Volume 35 Number 45 • March 2, 2024
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The Weekly News Source for Ranchers, Farmers and the Agribusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside Protein is critical to a horse’s diet............................ Page A12 Declining dairy heifer numbers may impact milk production....... ................................... Page B3 Wyoming State Forestry provides update to Joint Ag Committee.......................... Page B5 Texas A&M University student grows chickpeas in moondust... ................................... Page B9
Quick Bits Snow Report
In the 11th snow report for Water Year 2024, the state’s snowpack telemetry data reads 88% of median, with a basin high of 110% and a basin low of 42%. Last year, the state was at 115% and at 85% in 2022. The report and a map displaying basin snow water equivalent percentages of median for the state may be found at wrds.uwyo.edu/ wrds/nrcs/nrcs.html.
License Raffle
Wyoming Wool Growers Association Commissioner Kenneth Roberts recently donated a Wyoming Commissioner’s License to be raffled off on March 31 or whenever tickets are sold out. The license is good for elk, deer or pronghorn in an area of choice – outside of Greater Teton National Park – and is independent of the regular Wyoming Game and Fish Department license draw. Tickets can be purchased online at wyowool. com/commissionerstagraffle, via phone at 307-2655350 or via e-mail at alison@wyowool.com.
High winds drive large grass fire near Cheyenne Multiple agencies worked together as a fastmoving grass fire shut down Interstate 25 south of Cheyenne on Feb. 24, and according to local witnesses, flames could be seen
burning next to Interstate 80 (I-80). While plumes of black smoke blanketed the southern portion of Cheyenne and could be seen for miles around for most of the morning, agencies worked
to contain the large-wind swept fire. The fire was about seven miles west of Cheyenne just south of I-80 and quickly spread as wind gusts were reported to be over 60
miles per hour, pushing east towards Cheyenne. Wyoming Highway Patrol reported the fire was active, but appeared “under control” by 1 p.m., with Please see FIRE on page A17
International Markets
USMEF experts provide update on imports and exports of U.S. sheep and lamb
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Director of Trade Analysis Jessica Spreitzer and USMEF Director of Export Services Courtney Heller were featured as guest speakers during a University of Minnesota webinar titled “Lamb: International Trade and Economics” on Feb. 12. The pair presented information on global lamb trade from USMEF’s year-end report, released on Feb. 11, while highlighting data on U.S. imports and exports. Lamb imports To begin, Spreitzer notes the U.S. is one of the top four importers of lamb and mutton, alongside the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK) and China, which is the major driver in the global marketplace. She went on to explain Australia and New Zealand provide the large majority of supplies moving into China and the U.S., while the EU and UK are primarily supplied by each other. Please see SHEEP on page A20
WYLR photo
Early calf survival BCRC discusses key methods to ensure calves have a good start to life The first 24 hours of a calf’s life are the most critical, and ensuring calves have a good start to life can make them more productive and profitable at weaning and beyond. On Feb. 21, the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) hosted a webinar featuring a panel of experts who discussed key methods for calf health management and offered helpful tips to ensure calves have a solid foundation at birth. The panelists consisted of University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Associate Professor Dr. Claire Windeyer, Shoal Lake Veterinary Clinic’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Roger Richard and W.A. Ranches Cow Boss and Activity Coordinator Heidi Bennett. Early calf survival Producers should take time to evaluate replacement heifer health, nutrition and reproductive status, which will increase breeding success. Richard explains multiple methods to ensure calves have a good start to life, including pre-breeding reproductive vaccinations, neonatal processing protocols and neonatal treatment protocols. Please see CALVES on page A8
CNFR Returns
On June 9-15, the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) will return to the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper for its 25th year of thrilling rodeo action. Season tickets for the event will go on sale starting April 1 at 10 a.m. and are only available online. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit cnfr.com.
DMC Program As of Feb. 28, dairy producers will be able to enroll for 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC). This year’s DMC signup begins Feb. 28 and ends April 29.
Correction
An address in the obituary published on page B11 of this edition of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup was misprinted. The correct address is Family Farm Alliance, PO Box 217, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.
USDA provides 2024 crop outlook On Feb. 15-16, the U.S. Department of Agriculture held its 100th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum in Arlington, Va. Themed “Cultivating the Future,” the two-day hybrid event offered valuable insight into the agency’s expectations for the ag industry over the coming year. On the first day of the forum, USDA staff presented on the 2024 grains and oilseeds outlook. Corn Members of the USDA Oilseeds, Feed Grains, Wheat and Rice Interagency Commodity Estimates Committee noted the U.S. corn outlook for 2024-25 forecasts lower production, greater domestic use, increased exports and higher ending stocks. “The corn crop is projected at 15.04 billion bushels, down about two percent from the prior year’s record. Corn planted area is forecast at 91 million acres, down 3.6 million from a year ago,” the committee stated. “The yield projection of 181 bushels per acre is based on a weather-adjusted trend assuming normal planting progress and summer growing season weather. With beginning stocks up sharply from the prior year, total corn supplies are forecast at a record 17.23 billion bushels.” Additionally, U.S. corn use is expected to be higher than year-ago levels. According to USDA, food, seed and industrial-use corn will be slightly higher at 6.8 billion bushels; corn for ethanol is forecast higher at 5.4 billion bushels and feed and residual use-corn will increase one percent to 5.75 billion bushels. Please see CROPS on page A10
Pauley discusses succession planning Joining and/or taking over the family business is never a decision that should be made lightly, as it can hold great rewards and come with great risks. Blurred lines between family and business roles and goals create complexities which can result in family-ending conflicts and business disasters. Wyoming Department of Agriculture Mediation Coordinator Lucy Pauley discussed succession planning at the 2024 Fremont County Farm and Ranch Days held in Riverton Feb. 7-8. Pauley began the break-out session by identifying succession planning, which is transferring management and decision making from one generation to the next.
She said, “An estate plan deals with the accumulation, preservation and distribution of assets over a person’s life, whereas a succession plan focuses on the shift in a business’s management responsibilities from one person to another.” Succession planning can also cover the transfer to an individual outside of the family, in the case nobody wants to take over the entity. Finances Succession is a family matter and a business decision, and mixing the two realms often means tackling difficult conversations. “This can be what stops people from
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Please see SUCCESSION on page A19