complement each other, as sheep graze forbs and low-lying vegetation on rougher terrain, whereas cattle stick to the taller forage growing in lower riparian areas.
She also cited several research trials which have shown increased carrying capacity of 24 percent or higher when grazing sheep and cattle versus grazing cattle alone, as well as increased animal performance when using a multispecies system.
“There was a nine to 24 percent improvement in gain of calves and lambs, depending on the study,” she said. “The other interesting thing that came
out of this research is the weight increase on progeny and dams. The dams didn’t necessarily gain weight, but they held weight better, reporting a significantly higher overall weight of both.”
“Sheep and cattle grazing together can actually be a tool to control parasites as well, since they don’t share the same parasites,” she added.
Julian also shared anecdotes from producers across the state who have seen cograzing help deter predators, and she pointed out other opportunities diversifying an operation can bring.
For instance, although cattle producers may have to add the task of shearing to their annual calendar, they will gain a revenue source, if done right.
“They might also add some value-added products to the mix – socks, sweaters, wool pellets for gardens, home insulation, etc.,” she stated.
“Enterprise stacking is something that has come into style within the last few
decades in the ag industry,” she continued. “All input prices are going up, so many are looking at how they can diversify and stack enterprises in order to hold on to the ranch.”
Other considerations
Like every ag venture, however, multi-species grazing can come with its challenges, and Julian outlined a few other considerations those running both species should keep in mind.
“Fencing is probably the biggest consideration. It’s also one of the largest capital expenses for an operation,” she said.
In most cases, Julian believes existing fence will work or can be modified to do the job. She noted perimeter fences need to be in the best shape, recommending woven-wire style fence to hold sheep in and keep predators out.
High-tensile electric fence works for targeted grazing and four- or fivestrand barbed wire works for interior fences, she noted.
Water is another big consideration when grazing multiple species.
Julian pointed out some
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1 Blk Cow, 1230# $13400
J & J Baling - Manderson
1 Blk Cow, 1460# $11800
TD & Sons LLC - Worland
4 Blk Hfrs, avg. 1076# Coble, Mike - Burlington
1 BWF Hfr, 1470#
Diamond Tail Ranch LLC - Greybull
4 Blk Hfrettes, avg. 1086#
• Upcoming Sales • March 10 Monday • All Class Cattle March 13 – Bred Cow Special w/ All Class Cattle March 20 – All Class Cattle, Sheep & Goat March 27 – Weigh-Up Special w/ All
water systems, such as tire tanks, sit too high for ewes and lambs to access. A tank 12 to 14 inches tall should be included for sheep, but fenced off from cattle so they can’t crawl in.
Julian suggested avoiding in-ground tanks altogether, since calves and sheep can fall in and drown.
Copper is another concern, since sheep have an extremely low tolerance.
Julian recommended using a copper-less mineral labeled for both sheep and cattle or providing separate mineral for each species that the other cannot get to.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.
On March 3, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) held a press conference at the 2025 Commodity Classic to celebrate the organization’s 75th anniversary.
The event brought together current and past leaders of the organization to reflect on the organization’s accomplishments and discuss the future of the wheat industry.
The group discussed the future of wheat advocacy, including continued efforts to get a long-term farm bill signed into law to meet the needs of today and make a meaningful investment in the farm safety net.
Throughout its 75-year history, NAWG has played a pivotal role in advancing wheat production through alliances, advocacy and innovation. The press conference highlighted key milestones from the past, including being the first trade organization to beat California’s Proposition 65.
NAWG continues to lead the way in protecting producers’ access to crop protection tools, maintaining a robust farm safety net and ensuring the wheat community can compete globally.
Consignments • March 10 • Monday • All Class Cattle
Dusty Mills – 11 red/black BWF heifers, two rounds of shots, by Durbin Creek bulls, been on alfalfa grass, weaned in October, bunk broke.
Troy Corbett – 95 black steers, 485-525#, two rounds of shots, weaned November, high elevation, top 5% of Northern sale.
Haun Farms – 150 mixed black, 600-700#, weaned October.
Jacob Nicholas – 220 mixed, 500-600#, two rounds of shots, weaned October.
Joe Calvo – 135 black and red steers, 600-700#, tow rounds of shots, weaned November.
Ron Cook – 30 black steers; 25 black heifers, 600-650#, two rounds of shots, weaned Nov. 1. Casey Johnstone – 40 black and BB heifers, 700-750#; 9 black and BB steers, 750#, two rounds of shots, weaned Nov. 10.
