Volume 34 Number 47 • March 18, 2023
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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside High Altitude Bull Test field day and sale will be hosted by UW this spring............ Page A6 Chicken prices offer reprieve for inflation-weary consumers.. ................................... Page B1 New pig chute improves vaccination accuracy and lessens stress.......................... Page B2
Lawsuit filed to ban hunting wolves on Wyoming border On Feb. 22, the Center for Biological Diversity notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) of their intent to sue over the “agencies’ failure to protect wolves from hunters in
the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.” The notification came in response to several incidents of wolf killings over the past few years on the Colorado-Wyoming border, and the lawsuit seeks a ban on
hunting and trapping wolves across the entire forest. “When Colorado wolves, protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), cross the invisible border and land in Wyoming, they’re in the preda-
tor zone and don’t have any protection,” said Center for Biological Diversity’s Collette Adkins in a March 8 WyoFile article, written by Mike Koshmrl. “This is the problem we’re seeking to
Please see LAWSUIT on page A14
Brazilian beef ban encouraged by NCBA in the U.S......... ................................... Page B5
Quick Bits Snow Report The 14th snow report for Water Year 2023 shows Wyoming’s current snow telemetry data reads 118% of median, with a basin high of 150% and a basin low of 78%. In 2022, the state was at 86% and at 90% 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.
Meeting Notice The Casper Alcova Irrigation District Board has rescheduled their meetings for the second Thursday of each month from 2-5 p.m. at 745 Connie Street, Mills, WY 82644. This will be a permanent change. Scheduled board meetings will be held on March 23, April 27 and May 25 from 2-5 p.m. at the same location.
AHA MyHerd The American Hereford Association (AHA) recently launched new search features in MyHerd to allow members and producers access to a robust set of information. Updated features include downloadable search results, lifetime dam production summaries, saved searches, animal lists and a mating predictor. To assist with learning these new tools, webinars will be offered on March 21 at 6 p.m. and March 22 at 11 a.m. For more information or to register, visit hereford. ac-page.com/search-toolsrsvp.
IGS Summit
The national junior Limousin, Gelbvieh, Simmental, Shorthorn and Chianina associations are partnering up to host the Summit IGS Youth Leadership Conference July 20-23 in Phoenix. The event is an opportunity for members, ages 14 to 21, to develop leadership skills, gain new friendships and expand knowledge on current issues in the ag industry. To register, visit form.jotform. com/230465236531148.
Ranch management
Dealing with
UW seminar welcomes presenters to further the human resources conversation
dystocia Veterinarians remind producers how to properly handle difficult births during calving
Many cow/calf producers with springcalving herds are deep into their calving season, and regardless of how much time and effort spent trying to prevent cases of dystocia, it is likely they will deal with a difficult birth at some point or another. In January 2019, Louisiana State University (LSU) Veterinarians Dr. Christine Navarre, Dr. Matt Welborn and Dr. Chance Armstrong coauthored an article titled “Calving: When to Call for Help,” which looks at the potential negative impacts of mishandling cases of dystocia as well as offering ways to properly deal with the issue. Potential negative impacts If mishandled, dystocia has the potential to cause several negative outcomes. The first of these issues is an increased chance of calves failing to ingest or absorb colostrum, which subsequently leads to an increased chance of sickness and death. “Calves that get sick or do not get colostrum within the first 24 to 48 hours of life have decreased production throughout their lifetimes,” they say. Additionally, the three note calves can become paralyzed and/or suffer life-threatening illness or death if the uterus, vagina Please see DYSTOCIA on page A11
WYLR photo
Sheridan – The University of Wyoming (UW) College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources held its second seminar in a five-part series on Feb. 19 at Sheridan College. In the March 11 edition of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup, panelists discussed challenges associated with the hiring process, how to implement best practices and what to do when something goes wrong. In the second portion of the seminar, Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership Program (RMALP) Coordinator Anne DeMersseman, a leadership coach and former corporate consultant with years of experience in human resources and Cody Sinclair, chief development officer at Sheridan Memorial Hospital, facilitate a discussion and share suggestions on how to navigate difficult situations. Giving an accurate job description “The job description an Please see UW on page A7
Hay demand holds strong According to the March 16 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wyoming Direct Hay Report, compared to the last report, all reported hay sold held steady and demand for hay remains strong. Most producers are almost out of hay to sell, and the bulk of produced hay seems to be staying in local trade areas. When it comes to prices, large three by four feet square bales of supreme alfalfa ran $310 per ton. Large round bales of good alfalfa ran $285 per ton and large three by four feet square bales ran $270 per ton. In the alfalfa premium category, small squares ran from $270 to $300 per ton, small, three-tie squares ran from $285 to $300 per ton and cubes ran $380 per ton. For premium alfalfa-orchard mix, small squares ran from $285 to $300 per ton, and small square oat bales ran $200 per ton. Small squares of fair teff hay ran $200 per ton. Hay outlook Valley Video Hay Markets Owner Barry McRea has brokered hay for 30 farmers in the Torrington area over the past 20 years. He notes all of his customers are currently out of hay. “For the last 30 days, prices have ran $285 per ton for rounds and squares and $300 to $310 for dairy hay,” he shares. “All at free on board (FOB) – price at place of origin, not including transportation charges – per stack.” He mentions prices for hay this time of year, is excessively high, and last year, prices ran closer to the $210 per ton price range. McRea predicts hay prices won’t go much higher, as Please see HAY on page A8
WWGA inaugural ewe sale a success On Feb. 28, the Wyoming Wool Growers Association (WWGA) held their inaugural Wyoming Select Bred Ewe Sale in Gillette at the CAM-PLEX. “The first annual Wyoming Select Bred Ewe Sale was a great success,” noted WWGA Executive Director Dr. Alison Crane. “Ewes sold well from across the state of Wyoming and across age classes, from broken-mouthed ewes to ewe lambs. All ewes were bred with the exception of the ewe lambs.” According to WWGA’s website, the inaugural Wyoming Select Bred Ewe Sale offered the highest-quality range ewes, meeting some of the most rigorous
standards of any sale in the country. The sale offered open ewe lambs, bred yearlings, running-age ewes, broken-mouthed ewes, Rambouillet ewes, Hampshire ewes Merino/Rambouillet and Targhee ewes. With the exception of open ewe lambs, ewes were confirmed pregnant the day before the sale and strictly sifted based on their eyes, mouth, teeth, udders, teats, body and legs. Sifting was conducted by a panel of notable Western sheep producers and veterinarians. Sale report According to the first annual Wyoming Select Bred Ewe Sale report, a
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Please see SALE on page A10