Western Ag Reporter Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Montana Farmers Union's Arrowpeak Camp was recognized for its commitment to helping youth grow and learn with the American Camp Association Northwest Character Impact Award for Montana for the 2025 season. The ACA Character Impact Award is a recognition given to camps that demonstrate a commitment to creating spaces and removing barriers for youth to grow, connect, and learn. These camps develop effective, creative responses to the needs of the youth using the camp environment as a teaching tool. The annual award is given to one camp in each of the five states making up the ACA Northwest Region, which...
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“It looks magnificent,” Daisy said. She clapped her paws together and then straightened one of the plates and its table setting before the others joined. The barn was adorned with dried grasses, pine boughs, fox tails ,and other natural embellishments to create a festive setting for their Thanksgiving meal. The barn doors blew open with a gust of wind, but that’s not all it brought. Banjo and Tuff were carrying sacks of food; sweet feed, cake, and molasses were among only a few. “Phew,” Tuff said, with a heavy breath. “I didn’t know this could be as heavy as it...
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The liberals who’ve been trying to legislate the weather lately now say that we are facing a “national climate emergency” and to hear them rant and rave it’s all the cow’s fault. Universities and greenie groups are insisting that we need net-zero cows so we won’t face “the sixth mass extinction.” These net-zero cows will be “more climate friendly” because they’ll contribute zero methane, but one wonders, what would a net-zero cow look like? Believe it or not, there are efforts afoot to come up with an EPD that ranchers can use to breed less gaseous cows. It’s been predicted...
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This year at Thanksgiving there will be two empty chairs at our house. We will be missing the amazing cooking and loving hospitality of my mother-in-law, and of course our beloved daughter, whom we buried up a pretty little coulee on the ranch yesterday. We received thousands of messages from loving and praying friends, family, and acquaintances over the course of the last three weeks, but the one that gives me the most inspiration for coping with Thanksgiving this year is a message from Sue Tooley, who experienced the loss of her beautiful daughter, Catherine. The quote Sue shared is,...
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Easiest way to get our one-year-old, Bruce Manegold, to fall asleep is take him for a ride on the horses. After the ride, Dennis stood like a good girl and Bruce finished his nap on her while the other horses were getting unsaddled. Those pony naps hit different! Submitted by Sara Storkson.
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Let’s drill down on beef prices. Here’s what we know. At the outset of the COVID pandemic in March 2020, all-fresh beef prices jumped significantly, running up about [post_excerpt].40 per pound in just three months and peaking at about .40 per pound in June 2020. Beef prices then fell, but not as far as their pre-COVID level. Then, beginning at the end of 2020, beef prices trended sharply upward, and in August this year they reached over per pound. Boxed beef prices also jumped dramatically in March 2020 and peaked at an all-time high of more than per...
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Riding around Eastern Montana’s open range in the 1880s I saw countless wagons, but none more important or revered as “The Wagon” aka the chuckwagon. The indispensable nerve center of any outfit. A kitchen on wheels, complete with a gentleman known affectionally, among the cowboys as “Old Cookie,” the unnamed King on the open range whose word was law. That is, of course, in an area 60 feet around the wagon - his domain. The big box or cupboard on the back was designed by Charlie Goodnight during the long cattle drive days. He also changed the wagon’s axles using...
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What you wear, and how you present yourself on stage, is an important part of being a musician. Looking sharp is critical if you want people to take you seriously, and one of my biggest pet peeves is when bands look like they walked in off the street corner. Since we have a batch of shows coming up that will allow for more creativity in this department, I have been spending some time (probably too much) figuring out what to wear. I always go into my closet first, lean toward classic things I can wear for years to come if...
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Joyce has four daughters as I mentioned, she also has a son whom I, for some reason, thought was a grandson. My apologies, Brady. Joyce’s Mom, after watching her ride into town and making a day of it got concerned for her safety and told her if she didn’t stop, she would sell Joyce’s horse, Flicka. She finally sold Flicka to Joyce’s Dad’s cousin… Joyce: Well, Dad’s cousin, who had kids of his own, kinda liked me and I liked his kids and him as well. He knew what Mom was doing, so when he bought Flicka, he said he...
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America has always been a melting pot - a place, a land, a nation where anyone from anywhere can embrace our values, our original governing documents, and the Judeo-Christian ethos that permeates the very atmosphere of this incredible Constitutional Republic and become an American. Historically, the best qualities and cultural norms of immigrants were not forgotten but rather added and melded into the larger American fold. Tragically, however, the melting pot has, in recent decades, begun to resemble what many now call a “salad bowl,” where the figurative fruits and vegetables in this analogy, the people groups of America live...
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During the 2025 Angus Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, the 2026 Miss American Angus title was awarded to Claire Murnin of Pompeys Pillar, Montana. Murnin is the first Montanan to hold the title of Miss American Angus since the inception of the program in 1968. Murnin began showing Angus cattle when she was eight years old through the National Junior Angus Association, 4-H, and FFA. Now a college freshman, Murnin is currently an online student at Montana State University-Billings, with plans to transfer into an animal science and pre-law program next year. Her road to Miss American Angus began back...
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The Agriculture Diversification and Development (ADD) Fund was created to support new or growing value-added businesses that demonstrate financial feasibility, enhance profitability, create jobs for the industry, and grow North Dakota’s economy. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring announced the most recent ADD funds totaling 7,694 were approved at the ADD quarterly meeting on July 23. Richter Farms was one of three recipients, awarded 7,694 to assist in the transition of their dairy facility to be utilized as a beef cattle backgrounding operation. What Now?... The Richter family has been milking cows on their farm since 1934, formerly known as Richter Dairy....
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At the recent, virtual Stockmanship and Stewardship event hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Emma Coffman of Double E Ranch and Tucker Brown from the R.A. Brown Ranch presented on effective advocacy in agriculture. Both Coffman and Brown shared meaningful ways to be an advocate for agriculture regardless of background. Although social media oftentimes gets a bad rap, Coffman and Brown have found ways for it to bring positive light to agriculture and even drive the narrative around how our food is being produced. Brown is a sixth-generation rancher on the R.A. Brown Ranch in north Texas. “A lot...
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I felt pretty good following the November Cattle On Feed report released by USDA last Friday. Placements came in at 2,076, down 10 percent from last year, with an average guess of 91.6 percent and a range of 89.5 percent to 95.5 percent. Total cattle on feed was 11,691 head, down 2 percent from the same month last year and a range of 97.7 percent to 98.6 percent. Marketings came in at 92 percent with a range of 92 percent to 93.1 percent. If you all remember, a few weeks ago, I said there would be a Cattle On Feed...
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Cutting your own Christmas tree can be fun for all ages, and six Bureau of Land Management field offices in Montana are making it simple and inexpensive to get a permit. Personal-use Christmas tree permits issued by the Butte, Dillon, Lewistown, Malta, Miles City, and Missoula field offices cost only per tree and can be applied for online. Contact the North Dakota Field Office at 701-227-7700, and/or the South Dakota Field Office at 605-892-7000 for information about Christmas tree and/or firewood permits in those areas. Locations where Christmas trees can be harvested vary by field office. Maps, stipulations and...
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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) intent to purchase up to million in fresh fruit from American farmers and producers to distribute to food banks and nutrition assistance programs across the country. These purchases are being made through USDA’s authority under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 and will assist producers and communities in need. With this action, the Trump Administration is bolstering American prosperity by supporting American agriculture, rural communities, and those in need of nutrition assistance. “President Trump is standing with America’s farmers, especially right now while...
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American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall today applauded Senate passage of the bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025. “This is a win-win for kids and dairy farmers because the nutritional benefits of whole milk are now broadly known. By lifting the restrictions on whole and reduced-fat 2 percent milk in schools, kids have more access to important protein, calcium and vitamins. Because school milk accounts for almost 8 percent of fluid milk demand, it’s a significant market driver, too. “Many thanks to the bipartisan leadership from Sens. Welch and Marshall as well as that from Chairman Boozman and...
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Curbing anti-competitive practices and reinstating mandatory Country of Origin Labeling will do more to lower beef prices than importing more beef from Argentina. Unfortunately, ranchers have already taken another hit in a volatile market. It takes about the same percentage of your paycheck to buy a pound of beef today as it did 10 years ago. Sure, the price of beef is higher, but so is everything else, including the average paycheck – thanks to inflation. There is also about the same amount of beef in our supply chain as there was 10 years because we are importing more and...
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We are told that consumers want to know everything about the food they eat, from the time it was planted or impregnated until the time it reaches their plate. I think we have to be very careful in how we meet the consumer’s wishes, or it could backfire on us. Follow along with me now as we join the Wilson family as they are gathered around the dinner table to enjoy a scrumptious prime rib. Instead of saying grace before dinner Mrs. Wilson scanned a bar code on the beef package so they could put a face to the food...
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The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) has issued temporary rules to help reduce the risk of spreading Equine Herpes Virus (EHV)/Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EMH). The rules filed on November 19, 2025, will immediately strengthen Oregon’s ability to prevent the entry and spread of EHV/EHM by requiring additional safeguards for horses entering the state or attending high-risk events. ODA was recently made aware of an outbreak of EHV/EHM in horses that were at or associated with barrel racing and rodeo-type events in Texas and Oklahoma. Several cases of EHV/EHM have been confirmed in Texas and Oklahoma associated with these equine events,...
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Long before the Billings Livestock Commission started having horse sales, the Public Auction Yards had them once a month on a Saturday. When checked in, if the horse was branded, the brand its location was written on the “mail” that hangs on the gate. If there is no brand a “No Br” or “NB” or some facsimile is written on the “mail.” The horses to be sold were divided into three classifications: loose, which were the least expensive to sell; yard rides, which were slightly higher to sell and were a result of the seller, for some reason not wanting...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation announced the next recipient of an award that recognizes veterans or service members for excellence in farming or agriculture and positively impacting local communities. Retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Rutter of South Carolina is the second recipient of the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence presented by AFBF with support from Farm Credit. Rutter served 22 years in the Army, where his service included leading intelligence operations across Europe and the Middle East. Drawing on his extensive experience in strategic planning, personnel development, and training operations, Rutter co-founded the nonprofit Project Victory Gardens to help...
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Colby Anderson, age seven, helping gather cattle. Photo submitted by Amber Anderson.
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We have been enjoying a really beautiful fall with temperatures reaching into the 50’s and 60’s in November. I am loving the lack of snow and cold, but I do know how quickly Indian summer can disappear. This is a column I wrote about the rude interruption of winter on a beautiful autumn. Diary of a Hunting Camp Cook Day #1: It was a beautiful ride into Meadow Creek in the Scapegoat Wilderness today. I think it was about 60 degrees and cloudless. To top it off, my favorite horse was saddled for me at the trailhead. The weather forecast says...
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I was riding down the Yellowstone River east of Miles City, Montana around 1900. That’s when I met XIT cowboy Bob Fudge. I had heard about him and was thrilled to meet him. You see, Bob began his XIT career breaking horses for them in Texas as a kid in 1877 – big for his age of 15. The ranch was putting together herds of steers to trail north. That same year he made his first trail drive to Montana ending up on the Little Bighorn River in the shadow of the Bighorn Mountains. He returned to Texas after that...
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The history of animals in combat and mascots in the military animals have served alongside humanity in combat since at least the time of the ancient Sumerians, around 2500 BC, when chariots were drawn by recently domesticated wild asses native to the region now known as southern Iraq. From that point forward, countless other animals were employed in humanity’s struggles: dogs, camels, elephants, pigeons, and more, all playing vital roles in the history of war. For the sake of time, this article will focus on the history of animal mascots and how these four-legged and even winged companions have elevated...
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Henry pushed his cowboy hat down around his ears and leaned forward. His paw was under the bull rope and with a blink of an eye he was nodding. “Let’r rip boys,” Henry, the bull riding hedgehog, said with an airy breath, and the gate latch was pulled. “PHWAP!” it released and hit the back side of the panel. “YEEHAW!” Henry called. The bull bucked up and down and then decided to spin. “He’s down in the well,” Banjo said. He and Tuff watched the hedgehog hold on. “Ironhide’s known as a spinner, but I didn’t know they meant he...
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On November 13, the USDA announced that a sterile fly dispersal facility is opening in Tampico, Mexico. The announcement came after Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, conducted the “largest U.S. Department of Agriculture agribusiness trade mission in the history of our country” to Mexico the prior week. “The opening of the Tampico sterile fly dispersal facility is another incredibly important tool in our arsenal to stop the spread of screwworm. The facility will ensure flexibility and responsiveness in northern Mexico, giving us a greater ability to drop sterile flies, and continue to push the pest south,” Rollins said in the...
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Winter weather isn’t just tough on producers — it’s tough on cattle, too. “There are reasons why we see more BRD challenges in cold and damp conditions,” Nathan Meyer, DVM, Ph.D., Boehringer Ingelheim, said. “It really comes down to stress. When animals are stressed, they’re less able to fight off infections as effectively as they would under more ideal conditions.” Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains the costliest disease impacting U.S. beef cattle, research by JD Taylor, et al. found. The brisk winter months are the perfect time to reevaluate management practices to improve animal health, comfort and BRD control. Prioritize...
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Many states have a state sport that embodies the spirit and essence of the state. For instance, the state sport of Alaska is dog sledding, the state sport of California is surfing, etc. In the spring of this year, rodeo became the official sport of Montana, passed by the Montana legislature. Greg Overstreet, Montana Representative for the 88th district, was the sponsor of the bill to make rodeo the state sport. He believes rodeo “symbolizes and captures the Montana spirit like nothing else.” “It’s not just some random legislative enactment. It really tells the world about a state. . ....
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I am going to start out this week with a comment I came across over this past weekend, that in my mind, really sums up with what we are dealing with at this time. It comes from Dr. Andrew Griffith, assistant professor and livestock marketing specialist for the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics at University of Tennessee. Dr. Griffith wrote, “It has become clear that beef cattle producers are concerned about the negative direction of cattle prices stemming from national leadership comments and negative press on ‘high retail beef prices.’ Something important to remember is markets work! High prices...
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College students and recent graduates are encouraged to attend CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, February 3-5, to help them prepare for careers in the cattle industry. Future agricultural leaders will have the opportunity to engage with potential employers during the new “Career Crawl” at the NCBA Trade Show on Thursday, February 5. “The largest cattle industry event of the year is a great place for the next generation to network with some of our industry’s most impactful companies,” National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein said. “We hope this new career event opens doors for future leaders.” Attendees can visit...
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American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed Waters of the United States rule. “Clean water is a top priority for farmers and ranchers – we depend on it. We are pleased that the new rule protects critical water sources while respecting the efforts of farmers to protect the natural resources they’ve been entrusted with. “The Supreme Court clearly ruled several years ago that the government overreached in its interpretation of what fell under federal guidelines. We are still reviewing the entire rule, but we are pleased that it finally...
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Written Friday, November 14 USDA cut its corn crop estimate 62 million bushels from the September report. The average yield declined 0.7 bu. to 186.0 bushels per acre, though still 6.7 bu. above last year’s record. Harvested area was unchanged at 90.047 million acres. The 186 United States national yield was made up of increased yields in Illinois, Indiana, South Dakota, and Kansas. In Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri yields were lower according to the USDA. Overall, the report can be considered slightly bearish in my opinion. USDA pegged ending corn stocks at 2.154 billion bushels. However, USDA noted that the...
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On October 22, following a contentious week of debate surrounding President Donald Trump’s deal with Argentina to lower the price of beef in the United States, USDA released a 13 page “Plan to Fortify the American Beef Industry.” The plan focuses on three priorities, which include: protecting and improving ranching as a business; expanding processing capabilities, market access, and improving consumer transparency; and increasing demand while growing domestic supply. Prior to USDA’s official release of their Beef Industry Plan, Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) hosted a Common Ground Summit in Washington, D.C., where livestock industry...
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Last week, Daisy felt awful. She battled with her conscience and wanted to right the wrong she’d been a part of but didn’t know how or what she was going to do when she found Rascal in the mountains. But he found her first and mocked her for wanting to make good on his prank. Will Daisy get a chance to convince Rascal to fix what he’s done or will he get away again? “Crunch, crunch, crunch,” the carpet of the wood’s recently fallen leaves sounded as the animal walked across them. Daisy turned to see what it might be,...
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Earlier this year, public land ownership and use were big topics in the news. The issue divided many Montanans on how best to use and manage these lands. I’m an avid user of public lands and fully support keeping them open to the public, but I also want to shed some light on how they’re funded at the federal level. The federal government is obligated to pay local jurisdictions some form of property tax on the land it owns. There are complex formulas and programs used to calculate those payments, and each year Congress must appropriate the money in the...
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Hennessey Murnin exiting the First Interstate Arena in Billings, Montana, after winning Reserve Grand Champion Heifer in the junior calf division at the Regional Hereford Show. Photo by Kellie Kubacak.
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The general rifle hunting season starts this week, so hundreds of optimistic out of state hunters will pour into Montana and our neighboring states to try to fulfill their dream of shooting a big, bull elk. Few of those hunters’ dreams come true, but the statistics on success rates do not deter avid hunters from booking hunts or trying it on their own. In general, the average hunter does not know what lies in store for him - especially if he has booked a wilderness outfitted hunt. The following is an account of one such hunter, Dr. Hank Newburn, a...
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Sometime after we moved to the Reinhart place on the edge of White Sulphur Springs, Montana, I was introduced to Clay Butte. I think it was either Jack or Chester James, two of my cousins that I went with the first time, but I’m not certain. We were probably eight or nine when I first went there. Clay Butte was perhaps a half mile or so from our eastern fence, and we rode our bikes there, rode our horses, or hiked to it. It was a wondrous place for young fellers to be. Riding our bikes didn’t happen often after...
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As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, many of us who work with our hands and spend our days outside find that this season offers more time with family and, for many of us, time to read. In today’s fast-paced and attention-grabbing world, reading has increasingly become a lost art. Lately, I’ve tried to spend more time reading or, when under a horse or driving the pickup, listening to one of my favorite authors: the beloved Western writer, Louis L’Amour. A few things stand out to me from his writings that hold particular relevance for those of us...
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On October 13, the Foster County 4-H Livestock Judging Team, out of North Dakota, put together a solid performance to win the senior division of the 4-H livestock judging contest at the Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) in Billings, Montana. The team – comprised of Molly Hansen, Cyrena Kuss, Cally Hansen, and Kadence Spickler – traveled over seven hours to compete against other top teams from across Reporter Country. At the end of the day, the official team results in the 4-H senior division were as follows: Foster County, North Dakota Sheridan County, Wyoming Carbon County, Montana Rosebud County, Montana...
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On August 28, I wrote a column in response to an op-ed that was published in the Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Colorado) and The Denver Post which was titled, “Wild horses are pitted against grazing cattle in a battle for survival across the West.” I addressed some of the inaccuracies in the op-ed, and even after writing about it here, I couldn’t shake my frustration that the author, Jennifer Best, had just spewed a bunch of emotionally charged misinformation across a state already imbued with anti-ag rhetoric. So, I decided to dial down the tone of my column and make it...
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One of the most highly anticipated events of the Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) in Billings, Montana, each year is the Ranch Rodeo Finals, which drew in a large crowd on Saturday, October 18. With stiff competition from nine teams who made it into the finals, Selkirk Ranchers, out of Dillon, Montana, came out as this year’s champions. The nine competing teams made up of four members have the opportunity to gain up to 36 points over the course of the three events: team doctoring, team branding, and team load and tie. First place in a given event will earn...
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CLICK HERE to tell Congress that importing Argentinian beef will not work and will hurt U.S. cattle producers! The Trump Administration announced a plan to import more Argentinian beef as a way to lower beef prices. We believe that the federal government should not be trying to influence beef prices and should let the free market work. Additionally, Argentina has a deeply unbalanced trading relationship with the United States, meaning they sell far more of their beef into the U.S. market than the U.S. can sell into Argentina. Over the last five years, Argentina has sold 1,859,558 worth of beef...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) expressed disappointment Monday morning with the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision to not hear a crucial corner crossing case. In August, MSGA filed an amicus brief alongside the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association (WSGA) and Wyoming Wool Growers Association (WWGA) to the United States Supreme Court in a crucial corner crossing case. “MSGA has defended private property rights for more than a century and will remain engaged in supporting movements toward affirming those protections,” stated Lesley Robinson, MSGA President. “We believe we provided a compelling argument from a landowners perspective for the court to take...
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The announcement by President Trump late last Thursday (October 16) that beef prices were too high and that a big deal may be coming with Argentina certainly threw the futures markets into pandemonium on Friday – limit down right at the opening bell and stayed that way all day. But if you look at the live markets last week, fed cattle actually sold for higher money. Auction markets around the country on Friday (October 17) still sold feeder cattle very well. Was it lower? Yes. But not near as much as I think was anticipated. Cattle futures on Monday morning...
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When land managers modify their management to improve soil health, it is often challenging to measure and evaluate the soil’s response. “There is no optimum standard for soil health in the same way that there is an optimal body temperature for human health,” Cathy Zabinski, professor of plant and soil ecology in MSU’s Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, said. Soil health varies greatly by soil type and climate, so Zabinski and Zane Ashford, a former graduate student, studied a site-specific indicator of soil health. The soil health gap is the difference in soil health characteristics between managed, disturbed land, which includes...
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The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) recognized the top-performing cattle of 2025 with the prestigious Grid Master Awards during the 72nd Annual National Red Angus Convention in Loveland, Colorado. The award honors producers and feeders who combine superior Red Angus genetics with sound feeding and management practices to achieve industry-leading carcass results. To qualify for the Grid Master Award, cattle must be enrolled in RAAA’s Angus Access or Allied Access and meet strict carcass performance standards. Qualifying cattle must be marketed in lots of at least 30 head and achieve a minimum of 90 percent Choice and Prime, with...
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In a press conference on Thursday, October 16, President Donald Trump addressed the prices of a variety of goods and services in the United States from In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) drug treatments to oil and beef. In comments regarding his goal of getting the price of gasoline down closer to .00/gallon, President Trump said, “if you can get oil down, it’s such a big category, everything follows.” Trump continued, “…We are working on beef, and I think we have a deal on beef […] that would be the one product that we would say is a little bit higher than...
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Mitch Rippe, Nebraska Beef Council Director of Nutrition and Education, has been busy connecting the worlds of agriculture and dietetics through two impactful learning experiences for dietetic interns from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Beef Industry Farm Tour: In an effort to bridge the gap between dietetic programs and the agricultural industry, the Nebraska Beef Council recently hosted a comprehensive farm tour offering future dietitians’ firsthand exposure to the beef production cycle. Stops included Lienetics Ranch, Weber & Sons Co., and McLean Beef’s retail and processing facility, where students learned about sustainability, animal care,...
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It hadn’t been what Daisy had suspected. Banjo had responded with grace. The kind she definitely didn’t deserve after following Rascal’s lead and being a part of him dumping blue branding paint across them. Her papa showed her more in her mistake than she could truly understand, as a pup and all, but her gut felt it was a very important lesson. Daisy thought about what Banjo had said, “If you’re a part of the group, you’re as guilty as the one committing the crime-no matter the type of crime. Guilty is as guilty was,” Banjo had said. But it...
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Western Sustainability Exchange (WSE) and Eastern Montana Regenerative Agriculture (EMRA) are teaming up to offer two, two-day workshops for anyone ready to bring more clarity, efficiency, and ease to their ranch finances. The first workshop, “Are You Making It or Faking It?”, will take place November 17–18 at Miles Community College. The class will be led primarily by ranchers who have successfully implemented these strategies themselves, along with agricultural financial experts. Don’t expect to sit through two days of lectures. This is an interactive, hands-on experience. On day one, participants can plug in their own ranch information using the tools...
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NCBA is accepting nominations for the 2026 Environmental Stewardship Awards. Established in 1991, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) annually recognizes outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers across the country. “Since its inception 35 years ago, this prestigious program has recognized 235 cattle operations for their stewardship efforts,” NCBA President, Buck Wehrbein said. “We look forward to finding the next deserving stewards and sharing their stories.” Any individual, group, or organization is eligible to nominate one individual or business raising or feeding cattle. While individuals and families may not nominate themselves, they should be involved in the...
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The Animal Agriculture Alliance has published a new “Meat Matters” Guide. The guide is a science-based resource highlighting why meat, dairy, poultry, eggs, and seafood are essential to a balanced diet and sustainable food system. The report covers the nutritional benefits of these foods and addresses common misconceptions. “As Americans are putting a greater emphasis on hitting protein goals, animal protein is here to deliver with nutrient-dense food choices,” said Emily Ellis, director, communications and content, Animal Agriculture Alliance. “Whether it’s protein quality, vitamin B12, or iron absorption, these foods deliver essential nutrients that are difficult to replicate with plant-based...
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A heifer that calves late in her first breeding season is already behind – and likely to stay that way. “It starts a vicious cycle,” Jordan Thomas, Ph.D., University of Missouri, said. “Where she calves late, breeds late the next year, and eventually falls out of the herd.” Whether producers are raising or buying their replacement heifers, focusing on strong herd management, disease prevention, and parasite control is the foundation of a successful breeding herd and long-term profitability. Ideally, heifers should conceive their first calf at 15 months of age and calve by 24 months. Breeding early sets her and...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is set to host its 106th Annual Convention from November 17-20, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula. This year's convention offers Montana's farmers and ranchers a critical opportunity to reconnect, gain market-leading insights, and shape the grassroots policy that guides the organization and influences state and national agriculture. Key highlights of the 2025 program include high-impact keynote speakers who will address the most pressing issues in modern agriculture, including: Strategies to Demonstrate Agriculture’s Role in the "Make America Healthy Again" movement. Terri Moore, vice president of communications, American Farm Bureau Federation. Geopolitics...
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The nation of Israel is a beautiful yet perplexing land, a land of biblical history where Jesus walked. It is the epicenter of the Jewish faith and a land that also holds great importance to Islam and the Druze faith. Fascinatingly, it is also on the cutting edge of technology, with the most start-ups per capita of any place on the globe. I recently had the opportunity to visit Israel once again, this time in an official capacity. For nearly 80 years, Israel has been America’s closest security and political partner in the Middle East. It is the only democracy...
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Agri-kid, Riggin Finn, watching daddy train colts this fall and learning how to ride her own ranch pony. Photo submitted by Darian Finn. Submit YOUR agri-kid to editor2@westernagreporter.com.
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I am throwing a lot of information at all of you this week, so please take your time while digesting all of these graphs. Before we dive into all of this, I need to give Kurt Kangas, regional manager for the American Angus Association, full credit for compiling all of this data. Kurt spent countless hours crunching all the numbers and designing all of these graphs. He presented this information to students at Montana State University as he has been very involved in Montana State University Angus there in Bozeman, Montana. Kurt also presented this data at the Annual Montana...
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Every year when we wrapped up the season and turned the “dude” horses out to pasture, I marveled at how they were the key to the success of our operation. Those old ranch horses endure a lot of greenhorn mistakes, but they bring their riders safely back to the corral every single trip. Sure, they get pretty smart about tricking their riders into letting them drop their heads for some bites of grass now and then or brush a little too close to some overhanging tree branches, but for the most part they are saints on hooves. Probably the most...
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On September 28, the Billings Livestock Commission (BLS) Horse Sale sold its 200,000th horse. BLS is known for their catalog sales and for having the number one loose horse market in the United States. When asked about this milestone, Jann Parker, who has been the manager at the BLS horse sale for 27 years, simply said, “That’s what we do. We sell horses. All kinds, all classes, all the time.” “We’ve worked hard to be a good place to market your horse over the years, and continue to be the curve,” Parker continued. When asked what the next milestone is,...
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Kay Koch lives in Salem, South Dakota. She is a wife, mother of three, and a Farmers Union Insurance Agent. She is also a two-time cancer survivor eager to share her story in the hopes that what she learned from her journey helps others. “I want to share the message of hope. Cancer does not have to be the end of your story. There is hope,” Koch said. “And you have to advocate for yourself.” Early in her cancer journey, Kay learned if she was going to survive, she had to advocate for herself. She discovered a lump while nursing...
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The sheer number of variables that are at play on a daily basis for the ranching industry require a person to be adaptable, flexible, and creative. However, when it comes to grazing management, constant reflection and contingency planning are integral to the success of both the land and the livestock and ecosystems it sustains. During a recent NCBA Cattlemen’s Webinar Series episode, Chad Ellis, with the Texas Agricultural Land Trust, and Robbie LeValley, of LeValley Ranch in Colorado, provided their insights and experience for how to consciously plan ahead for uncertain years, which are a given in the ranching business....
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October has been recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States since 1985 by the American Cancer Society and Imperial Chemical Industries. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is intended to promote screening, raise awareness, and in turn, reduce the risk of the disease that affects 2.3 million women worldwide, according to breastcancer.org. The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. reports that one in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer. “In 2025, an estimated 316,950 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and an additional 59,080 new cases of non-invasive (in situ)...
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Agri-kid of the week, Dean Stephens, is three years old and keeping notes during pre-conditioning. Photo courtesy of Allison Wittkopp. Submit your agri-kid to editor2@westernagreporter.com
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When early season rifle opens on September 15, the bull elk start to bugle. There is a chill in the morning air, which makes me homesick for the smell of wood smoke coming from the cook tent. I spent most of two decades cooking in a hunting camp in the Scapegoat Wilderness for the Todd’s K Lazy 3, and I have hundreds of great memories of those years. I retired from 25 years of teaching junior high English in the spring of 2006, and I did not start my County Superintendent of Schools position until January of 2007. I worked...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) is now accepting donations for its 2025 Cattle Drive program, which allows donations to gain in value to contribute an even larger impact to the future of the agricultural industry. Donations can be made until December 15, 2025, and animal pick up will be coordinated beginning in mid-October. To donate, contact MSF at foundation@mtbeef.org or (406) 461-0642. The Cattle Drive program, Montana’s largest steer feedout contest, allows ranchers and supporters to donate a steer or donate the market value of a steer. Donors can also partner with friends or neighbors to participate. Donated animals are transported...
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Wade Shafer was recognized with the Red Angus Association of America’s 2025 Industry Service Award during the 72nd Annual National Red Angus Convention in Loveland, Colorado. The award honors individuals, companies and organizations whose efforts have significantly advanced the Red Angus breed and the beef industry. Shafer’s first exposure to Red Angus came as a graduate student in animal breeding at Colorado State University in the mid-80s, when RAAA's genetic evaluation program was centered there. That experience left a lasting impression. “It became obvious to me that RAAA and its members were highly focused on the traits of greatest economic...
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It had been a very dry summer, and we cut hay everywhere we could. Some of the hay near the edge of the Smith River hadn’t been cut in years, if ever. We were searching for every blade of grass we could feed the sheep with during the winter. The last place we cut and raked hay was an island. We had been using it to park the sheep wagon during the winter. It was nearly surrounded by willows with only a small opening, with a six- or seven-foot culvert laid in the narrow rivulet from the Smith River, which...
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I am at a loss, and as I write this, I struggle to put the proverbial pen to paper, unsure of what to say after the horrific murder – the political assassination – of Charlie Kirk, carried out in front of a crowd of nearly 3,000 people. They had gathered to hear Charlie and a few willing, ideologically opposed, students of Utah Valley University hash it out and debate in a battle of ideas. Charlie was a 31-year-old Christ-follower, a devoted husband, and the father of two. He was a lover of all that is good, true, and beautiful about...
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Throughout today’s session in beans, the market retreated back to where it came from, the 50-week moving average at 10.25. Praying and hoping are not trading strategies one should rely on albeit the market does overreact in multiple instances to rumors. But for now, in my view funds will return to sell the rumor and buy the fact in beans. While I don’t believe the national bean yield is at 53.3 BPA, (all-time record yield), given number one bean producer Illinois is at a lackluster 50 percent good to excellent, a whopping 22 percent behind last year’s rating at this...
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On September 16, California ranchers and NCBA members Kevin Kester, Tony Toso, Eythan Blair, and Mike Williams stood alongside Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson (LA), House Majority Leader, Steve Scalise (LA), House Majority Whip, Tom Emmer (MN), and Congressman Tony Wied (WI) during the weekly House Republicans Leadership Stakeout in Washington, D.C. Kester, an NCBA past president, took to the podium to praise the passage of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” on July 4, noting its positive impacts on ranchers across the country. “I cannot overstate how important it was for this One Big Beautiful Bill to...
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Amidst a growing shortage of rural veterinarians, Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins announced her “Rural Veterinarian Action Plan,” which aims to increase the number of veterinarians both in rural sectors as well as those employed by USDA. “Rural veterinarians are vital for the agricultural economy in the United States. Our farmers and ranchers rely on these critical services to prevent the transmission of animal disease, protect our food supply, and support America’s rural economy. As the number of rural food animal veterinarians continues to decline, USDA is putting Farmers First to ensure we build back our first line of defense...
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Since 1906, the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, has been “the” place to be in January for livestock exhibitors from across the United States. The conclusion of the 2025 event closed a significant chapter in the storied history of the National Western Stock Show as it was the last time shows would be held in the legendary Stadium Arena, which first opened in 1909. Beginning January 10, 2026, the National Western Stock Show will kick off its 120th year by welcoming exhibitors and visitors alike to its state-of-the-art Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Livestock Center as well as the Legacy Building....
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On June 8, 1789, James Madison proposed the first amendments to the United States Constitution, despite his original qualms with the drafting of a bill of rights. According to the National Archives, Madison “hounded his colleagues relentlessly” to get the Bill of Rights passed. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (Emphasis added.) Freedom of speech has been...
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What a way to start the fall 2025 sale season! The kick off to my fall sales was the Churchill Cattle Company complete dispersion that took place September 18 and 19. There was a MASSIVE crowd in attendance, but it was not just a massive crowd with a lot of spectators, it was a massive buying crowd! My brother, Joe Goggins, was the auctioneer and the first words out of his mouth in opening the first day of the sale were, “Good morning ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the National Hereford Convention!” It was a real “who’s-who” of the...
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Jesse and Michelle Weber, owners of Weber Land and Cattle in Lake Benton, Minnesota, were recognized as the Red Angus Association of America’s 2025 Breeder of the Year during the 72nd Annual National Red Angus Convention in Loveland, Colorado. The award honors seedstock producers who uphold the highest standards of genetic excellence and have made significant contributions to the advancement of the breed. Jesse Weber’s passion for Red Angus began at age 13, when he purchased his first heifer from a neighbor. The docility, maternal strength and adaptability of those cattle made a lasting impression. “These cattle work for anybody...
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Six men from Montana and Washington have pled guilty in Musselshell County Justice Court to unlawfully killing bull elk and mule deer bucks near Roundup. They have been sentenced to a combined total of ,890 in fines, and license revocations totaling 28 years. The investigation began with information provided to Fish, Wildlife, & Parks (FWP) wardens by a confidential informant. After an extensive investigation, wardens found that the group of both residents and nonresidents killed several large bull elk in Hunting District 590 without the required elk permit and also killed several large mule deer without hunting licenses. The violations...
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The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is excited to welcome two academic year interns: Kirsten Heselmeyer, AGA communications intern, and Gentry Warner, AGA visual content intern. “It is truly an honor to get the opportunity to work with such accomplished young ladies as they use their talents to expand the Gelbvieh and Balancer® message to the greater beef industry. Their skillsets are incredible and will truly advance the communication efforts of the AGA,” said Megan Underwood, AGA communications coordinator. Kirsten Heselmeyer – AGA Communications Intern Heselmeyer will assist the AGA communications department through video creation, writing editorial content for Gelbvieh World...
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Hours ago, Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) confirmed a new case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in the state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. This is now the northernmost detection of NWS during this outbreak, and the one most threatening to the American cattle and livestock industry. Sabinas Hidalgo is located near the major highway from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, to Laredo, Texas, which is one of the most heavily trafficked commercial thoroughfares in the world. "Protecting the United States from NWS is non-negotiable and a...
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Gracie Rogers of Princeton, Missouri, was named the Red Angus Association of America’s 2025 Outstanding Junior Member earlier this summer during the Red Angus Youth Expo in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Rogers, a sophomore studying animal science at Iowa State University, currently serves as the Junior Red Angus Association president after two years as secretary. She was also recognized during the 72nd Annual National Red Angus Convention in Loveland, Colorado. The Outstanding Junior Member Award recognizes young leaders who have contributed significantly to the success of JRA while embodying the character and vision of the Red Angus breed. Rogers said the recognition...
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Free, fast and convenient sampling for chronic wasting disease (CWD) is available by appointment during archery season at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks headquarters in Miles City. Hunters can call CWD regional coordinators at 406-234-0496 for sampling appointments during weekday business hours. Southeast Montana is a Priority Surveillance Area in 2025 for collecting samples from deer, elk or moose. Hunters are encouraged to voluntarily submit their animal for sampling to help gather additional data for that area. This information is used to help inform the best management strategies for the affected hunting districts. CWD is a fatal disease that infects...
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“I saw them too,” Rufus said as they stood in a circle around the tracks. “Bawhoo!” Moose bayed from the wood shop. “His sniffer has been on high alert,” Rufus said. “Didn’t you see them?” Daisy asked. “Unfortunately not,” Rufus said. “How could you miss an enormously ugly wolf and a three-legged dog?” she said. “BAWHOO!” Moose bayed repeatedly. “Maybe something else is wrong with him?” Pudge said. Rufus turned his head. “You might be onto something…” he said. The long ears of the law around Mr. Fogarity’s ranch turned on his oversized paws and started for the wood shop....
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With appropriate respect offered to the author, publisher, and comment providers who recently collaborated on the article entitled “Could mediocrity be the right goal? A practical perspective on cattle production,” I’d like to share several thoughts on why cow-calf producers should avoid such a mindset. To begin, believing that mediocre cattle can be both acceptable and profitable over the long run is a fallacy. Producers targeting mediocre cattle as their long-term production goal have chosen a low-to-no profit road. As an industry, we tried this approach in the 1980s and 1990s. It failed miserably. Mediocre cattle (known also as commodity...
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Governor Greg Gianforte yesterday continued his 56 County Tour in Glacier County, visiting the Halls Coulee siphon in Babb for a tour of the construction work to repair the aging infrastructure. “The St. Mary and Halls Coulee siphons are lifeline for water users in eastern Montana,” Gov. Gianforte said. “I am grateful to all state, local, federal, and tribal partners who worked quickly to secure funding and start repairs on this critical infrastructure.” Constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation, the St. Mary and Halls Coulee siphons are part of the St. Mary Canal system that have provided irrigation water along...
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The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Emily Kaleczyc as the new assistant state veterinarian. Dr. Kaleczyc brings a wealth of veterinary and regulatory experience to the role, including a strong background in animal health programs, epidemiology, and public service. A 2013 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Kaleczyc began her career in Helena, Montana, where she practiced mixed animal medicine before joining the Montana Department of Livestock, where she worked in the brucellosis program and in meat and poultry inspection. Most recently, Dr. Kaleczyc spent five years...
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The National Western Stock Show proudly announces George Eidsness as the 2026 Citizen of the West. This prestigious award recognizes those who embody the spirit and determination of the Western pioneer– a true representative of Western lifestyle, ideals, agricultural heritage, and traditions. A committee of community leaders selects recipients. George Eidsness is a true embodiment of the Citizen of the West – resilient, visionary, and deeply rooted in the land and traditions that define the region. Raised on a farm near Brocket, North Dakota, George’s early life was shaped by hard work, music (specifically the trombone), horsemanship, and a deep...
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The founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, was tragically killed on September 10, 2025, by a coward who silenced him with a gunshot from 200 yards away. His sudden passing sent shockwaves across the nation, especially among those who followed his outspoken defense of faith, freedom, and America’s future. In life, he was both celebrated and criticized, yet even his fiercest opponents acknowledged that Kirk spoke with conviction and led with courage. Kirk created the largest youth organization in the world and became the clear voice of both commonsense politics and faith in our nation’s history. As we reflect...
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Agri-kid Madilynn Renfrow with her grand champion breeding beef in Lake County, Oregon. Photo submitted by Josh Renfrow.
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In a seemingly regular and routine presidential address to Congress in 1823, President James Monroe, America’s fifth president, announced a change in foreign policy that has, to this very day, massive implications. One could even say this is even more so in the ever-evolving and rapidly changing game that is global geopolitics. What you might be asking is what is the impact of this colossal change in foreign policy. Why in the world does it still have relevance today, 202 years later? The change in foreign policy in question is known today as the Monroe Doctrine. In a key excerpt...
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Congratulations, Neil Bouray, the bid-caller from Webber, Kansas, was crowned champion at the September 10 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship qualifier at Gillespie Livestock in Fredericksburg, Texas. Tate Rainey, Sweetwater, Texas, was reserve champion, and Josh Jasper, Nicholasville, Kentucky, was runner-up. Jasper was also the high scoring rookie contestant. Also punching their tickets to the semi-finals in St. Onge, South Dakota, next June were: Kellan Bussell (Idabel, Oklahoma); Leon Caselman (Long Lane, Missouri); Garrett Nunn (Laramie, Wyoming); Troy Robinett (Decatur, Texas); Austin Schaben (Dunlap, Iowa); Ethan Schuette (Washington, Kansas); and Andrew Sylvester (Westmoreland, Kansas). The next qualifier will be held in...
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Written on Friday, September 12 Another WASDE report came with another surprise by USDA in the form of corn acres that were revised 1.4 million acres higher. This suggests planted acres coming in at 98.7 million and harvested acres at a whopping 90 million. 7 million harvested acres over last year. Despite the bearish news, corn traded higher and closed 13 cents off the low. Markets that react friendly to bearish inputs is a bullish indicator in my view. The acres increase for now offset yield loss at 186.7, down from 188.8 last month. However, the big bullish input in...
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The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration and Wage and Hour division is proposing to change the "Recission of Final Rule: Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural Employment in the United States." The Department plans to revise the rule's information collection request (ICR). It is requesting comments on replacing the existing collection tools with the tools required to implement rules related to the H-2A program. PLC is encouraged by this administration's response to some of the federal rulemakings that may work well for some places, but unnecessarily target and penalize many of our members who utilize H-2A visas...
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On Wednesday, September 10, Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, announced a proposal to rescind the Biden-era Public Lands Rule. Implemented by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the spring of 2024, the Public Lands Rule put conservation “on equal footing with other multiple uses…” on public lands, such as energy development, grazing, and recreation. Comments are now being accepted for the proposed rule on the Federal Register, with a deadline of November 10, 2025. The Public Lands Rule “…applies the existing fundamentals of land health across BLM programs, establishes restoration and mitigation leases, and clarifies practices to designate...
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Scrapie is a fatal disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. APHIS classifies it as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that leads to “significant production losses” in infected flocks. Currently, the United States is not scrapie free according to World Organization for Animal Health standards. “Essentially, what it {scrapie} is, is mad cow disease for sheep,” Chris Posbergh, assistant professor of sheep production at Montana State University, described. The disease is caused by prions that cause proteins to fold incorrectly, and “once it’s misfolded, then it starts causing havoc, especially in the nervous system,” Posbergh said. “The presence...
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As the growing season winds down and pastures go dormant, weed management might not be top of mind – but fall can be one of the most effective times to control some of our toughest rangeland invaders. Fall offers a window of opportunity, especially for targeting perennial and biennial weeds. Understanding which species respond best to fall control and how weather affects treatment success can help improve rangeland productivity and reduce weed pressure heading into next spring. Why Fall Matters for Weed Control… In the fall, perennial and biennial plants shift energy reserves into their roots to prepare for winter....
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It was a topsy-turvy week as far as cattle futures were concerned last week with big corrections on the board. I am not going to go into every detail, but what I did want to talk about concerning this subject was people talking doom-and-gloom that the cattle markets have peaked and maybe we are heading the other direction. The “bears” were out in full force. Some folks even went so far as to say the correction in cattle futures last week was due to demand for beef weakening. I can’t emphasize enough how strongly I disagree with this line of...
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Jon and Patty Tebelius of Bowdon, North Dakota, were recognized as the Red Angus Association of America’s 2025 Commercial Producer of the Year during the 72nd Annual National Red Angus Convention in Loveland, Colorado. The award honors cattle producers who successfully use Red Angus genetics to strengthen their herds and employ innovative marketing practices that add value to their calf crops. The Tebelius herd has evolved from a mixed group of Simmental, Hereford, Charolais and Angus-cross cows into a high-quality, uniform Red Angus program. The couple said they were drawn to the breed for its Total Herd Reporting and traits...
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Independent cattle producers from eight states traveled to Washington, D.C., last week as part of R-CALF USA’s fly-in, delivering a clear message: food security is national security, and the prosperity of America’s ranching families must be central to America First policymaking. The group met with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and other USDA senior advisors, White House staff in the Executive Office of the President, and officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), including Assistant USTR for Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy Dr. Julie Callahan. On Capitol Hill, ranchers sat down with more than 20 senators...
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In 2019, a class-action lawsuit alleging anticompetitive practices by JBS, Tyson, Cargill, and National Beef (collectively referred to as the Big Four) was jointly filed by National Farmers Union, R-CALF USA, and four individual ranchers. In February 2025, following an extensive discovery period, the court gave preliminary approval of an .5 million settlement with JBS; the court gave final approval of the settlement on August 15. Specifically, the plaintiffs claim that the Big Four packers violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, Packers & Stockyards Act, and the Commodity Exchange Act. Litigators Pat McGahan, of Scott+Scott law firm in Connecticut, and Dan...
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In their regular Agricultural Market Situation and Outlook webinar, extension specialists from North Dakota State University highlighted the state of agricultural outputs and byproducts in the last month including crops, biofuels, and livestock. A highlight this month was Tim Petry’s discussion and analysis of the newly reinstated July Cattle Inventory Report, which was not issued in 2024 due to budgetary reasons. Breaking down cowherd numbers across the country, drought conditions, and the fed cattle market, Petry, who serves as an extension livestock economist, touched on several ways he is seeing modest herd rebuilding starting to occur. Nationwide Decline & Regional...
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For over 30 years, Barb Larsen has been involved in 4-H in Toole County, Montana. Over the years, she has stepped into leadership roles, developed programs, taught workshops, been a 4-H camp nurse, founded a club, been on committees, along with a whole host of other achievements throughout her years in the program. In a nomination letter for Montana State University’s Agriculture Leader Award, fellow 4-H leader, Lindsey Habets, described Larsen as a “powerhouse” whose “fingerprints are all over the county’s 4-H programs.” Larsen was inducted into the Montana 4-H Hall of Fame in 2019 for her years of outstanding...
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For over 30 years, Barb Larsen has been involved in 4-H in Toole County, Montana. Over the years, she has stepped into leadership roles, developed programs, taught workshops, been a 4-H camp nurse, founded a club, been on committees, along with a whole host of other achievements throughout her years in the program. In a nomination letter for Montana State University’s Agriculture Leader Award, fellow 4-H leader, Lindsey Habets, described Larsen as a “powerhouse” whose “fingerprints are all over the county’s 4-H programs.” Larsen was inducted into the Montana 4-H Hall of Fame in 2019 for her years of outstanding...
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I think all of us were anticipating another very bullish Cattle on Feed Report last Friday. Yet some analysts called it slightly bearish, because placements were only down 6 percent instead of the 8.9 percent estimated pre-report. Here is what didn’t make sense at all to me while looking at the Cattle on Feed Report, aside from the fact placements were down 6 percent as compared to last year. Here is the breakdown of the weight categories placed on feed in July. Net placements came in at 1.55 million head. Calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 340,000 head; 600-699...
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On August 18, an opinion piece titled “Wild horses are pitted against grazing cattle in a battle for survival across the West” appeared in the Greeley Tribune and the Denver Post in Colorado. The author, Jennifer Best, is a member of the wildlife law team for the organization “Friends of Animals.” The stated goal of the organization is to “…free animals from cruelty and institutionalized exploitation around the world.” In this piece, Best claims that “Colorado does not have a wild horse problem […] The real issue lies with the meat industry’s grip on our public lands.” She argues that...
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After many years of service in various roles, Gretchen Sharp resigned from the South Dakota FFA Foundation in July to dedicate time to other endeavors. Serving as Executive Assistant from 2010-2025 and Executive Director from 2001-2010, she left a lasting mark on our organization. Gretchen’s contributions have been widely recognized, including the Honorary State FFA Degree in 2004, SD Association of Agricultural Educators Honorary Membership in 2005, and the Honorary American Degree—the organization’s highest honor, in 2009. Gretchen wore the FFA jacket herself as a Carrington, ND, and then Brookings, SD, FFA member and served as the 1991-92 SD State...
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“Did you see the jam?” Tuff asked. Banjo nodded. “I did,” he said. “Do you suppose it really is huckleberry?” “That’s what the label says,” Tuff said. “And the mama wouldn’t lie about her prize jam.” “That’s a fact. I thought maybe she was trying a new batch with another berry. I shouldn’t have even thought it might not be the real thing,” Banjo said. “With that bear muddling up our huckleberry picking, we missed helping her. She must have hiked into a new secret patch and picked more so she was ready for the fair.” “Or….” Tuff said. “Rascal...
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President Trump called out Australia for its policy of allowing imports of U.S. beef only if the beef came from cattle born and raised in the United States. In other words, Australia was allowing U.S. beef to be imported, but only if the beef was exclusively USA beef – not beef from cattle that had been imported from Mexico or Canada. On average, Australia imported about 1.8 million pounds of beef each year from the United States over the past 10 years. That’s roughly the live cattle equivalent of about 2,250 head of cattle per year, based on an 800...
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I bet you can’t guess what creature is the most dangerous in the world? I thought it was wolves, but it’s flies. That’s because they carry and spread more diseases than any other animal or insect in the world. Which begs the question...why didn’t Noah grab his big old fly swatter and kill both flies on the Ark when he had the chance? I was reading about the flies that spread New World screwworm when I came up with an idea that could solve another deadly immigration problem that is spreading mayhem and murder throughout the West. Only this one...
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Return on investment (ROI) is a top priority when it comes to a parasite management program, says Jesse Rave, backgrounder from Dell Rapids, South Dakota. Getting calves started on a healthy path is important for a positive return. The calves come in weighing 600 to 900 pounds and are finished out in one of Rave’s two feedlots. “We used to only work calves once, usually 24 hours after arrival,” he said. Depending on their incoming weight and days on feed, calves would typically receive a generic pour-on dewormer in addition to Safe-Guard® fed in the bunk, an implant, and a...
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The first day of school is upon us, and I am about to experience my 61st first day of school as a student, teacher, or administrator. No wonder I am so tired, and no wonder readers are thinking, “For the love of God, woman, hang up your ruler!” I have a picture on my desk that I received from a reader back in 2009. I look at it every year before school starts and tell myself I can do this because I am fulfilling my destiny. The picture sent to me by Ruth Knapp Coulter of Brussett, Montana, is a...
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Agri-kid of the week, Natalee Niederegger, from Harlem, Montana, roping and dragging calves for branding on the ranch. She is nine years old, and she has wanted to rope and drag calves since she was just a small fry. After lots of years of practice and persistence, it paid off. Dreams come true with hard work! Photo courtesy of Brittany Niederegger.
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My daughter, Abby, my friend, Colleen, and I grabbed the opportunity for a pack trip to the mountains last week. We planned to ride both familiar and unexplored trails for a couple of days, take a few deep breaths, and pause the chaos swirling among our respective to-do lists. We had no idea we were about to learn the importance of pushing ourselves just a little farther. We started out in the afternoon, so by the time our feet hit the stirrups, we had about two hours of daylight left. We headed for a meadow near a pretty, gurgling creek....
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The Wyoming Wool Initiative, in partnership with the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources, is now accepting applications for its 2025-2026 Lamb-a-Year program. This flagship program, now in its fourth year, offers UW students valuable industry experience and provides regional sheep producers with individualized lamb quality data. “Lamb-a-Year is a value discovery program where producers donate lambs, we feed out those lambs here at the Laramie Research and Extension Center, collect performance and meat quality information, and give that information back to producers,” says Whit Stewart, UW Extension sheep specialist. “Lamb-a-Year is an investment in...
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I was working for Nick, a local horse trainer. He had me start the gelding he named “High Pockets” the same day we began working the other horses that came from the same owner. High Pockets kicked, bit, struck, and spun away from whomever was working him and had a mean eye. Nick’s son, Craig, was five or six years old and wanted to be with his dad or me all the time. We warned him to never come to the corral unless we were with him. Craig told me, a couple years ago, that he decided to go to...
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“I’m sorry for what I said when we were working cattle.” Many of us working cows at one time or another know this phrase oh too well either as the one apologizing or as the recipient of such an apology in the heat of the moment when mean things can be said. In the rural farrier world, we have our own near equivalent, such as when a client begs and pleads with you to make the 200 mile roundtrip to shoe their half broke “prospect” that is filled to the brim with, let’s call it vim and vigor, with the...
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Hello! I am so happy to be picking things back up here for “In the Swing of Things,” and I am really grateful to Terra, and the whole crew at the Western Ag Reporter, for asking me to do this. I hope there are some new WAR readers since my last column, so I wanted to give a very brief introduction. My husband, Sam, fronts a country-western band, and I play fiddle and handle most of the business. I am the Managing Editor for the American Simmental Association and also work as a freelance writer in the Western and ag...
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Written on Friday, August 15 Soybeans ended significantly higher this week following through to the upside after bullish USDA numbers from the WASDE report released Tuesday. November beans moved slightly above the late early July gap on the charts. Yesterday’s report day trading volume was extremely high giving some credence to the upside breakout in my opinion. The Trade is still trying to adjust to different potentials on the balance sheet as harvested acres miss by 2.4 million acres per USDA. In my opinion the game has changed regarding the supply side of the balance sheet. In my view yield...
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NCBA’s most recent Stockmanship and Stewardship event kicked off on August 13 at West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas. Tailored to producers, the Canyon program was the first of the Stockmanship and Stewardship events to be specific to the needs of feedyards. Industry leaders and professors from West Texas A&M and New Mexico State University spoke throughout the day, which concluded with a keynote presentation by Colin Woodall, CEO of NCBA. For NCBA, the Stockmanship and Stewardship event is something they “take a lot of pride in,” with the focus and effort being to provide “producer education, help show new...
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Robert Hagevoort, PhD, professor and extension dairy specialist at New Mexico State University, recently discussed opportunities and challenges in the agriculture workforce at the Canyon, Texas, Stockmanship and Stewardship event. As family farms have consolidated, workforce demand has shifted, and as deportations under the current administration have increased, those in agriculture are facing unique labor challenges. Workforce Changes. . . In recent years, specifically within the dairy sector, there has been significant consolidation. While the overall number of dairy cows has not changed – there are still roughly nine million dairy cows in the United States – the number of...
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Cattle futures were up, down, and all around the entirety of last week. It is an understatement to say there has been unrest in the markets. We saw the .25 drop across the board on August 8. This slump continued another couple of dollars the following Monday, before eventually working back to the plus side for the day. We saw some nice gains the next few days, just to see it go away again later in the week. The markets were nervous as to what the big announcement was going to be on August 15 pertaining to the New World...
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Technically, the first day of fall is September 22, but our summer slowdown here at the paper is officially over. In a lot of ways, that is a good thing. We get to see where this bull and heifer market is going to take us this fall, and space-wise in the paper, we have more room to reintroduce some of our columnists who took a pause during our slower season. If you’re new to the paper, or have been anxiously waiting like I have, I encourage you to take a read through all of our columns this week and to...
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The Washington Cattlemen’s Association (WCA) and the Washington CattleWomen’s Association (WCW) would like to formally invite you to the 100th Annual WCA/WCW Convention and Trade Show. The convention will be held at the Wenatchee Convention Center in Wenatchee, WA November 12-14, 2025 👉Completed forms may be returned via email, fax or mail. 👉Online registration is available! Register here: https://www.washingtoncattlemen.org/convention A packet will be provided at the Convention containing your registration, name badges, and meal tickets. 👉AVAILABLE AGAIN this year!!! A convention app to share up-to-date event information, personalized agenda, messages, tradeshow information and MUCH more...so stay tuned! 👉Please find more...
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Friday, August 8 brought news of .25 losses across all feeder cattle futures, and with it, confusion for those wondering “why?” The same day, live cattle markets saw historically high prices; according to the National Beef Wire, Burwell Livestock in Nebraska sold the highest 9- and 10-weight steers in United States history, for instance. Prior to this, a false report of a New World screwworm case on May 27 prompted a sharp selloff in live cattle futures. While the May rumor could be traced to a physical press release – an event that is under federal investigation – apparent word-of-mouth...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks received a report Aug. 13 of a buck antelope found on private land off Highway 323 near Alzada with its head removed and the meat left to waste. The animal appears to have been dead for a week or two. Wildlife crimes like this are often solved with help from the public. Anyone with possible information about this incident is encouraged to contact game warden Kyle Queer at 406-853-7700 or visit https://fwp.mt.gov/enforcement/tipmont to report a violation. You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to [post_excerpt],000.
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With more than 30 years of experience in the cattle business, Rusty Ellis has learned how to make the most of local resources on his backgrounding operation near Billings, Montana. His cattle can be found grazing near the Beartooth Mountains in the spring and summer and are transported to another ranch with milder weather just northeast of Billings each winter. His proximity to Billings enables Ellis to utilize byproducts as a cost-effective feed source for his cattle during the winter months. The ration typically includes a mix of distiller grains, wheat middlings, straw and beet pulp. “When you boil it...
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Graduate students pursuing careers in meat science and animal science are encouraged to apply for the annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program. Established in 2007 by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF), the scholarship recognizes outstanding graduate students committed to advancing the beef industry. Two ,000 grants are awarded to graduate students who demonstrate superior achievement in academics and leadership. Previous scholarship recipients recognize that the program not only benefits their work but also the entire industry. “Receiving the W.D. Farr Scholarship enhanced my ability to share my research with veterinarians and producers in the field, as well as direct future research...
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The SD FFA Foundation announces the appointment of Tracy Kaltvedt as the new SD FFA Foundation Executive Assistant. Kaltvedt follows Gretchen Sharp, who retired after serving the SD FFA Foundation for 24 years. Kaltvedt brings experience in project management, facilitating daily operations, implementing process improvements and maintaining data integrity, confidentiality and security. She also brings extensive computer, team building and problem-solving skills from industry. She served as the SD FFA 1997-98 State Sentinel, and has been a continuous supporter of the organization, judging the state parliamentary procedure event for years. Kaltvedt will provide the SD FFA Foundation administrative, financial and fundraising...
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When pinkeye raged through my kindergarten class, we all looked like a bunch of crybabies who’d been ballin’ our eyes out because our class hamster, Hieronymus, died of suspicious causes. Mothers back then were pulling their kids out of class faster than an Arizona roadrunner with its tail-feathers on fire, and pretty soon the weepy-eyed teacher and I were the only ones who showed up for school. So, I know what the pinkeye calves are experiencing right now in my neck of the woods. We had a weird year of rainfall. We didn’t get very much, but what we did...
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Dear Kellie, Thank you so much for the feature on the greenthread bloom. For our 65th anniversary, we took a few days to make a tour to Folsen, New Mexico, across Johnston’s Mesa. This was an early time for us to drive in the northeast part of New Mexico and southeast corner of Colorado. The spring flowers were all over covering the pastures. We visited a ranch family as they were unloading a semi of cattle on the Mesa. I took a few pictures, and in the lush green pastures is this long row of yellow in the background. This...
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Family farmers and ranchers will be celebrated August 30, during South Dakota Farmers Union Day at the South Dakota State Fair. “Agriculture is the state’s No. 1 industry, so our organization works to ensure fairgoers have a chance to meet the families doing the work as well as gain a better understanding of the challenges these families face as they work to feed America,” explained Karla Hofhenke, Executive Director of South Dakota Farmers Union. To accomplish these goals, South Dakota Farmers Union provides opportunities for fairgoers to meet family farmers and ranchers throughout the day. And the premiere sponsor of...
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United States cattle producers with an interest in strengthening the economic position of their individual farms and ranches and in ensuring the health and safety of the U.S. livestock herd would not knowingly support policies that conflict with their own interests and goals. For example, cattle producers wouldn’t support opening the U.S. border to a country not free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), especially when USDA forecasts that allowing beef from such a country would cause U.S. cattle producers to lose millions upon millions of dollars. But the U.S. border was opened to fresh beef from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and...
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It is 4-H fair season, so parents, grandparents, and 4-H’ers are in or have been in or will be in a frantic mode of getting projects ready and putting aside several days to compete at the fair. It is an exciting yet stressful experience for all 4-H families. Tami Jo Blake, former Western Ag Reporter editor, wrote this essay about her recent experience getting ready for fair. Tami Jo, her husband Beau, and their four children live and work on the PV Ranch near Hysham, Montana. I have entitled her essay “The Night Before the Fair,” because I think all...
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Agri-Kid of the Week, Clella Sampsel, is the #1 lambing barn helper. Photo courtesy of Dawnita Deichmann.
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Sixty-three teams representing 11 states convened in the small, ranching town of Lusk, Wyoming – situated two hours north of Cheyenne – for the first annual Rawhide Ranch Rodeo on July 25-26. With 100 percent of the entry fees going back to the winning teams, along with other highly coveted prizes, the inaugural event has been dubbed “The World’s Richest Ranch Rodeo.” At the end of the action-packed, two-day event, the 41 Spear team from Fort Washakie, Wyoming, rose to the top of a highly talented field; 41 Spear team members, Jacob Nicholas, Challis Whitlock, Casey Good, and Kaden Lungren,...
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On July 23, the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on California’s Proposition 12 (Prop 12). Six panelists testified, followed by a clearly party-divided discussion. Initially known as the “Farm Animal Confinement Initiative,” Prop 12 was voted into law in California in 2018. The primary function of the law was to establish “minimum space requirements for veal calves, egg-laying hens, and breeding pigs,” Holly Cook, economist for the National Pork Producers Council described. To be in compliance with Prop 12, sows must have 24 square feet of space and the ability to turn around freely. Although the Supreme Court...
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The fifth annual Montana Lamb Jam is a one-stop event for everything Montana lamb. Set for August 9 at Kennedy Park in East Helena, Montana, the event will feature three, pasture-to-plate lamb dishes prepared by top Montana chefs coupled with vendors and presentations for a complete lamb experience. The original intent of the event, spearheaded by Kim Ashmore and Dave Scott and sponsored by the Montana Wool Growers Association, was to connect Montana lamb producers who were direct marketing their lambs to chefs and then connecting both chefs and producers to customers. “One of the things we need is to...
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What an amazing three days we had in Billings, Montana, last week for the annual NLVA Summertime Classic! I had the opportunity to work these three days of our video sale, and what a sale it was. The June video sales set all-time records for the various video auction companies around the nation. I talked to a pretty big number of ranchers after the June videos that were second-guessing themselves for not having their cattle sell in June and waiting for July. I must admit, I was also really wondering how the July video sales could be better than June...
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There is nothing quite like county fair time. I actually attended my very first Weld County Fair in July of 1996, about a week after I was born, so both of my parents could be there to help my then eight-year-old sister, Chellsie, and 10-year-old brother, Micah. Those were the years where I got to run feral until it was my turn to show. My parents would essentially shuttle me to town each day, tell me what time I needed to be back at the show box during the lamb show, or to the stalls during the horse show, and...
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Bighorn pneumonia is a very popular disease with anyone who wants to eliminate domestic sheep from the western United States. Any time there is a bighorn pneumonia die off, the finger points at domestic sheep as the cause, usually with no corroborating evidence needed. An outcry to eliminate the offending sheep follows. But there is more to the story… - Sierra Stoneberg Holt The Mycoplasma pneumonia organism is found in healthy populations of bighorn sheep. This is true for other species, also. A bison ranch suffered pneumonia losses from Mycoplasma pneumonia when a pack of wolves moved into the area....
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Perhaps it is my age, but it seems that I am called upon to write obituary poems very often lately. This poem was requisitioned by Peggy Mothershead before she passed away. After she had a stroke, she asked me to write her poem so she could read it before she passed. Unfortunately, I kept putting off writing the poem, because it was just too sad to sit down and do. I wish I had written it for her, but I hope somehow, she gets a copy! Peggy and her husband, Doug, ranched in Sweet Grass County all of Doug’s life....
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Agri-Kid Wesson Campbell, of Hobson, Montana, loves to help with the sheep and cows. Photo courtesy of Danielle Campbell.
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In fiction, often the weather foreshadows a plot twist. An author might use a brewing storm to foretell conflict coming soon or allow the reader to relax for a few pages with a sunny day at the beach. So, I had to wonder if the oppressive, muggy heat weighing on me as I scurried to prepare the ranch for visiting family was some sort of predictor. I tossed that thought out of my head to make room for the long list of preparations that I realized I wouldn’t finish. My daughter, Abby, mowed the lawn, but I still hadn’t painted...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced that for the first time in 20 years, Australia will accept shipments of fresh and frozen U.S. beef, ending decades of bureaucratic red tape and prolonged negotiations that have prevented American cattle producers from accessing the Australian market. NCBA thanks President Donald J. Trump for delivering yet another trade win for America’s cattle farmers and ranchers. “For 20 years, U.S. beef was denied access to Australia while Australia exported billion of beef to U.S. consumers. The lack of two-way, science-based trade has been a sticking point for many years, and we are...
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Several days a week, echoes from the loudspeaker calling out pen numbers at Torrington Livestock Markets reverberate throughout the town of Torrington, Wyoming, oftentimes with sales running late into the evenings to accommodate the sheer volume of cattle on a weekly basis. Moving forward, Torrington Livestock Markets’ reputation as being one of the top auction markets by volume in the country will continue, but with a shift in ownership. On July 10, Chuck Petersen and Lander Nicodemus became partners in the business, which has been under the leadership of Shawn and Lex Madden since 1989. Brothers Shawn and Lex Madden...
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On July 12, the National Multi-Agency Coordination Group, which is comprised of fire representatives from every wildland fire agency, raised the wildfire preparedness level from Level 3 to Level 4, unlocking greater resources to be distributed nationally in response to what USDA described as an already “above normal summer fire season.” “We are in peak fire season and are rightfully raising the preparedness level to ensure we are protecting our public lands and communities from devastating fires. President Trump, Secretary Burgum, and our State, local, and Tribal partners are prepared to respond,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in...
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For Reggie and Amber Willits, and their sons, Jaxon, Eli, and Hunter, their lives revolve around their faith, their family, baseball, and cattle. At certain parts of the year – like around their bull sale – their registered Hereford and commercial operation – Double Seven Ranch – takes precedence; but most days of the year, the family works around the competitive baseball schedules of their sons. Twenty-year-old Jaxon will be starting his junior season playing for the Oklahoma Sooners, 13-year-old Hunter is starting to get more competitive with his play, and 17-year-old Eli was just selected as the third youngest...
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My little family and I took a few days away from the ranch last week to head to Rapid City, South Dakota. Technically, the idea was that the trip was my birthday present, but for anyone who has little ones in their lives, you know that we really did it to give the kids some new experiences. The prime example of this is that we spent several hours at Reptile Gardens. If you don’t already know this about me, I have an above average fear of snakes. You could probably go so far as to call it a phobia. But...
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One of the main topics of conversation since President Trump took office and assembled his cabinet has been that of the new dietary guidelines that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) will be coming out with here in the very near future. In fact, he is promising to have them out by August. In mid-June, following a press conference held by RFK Jr. and others, Nina Teicholz, PhD, posted a short video from the press conference on Instagram talking about the need for more saturated fat in our diets. The caption on the video read, “Looks like the new Dietary...
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Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has activated the North Dakota Harvest Hotline. “Farmers who need custom combining and combiners looking for a job should call us at 701-328-5110,” Goehring said. “Your name and information will be entered into the Harvest Hotline database to be matched up with other callers.” Goehring said North Dakota Department of Agriculture employees will answer calls to the hotline weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Callers can also leave a message on evenings and weekends. The service is free of charge. A self-service Harvest Hotline map is also available again this year. The map can be...
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The National FFA Organization plays a large role in the lives of students across the State of Montana. This program first started in 1928 and has since spread across all 50 states and 5 territories. Chartered in 1930, the Montana Association has a membership of over 6900 students, representing 111 chapters. The FFA Motto is “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve” and members practice this every day. Students have numerous opportunities to learn about potential careers, serve their communities, and develop skills that will last a lifetime. One special opportunity that took place recently...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is now accepting applications for its upcoming agribusiness trade mission to Mexico City, Mexico, scheduled for November 3–6. U.S. exporters interested in exploring trade opportunities in Mexico’s dynamic agricultural market must apply by Thursday, July 31. “Strengthening export opportunities for American farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses is a top priority of USDA,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering. “This trade mission will connect U.S. producers with key buyers in Mexico, expanding economic opportunities, supporting rural prosperity, and keeping American agricultural products globally competitive.” Mexico was the...
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Last week Daisy, the pup, and Bailee, the kitten, were lured into a grain bin and found themselves trapped. Will they find a way out or will they be rescued by an unsuspected friend? “It has to be Rascal out there,” Bailee said. “Even Rascal wouldn’t stoop this low and lock us in a grain bin,” Daisy said. “What happens when it gets too hot?” “Don’t worry, like I said earlier, there’s got to be a way out,” Bailee said. She leapt up onto the cat-paw sized ledges on the frame of the bin to search for a way out....
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Knox Arntzen, age nine, hailing from Arntzen Angus Ranch in Central Montana, north of Lewistown, helping AI cattle. Photo courtesy of Krista Arntzen.
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When I got married nearly 43 years ago, I won the mother-in-law lottery. Carol Metcalf was a truly amazing person that became my second mom. We were more like best friends than in-laws, and I cherish that. She danced with lymphoma and lupus until the music stopped on July 10. I was lucky enough to spend the last nine days of her life with her. This is my tribute to this truly fine woman. . . When the Trail Forks by Susan Metcalf The day has come to tip our hats to a truly fine matriarch. The trail has forked, and...
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Terra, In regard to your latest editorial {July 10 “It’s Time to Mourn for Texas”}. It was most poignant and right on the mark. I was on the receiving end of one of those phone calls you mentioned. A person’s life is changed forever. It is Divine Intervention, real friends and family, and, in the beginning, Compassionate Friends that will matter the most. Unfortunately, because of all the news on this flooding, the grieving parents will be inundated by people with their own agendas to promote; ambulance chasing attorneys; politicians who will want to look good in the public’s eyes; and the...
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We used to shear in the hot days of summer when the “grease” (lanolin) was high. The fleeces were supposed to be heavier. I don’t know if that is true. I tied fleeces for a shearing crew for a couple of summers, and I don’t know if the grease is higher in the summer than in the winter, but I suspect that it is. I do know that wearing leather shoes or boots and handling the fleeces, with the lanolin and dirt in the wool, ruined the leather. Fortunately, Pops told me to wear tennis shoes before I started working...
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On June 30, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a tentative schedule for reopening various ports along the United States-Mexico border for cattle, bison, and equines based on perceived risk of spreading New World screwworm. This announcement stated that “good progress” had been made in Mexico to increase vital pest surveillance efforts and boost sterile fly dispersal since May 11 when the border was closed. Based on the Sonoran geography and the “history of effective collaboration between APHIS and Sonora,” the Douglas, Arizona, port was set to reopen on July 7 as it would present “the lowest risk” for spreading...
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On June 30, 2025, Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ) introduced the Enhancing Animal Safety Act (H.R. 4255), which seeks to delist the Mexican gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The Mexican gray wolf is a smaller subspecies of gray wolf, and is a non-essential, experimental population currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. They inhabit Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. Under the current listing, wolves must meet recovery goals in Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico before the population can be considered recovered. According to the “Five Year Evaluation of the Mexican Wolf Recovery Strategy,” wolves in the...
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Driving from Limon, Colorado, to Kiowa, Colorado on Highway 86 in the month of June exhibited a spectacular display of thelesperma filifolium, more commonly referred to as greenthread – a type of aster. The Colorado native aster is an annual, but certain years, with the right conditions, create a brilliant display across the rolling plains as entire hillsides turn golden yellow with the blooms. The last time greenthread flowers put on such a display in southeastern Colorado was in 2015 – 10 years prior, according to Elbert County Extension. Above average rainfall conditions allowed the flowers to thrive in what...
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I wanted to start this week off with a huge praise. If you’ll recall, I recently wrote a story about Dally Hodgens, a seven-year-old cowgirl from Buffalo, Wyoming, who was involved in a serious horse accident on June 7. She had significant surgery on her brain, and it was pretty uncertain what life would look like for her in the days, weeks, and months that followed. I reached out to close friends of the family recently to see how she’s been progressing, and I learned that she was able to come home on June 27! Here was the rest of...
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Well, so much for the Mexican border reopening to cattle, bison, and horses! Secretary of Agriculture Rollins closed the border effective immediately upon the discovery of another animal with New World screwworm detected just 370 miles south of the United States border. See our top story this week for more details on this decision and for information about Rollins’ plan to combat an outbreak in the U.S. This closure will have a large impact; we all need to keep in mind that recent years have shown either side of one million head of calves and feeder cattle coming out of...
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The Red Angus Association of America has officially rebranded its Feeder Calf Certification Program as Angus Access. More than just a fresh look, Angus Access reflects a bold evolution of the beef industry's first genetic, age and source verification program – built to USDA-approved standards and trusted by Red Angus producers for more than 30 years. Red Angus cattle undeniably produce high-quality Angus beef, which remains one of the most sought-after beef products among consumers. The new Angus Access name accurately reflects this identity, while supporting broader industry efforts to secure recognition of Red Angus cattle within Angus-branded beef programs....
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Congratulations and thanks to all Western Ag Reporter customers in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. It is a true privilege to work with so many industry-leading seedstock producers and successful marketers of livestock. The volume and price levels reflect what we have all been seeing across the beef complex: less cattle, higher prices. The increase in prices paid for quality herd sires is the most dramatic number. A true testament to the seedstock industry's commitment to quality and documented data of their breeding programs. Congratulations!
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National Forage Week is recognized by the American Forage and Grassland Council each year. For ranchers across the United States, maintaining a healthy food source is critical. Livestock depend on an abundance of healthy forage for grazing and growing, and ranchers depend on healthy forage as a cost-effective way to feed and grow their herd. Additionally, when the root systems of desirable plants are strong, it promotes soil health, reduces erosion, and increases water retention – all critical parts to preserving land for future generations and contributing to a healthier ecosystem. The threats to nutrient-dense forage sources are numerous and...
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CALL TO ACTION…We must UNIFY! I hope you all have a great and safe Fourth of July Weekend celebrating the birth of our amazing nation. I really need all of you to do something for me that has real potential to keep this nation amazing – especially for those of us and our families in the ranching and farming industries here in the United States of America. Please take the time and look over both sides (front and back) of the insert that is in this week’s issue. I know everybody is busy, but it will only take a few...
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I’m going to touch on a hot-button topic this week: illegal immigration. I was listening to a recent episode of one of my favorite conservative podcasts “Tomi Lahren is Fearless,” and for the first time in a while, I really disagreed with Tomi. In sum, she said the argument that illegal immigrants are vital in filling voids in labor-intensive jobs, like in the crop and meat processing sectors, is moot, and that they can easily be filled domestically if employers would be willing to pay U.S. workers adequately. Tomi is very proud of the fact that she comes from Rapid...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation, with support from Farm Credit, is seeking applicants for the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence. The award recognizes U.S. military veterans or service members for excellence in farming or agriculture and positively impacting local communities. The honoree will receive a ,000 cash prize plus reimbursement in travel and other expenses incurred for him/her and one guest to attend the American Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim, California, Jan. 9-14, 2026. “We’re proud to elevate and celebrate veterans for their service to our country and their involvement in agriculture and local communities,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We...
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Teamsters Local 577 members at Tyson Foods of Amarillo, the largest beef processing plant in the United States, have voted by a 98 percent margin to authorize a strike. The Teamsters represent 3,100 workers in slaughtering and processing at the facilitywho are demanding higher wages and improved benefits. “We are bargaining with one of the most repulsively greedy and amoral corporations in the entire country. Last year, Tyson’s CEO made 525 times that of the median worker,” said Al Brito, President of Local 577. “This facility is essential to the beef supply chain, but if Tyson’s corporate leadership doesn’t start...
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CattleCon 2026 is heading to the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, February 3-5, and it’s time to get involved in the largest cattle industry event of the year. Applications are being accepted for the NCBA National Anthem Contest, sponsored by Norbrook®, internships and scholarships. National Anthem Contest The 13th annual NCBA National Anthem Contest, sponsored by Norbrook®, is accepting entries through Oct. 15. The contest winner will perform the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the event’s Opening General Session and will receive round trip airfare to Nashville, a hotel room for three nights, complimentary convention registration, plus a pair of boots, jeans...
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Walker Dockery, age three of Parkman, Wyoming, watching the branding from the hood of the pickup- wishing he was big enough to use his rope on the calves! Photo courtesy of Whitney Dockery.
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As a writer, I love to read. The problem is that I never have time to finish a book. In fact, since the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial celebration back in 2004, I have been trying to read Undaunted Courage. My copy is dog-eared only from being drug around in my car for two decades. I spend the summer driving back and forth between Bozeman, Big Timber, and Musselshell, Montana, and I vow every summer that I am going to actually finish the book, but I never do. I use it for ballast in my suitcase, but I don’t actually have...
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The Colorado Livestock Association named Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer as its Legislator of the Year at its recent Annual Meeting for her leadership and commitment to farming and ranching families in Colorado. Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, a Republican representing District 23, which includes Larimer and Weld Counties, served on the Appropriations and Joint Budget Committees in the most recent session. “Throughout her remarkable career, Senator Kirkmeyer’s vision and dedication to the betterment of our industry is truly commendable.,” stated Kory Kessinger, President of Colorado Livestock Association. “CLA is honored to recognize her for her leadership and commitment to serve our state.” "What...
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I don’t want to kill anyone. That’s how I found myself standing on an old tile floor, surrounded by cinderblock walls in a food packaging research lab at Clemson University. I couldn’t help but consider the juxtaposition between my beloved ranch in north-central Montana and a food lab in South Carolina. They are the endpoints along one path of converting soil nutrients into delicious food for humans. The path is arduous and expensive, and we can’t live without it. At one end of the spectrum, my sheep and cattle collect nutrients from the soil through the grass that grows on...
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I don’t want to kill anyone. That’s how I found myself standing on an old tile floor, surrounded by cinderblock walls in a food packaging research lab at Clemson University. I couldn’t help but consider the juxtaposition between my beloved ranch in north-central Montana and a food lab in South Carolina. They are the endpoints along one path of converting soil nutrients into delicious food for humans. The path is arduous and expensive, and we can’t live without it. At one end of the spectrum, my sheep and cattle collect nutrients from the soil through the grass that grows on...
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Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says farmers, ranchers, pesticide dealers and applicators, government agencies, homeowners and members of the general public should bring unusable pesticides to any of the 12 Project Safe Send collections in July. “Over the past 33 years, thousands of people have brought more than 6.4 million pounds of chemicals to Project Safe Send,” Goehring said. “It is a safe, simple and non-regulatory program that helps people safely and legally get rid of unusable pesticides at no charge.” The program accepts old, unusable or banned pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides and fungicides. Project Safe Send is funded through...
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A Texas equine clinic has been linked to numerous cases of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), according to Angela Pelzel-McClusky, DVM, equine epidemiologist for USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services in the latest National Equine Health Industry Stakeholder Call. So far, 21 horses of various breeds across four states – Texas, Oklahoma, California, and Colorado – have tested positive for EIA and transmission has been traced back to a Wise County, Texas, equine clinic. The Texas Animal Health Commission described EIA as “an incurable, infectious viral disease spread through blood-to-blood contact, not through proximity or direct contact.” Blood-feeding insects – such as horseflies, deerflies,...
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The 2025 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) concluded on June 21 after six days of outstanding performances from the best college rodeo athletes in the country. To qualify for the CNFR, teams needed to finish in the top two of their respective National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association regions (11 in total). To compete in a given event, the athletes – whether competing as an individual or accumulating points for a team – had to have finished in the top three in any given event at the end of the regular season to qualify. While national standings are posted at the end...
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On June 15 and 16, severe thunderstorms rolled through southeastern Montana leaving behind a path of damage caused by significant hail coupled with high wind gusts and flash flooding. An area with substantial agricultural production has been left to regroup in order to determine how to move forward after such destructive storms. The storm on June 15 brought hail between 0.25 inches and 1.00 inches in diameter as storms tracked east across the region late in the evening and into early morning hours, according to the NOAA Severe Thunderstorms Report. Wind gusts reached 81 miles per hour three miles west...
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My social media pages have blown up in the last week with news of Senator Mike Lee’s (R-UT) proposed sale of public lands in the Senate’s draft of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” A June 11 one-pager from the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources cites that, if included in the budget reconciliation, Lee’s provision would require the BLM and USFS to “sell a minimum of 0.5 percent and a maximum of 0.75 percent of their estates for housing and associated community needs.” According to the one-pager, these sales “…will increase the supply of housing and decrease costs for...
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The end of last week was one for the record books in more ways than one. I worked our video sale on Thursday and Friday, and prices reached levels that were truly remarkable. Last June saw the video auctions around the country set all-time records, but last week blew those numbers out of the water! Obviously, expectations were pretty high leading up to the sale, but it went to levels beyond what most anticipated. I am not going to go into detail about the various categories and weight classes of all the cattle as I am sure most of you...
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The Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) is pleased to announce that Travis Grant will become the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective August 4, 2025. Grant will succeed Zach Riley, who stepped down in April 2025 after a successful tenure. As a Colorado native, Travis Grant brings a deep passion for both the state and its vital -billion livestock industry, which serves as the cornerstone of rural communities. His extensive experience advocating for agriculture and rural issues positions him well to lead the CLA into its next chapter of growth. Image “CLA has a legacy of leadership, a legacy that I...
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The 2025 sale season kicked off in the Dakotas and Minnesota with me serving as the new Field Rep for the Western Ag Reporter. The sale season was incredible from beginning to end. Bidders came to buy, and the 2025 sale averages showed it. The optimism in the cattle business was the strongest I have ever seen, and everyone was in a good mood! Heifer bulls were in high demand this year and the open commercial heifer sales in our region were excellent throughout the season. “Power bulls” seemed to be highly sought out as well, as ranchers are looking...
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Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has received personal reports of extensive damage to agricultural infrastructure in the wake of the strong storm system that went through North Dakota Friday evening, producing tornadoes, strong winds and hail. “My sympathies are with those in Enderlin that experienced the tragic loss of friends, neighbors and loved ones,” Goehring said. “We are saddened by the losses and devastation caused to many of our communities throughout the state.” “I have received reports of extensive damage to farms, grain handling systems, grain bins, equipment in buildings and irrigation systems, as well as significant damage to powerlines in...
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The University of Wyoming will host a free educational field day Tuesday, July 1, at the Sheridan Research and Extension Center. The event, which is open to the public, will highlight new research on invasive grasses, wildfire recovery, pest control, precision agriculture technologies and forage crops. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. at 1090 Dome Loop in Sheridan and field tours begin at 8:30 a.m. Lunch, which is free for field day participants, will be served at noon. Field tour topics include lateral pivot systems, alfalfa weevil management, avian pest control, orchard grass, invasive grass management, wildfire recovery and pepper...
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“We haven’t seen hide nor menacing paw from Rascal since you little ladies went to ‘egg’-straordinary efforts to show him who was boss,” Banjo said. “Well, he deserved it,” Bailee said. “He lied about us stealing those eggs from the hen house, and that’s not right.” Banjo nodded in agreement. “Yeah,” Daisy said. “That ol’ Mrs. McBauck was really not very nice to us because of it. And of all things, she didn’t believe us.” “Uh-um,” Mrs. McBauck clucked. She cleared her throat to announce her arrival. “What brings you to the barn?” Banjo asked her. “Well, since I feel...
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Take your pick. You are either “anti-agriculture,” a “radical animal rights activist,” or a member of a “fringe group,” if you believe that the beef checkoff tax should be transparent and accountable. This, at least, is the opinion of Colin Woodall, CEO of NCBA in a recent op-ed: “Senator Mike Lee’s OFF Act is an Attack on American Agriculture.” The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act (OFF Act) proposed by Senator Lee (R-UT) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has Mr. Woodall and the NCBA in a state of apoplexy. This bill will require regular independent audits, and disallow checkoff programs from contracting with...
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Our Agri-Kid of the week, Walker Ellis, comes to us courtesy of Sonny Thompson. Sonny wrote that Walker “is the son of Mason and Sarah Ellis of Pleasant View, Utah.” This picture was taken “during branding and vaccinating at the Thompson Ranch.” Send in your Agri-Kid submissions to editor2@westernagreporter.com!
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We go on a family vacation about once every decade, and each time we return from one, we remember why that schedule is kept. Since we had not gone on a cruise since our grandson Jasper was a year old, and he is now ten, we decided we were substantially recuperated enough from the last family adventure to try another one. We decided we would give everyone an Alaska cruise as a Christmas present. We will probably revert back to our old ways and just buy gifts last minute next year. We did enjoy the cruise, but the experience had...
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The community of Buffalo, Wyoming, is doing what it does best: rallying around a family in need. On June 7, seven-year-old Dally Hodgens, daughter of Pierson and Marcie Hodgens, was in a tragic horse accident where she sustained several skull fractures, according to Cade Carter, a close friend of the family. She was initially taken to the hospital in Buffalo, but with the severity of her injuries, she was life-flighted to Denver, Colorado, for emergency surgery, which included the removal of a damaged portion of her lower temporal lobe and the placement of a steel plate to secure the fractures....
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The New World screwworm, a species of fly larvae that feeds on live flesh and is endemic to Central American countries, began moving northward, causing alarm for the United States as an outbreak in American livestock and game animals could cost billions of dollars. Since 2022, New World screwworm cases have increased drastically in Panama, and as of May 2025, have reached as far north as the Mexican states of Veracruz and Oaxaca. On June 9, Texas AgriLife Extension hosted an informational webinar with top leaders and researchers in the state to discuss what the spread of the New World...
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Each year, the North Dakota Department of Agriculture holds four grant application periods for the Agriculture Diversification and Development Fund with a mission of supporting new or expanding value-added agricultural businesses. At its recent quarterly meeting on May 28, applicants discussed their businesses and demonstrated grant needs. It was then announced on June 2 that five proposals were approved to receive [post_excerpt].08 million for their respective projects. For husband and wife, Joshua and Emily Clauson, of Minot, the 4,000 in Agriculture Diversification and Development funding they were awarded will be an integral part in opening the doors of their business,...
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On April 18, Susan Metcalf, of the “Cooking in the West” column, made mention of the book The Crazies: The Cattleman, the Wind Prospector, and a War Out West by Amy Gamerman. Susan called it a “must read” book, so naturally I was drawn to seeing what it was all about. I actually picked it when my turn came around to choose a book for my book club last month. I decided to just dive headlong into the book without really knowing what it was about, and I was a bit overwhelmed with the wealth of information that it gives...
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I received a very nice phone call last week from a long-time customer and friend in Nebraska complimenting me on my “Comments” from a couple of weeks ago. We visited for a good while, and then he brought up that maybe there needed to be a little more press about the fact that these high cattle prices are not just because of historic low cow numbers. There is a reason why beef demand is staying so strong, despite record beef prices at the retail level: it’s because beef is a lot better and more consistent than it has ever been....
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The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) presented the 2025 Baker/Cundiff Awards to Elizabeth Dressler and Miranda Zuvich on June 10 during its annual symposium in Amarillo, Texas. The annual Frank Baker/Larry Cundiff Beef Improvement Essay Contest for graduate students recognizes outstanding student research and writing in honor of Frank Baker and Larry Cundiff. Dressler, a doctoral candidate at Kansas State University, won with her essay, "Genetic Selection for Feed and Water Efficiency to Improve Water Resource Use in Beef Cattle." Dressler was raised on a small cow-calf operation in Berryton, Kansas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and industry...
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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins this morning launched an .5 million sterile New World screwworm (NWS) fly dispersal facility in South Texas and announced a sweeping five-pronged plan (PDF, 434 KB) to enhance USDA’s already robust ability to detect, control, and eliminate this pest. These urgent actions are necessary to finish the fight against NWS and protect the United States. NWS is a devastating pest that causes serious and often deadly damage to livestock, wildlife, pets, and in rare cases, humans. While NWS has been eradicated from the United States for decades, recent detections in Mexico as far north as...
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American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on EPA’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standard requirements for 2026 and 2027. “Farm Bureau applauds the Environmental Protection Agency and Administrator Lee Zeldin for recognizing the importance of biofuels for farmers and America’s families. EPA’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standard for 2026 and 2027 would increase domestic biofuel production, prioritize home-grown crops, and enable producers to meet the demands of emerging international markets. America’s families who choose to use biofuels could see much-needed relief at the gas pump, with savings of 10 to 30 cents per gallon. “Renewable fuels have been a tremendous success...
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Memorial Day was first celebrated as a national holiday on May 30, 1868. In 1971, Congress changed Memorial Day to the last Monday of May, making it fall on May 26 this year. It had been celebrated on May 30 since 1868. It was apparently first thought of by Mary Ann Williams, who came up with the idea of “strewing the graves of Civil War Soldiers, Union and Confederate,” with flowers. It was originally called Decoration Day. In my mind, Memorial Day, or Decoration Day was on May 30, which happened to be my Dad’s birthday, so I have to remind...
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By Matt Wznick, Field Rep - MT The one thing that stood out to me the most over the past sale season was that price was quality driven. It felt like no matter what you were selling, the best brought more than what we had ever seen it sell for. The most obvious answer to this trend can be attributed to the weigh-up market. Ranchers are selling weigh-up cows and bulls for more money than they ever have, and it almost felt like they were saying “we need a bull (or these cattle), we have the money to...
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Last night, we ventured up to Lockhart to watch our friend Dave’s steel guitar trio at a local club. Dave is one of the most accomplished, well-known steel guitar (and guitar) players in the country, and we have been lucky enough to have him play with us when he’s able. His main job is with the current Texas Playboys group, led by Jason Roberts. In his own group, Dave plays steel, and he also has a drummer and an upright bass player. I had a blast listening to Dave play a bunch of classic country and also thought about how...
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A colleague complained that he was forced to reschedule his golf game. The light, soaking rain mucked up his shoes. This friend works hard – he never quits at five, and he uses his weekends to catch up on professional commitments. Golfing provides a bit of work-life balance. I admire him for making time to get some exercise, breathe outdoor air, and think about something besides his demanding job. The stress relief will probably extend his life, and it is always a good thing to have a little fun. But I told him to never complain about rain ever...
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On May 11, 2025, United States Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, suspended the imports of live bison, cattle, and horses through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border due to the rapid, northward expansion of the New World screwworm through Mexico. Today, livestock officials, veterinarians, and lawmakers are increasingly concerned about the spread of the New World screwworm and the economic impacts the pest could have if it reaches the U.S. Epidemiology and Spread. . . The New World screwworm is a fly that “only invades live flesh” where they lay their eggs in a wound or orifice of...
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“Because of targeted grazing, we’ve turned a threat – the negative perception of utilizing livestock to graze – into a positive for the {sheep} industry,” Erica Sanko, director of analytics and production programs with the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) said in a recent webinar outlining ASI’s newly published Targeted Grazing 101 Guidebook. “It is now a strength for the industry regardless of the project.” The term “targeted grazing” is used to describe the business practice of utilizing livestock, particularly sheep and goats, to achieve specific “vegetation management goals,” Sanko said. Livestock can be used to control invasive plants, conserve...
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May 16 marked the conclusion of a four-day USDA trade mission to Hong Kong where 37 agriculturally-based businesses from all corners of the United States convened in hopes of expanding their reach internationally. According to USDA, Hong Kong was the 18th-largest market for U.S. ag goods in 2024, with a total of [post_excerpt].4 billion in products. “As a free port and a gateway to South China, Macau, and Southeast Asia, Hong Kong plays a crucial role in facilitating food and agricultural exports. Hong Kong is also considered Asia’s culinary capital and ranks as the 11th-largest market for U.S. consumer-oriented agricultural...
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I hope all of you enjoyed your Memorial Day Weekend, and that you all fired up your grills and cooked some nice, juicy beef! Memorial Day marks the official start of grilling season in most people’s minds. It goes without saying that every day is grilling season around my outfit, even when it is well below zero in the winter! In the week leading up to Memorial Day, I could tell all of the retailers here in my area knew it was the official start of grilling season as many outlets were advertising grilling specials on beef cuts. I looked...
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A few weeks ago, I was pruning off some dead spots in the bushes in front of our house when I took a pause to look at the flowering trees in our yard. In between two, fragrant trees with beautiful flowers in full bloom is a taller tree that was still dormant at the time. No leaves and definitely no flowers. It frankly looked sad and ugly compared to the trees next to it. But as I stood there, pondering the stark contrast between the trees (no doubt procrastinating the task at hand), my perspective shifted. It would be easy...
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R-CALF USA is urging Congress to swiftly pass the Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025, or PALPA (H.R. 845). The bill, introduced on Jan. 31 by U.S. Representatives Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., seeks to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List and return its management authority to individual states. R-CALF USA Property Rights Chair Shad Sullivan issued the following statement in support of the legislation: “R-CALF USA applauds the leadership of Reps. Boebert and Tiffany on this issue. For too long, overreaching federal wolf protections have infringed on private property rights and undermined the...
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The 2024/2025 bull sale run is all wrapped up, and a new bar has been set. Before the sales began, we all thought we would see an increase in prices, we just didn’t know how much. Advanced genetics and improved management practices are earning premiums from cattle buyers. The rising feeder cattle prices, higher returns on cull cows/bulls, and growing market optimism created an ideal window for ranchers to invest in genetic upgrades. Below you will see the increase in average bull cost for the territory I cover (California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, and Idaho): I would like to thank all...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) has selected Kelcy Bergstrom as MSGA’s 2025 summer intern. Bergstrom previously served in the general production role for MSGA’s Annual Convention Internship Program in December 2024. From May to August, Bergstrom will work with the marketing and communications team on various association programs and campaigns. Originally from McPherson, Kansas, Bergstrom is a junior enrolled at Kansas State University and is working toward a bachelor's degree in animal science with a minor in agricultural communications. She has previously interned with LiveAuctions and is involved with her college’s Collegiate CattleWomen group. “Growing up on my family's Hereford...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, is seeking entrepreneurs to apply online by June 9 for the 2026 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Now in its 12th year, this national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. The overall winner of the competition will receive 0,000 in startup funds, the runner-up will be awarded ,000 and two additional business owners who advance to the final four round will receive ,000. “This competition supports incredible entrepreneurs who are making sure agriculture is ready to meet the...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) is excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 Education Heritage Scholarship. This year, MSF awarded a total of ,000 in scholarships to three Montana students. Tyeson Gravenhof was awarded a ,000 scholarship and Taryn Martinell and Andy Moore both received ,500 scholarships. Each year, MSF awards scholarships to college students who are seeking a career beneficial to ranching. To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must meet all scholarship requirements, submit an application, and participate in an interview with a panel of MSF trustees. Congratulations to the 2025 Education Heritage Scholarship recipients: ...
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Farm to School equipment grants have been awarded to 13 recipients to purchase equipment that will further their participation in the Farm to School program, which allows schools to purchase food from local producers for their school lunch menus. To be eligible, applicants had to be a North Dakota producer, a North Dakota K-12 school district participating in the National School Lunch Program, or a North Dakota Early Childhood Education Center participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. “The program strengthens local food systems and promotes locally grown food for North Dakota children. The funding will help reduce...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) is excited to launch registration for its 15th Annual TBone Classic Gala Dinner and Golf Tournament. The event is set to take place at the Briarwood Golf Course in Billings, Mont., August 13 - 14, 2025. The TBone Classic Gala Dinner and Golf Tournament provides an opportunity to foster new partnerships between Montana’s ranching community and other businesses/industries essential to Montana’s economy. "The TBone Classic is always an exciting event where Montana ranchers come together for some friendly-competition and have the opportunity to network with business owners from across the state,” said Shayne Vandivort,...
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“Did you find out what it was?” Eweniece asked. “From the distance it looked like quite the hullabaloo.” “I’d say,” Tuff said, adjusting his nose. “I’m not sure if my nose is ever going to go back to normal?” Banjo couldn’t help but snicker. “It’s not all that funny,” Tuff muttered. “I didn’t see you traipsing into a culvert to get some mystery critter out of the depths of it.” “No, you’re right,” Banjo said. “You took one for the team, but we did find out what it was, and we’re going to need to track it down before it...
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Today, several key priorities championed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) moved one step closer to becoming law when the U.S. House of Representatives passed their reconciliation bill. The bill includes key cattle health, disaster recovery, and tax priorities crucial to the success of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers. “Cattle farmers and ranchers need Congress to invest in cattle health, strengthen our resources against foreign animal disease, support producers recovering from disasters or depredation, and pass tax relief that protects family farms and ranches for future generations,” said NCBA President and Nebraska cattleman Buck Wehrbein. “Thankfully, this reconciliation bill...
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As we all make plans for the upcoming three-day Memorial Day weekend, I hope that we will give pause to think about the holiday. Let us never forget those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. The author of this essay is unknown, but I think it is a noteworthy perspective. Memorial Day (author unknown) Memorial Day is supposed to be the day that a grateful nation pauses to quietly thank the more than one million men and women who have died in military service to their country since the Revolutionary War. (Note: according to Google, 646,596 soldiers died in battle and another 539,000...
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Agri-kid Cody Ochsner of Torrington, Wyoming, smiling ear-to-ear while feeding heifers with his papa, Blake, at his family’s ranch, Ochsner Roth Cattle Co. This is Cody’s favorite thing to do, especially when jelly beans are involved. Photo by Terra Ochsner.
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Sam went to a family funeral in Wyoming this week, leaving me to fend for myself with the dogs. I was getting ready to close my laptop tonight and looked over at my bookshelf. For whatever reason, a pile of family history documents my grandma mailed me a while back caught my eye, and with nothing better to do, I dug in. Growing up, I know I spaced out during hundreds of conversations about my family’s history. As the little girl who played fiddle, I was roped into many family reunions, nursing home afternoons, and funerals. At these events, my...
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As I was shoeing horses the other day on a ranch in the beautiful, central hinterlands of Montana, I spoke with an incredible farming family about their new crop of spring wheat and chickpeas planted in the ground. Spring is that wonderful time of year that all of us involved in agriculture know when seeding is in complete swing, bulls are turned back out with the cows, and veterinarians are artificially inseminating. Or in the case of the humble farrier, it’s a busy time preparing many ranch horses’ and their feet for the busy work ahead of branding or pushing...
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I am not known for my maternal instincts – my extended family wagered that I would lose my son as soon as we left the hospital. Frankly, I was worried, too. But last weekend, a few ewes made me look pretty darn motherly. When I headed to the barn at sunrise, I took enough milk for four bottle lambs. Three were triplets and one had a difficult birth, so the ewe left it for the coyotes. Now it was my turn to try to keep them alive. Before I fed the bottle babies, I scanned the sheep in the corral....
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Out of the 102 students who graduated this spring from Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, 42 will go into large animal or mixed practice veterinary medicine – an encouraging number in light of the ongoing rural and large animal veterinary shortage. Alyssa Barta and Olivia Ary were members of this year’s graduating class, and with the coveted three letters – DVM – now attached to their names, they reflected on their journey to becoming veterinarians. Alyssa Barta, DVM. . . For Barta, all of the “puzzle pieces” came together for her when she decided to become a vet....
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In Emmons County, North Dakota, and across much of the state, one of the top 10 most invasive and economically devastating weeds for farmers is the kochia weed. Kochia is an annual forb that can be found throughout much of the United States and Canada. It is a challenging species to control due to its ability to “establish and persist in harsh environments” on as little as six inches of annual rainfall, and it has become resistant to four different classes of herbicides, according to USDA NRCS. Herbicides are divided into different groups based on their chemistries. Kochia has become...
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Over the last two years, the Montana Chamber Foundation has been working to illuminate the wealth of career pathways available to students in rural Montana through a growing number of Cultivating Careers events. In its simplest form, Cultivating Careers could be described as a job fair; however, the Montana Chamber Foundation and its growing list of community partners have taken the concept to the next level by providing genuine, hands-on exposure to a variety of opportunities. In the beginning, the Cultivating Careers event started with the generous sponsorship and support of John Deere and RDO Equipment Company, but in the...
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I want to start off this week by recognizing the importance of Memorial Day. It’s a great opportunity to remember and give thanks to all of the members of our families who have passed before us, and all the military members who made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives fighting to keep and protect the freedoms all of us enjoy here in the United States. Please take a few moments over the Memorial Day weekend and give thanks for all the members of the U.S. military, past and present, and also give thanks for your family members who have...
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On May 8, we published an article entitled “California Rule Change Would Limit Lethal Take of Coyotes,” which outlined a proposed rule that came out of a California Game and Fish Commission subcommittee. At its core, it was just one more attempt to limit resources for ranchers to protect their livelihoods, in my opinion. Predators like gray wolves, grizzly bears - and coyotes in this absolute ridiculous scenario - are being weaponized by the left to dismantle production agriculture. You’re going to be hard-pressed to convince me otherwise. This recent rule proposal, which was passed through the subcommittee by a...
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The University of Wyoming Extension has launched a new educational series designed to support ranchers in navigating the complexities of modern livestock and land management. Rancher’$ E.D.G.E. (Excellence in Development, Grazing and Economics) is designed for ranchers, family members and employees actively involved in the management and care of a ranching operation. “Rancher’$ E.D.G.E. equips participants with the tools and knowledge needed to make informed decisions and enhance the sustainability of their operations,” says Jedidiah Hewlett, a UW Extension educator based in Converse County. “With high input costs, unpredictable weather patterns and evolving market conditions, staying informed and adaptable is...
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R-CALF USA is set to host its 2025 National Convention and Trade Show, themed “All In,” from June 17-19, 2025, at The Lodge at Deadwood. The convention is expected to draw hundreds of cattle producers, industry leaders, journalists and policy experts from across the country for industry updates, networking, and policy and strategy development. It is the largest event of its kind for independent cattle and sheep producers in the United States. “This year’s convention is about equipping producers with the information, tools and community they need to defend their operations and strengthen their voice,” said R-CALF USA Marketing Director...
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“Baa…” called the lambs as they searched for their mamas. “We’ve had more triplets this year than we ever have,” Banjo said. “It’s been busy running the flock with all these additions under hoof,” Eweniece said. “But this group is such a good group of mamas. They’re attentive and they all have a good amount of milk, so there’s not too many bums that have had to stay back at the barn.” “I saw the neighbor has been coming each night to help feed, and she’s taken a few home,” Banjo said. “Yes, she’s so nice and gives them such...
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As Mother’s Day has come and gone, I realize that for those of us who have lost our mothers, it has become a day of remembrance. Losing my mother made me realize how time spent with her was more valuable than any other gift I could give or be given. My mother, Florence Roberts, has been gone for 19 years, but sadly Alzheimer’s Disease stole her from me several years before that. Every year at Mother’s Day, I have tried to write a column that would help others understand that Alzheimer’s Disease is a family disease. Finally, I found words...
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Agri-kid of the Week, McCoy Becklund, headed to check water with his dad. Photo submitted by Belinda Bell. Submit YOUR awesome Agri-Kids to editor2@westernagreporter.com.
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“Not feeling the whole Faith part of this journey,” Tuff said quietly. “I’ve never understood how it could be so dark in the forest when it’s the middle of the day.” “It’ll be fine,” Banjo said. “Don’t worry.” “Awhoo…” the guttural howl echoed through the dark timber. Banjo stopped. His hackles lifted. All of his instincts went to assessing their surroundings. “Don’t worry, huh,” Tuff said. “That was closer than I ever hoped to be again to a wolf. And just like snakes, where there is one, there are more.” “Just keep moving forward,” Banjo said. “We’re almost there.” The...
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It is that time of year when our calving season is winding down, so many other pursuits such as farming are occupying the CEO of our ranching operation. CEO sounds like such an officious title for someone who wades around in knee-deep muck in worn out coveralls all day. Nevertheless, one rainy afternoon, the CEO tore himself away from repairing a piece of worn-out equipment to run through the cows on the four-wheeler. He had noticed one four-year-old cow that had not come to the feed ground that morning, so he had made a mental note to watch her in...
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This week’s featured Agri-Kid is Mr. Maverick. He is 19-months-old and lives in Iowa. According to his mom, Elizabeth, “He’s a sour patch kid for sure! He absolutely loves the skid loaders and tractors, and never misses a ride when it’s time to feed the cows. His three-year-old sister recently got a pair of goats, and he likes to lead them around. He has no fear of animals!”
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On April 10, the House Natural Resources Committee launched an investigation into a recent settlement between the National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, and 12 Point Reyes National Seashore (California) ranchers who agreed to cease their multi-generational dairy and beef operations in exchange for a roughly million buyout by The Nature Conservancy, according to The Press Democrat. Ranchers who agreed to the settlement were given gag orders in regard to the negotiations and 15 months to vacate. Two other ranching families refused to accept the settlement and are working to maintain their existing leases within the Point Reyes National...
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Water in the West has long been considered a precious resource as often it is scarce. Legal battles over water rights have occurred through history and are still going on today. On February 12, 2025, Baker Ranches Inc., represented by Mountain States Legal Foundation, filed an “open briefing” with the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals against both the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. Baker Ranches has been using the water from Baker and Lehman Creeks in eastern Nevada for their ranching operations for over a century and hold senior water rights. However, upstream from Baker...
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William H. (Bill) Rishel of North Platte, Nebraska, has been named the 2025 inductee of the prestigious Saddle and Sirloin Portrait Gallery. Rishel will become the 380th member of this historic gallery, and his portrait will be unveiled at an induction banquet to be held on November 16 during the North American Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. During research for his nomination Rishel explained, “Since 1966, the year I was privileged to be on the Penn State National Champion Livestock Judging Team in Chicago, l have admired the stories and lifetime contributions of previous honorees of the Saddle and Sirloin...
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Last week, I noted that my husband and I were going out of town for an event in Arlington, Texas. I took Wednesday through Friday off from work and left my computer at home. On our drive from Torrington to Denver International Airport, he and I tried to think about how long it has been since I haven’t had an article and/or column in the paper. I started working for the WAR as the assistant editor in May of 2021, and I have written at least one article, probably closer to an average of two, every single week since then....
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I hope all of you had a very blessed and happy Easter. Our blessing kicked off early as we received over eight inches of heavy, wet snow in the days leading up to Easter! A couple of weeks ago on a beautiful 80-degree day, I was visiting with a good friend of mine on the phone, and he commented on the gorgeous weather. He was going to have to hustle to get pairs hauled out to grass. He calves quite a few of his stock a little bit later (mid-March to mid-April). I told him he might want to be...
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The Public Lands Council (PLC) opened the registration for their 57th Annual Meeting to be held in Flagstaff, Arizona from September 16-18, 2025. “Annual meeting is when we come together as an industry to plan our advocacy efforts for the upcoming year, hammer out grassroots policies, and discuss upcoming rulemakings and legislative priorities. As federal lands ranchers, we have the opportunity to modernize antiquated laws including the Endangered Species Act and NEPA, as well as cut government red tape that is getting in the way of meaningful, long-term planning for land health. We bring together as many permittees as possible...
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The Wyoming State 4-H Foundation awarded more than ,000 in scholarships to Wyoming 4-H’ers attending the University of Wyoming or a Wyoming community college in the 2025-2026 academic year. The scholarship committee awarded approximately ,000 to first-time winners, says Steve Mack, Wyoming State 4-H Foundation director. Sixteen Ella Schloredt continuing scholarships, ranging from [post_excerpt],800 to ,400, were awarded this year.Past winners of the Ella Schloredt scholarship are eligible to continue receiving this scholarship for up to four years, providing they maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 and meet academic progress requirements. See below for a complete list of the...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) has opened registration for its 141st MidYear Meeting. The event is slated for May 28 - 30, 2025, in Butte, Mont. at the Copper King Convention Center. This year’s program includes presentations from industry experts, engaging local area tours, and socializing opportunities with live music and dancing. The MidYear Meeting is one of two meetings held by MSGA to set policy that guides the Association throughout the year. While the main focus of the meeting is for the setting of interim policy, the meeting is also used as a networking opportunity for MSGA members and...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation today asked for changes to the “Waters of the United States” rule to bring it in line with the Sackett v. EPASupreme Court ruling, which called for more clarity in water regulations. AFBF submitted comments in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s request for recommendations. “Considering drains, ditches, stock ponds, impoundments, irrigation ditches, and low spots in farm fields and pastures as jurisdictional ‘waters’ opens the door to regulation of ordinary farming activities that move dirt or apply products to the land on those lands,” AFBF stated in its comments. “Everyday activities such as plowing, planting, or...
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National Sorghum Producers has opened applications for the 2025 board of directors. NSP is looking for new producer leaders who are passionate about advancing the crop and shaping the future of the sorghum industry. “We often hear that getting involved is the most important thing we can do to ensure tomorrow for our industry and the next generation,” said NSP Chair Amy France. “In today’s uncertainty, there are no truer words. We are excited to help drive effective policy and promote, advocate for, and defend the sorghum industry. We encourage and welcome all who have a passion for sorghum, agriculture...
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The Idaho Cattle Association will host its 2025 Summer Round-Up on June 23–24 in Burley, bringing together cattle producers, industry partners and agricultural leaders from across the state. The annual midyear event has featured programming including key issues facing Idaho’s cattle industry, land use, animal health and changing regulations. 2025 event highlights include: • Industry updates: Representatives from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Idaho Beef Council and others will provide updates and insights. • Committee sessions and council meetings: Attendees will receive updates on industry segments, regulatory developments and member-driven initiatives. • Networking opportunities: Producers, policymakers and industry professionals will...
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As communities across the country navigate shifting resources and increasing needs, the Montana Community Foundation’s (MCF) Community Investment Program (CIP) continues to offer resources to select counites in Eastern Montana. The Montana Community Foundation’s (MCF) Community Investment Program (CIP) is ensuring that funding remains available for Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon Counties, as well as the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. With grants up to ,000 available, eligible nonprofits and government entities have a critical opportunity to invest in projects that strengthen their communities. The deadline to apply for the spring grant cycle is Thursday, May 1, 2025. “This spring’s grant cycle will...
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The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is celebrating its first quarter under the leadership of Board President Conni French, who stepped into the role in January following the dedicated tenure of longtime leader Leo Barthelmess. French’s leadership continues the steadfast, rancher-led approach that has guided RSA since its inception, ensuring that the organization remains a trusted force for stewardship, conservation, and community resilience. A rancher in Phillips County, French works alongside her husband, Craig, and brings a deep respect for learning, teaching, and mentorship to everything she does. With a background in education, she’s a constant student of the land and...
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“I’m not sure I like what I’m seeing,” Banjo said. Tuff sighed. “I thought there was only one,” Tuff said. “Looks like they were running through,” Banjo said. “And recently according to these tracks in the mud.” “Elk were here too,” Tuff said as he nodded his head in the direction the animals were heading. “Yeah, I noticed that also,” Banjo said. “These wolves were on the run. Look at how close all their tracks are together.” “And then there’s this…” Tuff stammered. Banjo joined Tuff as he was peering over the side of the trail. “There’s a couple of...
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If Wyoming residents spent just 5 percent of their grocery budget on local foods, local food production could contribute an additional .3 million to the state’s GDP, according to a new study published by the University of Wyoming Extension. Currently, the local food sector contributes .4 million to Wyoming’s GDP and generates .7 million in output each year — and those numbers are growing. That’s good news for both Wyoming producers and consumers, the UW study suggests. Local food systems are key to maintaining a reliable — and resilient — supply chain, says Anders Van Sandt, assistant professor of regional economics...
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Research in the Montana State University College of Agriculture received continued support from the Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee last month, continuing work to advance knowledge around soil acidity, water use efficiency, new crops and more. The committee awards funds annually that are collected through an assessment on commercial fertilizers. Those funds support research and education focused on soil health, fertilizer use and more. The committee is made up of agricultural producers and representatives from the College of Agriculture and MSU Extension. “It is always a pleasure to interact and work with the MFAC selecting research projects that are directly focused on producer...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, is seeking entrepreneurs to apply online by June 9 for the 2026 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Now in its 12th year, this national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. The overall winner of the competition will receive 0,000 in startup funds, the runner-up will be awarded ,000 and two additional business owners who advance to the final four round will receive ,000. “This competition supports incredible entrepreneurs who are making sure agriculture is ready...
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The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input on the Lahontan Wild Horse Gather Preliminary Environmental Assessment. BLM is also seeking public comments and input under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for the project. This includes seeking information and identifying historic properties in or near the project area. Public comments will be accepted through May 12, 2025. The environmental assessment will analyze the Lahontan Herd Management Area, which consists of 9,687 acres, as well as a larger area around it, encompassing approximately 304,705 acres in Lyon and Churchill counties, about 40 miles east of Carson City, Nevada. Based...
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The Crazies by Amy Gamerman is a must read for anyone who loves history, mountains, freedom, and loves the view enough to put up with the infernal wind that blasts the east slopes of the Rocky Mountains. I am blessed to live with a view of the Crazy Mountains every day, but that dazzling view does not come at a small price. The book will not disappoint. It is billed as, "A dazzling piece of narrative non-fiction about land lust and the American West. The Crazies tells the story of a wind farm that triggers a 21st century range war...
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A little snow won’t stop Clara Frey from giving her chickens the best of care. Photo submitted by Alex Frey.
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As I approached the corral in the wispy dawn, I could see I was too late. My favorite heifer, Bernadette, laid down, stood up, and grunted, with two enormous feet protruding from the back. I guided her into my clanky, old chute, looped chains around the calf’s feet and tugged to assess how hard this would be. Bernadette squatted on her hind quarters. This was dangerous for a lot of reasons, the most urgent was that cows can choke to death if they lean back on the head-catch. Bernadette was tired, but she wasn’t choking. Instead, she was sitting on...
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U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), along with five other cosponsors have reintroduced the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025. The bill was introduced in 2022 and 2023, moving out of committee in 2022 and voted on the Senate floor. The legislation would create the “Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters” within the Packers & Stockyards Division at USDA and addresses anticompetitive markets and vertical consolidation in the meatpacking industry. The Office of the Special Investigator would hold legal powers to address violations of the Packers and Stockyards...
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Each year the Montana Livestock Loss Board receives funding for loss prevention grants and is now accepting applications for the 2025 funding round. Applications are due by May 31st and grant applications are available on the board’s website www.llb.mt.gov . Interested parties may also contact the board office at LIVLossBoard@mt.gov or 406-444-4994 to request an application. The loss prevention grants are aligned with the Board’s mission to support Montana’s livestock producers and their communities by reducing the economic impacts of livestock depredation from wolves, grizzly bears, and mountain lions. The Board is looking to financially support programs that seek to...
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Pasture management, especially in the face of continued drought, is on the forefront of producers’ minds this spring. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability hosted a webinar titled “2025 Drought Planning: Trigger Dates for Pasture and Forage Management” to help guide producers in their grazing decisions. “The amount and timing of spring and early summer precipitation is an important factor in determining annual plant production. And using critical trigger dates can help producers adjust stocking rates if precipitation and the resulting forage production is expected to be below average,” Ryan Evans, UNL Center for Agricultural Profitability communications specialist,...
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A unique, educational summer camp for kids was created a few years ago in Washington State. Camp Sagebrush is a one-of-a-kind experience for kids to learn more about their local shrub steppe ecosystem and fire mitigation. The camp was developed by the Foster Creek Conservation District and is now a three-day overnight camp to help youth understand their ecosystem and grasp how to take action to reduce wildfire risk. Campers from fifth through seventh grades explore the unique shrub steppe, the arid grassland of the region, while building friendships and memories. This collaborative camp is part of a larger project...
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Each year, senior students at Bear Creek High School in Jefferson County, Colorado, have the opportunity to sign up for the Senior Field Studies class. The program offers students “real-world experience” in three different environments: urban, rural, and wilderness. The Women’s Leadership Committee at Colorado Farm Bureau has been sponsoring the rural experience for almost 50 years now. In that time, they have been bringing seniors onto farming and ranching operations in Colorado, immersing students in the lifestyle and work that goes into producing food products. “We bring the kids out to the farm for a week, and we encourage...
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An important note to start on is that I just saw that the court case for Charles and Heather Maude (see last week’s front page for more information) has been moved to July 22, 2025. We will touch on this more when we can. Last week, my husband and I took a few days away from the ranch and headed down to Arlington, Texas, for the COWGIRL Magazine 30 Under 30 event. I will be eager to share about the people we met, the places we went, and of course, the food we ate, in my next column. Until then,...
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The 2025 spring sale season is rapidly coming to a close for me. The next time I address all of you, I will be done with my production sales. There will still be a pretty good number of sales taking place around Reporter Country from now until June, but I, personally, will be all wrapped up. It has been an unbelievable run, in fact a historic run, over this last full selling season. All of our field staff will compile the numbers like we normally do at the end of the sale season, and we will present those figures soon...
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The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust (Land Trust) is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its conservation team: Averi Reynolds, joining as the Conservation Director, and Rachel Belouin, joining as the Conservation Manager. Their expertise and passion for agriculture and conservation will further strengthen the organization's commitment to protecting Wyoming’s working lands. As the Conservation Director, Averi will oversee the Conservation and Stewardship team, providing strategic vision in advancing agricultural conservation across the state. With a Master of Science (M.S.) in Animal Science and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management from the...
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The Beartooth Stock Association (BSA) sent a letter to members of the Senate and House Ag Committees, DOGE Caucus, select Senators and Representatives, and the Montana Governor urging them to connect with BSA to address issues facing the livestock industry. The letter outlined several concerns like meat labeling standards, inheritance taxes, the beef checkoU, and animal identification system. “We can no longer aUord to continue business as usual,” the letter stated. “Agency and congressional lawmakers must look for guidance from boots on the ground producers whose main income is derived from producing livestock. Large organizations and lobbyists, who claim to...
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The Collegiate Beef Advocacy Program, developed by the American National Cattle Women, is a unique, national program designed to equip college students with the tools and resources to advocate on behalf of beef while also gaining valuable industry experience. Ava Budde, an agricultural communications major at the University of Wyoming, is one of three college students in the Collegiate Beef Advocacy Program for the 2024-2025 year. The other members of the advocacy team are Miranda Zuvich, a PhD student at Colorado State University studying animal breeding and genetics, and Kyla Beck, an agribusiness student at Texas A&M. Together, these three...
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On March 17, newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brook Rollins announced “new actions to reduce burdens on the U.S. pork and poultry industries…” Beginning immediately, the Food Safety and Inspection Service will be extending waivers to pork and poultry processing facilities, allowing them to increase line speeds at their discretion. In 2019, during President Donald Trump’s first administration, the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System was introduced to “modernize” swine slaughter inspection; included in this update was the opportunity for plants to determine their own maximum line speeds “…based on their ability to maintain process control.” In 2021, a Minnesota...
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Tariffs continue to dominate news and television stories and are still one of the major topics of conversation at the production sales I have been attending, second only to everyone talking about what a fantastic position we are in in the beef industry right now. Our editor put together a story this week outlining the timeline of the tariff situation and provided some insight from extension specialists out of North Dakota State University. Be sure to read through that so you can get a firm grasp on how things have transpired, and why, and what is to come with the...
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There have been times in my life, as I’m sure there have been in yours, where I’ve looked at people whose lives are very public facing and wondered how it must feel to be so loved and adored. What must it be like to be so outrageously known that people want to shake your hand and take a photo with you everywhere you go. And then I shudder off the thought and remember that I’m an introvert who tries in many ways to just blend the heck in. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve begun to realize that the higher you...
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As spring weather approaches, we’re all anxious to get out and enjoy the weather – people and bears alike. This time of year, bears are waking up from hibernation and beginning to look for food. It’s time to ensure that people are securing attractants to avoid conflicts with bears and being prepared to encounter bears when they are out recreating. “Being bear aware means that you assume bears are around, even if you don’t see them,” Oyler said. “You shouldn’t leave anything around your home or campsite that will attract a bear.” Bears can be found throughout Montana. In recent...
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The University of Wyoming Extension will offer its fifth annual Wyoming Ranch Camp June 9–13 at the Ladder Ranch in Carbon County. Taught by UW Extension personnel and local producers, the five-day camp is geared toward current and aspiring ranchers ages 18 and up. Ag professionals, including teachers and FFA advisors, are also welcome to attend. “Ranch Camp is designed to help train the future ranch managers of Wyoming in a hands-on capacity,” says McKenna Julian, UW Extension educator and co-organizer of the program. “It’s tailored to issues specific to Wyoming ag.” From livestock genetics and soil ecology to ranch...
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I’m not the target demographic for the commercialism of Christmas. I’m not stylish – I rarely look in the mirror. I don’t need the latest and greatest – my tractor is older than I. I hate to shop – I get completely overwhelmed when browsing through shelves and racks of junk. At the same time, like a lot of people, the dark and dreary days of December can bring me down if I’m not careful. The only way I know to combat the lack of sunlight and the expectations of the season that I struggle to meet is to quit...
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The Northern Lights have been on display quite a lot lately. Aurora Borealis. Quite a name, but I think I like calling them the Northern Lights better. Raised in Montana, and getting to see them now and then, like so many things in life, I eventually started taking them for granted. I got to see them frequently, and after a while, I didn’t really pay them much attention. Calving time and lambing time often gave me the opportunity. When I went to the barn to check the heifers a couple of times at night or maybe stepped out of the...
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The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has scheduled a free training session for produce growers across the state. “Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety should attend,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “Attending a session will satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement that requires at least one supervisor or responsible party on a farm to complete food safety training recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.” The free session will be...
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The USDA is a massive, sprawling federal agency with over 100,000 federal employees and a 0 billion budget. Its mission encompasses everything from agricultural studies and statistics to nutrition programs and even the United States Forest Service. That is why it is critically important to have a competent, yet outside-the-box and innovative, Secretary of Agriculture nominee that will be able to slash the accumulation of dead wood and zombie departments and wasteful federal spending, all the while not compromising the original mission of the USDA. The USDA was created for the propagation of ag and ag producers in the quest...
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A last-minute court of appeals ruling could put tens of thousands of farmers in legal crosshairs for failing to register their businesses with the federal government. Farmers who operate corporations and limited liability companies are once again required to file Beneficial Ownership Information with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) or face stiff fines or jail time. A federal district court ruled earlier in December to halt the requirement, but today the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit lifted the injunction, meaning a Jan. 1, 2025 deadline is back in effect. Analysis...
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Every year at the Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention, the Minnesota Beef Council announces the winner of the Prime Promoter award. This year’s convention was held December 6th - 7th at River's Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The Prime Promoter Award was started in 2017 by the Minnesota Beef Council and the Beef Checkoff Program and is given to recognize any group or organization who performs outstanding promotion of beef throughout the year. Winners of the Prime Promoter Award are provided with a plaque and 0 to go towards beef promotions. This year’s recipient of the award was Three...
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Harvested cattle are more than just the beef we put on our plate. The remainder of beef carcasses, or beef byproducts, are used in a multitude of ways that affect our everyday lives in products that range from Jello, to instrument strings, to vitamins while also adding value to the carcass. When an animal is harvested, about 60 percent of the animal becomes beef for consumption. The remainder of the carcass, including the hide, organs, and even tendons, becomes a byproduct which, in larger processing plants, is separated, cleaned, and sold. Whether we realize it or not, beef byproducts are...
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The 66th Annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR), which concluded on December 14, lived up to its reputation of being the premier event for cowboys and cowgirls across the country to showcase their immense talents. Tanya Hamner, a Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) photographer who was arena-side at the NFR this year, expressed a deep reverence for the event and the athletes who make it possible. “This year’s NFR was not only an incredible event to photograph but also a deeply rewarding experience. As a PRCA rodeo photographer, I’ve had the privilege of documenting the journeys of these contestants all...
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What A Year It Was for the Livestock Industry… It seems nearly impossible for me to say this, but this is the last time I will visit with all of you in 2024. I just simply can’t believe 2024 has come to a close, and we are ready to rock right into 2025. I worked my last sale of the year on December 20 and have been reflecting back on the fall sale season and the results are simply mind-boggling. When I say talk about sale results, I am not just talking about the production sales that have taken place...
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Caitlin Clark, the WNBA phenom out of Iowa, capped off a historic rookie season by being named the TIME Magazine Athlete of the Year. And as we have all come to expect in the current political climate, there are many left-wing extremists who are claiming that she received this accolade solely on the basis of race. Before I address that more directly, I’m going to lay out some statistics, because numbers don’t lie. If you look at what she did, just at the season level as a rookie, it’s not a surprise she’d be a candidate for TIME Magazine Athlete...
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On December 10, NCBA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane, served as a keynote speaker at the Wyoming Stockgrowers Convention in Casper, Wyoming. In his time at the podium, Lane addressed the shifting political climate and shared NCBA’s outlook, priorities, and expected challenges for 2025 and throughout the entirety of President-Elect Donald Trump’s second term. Presidential Election… Leading up to the 2024 United States’ Presidential Election, Lane was asked to provide a forecast of what would come from a variety of election outcomes, including an overwhelming Trump victory, which was the case. He predicted that, unlike traditional voting lines,...
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Montana Stockgrowers Foundation’s (MSF) Cattle Drive Program continues to grow and is quickly becoming the premier feed out contest in the state of Montana. The Cattle Drive Program allows producers and supporters to donate a steer, or the value of a steer, and watch that donation grow. Donors also receive data on the growth and performance of that steer. MSF is proud to announce that the 2023 Cattle Drive program raised over 0,000. The funds raised will be invested in educational programs, scholarships, leadership development and conservation programs. Donated steers were placed on contest on February 20, 2024. In order...
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American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall delivered a letter to Congress this evening urging elected leaders to stand with farmers as they reconsider the contents of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government and potentially offer a lifeline to farmers and ranchers. Below are excerpts from the letter. “Any alternative Continuing Resolution (CR) must include: a farm bill extension, aid to rebuild after natural disasters, economic assistance to bridge the gap until we can get to a new farm bill, and year-round E-15 sales. “Weather-related natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 have crippled communities across...
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“I have a few more baskets,” Daisy called to Rufus. The two were loading the cart full of gifts for their neighbors. “Jing-a-ling, a-ling,” the sleigh bells rang. Daisy and Rufus looked up towards the magical sound. “Here they come,” Rufus said. “Right on time.” “Bawhoo,” he bayed in his basset hound greeting. He was aboard the sleigh, helping navigate the way with Ben and Banjo. The sleigh bells glistened and with each of Ben’s strides, they created a Christmas song that was captivating to all that heard them. Mr. Fogarity walked out of his cozy woodshop as he heard...
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This past weekend we attended a “Honky Tonk Christmas” show at our local theatre. I’m not a huge Christmas music fan – I think the rural radio tradition of playing nothing but Christmas songs on repeat for the whole month of December traumatized me a bit – but a friend was playing bass and singing in the show, so we decided to go. It was fun and helped get us in the mood for Christmas. Each musician shared a Christmas memory during the show, so I figured I could steal their idea for this week’s column and share a few...
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Thanksgiving passed, Christmas and New Years are coming, but more importantly, bull-buying season has begun. A bull has one job, but it is a critically important job. No bull, no calf, no money, no ranch, and a new job greeting customers at Walmart. Greeting customers would be fun, but the commute would be longer and opportunities to ride my horse would be limited. So, I spend some money on bulls every year. But not just any bull. I need a bull that contributes to a calf that lands easily and jumps up looking for breakfast. I need that breakfast to...
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With just hours until Christmas, I am in a bit of a panic. My plan this year was to buy one, small gift for each person on my list to open and then give them an adventure as their big present. That seemed like a fine plan until it came down to the wire this week to decide what to book and when to book it. There are nine of us ranging in age from nine to 87. The adventure has to be something that is suitable for an age range of 78 years. Travel agents seem to find that...
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Christmas is one of the best times of the year, from Christmas trees, lights, and grandma’s eggnog, to way too much Mariah Carey, and, of course, nativity scenes. We have all seen the live reenactment starring Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and, of course, the quintessential farm animals, typically a donkey, goats, sheep, and, of course, a cow or two. However, one aspect of the nativity scene that always seemed like the odd piece of the puzzle was that of the Wise Men also known as the Magi. Who were these men of wealthy means around the modest setting...
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Wyoming State Senator Cheri Steinmetz was awarded the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) Leadership Award at the organization’s 105th Annual Meeting. Presented November 8, 2024 in Casper, the award is given to those who have devoted much time to the betterment of agriculture in Wyoming through their leadership in the Farm Bureau Federation and beyond. “When Farm Bureau lobbies for something at the legislature, I know it comes from the grassroots people of this state and that's why it's so important to me,” Steinmetz noted on her deep respect for the Federation and its mission. With a strong background in...
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The Christmas tree is arguably one of the most iconic symbols of the Christmas season, and for families who raise them, like Alpine Meadows Christmas Tree Farm (Alpine Meadows) in Deming, Washington, and Bacon’s Christmas Tree Farm in Bremerton, Washington, it is a labor-intensive business, but one both families have pursued with a great deal of passion for over 88 years, combined. In doing so, they have helped keep a centuries-long tradition alive. Humans have been using plants and trees to decorate their dwellings dating back to the ancient Egyptians who celebrated the winter solstice with evergreen boughs, according to...
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Each year, the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) holds a National Anthem contest where contestants from across the United States have the opportunity to win a chance at singing in front of thousands of rodeo fans. One of this year’s winners was 13-year-old Selah Smith from the STS Ranch in Childress, Texas. On December 10 at the commencement of Round 6 of the NFR, Selah took the stage and graced the audience with her poise and confident vocals. Selah, who said she was singing before she could talk, has been performing the National Anthem since she was the age of six....
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I had the opportunity to travel attend the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association (WYSGA) Convention in Casper, Wyoming, last week. In year’s past, I have traveled to Montana for MSGA and Farm Bureau meetings/conventions, and that’s always a nice time! But it was enjoyable to see some familiar faces in Casper and to connect with some young producers from across the state. In the coming weeks, I look forward to sharing some information I gleaned from the various discussions held by WYSGA. Specifically, you can look forward to some legislative discussions/forecasting by NCBA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane; a look...
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Merry Christmas from my family to yours! I get a little emotional every time I look at photos of my family. It truly hits me hard how the Good Lord has blessed me in this life. Christmas is a great reminder to all of us that Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day and died for us in order that we may live. My dad would consistently remind us, not just during the Christmas Season, but several times throughout every year that, “GOD is first, FAMILY is second, and EVERYTHING ELSE is a distant third. I am so proud of...
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Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced that applications are now being accepted for 2025 Specialty Crop Grants.“Projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in North Dakota are eligible for these grants,” Goehring said. “We encourage organizations, institutions and individuals to submit proposals on their own or in partnerships.” North Dakota has not yet received an allocation amount from USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service but is expected to receive it in the next few months. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) will distribute the funds through a competitive grant process. Eligible applications include enhancing food safety; pest and disease...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation announces their ACE (Advocate. Communicate. Educate) Leadership Program class for 2025. This is the ACE Leadership Program’s eighth year of empowering Farm Bureau members to become confident and effective leaders in their local communities, for Montana agriculture and for their county Farm Bureaus. The program provides its participants with skills to communicate industry issues and represent Farm Bureau interests at the local, state and national level. ACE successfully does this by focusing on leadership development, engaging local communities and issues advocacy. “Montana Farm Bureau is committed to developing strong leaders for our rural communities and...
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Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company (MWFBI) President and CEO Jim Geesey was awarded the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) Distinguished Service Award at the organization’s 105th Annual Meeting. Presented November 8, 2024 in Casper, the award is given to those who have gone above and beyond in their service to agriculture. WyFB President Todd Fornstrom noted the relationship between the Farm Bureau Federation and Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance started in 1948 when Farm Bureau Federation members saw a need for, and started, an insurance company. Seventy-six years later the relationship remains strong. “Tireless in his endeavors to...
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More than 500 North Dakota Farmers Union members participated in the organization’s 98th annual state convention Dec. 13-14 in Bismarck, where Mark Watne of Velva was elected to a 12th term as president. In his address to members, Watne reflected on what makes Farmers Union successful. He said as a member-driven organization, Farmers Union goes out of its way to involve people at a basic grassroots level in the countryside, ensuring they have a voice. “If you’re really not grassroots [as an organization], and only say you’re grassroots, your longevity won’t last.” Talented members, amazing staff and strong leadership have...
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Mountain Meadow Wool in Buffalo, Wyo., is once again offering its Student Hands-on Education and Research Program internships in 2025. “Our goal for the 2025 MMW internship program is to immerse students into the wool textile industry by offering an interactive learning experience where students will have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn about the entire wool process from scouring through knitting,” according to the company’s online post about the internship. “This is an exciting chance to learn about the unique differences in wool types, gain first-hand processing knowledge, and learn about value-added agriculture business and marketing.” Interns will...
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One new board member appointed by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was sworn in, and three other producers began their second terms after reappointment by Secretary Vilsack during the United Sorghum Checkoff Program’s annual December meeting. The board also elected Ethan Miller of Columbia, Missouri, as the 2025 chairman. Past Chairman Adam Schindler of Reliance, South Dakota, was recognized for his dedicated service as he concluded his term on the USCP Board. “I am honored to take on the role of Chairman and continue driving innovation and opportunities for sorghum producers,” said Miller. “Our industry’s resilience and adaptability are...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA), in partnership with Stockman Bank and Western Ag Network, launched a new video series Leadership, Legacy and the Land which showcases leaders, success stories, families new and old, conservation efforts, and programs of Montana’s leading livestock industry. The first installment of the series highlights recently elected MSGA’s President, Lesley Robinson, who is the first female president in the organization's 140-year history. The goal of Leadership, Legacy and The Land will showcase Montana’s livestock industry professionals and inspire the next generation to keep Montana - Montana. The individuals showcased in the series are working every day...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Montana Environmental Stewardship Award (ESAP). Each year, MSGA honors a Montana ranch that exemplifies environmental stewardship and demonstrates a commitment toward improved sustainability within the beef industry. The deadline for nominations is May 1, 2025. “The Montana Environmental Stewardship Award continues to show us just how much Montana’s ranchers care about the land and livestock under their stewardship,” said Raylee Honeycutt, MSGA Executive Vice President. “We at MSGA know that this is nothing new to ranchers, but this program helps tell the story to those not intimately involved...
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For more than a century, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) in Curtis has been a cornerstone of technical agricultural education, evolving from a high school to a technical college in 1965. Beginning in 2025, NCTA will align more closely with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR). This partnership aims to enhance resources, expand opportunities, and create seamless pathways for students to enter Nebraska's growing agricultural workforce. Leadership Transition and Dean Larry Gossen’s Contributions Larry Gossen, who has served as NCTA’s dean since 2020, will retire in June 2025. “We’re grateful for Dr....
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The FFA jacket is the team "uniform," to be worn at all official FFA events and competitions; a physical reminder of the personal accomplishments achieved through the organization - a symbol of commitment and dedication for all who wear the corduroy. Ideally, each FFA member has his/her own jacket, however members come from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, and many of them cannot finance an FFA jacket. Chapter-owned jackets, that FFA members can borrow as needed, can aide these situations for generations of students. The South Dakota FFA Foundation is using funds raised on Giving Tuesday, including a match grant...
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At the recent State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) meeting, the board removed official identification requirements for imported feeder heifers less than 18 months of age and lifted the tuberculosis (TB) testing requirements for dairy cattle coming to the state from TB-free states. Breeding cattle, regardless of age, will continue to require official identification on the certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) to enter North Dakota. A permit will be required unless the CVI is electronic. “Due to the federal Animal Disease Traceability rule, official identification placed after Nov. 5, 2024, must be electronically readable,” State Veterinarian Dr. Ethan Andress said....
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In the vast grasslands of the Northern Great Plains, ranchers have long been the silent stewards of some of America's most fragile ecosystems. These are people who understand the land in a way few others do—people whose hands are calloused from years of hard work, and whose education often comes from the very soil they nurture. A Polaris UTV serves as steed as Leo Barthelmess ushers cattle to the next pasture on his south Phillips County, Montana ranch. Meanwhile, buzzwords are thrown around a college campus six-and-a-half hours away in Missoula: resiliency, sustainability, conservation, preservation. And he thinks...
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“Where’s that cat?!’ the mama called from the door. Banjo quickly looked at Pudge. “What’d you do?” he asked. She shrugged and said, “I have no idea.” “Pudge! You dern cat. When I find you, you’re going to be minus a couple of your nine lives,” the mama called out into the ranch. The mama was not often riled like this, and she didn’t know if Pudge heard her warning, but she was certain to make sure any other varmint that heard her, would take it back to the culprit, who she thought was Pudge. “Holy smokes,” Pudge said. She...
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We’re taught in school that climate is the long-term trend in weather as it is measured and understood over years and decades. Weather, on the other hand, is the hourly, daily, or weekly ups and downs in temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity, and cloud cover. I think of the difference between climate and weather as the clothes in my closet. What I choose to wear on a particular day is dictated by weather. All the clothes in my closet, which would certainly be different if I lived in Hawaii, is determined by the climate. The National Atmospheric and Oceanic...
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As long as cattle producers’ demands for the restoration of honest price discovery in the fed cattle market was still just that, a demand, we did not need to come to a consensus about how this could actually be accomplished. In an advanced notice of rulemaking, “Price Discovery and Competition in Fed Cattle Markets,” USDA has finally acknowledged that price discovery is indeed broken and has, in essence, put the baby back into our hands. It is now up to cattle producers to tell USDA just exactly how fed cattle markets should be structured so that they are accurate, honest,...
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When I see all the pictures of trophy deer, elk, and moose that people have shot and posted on social media, I start missing my hunting camp experiences. Hunting camp cooking was a delightful experience! I got up at 3:00 a.m., tried not to singe my bangs lighting the kerosene lamps, fired up the wood stove, cooked all day, prepared elk heart appetizers, waited anxiously for hunters to arrive several hours past the optimum serving time of the entrees, and packed 50 gallons of water, two buckets at a time, up a steep ravine – and that’s the good part!...
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Georgia is our 2 ½-year-old Agri-Kid of the week. She is from Buffalo, Wyoming, and has the look of a real cow boss in the making! Photo submitted by Tynie Shaw. Help us celebrate the next generation of agriculture! Submit you Agri-Kid photos to editor2@westernagreporter.com and receive a complimentary WAR Agri-Kid t-shirt!
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Hello! This will be part two of my recent listening/music suggestions. Last week I shared about songwriters and storytellers I really love. This week I was going to share some modern, honky tonk favorites, but I decided to shift to really old music I enjoy. Country music, or at least what I consider to still be country music, is built on tradition, and I believe it’s important to continue listening to artists from the past. First up is Bob Wills, who will forever and always be at the top of my list. He was born in Texas and is often...
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Our farm on the east side of White Sulphur Springs was just across the highway from the Truck Stop Cafe. The garbage from the cafe went into a few garbage cans alongside of the building. Pretty standard back then. We generally had a pig or two that I was supposed to feed with slops so they would grow and fatten up for butchering. Several of the local farmers got slops from the local school cafeteria. Slops consisted of food that wasn’t eaten by the students. Milk, bread, soup, vegetables, meat, or whatever could be eaten by the pigs was put into...
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America is in a crisis, a severe calamity of chronic disease and obesity. The seriousness of this horrifying predicament affects nearly every family age and demographic of Americans, with over 40.3 percent of Americans over the age of twenty diagnosed as obese. At the same time, almost 20 percent of all children are diagnosed as obese, according to CDC statistics. Tragically, the bad news keeps coming, with nearly 40 percent of all Americans coping with at least one form of chronic disease running the gamut from heart disease to diabetes to everything in between. You might ask the root cause:...
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Cooking a Thanksgiving feast for your friends and family will cost less than last year but will still be more expensive than before the pandemic. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 39th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic holiday feast for 10, which is .08 or about .80 per person. This is a 5% decrease from 2023, which was 4.5% lower than 2022. Two years of declines don’t erase dramatic increases that led to a record high cost of .06 in 2022. Despite the encouraging momentum, a Thanksgiving meal is still...
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Passing family farms and ranches on to the next generation is challenging, and future changes to federal inheritance tax could make this process even more difficult and expensive. Many Montana producers have had to deal with paying the “death tax” for a business that is simply being passed down to the next generation, and this added expense is a serious challenge to the financial viability of the business. Estate planning is a complicated, time-consuming process that takes away funds and energy from producers who are committed to making sound business decisions for the future. The Montana Stockgrowers Association is keenly...
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The basis for USDA’s current yield grade equation was developed in 1960 by C.E. Murphey and a team of researchers. This equation considers hot carcass weight; back fat thickness; kidney, pelvic, and heart (KPH) fat percentage; and ribeye area. With deference to the quality improvements this has made across the beef industry in the United States – which has led to more positive eating experiences for consumers – researchers and industry stakeholders are looking to modernize this concept of yield grading with the development of technology that can increase accuracy and also provide more detailed and applicable data back to...
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As of 2021, the NRCS began requiring aquifer testing for conservation practice standard (CPS 642) water wells. On November 14, the USDA NRCS Science and Technology hosted a webinar outlining what aquifer testing is, what it isn’t, and why it is important. Aquifer tests are sometimes referred to as pumping tests, drawdown tests, aquifer performance tests, or permeability tests, Kari Scannella, state conservation geologist for NRCS in Bozeman, Montana, explained. “What sets aquifer testing apart is that it’s a controlled test designed to stress the aquifer by extracting groundwater from the well at a constant rate or rates, [. ....
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Ag in the Classroom is a national program, but is implemented and funded differently in each state. This educational program was started in the mid 1980s by Secretary of Agriculture, John Block, who held meetings around the United States and realized that most people were a generation or more removed from farms and many people don’t realize where their food and fiber comes from. Secretary Block challenged every state to plug a new program into wherever they taught the history of their state. In Idaho that is usually the fourth and eighth grade. Idaho’s board of directors for Ag in...
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The American Angus Association recently announced the hiring of Andrew Swanson, who will serve as the Regional Manager for North Dakota, South Dakota, and his home state of Minnesota (Region 6) beginning on December 1. Swanson comes to the Angus Association with many years of experience with both the marketing and genetic aspects of the seedstock industry. He previously served as the Beef Business Manager for the Minnesota Select Sires Co-Op and as a Field Rep for Lee Agri-Media. His years in these positions, coupled with his outgoing nature and deep-rooted passion for Angus cattle, will be a tremendous asset...
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HAPPY THANKGIVING! I would like to take the opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving. This is a great time of the year to reflect back on just how fortunate we are to live in the United States of America for all the opportunities and freedoms we enjoy that are sometimes taken for granted. Take a moment and thank the Good Lord for all of our blessings and pray for the health of ourselves, our families, and our nation. I am pretty excited for what I will be doing on Thanksgiving Day,...
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On November 15, over 60 million households – including my own – tuned in to the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight on Netflix. After spending about three hours of our evening watching the fights leading up to Paul and Tyson, all I can say is THANK GOODNESS for sports like football, basketball, and Cornhusker volleyball. I cannot say that I enjoyed a single second of the entire spectacle. It seemed to be a lot of drama and buildup to a very lackluster event, with the exception of the co-feature rematch fight between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor. Those ladies...
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Iola “Olie” Else received Montana Farm Bureau Distinguish Service Award November 19 during the luncheon at the Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention in downtown Billings. Else is a well-known, beloved adviser of all things agriculture at the University of Montana Western in Dillon. A member of the Southwest Counties Farm Bureau, Else started a Collegiate Young Farmers and Ranchers at University of Montana-Western in 2013. Else has been an agricultural advocate, beginning with her year as Miss Rodeo Idaho and evolving into her pivotal role in establishing the Natural Horsemanship Programs and advising the Collegiate Young Farmers and Ranchers at...
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Yesterday, members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) testified before the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands in support of legislation to expand the use of livestock grazing as a tool to reduce wildfire risk, make grazing permits more responsive to range conditions, and remove regulatory barriers to the maintenance of critical infrastructure. Each of these bills works together to protect beautiful landscapes across the West and support the ranchers who drive the economic success of rural communities. “I see such a clear need for the Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Act....
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The ONEOK Foundation donated 0,000 to the North Dakota Stockmen's Association (NDSA) and the North Dakota Stockmen's Foundation Out of the Ashes Wildfire Disaster Relief Program. The relief fund, established to provide vital assistance and offset losses for impacted cattle producers following the historic North Dakotawildfires, has now reached 3,114.56 with the latest contribution. In early October, extreme weather conditions contributed to the spread of multiple wildfires across North Dakota. The catastrophic fires burned approximately 126,000 acres. "This relief program will provide financial support for cattle producers who have lost pasture, hay, fencing, building structures and livestock," said Julie Ellingson,...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation celebrated the Class of 2024 graduates of their ACE (Advocate. Communicate. Educate) Leadership Program during a luncheon today at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Billings. This was the ACE Leadership Program’s seventh year of empowering Farm Bureau members to become confident and effective leaders in their local communities, for Montana agriculture and for their county Farm Bureaus. The year-long program started January 10 in Bozeman and was followed by five more seminars across Montana. During these trainings, ACE participants heard from agricultural advocates, media professionals, communications specialists and policymakers. As part of the ACE program,...
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The Kansas State University Meat Judging Team won National Champion honors at the International Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest hosted in Dakota City, Nebraska. The team was recognized Sunday, November 10. The last time K-State won the title was 1992. The team was the high team in beef judging, pork judging, placings, reasons and overall beef. Individually four students placed in the top 10 overall. Placing in the top 10 were Reece Geer, Clay Center, Kansas, third; Hailey Wurtz, Seneca, Kansas, fourth; Madison Bruna, Barnes, Kansas, fifth; and Hayden Lott, Minneapolis, Kansas, 10th. In addition, four students placed in the top...
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This year Montana’s entire cattle industry seems laser-focused on strengthening profitability. At the upcoming Legislative Session, an impressive group of leaders and organizations who support that goal, will propose a new “Montana Cattle Committee” as a statutory commodity board, similar to the Montana Wheat and Barley, or Montana Pulse Crops Committees. The proposed legislation calls for a future statewide referendum, where all Montana cattle producers would get to vote on the idea. The concept is new to Montana, but it mirrors popular efforts in several other states, where effective cattle industry self-help programs are experiencing a lot of success. Specific...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) provided comments to the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission on trapping regulations that include an amendment that protects livestock producers’ privacy. The trapping regulations enacted by the commission require trappers to obtain a free trapping permit to trap any species excluding only wet sets and live traps in known grizzly bear habitat. Should there be an incidental take of a grizzly bear, additional regulations will go into place for recreational trapping. These additional requirements do not apply to trapping for livestock protection. Originally, the trappers were required to file an affidavit with the Fish...
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Ducks Unlimited (DU) and National Sorghum Producers (NSP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to “Promote the Conservation of Water Resources through Water-Smart Agricultural Practices and Voluntary Conservation Practice Adoption in Water-Stressed Landscapes.” This MOU aims to develop and expand a framework of cooperation between DU and NSP uniquely focused on water savings and market innovation. The partnership will support agricultural producers and surrounding rural communities by promoting water-efficient practices, expand critical waterfowl habitat that also recharges belowground aquifers, and drive innovation into new value-added opportunities around ‘water-smart’ commodities. “If there’s one thing that ducks and agriculture...
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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed three new members of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors, which oversees the Federal crop insurance program available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The FCIC Board of Directors provides guidance to USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) on administering crop insurance. “RMA’s commitment to representing farmers of all backgrounds who grow a wide variety of crops is reflected by our Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors who each represent a certain sector of agriculture and insurance and use their expertise to ensure that all farmers have risk management options to...
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The United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) is pleased to announce that four new forms of sorghum have been officially added to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's FoodData Central Database. This significant milestone ensures that the most up-to-date nutritional information on commonly used sorghum products is readily available to consumers and food companies amid growing demand for sorghum. In collaboration with USCP, USDA collected samples from sorghum farms across the United States, gathered metadata and conducted nutrient analyses. The newly updated sorghum forms now available in FoodData Central are: Whole grain Pearled grain Pearled flour Bran "This is a pivotal step...
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Last week, a little snow caused quite a bit of mayhem and unearthed a badger in the midst of a bigger predicament. What happens to the badger, and is it the only thing the ranch crew unearths on the ranch that could cause an even bigger quandary? When Tate got back with the crate, the badger and the crew had simmered down. “You can come in peacefully, or I can drag you in,” Banjo said. “It’s up to you.” “Just when I thought we were all getting along,” the badger said. “Why would I go any other way. It’s a...
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I’ve never been a rancher but I’m proud to say that for most of my life I’ve been a cattleman. How can that be? Because a person who owns a ranch may not own a single ruminant, while a cattleman may have thousands of cattle but may not own one acre of ground. Someone smarter than me once said that the only way to acquire a ranch is through marriage, the womb, or the tomb. I struck out on all counts. I think I’m the first in my family to have owned a cow and yet they were ranchers. How...
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As November begins, so does the busiest shopping season of the year. We’re familiar with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but let’s not overlook Small Business Saturday – a day dedicated to supporting the businesses that keep our communities vibrant and unique. On this day, shop small and make an impact close to home by supporting the shops, services, and makers in our own backyards. Rural and local businesses face unique pressures. They compete not only with the convenience of online shopping but also with the often lower prices offered by big-box stores. While saving a few dollars might be...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced it has partnered with the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) to award [post_excerpt].2 million for six projects through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems. “Projects funded through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program are building strength and resilience in Nevada’s food system, diversifying agricultural markets, creating new revenue streams for small and mid-sized producers, and providing economic opportunities for local communities,” said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Jenny Lester...
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North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced that the North Dakota Department of Agriculture has funding available through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program for teachers in grades 3-5 to incorporate SunButter® kits into their curriculum. “The North Dakota Department of Agriculture is seeking teachers interested in bringing this STEM learning opportunity into their classrooms,” Goehring said. “Students will learn about sunflowers, honey and how North Dakota is the No. 1 producer in the nation for both commodities.” Students will make homemade sunflower seed butter and taste commercially available SunButter®. Teachers interested in receiving SunButter® kits may go to...
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Wyoming has received an updated U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretarial disaster designation due to damages and losses caused by wildfire. The updated designation expands the number of Wyoming counties designated primary natural disaster areas from one to 9. In an October 15 follow-up letter, United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack designates Albany, Goshen, Platte, Converse, Hot Springs, Sheridan, Crook, Johnson and Weston counties as primary natural disaster areas, as well as nine contiguous counties (Big Horn, Fremont, Niobrara, Campbell, Laramie, Park, Carbon, Natrona and Washakie).The updated designations came after a review of Loss Assessment Reports by the USDA....
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Emma Anderson, age three, is up for anything when it comes to helping out on her family’s ranch in Idaho – “from cattle, to getting the winter’s firewood, fencing, and anything else life on the ranch throws at us,” her mother, Amber, wrote. Send in YOUR agri-kid submissions to editor2@westernagreporter.com.
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I rode into the CBC’s Prairie Elk Creek division headquarters in 1930 and found 20-year-old Leo Taylor slouched against the corral, white with exhaustion, dusty clothes, unable to move. When he looked up at me, he smiled and said, “I made it.” That’s when I saw the ugliest, sweat-soaked, dust-covered horse standing in the corral, spraddle legged, still saddled and a look of defeat on his face. “So, what the heck happened?” I asked “Well,” Leo drawled, “four of us arrived a Prairie Elk Creek after having been hired to help capture wild horses. Division Manager, Shirly, asked if any...
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Last week…Rascal’s path of destruction was not only eating through fences, but tearing up the ranch’s pastures. One brave little fox found Banjo to alert him, and the ranch crew was on a mission to stop the masked bandit’s rampant path havoc. Will the ranch crew stop Rascal in his tracks? Or will another plan unfold to reveal the whereabouts of the crafty raccoon. “This is far more than cutting through fences,” Banjo said. He gazed upon the shaved and overturned earth. “I don’t hear or see him though,” the fox said. “I promise he was here.” “The evidence definitely...
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In today’s wild and upside-down world, and especially this electoral season, it seems as if America is on the brink of total upheaval and that current society is about to tear away at the seams. For many individuals, this level of uncertainty can take a heavy toll on their hearts and minds. From culture and the arts, to politics and how we interact with our fellow man, it seemingly feels as if right and wrong and the pursuit of objective truth has seemingly vanished like a morning fog, never to be seen again as the heat from societal angst increases...
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I am writing this column as a public educator who has served my community as a teacher and administrator for 44 years. I care deeply about our public schools, but I know that there are many who seek to undermine public education even further this legislative session than they did during the last few sessions. Now is the time to get ahead of a snowball headed for public education hell: the introduction of the voucher system. In Montana, we have always had school choice – public, private, or home school. Parents who do not want their students in public school...
