Volume 35 Number 25 • October 14, 2023
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The Weekly News Source for Ranchers, Farmers and the Agribusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside Check your ag knowledge with this month’s crossword puzzle......... ............................................ Page 5 Magnum Feedyard earns Certified Angus Beef Award............... Page 7 Wyoming producers compete at World Forage Analysis Super Bowl. .......................................... Page 13 Fall lice treatment considerations offered for the cattle herd................ .......................................... Page 18
As 2018 Farm Bill expires, new farm bill faces challenges The 2018 Farm Bill expired on Sept. 30, and the fate of many federal agriculture programs remains in limbo. It is still being determined who will become the next House Speaker as loom-
ing conditions continue to plague the country. Congress struck a deal to avoid a government shutdown on Sept. 30. However, it is still being determined if new legislation will pass by mid-
Quick Bits The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continues to investigate the vandalism of a road grader near the Sweetwater Station intersection on the Fourth of July. A reward of $1,000 is offered by BLM for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of those involved in the crime. Anyone with information is urged to contact BLM law enforcement at 406-8965150 or 307-347-5124.
On Oct. 13, the American Angus Association, Canadian Angus Association and Angus Australia partnered to release a new userfriendly tool – World Angus Evaluation (WAE), which aims to help eliminate hurdles for cattlemen participating in international commerce with Angus genetics. Traits included in the 2023 WAE release are calving ease direct, calving ease maternal, birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, maternal milk, scrotal circumference, marbling, carcass weight, ribeye area, fat thickness, claw set and foot angle.
Crop Prices
Corn prices benefited from some technical buying on Oct. 11. December futures added 2.5 cents to $4.88. Soybean prices incurred double-digit losses as traders placed their final bets ahead of the Oct. 10 World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report. November futures lost 18.5 cents to $12.53.
Please see FARM BILL on page 18
Drought conditions force producers to make tough herd decisions during fall preg-check
WWA Meeting
WAE Release
Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Associate Professor, Policy Specialist and Director of the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
Making Big Decisions
BLM Reward
The Wyoming Water Association (WWA) will hold its 2023 Annual Water Conference with the Upper Missouri Water Association on Oct. 24-26 at the CAMPLEX in Gillette. Water resource professionals from Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota will discuss current issues, share insight and exchange ideas on how to address water resource challenges. To register for the event, visit wyomingwater.org/ annual-meeting.
November, and more importantly, if there will be a resolution by the end of the year. 2023 Farm Bill delayed During an episode of Nebraska FARMcast, dated Sept. 27, University of
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For centuries, agriculture producers have faced challenges which constantly test their resilience. Today, this list of challenges is long, and with ongoing drought conditions, record-high input costs and unnecessary government policies around every corner, maintaining a herd of cattle may arguably be more challenging than ever. According to the National Drought Mitigation Center’s (NDMC) September Drought Climate Summary, from Aug. 29 to Sept. 26, the West experienced a slight decrease in overall abnormal dryness, from 45.5 to 44 percent, but an intensification of all other categories.
Weaning tips offered
As many producers know, weaning is one of the most stressful periods in a young animal’s life, and the intensity of stress felt during this time can cause lifelong impacts, eventually cutting in to the producer’s bottom line. According to a publication prepared by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension Beef Specialist Dan Loy for the 2003 Four State Beef Conference, good performance and health during the first 30 to 45 days post-weaning can set the stage for an efficient and profitable feed out or a long and productive life in the herd. “On the other hand, most sickness and death loss due to respiratory disease happens at this time,” shares Loy, further noting respiratory disease affects one in seven feedlot cattle and is the leading cause of death. “Recovered cattle also gain more slowly and have lower value carcasses than healthy cattle,” he explains. “Also, digestive upsets that occur here may show up as founder, liver abscess and/or other side effects later on. Cattle fed too conservatively at this stage may pass up the most potentially efficient period of their life and add extra days on feed, and therefore, cost of gain.” To avoid this, cattle producers may want to start making a plan for low-stress weaning and proper post-weaning nutrition. Methods of separation In a University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) article, published in August 2015, Authors Karla Jenkins, a UNL beef and range management specialist; Dr. Dee Griffin, a UNL feedlot veterinarian and Aaron Stalker, a former UNL Extension beef nutrition specialist, list several low-stress Please see WEANING on page 19
moderate drought or worse increased from 30.8 to 31.2 percent, severe drought or worse increased from 13.3 to 17.7 percent, extreme drought or worse increased from 2.9 to 6.1 percent and exceptional drought increased from zero to 0.7 percent. There is no doubt when water becomes scarce, so does feed supply and the cost of maintaining a cow herd. Therefore, during drought conditions and tough years, producers may be forced to reduce their herd size to make ends meet. Please see DROUGHT on page 12
Youth involvement WCCA works to strengthen bonds and become more involved in ag industry The Wyoming Collegiate Cattle Association (WCCA) is a group of college students who have many different experiences in the cattle industry at the University of Wyoming (UW). The organization has members who have grown up on large-scale operations and other members who have never seen a cow until they joined the club. The main goal of WCCA is to help students grow their ranch at home, through learning about different practices on different ranches, in which each student can take something valuable from the club back home or use it to start their own operation. This year, WCCA is making an effort to strengthen their bonds with industry organizations throughout the state of Wyoming and work to become more involved in the industry as a whole. Strengthening bonds, attending events According to WWCA President Meredith Halweg, a UW senior majoring in agriculture business and farm and ranch management with a minor in Please see WCCA on page 8
WOMEN IN AG Cattlewomen bring the best to beef industry A group of unique women filled with grit and grace spend their time taking care of their families, farm and livestock, while also making time to support their community through volunteer work, education and promoting the beef industry. Local cattlewomen often support several national projects and work closely with the National and Wyoming Cattlewomen’s Associations, Wyoming Beef Council, Wyoming Stock Growers Association, Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom, as well as the local CowBelle organizations.
Wyoming Cow-Belles originated in 1940 headed by Charlotte Snodgrass. Snodgrass and a group of ladies wanted to do more for the livestock industry. In 1992, the organization changed its name to Wyoming CattleWomen, Inc. However, some counties still function under the same name, but the primary goal of the organization has never changed, to increase the demand and awareness of Wyoming beef. Natrona County events Natrona County Cow-Belles President Melissa Carter notes her branch
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Please see CATTLEWOMEN on page 12