April 4, 2020 by Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Volume 31 Number 49 • April 4, 2020

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

A Look Inside

Disease management should be done prior to planting

Rural broadband more critical than ever as coronavirus pandemic forces many to work from home.....................Page 6

“If the forecast holds true, it looks like it is going to be another year of excessive soil moisture and possible flooding,” states South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Plant Patholo-

Cover crops can help accomplish soil health..............Page 7 Soybean cyst nematodes should be treated prior to planting..................................Page 7 Equipment safety procedures can save lives and protect workers........................Page 13

Quick Bits

COVID-19

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. increased by 27,089 cases to 216,722 cases as of April 2, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The rise in caseloads has been the largest increase as the pandemic approaches the anticipated mid-April peak. The death toll rose by over 1,000 lives to 5,137 deaths as of April 2.

Wool Testing The New Zealand Wool Testing Authority (NZWTA) Laboratory was closed as a result of the ongoing COVID19 outbreak. The temporary closure is scheduled to last at least four weeks. The American wool industry had planned to use the NZWTA Lab for spring 2020 wool testing, while a new commercial lab at Texas A&M University AgriLife in San Angelo, Texas, is developed to take over in 2021.

Winter Blend The Wyoming Department of Agriculture announced a temporary waiver which allows the use of winter blend diesel and gasoline until the transition can be made to summer blends. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant decline in gasoline demand, and since fuel storage capacity is limited, more time is needed to transition the distribution system in order to come into fuel quality compliance for the summer driving season.

els of soil moisture have implications on plant stand establishment as well as root rot and nematode infestations. Management options “Managing root rot and nematodes requires

taking action before planting since there are no in-season treatments that can control them,” the two pathologists say. Despite this, Byamukama and Strunk note

Please see DISEASE on page 5

2 0 2 0 S P R IN G P L A N T IN G E D IT IO N

Farming in 2020

Corn Prices May futures prices fought to ease off 11-month lows, gaining three cents to $3.3775 on news of peace talks in the energy sector between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Energy prices rose on the news. July futures rose $0.0275 to $3.415 on the news. Spot bids for corn strengthened at river locations, driven by export demand from the U.S. Gulf. Basis weakened at several other locations in the Corn Belt in response to steady farmer sales in recent weeks amid so much economic uncertainty.

gist Emmanuel Byamukama and SDSU Extension Plant Pathology Field Specialist Connie Strunk in an article published on Feb. 11. Byamukama and Strunk note increased lev-

C O V I D -1 9 w i l l b e a m a j o r f a c t o r f o r p r o d u c e r s e v e r y w h e r e Though agriculture was deemed an essential industry by the Centers for Disease Control and agriculture may not be seeing the same implications as other industries, producers will still see repercussions from the pandemic. “Things are far from business as usual in cities and towns across America. Millions of us are being called to serve our neighbors by staying home. There is a lot beyond our control and still unknown as we face this crisis, but we can focus on and be faithful with the tasks at hand,” says American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall. “For farmers and ranchers our calling hasn’t changed, though its importance hits closer to home in times like these - we are committed to rising every day to grow and harvest the food we all

depend on,” he says. “We can’t do that work alone, however. In the days, weeks and months ahead, agriculture will continue to depend on access to a skilled workforce to help with the work of planting, cultivating and harvesting our crops.” Background The COVID-19 outbreak, previously 2019nCoV, was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This outbreak was triggered in December 2019 in Wuhan city in the Hubei province of China. COVID-19 continues to spread across the world. Initially the epicenter of the outbreak was China, with reported cases either in China or being travelers from China. “Trade conflicts, prevented late planting and policy innovations have presented a difficult deciPlease see FARMING on page 19

WYLR Photo

Corn planting Soil temperature and moisture are critical With corn planting fast approaching, many growers often question when the optimum time to plant the crop is. According to Kansas State University (KSU) Crop Production Specialist Ignacio Ciampitti, corn planting should follow soil temperature and moisture rather than calendar dates. During an episode of KSU’s Agriculture Today podcast, published March 24, Ciampitti discusses prime corn planting timing and the importance of corn seeding rates. Soil temperature Ciampitti says the ideal soil temperature for corn germination is between 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. “Corn emergence at 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit may take 18 to 21 days, while at 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, corn emerges in eight to 10 days,” states Ciampitti. “Below 50 degrees Fahrenheit little, if any, germination can be expected.” Ciampitti explains some growers like to push the planting dates up to early April to get the full season corn through its tasseling and pollination stage before the dry summer heat. “There is some research to show this is an effective Please see CORN on page 12

UW offers support In response to student hardships caused by novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the University of Wyoming (UW) is taking extraordinary steps to provide financial security for students for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester. Those steps include a decision to pay the university’s 2,200 student employees, many of whom no longer have access to their positions, through the end of the semester. This is estimated to cost $1.5 million. The university will also launch a $250,000 matching program, Pokes Make the Difference, by the UW Foundation’s Board of Directors to create an emergency fund of at least $500,000 for students in need. Provision of dozens of computers and other technology were provided so students can complete the semester via online instruction at home. Distribution of $163,000 by the Associated Students of UW (ASUW) to students who responded to a notice that ASUW would provide student stipends of up to $300. “As COVID-19 continues to impact the world, the welfare of our students has been our top priority,” Acting President Neil Theobald wrote in a message announcing the UW Foundation matching program. “Many UW students have been dramatically impacted by this event, particularly those students who faced financial and food insecurity before the effects of this crisis took hold. For many, the university has served as the primary resource for not only educational needs, but also critical amenities such as housing, food and technology. Our students have Please see UW on page 20

Alfalfa farmers should aim for dairy-quality hay Following devastating floods across the Midwest and northern plains in the spring of 2019, many farmers in the region are scrambling to find hay to feed their livestock. This has become a particular problem across large dairy producing regions that rely on highquality forage. Gary White, a production seedsman with Allied Seed in Powell notes there are hay shortages across many dairy producing states, which could be a great marketing opportunity for local producers. “Growing dairy-quality hay could be a really great marketing opportunity

for producers across Wyoming and surrounding states who didn’t see as much flooding,” he notes. Shortages Headlines regarding a hay shortage plagued and continue to plague dairy news outlets across the Midwest. According to a dairyherd.com article titled, Hay Outlook 2020, published in late 2019, “Wild weather patterns took a toll on the 2019 hay season, causing the nation’s hay stock to reach its lowest level since 2012 and quality to be hit or miss. Looking to 2020, regional supply and demand will

periodical

Please see DAIRY on page 10

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

Thank the Farmers Our annual Spring Planting Edition is out for your reading and I always look forward to it, as it is a sure sign spring is here. In a true sense for agriculture, it is the start of a new year. From the Even if a spring snow storm Publisher hits the region, we realize it can’t Dennis Sun last too long. We know to leave the muck boots handy, along with the winter caps and coats. For those of us in the higher country, we envy farmers in the Wheatland, Torrington and Big Horn Basin for the green tint out in the fields while we’re still shoveling snow. If you are in the livestock business, we always look over the fences at their fields during the winter and marvel that their business doesn’t eat while they sleep like our livestock do. Livestock producers realize without farmers, the livestock business would be back to how it was in the late 1800s, where they would really be shaking the dice. I’ve never planted many fields, but always wondered why the farmers’ fields greened up sooner and the only thing coming up in mine was a gopher. My family always said, “Never try to outsmart a farmer,” and they were right. Last summer, the weather was not good for a number of crops in the region. A late, cold and wet spring, along with an early freeze in the fall, really hurt the hay and sugarbeet crops. Our summer didn’t last long in 2019. We can say for sure hay supplies are short, most of the loaded hay trucks are coming into the state with round bales. As with all crops, everyone is looking forward to a good growing season with no irrigation canal tunnel issues. We do hear there may be some irrigation canal tunnel issues this summer, but we hope they will be a quick fix. If there is such a thing with tunnels, the words quick and inexpensive are not generally associated with tunnel repair. For irrigators, the weekly snow report has looked good for some time now. Only the Sweetwater drainage is below average. The large farming areas around the region look to have adequate water supplies so far. Along with water, crop prices are on everyone’s mind and the virus has certainly had an impact there. Looking back on the February crop and farm sector assets, forecasts were up from 2019 around 1.3 percent. Farm debt was going to be down a little, but inflation may hurt those figures. As we all realize, we’re in a global market and this virus issue is the unknown. The eastern Pacific countries are going to be the key with exports. China needs to eat more grain-fed beef and lamb from the U.S. Just like the stock market, farm prices really dislike the unknown and that is where we are with the virus issue. We’ve got to get it behind us and everyone get back to work. Farmers and ranchers, along with others, are working through it as they have to. It will be good to get back to handshakes and hugs. Stay well and away from others. As they say, “The virus doesn’t move, people move it, if we stop moving, the virus dies. It’s that simple.”

GUEST OPINIONS Protecting Honeybees as You Farm By Scott Schell, University of Wyoming Extension All involved with agriculture recognize the value of honeybees. Producers, knowing how difficult making a living in agriculture can be, can also appreciate the source of revenue honeybees provide fellow agriculturists, the beekeepers. Managed and feral honeybee colonies across the country have declined from over four million in 1982 to just a little over three million by 1992. The last census of beekeepers with five or more colonies placed the tally at 2.67 million colonies as of Jan. 1, 2019. Visit bit.ly/honeybeenumbers for more detail. Why the decline occurred is somewhat controversial. Some want to attribute most of the honeybee population decline to pesticide exposure from conventional agriculture practices. However, both the tracheal and Varroa mites, Acarapis woodi and Varroa destructor, respectively, were first detected in U.S. honeybee populations in the early 1980s. This discovery coincides with the initial steep decline in honeybee colony numbers. This decline occured even before the coining of the “Colony Collapse Disorder,” a name used to describe the severe overwinter honeybee hive losses reported in 2006. Beekeepers surveyed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Ser-

vice (USDA-NASS) in 2019, still consider the Varroa mite the numberone stressor of their honeybees. Many people are shocked to learn products sold by apiary supply companies as “medications” to treat Varroa mite infestations in hives are synthetic insecticides. They are applied inside honeybee hives in ways lethal to the Varroa mites, but sub-lethal to honeybees. My point is, Varroa mites, the numerous pathogenic viruses they transmit, tracheal mites, small hive beetles and the occurrence of a second species of Nosema fungal pathogen are major factors in the decline. Added on top of these diseases and parasites of honeybees, are the health stresses due to the intense commercial pollination services the almond industry demands every February. I believe these factors have caused more problems for beekeepers over the last 30 years than have the good integrated pest management (IPM) on farms for common crop pests. However, I am not saying we cannot improve our farming practices or enhance the rural landscape to reduce risk to honeybees. There are practices that can protect honeybees. One way is having pesticide applicators and local beekeepers commu-

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DENNIS SUN, Publisher • Cell: 307-262-6132 e-mail: dennis@wylr.net CALLIE HANSON, Managing Editor • callie@wylr.net HANNAH BUGAS, Assistant Editor • hannah@wylr.net BEAU PITT, Production Coordinator • beau@wylr.net JODY MICHELENA, Advertising Director • jodym@wylr.net CURT COX, Director of Livestock Field Services • 307-630-4604 • curt@wylr.net CODY NEGRI, Livestock Field Services Representative • 208-697-1093 • cody@wylr.net ANDREA ZINK, Circulation/Accounting Manager • andrea@wylr.net DENISE OLSON, Classified Sales Manager • 307-685-8213 • denise@wylr.net

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New Date - APRIL 18, 2020

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The time of restriction or the decision to move hives depends on the insecticide and crop. Treating blooming confectionary sunflowers for sunflower moth larvae is an example. The sunflowers will still need honeybee pollination, so the grower and the beekeeper have to work together to ensure each other’s success. I often read pesticide applications be conducted in the evening after bees have returned to their homes. In theory, this is fine. However, air temperature inversions, which can cause off-target pesticide drift, often develop in the early evening. If conditions exist that might drift insecticides onto flowers outside a field where honeybees are foraging, it would be better to treat when weather conditions ensure all of the pesticide stays on the crop field and have your beekeeper restrict honeybees’ access to the field while it is hazardous to them. The North Dakota State University Extension publication, Air Temperature Inversion Causes, Characteristic and Potential Effects on Pesticide Spray Drift, helps explain and is available at bit.ly/ airtempinversions. The inherent toxicity of the insecticide, the length of its residual activity, the formulation of the product and the timing of

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nicate about their activities and locations of honeybee colonies. By statute, beekeepers need to register colony locations with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA). Applicators need to notify beekeepers with colonies in the vicinity of treatments in time for them to take action to protect their insect livestock. Honeybees can travel over four miles to get to the pollen and nectar the colony needs. Usually, honeybee colonies are close to the flower resources they need. Potentially, this is quite a large area a pesticide applicator needs to be aware of. The WDA Technical Services Division has a mapping application on their website that gives the location of all registered beehives and is searchable, the map can be viewed at bit.ly/wyobeeapp. The app’s accuracy, however, depends on beekeepers updating hive locations if they move their honeybees. You, or your hired applicator, must read and follow the pesticide labels and obey the guidance they provide regarding drift management and pollinator protection. Honeybees can be contained in their hives for 24 hours easily in cool weather or even relocated if necessary for protection when a field they are visiting needs treated.

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS Simmons appointed

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Chief Veterinarian Dr. Kathy Simmons released the following statement on her appointment by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program’s (NADPRP) consultation board. “I am honored to be selected to represent cattle producers on this important consultation board that will help to ensure continued animal health and food safety in the United States,” said Dr. Simmons. “It is important in times of crisis that we do not stop working to develop future animal disease preparedness and response efforts. To this end, I want to thank USDA for administering this program and working to protect the future of American ranching.” USDA APHIS established a consultation board to assist the agency with implementation of the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program. This new program was created by the 2018 Farm Bill to fund projects that will help prevent animal pests and diseases from entering the United States and reduce the spread and impact of potential disease incursions. The consultation board will recommend annual funding priorities, provide input to improve program policies and processes, nominate experts to review and rank funding proposals and make recommendations for the program’s annual spending plan. Once the board agrees on 2020 funding priorities, APHIS will announce details about how eligible entities can apply for funding.

Field days planned Modern production and management technology of forages will be highlighted during the Wyoming Forage Field Day on June 18, at the University of Wyoming’s Laramie Research and Extension Center. Events are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cliff and Martha Hansen Livestock Teaching Arena. “Held annually, the field day is held in different locations based on producers’ questions and demands,” said Anowar Islam, UW Extension forage specialist. “This event provides great opportunities for producers to connect and have individualized conversations with leading forage researchers and expertise,” said Islam. Topics include flood irrigating grass hay meadows, hay harvest and quality, highly digestible alfalfa, integrated weed/pest management, soil health and fertility, grass varieties performance, panel discussion and forage product and equipment demonstrations. Registration is free but attendees must register by June 11 to ensure lunch. Visit bit.ly/ForageFieldDay20 to register. For more information, contact Islam at 307-766-4151 or mislam@uwyo.edu.

Sheep markets struggle

New rules in effect

New regulations on shed antler and horn collection are now in effect. The updated regulation expands the seasonal closure area to include expanded critical wintering habitat and enact a new opening time of 12 noon on public lands. The annual closure is to protect wintering big game. The new regulation and map of the boundaries is available online. The 2020 shed season opens May 1 at noon. Since 2009, Wyoming has prohibited the collection of shed antlers and horns on public land, such as U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands and Wyoming Game and Fish Commission owned or administered lands west of the Continental Divide, excluding the Great Divide Basin, from Jan. 1 through April 30 of each year. In 2019, new legislation granted the Game and Fish Commission the authority to regulate shed gathering in expanded areas across the state. “Extending the closed areas in southeast Wyoming will benefit mule deer on critical winter ranges in the Sheep Mountain and Platte Valley herds,” King said. “The Game and Fish Department has established mule deer initiatives for the Platte Valley and Sheep Mountain mule deer herds to address concerns with these mule deer populations. A lot of people recreate on winter ranges in these areas, and this new regulation can make a difference in reducing disturbance during a crucial time for mule deer and other big game animals.” Any antlers or horns found in Wyoming that are attached to the skull need to be tagged with an Interstate Game Tag by a Wyoming Game and Fish law enforcement officer. Individuals need to contact a game warden prior to removing the head from the field. There is an $8 fee for the tag.

