Roundup for 4.3.2021 by Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Volume 32 Number 49 • April 3, 2021

The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net

A Look Inside Cover crops can diversify feedlot production systems....... ...................................... Page 7 Pasture seeding tips and tricks provided by range specialist..... ...................................... Page 8 Ogallala Aquifer remains a situation to be managed............... .................................... Page 13 Dick Perue shares an Easter poem from 1920.......... Page 14

Quick Bits Acres Planted According to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Wyoming growers intend to plant 79,000 acres of barley in 2021, up 5,000 acres, and 90,000 acres of corn, down 5,000 acres. Winter wheat seeded for harvest in 2021 is estimated at 120,000 acres, unchanged from 2020. Hay producers intend to harvest 1.20 million acres, up 120,000 acres from 2020. The area planted to sugarbeets is expected to be down 3,000 acres to 28,000 acres. Dry edible bean acreage is expected to total 23,000 acres, down 21% from 2020.

Producers encouraged to make crop insurance decision “This year is a particularly interesting year, as producers are starting the year off with higher than usual crop prices,” shares University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Grain Marketing Extension Specialist Cory Walter during

a Making Farm Program and Crop Insurance Decisions for 2021 webinar held March 1. UNL Extension Policy Specialist Brad Lubben joined Walter during the webinar, adding the year-long crop insurance decision to be made

is deciding which insurance policy best fits an operation. Looking at crop prices Crop prices are important for producers to acknowledge and understand because farm profit is largely dependent on crop prices, according

to Walter and Lubben. “As producers start the new year, it is unknown how crop prices will evolve throughout the growing season,” shares Walter. “It is important to note as producers Please see CROPS on page 5

2021 SPRING PLANTING EDITION

Sunn hemp Researchers at the University of Wyoming (UW) are studying sunn hemp as a potential forage crop for producers in the state. This tropical legume, unrelated to industrial hemp and cannabis, is known to perform well under hot growing conditions and add nitrogen into the system.

Tropical legume holds potential for Wyoming producers in rotations and as supplemental feed UW Assistant Professor of Agronomy and Cropping Systems Carrie Eberle, based at the James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Lingle, is spearheading research to understand the best way for Wyoming producers Please see FORAGE on page 5

Grain Market Corn and soybean futures were locked limit up March 31 and traded higher later in the week. Given current trend yield assumptions, at 179.5 bushels per acre, the planting survey suggests analysts were 200 million bushels too high in their estimates prior to the U.S. Department of Agriculture planting report. As a result, the corn balance sheet for 2021-22 becomes tighter than previously expected.

Barley Stocks Off-farm barley stocks in Wyoming on March 1 totaled 2.77 million bushels, according to the Agricultural Survey and March Grain Stocks Report conducted by the Mountain Regional Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Across the U.S., barley stocks in all positions on March 1 totaled 120 million bushels, up 4% from March 1, 2020.

SWE Update Statewide snowpack, or snow water equivalent (SWE), is 98% of median as of March 29. Several basins east of the Continental Divide continue to see increases in snowpack. The Powder and Lower North Platte Watersheds have the highest SWE in the state with 120-121% of median, respectively. The Belle Fourche and Cheyenne Basins are tied for the state low at 74% of median.

Emergency Forage – With the ability to grow four feet within 60 days of planting, sunn hemp can serve as an emergency forage during dry years. Carrie Eberle photo

Climate tools Sustainability remains likely focus of agricultural industries “Sustainability means something different to whomever we talk to – a producer, a consumer, a legislator or a regulator,” says Public Lands Council Executive Director and National Beef Cattlemen’s Association (NCBA) Executive Director of Natural Resources Kaitlynn Glover during a March 26 NCBA Beltway Beef podcast. “But, because it is a buzz word, it is all-encompassing and it is a great way to be able to talk about ecology, climate and the environment.” She adds, “On the grounds of realism, the word makes conversation relatable to not only environment and economics, but cultural and socioeconomic sustainability as well. Additionally, many conversations of the current administration and legislation will be viewed through the lens of climate.” “For some producers, this might be scary to hear,” Glover notes. “Historically, the cattle industry has gotten a bad rap when it comes to this word. Agricultural industries aren’t necessarily a problem, but a solution to Please see CLIMATE on page 5

Rammell raises argument Sublette County – Although scheduling slowdowns are keeping Rex F. Rammell’s civil suit for a declaratory judgment against Wyoming’s brand inspection law at a standstill, he filed a new argument to support his claim on March 29. Rammell is currently scheduled for a one-day jury trial on April 28 in Sublette County Circuit Court after being cited for five misdemeanor violations of Wyoming Statute 11-21-103(a) on June 27, 2019. Sublette County Deputy Attorney Stan Cannon asked the fifth count, for a nursing foal, be dismissed. Presiding Judge Gregory Corpening approved the change, but denied Rammell’s motion to continue the trial to await the outcome of Rammell’s civil suit, filed in Ninth District Court on Feb. 26. Rammell’s declaratory judgment asks, “Is Wyoming Statute 11-21-103(a) unconstitutional?” It is assigned to District Judge Marv Tyler, who has not yet acted on it. In a previous civil appeal, the judge had transferred the higher-court constitutional issue to Fourth District Judge John Fenn, who overturned a Circuit Court ruling and remanded the case back for more legal analysis. In this two-year process, the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, as well as Cannon, continue to argue the state’s brand-inspection law is constitutional and necessary for livestock regulation and management, and the law is sufficient notice for livestock checks. One California court ruling approves warrantless Please see BRAND on page 10

Ag workforce bill reintroduced U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, House Resolution (HR) 1537, March 3. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act creates a solution to one of America’s agriculture industry’s biggest problems – workforce stability. The bill will provide stability, predictability and fairness to the most important sector of the U.S.’s economy, according to Lofgren and Newhouse. Legislation goals HR 1537 passed the House with strong bipartisan support in the 117th Congress. The bill’s goal is to provide a compromise solution making a meaningful reform to the H-2A

agricultural guestworker program, while also creating a merit-based visa program specifically designed for the agriculture sector. “The men and women working on America’s farms feed the nation,” said Lofgren during a press release. “However, many of them do so while living and working in a state of uncertainty and fear, which has only been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stabilizing the workforce will protect the future of our farms and our food supply.” She continued, “The Farm Workforce Modernization Act accomplishes this by providing a path to legal status for farm workers. It will update and streamline the

periodical

Please see BILL on page 9

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

A Service Needed Living in a life of agriculture or in a rural setting has aspects many cherish. The isolation or small-town atmosphere is just what some people want. We know this by the number of people moving into the region and From the the number of families moving back Publisher to the region, as well as the money Dennis Sun they spend to do so. While one might enjoy the opportunities small towns or rural settings provide, they also recognize the challenges that go with it. It is easier to accept these challenges by growing up with them, rather than facing them when moving into a new setting. One of the challenges recognized in rural settings is medical care, or more importantly, ambulance or medical transportation services. In past years, a person could pay for a membership to one of the Life Flight services of large hospitals in the region. The cost was affordable and provided great peace of mind. I thought it was great. We signed up as a ranch and gave the service the coordinates for all the ranches. We did need to use it a couple of times, which made us appreciate the service all the more. If one had to use the Life Flight service, but wasn’t a member, the cost of the service could reach $50,000 or more. In 2019, the Wyoming Legislature passed a bill which included language seeking to allow Medicaid to cover the Life Flight services, but was later rejected by Medicaid. There was another bill this session, which is at this time still alive, but is being amended to work. As I understand it, the issue is determining if it is a membership or a medical transportation insurance. The Senate is trying to make the bill work, but there are some legalities to deal with, and the state of Wyoming has limitations on their ability to regulate air ambulance services, as they are federally licensed air carriers under the federal Airline Deregulation Act. The legislature is in a hard spot to find a way to make this work for the people without being taken to court. Currently, some insurance companies do include Life Flight insurance. But, in some instances, after someone has used the service and if the insurance company deems the medical condition to not require air transportation, insurance may not pay some, or all, of the bill. One could be stuck with a $50,000 bill. There is private ambulatory insurance available, providing complete coverage worldwide for either fixed wing, helicopter and ground ambulance transportation for both family and single coverage. On top of complete coverage, it provides vehicle return or return transportation and escort transportation. At some point, this issue is going to get worked out for the betterment of rural residents. We need to stay in touch with state legislatures, thank them for their past work and hopefully, for their work towards a solution in the future. In past years, those who worked or lived in rural areas have been taken advantage of by some services. It is time to get it worked out – lives depend on it.

GUEST OPINIONS Cowboy Up Wyoming By F.E. “Wally” Wolski A couple of years ago, I served as a member of the Economically Needed Diversity Options for Wyoming (ENDOW) Executive Council tasked with developing a 20-year economic development strategy. I still recall our in-depth discussions on how Wyoming must be prepared to take action when economic opportunities come knocking at the door. Well my friends, the future is upon us and we are experiencing a major problem. Wyoming is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. Even after cutting over 20 percent from the state budget, Wyoming is still confronted with a $250 million deficient. The ability to rely on royalties from the production of energy and minerals is in serious jeopardy. Wyoming citizens have benefited from residing in a mineralrich state. We have become accustomed to receiving essential services costing approximately 10 times the annual amount collected in personal taxes – this advantage is almost exclusively from living in a mineral-rich state. Those glorious ol’ days seem to be rapidly fading away. Federal regulators have declared war on the coal industry, while advocacy groups portray fossil fuels as the root of everything negatively associated with our environment. Cost prohibitive cleanair mandates have dramatically reduced the demand for

Powder River coal. Even the California wildfires last summer were blamed on Wyoming because of our mining of coal. Wyoming is faced with two choices. Either concede to the demise of using Powder River coal as the fuel source to generate reliable, affordable electricity or respond the way Wyoming folks usually react – finding a commonsense solution by coming together and working for the better good. To worsen the current situation, out-of-state investor-owned utilities have chosen to abandon traditional coal-fired generation. The recent lesson learned in Texas – a catastrophe caused in part due to the decline of dependable 24/7/365 baseload generation is being discounted by detractors of sustainable power. While wind power must remain part of the energy mix, baseload generation needs to remain more than a backup convenience benefiting renewable energy producers. Publicly elected legislators working on behalf of stakeholders and constituents must be willing to address the future sustainability of coal-fired generating facilities within our state boundaries. Wyoming can become a national leader in retrofitting existing coal-fired power plants with proven carboncapture technologies by converting electrons produced by using coal as a fuel into environmentally friendly green electrons. For the past several

Reporting the News by the Code of the West

Phone: 307-234-2700 800-967-1647 • www.wylr.net

DENNIS SUN, Publisher • Cell: 307-262-6132 e-mail: dennis@wylr.net AVERI HALES, Editor • averi@wylr.net MADI SLAYMAKER, Editor • madi@wylr.net BEAU PITT, Production Coordinator • beau@wylr.net JODY MICHELENA, Advertising Director • jodym@wylr.net DENISE OLSON, Classified Sales Manager • 307-685-8213 • denise@wylr.net ANDREA ZINK, Circulation/Accounting Manager • andrea@wylr.net CURT COX, Director of Livestock Field Services • 307-630-4604 • curt@wylr.net CALLI WILLIAMS, Livestock Field Services Rep. • 605-695-1990 • calli@wylr.net

coal-fired power plant owners may be eligible recipients for an unprecedented economic incentive, but only if carbon-capture legislation is successfully passed into law. Wyoming has a unique chance to be viewed by groups who are in similar situations, as the solution-provider rather than part of the problem to further negatively impact coal-fueled power generation in the United States. Wyoming is a global leader for carbon-sequestration with its Department of Energy grant for CarbonSafe Phase III and the Integrated Test Center near Gillette. Let’s become a national leader in carbon-capture implementation as well and the new Silicon Valley of the West for the energy sector by converting coal into green energy. The long-term benefits far outweigh the nearterm opposition. Now is a perfect time for Wyoming leaders to cowboy up and embrace carbon capture as the logical course of action for establishing a solid foundation for an economic and practical Wyoming future. The ball is in the legislature’s court and the public is watching from the sideline awaiting the final outcome. F. E. “Wally” Wolski has served as the Wyoming state director of U.S. Departmet of Agriculture Rural Development, is a past president of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and former chairman of Goshen County Commissioners. He farms near Yoder.

SPRING ANGUS BULL SALE

Wyoming Livestock Roundup Wyoming Livestock Roundup (USPS # 005-774) is published weekly by Maverick Press, Inc. P.O. Box 850 • Casper, WY 82602 Periodicals postage paid in Casper, WY Fax: 307-472-1781 • E-mail: roundup@wylr.net

years, the legislature has urged research and made investments in carbon technologies. How can Wyoming remain an advocate for promoting the export of Powder River coal if it is not willing to take a proactive stance of preserving our own existing coal-fired power plants? Wyoming has a golden opportunity for demonstrating to the rest of the states the practicality of sustainable 24/7/365 coal-fired generation, thus creating increased demand for Wyoming’s greatest natural resource Power River coal. Carbon-capture legislation helps protect the reliability of our energy portfolio while safeguarding against what happened in Texas. The proposed legislation directs utilities to continue operating baseload 24/7/365 coalfired generation by retrofitting their power plants with carbon-capture technologies. If any utility is unwilling to comply with these requirements, provisions already exist to facilitate the sale of the baseload power generation to qualified buyers as an alternative option. The Department of Energy just announced up to $40 billion dollars in loan guarantees for clean air ventures including projects to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions in deep rock formations. The announcement said 40 percent of the funds are going to be targeted to disadvantaged states affected by lay-offs in the energy sector. Wyoming and instate

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

NEWS BRIEFS Vaccine becomes available

TB resurfaces in S.D.

