Volume 37 Number 46 • March 7, 2026
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The Weekly News Source for Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside Johnson County Weed and Pest program pays locals to pull weeds.............................Page A5 Strategies offered for extending the spring grazing season........... .....................................Page A15 Tips provided on how to reduce the impact of mud on horse health..............................Page B1
Cowboy State Ag Initiative Final Report released After months of meetings, data analysis and discussions with the public, Gov. Mark Gordon announced the completion of the Cowboy State Agricultural Initiative Final Report as February came to a close.
Composed of state and local leaders, legislators, educators, industry representatives and producers from across the state, the 13-member working group was assembled in the fall of 2025 to develop a strategic plan to preserve and enhance
Wyoming’s ag industry for current and future generations of farmers and ranchers. “Specifically, the governor directed the working group to review previous efforts and determine how and where Please see REPORT on page A19
Livestock and greenhouse gas emissions research series published by UNL Extension............. .....................................Page B12
WYLR photo
WGFD releases first of three elk feedground action plans
Quick Bits Snow Report In the 12th snow report for Water Year 2026, the state’s snow telemetry data reads 84% of median, with a basin high of 110% and a basin low of 3%. Last year, the state was at 99% and at 92% in 2024. 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.
Lambing School The Wyoming Wool Growers Association will host the 2026 Lambing School on March 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Kaycee. The workshop will feature a facility tour and educational discussions focused on ewe and lamb nutrition and health, among other things. Live lambing will be taking place at the operation, so participants have the opportunity for live observation and hands-on experience. For more information or to register, e-mail Alison Crane at alison@wyowool.com.
ARSBA Event
The National Rambouillet Sheep Show and Sale is scheduled for June 16-20 at the South Dakota State Fairgrounds in Huron, S.D. Organized annually by the American Rambouillet Sheep Breeders Association (ARSBA), this prestigious event features both the National Show and Sale and the National Junior Show. Sheep producers from across the country will gather to showcase and purchase top-quality genetics and connect with fellow breeders. For more information contact Burton Anderson at 605852-2233 or Beau Chapman at 605-430-5811.
Annual Sale The 2026 Western Colorado Angus Association’s 50th Annual Sale will take place on March 14 at 1 p.m. in Delta, Colo., boasting one of the oldest pulmonary arterial pressure tested registered Angus bull sales in the state of Colorado. For more information, to view the catalog or to preregister to bid, visit westerncoloradoangus.org.
Elk Feedground Management
CALVING SEASON SUCCESS Experts provide reminders on ways to boost health, survival and profitability this spring Calving season is arguably one of the most critical times of year for cattlemen, as a successful season sets the stage for overall herd performance, financial returns and long-term genetic progress. With fresh calves currently hitting the ground – or expected to be soon – in spring-calving herds across the West, experts offer reminders on ways producers can increase the likelihood of a smooth and productive calving season.
WLSB hosts meeting On March 4, members of the Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) and the general public gathered for a meeting held in person at the Thyra Thomson State Office Building in Casper and over Zoom. Topics covered included director’s updates, brucellosis updates, animal health updates, discussions on Wyoming bangs tags and brand inspection and other administrative board business. Brand inspection report Following a call to order from WLSB President Mary Owens and an approval by the board of Nov. 18, 2025 meeting minutes, WLSB Brand Commissioner Lee Romsa shared a brand inspection report. For brand recording, Romsa shared 4,239 – or roughly 77 percent – of eligible brands were renewed in 2025. He also shared some updates about delinquent brands and noted immediate priorities for the next brand renewal period include conducting another scrub of addresses and issuing final notifications for delinquent brands. For brand inspection, Romsa noted several brand inspector positions are currently being advertised and interviewed for, including full-time positions in Thermopolis and Torrington and part-time positions in the Lander and Riverton area and Torrington. Romsa also noted a review of total inspection numbers for 2025 show similar numbers to 2023-24 and said a detailed report will be finished shortly. Director’s update Next, WLSB Director Steve True shared director’s updates. He began by noting WLSB sent representatives and Please see WLSB on page A18
Preparing the cow herd Sources agree one of the most critical foundations for calving success begins long before operations start welcoming new members of the herd with overall herd health and nutrition. Cows and heifers should enter the last trimester on a robust diet of energy, protein and trace minerals to support fetal growth, quality colostrum production and their Please see CALVING on page A10
Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) Pinedale-based biologists introduced the first of three planned feedground management action plans (FMAP) for western Wyoming’s state-run winter elk feedgrounds. The goals are to protect private landowners and property from damages, manage or mitigate wild elk populations through hunting and reduce wildlife disease transmission of brucellosis and chronic wasting disease (CWD) between elk and livestock. On Feb. 26, Pinedale Region Supervisor John Lund presented the Pinedale Elk Herd Feedground Management Action Plan FMAP at a public workshop attended by outfitters, hunters, wildlife watchers and advocates. “The FMAP is our internal guidance,” he said. “They are directions we’ve given ourselves – a list of priorities for each individual feedground.” The Pinedale Herd Unit Please see ELK on page A12
Five indicted in cattle fraud case On Feb. 11, five individuals were federally indicted for their alleged ties to a nationwide fraud scheme involving cattle purchase contracts carried out through Texas-based company Agridime LLC. According to information shared by the Northern District of Texas’ U.S. District Attorney’s Office in a Feb. 12 press release, the alleged scheme amounted to $220 million and was conducted by Jed Wood of Fort Worth, Texas; Royana Thomas of Arlington, Texas; Taylor Bang of Kildeer, N.D.; Joshua Link of Strafford, Mo. and Tia Link of Smithton, Mo. Case background Agridime LLC was started in 2017 as an online beef and cattle marketing company. The company promised to help
their investors “make money raising cattle without having to do all the work,” as noted in a Feb. 18 Cowboy State Daily article by Kate Meadows. Meadows writes Agridime sold cattle contracts to partners for roughly $2,000 a head, promising to raise and care for the animals through processing and then return a portion of profit from beef sales to the original investor. The company also promised annual rates of return between at least 15 and 20 percent, according to the article. The indictment alleges fraudulent operations began in January 2021 and accuses the five individuals of using funds from new contracts to pay off earlier
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Please see CATTLE FRAUD on page A7