Hamilton Ranch – 30 black heifers, 600#; 30 black steers, 600#, two rounds of shots, weaned.
Lance Jordan – 45 mixed black, mostly steers, 600-700#, two rounds of shots, weaned October.
Wooden Shoe Farms – 7 heifers, 450#; 8 steers, 450#, one round of shots.
Scott and Norman Winters – 8 black steers, 500-600#, two rounds of shots, IMI All Natural Program, weaned.
Gillett Farms – 25 black steers, 650-750#; 45 black heifers, 600-700#, two rounds of shots, weaned January.
Jeff Wick – 27 black steers; 8 black heifers, 650#, two rounds of shots.
Parsley Red Angus – 15 red heifers, 650#, twor rounds of shots, weaned October.
Roby McNeel – 15 Rbaldy heifers, 675#, two rounds of shots, weaned Nov. 1.
Cliff Winters – 12 mixed black, 500-600#, weaned.
Steve Bales – 6 black steers, 675#, three rounds of shots, weaned long time.
John Gerstner – 3 black bull calves, 850#.
Michael Bottoms – 2 black steers, 750#, two rounds of shots, grass and alfalfa hay, weaned 90+ days. Dobson Ranch – 100 mixed black, 550-750#, two rounds of shots, poured, 8 Way and Vista Once, weaned 90+ days, on light feed ration. Lyman Ranch Co. – 63 black steers, 600-650#; 38 black heifers, 550-600#, two rounds of shots, weanec November.
March 7-9 Black Hills Gun Show, The Lodge at Deadwood, Deadwood, S.D. For more information, call 605-641-0870 or 307-751-1877.
March 8 Harvest Wyoming, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Clay Pathfinder Building, Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/harvestwyoming2025
March 8-April 19 Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum Western Spirit Art Show and Sale. For more information, visit oldwestmuseum.org/western-spirit
March 11 University of Wyoming Extension Private Pesticide Applicator Program, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., South Lincoln Training and Events Center, Kemmerer. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Sublette County Extension Office at sublette@uwyo.edu or 307-367-4380.
March 11 University of Wyoming Sheep Task Force Predator Management Webinar, 6-7 p.m., online. For more information, contact McKenna Julian at mbrinton@uwyo.edu or 307-828-4093. To register, visit bit.ly/wy-predator
March 12 University of Wyoming Extension Private Pesticide Applicator Program, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Uinta County Extension Office, Evanston. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Sublette County Extension Office at sublette@ uwyo.edu or 307-367-4380.
March 15-17 7 Triangle 7 Artificial Insemination Spring Training, Akron, Colo. For more information or to register, visit 7triangle7.com or call 307-481-3921.
March 17 Wyoming 4-H Fifth Annual Virtual Career Night, 6 p.m., Zoom. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/wy-4h-career-fair
March 17-18 National Ag Week. For more information, visit agday.org
March 18 Ag Day at USDA, 8:30 a.m., USDA Whitten Patio, Washington, D.C. For more information, visit agday.org
March 18 Celebration of National Ag Day, 5:30-8 p.m., Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. For more information, visit agday.org
March 19 University of Wyoming Extension Private Pesticide Applicator Program, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Dubois Town Hall, Dubois. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Lander Extension Office at 307-3322363 or rfisk@uwyo.edu.
March 19 University of Wyoming Extension Private Pesticide Applicator Program, 1-5 p.m., Park County Fairgrounds, Powell. For more information or to RSVP, contact Makayla Getz at mgetz@uwyo.edu or 307-754-8837.
March 19 Beef Cattle Research Council Parasite Management Webinar, 7 p.m., online. For more information or to register, visit beefresearch.ca
March 21 Third Annual High Altitude Bull Sale and Field Day, Laramie Research and Extension Center, Laramie. For more information, visit uwyo.edu/anisci/outreach or contact Shelby Rosasco at srosasco@uwyo.edu or 307-766-2329.