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On October 7, over 400 livestock industry stakeholders gathered in Rapid City, South Dakota for the Livestock Producers Freedom Rally, sponsored by R-CALF USA and the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA). Representative Harriet Hageman (R-WY), USCA’s President, Justin Tupper, and R-CALF USA CEO, Bill Bullard were among the speakers who expressed their outrage with USDA’s final rule mandating the use of electronic identification (EID) tags on adult, sexually intact cattle and bison shipped across state lines; the rule is set to go into effect on November 5. Representative Hageman led off the Freedom Rally by sharing the nearly 15-year history of...
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With fall in full swing brings cool weather, autumn colors, and beloved trips to the local pumpkin patch and corn maze, which is a unique facet of the booming agritourism industry. Globally, agritourism –farm tours, dude ranches, pumpkin patches, and more – is estimated to amass .2 billion in revenue in 2024 and is projected to top .51 billion by 2031, according to Global Market Insights. Whether a pumpkin patch/corn maze is recognized on a more local scale, or nationally – like Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon, California, which was in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s...
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Late last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) tried to quietly slip a proposed rule through which would have allowed the listing of Natural Asset Companies (NACs) on the New York Stock Exchange. Proposed by the Intrinsic Exchange Group, NACs were conceptualized to “protect, restore, and grow the natural assets under their management…,” according to the Intrinsic Exchange Group. NACs would have been allowed for use in “natural areas,” which would include forests, grasslands, wetlands, and coral reefs. The second use would have been for “working areas,” with a focus on “converting agriculture to regenerative practices.” Finally, “hybrid areas”...
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The Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) took place all last week here in Billings, Montana. Throughout the course of the week, I was able to visit with people from all over the United States and Canada. Everyone I talked to was very excited and happy with how the cattle markets have been on the rise again lately and seemed cautiously optimistic about the future. Here is the reason I say cautiously optimistic: conversations were mainly centered around herd expansion, how many years of good/great prices we might have in front of us, and of course, the drought conditions around much...
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The Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) took place all last week here in Billings, Montana. Throughout the course of the week, I was able to visit with people from all over the United States and Canada. Everyone I talked to was very excited and happy with how the cattle markets have been on the rise again lately and seemed cautiously optimistic about the future. Here is the reason I say cautiously optimistic: conversations were mainly centered around herd expansion, how many years of good/great prices we might have in front of us, and of course, the drought conditions around much...
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Family farms and ranches are arguably the backbone of American agriculture. The unwavering passion and dedication to the land and legacy of a family are found at the heart of most operations. While the reward is so fulfilling, there’s no doubt that there are obstacles to combat in order to make the business successful. The strength of family relationships plus the discipline of a well-managed business sums up the equation for a successful family operation. Each family-owned agricultural business has unique dynamics coupled with its challenges. Sarah Sand, a Regional Agricultural Economist, with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Agricultural...
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Dear Mr. and Mrs. America, I’m not going to apologize because I broke the “woke” rules again or may have “misgendered” you in referring to you as Mr. or Mrs. The fact is, I just don’t care any more about being politically correct or woke. If this angers or shocks you, so be it. This letter is to inform you that I’m handing in my letter of resignation from American society, effective immediately. I’m not giving six week’s notice, because I simply can’t stand one more minute of all the lunacy going on in our country today. I’ve resigned myself...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Committee encourages any voting Farm Bureau member ages 18-35 to compete in the Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet, which takes place Tuesday, November 19 during the MFBF Annual Convention in downtown Billings. The winner of the Discussion Meet will receive the keys to a new Polaris Ranger 570, and an expense-paid trip to participate in the national Discussion Meet held during the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention January 2025 in San Antonio TX. In addition to the YF&R Discussion Meet, the Collegiate Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet Final Four will...
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State beef councils across the country gathered in Denver, Colorado, October 15-18, for the annual Partnerships in Action (PIA) conference to learn about national Beef Checkoff programs and discuss ways those efforts can be expanded in their own state. Coordinated by the Federation of State Beef Councils and funded by the Beef Checkoff, PIA brings state beef councils together to build a stronger state and national partnership. Topics discussed during the event highlighted how the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, and state beef councils work together to drive demand for beef. Attendees learned about program strategy,...
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The Public Lands Council (PLC) hailed a recent University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) study that shows that the digestive process of cattle renders cheatgrass seeds effectively inert, virtually eliminating any ability for those seeds to germinate into new plants. This study effectively busts the common myth that has incorrectly blamed cattle for spreading invasive cheatgrass plants across western landscapes through grazing. “As a grazing permittee, I have seen firsthand how the presence of cattle on allotments drastically reduces the amount of cheatgrass and other invasive plants compared to areas without livestock. This study proves that the spread of cheatgrass is...
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Simmental Show… Junior Show Judge: Matt Leo Open Show Judge: Amanda Schnoor Junior Grand Champion Simmental Female: Animal: DWYER/RSF MISS HONEY B; Exhibitor: Chael Roberts; Hometown: Absarokee, MT Junior Reserve Champion Simmental Female: Animal: FRKG Yolanda 349L; Exhibitor: Jady LeDoux; Hometown: Harrold, SD Junior Grand Champion Simmental Bull: Animal: R BIG HAT 320 L; Exhibitor: Chael Roberts; Hometown: Absarokee, MT Junior Reserve Champion Simmental Bull: Animal: TPHT TALKING SMACK M2H; Exhibitor: Aribella Beins; Hometown: Deweyville, UT Open Grand Champion Simmental Female: Animal: DWYER/RSF MISS HONEY B; Exhibitor: Roberts Cattle; Hometown: Absarokee, MT Open Grand Champion Simmental Bull: Animal: R...
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“In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” It’s a phrase many of us have heard and taught in school. With Columbus Day upon us, it’s a convenient time to remember and refresh our memory of why we have this international holiday. It’s also an opportunity to examine some of the momentous changes to agriculture and the expansion of culinary pallets across the globe. This singular event has transformed global agriculture and cuisine over hundreds of years. We now know this historic shift as the Columbian Exchange, a transformative process that reshaped the identities of various nations. Before we delve into...
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Colby Anderson, age six, loves to ride and gather cattle. He and his sister, Emma Anderson (see next week’s Agri-Kid), age three, are involved in every aspect of the ranch. Located outside Cottonwood, Idaho in the summer and White Bird, Idaho in the winter.
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“Another round just to keep them guessing,” Rascal snickered. He turned the key over, and the old lawn mower revved. It had a small smokestack that blew out a puff of smoke. Rascal switched his “pinchers of power” lever which made a red button glow green. “Alright you mangy dogs,” Rascal sniveled, “See if you can beat this. Bwa, ha, ha!” He released the clutch, and the mower lurched forward, and so did the thrashing teeth of the homemade machine he’d engineered. The raking teeth moved back and forth, criss-crossing each point, but as soon as those teeth came in...
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I am tired of writing about fire – not because I don’t care, but because I’m tired of seeing ranchers across the country suffer. Our General Manger, Dennis Ginkens asked me to provide coverage on the fires in North Dakota this week, and I’m glad he did, because I had honestly heard nothing about them. When you consider the fact that the southeast U.S. was prepping for its second major hurricane in the span of just two weeks at the same moment that people were losing their lives and livelihoods because of fires in North Dakota, it is somewhat understandable...
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Heaven gained an angel last week when my friend, Linda Story, lost her battle with cancer. Her obituary is so beautiful, I want to share it, but I also had to write a little tribute to her, because she was such an amazing woman. Ride On Ahead Thirty years ago, Steve and Linda hired on to run the Hobble Diamond across the Yellowstone. They left their home in Colorado to run the place flawlessly and tirelessly as if it were their own. Linda worked with Steve as a team, and they were gifted at everything. Gave us 30 years of...
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Ranchers in western North Dakota are in the beginning stages of cleanup and recovery after a pair of fires burned roughly 90,000 acres between October 4-5 in Williams County. Two fatalities have been reported at this time; Edgar Coppersmith, a 47-year-old Tioga producer and father, succumbed to injuries from the fires along with Johannes Nicolaas Van Eden, a 26-year-old South African farmhand who was expecting the birth of his first child with his wife in November. Infrastructure damage was significant, and farmers and ranchers in the area are beginning to assess the overwhelming impacts and losses to pastures, farmland, and...
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On October 8, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced further steps to promote competition and transparency within the U.S. beef industry by issuing an Advanced Noticed of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) entitled “Price Discovery and Competition in Markets for Fed Cattle.” The ANPR is seeking comments related to the complaints USDA has fielded “for years” about beef packers “using reported regional cash or spot prices as base prices for fed cattle formula pricing agreements, commonly known as Alternative Marketing Agreements (AMAs).” USDA, more specifically, is interested in stakeholder perspectives “on several possible interventions to develop new benchmarks as AMA base prices...
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Washington State University has a unique program in which cattle raised at the university’s Beef Center are utilized for teaching students not only about raising and caring for beef animals, but are also processed for sale to local customers and shipped around the country, all while students learn about meat processing. The beef program produces Angus and Wagyu cattle, marketed as WSU Premium Beef and WSU Premium Wagyu. Built in the early 1970s, the 16,000-square-foot WSU meat laboratory also serves the needs of local customers, offering custom slaughter and fabrication services. Brent McCann, WSU Beef Operations Manager, says his main...
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Hopefully we are past the skid we saw in cattle prices in August and part of September. It certainly feels like it. If one studies auction receipts and prices at markets across the country, it doesn’t take long to figure out there are a lot fewer cattle being brought to town due to the lowest cow numbers we have seen in history. The prices for calves have come back nicely in the last few weeks, which is also reflective of fewer supplies available. It sure looks to me like the weaned calves, and lighter calves suitable to making a yearling...
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In Part I of this story, we highlighted responses from former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris to four of 14 agriculture-related questions issued by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF); this survey of candidates has been conducted for over 40 years. Note: Kamala Harris’ responses came in the form of a letter that was signed by her Campaign Chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon and Campaign Manager, Julie Rodriguez. Agricultural Labor… Question: A continued challenge for American farmers and ranchers is being able to employ a reliable, skilled workforce. As such, many producers rely heavily on foreign agriculture labor....
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October 6, 2024, will mark the 68th annual Cal Poly Bull Test and Sale in San Luis Obispo, California. Cal Poly was one of first performance tests in the United States, beginning in 1956. At the start, only 60, two-year-old Hereford bulls were taken by the test, but by the mid ‘60s, Angus bulls were included, and the program shifted to yearlings. In its nearly 70-year history, the Cal Poly Bull Test and Sale has not only been a valued and trusted source of high-quality genetics for multiple breeds, but it is also unique in that it is almost entirely...
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The Producer Partnership is a unique program in Montana that is working to bring high-quality, locally-raised protein to families in need and schools across the state. Ranchers can donate a cull animal and have it processed at no charge. The protein is distributed across Montana in all 56 counties by the Producer Partnership’s distribution partner, the Montana Food Bank Network. Producers who donate animals receive a tax contribution letter stating the amount of pounds of protein processed for their donation. The Producer Partnership is the brainchild of fifth-generation rancher Matt Pierson, whose family has ranched in Montana (Highland Livestock) since...
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Wyoming state agencies have taken the next step in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) continuing Rock Springs RMP (Resource Management Planning) process. Governor Mark Gordon announced that the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Wyoming Game and Fish, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and Wyoming State Parks submitted protest packages to the BLM. These protests represent an effort to correct a planning effort gone awry. Protests are a standard part of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process. They are extremely important in addressing issues raised by state agencies in their comments on the draft...
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Now in its third year, the University of Wyoming Extension’s Food, Fun, 4-H program encourages youth and families to spend time together in the kitchen and at the dinner table. Organized by UW Extension educators Kellie Chichester of Niobrara County, Joddee Jacobsen of Natrona County, Mary Louise Wood of Park County and Erin Persche of Weston County, the program provides participants with monthly recipes and educational materials. “Food, Fun, 4-H is a fun educational program that brings the whole family to the dinner table,” Katie Easton, whose two children participate in Weston County 4-H, said. “It built confidence in our...
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This is an open letter to the reported approximate 40 percent of young men and 60 percent of young women that comprise the left leaning (woke, progressive, etc.) segment of the 18 – 25+ year old age group. No, we’re not going duck hunting. The question posed in the title is in reference to the military camo YOU will be issued if we, as a nation, continue on the same track we are on today. Across the globe we watch the Russia/Ukraine conflict: Then the ongoing terrorist activities all over the Middle East but most significantly toward Isreal, Iran’s nuclear...
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The Fix Our Forests Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote of 268 to 151. This legislation, introduced by Representatives Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Scott Peters (D-CA) removes burdensome red tape from our nation’s forests, supporting land management and protecting the West from devastating wildfire. Both the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) support this legislation. “Over 6.5 million acres of the West have burned this year alone. These horrific wildfires destroy our beautiful natural resources, hurt rural communities, and threaten our farms and ranches,” NCBA President and Wyoming rancher, Mark Eisele...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking for help in finding the people responsible for killing and abandoning a pronghorn buck on a block management area in Teton County ten miles west of Dutton. The buck was killed with a small caliber bullet and left at the location on the night of September 22. The pronghorn was killed using a firearm during archery season. Anyone with possible information about this crime is encouraged to visit tipmont.mt.gov to provide details or contact game warden Asher Margotat at 406-468-8204. You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to [post_excerpt],000.
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I rode into Big Timber one day, around 2010, and saw a big garage sale at the edge of town. I stopped and, walking through, I spotted an old pair of heavily used chaps on a table and looking them over, I saw a little brand carved into the belt. A bar over D lazy S. I learned the cowboy that carved his brand was Fred Sargent, known as a nice man that always had a smile for you. He was a fine cowboy, roper, rodeo hand, and great story teller, keeping you on the edge of your seat between...
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Angus enthusiasts from across the country, toured through Northeastern North Dakota recently, on the North Dakota Fall Angus Tour hosted by the North Dakota Angus Association (NDAA). People from ten states and two Canadian provinces came together September 14th through 16th in Devils Lake and set out to view the areas Angus cattle ranches. The tour group put on roughly 574 miles on the two-day excursion, that toured 14 Angus breeders’ operations. “We had a fantastic Angus tour,” said Kathy Tokach, NDAA President. “The tour hosts showcased some of the very best Angus genetics in the world. Attendance and optimism...
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The American Hereford Association (AHA) Hereford Feedout Program and the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) Fed Steer Shootout provide Hereford breeders and commercial users of Hereford genetics a convenient, cost-effective opportunity to benchmark and track the feedlot and carcass performance of their cattle. Participants can enroll a few head or entire pens of cattle and will receive ongoing updates about how their cattle are performing while on feed. They will also receive a collective summary of all cattle enrolled in the program to see how their cattle performed relative to the entire group. All cattle are fed at HRC Feed...
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Berwald Red Angus, owned by Austin and Becky Berwald of Toronto, South Dakota, has been crowned the 2024 Breeder of the Year by the Red Angus Association of America. The award was presented by Seth Leachman at the National Red Angus Convention in Lincoln, Nebraska, on September 12. Recipients of the prestigious Breeder of the Year award have shown exceptional dedication to preserving and enhancing the Red Angus breed's reputation within the cattle industry, while upholding and advancing the highest standards of genetic excellence. “Austin has been extremely progressive with his operation,” Leachman said. “He’s built the kind of genetics...
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Isabel and Ilaina Schmidt of Medina, North Dakota, with their new pup as they haul pairs to grass. Photo courtesy of Jerome Barnick.
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In comments submitted to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), R-CALF USA, emphasized strong support of the agency’s “Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets” proposed rule. Published on June 28, 2024, the proposal would revise the regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 (P&S Act). According to AMS, the proposed rule would “define unfair practices as conduct that harms market participants and conduct that harms the market.” “This rule is absolutely essential if we’re going to stop the ongoing contraction of the U.S. cattle industry,” R-CALF USA CEO, Bill Bullard said. “When finalized, this rule will make it...
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When I was asked to write this column, I jotted down a list of ideas. What are things about playing music professionally that I want people to know about? What are elements of the business that I think would give people more appreciation for music? Towards the top of this list is the time and cost associated with playing music. Hopefully this will encourage you to go see the band up the street, buy your favorite artist’s merch, or hire a band for the next community event. Much like building a life in agriculture, passion is usually a musician’s number...
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Two national cattle organizations, United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) and R-CALF USA will co-host the Livestock Producers Freedom Rally in Rapid City, South Dakota, October 7, 2024, beginning at 10:00 a.m. MDT in the Rushmore Room of the Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center. The event will focus primarily on animal identification, with speakers to address the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) rule mandating electronic identification (EID) eartags for cattle and bison moving interstate. Highlighted speakers include U.S. Rep Harriet Hageman (R-WY) who has introduced a joint resolution pursuant to the Congressional Review Act...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking for help in finding the people responsible for killing a bull elk in Tizer Basin south of Helena. The bull elk was killed and the antlers removed. The rest of the animal was left and wasted. The elk was killed using a firearm during archery season. The crime happened during the nighttime hours of Sept. 14. Tizer Basin is in hunting district 380, which is managed by FWP for older bulls and branch- antlered bulls. The hunting district can be hunted by permit only. It’s a permit that is one of the hardest...
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The Idaho Beef Council (IBC) is proud to announce its new Executive Committee positions which were voted on at the May board meeting in Boise and took effect July 1, 2024. • Steven Taylor (Jerome, Idaho) Chairman • J.W. Wood (Parma, Idaho) Vice Chairman • Jodie Mink (Cambridge, Idaho) Secretary/Treasurer Ushering in the next chapter of leadership dedicated to promoting and advancing the interests of Idaho’s beef industry, this transition comes with a mix of excitement for the future and a heartfelt farewell to two esteemed members, Ira Brackett, former chairman and Don Gaalswyk, whose contributions have been instrumental in...
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“No rest for the weary,” Big Ed said. He and Banjo sat atop the hill. The coyotes’ yips bounced from one side of the coulee to the other. “They’re thick as the thieves they are,” Banjo said. “Game on.” “Been a while since we did this together,” Big Ed said. “Feels good to have my ol’ partner by my side.” “Whoa, whoa, whoa, oh’ ye fearless leaders,” Tuff said. “Wait just a minute here, you coyote chasing hot rods. What are we doing with little ol’ Daisy here? She can’t go with you.” “She’s gotta learn sometime,” Banjo said....
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association’s Montana Agricultural Political Action Committee (MAPA PAC) is a non-partisan, voluntarily funded committee that supports candidates who protect and advance the interests of the agricultural and livestock industry. MAPA PAC is pleased to announce the following candidate endorsements. Statewide Candidates Governor Greg Gianforte Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen Attorney General Austin Knudsen State Auditor James Brown State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen Senate Candidates State Senator District 5 Matt Regier State Senator District 7 Greg Hertz State Senator District 13 Josh Kassmier State Senator District 16 Perri A Jacobs State Senator District 20 Sue Vinton State...
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Allen and his wife herded sheep on the Dogie Ranch one year. They had three border collies. Hotrod was the old man of the three, the master. He was a little stoved up, but still the best. Miss Kitty, the youngest, was starting to work pretty well, but was a bit over-zealous. The other was Boxcar. He was the one who did the most work, perhaps three- or four-years-old, very well trained, but not yet the dog Hotrod was. Hotrod didn’t do as much work as the other two out on the range, but in a shed, he was almost...
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I have started this column no less than three times in the last week but have forced myself to delete everything I wrote because it was coming from a place of fury. Nothing rational or productive ever comes from that. I even contemplated not writing about politics at all this week, but I felt encouraged and compelled to do so after a wonderful conversation with one of our WAR readers, Mr. Fred Baker from Illinois. So, here’s my attempt at being civil – while also doing a little bit of fact-checking on a few of Harris’ claims – in response...
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For more than 40 years, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has requested responses about numerous agriculture-related issues from U.S. Presidential candidates prior to election day. With a little more than one month until the 2024 election, AFBF released the unedited responses from former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on 14 key issues impacting agriculture today; the survey questions issued to each candidate ranged in topic from the Endangered Species Act, to net farm incomes, international trade, tax policy, and more. Food System and Farmer Resiliency… Question: The 2024 U.S. net farm income is expected to be...
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Initiative 91 (Initiative), which will appear on Colorado ballots in November, is drumming up intense debate because it aims to end the hunting of big cats. The Initiative reads: “The voters of Colorado find and declare that any trophy hunting of mountain lions, bobcats, or lynx is inhumane, serves no socially acceptable or ecologically beneficial purpose, and fails to further public safety.” Funding and publicity for the Initiative has been backed and furthered by the non-profit organization Cats Aren’t Trophies (CATS) and is supported by many organizations and animal rights groups – many of which are outside of the state...
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In July of 2021, the NCAA made it legal for student athletes to receive compensation for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. While many of the nation’s top athletes have benefitted from NIL deals in a very public-facing manner, a majority of athletes, particularly those with roots in agriculture, are not receiving these extra monetary benefits – until now. Zach Bosle, CEO of Tractor Tuesday – a recently launched, state-of-the-art online farm implement auction site – developed the Farm Athletes Initiative, which has awarded roughly 15 NIL deals in its first year to student athletes from the agriculture industry. The...
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Last week saw things turn around somewhat in the futures. September feeder cattle were up nearly .00 from the previous week, which should prove beneficial to those who still have calves and yearlings to sell. I worked the Northern Livestock Video sale this week, but due to press deadlines, I’ll have to report on that in the next edition. It seems like the packers are making money hand-over-fist the last several weeks when you look at what they have been purchasing live cattle for and where retail beef prices are at. Retail beef prices set new record highs during the...
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Governor Greg Gianforte recently requested a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretarial Disaster Declaration from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in response to significant damages in Big Horn, Rosebud, and Powder River counties caused by the Remington Fire. “The impacts on agriculture have been significant as over 95% of the total acres of all land burned within the described counties are used for agricultural production,” Gov. Gianforte wrote. “Early estimates project a loss of more than 1,000 miles of fencing, numerous stock tanks and water supply lines, livestock grazing and hay, and several agriculture-related buildings.” The governor continued, “Sadly, livestock...
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Recently I listened to a radio interview with Tim Sheehy on Working Ranch radio show that is very concerning. When Tim Sheehy was asked about MCOOL (mandatory country of origin label) his answer sided with the packers. He said they should have the ability to mix foreign beef with US beef without being penalized. To be clear the only penalty that the packers now have is to not to dishonestly label their products. He said that mixing in foreign beef doesn’t impact the product. He also said that COOL should be addressed at the state level therefore, he doesn’t support...
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The Colvin Scholarship Fund, dedicated to fostering the next generation of leaders in agriculture, achieved a milestone in 2024 by awarding a record-breaking 0,000 in scholarships to 26 students. With increased scholarships presented, more students than ever are being empowered to pursue careers that advance the beef industry. Scholarship recipients are each actively pursuing a career in production agriculture, industry research or other agricultural endeavors. With their aspirations for success in the beef business, they are continuing the legacy of Certified Angus Beef’s (CAB) co-founder and long-time executive director, Louis “Mick” Colvin. Since its inception 25 years ago, the Colvin...
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Pass a Farm Bill. This is the message several South Dakota family farmers and ranchers delivered to D.C. policymakers during the 2024 National Farmers Union Fly-In, September 9-11. “A Farm Bill ensures the stability of farming and ranching,” explained Ryan Urban, a fourth-generation Pukwana crop and cattle producer. “It is scary the dollars it takes to produce food. The price of seed, price of machinery, price of livestock feed – the Farm Bill provides risk protection we need if our crop fails or a blizzard kills our cattle.” Ryan and his wife Samantha were among 26 producers South Dakota Farmers...
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The Producer Partnership is a Montana-based nonprofit that features the first USDA federally inspected nonprofit owned and operated meat processing facility in the United States. Our facility is in Livingston. We partner with Montana ranchers and farmers to end hunger in the Treasure State by providing protein from locally raised donated animals to food banks and schools across the state. We make it a priority to connect producers with their local schools to provide students with the best quality Montana-grown protein (which we know is the finest in the world!). We are now proud to administer a generous grant seeded...
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Dear Editor, I’m disgusted by Jon Tester’s lack of virtue which was demonstrated by the full-page ads in newspapers falsely accusing Tim Sheehy of shutting down our rural hospitals. Even for Tester, this ad is a new low designed to stir up fear in the hearts of our neighbors. It’s politics at its worst, orchestrated by none other than the “Big Sandy dirt farmer” who claims Washington hasn’t changed him. Here’s the truth. Tim is committed to protecting our rural hospitals, lowering health care costs, and always protecting Montanans with pre-existing conditions. Tim will protect Medicare and Social Security benefits...
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Cameron Ison has been honored as the 2024 Outstanding Junior Member, recognizing his dedication to the Red Angus breed and his significant contributions to the betterment of the national Junior Red Angus Association over the past year. Ison, the son of Rob Ison and Jenny Wallin, hails from Paducah, Kentucky, and has been involved with Red Angus for over a decade. His dedication and passion for the breed have been fueled by exhibiting Red Angus cattle from the local to national levels. As a member of the Junior Red Angus board, Ison played a pivotal role in revitalizing the Kentucky-Tennessee...
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WASHINGTON (September 10, 2024) – Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) announced their strong support for the ESA Amendments Act of 2024, introduced by Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA) and Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR). This legislation would reform the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to provide more timely conservation efforts on America’s rangeland. “For too long, the Endangered Species Act has been weaponized to list species under non-science-based criteria to the detriment of real conservation. Farmers and ranchers have witnessed the harm that comes from politically motivated species listings and the dangers that come from recovered predators...
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Changes to Federal Milk Marketing Orders being considered by USDA could hurt farmers the FMMO system is designed to protect. The American Farm Bureau Federation delivered that message in comments sent today to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall emphasized the analysis in a follow-up letterto Mr. Vilsack as well. “The FMMO system relies on fairness and transparency, and we fear some of these changes could disrupt the balance that ensures producers and processors both benefit from the system,” wrote President Duvall. “Producer trust in this system depends on its fairness and the help it provides in balancing the terms...
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The annual Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Feeding Quality Forum (Forum) was recently held in Dodge City, Kansas. Over the course of two days, the Forum featured sessions led by numerous university experts and industry professionals who discussed management strategies to advance the performance of CAB on a larger scale and for producers looking to capture greater premiums for their cattle. Dan Basse, President of the AgResource Company, opened up the Forum with an overview of the global agriculture market and production trends and explained their connection to the geopolitical landscape and United States’ farmers. Global Grain Market… It is no...
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Last Friday marked the third day in a row of higher feeder cattle futures, something we have not seen for a while. The Cattle on Feed report was released following the closing of the futures board. I had high hopes that maybe we were going to see a bullish report with the way cattle futures had been moving for three days, but instead we saw a slightly bearish report. Cattle on feed as of August 1 came in at 100.3 percent, with the average guess being 100.1 percent and a range of 99.8-100.5 percent, so that was right at what...
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Last week, I traveled to Dodge City, Kansas, for the annual Certified Angus Beef Feeding Quality Forum. It was my first time at the event, and I was very impressed with the lineup of speakers and topics that were addressed. A few days before, someone asked me if I knew of anyone else that would be attending, and I said, “No, but I’m sure I’ll run into at least one person I know.” It never ceases to amaze me how large, yet incredibly small, the ag industry truly is. I ran into some producers from eastern Colorado who are neighbors...
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The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s (UNL) Center for Agricultural Profitability’s (CAP) most recent webinar featured UNL professor and CAP Director Jay Parsons, PhD, and Nebraska extension specialist, Aaron Berger to discuss price protection opportunities for producers using the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance tool available through USDA. “Given the volatility that we see in the markets in general, with relatively high market prices, we always worry about the bottom falling out of that,” Parsons said. “Historically, there’s been times where risk protection on the market side has really paid big dividends for producers. LRPs are one of those tools that you...
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Ranchers and land managers can learn about forage production, stocking rates, managing risk, drought insurance and more in an interactive, online learning experience provided by Nebraska Extension. Participants in this six-session webinar will interact with other producers and with presenters to learn from the latest research in range and pasture management. They will walk away with the knowledge to build their own grazing plan and a better understanding of managing grass for range health and profitability. The series will be on Monday and Thursday evenings October 14 through 31 from 7:30 - 8:45 p.m. (CDT). Starting with plant identification, participants...
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As Palmer amaranth continues to spread across the Intermountain West, the University of Wyoming Extension has released a new publication on how to identify this invasive weed, best practices for preventing its dispersal, and the limited options available for its control. Now considered one of the most damaging agricultural weeds in the U.S., Palmer amaranth was first reported in Wyoming in 2018. To date, reports of the weed have been recorded in four counties. “Palmer amaranth is a new weed in Wyoming with a notorious reputation for being difficult to manage,” says Kelsey Brock, UW Extension invasive plant specialist. “As...
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Across the United States, 2024 has been a year of tremendous trials for the agriculture community, particularly due to large-scale wildfires. The week of August 19, an over-abundance of dry fuels – leftover from an above-average precipitation year in 2023 – exploded into highly volatile, quick-moving fires in northern Wyoming and southern Montana that burned nearly 350,000 acres in a matter of days between the House Draw, Remington, Constitution, and Flat Rock fires. While livestock losses are uncertain at this point, some ranchers, like Megan and Ian Welles, are now faced with nearly total losses of pastures and fence lines;...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA), in partnership with Massey Ferguson, is excited to announce their first round of Blue and Gold Massey Tractor Raffle contributions made to four local Montana FFA chapters—Baker FFA, Deer Lodge FFA, Hinsdale FFA, and Malta FFA. Total donations for the first round totaled 0. “We are delighted to send our first round of payments to local FFA chapters as part of the Blue and Gold Massey Tractor Raffle,” shared Raylee Honeycutt, MSGA Executive Vice President. “With these funds, chapters will continue to develop the next generation of agriculturists and we want encourage other local chapters...
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Beef cattle outlook, coccidiosis: the silent thief robbing profits in your stocker operation and future trends in the Kansas cattle feeding industry are among topics planned for 2024 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, September 26. The conference will be hosted at the KSU Beef Stocker Unit. “This year’s program reflects the challenging landscape our industry is experiencing,” says Dale Blasi, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry professor and beef cattle extension specialist. “The experiences and thoughts of our assembled speakers and panelists will provide insights as we progress into an unknown future.” The day will start with a...
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An adult male grizzly bear was euthanized last week after four livestock conflicts in the upper Blackfoot Valley over the past month. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife specialists reported that the conflicts began in mid-July east of Lincoln where the bear first killed a calf on leased private property. The first depredation was not discovered for a few days, so traps were not set. FWP worked with the landowner and other partners in the area to try to prevent more livestock depredations, however the bear remained and continued to pursue cattle. Other depredations began the first week in August,...
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The Idaho Cattle Association (ICA) is now accepting donations for their Wildfire Relief Fund, benefitting beef cattle producers affected by fires in Idaho this year. The fund was established in 2022 and has received annual contributions from AgWest Farm Credit, as well as through ICA fundraising and general donations. The fund consists solely of private donations, no public funds are received. Applications are being accepted for relief funding if received by October 15, 2024. Qualifying entities or individuals include local associations or Idaho cattle producers, RFPAs, volunteer fire departments or organizations, individuals or others that provided assistance, resources or funds...
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Livestock Marketeers — an organization of livestock marketing professionals — awarded two scholarships this summer to college-age students interested in pursuing a career in the livestock marketing industry. This was the first year Livestock Marketeers offered scholarships, which were coordinated by the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA). “This scholarship was created to help cultivate the next generation of livestock marketing professionals. On behalf of the Livestock Marketeers we are proud to do our part to further the education and help develop careers in our industry,” says Colt Keffer, CK Sales and Marketing and scholarship committee member. Applicant requirements included...
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Black bears in Colorado are entering hyperphagia and will spend up to 20 hours a day trying to search out and eat as much food as possible as they fatten up for winter. In the coming months, it is critical that people are vigilant and proactive in removing all attractants from outside homes and campsites in order to prevent conflicts and encounters with black bears. Twenty chicken sandwiches, 10 large orders of french fries, 10 soft drinks and 10 milkshakes is the approximate fast food order needed to total 20,000 calories. That is how many calories hyperphagia, an increase in...
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The future of the U.S. cattle industry hinges on our ability to swiftly respond to disease outbreaks. Yet, some groups and individuals continue to fight the tools that could protect our livelihoods. The most recent rule to come under fire is USDA’s animal disease traceability regulation. In the face of a potential FMD outbreak, every minute counts. The choice between outdated methods and advanced technology could mean the difference between a controlled situation and a nationwide catastrophe. Imagine the chaos of an FMD outbreak, with markets shuttered, and producers frantically searching for nearly illegible metal bright tags in the pouring...
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The feds came out with a list of rules that protect wolves but make living in the West like walking through a minefield. The feds have now placed booby-traps everywhere in the West that are meant to trap people like you, so I’d watch my step if I were you. It’s become very dangerous to tread anywhere on the 46 percent of the eleven western-most contiguous states that is public land owned by the U.S. government. For example, a person may NOT kill a wolf in the act of killing livestock on public land. If you do, you’re facing serious...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture last week announced the appointment of 20 new members to the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, including Alexandria Moxley from Montana. This committee is part of USDA’s support for equitable access to USDA’s services and programs and creating more market opportunities for local and regional production. Moxley is a Montana Farmers Union member who participated in the Farmers Union Enterprises Leadership program, as well as founder and owner of A.Moxley Consulting where she focuses on helping producers access funding. “The USDA Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers will benefit greatly from Ali’s...
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The most challenging cooking jobs I have ever had were in my many years of cooking in the Scapegoat Wilderness for Brett and Julie Todd. Every time I rode out of camp, I would marvel that I had kept all those people fed under extreme conditions for a week with no opportunity to restock supplies. You see, at home I am one of those people who goes to the grocery store every day. One morning while I was cooking biscuits and gravy in the Meadow Creek Camp, one of the guides recounted a tale about my camp cooking counterpart over in the Camp...
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Svanna Hansberger checking hay fields outside of Torrington, Wyoming. Photo coutesy of Demi Hansberger.
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This past week at the President Donald Trump rally and speech in Bozeman, Montana, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with Tim Sheehy, a husband, Navy Seal, rancher, businessman, and Republican U.S. Senate candidate for the great state of Montana. During our conversation, Sheehy discussed the state of the race, his priorities when it comes to public lands, as well as some of the claims his opponent has made against him. Enjoy this abridged version of the interview, or watch the full interview here. Randyn Gregg: Today, we have a very special guest, Tim...
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As of August 19, there were 62 large, active wildfires across the United States, the likes of which have burned over 2.23 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). Oregon and Idaho are at the top of the chart for volume of active fires at this point, with 15 and 12, respectively. In California, the Park Fire – alleged to have started by way of arson on July 24 – has burned nearly 430,000 acres with 55 percent containment, making it the fourth largest in California’s history as of press time. Ranchers, in numerous states across the...
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The Central States Fair & Rodeo in Rapid City, South Dakota, featured longhorn events August 16-18 including youth-centered events, a regional longhorn measuring event, a sale, and concluded with a world longhorn qualifying show. The longhorn events held at the Central States Fair & Rodeo were started by longtime longhorn breeders Scot and Jodie O’Bryan. Their children were heavily involved in showing longhorns, primarily in Texas and Colorado, and they sought to provide an opportunity for longhorn showing and a sale in the northern part of the country. They started by hosting a halter show and a sale, then added...
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Well, I had high hopes that fall was starting to creep its way in the last 10 days or so. We received a much-needed break in temperatures and even had a couple nice rains. The only problem was one of the rains had 70+ mile per hour winds and hail! Mornings were feeling way cooler and fresh, but that is all changing this week again. We are predicted to have temperatures back in the mid-90s to low 100s this week. It’s not what we wanted, but we will deal with it as we can’t change it. There is some early...
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Montana beef producers are faced with a number of challenges, and we don’t all agree on how to overcome them. These issues are complicated, and often lead to tense conversations. Simply telling one another to get along isn’t enough, so I would like to share some of the overarching issues facing everyone in the industry and what we can do to overcome them. Finding common ground is imperative for our future. At the end of the day, I believe that, deep down, all Americans want to get along with one another; this is also the case for Montana beef producers....
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Join The Center for Food Integrity (CFI), Oct. 22-24, at Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel, for the CFI Transparency Summit 2024 as industry leaders come together to create actionable strategies for integrating transparency across the food and agriculture value chain. Building upon the success of last year’s event, the 2024 program will focus on specific steps the food system can take to be more transparent. “In today’s environment transparency is no longer optional, consumers demand it,” said Mickie French, CFI executive director. “This year’s Summit provides the expertise, resources and tailored strategies to implement transparency. It’s a business imperative vital to...
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The U.S. beef cow inventory has fallen to its lowest level in more than 60 years, as cow-calf operators have faced weather-damaged forage, expensive feed and historically high calf prices. Steadily shrinking beef supplies have disrupted cattle markets in recent years and led to sharply higher retail beef prices. With no significant changes on the horizon that would quickly reverse the trend, rebuilding the U.S. beef cow herd to historic norms is shaping up to be a yearslong undertaking. According to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, current market conditions are incentivizing cow-calf producers to sell heifer calves...
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Shared from the Colorado Livestock Association and ASI Weekly E-Newsletters The slaughterhouse ban on the ballot in Denver this November unfairly targets a single employee-owned business and forces 160 employees out of a company they own. Banning a single Denver business won’t improve animal welfare, but it will have devastating consequences for the local economy and increase food prices. Wrong for Working Families: Thousands of people will lose their jobs if this measure passes. Over 160 employee-owners at Denver’s only slaughterhouse will lose their jobs and benefits. A ban could also threaten more than 2,700 jobs including independent ranchers, truckers,...
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Like many of you, I have been curious to see who Kamala Harris would tap as her VP running mate. Frankly, I thought she’d go with someone more moderate and far less polarizing than herself. Yet, she went with Tim Walz, a Nebraska-born Democrat who serves as Minnesota’s Governor. I think in our political climate, it is more important than ever that we get the truth about these candidates, and I want to urge caution when reading headlines as November nears. It’s far too easy to scroll through social media and read just the headline on an article and have...
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High school students from 44 U.S. states, five Canadian provinces, Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand came together to compete in 16 National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) events July 14-20 in Rock Springs, Wyoming. With around 1,650 youth participating, the six-day event was the culmination of hard work, determination, and passion for these high-school students and the talented horses that carried them to the finals. AQHA Horse of the Year. . . “Top high school rodeo athletes from across the nation competed at the highest level, and, along with their equine athletes, earned top accolades for their hard work. This...
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Several new Kansas statutes have passed that will bring horse racing back to Kansas as early as 2026. The last horse race in Kansas at Eureka Downs was in 2010, but due to lack of funding and support, horse racing in Kansas ceased to exist. “There was no parimutuel funds that went to the horse breeding program or the Fair Association,” Michael O’Donnell, former Kansas Republican Senator and former Sedgwick County Commissioner, explained. “They were relying on just the betting that was taking place on the live races to support that, and that wasn’t enough to pay for the expenses...
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Global unrest, unadjusted federal interest rates, and a lackluster report for new jobs in the United States, coupled with a growing national unemployment rate, led to notable downturns in each of the major trading indexes on August 2. The NASDAQ Composite fell 2.4 percent, the S&P 500 dropped 1.8 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average waned 1.5 percent. Speculations of a recession are looming, and feeder and live cattle futures have taken a hit right along with other equity interests. Analysts at Walsh Trading, LLC, in Chicago, Illinois, dove into the intricacies behind this market volatility – on a...
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Rhett (10) and Stetson (seven) Hamilton of Richmond, Missouri, helping their grandmother with a sheep project. Photo courtesy of their great-grandmother, Ann Simpson.
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The 2024 Olympics are wrapped up, which is good, because watching them makes us normal people feel inadequate and unworthy. We like to believe we have achieved some level of greatness, and then we compare ourselves to those amazing athletes and feel substandard. I am reminded of a conversation I had back when the Olympics were in Japan. It went like this: “What are you doing here? I thought you would be in Sochi,” my friend Judy Vidack greeted me. “Are you worried about security or did you decide not to compete this year?” asked my other friend, Marion Beley....
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I enjoyed a fantastic four days last week working the video sale here in Billings. Temperatures reached as high as 107 degrees outside and held steady at around 100 degrees during a majority of the event. Yes, it was hot outside, but the prices sellers received inside were even hotter! Below, you’ll find the chart once again assembled by Kurt Kangas of the American Angus Association after the completion of the sale. (See Figure 1.) Take some time and study these charts. Keep in mind that this is a recap of the entire sale. There are huge differences in delivery...
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There is something to be deeply admired about people who have the courage to willingly run towards danger for the sake of helping others. We celebrate this trait – not nearly enough I might add – when it comes to our troops, our police officers, and our first responders. But I don’t think those of us who haven’t served in those positions, myself included, can probably grasp the true nature of what those selfless men and women do every single day. Right now, thousands of federal firefighters are deployed in the West trying quell the angry flames that have been...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes to the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) beginning with the 2025 crop year. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is expanding coverage options to additional crops as well as increasing premium support to make the policy more affordable for producers. “The Risk Management Agency is continually responding to producer needs and adapting our insurance coverage options to give producers more choices when it comes to managing their risks,” said RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger. “This expansion is part of RMA’s larger effort to provide more options for specialty crop producers.” ECO is currently approved...
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Federal and local fire crews in California and Oregon have been working around the clock since mid-July to suppress a handful of devastating fires that have been significant in regard to their exponential growth, number of acres burned, and in some cases, for their uncommon behavior. Several major fires in Oregon were started by lightning and have been exacerbated by high winds and scorching temperatures; the Durkee Fire, which was the largest wildfire in the country at one point, was started by lightning in Baker, Oregon, on July 17. Another major fire, the Park Fire, which has seen explosive growth...
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Today {July 29}, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Director of Government Affairs Tanner Beymer released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture extending the 60-day comment period for their latest Packers and Stockyards proposed rule, "Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets," by only 15 days: "Cattle markets are immensely complicated and USDA is planning to make sweeping changes to those markets with only 75 days of public input. While today's extension is welcome, it is not nearly enough time to properly solicit public comment and review a rule that will have such an overarching impact on the...
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Montana Farm Bureau members are voicing their support of an American Farm Bureau lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule. AFBF and 11 other groups filed a lawsuit July 12 challenging the lawfulness of the Rule, which threatens the future of ranching in the U.S. by destabilizing a decades-old tradition of grazing on federal lands. BLM issued the final rule in May with a stated goal of increasing the health and resilience of public lands, but Farm Bureau believes a lack of clarity in the rule and changes in policy that are not authorized by law make...
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Glacier Processing Cooperative will modernize its meat processing facility, increase efficiencies, and position the co-op for long-term growth through a 0,000 USDA Local Meat Capacity Grant. The co-op received one of 33 Local MCap grants totaling nearly .9 million announced by the USDA in July. The awards were for equipment only and processing expansion projects and built on the first round of .5 million awarded to 42 projects announced in March. Glacier Processing, a rancher-owned cooperative in Columbia Falls, was developed to ensure meat processing remains available for local producers in the Flathead. The equipment modernizations will span the facility’s...
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Jayce Dickerson describes a herdsman as someone who can “talk cattle” confidently, puts in the work at home and is willing to share their knowledge with others. He proved to exemplify these qualities himself, as he was named the 2024 Junior Herdsman of the Year during the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), July 5, in Madison, Wisconsin. “It’s just been a goal forever,” he said. “To get that award and to know that all of the juniors vote on it makes it even better.” The award recognizes an outstanding member of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) in their final...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) issued statements following the House passage of H.R. 8998, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025: “This Interior appropriations bill protects the rights of public lands grazing permittees, reels in overreaching BLM regulations, addresses Endangered Species Act challenges, defends local communities against Presidential land grabs under the Antiquities Act, and recognizes the important role of ranchers—America’s original conservationists—in the stewardship of our nation’s public lands,” said Public Lands Council President and grazing permittee Mark Roeber. “The Public Lands Council is very thankful for...
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Throughout our lives, there are memories seared into our minds, much like a hot branding iron forever etching what we were doing when such momentous events occur. Sometimes, that event can be joyous, such as the birth of a child or marrying your spouse, but oftentimes, that event is tragic. Every American alive that fateful November day in Dallas, Texas, in 1963, remembers the assassination of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, or that of his brother, former Attorney General and later the 1968 Democratic presidential frontrunner, Bobby Kennedy, who was murdered by an anti-Israel Jordanian...
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For 18 years, Clark Schenkenberger was the Editor of what is known today as the Western Ag Reporter (WAR). During his career, he witnessed years of tremendous growth and periods of transition not only for the publication, but for the print industry as a whole. The WAR, in its current form, has been 84 years in the making. Originally named the Western Livestock Reporter (WLR), the paper got its start with publisher, Norman Warsinske on September 6, 1940, at the Old Union Stockyards in Spokane, Washington. The WLR moved to Billings, Montana, in December of 1941, which is where fieldman...
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“It was natural; it was eating, breathing, and drawing,” Anna-Sophia Lagos described her childhood desire to draw. Located in Tomball, Texas, Lagos’ art depicts the Western lifestyle in an effort to preserve its culture, which has made such an impact in her own life growing up in rural Texas. As a young girl, her father and grandfather had a woodworking business where they built “large furniture projects for churches” and “frames for the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.” Building and creating was second nature both to her family and early on for herself as well. “I would watch those...
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I would like to do a quick follow up to my “Comments” from last week, which I finished right as the Republican National Convention (RNC) kicked off. There were many incredible speakers throughout the week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I just wanted to voice to all of you of what I thought was the greatest thing to come out of the convention, which is that Almighty God is front and center again! Multiple speakers over the course of last week made comments that the reason Donald J. Trump is still alive is by the grace of Almighty God. Divine Intervention also...
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Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) confirmed that efforts to prevent ultra-processed, lab-grown protein from showing up in the diet of the American armed forces were successful, following news that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is not pursuing lab-grown protein projects for human consumption. “NCBA was the first and only cattle group to uncover this stream of DoD funding that could go toward lab-grown protein projects, and we were the first and only group to fight back,” said NCBA President and Wyoming rancher Mark Eisele. “After weeks of engaging with Congress and speaking out against this plan, we...
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Leadership is a viable skill for members of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA). For her abilities, Paige Lemenager was announced as the 2024 Jim Baldridge Outstanding Leadership Award recipient at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), July 5 in Madison, Wisconsin. "I felt humbled and incredibly proud to receive this award," Lemenager said. "I was proud that other people had put their confidence in me to continue being a strong leader." The award recognizes an NJAA member who shows integrity and serves as a role model to others within the association. Lemenager of Hudson, Illinois, was presented with a...
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The National FFA Organization plays a large role in the lives of students across the State of Montana. This program first started in 1928 and has since spread across all 50 states and 5 territories. Chartered in 1930, the Montana Association has a membership of over 6700 students, representing 111 chapters. The FFA Motto is “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve” and members practice this every day. Students have numerous opportunities to learn about potential careers, serve their communities, and develop skills that will last a lifetime. One special opportunity that took place recently...
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Since 2011, the Montana Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Hoofin’ it for Hunger Run has raised ,000 for the Montana Food Bank Network. This year the run will take place September 21, 2024, beginning and ending at Depot Park in Dillon. The event features a 10K, starting at 11 a.m. and a 5K starting at 11:30 a.m. through beautiful southwestern Montana ranch country. If you can’t get to Dillon, consider registering as a virtual runner which means you’ll still get the cool Hoofin’ it for Hunger t-shirt while supporting the event and raising money for the Montana Food Bank...
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FWP is seeking comment on proposed Habitat Conservation Leases (HCLs). HCLs are incentive-based, voluntary agreements offered by FWP to help conserve priority wildlife habitats on private lands while also supporting working agricultural lands and public hunting and recreation opportunity. Private landowners can enroll their land into a 30- or 40- year conservation lease in return for a one-time per-acre lease payment. Funding for the Program is generally derived from state hunting license fees and federal Pittman Robertson Wildlife Restoration funds. FWP staff will hold a public meeting on July 23, 2024, where they will provide an overview of the HCL...
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Judge, meat scientist, nutritionist – cattlemen wear many hats, and the winners of the Minix Stockman Contest, exhibit some of the diverse skills needed to succeed in the cattle business. Lane Toledo of California, Titus Wynn of Wisconsin, and Creed Caldwell of Kansas earned the highest combined scores for each of the three age divisions at the 2024 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), held July 1-7 in Madison, Wisconsin. “The Stockman Contest was designed to prepare juniors for the future with their overall knowledge of the beef industry and their ability in evaluating cattle,” said Caitlyn Brandt, director of events...
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From July 8-10, Western Video Market represented over 162,000 head of cattle in their 35th edition of the July video sale. The sale was broadcast live from the Silver Legacy Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada. This sale featured cattle from some of the most prominent ranches in 14 western states. During the week, educational seminars were presented by industry leading companies, and over ,000 was raised during the Buyer and Consignor Appreciation Dinner for the Hirschberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research in memory of Andy Peek. Please see a breakdown of sale results below, courtesy of Kurt Kangus with...
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Four new leaders stepped onto the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) board of directors during the 2024 VitaFerm® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE). The four newly elected NJHA directors were appointed during the maroon jacket ceremony on July 11 after state delegates selected them to serve a three-year term on a team of 12 directors chosen to govern the organization of more than 4,000 members. After giving their retiring addresses, four board members passed their maroon jackets to the newly elected directors — Matt Bruns, North Platte, Neb.; Rylie Meinhardt, Onaga, Kan.; Emma Ballinger, Mckee, Ky.; and Sarah Beth...
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A new study published this week in the journal “Emerging Infectious Diseases”reports the first finding of rustrela virus in a mountain lion in North America. In May of 2023, Colorado Parks and Wildlife euthanized a sick mountain lion in Douglas County that was unable to use its hind legs. An analysis of tissues from the mountain lion revealed the presence of the rustrela virus, which was recently identified as the cause of “staggering disease,” a usually fatal neurologic syndrome recognized in domestic cats. The lead author on the paper, former CPW Wildlife Pathologist Dr. Karen Fox, said that the diagnosis...
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Brenna Giesick, of Bridger, Montana, age two, feeding the bulls. Photo submitted by Dianne Giesick.
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The best job I ever had was working as a camp cook for Brett and Julie Todd of the K Lazy 3. This time of year, I get very homesick for those mountain trips, but I also remember how difficult it could be at times. It was a truly fine and pleasant misery at times, but mostly it was an amazing experience that I feel lucky to have had. The only job description I ever received was from Guy Gravert, one of the guides, who told me, “The cook rides in the back and gets two buckets of water when...
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On July 9, Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR) offered a draft of the ESA Amendments Act of 2024 for discussion in a House Natural Resources subcommittee meeting. At its core, the ESA Amendments Act aims to “strengthen” the longstanding and highly contentious Endangered Species Act (ESA) by prioritizing recovery and incentivizing conservation efforts for private landowners. Committee Republicans and a witness representing a water conservation district in California advocated for the dire need for the ESA Amendments Act; however, House Democrats and an attorney from Defenders of Wildlife, a conservation group based in Washington, D.C., argued vehemently against the reforms suggested...
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Originally published on July 8, 2024, in AFBF’s Market Intel reports. When learning U.S. history, narratives of vast swarms of locusts ravaging millions of acres of farmland are often recounted. Not all grasshoppers are locusts, and the swarms aren’t quite as big as they were in the 1800s, but grasshoppers and Mormon crickets remain a persistent risk to agriculture, inflicting significant damage to rangeland and crops. This article provides an overview of these insects’ economic impact on agriculture in the West and efforts to manage and mitigate their populations. Background… Almost 400 native species of grasshoppers inhabit the Western United...
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I was busy tidying up my garage over the weekend, sweating profusely in the 102-degree weather. My phone had not made a sound for many hours, when all of a sudden I started receiving multiple calls, texts, and photos that Donald Trump had been shot. I dropped everything and ran in the house and turned the news on. I was so upset and mad that our country could come down to something like this. I don’t care if you are Democrat, Republican, Independent, etc., something like this should NEVER happen in this country. The hate that has been building stronger...
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During South Dakota Farmers Union Leadership Camp, Brooke LaMont, LizBeth Crosby, Billy Kezena and Cadence Konechne were elected by campers to serve on the Junior Advisory Council (JAC) and campers Julian Rodriguez and Chase Blotsky were selected through an interview to also serve as JACs. As JACs, these teens will help facilitate the upcoming Farmers Union State Youth Camp and they will also plan, organize and facilitate the 2025 Farmers Union State Leadership Camp. Read on to get to know these young leaders. Cadence Konechne is a junior at Kimball High School and lives on her family farm near...
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The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and National Farmers Union (NFU) filed a lawsuit Monday in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently finalized light- and medium-duty vehicle emissions standards. RFA and NFU filed the suit because EPA clearly lacked the authority to adopt the regulation, which essentially mandates the production of battery electric vehicles (EVs) while, at the same time, ignoring other technologies - like low-carbon ethanol and flex fuel vehicles - that reduce emissions from light- and medium-duty transportation. “EPA grossly exceeded its statutory authority by finalizing regulations that effectively mandate the...
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Winona Martin greets one of the many new calves at Ochsner Roth Cattle Co. in Torrington, Wyoming, with a friendly “Moo!”
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We live on a beary creek under a big beary hill, so we often see black bears wandering through the yard. The other night we decided to have bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches for dinner. Of course I overcooked - well, technically burned – the bacon, so I threw the sliding glass door in the kitchen wide open. A few minutes later, as we sat down to eat our slightly smoky crunchy sandwiches in our smoke hazed kitchen, one of our resident black bears wandered past our porch. The smell of bacon is notoriously irresistible to bears. We recognized this...
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From June 9-15, college rodeo fans and athletes gathered in Casper, Wyoming, for the annual showcase that is the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR). At the conclusion of the regular season, Montana State University’s (MSU) men’s team was leading the Big Sky Region with 8,252.5 points, which was second in the national standings. The MSU women claimed the Big Sky season-end title with 3,640.16 points, which situated them fifth in the national standings. The MSU men’s team finished the week at the CNFR in 11th place with 392.5 points, and the women came in a respectable fourth place with 345...
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The BLM preferred management strategy for the Lakeview Resource Management area has resident ranchers concerned about the future of grazing on BLM land. On June 6, 2024, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced it was looking for public comments on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on amendments to the 2003 Lakeview Resource Management Plan (LRMP). Located in Lake and Harney Counties in southern Oregon, the LRMP outlines management strategies for 3.2 million acres of BLM land. The amendment to the plan is in response to litigation that was filed and granted by the Oregon National Desert Association (ONDA)...
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Up until about 60 years ago, local butcher shops were common in nearly every town in America, but as supermarkets replaced small grocers, local butchers disappeared. Shoppers lost an awareness of where their food was actually coming from. But that’s not so in the Hood River Valley of Oregon. Founded in 1951, Mountain Valley Meat is still a family-owned and operated business and plays an important role in the local food economy. This is the only butcher in the county, and there are just a handful of small-scale meat processors in the entire state. This facility is located in a...
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Last week, I provided coverage on the recent Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s oversight hearing of Tracy Stone-Manning’s work as the Director of the BLM. To say that I was heated after watching that hearing is a vast understatement, so I decided to take a week to let my emotions simmer before I provided my commentary. It didn’t work. I am very proud of the Senators in that committee who didn’t sugar coat how poorly Stone-Manning, the BLM, and the White House are managing our nation’s public lands. I think Utah’s Mike Lee (R) phrased it best when he...
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There have been several video sales around Reporter Country the last several weeks and the feeder, yearling, and heifer markets are definitely alive-and-well! I had my first opportunity to work a video auction late last week and, in my opinion, it was outstanding, to say the least. The graph below, put together by Kurt Kangas (American Angus Association), shows the June 2024 Northern Livestock Video Sale numbers. It is not surprising that most commercial producers that have reached out to me wondering how the sale went wanted to talk about the $/Hd when comparing 2023 to 2024. Every weight class...
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In its largest donation year to date, Montana Stockgrowers Foundation’s (MSF’s) Cattle Drive Program is upping the “steaks” by partnering with Montana breed associations to provide incentives for the quality cattle genetics raised by Montana producers. Montana Angus, Hereford, Red Angus, and Simmental associations have pledged a combined ,000 in award money for the program. This year, in addition to the carcass and gain data that donors receive as part of the program, they will also receive DNA parentage information on their steers. DNA samples will be taken of all donated steers and sent to a licensed testing facility. In...
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The chute slides shut with a thud, not a clang, safely catching the steer so it can be vaccinated. The steer behind him waits quietly, looking ahead at the alleyway that will take him back to his pen. The only sounds are cattle shifting against the alleyway and the quiet voices of the workers vaccinating the cattle. The steer is released and the next takes his place, the process repeated hundreds of times a day in feedlots. There’s no shouting, no slamming chutes, no cattle trying to turn around in the alleyway or bolt from the chute. “Something as seemingly...
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Montana Farmers Union will again celebrate family farmers and ranchers whose land holdings have been in their families and in operation for more than 100 years through its Centennial Farm and Ranch Program during MFU’s Annual Convention this year. Since the mid-90s, Montana Farmers Union has been honored to recognize its members who have owned the same farm or ranch for 100 years or more. Nearly 200 farms and ranches have since been recognized. When an MFU member reaches this milestone, they are honored during our annual convention. In addition, they receive a commemorative plaque, and their stories and accomplishments...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) praised Senate and House introduction of paired Congressional Review Act resolutions that would nullify the Biden Administration’s Phase 2 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rule. “The Biden Administration blatantly ignored Congressional authority and took NEPA processes to new levels of inefficiency with their Phase 2 rule. This bicameral, bipartisan resolution will help prevent further weaponization of the federal rulemaking process and allow ranchers to complete critical conservation projects in a timely manner,” said Kaitlynn Glover, NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources and PLC Executive Director. “Thank you to Representative...
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The American Simmental Association (ASA) has opened registration for Fall Focus 2024. The event offers a unique opportunity for beef industry producers and enthusiasts to learn about the latest updates on industry issues, technology, science, and more, straight from the experts themselves. This year’s event is completely free to attend, but registration is required for planning. The 2024 event will be held in Amarillo, Texas, August 23–27. The Texas Panhandle is an epicenter of beef production, and is also home to industry-leading educational institutions like West Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University. Friday, August 23, will include a tour...
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The states of Utah and Wyoming have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final Public Lands Rule. The lawsuit states that despite the States’ objections, and multiple other interested parties, BLM sidestepped National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, and unreasonably concluded that no extraordinary circumstances warranted any NEPA review. “Ever since this abomination of a rule raised its ugly head, demonstrating the Biden Administration’s disregard for the law, I have fought it tooth and nail,” Governor Gordon stated. “This legal challenge ensures that this Administration is...
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It was announced on Sunday June 2, 20204 that Senator Bennett was coming to Nucla for a listening session, to hear our side of the Halt the Delores. Then the games begin; the proponents said he really was coming on Friday but for a private meeting with them and do a fly over the Delores River. He would be in Nucla at the high school to meet with the opposition at 1:00, then that got changed to 3:00 so he would have more time on Sunday to meet with the proponents. On Tuesday the town on Naturita put a notice...
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Shawn Madden was born in Lusk, Wyoming, in 1954. Shawn was born into a Livestock Marketing Family. Growing up, Shawn’s father Joe Madden, owned and operated the Sale Barns in Lusk and Wheatland, Wyoming. Shawn worked for Joe and got his start auctioneering at the Wheatland Sale Barn. Shawn attended Casper College where he participated on the Rodeo and Basketball Teams. He then transferred to the University of Wyoming. After College he pursued a career in real estate. In the early 80's, in addition to real estate, Shawn continued the growth of Madden Brothers Auctions. Due to the economic conditions...
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A longstanding complaint here is the utter incomprehensibility of federal milk pricing policy. For years we’ve joked (mostly through our tears) that only four people in the world understand its complexity and, worse, not one of them is a dairy farmer. As if to prove our point, USDA recently completed a review of its convoluted system – the “first comprehensive revision” since 2000 – at its “Federal Milk Marketing Order National Hearings.” The hearings ran from August 23, 2023, to January 30, 2024. That’s right, five months, and it’s a safe bet that now only three people in the world...
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Agri-kid Jolee Dougherty lives on the Diamond Ring Ranch in Terry, Montana. She is pictured with her dad, Eric. Her favorite thing to do on the ranch is ride pens with her parents and help with calving. Photo courtesy of Mallory Dougherty.
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If you live along a creek, you have to co-exist with beavers, and that is not always easy. It seems that they do not share the same vision for property management as most landowners do. Living with beavers, who are remarkably persistent, focused, and motivated, is a constant struggle that is not funny. What is funny is this (allegedly) actual letter sent by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to Ryan DeVries regarding a pond on his property and Ryan’s ingenious response to the letter: Dear Mr. DeVries: It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental...
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Siblings Brigid and Johnny Reed of Waterloo, Montana, fully embody the tradition of the West with their own, personalized style of singing and songwriting. At just 23 and 18 years old, respectively, the duo has made waves in cowboy poetry and at western music festivals, traveling all over the country performing at venues from Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry to private concerts in between their busy, college schedules. Walking in the footsteps of their father, musician John Reedy, music was something they were “brought up in.” A classically trained tenor, John started each of the siblings on their...
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Tracy Stone-Manning, and her work as the director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), were the focus of a heated, two-hour long oversight hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee on June 13. The hearing was the first time Stone-Manning had visited the Senate ENR since her highly contentious confirmation as the director in 2021, when numerous legislators, including Wyoming Senator John Barrasso (R) and Utah’s Senator Jim Risch (R), argued vehemently that she should be disqualified from leading the BLM. Barrasso, Risch, and others cited that Stone-Manning “colluded with eco-terrorists” in a massive tree-spiking event...
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Montana Farm Bureau (MFB) members convened in Miles City, Montana, June 10-12 for their annual MFB Summer Conference. The week began with an ACE Leadership Seminar – which is part of a year-long program where participants enhance leadership and advocacy skills – as well as Young Farmer and Rancher Tours. The larger membership convened on Tuesday, June 11 to participate in comprehensive committee meetings ranging in topic from public and private lands and water rights, to livestock, promotion and education, foreign trade, and more. Committee meetings were led by local members along with representatives from the American Farm Bureau Federation...
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Even though we were still officially in the spring season, the last few weeks have definitely felt more like summer…until Sunday of last week! With only five days left until the official start of Summer (June 21), there was snow in western and northern Montana, even at some of the lower elevations. This continued into Tuesday night and part of Wednesday. There were areas with several inches of snow in the lower areas, and the mountains received a pretty big blast of snow. Morning temperatures dropped into the mid-30s, which is a pretty big shock to your system since most...
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When Wade Leist first came back to the family’s stockyards from auctioneer school in 2004, his dad didn’t exactly turn the auctions over to him — and he says that’s a good thing. Instead, the elder Leist started his son out selling a few baby calves here and there, and spending plenty of time working in the back. The tactic paid off, as 20 years later, Leist came out on top in the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship, hosted by Livestock Marketing Association. It was the ninth time to compete for the auctioneer who regularly sells at Mitchell Livestock Marketing, Mitchell,...
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The stocker/yearling sector of the cattle industry offers flexibility and an opportunity for new producers to get started in the business. Nebraska Extension beef systems team is offering a chance to learn from producers with established stocker/yearling operations July 11 during the fifth annual Summer Stocker/Yearling Tour near Bassett, Nebraska. "A stocker/yearling component in a cattle production system can improve profitability and give some options that allow for quick adjustment in drought situations," said Hannah Smith, Nebraska Extension beef educator and one of the organizers of the event. The annual Stocker/Yearling Tour has been popular with both beginning and established...
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Montana State University Extension invites community members from across Montana to attend local and county fairs this summer to see Montana 4-H program displays and events. Montana 4-H is the youth development program of MSU Extension, and for 4-H youth, the fair is a public opportunity to show what they have learned and to continue developing civil service and social skills while running events like concession stands, petting zoos or exhibits. "Time spent in 4-H allows kids the opportunity to gain valuable life and work readiness skills, setting them up for a successful future," said Montana 4-H Center for Youth Development Director Teri Antilley....
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Join NRCS Montana in celebrating soil health and participate in the Soil Your Undies Challenge this summer! Get a pair of 100 percent cotton underwear, grab a shovel, and join in on this fun and easy activity. After two months, “harvest” your undies and see what’s left! Since they are made of cotton, undies are a natural plant material and can be used as a food source by life in the soil. The healthier the microorganisms in our soil, the healthier and more productive our soil will be. Microorganisms deliver necessary nutrients to plants and help to breakdown plant residue....
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The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) awarded ,500 in college scholarships to nine young Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation members for the 2024-25 school year. “Investing in the youth of our great state as they work to accomplish their academic goals is important to the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation,” said Todd Fornstrom, WyFB President. “We are proud to honor these outstanding individuals with college scholarships to play a small part in helping them achieve their goals.” The Livingston-King Scholarship, valued at [post_excerpt],500, is given in honor of Herbert D. Livingston and H.J. King, former presidents of Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, as...
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Live fed cattle prices have rallied higher for the past five weeks, so I guess we are at the point we can start calling it a streak! Fed cattle in the North traded higher again last week, at 2, and the South was up [post_excerpt], at 7. Feeder cattle at auction markets around the country also moved higher, up about . The weigh-up market continues to show amazing strength with cows quoted up to higher than the previous week. The packers have been doing everything they can do to move the Boxed Beef prices higher to not give...
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Dr. Dell Allen, a retired Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI) professor and a meat industry visionary, along with his wife, Joyce, will be presented with the 2024 Don L. Good Impact Award. The award, presented by the Livestock and Meat Industry Council Inc. (LMIC), is named in honor of Good, who is a former department head of the Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI), and recognizes those who have had a positive impact on the livestock and meat industry or agriculture. The Allens will be recognized during the K-State ASI Family...
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At a ceremony attended by over 150 people on Friday, three Montana agencies broke ground on a new facility that will house three agricultural laboratories conducting research and analysis for Montana’s producers. The Combined State Laboratories building, which will be located near Marsh Laboratory at the corner of South 19th Avenue and Lincoln Street in Bozeman, will house the Montana Department of Livestock’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Analytical Lab and Montana State University’s Wool Lab. The university land for the facility was approved by the Montana University System’s Board of Regents and support for the project...
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The House Agriculture Committee took another big step forward towards the passage of a Farm Bill during an in-depth committee markup session on May 23. The House version of the Farm Bill, which is named the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, saw both sides of the aisle calling for bipartisan support. However, there were some clear dividing lines in addressing the bill – primarily from Democratic members over SNAP funding. Despite differences, and after nearly 13 hours of discussion, the [post_excerpt].5 trillion version of the Farm Bill passed with a 33 to 21 vote and will now...
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Our problem is we’ve been too nice. The enviromeddlers come at us with some half-baked idiotic theory that cows are destroying the Earth one fart at a time, and we look down at our feet, hide our face in embarrassment, and meekly say, “We’re sorry.” What we should have been doing was yelling at the top of our lungs, “YOU ARE A @#$%^&* IDIOT!” Next time a hippie/greenie gets in your face start bombarding them with questions like these. “How many kids have you sired or given birth to?” If their answer is over two, they are the problem, not...
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London Fox just coming in from a long day of moving cows on his horse Sparrow. Photo courtesy of Ariel Fox.
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The potential for an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the United States has been a major focus in recent years for state and federal agencies, as well as industry groups, due to its highly contagious nature, despite the fact that it was eradicated in the U.S. in 1929. On May 13, representatives from NCBA, the Public Lands Council, and the American Sheep Industry presented updated information on the Secure Beef Supply and Secure Sheep and Wool Supply plans (Secure Supply Plans), which outline, in detail, the responses that will be triggered should a disease, such as FMD, break out...
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Last week, Mitch Rippe, a nutritionist with the Nebraska Beef Council, discussed the science behind why beef is an essential part of a heart healthy diet. This week, author of the WAR column, “Cowgirl Nutrition,” and registered dietician, Barbara Intermill, led a discussion of why beef is nutritionally superior to beef substitutes. In recent years, companies have come out with “meat substitutes,” most of which are plant based, to market to consumers as an alternative to meat. “What you see with a lot of these plant-based substitutes is that they’re called ultra-processed or highly-processed foods,” Barbara Intermill, registered dietician and...
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Last week saw several months of cattle futures hit seven-week highs and cash fed cattle followed suit. It is quite apparent to me the packers are definitely getting prepared and stocked up for Memorial Day, one of the largest grilling weekends of the year. Cash fed cattle prices in the North moved to higher last week, at 0, with the South at 6, up from last week. Boxed beef was a driving force last week. Choice boxes were up a whopping .88 as compared to the week before, at 3.45, with Select boxed beef at 7.40, up...
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The 28th Annual Big Sky Draft Horse Expo will be June 28-30 at the fairgrounds, in historic Deer Lodge, Montana. This largest, longest running draft horse show in Montana offers three days of exciting competition and family fun. Each performance features different classes and events for both the Classic Six and Open Class exhibitors. Performances are at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 28; 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 29; and 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 30. The 2024 Draft Horse Teamster Hall of Fame inductees Hackett Ranch – Scott and Diane Hackett of Victor; Richard...
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Central Lakes College and Cass County Farm Bureau are offering an accredited, award-winning one-day agriculture safety class for law enforcement students and officers. “Law Enforcement Response to Agriculture,” a one-credit class, features training in identifying livestock breeds, livestock handling techniques, farm equipment safety and truck-trailer safety. Taught by volunteer Cass County and Crow Wing County Farm Bureau members, veterinarians, and law enforcement instructors, the class offers hands-on training for students and officers who might encounter agriculture-related emergencies in their work. Past courses have included identifying horses and cattle by type, breed, color, markings, gender, and size, safely shutting down farm...
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The Red Angus Association of America is pleased to announce two staff promotions within its communications and DNA departments. Katie Martin based in Torrington, Wyoming, has been promoted to director of communications, while Ariana De La Garza of Greeley, Colorado, assumes the role of DNA programs manager. Martin transitioned into the assistant director of communications role last May following seven years serving on RAAA’s commercial marketing team. The strong relationships developed with RAAA’s members, commercial customers, industry partners, and staff during her tenure will continue to yield dividends as director of communications. She holds a master’s degree in animal breeding...
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The Montana State University College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station will once again host a series of field days this summer at six of the university’s research centers around the state, plus two additional events at campus farms in Bozeman. “We look forward to our field days every year because of the opportunities they create to interact and share research results with agricultural producers and friends around Montana,” said Sreekala Bajwa, director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and the college’s dean. "Getting to share and receive feedback on research projects helps us to tailor our work to the needs...
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The American-International Charolais Association (AICA) is thrilledto unveil the new CharolaisBeef.com website, dedicated to informing consumers about the excellence of Charolais-influenced beef. The website provides comprehensive education on the Charolais breed of cattle, including information on its unique characteristics and benefits. It also features a directory of where consumers can find Charolais beef. Additionally, visitors can learn about Charolais producers' strong commitment to being stewards of the land. This initiative marks the initial phase of the AICA's strategy to drive consumer awareness and demand for Charolais genetics within retail and restaurant sectors. “We’re excited to educate beef consumers, restaurants, and...
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Five students have been paired with Angus ranches across the United States to expand their knowledge of the cattle industry, as part of the Angus Foundation’s 2024 Talon Youth Education Learning Program The Talon Youth Education Learning Program internship is the legacy of the late Camron “Cam” Cooper of The Talon Ranch, Twin Bridges, Montana. Cooper set up the Angus/Talon Youth Education Learning Program Endowment Fund in 2009 to be a holistic educational opportunity for undergraduate, graduate and recent college graduates who major in an agricultural field of study. “Talon interns learn by doing,” said Jaclyn Boester, executive director of...
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Each year, the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) awards scholarships to college students who are seeking a career beneficial to ranching. This year, a total of ,000 was awarded to three deserving students. To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must be currently enrolled in college and have completed at least one semester in college, be a member, or have at least one parent/guardian who is a member, of the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA), demonstrate a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and attend an interview with a panel of MSF Trustees. Congratulations to the 2024 Education Heritage Scholarship recipients:...
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For producers concerned about discolored wheatgrass in pastures and fields, the University of Wyoming Extension has released a free digital publication on how to identify and treat black grass bug infestations. Especially in eastern Wyoming, black grass bugs can cause significant damage to cool season grasses, severely reducing the nutrient content of livestock forage and preventing seed formation. “This insect species can become a serious pest of wheatgrass pastures that are important either for spring grazing or later harvesting for hay,” says Scott Schell, UW Extension entomologist and co-author of the new publication. “The insects can also move from infested...
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Montana Fibershed is hosting a soil-to-soil themed event featuring some of our state’s incredible fiber producers, artisans, and vendors. The outdoor event will showcase various breeds of fiber-producing livestock, demonstrations of textile techniques, and educational speakers on topics such as regenerative soil stewardship and the history of sheep. Hosted on Lorna Marchington’s ranch in Pray, this one-day event will be hands-on and kids friendly with food trucks, a vendor’s market, and many ways to learn about Montana’s natural fiber and dye systems. this is a working ranch, dogs are not welcome
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House Bill 286, passed by the 2019 Montana Legislature, addressed concerns regarding DNRC Trust Lands adding themselves as owners or partial owners to various water rights without recourse for water users. The bill clarified that a water right owner could utilize water from a well or developed spring on private land for beneficial use on state trust land for the duration of a state land lease. It also stipulated conditions under which the state could not obtain ownership interest in water rights or groundwater development works based solely on trustee obligations for state trust land. Furthermore, the bill required the...
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One headline in the Salt Lake Tribune has stirred up the agricultural community across the West. It proclaims that hamburgers and cows are the culprits behind the droughts, and by eating fewer burgers, Americans could save the environment. Sound familiar? Last spring Ireland made international headlines with a plan to slaughter 200,000 cows to combat climate change. The farmers and ranchers in the mountain west know that cows can change landscapes, and if they’re responsibly grazed, they can change those landscapes for the better by building up soil resiliency and helping to promote biodiversity on ranchland. While cows have been the most recent environmental scapegoat, they...
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Dear Mr. Goggins, I need to correct some information that you wrote in your May 2, 2024, “Comments by the Publisher.” Constitutional Initiative 126 (CI 126) is NOT ranked choice voting. It is NOT a jungle primary. It does NOT violate the one person, one vote principle. CI 126 is about open primaries. Each qualified elector votes for one candidate for each office. Those running for office declare themselves Republican, Democrat, or Independent and are all on the ballot together. The current system forces the primary voter to vote either Republican or Democrat for all candidates. What if you are...
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You can tell a lot about people by what’s in their pockets. You might find a horseshoe nail in a farrier’s pocket, a pipe that doesn’t smell like tobacco in a doper’s, a duck call in a hunter’s vest, throwing rocks in a juvenile delinquent’s, and an assortment of buckles, snaps, and latigo in the apron pocket of a saddlemaker. The back-pocket-wallet of a Hell’s Angel will be hooked with a chain, but it’s the plethora of unmarked [post_excerpt],000 bills in the pockets of a Congressman that ought to be more securely tied down. Easy come, easy go. When I...
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The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) has announced finalists for its Seedstock and Commercial Producer awards. Both developed in 1972, the Seedstock Producer Award recognizes outstanding seedstock producers across the continent while the Commercial Producer Award recognizes commercial producers for their dedication to improving the beef industry at the commercial level. Both awards are sponsored by Drovers. Finalists for this year’s Seedstock Producer Award are Adams Angus Farm, Union Springs, Alabama; Red Hill Farms, Lafayette, Tennessee; and Schrader Ranch, Wells, Kansas. In 1939, Adams Angus Farm began with the purchase of three registered Angus heifers. Eighty-five years later, Adams Angus continues...
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Payse Eskew is a four-year-old cowboy aboard his horse “Shorty” sorting cows and calves this past fall.
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Several years ago, I discovered a hilarious self-published book from Maralee Robinson of Billings, Montana. It is called East Meets West: Real Dude Meets Real Cowboy: Indoor Plumbing Meets Outdoor Plumbing, and All the Things They Have in Common. The book is a collection of reflections of a city girl who married a cowboy. The book was somewhat longer than the title, and it was so funny I couldn’t put it down. Maralee dedicated the book to her cowboy husband, their children, any woman married to a cowboy, or any woman married to a man. Branding season is in full swing, so I want to...
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Friends and colleagues of the late James Bennett paid tribute to the seedstock performance pioneer, and long-time patriarch of Knoll Crest Farms, Red House, Virginia, via choice of the top two bred heifers offered by Bill and Claudia Tucker, in their April 17 Tucker Family Farms Professional Replacement Female Sale in Amherst, Va. The Tuckers, long-time Knoll Crest customers, made the offering in honor of Bennett, their friend and mentor, with all proceeds supporting the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and ongoing education and research projects. When the final gavel fell, the choice of legacy bred heifers sold for...
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The American Simmental Association Board of Trustees Chairman, Chris Ivie, reports that the Executive Vice President, Dr. Wade Shafer, announced his retirement at the conclusion of the April board meeting, effective June 30, 2025. Dr. Shafer's leadership and vision have been key to positioning the American Simmental Association and International Genetic Solutions (IGS) at the forefront of the beef industry. His unwavering commitment to sound and credible science as the linchpin for commercial success is widely known. This mindset permeates the Simmental business, its breeders, and its staff, and is widely credited for the Simmental resurgence in recent decades. Dr. Shafer's...
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“A year ago, I testified in this committee that the gray wolf in the United States is recovered, no longer in danger of extinction, and should be removed from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973,” Nathan Roberts, PhD, Associate Professor for Conservation and Wild Management at the College of the Ozarks in Missouri, stated. “I stand by this statement still today.” Roberts was one of several individuals to speak before the House Natural Resources Committee during the “How Many Wolves is Enough?” hearing on May 3. Testimonials were provided by researchers from various regions across the U.S. with a...
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George Kovach is a nationally recognized oil-painter who, at 82 years old, has no intentions of slowing down or retiring. Born on a farm in Ohio before moving with his family to Miami, Florida, where he grew up, art has always been his passion. Kovach attended the Miami Art Institute, and while there, got a job with C.C. Beck, the American cartoonist who portrayed Captain Marvel. “I helped work on some cartoon strips for him [. . .] but I didn’t realize he was that famous,” Kovach chuckled. “When I see a door open, I go in it.” After his...
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Many people know that beef is an important part of a balanced diet, but Mitch Rippe, director of nutrition and education with the Nebraska Beef Council, dove into just how good beef is for us, and why. “Beef is far more than just a protein,” Rippe, who holds his master’s degree in nutrition and health sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, began. Beef is a high-quality protein, “meaning it contains all the necessary amino acids to build and maintain muscle tissue.” On top of being an excellent source of protein, beef is very nutrient dense. Rippe described beef as falling...
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Last week I visited with all of you about the national press continually hammering on the cattle industry with the discovery of bird flu in several dairy herds. I talked about the fact hamburger was being tested, which threw the futures markets sharply down. At the time we had to go to press last week, I had not heard anything about the results of the testing. The USDA collected samples of ground beef at retail stores from states with dairy cattle herds that had tested positive for the virus and sent out for PCR testing. Even though USDA agencies continually...
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Some of the most common questions I hear concern what to do when a horse spooks or how to build confidence in a nervous horse. These are broad questions and can involve situations with a wide range of possible factors, but I want to address this in general terms. I will cover not only some ideas of what to do in the situation, but also, just as importantly, how to prepare both you and your horse for the unexpected. First, we must understand that horses, as prey animals, have extremely quick instincts for flight in reaction to perceived danger. This...
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The effectiveness of more than 22 check-off programs that taxes producers nearly one billion dollars annually are not under scrutiny, it is the legitimacy of these programs that the OFF act seeks to address. Are they using check-off dollars for the intended purpose defined by rules and laws? Support is growing for the OFF Act, which isn’t meant to eliminate checkoff programs. What it would do is establish basic financial accountability and transparency for the checkoff dollars collected from farmers and ranchers, and prohibit these funds from being used to contract with groups that lobby on agricultural policy. The OFF...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced that applications are now open for two internships that give students an opportunity to support the cattle industry and gain valuable experience. The programs include a public policy internship and a meetings and events internship. “Interning at NCBA is a great way to start your career and the work you do will have a positive impact on America’s hardworking farmers and ranchers,” said NCBA Vice President Gene Copenhaver, a Virginia cattle producer. “As a longtime member of NCBA, I know how important the work of this association is. We are always looking for...
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Pictured is Jentry Royce Daugherty. This six-month-old is already a tough cowboy, surviving Hirschsprung’s and a stay in the NICU. He is from the Lazy Diamond J, Inc. near Alliance, Nebraska.
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I totally missed it. A recipe for Picadillo that was published in this column almost two months ago was short one ingredient. What’s interesting is that I prepared this dish according to the recipe and never once noticed the one line that called for “2 (8 oz) cans”…period. And what’s really odd is that it still turned out really good. If it hadn’t been for a kind letter from a reader of this publication, I’m sure I would have continued in my oblivion. “Good afternoon,” Eleanor wrote, “my husband read your article and recipe for Picadillo with interest. However, the...
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After six years in the United States’ Army, including a year-long deployment, CJ Benoit, a Louisiana native, moved to Montana in search of his passion. Benoit dabbled in everything from wildlife photography to fencing, but once Benoit would master a craft, he would be left bored when it was no longer a challenge. Transitioning from being a sergeant in the Army, like many other service men and women, Benoit was looking for a place and group of people to belong to, and to have “a sense of pride within an industry,” Benoit said. Although he had no prior experience with...
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As the landscape across Reporter Country begins to green up with the help of recent moisture and warming temperatures, a coalition of researchers - from the University of Nevada-Reno, Montana State University, the University of Wyoming, and other state and federal agencies - is urging awareness, preparedness, and strategic action, when it comes to managing invasive annual grasses, such as cheatgrass, across the west. Cheatgrass was only known to exist in western and central Europe, northern Africa, and Asia until the 19th century, according to the Cheatgrass Management Handbook. It was accidentally introduced to the United States “…via contaminated grain...
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On April 11, the Environmental Protection Agency published the latest edition of the Inventory of “U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2022.” The report has been published annually since 1990 and provides an annual estimate of all man-made greenhouse gas emission sources in the U.S. as well as estimates of the amount of carbon trapped in forest and vegetation soil. This report is submitted to the United Nations as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change reporting guidelines on annual inventories, which is part of a global standardized process for reporting greenhouse gas emissions. U.S. agriculture represents...
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Well, here we are with our last issue of April for the Reporter. When April comes to an end, it also means the spring 2024 sale season will come to an end for me as well. I have a couple of sales in May, but for the most part, I will be done. There are some sales around Reporter Country clear into June, so when all the sales are completed, all of our Field Reps – myself included - will tally the data and provide you with a breakdown of how all the bulls, females, and horses sold in production...
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FWP is seeking comment on seven proposed Habitat Conservation Leases (HCLs) in southeast Montana. HCLs are incentive-based, voluntary agreements offered by FWP to help conserve priority wildlife habitats on private lands while also supporting working agricultural lands and public hunting and recreation opportunity. Private landowners can enroll their land into a 30- or 40-year conservation lease in return for a one-time, per-acre lease payment. Funding for the program is generally derived from state hunting license fees and federal Pittman Robertson Wildlife Restoration funds. FWP staff will hold a public meeting on April 18, 2024, where they will provide an overview...
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An updated map was published today on Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) website to continue informing the public, recreationists, and livestock producers on where collared wolves have been in the past month. CPW will update this map with new information monthly to reflect data for the past 30 days or so, produced on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Colorado Parks and Wildlife - Collared Gray Wolf Activity Map - April 2024 CPW also launched a new Gray Wolf Depredation Report webpage to inform the public about confirmed livestock depredations by wolves in Colorado. This page will be updated each...
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will host free public tours of the Winnemucca Off-Range Wild Horse and Burro Corral located in Paradise Valley, Nevada, on Thursday May 16 and Friday, May 17, 2024. Attendees will have the opportunity to view wild horses gathered from overpopulated herds in Nevada, California, and the recently gathered animals from the East Pershing Complex. The privately owned and operated corral is located outside of Winnemucca, Nevada, in Paradise Valley, which is approximately a 30-minute drive north of Winnemucca. There will be two days of tours with two public tours offered each day. The daily...
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America’s farmers and ranchers are leading the way in greenhouse gas emission reduction through voluntary conservation efforts and market-based incentives. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2022. The report shows American agriculture reduced emissions by almost 2 percent from 2021 to 2022, the largest decrease of any economic sector. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed the data in the latest Market Intel, noting, “U.S. agriculture represents just under 10 percent of total U.S. emissions when compared to other economic sectors… By EPA’s own methodology, emissions from agriculture totaled 634 million metric...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) has selected Colton Coffee and Rocky Forseth to represent Montana at the 2024 Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC). Scheduled for May 30 through June 6, YCC is an opportunity for cattlemen and cattlewomen to visit segments of the beef industry across the nation with young professionals from other states. Colton Coffee, Miles City Colton Coffee, of Miles City, works as an attorney and manages his family’s cow-calf and yearling ranch programs, water rights, legal issues, and transactions. Colton has been active with MSGA and currently serves as chairman of MSGA’s Landowner,Recreation and Wildlife policy committee. He...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks is seeking public input on a potential project that would place nearly 33,000 acres of private timberland in northwest Montana under a conservation easement and protect working lands, public recreation access, and wildlife habitat. FWP has published a draft environmental assessment that outlines the proposed first phase of the project named the Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement. This is the first of a potential two-phased project totaling 85,792 acres of private timberland and fish and wildlife habitat owned by Green Diamond Resource Company. The first phase includes forestlands in the Salish and Cabinet mountains between...
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Recently, the R-CALF USA Board of Directors seated three new board members elected from Regions V (Texas), VI (Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma), and IX (Alabama, Florida, and Georgia). Region directors are elected by majority vote from cattle-owning members in their region’s respective states. The directors serve three-year terms, and no director may serve more than two consecutive terms. The board also reelected Region III Director Brett Kenzy as President of the Board and Region VII Director Eric Nelson as Vice President of the Board. The president and vice president serve two-year terms. Outgoing Region V Director Shad Sullivan from Olney,...
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Last week, the plan was moving forward. Tuff was extremely skeptical, but Banjo continued to trust in the process and his friends in the RMIA. What will they discover this week as they wait and watch the unfolding of a well laid plan coming together? The soft, newly rising light of the full moon hauntingly illuminated the pasture. Instead of grasses making the pasture look as if it was swaying in the wind, it was the lurking movements of the coyotes’ sly motions that was creating its ominous dance. “Hey!” Rascal barked at all of the coyotes getting closer. “What’re...
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Once again Montana’s Livestock Loss Board is accepting loss prevention grant applications. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on May 31st. Board members will be meeting sometime during the last week of June to award the grants. For the first time in many years the board has adequate funding for larger projects. Because of this we encourage people thinking about starting a carcass removal project to do so this year. If it is for a carcass removal site, please include state or county required permits. Fill out every section of the grant form. It a section doesn’t apply to...
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The 2024 Nebraska Range Short Course is teaming up with the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition (NGLC) Grazing School on June 25 – 27, 2024 at the Spring Lake Ranch south of Gordon, Nebraska, to host an event that will give individuals an opportunity to increase their skills with grazing, rangeland management, and livestock production. The three-day, in-person course will be taught through classroom and field sessions focused on the underlying principles of grazing and rangeland management. “The goal of this event is to provide up-to-date, applicable information and training for the efficient and sustainable use of rangelands for livestock production...
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Five-year-old Harvey Robinett is a cowboy through and through. He ranches on the South Fork of the Powder River in central Wyoming. He loves to ride his horse and chase cows every chance he gets. He wants to continue being a rancher when he grows up. Photo courtesy of Theresa Robinett.
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Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks (FWP) is seeking public comment for a proposed 10-year Prairie Dog Conservation Lease Agreement in Garfield County and Rosebud County, Mont. The proposed lease encompasses 2,975 acres near Ingomar, Montana. FWP recognizes prairie dogs as a critical part of the ecosystem, while cognizant of the challenges they present to landowners. To advance the conservation of prairie dogs and to help work toward black-footed ferret recovery goals, FWP has developed a voluntary, incentive-based habitat conservation lease. This Prairie Dog Conservation Lease would conserve prairie dog colonies and their habitat while continuing to support traditional agricultural activities,...
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Four more cows have been killed this week by wolves in Grand County. With the recent attacks, a total of six animals have been killed in April during what is considered to be the heart of calving season. The other two livestock, both calves, were killed in Grand and Jackson counties. Grand County Commissioner Merrit Linke, himself a rancher, told Colorado Politics the four livestock, all yearlings, came from the same ranch. Three were killed between Monday night and Tuesday morning, while the fourth was Wednesday night. A statement issued Thursday afternoon by Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed the attacks....
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As part of the organization’s commitment to education and legislation, Montana Farmers Union is again sponsoring Congressional Primary Debates to be held April 30 and May 3. “For more than 100 years MFU has been representing the family farm and educating Montanans on issues important to rural Montana. Hosting the primary debates is an example of the role MFU plays in helping educate voters on the stances of the candidates,” MFU president Walter Schweitzer said. The debates are open to the public, with the Tuesday, April 30, Congressional District 2 Republican Primary debate scheduled to be held at Montana State...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) recently submitted comments in opposition to the BLM Snowy River CO2 Sequestration Project Environmental Assessment (EA). The BLM is planning to partner with Denbury Carbon Solutions to build a carbon storage facility in Carter County, Mont. The project would encompass 100,200 acres of land south of Ekalaka where 15 deep wells would be drilled and injected with CO2, storing carbon from the Denbury Cedar Creek Anticline pipeline deep underground. The proposed acreage consists almost entirely of federal grazing leases, held by permittees from the surrounding areas. MSGA raised concerns that the various pipelines, roads, injection...
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After a long day of shoeing horses and some insightful conversation about all things calving and branding with one of my favorite clients, I decided to do a little light reading to brush up on current statistics found in the latest USDA Census of Agriculture. Frankly, some of the findings alarmed me. By far, the most disconcerting of the findings in the Ag Census were those concerning the average age of the American farmer and rancher. Today, the average age of the American farmer and rancher is 58.1 years old, up another 0.6 years from the USDA Census on Ag...
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My husband and I mysteriously arrived back from our month-long trip to Texas with extra baggage. And it seems to be stuck to our waists. We both had the same excuses. We really didn’t eat that much…with the exception of a few extra Lone Star beers. And between riding horses and dancing to great bands, we got plenty of exercise. I’m a dietitian, so I should know how to solve this problem, right? Convinced that he needed to realize how much he was eating, I suggested we write down everything we eat for a week or so. And I would calculate our calorie intake....
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For grass seed producers and others concerned about controlling grass thrip populations, the University of Wyoming Extension has released a new management guide. The free digital publication, titled “Grass Thrips in Perennial Grasses Grown for Seed,” provides instructions on how to sample grass seed fields for thrips as well as recommendations for cultural and chemical control. The authors also address the efficacy, application rates, and possible advantages and disadvantages of six insecticides labeled for grass thrip control. These small insects, which feed only on grasses, damage both annual and perennial species. Grass thrips can survive in perennial grass fields year-round,...
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On April 9, USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) announced the discontinuation of the July 1 cattle report, along with county estimates for both crops and livestock, and the Cotton Objective Yield Survey. NASS said this decision – which is effective immediately – “was not made lightly, but was necessary given appropriated budget levels.” In immediate response to the decision, NCBA’s Vice-President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane, argued that “it is disingenuous for the same agency which touts its commitment to transparency in livestock markets to arbitrarily cease publication of reports which provide just that. While it may be politically...
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The Montana Western Colt Challenge and Sale is a unique opportunity for college students to be able to start a colt of their own and prepare it for sale day, under the expert supervision of Montana Western’s horsemanship instructors. From September through April, students who are matched with colts “come out five days a week and work their horses two-three hours a day,” Eric Hoffman, head horsemanship instructor at Montana Western, explained. “We help them from the ground up to get them halter broke, get them saddle-prepped, then get them riding, and just continue off of that until the competition...
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You will all see an article in this week’s edition of the Reporter, put together by our Editor, Terra Ochsner, regarding the news released by USDA last Wednesday that the July 1 Cattle Inventory Report will be done away with. The story goes more in depth about the implications this decision might have on the industry, so I won’t go into great detail. But I feel compelled to let all of you know what I think about this whole situation, and some of the questions I have. First of all, the USDA said the mid-year report was being nixed because...
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“Farmers Dump Sheep Killed By Wolves In Front Of Swiss Government Building,” a headline on the Swiss news site, Barron’s, proclaimed on April 6. Talk about one heck of a headline. The article went on to explain that “around a dozen breeders” laid out 12 dead sheep, who had been killed by wolves, in front of government headquarters in Lausanne. “We are sick of this. We want the wolf killed,” Patrick Perroud, a farmer and butcher from the nearby municipality of Oulens, was quoted saying. “Cohabitation is not possible. Our territory is too small.” Wolves had killed 17 sheep in...
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Leaders in beef cattle nutrition, silage management, and agricultural research are convening for the 5th Biennial Silage for Beef Conference on Thursday, June 20, 2024. The event will equip beef producers with actionable insights and strategies to optimize silage quality, enhance cattle performance and bolster the bottom line. Hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Iowa State University, and Lallemand Animal Nutrition, the summit will be held in-person at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center, near Mead, Nebraska, with the option to watch via livestream. "This year’s Silage for Beef Conference will address key challenges faced by beef producers,...
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A pasture setting can be very beneficial to horses as it caters to “the way a horses’ digestive system is designed to function,” Dr. Teresa Douthit, Kansas State University professor and equine nutrition specialist, explained. “The horse is designed to be sort of a trickle feeder, eating small meals throughout the day [. . .] So, the great thing about pasture is they can eat small meals throughout the day. The horse has a very small stomach. They’re really not designed for large meals,” Douthit said. In addition to the digestive benefits to pasture grazing, spring grass is very palatable...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, is seeking entrepreneurs to apply online by June 15 for the 2025 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Now in its 11th year, this national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. The overall winner of the competition will receive 0,000 in startup funds, the runner-up will be awarded ,000 and two additional business owners who advance to the final four round will receive ,000. “Imagine what 0,000 could do for your business,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We’ve...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) invites ranchers to attend the 140th MidYear Meeting slated for May 28 - 30, 2024, in Miles City, Montana, at the Custer County Event Center. The MidYear Meeting is one of two meetings held by MSGA to set policy that guides the Association through the year. While the main focus of the meeting is for the setting of interim policy, the meeting is also used as a networking opportunity for MSGA members and Montana’s livestock industry. This year, attendees will be the first to see results from MSGA’s Producer Profitability Initiative listening sessions. Learn what...
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The University of Wyoming Extension Sheep Task Force will offer a free webinar Tuesday, April 23, at 6 p.m. The hour long event is geared toward Wyoming sheep producers interested in updating their lambing barn facilities and technology. The presentation will feature guest speakers Regan Smith of Smith Sheep & Stuff and Cord and Kristin Bieber of Bieber Land & Livestock and Skull Creek Targhees. UW Extension sheep specialist Whit Stewart and UW Extension educator Makayla Getz will help guide the discussion. “This webinar is for sheep producers looking for ways to adapt their lambing barn management more effectively, both...
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Governor Greg Gianforte (R-MT) visited Central Avenue Meats and highlighted the state’s investments in building a stronger workforce to support the meat processing industry in Montana. “By investing in value-added processing and manufacturing in Montana, our producers are able to keep pace with a transforming agricultural industry, expand their production, and create more good-paying jobs,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Now that we’ve built more butcher shops, it’s time to strengthen investments to build up our workforce and meet the needs of employers.” In 2020, the governor approved American Rescue Plan Act Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program awards with over .3 million awarded...
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The U.S. Senate passed, S.J. Res. 62a joint resolution of disapproval regarding the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) final rule allowing beef imports from Paraguay. The rule went into effect on November 14, 2023. In late February, U.S. Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) filed a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), seeking to overturn the rule. On March 8, the resolution was discharged from its committee and sent to the floor of the Senate for a vote. On the floor, the senators addressed that the United States has blocked...
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Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) thanked the U.S. Senate for passing a resolution to block Paraguayan beef imports. The resolution comes in response to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule that lifted the longstanding ban on Paraguayan beef imports despite the country’s concerning animal health track record. “Thank you to the strong bipartisan group of senators who voted to overturn the harmful decision to allow Paraguay beef imports into the United States,” said NCBA President and Wyoming rancher Mark Eisele. “Our animal health standards are second to none, and we must be vigilant in protecting the U.S....
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Dennis Deppe always knew he wanted to raise bulls. After college graduation, he bought a few Angus cows from the Mill Coulee herd and settled on his wife, Jennifer’s, home farm in Waverly, Iowa, to begin the Deppe Angus herd. “We started from scratch, raising a handful of bulls and selling to local customers,” Deppe explained. Two years later, Deppe decided to enter a bull in the Iowa Cattlemen’s Bull Test to see how their genetics were stacking up to other operations. Deppe Angus bulls soon became top indexing and/or high sellers at the three sale location sites. In 2013,...
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For 62 years, the Midland Bull Test has drawn consignments from across the country in order to truly see how industry-leading genetics stack up against each other, and as a result, it has been a must-attend event from a wide array of buyers and breeders. While everything that the Midland Bull Test is can be attributed to the ambition and vision of Leo McDonnell and now his son, Steve Williams, the entire operation is an undertaking that wouldn’t be possible without an outstanding crew working behind the scenes. With nearly 2,000 head on feed at the Midland Bull Test location...
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We are at the stage in our lives where we find ourselves in the bleachers every Saturday for elementary intramural basketball, because we would never miss a game of grandson basketball. Where else can you watch your grandson celebrate an assist with a breakdance move that would have made Issei swoon? (No, I do not know who Issei is, but I do know how to type into the Google search bar, “Who is the best break dancer in the world?”) Unfortunately, we have no video of Jasper bustin’ a breakdance move on the basketball court in the middle of a...
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Timber Acord of Westin, Wyoming, is pictured here working with her Hancock gelding. The nine-year-old wants to be an artist when she grows up. Photo courtesy of Acacia Acord.
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Why do those without a job to do with their horses often take too long to make progress, and those having a job to do with their horses often rush the progress instead of taking the necessary time? I commonly see these two extremes in my work with horses and their owners. As with most things, it’s important to recognize the tendencies and try to find a balance. There is a tension between these ideas of purpose and progress. Without a specific task or actual job to do, many well-meaning owners take inordinate amounts of time to make progress with...
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Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly gave photo credit to Morgan Kromm as opposed to the actual photographer, Susan Doverspike. In order to promote beef and continue to educate the public about agriculture, the Oregon Cattlewomen are preparing for their second annual Ranch Run, which will take place in Madras, Oregon, on March 30, 2024. This family-inclusive event isn’t just your average run; it’s a celebration of fitness, community, and education about the journey from pasture to plate. Along the racecourse, there will be facts about beef and the runners will be greeted by volunteers from several grassroots...
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7.2 million. That’s the number of illegal immigrants who have illegally crossed our southern border since President Biden took office in 2021, according to CBP reports. This number includes 20,000 Chinese nationals and 58 individuals on the terrorist watch list. To put it into perspective, that is greater than the population of 36 states, including but not limited to: Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. This raises the obvious concern that we don’t know the number of drugs, human trafficking victims, criminals, and even terrorists that have crossed our border. A reasonable person might assume that our federal...
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A letter to the editor by Ken Morris of the Montana Beef Council took issue with a statement in my February 22 column that “the NCBA sponsored Beef Checkoff Program is a national marketing and research program funded by producers to increase the demand for beef at home and abroad.” “In reality,” Morris stated, “the Beef Checkoff system funds the NCBA, or in other words, sponsors NCBA…” I asked for clarification from Shalene McNeill, PhD, RDN, Executive Director for Nutrition Science, Health, & Wellness at NCBA. She responded, “NCBA is a contractor to The Beef Checkoff and is awarded funding...
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On April 15, 2024, thousands of the world’s most elite runners will convene in Boston, Massachusetts, for the 128th Annual Boston Marathon (26.2 miles), and among those athletes this year will be first-time qualifier, Jason Taylor, a rancher and father of eight from Torrington, Wyoming. Of all the marathons that are run around the globe each year, only six have earned the title of “World Marathon Major,” including the Tokyo Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, the New York City Marathon, and the Boston Marathon. For the 42-year-old, qualifying for the Boston Marathon has been a lifelong dream that...
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Adding to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) conversation in Colorado, Senate Bill 24-171 went before the Ag & Natural Resources Committee on March 21, 2024, with the goal of reintroducing wolverines to the state. The North American wolverine, which was listed as threatened under the ESA in November of 2023, requires legislative approval prior to reintroduction. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), wolverines are the largest member of the weasel family. Once native to Colorado, the last confirmed sighting of a wolverine in Colorado was in 1919 despite “12 survey efforts from 1979-1996.” Current, viable populations of wolverines within...
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How do you know a bull you are purchasing will add quantifiable value to your herd? The University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) beef economics team has created a free, Excel tool that producers can use to quickly evaluate bulls called the “Bull Value Cow-Q-Lator.” The tool was developed to help bull buyers compare the potential, long-term costs of a prospective purchase with the costs to produce a calf with an existing herd bull. Matt Stockton, professor and agriculture economist with UNL, described that the goal of the Cow-Q-Lator is to understand your biggest cost items, interest rates, and EPDs...
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While I’m none too pleased with some folks in Washington, D.C. right now – the likes of Debbie Stabenow and her liberal compatriots in the House – who are holding up the passage of a much-needed Farm Bill, I was excited to see the conservative, bicameral introduction of the “Protect America’s Lands Act.” Back in January, I voiced my stark opposition to the proposed amendment to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, which would have allowed Natural Asset Companies, or NACs, to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. To provide a quick refresher, Natural Asset Companies would...
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Some pretty big news, in my opinion, came out early last week at the National Farmers Union Annual Convention in Arizona. While speaking at the convention, Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack made the announcement finalizing a rule mandating that all meat products sold with the “Product of USA” label must be from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the U.S. As most all of you know, prior to this announcement, packers could import whole cuts of foreign beef, then cut them up and package them, and slap the “Product of USA” label on them. I have always thought it...
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The Bureau of Land Management has opened a 30-day public scoping period to gather public input on 20 oil and gas parcels --totaling 3,173 acres-- that may be included in an October 2024 North Dakota lease sale. The comment period ends April 10, 2024. Information on the parcels, as well as maps and a venue for submitting comments is available on the BLM’s ePlanning website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2031460/510. As authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act, the BLM will apply a 16.67 percent royalty rate for production on any new leases from this sale. Revenues are split between the state where the...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks will host a series of bear educational programs in central Montana this spring, addressing the biology and status of bears in the area, along with focused discussion and hands-on examples of how to prevent conflicts on the farm and ranch, at home, and when recreating outdoors. “As grizzly bears continue expanding their range in central Montana, FWP wants to engage with more communities and outdoor recreationists to increase human safety and conflict prevention awareness,” said Chad White, bear management specialist in Choteau. Dates and locations: April 16 – Cascade, Wedsworth Library, 13 Front St North,...
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Purina Animal Nutrition, along with the Land O’Lakes Foundation, has opened its scholarship program designed to assist students with experience in agriculture and livestock production in pursuing their passions and furthering their educations. Now, along with undergraduate students, current high school seniors who have experience raising and caring for small or large livestock, equine and/or poultry, are eligible to apply for one of four ,000 scholarships. Along with the impact animal agriculture has had on their lives, desired applicants will be able to demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, community involvement and have a clear vision for their future. ...
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Vitamin A is one of the most important keys to a healthy immune system in newborn calves. Colostrum is the only way calves can get the vitamin A they need to fight off bacteria that will make them sick, said Mary Drewnoski, University of Nebraska—Lincoln beef systems specialist and associate professor. But not all colostrum contains enough vitamin A, and recent research suggests that “enough” is more than previously thought. Calves need vitamin A for healthy eyes, skin, respiratory systems and digestive tracts. “Calves are born deficient in vitamin A and depend on colostrum from the mom to provide what...
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For more than 60 years KELO Radio’s Bill Zortman has been giving rural citizens a voice. And today, March 11, National Farmers Union (NFU) recognized Zortman for his coverage of agriculture issues, presenting him with the Milt Hakel Excellence in Agricultural Journalism Award during the organization’s national convention held in Scottsdale, Arizona. “This man has helped cover the story of agriculture and he has done a lot for us,” said Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union who presented the award to Zortman. Reflecting on his long broadcast career, Zortman said his focus at 78 remains the same as...
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The University of Wyoming Extension will host a one-day conference on season extension and small-scale food production at Sheridan College Saturday, April 6. The conference, which is supported by the Wyoming Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Program, is part of UW Extension’s Harvest Wyoming initiative. Event partners include the Barnyards & Backyards team, Wyoming Food Coalition, Sheridan College and UW’s Growing Beginning Farmers and Ranchers program. Workshops will highlight season extension structures, pest management, hydroponics, Wyoming soils, pollinator habitats, a producer panel and more. Weather permitting, attendees will also have the option to participate in a low tunnel build in...
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Registration is now open for the three-day 406 Grazing Academy, an annual workshop aimed at ranchers seeking to hone their grazing management skills and learn new strategies. This year’s event will be held June 11-13 in Miles City, and registration is open until April 26. Registration costs 0 per person and includes materials, a range monitoring kit, and lunch and dinner each day of the workshop. Those interested in attending can register at https://svc.mt.gov/doa/opp/DNR406GrazingAcademyRegistration/cart. Montana State University Extension will host the workshop alongside the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, with support from the Dan Scott Ranch Management Program in MSU’s...
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Montana Agri-Women (MAW) is pleased to announce that a gift basket will be presented to the first (human) baby born in Montana on National Agriculture Day, Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Help MAW know of any baby born on March 19th [between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m.] by sending a text to 406-939-1890 to notify MAW of the baby. Include name and contact information of parents, the time of birth, the baby’s name, and a photo of the baby if possible. The earliest-born baby of which MAW is notified will be the recipient of a basket of goodies and gift certificatesfrom...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) is accepting applications for its premier leadership program, the Montana Stockgrowers M Bar Academy. The 18-month leadership program, designed to grow and develop leadership skills for individuals active in Montana’s ranching industry, will welcome its second cohort in June 2024. Individuals who work in the ranching industry are encouraged to apply. Candidates should submit their information by April 30, 2024. “We are excited to welcome our next cohort of individuals for the M Bar leadership academy. We believe it is of the utmost importance to continue to build a pipeline of leaders that will honor...
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At the opening banquet of the 122nd Anniversary Convention, National Farmers Union (NFU) presented Rodney Allebach of Minnesota, Linda Jones Borton of Ohio, and Dennis Rosen of Wisconsin with Awards for Meritorious Service to Farmers Union and to American Agriculture, the highest honor presented by Farmers Union. “The 2024 class of Meritorious Service Award recipients represents lifelong commitment to Farmers Union,” NFU President Rob Larew said. “I commend all three of these members and leaders on their passion and support for family farmers and our communities, and I challenge the next generation of Farmers Union leaders to be as engaged...
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Last week Banjo and Tuff had an inkling that there might be something else behind the new raccoon’s recent welcoming to the ranch, and sure enough they saw her with the band of coyotes at the caverns. What is Ruby up to hanging around with these renegades and what else will Banjo find along the way? His whistling was a harmony that filled the still air. Rascal was on cloud nine. “This is going to deflate him like a full balloon,” Banjo said to himself. “And then when he lets go, he’s going to fly and fizzle in every direction...
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R-CALF USA has worked closely with the past three Administrations to encourage them to write the rules and regulations needed to properly implement and enforce the over 100-year-old Packers and Stockyards Act. Specifically, we asked for rules and regulations to implement and enforce the provisions in the Packers and Stockyards Act that make it unlawful for meatpackers to engage in unfair, deceptive, or unjustly discriminatory practices; or to give any undue or unreasonable preferences or advantage to a particular person; or to subject any particular person to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage. The Obama Administration began the process...
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Family farmers and ranchers from across the nation elected Aberdeen farmer, Jeff Kippley to serve a second term as the National Farmers Union Vice President, March 11, during the organization’s national convention held in Scottsdale, Arizona. “There is more work to do, and I am eager to continue to work hard for you,” Kippley said. President of South Dakota Farmers Union Doug Sombke agreed. “Jeff Kippley has been such a great addition to National Farmers Union,” said Sombke, who also serves as Treasurer of National Farmers Union. “His background as a farmer and an accountant is valuable...
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Aggregated Ag data being harvested from producers should be publicly available to avoid market manipulation, Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer told members of the Montana Legislature’s Interim Committee on Economic Affairs this week in Helena. The committee has been tasked with how ag data is collected and used after legislation was introduced during the 2023 Legislative Session. Protecting producers’ data is a priority issue for Montana Farmers Union. Montana should have a plan in place to ensure that agricultural data harvested by manufacturers cannot be used to the detriment of farmers, that farmers and ranchers are protected from commercial...
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In the February 22, 2024, issue of Western Ag Reporter, Barbara Intermill, author of “Cowgirl Nutrition,” stated that “the NCBA sponsored Beef Checkoff Program is a national marketing and research program funded by producers to increase the demand for beef at home and abroad.” I feel I must correct that statement. In reality, the Beef Checkoff system funds the NCBA, or in other words, sponsors NCBA, to the tune of ,720,000 in 2023, not the other way around. By the way, I like how the NCBA/Beef Checkoff annual meeting is called “Cattle Con.” Does that mean that NCBA is against the...
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There should be a law against people who smell bad. And this is coming from a guy who, on many occasions, was smellier than Taco Bell on a bad bean day. This law of mine would be directly aimed at those foreign exchange students (from France, I think) who could walk into a Dollar Store and whose body odor would drown out the Chinesesium smell of all the merchandise. If I asked you what you thought most American’s preferred, a bath or a shower, what would you say? In a recent poll of Americans, 57 percent of the people chose...
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Ranchers and cattle producers interested in learning about the latest research in range livestock production from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are encouraged to register for the 2024 Nebraska Ranch Practicum offered by Nebraska Extension. The practicum will be held during eight sessions over the course of three seasons to cover the production cycle of livestock and forage resources. Participants will learn about a variety of topics, including the effective use of decision support tools to evaluate management and marketing alternatives, plant identification, range condition and grazing strategies, wildlife management, evaluation of cow body condition scores, and beef cattle production systems....
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The best part about winter used to be skiing, ice skating, and ice fishing. However, as I have grown older, it has become harder and harder to find a winter sport that I can participate in, because I don’t dare risk my knees, my hips, my skull, etc. So, when our friends, Keith and Holly Williams from Virginia, suggested a snowmobile outing, it sounded fun and harmless. We met them in Jackson, Wyoming, and headed out for a three-day ride through Yellowstone Park, and then one final day in the Grand Tetons along the Continental Divide. Even though it was...
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Federal and state agencies, and a nonprofit conservation organization over the weekend finished aerially seeding 26,000-plus acres of eastern Nevada’s fire-scarred public lands. Neil Frakes, emergency stabilization and rehabilitation program manager for the Bureau of Land Management’s Ely District, said the seedings will enhance natural recovery and curtail invasive weed spread. “Increasing desirable perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs decreases invasive annual grasses and other weed species’ ability to establish,” said Frakes. The BLM, Nevada Department of Wildlife and Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition seeded nearly all of the acreage burned in four wildfires, the Becky Peak and Kinsley fires in White...
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Recently, a retired friend asked if I planned to retire anytime soon. It was the right question. While I have considered retirement, I explained, I have no real plans – soon or otherwise – to do so. But, I added, “The choice may not be up to me because I’m in a profession that might retire on me.” It’s no joke. In the last year alone, two newspapers that had long published this weekly effort closed and two others quit printing it – after nearly 25 years – due to bone-deep budget cuts. That’s just the state of today’s newspapers....
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Ranching, mining, logging, and farming: what do these livelihoods and engines of economic progress and prosperity have in common? All of these industries have paved the way and allowed for the settlement of our great country. These four sectors of industry have propelled America. In the words of the late President Reagan, these sectors have allowed the U.S. to become the “shining city on a hill” to help defeat tyranny around the globe, win two World Wars, triumph over the Soviet Union, and become the global hub of economic innovation and a beacon of liberty for all. Sadly, America has...
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Scholarship applications are now available for college students involved with the Angus breed. The Angus Foundation awarded more than 8,000 in scholarships in 2023 alone. The Foundation offers scholarships to undergraduate, graduate, and trade school students each year to help Angus youth achieve their educational goals and offset the rising costs of tuition. Applications are due May 1. “The Angus Foundation’s scholarship program is one of the most prominent and consistent ways our donors support Angus youth,” Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director, said. “Our scholarships pave the way for a bright future for our industry by ensuring young people...
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced ,956,000 from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Montana drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades. This funding is part of the over billion investment in water infrastructure upgrades from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – the largest such investment in American history. Today’s announcement will support essential water infrastructure that protects public health and treasured water bodies across the state. Almost half of this funding will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans, ensuring funds reach underserved communities most in need of investments in water infrastructure. “Over the past...
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It was the first thing Shalene McNeil, PhD, RDN, said to me when we sat down for an interview at the recent Cattle Con meeting of the National Cattlemen Beef Association (NCBA) in Orlando, Florida. “I don’t think I’ve ever interviewed with an RD (registered dietitian) Ag reporter before!” she said with surprise. “I visited with a nurse Ag reporter last year, but not an RD.” I explained that as a dietitian and wife of a rancher, I’m pretty passionate about getting accurate information to the public about nutrition and agriculture. And wow, was I in good hands. Dr. McNeil is a...
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With a 2023 Farm Bill that has yet to be passed – nor is it close to doing so – legislative progress at this point can be best described in one word: stalemate. Democrats are holding firm that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP - and other nutrition benefits will not be cut, and that any Farm Bill seeking to reduce those benefits has no chance to pass the Senate. To start off a five-hour hearing for the House Committee on Agriculture on February 14, Chairman David Scott (D-GA) said, “It won’t surprise anyone that has been following the work...
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In a world of rapidly changing electrical rate schedules, F. John Hay, from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s (UNL) Department of Biological Systems Engineering, walked agricultural producers, and residents of Nebraska, through the major components of their electrical bill. Nebraska is unique in that it is the only state that is 100 percent a “public power state” which means “all utilities by statute are publicly owned” or are a cooperative. By understanding how you are being charged for energy and how you use it, these two factors can be matched “so that when we do make management practice changes, we can...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) has reopened public comment for the 2024 Grizzly Bear Management Plan (grizzly plan) and Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan (wolf plan) to ensure ample time for county commissioners, residents, agencies, and Tribes to provide their perspectives. The deadline for comments is now March 9, 2024. The grizzly plan was drafted in response to grizzly bears extending beyond their territory, which includes their designated recovery zones and the buffers for those zones. This proposed grizzly plan will eliminate the Western Montana Bear Management Plan, established in 2006, and the Southwest Montana Bear Management...
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Steer wrestler Kyle Callaway returned to his Billings, Montana, home with cold medicine one quiet morning in 2022 and became violently ill. His wife, Anna, prepared him lunch, and as Kyle prepared to sit down, he tipped over, suffering a seizure. Anna, a nurse, called an ambulance and tried to make sense of what she had witnessed. Her husband was healthy. They both worked jobs and competed in the RAM Montana Circuit in the PRCA. He had exhibited no symptoms of fatigue or headaches. A seizure? It did not make sense. A few days later, Kyle woke up in an...
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The 100th Annual Ag Outlook Forum was hosted last week, and during the opening session, panelists were asked to reflect on where U.S. agriculture has come in the last 100 years. I’d reckon that any farmer or rancher in 1924 would have been astounded – in a great way – at the leaps and bounds that have been made. This notion made me think back to a book I read recently, titled The Four Winds, which focuses on a woman in the Dust Bowl-era Texas Panhandle. I won’t spoil the book for you all because, one, it’s blasphemous to do...
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The USDA released the 2022 Census of Agriculture data a little over a week ago. Here are a few things I took out of the report. As one would expect, the total number of farms, acreage, and operators declined as compared to the 2017 Census. There were 2,042,220 farms and ranches in 2017, compared to 1,900,487 in 2022, down 6.9 percent. Total acres in farms and ranches also decreased from the 900,217,567 in 2017 to 880,100,848 in 2022, a loss of 2.2 percent. Average farm and ranch size was 441 acres in 2017 and rose to 463 acres in 2022,...
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Today marks the official opening of a national pilot program that will compensate farmers and ranchers for implementing high-value conservation practices on their land. Producers have 30 days to apply for enrollment in the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture program. If accepted, they will earn 0 an acre or animal unit to adopt or maintain practices that curb greenhouse gas emissions. North Dakota is one of just four states participating in the pilot project, funded through a three-year -million USDA grant. Participation is limited to seven soil conservation districts in the state with an objective of enrolling 450 producers who are...
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Montana Farmers Union applauds senators Jon Tester's (D-MT) and Chuck Grassley's (R-IA) recent letter to colleagues in opposition to any policy riders in the FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations bill that weaken the Packers and Stockyards Act and its protections for producers and consumers. "Montana Farmers Union appreciates senators Tester and Grassley standing up for family farmers and ranchers by opposing corporate-backed proposals to undermine the Packers and Stockyards Act," MFU President Walter Schweitzer said. More than 100 years ago, Farmers Union was instrumental in drafting and working to pass the Packers and Stockyards Act, and MFU still supports the provisions...
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The Humboldt River Field Office has concluded the FY2024 East Pershing Complex (Complex) wild horse gather near Winnemucca, Nevada, on February 9, 2024. The gather was concluded due to inclement weather conditions. The purpose of the gather was to reduce overpopulation of wild horses in and around the Complex area, to prevent further degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses and restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands. Staff gathered 2,692 wild horses and removed 2,689 excess wild horses from public lands. Removed animals include the deaths, of which 0.14 percent were...
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Veterinarians and animal health distributors continue to show support to the next generation of agriculture through the Zoetis Industry Support Program. From February 1 through April 30, 2024, customers may designate a portion of sales from eligible Zoetis Cattle and Equine products to their local FFA chapters. Last year, more than 5,000 was donated to 1,175 FFA chapters with over 25,000 students benefiting from the contributions. FFA chapters use the program funds in a variety of ways from helping to defray travel and event costs to funding community projects and scholarships. Christy Schuler, an FFA advisor in Bridgeport, Nebraska, used...
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Hunter Education classes will be offered in several locations throughout southwestern Montana this year. Many of these classes are or will soon be open for registration. All in-person classes are free. Students must be at least 10 years old to take a Hunter Education class. Students must be at least 11 years old to take a Bowhunter Education class. The following Hunter Education classroom classes are scheduled in the region: Belgrade: starting February 23 Helena: starting March 15 Butte: starting April 8 (tentative) Bozeman: starting April 15 (tentative) Logan: starting May 6 Helena: starting May 17 Clyde Park: June (tentative)...
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Advocacy, finance, technology, cow nutrition, and mental health were on tap for participants at the Montana Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference February 9-11 in Billings. More than 100 young farmers and ranchers networked, played bingo as an icebreaker, attended educational tours and expanded their horizons. “Our conference saw the greatest attendance yet since Montana Farm Bureau began exclusively handling it,” said MFBF YF&R Chair Nick Courville. “Our workshop committee put together breakout sessions that were enticing and relevant. We wanted to empower the attendees to gain knowledge about new technologies, such as carbon credits. A few people...
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Helping to cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders is something Culver’s takes pride in – especially during National FFA Week (February 17-24). To celebrate this year, the restaurant chain is announcing the FFA Ambassador Program, a new initiative that allows guests to nominate standout FFA members in their communities to represent Culver’s and their FFA chapter, as well as have the opportunity to earn additional prizes. The FFA Ambassador Program is the latest chapter in Culver’s longstanding relationship with FFA. Culver’s partners with the organization through its Thank You Farmers® Project, an initiative that aims to advocate for the positive impact of agriculture...
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The Bureau of Land Management Montana-Dakotas State Office today announced an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for April 16, 2024, to offer 31 oil and gas parcels totaling 6,508 acres in North Dakota. The BLM completed scoping on these parcels in October 2023 and held a public comment period that closed in December 2023 on the parcels, potential deferrals, and the related environmental analysis. A 30-day public protest period to receive additional public input opened today and will close March 13, 2024. The parcels the BLM has analyzed, as well as maps and instructions on how to submit a...
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MSU Extension in Carbon, Stillwater, and Yellowstone counties is offering a three-part series on estate planning, featuring MSU Family Economics Specialist Marsha Goetting, PH.D., CFP ®, CFCS. This series will be held in multiple communities and each session will cover a different topic on estate planning. The series kicks off on Wednesday, February 28, in Joliet at the Joliet Community Center (209 E Front Ave) from 10 – 11:30 am; followed by an evening session in Laurel at the Laurel Public Library (720 W 3rd St) from 5:30 – 6:45 pm. The final session will be held in Columbus on...
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Henry C. Gardiner scholarships have been awarded to elite undergraduates since 2012. This year, 33 applicants competed for six scholarships. The applicants represent diverse interests throughout animal science and industry, production agriculture and the beef industry. The applicants are academically elite undergraduates enrolled at K-State planning to continue careers in agriculture. In addition to written applications, applicants compete in an intense, in-person interview with a panel of K-State faculty and industry leaders. Academic excellence, work ethic, community service, written and verbal communication skills and future goals are considered. The 2024-2025 Henry C. Gardiner Scholars are Lauren Thompson, Woodville, Wisconsin; Grace...
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Galen and Lori Fink will be recognized Thursday, February 29 as the 2024 Stockman of the Year. The award is presented annually by the Livestock & Meat Industry Council (LMIC) at the annual Stockmen’s Dinner that kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Stanley Stout Center. Register for the event by February 22. Galen and Lori (Hagenbuch) grew up on eastern Kansas farms, learning the importance of sound decisions in cattle judging, business and leadership. The couple met at Kansas State University and married in 1975. Galen spent 14 years managing the K-State Purebred Beef Unit while Lori served as...
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The Aggieville Showdown continues to put agriculture in the Aggieville Business District with its fourth annual event set for Saturday, April 6, 2024. The event features cattle exhibitors from across the country who compete for large cash prizes and the opportunity to show their cattle at a Grand Drive in the Aggieville Business District. “As we continue this annual event, our team is very excited for year four,” said Christian Calliham, Aggieville Showdown Founder and Executive Director. “We have continued to see growth each year as exhibitors from across the country learn about our Grand Drive experience in the middle...
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A ruling by the U.S. District Court of Arizona in Tucson on Tuesday has vacated the 2020 registrations for three Dicamba products used in over-the-top applications on Dicamba-tolerant soybeans. The ruling states that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unlawfully approved the use of Bayer Xtendimax, BASF Engenia, and Syngenta Tavium by failing to follow notice and comment mandates for the products. “The court decision to vacate the registrations of Xtendimax, Engenia, and Tavium has struck a crushing blow to farmers across the country,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “Many producers have likely made planting decisions for 2024 and this...
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“What do you suppose he’s doing,” Tuff asked. “Looks like he’s setting a trap of some kind,” Banjo said. “That’s not very camouflage,” Tuff said. “It’s an upside-down box held up by a stick with a string attached. What critter is going to fall for that?” “I wouldn’t be too soon to jump and say that nothing’s going to try it,” Pudge said. “Something’s been nabbing stuff around here.” “Isn’t it just Rascal saying it’s something else?” Tuff said. “I’m going to have to agree with Pudge,” Banjo said. “I’ve been on the lookout too. There’s something covering its tracks...
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I was born and raised in hamburger heaven. Four hours away was Lodi, California, where the oldest restaurant chain in America was founded by two guys named Allen and Wright, hence the name A & W. Supposedly, they were also the first chain to introduce car hops and root beer served in frosted mugs that came straight from the freezer. In 1926, the chain evolved into a franchise operation, and in the same year, they invented the bacon double cheeseburger. For that I think we can all be eternally grateful. They were also the first, I’m pretty sure, to open...
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This is the year to reinstate Country-of-Origin-Labeling (COOL) for beef. Actually, last year was the year to reinstate COOL - along with all of the other priorities that are supposed to be re-authorized in the Farm Bill. If Congress does not address COOL now, it will be five years before the next Farm Bill comes around. This Congress is quite obviously feckless, ridiculous, and a laughingstock, but unfortunately, we still depend on them because they are the only Congress we have. Their job is to pay the bills, which includes programs vital to America’s farmers and ranchers. Furthermore, it is...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks will host a Hunter Education field day for students who take the course online in Billings on Saturday, March 2, at the FWP office at 2300 Lake Elmo Drive. Advance registration is required and capacity is limited. The field day will begin at 10:30 a.m. Students age 12 to 17 and students who will turn 12 by January 16 of the current license year (March - February) can take Hunter Education online, but must also pass an in-person field day to be certified. Students who take the course online and pass the written exam will receive...
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It took us a while to figure out the endgame for USDA’s persistence in trying to force United States’ cattlemen and cattlewomen to affix an electronic identification (EID) eartag on all their cattle and to include their cattle in a national database. The USDA said it’s all about disease traceability – that EID eartags and their associated databases are needed to prevent the spread of disease. No, they’re not! The U.S. has successfully prevented disease spread for many livestock diseases for decades. In fact, the USDA finalized a rule in 2013 and proclaimed that it wasn’t the EID eartag or...
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The Northwest Agriculture Cooperative Council representing local and regional cooperatives in the Pacific Northwest recently joined forces with the FFA organization to host the annual NWACC/FFA Cenarrusa Day on the Hill event in Boise. Nearly 400 attended the event, named in honor of former Secretary of State, Pete Cenarrusa. Mr. Cenarrusa's wife Freda was in the audience for the event. During the luncheon, Rick Waitley, Lobbyist for the Northwest Agricultural Cooperative Council, recognized two legislators with the NWACC Friend of the Industry Award. Those recognized were: TWINFALLS: Senator Linda Wright Hartgen. Harten is a graduate of Lewis-Clark State College with...
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The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust is seeking candidates with a passion for communication and event planning. The Communications and Events Intern will be an ambassador for the Land Trust, creating a variety of communication pieces for print and web, as well as assisting in preparation and execution of community and fundraising events. This internship is designed to provide an in-depth experience in feature writing, social media management, and outreach material, along with event planning tasks including vendor coordination, marketing material, registration, event support, and more. As a part of the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust team, you will...
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Mason Brown lives on a ranch near Marmarth, North Dakota. He is always helping others and has a very caring heart. Photo courtesy of his grandma, Nikki Brown.
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The National Sorghum Foundation will soon open applications for three scholarships it has available to college students studying agriculture in the 2024-2025 academic year. “These scholarships represent individuals who had an enduring impact on sorghum and sorghum research," Foundation Chair Dr. Jeff Dahlberg said. "We look forward to offering assistance to future students who exhibit these same skills and leadership capabilities.” Bruce Maunder Memorial Scholarship This scholarship is presented in honor of Bruce Maunder, a lifetime advocate and researcher in the sorghum industry. Maunder dedicated 37 years of his life to sorghum and crop improvement and inspired a new generation...
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Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has awarded 21 grants totaling over million to promote the development, cultivation, production, and sales of specialty crops in North Dakota. “North Dakota is already a leading producer of several specialty crops, such as dry edible beans, dry peas, potatoes and lentils,” Goehring said. “As our farmers seek to diversify their production, these grants help provide important information through specialty crop research, education, and trade missions. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service approved ,358,758.41 for the 2023 grants. The grants are distributed based on a formula that takes into account specialty crop acreage and production value. Specialty crops...
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An effort to restore native sharp-tailed grouse to western Montana continues, and this fall Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is reminding hunters and others to be especially careful to identify grouse when in the field. FWP biologists, with the help of conservation groups and private landowners, relocated approximately 97 sharp-tailed grouse from eastern Montana to western Montana in 2021 and 2022, plus 144 more grouse this spring. Birds were released in the lower Bitterroot Valley near Florence, in the Flint Creek Valley near Drummond, and in the upper Blackfoot Valley near Helmville. Prior to these relocations, the last sharp-tail...
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With September in our sights, hunting seasons for upland game in North Dakota open soon. The season opens for sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge and ruffed grouse on September 9. Following that, the two-day youth pheasant season for legally licensed residents and nonresidents ages 15 and younger opens September 30. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Sharptails, ruffed grouse, and partridge each have a daily limit of three and a possession limit of 12. The daily limit for the youth pheasant season is also three birds, but the possession limit is six. All hunters, regardless of age, must...
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Governor Greg Gianforte and Montana Historical Society (MTHS) Director Molly Kruckenberg announced Montana native Norm Asbjornson has donated .4 million for the construction of the new Montana Heritage Center in Helena. The generous donation completes MTHS’ goal of raising .8 million for enhancements to the museum’s galleries. MTHS continues its fundraising efforts to improve the building further and strengthen visitor experiences. “I look for projects that will be game changers for the state of Montana,” Asbjornson said. “This is an investment in the history of Montana and a gift to our current and future generations.” A graduate of Montana State...
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Today {August 29}, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps announced the final definition of the Water of the United States (WOTUS) rule. In response, NCBA releases the following statement from Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart: “The entire cattle industry breathed a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court curtailed the EPA’s overreach under the Clean Water Act. Today’s revised WOTUS definition is an important step toward bringing the EPA more in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling. NCBA looks forward to working with the agency to protect farmers and ranchers from burdensome regulations and provide them with lasting...
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How can breed associations position seedstock producers to better serve their commercial customers? The answer proposed by the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is the identification of genetically superior beef cattle – sooner, with fewer generational intervals, and definitively. In an upcoming September 7, 7:00 p.m. central standard time webinar, titled “Genomics: Improving the U.S. Cowherd,” Dr. Matt Spangler, beef genetics specialist for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will share his research and insights on the merits of collecting genomic information. "We can genotype young animals and increase the accuracy of their predictions, or EPDs, to the same level as if they...
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“They’re thick as flies on a picnic blanket,” Ben said. “That’s a fact,” Banjo said. “The elk herd has moved down early this year because of all that extra hay we put up.” The cool air layered itself across the ranch. Parts of the air felt like there was a mist surrounding them, then the other parts felt like the rain was about to dumb upon them. “All that rain in June felt like a curse, but it’ll be a blessing when the snow flies,” Ben stated. “It’s been quite a few years that we’ve seen a hay crop like...
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I was a “city girl” until I married a third-generation dairy farmer. Since then, my husband and I have been actively involved in running our family dairy in Okarche, Oklahoma. Over my years, as I became first a wife, then a mom, and finally, a grandma, I’ve become very interested in health and nutrition. Now, as a co-chair of the Beef Checkoff’s Nutrition and Health Committee, I’m applying my interest in healthy eating to help drive beef demand. The Beef Checkoff’s principal role is to successfully drive demand for beef. To accomplish that goal, we must engage with a broad...
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Hazer Branham, six-years-old, always has fun on the ranch, especially if it involves taking his pet chicken for a ride on his head.
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It has been predicted that the peak contraction of the U.S. cow herd would hit within the next year, but Lee McGlamery, with MP Agrilytics, has assessed the most recent drought conditions across the country, alongside liquidation and slaughter rates, and has found that “we are actually kicking the proverbial can down the road […] a year or two.” As of August 17, 88.14 percent of Texas was classified in some form of drought, with the most dire conditions being seen in the lower two-thirds of the state. “We’ve talked with some producers down through that southern two thirds of...
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The agriculture community is like no other. Farmers and ranchers rarely have to worry if they will have help during harvesting, branding, shipping, or even when they get stuck and need to be pulled out; we all know that a neighbor or someone the lives on the other side of town will be there to help at the drop of a hat. However, just like with anything, there are also bad eggs. On July 8, while checking their yearling ewes, who were in a pasture a little way from the Edwards Rambouillets headquarters, Guy Edwards and his family noticed that...
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I was anxiously awaiting the August Cattle On Feed report to see what the numbers were going to look like, especially the placement numbers, but we will get to that here shortly. According to the USDA report released last Friday, total cattle on feed was 2 percent below August 2022 levels at 11.0 million head. Now let’s dig into the placements, starting with pre-report estimates. Prior to the report being released by USDA, the average guess was that placements would be around 5 percent lower than at this time last year. Keep in mind that placement numbers were higher in...
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The Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) has selected ten outstanding young women to serve as interns for the 2023 NILE Stock Show and Rodeo that will run October 13-21st. Interns selected include Rayleigh Carter, Kynzi Cole, Jaynec Hunt, Rcagan Meier, Savannah Peterson, Brianna Rimmey, Breanna Selsor, Kristen Smith, Anna Sohn, and Maci Stokebrand. Since the inception of the intern program in 2011, the NILE has come to depend on the great value interns bring to the Stock Show with their work, enthusiasm, and new ideas. This year brought a great set of intern applicants from colleges and universities across the...
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As “ecosystem services” becomes a more common term heard amongst farmers, ranchers, and range stewards of all kinds, the Society for Range Management (SRM) set out to further define this broad term and how it applies to rangelands. In a report released today titled, “Rangeland Ecosystem Services: Connecting Nature and People,” a SRM task force assessed five rangeland service areas including food and fiber, water, carbon, biodiversity, and wildlife. “We wanted to create a resource that was informative, science-based, and would benefit not only SRM, but anyone interested in the diversity of ecosystem services produced by rangelands,” Texas A&M Center...
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Beef cattle outlook, latest research into top pharmaceutical technologies yielding the highest economic return in stocker cattle, and fine-tuning bunk calls in the grow yard are among topics planned for 2023 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, September 28. The conference will be hosted at the KSU Beef Stocker Unit. “This year’s program reflects the challenging landscape our industry is experiencing,” Dale Blasi, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry professor and beef cattle extension specialist, stated. “The experiences and thoughts of our assembled speakers and panelists will provide insights as we progress into an unknown future.” The day...
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On August 29, from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., the Division of Plant Industry, Pesticides Program is hosting a stakeholder engagement meeting on proposed rulemaking topics for 2023. Topics include the Pesticides Applicators’ Act, which includes certification provision changes to conform with federal requirements, and Pesticide Sensitive Registry components from SB23-266. The Pesticide Act, including the limited use designation of Neonicotinoids will be discussed. We {the Colorado Livestock Association} would like your feedback on these proposed rule changes. Feedback collected through email is considered informal feedback intended to help formalize the draft rule language. If you would like your comments...
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The Montana State University (MSU) Extension Pesticide Education Program is offering a pest management tour for pesticide applicators at six locations across northwestern Montana from October 2-4. In order, the tour will visit Kalispell, Ronan, Superior, Plains, Missoula, and Hamilton. At each stop, speakers will present on a variety of topics, including forage pests, integrated weed management and herbicide resistance, management of vertebrate pests, proper pesticide use and integrated pest management, biological control of weeds, and identification of weeds and nontarget pesticide symptomology. Presentations vary by location. Tour speakers include Hayes Goosey, MSU Extension forage specialist; Tim Seipel, MSU Extension...
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The California FFA Foundation is excited to launch the "Seeds of Impact" campaign, honoring philanthropists and agriculture leaders, John and Gail Kautz. Thanks to a generous [post_excerpt] million pledge from The James G. Boswell Foundation, the campaign aims to reach a million fundraising goal, furthering the Foundation's commitment to supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders across California. The "Seeds of Impact" campaign celebrates the unwavering commitment of John and Gail Kautz to agricultural education. Their significant investments in family, community, and agriculture have left a lasting impact on countless lives, inspiring others to follow their lead. "The California...
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Kyelynn Coombe of the Joliet FFA Chapter has been selected as one of four national finalists in the Beef Production Proficiency Award area through the National FFA. Coombe, who has been a member of the Joliet FFA since 8th grade and is currently a Sophomore at Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyoming majoring in Ag Business. The process for this recognition began when she began her Supervised Agricultural Experience through her Agricultural Education class in Joliet as a freshman. A Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) is an extension of the agricultural classroom experience that allows students an opportunity to explore career...
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Slated for September 14-15 is the 78th Annual Newell Ram Show & Sale in Newell, South Dakota. A yearly event, the show and sale has built up a reputation for high-quality range and stud rams and ewes for sale. Consignments from an eight-state region make up the lineup and return buyers routinely bid on the offering. The Newell Ram Show and Sale has over 285 head of high-quality registered sheep consigned for its 2023 event. Breeds consigned include Rambouillet, Targhee, SAMM, Columbia, Corriedale, Suffolk, Hampshire, South Down, and Dorset. The sheep show will kick off on September 14 with the...
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The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is accepting applications for the annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program. Established in 2007, the scholarship recognizes outstanding graduate students pursuing careers in meat science and animal agriculture. Two ,000 grants are awarded to graduate students who demonstrate superior achievement in academics and leadership and are committed to the advancement of the beef industry. Scholarship recipients recognize that the program not only benefits their work but also the entire industry. “This scholarship is giving me the opportunity to holistically investigate some of the greatest challenges and opportunities for future agriculturalists and to expand my knowledge of...
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“You saved my bacon,” Banjo said. Cora, the coyote, licked at her paw. “Are you alright?” Banjo asked as he looked down at her paw. “Yes, it was a snare, but I shook it off,” she said. “Just buggered up my paw a little.” Banjo knelt down and picked her paw up in his. “It looks bad,” he said. “You’ll need antibiotics on it, so it doesn’t get infected.” “I’ll get some when I get back to the ranch today,” she responded. “How do you suppose you’re getting back there?” he asked. “Tate’s not leaving until tomorrow.” “You forget,” Cora...
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There appears to be general agreement that Wyoming’s current property tax structure is quite problematic. Where there is not agreement is in how to fix it. The current system, based predominantly upon real estate property values derived from recent sales, has escalated values inordinately higher than any time in the past. Assessors are then required to utilize such values when assessing property and thus estimate tax rates upon the same. This system is likely “survivable” for the more affluent but is not sustainable for Wyoming’s producers and labor force. The question becomes how to fix it. Two solutions tend to...
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Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring said that applications are now being accepted for reimbursement of organic certification costs through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program for the fiscal year 2023. “Organic farmers, ranchers, processors, and handlers can receive up to 0 of the organic certification costs paid between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023,” Goehring said. Certification assures consumers that products are produced by recognized organic methods. Certification enables organic producers and processors to label and sell their products with a federal organic seal. Such products typically command a higher price in the marketplace. Applicants who are certified by Where...
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"You are probably eligible for some kind of award from the Governor," my husband commented one morning over coffee. After 41 years of marriage, I should have known better than to bite on that, but of course, I had to find out where this was going. "For what?" I asked even though I suspected the answer was not going to be a self-esteem booster. "For being the oldest first year Home Ec teacher in the universe," he answered smugly. "Well, it's not Home Ec anymore. It is FCS, and you are right I should get some kind of award, but...
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Parker Stensland, on his horse named Cookie, held on tight to his dally with a big calf on the end at the Stensland Land and Livestock branding in northeast Montana. This four-year-old loves anything that involves a rope, his horse, being in the pastures, and his dog, Charlie.
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It’s easy to feel a sense of secondhand joy when witnessing someone else’s success, and this time of year, that’s a common occurrence with county and state fairs taking place; in the moment when a young person gets “that” handshake, it’s hard not to smile. But this year, one family’s success hit a little deeper at the Montana State Fair (MSF). Preslee and Jagger Flesch, Jeff and the late Nanna Flesch’s oldest children, not only won a few divisions in the Junior and Open shows, but Preslee’s Angus heifer went on to win the Overall Supreme female in the Open...
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On Tuesday, August 8, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation under the Antiquities Act designating a new national monument near Grand Canyon National Park. More than 1 million acres of Arizona land will be designated to establish the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument (Monument) as a “step towards addressing the historical exclusion and dispossession of Indigenous people in the area” according to Roll Call. The Biden Administration “designation supports tribally led conservation efforts and helps address injustices of the past, including when tribes were forcibly removed from lands that later became Grand...
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Many ranchers, cattle producers, and Angus cattle enthusiasts are gearing up to attend the South Dakota Angus Tour (Angus Tour) which plans to visit multiple reputable operations in the northwest region of the state. Attendees will get the chance to visit and learn about the history, the cattle, and the family that stewards great Angus cattle as well as the land, like the Dieters family does in Faith, South Dakota. The first day of the tour will feature a stop at Turtle Creek Angus where the Dieters family have been raising registered Angus cattle since 2014 when Tyrell and his...
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A couple of weeks ago I was visiting with a producer at the Montana State Fair in Great Falls, Montana, and in our conversation, he asked me what effect I thought the lower cattle numbers - thus lower slaughter numbers - would have on beef export numbers. I explained to him I felt that there was no doubt in mind my mind that beef export numbers could surpass last year’s all-time high numbers, and that we should surely see lower export figures in 2023 than in 2022. Last week, the USDA released the export data for June, which was put...
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The Commercial Cattlemen’s Symposium, hosted by the Red Angus Association of America, is set for Wednesday, September 13, during the National Red Angus Convention in Denver, Colorado. The event will offer beef producers of all breeds an opportunity to gain tools and knowledge to strengthen their operations. This year’s symposium will focus on “Recovery After Drought” and provide discussion around nutrition, value-added opportunities, and sustainability. Award-winning multimedia farm broadcaster Lane Nordlund will emcee the educational event. “We are excited to offer this free program to cattle producers during the National Red Angus Convention,” Rachael Oliver, RAAA commercial marketing specialist, said....
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Hundreds of farm and ranch families plan to attend the 2023 South Dakota State Fair. And the state’s largest agricultural organization and the premiere sponsor of the State Fair has a full day of events to educate and entertain. Farmers Union Day at the State Fair is Saturday, September 2. All activities will be held on or near the Freedom Stage. During the Farmers Union Day, South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) hosts a Farmer Share Lunch, Farm Safety Quiz Bowl, and a Landowner Rights Forum. “Landowner rights have been part of our organization’s policy since the beginning because for farmers...
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As of August 11, there are now 16 premises affected by anthrax in southwest North Dakota; 15 laboratory-confirmed cases and one probable case based on clinical signs. One confirmed case is in eastern Hettinger County with the remaining cases in Grant County. The cases were confirmed by the North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. “The cases are a reminder to livestock producers throughout the state to take action to protect their animals from the disease, especially in areas with a past history of anthrax,” State Veterinarian, Dr. Ethan Andress said. “Producers in the affected area have been working with...
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Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has activated the North Dakota Harvest Hotline. “Farmers who need custom combining and combiners looking for a job should call us at 701-328-5110,” Goehring said. “Your name and information will be entered into the Harvest Hotline database to be matched up with other callers.” Goehring said North Dakota Department of Agriculture employees will answer calls to the hotline weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Callers can also leave a message on evenings and weekends. The service is free of charge. A self-service Harvest Hotline map is also available again this year. The map can be...
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Warren L. Agar 1936 – 2023 Warren L. Agar (86) of Billings, Montana passed away on August 6, 2023. He was born on the farm to Ernest and Delia Agar on August 13, 1936, in Langdon, North Dakota, and he was the youngest of seven siblings. Warren served in the U.S. Army and later was discharged in 1960. Warren met his wife Sharon Pelletier, and they married in 1962 and had three children. Early in their marriage, Warren moved his family to Seattle for three years, where he worked as an ironworker, building some of the first skyscrapers in downtown...
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“Ah!” squealed the contest’s pie superintendent. “They’re gone! They’re all gone!” Banjo moved away from Tate’s side to see the judge who resembled a fairy godmother from Disney’s Snow White, flawing her arms in the air as if she was going to bibbity, bobbity, boo the next person that walked by. “Someone, anyone, there’s a pie thief among us!” she wailed. Now that got Banjo’s attention. “Pie thief, huh,” he muttered. “I have no doubt that I know the culprit.” Tate was under the hood of his grandpa’s truck, tinkering on it every chance he could, and it was a...
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Braydn Terrill, a 13-year-old from the Stoddard Ranch in Hammond, Montana, catches two feet with a wicked loop while roping in the branding pen with his grandpa, Steve Stoddard.
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I recently accompanied a friend to choose a swimsuit for a cruise she has booked. I do believe the economy must be in much worse shape than we have been told, because the swimsuit mannequin was wearing a total of 20 square inches of fabric. Either that fabric was ridiculously expensive, or Oakley Inc. must be manufacturing on a very tight budget. The other conclusion was that generations from now, some anthropologist will unearth this fragment of fabric and use it to conclude that global warming had to have been rampant in 2023. Swimsuit season in Montana is usually only...
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To ancient Greeks and Romans, the “dog days of summer” began when Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major – Latin for “big dog” – “appears to rise alongside the sun.” That sun/Sirius pairing, they believed, always delivered the hottest days each mid- to late summer. The ancients were on to something. Typically, the highest temps of the year happen after the sky’s two big dogs join forces. This year’s “dog days” run from July 3 through Aug. 11, according to that book of all things wise and farm-tested, the Old Farmer’s Almanac. And right on cue, the...
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There’s a reason why the Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) is called the “Daddy of ‘Em All.” CFD, which has been named Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year by the PRCA numerous times, attracts the top cowboys and cowgirls from across the country who come in and give their all. This year was no exception as multiple arena records were broken in the short go. Ryder Sanford of Sulphur, Louisiana, broke the arena record in the Saddle Bronc Riding to win CFD on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ “Black Tie” to mark a score of 92.5 points, which broke the...
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Vandevanter Meats has been serving the Flathead Valley in northwestern Montana since 1945; located in Columbia Falls, the processing facility has catered to a wide variety of producer needs – including certified organic operations – while also selling their specialty line of beef jerky and value-added meats through their sister business, Montana Jerky Co. In recent years, owner Ron Vandevanter has been gearing up for retirement, but without an interested buyer, he’s been forced to consider closing the business entirely; that’s where the idea for the Glacier Processing Cooperative (Glacier Processing) was born. Mark Siderius, a local rancher and Glacier...
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Last week I mentioned it was going to be interesting to see what happened with the stand-off between the feeders and the packers. The packers were bidding lower, and the feeders were holding tough on asking prices. The feeders know they finally have the leverage, especially since they know the packers need to stock up for Labor Day and increased retail demand. The packers have continued to slow down the chains, using contracted cattle and trying to stay out of the live market as much as they can. The stand-off continued last week in the south, but northern live cattle...
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The fifth annual Calves to Cure Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) will commence at Billings Livestock Commission (BLS) in Billings, Montana on September 14 at 1:00 p.m. Calves to Cure DMD is an All Class Cattle Sale organized by Paul and Laura Heaton of Worden, Montana, whose nine-year-old son, Grant Heaton, was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the young age of three. Over the last four years, Calves to Cure DMD has raised over ,000 for CureDuchenne, a nonprofit “committed to improving the lives of those affected by Duchenne through accelerating research to find the cure, improve care, and empower...
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The South Dakota Angus Association has announced that this year's South Dakota Angus Tour will be hosted in the Northwestern region of the state on September 15-16, 2023. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit multiple Angus operations in the Northwest part of the state to learn about their operations and genetics. Schedule of Events: Thursday, September 14, 2023 6 p.m. - Social, Comfort Suites, Rapid City, South Dakota 6:30 p.m. - Meal with South Dakota Angus Association Annual Meeting to follow Friday, September 15, 2023 7:30 a.m. Depart Comfort Suites, Rapid City, South Dakota for: Rounds Angus Ranch, Union...
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On August 2, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a draft Resource Management Plan and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (the Proposal) which intends to remove over 1 million acres of federal land from future use in oil and gas leases on the Western Slope of Colorado; in an effort to assuage the legal challenges from environmental groups, the Proposal would also designate new protected Areas of Critical Concern (ACECs) on more than 100,000 acres of BLM land. The Proposal provides several alternatives for amending oil and gas leases in Colorado, however BLM formally recommended “Alternative E” which would eliminate...
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National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members elected four new leaders to serve on the NJHA board of directors at the 2023 VitaFerm® Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE). The four newly elected NJHA directors were recognized during an emotional maroon jacket ceremony, July 13, as four NJHA board members retired after fulfilling their terms. Sam Birdsall, Torrington, Wyoming; Lauren Gatz, Fairview, Kansas; Salem Sifford, Goldvein, Virginia; and Harlee Watson, Flemingsburg, Kentucky, stepped into their roles as newly elected NJHA directors. Two delegates from each state junior Hereford association voted for the young people they felt would best lead the organization. The...
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“You’d think I was following you if I wasn’t so worried about you,” Banjo said. Cora didn’t move. “Cora?” Banjo yelled. “Cora?” She was laser-focused on something in the distance. “What are you looking at?” Banjo asked. Banjo tried to catch the gaze of what she was watching, but it was hard to decipher between all the folks spread out at the red and white checkerboard-covered tables at the Fair dinner. “They picked mine,” she said, clapping her paws with excitement. “I’m in the top three. My pie is really and truly in the top three of the pie contest.”...
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The Society for Range Management (SRM) recently established the Chuck Jarecki Rancher Land Stewardship Award thanks to a generous donation by its namesake, Montana rancher Chuck Jarecki. The award was created to recognize ranch operators who demonstrate outstanding rangeland stewardship and contribute to the ranching profession through local, state, and national service. Since SRM’s formation in 1948, ranchers have played a critical role in the organization and those who exemplify the founding principles of SRM will now have the opportunity to be recognized for their dedication to the land. “If you are like most ranchers, you are a livestock manager...
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(R to L) Brody Ahlgren, Jhet Ahlgren, and Nash Lund, all ten-years-old, all worked together to hold a BIG calf at Charlie and Raba Ahlgren branding in Winnett, Montana. All three of the boys enjoy playing basketball together, riding their horses, and helping out on their family ranches by pitching in wherever they are needed!
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With 2023 State Fair approaching, South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) checked in with three 4-H and FFA families: the Eide family from Gettysburg and the Michalek and Rose families from Chamberlain. As the premier sponsor of the South Dakota State Fair, Farmers Union wanted to learn their stories. We wanted to learn, what do these families do to prepare for this annual event and what it is about 4-H, FFA and the State Fair that they appreciate? The Eide Family… Bobbi Eide remembers counting down the days until her 8th birthday. “I couldn’t wait to turn eight so I could...
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Video sale season is in full swing around Reporter Country with the mid-summer sales taking place the last couple of weeks. Prices are nothing short of historic! I worked our four-day video sale last week right here in Billings, and let’s just say there were grins on producers’ faces from ear-to-ear all over the building during this event. The sale arena was pretty well packed each day with ranchers from all over the northwest, and buyers that stretched all across the country. I never really thought I would see prices like we are seeing now for all classes of cattle,...
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“Show me a business with no competition and I’ll show you a business I don’t want to be in.” – Pat Goggins In every corner of the livestock industry, there are echoes of the monumental work Pat Goggins did to promote fair, transparent, and competitive markets; there’s no doubt that he would have been proud to see that his work has carried on through record-setting live auctions as well as video auctions, which he championed back in 1976. “Dad was out in front with his idea of a video auction,” Joe Goggins said. “Everyone thought it was a crazy thing...
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Growing future industry leaders is an important part of the legacy of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA). Each year, six junior members are elected to serve on the National Junior Angus Board (NJAB), where they further develop their leadership skills and represent Angus youth. The new directors were announced during the awards ceremony at the 2023 National Junior Angus Show on July 7 in Grand Island, Nebraska. For many members, running for the board symbolizes a culmination of years of involvement and a chance to pursue a dream set at an early age. "Upon meeting a great role model...
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“Vrrrmmm, click, click,” went the classic 1947 Chevy truck. Banjo leapt in the passenger seat beside Tate. His leg was healing and only showed a limp if he was on it too long, but he was glad for a trip to town to give it a little extra reprieve. The candy apple red truck’s engine hummed a soft rumble, and its exterior gleaned its updated paint and chrome body work. Tate rubbed Banjo behind his ear as they ever so slowly and carefully drove down the gravel road. “I’m so excited to show my grandpa’s truck for one of my...
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Weaning calves and introducing them to new environments can be a stressful period that significantly impacts their performance. To ensure calves maintain their health and continue to grow well, it's crucial to manage their stress levels and provide the necessary support during this transition. Here are some management tips to help calves make a smooth transition after weaning: Address the stress associated with weaning: Weaning is a significant event for calves, separating them from their mothers and familiar surroundings. This sudden change can be traumatic and lead to poor health outcomes if not managed properly. Minimize stress by carefully planning...
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The Independent Cattlemen of Wyoming joins R-CALF USA, Farm Action Fund, and numerous other organizations in asking Congress to reform the checkoff programs including the Beef Checkoff by voting for the OFF Act (Opportunity for Fairness in Farming Act). This Act, sponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ)/Mike Lee (R-UT), is an attempt to clean up a corrupt program and make it accountable to the producers forced to pay into the program. The Off Act would prohibit checkoff programs from contracting with any organization that lobbies on agricultural policy. One of the biggest complaints by independent family ranchers and farmers has...
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Our county 4-H Fair is this week, and it brings back a flood of fond memories of my own 4-H years and those of my children and grandchildren. When I transitioned into the role of 4-H Grandma, it was way more fun and less work than the 4-H mom or 4-H exhibitor role. I got to show up, watch, visit with everyone in the county, celebrate the thrill of victories, and of course, dry the tears from the agony of defeat. One of my not so fond 4-H memories was my daughter Brooke's 4-H cat project. As a first-year 4-H'er...