Gov. Mark Gordon has announced beginning March 31 all Wyoming residents ages 16 and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. All 23 counties have now entered Phase Two of the vaccine distribution plan and are scheduling appointments for the general population. “We have done well and can now offer COVID-19 vaccines to every Wyoming resident over the age of 16,” Gordon said. “I want to express my appreciation for the efforts of public health workers, health care providers and pharmacies throughout the state. I would encourage every resident to take advantage of the vaccines, as Jennie and I have, and help Wyoming move closer to ending this pandemic.” Residents aged 16 and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, while adults 18 and older are eligible for the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccines. The vaccines are free and insurance is not required to receive a vaccine. Information on how to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in Wyoming can be found at health.wyo. gov/publichealth/immunization/wyoming-covid-19-vaccine-information/. In addition to county public health offices and local health care providers, many pharmacies are now offering vaccination appointments through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, including pharmacies at Walmart, Albertsons, Safeway, Walgreens and King Soopers stores.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) has been confirmed in a South Dakota beef herd for the first time since 2017. State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven says an infected cow was initially identified in January by meat inspectors during routine inspection at a Minnesota packing plant. Records linked the cow to a Corson County beef herd, which had additional animals confirmed as infected by recent laboratory testing. The state veterinarian’s office is working closely with the affected herd owner as well as other producers in the area, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials, Standing Rock Sioux Tribal officials, area veterinarians and wildlife officials to evaluate the extent of the disease and mitigate further spread. Necessary precautions are being taken to protect the health of South Dakota’s cattle industry. Oedekoven stated bovine TB is not currently a threat to food safety in the United States, thanks to milk pasteurization and comprehensive meat inspection programs. Bovine TB is a chronic, slowly progressive respiratory disease of cattle. Infected animals may transmit infection to other animals when in close proximity for prolonged periods. Cattle rarely exhibit visible signs of illness and testing of cattle herds is necessary to determine if animals are infected. The U.S. has nearly eliminated bovine TB due to a cooperative eradication campaign. South Dakota has officially been recognized as free of the disease since 1982.

Application monitors dams

CCC announces loan rates

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has entered into an interagency agreement with the Forest Service to add up to 600 of its dams to NRCS’s nationwide DamWatch system, including 14 dams in Wyoming. DamWatch is a web-based application developed to assist with monitoring and managing NRCS-assisted dams by providing real-time updates of rainfall, snowmelt, stream flow and seismic events which could affect dam safety. “Adding Forest Service dams to the DamWatch application will help maintain dam safety without the expense of developing their own application,” said Astrid Martinez, NRCS state conservationist in Wyoming. “The system is easy to scale to include the additional dams and will help keep the public safe and protect infrastructure.” NRCS has worked with U.S. Engineering, a private construction engineering company, since 2012 to customize its DamWatch web application to meet the needs of the approximately 12,000 NRCS project dam owners and sponsors. In addition to monitoring features, the Forest Service will have access to the structure management system that DamWatch provides for sharing essential dam safety documents such as emergency action plans, inspection reports and inundation maps. “We are excited to partner with NRCS to safeguard our critical infrastructure,” said Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen. “The DamWatch system will help secure clean drinking water, world-class water recreation opportunities and hydroelectric power for millions of rural and urban homes and businesses.” DamWatch alerts essential personnel via e-mail, fax or text message when dams experience one or more of the potentially hazardous monitored conditions. This allows for timely and coordinated personnel and resource deployment while permitting NRCS, Forest Service and watershed project sponsors to respond quickly. The application allows users to access important project dam information, including as-built plans, operation and maintenance agreements, emergency action plans, inundation maps, inspection reports, photos, videos and assessment reports in real-time emergency situations. Learn more at usengineeringsolutions.com/damwatch/.

Application opens Do you know a notable woman producer that is active both in agriculture and community activities? Why not nominate them to be recognized as a “Heart of Agriculture?” One women producer from each Wyoming County and the Wind River Indian Reservation will be recognized April 29 at a special event in Gillette. The “Heart of Agriculture” is part of the University of Wyoming (UW) Extension Ag/ Hort Team Excellence in Agriculture Symposium. Nominate a producer and return the entry by April 21. For more information, contact Scott Cotton at scotton1@ uwyo.edu or 307-235-9400.

Legislation session extended Wyoming’s 66th Legislature will convene longer than initially planned this year, through April 7, according to an updated session schedule. Originally, the general session was scheduled to end April 2, but the Legislature could not convene on March 15-16, due to a record-breaking snowstorm. The revised schedule, published by the Legislative Service Office, will give the two chambers a few extra days to come to agreement on several consequential bills, not to mention a budget. The deadline for a final vote in the second house on bills as well as concurrence on amendments will be April 6. The legislature will not meet on April 5 in observance of the Easter holiday, but will reconvene on April 6. For more information, visit wyoleg.org.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the 2021 Marketing Assistance Loan rates. Marketing Assistance Loans provide interim financing to producers so commodities can be stored after harvest when market prices are typically low and sold later when market conditions may be more favorable. The 2018 Farm Bill extended the Marketing Assistance Loan program, making production for the 2019 through 2023 crops eligible for loan benefits. The 2021 Marketing Assistance Loan rates, which are also available on the Farm Service Agency (FSA) website, are wheat at $3.38 per bushel (bu.), corn at $2.20 per bu., grain sorghum at $2.20 per bu., barley at $2.50 per bu., oats at $2 per bu., soybeans at $6.20 per bu. and other oilseeds at $10.09 per hundredweight each. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov/programsand-services/price-support/commodity-loan-rates/ index.

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

NEWS BRIEFS BLM seeks public comment To help healthy wild horse herds continue to thrive on healthy rangelands, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared an environmental assessment and opened a 30-day public comment period on a proposed wild horse gather on the Adobe Town, Salt Wells Creek, Great Divide Basin, White Mountain and Little Colorado Herd Management Areas. The environmental assessment proposes the removal of approximately 3,500 horses across the five Herd Management Areas (HMAs). Non-permanent fertility control treatments would also be implemented across the HMAs. The BLM also analyzed a no action alternative and three additional action alternatives that include a variety of other fertility control methods. The appropriate management level (AML), which is the point the wild horse population is consistent with the rangeland’s capacity to support the herds is between 1,550-2,165 horses. The BLM estimates there are approximately 5,105 wild horses within the five HMAs. Public input is valuable during any analysis and the public is invited to review the EA and provide public comments on the BLM’s ePlanning website at eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/1501993/510. All comments, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While one may ask identifying information be withheld from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee anonymity. For more information, contact Spencer Allred at 307-352-0367.

Gordon signs bills to law Gov. Mark Gordon took action on 11 bills on March 30. The governor signed the following bills into law: HB0004 – Mental health professions practice actamendments, HB0020 – Driver’s license requirements-visual acuity, HB0029 – Burials for indigent persons, HB0033 – Interference with public contracting, HB0046 – Crime of bestiality, HB0069 – Division of banking-fees, BH0086 – Off-road recreational vehicles registration authorized, HB0087 – Provider recruitment grant program, HB0111 – Access to anatomical gifts and organ transplants, HB0118 – Food freedom act amendments and HB0120 – Hathaway Scholarships-success curriculum in middle school. The full list of bills the governor has taken action on during the 2021 Legislative Session can be found at governor.wyo.gov/media/news-releases/2021news-releases/2021-bills-signed-into-law.

wyominglivestockroundup.qxp_Layout 1 3/15/21 8:45 AM Page 1

Nominations sought

ELD reform proposed U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) reintroduced the Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act, bipartisan legislation to reform the Hours of Service (HOS) and Electronic Logging Device (ELD) regulations at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Further, the bill would delay enforcement of the ELD rule until the required reforms are formally proposed by the Transportation Secretary. In addition to Hoeven and Bennet, the legislation is cosponsored by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), Sen. James Risch (R-ID), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS). “U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) appreciates the leadership of Senators John Hoeven and Michael Bennet in recognizing the unique challenges associated with getting livestock to their destination as safely and efficiently as possible,” said USCA Transportation Committee Chairman Steve Hilker. “As cattlemen and women, the welfare and comfort of these animals is our number one concern and their needs vary greatly from the needs of a commercial driver transporting steel or furniture.” He continued, “We look forward to utilizing this important bill to work alongside all stakeholders to identify workable solutions to the restrictive Hoursof-Service rules for livestock and insect haulers.”

Fires burn near Rapid City Just east of the Black Hills National Forest near Rapid City, S.D., the Schroeder Fire has burned 2,195 acres and is 47 percent contained as of April 1. The cause of the fire, which was reported around 9:30 a.m. March 29, remains unknown. Crews continue to focus on constructing and improving containment lines, patrolling and monitoring for increased fire activity and mopping up heat sources along the fire perimeter. Additionally, firefighters continue protecting structures throughout the area and work to construct and improve fire lines. Fuels are historically dry, which creates ideal conditions for rapid fire growth. Those wishing to support firefighters with donations of food, beverages or other comfors should consider donating to local fire departments. For more information on the incident, visit inciweb. nwcg.gov/incident/7356/ or facebook.com/SchroederFire2021.

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Acting Regional Forester Tammy Angel, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, is seeking nominations for Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee members. This new committee, to be comprised of 15 citizens with diverse interests, will function under a formal charter in accordance with the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Resource Advisory Committee members must reside within the state in which the committee has jurisdiction. Members serve four-year terms without pay but may be reimbursed for travel expenses. Resource Advisory Committee membership provides a great opportunity for citizens to have a voice in future management actions. Resource Advisory Committee members provide recommendations to the Forest Service on the development and implementation of special projects on federal lands as most recently reauthorized under the Secure Rural Schools Act and Community Self-Determination Act in Public Law 115-141. Each Resource Advisory Committee consists of 15 people representing varied interests and areas of expertise, who work collaboratively to improve working relationships among community members and national forest personnel. The projects must improve forest health, fish, wildlife, soils, watersheds or other resources; maintain, decommission or obliterate roads; improve trails and other infrastructure; or control noxious weeds. The projects must be located on National Forest lands or provide benefit to National Forest lands. The Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee will also monitor projects, advise on progress and results of monitoring efforts, and make recommendations for appropriate changes to the projects. The National Forests that are represented on the Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee and receive Secure Rural Schools funding include the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, Gunnison, Routt, Pike, Roosevelt, San Isabel and White River National Forests in Colorado and the Medicine-Bow, Bighorn and Shoshone National Forests in Wyoming. Previous projects in the region have included meadow restoration in wetland areas, wildlife habitat improvements, and installing Aquatic Organism Passages to replace undersized culverts. Written nominations must be received by April 30. Send nomination packages to: Sean Ferrell, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, 2250 South Main Street, Delta, CO, 81416. For additional information about the Resource Advisory Committee, or assistance with the application process, contact Sean Ferrell at sean.ferrell@usda.gov. For more information on the committee and member requirements visit fs.usda.gov/main/pts/specialprojects/racs.

WGFD hosts virtual expo Celebrate and learn about Wyoming’s outdoors and wildlife with the Wyoming Outdoor Expo, held May 6-8 online. This year, the expo features livestreamed presentations and tons of ideas on how to explore nature and recreate outside. The state’s largest outdoor education event, hosted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) and numerous partners, is the official kickoff to summer and gets kids, families and outdoorlovers ready for the warmer weather. While the event isn’t in-person due to COVID-19 precautions, the expo promises a healthy dose of fun. For more information, visit wgfd.wyo.gov/Education/expo-online.

River flush scheduled The Bureau of Reclamation, at the request of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and in coordination with Willwood Workgroup Two, has scheduled a flushing flow in the Shoshone River downstream of Buffalo Bill Dam. The flushing flow will begin with rapidly increasing flows on April 7 and conclude on April 10. Willwood Irrigation District, in coordination with Willwood Workgroup Two, is planning a controlled elevated release of sediment from Willwood Dam on April 7. The purpose of the increased flows from Buffalo Bill Dam is to help protect the fishery by following the sediment release and mobilizing the sediment downstream. The sediment release and increased flow are being coordinated to minimize impacts to irrigators, recreators and aquatic life in the Shoshone River. The Bureau of Reclamation is able to retime operations and provide the flushing flow due to anticipated inflows to Buffalo Bill Reservoir, and the expectation of needing to pass excess water this spring. The flush will be accomplished without adversely impacting overall power generation at Buffalo Bill Dam or the expected water supply for irrigation. Flows are expected to fluctuate in the Shoshone River near Cody between April 7-10.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

FORAGE continued from page 1 to utilize sunn hemp in their rotations or plant as an emergency forage crop. Sunn hemp potential According to Eberle, sunn hemp is a short-day crop, meaning the plant does not reliably flower while getting 12 or more hours of sunshine each day. “This means in Wyoming, sunn hemp should not go into its reproductive phase,” Eberle notes. “This is really important and a benefit of the crop because it means we are not worried about the crop setting seed and being problematic as a weed or becoming an invasive species.” Additionally, Eberle shares this is beneficial to producers as the quality of the crop, in terms of nutritive value, can be maintained through the growth phase. “I am also interested in sunn hemp in Wyoming because it is relatively drought tolerant,” she says. “It can grow with as little as 10 inches of moisture. This crop is tolerant to dry conditions, has a deep taproot and doesn’t require a lot of water.” Eberle continues, “It is also adapted to low-quality growing conditions, including poor soil health

with low organic matter, low fertility and low pH. These are conditions this crop tends to do very well in and is a potential for producers in Wyoming to grow in some of our less than ideal conditions which, even in an irrigated system, don’t have to delegate much water to.” She explains all of these traits make sunn hemp appealing in terms of fitting into a Wyoming crop rotation. Crop uses “In the U.S., sunn hemp has primarily been used as a green manure cover crop,” Eberle explains. “Because it’s a legume, it has a rapid growth rate – growing up to four feet in two months. This makes sunn hemp a good cover crop with a lot of biomass and up to 120 pounds of nitrogen fixed per acre.” Internationally, sunn hemp is also used as a fiber crop in many regions to make ropes, paper and other fiber products. The crop was previously used in the U.S. for fiber, but is not commonly used today. Eberle’s main focus for growing sunn hemp in Wyoming is the ability for the crop to be utilized as a forage crop. “There are a lot of cat-