March 24 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
March 27 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
March 10 Pine Coulee Bull Sale, Wagon Box Ranch, Hardin, Mont., 406-855-2832, 406-780-1230, pinecoulee.com
March 10
March 10
Veseth Cattle Company 19th Annual Sale, Glasgow Stockyards, Glasgow, Mont., 406-658-2504, vesethcattleco.com
Spring Cove Ranch Bull Sale, at the ranch, Bliss, Idaho, 208-320-8803, springcoveranch.com
March 10 P\T Livestock Annual High-Country Genetics Performance Bull Sale, P\T Livestock Feedlot, Riverton, 307-709-8351, ptlivestock.com
March 11
March 11
March 12
March 12
March 14-20
March 14
March 15
March 15
March 15
March 20
March 21
Loosli Red Angus 51st Bull Sale, at the ranch, Ashton, Idaho, 208-652-3303, 208-227-3779, 208-351-3333, loosliredangus.com
Diamond Peak Cattle Company Diamonds in the Rough Bull Sale, Riverton Livestock Auction, Riverton, 970-326-8620, diamondpeakcattle.com
Sitz Angus 23rd Annual Spring Bull and Female Sale, at the ranch, Dillon, Mont., 406-683-5277, 406-581-9153, 208-670-2364, sitzangus.com
Heart River Ranch Annual Production Sale, the feedlot, Belfield, N.D., 701290-9745, 701-260-4630, heartrivergenetics.com
Big Mountain Auctions Farm and Construction Online Auction, 208-4319300, bigmountainauctions.com
Green Mountain Angus Ranch Annual Spring Bull Sale, PAYS, Billings, Mont., 406-220-1975, greenmountainangus.com
Triangle J Ranch and Altenburg Super Baldy Ranch LLC Colorado Select Bull Sale, Centennial Livestock Auction, Fort Collins, Colo., 970-481-2570, 308-627-5085, altenburgsuperbaldy.com, trianglejranch.com
Gnerer Angus Annual Bull Sale, at the ranch, Olive, Mont., 406-498-6113, 406-935-3183, gnererangus.com
Hancock Livestock Ninth Annual Angus Bull Sale, Buffalo Livestock Marketing, Buffalo, 307-250-6900, hancocklivestock.com
Carter Cattle Company 26th Annual Production Sale, at the ranch, Pingree, Idaho, 208-390-4811, 208-681-9711, 208-681-8859, cartercattleco.com
Black Summit Cattle Annual Bull Sale, Black Summit Cattle Sale Facility, Powell, 307-899-3553, 307-899-1764, blacksummitcattle.com
March 21 Montana Performance Bull Co-Op with Basin Angus Ranch Annual Bull Sale, Midland Bull Test Sale Facility, Columbus, Mont., 406-780-1219, 406321-2470, 406-350-0350, basinangus.com
March 21 University of Wyoming Third Annual All-Breed Performance High Altitude Bull Test and Sale, Cliff and Martha Hansen Teaching Arena, Laramie, 307766-2329, 209-753-8227, 307-460-8129, uwyo.edu/anisci/outreach/index.html DVAuction.com
March 22
T-Heart Ranch High Altitude Bull Sale, at the ranch, LaGarita, Colo., 719850-3082, 719-850-3083, t-heartranch.com
March 22 Sinclair Cattle Company 21st Annual Production Sale, Buffalo Livestock Marketing, Buffalo, 307-254-1477, sinclaircattle.com
March 22 Valley View Charolais 57th Annual Bull Sale, at the ranch, Polson, Mont., 406-270-0222, vvcrbulls.com
With good news of the lumber and timber industry in Wyoming making a comeback, I’d like to share a story from the April 19, 1956 issue of The Saratoga Sun.
It is likely few local people realize the magnitude of the timber operations being carried on in this valley – the Upper North Platte River Valley – by R.R. Crow and Company and the amount of money being placed in circulation locally by this firm. It is by far the most extensive industry in this region and means a great deal to every business house in the valley.
In a July 1934 issue of The Saratoga Sun, it is noted, Mr. Crow’s installation of a lumber mill in Saratoga, in preparation for establishing a lumbering operation here, “the plant, if working at full capacity, will be capable of producing 20,000 feet of timber products per day.”
The industry has grown considerably since this time, indicated by figures released by the firm for the year 1955. During last year, the firm shipped out 1,815 railroad carloads of timber products
– an average of seven carloads for every working day of the year.
The Cow Creek Mill is now producing about 200,000 feet per day. The finishing mill at Saratoga turns out about 90,000 feet per day, besides small operations at Hanna, Elk Mountain, Ryan Park, Encampment and, occasionally, other locations.
