Volume 34 Number 41 • February 4, 2023
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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside Publisher Dennis Sun highlights Wyoming’s senators....... .................................. Page A2 Ranch-raised kids honored in a series of publications............ .................................. Page B1 High food inflation is expected to persist in 2023..... .................................. Page B4 Virtual livestock fencing strategies discussed................ ................................ Page B10
Quick Bits Snow Report In the eighth snow report for Water Year 2023, the state’s snowpack telemetry data reads 117% of median with a basin high of 159% and a basin low of 76%. The state was at 99% in 2022 and at 80% in 2021. 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.
Western Caucus members discuss priorities for 118th Congress On Jan. 27, U.S. Sen. and Chair of the Senate Western Caucus Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) alongside U.S. Rep. and Chair of the Congressional Western Caucus Dan Newhouse
(R-WA) held a press conference to discuss their legislative priorities for the 118th Congress. Lummis announced she would be taking the gavel as chair of the Senate West-
ern Caucus on Dec. 8, 2022 and started in her new position in January. This will be Newhouse’s second term serving as chair. Three-legged stool To kick off the press
conference, Western Caucus Foundation Executive Director Darrell Henry welcomed attendees and explained the mission of the Western Caucus. Please see CAUCUS on page A7
Bred Cow Nutrition
WYLR photo
Pilot Deadline The Upper Division States, acting through the Upper Colorado River Commission (UCRC), are extending the deadline for 2023 System Conservation Pilot Project (SCPP) applications to March 1. The extension will allow for additional outreach to upper division water users and Tribes. The states and UCRC will consider applications received after March 1 on a case-by-case basis. Projects will be contracted and implemented in calendar year 2023 on a rolling basis. For more information, visit seo.wyo.gov.
Milk Report According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Statistics Service, Wyoming dairy herds produced 61 million pounds of milk from October through December, up 8.5% from the previous year. Milk production in the U.S. during this same period of time totaled 56 billion pounds, up 1% from last year.
Winter Policy The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) will hold their Winter Policy Conference on Feb. 14-15, in Arlington, Va. NASDA’s Winter Policy Conference brings together commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture from across the nation to develop policies addressing food and agricultural issues.
Experts discuss nutritional requirements for cattle during late gestation Cows have different nutritional needs at different stages of gestation. Nutrient requirements in early gestation are not much different from maintenance requirements, unless the cow is lactating. However, as the fetus grows larger, the cow’s nutrient needs increase. If a cow is lactating, she needs a much higher level of protein and energy. Timing is key Dr. Travis Mulliniks, beef cattle nutritionist and range production systems specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, says there are two key time points. “On the pregnancy side, we see a big increase in nutrient requirements during late gestation. There’s been a lot of research on supplementation and management focused on late gestation and lactation, but it mainly boils
Logan receives honor Dr. Jim Logan might have retired from his role as the Wyoming state veterinarian a few years ago, but he continues to provide guidance and expertise to the American sheep industry. In recognition of those efforts, he was one of two people honored with the Peter Orwick Camptender Award during the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) Annual Convention on Jan. 20 in Fort Worth, Texas. Logan was joined on stage by fellow Veterinarian Cindy Wolf of Minnesota, who was also a recipient of the award. The two have co-chaired ASI’s Animal Health Committee for nearly 30 years. This dynamic duo of animal health has guided the industry through a variety of diseaserelated issues, including efforts to help the U.S. reach scrapie-free status. “I want to thank my wife and family,” said Logan, while accepting the award. “I also want to thank the many presidents of ASI who appointed Cindy and I. Thank you for appointing us and giving us the opportunity.” “I also want to thank our committee members over the years because we didn’t do this by ourselves. The work accomplished was a group effort. There just aren’t any better quality people than what we have right here at ASI, from the leadership to the staff, the committee members and the members of the organization. So, thank you for the opportunities you’ve given us. It’s been a real privilege,” Logan added. A lifelong sheep producer, Logan dispersed his flock Please see AWARD on page A4
down to how it all fits a producer’s environment,” Mulliniks says. “When we think of beef production across the U.S., the timing of when we have high-quality forages or feedstuffs affects our nutritional plan,” he adds. In some environments, forage quality is high enough, even during late gestation, to meet those requirements, while semi-arid and arid environments may only have quality forages for three months of the year. This makes a difference in how cows should be managed, what type of cows a producer should run and when producers should calve. Most producers in the U.S. still calve in the spring, but in the South and Southeast there are a growing number of fall-calving herds. Please see CATTLE on page A10
Lamb markets 2023 begins with higher prices Live lamb prices began to increase late in 2022 providing some optimism for 2023. Ample total supplies are available in the retail market to begin the year, and they should build seasonally. There are some big factors to watch this year, which will impact markets. Lamb markets and prices Live lamb prices began to increase slowly in the last quarter of 2022. Slaughter weight lambs in the 110- to 130-pound category increased from a weekly average of $97 per hundredweight (cwt) to $140 per cwt by the year’s end. While they have increased, prices are still below the $230 per cwt at this time last year, and they remain below the five-year average. The average of traditional feeder lamb prices increased as well from about $130 to $235 cwt during the last four months of 2022. Traditional versus nontraditional markets are often discussed, and the prices are relative to each other. It’s important to remember they both market lambs even though they might be going through different channels. The prices for lambs going through these market channels move together. Please see PRICES on page A6
ALB releases report and new strategic plan The American Lamb Board (ALB) released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 report and a new strategic plan on Jan. 19. The report’s intent is to inform Mandatory Lamb Checkoff stakeholders of its work to mitigate the effects of outside forces and take advantage of opportunities. About ALB ALB is an industry-funded national research, promotion and information checkoff program working on behalf of all American commercial seedstock producers, feeders, direct marketers and processors to build awareness and demand for American lamb.
Funding comes through mandatory assessments paid by all industry segments. The board is appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and represents all industry sectors, geographic regions and sizes of production. In addition, ALB is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and supported by staff in Denver. ALB’s budget averages $2.5 million with two-thirds of the budget devoted to American lamb promotion. By law, the boards expenditures for administration are limited to 10 percent less of projected revenues.
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Please see ALB on page A11