Deadline extended U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand announced USDA has extended the deadline for ReConnect Pilot Program applications to April 15. “In light of the COVID-19 National Emergency, USDA is extending the application deadline for round two of ReConnect Pilot Program funding to give rural businesses, cooperatives and communities extra time to apply for this critical assistance that will help bring high-speed broadband connectivity to rural communities,” Brand said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has made deploying this critical infrastructure in rural America a top priority, because when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”

Demand for lamb, wool and pelts is tanking in response to the coronavirus pandemic, industry representatives say and prices are following suit. “It’s having a tremendous impact on the industry,” said John Noh, president of Idaho Wool Growers Association and a board member of the American Sheep Industry Association. “Trade to major wool buyers in Italy and China has shut down, as has the pelt trade to primary markets in Turkey, China and Russia,” he said. On top of that, the second-largest U.S. lamb packer, Mountain States Rosen, filed for bankruptcy and its kill rate is way down. Mountain States Rosen filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 19 with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wyoming. “Prices paid to producers are rapidly falling. Fat lambs, which were selling for $1.45 to $1.50 a pound, are now as low as $1.25,” said Noh.

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS NCBA urges action

Following final passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act by the U.S. House of Representatives, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) sent a letter urging United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to “take immediate action to provide much-needed relief to cattle producers who have been negatively impacted due to the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.” “We applaud those House members who rose above party politics to deliver this much-needed relief to American families, especially those in cattle country,” said NCBA President Marty Smith. “It is now incumbent upon Secretary Perdue and his team at USDA to make sure the relief made available by this legislation is speedily delivered to cattlemen and women nationwide. As the largest and oldest national organization representing cattle producers, NCBA stands ready to assist USDA to ensure this happens as quickly and equitably as possible.”

FSA closes offices

Adoptions rescheduled In support of national and state efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, the upcoming wild horse adoption at the Rock Springs Wild Horse Facility scheduled for April 24-25 is postponed. The corrals are currently closed and are not accepting appointments at this time to ensure maximum safety for visitors and employees. The adoptions scheduled in early May in Powell and the Wyoming Honor Farm on May 15-16 are also postponed. Events will be rescheduled this summer at various locations including Rock Springs, Powell, the Steve Mantle Training Facility and Cheyenne Frontier Days. For the latest information and updates on wild horse events, please visit blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-andburro.

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USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices are open in Wyoming by phone appointment only until further notice and FSA staff are available to continue helping agricultural producers with program signups, loan servicing and other important actions. Additionally, FSA is relaxing the loan-making process and adding flexibilities for servicing direct and guaranteed loans to provide credit to producers in need. FSA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only. While program delivery staff will continue to come into to the office, they will be working with agricultural producers by phone and using e-mail and online tools whenever possible. “FSA programs and loans are critical to Wyoming farmers and ranchers, and we want to continue our work with customers while taking precautionary measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus,” FSA State Executive Director Lois Van Mark said. “We recognize farm loans are critical for annual operating and family living expenses, emergency needs and cash flow through times like this. FSA is working to find and use every option and flexibility to provide producers with credit options and other program benefits.”

Grants offered

Gov. Mark Gordon announced the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS) and the Wyoming Workforce Development Council (WWDC) are offering $300,000 in grants to support businesses in order to avert or shorten layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Wyoming. “I am working tirelessly to find and deploy tools to strengthen Wyoming businesses during these challenging times,” said Gordon. “Wyoming’s Layoff Aversion grants provide some relief to businesses while keeping employees working.” DWS and its 20 workforce centers will assist businesses with grant applications to support these important layoff aversion strategies for Wyoming’s economy. “Wyomingites are creative and resilient, but sometimes we need a little financial assistance to get through the hard times,” said DWS Director Robin Sessions Cooley. “I expect we will see employers come up with very innovative solutions through the Layoff Aversion grants.” The grants will be available to all eligible Wyoming businesses in good standing with Unemployment Insurance and Worker’s Compensation. Businesses can apply for up to $5,000 to support layoff aversion strategies that can keep their businesses open and employees working or shorten the duration of a layoff. “Wyoming employers are the backbone of our great state, and we want to help employers continue to operate in this unprecedented time,” said WWDC Chairman Jim Engel. “We encourage employers to identify innovative ways to continue doing business while observing social distancing and other guidelines.”

Pandemic effects hit ag Coronavirus is taking a bite out of local businesses on Main Street and now the implications for agriculture are beginning to take shape, said Cole Ehmke, rural entrepreneurship specialist with University of Wyoming Extension. Those implications include falling commodity prices affecting any farmer who had March contracts for delivering grain, said Ehmke. “And it seems likely there will be a manpower shortage,” said Ehmke. “Custom harvesters for wheat often draw crews from countries such as Australia and South Africa who may not be able to get here. Labor will likely be an issue for producers of fresh vegetables for farmers’ markets and horticultural products as the spring develops.” “Interrupted logistics could delay needed supplies of fertilizer, chemicals and seed, especially as planting time nears for some spring crops like corn,” he said. “I’d guess things are okay for the next month with the supplies on hand, but uncertainty is an issue after that,” said Ehmke. “If truckers stay home, then our ability to move products may be an issue. And some technical ingredients come from China.” The future gets cloudier if the human factor of panic buying is added, which creates an incentive for reasonable people to buy before there is none left. “While the run on toilet paper was irrational since the usage rate hasn’t changed, it may be more difficult for pesticide applicators to find the needed respirators required for use with some pesticide products,” he said. In the animal agriculture sector, illnesses at processing facilities with large workforces could create issues with a backlog of animals on a ranch or in feedlots and even traditionally social events like spring brandings might have to be reconfigured. “Many animals are taken to slaughter based on certain size or weight. So, there may be processing challenges later on,” Ehmke said. “This will also mean producers will have to make larger investments in feeding and maintaining the health of the animals.” “The situation is the coronavirus is forcing local businesses and government agencies to adjust and ag will have to adjust too,” Ehmke said.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

DISEASE continued from page 1 there are a few pre-planting management options growers can use for disease management. In low-lying fields with poor drainage or a history of root rot, Byamukama and Strunk say seed treatment may be needed. They explain fungicide and nematicide seed treatments provide protection against seed-borne and soil-borne pathogens and nematodes, which may interfere with seed germination or infect the developing roots after germination. “Seed treatments enhance plant vigor in the presence of soil-borne and seed-borne pathogens,” the plant pathologists say. “A grower’s decision to use a given active ingredient should depend on the pathogen they need to

manage,” say Byamukama and Strunk. “Pythium and Phytophthora are watermold pathogens and are managed with three common active ingredients – metalaxyl, mefonoxam and oxanthiopiprolin.” They also explain common nematicides used to manage soybean cyst nematode are Clariva, Ilevo, Poncho Votivo, Avicata Complete, Nemastrike and Aveo EZ. “Other seed and root rot pathogens can be managed with several products available on the market,” they explain. Another management strategy the two recommend in wet seasons is delayed planting. “Time of planting can influence the level of certain root rots in crops,” they explain. “Planting too early when the soil is

BEES continued from page 2 the application can have a huge influence on the risk to honeybees and other pollinators. Herbicides are unlikely to cause direct harm to honeybees. Some fungicides when tank mixed with insecticides have a synergistic effect that increases the toxicity of the mixture to honeybees. A Pacific Northwest Extension publication entitled, How to Reduce Bee Poisoning From Pesticides, is available to provide detailed guidance on pesticide selection at catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/ pnw591. Keeping part of their lands in vegetation that can provide flowers all growing season is another way farmers can enhance the rural landscape for honeybees. Local USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service offices have programs and incentives to help conserve habitat for honeybees. You can learn more at bit.ly/ foodforbees. Asking seed companies to stop coating

oil and grain seeds with systemic insecticides is another way farmers can help honeybees and themselves. The idea of an insecticide being applied without a specific action threshold of pest pressure goes against a basic principle of IPM. The constant selection pressure of a single insecticide mode of action will cause and raise pest population resistance and eventually render that class of insecticide useless. Research at Purdue University, published in 2017, showed clothianidin, a neonicotinoid class insecticide, coated corn seeds didn’t result in increased yield versus untreated seeds. It is nonintuitive that there can be extensive pesticide drift from insecticide coated seeds. However, the same researchers also demonstrated that the dust vented from the air seeders, commonly used for planting corn, contained enough clothianidin residue from the seed coating to be hazardous to bees foraging near the fields. The vented resi-

wet and below 55 degrees increases the chances of seed and root rot. It is recommended to delay planting to when soils are warmer and not too wet to reduce the risk of these rots developing.” Important considerations Byamukama and Strunk note it is important to recognize seed treatments don’t compensate for poor seed quality. “Even with seed treatments, cracked, shriveled or poorly stored seed many don't germinate well. Growers need to use clean, disease-free seed to reduce inoculum on the seed,” they say. They also note safety while treating and handling treated seed is crucial. They urge growers to follow safety guidelines on the product label, follow label directions when dealing with spilled or leftover seed and use personal protection equipdue dust drifted in the wind and contaminated flowers in meaningful amounts almost 100 yards downwind from corn field edges after planting, the farthest distance sampled in the study. A summary of the study can be found at bit. ly/cornseedtreatment. This is not the only seed coating, systemic insecticide and crop system studied that has shown little economic benefit to the farmer and increased the hazard to honeybees. The original peer reviewed publication, Planting of Neonicotinoid-Treated MaizePoses Risks for Honeybees and Other Non-Target Organisms Over a Wide Area Without Consistent Crop Yield Benefit, is available from the Journal of Applied Ecology, Volume 55, Issue 3, Journal of Applied Ecology page 1565-1565. First Published online November 27, 2017 at bit.ly/maizeseedstudy. Scott Schell is the University of Wyoming Extension Entomology Specialist and can be reached at sschell@ uwyo.edu or 307-7662508.

ment recommended on the pesticide label and the treated seed bag. “One effective tool in plant disease management is variety and hybrid selection,” Byamukama and Strunk say. “Varieties and hybrids vary in their susceptibility to plant disease.” “Resistance genes in varieties can sometimes fail to manage pathogens due to persistent use of the same resistence gene,” they add. “It is important to rotate different resistance genes within varieties to avoid pathogen resistance from developing.” The last thing Byamukama and Strunk encourage producers to do is to

“Managing root rot and nematodes requires taking action before planting since there are no in-season treatments that can control them.” – Emmanuel Byamukama and Connie Strunk, South Dakota State University carry out soil tests for various pathogens. “Flooding can move soil within and between fields and spread soilborne pathogens. Therefore, it is beneficial to carry out soil tests for varous pathogens in subsequent seasons, especially for the soybean cyst nematode, which is the number one pest of soybeans,” they explain. They continue, “Testing soil for various pathogens may aid in decision

Torrington Livestock Markets PO Box 1097 • Torrington, WY 82240 307.532.3333 Fax: 307.532.2040

making such as seed treatment and variety selection.” Information in this article was compiled from an article titled Pre-Plant Disease Management Considerations found at extension.sdstate.edu/ pre-plant-disease-management-considerations. Hannah Bugas is the assistant editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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

www.torringtonlivestock.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 10 - FEEDER/VIDEO LOTS/ALL CLASSES LIVE AUCTION Bruce, Debbie & Ammie Murray 160 Hereford few Bwf Strs, 550-650#, Weaned in Jan., Running Out, Branding Shots: Vira Shield 6, 7-way w/Pinkeye, Pre-cond. Shots: Vira Shield 6, Poured, Knife Cut, Home Raised, All Natural Mark Faden 160 Blk/Rd Strs & Hfrs, 450-600#, Weaned a long time, Hay Fed Only, Green, Home Raised CATTLE COUNTRY VIDEO – 1:00 PM Gardner Ranch 80 Weaned Steer Calves; 100% Black; Base Wt: 760 lbs. Wt Stop: 770 lbs. Slide: .10 cents; Location: 13 miles SW of Shoshoni, WY. Delivery: 4/11/20 to 4/13/20; Frame: Med-Large; Flesh: Med; Wt Var: Uneven. Feed: Growing Ration: 25# Silage, 5# Ground Hay, 3# Haylage, 1# Ground Corn. Branding Shots: Cattlemaster Gold 5 FP5 & BarVac 7/Somnus; Weaning Shots: Cattlemaster Gold 5 FP5, BarVac 7/Somnus & Poured. Knife Cut. BQA. Weigh: Early morning gather from pen, load on buyer’s preweighed truck, haul 2 miles, weigh on truck w/a 3%. Comments: Fancy, home raised steers wintered for grass. Pre-sorted from 220 head. Test weighed 65 hd on March 24th at 750#. Rep: Ty Thompson 307-340-0770 Gardner Ranch 104 Weaned Steer Calves; 100% Black; Base Wt: 670 lbs. Wt Stop: 680 lbs. Slide: .14 cents; Location: 13 miles SW of Shoshoni, WY. Delivery: 4/11/20 to 4/13/20; Frame: Med-Large; Flesh: Med; Wt Var: Uneven. Feed: Growing Ration: 25# Silage, 5# Ground Hay, 3# Haylage, 1# Ground Corn. Branding Shots: Cattlemaster Gold 5 FP5 & BarVac 7/Somnus; Weaning Shots: Cattlemaster Gold 5 FP5, BarVac 7/Somnus & Poured. Knife Cut. BQA. Weigh: Early morning gather from pen, load on buyer’s preweighed truck, haul 2 miles, weigh on truck w/a 3%. Comments: Fancy, green steers wintered for grass. Test weighed 70 hd on March 24th at 664#. Frt adj $750.00. Rep: Ty Thompson 307-340-0770 Gardner Ranch 82 Weaned Heifer Calves; 100% Black; Base Wt: 630 lbs. Wt Stop: 640 lbs. Slide: .14 cents; Location: 13 miles SW of Shoshoni, WY. Delivery: 4/11/20 to 4/13/20; Frame: Med-Large; Flesh: Med; Wt Var: Uneven. Feed: Growing Ration: 25# Silage, 5# Ground Hay, 3# Haylage, 1# Ground Corn. Branding Shots: Cattlemaster Gold 5 FP5 & BarVac 7/Somnus; Weaning Shots: Cattlemaster Gold 5 FP5, BarVac 7/Somnus & Poured. BQA. Weigh: Early morning gather from pen, load on buyer’s preweighed truck, haul 2 miles, weigh on truck w/a 3%. Comments: Fancy, green heifers. Pre-sorted. Test weighed 75 hd on March 24th at 622#. Rep: Ty Thompson 307-340-0770 www.cattlecountryvideo.com SALE RESULTS - FRIDAY, MARCH 27TH - 2483 HD

Coxbill Farms Inc 1 BlackCow Scissors Ranch Co 1 Black Cow Brooks Shepard 2 Black Cow Flag Ranch LLC 1 Black Cow Mitch Falkenburg 6 Black Cow Doug Derouchy 1 Black Bull Z Lazy Y Ranch LLC 1 Black Bull K-Butterfield Livestock 1 Black Bull Waddle Limousin Ranch 2 Black/Red Bull Don Sherrod 1 Red Bull G & L Farms 1 Black Heiferette Bryan Palm 2 Black Heiferette Bryan Palm 4 Black Heiferette Lazy A 1 LLC 9 Black Steer Scissors Ranch Co 19 Black Steer Kevin Strecker & Ron Sittner 8 Black Steer Donald Simmons 109 Black Steer Joseph Harroun 7 Black Steer Red Cap Ranch 49 Black Steer Red Cap Ranch 14 Black Heifer Fred & Laurie Reichert 37 Black Heifer Donald Simmons 76 Black Heifer Donald Simmons 84 Black Heifer Donald Simmons 33 Black Heifer Joseph Harroun 5 Black Heifer G & L Farms 4 Black Heifer G & L Farms 20 Black Heifer Wilma Barkman 8 Black Steer Calf Clark Ranch 6 Black Steer Calf S S Ranch Co 30 Black Steer Calf Lazy A 1 LLC 20 Black Steer Calf Lazy A 1 LLC 169 Black Steer Calf S S Ranch Co 42 Black Steer Calf Chris Claflin 14 Black Steer Calf Coxbill Farms Inc 18 Black Steer Calf Wayne Chapman 132 Black Heifer Calf Scissors Ranch Co 20 Black Heifer Calf Robert Freeman 10 Black Heifer Calf Greg Starck 23 Black Heifer Calf Gene Lay 1 BWF Bred Cow-SM/April Neil Foos 2 Black Pairs-SS Bart Wilkie 1 Black Baby Calf

