Volume 35 Number 28 • November 4, 2023
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The Weekly News Source for Ranchers, Farmers and the Agribusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside Preparing gardens for cold winter weather discussed........ ..................................... Page 5 Red Angus Association of America recognizes outstanding members............... Page 11 Winter horse feeding tips provided..................... Page 18 Lee Pitts shares all of the things he wished he would have known................ Page 19
Quick Bits WWPC Event
The Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC) will host its 79th Annual Conference Nov. 7-9 at the CAMPLEX in Gillette. The conference will go over successful and ongoing projects, funding opportunities, continuing education in the weed and pest field and members will conduct council business as required by state statutes. The event is open to the public, but registration is required. For more information, visit wyoweed.org.
Online Auction
Ag industry reacts to election of House Speaker Johnson On Oct. 25 Mike Johnson (R-LA) was elected as the 56th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives after 22 days of gridlock following Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) departure.
In a 220 to 209 partyline vote, Johnson, a strongly conservative lawyer who represents northwest Louisiana’s Fourth District, secured the seat against Minority Leader
Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). Before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016, Johnson served as a Constitutional lawyer in his hometown of Shreveport, La. for over
two decades. In 2021, he was elected to serve as the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference and was re-elected to serve another Please see JOHNSON on page 7
Forage Storage Producers encouraged to evaluate hay supply going into winter Producers in the West can feel winter creeping in with each frosty morning and chilly evening. After arguably one of the hardest winters on record, this drop in temperature may not be welcomed by ranchers or their livestock. However, with the cold sting of another winter just around the corner, producers should evalute their hay stocks and begin making a plan for the months ahead – especially for those in areas reeling from continued drought conditions. Evaluating hay stocks In a Farm Progress article, written by Sarah McNaughton and dated Sept. 22, Kansas State University Extension Cow/Calf Specialist Jason Warner says producers need to keep six things in mind when developing a winter feeding plan, especially in times of drought. These include knowing herd inventory, knowing feed
inventory, calculating forage needs, considering alternatives, minimizing feed and forage shrink and being flexible in looking for new opportunities. According to Cornell University’s Kimberly Morrill, PhD, in order to calculate herd inventory, feed inventory and forage needs, producers need to know their current number of total animals and their nutritional needs – pregnant and/or lactating animals require more nutrients than those that are dry, animals in poor condition require more nutrients than those in good condition, etc. Additionally, producers need to consider their potential growth – if they plan on expanding or downsizing – their feeding rates, the timeframe in which their feed supply needs to last and their current supply of feed and forage. Please see FORAGE on page 10
The American Angus Auxiliary will host its Annual Full Circle Online Auction, a national Angus consignment sale on Nov. 9 at anguslive. com. Auction proceeds will support the auxiliary’s mission, including breed promotion, beef education and youth development through various programs, awards and scholarships. For more information, visit angusauxiliary.com or e-mail Cortney Holshouser at kncholshouser@aol.com.
Price Index
The September Prices Received Index 2011 Base Agricultural Production, at 122.6, decreased 2.9% from August and 7.1% from September 2022. At 113.9, the Crop Production Index was down 4.2% from last month and 11% from the previous year. The Livestock Production Index, at 133.1, decreased 0.9% from August and 2.6% from September last year.
USDA ERP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide more than $3 billion to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2022. Eligible impacted producers can apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022. The program will help offset the financial impacts of crop yield and value losses from qualifying disasters occurring in 2022. For more information or to apply, visit fsa.usda.gov.
WYLR photo
Wildlife discussion Wyoming legislature passes amended bill for excess wildlife management The Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee held a working meeting Oct. 30-31 at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie. During the meeting, the state legislature discussed and passed draft House Bill (HB) 24LSO-0114, Excess wildlife population damage amendments. Bill amendments According to the subcommittee assigned to work on the bill, drastic changes were made since the legislature’s September meeting, including a clarification noting extraordinary damage to rangelands is included in the type of damage the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) can compensate landowners and lessees for, and the WGFD is authorized to establish – by rule – methods, factors and formulas for determining the amount to compensate a landowner or lessee for. Additionally, a line was added to the definition of Please see ELK on page 13
NILE show results posted On Oct. 13-21, livestock exhibitors, rodeo athletes and visitors from far and wide gathered in Billings, Mont. for the Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE), an annual week-long stock show and rodeo drawing hundreds of exhibitors from across the U.S. and Canada. Throughout the week, Livestock Judge Glen Martin of Mason, Texas sorted through some of the highest-quality classes of market beef, hogs, lambs and goats, and amidst the tough competition were numerous youth exhibitors hailing from Wyoming and other Western states, who took home top honors in their respective shows. Market beef results In the Junior Fed Market Beef Show, Echo Bartels of Loma, Colo. exhibited the Grand Champion Market Beef and Megan Harris of Shoshoni exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef. Burns resident Raelyn Northington was named the grand champion in beginner showmanship, followed by Lauren Duey of Billings. Mont, and in junior showmanship, Kinli Bartold of Benjamin, Utah took home champion honors, followed by Gillette’s Brodie Lesher as reserve. Ross Harwood of Geyser, Mont. was the Senior Beef Showmanship Grand Champion and Zac Weston of Lander was reserve. Market swine results The 2023 Junior Fed Market Swine Show Grand Champion honors went home to Wyoming with Jacob Choma of Etna, and Cruz Knopp of Athol, Idaho earned reserve-champion honors. Kendyl Tetrick and Hagen Tippett, both of Colton, Please see NILE on page 12
Tips offered for managing livestock predation Extreme weather, disease and predators, such as coyotes, bears and wolves, claim countless livestock each year. Despite producers’ best efforts to protect their livestock, thousands of sheep, cattle and goats fall victim to these predators. In a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) news release in February 2023, Wyoming sheep and lamb producers lost 42,000 animals to weather, predators, disease and other causes in 2022. According to statistics compiled by the USDA and NASS, U.S. producers lose more than $71 million annually from losses attributed to predators. NASS surveys found coyotes account for 65 percent
of all cattle and calf losses to predators and 61 percent of sheep and lamb predation. Producers can select from lethal and nonlethal methods to deter predators, including some unique methods of keeping predators away from livestock. A variety of deterrents can include noise-making apparatuses, flashing lights, pyrotechnics, guardian animals, ultrasonic devices or lethal control methods. Regardless of the method to stop livestock loss, producers should focus on damage prevention and control. Predator management tips During the fall, scavengers – including coyotes – appear. Wyoming livestock
periodical
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Please see PREDATION on page 9