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Carson Hubert, seven-years-old, Braelyn Hubert, nine-years-old, Hensley Bird, five-years-old, and James Hubert, four-years-old, were ready with ropes in their hand to jump in on the branding action at Black Iron Beef in Dietrich, Idaho. Later in the day, Braelyn was able to finally catch a calf on foot in the catch pen. Thankfully she had help from her dad and uncles. Carson wasn’t too excited that his sister caught him and not him! Their favorite part of branding is gathering the cows on their horses and drinking lots of soda all day!
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There is still time for exhibitors to sign up for Commodity Classic, America’s largest farmer-led agricultural and educational experience. The deadline is August 14, 2023, for exhibitors to submit a proposal to sponsor Learning Center educational sessions. Commodity Classic is excited to bring the agriculture industry together again for “New Frontiers in Agriculture,” which will be held February 28 - March 2, 2024, in Houston. The annual showcase of ag technology, crop production science, marketing intelligence, and farm innovation hosted its largest event to date in Orlando in 2023. “We’re excited to bring the 2024 show to Houston for the first...
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For 50 years, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has worked to provide protections for threatened and endangered species with the ultimate goal of species recovery; while some are celebrating this golden anniversary, Republicans in the House Natural Resources Committee, with the help of several stakeholder testimonies, explained how the ESA’s achievements have been infrequent - with only a 3 percent recovery rate among protected species - while its costs have been substantial. The July 18 committee meeting, titled “The Destructive Cost of the ESA,” immediately revealed the deeply partisan nature of the ESA as Democrats showed their teeth in defending...
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For 27 long, hot days, Aspen Swenson, of Huntley, Montana, traveled in a horse trailer with living quarters all the way to Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, and back; while that’s a tiring and stressful endeavor, it is undoubtedly rewarding when the drive back home comes with a new championship saddle and new hardware. After competing in both the National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) as well as the National Little Britches Finals Rodeo (NLBFR), Swenson brought the NLBFR World Champion All Around Cowgirl title back home to Montana. Although Swenson returned to Montana as a champion, it didn’t come without some...
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“The Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks” has been published annually by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since 1990. It provides an annual estimate of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions sources in the U.S. as well as estimates of the amount of carbon trapped in forest and vegetation soil. This report is submitted to the United Nations as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change reporting guidelines on annual inventories, which is part of a global standardized process for reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Once again, U.S. agriculture represents just 10 percent of total U.S. emissions...
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The mid-year Cattle Inventory Report and the most recent Cattle on Feed report were both released last Friday. There are going to be a lot of numbers to digest as you read this, but here we go. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s July 1 Cattle Inventory report found: “…95.9 million head, 3 percent below last year’s 98.6 million total.” “All cows and heifers that have calved totaled 38.8 million head, 2 percent below the 39.6 million head on July 1, 2022. “Beef cows, at 29.4 million head, down 3 percent from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.40 million...
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With the theme of “Experience Angus Convention,” this year’s convention promises unparalleled educational opportunities, industry insight and a solutions-based trade show. Registration is now open for the highly anticipated 2023 Angus Convention, the premier event for cattle producers and industry professionals. This year’s Angus Convention will take place from November 3-6 at Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida. For the first time, Angus Convention will be held in the Southeast. “While the average consumer may think of beaches and amusement parks when they think of Florida, we know the state is rich cow country,” Mark McCully, chief executive officer...
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Youth members of Farmers Union from around the country participated in the 85th National Farmers Union All-States Leadership Retreat. This year’s event was held at Montana Farmers Union’s Arrowpeak Lodge in Highwood, Montana. Participants in the retreat ranged from ages 18 to 22 and heard from speakers including Montana Farmers Union Membership Services and Government Affairs Director Rachel Prevost, Montana Farmers Union member Paul Neubauer, and Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer. “I enjoyed getting to know young Farmers Union leaders from around the country,” Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer, said. “It is reassuring to know that our future...
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Do you ever question how well you are being represented and your issues addressed by our fine federal government? Even if your local representatives attempt to address issues impacting you at home, how successful are they when competing with established swamp creatures? Many positions of power within the establishment are, to a large extent, based on seniority denoted by years of service. Those years have indoctrinated such creatures to regard the government itself and their role therein to be the primary issue they need to address. They enjoy the power and prestige of their position and seek to preserve it...
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CattleFax will host an upcoming in-person Risk Management Seminar scheduled for September 20-21. This is a great opportunity for those who want to incorporate new ideas in building a risk management plan or in refining their current strategy. In this seminar, you will learn how to use the CattleFax “Decision Tree,” which incorporates Cash, Basis, and Futures analysis. This information will provide a platform for those wanting to manage market risk. However, in our view risk management is much more than just hedging and options. This session will also reinforce the importance of developing business relationships with other industry participants...
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The 69th annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course in Bryan-College Station will offer some cutting-edge information and ranch technology, along with basic beef cattle production information. The annual event is set for August 7-9, with more than 1,900 cattle producers expected to come to the Texas A&M University campus, making it the largest event of its kind in the nation. The event is hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Department of Animal Science. Both in-person and online attendance is offered. The cost is 0 for in-person attendance...
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“What’s up with your leg?” Tuff asked. “Nothing, just kinked it on a piece of downed barbed wire when I was out patrolling,” he said. “Looks like a gnarly cut from it,” Tuff stated. “Want me to take a closer look, and make sure it’s not infected or anything?” “Naw,” Banjo said. “It’ll be fine in a day or two. Just gotta give it some time.” Banjo walked towards the corrals and went about his routine. “There’s something he’s not telling us,” Pude said. Tuff watched his friend and mentor maneuver through the continuous fence. “Yah there is,” Tuff agreed....
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The agriculture real estate market entered a period of de-escalation beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022. The market experienced a reduction in both sales volume and value growth since that time, as interest rates increased, and inflation pressures became more apparent. That trend has continued into the first half of 2023 with fewer properties being offered for sale and market values that, while still strong, are dramatically off the pace seen in the first half of 2022. Results from the Federal Reserve District Surveys reflect this trend between the third and fourth quarter of 2022 and now continuing into...
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Check out these hard-at-work kids from the Lone Tree Cattle Co. in Big Sandy, Montana. Jasper Smotherman, seven-years-old, is pictured holding on to the head of the calf, and Hadley Smotherman, nine-years-old, is as their grandpa, Brian Gasvoda, brands.
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The writers in Hollywood are all afraid of losing their jobs to Artificial Intelligence (AI), so I decided I better try to find out if my writing jobs would be in future jeopardy. I researched how to use Chat GPT 4.0 and decided to have AI write something for me. Like most writers, ideas ferment in our brains - sometimes for a long time. I was always going to write a poem about forcing our youngest child to wear his sister's hand-me-down boots even though they were red or pink or turquoise until he finally got old enough to rebel....
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It’s often said that you can’t take material things with you when you’re called home to the Lord – so what, then, is the measure of a man? In the weeks following the sudden, tragic passing of 27-year-old Terrel Vineyard, of Oshkosh, Nebraska on June 21, countless stories have been shared by a long list of family and friends that, at their very core, exemplify how he was one thing through-and-through: a cowboy. Yes, he had been a horseman and cattleman since he was four-years-old, but the term “cowboy” goes much deeper in Terrel’s case; married in February of this...
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently announced an update to the current Renewable Energy Rule and the right-of-way (ROW) regulations, under the authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) that will “reduce fees for these projects by around 80 percent, facilitate development in priority areas by streamlining review of applications, and deliver greater certainty for the private sector,” according to the proposed rule. BLM Director, Tracy Stone-Manning commented, “This proposed rule would allow the BLM to continue leading the way on renewable energy.” Under the Energy Act of 2020, the BLM was authorized to reduce acreage...
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Thousands of miles of dotted lines have passed before the view of World Champion Breakaway Roper, Jackie Crawford, while hauling some of the world’s greatest. She, along with Steve Allday, DVM – a competitive team roper and equine lameness specialist overseeing the care of legendary Thoroughbred racehorses, including two Triple Crown Winners – share best practices for safer hauling and joint health assurance for horses. Joint Health… “We ask so much of our horses, not only in competition but even just going down the road,” Crawford said. “They take so much percussion on their joints in the trailer alone –...
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It seems like there is increased anticipation for the July Cattle Report this year as compared to past years. I am truly interested to see if there are any indications that herd liquidation have slowed (or ended) and if there are any signs that the rebuilding process has started. I know I have talked numerous times about the record numbers in the cow slaughter category all across this nation the last couple of years. The first half of 2023 has shown cow slaughter numbers are down as compared to the year before, but I think this is largely due to...
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AgWest Farm Credit, a cooperative lending association focused exclusively on financing the agricultural industry, recently announced a new grant program that provides start-up funds to individuals just beginning their agricultural businesses. Through this program, successful applicants will receive a one-time ,000 grant to support their operation’s growth. This program was designed for motivated producers who have a vision for their new business and a sound plan, yet lack the funds to put their plans into action. “The New Producer Grant program was created to celebrate the ingenuity and passion among new producers and to help them kick-start their operation,” Mark...
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Biological control isn’t new to Wyoming, but it is a growing option for combatting weeds throughout the state. This pest management strategy is the control and reduction of unwanted species by naturally occurring enemies. For a little over two decades, the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC) and the Center for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) have partnered on and helped fund projects to slow the spread of invasive species in Wyoming. CABI works hard to research species that can feed and develop on invasive species without threatening native plants and wildlife. Recently, Mikenna Smith, an entomologist with Teton County...
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Highlighting policies to build a stronger Montana workforce, Governor Greg Gianforte toured the training center for Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) Local Union #732. “A four-year college degree is not the best option for every young Montanan," Governor Gianforte said. "Through apprenticeships, Montanans have more opportunities than ever before to acquire in-demand skills to thrive in a good-paying career." Montana’s Registered Apprenticeship program, administered by the Department of Labor & Industry, enables workers to receive paid, supervised, on-the-job training in more than 100 different occupations across Montana. As one of the longest-standing employer sponsors in the program, JATC Local...
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Donald "Don" Davis April 5, 1926 - July 13, 2023 Donald “Don” Davis, a wonderful husband, father, and grandpa, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2023. Don was born in Helena, Montana, on April 5, 1926, to parents, Guy and Margaret (McDonald) Davis. He and the family lived on the family ranch in Blossburg, Montana. Don was the youngest of his brother, Dan, and two sisters, Rose and Lucille. He attended grade school in Blossburg and graduated from high school in Elliston, Montana. He joined the military in March of 1945 and was honorably discharged in December of 1946. He...
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Performance one of the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) was hot with the competition. Two returning World Champions made strong efforts to defend their title and many runs were made that will set the pace for the week. The Bareback Bronc Riding featured returning World Champion, Tuker Carricato of Saratoga, Wyoming, with an 80-point score to place second in the performance. His qualified ride sets him up well for the rest of the week. Carricato is a three-time Varsity State place wrestler and reserve champ in 2A state wrestling. Carricato said that surprisingly bareback bronc riding and wrestling have...
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Recent rainfall has led to a mosquito population increase across all regions of Texas. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts advise individuals and pet and animal owners to be mindful of West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne virus that is prevalent in the U.S., and its effects. The substantial amount of rainfall across Texas has heightened concern over growing mosquito populations. Emergency management meetings are being held to discuss recent flooding and standing water. The risk of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and WNV has increased. J.D. Ragland, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Randall County, said it...
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USDA is expanding its insurance coverage options for specialty crops and other actual production history (APH) crop programs. Through its Risk Management Agency (RMA), it will expand the availability of enterprise units to crops where they were previously unavailable, giving agricultural producers greater options to manage their risk. An enterprise unit allows a producer to insure all acres of the insured crop in the county together, as opposed to other unit structures that separate the acreage for insurance. Enterprise units are attractive to producers due to lower premium rates offered to recognize the lower risk associated with geographic diversification. In...
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Winning the showmanship contest at the National Junior Limousin Show & Congress is one of the highlights of any junior member’s career. Four age divisions of members from the North American Limousin Junior Association competed in the National Limousin Showmanship Contest on Monday, July 10, 2023. The contest was held during the National Junior Limousin Show & Congress, July 7 – July 13, 2023, in Rapid City, South Dakota. Jake and Sammi Nikkel, Marion, South Dakota served as the judges for the contest. The top ten showmen from each age division were selected. In the novice division, ages five to...
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Karli Johnson, a rancher from Choteau, Montana, has been hired for State Governmental Affairs and Northwest Regional Manager by the Montana Farm Bureau. The Montana Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving and improving the agricultural and natural resource industries through member involvement in education, political activities, programs, and services with more than 20,000 members statewide. Johnson brings a wide range of experiences in agricultural endeavors to MFBF. She worked as a sales representative for Dow AgroSciences, managing an 11-county sales territory in eastern Montana, and served as the head of human resources and financial management for R&J...
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“I think we scared Rascal back into hiding,” Banjo said. “About time,” Tuff said. “But I worry he’ll come up with some new thing he can do like drive a boat or a semi or maybe even a blimp, of all things.” Banjo laughed. “You sound a little worried,” he commented. “Wouldn’t the likes of any critter that’s just ridden in a helicopter with a raccoon, be a little worried?” Tuff asked. “Once again, you make a valid point,” Banjo stated. “And I think it’s high time we get to enjoying our summer rather than worrying about all these other...
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My friend Rod gets all his news by reading the headlines on a web site called Market Watch because he refuses to pay a dollar per week to read the complete stories. But this only partially explains his stupidity. "What's all this excitement about AI?" he asked. "I read where one company's stock went up 700 percent because it's a leader in AI. And every other headline was about how AI is the next EXCITING BIG THING. Heck, we've been AI'ing cows for decades now and Wall Street just found out? And just ask any brown-shouldered AI technician how 'exciting'...
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The Montana Beef Council (MBC) and the Big Sky Country Fair have teamed up in order to bring education, activities, and fun to Bozeman from Wednesday, July 19th through Sunday, July 23rd. At the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. Haynes Pavilion will be transformed into the (MBC) Barnyard, where children’s workshops and giveaways will be taking place each day from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Activities include building your own brand, a roping relay, beef bingo, line dancing, protein poetry, pasture pair tag, and an introduction to beef cuts. While workshops are taking place, parents can pick up resources on where to...
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Both the Big Timber Rodeo, hosted by the Northern Rodeo Association (NRA), and the high school rodeo were successful due to the planning, preparation, and just plain hard work that goes into putting on a rodeo. The Big Timber Rodeo has a rich history which began with Leo J. Cremer (1891-1953) and his family who built a rodeo legacy based out of Melville, Montana. He established the greatest string of bucking horses ever owned by a single person. After his death in 1953, his business became part of Gene Autry's World Championship Rodeo Company. Descendants of the Cremer family are...
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Roen Walter Sharma, Sage Walter Sharma, and Ravi Walter Sharma had a successful day at the Warren County Beef Show in Williamsport, Indiana on June 23, 2023. The boys brought home Champion Cow-Calf Pair, Champion Junior Beef Showman, and Champion Beginner Beef Showman along with other awards. Their parents are Sean Sharma and Kent Walter Sharma.
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After plowing through a new, 57-page USDA report titled “Concentration and Competition in U.S. Agribusiness,” I asked an agronomist friend who had also read the report why it seemed that its writers used so much “hem-and-haw” language in analyzing, for example, the rise of today’s powerful seed companies. “I’m less interested in the authors’ conclusions and opinions,” the friend emailed back, “and more interested in the data they show. I think it’s up to those of us outside USDA-ERS” – the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service – “to interpret the data in a manner that’s less favorable to...
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Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring stated that farmers, ranchers, pesticide dealers and applicators, government agencies, homeowners, and members of the general public should bring unusable pesticides to any of the 12 Project Safe Send collections in July. “Over the past 31 years, thousands of people have brought more than 5.9 million pounds of chemicals to Project Safe Send,” Goehring said. “It is a safe, simple, and non-regulatory program that helps people safely and legally get rid of unusable pesticides at no charge.” The program accepts old, unusable, or banned pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, and fungicides. Project Safe Send is funded...
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Twenty groups representing agricultural, environmental, forestry, wildlife, nutrition, and hunger advocates have launched the “Farm Bill for America’s Families: Sustaining Our Future” campaign to urge passage of the 2023 farm bill this year. Farm Bill for America’s Families brings together stakeholders who support the farm bill and recognize its profound impact on the well-being of all Americans. The campaign seeks to engage consumers, leaders, and lawmakers alike on the importance of the farm bill and highlights five core objectives: food security, job creation, conservation, risk management, and addressing hunger. The founding members of this campaign, advocating for an effective farm...
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Over 1,800 High School Rodeo athletes from 44 U.S. States, five Canadian Provinces, along with Australia, and Mexico will come together in Gillette, Wyoming, on July 16-22 for the 75th Annual National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) to compete for a World Championship Title. Gary Hawkes, NHSFR VP of Marketing, explained that this will be “our largest High School finals yet” as Australian contestants will return to Wyoming after not competing in the NHSFR duringthe COVID-19 pandemic. “We are extremely excited to have Australia [contestants] back competing for the first time since 2019,” Hawkes continued. Senior Morgan Beckstrom of Spanish...
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Animal genetics play a crucial role in modern agriculture, enhancing food sustainability and animal adaptation to a changing climate. Over the years, breeders have underlined the significance of genetics in enhancing productivity. Preserving diverse sources of animal germplasm is crucial to maintaining genetic diversity, which provides economic sustainability and food security in the face of new diseases and climate change, while advancing our knowledge of animal genetics and genomics. The USDA Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP) has collected and preserved more than one million samples from over 64,000 animals across the United States. These samples, dating...
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Animal rights extremists are at it again in Colorado – they achieved their goal of passing the Gray wolf reintroduction initiative, and their next stop? Banning slaughterhouses and fur sales in Denver. The group behind the petitions, Pro-Animal Future Colorado (PAFC), took to the streets of Denver on June 28 to begin collecting signatures for consideration on the 2024 ballot. If these outlandish and ridiculous measures pass - which is not out of the question considering California’s passage of Prop-12, and Colorado’s Gray wolf reintroduction measure (Prop-114) – slaughter would be banned in Denver by 2026 and fur sales by...
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Sage Zook, a recent graduate of Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, has been hired as Southwest Regional Manager and Policy Development Associate for the Montana Farm Bureau Federation. The Montana Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving and improving the agricultural and natural resource industries through member involvement in education, political activities, programs, and services with more than 20,000 members statewide. Zook’s a perfect fit for the agricultural organization, being raised on her family’s ranch south of Miles City, Montana. She worked at the Miles City Veterinary Clinic during high school advancing from an intern to working as...
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On June 13th, 2023, The Livestock Marketeers held their 58th Annual Hall of Fame Banquet in Kansas City, Missouri. This year’s host was The American Hereford Association (AHA) and Certified Hereford Beef. The 2023 class of inductees was comprised of Steve Sellers (Posthumous), Mike Sorensen and Joe Rickabaugh. Steve Sellers served as the Director of Communications for the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association until his death in 2022. Previously Steve held positions with EDJE Technologies, Auction.com, and other firms. Steve and his wife CeCe called Lake Park, Georgia, home. Mike Sorensen is the longtime owner and publisher of Livestock Plus magazine (LPL)....
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and litigation partners filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas asking the court to strike down the Biden administration’s Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA. “In Sackett v. EPA, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the EPA had overstepped its authority under the Clean Water Act,” NCBA Chief Counsel, Mary-Thomas Hart said. “A full rewrite of the Biden administration’s WOTUS definition is the only path to comply with the Sackett decision. NCBA is seeking summary judgement...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is seeking applicants to fill volunteer positions on the northwest Montana (FWP Region 1) Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC is a general advisory committee that provides input and feedback to FWP on diverse issues, from wildlife and fisheries management to access, state parks, outdoor recreation, and law enforcement. The committee is designed to have a membership that represents a variety of northwest Montana communities and natural resource interests. FWP welcomes applications from anyone with an interest in natural resource issues and outdoor recreation. Applicants must live in FWP Region 1, which includes Flathead,...
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Laurence (Larry) Charles Willson June 10, 1951 – July 7, 2023 Laurence (Larry) Charles Willson was born on June 10, 1951, in Big Timber, Montana, and recently passed away on July 7, 2023 to an apparent massive heart attack. A service and celebration of life will be held on July 14 at the Barkemeyer Park in Huntley, Montana at 1 p.m. MDT. Larry married his wife Belinda Willson on August 23, 1974, and soon had five children, Kimberly, Larry JR., Emmett, Emory, and Royce. "Larry was "old school!" He had an unconditional love for his wife Bee, their kids, and...
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People are creatures of habit and like most folks, I get attached to things. I've been married for nearly 50 years to the only girlfriend I've ever had. We are cut from the same cloth in that both of us are fiercely loyal to products we grew up using. I've been a lifelong customer of Union Oil because they employed me in the oilfields when they really didn't have to. I was paid .85 an hour when the minimum wage was [post_excerpt].25, and I could never have gone to college without them. In the course of writing my syndicated column...
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“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d never have believed it,” Banjo said. “You mean to tell me, Rascal was flying a helicopter?” Ben said. “Ya, I wouldn't have believed it either,” Tuff agreed. “You’re alive!” Banjo exclaimed. “Yah, but I’ll never be the same after flying in a helicopter with…Rascal,” Tuff said. He swiped over his forehead and snoot. “That's by far the most terrifying experience I’ve ever, ever had,” Tuff said. “I’ve faced off with wolves, mountain lions, bears, and even a BigFoot, but nothing compares to taking my life in my own paws stuck...
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Every time I hear a story about someone who has to be rescued from a mountain adventure by Search and Rescue, I think back to a few years back when we set out on a wilderness trek that was not well planned. It started out with the fateful words, "Let's go to Blue Lake! I have never been to Blue Lake." The whole family agreed it would be an adventure, and that turned out to be an understatement. My father was an outfitter for many years, and he tried to instill in us a need to be prepared for anything...
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Beckett Roth is three-years-old and is a ranch kid through and through. Between napping in the ranger and creating fun while the family is working, she is quite the trooper. Photo courtesy of her grammy, Dixie Roth.
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In the bitterly divided, highly partisan world of Washington, D.C., few institutions are more divided and more partisan than today’s Supreme Court. The court showcased that split again on May 25 when it significantly narrowed the federal government’s authority to protect wetlands under the 51-year-old Clean Water Act (CWA) in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. The 5-4 decision was as groundbreaking as it will be water-polluting, environmental advocates say. The facts of the case are clear: In 2007, an Idaho couple, the Sacketts, planned to build a home near a lake. As construction began, EPA ordered it halted “because their...
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Heading into July, many states across the west and the high plains have enjoyed cooler-than-normal temperatures and significant rains that have helped to ease, and in many cases eliminate, the widespread drought that’s migrated across the U.S. for the past two years; at the same time, farmers in the midwest are at a critical junction in the growing season, and many find themselves praying, hard, for some moisture in the next few weeks. “It’s a very faith growing experience,” Eric Adee, PhD, who is the agronomist in charge of the Kansas River Valley Experiment Field with Kansas State University, said....
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The invention of the tractor almost made the use of draft animals – horses, mules, and oxen – a thing of the past. However, there are those who still use these animals for farming, logging, wagon rides, and recreation, while blacksmiths, wagon makers, wheelwrights, harness makers, and others are instrumental in preserving this heritage. During the 27th Annual Big Sky Draft Horse Expo in Deer Lodge, Montana, Albert Newman of Ingomar (posthumous, 1922-2016) and Larry Thomas of Bozeman were inducted into the Montana Draft Teamster Hall of Fame. The Montana Draft Teamster Hall of Fame, believed to be the only...
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The diversity of agriculture is one of the many things that makes Reporter Country unique. While some parts of this vast region are known for raising cattle and others for raising sheep, there are many benefits to co-grazing these ruminants for pasture management and weed control. According to an article written by South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Sheep Field Specialist, Jaelyn Whaley, and former SDSU Extension Ranch Field Specialist, Jessalyn Bachler, “Feed costs can be reduced by approximately 2/3 when” co-grazing is utilized. “When we look at ruminant livestock, I think we really have to think about them as...
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I hope you all had a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend, and that the majority of Americans fired up their grills and filled them full of beef! My celebration was the most different one that I have ever had in my life. My wife and I opened a steak house, bar, and casino on the 4th! That evening, we had a “soft-opening” where we invited family and friends to come to “On the Rocks” and have dinner with us to give us their opinions on the food, drinks, and to have a little fun; it was a great...
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Dawson Brost of Bismarck, North Dakota, was hired as a North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) deputy brand inspector. He will take the reins of Steve Bay, who has served the NDSA for eight years and will be retiring in August. As a deputy brand inspector, Brost’s responsibilities will include investigating livestock crimes, inspecting livestock and registered feedlots, training local brand inspectors, visiting local livestock markets, and serving as a liaison between law enforcement agencies and the NDSA. Brost joins the NDSA with more than 10 years of farm and ranch experience, handling all types of livestock. Additionally, Brost is a...
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Public lands ranchers will have the opportunity to communicate face to face with federal agency administrators in Reno, Nevada on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, during an event hosted by Good Grazing Makes Cent$. Slated for conversation are important issues like the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed Public Lands Rule, potential grazing regulation changes, and how public lands grazers can benefit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) risk management and disaster aid programs. Attendees will be able to ask questions and share concerns with top agency leaders including BLM Senior Policy Advisor Errol Rice and USDA Farm Service Agency...
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Jeanie Alderson is a fourth-generation rancher in Birney, Montana and a board member of Northern Plains Resource Council, a conservation and family agriculture group. USDA recently proposed a rule to stop beef labeling fraud. This is an important first step to address a problem with widespread negative ripple effects. Family ranchers like me are not the only folks impacted. Whether you are concerned about food safety, rural prosperity, corporate monopolies controlling our economy, or even climate change, this issue matters to you. Fraudulent food labeling harms everyone. Currently, corporations can legally slap a “Product of USA” label on imported beef...
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The week of June 19, the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) wrapped up the 2023 Raising the Steaks Environmental Stewardship Ranch Tour. The Raising the Steaks Ranch Tour gathers an intimate group of thoughtful, creative individuals to put their boots on the ground and their heads in the game in facilitated diverse and informative discussions that highlight current issues and solutions to challenges ranchers and conservationists face when managing private and public lands for future generations. The 2023 tour was hosted at the Mannix Brothers Ranch located in Helmville, Montana. The Mannix Brothers Ranch was awarded the 2022 Montana Environmental Stewardship...
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The South Dakota FFA Association conducted its annual Leadership Retreat June 20 - 23, at Swan Lake Christian Camp in Viborg, South Dakota. A total of 65 FFA members in grades 7 – 12 attended from across South Dakota with the theme of, “Into the Safari; Imagine, Explore, Discover.” The retreats centered on a theme of, “Into the Safari; Imagine, Explore, Discover,” focusing on teaching members how to invest in their chapters’ journey and adventure to instill the FFA Motto, “…premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.” FFA members developed and enhanced their leadership skills and self-confidence...
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USDA’s Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominees for the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB) to succeed 27 members with terms that expire in March 2024. Nominees are needed to succeed members in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Southwest Unit (California and Nevada), and Importer Unit. The beef R&P program operates as the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board. The program's goal is to maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets and uses for beef and beef products. The program is funded by a mandatory assessment of...
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Last week, Rascal planted a fake artifact in hopes to gain his riches from the smugglers, but just as they were getting away with it, Tuff and Banjo show up to the rescue. But, will they end up recovering the ‘fake’ artifact in order to get rid of these ranches with these criminals or will another bandit come into the picture? Tuff barked and commanded a deep guttural growl to rumble from him. The other handler began backing away slowly while the driver of the truck reached down to grab the case with the artifact and switch it with the...
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It wasn’t long ago and you could travel throughout the western United States and one of your most common sightings would have been sheep…lots of sheep. For those of you that like data, 81 years ago, in 1942, the people population in the U.S. was about 135 million. And the sheep population was 56 million. That meant that for every 12 people, there were 5 sheep. And what that also meant was that America had lots of food. Those sheep grazed the arid West converting grass, which is non-digestible for humans, to powerful protein while simultaneously clearing the underbrush to...
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On June 28, NCBA and litigation partners filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas asking the court to strike down the Biden administration’s Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA. “In Sackett v. EPA, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the EPA had overstepped its authority under the Clean Water Act,” NCBA Chief Counsel, Mary-Thomas Hart said. “A full rewrite of the Biden Administration’s WOTUS definition is the only path to comply with the Sackett decision. NCBA is seeking summary judgement in our...
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The American Angus Association® welcomes Shawn Gray of Samson, Alabama, as the regional manager for Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. As a University of Florida graduate, Gray has spent his career diversifying his skillset in seedstock production, commercial backgrounding, nutrition, forage management, and more. "My background in seedstock, cow-calf, stocker/backgrounding, and feedlot operations has provided me an understanding of the relationship between sectors," Gray said. "I plan to use this knowledge to be a resource for Association members in the Southeast." Gray comes to the Association after spending nearly five years managing over 10,000 head of stocker cattle at Crimson...
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Today {June 30}, National Farmers Union (NFU) released the 2023 numbers of the Farmer’s Share of the food dollar for several items typically served at a Fourth of July cookout. “Year after year we’re seeing a troubling trend of farmers earning less and less of the dollars that Americans spend at the grocery store,” NFU President, Rob Larew said. “Whether it’s the highly consolidated meatpacking industry, or harmful mergers in the grocery sector, farmers and consumers are being squeezed out of their hard-earned money.” Last year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the farmer’s share of the...
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One of the best things about social media is that it offers a platform to pay homage to our pets who pass over the rainbow bridge. Although often it is true that the dead become greater in death than they were in life, such was not the case when our adopted dog, Marvin, died. He became an international rock star on Facebook when within hours he received tributes from ranch vacation guests as far away as Germany, Norway, and Mongolia. We adopted Marvin rather unwillingly when my Uncle Shorty Roberts died. Two years earlier, Shorty asked me to take his...
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Emersyn Roth is six years old and is about the prettiest ranch hand you’ll ever find. In between days at school, you’ll find her riding motorcycles with her dad, Rustin Roth, feeding with her poppa, Steve Roth, and being her grammy, Dixie Roth’s, right-hand gal. Photo courtesy of Dixie Roth.
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Tighter supplies of cattle and beef are supporting prices and will continue to do so. Four straight years of U.S. beef cow herd liquidation have resulted in smaller calf crops, cattle on feed, and beef supplies. U.S. beef cows on January 1, 2023, at 28.92 million head were down over one million head from the 29.98 million head on January 1, 2022. That was one of the largest yearly declines in decades. The 2023 numbers were even below the 28.96 million beef cows at the last cyclical low in 2014, which saw record high cattle prices. Expanding and intensifying drought...
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On June 22, JBS’ United States and South American divisions were, once again, the topic of discussion in Washington, D.C., this time during the Senate Finance Committee’s hearing titled “Cattle Supply Chains and Amazon Deforestation.” More specifically, testimonies were given by Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) Director Emeritus and Montana cattlemen, Leo McDonnell, and trade and investigative professionals in order to show how JBS’ importation of Brazilian beef is leading to the continued deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest; encouraging illegal and unethical business practices in Brazil; and how it continually exposes American consumers...
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Kassandra Shoemaker, a Colorado native, marked a page in the College Rodeo history book as she was the first female to compete in the inaugural National Finals Steer Roping (NFSR) – College Division in Clarendon, Texas “Obviously I was incredibly nervous and maybe they could tell because it was an adrenaline rush like I’ve never had before,” Shoemaker, who rodeos for the University of Wyoming (UW), stated. “This is the first year that they’ve had a college division for the Steer Roping,” and the other 22 guys competing in Texas were “incredibly supportive and helpful.” However, it wasn’t anything new...
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I came across an Op-Ed last week, written by Jack Hubbard, Executive Director of the Center for the Environment & Welfare (CEW), that highlighted the often dubious and malicious intent of what he calls “fringe animal extremist groups” who are “threatening to slaughter” America’s food production. He pointed out that, while most consumers are waiting for prices to settle amidst exponential rates of inflation, these groups are “actively working to keep prices rising.” Hubbard noted the recent Supreme Court decision to pass California’s Prop-12 - “that forbids the sale of conventionally raised and veterinarian approved pork and egg-laying hens in...
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I am hesitant to talk about moisture because I know there are some of you out there who haven’t received the amount you so desperately need. But, I don’t think I have ever seen the majority of my traveling area ever look so good at this time of the year. We received another 3.5 inches of rain just last Friday afternoon and evening. I don’t know what our total for the year is, but the Good Lord has blessed us with around 10 inches just in the last few weeks! I sure wish we could send some of it to...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) applauds the leadership and perseverance of Senator Tester and Senator Daines in negotiating a framework for the Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC) Water Settlement Act of 2023 in Congress. The FBIC Water Settlement Act will ensure that historical water use by all water users on and off the reservation are protected, prevent years of costly litigation for Montana water users, and provide much needed certainty for all parties involved. “The success of Montana’s agriculture industry is dependent upon water and water right certainty. It is easily the single most important resource for people across Montana,...
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To support the next generation of agricultural professionals, National Farmers Union Foundation (NFUF) recently announced the 2023 recipients of its annual scholarship awards. Every year, the organization presents several scholarships to students in any area of study attending a two- or four-year accredited college, university, or technical school who have demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to their communities. Molly Jennings of North Dakota received the Hubert K. & JoAnn Seymour Scholarship, a ,000 scholarship award given in honor of the dedication and commitment to Farmers Union and family farming by Hubert and his wife JoAnn. Hubert K. Seymour was...
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National FFA has developed Next Gen Conferences to give students the opportunity to explore a variety of career paths before they graduate high school. From June 27-July 1 in Raleigh, North Carolina, The Next Gen Conference: Power, Structural, and Technical Pathway will engage high school students from across the country in hands-on sessions, panels, and tours to explore emerging technologies, trends, regulatory issues, and products in careers related to fabrication. During the week, students will develop a Future Ready Plan that will serve as a blueprint to guide them in taking their next steps after high school graduation. “The Next...
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The American Sheep Industry Association Young Entrepreneurs are happy to announce their summer tour this year is around the Idaho Falls and Dubois, Idaho, area. The tour will be July 31-Augusut 2. Participants will have an opportunity to spend some time with the ASI Executive Board and also the National Livestock Producers Association Board. The main tour attraction will be the United States Sheep Experiment Station. Everyone will arrive in Idaho Falls on July 31. The tour will be on August 1-2, and participants can depart on August 3. To apply, send an email with the following information to Cody...
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Roots of Resilience will host its twelfth New Cowgirl Camp at the Lazy R Ranch in Cheney, Washington, from August 21-25, 2023. This five-day, in-person course is an immersive experience for women and girls that combines classroom and hands-on learning in managing ecosystems with livestock. Beginning farmers, ranchers, and those exploring a career in regenerative agriculture, will find the workshop a valuable opportunity to learn about current, science-based management practices that will put their future farm or ranch business on a sustainable footing. During the five-day workshop, students will explore the basics of grazing planning, ecosystem monitoring, low-stress livestock handling, and veterinary medicine...
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In early June, NCBA’s Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC) program concluded its successful relaunch after a three-year hiatus. This year’s class included 71 leaders from across the nation and every segment of the beef industry. After nine days of intensive leadership training and a five-city tour, which showcased every facet of the beef industry, these leaders completed their trip with a full day of representation in Washington, D.C. The event is designed to give participants exposure to the full supply chain. Completion of YCC prepares participants to serve as leaders within their state associations in addition to being advocates for NCBA...
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Robert Norman Gilbert October 23, 1945 - June 12, 2023 Robert Norman Gilbert (Bob) was born on October 23, 1945, in Miles City, Montana, the fifth of six children of his parents, Arthur M. Gilbert and Irene Mary Gilbert. Bob’s birth date was also his mother’s 40th birthday. Bob went to heaven on June 12, 2023, after a nearly three-year deterioration from a traumatic brain injury he incurred in a fall. After graduation from the Park County High School (Livingston) in 1963, Bob attended Miles Community College and then the University of Montana where he lacked one semester for a...
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Boundaries and borders don’t matter to invasive species, as they’ll spread wherever possible. But the Big Horn County Weed and Pest District is starting a new weed program to fight invasive species in Devil’s Canyon in both Wyoming and Montana, including Bighorn National Forest, Crow Tribal Lands, BLM, state land, and privately owned lands Covering roughly 200,000 acres, this project primarily targets two invasive annual grass species: ventenata and medusahead. These grasses have not yet been found in Big Horn County, Wyoming, but have been identified across the state line in Montana. Spotted knapweed, whitetop, and houndstongue are other species...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) wrapped up the 139th MidYear Meeting on Thursday, June 15 in Havre, Montana. The event hosted over 130 attendees who gathered for three days of education, policy, fellowship, and fun. The MidYear Meeting is one of two meetings that is held to set association policy that guides the Association through the year. Interim policy set at MidYear will be voted on again at Annual Convention in December for it to become official MSGA policy. While the main focus of the meeting is for the setting of interim policy, MSGA also uses the meeting as a...
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Montana Farm Bureau members spent an intensive two days in Washington, D.C. meeting with their congressmen, visiting with pertinent Congressional committees, and learning about advocacy as part of the American Farm Bureau Federation Advocacy Fly-In June 13-14, 2023. MFBF members included Gina Stevens from Hardin, Jess Bandel from Floweree, Eric Moore from Miles City, and Chris Kolstad from Ledger, led by MFBF Senior Director of Governmental Relations Nicole Rolf. The MFBF group joined more than 150 farmers and ranchers from across the country who traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet directly with lawmakers and discuss priorities for the 2023 farm...
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Women in agriculture from throughout the U.S. recently gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 37th Annual American Agri-Women (AAW) Fly-In to D.C. and the 28th Annual Symposium. The group met with elected officials and policymakers to discuss critical issues, including trade, taxation, forest labor, atrazine, biofuels, animal welfare, and the 2023 Farm Bill recommendations. This year's 28th annual Symposium, by the AAW Past Presidents Council, "Border Security and Food Safety Equal National Security" featured panelists were Kathy Nuebel Kovarik, President of Sagitta Solutions, LLC, Susan J. Kibbe, Executive Director of South Texas Property Rights Association. The Symposium moderator was AAW...
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“Who’s the smartest raccoon in history? Rascal is, that’s who!” he said, humming his little diddy to himself as he toddled to the truck. He had the note with the further directions included and the replica artifact in an ‘official’ looking case instead of his knapsack. Rascal could hardly wait to see the archaeological smugglers aka the incognito horse handlers from the ranch over the hills who had been working sneakily under the auspices of being professionals in the horse world. They’d even gone so far as giving fake names and businesses to win over their employers as they seemed,...
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Food production is America’s golden goose, and animal activists are threatening to slaughter it. And efforts in Sacramento and Washington are only one part of the equation. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food inflation remains stubbornly high with prices rising by 7.7 percent in April compared to the year before. While most Americans are anxiously hoping costs will moderate, fringe animal extremist groups are actively working to keep prices rising. Exhibit A is a Supreme Court decision that was handed down in May. The high court’s majority upheld a California law that forbids the sale of conventionally raised...
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With all of the discussion about artificial intelligence having the potential to run amuck and perhaps wipe out mankind, I have become more sensitive to my interactions with artificial intelligence - namely our Amazon Alexa. Technology has the potential to make everyone's life better but apparently, also has the potential to put millions of people out of work and threaten our very existence if the algorithms go rogue. One career that will likely be among the last to become dominated by artificially intelligent bots is the horse packer. However, my favorite packer, Jerry Yoder, who packed hundreds of eggs into...
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Cody Ochsner will be one in August, and when he’s not hanging out with his mom, Terra Ochsner, getting the next edition of the Western Ag Reporter ready, he’s starting to appreciate the beautiful ranch he gets to call home. He and his sister, Annika, are part of the sixth generation to call the ranch home.
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Jacob Massey, from Petersburg, Tennessee, was named champion at the 2023 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC). The championship, now in its 59th year, was held at Arcadia Stockyard in Arcadia, Florida, and presented by the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA). “I really don’t have the words, but I want to thank the man above for giving me the ability and the talent to get to do what I love every week,” Massey said. “You always have that dream of being a champion, but I was not expecting to hear my name called that night.” Massey earned his spot to compete in...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation submitted multiple recommended reforms of Federal Milk Marketing Orders today {June 14} to the USDA and encouraged the department to move forward with a long-overdue hearing on federal milk pricing. The goal is to modernize milk pricing, protect dairy farmers from unfair treatment, and ensure consumers have access to affordable fresh milk and dairy products. The proposals were submitted in response to USDA’s tentative action plan to hold a hearing, which was released after AFBF joined the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) in urging the department to move forward with a hearing. In addition to eight new...
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“I was raised by a dad who often reminded me, ‘Kristi, we don’t sell land, because God’s not making any more…,’” South Dakota Governor, Kristi Noem said in her opening statement before the House Natural Resource Committee on June 15. “But I also learned why he cared so much – because working the land wasn’t just a job or a career to my father. It was our family legacy. It was our way of life. It was a culture that not only preserves a critical work ethic that is so important to this country, but it also reminds us daily...
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Although areas of Reporter Country have seen substantial amounts of rain the last few weeks, Jason Warner, extension cow-calf specialist for Kansas State University’s (K-State) Department of Animal Science, stated that “we’re going to continue to need that moisture as we go throughout the rest of the season for adequate forage production to occur.” Whether producers stick with conventional weaning or choose to wean early, Warner and other panelists provided information on how to optimize rations in a high input cost environment. He added that it’s important to “think about conditions that may arise later throughout the season” so that “folks [can]...
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I hope all of you dads out there had a great Father’s Day Weekend. Mine was fantastic as we celebrated my daughter’s birthday (Happy 28th Birthday!) and Father’s Day the same weekend. My son’s birthday is actually the publication date of this week’s paper, June 22, so Happy 27th Birthday! I thought about my father constantly throughout the weekend. I think about him every day, but especially last weekend. One thing that really hit me like a ton of bricks as I was driving home from church on Father’s Day Sunday was a segment I heard on Fox News on my radio....
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Volunteer instructors will teach a Bowhunter Education course in Three Forks early next month. The class will be July 1 and 2 at Three Forks High School’s tech education classroom across from the football field. Students must register for the class in advance by visiting register-ed.com/events/view/200120. Students will also need to pick up a Bowhunter Education course manual from a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office and read it prior to the first day of class. All first-time bowhunters in Montana must complete a Bowhunter Education course or show proof of a prior year’s archery license from another state or province....
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Today {June 14}, NCBA thanked members of the House Appropriations Committee for advancing the Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration appropriations bill, which will provide funding for essential programs that support cattle producers while defending against overreaching regulations. “We are pleased the House Appropriations Committee showed such strong support for a number of cattle industry priorities, including protecting producers’ ability to capture premiums by nullifying USDA’s overreaching Packers and Stockyards rules and lowering cattle producers’ cost burden in implementing animal disease traceability,” NCBA Senior Director of Government Affairs, Tanner Beymer said. “NCBA thanks Chairwoman Granger and...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation signed a memorandum of understanding with CLAAS of America, providing even more farmers and ranchers the right to repair their own farm equipment. The MOU follows similar agreements AFBF entered with John Deere, CNH Industrial Brands (which includes Case IH and New Holland), AGCO, and Kubota. Combined, the five MOUs cover approximately three-quarters of the agricultural machinery sold in the United States. Eric Raby, senior vice president, Americas, for CLAAS said, “CLAAS is delivering on our continuing promise to provide solutions that improve our customers’ businesses, as their success and our success go hand in hand....
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The Wyoming State Veterinarian received confirmation from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, Ames, Iowa, that seven cattle originating in a herd from Sweetwater County, Wyoming, were positive for brucellosis. The brucellosis positive cattle, also known as reactors, were initially identified at the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory (WSVL) in Laramie. The herd was identified on a routine slaughter sample submitted as part of Wyoming’s voluntary custom slaughter brucellosis surveillance program. The sample indicated a possible brucellosis reactor, prompting testing of the herd. Although the herd is located in Sweetwater County, there are several links to Wyoming’s Designated Surveillance Area (DSA), where...
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Sale Season Recap: As Told by Alan Sears The sales numbers represented for this report are based on actual auction results from sales conducted by advertising customer seedstock producers of the Western Ag Reporter in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. To put this year’s data in perspective, it’s important to consider the following marketing conditions: 2020 - supply and demand through most of 2020 was still being driven by our solid price structure at the commercial level for feeders and calves. The historic market highs from 2015, 2016, and 2017 continued to have a positive impact on prices paid for...
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Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) members experienced an extraordinary time at the organization’s 2023 Summer Conference on June 5-7 in Bozeman, Montana. Excellent advisory committee speakers coupled with legislative awards, fascinating tours, and visiting the new Farm Bureau Center west of town made the event especially worthwhile. Monday started with the Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) Committee hosting tours in the Gallatin Valley. The tours included Montana Equine Medical and Surgical Center, Montana Reclaimed Lumber, and Montana State University’s Towne’s Harvest Garden. Following the tours, the committee held a meeting where they made plans for the Hoofin’ it for Hunger run...
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“How’s it coming?” Banjo asked. Tuff held up the duplicate artifact. “Well, I’ll be a tick’s turd,” Banjo said. “Is that the real one?” “Not even close,” Tuff responded. “I created it from a photo, but just remember all the details. Rufus said he’d hold onto the real one just so it keeps it all legit. If those smuggling thieves come poking back around our ranch, we can truly say it’s not here.” Banjo nodded. “Good plan, pup,” he said. “What about Pudge? Heard from her?” Tuff looked down at his creation, he had a magnifying device strapped around his...
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Five students have been selected to receive ,500 scholarships from the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) Scholarship Program. The official announcement of the recipients occurred today during the 2023 LMA Annual Convention and World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC). The 2023 LMA Scholarship recipients are Schyler Angell, Paris, Missouri; Kylee Dodd, Indiahoma, Oklahoma; Faith Geistweidt, Fredericksburg, Texas; Tucker Stagemeyer, Page, Nebraska; and Sophie Varner, Bristow, Oklahoma. The LMA Scholarship Program was created to invest in the next generation of young people who plan to use their careers to advocate for the advancement of the livestock marketing industry. The application process included the...
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A strong skillset, positive attitude, and leap of faith led four students to a summer of learning with Certified Angus Beef (CAB) as communications interns. Working on an array of projects, the four build their skills while preparing for careers in beef and related industries. Kylee Sellnow, CAB communications manager, said these opportunities should nurture their skills with real-world practice across the beef business from pasture gate to consumer plate. "We are thrilled to welcome four young professionals to the brand’s communications team this summer, and excited for the energy each brings to their roles," Sellnow said. The past 2019...
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It has been raining every day for the last couple weeks, and the best thing about the rain is that it has given me a little recliner time to read A Bard in Boots by Darrell Arnold. My friend, Mark Silverstein, who is a friend of Darrell’s, brought me a signed copy of this book of cowboy poems that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading. If Darrell’s name seems familiar, it is because he is a photojournalist who was the editor and publisher of Cowboy Magazine from 1990 to 2008. I have chosen to share Darrell’s poem which seems timely with the blessed moisture that...
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This is Austyn Uhlir on her way to feed the bucket calves. Little Miss wouldn’t take a baby bottle but had no problem chewing on a calf bottle! This girl loves her baby calves. Photo courtesy of Cally Uhlir.
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There seems to be a resurgence of keeping chickens in the U.S.A. I’ve seen ads for chicken houses that can keep up to six chickens or so. I’ve driven across the front range of Colorado in the last few weeks, and at the farm and ranch outlets, you’ll find a dozen or so chicken houses ready to load up in your pickup and take home. I like it. Maybe people are realizing, once again, the wonders of raising at least some of their own food. I hope so. And I hope it becomes a habit and that the habit grows....
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This week (or was it last week?) marks an anniversary for this reporting effort: 30 years ago, the first “Farm and Food File” appeared in three central Illinois newspapers. One of those brave beginners, the Bloomington Pantagraph, continues to publish it weekly. Thirty years of anything seems like it should be a big deal and yet, on the farm, 30 years is often viewed as just a good start. My father, after all, farmed for 45 years and his Uncle Honey, who “helped out” on our farm – and occasionally set parts of it ablaze – worked 50 years as,...
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One of these days I will suffer a bad crash navigating from my bedroom to the coffee pot and back without turning on the lights. Wednesday morning, I had to reconnoiter around an errant clutch purse, crumbled cocktail dress, one pair of panties, and Blinker. If I were to replace the Australian Shepherd with an empty champagne bottle and a couple glasses, it would have made a picturesque, morning-after Hollywood love scene. The reality is not as it appeared. A handful of grandkids are visiting and two of the granddaughters like to try on their Nanna’s dresses and high heels...
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“God is covering us, a little bit at a time,” Jonnie Jonckowski said just one week after heavy rains led to destructive flooding of both her home and her non-profit, Angel Horses, Inc., which is located in Billings, Montana. The day following the flood, Jonckowski was trying to decide where to turn as she assessed the immense damage to her home and the loss all of the feed for her animals, and agonized about how to best care for the horses, donkeys, dogs, and cats that have all been used to bring “comfort, compassionate therapy” to senior citizens, special needs...
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Despite the old saying that “ignorance is bliss,” when it comes to law enforcement’s ability to handle livestock, wildlife, and other agriculture-related scenarios, ignorance can lead to danger, distress, and chaos for everyone involved. Minnesota rancher and Central Lakes College instructor, Mike Sams has seen how a lack of experience with livestock has led to greater confusion when livestock get out and, on far too many occasions, unnecessary suffering when responding to wounded animals; this led him, and other members of the Cass County Farm Bureau (CCFB), to develop and implement a law enforcement livestock handling program in partnership with...
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Imagine the following scenario: you are 12 miles into a half marathon. It’s starting to get warm and you know you are so close to being done, but your legs and your lungs are burning, when out of nowhere, a skinny man in cargo shorts comes sprinting by, not a bead of sweat on him. I’m sure if you were a witness to this situation, a series of expletives would have flashed through your mind as you wondered what he did to train for this race – you probably would chalk up some of his obvious skill to good genetics....
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It seems like some of the most heated battles between Republicans and Democrats in Washington, D.C., take place when the United States Treasury Department tells Congress that the United States is going to run out of money on a certain date and will not be able to pay its bills. Late last week, Congress got together and reached an agreement and sent it to the desk of President Biden, which he signed over the weekend to avoid a government shutdown. Just in the knick-o-time, so to speak. The agreement raises the debt ceiling until January 2025. For some funny reason,...
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As part of their continued efforts to counter China and stand up for American farmers and agricultural producers, U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-MT.), Bill Cassidy (R-LA.), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Thune (R-SD), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced their bipartisan China Trade Cheating Restitution Act on June 8, to ensure that agricultural sectors most affected by China’s evasion on anti-dumping duties receive an estimated .5 million in accrued delinquency interest on duties wrongfully withheld by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) from 2000-2014. For two decades, Chinese producers have deliberately exported honey, fresh garlic, crawfish, and mushrooms to the U.S. at a...
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The Angus Foundation will host its annual silent auction during the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Grand Island, Nebraska. Proceeds from the silent auction grow the Angus Fund, which provides unrestricted support for the Foundation’s education, youth, and research mission. For over 15 years, the silent auction has raised money to provide funding for programs ranging from youth scholarships and leadership events to Angus research,” Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director, said. “Generous donations and support from our Angus family are the key to the silent auction’s continued success.” Items donated to the Foundation for the silent auction may...
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The Montana Beef Council (MBC) is pleased to announce the promotion of Anna Sponheim to Project Manager on the Montana Beef Council staff team. Anna has served as an intern for the last two years and will now enhance MBC’s promotion and education activities throughout the state to strengthen beef demand. Her first day as Project Manager was June 1, 2023. Anna was raised in Winifred, Montana, and is a recent graduate of Montana State University, Bozeman. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications and Writing. Previously she served as the Montana FFA State Reporter and went on...
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The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) has announced two internal promotions within its communications department. Lisa Bryant, Ada, Oklahoma, has been named RAAA director of communications while Katie Martin, Torrington, Wyoming, has transitioned into the role of assistant director of communications. “Katie brings deep knowledge of the breed and cattle industry, along with solid writing and presentation skills to the Red Angus communications department that will complement Lisa's extensive communications experience,” Tom Brink, RAAA CEO, said. Bryant, whose farming and ranching roots trace at least seven generations deep, brings a wealth of marketing and communications experience to the team....
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Governor Greg Gianforte recently expanded work-based learning opportunities for Montana students, signing three bills into law to support schools in offering internships, apprenticeships, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. “Student success and Montana’s future depend on classroom innovation and individualized and work-based learning,” Governor Gianforte said. “We’ll continue to think outside of the box and push beyond the traditional brick and mortar to prepare students for their future and build a highly skilled, highly qualified workforce.” Advancing his pro-student, pro-parent, pro-teacher education agenda this legislative session, Governor Gianforte delivered a series of wins which support classroom innovation. First, the...
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A hunter killed a grizzly bear in self-defense last week in the Madison Range southeast of Ennis, Montana. The person was hunting black bears in a remote parcel of private land in the backcountry on June 5 when he was charged by a grizzly bear. The hunter shot and killed the bear with a pistol and was not injured. The hunter notified Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) the same day. Officials from FWP, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest conducted a field investigation with help from the landowner and confirmed the bear mortality. The...
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The 27th Annual Big Sky Draft Horse Expo will be June 23-25 at the fairgrounds, in historic Deer Lodge, Montana. This largest, longest-running draft horse show in Montana offers three days of exciting competition and family fun. Each performance features different classes and events for both the Classic Six and Open exhibitors. Performances are at 3 p.m. Friday, June 23; 10 a.m., and 1 p.m. Saturday, June 24, and 10 a.m. Sunday, June 25. After each show, the public is invited to visit the barns to see the horses up close and to meet the owners. Friday and Saturday evenings...
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Patty Nissen Cross June 17, 1952 – December 1, 2022 A celebration of life for Patty Nissen-Cross will be held on July 1 at 3 p.m. in the Blaine County Commercial Building. Bring your best memories of Patty and come spend the afternoon with us over a luncheon provided by the Alliance Church. Please make memorial donations to the Montana 4-H Foundation or the charitable organization of your choice.
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)and the Nevada Department of Corrections – Silver State Industries conducted a saddle-started wild horse adoption event at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center on June 3, 2023. Forty-seven qualified bidders including successful adopters, from all over the United States attended the event, traveling from places as far away as Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. All available horses were successfully adopted at the event. Twenty one saddle-started wild horses from herd management areas located on BLM Nevada and Oregon public lands, trained for approximately four months by inmates were offered for adoption. Several horses received additional training...
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The Montana State University College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station have announced the dates for their annual agricultural field days, which will take place at research centers around the state. “Summer field days are some of our favorite community events of the year,” Sreekala Bajwa, MSU’s vice president for agriculture and dean of the agriculture college, said. “They provide a key opportunity for engagement with producers, alumni, and friends of Montana State University and always provide critical feedback on our work and inspiration for ongoing scientific advancements for Montana agriculture.” MSU’s Department of Research Centers comprises facilities in...
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Craig Haythorn, one of the most respected ranchers and horsemen in the nation, will receive the National Golden Spur Award at the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts & Sciences in Lubbock, Texas, during the annual National Golden Spur Award Honors on Friday, November 3. Haythorn, of Haythorn Land and Cattle Co. in the sandhills of Arthur, Nebraska, will be the 45th recipient of the National Golden Spur Award for accomplishments by a single individual in the ranching and livestock industries. “The National Golden Spur Award is the most prestigious national honor given to one person by both the ranching...
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Nearly 11,000 agriculture books have been donated to Wyoming elementary schools through the 19-year span of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Committee's “Ag Books for Kids” program. In 2023 county Farm Bureau Federations across the state donated 689 “Popcorn Country” books by Cris Peterson to Wyoming elementary schools as part of the program. “The Ag Books for Kids program puts informative books about different agriculture commodities into the schools around Wyoming,” Aletta Grauberger, WyFB YF&R Promotions Sub-Committee Chair, said. “These books talk about agriculture topics in language and pictures for elementary age groups, so...
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The NILE is searching for college students that can keep up with the fast-paced environment of the NILE Stock Show and Rodeo. From early mornings checking in livestock exhibitors to late nights posting barrel race results, there’s no doubt you’ll be tired by the end of it. But, you’ll leave with lifelong friendships, industry connections, and memories that will make the early mornings and late nights absolutely worth it! Positions offered include: Competitive Events Internship – Livestock Emphasis Competitive Events Internship – Equine Emphasis General Productions Internship Media Relations Internship While the NILE is still months away, it’s never too soon...
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Five legislators received awards for support of agriculture and rural Montana during the Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) Summer Conference June 5-7 at the GranTree Inn in Bozeman. Representative Josh Kassmier, HD 27, Fort Benton, Senator Mike Lang, SD 17, Malta, and Representative Ken Walsh, HD 71, Twin Bridges, received the Outstanding Friend of Farm Bureau Award. This award is given to the Senator and Representative who had the highest overall scores on MFBF’s legislative scorecard; these legislators demonstrated their support of Montana agriculture through their voting record, bill sponsorship, and leadership within various committees. “Representative Kassmier proved to be a...
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“Have you seen these animals?” the man said. His tone was curt and harsh in tone as he held the image in front of her. She held her hand out to take the picture's corner and get a closer look, but the man didn’t allow her to hold it, only to look at it for another quick moment. “Why it looks like ours, but the image is so grainy, I can’t make it out for sure,” the mama said. “All we need is a yes or no, ma’am,” the man stated. The mama put her hands on her hips. “Well...
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In his May 18, 2023, Opinion, “Representative Titus Sides with Animal Rights Activists Over Nevada Ranchers,” the CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Colin Woodall, criticizes U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus’s sponsorship of legislation that will modernize and improve the nearly 40-year-old mandatory beef checkoff program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In the spirit of full disclosure, one improvement contained in Titus’ Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act, or OFF Act, will prohibit organizations that engage in lobbying from receiving any of the million or so the beef checkoff program collects from cattle ranchers each year....
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Dakota Valley Growers (DVG), a cattle feeder developing a sustainable beef cattle feeding operation near Bathgate, North Dakota, and Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. (OTC QB: BNET), a leader in advanced livestock waste treatment technology and premium sustainable beef, announced that DVG has been awarded a grant from North Dakota’s Agricultural Products Utilization Commission to cover certain initial project development costs. The Commission awarded Dakota Valley Growers 8,500 to cover 75 percent of initial engineering, design, permitting, and legal work associated with developing the DVG project. Engineering teams have now been engaged by DVG and Bion and have begun design work...
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Parts of south-central Montana were pounded this past weekend by heavy rains, which has caused flooding that is painfully reminiscent of last year's severe flooding. I just watched one tough cowgirl, Jonnie Jonckowski, weeping on the nightly news over the damage to her Angel Horse Rescue facility near Billings. My heart, prayers, and what I can donate go out to all affected by the flooding, and I know that helps a little, because I have been there on a smaller scale in May of 2011. I wrote this "Diary of a Flood" during that experience, and I share it now...
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Four-year-old, Rhett Borchgrevink brings a pair into the shed during lambing season in Ridgeway, Montana.
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Consumer demand signals spur progress in the cattle business, but producers must be proactive when making changes in their marketing strategy. Join cattle feeders, cow-calf producers, and industry professionals for the latest trends, hot topics and key solutions at the 18th annual Feeding Quality Forum (FQF), hosted by Certified Angus Beef (CAB). The event will be at the Graduate Lincoln hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska, on August 22 and 23, 2023. "Feeding Quality Forum presents experts on relevant topics for progressive cattlemen from the ranch to the feedyard," Bruce Cobb, CAB executive vice president of production, said. "If your goal is...
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So, what do bacon, blueberries, and Capitol Hill’s fast-spinning revolving door have in common? Newsies know: All have been covered in this space over the past year, all have ties to Washington, D.C., and all are in the news again. Let’s go first to the tasty bacon news from the suddenly-very dishy U.S. Supreme Court. In a 5-4 decision on May 11, the court ruled against the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), and the Biden Administration and for California’s “humanely” raised pork law. The Big Ag plaintiffs wanted the state law declared unconstitutional because,...
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The U.S. Cattlemen's Association (USCA) wrote in strong opposition to a proposal by USDA’s Health and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to allow the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Paraguay. In its comments, USCA cited several reasons why it opposes the proposed rule, including the need to protect the health of the domestic cattle herd, the estimated U.S. producer market losses, and the lower standards of production in Paraguay. Specifically, the Regulatory Impact Analysis that accompanied the proposed rule estimated that U.S. producers would suffer losses of million to million each year due to the...
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As the Montana legislative session has concluded, many outstanding pieces of legislation have been passed and await the signature of our great Governor, running the gamut from stronger protections of life in the womb, curbing the trans and other alphabet mafia members' agenda, to preventing foreign adversaries from buying Montana ag-land. Along with these serious legislative wins, we also saw the passage of several pieces of pro-market affordable housing reforms. Unfortunately, this session also had an incredibly dark underbelly, and I mean DARK, an unholy alliance of members of both Republicans and Democrats. Something so wrong and profound that it...
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Five FFA members were recently named U.S. Presidential Scholars - one of the nation's highest honors for high school students - for their academic accomplishments, the arts, and career and technical education. Each year, up to 161 students receive this honor. The FFA members named as scholars are: Madison G. Echols, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a student at Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. Isabella Mackenzie Herrod, of Shinnston, West Virgina, a student at Liberty High School. Hannah N. Rice, of Brunswick, Missouri, a student at Brunswick R-Li High School. Cecelia Ann Rogers, of Bardstown, Kentucky, a student at Nelson County...
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The difference between a photo and art is its ability to tell a story, not only about its subject, but its artist and audience. That’s exactly what Mary Peters’ photo, titled “The Last Ride” has done since it was taken in 2019 when Johnny Branger’s ashes were bucked off of Warren Johnson’s stud, Wounded Knee. Each year on Memorial Day, this photo is shared around, and often elicits strong emotions by those who see it, Johnny’s son, Duane, explained. Johnny was “rodeo crazy,” Duane said, explaining that he had been struggling with “the right way” to spread his father’s ashes...
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Unfortunately, social media has a reputation of spreading false messages, especially about agriculture. However, some producers are stepping out and breaking that trend; one of the best examples is the Galloway family from Gillette, Wyoming, who have been working since 2017 to change the narrative around agriculture in a positive way, one follower at a time. “I made a really quick video, about four minutes long, that I put online basically showing how we feed our cows,” Mike Galloway, who runs Our Wyoming Life (OWL) with his wife, Erin, explained. “What we were trying to do was make something that...
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It sure looks like the official start of grilling season must have been a success over the Memorial Day Weekend. I mentioned to all of you last week that I was anxious to see how beef movement (demand) looked after the holiday. Some analysts were of the opinion that fed cattle prices had peaked back in April when packers were increasing supplies to get ready for Memorial Day and that, most likely, fed cattle prices would soften somewhat as seasonally fed cattle prices drop back during the summer months – but that doesn’t look like the case. Demand must be...
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On June 2, 2023, heavy rains coupled with already full ditches led to significant, destructive flooding across Montana. Billings native, Jonnie Jonckowski, who was a 1991 inductee into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, is the owner of Angel Horses, Inc., a non-profit that provides therapeutic riding and “compassionate care” to senior citizens, special needs children, and at-risk children. The horses and donkeys used to bring joy to these individuals are rescues themselves. The main Angel Horses, Inc. location, along with Jonckowski’s home,...
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Email submissions to production@westernagreporter.com by July 9, 2022, at Midnight Photo Requirements: All photos must be AT LEAST 300 dpi. 3,000 x 3,000 pixels are preferred. If a cell phone is used, please be sure the quality and size requirements are met. Photos must include cattle in some way. All images must be submitted by the owner themselves and are original images. Images found online or in other publications/websites will be disqualified. Limit of 5 submissions per person. All images submitted are automatically released from copyright. The Western Ag Reporter reserves the right to use any images submitted in print, digital, or website...
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North Dakota’s Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring has announced North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) awards for five projects. The awards totaling 6,932 were approved at the APUC quarterly meeting May 18 in Dickinson. APUC is a program of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture that administers grant programs for research and development of new and expanded uses for North Dakota agricultural products which support the development of concepts and products that support our rural communities and agriculture operations. The grants can be used for basic and applied research, marketing and utilization, farm diversification, nature-based agritourism, prototype and technology and technical assistance. The...
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Controversy and dissatisfaction plague the beef checkoff. Finally, there is a chance to reform this tax. The “Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act” (OFF Act) is a bipartisan bill which would allow for long needed accountability and transparency. For many producers, concerns date back to 1996 when the National Cattlemen’s Association (NCA) absorbed the Federation of Beef Councils. The Federation consists of the state level beef boards which collects and administrates the beef tax in their respective states. What happened in 1996 is that the NCA, a private beef industry association, absorbed the quasi-governmental federation of tax collectors to become the...
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The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) and the North Dakota Agriculture in the Classroom Council are seeking proposals for developing and conducting educational programs and materials to help young people understand the importance of agriculture in North Dakota and in their own lives. “Agriculture in the Classroom programs help young people learn where their food comes from and how to make better food choices for themselves,” Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring said. “The program provides teachers with curricula and class lesson development materials, training seminars, a magazine, website, and other tools to make agriculture part of the school day. The...
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The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is excited to announce the hiring of Ava Perrier, Eureka, Kansas, as the AGA summer intern. In her internship, Perrier will be assisting in all aspects of AGA operations including member programs and services support, member education and American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA) Junior Classic activities. "The AGA's internship program is focused on giving students a well-rounded experience with all facets of a beef breed association, from member services and junior programs to communications and marketing," Megan Slater, AGA executive director, said. "We are excited to have Ava joining us for the summer and assisting...
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The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) awarded ,500 in college scholarships to nine young Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation members for the 2023-24 school year. “Investing in the youth of our great state as they work to accomplish their academic goals is important to the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation,” Todd Fornstrom, WyFB President, said. “We are proud to honor these outstanding individuals with college scholarships to play a small part in helping them achieve their goals.” The Livingston-King Scholarship, valued at [post_excerpt],500, is given in honor of Herbert D. Livingston and H.J. King, former presidents of Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, as...
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When feedlot management becomes a concern, Westerners can turn to institutions such as Michigan State University Extension for reliable information about, say, manure: “backgrounding and finishing cattle have been reported to excrete 6.3 lb. of manure per 100 lb. body weight, 0.22 to 0.48 lb. of N [Nitrogen] and 0.035 to 0.085 lb. of P [Phosphorous] per head per day.” But now that the field for the race to the 2024 Presidency appears to be full, where do concerned rural citizens turn for reliable information about the composition and volume of the B.S. they rightly expect to be excreted by...
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Recently, AFBF signed two more memoranda of understanding with two agricultural equipment manufacturers, AGCO and Kubota, providing farmers and ranchers the right to repair their own farm equipment. The MOUs, which were negotiated independently with each manufacturer, follow similar agreements AFBF entered into with John Deere and CNH Industrial Brands earlier this year. Combined, the four MOUs cover roughly 70 percent of the agricultural machinery sold in the United States. “Farmers and ranchers urged us to find a private sector-solution to the challenges of repairing their own equipment. These agreements represent ongoing efforts to ensure farmers have access to the...
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Registration for Montana Farmers Union’s newest Book Club selection "For the Love of Soil" by Nicole Masters is now open. Limited complimentary copies courtesy of MFU are available when you register (participants must register separately for each Book Club selection). For the Love of Soil is the Book Club’s second selection. More than 50 people registered for the club’s first selection of The Farmer’s Lawyer by Sarah Vogel, and many of the club members joined in a live Zoom Q&A with Vogel in May. Both Book Club selections are agriculture-centric and serve to engage Book Club members in conversation and...
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The State of Wyoming has filed a petition on behalf of Governor Mark Gordon for judicial review in the Wyoming Federal District Court that alleges the Department of Interior failed to meet the 12-month deadline for determining Wyoming’s petition to delist the grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The petition seeks to remedy the DOI’s inaction. Wyoming's petition to delist was submitted in January of 2022 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, requesting the agency to delist the grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This request came after the population was determined to be sufficiently...
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North Dakota’s Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring has announced that funding is available for research of honeybees. Goehring said applicants can submit proposals for any or all of four research priorities: Tropilaelaps mites Varroa mites Honeybee nutrition Nosema Multiple grants may be awarded. Proposals funding partial projects and proposals providing valuable extensions of previously funded projects will be considered. Complete information on applying for funds is available on the NDDA website at https://www.ndda.nd.gov/honey-bee-research-and-promotion-grants. Grant applications must be received by June 18, 2023. Additional information is available by contacting Samantha Brunner at 701-328-4765 or sbrunner@nd.gov.
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Nebraska cattle producers have the opportunity to attend one of two, full-day Stockmanship & Stewardship events this June. Both events will offer the opportunity for individuals whose primary language is Spanish to participate in sessions as well. “We are excited to be able to offer many of the sessions presented at these two events in both English and Spanish,” Jesse Fulton, Livestock Systems Educator & Director of Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance, said. “We know it is important for those whose primary language is Spanish who work on cattle operations daily to have industry-relevant education available to them as well.” Stockmanship and Stewardship...
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Dr. Cassie Jones, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry professor and teaching coordinator, has been selected to receive the 2023 Mark and Eva Gardiner Innovation and Excellence Faculty Award. Dr. Jones joined the K-State faculty in 2012 after earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science from K-State and a doctoral degree in nutritional sciences from Iowa State University. Dr. Jones has taught more than 2,500 students in eight different classes. She currently teaches freshman orientation, fundamentals of nutrition, principles of feeding and monogastric nutrition. She is a faculty advisor to more than 80 students and serves as teaching coordinator for...
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“Croak, croak,” went the frogs’ deep voices as Banjo and Pudge crossed a wobbling log that floated over the edge of a pond. In front of them, the hue of daybreak was nudging its sleepy head full of soft early morning colors across the sky. “How much further?” Pudge asked. “Around that clump of willows we’ll cross their fenceline,” Banjo answered as he pointed in the direction with his nose. Pudge understood. The two made it in no time at all, and soon the clump of willows was falling out of sight behind them as they got closer and closer...
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In response to Drovers’ April 24, 2023, article “mRNA Conspiracy Theories: Ranch Group Offers ‘Fearmongering’ and ‘Misinformation.’” When was the last time a ranch group went public and said that despite grandiose reports from the pharmaceutical industry and government about the safety of a novel and yet unapproved synthetically produced immunization delivery system for cattle, in this case messenger ribonucleic acid or mRNA, that the truthful answer is we don’t yet know the long-term effects of mRNA injections in livestock? In a recent public commentary, R-CALF USA said this twice. And in a public news release, the ranch group stated...
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Several Ladies Who Ag Luncheons planned for Central Montana will provide opportunities for women to network regionally and connect with available state and local agriculture and business resources. The events, rolling out in the coming months around the state, are free and open to Montana Farmers Union members and the public. “My favorite part about being a Montana Farmers Union (MFU) Ambassador is talking with people in agriculture and learning more about what they do. I am fascinated by each operation and how different yet similar they are. What I am most excited for with the Ladies in Ag Luncheons in...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff will host a bear safety event next month to offer training and hands-on practice with bear spray and other safety resources. The workshop will be Tuesday, June 13, from 11:30 a.m.- 4 p.m., in the south parking lot of FWP’s Bozeman office, 1400 S. 19th Ave. This event will include bear displays and safety talks on the hour. The displays include grizzly bear and black bear full-body mounts, skulls, tracks, food storage options, bear spray holsters, and a remote-controlled bear spray target. Participants will have the unique opportunity to practice using inert bear spray in...
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Youth rodeo season is in high gear right now, and moms like Jenny Proue Gilbert are pounding down the road with their families and their horses in a living quarters horse trailer gaining points and making memories in towns from Cohagen, Montana to Harlowton, Montana, and beyond. Some of my fondest memories happened in youth rodeo arenas, so I loved this poem by Jenny about rodeo moms that I have to share this week. Jenny and her husband, Denver, have two kids, 16-year-old, Molly, and, 12-year-old, Brody. They run cattle on the Bar Diamond Ranch just north of Billings, Montana....
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Kaci Lewis, daughter of Kaleb and Kari Lewis of Cut Bank, Montana, is checking out her family's pen of bulls that sold at the 2023 Treasure Bull Test’s Sale in April, but she was mainly there for the donuts! Kaci is three-years-old and enjoys baking (and eating) cookies, church, visiting her cousins and grandparents Wayne and Roxy Gillespie of Kevin, Montana, and watching “Our Wyoming Life” on YouTube.
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On Monday June 5 at 6:00 p.m., the Billings Public Library will host expert, Tom DeWeese for a presentation titled “Stopping Agenda 2030 and Its Relentless Attacks on Private Property and More.” He argues that the names may change, but the threat is real to your family and your community: “Sustainable Development” is the common term for federal, state, and local policies that are destroying private-property rights and values as local rule is diminished. DeWeese passionately believes in the rights of the individual over a powerful, tyrannical collective society. He is the author of three books: Now Tell Me I...
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Over 50 percent of the food calories eaten daily by the world’s 7.9 billion people come directly from grains. In impoverished nations, that percentage is 60 percent and, in the poorest, it tops 80 percent. The three most important grains, in order of production, are corn, wheat, and rice. All are critical elements in global food security, but all are not equal. Corn and wheat each serve both as a foodgrain for people and a feedgrain for animals. Rice, however, is – and has been for millennia – the world’s most widespread, most critical foodgrain. “More than 3.5 billion people...
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On May 19, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (FRBM) released its analysis of the 2023 Q1 regional agricultural economic conditions for the Ninth Federal Reserve District (Ninth District), which encompasses Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and portions of Wisconsin and Michigan. Each quarter, the FRBM conducts a survey with reputable lenders from across the Ninth District to evaluate farm incomes, interest rates, land values, and several other economic values pertinent to farmers; this information is then compared to previous quarters and the year prior. In a very broad sense, farm incomes grew in Q1, land values were up,...
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As the 2023 World Livestock Auctioneer (WLA) Championship, in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) annual convention, gets ready to kick off June 7-10 in Arcadia, Florida, Will Epperly reflected on this past year as the reigning WLA champion where he traveled around the country representing the LMA. Epperly visited 18 different states and spent time advocating for producers on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. “I felt like our conversations this year on Capitol Hill were heard by both sides of the aisle,” Epperly explained. “Yes, it was an election year, but our concerns were met with open ears...”...
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I have always had a love for words – reading them and especially writing them. When I was young, I would use my dad’s typewriter to make my own “newspaper” where I would write about my sibling’s sports activities and other happenings in our family. One time, I even wrote a very ground-breaking story about a cat who had something like 9,000 kittens – riveting stuff, let me tell you. And TOTALLY fact-based. Then, I would sell it to my parents and our one neighbor for 25 cents each. It was a lucrative business there for a while. As I...
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Will somebody please slow the clock down a little? I can’t believe it is already June 2023! I hope you all had a great Memorial Day Weekend and that you, and the rest of America, had your grills fired up. I am anxious to see the beef movement numbers now that we are past the holiday, and I look forward to what Father’s Day and the Fourth of July are going to bring. In a recent Drovers article, Tyne Morgan discussed the start of grilling season. Citing Don Close, Chief Research and Analytics Office with Terrain, the article explained that “demand is...
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Last week the ranch crew started their trek to rescue Tuff. They had a stowaway for the ride, and didn’t know what they would be up against, however, they kept moving forward with perseverance and grit. The full moon lit the path. Banjo and Ben meandered through the wood’s trail and along the fenceline overlooking the open range. An occasional coyote yipped its presence from an adjacent hill, but it wasn’t threatening their crew. “I wonder how far Pudge and Bailee made it,” Banjo said. “It’s too dark to see any tracks.” “Knowing them, they’re probably cozied up on a...
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What were those adventurous vagabonds who came west 150 years ago thinking when in just the first 400 miles of their journey from the Platte River to Fort Laramie, they saw 12 graves to the mile documented by shallow graves, and crosses made from bedposts, wagon boards, and double trees? I don't know about you, but I'd have given serious consideration to doing a quick about-face and running back home to momma. How did past generations survive without childproof lids on pill bottles or seatbelts in our vehicles? The teeth marks in the rails of the family crib that was...
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Memorial Day, which originated as Decoration Day, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. During World War I, the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars and expanded into a day of remembrance for loved ones and fallen soldiers. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday. Some people wear a red poppy...
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Whether it is raining, snowing, windy, or sunny, Max Robison, four-year-old cowboy on the Dry Creek Ranch in Amidon, North Dakota, is always riding his pony, Dolly, and making sure she goes “super fast!” Max’s favorite hobbies include working in the leather shop with his dad, chasing his puppy “Dangit” (whom he named all by himself), and driving him and his brother around on their electric gator. When Max grows up, he wants to be a rancher, John Wayne, or a cop!
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I looked up the definition of “fake news” in the online Cambridge Dictionary. It states it is “false stories that appear to be news, spread on the internet or using other media, usually created to influence political views or as a joke.” So, let’s apply this definition to the following circumstance: Late last month, Drovers magazine published a “news” article written by its Editorial Director Greg Henderson titled, “mRNA Conspiracy Theories: Ranch Group Offers ‘Fearmongering’ and ‘Misinformation.’” The Drovers “news” article took exception to a news release and related commentary by R-CALF USA regarding the experimental drug known as mRNA...
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On May 25, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the Sackett family in Sackett v. EPA – the court’s most recent consideration of which features are subject to federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction. In its holding, the court soundly rejected the contentious “significant nexus” test. NCBA strongly supports this ruling and is currently engaged in a litigation against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the Biden Administration’s WOTUS definition. "Cattle producers across the country can breathe a sigh of relief today. Since EPA’s adoption of the “significant nexus” test, cattle producers have had to retain costly legal...
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An important tool for improvement, in any profession, is data collection coupled with honest reflection, and that has been the goal of the National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA), which has been conducted every five years since 1991. “The reason for doing it in 1991 was that we were beginning to see the impacts of using preventive quality management practices in the automotive industry and how that could reduce cost to consumers while improving the quality and demand for the product,” Keith Belk, PhD, head of the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University, began during the NBQA webinar on...
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“I think everybody involved in the beef industry has some responsibility to talk about sustainability” because, in one way or another, each producer or sector of the industry is striving to make it so, Dr. Tryon Wickersham, Professor of Ruminant Nutrition in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University, began during a webinar about beef’s environmental and nutritional benefits, hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Along with Wickersham, experts from UNL discussed and addressed several common questions related to beef’s sustainability and importance in the global food system. Question 1: What’s the ideal production environment for raising cattle...
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There are very few things in life these days that are affordable, let alone free; and it is even more rare to find something – whether an event or a product – that is both free and high quality. However, Sullivan Supply has been breaking that mold since 2010 with their accredited Stock Show University (SSU) program. Each year, SSU offers around 10 events across the country where industry powerhouse “Professors” work with cattle, sheep, hog, and goat showmen on everything from nutrition and daily care of their animals to clipping, fitting, and showmanship; on Mother’s Day weekend (May 13-14) SSU made...
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I want to start this column off by actively admitting that I tend to be a worry-wort. I am definitely a Type-A personality in many aspects of my life, and while I would say that I am more of a realist than anything, my husband might tell you I tend to be a pessimist. That said, I am well-aware that God urges us to find peace in knowing we are all in His hands, and I try to remind myself of this verse often: Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV): “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will...
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The Cattle on Feed report showed lower numbers of total cattle on feed and placements, but once again, the marketings were much lower than compared to on feed and placements. Total cattle on feed came in at 11.6 million head as of May 1 this year, down 3 percent as compared to May 1 last year. Placements during April of this year were down 4 percent as compared to last year at 1.75 million head. Marketings, on the other hand, were down 10 percent as compared to the same month last year. It is very evident that the packers have...
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The Nebraska Beef Council recently took part in helping to fund the annual “Pasture-to-Plate Tour,” held annually in California and hosted by the California Beef Council. The tour is a three-day immersive experience, where beef industry and nutrition professionals among others get to visit cattle ranches, a dairy, feedlot, stockyard, and a processing facility and speak with experts in the industry as well. Nebraska Beef Council Board Member, June Loseke, attended the event and represented Nebraska. Loseke has been a host of the Nebraska Beef Council Industry Influencer tours at her family’s feedyard near Columbus in past years, and says...
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NCBA and the Public Lands Council (PLC) recently announced that applications are now open for spring 2024 public policy internships in Washington, D.C. “Interning in Washington, D.C. is the best way to understand how Congress and federal agencies develop policy,” NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane, the head of NCBA’s Washington, D.C. office, said. “For students looking for a way to learn about agriculture and protect the farming and ranching way of life, there is no better opportunity than interning for NCBA.” The internship provides students with the opportunity to work jointly with NCBA and PLC to advance...
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The 59th World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) is set to take place in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) Annual Convention on June 7-10, 2023, in Punta Gorda and Arcadia, Florida. A total of 31 semi-finalist auctioneers will compete in the championship event. The auctioneering contest will begin with the interview portion of the competition where each WLAC semi-finalist must clearly establish and demonstrate their knowledge of the livestock marketing industry. The second part of the competition will take place during a live sale at Arcadia Stockyard in Arcadia, Fla., where contestants will sell cattle to actual bidders in...
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Montana Farmers Union (MFU) congratulates Montana students receiving ,000 in scholarship funding from MFU, including a year’s tuition to MSU-Northern. “The new age of ranching and farming requires leading edge knowledge to ensure profitability. It’s exciting to have so many applicants who have rural or agricultural roots looking to further their education. It’s the creative minds of tomorrow’s ranchers and farmers that will keep food on all our tables,” Matt Rains, MFU’s Chief of Staff, said. Fairfield’s, Isaac Lauver has received a new scholarship dedicated to a student who has pledged to pursue meat sciences at Montana State University-Northern. Lauver...
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“A house divided cannot stand.” The Founding Fathers were wise. They understood that there were circumstances where the states could inflict economic warfare on each other. The Founding Fathers also understood that this nation could not survive economic warfare among the states. The Founding Fathers were also worried about large and wealthy states abusing smaller states and imposing their agenda on nonresidents. It was because of these concerns that the Founding Fathers created the Dormant Commerce Clause. The Dormant Commerce Clause essentially prohibits states from making laws that would economically discriminate against the citizens of one state in order to...
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The USDA announced on May 3, the creation of 12 new USDA Regional Food Business Centers that, according to a release, will “provide national coverage coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state, and local resources, thereby closing the gaps to success.” Additionally, USDA is investing 0 million for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) to “fund innovative projects designed invest in processing and distribution capacity to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems.” “This is the...
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The BLM opened a comment period on April 3, 2023, for Conservation and Landscape Health. The rule proposes significant and concerning changes to the agency’s authority under the Federal Land Management and Policy ACT. The proposal was developed with no stakeholder involvement or awareness. BLM administers 13.5 million acres in New Mexico. It operates two National Monuments, two National Conservation Areas, five Wilderness Areas, 58 Wilderness Study Areas, two National Historic Trails, one National Scenic Trail, and two Wild and Scenic Rivers, all of which are visited by many visitors each year. Visitors enjoy fishing, camping, hiking, birdwatching, and many...
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The 21st annual North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA) Feedlot Tour will be June 27 at feedlots near Wing, North Dakota, and Goodrich North Dakota. The tour stops will include Vollmer Angus Ranch and Kirby Steichen's hoop barn. Bus transportation will be provided to and from the stops. The bus will depart from Kist Livestock Auction in Mandan, North Dakota, at 9 a.m. and will make a stop at Cenex in Sterling, North Dakota, at 9:30 a.m. and then return to Sterling at approximately 4 p.m. and Mandan at approximately 4:30 p.m. Here’s a tour preview: Vollmer Angus Ranch near Wing will...
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At a hearing of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, Bryan Burns, Vice President and Associate General Counsel of the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), said the meat and poultry industry was facing economic headwinds, challenges in the courts and hurdles with new regulations but remains resilient with record production. “I want to emphasize that the industry is incredibly resilient, despite claims to the contrary,” Burns said. “Against challenges such as COVID, supply chain disruptions, labor availability, and the impact of drought, beef production set new records for four consecutive years from 2019 through 2022. Pork...
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The light of the screen glowed in front of the two animals. “I see you found her,” Banjo said. Ben and Pudge looked over towards their pal. “Was I missing?” Pudge asked while she still focused on the screen in front of her. “Well, I hadn’t seen you in a while, so I sorta thought you were,” Banjo said. “Nah, I’ve been doing my own fair share of investigating since Tuff showed me the artifact,” she stated. “Come to find out he’s not the first one to find one like it from a War Wagon around these parts.” “Really, now?”...
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The frequent stream of crises that has been the hallmark of the Biden administration have one thing in common: they’re all self-inflicted. The border crisis is the direct result of radical open border policy. The inflation crisis was the direct result of massive government spending. The crime crisis accelerating in Democratic-run cities is the direct result of the “defund-the-police” movement. We’ve had one failed experiment in radical policy after another, all pushed by Biden appointees selected for their adherence to extreme ideology rather than their ability to lead an organization. The results have been catastrophic for the American people. Now...
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A mistake in last week’s drawing for some moose and big horn sheep licenses will result in fewer licenses issued than were originally drawn. The mistake occurred when quotas were incorrectly entered into the drawing system by licensing staff and resulted in more licenses being drawn in some districts than what the quota dictated. The affected sheep licenses are: 482-20: drew 20 applicants, but the quota was 15. 482-30: drew 40 applicants, but the quota was five. 622-30: drew 20 applicants, but the quota was 10. 680-31: drew 40 applicants, but the quota was 30. The affected moose licenses are:...
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Another Mother's Day has come and gone, and for those of us who have lost our mothers, it has become a day of remembrance. Losing my mother made me realize how time spent with her was more valuable than any other gift I could give or be given. My mother, Florence Roberts, has been gone for 17 years, but sadly Alzheimer's Disease stole her from me several years before that. Every year on Mother's Day, I tried to write a column that would help others understand that Alzheimer's Disease is a family disease. Finally, I found words to write it,...
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Check out Kolyer Gibson, the two-and-a-half-year-old son of Will and Kelsey Gibson, who is helping his dad breed cows in Mississippi.
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Today {May 18}, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for H.R. 3419/S. 1666, the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2023. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would continue making critical investments in foreign animal disease response programs currently overseen by the USDA. The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) and in the House by Representatives Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Angie Craig (D-MN), Jim Costa (D-CA), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Don Davis (D-NC). “The threat of a foreign animal disease outbreak in the United...
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Kansas State University beef extension specialists plan to host a series of four producer-oriented webinars in late-May and early-June to address production challenges amid ongoing drought throughout Kansas. Webinars are scheduled for Wednesdays at 11 a.m. CT on May 24, May 31, June 7, and June 14. Topics of discussion, presenters, and registration links include: May 24: Using Basis and Margin Tools for Making Real World Ranch Management Decisions During Drought, Brett Crosby, Custom Ag Solutions, https://tinyurl.com/KSUBeefBasis May 31: Use of KSU’s Beef Replacement Decision Aide in Assessing Herd Expansion and Contraction, Glynn Tonsor, K-State Department of Agricultural Economics, https://tinyurl.com/KSUBeefReplacements June 7: Strategies...
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On May 11, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) voted, in a narrow margin of 5-4, to uphold California’s Proposition-12 (Prop-12), which now “forbids the in-state sale of whole pork meat that comes from breeding pigs (or their immediate offspring) that are ‘confined in a cruel manner.’” Prop-12 considers confinement “cruel” if individual sows have less than 24 square-feet of space in gestation crates. The case was brought before the SCOTUS by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) in October 2022 where they argued that Prop-12 “impermissibly burden[s] interstate commerce” because...
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A high caliber, well-trained horse and its rider cutting a cow out of a group and keeping it under control was “poetry in motion” during the Cattle King Cutting held in Deer Lodge, Montana May 5-7. It was the first time the Montana Cutting Horse Association (MCHA) and the Treasure State Cutting Horse Association (TSCHA) combined, and it made for an exciting and interesting event, bringing riders and trainers together for high-level competition from across the country. Van Greenwall, Director of the Idaho Cutting Horse Association in Kimberly, Idaho, judged the event. Each day nearly 100 riders – men, women,...
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“I’m going to focus on one thing today. One thing, and one thing only: the Lava Ridge Wind Turbine Project in Idaho,” U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) stated emphatically during the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in early May. With the continued push for sustainable energy, Magic Valley Energy (MVE) proposed one of the largest wind turbine projects be built on BLM public lands in southern Idaho, called the Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project (Lava Ridge), which will consist of up to 400 wind turbines across 146,000 acres, according to the Lava Ridge proposal. To put the size of...
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When I was reading through various articles regarding SCOTUS’ May 11 ruling to uphold California’s Proposition 12 (which is covered on this week’s front page), I made a poor choice by looking at a few of the comments in response to the announcement – it made me realize why horrendous legislation like this is not only being introduced, but passing. There were so many “oh, poor pigs” comments, and don’t get me wrong, I’m all about the welfare of animals, but for crying out loud, there is a reason sows are in crates like that, and anyone who has actually been around...
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It is coming up on graduation season for high schoolers and college students alike. One group will be looking to get into their dream college and the other group will be looking to enter the workforce. My kids are soon to be 27 and 28 years old next month. For the last several years I have told both of them that the world is in their hands, they just have to go out and take it because the vast majority of the people in their age group are not interested in working hard and are just looking for the “easy...
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Governor Greg Gianforte yesterday {May 16} issued an executive order declaring a statewide disaster in response to flooding in northeast, western, and south central Montana. “Runoff from recent rainfall and snowmelt has compromised critical infrastructure and roads in Montana,” Gianforte said. “This order will help impacted communities rebuild and get back on their feet.” Beginning on April 10, 2023, a combination of rainfall and high temperatures causing snowmelt led to major flooding along the Milk River and its tributaries in northeast Montana. Western and south central Montana also saw between 1-4 inches of rainfall, as well as rapid snowmelt with...
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Biological challenges are rarely simple to solve. With a host of variables in real-world scenarios, bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF) certainly falls into the "complicated" category. Is it a management issue, a genetic problem, or a little bit of both? A recent episode of “The Angus Conversation” explored the topic, with guests Randall Spare, Ashland Veterinary Center; Darrell Stevenson, Stevenson Angus Ranch; and Kelli Retallick-Riley, Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI). "If there is an underlying genetic component, no matter how small it is or large it is, we want to find that out for American Angus Association members, because when they make a change, it’s...
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Sale Season Recap: As Told by John Goggins There is one word that sticks out the sums up how the sale season went for my customers: FANTASTIC! All breeds of bulls and females were up from the same time period last year. I think what really sticks out to me as I think back over the last several months of sales is how worried the breeders, who endured a severe drought the year before, were about their sales as we entered into the first few days of 2023; Many areas liquidated 30-40 percent of the cowherds. I know many seedstock...
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Today, {May 10} NCBA reiterated support for the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act, introduced by Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Peter Welch (D-VT), to expand marketing opportunities for smaller meat processors. “American consumers are buying beef in new ways, whether it is directly from local farms and ranches or online through e-commerce,” NCBA President-Elect Mark Eisele, a Wyoming cattle producer, said. “The DIRECT Act allows smaller processors to sell beef in different and innovative ways, supporting cattle producers while also ensuring the safety of our product. NCBA is proud to support the DIRECT Act and we...
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Today {May 17}, NCBA President, Todd Wilkinson testified before the House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry at a hearing titled “A Review of Animal Agriculture Stakeholder Priorities.” Wilkinson, a second-generation cattle producer from South Dakota, highlighted stronger market conditions in the cattle industry and discussed new challenges facing farmers and ranchers from burdensome regulations and inflation. “Many of you have said it before, and I wholeheartedly agree, food security is national security,” Wilkinson testified. “Working together, we can ensure the long-term success and viability of those on the front lines providing said crucial food security. We owe...
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The American Highland Cattle Association (AHCA) will celebrate its 75th Anniversary Gathering at the Arrowwood Cedar Shore Resort in Chamberlin-Oacoma, South Dakota, June 16-17, 2023. Highland cattle breeders representing hundreds of farms and ranches from across the country will attend the annual conference, which is the nation’s premier networking and educational event for the revered and unique Highland breed. Founded at the Double X Ranch in Belvidere, South Dakota in 1948, AHCA has the only globally recognized American Highland herd book. With 75 years of cattle registrations, the book has direct connections to every other leading Highland cattle organization in...
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The field day will begin at 8 a.m. on June 3 at FWP's office, 490 N. Meridian. Students must register for the free field day in advance by visiting https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/trapping. Students must also complete the free online education course prior to the field day. Trappers are required to pass the education course and field day if they have not purchased a trapping license for at least three previous seasons. Trappers who have purchased a trapping license for three previous seasons will be asked to list that experience when purchasing a license. All other trappers aged 12 and older will need...
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Rotational or continuous grazing? Which system allows for more sustainable and profitable free-range livestock production? Ranchers often rotate cattle seasonally among different pastures on their operations but may allow cattle to graze season-long in a single pasture. Implementing a more intensive rotational system within the growing season - dividing the pasture into smaller areas, or paddocks, and shifting a herd of animals throughout the season - has been suggested to offer a greater chance for more sustainable grazing management. However, there have been very few experimental studies testing these ideas in extensive grazing systems. A team of researchers at the...
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BLM Nevada is asking for your help to prevent human-caused fires all year long. A fire prevention order is being put in place beginning May 1 across Nevada. The 2023 Fire Prevention Order prohibits specific fire-related activities on BLM Nevada managed public lands from May 1 to October 31, 2023. This Order makes it illegal to use explosive materials (including exploding targets), fireworks, or steel component ammunition. “Currently, Nevada is experiencing record precipitation, which could lead to an increase of grass fuels,” Brock Uhlig, BLM Nevada State Fire Management Officer, said. “The current, national wildland fire potential outlook indicates that...
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The state’s budget surplus this year is a clear indicator that Montana is doing something right economically. We’ve seen this money be put to good use by reducing our tax burden and smart spending on programs that will boost our economic prosperity and bring growth and opportunity to the state. Representative Matt Rosendale has brought that same mentality to Congress. It’s clear that Democrats have overspent significantly on reckless programs and useless incentives. The White House is now playing political games that will make Republicans look like the villains if the debt ceiling isn’t raised. Representative Rosendale has joined Speaker McCarthy...
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“It seems our Barnyard band disbanded before we got it started again,” Ben said. He was glum because he had gotten very excited in the hopes that the ranch crew could have a little fun kicking up their heels and dancing to a jig. Banjo could see Ben’s disappointment. “Not all hope is lost for some barnyard boogieing,” Banjo said. “How do you figure?” Ben asked. “With Tuff’s discovery, and the coyotes out in those hills, our time is consumed.” “We can whistle while we work, can’t we?” Banjo said. “Hum a little tune, click our heels, and tap our...
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Summit Carbon Solutions has violated farmers’ landowner rights. The company attempting to build a CO2 pipeline across the state is suing more than 80 South Dakota farmers who do not want the company and its pipeline on their land. South Dakota Farmers Union members addressed the importance of landowner rights decades ago in their policy. It still stands as a major issue for today’s members. Our policy strongly supports farmers’ control and use of their own land. News of Summit Carbon Solutions suing 80 South Dakota farmers claiming eminent domain with more to come strikes a nerve at South Dakota...
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North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring is encouraging homeowners to research products before buying and planting nursery stock for their property. “With warmer weather finally approaching, homeowners may be anxious to add trees and shrubs to their landscapes,” Goehring said. “Many varieties of trees and shrubs adapt well to North Dakota’s climate and soils, but before you plant, you may want to talk with a trusted nursery dealer, horticulturist, or local extension agent. They will help you select nursery stock that you will enjoy for years to come.” Goehring said the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDAA) receives numerous complaints...
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Seven-month-old, Lane Lewis loves to read his Western Ag Reporter newspaper from the floor just like his Grandpa, Wayne Gillespie of Kevin, Montana, does in his recliner. Lane is the son of Kaleb and Kari Lewis of Cut Bank, Montana.
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After my last week's column about branding ran, several people contacted me asking to run my branding etiquette column again…so here it is once more. An emergency room nurse once said to me, “Branding must be really dangerous, because we see a lot of people in the ER that have been hurt at a branding.” I suggested to her that one reason is that, anymore, many horsemen do not ride their horses enough to keep them highly trained. Many do not ride their horses often enough in the early spring, and then they hop on them to go branding, which...
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The National Pork Producer's Council issued the following statement in response to Thursday's Supreme Court decision to uphold California's Proposition 12: “We are very disappointed with the Supreme Court’s opinion. Allowing state overreach will increase prices for consumers and drive small farms out of business, leading to more consolidation. We are still evaluating the Court’s full opinion to understand all the implications. NPPC will continue to fight for our nation’s pork farmers and American families against misguided regulations.” – Scott Hays, NPPC president and Missouri pork producer The Animal Ag Alliance added: "Today’s Supreme Court decision on California’s Proposition 12...
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Last week, Ben discussed a problematic pony who had been conditioned to bite and crowd its owners – over time, he was able to break through and help mend the relationship. There are many poor substitutes for true horsemanship. Gimmicks and shortcuts may work temporarily, and horses are generally so cooperative and forgiving that we tend to take a lot for granted and may often see what we would call “success.” But in the long run and with different individuals, these shortcuts will most often come back to haunt us. Anything that is forced on the horse, without being based...
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Jack Callihan Parnell May 7, 1935 - April 30, 2023 Jack Callihan Parnell was born May 7, 1935, in Leavenworth Washington. He passed away on April 30, 2023, at home on the Parnell Ranch in Sandpoint, Idaho. Jack grew up on his father’s dairy. His life and work ethic began there. Jack went on to work for Crystal Creamery. He owned and operated Regal Janitorial Service. He later became a field editor for Pacific Stockman, Stockman Weekly, and created and published the California Cattleman magazine. He was a renowned livestock auctioneer, Director of the California Department of Fish and Game,...
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On April 24, 2023 Dakota Valley Growers (DVG), of Bathgate, North Dakota, signed a letter of intent to develop a 15,000-head “premium sustainable beef cattle feeding operation” in partnership with Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc.’s (Bion) patented Gen3Tech system; put simply, Gen3Tech takes manure and upcycles it into a “a low carbon, ‘Climate Smart’ pure nitrogen fertilizer product that can be precision applied when and where needed,” a Bion release said. Alongside other fertilizer products, this system also recovers and distills clean water from the waste to be used for the cattle or irrigation. Russell Edgar, founder of DVG, expressed a...
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There’s a big misconception that to be a part of agriculture, one has to be immersed in the industry from day one, but that’s not always that case; for some folks an inherent interest in agriculture leads to a career in the industry. Calli Moore is one of many whose love for the Western way of life has led her to a career where she gets to showcase that every day through photography and videography. Moore, an Idaho native, explained that although her family did a lot of hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities, she never got a chance when she...
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“It’s a good thing most farmers see their livelihoods as a calling more than a job,” American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President, Zippy Duvall said during a May 2, 2023, testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee, as he expressed the hardships producers endure to feed and clothe the world. “The Farm Bill is a critical tool for ensuring our nation’s food supply remains secure. No one buys insurance for the good times, and similarly, Farm Bill programs provide critical tools to help farmers and ranchers manage risk.” Duvall was joined by National Farmers Union President, Rob Larew, and numerous industry...
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With Mother’s Day this weekend, I feel like it’s important to share this column I wrote last year once more in order to spread more awareness about something far too many of us never consider: infertility and the loss of children. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen far too many of my friends and acquaintances struggling month after month with heartbreak, grief, and anger because they aren’t able to get pregnant, they’ve suffered yet another miscarriage, or they’ve tragically lost a little one during or after birth. In fact, according to the annual National Infertility Awareness Week, which takes place...
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I read an article in the May 7, 2023, online edition of the Wall Street Journal in the Opinion/Commentary section titled “No More Subsidies for Junk Food. My bill would exclude soda and prepared desserts from SNAP.” Then, I noticed the article was written by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), and that really piqued my interest. He explained that “The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a lifeline for tens of millions of low-income Americans who rely on it for food. But like most government programs, SNAP is in dire need of reform.” While it is intended to help supplement a...
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Aaron Friedt, of Mott, North Dakota, joined the American Hereford Association (AHA) as the North Central region field representative May 8. As an AHA field representative, Friedt represents Association members in the region and assists with AHA activities and services. In addition to attending Hereford sales and events, he serves as a resource for Hereford breeders interested in using advertising and other marketing services provided by Hereford Publications Inc., while continuing to build relationships industry-wide. Friedt helps Hereford breeders and commercial users of Hereford genetics use AHA promotional and marketing programs to add value to their cattle. "Aaron is a...
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Shortly after the Montana Senate called Sine Die on the 68th Montana Legislative Session, Senate Bill-442 arrived on Governor Gianforte’s desk. Unfortunately, he vetoed this bill, and ignored over 100 organizations, 137 lawmakers, and thousands of Montanans across the state who asked him to sign SB442 into law. Those 100 organizations represent agriculture, oil and gas, veterans, healthcare workers, union laborers, educators, County Commissions, conservation, wildlife, sporting communities, and others. The supporting lawmakers came together from both sides of the aisle to show support for their constituents who live and work in Montana and support those organizations. Thousands of us...
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The National Chapter Award is the highest honor an FFA chapter can receive and recognizes chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the FFA. Top chapters were recognized at 95th South Dakota FFA Convention, for their outstanding accomplishments. The chapters recognized have developed an active Program of Activities and conducted meaningful events. For the overall state award, a chapter must complete at least 15 activities: one for each of the five quality standards in each of the three divisions - Growing Leaders, Building Communities, and Strengthening Agriculture - and meet the minimum requirements outlined in the National Quality...
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The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) invites ranchers, veterinarians, extension educators, and other interested people to three meetings in the Montana Brucellosis Designated Surveillance Area (DSA). At these meetings, Marty Zaluski, State Veterinarian, and Brad De Groot, Brucellosis Program Veterinarian, will review recent elk surveillance results, provide updates on market access for destination states, and review brucellosis regulations in the DSA. The department will also discuss a recent audit of the state’s brucellosis program by the United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The Brucellosis Designated Surveillance Area affects cattle producers who own or graze...
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The first of a two-part webinar series entitled Animal Health Management: Keeping Track of It All and Making Good Decisions is scheduled for May 16 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. The second webinar is scheduled for July 11. American Sheep Industry Association Animal Health Committee Co-Chair Dr. Jim Logan will provide an introduction and be joined by Dan Persons of Shearwell Data and Dr. Larry Goelz of Windy Ridge Veterinary Clinic. Logan practiced veterinary medicine for 27 years and served the state of Wyoming for 23 years as state veterinarian through two appointed terms (1997 to 2004 and 2009 to 2021). He was...
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Agricultural educators play a crucial role in their communities, dedicating countless hours and often their own resources to preparing students for successful careers and helping them follow their interests. In South Dakota, seven exceptional ag teachers were named as finalists of the 2022-2023 Golden Owl Award® for their positive impact in the classroom and industry overall. Of the finalists, Noelle Swanson, an agricultural teacher at Northwestern Area, was named South Dakota’s 2022-2023 Ag Educator of the Year. Nationwide, in partnership with the South Dakota FFA Foundation, recognized Swanson as the 2022-2023 Golden Owl Award grand prize winner during the State FFA State Convention. In...
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The USDA announced on May 3, the creation of 12 new USDA Regional Food Business Centers that, according to a release, will “provide national coverage coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state, and local resources, thereby closing the gaps to success.” Additionally, USDA is investing 0 million for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) to “fund innovative projects designed invest in processing and distribution capacity to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems.” “This is the...
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The blue corduroy jacket is a familiar symbol of the FFA organization, worn as part of official dress during most FFA activities. On April 17 at the South Dakota FFA convention in Brookings, as part of the South Dakota FFA Living to Serve Day, members removed their jackets and rolled up their sleeves to help stop hunger in South Dakota. This service project, supported by funds from Pioneer-Corteva, Rick and Sandy Osterday, and a grant from the National FFA Foundation exemplified the portion of the FFA motto which states “Living to Serve” by teaming up with industry to fund a...
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The late Eugene, and Stella Nagel family, of Gettysburg South Dakota, received the South Dakota FFA Foundation’s 2023 “Family of the Year” award. The award honoring a family's long-term involvement in the South Dakota FFA/Agriculture Education program was presented on April 17th at the State FFA Convention in Brookings. The Nagel family includes Stella, the late Eugene Nagel, their two daughters Dawn, and Gerri and her husband, Shon, Eide, and grandchildren Hunter, Tanner, and Bobbi Eide. The Nagel family has a long history in the South Dakota FFA, spanning three generations. Eugene, Dawn, Gerri, Hunter, Tanner, and Bobbi have all...
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Rett Blume, of Pierre, South Dakota, was the junior division champion in the April 15, carcass and live cattle evaluation contest at HRC Feed Yards LLC in Scott City, Kansas, Pecos Worrell, of Harper, Texas, was the winner in the senior division. Each won a mineral feeder sponsored by Priefert. Jack Ward, American Hereford Association (AHA) executive vice president, and Shane Bedwell, AHA chief operating officer and director of breed improvement, led contestants through the live evaluation, teaching what to look for in market cattle. Those in the senior division also estimated the carcass value for each head. Contestants in...
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The American Angus Association® recently named Will Harsh as the regional manager for Colorado and Nebraska. He assumes this new role after three years serving as regional manager for the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. “I recognize the scope of agriculture which exists in both Colorado and Nebraska, and I stand excited for this new opportunity,” Harsh said. “I’ve certainly enjoyed my time serving the Southeast and am thankful for the relationships and experiences I gained there.” Harsh replaces Levi Landers, who was recently promoted to director of field services. “Will’s industry experience, eager attitude and member-focused mindset make...
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The 2023 Farm Bureau Foundation Fellows have launched four free Applied Digital Skills lessons dedicated to helping students learn about food, fuel, and fiber. The lessons were developed with support from Grow with Google to make digital skills and agricultural literacy more accessible to students across the country, with a focus on rural classrooms. The lessons are part of the Agriculture and Rural Communities Collection, which is available for free to educators across the U.S. Each of the lessons focuses on a different theme: careers, celebrating local food events, pollinators, and regenerative agriculture. The lessons will give students a strong...
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At a ceremony in Lincoln on Monday, May 1, Governor Jim Pillen proclaimed May as “Beef Month” in Nebraska highlighting the importance of Nebraska’s beef industry to the state’s economy. He was joined by Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director, Sherry Vinton, Nebraska Beef Council Vice Chairman Jeff Rudolph, and Nebraska Cattlemen president, Steve Hanson. Rudolph said the proclamation event is a great reminder of how important the beef industry is to both producers and consumers in the state. “People in Nebraska in particular, when they think of celebrating, they gravitate towards beef in the form of steaks or burgers on...
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North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) members carried the priorities and concerns of the state’s cattle producers to Washington, D.C., last week as participants in the Public Lands Council’s and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Legislative Conferences. The Flickertail State cattle producers and their counterparts from across the United States met with agency leaders and Congressional members to weigh in on important issues ranging from the Waters of the United States Rule to Livestock Mandatory Reporting reauthorization to help federal decision-makers better understand implications for North Dakota’s cattle-ranching families. “It is vitally important for the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, on behalf of...
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“One minute they’re nagging each other, the next they’re inseparable,” Ben said. “Not a bad thing if you ask an ol’feller like me.” Banjo smiled. “I’ll second that,” he said. The two looked over the pasture, doing much more than simply watching, assessing, and critiquing the pastures as they surveyed each cow and calf. They searched. Even though the warm sun had invited a little mischief between the calves as they jumped, bounced, and galloped across the pasture. Banjo and Ben had been warned of the sighting by Big Ed, but they had heard their carooning howls and yipping songs...
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The South Dakota FFA Honorary State Degrees and Distinguished Service Awards were presented at the 95th Annual South Dakota State FFA Convention on April 17th, in Brookings, South Dakota. These awards recognize outstanding contributions in support of the South Dakota FFA, acknowledging that ag leaders and industry are key in developing our future agriculture and community leaders. The Distinguished Service Award is presented to businesses that have taken action to advocate for agriculture education on the state and local level to ensure our members have the best experience within our organization. The 2023 Distinguished Service Award recipients: Pranger’s Feed Mill,...
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It was inevitable that this day would come. Tyson Foods has now turned its corporate attention to absorbing independent cow/calf ranchers. Tyson pioneered the factory farm system for raising chickens, in the process turning independent poultry growers into corporate serfs. By 1985, it was the independent hog producers’ turn to be converted into corporate serfdom. In just a decade and a half (1985 to 2000), the hog industry went from 388,550 independent producers to 85,760 serfs. Today, twenty-three years later, there are only 66,000 left. Independent cattle feeders were next. In the last ten years, 48,000 independent feedlots stopped buying...
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It is branding season, which is the season when it is fun to go to another ranch's brandings but not nearly as fun to host your own branding. As a veteran of many years of branding, I offer the following tips - especially for aging ranchers: As you age, so do your friends, and older people are not the most desirable branding helpers. Cultivate friendships with young people who are good ropers or will make good wrestlers. You can still invite friends your age, but they will expect an easier job like vaccinating or more likely leaning against the fence...
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Bo Bartels, three-years-old, loves to do anything and everything on the ranch, especially if it involves his tractors and cattle. He loves to go with his dad, Craig Bartels, just about every night to walk through the Bartels Angus sale bulls and pairs during the winter and spring. In the summer, Bo enjoys tagging along during irrigating, and wants to be a farmer and rancher just like his dad, while having a few pigs too.
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“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” I picked this saying up somewhere along the way and have found it an applicable truth to nearly all things in life, but perhaps particularly so when working with horses. Whatever it is we wish to achieve with our horses, if it is a worthwhile goal, it will take some time, patience, and effort. Even the simplest of ambitions – maybe purchasing an older horse just to ride for pleasure – will take time and effort to both achieve and maintain the goals you have set. In my work starting colts,...
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On November 3, 2020, Colorado voters passed the infamous Proposition 114 with the intent of reintroducing grey wolves - who are protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) – into the state by December 31, 2023. Although Colorado voters have spoken, ranchers and farmers continue to voice their concerns with the drafts of the Colorado Wolf Management Plan (draft plan). The Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association (GCSA) stated in February that “Much work needs to be done to ensure that the reintroduction does not wreak havoc on the livestock industry, the elk and deer herds in the Gunnison Basin, and endangered...
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On May 19, Marc Brogger of Three Forks will be honored by the Montana Arts Council as an inductee into the Montana Circle of American Masters (MCAM), which “recognizes Montana folk and traditional artists for artistic excellence in their work, along with their role in preserving and passing on their knowledge,” an MCAM release said. Brogger - who has made over 900 saddles that have made their way across North America and have been purchased from as far away as Italy, France, Norway, and Finland – has also received awards from the Western Folklife Center and the Academy of Western...
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In the modern age of production agriculture where input costs seem to be on a consistent upward climb, producers are often left with the dilemma of deciding where to put their dollars in order to look out for the health and well-being of their animals while simultaneously increasing their returns; in some cases, those two outcomes aren’t achievable at the same time. However, the research team at FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals (FERA) developed a breakthrough, synthetic Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance (MBAS) that is active in their product, FerAppease, that, at a basic level, suppresses the stress response that cattle experience...
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On April 27, Tyson Foods reported that it would lay off 15 percent of its senior leadership and 10 percent of its corporate staff. This comes just a month after the announcement that it would lay off roughly 1,700 employees with the closure of two poultry plants – one in Glen Allen, Virginia, and the other in Van Buren, Arkansas, effective May 12. These strings of layoffs, according to CEO Donnie King, have come in an effort to streamline the business and cut costs. “In February, the company reported Q1 2023 results 70 percent lower than the same period in...
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I am not saying it is the wrong approach, but it seems like way too many people want to talk about the “Cattle Cycles” in regard to the ebb and flow of profits that trickle down the beef supply chain. A recent graph released by USDA clearly shows the expansion and contraction of cowherd numbers throughout the years. I guess what really concerns me is that we need to come up with a new plan, laws, legislation, etc. that will ensure adequate profit to ranchers each and every year, as opposed to good profits two years out of every 10...
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Near as I can tell, there are only two groups that do long range industry planning for five years into the future for the cattle or beef industries. The beef industry, which starts after live cattle enter the beef packing plant, developed a long-range plan in 2020 to cover the years 2021 through 2025. That beef industry plan was funded in large part by your government-mandated beef checkoff dollars. And because the beef checkoff program is a government speech program, the development of the long-range plan had to be done under the watchful eye of the government to ensure it...
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April 17, 2023, was a historic day for the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA), the North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation (NDSF), and the state’s cattle producers. The first ground was broken for the organizations’ new headquarters building in north Bismarck, North Dakota. There was a mix of cowboy hats and hard hats at an informal gathering last week as organizational leaders, Building Committee members and contractors celebrated the milestone. The NDSA and NDSF have been working together on the building project for several years, following a directive passed by NDSA members at their annual convention in 2015. The NDSA purchased the...
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Graduate students in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Animal Science have organized a May 9 symposium featuring leaders in the fields of animal science, nutrition, and range and forage sciences to discuss the future of animal agriculture as worldwide demand for protein grows. Tryon Wickersham, professor of animal nutrition at Texas A&M University, will be the keynote speaker at the symposium, titled “Sustainable Protein: The Future of Nutrition.” His talk will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Wickersham, along with UNL faculty and graduate students. Chancellor Ronnie Green will moderate the panel discussion. This event will take place...
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The 2023 North Dakota Angus University Feed-out program at the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC) will begin in June. For the 12th consecutive year, the North Dakota Angus Association (NDAA) is partnering with the NDSU CREC to sponsor the North Dakota Angus University Feed-out program. Cattle producers from across the state will have the opportunity to retain ownership of their cattle and receive valuable performance and carcass data of the animals. Colin Tobin, Animal Scientist at the CREC since September 2021, will be heading up this year’s program. Originally from a cattle ranch in central...
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On May 5- 7 members of the Montana Cutting Horse Association and Treasure State Cutting Horse Association will be competing in Deer Lodge. The event will be held at the Blue Ribbon Pavilion on the fairgrounds; north Main Street. The competition will begin at 8:30 a.m. each day and go to about 6:00 p.m. The public is encouraged to come and watch the events. Admission is free. A local 4-H club will be providing concessions. This is the first time the two groups have combined, and organizers say it will make for a more exciting and interesting event. They are...
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On May 13 and 14, Stock Show University will host a fun filled FREE event where students can bring their animals and work one-on-one with the industry's best and most talented. Hosted by M Lazy Heart Feeds and presented by Sullivan Supply, topics covered will include: daily care, clipping, fitting, proper breakdown, showmanship, nutrition, and show road prep. Students will walk away motivated and prepared for success! Stock Show University Graduate Program Schedule - SUBJECT TO CHANGE Saturday 8:00 a.m.—Registration 8:30 a.m.—Have animals washed, dried, and ready for the day 9:00 a.m.—Welcome; Bleachers 9:30 a.m.—Daily Care Demo—Followed by Professors One...
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The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) Soil Health Cover Crop Grant Program will open up for applications next month. NDDA will provide cost-share assistance to producers. “As a conservation program, the primary goal of the program is to protect and enhance soil health statewide,” Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring said. “In particular, the program targets cropland areas impacted with saline or alkaline soils.” Cover crops must be planted by June 15, 2023, and the online application must be completed by June 20, 2023. There is a cost-share payment of per acre for applicants. There is a 160-acre cap per...
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Robert Otis Jones January 22, 1955 - December 11, 2022 Robert (Bob) Otis Jones died unexpectedly of natural causes in Kahului, Maui, Hawaii, on December 11, 2022. He was born in Harlowton, Montana, January 22, 1955, to Warren (Buck) and Mary (Scotty) Jones. Bob was the youngest of three children raised on the now six-generation ranch of Two Dot Land and Livestock. A larger-than-life Republican rancher, Bob was quick-witted, a deep thinker, and was incredibly loyal to his family and friends. He was humble and kind. As a youth, he freely roamed the ranch with his brother Bill, cousins, and...
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The Bureau of Land Management’s Basin and Range National Monument seeks volunteers to participate in a plant and animal Bioblitz scheduled Friday and Saturday, June 2-3, 2023. A Bioblitz is a citizen-science effort to record and identify plant and/or animal species within a designated area in a short time. Botanical and/or wildlife experience is not needed to participate. Scientist and Naturalist group leaders will be provided. Monument Manager, Alicia Styles said data collected this June will help in future planning actions. “It will help to focus inventory and monitoring efforts, refine habitat models, and ensure proper care and management of...
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Continuing his efforts to lower costs for Montanans and bolster education opportunities for rural communities, U.S. Senator Jon Tester (R-MT) - alongside Senators Ernst (R-IA), Grassley (R-IA), Lummis (R-WY), Moran (R-KS), Ricketts (R-NE), and Braun (R-ID) - introduced bipartisan legislation to make sure farm families aren’t paying higher costs to send their kids to college. “As a third-generation farmer, I know firsthand that one-sizes-fits-all policies from Washington don’t work for Montana’s family farmers, ranchers, and small businesses,” Tester said. “That’s why I’m teaming up with Republicans and Democrats to make sure Montana’s family farmers and ranchers don’t have to pay a higher...
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On April 19, USDA announced the availability of up to 5 million through two new grant programs that will create more options for meat and poultry farmers by investing in independent, local meat and poultry processing projects that increase competition and enhance the resiliency of the food supply chain. These new grant programs, the Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program and the Local Meat Capacity Grant Program, are part of the broader [post_excerpt] billion American Rescue Plan investment by the Biden-Harris Administration to expand processing capacity for small and midsized meat and poultry processors. “This is the latest...
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A new Montana Farmers Union (MFU) book club will offer another avenue for producers, as well as people who love Montana’s rural communities, to connect over what makes their lifestyles unique. “This could be a really nice way to step into community and connect with others who care about family farms like you do,” Rachel Prevost, MFU’s member services director, said. The statewide book club launched during the Eastern Montana Women’s Conference earlier this month, and participants will read “The Farmer’s Lawyer” by Sarah Vogel as the first selection. MFU members, friends, and the public can join the book club...
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Remember the huge backlash in 2017 over the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) “Planning 2.0 regulations?” One of the major concerns was that the BLM could use those planning rules to eliminate all use by creating ambiguous standards for multiple use that were left to absolute agency discretion. There was so much outcry that Congress passed a bill (under the Congressional Review Act), which the President signed, repealing the BLM Planning 2.0 regulations. Rather than learning its lesson, the BLM is at it again. While the BLM claims the 2023 proposed planning regulations are needed for “conservation and landscape health,”...
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In these times of crazy inflation, everyone is looking to save a few bucks or find more efficient ways to do things. I love household hints, so I have compiled a few that tickled my funny bone even if they are not legitimate. (Disclaimer: Do not actually try these household hints at home - yours or anyone else's!) When you receive your bill at a restaurant table, fill in the blank for the tip with the negative of the amount of the bill and put [post_excerpt].00 on the total line. (Bonus tip: Do not plan to eat at this restaurant...
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“Where’s Tuff hiding today?” Pudge said. “He’s been as elusive as Rascal.” “He’s deep in his research,” Banjo said. “Research?” Pudge questioned. “While my little Bailee is out patrolling and doing his ranch job, he’s playing the new research scientist?” Banjo looked at her disapprovingly. “Why do you give that pup such a hard time?” Banjo asked. “Because,” Pudge said. She crossed her paws and puffed out her chest to ensure he didn’t mistake her response as one of being flippant. “Because why?” Banjo said. He leaned in cautiously. Pudge had been on Tuff’s case about everything he did like...
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18-month-old cowboy, Hayes Robison’s favorite thing to do on the Dry Creek Ranch in Amidon, North Dakota, is to check “baby heifers” and sing “We Will Rock You” in the feed pickup. Hayes spends most of his day climbing every panel he can, chasing the chickens, and loves to help close gates which may come in handy in a few years.
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Young Breeder of the Year The Young Breeder of the Year award will recognize a young, registered Angus breeder for their leadership within the Angus breed, participation in Angus programs, and innovation within their herd. Applicants for this award can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else. Additionally, they must be between the ages of 25-45 as of January 1 of the award year and must be an active member of the Association. Couples or business partners can be nominated if they meet all age requirements, however, herd ownership and/or management responsibility are required of each individual. Selection will...
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Research shows that one in roughly 200 births in cattle will produce live twins. That statistic jumps to about one in 100,000 births for live triplets, and even more remarkable, the likelihood of having live quadruplet calves is one in 11.2 million. For fourth-generation eastern Colorado rancher, Dennis Walters, and his family, the thought of having a set of quadruplet calves would have never crossed his mind, but on Easter Sunday, those immense odds became a reality. Dennis Walters calves out 500 head of commercial Red and Black Angus calves with his wife, Skipper, son, Chadron, and daughter-in-law, Taylor, starting...
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No matter if ranchers are just getting started with calving or are wrapped up for the year, one thing that is on everyone's mind is input costs for this year’s calf-crop, and if there are any ways to cut those costs, it’s important that producers take advantage of them. Steve Saunders, a consultant to ENVU, stated that, “when we talk about rangeland resources on any ranch of any size, whether it’s a purebred, cow-calf, or stocker, rangeland is a key component of where value is generated on the ranch.” The first thing a large majority of ranchers in Reporter Country...
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Adaptability of parasitic worms makes a proactive deworming protocol a top priority for grazing beef cattle. Worm parasites are showing greater adaptability to both geographic movement and weather conditions. As the transport of beef cattle across geographies becomes more commonplace, so, too, does the prevalence of worm parasites. “Cattle movement has helped worms move into geographies where they may not have been previously,” David Shirbroun, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim, explained. In addition, some worm species utilize a mechanism called inhibition to survive unfavorable weather conditions. Even in northern climates where it was thought the cold winter months could break the worm...
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Have you ever had that feeling of sheer joy and excitement the morning of a flight? That deep-rooted longing to get through security and sit on a too-small airplane with a bunch of strangers? Yeah, me neither. I am a homebody if there ever was one, and when I do get the chance to travel, it brings out this carnal sense of dread and anxiety. No matter where my final destination is and how much I’m genuinely looking forward to being there, the days leading up to a trip, I’m about as stressed as you’ll ever see me. I am...
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This is the first time in a month I can’t report that fed cattle set all-time high prices for the week. After three consecutive weeks of record prices, last week dropped off just a little bit, but it was still really, really good. Live fed cattle traded at mainly 0 and 8 dressed, quoted about lower than the week before. Cattle in the south traded steady to only [post_excerpt] lower at 4 to 5, yet boxed beef was higher again with Choice boxes at 6.60 and Select at 3.87, up .98 and .94 respectively for the week. I am...
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It’s calving season across South Dakota, but a group of family farmers and ranchers still made time to travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with policymakers and USDA officials and advocate for what they need in the upcoming Farm Bill. “No one can carry our message like we can. This advocacy effort is important because as farmers and ranchers, what is in this Farm Bill impacts our lives and livelihoods,” Doug Sombke, a fourth-generation Conde farmer and President of South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU), said. “Yes, we are calving, yes we are gearing up for planting season 2023, thankfully we...
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Registration is open now through May 15 for the three-day 406 Grazing Academy workshop to be held June 6-8 in southwestern Montana. Montana State University and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will host the workshop, which is aimed at ranchers seeking to hone their grazing management skills and learn new strategies. Classroom activities will take place at the Forge Hotel in Anaconda, with field activities held on working ranches in Deer Lodge Valley. Workshop participants will gain practical knowledge designed to help them make strategic decisions for their ranches. MSU educators, Montana ranchers, and other range managers...
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In response to efforts in the Missouri State Legislature to regulate products sold, distributed for use, or administered to a person that are designed with intent to alter a person's genome, the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) issued the following statement: “A viral tweet issued earlier this month called our attention to House Bill 1169, sponsored by Missouri state representative, Holly Jones. Similar legislation is also being introduced in Tennessee, Arizona, and other states, with plans underway to attempt to implement a state-by-state regulatory framework for labeling of products that could act as a ‘gene therapy or that could possibly impact,...
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In comments recently submitted by R-CALF USA to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regarding the agency’s proposed rule to require adult cattle shipped across state lines to be affixed with electronic radio frequency identification (RFID or EID) eartags, the ranch group said no. In its 13-page comments, the ranch group argues the proposed rule’s stated propose of enhancing the ability of animal health officials to quickly respond to disease outbreaks could not be achieved by the proposed rule because it only requires the participation of 11 percent of the nation’s cattle herd while the agency has repeatedly stated...
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Spring holidays are traditionally when there is the most demand for American lamb. Easter, Passover, and Ramadan are the biggest holidays when lamb is consumed. The American Lamb Board (ALB) hosted a virtual cooking class to teach American lamb consumers how to roast a leg of lamb for their spring holiday celebrations, but the recipe can be enjoyed any time of the year. ALB partnered with Chicago-based, Muslim food blogger, Heifa Odeh from Fufu’s Kitchen to host the virtual cooking class. Viewers asked questions and got answers on a livestream. Odeh has a Palestinian background, and advocates for health and...
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A total of 47,590 North Dakota deer hunters took approximately 25,093 deer during the 2022 deer gun hunting season, according to a post-season survey conducted by the state Game and Fish Department. Game and Fish made available 64,200 deer gun licenses last year. Overall hunter success was 53 percent, with each hunter spending an average of 4.4 days in the field. “The lower success was due, in part, to deteriorating weather conditions during the beginning of the season,” Casey Anderson, wildlife chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said. “We were met with high winds immediately followed by...
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The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has released the Pride of Dakota showcase and holiday showcase dates for 2023. “We are pleased to offer events around the state again this year,” Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring said. “Last year, our showcases were attended by more than 40,700 people and supported 617 local businesses.” The dates, events, and times are: September 8-9 - Dickinson Showcase, West River Ice Center – Friday 3 p.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. October 27-28 – Minot Showcase, Magic Place, State Fairgrounds – Friday 3 p.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. November 3-4 – Grand Forks Showcase,...
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America’s families deserve to know what they’re buying when shopping in the dairy aisle. The American Farm Bureau Federation today {April 24} filed comments with the Food and Drug Administration calling on the agency to enforce food labeling standards for dairy substitute products and enforce existing prohibitions on the misleading labeling of nut- and other plant-based beverage products as “milk.” The FDA requested comments on its draft “Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements: Guidance for Industry.” AFBF supports a consumer’s right to access dairy-free products, but one in four Americans, 83 million people, are confused or have been misled...
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American Agri-Women (AAW) updated its legislative policy positions in the areas of natural resources, commodities and education, and ag business and economics at its annual mid-year meeting held recently in Jordan, Utah. AAW, a national coalition of farm, ranch, and agribusiness women, is in its 48th year of advocating for agriculture. The 2023 AAW Mid-Year meeting was held in beautiful Nashville, Tennessee, April 12-15. Women nationwide gathered to discuss current agricultural issues and policies and voted to create the 2023 AAW Position Statements. The meeting began with an afternoon session on April 12, with both the Executive and Foundation committees...
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More than 35 women enjoyed a weekend of learning and networking during the first ever Eastern Montana Women’s Conference hosted by Montana Farmers Union in Sidney. “It brought people together in community and celebrating women and agriculture,” Rachel Prevost, MFU’s member services director, said. The inaugural event held earlier this month featured panel discussions on cooperatives, succession planning, managing stress in agriculture, leadership development; hands-on workshops; and plenty of time to get to know the other attendees. “People were really excited that there was an event coming to their area,” Peyton Cole, who planned the conference, stated. Attendee Darlis Nordhagen...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) jointly announced Monday {April 21} NDSA’s donation of ,000 to support MSGA’s current appeal of Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) decision regarding American Prairie’s grazing allotments in Phillips County, Montana. “While we are fighting this issue here in Montana, the decision on this appeal will have a ripple effect across all public lands in the west and will be precedent setting in relation to allowing federal land allotments to be used for conservation purposes, not livestock grazing,” John Grande, MSGA President, said. “We would like to extend our...
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We can’t control everything on a cattle operation. But we can make a battle plan to protect calves from bovine respiratory disease (BRD) long before we ever reach for antibiotics. Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to prevent losses associated with BRD, but no vaccine can prevent infection 100 percent of the time. Building robust immunity against BRD involves a mix of maternal antibodies and vaccine-derived immunity. Colostrum is critical. “When calves are born, they enter the world lacking any real immunity to disease,” Joe Gillespie, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim, explained. “To build up the defenses they need, calves...
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Forest landowners and agricultural producers are invited to attend two upcoming workshops on succession planning. The “Ties to the Land” workshops, sponsored by the Montana Forest Stewardship Foundation, are scheduled separately for May 6 in Helena, Montana, and May 13 in Kalispell, Montana. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is co-sponsoring the Kalispell workshop. Forest landowners, farmers, and ranchers are invited to participate in the workshops. Cost is for the first family member and for each additional family member. Seating is limited to 25 people per workshop. The full-day workshops will focus on assisting families with understanding succession planning....
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Congratulations to all the consignors and award winners at the 2023 Treasure Bull Test's Annual Sale!
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In June, North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) will embark on its 89th season of Farmers Union Camp. The summer camp program annually draws more than 1,200 farm and city kids from across the state to the shores of Lake Tschida near Elgin and the Jamestown Reservoir, where Farmers Union camp facilities are located. “We’re excited to get our 89th season underway,” Miranda Letherman, NDFU education director, said. “Farmers Union Camp is a fun, positive environment where kids can be themselves, while they build team and leadership skills. We mix traditional camp activities, like swimming and singing around a campfire, with...
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For youth interested in cattle breeding, the University of Wyoming (UW) Extension will offer artificial insemination (AI) classes in Campbell and Fremont Counties on May 6, followed by breeding days in June. “AI Days is geared toward kids who want to get their livestock bred,” Chance Marshall, a UW Extension educator and co-organizer of the event, said. “Adults can attend, but the event is primarily for 4-H members and youth with livestock who want to build their herds or have specific breeding goals.” The AI program is open to youth across Wyoming and surrounding states. The program may be of...
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I have been blessed to be operating alongside the 5th generation of our family ranch in Roberts, Montana. Ranch families like mine understand the importance of neighbors, community, and keeping decision making at the most local level possible. That’s why we are deeply concerned about an effort by attorneys to jam a bill through the Montana Legislature that would take away local power and hand it to unelected statewide bureaucrats who do not live, work, or recreate in our communities. Currently, when water disputes or questions arise, Montanans handle those concerns through a well-established practice of going through elected district...
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To support the next generation of American agriculture, National Farmers Union (NFU) announced the eleven participants selected for its eleventh Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI) cohort. Over the course of nine months, attendees will participate in four sessions focused on technical training, mentorship, and leadership development. Established in 2011, BFI was created to help address concerns about the rapidly aging farm population. According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, farmers older than 65 outnumber those younger than 35 by more than six to one, raising serious questions about who will be operating America’s farms in the coming decades. “The Beginning...
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For Wyomingites interested in current and predicted drought status, temperatures, and precipitation levels, the Wyoming Conditions and Monitoring Team (WCMT) facilitates monthly webinars open to the public. Founded in response to an ongoing drought that emerged in 2020, the WCMT brings together state, federal, university, and tribal partners to monitor and report drought-related information to the people of Wyoming and U.S. Drought Monitor. The WCMT’s monthly webinars address local and statewide precipitation, average temperatures, stream flow, reservoir levels, soil moisture, and more. In addition to reporting current conditions, experts compare data to historical trends and relay predictions for the coming...
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The USDA is expanding its Margin Protection insurance plan, adding more than a thousand counties to the insurance option that provides coverage against an unexpected decrease in operating margin for corn and soybean producers. This expansion, which is in direct response to growing interest among producers, will be available by June 30, 2023. Interested producers will need to purchase their coverage by September 30, 2023, to be eligible for the 2024 crop year. “Increasing the availability of a program is sometimes the best way we can improve upon an effective program and serve our farmers with more risk management resources,”...
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“What are you doing?” Banjo asked. Tuff couldn’t hear him. Banjo assessed the scene. “Only one way I’m going to get his attention,” Banjo said. He leaned over the water trough and grabbed a hold of the pup's tail. Tuff rocketed out of the water trough like a torpedo. He was sputtering. Spews of water spurted from his snorkel like a whale coming up to the surface for air. “What’s the wise idea,” he said. The snorkel dropped from his jowls. “I should be asking you the same thing,” Banjo stated. “What in tar-nation are you doing in the water...
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We’re in the midst of calving season now. It warms my heart - when everything goes right - to watch a newborn stumble to his mom for his first taste of nourishment. It might take a little coaxing, but human babies know where to find mom’s milk as well. I had a conversation with a young mom the other day and I mentioned some new guidelines for feeding infants that are included in the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025. Based on the most current nutrition research, this is the first time that beef and other lean meats are recommended...
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There are a lot of sleep-deprived ranch families trying to function at this time of year, because calving happens 24/7. I loved this story written by Tucker Luthan about his wife Andrea. The Luthans run a cow/calf and farming operation in Idalia, Colorado, and this story is priceless. "A True Story from the Rafter TA" by Tucker Luthan Cold wasn’t a strong enough word to describe what the mercury was trying to say. The wind had swept up snow in its rage and thrown it wherever it thought handy, the way a misunderstood preschooler might rearrange his older sister's precious...
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Clay Arnold is the four-year-old Cow Boss on the Arnold Green Meadow Ranch in Absarokee, Montana where he loves to help do anything and everything with all the animals on the ranch. Clay wants to be just like his dad when he grows up and enjoys riding his bike Super Fast!
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As Easter and Passover roll around, it is a beautiful time to reflect on the Judeo-Christian ethos and traditions that have permeated all aspects of Western civilization and, more specifically, our great nation. The Judeo-Christian worldview and values embraced by our forebears have allowed our country to thrive over the last 247 years and Western civilization to rebuild from the ruins of the Roman Empire a millennium and a half ago. Sadly, over the decades, these values and traditions we used to hold so near and dear to our hearts have rapidly eroded over the years. According to a 2021...
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AFBF, in partnership with Farm Credit, is seeking entrepreneurs to apply online for the 2024 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Now in its 10th year, this national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. Farm Bureau is offering 5,000 in startup funds throughout the course of the competition, which will culminate in the top 10 semi-finalists competing in a live pitch competition in front of Farm Bureau members, investors, and industry representatives at the AFBF Convention in January 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Applications remain open through...
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Correction as of April 24, 2023: Paragraph three originally stated that "Grande explained that the APR has made it clear that APR wants bison to be free-roaming as opposed to being in a controlled management scenario." APR Senior Public Relations Manager, Beth Saboe clarified in a later statement that "American Prairie is a private conservation organization using a market-based approach that is within our property rights to acquire land, restore, and sustainably manage a private-herd of bison and improve wildlife habitat in Central Montana. We lease over 80 percent of our land to local cattle ranchers and as we have...
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With many parts of Reporter Country receiving record amounts of snowfall this winter, which is now causing flooding as warmer temperatures settle in, it’s hard to believe that many areas across the country have suffered fires already this year – but it’s true. According to the Incident Management Situation Report (report) published by the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) between April 7 and April 13, there were a total of 1,673 fires burning with the largest region currently burning in the south, especially Oklahoma. While the majority of fires are located to the south, Nebraska Governor, Jim Pillen declared a state of...
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Variability is the name of the game when it comes to agriculture; between the weather, livestock, and global markets, there are many things that lie outside of a producer’s control, which contributes to a common characteristic that can be found on every farm and ranch across the country: the ability to adapt. This has especially been true as the entire industry has had to pivot and shift throughout a longstanding drought that funneled into a long, harsh winter this year. Travis Bruner, of the Bruner Angus Ranch in Drake, North Dakota, looked back to the 2021 growing season, and concluded...
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On the April 7 episode of Kansas State’s “Beef Watch” podcast, guest panelists Abby Heidari and Grace Jacobson with the Kansas Beef Council, spent a few minutes discussing why it’s important to advocate for agriculture and how all of us can do it on a regular basis. There was one point in particular that I wanted to share: just because people aren’t directly involved with agriculture, which is roughly 98 percent of our population, doesn’t mean their perspective (or lack thereof) is wrong, it’s just different. I am guilty of manifesting this “us versus them” mentality, and if we’re all...
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The freight train known as the fed cattle market rolled on “Full Steam Ahead” again last week, shattering all-time highs set the previous week. Fed cattle in the north went up another to trading at 0 to 5, with the bulk of the cattle reported at 2. The dressed market was also higher at 0. Cattle in the south were also higher and sold mainly in the 5 range. Boxed beef continued an upward trend as well with Choice boxes up almost .00 for the week at 2.62. Select boxes traded over higher at 3.87....
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Today {April 19}, NCBA filed comments on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed rule “Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison” to emphasize the importance of electronic animal identification to protect the cattle industry from the threat of a foreign animal disease. USDA’s proposed rule would apply to cattle 18-months or older only when moving interstate. “An outbreak of a foreign animal disease in the United States, like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), would be catastrophic to the cattle industry and our way of life,” NCBA President, Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer, said. “Traceability...
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Montana Farmers Union (MFU) recently donated 36,840 pounds of pork to Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN). The valuable protein resource has already been distributed free of charge to MFBN partners of food banks, food pantries, shelters, schools, and senior centers across Montana. “Montana Farmers Union is working with Montana Food Bank Network to help feed the families of Montana. Recently we donated a third truckload of pork that was processed in a Farmers Union-owned Redwood Farms pork processing plant. This is our way to help farmers to feed families," MFU President, Walter Schweitzer said. The donation is one aspect of...
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A 2023 economic impact study, which updated a study from 2017, found that livestock auction markets continue to be important for the growth and vitality of rural communities. The study of an average, fixed-facility livestock auction market revealed that the market provides approximately million in total value-added dollars to its local community. This result is up from [post_excerpt] million identified in the 2017 Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) Economic Impact Report. The case livestock auction market, located in a rural Missouri town with a population of less than 5,000, sells all classes of cattle in a weekly sale. The auction...
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Adaptability of parasitic worms makes a proactive deworming protocol a top priority for grazing beef cattle. Worm parasites are showing greater adaptability to both geographic movement and weather conditions. As the transport of beef cattle across geographies becomes more commonplace, so, too, does the prevalence of worm parasites. “Cattle movement has helped worms move into geographies where they may not have been previously,” David Shirbroun, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim, explained. In addition, some worm species utilize a mechanism called inhibition to survive unfavorable weather conditions. Even in northern climates where it was thought the cold winter months could break the worm...
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Wall Street rules intended for publicly traded companies should not extend to family farms. That is the message the AFBF and six other agricultural groups sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC proposed a rule to require public companies to report on Scope 3 emissions, which are the result of activities not owned or controlled by a publicly traded company but contribute to its value chain. Public companies that produce goods from agricultural products would need to report emissions from the relevant agricultural operations. The farm groups’ concern is that the rule will burden family farmers and...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is looking for approval from the Fish and Wildlife Commission to move forward with a rule-making process on administrative rules that address state management of grizzly bears. The request comes as the Montana Legislature considers Senate Bill 295 (SB 295). The bill would further clarify how Montana will manage grizzly bears once they are removed from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Specifically, SB 295 speaks to issues of human safety, conflict with livestock, and genetic exchange between grizzly bear recovery areas. Senate Bill 295 also requires the commission to adopt administrative rules prior to grizzly...
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For ranchers and ranch managers concerned about livestock poisonings from toxic plants, the University of Wyoming (UW) Extension has launched a new YouTube series titled “Taming Toxic Plants.” In the western U.S., toxic plants are often some of the first rangeland plants to green up, UW Extension Rangeland Management Specialist, Derek Scasta said. Early in the season, livestock tend to have a higher risk of consuming toxic plants like larkspur or death camas, for instance. Sheltering under pine trees to escape inclement weather can lead to cases of pine needle abortion (PNA). “As we head into the spring and then...
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The American Angus Auxiliary 2023 scholarship applications are due May 1. Ten scholarships will be awarded to the top five young men and the top five young women. The scholarship application also serves as the basis for choosing candidates to compete for Miss American Angus. "The American Angus Auxiliary scholarship program is designed to award outstanding young men and women for their Angus interests, achievements, and overall agricultural passions," Julie Conover, American Angus Auxiliary president, said. "With an incredible vision, this phenomenal scholarship program, created in 1956, has benefited over 500 youth across the country, awarding a total of 1,000."...
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Youth can apply for undergraduate, graduate, and even commercial cattlemen scholarships through the Angus Foundation. Scholarship applications are due May 1 for college students involved with the Angus breed. The Angus Foundation awarded more than 8,000 in scholarships in 2022 alone. The Foundation offers scholarships to undergraduate, graduate, and trade school students each year to help Angus youth achieve their educational goals and offset the rising costs of tuition. "The Angus Foundation’s scholarship program is one of the most prominent and consistent ways our donors support Angus youth," Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director, stated. "Our scholarships pave the way...
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The second annual Texas 4-H Night at NASA was held March 4-5 at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas for 144 members of Texas 4-H and their chaperones. This event invites 4-H families for an immersive experience in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics activities. These include the opportunity to interact with real astronauts, a tour of the space station training facility, and camping overnight under a real space shuttle. Derrick Bruton, Texas 4-H STEM specialist, who led the event, said 4-H STEM is more than robots and video cameras. “This diverse project reaches not just beyond the horizon...
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Glenna Lee Madden July 30, 1930 - March 26, 2023 Glenna Lee Atkinson Madden, 92, died peacefully, Sunday March 26, 2023, at the Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be held on May 1, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. at the Rendezvous Center, located at the Goshen County Fairgrounds in Torrington, Wyoming. Glenna was born July 30, 1930, in New Haven, Wyoming on the Clark family ranch to Paul and Lydia Atkinson. She and her two sisters, Letha and Helen, spent their younger years growing up at the base of the Devils...
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Murray and Pipestone County Cattlemen Associations are hosting the annual Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association (MSCA) Summer Beef Tour and Trade Show on July 17 and 18. The tour will showcase experienced cattlemen, innovative techniques, and quality beef setups by hosting participants and vendors from around the state and country to tour area farms. Registrants will have access to over 50 agricultural-related businesses featuring new products and services available to cattlemen through the onsite trade show. The Summer Tour events begin on July 17 with the quarterly board meeting of the MSCA at Key Largo on Lake Shetek, just north of...
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Kansas State University (KSU) Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI) department is excited to announce that Cimarron Trailers has donated the lease of a 20-foot Lonestar gooseneck stock trailer to be used by the ASI campus animal units. “We’re extremely grateful for Cimarron’s generosity and its support of our department,” Mike Day, KSU ASI department head, said. “This ‘state of the art’ trailer will provide an excellent option for transport of animals to and from our units for a wide variety of purposes that support teaching, research, and extension. We thank Cimarron, and especially Ben Janssen, for providing ASI with this...
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A Montana State University (MSU) Extension soil fertility specialist suggests considering spring soil water content and temperatures when making fertilizer decisions for the upcoming growing season. According to Clain Jones, MSU Extension soil fertility specialist and a professor in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, many parts of Montana east of the Continental Divide received above-average precipitation from September 2022 through February 2023, including the Golden Triangle, which received at least twice the normal precipitation. “Paired with below-average temperatures, fields will likely be cold and wet this spring, and planting could be delayed,” Jones said. Jones noted that...
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As we enter spring and the typical snowpack peak season, the water supply outlook is currently good across most of Montana. That can be attributed to consistent and mostly above normal precipitation this water year. “March precipitation continued the trend of exceptional moisture received this year on the east side of the Continental Divide,” Eric Larson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Water Supply Specialist, said. East of the divide, March precipitation ranged from about 100 percent of normal in the Bighorn Mountains to nearly 170 percent of normal in the Jefferson River basin. The exception is the northern Rocky...
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Over the winter months, R-CALF USA hosted and attended several meetings, and numerous sale barns hosted R-CALF USA fundraisers, building momentum and support across the Midwest. Over the past few months, R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard and many members of the R-CALF USA Board of Directors have traveled the country presenting to R-CALF USA state affiliates at their annual conventions and speaking to industry groups. Most recently, Bullard spoke to the Beef Production class at Iowa State University and at the Coalition for a Prosperous America Annual Conference. Below are a few fundraiser and meeting highlights: Creighton, Nebraska - For...
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The 2022 Livestock Inspector of the Year is David Trujillo. Born and raised in Garfield, David graduated from Hatch High School in 1982. Prior to his position as District 21 Livestock Inspector with the New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB), he worked as a meat processor and manager in Hatch. The NMLB brought David on in 2001 as a Meat Inspector for the Meat Inspection Division, and after 6 years in that position was then transferred to the T or C area as a Livestock Inspector. David is recognized for his instrumental role in livestock evacuation and placement during the Black...
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The American Hereford Association (AHA) is expanding its popular Hereford Feedout Program to provide Hereford breeders and commercial users of Hereford genetics more opportunities to discover the feedlot and carcass performance of their genetics. "Growing interest led us to expand from one feedout each year to two, beginning with the first fall program in 2023," Trey Befort, AHA director of commercial programs, said. "The added feeding period enables us to accommodate producers’ whose calving and weaning seasons prevented them from participating as much as they wanted with a single feeding period." The Hereford Feedout Program offers producers an opportunity to...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has scheduled an accelerated hunter education course for May 18-20 at the Billings Rod and Gun Club. This course will have an alternative format to the traditional week-long course and focus more on hands-on experiences. Participation is limited to 30 students on a first-come, first-served basis, and students must register online. This specific course will only be open to students aged 12 years and older, or students that will turn 12 by January 16, 2024, because of the live-fire exercises during field day. Course manuals must be picked up at the FWP regional office in...
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The Minnesota Beef Council is excited to announce that Blondies Butcher Shop of Wanamingo, Minnesota has been named the 2023 Minnesota Retail Beef Backer award winner. The Retail Beef Backer award is given to honor retailers who go above and beyond to market and merchandise beef to their customers. Blondies Butcher Shop, the little pink meat locker in Wanamingo, has been a hub in southeastern Minnesota for the last 80 years. They operate a small, but fully stocked retail area with a colorful atmosphere. The retail side of the business continues to grow. They have remodeled in the past few...
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The Kansas State University Meat Animal Evaluation Team won National Champion honors at the 2023 Collegiate Meat Animal Evaluation Contest hosted in Canyon, Texas. The team was recognized Tuesday, March 28 following the three-day competition. The event, previously known as the AKSARBEN contest, now rotates between host institutions across the country. The competition includes live market animal carcass predictions and pricing, breeding animal evaluation, and meat judging competition and truly serves as a capstone judging experience for students with its incorporation of so many industry applicable concepts. The team placed first in the breeding, beef, sheep, swine, market, and communication...
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Last week… Two calves were missing in the snowstorm. The ranch crew was running out of time to get them home. Even though they were safe from the storm, they would need milk, which they couldn’t bargain on with Rascal. Bailee's detective work put her in the lead, and she went on a trek to connect with the Easter Bunny who was going to help them get through the tunnels. Tuff is skeptical of the rescue and most of all the Easter Bunny. What will they discover on their calf rescue mission? “Come on, quick, quick,” Bailee yelled. Tuff trudged...
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As a third-generation rancher from Big Sandy, I am absolutely aware of the importance of water, water rights, and the protection of Montana’s primacy over the water resources of this state. That is why I have traveled to Helena to testify in both the Senate and the House in support of SB 72 pending in the Montana Legislature. SB 72 will protect and assure that Montana’s own courts will continue to have the exclusive jurisdiction over the distribution of water and water rights both before and after the adjudication of existing water rights is completed by the Montana Water Court. As far as...
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Cade Johnson, son of Chellsie and Jason Johnson, is pictured by one of many snowdrifts brought about by the historic snowfall Casper, Wyoming received on April 3-4. Cade enjoys helping with the show cattle his dad raises, and is especially fond of his chickens and goats.
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My mother had an old medical reference book that we called "The Doctor Book." Any time we or anyone in the neighborhood for that matter were ailing, she would get it out and disseminate remedies. I think I have become my mother - except that I have discovered WebMD. Using WebMD is much easier than looking things up in the doctor book. With just a couple clicks, you can find all the maladies alphabetized. They also have a wealth of information on everything from whitening your teeth to the benefits of doodling to improve your memory. I am sure it...
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For sheep producers interested in learning more about budgeting, benchmarking, and marketing, the University of Wyoming Extension will offer a free workshop in Lingle, Wyoming Wednesday, April 19. Producers of all ages, experience levels, and operation sizes are welcome to attend the event, hosted by the James C. Hageman Sustainable Research and Extension Center. “Keeping track of your levels of production and costs on your sheep enterprise is important to ensure profitability, though it may appear daunting,” UW Extension Sheep Specialist, Whit Stewart said. “Join us for an interactive conversation on knowing where you stand relative to other sheep operations...
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Bud was our family dog. He kept all the gophers away from our door. He was always there to talk to when I needed a friend. Always. He wasn’t allowed in the house very often. Nights he stayed in the entry room to the back door. It was where we stacked the stove wood alongside the door to the attic. His bed was there, his water and food bowls alongside the bed. On really cold nights he was allowed to come in and lie behind the kitchen stove. Except on the mornings I didn’t want to get up for school....
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The May 1 deadline for Montana Farmers Union (MFU) Foundation grant applications is fast approaching. The grant program supports projects which align with the MFU Foundation’s mission to create new opportunities and contribute to the growth and enhancement of Montana agriculture and rural communities. Projects must include an educational component for youth and/or adults with priority given to rural communities. The grants are open to anyone from Montana, and the application form remains simple to not deter submissions. Last year, the Foundation awarded and leveraged more than ,000 for six community projects. One of the Foundation’s major focuses is education...
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On Monday, April 10, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and a coalition of agriculture and conservation organizations sent a letter to congressional appropriations leaders requesting at least [post_excerpt].2 billion for NRCS Conservation Operations and full authorized funding for farm bill conservation programs in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). More than 50 organizations signed the letter to support the requests. Nearly 90 percent of NRCS Conservation Operations funding supports Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA), which facilitates the implementation of on-the-ground conservation by supporting our conservation workforce, conservation planning, and the extension of specialized technical assistance to producers. “NACD appreciates Congress’ longstanding bipartisan support...
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NCBA and the Public Lands Council (PLC) expressed serious concern with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposed rule titled "Strengthening the Stewardship of America’s Public Lands" that would completely upend BLM's multiple-use mandate and jeopardizes the agency's ability to be a good partner to the ranchers who manage millions of acres across the West. “Ranchers have a reasonable expectation of transparency and predictability with dealing with the BLM, and this proposed rule falls short on both accounts. The covert manner in which the rule was developed and announced has left permittees feeling like the rule is either a capitulation...
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NCBA strongly supports legislation introduced by Senator John Thune (R-SD) to repeal the federal estate tax, commonly referred to as the Death Tax. “No cattle producer should ever be forced to sell their family’s farm or ranch to pay a tax bill due to the death of a family member. Repealing the Death Tax is a commonsense way to keep the farm or ranch in the family,” NCBA President and South Dakota cattle producer, Todd Wilkinson stated. “As a land-based, capital-intensive industry, most cattle producing families are asset-rich and cash-poor, with few options to pay off tax liabilities. It is...
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Today’s column must be written in two parts because the story is still being written by God. I will finish the rest of my story after He finishes His. This first chapter begins the middle of January, when I fell backwards off the first floor of a two-story house. I plunged 10-feet and hit the frozen ground flat on my back thus shearing my left femoral neck from its shaft. During a pre-surgical EKG, the doctor said I was in A-fib, which was news to me. This condition could have been caused by the violent impact, or it had been...
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The ProRodeo Hall of Fame recently announced their class of 2023 inductees, and among the legendary cowboys, cowgirls, rodeos, and livestock that were inducted, northeastern Wyoming cowboy and retired pickup man, Kenny Clabaugh join the ranks of the greats that have come before him. “I am honored,” Clabaugh said in reference to his recent induction. “It was never anything I thought would happen, but to be in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame with my peers is a great honor.” Clabaugh was born and raised in Arvada, Wyoming, where he currently lives and ranches in the same place where both his...
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As children, we are told to dream big - we look ahead at our lives and imagine where the road will take us. However, according to author and philosopher, Elbert Hubbard, the key to manifesting that dream into reality comes down to “determination, commitment, passion, practice, focus […] They happen a step at a time, manifested over years, not weeks.” This has been the case for Camille Booker in her journey to becoming a well-respected and reputed auctioneer – it’s not been a matter of days, weeks, or even months, but rather a culmination of humble growth since she was...
