Volume 38 Number 2 • May 2, 2026
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The Weekly News Source for Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside Lee Pitts shares his opinion on America’s national symbol......... ....................................... Page 5 Stay up-to-date on sales and events across the West............. ..................................... Page 10 TAMU studies bee reproduction to strengthen colonies........ ..................................... Page 15 Recent facility closures highlight effect of low cattle inventories on producers.......... Page 15
Quick Bits Snow Report In the 20 snow report for Water Year 2026, the state’s snowpack telemetry data reads 47% of median, with a basin high of 92% and a basin low of 6%. Last year, the state was at 87% and at 83% 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. th
House pauses ESA reform amid controversy A highly-anticipated move to reform the Endangered Species Act (ESA) recently hit an unexpected delay when House leadership pulled the legislation from the floor amid growing opposition.
Known as the ESA Amendments Act, the bill represents one of the largest updates to the ESA proposed in decades and is sponsored by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR).
As part of the longstanding, heated debate, supporters argue changes should be made to modernize the ESA and provide regulatory certainty to landowners, while critics Please see ESA on page 16
FFA members 2026 Wyoming State Wyoming gathered to celebrate
FFA CONVENTION The 2026 Wyoming State FFA Convention was held in Cheyenne April 8-11, where more than 2,200 FFA members, advisors, alumni and other supporters gathered to celebrate accomplishments and elect new state officers.
accomplishments and elect new leadership
Themed “Elevate,” FFA members from across Wyoming competed for titles in career development events, participated in leadership workshops and vied for a spot on the association’s officer team, as well Please see FFA on page 8
New leadership – During the 2026 Wyoming State FFA Convention, held April 8-11 in Cheyenne, a new team of student officers was elected to serve as the Wyoming FFA State Officer Team. Pictured from left to right in the back row are Reporter Colton Smith of John B. Kendrick FFA, Sentinel Josie Despain of Snowy Range FFA, Vice President Xander Depew of John B. Kendrick FFA, Parliamentarian Corbin Williams of Bow River FFA and Third Vice President Trever Campbell of Casper FFA. Pictured from left to right in the front row are Treasurer Tosha Kenyon of Riverton FFA, Second Vice President Regan Allen of Frontier FFA, President Brylee Styvar of Gillette FFA and Secretary Dani Santee of Riverton FFA. Courtesy photo
WLSB Meeting Wyoming cattle, yak and bison producers are invited to join the Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) for a Zoom meeting to learn more about brucellosis vaccination rule changes and a new metal Brucellosis Official Calfhood Vaccination tag. The meeting is set for May 7 at 5:30 p.m., and registration is required in advance. For more information or to register, visit wlsb. state.wy.us.
Retreat The Colorado Gathering, a women’s retreat themed “Horses, Wellness and Connection” hosted by Art of the Cowgirl, will be held in Meeker, Colo. Aug. 3-9. On Aug. 8, the event will host High Country Ranch Day: Exploring Western Trades and the Foundation Benefit Evening, with dinner, live music and auctions. For more information, contact Paula Cooper at 1paulacooper@gmail.com or 970-819-3286.
Meetings The Wyoming Water Development Commission (WWDC) Workshop is scheduled for May 6 at 1:30 p.m. at the Wyoming Water Development Office in Cheyenne. For more information, to livestream the workshop or to provide public comment, visit wwdc.state.wy.us/. The following day, May 7, WWDC and the Select Water Committee will host a joint meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. For more information, to livestream the meeting or to provide public comments, visit wyoleg.gov/.
Ag Unity Common Ground Coalition hosts regional meeting in Nevada Cattlemen and cattlewomen from a seven-state region recently gathered in Reno, Nev. for the Northwest regional meeting of the Common Ground Coalition, a grassroots organization focused on securing the future of the American livestock industry. The summit was held April 19-21 and brought together 33 cattle producers from Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California for three days of conversation and connection regarding some of the most pressing issues facing livestock producers in the West. Three Wyoming ranchers – Jack Berger, Brad Boner and Brett Crosby – were invited to attend the meeting and represent the Cowboy State. Among the key issues discussed were support for young and emerging producers, predator control, livestock risk management, ag tax policy, public lands and labor. Coming together The Common Ground Coalition is a movement born from the Common Ground Summit, which Please see MEETING on page 6
Amaranth poses a growing threat in Wyoming Palmer amaranth and other weedy species in the amaranth family pose a growing threat to agricultural operations across the West, with a new invader – waterhemp – first documented in Wyoming last summer. Seven amaranth species, including both native and non-native species, have been observed in Wyoming so far. As agricultural weeds, redroot pigweed, Palmer amaranth and waterhemp are the most concerning, a recently updated University of Wyoming (UW) Extension bulletin reports. Amaranth species Weedy amaranth species thrive in agricultural settings, roadsides and other disturbed areas. Their aggressive spread is aided by prolific seed production, which allows them to outcompete crops, as well as their rapid growth and ability to develop herbicide resistance. Especially in cases where they develop resistance to multiple types of herbicides, amaranth species can decimate crop yields and are both difficult and costly to control. During drought, amaranth species can accumulate high levels of nitrates, in some cases becoming poisonous to livestock. They can also serve as hosts for a variety of pests and pathogens. Palmer amaranth, one of the most notorious amaranth species, was first observed in Wyoming in 2018, spreading across the state’s southeastern border from Nebraska. In 2023, the weed was also documented in the Big Horn Basin. Palmer amaranth is particularly difficult to control, since it emerges throughout the growing season, rapidly Please see AMARANTH on page 14
TerraPower nuclear plant breaks ground On April 23, construction commenced on Wyoming’s first-ever commercial nuclear power plant – a 345-megawatt (MW) Natrium plant being built by nuclear innovation company TerraPower. Known as Kemmerer Unit One, the plant is being constructed near a retiring coal plant and is expected to be finished in 2031. The project is on track to become the first utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant in the nation. “We’re not just breaking new ground on a first-of-a-kind nuclear plant in Wyoming, we’re building the next generation of America’s energy infrastructure,” says TerraPower President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Levesque in an April 23 TerraPower press release.
Next-generation technology According to TerraPower, the Natrium reactor is a one-of-a-kind sodium fast reactor coupled with a molten salt energy storage system – a model the company calls “breakthrough innovation” responsible for providing built-in gigawatt-scale energy storage. Sodium serves as the cooling agent for the Natrium plant, which means the plant’s cooling system doesn’t rely on water and also requires less steel and concrete, according to an April 23 WyoFile article. TerraPower says the storage technology can boost energy output to 500 MW of power when needed, which is enough
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Please see PLANT on page 7