One saw mill operator had grown from about 25 men with a payroll of several thousand dollars in 1934 to “more than 400 men steadily employed by the firm, and the payroll for the year of about $2
million” in 1955. It has been the continued policy of the firm to “plow back” the bulk of its earnings into new and more modern equipment, and plans for the present year – 1956 – indicate the output of the mills and the accompanying payroll will total considerably above that of 1955.
It is not pleasant to contemplate what our economic situation would be in case anything should happen to put a stop to this industry which has distributed several millions of dollars to its small army of employees in this valley, most of which has found its way into local business channels. At the same time, it would be interesting to know how many of these employees have been able to buy or build permanent homes in the valley towns, drive the best cars and keep their families on a high plane of comfort and convenience.
US
Pinto
Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market
Torrington
Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News, Greeley, CO
National Sheep Summary
As of February 28, 2025
Compared to last week slaughter lambs 10.00-40.00 higher. Slaughter ewes steady to 20.00 higher. Feeder lambs not well tested. At San Angelo, TX 6,448 head sold. Equity Cooperative Auction sold 420 feeder lambs in North Dakota. Western Video sold 8520 feeder lambs in California and 520 slaughter lambs in Oregon. 2,749 lamb carcasses sold with no comparison due to confidentiality. All sheep sold per hundred weight (CWT) unless otherwise specified.
Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3
San Angelo: wooled and shorn 110-120 lbs 250.00-252.00; 120-130 lbs 200.00-244.00; 135-170 lbs 197.00-208.00. Ft. Collins: wooled and shorn 110-120 lbs 230.00-240.00; 120-150 lbs 187.50-222.50; 155-180 lbs 180.00-190.00. South Dakota: wooled and shorn 110-140 lbs 177.00-235.00; 140-165 lbs 165.00-192.50.
Billings: wooled and shorn 110-145 lbs no test. Equity Coop: no sales.
Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 1-2
San Angelo: hair 40-60 lbs 335.00-368.00, few 370.00-371.00; 60-70 lbs 340.00-367.00, few 368.00-373.00; 70-80 lbs 310.00348.00, few 351.00-368.00; 80-90 lbs 300.00-344.00, few 348.00; 90-110 lbs 278.00-326.00, few 340.00. wooled and shorn 62 lbs 356.00; 77 lbs 304.00; 90-110 lbs 270.00-280.00. Ft. Collins: wooled and shorn 63 lbs 270.00; 70-80 lbs 280.00295.00; 80-90 lbs 262.50-275.00; 90-100 lbs 250.00-265.00; 100-110 lbs 260.00-265.00. hair 48 lbs 345.00; 50-60 lbs 310.00-340.00; 60-70 lbs 297.50-327.50; 76 lbs 317.50; 80-90 lbs 295.00-310.00; 91 lbs 260.00. South Dakota: wooled and shorn 50-60 lbs 400.00-410.00; 60-70 lbs 330.00-350.00, few 405.00; 70-80 lbs 290.00-325.00; 80- 90 lbs 260.00-325.00; 90-100 lbs 285.00-315.00; 100-110 lbs 250.00-290.00. hair 53 lbs 325.00; 60-70 lbs 315.00340.00; 70-80 lbs 305.00-325.00; 109 lbs 220.00. Billings: no test.
Slaughter Ewes
San Angelo: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) 119.00; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 138.00, hair 120.00-161.00; Utility and Good 1-3 (medium flesh) 138.00-160.00, hair 146.00-176.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 90.00-132.00, hair 122.00-150.00; Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) hair 128.00; Cull 1 no test.
Ft. Collins: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) 100.00-120.00; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 85.00-117.50.
South Dakota: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) 80.00-125.00, hair 120.00; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 90.00-135.00, hair 120.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 90.00-115.00; Cull 1 45.00-83.00.
Billings: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) no test; Good 2-3 (fleshy) no test: Utility 1-2 (thin) no test; Cull 1 no test.
Feeder Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2
San Angelo: hair 35 lbs 340.00; 40-50 lbs 338.00-352.00. Ft. Collins: no test.
South Dakota: 25 lbs 390.00; 30-40 lbs 405.00-415.00; 40-50 lbs 395.00-400.00; 50-60 lbs 302.00-350.00; 60-70 lbs 263.00269.00; 70-80 lbs 231.00-250.00; 80-90 lbs 220.00-242.50; 98 lbs 203.00; 100-110 lbs 187.00- 208.00; 120-125 lbs 174.00180.00; 157 lbs 150.00. Billings: no test.
Replacement Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2
San Angelo: young hair 100-125 lbs 190.00-200.00/cwt; hair ewes and lambs 125.00-134.00/head.