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guidance for Industry (GFI) No. 263 goes into effect in June 2023, transitioning 91 livestock antibiotics, previously available over the counter (OTC), to prescription status. Some manufacturers may transition before this timeframe, thus, to help producers get ahead of the changes to come, Valley Vet Supply Technical Service Veterinarians, Lacey Fahrmeier, DVM, and Tony Hawkins, DVM, joined in conversation to help producers navigate the changes ahead. GFI No. 263… Dr. Hawkins: “GFI No. 263 provides guidance for the manufacturers of these antibiotics that are currently considered OTC. When we say ‘OTC,’ that means...
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The livestock industry gets a lot of bad press from environmental and animal rights’ groups - propaganda saying that raising food animals is unethical or damaging to the planet. To counter some of this negativity, Dr. Tim McAllister - a Research Scientist at the Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - and colleagues Dr. Kim Stanford and Dr. Kim Ominski began producing a series of podcasts called “Cows on the Planet” in 2021 to provide science-based information on cattle and their environmental impact. They have interviewed internationally-renowned scientists to address controversial topics, and now have a following...
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Well, the fed cattle market just keeps climbing higher and higher. In fact, this market has moved higher over the past couple of weeks and set new record highs again last week. It was a shortened week due to Easter, but fed cattle sales started pretty early in the week; on Wednesday, cattle in the south traded at 0 and later in the week at 2. Cattle in the north sold mainly from 2 to 7, but a few up to 8. This crushed the old record of 1 set back in November of 2014! Dressed prices moved up...
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When I began working for the WAR two years ago, I quickly learned that one of the best parts of the job is the fact that I get to talk to so many intelligent, kind, and overall wonderful people, and my interview with Camille Booker this week was no exception. I have a tremendous amount of respect for individuals who are tenacious, and most importantly, humble; another aspect of her story that I connected with was the fact that she’s established a career for herself, all while being a mom. It seems like there is a misconception that it’s an...
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Today {April 12}, NCBA praised the decision by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota to grant a preliminary injunction stopping the Biden administration’s “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule from taking effect in 24 states. Combined with a previous ruling in the Southern District of Texas, 26 states across the country are protected from the Biden WOTUS rule. “Once again, the courts have affirmed that the Biden administration’s WOTUS rule is overreaching and harmful to America’s beef farmers and ranchers,” NCBA President, Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer, said. “Cattle producers in...
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Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) is accepting applications for its annual Education Heritage Scholarship Program. Scholarships will be awarded to three students in the amounts of one, ,000 scholarship and two, ,500 scholarships. Each year, MSF awards college students, who are seeking a career beneficial to ranching, with a scholarship. To be eligible applicants must be currently enrolled in college and have completed at least one semester in college, be a member of Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA), or have at least one parent/guardian who is a member, and demonstrate a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants enrolled in vocational and...
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On April 5, AFBF told USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack that requests to increase make allowances – which are used in part to calculate how much a processor pays for milk – fall short of fairly supporting dairy farmers. According to 2021 USDA milk cost of production estimates, dairy farmers on average, lose .72 per hundredweight of milk produced. The loss for dairy farms with less than 50 cows was even greater at .58 per hundredweight. Two dairy processor associations requested a federal milk marketing order hearing to increase make allowances. While AFBF is not opposed to updating make allowances, the proposals to...
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Over 1,650 members and guests attended Montana FFA’s 93rd Annual State Convention March 21 – 25, in Great Falls, Montana. The Montana FFA State Convention hosted 22 career development events, general sessions, and workshops during the four-day event. The winning teams earned the opportunity to compete at the National FFA Convention which will take place this fall in Indianapolis, Indiana. New State FFA Officers were selected and are as follows: Jake Chulyak, President from Big Timber, Summit Browning; 1st VP from Gardiner, Shaun Billingsley; 2nd VP from Missoula, Emily Coles; Secretary from Roundup, Lance Rutledge; Treasurer from Big Sandy, Haley...
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In February, the U.S. military began tracking an object believed to be a Chinese surveillance balloon over the skies of cattle country in Montana. The U.S. military soon shot the balloon down to protect the United States’ national security threatened by Chinese surveillance. In the month prior to this national security event, the USDA proposed a rule to require America’s cattle producers to affix electronic surveillance devices on their adult cattle when transporting them across state lines. Among the handful of USDA-approved manufacturers from which American cattle producers would be directed to purchase their mandatory electronic surveillance devices was a...
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“It’s getting late,” Tuff said. He’d been pacing himself a path all the way down to becoming a muddy trail. “Big Ed is on his way,” Banjo responded. “Ben and I will go, and you and he will continue. We always go in pairs, especially in this type of snow.” “Don’t you think we’d have heard them by now?” Tuff asked. “At least if we’d have heard them, then we’d have more hope, right?” “Not necessarily,” Ben added. “With this type of heavy wet snow, it muffles sounds and add in the wind, and you could be howling at the...
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These last ten days have been among the toughest ten days of calving that I have seen, and I am old! Most of south-central Montana received two to four feet of heavy wet snow during a three-day storm. Much of it came down horizontally, but it piled up, crusted, and made a terrible backdrop for the busiest calving weeks of the calving season for many of us. We felt lucky if we could find the calves in the deep snow with low visibility. We had calves in our vehicles, houses, tack rooms, and ATVs every day and night for several...
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Jordan Stenburg of Denton, Montana got to purchase a heifer at the Westphal Red Angus Annual Production Sale on March 22, 2023, in Grass Range, Montana.
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Here’s another reason to appreciate rural life. It’s called the hygiene hypothesis - a phenomenon that living in cities, combined with excessive cleanliness and the overuse of antimicrobial products, has gradually decreased the diversity of healthy germs in our bodies. A growing body of evidence suggests that these practices can contribute to an array of health problems including obesity, asthma, heart diseases and brain disorders. “We err on the side of clean” neuroscientist Christopher Lowry, from the University of Colorado, said at a recent seminar I attended. Not that we don’t need to wash our hands, but we do need...
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There is one thing that cannot be disputed when it comes to the ag and rodeo community: folks are always ready and willing to give the shirt off their backs when another is faced with trying times. This stands true today, as the Berquist family of LaCrosse, Washington has seen the overwhelming gratitude and kindness that family, friends, and even complete strangers have given while Caleb Berquist is on his road to recovery. Caleb is a true cowboy through-and-through as many have seen him shine in the rodeo arena as well as on the family ranch. Caleb attended Montana State...
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Quite often, life is a winding road – the path is rarely neat and tidy, but rather it’s filled with bridges, potholes, and other obstacles to navigate. But every experience is an opportunity to grow, and each is an important step in leading a person exactly where they were meant to be. For Mike, Charlie, and the rest of the Hollenbeck family, their path to opening Cowboy Meat Company (CMC) in Forsyth, Montana has been comprised of life experiences that have equipped them to be highly intentional in their business decisions and successful in their execution. The Hollenbecks, ranchers from...
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While producers understand that effective treatment of harmful viruses in their herds comes down to proactive management and prevention, it’s important to have a solid knowledge of why vaccines are used as well as the abundance of emerging technology in the industry, such as RNA vaccines. Remember the “Why”… During NCBA’s webinar, titled "New Vaccine Technologies: An Addition to Our Animal Health Toolbox,” Dr. Amelia Woolums, professor of Pathobiology and Population Medicine at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, explained that it is important to remember the point of why we vaccinate, which “is to try and help...
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For over 50 years, first in the care of Russ and Barb Pepper, and now in the capable hands of Ryan and Karnell Perry, the Treasure Bull Test (TBT) has had one goal in mind: to offer “big, growthy, masculine, ‘cowboy’ kinds of bulls.” But you don’t have to read the TBT’s mission statement to understand that they are looking for functional bulls “that will satisfy the rancher’s needs”- in fact, all it takes is a conversation with longtime consignors, Shawn and Jennifer Christensen of Springvale Ranch in Hot Springs, Montana, to see that these goals are not only being...
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We are now into April which means the spring sale season is roughly 3/4 of the way through. I don’t mean to keep harping about it, but everyone really needs to get their old bulls fertility tested very soon. The bull sales around Reporter Country have remained awfully strong. The feeder cattle, replacement heifers, weigh-up cows and bulls, and the fed market continue to gain momentum and the bull sales have fallen right in line with this. Speaking of fed cattle, we saw the highest prices of the year so far last week. Cattle in the north were up to .00...
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I know it’s very easy to grumble and groan about most things going on in Washington, D.C. right now, but we have some boots on the ground across Reporter Country that have our interests in mind. On March 30, Senator John Thune (R-SD) reintroduced the Death Tax Repeal Act (DTRA), which would “end this purely punitive tax that has the potential to hit family-run farms, ranchers, and businesses as the result of the owner’s death.” Thune has worked to “protect farm and ranch families from the onerous” Death Tax on more than one occasion – in 2017, he took the...
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Fred Anderson Horpestad August 9, 1932 – March 27, 2023 Fred Anderson Horpestad was born on August 9, 1932, to Abraham Anderson and Laura Mae (Thomas) Horpestad at Bridger, Montana. He was raised on the family ranch near Lavina and graduated from Lavina High School. Fred married Faye Stanisha on October 16, 1955, and he remained in Lavina all of his life raising their two daughters and one son on the family ranch. With Faye by his side, he developed one of the finest commercial Angus herds. From an early age of eight, Fred started his lifelong passion for cattle...
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Recently, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership praised a bill – HB 887 - sponsored by Representative Katie Zolnikov (R) of Billings currently under consideration in the Montana legislature. This legislation would establish a Wildlife Accommodations and Crossings Fund of [post_excerpt] million to match federal dollars for the construction of fencing and crossings on Montana roadways to reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife. The bill passed out of the House Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Committee with a bipartisan 13-6 vote on Tuesday, March 28. HB 887 is expected to be considered by the full House later this week. “Montana has one of...
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During the National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention attendees learned about a new technology which would allow diesel engines to run on ethanol. The engineer who co-developed the technology said he wasn’t out to sell more ethanol – he wanted to develop a way to lower carbon emissions in long-haul trucks, and ethanol fit the bill. “If you acknowledge ethanol’s decarbonization potential, it is hard to see a world where it does not stay relevant indefinitely,” BJ Johnson, CEO and co-founder of ClearFlame Engine Technologies, said. Considering the growth in demand for long-haul trucks, even if a small percentage of fleets...
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The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) is pleased to welcome Josh Taylor to its commercial marketing department as a marketing specialist. Taylor will play a crucial role in the Association’s strategy to bring a wide variety of marketing solutions to the industry, while simultaneously assisting commercial producers with their profitability goals. “We are thrilled to welcome Josh to the Red Angus staff,” Harold Bertz, RAAA director of commercial marketing, said. “He adds years of beef industry experience to the team and his vast network will be a great asset to RAAA. Josh stood out among a strong pool of...
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While we’ll leave fuller explanations for the turmoil financial institutions such as Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and others to those with more expertise, it’s clear that good-old-fashioned poor choices played a role. It turns out that betting heavily on low-interest government debt when that government is hiking interest rates to fight inflation might not work well; nor is overloading your portfolio on cryptocurrency. And given that propensity for bad bets, it isn’t shocking to see what Silicon Valley Bank had to say about plant and cell-based meat-and-dairy alternatives in this 2019 analysts’ report, which mixed tired tropes of the...
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Dr. Bob Weaber, Kansas State University, shares in a recent interview the merit and value of establishing "Cow Power,” a female genotyping project that is a collaborative effort between the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA), American Gelbvieh Foundation (AGF), and Neogen to increase the number of genotypes and phenotypic information on females in the AGA herdbook. The information allows producers to make data-driven female selections for their herd on an ongoing basis. Weaber, who serves as a genetics consultant for the AGA, says that collecting genotypic information from cow herds is an excellent way to establish and maintain validated, parent-verified pedigrees...
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In 1873, George Grant transported four Angus bulls from Scotland to the Kansas Prairie to fulfill his vision of American agricultural success. When crossed with the Texas longhorn cows native to the Plains, the bulls sired calves well-suited to the region. These results demonstrated the Angus breed’s initial value in the United States. The legacy continues to be built today by Angus breeders across the nation. Angus enthusiasts are invited to celebrate the bulls’ arrival – 150 years later – on May 20 at the George Grant Memorial Cemetery in Victoria, Kansas. The commemoration, hosted by the Kansas Angus Association...
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The ProRodeo Hall of Fame is honored to announce a new fundraising event with Colorado Springs native and member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, Rich “Goose” Gossage. The event, dubbed “An Evening with Goose,” will feature an evening of storytelling, an opportunity for Q&A, and conversation with the baseball legend. The event will be held on Friday, May 19 at the Hall of Fame beginning at 6 p.m. Gossage is a native of Colorado Springs, graduating from Wasson High School in 1970 where he played basketball and baseball and was inducted into the high school’s “Wall of...
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USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for grants until May 26, 2023, to fund Montana projects that could stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) generally fund pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. Tom Watson, NRCS state conservationist for Montana, said 5,000 is available for the state-component CIG this year. He said applicants can request up to ,000 for projects lasting one to three years. Watson said projects should address one or more of the resource concerns identified for this program: community agriculture, soil health, irrigation technology,...
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North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring says that two recent news stories have suggested or implied that cannabidiol (CBD) products will be pulled from stores should Senate Bill 2096 pass; however, CBD products that meet the intent of the law will continue to be allowed until there is further action by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Currently, CBD products are not technically legal to add to food, beverages, and supplements; however, the FDA has not been enforcing this. The FDA is waiting for legislation to clarify the regulations surrounding CBD in those products. “The issue is that out-of-state processors...
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A new discovery, reported in a global study that encompassed more than a decade of research, could lead to the breeding of corn crops that can withstand drought and low-nitrogen soil conditions and ultimately ease global food insecurity, according to a Penn State-led team of international researchers. In findings published on March 16 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, the researchers identified a gene encoding a transcription factor – a protein useful for converting DNA into RNA – that triggers a genetic sequence responsible for the development of an important trait enabling corn roots to acquire more...
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The MSGA launched its first in a series of rollover auctions at markets across Montana to raise funds for its appeal of BLM’s decision regarding American Prairie’s grazing allotments. The first auction was held on Tuesday, March 21, at the Lewistown Livestock Auction house. The auction was supported by 32 donors and raised more than ,000. Each rollover auction will raise funds for the MSGA Advocacy Fund, which allows for a collective voice for cattle ranchers advocating for change and accountability at the state and federal levels. This fund is currently being used to support the appeal against BLM and...
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As the world becomes more interested in where their food comes from, the spotlight turns on the farmers and ranchers. Historically, there has become a disconnect between urban and rural understandings of food production and agriculture. We have all seen the difficulties that can arise when discussing environment and the climate. Communications between producers and consumers contributes to a more resilient and innovative supply chain, which strengthens the agricultural community. Happy Ranch Wife Productions is committed to providing a vehicle for those communications, starting at the family level, through children’s books. The third book has just been released, Carol Drives a Tractor,...
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The Metis in Montana and the early life of Copper King Marcus Daly are the topics of the free April public programs put together by the Montana Historical Society. On April 13, join Candi Zion, author of “In Between People: The Metis of Central Montana” and “Walkin’ Down the Middle: The Hi-Line Metis” to learn more about this distinctive cultural group. Sometimes known as the children of the fur trade, Zion interviewed descendants of early Metis settlers in Montana about their families’ experiences of persecution in Canada and prejudice in the United States. They also talk about their devout Catholic...
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Join beef and dairy producers for the upcoming Stockmanship and Livestock Transportation Safety Seminars focused on stockmanship, animal handling, and livestock transportation safety hosted by the Colorado Livestock Association. There will be two sessions, the first focused on beef cattle in Kersey at Five Rivers Cattle Feeding Kuner Feedyard on April 20 and the second will focus on dairy cattle on June 29, 2023. The program and demonstrations will be presented in English and Spanish. Beef Stockmanship & Transportation Safety Seminar will be April 20, 2023, from 7:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. at the Five Rivers Cattle Feeding’s Kuner Feedyard, Kersey,...
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The South Dakota FFA Agriscience Fair, Wednesday, April 5, 2023, will showcase FFA members from across South Dakota and their research projects centering on the science and technology of agriculture. Hosted at West Central High School in Hartford, South Dakota, this years’ competition features 227 FFA members from across the state and a total of 154 projects. The FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes students who gain real-world, hands-on experiences in agricultural enterprises. Students use scientific principles and emerging technologies to solve complex problems related to agriculture, food, and natural resources. The agriscience fair is for middle and high school students. Participation...
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Recently, a coalition of 131 groups representing farmers, the food system, the environment, animal welfare, and antimonopoly advocacy called on Congress to restore accountability and transparency to commodity checkoff programs by supporting inclusion of the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act (S.557 and H.R.1249) in the 2023 Farm Bill. Checkoff programs are funded through mandatory fees on farmers and ranchers producing milk, eggs, cattle, hogs, and many other commodities. To support their call for reform, the groups point to “well-documented histories of waste, conflicts of interest, misuse of funding, anti-competitive behavior, and other related issues” associated with checkoff programs. “Programs entrusted with...
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The Angus Media board of directors recently named Clay Zwilling president of the organization to guide the company as it delivers industry-leading education, information, and marketing to the beef industry. “Clay is a natural leader,” Mark McCully, vice chairman of the Angus Media board of directors and chief executive officer for the American Angus Association, said. “His passion for innovation, while keeping an eye on the tradition, makes him a perfect fit.” Most recently, Zwilling was the chief operating officer for Walton Webcasting, where he helped develop the organization during a time of rapid growth. Prior to that, he was...
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“Two more days,” Banjo said. “That’s what the weather predicts.” “Is that all?” Tuff said. “At the rate the snow is coming down, if we have two more days of this, we’ll need a snorkel with our ski suits so we can keep our snoots above the snow.” “That’s weird,” Pudge commented. “A snorkel in snow?” “You haven’t had the privilege of leaving your plush post by the woodstove,” Tuff snarked. “We’ve been out breaking trails left and right so the animals can get to water and feed.” “Aww…the important life of the heads of ranch security,” Pudge said, as...
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A couple weeks ago at the Sweet Grass County Chamber of Commerce Banquet, rancher, Chuck Rein was named Ag Person of the Year. Chuck ranches and runs an outfitting business with his wife Pam and his son Charlie, and his family ranch is one of the most beautiful outfits on the planet in the shadow of the Crazy Mountains west of Melville, Montana. Chuck wrote this poem several years ago about riding colts with his son Charlie, and he shared it at the banquet. This poem sums up why ranchers ranch especially during times like this past week when it...
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Check out these Reporter Country Agri-Kids who were playing behind the bleachers at the TD Angus at Rishel Ranch Annual Bull Sale in North Platte, Nebraska.
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The Montana State University (MSU) Extension Pesticide Education Program (PEP) is offering an urban pesticide training to assist homeowners, gardeners, and other urban pesticide applicators in understanding the basics of using pesticides. This includes how to select the proper pesticide, reading and understanding the pesticide product label, how to manage pests, calibrating sprayers properly, pesticide safety, and avoiding non-target impacts. This training will offer private and commercial applicator credits. Pesticide Education Credits will be available for the following licenses, Dealer, Agricultural Plant Pest Control, Ornamental and Turf Pest Control, Demonstration and Research Pest Control, and Private Agricultural Pest Control. The...
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On March 27, the PRCA announced the 2023 inductees into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. This years inductees includes Steer wrestler Luke Branquinho who is a five-time PRCA World Champion, two-time PRCA World Champion Saddle Bronc rider Cody Wright (2008 and 2010), World Champion Team Roper Doyle Gellerman (1981), pickup man Kenny Clabaugh, rodeo notables Butch Knowles and Tom Feller and standout bareback horse Night Jacket, rodeo committees from the St. Paul (Oregon) Rodeo and Cowtown Rodeo in Pilesgrove, New Jersey, and barrel racer Sherry (Combs) Johnson, the 1962 WPRA World Champion and WPRA notable Fay Ann Horton Leach. The...
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Today, {March 29} NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane slammed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf’s comments regarding cell cultured meat that he made during a hearing on the FDA’s fiscal year 2024 budget request: “By his own admission, the FDA’s role is to ensure food safety, but Commissioner Califf’s comments today {March 29} indicate that he intends to bring his agency into climate and environmental discussions while promoting cell cultured meat. This viewpoint is extremely disappointing to America’s cattle producers whose stewardship of the land already does more to protect our environment than fake meat...
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I love corny food jokes - the ones that used to make my kids groan and now cause my grandkids to roll their eyes. So, when April 1 approaches, I give myself permission to share my favorites with readers. And I invite you to share with me as well. How important is a cheerful chuckle? Studies continue to show that a good laugh can lower stress levels, improve immune function, and perhaps even lower our risk for heart disease. Here’s one I heard several years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head had eyes for each other and were married in...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) and conduct public scoping on a proposed action to develop a new wolf management plan. The 2003 Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and associated EIS were developed 20 years ago. Since then, new, and improved research, management tools and methods have been developed and incorporated into Montana’s gray wolf management strategy; however, they are not described in the 2003 Wolf Plan. Governor Greg Gianforte asked FWP to create a new wolf management plan with broad public engagement due to the interest in wolf management across...
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Nearly drowned out in all the farm group cheering that U.S. ag exports hit a record high 6 billion last year was the inarguable fact that U.S. ag imports also hit a record-high, 9 billion, or billion more than ag exports. That’s right, sports fans: during its biggest ag export year ever – when the value of American ag exports grew an astonishing .5 billion, or 11 percent, over 2021 – the value of U.S. ag imports grew by billion, or 16 percent. All that farm and food outflow and even more farm and food inflow is a...
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Almost three-quarters of Americans say that not reauthorizing the Farm Bill in 2023 would have a significant impact on the country, according to a new poll from the AFBF. The survey explores the public’s awareness of the Farm Bill, its impact, and priorities for funding in the legislation. The poll, conducted by Morning Consult, showed more than half of respondents said they would be more likely to support their member of Congress if they voted to reauthorize the Farm Bill. Nearly 70 percent of respondents also identified two areas of the Farm Bill as top priorities for government funding: risk...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to continue blocking Paraguay from importing beef to the U.S. in response to USDA releasing a proposed rule that would grant access to Paraguayan beef imports. “USDA’s proposed rule to allow Paraguayan beef imports into the U.S. is based on 9-year-old data and site visits that occurred in 2008 and 2014. Paraguay has a history of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and we cannot jeopardize the safety of U.S. consumers and the health of our U.S. cattle herd with outdated information,” NCBA...
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This has been a tough winter. The late ‘70s may have had more snow, but this season’s continuous storms with relentless cold have pegged my suck meter. On our weekend treks to our house renovation project in Wyoming, the trophy wife and I both noticed something unusual about the snow-covered hills south of Lodge Grass. There is not a single animal track - no deer, rabbits, coyotes - anywhere because nothing can navigate the knee-deep, crusted snow. Even the cows will not leave their feed ground. There is also not a banana tree in sight, and here is why this...
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“For decades, the State of Montana has been a stalwart steward of bison within its borders,” Montana Governor, Greg Gianforte said in a letter responding to Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland’s Secretarial Order 3410 (the Order), which claims it will “promote” wild bison populations and create a formal, Bison Working Group (BWG). Calling the Order both “unprecedented” and “unacceptable,” Gianforte’s letter conveys his “…dismay in receiving [the Order] which appears to be unlawful and which attempts to undercut state primacy in managing bison.” The Order looks to build on the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) “Bison Conservation Initiative,” which...
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In part I of our coverage of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s (UNL) “BeefWatch” Webinar on filling spring and summer forage gaps, we highlighted how researchers are advising delayed turnouts and confined feeding to preserve drought-stricken pastures. Part I can be found by searching “Experts Advise Delayed Turnout, Confined Feeding this Year” on Google. You will be taken directly to the article on our website (www.westernagreporter.com). “As we know there, there are not really many opportunities remaining in the year to produce forage for spring grazing or hay,” Daren Redfearn, PhD, an expert in Range and Forage Sciences at...
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Since 1895 the R.A. Brown Ranch has raised cattle and Quarter horses in Throckmorton, Texas with a primary goal of keeping “the ranch in the family and the family in the ranch.” But, that mentality hasn’t stopped them from providing valuable experiences to other aspiring ranchers; In 2000, they started an internship to give students the opportunity to learn about all aspects of raising livestock. Tucker Brown, sixth-generation rancher on the R.A. Brown Ranch, said that the program started when they realized many young students were “looking for the opportunity to be a part of a program.” So, the Browns...
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As the beef industry continues to shift and adapt, producers are often inundated with new technology and concepts on a regular basis, and one example that sometimes leaves folks scratching their heads is blockchain. When searching for definitions of the blockchain online, bitcoin and cryptocurrency are the first things that pop up. So how does it fit into the beef industry? Gregg Barfield, a beef enthusiast and software developer who first worked on the blockchain project for the National Bison Association, explained that the goal to use Blockchain in the beef industry is to have shared data through a “transparency...
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On the night of March 23, my husband, BW, and I walked out into our yard and witnessed something I never would have dreamed I’d see in Wyoming: the Northern Lights. Upon further research, I realize that, while rare, it’s not totally uncommon to view them this far south, but I never would have guessed as much. While we didn’t see the vibrant colors that were captured and shared with us by Sean Erickson near Billings, Montana, it was still a breathtaking experience. From our vantage point, the lights had a faint green glow, and resembled spotlights with fingers stretching...
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Another big blast of moisture hit much of my traveling last weekend. Everyone I talk to is really happy and excited about the moisture, but at the same time, many operations are down to counting hay bales to see how many more days they can stretch their inventory. I have been watching slaughter numbers and carcass weights most every week and it’s certainly evident that both of these categories have been decreasing since we entered 2023. I have said many times this streak will continue as we progress in the coming weeks and months. Think about how many fewer total...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will hold its biannual Data Users’ Meeting on April 18 from 1-4:30 p.m. CT at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City – Omaha Branch. A virtual attendance option will also be available. The meeting is free and open to the public. The Data Users’ Meeting is held to share recent and pending statistical program changes with the public and to solicit input on these and other programs important to agriculture. The event is organized by NASS in cooperation with the World Agricultural Outlook Board, Farm Service Agency, Economic...
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Registration is open for a free fur handling clinic in Columbia Falls on April 1. The clinic is hosted by the Montana Trapper's Association and Montana Fur Harvesters. The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 287 Midnight Lane in Columbia Falls. It is open to all ages and anyone interested in learning about fur handling techniques, ethics, and safety. Participants should bring a chair and dress warmly. Lunch will be available for . To register for this outdoors skills course, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/advanced-education. For more information, contact Tom Fieber at (406) 250-3386.
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Wyoming may be well positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for products made with ancient grains, a new study by the University of Wyoming Extension suggests. The publication, titled “Growing Einkorn, Emmer, and Spelt in Wyoming,” analyzes the results of four years of trials conducted on Wyoming farms and agricultural experiment stations. These experiments tested the viability of producing three types of ancient wheat suitable for Wyoming growing conditions. “These ancient grains provide an alternative to malt barley and wheat grown in the Bighorn Basin and in southeast Wyoming,” Caitlin Youngquist, UW Extension educator and co-author of the publication,...
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The South Dakota FFA Association will host the 95th Annual South Dakota State FFA Convention on April 16-18th, on South Dakota State University’s campus in Brookings, South Dakota. The 95th State FFA Convention with the theme of “Reflect, Take Action,” will be led by the State FFA Officers which includes President, Ella Stiefvater, Salem; Vice President, Megan Sanders, Oral; Secretary, Kathryn Rausch, Hoven; Treasurer, Jacob Olson, Aberdeen; Reporter, Sidney Peterson, Sturgis; Sentinel, Caleb McGregor, Webster. The State FFA Convention is like the “state championship” of FFA, which highlights the successes of South Dakota’s FFA members. Throughout the three-day convention, over...
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The Jim Baldridge Outstanding Leadership Award was designed to recognize one outstanding National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) member each year. In 2023, the scholarship awarded by the Angus Foundation will increase from ,500 to ,000. This prestigious award honors an NJAA member who exemplifies excellent leadership and character through their Angus involvement and beyond. In 2013, Bill and Betty Werner of Werner Angus, Cordova, Illinois donated ,000 to the Angus Foundation to sustain a permanent endowment fund for the recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award, in memory of Jim Baldridge. Since then, this NJAA award has been known as the...
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Anne Marie Roerink from 210 Analytics presented the latest Power of Meat (POM) Study – a consumer study on meat usage, attitudes, and trends – at the Annual Meat Conference in Dallas, Texas. This 18th annual study reflects on another unusual year, disrupted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and supply chain challenges. Leveraging the long trendlines, the 2023 study aims to understand how and what changed in shoppers’ perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors of meat consumption, buying, and preparation. According to the report, in 2022, meat sales soared 5.7 percent versus a year ago and almost 87 percent of all...
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New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA) announced Macklee Cain of Mountainair, New Mexico as the 2022 recipient of the NMCGA Statewide Heritage Contest during the Joint Stockmen’s Convention held in December 2022. Honored for her reflection and commitment to her roots in New Mexico’s ranching industry, Macklee received a commemorative Torrance County Heritage belt buckle, a one-year junior membership to NMCGA, and a [post_excerpt],000 scholarship funded by the NMCGA Promotions and Marketing Committee. Macklee is a fifth-grade Mountainair Mustang who is active in 4-H and loves everything about ranching, except building fence. A portion of her winning essay reads, “As...
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During its annual National Sales Meeting, Zoetis and Folds of Honor celebrated a successful first year with a 8,000 donation from Zoetis based upon fourth-quarter 2022 sales of select Zoetis products. This brings the total donation from Zoetis to 5,000 for Folds of Honor based on sales of select Zoetis products in 2022. Based in Owasso, Oklahoma, Folds of Honor provides academic scholarships to the spouses and children of men and women who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the U.S. armed forces or as first responders. “With our 2022 contribution, Zoetis helped support 141 scholarships for the...
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“The mama seems to be enjoying the elementary classes coming for a ranch visit,” Banjo said. “After all she was a teacher when she first moved to the ranch.” He smiled, watching the trail of Kindergarteners making their way to the lambing shed. “Really?” Tuff said. “I didn’t know that.” “Probably a lot you don’t know about the mama and papa,” Banjo said. “Maybe there’s another mystery to be solved by none other than a MIA field agent, per say?” Tuff smirked. Banjo smiled. “I don’t think it’s that much of ‘a lot’ you don’t know about them, but I...
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Instead of just saying evil things about beef I wish the government would just go ahead and outlaw it so we could all make some money. The surgeon general put his warning on cigarettes and sales of the cancer sticks skyrocketed. Marijuana was outlawed and the "grass" farmers are the only kind feeling good about things. They have the only cash crop. It's human nature, tell somebody they can't have something, and they will pay dearly for it. People want what they can't have. Tell them the speed limit is 55 and they'll drive 65. If it's 65 they'll drive...
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Independent Cattlemen of Wyoming (ICOW) has submitted comments to the federal register and urge all Wyoming producers to go to www.regulations.gov to submit their comments. ICOW is a producer, grass roots organization organized to protect and promote the future viability of the Wyoming Family Livestock and Ranching Industries. ICOW is the John Wayne among cattlemen - strong, no-nonsense, common sense, and straight forward. It is a powerful organization that provides a check and balance for Wyoming producers when other organizations get heavy at the top and forget their members. The bureaucrats of USDA have pursued mandatory ID tags for over...
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The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) sent its annual letter of support for Wildlife Services to congressional leaders during the week of March 16. More than 200 agriculture and trade associations signed on to call for continued funding of the program. “Wildlife causes more than .8 billion in damage each year to natural resources, public infrastructures, private property, and agriculture,” read the letter to committee leaders in the Senate. A similar letter was also submitted to U.S. House committee heads. “USDA Wildlife Services works to prevent, minimize, or manage this damage and to protect human health and safety from conflicts...
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Registration Open for 2023 Stockmanship & Stewardship Events Registration is now open for six Stockmanship & Stewardship regional events in five states this spring and summer, with an additional virtual event to be held in November. During each event producers can become Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified, network with fellow cattlemen and women, participate in hands-on demonstrations led by animal handling experts including Curt Pate and Dr. Ron Gill, and learn cutting-edge operation techniques. 2023 Stockmanship & Stewardship dates and locations: May 10-12, Farmington, New Mexico June 13-14, Norfolk, Nebraska June 15, McCook, Nebraska August 18, Fort Collins, Colorado September...
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The Montana Arts Council is proud to announce three new additions to the Montana Circle of American Masters, including saddle maker Marc Brogger of Three Forks. The Montana Circle of American Masters (MCAM) recognizes Montana folk and traditional artists for artistic excellence in their work, along with their role in preserving and passing on their knowledge. Brogger is joining 46 previous honorees in an illustrious group that represents some of the most skilled and respected tradition bearers in Montana. The new inductees will be honored at a public ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on May 19 in Helena, Montana. “MCAM...
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Now that Saint Patrick's Day is over, my Easter decorations are calling me from the closet, but I am trying to ignore their call. It doesn't seem worth it to drag out all of those tubs of decorations if they are only going up for a couple weeks, so I guess I should answer the call to optimize the decor time. Instead, I find myself checking out Pinterest for decorating ideas. I absolutely love Pinterest, because I can spend hours pinning and admiring thousands of cutesy ideas and avoid getting out the ladder and tubs and getting to work. If...
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Brindle Simmons, five-years-old, in the back of the canoe, and Roan Simmons, three-years-old, in the front of the canoe, helped their neighbors Boe and Jennifer Kottwitz canoe their calves across the Mule Creek river before being pulled back up the hill from the creek.
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Many riders have never had to worry about the farrier/trimmer having trouble handling their horses. Their horses have had positive experiences with trimming or shoeing many times in the past and in most cases are quite content to cooperate with the procedure. However, what happens if you have a young or inexperienced horse or one that has picked up an unfortunate habit when it comes to handling their legs and feet? (Please note to following recommendations are a generalization of an approach that can vary in many different ways. Always assess your skills and abilities in relation to what your...
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Brent Cheyne was elected President of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG). Brent farms with his son Rodney near Klamath Falls, Oregon, where they raise wheat, barley, oats, alfalfa, and Angus cattle. In 2011, Brent began his time with the Oregon Wheat Growers League as the Oregon president before accepting the position of NAWG Secretary in 2015. “It is an honor to have been elected President of NAWG during this Farm Bill year. NAWG’s purpose is to advocate for all wheat growers and we have an excellent opportunity to do just that with the 2023 Farm Bill. I hope...
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In this second part of our “Reality Check” interview with Congressman Matt Rosendale (R-MT), we discussed all things ESA, WOTUS, and the potential of a Ukrainian Peace deal and the ramifications this could have on global ag commodities and trade. Enjoy. Question #1 Speaking of conservation efforts and being good stewards of the land as you know, we've been dealing with this ridiculous, WOTUS rule again, that the “Biden administration officials” are trying to bring out. Congressman Rosendale- Yes, and, I have met with many organizations, and I continue to stress to them, that unfortunately, this is never going away. We...
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The University of Wyoming’s (UW) annual ram test will conclude with a field day at the Laramie Research and Extension Center (LREC) Saturday, April 1. This year’s test is the largest yet, with 142 rams from five states delivered to LREC in the fall, LREC Sheep Unit Manager, Kalli Koepke reported. The five-month test evaluates rams on average daily gain, wool quality, carcass data, visual scores, and more. The goal is to provide sheep producers with reliable data that will help improve the genetics of their flocks. Test results are presented at the upcoming field day, which is free and...
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The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) submitted comments to the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest concerning the Notice to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (84 FR 22432) – Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; Washington; Forest Plan Amendment for Planning and Management of Domestic Sheep and Goat Grazing Within the Range of Bighorn Sheep. Comments read: “ASI has supported appropriations language as cited in the Federal Register notice, specifically directing the Forest Service and other land management agencies to use the best scientific understanding of pathogen transmission in cooperation with the USDA Agricultural Research Service to guide decisions to ensure both the health of the...
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Dr. Robert Cope - known simply as “Cope” to friends and acquaintances - passed away December 28, 2022. He will be greatly missed by his many ranch clients who were also his friends. Just about anyone you talk to in Lemhi County, Idaho has some good memories about Cope, who served his clients well during the 44 years he was here. Even after cancer went into his spine and left him confined to a wheelchair (in early 2022) Cope continued going to various ranches (with help from people to drive his van and do the physical part of the work)...
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At the tail end of a harsh winter that brought above average snowfall to many areas across Reporter Country, it’s exciting to think about the green grass that is around the corner. Even for folks who received the heaviest snowfall this year, with more to hopefully come as we transition to spring, extension specialists for the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) urged caution when it comes to turnout times and grazing schemes during a March 16 “BeefWatch” webinar. Jerry Volesky, PhD, Extension Range and Forage Specialist at UNL, expressed that this is a pivotal year for producers to get “those pasture...
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The winter of 2023 has been one to remember for Humboldt County California farmers and ranchers as they have endured snow and rain as they have never seen before. Over the course of two weeks in March, Humboldt County ranchers received an unprecedented five-feet of snow, which is now taking its sweet time melting. As a result, the National Guard has been called in to help producers get hay to their animals. Kneeland, California rancher, Lauren Sizemore stated that this is the largest snowfall they have ever seen, easily surpassing the winter storm of 1989 where they received about “five...
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Les and Dawn Craft have always had their sites set on raising Angus cattle in the heart of Reporter Country, and that goal was realized when the couple moved from northern Indiana to the outskirts of Columbus, Montana. Les grew up around cattle and the ag industry as his father owned and operated a 300-head feedlot in northern Indiana. It wasn’t until he was 12-years-old that his dad bought their first registered Angus heifers which became the foundation of the Les Craft Angus Ranch herd. “He bought that first little group of Angus Heifers in 1963 and that was my start...
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Whether it be an added bonus for management practices already implemented on a ranch or funding to help create infrastructure to improve range utilization, there is potential to add a “carbon” revenue stream to many of today’s ranch operations. However, this emerging market has yet to be perfected, so there are many important factors to consider before signing the dotted line. 1. It is a complex and evolving market. “When you’re trying to package a partially imaginary exchange value, the packaging gets very complicated,” Peter Donovan, founder of the Soil Carbon Coalition, said, largely summing up the complexity of the...
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For 61 years and counting, the McDonnell Family has helped move the cattle industry forward with the Midland Bull Test (MBT); through three generations of leadership, the MBT has provided producers with invaluable data that either reaffirms or helps redirect their programs on a larger scale. However, the MBT’s influence can also be traced through the buyers who recognize the immense quality of the offering each year and the subsequent progeny that help build and lead programs. Joe Nelson has been a regular buyer at the MBT for roughly 20 years, and for him, “It's like going to the Superbowl.”...
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For those of you who take the time to read my column each week – aside from my family members who understand the unspoken requirement to do so – you probably have gathered that I am a sports nut. Along with the end of football season, one of the saddest parts of the year is the conclusion of college basketball. So right now, I’m taking in every March Madness game I can, and boy has it been fun this year! Despite the fact that I want my brackets to do well, I will root for any upset, even if I...
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Welcome to the largest issue of the year of the Western Ag Reporter. We are only a little way past the half-way mark in the Spring 2023 season, but this week’s issue will definitely be the largest of 2023 and then it will start shrinking gradually from now until the end of April when sale season will be nearing its end. I have a fantastic staff here in the office that did an amazing job of getting the Special Midland Bull Test Section put together and this week’s paper put out on time. The editors did masterful work with the...
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As part of its inaugural high altitude bull test and sale, the University of Wyoming (UW) will host an educational field day and private treaty sale at the Laramie Research and Extension Center (LREC) Saturday, April 1. Launched in January 2023, the UW High Altitude Bull Test and Sale evaluates potential sires on their ability to serve producers at high altitudes and provides students with hands-on experience in production agriculture. The new program culminates in the upcoming field day and bull sale in Laramie, Wyoming. The event is free and open to the public and all ages are welcome. Educational...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on March 9 an investment of more than million in meat and poultry processing research, innovation, and expansion in support of its ongoing efforts to transform the food system at every stage along the supply chain. This investment is funded through the American Rescue Plan and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). As part of this total investment, the University of Arkansas was awarded a million grant from the AFRI Center of Excellence for Meat and Poultry Processing and Food Safety Research and Innovation (MPPFSRI). In addition, .9 million in...
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The FUSION Conference brought more than 1,000 volunteer leaders from three program areas - Promotion & Education, Women’s Leadership, and Young Farmers & Ranchers - to learn, share and grow together to build a stronger Farm Bureau. Thirty-six Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) members attended the conference, which was held March 3-6 in Jacksonville, Florida. The event offered great speakers, breakout sessions, and evening activities that provided opportunities for Farm Bureau committee leaders to grow and network with members from across the country. This was the first time Bonita Cremer, chair of the Montana Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee, had...
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In Wyoming, 4-H is now considered a cocurricular activity, allowing members to obtain excused absences for participation in 4-H. Wyoming House Bill 0175 states that Wyoming public school students engaged in “programming or competitions sponsored by nationally recognized organizations and clubs that promote youth agricultural education” are considered to be involved in a cocurricular program and therefore can receive excused absences for their participation. Wyoming 4-H is the positive youth development program jointly funded by the University of Wyoming Extension and county commissions. The new statute will allow 4-H members to make up school assignments missed due to participation in...
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To mark Montana Agriculture Day, Governor Greg Gianforte convened a roundtable discussion on March 20 with ag leaders to discuss challenges and opportunities facing the industry. “Agriculture is Montana’s number one industry, and we’re committed to being a good partner to producers as they drive our economy, strengthen our communities, and feed the world,” Gianforte said. “With farmers and ranchers in mind, we delivered Montanans the largest tax cut in state history, and with farmers and ranchers in mind, we’re investing in value-added ag, keeping land in production, and pushing back against federal overreach that threatens family-run operations.” The roundtable,...
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On March 17, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed House Bill 0222 which creates the Colorado River Advisory Committee. This Committee will help inform the State Engineer’s Office and the Governor by continuing the great work of the Governor’s Colorado River Working Group. The Committee can provide input to the Governor’s appointed Colorado River Commissioner, but final decisions remain with the Commissioner and the Governor. The Committee comprises 11 members representing various water users and interests in Wyoming’s portion of the Colorado River basin. Members chosen to represent agriculture, industry, municipalities, environmental interests, conservation districts, and the Legislature will meet at...
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On March 20, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President, Zippy Duvall commented on the U.S. District Court ruling to halt the 2023 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule in Texas and Idaho. “AFBF is pleased the District Court ordered EPA and the U.S. Army Corps to halt implementation of the troubled 2023 WOTUS Rule in Texas and Idaho. The judge recognized the new rule likely oversteps EPA’s authority under the Clean Water Act, which creates uncertainty for the farmers and ranchers who must navigate the complicated regulations. “The District Court ruling also undermines the agencies’ rationale for pushing through...
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U.S. Senator, Jon Tester (D-MT) secured ,752,250 for Bear Paw Development to finance expanded meat and poultry processing in five regions across Montana. In order to reach markets across the state, Bear Paw Development has partnered with Sweetgrass Development Corporation, Great Falls; Headwaters RC&D, Butte; Montana Business Assistance Connection, Helena; and Snowy Mountain Development Corporation, Lewistown. This loan was awarded through USDA Rural Development’s Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILIP), which was funded through Tester’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Tester helped negotiate the ARPA and he was the only Montana statewide official that supported the legislation. “Too many...
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Montana farmers and ranchers joined producers from around the country this past week in San Francisco, California, to collaborate for a stronger future for agriculture during the 121st Anniversary Convention of the National Farmers Union (NFU). The convention left Montana Farmers Union delegate Phillip Prewett excited for what’s next. "There's hope for growing my business and being able to be profitable for my family in the future," Prewett said. “I always leave the NFU annual convention with renewed optimism for the family farm future but this convention was extra special. Having Secretary of Ag Tom Vilsack meet privately with several...
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Montana Farmers Union (MFU) members and leaders took center stage, receiving awards and participating in key roles during National Farmers Union’s (NFU) 121st annual convention recently in San Francisco, California. “I am proud of the Montana Farmers Union delegation at the NFU convention. They were all actively engaged in the policy debate, playing rolls in negotiating compromise with delegates from other states to get policy resolutions into policy,” MFU President, Walter Schweitzer said. MFU members are engaged in their communities and NFU year-round. Their dedicated work was rightly recognized nationally, Schweitzer added. “Montana was well represented and had a major...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on the week on March 16 that they are awarding the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) with 5,396 in funding to advance the Secure Beef Supply Plan (SBS) in the event of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the U.S. “NCBA thanks USDA for awarding this critical funding to help continue defending the U.S. cattle herd from the threat of foot-and-mouth disease. The Secure Beef Supply Plan combined with USDA's national vaccine bank provides a strong safety net for cattle producers and multiple tools to mitigate...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) has announced the winners of the Montana Youth Agriculture Literacy program drawing contest. “Montana Ag in Color” was developed in recognition of National Ag Week, March 21-27, as a creative competition for elementary school children. Each grade was given a different agricultural theme ranging from “Grains of Montana” and “Cattle in Agriculture” to noxious weeds, farm safety, and ag-related careers. One winner was selected from each grade with judges selecting one drawing from the winners to receive the "Farm Bureau Proud" designation. Kindergarten – Greyson Zimdars, Saco School, Phillips County First Grade – Abraham...
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Suntado LLC announced at the Idaho Dairymen's Association Legislative Banquet on March 15 that it has broken ground on a new state-of-the-art shelf-stable milk and alternative beverage manufacturing facility in Burley, Idaho. Scheduled to open in spring 2024, the multimillion-dollar facility will process approximately 800,000 pounds to 1 million pounds of local milk per day. "This project has been a dream for dairy farmers Jesus Hurtado and Dirk Reitsma for a long time and it's exciting to see their innovative approach come to life in the state that they love so much," Suntado CEO, Jeff Williams said. "Their commitment to...
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When asked what concerns me most for our industry’s future, one of the first things that comes to mind is the threat of a foreign animal disease outbreak on U.S. soil. This is why animal disease traceability has been a primary focus for me as an NCBA leader. In 2021, the NCBA Board of Directors approved a strategic plan to give the organization a more focused approach to engaging with cattle producers, policymakers, and consumers. Traceability was identified as one of our strategic priorities and the NCBA Traceability Working Group was formed. For the past year, I’ve chaired this group...
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Agricultural educators play a crucial role in their communities, dedicating countless hours and often their own resources to preparing students for successful careers and helping them follow their interests. To shed light on the contributions of South Dakota’s leading agricultural teachers, the South Dakota FFA Foundation and Nationwide are honoring seven exceptional teachers as finalists for the Golden Owl Award. October through December 2022, the South Dakota FFA Foundation and Nationwide collected nearly 200 nominations for South Dakota’s top agricultural teachers from students, parents, and community members across the state. South Dakota’s 2022-2023 Golden Owl Award finalists are: District 1:...
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On March 16, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2021 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, which shows that environmental releases of TRI chemicals from facilities across the nation covered by the program remained below pre-pandemic levels and releases in 2021 are 10 percent lower than 2012 releases, even with an 8 percent increase from 2020 to 2021. Additionally, in 2021, facilities managed more than 89 percent of their TRI chemical waste through preferred practices such as recycling, energy recovery, and treatment, while reporting that they released 11 percent of their TRI chemical waste into the environment. The...
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Conference for Small Pork Producers Montana State University (MSU) Extension and the Montana Pork Producers Council will host a conference for small pork producers on Saturday, April 29, at Montana ExpoPark’s Family Living Center in Great Falls, Montana. The conference, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., is an opportunity for pork producers, 4-H members, FFA members, and others to learn about swine genetics, pork production, herd health, and pork recipes. Local chefs will prepare pork dishes for attendees after a morning of learning and education. Featured speakers include Randy Shipley, owner of Shipley Swine Genetics and...
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GROWMARK, Inc. announces a revamped scholarship program for 2023. The GROWMARK Foundation will provide 55 scholarships of ,000 each to students pursuing agriculture and business-related degrees or certificates at colleges, universities, and technical schools in the United States and Ontario, Canada. “GROWMARK and the FS member cooperatives are strong supporters of youth leadership education and this is one more way we can contribute to the future of agriculture,” Amy Bradford, GROWMARK corporate communications manager and GROWMARK Foundation manager, said. At the time of application, students must be high school seniors or the equivalent of and enrolled in a university, community...
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Edmunds County farmer and Farmers Union Insurance agent, Cameron Lux was recognized by National Farmers Union during the 2023 National Convention held in San Francisco, California, with the Bruce Miller Award for his dedicated service to family farmers and ranchers. “This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate the mission and vision of Famers Union. Cameron believes in our mission and shares it with the farm and ranch families he works with,” Karla Hofhenke, South Dakota Farmers Union Executive Director, said. Growing up on his family’s dairy and beef cattle farm near Leola, Lux says he developed immense respect for South Dakota’s...
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The University of Wyoming (UW) Collegiate Meat Judging team wrapped up a successful spring season with a first-place finish at Iowa State University Saturday, March 4. It was a great day in the coolers last weekend, UW Collegiate Judging Coordinator McKensie Phillips reported. The UW team was named champion overall, placing first in all but one team division. Team members excelled individually as well, with all 10 students earning a spot in the Top 10 Total Contest or Top 10 Alternate Division. The win in Ames, Iowa, was the culmination of what the 2023 team dubbed UW’s comeback tour. After...
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The Angus Foundation offers a variety of scholarship opportunities, including to youth beyond the seedstock industry. Applications are open for the Foundation’s Commercial Cattlemen Scholarship, which awards [post_excerpt],500 to four outstanding youth in the beef industry. This scholarship is unique from others offered by the Foundation as it aims to support students specifically from the commercial sector of the industry. “We’re proud to offer this scholarship opportunity to students from commercial cattle backgrounds,” Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director, said. “We recognize the importance of supporting young people using Angus genetics and want to help them succeed in our industry.”...
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From NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern: “The National Milk Producers Federation applauds the bipartisan members of the House of Representatives who today re-introduced the DAIRY PRIDE Act, which adds momentum to legislation that saw Senate re-introduction last week and needs to pass Congress this year. “With proposed FDA guidance that acknowledges the problem of consumer confusion over the nutritional content of plant-based beverages, but doesn’t go far enough to solve the problem by enforcing its own standards of identity and limiting dairy terms used in food labeling to dairy products, DAIRY PRIDE is necessary for FDA to fulfill its...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for two producer positions and one vacancy for a person with expertise in marketing on the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center beginning in early 2024. The American Sheep Industry (ASI) Association is certified to nominate individuals to serve on the board and is seeking nominations by April 24 to forward to USDA/AMS. This year, three vacant positions will occur for the 2024 Board. There are two vacancies for a sheep producer and one vacancy for a person with expertise in marketing. Jeremy Geske and Brenda Reau are...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for two producer positions on the American Lamb Board beginning in early 2024. The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) is certified to nominate individuals to serve on the board and is seeking nominations by April 24 to forward to USDA/AMS. The upcoming vacancies for producers include one position for a producer with 100 or less lambs (Region I, producer Sally Scholle is not eligible for reappointment) and one position for a producer with greater than 500 lambs (Region II, producer David McEwen is eligible for reappointment). One...
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We had a busy week here in Helena, Montana, kicking off the second half of the Legislative Session with the transmittal break behind us. In addition to our regular duties, the Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Board of Directors held their regular meeting in Helena and met with Governor Gianforte to discuss MFBF’s priority issues. Here is an update on where some bills stand after the transmittal break. Many of the bills we have supported up to this point have been passed through their first chamber and are continuing along through the legislature. All but one of the bills MFBF...
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South Dakota family farmers and ranchers visited San Francisco to develop policy that supports the future of their farms, ranches, and rural communities during the 121 National Farmers Union Convention held March 5-7. “The work you are doing here is big,” Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU), said, during a breakfast meeting with Farmers Union members ahead of March 6 delegate session. “It is because of the work you do through grassroots policy that we are seeing positive updates to the 2023 Farm Bill and oversight of meat packers.” Among the positive updates Sombke referenced is the USDA...
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Lake Area Technical College (LATC) agriculture students joined students from 10 other post-secondary schools in Minneapolis for the College Conference on Cooperatives. An annual conference hosted by National Farmers Union (NFU) to educate, motivate, and inspire the next generation of leaders in cooperatives, South Dakota Farmers Union sponsored the opportunity for the LATC students. “Cooperative education is a focus of our organization because for more than a century cooperatives have provided essential services to family farmers, ranchers and rural communities,” Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union, said. During the conference, students toured several cooperatives and heard from leaders...
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This spring, 73 FFA members from across the country traveled to Denver, Colorado, to explore careers in the animal systems industry. It’s part of the Next Gen Conference offered by the National FFA Organization. The Next Gen Conference, which began in 2020, focuses on specific pathways — from animal systems to biotechnology systems. Members access new ideas, trends, and opportunities that connect them directly with industry leaders. The conference is designed specifically to give FFA members hands-on, industry-relevant experience. “We heard from our members that they wanted more opportunities to explore careers in agriculture. It was one of the reasons...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) urges Congress to pass newly-introduced legislation to freeze the flawed 2023 Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), which distorts labor costs for farmers across the country who hire nearly 400,000 employees through the H-2A program. The bipartisan Farm Operations Support Act, introduced by Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), temporarily resets the AEWR at 2022 levels, providing much need wage relief to farm families and giving Congress an opportunity to deliver a fair and reasonable solution. The 2023 AEWR rule missed the mark by such a wide margin that farmers in some states...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the introduction of the bipartisan Black Vulture Relief Act, led by Representatives John Rose (R-TN) and Representatives Darren Soto (D-FL). “Across the country, cattle producers are coping with extreme input costs and the worst inflation rate in 40 years. Livestock deaths due to black vultures are a financial loss that no one can afford right now,” NCBA Director of Government Affairs, Sigrid Johannes said. “Giving producers greater flexibility on black vulture management means one less financial burden to worry about. We appreciate Congressman Rose and Congressman Soto’s leadership and commonsense approach to controlling...
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An incredible opportunity for today's youth to get involved in the cattle industry is the NILE Merit Heifer Program. Applications are now being accepted for the 2023-2024 year. The NILE Merit Heifer program is a live animal scholarship. Recipients receive a heifer calf to help them get a start in the beef cattle business and gain knowledge about the beef industry. During the program, participants are responsible for caretaking, record keeping, breeding, and bringing the heifer back to the NILE Stock Show as a bred heifer to compete for honors such as top showman, top heifer, and top herdsman. Program...
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“Why are all these cars driving by?” Tuff asked. “Are they tourists?” “Maybe they’re looking for an auction?” Banjo said. “Or maybe they are tourists. We get lots of this time of year. Afterall, we’ve got skiing, snowshoeing, mountains, soaking in hot springs, and wildlife-right in town. It’s a nice place to visit if you live in the city and don’t get to do those types of outdoor activities. “But they usually don’t come with binoculars and spotting scopes,” Banjo muttered softly. He didn’t want to draw too much attention to his question. Traffic had definitely picked up on their...
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An old friend and I went to a Montana State football game back in, I think it was, 1987. Him in galoshes, me unwisely not, we’d tromped up the shiny, slick aluminum steps to the stadium’s eastside bleacher’s topmost row, mouthed our “Skuuzmee”s edging past early bird fans to a couple of vacant spots, and “Howzzitgoin’”ed our neighbors. We were about to park our fannies on the blanket we’d surprised ourselves remembering when I heard, “Oh my! Isn’t that just beautiful!” Being a little deef, as some are still wont to say in the eastern neck of the Big Sky...
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The American Farm Bureau Foundation (AFBF) for Agriculture, with support from Grow with Google, has selected four educators to be Foundation Fellows. Their goal is to make digital skills and agricultural literacy more accessible to students across the country, with a focus on rural classrooms, as they near the completion of their first set of lesson plans. The fellows are Melanie Berndtson, Pennsylvania, Linda Chase, Kansas, Keonte’ Edmonds, North Carolina, and Tanya Novakowski, North Carolina. Each educator is currently participating in an eight-month long program, working to develop place-based curriculum that incorporates agriculture, technology, and key digital skills into a...
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Cattlemen to Cattlemen, the television show of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), will air a special episode in honor of National Ag Day on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. The show will recognize the contributions of America’s cattlemen and women and feature several Texas cattle operations. “NCBA is unique in having a television show to highlight the stories of America’s farming and ranching families,” Todd Wilkinson, NCBA President and a South Dakota cattle producer, stated. “This National Ag Day, we extend our gratitude to the cattle producers who work hard to feed our nation. Raising cattle is a full-time job...
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A Florida Farm Bureau member, rancher, small business owner, and environmental lawyer presented a first-hand account of the implications of the federal government’s overreach to the House Committee on Small Business this week. Katherine English, who grows citrus and raises cows and calves in Fort Myers, Florida, participated on a panel comprised of small business owners. English provided an overview of the uncertainty faced by farmers, ranchers, homebuilders, and more during the hearing titled “Small Business Perspectives on the Impacts of the Biden Administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule.” “Farmers and ranchers’ livelihoods depend on healthy soil and...
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As the fortunes of “plant-based meat” companies appear to be in decline recently, another competitor to beef raised on farms and ranches is starting to garner more headlines. “Lab-grown” or “cell-cultured meat” seems to be popping up here and there. Seeing these articles, some producers have expressed concern to me that the Beef Checkoff may begin to promote this “lab-grown” protein. Based on the law, my answer to them is always the same – no way! Regardless of how these lab-grown products will be categorized, the Beef Checkoff will not be promoting them. Why? It all goes back to the...
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The deadline to submit applications for Montana Farmers Union (MFU) scholarships ranging from 0 to [post_excerpt],000 each has been extended to April 17. The annual scholarships are offered through MFU as part of the organization’s commitment to education and include the Bud Daniels Memorial Scholarship, the John Korsbeck Memorial Scholarship, and the Cascade County-wide Farmers Union Local, Chouteau County Farmers Union Local, and Flathead County-wide Farmers Union Local scholarships. The scholarships are available to students throughout their collegiate careers. Current college students and high school seniors are encouraged to apply. Montana Farmers Union members also can apply for the Stanley...
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The USDA/APHIS is proposing to amend the animal disease traceability regulations to require that ear tags applied on or after a date 6 months (180 days) after publication in the Federal Register of a final rule following this proposed rule be both visually and electronically readable in order to be recognized for use as official ear tags for interstate movement of cattle and bison covered under the regulations. The Idaho Cattle Association will submit comments that align with their policy as set by membership, but they recommend members also submit individual comments on this proposed ruling which are due by...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and CNH Industrial brands, Case IH, and New Holland, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) today that provides farmers and ranchers the right to repair their own farm equipment. The MOU follows a similar agreement AFBF entered into with John Deere earlier this year. “Our members urged us to find a private sector-solution that gives them access to repair their own equipment and I’m pleased months of discussions have again paid off,” AFBF President, Zippy Duvall said. “Farmers and ranchers are more dependent on technology than ever before, so it’s critical they have access...
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I will have been writing a weekly column for 27 years this June. The best part about being a columnist is reading my mail. Sometimes I get "fan mail" that I use to fan the fire in the wood stove, but usually, I get really nice comments and fuel for my column instead of the fire. Two such pieces of mail arrived recently. One sweet letter, which came from T.J. Cheetham of Cloverdale Ranch in Redstone, Montana, sorted itself to the top of the pile by explaining that he and his wife of 58 years totally relate to my stories....
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Jolee Middlemist, daughter of Kyle and Emily Middlemist of Polson, Montana, is pictured with her dad and her favorite heifer calf while they were out checking cows. The picture was sent in by Jolee’s grandfather, Ross Middlemist, of Dixon, Montana.
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The ranch my Dad leased when I was in the 7th grade was on the Smith River. A really nice place to raise livestock. The river provided good water for irrigation, with some good places to cross, and several water holes that stayed open even on the coldest days of winter. The meadows gave us good grass hay, and the second year we were there, we planted alfalfa, which taught me about cover crops. One of the small meadows was across the river. The river, at that point, was too deep and the flow too fast for sheep to cross....
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Less than a month after the revelation that a Wisconsin-based contractor, Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. (or PSSI), had illegally hired at least 102 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 to clean some of the nation’s most profitable industrial meatpacking plants, one middle school child at the center of the story has, according to a March 3 Washington Post account, “watched her whole life unravel”: “First, she lost the job that burned and blistered her skin but paid her per hour.” “Then the county judge sent her stepfather to jail for driving her to work each night, a...
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This past month I had the privilege to sit down and talk with U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale (R) of the 2nd district of the great state of Montana. The 2nd Congressional district for Montana comprises the Eastern mostly rural two-thirds of the state. Congressman Rosendale and I talked about all things ag, his background in ranching and farming, the Farm Bill, energy, and even a little bit about Ukraine. I believe you will enjoy our candid conversation. Question 1: We have the Farm Bill coming up. What are the concerns or priorities that you're hearing from constituents? Some of our...
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The only folks more dedicated to a fib than those promoting it are those consuming it. It’s a human oddity. To admit you swallowed a lie hook, line, and sinker is apparently far more humiliating than continuing to believe that which is not true. With the House GOP investigating the Democrats and their weaponized federal agencies, the shenanigans of the previous two years are finally being exposed. This deceit comes as no surprise to conspiracy theorists because all they knew to be true for two years is now out in the open for all to see. However, America will never...
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Editor’s Note: On February 21, 2023, the Capital Press, based out of Salem, Oregon, published a short article warning about a string of attempted scams against local ranchers. This story caught my eye because a few details provided were eerily similar to an attempted scam against my family’s own ranch here in Torrington, Wyoming in the fall of 2022. I spoke with Anthony Santos (Glide, Oregon) and Bob Buchanan (Klamath Falls, Oregon), who were both mentioned in the article, in order to compare stories and develop a more comprehensive profile of what these scammers are up to in order to...
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When considering all that is to come with the merger of Lee Nobmann’s Dixie Valley Angus and Colton Schaardt’s Stone Pointe Cattle Company, the word “momentum” comes to mind. Momentum can be defined simply as forward motion, but what sets it apart can be found in three of its synonyms: energy, force, and drive. At face value, the partnership between Nobmann and Schaardt may seem unlikely with nearly 45 years’ difference in age and 1,600 miles separating their operations; however, it’s their shared passion for developing sound and productive Black Angus cattle, that will perform no matter environment, that will...
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During the USDA Ag Outlook Forum on February 24, Clayton Michaud, an Agricultural Economist for the USDA Economic Research Agency, stated that “A lot of the historical concerns about foreign investment in agriculture have been economic.” Some of these concerns were directed toward the impacts on land values and overall land access but in more recent years we have found that those concerns have evolved. Some of the concerns that Michaud explained were towards National Security, especially the “prospect of foreign companies buying up land close to military bases,” which has been occurring more recently. There is also a concern...
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Two small-town, family-oriented, and producer/community-driven businesses out of North Dakota recently received funding from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) through the Agriculture Diversification and Development (ADD) grant. Butcher’s Edge of Edgeley, North Dakota, and Kramlich-Deede Meats of Medina, North Dakota, recently received ADD Funding to enhance their ability to source U.S. beef through the state of North Dakota, offer good old-fashioned sausage recipes, and increase the number of jobs available within their respective communities. Butcher’s Edge… Butcher’s Edge is a fully custom-exempt packing plant in that can handle up to 20-head of cattle a week. Since officially opening...
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This week, I wasn’t sure how to go about writing that story about the attempted scams that my family and others have experienced in the past year – I know that it’s a little different to write some of my own personal-experiences into a news format, but I felt that it was imperative to show several different perspectives of this ordeal so that no one falls for it. Now, you may think it’s easy to sit back and say “well, that’s obviously a scam. I wouldn’t fall for that.” But it happens all the time, and it’s because it’s human...
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I looked at the “Sterling Beef Profit Tracker” put out by Sterling Marketing, out of Vale, Oregon, and earlier this week, I read a story written by Greg Henderson with Drovers that broke down the numbers quite well in my opinion. Henderson wrote, “Cash cattle and wholesale beef prices moved higher again last week, increasing profit margins for both cattle feeders and beef packers. Cattle feeders saw average profits of 1 per head last week as cash prices gained [post_excerpt].34 per cwt. to 5.03. Beef packers found positive margins at an average of 1 per head, a decline of about...
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As soil acidification becomes a more pressing issue for Montana farmers, researchers in the Montana State University (MSU) College of Agriculture are conducting on-farm experiments around the state to help explore precision treatments that fit the conditions measured in individual fields. Assistant research professor Manbir Rakkar and professor Clain Jones of the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences are taking a multifaceted approach to managing and preventing increases in soil acidity, which is largely caused by repeated application of nitrogen fertilizers and can be made worse by growing the crops that require those fertilizers on the same land year...
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Teton County Farmers Union (Farmers Union) recently awarded three grants to Teton County high schools. "Education is the base of the Farmers Union triangle. Educating about agriculture and agricultural issues is important so that people know where their food comes from and how it's raised. These projects and the support of the organizations that will carry them out helps with that goal,” Erik Somerfeld, president of the Teton County Farmers Union, said. Recipients are: Power High School FCCLA received 0 to help purchase raised beds, a composter, and a water barrel so that the students can learn to grow their...
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The agricultural press is all aflutter over the earth-shattering news that USDA)is going to redefine the standards for affixing a voluntary “Product of the USA” or “Made in the USA” label on meat, eggs, and poultry in a newly proposed rule. The stated purpose of the new voluntary standards is to put a stop to the current policy that allows imported beef, for example, to bear a “Product of the USA” label so long as the foreign beef was repackaged in the United States. In other words, the current standard allows a U.S. packer to import a big box of...
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Students from across the country with an interest in the livestock industry and related careers can apply now for the Kansas State University Animal Sciences Leadership Academy. The academy is an intensive four-day educational experience designed to enhance the leadership skills and animal science knowledge of students in ninth through 12th grades. Hosted by the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI) and sponsored by the Livestock and Meat Industry Council Inc. (LMIC), the academy’s goal is to develop young leaders within the livestock industry and prepare them for a successful future in this field. “Each year the ASI...
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Much of Wyoming is experiencing an increase in snowfall and extremely cold temperatures this winter. Wildlife managers across the state are actively monitoring the impact on big game and are seeing increased mortality in some areas of the state. “Wyoming is used to tough winters, but it has been a while since we have had a winter where severe conditions were so widespread across the state,” Doug Brimeyer, Wyoming Game and Fish Department deputy chief of wildlife, stated. “Wildlife managers throughout the state are acutely aware of the effects winter is having on big game populations.” Harsh winters are not...
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The WYldlife Fund, a nonprofit partner of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, announced the first recipients of grant funding from its new Pooled Migration Fund. The grant funding is intended to enhance voluntary conservation of private, working lands and Tribal lands within big game migration corridors. “Private landowners and Tribal partners provide important habitat for wildlife,” WYldlife Fund President, Chris McBarnes said. “We’re proud this new effort can accelerate their stewardship efforts, which keeps working lands working and Wyoming’s proud wildlife heritage intact.” The Pooled Migration Fund supports stewardship of private and tribal lands within the state-designated Platte Valley,...
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The applicant pool for high-demand livestock production occupations is shrinking, lacks diversity and often falls short in critical animal husbandry skills, according to an interdisciplinary team of educators and faculty from Penn State Extension and Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. The team is investigating methods to improve skill sets and increase diversity in the livestock production workforce, with the goal of eliminating workforce barriers and enhancing secure food animal production. As part of this work, Penn State Extension is offering a free monthly workshop series, from March to May, focused on workforce development in animal agriculture. The first and...
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Ranchers interested in learning about the latest cutting-edge research in range livestock production from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are encouraged to register for the 2023 Nebraska Ranch Practicum offered by Nebraska Extension. The practicum will be held during eight sessions over the course of three seasons in order to cover the production cycle of livestock and forage resources. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics, including the effective use of decision support tools to evaluate management and marketing alternatives, plant identification, range condition and grazing strategies, wildlife management, evaluation of cow body condition scores, and...
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Nearly 2,000 range enthusiasts varying from agency personnel to students and ranch managers to industry professionals experienced “Rangelands Without Borders” during the Society for Range Management’s (SRM) 76th Annual Meeting in Boise, Idaho in early February. “I think the Boise meeting was a wonderful success,” newly installed President Dr. Barry Perryman said. “As we look back in the coming decade or so, I think people will remember the Boise 2023 Meeting as one of those highlights in their careers.” Thanks to the presenting sponsors, the United States Forest Service (USFS) and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the conference featured...
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Family farmers and ranchers from across the state arrived in Pierre, South Dakota on February 28, to advocate for policy to strengthen agriculture and rural communities during South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) Legislative Day 2023. “Fewer legislators today engage in agriculture, than in the past, so it is important that they are able to connect with the family farmers and ranchers who do work, day in and day out to keep our state’s number one industry thriving,” Doug Sombke, SDFU President and Conde crop and cattle farmer, explained. During Legislative Day, Farmers Union members sit in on committee meetings and...
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A year ago, Aberdeen farmer, Jeff Kippley made history when he was elected to serve as Vice President of the National Farmers Union (NFU). It was the first time in more than 100 years that a South Dakotan was elected to this national position. “I ran to advocate for and serve family farmers and ranchers because I needed to do something to help my kids’ future and the future of other farm and ranch kids,” Kippley explained as he raises crops and cattle with his wife, Rachel, and their four children. The couple also co-owns and operates a tax business...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is hosting a series of public meetings in northwest Montana to discuss mule deer management. FWP Region 1 staff will discuss the ecology and management of mule deer in northwest Montana, the current status of populations in the region, and future management considerations. The intent of these meetings is for FWP to hear various concerns, questions, and perspectives from interested members of the public. There will be no decisions made during these meetings. The schedule of public meetings in northwest Montana is as follows: March 15 – Thompson Falls High School, Thompson Falls, 6...
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Sheep. Goats. Cattle. Multispecies grazing can provide many advantages to producers looking to mitigate risk, diversify their income and get more from their pastures, even when forage availability is limited. “Raising different species together is fairly common, and I’ve seen the practice grow in recent years,” Clay Elliott, Ph.D., and small ruminant nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition, said. “Multispecies grazing gives farmers and ranchers another avenue for income.” Whether you currently raise sheep, goats, or cattle, adding another species to your operation could provide many benefits. Consider the following factors when deciding if multispecies grazing is right for you. Sustainable...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), in partnership with Farm Credit, is seeking entrepreneurs to apply online for the 2024 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Now in its 10th year, this national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. Farm Bureau is offering 5,000 in startup funds throughout the course of the competition, which will culminate in the top 10 semi-finalists competing in a live pitch competition in front of Farm Bureau members, investors, and industry representatives at the AFBF Convention in January 2024 in Salt Lake City,...
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Beekeepers and gardeners of all ages and skill levels are invited to attend the 2023 Wyoming Bee College and High Plains Garden to Market Conference March 24-25. Organized by the University of Wyoming Extension and hosted by Laramie County Community College (LCCC), the joint conference offers sessions on beginning and advanced beekeeping, honey and herbs, building geodesic dome greenhouses, growing grapes, canning, and more. There will also be vendors and a vendor reception. On Saturday morning, keynote speaker Dayna Burtness-Nguyen will present findings from a pilot study investigating how to create multi-use habitats that feed pollinators. Participants are welcome to...
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Greg Gardner received the Sustained Lifetime Achievement Award at the Society for Range Management’s 76th Annual Meeting in Boise, Idaho earlier this February. The Sustained Lifetime Achievement Award is presented by the Society for Range Management to members for long-term contributions to the art and science of range management and to the Society for Range Management (SRM). Gardner, a beef cattle rancher from Polson, Montana, earned a degree in range management from Montana State University in 1979 and has been involved with range management ever since. He and his wife, Lynn, purchased their current 7,000-acre ranch in 1990 and have...
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Montana Farmers Union Foundation (MFU) opened their second year of grant applications on March 1. The grant program supports projects which align with the MFU Foundation’s Mission to create new opportunities and contribute to the growth and enhancement of Montana agriculture and rural communities. Projects must include an educational component for youth and/or adults with priority given to rural communities. The submission deadline is May 1, 2023, and the grants are open to anyone from Montana. The application form remains simple to not deter submissions. “Being able to extend some projects out there that might be meaningful for our rural...
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EPA has awarded ,675 to the Chippewa Cree Tribe to build capacity and educate the public on solid waste management practices on the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation in northern Montana. The Chippewa Cree Tribal Water Resources Department (TWRD) will use the EPA funds overhaul their solid waste management plan, improve collection and processing of materials, and educate the public on best practices for handling waste and recyclables. "These EPA funds will help the Chippewa Cree Tribe improve solid waste management and recycling across the Rocky Boys Reservation," EPA Regional Administrator, KC Becker said. "We are proud to support the Tribe...
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A new planning tool was announced on March 1, by the Montana Wildlife and Transportation Partnership (MWTP or Partnership), aimed to help local groups identify areas of greatest need for decreasing wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) and improving wildlife movement across our state highways. The MWTP is a collaborative group of representatives from the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), and Montanans for Safe Wildlife Passage (MSWP). Formed in 2019, the Partnership recognized that reducing WVCs means finding ways to accommodate wildlife movement across highways. As a result, the Partnership developed a statewide project application process for...
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The National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) Board of Directors unanimously endorsed a proposal to modernize the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) system today at its March meeting, a milestone that caps more than two years of discussion and more than 130 meetings on different aspects of the proposal. The plan to reinvigorate the FMMO system that guides milk pricing reflects an industry that’s evolved significantly since the last comprehensive revamp in 2000. It’s a proposal all dairy can get behind, Randy Mooney, chairman of NMPF’s board of directors and a dairy farmer from Rogersville, Missouri, said. “After gathering dairy’s best...
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Nebraska Extension will be hosting a webinar on Thursday, March 23rd at 7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. MT to share the results of on-farm research at five locations across Nebraska over two years evaluating the value of strip grazing cover crops. The webinar will include producer perspectives on balancing labor needed and increasing harvest efficiency. Register for the webinar at go.unl.edu/stripgrazing. This project was made possible by funding from Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.
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Wyoming Governor, Mark Gordon issued an official proclamation declaring the week of March 6-11, 2023 as “Wyoming Agricultural Literacy Week.” The Governor noted the importance of reading and agriculture as we celebrate “Wyoming Agricultural Literacy Week.” Educating Wyoming elementary school children about agriculture and the role Wyoming farmers and ranchers play in keeping Wyoming strong is critical. The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) Committee started the “Ag Books for Kids” project in 2005 with a goal of building the collection of accurate agriculture reading materials in our state’s elementary schools. The grassroots strength of the...
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Governor Greg Gianforte proclaimed March 2023 Montana Agriculture Month to honor and celebrate the state’s agriculture industry, farmers and ranchers, and their contributions to the Montana way of life and the world. In his proclamation, the governor also declared the week of March 19-25, 2023, Montana Agriculture Week, and March 21, 2023, Montana Agriculture Day. “With more than 27,000 farms and ranches across our state, agriculture is the bedrock of our economy and communities,” Gianforte said. “We’ll continue to promote and invest in value-added ag to create jobs, expand opportunities, and help our hardworking producers keep pace with a transforming...
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Kansas cattle producers will have the opportunity to become Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified, or renew an expired certification, this spring through four in-person trainings across the state. BQA is a nationally coordinated, state-implemented program that offers education for cattle producers on up-to-date best management strategies with a commitment to quality through every segment of the beef industry. The BQA trainings will be offered by K-State Research and Extension, Kansas Livestock Association, and the Kansas Beef Checkoff. At no cost to them, producers can attend one of the following trainings: March 28, 6 p.m. — City Limits Convention Center, Colby,...
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The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) supports the safe use of propane on the farm with new one-page safety guides covering a variety of topics related to the safe use of propane and propane-powered equipment. All six safety guides can be accessed and downloaded for free at Propane.com. Each safety guide provides important information about code and training requirements, specific hazards, and special safety considerations. Individual safety guide topics include: Propane Safety on the Farm Safety for Transport Delivery Using Farm Carts Safely Safety for Wet Line Dispensers Confinement Barn Safety Crop Dryer Safety “Propane-powered equipment offers farmers many...
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Montana State University (MSU) Extension is currently gathering input from community members to inform and improve resources, programs, and services for community members. A needs assessment is being conducted countywide. MSU Extension Yellowstone County Agents invite community members to participate in a community listening session to hear from as many people as possible. The listening session will be held March 23, 2023, in Billings, Montana at the MetraPark in the 4-H Building at 6:30 PM. For questions or more information, please contact Yellowstone County Extension at 406-256-2828.
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Last week…Rascal had a grand idea to promote the ranch and began gathering video footage, however in his scheme, it probably doesn’t highlight the best moments as he proposed to Tuff. What does Rascal have up his ring-tail this week? The ride to town wasn’t too long, but long enough for Rascal to be completely motivated in getting out from underneath Tuff’s backside as soon as the truck parked. “I’ve never smelled anything as vile as your butt in my life,” the masked bandit snarled. “You mean it smells like roses?” Tuff said with a smirk. Rascal grumbled. He knew...
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Dallas, South Dakota farmer, Hank Wonnenberg served as chair of South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) Policy Committee and was asked to serve on the NFU Policy Committee for the 2023 National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention. He said during a recent pre-convention meeting held at the NFU D.C. headquarters, he had an opportunity to see firsthand the impact National Farmers Union and grassroots policy has in D.C. “We were asked to take a break each day to meet with members of the House and Senate Ag Committees,” Hank shared. “Basically, we got to talk with them about our hopes as farmers...
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As a consumer of farm equipment technology, I am thrilled by the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between John Deere and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the largest agriculture advocacy organization in the country. Farming in the heart of the Golden Triangle of Montana and serving as the President of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF), I enjoy the benefits of both sides of this equation. AFBF has embarked on the beginning of a great relationship with John Deere that allows my family and I access to the information, software, and tools we need, in a time frame we...
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2022 will go into the record books as the third-costliest year for weather disasters in U.S. history, with an estimated 5 billion in total economic losses. In the agriculture sector, new analysis by AFBF economists in the latest Market Intel shows extreme weather caused more than billion in crop losses. The impact to America’s farms and ranches demonstrates the importance of farm bill programs to help rural communities recover from weather-related disasters. The Market Intel, part of AFBF’s series on disaster losses, analyzes and summarizes total crop loss estimations across all major weather events for 2022, including hurricanes Fiona...
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North Dakota’s Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring announced Agriculture Diversification and Development (ADD) Fund awards for two projects. The awards totaling 6,000 were approved at the ADD quarterly meeting February 16 in Mandan, North Dakota. The ADD Fund is administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture in association with the Bank of North Dakota. The fund was created to support new or expanding value-added-agriculture businesses that demonstrate financial feasibility, enhance profitability for farmers and ranchers, create jobs, and grow North Dakota’s economy. Types of projects eligible for the fund include but are not limited to: food production and processing facilities,...
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Turn on cable news and you would think that Republicans and Democrats can’t agree on anything, and that bipartisanship is nothing but fantasy. But dig a little deeper, and you will find commonsense policies that Republicans and Democrats should see eye to eye on. Protecting sensitive and personal data of taxpayers should be one of these obvious bipartisan priorities. As a state Senator, I am committed to protecting the personal privacy and data security of my fellow Montanans. In fact, I introduced the Constitutional amendment voters approved last year to modernize the state Constitution by explicitly requiring state and local...
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As of February, Nebraska remains in drought conditions despite much of the state receiving significant snowfall in December and January (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/). The soil moisture profile is in a deficit due to months of below-normal precipitation in the last couple of years, which will have an impact on grass growth this spring. Range Ecologists are Recommending Delayed Turn Out. Range ecologists are recommending delayed turn out to give the grass a chance to recover from the hard-hitting drought conditions of last summer. Producers who choose to delay turn out the need to feed a diet that meets the needs of the...
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We just celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday, so it is time for what has become my annual tradition - my Dr. Seuss Whoville poem. Probably every generation feels that the overall moral and ethical state of the world is declining at breakneck speed, but we have two choices: we can either sit and wring our hands, or we can speak out against and fight it! The Whoville State of the Union The Whos down in Whoville are led by Joe, A man who is senile, incompetent, and slow. Yet Joe has great vision for the masses. Looking through his rose colored...
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Jace Gerstner, four-years-old, loves to work on the Herman Ranch in Hyattville, Wyoming with his trusty Shamy (Sammy) dog, and ranch horse, Sid. You can find Jace either in the backhoe or the blue tractor.
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I read a tale on Facebook about a fellow who decided he would capture a deer from a herd that was eating in his feed lot, keep it in his barn, feed it corn, then butcher it. He felt it would really be great meat. He had a terrible time and ended up being beat up, and the deer got away. It brought back a memory of a not great decision on both my part and my cousin, Lad’s part. At least the fellow on Facebook had a plan - a big step up from some of the things my...
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When the Montana Legislature recently tabled two bills related to right to repair agricultural equipment, they missed an opportunity to lead the nation. Instead, they continue to deny farmers and ranchers the right to repair their own equipment. Montana Farmers Union (MFU) supported both HB 475 and SB 347 because of grassroots member-written policy that demands farmers and ranchers be given the right to fully repair their equipment, and MFU President, Walter Schweitzer called the committee actions disappointing. “Myself, farmers, ranchers, and other right to repair advocates made compelling arguments, but they fell on deaf ears. We need more legislators who...
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On March 6, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a proposed rule regarding the voluntary use of the “Product of USA” label on meat, poultry, and egg products. The proposed rule allows the voluntary “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” label claim only when the products are derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the United States. While R-CALF USA supports the proposed reforms to the “Product of USA” label; it stands firm that only Congress can create labeling reforms that will restore the entire truth to beef consumers and create the market reforms deserved...
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Our visit to Texas Hill Country was quite the education. People in the Lone Star state are extremely friendly. They like to share their customs with us out-of-staters. And they really do say, “How y’all doing?” at almost every encounter. “We don’t waste syllables,” one local explained to me. “We say y’all, not you-all.” And in Texas, it’s not ‘oil’…it’s ‘ohl.” Another resident chimed in. "Do you know the plural of ‘y’all’ when you talk to more than one person? I assured her I did not. “It’s ‘all y’all,’” she smiled. We were impressed by the respect Texans show for...
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The Product of the U.S.A. label will solely belong to livestock born, raised and harvested in the U.S. announced Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The proposed ruling was announced today, March 6, during the National Farmers Union Convention held in San Francisco. Currently, any livestock packaged in the U.S. - regardless of where they were born, raised, harvested - can carry the label. The USDA proposed ruling in the 2023 Farm Bill would limit the use of the Product of the U.S.A. label to livestock born, raised, and harvested in the U.S. “I appreciate Senator Rounds’ work on this...
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Following a natural disaster, like the tornado that swept through Fort Cobb, Oklahoma on February 26, the individuals affected are often left with overwhelming emotions: a feeling of relief when injuries and fatalities aren’t a part of the aftermath; frustration with the destruction; and in the case of the Willits family, a great sense of awe at the kindness of others once the dust has settled. Amber and Reggie, owners of Double Seven Polled Herefords, alongside their three children, Jaxon (18), Eli (15), and Hunter (11), had spent Sunday, February 26 preparing for their annual “Hereford Heritage” bull sale, which...
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“The corporate narrative is one of inevitability” Tim Gibbons, with the Missouri Rural Crisis Center (MRCC), said in a webinar discussing the current state of corporate monopolies in the U.S. meat sector. This idea of inevitability, Gibbons explained, is how the Big Four and other multi-national corporations have conditioned the public to believe that the current state of the U.S. market is normal. On February 6, the MRCC, along with the Western Organization of Resource Councils, “submitted over 2,000 signatures to President Biden sending a strong message that independent family farmers, consumers, and rural citizens are united in demanding strong...
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Neubauer Farms has been situated on the outskirts of the small town of Bottineau, North Dakota for decades, and brothers Philip Neubauer and Tyler Neubauer are sitting in the hot seat to take over as the fifth generation. Growing up, the Neubauer boys were always their parents’ right hands during planting or harvesting. While helping on their acreage, during high school Philip was given the opportunity to acquire some of his parents’ rented land. This gave him a foot into the door of learning the ways of managing and harvesting at a young age. After high school, Philip went off...
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There are many factors involved when making a decision about when to calve, whether that’s January-February, March-April, May-June, or in the fall; that preference often hinges on region and climate, marketing goals, feed costs and availability, breeding season considerations, constraints of management, and other factors. There is no perfect time to calve, and each producer must weigh the pros and cons of each season to find what works best for his/her own situation and goals. Dr. Jason Ahola, assistant professor at Colorado State University, explained that most beef calves are born in early spring - February through April. “This calving...
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News broke on Monday morning that USDA was proposing a new rule regarding the “Product of USA” labeling for meat, poultry, and eggs. You can find the full USDA press release, along with how to make your own comments, on page five of this week’s edition. While from a very basic level this is great news, I think what most people need to realize is that this is still a voluntary label; I know some people thought that Vilsack’s announcement was bringing MCOOL back. Vilsack’s announcement was made during the National Farmers Union convention and was met with a rowdy...
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AFBF President, Zippy Duvall commented on the United States Trade Representative taking steps toward a formal trade dispute with Mexico over its ban on bioengineered corn. “AFBF appreciates that USTR is taking this necessary step to press the Mexican government for fair access to markets for America’s farmers. Mexican President Obrador’s ban on biotech corn is not based on science and is a clear violation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. It not only hurts our farmers, it denies families in Mexico access to safe and affordable food. “We encourage Secretary Vilsack and USTR Ambassador Tai to continue pressing for a...
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NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, Kent Bacus released the following statement on the USDA's new proposed rulemaking regarding the "Product of USA" label: "There is no question that the current “Product of USA” label for beef is flawed, and it undercuts the ability of U.S. cattle producers to differentiate U.S. beef in the marketplace. For the past few years, NCBA’s grassroots-driven efforts have focused on addressing problems with the existing label, and we will continue working to find a voluntary, trade-compliant solution that promotes product differentiation and delivers profitable solutions and for U.S. cattle producers. Simply adding born, raised,...
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A new proposed rule that will close loopholes that allow meat from imported animals to be labeled as “Product of the USA” met with applause from National Farmers Union (NFU) members and leaders Monday {March 6}. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for the first time announced the proposed rule during NFU’s 121st Anniversary Convention, to a standing ovation from convention attendees. “Once again President Biden has demonstrated the leadership and the strength to stand up for the family farmer and force the cooperate monopolies to play fairly and honestly by properly labeling our beef and pork so that consumers will...
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Colorado farmers, ranchers, and green industry businesses struggle to recruit and retain a qualified workforce, yet we lack the data to accurately understand the trends for each ag sector. Research and Extension faculty from Colorado State University are collaborating with key Colorado ag sector partners to design and promote an online survey intended to characterize how multiple labor related factors are impacting farm and ranch business perceptions, planning, operations, and decision making, in addition to mapping current trends and needs of ag employers in Colorado. This annual survey will help portray trends over time related to labor factors. Would you...
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A new date has been set for the 2023 Marshall Frasier Beef Symposium, hosted by the Colorado Livestock Association (CLA), on May 16, 2023, in Hugo, Colorado. Join livestock producers to learn important industry information, featuring a CattleFax market outlook from market analyst Troy Applehans. KKTV’s chief meteorologist and Weather5280‘s climate and long-range forecast specialist, Brian Bledsoe, will provide a forecast of the upcoming weather patterns for producers as they plan and strategize for the future. Bureau of Animal Protection Program Manager, Dr. Rebecca Niemiec will provide an update on the program and its latest activities. Dr. Matthew May of...
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Cholesterol tremendously increases the toxicity of a peptide implicated in Alzheimer’s progression, according to research by scientists in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics in Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The study, “Lipids uniquely alter the secondary structure and toxicity of amyloid beta 1-42 aggregates,” by Dmitry Kurouski, Ph.D., and research assistants Kiryl Zhaliazka and Mikhail Matyeyenka, was supported by a [post_excerpt].5 million Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award from the National Institutes of Health. It was published in FEBS Journal — the journal of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies. “The study found that certain lipids can increase...
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The Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) will hold a reception and awards ceremony on April 25, 2023, in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with NCBA’s annual Spring Legislative Conference. The evening will feature the announcement of the 2022 ESAP national winner from the group of seven regional winners that were recognized during the Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans in February. ESAP annually recognizes the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of U.S. cattle producers from across the nation. Cattlemen and women work every day to protect the environment, improve wildlife habitats and adopt the latest technologies...
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National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO, Ted McKinney joined fellow Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance members in highlighting FACA’s 2023 Farm Bill Policy Recommendations, and released the following statement: “The 2023 Farm Bill is agriculture’s opportunity to address one of the biggest challenges of our time - producing enough nutritious food to meet the demands of our growing global population while increasing natural resource conservation and climate mitigation efforts. “NASDA is proud to have participated in the development of the FACA farm bill recommendations, and we look forward to working with members of Congress and discussing how FACA’s...
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National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) commended a bipartisan group of senators, led by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI); Jim Risch (R-ID); Peter Welch (D-VT), and Susan Collins (R-ME) for re-introducing the DAIRY PRIDE Act, which would end the problem of consumer confusion of the nutritional content of plant-based beverages the Food and Drug Administration took inadequate steps to remedy last week. “DAIRY PRIDE is needed more than ever, now that FDA has offered guidance on the labeling of plant-based beverages that, while taking steps in the right direction, ultimately doesn’t remedy the problem it seeks to solve, which is the proven...
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The Montana Historical Society (MTHS) welcomes the Luppold/Buckingham Ranch in Meagher County and the Sanders Ranch in Granite County to the Centennial Farm and Ranch register. Both families received a certificate from Governor Greg Gianforte and a roadside sign to honor their families’ remarkable achievement. “By honoring families who have owned their land for 100 years or more, we help preserve Montana’s strong agricultural roots and the stories and traditions that define our rural communities,” Christine Brown, MTHS Outreach and Interpretation historian, said. “These families deserve a hearty pat on the back and recognition for achieving this rare milestone.” The...
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Montana Farm Bureau Federation’s (MFBF) members headed to the nation’s capital last week for American Farm Bureau Issues Advisory Committee Meetings (IAC) and to meet with their Congressmen. MFBF Senior Director of Governmental Affairs, Nicole Rolf was joined by Tom DePuydt, Federal Lands Committee; Jillien Streit, Farm Policy and Wes Jensen, Market Structures. The group visited Capitol Hill, where they met with Senator Jon Tester (D), Senator Steve Daines (R), and the staff of Congressmen Matt Rosendale (R) and Ryan Zinke (R). The 2023 Farm Bill topped the list of topics the group discussed with the leaders. “We were able...
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The first week in March, an insect larva found in the city of Moorhead, Minnesota, by the city forester and submitted for confirmation by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture was determined to be emerald ash borer. Emerald ash borer is a wood boring insect originally from Asia which was first found in the U.S. in 2002. It has since spread to 36 states and killed hundreds of millions of ash trees. Emerald ash borer adults do not fly more than a mile or two on their own; however, they can be moved long distances through the movement of firewood and...
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Reflecting on her year serving as the 2022 Miss Rodeo South Dakota, Adrianne Schaunaman said it was the “ride of a lifetime.” “If I could do this every single day of my life, I would because I love meeting people, I love traveling and I love representing agriculture, rodeo, and South Dakota,” Schaunaman explained. Named First Runner up and winner of the Public Speaking division of the Miss Rodeo America contest held during the 2022 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada, Schaunaman began in 2023 and life after Miss Rodeo South Dakota serving as the equestrian coach for her...
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At the 121st Anniversary Convention of National Farmers Union (NFU) today {March 6}, USDA Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack announced a proposed rule regarding the voluntary “Product of USA” label for meat, poultry, and egg products. In a release following his announcement, USDA wrote: “The proposed rule allows the voluntary “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” label claim to be used on meat, poultry, and egg products only when they are derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the United States. Today’s announcement delivers on one of the key actions in President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting...
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Many cow/calf producers are short on hay and hoping for an early spring. This webinar will discuss some options for getting lactating cows fed until the pasture is ready. With the drought of 2022, many pastures ended up being quite heavily grazed. There is always some uncertainty as to what the 2023 spring and summer weather will be like. This webinar will be a rapid-fire of how to get the most out of your pasture, using non-traditional feed resources to feed the herd until forage is available for grazing, and using spring-planted annuals to provide early summer grazing and give...
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American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President, Zippy Duvall spent four and a half hours before the House Agriculture Committee on February 28, outlining the challenges facing America’s farmers and ranchers. Duvall joined five other agriculture industry leaders in testifying and taking questions from lawmakers during the hearing titled “Uncertainty, Inflation, Regulations: Challenges for American Agriculture.” “There are certainly plenty of challenges for American agriculture,” Duvall told the committee during his opening comments. “From losses experienced in the trade war with China, to pandemic lockdowns, and supply chain disruptions. Add to it the record-high supply costs, and you see how farmers...
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On Tuesday, March 21, Wyoming students are encouraged to hop online for an engaging, one-of-a-kind career night featuring speakers from across the country, including Ryan “Cal” Callaghan of the “MeatEater” podcast and Netflix series. The free virtual event, hosted by the University of Wyoming Extension 4-H educators via Zoom, offers young people an opportunity to interact with professionals in fields ranging from zookeeping and dog training to leatherwork design, landscaping, and the culinary arts. “We can’t always bring people to Worland, but we can bring them online,” Washakie County 4-H educator, Amber Armajo said. The 2023 career fair begins at...
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USDA will host three educational events focused on animal handling and its effects on the quality, yield, and market value of cattle, the CME live cattle specifications, and emerging technology in the cattle industry as part of its ongoing outreach conducted by the USDA Cattle and Carcass Training Centers (Training Center). One of the events will be hosted by the newly established Training Center at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska. While anyone can attend the events, they are targeted to producers, feeders, and other stakeholders who want a better understanding of factors that contribute to the...
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USDA announced today {February 22} up to million is available for cooperative agreements for risk management education and training programs that support farmers and ranchers, including underserved producers, small-scale farmers, organic operations, and climate-smart farm practices. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) makes this funding available to provide the needed resources for organizations – such as universities, county cooperative extension offices, and nonprofit organizations – to develop education tools that help producers learn how to effectively manage long-term risks and challenges. “Agriculture is an inherently risky line of work, so we are partnering with organizations to provide valuable training, particularly...
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North Dakota’s Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring announced North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) awards for four projects. The awards totaling 0,000 were approved at the APUC quarterly meeting February 16 in Mandan. APUC is a program of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture that administers grant programs for research and development of new and expanded uses for North Dakota agricultural products which support the development of concepts and products that support our rural communities and agriculture operations. The grants can be used for basic and applied research, marketing and utilization, farm diversification, nature-based agritourism, prototype, and technology and technical...
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U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) recently held a public in-person listening session in Havre to hear directly from Montana Ag producers, local leaders, and members of the public in preparation for negotiating the 2023 Farm Bill. After the panel, Tester took questions and comments directly from the audience. Leading up to the 2018 Farm Bill, Senator Tester held seven public listening sessions across the state in Billings, Missoula (2), Kalispell, Glendive, Lewistown, and Great Falls. These forums focused on a variety of topics covered in the Farm Bill, including agribusiness, conservation, timber, and nutrition. Tester took this feedback to Washington...
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Amanda Kaster, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), and Governor Greg Gianforte announced that the State of Montana increased active forest management in 2022, nearly tripling the number of forested acres treated in 2020. “Creating healthier, more resilient Montana forests through active management is one of our top priorities, and DNRC continues to deliver results for the people of Montana,” Governor Gianforte said. “We’ve made incredible progress over the last two years to increase the pace and scale of forest management in Montana, and we’re not done yet.” In 2022, DNRC placed over 31,000 forested acres...
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The Chinese spy balloons that have traversed Montana should serve as a glaring wake-up call to all Americans about the increasingly aggressive and adversarial stance the Chinese government is taking against our country. China has made no secret of its plans to supplant the United States as the global superpower and the strides it is making to overtake America in terms of economic might and technological superiority. We’re in a race against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and it’s one we cannot afford to lose. Fortunately, the United States holds a big advantage over the CCP as the world leader...
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For the 60th consecutive year, Montana CattleWomen, Inc. is offering a 00.00 scholarship to a student from a Montana home that is enrolled in one of the state colleges or universities. Preference will be given to an applicant majoring in a field beneficial to the livestock industry. To qualify for this award, a student must currently be at least a sophomore in college and have a grade point average of 2.7 or better. The scholarship will be awarded to the student who is determined to have the best balance of grades, citizenship, and financial need. The winner will be announced...
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As the Montana Legislature approaches its transmittal break, Governor Greg Gianforte traveled to Yellowstone County today to discuss Montanans’ priorities, including investments in local disaster resilience and tax relief. “Montanans sent us to Helena to deliver on their priorities,” Governor Gianforte said. “In talking with folks in Yellowstone County today, it’s clear they’d like to see tax relief and the legislature act to invest in local disaster resilience.” The governor joined Billings Mayor, Bill Cole, Yellowstone County Commissioners, John Ostlund and Mark Morse, and Disaster and Emergency Services (DES) officials to survey the Billings Bench Water Association (BBWA) irrigation ditch....
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As western states are experiencing significant winter weather conditions following extended drought, livestock producers are facing high levels of supplemental feed needed for longer periods to sustain herds. Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming are among states calling upon the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) to consider relief programs. “We have seen a significant amount of persistent snow and colder temperatures leaving many of Nevada’s livestock producers with limited options to transport animals or feed,” Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director, J.J. Goicoechea said. Nevada has experienced multiple years of sustained drought with FSA offering programs for disaster...
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Histophilus somni (H. somni), formerly known as Haemophilus somnus, is a non-encapsulated, gram-negative bacterium in cattle, most commonly infecting feedlot cattle. It is a major pathogen of the bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex, along with Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida, making it an economically significant pathogen for the cattle industry. Although we most frequently associate H. somni with BRD, it also infects several other organ systems and is a causative agent for multiple other diseases that can be life threatening to cattle. Historically, H. somni has been found predominately in Canada, but in the early 2000s, it started popping up...
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“Can you give a pal a paw?” Ben mumbled. He shook his head up and down trying to free himself from this captor. “What happened?” Banjo asked. Ben continued to toss his head up and down. “It’s s’th’uck,” Ben said. This time it sounded like he had a lisp. The aluminum bowl flopped back and forth, dangling from his lip. “Looks like you’re in a pickle,” Banjo said and smiled. “That’s good and frozen to your lip.” “Would you just help a fella th’out?” Ben demanded. “It’s going to hurt,” Banjo said. “Ready?” Ben nodded his head with the bowl...
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Spring calving season, branding, and turnout may seem far away, but the next calf crop will be here before we know it. Now is an ideal time to talk with a veterinarian and ensure your current protocol is the right fit for your herd. Protecting young beef calves from bovine respiratory disease (BRD) should be high on the list of considerations, since the disease costs producers 0 million annually. For cow/calf producers, BRD is a common cause of death in young calves, and it can occur without warning on pasture when the passive immunity received through colostrum begins to wane....
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Once again, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is insisting that cattle in interstate commerce be identified with an electronic ear tag (EID). (see: Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison. Federal Register. Vol. 88, No 12, January 19, 2023. Page 3320) As in the many previous attempts to impose this on cattle producers, they claim that it is necessary to respond to the introduction of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). What USDA does not explain is how will having the millions of cattle moving interstate and identified with an expensive EID tag actually contribute to...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Foundation (MFBF) announced their annual Youth Speech Contest which will be held during the 2023 FFA State Convention, on March 23, at the Atrium Building, Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls, Montana. “One of the Montana Farm Bureau Foundation's most important goals is to promote agricultural education and leadership development of Montana's youth,” MFBF Director of Foundation Development, Alena Standley said. “This speech contest aligns with that goal very well and it’s exciting to offer cash prizes to this age group, so we hope it encourages participation.” The Youth Speech Contest is open to students in the...
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North Dakota has partnered with 23 other states in filing a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in North Dakota challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s newly revised definition of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS). In December 2022, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers announced the final revised definition of the WOTUS rule. This new rule was published in the federal register in January and is scheduled to go into effect March 20, 2023. “I fully support Attorney General Drew Wrigley in challenging the EPA’s revised definition of WOTUS,” Agriculture Commissioner,...
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The thermometer reads 17 below this morning, but I am in a wonderful mood, because I am fleeing from the tundra of Montana for a few days in Arizona. My torn hamstring has healed enough from doing the spilled dog water splits four weeks ago, and we are sunshine bound. We had previously been banned from going anywhere right before calving, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that the warm-up is coming and no calves will come early. The pre-calving travel ban was put into effect five years ago by our son, Bret, who had a negative experience when...
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Bruner Angus Ranch's 21st Annual Production Sale in Drake, North Dakota, was hot but the “Kids Corral” during the sale was the place to be!
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The latest USDA cattle on feed report was released on Friday, February 24, and it was largely in line with expectations. The total number of cattle on feed was down 4.1 percent from the prior year. Marketings were up 4.2 percent over the same number of slaughter days in January this year as last year. Placements were 3.6 percent smaller than the year before and were the smallest January placements since 2016. Each year the February cattle on feed report includes data on the number of feedlots, inventory, and marketings by size of feedlot. The report indicated there were 26,093...
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Reframing Rural, the original podcast series that shares sound-rich stories and in-depth interviews from century-old farms on the Western High Plains to the Red Ants Pants Music Festival, launched its third season, “Groundwork” to advocate for family farms and ranches. The podcast was founded in 2019 by storyteller and entrepreneur Megan Torgerson to cultivate curiosity and conversation across geographic, class, and cultural divides. It has since been celebrated as a grassroots media initiative that tells heartfelt stories from salt-of-the-earth guests from often-overlooked parts of Eastern Montana and esteemed rural advocates like Montana Business Hall of Fame inductee, Sarah Calhoun and...
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The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) releases projections on expected spending for farm programs for the 10-year baseline – the current budget year plus 10 years – up to three times a year. CBO’s most recent Baseline for Farm Programs was released on February 15. These projections identify expected outlays for farm program spending, assuming existing programs continue without changes, and indicate program spending available to Congress as crafting of the 2023 farm bill kicks into higher gear. Farm bill math creates a few possible scenarios. Depending on negotiations between the Budget and Agriculture committees, the next farm bill could be...
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My dad, Pops, had livestock dogs that were pretty darned handy to have around. Bobby, Jimmy, and Jigs are the ones I recall. They had Border Collie in their backgrounds or maybe Australian Shepard, possibly Blue Heeler, and who knows what else. As Pops would say, “They have it, or they don’t. You can’t teach it if they don’t, and they’ll do it pretty much by themselves if they do.” Bobby’s home was Pops’ pickup. He rode in the pickup bed, slept on a blanket under the toolbox, and stood on it when traveling. Pops glued a piece of carpet...
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Last week, Brazil reported another atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to the World Animal Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). That report indicated 35 days elapsed between when the case was first identified on January 18, 2023, and the date it was confirmed on February 22, 2023. This represents an unacceptable delay that is in clear violation of WOAH reporting requirements. It is clear that Brazil is incapable of prompt testing and the reporting requirements that all nations must follow when engaging in international beef trade. Because of a repeated pattern of delayed reporting, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association...
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A popular idea floating around the vegan community is that we could solve the whole climate change dilemma (hoax) overnight if all the world's vegan billionaires would donate a billion dollars each to buy up all the cows on earth and destroy them. I am far from being a mathematician, but I did a bit of number crunching on the back of a napkin to see if the vegan's idea would work. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, there are one and a half BILLION head of cattle on earth and let's say each one of them was worth...
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A much-favored line often quoted by preachers and politicians rightly notes that “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” Curiously, a famous American politician, former Vice President Hubert Humprey, and an even more famous attorney-turned-preacher, Mahatma Gandhi, are both credited as its originator. It’s doubtful, however, that many in Big Meat ponder its authorship, let alone its admonition. The latest evidence to highlight Big Meat’s low light is a mid-February case where, according to the Washington Post, a company named Packers Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI) paid a [post_excerpt].5 million fine...
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Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Scott, and other members of the committee, I want to begin by thanking you for what you do for America’s farmers and ranchers. A country that cannot feed its people is not secure, so the strong farm policy that supports a strong food supply truly is part of a smart national security strategy. There are certainly plenty of challenges for American agriculture. From losses experienced in the trade war with China, to pandemic lockdowns, and supply chain disruptions. Add to it the record-high supply costs, and you see how farmers and ranchers have faced unprecedented volatility...
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USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack recently announced the Biden-Harris Administration is investing million across the country to increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, expand market opportunities for farmers, and create jobs in rural areas. The investments support the Biden-Harris Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain, which dedicates resources to expand independent processing capacity. As President Biden has highlighted, creating fairer markets and more opportunities for family farmers helps bring down prices at the grocery store. “For too long, American farmers and ranchers have been asked to produce more to...
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On February 28, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Cory Booker (D-NJ) Rand Paul (R-KY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY); and Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) reintroduced the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act (OFF Act). The OFF Act will reform all commodity checkoff programs, including the beef checkoff program. The bill finds that “although the laws establishing checkoff programs broadly prohibit the use of funds in any manner for the purpose of influencing legislation or government action, checkoff programs have repeatedly been shown to use funds to influence policy directly or by partnering with organizations that...
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Another round of aerial slaughter of estray cattle in the Gila Wilderness came to an end on February 28. Over a three-day operation, the United States Forest Service (USFS) with a contracted APHIS Wildlife Services shooter reported to have killed 19 head. As stated in a release from the Gila National Forest (GNF), the entire project area was searched by the naked eye and thermal imagery, and no additional cattle were seen. The temporary closure of the operation area will end tomorrow, March 1st. “What a waste of taxpayers’ money,” Loren Patterson, President New Mexico Cattle Growers Association (NMCGA), said....
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County and state Farm Bureau leaders across the nation are sharing resources that will help farmers and ranchers keep safety top-of-mind through the Agricultural Safety Awareness Program (ASAP). As part of this year’s ASAP commemoration, March 6-10 has been designated as Agricultural Safety Awareness Week. U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Centers will join Farm Bureau in promoting the week with its theme “Lead the Way in Agriculture.” A different safety focus will be highlighted by Montana Farm Bureau and U.S. Ag Centers each day of the week: Monday, March 6 – Mental Health; Tuesday, March 7 – Preventive Health Care;...
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Legislation introduced on February 28 in the House and Senate represents nothing more than another attempt to allow activists to dictate to producers. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have long been supported by animal rights groups, and this collective group of bill sponsors has worked long and hard to dismantle our industry’s only self-funded promotion and education effort. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Lee (R-UT), and their partners Senators Rand Paul, (R-KY.), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Senate bill. Representatives Nancy Mace, (R-SD), and Dina Titus, (D-NV) introduced the House bill. “In...
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There's a dark ship coming on the horizon, a wave of foreboding regarding animal proteins, and the traditional way producers raise our favorite meals as red-blooded Americans. A future resembling a fusion of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein combined with the dystopian apocalyptic sci-fi thriller, Matrix. Then, of a future of rural farms and ranches dotting the countryside of our beautiful nation and the sometimes unpleasant but necessary industrial forms of some of today's agriculture production methods. What am I talking about? I am talking about cell-cultured, synthetic meat. Cell-cultured, synthetic meats are here now, and the potential pandora's box of dystopia...
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February is National American Heart Month, and to celebrate, the Nebraska Beef Council (NBC) has stepped up to the plate to advocate for the beef industry and beef consumption by “demonstrating that lean beef can be part of healthy eating patterns to improve cardiovascular health,” an NBC press release reads. Among the many misconceptions about the beef industry, one big piece of misinformation is that “beef and heart health are thought to be two topics that are at odds with one another,” Mitch Rippe, NBC Director of Nutrition and education, stated. Rippe explained that, in the past, consumers only thought...
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When a storm receives a name, you know it’s one to pay attention to. Winter Storm Olive, which set in with howling winds and frigid temperatures on February 20, was forecasted to drop heaps of snow across the Midwest with temperatures well into the negatives alongside unrelenting winds. With calves hitting the ground and production sales in full swing across Reporter Country, these types of forecasts bring a greater sense of urgency with lives and livelihoods at stake. However, for ranchers, especially those who have been in the business long enough, this type of weather comes with the territory. Don and Peg...
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“We are at a pivotal moment,” Jenny Lester Moffit, the USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, said during a plenary session titled “More and Better Markets” at the 2023 Agriculture Outlook Forum on February 23. “We are also at a moment where we can rise to the occasion […] We have the tools in our tool chest, and we have many opportunities to create new revenue streams.” Three panelists took time to explain how they are seeing just a few of the 50 different programs that USDA offers to build “more of new and better markets for our...
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“We see an increase in pressures and threats, both direct and indirect, on our food supply,” American Agri-Women (AAW) President, Heather Hampton+Knodle stated during a recent webinar, titled “A Secure Food Supply Equals National Security.” Over the course of the webinar, panelists provided examples of how U.S. food security and supply chain disruptions are both threatening our national security, and foreign adversaries like China are well-aware. Food security is defined as a person’s purchasing power and what food they can afford. Hampton+Knodle explained that one of the direct threats to food supply is the “more than 600 percent increase in...
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I chuckled. I laughed. I scoffed. I was left both bewildered, amused, and frustrated. I know I sound like I was about to write a review for a book or movie, but that’s not it. My boss, Mr. John Goggins, emailed me a News Break article last week titled “Easterday Files Federal Antitrust Lawsuit Against Tyson, Claims Unfair & Abusive Business Practices” that left me with every single one of those aforementioned emotions all at the same time. This article, written by Mia Carlson, provides an in-depth look into the litigative saga that has emerged between Cody Easterday and Tyson Fresh Meats (an...
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The packers’ attempts to slow the fed cattle market continue as weekly slaughter numbers for last week came in at 618,000 head, down 9,000 as compared to the week before, and 33,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Feeders held firm on prices the week before and carried over cattle from show lists into last week. From what I understand, there was a trade early in the week last week at 4 and feeders all over the country decided to hold firm on their asking prices. This resulted in fed cattle trading at 4 live and 0 to...
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The popular Montana Farmers Union (MFU) Women’s Conference is expanding this spring to include a second event in Eastern Montana. Registration is now open for the inaugural MFU Eastern Montana Women’s Conference to be held March 31-April 1 in Sidney. “The Women’s Conference is a low-cost event, and you will make new friends and learn new things not only about the area and the agriculture in your area but yourself at the same time,” Sarah Degn, a longtime Women’s Conference attendee and MFU board member who farms near Sidney, said. Holding the Women’s Conference in two locations increases access and...
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Today, cattlemen and women across the United States face turbulent times. The return of long-standing issues like “Waters of the United States,” and new Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings are just two examples of misguided, ineffective, and poorly implemented policies coming from federal regulators in Washington. NCBA is leading the fight against these harmful regulations, not only in the halls of Congress and federal agencies, but in the courtroom as well. Currently, NCBA is engaged in two lawsuits against federal authorities: the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently announced Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) final rule and the U.S. Fish and...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Foundation (MFBF) and the Montana Farm Bureau (MFB) Women’s Leadership Committee are offering several scholarships for students pursuing higher education. “Our Montana Farm Bureau Foundation and Women’s Leadership Committee are pleased to once again provide students with some financial assistance as they work toward furthering their education,” Montana Farm Bureau’s Director of Events and Foundation Development, Alena Standley said. Scholarships Available: The Montana Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee Scholarships: Two [post_excerpt],500 scholarships are available through the sponsorship of the MFB Women’s Leadership Committee. The scholarships are available to young men and women. The applicant must be...
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The future of the agriculture industry is in good hands, the Minore Scholarship Committee of the National Wheat Foundation discerned as it selected two recipients to receive a ,500 scholarship each. Reading through the applications demonstrated to the committee that there are many exceptional young people in a variety of agriculture majors who are and will continue to make a positive impact on the wheat industry. The applicants demonstrate a passion for agriculture and the wheat industry by pursuing education and careers that will benefit the industry for many decades to come. The National Wheat Foundation wants to congratulate these...
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On February 16th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 announced an upcoming virtual listening session on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap for Region 8 communities on March 8, 2023, and invited members of the public to attend and to speak. EPA Region 8 includes the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, and 28 Tribal Nations. This engagement session will provide information about EPA’s ongoing work under the PFAS Strategic Roadmap and what it means for communities in Region 8. The session will also provide opportunities for individuals to share feedback directly with EPA Regional...
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The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance released February 22 their policy recommendations for the 2023 farm bill. The farm bill is essential legislation that impacts every family in America and has enormous potential to help the food, agriculture, and forestry sectors achieve their climate mitigation potential while preserving and creating new economic opportunities. Further reducing emissions throughout agricultural and forestry supply chains will require a comprehensive effort involving financial and technical assistance, research investments, proactive response to innovation, public-private partnerships, and a commitment to equitable opportunities for all producers. FACA’s recommendations, developed by the 23-member steering committee, are divided into...
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At NACD’s 77th Annual Meeting, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of Inflation Reduction Act funding to support oversubscribed voluntary conservation programs. In Fiscal Year 2023, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will make 0 million available for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Agriculture Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Secretary Vilsack spoke to an audience of over 800 conservation professionals during his keynote presentation at the NACD Leadership Luncheon. "The reality is, we can't get it done without you. There needs to be a strong partnership...
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USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the Biden-Harris Administration is investing million across the country to increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, expand market opportunities for farmers, and create jobs in rural areas. The investments support the Biden-Harris Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain, which dedicates resources to expand independent processing capacity. As President Biden has highlighted, creating fairer markets and more opportunities for family farmers helps bring down prices at the grocery store. “For too long, American farmers and ranchers have been asked to produce more to...
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Montana State University (MSU) Extension’s Pesticide Education Program (PEP) and participating MSU Extension offices will offer multiple training opportunities for pesticide applicators this year. Training opportunities include five initial private applicator trainings in March and April and an urban pesticide education tour in April. Program dates and registration details are listed below. Initial Private Applicator Training… Initial private applicator trainings are seven-hour training opportunities for individuals to learn more about pesticides while qualifying for a Montana private applicator license. A private applicator license allows individuals to apply restricted-use pesticides on land they own, rent or lease to grow an agricultural...
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The U.S. Department of Labor announced that it will publish a final rule to amend how the Adverse Effect Wage Rates for the H-2A program are set to improve the rates’ consistency and accuracy based on the work actually performed by these workers and to better prevent H-2A workers’ employment negatively affecting the wages of U.S. workers in similar positions. The H-2A program allows employers to address temporary labor needs by employing foreign agricultural workers when a lack of U.S. workers for the positions exists, and as long as hiring non-U.S. workers does not adversely affect the wages and working...
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When we think about food trade, many think bananas. And that’s because Americans eat a lot of bananas. But the U.S. climate isn’t suitable for growing bananas and only small volumes are grown in Florida and Hawaii. This means if we want to eat bananas, we have to import them. And we do. The U.S. is the largest importer of bananas from countries like Ecuador and Costa Rica. Few would argue that importing bananas is bad, because it isn’t, even though we do run a huge trade deficit in bananas – meaning we import far more bananas than we export. ...
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On February 15 at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 2023 Winter Policy Conference, NASDA CEO Ted McKinney announced the organization is welcoming eight new members since the 2022 midterm elections. Two states elected new commissioners of agriculture, and governors in six states have announced the appointment of new NASDA members. “We are proud to create a forum through NASDA membership and our policy conference where all can come together to find the best solutions and opportunities for the agriculture and food industry. We’re excited to welcome these eight new members who we know will continue to challenge...
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After hearing argument on Wednesday, February 22, U.S. District Court Judge James Browning denied New Mexico Cattle Growers Associations (NMSGA) application for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop the USFS from the mass aerial slaughter of estray cattle in the Gila Wilderness. In his Memorandum Opinion and Order, Judge Browning found that preventing the operation would be adverse to the public interest and that the USFS Scoping Letter issued November 22, 2022, provided sufficient notice to NMCGA and other stakeholders of their intent to lethally remove the cattle. The Court further found that the Gila cattle are not “unauthorized...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for its voluntary Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Private landowners can apply at their local USDA Farm Service Agency office through April 7. Cropland not currently enrolled in CRP may be offered during this general enrollment period. In addition, producers with CRP contracts expiring September 30, 2023, may also be eligible. CRP acres in the state peaked 15 years ago at nearly 3.4 million acres. With just 1.1 million CRP acres across North Dakota’s rural landscape today, the availability of critical nesting and fawning habitat required by many wildlife species has fallen...
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Ronald Gene Horn November 26, 1936 – February 4, 2023 Ron Horn joined the love of his life, Louise, in their eternal resting place on February 4, 2022. Ron lived his life faithfully until his last breath. “To be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8) was Ron’s greatest desire and he lived his life as such. Ron was born on November 26, 1936, in Sedona, Arizona to Gene and Juanita Horn. He attended school at Phoenix Tech. After graduation, Ron spent his days working and enjoying many adventures. Unable to have children...
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An exhibit opening for the new exhibit, King Ranch – Legacy in Art, will take place Friday, February 24, at 3:30 p.m. at the National Ranching Heritage Center (NRHC) on Texas Tech University campus in Lubbock. “Visitors will hear stories from the artist, Noe Perez, and King Ranch Historian, Bob Kinnan, in this beautiful, informative account of the ranch and its artistic heritage through 20 paintings,” Robert Tidwell, Ph.D., NRHC Interim Helen DeVitt Jones Endowed Director of Collections, Exhibits, and Research, explained. The paintings are made available for the exhibit courtesy of King Ranch, Inc. After the program, guests will...
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The National Milk Producers Foundation (NMPF) commended three NMPF cooperative members who spoke up for dairy producers at a recent bipartisan House Agriculture Committee farm bill listening session held in Tulare, CA. California dairy producers Brad Bosch, Jared Fernandes, and Tony Lopes each discussed farmer needs as lawmakers begin work on a reauthorization of farm programs due later this year. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) presided over the session, accompanied by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Representatives David Valadao (R-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), John Duarte (R-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), David...
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The Tom Perrier Family will be recognized Thursday, March 2 as the 2023 Stockman of the Year. The award is presented annually by the Livestock & Meat Industry Council (LMIC) at the annual Stockmen’s Dinner that kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Stanley Stout Center. Register for the event by February 17. Tom and his wife, Carolyn, (Graham) Perrier are fourth-generation ranchers in the Flint Hills, Kansas. They were instrumental in implementing technologies such as performance recordkeeping, artificial insemination, expected progeny difference (EPD) use, and ultrasound evaluation since their return from military service in 1969. As confusing as it...
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Nearly 90 women gathered over their love of Montana’s farming and ranching communities this past weekend during the Montana Farmers Union (MFU) 10th annual Women’s Conference. Attendees listened to inspiring speakers, participated in hands-on workshops, and networked with women from across the state during the conference held at Fairmont Hot Springs February 10-12. “Women’s Conference celebrates the women who are the backbone of our rural communities, whether it’s directly in production agriculture, rural entrepreneurship, local food development, food system advocacy, looking to grow in leadership, or finding a network of women who want to learn and lead together, it’s truly...
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Charlie, Jari, and Kiwi are pet dogs with a superpower: Their sensitive noses can distinguish between a healthy deer and one sick with chronic wasting disease (CWD), all from a whiff of the deer’s poop. That’s the finding of a study by scientists from the University of Pennsylvania’s (Penn) School of Veterinary Medicine, published in the journal Prion. Using feces samples from CWD-positive deer and deer in which CWD was not detected, the researchers trained the dogs to identify the odor of CWD, alerting their handlers to its presence in the lab and in the field. “We were already quite...
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Deadlines for Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) award applications are approaching quickly. Each year BIF recognizes a Seedstock Producer of the Year and Commercial Producer of the Year. The deadline for both awards is April 1. Updated application forms are posted to the BeefImprovement.org website “Award Forms” page under the “Resource Center” tab. Each BIF member organization is allowed to make three nominations in each category. From the nominations received, five finalists will be selected for the Commercial and Seedstock Producer of the Year Awards. These five finalists will be notified and recognized at the BIF Annual Symposium. Drovers sponsors the...
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American Agri-Women (AAW) learned firsthand about the impacts and efforts to mitigate livestock predators from a natural resources panel at their annual convention. AAW President, Heather Hampton+Knodle said, "People may have seen ranchhands on 'Yellowstone' trying to save their livestock from wolves. Apex predator attacks on cattle, sheep, and other livestock aren't just made for TV, they are daily tragedies on many of our Agri-Women ranches and farms around the country." AAW's affiliate Montana Agri-Women lined up the panel to educate members on the issue of livestock lost to wolves and other predators. Panelists represented the Montana Livestock Loss Board,...
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The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) administered oaths of office to its new Officers and Executive Board members at their 77th Annual Meeting on February 14th. Kim LaFleur of Plympton, Massachusetts, was sworn in as president of the association. LaFleur has served in several leadership roles at NACD since 2007, including as a board member, executive board member, and most recently as an officer as NACD’s First Vice President and President-Elect. She also serves as the Board Chair of the Plymouth County Conservation District. LaFleur is the State Advisor and Program Director for the Massachusetts FFA Association, which is...
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In honor of National FFA week, February 18-25, 2023, Wyoming State FFA Association sent the Western Ag Reporter exclusive archived photos!
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In response to the FDA’s guidance on plant-based beverages, which guides manufacturers of plant-based beverages to disclose their nutrient inferiority and acknowledges the public health concern of nutritional confusion over such beverages, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), which has led the fight for labeling transparency, released the following statement: From Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation: “[This] FDA announcement is a step toward labeling integrity for consumers of dairy products, even as it falls short of ending the decades-old problem of misleading plant-based labeling using dairy terminology. By acknowledging both the utter lack of...
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The U.S. Cattlemen's Association (USCA) is pleased to announce that its Independent Processing Committee Chairman Patrick Robinette earned a spot on the USDA’s National Advisory Committee for Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). This committee advises the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on matters affecting the Food Safety and Inspection Service's inspection program activities, including food safety policies that will contribute to USDA's regulatory policy development. For over twenty years, Patrick and his wife, Amy, have built a successful meat business that feeds consumers all along the East Coast and across the U.S. The family owns and operates Micro Summit Processors, a...
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I had put got a good bunch of bucking horses and some real salty cowboys together and was touring the western part of Montana, giving shows and bucking horse contests. I can't remember if that was 1910 or 1911. We played at Livingston, Bozeman, Butte, Deer Lodge, Anaconda, Drummond, and then up the Bitterroot Valley to Hamilton. We had a pretty good crowd at Livingston, but at Bozeman we turned out the whole country. We got a lot of outside horses to ride and made good money there. We done alright in Butte, too. We had some tough luck at...
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I've had some crappy jobs in my life. I've picked citrus with a bracero crew from Mexico, and I've waded through pig poop for less than minimum wage, but by far the worst job I've ever had was shearing sheep. I did it because I could shear on weekends and evenings when I wasn't working in the oilfields. You could say, sheep helped pay for my sheepskin. (Are they even called that anymore?) I always arrived on time and wired my motor to the cattle racks on my grandpa's old Ford Econoline which embarrassed me to even be seen inside...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is now accepting applications for this year’s Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), with a total of 3 million available in competitive grant funds to expand and strengthen local and regional food systems and increase the availability of locally grown agricultural products. The funding available for this year’s program includes million in supplemental funding authorized by the American Rescue Plan, carry-over funding from last year’s program, and funds provided through the 2018 Farm Bill and annual appropriations. “Through LAMP, USDA is helping to maximize opportunities for economic growth and ingenuity in local...
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In honor of National FFA week, February 18-25, 2023, South Dakota State FFA Association sent the Western Ag Reporter exclusive archived photos!
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The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Montana is accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The funding for this current cycle comes through the Inflation Reduction Act and supports agricultural and forest landowners participating in voluntary conservation programs implementing climate-smart practices. To be considered for funding in the current cycle, producers and landowners should apply by March 17, 2023. “NRCS in Montana focuses our conservation investments to make the most impact on our working lands. The Inflation Reduction Act funding is a once-in-a-generation investment in...
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Neil Caskey, a long-time professional in the agricultural arena, has been tapped to lead the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) as its new CEO, according to the organization’s board of directors. NCGA board members say they are pleased to name someone of Caskey’s caliber to the top job. “Neil’s experience in agriculture is extensive, and he is well known as someone who gets the job done well,” NCGA President, Tom Haag said. “The board and I are certain that Neil will usher in new ideas and take the organization to new heights.” Caskey has served as NCGA’s vice president of...
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“See you there,” Ben said. He leapt into the back of the trailer. He loved this time of year. Winter celebrations with FFA week and skijoring. The trailer door clanged as Tate latched it securely closed. “Ready boy?” he said to Banjo. Tate opened the passenger door for Banjo to leap in. He did. “You get to go?” Tuff asked. He looked up to Banjo who was looking out of the lowered window. “Really? Don’t you need a side-kick to join you?” Banjo shook his head. “Maybe next year,” Banjo said. “He can only bring a couple of us for...
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Cooper Kemph is pictured with one of his 4-H ewes and her lamb. Cooper is 11-years-old and is raising his own 4-H lambs out of his own ewes for the first time this year.
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Mr. Marvin Swandal was the Vo. Ag. and General Science teacher in my hometown, White Sulphur Springs, Montana. He continued the Future Farmers of America, Smith River Chapter, started by Mr. Wood in 1956/57. I joined in ’59 through graduation in ’61. The FFA used Robert’s Rules of Order. Probably the first time some of us were aware of such rules. Mr. Swandal taught and enforced those rules at every meeting. They were a part of our classes. We became very familiar with them, and they became second nature to use. Mr. Swandal taught us welding, both gas and electric,...
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Volatile agricultural markets, inflation, recession, and a look at local and statewide economic issues are the focus of the 2023 Economic Briefing series, coming to Eastern Montana in mid-March. Faculty from the Montana State University (MSU) Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics will collaborate with economists from the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research to bring an economic briefing with emphasis on agricultural policy issues and forecasts to Sidney, Montana in the morning and Miles City, Montana in the afternoon on Tuesday, March 14. Breakfast will be provided at the Sidney event, and lunch will be provided...
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In honor of National FFA week, February 18-25, 2023, New Mexico State FFA Association sent the Western Ag Reporter exclusive archived photos!
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This year for the first time in 41 years, I will not be a participant in inducing trauma in children. Since I have retired as an educator, I will not be involved in the spelling bee. All across the country, kids are being traumatized not by cyberbullying or the Pythagorean theorem, but for another reason - they are good spellers. Yes, in preparation for the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in June, almost every county in every state is hosting a chamber of horrors for their best and brightest. Most adults have a tale of woe to tell about...
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During the stone age, I studied dietetics at New Mexico State University. At that time, most of my classes were in the Agriculture building. I liked that because - although I had an interest in nutrition - I also had an interest in cowboys. My advisor was not happy then, when I told him I planned to work summer vacations on my uncle’s ranch in Colorado. “It would look better on your resume if you got a job related to nutrition,” he said. So off I went with my horse to Colorado where I shopped for and prepared nutritious meals...
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Over the last several years, the teaching profession has been a major topic of discussion across the United States, especially with an ever-increasing demand for new teachers and a startling turnover of those already in the field. According to an EdWeek Research Center survey of over 1000 educators in 2021, 33 percent said it was “very likely” they would leave teaching within two years; couple that with the alarming fact that, according to research conducted by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, “Interest in the teaching profession among high school seniors and college freshmen has fallen 50 percent since...
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On February 6, the community of Sidney, Montana received notice that its century-old sugar beet plant, Sidney Sugars Incorporated (Sidney Sugars), would be ceasing operation as of April 14, 2023. Sidney Sugars was purchased by the Minnesota-based American Crystal Sugar Company (American Crystal) in October 2002 and currently employs 300 people on site, which doesn’t take into consideration the sugar beet growers themselves, custom sprayers, mechanics, welders, and truck drivers who have made this a viable and valuable part of the valley for generations. American Crystal CEO, Steve Rosenau stated that “Last year there were only 18,400 acres contracted. The...
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While the grey wolf conversation in Colorado has been centered around increasing population numbers, it’s a different story in Idaho where officials have been working to decrease a booming population. According to a recent study conducted by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) in 2022, there was an estimated 1,336 wolves; Idaho’s ideal population target is 500 wolves. Last year’s numbers represent a 13 percent decline, or 206 wolves, from their estimated 2021 population. These estimates were “based on camera surveys that measure the population during summer near its annual peak,” according to the IDFG survey press release....
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Input costs. Input costs. Input costs. They’re high and every producer, despite their industry, is feeling it - whether that is diesel, a bag of grain, fertilizer, groceries for their families, or rising hay costs. The cost of staying in production reflects these rising input costs and more ranchers are using all of their forage resources, including lower-quality forages, earlier in the year. Troy Rowan, PhD, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, explained that since the 1980s, there has been a continual decline in the national cowherd, and the “long term success of the beef industry” is going...
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I had a really great week preparing for our special National FFA Week Edition. I am thankful for the state FFA organizations who were willing to send in the archival photos that you will see trickled in throughout this week’s paper. I am interested to know if any of you recognize those faces or if any brought back memories. Both of my siblings were highly involved in FFA, and I gave it a go my freshman year of high school. Even though it’s now been 11 years since I memorized the storied “FFA Creed,” I still can’t help but recite...
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What I am going to talk about this week will not surprise many of you as I get around to talking about it most every spring - and we published an article about it on the front page following that string of storms in December - but the biggest thing I can urge everybody to do in the very near future is GET YOUR TURNOUT BULLS FERTILITY TESTED! It has already been a long, cold, windy winter around many areas of Reporter Country. November-February have all had bouts of deep snow, high winds, and extreme cold. The herd bulls around...
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The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has announced the 2023 recipients of the Friends of NACD District Grants Program during NACD’s 2023 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Friends of NACD District Grants Program supports locally-led conservation and advances climate resilience, education and youth development, and food security. Now in its fourth round of funding, the program is funded through donations individuals and organizations make to NACD. This year, eight conservation districts will receive ,500 to implement community-based projects. “NACD is excited to support innovative projects led by conservation districts across the country,” District Operations & Member Services...
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In honor of National FFA week, February 18-25, 2023, Montana State FFA Association sent the Western Ag Reporter exclusive archived photos!
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Two bills dealing with Montana Farmers Union’s (MFU) priority of securing producers’ right to repair their own equipment have been introduced. Both HB 475, sponsored by Representative Tom France (D), and SB 347, sponsored by Senator Willis Curdy (D), would provide farmers and ranchers the ability to repair their own equipment when a sensor or breakdown brings their work to a sudden stop. Delay in service from an authorized technician that farmers and ranchers are currently forced to use, when repair is needed, could cost a producer their crop. In addition to paying attention to upcoming bills, the MFU Government...
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On February 14, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) recognized winners of its national service awards at the association’s 77th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. The following awards were presented to recipients during the meetings closing event: The Hugh Hammond Bennett Awards for Conservation Excellence were established by the National Conservation Planning Partnership (NCPP) to honor the legacy of Hugh Hammond Bennett. This award is presented to one conservation planner and one conservation producer who demonstrate their commitment to conservation planning, pioneer new approaches to planning, and advance soil health adoption through civic engagement. The Hugh Hammond Bennett...
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During the school year, Amanda Wolf lives with her parents and four siblings in Sioux Falls. But during the summer months, she’s outdoors caring for goats, chickens, rabbits, and geese on her Aunt Megan’s Lincoln County farm. “I have a heart for agriculture,” the Roosevelt High School student said. “Farming and overall agriculture has been in my family for a long time.” During the summer months, she is also active in Lincoln County 4-H, competing in livestock judging and she shows rabbits, goats, sheep, and poultry. Over the years, she has become friends with other Lincoln County 4-H members. This...
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As part of his continued effort to support economic growth in rural communities, U.S. Senator Jon Tester secured .56 million through his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for the Rocky Boy’s/North Central Montana Regional Water System. The funding, which was awarded by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), will be used for core pipeline construction on segments 7 and 8, and the continued construction of a water treatment plant and segments serving the Havre, Chester, and Shelby Hub service areas. “Montanans sent me to the Senate to deliver for our communities,” Tester said. “This funding to build out top-notch...
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The Angus Foundation selected Gabriel Connealy of Whitman, Nebraska, to represent the Angus breed at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC). Each year, the Foundation selects and sponsors an individual to attend the conference, held in June in Denver, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Originally selected in 2020, Connealy’s trip was postponed several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Connealy is well-versed in both experience and history within the Angus breed. Growing up in Nebraska on his family’s Angus seedstock operation, Connealy Angus, he developed a passion for the industry and a desire to assist the family...
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The Trailblazers program, developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, takes advocacy to an unprecedented level by giving participants the tools and training they need to promote beef to new audiences while addressing and correcting myths. After a competitive application process, ten Trailblazers from eight states have been selected for the program’s second cohort of beef community spokespeople, including: Tucker Brown, Texas Colton Coffee, Montana Sam Cossio, Washington Allison Fender, California Rocky Forseth, Montana Macey Hurst, Missouri Joe Lowe, Kentucky Erin Perkins, New York Paige Schmidt, Kansas Ally Spears, Texas “We received more...
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In honor of National FFA week, February 18-25, 2023, Arizona State FFA Association sent the Western Ag Reporter exclusive archived photos!
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Since 2012, the Henry C. Gardiner scholarship application process creates an environment for qualified students to compete for elite undergraduate scholarships. Thirty-one students applied for the 2023-2024 Henry C. Gardiner scholarships. Their interests and future goals illustrate the diversity and attainable opportunities in animal science, production agriculture, and the beef industry complex. Henry C. Gardiner Scholarships for the 2023-2024 school year have been awarded to Taylor Dieball, Little River, Kansas; Rebecca Donaldson, Berryton, Kansas; Kristen Kahler, Basehor, Kansas; Clay Pelton, Paradise, Kansas; Ava Perrier, Eureka, Kansas; and Audrey Tarochione, London Mills, Illinois. A panel of K-State faculty and industry leaders...
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From NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern: “For the third consecutive year, U.S. dairy farmers have proven how their dedication to innovation and sustainability leadership increasingly have made them the world’s provider of choice for nutritious dairy products. In both value and in volume, U.S. sales are at all-time highs, and in 2022, a record percentage of U.S. milk production was exported overseas. This happened despite the headwinds our exporters battled last year, which included supply chain challenges, a lack of new trade agreements to establish more level playing fields abroad, and other barriers to trade that threatened to upend...
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The Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC) is proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. On February 10, 1973, the Wyoming State Legislature passed, and Governor Stan Hathaway signed the Weed and Pest Act into law. This law established WWPC and 23 districts throughout the Cowboy State. It was the first time all counties were required to have a District. While times have changed since 1973, WWPC continues to successfully manage invasive species, educate the public, and help keep Wyoming wild and beautiful. John F. Turner, a former Wyoming State Senator who was there to pass the act, stated how...
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Grass is to cattle as water is to conservation. Ironically, that analogy could be shuffled in any order and still carry the same meaning. To conserve grasslands, it is critical to maintain the ability to stock pasture with cattle, and to do so, access to stock water is necessary. That is why groups like the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA), a non-profit based in Malta, Montana, invests in assisting ranchers with water development through their conservation program. These water projects are meaningful to ranchers on any given year, but as drought choked the northern portion of Montana the last two summers,...
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Montana State University (MSU) scientists and their colleagues are sharing the results of a three-year study examining the importance of inoculant and sulfur fertilizer on lentil production. Scientists from MSU and North Dakota State University recently completed the study, which examined seven sites across the Great Plains. Researchers aimed to determine the effects of rhizobial inoculants and certain fertilizer nutrients (potassium, sulfur, and micronutrients) on lentil yield at each site and nitrogen fixation at two sites. The study was led by professor Perry Miller in the MSU Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences. According to Clain Jones, MSU Extension...
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The following is an outline of a few of Hawkins’ WOTUS testimony main points. The New WOTUS Rule Will Profoundly Affect Everyday Farming and Ranching Activities The definition of WOTUS is critically important to farmers and ranchers across the country, which is why AFBF and state Farm Bureaus have participated in numerous rulemakings, legislative proceedings, and litigation on this issue for decades. Farming and ranching are water-dependent enterprises. Whether they are growing plants or raising animals, farmers and ranchers need water. For this reason, farming and ranching tends to occur on lands where there is either plentiful rainfall or adequate...
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Farmers and ranchers still have time to be counted in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Although the deadline for submitting the ag census has just passed, NASS will continue to accept completed census questionnaires through the spring to ensure all farmers and ranchers take advantage of the opportunity to be represented in the widely used data. "We thank everyone who has completed their census to date. Since data collection began last fall, over a million ag census recipients across the country have returned their questionnaires, ensuring their operations and communities are represented,”...
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American Agri-Women (AAW) applauded the bi-partisan request to designate copper as an official U.S. Geological Survey Critical Mineral. Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mike Braun (R-IN), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) sent the request to the U.S. Department of Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland. AAW President, Heather Hampton+Knodle said, “AAW has long supported policies that allow the United States to be self-sufficient in food and energy production. Copper is one of several minerals that are critical for many industries, especially telecommunications and ‘green’ technology to meet energy goals set by policymakers.” The bi-partisan letter...
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As a part of his continued effort to lower costs for families and businesses, U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) called on the Biden Administration to fully reopen all ports of entry in Montana to pre-pandemic hours and terminate the vaccination requirements for Canadian truck drivers entering the United States through land ports of entry. Tester’s letter comes after meeting with Montana farmers and business owners who rely on trade and travel across the northern border via Ports like Raymond, Opheim, and Morgan. “Too often folks in Washington don’t understand what a hard day’s work looks like and the challenges Montana...
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The Montana State University (MSU) College of Agriculture has announced finalists for a new leadership program focused on sustainable agriculture and agritourism. The Montana Agritourism Fellows Program will center on the goal of developing leaders to advance sustainable agritourism. The fellowship is designed to engage agricultural producers and train them in methods of communicating and promoting sustainable agriculture for farmers, ranchers, professionals, and communities. It was funded by a grant from the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, or Western SARE, program. The inaugural cohort consists of 14 fellows, listed below with their city, occupation, and the focus of their...
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On February 13, the EPA announced ,914,000 from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address emerging contaminants, like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water in Montana. This investment, which is allocated to states and territories, will be made available to communities as grants through EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program and will promote access to safe and clean water in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities while supporting local economies. Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the availability of billion in water infrastructure investments at an event held in North Carolina. “Too many American...
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Following nearly three months of abundant precipitation across much of Montana, weather patterns changed in early January, producing relatively dry conditions for the month. January precipitation totals were lowest along the Rocky Mountain Front, northeastern Montana, and western Montana. Most of southwest Montana received slightly less than normal January precipitation. “The storm which brought two to three feet of mountain snow in many locations during the last week of January really saved us. Without that storm, basin-wide snowpack percentages across much of Montana might have looked similar to last year at this time,” Eric Larson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service...
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NCBA announced the winners of the 2023 Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards, sponsored by Cargill. “The 2023 winners exemplify high-quality animal care and handling principles as part of their day-to-day operations and are continually improving through BQA,” Josh White, senior executive director of producer education and sustainability at NCBA, said. “As good stewards of the cattle industry, they also encourage others to implement BQA principles.” The 2023 BQA Award winners are: 2023 BQA Cow-Calf Award: Wilson Flying Diamond Ranch, Nebraska Located on the western edge of the Nebraska Sandhills since 1888, the family behind the Wilson Flying Diamond Ranch has...
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“I thought I’d seen it all,” the papa said. “Until Banjo and his crew fended off that pack of wolves.” He topped Mr. Fogarity’s half-full cup of coffee off with a warm pour of the fresh brew. “It was impressive,” Mr. Fogarity said. He looked over at Banjo who lay by the mud room door and winked. “SLAM!” crashed the outside door against its frame. “Come quick!” Tuff called. Banjo leapt to his three legs. Tuff’s face had panic written all over it. “What is it?” Banjo asked. “Cowsuela,” Tuff said. “She’s calving, but something’s wrong.” When they got to...
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Montana farmers and ranchers face numerous challenges. Some of these challenges such as weather, commodity prices, and bank loan rates are beyond a single farmer’s ability to manage. On the other hand, there are challenges faced by Montana producers, which one could reasonably consider as manageable, yet in reality are not. One of the biggest challenges thrown in the face of Montana agriculture that falls in this category is when original equipment manufacturers lock farmers and ranchers out of repairing their own equipment. Farming is a seasonal operation. When crops are ready for harvest, hundreds of farmers engaged in their...
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WARNING! Do not read this column if you are about to eat or have just eaten. It may cause headache, diarrhea, constipation, cramping, bloating, and nausea. Professors at Wonkwang University in South Korea are testing ways to replace beef with meat made from mealworms. Baked or fried mealworms are now eaten in a few countries as snacks, although I don't think we'll be seeing Mealworm Doritos® at the next Super Bowl party nor can I see people picking through the peanuts for mealworms as if they were cashews in the Planter's® Party Mix. This story raises several troubling questions. First,...
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Montana consumers still won’t know for sure where their meat comes from, after the House Agriculture Committee tabled a bill that would have created more truth in labeling. Currently, imported meat can be labeled “Product of the USA” if it has been packaged in the United States. The Montana Country of Origin Placarding Bill, sponsored by Frank Smith from HD 31, would have required retailers to post a placard by beef and pork indicating to the best of their knowledge the meat’s origin. Tuesday, the bill was killed in committee on an 8-11 vote and was subsequently tabled by a...
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On February 16th, the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA) and stakeholders briefly met with officials from the United States Forest Service (“Service”) and APHIS-Wildlife Services, where it was announced the Service will commence the lethal removal of estray cattle in the Gila Forest and Wilderness areas beginning next week. Elaine Kohrman, Acting Regional Forester for the Southwestern Region was the spokesperson for the Service. The Service will impose a closure order to the Wilderness area on Monday, February 20th, and will commence aerial operations on Thursday, February 23rd. Gunning will take place over four consecutive days, they estimate there are...
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During this last month before calving begins, we are enjoying normal dinner hours and having an actual bedtime as we count down the days until calving starts, and that all changes. I love calving season now because I am pretty much a second-string player in the calving barn. Since we have an adult son as a partner on the ranch, I don't often get called out in the middle of the night or during a blizzard - unless for some reason they are really hard up for help or really tired. Primarily my function has become providing food, coffee, and...
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Twins Elaina (pink) and Maizy (dark pink/red) received twin heifer calves two years ago, and this year, both of their heifers calved 40 hours apart. Elaina’s heifer had a bull calf and Maizy’s heifers’ heifer had a heifer calf. Little sister Opal (blue flowers) will get to pick her pick heifers next year. The three Callison sisters are fourth-generation ranchers at Rimrock Angus.
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Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota native, cow-calf producer, and cattle feeder, became the new NCBA president during the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention, held this week in New Orleans. Wilkinson, along with his son, operates Wilkinson Livestock in De Smet, South Dakota. He has also practiced law for almost four decades and specializes in business transactions, estate planning and probate, real estate matters, and agricultural law. “If you run into me across the country, one thing that I will say time and again is if you’re going to be in the industry don't just talk the talk, you need to walk...
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Livestock producers will start noticing a change in how they access specific antimicrobial products, as some products will be switching from over-the-counter (OTC) to prescription (Rx) only status as a result of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guidance for Industry (GFI) #263. The guidance calls for animal drug manufacturers to change medically important antimicrobial drugs from OTC to Rx status by June 11, 2023. Now is the time to plan for a smooth transition, and Zoetis is actively working with veterinarians and producers in this time of change to help ensure continued access to the company’s animal health products....
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The humble egg has been in the news recently with surging prices to the likes we have not seen here in America in recent memory ever since the chicken was domesticated from the native Red Jungle Fowl by the Indus Valley civilization in India. Historians and scientists estimate around 7400-8000 BC. Chickens, and the incredible eggs they produce, have been a staple of nutritious and affordable protein the world over, especially here in American, with an estimated 102.4 pounds of chicken being consumed per capita here in the states and 286 eggs consumed per capita, according to the National Chicken...
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A new year brings new opportunities for youth in agriculture! The NILE Foundation is now accepting applications for scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic year. For over 30 years, the NILE (Northern International Livestock Exposition) has awarded scholarships to deserving FFA and 4-H students who have been leaders in their respective programs, excelled in the classroom, participated in NILE events and are actively involved in their communities. “Supporting youth in agriculture is a key component of the NILE Foundation’s mission,” Leah Morgan Clark, General Manager of the NILE, said. “It is critical that we continue to provide financial assistance to the...
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Women Flourishing in a New Era will be the theme of the 14th Biennial Women in Agriculture Leadership Conference (WALC), to be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 23- 25, 2023. This year marks the 21st anniversary of WALC and its impact on women in agriculture. Over 250 women from across New Mexico are expected to come together to develop their personal development leadership skills to help them succeed in today’s environment. They will also attend a great tour and hear top-notch entertainment. The ‘Diamond in the Rough’ award was created to recognize an outstanding woman in New Mexico agriculture...
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Editor’s Note: The following is our response to feedback pertaining to an opinion letter that ran in the reader opinion column, “Down Dirt Roads,” section in the February 9, 2023, issue of the Western Ag Reporter: First, we want to make it crystal-clear that opinion pieces which appear in the Western Ag Reporter are the opinion of the writer and do not represent the opinion or position of Western Ag Reporter. Since the opinion piece went to print, the following information has been provided to us. The advertisement in question was not authored or created by any ranching organization. It...
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House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member, David Scott is pleased to announce the following subcommittee Ranking Members for the 118th Congress: Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11) Subcommittee on Forestry Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06) Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture Rep. Jahana Hayes (CT-05) Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21) Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Rep. Yadira Caraveo (CO-08)
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This month, FFA members around the country will celebrate agriculture and FFA during National FFA Week. Today, FFA provides the next generation of leaders who will change the world. As the nation’s top school-based youth leadership development organization, FFA helps young people meet new agricultural challenges by encouraging members to develop their unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways. FFA members are our future leaders, food suppliers, innovators, and more! Whether through service projects or community gatherings, National FFA Week is a time for FFA members to raise awareness about the National FFA Organization’s...
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Two graduate students from the Montana State University (MSU) College of Agriculture were selected last month for a unique leadership experience coordinated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and will travel to the USDA’s largest annual meeting later this month. Caleb Hale and Trevor Palone are both doctoral students in MSU’s Department of Plant Science and Plant Pathology studying different aspects of grain genetics. They are two of only nine graduate students selected nationwide for the 16th annual cohort of the USDA Future Leaders in Agriculture Program. Twenty-one undergraduate students were also selected from land-grant institutions around the country. “At...
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Allotment owners in proximity to the Gila Wilderness were given notice on February 1, 2023, by the United States Forest Service (USFS) of intent to impound unauthorized livestock. The notice was given in pursuance to Regulation of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C. F. R. 262.10, stating all unauthorized livestock found upon the National Forest System Lands or other lands under Forest Service control within the following area may be impounded by the USFS on or after February 15th unless said livestock are removed permanently from the described land. Any unbranded livestock, or any livestock bearing brands of previously unauthorized...
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Following a sharp increase to close out 2022, the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer had only a modest increase in January, up 4 points to a reading of 130. The rise in sentiment was primarily attributable to better expectations for the future as the Future Expectations Index improved by 5 points to 127. The Index of Current Conditions rose only 1 point to a reading of 136. Although producers were a bit more optimistic about the future this month, they again reported expectations for tighter margins in 2023 than in 2022. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month...
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Seriously concerned about the process laid out by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the future of both their long-standing ranching operations as well as the existing big game and other wildlife in the Gunnison valley, one of the state’s oldest and most respected livestock associations, the Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association, Inc., today {February 15} filed detailed written comments on the CPW’s Draft Plan for the introduction of wolves into western Colorado with the Colorado Wildlife Commission. Coming from the Gunnison Stockgrowers, an organization long regarded by many as a progressive west-wide leader in integrating high altitude ranching with the...
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It is no secret that an alarming number of modern consumers have very little understanding of where their food actually comes from, nor do they have any opportunity to experience agriculture firsthand. This issue is one that the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) program, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), takes seriously with the goal of increasing “ag literacy through K-12 education” by providing educators with resources to “help integrate agriculture in their curriculum.” “Agriculture is a really great real-world example to see all sorts of concepts in action” Keri Sidle, Education Specialist for MDA, said. ...
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Too often, headlines are filled with stories of scandal and individuals whose motivations are purely self-serving. However, organizations, like the Colorado-based non-profit, Country Kickup (CKU), are a breath of fresh air, making waves for the exact opposite reason. While CKU is taking the line/swing dancing industry by storm, its origins and reasons for operation are what make it truly special. Nearly five years ago, Jordan Wagner was brainstorming ways to raise money for a church mission trip to a girl’s rescue center in Kenya. A few friends suggested she offer swing dancing lessons since she had some natural talent, and...
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Last week, we provided an outline of a few of the requirements under Colorado's ag employer law, Senate Bill 2187, such as wages and hours, overtime pay, and keys to record keeping. All of these were discussed during the Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) “Colorado Farm Labor Roundup.” Working Conditions… Under the “key service provider access provisions” in SB 87, all ag employers are now required to let individuals “who identify as a service provider […] onto your property to meet with employees who are on a break or otherwise aren’t working, unless they identify themselves as a healthcare provider” to...
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February is 4-H Month across the state of Nebraska; it’s a time where members, leaders, and extension agents alike are encouraged to share their 4-H pride through dress-up days, extra volunteer hour challenges, and chances for new families to ask questions and get involved. While this month provides great opportunities to highlight the many reasons why 4-H is a wonderful organization to be part of, extension agents across Nebraska, and the country for that matter, work year-round to reach as many kids as possible. Nathan Rice, who has been the 4-H educator in the Nebraska Panhandle for going on four...
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Last week, we had a Letter to the Editor from Hannah Kersting Cranor, of Gunnison, Colorado, imploring us all to go and comment on the Wolf Reintroduction Plan in Colorado. She said it was imperative for folks to do so, even if you aren’t living in the state, to try and bring some sanity to this otherwise ridiculous turn of events that Governor Polis has brought on the Centennial State. From my vantage point, the issue in Colorado is just one of many relating to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) right now, and it’s something that all of us need...
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The final beef export numbers came out from the United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF) last week. Throughout much of 2022, I mentioned to all of you that export numbers were on pace to set a new record. Well, they did! According to their report, “U.S. beef exports set annual records for both volume and value in 2022,” according to USMEF. “Pork exports finished lower year-over-year but export value was the third largest on record, trailing only the highs reached in 2020 and 2021 […] Lamb exports slowed in December, 2022 shipments were sharply higher than the previous two years,...
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The Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede will celebrate its 100th year on July 5-8, 2023 in Wolf Point, Montana hosted by the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit 2020 Medium Rodeo of the Year Stampede committee, along with the many dedicated Stadium committee and community volunteers. The weekend festivities will start Wednesday evening July 5th with a Steak Fondue at the Big Sky Corral and the Wild Horse Ranch Rodeo, followed by the Kyle Shobe & The Walk ‘Em Boys concert, located at the Marvin Brookman Stadium. Grand marshals chosen for the 100th are Clint and Arlyss Long, 40-year Wild Horse Stampede...
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It’s emotional. It’s financial. It’s pivotal. And it often gets put on the back burner. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service reports that family-owned farms and ranches account for 97 percent of the 2.1 million total in the U.S. Yet only 30 percent of these survive into the second generation. Only 12 percent are still operating by the third. What’s more, some 69 percent of the family farms surveyed expected ownership to continue into the next generation, but only 23 percent had a plan. Where is the disconnect? Reluctance to get into hard conversations, uncertainty...
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Payton Dahmer has been announced as the new Instructor and Livestock Judging Coach for the Kansas State University Animal Sciences and Industry Department. Dahmer will assume the role this summer. Dahmer received his associates degree from Butler Community College. During his time at Butler, he was member of the 2017 Livestock Judging Team, which was named “Team of the Year.” He then attended K-State for his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate. During his judging career at K-State he was a member of the 2018 Reserve National Champion Livestock Judging Team and the 2018 National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation Team. During his...
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The conventional organizations, which I collectively call the meat lobby, purport to represent American cattle farmers and ranchers and the downstream beef industry. This meat lobby has maintained a steady, drumbeat-like mantra for decades: Get the government out of agriculture. And, of course, with all their lobbying pressure and contributions, they successfully kept the government out of the U.S. cattle market for decades. And by doing so, this influential meat lobby put the biggest corporations and their powerful corporate boards in charge of overseeing the cattle market. Some of you will say that’s bologna, that the biggest corporations cannot control...
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A fungus that can colonize, or grow within, corn plants doesn’t just leave the plant unharmed - it also can help the plant stave off harmful bugs and other fungi, according to a new study by Penn State researchers. In the study, the College of Agricultural Sciences researchers studied the effects of the fungus Metarhizium robertsii on corn. They found that when the fungus colonized corn, the plants were less vulnerable to the effects of another fungus, C. heterostrophus, which causes the disease southern corn leaf blight. They also found that corn plants grown from seeds treated with M. robertsii...