1520 1400 1222 1715 1846 2360 2295 1635 1030 880 1055 940 1342 730 757 780 924 887 923 683 712 763 833 893 970 1060 1145 421 473 506 583 636 607 659 724 581 627 647 669 1375 1672 80

74.50C 72.50C 71.00C 69.00C 66.50C 96.00C 95.00C 90.50C 105.00C 117.00C 107.00C 94.00C 88.00C 142.00C 140.50C 128.50C 123.00C 122.50C 121.00C 133.00C 128.00C 125.00C 123.00C 117.00C 106.00C 96.00C 90.50C 190.00C 176.00C 172.50C 169.50C 164.00C 163.50C 154.50C 141.50C 143.00C 139.00C 139.00C 137.00C 1200.00H 1425.00H 350.00H

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SALE POLICY DURING COVID-19 TORRINGTON LIVESTOCK MARKETS INTENDS ON HAVING WEEKLY SALES. AT THIS TIME WE ASK ALL NON-ESSENTIAL PEOPLE TO NOT ATTEND THE SALES. CONSIGNORS WE ASK THAT YOU MINIMIZE TIME SPENT AT THE BARN. OUR STAFF IS THERE TO UNLOAD YOUR CATTLE AND FROM THERE YOU CAN RETURN HOME. ONLY BUYERS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE SALE ARENA. WE ENCOURAGE BUYERS TO SPREAD OUT IN THE SALE ARENA. AS ALWAYS SALES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE VIEWING AND BIDDING THROUGH CATTLE USA. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE WITH SETTING UP AN ACCOUNT ON CATTLE USA PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE AT 307-532-3333 OR CALL MICHAEL AT 307532-1776.

www.torringtonlivestock.com Lex Madden 307-532-1580 Michael Schmitt 307-532-1776 Chuck Petersen 307-575-4015

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

Coronavirus emphasizes need for rural broadband Over the course of a few weeks, the coronavirus has sent home hundreds of thousands of workers and students across the country to work and learn from home. However, working and learning from home poses a real challenge to rural families as most don’t have adequate access to internet connection in their own homes. Rural broadband During an American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) podcast on March 12, RJ Karney, AFBF congressional relations director, points out many rural areas lack quality connections. “Broadband is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity for farmers, ranchers and rural communities,” says Karney. “Rural Americans rely on broadband for distance learning and they rely on broadband for telemedicine. We’ve seen a drastic decline in primary care physicians throughout rural

America, so the high-speed connection that broadband provides is a quality of life standard for rural America.” In 2019, the Pew Research Center reported 73 percent of Americans have a home broadband connection. However, 63 percent of rural Americans have broadband internet access, which is 12 percentage points below urban Americans and 16 percentage points below suburban Americans. “Those 12 and 16 percentage point differences translate into miles and miles of rural communities not covered by broadband,” says Tim Marema, editor of The Daily Yonder, a blog dedicated to covering issues in rural America. According to broadbandnow.com, 79.9 percent of Wyoming residents have access to wired broadband 25 Mbps or faster, ranking it as the 44th most connected state. The site also

notes Niobrara is the most underserved county in the state, followed by Crook and Sublette counties. Coronavirus emphasizes need Karney notes the coronavirus outbreak represents a real-time case study on the need for adequate rural broadband. “Whether it is working or studying from home or access to adequate health care resources, the coronavirus outbreak has emphasized the need for better rural broadband connections across the country,” states Karney. “We’re seeing more and more schools begin to shutter their doors and rely on internet access to continue to teach students. Unfortunately for rural students who do not have access, there are severe limitations for them to continue their education,” he adds. Marema also says the years of lagging behind broadband infrastruc-

LETTERS

Submit your letters to: Editor, Wyoming Livestock Roundup, P.O. Box 850, Casper, WY, 82602, or e-mail to roundup@wylr.net. We reserve the right to edit letters. It is the policy of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup that we do not print letters attacking individuals, groups or organizations within the Wyoming agricultural community.

To the Honorable Secretary Perdue, On behalf of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), we write to request the USDA consider damages to our industry as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing market collapse due to trade disruptions with China in any future relief effort. ASI represents the nation’s 100,000 sheep producers in all 50 states, and an industry that has an annual economic impact of over $5.8 billion to the U.S. economy.

Unfortunately, our economic impact has been severely blunted due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our ability to prepare. Current estimates show a projected direct farm level loss of $125 million in consumer demand and decline in slaughter lamb prices. Total economic impact to the American lamb industry may be in excess of $300 million. U.S. wool exports to China, our number one export market for wool and sheepskins, are down 88 percent in value and 89 percent in vol-

April 14, 2020 1:00 pm MDT

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ume between October to January 2017-18 and 2019-20. U.S. sheepskins exports to China are down 76 percent in value and 50 percent in volume during the same period. Globally, the wool price is 26 percent lower than it was a year ago. The lamb market is in a perilous situation with the loss of half of the entire market for American lamb due to closure of food service. The recent bankruptcy of the second largest lamb company further risks market impacts, price discovery and market

ture construction makes it tougher to come up with solutions for these families during the recent outbreak. He explains although the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and internet providers have put in temporary fixes, such as removing data caps, increasing cellphone tower range and offering free access to low-income uses, these solutions won’t go far enough in the next few weeks to help rural families continue their jobs and education from home. H.R. 4229 According to Karney, a recent bill, H.R. 4229, passed the House and Senate that will better direct funds to improve rural broadband. “The Senate recently passed the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act,” Karney states. “This bill would improve the accuracy of broadband coverage maps and better direct

federal funds for broadband buildout by creating more granular, transparent accountability within broadband access maps.” Rural broadband in Wyoming Although the recent coronavirus outbreak has highlighted the need for rural broadband, the fight for rural connectivity has been ongoing long before. In fact, according to USDA, Congress provided USDA $600 million in March 2018 to expand broadband infrastructure and services in rural America. Through the months of May and July 2019, USDA received 146 applications requesting $1.4 billion in

funding across three projects – 100 percent loans, 100 percent grants and loan-grant combinations. In October, the FCC announced they would give a $12.1 million grant to three companies to expand broadband to rural parts of Wyoming. The three companies receiving the FCC’s grant are Inventive Wireless of Nebraska, Tri County Telephone and Union Telephone to provide service to Albany, Big Horn, Niobrara, Park, Platte, Sublette and Uinta counties. Hannah Bugas is the assistant editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

transparency. These facts only tell part of the story unfortunately. U.S. wool sales have ground to a halt leaving market reporters with limited information to work with. U.S. wool handling facilities are storing millions of pounds of last year’s wool clip and rapidly adding this year’s wool harvest. U.S. sheep producers are going into a second year of receiving a deduction of $2 to $5 per sheepskin for the cost of rendering this once valuable commodity. U.S. food service, which makes up 50 percent of American lamb sales, is crippled and it is unknown when this segment will return to business as usual. Lambs not timely processed will create further backups in supply, which will damage quality and in turn

value to the producer and feeder. As a net importer, with many markets still closed following the BSE concerns of the early 2000s, the sheep industry cannot rely on export markets to absorb future production. This uncertainty hits at a time when there would otherwise be tremendous optimism in the lamb industry. Traditionally, the Easter/Passover season is the single largest sales period of the entire year for American lamb. Additionally, the loss of the aforementioned food service markets due to COVID19 forced our industry’s second largest lamb processing company into Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 19. This bankruptcy jeopardizes the ability of Mountain States Rosen to report mar-

ket price data under Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting, shutting down price reports and foreclosing the only meaningful price protection sheep producers have available under the USDA Livestock Risk Protection Insurance Plan for lambs. Our current estimate is that this crisis will have a direct loss at the farm level of $125 million due to the projected loss in consumer demand and decline in slaughter lamb prices, with many more losses expected. It is estimated the total economic impact to the American lamb industry may be in excess of $300 million. We also realize many segments of our industry will suffer unique losses and we share many of the same concerns of others in the livestock sector as we continue to provide food and fiber. Again, we are asking the department work with the industry to develop a mechanism that would help offset actual and demonstrated losses realized by America’s sheep producers to help us bridge this gap. America’s sheep producers work everyday to embody USDA’s motto to “Do right and feed everybody.” We thank USDA for their continued opportunity to communicate on these issues and their most recent correspondence. We also appreciate the added flexibility USDA Forest Service has given on grazing permits and sister agencies have provided on transportation, H-2A herders and many other issues ensuring continuity of operation. We look forward to working with the USDA through these challenging times in our economy to provide relief to sheep producers for the losses they have incurred.

“We’re seeing more and more schools begin to shutter their doors and rely on internet access to continue to teach students. Unfortunately for rural students who do not have access, there are severe limitations for them to continue their education.” – RJ Karney, American Farm Bureau Federation

Wagner Charolais 9th Annual Bull Sale

Sincerely, Benny Cox American Sheep Industry Association President

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

Utilizing cover crops helps growers accomplish the five principles of soil health “The five principles of soil health are a combination of ideas on how to keep soil healthy,” states Natural Resources Conservation Service Rangeland Health Specialist Ethan Walker, during the March 27 episode of Kansas State University’s Agriculture Today podcast. Walker then points out cover crops can make a contribution to each of these five principles. Soil armor “The first principle is soil armor,” says Walker. “Soils have residues which act as armor and are important for regulating soil temperature and battling erosion. Just like we have skin, soil has residue to protect it.” In addition to minimizing erosion and managing soil temperature, soil residue also decreases plant pressure, according to Walker. “If growers don’t have enough residue, they might add a cover crop to reduce the next year’s weed pressure,” he says.

When considering cover crops to increase soil armor, Walker says growers need to be specific about their cover crop selection. “It all comes down to the carbon-nitrogen (C:N) ratio,” he says. “If a grower wants a longer-lasting residue, they want to pick a cover crop with a higher C:N ratio so it takes longer to break down.” Walker notes in this situation, growers should choose cereal rye or oats as their cover crop. They should not choose legumes or clovers because they have a low C:N ratio. Minimizing soil disturbance According to Walker, the second principle of soil health is minimizing soil disturbance. “This isn’t just a physical disturbance such as tillage. It is also biological and chemical disturbances as well,” Walker says. “We can actually disrupt our soil ecosystems by adding too many chemicals such as fertilizer or pesticide.” However, Walker notes

cover crops can help growers minimize soil disturbances. “It all comes back to our soil armor and reducing weed pressure,” he explains. “If we are adding soil residue and lowering weed pressure by utilizing cover crops, we will have lower chemical costs and less need to till, which will save us money in the long run.” Plant diversity The third principle of soil health Walker lists is plant diversity. He explains a monoculture crop rotation will typically result in a monoculture soil ecosystem, which may result in pest pressure, especially from nematodes. “By adding diversity to our crop rotation, we get a diverse compound excreted from the cover crops we use, which invites other hosts and predators and controls the predator-prey relationship in the soil. This can control nematode and other pest problems,” Walker says. “This doesn’t mean

SCN testing is critical University of Missouri Extension Plant Pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette tells growers it is critical to test for soybean cyst nematode (SCN) in the spring before planting. She notes data from the University of Missouri shows SCN field populations are becoming more virulent on commercial soybean cultivars. “Easily transported by nature, SCN cysts and eggs can be spread within a field or to new fields by soil, equipment, water or wind,” says Bissonnette. “Today, SCN is the top soybean disease in the U.S. and Canada.” Lifecycle of SCN SCN is a parasitic roundworm. According to Loren Giesler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension plant pathologist, there are three main stages to the life cycle of SCN. “The cycle starts in the spring when temperature and moisture levels are adequate for egg hatch to release the juvenile nematode,” says Giesler. “Once a juvenile penetrates a soybean root, it moves through the root to the vascular tissue, where the nematode establishes a feeding site. It then continues to feed and swell, and eventually the females burst through the root tissue.” Giesler explains the majority of eggs are produced inside the female’s body, while some are produced on the outside. “The eggs on the outside of the body hatch and the juvenile nematodes re-infect the soybean roots,” she says. “The egg-filled body of the dead female is what we call a cyst. Each cyst can contain up to 400 eggs.”

Gielser notes there can be three to four generations of SCN in a single growing season. Effects of SCN According to the SCN Coalition, a private-public partnership of researchers, Extension specialists and industry representatives, soybean yields can drop as much as 14 bushels per acre in fields infected with SCN when reproduction is high. “Populations can increase exponentially, with 100 females capable of producing 39,062 eggs after four generations in one growing season,” says the coalition Bissonnette notes SCN is difficult to detect without testing because damage occurs to the root system before it can be seen. “Symptoms include stunted plants, yellowing and yield loss,” she says. “Yield loss can occur even when there are no visual symptoms.” According to Gielser, these aboveground symptoms may be confused with damage from compaction, nutrient deficiencies, drought stress, low-lying wet areas, herbicide injury and other plant diseases. Testing for SCN There are two ways Bissonnette suggests growers test for SCN. “The first method is to dig up a month-old soybean plant, gently shake the soil from the roots and look for white females,” Bissonnette says. “The second method is to collect soil samples for testing.” If growers choose to collect soil samples, Bissonnette recommends they collect 15 to 20 core samples for every 20 acres. She also notes cores should be six to eight inches deep and an inch in diameter.

“Collect them in a zigzag pattern and divide each field into management zones,” she says. “Include high-risk areas such as the field entry, flooded areas, low spots and historically low-yielding zones.” For each collection zone, Bissonnette says growers should mix the core samples together. “Moisture content is critical,” she states. “Ideally, cores will stay intact during collection but will easily fall apart upon mixing. When in doubt, err on the dry side.” Bissonnette says growers should put their soil samples in a labeled bag. She also recommends marking down the GPS coordinates of the field where the samples were collected, if possible. After this, growers can send their samples to a testing facility. “Growers need to know their baseline SCN egg count and test every three to five years,” explains Bissonnette. “Comparing SCN egg counts tells growers if their management plan is working or not.” Bissonnette also recommends growers work with crop advisers and Extension agronomists to develop a management plan which may include crop rotation and using nematode-protectant seed treatment. Information in this article was compiled from an article in Missouri Farmer Today titled Test in Spring to Track Soybean Cyst Nematode Success and a University of Nebraska-Lincoln article titled Soybean Cyst Nematode. Hannah Bugas is the assistant editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

growers should add a single cover crop. They should have a grass-hay, legume and brassica cover crop in their rotation, at least,” he adds. As an example Walker points out a typical cornbean rotation has very little diversity. “Obviously, adding winter wheat into the rotation helps with the diversity, which most producers do,” he says. “But maybe they should switch it up a little and throw in a summer crop like sunflowers or canola. Mixing up the rotation is very beneficial.” Continual live plant root interaction According to Walker, the fourth principle of soil health is continual live plant root interaction, which he notes has a lot to do with carbon movement in the soil. “We have to feed all of the microbiology in our soil, and carbon is their main food source,” Walker explains. “If we have a field in fallow, those organisms aren’t getting food, and they have the potential to die out. By adding a root

“By using this recipe, inputs will start to decrease, yields will potentially increase and growers will see an increase in profitability due to lower input costs.” – Ethan Walker, Natural Resources Conservation Service system for those organisms to feed on carbon, we keep our soil ecosystem functioning.” Walker notes cover crops are incredibly important for this principle. “Substituting cover crops for a dormant rotation is really beneficial,” he states. “Instead of having a fallow period in between crops where a lot of the microbiology in the ground will slow or stop completely, cover crops provide continuous live plant root interactions to feed our soil ecosystems.” Livestock integration The fifth and final principle of soil health is to integrate livestock, according to Walker. “First and foremost, this is a good economical decision for our pocketbooks, because while our field is fallow, we can get some extra income by graz-

ing a cover crop,” he says. Walker also notes integrating livestock improves the nutrient cycle because as livestock graze the cover crop, they recycle the nutrients back into the ground. He explains these nutrients are also more readily available for plants to utilize. A good recipe “By putting all of these principles together and utilizing cover crops, we have a good recipe to improve soil health,” states Walker. He continues, “By using this recipe, inputs will start to decrease, yields will potentially increase and growers will see an increase in profitability due to lower input costs.” Hannah Bugas is the assistant editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

BLEVINS New All Metal Stirrup Buckles Blevins new all-metal stirrup buckle in 3”& 2-1/2” widths. The 3” and 2-12” widths have the posts set horizontally and fit standard holes while the 2” width has the posts set vertically. Made of stainless steel and heat-treated aluminum, the same as our leather-covered buckles.