Ft. Collins: no test.
South Dakota: bred young 190.00-240.00/head; bred middle age 185.00-240.00/head; bred aged 165.00-190.00/head; bred young hair 220.00/head.
Billings: no test. Sheep and lamb slaughter under federal inspection for the week to date totaled 39,000 compared to 34,000 last week and 40,000 last year.
Source: USDA AMS LPG Market News, San Angelo, Texas
National Wool Review
As of February 28, 2025
Domestic wool trading had no confirmed trades reported this week. Prices reflect trades FOB warehouse in original bag or square pack, bellies out, some graded, and 76 mm or longer. No allowance made for coring, freight, or handling fees at the warehouse level to reflect net grower prices. Wools shorter than 75 mm typically discounted .10-.20 clean. Classed and skirted wools usually trade at a .10-.20 premium to original bag prices.
As of March 6, 2025
Movement has increased since the last report, producers are saying demand has been slow all over Wyoming but are seeing it pick up a little this past week. Producers are hoping with this snow storm moving in this week hay will start to move a little more with people needing to feed more. Most hay that is moving is moving in small loads at a time. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor Website most of Eastern Wyoming is under severe to extreme dry soil moisture. Western Wyoming is moderately dry to severe dry soil moisture with a small patch of extreme drought, Southwestern Wyoming is under abnormally dry soil moisture. According to the National Weather Service Website, precipitation was far below average for this time of year all over the state. Temperatures have been normal for this time of year. According to the University of Wyoming and NRCS Weekly Snow Report, the states SNOTEL’s are reading 98% of median with a high of 106% and a low of 46%, this time last year the state was 95%, and was at 117% in 2023. Western Wyoming is 91%-106% of median and northeast Wyoming is 72%-80% of median, southeast Wyoming mountain range is 93%-98% of median, around Cheyenne is 46% of median. According to the Wyoming Crop Progress Report, as of February 2025, hay and roughage supplies were rated at 73% adequate in the state. Pasture and range is 29% good condition and 41% fair condition, winter wheat is 10% good condition and 49%
is 73% good condition.
Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry &
The U.S. is importing more food than ever, while exports of traditional crops such as soybeans and wheat are losing ground to global competitors, contributing to a negative trade deficit.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), between Fiscal Years (FY) 2013-23, U.S. agricultural exports expanded at a compound annual growth rate of 2.1 percent.
During the same period, U.S. agricultural imports experienced a notable increase
of 5.8 percent.
This growth in demand for imports can largely be attributed to the strong U.S. dollar and consumers’ preferences for a variety of produce available year-round. Consequently, the agricultural trade balance has reflected some challenges, as it has been negative three out of the last 10 fiscal years.
Deficit may continue
Most recently, USDA released its trade outlook report, noting inbound shipments of everything from avocados to coffee are
expected to drive the country’s agriculture trade deficit to a record $49 billion in 2025, and at the same time, U.S. staple crops have been trailing overseas markets over the past decades.
On Feb. 27, Northwest Horticultural Council President Mark Powers voiced concern at the 2025 USDA Outlook Forum, stating, “What we’re seeing is not reassuring when it comes to increasing our reliance on a small number of markets.”
During his presentation, he adds, “We’re in a non-
growth mode because our growers are under such duress and financial constraints.”
In response, the USDA’s February 2025 U.S. Agricultural Trade Outlook reports U.S. agricultural exports in FY25 are projected at $170.5 billion, up $500 million from the November 2024 forecast, as higher grain and feed exports offset reductions to the oilseed outlook.
“U.S. agricultural imports in FY25 are forecast at $219.5 billion, an increase of $4 billion from the November 2024 projection which is largely driven by higher import values of horticultural products, as well as sugar and tropical products,” the report reads.
Explanation
The USDA report notes grain and feed exports are projected at $37.7 billion, up $1.2 billion from November 2024, influenced by higher corn exports which increased $1.4 billion on higher volumes and unit values.
“Along with higher feed and fodder exports, these increases more than offset moderately lower wheat, sorghum and rice exports,” the USDA states. “Oilseed and product exports are forecast at $32.4 billion, a $1.1 billion reduction from the previous quarter, primarily due to lower soybean unit values resulting from strong South Ameri-
can competition.”
It’s been reported cotton exports are forecast down $200 million to $4.1 billion on lower volumes, as exports of livestock, poultry and dairy are forecast up $400 million to $39.7 billion on increases to beef and dairy products.