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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) stated its opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to tighten national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). “At a time when the need to strengthen the domestic fertilizer industry has been made clear by multiple global crises and echoed by the Biden Administration, now is not the time to hamstring fertilizer production by making new production facilities or the expansion of existing production more difficult or, in some instances, impossible,” TFI President and CEO, Corey Rosenbusch said. “The fertilizer industry prides itself on innovation and sustainability and environmental stewardship...
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A gathering of sixty young farmers and ranchers braved snowy roads and sub-zero temperatures to attend the Montana Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Leadership Conference January 27-29 at Fairmont Hot Springs. Advocacy topped the list of topics with keynote speaker Courtenay DeHoff. Workshops included a community coalition panel, taxes, economic impact forecasts, and value-added agriculture. YF&R Chair Nick Courville congratulated the YF&R Committee for an excellent job and noted that the speakers were spot-on. “The networking opportunities are great,” the young rancher from Charlo said. "At our Friday evening social, everyone stayed with their group, but I challenged them...
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NCBA executive committee approved the organization’s policy priorities at the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, with a focus on advancing animal disease preparedness, protecting voluntary conservation programs, and defending producers from regulatory overreach. “Our focus is helping to create opportunity for America’s cattle producers and fighting to make sure the federal government does not damage our industry,” NCBA President-Elect, Todd Wilkinson said. “Cattle producers have been caretakers of the land and livestock for decades and are committed to conserving this country’s natural resources while producing high-quality beef. NCBA’s policy priorities include: Securing reauthorization of animal health provisions...
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Donna (Marsh) Schrunk August 13, 1935 - February 2, 2023 Donna (Marsh) Schrunk, 87 of Worden, Montana passed away on February 2, 2023, from a long-term illness. Born Donna Lou Marsh, on August 13, 1935, Donna was the second youngest of four children born to Lewis Marsh and Margaret (Hossfeld) Marsh. Donna’s childhood was spent on the family farm near Rapelje, Montana and she spent most of her life in Stillwater and Yellowstone Counties. Donna graduated from Rapelje High School in 1953 and after graduation she met and married Nick Weppler. They had four children, Max, Marsha, Valerie, and Keri....
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) named Nicole Ayache its first ever chief sustainability officer and Emily Yeiser Stepp the first ever executive director of its National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, bolstering its sustainability leadership and member service in recent staff promotions. NMPF also elevated Louise Kamali and Sage Saffran in recognition of their growing and expanding roles with the organization. Kamali is becoming Vice President, Meetings and Office Services, while Saffran has been promoted to Manager, Sustainability Initiatives. Each staff member brings unique talents to NMPF, Mulhern said. “As dairy cooperatives continuously improve their own sustainability...
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Grand Farm recognized North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) for its 0,000 contribution to the development of a 140-acre ag innovation facility near Casselton. Coupled with a previous donation from Farmers Union Enterprises, some 0,000 has been contributed by Farmers Union to the group’s capital campaign, making Farmers Union one of its largest contributors. “We are grateful for this commitment and dedication as we work to help growers grow more food, more efficiently, and more effectively with fewer resources to feed an increasingly hungry world,” Brian Carroll, director of Grand Farm, said. Grand Farm is a network of growers, technologists, companies,...
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A new publication released by the University of Wyoming Extension assesses insecticide resistance in alfalfa weevil populations in Wyoming, Montana, and Utah. Suggestions for preventing and combating resistance are also provided. Resistance occurs when economically damaging levels of the pest survive after labeled rates of an insecticide are properly applied. “This is the first recorded documentation of insecticide resistance for alfalfa weevil in Wyoming,” UW Extension Educator, Jeremiah Vardiman, a co-author of the report, said. “Producers and agronomists have been suspicious of resistance and now we have confirmation.” The publication, titled “Management of Insecticide Resistance in Alfalfa Weevil for the Intermountain West: Montana,...
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According to the newly released “Today’s Beef Consumer” report from NCBA, demand for beef continues to remain strong. The compilation of research from 2022, outlined below, shows that despite various challenges faced by the industry, consumers have repeatedly stated that they will continue purchasing beef, both in retail and foodservice settings. Consumer Insights… Consumer demand for beef remains strong overall. In fact, more than two-thirds of consumers reportedly eat beef on a weekly basis, or more. Inflation is certainly top of mind and more than three-quarters of consumers, 78 percent, report noticing an increase in the price of food whether...
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The American Agri-Women (AAW) Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2023 Daughters of American Agriculture Scholarships. The application may be found here: https://americanagriwomen.org/scholarships. The deadline is March 1. Late applications will not be considered. The Jean Ibendahl Scholarship (for ages 18-23) and the Sister Thomas More Bertels Scholarship (for ages 24+) honors the memory of these courageous and adventurous women who played an essential role in serving and leading and who encouraged agricultural pursuits. These scholarships are available to any farm, ranch, or agri-business woman to pursue accredited courses in agriculture leadership, communications, rural sociology, medicine, or other college-level...
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There it was, #5 on a New York Times list of “10 Nutrition Myths Experts Wish Would Die.” “Plant Milk is healthier than dairy milk.” “It’s just not true,” Kathleen Merrigan, professor of sustainable food systems at Arizona State University and a deputy secretary of agriculture under President Barack Obama, said in the article. But indeed, the myth persists, despite how plant-based beverages have much-lower protein, numerous additives of dubious value, and a lack of uniform quality that should give anyone pause. It’s also not shocking the misinformation continues. Money talks, and the plant-based sector is well-funded, with plenty of...
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The University of Wyoming Extension and Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality (WORTH) Initiative welcomes Hailey Moss as the state’s first WORTH Initiative Extension educator. Moss’ position is the product of an exciting new partnership between UW’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, home to the WORTH Initiative, and UW Extension. The WORTH Initiative supports economic diversification by leading applied research, developing new educational products and services, and providing outreach programs related to outdoor recreation, tourism, and hospitality. The initiative is made possible by the Wyoming Innovation Partnership, created by Governor Gordon in 2021. Tourism is the second largest...
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Sorghum bicolor, a pollen-rich grass species cultivated for grain and forage, which looks similar to corn, can be an important food source for pollinators and other beneficial insects during times when pollen and nectar are scarce. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Oklahoma State University (OSU) Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources found that sorghum, commonly called milo, served as a pollen food source for bees, hoverflies, and earwigs. Sorghum is primarily grown in the Central Plains and Southeast United States. Additionally, when sorghum is infested with sorghum aphids - which are...
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Last week the ranch crew took a visit to their neighbor's ranch, Mr. Fogarity. The wise man’s home was inviting and comforting, until not only Rascal began his swindling antics, but guests arrived. Who are the last animals Banjo wants him and his crew to find where they’re at, and what will it take for Banjo to dig deep inside him to believe in himself as a leader? Mr. Fogarity rocked back and forth in his rocker. The fire continued to crackle it’s comforting sounds. “It will be alright,” Mr. Fogarity reassured. “I promise, even you Rascal, it will be...
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The livestock industry is one of the last places left in society where character still has meaning and counts. I challenge those reading this to test your character. Let’s start with the following statement: “Ninety percent of all cattle raised in North America are injected with synthetic growth hormones throughout their lives to cause them to grow faster, and they are fed a diet loaded with antibiotics to keep them from getting sick because they are tightly packed into feedlots. “If you purchase meat at a grocery store, it's almost guaranteed that it was raised with hormones and antibiotics. Grocery...
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Equines that are naturally quieter usually take to our training more willingly, at least on the outside, and deal new experiences with less reaction than their “spookier” cousin. But this can lead us to believe they are safer to be around, though this may not be the case. Quite often, this type of individual has been over-handled and/or mishandled, basically leading to a misunderstanding in the horse’s mind about how we actually want him to respond to the stimuli of cues and interact with people in general. This can be particularly dangerous because they appear so safe and quiet in...
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Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) reintroduced the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act on February 2. The bill would establish minimum levels of fed cattle purchases made through approved pricing mechanisms, which includes negotiated cash, negotiated grid, at a stockyard, and through trading systems that multiple buyers and sellers regularly can make and accept bids. The bill also includes provisions to create a cattle contract library, mandating box beef reporting to ensure transparency, expedite the reporting of cattle carcass weights, and require a packer to report the number of cattle scheduled...
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When you were a kid, would your parents remind you (daily) to take your vitamins? Like they were important to your upbringing, they’re important for your herd, too. For about 35 years, Chris Cassady, PhD, Technical Sales Field Manager at BioZyme, and his family have raised Angus cattle in Illinois. They sell seedstock, bulls and a lot of show heifers, he said. When asked about the importance of cattle supplements – and his best piece of advice to fellow cattlemen, based on his own operation – he said: “You’ve got to have a goal and match your genetics to your...
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Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), announced the results of the company’s first-ever consumer transparency research study, finding that two-thirds of consumers say transparency in animal protein is extremely or very important. The consumer transparency study focused on consumers’ growing interest in transparency and its importance in their purchasing decisions and brand trust. The study explored consumer desire for transparency in animal protein, such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy, and their perceptions of industry transparency when it comes to...
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I grew up in the Sun River Canyon northwest of Great Falls, Montana, and thus Malmstrom Air Force Base. All the years I was growing up, a nuclear war with Russia was an ever-present threat. Our friends, the Mergenthals, who lived right by Gibson Dam had a warehouse full of dry food provided by the USDA in the event of a nuclear war. The Glory Hole (dam overflow) was a bomb shelter. I grew up thinking that someday there might be an alarm that sent us into the Glory Hole of Gibson Dam with all that food in the warehouse...
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Faith Johnson was having a heart-to-heart talk with her great grandparents’ mini Aussie, Belle, during her visit to her great grandparents' farm in Harlem, Montana.
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The USDA releases the Cattle report on the last day of January. This information is as of the first of the year. The report is the most thorough look at the inventory of cattle and calves in the country. This is the inventory base from which all marketing of beef for the coming years will be sourced. The January version of this twice per year report is the more comprehensive. Cattle producers in all 50 states are surveyed. And it is good to remember that this information is based on a survey. The USDA samples producers and then extrapolates the...
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The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program was created in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, grow the nation’s renewable fuels sector and reduce reliance on imported oil, based on required use of renewable fuels to satisfy Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) – volumes of fuels of various categories that the liquid fuel industry were required to incorporate into their supply. The program was expanded under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. On December 1, 2022, EPA proposed a multiyear rule that established required Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) targets and percentage standards for 2023...
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) commended the recent announcement that the U.S. Trade Representative has formally moved to advance a U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) dispute settlement proceeding and establish a second panel to determine whether Canada has been in violation of its market access obligations under the agreement. Canada’s unwillingness to abide by the tariff-rate quota provisions of USMCA has been an issue since the agreement’s implementation began. The United States won its first dispute panel on the matter in December 2021, which found that Canada was reserving most of its preferential dairy...
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I was recently watching a few elk calves jump, and run, and bounce, and rear at each other as they played in a meadow where their mothers were grazing. While I was watching, I couldn’t help but think about lambing with Pops. I’m sure many readers have lambed and are familiar with what goes on, or at least went on, when lambing in the fifties and sixties. I’m not sure how much has changed. When we were running our own place, we had a band of around 1200 ewes to lamb out. Pops did the day lambing and kept things...
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Tucker Brown, from Throckmorton, Texas, has been selected by NCBA as the 2022 Advocate of the Year. The award recognized Brown for his creative use of storytelling across social media platforms, along with continuing his family’s legacy as a sixth-generation cattle rancher. Well respected across the industry, Brown is active in his family’s operation, R.A. Brown Ranch and serves on the Leadership Development Committee for Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raiser’s Association. As a “farm gates always open” type of person, Brown said he doesn’t hesitate to answer hard questions about the beef industry and loves showcasing their West Texas multi-generational...
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We’ve been planning this trip for months. Let the kids run the ranch for a few weeks while we escape to a warmer climate. We need a place to ride our horses and get out of the cold for a while. So, in howling winds and subzero temperatures, we packed our live-in trailer, loaded the horses, and slowly maneuvered through snow drifts on our county road. Warm days ahead! We expected chilly weather that first day. Probably the only day we’d even need to wear our heavy coats, we thought. We anticipated a leisurely meal farther south, so I happily...
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In the ‘90s, the UK suffered 140 deaths from Mad Cow Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, aka BSE) possibly made worse by their taste for kidney pie. I worried that a single case of BSE in the U.S. could collapse our beef market and then on December 23, 2003, it happened. A downer, Holstein cow pinged positive for the BSE prion in Washington state. The four-year-old cow was a Canadian import, so authorities believed she had been infected as a calf and brought the disease with her when she crossed the border. Dang imported beef. Knowing that cattle fed rendered animal...
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Every year the Black Hills Stock Show (BHSS) kicks off the week with the Farm Credit Services of America Horse Sale. This year's two-day horse sale was nothing but exceptional as a large crowd of spectators and buyers gathered in the James Kjerstad Event Center on the Central States Fairgrounds in Rapid City, South Dakota. Dani Herring, BHSS Livestock and Ag Education Manager, expressed that for the third year in a row, they set another sale record with a total sale gross of ,653,000 with the highest sale average, at ,791, they have seen to date. For the 2023 sale,...
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During the Colorado Livestock Association’s (CLA) “Colorado Farm Labor Roundup,” Kevin Paul and Cindy Coleman, attorneys at Range Law in Denver, Colorado, gave producers “general guidance” for navigating the changing rules to SB 87, the agricultural workers’ rights bill that Governor Polis signed into law in June 2021. Since then, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) has adopted new rules regarding agriculture overtime and labor conditions that went into effect in 2022 and continue to pose challenges for agricultural producers. Previously, agricultural employees were exempt from the ruling, which they still are in terms of federal labor laws,...
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Brian Chicoine’s dad, Roland, encouraged his eight children to leave the family’s Elk Point farm and see the world. “Then, if you decide you want to come back to the farm, it is your choice – it is not a directive,” Brian explained. The sixth of eight children, like his older siblings, Brian followed his dad’s suggestion. After graduating from South Dakota State University in 1983 (his parents also encouraged all their children to pursue a college education), he began his career working for an agronomy company in Denver, Colorado. While in Colorado, Brian married Terri, a CPA. A few...
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The hearing about Montana’s Country of Origin Placarding Act, which I covered in my front-page story this week, was surprising, frustrating, and encouraging all at the same time. I’ll start with what’s encouraging: the fight for American beef isn’t over. In fact, I’m quite hopeful that it’s ramping up at the state and federal level, especially with the reintroduction of both the American Beef Labeling Act and the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. These are issues that must remain in the headlines, and these are bills that absolutely need to be passed. I encourage all of you to take...
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The highly anticipated Cattle Inventory Report came out on January 31, which was shortly after our press deadline for our February 2 edition. I really wish I could have talked about this report a week ago as it revealed some pretty interesting information. The total cattle inventory was down 3 percent as compared to this time last year. But I pay more attention to what beef cow and replacement heifer numbers look like. Total beef cow inventory numbers were down 4 percent as compared to last year at 28.9 million head. This is the lowest numbers we have seen in...
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For some time now cow country has been invaded by hordes of Silicon Valley nerds and geeks trying to peddle their technological wares. Finally, they may have come up with something that every cowboy in America can get excited about. Can you in your wildest dreams imagine that we will no longer need fences? That's right, no more riding fence, no more horses getting cut up, no more smashed thumbs from pounding fence staples, no more wire to stretch, no more sliced and diced arms and hands torn up by the "Devil's hatband," no more having to fence across creeks,...
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Charles Franklin Melaney July 20, 1937 – January 22, 2023 A life-long rancher who loved cattle, horses, dogs, rodeo, and, most of all, his family, Charles Franklin Melaney, of Wolf Creek, Montana, passed away on January 22, 2023, at the age of 85. Chuck was born on July 20, 1937, in Buffalo, South Dakota, to Charles and Gladys Melaney. The family moved to Harlowton, Montana, in 1944. Chuck taught Sunday School at the family’s church, and during high school, he excelled in basketball and football despite his small stature. As one classmate wrote in his yearbook, “You will be an...
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The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is hosting an Artist in Residence program June 19-23 at the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site in Bismarck. The program is open to all North Dakota artists at least 18 years of age. Artists will be paid a stipend of [post_excerpt],750 upon completion of the residency requirements. Participants will provide two public onsite presentations about their artwork, process, or tools. Artwork developed during the residency will reflect the Department’s mission statement: “… to protect, conserve and enhance fish and wildlife populations and their habitat for sustained public consumptive and nonconsumptive use.” For more information...
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Scholarship applications are now available for college students involved with the Angus breed. The Angus Foundation awarded more than 8,000 in scholarships in 2022 alone. The Foundation offers scholarships to undergraduate, graduate, and trade school students each year to help Angus youth achieve their educational goals and offset the rising costs of tuition. Applications are due May 1. “The Angus Foundation’s scholarship program is one of the most prominent and consistent ways our donors support Angus youth,” Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director, said. “Our scholarships pave the way for a bright future for our industry by ensuring young people...
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A non-profit conservation organization is partnering with state and federal agencies to seed 19,000-plus acres of eastern Nevada’s burned public lands. The aerial applications augment previous seedings that improve wildlife habitat and watershed health. Lara Derasary, wildland fire rehabilitation specialist for the Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition (ENLC), said that field assessments suggest the sites selected would benefit from additional seed to support revegetation and habitat restoration efforts. “Given the highly variable annual and inter-annual climatic conditions within the region, we may determine that some sites could benefit from seedings conducted over multiple years,” Derasary said. The ENLC, Nevada Department of...
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The Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC) wouldn’t be what it is today without the great members that continuously work hard to manage invasive species. Since 1973, supervisors and staff with districts across the state have provided years of dedicated service to keep Wyoming wild and beautiful. That’s especially true of Rod Litzel, who recently retired as district supervisor with the Johnson County Weed and Pest after working there for 34 years. Litzel grew up in Buffalo, Wyoming, and studied just two hours away at Casper College. To help pay for college, he successfully participated on the livestock judging team....
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While it may be a new year, U.S. cattle producers have not forgotten about the battles they’ve been fighting to achieve a truly fair and competitive market in light of obvious market consolidation, depressed prices, and current labeling standards that are misleading to the consumer. At the federal level, the American Beef Labeling Act - recently reintroduced by Senators John Thune (R-SD), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) - would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL). Additionally, Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tester, and Ron Wyden (D-OR) reintroduced the Cattle Price Discovery and...
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Western Ag Reporter is launching our 1st annual Winter Photo Contest! Anyone is eligible to submit photos. For photos to be considered they must showcase ANYTHING agriculture in the Winter months around Reporter Country. Photos of any livestock, farming, and ranching are highly encouraged. Email photo submissions to editor2@westernagreporter.com by March 8th, 2023. Photo Requirements: All images must be submitted by the owner themselves and are original images. Images found online will be disqualified. All images submitted are automatically released from copyright. After photos are submitted, Western Ag Reporter reserves the right to use any images submitted in print, digital, website, or...
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As he works through the transition process to step away from a daily role on his family’s fifth-generation ranch outside Casper, Wyoming, Brad Boner stepped into a new role during the American Sheep Industry (ASI) Association’s Annual Convention in Fort Worth, Texas. He will serve as ASI president for the next two years after a unanimous election on by the ASI Board of Directors. Boner joined ASI’s officer team in 2019 when he was first elected secretary/treasurer after representing Region VII on the ASI Executive Board. He was elevated to vice president in 2021 and now takes over as president...
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USDA recently named Simon Liu, Ph.D., the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). In this role, Liu will lead the agency in its efforts to leverage the latest advances in science and technology and develop innovative solutions to agricultural challenges facing the nation and world. While Liu was officially named as ARS Administrator on January 4, 2023, he has been acting in this role since June 2022. Prior to holding this position, Liu was the Associate Administrator for the agency's Research Management and Operations for more than seven years. He first joined ARS in 2010 as Director of the...
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Ben Peterson from Judith Gap, Montana has been appointed to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of 40 members, including Peterson, to the board, which is comprised of 101 members representing 34 States and five units. Members must be beef producers or importers of beef and beef products nominated by certified producer organizations. In addition to time spent running EL Peterson Ranch, Peterson also serves on the Montana Farmers Union (MFU) and Montana Premium Processing Cooperative boards. "Ben Peterson will be a strong addition to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and...
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Outsider influence in food and farming is growing, and the animal agriculture community is often pitted against those claiming the food system is “broken.” Ray Starling, author and attorney, will consider why this seems to be the case and what we can do to safeguard our future at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2023 Stakeholders Summit, themed “Partners in Progress” and set for May 4-5 in Arlington, Virginia. Starling’s new book, “Farmers Versus Foodies,” is available to attendees to purchase at a discounted rate during registration. An initial agenda has been posted on the event website and early registration discounts are...
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Today {February 6}, over 2,000 family farmers, ranchers, and rural and urban consumers supported by Missouri Rural Crisis Center, Western Organization of Resource Councils, Dakota Rural Action, and the Northern Plains Resource Council delivered a petition calling on President Biden to deliver on his promise to tackle extreme levels of corporate consolidation, boost competition, and put the interests of America’s farmers, consumers, workers, small businesses and our local economies before corporate control, extraction, and greed. “Family farmers are, yet again, facing a challenging economic situation this year, largely due to unfair and monopolized markets created by undue corporate control of...
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Join Montana Farmers Union (MFU) February 16 in Billings, Montana, for a complimentary dinner, connection with other members, and information about the Inflation Reduction Act, Rural Development, and MFU's legislative work. "Montana Farmers Union is all about providing educational opportunities for members to learn from each other and how to improve their farms, ranches, and soil," MFU President, Walter Schweitzer said. The gathering also is a chance to spend time with other like-minded people and hopefully buoy spirits after a year defined by drought, Schweitzer added. Along with the meal, attendees can look forward to hearing from: Kathleen Williams with...
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Lauren Larson knew from a young age that she wanted to become a veterinarian. “I was four or five when I understood what a vet was, and from that time on, it was the career I set my heart on,” Larson, the recipient of the 2022 South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) ,500 Graduate Scholarship, explained. In middle school, Larson began taking care of neighbors’ pets when they traveled. This is how she ended up adopting her first dog, Sydney. Her neighbors had recently become grandparents and they ended up traveling too much to care for Sydney. “From the first day...
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The Mannix Brothers Ranch, in Helmville, Montana, has been selected as one of seven regional honorees of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). The award, announced during the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NBCA Trade Show, recognizes the operation’s outstanding stewardship and conservation efforts. Regional winners will compete for the national award, which will be announced later this year. “The Mannix Brother Ranch is extremely deserving of this award and we [MSGA] are proud to have them represent Montana ranchers at this level. They have showcased throughout their 140-year history their commitment to stewardship and making the best use of...
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Appointed by Governor Gianforte in January of 2022, Christy Clark was officially confirmed by the Montana Senate on Thursday to serve as Director of the Montana Department of Agriculture (DOA). "I’ve known Christy as a friend and colleague for over 25 years,” Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) President, Cyndi Johnson said. “She understands production agriculture, market challenges, rural business development, and competitive barriers on a personal level. Christy brings that advantage to her position as the head of the Department of Agriculture (DOA). Montana Farm Bureau and Montanans across the state trust Christy, and we are excited to continue working with...
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For beef producers, lice present an ongoing problem for cattle, especially in winter and particularly in colder climates. Lice can rob cattle of valuable performance when it’s needed most, decreasing weight gain, and leaving cattle more susceptible to disease. While you may have treated for lice in the fall, there is a good chance you could see them begin to reemerge depending upon the product you used and when you timed your application. It’s important for cattle producers to understand there are two types of lice of concern: blood sucking and chewing. When it comes to blood sucking lice, systemic...
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Yellowstone County MSU Extension will once again offer private pesticide recertification credits at the MATE Show. Classes will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on February 16 and 17 in the MATE Theatre, located in the Montana Pavilion at MetraPark in Billings, Montana. Schedules for each day are as follows: Thursday, February 16 1:00 PM – Jennifer Solf, MSU Extension Agent in Musselshell-Golden Valley County – Weeds and Livestock During Drought 2:00 PM – Joe Lockwood, Yellowstone County Weed Superintendent, and Megan Hoyer, Yellowstone County Weed Crew Foreman/ Education Specialist – Weeds Growing Wild in Yellowstone County 3:00...
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Cattle producers from across the country gathered in New Orleans for the 30th annual Cattlemen’s College, which was held prior to the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show. Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis, is one of the cattle industry’s premier educational events and features live animal handling demonstrations and sessions with industry leaders tackling innovative topics. Cattlemen’s College sessions highlighted trending hot topics, the latest in grazing as well as live cattle handling demonstrations. Six educational tracks and 18 sessions provided attendees with valuable information about reproduction technology, herd health, practical nutrition management, better beef business, sustainable grazing,...
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The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) announced its 2023 Propane Farm Incentive Program, which provides financial incentives of up to ,000 toward the purchase of qualifying propane equipment — including irrigation engines, power generators, agricultural building, and water heating systems and flame weed control systems. The Propane Farm Incentive Program is a nationwide research and demonstration initiative that offers financial incentives toward the purchase of new propane equipment in exchange for providing operation and propane usage feedback. To make the application process easier than ever, PERC has created a new online platform with all materials necessary for program qualification...
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The first riding and roping contest I ever attended was given by Buffalo Bill Cody at North Platte, Nebraska, where I was born in 1876. It was the Fourth of July, 1882, and, according to all reports I have read, it was the first contest ever recorded. I went to the contest with my mother and her sister, Aunt Clara Hopkins. I was a small boy just six years old so don't remember too much about it. I do remember there was a lot of lumber wagons, spring wagons, buggies, and saddle horses there. I remember Buffalo Bill telling the...
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North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) opposes a bill that would significantly weaken the state’s corporate farming law. Having already been introduced and sent to the House Ag Committee, House Bill 1371 would remove swine, dairy, poultry, and cattle feeding from the definition of a farm or ranch. The bill opens the door for major corporations to own and operate livestock operations in North Dakota. North Dakotans overwhelmingly voted down similar exemptions in 2016. “The voters have already spoken on this issue – they do not want corporate farming in our state,” NDFU President, Mark Watne said. “We need to invest...
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For those interested in learning more about how to manage human resources on the ranch, the University of Wyoming (UW) College of Agriculture, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources will lead a seminar at Sheridan College Thursday, February 16 in Sheridan, Wyoming. The event is the second in a five-part spring seminar series organized by UW’s Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership (RMAL) program. Titled “Ranching in the West,” the series provides relevant, actionable information to Wyoming producers while facilitating practical, hands-on learning experiences for students. Events are hosted by UW and community colleges across the state. All sessions are live streamed...
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The ranch crew peeked around a tree, all of them, Cowsuela, Eweniece, Ben, and even Mrs. McBauck. “Should we knock?” Tuff asked. Banjo stared at the woodshop. The soft amber glow of the fire was inviting and even felt like it warmed their cold surroundings as they plotted their next move. Banjo looked over his shoulder. They weren’t very camouflaged behind this spindly winterized aspen trunk. “Bawhoo!” Moose bayed from inside. The basset hounds had the keenest of nose intel and knew anything and everything that was anywhere close. “No need,” Banjo said. “I think we’ve been announced.” The door...
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Working with animals like we do, we quickly learn that they can easily be divided into either prey or predator. Baby lambs, calves, and purse dogs are prey to predators like wolves, coyotes, and eight year old 4-H showmen. Antelope, horses, crippled bison, female joggers wearing headphones, and guys on bicycles are prey to mountain lions. Homeowners are prey to couples in nice clothes peddling religion door-to-door while pretty much every living thing in the sea is prey to the 150-ton blue whale. Looky-loos on car lots are prey to used car salesmen, heavy-footed drivers are prey to highway patrolman,...
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The Angus Foundation kicked off the year with a celebration commemorating 150 years since Angus cattle first arrived in the United States. The 150 Years of Angus celebration was held January 6 in Oklahoma City during Cattlemen’s Congress and raised nearly ,000 to support the Foundation’s mission. The event welcomed the Angus family for an evening of fellowship and featured refreshments, door prizes, auction items, and the announcement of the 2023 Angus Herdsman of the Year. In 1873, George Grant settled in Victoria, Kansas, with four Angus bulls from Scotland. In the following 150 years, the breed has built a...
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Kaylin Donnelly always keeps a close eye on the cows and calves at Donnelly Farms in Farmington, Minnesota. She is the daughter of David and Kjersta Donnelly and niece of Western Ag Reporter's very own Will Bollum.
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I will have been retired for one month this week, and somehow retirement is not working out like I thought it would. Perhaps the reason is that I retired from the only job where I actually received a salary. My bosses at my other jobs have not acknowledged my announcements regarding retirement. In fact, at my County School Superintendent retirement party, my husband gifted me with a state-of-the-art rechargeable high-powered LED spotlight so I will be able to illuminate the entire barnyard while night checking the heifers. He is such a thoughtful man! We did receive a very thoughtful gift...
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The popular CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as part of the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans, shared expert market and weather analysis. Prices and profitability will again favor cattle producers in 2023. The cattle industry is entering 2023 with the smallest cattle supply since 2015 as drought caused the industry to dig deeper into the supply of feeder cattle and calves. While the exact path to drought relief is unknown, improvements are also expected to translate to moderating feed costs, especially in the second half of 2023. Combined with increased cattle prices, cattle producers, especially...
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Drovers never fails to meet expectations for nonsense. In an article in the Drovers Daily, written by Nevil Speer (January 3, 2023, aginfo@farmjournal.com) we are offered a vision of a place called “Cowlandia” where a “free trade” utopia for cattle producers is imperiled by “anti-globalists.” Only one thing about this fairytale rings true: “free trade” always was a fairytale. What “free trade” has given us is the off-shoring of much of America’s industry. The loss of millions of good paying jobs impoverished entire sections of our country; the theft of sensitive technology including much that affects our national security and...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reminds our nation’s farmers and ranchers that the deadline to respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture is February 6. Producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. Last month, NASS mailed the Census of Agriculture questionnaires to every known ag producer in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Conducted just once every five years, the ag census provides a complete account of the nation’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Responding to the Census of Agriculture is required by federal law under Title 7 USC...
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Week four of the 68th Montana Legislature is working to accomplish the peoples’ business and we saw many bills continue their journey this week. Here is what your grassroots policy supported this week: Longtime friend and member of Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF), Christy Clark, was confirmed on Thursday by the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee to serve as Director for the Department of Agriculture (DOA). Her confirmation will now move to the Senate floor for a full confirmation vote, likely next week. Clark, whom Governor Gianforte appointed last January, has served the DOA since 2015 in a variety of...
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Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) applauded Congressmen Mark Alford (R-MO.), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA.), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) for introducing the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A-PLUS) Act. If enacted, the bill would remove an outdated regulatory barrier and allow livestock auction market owners to own or invest in small and regional meatpackers. The Administration, Congress, and the livestock industry agree there is a need for increased packer competition and additional processing capacity. Currently, livestock auction owners are not able to own, invest, or participate in the operation of a packing plant or meat marketing business due to dated...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) recognized seven of the nation’s top cattle operations as Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) regional winners for their environmental conservation efforts during the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans. The regional winners will compete for the national award, which will be presented during NCBA’s Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., April 24-27, 2023. “Farming and ranching families across the country continue to incorporate practices that protect and preserve land and water resources for future generations,” NCBA President, Don Schiefelbein stated. “These regional winners represent the cattle industry’s commitment to environmental...
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Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness are words that our country forbears, enshrined in our Declaration of Independence from the tyranny of King George III. These simple words are at the very core of our unalienable rights bestowed on us by our Creator. But why, you may ask, did Thomas Jefferson write it this way? Mr. Jefferson and our founding fathers drew upon the wisdom and guidance distilled through the arc of history from such varied and timeless sources as the Bible, Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, and John Locke. Thomas Jefferson and the rest of our founding fathers realized...
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Bruce Rastetter, Iowa’s longtime agricultural and political power center, has a sixth sense when it comes to making money. In 1984, according to the Des Moines Register, Rastetter “started feeding hogs on contract… and within two years, 500 head grew to 100,000.” A decade later, his Heartland Pork was the 12th largest hog farm in the U.S. Ten years after that, with Heartland wallowing in debt and low prices, Rastetter sold it and moved on to ethanol. His timing was nearly perfect; the federal government’s Renewable Fuel Standard was about to ignite a massive ethanol boom. Later, as that biofuel...
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Edmund Burke was an Irish member of the British Parliament during America’s struggle for independence. Philosophically, he knew the right for one man to rule another did not exist in natural law, so he did not oppose American separatists. Today, our great American experiment in freedom finds herself in a life-or-death battle and the words of Edmund Burke have come alive once again: “All that is needed for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Good men, consider this your call to action. Many have missed it, but we are 100 sorties into World War III,...
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Inclement weather creates challenges when processing cattle - whether preg-checking, vaccinating, or weaning in the fall, or giving cows pre-calving vaccinations or delousing treatments in mid-winter. Dr. Eric Laporte, of Nagel and Company Veterinary Services, Cow-Calf Health Management Solutions in Crossfield, Alberta, said one of the main challenges when working cattle in cold weather is keeping vaccines from freezing. Many people put a jar or jug of warm water in the box or cooler with the vaccines to keep the temperature above freezing, and for the syringes that are full of vaccines. “A friend told me about using containers that...
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On January 24, 2023, NCBA filed their Notice of Intent to sue the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the listing of the lesser prairie chicken (LPC) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As it currently stands, the LPC has been listed as “threatened” in the Northern Distinct Population Segment (NDPS), which encompasses the Texas Panhandle, the Oklahoma Panhandle, southwestern Kansas, and southeastern Colorado. The NDPS’ threatened distinction falls under the 4(d) rule, that species the “take” of LPC in these areas will not be prohibited if it occurs as a result of agricultural...
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At the start of the 2023 legislative session, politicians from Wyoming and Colorado made wild horse management a priority, but in vastly different ways. On January 17, Wyoming Representative John Winter (R-D28) introduced the “Wild horses and burros-best management practices” (House Joint Resolution No. HJ0003) bill, which looks to amend the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. In doing so, Winter’s bill would legalize the humane slaughter of horses in the United States, which was eradicated in 2007. Just five days earlier, on January 12, Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis (D-D17) and Representative Lorena Garcia (D-D35) introduced SB23-038, or...
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The January 20 and 27 installments of the Kansas State University “Cattle Chat” podcast provided some important tips and reminders for producers to consider when it comes to the females in their herd or the ones they’re looking to acquire. In one segment of the January 20 podcast, which is hosted each week by Dr. Brad White and several other panelists from the college of agriculture, they shared some thoughts about udder quality and at what point a cow should be culled because of it. Dr. Brian Lubbers stated that he has two, main criteria he considers when assessing udder...
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Winter storms have continued to ravish many areas around Reporter Country, including some portions of the major cattle feeding regions. It was pretty much a stand-off between the feeders and the packers throughout much of last week as the packers continued to try and use the weather to their advantage to slow the fed market down. Finally, on Thursday and Friday of last week the packers gave a little bit and [post_excerpt] higher money finally occurred. I was pretty skeptical as to what harvest numbers were going to look like with the lack of movement of fed cattle. Boy was...
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Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) bred four cotton lines that can be used to make self-extinguishing textiles when exposed to fire and will reduce the need for flame-retardant chemicals to be embedded in consumer products, according to a recent study published in PLOS ONE. The cotton lines were developed from cultivated cotton varieties and possessed a novel flame-retardant trait. When exposed to an open flame, the fabric from the new cotton lines self-extinguished whereas regular cotton fabric burned entirely in seconds. "Use of these lines to develop commercial cultivars creates an opportunity to...
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Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) members recently attended the American Farm Bureau Convention (AFBF) on January 6-11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Forty-six members had the opportunity to expand their knowledge on agricultural issues, hear nationally acclaimed speakers, and attend educational tours ranging from history to agricultural production. MFBF Vice President and Alzada sheep producer, Gary Heibertshausen served as a voting delegate during the Annual Meeting of Voting Delegates. “When you’re sitting in the delegate session, you see familiar faces and new faces from the different states. You feel proud when you see the Montana resolutions that have made it to...
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With new funding received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) will commence a trade show pavilion titled, “A Taste of the States: Las Vegas,” to help state agriculture departments promote local food and beverage products for export. The NASDA pavilion within SIAL America will take place in Las Vegas on March 28-30, 2023. SIAL America is the top food and beverage event in the United States. The funding NASDA will use to host “A Taste of the States: Las Vegas,” comes from a 40-year-old cooperative agreement...
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Doug Parke, Paris, Kentucky, has been elected Chairman of the American Simmental Association (ASA) Board of Trustees, succeeding Barry Wesner, Chalmers, Indiana. Parke has been involved with the Simmental breed for 40 years. With his wife, Debbie, they own and operate DP Sales and Management, Parke Livestock Enterprises, and DP Online Sales, and have been involved with hundreds of SimGenetics sales. Parke was involved with the Tennessee Simmental Association, serving as a board member and president, before moving home where he has served on the Kentucky Simmental Association board. He has served the Simmental Breeders Sweepstakes as a board member,...
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The 2023 Cattlemen's Congress Gelbvieh and Balancer® Heifer and Bull Pen Show was held on Monday, January 2, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Exhibitors welcomed judge Jirl Buck of Madill, Oklahoma, to evaluate and sort through four pens of heifers, and 13 pens of bulls. Gelbvieh Pen of Heifers Champion Pen of Three Gelbvieh Heifers was owned by Circle S Ranch of Canton, Kansas, with an average pen weight of 819 and an average weight per day of age of 2.71 pounds. Ranging in age from January 22, 2022, to February 21, 2022, heifers in this pen were sired by...
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Industry and philanthropic leader, Peter H. Coors will receive the Western Visionary Award from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum at the 2023 Western Heritage Awards. Coors will be recognized alongside some of the top names in Western film, literature, and music at the annual awards dinner on April 15, 2023. The Western Heritage Awards honors individuals who have made significant contributions to Western heritage through creative works in literature, music, television, and film, and serves as the induction ceremony for the National Cowboy Museum’s Hall of Great Westerners and Hall of Great Western Performers. The Western Visionary Award...
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Governor Mark Gordon and 24 other Republican governors issued a joint letter to President Joe Biden opposing the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and are calling on him to delay implementation until the U.S. Supreme Court issues a ruling in Sackett v. EPA. The Governors argue that President Biden’s most recent revision only further complicates the efforts to create certainty for rural communities. They make the case that the Biden Administration’s overburdensome bureaucratic agenda could not come at a worse time for American families struggling with high inflation and rising gas prices. “The rule is problematic in and of...
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Environmentalists seeking federal protections for the Arctic grayling are challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) 2020 decision not to list the Big Hole River-dwelling fish as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Monday’s {January 30} legal filing by the Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project and Butte resident Pay Munday is the most recent chapter in a decades-long saga over the management of Arctic grayling, which were once widespread throughout the upper Missouri River basin and are now found almost exclusively in southwest Montana’s Big Hole and Ruby rivers. In the lawsuit filed January 30,...
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Consumers have the right to know the origin of the beef on their tables, and ranchers have the right to a fair and competitive market. This is a reasonable expectation. However, after 2015, beef and pork were exempted from country-of-origin labeling (COOL) laws. As a result, consumers do not know where their beef comes from, and ranchers do not have fair prices. That’s why we are bringing forward country of origin placarding legislation (HB 350), which will set the story straight. Today, the “USDA Graded” and “Product of the USA” labels on the last package of beef you purchased are...
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National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced the appointment of key cattle industry leaders to serve on the association’s policy committees. The policy committees review, discuss, and vote on policy resolutions brought forward by NCBA members. These grassroots policies guide NCBA’s advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. “Policy committee leaders play a crucial role in directing NCBA’s advocacy efforts and addressing the issues facing the cattle industry,” Todd Wilkinson, NCBA President-Elect and a South Dakota cattle producer, said. “As a grassroots organization, we rely on volunteer leaders to step up and make their voices heard. I am proud of this new group...
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The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering 7,412 wild turkey licenses for the 2023 spring hunting season, 235 fewer than last year. Two of the 22 hunting units have more spring licenses than last year, eight have fewer licenses and 11 remain the same. Unit 21 (Hettinger and Adams counties) is again closed due to a lack of turkeys in the unit. Spring turkey applicants can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. The deadline for applying is February 15. Applicants should note that a general game and habitat license is required when applying for...
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Producers all over America recently received a letter from Mid-States Wool Growers Inc. (Mid-States) expressing that they will be “ceasing operations in 2023.” Mid-States general manager, David Rowe confirmed to the Western Ag Reporter that “2023, as we stand here today, is going to be the last year of operations.” During the first week of December in 2022, the Mid-States Board of Directors made a hard decision and voted to close their doors in 2023 due to “rising costs and no market for the wool that our producers send in” the letter wrote. May 1, 2023, will be their last...
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Bledar Bisha, a renowned food microbiologist and associate professor of animal science at the University of Wyoming UW College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources, was recently named a Wyoming Excellence Chair. The position, funded by the Excellence in Higher Education Endowment, recognizes faculty for exceptional contributions to teaching and research. State legislation states that chairs must expand university instruction and research in disciplines related to economic and social challenges facing Wyoming. “Dr. Bisha is a national leader in food and environmental microbiology,” Dean Barbara Rasco said. “We are proud to have him on our faculty.” Bisha joined the...
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Montana Premium Processing Cooperative (MPPC) announced its newest board member Casey Buffington, a fourth-generation rancher for Basin Coulee Cattle Company near Ledger, Montana. The position was effective January 1. In addition, Ben Peterson and Eric Bergman were unanimously re-elected to their current board seats. “It is my passion for agriculture and for protecting my family’s ranching legacy that motivates me to face the challenges ranchers combat each day and to actively pursue solutions and opportunities such as this one,” Buffington said in his bio to voting members. “MPPC’s mission aligns closely with Casey Buffington’s family ranch and retail business. He...
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More Hereford breeders and commercial users of Hereford genetics are discovering the feedlot and carcass performance of their genetics through various American Hereford Association (AHA) programs. Currently, 94 participants from 22 states are feeding more than 1,400 head of Hereford and Hereford-influenced feeder cattle at HRC Feed Yards, Scott City, Kansas. The numbers encompass the Hereford Feedout Program and the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) Fed Steer Shootout. "Every year, we see increased interest in these programs from our members and their customers because of the value they find in benchmarking feedlot and carcass performance in their programs and then...
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The Angus Foundation started the year with strong support for its mission, raising ,000 through the sale of four heifer pregnancies at the Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City and the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. The pregnancies sold in Oklahoma City at the Bases Loaded, Denim and Diamonds and Angus at the Congress sales and in Denver at the Foundation Angus Sale at the National Western Stock Show. Money raised benefits the Angus Fund, which provides unrestricted funding for Angus education, youth, and research. The pregnancies were generously donated by Brinkley Angus Ranch and Lazy H Ranch, Big...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced the appointment of North Dakota cattle producer Dan Rorvig as chair of the Tax and Credit Committee. “Dan’s extensive experience in the financial sector and the cattle industry gives him a valuable perspective on issues that impact cattle producers’ ability to do business,” NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, Kent Bacus said. “Dan will play an important role in guiding NCBA’s efforts to preserve critical tax provisions that promote a viable business climate and support future generations of family operations.” As a grassroots organization, NCBA policy committees provide a venue for cattle producers...
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Three juvenile grizzly bears tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus this fall. The three bears, one near Augusta, Montana, one near Dupuyer, Montana, and another near Kalispell, Montana, were observed to be in poor condition and exhibited disorientation and partial blindness, among other neurological issues. They were euthanized due to their sickness and poor condition. These were the first documented cases of HPAI in grizzly bears. A fox and a skunk in Montana also tested positive for HPAI last year, and the virus has been found in raccoons, black bears, and even a coyote in other states...
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North Central Montana Cattlewomen and the North Central Montana Stock Growers are offering their annual scholarship that is available to high school seniors and college students completing their sophomore year. Interest from a memorial fund honoring the memory of deceased members is contributed to by the Cattlewomen. Stock Growers supplies their portion of the scholarship through fundraising efforts and interest from money left by the Livestock Protective Association, a forerunner to the present Stock Grower organization. A high school senior or college sophomore who has maintained a C or 2.0 average in school and is interested in entering the field...
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Last week Randolph, Bailee, Tuff, and the Moose Intelligence agents were making their way back to the ranch to evade the wolf they’d experienced on their trek across the pass. However, when they got there, they saw that they wouldn’t be so lucky. The wolf was already looming over the ranch crew with his threatening presence. The animal intelligence crew quickly spread themselves into their pre-planned strategic positions around the ranch. Tuff and Bailee stayed where they were instructed. “My heart feels like it’s going to thump out of my chest,” Bailee said. “What do you think Rascal is doing?” ...
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You’ve all heard that silence is golden, and that all that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men and women to do nothing. So, let’s put these two idioms together in the context of the very real prospect that an insidious movement is well underway to rob United States livestock producers of their liberty. This movement, then, is the evil that will prevail if good men and women do nothing. And the silence of all these good men and women will indeed be golden for the liberty robbing evil doers who will most certainly prevail. So, silence...
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The other day I saw one of those bikes that looks like the riders are laying down while they peddle. Only this bike was a little different. The husband was facing forward with his legs peddling out in front of him while his wife was behind him facing backwards and peddling in the opposite direction. Yet the bike was moving forward! If that isn't a fitting metaphor for marriage, I don't know what is! Next year, my wife and I will celebrate 50 years of wedded bliss. My marriage is the thing I am most proud of in my life,...
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) commended Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and leading congressional dairy advocates for providing 0 million in additional, targeted payments under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP) that will aid medium-sized and larger producers who missed out on equitable payments during the first round of assistance in 2021. “While losses due to the combination of unforeseen market circumstances and an inadequate Class I pricing system have not been fully remedied, USDA and congressional efforts will aid thousands of dairy producers who otherwise would have absorbed losses created by policies that didn’t work for them,” Jim...
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In the early 1900s, in Montana - around Billings, on the Crow Reservation, in the Bull Mountains, on the Madison and Jefferson Rivers, around Dillon, and elsewhere - there was thousands of good horses raised on the range. A lot of the Western Montana horse sellers used to stop to feed and water at Billings and have a sale. What horses wasn't sold at Billings was shipped on to Miles City. There was a big sale yard at Miles City, and it was one of the largest sale yards in the Northwest. Eastern horse buyers used to buy horses at...
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U.S. dairy producers and processors are paying close attention to preliminary discussions about the 2023 Farm Bill in anticipation of critical reforms to Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs). The prevailing consensus within the industry is that the FMMOs currently in place do not reflect today’s market environment, which could increasingly have detrimental consequences for dairy processors and farmers alike. Key among the industry’s concerns are so-called “make allowances,” an important part of FMMOs that have not been updated since 2008, and were based on data from as far back as 2006. Make allowances are an estimate of dairy processors’ cost...
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Join the Society for Range Management (SRM) for their 76th Annual Meeting in Boise, Idaho where the theme “Rangelands Without Borders” depicts a schedule of events that offers something for everyone – from ranchers, to students, to range professionals. For five days, from February 12 – 16, 2023, the world’s rangelands will be the topic of conversation around downtown Boise thanks to the presenting sponsors, United States Forest Service (USFS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The schedule is packed with educational workshops, technical tours, awards ceremonies, and committee meetings in which direction is set for the Society’s year ahead....
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I have gone on record as a proponent of global warming - especially when the thermometer dips below zero. Following December’s storm dubbed “Storm Elliott,” which brought record-low temperatures to Montana and Wyoming, I am starting to wonder if global warming activists like Greta Thunberg, Al Gore, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are so full of hot air that they have mistaken their core temperatures for global warming. We just survived the coldest December temperatures on record with a record low of negative 50 degrees in Elk Park, north of Butte, while the wind chill record was set at negative 72 degrees...
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Allie Calderwood (three) and Trey Toelle (five) became fast friends in the Yards at the National Western Stock Show, making “cheesecake” for their families. Allie was with DC Herefords in Eckley, Colorado and Trey's family operates TK Herefords in Burwell, Nebraska.
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Jeff and Kathi Creamer of Lazy JB Angus in Montrose, Colorado recently received prestigious acknowledgement for nearly 40 years of hard work. Their cumulative management experience, industry knowledge and dedication to the Angus breed earned them recognition as 2023 Angus Herdsmen of the Year. Since 1984, the Creamers have assisted Kathi’s family’s operation, Lazy JB Angus, which they now own and operate after taking over the reins in 1999. The couple, alongside their adult children, manages over 300 registered Angus cows, with roles including everything from breeding, feeding, marketing, daily show cattle care, secretarial work, irrigation, harvesting hay and anything...
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We get our eggs from a chicken farmer in our area. They come in all different sizes and various shades of brown. Better yet, he leaves our order at my son-in-law’s veterinary clinic so I can pick them up whenever we come in with dogs, horses, or cows. Last week, our egg supplier apologetically sent word that he had to increase the price of his home-grown eggs by a dollar a dozen. No argument here. These fresh delicacies are still a bargain compared to what we pay at the store. And we are more than thankful he still has a...
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Civil disobedience is the smiley face for citizens nullifying bad law. When you disobey you must accept the consequences and over my life, I have disobeyed the hard law of gravity three times. On October 19, 2002, I was bolting a log truss in the ceiling above my living room. From a height of 15 feet, I plunged to the concrete floor and suffered a traumatic brain injury. I had emergency surgery, spent ten days in the ICU, and then went to rehab. I should have died, but I got better. On March 7, 2011, during my third legislative session,...
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Input costs have quickly become one of the biggest profitability limitations producers across every sector of the ag industry are facing. In the livestock world in particular, input costs have been accompanied by a pervasive drought and dwindling forage resources, and it’s obvious that the land will take some time to recover once the moisture finally comes. Dr. Megan Van Emon, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist for Montana State University, explained in depth the steps that producers can take to mitigate some of those high costs in an economic and environmental climate such as this during the Idaho Range Livestock Symposium...
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On January 19, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released a proposal to “amend the animal disease traceability (ADT) regulations to require that eartags […] be both visually and electronically readable in order to be recognized for […] interstate movement of cattle and bison covered under the regulations.” It will also “clarify certain record retention and record access requirements and revise some requirements pertaining to slaughter cattle.” The proposal argues that these changes would help state, Tribal, and federal entities identify, locate, and “quickly respond to high-impact diseases” that exist in the United States, “as well as...
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Thousands of Western Industry women around the world came together “to celebrate women’s contributions to the Western Industry” at the world-renowned event, Art of the Cowgirl in Queen Creek, Arizona. This Art of the Cowgirl’s fifth year, and “this year's [event] exceeded my expectations,” Tammy Pate, horsewoman and founder of the event, said. “[At] our first event, there were probably about 1,500 people that attended, and I suppose I gave over half of those tickets away,” Pate laughed. The first two years of the Art of the Cowgirl were hosted at the Corona Ranch near Phoenix, Arizona before the event...
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As of January 1, 2022, the United States sheep population was 5.07 million head, which is down two percent from 2021 according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Some contributing factors to this population decline include predations, drought conditions affecting available feed and forage for grazing, fewer overall sheepherders, and fewer wool buyers, which is causing the wool to be repurposed and stored. These factors are all major red flags for sheep producers, highlighting the need for consumer/public education as well as training and networking for producers themselves in order for the sheep...
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I want to start my column off this week by thanking Jim Wood, a Glendive, Montana rancher who took time out of his busy day to give me a call in regards to my “Editor’s Perspective” from January 12 where I criticized the GOP’s handling of the Speaker voting. Mr. Wood explained how he was downright proud of Representative Matt Rosendale (R-MT) and the rest of the Republican Representatives who stood their ground and made Kevin McCarthy put his promises in writing. I completely agree with Jim that the individuals who stood their ground through 15, grueling rounds of votes...
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The January Cattle on Feed report came out late last week. This report was deemed “Neutral” due to the fact the numbers came in pretty much like the pre-report estimates. Total number on feed was guessed at 96.8 percent with a range of 96.5-97.4 percent and came in at 97 percent. Placement numbers had an average guess of 91 percent with a range of 89-94.4 percent and came in at 92 percent. Marketings had an average guess of 94.7 percent with a range of 94-96.2 percent and came in at 94 percent last year. One can call it Neutral if...
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The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) previewed the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule. This update to the USDA organic regulations strengthens oversight and enforcement of the production, handling, and sale of organic products. This final rule implements 2018 Farm Bill mandates, responds to industry requests for updates to the USDA organic regulations, and addresses National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) recommendations. “Protecting and growing the organic sector and the trusted USDA organic seal is a key part of the USDA Food Systems Transformation initiative,” Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Jenny Lester Moffitt said. “The Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule...
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Recently, there has been a media blast by John Deere claiming a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with American Farm Bureau Federation provides right to repair for farmers, ranchers, and independent repair shops. A closer look at the non-legally binding document shows the devil is in the details. John Deere signed a similar MOU in 2018, with the California Farm Bureau, when the California legislature was on the verge of passing a right to repair bill. Their strategy worked as the bill lost momentum and failed on the last vote. John Deere never honored that MOU. People should not trust...
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Governor Joe Lombardo has approved the appointment of Dr. Julian Joseph (J.J.) Goicoechea as director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA). “I’m excited to announce J.J. Goicoechea as the new Director of the Department of Agriculture,” Governor Lombardo said. “J.J. is one of the best and brightest leaders in agriculture in Nevada, and I’m grateful for his willingness to serve our state. I know that the Department of Agriculture will greatly benefit from J.J.’s thoughtful leadership, wealth of knowledge, and decades of hands-on experience.” Director Goicoechea is well-versed in agriculture industries, previously serving the NDA as state veterinarian from...
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The 68th Montana Legislative Session is in full swing and the halls of the Montana Capitol are once again filled with legislators, lobbyists, media, constituents, and many others. Time has flown since the last Session adjourned and we are happy to be back in-person representing Montana’s farmers and ranchers. Here is what our focus has been to date: Red Tape Removal. A big theme of the session has been reducing the regulatory burden for all Montanans. Many of the bills we have supported in the 2023 Session have been under the Administration’s “Red Tape Relief Project” and we are very...
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Montana State University (MSU) will host “What is Your Horses' Horsenality?” as a part of its Equine Education Snippet Series from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25, at Miller Livestock Pavilion, 2730 W. Garfield St., at the Bozeman Agricultural Research and Teaching Farm. Presented by MSU’s Department of Animal and Range Sciences and Montana Agriculture Experiment Station program, the seminars are open to MSU students and community members interested in learning about horses or expanding their existing knowledge of equine care and behavior. No registration is required. Attendees should wear sturdy, close-toed, comfortable shoes appropriate for being...
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The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Community Agriculture Initiative. This initiative supports the conservation efforts of Montana’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners from small acreage to large. NRCS accepts applications year-round, but applications for the current funding cycle must be submitted by February 14, 2023. “Agricultural producers of all sizes provide local, nutritious food to their communities. Through this initiative, NRCS is prioritizing assistance to first foods efforts, farm-to-table projects, and many other types of community agriculture,” Tom Watson, NRCS State Conservationist for Montana, said. “This includes an expanded set of conservation practices tailored...
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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Alexis Taylor, and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Doug McKalip issued the following statement after meetings with Mexican government officials regarding President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s decree to phase out the use and importation of genetically engineered corn and other products by January 31, 2024. “U.S. officials continue to engage with our Mexican counterparts at the highest levels to address our grave concerns with Mexico’s biotechnology policies. We appreciate the active engagement between U.S. and Mexican government officials following U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom...
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Registration is open for the 15th annual Marshall Frasier Beef Symposium hosted by the Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) on February 15, 2023, in Hugo, Colorado. Join livestock producers to learn important industry information, featuring a CattleFax market outlook from market analyst Troy Applehans. KKTV’s chief meteorologist and Weather5280‘s climate and long-range forecast specialist, Brian Bledsoe, will provide a forecast of the upcoming weather patterns for producers as they plan and strategize for the future. Bureau of Animal Protection Program Manager, Dr. Rebecca Niemiec will provide an update on the program and its latest activities. Dr. Matthew May of Feedlot Health...
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The 68th Session of the Montana State Legislature is underway and Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) is hosting a Calling on the Capitol February 6-7 in Helena, Montana. The event provides an opportunity for farmers and ranchers to see the Montana Legislature in action, receive issues updates, and attend meetings with Montana’s leadership. The event includes meetings with Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras, Attorney General Austin Knudsen, and the Senate and House Agriculture Committee chairs, as well as leadership in the Department of Agriculture, Department of Livestock, and Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Participants will have the opportunity to sit in...
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William Holcomb Webster October 7, 1932 - January 10, 2023 Bill Webster born October 7, 1932, long time cattleman and friend to many, passed away on January 10, 2023, at the age of 90 in his home accompanied by his daughter and caretaker. As Dad tells the story, he met Sylvia West (Eaton, Colorado) at the Greeley Rodeo fairgrounds when they agreed to a first date. As Bill pulled his car into the farmyard of her Swedish family, he remembered Sylvia's parents standing outside to “look him over.” But before he could drive his car out of the yard, she...
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Wildlife managers urge outdoor enthusiasts to consider where they recreate during North Dakota’s leanest months to spare already stressed animals simply trying to survive the elements. While this advice is true during any Northern Plains winter, it hits this year with some significance considering winter arrived in mid-November with purpose and no sign of when it will end. State Game and Fish Department managers understand North Dakotans want to get outdoors and have fun in winter. Even so, the tougher the winter is, it is important that people riding snowmobiles, shed hunting, cross-country skiing, or doing whatever are cognizant about...
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New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA) recently awarded four scholarships during the annual Joint Stockmen’s Convention. Recipients and their families were recognized during the Stockmen’s Award Luncheon, the afternoon of December 16, 2022. Purina Mills along with NMCGA Young Cattlemen’s Leadership (YCLC) and the Allied Industries Committees worked together to fund two [post_excerpt],000 scholarships and two 0 scholarships. Purina Mills Scholars, receiving [post_excerpt],000 each, were Emma Traylor and Sterlin Mitchell. Emma is from Capitan where she was raised on her family’s ranch learning the value of hard work, but to always enjoy the little things. In high school, Traylor worked...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers with perennial forage crops of an option to report their acreage once, without having to report that acreage in subsequent years, as long as there are no applicable changes on the farm. Interested producers can select the continuous certification option after USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) certifies their acreage report. “FSA’s continuous certification option simplifies future acreage reporting of perennial crops, and it can also help streamline the application process for many of our farm programs, including disaster assistance programs,” FSA Administrator, Zach Ducheneaux said. “For example, when persistent drought conditions...
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Colorado State University graduate students Ashley Schilling of Timnath, Colorado, and Lane Giess, of Pierz, Minnesota, have each been awarded a ,000 W.D. Farr Scholarship by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF). The annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program, established by NCF in 2007, recognizes outstanding graduate students who plan to pursue careers furthering the beef industry. Schilling and Giess were selected from 21 applicants based on their academic achievements, leadership and commitment to the advancement of the beef industry. They will be recognized during the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, February 1-3, in New Orleans. Schilling graduated from...
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Responding to a need revealed in their earlier studies, a team of Penn State researchers developed and pilot-tested a customized food safety training program for farmer’s market vendors. The training caps several years of research and addresses a problem in Pennsylvania and other states related to inadequate food safety practices among farmers market vendors, noted team leader Catherine Cutter, professor of Food Science and assistant director of Food Safety and Quality Programs for Penn State Extension. Cutter said the training and research are especially relevant because the farmers market movement is thriving, with the sale of locally grown agricultural products...
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I’ve been in the dairy business all my life. My parents, Pat and Peggy, launched Sustaire Dairy here in Winnsboro, Texas back in 1966, and while I was growing up, they expected me to pitch in wherever and whenever I could. In 1990, I bought 17 heifers of my own to add to our 100-head operation. Today, my son, Garrett, and daughter, Jordan, represent the third generation of Sustaire Dairy. Throughout my nearly 33 years in the dairy business, a lot has changed. There are much larger operations, fewer small family-owned dairies, computerized milking technology, and evolving consumer preferences, just...
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“Time to go,” Randolph said. Tuff jolted awake. The wind and swirling snow had stopped. It was a pristine, clear night. The stars reached out to him. Their twinkling lights guided their way as they sent out across the blanket of glistening snow. “We’re almost there,” a moose said. “But it’s not the same way as we came up,” Tuff questioned. “That’s the idea,” the other moose said. “The wind has an extra chill in its call tonight,” Randolph said. “The kind that makes you look over your shoulders.” “Any sound is better than the howl,” Bailee said, softly. She...
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Horses biting or chewing on tack is a common issue and can be very frustrating and costly. We are going to discuss just a couple of reasons that cause this and what can be done about it. Most often, horses find the end of the lead rope that they’re tied with, and this is what we find a few minutes later, covered in green slobber. As with any habit, the sooner you can address it, the easier it will be to break. It can be especially destructive if they turn their chompers to their blanket/rug, or your bridle reins or...
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The Biden administration is attempting a top to bottom remaking of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which will only spell more frustration and pain for American taxpayers. Media headlines have focused on the plan to increase the IRS sixfold, with 87,000 additional agents and billion in new spending on enforcement and litigation. The House of Representatives has voted to eliminate most of that funding, but the threat remains. Though they may be hampered in enlarging the size of the IRS, this administration will continue to expand its scope. Buried in the Inflation Reduction Act are vaguely worded sections on...
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If you're a country music fan, like me, you've no doubt heard the song, “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off.” Well, my wife doesn't like Tequila, but white wine does make our VISA card run hot. You know how wives are always complaining that their husbands never take them anywhere? Well, for the 40 years I was a road agent, I took my wife places even she didn't want to go, like the cocktail parties I drug her kicking and screaming to the night before big cattle auctions. "Do we really have to go?" she'd plead. "Yes, it's part of...
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Ellie Ann Lofton is five and is pictured with one of her family’s Herefords during the junior heifer show at the National Western Stock Show. Ellie “loves her Herefords and cannot wait to show,” her mom said. They traveled from their ranch, MKL Herefords, in Wesson, Mississippi.
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This past weekend, I attended a natural cheese making workshop presented by Allison Cooley Agee, and the take-away for me is that cheese making is extremely labor intensive. There are so many steps and so many pitfalls to avoid that my cheeses would have to sell for at least .00 per pound to make it a profitable venture. I applaud people like Allison who make amazing raw milk cheeses, but since I am basically lazy, I think I will just stick to buying cheese instead of making it. The experience did remind me of an old story about making cheese....
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2022 was filled with mountains for U.S. cattle producers to climb. From high feed costs to the third consecutive year of drought, there was no shortage of complex obstacles, many with effects that will carry through well beyond 2023. This Market Intel is a deep dive into the 2023 cattle outlook, and what producers can do to position themselves for what lies ahead. Inventory… All eyes will be on USDA’s semi-annual cattle inventory report, set for release on January 31. This inventory of cattle and calves in the United States will set the tone for 2023. Many industry experts are...
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Everyone wants cattle that breed easily, calve early, and display good reproductive performance. Though this may sound simple enough, how do cattlemen achieve those things simultaneously? “I’m a big fan of a concept called ‘positive momentum’ because I believe really good reproductive success this year ensures really good reproductive success next year,” Dr. Bob Larson, a veterinarian with the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University, said. During the Angus University webinar, “Keys to Reproductive Success: Female Edition,” Larson shared tools and practices to help cattlemen achieve optimal success in their cow herds. One way to achieve this goal is...
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Have you ever noticed that on a cold day, snow on a horse’s back sits there and doesn’t melt? When the sun shines and things warm up again the snow melts off. Hair is a pretty handy insulation that horses and other animals have. I remember the first time I got on a bareback bronc at our local rodeo. While sitting on her and getting ready for the gate to open, the mare shook. For some reason, my mind immediately took me back to Vo-Ag when one of the local Veterinarians was invited to come in and teach a few...
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American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall commented today {January 19} on AFBF’s legal challenge to the new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. AFBF and NCBA joined 16 other organizations representing agriculture, infrastructure and housing, as well as county and state Farm Bureaus in filing suit. “Farmers and ranchers share the goal of protecting the resources we’re entrusted with. Clean water is important to all of us. Unfortunately, the new WOTUS rule once again gives the federal government sweeping authority over private lands. This isn’t what clean water regulations were intended to do. Farmers and ranchers should...
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As expected, the 2023 Farm Bill express is not running on time. In fact, it didn’t even leave the station when its chief engineer, Pennsylvania Republican and incoming House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Glenn Thompson, said it would. That’s no surprise; it’s Congress, after all. Indeed, it would have been a big surprise had it started on the date Thompson had scheduled, January 7. Instead, he and his 221 Republican colleagues were still slugging it out on the House floor before finally putting Californian Kevin McCarthy – four days and 15 ballots later – into the Speaker’s office. One Republican House...
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North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) is set to host the Evolution Ag Summit: The Carbon Conundrum on February 21 in Jamestown, North Dakota. The one-day event will focus on carbon reduction initiatives that may shape agriculture and food supply chains. “It’s important that farmers understand how they can benefit from programs and initiatives to store carbon through specific farming practices that help balance the atmosphere,” North Dakota Farmers Union President, Mark Watne said. “We’re connecting producers with industry leaders at this summit, so all have a deeper understanding of programs and carbon-reduction initiatives.” Zach Johnson, The Millennial Farmer, will keynote...
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USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack on Thursday announced the Biden-Harris Administration is investing .6 million across the country and taking several other steps to help farmers, ranchers, processors, and rural businesses diversify the nation’s meat supply. “USDA is putting the needs of farmers, ranchers, and consumers at the forefront of the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to strengthen the resiliency of America’s food supply chain while promoting competition,” Vilsack said. “USDA has undertaken a department-wide approach to coordinate ways to deliver more opportunities and fairer prices for producers, to give people access to healthier foods, eliminate bottlenecks in the food supply chain and...
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If the first ten days are a trend, 2023 is going to be a trainwreck. Kicking us off, Damar Hamlins cardiac arrested on Monday Night Football on January 2nd. If you are going to have the big one, you best do it where you are surrounded by EMTs with a fully charged defibrillator. Damar dodged the first bullet only to arrest again during transport. It took a second jolt to give him his third at-bat and thankfully, he has been dismissed from the hospital. Five days later, January 7th, Old Dominion basketballer Imo Essien collapsed on the court clutching his...
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On January 12, the Stockyards Beef Festival (SBF) made its debut at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in order to “honor the legacy” of the Stockyards, “and celebrate the future” of the NWSS itself. By opening up the brand new Stockyards Center to the public, the event organizers hoped to not only “showcas[e] the world’s best beef, direct from the ranches who produce it,” but also wines produced around the country. On top of the beef and wine tastings, the entertainment included “authentic Bluegrass” music by the O’Donnells out of Tennessee, a Stockyards Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for...
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Global experts assembled on January 11, 2023, for a National Hog Farmer and Feedstuffs panel discussion on animal health and control of disease epidemics as it broadly relates to African Swine Fever (ASF). “Prevention is key,” Dr. Maria Celia Antognoli, Swine Health Senior Staff Officer at APHIS Veterinary Services, began. “Once a disease enters a country, the likelihood of controlling it, of course, is reduced and the challenges are huge.” Dr. Antognoli emphasized the importance of border biosecurity, biocontainment, and traveler’s screening. A regulatory framework that allows for confiscation of susceptible swine and the associated penalties is also key to...
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Typically, when the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colorado is being discussed, many talk about the livestock shows, the famous stockyards, the cattle sales, and the PRCA Rodeo that is held each and every year. But there are so many other outstanding displays of the western way of life, like the NWSS Youth Ranch Horse Mentor Matchup Program (Mentor Matchup). In 2019, the Mentor Matchup made its debut at the NWSS by allowing contestants, ranging from the ages of 14-21, the chance to debut their ranch versatility skills with one-on-one practice with some of the top equine professionals...
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As an industry “we have a lot of fingers pointed at us,” Dr. Steve Paisley, University of Wyoming Extension Beef Specialist and cattle producer, said during his discussion at the Johnson County Cattlewomen's Women in Agriculture Summit in Buffalo, Wyoming. As is quite widely known, some consumers have concerns with agriculture’s environmental impacts, the potential for antibiotic resistance, hormone use, along with “worldwide concerns [about] deforestation, methane production, and how beef is produced as a whole.” “Only 27 percent of people are familiar with exactly how cattle are raised,” Paisley explained. “70 percent consider how it was raised or how...
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What a privilege it was to spend a day down at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) last week! My husband, BW, and I were there on the 12th; we had the chance to look through a few of the collegiate livestock judging classes, watch some of the Hereford and Angus heifer shows, and look through a lot of great cattle down in the Yards. This was the first time I’ve been down since the facilities have been redone and the new buildings were built, and to say I was impressed is an understatement. I was most encouraged by the...
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I returned a couple of days ago from the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colorado. I was thoroughly impressed with how Stock Show is starting to build back cattle numbers and attendance again - I could really feel a buzz building again. Cattle numbers on the Hill and in the Yards were much higher than last year, and it seemed like there were far more spectators. One thing that was a touch surprising to me is the fact that I really didn’t see any new construction on the new buildings due to be put up. I can tell...
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Everyday cattle producers across the country reaffirm their commitment to protecting environmental resources, supporting communities, and creating an economically viable future through effective management practices. The “Beef Sustainability Forum – Continuing our Commitment to a Sustainable Future,” sponsored by Elanco, will be held on Thursday, February 2 at 12:30 p.m. in New Orleans to highlight the industry’s sustainability efforts. Moderated by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Colin Woodall, the panel discussion will include opening remarks from Katie Cook, Elanco’s vice president of global farm animal innovation & U.S. farm animal marketing; and will feature John Ferry, co-owner of JY...
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A recently announced Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the American Farm Bureau Federation and John Deere falls short of guaranteeing producers the right to repair their equipment. “I am encouraged that John Deere is worried enough about their image that they are launching this media blitz – even if it is misleading. John Deere realizes that farmers and the public want to have the right to repair, but the concessions they have made in the most recent MOU aren’t enough,” Montana Farmers Union President, Walter Schweitzer said. The agreement comes as John Deere faces scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission and...
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Registration is now open for the Society for Range Management’s 2023 Annual Meeting, which will be conducted February 12-16 in Boise, Idaho. The 76th Annual Meeting will take place at the Boise Centre and The Grove Hotel. While the conference will be an in-person event, a majority of the sessions will be available for streaming for those who wish to attend virtually. A sheep-centered session is planned for Monday, February 13. The symposium agenda includes: Welcome and Regional Setting – Mike Guerry, Idaho Sheep Producer. The Sheep Industry in the 21st Century – Dan Macon, University of California Cooperative Extension....
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Correction A previous version of this press release attributed the Propane Education & Research Council as opposed to the Property and Environment Research Center. The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) is celebrating the passage of the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act (S 3308), which President Biden signed into law on January 5, 2023. The legislation grants Colorado River Indian Tribes the option to lease or exchange a portion of its apportioned water rights to other water users or municipalities of the Lower Colorado River Basin - whether tribal or otherwise. Doing so encourages water conservation, restores tribal...
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Registration is now open for the 2023 Montana’s Next Generation Conference, which offers 36 workshops for both beginning and advanced producers seeking continuing education. The conference will be hosted by Montana State University Extension and the Native American Community Development Corporation Financial Services at Shelby High School in Shelby, Montana, on Saturday, January 28. Participants will be able to choose from six different presentations to attend during the conference’s sessions. Topics include recordkeeping, market outlooks, marketing, crop, and livestock production, succession planning, and business. Crop production presentations will cover a variety of topics. Chester-area producer Cory Hawks, a first-time conference...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and John Deere signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) today {January 6} that ensures farmers’ and ranchers’ right to repair their own farm equipment. The MOU, signed at the 2023 AFBF Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the culmination of several years of discussions between AFBF and John Deere. “AFBF is pleased to announce this agreement with John Deere. It addresses a long-running issue for farmers and ranchers when it comes to accessing tools, information and resources, while protecting John Deere’s intellectual property rights and ensuring equipment safety,” AFBF President, Zippy Duvall said....
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Independent meat processors in Nebraska now have access to million in loan capital through the Center for Rural Affairs (the Center). The new initiative comes at a time when small lockers across the state have seen an increase in use. When packing plants were suffering from COVID-19 worker health challenges and the national meat supply chain faltered, these small businesses kept serving local customers. This boost to Nebraska’s rural economy is made possible with a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program grant. “Small meat lockers—independent businesses by definition—help anchor small town main streets,”...
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Fez, a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd trained and owned by Lexie Coniglione from Glasgow, Montana, was named runner-up/western region in the 2023 Farm Dog of the Year Contest. The contest celebrates farm dogs that work alongside farmers and ranchers as they sustainably produce nutritious food for families and their pets across America. Rounding up livestock and chasing off predators are among the many tasks performed by farm dogs. Fez came into Coniglione’s heart at a low point in 2021. She had lost one family member to a tragic accident and had just come back from a branding when she learned that...
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Everyone on the family farm pitches in and does their part, including four-legged friends, prompting Farm Bureau to launch the Farm Dog of the Year contest five years ago – now a popular feature of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Convention. The winner of the 2023 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year award is Tough, a Border Collie owned by Kansas Farm Bureau members Denny and Donna Ashcraft. AFBF, with support from Nestlé Purina PetCare, recognized Tough, four regional runners-up, and a People’s Choice Pup at its convention. “We’re very excited to partner with Purina for the fifth...
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Since 1980, the Angus Foundation Heifer Package has been sold to generate unrestricted funds to further its mission of supporting education, youth, and research for the breed. This year, Ingram Angus LLC of Pulaski, Tennessee purchased the Foundation Heifer Package, donated by Coleman Angus of Charlo, Montana. The package sold to lead off the National Angus Bull Sale on January 6 during Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City and raised 0,000 to continue the legacy of the Angus breed. Coleman Angus generously donated Coleman Chloe 173 (AAA+*20076459) for the 2023 Angus Foundation Heifer Package. The bred heifer is the highest $M...
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An Alder rancher and couple from Choteau had the opportunity to compete in the Young Farmers & Ranchers Competitive Events during the 104th American Farm Bureau (AFBF) Convention which runs through January 11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mark Boyd, who had won the Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Discussion Meet in November, spent Saturday talking about agricultural issues with other young producers, ranging from supply chain issues to ways young agriculturalists can begin or remain in agricultural production. The Discussion Meet, which is open to Farm Bureau members age 18-35, is meant to simulate a...
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Montana Farm Bureau (MFU) has captured the prestigious Pinnacle Award, the highest honor a state Farm Bureau can be awarded for program and membership achievement. MFBF President, Cyndi Johnson received the award during the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) 104th Annual Convention which runs through January 11. Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) also captured four Awards of Excellence, which are presented to state Farm Bureaus that demonstrated outstanding achievements in four program areas: Advocacy, Coalitions & Partnerships, Engagement & Outreach, and Leadership & Business Development. “Montana Farm Bureau Federation is extremely proud of the efforts of our volunteer members across...
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“Once you retire as a secret agent,” Tuff said. “You’d make a darn good weather moose.” The moose smiled. “He told you,” Randolph said. The oversized snowflakes were fluffy pieces of intricate art falling from the sky. The secret agent crew huddled under the comfort of their shelter. “The overhang gives us plenty of room to look out, but not get in the middle of all this coming down,” the other moose said. He and Tuff looked out onto the blanketed white forest and listened to the pitter-patter of the snowflakes joining each other to further their cover. “I got...
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Numerous meatpacker-oriented economists helped shepherd the decades-long transition from many packers to few packers, many cattle producers to far fewer cattle producers, and from competitive markets to contracts, which are today called alternative marketing arrangements or AMAs but more commonly known as “captive supply” contracts. Now, AMAs remove cattle from the competitive cash market long before the cattle are ready for slaughter. The extraction of these cattle from the cash market means they do not contribute to price-making or discovery. However, within these AMAs is the provision that though they don’t contribute to price making or discovery, they nevertheless are...
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Inflation is running rampant and nowhere is this more evident than at restaurants, so diners have to get creative to stretch their food dollars. Up until now, I've relied on three ways to reduce the total tab and not break the bank: you can eat fast food more often, order off the a la carte menu, or split a meal with your spouse. Believe me, I've experimented with all three with varying results, but have found that the best way to cheapen back on your bill is the combo meal which consists of one item off the a la carte...
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Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC) is honored to recognize the recent award given to Cheryl Schwartzkopf, district supervisor for Converse County Weed and Pest. “Cheryl values hard work and doing the best job possible in all circumstances,” Kelli Little, Executive Director of The Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts (WACD), said. “She works well with landowners, county and state officials, and other weed and pest districts around the state.” Schwartzkopf has been with the Converse County Weed and Pest (CCWP) since 2002. She has continuously partnered with WACD while working on projects, such as Russian olive removal and cheatgrass control....
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I grew up in Sidney, Montana, where I graduated from Sidney High School and then went on to Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming and then Dickinson State University in Dickinson, North Dakota, where I received a bachelor’s degree in accounting. At a very young age, my parents got my sister and I involved with horses, 4-H, and rodeo. Rodeo and horses have always been my passion, but despite the fact that I didn’t grow up in a ranching family, I have always had a strong interest in cattle and the western way of life. This interest is what eventually led...
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Creed Kaehler, son of Seth and Shelby Kaehler, helped out his grandpa, Ralph Kaehler, in the picture pen for KLER Cattle Company's Annual bull sale on February 19, 2023, in St. Charles, Minnesota.
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Technology never ceases to amaze me! Not only have they invented cars that drive themselves, - something I am going to need very soon, and my family might argue that I need right now - but drones are going to change the way we live and play. They now have drones that will deliver beer from shoreline bars out to ice fishermen in their huts. The beer is ordered and paid for using an app, and quicker than you can burn your bratwurst on the hut barbecue, your cold beer is delivered right to your hut with the aid of...
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Growing our ranching and rural community’s financial, ecological, and social resilience with experienced speakers on soil carbon, cattle selection, small ruminant grazing, and rangeland monitoring, the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance “Rural Resilience” webinar series is back for a third year! Kicking off the 2023 series on Thursday, January 20 is “Soil Carbon: What’s the Buzz?” with guest presenter Peter Donovan, founder of the Soil Carbon Coalition. Want a better grasp on soil carbon? Analyze the importance of soil microbiology and soil test results while relaying the relevance of each to soil health and profitability during this online workshop. Carbon credit contracting...
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China, as we discussed last week, is a land of treachery with severe and profound national security implications, something we have not been faced with since we confronted the evil that was the Soviet Union. Nonetheless, China, not the Chinese Communist Party leadership, is a land of opportunity for our citizens and businesses, especially for America’s Ag producers. What does this all mean for America? How can we protect America's national security interests while maintaining market access for American businesses and agricultural producers? We must first take stock of the situation and realize that a wealthy and economically vibrant China...
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As 2023 searches for a toehold, both the commodities and securities markets continue on the paths plowed for them by last year’s larger-than-expected inflation, Russia’s brutal war, a likely surge in the global pandemic, and a growing power vacuum in American politics. Securities markets hated 2022’s bad news, and most market indices hit yearly highs in early January. After that, it was mostly downhill most of the time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, for example, fell 9 percent last year. A broader market measure, the S&P 500, lost 19.4 percent of its value and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost a gutting...
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When my editor asked if I’d like to include some recipes in this column, I hesitated. Probably because I’ve encountered two common misconceptions over the years. One is that a background in nutrition translates to fabulous culinary skills. Another is that a person with a degree in nutrition science makes food that doesn’t taste very good. So, here’s my disclaimer: I’m a pretty simple cook - not a chef - but sometimes my food turns out fairly tasty. That’s why I’m so thankful for my cowboy. He eats anything, even chicken (if it’s embedded in an enchilada casserole.) Like many...
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From the outside looking in, the world of livestock judging might be hard to understand. The thought of a room full of well-dressed individuals wandering around mumbling to themselves as they prepare to give a set of reasons might seem amusing, and the idea of traveling thousands of miles in a van to look at numerous classes of livestock, each comprised of just four animals, would appear mundane to an onlooker. However, Ohio native, Seth Ebert, who was recently named the first livestock judging coach at the Ohio State Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI), would tell you that the world of...
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To say that 2022 went out like a lion is a vast understatement. While most folks across the country have been begging for ample moisture in order to squelch the pervasive drought that has gripped the west, the last few weeks of December brought two record-breaking storms that dumped heaps of snow across Reporter Country alongside gale-force winds and arctic temperatures. Communities that took the brunt of these storms struggled to dig themselves out and are just now returning to normal. On the flipside, many producers missed out on the moisture altogether, and have started 2023 with warmer-than-average temperatures, leaving...
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It comes as no surprise that almost everything Americans purchase in today's market is more expensive than the same product would have been just a few years ago, and when it comes to real estate, the story is the same. Farmers National Company (FNC) recently published its January 2023 Land Values report which contains both a recap of 2022 sales and an outlook for 2023. FNC is a landowner’s service company that has been assisting landowners since 1929 and is “currently operating in 33 states” in and around the “corn belt and wheat belt” of the United States, Paul Schadegg,...
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Preventing and managing bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is an ongoing challenge for beef cattle, especially for stocker and feedlot operations, as well as for dairy youngstock. Categorizing cattle for BRD risk level upon arrival at the stocker or feedlot facility can be a helpful management tool to minimize the health and economic impacts of BRD on an operation, especially when the cattle industry faces other challenges that can increase risk, such as the current nationwide drought. BRD Predictive Factors… BRD predictive factors or risk factors, along with a visual assessment of the animals, are tools used to subjectively estimate the...
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I made the mistake of tuning in to the Speaker of the House voting that took place last week. What a frustrating, embarrassing, and outright disappointing display by the “GOP.” I have a hard time calling that display “grand,” instead I feel like laughable is more appropriate. Representative Kevin McCarthy (CA) was finally sworn in after a grueling four days and 15 rounds of voting. What started as a group of 20 that stood their ground against McCarthy, nominating a few other folks for the speakership, finally dwindled down to roughly five who vehemently opposed him. Lauren Boebert (CO) and...
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Sure enough, the feeder cattle markets are enjoying a very nice bump to the upside as we near mid-January! The early video auctions and feeder cattle at auction markets are fetching some very nice prices right now. Some categories of the steers are bringing up to more than they did at this time last year, depending on weight and delivery dates and if they are selling through video auction companies. Prices for the females have been a very pleasant surprise. I don’t mind admitting to all of you that I was nervous about the heifer calf market as we...
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Only a few days remain to take advantage of early registration discounts for the 2023 Commodity Classic to be held March 9-11 in Orlando. Friday, January 20, 2023, is the last day the early registration discount will be in effect. “Going to Commodity Classic is an investment in any grower’s operation,” George Goblish, a Minnesota farmer, ASA member, and co-chair of the 2023 Commodity Classic, said. “The registration fees are a very small cost for everything you get: top-notch educational sessions, the latest farming technology, and the opportunity to network with thousands of farmers from all over the country. And...
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Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 104th Convention adopted policies to guide the organization’s work in 2023. Key topics ranged from expanding risk management programs and improving dairy pricing transparency to battling hunger. Delegates were polled regarding their farms at the beginning of the voting session. The results show almost 99 percent (334 delegates) of those who cast votes operate family farms and almost 65 percent represent small- to mid-size farms as defined by USDA. “Delegates demonstrated the strength of Farm Bureau by coming together to represent hard-working farm families from all 50 states and...
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Harold Ivan Jallo August 13, 1930 - December 29, 2022 Harold Ivan Jallo, of rural Fordville, North Dakota, passed away on December 29, 2022, at the age of 92, peacefully at his home with his wife by his side. Harold, the son of Albert and Olga (Wiste) Jallo, was born on August 13, 1930, in Cleveland Township. He was raised on the family farm in rural Fordville with his thirteen siblings. He was baptized and confirmed at Quale Lutheran Church where he was a lifelong member. He attended Cleveland Township School #54 through the eighth grade. In 1949, Harold and...
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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary, Tom Vilsack announced on January 5th, the Biden-Harris Administration is investing .6 million across the country and taking several other steps to help farmers, ranchers, processors, and rural businesses diversify the nation’s meat supply. “USDA is putting the needs of farmers, ranchers, and consumers at the forefront of the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to strengthen the resiliency of America’s food supply chain while promoting competition,” Vilsack said. “USDA has undertaken a Department-wide approach to coordinate ways to deliver more opportunities and fairer prices for producers, to give people access to healthier foods, eliminate bottlenecks in...
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Sixto Paiz, of Portales, New Mexico, was named champion at the 2023 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) qualifying event at Windsor Livestock Auction Co., Inc. in Windsor, Missouri. A total of 45 contestants competed to be in the top 10 placings that would grant them a spot in the 2023 WLAC semifinals at Arcadia Stockyard in Arcadia, Florida. "To be around guys like I was around today – that's what I live for,” Paiz said. “That’s why we all go to these competitions. It's for the comradery with people that you know are doing the same things you do each...
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Today {January 10}, 50 cattle, farm, rural, and consumer groups sent a joint letter to U.S. Senate and House members who, during the last session of Congress, cosponsored the American Beef Labeling Act that restores mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef. The letter expressed the groups’ gratitude for the congressional members’ leadership and support of the American Beef Labeling Act during the last session of Congress and urged them to reintroduce the measure in the new Congress that started on January 3, 2023. In their letter, the groups pledged their support to assist Congress in the swift enactment...
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Montana Farmers Union (MFU) members kept agriculture front and center at the Capitol during the first-ever MFU Legislative Drive In held January 3-4 in Helena, Montana. The Drive In schedule included presentations from state ag department leaders, a lunch featuring Montana-grown foods in the Rotunda, testimony on bills being heard in committee, and time with legislators building rapport. MFU President, Walter Schweitzer said he was pleased by the reception members received at the capitol. “Ag is our number 1 industry, and Montana Farmers Union is the largest and oldest farm organization that represents family farms. I believe the legislators realize...
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For today’s cattle producers, it is more important than ever to be able to differentiate their cattle in the marketplace. Two of the leading third-party verification companies, IMI Global and the American Angus Association’s (AAA) AngusLinkSM, have joined forces to create an improved experience for those cattle producers, while offering more value-added opportunities. Through this new relationship, IMI Global will be providing verification services for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Process Verified Program (PVP) for IMI Global and AngusLink customers. The collaboration makes it easier and more efficient for producers to access an extensive suite of verification programs and the...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) will present its highest honors, the Distinguished Service Award and the Farm Bureau Founders Award, to former AFBF Executive Vice President Dale Moore and former North Carolina Farm Bureau President Larry Wooten, respectively, during the 2023 American Farm Bureau Convention, January 6-11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. AFBF established the Distinguished Service Award in 1928 to honor individuals who have devoted their careers to serving the national interest of American agriculture. Established in January 2017, the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Founders Award for exemplary leadership, service or contributions to Farm Bureau is presented in...
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Let's talk about the elephant in the room, or rather the dragon reeking of betrayal and opportunity for America, our businesses, and ag producers. That is the People's Republic of China and its vast market of almost 1.5 BILLION people. Modern relations between Communist China and the U.S. began in 1972 during the Nixon administration's successful attempt to capitalize on the Sino-Russian split between Maoist and Stalinist versions of Communist tyranny. These were the two variations of Communist ideologies that governed the Asiatic Communist powers. President Richard Nixon and then National Security Advisor and later Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger...
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North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has named Jim Hennessy as the recipient of the 2023 Weed Control Partner Award. Hennessy is the current president of the North Dakota Weed Control Association and has been a Mountrail County weed officer and ag agent for 27 years in Mountrail County. “Jim takes the initiative to keep in touch with other weed officers and frequently mentors new weed officers across the state,” Goehring said. “He encourages education and provides public outreach on integrated weed management, early detection and rapid response.” “Jim displays great communication and collaboration in his day-to-day duties,” Goehring added....
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The Montana Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will be hosting the 2023 Montana Soil Health Symposium on February 8-9 at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. The event will feature Jerry Doan of Black Leg Ranch in McKenzie, North Dakota, Brendon Rockey of Rockey Farms in Center, Colorado, and John Kempf of Advancing Eco Agriculture and KindHarvest.ag in Ohio. Plus, a pre-conference workshop on February 7 featuring four ranchers across Montana sharing their challenges and opportunities as they have worked to market their beef to consumers in different ways. The Soil Health Symposium...
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“This is more of an elevation gain, than I had predicted,” Tuff said. “And more snow.” “It makes a difference at 9,000 feet,” Randolph said. “How high is the pass?” Tuff asked. “We’ll summit around 11,000 feet, and then the decent on the other side is much quicker. It’ll be a harder hike coming back up, but there’s always more motivation when we’re heading back home.” “Prepare yourself for more weather,” a Moose commented. “We’ll have another snowstorm by nightfall, so we’ll need to ensure we have good cover.” Tuff looked at the sky. “It’s clear,” he said. The moose...
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The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame (MCHF) will celebrate the 15th class of inductions into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Saturday, February 11 at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls. The inductees were chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the general public. Inductees are honored for their notable contributions to the history and culture of Montana. There is still time to register for the Inductee Recognition Ceremony Brunch, which begins at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate the notable accomplishments and lasting legacies of the inductees to the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Class of 2023. Pre-registration is ...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is seeking public comment on several proposals slated to go to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in February. The comment period is open through February 3rd. After public comment, commissioners can offer amendments to the proposals as they see fit. The proposals, supporting documents, commissioner amendments, and collected public comments are available on the FWP website. The commission will make a final decision on these proposals at its meeting on February 22. Fish removal projects for 2023-2026 For 2023‐2026, there are 26 fish removal projects planned that have not previously been approved by the...
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Every day a few minutes after we posted the daily lunch special on Facebook, the phone would ring. Caller i.d. would announce, “Call from Cole Drug,” and we would answer the phone by saying, “Hi, Paul!” He would usually order the special, but we knew if he wasn't impressed with the special, he would order a Rustler roast beef sandwich. We would have it ready at 12:30, because it took him a couple minutes to walk from Cole Drug to the Crazy Peak Boutique. Like clockwork, he came through the door every day at 12:32 p.m. almost always with a...
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In preparation for the Durham Nation Sale at Jungels Shorthorn Farm in Kathryn, North Dakota, Karsyn and Davey Cargo helped clip bred females, where their dad, Preston, is a herdsman.
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Catherine and I flew to Texas to visit her son, Brian, his wife, their kids, and grandkids. We last saw them when they visited us a little over three years ago. Then COVID came along and screwed up all the plans we made and of course the plans of many. Since that last get together, Brian and Karen made additions to the family. They are grandparents of two little girls. Catherine and I hadn’t been able to get to know them. We finally got everything together, plane tickets reserved, and arrangements made with the neighbors to keep an eye on...
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The future is easily predictable, especially if you have access to a photocopier and a fax machine. At least that was the successful business plan of a central Illinois neighbor who, for decades, maintained she had received the “gift” of clairvoyance after surviving a lightning strike. Once word of her talent spread, our one-stoplight, no-railroad town became a hub for people “who needed to know.” Two consequences of this human tide quickly became apparent. First, there was no end to it; wave after wave of answer seekers came day after day and year after year until the neighbor died. Second,...
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The trophy wife and I were sucked into the cancellation vortex while flying the friendly skies over the holidays. We were headed to Hanford, California to celebrate Christmas with our daughter, Chelsie, and her family. Our Billings to Denver flight was repeatedly delayed, but we felt our three-hour layover in the Mile High City gave us ample cushion. We were wrong. Once in Denver, our three-hour wait became an eight-hour scramble from gate to gate until our Fresno flight was finally cancelled at midnight. It was clear and calm in Denver, so the weather issue was elsewhere. Because flight crews...
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On December 31, 2020, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexico’s President, issued a Presidential Decree (Decree) that promised to phase out the use of imported GM (genetically modified) corn as well as ban the use of the herbicide glyphosate by 2024. Now, with just one more year until this potentially devastating Decree would go into effect, U.S. officials are working urgently to find common ground with Obrador and his ambassadors. According to a June 2022 study by Crop Life, Obrador’s GM corn ban would cause “Farmers in the U.S. […] to experience a net economic loss of .1 billion and could...
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On November 7, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WYGF) confirmed a bull elk in the Big Horn Mountain was blood positive for brucellosis. This bull elk was harvested by a hunter in the Elk Hunt Area 45 in October. The hunter sent in a blood sample to the Wildlife Health Laboratory (WHL) where it tested positive before the “positive detection was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa,” WYGF explained in a press release. Brucellosis is a disease that is caused by the bacteria B. abortus that affects ruminants such as cattle, bison, and elk. This...
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It’s the time of the year when producers are spending hours outside chopping ice to make sure livestock have consistent access to water. Any rancher knows that this project can either be a quick 10-minute job or can turn into an all-day project if lines are frozen or floats are broken. Richard Winebrenner, co-owner of Cobett Waterers, decided enough was enough when chopping water in the winter. He designed the Made in America Cobett Waterers whose “unmatched winter endurance and versatility make it ideal for stockmen and sale barns.” Winebrenner and his family were in the process of changing their...
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On December 8, 2022, various self-described conservation groups submitted a formal petition to Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior, and Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), requesting that coyotes be listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA.) More specifically, the groups - which include WildEarth Guardians and the Center for Biological Diversity (CFBD), to name a few - are asking that coyotes located within the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Areas (Arizona and New Mexico) be exempted under the “similarity of appearance” provision of the ESA. The Mexican wolf, a subspecies of the Gray wolf, “once...
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Happy New Year Reporter Country! I am writing this column on December 30, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that I did NOT stay up until midnight to ring in the New Year (unless you count a five-month-old baby who is going to be calling for me around then). I hope you all had a lot of fun rounding out this holiday season and were able to do it safely and responsibly. I usually look to the New Year as a breath of fresh air. We all get to wake up with a clean slate on January 1....
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Fed cattle trade ended the final week of the year on a high note. Things were a little bit sluggish for the two weeks leading up to this as packers were trying to lower bids and trying to get feeders to cave in. Feeders know they are slowly gaining more of a foothold with the decreasing number of market ready cattle as supplies get shorter; they’ve been holding out for steady to higher money in the negotiated cash trade circles and were asking in the 0 range for the most part. This paid off for the feeders at the end...
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The administration’s December 30, 2022, announcement to replace the Navigable Waters Protection Rule with yet another Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule, will create uncertainty and disruption in the management of natural resources, according to the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation. “As farmers and ranchers, we share the goal of protecting the nation’s water,” Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) President, Todd Fornstrom, said. “Reverting to a rule that was unreasonable and unworkable is a threat to the nation’s water. The 2015 Rule made conservation more difficult and created huge liabilities for farmers and ranchers.” Fornstrom, a Laramie County farmer, emphasized...
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Following a two-month decline and a year of weak sentiment, the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer closed out the year on a more positive note, rallying 24 points in December to a reading of 126. U.S. farmers were more optimistic about both their current situation and expectations for the future. The Current Conditions Index jumped 37 points to a reading of 135, while the Future Expectations Index increased 18 points to a reading of 122. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted from...
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John Leroy Falen March 18, 1937-December 17, 2022 John Leroy Falen of Orovada, Nevada, passed away on December 17, 2022 at the age of 85, surrounded in love by his wife of 63 years, Sharon Falen, and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John was born on March 18, 1937, in Caldwell, Idaho, to Leslie and Letha Falen. He grew up on the L – F Ranch on Juniper Creek at the base of South Mountain, 40 miles southeast of Jordan Valley, Oregon. John and his brothers Roger and Loyd rode their horses to school, and like other children in the...
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Update, Thursday January 5: McCarthy loses seventh vote for Speaker of the House. Immediate moves for an eighth vote were made. Update as of 1:50 p.m. MST: McCarthy appears to lose again following the sixth vote. "They don't trust him {McCarthy}..." former Utah Republican, Jason Chaffetz (FoxNews Affiliate) said. "It is personal..." Update as of 12:46 p.m. MST: McCarthy failed to secure the Speaker position following the fifth vote. The current, unofficial tally showed no change from the fifth vote (McCarthy: 201; Jeffries: 212; "Other": 20; Present: 1). It is currently being decided if there will be a sixth vote...
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There has been a lot of discussion the last few years about fed cattle marketing and finding solutions to make it a fairer and more equitable situation on a consistent basis for both the producer and the feeder. I’ve had the great opportunity to sit in and be a part of many of these conversations, and one thing is blatantly obvious: the cattle industry of the United States will never totally agree or unify on any solutions that have to do with the way we market fed cattle. It's plain and simple. However, I do believe that we, the U.S....
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For average Americans, it’s far too easy to go about our daily lives without giving much thought about the sacrifices our service men and women have made to ensure that we can do just that: go about our lives. But for those heroes and their families, their sacrifices are prevalent in every moment of the day, especially those countless days spent apart. And when it comes time for our military personnel to come home, it’s not like the end of a movie where they simply live “happily ever after.” Instead, they are forced to figure out where they fit into...
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On Monday, October 2, JBS USA announced that it would be closing its U.S. plant-based Planterra Foods unit in response to “softening consumer demand for plant-based proteins,” according to a report by Bloomberg. Closing the Denver Planterra Foods facility will result in the layoffs of 120 employees and is one of many instances in recent months that has shown a slowing demand for alternative proteins. Canadian pork processor, Maple Leaf reduced its plant-based operations (GreenLeaf) by 25 percent this year with updated projections for consumer-demand proving to be much lower than was initially expected. Beyond Meat Inc. shares have shown...
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With rising input costs, unprecedented inflation, and the constant battle with environmental factors, “you sometimes wonder how long people can get by raising cattle, because it's a lifestyle that isn't easy,” Matt Lachenmeier, field representative for Kist Livestock Auction (KLA) in Mandan, North Dakota, said. Despite the fact that “there’s a lot of frustration, a lot of stress,” in the business, Lachenmeier expressed great optimism for successful, fall markets across Reporter Country in light of the pervasive drought conditions seen across the country over the past several years; in particular, he argued that there’s some money to be made for...
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Stephen Yellowtail, a fourth generation Wyola, Montana rancher, is no stranger to hard work and dedication. He showed this to all of America as he competed on INSP’s Ultimate Cowboy Showdown, which finished airing on national television on June 23, 2022. Yellowtail may not have claimed the Ultimate Cowboy title on the show, but he is surely Montana’s Ultimate Cowboy. Growing up on the Crow Indian Reservation, the family ranch grew to be Yellowtail’s favorite place. He attended school at Tongue River High School in Dayton, Wyoming, and spent many weekends and summers on the ranch in between school and...
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R-CALF USA hosted their 23rd annual convention this past week in Deadwood, South Dakota. On Friday, August 19, Patrick McGahan, of Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP, gave R-CALF members an update on their Antitrust lawsuit against the Big Four which was originally filed in April of 2019. The lawsuit alleges that the Big Four violated the Sherman Act of 1890 by “conspiring to push down the price of cattle,” McGahan explained. It also accuses the Big Four of violating the Packers and Stockyards Act along with the Commodity Exchange Act. In September of 2021, the Minnesota Federal District Court denied...
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The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law by President Nixon on January 1, 1970 and was the first of many environmental laws passed at the time. The intent of NEPA was to create nationwide policies to protect the environment by requiring that detailed reviews, or Environmental Impact Statements (EIS’s), be prepared to identify any potential impacts a significant project may have. Additionally, Nixon’s NEPA established the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in the Executive Office of the President and granted the entity “oversight of NEPA’s implementation.” On July 15, 2020, President Trump ordered a comprehensive update to...
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On December 21, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) identified that the death of a Jackson County rancher’s registered heifer calf was caused by wolves. CPW Area Wildlife Manager Kris Middledorf confirmed that tracks surrounding the carcass and the wounds inflicted on the registered heifer were consistent with the newly protected predator. This wolf-livestock predation, according to the Colorado Cattleman’s Association, is the first to be confirmed in Colorado in over 70 years, and comes roughly 14 months after the controversial passing of Proposition 114 (Prop 114), which passed with a narrow margin of 50.91 percent voting yes, and 49.09 percent...
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“Whoever would try to stop us and further create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia’s response will be immediate and lead you to such consequences that you have never faced in your history,” Russian President, Vladimir Putin said on February 24, 2022, as he announced the military action which would take place in Ukraine. “We are ready for any outcome.” The Russian attack began early on February 24 with missile strikes near Kyiv, and the violence “quickly spread cross central and eastern Ukraine as Russian forces attacked the country from three sides,” CNN reported. A...
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Kansas State University’s (K-State) Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI) Department will host Cattlemen’s Day 2023 on Friday, March 3 at Weber Hall in Manhattan, Kansas. A highlight of this year’s event will be Jason Sawyer, East Foundation chief science officer, who will discuss Navigating the U.S. Carbon Market. The program begins at 9:30 a.m. with K-State ASI Department Head Mike Day giving a department update followed by Sawyer’s presentation. The morning program will wrap up with Glynn Tonsor, K-State ag economics professor, giving a beef industry economic outlook. “We’re excited to announce our 110th KSU Cattlemen’s Day speaker line-up,” AJ Tarpoff,...
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The final of three qualifying events for the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) will be hosted by Windsor Livestock Auction Co., Inc. in Windsor, Missouri, on January 4, 2023. Opening ceremonies will commence at 12:00 p.m. (CT), with the awards presentation following the competition. A total of 48 contestants will compete for a top 10 placing, granting them a spot in the semifinals for the 2023 WLAC at Arcadia Stockyard in Arcadia, Florida. Each qualifying event is a live sale where each contestant auctions at least 8 drafts of livestock (traditionally cattle) to actual bidders. Contestants are judged on clarity...
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The Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Committee will hold their YF&R Leadership Conference on January 27-29 at Fairmont Hot Springs. The conference is open to all young producers, agribusiness professionals, students, and farming/ranching fans. MFBF's Young Farmer and Rancher Committee is proud to continue the tradition of this event, formerly known as the Young Ag Leadership Conference. It is the committee’s intention that the integrity of the content presented, the format of the agenda, and the intended audience will remain the same as they make this exciting transition. The conference kicks off Friday evening with a...
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South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) honored a group of devoted youth for their commitment to community, involvement, and leadership development during the 2022 South Dakota Farmers Union State Convention held in Huron December 15-16. The Torchbearer Award is the highest achievement in the South Dakota Farmers Union Education Program. To receive the award, a student must complete five years of service. The award showcases the commitment students put toward education and the time they dedicated to serving rural communities. True to the name of the award, continuing the traditions of the SDFU educational programming is often a priority for those...
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“Building our Future” is the theme for a Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Conference, January 20-21, 2023, in Pinedale, Wyoming. Sessions will take place discussing the Cattle Market, Green River Drift, Inflation, Range Monitoring, Green River Basin, Beef, Bitcoin, and much more over the two-day event. The conference is hosted by the WyFB YF&R Committee for farmers and ranchers of all ages. Children are welcome. No membership is required to attend. Whether you farm or ranch, work in ag business, or have family in agriculture - this conference is for you! The agenda is full of great speakers and presentations...
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“Turns out, Christmas miracles are for real,” Tuff said. “And turns out, Santa needed some extra help,” Banjo said with a smile and a wink. “Yah, that’s the real miracle, that stickin’ possum and fox headed north for good,” Tuff commented. “Who’d’ve thought they’d get off the naughty list and join his crew at the North Pole,” Rufus commented. “It’s a magical season,” Banjo said. “And who better than to fill our cups with magic than Santa.” “And yet there’s still the mountain mafia on the other side of the pass,” Randolph commented. “I’m still a part of the field...
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At the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in 2023, cattle producers aren’t just bringing their cattle to Denver, they’re also bringing their beef! For the first time in its history, Stock Show attendees can sample some of the best beef in the United States at a special “tasting” event. The Stockyards Beef Festival will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in the Stockyards Center. This is an entirely new event, created by ranchers from around the country, with the desire of showcasing some of the best private-label beef available. With the “farm to table” segment of...
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American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President, Zippy Duvall commented on EPA’s issuance of yet another Waters of the United States Rule, which will replace the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. “AFBF is extremely disappointed in the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers’ new Waters of the United States Rule. Farmers and ranchers share the goal of protecting the nation’s waterways, but they deserve rules that don’t require a team of attorneys and consultants to identify ‘navigable waters’ on their land. EPA has doubled down on the old significant nexus test, creating more complicated regulations that will impose a quagmire of regulatory...
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Those interested in entering a lottery for a guided trophy bison hunt on the Blackfeet Reservation will have two opportunities to enter the drawing. The first lottery drawing will be held on January 17; the deadline to enter is midnight on January 16. The second lottery drawing will be held on February 24; the deadline to enter is midnight on February 23. The hunts will be held in March. Chances are each, and hunters can purchase up to 20 chances. The lottery is open to all hunters – tribal members, nonmembers, Montana residents, and non-residents. Winners must pay the...
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Blake Lewis Garcia is a two-year-old cowboy from Casper, Wyoming, who loves big trucks (semis), watching his dad haul cows in the big trailer (cattle pot), loves all tractors, riding his horses in his little saddle, and roping his dad any chance he gets!
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My favorite holiday of the year was this week, which was Dr. Seuss's birthday on March 2. It has become my tradition to do a Whoville poem to celebrate Dr. Seuss and my First Amendment right to freedom of expression. Watching the drastic erosion of freedom in the attempted takeover of Ukraine underscores the need to preserve all our freedoms and guard against tyranny, socialism, and the complete lack of basic common sense that this country is grappling with. Last year, when I decided to run my Whoville poem, my sister warned me I would likely get both fired and...
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The barns buzzed with activity the first weekend of December at the North Dakota Winter Show Event Center. Exhibitors from six states and over 160 families came to exhibit cattle, share ideas and build friendships! “We are grateful to have hosted this epic event. We are blown away by the support and outreach from the exhibitors and attendees who came back to celebrate this lifestyle that is so important to so many,” said event managers. The Open Show was held on Friday, December 2 with over 240 animals walking through the ring. Matt Woolfolk and Josh Berg, both of Iowa, sorted...
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Like the weather, everyone talks about immigration reform, but few do much about it. In fact, do-nothingness is the dominant trait of immigration lawmaking. A Google search of the phrase “ag immigration stalemate” delivers “about 621,000 results in 0.61 seconds” dating back to at least the mid-1990s. There was, however, a moment of movement last summer when key U.S. senators announced they were close to an immigration deal based on a 2021 House-approved bill. That bipartisan bill had opened “a pathway for foreign farm workers to obtain legal status for year-round work,” a critical need for any immigration bill to...
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As a registered dietitian nutritionist who also lives on a cattle ranch, it’s my passion to tell truthful stories about agriculture and nutrition. And these days, we see a lot of misconceptions about both. Therefore, in the coming days and months, I invite you to share your questions and thoughts around both these topics with me. In the meantime, let’s have some fun. I received this letter from my old buddy, Dan, who signs his emails, “Energetically Yours”: “Since you turned me onto Longmire (a television western) many moons ago, I consider you as my authentic cowgirl connection! The other...
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This was to be a “Best of 2022,” but because I have not yet penned my favorite, I paraphrased my preferred points of 2022. For the full story behind each point, visit www.kraytonkerns.org. 1-5-22: For two years, public health authorities have lied about the pandemic, so trash the masks, reject the stroke-poke, and take ivermectin, vitamin D, C, and zinc prophylactically. 1-26-22: To wordsmith a famous Ronald Reagan quote, it is not that my doctor “friends are ignorant. It’s just that so much of what they know to be true just isn’t so.” 2-16-22: If you rolled up your sleeve...
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As of press time, the state of Montana is one week out from the flood that they are calling a “500 year” event. As the waters begin to recede and affected communities can take in the scope and scale of the damage, many are starting to realize that their idea of “normal” won’t be the same as it was less than 10 days ago. Between Saturday, June 10, and Tuesday, June 13, the Beartooth and Absaroka Mountain ranges received anywhere from 0.8 inches to over 5 inches of rainfall from the West Coast, according to the Billings National Weather Service....
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Last week, we provided coverage on the first session of panelists who testified before the Senate Ag Committee’s hearing, titled “An Examination of Price Discrepancies, Transparency, and Alleged Unfair Practices in Cattle Markets.” Three industry stakeholders, Coy Young, Gilles Stockton, and Don Schiefelbein of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association collectively argued that the unlawful actions of the packers have directly led to an unfair, consolidated market. The second half of the nearly six-hour hearing, which took place on April 26, 2022, gave the CEO’s of the Big Four packers a chance to provide their side of the story and the...
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On January 15, 2022, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, implemented a nationwide mandate which would require all essential workers, including truckers, to be fully vaccinated in order to cross the border into the United States. Those who choose to remain unvaccinated are required to undergo significant testing and a 14-day quarantine once reentering the country. In response, large-scale protests have commenced across Canada, highlighted by the massive “Freedom Convoy” that has consisted of truckers, agriculturalists, and Canadian citizens alike who are saying “enough is enough” to the COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Protest participant and full-time Journeyman Farrier, Clint...
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I was faced with a daunting task this week as I looked back on everything we published on the front page in 2022. It was challenging to narrow it down to just 12 stories when there were 156 to choose from, and even more so when I had to decide which three would go on the front page of our “Best Of 2022” edition. This year, we’ve seen war, protests, polarization, and tragedy – but that’s nothing special. What is special, however, is the fact that we have also seen tremendous unification, courage, triumph, and transparency in the face of...
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Happy New Year everyone! I know most operations in this country are quite happy to see 2021 and 2022 behind us. Extreme heat and drought had a strong grip on the vast majority of the nation over the past couple of years, and recently, dangerously cold temperatures and snow have had a stronghold on much of the United States. These are the coldest temperatures I can remember in December since 1993. In fact, it was -40 degrees the night of my wedding. The packers have been smacking their lips in trying to get a leg up on feeders during this...
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After five years of outreach and education by farm groups, a new poll shows increased awareness and willingness to talk about the opioid crisis among rural adults, compared to 2017. Sixty percent say adults in their community are more aware of the crisis than they were five years ago, and nearly 8 in 10 adults (77 percent) report feeling comfortable having a conversation about opioids. However, survey results also reveal that more rural adults believe there is a higher rate of opioid misuse in rural communities than in the rest of the country (urban and suburban areas), compared to five...
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) commended the U.S. Trade Representative’s recent announcement that it is filing a new request for dispute settlement consultations with Canada in order to expand the scope of the second U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) dairy dispute to include additional elements necessary to ensure that Canada fully complies with its USMCA obligations. The initial USMCA dispute panel, launched by the United States in May 2021, found Canada in violation of USMCA’s tariff-rate quota (TRQ) provisions by reserving most of its preferential dairy TRQ’s for Canadian processors. In March 2022, Canada released...
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) commended Congress for including the Growing Climate Solutions Act and the SUSTAINS Act in its final fiscal year 2023 budget package. These measures will help dairy farmers seek additional sustainability opportunities as they work to fulfill the dairy sector’s voluntary, producer-led goal of becoming greenhouse gas neutral or better by 2050. “Environmental markets and conservation programs have the potential to meaningfully assist dairy producers as they work to meet their 2050 environmental stewardship goals,” NMPF President and CEO, Jim Mulhern said. “The Growing Climate Solutions Act and the SUSTAINS Act will strengthen these important...
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Here’s a winter analogy: It was so innocuous at its beginning: just a snowflake sitting on the top of the mountain surrounded by other snowflakes. But soon it was transformed into a snowball possessing both mass and weight and it began to make an impression. Then, with its mass and weight increasing, the innocuous snowflake, now a snowball, broke free from inertia and began to move. Momentum soon took over, and combined with gravity, acceleration, and all the while the snowball was interlocking with more snowflakes, growing exponentially in proportion. It careened down the mountain leaving nothing but tree carcasses...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is awarding 2.7 million to more than 60 U.S. agricultural organizations to help expand export markets for U.S. farm and food products through the Market Access Program (MAP), and the Foreign Market Development (FMD). “In this unique public-private partnership, USDA and the American agricultural industry are working together to expand markets for high-quality, American-made farm and food products worldwide,” FAS Administrator, Daniel Whitley said. “With industry matching funds, federal investments in these market development programs not only increase agricultural export revenue and volume, but also improve farm income and strengthen...
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In early November, the U.S. Forest Service sponsored an updated land exchange that seeks to consolidate checkerboarded land and increase public access to thirty square miles of public lands on the eastern side of the Crazy Mountains. The exchange would also increase public land access near The Inspiration Divide Trail #8 in the Madison Range near Big Sky, Montana. The U.S. Forest Service has brought this proposal into the required 45-day comment period. Specifically, on the Big Sky aspect of the exchange where we have focused our attention, the public would gain 605 acres of mid-elevation lands along Inspiration Divide...
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In a time of volatility, managing risk remains a priority for farmers and ranchers, and new analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) examines several farm bill risk management tools included in Title I, explaining their impact and importance to farmers. The analysis is part of a Market Intel series dedicated to farm bill programs, designed to inform discussions about renewing the farm bill. “Title I of the farm bill, known as the commodity title, has provided certainty and predictability to eligible producers by reauthorizing and improving commodity, marketing loan, sugar, dairy and disaster programs,” economist Shelby Myers explains...
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Clair Michels August 13, 1917 – December 8, 2022 Clair Michels, family patriarch and last surviving member of the 1909 Sheridan County Montana pioneer family died recently at Fort Collins, Colorado at age 105 on December 8, 2022. Clair was born August 13, 1917, on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, 16 miles west of Reserve, Montana to parents James & Anna (Fugle) Michels at the family homestead on Wolf Creek, arriving prior to arrival of the midwife, Mrs. Benson, from Outlook. He attended rural schools through the eighth grade and graduated from Plentywood High School in 1935 and later attended...
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Many Americans prioritize sharing their time, talents, and expertise in local communities, with about one in four volunteering each year, according to surveys. This includes Farm Bureau farmer and rancher leaders, who serve on governing boards and committees at local, state, and national levels. Several newly appointed volunteers will provide leadership beginning in 2023 as farmer and rancher members of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Promotion & Education (P&E) and Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) committees. “Engaging with consumers and elected leaders to build trust while sharing agriculture’s story and advancing leadership skills are important foundations of national program...
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The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) has been awarded 5,000 through the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service Emerging Markets Program. The Emerging Markets Program helps organizations promote exports of U.S. agricultural products to developing countries with strong growth potential. “We are excited for NASDA members to engage in critical discussions to support global market development and strengthen bilateral trade relationships,” NASDA CEO, Ted McKinney said. NASDA will use this funding to conduct market research in emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Africa and organize outbound trade missions for state department of agriculture leaders to...
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From September 2021 through July 2022, a coalition of Montana agencies, organizations, and producers sought input from the state’s ag community about ways that farmers and ranchers can be better supported in managing soils. The project was designed to “increase the pace and scale at which land stewards implement voluntary practices and systems to maintain and improve soil health” in an effort to expand the vitality of agriculture in Montana. The culmination of the project was a recently published report that documents the findings from surveys, focus groups, and research to inform a series of recommendations. The report can be...
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A program offered by Montana State University (MSU) Extension and the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) that provides an opportunity for students throughout the state to raise cattle and learn about various elements of beef quality recently announced its annual winners. The 2022 Steer of Merit program winners were recognized December 8 at the MSGA Annual Convention and Trade Show in Billings, Montana. MSU Extension and MSGA distinguished 154 “Steers of Merit” out of 1,288 entries. Of 555 steers entering the carcass division, 78 were deemed Steers of Merit. In the ultrasound division, 76 out of 734 entries received the distinction....
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The year 2023 marks 150 years since the first Angus bulls arrived in America. In 1873, George Grant settled in Victoria, Kansas with four Angus bulls from Scotland. To kick off this historical milestone, the Angus Foundation will host a 150 Years of Angus celebration during Cattlemen’s Congress at 5 p.m. on Friday, January 6. The doors to the Cattlemen’s Bar in Barn 3 at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds will open at 4:30 p.m. for the event. The evening of Angus fellowship will feature door prizes and auction items to benefit the Foundation’s mission, food, refreshments, and the announcement of...
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Members of the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) elected five candidates to the board of directors at the annual membership meeting held December 9, 2022, during the AGA National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky Newly elected board members are David Larson, Clearbrook, Minnesota; Brent Overmiller, Smith Center, Kansas; and Cory Voss, Bruning, Nebraska. Re-elected to serve a second term were Mark Covington, Montrose, Colorado, and Tom Vehige, Billings, Missouri. The AGA board of directors also elected individuals to serve in leadership positions on the executive committee for 2023. Lori Maude, Hermosa, South Dakota, was elected president. Dan McCarty, Rifle, Colorado, was elected...
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A new report compiled by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) lays out priorities, principles, and recommendations for dairy policy reform. The Farm Bureau Dairy Working Group, comprised of 12 dairy farmer representatives (three from each of the four Farm Bureau regions), explored options for strengthening the dairy industry through the 2023 farm bill and modernizing the current Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) system. AFBF also received input from a first-of-its-kind industry-wide Federal Milk Marketing Order Forum held in Kansas City, Missouri, in October 2022. The forum was hosted and led by AFBF. When FMMOs were last reformed in 2000,...
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Cattleman of the Year is the most prestigious honor given by New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA) and is given to a well-rounded member of the ranching community. Nominated by their peers, the Cattleman of the Year not only works on the ranch but is also a known advocate for agriculture whether in the form of education, legislative issues, or both. A person that is always there to lend a willing hand in any situation, and someone who is present in their communities serving civically, often being noted as prominent members and supporters. When asked where they are from, the...
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a Clean Water Act (CWA) settlement with Red Mountain Truck Lines, Inc. (Red Mountain), in which Red Mountain agreed to pay ,000 for alleged Clean Water Act violations associated with a gas station transfer incident which spilled diesel fuel into Blacktail Creek in Butte, Montana in 2021. “EPA takes our role of protecting public health and our environmental resources very seriously in all the communities we serve,” EPA Region 8 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Director, Suzanne Bohan said. “Companies that handle, store, and transport oil must carefully follow safety measures to...
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Night Before Christmas on the Ranch Twas the night before Christmas and all o’er the ranch, Not a varmint was stirring, not even a frozen tree branch. The muck boots were thawing by the wood stove with care, In hopes that St. Nick soon would be there. The children were nestled in their bedrolls beside the toasty warm fire, With my furry friends and I curled right beside, in our special Christmas attire, While visions of opening presents and mom’s pumpkin pie skipped through their heads. The mama was in her flannels and the papa in his chaps, had just...
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The North American Meat Institute (NAMI or the Meat Institute) applauded the Senate's confirmation of Alexis Taylor to be Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. “The meat and poultry industry supported Taylor’s nomination,” Meat Institute President and CEO, Julie Anna Potts said. “Alexis’ experience working in Congress, in the Department, and as Oregon Secretary of Agriculture makes her uniquely qualified for this role.” “She is the right person at the right time to lead the nation’s focus on strengthening exports, expanding access to new markets, and navigating an increasingly unpredictable global economy,” Potts acknowledged. “We look forward...
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American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President, Zippy Duvall commented on December 21 on the Senate's confirmation of Alexis Taylor as USDA undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural services. “I’m confident Alexis Taylor will do a great job in this important role at USDA, and I’m pleased she was finally confirmed. Her previous experience at USDA, on Capitol Hill, and leading a state department of agriculture are solid preparation for what will be a big job,” Duvall commented. Duvall continued, “Trade is critically important to U.S. agriculture, and we need a strong advocate on the world stage and capable leader for the...
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This is Coco Fisher, 14 months old, from Hardin, Montana enjoying the Pro Rodeo magazine. She spends hours flipping through magazines talking and pointing out all the MOOS and NEIGH NEIGHS. Coco’s mom, Whitney, barrel races, and her dad, Ty, ropes at area rodeos in the summer. Coco loves to look out their house windows each morning to say "Hi" to the family's cattle and horses they have on the Pine Ridge Ranch. Coco also loves to visit Great-Papa Aaron and Great-Grammy Linda at Boehm Land & Livestock south of Rudyard, Montana.
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I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas filled with feasting as part of the celebration. Even though intermittent fasting and the Mediterranean Diet seem to be the rage in diets right now, I hope you will enjoy this little Christmas rhyme I wrote about the Keto Diet. As a special Christmas treat this year, my recipes are contributions from the Western Ag Reporter staff as they join me in wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas! Special Bulletin From Santa by Susan Metcalf 'Twas the month before Christmas, and Santa was in a snit. He had...
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The Biden Administration, through the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), issued a scathing rebuke of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) recent ruling against the United States. The WTO ruled the U.S. violated international trade rules by requiring products from Hong Kong, China to be labeled as products of China. The U.S. imposed this labeling requirement in response to the People’s Republic of China’s action to erode Hong Kong, China’s autonomy and the democratic and human rights of its people, an action the USTR stated was a threat to the national security interests of the United States. According...
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NCBA recently opened the application for public policy internships for the fall 2023 semester. This internship program is conducted in conjunction with the Public Lands Council (PLC) and offers interns an opportunity to support the advocacy work of NCBA and PLC in Washington, D.C. “This is a unique internship experience for students who are interested in learning how NCBA and PLC represent livestock producers in our nation’s capital,” NCBA and PLC Associate Director of Operations, Justyn Tedder, manager of the internship program, said. “Interns work directly alongside NCBA and PLC staff to advocate for producers, attend meetings on Capitol Hill,...
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As Christmas approaches each year, it's pretty easy to get wrapped up in the chaos of last-minute shopping for that never-happy in-law or making sure you have the right Christmas sugar cookies for your children's elementary Christmas party. But for the majority of us, we realize, if it's not already entirely overshadowed by the mass consumerism that is now the quintessential American Christmas experience, the true purpose of Christmas: to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world. The child of the triune God was born to a virgin girl over 2,000 years ago, something that was remarkably prophesied...
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The Christmas tree was a scrub cedar hacked from the edge of the woods that bordered the farm. Big-bulbed lights, strung in barber pole fashion, generated almost as much heat as the nearby wood stove. Yellowed Christmas cards, saved over the years and perched like doves in the untrimmed branches, served as ornaments. “I believe this is the prettiest tree I've ever had,” Howard proclaimed as we stood in its glow. “And it smells good, too.” The only scent evident to me was a mixture of wood smoke and the remains of a fried pork supper, but I lied and...
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The American Agri-Women (AAW) honored Jacqueline Compston of Minden, Nevada, with the Erickson-McCrum Outstanding Agricultural Mentor Award at its 2022 National Convention held recently in Bozeman, Montana. The mentoring award was started in 2017 to honor two outstanding mentors and AAW past presidents, Yvonne Erickson and Sue McCrum. This annual award recognizes those AAW members who go above and beyond to mentor others in agriculture. This award is not a leadership or advocacy award. Individuals are not being rewarded or recognized for positions they have held, initiatives they have worked on, or advocacy they have advanced unless it is precisely...
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My, how holidays change from year to year. It wasn’t so long ago that my grandkids were wide-eyed and excited to listen to Christmas carols and help me decorate. This year, their attention was just long enough to place some favorite ornaments on the tree before they ran up and down the stairs to play hide and seek with their cousins. Gift-giving changes each year, too, although I still like practical gifts. Last year, my daughter was thrilled when I told her I needed a new crock pot. And we can never have too many warm gloves, right? This year,...
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We ranched 30 miles north of Forsyth, Montana, until I turned eight. To say it was rural would be the mother of understatements. At Christmas time, Mom and Dad loaded me and my two brothers in the station wagon for a two-hour road trip to our homestead in Wyoming. Because seeing family was a big deal, Mom insisted us boys wear these dinky bow ties with our plaid wool sport coats. Mom also slapped on some expensive perfume picked especially for the holiday. It was nauseating, like riding in the pickup cab with a dog who rolled in something dead....
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With a long list of outstanding bull sales on the calendar across Reporter Country in the coming months, and as harsh winter conditions settle in, it’s important for producers to keep a close eye on factors that could impact a bull’s fertility later this spring and into the summer. For buyers, it’s definitely important to study an animal’s EPD’s, but so is an awareness of major stressors, such as a blizzard, that may have occurred since a purchase has been made that could affect the number of cows he covers when he’s turned out. One of those fertility impactors that...
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Just shy of two weeks past the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR), many of the 120 athletes who competed have already turned their eyes to the start of the 2023 season; one cowboy in particular, though, is going to have different goals to reach in the coming year. Reid Oftedahl, a bull rider from Raymond, Minnesota, has a long road to recovery after taking a devastating blow to the head during the second round of the WNFR. With the first ride of the night, Oftedahl was whipped forward, and subsequently knocked out when he collided with the bull’s head....
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Like most producers across the United States, Steve Wooten, of the Beatty Canyon Ranch in Las Animas County, Colorado, is all too familiar with drought; years of dry conditions have forced Wooten to evaluate his pasture and water management practices in order to make the best with what Mother Nature hands out. Data Worth the Time… “You can’t change or manage something that you don’t measure. With grazing management, you have to have some level of tracking your progress,” Wooten said in his discussion during the 2022 Stockmanship and Stewardship conference. Wooten has taken the time to perfect a detailed...
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I’m happy to report that here in Torrington, Wyoming, we fared pretty well through last week’s storm. We didn’t get nearly as much snow as most of you experienced, but boy we got the wind (I know, wind in Wyoming, big shocker). “Virtual” days were called in Goshen County, which frustrates me when I think back to how snow days were for me growing up. I remember watching the news when snowstorms were in the forecast with a nervous excitement in my stomach. The next morning, I would’ve woken to the sound of a mouse sneezing as I eagerly...
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The first thing I would like to do here this week is wish my Mother Babe Goggins a very Happy 92nd Birthday! She is definitely the rock of this family, and we are all so very proud of her and appreciate her so much each and every day. She is really busy right now going to all of her great-grandkids’ Christmas programs and ballgames, and of course, getting ready to spend some high-quality time with family over the holidays. Those of you who know Mom would agree that she is one of the classiest women that the Good Lord ever...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) announced their ACE (Advocate. Communicate. Educate) Leadership Program class for 2023. This is the ACE Leadership Program’s sixth year of empowering Farm Bureau members to become confident and effective leaders in their local communities and for Montana agriculture. The program arms its participants to communicate industry issues and represent Farm Bureau interests at the local, state, and national levels. ACE successfully does this by focusing on leadership development, engaging local communities, and issues advocacy. The year-long program will kick off on January 19 in Bozeman followed by five more seminars across Montana. During these...
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The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) commended the inclusion of the Growing Climate Solutions Act and SUSTAINS Act, two critical pieces of legislation that will support the agriculture and forestry sectors’ work to advance climate solutions, in the FY23 omnibus appropriations legislation. In a release, FACA wrote that they “sincerely appreciate[e] the work of Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR), House Agriculture Chairman David Scott (D-GA), and Ranking Member GT Thompson (R-PA) along with Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Don...
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On December 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed Clean Water Act (CWA) settlement with the tribal utility Two Medicine Water Company (Company) in which the Company will pay a ,000 penalty for unpermitted discharges and past violations of water discharge permits at the Browning Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Facility and Two Medicine Water Treatment Plant on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana. “This proposed settlement follows EPA’s significant compliance assistance efforts to address violations and protect public health and the environment,” EPA Region 8 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Director, Suzanne Bohan, said. “EPA is committed to...
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On January 1, 2023, all eggs and egg products sold in Colorado must be compliant with HB20-1343, concerning confinement standards for egg-laying hens, and 8 CCR 1202-19 Rules pertaining to the Act. “The Colorado Department of Agriculture is committed not only to the welfare of egg-laying hens, but also to fair and equitable trade of eggs and egg products as we implement this new regulatory program established through legislation,” Mark Gallegos, Director of CDA’s Inspection and Consumer Services Division, said. In order to be fully compliant with the regulations: Producers will phase into fully cage-free by 2025. Starting January 1,...
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Policy was the focus of the 2022 South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) State Convention. Held in Huron, December 15 and 16 despite Winter Storm Diaz. “Policy and making it is a big deal to us,” Dick Kolousek, a Wessington Springs cattle producer, said. Due to winter storms, the Kolousek family is among a small group of family farmers and ranchers who were able to attend the convention. “There are some policy issues we need to address and discuss together and I’m happy we made it because I am not a fan of Zoom meetings,” Dick's son, Scott Kolousek said. Along...
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On Thursday, December 15, at a press conference, ABIC (American Business Coalition Immigration) Action applauded Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) for introducing in the Senate the Affordable and Safe Food Act, which would modernize the nation’s farm guest worker H-2A visa program by opening it up to more farmers, including making visas available for year-round work in the dairy industry and other sectors of the agricultural community, putting a down payment on border security with mandatory e-verify, and stabilizing wages for farmers and creating legal protections and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented decade-plus farm workers. “ABIC Action fully endorses this bill and...
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American Prairie is pleased to announce it has relocated 45 bison from its conservation herd in north central Montana to Native Nations in Montana and Washington State. As part of the nonprofit’s ongoing work to return bison to their native lands, it has now distributed more than 500 bison to tribal and conservation herds around the country. In the past two weeks, the Montana-based non-profit has distributed 10 bison to the Chippewa Cree Tribe in Rocky Boy, Montana, and 35 bison to the Kalispel Tribe in Cusick, Washington. The animals were successfully transferred after undergoing extensive disease testing and receiving...
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During the American Shorthorn Association (ASA) Annual Meeting on November 19, delegates from across the country gathered to elect new ASA board members and officers at the Hilton Kansas City Airport. The nominating committee submitted three candidates for the available positions: Lee Miller of Ohio; Rick Osterday of South Dakota; and John Russell of Texas. All three will serve a three-year term. Miller and Russell will serve their second term, and this will be Osterday’s first term. The board elected new officers for the nine-member board. John Sonderman of Nebraska was elected President and Toby Jordan of Indiana was elected...
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The University of Wyoming College of Agriculture, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources welcomes Randall Violett as associate director of its Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership (RMAL) program. An experienced ag educator and researcher, Violett has taught at Northwest College in Powell, Southern Utah University, and Utah State University as well in secondary and adult education programs in Montana. As a research scientist at the Powell Research and Extension Center, he earned a doctorate in agronomy from UW. “Randall’s professional experience and demonstrated success in natural resources program development, college teaching, and extension education will certainly accelerate the implementation and enhance...
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Patty Nissen-Cross June 17, 1952- December 1, 2022 Patty Nissen-Cross, 70, of Chinook passed away of ALS, on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at her Missoula home. She was born on June 17, 1952, in Havre, Montana, to Ray and Erna Ramberg. She was raised on the family ranch, South of Chinook, Montana. She attended Ada Elementary and graduated from Chinook High School in 1970. As a young girl growing up on a ranch, she took an active interest in horses, cattle, and sheep, and in 70 years, she was never dogless. She was actively involved in 4-H and the American...
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Now in its third successful year, the Red Angus Association of American (RAAA) Learn from the Best program is designed to leverage the experience, knowledge, and insights held by successful breeders and industry specialists to equip and empower participants to advance their own Red Angus seedstock operations. The program consists of nine sessions – eight virtual and one in-person – and utilizes both asynchronous and synchronous platforms to maximize learning and interaction with the presenters. The in-person session, held at the National Red Angus Convention, will serve as a capstone experience, and provide an opportunity for face-to-face conversation with many...
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Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) President Cyndi Johnson, along with MFBF’s Senior Governmental Affairs Director, Nicole Rolf, spent this week in Washington for the American Farm Bureau Policy Development and Board meeting. While in the nation’s capital, they also met with Congressional leaders on Capitol Hill. “Congress is ready to get to work on the farm bill. We in Farm Bureau are excited to be proactively working on something positive,” Rolf said. “Everyone is hopeful we will get the 2023 Farm Bill passed before September 30, and if not then, by the end of the year. It’s a big lift, but...
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Tyne Morgan, host of the U.S. Farm Report, will reprise her role as moderator at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2023 Stakeholders Summit, scheduled for May 4-5 in Arlington, Virginia. Registration is set to open in early January. After spending numerous hours on the road as AgDay and U.S. Farm Report National Reporter, in 2014, Morgan was named the first female host of U.S. Farm Report. As host and executive producer of the show, Morgan continues to take a deep dive into the news and issues farmers are facing today, while also sharing stories from across rural America. She has won...
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Make plans now to attend the 2023 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium and Convention that will be hosted July 3-6 in Calgary, Canada. The BIF Symposium features two and one-half days of educational programming with focused on this year’s theme “Precision Breeding.” Monday, July 3, kicks off with the Young Producer Symposium at 1 p.m. followed by the Welcome and Scholarship Reception. Monday evening, the National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) will host its biennial symposium at 7 p.m. Tuesday’s general session will feature presentations by Dr. Peter Amer, AbacusBio Limited managing director; Dr. Eileen Wall, Scotland’s Rural College...
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Dan Coonrad December 18, 1940 - December 6, 2022 Dan Coonrad, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and passionate Coug, passed into the arms of his heavenly father December 6, 2022, at Pullman Regional Hospital. Dan was born December 18, 1940, in Denver, Colorado. His family homesteaded in Elizabeth, Colorado, at the time. In 1949, they moved to the Kittitas Valley in central Washington, where his family bought a ranch. Dan was active in 4-H and played sports at Kittitas High School, where he met the love of his life, Karen Green. In 1958, Dan started attending Washington State College, majoring...
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During the 2022 annual conference of the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC), four people were given awards for dedicating themselves to WWPC’s mission. These individuals helped to provide unified support and leadership for integrated management of noxious weeds and pests to protect economic and ecological resources in the State of Wyoming. “The members and friends of WWPC work hard to keep the people of Wyoming happy through weed and pest management,” Donley Darnell, President of WWPC, said. “We are more than thrilled to acknowledge the achievements of these hardworking individuals. We look forward to seeing what they’ll do next...
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Mark Watne of Velva was reelected to a tenth year as North Dakota Farmers Union president by members and delegates attending the organization’s 96th annual state convention. In his message to voting delegates, Watne emphasized the importance of member engagement through advancing technology and their involvement in legislative priority areas, including the crafting of a new farm bill, efforts to address corporate monopolies and fairness in the marketplace, protection of North Dakota’s corporate farming law, and growth of renewable diesel and other fuels. “What is it about NDFU that makes us unique? It’s the grassroots,” Watne said. Farmers Union members...
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Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced that applications are now being accepted for 2023 Specialty Crop Grants. “Projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in North Dakota are eligible for these grants,” Goehring said. “We encourage organizations, institutions, and individuals to submit proposals on their own or in partnerships.” North Dakota has not yet received an allocation amount from USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service but is expected to receive it in the next few months. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) will distribute the funds through a competitive grant process. Eligible applications include enhancing food safety; pest and...
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The first season of a new podcast from Montana State University Extension (MSU) and the Western Landowners Alliance digs into why finding a shared vision for wolf recovery in the lower 48 is important both for agricultural production and wildlife conservation. It also examines what this shared vision would mean for the future of wolves and working lands in the Western U.S. Jared Beaver, MSU Extension wildlife specialist, and Alex Few, coordinator of the Western Landowners Alliance’s Working Wild Challenge program, host the show, which is called “Working Wild University.” The podcast talks with the ranchers, biologists, outfitters, and advocates...
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“You’re the one always coming up with lame brain ideas, why can’t you think up one for this?” Tuff scolded Rascal. “By the time we get out from under this netting, those varmints will have robbed your clients and left them high and dry.” “And stole all my tasty vittles,” Rascals growled. Tuff flopped down from his frenzy of trying to free himself. “Yes, that's it…,” Tuff said sarcastically. “That’s the only thing I was thinking about, your tasty vittles.” Tuff’s sarcastic tone was extremely apparent. “Why don’t you push on that side, and it’ll get me looser,” Rascal sneered....
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Sutton Kline, 12 months old, is from Helena Montana, and celebrated his first birthday RODEO style before attending his first rodeo in East Helena this summer. Sutton loves all animals, especially cows, horses, and dogs. Sutton also loves to visit his Great-Papa Aaron, who is holding him in the picture, and Great-Grammy Linda Boehm on their farm/ranch, Boehm Land & Livestock, south of Rudyard, Montana.
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Every year I find myself in the same predicament as I look down the barrel of the Christmas gun. Every year, it is as though Christmas sneaks up on me out of the blue. So, with just days left before Christmas, I am in my usual pre-Christmas panic caused mostly by procrastination! I started off the month with the best of intentions, as I made several batches of my favorite fudge, but I made them too early, and we have eaten or given it away already. No problem! All I have to do is go to bed 15 minutes later...
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While the life of a herdsman is one many dream about, the reality of the job is more physically and mentally challenging than most realize. To recognize those in the Angus family committed to ranching day in and day out, the American Angus Association® created the annual Herdsman of the Year Award. It honors Angus enthusiasts who dedicate themselves to the management, decision-making, and improvement of a specific herd. This year, the events and education committee approved a new process of electing the Herdsman of the Year recipient. Candidates were selected by a committee consisting of past winners of the...
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For almost 50 years, the world has gotten faster, richer, and – yes – fatter. The power behind all that (ahem) growth has been neoliberalism. It’s not a political label or a personal slander. Instead, as author Rana Foroohar explains in her new book, Homecoming, neoliberalism is “an economic and political philosophy that capital, people, and goods should be able to cross borders freely in search of the most productive and profitable returns.” In short, it was the energy behind Ronald Reagan’s “trickle down” economics, the muscle that pushed Bill Clinton’s free trade dealmaking, and the theory that powered the...
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Ken, Jeff, Bob, and I were in high school, and we hunted, fished, worked in the woods and on ranches, and had a lot of fun together. So, once again, we skipped 7th period study hall to go hooding. The snow was deep, and the county roads were plowed. The snowbanks were four or five feet high on both sides of the road, and the roadbed was pretty much ice. Perfect. We had a car hood turned upside down that we pulled behind our vehicles. A pickup seat was wired in place to sit on. We had a lariat tied...
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A recent Epoch Times article addressed how girls are reaching puberty at younger ages. In 1840 it was 16.5 years, whereas today it is 12.4 years. Disinformed people blame this on hormones in beef, but this has no factual basis. Yes, growth stimulants are used in feeder cattle, but they are withdrawn far enough prior to slaughter to leave no detectable residue. This idea of zero tolerance began in 1958, when the FDA was drafting their Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Representative James Delaney insisted on a clause prohibiting the use of any carcinogen at any detectable level in...
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“The U.S. is looking to be a net importer of agricultural goods in 2023 for the first time. I'm pretty uncomfortable with that,” Janelle Baker, fourth generation cow-calf and hay producer of Baker Ranches, Inc. said during a December 2 conference hosted by the American Business Immigration Coalition Action (ABIC). “The Fed estimates the U.S. is short 3.5 million workers, and in the 2022 “Feeding the Economy” report, their findings reinforced that America's food and ag industries are fundamental to the U.S. economy, as 18 percent of the economy is linked to the food and agricultural sectors. No matter who...
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Last week, the Montana Stockgrowers Association hosted its 138th Annual Convention in Billings, Montana. Ranchers from all corners of the state came together to discuss and set policies, network with industry leaders and other ranchers, and sit in on sessions that gave cattle industry updates. The Young Stockgrowers hosted their annual meeting and social where individuals were able to hear from Joe Kovanda, Chief Development and Strategy Officer for Compass Ag Insurance, who discussed how his experiences in the agriculture industry have shaped his career while discussing how ranchers can utilize tools such as Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) to ensure...
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I had a Civics teacher in middle school who would often reward our class for working diligently and getting our work done by posing a difficult riddle or ethical dilemma for us to discuss and debate. The ethical dilemmas always intrigued me the most because, depending on your perspective, there are many “right” answers. This week, a major headline blasted me with a question that I haven’t been able to nail down an answer to: is one person’s life worth more than another's? When I initially heard that WNBA superstar, Brittney Griner, had been detained by Russian authorities last year,...
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Many beef cattle producers work their animals several times a year - vaccinating, preg-checking, weaning calves, or processing arrivals at a feedlot - and want it to go smoothly. The goal is to make it easy for the crew and easy on the animals. There are many corral designs and some of the most popular in recent years have been the curved chutes/tubs and Bud Williams’ “Bud Box.” Many folks have spent a lot of money installing elaborate facilities in hopes that those designs would solve some of the problems that often arise when a crew is working cattle, but...
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Here we are in mid-December, and I just realized the next time I write a column, the 2022 sale season will be all over for me. I have three more production sales to work this week to reach the finish line. I know many producers were pretty scared as we entered the sale season back in January of this year, but everything has turned out just fine, actually more than fine. What is really exciting is that it is only going to get better as we move forward into 2023 and beyond! I read an article this past weekend regarding...
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For 70 years, the American Angus Auxiliary has offered Angus enthusiasts the opportunity to work together to provide educational, promotional and social programs and activities. Each year, Auxiliary members gather at Angus Convention to educate members, discuss future efforts, and raise funds for Angus generations to come. The Auxiliary held their Annual Meeting, Miss American Angus competition, and Auxiliary Breakfast in conjunction with the 2022 Angus Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. “Angus Convention is a great way for the Auxiliary directors, committee chairs, past presidents, and membership to gather annually to look back at our year of progress,” Deanna...
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Unlike the two most recent presidential elections, the November mid-term election outcomes did little to swing farmer sentiment. The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer came in at a reading of 102 in November, unchanged from October. There was however a slight movement in both of the barometer’s sub-indices. The Current Conditions Index declined 3 points to a reading of 98 while the Future Expectations Index increased by 2 points to a reading of 104. Even though sentiment remained relatively unchanged in November, producers are continuing to look at their bottom line and rising interest rates combined with high input...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association’s (MSGA) 138th Annual Convention and Trade Show came to a close on December 9 in Billings, Montana. On the final day of convention, attendees finalized policy, elected the 2023 board of directors, and attended the trade show, Stockgrowers Colleges, General Session II, Presidents Lunch, and the Grand Finale Banquet. The organization’s leadership was announced during the Grand Finale Banquet. The board of directors consists of 13 members: two directors from each district and three elected officers. MSGA directors volunteer their time to travel to industry issues and meetings to ensure representation of Montana’s ranching families. Representatives...
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A few shearing schools have been added to the calendar of events since the list of 2022-23 schools was first published earlier this year. If you’re interested in attending a shearing school, see if one of these might fit your schedule: The South Dakota State University Shearing School is scheduled for December 10-12 at the SDSU Sheep Unit in Brookings, S.D. Contact Kelly Froehlich at Kelly.froehlich@sdstate.edu or 605-688-5433 for more information. The Wisconsin Shearing School is set for December 15-16. Contact Todd Taylor at toddtaylor@wisc.edu for more information. The Utah State University Sheep Shearing School is scheduled for January 19-21,...
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Frank Schiefelbein, Jr. "Big Frank" December 9, 1932 - November 28, 2022 Frank Schiefelbein, Jr. "Big Frank", just 12 days shy of his 90th birthday, passed away on his beloved farm on November 28, 2022. Big Frank, as known by anyone who met him, was born on December 9, 1932, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the oldest son of Frank Sr. and Lucille (Knaeble) Schiefelbein. Like most farmers, Big Frank grew up in the heart of Minneapolis and graduated from St Thomas Academy. Big Frank went on to graduate with honors from the University of St. Thomas with degrees in...
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The Wyoming CattleWoman's are offering two scholarships to deserving young women from the state of Wyoming. These scholarships will be awarded based on application criteria and an essay component. Each scholarship will be awarded in the amount of 0. In addition, each awardee will be given a one-year membership to Wyoming CattleWomen. Application deadline is February 28, 2023. The application will be available at wyocattlewomen.org, from 4H or FFA advisors, or can be completed using Google Forms with the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ES5Hht5L04fucNiLp3duKmk-BmNo0N7XJtZqEAm TK78/prefill.
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The National Western Stock Show (NWSS) Employment Office is now open and actively seeking to fill over 400 seasonal Stock Show positions. The NWSS HR team is excited to hire passionate, hard-working, and energetic people to help put on Colorado's most iconic western tradition. "It takes a lot of amazing people, in multiple facets, to put on the best sixteen days in January," Mikayla Morrison, Director of Human Relations & Hiring, said. "Each and every person on our team is essential to the show's success, and we simply could not do it without our dedicated seasonal team members." Seasonal jobs...
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In 1921, Ellis Patch staked his claim in Johnson County and started a legacy. His hard work and perseverance would lay the foundation for the future success of his family. Just over 100 years later, this legacy of the Patchwork Ranch is preserved forever. The McPhee and Jacob families have partnered with the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust (Land Trust) to place the entire Patchwork Ranch under four separate conservation easements, totaling to 2,423 acres. The preservation of this ranch was complex, and its success is a result of the concerted efforts of multiple families and landowning entities. All four...
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On December 1, the EPA issued its 2021, 2022, and 2023 renewable volume obligations (RVO’s) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) SET proposal. As proposed, the new standards raise volumes moving forward. A strong proponent of biofuels for their economic and environmental benefits, NFU is calling the increased standards for future years a way to move the program forward. “As the administration is working to address climate change, we’ve long known that biofuels will play an important role in reducing greenhouse gases while having the added benefit of providing expanded opportunities for farmers,” National Farmers Union President, Rob Larew said....
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Governor Mark Gordon announced that Wyoming has filed a second lawsuit against the Department of Interior related to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) decision to “pause” oil and gas lease sales. In the first lawsuit, the State challenged the Administration’s early actions that brought federal oil and gas leasing to a sudden halt in Wyoming. The United States District Court for the District of Wyoming found that the Secretary's decision to cancel the First Quarter 2021 lease sale was lawful, but did not consider whether the Secretary's other cancellations violated the law. The case is targeted at the paused...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association’s (MSGA) congratulates its Director of Marketing and Communications, Keni Reese, on being named to COWGIRL Magazine’s 30 Under 30 class for 2023. COWGIRL Magazine’s 30 Under 30 program honors 30 women who are 30 years of age or under and have shown significant dedication to the Western industry. Reese was honored as one of top 30 early career influential women in the nation. “This award is truly humbling and I am honored to be among this group of hard-working and accomplished women. My time with MSGA has introduced me to an amazing group of people and pushed me to become...
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Last week Mr. Fogarity’s barnyard bassets raced to the ranch with a warning. Rascal’s up to no good and has manipulated his way into the lives of Itchy’s friends, too. But what is really in store for Rascal when a business proposition turns on him, and will the masked bandits' menacing ways ruin Christmas for those in need? Victoria, the mystifying and masterfully manipulating opossum. swiveled her head towards the fox and Tuff. “Oh, Rascal dear, it seems you have company who’s joined us,” she said. “Care to explain because I do believe our business was only to be with...
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My idol in the cattle business has been dead now for over a century but the lessons he taught are timeless. His name was Heinrich Kreiser, but that was before the man used his political influence to get his name changed by an act of the California legislature to Henry Miller. (This was the name of the ship that brought Henry from Germany to the U.S.) You might recognize Henry more by his nickname, “The Cattle King,” or by the ranching operation he built (with a Frenchman named Charles Lux) called Miller and Lux. Henry was a German butcher who...
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The Biden administration has proposed a massive expansion of the IRS. Let’s be clear about what that means for taxpayers. Biden’s IRS expansion will have more-onerous filing requirements. More Americans will endure invasive audits. More Americans will face lawsuits by their own government. And all of us will spend more time and more money just to ensure we get our taxes right. This is no minor upgrade at the IRS. The Biden plan would increase the IRS budget six-fold and add 87,000 new agents and auditors. The price tag for all this is billion. The target of that new...
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Many times as we are working with our horses we have a physical goal in mind – we want them to accomplish something specific such as getting in the trailer, stand still or move when told, or perform a flying lead change. There is nothing wrong with this – actually it’s good to have some sort of a plan or purpose if we hope to progress, although there’s nothing wrong with just hanging out with them either. The problem arises when we focus too much on the achievement of the physical outcomes without recognizing either the mental or emotional state...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks (FWP) is seeking public comment on a draft plan and environmental impact statement to guide the long-term management and conservation of grizzly bears across the state. “For decades, FWP staff have worked with federal, tribal, and local partners, along with communities and landowners, to recover and then manage grizzly bear populations across much of Montana,” FWP Director, Hank Worsech said. “This plan will put that experience into action and provide a framework for comprehensive management of grizzly bears in the state and ensure the populations remain sustainable and healthy into the future.” The plan was...
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On December 1, NCBA announced support for the Senate version of the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act, a companion bill to legislation that was previously introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK). “The Securities and Exchange Commission’s overly broad rulemaking has the potential to increase burdens on cattle producers by requiring data that is impossible to provide,” NCBA Chief Counsel, Mary-Thomas Hart said. “NCBA is proud to support the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act because it ensures that federal regulators do not overstep their jurisdiction and it protects cattle producers from additional government red...
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Since I am retiring from my County Superintendent of Schools job at the end of this month, I am trying to clean out file cabinets and computer files. Some days I don't get a lot accomplished, because it is like taking a 41-year trip down memory lane in my career as an educator, and there are a lot of things to read and reminisce about. One of the treasures that I found was this essay that my daughter Brooke wrote for a college "sense of place" essay in an advanced composition class. My father, Glen Roberts, died right after Christmas...
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Oaklee McCart, a two-year-old cowgirl from Gillette, Wyoming, loves all animals, big or small. Oaklee enjoys riding her horse Pokey Joe, collecting eggs from her chickens after she has chased them around the yard, and loves going to the mountains fishing with her family.
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On December 6, NCBA welcomed the release of a final rule from USDA to stand up the Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program. This program was authorized following NCBA’s engagement with Congress on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. “We are pleased that USDA listened to feedback from stakeholders like NCBA while crafting the final rule on the Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program. We are hopeful that this pilot program will strike an appropriate balance between offering cattle producers additional insight into the market while also protecting their proprietary business information,” NCBA Senior Director of Government Affairs, Tanner Beymer said. “A...
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The U.S. is facing an alarming shortfall of veterinarians to treat livestock and poultry in rural areas, threatening public health, food safety, and economic growth in communities that depend on agriculture, according to a new report com-missioned by Farm Journal Foundation. More than 500 counties across the U.S. have shortages of food animal veterinarians, according to the report, authored by Cornell University’s Dr. Clinton Neill. Today, only about 3-4 percent of new veterinary school graduates pursue livestock or other food-animal practice areas, a stark decline from 40 years ago when about 40 percent of graduates specialized in this area. Shortages...
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The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) recently presented the “Friend of Farm Bureau” award to United States Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), and United States Senator Cynthia Lummis(R-WY), for the 114th Congress for their support of America’s farmers and ranchers and food security for consumers. This award, presented by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), is given at the end of each Congress to lawmakers who have supported the Farm Bureau’s position on policy issues as demonstrated by their voting records. The individual voting records on Farm Bureau priority issues in 2022 included legislation pertaining to food security and safety, regulatory...
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While his Republican House colleagues were fighting for votes – and party majority – a week after the November 8 midterm election, Pennsylvania incumbent Glenn Thompson (R-PA), the ranking GOP member of the House Ag Committee, was basking in the glow of another blowout re-election. His hammering, 40-point win wasn’t his biggest. That came in 2020 when he won his sixth term by a crushing 47 points. Even then-President Donald J. Trump, running for re-election, couldn’t top that; Trump won Thompson’s district by “just” 43 points. That empowering victory – and the fact that Thompson represents one of the largest,...
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I recently spent a miserable afternoon Bangs vaccinating heifers, because it was in the low teens with a nasty breeze. I avoid Bangs vaccinating in such conditions not because I am a pansy but because we must tattoo each heifer’s ear. When cold temperatures cause the critter’s capillaries to constrict, they get poor dye uptake and illegible tattoos. Only cows with a legible tattoo are allowed to ship or sell, so it is the critical link in the vaccinate, tag, and tattoo chain. We processed the heifers in a feedlot I have served for four decades. As the bitter wind...
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On Thursday, December 1, the Montana Wool Growers Association (MWGA) kicked off its 139th Annual Convention at the TNC Lamb Lot (TNC) in Park City, Montana. Producers from all over the state, including other sheep industry leaders, were given the chance to tour the newly opened feedlot to learn more about their strategies with feeds and finishing. Additionally, ethnic markets were discussed, and then participants asked questions that provided insight into how these methods and mindsets could be applied to their own flocks in order to increase profitability come sale time. TNC has two locations, a ranch in Molt, Montana,...
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For every producer, a single loss of an animal is one too many, whether it’s to sickness or a predator. For fourth-generation Wyoming rancher, Robert Keith, and his family, the first wolf predation to hit their herd on November 13, 2021, was bad. The subsequent 27 losses between November 15 and December 22, 2021, was devastating. Now, a full year later, the Keiths are still fighting to receive adequate compensation, having received a check for merely ,000 just two months ago; in that time, Keith has come to realize that county-level personnel “want to wash their hands of it” and...
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On November 29, following years of requests and petitions, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced its denial of a petition requesting an exemption for livestock haulers from the “maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles” section of Title 49. As the rule stands, a single driver “may not drive after a period of 14 consecutive hours after coming on-duty, following 10 consecutive hours off-duty.” 11 hours of actual drive-time is permitted. The petitioners – which included NCBA, the Livestock Marketing Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Beekeeping Federation, American Honey Producers Association, and the National Aquaculture Association – sought...