Blevins Stirrup Buckles Improved Sleeves same as on regular style buckle. The tongue has no hinge or strap. Available in 3” and 2-1/2” widths.

Easy to change stirrup lengths quickly and easy to install – won’t slip or stick. Made of stainless steel and heat-treated aluminum. Sleeves covered with leather. Order either improved, regular or four post buckles. Also new all-metal buckle in 3”, 2-1/2” and 2” widths. At your dealers or:

BLEVINS MANUFACTURING COMPANY INC. WHEATLAND, WY 82201

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

SALE REPORTS

NJW Polled Herefords Bull Sale

Sinclair Cattle Co. Annual Bull Sale

Reported By: Curt Cox, WLR Field Editor March 25, 2020 NJW Polled Herefords, Sheridan

Reported By: Curt Cox, WLR Field Editor March 28, 2020 Buffalo Livestock Auction, Buffalo

Auctioneer: Joe Goggins 89 Yearling Hereford Bulls Avg. $7,539 33 Registered Yearling Hereford Heifers Avg. $4,205 2 Registered Fall Yearling Hereford Heifers Avg. $9,250 33 Commercial Yearling Black Baldy Heifers Avg. $1,270

Auctioneer: Roger Jacobs 117 Yearling Angus Bulls Avg. $4,118 35 Registered Yearling Angus Heifers Avg. $1,901 79 Commercial Yearling Angus Heifers Avg. $1,075 1 Semen Package supporting the Wyoming 4-H Foundation and Wyoming FFA Foundation: $3,100 Top Sellers Bulls Lot 9 - Sinclair X-Plus 9XX3 - Price: $20,000 DOB: 2/14/19 Sire: Sinclair Emulation XXP Dam’s Sire: Sinclair Timeless 8BA4 EPDs: BW: -0.2, WW: +46, YW: +93 and Milk: +26 Buyer: Sam Risse, Martin, S.D. Lot 32 - Sinclair Executive 9UF3 - Price: $17,000 DOB: 3/12/19 Sire: Sinclair Black Iron 7UR26 Dam’s Sire: N Bar Emulation Ext V722 EPDs: BW: +1.7, WW: +53, YW: +87 and Milk: +25 Buyer: Don Abarr, Downer, Minn. Lot 24 - Sinclair Black Iron 9UR5 - Price: $14,500 DOB: 2/14/19 Sire: Sinclair Exactly 4U2 Dam’s Sire: Basin Rainmaker 654X EPDs: BW: +0.1 WW: +47, YW: +86 and Milk: +25 Buyer: Leadore Angus, Leadore, Idaho Lot 95 - Sinclair Dynasty 9WC7 - Price: $10,000 DOB: 3/16/19 Sire: Sinclair Dynasty 3WCD7 Dam’s Sire: O C C Great Plains 943G EPDs: BW: +1.3 WW: +46, YW: +88 and Milk: +23 Buyer: Nick Ellsworth, Leadore, Idaho Heifers Lot 126 - Sinclair Blkcap 9L14 8A7 - Price: $3,100 DOB: 2/22/19 Sire: Sinclair Plains Boss 5BO2 Dam’s Sire: Emulation 31 EPDs: BW: +0.0 WW: +39, YW: +69 and Milk: +19 Buyer: George Gersema, Meridian, Idaho Lot 136 - Sinclair B Maid 9WC8 0X13 - Price: $2,900 DOB: 3/18/19 Sire: Sinclair Dynasty 3WCD7 Dam’s Sire: N Bar Emulation EXT EPDs: BW: -0.5 WW: +28, YW: +47 and Milk: +17 Buyer: Robert Arndt, Arvada

Top Sellers Bulls Lot 74G - NJW 16C Z115 Spot On 74G - Price: $36,000 DOB: 2/9/19 Sire: SHF Zane X51 Z115 Dam’s Sire: NJW 67U 28M Big Max 22Z EPDs: BW: +1.9, WW: +61, YW: +99, Milk: +24 and M&G: +54 Buyer: Rees Brothers Herefords, Morgan, Utah Lot 57G - NJW 11B 6589 Authority 57G ET - Price: $34,000 DOB: 2/7/19 Sire: /S Mandate 66589 Dam’s Sire: LJR 023R Whitmore 10W EPDs: BW: +0.5, WW: +72, YW: +104, Milk: +26 and M&G: +62 Buyer: River Valley Polled Herefords, Newburgh, Ont., Can. Lot 98G - NJW 202C 81E Steward 98G ET - Price: $28,000 DOB: 2/11/19 Sire: NJW 160B 028X Historic 81E Dam’s Sire: NJW 73S W18 Homegrown 8Y EPDs: BW: +1.4, WW: +55, YW: +83, Milk: +42 and M&G: +70 Buyer: Ehlke Herefords, Townsend, Mont. Lot 232G - NJW 79Z 6589 Mandate 232G ET - Price: $20,000 DOB: 3/7/19 Sire: /S Mandate 66589 Dam’s Sire: NJW 73S M326 Trust 100W EPDs: BW: +2.4, WW: +68, YW: +104, Milk: +28 and M&G: +62 Buyer: Thorstenson Hereford Ranch, Selby, S.D. Lot 165G - NJW 79Z 6589 Revolve 165G ET - Price: $19,000 DOB: 2/22/19 Sire: /S Mandate 66589 Dam’s Sire: NJW 73S M326 Trust 100W EPDs: BW: +0.6, WW: +62, YW: +93, Milk: +28 and M&G: +59 Buyer: Hielman Farms and Stamper Farms, Harrison, Mich. Lot 187G - NJW 11B 88X Base Camp 187G ET - Price: $19,000 DOB: 2/25/19 Sire: NJW 98S R117 Ribeye 88X Dam’s Sire: LJR 023R Whitmore 10W EPDs: BW: +0.9, WW: +65, YW: +96, Milk: +31 and M&G: +63 Buyer: CV Ledbetter and Sons, Inc., Okulgee, Okla. Heifers Lot 121G - NJW 87A 36E Goldenrod 121G - Price: $12,000 DOB: 2/14/19 Sire: NJW Long Haul 36E Dam’s Sire: KJ HVH 33N Redeem 485T EPDs: BW: +1.4, WW: +73, YW: +126, Milk: +32 and M&G: +69 Buyer: Abby Hill Farms, Richmond, Ont., Can. Lot 292FF - NJW 38W Turquoise 292FF ET - Price: $12,000 DOB: 10/9/18 Sire: NJW 76S P20 Beef 38W Dam’s Sire: THM Durango 4037 EPDs: BW: +2.3, WW: +52, YW: +83, Milk: +29 and M&G: +55 Buyer: Square D Polled Herefords, Langbank, Sask., Can.

HEAD TO HILLROSE • FRIDAY, APRIL 10 th For our Annual Bull Sale selling are:

120

Sandhill Bred Charolais Bulls • Gain Tested, Ultrasounded, EPD and DNA Data Provided

Black Heifer Pairs

• With Charolais calves by side

•••

Sale Broadcast on LiveAuctions Pictures and Videos Online

•••

Find us on Facebook

cardinalcharolais.com Cardinal Charolais 15488 County Road 57 Hillrose, Colorado 80733

Ranch: 970-847-3345 Pat: 970-380-1355 Rossi: 970-846-7725

Cardinal Charolais

Gray’s Angus Ranch “2nd Century” Bull Sale Reported By: Cody Negri, WLR Field Rep March 24, 2020 Gray’s Angus Ranch, Harrison, Neb. Auctioneer: Greg Goggins 43 Two-Year-Old Angus Bulls Avg. $3,238 66 Yearling Angus Bulls Avg. $3,295 Top Sellers Two-Year-Old Angus Bulls Lot 35 - Gray’s Confidence 6708 - Price: $5,000 DOB: 03/15/18 Sire: Gray’s Confidence 835 Dam’s Sire: Gray’s Chisel 1124 EPDs: BW: -1.2, WW: 56, YW: 92 and Milk: 22 Buyer: Matt Tighe, Henry, Neb. Lot 40 - Gray’s Wayne 6898 - Price: $5,000 DOB: 03/16/18 Sire: Gray’s Wayne 114 Dam’s Sire: Eathington Sub-Zero EPDs: BW: -1.2, WW: 56, YW: 96 and Milk: 20 Buyer: Kenneth Osmotherly, Hot Springs, S.D. Lot 58 - Grays Full Back 8888 - Price: $4,500 DOB: 04/20/18 Sire: Gray’s Full Back 3474 Dam’s Sire: Gray’s Answer 1940 EPDs: BW: +3.1, WW: 54, YW: 87 and Milk: 23 Buyer: Todd Peterson, Edgemont, S.D. Yearling Angus Bulls Lot 87 - Gray’s Acclaim 939 - Price: $9,500 DOB: 02/11/19 Sire: Jindra Acclaim Dam’s Sire: Granger Great Falls 053 EPDs: BW: +1.9, WW: 68, YW: 124 and Milk: 30 Buyer: Gray’s Claimer Group, Iowa Lot 112 - Gray’s 7204 - Price: $5,750 DOB: 02/24/19 Sire: Gray’s Emblazon 7204 Dam’s Sire: Connealy Black Granite EPDs: BW: +0.5, WW: 54, YW: 89 and Milk: 25 Buyer: Zeb Gray, Toledo, Iowa Lot 92 - Gray’s Rampage 1269 - Price: $5,500 DOB: 02/16/19 Sire: Quaker Hill Rampage 0A36 Dam’s Sire: Granger Great Falls 053 EPDs: BW: +1.9, WW: 70, YW: 120 and Milk: 25 Buyer: Ellicott Ranch, Harrison, Neb. Lot 150 - Gray’s 7204 - Price: $5,500 DOB: 03/09/19 Sire: Gray’s Emblazon 7204 Dam’s Sire: Eathington SubZero EPDs: BW: -1.8, WW: 54, YW: 88 and Milk: 24 Buyer: Eric Deerson, Mead, Neb.

Vermilion Ranch Spring Performance Sale Reported By: Curt Cox, WLR Field Editor March 26-27, 2020 Billings, Mont. Auctioneers: Roger Jacobs, Joe Goggins, Ty Thompson, Bill Cook and Greg Goggins 441 Registered Yearling Angus Bulls Avg. $5,966 4,385 Commercial Yearling Heifers Avg. $1,118 Top Sellers Lot 1 - Vermilion Bomber G017 - Price: $28,000 DOB: 1/30/19 Sire: Casino Bomber N33 Dam’s Sire: Sitz JLS Game Day 9630 EPDs: BW: -0.3, WW: +90, YW: +148 and Milk: +22 Buyer: Black Pine Farm, Heron, Mont. Lot 51 - Vermilion Quarterback G305 - Price: $20,500 DOB: 2/15/19 Sire: S A V Quarterback 7933 Dam’s Sire: Riverbend Peerless 0016 EPDs: BW: +4.4, WW: +92, YW: +146 and Milk: +27 Buyer: Thompson Angus, Kintyre, N.D. Lot 100 - Vermilion Reride G195 - Price: $20,000 DOB: 2/15/19 Sire: Vermilion Re-Ride Dam’s Sire: Connealy Countdown EPDs: BW: +1.9, WW: +75, YW: +134 and Milk: +24 Buyer: WEBO Angus, Lusk Lot 4 - Vermilion Bomber G416 - Price: $20,000 DOB: 1/31/19 Sire: Casino Bomber N33 Dam’s Sire: KR Joe Canada 5372 EPDs: BW: +2.4, WW: +92, YW: +163 and Milk: +27 Buyer: Grimmius Cattle Company, Hanford, Calif. Lot 102 - Vermilion Reride G143 - Price: $19,500 DOB: 2/9/19 Sire: Vermilion Re-Ride Dam’s Sire: Connealy Countdown EPDs: BW: +0.6, WW: +66, YW: +121 and Milk: +26 Buyer: 3210 Angus, Columbus, Mont.

Director announced The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming is very pleased to announce Hayley Mortimer has accepted the position of state director. Mortimer brings a wealth of experience and a consultative approach to the organization. Most recently serving as the vice president for Regional Operations at the National Parks Conservation Association, she has an impressive background in both the public and private sectors in areas such as fundraising, strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration and operational efficiency.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

From the Kitchen Table By Lynn Harlan

I’m Not Martha Our library in Kaycee carries an interesting mix of magazines. Not a huge selection, but a nice variety. I usually check out the Western Horseman and the Reader’s Digest and sometimes some women’s magazine that’s all pretty on the cover. The Martha Stewart Magazine is there also. I occasionally bring it home to “check in with Martha.” I accept Martha Stewart, she is a self-made woman. She may have stepped on quite a few toes to get where she is, but I suppose that is the price of fame. She did her time behind bars and even taught knitting to the inmates while there. She lost a few pieces of her empire after that, but from here in Wyoming the 78-year-old connoisseur seems to be doing well. I passed her magazine by the other day. It was a springy looking cover, with colorful Easter eggs. I know I’m not going to try the latest kale recipe or alter my Easter egg coloring ritual. Everyone seems to like my deviled eggs, a splash of Tabasco is the secret, and the Harlan ham will grace the table, without any fancy changes.

It’s fun to look at someone’s refurbished farmhouse, but my house is pretty well fixed how I like it. I love it when it’s clean and orderly, but that is another subject. I’ll gaze at the colorful dishes and know that I don’t need any more clutter. My old Kitchen Aid mixer, a ranch mom’s must have, is white and ancient. If it dies, I’ll wonder what amazing color I will replace it with. It will probably outlive me. The gardening section is always majestic, and I look out at my winter-scaped lawn and know I’ll be lucky to get all the doggie deposits picked up before green grass. I’m envious of all the ranch gals who find time and energy to plant and care for a garden and flowers and a lawn. I feel good just sticking in a few petunias here and there and keeping the grass and the trees alive. So, Martha may have to go ahead without me. I’ll still check in periodically and say to myself, “I should try that.” I may even buy some fancy ingredient and stick it in the fridge and find it much, much later. I have yet to perfect the

Grants offered

The Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) is still accepting applications for the 2020 Wyoming Specialty Crop Grant Program. This year, WDA is estimated to receive up to $350,000 from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The allocation is to be used to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Wyoming. Information on the grant is available on the Department of Agriculture’s website at agriculture.wy.gov/divisions/admin/specialty-crop-program. The deadline for applications is April 15. For more information on the grant and applying, please contact Ted Craig, SCBGP Manager at 307-7776651 or by e-mail at ted.craig@wyo.gov.

LOYA/WARDELL ANGUS SELLING 50 OF “THE BEST” LONG YEARLING ANGUS BULLS

basic cinnamon roll recipe, a staple at any ranch working. My rolls always look and taste like hockey pucks. I have given up, and instead I make a pan of CinnamonNut Coffee Cake, a recipe from Baking at High Altitude, a cookbook put out by University of Wyoming Extension. It can be baked ahead and put in the freezer for future ranch workings. The recipe reads as follows. Cinnamon-nut coffee cake I make a nine-by-13 pan size. We’ll need to make the topping first, it’s probably easier and faster to use purchased chopped nuts, but I always store a big bag of pecans in the freezer. The first part of this project is always going out to the freezer and digging for the nuts and then chopping them up. For the topping, start by melting four tablespoons of butter. Then, add one cup of brown sugar, one-fourth of a cup of flour, four teaspoons of cinnamon and one cup of chopped nuts. Stir up and set aside.

