Volume 32 Number 10 • July 4, 2020
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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside Wyoming FFA elects state officers for 2020-2021........ Page 5 Dick Perue recaps a historic Fourth of July celebration in Sheridan........................ Page 6 Central Wyoming Fair kicks off county fair season in Wyoming............................... Page 7 Lee Pitts imagines what would happen if vets were more like medical doctors........... Page 12
Quick Bits Happy Fourth The Wyoming Livestock Roundup would like to wish our readers a safe and happy Fourth of July! We hope everyone has a chance to enjoy the best this nation has to offer as we celebrate our country’s independence. God bless America!
Judge finds no evidence Green River Drift harms grizzlies During the week of June 7-13, the Upper Green River Cattle Association, Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) and the Mountain States Legal Foundation saw a win after a federal judge rejected a
preliminary injunction to prohibit the lethal removal of documented problem bears on the Upper Green River summer grazing range. Following the win, local ranchers drove their
cattle across nearly 60 miles of rugged Wyoming terrain to summer range in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, just as they have for over 120 years, under a new federal law allowing the killing of up to 72 grizzly
bears for a 10-year period. On June 19, the judge shared his reasoning on why he refused to halt the killing of grizzly bears, takings which have protected the historic Green River
Please see GRIZZLY on page 5
Volatile Cattle Markets Navigating management options through uncertainty
Uncertainty is a common household word today, especially in terms of cattle markets. In a Cattlemen’s webinar presented by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) on June 18, Senior Animal Protein Analyst with Rabo AgriFinance Don Close and Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Dr. Derrell Peel share strategies for managing risk through volatile markets. Market considerations “If we don’t like the market today, just wait because
we will see an entirely different set of circumstances next week,” says Close. “The volatile markets and uncertainty will not be going away any time soon.” “We expected a short and shallow downslide to the market, but with COVID-19, we can’t say that anymore,” he continues. Close explains we can expect to see this market cycle continue for the next 18 months to two years. Currently, the U.S. is holding between 30.5 million Please see MARKET on page 10
Corn Futures July corn futures rose 6.5 cents per bushel to $3.45 July 1 as optimism over June 30’s lower corn acreage reports continued. A warm and dry July forecast also underpinned strength in the corn markets on July 1. September corn futures rose 5.75 cents per bushel to $3.4725 on the optimism. Cash corn prices dipped slightly on June 30 at processing locations around the Corn Belt. Old crop corn cash sales picked up around the Midwest as futures rose.
Cash Soy
The soy complex rode the wave of lower than expected acreage in the June 30 USDA reports. July futures rose 7.5 cents per bushel to $8.9175. July soyoil futures crept up seven cents per pound to $28.05, while July soymeal futures rallied $3.7 per ton to $290. Cash soybean prices were mostly steady across the Midwest on June 30. Basis dropped five cents per bushel to 3.5 cents under August futures at a Lincoln, Neb. crush facility.
Wheat Prices Wheat prices received a boost on lower than expected spring wheat plantings as the total wheat acreage dropped nearly 400,000 acres from the March 31 Planting Intentions Report, while durum acreage picked up over 200,000 acres from reduced anticipated winter wheat plantings.
Uncertain markets – Oklahoma State University Extension’s Dr. Derrell Peel says today’s volatile cattle markets create both opportunities and challenges for producers. Hannah Bugas photo
Rule in Effect New water rules beneficial to producers The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) along with the Department of the Army Corps of Engineers published a final rule defining the Waters of the United States (WOTUS), which may be federally regulated under the Clean Water Act (CWA), under the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) effective June 22. The NWPR, which repeals and replaces the rule published on Oct. 22, 2019 provides four categories of jurisdictional waters and clearly outlines exclusions for many water systems that traditionally were not regulated as well as defines terms that have never been defined before. Regulatory Affairs Senior Director for the American Farm Bureau Federation Don Parrish says the new rule is good for agriculture. Overreach overturned Parrish notes litigation thus far has been about federal overreach. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Chief Environmental Counsel Scott Yager says the NWPR, “Restricted federal jurisdiction over the CWA by virtue of pulling out unnecessary waters and pullPlease see WATER on page 11
Boner earns Ag HOF honors Brad Boner’s involvement in agriculture goes far beyond production. In fact, his dedication to and passion for the industry are evident through his active involvement in both the cattle and sheep industries on local, state and national levels. Boner runs a ranch near Glenrock and was chosen Brad Boner as one of the two Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame (HOF) 2020 inductees. Commitment to Wyoming agriculture Boner has served as a leader to Wyoming’s agriculture industry in many ways, currently serving as the secretary/treasurer for the American Lamb Industry Association (ASI). In the past, Boner has also served as Wyoming Wool Growers Association (WWGA) president, Wyoming Angus Association president, ASI regional director for Region VII, ASI Wool Council chairman and Mountain States Lamb Cooperative (MSLC) chairman. Boner has also been a member of the ASI Lets Grow Committee, ASI Lamb Council, Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board, Converse County Conservation District and Mountain States Rosen. “Brad has a deep understanding of the value agriculPlease see HONORS on page 4
Bergers chosen as Ag HOF inductees From holding high-esteemed leadership positions in a number of state and local associations, to hosting elementary student tours on their ranch near Saratoga and instilling the value of agriculture into their own children, Jack and Diana Berger are prime examples of Wyoming’s finest agricultural leaders. “Jack and Diana are very active and have been instrumental in shaping the agriculture industry at all levels in Wyoming,” write the nominating team of Grant and Ronda Stumbough and Bobbie Frank. “They enjoy ranching and making a living off the land and believe the most effective policy decisions are made at a local level.” “Jack and Diana believe in proper stew-
ardship of the land so it can be passed on to future generations in better condition then they left it,” they continue. “Most of all, they believe in hard work and that it is better to get involved, have a strong voice and play a role in shaping the industry in ways that are best for the local people and natural resources.” Due to their unwavering passion for Wyoming’s ag industry, Jack and Diana Berger have been hand-picked as Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame (HOF) 2020 inductees. Jack – agriculture involvement “Both Jack and Diana have volunteered much of their time and money to support
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Please see AWARD on page 10