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A question I get asked quite frequently from family and friends is “how do you come up with all of these stories each week?” Frankly, it comes down to two things: one is an enormous list of press releases and news alerts I have set to flood my email every day and the other is simply listening to what folks are talking about in everyday conversations. Fortunately for me, I have a network of people in my life who have also started listening for me. I was able to connect with the Keith family for my front-page wolf article this...
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I urge all of you to go to the Sale Reports section of this week’s paper and read the results of the sales that have taken place across Reporter Country over the past week. The sales I attended were extremely strong from start to finish for all classes of cattle. This is always one of the biggest weeks of the year for me with a volume number of cattle selling every day. To top off a great week of sales, I was also able to take in a couple of football games: Cats and Cowboys again! Saturday, I went to...
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The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Montana is accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) enrollment option and the Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). While NRCS accepts easement applications year-round, applications for the current funding cycle must be submitted by December 30, 2022. “Agricultural Land Easements are one of the many tools available to landowners for the long-term protection of working lands which build sustainable agriculture, manage future development, or protect critical habitat for wildlife,” Justin Meissner, NRCS assistant state conservationist for easement programs in Montana, said. ACEP-ALE provides financial assistance to eligible entities,...
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The North Dakota State Board of Animal Health and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division are reminding horse owners to protect their horses from equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). A horse in Burleigh County has been confirmed positive for equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic manifestation of the virus. Since September, cases of EHM have been reported in multiple states including Kentucky, Florida, Massachusetts, and California. EHV-1 can be spread by direct contact, through the air, and on contaminated equipment, clothing and hands. Biosecurity measures that can reduce the risk of spreading the disease include avoiding shared food or...
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A new publication from the University of Wyoming (UW) Extension offers a valuable resource for Wyoming business owners, elected officials, community planners, and residents interested in understanding local and regional sales trends. “Retail sales can be an important part of a community’s economy,” author Duane Williams, a UW Extension community development specialist, stated. “Retail activities can attract new dollars to flow into a community or be a source of dollars leaking out of the local economy.” Titled “Assessing 2001–2018 Total Retail Sales and Its Components for the Rocky Mountain Region, Wyoming, and Its Counties,” the new publication is designed to...
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In loving memory of Myron Benes Cows in Heaven By Jim Carder There must be cows in heaven Because God didn’t let you stay He needed herd improvement and done a cowman’s way. He needed one with knowledge Who could analyze a cow From head to tail to hoof The way that you know how. You could look at bulls and heifers And find their proper mates And somehow know their offspring Will possess the perfect traits. From pedigrees to EPD’s and genomic tests At knowing how to use them You rank among the best. For rapid herd improvement...
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A naturally occurring virus co-discovered by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and university scientists may offer a way to undermine a costly fungal threat to wheat, barley, and other small-grain crops. The fungus, Fusarium graminearum, is the chief culprit behind a disease called Fusarium head blight, or "scab." Unchecked with fungicides or other measures, scab diminishes the yield and quality of the crops' grain. Under wet, humid conditions, the scab fungus can release a toxin called deoxynivalenol (a.k.a., "vomitoxin") that can contaminate the grain, reducing its point-of-sale value or leading to outright rejection depending on end use. Now, however, a team of scientists...
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Montana youth swine exhibitors and breeders have been recognized by the Montana Symbol of Excellence program (MSEP). The program annually honors both 4-H and FFA youth and swine breeders who raise market swine that meets quality standards and show a commitment to producing quality pork products. MSEP evaluates carcass and ultrasound data on swine from across Montana, with 32 percent qualifying in 2022 to be Symbol of Excellence swine, according to Rose Malisani, MSU Extension agent in Cascade County and MSEP coordinator. The Symbol of Excellence standards are based on evaluations of live weight, hot carcass weight, back fat, loin...
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It’s no secret that today’s consumer expects more than ever before. A panel of beef industry experts agreed: cattlemen are already doing plenty of things right. The challenge, they said, is connecting consumers with ranchers so they are both reassured. During the 2022 Angus Convention, beef industry experts discussed ways producers can meet rising expectations. Held November 6 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the consumer perspectives panel, sponsored by Zoetis, was moderated by Nicole Erceg, Certified Angus Beef director of communications, and included Danette Amstein, Midan Marketing; Abram Babcock, Adams Land and Cattle; Jonathan Perry, Deer Valley Farms and chairman...
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Packer Accountability is among the topics experts from across the state and nation will discuss during the 2022 South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) State Convention held in Huron on December 15 and 16 at the Crossroads Hotel and Convention Center, Huron (100 4th Street SW., Huron). “We are here to fight for family farmers and ranchers,” Doug Sombke, SDFU President and Conde crop and cattle producer, said. “Holding meat packers accountable to prevent price fixing is a farmer and rancher issue, and it’s also a consumer issue.” Sombke explained competition is essential to a sustainable and affordable food supply. “Keeping...
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The Northern Plains Resource Council recently held its 51st Annual Meeting in Billings and covered a wide range of topics addressing agriculture, natural resources, and rural economies. The theme of the meeting was “Bringing Democracy Home” in celebration of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Montana Constitution. The landmark document was ratified 50 years ago in 1972, the same year that Northern Plains Resource Council was founded. The event had two keynote speakers, the first of which was John Boyd, Jr., President of the National Black Farmers Association. Boyd has spent decades advocating for minority agriculture producers and policies...
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Results are current through the first five rounds as of press time on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. All photos were taken by Tanya Hamner of Riding for the Brand Photography Bareback Riding... Buffalo, Wyoming cowboy, Cole Reiner, came into the NFR as the number one cowboy and showed up in Round 4 with an 89-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ “Southlands Shoutin’ Shoes” to win the go-round win and earn a trip to the South Point for the Buckle Ceremony. After the first five rounds, Jess Pope has gained the lead in the Average and the World with total...
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Theo Yanzick, long-time Montana Farm Bureau (MFB) member and board member of Carbon-Stillwater County Farm Bureau, received the Distinguished Service Award from MFB during the closing banquet November 16 in Missoula. Yanzick has been involved in production agriculture from a young age. She and her late husband, Bruce, began their journey together in eastern Montana, moving to central Montana, and finally settling in Absarokee where they raised cattle and sheep for more than 40 years. When Bruce passed away in 2019, Theo continued to ranch, irrigate, and work with her neighbors. The 82-year-old has been a MFB member for more...
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In anticipation of calving season, Kansas State University Animal Sciences and Industry and K-State Research and Extension are planning a series of calving schools in January. The program will outline overall calving management that includes stages of the normal calving process as well as tips to handle difficult calving situations. A.J. Tarpoff, K-State extension beef veterinarian, explained that the goals of the event are to increase knowledge, practical skills, and to increase the number of live calves born if they need assistance. The schools will also share tips on when and how to intervene to assist the cow or heifer....
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) is pleased to announce the selection of Cheyenne Leah, Hannah Pearson, and Ella Waterhouse to serve as interns for MSGA’s inaugural Annual Convention & Trade Show Internship Program. The program was created to provide students with a hands-on experience in the various facets of association event planning and execution, policy development, social media engagement, and coverage. Cheyenne Leach will serve in the Policy position and is a junior at Oklahoma State University studying agricultural communications and animal science. She serves on the executive board of Collegiate American Farmers and Ranchers (CAFR), as well as the...
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American Agri-Women (AAW) recently honored four women with the Helen Whitmore Memorial Scholarship at the annual AAW Convention held in Bozeman. The scholarship helps first-time convention attendees with their travel expenses. Ashly Ann LemHouse, Junction City, Oregon, obtained a Bachelor of Science at Oregon State University in Agricultural Sciences and volunteered at Oregon Ag in the Classroom. After graduation, her first job was at an organic dairy in Bavaria, Germany. Ashly was very excited to attend the national event with other like-minded, hardworking women who are also passionate about agriculture. After high school graduation, Kelby Riley, Abernathy, Texas, attended West...
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The Angus Foundation raised ,000 with the auction of a highly desired Certified Angus Beef (CAB) barn painting at the 2022 Angus Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. The painting was auctioned at the annual American Angus Association® Awards Dinner and Reception Sunday, November 6, and was purchased by Gardiner Angus Ranch of Ashland, Kansas. Funds raised will help further the Foundation’s mission of supporting Angus education, youth, and research. In 2018, CAB celebrated 40 years in business with the "Brand the Barn" campaign, painting 40 barns belonging to Angus breeders in 25 states across the country with the Certified...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking for public input through a Federal Register request for information on the implementation of more than billion provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will use the investments provided through IRA-funded conservation programs to support farmers and ranchers in adopting and expanding climate-smart activities and systems. NRCS asks for comments on how to target program benefits, quantify impact, and improve program delivery and outreach, especially for underserved producers. Comments are due December 22, 2022. NRCS will identify immediate changes that can be made in the...
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The proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons grocery chains will result in fewer market choices and higher prices for consumers of beef, and therefore decreased competitiveness in the cattle market. Kroger is the second largest supermarket chain in America, while Albertsons sits at number four. Walmart is number one and Costco number three. Together, these four chains sell 45 percent of the food bought by the American consumer. If the merger goes forward, only three companies will control nearly half of the food market, which of course includes half of the beef. Kroger and Albertsons own dozens of other brand...
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Thirty-three students from across North Dakota gathered in Fargo, North Dakota, October 20-22 for a high-energy, beef-industry career exploration, and leadership development conference hosted by the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA). The 14- to 20-year-olds comprised the 2022 Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit Class and represent a bright future for the state’s beef industry. “The Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit brought together an outstanding group of intelligent, passionate students to learn more about the state’s beef industry,” NDSA Special Projects Intern, Jade Koski said. “The industry faces incredible challenges and holds incredible opportunities, and it is exciting to...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced that Franki Moscato of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is the winner of the 10th annual National Anthem Contest, sponsored by Norbrook®. Moscato will sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans during the Opening General Session as well as at the Friday night “Party Gras” concert. “Farming has been part of my family’s history since before my ancestors arrived from Wales in 1857,” Moscato said. “It is an honor to be chosen to sing for an industry that means so much to me.” Moscato first sang...
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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) applauded Congress for taking action to avert an economically devastating rail strike. “TFI thanks Congress for its swift work this week to implement the September Tentative Agreements (TA’s) reached by rail carriers and union leadership to avert a rail strike that would have severely disrupted delivery of fertilizer to farmers as well as hurting domestic production,” TFI President and CEO, Corey Rosenbusch said. “TFI is also appreciative of the Biden Administration’s leadership as this challenging situation took bipartisan efforts on all sides and every level of our government to make it happen. It is encouraging to...
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Idamarie, four years old, and her younger sister Annalise, one year old, enjoyed downtime playing corn hole at Angus Convention in early November. The girls love anything animals and follow their parents who are Meat Scientists for Certified Angus Beef.
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Next weekend, we will again be cooking for the Sons of Norway Christmas party. Although I have been doing it for several years, I still feel like a poser when I am cooking Norwegian food for a traditional dinner. Although it has not been confirmed by Ancestry.com, I have not one drop of Norwegian blood flowing through my veins even though I have lived in a Norwegian community for the past 41 years. When I was first hired to cook for the annual Norwegian Christmas party, several years ago, Carol O'Dell, the chief organizer, gave me a Norwegian Meatballs recipe...
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This story was told to me by a very tall lady who bought some western gear from me at a fair, years ago. In the course of our conversation, she said she had been a member of a woman’s Olympic basketball team and the lady with her, who was even taller, confirmed they both were. They were very funny and had may stories to tell. This is the only one I remember. It went something like this: Last year the family Thanksgiving gathering was at my home. It has a huge back yard, surrounded by a solid wooden fence, just...
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Collector and historian Thomas Minckler spent a half century gathering 19th and early 20th century letters and documents, vintage photographs, rare books, and paintings. He’s sharing those collections in his new book Montana: A Paper Trail. Veteran Western Americana specialist Nathaniel Des Marais wrote of the 10,000-plus items: “Make no mistake, this is the finest gathering of Montana source material ever brought together.” Minckler’s decades of researching and contextualizing items in his collection uncovered innumerable valuable insights on Montana history. Each artifact’s unique paper trail reveals a journey that contributes to the fascinating story of Montana. The wide-ranging collection includes...
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If you don’t understand the allure, gyrating value, and many crack-ups of cryptocurrency, a few words from New York University’s Nouriel Roubini, the economist who predicted the 2007/08 housing collapse, might help. Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Finance conference in mid-November, Roubini, reported CNBC, “... described crypto and some of its major players as an ‘ecosystem that is totally corrupt.’” Roubini went on to explain what he meant by listing his “'seven Cs of crypto: concealed, corrupt, crooks, criminals, con men, carnival barkers’” and “‘CZ,’” the initials of a Chinese crypto bigshot. Roubini isn’t the only economist who sees crypto...
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My husband did an excellent job carving the meat off our Thanksgiving turkey. So well, in fact, that very little was left on the bones that I use for turkey soup. I was surprised then, that - after a night of simmering - those almost bare bones gave up a fair amount of meat. It reminded me of something my husband said about his grandparents. Along with cows and chickens, they raised pigs on a small farm in Colorado. His grandmother reportedly said on more than one occasion that, when it came to pork, she used “everything but the squeal.”...
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“BAWHOO!” Moose bellowed. The ranch crew turned toward their friend racing down the trail. His howl was like an alarm sounding its need for immediate attention. “What’s gotten into that hound dog today?” Tuff muttered. Following close behind Moose was Rufus. He wasn’t as loud as Moose, but he was also coming their way as fast as his stubby basset hound legs could carry him. “You’re going to want to come with us,” Rufus said once he got closer to Banjo and the crew. “Rascal’s done it this time.” “What has he done now?” Banjo said. “He nabbed Itchy’s friends,...
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If you Christmas shop year-round searching for fitting and proper gifts, you will find nothing of value in today’s column. If you blow into Shipton’s on Christmas Eve intending to fill 15 stockings in 15 minutes, relax, I have done the heavy lifting for you. Buy these two books for every person on your list, and your shopping is done. First is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s book, The Real Anthony Fauci. It is a phenomenal reference about everything COVID. For example, the alphabet cartel claims Remdesivir is a safe and effective treatment for SARS-CoV-2, but Kennedy’s book reveals how they...
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It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic “put a microscope on the supply chain” and uncovered that “it was broken,” Walter Schweitzer, President of the Montana Farmers Union (MFU), said. Consumers were being rationed at the grocery store, all the while producers were “euthanizing their animals, pouring their milk down the drain, and plowing their crops.” As is evident by the growing number of anti-trust suits against the “corporate monopolies,” aka the Big Four, Schweitzer emphasized the importance of getting back to the basics of “raising, processing, and buying food locally.” This idea of bringing business back to the main...
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Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) officially listed two Distinct Population Segments (DPS) of the lesser prairie chicken (LPC) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), eliciting major opposition from agriculture organizations such as the Public Lands Council and NCBA. Under the Southern DPS, which covers New Mexico and the southwest Texas Panhandle, the LPS is listed as endangered, and in the Northern DPS, covering Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and the northeast Texas Panhandle, they are listed as threatened. The first proposed listing was on June 1, 2021, after the FWS reviewed the “past, present, and future threats” that...
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Even though I’m a Husker fan, I’m willing to admit that the folks over at Kansas State have some good things going on, especially with their Beef Cattle Institute’s weekly “Cattle Chat” podcast, hosted by Dr. Brad White. Each week, they spend about 20 minutes diving into relevant and timely topics and research with the help of industry professionals and experts. On November 11, the discussion surrounded mineral forms, VFD, and what I found to be most interesting, fetal programming. From a “veterinary reproduction standpoint,” fetal programming is the awareness of how the “things that happen while the calf is...
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The packers had to deal with a shortened holiday week, and let’s just say they had to pay-up to attain cattle. Fed cattle in the north sold up to 9, with a range of 7 to 9, and 5 to 6 in the meat. The south also enjoyed a to higher market with cattle selling at 4 to 5. Estimated weekly slaughter numbers in the shortened week were 581,000 head higher than the same week last year by 14,000 head. Year-to-date slaughter numbers continue to remain at levels roughly 1.6 percent higher than a year ago. In reference...
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Take a look into the future and what do you see? For the Angus breed, the future includes leaps into enhanced genomic comprehension and expanded maternal tools for breeders. The 2022 Angus Convention featured a Genetics Symposium, which hosted a panel of industry leaders to discuss the future of genetic data. Speakers included moderator Kelli Retallick-Riley, Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI®) President, and five panelists: Larry Kuehn, USDA Meat Animal Research Center geneticist; Andre Garcia, AGI geneticist; Gale Haynes, owner of Haynes Cattle Company; Alan Miller, owner of Prairie View Farms and 2021-2022 AGI board chairman; and Duc Lu, AGI geneticist....
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Montana’s 2022 wolf regulations passed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission in August will go back into effect immediately after a court ruling in a lawsuit against Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks denied the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction and lifted a temporary restraining order. The lawsuit challenges Montana’s wolf management. Two weeks ago, the judge in the case issued a temporary restraining order reverting wolf regulations back to the 2020 wolf hunting and trapping season. That temporary restraining order expired Tuesday, November 29. Though the court denied the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction, the lawsuit is still...
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On November 22, USDA announced a 45-day extension of the comment period for the proposed rule titled, “Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act.” The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the extension while urging USDA to proceed in a cautious, deliberative manner. “While we appreciate the additional time to submit thorough comments, overall USDA should tap the brakes on this rulemaking effort,” NCBA Senior Director of Government Affairs, Tanner Beymer said. “This is a significant undertaking rooted in decades of legislative, regulatory, and judicial history. Stakeholders must be afforded the opportunity to holistically evaluate the...
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Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring has announced North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) awards for nine projects. The awards totaling [post_excerpt],065,422.75 were approved at the APUC quarterly meeting November 17 in Wahpeton, North Dakota. APUC is a program of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture that administers grant programs for research and development of new and expanded uses for North Dakota agricultural products which support the development of concepts and products that supports rural communities and agriculture operations. The grants can be used for basic and applied research, marketing and utilization, farm diversification, nature-based agritourism, prototype and technology, and technical...
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Bert Jacobs, co-founder and Chief Executive Optimist of the 0 million lifestyle brand, Life is Good®, will address attendees as general session keynote speaker during the 2023 American Farm Bureau (AFBF) Convention. When Jacobs and his brother John started the company in 1994, they had in their pockets, lived out of their van, and sold T-shirts on the streets of Boston. Jacobs will speak during the closing general session at the convention on Monday, January 9, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His powerful message will include why he has championed the same mission for more than 25 years: to...
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On November 29, the Shippers Coalition called on Congress, the White House, railroads, and union leaders to act quickly to prevent a rail strike from further damaging an already fragile supply chain. The ongoing negotiations between the unions and the railroads must result in certainty for consumers looking for critical goods and for shippers across the country who ship products via both rail and truck. Any disruption in the supply chain will have detrimental impacts on the ability for goods to reach consumers and further deteriorate the country’s supply chain. As the holiday season approaches, the impacts of a railroad...
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“What’s gotten into you?” Rascal questioned. “All of a sudden you’re more productive than you’ve ever been.” Itchy shrugged. “Maybe ‘cause it's close to the holidays and I know there’s critters out there like me who need a little something to eat this time of year, especially since it’s been so cold and all,” Itchy replied, softly. “Well for a pint-sized weasel,” Rascal said. “That’s quite a profound statement. Maybe I’ll give you a couple extra jars of canned fish and pickled eggs for you to dole out to your little friends in need.” “Why…thank you,” Itchy said. “Thank you...
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One of my favorite activities prior to the China pandemic was attending bit and spur shows, but in the aftermath the number and quality of the shows has withered. Organizers have struggled with ways to attract more attendees and younger folks to the hobby. One show had an appraising panel like Antiques Roadshow where a person could bring in grandpa's old horse gear and have a panel of experts appraise it. Only one person offered up his “antique” bit he'd bought at a previous show, but the experts all agreed it was made in China. One show staged a revival...
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American Agri-Women (AAW) awarded its prestigious Veritas Award to Forrest Lucas at its 2022 national convention held recently in Bozeman, Montana. The Veritas Award is bestowed upon individuals who have been public witness to the "pursuit of truth." Mr. Lucas’ lifelong association with agriculture and his passion for our American traditions led him to found Protect the Harvest in 2011. Protect the Harvest, under Forrest Lucas’ guidance, was created to defend and preserve American freedoms and to support farmers, ranchers, outdoor enthusiasts, and animal owners. Most Americans are unaware that there are special interest groups in America that have evolved...
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The Black Hills Angus Association (BHAA) will be awarding a 00 renewable scholarship for the 2023-2024 school year. The application deadline is January 10, 2023. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be a graduating high school senior or currently attending an eligible post-secondary institution, including technical institutes for the 2023-2024 school term, and must be from South Dakota or a bordering state. To obtain an application, or for more information contact the Black Hills Angus Association Scholarship Program by Phone at (605) 892-2875, or by email at bar69angus@gmail.com.
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Calvin, five years old, and Chandler Sexson, six years old, of Stanfield, Oregon are ranch kids through and through. When they're not helping their mom and dad on the ranch raising Red Angus and Charolais cattle, they can be found getting their cattle ready to show! The boys showed their Red Angus heifer this year at the Red Western Classic in Reno, Nevada.
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Every year right before Thanksgiving back when I was teaching English, I would ask all of my junior high students to write poems entitled, "I Am Thankful For..." I always modeled a few lines of an example poem for them, so with a very straight face I would write, "My two delightful children, Bret and Brooke." This line was easier to write without smirking if neither of them had been in the sheriff's report or the principal's office in the past week. Recently, I was moaning about my failures as a parent/grandparent to my sister Jane, who had brains enough...
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Taiwan: why is this island country of vital importance? What makes Taiwan a critical opportunity for America's agricultural producers? Why is China threatening WWIII over the so-called "return," in the words of the Chinese Communist Party, of their "wayward province"? What is behind the unique friendship this island country has with the United States? Here we go for a whirlwind of short history. The modern state of Taiwan has its roots in the start of the Chinese Civil War in 1927. The war was between the Chinese Communists under Mao Zedong and the Kuomingtang "Chinese Nationalists" under the leadership of...
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We cut firewood several falls getting rid of posts, poles, and such from around corrals and buildings. It’s one of those chores that has pretty much disappeared. My dad, Pops, built a buzz saw for our tractor. It had a two-inch round iron bar that stuck out from a frame on the front of the tractor about four feet, alongside a 36-inch circular blade driven by a belt from the power takeoff. I was seven years old the first time I helped. We had several pickup loads of old fence posts from building a new fence. We stacked them in...
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As widespread rains begin to slowly refill lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, Thanksgiving thoughts turn back to the southern Illinois dairy farm of my youth where the Mississippi River, just a mile from our dairy barn, was a constant, often dominating presence. Except, that is, in the late summer months when everything around the farm – cows, hired men, and even the river – moved in a slow granny gear. That was especially so on Saturday evenings where nearly a hundred panting Holsteins and an airless milking parlor promised a sweaty session of steamy drudgery. Those languid Saturdays were, however, the...
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During a “what were we thinking” moment, we said yes to our son, Tyler, adopting a pup when he was a high school senior. The following fall when Tyler went to college, Cash became ours. Because this happens all the time, a parent’s only chance to get even is when they pass their pets to their progeny after said descendants move them into a nursing home. Everyone should remember that. In our case, Cash became the best running partner we ever had. She ran leash free and was all business on 20-mile treks on trails, in town, or along the...
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When the shiny, new retail storefront for S Ranch Meats opens in Hardin, Montana later this month, it will be just one more way that the Scott family has cemented their legacy in the beef industry. But don’t be fooled – the roots of this outfit are anything but new; they are rugged and run deep in the soil of both Montana and Texas. The Scotts were some of the original settlers in Texas. The S Ranch was founded in west Texas in the 1800s, and that’s where it stayed until 1948 when John Scott Jr. felt the lush, belly-deep...
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Sir Albert Howard, known as the “father of organic agriculture” once said, “Never does Nature separate the animal and vegetable worlds. This is a mistake she cannot endure, and of all the errors which modern agriculture has committed, this abandonment of mixed husbandry has been the most fatal.” It’s this philosophy which has driven producers, like Dave and Jenny Scott, owners of Montana Highland Lamb, to research and adopt regenerative grazing practices, which Dave calls “the agroecology of the future.” The Scotts “milked cows the same way for 21 years” before their “family outgrew the business,” he recalled. With their...
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Prolapses happen, and when they do, it’s pretty easy to see something isn’t right. Next time you deal with a prolapse, consider noting a few things before you call your veterinarian. Simple notes like the appearance of the prolapse, the animal’s production stage, pregnancy status, and diet can give your veterinarian a better idea of how to prepare for, or direct, treatment. Some prolapses are emergencies, others can wait overnight or may even resolve themselves. Prolapses can be categorized as one of three classes: rectal, vaginal, and uterine based on origin and organ (or organs) affected. Robert Conley, DVM of...
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MSGA Convention Speakers Opening General Session: Troy Applehans, CattleFax Troy Applehans was born and raised in Colorado, involved in the registered and commercial cattle business. He actively participated in showing cattle at local, regional and national levels. He also was actively involved in livestock judging from a very young age. He attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma, where he earned his associate’s degree, prior to attending Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma and was a member of two National Champion Livestock Judging teams. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, majoring in animal science/livestock merchandising. Following graduation,...
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One of my favorite activities to do with my classes when I was an English teacher was something I liked to call “Let’s Get Sensory.” Every time I’d project that activity name on the board at the front of the classroom, everyone would jump up and yell “YES! We are so excited for this!” Just kidding. I taught eighth graders, freshmen, and seniors, so it was generally met with groans and eye rolls so dramatic you could practically hear them. But, I loved doing it nonetheless. The objective is to utilize all five senses to describe things in your writing...
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I must say, I have had a fantastic last few days! The Montana State University Bobcats tromped the University of Montana Grizzles 55-21 in the 121st Annual “Brawl of the Wild” and had ESPN’s College Game Day in Bozeman leading up to the game. Then, low and behold, the Dallas Cowboys beat-up the Minnesota Vikings 40-3 on Sunday to cap off a great football weekend. The other good news I wanted to talk about came about before the football games even got started. The Cattle on Feed report came out last Friday and was very bullish in my opinion. Total...
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In a world full of opportunity, internship experiences allow students the best trial-run. The American Angus Association is excited to announce four internship positions for the summer of 2023. These 10-week internship programs provide a unique, hands-on experience to allow students to grow and prosper while dipping their toes in the workforce. "This internship is one of the most unique opportunities in the cattle industry for young professionals," Ian Kane, 2022 intern, said. "The Association staff is welcoming, helpful, and are great teachers, plus you get to travel and meet with Angus breeders — I just can’t say enough about...
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This fall, the University of Wyoming (UW) and Wyoming Wool Initiative launched the state’s first Lamb-a-Year program. Thanks to the generosity of 25 Wyoming producers and NexGen Feed Solutions, 143 lambs, 10,000 pounds of feed, and several cash donations have made it possible for UW students to learn firsthand about the feeding, finishing, and harvesting stages of lamb production. Last month, donated lambs were transported to UW’s Laramie Research and Extension Center, where students helped with backgrounding and vaccination. “I’m already blown away by what this year has become, which is a direct result of the generosity of the industry,...
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A new series of publications from the University of Wyoming (UW) Extension examines the economic impacts of eliminating livestock grazing on federal land in Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon. While some groups advocate for the removal of all federal grazing, UW Professor Emeritus David Taylor and colleagues John Tanaka and Kristie Maczko found that such changes would have lasting repercussions for ranchers and rural communities. Using economic models, they estimated the potential losses associated with the removal of federal grazing from cattle ranches in the three-state region. The study culminated in a series of four reports detailing the economic impacts on...
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Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) recognized Barney Creek Livestock as the 2022 recipient of the Montana Leopold Conservation Award® during its 103rd Annual Convention November 14-17 in Missoula. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. As owners of Barney Creek Livestock, Pete and Meagan Lannan are cattle ranchers who are showing others how conservation practices can heal landscapes. The Lannans are innovative ranchers who found a way to raise beef cattle amid exorbitant land values in Montana’s...
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The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) hired Dan Frazen to serve as the Agriculture Emergency Coordinator for Colorado, a position CDA created this year after approval by the legislature to build out the Department’s emergency response capabilities. In this new position, Frazen will lead the Department’s response to all-hazards incidents that impact agricultural communities and coordinate with other government agencies and stakeholders for all phases of disaster management. “With the addition of Dan to our team, CDA is expanding our capacity to support our ag communities in responding to emergencies, a focus of ours since day one,” Colorado Commissioner of...
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The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) hired Dan Frazen to serve as the Agriculture Emergency Coordinator for Colorado, a position CDA created this year after approval by the legislature to build out the Department’s emergency response capabilities. In this new position, Frazen will lead the Department’s response to all-hazards incidents that impact agricultural communities and coordinate with other government agencies and stakeholders for all phases of disaster management. “With the addition of Dan to our team, CDA is expanding our capacity to support our ag communities in responding to emergencies, a focus of ours since day one,” Colorado Commissioner of...
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Cow-calf producers, stockers, and feedyards implement Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) practices on their operations to produce the highest quality cattle and provide consumers with the best possible eating experience. However, BQA doesn’t end at the farm gate, and those transporting cattle are encouraged to become BQA Transportation (BQAT) certified. “Hauling can be one of the most stressful times in the life of cattle,” Colby Carpenter, with W&J Carpenter Trucking Inc. and a 2022 BQA Award winner, said. “BQAT provides anyone transporting cattle with the information and resources they need to make sure animals are handled properly, resulting in less stress...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Committee presented a check for ,000 to the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) during their luncheon Tuesday, November 15 in Missoula. The luncheon was part of the 103rd MFBF Annual Convention. The donation came from proceeds raised during the YF&R Hoofin’ It for Hunger Race September 17 in Dillon thanks to generous local sponsors, participants, and county Farm Bureaus. Although this marked the 12th year for the race, in 2020 and 2021, it was held virtually. This year, participants competed in a 5K or 10K. Virtual runners who opted not to...
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The Junior Limousin Show at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) was held Sunday, November 13 in Louisville, Kentucky as Judge, Jonathan Perry sorted the junior Limousin entries. A complete list of winners follows: Grand Champion Limousin Female and Grand Champion Bred & Owned Limousin Female: JCRW Just As Classy 102J, 3/8/2021, 82 percent Limousin, double black, double polled, sired by TASF Grey Goose 333G ET, out of TASF Forever Classy, exhibited by John Crawford, Big Pool, Maryland. Reserve Grand Champion Limousin Female: Jolene, 2/8/2021, 75 percent Limousin, double black, double polled, sired by ELCX Kings Landing 599 D...
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It is that time of the year again to think about year-end tax planning. Generally, all or most of the government payments that farmers and ranchers received during the year must be reported as income in the year it is received. Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) and Emergency Relief Program (ERP) payments received this year are for prior years and must be reported this year. When tax planning, it is best to start with year-to-date income and expenses and estimate income and expenses for the remainder of the year. Estimate depreciation and include any income that was deferred to 2022...
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The Interamerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) convened its first-ever “Sustainable Agriculture in the Americas” pavilion at the UN Climate Summit (COP27) and partnered with the Protein PACT and other stakeholders to convene a total of nine events focused on animal agriculture’s key role in sustainability solutions. The Protein PACT events included a November 9 panel on sustainable livestock across regions and production systems. National Pork Board Assistant Vice President Ashley McDonald shared U.S. pork’s commitments to ethical principles, best practices, and documenting proof. The Pork Board and Pork Checkoff pioneered on-farm sustainability reports, which have been awarded ...
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Over the past several years, cell-cultured meat has received a good deal of favorable press and is being promoted as a replacement for the entire livestock industry. As a result, a number of livestock producers and other stakeholders in the livestock industry have voiced concerns about the development and promotion of cell-cultured meat technology and the potential impact it would have on the industry. In response to these concerns, my colleagues and I conducted an economics study to determine what it will cost to produce cell-cultured meat in a large-scale production facility that produces 1.2 million pounds of product annually....
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Tuff’s head poked out of the ground like a periscope. He wasn’t sure if the coast was clear, and he’d been extremely farther behind Pudge than he wanted to admit. However, the first thing he confirmed was Pudge’s paw thumping against the ground impatiently. Tuff could hear her disapproval of his lack of timeliness even underground, except he had been hoping he was wrong, and it was something else rapping against the earth over and over with strong irritance. “Took you long enough,” she snapped. Her arms were crossed, and her stance was evident of her frustration with him. “I’m...
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National Farmers Union (NFU) President, Rob Larew participated in the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP27) summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. In addition to serving as an official observer of the proceedings as a representative of the World Farmers Organization, Larew also joined the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Agriculture panel – hosted by, Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack. President Larew highlighted NFU’s support for the USDA climate-smart agriculture pilots that were recently announced. “It’s my honor to bring the voice of American family farmers to the global stage as world leaders convene to discuss how we navigate the climate...
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Mitchell Cross Bar Ranch of Rupert, Idaho, was well represented with their three top hands Lydia, Logan, and Ledger Mitchell at their first Angus Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Most purebred bull and female sales are held on the ranch because breeders want the customers to meet the family, see the cowherd, and partake in a beef barbecue or pre-sale party. Many big outfits have invested heavily in auction facilities while others just clean out a hay barn or tractor shed. A growing number of sales are held at a local restaurant where animals are sold via video, while breeders who are on a tighter budget and have fewer bulls, sell them at an auction market. Selling at the local sale barn is a great way to sell because...
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The beef business relies on a passionate next generation. With the support of partners across the industry, Certified Angus Beef (CAB) awarded an annual record of ,000 in scholarships to 20 students pursuing careers at the ranch, in meat science, in a research lab, or supporting agricultural business and marketing. The Colvin Scholarship Fund recognizes students for the commitment and energy they bring to agriculture, their education, and community involvement. Young leaders with bright ideas for making the best beef even better earned five production agriculture, ten undergraduate, and five graduate scholarships in 2022. Since 2002, the fund has supported...
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Journalism, like baseball, aging, and bridesmaids, is often about the numbers. Sometimes big numbers are good, other times, small numbers are better. Either way, numbers usually define our work, our families, and our lives in more ways than we care to count. And they can surprise us, too. Like in early November when the International Food Policy Research Institute reported that as world markets sweated over a 2.9 mmt (million metric tons) drop in Ukrainian wheat exports for the first six months of 2022, the North American drought already had sliced more than twice that amount, or 6.8 mmt, off...
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We were driving along a dirt road a while back, and I happened to notice a yard I’d not paid attention to. Out in the front of a house off the road a ways, was a swingset that was obviously old, leaning slightly to one side, with a couple of pieces of rope hanging off the top rail. There was another swing nearby. A big old cottonwood tree with a chunk of rope hanging from it as well. I’d bet if we walked over to the cottonwood and took a look we’d have found an old tire, probably with a...
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With cold weather setting in, I’m at the barn every morning to give a bit of extra feed to our older horses. They’ve learned the routine. Cal devours every morsel. Then he licks his bucket clean and gives out a long sigh. Junior, the elder, chews more slowly. I know he’s finished when he grabs the bucket with his teeth and tosses it to the ground. Meanwhile from the other side of the fence, Nicki, our old pony, stares at me. And her sidekick, Fiona, the donkey, brays mournfully until I give these two a snack as well. I’m thankful...
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We have been enjoying a beautiful fall, but suddenly Mother Nature decided to turn on us with prolonged snow and cold these last couple weeks. We old-timers will always remember the horrible winter of 1978-79, which followed a really nice fall right up until November 9, 1978, when winter hit and did not leave until March 1979. As I sit in my warm house by the fireplace, I remember one particular hunting camp experience when winter hit with a vengeance before we were ready in the backcountry. Diary… Day #1: It was a beautiful ride into Meadow Creek in the...
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Experience has taught me a country cow doctor should never run short on three things: 1) Euthanasia solution, 2) Injectable anesthetic drugs and 3) OB wire. There is nothing in the farmer’s vet shack, shop, or garage which lets you MacGyver your way through your shortfall. Let me put a face on item one. It was a sunny, spring, Sunday afternoon decades back when I received a call about a mare having difficulty delivering a foal. When I pulled into the pasture, I realized the term “difficulty foaling” was the midwife of understatements. The mare had gone into hard labor...
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When the calendar turns to November, thoughts may turn to Thanksgiving planning. At the forefront is a bountiful holiday meal which may include turkey. Included are abundant amounts of a wide variety of side dishes where many ingredients originate from a very productive and diverse U.S. agriculture industry. Higher food prices have received considerable attention from the media in the last several months, and turkey prices are no exception. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) reported that whole turkey prices (wholesale, whole hen, 8-16 pounds) have increased steadily this year. The whole turkey price chart indicates a seasonal pattern to...
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Consider your livestock operation for a moment in relation to the following statement that Dave Sjeklocha, DVM, Technical Services Veterinarian for Merck Animal Health, projected during his session of the 2022 Stockmanship & Stewardship event: “the use of an antibiotic is an indicator that there has been a failure in our management practices.” In his experience, few people are generally willing to raise their hand in agreement with that assertion, however, more people tend to agree with the fact that “If we manage our cattle better, we would use less antibiotics.” In reality, those two statements are saying the same...
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Yet another threat of a massive railroad worker strike is looming with several unions rejecting the tentative agreement reached with Congress back in September. A strike would have damaging effects on the already inflated prices that Americans are seeing today, which would include an increase in the price of, and a decrease in access to, anhydrous ammonia for farmers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration, the “rail network account[s] for approximately 28 percent of U.S. freight movement by ton-miles" annually. 52 percent of “rail freight car loads consist of bulk commodities such as agriculture and energy...
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Across Reporter Country, you will find herds of all sizes, but each one of us has the same goal: to be profitable in the cattle business. As more cows are being sold with larger numbers of dispersions, the nation's cowherd is shrinking, and producers must find ways to be profitable in marketing small numbers of bulls, females, and calves. According to the American Angus Association’s (AAA) fiscal year 2022 report, David Gazda, a regional manager for AAA, reported that there are “13,000 members [that own] registered cattle with the association” with a total of “305,000 head of cattle” being registered...
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The “Red Wave” didn’t hit this past week like we were all banking on, and it just reminded me that we all need to re-evaluate where we put our faith and our hope. I want to believe that the folks we elect to represent us are selfless public servants whose hearts are in the right place, but whether they’re red or blue, we all know that, unfortunately, that’s not always the case. I want to listen to their acceptance speeches and trust that their campaign platforms are going to come to fruition. But it seems like so much of that...
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On November 10, the White House released a “Fact Sheet” pertaining to the newly signed National Security Memorandum-16, which hopes to “Strengthen the Security and Resilience of U.S. Food and Agriculture.” “The National Security Memorandum builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing work to ensure that American families have access to safe, affordable food, that America’s producers are able to get their goods to market, and that the American food and agricultural system is better prepared for threats that may harm the health of crops and livestock and cause shocks to the cost or availability of food,” the Fact Sheet reads....
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American Agri-Women (AAW) recently elected its national officers at its 2022 national convention in Bozeman, Montana on November 10. AAW is a national coalition of farm, ranch, and agri-business women, and is in its 48th year of advocating for agriculture. Arlene Kovash of Oregon Women for Agriculture; is the new secretary. Jean Goslin of Kansas Agri-Women; is VP of Education. These women will serve two-year terms. Continuing on the national board for the second year of their two-year term is Heather Hampton+Knodle, Illinois Agri-Women, who serves as president. Rose Tryon VanCott, California Women for Agriculture, first vice president; Laura Hart,...
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Cattle producers are the original stewards of land and livestock and are constantly striving to improve their operations through education and professional development. To help reduce the financial burden of attending conventions and meetings, the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and Cargill created the Rancher Resilience Grant, which is administered by NCBA. The grant reimburses producers for registration fees and other expenses at specific educational events, including Cattlemen’s College during the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans. “Our industry continually explores technologies and production practices to support more efficient operations that focus on profitability and consistent high-quality...
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Spending time with family and friends at Thanksgiving remains important for many Americans, and this year the cost of the meal is also top of mind. Farm Bureau’s 37th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10, which is .05 or less than .50 per person. This is a .74 or 20 percent increase from last year’s average of .31. The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables – the turkey – costs more than last year, at .96 for a 16-pound bird. That’s [post_excerpt].81 per pound, up 21 percent from last year,...
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On Tuesday, November 15, a District Court in Lewis and Clark County issued a temporary restraining order impacting some of Montana’s wolf hunting and trapping regulations. The changes go into effect immediately. The changes outlined in the temporary restraining order are as follows: Reinstitutes wolf management units (WMU) 110, 313, and 316 as they existed in the 2020 wolf regulations. WMU 110 borders Glacier National Park and WMUs 313 and 316 are north of Yellowstone National Park. Reinstitutes the quotas for WMU 110, 313, 316 as they existed in the 2020 wolf regulations, which are two wolves in WMU 110...
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Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) was honored with a 2022 North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) Special Recognition Award. The Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC) is a partner with NAISMA, working together to prevent detrimental impacts of invasive species in Wyoming and throughout the country. Since his appointment in 2007, Barrasso has been a strong advocate for WWPC and its work. He continuously engages in discussions and hearings of invasive species with his congressional colleagues. Additionally, he’s provided his time creating several television and radio announcements for WWPC on invasive weeds to build awareness. “We are very fortunate in...
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Several large retailers and wholesalers (including Sysco, US Foods, Kroger, Hy-Vee, Albertson, Associated Grocers, Subway, SuperValu, and Cheney Brothers) recently filed claims similar to those brought originally in April 2019 by R-CALF USA and National Farmers Union (NFU) against the Big 4 packers. Those claims are that the packers’ efforts to jointly manage their slaughter volume and their cattle purchasing practices caused beef prices to rise while also pushing cattle prices lower. In response, the U.S. District Court held a hearing and decided to coordinate these new claims with R-CALF USA and NFU’s suit ahead of trial. This does not...
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The American Farm Bureau Foundation (AFBF) for Agriculture announced today that I LOVE Strawberries was named as a winner in the inaugural 2022 Good Housekeeping’s Best Kids' Book Awards. The full list of awards can be found on https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/good-housekeeping-kids-book-awards-2022/and select winners are also featured in the November 2022 print issue of Good Housekeeping, which hit newsstands October 25th. “The Foundation and our publishing team at Feeding Minds Press are honored by this award,” Foundation Executive Director, Daniel Meloy said. “We are committed to inspiring learners of all ages to discover where their food comes from—whether that be from a farm across...
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Establishing a long-range plan for the ownership of a family’s farm or ranch is the focus of a one-day workshop on succession planning being held Thursday, December 8, at the Bismarck Event Center. The free educational workshop is hosted by North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) in partnership with North Dakota State University Extension. “As farmers, you’ll never get us off the tractor no matter how old we get. But there comes a time when all farm families need to have a conversation about how the farm or ranch will be transferred to the next generation or assets divided,” NDFU President,...
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The American Angus Association® concluded a successful fiscal year, packed with member-wide comradery and industry-leading advances. The year marked the eighth-consecutive year of more than 304,000 registrations, with an additional 141,385 recorded transfers. The fiscal year, which concluded September 30, tallied a grand total of 22,488 regular and junior memberships combined. "Angus breeders have completed a successful year, despite many challenges with weather and rising input costs," Mark McCully, CEO of the Association said. "Angus females averaged ,023 last year and bulls averaged ,909 signaling that Angus genetics are very much in demand." Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI®), a subsidiary of...
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The average price of diesel is .32 per gallon, more than [post_excerpt].50 above the same time last year. While prices are below the .81 peak in June, the high cost of fuel is hitting farmers hard as they navigate the fall harvest season. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economists analyzed the factors driving up fuel prices in the latest Market Intel report. A ban on U.S. imports of petroleum from Russia, lower domestic production capacity, and seasonal demand are all contributing to higher costs. Russia provided 20 percent of the petroleum imported into the U.S. in 2021, but that was...
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The Nebraska Beef Passport program saw another successful summer of customers enjoying beef from restaurants across the state in its second year of the promotion that ran from May 1 through September 30. 44 restaurants that serve outstanding beef meals were on the map this year, with a digital passport option making it even more accessible. Of over 6,000 Nebraska Beef Passports requested this summer, three participants walked away lucky winners of the prizes offered by getting their passports stamped and submitted. The two grand prize winners are Amy Kelley of Grand Island, Nebraska and Diane Merryweather of Valley, Nebraska....
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The Governor’s Office of Community Service, Reach Higher Montana, and Montana Campus Compact are pleased to announce applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Youth Serve Montana Scholarship. This year’s scholarship is being offered in two awards, [post_excerpt],000 for 50 hours of service and [post_excerpt],500 for 100 hours of service. The scholarships will be offered to 100 Montana seniors attending Montana Campus Compact member institutions next fall. “We're incredibly excited that with the support of both Reach Higher Montana's and Campus Compact's boards we are able to offer increased scholarships and two tiers of scholarship this year,” Josh Vanek,...
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Following the November 8 vote, South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) members join with the majority of South Dakotans in celebrating the passage of Amendment D. “Medicaid expansion keeps our tax dollars in South Dakota, and it will help farm and ranch families access healthcare,” Doug Sombke, President of SDFU, said. “Our rural communities are losing necessary health care facilities. Medicaid expansion will help keep rural healthcare facilities open. Passing this initiated measure will save lives.” In the long-term, Sombke said expanding Medicaid for those workers who cannot afford insurance, may actually bring down all insurance premiums. He points to North...
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National Farmers Union (NFU) and NCBA both released statements in praise of the USDA’s announcement that it would be making major investments in local and regional meat and poultry processing around the country. “For decades, consolidation in meat processing has put the squeeze on farmers, ranchers, and consumers while corporate monopolies rake in record profits. Today’s {November 2} announcement is another step toward putting control and profitability back in the hands of farmers, ranchers, and our communities,” NFU President, Rob Larew said. “More competition across the ag economy is a good thing and it’s great to see Secretary Vilsack and...
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Working with horses, as with anything, gains better results through better understanding. True horsemanship, working in a safe manner by building trust and understanding and studying the way horses think and behave, requires comprehending many principles from the perspective of the horse. Horsemanship is not just another thing we DO with our horses – it is not an event or a discipline. It is quite simply the way of being with a horse that fits the horse. Their own personal safety is a horse’s main priority, ranking higher even than eating, which comes in a close second. Everything about their...
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“Don’t worry. Don’t you heirs of the hen house worry one little flitting feather on your fluttering head,” Tuff announced as he led the crew. He held out his paws like he was directing traffic. The hens separated down the center of the chicken coop as if they were parting like the Red Sea, so Tuff, Banjo, and Pudge could march through their self-indulged chaos. Tuff knew he may as well have the plague after his last run in with the Queen of the chicken coop, but the truth was, it didn’t matter one iota to him. What did, was...
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I've always enjoyed shipping cattle, even better than branding or preg-checking cows, and there are many reasons why. Being the son of a long-haul trucker, I liked the smell of diesel before sunup, and I liked talking to the truckers who were always from exotic locales, like Iowa and Nebraska. (The truckers hauled hogs out to California and backhauled California calves.) I also enjoyed shipping day because it gave me a chance to use my collegiate livestock judging team skills by sorting off calves in the sorting alley. I've also always had a secret desire to be a rodeo clown...
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Production sale season is right around the corner and many seedstock producers are preparing for their annual marketing event. Whether it be an in-person, online, or private-treaty sale, there is a strong likelihood some promotional materials will be distributed through the mail. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) Seedstock Council invites producers to a free virtual marketing seminar on Thursday, November 17, at 6:30 p.m. CT that will explore ways to leverage mailed marketing. The session will be led by Abram Mertz, LivestockDirect CEO, and Jodene (Jody) Guodace, U.S. Postal Service headquarters’ territory representative. Mertz will discuss cost-effective mail options...
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Lynn Langvardt of Chapman, Kansas was named Champion at the 2023 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) qualifying event in Ripley, West Virginia. Jackson County Regional Livestock Market, LLC hosted the first of three WLAC qualifying events on Saturday, October 29, 2022. A total of 27 contestants competed for a top-ten placing, granting them a spot in the 2023 WLAC semifinals at Arcadia Stockyard in Arcadia, Florida. “I grew up in the livestock marketing business,” Langvardt said. “My family has owned our market for 55 years, and I’m 49, so I grew up in it. I started auctioneering at a young...
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On November 9, the U.S. Department of Labor asked a federal court to issue a nationwide temporary restraining order and injunction against Packers Sanitation Services Inc. LTD (PSSI) – one of the nation’s leading providers of food safety sanitation – to stop the company from illegally employing dozens of minor-aged workers while the department continues its investigation of the company’s labor practices. Filed in the U.S. District Court for Nebraska in Lincoln, the complaint was prompted by an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division that discovered that PSSI had employed at least 31 children – from 13 to...
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We shipped our calves this week, which generated lots of material for a humor column because funny stuff happens when you combine a bunch of cattle and horses and cowboys and elk hunters and things that break down at inopportune times. But, somehow, when I sat down to write, another topic weighed in heavier. A look at the calendar reminded me that Veteran's Day is Friday, and my thoughts turned to those brave men and women. One of those people we can always count on to help us work cattle is Casey Talkington, who did two tours in the sand....
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Annabelle Sheehy and Anna Putnam were both born in Hawaii while their fathers, Tim and Greg, served as U.S. Navy SEALS. The families moved to Montana where, together, they own and operate Little Belt Cattle Company. According to Greg, the kids are more like family than friends.
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The 139th Annual Convention of Delegates assembled on November 7, 2022, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Five directors were elected to the board of directors, as well as a President/Chairman, and a Vice President/Vice Chairman of the board. Jonathan Perry will serve as treasurer for the 2022-2023 term. Elected officers are Chuck Grove, Forest, Virginia, President and Chairman of the board, and Barry Pollard, Enid, Oklahoma, vice president and vice chairman of the board. Grove said the Angus breed is in a prime spot to lead industry advancement. "With the vast influence Angus has on the beef industry, the breed...
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To celebrate and honor the contributions of individuals who have gone above and beyond for the Angus Breed, the American Angus Association® created the Heritage Foundation in 1983. At the 2022 Angus Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, three couples and one individual were inducted into the Heritage Foundation because of their innovation, service, and leadership. Inductees of the Heritage Foundation depict the type of individuals who built a reputation with their drive, ambition, and forward-thinking attitude. The 2022 inductees include: Jim and Sue Coleman of Modesto, California; Leo and Sam McDonnell of Columbus, Montana; Dave Nichols of Anita, Iowa;...
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Myron R. Benes January 4, 1953 - November 3, 2022 Myron R. Benes, 69, of Albion, Nebraska died Thursday, November 3, 2022, at his home at Albion. Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Albion, Nebraska. Myron Richard Benes was born on January 4, 1953, in Lincoln, Nebraska to Ermin Cyril and Delores Marie (Potter) Benes. Myron attended school at Bishop Neumann in Wahoo, Nebraska, and graduated with the class of 1971. Before graduation, Myron enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1970 and was discharged in 1977. He farmed with...
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Late on Friday, May 7, the day before the running of the 2022 Kentucky Derby, a chestnut-colored colt named Rich Strike made the race’s lineup after, literally, another horse withdrew from the competition at the last minute. The next day, May 8, Rich Strike struck it rich: The ridiculously long, 80-1 longshot won the Derby, the world’s premier thoroughbred horse race. The horse, bought for ,000 the previous September, won a knee-buckling [post_excerpt].86 million. Was the win a stray bolt of lightning or a massive error by the oddsmakers? Similarly, the odds now strongly suggest the Biden Administration will not...
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I am aware that some people - for one reason or the other - do not/will not eat leftovers. That would not be our household…even before these crazy days of high food prices. Food waste appears to be a real problem for us Americans. We toss an estimated 40 percent of our edible food into the garbage every year, and that’s not just bones and potato peelings. Most (68 percent) of the food that ends up in landfills, instead of doing our body good, are fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. How can we keep food from going bad before we...
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Montana Farmers Union (MFU) recently recognized several Montana youths for their dedication to agriculture and MFU education programs. The youth, along with several MFU members and locals, were recognized during MFU’s 107th Annual Convention held in Helena earlier this month. Receiving the highest youth honor through MFU of becoming a Torchbearer were Shania Van Spyk of Great Falls, Natasia Van Spyk from Great Falls, Robert Jack Anderson of Great Falls, Tyson Harper of Billings, and Ella Padgett, who attends Montana State University. Taking the Torchbearer Pledge signified their transition from youth programs to becoming engaged adult members of MFU. To...
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Do you have what it takes? Few do. Would you strap on a patriot’s boots to execute a surprise attack your commanding officer titled “Victory or Death?” Now consider the same, but because your boots rotted off months earlier, you now bind your feet in burlap and rope to dull winter’s sting. Are you still going? Picture putting yourself in this predicament, not for love of country but for love of a dream; a country not yet formed. Jefferson had masterfully crafted America’s birth certificate five months earlier, but since then, our fledgling army suffered defeat after defeat at the...
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For average Americans, it’s far too easy to go about our daily lives without giving much thought about the sacrifices our service men and women have made to ensure that we can do just that: go about our lives. But for those heroes and their families, their sacrifices are prevalent in every moment of the day, especially those countless days spent apart. And when it comes time for our military personnel to come home, it’s not like the end of a movie where they simply live “happily ever after.” Instead, they are forced to figure out where they fit into...
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On the weekend of November 5, hundreds of Angus cattle producers gathered in Salt Lake City, Utah for the 2022 Angus Convention, which American Angus Association (AAA) CEO, Mark McCully called “A giant Angus family reunion.” McCully commended producers for investing “their time” with the cattle industry which is “a fantastic way to raise a family” and “a lifestyle you wouldn't give up, even though it's not easy and it comes with its challenges.” To discuss some of the challenges that the beef industry faces, McCully invited five beef industry leaders to interact with, and address, audience concerns by sharing...
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The 11th hour has become synonymous with Veterans Day, originally called Armistice day, in recognition of the document signed at the 11th hour, or the 11th day, of the 11th month. In reality, the Armistice ending the war to end all wars was signed around 5 a.m. on November 11th. Over the course of the next six hours, nearly 3,000 men would lose their lives in the final hours of a war that had already claimed the lives of 20 million military personnel. The final death of WWI came at 10:59 a.m., one minute before the guns of war would...
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One of the greatest things about my job is the fact that I get to talk with some really interesting folks when preparing my articles. I love learning, no matter the topic. However, my talk with former Navy SEAL, Greg Putnam this week takes the cake by far. There is so much I admire about Putnam and his dear friend, business-partner, and fellow Veteran, Tim Sheehy, and all of our service men and women because of their courage and selflessness in their decision to serve our country. It takes a special person to do that, and I think the analogy...
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Gregory rancher, Brett Kenzy is many things. He is a husband, a father, a business partner with his brother, George, in their family’s fourth-generation crop and cattle operation, a South Dakota Farmers Union member, and the national president of R-CALF USA. Kenzy is also a veteran. At 17, he enlisted in the Army. He served as a mechanic in the 25th Infantry Division. “I have no stolen valor. I was a mechanic. The way I look at it, I sat on the bench of one of the greatest teams the world has ever assembled – being the U.S. military. I...
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I have been watching slaughter numbers pretty close throughout much of the year. Last week estimated cattle slaughter was 667,000 head, which is 15,000 head more than the same week in 2021. Year-to-date slaughter numbers are now 1.6 percent higher than last year at 28.708 million head. I would venture to say that the majority of this increase is due to the sharply higher numbers of heifers that went to feed and have hit the rails in the packing houses. Think about some of the things we have going on here: drought forced a massive liquation of cows and heifers...
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Patricia Helm June 15, 1936 – September 13, 2022 Patricia Helm, age 86, of Miles City passed away on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at her home surrounded by her family. Patricia (Pat) was born in Miles City, Montana on June 15, 1936, to Erma and Paul Spears. She joined a brother, Gene, and was later gifted a sister, Ruth, brother, Charles, and sister, Nancy. She was raised in the Meridith area, where she attended elementary school. She then attended Custer County High School until her senior year. She then met the love of her life in Gerhard (Gary) Helm at...
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Genetics and management are at the forefront of targeting the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB) brand, but communicating beef value propositions to cattlemen guides informed business decisions. To bring the most relevant production and economic information to cattlemen, CAB hired fifth-generation rancher Lindsay Graber Runft as director of producer communications. Runft oversees communications strategy and leads the brand’s producer-facing messaging for seedstock breeders, commercial cattlemen, cattle feeders, and allied industry organizations as CAB continues working to strengthen its relationship with those who supply the brand. "Providing consumers with the highest quality beef doesn’t just happen by chance. It takes initiative...
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Montana FFA Members recently returned from participation at the National FFA Convention and Expo held in Indianapolis, Indiana. In the National Food Science and Technology Competition, the number one team in the nation came from the Missoula FFA Chapter. Missoula bested thirty-seven other state winning chapters to earn the title. Team members were Claire Standley, Joel Standley, Quinlan Turner, and Shaun Billingsley. This is the first national team winner from Montana since 2010. Other Montana teams placing in the top ten were the Kalispell FFA Chapter’s Farm Business Management who placed 5th, Gardiner FFA placed 7th in Agricultural Sales, Corvallis...
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Applications for a program geared to develop leaders in the agricultural field are now open, with four spots from Montana Farmers Union (MFU) available. The Farmers Union Enterprises Leadership program is intended to empower future leaders in the Farmers Union Enterprise states of North Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Each year, four members from each state are selected to represent their state organization in the program. The group receives hands-on learning experiences to enhance their knowledge of cooperatives and the roles that Farmers Union plays, as well as immerse in concepts ranging from emotional intelligence and conflict resolution...
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Wyoming Governor, Mark Gordon and the BLM have announced that they have reached a settlement on the state’s appeal of an acquisition of land by the BLM in Natrona and Carbon Counties. In June, Wyoming filed an appeal challenging the BLM’s purchase of more than 35,000 acres of the Marton Ranch near Casper. The State expressed concerns that BLM did not involve the public in the acquisition process and that the environmental assessment did not adequately consider impacts on the recreational setting and fishery along the North Platte River. After Wyoming filed a Statement of Reasons in support of its...
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In fall 2022, the University of Wyoming (UW) Department of Animal Science reported record enrollment in its introductory meat, wool, and livestock judging courses. Engagement has skyrocketed, with many students planning to compete as members of the UW College of Agriculture, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources collegiate judging teams next season. “Collectively, we are training about 30 percent of the entire animal science student population to become skilled evaluators of our products and livestock,” McKensie Phillips, coordinator of the meat judging program and an instructor in the UW Department of Animal Science, said. “Most importantly, we are developing professional skills...
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The relationship between a beef cattle producer and their packer is a dynamic one. Packers are looking for consistent, quality beef daily. With volatile cattle markets, changing regulations, disease management, and increasing input costs, producers have a lot to manage on top of remaining a dependable supplier for their packer. When it comes to making the most of your relationship with your packer, remember the three Cs: communication, culture, and consistency. Communication… While it may seem like a simple task, it’s one that can often be overlooked. “We ought to stop and think about what it is the packer is...
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NCBA recently announced the four finalists in the 10th annual National Anthem Singing Contest, sponsored by Norbrook®. The winner will receive a trip to the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans to perform the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the Opening General Session on February 1 as well as during the evening event on February 3. Introducing the four finalists: Bree DeNaeyer of Seneca, Nebraska, has raised Red Angus with her family in the Nebraska Sandhills for more than 20 years. Nicholas Kertz of Auburn, Alabama, is a graduate student at Auburn University studying genomic-based approaches to...
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Scientists have revealed that there are two different variants, or genotypes of Moraxella bovis (M. bovis), a bacterium known to cause pinkeye in cattle. This finding helps scientists understand how different types of M. bovis cause infection in livestock and can help develop preventative measures to protect U.S. cattle against this disease. Cattle pinkeye, or bovine infectious keratoconjunctivitis, is a very contagious eye infection that causes redness, itchiness, pain, and discomfort in the eyes of affected animals. Severe cases can result in blindness and impair weight gain in calves, and thus are a concern for animal well-being and have negative...
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High-achieving Hereford youth were awarded numerous scholarships during the 2022 American Hereford Association Annual Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, on Oct. 21. In a special awards ceremony, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and its donors proudly awarded 5,000 in scholarships to 28 National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members to help support their higher-education goals. Ten scholarships, each equaling ,000, are given by the Vanier family for a total of 0,000 in HYFA scholarships annually. Jack and the late Donna Vanier and family of CK Ranch in Kansas have paved the way for Hereford Youth to further...
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“You about done in there? I’d hate for one of my dear hens to take on a chill,” Mrs. McBauck squawked. “A hen must do what a hen must do, and yet we still stand outside, waiting to tend to our most important job, but we can’t because of you.” There was only a shuffling and scraping coming from inside. “Come back, here!” Tuff muttered in a sputtering whisper. He scraped at the side of the earthen wall to try to make himself fit better, but he couldn’t make himself fit. “Seriously! Come back,” he sputtered angrily into the dark....
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Know a Montana rancher, farmer or forestland owner who goes above and beyond in the stewardship and management of natural resources? Nominate them for the 2023 Montana Leopold Conservation Award®. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 24 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In Montana, the ,000 award is presented with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and the Montana Rangeland Resources Committee. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and...
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The Montana Farm Bureau is thrilled to provide their members with insightful, educational, and relevant workshops during the 103rd Montana Farm Bureau Convention on November 14-17 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula. Two of the keynote speakers, Roger Rickard and Jordan Levi, will provide additional advice during Tuesday’s breakout workshops. Levi is the program manager and founder of Arcadia Asset Management, the investment manager of Arcadia Commodity Opportunity, LLC. Concurrently, Levi is the founder of the Fed Cattle Exchange which began operations in 2016. His presentation during Tuesday’s lunch, “Bringing Cattle Producers and Feeders to the Table” will be...
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I’ve written before about range stockwater rights. The federal government has decided (wrongly) that the existence of ruminant animals is destroying the climate, and they want to have a clear path to removing cattle from the United States. Big city enviros resent people living in non-urban areas, because they believe that all non-urban areas should be playgrounds for the wealthy, and they resent the presence of locals in their playgrounds. Historically, stockwater rights have proven to be one of the most powerful protections against these two lines of attack. Montana has minimal stockwater right protections. We have one chance to...
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HAWK Myla 39J and BACC 228Z Tara 108 ET won the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion titles respectively, at the 2022 American Royal Junior Hereford Show on October 22 in Kansas City, Missouri. Judge, Krisha Geffert, of Lavalle, Wisconsin, sorted the 92 head show. Grand Champion honors went to HAWK Myla 39J ET, owned by Paige Lemenager, Hudson, Illinois. She was also named Champion Intermediate Yearling female and is a May 21, 2021, daughter of KLD RW Marksman D87 ET. Reserve Grand Champion female honors were awarded to BACC 228Z Tara 108 ET, owned by Maddie Jenkins, of Athens,...
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The most influential person in my life was my grandpa, and I found it very comforting recently when I was told I turned out to be just like him. After my grandmother, rodeo was my grandpa's favorite thing, so much so that he started an RCA (forerunner to the PRCA) rodeo in our town, and with the proceeds bought land for a big sports park that now bears his name. My grandpa's favorite rodeo cowboy was Gene Rambo and he told me countless times that when Gene came to town for the rodeo he stayed in grandpa's "bunkhouse", which was...
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U.S. consumers can expect to pay more for their Thanksgiving turkeys this year as supplies have dwindled following the widespread outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Since the outbreak began this spring, more than 7.5 million turkeys have been removed from production in an effort to mitigate the disease. The losses were the latest blow to the national turkey flock which was already shrinking due to a series of production challenges and industry contraction in recent years. The combination of tight supplies and strong holiday demand will send retail turkey prices to record highs this year, according to a new...
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Now in its sixth year, the National Junior Hereford Association’s (NJHA) Fed Steer Shootout contest teaches juniors about the opportunities and challenges of the cattle feeding industry. In the 2022 contest, 75 members from 17 states entered 200 steers in the program. This year’s winners received ,000 in scholarships and awards from the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) on October 21 at the American Hereford Association’s (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Contestants collected feedyard performance and carcass data on their pen of three and individual entries of Hereford and commercial Hereford-influenced steers, while gaining...
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For the first time, scientists have tracked the movement of a wild bird known to be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza in North America. The new research, led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), can help improve estimates of when and where the virus could spread in the environment and to other birds. There is a current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in numerous wild and commercial bird species across North America. Highly pathogenic avian influenza is different than low pathogenic in that it can be fatal to poultry. The researchers did not know the bird - a lesser...
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Using the coercive powers of government to force whole of government and whole of economy transitions towards net-zero emissions objectives and targets set by an international body without Article II ratification from the senate is troubling, to say the least. If the Climate Policy agenda was legitimate and wholesome in its objectives, why the need to resort to unconstitutional heavy-handed measures to accomplish it? As Justice Felix Frankfurter once observed, "the assertion of dangerous power does not come in a day. It does come, however slowly, from the generative force of unchecked disregard of the restrictions" imposed by the Constitution....
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Maddy Rogers from Casper, Wyoming showed her sister cow for the second year at the 2022 NILE in Billings, Montana. Maddy was a huge help to her sister and mom as they brought a total of five head to Billings. Maddy has two cows of her own Black Betty one and Black Betty two.
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I receive many submissions from readers, and I love to share them. However, in my 27 plus years of writing this column, I believe this is the funniest piece about shipping cattle any reader has ever sent me. Thanks, Tom Ogle of Paris, Illinois for making me laugh out loud! Montana Flat Tires and Rattlesnakes by Tom Ogle On October 3, 2015, my dream of becoming "Tom Selleck in Montana" quickly became "Tom Ogle, just make it back to Paris Illinois.” I had flim-flammed a stay at a real working ranch through a friend of a cousin of a friend....
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A new meat processing cooperative in Havre has received nearly 2,000 in Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) funding. Montana Premium Processing Cooperative (MPPC) is set to formally open its doors with a grand opening on November 21, and the federal funds will help cover equipment costs and other startup costs, Matt Rains, chief of staff for Montana Farmers Union, which has been instrumental in getting the co-op operational, said. “It’s a really key thing to not burden the co-op with paying loan interest in the first few years of operation. It will help keep prices down and salaries...
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A team of four members from the Gardiner FFA chapter competed at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indianapolis on October 26. They represented Montana in the Agricultural Sales CDE where they acted as Purina brand representatives and sold judges a line of cattle feed supplements. The team attended awards on October 27th and found out they received a Gold Rank as a team. They later learned they placed 7th in the nation and team member Summit Browning individually placed 3rd in the nation! The team members consisted of high school seniors, Summit Browning and Morgan Dawson, Junior Echo Saunders,...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) commended the state of Montana for their action in not providing authorization of bison grazing, construction, modifications, or electrification of fences on the Flat Creek and Whiterock state allotments. “We would like to thank Governor Gianforte and his administration for their leadership and continued perseverance on this issue. We stand with the state and agree there are deficiencies within the BLM Environmental Assessment and final grazing decision. The decision to not approve grazing on the two allotments based on the BLM EA is the right decision,” Jim Steinbiesser, Montana Stockgrowers Association President, said. In August,...
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As the Russia/Ukraine War grinds on, the ramifications on global agriculture are becoming glaringly obvious. Both warring countries are massive agricultural-producing entities in their own right and, together, a colossus of global agricultural production. With these two countries locked in a war of attrition with no end in sight, The adverse effects on global food and fertilizer prices have been, and will continue to be, profound. According to Forbes, Russia and Ukraine alone account for 29 percent of the global wheat market and 17 percent of the global corn market. Amid this war, Ukraine's wheat yields are expected to be...
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I went to work for the Dogie ranch when my cousin Lad hired me to rake hay on the Luppold Ranch, hay land leased by the Dogie. He was putting up the hay and the fellow who was raking hay quit. My Dad, whom we called Pops, contracted raking and baling hay throughout the county and I’d been doing much of the raking since I was pretty young. I was working for Pops at his International Harvester dealership and gas station. I didn’t like raking hay when I was doing it, but when I was in the gas station, I...
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The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will continue its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program during the 2022 hunting season by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease (CWD) from select units in the western portion of the state, and unit 2B in the east. Samples will be tested from deer taken from units 1, 2B, 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3B2, 3C, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F. CWD is a slow-moving brain disease of deer, moose, and elk that can cause population-level impacts under high infection rates. Hunters are encouraged to drop off heads...
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While having breakfast at a motel on a recent trip to Arizona, two adorable dark-haired little girls walked past our table with their mother. My husband smiled at them and said, “How are you this morning?” They stared at him with wide eyes and shyly answered, “Fine.” I commented to their mom that her girls were precious, and she said, “I’ve taught them not to talk to strangers…except cowboys.” I don’t know what was behind that particular instruction to her children, but it pleased my husband. In my eyes, he is the perfect man. He cares for our ranch and...
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Bear attacks are on an uptick. Whenever someone gets mauled, Walt Disney certified wildlife specialists look for reasons other than bears attacking because they are bears. Violent encounters are blamed on hikers and hunters for having food in their tent, startling a grizzly guarding a gut pile or strolling between a momma and her cubs. However, the root cause of bear attacks is the lack of hunting pressure. You know you have harvested enough bears when grizzlies begin tying little bells to their ankles to avoid accidently wandering between a human momma and her cubs. I am being facetious because...
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As Angus breeders from across the United States gather in Salt Lake City, Utah for the annual Angus Convention (Convention), it provides an opportunity for producers to reflect on the goals and philosophies of their individual operations while also allowing for conversations about the collective progress of the breed itself. Gabriel Connealy, the third generation on his family’s storied operation, the Connealy Angus Ranch (Whitman, Nebraska), will be attending Convention for the sixth time; despite the immense amount of work that is always on the schedule with an operation that calves year-round and sells over 900 bulls a year, Connealy...
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In another installment of NCBA’s “Cattlemen’s Webinar Series,” the concept of drought preparedness and management was brought together with some emerging technologies that are available for producers today. This hour-long session consisted of representatives from AgriWebb, Ranchsense, and Regrow – innovative technologies that provide detailed information and insights to producers – discussing the unique function of their respective programs. Panelist, John Fargher, who is a co-founder of AgriWebb, grew up on a 400,000 acre cattle and sheep operation in Australia where they were “lucky to get seven inches of rain” in a year. As a result, his family was “very...
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As fire season slowly comes to an end and snow is in the forecast across Reporter Country, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) showed the most recent wildfire statistics, as of October 3, indicate that “54,200 wildfires have impacted about 6.9 million acres this year.” Some of the major fires that contributed to the 2022 acres burned were: Double Creek Fire - Located along the northeast border between Oregon and Idaho, it was started on August 30, 2022, by a lightning strike. This fire burned approximately 171,532 acres and was 100 percent contained as of October 28. Idaho Moose Fire -...
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The last few months, most have us have been talking about rising fuel prices, and the rising prices of everything, frankly. This topic came up at fuel station I stopped at the other day. The gentleman at the pump ahead of me was filling up his 1-ton pickup with diesel, and we struck up a conversation. I told him was pretty glad I went back to gas motors a couple of years ago because diesel was so much higher than gas. He let fly with some “choice-words” that I can’t print here, but let’s just say he was more than...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) Board of Directors has named Raylee Honeycutt as its new Executive Vice President. Honeycutt will serve as the first female Executive Vice President in the organization’s 138 year history. Working with the Board of Directors, Honeycutt will lead all aspects of the organization, including strategic business planning, program development, performance measurement, and reporting, government relations, and membership services. “After an extensive search and interview process, Raylee rose to the top as the clear choice for the new executive vice president,” Jim Steinbeisser, MSGA President, said. “I am excited for the future of our organization. Raylee...
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The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) is pleased to announce the release of iGENDEC for constructing custom selection indexes, an industry first. While generalized selection indexes have been broadly available to commercial and seedstock producers for some time, a precision agriculture tool for building custom indexes has not been available to the industry until now. iGENDEC is a web-based tool for constructing economically optimal selection indexes for specific production and marketing situations. iGENDEC allows index customization through adjustment of economic and production parameters to reflect unique enterprise and production scenarios, including sale-point of calves, current phenotypic means, economic parameters, breed(s), and...
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For more than three decades cattle producers have simplified their recordkeeping with a handy pocket-sized booklet from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The 2023 version of the Redbook is now available to help cattle producers effectively and efficiently record their daily production efforts, which can help enhance profitability and reduce stress levels. In addition to Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) practices and proper injection technique information, the 2023 Redbook has more than 100 pages to record calving activity, herd health, pasture use, cattle inventory, body condition, cattle treatment, AI breeding records, and more. It also contains a calendar and notes...
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The groundbreaking ceremony for the Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center featuring Hank the Cowdog took place on October 14 at the National Ranching Heritage Center (NRHC) at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Envisioned as an indoor and outdoor comprehensive learning experience for the public, the Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center will provide all ages an immersive ranching experience, guided by the famous character of Hank the Cowdog. “Hank the Cowdog author, John R. Erickson has captured the complexities of the ranching industry in a format that is so natural for children to enjoy while learning through the character...
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Dozens of experts from around the world gathered in Bozeman Monday on October 10, making small talk over coffee with their international peers. They came from 11 countries - including Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, and across the United States - to share ideas on integrating technology with industrial crops at the 33rd annual meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops (AAIC). The AAIC is an international, nonprofit educational and scientific organization that encourages education and research about industrial crops and products. Industrial crops are utilized for non-food and non-feed applications, providing raw materials...
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With rising costs eroding dairy margins despite high farm milk prices, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is urging farmers to sign up for maximum 2023 coverage under USDA’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, an important component of federal dairy risk-management programs supported by NMPF. USDA has announced that DMC signup is now open, with a deadline of December 7. Despite record prices this year, accompanying record costs resulted in DMC payments for August for farmers enrolled at the maximum coverage level. “The current combination of high prices with costs that can be even higher illustrates the basic value of...
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The Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC) announced its 78th Annual Conference. Members of the media are invited to attend the conference starting Tuesday, November 1 at 8 a.m. and ending on Thursday, November 3 at 2 p.m. in Cody, Wyoming. WWPC is comprised of 23 Weed and Pest Districts in the state of Wyoming. The overall mission is to provide unified support for the integrated management of noxious weeds and pests. The conference will go over successful and ongoing projects, funding opportunities, and continuing education in the weed and pest field, and members will conduct council business as required by state statutes. Additionally, the...
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When their three boys were young, Bryan Spiel splurged on a 1969 Chrysler boat. It was [post_excerpt],000 and came with everything needed to water-ski. “That’s all the boys wanted to do. Not go to town or the movies, they wanted to go to the water – all the neighbor’s kids were the same way,” Bryan said. “So, we’d get the work done and go to the river.” “The kids have fond memories of being pulled around behind the boat,” Leah added. It wasn’t that Bryan and his wife, Leah, had an extra [post_excerpt],000 to spend at the time. But they...
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The Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks (FWP) staff released 500 pheasants at local wildlife management areas the second week of October as part of the agency’s retention, reactivation, and recruitment initiative. The birds were raised at the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge. Yellowstone Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located north of Ballantine and Grant Marsh WMA north of Hardin each received 250 pheasants. Both hens and roosters were released, though only roosters may be shot by hunters. The pheasant release program, dubbed “Roosters for Recruitment,” is intended to recruit new hunters by promoting hunter success and providing additional hunting opportunities...
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Dave Nichols, K-State University Animal Science & Industry professor emeritus, has been awarded the 2022 Mark and Eva Gardiner Innovation and Excellence Faculty award. Arguably one of the most recognizable “faces of K-State,” Nichols’ exemplary 40-year career as an educator taught more than 15,000 students. In addition to his responsibilities as a teaching professional, he advised nearly 2,800 students throughout his tenure. Nichols was raised on a commercial beef, swine, and farming operation in Indiana. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and master’s and doctorate degrees from K-State. In 1981, Nichols was hired as a K-State extension specialist....
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“I didn’t realize the tunnels were so intricate,” Randolph said as he and the ranch crew combed over the map. “I wish I could enlarge this area,” Pudge said as she reviewed the tunnel trails. “I thought I remembered another corridor that was a shortcut from these two points.” “Would that make a big difference?” Randolph asked. “It would. There’s actually a couple of tunnels that connect from the lower pasture too, and it would shave off a lot of traveling time.” “Maybe Itchy hadn’t been that way yet,” Bailee said. “Maybe that pesky raccoon just hasn’t let Itchy do...
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College undergraduates can now apply for the Agricultural Relations Council (ARC)/Gardner & Gardner Communications internship, being hosted by G&S Business Communications – in Raleigh, North Carolina or Chicago, Illinois – during the summer of 2023. Find internship details at: https://www.agrelationscouncil.org/students/arc-internship. Students interested in applying for the ARC Internship with G&S Business Communications should fill out an application, available at: https://bit.ly/2023ARCGSinternship. Applications are due December 31. The intern will be selected by January 31. Funding for this internship, which lasts 10-12 weeks, comes from a Gardner & Gardner Communications grant to the ARC Foundation. The internship is worth ,000, with a...
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Last year, state policymakers were presented with the challenge of setting up a regulatory and tax regime for adult-use cannabis after a bipartisan majority of voters enacted I-190 in the 2020 election. Though cannabis policy is still a work in progress, we got a lot of things right to ensure that the industry was set up responsibly in Montana. Our fledgling cannabis industry comes with a great deal of opportunity for Montanans. Already we are seeing new jobs being created by entrepreneurs setting up businesses from cultivation to retail to laboratory support services. And this industry as a whole is...
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My dad had a ranch leased where we ran a band of sheep, a few cows, and four horses that were used for both riding and to pull the wagon or bobsled. The land lies along the Smith River with good pasture, some hay land, and great winter protection as the river was lined with willows. Every little creek that ran into the river was also covered with willows. The twisting and winding of the creeks provided nice little islands deep with grass and lots of water. In the winter, even with winds blowing and temperatures well below zero, whether...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) was joined by representatives of the National Milk Producers Federation, dairy cooperatives, processors, state dairy associations, and dairy farmers from across the country for a successful first-of-its-kind industry-wide Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) Forum. The three-day event provided a platform for farmers’ voices to be heard while also answering the call from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to bring the dairy producer community together to discuss FMMO modernization. Discussions at the forum focused on Class price formulas and de-pooling, among other topics. The American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Milk Producers Federation agreed on...
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This past week, I traveled to the Wild West Veterinary Conference in Reno, Nevada. It is a smaller and less sparkly meeting than its Las Vegas counterpart, and since I am in bed by eight, touring cities which never sleep is permanently off my bucket list. Continuing education conferences always teach me more than the instructor’s message. I was a habitual back row student in vet school, but 40 years of banging chutes has dulled my hearing. If the speaker is soft spoken or has an accent, the front couple rows are my new home. Even though my hearing is...
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The USDA Cattle on Feed Report released on October 21 appears to be neutral with evidence of the smaller numbers ahead. Placements were softer and were exactly as anticipated. Pre-report expectations anticipated that placements would be 96.2 percent of last year with a range of 91.8 to 99.0 percent. Actual placements during the month of September were 96.2 percent of the prior year at 2.080 million head. The futures market reacted sharply higher on Monday, but the main strength in the up move was in the nearby, as opposed to the deferred, contracts. Dry weather, poor pasture in the southern...
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North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring has issued a withdrawal from the distribution order to Feed Mix of Harvey for their All-Around Horse Pellet 14, with lot code 081022. The All-Around Horse Pellet 14 is being withdrawn from distribution based on the presence of monensin found during North Dakota Department of Agriculture testing. Monensin is a medicated feed ingredient labeled for use in ruminant animals. If fed to horses, it can be toxic and cause colic-like symptoms, cardiovascular issues, and possible death. Customers and other end users with the product should return the feed to the Feed Mix plant. For...
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Record-level inflation over the last year has hurt many hard-working Wyoming families, forcing difficult financial decisions. In June of this year, when gasoline prices rose to their highest recorded levels, Governor Mark Gordon established the Gas and Diesel Working Group. He tasked them with finding solutions to help provide relief at the fuel pump for Wyoming families. The Gas and Diesel Working Group was comprised of members spanning both private and public sectors. In July, the working group hosted two public meetings where testimony was provided related to possible options that could be explored. Increasing the capacity of Wyoming refiners...
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A scientist friend recently noted that, at today’s rate of consumption, the world is environmentally and economically sustainable for roughly 1 billion people. “That means with the world’s population of 8 billion,” he half-joked, “you’re a goner.” Right, just not right now; let nature take its course, eh? Recent population trends, however, show that nature might already be winnowing us a bit faster – still too slow for my friend, but winnowing nonetheless. For example, at a recent conference on the U.S. economy, the discussion quickly diverted from the more normal short-term economic outlook to the rarely discussed longer-term view...
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We were watching football a couple weekends ago and were pleasantly surprised by some thought-provoking television spots sponsored by Land O’Lakes, a farmer-owned co-op. If you missed them, take note: “Farmers. We all know they work hard. And we all depend on them. But did you know…they are fewer than 1 percent of us. Yet they feed 100 percent of us. Farmers are incredible.” “In the next 40 years, farmers need to produce more food than in the last 10,000. Farmers are incredible.” Yes, they are. And that includes ranchers and everyone else involved in agriculture. I may be preaching...
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There are many commercial vaccines available to protect cattle against infectious agents. Some are modified-live vaccines and others are killed products. It’s not always easy to decide which ones are best when vaccinating calves. Dr. Donal O’Toole, a pathologist at Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, University of Wyoming, said that his preference, at least for viral agents, is to use a modified-live vaccine, when it is safe to use them of course. “If you give vaccines by a natural route, such as intranasal vaccine for respiratory viruses, the modified-live product has advantages. With a killed product, the amount of antigen an...
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Three significant, but fortunately non-fatal, grizzly bear attacks within the last two weeks have made national news headlines. On October 11, a 51-year-old Washington man and his wife were hunting upland birds east of Choteau, Montana when a nearly 700-pound grizzly “charged out of thick brush at close range,” the Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks (MFWP) said in a statement. The man, whose name has not been released, was able to fire at the bear with a shotgun and a handgun; the animal was wounded and stopped attacking. The man was taken to the hospital for treatment of “non-life-threatening injuries,”...
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The Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) wasn’t the only major livestock show this last week; hundreds of breeders and livestock judgers showcased their hard work at the American Royal in Kansas City, Missouri. Individuals across Reporter Country found luck in an out of the show ring, but the Goshen County 4-H Livestock Judging Team stood out with their fourth-place overall finish for their performance on the floor judging multiple species and in the reasons room. According to the Goshen County (GOCO) 4-H Livestock Judging team coach, Brodie Mackey, when the kids came out of the contest, he thought to himself...
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On October 17, Wyoming Governor, Mark Gordon advanced his large-scale big-game conservation efforts by signing the Wyoming Wildlife Habitat Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in coordination with the USDA. The MOU builds on Gordon’s 2020 “Mule Deer and Antelope Migration Corridor Protection” Executive Order (Executive Order). The Executive Order recognized that “Wyoming is home to the longest intact mule deer and antelope migration corridors in North America […] wildlife that utilize these corridors are highly valued by all people and contribute significantly to the economy and reputation of Wyoming…” In fact, the “Red Desert to Hoback” migration corridor, which is 160...
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I am sure by now most of you have had the opportunity to see the sale reports that have been running in the paper and realize how fantastic the registered female sales have been around Reporter Country. I still have a couple of female sales to work this week, and then on to the bull sales we go. I should say then on to the production sales we go, as many of the fall bull sales sell registered and commercial bred females as well. Let’s just suffice it to say the fall sale season has been a huge success so...
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With ranchers continuing to produce high-quality beef at notable marks and consumer demand staying strong, Certified Angus Beef (CAB) closed its books on the second-highest sales year of record. The brand’s success is a reflection of an entire community pointed toward providing premium beef, starting with a steady supply. “Angus cattlemen and women remain committed to meeting the demand for the best-tasting and best-sourced beef,” John Stika, President of CAB, said. “Our diverse, global and growing customer base recognizes the brand’s commitment to quality from the ranch to the plate.” Certified Angus Beef sold 1.234 billion pounds in 54 countries...
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Montana Farmers Union Foundation (MFU) and partners are excited to fund three rural community projects receiving a total of ,000. Power Public Schools received ,000 toward purchasing a new freezer and enlarging their dry goods storage. The freezer will expand their Farm-to-School program. Hobson School Agriculture Department received ,000 for a new CNC Plasma System. Divide School received ,000 to build a greenhouse to provide students with fresh produce. Farmers Union Industries (FUI) and the Teton County Farmers Union Local partnered with the MFU Foundation and contributed ,000 and [post_excerpt],000 respectively in addition to the Foundation’s ,000. “By using FUI...
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For more than 100 years, the Montana Farmers Union (MFU) Annual Convention has gathered people passionate about agriculture and this year's Convention continued the tradition. “We had a great line up of speakers, several leaders from the USDA and MSU updating us on their activities, as well presentations from some innovative members on new markets for meat, soil resilience, rural entrepreneurs, precision ag, and more,” MFU President, Walter Schweitzer said about the 107th annual event held in Helena October 14-15. Highlights included addresses from state agriculture and rural development leaders, as well as veteran political reporter Mike Dennison; panel discussions about...
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Big Medicine, the sacred white bison on display at the Montana Historical Society (MTHS) in Helena, is being repatriated to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) at their request. The MTHS Board of Trustees voted unanimously to return Big Medicine to his homeland based on his cultural and spiritual significance to the Tribes. “Big Medicine represents the past that has carried forward to the present and the work yet to be done to protect our identity, culture, and well-being into the future,” CSKT Tribal Chairman, Tom McDonald had written in his repatriation request. “We are deeply appreciative,” he said...
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National Farmers Union (NFU) President, Rob Larew released the following statement in response to the USDA issuing information on critical new debt relief programs. These programs will help distressed borrowers holding Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans and are primarily funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). “Let’s be clear – this debt relief is going to help keep family farms in business, not just for this generation but for generations to come,” Larew said. “It’s promising to see how USDA is implementing provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act that will help thousands of distressed loan borrowers. [This] announcement is the...
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is accepting comments on a proposed plan to replace the aging wooden boardwalk as well as add a new section of the boardwalk that provides public access at the Pompeys Pillar National Monument. The comment period will end on November 7, 2022. The boardwalk warrants replacement is in order to offer the public continued safe access to the landmark, made famous by the inscription left by Capt. William Clark when his party of the Corps of Discovery passed the location on their return trip in 1806. The current boardwalk was built in 1992 and...
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The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) and North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation (NDSF) recently distributed nearly a quarter-million dollars in aid to North Dakota cattle ranchers who suffered serious losses in record-breaking, back-to-back storms earlier this year. The NDSA and NDSF launched the Hope After Haley Disaster Relief Program to lend support to ranch families significantly impacted when Mother Nature delivered a multitude of perils, including severe wind and many feet of snow, rain and/or ice in April – the heart of the state’s calving season. Industry impacts ranged from widespread livestock death and illness to damaged buildings and fences. The...
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Research updates for take-home implementation are the cornerstone of Kansas State University’s (K-State) annual Swine Day planned for Thursday, November 17. “K-State Swine Day is focused on bringing relevant information to swine producers and allied industry professionals,” Joel DeRouchey, K-State Department of Animal Sciences & Industry (ASI) swine extension specialist, said. “We emphasize application information for the swine industry in a wide variety of areas, and this year’s program will highlight numerous topics for our attendees.” The 2022 Swine Day will kick off with a technology trade show featuring more than 30 vendors. The trade show opens at 8 a.m....
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National Farmers Union (NFU) President, Rob Larew released the following statement in response to the USDA issuing information on critical new debt relief programs. These programs will help distressed borrowers holding Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans and are primarily funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). “Let’s be clear – this debt relief is going to help keep family farms in business, not just for this generation but for generations to come,” Larew said. “It’s promising to see how USDA is implementing provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act that will help thousands of distressed loan borrowers. [This] announcement is the...
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking additional public comment on an environmental assessment (EA) for a streambank stabilization project at Camp Baker at Smith River State Park. Public comment on the EA was first taken from June 28 to July 28, and a decision notice was issued on August 8. After more internal consideration and review of public input, FWP is updating the EA and taking more public comments through November 12. FWP is proposing to stabilize a portion of the streambank of the Smith River that has seen substantial erosion downstream of the secondary boat launch located at...
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“Catch!” Bailee called and hucked a pine cone Tuffs way. All he heard was ‘catch’, and it had him swiveling on his heels looking for the object that was headed his way. When the miniature carrot-sized pine cone sailed past his head, Tuff realized why Bailee had sent it. “Yah, see that’s why,” she said. “I was just checking to make sure you’re on the tips of the paws.” Tuff brushed the side of his head where the pinecone was a near miss on its collision course. “Why wouldn’t I be?” he said. “I’m the spitting example of ready, willing,...
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I am a tireless (my better half says “profligate”) waver. I love to wave. Will do so at the slightest provocation. Afoot or aboard. I credit my McCone County, Montana upbringing for this amiable inclination. My initial awareness of the wave culture came courtesy of my mother, who waggled her hand indiscriminately and sort of regally at oncoming cars, pickups, trucks, tractors, folks horseback, whatever, as she hustled our ’39 Ford coupe early Monday mornings down sparsely graveled or scoriaed county secondaries to the Watkins and then Cutting country schools - where she taught 1950 - 1951 before landing a...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) along with the North and South Phillips County Grazing Districts, Office of the Governor, and Montana Attorney General were denied their petitions for stay by the Office of Hearings and Appeals on Thursday, October 14.. In August, the aforementioned groups filed appeals on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) decision regarding American Prairie’s grazing allotments and petitioned for a stay on this decision. “We are disappointed in this decision as we believe it is important that bison remain off the allotments until the appeal can be heard. We know this process is a marathon and...
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Although it has been a beautiful autumn, the "Old Farmer's Almanac" predicts that winter will be rather old-fashioned. Our High Plains region is going to be colder than normal, with the coldest periods in late November, early December, early and late January, and early and late February. Precipitation and snowfall will be above normal in the north and below normal in the south. The snowiest periods will be in mid-to-late November, mid-to-late January, and early February. Over on the western side of Montana in the Intermountain region, the Old Farmer is predicting winter will be warmer than normal, with the...
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The Angus Foundation is offering the chance at a highly desired Certified Angus Beef (CAB) barn painting at the 2022 Angus Convention in Salt Lake City. The painting will be auctioned off at the annual American Angus Association® awards dinner and reception Sunday, November 6. Funds raised will help further the Foundation’s mission of supporting Angus education, youth and research. In 2018, CAB celebrated 40 years in business with the “Brand the Barn” campaign, painting 40 barns belonging to Angus breeders in 25 states across the country with the Certified Angus Beef ® brand logo. In response to the campaign,...
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Record-level inflation over the last year has hurt many hard-working Wyoming families, forcing difficult financial decisions. In June of this year, when gasoline prices rose to their highest recorded levels, Governor Mark Gordon established the Gas and Diesel Working Group. He tasked them with finding solutions to help provide relief at the fuel pump for Wyoming families. The Gas and Diesel Working Group was comprised of members spanning both private and public sectors. In July, the working group hosted two public meetings where testimony was provided related to possible options that could be explored. Increasing the capacity of Wyoming refiners...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released its priorities for what may be the most consequential legislation for agriculture in 2023 – the renewal of the farm bill. The priorities were identified by a working group of Farm Bureau members and staff from across the country. AFBF’s overarching priorities include: Continuing current farm bill program funding; Maintaining a unified farm bill that includes nutrition programs and farm programs together; Prioritizing risk management tools that include federal crop insurance and commodity programs; Ensuring adequate USDA staffing and resources to provide technical assistance. “The farm bill is the most significant piece of...
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Governor Mark Gordon’s leadership in protecting private agricultural lands and migratory big game populations was recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with the signing of the Wyoming Wildlife Habitat Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Under the MOU, Wyoming and the USDA agree to invest “technical capacity and resources in the conservation, restoration, management, and long-term stewardship of multiple-use public and private lands that support migratory big game.” This means funds for private landowners who voluntarily help conserve wildlife habitat, particularly for wildlife movement. “Wyoming leads the nation in our approaches to conserving wildlife, particularly big game migration. We do...
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A new poll conducted on behalf of the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) found that 86 percent of Americans favor reinstatement of Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) for beef and pork. In 2015 Congress rescinded the requirement that imported beef and pork be labeled. However, it was only for beef and pork. All other foods, including lamb and seafood, continue to be labeled. Immediately following this action by Congress, cattle markets crashed by nearly half, resulting in billions of dollars lost to ranchers in rural states such as Montana. “The American Beef Labeling Act” (S.2716), will reinstate COOL. It is a...
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I was just thinking about how much horses have done for mankind in the past. Which brought to mind how little we utilize them now and how overprotective we are of them. I know we are obligated, as owners or riders, to take good care of them. I like the fact that horses often live into their thirties or even older, that they receive veterinary care, nutritious food, dental care, and so on. I just think we underestimate how much they can do. Especially since they now get such good care. And yes, I’m aware that there are those who...
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As chair of the Montana Land Board, Governor Greg Gianforte welcomed the state’s purchase of nearly 5,700 acres in the Big Snowy Mountain range, providing Montanans access to over 100,000 total acres of state and federal lands. “The state has a vested interest in seeing land conserved for wildlife habitat while also keeping ranchers on the landscape for the benefit of our communities,” Governor Gianforte said. “We married those two interests in this agreement, keeping the land available for cattle grazing while opening access for hunters to pristine wildlife habitat in the Big Snowies. This is a win-win for Montana.”...
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A 51-year-old hunter from Washington state sustained non-life threatening injuries when he was attacked by a grizzly bear on October 11 in Teton County. The hunter and his wife encountered the bear around 1 p.m. while hunting for upland birds in a creek bottom east of Choteau. The bear charged out of thick brush at close range. The hunter fired at the bear with a shotgun and handgun, wounding the bear and stopping the attack. The hunters and their dogs left the area and notified authorities of the attack. FWP bear management specialists, game wardens, and Teton County deputies returned...
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If you think U.S. politics are too polarized, too anger-driven, and too polluted by big money, take a quick look at the trainwreck that United Kingdom politics has become to see what’s in store for us if we don’t regain our collective goodwill soon. On July 7, the straw-haired, scandal-ridden Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, resigned. In 2016, BoJo became the Conservative Party’s loudest peddler of the UK’s barely successful “leave the European Union (EU)”– or Brexit – vote. He rode it to the top. But when Brexit went into effect in 2020, its impact on the UK economy became real,...
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Human-bear conflicts increase in fall as bears gorge in preparation for hibernation and people take to the woods for archery and rifle hunting seasons. Elk and deer rifle season opener is October 22, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is hosting two virtual bear safety training events, followed by two bear spray give-away opportunities in Bozeman and Helena. The virtual bear safety events are focused on bear awareness for hunters and will cover bear safety, biology, conflict prevention, responding to bear encounters, handling carcasses in bear country, and how to use bear spray. One event was held on October 14...
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When I was a pup, my father lectured me repeatedly on how to properly wrangle horses in the horse pasture of the Little Horn Cow Camp. It was a rugged, massive pasture and horses could hide in dozens of little pockets secluded by gullies and timber. Many asked to wrangle horses returned an hour later saying there were no horses in the pasture. Top hands took great delight in ribbing the greenhorn, asking if he looked here or there and the answer was usually a sheepish “no.” Because the pasture sometimes contained horses from two or three different ranches, which...
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For more than 10 years, the Ranch Rodeo has been a “must see” event at the Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) in Billings, Montana, and this year was no exception. The event kicked off on Friday, October 14 with 32 teams competing to advance to the finals on October 15. Friday’s top nine teams, along with the 2021 Champions, Bootheel 7 & Hageman Ranches, advanced with hopes of taking home a hefty purse for their efforts. In front of a packed arena, 40 of the best cowboys, cowgirls, and horses from across Reporter Country competed in four events to showcase...
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As we jump into fall, it’s the time of the year when cattle are being sent to market. Ranchers start culling dry’s and broken-mouthed cows, while fall yearling and feeder calf sales are taking off. One thing each cattle producer asks themselves is “What is the market going to look like?” Troy Applehans, Market Analyst for CattleFax, gave a “Cattle Market Situations and Outlook” presentation during the Colorado Livestock Associations (CLA) second fall webinar. “There are obviously many positives out there with regards to the cattle markets going forward,” Applehans stated. “We know that there are a lot of headwinds...
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The mid-term elections are now just around the corner. I have visited with a lot of people as of late who are wondering what is going to happen with these elections. More times than not, I’ve heard that folks expect the Republicans to gain ground, but the big question is, how much ground? I am in the same boat. I truly believe the balance of power will shift in early November, but how much is anybody’s guess. I read an article recently in the Wall Street Journal titled “Brace Yourself for a Republican Wave” with sub-title “As voters shift their...
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“We can demonstrate climate neutrality through mitigation of methane warming equivalent emissions, and this can be achieved more easily with a combination of emissions mitigation and land-based carbon assimilation” Dr. Jason Sawyer, King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management adjunct professor and East Foundation Chief Science Officer, said. Sawyer gave his presentation titled “Toward Climate Neutral Beef: Are There Viable Paths?” during the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium on June 2 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Sawyer explained the current state of the beef industry with regard to climate concerns and discussed mitigation pathways the industry might take toward achieving climate...
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Each of us walks around with trillions of living microbes in our gut. Our diet shapes the kinds and abundance of microbes living in our gut which are connected to our health and well-being. But as scientists learn more and more about which microbes are associated with positive and negative impacts on human health, a key question has remained unanswered: "How do we change our own microbiomes?" The answer may be in the food we eat. Different foods, made from different crops contain a variety of fibers, polyphenols, and other natural compounds that can influence the abundance of different microbes...
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Getting young farmers to serve on the board of directors was a challenge facing Central Farmers Cooperative. To overcome it, the full-service agriculture co-op decided to take a proactive approach. “We felt it was important to get some younger people involved, so we started an apprenticeship program to get them up to speed before they ran to be elected to the board,” Jim Wahle, a Salem crop farmer who served on the co-op’s board of directors for nearly 15 years, explained. With intentions to retire from the board of directors in January 2023, Wahle was the first board member to...
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A program at Montana State University (MSU) that researches and develops foundation seed varieties for the state’s agricultural producers has a new name. An extension of the crop breeding programs in the Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, the Montana Foundation Seed Program’s name is now officially the Montana State University Foundation Seed Program. The name change was approved unanimously at MSU’s September University Council meeting. Sreekala Bajwa, vice president of agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture, said the name change accurately reflects the high-quality research conducted by Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, or MAES, plant breeding programs...
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Families can expect to pay record-high prices at the grocery store for turkey this upcoming holiday season thanks to the impacts of the bird flu and inflation. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economists analyzed turkey and egg costs in their latest Market Intel. The retail price for fresh boneless, skinless turkey breast reached a record high of .70 per pound in September, 112 percent higher than the same time in 2021 when prices were .16 per pound. The previous record high price was .88 per pound in November 2015, during the 2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak. Inflation is...
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The American Farm Bureau (AFBF) and Farm Bureau members across the country will have a seat at the table advising the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) with the appointment of Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) President Mark McHargue to serve on the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC). In this role, McHargue will help facilitate communication between the CFTC and the agricultural community, including Farm Bureau members and leaders. He will also provide insight and recommendations to the CFTC. “Mark McHargue will join the CFTC Agricultural Advisory Committee at an important time,” Zippy Duval, AFBF President, said. “His experience with both farming...
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Eight seedstock producers representing five breeds of cattle were showcased during the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA) All Breeds Cattle Tour on October 3. The tour celebrated its 35th year and featured an impressive group of Cooperstown, North Dakota, area beef producers and welcomed about 150 attendees over the duration of the tour. “The breeders take pride in their cattle and were very excited to welcome tour guests to view their operations,” Kelly Hanson, Tour Chairman of Hannaford, North Dakota, said. The day commenced with registration at the AmericInn Hotel in Valley City, North Dakota. From there, the tour departed...
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Register today for the free Stockmanship & Stewardship virtual event to be held Tuesday, November 1, 2022. This online version of the popular in-person event provides an opportunity for cattle producers to learn about beef sustainability and livestock welfare, how consumer concerns have impacted the industry, and the role that Beef Quality Assurance plays in the conversation. The full-day event features nationally recognized speakers and clinicians discussing topics such as grazing management practices in various climates, cattle handling, marketing, nutrition, international trade, labor, antimicrobial resistance, and more. The program brings together beef and dairy producers, stakeholders, and key industry members...
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public nominations for positions on the two Resource Advisory Councils (RACs) in Montana and the Dakotas. These citizen-based councils assist in the development of recommendations that address public land management issues. The Western Montana RAC covers BLM lands in the western third of the state, and the Missouri Basin RAC encompasses BLM lands in the eastern two-thirds of Montana and the Dakotas. The BLM maintains RACs chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Federal Policy and Land Management Act across the West. Each RAC consists of 15 members from diverse...
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The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) presented the 2022 Environmental Stewardship Award to Bartholomay Kattle Kompany of Sheldon, North Dakota, during the NDSA’s 93rd Annual Convention and Trade Show, “All In,” in Bismarck, North Dakota. Bartholomay Kattle Kompany, a diversified crop and cow-calf operation that always has environmental stewardship on its mind, is located in the heart of the Sheyenne Delta. The Bartholomay family has been farming and ranching in the area for nearly 127 years. Keith and Sandi Bartholomay own and operate the ranch along with their son, Karl, and Karl’s fiancé, Rebecca Anderson. Due to the sandy soils...
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“General genetic improvement in the North American beef herd is doing a good job of improving emissions intensity. Improving profitability and production efficiency through genetic selection is doing a good job for the carbon footprint of beef,” Dr. John Crowley, AbacusBio Ltd, explained. Crowley was a featured speaker during the 2022 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium on June 2 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions… Improvement of feed efficiency, fertility, animal health, mature live weight, and reducing the age of harvest, can be accomplished through breeding and genetics; all traits which hold a lot of promise in...
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Teaching an appreciation for Angus cattle comes naturally to Terry and Becky Walter. Along with their children Trevor, Ty and Katelyn, they’ve built Walter Angus into a fifth-generation seedstock ranch that specializes in high quality at a high elevation. Hudson, Colorado provides awe-inspiring views of the pristine Rocky Mountains as a backdrop to their picture-perfect cattle. It’s the ideal spot to introduce visitors to the place where beef begins. Their spirit of hospitality and work to share how they raise high-quality beef earned the Walter family the 2022 Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Ambassador Award. Many of the groups that visit...
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Montana Farmers Union (MFU) Foundation and partners are excited to fund three rural community projects receiving a total of ,000. Power Public Schools received ,000 toward purchasing a new freezer and enlarging their dry goods storage. The freezer will expand their Farm-to-School program. Hobson School Agriculture Department received ,000 for a new CNC Plasma System. Divide School received ,000 to build a greenhouse to provide students with fresh produce. Farmers Union Industries and the Teton County Farmers Union Local partnered with the MFU Foundation and contributed ,000 and [post_excerpt],000 respectively in addition to the Foundation’s ,000. “By using FUI and...
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New this year to the NILE Ranch Rodeo was a preliminary round on Friday, October 14. A total of 33 teams vied for the fastest times to advance to the 2022 NILE Ranch Rodeo Finals on Saturday, October 15. Teams competed in Team Branding, Team Doctoring, and Team Trailering for the preliminary round and will compete in Team Branding, Team Doctoring, Team Trailering, and Wild Cow Milking for the finals. A ,250 purse was up for grabs among the top six teams. The reigning 2021 NILE Ranch Rodeo Champion team, Bootheel 7 & Hageman Ranches, will automatically have a spot...
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The Grow Montana Food Policy Coalition has released a new report showing that locally grown and sold foods make a big impact on Montana communities. The report, “Economic Value and Impact of Local Food in Montana,” was completed by Highland Economics on behalf of the coalition. It shows that locally grown Montana foods support 8 million in retail sales across the state’s economy. The report evaluates the economic value of “local food,” food produced and consumed in the state of Montana without leaving the state for finishing and processing elsewhere. “The study delivers a comprehensive look at the Montana food...
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“Hey!” Tuff called. “Turns out riding atop a moose is pert’near like riding atop a horse.” With that, his newfound partner gave him a solid buck. He was hurled into the air and landed with a solid thud. “What was that for?” Tuff said looking up at the moose he’d traveled upon. “Because I can,” the moose said. Tuff stood up and rubbed his backside. Watching the scene unfold, the ranch laughed. “That’s what you get,” Randolph said. “Yah, that’s what you get,” Bailee mirrored his message. She had been attached to her papa as if she’d become another appendage....
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Experienced marketing and design professional and team leader Katie Milburn has joined Meristem Crop Performance Group, LLC., which is one of the fastest-growing direct-to-farm crop input suppliers in America. Milburn joins the team as Meristem’s new Director of Brand, Marketing & Communications. “We’re very happy that Katie Milburn is on-board to help us impact and serve our growing numbers of farmer-customers and dealer-partners,” Mitch Eviston, Meristem Founder and CEO, said. “Katie has a history of leading communication teams and getting results and we are excited she’s on our team. She’s a leader AND a do-er, and that’s the kind of...
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The 2023 American Farm Bureau Convention will be held in-person on January 6-11, 2023, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) assessed the status of San Juan and the convention facilities following Hurricane Fiona and determined that all are fully operational. “Mi Familia” (My Family) is the theme of AFBF’s 104th consecutive convention, a “must attend” event that offers attendees the inside track on policies and perspectives that will affect farms, ranches, and agribusinesses in 2023 and beyond. “This is your opportunity to gain insights about the future of agriculture, sharpen your skills and help define the...
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Swayzi Fischer is the best little helper gathering irrigating tubes in preparation for sugar beet harvest near Savage, Montana.
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The USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the semi-annual United States and Canadian Cattle inventory report on August 24, 2022. It is available at: https://usda.library.cornell.edu/concern/publications/474299142 Due to North Dakota’s close proximity to Canada, it is interesting to compare beef cow numbers between the two countries. Inventory numbers for both countries were reported as of July 1, 2022. U.S. beef cows on July 1, 2022 at 30.35 million head were down 750,000 from the 31.1 million on July 1, 2021. That was a cyclical decline of 2.05 million head or 6.3 percent in the past four years, but followed a 2.65...
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I’m tickled we are hearing more of trade schools, on the job training, internships, and alternative ways to find jobs that don’t require years of schooling. It’s tough to pay off huge college loans. But I certainly don’t agree that those who never went to college should be told they have to pay off college loans. I became a respiratory therapist after leaving working on various ranches. I moved to Helena, Montana, where I would find more opportunities than in my hometown. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I figured out that a cowboy, unless he can...
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We’re at the end of bean harvest season in our part of the country. And to my mind, it’s the best time to pick up a bag of locally grown fresh dry beans. Fresh dry beans. Is that a misnomer? I don’t know why I’m just learning this, but when it comes to how pinto, black, Great Northern, and other beans are dried, you might say they are outstanding in their field. According to the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association, when bean plants are mature, they are left in the field to dry. Then they are cut and raked into...
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Decades back, we learned the secret to trailing cows and calves up the Little Horn Canyon was to divide the herd of 300 into ten smaller herds of 29. Yes, I know the math shorts us 10 critters, but we rarely made it to the top without losing a pair or two, a foot-rot bull, and a couple crazy yearlings somewhere in the timber. Were I a progressive, I would hide this truth, but I am not, so I won’t. Prior to learning the trick, we would gather the cattle at daybreak and crowd the entire herd into the brush...
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“There is, and has been for some time, deep concern about the cost of fertilizer,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Thomas Vilsack said during his September 27 address at the annual NASDA convention. With his remarks, he announced that the USDA’s 0 million Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP) grants in order to “stimulate more domestic production of fertilizer and the ingredients that go into fertilizer,” Vilsack stated. There was initially to be 0 million in FPEP grant funds when the program was announced earlier this year in response to massively inflated fertilizer prices, which had doubled over the course of 2021,...
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And just like that, it’s time for fall processing. Let’s look closely at what we’ll need to give our weaning-aged calves a leg-up in their next stage of life. Vaccinations… For our weaning-aged calves, fall processing is a valuable time to vaccinate them to help build up their immunity. They're at risk for respiratory disease and also some clostridial diseases. So, we really need to protect their immune system and help offer as much support as we can. The best time to vaccinate these cattle is actually prior to weaning, by about three to four weeks, if at all possible....
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On Monday, October 2, JBS USA announced that it would be closing its U.S. plant-based Planterra Foods unit in response to “softening consumer demand for plant-based proteins,” according to a report by Bloomberg. Closing the Denver Planterra Foods facility will result in the layoffs of 120 employees and is one of many instances in recent months that has shown a slowing demand for alternative proteins. Canadian pork processor, Maple Leaf recently reduced its plant-based operations (GreenLeaf) by 25 percent this year with updated projections for consumer-demand proving to be much lower than was initially expected. Beyond Meat Inc. shares have...
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The Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) Merit Heifer Program is going on 23 years strong of promoting the next up-and-coming cattlemen and women. Showmen from all over Reporter Country earn the chance to be given a heifer to not only show at the NILE, but also to learn what it takes to start their own cattle herd, which includes record keeping, breeding and health decisions, marketing, and promotion. Gary Adams and Bill Pelton, along with multiple donors, started the program in 2000 as they saw the need for kids to get involved in the beef industry by receiving donated a...
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The past couple of months, I have frequently forecasted that the live fed cattle market should continue to move in a positive direction as supplies tighten and the number of high grading cattle get harder and harder to find. Ever so slowly, it has happened. The packers continue to process large numbers of cattle; last week the estimated slaughter was 664,000 head, 7,000 head more than the same week last year and on par with the previous week’s numbers. Cattle in the north traded [post_excerpt] to higher last week selling in the 7 to 8 range. The south traded...
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The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) is set to host a global conference in Denver, Colorado from November 7-10. Attendees of the ‘Reaching New Heights’ conference will gather to discuss global trends, consumer behavior, industry progress and breakthroughs, and future plans. The event will host a range of speakers including the National Wildlife Federation, Tyson Foods, and JBS. Attendees will benefit from panel discussions, networking events and breakout sessions giving insights into the full scope of beef sustainability and action to improve it. Leading with GRSB’s Climate, Nature Positive, and Animal Welfare Goals, related issues to be explored include...
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According to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) press release, CPW “is investigating a report of dead domestic cow calves on White River National Forest lands near Meeker that show damage consistent with wolf depredation […] If the depredations are confirmed as being caused by wolves, CPW will work in partnership with the livestock producer to implement approved hazing methods and respond to any damage claims submitted.” It was reported on October 5 that at least 18 600-pound calves were found dead on the LK Ranch, run by Lenny Klinglesmith. Klinglesmith, who is a member of Colorado’s wolf-reintroduction Stakeholders Advisory...
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The American Royal Junior Limousin Show and Level I Medal of Excellence (MOE) Limousin Show was held October 8, 2022, in Kansas City, Mossouri. Judge Spencer Scotten evaluated the junior heifers while Jim Pipkin, evaluated the female and bulls in the Level I MOE Show. A complete list of winners follows: Junior Show Results Grand Champion Limousin Female: Richardson’s Jazziness 101J ET, sired by TASF Guiness 315G ET, out of MRRC Foxy 815F ET, exhibited by McKenna Richardson, Eureka, Kansas. Reserve Grand Champion Limousin Female: DL Jezebel 610J ET, sired by RLBH Air Force One, out of WLR Eden ET,...
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The Wasserburger family in Lusk, Wyoming, thrives on keen competition. They bring an athletic intensity and drive that once won championships on the wrestling mat to now topping the charts in livestock auction rings. The 2022 Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Commercial Commitment to Excellence Award winners accepted the award at the brand’s Annual Conference on September. 29 in Phoenix, Arizona. They earned it with big wins in their herd’s maternal and marbling scorecards. The ranch is led by JD and Laurie Wasserburger, with their sons Eric and Andrew and his wife, Anne, built on family legacies of pioneer great-grandfather Henry...
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An unanswered prayer led Dan Larson back to the ranch. He and his wife Becky stepped away from their dream life of horse training for a new calling, to build the best Angus herd they could. Economics and a newfound passion brought on years of studying genetics and the Angus Journal to where Larson Angus Ranch, Sharon Springs, Kansas, now manages 800 cows. Since 2007, that’s been with the help of their son Brady along with his wife Kyla, bringing up the fifth generation on the land. Cow work, genetic improvements, and breeding plans are on the table for hours...
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On Thursday, October 6, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) held its annual meeting. It was in the town of Colstrip, home of the Colstrip coal-fired power plant, because the meeting was specifically to discuss the “progress” being made by the plant’s managing partner, Talen Montana, on the disposal, as waste, of the millions of tons of toxic ash that have been piling up onsite for nearly fifty years. After a slide presentation by DEQ engineer, Sara Seitz that detailed how these millions of tons of ash were being de-watered, repositioned, and otherwise handled over a period of some...
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The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) recognized two long-time local brand inspectors, Darryl Alsager of Walcott, North Dakota, and Rodney Brown of Beach, North Dakota, with the NDSA’s Honorary Local Brand Inspector Awards at a special awards banquet during its annual convention in Bismarck, North Dakota. The men have been providing inspection services to livestock producers since 1978. Alsager has lived and ranched near Walcott his entire life. He graduated from Kindred High School in 1971 and attended the North Dakota State College of Science for one year before joining the Air Force. Following his training, Alsager returned as the...
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The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) will provide an opportunity for college students in Wyoming to apply what they are learning at college to the discussion of agriculture issues through the Collegiate Discussion Meet. The 2022 contest will be on November 10 in Casper, Wyoming during the WyFB 103rd Annual Meeting. Casper College will be the host school. The contest is organized by the WyFB Young Farmer & Rancher Committee. The contest is a great way for students to meet other college students, develop leadership skills, apply what they are learning at college and serve as a voice for agriculture....
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Andy Olson and Sen. Mike Jacobson Receive NE Bankers Association Award The Nebraska Bankers Association (NBA) recognized Senator Mike Jacobson (R-NE), of North Platte, and Andy Olson, of Hershey, with the 2022 NBA Agri-business Recognition Award. The award has been presented each year since 1983 to individuals who have made significant contributions to the state of Nebraska and its agricultural industry. The presentation was made during the NBA’s Fall Agri-business Conference in Lincoln. Jacobson is president and CEO of NebraskaLand Bank in North Platte, which he founded in 1998. The bank has grown to 0 million in assets and employs...
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National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has not opposed the temporary, short-term lifting of restrictions on infant formula imports to address the rare formula availability crisis and did not oppose the just-passed Bulk Infant Formula to Retail Shelves Act given its targeted volume and limited time frame. Those guardrails are necessary to ensure that imports temporarily complement U.S. supplies rather than displace existing available dairy formula ingredients. NMPF emphatically opposes efforts that would create long-term dependence on foreign suppliers for critical nutritional food. The focus must be to develop additional production in the United States necessary to ensure that this crisis...
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With this year’s USDA report on per-capita U.S. dairy consumption, the industry has finally moved past the 1960s. In terms of favor with the American public, dairy has returned to 1959. Sound strange? It’s true. The USDA’s annual report on per-capita U.S. dairy consumption released Friday, September 30, saw an emphatic rise in domestic dairy demand, going from 655 pounds per person in 2020 to 667 pounds per person last year. That’s a level of dairy popularity that surpasses 1960, when it was 659 pounds, and is approaching 1959’s consumer appeal of 672 pounds. In other words, the last time...
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At the 2022 National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Annual Meeting on September 29, NASDA members urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Congress to make long-term funding available to support rural mental health programs. In 2021, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced a one-time investment of million for 50 grants supporting the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. As a result, state departments of agriculture were offered noncompetitive grants of up to 0,000 to combat farm stress. “The funding provided to support our farmers and help them access important mental health programs...
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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on September 21, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest 8 million in seven international development projects on four continents to support U.S. government priorities including promoting climate-smart agriculture, facilitating trade, and addressing the root causes of migration in Central America. The funds are being awarded under the Food for Progress Program, through which USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service partners with non-governmental organizations and foreign governments on projects that help developing countries strengthen their agricultural systems and boost their trade capacity. This year’s awards are part of the billion investment to strengthen global...
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The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship. Ten scholarships of [post_excerpt],500 each will be awarded to outstanding students pursuing careers in the beef industry. Introduced in 1989 and sponsored by CME Group, the scholarship identifies and encourages talented students who play a vital role in the future of food production. Students studying education, communication, production, research, or other areas related to the beef industry are eligible to apply for the annual scholarship program. “We are extremely pleased to continue our decades-long collaboration with the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and NCBA to support and...
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At the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Annual Meeting (NDSDA) on September 29, NASDA members elected the next cohort of officers for 2022-2023. Wyoming Director of Agriculture Doug Miyamoto will serve as NASDA’s 2022-2023 President and will host the 2023 NASDA Annual Meeting in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on September 11-13, 2023. “I am honored to continue serving NASDA in this new role,” Miyamoto said. “It has always been a privilege to collaborate with the commissioners, secretaries, and directors of state departments of agriculture as well as other leaders in the agricultural industry as we take on critical opportunities and...
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The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) acknowledged two employees for their long-time service to the state’s livestock industry during a special awards ceremony at the NDSA’s 93rd Annual Convention & Trade Show in Bismarck, North Dakota. Jeff Bowman of Montpelier, North Dakota, was recognized for ten years of service to the NDSA as a full-time brand inspector. Bowman currently works as the inspector-in-charge at Aberdeen Livestock in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Hub City Livestock, also in Aberdeen, and Sisseton Livestock in Sisseton, South Dakota. He has previously worked as the inspector-in-charge at Wishek Livestock Sales in Wishek, North Dakota, and Edgeley...
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Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) members and staff traveled to Washington D.C. September 18-20, for the LMA D.C. Fly In. This was the first LMA D.C. Fly In hosted by the association since the spring of 2020. Over the course of two days, approximately 50 LMA members and staff met with Senators, U.S. Representatives, Congressional staff people, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials. LMA members advocated for Congress to pass bills that would update an outdated Packers and Stockyards Act rule prohibiting owning both a livestock auction and a packer. This is an antiquated rule that predates the current, transparent...
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On October 6, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to amend H-2A temporary labor certification regulations to protect agricultural workers better, and to update the H-2A application and temporary labor certification process. The final rule will be published in the Federal Register on October 12, 2022. The H-2A program allows employers to address temporary labor needs by employing foreign agricultural workers when there are not sufficient workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available, and when doing, so will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of workers similarly employed in the U.S. After the department...
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“There’s only one way to find out if that was our side-by-side we passed on the way to the Fall Festival,” Banjo said. Bailee jumped in before he could finish his sentence. “INVESTIGATE!” she hollered. He nodded his head. “Exactly,” Banjo said. “With your keen eye and sense for solving mysteries, you might be the next pup patroller in training.” “ Hey!” Tuff snarked. “That’s my gig!” Banjo winked at him. “And I’m a kitten,” Bailee said defensively. “I’m not a pup.” He scruffed the top of her head. “I know, kid,” he said. “It was my way of saying...
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The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center (MCHF & WHC) announced their 15th class of inductions into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. The inductees were chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the general public. Inductees are honored for their notable contributions to the history and culture of Montana. “The Hall of Fame exists to honor those who have made an impact in their part of the state and represent Montana’s authentic heritage for future generations,” DuWayne Wilson, MCHF & WHC president, said. “Our volunteer trustees around Montana vote on nominations that come from the...
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Inflation and fuel prices are at almost record highs. Rolling blackouts in some states are about to become the norm. However, we have seen a tad bit of relief, courtesy of the politically motivated depletion of our Strategic Oil Reserves. Regardless, the price at the pump is still much higher on average across the nation from when President Biden took office on January 20, 2021. These exorbitant prices are affecting all Americans across the proverbial spectrum. According to the New York Federal Reserve, Americans owe 16 TRILLION dollars in household debt for the first time. Countless American families have run...
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Honoring breeders and commercial producers for their service, loyalty, and dedication to the Red Angus breed has long been the tradition of the annual awards banquet held on the final evening of the National Red Angus Convention. The 69th installation of this prestigious event took place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell, Montana, on September 16, and again delivered upon the promise to recognize remarkable producers for their excellence. The awards banquet and meal, featuring steaks from Meyer Natural Angus, highlighted businesses, industry supporters, and ranches that rise to the top of the breed. The John V. Robbins Distinguished...
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Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus Palmeri) has been confirmed in Kidder, Stark, and Williams counties in North Dakota. The findings consisted of a single plant in both Kidder and Williams counties, and two plants in Stark County. The source of these unrelated detections is under investigation. The sites are being scouted and monitored. The findings were confirmed as Palmer Amaranth by the National Agricultural Genotyping Center. “We continue to encourage producers to monitor fields for noxious and invasive weeds, especially Palmer amaranth to prevent it from going to seed,” Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring said. “The public should contact and work with their...
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North Dakota Farm Bureau (NDFB) and North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) announced their joint opposition to an initiated measure that will appear on the November election ballot, limiting the time in office a governor or state legislator can serve. If passed, the constitutional amendment would limit the governor to two, four-year terms in office and state legislators to eight years in the House and eight years in the Senate. Currently, these elected leaders serve four-year terms with no restrictions on length of service. “We felt it important to voice together our concerns about this measure,” NDFU President, Mark Watne said....
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Rozlyn Boon is a three-year-old daughter of Eric and Terra Boon from Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan. Rozlyn enjoys riding her horse Forrest, going to cattle and horse shows, going to dance class, and playing with her friends and cousins. You can find her spending time with her dad and grandpa doing chores or helping picture bulls on her family’s ranch, B-Bar Cattle.
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There continues to be a high percentage of total cattle on feed that are heifers, indicating that the breeding herd will be smaller in 2023 and 2024. The steer and heifer price difference could work to slow some of these placements. Heifer calves are generally discounted relative to steers due to their tendency to finish at lower weights, with lower daily gains, and higher feed conversions. Large price differences provide incentives for heifers to be retained in the herd. This difference varies over time driven by the cattle cycle and seasonally due to the availability of total feeder cattle available...
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A few weeks ago, I attended our county’s annual Farm Bureau dinner and meeting. Many good things came from this meeting: I got to eat a well-prepared steak, I took on a more active role within our county’s Farm Bureau chapter, and I got to visit with a reader about my column. The last item on that list was incredibly insightful, and I’m happy to share this reader’s thoughts with y’all right now. The reader said he noticed a lot of my columns had one common bottom line: advocating for agriculture. However, he said a lot of the ideas I...
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On November 6, 2018, 12 million Californians voted, by a 63-to-37-percent majority, to establish minimum welfare standards for livestock and poultry products – chiefly eggs, pork, and veal – sold in the nation’s most populous state. The initiative, called Proposition 12 (Prop 12), was an emphatic endorsement of two previous actions (one by voters in 2008; the other by the state legislature in 2010) on California animal welfare standards. Their collective effect was to ban California businesses from selling “eggs and uncooked pork and veal” from “animals housed in ways” that did not meet the new state standards. Those standards...
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Last Monday, I plopped down in a living room recliner to skim the news on my smart phone. The trophy wife was chatting on her phone with Meagan, our oldest, who lives in Texas. I was casually eavesdropping on their conversation when suddenly a text of Druann’s words appeared on my screen. With the syllables zipping back and forth from San Angelo at the speed of light, Druann’s digital voice was captured, converted to text, and then posted on my screen. How is that possible? Could there be a digital record of everything I have said or done since I...
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Consumers in Colorado, and across the country for that matter, have likely noticed the rising price of eggs at local grocery stores this year; in fact, according to USDA, retail prices of eggs are up 39.8 percent from August 2021. Among a host of factors, the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) throughout the United States has forced the culling of large numbers of egg-layers; on September 21, Colorado’s largest fresh-egg producer, Morning Fresh Farms (MFF), detected the presence of HPAI in their facility, which houses a flock of over 1.15 million table egg layers, according to an...
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For the first time in over 50 years, the White House hosted a Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health on September 28. The day was spent with various panels discussing the Biden-Harris Administration National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health (National Strategy). President Joe Biden opened the conference by emphasizing the dire need for continued reforms to the U.S. food system and provided a brief summary of the five pillars that make up his National Strategy. Biden commended the “advances in research and medicine [that] have taught us so much more about nutrition and health” which he argued were brought...
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At the beginning of September, Wes and Becky Lupher's family hosted the American Brabant Association Fall Rendezvous at the Lupher Ranch in Mountain View, Wyoming. This two-day annual event is hosted in different parts of the country to allow producers to see other breeders' operations while showcasing the American Brabant breed. American Brabants are working draft horses who are 25-99 percent European Belgian bloodlines. These working horses are known for their calm, willing disposition, which allows them to be adaptive to all types of work including haying, logging, and pulling wagons for feeding livestock and hauling other heavy equipment. Approximately...
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As young ranch horses dot fields, and horsemen dream big for their future, one cannot overemphasize the importance of their steps taken during these early years. Bringing up a young horse requires consideration of many factors, most especially making good choices to support their health and nutrition. Below, Tony Hawkins, DVM, Valley Vet Supply Technical Service Veterinarian, outlined a young horse’s health needs. From strategic deworming and vaccination programs, to hoof health and more – a healthy start is crucial for your young horse. Jyme Nichols, PhD, who is the Stride Animal Health Director of Nutrition, also detailed the appropriate...
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There was a story in the September 29 edition of the Wall Street Journal by Patrick Thomas, titled “Tyson Overhauls Brass as Sales Slow”. Honestly, I had to read this story a couple of times to see if it was really portraying what I thought it was. The story’s headline read, “Tyson Foods Inc. is overhauling its executive ranks as the largest U.S. meat supplier’s costs rise and some sales slow, pressuring the company’s bottom line after two years of soaring margins.” It explained how it recently “shifted executives into new roles heading finance, commercial operations and prepared foods, including...
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Below is a statement from House Agriculture Committee Chairman, David Scott that followed a meeting with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the implementation of the loan modification and discrimination financial assistance provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). “I want to thank Secretary Vilsack for a productive conversation today about how we can continue to support American farmers and ranchers facing economic distress and provide critical assistance to distressed farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners,” Chairman David Scott, said. “This issue is of utmost importance to me, and I will continue to follow up with Secretary Vilsack during their rollout of...
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On September 28, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO, Colin Woodall attended the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to represent U.S. cattle producers who raise the most sustainable beef in the world and provide a nutritious protein to Americans. “The White House has prioritized ending hunger and increasing access to nutritious food and America’s cattle producers are ready to help by providing safe, sustainable, and nutritious protein to the world,” Woodall said. “We will continue to highlight beef’s role as an excellent source of protein for all ages, especially for those Americans lacking iron and other essential...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) released the following statement in response to a Notice to Trade published on September 22, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) related to the Cattle Contracts Library (CCL) pilot program. “The Cattle Contracts Library is designed to be a tool for cattle producers, making information accessible which may, in turn, allow them to capture unrealized value for their livestock,” Ethan Lane, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs, said. “We are pleased to see the pilot program progressing and note the important decision to use the Livestock Mandatory Reporting statutes...
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Jay Bodner, the division administrator for the Montana Department of Livestock Brands Enforcement Division, has been named the 2022 Outstanding Agricultural Leader on behalf of Montana State University’s College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. The public is invited to honor Bodner at a breakfast to be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 22, during the college’s annual Celebrate Agriculture Weekend. The award is given annually to individuals or couples who are engaged and well-respected in the state’s agricultural community. Recipients are those who have impacted many people with their accomplishments, have a lifetime of achievement in agriculture, are...
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The San Diego County Farm Bureau (SDCFB) recently named Neil Nagata, a third generation Oceanside farmer who is a leading agriculture advocate for both growers and farm workers, the 2021 Farmer of the Year. The guest of honor will be celebrated in October at SDCFB’s annual Farmer of the Year event with his family, friends, and the agriculture community. SDCFB annually recognizes special people who support San Diego farming in unique ways. The Farmer of the Year award is presented to an active or retired farmer who has had a positive impact on our industry, is active in the community...
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Last Week... Last week Rascal was on the move and headed toward the Fall Festival, when he was confronted with a roadblock. He soon found out that the roadblock's name is Itchy. However, even though Rascal was more than concerned about the youngsters following him, he was even more worried about what Itchy might bring him, bad luck. Will Rascal’s new sidekick be his lucky charm or a curse he can’t wish away? By the time Rascal made his soliciting rounds to all unsuspecting Fall Festival vendors, he was overjoyed with the prospect of selling out of all his prized...
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There was a time, not so long ago, when I didn’t really grasp the importance of beef exports on the entire beef industry here in the United States. Like some producers, I thought we should sell our beef here in the U.S. However, getting appointed to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) in 2020, and co-chairing its International Marketing Committee, has really opened my eyes. Now, I can clearly see how much the export market adds to the value of U.S. beef by leveraging its unique attributes. By expanding U.S. beef demand and sales internationally, the Beef Checkoff is helping promote...
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This is the time of year when cattle producers are busy marketing their cattle. Although technology has opened up many more options for marketing cattle such as internet live auctions, internet static auctions, drone film, etc., it is kind of tragic that the days of showing the cattle buyer around the ranch are pretty much bygone. I wrote this poem years back when the day the buyer came to see the calves was a big event on the ranch, but it was inspired by Roundup, Montana veterinarian, Dr. Loren Appell who always prescribed wit and wisdom along with veterinary medicine!...
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Tensley Barton, two years old, is the boss at her family’s show cattle operation, Classic Cattle Company in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Tensley loves anything outdoors including moving, feeding, and showing off her calves, especially if it involves a flag, a ride on the three-wheeler, or going to shows to play with all her friends. This little animal lover isn’t afraid to show off her best dance moves any chance she gets!
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I’m going to be honest with y’all, I haven’t paid much attention to ag news lately. The main reason for this is because college football is back, and it’s consumed every one of my social media feeds and emails. I sincerely apologize for my lapse in paying attention to the thing that pays my bills. After the embarrassing loss the Fightin’ Texas Aggies suffered last weekend to APP STATE — an UNRANKED, NON-POWER FIVE TEAM— I’ve realized that maybe I should focus a little more on my livelihood than college football. In the spirit of following this new “news consuming...
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When I picked up my grandkids from school last week, I asked them, “What was the best part of your day?” Without hesitation, they both answered, “Recess and lunch.” I’ve now changed my question to, “Tell me one thing you learned today.” That’s a good question for all of us, especially in the ever-changing field of nutrition. So today, class, we’re going to take a pop quiz on probiotics—a topic that may or may not be familiar. Take your best guess. Probiotics are: a) professional robots b) friendly bugs in your body that do you good c) beneficial bacteria that...
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Because of climate change, Blinker and I will be running via headlamp for the next six months. Blaming climate change for naturally occurring cycles is ludicrous, but doing so makes me feel so woke. As I turned down the last draw, a moving shadow caught my eye. A second look revealed a skunk flagging his tail behind the milkweed a scant two yards to my right. I spun and sprinted back up the trail, whistled for Blinker, and took an alternate trail home. Battling a skunk before daybreak would screw up my morning appointments, and this brings me to skunk...
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Riley Wakefield is an all-around cowboy, and is proving that he is a name to be reckoned with. The O’Neil, Nebraska cowboy, who would tell you that he’s a calf roper, showed up to Pendleton, Oregon not expecting to walk away as the 2022 Pendleton Roundup Steer Wrestling Champion. From the outside looking in, however, his success is no surprise. Riley grew up with a rope in his hand as he and his late brother, Brady, followed their dad, Jim, to Badland Circuit and amateur rodeos across the country. “When my brother and I were growing up, whether we wanted...
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The Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) kicked of its Fall Webinar Series on September 14 with a session titled “The State of the Beef Market.” This series, sponsored by the Colorado Beef Council (CBC), serves as a reintroduction of what the CLA is and the resources they offer. The first session speakers included Todd Inglee, the Executive Director of CLA, Julie Moore, The Director of Nutrition and Education for CBC, and Kate Schultz, a Nutrition and Health Promotion Consultant for CBC. Inglee began the session discussing the Beef Checkoff basics and the purpose of the Checkoff, “Colorado started its own state...
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With rising input costs, unprecedented inflation, and the constant battle with environmental factors, “you sometimes wonder how long people can get by raising cattle, because it's a lifestyle that isn't easy,” Matt Lachenmeier, field representative for Kist Livestock Auction (KLA) in Mandan, North Dakota, said. Despite the fact that “there’s a lot of frustration, a lot of stress,” in the business, Lachenmeier expressed great optimism for successful, fall markets across Reporter Country in light of the pervasive drought conditions seen across the country over the past several years; in particular, he argued that there’s some money to be made for...
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Late Monday afternoon (September 26) Reuters released a story written by Andrew Cullen titled, “U.S. Plans Rule to Protect Livestock Farmers from Company Retaliation.” Cullen explained that, “through its role in the President’s Competition Council, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing regulations to prevent meat companies from retaliating against livestock and poultry farmers who speak out on practices such as price-fixing.” He added that USDA plans to work at the state level to “investigate anticompetitive practices in the agricultural sector that contribute to inflation. The moves aim to increase competition in the highly concentrated meat industry…” I am going...
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New Grant Program Will Spur Competition and Help U.S. Farmers Address Rising Costs USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack announced on September 27 that the Biden-Harris Administration is making 0 million in grants available to increase American-made fertilizer production to spur competition and combat price hikes on U.S. farmers caused by the war in Ukraine. “…USDA is creating a resilient, secure, and sustainable economy, and this support to provide domestic, independent choices for fertilizer supplies is part of that effort,” Vilsack said. “USDA believes in the growth of innovative, local businesses owned and shared by people who can best serve their own...
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As young ranch horses trot fields, and horsemen dream big for their future, one cannot overemphasize the importance of the steps taken during the early years of a horses life. Bringing up a young horse requires consideration of many factors, most especially making good choices to support their health and nutrition. Below, Tony Hawkins, DVM, Valley Vet Supply Technical Service Veterinarian, outlines a young horse’s health needs. From strategic deworming and vaccination programs, to hoof health and more – a healthy start is crucial for your young horse. As is nutrition, Jyme Nichols, Ph.D., Director of Nutrition Stride Animal Health,...
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USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and collaborators from the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) tested how soil disturbance influences the response of U.S. Great Plains rangeland to climate change. The results showed that disturbance and subsequent plant invasion are key factors to consider when predicting the impact of climate change on these ecosystems. Rangelands, the grasslands that we depend on for livestock production, biological diversity, and many other ecosystem services, are being altered by climate change. While researchers have studied these changes, including the influence of rising carbon dioxide and warmer temperatures, the focus has historically been on...
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The Angus Foundation recently launched the Fund the Future program, designed to provide Angus breeders with a new avenue to ensure a bright future for the breed. The initiative gives the breeder a unique and flexible opportunity to give back from their own annual production sale, consignment sale, bull sale, or online genetic sale. Even animals offered through private treaty are eligible. Proceeds will benefit the Angus Fund, which provides unrestricted dollars for the Foundation’s mission of supporting Angus education, youth and research. “It’s inspiring to consider the potential impact of our new Fund the Future program,” Jaclyn Upperman, Angus...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), in partnership with Farm Credit, continues its focus on advancing agricultural innovation by supporting start-up businesses from across the nation. AFBF and Farm Credit announced the ten semi-finalist teams in the 2023 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. “The future of agriculture depends on innovative solutions to the challenges that we’re facing today,” Zippy Duvall, AFBF President, said. “The entrepreneurs behind the start-up companies we’re recognizing are committed to helping rural communities and supporting farmers and ranchers in their mission to provide the food, fuel, and fiber we all rely on.” The competition provides an...
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The American Angus Association welcomes Quanah Gardiner of Ashland, Kansas, as the regional manager for the northwest region of the United States. As a fifth-generation Angus breeder, Gardiner brings industry knowledge and experience to his newly assigned territory. "I am eager to learn how to best assist Angus producers in the western U.S. and help them achieve their goals," Gardiner said. "Beef production in the west may slightly differ from the production environment in the Midwest, however the goal across all production sectors is the same — producing the very best Angus beef in a sustainable environment. In the regional...
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Meristem Crop Performance announced that ag industry veteran, Chris Reat joined their team to expand business opportunities in Texas and across the southern U.S. He will seek to further boost Meristem’s portfolio of innovative solutions into new markets. “We’re growing fast and intent on building an all-star team to help our farm business partners deliver improved ROI (return on investment) to the growers they serve,” Mitch Eviston, Meristem Founder and CEO, said. “We are so pleased to have Chris Reat come aboard and apply his deep experience to serving farmers and dealer-partners.” Reat has an extensive background in sales, account...
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The North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial, backyard flock in Ward County, North Dakota. The detection triggers the suspension of poultry/bird events in Ward and the adjoining counties of Renville, McHenry, McLean, Mountrail, and Burke. Counties still under suspension from the Cass County finding at the end of August include Cass, Traill, Steele, Barnes, Ransom, and Richland. The State Board of Animal Health and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture are working closely with USDA-APHIS and local officials in the response. The premises have been quarantined,...
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“One for me, one for them, one for me, one for them,” Rascal stammered as he lined the crates with his canning delicacies. “Fall Festival here I come.” He grabbed his blond mullet wig, his ‘Garbaldi’ beard, overcoat, and derby hat. Rascal whisked the tarp off the side by side and began loading the crates in the tiny ATV ‘truck-like’ bed. Inside the liner of his overcoat, he had a number ten white envelope, and it was filled with bills. Rascal flipped through the money like he was shuffling cards. “I’m going to be the richest racoon in the west,”...
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Readers Dan and Eileen French shared the following poem they came across, written by 16-year-old Carson Lee. With their submission, they wrote: “The Moose Creek fire in Salmon, ID is the largest burning fire in the U.S., 110,000+ acres, man caused. The 100’s of cattle that were on this allotment have never been mentioned in any of the news articles or how serious this will affect them in the years to come. Wallow Fire By Carson Lee Let’s return the forest to its natural state, trust me boys this will be great! We’ll shut down the loggers and cut back...
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The annual Newell Ram Show & Sale wrapped up its 77th year on September 17. Randy Oliver of Newell, South Dakota judged the show. Winning the Overall Champion Ram was the Rambouillet from Dry Creek Rambouillet, Hot Springs, South Dakota. The Overall Champion Ewe was the Rambouillet from Crawford Rambouillet of Pipestone, Minnesota. James Valley Stock Farm of LaMoure, North Dakota had the Grand Champion Pair of Ewes, and Flying O Sheep of Newell, South Dakota had the Champion Pen of Range Rams. Winning the wool show was a fleece from Rabel, Forbes and McGivney of Kaycee, Wyoming. The Raymond...
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Since I am about to retire from my County Superintendent of School's position at the end of December, I am constantly receiving job offers from people who are concerned that I am going to be bored at home eating bon bons and watching daytime television. I think I will indulge in those activities for the first two days, and then I will start on a lot of projects that have been waiting for me for 40+ years. My colleagues in education feel strongly that I will miss my job and should sign up to substitute teach. I am pretty sure...
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Seven-year-old cowboy, Colton DeGanahl is his family's right-hand man on the ranches in Worland, Wyoming, and Aguila, Arizona. Colton can be found playing with his ranch toys, rodeoing, moving cows, or playing with his younger brothers. Colton plans to be a rancher when he grows up!
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A new poll of registered voters, conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) showed an overwhelming majority of voters—including 86 percent of Democrats, 83 percent of Independents, and 90 percent of Republicans—support the American Beef Labeling Act (S.2716 and H.R.7291) that reinstates mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef. Additionally, an overwhelming majority of voters (77 percent) believed it is important that the beef they purchase was born, raised, and harvested in the United States and an overwhelming majority of voters (74 percent) say they would be more likely to vote for...
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Sometime back I heard, “If Christianity were outlawed, could you be convicted by the way you live?” Think about it. This is happening in America today, but rather than Christians, Attorney General, Merrick Garland is using use the full force and power of the Department of Justice to purge patriots. He is about to be reinforced by 87,000 new IRS agents to help silence opponents of American Marxism. Think this through while I appear to jump to an unrelated subject. When speaking of the rapture in Matthew 24:40, Jesus said, “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall...
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The Angus Foundation recently awarded the Commercial Cattlemen Scholarship to four outstanding youth in the beef industry. This scholarship is unique from others offered by the Angus Foundation as it aims to support students outside of the seedstock industry. To apply, youth and/or their parents/guardians must use Angus genetics in their breeding program. "We’re excited to recognize these four young leaders in the beef industry," Jaclyn Upperman, executive director of the Angus Foundation, said. "We understand the value of young commercial cattlemen who utilize Angus genetics, and we’re happy to support them in furthering their education." Young men and women...
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By almost any measure, 2022 has been a tough year for most. Inflation, war, the growing consequences of climate change, and the widening political divide are just a few of the compounding woes we continue to deal with as harvest and U.S. midterm elections loom. In the middle of this chaos, however, U.S. farmers received remarkably good news. According to estimates released by USDA on September 1, net farm income – what USDA describes as “a broad measure of profits” – for 2022 will rise .3 billion to hit a record 7.7 billion. If accurate, that means U.S. net farm...
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Fed cattle inched forward last week with cattle in the south selling higher, and the north moved up [post_excerpt]. It will be interesting to see what the Cattle on Feed Report shows next Friday. I know a lot of people around the industry are anxiously awaiting this next report. Cattle markets all across the board continue to remain strong and don’t show signs of stopping that trend. But, I did read an “Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy” on whitehouse.gov that was released on September 12, 2022, that was...
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I am aware that some people — for one reason or the other — do not or will not eat leftovers. That would not be our household, even before these crazy days of high food prices. Food waste appears to be a real problem for Americans. We toss an estimated 40 percent of our edible food into the garbage every year. And that’s not just bones and potato peelings. 68 percent of the food that ends up in landfills, instead of doing one's body good, are fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. How can we keep food from going bad before...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), in conjunction with the Public Lands Council (PLC), is now accepting applications for public policy internships in the NCBA Washington, D.C., office for summer 2023. Interns will have the opportunity to engage with NCBA and PLC staff on several fronts, including policy, communications, and membership, and will work closely with the D.C. lobbying and regulatory teams to advance policies important to the beef and sheep industries. Key responsibilities for public policy interns include participating in lobbying efforts, communicating with NCBA and PLC members, reviewing Federal Register notices, participating in meetings with federal agencies, collaborating...
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From now until the end of October, farmers in Reporter Country will be getting their winter wheat crop into the ground. Before planting, farmers must assess their fields and determine what type of seed treatment to use to give their crop the best start. Experts like Tracy Hillenbrand, Regional Seed Treatment and Inoculant Technical Representative for BASF, help farmers understand what seed treatment colorant will be most beneficial to their crop. “It’s my job to make sure people understand that it’s not just a color, there’s a lot that goes into it whether its fungicides, insecticides, biologicals, or inoculants,” Hillenbrand...
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North Dakota farmers and ranchers have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of mother nature for the last two years. Going from severe drought with hundreds of livestock being sold, to a historic blizzard in the spring of 2022, to almost no rain since the middle of June. Tim Erbele, owner of Erbele Cattle and Feed in south-central North Dakota, described it as the “land of extremes.” “In 2021, we had nothing, and my friend up north had even less than nothing, if that’s possible,” Erbele said, referring to the drought conditions in 2021. According to Adnan Akyuz,...
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“We do not need to burden our hardworking farmers and ranchers with onerous regulations and costly permit fees. And that's why adoption of S.1475, the bipartisan Livestock Regulatory Protection Act {of 2021} (LRPA), introduced by Senators {John} Thune (R-SD) and {Krysten} Sinema (D-AZ), is so important,” Scott VanderWal, current American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President and South Dakota Farm Bureau President, said during a Senate Committee hearing on September 7. “This legislation makes clear that investment and innovation are the way forward, not command and control regulations.” The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee convened to evaluate four Clean Air...
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Schools have reopened months after historic flooding in Montana devastated the small town of Gardiner and surrounding Park County, Montana. The start of class not only brings excitement, but also new information about how students' mental health is impacted in rural communities. On Saturday, September 24, and Sunday, September 25, 2022, a youth summit will be with eighty teenagers from Gardiner, Park High, Shields Valley, and Arrowhead Schools to help clinicians and educators better understand new rural mental health findings and how to elevate and magnify the voices of Park County's youth. The event is organized by The Jed Foundation...
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Dr. Wade Shafer, Bozeman, Montana, is a recipient of the 2022 World Simmental-Fleckvieh Federation Golden Book Award, which is the American Simmental Association’s (ASA) highest honor. Selected by the ASA Board of Trustees, recipients of this award are lifelong promoters of the Simmental breed. Shafer was recognized during ASA’s Fall Focus event, on Saturday, August 27, in Roanoke, Virginia. In 2013, Shafer became the sixth executive vice president of the ASA joining Dale Lynch, Don Vaniman, Earl Peterson, Brian Kitchen, and Jerry Lipsey. He has maintained a legacy of management that has enabled the organization to continue its leadership within...
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Modernized Endangered Species Act regulations will be reinstated after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on September 21, that a district court improperly vacated 2019 revisions. The appeals court determined a district court erred by reversing the regulations without determining whether they were actually unlawful. “We appreciate today’s ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals,” Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President, said. “The revisions to the Endangered Species Act protected at risk animals while ensuring farmers could continue feeding America’s families. This ruling doesn’t bring an end to the debate about modernizing the ESA, but it...
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American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President, Zippy Duvall commented on September 15, on the USDA’s selection of pilot projects through its Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. “AFBF congratulates the organizations that were selected for USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. We are pleased that several projects that received support from AFBF and involve state Farm Bureaus were selected to receive funding,” Duvall said "AFBF is proud to be a founding member of the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance, which believes conservation goals should be voluntary and market-driven. We’re pleased that USDA based the program on FACA recommendations, and believe this is a...
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The Grid Master Award, an honor bestowed by the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA), is earned by operations that have successfully combined high-performing Red Angus genetics, skillful feeding, and precise marketing to achieve success in the production of superior beef carcasses. Nolan Woodruff, RAAA commercial marketing specialist, announced the recipients of the 2022 Grid Master Awards at the 69th annual National Red Angus Convention held in September, in Kalispell, Montana. “It is impressive to see the harvest data on the great Red Angus cattle our producers continue to bring to market. Red Angus producers are raising the bar and...
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Forage and cattle management considerations for this fall and into the next year will be the emphasis of a series of meetings planned across the state to help producers make decisions given limited on-farm forage production and high feed costs. “Many producers have already culled and weaned earlier than normal to decrease forage demand and going forward, additional adjustments may be needed for the fall and winter” Sandy Johnson, Kansas-State (K-State) extension beef specialist, said. Forages that have been grown may have issues with high nitrates and prussic acid, which can be deadly if mismanaged. Many may need to use...
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On September 20, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) raised questions on President Biden’s Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy, following its release last week. “We encourage the administration to support the biotechnology innovations already occurring in the cattle industry. Technology like gene editing is critical to improving cattle health and wellbeing, while also helping the U.S. cattle industry demonstrate climate neutrality by 2040. These tools are necessary to build on our legacy as sustainable providers of beef to consumers in the U.S. and around the world,” Don Schiefelbein, NCBA President,...
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The Beef Reproduction Leadership Team presented Jerald Raymond and Dr. Kristina Porter with the Service to Industry Award on August 30 during the Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Symposium (ARSBC) in San Antonio, Texas. This award recognizes the outstanding contributions of individuals working in the artificial insemination (AI) industry toward the application or increased use of AI and estrous synchronization by beef producers. Jerald Raymond, from Menan, Idaho, is currently the Beef Coordinator for Select Sires MidAmerica and has also severed as a beef specialist during his 39-plus year career with Select Sires. In his direct sales role, he...
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The Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) announced the names of the individuals that will participate in the NILE Merit Heifer Program in 2023. After a year of monthly reports, monthly meetings with industry professionals, breeding the heifers, and completion of other requirements, the recipients below will show at the 2023 NILE and then take full ownership of their heifers. Recipient Name — Donor Cade Anderson of Riverton, Wyoming — Haun Cattle Company of Riverton, Wyoming Violet Browning of Livingston, Montana — Klompien Red Angus of Manhattan, Montana Garrett Burkett of Evansville, Wyoming — Sidwell Ranch of Columbus, Montana Hadley Cooper...
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The week of September 15, over 250 Farmers Union (NFU) members from across the country arrived in Washington, DC to advocate for family farmers. Over the course of the week, Farmers Union members attended hundreds of Congressional meetings, met with over a dozen federal agencies, and directly participated in discussions with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, and Commodity Futures Trading Commission chair Rostin Behnam, among other leaders. “This has been an incredibly productive and successful fly-in for Farmers Union. It’s a testament to the passion and interest of our...
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Iowa cattle producer and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) member, Shayne Wiese testified before the House Agriculture Committee regarding the implementation of the conservation title of the “USDA’s voluntary conservation programs have been a great asset to cattle producers,” Wiese testified. “It is important that these programs are implemented in a practical, producer-friendly, and voluntary manner for years to come to ensure that cattle producers will continue to have the ability to do what we do best – produce the world’s safest, most nutritious, abundant, and affordable protein while operating in the most environmentally friendly way possible.” Wiese shared his...
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The theme for the 2023 GROWMARK Essay Contest is: “How can ag cooperatives stay relevant to future generations?” The contest is open to all high school FFA members in the United States. This is the 30th year for the program, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders, to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues affecting agriculture, and understand the unique role of cooperatives. Essays should be submitted online at www.bit.ly/GMKEssay2023. The deadline for all submissions is midnight Central time on October 28. Additional program details have been...
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It was the fundamental fallacy that launched a thousand news articles: Dairy was dying as consumers were switching to plant-based beverages. That was always a lie - but at least from a certain angle, it could be stretched into something that at least somewhat looked like it could be true. After all, U.S. fluid milk consumption (though not dairy overall, a fact that was conveniently ignored) has declined, and plant-based beverage sales were rising. But now even that distortion is no longer true. Retail sales volume of plant-based beverages year-over-year has been negative since February, continuing a trend of flat-to-declining...
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The Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) plans to invest approximately .5 million into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications during fiscal 2023 (FY23), subject to USDA approval. In action at the end of its September 7-8 meeting in Denver, Colorado, the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC) approved Checkoff funding for a total of 13 “Authorization Requests” – or grant proposals – for the fiscal year beginning October 1. The committee, which includes ten producers from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and ten producers from the Federation of State Beef Councils, also recommended full Cattlemen’s...
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Scott Kulbeck has been named executive vice president of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF), the state’s largest general agricultural organization. Kulbeck succeeds John Youngberg who retired from the position in August after 30 years with the organization. Kulbeck grew up west of Big Sandy, Montana where his family raised dryland wheat, barley, and registered Herefords. He graduated from Montana State University in 1994 with a degree in agricultural business and a minor in economics. Kulbeck started with MFBF in July, 1995, first serving as an eastern Montana fieldman and coordinator of the Young Farmers & Ranchers program. He became...
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Troy Boomsma said if someone told him that he would lose a son in a tractor rollover, he would have said that could never happen. But it did. When the Boomsma family lost seven-year-old Jaxon to a farm accident on his grandparents’ farm on Easter Weekend in 2017, Troy Boomsma made it his mission to promote farm safety. His hope is, other families will not experience the same tragedy. “When you go through a tragic accident like this, it changes your family. It changes who you are,” Boomsma explained. Troy and his wife, both grew up on farms. And like...
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Winnett veterinarian, Nancy Belk, DVM, was recently named president of the Montana Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) for the 2022-23 term. Dr. Belk succeeds Cara Voss, DVM, of Dawson Veterinary Clinic in Glendive, Montana, who will now serve as past president on the MVMA Executive Committee. Dr. Belk was born in Wolf Point, Montana, and moved to the Flathead Valley at age three. Regular visits back to the family farm, diversified wheat, and livestock operation near Wolf Point, were major factors in her pursuit of veterinary medicine. Upon graduation from Flathead High School, Dr. Belk attended Montana State University- Bozeman before...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host an educational event on herd management techniques that help increase the quality, yield, and market value of cattle as part of its ongoing outreach conducted by the USDA Cattle and Carcass Training Centers (CCTCs). While anyone can attend the event, it is targeted to producers, feeders, and other stakeholders who want a better understanding of factors that contribute to the market value of cattle, and how these factors can inform marketing and production decisions at the farm, feedlot, and other points in the supply chain. The event will be hosted by West...
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“I got it!” Tuff called. The golden yellow vegetable soared through the air. “S-P-L-A-T!” It missed his paws by centimeters. He looked down at it. “Don’t got it!” he called back. “We only have three more,” Bailee called. “Three more yellow squash?” Tuff asked. “What about those big green football looking ones?” “Butternut squash?” Bailee responded. “ Yah…whatever those are. They were better for practicing my kicking,” Tuff said. “Nope…those are all gone,” Bailee said. Tuff stopped before he asked her to hurl another yellow squash through the air for him to practice his catching. “Really?” he said. “The garden...