Horticultural product exports remain steady at $41.7 billion, as ethanol exports are projected to be $4.2 billion, unchanged from the November 2024 forecast, as increased volumes compensate for lower export unit values.
Mexico is anticipated to maintain its status as the leading market for U.S. agricultural exports, with a remarkable forecast of $30.2 billion.
This marks an increase of $300 million from earlier projections, attributed to robust sales in dairy, wheat and various other products during the first quarter.
USDA adds, “Exports to Canada are forecast down $800 million to $28.4 billion due to weaker-thanexpected shipments to date, while exports to China are cut by $1.3 billion to $22 billion, largely due to reduced prospects for U.S. soybeans, grains and cotton.”
Export details
The USDA further reports corn exports are projected to reach $13.8 billion, fueled by robust sales and shipments so far this year.
However, an anticipated downward revision in U.S. corn production for January 2025, combined with strong domestic demand, has significantly boosted corn prices.
“Sorghum exports are forecast at $1 billion, down $200 million from November 2024 on lower volumes and unit values as demand from China has been weak, while wheat exports are forecast at $5.8 billion, down $100 million from the previous forecast,” reads the report. “Rice exports are forecast down $200 million to $2.1 billion on weaker sales to markets in Latin America.”
Soybean meal and cotton exports are both forecast down $100 million for FY25 from the November 2024 report.
On a positive note, beef exports are up $300 million to $9.1 billion on higher volumes and increased unit values, while dairy is forecast up $100 million to $8.5 billion on increased price competitiveness for U.S. exports of cheese and butter, with especially strong demand for those products in North America, South America, the Middle East and North Africa.
USDA announces, “Pork exports are raised $100 million to $7.6 billion as continued strong demand in Mexico and Central America supports U.S. exports, and poultry products are unchanged at $6.8 billion.”
Broiler meat exports are expected to rise by $100 million, as increased prices more than compensate for reduced volumes.
However, this increase is offset by declines in turkey meat, other poultry products and eggs and egg products.
The report notes beef and pork variety meats remain unchanged at $2.2 billion, as higher pork variety meat exports help offset lower beef variety meat exports. Additionally, hides and skins are forecasted to be virtually unchanged.
Import details
According to the latest USDA report, U.S. horticultural product imports are forecast $2 billion higher than the previous quarter at $107.6 billion, a six percent increase over FY24.
The largest component of the horticultural imports category – fresh fruits – are up by $800 million.
“For example, avocado imports from Mexico, the largest commodity in terms of import volume, are expected to increase on strong demand and improved growing conditions,” states USDA.
The FY25 forecast for processed fruits has been revised upward by $600 million, bringing the total estimate to $9.7 billion.
Within this category, fruit juices, which are the largest segment, have been adjusted upward by $400 million, reaching a total forecast of $4.2 billion. This 16 percent increase over FY24 is mostly associated with continued high prices, especially for orange juice.
The report continues, “FY25 livestock, poultry and dairy imports are forecast $200 million higher to $30.5 billion amid higher imports of beef, poultry and dairy products.”
Beef imports are projected to increase by $700 million, reaching a total of $12 billion, primarily due to tight domestic supplies.
In contrast, live cattle imports are expected to decrease by $700 million, bringing the total down to $2.3 billion, which is attributed to lower volumes resulting from the protocols imposed on cattle imported from Mexico.
In the pork market, pork imports are projected to decrease by $100 million, as lower volumes are expected to outweigh marginally higher unit values, and live swine imports remain unchanged due to continued strong U.S. demand for live hogs.
Sugar and tropical products import values are projected at $32.7 billion for FY25, up $1.7 billion from the previous quarter and 12 percent higher than FY24.
The FY25 grains and feed import value is adjusted upward from the previous report by $300 million to $24.2 billion, and the oilseeds and products import forecast is adjusted down by $100 million, three percent above the FY24 value. Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on
USDA agencies, the forum’s goal was to provide farmers with information developed through economic forecasting so they had the tools they need to read market signals and avoid producing beyond demand.
Since then, the annual event has developed into a unique platform where key stakeholders from the U.S. and the worldwide agricultural industry come together every year to discuss current and emerging topics and trends.
The forum offers opportunities to exchange ideas and share best practices among producers, processors, policymakers, government officials and non-governmental organizations – both domestic and international – and to hear from USDA’s chief economist about the future of agriculture and trade for the coming year.