CLIMATE continued from page 1 the climate crisis.” Industrial perspective Glover explains from an industrial perspective, the focus is generally on the products coming out of an industry. “There has been the inclination or the tendency to talk about greenhouse gases as a product of the cattle industry,” she notes. “However, those numbers haven’t always been communicated clearly either by the government or other authorities using those figures.” Glover continues, “The facts are clear – cattle production is responsible for less than two percent of greenhouse gas emission in the U.S. But, this is often said without context.” Not only are these figures an incredibly small portion of greenhouse gas emissions in total, but many forget to include the fact that this process is accompanied by high-quality products, she explains. “The process to raise cattle in this country has a lot of other directly associated benefits,” Glover shares. “There are opportunities in regulation and legislation in recognizing grazing as a tool to prevent catastrophic wildfires or to prevent emissions from those fires.” “Grazing is an immense tool to protect wildlife habitat, to cultivate really specific, healthy forage

profiles and plant communities to promote biodiversity and keep invasive species at bay,” she adds. “There are many other benefits on the ground and realistic impacts those in production don’t necessarily talk about. But, especially for those not directly involved in agriculture, those benefits are harder to conceptualize and they are not tangible benefits.” The goals for clean air, clean water and a healthy environmental are universal wishes, explains

tle, sheep and other livestock in Wyoming,” she says. “Oftentimes, producers are looking for highquality feed alternatives.” Traditionally, Eberle adds, producers use alfalfa in ration over a grass mixture because of the increased protein content. Similar to alfalfa, sunn hemp is a legume, but the greatest difference is alfalfa is a perennial crop producers can get multiple cuttings from, while sunn hemp is a short-season crop. “Sunn hemp is potentially very beneficial as a short-season substitute in a rotation, as a rescue crop or as an emergency crop to get into the ground quickly when producers know they are going to be short on feed for the year,” she says. “The big question is, how good of a forage crop it will be in Wyoming?” Studying sunn hemp According to Eberle, some studies have shown sunn hemp contains 15 to 25 percent crude protein, depending on growing conditions, harvest and management practices. Curious to see if sunn hemp holds this quality under Wyoming growing conditions, Eberle and her team of researchers studied the effect of planting dates and varied water supply on plant growth and quality. “2017 was a dry year,

and plants in the rain-fed system showed a good rate of growth early on, but it flattened out – the lack of water caused the crop to be stunted,” she says. “However, in 2018, rain-fed plant growth early in the season was slow, but the plants took off during the last 30 days of the growing season to reach around four feet of height by 60 days after plating.” She continues, “Irrigated plants experienced quick, steady growth. In both years, the late-June planted crops were able to use a growth advantage to reach taller heights faster than earlier planted sunn hemp.” While Eberle shares planting dates did not have a significant effect on biomass produced in each season, the difference in water system may have impacted yield. In drought conditions, the 2017 rainfed group averaged 1,308 pounds of biomass per acre, while the 2018 rainfed group averaged 2,951 pounds of biomass per acre. Irrigated crops in 2017 and 2018 produced around 2,200 pounds per acre. Forage crop potential “The critical component of this study is the feed value to livestock,” Eberle states. “If producers want to be able to grow this crop in a rotation and

Glover, noting, “The way to get clean water, healthy environments, happy wildlife and high-quality protein is really well managed grazing and this is part of the solution. For so long we have talked about protecting open space. But taking this one step further, open spaces need to remain open, but they also need to be as healthy as possible and agricultural producers are the ones who manage for the best possible outcome.” A broader story For a long time, producers have been encouraged to be engaged and share their story. Glover shares though, she often

thinks producers should band together and share a consistent platform to advocate for agriculture. “As we go through, whether we talk about sustainability and work through policy issues, it will be important to make sure we all have a consistent platform and share producers are protecting habitat,” she says. “It might be different from producers in California to Montana and Georgia, but producers across the U.S. are all achieving the same end-goal which has multifaceted benefits.” Glover encourages producers to continue to engage with members of

“It is also adapted to low-quality growing conditions, including poor soil health with low organic matter, low fertility and low pH. These are conditions this crop tends to do very well in and is a potential for producers in Wyoming to grow in some of our less than ideal conditions which, even in an irrigated system, don’t have to delegate much water to.” – Carrie Eberle, University of Wyoming Extension get the rotational benefits of a legume, but also be able to use it as a supplemental feed for livestock, we have to know if it is actually a high-quality feed.” The study compared critical feed components such as crude protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) from their sunn hemp crop to a goodquality alfalfa. She continues, “Across the board, regardless of planting date and irrigation system, we were able to maintain a nice, high quality of the sunn hemp feed. This is really encouraging, as this crop was tested under ideal circumstances, even if there is a slight decrease in under normal growing conditions, there is good potential for sunn hemp to be a quality forage in Wyoming.” Overall, Eberle’s study shows initial growth of

sunn hemp is slow in the first 30 days, meaning producers might have to nurse the crop and will need good weed control, or explore crop mixes such as seeding with teff grass or sudangrass to help the crop in the beginning. Additionally, the crop can provide one to two tons of forage per acre within 60 days of planting, and feed quality is equal to that of goodquality alfalfa. Information for this article was sourced from Dr. Carrie Eberle’s presentation during UW Extension’s Ag/Hort Conference held online Jan. 4-15, 2021. For more information, visit uwagnews. com/2021/01/19/sunnhemp-could-be-viablealternative-to-alfalfa-orsubstitution-in-event-ofcrop-failure/. Averi Hales is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

“As we go through, whether we talk about sustainability and work through policy issues, it will be important to make sure we all have a consistent platform and share producers are protecting habitat.” – Kaitlynn Glover, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Congress and note producers have not only been a part of the conversation, but they have been leading the sustainability conversation. “Their operations are an example of sustainability in-practice ecologically, economically and socially,” she notes. “This is true for the first-generation producer with the

most innovative practices, or the seventh-generation producer who is truly the definition of sustainability. Consistency will continue to be relevant and well-perceived in Washington, D.C.” Averi Hales is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

Producers take risks with early planting, but may reap benefits Kansas State University (KSU) Crop Production and Cropping System Specialist Ignacio Ciampitti joined Eric Atkinson and Jeff Wickman during an Agriculture Today podcast dated March 31 to discuss soil temperature and planting success. “I am pretty sure current soil temperatures are making producers elated and anxious,” Ciampitti says. “In some areas, temperatures are beginning to reach 55 degrees Fahrenheit and

higher. In many situations, this is a magical number for producers.” Once temperatures reach 60 degrees and are constantly increasing, producers are able to plant crops early, Ciampitti notes. Considerations and risks Producers often have many decisions to make, including when to start planting. Ciampitti shares several considerations for producers making the decision on when to plant. According to Ciampitti,

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early planting presents increased risks of crops encountering stress. Various types of stress, such as cold and wet weather, can cause yield loss. Crops may also encounter difficulty emerging, making seeds and seedlings more vulnerable to insects and diseases. He recommends producers keep a close eye on the forecast if considering planting early, stating, “Specifically, when looking at the next few weeks, producers should see if tempera-

tures are going to be consistently warm, thus offering a planting window for early crops.” Ciampitti adds, “If a cold spell is expected around planting time, producers should avoid planting for a few days to allow temperatures to rise so producers can get the maximum amount of crops. With soils planted early, producers should be aware of potential temperature swings, which may affect seeds and crops, especially if nighttime tem-

Lex Madden 307-532-1580 Michael Schmitt 307-532-1776 Chuck Petersen 307-575-4015

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7 - FEEDER & CALF SPECIAL & VIDEO LOTS FEEDERS Fred & Clara Wilson 30 Blk Hfrs, 800#, Complete Vac. Program, Bangs Vac., 3 Pre-breeding Shots, Poured, Replacement Quality CALVES Gerald Sterkel 150 Mx Strs & Hfrs, 550-875#, Weaned a long time, Been on a Grower Ration of Hay & Corn, 2 Rounds of Shots Steve Carter 140 Blk/Bwf few Char-x Strs & Hfrs, 274-530#, Weaned a long time, Running out on Grass supplemented with Tubs, Branding & Pre-cond. Shots, Wintered for grass, Home Raised Paul & Nancy Landeck 124 Mostly Hereford few Bwf Strs, 550-700#, Weaned since Oct., Running out, Hay Fed, Branding Shots Forshee Land & Livestock 90Blk/Rd Strs, 500-525#, Weaned since Nov, Been on a Grower Ration, Branding & Precond. Shots, NHTC Certified Ron Zavorka 25 Blk Strs & Hfrs, 500-650#, Weaned 40+ days, Bunk Broke, On a Grower Ration, Pre-cond Shots, Home Rasied

CATTLE COUNTRY VIDEO – 1:00 pm

Gardner Ranch 105 Weaned Steer Calves; 100% Blk; Base Wt: 620 lbs; Wt Stop: 630 lbs. Slide: .14 cents. Delivery: 4/8/21 to 4/12/21. Located: Shoshoni, WY. Branding& Weaning Shots. Weigh on truck w/a 3%. Comments: Fancy, heart of the herd, wintered just the way you would like them for grass. Rep: Ty Thompson 307-340-0770 Gardner Ranch 82 Weaned Steer Calves; 100% Blk; Base Wt: 700 lbs; Wt Stop: 710 lbs. Slide: .12 cents. Delivery: 4/8/21 to 4/12/21. Located: Shoshoni, WY. Branding & Weaning Shots. Weigh on truck w/a 3%. Comments: Fancy, home raised steers, wintered to go to grass. Green and big hair, clean. Biggest and best. Rep: Ty Thompson 307-340-0770 Gardner Ranch 101 Weaned Hiefer Calves; 100% Blk; Base Wt: 600 lbs; Wt Stop: 610 lbs. Slide: .14 cents. Delivery: 4/8/21 to 4/12/21. Located: Shoshoni, WY. Branding & Weaning Shots. Weigh on truck w/a 3%. Comments: Nice heifers wintered to go to grass. Rep: Ty Thompson 307-340-0770 Jeff & Trent Boner 65 Weaned Steers Calves; 50% Blk, 50% Char; Base Wt: 800 lbs; Wt Stop: 810 lbs. Delivery: 4/8/21 to 4/12/21. Located: Douglas, WY. Branding & Precond Shots. Weigh on truck w/a 3%. Comments: Handy weight late June calves weaned late November. Charolais calves are AI Sired, Black Angus from M Diamond her sires. Rep: Ty Thompson 307-340-0770 Mike & Margaret Smith 62 Heifers; Blk, few Bwf; Base Wt: 720 lbs; Wt Stop: 755 lbs. Slide: .08 cents. Delivery: 4/19/21 to 4/23/21. Located: Harrison, NE. Bulls: Connealy Capitalist, SAV Ten Speed, Montana Eisenhower, Bowman Platinum, & Gear Super Duty C 279. Birth, Branding, Precond & Weaning Shots. Programs: BQA. Age & Source, All Natural and NHTC thru Samson. Weigh: Haul 30 miles to Crawford, NE w/ 2% on truck or Haul approx. 25 miles to Thompson Duck Creek west of Van Tassell, WY w/a 2% on truck. Comments: You will love these heifers, they will feed and convert. Clean and green. Lots of quality and genetics. Rep: Lex Madden 307-532-1580 Mike & Margaret Smith 72 Steers; Blk, few Bwf; Base Wt: 610 lbs; Wt Stop: 645 lbs. Slide: .14 cents. Delivery: 4/19/21 to 4/23/21. Located: Harrison, NE. Bulls: Connealy Capitalist, SAV Ten Speed, Montana Eisenhower, Bowman Platinum, & Gear Super Duty C 279. Birth, Branding, Precond & Weaning Shots. Programs: BQA. Age & Source, All Natural and NHTC thru Samson. Weigh: Haul 30 miles to Crawford, NE w/ 2% on truck or Haul approx. 25 miles to Thompson Duck Creek west of Van Tassell, WY w/a 2% on truck. Comments: You will love these heifers, they will feed and convert. Clean and green. Lots of quality and genetics. Rep: Lex Madden 307-532-1580 Go to www.cattlecountryvideo.com for complete details and video preview

FRIDAY, APRIL 9 ~ ALL CLASSES SALE RESULTS -WED, MARCH 31 - 3546 HD Lazy A 1 31 Blk Strs 622 176.00C Lazy A 1 161 Blk Strs 670 167.00C Eldon Ackerman 21 Blk Strs 673 156.00C William Garrelts 49 Blk Strs 723 155.00C 7 X Ranch 72 Blk Strs 722 153.50C Emond Ranch 32 Blk Strs 731 153.00C Eldon Ackerman 88 Blk Strs 754 150.75C Gary Alps 15 Blk Strs 792 142.50C William Garrelts 13 Blk Strs 796 141.50C Pete Harrison 18 Blk Strs 865 138.50C Eldon Ackerman 23 Blk Strs 837 136.50C R & P Farms 18 Blk/Red Strs 808 138.50C Dan Marshall 29 Blk/Red Strs 840 136.50C E & K Partnership 76 Blk Hfrs 660 150.00C 7X Ranch 15 Blk/Red Hfrs 724 137.50C 3 Y Land & Cattle 14 Blk/Red Hfrs 794 134.00C 6 W Cattle 18 Mxd Hfr 623 130.50C J Evans Livestock 7 Blk Str Cf 401 209.00C Kurt Heinrich 21 Blk Str Cf 608 195.00C Ben Seppenen 25 Blk Str Cf 420 200.50C Bowen Arrow Ranch 32 Blk Str Cf 526 187.50C Diamond N Livestock 32 Blk Str Cf 572 179.00C Robbers Roost 18 Blk Str Cf 576 175.50C 7 X Ranch 23 Blk Str Cf 627 170.50C Gary Alps 28 Blk Str Cf 657 167.00C Diamond N Livestock 28 Blk Str Cf 671 162.00C Bowen Arrow Ranch 6 Blk Hfr Cf 362 175.00C XH Land & Cattle 24 Blk Hfr Cf 530 171.00C Herman Livestock 60 Blk Hfr Cf 544 171.00C Bowen Arrow Ranch 30 Blk Hfr Cf 507 170.00C Ferguson Livestock 31 Blk Hfr Cf 475 169.00C Shipley Farms 55 Blk Hfr Cf 568 164.50C Shipley Farms 112 Blk Hfr Cf 598 160.50C David Fredrickson 16 Blk Hfr Cf 523 159.00C Haynie Ranch 31 Blk Hfr Cf 585 155.00C Smith Sheep Co 37 Blk Hfr Cf 653 153.00C Bennett Creek 61 Blk Hfr Cf 646 148.50C Kerns Cattle Co 11 Blk Hfr Cf 461 177.00C Kurt Heinrich 48 Blk/Red Hfr Cf 644 150.50C Smith Sheep Co 36 Mxd Hfr Cf 659 149.00C

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Cody Thompson - Lusk, WY 307-340-0150 Ty Thompson – Lusk, WY 307-340-0770 Zach Johnson Lingle, WY –307-575-2171 Jeff Ward – Laramie, WY 307-399-9863 Tam Staman – Crawford, NE 308-631-8513 Lander Nicodemus – Cheyenne, WY 307-421-8141 Danny Nicodemus – Cheyenne, WY 307-632-4325 Chris Williams - Greybull, WY 307-272-4567 Justin Smith - Lusk, WY 307-340-0724 Scott Redden - Burns, CO 970-596-3588