For the batter, we’ll need three cups of flour, one tablespoon of baking powder, a half tablespoon of salt and one and a half cups of sugar. Then, stir together in the mixer. Add in a half cup of butterflavored Crisco and mix until shortening looks like coarse meal. Beat two eggs in a bowl, and add one and a quarter cups of milk and two teaspoons of vanilla. Pour in the dry mixture and blend. Don’t overmix! Pour half the batter into a greased and floured pan and spread evenly, the batter is very thick. Sprinkle with half the nut topping. Drop and spread the remaining batter in the pan and sprinkle with the other half of topping. Bake in a 400-degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes. My cookbook is old enough that it doesn’t have any of those unnecessary footnotes about the calories. There may be a new printing out with that

Orion Beef Group

information. Mexican lasagna Another family favorite is Mexican lasagna. Ingredients include one pound of hamburger, one chopped onion, four ounces of chopped green chilies, one-quarter tablespoon of garlic powder, one can of tomato soup, one soup can milk, a half cup of grated yellow cheese and 12 corn tortillas. Begin by sautéing the hamburger and onion and drain. Then, add green chilies, garlic, tomato soup and milk. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. In a nine-by-13 pan, spread a little sauce on the bottom, then lay six corn tortillas flat across the pan. Pour half the sauce over the tortillas, then sprinkle with cheese. Repeat with tortillas, sauce and cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve over lettuce and add garnishes such as chopped tomato, sour cream and salsa. This is fairly mild, we

can substitute chopped jalapenos for the green chilies if preferred. This freezes well, so make a double batch. Wilted Leaf Lettuce An easy and different salad is wilted leaf lettuce salad. This recipe comes out of an old red and white checked Better Homes and Gardens cook book. If there is no leaf lettuce in the store or we don’t grow our own, we can easily substitute fresh spinach. Cook up six slices bacon until crisp and then drain and crumble, reserving drippings. Add a half cup of sliced green onion and cook until tender. Add in one-quarter cup of vinegar, four tablespoons of sugar, one-quarter cup of water and a half teaspoon of salt. Add the bacon and cook and stir until boiling. Place about eight cups of leaf lettuce, torn in bite size pieces, or the spinach in a bowl. Pour the hot dressing over and toss to coat. This serves about six.

Spring Herdbuilder Bull Sale

April 11, 2020

Selling 250 Red Angus and Red Hybred Bulls Reputation Red Angus and Hybreds

Call today for a catalog!

Weschenfelder Development Center • Shepherd, MT • 1:00 PM MST

First Season Breeding Guarantee Genomic Greenbacks Lifetime Guarantee on Feet and Legs Free Herd Consulting

Sons of these Breed Leading Sires Sell! 45 Sons of LSF MEW X-FACTOR 6693D 40 Sons of LSF MEW X-PORTER 6695D 40 Sons of BROWN BLW FANTASTIC C5959 50 Sons of BROWN ORACLE B112 15 Sons of HXC AUTHORITY 7794E 15 Sons of LEACHMAN 18 KARAT X235C 15 Sons of LORENZEN HALF BACK D101 15 Sons of LORENZEN NEXT EPISODE D100

Our Breed Changer of the Future Lot 1 • 9014G • 4109988

X-FACTOR X NEXTPECTATION X GUAPO 193HB, 55GM, 14CE, -2.6BW, 77WW, 124YW, 25MILK, -1ME, 13HP, 8CEM, 15ST, 1.14MB, 0.69RE, $22,999PRO, $87RAN

The Greatest Herdsire Prospect we have ever sold!

Lot 2 • 9016G • 4109992

X-FACTOR X BOURNE X RIGHT DIRECTION 185HB, 52GM, 15CE, -2.3BW, 80WW, 124YW, 21MILK, -4ME, 18HP, 8CEM, 13ST, 0.83MB 0.31RE, $19,879PRO, $80RAN

Outcross prospect that does everything right!

Lot 3 • 9010G • 4109980

X-FACTOR X TITONKA X YIELD GRADE 187HB, 51GM, 17CE, -3.9BW, 77WW, 122YW, 18MILK, -2ME, 15HP, 8CEM, 14ST, 0.5MB, 0.28RE, $16,914PRO, $81RAN

Outstanding spread in an incredible phenotypic package!

Lot 4 • 9012G • 4109984

X-FACTOR X BOURNE X CONQUEST 199HB, 52GM, 17CE, -3.1BW, 77WW, 124YW, 19MILK, -2ME, 13HP, 10CEM, 15ST, 0.72MB, 0.23RE, $16,082PRO, $91RAN

Unreal phenotype combined with solid across the board numbers!

BY PRIVATE TREATY View Videos & EPDs on our Website

loyawardellangus.com

SELLING 50 FANCY, REGISTERED YEARLING HEIFERS COME SEE ANY TIME! 18253 COUNTY RD 32, PLATTEVILLE, CO 80651

JUAN: jyloyaangus@gmail.com (970) 396-0035 ROY: (970) 785-0145

Lot 23 • 9180G • 4110318

Lot 48 • 9169G • 4110296

PURSUIT X EPIC R397K X PACKER 221HB, 53GM, 11CE, 0.2BW, 84WW, 139YW, 20MILK, 1ME, 11HP, 6CEM, 20ST, 0.55MB, 0.24RE, $13,298PRO, $56RAN

PURSUIT X JULESBURG X TREND 223HB, 49GM, 19CE, -3.0BW, 66WW, 111YW, 22MILK, 3ME, 10HP, 8CEM, 20ST, 0.38MB, 0.33RE, $12,718PRO, $62RAN

Ryan Ludvigson 515-450-3124 rl_ludvigson@hotmail.com

Kellen Ludvigson 515-314-2883 kellen@orionbeefgroup.com

Top Growth and Herdbuilder Prospect in the Sale!

Park Ludvigson 712-229-3431 parkludvigson@hotmail.com

Calving ease maternal Herd Bull Prospect!

Brian Brigham 970-481-5192 brian@orionbeefgroup.com

Lot 41 • 9006G • 4109972

FANTASTIC X PROFITBUILDER X NIGHT CALVER 160HB, 52GM, 12CE, -3.5BW, 73WW, 121YW, 20MILK, -2ME, 12HP, 8CEM, 12ST, 0.52MB, 0.04RE, $12,760PRO, $60RAN

Excellent package that offers exceptional eye appeal!

Terrel Platt 541-379-0413 terrel@orionbeefgroup.com

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

DAIRY continued from page 1 continue to be the driving force behind the swing in hay acres and prices.” “Due to poor-quality hay and challenging weather in 2019, I anticipate there is going to be some feed shortages for a lot of farmers going into 2020,” says Greg Bussler, deputy director at USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. “Because of this shortage, I think in 2020 there is going to be a strong demand for farmers in the Midwest to plant

more acres to hay.” According to the Wisconsin Ag News Hay Stocks Report, the state reached an all-time low of 330,000 tons of hay in 2019, the lowest it has been since records began in 1950. “Hay stocks across the Midwest in spring 2019 were down 24 percent from 2018,” says Lance Zimmerman, a research and data manager at CattleFax. Zimmerman notes the 2018 stocks were also

below the norm. Achieving dairy quality “In order to achieve a dairy-quality hay, producers need to plant thick stands without about 25 pounds of seed per acre,” White explains. “The plant also needs to be harvested at the premium quality stage, which is pre-budding.” He continues, “When we aim for higher quality, we sometimes have to sacrifice some yield, but doing so also sets the stage for a very high quality second cutting as well.” John Jennings, a for-

age specialist with University of Arkansas Extension notes, “The greatest single cause of low-quality forage is harvesting hay or silage when it is too mature. Early-bloom alfalfa has more total digestible nutrients than mature alfalfa.” “Mature alfalfa is considered below-average in quality,” says Jennings. “It contains more fiber as it matures and may average 13 to 15 percent protein on a dry matter basis. Mid-bloom alfalfa is considered average quality at 16 to 17 percent protein.” Jennings continues,

GRAND HILLS CHAROLAIS WITH ALTITUDE

BULL SALE

MAY 2, 2020 • 1 P.M. EATON, COLORADO SELLING 61 BULLS 16 FALL 2018 18-MONTH OLD CHAROLAIS BULLS 37 SPRING 2019 CHAROLAIS BULLS 7 SPRING 2018 TWO-YEAR-OLD HEREFORD BULLS 1 SPRING 2019 YEARLING BLACK SIMMENTAL BULL

Lot 33

GHC MADISON 9036 POLLED BW: 96, AWW: 915, R: 128 , AYW: 1160, R: 100

Lot 1

GHC REAGAN 9012 POLLED March 1, 2019 • EM928719

BW: 86, AWW: 814, R: 114, AYW: 1115, R: 100

GHC OUTSIDER 8146 June 28, 2018 • EM934617

BW: 72, AWW: 688, R:93, AYW:1117, R: 97

Lot 16

GHC LEDGER 8537 POLLED September 12, 2018 • EM935191 BW: 90, AWW: 792, R:107, AYW:1235, R: 107

SALE MANAGER: LANCE PFEIFF (970) 215-5281 37440 CO. RD. 43, EATON, CO 80615 GRANDHILLSCATTLE@GMAIL.COM

WWW.GRANDHILLSCATTLE.COM

fiber because it allows for greater feed intake, which in turn allows for greater milk production,” he says. Callie Hanson is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Quality forage – Due to their milk production expectations, highquality forage is critical for dairy cattle. WLYR photo

Quality matters According to University of Wisconsin Extension Forage Agronomist Dan Undersander, “Milking dairy cows have the greatest need for energy and protein of any animal category due to the large volume of milk produced.” He notes greater levels of milk production per cow are generally more profitable due to the greater return in comparison to the fixed cost of maintaining the cow and facilities. “Getting the most milk from a cow is a delicate balance of intake and matching energy, nutrient and fiber needs,” he stresses. “Forage quality absolutely pays for dairy animals,” he says. “It may help produce the maximum return through high milk or meat production, it may increase breeding success, it may help a producer allocate different pastures or forage lots to the appropriate animal group or it may help get higher prices for hay that is sold.” He notes his own studies show for any level of concentrate in the ration, higher quality forage produced more milk. “This occurred because of the higher energy content of high-quality forage and, also, because as forage fiber (NDF) is decreased, animal intake increases,” Undersander explains. “Thus, higher quality forage, not only contains more energy, but also allows the animal eat more.”

Conservation groups sue

March 1, 2019 •

Lot 28

“Early bloom and latebud-stage alfalfa forages are classified as high quality, with upwards of 18 percent protein or higher on a dry-matter basis.” “However, the most important quality component of alfalfa compared to grass is the lower

Greg Hubert P.O. Box 100 Oakley, KS 67748 785-672-3195 (office) 785-672-7449 (cellular)

Conservation groups sued the U.S. government over livestock grazing in a Wyoming forest, saying grizzly bears are too often killed by ranchers and wildlife managers for pursuing cattle in such settings. Forest officials decided in October to allow livestock grazing to continue across more than 260 square miles in the Green River headwaters of Bridger-Teton National Forest. Biologists found as many as 72 grizzly bears could be killed if necessary in the area over a decade without harming the overall grizzly population in the greater Yellowstone region. The bears are classified as a threatened species. The conservation groups dispute the finding and the decision to allow the grazing, pointing out 35 bears have been killed on the grazing allotments since 1999 due to runins with humans involving livestock. Planned measures to reduce such encounters, such as by moving cattle carcasses away from roads, aren’t sufficient or enforceable, the groups allege. The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith in U.S. District Court in Washington. Bridger-Teton National Forest Spokeswoman Mary Cernicek declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

EXTENSION EDUCATION

By Jeremiah Vardiman, UW Extension Agriculture and Horticulture Educator

Do You Know DON? No, we are not talking about the neighbor or relative. This is in reference to Fusarium Head Blight, also known as scab or DON, which is a fungal disease that significantly effects wheat and barley crops. DON could be a potential concern to Wyoming’s farmers, who produced an average of 3.91 million bushels of wheat and 6.81 million bushels of barley. This fungus is found on and attacks the grain of the crop causing yield loss, low test weights, low seed germination and mycotoxin contaminated grain, which results in lost revenues for farmers and potential rejection of the harvested grain at elevators. The main identifying symptom for this disease is bleaching of some florets in the crop’s head prior to maturity, while severe infections can cause premature bleaching of the entire head. Infected kernels often have pink or orange colored mold on them and are often shriveled, white and chalky in appearance. The disease is caused by several species of fungi from the group known as Fusarium, hence the name, Fusarium graminearum is the most common. This disease can be introduced into a field by spores blown in by the wind or by contaminated seed. Like most fungi, Fusarium Head Blight thrives in warm moist conditions which can be caused through rain, irrigation, fog or long evening dew events. There-

fore, this disease is more prevalent in irrigated fields than dryland. However, dryland fields can get this disease if climatic events lineup correctly. Once established in a portion of the field, this disease spreads rapidly throughout the area by wind and splashing water. The most susceptible portion of the wheat and barley plant is the head and in particular when the crop is flowering. After the growing season the fungus overwinters on crop residue and can reinfect a following wheat or barley crop. It should also be noted Fusarium Head Blight can also persist and colonize corn and other grass crops such as forage grasses. So, what can be done to prevent or reduce this disease? First of all, if there is no history of scab in our own fields, neighbor’s fields or other fields in the county, then the chances are extremely low and probably not a huge concern. If there is a concern of potential infection, then following an integrated pest management (IPM) or multifaceted approach is highly recommended. Typically, the first recommendation for IPM would be to use resistant varieties. Currently, there are several spring wheat varieties that are tolerant, though there are no barley or winter wheat varieties that are resistant. The next management implementation is crop rotation, which breaks the

cycle of the disease and declines the fungi population that causes reinfection especially if a legume crop or broadleaf crop is rotated between grain crops. Research has proven Fusarium Head Blight infection is two times higher when wheat is planted into wheat stubble than when wheat is planted into soybean stubble. Research has also revealed infections to wheat and barley are five to 10 times higher when planted after a corn crop. Wheat or barley crops are also at risk if they are planted adjacent to last years infected fields. The next management strategy to implement would be the removal of the grain crop residue. Unfortunately, this disease is benefited by soil health practices of residue retention through no till, minimum till and strip till because the residue allows the disease to persist in the environment until the next host crop, such as wheat,

barley, corn or grasses, can be infected. The past few years in Montana and Wyoming, the malt barley crop had fairly high infections of fields that were planted after corn and were almost a guarantee of an infection if that barley was directly planted into corn stubble in a notill system. Effective means for handling crop residue includes burning, burying or complete removal. Irrigation management can also be used to decrease the potential risk of scab infection. If possible, time irrigation to prior and after flowering of the crop. This practice would provide adequate water to the crop while leaving a dry microclimate in the crop canopy that is less favorable to the fungi. Though not necessarily an option to farmers, it is worth noting that furrow or flood irrigation can provide a slightly drier crop canopy than pivot or areal irrigation and typically does not

spread the disease through the splashing of water droplets on infected crop material. If the prior management practices fail to prevent an infection and an infection is found early enough, then a fungicide is the last option. Fungicides only suppress the disease, they do not kill or eliminate it. For fungicides to be effective at suppressing the disease, application timing is crucial and should occur at the first sign of anthers extruding from the wheat head or directly prior to barley head emergence. Fungicide products are locally systemic, meaning they only protect the tissue they are applied to and not the entire plant. The most effective fungicides provide about 50 percent control compared to untreated crops, so do not base the full management plan on chemical control. In summary, if there is no history of this disease in a particular area, then this

is probably not a large concern. If there is a history, then this disease is controllable with sound management practices. Fusarium Head Blight needs warm humid conditions during flowering to favor an infection and production. Rotating crops from cereal crops to non-cereal crops will aide in breaking the disease’s life cycle. Removal of cereal crop residue will further aide in breaking the disease’s life cycle. Planting barley or wheat after corn, especially into corn stubble, greatly increases the risk of infection. Fungicides only suppress the spread and impact of the disease on the crop, it does not kill the fungus. For more information, please contact local Extension office or industry representative. Jeremiah Vardiman is a University of Wyoming Agriculture Extension Educator. He can be reached at jvardima@uwyo.edu.

