Volume 34 Number 45 • March 4, 2023
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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside Wyoming State Fair launches new internship program........... ...................................Page A6 Certified Angus Beef provides cattle market update...... ...................................Page B2 Grizzly bear legislation introduced by Sen. Cynthia Lummis..............................Page B6 Horse vaccination programs outlined by Nebraska veterinarians...................... Page B11
Quick Bits Snow Report
Experts give advice for working heavy-bred cows in the winter Many producers with spring-calving herds will have babies hitting the ground in no time, and with calving season right around the corner, it is time to think about how to best keep calves healthy and alive.
Because colostrum is imperative to a calf’s health in the first few weeks of life, several experts remind producers vaccinating cows prior to calving can help build antibody levels in cows’ colostrum, which will
then provide passive immunity to the newborn calf. “Calves are born with an immature immune system, and they don’t develop their own antibodies until weeks after they hit the ground. Colostrum antibodies are
vital to preventing diseases, such as E. coli, coronavirus and rotavirus,” writes First Defense, a leading producer of cattle vaccine, on their website. “However, the quality of maternal colostrum Please see COWS on page A7
How Far We’ve Come
The 12th snow report for Water Year 2023 shows current Wyoming snow telemetry data reads 112% of median with a basin high of 145% and a basin low of 78%. In 2022, the state was at 85% and at 94% 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.
Crop Prices As of March 3, corn prices were mixed with nearby futures rising $0.01$0.02 per bushel to $6.24$6.40 per bushel. Despite the early morning gains, corn prices have dropped 2.3% lower this week on forecasts for a larger U.S. corn crop in 2023. Soybean futures edged up $0.01$0.06 per bushel this morning, sending nearby futures to $15.02-$15.27 per bushel. Wheat prices rose $0.02-$0.05 per bushel this morning thanks to a weaker dollar.
UW Event The University of Wyoming (UW) Big Horn County Extension will host their 2023 Extravaganza at the Big Horn County Fairgrounds in Basin. The event will take place on March 7 from 2-8:30 p.m. and will include topics ranging from backyard agriculture and hydroponics to alfalfa weevil control and direct marketing of meat. A free dinner will be served. Those interested can RSVP by calling 307-272-0576 or 307-568-4160.
FFA Degree AgroLiquid CoFounder and Board President Troy Bancroft of Saint Johns, Mich. was honored by the National FFA Organization with the Honorary American FFA Degree. The Honorary American Degree is given to those who advance agricultural education and FFA through outstanding personal commitment.
Bugas Ranch photos
Vilsack reflects on innovation of ag during annual forum Arlington, Va. – During the U.S. Department of Agricultureʼs (USDA) 99th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack provided the keynote address. The forum, held virtually Feb. 23-24, addressed topics such as food price and farm income outlooks, U.S. trade and the global marketplace, supply chain resilience, climate mitigation and adaptation, frontiers in agriculture production and technology and equity
Ecologist serves on FWS On Oct. 27, 2022, Ecologist and Wildlands Advocate Dr. Siva Sundaresan was appointed deputy director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) by the Biden-Harris administration. Previously, Sundaresan served as the Yellowstoneto-Yukon program officer at the Wilburforce Foundation, where he worked for six months before taking over as director for FWS. Prior to the Wilburforce Foundation, Sundaresan worked for the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance and as the Kenya program director for the Denver ZoologiDr. Siva Sundaresan cal Foundation. Today, Sundaresan is hard at work advocating for U.S. wildlife under FWS Department Head Martha Williams. GYE work and career ascension Originally from India, Sundaresan got his start in North American wildlife advocacy while working for the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), according to a Feb. 28 WyoFile article written by Mike Koshmrl. During this time, he also served on the board of directors at the National Wildlife Federation, where he made several connections which contributed to his quick career Please see FWS on page A15
and inclusion. With a theme of “Seeds of Growth Through Innovation,” Vilsack noted the event reflected on innovation in agriculture and the industry’s “truly remarkable” direct continuation of a long tradition throughout U.S. history. Ag history “This is a pivotal moment in agriculture, and we’ve had a number of pivotal moments in agriculture,” said Please see USDA on page A10
Sheep celebration Kemmerer slated to host inaugural Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival The Wyoming Wool Growers Association (WWGA) recently announced the first annual Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival will be held June 30-July 2 in Kemmerer. WWGA encourages Wyoming residents and sheep producers to make plans to bring their families to the festival to enjoy art, education and cultural events in an effort to celebrate Wyoming’s sheep and wool industry. Attendees will also have the opportunity to see animals, feast on lamb, browse through vendor booths and dance to live music at an after-dinner party on the night of July 1. Schedule of events Events will begin on the afternoon of June 30 with an educational session about range management. Attendees will then gather for an art show and reception, in addition to a panel discussion about the area’s sheep and wool heritage, provided from multi-generational perspectives. During the festival, Please see WWGA on page A8
Young Producer feature Young couple returns to family ranch Zack and Hannah Guild are Uinta County ranchers who run an Angus/Hereford/Limousin cow/calf operation. Zack went to college in Logan, Utah and received his diesel mechanics certification. Upon graduation, he moved to Phoenix, Ariz. where he worked for six months before returning to his family’s ranch, which was established in 1867. Today, the couple looks forward to ranching alongside their 10-month-old son Callan and several of Zack’s family members, including his grandpa, dad
and brother. Unique operation The family is getting ready to start calving in the next several weeks. Zack notes he keeps his replacement heifers open an extra year before breeding them, which is something really unique to his operation. He has found this helps his herd’s productivity and breed-back success. “There is a year they sit here and don’t produce any profit, but we have
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Please see GUILD on page A11