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“Producers often get more growing days and yield by planting earlier in the season. This is only the case if the seeds are planted in a well-prepared field with warm temperatures and adequate moisture.” – Ignacio Ciampitti, Kansas State University peratures dip into the 40s.” Another consideration, he notes, is soil temperature two to four inches below the surface. Ciampitti recommends producers also monitor soil moisture and chance of precipitation, as moisture is a critical factor when planting early, Additionally, when producers choose seeds, they should look for seeds with higher stress emergence scores to help reduce the risks associated with cold temperature stress. “Cold weather fluctuations are a risk associated with early planting,” Ciampitti says. “If temperatures fluctuate, crops may be affected in the long-term.” Pros and cons While planting early has benefits, it also comes with a range of cons. “Planting dates are one of the most influential factors on crop establishment,” Ciampitti says. “Reduced establishment occurs most often when planting seeds

in poor seedbeds, planting when soils are too wet or too cold and when a cold spell comes after planting.” If producers plant too early and temperatures drop, crops will definitely be affected, he notes. According to Ciampitti, when seeded crops get too cold, they fail to germinate. Additionally, seeds surviving freezes may produce irregular plants. However, a benefit of planting early is the opportunity for high-yielding, plentiful fields, as planting early extends the growing season. “Producers often get more growing days and yield by planting earlier in the season,” says Ciampitti. “This is only the case if the seeds are planted in a wellprepared field with warm temperatures and adequate moisture.” Madi Slaymaker is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Forester named

Frank Beum has been named as the new regional forester for the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Region. Starting April 12, he will lead more than 2,000 permanent and seasonal employees and help oversee 22 million acres of national forests and grasslands in Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. The region includes both the Bighorn National Forest and Shoshone National Forest, where Beum worked as a seasonal employee in the early part of his long career. His first permanent job was on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, serving for eight years in both northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. “Frank will provide essential leadership carrying out agency and regional goals to work across landscapes with partners to regain ecological function, reduce the risks of damage to forests and grasslands and the surrounding communities, enhance the user experience and manage the multiple uses and interests of these public lands,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen. “His work will support national priorities such as our role in containing the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring racial justice and equity, rebuilding the rural economy, and addressing the impacts of climate change.” Beum is currently the deputy regional forester for natural resources for the Southern Region of the USDA Forest Service in Atlanta, overseeing 13 southern states and Puerto Rico. He has also served in acting roles as the associate deputy chief of the national forest system and the national director of forest management in Washington, D.C., as well as the acting regional forester in the Intermountain Region in Ogden, Utah. Beum has worked in forestry for 40 years in various roles on seven national forests and five ranger districts in the Rocky Mountain and Southern Regions, as well as in the Southern Regional Office, the Washington Office, the Ohio Division of Forestry and a college fellowship with the Wilderness Society. He began his Forest Service career in the Rocky Mountain Region as a seasonal forestry technician in 1981, putting in six summers of seasonal work on the Rio Grande, San Juan and Shoshone forests before landing a permanent position with the Medicine Bow-Routt. Beum holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry at Ohio State University and a master’s degree in recreation resource management from Colorado State University. He and his wife Jan have two grown sons, who were born in Wyoming, a daughter-in-law and one grandson. Beum will replace Tammy Angel, who has served as acting regional forester for the Rocky Mountain Region since January. Angel will return to her position as deputy regional forester for the Rocky Mountain Region.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

Cover crops provide value for feedlot production systems Cover crops and feedlots don’t usually come up in a conversation together, but they both go hand-inhand. Some feedlots are starting to implement cover crops in their systems to be able to place and grow calves before finishing them on rations. On a recent University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) BeefWatch podcast dated March 25, Beef Systems Specialist Dr. Mary Drewnoski sits down to exemplify what she has experienced by adding cover crops into feedlot systems. Low-cost gain Performance in a feedlot setting is always top of the list, with concerns of calves performing well and feedlots still coming out on top. Cover crops can be an effective way to put gain on calves for a low cost. “This can be a great opportunity for feedlots to buy more calves in the fall when they’re at lower costs,” explains Drewnoski. This may possibly allow feedlots to buy beyond their capacity at a particular point

in time, put calves on a lowcost gain and feed them into their yard throughout winter and into spring. Drewnoski adds, “Cover crops, especially coupled with corn residue, can be a great way to lower a feedlot’s incoming costs for calves.” Cattle at Drewnoski’s facility in eastern Nebraska graze oats mixed with rapeseed and are supplemented only with mineral. “We get an average of about 1.9 pounds of gain per day,” Drewnoski says. “On average, when we initiate grazing in early November, we get about 70 days worth of grazing when stocking one calf per acre.” Weather factors However, weather is a huge factor, and cattle on Drewnoski’s facility have seen gains anywhere from 1.3 to 2.4 pounds per day. The wet weather is extremely hard on the calves, regardless of the temperature. According to Drewnoski, cattle with wet hair end up using more energy to regulate body temperature, resulting in no gain.

CROPS continued from page 1 research prices, they should research prices around their area.” Surrounding counties could potentially have lower or higher prices than a producer’s county so looking at local prices can be beneficial. Walter shares when looking at prices, producers can use a projected price and implied volatility. This practice allows producers to characterize what crop prices may become. “When attempting to ascertain crop prices, producers should use actual production history (APH) in an attempt to find the most accurate prices,” Walter continues. “There can be large amounts of variability in terms of crop prices. For example, higher fall yields may increase the price of crops.” ARC versus PLC According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA) website, when it comes to crop insurance, there are two main programs – Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC). These programs were authorized by the 2014 and the 2018 Farm Bills. ARC can be broken down even further into agriculture risk coverage-county (ARCCO) or agriculture risk coverage-individual (ARC-IN). ARC-CO provides support tied to historical base acres of covered commodities, and not current production. ARC-CO payments are issued when the actual county crop revenue is less than the ARC-CO guarantee for the covered commodity. The USDA adds, PLC payments are issued when the effective price of a covered commodity is less than the respective reference price for said commodity. “Oftentimes, producers

Drewnoski explains weather is the biggest variable of all and can also affect cover crops. The wet weather, paired with lack of freezes, leads to trampled crops and producers may see losses up to 70 percent. “We’ve ranged in grazing days from about 40 to 100 days if we have one calf per acre, and we’ve really seen a difference just depending on weather,” states Drewnoski. Types of crops Early harvested corn silage ground before Sept. 1 allows feedlots to plant a blend of forage for fall grazing. “My favorite mix at the moment is about 50 pounds of oats and three pounds of rapeseed per acre,” shares Drewnoski. This mix averages $15 per acre. Drewnoski’s facility has tried oats alone, but it was not beneficial. “The oats plus rapeseed lowers the feed cost by about five dollars per acre,” she notes. “We see about twotenths of a pound of gain per day by adding the rapeseed.”

Oats and rapeseed also do not produce bulbs, making it easier for calves to graze. Transitioning into more winter hardy grains, like winter wheat, cereal rye or winter triticale, is an option if corn silage was not harvested early. “If I can’t plant oats and rapeseed by Sept. 1, then I would plant winter hardy grains,” Drewnoski shares. Managing small cereals for spring grazing needs to be done more carefully. Rotational grazing is a great tool so cereals do not become too mature or grazed down. Drewnoski says she doesn’t let crops get taller than eight inches and doesn’t graze lower than two inches. “I think this is working really well in eastern Nebraska with dry land, while having three calves per acre on it,” says Drewnoski. Between fall and spring crops, the calves are pulled in and fed distillers’ until the spring crop is ready. Mid-May is when Drewnoski pulls calves from spring crops to prepare the

field for planting corn or soybeans. They only see about 30 to 45 days worth of grazing. “The cost of gain is still economical when taking into account the seed cost, fencing and adding 10 cent yardages. We were still at about 30 cents per pound per gain,” explains Drewnoski. Risks with cover crops When calves that have never had a high-protein diet get switched to a hot ration, fog fever may present itself. According to Drewnoski, fog fever occurs when the amino acid tryptophan is converted into 3-methylindole by rumen microogranisms and enters the bloodstream, causing pneumotoxicity. This will present in cattle as respiratory distress, as this compound is toxic to the lungs.

“The bottom line is, if producers are bringing calves in and turning them out on high-quality forage, they need to put calves on a high-quality diet beforehand or feed ionophores,” states Drewnoski. This is not a common risk, but feedlots should be prepared. There is also the risk of having to turn out sooner or later on the crops, so a backup plan is good to have. Feeding corn residue with some distillers’ is a lowcost system to have in place for sick calves and for periods between fall and spring crops. Delcy Graham is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

fail to acknowledge ARC can limit the ability to additionally purchase supplemental coverage options (SCO) or enhanced coverage options (ECO),” notes Lubben. “Foreign program decisions can substitute, and in some instances compliment, crop insurance.” “There are new price projections in 2021,” he adds. “They start much higher but this doesn’t mean the ARC and PLC programs will fundamentally pay producers.” Lubben shares in 2014, producers came off record high prices which led to the olympic average being high. This action resulted in relative support through the ARC-CO program. “The question is what kind of crop insurance should one purchase and should they purchase an underlying protection level such as SCO or ECO,” states Lubben. Additionally, he adds, “The farm program decisions are dependent on a decent crop insurance decision, and

good marketing decisions are as equally important.” Lubben notes it is also important for producers to understand how to manage broader complex safety nets for farm income. Crop insurance decisions There are many decisions producers need to make when deciding on crop insurance. Walter explains multiple peril crop insurance has different coverage levels, which are dependent upon liability. “Coverage levels start at 50 percent and increase in five percent increments,” he says. “Coverage levels end at 85 percent.” Additionally, Walter notes, “Insurance policy types can influence how payments are made, revenue protection and protection against higher and lower fall prices as well as lower yields. Different policy types may also influence yield protection against lower yields.” “Unit type will determine how acreage is divided into

separate insurance policies – optional, basic, enterprise and whole farms,” Walter shares. “SCOs are designed to effectively seperate farm payments from crop payments,” explains Walter. “SCOs will insure producers coverage level up to 85 percent.” He adds if producers have a 75 percent coverage level, a SCO will insure they get paid the 10 percent between 75 and 85 percent. “The ECO is new since the beginning of 2021,” Walter shares. “An ECO is similar to SCO but it is available for revenue protection and yield protection.” An ECO operates at county levels for revenue protection and yield protection, thus allowing producers to select a 90 to 95 percent coverage level with premium subsidy ECO of 44 percent for revenue protection and a 51 percent for yield protection. However, Walter notes it is important for producers to know the rise of December

futures through the month of February can cause insurance deductibles to grow. When layering SCO and ECO to individual coverage, indemnities are generated from two sources – county and individual coverage. Additionally, Walter shares there are similarities to both SCO and ECO prices. If producers receive an indemnity from individual coverage due to price, they are likely recieving SCO and ECO as well. Walter adds individual yields and county yields will be the source of payment discrepancy. Further price drops from spring to fall, with higher yields will take revenue out of indemnities. Given the high projected prices starting point, prices could potentially drop dramatically between spring months and fall. Madi Slaymaker is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

Range management specialist provides pasture seeding tips Traditional annuals and cocktail cover crop mixtures make great forage for cattle on a temporary basis, but over time, a good stand of perennial pasture may be the best choice, according to Canadian Ministry of Agriculture Range Management Extension Specialist and Rancher Lorne Klein of Weyburn, Saskatchewan. “The most important step is planning ahead,” Klein shares. “I recommend starting by ordering seed during the winter before the planting season and knowing the germination details.” He adds, “Make sure to order species and varieties specific to the climate of the operation.” Another thing for producers to consider is whether any herbicide residue is left over from the previous year. “If the field was annual cropland before and herbicide was applied, there may be an effect on seeded plants this year,” Klein says. Managing Forage residue from the previous

year and considering weed potential is also important. “In years past, perennial weed control was lacking prior to seeding a new pasture,” notes Klein. “This is an issue because producers don’t want to end up with weeds to fight year after year.” He continues, “Perennial weeds such as quack grass, Canada thistle or other prolific plants can be difficult to control, especially if producers are planting a combination of legumes and grass.” Species selection Planning a healthy permanent pasture and selecting what to grow involves knowing the land and having a good idea about what might work best. If a producer has a perfect field with good soil, they could probably use any variety available and have the plants thrive in the climate. “If there is temporary flooding on parts of the pasture, salinity or sandy areas, producers need to use a complicated concoction including something

for all of the conditions throughout the pasture or consider double seeding the problem areas using a species designated for those specific conditions,” Klein explains. “If there are wetlands or flooding where basic species won’t thrive, plant a different species there. In areas dominated by saline soils, plant a species known to tolerate salty soils.” Light textured soils, such as sand or gravel, can also be a challenge because they don’t hold water well, and producers might need a drought tolerant variety. “If there is a mosaic of different soils in a pasture, producers need a seed mix containing a variety of seeds,” states Klein. “Depending on acreage, I usually suggest picking the main species producers want, seeding the whole field with it and then reseeding the problem areas with a different species.” He continues, “If the problem areas are large, seeding those places with the appropriate species to

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begin with will be more beneficial.” The next step is deciding whether to put in a nurse crop. According to Klein, this can make a difference in the success of a field. “I include a nurse crop, but cut back on the seeding rate with the intention of cutting it for green feed as opposed to using the full seeding rate and combining it,” Klein explains. “I think a full crop presents too much competition for the new seeding of perennials, so I prefer planting a medium volume.” He adds, “I like the idea of a nurse crop because a nurse crop will be present whether the pasture is seeded or not. There will be some volunteer plants and a flush of weeds.” Klein explains using a light seeding rate with a nurse crop can help producers grow green feed crops and establish healthy pasture. Research has shown forage yield in future years will be compromised if the nurse crop is really competitive and inhibits new seeding. Seeding tips Timing of seeding and weed control tend to go together. “To allow better weed control, I never get in a hurry to seed perennial forage early in the spring,” Klein notes. “Perennial forage needs to be planted early, but I want the first flush of weeds to appear so I can burn them off.” Klein explains he prefers to get seed in the ground before June to take advantage of seasonal precipitation, however the