AN N UAL S PR IN G PRO D U CTIO N SALE

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 1 PM MST | At the Ranch in Hyattville, WY

A LT I T U D E P R O V E N

ANGUS SEEDSTOCK P.A.P. Tested | Carcass Ulstrasounded | BVD Negative | Summered at 10,000 FT.

PAINTROCK MOUNTAIN MAN | AAA# 17348664

CONNEALY CONSENSUS 7229 | AAA# 16447771

PAINTROCK TRAPPER | AAA# 18270980

SOO LINE MOTIVE 9016 | AAA# 16568189

WYOMING’S SOURCE FOR

BIG COUNTRY BULLS

Martin & Kelli Mercer | 307-469-2206 | paintrockangus@gmail.com Brian & Audrey Pryor | 307-469-2252 | Tom & Mary Mercer

W W W. P A I N T R O C K A N G U S . C O M

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

Basin at 66 percent and the southeast corner where there ncep.noaa.gov. ern Plains Climate Hub, UniUpper Belle Fourche Basin is a 33 percent probability Windy K. Kelley is the versity of Wyoming Extension in northeast Wyoming at 92 for above normal precipita- regional Extension program and WAFERx. She can be percent. View the current tion. To view NOAA’s most coordinator and state spe- reached at wkelley1@uwyo. SWE map at colorado.edu/ recent forecasts, visit cpc. cialist for the USDA North- edu or 307-367-4325. climate/dashboard.html. By Windy Kelley, Northern Plains Regional Climate Hub Eight to 14-day and onemonth forecasts February Precipitation NOAA’s eight to 14-day Compared to the 1901 Ranking Out of 126 Years Precipitation Received forecasts for April 1-7, 2000 Average made March 24, indicates Uinta, 7th Driest 0.31" - 0.58" (- 65%) near normal temperatures Sweetwater, 24th 0.30" - 0.26" (- 46%) for nearly all of Wyoming. Campbell, 104th Wettest 0.73" + 0.25" The exception is the southeast corner where there is a Crook, 111th 1.04" + 0.43" National Oceanic and ming, from March 17, indi- 33 percent chance or probaPark, 111th 2.35" + 0.86" Atmospheric Administration cates conditions through- bility for above normal temFremont, 112th 1.29" + 0.46" (NOAA) National Centers out the state have mostly peratures. Natrona, 114th Wettest 1.29" + 0.34" for Environmental Informa- improved since Feb. 18. For the same timeframe, tion (NCEI) database shows However, abnormally dry there is a 33 percent probaJohnson, 116th 1.11" + 0.49" that Wyoming’s overall aver- conditions are persist- bility for above normal preSheridan, 116th 1.60" + 0.68" age February temperature and ing in southern Sweetwa- cipitation for the very northWashakie, 119th 1.07" + 0.58" precipitation ranked 45th and ter County. View the current east corner of the state and th Big Horn, 120th 1.46" + 0.78" 100 , respectively, out of 126 USDM maps at weather.gov/ a 33 percent probability for Hot Springs, 123rd 1.27" + 0.75" years, retrieved March 20. riw/drought. Help to inform below normal in the south Scaling down, from the the USDM by submitting west quarter of the state. The state to the county level, the conditions and impacts at forecast for the remainder of average maximum Febru- droughtreporter.unl.edu/sub- the state is for near normal February Minimum Temperatures* ary temperature anomalies mitreport. precipitation. Compared to the 1901 ranged between +0.2 to -3.3 The snow water equiva- The April forecast for Ranking Out of 125 Years degrees for Sheridan and Fre- lent (SWE) throughout Wyo- Wyoming, made March 19, 2000 Average mont counties respectively ming ranges from 66 to 123 indicates an equal chance for Teton, 20th Coolest - 4.7℉ of the past decades’ average percent of normal accord- below, near or above normal maximum temperature. ing to the March 24 USDA temperatures and precipitaFremont, 25th - 4.0℉ The adjacent tables high- Natural Resource Conserva- tion for nearly all of Wyolight the February minimum tion Service Snow Telemetry ming. observed daily then averaged across those days for the given time *Temperatures areare observed daily and then&averaged across those days for the given timeframe. temperatures and precipita- report. The exceptions are the * Temperatures **Rankings and additional information are available at NOAA's Climate at a Glance website. tion information for select The two areas with the northeast corner of the state ***Icons from the Noun Project. counties. lowest SWE are the southern where there is 33 percent ** Rankings & additional information are available at NOAA's Climate at a Glance webs The U.S. Drought Mon- portion of Fremont County, probability for below nor*** Icons from the Noun Project. is another critical factor itor (USDM) map for Wyo- just north of the Great Divide mal temperatures and the for planting corn,” he says. continued from page 1 “However, excess moisture might delay planting.” strategy, but there are some heat stress and rainfall patterns As far as moisture goes differences among variet- occurred with later planted this year, Ciampitti says he ies,” he says. corn when the spring was believes the Midwest is in He also points out, even colder and mid-summer had pretty good shape. if soil temperatures get up to favorable temperatures and Seeding rate 55 degrees on one warm day, rainfall.” Ciampitti also notes germination won’t occur Last spring freeze seeding rate is an important 80 Two-Year-Old Bulls • 160 Yearling Bulls properly. The temperature While discussing soil factor for corn planting. 60 Calving-Ease Heifer Bulls • 80 Replacement Heifers needs to stay near 55 to 60 temperature, Ciampitti notes “The optimal corn seeddegrees for the duration of it is also important for growers ing rate for any situation germination. to think about the last spring will depend on the antici “If we take a look at the freeze and the impact of freeze pated environment and how 10-day forecast, the weather damage on planted corn. the hybrid responds to the 3334 Rd. 14 • Greybull, Wyoming 82426 • 307-762-3541 this time of year usually fluc- “If growers plant early, environment,” he says. www.claycreek.net • bulls@claycreek.net tuates up and down a lot,” he they might see effects of He notes some envinotes. “Since corn is one of freeze,” Ciampitti states. ronmental factors such as the most expensive seeds, He then points out a soil type and fertility can be we need to be very careful to tool KSU uses that shows anticipated, while other facmake sure we do a good job the average dates for the last tors such as rainfall remain planting, and soil tempera- spring freeze, which he notes unknown. ture is a critical factor.” changes dramatically. “If five percent of corn Ciampitti also notes “Some years the last is barren at the end of the good germination rate is spring freeze may occur early season, the planting rate directly correlated with in April, and some years it was too high, while if there yield. occurs mid-May,” he says. “If are more than 600 kernels “There has also been producers are planting now, per ear and the second ear some recent research to there is a high probability they is contributing to yield, the show that later planted will be impacted by freeze.” planting rate was too low,” Coleman Charlo Coleman Doc 2261 corn, as late as mid-June, Soil moisture he explains. BW: -0.1 WW: +51 YW: +91 Milk: +26 BW: +0.2 WW: +62 YW: +101 Milk: +15 can have comparable yields In addition to soil tem- Hannah Bugas is the and sometimes even better perature, Ciampitti notes soil assistant editor for the Wyoyields,” Ciampitti continues. moisture also affects the tim- ming Livestock Roundup. “However, this is dependent ing of corn planting. Send comments on this artion the season and how the “Adequate soil moisture cle to roundup@wylr.net.

CONNECTING AG to CLIMATE

February Precipitation

Recent and Current Conditions

February Minimum Temperatures*

CORN

CLAY CREEK ANGUS PRIVATE TREATY

Jim & Lori French Sires represented include:

S A V Angus Valley 1867

S A V Renown 3439

BW: +0.6 WW: +52 YW: +99 Milk: +22

BW: +2.8 WW: +72 YW: +127 Milk: +21

HL Emulation Rito 6FX5

Vermilion & Connealy Spur

BW: -0.1 WW: +60 YW: +104 Milk: +14

BW: +3.3 WW: +70 YW: +119 Milk: +32

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

Equipment safety is critical for producers Farm safety should be of the upmost importance to all producers. According to Texas A&M University Extension Safety Program Specialist David Smith, agriculture remains among the most dangerous industries in the United States, although the threat of liability, litigation and severe monetary penalties is causing agricultural employers to give safety an added emphasis. “Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and worker protection standards now exist to promote safe workplaces and protect agricultural workers,” says Smith. “Modern farmers use a variety of machines to do farm work that used to require back-breaking labor. Today’s machinery is extremely specialized and designed to perform many different tasks,” he says. “However, these mechanical systems share many of the same hazards that seriously injury and kill hundreds of farm workers each year.” He continues, “Equipment manufacturers design machinery with safety in mind. They install guards, shields, warning decals and color-coded parts to warn of potential hazards.” “Despite these advances, working with and around farm machinery remains dangerous,” he notes. “Aged and homemade machinery with missing and damaged guards and shields is common, and formal training on use of farm equipment is practically nonexistent.” Shear and cutting points “Shear points exist when the edges of two objects move toward or next to each other closely enough to cut relatively soft material,” Smith explains. “Cutting points happen when a single object moves forcefully or rapidly enough to cut.” “They are found with many types of crop cutting

equipment, such as forage harvester heads, sickle bars and grain augers,” he says. Smith continues, “Shear and cutting points are hazardous because of their cutting force. They often move so rapidly they may not be noticeable when in motion.” Pinch Points “Pinch points exist when two objects move together, with at least one of them moving in a circle,” according to Smith. “They are common in power transmission devices, such as belt and chain drives, feed rolls and gear drives. Fingers, hands and feet can be caught directly in pinch points or they may be drawn into pinch points by loose clothing that becomes entangled.” “Contact may be made by brushing against unshielded parts or by falling against them,” says Smith. “Machine manufacturers will cover pinch points with guards and shields that are removable for maintenance purposes.” “Unfortunately, many workers take off these guards for maintenance, but do not replace the shield when finished,” says Smith. “Once someone is caught in a pinch point, machines generally move too fast for him or her to get out. Be aware of pinch point hazards and don’t wear loose clothing that can become caught.” “Never reach over or work near rotating parts,” he notes. “Turn off machinery before performing maintenance and replace all missing shields.” Wrap and crush points “Any exposed, rotating machine component is a potential wrap point,” Smith stresses. “Protruding shaft ends can also become a wrap point. A cuff, sleeve, pant leg or hair can catch on a rotating part and result in serious injury and death.” “Entanglement with a wrap point can pull a person into a machine or wrap their clothing so tightly the person is suffocated,” says Smith.

“Contact with a wrap point may cause the person to lose balance and fall into other parts of the machine.” “Power take-offs (PTOs) and drive shafts are involved in the majority of serious wrap point injuries. Injuries occur when PTO guards and drive shaft shields become damaged or removed,” Smith says. “To prevent wrap point injuries, wear tight-fitted clothing, put up hair and look out for protruding bolts or U-joints that could snag clothing.” Smith stresses to never attempt to reach over or climb under rotating parts. “Crush points exist when two or more objects move toward one another, or when one object moves toward a stationary object,” he notes. “Hitching tractors to implements may create a potential crush point. Failure to block equipment safely can result in a fatal crushing injury. Crushing injuries commonly happen to fingers and hands at the hitching point.” “If we are hitching equipment on the ground, while the tractor operator is backing the tractor, make sure to communicate clearly,” he stresses. “We should never put ourselves or any part of our bodies between the tractor drawbar and implements.” “Never crawl underneath a machine or implement without first checking and blocking equipment,” he continues. “Never rely solely upon the tractor’s hydraulic system to keep raised equipment suspended.” Free-wheeling and pull-in points Smith notes the heavier a revolving part, the longer it will continue to rotate after power is shut off. Rotary mower blades, baler flywheels and various other farm machinery components will continue to move after power stops. “Workers must allow time for these wheels or blades to stop before approaching them,” Smith

says. “This may take as long as two minutes on some machinery.” “Pull-in points usually occur when someone tries to remove or force in plant material or other objects that have become stuck in feed rolls or other machinery parts,” according to Smith. “Many pull-in injuries involve round balers.” “The feed rollers on round balers occasionally clog when the hay is too wet, when the baler is pulled too fast or when too much hay is being fed into the baler at one time,” Smith explains. “Rather than shutting down the baler by disengaging the PTO, some operators try to dislodge the clog by trying to pull the hay out by hand or by kicking the clog with the feet.” He continues, “Unfortunately, when jammed hay becomes dislodged, hands and feet are pulled in so fast that the worker cannot let go in time and is pulled into the rollers.” Springs and chains Springs are commonly used to lift equipment, to provide cushion and resistance on heavy machinery operating in rough terrain and to keep belts tight on pulleys. Springs harbor potential energy that, when released, can be potentially dangerous to bystanders. “Spring injuries usually occur during machine

maintenance,” Smith warns. “Be sure to read the operator’s manual carefully before performing maintenance. Know what direction a spring will move when pressure is released and know how other machine parts will be affected.” “Chains are frequently used to secure two or more objects together or to pull heavy objects such as tree stumps, machinery and portable buildings,” Smith says. “When pulled tightly, the chain contains stored energy that is suddenly released when a link breaks, or if it becomes detached from either end.” “Before using a chain, make sure it is sturdy enough to do the job,” he suggests. “If any deformation in the links is detected, stop immediately and get a larger chain.” He continues, “Never allow anyone to be near the chain when it is under stress. Also, make sure to provide a protective barrier on either end in case the chain breaks and springs backward.” Hydraulic systems “Hydraulic hoses and cylinders provide power to lift implements such as plows and loader arms, change the position of implement components such as combine headers and scraper blades and operate hydraulic motors on tractor steering and brake systems,” says Smith.

“Hydraulic systems also harbor considerable energy that can cause serious injury and death,” Smith warns. “Be careful when servicing, adjusting or replacing hydraulic parts. Refer to the operator’s manual for instructions.” “Check hydraulic hoses, motors and fittings regularly for leaks by using a piece of cardboard,” he suggests. “High-pressure blasts of hydraulic fluid can injure eyes and break the skin.” Smith suggests lowering equipment before servicing hydraulic systems, so equipment does not fall unexpectedly. “Treat hydraulic fluid as a flammable liquid,” he stresses. “We cannot be passive when it comes to agricultural machine safety.” “We must recognize the hazards as they exist, eliminate unsafe habits and risky behavior around machinery and read and follow the machine operator’s manual carefully,” Smith concludes. Information in this article was compiled from the Texas A&M University Extension Fact Sheet titled Agricultural Machinery Safety. For more information, visit agrilife.org/ agsafety. Callie Hanson is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Herring Angus Ranch 18th Annual High Country Bull & Horse Sale SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020 • HERRING SALE BARN 1 1/2 miles North of Encampment on Hwy 230, then 1/2 mile West

SELLING:

80 Angus, Black Simm-Cross and Composite Bulls 7 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 23

PAP: 36 Angus • Sire: Combination CED: +6 BW: +0.7 WW: +48 YW: +80 M: +16 BW: 78 lbs. Act. WW: 628 lbs.

Lot 70 TWEgen® Models • TWE65GAH 6500 Watt Adequately starts and runs up to a 3HP Pump • TWE80GAH 8000 Watt Adequately starts and runs up to a 5HP Pump • TWE90GAH 9000 Watt

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PAP: 36 Simm-Cross • Sire: Broker BW: 80 lbs. Act. WW: 694 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 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

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.