USDA annual forum kicks off
Gregg Doud, National Milk Producers Federation president and former U.S. chief agricultural trade negotiator, kicked off the annual event by elaborating on his testimony at a recent Congressional hearing, where he told members of the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade the U.S. government needs to ensure trade agreements are enforced, benefiting producers, workers and shippers who rely on them.
He also provided an overview of U.S. trade relationships around the world and later in the day, went on to discuss how Congress
and the Trump administration can promote trade policies and support the agricultural industry.
Following Doud’s presentation, Meyer shared insights on the 2025 projections for beef, swine, eggs and dairy industries.
Meyer’s outlook presents a complex picture for the industry. While certain sectors such as the swine industry indicate signs of recovery, others like the cattle, layer and egg markets continue to face supply constraints and price pressures.
To conclude the morning session on opening day, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Chief Executive Officer and President Jeff Schmid sounded a warning about rising inflation expectations and concerns over economic growth, noting the U.S. central bank may soon confront both.
Keynote speaker U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was originally scheduled to address the audience in person at the USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum, but unfortunately, due to a lastminute flight cancellation, she had to present virtually.
Despite this unforeseen circumstance, Rollins delivered an insightful speech highlighting the economic challenges currently facing American farmers and provided an overview of the administration’s policy priorities.
“We’re committed to getting a fair deal for American agriculture and trade. As you know, this is a top priority for
University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension will host another Calculating Annual Cow Costs webinar course on March 24, 27 and 31.
Input costs can challenge producers to examine the cost of production and identify opportunities to adjust the production system. Calculating costs and breaking them into categories can help producers understand where changes may be possible.
The webinar course will cover the fundamentals of knowing and calculating annual cow costs and will include understanding the economic unit cost of production for the cow/calf enterprise, recognizing the value and cost of both grazed and harvested feed, calculating cow depreciation and replacement development costs, figuring the cost of equipment and labor utilized in the cow/calf enterprise, examining breeding expenses and evaluating the value and cost relationship and reviewing benchmark cost and production data to see how an operation compares.
The webinar series will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Registration is $70 per person and includes a resource workbook. The course is limited to 40 participants, and registration is requested by March 17.
For more information, contact UNL Extension Educator Aaron Berger at 308-235-3122 or aberger2@unl.edu. To register, visit go.unl.edu/cow_costs
this White House, and we’re going to get it done. I know many in our industry are concerned – and rightly so – about the effect of tariffs on farmers, but I want you to know your concerns are heard. I will always be your greatest champion,” she stated.
Rollins also provided updates on disaster relief, stating the administration is going to deliver $40 billion in emergency aid and the effort is moving quickly, with plans to meet the March 21 deadline set by Congress.
Concluding her speech, Rollins promised the administration would reach “new levels of prosperity” for farmers within four years, following a path similar to
former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. USDA sessions
Over the two-day event, the forum hosted various open sessions for attendees, including a presentation on the U.S. farm income outlook, in which a panel of financial experts discussed the latest USDA farm sector income and wealth forecasts through 2025.
Attendees also had the opportunity to discuss the challenges posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in agriculture with a panel of leading researchers from around the country.
The panel gave updates on the latest technology and procedures in research and devel-
opment aimed at finding a solution to the impact of existing PFAS, as well as strategies for tackling their effects.
During the diversifying agriculture trade session, a panel of agriculture leaders discussed rationale and tools for accomplishing more diversified export markets while acknowledging the benefits of working closely with major trading partners.
They mentioned diversification can be explored, both in terms of trading partners and in terms of finding new markets for new ag products.
This year’s forum also provided individual sessions on the 2025 outlook on the grains and seeds, livestock and poultry, cotton, sugar
and dairy industries.
Another session focused on farm and rural workforce housing needs, with a panel discussion on solutions for housing in rural America.
The panelists addressed ways in which USDA and other organizations may support agricultural producers and rural citizens in housing development by creating more affordable housing, which is essential for the development of rural areas and also supports job creation and retention of existing employees in the agriculture sector.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Your source for maternally oriented, balanced trait cattle proven to work in any environment. For 61 years our path has not wavered, but our desire to continually make them better is at the forefront of our decision making. Our focus has and will continue to be to produce profitable, problem-free cattle for the commercial cow/calf producer. We believe an efficient, highly maternal, low-maintenance cow herd is key to a profitable operation.