“Depending on acreage, I usually suggest picking the main species producers want, seeding the whole field with it and then reseeding the problem areas with a different species.” – Lorne Klein, Canadian Ministry of Agriculture exact timing depends on location and climate. For fields to produce high yields, it is important to plant seeds accordingly. “It is critical to refrain from planting the seed too deep,” says Klein, “With current tools, depth control is good. Most of the equipment today has individual shank control and ideally allows producers to put the seed half an inch into the ground.” He explains by starting with firm ground, seeds can be blown onto the pasture and harrowed with confidence that seeds won’t be buried too deeply. This way, row spaces are filled and there is not much bare soil left. “Some grass species will spread and fill in empty spaces over time, but I don’t want rows at the start,” Klein adds. “The disadvantage of broadcasting the seed, however, is producers have to wait for rain.” “If there is soil moisture right to the top, germination will still occur, even without rain,” he explains. “For some producers, this could be the best option.” Seeding rate Ideal seeding rates depend on the species and producers’ goals. “Some consider 10 pounds per acre ideal when seeding perennial

forages, but this rate can vary,” Klein states. “When people tell me the species they want to plant, we can calculate how many seeds there are per pound. Then we need to think about how many seeds per square foot producers are actually putting out there.” There is a tendency to seed heavier rates than needed, but it’s best to err on the side of too much than not enough, shares Klein. In many cases, Klein notes, producers can seed less than 10 pounds per acre based on species in their seed mix. “The higher seeding rate is mainly an insurance policy which allows producers to make mistakes. I prefer looking at the details and trying to avoid mistakes, and then I have the option to not over-seed,” says Klein. A seeding plan will also depend on whether the area will be hayfield or a forage pasture. “If it’s a hayfield, producers might consider picking the rocks or rolling it after seeding if there are stones,” says Klein. “No one likes to run stones through their machinery.” Heather Smith Thomas is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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Two PhD students in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming (UW) placed first and second in poster competitions at the virtual Western Nutrient Management Conference this month. Hannah Rodgers in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management placed first, and Liz Moore in the Department of Plant Sciences took second. Rodgers’ poster was “Effects of Semiarid Wheat Agriculture on Soil Microbial Properties: A Review,” which analyzed

soil microbes in semiarid wheat fields to determine if and how soil microbial properties reliably respond to management and how these properties may indicate changes in soil health and promote carbon sequestration. Moore’s poster was “Cover Crop Suitability for High Altitude Specialty Crop Organic Food Production” evaluating how cover crop monocultures and mixtures might help organic producers overcome high elevation, low precipitation and short-growing seasons.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

BILL continued from page 1 H-2A temporary worker visa program while ensuring fair wages and working conditions for all workers.” “I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both Houses of Congress to get this bipartisan legislation, which serves the best interests of our country, to the president’s desk,” she shared. During a press conference, Newhouse said, “American agriculture is in dire need of a legal, reliable workforce. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act is a solution – negotiated in good faith by agriculture groups, labor representatives and Congressmembers on both sides.” “As one of only a few farmers in Congress, I understand the invaluable contributions our producers and farmworkers make to our nation’s agriculture industry,” he explained. “Bringing our agricul-

ture labor program into the 21st century is absolutely critical as the country works to recover from the impacts of the pandemic and ensure a stable food supply chain in the U.S.,” Newhouse continued. “We must act now to provide certainty to farmers, ranchers and farm workers across the country.” H-2A amendments and livestock The Farm Workforce Modernization Act will amend the H-2A program, which will allow a capped number of visas for farmworkers all year-round. National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Jen Sorenson explains, “Unfortunately, the current H-2A visa program is designed for seasonal agriculture, ignoring the needs of U.S. pork producers and other year-round livestock producers.” “Without visa reform

supporting a sustainable workforce, production costs can increase, which could lead to higher food prices for consumers,” stated a news release from Iowa Select Farms. Lofgren added, “Stabilizing the workforce will protect the future of farms and the food supply.” Considered a major win regarding H-2A, reform allows access to the program for the industry with yearround labor needs, such as the dairy and livestock sectors. The bill limits the number of three-year visas to 20,000 per year and further divides these visas by allocating 50 percent to the dairy industry specifically. An amendment seeks to remove the caps on the H-2A visas to ensure all of the agriculture industry can utilize guest worker visas to meet employment needs. The amendment also allows the year-round H-2A cap to decrease annually based on labor metrics or increase based on an emergency determination of a sig-

WY Livestock Roundup Spring 2021

nificant labor shortage. Additionally, the bill provides the Secretary of Labor and Secretary of Agriculture authority to determine whether to establish a numerical cap after 10 years. Reseasoning behind the bill “In the first two-and-onehalf months of 2021, illegal immigration has reached a crisis point,” Newhouse said. “In order to maintain the rule of law and keep criminals out of our country, Congress must continue working to enhance our border security.” He added, “One way to enhance border security is the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which is the bipartisan, targeted labor solution the agriculture industry needs.” “It’s not easy to find common ground, even when we share common goals,” Lofgren said. “We have to get this compromise bill over the finish line this time.” She added, “This bill is a compromise bill and doesn’t have everything everyone wanted.”

Extending the Vegetable Growing Season explains general considerations and provides information on how to start vegetables indoors, warmseason vegetables, coolseason vegetables, variety selection, mulching and season-extending tips. “With slight modifications to counteract the short growing seasons, cool temperatures, low humidity and high wind characteristics, vegetable gardens can be grown almost anywhere in Wyoming,” said Panter. Greenhouse Structures shares general considerations in selecting a greenhouse and offers information on covers, heating, ventilation, cooling, controls and accessory equipment. “A greenhouse provides a means of changing the environment around

Extending the Vegetable Growing Season can be found at bit.ly/B1148R, Greenhouse Structures at bit. ly/B-1147R and Gardening: Hotbeds & Cold Frames can be accessed at bit.ly/B-1151R.

plants to improve their growth,” said Panter. The publication includes drawings and charts with suggested appropriate temperatures for growing common vegetables and flowers. “Seedlings are often started in a greenhouse and moved to a hotbed when they fill the available space,” Panter added. Gardening: Hotbeds & Cold Frames teaches how to construct, cover, heat and manage hotbeds and how to build, shelter and manage cold frames. “Hotbeds provide an economical way to grow plants until they are transplanted to their permanent outdoor locations,” Panter shared. “Cold frames work as solar heat traps to warm soil and plants during late fall and early spring.” This article was written by Katie Shockley and is courtesy of the University of Wyoming. For more information, e-mail Shockley at jshock12@uwyo.edu or visit uwagnews.com.

gency Management Agency (FEMA) requires a worker to perform 575 hours or 100 days of labor in each year for five years to be eligible to renew a CAW visa. In the H-2A, a workday is defined as 5.75 hours of labor. This amendment would extend the period required to work in agriculture to 800 hours or 140 days to ensure the primary occupation of the worker is agricultural labor. Additionally, the amendment provides flexibility for the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to delay the implementation of e-verification by up to six months if the secretary determines more time is needed to process pending visa applications for agricultural labor. Information on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act was gathered from porkbusiness.com. Madi Slaymaker is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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Extension updates gardening publications University of Wyoming (UW) Extension updated three free publications on extending the growing season, greenhouses and hotbeds and cold frames have been revised and are available for download in PDF, HTML or ePub formats. “These bulletins cover season extension from very basic and inexpensive strategies to the ultimate season-extender: A greenhouse,” said Karen Panter, UW Extension horticultural specialist and author of the publications. “Together with UW Extension’s High Tunnel Handbook, growers can use the information to start crops earlier in the spring, produce them later in the fall or go year-round with a greenhouse.”

The bill passed the House March 18, and is currently in the Senate. There is interest on both sides of the aisle to perfect the legislation and send it to the president’s desk for signature. Lofgren and Newhouse recognized their work doesn’t stop with the advancement in the House. Inside the bill The bill establishes a program for agricultural workers, including their spouses and minor children, in the U.S. to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment. Specifically, it provides a process for farm workers to seek Certified Agricultural Worker (CAW) status, which is a temporary status for those who have worked at least 180 days in agriculture over the last two years. Long-term agricultural workers wanting to stay can earn an immigration card by paying a $1,000 fine and engaging in additional agricultural work. The Federal Emer-

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

Alternative burning strategies benefit pasture and forage quality “Patch burning is only burning a patch or small area of a pasture,” shares Kansas State University (KSU) Beef Systems Extension Specialist Jaymelynn Farney during a K-State Agriculture Today podcast on March 24, hosted by Eric Atkinson. “Patch burning can replace burning whole pastures.” Patch burning science “It is recommended to split pastures into thirds, burning one-third of the pasture each year,” Farney explains. “Essentially, it would take three years to completely burn the pasture. Then, it’s time to start all over again in the fourth year, burning the first third again.” This schedule allows a freshly burned area to regrow whilst maintaining older grasses throughout a pasture. “One of the first benefits recognized from patch burning is the diversity it allowed throughout range-

lands,” says Farney. “Different kinds of grazable species will develop over time.” She explains strategically burning pastures allows producers additional control over invasive species. “However, when burning the same area year after year, producers may lose some of the desirable plants,” she continues. “When pastures are allowed rest periods, the more sensitive plants have the ability to come back after the stress from a fire and reproduce.” Research study By nature, cattle will graze the freshest grass available. Following a burn, this forage would be found in the patch burned area. But, if the whole pasture was burned during a drought, cattle wouldn’t have feed and would require supplementation. Patch burning encourages biodiversity within plant communitites and

removes leftover forage or residue from previous years in some areas of the pasture, leaving the cattle with options of fresh feed or older feed. “During a seven-year study at the Yate Center in Kansas, we used a three-year burning schedule and did a 90-day double stock on the pasture,” shares Farney. “We discovered there was a shift in biodiversity.” Farney explains throughout the study, little bluestem and Indian grass had decreased presence following burns and sericea decreased the year of the burn, and then returned to pre-burn levels after. Cattle performance Skepticism with burning pieces of a pasture may raise concerns for some producers. However, there have been many research studies done to learn how patch burning can be beneficial. Farney continues, “From

a cattle gain perspective, the cattle performance was unchanged, unlike studies that burned whole pastures every year.” “During the study, researchers encountered two years of drought and noticed the cattle on patch burned pasture gained more weight than cattle on the continuously burned pasture,” Farney states. “Patch burning could be a successful drought tool, as burning results in better cattle gain,” she says. “Through several other studies, it was also discovered cattle grazed on patch burned pastures performed better than cattle grazing unburned pastures.” Researchers theorize patch burning mimics historical patterns of burning and grazing. Patch burning can be compared to when fires were ignited by lightning, which bison and other wildlife would graze. Farney shares a study in

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“One of the first benefits recognized from patch burning is the diversity it allowed throughout rangelands. Different kinds of grazable species will develop over time.” – Jaymelynn Farney, Kansas State University Tennessee found higher gains for cattle grazed on patch burned pastures, compared to cattle grazed on continuously burned pastures during a dry summer. This study showed forage regrowth from burned patches of pasture were higher in protein and energy value than areas not influenced by fire. Even though the nutritional value of a pasture

burned in its entirety was of higher quality than the patch burned pasture, in years when weather was less than desirable, the patch burned pasture provided more forage for cattle than the pasture burned completely. Madi Slaymaker is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

BRAND continued from page 1 stops for game and fish wardens, cited by Cannon in defense of Wyoming’s warrantless stops for brand inspections. Cannon said, “Like California, Wyoming shares an interest in allowing Game and Fish officers to check licenses, creel limits and hunting tags without prerequisite probable cause or reasonable suspicion of any criminal wrongdoing.” However, in his latest filing, Rammell shared, “The California Fish and Game case, however, is not applicable. Wildlife and livestock are not the same. Wildlife belongs to no one person until they are legally harvested.” “Most hunters are well aware of the likelihood of warrantless inspections to check licenses or limits,” he argued.

“Ownership of livestock, on the other hand, is a property right beginning when an animal is either produced or purchased and protected not only by the Fourth Amendment, but also by the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment,” Rammell continued. Further, he argued, county-to-county brand inspections are only required in Wyoming and Montana – nowhere else, stating, “People from other states who are not used to warrantless searches of livestock moving between counties in Wyoming have no certainty, regularity and notice of warrantless inspections.” Joy Ufford is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

New technology aims to improve planting techniques Technology to plant crops has continually changed over the years. In fact, precision seed dropping is making variable seeding rates possible while allowing farmers to plant at faster speeds. ReEnvision Agriculture, based in north central Iowa, is hoping to change

the way farmers plant their crops. “Our goal is to be the best stewards of the environment by reducing tillage and allowing soil to be healthier,” states the ReEnvision Agriculture website. “Soil is the biggest asset and it’s important to protect it. Farmers don’t want it to

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Grizzlies remain listed The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has concluded grizzly bear in the lower 48 states still merits protection as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As a result of the most recent five-year status review, the federal agency noted the iconic species remains vulnerable despite some encouraging improvements. “Progress toward recovering the species has been made through close partnerships with local, state, federal and Tribal agencies since the original listing in 1975,” USFWS said in a statement, calling this work “a significant factor in the species not being listed as endangered.” The agency added, though, that “considerable challenges remain” to fully recover the grizzly bear in the lower 48 states. “These remaining challenges include limited habitat connectivity, management of access by motorized vehicles, human-caused mortality and uncertainty surrounding future conservation efforts in some ecosystems,” the agency said. The grizzly bear is listed under the ESA as a single entity in the lower 48 states, and the status review covers the listed species as a whole, although grizzly bear populations in the Northern Continental Divide and Greater Yellowstone ecosystems are deemed by USFWS to be biologically recovered. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) said the report “confirmed once again what Montanans know all too well – the grizzly bear is continuing to recover nationwide and has fully recovered in Montana’s two largest ecosystems.” “The Biden administration should follow through on their commitment to follow the science and act upon their career scientists’ own findings by moving forward immediately to delist the grizzly bear in Montana and return species management back to the state,” Daines stated. Last week, Republicans gained support in legislation to delist grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

erode or degrade.” The website continues, “By adapting farming practices which reduce the use of fossil fuels, store more carbon and do not pollute water, ReEnvision Agriculture technologies are saving money by not wasting fertilizer, lowering our machinery costs and lowering fuel expenses all while improving the organic matter, water penetrability and fertility of soil.”