April 12

EVENTS April 6 April 6-7 CANCELED April 10 April 13 CANCELED April 13 CANCELED April 13-14 April 14 CANCELED April 14 April 17-18 CANCELED

April 25 CANCELED April 28 CANCELED May 7-9 CANCELED May 8-10 CANCELED May 12 May 15-17 CANCELED May 18-19

April 11

Wyoming Beef Council Public Conference Call, Teleconference. For call in information, contact Ann Whitmann at ann.whitmann@wyo.gov. Wyoming Beef Council Meeting, Riverton. Visit wybeef.com for more information. Wyoming Livestock Roundup Office Closed. Press and editorial deadline is Tuesday, April 7, 5 p.m. Call 307-234-2700 for questions or to advertise. Livestock Transport Accident Training, Big Piney, Sublette County Fairgrounds. Contact Scott Cotton at 307-235-9400 for more information. Wyoming Board of Agriculture Meeting Conference Call, Teleconference. For more information, visit agriculture.wy.gov/boa/agenda. Wyoming Board of Agriculture Meeting, Cheyenne. Visit wyagric.state. wy.us for more information. Livestock Transport Accident Training, Big Piney, Sublette County Fairgrounds. Contact Scott Cotton at 307-235-9400 for more information. Wyoming Water Development Commission Water Forum, Moved to online forum at meet.google.com/qno-awrs-eqt, phone: 1-904-580-8518, pin: 889 667 535#. For more information or an agenda, visit wwdc.state.wy.us/. 2020 State and Regional Master Gardner Conference, Casper. Sessions and workshops at Casper College UW/Union Building and Aley Hall. Banquet at the Agricultural Resource and Learning Center. For more information, visit natronacounty-wy.gov/WyomingMG2020 or call 307-235-9400. 2020 Rural Living Expo, Cody, Cody Auditorium. Contact Park County Extension at 307-527-8650 for more information. Livestock Transport Accident Training, Douglas, Converse County Sheriff’s Office. Contact Scott Cotton at 307-235-9400 for more information. Wyoming Outdoor Expo, Casper, Casper Events Center. For more information, visit wyomingexpo.com. Hotchkiss Sheep Camp Stock Dog Trials, Hotchkiss, Colo. Visit hotchkissdogtrials.com for more information. Wyoming Water Development Commission Water Forum, Cheyenne, Wyoming Water Development Office. For more information or an agenda, visit wwdc.state.wy.us/. Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show, Sheridan. For more information, visit leathercraftersjournal.com. University of Wyoming Energy Transition Symposium, Laramie. For more information visit uwyo.edu/ser/events/energy-transition-symposium.

SALES April 6 April 6 April 7 April 8 April 8 April 9 April 9 April 9 April 10

Colorado State University 34 th Annual Yearling Commercial Angus Bull Sale, ONLINE, 307-710-2938, 970-491-2722 Garrigan Land & Cattle Annual Bull Sale, Faith Livestock Commission, Faith, S.D., 605-280-9220, 605-739-3901, garrigancattle.com Webo Angus Annual Turning Grass into Greenbacks Bull Sale, at the ranch, Lusk, 307-334-3006, 307-216-0090, weboangus.com Rock Lake Land & Cattle 2nd Annual Bull Sale, at the Big Red Barn at Rock Lake, Wheatland, 307-331-1175 Pass Creek Angus Ranch 46 th Annual Bull Production Sale, at the ranch, Wyola, Mont., 406-620-7165, 406-343-2551, passcreekangus. com McClun’s Lazy JM Ranch Annual Production Sale, Torrington Livestock Sale Barn, Torrington, 307-837-2524, 307-575-2113, 307-5753519 Reich Charolais Ranch 63rd Annual Bull Sale, Bell Fourche Livestock Market, Belle Fourche, S.D., 605-892-4366, 605-580-2393 Wulf Cattle 32nd Annual Production Sale, at the Sandy Ridge Ranch, Atkinson, Neb., 320-288-6128, wulfcattle.com 5L Red Angus 2020 Spring Profit $eeker Bull Sale, at the ranch, Sheridan, Mont., 877-552-8557, 406-842-5693, 5lredangus.com, 5lbulls.com

Big horn Basin

Worland, WY

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

LIVESTOCK AUCTION LLC

Broadcasting and Online Bidding Available At lmaauctions.com. Please visit to fill out an application and view auctions. Apirl 2, 2020 – 99 Head Cows $5 to $6 Lower • Heiferettes $71 to $83 COWS Herman Livestock LLC - Hyattville 1 Red Cow, 1220# ...................................... $6100 Riley, Michael - Burlington 1 Red Cow, 1445# ...................................... $6050 1 Red Cow, 1515# ...................................... $5850 1 RWF Cow, 1235# .................................... $5700 1 Red Cow, 1565# ...................................... $5600 1 Red Cow, 1480# ...................................... $5200 Silver Sage Farms LLC - Basin 1 BWF Cow, 1235# .................................... $5900 1 Blk Cow, 1355# ....................................... $5850 1 Blk Cow, 1200# ....................................... $5500 1 Blk Cow, 1155# ........................................ $5400 Goton, Michael - Shell 1 Blk Cow, 1385# ....................................... $5750 Mendez Brothers - Otto 1 Blk Cow, 1250# ....................................... $5650 1 Blk Cow, 1220# ....................................... $5400 PAR Ranch - Meeteetse 1 Blk Cow, 1210# ....................................... $5500 Zeller Ranch - Meeteetse 1 Blk Cow, 1510# ....................................... $5300 Six, Rick and Danyne - Worland 1 CharX Cow, 1555# .................................. $5000

HEIFERETTES Charter Place LLC - Jackson 1 Blk Hfrette, 1045#.................................... $8350 1 Blk Hfrette, 1225#.................................... $8100 Silver Sage Farms LLC - Basin 1 Blk Hfrette, 900#...................................... $8150 1 Blk Hfrette, 990#...................................... $7400 Riley, Michael - Burlington 1 Red Hfrette, 1000# .................................. $7700 1 Red Hfrette, 1075# .................................. $7150 Herman Livestock LLC - Hyattville 1 Hrfd Hfrette, 945# .................................... $7500 1 Red Hfrette, 1065# .................................. $7400

April 13 April 14 April 14 April 15 April 18 April 18 April 20 April 24 April 25 April 30 May 2 May 7 Sept. 8

Sellman Ranch Annual Performance Sale, Crawford Livestock Market, Crawford, Neb., 308-430-4223, 308-430-3741, 308-430-3634, sellmanranch.com RA Thiessen’s Regency Acres Annual Production Sale, Sidney Livestock Market Center, Sidney, Mont., 406-774-3702, 406-480-5988, regencyacres.com Cardinal Charolais 24th Annual Bull Sale, at the ranch, Hillrose, Colo., 970-380-1725, 970-846-7225, cardinalcharolais.com Ludvigson Stock Farms Spring Herdbuilder Bull Sale, Weschenfelder Development Center, Shepherd, Mont., 515-450-3124, 712-2293431, ludvigsonstockfarms.com Baker’s Lemar Angus Ranch Spring Performance Sale, at the ranch, St. Onge, S.D., 605-642-9785, bakerlemarangus.com Beckton’s 75 th Anniversary Bull & Heifer Sale, at the ranch, Sheridan, 307-674-6095. 307-674-8162, becktonredangus.com Wagner Charolais 9th Annual Bull Sale, VIDEO ONLY, wagnercharolais.com T4 Livestock Bull & Heifer Sale, Ogallala Livestock, Ogallala, Neb., 308-874-4165, t4livestock.com Real Ranch Horse Invitational Sale, ONLINE ONLY, 406-446-2203, realranchhorses.com Rees Brothers Spring Angus Bull Sale, at the ranch, Morgan, Utah, 801-668-8613, 801-949-8960, reescattle.com Pharo Cattle Company Spring Bull Sale, Burlington Livestock Exchange, Burlington, Colo., 800-311-0995, pharocattle.com Lisco & M Diamond Angus *Rescheduled* Bull Sale, Central Wyoming Fairgrounds Arena, Casper, 307-358-3810, 307-359-0167, 307436-5406, 307-359-1162, mdiamondangus.com Herring Angus High Country Bull & Ranch Horse Sale, Herring Ranch Sale Barn, Encampment, 307-327-5396, 307-329-8228 J Spear Cattle Company Annual Production Sale, Belle Fourche Livestock Auction, Belle Fourche, S.D., 605-685-5964, 605-279-1026 Grand Hills 2nd Annual Bull Sale, Albany County Fairgrounds, Laramie, 970-215-5281, 269-270-1889, 785-672-3195, grandhillscattle.com Paint Rock Angus Annual Spring Production Sale, at the ranch, Hyattville, 307-469-2206, 307-469-2252, paintrockangus.com 92 nd Annual Wyoming State Ram Sale, Wyoming State Fairgrounds, Douglas, 307-265-5250, 307-351-1422, wyowool.com

POSTCARD from the Past

Compiled by Dick Perue rrichardperue@gmail.com

The Life of the World to Come A Thought for Easter By Mary Graham Bonner There wasn’t much use in anything anymore, she thought. Just as her boy was showing such promise he had been taken from her. It was hard to go to church, because she couldn’t bear to hear the other boys sing. Her boy had always sung in the choir. At Easter time, especially, how she had thrilled with pride as she had seen him, one of the first and youngest in the processional, singing as though his little throat would burst with the joy of song. But she must go. She would hear the Bible lessons, and the prayers and hymns would give her comfort. But she would leave before the offer-

tory, when the boys at Easter always sang so wonderfully and so gloriously. The minister, he was very human, he would understand. The first hymn had been sung. The boys had marched in. “Welcome, Happy Morning! Age to Age Shall Say,” they had sung. But yes - Easter morning was a happy morning - to most. And then she began to think, and even as she prayed her lonely thoughts came in and interrupted. At Easter, the creed was sung and not said, and because it was always elaborately sung at this time the congregation listened. The choir sang it through. “And I look for the Resurrection of the dead:

• Upcoming Sales • April 9 April 16 April 18 April 23

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April 30 May 7 May 14 May 16 May 21 May 28 June 11 June 20 June 25

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Grass Calf Special All Class Cattle, Sheep and Goats Saturday Horse Sale at 1 PM Breeding Bull Special with All Class Cattle All Class Cattle All Class Cattle Pair Special with All Class Cattle Saturday Horse Sale at 1 PM All Class Cattle, Sheep and Goats All Class Cattle Pair Special with All Class Cattle Saturday Horse Sale at 1 PM Weigh up Special with All Class Cattle

April 9, 2020 Consignments Hamilton Ranch – 32 black steers, 650-700#, 32 black heifers, 600-700#, weaned, two rounds of shots • Spear D – 40 hd. mixed calves, 700-800#, weaned, two rounds of shots • D&N Livestock – 80 hd. mixed calves, 500-600#, weaned, two rounds of shots • Steve Tharp – 40 hd. mixed calves, 550-600#, weaned, two rounds of shots. April 23, 2020 Consignments Will Slagle – 5 two-year-old bulls, Hereford Line 1, 5 yearling bulls, Hereford Line 1 • Spear D (Canon McKim) – 10 yearling Char bulls, 4 registered black Angus bulls • Z-C Livestock – 4 black Angus yearling bulls • Clay Creek Angus – 20 two-year-old bulls and 10 yearling bulls. Industry Leading Sires: S A V Renown, Coleman Charlo, S A V Resource, HA Cowboy Up 5405, S A V Bismark, Coleman Knight 209, HARB Chisum 286 JH, Coleman DOC 707

The above articles and drawing all appeared in the March 24, 1921 issue of The Encampment Echo

And the Life of the world to come,” they sang. And then a voice repeated the last line of all - the clear lovely voice of a boy soprano. And yet was it just an ordinary boy soprano? Wasn’t it as though her own boy were telling her this? The boy’s voice rose higher and higher, “And the Life of the world to come.” Her boy’s life had been cut off - but - there was - the Life of the world to come! © 1921, Western Newspaper Union Old Beliefs About Easter Deep-Rooted Ideas that Have Been Current from the Earliest Days of the Celebration There is an old weather superstition to the effect that if the sun shines on Easter it will shine on Whitsunday. If you bathe with cold water on Easter day, you will keep well all the year. There is another old superstition about eggs, and that is to rub over the face an egg that has been colored for Easter to have a nice complexion. To cry on Easter is a sign you will cry the following Sunday, too. It is bad luck to keep Easter eggs. They should be destroyed. If a rabbit runs across your path on Easter Sunday it is a good luck sign. For the lovelorn, there is a warning that one should not get engaged on Easter Sunday, else the engagement will be broken. “Give a man a red egg at Easter to secure his love,” is an old gypsy amendment.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

Coping strategies provided Wyomingites need to respond aggressively to the coronavirus rapidly disrupting jobs, said a University of Wyoming Extension Personal Finance Specialist. “Gov. Mark Gordon’s order to close public spaces meant those who work in the entertainment, restaurant and bar, travel, retail and hospitality industries face significant losses in income, especially in Wyoming’s tourism-heavy economy,” said Cole Ehmke, a member of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources “Wyomingites need to keep paying their bills in the face of what is looking like a sharp loss of income,” said Ehmke. “Many are already facing a cash crunch.” There are ways to respond, Ehmke pointed out. “Even if someone hasn’t been laid off or had a reduction in their hours, now is a good time to collect the information needed for an unemployment claim, like recent pay stubs and tax filings,” he said. “Have records ready, especially if the employer is closed.” Talking with family members about cutting unnecessary expenses and checking on resources like emergency savings is important.

“Each dollar saved reduces the possibility of having to skip a bill payment or putting something on a credit card,” Ehmke said. “Cut expenses aggressively.” He asked, “Are there subscriptions we can do without? Is a less expensive cell plan available?” “Discussing repayment options with creditors, considering financial support and having conversations with family members about contributing to the household’s welfare also may help with an income drop,” said Ehmke. “I recommend having a family money meeting to find agreement and address painful issues face-on. Otherwise, resentment and disagreement will erode relationships,” he said. The overall impact has been swift and has been increasing. Ehmke said he wouldn’t discourage anyone from looking closely at their resources, increasing their communication and trying to apply for unemployment benefits. “Now is a good time to identify local sources of help like food banks and how to apply for other government benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children,” Ehmke said.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

FARMING continued from page 1 sion-making environment to farmers over the past several years,” according to University of Illinois (UI). “The decisions for this spring are now drastically complicated given the rapidly changing situation with the spread of COVID-19 and its attendant health threats and control measures.” UI continues, “Currently, a paramount concern is continuing farming and livestock activities in the face of COVID19 health threats and control measures. Farmers and

input suppliers are coming up on a very busy planting season.” “To the extent possible, assuring a workplace free of COVID-19 is important. A U.S. recession is expected to result because of COVID-19 control measures, the extent of which remains unknown,” says UI. “At this point, the economic implications are uncertain, but some sort of acreage and public policy response seems likely.” Labor According to AFBF, the U.S. State Depart-

USCA releases statement The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to take immediate steps to address the impact the coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on the U.S. cattle market. USCA President Dr. Brooke Miller, M.D. issued the following statement. “The actions federal, state and local government along with private entities - are making to control the spread of the outbreak are the right decisions. We must continue to ‘flatten the curve’ to protect our loved ones at greater risk of contracting the virus,” she said. Miller continued, “However, producers’ bottom lines are suffering due to the effect the outbreak has had on the cattle and beef industries. We must act expeditiously to return normalcy to the cattle marketplace. Fortunately, the USDA Commodity Credit Corporation can provide the needed programs and funding to address these rare and tumultuous incidents.” “We call on Secretary Sonny Perdue to work in an expedited manner to provide the needed programs and financial support,” said Miller. “In addition, we ask for oversight of the cattle marketplace to prevent anti-competitive buying practices in the days and weeks ahead.” “USCA has created a special task force to address the market fallout as a result of the coronavirus,” Miller said. “These are uneasy times, but cattle producers can rest assured the industry will get through this. This is the second major market disruption, and producers need to know that work is underway to ensure the future is both stable and profitable.” “We will overcome and continue to produce a healthy and abundant food supply, while simultaneously serving as stewards of the environment and ensuring a thriving rural and national economy,” she concluded

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ment revised its restrictions on the processing of visa applications submitted by farm workers in Mexico after hearing concerns that the restrictions would lead to a farm worker shortage in the U.S. Consular officers can now waive the visa interview requirement for eligible first-time and returning H-2A and H-2B applicants, making more workers in the H-2 program available while prioritizing public health. “America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to feeding America’s families during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond,” says Duvall. “Workers in the H-2A program represent 20 percent of the country’s farm workforce, so their contributions are necessary as we enter a critical time in the planting season.” “The introduction of COVID-19 into the personnel of a farm or input supply firm will present difficulties, particularly given no other trained personnel are likely to be available,” UI notes. “Many farmers are in the at-risk group being older and perhaps having other factors increasing risk. Working through a COVID-19 infection during planting is not wise, particularly given the reported death rates from COVID-19 in other countries.” UI says a COVID-19 free labor force needs to be maintained if possible. “As a result, farmers may wish to emphasize measures suggested by health officials - washing hands, limiting travel and social distancing,” says UI.