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It was such a compliment that about 400 R-CALF USA members and trade show sponsors traveled from far and wide to attend the 23rd annual R-CALF USA convention held in Deadwood, South Dakota. We truly appreciate hosting producer-members from across the nation. Our organization is made up of solid Americans who take it upon themselves to strengthen the cattle industry now and for future generations. R-CALF USA members and convention speakers from both sides of the political aisle gathered in Deadwood to find common ground in cattle and beef industry issues, with the goal of restoring rural prosperity, protecting freedom,...
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From North Dakota State University’s “Agriculture by the Numbers” The 2022 beef export market continued on a record high pace, both on a volume and value basis. The most recent beef export numbers for January through June were released on August 5. The U.S. is the world’s largest exporter of high-quality beef and beef on a value basis. Brazil does export a higher annual volume, but it is low-quality beef. Annual 2021 U.S. beef exports were recorded high at 3.45 billion pounds, up 17 percent from 2020. Exports struggled in 2020 due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The previous record...
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When the bull elk start to bugle and there is a chill in the morning air, I get really homesick for the smell of wood smoke coming from the cook tent. I spent most of two decades cooking in a hunting camp in the Scapegoat Wilderness for the Todd's K Lazy 3, and I have hundreds of great memories of those years. I retired from 25 years of teaching junior high English in the spring of 2006, and I did not start my County Superintendent of Schools position until January of 2007. I worked as a long-term substitute teacher for...
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Emaly Ridl, seven-year-old daughter of Rusty and Alysha Ridl, loves everything Black Angus including caking and singing to them at Ridl Angus in Dickinson, North Dakota. Her favorite time of the year is calving season and enjoys spending the day on the ranch with her dad. Emaly got to show her lamb, Spirt, in the 4-H this year and looks forward to showing a heifer calf in 2023.
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Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I once took a class with a terrible instructor - who hasn’t? It wasn’t that this particular instructor was dull or graded their tests incredibly tough; no, they were perfectly competent in the personal aspect of teaching as well as grading. The issue was they were completely over my head every single time they stepped in front of my class and started talking. Who’s to blame for this problem? You could blame me. I was uninterested in this subject and flat out...
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It’s rare to find one Midwestern academic publicly questioning the economic and environmental impacts of ethanol. It’s even rarer to find four academics – one from a corn state land grant university, three from a leading university in the leading corn-producing state – raising objections to the biofuel and its byproducts that will use one out of every three bushels of corn grown in the U.S. this year. But that’s exactly what the co-hosts of the Iowa-based podcast, “We All Want Clean Water,” offered in the first episode of their second season. It was a 47-minute seminar on how best...
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While building the horse herd for my cattle drive business, I bought a big, black, five-year-old, Quarter Horse gelding from Canada. We tagged him Dudley after the famous Canadian Mountie, and he was a nice one. He quickly made the guest string, and because of his size, he earned the honor of packing the largest cowboys on our client list. He never complained. About the time he reached middle age, I sold the cattle drive business and cavy, to my brother, Dana. I kept Dudley in my personal string, but leased him back to Dana during the summer. Dudley should...
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When seeing others succeed and achieve, it’s easy to think that they must have an endless supply of luck and good fortune, however, that’s rarely the case. Oftentimes, excellence comes with a great amount of passion, dedication, and sacrifice; siblings, David and Anna Vetter of Bennett, Colorado are a force to be reckoned with in the show world, both locally and nationally, not because of luck, but because of their collective dedication to their animals. Most recently, David won Grand Champion Market Lamb at the 2022 Colorado State Fair (CSF) for the second time in his career, and Anna had...
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After two years of building a new Montana Beef Packing Plant outside of Billings, Montana, Blue Creek Marbled Meat Company (Marbled) is now open for business and actively processing cattle. Marbled is a family-owned and operated processing plant by Griffin Land and Cattle, which has been raising Purebred Angus Cattle in Billings since the early 1990’s. For years, Spencer Griffin and his family have raised registered Angus bulls that are sold private treaty to customers looking for high-quality genetics that develop superior carcass, ribeye, and marbling traits. This federally USDA-inspected packing plant is a way for the family to bring...
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Montana livestock-producer groups and two Republican elected officeholders continued their pressure campaign to halt bison grazing on federal lands late last week, asking the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to reconsider its recent approval of grazing leases in north-central Montana. In three separate appeals, the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA), Governer Greg Gianforte, and Attorney General Austin Knudsen asked the BLM to reverse its July 28 decision to approve American Prairie Reserve’s (APR) application to lease 63,000 acres of BLM-administered land in Phillips County. The appeals could slow the APR’s effort to grow its conservation herd of bison as part of...
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Like I mentioned last week, I really expected the fed cattle market to take off after Labor Day Weekend due to the strong beef movement and demand over the official last big weekend of grilling season. Well, it didn’t happen. The market actually struggled to stay in the “steady” category. This was not because the packers were not in the market last week, they were and purchased a pretty good number of cattle. They were just not going to give more last week. Some feeders definitely held out in the week for higher money than when they initially bid, but...
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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) continued urging agreement between rail carriers and labor groups to avoid an economically catastrophic rail strike and again asks Congress to intervene. “Nine out of the twelve labor unions have come to tentative agreements with the rail carriers, which is great news, but we are getting down to the wire,” Corey Rosenbusch,, TFI President and CEO, said. “Tomorrow is the last day Congress has to step in and avoid what would be an absolutely devasting strike that farmers and consumers cannot afford.” The production and movement of fertilizer is heavily dependent on rail, both for finished...
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On September 14, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)President, Zippy Duvall commented on the possibility of a railway union strike: “An extended rail strike would have cascading effects on farmers and ranchers, and the best solution for agriculture and the U.S. economy is to avoid a strike entirely. There is no real substitute for moving agricultural goods, as trucks can only move a small percentage of grain and other products typically transported by rail, and river transport is only an option for certain geographic areas. A rail strike now would reverse the supply chain improvements achieved in the past year and...
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Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to postpone its hasty decision to cut in half the flow rates out of Fort Peck Dam for a month and protect the northeast Montana sugar beet harvest. In a letter sent on September 14 to Colonel Mark Himes, USACE Commander and Engineer for the Omaha District, Attorney General Knudsen explained how the USACE’s decision to cut flow rates from 8,000 cubic feet per second to 4,000 cubic feet per second by September 17 comes at a terrible time for sugar beet production in northeast Montana...
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The North Dakota State Board of Animal Health amended the statewide suspension of poultry/bird events. Effective immediately, following the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), comingling events such as poultry and bird shows, sales, and swaps are prohibited in the affected county and adjoining counties. Currently, the restricted counties are Cass and the adjoining counties of Traill, Steele, Barnes, Ransom, and Richland due to the case detected last month in Cass. If no new cases emerge in 30 days after the detection, the suspension will be automatically lifted for that area. Those in non-restricted counties may again hold poultry...
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Beef enthusiasts ages 14 to 20 are invited to attend the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA) Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit October 20-22 — Teacher’s Convention break — at the DoubleTree by Hilton in West Fargo, North Dakota. The Summit is a high-energy leadership development and career exploration event for students interested in agriculture, leadership, and making connections to propel them on their educational and career journeys. “The NDSA recognizes the importance of educational youth activities and is excited to offer the Summit for a fifth time to students with an interest in the beef industry,” Jade Koski, NDSA...
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Red Angus juniors took the red dirt by storm at the 2022 North American Junior Red Angus Event (NAHRA), held in Chickasha, Oklahoma, June 18-25. Juniors were successful in the show ring and in the many contests held during the week. “We appreciate the opportunity to support the 2022 NAJRAE as our National Junior Red Angus Show. With more than 300 Junior Red Angus members involved in NAJRAE activities, contests, and shows, it’s exciting to see the momentum in the breed. We truly appreciate all the volunteers and parents that invest in juniors through NAJRAE to create experiences with Red...
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Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring stated that applications are now being accepted for reimbursement of organic certification costs through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program for the fiscal year 2022. “Organic farmers, ranchers, processors, and handlers can receive up to 0 of the organic certification costs paid between October 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022,” Goehring said. Certification assures consumers that products are produced by recognized organic methods. Certification enables organic producers and processors to label and sell their products with a federal organic seal. Such products typically command a higher price in the marketplace. Applicants must provide a 2022 cost...
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The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) received a 0,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve access to local foods in schools by developing a stronger and more sustainable Farm to School program in the state. “The enhanced Farm to School program will increase the amount of locally produced foods served through child nutrition programs,” Doug Goehring, Agriculture Commissioner, said. “Serving North Dakota food products grown by our farmers and ranchers and processed by local businesses will also help children learn how their food is raised and produced.” As part of the grant, NDDA will conduct...
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Summer droughts. Limited resources. Only the most resilient cattle make it through such harsh challenges. Roy Lee Criswell of Pep, New Mexico, trusts Hereford-cross cattle to do their best. "These Hereford Bulls on these black cows, getting that F1 cross, is putting more feed efficiency along with more hybrid vigor into these calves," Criswell said. "The longevity of these bulls is in their feet. They don't break down. Out here in this desert country, they've got to have good feet to be able to travel. Getting on top of these cows and coming off on these rocks, we need these...
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For “Providing education and encouragement with self-sacrifice resulting in positive change on the landscape,” Understanding Ag, LLC, will be inducted into the International Green Industry Hall of Fame (IGIHOF). The goal of IGIHOF is to promote excellence in ecological sustainability worldwide. IGIHOF’s mission is to recognize individuals and organizations for outstanding achievements in green industry. Induction ceremonies are held at various locations all over the world each year and will be held virtually once again this year. Understanding Ag, co-founded by Ray Archuleta, Gabe Brown, Shane New, and Allen Williams, Ph.D., is a regenerative agriculture consulting firm whose regenerative farmer-consultants...
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Montana State University’s (MSU) Steer-A-Year program is seeking donations of steers, feed, and financial support for the 2022-23 academic year. Steer-A-Year is a student program in MSU’s College of Agriculture that combines academic courses with hands-on and technical experience while incorporating multiple aspects of raising cattle. Students spend the academic year feeding and managing steers, caring for them through the winter and spring, collecting data on feed efficiency and weight gain, and studying livestock marketing. “Steer-A-Year is a valuable program for our students, as it gives them hands-on experience of raising cattle as well as proper preparation for their future...
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Amid nearly nine months of silence from the Biden administration on Montana’s petition to delist the recovered grizzly bear in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, Governor Greg Gianforte recently blasted U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for its proposed rulemaking associated with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The FWS’ proposed change would allow endangered species to be reintroduced into ecosystems outside their historic ranges. In a public comment to a senior FWS official, Governor Gianforte provided six arguments detailing deficiencies in the FWS proposal and called on the agency to withdraw it. The governor asserted the proposed rule changes exceed...
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The shiny brass buttons resonated against the morning sun as Mr. Fogarity secured them. “He looks so regal,” Pudge said. “It’s his uniform,” Rufus stated. Mr. Fogarity dusted off his shoulder and pulled at the base of the jacket. “He’s marching in the parade,” Banjo explained. Bailee edged from behind her mama’s back paw. “Why?” she asked. “To commemorate this week. We have lots to celebrate for our freedoms and opportunities to live and work as we choose, and to remember those heroes who gave all for our country in times of war and violence on our domestic soil.” “Oh,”...
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Anyone around agriculture is constantly bombarded by a plethora of fragrant odors which disgust some folks more than others. I have developed what I call The P.U. test to determine your SOS (sense of smell) index. Rank the following ten smells and then compare them to my correct answers to determine your P.U. index. (I have limited the entrants to smells of biological nature, because I didn't want to make this column any more gross than it already is.) 10. A horse stable - In high school, my friend Rob had to clean his family's horse stables on a daily...
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It’s no secret that we are in challenging times right now. Inflation is unsettling the economy, droughts and floods are causing havoc throughout the U.S., supply-chain issues and other lingering impacts from COVID-19 have no doubt caused many Americans – beef producers included – to have to reassess their business, financial, and personal decisions. Organizations are not insulated from this, and in fact, find it more necessary than ever to take a hard look at themselves. Here at Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), we strive for constant evolution and change, especially when it leads to more effective and efficient programs. That...
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The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, alongside crucial conservation partners, invested over .5 million in aquatic and terrestrial habitat projects in 2021. The projects are valuable for conserving and growing populations of more than 800 species in Wyoming. Game and Fish recently released the 2021 Statewide Habitat Plan (SHP) Annual Report highlighting diverse project accomplishments throughout the state. Game and Fish allocated more than .5 million for habitat projects and leveraged that for more than million from the Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resources Trust fund, federal government funds, state funds, private landowners, and local conservation partners. That is equivalent to...
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The annual Red Angus Foundation Inc. (RAFI) fundraising auction will be held Thursday, September 15 during the National Red Angus Convention to be held September 14-16 in Kalispell, Montana. A featured auction item will be a "Pick of the Herd" from the Feddes Red Angus herd. The Feddes family has graciously donated the pick of their 2021 and 2022 heifers. The Feddes Red Angus, based in Manhattan, Montana, has been in the cattle business for more than 75 years, and has bred Red Angus for the past three decades. By using balanced-trait sires in AI and ET programs, they have...
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On Saturday, August 20, the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame (MCHF) celebrated its third “Saddle of Honor” presentation with the award going to Montana Cowboy Cartoonist, Wally Badgett. Badgett’s pen name, M.C. Tin Star, became the backbone for his popular syndicated cowboy cartoon, “Earl.” The presentation was part of The Russell and Great Western Art Rendezvous held at the ExpoPark Fairgrounds in Great Falls, Montana. Badgett, who hails from Miles City, Montana received a bronze sculpture – the last bronze created by the late Jay Joseph Contway. The bronze is a replica of Russell’s historic saddle and serves as a...
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Abe Greenslade, seven-year-old son of Tim and Ruth Greenslade, works with his 4-H calf, Kayla, at his Grandpa and Grandma Dave and Ann Neil's farm at Pine Island, Minnesota.
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Everyone can remember where they were and what they were doing on September 11, 2001. I was ironing my shirt to wear to school that morning and feeding the kids their breakfast when on the radio it said that a plane had crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Center. In my mind, I envisioned a little airplane slamming into a big building killing the pilot and others onboard. As we hustled out the door to school, I did not have time to think much about it until I arrived at school and all the staff members...
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On September 7, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) urged the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to approve the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act. “American cattle producers’ commitment to reducing their environmental footprint while simultaneously improving efficiency makes our farms and ranches the most sustainable in the world. Unfortunately, overregulation and excessive permitting would jeopardize the cattle industry’s progress towards greater sustainability,” Mary-Thomas Hart, NCBA Chief Counsel, said. “NCBA strongly supports the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act, which protects farmers and ranchers from onerous regulation. We thank Senators John Thune (R-SD), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), John Boozman (R-AR), and Mark Kelly...
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It’s been a while since the vegan, animal rights, and anti-ag Facebook groups I’m in have lit up with a good debate. However, yesterday, one group, in particular, lit up like the Griswold house on National Lampoon Christmas Vacation; and boy did I grab a giant bucket of popcorn to sit back and watch the show… Shannen Michaela is a popular Instagrammer who was vegan and is now a meat eater. She speaks out about what she believes in and often documents herself eating raw meat such as beef liver. Granted, I don’t like to eat raw liver myself, but...
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Quality rams and ewes from across the Big Sky State will gather in Miles City, Montana next week. The 9th Annual Montana Ewe Sale and 97th Annual Montana Ram Sale will take place September 14 and 15, at the Eastern Montana Fairgrounds. Kyle Shobe, of Lewistown Livestock, Inc, is overseeing sale management, and Frontier Productions will handle the online sale. Find all sale details, catalogs, and directions to register to bid online at MTSHEEP.ORG or FrontierLiveSale.com. The fun will start on Wednesday, September 14, with the MSU Extension education program, in the ram pens at 10:00 a.m. The seminar will...
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One certain way to raise my agricultural bona fides among farming friends was to casually mention my upbringing on a 100-cow, southern Illinois dairy farm. “Oh,” they would say reverently, “that’s real work.” Yes, it was, but mostly for my father who began his farming career milking cows by hand in 1950 and ended it in 1989 in a double-six herringbone parlor complete with glass weigh jars, glass pipelines, and a spotless, stainless steel 1,000-gallon bulk tank. Across those nearly 14,500 early mornings, long days, and late evenings, Dad saw thousands of cows, a couple dozen hired men, and five...
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Three college classes landed me where I am today. Solid core classes like calculus, accounting, organic chemistry, and quantitative analysis trained the logic centers of my brain but their impact was more subtle than my big three. Number one was a freshman-level drafting class taught in the engineering college at the University of Wyoming. The instructor said this single class could make you employable by the end of the semester. Even though I never received payment for running a mechanical pencil and T-square, for over 47 years I have designed and built three houses, one barn, and a veterinary clinic....
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On September 19, 2001, just eight days after the horrendous terrorist attacks against the United States, David Letterman, and the Late Show returned to the air to address the nation. In what many regard as one of the most influential monologues in recent times, Letterman not only attempted to put into words the grief and the pain associated with the attacks, but to illustrate the great acts of heroism that many demonstrated and the spirit of our nation. Letterman teared up as he explained how the events of 9/11 touched the lives of all Americans as he told of the...
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Inflation continues to challenge ranchers as they try to make ends meet, and predators continue to add to their input costs as they stress and kill cattle; ranchers in Oregon are the prime example as wolves and legislation work against them. Oregon is split where three-quarters of the state is listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as of February 10, and the other quarter, the northeastern corner, is part of the Northern Rocky Mountain Distinct Population Segment (DPS), where wolves are not listed under ESA. Although they are not listed as an endangered species, that specific area is still...
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The Jefferson County Rodeo was held in Boulder, Montana August 25-28. The rodeo is held each year in conjunction with the Jefferson County Fair. Celebrating its 38 year running, it is still considered a “young” rodeo compared to many of the other rodeos in the area. “Most neighbors are 70-100 years old, so we’re kind of young,” Brady Nordahl, the Jefferson County Rodeo Association (JCRA) president of the rodeo committee, said. Nordahl is one of the association’s youngest presidents as well as being their first female president. The rodeo is held at the Jefferson County Recreation Park – established in...
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The fed cattle market dropped back to last week. This was certainly not surprising as the packers had already made their big push to stock up for the last big grilling weekend of the year. Some feeders went ahead and sold cattle last week at lower money, but the majority of feeders turned down the bids and decided to wait for this week. Beef movement is usually very strong over Labor Day Weekend and weekly estimated slaughter came in at 638,000 head, 17,000 higher than the same week a year ago, so I would venture to say the...
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For the last 93 years, the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) has been uniting, protecting, promoting, educating, and serving North Dakota’s beef industry. NDSA members will be celebrating the organization’s achievements, selecting new leaders, and re-committing to “All In” support of the beef cattle industry during the NDSA Annual Convention & Trade Show on September 22-24 at the Bismarck Hotel and Conference Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. NDSA Board of Directors will be gathering for its quarterly meeting at the Bismarck Hotel and Conference Center with Cattlemen’s Education Series will follow. The Cattlemen’s Education Series, a stockmanship and cattle-handling workshop,...
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Members of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Jackson Region stocked 750 Snake River cutthroat trout back into Mystery Lake in the Teton Wilderness. The five-inch fish were packed into the remote lake on horseback, which is approximately five miles north of Brooks Lake near Togwotee Pass. The stocking of the fish is the final step in restoring the lake to its native Snake River cutthroat trout. The restoration project began in 2016 with the removal of all non-native fish, primarily rainbow trout. The lake is in the upper Cub Creek drainage, a tributary to the South Fork of the...
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On August 25, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Elko District, Wells Field Office and Ely District, Bristlecone Field Office concluded the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Triple B Complex wild horse gather in Elko and White Pine counties, about 60 miles north of Ely, Nevada. The BLM gathered 1,897 excess wild horses from public lands. The BLM will treat up to 50 mares with the population suppression vaccine GonaCon-Equine and release them back into the Complex. In addition, the BLM will release up to 50 stallions back into the Complex. If you would like to view the release of the...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awarded a total of .9 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding. The FY 2022 non-competitive awards were made to the departments of agriculture in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The SCBGP funding supports farmers growing specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. USDA plans to strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets, ensuring an abundant, affordable supply of highly nutritious fruits, vegetables,...
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Farmers, ranchers, and local food processors can learn strategies for growing and selling their products to school districts at the Montana Farm to School producer training this September. The Montana Team Nutrition Program at Montana State University (MSU), the Montana Office of Public Instruction, and project partners are offering two trainings this fall, the first beginning September 15 and the second date to be announced later. The trainings are free with registration. Each is divided into three sessions over three weeks with different content each week, and it is intended that individuals will attend all three sessions. Two of the...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has awarded over million in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding to Montana. This USDA grant will help the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the state and support specialty crop growers through marketing, education, and research. “USDA applauds Montana’s continued commitment to supporting our nation’s producers of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, said....
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Thomson Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of linear motion control solutions, is among the industry sponsors of the 25th annual American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) ¼ Scale Tractor Student Design Competition (IQS). This year, 24 universities from the U.S. and Canada fielded design teams. As a silver sponsor, Thomson contributed to the operation of the five-day event, which was held at the Expo Gardens Fairgrounds in Peoria, Illinois. Through involvement in the competition, students gain practical experience in the design of drive train systems, tractor performance, manufacturing processes, analysis of tractive forces, weight transfer, and strength of...
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Nutra-Lix, Inc. a beef supplement manufacturer based out of Billings, Montana, hosted their many regional dealerships at their annual Dealer Sales Meeting – “The Benefit of Performance! Get More”. The three-day conference includes speakers ranging from beef industry experts to motivational speakers. Nutra-Lix, Inc. also uses this gathering to recognize dealerships that excelled in sales from the previous year. Nutra-Lix, Inc. recognized those dealerships at the awards luncheon on Tuesday, August 23 where winners of the top tonnage awards received custom Gist silver belt buckles. Those winners include the Top Liquid Tonnage to Lindskov Ranches in Isabel, South Dakota owned...
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Governor Greg Gianforte appealed the Biden administration’s approval of the American Prairie Reserve’s (APR) bison grazing proposal for 63,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in northeast Montana. The federal decision comes despite significant opposition from impacted communities and elected officials in Montana. In an appeal to the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), the governor outlined reasons the BLM’s decision must be reversed and the permits set aside. First and most importantly, the governor argues BLM lacks the authority to issue the permit. “Regardless of whether BLM labels the herd ‘indigenous animals,’ ‘indigenous livestock,’ ‘domestic indigenous animals,’ or...
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The U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) has earned Silver Level Equivalence when benchmarked with the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform)’s Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) 3.0, a major takeaway from Soy Connext, the global soy summit hosted by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), with support from the soy checkoff. After two days of expert speakers and connection building in San Diego, more than 600 buyers and sellers of U.S. Soy left with a better understanding of the value and advantages delivered by the U.S. soybean industry. “We’re so glad to have had the opportunity to come together in...
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A research team led by a Penn State plant scientist has received a 0,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to study the functions of key plant genes responsible for regulating the acquisition and use of nitrogen and phosphorus in corn hybrids. Ruairidh Sawers, assistant professor of plant abiotic stress, and colleagues in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will collaborate with the research group of Stephen Moose, a crop scientist at the University of Illinois, to learn why some corn varieties are better at acquiring and using nitrogen and phosphorus...
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To be continued… Last week a mayhem-making bear was running amok on Mr. Fogarity’s ranch. Banjo and his crew were on the move to help their neighboring friends, but how will they ever contain a grizzly bear running rampant on Rufus and Moose’s ranch? “Hey! Hey!” Moose hollered. “CLANG! BANG!” went the last standing trash can. Banjo and his crew had just rounded the barn’s back corner to see Moose duck. The silver trash can narrowly escape scathing the side of his long ears. “Now just calm down,” Moose said. “They’re mine!” the bear growled. “I found ‘em and they’re...
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I was the announcer for a large video livestock auction for over 20 years until my health made it impossible for me to continue. About twice a year, we sold cattle for several grazing associations. These were usually a group of ranchers who commingled their calves to run on big BLM allotments. Not having the facilities to wean their calves and background them for 45 or 60 days like the buyers preferred, they sold the balling calves right off the cow. That was strike one against the cattle to begin with. Putting a heavy sort on the cattle to separate...
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American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)President, Zippy Duvall commented on August 24 on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision to overturn a lower court’s ruling that prohibited AFBF from defending the delisting of the gray wolf in the case Defenders of Wildlife v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. With this reversal, AFBF will be allowed to appeal a decision from the same lower court that vacated the delisting of the gray wolf. “AFBF appreciates the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for recognizing agriculture’s interest in defending the delisting of the gray wolf. Farmers and ranchers share the goal of a...
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Zane Craft, a five-year-old cowboy from Sheridan, Wyoming, enjoys spending time with his family on the Karrels Cattle Co. Ranch in Broadus, Montana, going trucking with his dad Ben Craft, playing with his dog Gus, rodeoing, and playing the occasional video game. Zane can't decide what he wants to be when he grows up, but he will either be a cow truck driver, a video game designer, or a cowboy!
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For many years, my husband has been saying that he was not going to own a cow when he was 65 years old. His sixty-fifth birthday is looming, yet I have heard nothing about dispersing our cow herd. Of course, there are a couple of auctions this week, but I don't think we could get them in and get trucks lined up that quickly, so I guess we are going to remain in the cow business after all. Still, it is interesting to think about what our lives would be like without cows. As I thought about it, I came...
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Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) has filed an appeal against the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) decision regarding American Prairie’s grazing allotments. In partnership with North and South Phillips Grazing Districts and under the counsel of the Budd-Falen Law Offices, LLC, MSGA appealed the recent decision and requested a stay on this decision. “Although we have filed the appeal, we still have a long road ahead. We are asking everyone who is concerned about BLM’s favorable decision towards the APR and who is passionate about public land grazing, holding federal agencies accountable, and protecting and conserving Montana’s iconic open spaces to...
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“Definition of the Mandala Effect: The Mandela effect is a type of false memory that occurs when many different people incorrectly remember the same thing. It refers to a widespread false memory that Nelson Mandela, South African human rights activist, and eventual president, died in prison in the 1980s.” – Medical News Today If I had a dollar for every time I’ve written or said some statement about using good, valid sources in this column or while public speaking, I’d be able to purchase a brand-new pickup, an accompanying horse trailer, and a new Polaris Ranger to run around in....
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Two groups – one of South Dakota investors, the other tied to Texas cattle ranchers and feeders – are preparing to spend a collective [post_excerpt].8 billion on two meatpacking plants that they say will be so innovative each will pay cattle suppliers more for their cattle and bison than any of today’s Big Four packers. Most meatpacker pros, however, think both projects are all hat and no cattle. Why? Because one of the oldest stories in cow country is how big, bad packers ride roughshod over regional and local cattle markets to acquire an unfair share of the beef dollar...
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We knew it was going to be a long morning gathering, sorting, and conditioning cattle. So, I threw some water and snacks into our cooler as we headed out. Good thing. Our work crew had as many young children as adults. And while they were all on their horses bright and early to help us gather the big pasture, these mini-hands mysteriously disappeared as the sorting and chute work began. Until they got hungry. I recently came upon research from Cornell University that explored how young people define the word “snack.” They found (at least among teens in New York...
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Last weekend, the trophy wife and I were installing new electrical service wires between the power pole and the barn. We previously buried the conduit, but I widened the trench at the pole with my backhoe and left the diesel engine idling while we snaked the wire through the conduit. I dropped into the trench at the barn with the trophy wife at the pole and because we barely had enough wire, it was imperative any extra be shifted to her side. I shoved the wire through and hollered, asking Druann how much she had on her end. I heard...
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The market for livestock can be the most confusing part of the industry. Most people talk about the pieces that play into daily market activity. These include corn prices, freight cost, and futures, although economists take a different approach to where the driving forces are in the market. In 2021, Nathan Miller, a professor at Georgetown University and an economic analyst for antitrust investigations; Francisco Garrido, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), Minji Jim, Georgetown University; and Mathew Weinberg, Ohio State University, received a grant to “study oligopsony* power in cattle markets by quantifying the market power of the packers,...
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Before her own daughters were even old enough to be involved in 4-H, Teresa Johnson began helping in her local 4-H horse project. Now 38 years of being a 4-H leader and 12 years as the 4-H event coordinator for Weld County, Johnson has nourished one of the most successful 4-H horse programs in Colorado and impacted hundreds of youths’ lives. With 92 participants in the horse program this year, there is a wide range of participation. “We have a good program to start kids off in. We offer a lot of hands-on events,” Johnson said. Although some kids involved...
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The Ultimate Stockmanship Challenge (the Challenge) was held July 9 and 10 at the Pincher Creek Rodeo Grounds in Alberta, Canada. The first competition of its kind, this event was hosted by Malcolm and Jenny MacLean and held in conjunction with an all-day stockmanship school by Whit Hibbard and Dawn Hnatow, who were also judges for the Challenge. Of the competition’s 11 contestants, three of the top performers attended Hubbard and Hnatow’s school, which focused on the fundamentals of low-stress livestock handling. There were 23 people who attended the stockmanship school, which was an introduction to low-stress livestock handling methods...
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If you take care of the soil, it will take care of you, fourth-generation Wessington Springs farmer, Dick Kolousek explained. “The more we can do to keep the soil productive, the more the soil will produce – even in dry years,” Dick said during a Soil Health Tour held on his family farm and hosted by South Dakota Farmers Union and South Dakota Soil Health Coalition. Dick raises crops and cattle together with his son, Scott. Scott said although soil health has always been something he and Dick considered - the farm has been no-till for more than 20 years...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) wrapped up a two-day field day in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). Over 50 participants from MSGA, USFS, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Governor Gianforte’s Office, FWP, Montana Department of Livestock, and Department of Natural Resources and Conservation participated in the two-day event hosted at the Wall Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) outside of Ennis, Montana. “There is nothing more valuable than bringing partners together to have an in-person dialogue about the successes and challenges facing ranchers who have livestock that graze...
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The North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial, backyard flock in Cass County, North Dakota. The detection triggers the suspension of poultry/bird events across the state. If no new cases emerge in 30 days, the suspension will be automatically lifted. The State Board of Animal Health and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture are working closely with USDA-APHIS and local officials in the response. The premises have been quarantined and the flock is being depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will...
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The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is accepting applications for the annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program. Established in 2007, the scholarship recognizes outstanding graduate students pursuing careers in meat science and animal agriculture. Two ,000 grants are awarded to graduate students who demonstrate superior achievement in academics and leadership and are committed to the advancement of the beef industry. Graduate students must apply online by submitting a cover letter, curriculum vitae, description of the applicant’s goals and experience, a short essay, statement of belief in the industry, as well as a review of the applicant’s graduate research and three letters of...
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Governor Mark Gordon has announced that Wyoming is taking legal action to protect the oil and gas industry. To do that the State has filed a motion to intervene in a pair of cases that were filed by a coalition of advocacy groups seeking to challenge the June 2022 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oil and gas lease sale. Wyoming is joining the BLM and other states to defend the lease sale. The coalition of advocacy groups alleges that the Bureau’s lease sale violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). In its opposition filings,...
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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) submitted comments in support of the agency’s proposed rule, “Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments.” R-CALF USA asks the agency to use the rulemaking process to lay the foundation for unwinding the horizontally and vertically integrated poultry industry that is, in the ranch group’s view, a failed poultry production model that jeopardizes America’s food security. The group described the current poultry industry as a highly concentrated, centralized, and horizontally/vertically integrated poultry production model that is incapable of withstanding either market or environmental shocks. Citing news reports, the group says the poultry industry’s concentration and...
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On Tuesday, September 6, the University of Wyoming (UWYO) Sheridan Research and Extension Center will host an open panel discussion on invasive grass management led by the Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems (IMAGINE). A collaborative statewide effort that brings together a diverse group of partner organizations, IMAGINE’s purpose is to develop long-term strategies for invasive grass management on a landscape scale while empowering local decision-makers. The upcoming summit will provide a venue for these partners to share their work with one another and with the public. The focus will be on treatments, funding options, monitoring, and how...
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The Honey Bee Health Coalition unveiled the eighth Edition of the Tools for Varroa Management Guide. The guide provides information on the latest tools and options for beekeepers in the USA and Canada to keep bees healthy and manage varroa mites, which spread disease within and among honey bee colonies. “As an Apiculture Extension Educator, I often hear from devastated beekeepers who struggle to keep their honey bee colonies healthy and alive. The successful management of varroa mites is critical to keeping honey bees healthy. This guide provides comprehensive information about management options for one of the most serious threats...
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American Prairie announced it will host Métis storyteller, Montana author, and Little Shell Tribe of the Chippewa Indians member Chris La Tray for an in-person event at its National Discovery Center in Lewistown, Montana on September 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. In partnership with Humanities Montana, this Free event is open to the public and will be held at the American Prairie National Discovery Center at 302 W. Main Street in Lewistown, Montana. A reception and “meet and greet,” along with a book signing, will follow La Tray’s presentation. Guests may also view the National Discovery Center’s exhibit space...
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These are not the best of times In America. Our country is in tatters. It feels like the greatest experiment in Democracy the world has ever seen is dying a slow and ugly death. Perhaps it cannot be helped because great societies flare and flame, but their soaring flight has always been fleeting. Sadly, great societies are never born again. But let it be remembered that there was once a time when we could grow our own food, make our own clothes, cars and tools; when the words "Made in USA" meant something. During the throes of World War II...
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A rapidly aging skilled labor force is retiring at epic proportions. Millions of job openings across the country remain unfilled, student debt is at crisis levels, and a national contagion of Political Correctness and Cancel Culture, also known as "Wokeism," is wreaking havoc across our country. What do these have in common? These things, when added together, reveal in stark contrast the misguided direction we as a country have progressively moved towards for the last couple of generations. For far too long, we as a nation have been prioritizing the wrong things. Decisions have put our country, citizens, and families...
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Rhett Hamilton, eight years old, and little brother Stetson Hamilton, five years old, are known to be mean muggin’ Mutton busters! Although Rhett has graduated to riding calves, both boys love the adrenaline rush to ride full time to win checks at the rodeos. The Hamilton boys are sons of Justin and Corissa Hamilton of Richmond, Missouri.
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With the downturn in the economy, it is suddenly fashionable to be frugal. I grew up frugal, because my parents were 40 years old when they got around to having me, so they were children during the Great Depression. I think the definition of frugality has changed a lot as I watch college students head off to college this week. When I went off to college in the fall of 1977, I felt I was well versed in frugality. However, my roommate was the undisputed Queen of Frugality. I can honestly say I could not have drawn a better roommate...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for Perdue’s frozen ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken breast tenders “gluten free” that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically small pieces of clear plastic and blue dye. A recall was not requested because the product is no longer available for purchase. The frozen RTE chicken breast tenders “gluten free” were produced on July 12, 2022. The following product is subject to the public health alert [view labels]: 42 oz. plastic bags containing “PERDUE CHICKEN BREAST TENDERS GLUTEN FREE” with a “Best if Used By:...
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Selective aggression…it’s a term I just learned from social media and BOY; do I love it. I saw a clip of Amala Ekpunobi — a PragerU personality and the host of Unapologetic, a daily live show with monthly specials, exploring the biggest ideas and stories in culture, news, and politics — refer to a group of protestors as being selectively aggressive. Essentially, “selective aggression” is when someone or something chooses what they do and don’t want to be aggressive about. Oddly enough, this is often studied and talked about with dogs, and in a weird way that makes sense. I...
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Long ago when traveling through Europe, a friend developed what he called the “Alan Rule” since I never remembered the Celsius-to-Fahrenheit conversion math: 10 degrees Celsius, wear a coat; 20 degrees, a light jacket; 30 degrees, shirtsleeves. There was no suggestion for 40 degrees because 40 degrees Celsius is a baking 104 degrees Fahrenheit (F), an unheard-of summertime temperature in almost every part of Europe. Until last month, that is, when Europeans from Sweden to Italy and England to Poland sweltered in heat that only a few have experienced in their lifetimes. In mid-July, for example, temperatures in Madrid peaked...
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The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) is reminding producers that use herbicides for pre-harvest desiccation to be mindful of adjacent crops when making their applications. Pre-harvest desiccation refers to an herbicide application that dries the plant and leaves of a crop before harvest. “Take care when applying pre-harvest desiccants to ensure that sensitive adjacent crops are not being affected,” Doug Goehring, NDDA Agriculture Commissioner, said. “It is also important to check the label to make sure the product being used is labeled for desiccation of the crop it is being applied to. Failure to use the correct product at...
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Breakdowns made my tenure in the hay fields particularly frustrating because just when it appeared we were making hay, Murphy would eat a bearing or belt. After a quick parts-run to Sheridan, Wyoming, I would be back to baling hay, but those hours lost were never coming back. My exasperation with mechanical failures made me appreciate my simple summer job shoveling concrete when I was in vet school. My shovel had no bearings or belts, so although my summer was physically demanding, it was breakdown free. Because I no longer run a hay crew and only sporadically shovel concrete, my...
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R-CALF USA hosted their 23rd annual convention this past week in Deadwood, South Dakota. On Friday, August 19, Patrick McGahan, of Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP, gave R-CALF members an update on their Antitrust lawsuit against the Big Four which was originally filed in April of 2019. The lawsuit alleges that the Big Four violated the Sherman Act of 1890 by “conspiring to push down the price of cattle,” McGahan explained. It also accuses the Big Four of violating the Packers and Stockyards Act along with the Commodity Exchange Act. In September of 2021, the Minnesota Federal District Court denied...
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For over 50 years, Mary Beth Ewen has been a familiar face that many look forward to seeing in the beef barn at the Montana State Fair. Generations of beef showmen have come through the barn, but one thing that stays the same is finding Mary Beth at the announcer stand working the beef show. Mary Beth's involvement in the fair goes back much further than those 50 years. In the 1800s, Mary Beth's grandparents homestead on a ranch in Belt, Montana making her a long-time Montana Rancher. Growing up on a ranch, she developed a love for agriculture at...
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Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoof animals such as pigs, sheep, cattle, deer, and goats. FMD has been irradiated in the United States since 1929, but other countries continue to struggle with the disease. Due to the prevalence of international trade and travel, it is a very serious concern for producers as it is one of the most serious diseases in economic terms, however, it is not a food safety nor a public health issue. “An outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease here in the U.S. would have a devastating impact on...
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I received a couple of letters last week that were very encouraging, exciting, and yes, great news for our industry, in my opinion. One was written by Don Schiefelbein, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), and the other was written by Kevin Escobar, Region XI Director for Florida and Georgia of the U.S Cattlemen’s Association (USCA). Before I share the content of the letters with all of you, I want to say upfront how pleased I am with high-ranking members of these two associations coming together and wanting to work together to fight for all of the cattle...
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) to announce assistance for 25 small and rural communities from across the country to identify strategies to grow their outdoor recreation economies and revitalize Main Streets through the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) program. The agencies selected Butte, Montana, and Monte Vista, Colorado to receive the specialized planning assistance. “EPA is proud to provide planning assistance to Butte and Monte Vista to grow our local recreation economy and the businesses that support it,” KC Becker,...
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The fourth annual Calves to Cure Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) will commence at Billings Livestock Commission (BLS) in Billings, Montana on September 15. Calves for a Cure DMD is an All Class Cattle Sale organized by Paul and Laura Heaton of Worden, Montana, whose eight-year-old son Grant Heaton was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the young age of three. According to the c website, “Over the last three years, the event has raised more than K for CureDuchenne” which is a “nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of those affected by Duchenne through accelerating research to find the...
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Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust (WSGLT) has partnered with the Richie family to permanently conserve 2,683 acres of the Richie Ranch Link and Muddy Places near Boulder, Wyoming through an agricultural conservation easement. This is in addition to the conservation easement completed with the Richie family earlier this year, a testament to the landowner’s commitment to protecting the agricultural legacy and conservation values of ranching in Sublette County. “The WWNRT is pleased that we have been able to help another long-time, multi-generational Wyoming family maintain the agricultural heritage and wildlife habitats they have stewarded for more than a century. In...
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Last week…Rascal led the ranch crew and Mr. Fogarity’s basset hounds on a wild goose chase. It led them to the woodworking shed on the Fogarity’s ranch. Does the ranch crew find the ol’ masked bandit and stop him in his tracks of his new plan, or will the masked menace get away, once more? The only items in the woodworking shed were for woodworking. Moose had his nose to the ground in search of the strong scent that carried the ranch crew back to this quaint little place in the forest, just on the outskirts of the Fogarity’s ranch....
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Recently, our health insurance company switched us from an HMO to a PPO, whatever that is. But the medical group my great doctor is a part of doesn't take PPO's, so we were told we had to switch doctors. I told my doctor, "How 'bout if I just pay you in cash or by check out of my own pocket and we forget about the insurance company. I want to keep you as my doctor." Here are his EXACT words in response: "We don't take cash." Can you believe that? During the COVID crisis, my elderly neurologist, who was also...
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Hazer Branham is a six-year-old cowboy from Mountain View, Wyoming, who isn’t afraid to work hard and lives life to the fullest. He enjoys welding with his dad, fishing, coyote hunting, branding, irrigation with Uncle Wes Lupher, hauling hay, and riding his dirt bike. When Hazer grows up, he wants to be a firefighter, a skid steer operator, and a cowboy!
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This week, I will go back to school for the 58th first day of school of my life, and it is bittersweet that this will be my last first day of school. I am retiring this year after 17 first days as a student, 25 first days as a teacher, and 16 first days as an administrator. My hat goes off to all the teachers and other working moms who must hit the ground running every day to keep all of the gears turning. I never had an opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom even though I think I would...
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is offering a ,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for shooting and mortally wounding five wild horses in mid-November 2021 in Jakes Valley, about 30 miles west of Ely, Nevada. “The agency investigates and prosecutes the killings of wild horses as part of the BLM's enforcement of the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971. Our investigation is seeking additional information from the public to identify further leads and ultimately the person(s) responsible. Anyone with information about the incident please contact us,” Michael Mortensen, BLM Criminal...
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The 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show is headed to the Big Easy, and funding is available to offset some costs for producers. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) offers various scholarships and grants to help producers attend CattleCon23, which will be held February 1-3, in New Orleans. “We want everyone to have the opportunity to attend the 2023 Convention,” Don Schiefelbein, NCBA President, said. “These scholarships are perfect for youth, first-timers, and others looking to expand their network at the largest event in the beef cattle business.” Scholarship recipients receive a complimentary Education Package registration and discounted...
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The spring before I moved to College Station to begin my sophomore year of college, I met someone who changed my life forever. It wasn’t a guy (that didn’t happen until AFTER I graduated with my bachelor’s degree and dropped out of grad school); no, it was a girl, Rexanna Powers (Rex), someone who now is one of my greatest friends in the entire world. Rex and I met through a friend of a friend, she was graduating the following December with a B.S. in Ag Communications, and we immediately hit it off. She took me under her wing and...
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In 1970, Paul Samuelson became the first American awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. The honor came to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist because he had “simply rewritten considerable parts of economic theory.” True that. Samuelson had already written what would become the best-selling college textbook on the subject, Economics, - now translated into 45 languages - and soon found success as a magazine columnist, writing about the Dismal Science with both wit and wisdom. A hallmark of his writing was clever wisecracks like the pointedly true “The stock market has predicted nine of the last five...
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Years back, my police officer friend told this tale at hunting camp, but unlike most imaginative campfire stories, this one might be true. It was the proverbial dark and stormy night when a young officer investigated a traffic accident where one car rear-ended another. The official report would have been a one-liner, but the roads were solid ice, but the approaching officer could not stop, and he became the third car in a three-car pileup. Because superiors must investigate any officer-involved incident, dispatch was called. You can imagine the angst the young officer felt while waiting for his higher-up to...
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On the evening of July 14, the rain pounded down on the windshields of four fire trucks and a dozen vehicles in Ucross, Wyoming, as they all waited on one thing. Horns started blaring as the familiar car pulled into sight. Their hometown hero, Wendy Auzqui, was greeted with a celebratory convoy home as she pulled into the county after winning the 2022 Calgary Stampede World Stock Dog Championship with her faithful dog, Quirt. Wendy Auzqui grew up on a ranch in Wyoming, which is where her love for dogs blossomed. “My dad was a horse trainer and a rancher...
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Earlier this year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) launched the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) as part of the “Build Back Better” Initiative (authorized and funded under Section 1001(b)(4) in the American Rescue Plan Act (P.L. 117-2). This is a cooperative agreement that provides federal funding to state governments and federally recognized tribal governments to purchase food “from local and regional producers, targeting purchases from socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.” According to LFPA, the program focuses on three overarching goals: to aid governments in strengthening their local and regional food system;...
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Before the morning sun creeps up in the east over the horizon, cowboy artist, Tom Ford, of Gillette, Wyoming, has his colt saddled and loaded while the two wait together watching the sun chase the night shadows across the Wyoming prairie. Ford looks for the detail that changes as the first light of the morning brings movement across the sage, scrub brush, and pine on some given days. Ford's family moved to Wyoming soon after his birth in Montana and now his roots run deep in Campbell County Wyoming. A Love for Ranching… Even at an early age Ford drew...
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Sure enough, the cash-fed market continued on a roll again last week. Cattle in the South moved up a strong higher, topping out at 0. Feeders held firm with their prices throughout the majority of the week, and packers finally jumped in and started buying cattle on Thursday in the South and Wednesday in the North. Cattle in the North enjoyed excellent movement upward as well with cattle selling up to 9. It seemed like we might see some 0 cattle, but this number did not materialize yet. It looks like this fed cattle market will continue to stay...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced its investment of up to million in partnerships that will expand access to conservation technical assistance for livestock producers and increase the use of conservation practices on grazing lands. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting proposals through its Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) until September 22, 2022. “Privately owned grazing lands cover nearly 30 percent of the national landscape, which means we have a tremendous opportunity to address climate change and conserve natural resources through voluntary, private lands conservation,” Terry Cosby, NRCS Chief, said. “NRCS enlists a wide variety...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and the Montana Public Lands Council (MPLC) shared their members' concerns regarding the Endangered Species Act 10(j) (ESA) proposed rule change by submitting comments in early August. The current ESA 10(j) regulations relating to experimental populations restrict the introduction of an experimental population to only the species’ “historical range.” The proposed rule would eliminate references to species’ “historical range,” broadening the areas where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) may introduce experimental populations, with the justification of the Service believing it will be “increasingly necessary and appropriate to establish experimental populations outside of their...
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District, Bristlecone Field Office has released the final Environmental Assessment (EA) and proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment, signed Finding of No Significant Impact analyzing the sale of one 0.66-acre parcel of public land in White Pine County, Nevada. The 30-day public review and protest period concludes on September 12. The BLM is proposing to amend the 2008 Ely District RMP to identify a specific 0.66-acre parcel for disposal and provide the proposed recipient a patent for the parcel. The proposal meets land sale criteria as described in Section 203 of the Federal...
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Make plans now to attend the 20th annual Women Stepping Forward for Agriculture Conference at the Big Horn Resort, 1801 Majestic Lane, Billings, Montana, October 3-5, 2022. This year’s conference theme is Cheers to 20 Years and will be opened by Montana Lieutenant Governor, Kristen Juras. The agenda is packed with speakers that will deliver information on today’s most relevant agricultural topics: small business development and agritourism, farm and ranch stress and mental health, recordkeeping, human trafficking, and cooking with pulse crops. Attendees will hear from LaDonna Gatlin, a motivational speaker who grew up performing with her brothers, the Gatlin...
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Prevention and preparedness play an essential role in staying safe during the fire season. Dana Jansen, Montana Agricultural Safety Program Director, a volunteer firefighter, and Lavina rancher, said the first step to fire prevention is awareness of potential sources that could start a blaze. She urges people to store highly combustible materials appropriately, with hay, straw, and bedding stored away from buildings and if possible, on areas of bare ground. “Consider multiple hay yard sites to minimize overall risk and impact,” Jansen said. “If you have insured hay, check with your agent distances needed between high stacks.” Ensure access is...
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It only took seconds for Mrs. McBauck and Henrietta to come flailing towards Banjo and his crew when he arrived from his rounds. “If you would’ve been around, you’d have seen the goings on around here,” Henrietta squawked with displeasure. “That raccoon was right here, right here!” Banjo looked dismayed. “Rascal was here? Why we haven’t seen hide nor paw of him since we ran off that fox and opossum,” Banjo said. “Be it as it may, he was here. Lurking, scavenging, and stealing from us!” Henrietta bauwcked. “How do you feel about Grand Theft auto? He stole the side-by-side....
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Over my years of writing this column, many people have told me that they have learned about ranching through reading it. I laugh and explain that would likely be the equivalent of the feeling that one could break a colt because he/she has watched RFDTV horse training shows. Although shows like "Yellowstone" glamorize ranching, there are a lot of ranching tasks that are not very glamorous. This column should effectively debunk the romantic portrayal of cattle ranching... Megan Cremer, who is the sweetest, cutest territory sales rep for Merck Animal Health and happens to be one of my former students,...
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Cutter Crouthamel, six years old, is one of three main ranch hands at Crouthamel Cattle Company, in Touchet, Washington. He enjoys working cattle with his family, taking care of his sheep, playing in the river behind their house, and chopping firewood. Cutter plans to have cows and sheep when he grows up while running a logging business with his big brother.
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If American farmers and ranchers really want to live the oft-repeated boast that they are “the first environmentalists,” then, by golly, Joe Manchin (D-WV) and his Democratic Senate colleagues have the legislative vehicle to prove it. Manchin, the chief monkeywrencher of Democrats' dreams for the last two years, shocked everyone when he and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) agreed on a proposed budget reconciliation bill that includes 9 billion to address climate change. Equally stunning is how much of that money is ticketed for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use on conservation and climate change projects: “Nearly...
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Face masks hinder communication, but texts are worse. Last weekend, my son, Tyler, and I were knocking out a concrete wall in the basement of the house we are renovating. Because a two-stroke concrete saw efficiently turns concrete into dust and noise, we had to communicate using gestures. Given our racket, it is not surprising we missed several texts and phone calls. The trophy wife and Tyler’s trophy wife, Jill, were hauling gravel, and we said to call if things went south. We missed the first text. They were rolling down the highway when the dump trailer’s electronic switch mysteriously...
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Note from the Editor: Nelda Williams, a 98-year-old resident of Arbon, Idaho, submitted a few excerpts from her book, Sod and Nelda: Many Years Gathering, which can be purchased on Amazon. She wrote, “I lost Sod 20 years ago this past November. He hadn’t lived to see the book in print, but it is a story of my early life and the many years spent with my talented husband. He made a name for himself in the Quarter Horse industry as well as the rodeo world, all while building a ranch in the Arbon Valley.” When we left off last...
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Roedy Farrell of Thermopolis, Wyoming, has been rodeoing since he was six years old. Rodeo is his hobby, his job, and his plan for the future. For those who know him, it was no surprise that he won the Wyoming High School Rodeo Association (WHSRA) Bareback Riding title in 2022 as a Junior to qualify for the National High School Final Rodeo (NHSFR) in Gillette, Wyoming. This wasn’t his first time being crowned as the WHSRA Bareback Riding Champion, as Roedy won the title as a freshman in 2020 and took second in 2021 - making him a three-time NHSFR...
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Things have a way of coming full circle, and on Sunday, July 31, Andrea Busby experienced that phenomenon on the biggest, grandest stage of them all: Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD). Though Busby now calls Brock, Texas home, the Lusk, Wyoming native was definitely a hometown hero when she clocked the fastest time at this year’s barrel racing finals. Busby grew up on her family’s ranch, the Bruch Ranch, roughly 140 miles northeast of Cheyenne. She explained that it was on their operation, which was formally established in 1910, that she developed her love for horses and started her journey towards...
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This year, stressors to cattle such as extreme heat and drought have been exceptionally prevalent in many parts of the United States. “[Stress to cattle] is a multifaceted problem. It creates behavioral differences. It creates a lack of efficiency which creates a cost problem, particularly at a time when feed becomes more expensive. . .,” Dr. Dale Woerner, Professor and Cargill Endowed Professor of the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Texas Tech University, stated. Several behavioral and physiological changes occur when an animal is under stress. In extreme heat, animals eat less, yet have a higher energy requirement...
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Maybe, just maybe, we broke out of the summer lows we have been slugging through over the past couple of months. For the first time in a long time, most of the packers were in the cash market needing to buy large numbers of cattle. The North led the way selling cattle a strong higher 0 to 5 and 2 to 7 in the meat. The South was mainly a [post_excerpt] stronger at 5 to 6. This upward movement was muchly needed by the independent cattle feeders around the country. They had been sitting on big numbers of cattle...
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BigIron Auctions announced in early August their agreement to acquire Sullivan Auctioneers LLC — headquartered in Hamilton, Illinois. The agreement, finalized on July 19, will bring more than 300 employees together to serve the needs of the online auction industry across the US. “Our shared philosophies of transparency, trust, and hard work solidified our decision to combine organizations,” Mark Stock, BigIron CEO, said. “Together we are better.” With almost 80 years of combined expertise, BigIron Auctions and Sullivan Auctioneers will continue as a BigIron Company with locations in Omaha, Columbus, and St. Edwards, Nebraska; Hamilton, Illinois; Huntington, Indiana; and Bird...
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As food prices continue to rise, University of Wyoming Extension Nutrition and Food Safety and Educator, Vicki Hayman offers tips on how to shop smart and save money. Increasing food costs are painfully evident on grocery receipts this summer. “For many people, this means you are going to have to spend more for the same amount of groceries or you are going to need to find ways to spend less,” Hayman commented. Successful saving depends on planning, she said. Start by developing a food budget and setting a weekly spending limit. Track actual expenses and adjust the budget as needed. ...
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2022 AGJA Breeder of the Year Congratulations to Alexx Starr, Stapleton, Nebraska, daughter of Scott and Raberta Starr on being named the 2022 American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA) Junior Breeder of the Year. Starr’s family owns and operates Cedar Top Ranch near Stapleton, Nebraska. Starr is active with the daily operation of the ranch by helping care for cows, and check pastures along with the variety of jobs that come with managing an operation of that size. Starr is also actively involved and takes a serious role in making mating decisions each year. She is entrusted with traveling to other...
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The 26th Annual Dakotafest is set to commence on August 16-18 in Mitchel, South Dakota at the Schlaffman farm. This agribusiness event allows for a unique opportunity for “forward-thinking farmers and ranchers” to come together to network and connect with each other and business while having the opportunity to discuss/learn about important trends in the industry to “help grow {their} family business.” “We have approximately 400 exhibitors ready to speak with attendees about all facets of agriculture from planting to harvesting, livestock production, and everything in between,” Niki Jones, Dakotafest Marketing Manager, stated. Attendees will have the chance to attend a Carbon...
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The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer farmer sentiment index rose six points in July to a reading of 103. Producers were somewhat more optimistic about both current and future economic conditions on their farms when compared to June. The Index of Current Conditions rose 10 points to a reading of 109, and the Index of Future Expectations rose four points to a reading of 100. Although all three indices rose this month, they were still 23-24 percent lower than a year earlier. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers' responses to a telephone...
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Axmen Feeds will be hosting a grand opening for their newly opened warehouse in Dillon, Montana on Thursday, August 18, with discounts on everything in the warehouse and door prizes. A grand prize giveaway of mineral, protein tubs, and a Purina cooler - you don’t have to be present to win – will be given away on Friday, August 19. Refreshments of coffee, donuts, and sandwiches will be served on Thursday with a steak fondue catered by Centennial Livestock served on Friday. “This is going to be our largest mineral and tub booking of the year with discounts up to...
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Despite the reverence in which it is held by us denizens of that “Get ‘er done!” neck of the woods, Montana’s eastern third, an individual’s “healthy work ethic” (construed less delicately in these parts as a willingness to “work your butt off”) is really not all it’s cracked up to be. Necessary often, this quality, but not always, as they say, sufficient. In the early 70’s, I worked summers for my father-in-law, Delbert Nielsen - not addressed to his face as such, but known pretty widely as the “Big Dane” in the Reserve/Dagmar/Medicine Lake/Antelope/Plentywood axis. My pay was a truckload...
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The livestock loaded trailers rolled down the gravel drive. “They’re off to the Fair,” Banjo said smiling. “Those kids have worked hard on their projects from animals to indoors.” Ben nodded. “It hasn’t been easy this year, but whoever buys those animals will get a quality ranch-raised product,” Ben added. “While they’re gone, we have a laundry list of tasks to complete. We’re on the tail end of summer, and these long summer days are going to start dwindling away faster than we want them too,” Banjo said. Tuff lifted his head. “I don’t know how much motivation I have,”...
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President Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia to beg for more oil seems unnecessary to us — he could have saved himself a long trip by coming to see what is being done right here in South Dakota. Sky high gas prices are inflicting pain on our budgets, and our psyche in part, because we feel helpless. However, we can do something about it, and it doesn’t require us to get on bended knee to Saudi oil sheiks. Fortunately, we have a home-grown product that has been proven to significantly improve gasoline quality and save billions at the pump. Not to mention,...
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The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA), North Dakota Beef Commission, and North Dakota CattleWomen joined forces again this year to salute active servicemen and women and their families during the 17th annual Beef Industry Military Appreciation Day on July 26 at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot, North Dakota. Nearly 1,400 servicemen and women and their family members enjoyed the great taste of beef during the annual event, which included a free roast beef picnic, kids’ games, roping, and door prizes. “North Dakota beef producers were honored once again to host the Beef Industry Military Appreciation Day,” NDSA Brand...
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My best horse, Tinkerbelle, died the other day, and my heart is broken. I sat down to write a tribute poem to her, but it is too soon, so I started horse shopping instead. I have bought many great horses for 0 to 00, so it is really hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that I will have to spend more for a horse than we spent for our first house if I want to get a dead broke bombproof horse befitting my age group. Long ago I learned that I can no longer get bucked...
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Kaleb Donker is eleven years old and has grown a strong passion for working with horses and ranching growing up on his family's ranch in northern Nevada. He plans to continue living the ranching lifestyle when he grows up.
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It is currently 3:31 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26. For once, I’m not up this late after binge-watching whatever true crime, cult documentary series; I am up because it’s fair week in Montana’s Sweet Grass County. Last year, the Sweet Grass County 4-H Council offered me the gig to photograph the county fair, and I readily jumped at the opportunity. I was new-ish to town and eager to meet community members because a.) I’m a people person and b.) I really wanted to get my name out there as a photographer. On top of that, I’m an avid supporter of...
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Each of my parents had an unwritten list of essentials to take when our family – of, holy cow, eight – left the southern Illinois dairy farm of my youth on our annual August vacation. For example, my mother never crossed the state line without a wide-mouth quart jar filled with soapy water and a washcloth so she could keep her children “presentable,” presumably in case of a car crash. I can’t count the number of times my face was scrubbed with a soapy, cold washcloth from an upcycled mayonnaise jar. Also, Mom always packed an oilcloth tablecloth just in...
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On a recent trip to visit family in New Mexico, I came across a book in a farm store that caught my eye. Defending Beef: The Ecological and Nutritional Case for Meat. In it, author, environmental attorney, and rancher’s wife, Nicollette Hahn Niman, makes an intriguing case for animal agriculture’s positive impact on the environment. “Carbon resides in soil,” she explained. “And whenever soil is disturbed for any reason, that carbon is released into the atmosphere as the greenhouse gas, C02.” “Cows and other grazing animals (including the deer that make themselves at home on our ranch in the fall)...
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On July 26, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for the Food and Energy Security Act introduced by Senator John Thune (R-SD). The bill would require federal regulators to disclose how proposed rules would impact food and energy prices. "Earlier this year, the Biden administration proposed a massive climate disclosure rule that will create new reporting burdens for every farm, ranch, and small business in the country. This plan will harm producers and consumers alike,” NCBA Environmental Counsel, Mary-Thomas Hart said. “NCBA is proud to support the Food and Energy Security Act because rules like the SEC's emissions...
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My seasonal war on wildlife has begun; something which started when I was twelve. Back then, the raccoons began raiding our corn patch, so I grabbed my Winchester, pump-action, 20-gauge shotgun, my springer spaniel, and rolled out my sleeping bag in the garden. When the nocturnal, masked marauders arrived I planned to unleash the gates of hell on their feast. They came as expected, but I never knew exactly how many there were because my dog and I slept through it all. They won round one. I now protect my corn patch with an electric fence. A couple years back...
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With the 2018 Farm Bill set to expire in September of 2023, planning is already ramping up with House Agriculture Committee meetings and stakeholder panels. The American Farmland Trust (AFT) hosted their own virtual panel on July 26 to announce their 2023 Farm Bill advocacy platform, which “consists of a series of policy recommendations to Congress focused on supporting farmers and ranchers in protecting their land from development, combating climate change, and enabling a diverse new generation of farmers to better access land and build viable businesses,” an AFT release said. John Piotti, AFT’s President and CEO, stated that the...
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Lacey Lawrence put small-town Jordan, Montana on the map this year at the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSRF), held in Gillette, Wyoming ,during the third week of July. After taking 11th place in the first go, fourth in the second go, and fifth in the short go, she ended with a third-place finish overall in the barrel racing, a new personal best for Lacey and her horse, Quigley. As a two-time Montana High School Rodeo Association (MHSRA) State Champion barrel racer, her name is well-known in the circuit. The state of Montana sends four barrel racers to the finals...
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Sometimes a false idea can be repeated so often that it is taken as a truth and reality. In agriculture, that false idea is that it is okay for farmers and ranchers to struggle financially and that it is unavoidable. Mindset coach, Charlotte Smith is helping her clients disprove that commonly accepted notion. Instead of accepting that being in farming or ranching is a low paying gig with a “lifestyle” trade off, Smith helps agrarians to adopt new ideas that can make their operation profitable. As a youth, Smith watched her parents lose their family farm when it couldn’t be...
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If you are reading this, I hope to all goodness that I have a brand-new baby at home and that everything went well. If I don’t have a baby yet, that means I’m about one week overdue, and the threat of delivering a child the size of a watermelon is looming. In order to soak in this special time with my new family of four, I’ll be taking a hiatus from the Reporter for a bit of time. After writing at least one article a week for well over a year now, I am worried I might wake up in...
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We have now entered the month of August. I caught myself thinking the other day that I can’t wait for Fall to get here to see some cooler temperatures and hopefully some much-needed rain/wet snow that is so desperately needed by a big portion of the United States. I was complaining in my head the other day about the heat, but then reminded myself it is nearly August in Montana, and it’s like this most every year. What really dawned on me this first day of August was the realization that mid-term elections are now only three months away. For...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced that JY Ferry & Son, Inc. in Corinne, Utah, is the 2021 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) national winner. The award, which annually recognizes the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers, was presented to the Ferry family during the cattle industry’s Summer Business Meeting in Reno. “Cattle producers are the original conservationists,” NCBA President, Don Schiefelbein said. “JY Ferry & Son, Inc., is a perfect example of how farming and ranching families conserve natural resources for generations to come.” Sustainability has long been an objective for JY Ferry & Son,...
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The Northern Plains Resource Council is hosting the Seventh Annual Montana Local Food Challenge. Montanans are encouraged to eat something produced locally every day during the entire month of August. All Montanans are invited to participate in weekly online challenges while also earning a chance to win a 0 local food gift card. Sharing recipes and photos over social media is also part of the month’s festivities. “Family agriculture is at the heart of Montana’s culture and economy, and we always appreciate this opportunity to celebrate local foods and those who produce it,” Northern Plains member and Rosebud County family...
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On July 27, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced its priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill based on producer input at the association’s Summer Business Meeting in Reno, Nevada. “Our annual meetings are the cornerstone of NCBA’s grassroots policy process,” NCBA President, Don Schiefelbein, said. “Individual producers set the course for NCBA’s advocacy work in Washington, D.C., and we have heard from many producers who value the animal health, voluntary conservation and disaster recovery programs in the last Farm Bill and look forward to improving those programs in the next Farm Bill.” NCBA’s Farm Bill priorities include: Protecting animal...
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North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring has announced Agricultural Diversification and Development (ADD) Fund awards for three projects. The awards, totaling 9,000, were approved at the ADD quarterly meeting on July 20 in Bottineau. The ADD Fund is administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture in association with the Bank of North Dakota. The fund was created to support new or expanding value-added-agriculture businesses that demonstrate financial feasibility, enhance profitability for farmers and ranchers, create jobs, and grow North Dakota’s economy. Types of projects eligible for the fund include, but are not limited to: food production and processing facilities; feed or...
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The National FFA Organization (FFA) maintains the spot as one of the largest Youth Organizations in the Country and certainly has the largest Agriculture base. Unique from other ag-based organizations, FFA is an intra-curricular program that uses a three-circle model of Classroom Ag Education, Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), and FFA Leadership to teach students the importance of agriculture, leadership, and how to apply it. Each state and chapter take the FFA Moto, “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, and Living to Serve”, to heart and applies it in their community, career, and future. All 50 states and...
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At a virtual press conference, Wednesday, farmers and business owners from across the nation urgently called for Congress to pass immigration reform to address mounting economic challenges – inflation, supply chain delays, and workforce shortages – that threaten American food security and impact affordability of common groceries. Hosted by the Alliance for New Immigration Coalition (ANIC), panelists called for Congress to sharpen their pencils and finalize negotiations on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. “When you are a farmer, you set the market cost for the entire supply chain. The price of fruits and vegetables is set by market conditions,” Lori...
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Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and Governor Greg Gianforte shared their concerns and frustrations with the release of the final decision for the American Prairie Reserve Change Application for bison on seven grazing allotments. “As we review this decision, we share Montanans' frustration with the BLM's woeful and repeated failures to properly engage Montanans and act within the bounds of its authority on this issue,” Gianforte said. “The agency limited public comment to a single, virtual event in the middle of haying season, ignored repeated requests from state officials for full public engagement, and failed to analyze the full range of...
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) commended farmers from member cooperatives who are speaking up for dairy’s needs at Farm Bill listening sessions held by members of Congress. “From sustainability and trade to providing an adequate safety net to producers of all sizes, dairy farmer voices are critical to crafting federal farm programs that serve the entire nation,” Jim Mulhern, president, and CEO of NMPF, said. “We commend the farmers who own our member cooperatives for sharing their insights. We also thank Congress for making sure that dairy is heard as the next Farm Bill begins taking shape.” A session...
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The Colorado State Veterinarian’s office has confirmed a case of anthrax in a beef cattle herd in Sedgwick County. The case was confirmed at the CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory on July 23, after the producer had seven acute deaths in the herd. A second positive case in a nearby beef herd was confirmed positive on Tuesday, July 26. These are the first confirmed cases of anthrax in cattle in Colorado since 2012. Anthrax can occur naturally in Colorado’s soil. Bacterial spores can lie dormant in the ground for decades and can emerge in greater concentrations after rainstorms, flooding, or excavation....
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Last week, Rascal was on a trek to begin his tasty treat monopoly by netting as many fish as possible. As he floated along the creek, he drifted into a treasure chest that led to a dreamy encounter. What did Rascal really discover in the treasure chest, and who is he introduced to along the way? Rubbing his head, Rascal woke up on the beach of the newly formed island in the middle of the creek. “Yeowsers,” he whined as he felt the goose egg. He spit the silty sand that had gathered in the corner of his jowl. “Mama?”...
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We sold our black calves yesterday and went up to our local marketing company’s office (Fraser Livestock, Frontier Productions) to stream the sale on TV and enjoy some time in the AC after hauling hay all morning. Around noon, Fraser Livestock’s Right-Hand Man, Tom, cooked burgers for everyone in the office watching the sale. This is the second year I’ve watched our calves sell in the Fraser Livestock office and both years, Tom has done this; I love it, it’s very “we love our customers, and we love our town”-Esq. But, I’m not writing this column to kiss up to...
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We were pleased to have another successful photo contest for the selection of our 2022 Herd Reference Edition cover photo. We were very happy with the number of outstanding submissions, and following several days of online voting, Kiley Martinell’s photo was selected as the winner. Kiley Martinell lives on her family ranch in Dell, Montana with her husband, Heath, and their three kids, Macie, Taryn, and Kalen. They also work alongside Heath’s parents and his sister’s family, where together, they run a commercial cow/calf and yearling operation. Martinell also works part-time as a cattle embryologist for Dr. Chuck Gue. This...
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If the political polls are to be believed, November’s midterm election will sweep today’s Democrats out of power in the U.S. House of Representatives and put Republicans back in charge. If accurate, House Republicans will have a splendid opportunity to put your tax money where their collective mouth is by implementing their highly detailed, little-publicized “Blueprint to Save America” (the Blueprint), a 122-page, “alternate budget” introduced by the House Republican Study Committee (RSC) June 9. If you’re a small government/fiscal conservative, the Blueprint is 200-proof catnip. It attacks dozens of government programs as either “socialist,” “radical,” or “insidious,” and wastes...
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Elizabeth Moke competed for the first time in the senior division at the Rosebud Treasure County Fair in Forsyth, Montana. At 14 years old, she represented the CB and R 4-H club of Hysham, Montana to win Grand Champion Senior Swine Showman, Grand Champion Senior Beef Showman, Reserve Champion Market Hog, took fifth overall in the Livestock Judging Contest, Blue Ribbon Market Beef and Breeding Beef, and Reserve Champion Senior Round Robin Showman.
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Our house renovation project on Pass Creek has meant dozens of trips to the landfill because, even after emptying the house, there were still trailer loads of lath and plaster destined for the dump. We soon became very familiar with all who worked there. On one of my earlier runs, the attendant kindly asked if my dog, Blinker, could have a treat. He was quite surprised when I said, “No.” My time was short, so I didn’t explain how most of the GI cases I see in my practice are from owner-administered poisonings in the form of treats and tidbits...
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On July 14, Gunnison, Colorado looked a little different than it normally does. Everyone was wearing pink in honor of the country’s largest Tough Enough to Wear Pink (TETWP) event at the highly acclaimed Cattlemen’s Days rodeo, and the town was filled with horse trailers heading for the local fairgrounds. Gunnison is an unassuming rural town, located at 7,700 feet above sea level. Originally known for mining, its agricultural roots are deepest. The 60-day growing season, harsh winters, and cool summers make Gunnison ideal for raising hay and cattle, and by 1900, agriculture had surpassed mining as the number one...
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With the 2023 deadline to begin reintroducing wolves into Colorado edging closer and closer, the pressure is on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission (CPW) to decide on a definitive gray wolf reintroduction and management plan, which aligns with the November 2020 vote approving Proposition 114; its passage was by a narrow 50.3 percent “yes” to 49.7 percent “no.” Since then, a Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) and Technical Working Group (TWG) were formed in order to propose a plan to CPW which would accurately reflect the desires of the people while also restoring the gray wolf population in the state...
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It’s fair time around Reporter Country, and that’s had me thinking back on my 10 years in 4-H and all of the wonderful memories that came with it. Nearly seven years after my county and state fairs, I’ve acquired some new perspectives that I’d like to share with all of you show parents. In the time since my last 4-H show, I’ve worked in 4-H extension, volunteered as a horse judging coach, have taught high school and middle school, and I’ve coached high school basketball – trust me, those experiences relate more than you might expect. This is my biggest...
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The flames continue to rage as the Moose Fire burns thousands of acres in the Salmon-Challis National Forest approximately 17 miles north of Salmon, Idaho. The fire started at around 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, 2022, and the cause is still undetermined. As of Tuesday morning, July 26, the active fire has burned a total of 37,264 acres with only 10 percent contained as it continues to be fueled by timber, grass, and brush. According to the U.S Forest Service – Salmon-Challis National Forest, they are continuing structure protection in the Moose area, along the Salmon River on the...
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Last week, I provided a preview of USDA’s July 1 Cattle Inventory report. Before I dive into the nuts and bolts of this report, let me first start out by saying that if this were any other report released by the USDA, you would definitely have to call this a very “bullish” report for the cattle industry. However, there are some around our industry who feel this report is not as bullish as everybody thinks because some of the categories came in a little higher than the average guess. Here are the results from the report: All cattle and calves...
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The Montana Farm Bureau (MFB) Foundation and the MFB Women’s Leadership Committee have awarded 00 in scholarship money for the 2022-2023 school year to deserving students. MFB congratulates all of the students who received scholarships for their hard work and commitment to higher education. Women’s Leadership Committee Scholarship The MFB Women’s Leadership Committee awarded two 00 scholarships. One went to Asa Gray Jassen of Belt and one was given to Colton Noyes of Toston. Jassen plans to attend Gonzaga University to major in biology/pre-med. Noyes will attend Montana State University, Bozeman, majoring in crop science. Bernard Greufe Honor Scholarship Knute...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages urban producers and others to attend the second public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on August 5. The Committee will discuss new urban conservation practices, focus areas and priorities for the Commission, and the new Farm Service Agency (FSA) urban county committees, among other topics. “This Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production is giving USDA valuable insights, feedback, and guidance on how USDA can better serve producers in urban areas,” Brian Guse, Director of USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP),...
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Visits with state Farm Bureau leaders, public policy staff, and federal agencies highlighted the summer meeting season last week as Montana Farm Bureau (MFB) President, Cyndi Johnson and Senior Governmental Affairs Director, Nicole Rolf attended the American Farm Bureau Council of Presidents and Public Policy Conference. Additionally, a group of western state Farm Bureau presidents met with officials from the Department of the Interior, including the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation regarding regulatory concerns about endangered species and public lands grazing, water infrastructure, and more. “During the Public Policy Conference,...
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Montana Farmers Union (MFU) is issuing a call for candidates for its 2022 elections. “A contested election is healthy for the board and the membership. It encourages the debate of ideas and creates a better leadership group,” MFU President, Walter Schweitzer said. The two-year Vice President position, as well as three-year Director terms for Districts 2, 6, and 5/6 At-Large are up for grabs at this year’s annual convention to be held October 14-15 in Helena. The one-year Doorkeeper and Conductor positions also will be decided in October. Nominating petitions for the VP, board, and other positions must be completed...
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The American Tarentaise Association announced Saturday, July 9, as part of their National Summer meeting, the winning entry in the National Junior Show. This 1294 pound purebred Tarentaise steer was exhibited by Reign Ledahl of Zahl, North Dakota. The steer’s name is Hewett and is sired by BI Special Ed Z219 A132 D190. At the time of the competition, the steer scanned at 14.3 REA and .4 BF with a scheduled harvest date of July 19. Reign is the 15-year-old daughter of Brian and Tami Ledahl and attends Grenora High School where she is active in sports and extracurricular activities....
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The masked bandit’s human-like paws were well at work this morning. He was weaving back together his fishing net. “I don’t have to rely on those mangy dogs and all those woodland varmints to gather my tasty treats,” Rascal scoffed to himself. “I can fend for myself…humph.” His paws moved in and out of the fishnet, and when he felt like it was complete, he held it up to admire his ‘paw-work’. “Just as good as new. Give a raccoon a fish, and you’ll feed him for a day. Give a raccoon a fishing pole, and you’ll teach him to...
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Montana’s elk population has tripled over the last 40 years. For decades we have exceeded the sustainable objective levels in most hunting districts. FWP’s goal is 92,000 elk in Montana, but today there are an estimated 175,000. That excess elk population causes immense damage to family ranch operations in overpopulated areas, and it’s a problem that grows worse every year. What’s frustrating is we saw this problem coming years ago and set policies to address it. In 2003, I sponsored House Bill 42, which mandated that the Montana Fish & Game Commission use all management tools available in order to...
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Performance Ten, Friday, July 22, 2022, 9:00 AM Gillette, Wyoming Barrel Racing (MT) Rachel Ward, Philipsburg, Mont., 17.024 (ND) Mika Guty, York, N.D., 17.348 (AZ) Bailey Girvin, Flagstaff, Ariz., 17.404 (SK) Olivia Parsonage, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Can., 17.5 (CA) Skyler Sutton, Norco, Calif., 17.523 (KS) Kiley Slavin, Goodwell, Okla., 17.527 (BC) Zoey Hamming, Falkland, British Columbia, Can., 17.566 (NM) Rylee Grace Abel, Hobbs, N.M., 17.585 (AB) Tia Glazier, Cayley, Alberta, Can., 17.629 (LA) Landan English, Bossier City, La., 17.634 Bareback Riding (TX) Brayze Schill, West Columbia, Texas, 72 (AB) Spur Cottingham, Onoway, Alberta, Can., 68 (OR) Wyatt Wood, Prineville, Ore.,...
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Beef consumers, direct customers, and financial partners want to know how beef cattle production contributes to environmental sustainability. "Sustainability is not a nice-to-have anymore; it’s a need-to-have," Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, Ph.D., director of Colorado State University’s (CSU) AgNext, a research collaborative developing sustainable solutions for agriculture, said. "Yes, producers have been here for generations, but today we have to say, ‘We’ve been here for generations, and here’s how we continue to improve and continue to care.’ The proof points in today’s society are expected, whether that’s fair or not." Stackhouse-Lawson explained that most of the pressure on U.S. cattle and beef currently...
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Performance Nine, Thursday, July 21, 2022, 7:00 PM Gillette, Wyoming Barrel Racing (UT) Morgan Beckstrom, Spanish Fork, Utah, 17.097 (MT) Lacey Lawrence, Jordan, Mont., 17.184 (IA) Carli Stuva, Fontanelle, Iowa, 17.192 (ID) Anneliese McCurry, Nampa, Idaho, 17.36 (OK) Kenna McLemore, Gracemont, Okla., 17.397 (CO) Savannah Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo., 17.505 (CO) Loralee Ward, Fort Lupton, Colo., 17.523 (CA) Parker Asam, Murrieta, Calif., 17.537 (VA) Laci Murray, Belews Creek, N.C., 17.547 (OK) Kimber Leach, Perry, Okla., 17.587 Bareback Riding (ID) Sage Allen, Blackfoot, Idaho, 69 (AZ) Kooper Heimburg, San Tan Valley, Ariz., 69 (ND) Carson Hildre, Velva, N.D., 68 (SD) Jhett...
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Roz is four years old and according to her mom, “she has an attitude that matches her wild hair and smile.” When she’s “old” like her mom, Roz wants to be a rancher and will be happy “as long as she can have some goats with her cows.”
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I know many people are dealing with the tragic aftermath of unprecedented flooding along the Yellowstone and many of its tributaries last month. I remember our experience with disaster agencies during our last flood in 2011. Fortunately, we were not negatively affected by flooding this year, but I remember well when our house was declared uninhabitable, and I was delighted and relieved, because it meant we would receive federal disaster aid! My heart goes out to all of the flood victims who will not be lucky enough to receive federal disaster relief, but I clearly remember our on-site visit by...
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Western Legacy Development Corporation (WLDC) had an “amazing” Ag Summit on Thursday, June 30, in Wall, South Dakota, followed by a Public Meeting on Monday, July 11, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to provide up-to-date information and answer the questions of all of the stakeholders in their packing facility project to be located in Western South Dakota in the Rapid City area. Those who attended were Tribal members, Rapid City Councilmembers, Pennington County Commissioners, a representative from Governor Noem’s office and Secretary Robert’s office, State Senators and Representatives, Economic Development, Agricultural Producers, Private Citizens, and others. Questions were taken and...
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Performance Eight, Thursday, July 21, 2022, 9:00 AM Gillette, Wyoming Barrel Racing (SD) Piper Cordes, Wall, S.D., 17.235 (WY) Rayne Grant, Wheatland, Wyo., 17.403 (NM) Shaeden Marr, Tularosa, N.M., 17.419 (OR) Teegan Hill, Klamath Falls, Ore., 17.494 (AR) Kylie Jo Castor, Bentonville, Ark., 17.521 (AB) Maysa Powelson, Welling, Alberta, Can., 17.541 (NV) Anna Van Norman, Tuscarora, Nev., 17.647 (UT) Preslie Bennett, Malad City, Idaho, 17.658 (MB) Maddy McGee, Deloraine, Manitoba, Can., 17.762 (NC) Mallory Wiley, Calhoun Falls, S.C., 17.794 Bareback Riding (WY) Tuker Carricato, Saratoga, Wyo., 78 (IA) Lane Leeper, Leon, Iowa, 65 (CA) Dustin Wertz, Glencoe, Calif., 64 (NE)...
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The State Board of Animal Health has rescinded the temporary ban of poultry events and exhibitions, effective immediately. This ban was first enacted as animal health officials responded to cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) across the state this spring. It was extended in June as cases continued and officials felt these types of poultry events could pose a risk of HPAI transmission. With the warmer summer weather and bird migrations slowing around the state, the risk of HPAI spreading in the environment has decreased. Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring stated, “We understand the challenges our small and large poultry...
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Next week at this time, I will be able to provide all of you with an update on the July Cattle Inventory Report which comes out July 22. The report will contain the mid-year estimates of the total cattle inventory in the United States, broken down by category, along with the first estimate of this year’s calf crop. For the past year-and-a-half, one of the major topics of conversation around our industry has been drought, which the western half of the country primarily experienced last year and now the southern regions are really feeling this year. Cowherd liquation has been...
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Performance Seven, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, 7:00 PM Gillette, Wyoming Barrel Racing (GA) Rachel Kittle, Woodland, Ala., 17.325 (OK) Dessa Hext, Canadian, Texas, 17.401 (WY) Sydney Oedekoven, Gillette, Wyo., 17.401 (OR) Katie Ayres, Canby, Ore., 17.419 (NE) Anna Clark, Thedford, Neb., 17.457 (TX) Spring Pennington, Stephenville, Texas, 17.489 (ND) Kenzie Homelvig, Rhame, N.D., 17.531 (AB) Aubrey Ross, Botha, Alberta, Can., 17.569 (SD) Tommie Kay Martin, Hayes, S.D., 17.582 (MO) Sydney Herrin, Fort Scott, Kan., 17.759 Bareback Riding (MT) Ty Owens, Helena, Mont., 75 (CA) Coy Montgomery, Yuba City, Calif., 70 (TX) Bryce Jensen, Huntsville, Texas, 67 (OR) Tyrel Holmes, Spray,...
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Contrary to folklore, three times is rarely a charm. The number three, in fact, often carries woe: “Three strikes and you’re out,” for example or “Bad news usually comes in threes.” U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors rediscovered these portentous axioms on July 7 when, for the third time in less than a year, a jury in Denver failed to convict poultry company executives of federal charges of conspiracy to fix prices. The first two price-fixing trials – one in late 2021, the other in early 2022 – ended in mistrials. Remarkably, as DOJ prosecutors considered a third trial, the...
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I am 65 years old and have practiced veterinary medicine for 39 years. Early in my career, I chuckled at the harsh bed side manners of aged practitioners who saw it fitting and proper to tell stupid people they are stupid. They were blunt for the benefit of others. My many days in the saddle and endless hours thrusting my left arm in a cow have aged me beyond my years, and I have become THAT practitioner. For me to be concerned about offending others, I must value their opinion, but I don’t because they are usually wrong. Here is...
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In the wake of major supply chain disruptions and record-breaking rates of inflation in the United States, it’s become even more apparent that what is needed is independence – independence with food and fuel production, as well as electricity generation. While these issues are obvious at the national level, there are very immediate threats at the state level. In particular, Montana’s energy independence is in jeopardy due to the “longstanding Obama-Biden war on coal,” Montana’s newly re-elected Public Service Commissioner, Randy Pinocci, said. To address the matter, Pinocci is working alongside David White, CEO of RamRock Building Systems (RamRock), a...
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Perseverance, grit, tenacity, and unwavering Faith are all traits that embody Tim Malm, CEO of Stronger 413 Coffee, which was recently named the official coffee of the Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD). While the flavors of coffee are great and the company who manufactures them is comprised of “the best people,” according to Malm, it’s the message behind Stronger 413 that makes it truly special. Malm was born with ranching and rodeo in his blood. His great-great-grandparents immigrated to Albin, Wyoming from Sweden in 1887 where they established their family homestead. In 1955, the ranch was named Malm Ranch Company where...
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Roughly 63 head of stray cattle were shot by the United State Forest Service (USFS) via helicopter in the Gila National Forest early this February. After countless attempts from the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA) to stop the USFS from shooting down cattle, the NMCGA announced the settlement of the lawsuit that was filed in an attempt to prevent a shoot such as this again. Roughly 50 years ago, a forest grazing allotment was closed, which left stray cattle roaming the Gila National Forest. As years have gone on, the population of stray cattle has continued to grow as...
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There are two major camps when it comes to political campaigns: those that are able to tune out the never-ending ambush of campaign ads and those that get incredibly annoyed and irritated every time one comes on. If you’re curious, I’m part of the former group. I don’t know why I don’t just change the radio station or TV channel like a normal person when one comes on. Instead, I’ll hear them out and become so enraged at the hypocrisy and the empty promises that are woven into most candidates’ platforms. In Wyoming right now, that person is Liz Cheney...
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There are two major camps when it comes to political campaigns: those that are able to tune out the never-ending ambush of campaign ads and those that get incredibly annoyed and irritated every time one comes on. If you’re curious, I’m part of the former group. I don’t know why I don’t just change the radio station or TV channel like a normal person when one comes on. Instead, I’ll hear them out and become so enraged at the hypocrisy and the empty promises that are woven into most candidates’ platforms. In Wyoming right now, that person is Liz Cheney...
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Performance Six, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, 9:00 AM Gillette, Wyoming Barrel Racing (OK) Dessa Hext, Canadian, Texas, 17.223 (TX) Spring Pennington, Stephenville, Texas, 17.228 (AB) Aubrey Ross, Botha, Alberta, Can., 17.412 (BC) Falyn Thomson, Clinton, British Columbia, Can., 17.606 (SD) Tommie Kay Martin, Hayes, S.D., 17.635 (WY) Sydney Oedekoven, Gillette, Wyo., 17.679 (ND) Kenzie Homelvig, Rhame, N.D., 17.738 (AL) Ainsley Irani, Cullman, Ala., 17.773 (SK) Brooke Lang, Cadillac, Saskatchewan, Can., 17.927 (MO) Sydney Herrin, Fort Scott, Kan., 17.98 Bareback Riding (CA) Coy Montgomery, Yuba City, Calif., 74 (AB) Austin Broderson, Turin, Alberta, Can., 71 (AR) Hayden Leavell, Ozark, Ark., 54...
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Performance Six, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, 9:00 AM Gillette, Wyoming Barrel Racing (OK) Dessa Hext, Canadian, Texas, 17.223 (TX) Spring Pennington, Stephenville, Texas, 17.228 (AB) Aubrey Ross, Botha, Alberta, Can., 17.412 (BC) Falyn Thomson, Clinton, British Columbia, Can., 17.606 (SD) Tommie Kay Martin, Hayes, S.D., 17.635 (WY) Sydney Oedekoven, Gillette, Wyo., 17.679 (ND) Kenzie Homelvig, Rhame, N.D., 17.738 (AL) Ainsley Irani, Cullman, Ala., 17.773 (SK) Brooke Lang, Cadillac, Saskatchewan, Can., 17.927 (MO) Sydney Herrin, Fort Scott, Kan., 17.98 Bareback Riding (CA) Coy Montgomery, Yuba City, Calif., 74 (AB) Austin Broderson, Turin, Alberta, Can., 71 (AR) Hayden Leavell, Ozark, Ark., 54...
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Youth members of Farmers Union from around the country recently participated in the 84th annual National Farmers Union (NFU) All-States Leadership Retreat. This year's event was held at Wisconsin Farmers Union's Kamp Kenwood on the shores of Lake Wissota near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. “This year’s All-States retreat was a testament to the principles of NFUm,” NFU President, Rob Larew said. “Education is at the core of our work, so opportunities like this All-States retreat give us a chance to engage with the next generation of leaders and show just how powerful cooperatives are for their members and communities.” Participants in...
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The North American Meat Institute’s (NAMI or the Meat Institute) Executive Board voted unanimously in early July to designate food security as a non-competitive issue, strengthening industry-wide efforts to end hunger and ensure families in need have access to nutrient-dense meat. “Meat is one of the most needed products for families in need, and the Meat Institute’s members give generously nationally and locally to meet this need,” Julie Anna Potts, President, and CEO of the Meat Institute, said. “Ending hunger requires even greater collaboration. Declaring food security as a non-competitive issue will allow the Meat Institute and its members to...
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The North American Meat Institute’s (NAMI or the Meat Institute) Executive Board voted unanimously in early July to designate food security as a non-competitive issue, strengthening industry-wide efforts to end hunger and ensure families in need have access to nutrient-dense meat. “Meat is one of the most needed products for families in need, and the Meat Institute’s members give generously nationally and locally to meet this need,” Julie Anna Potts, President, and CEO of the Meat Institute, said. “Ending hunger requires even greater collaboration. Declaring food security as a non-competitive issue will allow the Meat Institute and its members to...
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Performance Five, Tuesday, July 18, 2022, 7:00 PM Gillette, Wyoming Barrel Racing (TX) Devin Young, Rosanky, Texas, 17.193 (WY) Rayne Grant, Wheatland, Wyo., 17.236 (OR) Teegan Hill, Klamath Falls, Ore., 17.449 (MT) Josie Robbins, Dillon, Mont., 17.73 (SD) Piper Cordes, Wall, S.D., 17.735 (NC) Mallory Wiley, Calhoun Falls, S.C., 17.794 (NV) Anna Van Norman, Tuscarora, Nev., 17.809 (WA) Cassidy Bolich, Mead, Wash., 17.87 (NM) Shaeden Marr, Tularosa, N.M., 17.902 (TN) Lauren Shultz, Orlinda, Tenn., 17.922 Bareback Riding (WY) Tuker Carricato, Saratoga, Wyo., 78 (CO) Monte Downare, Hartsel, Colo., 66 (LA) Mason Ortego, St. Francisville, La., 66 (NE) Koltdyn Heath, Minden,...
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Performance Four, Tuesday, July 18, 2022, 9:00 AM Gillette, Wyoming Barrel Racing (CO) Loralee Ward, Fort Lupton, Colo., 17.228 (UT) Morgan Beckstrom, Spanish Fork, Utah, 17.362 (ID) Anneliese McCurry, Nampa, Idaho, 17.369 (MT) Lacey Lawrence, Jordan, Mont., 17.369 (CO) Savannah Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo., 17.398 (TX) Taylor Baize, San Angelo, Texas, 17.56 (OK) Kimber Leach, Perry, Okla., 17.573 (OK) Kenna McLemore, Gracemont, Okla., 17.7 (IA) Carli Stuva, Fontanelle, Iowa, 17.743 (VA) Laci Murray, Belews Creek, N.C., 17.805 Bareback Riding (MT) Will Norstrom, East Helena, Mont., 78.5 (WY) Roedy Farrell, Thermopolis, Wyo., 71 (AZ) Kooper Heimburg, San Tan Valley, Ariz., 70...
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Governor Greg Gianforte recently announced that residents impacted by recent flooding in Carbon, Park, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure, and Yellowstone counties have until October 17, 2022, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. “As we recover and rebuild together, we need to do all we can to help our neighbors focus on what matters most and get back on their feet as soon as possible,” Governor Gianforte said. “Extending the filing deadline will help provide much-needed relief to Montanans in our impacted communities.” This relief applies to both individual and business taxpayers’ filing and payment...
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The National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) provides countless youth development opportunities for the next generation thanks to generous Angus donors. Ted and Mary Greiman and Trans Ova Genetics have been continual supporters that have undoubtedly contributed to the success of the junior membership. To recognize their outstanding support, Ted and Mary Greiman and Trans Ova Genetics were awarded as the 2022 inductees into the Honorary Angus Foundation. As fifth-generation Angus breeders, Ted and Mary are familiar faces of the Angus family. Through raising their own children in the NJAA, Ted and Mary recognize the value of supporting junior programs. “It’s...
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Performance Three, Monday, July 18, 2022, 7:00 PM Gillette, Wyoming Barrel Racing (ID) Meg Fillmore, Rexburg, Idaho, 17.264 (MT) Rachel Ward, Philipsburg, Mont., 17.351 (WI) Sierra Steele, Tomah, Wis., 17.403 (SK) Olivia Parsonage, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Can., 17.555 (OR) Savannah Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., 17.557 (SD) Makenzee Wheelhouse, Pierre, S.D., 17.628 (ND) Mika Guty, York, N.D., 17.662 (IA) Brodie Miller, New Market, Iowa, 17.79 (AB) Tia Glazier, Cayley, Alberta, Can., 17.854 (AZ) Bailey Girvin, Flagstaff, Ariz., 17.884 Bareback Riding (OR) Wyatt Wood, Prineville, Ore., 77 (TX) Brayze Schill, West Columbia, Texas, 65 (WY) Jaspur Brower, Big Piney, Wyo., 62 (AB) Spur...
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Performance One, Sunday, July 17, 2022, Gillette, Wyoming Barrel Racing (AR) Lanie Cornelius, Mount Pleasant, Ark., 17.446 (MT) Lexi Murer, Bigfork, Mont., 17.486 (UT) Maklee Larsen, Genola, Utah, 17.553 (OK) Hazlee McKenzie, Muldrow, Okla., 17.647 (NE) Taci Flinn, Arcadia, Neb., 17.759 (WY) Jordan Morman, Gillette, Wyo., 17.779 (FL) Casey Oliver, Belleview, Fla., 17.823 (MO) Dakota Hazelbaker, Redfield, Kan., 17.888 (GA) Lilli Hayes, Philadelphia, Tenn., 17.933 (KY) Sydney Newton, Murray, Ky., 17.945 Bareback Riding (UT) Kade Madsen, Honeyville, Utah, 83 (OK) Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla., 76 (KS) Rhett Robbins, Brookville, Kan., 74 (NE) Spencer DeNaeyer, Seneca, Neb., 71 (MO) Quintonn Lunsford,...
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On July 12, Governor Greg Gianforte joined the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials, mental health and crisis lifeline experts, and Montana State University (MSU) officials to promote the launch of the Montana 988 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline. “As we all know, Montana faces a tragic epidemic of suicide, devastating far too many families and communities,” Governor Gianforte said. “Thanks to heroic Montanans answering the call to serve others in crisis, this new 988 Lifeline number will help save lives. To any Montanan who might be struggling, know that you are not alone, and...
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The 2021 national winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) will be announced at a reception during the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in Reno, Nevada, July 25-27. Established in 1991 by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the award identifies outstanding land stewards in the cattle industry. Each year, seven families are recognized with regional Environmental Stewardship awards, with one being honored as the national winner. “Cattle producers across the country work tirelessly to conserve natural resources for future generations,” NCBA President, Don Schiefelbein said. “I’m glad we can honor the nation’s top cattle operations for their environmental...
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On July 15, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) called on USDA to take steps to ensure America’s farmers continue to have access to crucial fertilizer supplies. AFBF submitted comments on USDA’s “Request for Information on Access to Fertilizer: Competition and Supply Chain Concerns.” In the filed comments, AFBF listed several factors that have combined to create shortages and drive up fertilizer costs including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, rising inflation, labor shortages, regulatory hurdles, and increased transportation costs. “America’s farmers are being called on to feed both America’s families and families abroad as war and shortages take...
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“We haven’t seen the hide nor paw of those two varmints since they floated downstream,” Tuff said. “Oh, you won’t unless you travel even farther south,” Pudge commented. She stroked her side, cleaning herself. Banjo looked at her peculiarly. “Why’s that?” he asked. “Remember I may have mentioned I had another little plan up my paw?” she said and paused. The crew waited and waited for her response. “Are you going to share your plan with us or have us sitting here waiting on you all day,” Tuff snapped. Pudge rolled her eyes towards him. “Well, aren’t we impatient today,”...
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Annika Ochsner will be two in November and loves riding horses with her mom, Terra, on their ranch in Torrington, Wyoming. Annika is pictured on the horse her mom has been riding since she was eight years old.
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Western movies often portrayed the camp cook as a cranky drunk. I think this stereotype evolved for a darn good reason: they had to be cranky and/or drunk to survive! Camp cooking is such a fine and pleasant misery that I'd probably do it free gratis just for the adventure. However, that does not prohibit me from complaining about the job - especially now that I have retired from wilderness camp cooking. The only job description for a backcountry camp cook I was ever given came from a packer/guide, whom I will refer to by his initials, Guy Gravert. "The...
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I’m a little skeptical of a new, innovative startup. I’m positive this is because I binge watched Inventing Anna (the story of Anna Sorokin) and The Dropout (the story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos) in the span of a week. Don’t get me wrong, I love to give people the benefit of the doubt and arguably, I do this too often — but today, I am weary of the company called “Air Protein.” I found Air Protein online after hearing “fake” meat — specifically air-grown meat — was highlighted in the Wall Street Journal’s Global Food Forum. Air Protein Founder...
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A veteran commodity trader once urged me to remember that “People who say the market is wrong are usually on the wrong side of the market.” That insight, he added, had been learned the hard way, “...as in hardheaded.” His advice came to mind as the futures market carried its June swoon into the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) dangerous June 30 doubleheader: an Acreage Report and a Grain Stocks Report. Before the reports, market bulls had hoped, either – or, better yet, both – would slow (or, better yet, stop) the futures market route that had lashed corn, soybeans,...
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We are restoring the 90-year-old house on our homestead. Chip Gaines of Fixer Upper fame speaks of his love of demo day. I must be doing something wrong, because we have been busting up and carting off plaster, lath, and bat guano for two weeks, and I have yet to find anything uplifting about the process. On Saturday morning, we removed two large flowering crab trees occupying the slot allocated for the garage. These trees were multiple trunk monstrosities and felling them between two overhead powerlines and the house made this step especially challenging. Using a chainsaw, loader, and all the...
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On June 30, another divisive Supreme Court decision was announced in the case of West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In what’s being called “monumental” and “detrimental,” depending on the circle, Chief Justice John Roberts announced the 6-3 ruling that the Clean Power Plan (CPP), established by the Obama Administration “exceeded congressional authority.” This ruling limits the power that the EPA holds under the Clean Air Act (CAA), while holding that Congress needs to provide clear direction for the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions rather than allowing for them to have a large delegation of power. The 2015,...
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On Friday, July 1, Bryan Greenwald rose with the sun like any farmer or rancher to go check the water irrigating his crops just west of Lingle, Wyoming (Goshen County). The night before had provided cause for prayers of thanks as a healthy rain soaked a large portion of Goshen County. However, July 1 would sing to a different tune and turned out to be anything but ordinary: overnight, there was a breach in the Pathfinder Canal, just northwest of where the Greenwalds have been farming and ranching since their great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from Russia back in...
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The "Price Spreads from Farm to Consumer & Meat Price Spreads" webinar was presented on June 29, 2022, and discussed the data used to calculate the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) price spreads. This data shows the prices consumers pay at the grocery store compared to the prices paid to farmers and ranchers. Hayden Stewart, an economist in the food markets branch of the USDA Food Economics Division, explained that most of the foods we find in the grocery store started out at the farm and often were transported or transformed by food manufacturers, wholesalers,...
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A few weeks ago, I wrote about Giant Eagle filing a lawsuit against the Big Four Packers alleging price-fixing. Last week, Sysco stepped up to the plate as well by filing a similar lawsuit in Texas. The Associated Press (AP) was the first, that I saw, to run a story on this last Thursday. According to an article written by, AP Business Writer, Josh Funk, “The nation’s largest food distributor has joined the other businesses accusing the four largest meat processors of working together to inflate beef prices.” He went on to explain that, “The lawsuit said those companies have...
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I couldn’t help but think of the famous quote (shown above) from Pastor Martin Niemöller, who was actively outspoken against the Nazis and was eventually imprisoned in concentration camps from 1938-1945. The overarching theme of the quote relates to my front-page story this week: if we aren’t willing to help others in their time of need, who will be there for us? Over the past few months, I have seen so many wonderful examples of people in the ag community rising up to help each other. For example, there was the terrible loss of Nanna Flesch a few months back,...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) has created a new video series titled “Legacies” that will highlight the history, stories, and members of the Montana Farm Bureau. Legacies is set to be released to the public Friday, July 15. “The accounts of the farmers and ranchers who organized, built, and prospered the Montana Farm Bureau Federation embody the history of rural Montana and the agricultural industry of our state,” said Scott Kulbeck, MFBF director of membership development. “The Legacies video series is a remarkable account of that history. They are a joy to watch and anyone viewing these videos will...
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Bill Jones has been hired to take the helm of the Montana Premium Processing Cooperative (MPPC) in Havre, Montana, bringing a lifelong love of agriculture and a commitment to quality with him to his new post. “Eating is a simple enough activity, but it’s so crucial to everyday life that I feel there’s a great deal of importance to maintain agriculture,” Jones said about why he has been involved in the industry for several decades. Jones will serve as general manager at the member-owned, USDA-inspected meat processing facility that is in the final stretch of construction. “Jones has been very...
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The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) hosted 60 youth exhibitors and their families at the 27th annual North Dakota Junior Beef Expo (NDJBE) June 24-25 at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds in Minot, North Dakota. “The Junior Beef Expo was started to get more youth interested and involved in the beef industry,” NDJBE Vice Chairman, Jayd Novak said. “I enjoyed watching the integrity and sportsmanship shine through the junior exhibitors as they competed throughout the weekend.” The cattle show began Saturday morning. Fifty-four heifers, representing 12 different breeds and 15 market animals were exhibited, followed by the junior and senior...
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Last week, Pudge had a plan to rid the ranch of the vile varmints that had been causing havoc for months. Her idea of bait was to use Henrietta’s agitating charm, and to fit Tuff with an innertube tutu. They weren’t too sure if the plan was going to work, but they were trusting in their feline friend. Will the ranch crew find a way to free the ranch of Virginia, the sly opossum, and the cunning fox? The crew hid behind every possible nook, cranny, and corner that could cover their presence. The scavenged food lay scattered among the...
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reopened the finalized re-registration of atrazine, a widely utilized herbicide in sorghum production, and is proposing to replace the approved 15 parts per billion (ppb) concentration equivalent level of concern (CE-LOC) in the aquatic assessment with the ultra-low 3.4 ppb CE-LOC proposed in 2016—a severely restricted level not supported by credible scientific evidence that would have a devastating impact on farmers. “National Sorghum Producers (NSP) strongly disagrees with the EPA’s proposed level of concern for atrazine,” NSP Chairman Kody Carson, a sorghum farmer from Olton, Texas, said. “Farmers cannot meet the climate goals set forth...
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The U.S. Solicitor General, one of the highest ranking officials in the Department of Justice, filed a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of a challenge to California’s Proposition 12. The state law seeks to ban the sale of pork from hogs that don’t meet California’s production standards, even if the pork was raised on farms outside of California. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) filed the challenge, arguing Proposition 12 violates the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause. In the amicus brief, Solicitor General, Elizabeth Prelogar argued that AFBF and NPPC have stated...
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Jett Greene Johnson, five years old son of Preston and Shoney Johnson, eats, sleeps, and breathes rodeo. He and his horse Goliath can do it all, from carrying the American Flag at rodeos to clearing arenas. He wants to be a rodeo pickup man, just like his dad, when he grows up!
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Since the 500-year flood we just experienced, most rivers and creeks are running high and muddy, which makes all of us happy - except those planning a fishing trip. The summers of social distancing made camping and fishing the ideal pastime, especially because the fly fisherman has been glamourized and romanticized almost as much as the Gary Cooper/Marlboro cowboy image. Movies like A River Runs Through It have made fly fishing a huge industry in our part of the country, and I am glad because it provides me with a lot of summer amusement! Now don't get me wrong and...
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As more information is released on the Emergency Relief Program (ERP), it is important you stay informed on the process as it is, like the other recent programs, tied to the Multi-Peril Crop Insurance or NAP policies you have and is time sensitive with deadlines on sign up, etc. Really, you’re going to notice it adds an increase to your current coverage levels you had signed up for in the 2020 and 2021 crop year, which is similar to the WHIP+ program, but with two phases. The average farmer can receive as much as 5,000 per crop program year per...
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Mega-billionaire, Warren Buffett, has a well-deserved reputation as a genius “value investor” and pithy commentator. His annual reports to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders are highly anticipated for their market insight and expressive language, which often make the news because of both. For example, one of Buffett's most quoted sayings colorfully explains, “You only find out who’s swimming naked when the tide goes out.” While followers of the Oracle of Omaha dispute its precise meaning, most agree that Buffett is warning investors not to base their success on just a bull market. Any real test of an investment should include how it...
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My grandchildren have been helping demo our Wyoming homestead. The littlest ones play out quickly, so it is not surprising when they wander off. Between work weekends, while back in Laurel, the trophy wife discovered she was short one grandson. Druann hollered for Lucas, but there was no reply. The Cove Irrigation Ditch runs just outside our yard fence, and normally this would cause her great angst, but it is nearly dry after suffering a washout in early June. After more hunting and hollering, she found five-year-old Lucas, sound asleep in the loft. He appeared lifeless, so she rattled his...
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Stephen Yellowtail, a fourth generation Wyola, Montana rancher, is no stranger to hard work and dedication. He showed this to all of America as he competed on INSP’s Ultimate Cowboy Showdown, which finished airing on national television on June 23. Stephen may not have been claimed the Ultimate Cowboy on the show, but he is surely Montana’s Ultimate Cowboy. Growing up on the Crow Indian Reservation, the family ranch grew to be his favorite place. He attended school at Tongue River High School in Dayton, Wyoming, and spent many weekends and summers on the ranch in between school and basketball....
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For most people, danger of any kind is avoided at all costs. For others, the thrill that comes in the face of that danger is unmatched. Ryder and Roper Rich, of Eaton, Colorado, are members of the former group; they are the embodiment of adrenaline junkies, and are both following in their father, Kevin’s, footsteps as professional bullfighters. Ryder and Roper both claim that bullfighting “runs in the family,” which must certainly be the case because it was a profession that came looking for their dad and not the other way around. “Bullfighting became a part of my life on...
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I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable Independence Day celebration! For me, it was a point in my timeline that signaled our baby will be coming very, very soon. My due-date is July 31, but I would gladly accept prayers for a happy, healthy delivery much sooner than that! Growing up in Northern Colorado, the Greeley Stampede was always one of the highlights of my summer, and it was even better because it falls right around July 4. In fact, this was one of the first years in my life that I didn’t make it to the Stampede...
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While much of the Western half of the United States endures near historic drought levels, one might anticipate this year’s mosquito season to be a walk in the park, but that’s not necessarily the case. “Just because we don’t have rain, doesn’t mean we don’t have mosquitoes,” Justin Talley, PhD, Department Head for Entomology and Plant Pathology at Oklahoma State University, and former livestock entomologist, said. “Some of the most significant West Nile virus outbreak years have been associated without significant rainfall. Be aware, just because you don’t see water, doesn’t mean there are no breeding areas around.” Dr. Talley...
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I hope you all had a great Independence Day Celebration! Our family had an amazing barbeque, all the little kids swam in Grandma Babe’s pool, and we had a big fireworks display to finish out the day. Between cooking a couple of dishes on my pellet grill for the barbeque, I had a lot of time to think about the state of the cattle industry right now. Truth be told, the cattle markets are set up to explode here in the very new future. I know by now most of you have had the opportunity to read the story my...
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Following an injunction from the Western District of Louisiana, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Montana/Dakotas State Office conducted a lease sale offering 23 parcels totaling 3,405.8 acres in Montana and North Dakota. Nineteen parcels were sold for a total of ,354,562.00. Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation of Denver, Colorado, was the highest bidder, with a total bonus bid of ,346,485,50 for a 68.53-acre parcel in Mountrail County, North Dakota. The parcels offered for sale reflect recommendations from the Department of the Interior’s Report on the Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Program, as well as other reports issued by the...
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Montana Farmers Union (MFU) praised the success of a broad coalition formed to keep Constitutional Initiative 121 off the November ballot. The Know the Consequences: No on CI-121 campaign – comprised of 16 diverse members, including MFU – announced it had been successful in keeping CI-121 from qualifying for the ballot. “Working together with such a broad and diverse coalition ultimately led to CI-121’s defeat,” MFU President Walter Schweitzer said, adding he enjoyed working with a coalition that united such broad factions from around the state. MFU argued against the initiative, saying it would shift the tax burden onto small...
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On June 23, the ribbon was cut on Sustainable Oils’ new 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art North America headquarters building in Great Falls, Montana. Complete with plant breeding and research labs, the facility currently employs a staff of 13 and works with over 100 U.S. farmers to grow camelina – the plant used by their parent company Global Clean Energy to produce ultra-low carbon renewable fuels. Renewable diesel produced from camelina is a drop-in replacement for traditional diesel, but with fewer contaminants and far fewer emissions. In fact, camelina has the potential to receive the lowest carbon intensity score of available...
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“Me?! Why me?! How can I help sequester that fox and opossum? I don’t want to ever see those vile varmints again, after they chicken-napped us and tossed us to rot in a cellar,” Henrietta squawked. “We believe in you and know you’ll do the best job,” Banjo said. “Oh, no, no, no I won’t,” she clucked. Henrietta crossed her feathers. “I have to tend to my chicks. They are my priority, and they are so busy these days now that they’re starting to get their pin feathers. I’ll have to respectfully decline your request to help our ranch family.”...
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On June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court denied R-CALF USA’s petition requesting an appeal of the first of two lawsuits the group had filed against the operation of the mandatory beef checkoff program. The first lawsuit had previously been dismissed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard issued the following statement in response to the effective end of its first lawsuit. “While obviously disappointed that our effort to force even more needed reforms upon the beef checkoff program has ended in our first of two lawsuits, we are grateful for the important reforms we did...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation has named Joby Young the organization’s next Executive Vice President, stepping into the role in mid-July following the retirement of Dale Moore. As Executive Vice President, Joby will serve in a chief of staff role at AFBF, managing across departments and working closely with our state Farm Bureaus to achieve organizational goals. It’s a familiar role for Young who previously served in the same capacity at USDA and in Congress. “Joby is going to be a fantastic addition to our team at Farm Bureau,” said, AFBF President, Zippy Duvall. “He has more than a decade...
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Following an evening of extensive precipitation, residents of Lingle, Wyoming (Goshen County), located on Highway 26 between Torrington and Guernsey, woke up this morning to flash flood warnings due to a breach in the Interstate Canal. Large portions of the town have already been evacuated as the water, which officials have been working to divert, makes its way closer to the downtown area. http:// Video courtesy of Nikki Korrell-Davis According to the Bureau of Reclamation, "at the time of breach, the canal was diverting approximately 1800 cubic-feet-per-second. No injuries occurred as a result of this breach." "More than 90,000 irrigated...
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This is the time of year when I occasionally volunteer to do others chores while they slip away for a day or two for a pre-haying vacation that usually lasts one day and involves a rodeo. Recently, we were tasked with taking care of our daughter's family's two dogs, two cats, 24 fish, 15 chickens, four ducks, and a gecko. We averaged one missing duck and one missing chicken per day, so we were really glad when they returned home to relieve us of a miserably failed duty as we had run out of ducks and were quickly running out...
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Bristol, age 4, and Swayde DeSavuer, age 7, pay tribute during the National Anthem at the Young Riders Series Youth Rodeo. Pictured with Grandma Dar.
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From Field Editor, Alan Sears: The sales numbers represented for this report are based on actual auction results from sales conducted by advertising customers and seedstock producers of the Western Ag Reporter in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. To put all of this in perspective, there are marketing conditions observed in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 to consider: 2017-2018 – Supply and demand through most of 2018 were still being driven by our solid price structure at the commercial level for feeders and calves. The historic market highs from 2015, 2016, and 2017 continued to have a positive...
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It’s been a weird couple of weeks. Normally, in Montana, we’re hurting for moisture but in the past week, not so much — we just should’ve been clearer on what kind of moisture we needed. Today, I’d like to talk about the flood in South Central Montana. It just doesn’t seem right to write about another anti-ag putting their foot down about whatever ridiculous claim they’re making this week when there’s a natural disaster going on outside my window. Many parts of South Central Montana are currently flooded right now. This started on Monday, June 13, 2022, and is still...
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Oftentimes the simple answer to a simple question is the simple truth. Some people, however, don’t want the simple truth, so they bend facts or shave figures, so their square pegs replace roundly accepted reality. It’s commonplace in ag. For example, on April 12, President Joe Biden traveled to Iowa to announce an expansion of the ethanol blend in summertime gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent. Monte Shaw, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association boss, called Biden’s action “the single most important step the President is empowered to take to keep fuel prices down this summer.” But Biden’s political gambit...
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From Field Editor, Alan Sears: The sales numbers represented for this report are based on actual auction results from sales conducted by advertising customers and seedstock producers of the Western Ag Reporter in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. To put all of this in perspective, there are marketing conditions observed in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 to consider: 2017-2018 – Supply and demand through most of 2018 was still being driven by our solid price structure at the commercial level for feeders and calves. The historic market highs from 2015, 2016, and 2017 continued to have a positive impact...
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With the recent recall, and subsequent shortage, of certain infant formulas, parents are scrambling to find appropriate alternatives. Here are some ideas: If your infant is breastfed, keep on nursing. Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life provides the best nutrition and health protection for babies. Between six and 12 months, continue to nurse your infant as you slowly add solid foods to his or her diet. Your youngster will then be ready for cow’s milk at one year of age. For various reasons, however, many babies rely on infant formula to provide the nutrients they need during...
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My grandparents assembled a two-story, Sears and Roebuck, mail order house on the banks of East Pass Creek in 1932. It has been our home ever since. Dad passed a couple years back, and Mom joined him this February. Our home, which had been the gathering place for many family events, was home only to bats and boxelder bugs this last Christmas. This past weekend, we interred Mother’s ashes in the family cemetery on the hill above the house before gathering in the barn to swap stories over burgers and beans. Because my mini-Kimmels traveled 20 hours from Texas, and...
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The Western way of life is something that is honored and carried on in a variety of ways, from the work farmers and ranchers do every day to those who help preserve it through art. Each person’s role in carrying on this heritage is of the upmost importance. Each year, the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame (MCHF) honors individuals from across the state who do just that. Wally Badgett, creator of the cherished comic, “Earl,” was a member of the MCHF 2022 class. Adding to that honor, Badgett will be just the third person to receive the Saddle of Honor...
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There has been a lot of discussion the last few years about fed cattle marketing and finding solutions to make it a fairer and more equitable situation on a consistent basis for both the producer and the feeder. I’ve had the great opportunity to sit in and be a part of many of these conversations, and one thing is blatantly obvious: the cattle industry of the United States will never totally agree or unify on any solutions that have to do with the way we market fed cattle. It's plain and simple. However, I do believe that we, the U.S....
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Social media was a scary place to be on Friday, June 24 when the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) voted to overturn the longstanding Roe vs. Wade ruling. One person that I follow wrote, “I’m scared to live here {in the United States}. This is not freedom” in response to the following tweet: “Today, SCOTUS ended the Constitutional right to abortion, saying it should be left to the states. Yesterday, SCOTUS imposed a constitutional right to concealed carry firearms, saying it shouldn’t be left to the states. Guns have more rights than women in America.” Another wrote, “this...
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If you follow along with Western Ag Reporter social media, you may have several posts showing highlights of the Farm-to-Field Day at the Basin Angus Ranch in Reed Point, Montana. Purina Animal Nutrition, in conjunction with Purina dealer, Axmen Farm & Ranch, hosted two Research Farm-to-Field Days at Basin Angus Ranch and Gravely Ranch in Helmville, Montana. Producers from every sector of the cattle industry – seedstock, cow calve, purebred, and feeders – ranging from herd sizes of 40 head to 1000 head operations, came together to learn more about the research and work that Purina has put into their...
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The most recent Cattle on Feed report was released by USDA on Friday, June 24. Total cattle on feed numbers came in at 11.8 million head, up 1 percent from last year and the highest June 1 inventory since they started keeping track in 1996. The pre-report guess was at 101.5 with a range of 101.0-101.9, so at least it came in at the low end of the range at 101. Placements during May were down 2 percent as compared to last year at 1.87 million head. The average estimate was 99.8 with a range of 99.0-101.6, so at 98,...
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Rising fuel prices are putting growing pressure on farmers and ranchers as they grapple with increased costs of growing food and fiber. USDA estimates show that the cost of fuel, lube, and electricity is expected to increase 34 percent in 2022 compared to 2021. American Farm Bureau Federation, AFBF, economists analyze the factors contributing to rising fuel prices in the latest Market Intel. The war in Ukraine has reduced the availability of global crude oil and U.S. domestic production is down, while demand is increasing in the United States and abroad. Diesel prices rose to .718 per gallon in June,...
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The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) welcomes Kaitlyn Fulmer and Stephanie Johnson to the member services department. Fulmer and Johnson will assist members with inventory management, registrations, transfers, REDSPro software use and data submissions of various types. “Their enthusiasm of being a part of the Association has been evident from the very beginning,” Halla Pfeiff, director of office operations, said. “Both Kaitlyn and Stephanie come to RAAA with industry experience and will help RAAA and its members propel forward. Their desire to serve the Red Angus membership is at a high level, with meeting each member’s unique needs being...
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U.S. consumers will pay .68 for their favorite Independence Day cookout foods, including cheeseburgers, pork chops, chicken breasts, homemade potato salad, strawberries, and ice cream, based on a new American Farm Bureau Federation marketbasket survey. The average cost of a summer cookout for 10 people is .68, which breaks down to less than per person. The overall cost for the cookout is up 17 percent or about from last year, a result of ongoing supply chain disruptions, inflation, and the war in Ukraine. Farmers are feeling the price-point pain too, like the people they grow food for, according...
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Mark Barnett of Kentucky-Tennessee Livestock Market, Inc. in Guthrie, Kentucky, was installed president of the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) at the 2022 LMA Annual Convention & WLAC, held June 8-11. Barnett will complete a two-year term leading the nation’s largest livestock marketing trade association that represents more than 800 local livestock auction markets and allied businesses. Mark has lived in the Guthrie, Kentucky, area his entire life and owned the Kentucky-Tennessee Livestock Market for over 40 years. Through a strong relationship with the previous market owner, Mark invested in the business, spurring his involvement in the livestock marketing industry. In...
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At the 2022 Annual Membership Meeting, the members of the Colorado Livestock Association elected officers and directors. This year, the vote for the officers and directors of the Association was conducted solely by absentee ballot by applicable Colorado Statutes (see the Notice of Special Meeting). As per the Association by-laws, President-Elect Kenny Rogers, Wagon Wheel Ranch, Yuma, Colorado, has filled the office of President. Dwain Weinrich will now fill the role of Immediate Past-President for two years. The following Officers and Directors have been elected to their respective positions: Kory Kessinger, Kessinger Livestock, Akron, was elected President-Elect for a two-year...
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The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation (NCF) Retail Value Steer Challenge (RVSC) winners were honored at the NC Foundation lunch on June 10, 2022, during the Nebraska Cattlemen Midyear Meeting in Valentine. The Retail Value Steer Challenge raises money to support youth and adult educational programs, scholarships, research and infrastructure projects, history preservation, and collegiate judging teams across Nebraska. Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation President, Ryan Loeske stated, “We are proud to announce this year’s winners of the 2022 Retail Value Steer Challenge and appreciate all participants who went out of their way to help our next generation of beef cattle producers in their...
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“Ufta!” Banjo sighed. “You ever heard the phrase madder than a wet hen? Well, ol’ Henrietta’s about as mad, and as mean, as that rattlesnake could’ve been.” “Why’s she so ornery, lately,” Tuff asked. “She’s overprotective of all her chicks.” “I think I might be too after being taken hostage, thrown in a cellar with a rattlesnake or two, and left for done,” Pudge commented. “Where’ve you been?” Banjo asked. “Been missing seeing the likes of you lately.” “Oh, I’ve just been out and about.” Pudge smirked. “You’ve been up to something?” Tuff muttered. He could tell by her sly...
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Note from the Editor: Nelda Williams, a 98-year-old resident of Arbon, Idaho, submitted a few excerpts from her book, Sod and Nelda: Many Years Gathering, which can be purchased on Amazon. She wrote, “I lost Sod 20 years ago this past November. He hadn’t lived to see the book in print, but it is a story of my early life and the many years spent with my talented husband. He made a name for himself in the Quarter Horse industry as well as the rodeo world, all while building a ranch in the Arbon Valley." “The Cougar” About 8:00 a.m.,...
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Today, the Senate Agriculture Committee favorably reported S. 3870, the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022 and S. 4030, the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022. National Farmer’s Union (NFU) supports both bills and stated that they “will foster much-needed competition in the meat and poultry sector.” “For family farmers and ranchers to thrive, they need markets that offer adequate price discovery and transparency,” NFU President, Rob Larew said. “NFU strongly supports the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022, which will preserve the cash market as an option for cattle producers by establishing regional...
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At the age of 12, Paislee Stevens loves doing just about anything on the Long Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming, especially if it’s on the back of a horse. She is her Dad and Grandpa Bill’s best hand whether it’s branding, tagging calves, sorting, doctoring, helping pull calves, or any chore outside. Just don’t ask her to help Mom with the dishes or housework!
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I have always been a Martha Stewart fan, which I believe I can admit now that she's been out of jail for a long time. I loved her shows and website, but as a backcountry cook, I would like to see Martha pack everything in on mules and serve it in a swarm of horse flies. Just in case she wants to expand into the area of creative backcountry cookery, I have decided to share a few ideas that (exactly like Martha) I have stolen or concocted. First of all, outfitters in general do not like to pack squishy things like artichokes, raspberries,...
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The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust is pleased to announce it is applying for renewal of accreditation with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (Commission), an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. A public comment period is now open. The Commission conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. “Accreditation ensures that our organization is implementing appropriate policies and procedures. It is an assurance to landowners and supporters that we will remain in place to...
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On June 22, Governor Greg Gianforte met with first responders, residents, small business owners, and agricultural producers in Carbon and Stillwater counties as communities in the region rebuild from flooding. “Flooding has taken a devastating toll on communities in south-central Montana, washing away roads, bridges, family homes, and agricultural infrastructure,” Gianforte said. “Meeting with residents today, I reiterated the state’s commitment to bringing its resources to bear to support them as they recover and rebuild.” Beginning in Carbon County, Gianforte received an incident command briefing on recovery efforts in Red Lodge and met with county commissioners. A gateway community to...
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Culture: the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group — remember that definition. In recent years, culture has been a big topic. Cultural appropriation is a big issue online; respecting one another’s culture is highly preached; and laws are put into place protecting one’s cultural rights, beliefs, and practices. And these issues are things I agree with — we shouldn’t “steal” someone’s culture for our own personal gain (whether that be monetary or in one’s follower count on Instagram); we should respect the culture’s which are different than our own; our cultural...
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From Field Editor and Publisher, John Goggins The Fall 2021 through Spring 2022 sale season around my territory was one for the record books. Drought had a grip on the entire Western section of the United States during this time, and roughly 30-40 percent of the cowherds in this region were liquidated. Despite the devastation, high feed costs, lack of stock water and other hardships created by the drought, seedstock and commercial breeders alike stayed strong in their resilience and kept the unwavering faith that they would get through this and looked forward to the cattle markets we are about...
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From 35,000 feet, the white ring that marks the high level of Lake Powell looks just like the ring of an emptying bathtub. The only difference is the chalky top mark on this big tub, once the second largest freshwater reservoir in the U.S., is an unscrubble 1,900 miles around. Lake Powell, the upper reservoir on southern Utah’s Colorado River, isn’t the only ring-lined sign of trouble about to hit the 40 million Americans who make the Southwest their home. Three hundred miles downstream, Lake Mead, the nation’s biggest reservoir, is emptying even faster than its sister. Together, these two...
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In the reality series Fixer Upper, Chip and Joanna Gaines renovate old houses into showcase homes. The prequel to their series should be called Cleaner Upper, but it has never been produced. The trophy wife and I could audition for Cleaner Upper as we recently relocated 15 tons of goodies from the in-law’s residence to the landfill. Now we are attacking our family ranch west of Parkman, Wyoming. My great-great-grandparents homesteaded our place in 1887, so family members have been stuffing trinkets and tidbits in corners and closets for 135 years. This means I come from a long line of...
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Our phones began to light up with texts and messages first thing Monday morning as the rising flood waters raged through town and continued down the valley. The images we were viewing of flood waters surging through our town was nothing short of what I’ve watched in movies. Our friends shared their experiences of a terrifying night as they watched their neighborhood homes become decimated while they evacuated with only the clothes on their backs. Within minutes the bridges were wiped away. Flood waters burst through doors with residents still inside, and their furniture was carried off and washed away...
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As of press time, the state of Montana is one week out from the flood that they are calling a “500 year” event. As the waters begin to recede and affected communities can take in the scope and scale of the damage, many are starting to realize that their idea of “normal” won’t be the same as it was less than 10 days ago. Between Saturday, June 10, and Tuesday, June 13, the Beartooth and Absaroka Mountain ranges received anywhere from 0.8 inches to over 5 inches of rainfall from the West Coast, according to the Billings National Weather Service....
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The Good Grazing Makes Cent$ program hosted a panel discussion on June 8, titled “When in Drought.” Even with much of the country getting some precipitation over the past couple of weeks, many regions are still fighting extreme drought conditions, which sparked the Society of Range Management to host the event. Formatted as a conservation collaboration between range scientists and producers, the discussion was an excellent learning resource focused on discussing issues that real ranchers are wrestling with such as different water distribution methods and current and future cattle market trends. Opening Wednesday night’s live discussion, David Voth, who runs...
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I can’t say anything about this historic flood that hasn’t already been said – but it’s my biggest hope right now for all of you in its wake that you are able to start getting back to normalcy as soon as possible. For some, I realize this idea of “normal” is going to be a little different than what it was a week ago, and my prayers are going out to all of you as you navigate all of this. Back in 2013, the South Platte River flooded, and my little hometown of Kersey, Colorado was severely impacted. I grew...
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There have not been very many years in the past in which you encounter the highest fed cattle of the year in the month of June. Well, that is the case right now. Cattle in the north were higher last week, ranging from 5 to 9. Fed cattle in the south were mainly to higher at 8 to 0. Prior to last week, the high for 2022 was a little over 3 back in early May. There is no doubt the main factor sending fed cattle higher are all the death losses of fed cattle in feedlots,...
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Governor Mark Gordon told a Congressional committee that Wyoming’s leadership in natural gas production will continue to help fuel the nation’s economy. He also reasserted the state’s commitment to carbon capture and sequestration and emphasized that Wyoming does not need an additional layer of federal regulation of methane emissions. “In Wyoming, we manage our natural and mineral resources exceptionally well, providing for both environmental stewardship and energy production,” Governor Gordon said in his testimony to a House Select Committee. “Throughout the past twenty-six years, Wyoming has been recognized as a national leader in regulating air emissions from oil and gas...
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On June 17, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) filed comments on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) controversial proposed greenhouse gas disclosure rule. The rule would require publicly traded companies to disclose their direct (scope 1), energy/electricity consumption (scope 2), and supply chain emissions (scope 3), creating a burden on cattle producers who supply beef to publicly traded processors, restaurants, and retailers. “With cattle producers facing record inflation, rising input costs and labor shortages, another bureaucratic rule from Washington is a burden we cannot afford,” NCBA President, Don Schiefelbein, a cattle producer from Kimball, Minnesota, said. “Policymakers should...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now accepting nominations for county committee members. Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA’s) for members. LAA’s are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction. This may include LAA’s that are focused on an urban or suburban area. County committee members make important decisions about how Federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2022 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by August 1, 2022. “It is a priority for USDA to integrate equity...
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From Field Editor, Will Bollum: Across my three state territory of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota it was another strong year for production sale averages. We saw the total number of head sold decrease but prices increased significantly. All classes of females saw a substantial increase in price. I expect that trend to continue. All in all, we helped market over .5 million in livestock over the past year, truly incredible. Through late 2021 and early 2022, the drought continued for much of the region. Moisture was finally received across a large area in the form of one of...
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At the recent State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) meeting, the board changed the requirements for bison imported from Canada to align with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). “As a result of the recent action, bison coming from areas in Canada designated as tuberculosis and brucellosis free, will no longer need to be tuberculosis and brucellosis tested,” State Veterinarian Dr. Ethan Andress said. “Additionally, the identification requirements for bison have been changed to allow for paired tags, as approved by USDA, in lieu of the CɅN brand or tattoo.” “After considering information...
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Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Executive Vice President, John Youngberg announced his retirement during the organization’s summer conference June 13-15 in Fairmont Hot Springs. Youngberg, who was raised in Clyde Park, started working for the state’s largest agricultural organization in February 1992 as the director of membership development. He quickly moved into a role in governmental relations, becoming a respected lobbyist in Helena and serving in that role for many years. He has worked through 15 regular legislative sessions and 11 special sessions. In 2015, Youngberg became the MFBF executive vice president where he continued his work in governmental relations...
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On June 16, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) expressed strong disappointment in the House passage of the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, which incorporates the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act. “Rising food, fuel, and fertilizer prices are hurting cattle producers around the country, but Congress is relentlessly focused on political posturing through this special investigator bill,” NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane said. “NCBA strongly supports fairness and transparency in the market, but Congress is wasting time with legislative proposals in search of a problem while ignoring real issues impacting cattle producers.” The special investigator section of...
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Dana Jansen has been hired as the Director of Ag Safety for the Montana State Fund Ag Safety Program. Jansen, a Fairfield native, stated that her involvement in 4-H and FFA lead her to attend Montana State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education Broadfield teaching. After graduating, Jansen moved to Lavina to join her husband’s family cow/calf operation and begin her career as an agriculture educator and FFA advisor at Broadview Public Schools. “As an agricultural producer and educator, I know everything we do to provide food, fiber, and fuel for the world is inherently risky,”...
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The Colorado Livestock Association Safe Farm Awards were presented at the 2022 CLA Annual Meeting in Loveland, Colorado on June 9, 2022. 2021 Safe Farm Award recipients were Bamford Feedyard, HaxtunChristensen Brothers, Inc, Weldona D&D Feedlot West, IliffDvorak Feeders, Inc, Burlington McClary Farms, Inc, and the Sedgwick Penny Family Farms, Burlington. The 2021 Safe Farm Award recipients were chosen based on several factors. The criteria include: member of the CLA work comp group for two years; an active cost containment certification; two years of a loss ratio less than 25 percent; average two days or less to report claims to...
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The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) announced new directors and officers June 3 during the group’s annual symposium in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Joe Epperly, of Albion, Nebraska, was introduced as the 2022-23 BIF president during the Friday awards luncheon. Kevin Shultz, from Haviland, Kansas, is the new vice president. Directors reelected to serve on the BIF board were producers Epperly and Gordon Hodges, Hamptonville, North Carolina. Ken Odde, Pollock, South Dakota, was elected as an at-large director. Jackie Atkins, American Simmental Association, was re-elected as a breed association representative, and Megan Slater, American Gelbvieh Association, was elected to her first...
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Will Epperly, from Dunlap, Iowa, was named the 2022 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion at the 58th annual competition held at Shipshewana Auction & Trading Place, Shipshewana, Indiana, presented by the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA). “It was such a powerful moment,” Epperly said. “I thought to myself, ‘this can’t be real,’ and the emotions that came over me were a flood. It was joy, excitement and nervousness for the year to come, but I hope to represent everyone and the Livestock Marketing Association very well.” This was Epperly’s 12th year competing at a WLAC-affiliated event. He earned his spot to compete...
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Governor Mark Gordon will issue an emergency declaration in response to historic flooding in Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas. This follows days of work by state agencies to respond to this historic event. While analysis of the impacts of the flooding in the surrounding area is ongoing, the emergency declaration will allow the state to seek federal funding assistance for necessary road repairs. Governor Gordon has been communicating with Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly, Montana Governor, Greg Gianforte, and state agency heads to ensure a coordinated response to a changing situation. “This has been extraordinarily hard on a lot...
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Governor Greg Gianforte announced the state has submitted a request to President Joe Biden for an expedited presidential major disaster declaration due to devastating flooding across portions of the state of Montana. “On Tuesday, June 14, we began working with FEMA to pursue an expedited presidential major disaster declaration and secure direct federal assistance for Montana communities. [On June 15,] we submitted our formal request to President Biden,” Governor Gianforte said. “With the support of a presidential major disaster declaration, we can help our communities with their response, recovery, and rebuilding, getting them back on their feet as quickly as...
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To support the next generation of agricultural professionals, National Farmers Union Foundation (NFUF) announced the 2022 recipients of its annual scholarship awards. Every year, the organization presents several scholarships to students in any area of study attending a two- or four-year accredited college, university, or technical school who have demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to their communities. Phillip Prewet of Montana received the Hubert K. & JoAnn Seymour Scholarship, a ,000 scholarship award given in honor of the dedication and commitment to Farmers Union and family farming by Hubert and his wife, JoAnn. Hubert K. Seymour was a leader...
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When you live on a creek or a river, ç is a springtime fear. It is ironic that we have prayed for rain since March, but now that the flooding has begun, we are almost tempted to pause that prayer. Many areas of our state are still in severe drought, but we are under flood watches. The last major flood washed out our bridge, and we vowed we would move to Cohagen, Montana if it happened again. Fortunately for the residents of Cohagen our new bridge, which cost us and FEMA a lot of money, has held strong so far....
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Vade Donker is eight-years-old and loves animals! He lives and works on the Spanish Ranch located in northern Nevada. Although he is not sure what he wants to be when he grows up, he knows he wants to live on a ranch.
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American Farm Bureau Federation President, Zippy Duvall spoke with President Biden to discuss several challenges farmers and ranchers are facing and the importance of final Congressional action on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act to address the backlog at our ports. “I had a good discussion with President Biden about several issues, including the importance of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act to America’s farmers and ranchers. He wholeheartedly agreed that we must get past the bottleneck at our ports to get America back on the move, and that means breaking the logjam on Capitol Hill. The President thanked farmers and ranchers...
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There’s this seven-year-old kid, let’s call him Tommy, in Fakecity who loves cows. Fakecity is a small town with a school of about 200 kids. Tommy loves school, but was elated to be out of school for the summer, because he knew his summer would be spent halter breaking his show heifer so he could show her at the Fakecity County Fair. And that’s exactly what Tommy told his buddies and one of Fakecity ISD’s teachers at recess. However, Ms. Teacher didn’t share Tommy’s excitement. Ms. Teacher actually told Tommy that he shouldn’t be excited to work with his show...
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Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring has announced North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) awards for six projects. The awards, totaling 1,410 were approved at the APUC quarterly meeting May 19 in Watford City. APUC is a program of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture that administers grant programs for research and development of new and expanded uses for North Dakota agricultural products which support the development of concepts and products that support our rural communities and agriculture operations. The grants can be used for basic and applied research, marketing and utilization, farm diversification, nature-based agritourism, prototype and technology, and technical...
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Caution: This is a chicken-and-egg story. Late this winter, as our COVID pandemic was waning, many bird species – and especially chickens – were suffering their own terrible pandemic, the spread of “highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI),” FERN noted, the Food & Environmental Reporting Network May 31. How terrible? Since January, 38 million chickens have died in the U.S. either because of HPAI outbreaks or the culling of flocks where it was found. Three out of four of those losses, or 29 million birds, were egg-laying hens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) explained. Laying hens – and turkeys –...
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This is my favorite time of year. Branding and spring vaccinations are behind us. Mother cows are contentedly nursing their babies in pastures finally green after much-needed rain. And other duties have slowed down—at least for a couple of weeks. It’s a good time for a trip to my native New Mexico to visit my youngest daughter on her birthday. An added bonus: she works at one of this state’s treasured properties, Los Poblanos (LP) Historic Inn and organic lavender farm in Albuquerque’s Rio Grande Valley. For those of us who love the scent and beauty of lavender, this place...
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It was a Thursday. Mr. Brown tried to capture the attention of his students, but the hot July weather made teaching school especially challenging. While his attention was focused on a student’s work, four hooligans barged into the classroom and struck Mr. Brown on the back of his head. When he regained consciousness, he begged the intruders to spare the lives of his twelve young pupils. The perpetrators lacked mercy. Enoch Brown was shot and scalped as were 10 students under his care. Two survived to tell the story of America’s first school shooting which occurred in 1764 near what...
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EquiSUMMIT is a virtual event that aims to equip horse enthusiasts with education and nutrition tools to unlock gut health and stress solutions for their horses. The second annual EquiSUMMIT featured experts from industry and academia who tackled important equine health topics such as leaky gut syndrome, the gut-brain axis, and laminitis. The first live event presented during the EquiSUMMIT was “The Transformative Difference Between Healthy Gut and a Leaky Gut,” with Dr. Anthony Blikslager, Professor of Equine Surgery and Head of the Department of Clinical Sciences at North Carolina State University. Dr. Blikslager’s research is focused on equine colic,...
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The Elshere family, of South Dakota, has always been one to watch in the rodeo arena, specifically, in the saddle bronc riding. Through the years, the family has seen many successes, including numerous trips to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, WNFR. For years, they have been tough competitors at the Thomas and Mack Arena in Las Vegas, but on the ranch, the family’s legacy continues to push the bounds to produce better beef to put on the table. Four-time WNFR Qualifier and fifth-generation rancher, Cole Elshere holds true to the cowboy values of being courageous, having heart, and being humble,...
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When things aren’t going well, it’s easy to sit around and talk about everything that should be changed. The road less traveled, however, is the one where action is taken to make the solution come to life – this is the route that Neil Sanders and Kirk Hall, two of the five board members for Dakota Territory Beef (DTB), have chosen. On May 25, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the future site of DTB, which when all said and done, will include 19,100 square feet of processing facilities and a retail store front just over a mile from the...
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I had the opportunity to travel to Billings this past week for our annual meeting at the Reporter. It's a very rare thing for all of us – from the production and editorial teams to our sales reps – to be in the same place at the same time. It gives us all the chance to reorient ourselves to our common goals, and most importantly, to catch up with each other. As you can see from the photo, it was a packed table for us at supper one of those days we were together, and what’s even more special, is...
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I was browsing through various articles over the weekend and came across a story on agweb.com written by Greg Henderson titled, “New Antitrust Suit Targets Big 4 Packers.” Mr. Henderson is the only person, as far as my searches are concerned, that wrote about this news over the weekend. Henderson reported, “Grocery retailer Giant Eagle filed an antitrust complaint against the Big 4 beef packing companies in Chicago’s U.S. District Court on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.” Giant Eagle, Henderson explained, operates roughly 470 stores across the Midwest and out east and generates roughly billion in sales each year. The...
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Hereford breeders and commercial users of Hereford genetics enrolled a record number of steers in the 2022 Hereford Feedout Program to find out how their genetics perform in the feedlot and on the rail. Cattle arrived at HRC Feed Yards in Scott City, Kansas, in December for a feeding period ending in May-June. Program participants received feedlot performance data throughout the feeding period and individual carcass data at harvest. "The impressive carcass data from the first group harvested is a testament to the value of Hereford genetics and the diligence of progressive producers wanting to provide the highest quality beef,"...
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From the Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC): The last few days have been difficult in southwest Montana. Unprecedented flooding has unleashed destruction across landscapes and within communities we hold dear. The floods also strike at the personal level for the many GYC staff, friends, and partners who call these communities home. Our hearts are with them as they work to protect their homes and begin to rebuild. For locals, we encourage people to volunteer and support their neighbors through the recovery process. Please adhere to all closures and avoid putting additional stress on first responders and emergency crews. For those who...
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Application, nomination forms available for North Dakota Stockmen’s Hope After Haley Disaster Relief Fund Application and nomination forms are now available for the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA) and North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation’s (NDSF) Hope After Haley Disaster Relief Fund. The groups teamed up to support the state’s cattle ranchers who suffered serious impacts in back-to-back, record-setting storms in April. Livestock industry impacts ranged from widespread livestock death and illness to damaged buildings and fences. The Hope After Haley Disaster Relief Fund will help North Dakota cattlemen and women offset the losses from these disastrous storms and those that linger...
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Montana residents are continuing to battle the “flood of the century,” and even though water levels have gone down, Jean Petersen, author of the weekly “Banjo” column and Roberts, Montana resident, believes they are not out of the woods yet. Despite it all, Petersen said that, “Tuesday was a sunny day for many reasons.” Petersen commended the hard work of the men and women who have come quickly to the aid of those affected by the flooding. On Tuesday evening (June 14), Petersen reported that multiple first responders were on sight including the National Guard – Airborne and Infantry. Commissioner...
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Northern Plains Resource Council is working to promote soil stewardship by presenting innovative agricultural methods that increase the sustainability and productivity of farms and ranches. The conservation and family agriculture group is hosting an on-site workshop (or “soil crawl”) on June 18 in Big Timber. The event will take place at the Living Soil Farm. Crawl attendees will learn from Dr. Tony Hartshorn with MSU, as well as innovative producers, Cameron Skinner of Living Soil Farm and Mihail Kennedy of B Bar Ranch, who will focus on concepts of cultivating resilience through regenerative agriculture and soil health. Kareen Erbe with...
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The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds agricultural producers that for the 2022 crop year there are options for insuring double crop soybeans and other crops in counties where the Following Another Crop (FAC) practice is not available. Producers intending to plant soybeans or other crops after wheat in counties where double crop insurance coverage is not available have the option to request coverage through their crop insurance agent if there is evidence of adaptability for the practice in the area. In addition, producers in some areas of the country also have the option to request coverage for soybeans planted...
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As water levels have crested and are beginning to recede in what's being called the "flood of the century," Montana residents can only wait to assess the extent of the damage their communities have experienced. As of Tuesday, June 14, all entrances to Yellowstone National Park have been closed to the public as many roads have been washed out entirely. While there seems to be some hope on the horizon, residents aren't resting easy just yet as further moisture is in the forecast this week. Roberts: Roberts resident, Jean Petersen, snapped the following photo outside of her home on Tuesday...
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At the recent State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) meeting, the board removed the requirement for cows and heifers 12 months of age or older to be Official Calfhood Vaccinates (OCV) for Brucellosis if imported from Montana. Montana holds a Brucellosis Class Free Status, meaning the state is considered free of the disease. In southwest Montana, Yellowstone National Park has wild bison and elk that are infected, but the Montana Department of Livestock in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture maintains a Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) around the park and regularly monitors movement in and around it. “Montana...
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On June 6th, the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA), an affiliate of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), hosted a Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) roundtable with representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers. One of ten WOTUS roundtables selected by the EPA, this roundtable was the only one solely focused on the cattle and beef industry. Highlights from the Roundtable: • Cattle Producers Need Certainty Under the Rules: Aaron Popelka, Vice President of Legal & Government Affairs, Kansas Livestock Association, said, “We supported the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, particularly because it gave some bright, bright...
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American Agri-Women (AAW) named California 1st District Congressman, Doug LaMalfa as their 2022 Champion of Agriculture. AAW presented the award to LaMalfa at a recognition ceremony held recently in the House Agriculture Committee Chambers in Washington, D.C. The AAW Champion of Agriculture Award is presented to members of Congress and the U.S. Senate who have displayed exemplary courage in presenting and supporting legislation that promotes U.S. agriculture, rural lifestyles, and the U.S. Constitution. AAW President Heather Hampton-Knodle said, “Congressman LaMalfa earned the award for his impressive record of supporting property rights, agriculture, and wise land use at the state and national levels. ...
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Over the weekend, warm temperatures, consistent and heavy rainfall, and spring runoff have created areas of extreme rainfall across southeastern Montana. While several communities have seen impacted, here is what's happening is a few of them. Absarokee (Stillwater County): According to weather.gov, "Heavy rain falling on the snowpack over the Beartooth/Absaroka mountains has resulted in unprecedented rises on the Stillwater River. The river is currently higher than has ever been recorded at Absarokee. The river is currently peaking, and is expected to decrease through the remainder of the day into Tuesday as rainfall decreases and temperatures drop towards freezing in...
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Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced Agricultural Diversification and Development (ADD) Fund awards for three projects. The awards, totaling 0,000, were approved at the ADD quarterly meeting May 19 in Watford City. The ADD Fund is administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture in association with the Bank of North Dakota. The fund was created to support new or expanding value-added-agriculture businesses that demonstrate financial feasibility, enhance profitability for farmers and ranchers, create jobs, and grow North Dakota’s economy. Types of projects eligible for the fund include but are not limited to: food production and processing facilities, feed or...
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Email submissions to production@westernagreporter.com by July 1, 2022 Photo Requirements: All photos must be AT LEAST 300 dpi. 3,000 x 3,000 pixels are preferred. If a cell phone is used, please be sure the quality and size requirements are met. Photos must include cattle in some way. All images must be submitted by the owner themselves and are original images. Images found online, in other publications/websites, will be disqualified. Limit of 5 submissions per person. All images submitted are automatically released from copyright. The Western Ag Reporter reserves the right to use any images submitted in print, digital, or website – any image...
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“Hey! Come quick, come quick!” Tuff hollered. He and his new shadow, the youngest of the weasel crew, were standing in attention at the chicken coop’s door. Banjo’s stomach sank. “Oh no,” he thought. “This can’t be good if he’s standing outside. I wonder what got in there.” Tuff peeked his snoot into the coop and quickly withdrew it. “Ah!” he said as he jumped back. Banjo raced to them, seeing Tuff’s reaction. “What did Rascal do this time?” Banjo asked, automatically assuming it was the dirty work of the masked bandit. Tuff and his weasel protégé stepped back to...
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Cowboys can be divided into three basic types: 1) v, 2) movie and TV cowboys and 3) real cowboys. (Thank goodness we don't have to worry about urban cowboys and disco cowboys anymore). Actually, rodeo cowboys are real cowboys too, and often either come from a ranch background or are just trying to win enough money to buy a ranch someday and settle down. So, we are left with REAL cowboys and REEL cowboys. Real cowboys are named Ty, Trevor, Tuff, or Stetson while John Wayne's real name was Marion and Roy Roger's moniker was actually Leonard Slye. Real cowboys...
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Facebook and Google and e-mail are wonderful things, but I believe we are living more fearfully because of them. Every day I receive hundreds of messages, memes, and emails. Some of them are tips from readers who would like me to pass along life altering information. Sometimes, I do try to fact check that information with sites like Snopes.com - even though I have it on good Facebook authority that Snopes is just a husband and wife from southern California who offer their liberal opinions on everything from urban legends to political events. I think it might be simpler to...
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Ranch Boss Evelyn Intermill shows her cousin Colter Latka how bottle feeding the bucket calf is done. She loves all activities on the ranch from tagging calves, feeding the bucket calves, and riding her horse. Living in Alliance, Nebraska on the Lost Creek Ranch, Evelyn wants to be a Ballerina who rides horses when she grows up!
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From the Livestock Marketing Information Center One of the adages that makes analysis of cattle and beef markets so difficult is that the playing out of somewhat observable supply and demand scenarios seems to take so long – possibly twice as long as you might think. That said, the cattle and beef markets appear to be returning to much needed, and anticipated, normalcy, and certainly – or at least more recognizable – than what we’ve lived with the past two years. There will continue to be lots of talk – and sticker shock – regarding inflation. But the large supplies...
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One of my favorite things to do, anytime, anywhere, is play “The Farming Game.” The Farming Game is a board game which is kind of like Monopoly, but better. Maybe I like it so much because I’m competitive and like to brag about my win when I inevitably beat my brother so bad, he has to quit out of shame. Maybe I like it because it’s just quirky and ag-nerdy enough to make me laugh. I LOVE The Farming Game because it’s not real life; it’s a fictional farm where you can almost guarantee four cuttings of hay and run...
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On the very week the United States marked its one millionth COVID death and anxious American parents awaited a military airlift for baby formula, Davos Man, he of the pinstriped master-of-the-universe class, emerged from his bulletproof, bombproof office to report all was well in the world of intergalactic finance and handmade shoes. Well, kinda’ sorta’ well. There was, after all, a brutal war raging near the Swiss enclave of the World Economic Forum, and most key global stock markets remain underwater for the year. And, sure, China’s economic growth this year is projected to be lower than America’s for the...
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The trophy wife and I recently road tripped to San Angelo, Texas to see our oldest granddaughter graduate high school. We also got to meet her youngest brother, our newest grandson. Driving I-25 along the front range always brings memories of our vet school days. Even though the massive growth along the Rockies amazes me, on this trip something else shocked me more. Recent rains have made most of Montana and Wyoming an emerald paradise, but all this changed the instant we hit Colorado. The Centennial State is caught in a drought, and the countryside became drier and drier as...
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Across Reporter Country, there’s a word that will elicit a furrowed brow and a gruff response from most all producers: thistles. While certain varieties are more prevalent in specific states, the situation is the same with non-native, noxious thistles – if landowners are not proactive in identifying and managing these weeds, the results can be disastrous. In her newly published Wyoming Thistle Field Guide (Field Guide), Bonnie Heidel, author and Botany Program Manager for the University of Wyoming, emphasizes the importance of being able to differentiate between native and non-native thistles because “native thistles provide valuable resources to insects, birds,...
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It’s a good time to be a Wyoming rancher on the Upper Green River rangeland as the Montana Circuit Court has approved continued grazing in the Upper Green River area. Although environmentalists argue that grazing will have detrimental effects on the local grizzly bear population, on May 16, U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal agreed grazing did not violate the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Green River Drift (the Drift) is approximately a 70-mile-long cattle drive that has been used since the 1890’s. This cattle trail crosses not only private property, but BLM, State of Wyoming, and National Forest land. The...
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In an address at Georgetown University on June 1, Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) pledge of over billion in funding for the “Food System Transformation Framework” (the Framework). “Why are we even talking about transforming the American food system – I believe the answer is simple: it’s what we always do in America,” Vilsack said. “When faced with grave challenges, America ceases the opportunity to transform itself into a stronger and better form of itself.” Vilsack noted that this “transformation [has] to be comprehensive” in order to build “on lessons learned from...
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There’s always a project to be done on a ranch – you all know that just as well, if not better, than I do. The minute you take a deep breath with the completion of a stressful season – calving, breeding, weaning, farming, etc. - you know there’s always one more right around the corner. However, the projects are satisfying when completed and often very necessary for the health of our livestock and the land. One of those things that, frankly, must be added to your long to-do lists is proactive range-management. My article on thistle management came to my...
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June marks the kick-off of the summer selling season for the video auction companies around the nation. From now until early fall, we will see all classes of cattle sell, from calves, to yearlings, to bred stock. There are a few things which appear to be positive as we prepare to kick off the video sale season. First and foremost is that corn prices have come well off their highs. I am certainly not wishing any ill will on corn farmers as everybody deserves to make money, but it can keep coming down a ways and still remain very profitable...
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In a recent letter to President Biden, NFU expressed concern with an amicus brief submitted by the U.S. Solicitor General to the Supreme Court on the labeling of glyphosate and regulation of crop protection products. The letter calls for the brief to be withdrawn and for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be consulted on the implications of the position taken in the brief. "The position taken by the Solicitor General undermines the United States' science-based regulatory approach to crop protection products," NFU President, Rob Larew wrote. "It may decrease farmers' access to products that are essential to their operations." ...
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The Angus Foundation held its second annual Angus Day of Giving on May 17 and raised over ,000 to further its mission of supporting Angus youth, education, and research efforts. The event celebrated the day George Grant brought the first Angus bulls to Victoria, Kansas on May 17, 1873. The Angus Foundation held the first Angus Day of Giving in 2021 and raised ,000. “We were amazed by the overwhelming generosity we saw from the Angus family for our second annual Angus Day of Giving,” Jaclyn Upperman, executive director of the Angus Foundation, said. “Our donors made it a day...
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On June 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a grant funding opportunity for non-profit organizations, tribes, and state and local governments within EPA Regions 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10 to advance innovative, cost-effective, and replicable source reduction approaches that save energy and water, reduce pollution, and improve human health and the environment. Source reduction, also known as pollution prevention (P2) means preventing pollution at the source rather than managing waste after it is produced. In support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities, these grants will emphasize projects that support environmental justice and prevention of greenhouse gas emissions. ...
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“Wahoo!” Tuff hollered. “It’s officially summer!” The sun was shining, budding spring green blanketed the pastures, and birds were singing from treetop to treetop. Tuff was as busy as the bees on the hunt for blooming flowers. He moved a tarp to the hillside, pulled a tablecloth out of the shop, scurried back and forth from the barn with boxes and finally wheeled an ancient barbecue grill from its hiding. “What are you up to?” Banjo asked. “You said get Rascal and Virginia,” Tuff said. “That’s what I’m doing.” Tuff whisked the barbecue’s dusty blanket cover and blew the remaining...
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North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring announced that a grant totaling ,000 has been awarded for industry research of the grape, fruit, and wine industry in the state. “North Dakota’s grape and wine industry continues to grow,” Goehring said. “The research funded by this grant will help keep that industry advancing.” The grant was awarded to North Dakota State University for ,000 to evaluate the cold-hardiness acclimation adaptiveness of University of Minnesota cultivars and North Dakota State University germplasm. Grant applications were screened by a committee, which provided the Agriculture Commissioner with recommendations for awarding grants. A total of ,000...