The website adds, “Creating this win/win situation brings better food to the table, ensures the future quality of the soil and keeps farmers productive with lower costs and greater profitability.” Reasoning behind change Jayson Ryner, farmer, CEO and founder of ReEnvision Agriculture says, “In the spring of 2019, the clock was ticking on planting corn. We were experiencing the wettest spring on

record for the second year in a row.” He shares driving across fields was a possibility, but using disc openers on planters would cause too much compaction if they tried to plant. “Disc openers are designed for use in soils which have been dried out with tillage between four and six miles per hour,” Ryner stated. “We were continually trying to use the disc opener where it was never meant to go – high residue and wet soils – using high speeds while applying up to 300 pounds of down pressure which resulted in compaction.” According to Ryner, farmers planting in wet soils can experience 20 to 50 percent yield loss caused by disc compaction. Additionally, the challenge of planting cover crops is getting the seed to fall through the thick mat

“ReEnvision Agriculture also hopes to expand the farmers’ bottom line, while also achieving healthier soils and sustainability.” – Jayson Ryner, ReEnvision Agriculture into the shallow furrow. Developing new technology ReEnvision Agriculture is working to develop a planting system which allows seed to be placed with minimal soil disturbance, says Ryner. This dibble-style planting system features a hollow spike attached to a small seed box which punches through the soil and delivers seed at a precise depth. “With this system, only the dibble enters the ground. The design places the seed at the depth chosen by the farmer,” Ryner explained, noting the company plans to sell individual row units equipped with dibbles mounted on a cylinder.

“Our row unit is designed to pay for itself quickly whilst widening planting windows, lowering input costs and capturing full yield potential,” Ryner continues. “ReEnvision Agriculture also hopes to expand the farmers’ bottom line, while also achieving healthier soils and sustainability.” ReEnvision Agriculture will work with the AgLauncher Farmer Network this summer in sideby-side field trials to put this technology to the test. Madi Slaymaker is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

SALE REPORTS NJW Polled Herefords Bull Sale Reported By: Curt Cox, WLR Field Editor March 24, 2021 NJW Polled Herefords, Sheridan Auctioneer: Joe Goggins 1 Hereford Herd Sire Avg. $100,000 81 Yearling Hereford Bulls Avg. $7,707 15 Fall-Born Hereford Bulls Avg. $6,483 25 Registered Yearling Hereford Heifers Avg. $9,480 12 Registered Fall Yearling Hereford Heifers Avg. $10,792 10 Commercial Yearling Black Baldy Heifers Avg. $1,462 Top Sellers Bulls Lot 87G – NJW 133A 6589 Manifest 87G ET – Price: $100,000 DOB: 2/10/19 Sire: /S Mandate 66589 Dam’s Sire: NJW 73S W18 Hometown 10Y EPDs: BW: -0.6, WW: +62, YW: +91, Milk: +28 and M&G: +59 Buyer: Chapman Cattle Company, LLC, Nunnelly, Tenn. Lot 126H – NJW 79Z 199B Cowboss 126H ET – Price: $50,000 DOB: 2/14/20 Sire: NJW 78P 88X Cowboss 199B Dam’s Sire: NJW 73S M326 Trust 100W EPDs:

BW: +2.8, WW: +62, YW: +104, Milk: +27 and M&G: +59 Buyer: Harvie Ranching, Olds, Alberta, Canada Lot 273H – NJW 76S 311F Ridge 273H – Price: $30,000 DOB: 3/26/20 Sire: NJW 79Z 103C Ridge 311F Dam’s Sire: NJW BW Traildust 161L EPDs: BW: -0.4, WW: +47, YW: +83, Milk: +33 and M&G: +56 Buyer: River Valley Polled Herefords, Newburgh, Ontario, Canada Lot 113H – NJW 79Z 199B Cowboss 113H ET – Price: $22,500 DOB: 2/13/20 Sire: NJW 78P Cowboss 199B Dam’s Sire: NJW 73S M326 Trust 100W

Lisco and M Diamond Angus 29th Annual Bull Sale EPDs: BW: +2.6, WW: +58, YW: +92, Milk: +38 and M&G: +67 Buyer: River Valley Polled Herefords, Newburgh, Ontario, Canada Lot 29H – NJW 11B 81E Demand 29H ET – Price: $20,000 DOB: 2/1/20 Sire: NJW 160B Historic 81E Dam’s Sire: LJR 023R Whitmore 10W EPDs: BW: +0.6, WW: +64, YW: +98, Milk: +38 and M&G: +70 Buyer: Weathers Farms, Yuma, Colo. Heifers Lot 90H – NJW 202C 4013 Homemaker 90H ET – Price: $60,000 DOB: 2/10/20 Sire: Innisfail WHR X651/723 4013 Dam’s Sire: NJW 73S W18 Homegrown 8Y EPDs: BW: +3.5, WW: +73, YW: +118, Milk: +38 and M&G: +74 Buyer: Stellpflug Cattle Co., LLC, Glenrock Lot 291H – NJW 79Z 33B Rita 291H ET – Price: $39,000 DOB: 3/7/20 Sire: NJW 160Z 10W Whit 33B Dam’s Sire: NJW 73S M326 Trust 100W EPDs: BW: +3.6, WW: +60, YW: +103, Milk: +32 and M&G: +62 Buyer: River Valley Polled Herefords, Newburgh, Ontario, Canada

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Reported By: Curt Cox, WLR Field Editor March 26, 2021 M Diamond Angus Ranch, Glenrock Auctioneer: Lex Madden Sale Manger: Marcy Livestock Services 73 Yearling Angus Bulls Avg. $4,457 7 Summer Yearling Angus Bulls Avg. $3,821 7 Two-Year-Old Angus Bulls Avg. $6,321 30 Commercial Yearling Angus Heifers Avg. $1,025 26 Commercial Angus Pairs Avg. $1,825 Top Sellers Lot 2 – M Diamond Coalition 220 – Price: $14,500 DOB: 2/20/20 Sire: U-2 Coalition 206C Dam’s Sire: S Summit 4535 EPDs: BW: +2.1, WW: +70, YW: +124 and Milk: +22 Buyer:

Kraye Angus, Mullen, Neb. Lot 1 – Lisco Cowboy Way 018 – Price: $10,000 DOB: 2/17/20 Sire: HA Cowboy Up 5405 Dam’s Sire: Cole Creek Cedar Ridge 1V EPDs: BW: +2.2, WW: +74, YW: +126 and Milk: +25

Sinclair Cattle Co. Annual Bull Sale Reported By: Curt Cox, WLR Field Editor March 27, 2021 Buffalo Livestock Auction, Buffalo Auctioneer: Roger Jacobs 107 Yearling Angus Bulls Avg. $3,773 65 Registered Yearling Angus Heifers Avg. $1,795 77 Commercial Yearling Angus Heifers Avg. $1,021 2 Semen Packages supporting the Wyoming 4-H Foundation and Wyoming FFA Foundation: $3,100 Top Sellers Bulls Lot 5 – Sinclair Exquisite 0X2 – Price: $19,000 DOB: 2/13/20 Sire: N Bar Emulation EXT Dam’s Sire: N Bar Moderation 9957 EPDs: BW: +2.1, WW: +36, YW: +65 and

Milk: +21 Buyer: Brookhill Angus, Flemingsburg, Ky. Lot 86 – Sinclair Powder River 0FL7 – Price: $14,000 DOB: 2/13/20 Sire: Sinclair Piney Creek 6FV16 Dam’s Sire: N Bar Explosion EPDs: BW: +0.4, WW: +36, YW: +71 and Milk:

Vermilion Ranch Spring Performance Sale Reported By: Curt Cox, WLR Field Editor March 25-26, 2021 South Pryor Development Center and Public Auction Yards, Billings, Mont. Auctioneers: Roger Jacobs, Joe Goggins, Ty Thompson, Bill Cook, Greg Goggins and Mick Mosher

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480 Registered Yearling Angus Bulls Avg. $6,451 25 Registered Angus Bred Heifers Avg. $2,550 53 Registered Angus Bred Cows Avg. $1,836 4,208 Commercial Yearling Heifers Avg. $1,204 Top Sellers Lot 1 – Vermilion Bomber H072 – Price: $32,000 DOB: 1/31/20 Sire: Casino Bomber N33 Dam’s Sire: Vermilion Play Maker C458 EPDs: BW: -0.2, WW: +86, YW: +154 and Milk: +24 Buyer: Dasco Cattle Company, Hobbs, N.M. Lot 100 – Vermilion Com-

800-351-1476 ®

merce H024 – Price: $30,000 DOB: 1/27/20 Sire: Sitz Commerce 670F Dam’s Sire: Connealy Countdown EPDs: BW: +0.1, WW: +70, YW: +133 and Milk: +21 Buyer: Genex Beef, Shawano, Wisc. Lot 102 – Vermilion Commerce H027 – Price: $30,000 DOB: 2/4/20 Sire: Sitz Com-

Buyer: Bridle Bit Ranch, Wright Lot 9 – M Diamond 20 Coalition 60-0 – Price: $9,000 DOB: 3/7/20 Sire: U-2 Coalition 206C Dam’s Sire: Redland Emblazon 2021 EPDs: BW: +2.2, WW: +60, YW: +107 and Milk: +23 Buyer: TJ Livestock, Douglas Lot 28 – M Diamond Trendspotter 070 – Price: $9,000 DOB: 1/24/20 Sire: Brooking Trendspotter 6166 Dam’s Sire: Young Dale Xclusive 25X EPDs: BW: +3.0, WW: +56, YW: +94 and Milk: +18 Buyer: TJ Livestock, Douglas Lot 56 – Lisco 7102 Cowboy 9127 – Price: $9,000 DOB: 2/25/19 Sire: OCC Montana Cowboy 7102 Dam’s Sire: S Summit 956 EPDs: BW: +4.7, WW: +69, YW: +128 and Milk: +21 Buyer: Scott Ranches, Douglas +31 Buyer: Risse UV Ranch, Martin, S.D. Lot 8 – Sinclair Roy 0OE1 – Price: $8,500 DOB: 2/11/20 Sire: OCC Emblazon 854E Dam’s Sire: PAPA Rito T Intense DHD 6844 EPDs: BW: -0.1 WW: +36, YW: +59 and Milk: +22 Buyer: Laramie Stipe, Ontario, Ore. Lot 15 – Sinclair Jusrite 0J4 – Price: $7,500 DOB: 2/7/20 Sire: N Bar Jusrite 4324A Dam’s Sire: Rito Excel 809 EPDs: BW: +0.1 WW: +32, YW: +50 and Milk: +20 Buyer: Stipe Angus, Chalo, Mont. Lot 16 – Sinclair Jusrite 0J5 – Price: $7,250 DOB: 2/8/20 Sire: N Bar Jusrite 4324A Dam’s Sire: Rito Excel 809 EPDs: BW: +0.1 WW: +32, YW: +50 and Milk: +20 Buyer: Spring Valley Ranch, Minneapolis, Minn. merce 670F Dam’s Sire: Vermilion Conformation D340 EPDs: BW: +1.5, WW: +87, YW: +157 and Milk: +22 Buyer: Bice Ranch, Miles City, Mont. Lot 2 – Vermilion Bomber H091– Price: $25,000 DOB: 2/6/20 Sire: Casino Bomber N33 Dam’s Sire: Vermilion Privilege D624 EPDs: BW: +0.6, WW: +92, YW: +156 and Milk: +31 Buyer: Bob Stoddard, Douglas Lot 5 – Vermilion Bomber H103 – Price: $25,000 DOB: 1/31/20 Sire: Casino Bomber N33 Dam’s Sire: Connealy Countdown EPDs: BW: +0.5, WW: +81, YW: +141 and Milk: +23 Buyer: Bobcat Angus, Galata, Mont. Lot 42 – Vermilion McIlroy H104 – Price: $24,000 DOB: 2/1/20 Sire: Connealy McIlroy Dam’s Sire: Connealy Doc Neal EPDs: BW: -0.1, WW: +67, YW: +119 and Milk: +20 Buyer: Bob Stoddard, Douglas

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

Ogallala Aquifer depletion is a situation to manage, not problem to solve The Ogallala Aquifer’s future requires not just adapting to declining water levels, but the involvement of a wide range of participants comfortable with innovation who will help manage the situation and drive future changes. This was the message heard by more than 200 participants from across eight states who listened in and identified key steps in working together during the recent two-day Virtual Ogallala Aquifer Summit. “Technological innovation, financial and economic conditions, infrastructure changes, social values – all these factors drive change,” said John Tracy, director of the Texas Water Resources Institute, which is a partnering agency in the Ogallala Aquifer Program. Often people feel the need to solve the issue of declining groundwater across many parts of the aquifer, when in fact, what is needed is to look at how we manage change, Tracy shared. Adaptive management is about driving the change – realizing it is coming and trying to affect what is happening, rather than just responding. “Large regions of the Ogallala are going to run out of water, particularly in the Southern High Plains – how are we going to embrace this and not just respond to the change?” he asked. “We need to embrace rethinking how we approach the changes happening in the Ogallala – this is not a problem to be solved; this is a situation to be managed,” Tracy said. “We must move into the mindset of changing programs in order to get out in front of the situation. One of the most important activities is looking forward to how we drive this conversation and turn talk into action through consensus building that is the product of shared dialogue amongst all of us.” Meeting of the minds An inaugural eightstate summit, led by the Ogallala Water Coordinated Agriculture Project (CAP) and Kansas Water Office in 2018 focused on what actions were happening or could happen in terms of field management, science and, to some extent, policy.