“Perhaps most critical will be those individuals providing input supply to other farmers. Seeds, fertilizer and herbicides soon will be needed to be delivered to many farmers,” says UI. “Moreover, grains and livestock need to be transported to markets and processing destinations. The needs to limit COVID19 spread among workers across these supply chains need to be considered and taken seriously.” Economic impacts USDA reports the month of March proved to be turbulent at best as the pandemic spread across the world and struck fear and uncertainty in the markets. According to USDA, “U.S. corn stocks dropped to their lowest level since 2015 in the Dec, 1, 2019 quarterly grain stocks report. Analyst expectations of 8.125 billion bushels as of March 1, 2020 would be in line with historical trends and would follow December 2019’s trend of a four-year low.” “Despite tightness in global stocks, the December 2019 quarter soybean stocks were the second highest in history,” says USDA. “Soybean crush levels have risen to record highs this year which will likely offset slower export numbers.” USDA continues, “Soybean stocks have the most potential to influence planting acreages as well. If the March 1, 2020 soybean figure comes in lower than expected, new crop soybeans may gain favor over 2020/21 corn acreage, especially considering the recent uptick in demand

for soymeal.” “Higher levels of soybeans will likely send the soybean-corn price ratio below the critical 2.4 level it has hovered above recently, shifting acreage favorability to corn,” they say. USDA notes U.S. wheat stocks as of March 1, 2020 are predicted to total 1.432 billion bushels. That estimate would be consistent with December 2019 stocks as the lowest March figure in four years. “Usage rates will not include the recent spike in demand for wheat products following consumer stockpiling due to COVID-19 pandemic-induced panic buying,” according to USDA. A Brookings analysis published in late March laid out seven possible economic scenarios for the COVID-19 pandemic, the most severe of which puts the cost of a diseaserelated recession in the trillions of dollars range. “The magnitude will depend on how long COVID-19 social distancing measures will be in place, the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak and other general economic factors,” Brookings notes. “It is safe to say this recession would also negatively impact agriculture. Corn and soybean prices have fallen since COVID19 measures have been put in place, roughly six percent for corn and eight percent for soybeans,” according to UI. “These percentage declines are based on a comparison of current future contract levels to projected prices for crop insurance.”

UI notes the projected price for corn in Midwest states is based on the February average of December 2020 corn futures contract prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). “The corn projected price for 2020 is $3.88 per bushel. The price on March 16 was $3.66, a decline of six percent from the $3.88 projected price,” according to UI. “The projected price for soybeans - the average of February settlement prices of the November 2019 CME soybean contract - is $9.17 per bushel. The settlement price on March 16 was $8.45, a decline of eight percent from the February average.” “Whether COVID19 has larger impacts on corn and soybean prices in the future is an open question,” says UI. “Reduced travel will decrease fuel use, leading to less ethanol use, and potentially lower corn prices. Lower crude oil prices from Saudi – Russian exchanges also will play a role in corn prices.” “Chinese demand for soybeans is uncertain, particularly given that China could be harder hit by COVID-19 than the U.S. A Chinese recession would lower U.S. soybean exports to China,” UI explains. “Moreover, a major recession will impact livestock demand, which will have impacts on both corn and soybean prices.” Callie Hanson is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 31 No. 49 • April 4, 2020

It’s the Pitts by Lee Pitts

Fancy Foo-Foo Food I’ve always loved being able to identity things. Whether it was guessing state license plates from afar, parts of dead frogs in zoology, breeds of dogs, Democrats or Republicans, makes of cars, kinds of cattle or cats and crops growing along the road. It’s one reason why I enjoy grocery shopping so much which, I’ve done religiously with my wife for 46 years. We’re lucky to live in an area where hundreds of crops are grown, and I love being able to identify all the different

fruits and vegetables, as well as the cuts of meat. From yards away, I can identify Chinese artichokes, bok choy, white asparagus, purple sweet potatoes, purple carrots, kumquats, calabash, fiddleheads, daikon radishes, rutabagas, Hass avocados, kohlrabi, jackfruit, star fruit, tomatillo, tripe, top sirloins and tiger nuts. Insert snarky comment here. My wife was a cashier in a grocery store for over 30 years and when grocery stores made the switch to scanners,

UW continued from page 1 entrusted us with their well-being, and we will not let them down.” The decision to continue paying student workers who no longer have access to their jobs was based on concerns that many of these students depend upon the income to continue their UW studies. “As students were encouraged not to return to Laramie, many of our students no longer have access

to their positions in dining, athletics, the rec center and so on,” Theobald says. “Students who work while in college tend to be lower income, on average. We are very concerned that many of these students are at high risk to drop out of school due to losing their campus jobs.” While the federal relief bill passed by Congress and signed by the president last week includes substantial

she had to learn to identify every single fruit or vegetable in the store and its corresponding number code so when it was weighed all she had to do was punch in its code and the computer did the rest. I remember quizzing her in the produce aisle and in the process, I learned all the names of vegetables too. My wife became so good at this that she became the go-to authority in the store. For example, another checker would hold up a fruit and yell out, “Diane, what is this?” “It’s an ugli fruit,” she’d reply. “I know it’s ugli, but what is it.” “I’m telling you, it’s an ugli fruit.” Eventually, my wife would just yell out its code and the other checker would find out it truly was called an ugli fruit. You should have heard

the exchange when my wife informed them the name of a vegetable was “yardlong.” “No, it’s not, it’s only eight inches,” another checker would reply. “It may be two inches but it’s still yardlong, also known as asparagus bean, number 345.” I tell you, it was like the old Laurel and Hardy routine of Who’s on First. In the good old days when I was a kid, we didn’t have to learn all these foofoo foods like Napa cabbage, sea chokes, sea beans, lichis, paw paw and jicama. No, that wasn’t a hiccup. A paw paw is also known as a yam bean. I wish they’d make up their mind, is it a yam or is it a bean? In my youth, you went to a barbecue and it was beef steaks, potatoes, French bread drenched in real butter, iceberg lettuce, green beans and

homemade vanilla ice cream. If you got real daring it was a green Jell-O salad instead of a red one. But now it’s empanadas with goat cheese, pomelos with soapberry dressing, Brussel sprouts with Fava beans and onion seeds, a salad made from four different kinds of leafy greens, roasted leeks and rhubarb. Speaking of rhubarb, anyone who has ever raised the stuff, like me, knows that dogs like to pee on it, so I’d stay away from the rhubarb pie if I were you. The outbreak of fancy foo-foo food has gotten so bad that at the last branding we attended someone brought their own fake meat because their teenage daughter was going through the mandatory vegetarian phase all young girls go through. As usual, my buddy fed

the congregation of dogs who worshipped at the barbecue pit little pieces of meat. When he fed a pinch of the fake beef burger to a Dachshund it gagged it back up and started barking at it. It wouldn’t stop barking until the offensive burger was wrapped in newspaper and thrown in the trash can. Even then the Dachshund with extremely good taste kept snarling at it. This gave me a great idea. I’m sure you’ve seen “service dogs” in the grocery store? I told my buddy he could get rich by developing a strain of Beyond Meat® sniffing dogs and selling them as service dogs so whenever a sensitive shopper came across fake, or other fancy foo-foo food, their service dog would sniff it out and start yapping so incessantly at the disgusting feedstuff every shopper in the store would know to stay away.

funding through the Small Business Administration that could end up helping some students who work off campus, the university is concerned UW students will have high need for an emergency fund to stay enrolled through the end of the semester. Those concerns prompted the UW Foundation’s Board of Directors to create the $250,000 Pokes Make the Difference matching program, which the Foundation launched today. “The goal is to provide

at least $500,000 to UW students through a process focused on financial aid status and lack of access/ability to work,” Theobald says. “We really appreciate UW Foundation stepping up in this way.” Students may learn more about criteria and the application process for emergency funds via the UW dean of students website, where the application form and process will be available beginning April 3, and will remain open through April 17. The new emergency fund

builds upon ASUW’s earlier distribution of $163,000 from student fees it receives to 559 UW students who demonstrated needs related to COVID-19. When UW announced it was moving all instruction online for the remainder of the spring semester, UW Information Technology distributed an online survey to all students asking about their need for online access or equipment to take courses online. Nearly 200 students have responded to the survey and indicated needs for either

equipment or assistance. As a result of the survey, UW responded to 75 students to make sure their connectivity needs were met. Forty laptops have been checked out to students and 35 students are working with UW Disability Support Services for further assistance. “We remain unshakable in our determination to provide our students with every opportunity to succeed,” Theobald says. “As a family, we will overcome and recover, more resilient than ever before.”

RIVERTON LIVESTOCK AUCTION Tuesday, March 31, 2020 Market Reports • 279 Head Sold RIVERTON LIVESTOCK WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE SALES WE REALIZE THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME FOR OUR CUSTOMERS THAT NEED THE CASH FLOW FOR SPRING EXPENSES, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE OFFERING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELL FOR THOSE THAT WANT OR NEED TO DO SO. WE DO ASK, FOR THE SAFETY OF YOU, OUR BUYERS AND STAFF, TO PLEASE MINIMIZE THE TIME YOU SPEND AT THE MARKET, ESPECIALLY IN THE SALE ARENA. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO BRING YOUR STOCK TO TOWN AND LET US TAKE IT FROM THERE. PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE WITH YOUR CATTLE INFORMATION. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR AUCTIONS THROUGH CATTLEUSA.COM. INTERNET BUYERS, PLEASE HAVE A BACK UP PLAN. DUE TO INTERNET VOLUME, PLEASE HAVE A PHONE NUMBER TO REACH A PERSON ON SITE TO ASSIST YOUR BIDDING NEEDS. WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF ANY CHANGES. PLEASE LIKE/CHECK OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR UPDATES AS WELL. OUR GOAL AS ALWAYS, IS TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING COMMERCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS. PLEASE CALL US ANYTIME. THANK YOU & GOD BLESS JEFF BROWN & ALL THE CREW AT RLA

Representative Sales COWS RIVERTON 2 Cow, 1327# ......................... $67.00 SHOSHONI 3 Cow, 1431# ......................... $61.00 RIVERTON 2 Cow, 1497# ......................... $57.00 3 Cow, 1208# ......................... $56.00 2 Cow, 1235# ......................... $55.00 CROWHEART 4 Cow, 1158# ......................... $54.00 RIVERTON 2 Cow, 1415# ......................... $52.00 4 Cow, 1337# ......................... $50.00 BULLS CASPER 1 Bull, 2065# .......................... $90.00 MCKINNON 1 Bull, 2235# .......................... $88.50 SOSHONI 2 Bull, 1922# .......................... $85.50 BAGGS 1 Bull, 2090# .......................... $84.50

MCKINNON 3 Bull, 1998# .......................... $82.00 SHOSHONI 3 Bull, 2180# .......................... $80.50 3 Bull, 2081# .......................... $79.00 BRED COWS/BRED HEIFERS LANDER 1 Bred Cow, 1275# ........... $1,585.00 DANIEL 3 Bred Cow, 1171# ............ $1,550.00 JACKSON 6 Bred Heifer, 1134# .......... $1,400.00 HEIFERETTES CROWHEART 1 Heiferette, 845# .................. $94.00 1 Heiferette, 1010# ................ $80.00 RIVERTON 3 Heiferette, 1133# ................. $78.00

Be sure to check out our country cattle listings at www.cattleusa.com

Early Consignments TUESDAY, APRIL 7

TUESDAY, APRIL 14

CALF & YEARLING SPECIAL START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS CALVES & YEARLINGS Ted Seely - 170 Blk Ang Strs & Hfrs 500-550#. Rec two rounds of Vista Once SQ, Vision 7 w/ Somnus & Pinkeye. Weaned since Nov. High percentage AI sired & Popo Agie Angus genetics. Reputation cattle from a long time Registered breeder! Nick Harris - 150 Blk Ang & AngX Strs & Hfrs 550625#. Rec Bovishield Gold & 7-way. Weaned since Nov. Green, hay fed. One brand, fancy! Steve Husted - 70 Blk Ang Hfrs 650#. Rec Vista Once SQ, 7-way @ Branding & Weaning (11/1). Sired by Popo Agie Blk Ang bulls. Long time wean. Fancy! V3 Quarter Box - 70 Blk Ang & CharX Strs 400500#. Rec 7-way w/ Somnus, Pinkeye & wormed w/ Safeguard & poured w/ Cleanup. Running out on meadows. Hay fed. Fancy, powerful feeding heifers! Larry Love - 55 Blk Strs & Hfrs 500#. Rec Nasalgen, One Shot Ultra 7 @ Branding; 7-way & Triangle 5 @ Weaning. Long time weaned. Hfrs are Bangs vacc. Hay fed & fancy! Matt McDowell - 55 Blk Ang Strs & Hfrs 400-600#. Rec One Shot BVD & 2 rounds of 8-way. Long time weaned. Sired by Registered Blk Ang bulls. Hay fed & green! High elevation. Darwin Griebel - 20 Blk Ang Strs & Hfrs 500-600#. Rec two rounds of Vista Once SQ & Vision 7 w/ Somnus. Weaned since Dec 1st. Fancy, high desert! Big West - 7 Blk Strs & Hfrs 600#. Comp vacc. Long time weaned. Hay fed. BRED COWS Rafter Cross - 15 Blk Ang Bred Cows. Bred to Blk Ang bulls to calve April/May. Comp vacc & poured in the Fall. Tom & Jenn Severude - 10 Blk 3-6 Yr old Bred cows. Bred to Blk Ang bulls to calve April/May. Comp vacc last Fall & Rec Guardian in Jan. Poured w/ Ivomec & Cleanup. Stout, powerful Cows! Bitterroot Ranch - 10 Blk Ang 2-7 Yr old Bred cows. Bred to Lucky 7 Blk Ang bulls to calve April/May. Rec 7-way & poured last Fall. Fancy Young cows!

BRED COW & PAIR SPECIAL START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS Glenn Burgett Estate - 50 Blk Ang & AngX 3-9 Yr old Bred cows. Bred to Blk Ang bulls to calve now-May. One brand, ranch raised cows! High desert. Pam Noriega - 30 Blk Ang Heifer Pairs 15 Blk Ang 3 & 4 Yr old Pairs Calves sired by powerful Blk Ang bulls. Calves received 7-way w/ C & D @ Birth. Tagged to match. Stout, powerful Pairs!

TUESDAY, APRIL 21 ALL CATTLE CLASSES START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS

TUESDAY, APRIL 28 BRED COW & PAIR SPECIAL W/ SHEEP & HORSES, START TIME 9:00 AM W/ SHEEP & WEIGH UPS Glenn Burgett Estate - 400 Blk Ang & AngX Cow Calf Pairs. Approximate Breakdown of Ages: 80- 2 Yr old Hfr Pairs, 160- 3 & 4 Yr old Pairs, 100 - 5 & 6 Yr old Pairs, 60- 7 Yr old-ST Pairs. All calves are tagged to match & received C & D @ Birth. Complete dispersion of one brand, ranch raised cows that summer on high desert range & winter on crop aftermath. Very high quality cow herd, great disposition. Great Angus genetics! 47QC LLC - 20 Blk Ang & AngX Hfr Pairs. Calves received Alpha C & D, Multimin & CattlActive @ Birth. Tagged to match. Calves sired by Diamond Peak & Reyes Blk Ang bulls. Fancy pairs!

TUESDAY, MAY 5 ALL CATTLE CLASSES START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS

TUESDAY, MAY 12 ALL CATTLE CLASSES START TIME 9:00 AM W/ WEIGH UPS

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 • Riverton, WY 82501 • (307) 856-2209