MC CUMBER ROAD TO GLORY 463 Reg # 21156680
Sire: OCC Edge of Glory 841E MGS: Mc Cumber Armour 7148 BW: 84, WW: 895, 205 Wt: 792/111, YW: 1465, 365Wt: 1515/117
A standout in a competive pen. Road to Glory has all the tools to advance any program. The top performer with stats to rival any bull to sell. More than just a performance bull with the maternal qualities from his outstanding dam that have been bred in for 61 years.
MC CUMBER PURSUIT 499 Reg # 21156696
Sire: Duff Red Meat 20114 MGS: Mc Cumber Tribute 702
BW: 92, WW: 885, 205WT: 828/116, YW: 1350, 365 WT: 1418/109
Pure power and it comes in an impressive package with a look and design all his own. 499 is loaded with muscle and carries it well displaying extra shape and expression to his top and rear quarter, with the extension, masculinity and breed character to his head and neck that catches your eye.
MC CUMBER INTENSE 454 Reg# 21156678
Sire: Mc Cumber Cow Power 118 MGS: Mc Cumber La Joya 098
BW: 66, WW: 735, 205 WT: 715/100, YW: 1250, 365 WT: 1369/104
Calving ease herd bull prospect produced by a top La Joya daughter as her first calf. Intense has the style, balance and look to get your attention. Sired by the popular Mc Cumber Cow Power 118 whose first sons have been well received. A linebred pedigree to ensure consistency.
herd bull prospect produced by the dam of Mc Cumber Cow Power 118. A big-bodied, thick-made wide tracking beef bull with extra mass and dimension. A complete bull with the maternal strength of the Miss Wix cow family at the forefront.
Selling 130 Yearling Angus Bulls, 30 Elite Registered Yearling Heifers and 30 Mc Cumber Yearling Commercial Heifers.
3
1
1
4
4 Cow, 1426#
5 Cow, 1422# $134.50
5 Cow, 1464# $134.00 RIVERTON
1 Cow, 1370# $134.00
1 Cow, 1325# $130.50 BULLS FARSON 1 Bull, 2035# $171.00 RIVERTON 1 Bull,
2 Bull,
2 Heiferette, 832# $211.00
1 Heiferette, 855# $203.00
1 Heiferette, 1050#
1 Steer, 395#
7 Steer, 425# $408.00
RIVERTON 19 Heifer, 533# $326.00
MOUNTAIN VIEW 3 Heifer, 558# $326.00 MORGAN, UT 3 Heifer, 540# $322.00
PINEY 7 Heifer, 569# $321.00
SHOSHONI
9 Heifer, 551# $320.50
PAVILLION
10 Heifer, 558# $319.00
BOULDER 10 Heifer, 591# $317.00
LANDER 33 Heifer, 619# $310.00
BLACKFOOT, ID
10 Heifer, 590# $302.00
RIVERTON 5 Heifer, 594# $302.00
THERMOPOLIS 4 Heifer, 630#
21 Heifer, 635# $300.00
BLACKFOOT, ID 16 Heifer, 663# $285.00
TUESDAY, MARCH 11
BULLS
Diamond Peak Cattle- 70 Blk Ang & Sim/Angus Virgin
2 Yr old Bulls
NURSE COW
Vern Black- Holstein 4 yr old Nurse/Milk cow. Broke to lead & milk. Gentle & will calve any day!
BRED COWS
Will & Kelsey Berg- 235 Bred Cows (70% Blk & BWF/30% Red & RWF) 3yr-ST. Bred to Blk Ang Bulls (Pred. Ingalls Angus & Abernathy Ranch) to start calving 4/1. Cows run in big country, not pampered, very little hay, High Desert cows! Complete Dispersion!
Berg Cattle- 44 Blk & Red ST Bred Cows. Bred to Blk Ang Bulls to calve April/May. Big stout ST Bred Cows! Ready to calve.
X Bar T Ranch- 40 Red Ang & Red AngX Bred Running Age Cows. Bred to calve in June. High elevation.
Dixon Ranch- 25 Blk Ang Running Age Bred Cows. Bred to Blk Ang bulls. Calving now!
Spear J Ranch- 20 Corriente Running Age Cows. Bred to Blk Ang bulls to calve April/May. PAIRS
Dixon Ranch- 10 Blk Ang Running Age Pairs. Nice calves @ side! WEIGHS
Boxelder Ranch- 1 load