The 2021 summit was intentionally framed to engage a broader community of actors. Joining the conversation were representatives of energy coops, lenders, producers, federal agencies in each state, youth, non-profits, policymakers, commodity groups, tech and irrigation equipment dealers and multinational companies. Participants identified other groups, including absentee landowners and Tribal representatives which should be invited and engaged as a focus area of the conversation at a future summit event. Changing the mindset The path forward begins with creating interest and providing education to the next generation of both producers and water conservation leaders. Fostering the transfer of knowledge between generations and developing leadership skills to position youth to step into groundwater district and other community leadership roles will be key. David Smith, 4-H2O program coordinator with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, described how the Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors program is creating water stewardship leaders. The program provides an opportunity for youth to gain insight into water law, policy, planning and management, and potential career paths as they interact with representatives from state water agencies, educators, researchers, policymakers and water resource managers. Producer-to-producer learning approaches in partnership with university and industry, such as the Nebraska and Oklahoma Testing Ag Performance Solutions program, have been particularly effective. Brent Auvermann, summit program chair and Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center director, said the adoption of technology can’t be taken for granted. Looking ahead, technology development and research must grapple with the human dimension of technology adoption. “Technology will race ahead, but it will stay on the shelf until and unless we devise new ways to foster its adoption,” Auver-

mann said. “Using even a little bit more water than needed is a form of crop insurance and asking producers to rely on new technology to cut back on their water use increases the risk that they, their insurers and their lenders perceive.” C.E. Williams, Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District general manager, said when producers think about growing a crop, their concern shouldn’t be about bushels per acre as water is the limiting factor. They need to understand and invest in the technology to ensure they are putting every drop in the right place. “All the inputs are important, but the bottom line is water,” Williams said. “It is like money – it is gone after it is spent. Rather than thinking of production in terms of bushels per acre, we should be thinking in terms of how many bushels per acre-inch or acre-foot of water used.” Every drop saved adds up Finding a way to provide access to broad audience about the actions of success in precision management technologies and strategies will be important, said Thornton Distinguished Chair in the Texas Tech University Department of Plant and Soil Science Chuck West. “There are a lot of little decisions people can make all along the way that add up to considerable water savings,” West said. Katie Ingels, director of communications with the Kansas Water Office, said several some of their Water Tech Farm producers are seeing the advantages of tech adoption, where a combination of slight adjustments in practice or integrating a new tool or strategy and related decisions each contribute some savings of money, time or water. “There’s a mindset out there among some growers that they can’t make a tremendous difference because they are a smaller operation with only a few wells,” said panelist Cory Gilbert, founder of On Target Ag Solutions. “Every single system adding to the acre-foot savings turns into a very big number very quickly in terms of conservation.” Panelist Matt Long,

producer and seed supplier, said water conservation is a quality of life issue. “By looking at the communities, one can see which ones are vibrant and they are the ones with a stable water supply that can support industry beyond cropping,” Long said. “Conserving water isn’t just about there being water for the future; it’s about having a community for the future. We have to have enough water to keep the people to keep the community.” At the same time, Auvermann said, communities need to be mindful of their water use. “We city folks need to look no further than our front lawns to see why we’re in the pickle we’re in,” Auvermann said. “We run water down the curb to make sure our home’s appearance doesn’t suffer.” Building a path forward Amy Kremen, Ogallala Water CAP project manager, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University (CSU), said a continuing theme throughout the meeting was, “With limited water in the High Plains, the question is less about production that needs to feed the world’s

“Large regions of the Ogallala are going to run out of water, particularly in the Southern High Plains – how are we going to embrace this and not just respond to the change?” – John Tracy, Texas Water Resources Institute population of eight billion, it’s about keeping rural communities vital. We need to give people more flexible options that allow them to make decisions related to water use to their economic best advantage.” Quality of life in these smaller communities supported by the Ogallala Aquifer is what is important. “We don’t want to dry up this life,” Kremen said. “We are all in this together. And together, we will come up with solutions better than any of us individually.” Decisions must center on making conservation economical for agriculture producers, both short-term and with long-term sustainability, providing not only for the next generations on the farm, but for the sustainability of the local communities they support. “We need to be willing to have uncomfortable conversations,” Auver-

mann said. “We need to talk candidly and be willing to entertain new, unfamiliar ideas. Fear of making mistakes keeps us from innovating. The dialogue has to be generous, congenial and optimistic to overcome this. We have to be trustworthy ourselves, and we have to be willing to trust.” People are hungry to have these conversations, said Meagan Schipanski, associate professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at CSU and Ogallala Water CAP codirector. “We need to have them happen in public, minisummits or regional conversations,” Schipanski said. “We need to take on a stewardship that meets producer and community needs.” This article was written by Kay Ledbetter and is courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife. She can be reached at skledbetter@ ag.tamu.edu or 806-5470002.

Herring Angus Ranch 19th Annual High Country Bull & Horse Sale SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2021 • HERRING SALE BARN 1 1/2 miles North of Encampment on Hwy 230, then 1/2 mile West

SELLING:

60 Angus 20 Black Simm-Cross Bulls 5 Ranch Broke Horses

SALE SCHEDULE

Friday – 4 p.m. Horse & Bull Preview Saturday – 1 p.m. Sale Time

HIGH ALTITUDE. PAP - AND PERFORMANCE-TESTED BULLS ANGUS AND BLACK COMPOSITES Lot 39

PAP: 38 Angus • Sire: Herring Sinclair Extra CED: +6 BW: +0.3 WW: +37 YW: +59 M: +19 BW: 72 lbs. Act. WW: 710 lbs.

Lot 70

WBC schedules meeting The Wyoming Beef Council (WBC) will meet May 10-11 to review the proposed budget and marketing plan for Fiscal Year 2022. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Express in Lander. In preparation for Fiscal Year 2022, which begins July 1, 2021, the members of the council will review the status of current projects and hear funding requests from Wyoming entities wishing to carry out promotion, educa-

tion and communication projects using Beef Checkoff dollars. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. May 10 and will adjourn when the day’s agenda items have been addressed. The meeting will resume at 8 a.m. May 11 with adjournment scheduled for noon. A copy of the agenda can be obtained from Wyoming Beef Council Executive Director Ann Wittmann at ann.wittmann@wyo.gov or 307-7777396.

PAP: 37 Simm-Cross • Sire: Broker BW: 82 lbs. Act. WW: 730 lbs.

Contact us for more information or a Sale Catalog Kal Herring, Angus & Composites (307) 327-5396 Home • (307) 329-8228 Cell Jon Gabel, Consultant Cody Miller, Horses (303) 594-5520 (307) 329-7400

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

CALENDAR

April 10 April 10

Submit your events to: Editor, Wyoming Livestock Roundup, P.O. Box 850, Casper, WY, 82602, or e-mail to roundup@wylr.net.

EVENTS

April 10 April 10

April 9

Yonts Water Conference, 9 a.m., Gering Civic Center, Gering, Neb. For more information, visit panhandle.unl.edu. April 12 Board of Agriculture Meeting, 9 a.m., Hathaway Building Room #127, Cheyenne. For more information, visit agriculture.wy.gov/boa/ agenda. April 13 Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Hearings, 9 a.m., online. For more information, visit wogcc.wyo.gov. April 17-18 University of Wyoming Block and Bridle Cowboy Beef Expo Judging Contest and Cattle Show, Laramie. For more information, visit uwyo.edu/beefexpo. April 20-21 Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Meeting, Jackson. For more information, visit wgfd.wyo.gov/about-us/game-and-fish-commission. April 29-May 1 2021 American National Cattlewomen Region V Meeting, Pendleton, Ore. For more information, visit orwattlewomen.org. May 5-6 Western Food Safety Summit, online. For complete details and to register, visit thewesternfoodsafetysummit.com. May 6-8 Wyoming Outdoor Expo, online. For more information, visit wgfd. wyo.gov/Education/expo-online. May 10-11 Wyoming Beef Council Meeting, Lander. For more information, contact Ann Wittmann at ann.wittmann@wyo.gov or 307-777-7396. May 20 Wyoming Stock Growers Association Young Producers Assembly Outreach, Gillette. For more information, visit wysga.org. June 2-4 Wyoming Stock Growers Association Summer Convention and Trade Show, Sheridan. Fore more information, visit wysga.org. June 5-6 Colorado Breed Bash Youth Cattle Show, Brush, Colo. For more information, visit facebook.com/Colorado-Breed-Bash or e-mail breedbash@gmail.com. June 8-10 2021 National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference, online. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov. June 13-19 College Finals National Rodeo, Casper, Casper Events Center. For more information, visit cnfr.com. June 18-19 10 th Annual Chris LeDoux Days, Harold Jarrard Park, Kaycee. For more information, visit chrisledoux.com. June 20-26 North American Junior Red Angus Event, Lebanon, Tenn. For more information, visit najrae.com.

SALES April 6 April 8 April 8 April 9 April 9 April 9 April 9 April 9

Webo Angus Annual Turning Grass into Greenbacks Bull Sale, at the ranch, Lusk, 307-334-3006, 307-216-0090, weboangus.com McClun’s Lazy JM Ranch Angus & Polled Herefords Annual Production Sale, Torrington Livestock Sale Barn, Torrington, 307-534-5141, 307575-2113, 307-575-3519 Reich Charolais Ranch 64th Annual Bull Sale, Belle Fourche Livestock Market, Belle Fourche, S.D., 605-892-4366, 605-580-2393 Sellman Ranch Annual Production Bull Sale, Crawford Livestock Market, Crawford, Neb., 308-430-4223, 308-430-3742, sellmanranch.com Salmon Select 22nd Annual Mule Sale, Lemhi County Fairgrounds, Salmon, Idaho, 208-756-2125, salmonselectsale.com 5L Red Angus Spring 2021 Profit $eeker Bull Sale, at the ranch, Sheridan, Mont., 406-842-5693, 5lredangus.com, 5lbulls.com Regency Acres Annual Production Sale, Sidney Livestock Market Center, Sidney, Mont., 406-774-3702, 406-480-5988 Cardinal Charolais 24th Annual Bull Sale, at the ranch, Hillrose, CO, 970-380-1355, 970-846-7225, cardinalcharolais.com

Big horn Basin LIVESTOCK AUCTION LLC

April 12 April 12 April 12 April 13 April 14 April 14 April 17 April 16-17 April 19 April 24 May 5 May 6 May 7-8

McDonnell Angus Annual Production Sale, Buffalo Livestock Auction, Buffalo, 406-780-0176, 406-322-4447, 307-217-0735, mcdonnellangus. com Salmon Select 49th Annual Horse Sale, Lemhi County Fairgrounds, Salmon, Idaho, 208-756-2125, salmonselectsale.com Ludvigson Stock Farms Spring Herdbuilder Bull Sale, Weschenfelder Development Center, Shepherd, Mont., 515-450-3124, 712-229-3431, ludvigsonstockfarms.com Casper College 41st Lamb & Pig Sale, Grace Werner Agriculture Pavilion, Casper College, Casper, 307-268-2525, 307-268-2417, 307-2682040, caspercollege.edu Colorado State University 35th Annual Yearling Commercial Angus Bull Sale, One Bar Eleven Ranch, Saratoga, 307-710-2938, 970-4912722 Wagner Charolais 10th Annual Bull Sale, at the ranch, Nunn, Colo., 970420-2336, wagnercharolais.com Garrigan Land & Cattle Annual Bull Sale, Faith Livestock Commission, Faith, S.D., 605-280-9220, 605-739-3901, garrigancattle.com Beckton’s 76th Anniversary Bull & Heifer Sale, at the ranch, Sheridan, 307-674-6095. 307-674-8162, becktonredangus.com Pass Creek Angus Ranch 47th Annual Bull Production Sale, at the ranch, Wyola, Mont., 406-343-2551, 406-679-3391, passcreekangus.com Maddux Cattle Company “Maternalizer” Bred Cow Sale, Ogallala Livestock, Ogallala, NE, 308-350-1133, 308-414-6682, madduxcattlecompany.com Rees Brothers Spring Angus Bull Sale, at the ranch, Morgan, Utah, 801-668-8613, 801-949-8960, reescattle.com Real Ranch Horse 15th Annual Invitational Sale & Futurity, Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch Indoor Arena, Billings, Mont., 406-670-3400, realranchhorses.com Pharo Cattle Company Spring Bull Sale, Burlington Livestock Exchange, Burlington, Colo., 800-311-0995, pharocattle.com Herring Angus High Country Bull & Ranch Horse Sale, Herring Ranch Sale Barn, Encampment, 307-327-5396, 307-329-8228 McDonnell Angus Annual Production Sale, Bowman Auction Market, Bowman, N.D., 406-780-0176, 406-322-4447, 307-217-0735, mcdonnellangus.com Paint Rock Angus Annual Production Sale, at the ranch, Hyattville, 307-469-2206, 307-469-2252, paintrockangus.com Best of the Rockies Cody Horse Sale, Irma Hotel, Cody, codyhorsesale. com, plus live webcast and phone bidding, superiorlivestock.com/production-event-detail?id=2754, 307-754-4320

POSTCARD from the Past

Compiled by Dick Perue rrichardperue@gmail.com

Calvary There was a place called Calvary, long, long ago. (What was done on Calvary who of us may know?) You, who see the lilies bloom – hear the bells

today, What do you know of Calvary, far, far away? To the world came strife and sin, long, long ago. (Why the grief that entered in,

Worland, WY

Sale Barn: 307-347-9201 Danny Vigil: 307-388-0781

Broadcasting and Online Bidding Available At lmaauctions.com. Please visit to fill out an application and view auctions.

Authorized Dealer April 1, 2021 • 263 Hd. Cows $3 to $4 Higher Bulls $4 to $5 Higher .BULLS Michael Vigil Farms, Inc. - Manderson 1 Blk Bull, 2420# ....................$10200 1 Blk Bull, 2230# ......................$9950 1 Blk Bull, 2075# ......................$9800 1 Blk Bull, 2300# ......................$9600 McCoy, Katherine - Lysite 1 Hrfd Bull, 1615# ....................$8200 COWS Cottonwood Creek Lvst. - Crowheart 33 Blk Cows, avg. 1157# .........$7950 Victor Bloomquist Revoc - Lysite 1 Blk Cow, 1195# .....................$6900 Lewton, Kent & Ann - Ten Sleep 1 Blk Cow, 1500# .....................$6750 2 Blk Cows, avg. 1250#...........$6600 Russatt Ranch, Inc. - Basin 1 Blk Cow, 1435# .....................$6700 1 Blk Cow, 1425# .....................$6100

McIntosh, Ruth - Burlington 1 CharX Cow, 1465# ...............$6550 Thon, Kenneth - Basin 1 Blk Cow, 1660# .....................$6550 Raildog Ranch Inc. - Powell 1 Blk Cow, 1290# .....................$6400 1 Blk Cow, 1340# .....................$6200 Ludwig, Clair - Shell 1 Blk Cow, 1365# .....................$6300 Ward, Paul or Ginger - Thermopolis 1 Blk Cow, 1355# .....................$6100 HEIFERETTES SLS Cattle Co. - Meeteetse 1 Blk Hfrette, 855# .................$11600 Cottonwood Creek Lvst. - Crowheart 14 BWF Hfrettes, avg. 989# ..$11200 52 Blk Hfrettes, avg. 1035# ...$10650 13 Blk Hfrettes, avg. 1065# ...$10100 Lewton, Kent & Ann - Ten Sleep 5 Blk Hfrettes, avg. 1043# .....$10800 2 Blk Hfrettes, avg. 1148# .......$9500 Lyman Ranch Co. - Ten Sleep 8 Blk Hfrettes, avg. 1124# .......$9500 Shepperson, Kasey - Meeteetse 1 Blk Hfrette, 965# ...................$7000

Danny Vigil Northern Livestock Represenative • Upcoming Sales • April 8 – Weigh-Up Special w/ All Class Cattle April 12 – Feeder Special Feeder Cattle Only April 15 – Bred Cow Special w/ All Class Cattle, Sheep & Goat April 22 – All Class Cattle April 29 – All Class Cattle May 6 – Weigh-Up Special w/ All Class Cattle May 13 – Pair & Bred Cow Special w/ All Class Cattle May 20 – All Class Cattle, Sheep & Goat May 27 – All Class Cattle June 10 – Pair Special w/ All Class Cattle

April 12, 2021 – Feeder Special, Feeder Cattle Only Bill Haun – 110 mxd blk 550-700#, weaned, 2 rounds of shots • DN Livestock – 80 mxd blk, 400550#, 2 rounds of shots • Greer Land & Livestock – 25 red strs, 25 red hfrs, 450-550#, weaned, 2 rounds of shots • Silver Sage Cattle – 25 blk hfrs, 550-650#, weaned, 2 rounds of shots • CJ Nye – 15 blk strs, 600-650#, weaned, 2 rounds of shots • Bruce Thurgood – 13 blk hfrs, 700800#, weaned, 2 rounds of shots • Cody Parsley – Reg. Red Angus Profitbuilder lines, 3 2 YO, 10 yearlings • Cannon McKim – 8 Charolais bulls, 10 Red Angus bulls • Clay Creek Angus – Reg. Blk Angus, 4 2 YO, 10 yearlings • Flying V – 10 bred cows, 8 yearling bulls.

