Volume 38 Number 16 • August 8, 2026
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The Weekly News Source for Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis discusses grizzly bear management in this week’s guest opinion…...... ......................................... Page 2 Certified Angus Beef provides cattle market update......... Page 8 Postcard from the Past highlights best haying practices in the 1920s.............................. Page 10 UW Extension encourages producers to recognize hidden poisonous plant threats....... Page 14
Quick Bits Election
The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2027 National Pork Producers Delegate Body will take place in conjunction with the Wyoming Pork Producers Association Board of Directors’ meeting at 6 p.m. on Sept 10 at the Grace Werner Ag Pavilion in Casper. All Wyoming pork producers are invited to attend. Any producer, age 18 or older, who is a resident of the state and has paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate candidate and/or participant in the election. For more information, contact Jeremy Burkett at 307-630-6267.
DOI releases 10-year plan for Colorado River On July 31, the Department of the Interior (DOI) and Bureau of Reclamation (BuRec) released a final environmental impact statement (EIS), establishing a flexible framework to guide Colorado River operations over the next 10 years.
The long-awaited framework offers a step forward for one of the West’s most important water systems, guiding operations for reservoirs where water levels are record-low following more than two decades of ongoing drought conditions, low snowpack and increas-
ing water demands. While the plan doesn’t represent a long-term solution, Western officials believe it will enable the river to be efficiently managed in the short term while negotiations continue. Please see CO RIVER on page 16
WYOMING SHEEP AND WOOL FESTIVAL Annual sheep industry celebration held in Powell Wyoming sheep and wool producers and industry stakeholders recently gathered for the Fourth Annual Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival, held July 31 through Aug. 2 at the Park County Fairgrounds in Powell. Highlighting art, agriculture and community, the festival is a collaborative celebration of the Cowboy State’s sheep and wool industries hosted by the Wyoming Wool Growers Association (WWGA) and the Wyoming SHEEP Foundation. First day highlights The festival kicked off on July 31 with an excit-
ing lineup of sheep-centric activities, including a sustainable sheep grazing workshop in the Shoshone National Forest which featured presentations from several sheep industry stakeholders. During the morning session, University of Wyoming (UW) State Rangeland Management Specialist Barton Stam discussed targeted and prescribed grazing and Mike Burrell, district supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, provided insight Please see FESTIVAL on page 6
Sheep celebration – The Fourth Annual Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival was held July 31 through Aug. 2 at the Park County Fairgrounds in Powell. The annual festival invites sheep and wool enthusiasts from across the Cowboy State to gather for a celebration of Wyoming’s sheep and wool industries. WYLR photo
Concert
Thermopolis Cowboy Rendezvous will host a concert featuring Teka Brock and the Clay Halos and Tris Munsick and the Innocents at the Hot Springs County Fairgrounds in Thermopolis on Sept. 11. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit bandsintown.com/e/108691593-trismunsick-and-the-innocents-atthermopolis-fairgrounds?came_ from=253&utm_medium=web& utm_source=city_page&utm_ campaign=top_event.
Hog Webinar National Hog Farmer is partnering with Zoetis to host a free public webinar on swine respiratory disease on Aug. 20 at 11 a.m. The webinar will highlight antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance trends and shifts in antimicrobial resistance patterns. For more information or to register, visit webinar. connectmeinforma.com/ event/register/xfT09KCNRrVNjwHR?partnerref=ENG_ Zoetis_02.
OSLI Grants The Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments (OSLI) announced applications are now being accepted for the Mineral Royalty Grant Program and Transportation Enterprise Account Grants and Loans on revised forms. Application materials are available at lands.wyo.gov. For more information, e-mail SLF-GrantsandLoans@wyo. gov or call 307-777-7331.
Meeting highlights American Lamb Board sets 2027 priorities during Summer Board Meeting American Lamb Board (ALB) staff, members and industry partners gathered July 21-22 to discuss current programs, emerging opportunities and important priorities for the upcoming year during its annual Summer Board Meeting. According to a July 30 ALB press release, the twoday meeting focused on the board’s commitment to strengthening demand for American lamb, supporting U.S. producers, investing in research and education and encouraging industry collaboration. “The Summer Board Meeting provided an excellent opportunity for ALB to evaluate our progress, identify new opportunities and work collaboratively to strengthen the future of the American sheep industry,” reiterates ALB Chairman David Fisher in the release. “The discussions and strategic planning over these two days reaffirmed our commitment to investing producer checkoff dollars in impactful marketing, research, producer education Please see ALB on page 4
Scrapie detected in the U.S. A case of classical scrapie has been confirmed in a sheep slaughtered at a facility in Oregon, according to a July 31 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) press release. Scrapie is a neurological disease affecting sheep and goats with no known treatment. Prior to this detection, the U.S. had gone more than five years without a confirmed domestic case. About scrapie Classical scrapie is a degenerative prion disease which attacks the central nervous system of sheep and goats. A type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, the fatal disease has no known cure, and an outbreak can lead to significant production losses. Scrapie is difficult to detect, and APHIS emphasizes it can take two to five years for an animal to show signs of disease. Infected animals typically live only one to six months after they begin to show signs, and current diagnostic tests require brain or lymphoid tissue. APHIS emphasizes most are infected as young lambs or kids but adult animals can contract scrapie as well, and infected animals which appear to be healthy can spread the disease. Clinical signs of scrapie include incoordination or poor muscle control, significant weight loss, sensitivity to noise and sudden movement, tremors, gait and behavior abnormalities, head pressing, star gazing and repeated intense rubbing. Please see SCRAPIE on page 15
Haying season maintenance tips provided During peak haying season, an equipment malfunction or unexpected breakdown can be a costly, time-consuming ordeal. To help hay producers stay productive this summer, Travis Rawn, a tractor and hay product manager at Ziegler Ag Equipment, offers some key maintenance reminders to help keep harvest equipment running smoothly. “Some breakdowns are unavoidable, but many can be avoided with a little preparation and maintenance,” writes Rawn in an April 19 Farm Progress article. Keep it clean To begin, Rawn reminds producers one of the best ways to prevent a variety of
hayfield hazards from fires to breakdowns is also one of the simplest. Keeping equipment clean and free from debris is one of the easiest ways to help harvest season stay on track. Clearing out old hay and plant matter buildup is crucial to keeping equipment functioning and reducing the risk of fire. Inspecting cooling systems and radiators for blockages, and using air compressors to blow out debris from filters and grills after each day’s work also ensures equipment stays ready to go. Running smoothly Grease is an essential component of proper equipment maintenance, as proper
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Please see HAY on page 9