April 15, 2021: Turn Out Bull Sale – Bulls start selling at 1 p.m. With Bred Cow Special & All Class Cattle, Sheep & Goat

Cody Parsley – Reg. Red Angus Profitbuilder lines, 3 2-year-olds, 10 yearlings • Cannon McKim – 8 Charolais bulls, 10 Red Angus bulls.

“Jesus’ Ascension” is the title of this stained glass window in the Saratoga Presbyterian Church. Scripture below it reads, “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” St. Luke 24: 50-51. Artists John & Linda Perue. Photo by Dick Perue. Historical Reproductions by Perue.

who of us may know?) You with songs upon your lips – in your hearts today, What do you know of Calvary, far, far away? Came a Man, a lowly Man, peace was in His eyes. Faith had made him very strong, love had made Him wise. All His love and all His faith, work of head and hand, Gave He to the world He loved. None would understand. So He laid His good life down, long, long ago. (All His grief and all His pain, who of us may know?) And He died to make the world safe for you and me; But His footprints still remain for all men to see. And they made a tomb for Him, dark and cold and deep, Where the watchers in the night came to mourn and weep. But a wondrous glory showed ‘round Him where He lay, And an angel from the tomb rolled the stone away. And He rose, He rose again, long, long ago! Still He walks the world of men! Still His footprints show! Still we hear His great heart beat close to us today. Though he died on Calvary, far, far away! Author unknown. Reprinted from the April 4, 1920 issue of the Encampment Echo.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

Researchers study high-elevation hay meadows University of Wyoming (UW) researchers will study soil health and factors limiting yield in high-elevation irrigated hay meadows on 12 ranch sites in Wyoming and Colorado as part of a $500,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant. “This is a very cool project we’re excited about,” said UW Extension Soils Specialist Jay Norton, who is heading the project. The project began in January and will run through 2024. Study overview He said the sites are in the Laramie River Basin in Wyoming and the North Park valley in northern Colorado. Norton, in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, said irrigated meadows above 6,500 feet are critical, but underperforming components of livestock operations in rangeland

ecosystems. “We think it’s important because flood-irrigated grass hay is one of the most widespread crops in Wyoming and producers agree hay meadows are generally an underperforming resource which requires an increasing amount of nitrogen fertilizer to maintain productivity over time,” said Norton. Norton leads a group of researchers from UW including Mengqiang Zhu and Linda van Diepen in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management; Urszula Norton in the Department of Plant Sciences and Brian Sabade, UW Extension educator. Colorado State University researchers on the project include Forage Specialist Joe Brummer. Former UW students Daniel Adamson, from a ranch outside Laramie and Rael Otuya, from Kitale,

Kenya, have returned to earn PhDs in soil science working on the project. Project objectives The scientists will evaluate soil processes and vegetation which affect nitrogen availability. This includes looking at soil health indicators, analyzing soil organic matter chemical composition, soil microbial ecology and soil greenhouse gases. The information helps set the second objective, which is identifying key soil properties as a minimum dataset for meadow health. The third goal will be at the Laramie Research and Extension Center. “We will evaluate novel ways to disturb the dense root mat using hoof impact from controlled cattle concentration, and light shallow rototilling, then planting a mixture of clovers to increase diver-

sity and forage value,” said Norton. The fourth goal, which includes exchanging information among researchers, producers, Extension Educators and others, entails monthly meetings with cooperating ranchers and annual progress meetings open to the public, he said. “Participants will be invited to participate in data collection activities, plus an end-of-project workshop to share findings and discuss new management approaches,” said Norton. For more information, Norton can be reached at 307-766-5082 or at jnorton4@uwyo.edu. This article was written by University of Wyoming Extension Senior Editor Dr. Steve Miller and is courtesy of the University of Wyoming. Miller can be reached at slmiller@uwyo. edu. For more information, visit uwagnews.com.

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 32 No. 49 • April 3, 2021

It’s the Pitts by Lee Pitts

Vac’s And Non-Vac’s Well aren’t I special? You are now reading the words of a free man, liberated after a year in lockdown. Yes, I have officially had both shots of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and my wife has released me to go to the hardware store. It didn’t take long to discover we still have a big problem. No, the process of getting the shot was not traumatic and, in fact, for a

government program it was a very efficient operation. No, the problem developed when I reentered society for the first time in a year. I was in the nail and screw aisle of the hardware store, minding my own business and checking out the washers, when I was accosted by a ponytailed, tie-dyed member of the Vaccination Police. In a loud voice he announced

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to the entire store, “YOU AREN’T WEARING A MASK!” “How very observant of you,” I replied. “But, I have had both shots of the vaccine.” “But there’s still a five percent chance of you contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to others.” “And there’s a 95 percent chance of you being a busy-body jerk,” I replied. “By the way, I’d appreciate it if you’d maintain proper social distancing instead of getting in my face because I can tell you had pizza with anchovies for lunch.” “If you don’t put a mask on right now I’m going to report you to the manager.” “Go ahead,” I said, “He’s right over there in light bulbs. He’s the bald guy not wearing a mask either because he got the shots the same time I did. By the way, have you been vaccinated?”

“Absolutely not,” the hippy-dippy dude said. “I am vaccine apprehensive. I don’t believe in them.” “Well, when you get deathly ill I hope you’re given the Andrew Cuomo treatment, only instead of being thrown into a home full of healthy but vulnerable old folks, I think you ought to be sent to both the Senate and House chambers and Congresspersons’ offices where you might actually do some good.” It became very clear to me at this point we need to have some way to distinguish between the vac’s and non-vac’s the same way we do with cattle. Sure, I did get one of those little stickers that said, “I’ve been vaccinated,” but it came off in the wash. And they could be easily counterfeited. I suppose the big black bruise on my upper arm is a sign of my vaccinated status but I’d have to wear

a tank top for it to show and it’s not a good look for a guy named Pitts. Besides, they aren’t permanent, as I’ve been told the bruises will go away in a couple months. My first thought was we could hot-iron brand the vac’s on the forehead or cheek, but this might lower the number of people getting the shots. Then from out of the blue, I got a brilliant idea, as I often do. We should recruit cowboys who know how to give shots, tattoo and insert a brucellosis tag, and send them hither and yon to give the shots, tattoo the ears and insert the orange metal tag in the ear of the vac’s. I think it would be an acceptable solution because most males are wearing an earring or two in their ears these days and women have long worn earrings. Of course, the cowboys

might have to hog-tie the victims and it should take place in a soundproof room or the screams might also be a deterrent. With everyone being identified, we could then discriminate and shun the non-vac’s like they do at auction markets by not allowing the non-vac’s to be transported across state lines. We could open up all restaurants again and the vac’s could eat inside and the non-vacs would be forced outside in the rain, sleet, snow and flies. Instead of smoking and non-smoking sections we’d have vac and nonvac sections and anyone without an orange tag in their ear would be denied entrance to the grocery store. To entice non-vac’s to get the shot, we could give coupons for 10 percent off at dollar stores, which appear to be the only stores to will survive the virus.

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RIVERTON LIVESTOCK AUCTION Tuesday, March 30 Market Report • 332 Head Sold Representative Sales COWS LANDER 1 Cow, 1225# .................................. $78.00 2 Cow, 1250# .................................. $76.00 3 Cow, 1148# ................................... $75.00 1 Cow, 1485# .................................. $70.00 RIVERTON 1 Cow, 1370# .................................. $64.00 FORT WASHAKIE 2 Cow, 1075# .................................. $61.50 RIVERTON 1 Cow, 1560# .................................. $61.00 FORT WASHAKIE 5 Cow, 1143# ................................... $60.50 RIVERTON 2 Cow, 1315# .................................. $59.50 FORT WASHAKIE 3 Cow, 1188# ................................... $58.00 BULLS OPAL 1 Bull, 1885# ................................... $88.00 MOUNTAIN VIEW 1 Bull, 2155# ................................... $87.00 MIDWEST 1 Bull, 2045# ................................... $82.50 RIVERTON 1 Bull, 1575# ................................... $80.00 MIDWEST 2 Bull, 1717# ................................... $79.50 ROCK SPRINGS 2 Bull, 1887# ................................... $78.50 MIDWEST 2 Bull, 1552# ................................... $75.00 HEIFERETTES LANDER 2 Heiferette, 832# .......................... $107.00 2 Heiferette, 987# .......................... $103.50 1 Heiferette, 1105 ............................ $88.00 1 Heiferette, 1155# .......................... $79.00

Early Consignments TUESDAY, APRIL 6 BACK TO GRASS & FEEDER SPECIAL START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS FEEDERS @ 11:00 AM Fleur de Lis Cattle Co - 300 Blk Ang (Few BWF) Spayed Hfrs 600-650#. Rec Pyramid 5 w/ Presponse, 7-way, poured w/ Cleanup & wormed w/ Safeguard in January. Conditioned for grass! Very uniform set of high quality heifers! Dixon Ranches - 123 Blk Ang & AngX Hfrs 600625#. Comp vacc. Conditioned for grass. Fancy! Dan Miller - 100 Blk Ang/AngX Strs & Hfrs 550-600#. Weaned mid Oct. Comp vacc. Age & Source verified IMI Global. All natural. One brand, high desert. Ron & Jackie Lucas - 95 Blk Ang & AngX Strs & Hfrs 500-625#. Rec Vista Once SQ, Vision 8 w/Pink Eye @ Branding & Weaning (11/1). 100% sired by High Indexing Blk Ang bulls. Long time weaned. Many years of selective genetics & performance behind these calves!! Robert McMurry - 80 Blk Strs & Hfrs 550-625#. Comp vacc. Long time weaned. Hay fed. High elevation! Fisher Ranch - 67 BWF Hfrs (F1) 650#. Rec Vista Once SQ & 7-way w/ Somnus. Weaned since Nov 1st. Replacement quality. Fancy! Jim Fabrizius - 38 Blk Ang & AngX Strs & Hfrs 700800#. Comp vacc. Long time weaned. 100% All natural. Mosquito Creek Ranch - 34 Blk Ang & AngX Strs 550-600#. Weaned 11/1. Comp vacc Spring & Fall. High elevation, hay fed. Conditioned for grass! Tom & Amy Reed - 25 Blk Ang Hfrs 675-725#. Comp vacc. Bangs vacc. Cake broke, hay fed. Fancy, replacement quality heifers! John Morrison - 25 Blk Strs & Hfrs 500#. Rec Vision 7 w/ Spur & poured. Running out. Hay fed. Wapika Ranch - 20 Blk Hfrs 650-700#. Broke to cake. Running out & hay fed. Duncan & Kayleene Leclair - 8 Blk Hfrs 600-700#. Rec two rounds of shots. & poured. Long time weaned. Fancy! John Eversole - 7 Strs 700-800#. Comp vacc. Brent Keen - 5 Blk Hfrs 600#. Rec two rounds of

Virashield 6 & Vision 7, poured & wormed. Bangs vacc. Long time weaned. Bunk broke, hay fed. Dillon & Ryan Hedges - 3 BWF F1 Hfrs 700#. Comp vacc. Run @ high elevation. Bunk broke. Long time weaned. Replacement quality. Herd reduction.

TUESDAY, APRIL 13 BRED COW & PAIR SPECIAL START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS 47QC LLC - 40 Blk Ang Hfr Pairs. Cows received Virashield 6 VL5, Safeguard & poured. Calves received C & D, Multimin & CattlActive @ Birth. Tagged to match. Calves sired by Reyes Blk Ang bulls. Fancy, young pairs! Dennis Horton - 12 Blk Ang/AngX Young Pairs. Big, stout January calves at side. Rec C & D @ Birth. Fancy, one brand cows!

TUESDAY, MAY 18 ALL CATTLE CLASSES START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS

TUESDAY, MAY 25 ALL CATTLE CLASSES W/ SHEEP & HORSES START TIME 9:00 AM W/ SHEEP & WEIGH UPS

TUESDAY, JUNE 1 ALL CATTLE CLASSES START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS

TUESDAY, JUNE 8

TUESDAY, APRIL 20

NO SALE

FEEDER SPECIAL START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS

TUESDAY, JUNE 15

TUESDAY, APRIL 27

ALL CATTLE CLASSES START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS

ALL CATTLE CLASSES W/ SHEEP & HORSES START TIME 9:00 AM W/ SHEEP & WEIGH UPS

TUESDAY, JUNE 22

Dillon & Elayna Hedges - 6 Show Quality Ewes 2-4 Yr olds. Genetics include Burch, Sanchez, Griffith & Hedges show stock. Herd reduction.

TUESDAY, MAY 4 BACK TO GRASS SPECIAL START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS

TUESDAY, MAY 11 ALL CATTLE CLASSES START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS

NO SALE

TUESDAY, JUNE 29 ALL CATTLE CLASSES W/ SHEEP & HORSES START TIME 9:00 AM W/ SHEEP & WEIGH UPS All sales are broadcast live on the internet at www.cattleusa.com. Please register online to bid on livestock. Be sure to check out our country cattle listings at www.cattleusa.com

Contact: Riverton Livestock Auction (307) 856-2209 • Jeff Brown (307) 850-4193 • Tom Linn (307) 728-8519 • Mark Winter (580) 747-9436 • www.rivertonlivestock.com • Also watch our live cattle auction at www.cattleusa.com

1490 South 8th Street East • River ton, WY 82501 • (307) 856-2209