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As a member of the Montana Legislature’s bipartisan Water Policy Interim Committee, my colleagues and I had the opportunity to learn more about proposed ballot Initiative 191 at a recent hearing. I-191 seeks to designate over 100 miles of the Madison and Gallatin Rivers, and their tributaries, as Outstanding Resource Water (ORW), a designation only found in National Parks and wilderness areas. At the hearing, we heard from dozens of Montanans, including policy experts and leaders from top economic sectors including agriculture, recreation, conservation, tourism, contracting, and many more. Those testifying shared concerns about the negative impact I-191 would have...
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The Mannix Brothers Ranch was named the 2022 Environmental Stewardship Award (ESAP) winners on June 2, at the Montana Stockgrowers Association MidYear Meeting in Sidney, Montana. Each year, the ESAP award recognizes a Montana ranch that exemplifies environmental stewardship and demonstrates a commitment toward improved sustainability within the beef industry. “The Mannix family has continued the 140-year tradition of the Mannix Brothers Ranch by diversifying their enterprise, and making decisions to benefit their family, land, and wildlife,” Jim Steinbeisser, MSGA President, said. “We are excited to showcase them as our 2022 award winners as a way to showcase how Montana...
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Chesney Brock, daughter of Cody and Paige Brock of Norborne, Missouri, loves to feed cows with her dad, but now this has happened. She has found herself a seat on the bucket where she sings and tells stories to her cows!
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Today, a friend sent me a screenshot of a Facebook post which read “Hello, does anyone know where I [can] purchase real cow’s milk? Not store milk, but from a real actual cow.” At first, I thought maybe the Original Poster meant that they just wanted to purchase their dairy products farm to table. But as my friend confirmed, they did not — Original Poster genuinely thought milk purchased in a store was “fake” milk. Point numero uno: milk from a dairy cow purchased at the store is real milk, just as milk from a dairy cow purchased from a...
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This year Memorial Day falls on its traditional day, May 30, the day set aside – originally as “Decoration Day” – to honor the nation’s military dead after the Civil War. In 1971, however, Congressional fussbudgets unhooked the solemn day from tradition and now it floats to whatever day follows the last Sunday in May. That was a mistake, because Memorial Day is now more about a three-day weekend to kick off summer than a sacred moment or two among weathered gravestones, honored dead, and lives cut short as it had been for the previous century or so. But I,...
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In response to a recent column where I mentioned that genetic research is beginning to show us how our DNA influences our dietary needs, reader Ann F. sent me a slew of questions. Could race, hair color, eye color, ancestry help you choose the best diet? What about your gender? If you do have DNA information, how much would you be able to learn about your optimal nutrition? And I wonder if food preferences are DNA related, in some way. If I learned that I'd be better off with peanut butter sandwiches day in and day out, that would sound...
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Just over 60 percent of the U.S. was in some degree of drought as of May 24, 2022, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. What’s worse, is that over half of the country reached drought status back in the summer of 2020 and has remained there since. Given such, drought has been cussed and discussed in depth for the past two summers, but Good Grazing Makes Cent$, a new program by the Society for Range Management, along with the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, is planning a unique panel discussion driven specifically by real ranchers, with real questions, answered by real experts. ...
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When I was a kid, the neighbor girl, Carol, led her 4-H steer down the driveway to her house. It was early June, and she had already broken her steer to lead. I tended to start a little later as professional procrastinators know 900-pound steers submit to their handlers better than 600-pounders. Carol knew she couldn’t let the steer run loose while she stepped in the house, so she tied his lead rope to the handle of a sleeping push mower. Things were quiet for nearly a minute as the steer quietly grazed in the sunshine, but when he swung...
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On May 25, 2022, the Biden administration requested a second dispute settlement panel of the U.S-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to review the mounting conflict surrounding Canada’s trade dispute over dairy import quotas. USMCA is a trade agreement created in September of 2018 with the United States, Mexico, and Canada when the North American Free Trade Agreement failed to eliminate all tariffs on agricultural trade between the U.S. and Canada. The intent was to advance U.S. agriculture into important markets for American farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness as a whole; this allowed for new markets to be utilized to overall expand United States...
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“I want more than to just be the World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, Steve Goedert, lead auctioneer for Montana Livestock Auctions, said. “I want to be a world champion for this industry.” Goedert is one of 31 auctioneers who qualified for the semifinal round of the 2022 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) which will be held at Shipshewana Auction, Inc., on June 11 in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) Annual Convention. The WLAC, now in its 58th year, is comprised of a live interview which allows each contestant to “clearly establish and demonstrate their knowledge of the livestock marketing...
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My word for this week has been potential. It’s such a dynamic word because it can be had, lost, untapped, unrealized, and even wasted. I started really thinking about that word on March 24 when the community of Uvalde, Texas, and our entire country, was rocked with yet another horrible school shooting. 19 little ones and two teachers lost their lives at the hands of one sick individual. Now, I realize that this has provided another opportunity for the gun control debate to rage back in full force across the news and social media, but that’s not what I’m here...
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Over 65 cattlewomen from Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming came together for the American National Cattlewomen (ANCW) Region V Conference in Cody, Wyoming at the end of April. Over the course of the three-day meeting, individuals were able to listen to a wide variety of speakers while networking with like-minded individuals whose passions are to advocate for the cattle industry and to tell their “beef story.” Former Region V Director and current Cody Cattlewomen’s President, Angela Whitlock explained that the regional meeting is a place for local cattlewomen, who may not be able to make it to national meeting...
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The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has released the Pride of Dakota market and showcase dates for 2022. “We are pleased to offer events around the state again this year,” Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring said. “Last year, our showcases were attended by more than 37,800 people and supported more than 680 local businesses.” The dates, events and times are: August 10 – Farmers and Artisans Market at the State Capitol Parking Lot – 3 p.m.-8 p.m. September 9-10 – Dickinson Harvest Showcase – Friday 4 p.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. October 28-29 – Minot Harvest Showcase – Friday 4...
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American Farm Bureau Federation President, Zippy Duvall commented May 26 on a bipartisan letter from members of Congress expressing concerns about the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) proposed rule, “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate Related Disclosures for Investors.” The proposal would require public companies to report on Scope 3 emissions, which are the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by a publicly traded company but contribute to its value chain. While farmers and ranchers would not be required to report directly to the SEC, they provide almost every raw product that goes into the food supply...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the first of the three proposed rules promised by the Biden-Harris Administration to strengthen enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act. The first proposed rule released is intended to address the disparity of information between poultry growers and poultry integrators regarding poultry contracts and the industry’s tournament pricing system. “We welcome USDA’s release of this proposed poultry rule because we know the concentrated beef packers are working to capture control of the live cattle supply chain just as they already control the poultry supply chain,” R-CALF USA CEO, Bill Bullard said. “If USDA...
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The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation (NCF) announced that they awarded over ,000 in scholarships to help the next generation of the agriculture industry in their academic pursuits. The scholarships were awarded to fifty-one distinguished students. President of the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation, Ryan Loeske stated, “The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation believes helping the next generation of cattlemen pursue their education is the key to continuing the world-class success of the Beef state. This year’s outstanding applicants are undoubtedly going to do great things for the future of the agriculture sector, and we look forward to watching these young scholars grow their knowledge.” He...
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Montana needs more butchers – and more skilled workers in other trades – to further increase meat processing capacity in the state, and Montana State University-Northern is key to making that happen, Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer told state leaders and educators during a recent Ag Showcase in Havre. “The COVID pandemic really demonstrated that our current food supply chain is not working and needs to be fixed and that we need to have more locally grown, locally processed food. And to do that, we are going to need more skilled workers in our communities,” Schweitzer said. Currently MFU...
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As Virginia introduced herself to the rest of the ranch crew, Banjo and the canine portion of the crew gathered together. “Seems your ranch is in a predicament,” Rufus stated. “We’re being infiltrated my varmints! What are we going to do? And we have another raccoon amongst us. One is enough with Rascal somewhere constantly lurking,” Tuff stammered. “Simmer on down,” Banjo said. “We’ve only heard of the other critters. We haven’t seen them all. How do we know Virginia is telling us the truth?” “Want me to go to town and sniff out one of those old-time polygraph machines?”...
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I've always been curious as to how people ended up with their last names. I was taught that someone named Smith had a relative way back that was a blacksmith, and a Taylor probably had a distant relative who was a tailor. If you're a Forester, Fishman, Doorman, Carpenter, Boatman, Cook, Boardman, or Bachman (chiropractor), you probably had a relative who was one. You can learn a lot about people by their last name. For example, you may not want to arm wrestle someone named Armstrong nor trade with someone named Crook. Just how far back would you have to...
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As of this year, I have completed my 27th year of writing a weekly humor/recipe column. Back when Linda Grosskopf hired me to take over writing "Cooking in the West" for the Agri-News, the only job description she gave me was, "Just run some great recipes, write some funny stuff about your life, and have it in my email inbox every Monday morning." That sounded easy enough, so 324 columns later, I am sitting here on my laptop on a Sunday night trying to cheer up enough to write something funny to share this week. I should stop watching the...
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Garrett Donker is 14 and, according to his mother, “he is an amazing cowboy artist and ranch hand. His goal is to one day work on all the great ranches.” He lives on the Spanish Ranch in northern Nevada.
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I would like to wish all of you mothers out there a very Happy, Belated Mother’s Day. I can say with confidence that on most farms and ranches, the “ladies” are the most integral part of not only the family, but the operations themselves. It is certainly true around our family and businesses that all of us are involved with! With that said, here is another subject I have not approached for quite some time: “Fake Meat,” or maybe I should be more politically correct and call it Plant Based Protein. As all of you probably know, the Fieldmen and...
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Greetings from Dublin, Ireland! I can’t believe I am finally here as it has been on my “bucket-list” for a very long time. I have to give credit to my son, Zack, and his soon-to-be wife, Caitlyn, for choosing Ireland as their wedding destination, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have ever made the trip. We took off from Montana early afternoon on Sunday and arrived in Dublin on Monday afternoon at 12:30 p.m., where we sat on the plane for 45 minutes prior to deplaning. We went to the baggage claim and waited from nearly four hours for our luggage that...
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Alright, enough traveling around, I am ready to come home. I am sitting at the airport in Dublin right now waiting on a plane to take us back home. What a trip it has been! It was great seeing all the historical sights and taking in some tourist stuff, but what I enjoyed the most during this trip was, of course, the wedding number one, but also the time I was able to spend out in the countryside of Ireland. For those of you who have not been, it is certainly like you’d imagine – green as far as you...
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American Prairie is pleased to once again offer an annual public bison harvest on its Sun Prairie property. The harvest is in addition to the hunting opportunities for a variety of wildlife species that are already available on American Prairie land. This year, American Prairie is offering a total of 31 opportunities, with most being awarded in such a way that gives preference to the people who live and work in Montana and the communities nearest to American Prairie. American Prairie is awarding bison harvest opportunities through an online drawing that is free to enter. Harvests will be designated as...
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Today, a friend sent me a screenshot of a Facebook post which read “Hello, does anyone know where I [can] purchase real cow’s milk? Not store milk, but from a real actual cow.” At first, I thought maybe the Original Poster meant that they just wanted to purchase their dairy products farm to table. But as my friend confirmed, they did not — Original Poster genuinely thought milk purchased in a store was “fake” milk. Point numero uno: milk from a dairy cow purchased at the store is real milk, just as milk from a dairy cow purchased from a...
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It’s no surprise that the nation’s five largest meatpackers, according to a May 12 government report, “engaged in a concerted effort with Trump Administration political officials to insulate themselves from Coronavirus-related oversight.” After all, the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis (the Committee), the body charged with oversight of government’s response to the pandemic, released a 23-page “Memorandum” last October that mapped how meatpackers and the Trump Administration joined forces to keep employees working in Coronavirus-rife meat plants. Those efforts paid off big time for Big Meat but proved deadly for their employees. According to the Committee, tens of...
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Hello Reporter Country! My name is Kaytlin Hokanson, and I am so excited to join the team as the Digital editor. I hail from the small town of Kaycee, Wyoming where I grew up raising Red Angus Cattle with my father, Dee Hokanson, while helping my mom, Grace Garro, and her boyfriend, Victor Goni, with their commercial sheep flock. Growing up in a Basque family, the “Basquo” in me has a strong love for cooking and the sheep industry. One of my biggest goals is to be able to go to Spain with my mom and Victor to meet those...
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The two best days for boat owners are the day they buy their watercraft and the day they sell it. I follow the logic, but since I have never owned a boat, I cannot speak from experience. However, I recently found great satisfaction disposing of a boat owned by someone else, so that might count. As I mentioned previously, the trophy wife and I are tidying up the in-law’s place so it can be sold. Behind the shop was a 16-foot fiberglass boat carcass which I believe the father-in-law intended to modify and squeeze into his cargo trailer. His intentions...
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Growing up in a Chicago suburb, Jordan Miller’s entrance into the world of agriculture wasn’t something that happened by chance. An enduring interest - and a series of calculated choices in her formative years - led this once self-proclaimed “city girl” right into the row-crop fields where she has planted her roots. Now a farm hand, wife, mother, and BASF business representative, Miller is a pillar in her community and an inspiration to women farmers, ranchers, and indeed all women of ag. “My Grandpa had a hobby farm in Alaska,” she said of her childhood curiosity of the subject. “During...
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On May 18, the House Agriculture Committee reported six bills favorably out of committee, including H.R. 4140, the “Butcher Block Act” (Butcher Act), and the highly divisive H.R. 7606, the “Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022” (Investigator Act). The Butcher Act was introduced by Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and co-sponsored by Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) as a “bipartisan bill to rebalance the cattle market by easing regulatory barriers and offering U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) meat processing grants for small processors looking to expand or add shackle space.” Johnson said the bill “will help right the ship in...
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My head is swimming in a goopy pool of mixed emotions this week. Because of that, I wanted to provide all of you the opportunity to see the different sides surrounding the House Ag Committee’s favorable decision to favorably recommend the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act be voted on by the House. When I heard of its initial passing, I said out loud to myself, “great. This is a start.” From my perspective, the Investigator Act seemed to be what we all have been asking for: greater accountability and a more focused approach to monitoring for, and responding to,...
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The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) released the following Myth-Fact resource debunking the mischaracterizations about beef and cattle markets in a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Mike Rounds (R-SD): Myth: In the press release announcing the resolution, Senator Warren said beef companies have lowered wages for workers. This assertion is completely false. Fact: The meat and poultry industry values its workforce and, according to Rabobank and other well documented sources, average starting hourly wages for workers have increased from .60 to .00 an hour in just three years. In fact, the CEOs of Tyson and...
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Governor Doug Burgum has proclaimed May 24-30, 2022, as Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week in North Dakota. Native to Asia, the emerald ash borer (EAB) attacks true ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). The larvae feed under the bark, disrupting the movement of water and nutrients and killing the tree within several years. EAB has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in the United States over the past decade. “EAB is found in 35 states and 5 Canadian provinces, including our neighbors, Minnesota, South Dakota and Manitoba” Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring said. “The nearest find, a mere 130 miles from Fargo,...
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Moose and Rufus, the neighbor’s basset hounds, had been adopted into the ranch crew by necessity this spring. Between the coyotes lurking in the hills, the bears emerging out of hibernation, and the mysterious varmints that seemed to conveniently call the ranch home, there was plenty to keep all the animals busy. “I wish I had an odometer,” Tuff said. “I bet I’ve run 100 miles over the weekend.” “You and Big Ed have been busy with those coyotes, there’s no doubt,” Banjo replied. The dogs watched from an overlooking hill as the morning sun illuminated the sky with its...
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I have spent nearly 20 years guiding anglers on Montana rivers and streams in Southwest Montana. After 10 years as a guide, I became an outfitter in 2015 and have been operating my small business ever since. Montana, and its waters, are treasures. My livelihood, like other fly-fishing guides, is dependent on clean, cold, and plentiful water in our rivers to protect habitat. It’s also dependent on the access that Montana’s prized stream access law ensures that distinguishes our state from other states. I am concerned by a proposed ballot measure, I-191, which would dramatically hurt the outdoor recreation industry’s...
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Last week, I got the opportunity to speak with members of the Gallatin County 4-H club who have beef projects for their county fair. My speech focused on transparency and finding your place in agriculture, and as most public speakers, I opened the floor up for questions following my half hour lecture. One of the questions I received was from someone who’d done their homework on me, as they asked to talk about the time I went vegan. For those of you who are new to this column: two years ago, I went vegan for the season of lent to...
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With the right tools, anything is possible! No matter the job at hand, Isaac and Ezra Little (twins, age 2) are here to help. The boys love anything from hauling hay, moving sheep, and cleaning lambing jugs at the Little Ranch in Leiter Wyoming, while helping Grandma and Grandpa Curuchet at UT Livestock near Kaycee, Wyoming.
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As an English teacher, I love to read. The problem is that I never have time to finish a book. In fact, since the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial celebration back in 2004, I have been trying to read “Undaunted Courage”. My copy is dog-eared only from being drug around in my car for 18 summers. I spend the summer driving back and forth between our places near Bozeman, Big Timber, and Musselshell, Montana, and I vow every summer that I am going to actually finish the book, but I never do. I use it for weights in my suitcase, but...
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From the Livestock Marketing Information Center At the beginning of May, the U.S. Federal Reserve voted to raise a key interest rate by a half point. This has received a noticeable amount of attention because it is already the second rate hike this year and the largest one-time increase since 2000. Similarly, the meeting notes suggested that additional rate hikes will be discussed at future meetings this year. The vote was unanimous. The growing sentiment seems to be that the current rates of inflation need to be more controlled, and that action is to occur primarily in the form of...
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You don’t need to be a vegan to know that livestock and poultry aren’t “harvested,” which is the squeaky-clean verb that’s become fashionable among farm and ranch groups to minimize the end – as in The End – of most animals their members grow. Soybeans are harvested; pigs are slaughtered. Wheat is harvested; cattle are slaughtered. It’s not a minor point, C. Robert Taylor, Eminent Scholar of Agricultural Economics and Public Policy at Auburn University, insisted in his recently released treatise on today’s badly broken cattle markets. Taylor telegraphed the paper’s theme through its title, “Harvested Cattle, Slaughtered Markets?” The...
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This is how old I am: A few decades ago, I sat in on a nutrition debate between Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Robert Atkins - well-known cardiologists with polar opposite views on how best to lose weight and prevent heart disease. Dr. Ornish presented reams of research to show that a very low-fat and mostly vegetarian diet can reverse heart disease as well as improve diabetes and other chronic conditions. In turn, Dr. Atkins provided his evidence that a low carb diet - one that depends more on protein and fat and severely limits fruit, bread, starchy vegetables, and...
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Darrell Anderson, of West Lafayette, Indiana, has been named the newest inductee of the prestigious Saddle and Sirloin Portrait Gallery. Anderson’s portrait will be hung in the historic gallery during the North American International Livestock Exposition on November 13, 2022, in Louisville. Formed in 1903, the Saddle & Sirloin Club recognizes significant leaders in the American livestock industry. His involvement as a breed secretary, chief executive officer, judge, auctioneer, and breeder has impacted thousands of lives of people in multiple breeds and species. In addition, he hired and mentored an entire generation of interns and staff, who are now serving...
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I reluctantly entered the political arena in the winter of 2006 and experienced legislators advised me to “moderate my views, just smile, and wave a lot.” That made me feel like I was running for rodeo queen, so instead, I began this column stating my Christian, conservative, beliefs in a manner readers might find entertaining and informative. On election night, I was trailing by a couple hundred votes, but suddenly the counting stopped as if a urinal overflowed, and the courthouse had to be evacuated. At four o’clock the next morning, new election results were posted suggesting I had won...
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All producers share a common goal: to breed livestock that holds superior marketability at sale time. A lot of this work starts right at the ranch, with their management strategies, their vaccination programs, and their genetics. All of these factors come together to help get that payout at sale time. It's evident this year, especially with rising hay and corn prices, that producers are going to have to differentiate their program in order to find higher prices at sale time. So, what better way to learn what cattle buyers want in cattle they are purchasing than from the source themselves....
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Team penning and ranch sorting are events that have been growing over the last several decades, but the sport is having a serious moment of growth, due to what some are calling the “Yellowstone Effect.” Patrick Witham, the producer of the new, U.S. Shootout Tour, said they are seeing increasing numbers of new competitors, potentially due to the popularity of the Yellowstone TV show. “You might call it the Yellowstone Effect, but we are seeing people get on horses due to new interest in the Western lifestyle that may not have before,” Witham noted. “These events are really built on...
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While some folks around the country are watching the sky for any sign of moisture, others are living on the exact opposite side of the spectrum. In places like Galesburg, North Dakota, which is the home of Tri E Simmentals, Levi Elliot, alongside his grandfather, Mike, father, Kurt, and brother, Chase, their spring has been filled with prayers for some sun and warmth. This is a vastly different situation than the Elliot’s experienced in 2021 where they were fighting the drought battle themselves. “We had one pasture in particular that would hold about 30 pairs that we wanted to get...
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I’ll never forget the day, one year ago, when I had just finished up another long day of teaching 100 wild 8th graders, and I got a phone call that changed my life. On the other end of the line was Mr. Jared Murnin offering me the position of Digital Editor for the Western Ag Reporter. It would have been highly entertaining for most people if my subsequent happy dance had been captured on video, but luckily for me, it wasn’t. Growing up, I had always loved to write, and for the longest time I wanted to get into journalism...
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Overall consumer prices in April were 8.3 percent higher than a year ago, and America’s families can expect inflation to continue putting pressure on their wallets for the next few years. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed the inflation numbers in the latest Market Intel. They expect inflation to stay above 5 percent or 6 percent for the foreseeable future. “Quite simply, too much money was created by the Federal Reserve Bank (often called ‘the Fed’), mostly in 2020, and it is turning, inevitably, into inflation,” the Market Intel stated. “Thankfully, the Fed has begun taking steps to address this […]...
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) called on the U.S. government to levy retaliatory tariffs on Canada after Ottawa made clear that it refuses to meet its signed treaty obligations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) concerning dairy market access. In January, a USMCA dispute resolution panel, initiated by the U.S., found that Canada’s dairy tariff-rate quotas (TRQ’s) system violates the terms of USMCA. Canada issued a new TRQ proposal in March which included only inconsequential changes. This announcement shows no indication that Canada intends to comply with its USMCA commitments on dairy TRQ’s. “Canada made...
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The Nebraska Cattlemen and Farm Credit Services of America announced their webinar, titled “Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) and How It Can Benefit Your Operation.” It will take place on Tuesday, May 24th at 12:30 PM CT. LRP is a federally subsidized risk management program that insures against declining market prices, allowing fed and feeder cattle producers to establish a floor price for protection while leaving upside price potential open. The presenter, Mr. Landon Nelson, is an Insurance Services Officer at Farm Credit Services of America and focuses on supporting livestock producers through the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) and Livestock Gross...
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R-CALF USA has announced the launch of “No Rancher Left Behind,” a rancher/farmer conversation and awareness campaign. The campaign is a collaboration between R-CALF USA and Coy Young, a Missouri cattle rancher who recently testified before Congress about the stresses he faces as a cow-calf producer during this time of chronically depressed cattle prices and high input costs. “R-CALF USA stands firm in fighting for the independent U.S. cattle producer in all facets. So many of America’s farmers and ranchers are struggling, but it’s important for them to know they are not alone in this fight,” Jaiden Moreland, R-CALF...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) sent letters of support to five organizations that have submitted proposals to USDA’s Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities program. USDA is investing [post_excerpt] billion in pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse gas benefits. An AFBF review committee, made up of American and state Farm Bureau staff, placed a high priority on projects that reflect objectives laid out by AFBF and state Farm Bureaus during USDA’s request for information process. While other projects may meet those...
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The 20th annual North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA) Feedlot Tour will be June 14 at feedlots near Mandan. The tour stops will include Chimney Butte Ranch, Diamond J Angus, and Berger Cattle Company. Bus transportation will be provided to and from the stops. The bus will depart from Kist Livestock Auction in Mandan at 9 a.m. and return at approximately 4 p.m. Here’s a tour preview: Chimney Butte Ranch near Mandan is the first stop on the 2022 tour. Owned by Doug and Carol Hille, the feedlot is a bull and heifer development facility for their Gelbvieh seedstock operation. The...
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The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) will be hosting its 2022 Spring Roundups, “Together Toward Tomorrow,” May 31-June 7 in Montpelier, Towner, Bismarck, Maddock, Amidon, and Carson, North Dakota. The Spring Roundups serve as the organization’s district meetings and will include socials, suppers, informational programs, NDSA Nominating Committee meetings and local brand inspector meetings. In each location, the brand inspectors meeting begins at 5 p.m., with the social and cornhole tournament at 5:30 p.m., the supper at 6:30 p.m., and the program and Nominating Committee meeting following. All times are local. “The Spring Roundups are designed to bring the association...
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The North American Meat Institute, the nation’s trade association for meat and poultry packers and processors, released a statement that said the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis’ partisan report distorts the truth about the meat and poultry industry’s work to protect employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following is a statement from Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the North American Meat Institute: “The Meat Institute and its member companies voluntarily provided hundreds of thousands of pages to the Committee. The report ignores the rigorous and comprehensive measures companies enacted to protect employees and support their critical...
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Rascal vied his precious cache of Twinkies as the clean-up crew rolled the tractor out of the shop and resorted to throwing away the items that couldn’t be salvaged from the bear’s visit. He admired the innovative flair he’d so creatively drummed up in his little ol’ head to persuade the bear from getting one paw on his prized vittles. Sitting in a corner on a metal beam he thought he was completely undetected until… “You thought you could do it all yourself didn’t you?” the Fox said out of nowhere. Rascal had been so focused on every move of...
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As its competitors move to constrain – if not roll back – their own dairy production, United States dairy producers are well-positioned to become the preferred supplier to growing international dairy markets, two top dairy economists said in a recent National Milk Producers Foundation (NMPF) podcast. New Zealand and the European Union, the main U.S. competitors on global dairy markets, aren’t as focused on sustainably feeding the world as the United States, William Loux, vice president of global economic affairs for the U.S. Dairy Export Council, said. “You see countries like the Netherlands driving programs to reduce dairy cows by...
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A ,000 cooperative education grant from the CHS Foundation will help campers experience cooperatives and agriculture this summer during the Montana Farmers Union (MFU) Summer Camp programs. The grant is part of the CHS Foundation’s Cooperative Education Grants Program. As the direct grant making arm of CHS, the largest farmer-owned cooperative, the CHS Foundation supports dozens of projects each year that help students learn about the agricultural cooperative business model. The MFU camp program is one of six state cooperative camps the CHS Foundation supports to give students an immersive experience to learn about cooperatives, all while having fun. Each...
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The K-State Research and Extension Beef Team and related subject matter specialists will host a webinar on May 19, 2022, from noon to 1 pm CT, to provide information and answer questions to help producers weigh options associated with current feed prices and forage availability. Drought is not a new issue to cow-calf producers in Kansas, but the combination of a cool, dry spring, increased days of high wind, and low humidity on top of the global economic impacts of a war and pandemic, make this year unique. The extended outlook indicates drought will persist in a good portion of...
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This young herdsman’s name is Jordan, and she is three. She has been in the sheep barn since she was born. But this lambing season she has helped with her great-grandpa’s herd by bottle feeding lambs, drying off newborns, cleaning jugs, packing water, and feeding the ewes. “She is my right-hand sheep whisperer. She makes her great-grandpa and family proud,” her mother wrote.
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The Melstone High School All-School Reunion is coming up this June, and I find it quite amazing that I have been out of high school for 45 years. Where did all that time go? The last All School Reunion I attended coincided with my thirty-year reunion, which was an event that inspired me to come home and make a bucket list. At that time (fifteen years ago) I did not feel old, but I couldn't help but notice that all of my peers were looking a little more trailworn than I remembered them. In my memories they were forever 18....
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American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on President Joe Biden’s plan to address production costs and the affordability of food. “Removing the disincentives for double cropping has the potential to increase near term production in areas suitable for the practice and for farmers who have the financial capacity to do so. Similarly, the proposal to increase domestic fertilizer production is an acknowledgment by the administration of the extraordinarily high cost of supplies for farmers and ranchers, but it could take years to realize the benefits. “There is no magic bullet to reduce food costs. It will require addressing...
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The Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) has joined more than 50 groups in opposing I-191 which would subject large stretches of the Gallatin and Madison rivers to the same strict regulations currently found only in national parks and wilderness areas. The result would restrict ranchers from watering livestock and farmers from irrigating, as well as stop most other activities in or around the rivers. “Our organization has a real concern about I-191 because not only would it keep our state’s farmers and ranchers from growing crops and caring for their animals, but it would devalue neighboring property, prohibit road and bridge...
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When it comes to my column/blog and agriculture, I don’t often write about my mom. I think it’s because I don’t have as many photos of her on a horse as I do my dad, but let’s be honest here, nothing I have ever done in my entire life would’ve been possible if it weren’t for her. So, here’s what you need to know about my mom, Kristi Jane Purviance, or “Mrs. P” as most of her former students call her on Teacher Appreciation Day. If my mom were to write a short bio about herself, it would probably read...
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The Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) proposed rule to require climate disclosures by public companies could severely impact family farms and ranches and intensify the already concerning rate of consolidation in agriculture. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economists discussed potential impacts of “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate Related Disclosures for Investors” proposed rule in the latest Market Intel. The proposed rule includes extensive requirements for public companies to report on Scope 3 emissions, which are the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by an organization, but contribute to its value chain. While farmers and ranchers would...
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One of the more confounding political riddles pundits love to debate is how Democrats “lost” rural America. If the past month is any indication, however, it looks less like the Dems lost rural America and more like they are just lost in rural America. For example, on April 28, the White House asked Congress for billion to purchase more weapons of war and supply more “economic and humanitarian aid” to Ukraine. According to Politico, 0 million of the request is targeted at “American farmers… [to] help boost domestic production of wheat, soybeans, rice, and other food commodities” lost to...
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Last week, we provided coverage on the first session of panelists who testified before the Senate Ag Committee’s hearing, titled “An Examination of Price Discrepancies, Transparency, and Alleged Unfair Practices in Cattle Markets.” Three industry stakeholders, Coy Young, Gilles Stockton, and Don Schiefelbein of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association collectively argued that the unlawful actions of the packers have directly led to an unfair, consolidated market. The second half of the nearly six-hour hearing, which took place on April 26, gave the CEO’s of the Big Four packers a chance to provide their side of the story and the committee...
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From the Livestock Marketing Information Center The cattle markets bring a mix of optimistic and cautionary news. Fed cattle prices are at levels not seen since mid-2015. The substantial heifer composition of FI fed slaughter, and the reasonably aggressive beef cow slaughter and liquidation clearly communicates the tightening future beef supplies. Boxed beef comprehensive cutout values continue to counter/seasonally soften, but only from last year’s greater than 0 per cwt amounts. Beef demand continues to look very strong, even as beef valuations and packer margins shrink. The beef supply chain gives the modest perception of something of a return to...
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One year ago, my Kimmel descendants moved from Great Falls, Montana, to San Angelo, Texas. Apparently down south, chickens are treated like hot water heaters, so poultry ownership transfers with the real estate deed. Thus, 19 laying hens and two ducks suddenly fell under the care of the ten mini-Kimmels with nine-year-old Cora being particularly interested in chicken farming. Each chicken earned a nickname, so there was a Bob, Optimus Prime, and Pooper and today’s story involves Pooper. Last week, John ran in the house hollering that Pooper was dead. All the kids, or at least the ones who were...
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Keeping your livestock healthy throughout the year allows your animals to be productive and avoid disease. Unfortunately, weather conditions can present an obstacle to livestock's health and well-being. Spring weather conditions often present unique challenges to livestock managers because of the major shifts in temperature and moisture that can happen day-to-day. Although the weather can't be altered, management steps can help maintain livestock health and performance. Dr. Tony Hawkins, DVM, from the Valley Vet Supply Technical Service team, stated that temperate swings are the most significant stressor for cattle during spring weather conditions. Drastically changing from cold to high heat...
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Starting out the year with a borderline-record drought streak has placed much of the agricultural community on uncertain terms to say the least. When, and if, it will rain is the question on far too many minds and is the endgame of many conversations across the country. How to go about feeding cattle is naturally a close second, as many of us are familiar with. But hope for moisture is one trait that ranchers and farmers alike are known to cling to, and in time, this hope does pay off for all of us. Producers in Nebraska can sleep a...
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As I outlined in part two of our coverage of the House Ag Committee’s recent hearing about the cattle markets, the Big Four packer CEO’s took to the stand to “testify” about this really important topic. But testifying is not what I would necessarily call what they were doing - I just saw a lot of brag, deflect, brag, and deflect. Frankly, it reminded me of a situation all of us encounter at some point in our lives. Whether it’s when you’re a young kid playing with others, or you’re an adult playing with young kids, sometimes things get out...
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A new role within Montana Farmers Union is an extension of the organization’s work to strengthen family farms and rural communities. The new Membership Ambassador position was created earlier this year to coordinate grassroots efforts through MFU on behalf of agriculture operations across the state. “This position is focused entirely on drilling down to the local issues and supporting our rural communities and family farms,” Rachel Prevost, MFU’s Member Services Director, said. So far, ambassadors are in Broadwater, Rosebud, and Sanders counties. MFU plans to hire more ambassadors in the coming weeks to create a regional presence statewide. The job...
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Breeding productivity with artificial insemination (AI) has come a long way on U.S. cattle ranches. Advancements in technology and research show improvements in breeding results and confidence in AI across the country. Use of AI rose 4 percent in the U.S. from 2007 to 2017, with 11.6 percent of beef operations implementing AI during 2017, according to the USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System’s (NAHMS) Beef survey reports from those years. “Using AI in your herd requires a long-term approach,” Clint Sexson, large herd specialist for All West Beef/Select Sires, said. “The rewards may not be instantaneous, but a view...
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The daughter of an equestrian and team roper – and granddaughter of a 4-H horsemanship leader and farrier – Payton was simply born into the horse world. Smiling ear-to-ear upon her pony, Taco, with a blue ribbon on his bridle, it’s easy to see the family passion runs deep. For parents with children who dream of getting a horse one day, or maybe already have horses, and would like to help start their kids off on the right hoof with horseback riding, where does one begin? Ashley Wheeler – ranch rider, former collegiate equestrian, wife, and mom of Payton – explained three key aspects that helped to encourage...
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“Those mangy dogs,” Rascal sniveled. “Believing everything that fox is feeding them. Ha, I’ll show them.” The masked bandit skittered out of sight. His last view was that cleverly, cunning, copper, backstabbing varmint exclaiming his overzealous exaggerations of why and how he raced to the rescue of Moose and Maude from their untimely near fatal kick by a heifer that’d recently calved. Rascal watched the fox’s dramatic body language, recounting the scene, and scoffed with disgust. “Humpf,” Rascal snarked as he made his way into the thick underbrush of the willows by the creek. “Should’ve been in the theater rather...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated three key crop insurance options for livestock producers: the Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP), Livestock Gross Margin (LGM), and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP). USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) revised the insurance options to reach more producers, offer greater flexibility for protecting their operations, and ultimately, better meet the needs of the country’s swine, dairy, and cattle producers. The updates were published last week for the 2023 crop year, which begins July 1, 2022. DRP is designed to insure against unexpected declines in the quarterly revenue from milk sales relative to a guaranteed coverage level;...
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Three finalists have been selected for the prestigious Montana Leopold Conservation Award®. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 24 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In Montana, the ,000 award is presented with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and the Rangeland Resources Committee. “For generations, Montana’s farmers and ranchers have been...
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Kimber Jones is sixth generation on the Twodot Land and Livestock ranch in Harlowton, MT. She is pictured doing some reading on a Sunday morning prior to feeding cows with her parents, Christy and Adam.
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You know what they say about opinions…they’re like, something — I can’t really remember the saying — but, we’ve all got ‘em. How do we get these opinions? Furthermore, is it even easy to form an opinion anymore? For me, it’s not so simple; let me tell y’all why. As a journalist, I was trained to be unbiased in my writing. As a columnist, I was trained to throw that entire concept out the window and share my thoughts with my readers — truth be danged. However, I, like many columnists, form my opinions on facts. And two years ago,...
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Despite spending every day of my southern Illinois youth on what, at the time, was a very large dairy farm, I never really had a clue of what made one Holstein cow or calf better or worse than the next Holstein cow or calf. Most of that inability lay in my complete disinterest to show any calf, heifer, or cow at the county 4-H fair. The reason was selfishly simple: since the fair seemed to always be scheduled on the hottest, steamiest day of the summer, nothing - be it animal, vegetable, or mineral - wanted to be there, so...
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Valerie T. wrote: I am emailing you on the request of my dad who is 88 and has several health issues. He read what you had to say about beef and fish. He wanted to know about pork and the pros and cons of it. He has diabetes, heart problems, circulatory problems due to the diabetes, kidney problems due to the diabetes, and arthritis. So, just being a good daughter and emailing you. Thank you for your time, Barbara! You certainly are a good daughter, Valerie! And while I cannot give specific medical nutrition advice in this column, I’m happy...
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If you have ever saved a cardboard box because it was a very good box, this week’s message is for you. Even if your passion is not empty boxes but rather some other useless fixture, today’s principle still applies. For example, my father favored rusted out water heaters, and when we restored our 100-year-old, two-story barn, we found five of the empty tanks in the loft. Dad intended on repurposing the tanks into feed troughs but never got around to it. There would have been even more discarded appliances in the loft had we not taken the keys out of...
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From the volunteers who have been putting on the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale since it officially began in 1951, to the consignors and contractors who showcase their horses, and the spectators who come to take it all in, the third week in May is a special one in Miles City, Montana. John Morford, the President of the Miles City Bucking Horse Board of Governors, said the event, which is touted as being “World Famous,” has humble beginnings. Around 1950, “there were a tremendous number of horses in this country, and a lot of them were just wild horses that...
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We know body condition directly impacts reproductive productivity in beef cattle females. Neither the severely emaciated nor the extremely obese female are going to perform well. However, these issues can be avoided by recording body condition scores at integral times throughout an operation’s management calendar and implementing management practices to correct these issues or maintain good body condition. “One of the main reasons body condition scoring is so important is because it helps tell us some information about the potential reproductive success of that animal,” Kim Mullenix, Alabama beef cattle extension specialist, said. “So, typically, animals that are in a...
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On April 27, the House Agriculture Committee (the Committee) took a one-day hiatus from their review of the Farm Bill in order to conduct “An Examination of Price Discrepancies, Transparency, and Alleged Unfair Practices in Cattle Markets.” The five-hour hearing was split into two separate sessions: the first focused on the testimonies of cow-calf producers and affiliated cattlemen’s groups, and the second provided time for the CEO’s of the Big Four packers to make their case. Once each panelist in the first session was officially sworn in, Coy Young, a fourth-generation cow-calf producer from Missouri, began his testimony about the...
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They say that ignorance is bliss, and sometimes, I think that’s entirely true. For instance, my husband and I are currently in the process of closing on our home and moving to one of the houses on the ranch. I would have been happy to never know what goes into treating for termites, looking into roof repairs, and the misery that comes with repainting an entire home. However, with Mother’s Day this weekend, there’s something I feel the need to spread awareness about that far too many of us walk around never considering: infertility and the loss of children. As...
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The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Montana Association of Land Trusts (MALT), and the Heart of the Rockies Initiative have partnered to produce a 20-page report analyzing the economic impact of conservation easements in Montana. The report concludes that, since it was created in the 2014 Farm Bill, the Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) program has produced a 2 million economic benefit to Montana agricultural producers, rural main streets, rural economies, and the state’s overall economy. The report, titled “Working for Montana: Economic Benefits of Conservation Easements for Montana’s Farms, Ranches and Communities,” is believed to be the first comprehensive examination...
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Governor Greg Gianforte recently received the 2022 Fire Briefing from local, state, tribal, and federal agency administrators and fire management officers. “Folks around this table share a common goal: to protect our communities and natural resources from wildfire,” Governor Gianforte said to open the briefing. “To be successful, Montana’s objective in every fire is aggressive attack, responding quickly and efficiently.” “We know it will take a commitment from all of us to aggressively attack and employ the full range of suppression strategies on a fire,” the governor continued. “I’m calling on our partners across Montana to dedicate their agencies and...
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Montana Attorney General, Austin Knudsen is warning Montanans of a scams that could be impacting many Montana ranchers. One investigation is still ongoing, but the Office of Consumer Protection estimates that a Canadian company has stolen up to million from Montanans after receiving payments but never delivering the promised product – and other criminals may be conducting similar scams. The company, New Way Ag, promised grain hay, barley straw, and wheat straw at low prices. They quickly make sales, collected payments, and then never delivered any product to their victims. To aid in the investigation, Montanans who made payments...
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Montana Attorney General, Austin Knudsen is warning Montanans of a scams that could be impacting many Montana ranchers. One investigation is still ongoing, but the Office of Consumer Protection estimates that a Canadian company has stolen up to million from Montanans after receiving payments but never delivering the promised product – and other criminals may be conducting similar scams. The company, New Way Ag, promised grain hay, barley straw, and wheat straw at low prices. They quickly make sales, collected payments, and then never delivered any product to their victims. To aid in the investigation, Montanans who made payments...
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Whether you’re a spinner, a weaver, or a shepherd, if you are you interested in wool, plan to attend a wool-focused workshop in Cheyenne, Wyoming this summer. You will have the opportunity to sharpen your wool evaluation skills and learn to identify undesirable fibers that diminish the value of fleeces. For the shepherds among you, learn how fleece uniformity impacts wool processing, and observe and discuss fleeces that illustrate the do’s and don’ts of selection. Date: June 8, 2022. (See below for open-ended sessions that will be available from June 7–10.) Location: Archer Event Center, 3967 Archer Parkway, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Venue: National Columbia Sheep Show and Sale. The workshop is free, open to the public, and will...
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In formal comments submitted the last week of April to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, R-CALF USA told both agencies that, while beef packer concentration has plateaued since 2009 at the four-firm level of between 83 percent and 86 percent, it is now evident that major concentration and vertical integration efforts are underway in the feedlot sector of the live cattle industry. The group stated the oligopolistic structure of the beef packing industry is now being pushed upstream into the live cattle supply chain. The group explained that nearly 85,000 feedlots have exited the feeding industry during...
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Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring encouraged homeowners to research products before buying and planting nursery stock for their property. “Many varieties of trees and shrubs adapt well to North Dakota’s climate and soils, but before you plant, you may want to talk with a trusted nursery dealer, horticulturist or local extension agent,” Goehring said. “They will help you select nursery stock that you will enjoy for years to come.” Goehring said the North Dakota Department of Agriculture receives numerous complaints every year from both consumers and dealers about non-hardy stock being sold in the state. North Dakota is in plant hardiness...
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Agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions fell more than 4 percent percent from 2019 to 2020, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The most recent Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks showed agriculture continues to represent just 10 percent of total U.S. emissions, much lower than other economic sectors. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economists analyzed the data from EPA in the latest Market Intel. 2020 overall emissions from agriculture fell at least 4.3 percent, or 28.8 million metric tons, compared to 2019. Emissions from agricultural soil management, like fertilizer application and tillage practices, were reduced by 8.4 percent. “The...
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Following two Congressional hearings on the beef and cattle markets largely focused on prices producers receive for their cattle, the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) said the latest USDA annual report on livestock income clears up misconceptions about the state of cattle markets and shows cash receipts for the sale of cattle and calves increased 16 percent, from .1 billion in 2020 to .9 billion in 2021. “As our members said in their testimony, prices are improving for cattle producers due to supply and demand reflecting the cyclical nature of cattle production,” Meat Institute President and CEO, Julie...
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On April 26, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Don Schiefelbein, a Minnesota cattle producer, testified before the House Agriculture Committee in a hearing on issues in the cattle markets. Schiefelbein urged House members to support key policies with broad, unified support across the entire cattle industry including a cattle contract library, Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) reauthorization, and investments in small regional processing capacity expansion. “The only people who know exactly how cattle producers should navigate these uncertain times are the individuals who work around the clock, day in and day out, to raise the safest and highest quality...
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“Wait and watch,” Rufus said. Banjo sat behind his friends and sat as still as they could. It didn’t take long for the masked bandit to slink into sight. “Yep, that’s none other,” Banjo said. “We thought so,” Rufus commented. “It smelled like him,” Moose said. “We’ve been wondering where he’d been hiding out,” Banjo said. “There’s one more we were hoping you could identify,” Rufus stated. The fox was much more cunning than Rascal, who’d dropped from underneath a tractor. Rufus nodded as soon as he saw him. “There he is,” he said. Banjo peered at the varmint as...
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Promoting early season plant cover, primarily through the use of cover crops, can be more effective at reducing pest density and crop damage than insecticide applications, according to a Penn State-led team of researchers. In a newly published study, the researchers suggested that the best pest management outcomes may occur when growers encourage biological control — in the form of pests' natural enemies — by planting cover crops and avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides as much as possible. The use of cover crops and other conservation-agriculture practices can help reduce erosion and nutrient loss, enhance soil health, and improve pest management, the study’s co-author...
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I wish that I could love the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act but I just can’t. You can read the bill at https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s4030/BILLS-117s4030is.pdf. I rather like the part contributed by Senator Fisher that increases the reporting of the fed cattle market. The more information available for a cattle seller, the better. But market reporting does not overcome the structural deficiencies of the fed cattle market. The rest of the Bill is supposed to improve price discovery. This latest iteration of what started as the 50/14 concept is complicated and bureaucratic. If I understand correctly, USDA will be directed to...
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Agri-Kid of the Week, Elyse (age nine), getting in some reading of the WAR. Her father said she is a “vital part of the Calves to Cure DMD team and likes to help Bill Cook during our part of the sale.” Calves to Cure DMD is a yearly fundraiser which was started to raise money for kids, like Elyse’s brother, who have Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy.
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Last May, the Canadian farm group, National Farmers Union (NFU), submitted a detailed response to the Canadian government’s earlier “Draft Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations.” The response, like the government request, went relatively unnoticed in U.S. ag circles. It shouldn’t have, because the 23-page reply by the 200,000-member NFU was as shocking in its brevity as it was bold its central tenet: “For the next two decades,” NFU strongly urged, the nation should “shelve offset credit systems and emissions trading […] and instead focus on actually reducing fossil fuel combustion and emissions.” The reason, the report explained, was a...
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I received a message from Linda Story, Chance Story's grandmother, regarding the outpouring of love and support that readers have shown to Chance and the Story family following the rodeo accident that broke all of the bones in Chance's face except his lower jaw. She wrote, "Thanks so much to you and all the generous readers who have sent prayers, cards, and donations to Chance. He is recovering as well as can be hoped. It has been an unbelievably humbling experience. The notes have been a great reminder that there are a lot of awesome people in this world. We...
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The consensus for the April Cattle on Feed inventory level was for a slight increase, and the actual number came in at 102 percent of year ago levels at 12.1 million head. Both marketings and placements were expected to be lower with a typical wider disparity in the estimates for the placements. The higher overall total is due to lower actual marketings and higher actual placements. There were no indications that placements would be higher. As higher placements are the main surprise, the market response is likely to be somewhat muted, although still generally negative in the short run. At...
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Fertility testing bulls involves a physical examination of a bull’s boy parts followed by a microscopic evaluation of a semen sample. The sample is collected using an electro-stimulating, rectal probe, and the bull strains against the squeeze chute with each pulsation. Doing this requires me to be down on my knees underneath an agitated, one-ton mass of muscle, so I am very vulnerable. Were a popping rusted bolt to allow the side of the chute to blow apart, I would be killed, but unfortunately, not instantly. I heard once, “It is not dying I fear but the pain of getting...
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Proactive planning before, during, and after a drought was the overarching theme of the April 22 edition of the NCBA Cattlemen’s Webinar Series, titled “Defeating Drought: Rain or Shine.” The discussion incorporated the expertise of three industry panelists: Jeff Goodwin, the Program Director for the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and former Senior Rangeland Consultant for the Noble Research Institute; Bob McCan of McFaddin Enterprises, Ltd. in Victoria, Texas who also has experience as the president of numerous cattlemen’s associations; and Coby Buck, the Director of Strategic Accounts for AgriWebb who also helps on his family’s cow-calf operation in Colorado. ...
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The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law by President Nixon on January 1, 1970 and was the first of many environmental laws passed at the time. The intent of NEPA was to create nationwide policies to protect the environment by requiring that detailed reviews, or Environmental Impact Statements (EIS’s), be prepared to identify any potential impacts a significant project may have. Additionally, Nixon’s NEPA established the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in the Executive Office of the President, and granted the entity “oversight of NEPA’s implementation.” On July 15, 2020, President Trump ordered a comprehensive update to...
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I was watching some clips of the Tucker Carlson Tonight show on Facebook last week and was appalled at a segment where he discussed the popular “Libs of TikTok” account on social media. The premise is that it’s an anonymous account which finds different clips on the internet to expose liberal individuals who have extreme views. This segment in particular showed clips gathered by the popular TikTok account of LGBTQ school teachers sharing how they discuss gender and sexuality in their classrooms – many of which are doing so in elementary classrooms. I had heard some rumblings about this topic...
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Despite previous revisions to the Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan, a conglomeration of animal activist groups were successful in their lawsuit which argued that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) revisit the plan to better grow the population. The amendment process took effect on April 14, 2022, and the new draft of the recovery plan is currently open for public comment and peer review. A subspecies of the gray wolf, the Mexican wolf is much smaller, weighing only 50-80 pounds. Prior to increased settlement in the Southwest in the 1900’s, the Mexican wolf roamed the Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico; Arizona;...
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Late last week saw another blast of moisture across our readership areas. The epicenter was once again in North Dakota and some areas of eastern Montana and parts of Wyoming. Those that are calving in these areas have seen horrific losses. I have talked to several people from different areas with such losses that have all said the storm a week ago really upset them due to the fact that the snow really didn’t have very much moisture in it - it just killed calves. High winds and cold temperatures along with the snow really did some damage. The storm...
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Trichomoniasis, most commonly known as Trich, is a devastating disease affecting cattle. It causes infertility and early embryonic death, leading to a high percentage of open and/or late-bred cows. The enormous cost of open cows, the veterinary and laboratory costs for investigation and diagnosis, and the costs of culling and replacing animals can lead to considerable economic strain. Trich is a venereal disease in cattle; the pathogen lives in the genital tracts of cattle and is spread from infected bulls to cows and from infected cows to bulls during breeding. Bulls carry the disease and can remain infected indefinitely. Most...
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After a successful launch of the Nebraska Beef Passport in 2021, the Nebraska Beef Council has announced that the 2022 Beef Passports are now available for pre-order. The campaign officially begins May 1, 2022, and will feature over 40 restaurants from across the state that serve outstanding beef. The program, funded by Nebraska beef producers through their Beef Checkoff, urges people to visit participating restaurants where they can order their favorite beef menu items, earn stamps, and be entered to win prizes. The goal of the program is to highlight Nebraska’s beef industry while encouraging beef meal purchases at local...
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The Montana Farmers Union (MFU) Foundation is accepting applications for its grant funding for the first time. The MFU Foundation has funded projects when approached in the past. Now that the endowment has grown, the foundation has created a formal grant application process. The foundation will continue to award annual scholarships in addition to the grants. “This is a big step for us,” Jan Tusick, an MFU Board member who also sits on a subcommittee for the foundation, said. “It's really just helping build capacity for rural communities to address some of the issues that they would like to start...
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“Beef on Every Plate” is a charitable program formed in 2008 by the Montana Cattlemen’s Association (MCA). For those who are not familiar with this program, ranchers donate cull cattle and MCA pays for the processing of the beef into one pound hamburger packages. We then arrange delivery to the local food banks. Since we began this program, we have provided over 322,000 meals to those in need. Additionally, local processing means the small, independent meat processors are getting needed economic stimulation as well. As cattle producers, we always have beef in our freezer. Unfortunately, this is a luxury that too many Montanans do not...
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Last weekend’s Easter celebration had brought aunt and uncles, cousins, and friends together to the ranch, along with a few new animal friends in-particular another basset hound named Maude. Mr. Fogarity was smitten as soon as he saw the long eared, loppy faced, sable and white pup. He scooped her into his lap and that’s where she snoozed most of the Easter afternoon. Rufus and Moose questioned the situation asking each other, “You reckon she’s comin’ home with us?” “Not sure,” Rufus replied. But as soon as the rickety old truck started its engine, and Mr. Fogarity carried her with...
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Agri-Kid of the Week, Tibbs Boyd of Montana, taking in the chance to snuggle during calving season.
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North Dakota Farmers Union recently announced that it is offering discounts to any youth who registers early for Farmers Union Camp until May 15. The organization’s summer camping program gets underway June 13, marking its 88th season. The four- and five-day camps for youth in grades 3-6 and 7-12 annually draw more than 1,200 farm and city kids statewide. “We celebrate youth at Farmers Union Camp in a fun, positive environment where kids can just be themselves. Our program incorporates traditional camp activities, like swimming and singing around a campfire, with education that enhances learning, team building, and leadership skills,” Miranda Letherman,...
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This last week of moisture came as a blessing and a curse. There were undoubtedly large death losses of young livestock in the areas that were hit by days of blizzard conditions, but in some areas, like here in our neck of the woods, the moisture was such a blessing that it outweighed the curse part. With this moisture boost, many ranchers will be trying to slip some farming in instead of sleep in between calving, feeding, branding, fencing, and all the other spring work. Farming is often a high-speed, high-stress form of diversification that causes a lot of laundry...
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The Idaho Young Cattle Producer Conference (YCC) is held each year to provide young cattle producers an opportunity to receive in-depth education on the cattle industry in Idaho. Participating in this conference will provide valuable tools that will help young producers be successful in the cattle business. The program is offered annually to young producers between the age of 18 and 40. Only 20 participants are selected to attend the conference each year. This year’s YCC will be held in Pocatello on June 6-8 and will feature speakers from different segments in the cattle industry in Idaho, including representatives from...
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FDA is, of course, government shorthand for the Food and Drug Administration or, as Helena Bottemiller Evich makes crystal clear in a deeply-sourced, richly detailed April 8 exposé, the Food and Drug Administration. That emphasis is required, Bottemiller Evich a senior editor and ag reporter at Politico, explained, because “a monthslong… investigation” found “that regulating food is simply not a high priority at the agency, where drugs and other medical products dominate…” That’s a deadly problem for every American because the FDA “oversees nearly 80 percent of the American food supply.” For decades, though, it hasn’t done that job well,...
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“I need to reschedule my appointment today,” a pained voice informed my answering machine. “I’m not feeling so good. Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten that whole bag of grapes.” When I called this patient - who is working hard to replace fresh fruit for her usual candy bar snacks - she explained further. “I was playing on the computer, and before I knew what was happening, the entire two-pound bag of grapes was empty.” I’ve been there! Like when a large box of popcorn suddenly disappears during a good movie. It’s called “mindless eating,” or not being aware of what,...
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Gary hauled a month-old calf with a broken leg to my clinic with the fracture likely the result of an inattentive mother. We usually flank these calves, and stabilize the fracture with towels, a PVC splint, and duct tape, but this calf slightly outweighed Gary. After Gary flanked him, the calf jumped up and took Gary for a bumpy belly ride inside the horse trailer, twice. I could have helped wrestle, but then there would be no doctor to apply the splint. Gary has sired a couple able bodied twin girls who are strapping high school athletes, so while watching...
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On March 24, 2022, the U.S. and Japan reached an agreement to increase the three-trigger safeguard mechanism required prior to Japan implementing a higher tariff on U.S. beef. The new three-trigger, as opposed to one, safeguard mechanism will reduce the probability that Japan will impose higher tariffs, thereby limiting access to Japanese markets for US beef producers. Although not signed, the agreement is good news for beef producers as it continues to improve accessibility to valuable markets. Foreign markets are an essential demand market for beef producers, as well as pork and poultry producers. In 2021, the U.S. exported 925,127...
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To further address packer consolidation in the cattle industry and bottlenecks in the supply chain, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the bipartisan Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A-PLUS) ACT on April 7. Section 201.67 of the Packers & Stockyards Act (P&S) of 1921, which has been called “outdated,” by groups like the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), originally said “No packer […] shall have an ownership interest in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of a market agency selling livestock on a commission basis, nor shall such a market agency permit...
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“I don’t know how we lost our way,” Bob Budd, the director of the Wyoming Wildlife and Nature Resource Trust, said in an April 7 webinar celebrating the Department of the Interior’s Wildlife Corridor Strategy. “But, I think back to a quote from Aldo Leopold,” Budd added, “which says, ‘there are two ways to apply conservation to land. One is to superimpose some particular practice upon the pre-existing system of land use without regard to how it fits or what it does to other interests involved. The other is to reorganize and gear up the farming, forestry, game cropping, erosion...
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I hope all of you in the wake of the recent snowstorm are recovering as well as possible – I pray there were minimal losses to accompany the much-needed moisture you received. I am happy to report that, after two weeks of winds which reached speeds of 60+ miles per hour, Wyoming is still connected to the continental U.S., my house is still standing, and my daughter blew over just one time. The day the winds really picked up, I was talking with a friend about how amusing it would be to try and play golf with those crazy gusts...
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As the carbon credit market continues to develop in the United States, private companies are offering long term contracts to farmers and ranchers whose management practices reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. In a recent webinar, sponsored by the American Gelbvieh Association, representatives from the Agoro Carbon Alliance explained contract options to attendees. “When the U.S. did not sign the Paris Climate Accord in 2015, it created a voluntary carbon market driven by consumers and investors,” Travis Kidd, an agronomist with the Agoro Carbon Alliance, said. “Big companies, like Microsoft and General Motors, are working to be carbon neutral or...
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I hope you all had a very Happy and Blessed Easter. I included a picture of my Mom (Babe) and her great-grandkids that was taken Easter morning in a barn at the ranch following church, brunch at Mom’s, and the Easter egg hunt. The Easter egg hunt at the ranch with all the kids is one of my mother’s favorite things throughout the course of a year. She called all of us during the snowstorm last week to announce the egg hunt was still going to go on, no matter what the weather did! I know a fair number of...
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The College of Agriculture at Montana State University will host a weeklong boot camp highlighting the future of precision agriculture and its potential for use in the state. “Sustainable Opportunities in Precision Agriculture” will take place Monday, June 6, through Friday, June 10, at MSU’s campus and its research fields. Each day will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is open to the public, but priority registration will be given to MSU upperclassmen and recent College of Agriculture graduates. The boot camp will teach attendees about precision agriculture technologies for sustainable crop and livestock systems. Attendees are...
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The Wyoming Ranch Camp is May 23-27, 2022, at the Queen Mountain Lodge on the Broadbent Ranch near Evanston. The Wyoming Ranch Camp is a hands-on ranch management seminar for recent high school graduates and college students. Participants will learn ranch management through a 5-day camp covering plant science & ecology, soil science, animal science, economics, ranch recreation, and range management. Ranchers face many challenges to operating a sustainable ranch. Wyoming's climate creates unique challenges and necessitates that a ranch manager be extremely competent in managing range and pasture resources. Limited access to markets also increases the amount of management...
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The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced an additional FY 2022 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) application batching period for agricultural producers to apply specifically for Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) funding to implement conservation practices on their private land and public land allotments. The additional batching period is being announced to assure that an adequate number of applications are on hand to fully utilize the FY 2022 allocation EQIP SGI funds provided to Nevada. “This is the second opportunity to utilize SGI funding designated to Nevada to benefit landowners managing for sage grouse. If there is no response to this...
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The Wyoming Cattle Women has the honor of hosting the annual American National Cattle Women’s (ANCW) Region V Convention in Cody, Wyoming May 19-21, 2022, at the Holiday Inn at Buffalo Bill Village. The event will begin Thursday evening with a social and cash bar. Guest speakers for Friday and Saturday will include Amanda Radke, Cat Urbigkit, Sarah Falen, Tracy Hunt, and Wyoming First-Lady, Jennie Gordon. More information and online registration can be found at ancw.org/event-4591167. A block of rooms is available through April 17, 2022, at the Comfort Inn (ask for the ANCW Region 5 conference block). Amanda Radke...
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Palm Sunday has always been one of my favorite services at the First Congregational Church here in Torrington. We pass around palm leaves and fold them into little crosses, though some of us spend a little too much time tickling our neighbors with the pointed tip of the leaf than we’d like to admit, as we discuss the significance of Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and all that happened in the short week leading to his crucifixion and resurrection. Early on in my journey with my faith, I never could comprehend why Easter was such a happy holiday – it...
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Panniers were being filled and packed onto the mules. When the wranglers moved to assist the guests, Rascal saw what he’d been wondering about. The fox skittered to the aspen hitching post, and while their conversation was short and sweet, it was finally evident on who he was in cahoots with at the mountain-side guest ranch, the mules. The one talking to the fox threw his head to the side, nudging towards one of the overstuffed panniers. Rascal took that as a subtle hint that there must be some stowed away items for the scavenging crew, which he was a...
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As widely reported lately, the U.S. meat packing industry is now dominated by four out-of-state meat packing companies that dictate the prices Montana ranchers receive for beef, poultry, and pork. Most ranchers must send cattle sometimes hundreds of miles away for processing, only to be shipped back to Montana for sale. Also widely reported is the unending drought Montana is experiencing, a drought exacerbated by climate disruption caused by greenhouse gas emissions. With less water to grow hay for feed, hay prices skyrocketed last year to all-time highs in some cases. These two realities have put many Montana ranchers at...
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The Consumer Promotion and Education Committee with the Nebraska Cattlemen would like to announce the 2022 Nebraska Beef Ambassador Contest and Beef Advocacy Training will be held Thursday, June 9, 2022, at Mid-Plains Community College in Valentine beginning at 1:00 pm. The competition is targeted towards youth who are passionate about the beef industry. The Nebraska Beef Ambassador Program provides an opportunity for youth, ages 14 - 24 years old, to become spokespersons and future leaders for the beef industry. Senior and collegiate divisions are judged on issue response and a mock media interview. The advocacy workshop will help participants...
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Corporate Cultivators: Amanda Kammerer, Event Planner and Marketer Growing up around livestock shows got Amanda Kammerer pretty far. As is the case with many ag kids, she learned the value of hard work, became proficient in problem solving, and connected with livestock connoisseurs like herself to create long-lasting relationships. However, unlike most ag kids, Kammerer didn’t put her show boots away after her final time in the ring as a showmen, she capitalized on her experience and became the Marketing Livestock Director for the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo and Central States Fair in South Dakota. “Up here for...
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In a recent telephone conversation, a southwest Kansas farmer casually noted that he had stopped growing irrigated corn some years back because “it cost too much.” Curious, I asked what it cost to irrigate an acre of corn in his arid, cattle-feeding-and-corn-hungry corner of the state. “It wasn’t the money,” he quickly explained, “it was the water.” Most years, he said, he had applied about 18 inches of water per acre to produce a 200-bu. crop. “That was about 2,500 gallons of water per bushel and I just thought that was too much. So I went back to wheat and...
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In The Cattle Markets: Feed Availability on Cost of Gain and Manure as a Source of Feedlot Revenue and Crop Fertilizer Potential for Corn Availability... The USDA’s Prospective Plantings report released on March 30 has created quite a bit of conversation about the 2022 grain supply and its subsequent impacts on cattle production. The report indicated that there would be a reduction in corn acreage. This reduction was almost entirely captured by an increase in soybean acreage rather than in other crops. The general commentary about why this reduction occurred given the incentives and potential profits for planting corn...
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Twenty years ago, we built our house, but winter hit before we could finish a yard fence. For some reason, our horses, who were free to roam the entire pasture, preferred using our bedroom wall as a windbreak. Even though they were running wild and free, they chose to stand and scratch their backsides on the siding of the house all night long, and it drove me crazy. About three o’clock one morning I snapped. I grabbed my .357 from my nightstand, jerked open the door and jumped out onto the deck, intending to fire a shot into the air...
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The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently announced the winners of their annual National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC), which encourages farmers to try new methods, learn from one another, and participate in friendly competition. The competition began in 1965 with 20 entries from 30 states and has since grown to over 7,000 entrants from across the nation. Farmers designate ten contiguous acres to plant in one hybrid variety for one entry in the competition. Each individual can enter multiple plots of various hybrids and choose their best for the final competition. There are a number of divisions, including conventional non-irrigated,...
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Avian Influenza (Avian Flu) infections across the United States have continued to explode in what is being deemed a “crisis,” and as of press time, the CDC reported 637 cases detected in wild birds and 24,264,619 confirmed cases in poultry. 31 states have reported cases in wild birds and 25 states have identified it in backyard and commercial poultry flocks. This is the worst outbreak of Avian Flu in the United States since 2015 when it killed or forced the slaughter of roughly 50 million birds, and it was reported to have cost the poultry industry billion and required...
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When looking at annual cow costs and doing an economic analysis, three categories tend to make up the largest percentage of total costs: feed, labor and equipment, and cow depreciation. Other expenses occur, such as breeding expense and veterinary costs, but they tend to be significantly less than the “Big Three.” To conduct an economic analysis, break the ranch into enterprises to understand where value is being created and costs are occurring. Land ownership, hay production, cow-calf, and replacement heifer development are four of the major enterprises on many ranches. Feed… When including both grazed feed and harvested feed, 40-70...
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In some cases, it is a curse coming from a small town because everyone knows everyone and, consequently, everything. More times than not though, it’s that very reason that living in a community like Shelby, Montana is an incredible blessing. With a population of roughly 3,000 people, the triumphs in Shelby are felt as a collective, and even more so, the losses ripple through and make themselves known. When you add connections in the agriculture community, tragedies are felt even deeper. That was the case when the devastating news of a fatal car crash spread like wildfire on March 25;...
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During a visit to Iowa, President Biden announced an emergency waiver allowing year-round E15 sales, intended to provide economic savings for consumers and a boost for America’s corn farmers and rural communities. Additionally, the Administration outlined new provisions including proposed regulatory pathways for the use of canola in renewable diesel. National Farmers Union (NFU) has long advocated for the increased use of biofuels based on economic and environmental benefits. NFU supports the decision as an immediate way for the administration to provide relief at the gas pump and increase America’s energy independence, while noting use of higher-level blends of ethanol,...
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Following the April 11 USDA report, which highlighted an increase in Brazilian beef imports, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) renewed its call for the immediate suspension of fresh beef imports from Brazil. NCBA has repeatedly called for a thorough audit of Brazil’s animal health and food safety system, to ensure the safety of the U.S. cattle herd. In 2021, Brazilian exports to the United States increased by 131 percent. In the first three months of 2022, Brazil has already shipped more than 50,000 metric tons of fresh beef to the U.S. This unprecedented surge of imports triggered a temporary...
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Cow-calf and stocker operators find themselves in yet another period of high fertilizer and fuel prices and must make necessary management decisions concerning production targets, according to two longtime Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton. Monte Rouquette, Ph.D., forage physiologist, and Gerald Smith, Ph.D., clover breeder, both in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, said the rules for managing pastures and livestock systems are changing with increasing fertilizer and fuel costs. “The energy crisis experienced in years past was just an...
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Recent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) within the U.S. laying flock are adding strain to beleaguered egg supply chains, which have not fully recovered from disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. While egg production has stabilized in recent months, it is still well below pre-pandemic levels and egg availability could be limited leading into Easter, according to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “U.S. egg producers have been hard-pressed to align supplies with market demand over the last two years,” Brian Earnest, lead animal protein economist with CoBank, said. “The U.S. layer flock typically expands ahead...
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Workshops about invasive grasses and weeds are scheduled in early May in Gillette, Sheridan, and Sundance Wyoming. Sponsored by University of Wyoming Extension, the free public workshops, which will all cover the same topics, are scheduled for 3-6 p.m. in: Gillette: Tuesday, May 3, George Amos Memorial Building Cottonwood Room. Sheridan: Tuesday, May 10, UW Extension Center, 1090 Dome Loop. Sundance: Tuesday, May 17, Crook County Courthouse Community Room. The workshops are for those wishing to learn more about how to identify and control the invasive species, and to learn about their economic effects. The list of invasive grasses found...
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Rascal was basking in the sun of the spring mountain day as he took a cat nap. His pleasantly plump physique had grown in the short time he’d been at the guest ranch with his new friend, the fox. A half-eaten biscuit hit his belly, causing him to open one eye in search of finding the culprit of the toss. His one eye spied nothing, so he resorted to unpleasantly sitting up. “Hey!” Rascal snapped. “What’s the idea?” he called. A little tip of curly red hair popped up from behind a rock, and another partially eaten biscuit was hurled...
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“Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will, in the end, contribute most to wealth, good morals, and happiness….” — Thomas Jefferson, 1787, in a letter to George Washington, from Paris. Thomas Jefferson, a wise and intriguing man, knew what he was talking about. He was a “spokesman for democracy,” the author of the Declaration of Independence, the third President of the United States, and a Founding Father. Not on that list provided by whitehouse.gov, however, is the title of “agriculturist,” one which Jefferson was incredibly proud of. Jefferson inherited a large plantation in Monticello, Virginia, and farmed there while...
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It’s calving season - my favorite time of year on the ranch. I never get tired of watching a cow know instinctively just what to do when her time approaches. First, she finds a private place in the pasture away from the herd. Then, she delivers her baby, usually with no help from us, thank you very much. Right after birth, she licks her newborn clean. Then, she stands by patiently as he struggles to his feet and wobbles to her side to find his first nourishment. It’s a true miracle. We humans have somewhat different views on pregnancy. We...
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There’s the common saying that “good things come to those who wait.” Unfortunately, as I've gotten older, reality has set in for me. I’ve actually started to realize that “good things” or the “right things” don’t always come to those who wait patiently, and in a lot of cases, don’t seem to come at all. This concept was on my mind the entire week as I gathered information and interviewed folks for my article on the newly updated Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022. A little over a year ago, numerous legislators tried to get the ball rolling...
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Twenty National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members were selected to accompany seven NJHA Board of Directors as they recently attended the first Building on Leadership Development (BOLD) Conference in Desdemona, Texas, March 24-27. This elite leadership retreat was hosted at Hi Point Ranch, owned by Gary and Kathy Buchholz of GKB Cattle. BOLD was created by the NJHA Board of Directors, who wanted college-aged junior Hereford members to expand their leadership skills beyond the Faces of Leadership conference that is held each summer. With an age range of 18-22 years, BOLD is geared to the college and career focused junior members,...
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Sidney Anderson, Davey Cargo (daughter of Preston and Jaci Cargo), and Haley Anderson look through the heifers at Jungels Shorthorn Farm, in Kathryn, North Dakota. Photo courtesy of Will Bollum.
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In 1985, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) established contracts with agricultural producers to retire highly erodible and other environmentally sensitive cropland and pasture. Farmland accepted into the program for a 10–15-year contract period was converted to grass, trees, wildlife cover, or other vegetation that provided environmental benefits as landowners received financial compensation. By 1991, more than 12.9 million hectares (ha), which is equivalent to 32 million acres, were enrolled in the program, with peak enrollment in 2007 enrolling 14.9 million hectares (ha). However, the Agricultural Act of 2014 decreased the maximum enrollment to 9.7 million ha in 2017. ...
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What responsibility does a land grant university have to the industries and the people it represents? This a question that Dr. Tim DelCurto, a professor in the College of Agriculture at Montana State University, was faced with in 2017 in regards to the university’s engagement with the purebred Angus industry in Montana. Initial conversations in the spring of 2017 illuminated the fact that “the Montana Angus Association was frustrated with the university, and they wanted to have conversations with the Range Science Department on campus about our involvement with registered cattle and the seedstock industry,” DelCurto said. So, DelCurto sat...
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Contrary to the woeful baying by Big Agbiz, the United States – and any nation with enough money – will not run out of food this year. This can be said without reservation for two reasons. First, war or no war, there is no global shortage of wheat, the crop today’s Chicken Littles are cluck-cluck-clucking about. In the last week of March, numerous sources pointed out that the estimated shortfall in Russian wheat export sales due to its war in Ukraine will be about 7 million metric tons (mmt) this marketing year. While that sounds like a lot, 7 mmt...
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One of the advantages of writing a weekly column for 27 years is that I have a scrapbook of my life saved on my computer. This week, my grandson, Alex, turned 12, so I thought I would type "Alex" in the search bar to see what stories came up about Alex in my columns. The first one that came up was this one that I wrote right after he was born, and twelve years later I can still remember how it felt to become a grandmother for the first time. . . I have crossed another threshold in my life's...
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The 2022 beef export market started the year where 2021 left off: at record high levels. The most recent beef export numbers were for January and released on March 9. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) publishes monthly and annual U.S. livestock and meat trade data by country. That report with historic data back to 1989 is available at: www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/livestock-and-meat-international-trade-data Beef exports totaled 287.6 million pounds in January, up 17 percent or 41.6 million pounds from January 2021. Gains in shipments to China (+114 percent) and South Korea (+39 percent) offset declines to Mexico (-37 percent),...
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When I started Double Rafter Cattle Drives, I needed proven cow ponies. Several times each year, I would buy five new horses and put a week’s hard ride on them in the mountains. If three were useable, they went into the string, while the two jugheads went back to town. Today’s story is about a red sorrel who went back to town. I called the horse Red and did not own him long enough to tag him with a proper name. On his first morning, I saddled and circled him, stepped into the stirrup, and he exploded. In the five...
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“Having a marketing plan in place for your calves can mean the difference between making a profit and losing money,” Missy Bonds, Assistant Manager at Bonds Ranch in Saginaw, Texas, said. When we talk about calf marketing, often we think of selling truckloads on contract. One truckload is 48,000 to 50,000 pounds. That’s 80 six-weight calves. While that’s a great option for larger scale producers, the average U.S. producer has a cow herd size of approximately 25 to 75 head. So, what marketing options are available for those who don’t have the volume to sell in truckloads? Doug Husfeld, director...
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Packer consolidation, the Big Four, price transparency, and competition are all buzzwords that cattlemen and women across the country have become far too familiar with over the years. Over the past year in particular, greater light has been shed on the unethical practices of the Big Four, and numerous pieces of legislation have been introduced to try and address the major issues which are causing unfair positions for producers and consumer alike; most recently, the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022 (2022 Act), a modified compromise bill, was introduced by Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck...
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I try to make a point to look at retail meat counters across the country quite often. Fed cattle prices have been struggling for several weeks and have worked their way back to around 8 in both the north and the south and seem to be stuck there. It appears that the “Monday Morning Phone Calls” between the Big Four packers must be taking place again. Fed cattle prices saw nice gains when all four were actively buying on the open market and competing against each other for cattle as the supply situation was tighter than it is now. The packers...
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Digital Editor Position Western Ag Reporter Job Summary: The Western Ag Reporter is seeking a highly motivated digital editor to join our team and assist in writing weekly content for the publication. You will work closely with the editor in order to cover relevant ag issues each week, while also taking charge of scheduling our content and news releases out on the website, and helping increase our social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Responsibilities Include: Meeting with editor to plan the upcoming week’s content. Closely monitoring breaking news in the ag industry. Proofread and edit copy for print. Suggest original ideas. Develop original articles with...
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) praised a bipartisan letter from 87 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who called on U.S. Trade Representative, Katherine Tai and Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, “to make agriculture a priority in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework” (IPEF). The letter was led by Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Jodey Arrington (R-TX), together with Jim Costa (D-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Ron Kind (D-WI), and Randy Feenstra (R-IA). The members of Congress called on the administration to use IPEF to address barriers to U.S. agricultural exports, create mutually agreed-upon regulatory reforms that...
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Certified Angus Beef (CAB) will award more than ,000 in scholarships this year to students who are honing their interests through a variety of education options in the pursuit of a career in agriculture. Helping make these student’s dreams become a reality, CAB created the Colvin Scholarship Fund to honor Louis M. “Mick” Colvin, CAB co-founder and executive director for its first 22 years. This fund was established to carry his vision of creating a stronger beef business. Over the last 23 years, 101 students have received 8,500 in Colvin Scholarships. In 2021, the brand awarded ,000 to 15 graduate...
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A series of four Congressional Primary Debates for republicans and democrats entered in the race for Montana’s two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives will kick off April 21 in Miles City. The debates are co-sponsored by Montana Farmers Union, United States Cattleman’s Association, Montana Cattleman’s Association, and the Northern Plains Resource Council. “It’s our opportunity to put issues that are important to rural Montana and family farms at the forefront of the conversation surrounding the elections,” MFU President, Walter Schweitzer said, adding that rural communities are the backbone of Montana. All debates are open to the public and...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and The Montana Public Lands Council (MPLC) shared their disappointment regarding the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed decision for the American Prairie Reserve Change Application for bison on seven grazing allotments. MSGA President, Jim Steinbeisser issued the following statement: “Our organization and our members have consistently provided comments regarding our concerns with APR’s proposals. These include concerns over the impacts to the rangeland health, riparian areas, and socioeconomic impacts to the rural communities and the livestock industry. The proposed decision published today did not address the concerns brought forth by our association, as well...
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North Dakota Farmers Union applauded USDA’s recent announcement that it will now begin distributing 0 million to livestock producers to aid in recovery from last year’s record-setting drought. The funding was secured in September by Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) as part of a stopgap appropriations bill. “This program provides critical relief to North Dakota ranchers, especially as we head into the spring with the western half of the state already in severe drought,” NDFU President, Mark Watne said. Payments to producers will be distributed through USDA’s new Emergency Livestock Relief Program. Payments will be based on each producer’s approved 2021...
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“Do we provide a substantially different environment for seedstock bulls that we build versus what our commercial customers do for their calves or cows? I think there’s opportunities for us to think broadly about data capture,” Dr. Bob Weaber, Kansas State University professor and head of Eastern Kansas Research and Extension Centers, said during his 2021 presentation at the Beef Improvement Federation Symposium. Weaber shared how the beef on dairy phenomena is a disrupter in the usual dairy and beef business and discussed research findings from a beef on dairy carcass trait collaborative project. Beef on dairy: A Disrupter... In...
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After a recent column on food relief organizations that serve victims of Ukraine, some readers urged me to add World Central Kitchen (https://www.wck.org/) to the list. Here’s why: “They go anywhere in the world when people are desperate for food to survive disasters (like Ukraine is facing now)!” JT, from Salinas, CA, wrote. That is correct. Founder, Chef José Andrés partners with local restaurants and is now serving 250,000 hot, nourishing meals a day in six countries, including 21 cities in Ukraine. “One of the advantages of working with local restaurants besides efficiency is that the hot meals are made...
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While hauling our four mini-Kerns kids home, I pointed to a dead skunk smashed on the highway and said, “there is the first sign of spring.” My grandkids seemed unmoved by my astute observation until we passed a second sign of spring similarly squashed on the shoulder. Spring is near. Saturday morning, the trophy wife and I ran the trails behind our house. It had been five days since Dr. Brian had plated Druann’s wrist, and he okayed running but no falling. Heeding his advice, we waited for daylight. Fifteen minutes into our run, we heard a meadowlark, so March...
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will conduct a virtual public hearing regarding the use of motorized vehicles and aircraft in the management of wild horses and burros. The hearing is scheduled for April 26, 2022, from 3 to 5 p.m. MT and will be held using Zoom video conferencing technology and live streamed at BLM.gov/live. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 requires BLM to conduct an annual hearing to consider the use of motorized vehicles in the management of wild horses and burros. The BLM typically uses motorized vehicles to conduct gather operations, complete population surveys,...
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CattleFax elected a new slate of officers at this year’s annual business meeting on February 2, which was held in conjunction with the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Houston. The new President is Pono Von Holt of Kamuela, Hawaii. Von Holt is a cow-calf producer on the Big Island of Hawaii who also has stocker and feedlot interests in the northwestern United States and the Southern Plains. A third-generation rancher, Von Holt has long been active in cattle industry organizations locally and nationally, as well as other organizations in Hawaii. The President-Elect is Nick Hunt of Atlantic,...
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) submitted joint comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. They urged the agency to improve nutrition security by updating school meal nutrition standards to encourage increased consumption of dairy in keeping with recommendations from the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) report and with leading health organizations. In 2020, the federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report found that a staggering 79 percent of 9- to 13-year-olds were not meeting the recommended intake of dairy foods and thereby under-consuming a variety of nutrients...
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How do you politely tell someone they're an obnoxious idiot? I was minding my own business, working in my front yard, which is a monument to the bovine species. We have a huge cow planter, a bull on a hill and a whole herd of multi-colored cows that are brightly painted plastic pots. Watching over this menagerie is Cowboy Bill, a three-foot-tall cowboy who is having trouble putting on his chaps, probably because he's stiff as a board and made of concrete. We also have a decomposing head of a Longhorn with a 60-inch horn spread that scares the...
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The USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) announced the launch of a free webinar series focusing on current research and advancements in managing weeds and invasive plants. "ARS scientists have worked in a wide range of agricultural and natural ecosystems that include agronomic and horticultural crops, pastures, forests, rangelands, wetlands, and riparian areas," Steve Young, USDA-ARS National Program Leader for Weeds and Invasive Pests, said. "Our scientists have made contributions to discoveries in the newest fields of robotics and genetics as well as the traditional and fundamental subjects of weed-crop competition, physiology, and integration...
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If you think Big Ag has too few suppliers, too few buyers, and too few farmers and ranchers, you need to meet Big Food. It is bigtime big. Who is Big Food? That straightforward question was tackled by academics, journalists, and legal professionals in a day-long conference on March 12, titled “Reforming America’s Retail Food Markets,” at the Yale University Law School. The conference’s five panels examined everything from how food-selling firms share market information to antitrust enforcement to challenging today’s food giants with regional food hubs. The panel I moderated, a 75-minute, four-presentation discussion of “Competition Issues” in food...
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Running from July 13-16, 2022, the WYO Rodeo Week will include night rodeos, a parade, street dances, and more. Thousands of locals and visitors flock to Sheridan to enjoy the festivities. The event will feature booths with western wear, hats, boots, jewelry, art, home décor, gourmet beef, and leather goods. Cowboy Cache will be an added draw to the daytime WYO Rodeo Week activities. Located in the Ramada Plaza Convention Center, shopping hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Patterned after Cowboy Christmas, the shopping extravaganza held during the NFR in Las Vegas each year, Cowboy Cache will...
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EPA and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) would like to invite the public to comment on the proposal to delete Operable Unit 6 (OU6) of the Libby Asbestos Superfund site from the National Priorities List (NPL). Comments will be accepted from March 21 through April 21. Operable Unit 6 includes BNSF-owned and operated railyards in the towns of Libby and Troy, Montana and approximately 42 miles of railroad right-of-way. OU6 has been cleaned through remedial actions at other Operable Units of the site, including the former export plant (OU1), former screening plant (OU2), and residential and commercial areas...
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Japan was the United States’ Largest Beef Volume Market in 2021, and has a growing demand for U.S. beef. The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) said that the March 25 U.S.-Japan deal, which looks to increase the beef safeguard trigger level under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, will increase the American beef industry’s ability to meet Japan’s growing demand for U.S. beef. “The Meat Institute welcomes this agreement that will help the U.S. beef industry earn greater market access to Japan,” Meat Institute President and CEO, Julie Anna Potts said. In addition to increasing market growth for U.S. beef into...
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Spring is officially here, and that signals a shift in my world. I have to shift from physical fitness activities like power walking to the break room for a snack and lifting paperclips to doing things like lugging newborn calves into a sled from the snowbank they were born in or crawling through the brush behind cows or in some cases in front of cows, depending upon their prenatal or postpartum moods. Calving season can be a painful transition into fitness that requires a lot of sweat and, therefore, deodorant. The worst part about all that sweating is that there...
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March 22, 2022 was National Ag Day, a day to recognize America's agriculturists and the goods they share across the country. The general public may only recognize agriculture one day out of the year, but to agriculturists, every single day of our lives is “National Ag Day.” I say this because every morning, we get up and work to produce a product that involves either clothing, feeding, or fueling consumers — and that’s pretty dang important. This is not just a task your stereotypical farmers and ranchers do either; it takes a beaucoup of other agricultural roles to make this...
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The Northern International Livestock Exposition is searching for college students who can keep up with the fast-paced environment of the NILE Stock Show and Rodeo. You’ll leave with some lifelong friendships, industry connections, and memories that will make the early mornings and late nights absolutely worth it. We’re looking for individuals that are flexible and can adjust to changes on the fly, can comfortably talk with nervous exhibitors as they’re about to enter the show ring, and most importantly, individuals that are committed to embracing the western way of life. If you’re interested in the media internship, it’s a semester-long...
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Representative Rosendale recently introduced the Restore Onshore Energy Production Act. This bill would require the Biden administration to immediately resume onshore oil and gas lease sales in compliance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920. The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 authorizes and governs leasing of public lands for developing coal, petroleum, natural gas, and other resources. In January 2021, President Biden imposed a moratorium on federal onshore and offshore lease sales, which the courts subsequently ruled to be illegal. The Biden administration was forced to repeal such actions, but still have not issued a single new lease sale to...
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) applauded the Senate Commerce Committee’s passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA). The approval establishes Senate committee support for action to address shipping supply chain challenges as Congress prepares to commence conference procedures on the Senate-passed “U.S. Innovation & Competition” Act (USICA) and the House-passed “America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength” (COMPETES) Act in the coming weeks. The House COMPETES Act includes the House-passed version of OSRA. “[The recent] action by the Senate Commerce Committee brings the Ocean Shipping Reform Act...
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With avian influenza spreading throughout the country and confirmed cases in wild birds and domestic poultry in neighboring states, residents should not attempt to assist, move, rehabilitate or dispatch wild birds and should avoid bringing wildlife home. Poultry owners should practice increased biosecurity to help protect their birds. “To date, there have been nearly 450 detections in wild birds and 51 detections in commercial and backyard flocks throughout the country,” Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring said. “In 2015, North Dakota had two cases of H5 HPAI in Dickey and LaMoure counties, affecting well over 100,000 birds combined. Producers learned firsthand the...
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On March 30, Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) introduced legislation to require the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to reinstate mandatory country of original labeling (MCOOL) for imported beef. “It is critical that American consumers are able to make informed decisions about the meat they buy. Consumers should be able to know that they are truly supporting American farmers and ranchers from labels at the store,” Khanna said. “Right now, consumers and producers are hurting from a lack of transparency in the marketplace. I’m glad to partner with Representative Gooden on this bipartisan bill to reinstate common-sense mandatory...
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American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall commented on the U.S. Supreme Court decision to hear the case against California’s Proposition 12, which was filed by AFBF and the National Pork Producers Council. The state law seeks to ban the sale of pork from hogs that don’t meet the state’s arbitrary production standards, even if the pork was raised on farms outside of California. “AFBF is pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision to consider the constitutionality of California’s law imposing arbitrary requirements on farmers well outside its borders. We share California’s goal of ensuring animals are well cared for,...
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On March 28, the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022 was publicly released, led by Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). The bill is a revised version of similar legislation introduced last year. As with the 2021 version, National Farmers Union (NFU) supports the bill and urged Congress to act quickly to pass this critically important legislation. “Rampant consolidation in the cattle industry has made pricing in the cattle market increasingly opaque,” NFU President, Rob Larew said. “Fair and competitive markets rely on price discovery and transparency. For farmers and...
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This week, I came down with a nasty case of spring fever, and it seemed like everyone around me did too. I love how the world seems to come back alive each spring and is the physical embodiment of the fact that there’s always a silver lining to times that are difficult. In a very literal sense, I really just can’t stand the cold, which is comical considering I live in Wyoming. A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about the current snowpacks and a professional’s outlook for the state of the drought in our region, and I know...
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On March 17, Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack presented at Teachers College, Columbia University on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Actions on Nutrition Security. Vilsack spoke on the importance of nutrition security rather than food security, along with the recently announced strategic framework that the USDA “will use from this point forward as complementing what we do on the food security side.” Vilsack gave an overview of different programs the USDA has in place for food security including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (EBT), school meal programs, and WIC (Women, Infant, and...
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The state of Montana recently finalized, in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) Program agreement, which allows meat processed at state-inspected facilities to retail the product across state lines. Many are calling this a major “game changer” for local meat processing facilities and consumers. The CIS Program promotes the expansion of business opportunities for state-inspected meat and poultry establishments. Under the CIS Program, state-inspected plants can operate as federally-inspected facilities, under specific conditions, and ship their product via interstate commerce, and it also opens the door for the opportunity to export them...
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Tom Vetsch is the type of breeder who is in the business for all the right reasons. TLC Vetsch Angus isn’t a generational ranch, but rather it is one he and his wife, Charlet, built from the ground up, out of a natural zest for learning, a love for cattle, and a passion for doing right by their customers. As of right now, the Vetsch operation consists of roughly 400 Angus cows, 250 of which are purebred females and 150 that are used as commercial recips, he said. Each year, they sell 45-50 bulls private treaty, and they also run...
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With a clean slate featuring brand new committee members, adjusted receiving and sale dates, and new test and sale locations, the North Dakota Angus Association (NDAA) is gearing up for a competitive lineup for their 33rd annual Bull Test sale. At its inception, the NDAA Bull Test’s original purpose was to provide a bigger stage for producers to showcase their genetics. “There weren’t as many production sales at that time – instead, there were more private treaty sales,” Bob Carlson, who with his wife, Angela, is the co-chair of the NDAA Bull Test for the first time, said. “The members...
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I would like to start out this week with what could be very good news for the northwestern portion of the United States. Early this week, I worked a bull sale in Columbus, Montana, and the auctioneer talked about getting a phone call that morning from someone in South Dakota who was driving and listening to the radio, and a news report said, starting on April 18, much of the northwest was predicted to have cooler than normal temperatures and above normal precipitation for two to three weeks. I don’t normally like to talk about things like this without hearing...
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The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) applauded the Montana Department of Livestock for their work in recent months to open new consumer markets for Montana ranchers by securing a cooperative interstate shipment (CIS) agreement with USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS). “Cattle production in Montana is an annual billion industry and plays an important role in the state’s top economy. This successful effort by the state of Montana to bring greater consumer familiarity and access to Montana beef as well as added value to our members is an effort to be recognized,” Jim Steinbeisser, MSGA President, shared. CIS promotes the...
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McDonald’s and Burger King; Microsoft and Apple; Hatfields and McCoys; Farmers and Ranchers? This is a column I’ve been avoiding for years now, but it’s time we address the elephant in the room: what’s the beef between farmers and ranchers? Some of you may be sitting back in your seat and wondering what I’m even talking about — that’s okay, up until a few years ago I didn’t realize there were any issues between the two parties. However, in recent years, I’ve come to notice a, well, there’s no other way to put it, the weird relationship between these two...
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As the process to write the 2023 farm bill begins, the agriculture committees should address climate policy in a producer-focused way, Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) and a co-chair of the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA), said. Conner’s remarks came during testimony at a House Agriculture Committee hearing to review the role of US Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs in addressing climate change. “As the Committee begins work on the next farm bill, we recommend that the process align with FACA’s guiding principles. We believe that policies should be voluntary, and...
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“Our farmers and ranchers produce a wide array of products, used here and around the world,” Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring said. “We want them to know that North Dakota appreciates all they do.” This year marks the 49th anniversary of National Ag Day. It is a good reminder of the impact agriculture has in North Dakota. Agriculture generates between -12 billion in cash receipts in North Dakota annually, which translates into -40 billion of economic activity in the state each year.Over 39 million acres of land in North Dakota are owned, operated or managed by farmers and ranchers.North Dakota is...
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The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today issued the following statement regarding House Agriculture Committee (the Committee) Chairman David Scott’s announcement of an upcoming hearing on the beef industry and food prices: “The Meat Institute and its members have already made themselves available to Chairman Scott and all Members of Congress on several occasions to help improve the understanding of the beef markets,” Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute, said. “This hearing will be no different. The questions have been asked and answered. “The House Agriculture Committee already has had two full committee hearings and...
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After a year filled with robust sales and growth in 2021, the American Hereford Association (AHA) predicts an even stronger year in 2022. The AHA reported the average price of a live animal increased nationwide, and semen sales increased 9 percent domestically and internationally. "The demand for Hereford cattle continues to grow, with strong sales across the country," Jack Ward, AHA executive vice president, said. "It’s about coming home to Hereford because of the maternal heterosis, but equally as important, those steer offspring are well rewarded by the feeders and have an ultimate goal of a high-quality end product." More...
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I am very proud this week to present to all of you our largest page-count issue of the year. Every year, those of us around the office refer to this issue as “The Midland Issue.” My crew not only puts in a lot of hours in on this issue, but they go the extra mile and put a lot of additional hours away from office time to make all of this happen. I would like to take this chance to publicly thank each and every one of the staff members of the Reporter for their dedication and willingness to go...
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Alissa Bohle is not your typical pageant queen and the Miss Montana Volunteer Program (MMVP) is so much more than just a beauty pageant. The MMVP, which one of many state-level qualifiers for the Miss Volunteer Program America, was established in 2021, so Bohle was crowned as the program’s first winner. Growing up, Bohle would have never imagined she’d compete in a pageant. “When I was younger, I was very much a tomboy. I have two older brothers and no sisters,” she said. “At first, I was a little skeptical of competing because I thought it was just your stereotypical...
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Cheating, scandal, and deception are three things that, unfortunately, find their way into any form of competition. Performance enhancing drugs have tarnished the reputations of far too many athletes, and unfortunately, the horse show industry is not immune to scandal and unethical practices which tarnish the spirit of competition and cause unnecessary suffering to the animals themselves. On March 9, Animal Wellness Action (AWA), a non-profit political advocacy group who lobbies “to prevent cruelty to animals,” released a statement celebrating Congress’ “inclusion of the highest-ever funding levels of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) of 1970 in their final spending bill...
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The internet is the wild west when it comes to figuring out what is based in scientific fact, and using nutrition misinformation to demonize animal products has become all too common. Tactics like comparing broccoli to beef, or claiming that conventionally-produced milk contains antibiotics, injects confusion and fear into consumer decisions and leaves agricultural producers scratching their heads. The Animal Agriculture Alliance (AAA) recently held a webinar with Neva Cochran, a registered dietician and nutritionist, and member of the AAA’s Allies Program. She works as a nutrition communications consultant and has several family ties to agriculture. The webinar, “Eating Beyond...
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Last week, we got just a glimpse into why Dr. Robert Cope is so deeply revered by his community. He was recently inducted into the Eastern Idaho Agriculture Idaho Hall of Fame, and despite health problems which keep him wheelchair bound, he still helps his community by providing his wisdom and insight. Our local veterinarian has done a great service to rural America. Dr. Cope always had the ranchers’ best interests in mind. Not long after he arrived in Salmon, Idaho (in 1977) he became involved in land management issues from a local perspective. Even before he became a county...
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The Land Institute released the first comprehensive report from Kernza perennial grain growers across the U.S. and Canada. On-farm experimentation with the new grain, supported by agronomic research, development of a knowledge-sharing infrastructure, and community building efforts, helped catalyze early adopter success. “Researchers provide robust support to growers, processors, and producers, who then share knowledge and data with stakeholders from their hands-on experiences working with Kernza,” Tessa Peters, Director of Crop Stewardship at The Land Institute, said. “The report gives us confidence that this cooperative approach is working. It shows that the perennial grain agriculture movement is not only possible...
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Representing more than 20,000 family farmers and ranchers throughout South Dakota in his role as the South Dakota Farmers Union President, Doug Sombke was re-elected to serve as Treasurer of the national organization’s executive board during the 120th NFU Convention, held in Denver, Colorado, February 27-March 1. “My first priority is serving South Dakota Farmers Union members. This role strengthens my ability to ensure national lobbying efforts clearly represent South Dakota’s members,” Sombke, a fourth-generation Conde farmer, said. “By serving on the executive board, I work closely with NFU president and staff. I have a lot more input on what...
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Young people in Wyoming and beyond can learn about a variety of career opportunities during a virtual career night hosted by University of Wyoming Extension and Wyoming 4-H Tuesday, March 22. “Exploring Your Future and Growing a Career: Virtual Career Night” will begin at 6 p.m. with a welcome and introduction, followed by a brief presentation by Tris Munsick, a country music artist from Sheridan. Following Munsick’s talk, participants will learn about career opportunities in six career tracks: agriculture and natural resources, business, health and education, expressive arts, trades, and wild and crazy. Each track will feature industry professionals who...
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Pat Koons, Burdick, Kansas, was recognized as the 2022 Stockman of the Year on March 3 at the Stout Center in Manhattan, Kansas. Annually the Livestock and Meat Industry Council Inc. (LMIC) honors a Stockman of the Year at its Stockmen’s Dinner prior to KSU Cattlemen’s Day. “Pat knows very few strangers and his easy laugh and appreciation of others fills any room he enters,” Justin Janssen, LMIC secretary, said. “Pat relates easily to young people, and he has a knack for finding out what makes students tick. Pat Koons has been a life-long friend of the livestock industry and...
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Federally endangered Pahrump poolfish are flourishing in eastern Nevada’s Spring Valley due to an inter-agency habitat enhancement project coordinated by Bristlecone Field Office Wildlife Biologist Nancy Herms, recipient of this year’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Conservation Project Award. “Nancy’s love of wildlife and steadfast dedication to conservation have greatly improved the overall quality of the Shoshone Ponds, enhancing its suitability as a refugium for this federally endangered species. Her actions have improved ecological function in Spring Valley, ensured the future of the Pahrump poolfish, and will benefit wildlife for years to come,” Jared Bybee, BLM Bristlecone Field Manager, said....
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Registration is now open for three Stockmanship & Stewardship regional events, with the first stop in Blacksburg, Virginia, in May. During each event, producers can become BQA certified, network with fellow cattlemen and women, participate in hands-on demonstrations led by stockmanship experts, including Curt Pate and Dr. Ron Gill, and learn cutting-edge operation techniques. Stockmanship & Stewardship is a unique educational experience for cattle producers featuring low-stress cattle handling demonstrations, Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) educational sessions, facility design sessions, and industry updates that you won’t find anywhere else. The program is sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Merck...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on March 9, 2022, that it is accepting grant applications for the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Technical Assistance Investment Program to provide historically underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners technical support in accessing USDA programs and services. “This past year, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken bold and historic actions to level the playing field to ensure ALL Americans benefit from the many opportunities open to them,” Tom Vilsack, Agriculture Secretary, said. “As part of USDA’s American Rescue Plan investments, we want to ensure that those who have been traditionally underserved by USDA have the...
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The Montana Association of Conservation Districts, Montana Watershed Coordination Council, and partners are reaching out across the state for input. This coalition is working to find out what more might be done to better support farmers and ranchers in managing soils in Montana. The outreach effort is taking place through July 2022. Agricultural producers are encouraged to provide input in many ways. The purpose of this outreach effort is to understand how to help increase the pace and scale at which land stewards implement voluntary practices and systems that maintain and improve soil health and the long-term economic and ecological...
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Regenerative farming and ranching pioneer, Gabe Brown will share his secrets to more profitable and enjoyable ranching during a workshop, April 19 in Big Timber. The full- day workshop will be held in the Ag Pavilion at the Fairgrounds starting at 9 a.m. During the workshop, which is sponsored by the Sweet Grass Farm Bureau, Brown will cover a range of topics including: How to increase profitability through adaptive grazing;Soil Health on rangeland;Integrating livestock on cropland; andThe power of stock density The results Brown achieves at his highly productive 6,000-acre farm, Brown’s Ranch, together with his first-hand farming experience and...
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Sometimes life takes you in directions you never intended to go. This Kim Siebert knows well. Indeed, the Henderson, Nebraska, Angus and Red Angus seedstock producer never intended to be a genetics supplier. His dad was a feedlot operator and Siebert thought to become a commercial cow-calf producer. In fact, that’s how he started his journey in the cattle business as a young man. But then life threw a curve ball and without necessarily making a conscious decision, he found himself raising purebred Angus cattle. “I grew up in the 60s and 70s, when all the new breeds, exotics as...
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Almost a year after the Montana First Judicial District Court’s ruling in favor of the State of Montana regarding a case surrounding water rights ownership as part of House Bill (HB) 286, the Montana Supreme Court decided March 8, 2022, HB 286 is constitutional. Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA), an intervener party in the case, advocated during the 2019 legislative session that HB 286 was necessary to revise water rights laws. This law declared private use of water derived from a well or developed spring on private land which is diverted to a state lease, does not automatically result in state...
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American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall sent a letter on March 8, 2022, to President Joe Biden asking him to take the necessary steps to address high energy costs impacting all Americans. Over the past 15 months, oil prices have increased by 130 percent to more than 0 per barrel. President Duvall wrote, “As Russia’s harmful actions in Ukraine continue and further sanctions are imposed against Russia, oil prices will likely continue to rise, creating even higher consumer costs and threatening U.S. energy and economic security.” AFBF is asking the administration to remove barriers to domestic energy production...
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A Montana Farmers Union (MFU) member and local chapter were recognized nationally for their leadership in National Farmers Union during the organization’s annual convention held recently in Denver, Colorado. In recognition of his passion for family farming and rural America, Paul Neubauer received the Bruce Miller Award. MFU’s Cascade County Chapter also was nationally recognized for their commitment to NFU and for growing its members with a Leadership Award. The Bruce Miller Award is an unexpected honor, Neubauer said, adding that being considered an embodiment of NFU’s vision and mission “was a very meaningful thing for me to reflect on.”...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is deregulating a soybean variety developed by BASF Corporation using genetic engineering. The variety, designated as GMB 151, was developed to resist soybean cyst nematode, a microscopic parasitic worm, and for herbicide resistance. As part of the petition process, APHIS prepared a draft plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) and draft environmental assessment (EA) and made these documents available for a 30-day public review and comment period on August 17, 2021. APHIS considered all public comments and conducted a thorough review of the potential environmental impacts in its...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), in partnership with Farm Credit, is seeking entrepreneurs to apply online for the 2023 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Now in its ninth year, this national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. Farm Bureau is offering 5,000 in startup funds throughout the course of the competition, which will culminate in the top 10 semi-finalists competing in a live pitch competition in front of Farm Bureau members, investors, and industry representatives at the AFBF Convention in January 2023 in San Juan, Puerto...
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Because my older brother preferred saddles over tractor seats, I was surrendered to the hay crew where the many machinery breakdowns frustrated me. You could wait hours for windrowed hay to dry, and after baling a couple rounds, a squealing bearing suddenly meant a 35-mile, parts-run to town. My years in ranching and then public service has taught me there is only one piece of machinery with the reliability of a post bar - the propaganda machine. I have spent 16 years pouring sand in its gas tank and loosen its lug nuts trying to destroy it, but I have...
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I started this column with the intent to celebrate National Nutrition Month® - a yearly event sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. I really like the theme, Celebrate a World of Flavors, which encourages us to nourish ourselves with a variety of tastes from cultures around our globe. My heart, however, has taken a turn toward our neighbors in Ukraine as they continue to suffer from the devastation of their homeland. In the midst of so much turmoil, the need for basics like food and supplies becomes paramount for these world citizens. I did some digging to learn...
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Stanley is a computer nerd who inherited a paid-for ranch and 450 good cows. For some people, like me, this would be a dream come true but for Stanley, who hates cows, horses, and the outdoors, he became a prisoner of circumstance. One man's dream really is another man's nightmare. Stanley's goal in life was to design video games and he was three years into getting a degree in electronic engineering when his folks died, and he had to come home to run the ranch. You might say we shouldn't feel sorry for Stanley; he could simply sell the ranch...
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Seven-year-old Olivia Menghini working the snake and keeping cattle moving up to the chute.
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The glow of the heat lamp illuminated its light directly over Rascal. He sat on a log stump awaiting his inquisition. His paws were crossed with a disgruntle disposition. Banjo, Moose, and Tuff paced around him, attempting to heighten his anxiety, so he spilled his mischievous plans. So far, Rascal had involved a passel of weasels and a wayward nearly blind wolverine who’d been hunkered in the caverns all winter to his schemes. And now, it was evident he’d been scavenging from the Fogarity’s ranch, especially since Moose had found him casually popping popcorn into his mouth. “What’s the idea...
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Agricultural officials in Pennsylvania are preparing for a potential outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the commonwealth. Since January, the Eurasian H5N1 strain of HPAI has been confirmed in domestic poultry flocks and wild waterfowl in several Eastern and Midwestern states, including neighboring states that, like Pennsylvania, are in the Atlantic flyway for migrating birds. Although the virus had not been reported in Pennsylvania as of March 9, poultry experts say it likely is present in the state and urge commercial and backyard flock owners to ramp up biosecurity. State agriculture officials estimate that a major HPAI outbreak...
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One of the most beautiful – and inexplicable – aspects of economics is how its practitioners never seem to be wrong. Indeed, almost every school of economic thought, from John Maynard Keynes’ demand-driven economics on the left, to Arthur Laffer’s supply-side economics on the right, is crowded with disciples defending their leader’s theories and just often, if subtly, attacking their theological foes. One such fistfight broke out in, of all places, the February 28 editorial pages of the New York Times. In it, writer and editor, David Dayen undressed one of the most famous economists of the last 40 years,...
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On March 8, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced 2,464 in research grant funding to Colorado State University (CSU) to improve communication of air quality information and smoke exposure risks during wildfire events. “In the wake of the Marshall Fire, Coloradans understand far too well that climate change has put our communities at increased risk of wildfire,” KC Becker, EPA Region 8 Administrator, said. “This funding to CSU will improve communication with people about air pollution during wildfire events so that they can better protect their health.” “As wildfires become more frequent and severe, we must improve how...
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On March 23, the Farm Credit Administration and Colorado State University will co-host a national forum on serving the credit and related needs of young, beginning, and small (YBS) farmers and ranchers. The forum kicks off at 8 a.m. CST at CSU’s Lory Student Center. WHO: FCA Board Chairman and CEO Glen Smith and USDA FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux will headline the forum. The event will cover a range of topics of interest to YBS producers and their lenders, with presentations by top industry stakeholders, experts from CSU, Farm Credit System representatives, and local ag producers. WHERE: Lory Student Center,...
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Governor Greg Gianforte and the Agriculture Development Council recently announced recipients of the state’s 7,504 investment in innovative, value-added agriculture projects through the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) program. “By investing in innovative, value-added ag projects, we can help Montana producers keep pace with a transforming agricultural industry and capture more of the tremendous value they create,” Gov. Gianforte said. “I look forward to seeing what these ag businesses are able to accomplish with this investment.” From Kalispell to Olive, a total of 24 agricultural businesses throughout the state were awarded funds to advance Montana’s agricultural economy....
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I have no doubt that we are all watching the events unfold in Ukraine with heartbreak and horror. And yet, we are seeing the inspirational courage of the Ukrainian people as they take up arms and fight for their families, liberty and their land. The Biden Administration’s retreat and failure in Afghanistan, coupled with their inability to deliver any meaningful deterrent to Putin’s onslaught over the past year, has given the world a clear message: America under Biden will not or cannot protect and defend freedom. Our allies no longer trust us, and our adversaries no longer fear us. Like...
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From the Livestock Marketing Information Center Last week, Elliott Dennis discussed the relationship between corn price and feeder cattle placement weights and the likelihood that the industry will continue to place lighter weight cattle while corn prices remain high. When cattle are placed on feed at lighter weights, they tend to finish at lighter weight, which typically reduces the percentage of cattle grading Choice. As the industry adjusts to high corn prices what will happen to the Choice/Select spread? Over a 12-month time period, the Choice/Select spread is typically narrowest in the January to March timeframe as the demand for...
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Calving season has begun on many ranches, and although it is an exciting time bringing all those new lives into the world, it is a stressful time of trying to keep the animals and the humans alive and healthy. This year we are calving in two locations, which stretches our resources fairly thin. Consequently, there is a division of labor that was calculated by someone who flunked math. Apparently, there is an unwritten rule of calving that once the calf is pulled out of the cow, it becomes the responsibility of the ranch wife to keep the calf alive. Often...
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American Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President Dale Moore announced on March 9, 2022, his plans to retire in 2022 after four decades as an agricultural leader in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. AFBF President Zippy Duvall commented on the announcement. “Dale has been a tireless advocate on behalf of farmers and ranchers throughout his career and has certainly contributed to American Farm Bureau’s strength over the past four years. He has become a trusted advisor to me and to many state Farm Bureau presidents and staff. “More broadly, Dale has dedicated more than 40 years of his professional life to...
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“Elwood’s Organic Dog Meat: delicious dog, since 1981. Farm fresh.” the logo read. My eyes then followed the trail down to the website’s menu bar which had tabs for breeds, FAQs, resources, a blog, and contact information. “Elwood’s is ahead of the pack. Set the table with man’s best meat,” the website continued, touting that their dogs are free-range, local, organic, fresh, antibiotic free, humanly slaughtered, and loved – sound familiar? I scrolled down, the website then read “Elwood’s organic pig meat. Does that make it better? If so, why do you feel one way about dogs and another way...
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The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has hired Dr. Anna Forseth for the newly created position of Director of Animal Health. She will focus on foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness, as well as antibiotic use, and resistance issues. “We welcome Dr. Forseth to the NPPC team,” Bryan Humphreys, NPPC CEO, said. “She has a wealth of knowledge about hogs and swine diseases and a great background in swine research. We know she will be a great asset to and resource for the U.S. pork industry.” A Montana native who grew up on the family’s farrow-to-finish swine operation near Three...
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In a March 7 letter to President Joe Biden, The Fertilizer Institute, the National Grain and Feed Association, and 19 other members of the Agricultural Transportation Working Group requested the administration work with the Canadian government to avert a major railway labor strike and to rescind the cross-border vaccine mandate for workers moving essential commerce. “(I)f the U.S. and Canadian governments allow the following supply chain disruptions to persist into the spring fertilizer season, the impacts to our industry and North American farmers could be devastating,” the working group noted. The letter references a potential upcoming labor disruption at Canadian...
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Governor Greg Gianforte announced on March 14 that Montana’s unemployment rate dropped to an all-time low of 2.7 percent in January 2022, down 0.2 percent from December’s adjusted rate. Montana’s unemployment rate is the fifth lowest in the nation. “With lower taxes and responsible, responsive government, Montana is leading an economic comeback, with more Montanans working than ever before and our unemployment rate at its lowest level ever,” Governor Gianforte said. “Committed to creating greater opportunities in every corner of our state, we’ll continue to invest in developing our workforce and making Montana an even better place to live, work,...
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The USDA has announced that they will conduct a survey to find out how much consumers are willing to pay in order for the USDA to stop lying. The “Product of USA” label is consumer fraud, and the USDA is under pressure from Congress and the President to stop the lying. In response, and apparently in an effort to buy time, the USDA proposes instead to do a survey. The USDA will ask three questions: 1. Do consumers notice the “Product of USA” labeling claim? 2 Do consumers understand the current “Product of USA” definition and other “USDA” labeling (such...
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I hope this week finds warming temperatures and wet ground around Reporter Country. In Wyoming, we had a nice system come through this last week, and though I can’t stand the wind, there were some hefty, warm gusts that helped melt down that moisture. When I decided to look into snowpacks and moisture outlooks for one of my articles this week, I was doing so with a lot of optimism. However, if you read Mr. Fahey’s analysis of the trends for this spring and summer, you might have gotten that sinking, “here we go again” feeling in your gut like...
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In light of the drought the past year, there’s one word that’s been on the mind of many farmers and ranchers across the West, especially with spring knocking on the door: moisture. As of January 2022, it was reported that the beef cow inventory was down two percent from 2021 and the calf crop is expected to drop by one percent from 2020. On the crop side, farmers are making critical decisions about their planting and growing season due to the drought, and other critical factors such as the price of fertilizer. With over 20 years of experience, USDA-NRCS hydrologist...
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Recently the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) gave gene-edited beef the okay for human consumption in the food chain. Cattle aren’t the first to receive regulatory clearance from the FDA; salmon was approved in 2015 and pigs were approved in late 2020. “Based on the agency’s review of scientific data, the FDA has determined that the product is low-risk and does not raise any safety concerns,” the FDA’s news release said. Recombinetics and the University of California-Davis animal geneticist, Alison Van Eenennaam used CRISPR technology to edit the cattle to have more heat tolerant traits, including less hair which allows them...
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When you combine some of the West’s fastest horses with agile skiers and a healthy snowpack, the result is a sport gaining popularity every season: Skijoring. Skijoring is a timed race where a skier is pulled behind a horse over obstacles and the fastest team wins. The skier must weave in and out of markers, sometimes over jumps, and grab rings as they speed through the course. The history of the event hails back to Europe where the event first appeared in Sweden in the winter games in 1901,1906, and 1909. Before that, Scandanavians harnessed reindeer and were pulled behind...
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Simply known as “Cope” to all his friends and clients, Dr. Robert Cope has been the main cattle veterinarian in Lemhi County, Idaho for 44 years. He’s had a mixed practice, but his most loyal clients are the ranchers who have depended on him for so long. Other veterinarians in the area work on small animals or horses, but Cope is the only bovine vet still around. He also spent 20 years in public service to his community, and to agriculture in Idaho and the West. In appreciation, the Lemhi County Cattle and Horse Growers Association nominated him for induction...
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On April 23, 2022, Colorado State University (CSU) will be offering approximately 50 consigned horses in their 17th year of the Legends of Ranching (LOR) Sale. About thirty of the horses are “aged,” and the other 20 are young horses who have just completed a year of training with students from the University. The LOR Sale is well-known for its extensive offering of quality horses from historic bloodlines across the United States. But what many don’t know, is that the LOR program, as a whole, is a multi-faceted production that provides invaluable industry experience to students at CSU. The first...
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First of all, I want to point out how proud and excited I am that the issue date on this week’s WAR is March 17! This is arguably one of the biggest days of the year for my family. Saint Patrick’s Day ranks right up there with all of the other holidays which occur throughout the course of a year. It goes without saying that I think of my father countless times a day, every day, but St. Patrick’s Day was one of his absolute favorites and I have so many fond memories of how “decked-out” in green he was...
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Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists are using artificial intelligence to set a new world record for producing algae as a reliable, economic source for biofuel that can be used as an alternative fuel source for jet aircraft and other transportation needs. Joshua Yuan, Ph.D., AgriLife Research scientist, professor and chair of Synthetic Biology and Renewable Products in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, is leading the research project. The team’s findings were published in January in Nature Communications. Ongoing research is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Fossil Energy Office....
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Every spring, and sometimes fall, ranchers gather around the fire to mark their ownership on their calves. This is the time when calves are vaccinated, disbudded – their horn growth plates are cauterized to prevent further growth – and, if it’s going to be a non-breeding bull, castrated. Until recent years, ranchers roped calves to capture and restrain them while they were branded. But the advent of the squeeze chute and calf table drastically changed how livestock are handled, igniting a debate: which is better, the calf table or roping at branding time? There hasn’t been evaluation of these practices...
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Those interested in a fall internship opportunity focused on field work should apply by April 1. The American Angus Association® is accepting applications for its regional manager internship, to take place in the fall of 2022. The 13 regional managers of the Association serve as a resource in the field to Angus breeders. The Association’s field services team is excited to offer this position, designed to enhance a student’s ability to build effective relationships, craft promotional strategies, and learn about the cattle industry. The nine-week, full-time internship begins in August and lasts until December. It will be based at the...
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Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) awards for nine projects. The awards, which totaled 8,090, were approved at the APUC quarterly meeting February 16-17 in Jamestown. APUC is a program of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture that administers grant programs for research and development of new and expanded uses for North Dakota agricultural products. The grants can be used for basic and applied research, marketing and utilization, farm diversification, nature-based agritourism, prototypes, and technology and technical assistance. The following received approval: Agassiz Sustainable LLC was awarded 0,000 to assist in building a...
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The Russian invasion brought devastation to Ukraine, but uncertainty and volatility fueled by this conflict are rippling through U.S. and Texas agriculture markets. Wheat is among commodities that could be impacted by conflict between Ukraine and Russia in the near- and long-term. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economists said both Russia and Ukraine do not represent major destinations for U.S. commodities, ranking 56th and 80th, respectively. However, the conflict’s impact on global trade, trade alliances, and infrastructure could ripple throughout U.S. sectors in the near- and long-term future. Russia imported between [post_excerpt].2 billion and [post_excerpt].6 billion of U.S. agricultural products...
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Experts at the Linus Pauling Institute sponsored an extremely interesting presentation of vitamin C this week. You may remember Dr. Pauling — a brilliant and sometimes controversial chemist — who published numerous books and articles on the role of vitamin C and other nutrients in human health. The institute at Oregon State University that bears his name continues to carry out this type of research. This webinar opened my eyes to a whole new area of investigation, however. Instead of discussing vitamin C and the common cold, researchers Jeanne Drisko, MD, and Qi Chen, PhD from the University of Kansas...
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On March 2, the trophy wife, our daughter-in-law, four of our grandchildren, and I motored to our nearby interstate overpass to cheer the Freedom Convoy. The flags lining the highway flapped in the March breeze while cars and trucks zipping below flashed their lights and honked support. It was after dark, so rather than Old Glory being illuminated by bombs bursting in air, it was lanterns and headlights proving she was still there. The experience of being surrounded by dozens of like-minded patriots expressing their love of God and country made it truly a spiritual moment. In 1776 in his...
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Haze Haughian is short on hay and short on help in Eastern Montana. Haze is the grandson of Quinn and Penny Haughian.
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Moose rolled off his fireside warm and cozy bed to sneak into the night. He was on a mission, to find the masked bandit. Too many things were adding up around not only his neighbor’s ranch, where Banjo and his crew lived, but also on his own. The oversized floppy-eared brut of a basset hound had noticed there were a few things missing around his ranch, like the basket-filled gloves that usually by the door. It was gone, but Mr. Fogarity must have thought it was his mistake, since sometimes he forgets, and found a bucket to put the gloves...
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The National Farmers Union (NFU) 120th Anniversary Convention concluded in late February following the adoption of the organization’s policy book and special orders of business. More than 450 members and guests convened in Denver, Colorado, to set policy positions and priorities that support American farm and ranch families and strengthen rural communities. Delegates to the convention adopted the NFU policy book and five special orders of business that will guide the organization’s government affairs priorities over the course of the next year. Before the policy review began, they re-elected Rob Larew as president and elected Jeff Kippley as the organization’s...
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For the second time in two years, a history-making calamity has shown just how fragile the world’s efficiency-driven, deeply interdependent food system is. Two years ago, a rampaging pandemic threatened America’s pantries. Today, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens supplies of key ag inputs like fuel and fertilizer while causing deep disruptions to global wheat, corn, and vegetable oil markets. Just how badly, though, remains unknown. What we do know is that, on the export side, Russia and the independent nation it invaded, Ukraine, account for 29 percent of global wheat exports, 19 percent of the world’s corn exports, and 75...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced an additional investment of million in the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives. In November 2021, DBI awarded .4 million to three current Initiatives at the University of Tennessee, Vermont Agency for Food and Marketing, and University of Wisconsin, and [post_excerpt].8 million to a new initiative at California State University Fresno. Under the existing DBI program, which was previously announced through an FY21 Request for Applications (RFA), each Initiative will now have the opportunity to submit additional proposals for up to million in American Rescue Plan funds to further support processing...
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Montana Agri-Women (MAW) hosted their annual business meeting and election of officers at the Huntley Project Irrigation Museum in Huntley, Montana, February 11-12, 2022. The meeting was preceded with a “Meet & Greet” reception Friday evening attended by industry leaders and Legislative Representatives. The Saturday agenda offered a variety of speakers, a tour of the Huntley Project Irrigation Museum, and the presentation of the prestigious “Keeper of the Tenth” award to the United Property Owners of Montana for their work in defending the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and States’ Rights. Doreen Gillespie Members elected Doreen Gillespie, Ethridge, Montana...
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“I’ve got a calver, doc.” I hear these words from the other end of the line as I roll over and see that the clock reads 2 a.m. As I ask questions – more to wake myself up than to gather information – I realize I’m going to have to leave the comfort of my warm covers. I tell the farmer that I am on my way, as I start to put on layers to venture out into the cold. The drive is groggy as I try to stay awake between sips of cold, stale coffee left in the truck...
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“It's been three years since our rebranding, and the American Lamb Checkoff lit a fire with consumers this past year,” 2021 American Lamb Board (ALB) Past Chair, Gwendolyn Kitzan said in the board’s recently released Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report. “What could have been months of downturn for our industry has sparked some of the best sales increases we’ve seen.” In 2021 – as in 2020 – ALB responded to the changes brought about in the American sheep industry by the COVID-19 pandemic and other situations with strategic action and seizing new opportunities to expand lamb’s place in the U.S....
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From the Livestock Marketing Information Center On Friday February 25, USDA released the Cattle on Feed report. Average industry estimates were that there would be approximately 1 percent more cattle on feed February 1, 2022, approximately 1 percent less cattle placed on feed in January 2022, and 3 percent less cattle marketed in January 2022 (see February 25, 2022 edition of the Daily Livestock Report). The USDA report closely aligned with pre-report estimates: 1 percent higher for cattle on feed, 1 percent less cattle placed, and 3 percent less cattle marketed. Of note is that the February 1 cattle on...
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In humans, the pandemic is showing signs of ebbing. In white-tailed deer and other wildlife, however, infections appear widespread. In 2020, Denmark culled millions of minks to quell a source of zoonotic COVID-19 transmission, the passage of the SARS-CoV-2 virus between humans and animals. Last year, zoo animals including lions, tigers, and gorillas got sick with the virus, presumably infected by their keepers. And earlier this year, pet hamsters were implicated in precipitating a new outbreak in Hong Kong. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, coronaviruses were known to cause certain varieties of the common cold as well as diseases important in...
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After my column about a full brain ran, I received many priceless responses. First of all, several mathematical geniuses noticed that not only has too much information overfilled my brain, but it also made it dyslexic. It seems that I reversed the 1 and 4 in the tenths and hundredths values of pi (3.141592653589793238…which never repeats). Now, I realize this reversal would make a big difference in a mathematical computation of the area or circumference of a circle or the volume of a cylinder, but in case I have to figure something like that out, I will just write my...
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About half of Montana schools that had tested their water by mid-February under a new state rule had high levels of lead, according to state data. But the full picture isn’t clear because less than half of the state’s school buildings had provided water samples six weeks after the deadline. For many schools with high lead levels, finding the money to fix the problem will be a challenge. bThe options aren’t great. T hey can compete for a dwindling pool of state money, seek federal aid passed last year, or add the repairs to their long lists of capital improvement...
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I turned 25 years old on February 28, 2022 and was able to spend the entire day with my husband, parents, and in-laws — all people I love dearly. I went to bed on my birthday in a good mood and woke up in an even better mood. I’d had a great weekend, was blessed with a surprise visit from my parents, and ate steak not once, but twice. I was looking out the window, thinking about how great my life has been recently between family, work, and friends and although I wanted to scour the internet and look for...
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The American Angus Association® has named Jaclyn Upperman executive director of the Angus Foundation. She will lead the Foundation’s mission of serving Angus youth, education, and research. “Jaclyn’s passion for the Angus family runs deep,” Mark McCully, chief executive officer for the American Angus Association, said. “We are fortunate to have her extraordinary enthusiasm and drive leading the Foundation.” The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit and an affiliate of the Association. A product of the National Junior Angus Association and its leadership opportunities, Upperman knows the ways the Foundation influences the success of the junior program. “I’ve had the privilege...
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Governor Greg Gianforte today formally launched the process of divesting Russian assets held by the State of Montana. In a memo to all state agency directors, the governor cited Vladimir Putin’s “vicious war against the sovereign, democratic Ukraine,” Ukrainians courageous defense of their country, and recent international sanctions imposed on Russia. The governor wrote, “While I have spoken with many of you informally, I write today to formally request you conduct a swift, thorough review of assets and operations that may benefit the Russian government, its supporters, and any institutions aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine.” “With the collapsing...
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On March 3, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2020 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, which shows that companies that manage chemicals continue to make progress in preventing pollution and reducing chemical releases into the environment. The report shows continued reductions in toxic chemical releases in Region 8 and that between 2019 and 2020, total releases of TRI chemicals nationwide decreased by 10 percent. This 2020 Analysis includes enhancements to make data more useful and accessible to communities, including communities with environmental justice concerns. EPA has added demographic information to the “Where You Live” mapping tool,...
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The award is meant to recognize an individual or family who is: An advocate for conserving Wyoming’s farms and ranches.A land steward or agricultural advocate who has participated in natural resource discussions on a state, regional, or national level.A defender of water conservation and protecting Wyoming’s traditional water rights.Has a personal commitment to habitat conservation and is a proponent of hunting and wildlife protection.Has implemented land or resource conservation practices on their property with WSGLT or a similar organization. Please help us recognize those individuals and families who steward our land and are exceptional advocates for the agricultural industry. To...
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I will start out this week by saying I was hopeful President Biden’s State of the Union Address would be be strong, decisive, and to the point. However, he wasn’t, and it was no surprise to just about everyone. As of press-time, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has now stretched into 13 days. Going into this, Putin thought he would take over Ukraine in a matter of a few days. The Ukrainian people have fought valiantly for their country and have thrown a wrench into Putin’s plans over the past week. With that said, it just feels like a matter of...
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It’s easy to get lost in the negativity of the world, especially in light of what’s going on in Ukraine and the disappointing lack of substance in President Biden’s State of the Union Address, so here’s something that will give you a quick break from all things serious. I’m one of those people that gets lost in my own head sometimes. I assume a zombie-like stare as I zone out, and it’s anybody’s guess where I end up. Sometimes it’s an embarrassing thing I said or did several years ago or a witty comeback that would have been so PERFECT...
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President Joe Biden received mixed messages for his State of the Union (SOTU) speech, given on March 1; many senators, governors, and agriculture trade groups were outspoken about their thoughts. Some questioned the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and among other things how weak America appears on the world stage. Iowa’s Governor, Kim Reynolds, gave the Republican response to the SOTU, which she opened stating she’s “worried our country is on the wrong track.” Reynolds criticized Biden for failing Americans in making “America respected around the world again and to unite us here at home.” She noted that the administration...
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“Sometimes you have to do unnatural things to preserve our natural environment,” Wyoming Senator, Bill Landen (R-District 27), said in the February 22 Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Meeting (the Meeting). The Meeting was held to discuss a 2017 bill passed in Wyoming which allowed individuals to apply for permits to harvest sage grouse eggs from the wild, and then try to raise them in captivity as a way to help preserve the near-threatened species. The original bill was given a five-year trial period before it would reach its “sunset date.” In that timespan, one entity, Diamond Wings...
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President Biden gave his first State of the Union (SOTU) speech on March 1, 2022. He covered the Russian Ukrainian conflict, where he sees the United States economy, the border crisis, and mental health care access. On the Russian-Ukrainian conflict Biden commented, “Six days ago, Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundations of the free world, thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways […] he was met with a wall of strategy never anticipated or imagined: he met Ukrainian people.” Biden announced that the United States would close airspace to all Russian flights and noted...
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The open Breakaway Roping competition presented by Merck Animal Health was an exciting addition to the January event. Photo courtesy of Roam Photography. The 2022 Art of the Cowgirl is a gathering to celebrate cowgirls and their contributions to western lifestyle and culture. Held at the Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre in Queen Creek, Arizona, this event is meant to connect western women from all over and not only provide entertainment and honor women of the west but also provide fellowships to individuals to further their knowledge with master artists in their trade of choice. This event featured female makers,...
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New this year to the U.S. Targhee National Show and Sale, July 18-20 in Big Timber, Montana, will be the introduction of a commercial wool class in conjunction with the national wool show. Fleeces that are from sheep that are 50 percent or more Targhee are encouraged to be entered. The classes will be sorted into both ram and ewe divisions. There is no requirement to be a member of the Targhee Sheep Association, all are encouraged to enter. The open shows and wool show will be Tuesday and the National Sale will be Wednesday of that week. There will...
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As producers face new challenges like complying with environmental regulations and reduced herbicide effectiveness or availability, many are discovering the unique benefits offered by propane-powered weeding systems. New propane flame weeding technology uses heat to rupture the internal cells of plants for a clean, highly effective solution for weed control that reduces reliance on herbicides and combats increasing weed resistance issues. According to research supported by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), flame weeding technology is up to 90 percent effective against weeds when applied twice in a growing season to row crops. Flame weed control can be used...
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National Farmers Union (NFU) yesterday presented its highest honor, the Meritorious Service Award, to two longtime stewards of the organization, who have dedicated their careers to strengthening family farm agriculture. Former NFU president Roger Johnson and retired long-time NFU staff members Sue Arends, were awarded with the Meritorious Service Award to Farmers Union and to American Agriculture. “Roger and Sue spent their lives and careers bettering life for American farm and ranch families and their communities,” Rob Larew, NFU President, said. “It is important to celebrate champions for family farmers and rural communities and to honor these individuals in particular...
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The North American Limousin Junior Association (NALJA) is offering a paid media internship for the duration of the National Junior Limousin Show & Congress (NJLSC) June 25 - July 1. The internship will provide training and work experience in association work. Eligibility: Applicants must be a 2022 high school graduate or older. Applicants cannot be exhibitors or competitors at the 2022 NJLSC. The applicant should be detail oriented, outgoing, can work well with all types of people, and be a self-starter who can work on their own. Applicants that have had experience with photography and media background are a bonus....
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In a collaborative work between the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Soil and Water Management Research, the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) in Spain, West Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M AgriLife, researchers adapted a crop model for use in the Texas High Plains to simulate crop water use and corn yield to help producers adjust center-pivot irrigation strategies and maximize profitability with limited water. Crop producers in this semi-arid region of the Texas High Plains largely depend on groundwater irrigation. Each season, crop producers in the region evaluate how much land area could be irrigated under the pivot with limited...
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Governor Mark Gordon has announced the appointment of Brandon Gebhart as Wyoming State Engineer. Gebhart was appointed interim State Engineer in December and previously served as the Director of the Wyoming Water Development Office. The State Engineer serves as the chief water official in the state and is responsible for the general supervision of Wyoming’s waters, including technical, policy, and regulatory matters concerning its beneficial use. Gebhart is a native of Wheatland, Wyoming and has spent more than 20 years in consulting engineering, primarily working in the field of water resources. He earned a Civil Engineering degree from the University...
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USDA announced its Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan interest rates for March 2022, which are effective March 1, 2022. FSA offers farm ownership and operating loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help eligible agricultural producers, whether multi-generational, long-time or new to the industry, obtain financing needed to start, expand, or maintain a family agricultural operation. FSA also offers emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters or quarantine. Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for March 2022 are as follows: Farm Operating Loans (Direct) at 2.375 percent;...
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In late February, the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate and develop a regional clean hydrogen hub. Together, the states will work to compete for a portion of the billion allocated in the 2021 Infrastructure In-vestment and Jobs Act towards four or more regional hydrogen hubs. “Hydrogen has tremendous potential for energizing the next generation and Wyoming is particularly well-situated to develop, export and utilize hydrogen,” Governor Mark Gordon said. “Several businesses have already targeted Wyoming as a potential hydrogen production center and our university, state agencies and legislature...
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Trusts have gained more attention during the coronavirus pandemic as a tool to handle financial affairs, according to Montana State University Extension educators. But trusts might not be the right choice for everyone, and individuals should learn the pros and cons of the different types available, Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension family economics specialist, and Wendy Wedum, Pondera County Extension agent, said. People should also consider whether there are other legal arrangements to achieve their goals, such as a financial power of attorney or a written will. For example, a grandmother’s estate planning goal in the early 2000s was to treat...
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Kenya is a growing middle-income nation that acts as the economic, financial, and transport hub of East Africa. Kenya’s population demographic consists of a median age of 20 years, with 33.8 percent of the population between the ages of 25 and 54 years. Agriculture is the main contributor to the economy with approximately 75 percent of the 54.7 million population working fully or partially in the agriculture sector. Small rain-fed fields and local livestock farms provide more than 75 percent of Kenya’s agricultural output. Given that Kenya is unable to meet its food consumption goals domestically, the country relies on...
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After a year hiatus, the 56th National Farm Machinery Show wrapped up the largest indoor farm show in the country that included innovative seminars, product unveilings, and show-stopping technology. More than 800 exhibiting companies filled 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space showing off the latest in agricultural products. The show welcomed an estimated 255,000 attendees during the four-day event generating .5 million by filling local hotels and restaurants with attendees from across the country and from around the world. “From innovative technology on the show floor to educational topics discussed in seminars, this year¹s National Farm Machinery Show proved...
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The annual Southwest Beef Symposium, jointly hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, NMSU, is set for March 11-12 at the Quay County Fairgrounds, 1500 W. Route 66 Blvd., Tucumcari, New Mexico. The two-day program rotates between Texas and New Mexico each year, Bruce Carpenter, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension livestock specialist, Ft. Stockton, said. It is designed to provide producers an opportunity to catch up on the latest issues and innovations to help them better navigate the ever-changing beef industry and keep up to date on information that can help with...
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American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on USDA’s announcement to provide grant funding to expand meat and poultry processing facilities. “AFBF appreciates USDA’s efforts to increase competition in America’s beef and poultry processing systems. Families continue to find rising prices at the grocery store, but farmers don’t see the price they’re paid for chicken and beef rise at the same rate. “We asked Secretary Vilsack and USDA to provide more resources to level the playing field. Investments in new processing options and job creation are positive steps toward creating fair markets while strengthening America’s supply chain,” Duvall said.
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Students from across the country with an interest in the livestock industry and related careers can apply now for the Kansas State University Animal Sciences Leadership Academy. The academy is an intensive four-day educational experience designed to enhance the leadership skills and animal science knowledge of students in ninth through 12th grades. Additionally, in 2022 the program will offer two separate sessions to meet increased demand and serve more young people. Hosted by the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry and sponsored by the Livestock and Meat Industry Council Inc. (LMIC), the academy’s goal is to develop young leaders...
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No matter which of the widely accepted global circulation models ultimately comes closest to predicting the amount of warming caused by climate change, corn production will be reduced, according to a new study by Penn State researchers. They evaluated the potential impacts of 18 warming scenarios, dictated by various atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, to determine the potential effects of future climate change on irrigated and rainfed corn yields from the 2020s through the 2090s. Although the research was focused on the U.S. Great Plains, in the heart of the nation’s top corn-producing region, the results are believed to have global...
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The North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) praised the Biden Administration’s efforts to assess and address vulnerabilities in America’s supply chains, as seven federal agencies released reports identifying key weaknesses in critical chains and multi-year strategies to address those weaknesses, including USDA. As part of its strategy, USDA launched a 0 million program to support new and expanding meat processors in an effort to increase competition in the meat and poultry processing sectors, and will allocate funds to develop the meat processing workforce. “Most agriculture markets are controlled by a handful of companies, creating challenges for farmers, ranchers and consumers,” NDFU...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced on February 23, 2022, a million investment in agricultural education and workforce development for undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. This investment will ensure that all students, including underrepresented and underserved students, are prepared and have a fair opportunity to compete for professional jobs in science and agricultural fields. “Our nation is increasingly facing the challenge of meeting the demand for qualified graduates in the agricultural, food and renewable resources sectors of the U.S. economy,” Dr. Carrie Castille, NIFA Director, said. “USDA’s investments in students today...
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CS Ranch in Colfax County, New Mexico will host a three-day, hands-on regenerative ranching school titled “Regenerating Profits Through Adaptive Grazing,” May 31-June 2, the non-profit Soil Health Academy (SHA) announced today. “Family-owned-and-operated, CS Ranch has employed holistic management principles since the mid-1980s and was selected to be the site of the world-renowned regenerative ranching SHA school because of its focused goal in regenerating the health and function of the ranch’s soils,” Shane New, a managing partner of Understanding Ag, LLC, and one of the schools’ instructors, said. In addition to New, Ray Archuleta, Gabe Brown and Alejandro Carrillo will...
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This time of year, winter storms can bring freezing rain and heavy snow to Pennsylvania - downing trees and power lines in their wake. Staring into a refrigerator full of food during a power outage can spur anxiety and questions: Will I need to throw away all my food? Should I put food outside to keep it cold? Could I have done anything to prepare? Martin Bucknavage, Senior Food Safety Extension Associate in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, shared advice on how to prepare for a power outage and how to preserve and manage food when one occurs. Before...
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From Corteva Agriscience A new resource for ranchers showcases how effective pasture management can translate directly to the cow herd’s health status, productivity, and profit potential. A new white paper from Corteva Agriscience, addresses how providing abundant, quality grazing influences productivity in ways both obvious and subtle. “Sound pasture management is as important as a good vaccine protocol or feed and mineral program,” Jeff Clark, Market Development Specialist, and the white paper’s author, said. “Yet it is often overlooked.” Toxic weeds in a pasture certainly can affect herd health. But the bigger role of pasture is how quantity and quality...
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South Dakota cow/calf and crop farmer, Jeff Kippley was elected to serve family farmers and ranchers from across the nation as National Farmers Union Vice President. He was elected today, February 28, during the 2022 National Farmers Union Convention held in Denver, Colorado. “I am honored family farmers and ranchers put their trust in me to help lead this organization in its mission,” Kippley, who farms with his wife, Rachel and dad, John near Aberdeen, South Dakota, said. The need for fair prices motivated Kippley to serve. “Policy changes need to take place soon, so our children can earn a...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Candidate Training Seminar provided 19 prospective elected office candidates the information needed to run a successful campaign. The comprehensive seminar covered everything from selecting campaign themes and structure along with how to manage money. It was designed for candidates, their spouses, managers, and individuals interested in running for a political office. Facilitator, Randy Dwyer, director of advocacy and grassroots for American Farm Bureau Federation, led the group in the training, which included a simulation to gain experience in running a campaign and making decisions. The training was developed with input from political consultants and staff from...
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The Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Corrections – Silver State Industries conducted a saddle-started wild horse adoption event at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center on February 26, 2022. All available horses were successfully adopted at the event. Sixteen saddle-started wild horses from herd management areas located on BLM Nevada public lands, trained for approximately four months by inmates and one halter-trained colt, fostered by the Washoe County 4-H group were offered for adoption. Adopters came from all over the country with trailers from Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. "As always, the horses and...
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Montana wool growers interested in wool handling should apply to take part in the first Chuck Dallas Memorial Wool Handling School on March 15-16. Dallas left an indelible mark on the wool industry as an ASI Certified Classer who worked wool across Montana and the Pacific Northwest for 35 years. He was also an active leader in the industry as a member of the U.S. Targhee Sheep Association, Montana Wool Growers Association, and the American Sheep Industry Association’s American Wool Council. With funds donated by Cindy Dallas and other family and friends in his honor, there will be no charge...
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The University of Wyoming Sheep Program has become the first operation to reach Level III (Certified) status in the American Sheep Industry Association’s (ASI) American Wool Assurance (AWA) Program. “We have a 400 head commercial Rambouillet flock, and we felt like the AWA Program really aligned with our operation from a teaching and research perspective,” Whit Stewart, University of Wyoming Assistant Professor and Extension Sheep Specialist, said. “I think that people have a tendency to say, ‘I don’t want someone to tell me what to do,’ but this program allowed us to take a critical look at our enterprise and...
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Governor Greg Gianforte last night presented his Spirit of Montana award to the volunteers of the Sand Coulee Fire Department for their swift, heroic response to the Gibson Flats Fire last December. The governor joined the volunteer firefighters for dinner at American Bar in Stockett. “One of my greatest honors as governor is recognizing Montanans who embody what it means to be a good neighbor and serve one another. The Sand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department is an outstanding example,” Gov. Gianforte said. “As the first responders on the ground at the Gibson Flats Fire, these volunteer firefighters saved property and...
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The North Dakota Angus Association’s 33rd Annual Bull Test is in progress at the Carlson Angus Ranch, Regent, North Dakota. This year the performance sale will be held April 15, 2022, at Kist Livestock, Mandan, North Dakota. Bob and Angela Carlson of Regent, North Dakota, Bull Test Committee Chairs, report that 65 bulls consigned by 29 Angus breeders. At the 70-day marks the 65 bulls had an average weight of 1,107 pounds, an average daily gain (ADG) of 3.49 pounds and a weight per day of age (WDA) of 3.46 pounds. Leading the ADG category with a gain of 4.79...
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Developing beef advocates and leaders for the cattle industry is the goal of the Collegiate Beef Advocacy Program. Hosted by American National Cattlewomen, Inc. (ANCW), the advocacy program provides an outlet for students to use their unique strengths to connect with consumers and peers to promote beef. The collegiate advocacy program matches the vision and purpose of ANCW by ensuring the selected students strengthen their leadership and communication skills, establish career networks and enhance their knowledge of the industry. This experience will assist participants in furthering their passion for beef advocacy by providing top notch training, access to educational resources,...
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We were having breakfast at a hotel in eastern Colorado when the manager decided to give us his opinions on the state of the world. And he was very vocal about what needed to change in his community in particular. “You know,” he said, “like it or not, agriculture is going belly up.” I didn’t say it at the time (my mouth was full of raisin bran) but I sure hope he’s wrong. Besides the fact that our trips to the grocery store would be extremely disappointing if there were no farmers or ranchers to produce our food, a whole...
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Last Friday, I zipped to the ranch to winterize the house. My Aussie pup, Blinker, rode along because that is his job. At the ranch we found nephew, Taylor, attempting to load yearlings into his horse trailer. A snowdrift blocked the loading chute, so he jury-rigged a crowding alley through the only accessible corral gate. Taylor was packing Jack, his one-year-old son, as he shuffled back and forth in the muddy corral. His dog, Mindy, was helping but the yearlings were winning. I hopped from my car to lend a hand, and the exciting scene of the yearlings splashing through...
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Each day the Red Cross delivers comfort and care to communities across Montana by responding to disasters, collecting, and distributing lifesaving blood products and supporting Montana military families. In March, the Red Cross of Montana honors those who make its mission possible during its annual Red Cross Month celebration — a national tradition started nearly 80 years ago when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first national Red Cross Month proclamation. Each U.S. president has issued a proclamation ever since. “When emergencies strike, our community rallies together to help families and individuals when it matters most,” Nicole Sirak Irwin, regional...
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Sharing resources that will help farmers and ranchers keep safety top-of-mind through the Agricultural Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) is a priority of county and state Farm Bureau leaders across the nation. As part of this year’s ASAP commemoration, March 7-11 has been designated as Agricultural Safety Awareness Week. U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Centers will join Farm Bureau in promoting the week with its theme “Prepare. Prevent. Protect.” A different safety focus will be highlighted by Montana Farm Bureau and U.S. Ag Centers each day of the week: Monday, March 7 – LivestockTuesday, March 8 – Cost of Safety-FinancesWednesday, March...
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The group huddled together by the wood stove in the barn. There were over a dozen weasels. Some were older, some were younger, and some were in-between, but they all knew the ranch crew not because they were friends yet, but because they’d had been watching them too, just as Ermine had. Banjo and the crew were restocking the tack room and organizing the relocation of the vittles the small animals had confiscated. “I did a little research,” Banjo said. “Come to find out, weasels and wolverines are all part of the same family.” Tuff held up the book they’d...
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USDA recently announced the availability of up to 5 million in grants and resources as part of a continued effort to strengthen the meat and poultry processing sector and create a more resilient food supply chain. NCBA appreciates the Administration’s efforts to expand and diversify processing capacity and looks forward to working with USDA to ensure proper implementation of the funds. “Investing in packing capacity is critically important for the cattle industry,” NCBA Director of Government Affairs and Market Regulatory Policy, Tanner Beymer said. “The expansion of regional processing facilities will bolster resiliency within the beef supply chain and help...
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It’s the choices we make in the good times, the grandson of a Kansas homesteader once told me, that determine our farming successes, not the choices we make in the bad times. Why? Because, he explained, in the good times we have the money to make big mistakes, and in the bad times, we’re too poor to make anything but small mistakes. I wonder what that grandson of the Kansas soil would say about the numbers released February 10 by the Kansas City Federal Reserve. Those numbers showed “...the value of all types of farmland in the Tenth District” –...
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Two Montana ranchers were selected to serve on the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC) for the Beef Checkoff. Katie Cooper of Willow Creek was selected to continue serving and Kiley Martinell from Dell was selected for the first time. The BPOC is the body responsible for developing the annual budget, which must be approved by the full Beef Board and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), for developing plans and programs in the areas of promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications. The BPOC includes 10 producers elected by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) and 10 producers...
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Governor Mark Gordon has announced he has begun the process to end Wyoming’s COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration effective March 14. “As we see our case numbers and hospitalizations receding, it is time to begin the shift to a new phase. This virus will be with us for the foreseeable future and we should manage it appropriately,” Governor Gordon said. “That means being personally responsible for one’s own health and respectful of your family and neighbors. Use the tools we now have available and stay home when you’re sick.” The Governor has been coordinating with impacted Executive Branch agencies...
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The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) announced its support for increased sanctions on Russian companies and institutions – including capital markets sanctions and secondary sanctions on those who seek to help Russia circumvent U.S. sanctions. CPA commends the actions being taken to excise Russian companies from U.S. markets – but more must be done to ensure Americans are not supporting Russian companies like Gazprom, Sparebank, Lukoil, and other Russian assets in U.S. equities markets. “The immediate and cascading impacts of President Biden’s and allied nations’ sanctions to date are starting to be realized as we see the financial turmoil...
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“The SGMA Effect…What will it mean for California agriculture?” is the theme of California’s premiere annual agribusiness conference – Outlook 2022. The conference will be held at the Marriott Hotel / Convention Center in Visalia on Thursday, March 24th. Presented by the California Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA), Outlook 2022 and will feature a full day of impactful program sessions plus the release of the highly anticipated 2022 Trends® in Agricultural Land & Lease Values report. The morning sessions will kick off with an Economics Panel and discussion of how California agriculture will...
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Remember the story from the Bible where Jesus turned the water into wine? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can also perform miracles—turning dry land into a wetland under the Clean Water Act (CWA). In fact, according to the EPA, a “wetland” can be private property that has NO surface water but has water beneath the surface that then flows under a paved street into a small manmade ditch that goes past other homes and eventually flows into a lake (a navigable water). Because the EPA has defined this dry land as a “wetland,” placing dirt on that property is regulated...
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Scholarship applications are now available for college students involved with the Angus breed. The Angus Foundation awarded more than 7,000 in scholarships in 2021 alone. The Angus Foundation offers scholarships to undergraduate, graduate, and trade school students each year to help Angus youth achieve their educational goals and offset the rising costs of tuition at higher education institutions. “A hallmark of the Angus Foundation is the encouragement our donors provide youth, from both Angus seedstock and commercial operations using registered Angus, in their studies,” Thomas Marten, Angus Foundation Executive Director, said. “By assisting these young people pursuing rewarding careers, our...
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From The Livestock Marketing Information Center Cattle and beef markets continue to show good and improving strength into 2022. The opening weeks of February communicated potential tightening of, most notably, feeder animal supplies into the summer. Likewise, the strong volumes of fed slaughter suggest that the substantial volume of long-fed cattle are being worked through. All this is reasonably bullish news for cattle markets. And a fairly substantial change from the past three years of large numbers and abundant supplies at the farm and ranch level. These abundant supplies have compounded the market dynamics also attributable to supply chain disruptions...
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When ag producers from around the country convene in Denver, Colorado, for the annual National Farmers Union convention, they will hear from Montana’s own Senator Jon Tester (R-MT). “The National Farmers Union is on the frontline of advocating for our nation’s family farmers, and I’m proud to work with them to defend folks working in production agriculture and to keep rural America strong for generations to come,” Tester said. “Montana Farmers Union is honored that the keynote speaker Sunday evening is legacy Montana Farmers Union member Senator Jon Tester,” Walter Schweitzer, Montana Farmers Union (MFU) President, said. Tester has been...
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My favorite holiday of the year was this week, which was Dr. Seuss's birthday on March 2. It has become my tradition to do a Whoville poem to celebrate Dr. Seuss and my First Amendment right to freedom of expression. Watching the drastic erosion of freedom in the attempted takeover of Ukraine underscores the need to preserve all our freedoms and guard against tyranny, socialism, and the complete lack of basic common sense that this country is grappling with. Last year, when I decided to run my Whoville poem, my sister warned me I would likely get both fired and...
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Farmer sentiment continues to fluctuate month-to-month as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose 6 points to a reading of 125 in February, a mirror image of the previous month. The Index of Current Conditions was down 1 point to a reading of 132, while the Index of Future Expectations improved 10 points to a reading of 122. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers' responses to a telephone survey. This month's survey was conducted between February 14-18, 2022, days prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Farm Financial Performance Index remained unchanged...
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Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has advised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the North Dakota pesticide disposal program, Project Safe Send, does not have the resources or funding to accept large quantities of chlorpyrifos for disposal; nor the authority to charge for disposal of the product. The EPA announced in August 2021 that food tolerances of chlorpyrifos would be revoked on February 28, 2022, and has recently directed North Dakota chlorpyrifos users and distributors to the North Dakota pesticide disposal program for disposal of on-hand chlorpyrifos. “The EPA only permitted six months from the date of its revocation announcement until...
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Mountain snowpack accumulations across Colorado have slowed down since the beginning of the year but conditions are generally surrounding normal across the major river basins. That said, it is important to note that percent of normal values have been updated from the 1980-2010 period to 1990-2020 so there are changes in comparison to the last decade. This change is a standard across many other water and climate monitoring networks across the country which helps with consistent reporting and comparability. Currently Colorado statewide snowpack is 100 percent of normal (median) with some variation basin to basin but with not as much...
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Seven years ago, I wore my blue and gold corduroy jacket for the last time. When I think of my time as an FFA member, like many people, I get nostalgic. The stories I could tell from that period of my life are sweet, some funny, and almost all too ag-nerdy for most people to want to listen to. So, in leu of sharing those memories, I’d like to share with y’all how my investment in being an FFA member is currently paying off for me in honor of National FFA Week. Career Readiness Whilst an FFA member, I had...
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Governor Greg Gianforte joined Montana Department of Agriculture Director, Christy Clark to tour the Malt Quality and Food Product Development labs at Montana State University (MSU). “The innovative, value-added ag research taking place at Montana State helps our producers keep pace with a transforming agricultural industry,” Gianforte said. “Working with the ag industry and our partners, we’ll continue to invest in expanding value-added agriculture opportunities across Montana.” During the visit to campus, the governor first toured the MSU Malt Quality Lab, which provides data to the Montana Barley Breeding Program to ensure barley crops raised in the state are of...
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Jake Callantine of Belgrade, Montana, was selected by the Montana Angus Association to serve on the Montana Beef Council Board of Directors. He replaces Kathy Creighton-Smith after she served her full nine-year term on the Council. Callantine attended his in-state orientation and his first official meeting in January. He can serve three, three-year terms. The Montana Beef Council was created by cattlemen in 1954 as a marketing organization for beef. Today, the statewide organization focuses on beef promotion, education, research, and producer communications. The board is made up of eleven different organizations including Montana Angus Association, Montana Cattlemen’s Association, Montana...
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Representative Rosendale released the following statement after Russia began their invasion of Ukraine: "Now that Russia has begun their invasion of Ukraine, cries from war hawks on both sides of the aisle continue to grow louder to spill American blood and treasure in this conflict. We must resist these calls and put America first. The United States has no legal or moral obligation to come to the aid of either side in this foreign conflict," Representative Rosendale said. "In talking to folks across Montana, they are much more concerned with stopping the invasion taking place in our country by millions...
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The importance of reading and agriculture will be highlighted with the celebration of “Wyoming Agricultural Literacy Week” February 28-March 5, 2022. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has issued an official proclamation declaring the week of February 28 as “Wyoming Agricultural Literacy Week.” While we recognize the value of reading and agriculture during this designated week it goes without saying that each of these are vital every day of the year. Educating Wyoming elementary school children about agriculture, and the role Wyoming farmers and ranchers play in keeping Wyoming strong, is critical. The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) Young Farmer and Rancher...
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We are at an extremely delicate time around the world right now. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has certainly created an uproar and a volume amount of uncertainty. You have all been reading and watching the news, so I am not going to go into specific details. What I do want to talk about are some of my concerns in terms of this whole situation. It really is no surprise, but the United States leadership looks weak, and the proposed solutions are the same. Russia has been accumulating troops along the Ukraine borders for several weeks now. Russia President Vladimir Putin...
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The images and videos from Ukraine that are circulating the internet are absolutely tragic, but there was one video in particular that shook me to my core. It was a video of a bomb shelter in Kyiv that was filled with makeshift beds, ventilators, a handful of nurses, and numerous neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) babies – children who deserve to be safe and sound in a clean hospital with all the resources they need to survive. But they’re being forced to fight for their lives in more ways than one while casualties are mounting all around them. What a...
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“Whoever would try to stop us and further create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia’s response will be immediate and lead you to such consequences that you have never faced in your history,” Russian President, Vladimir Putin said on February 24, 2022, as he announced the military action which would take place in Ukraine. “We are ready for any outcome.” The Russian attack began early on February 24 with missile strikes near Kyiv, and the violence “quickly spread across central and eastern Ukraine as Russian forces attacked the country from three sides,” CNN reported. A...
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Animals bring joy and purpose to life, and for Lexi Bingham and her family, who reside in west-central Colorado, raising and showing Boer goats has done just that. Twelve-year-old Lexi was born with neuromuscular muscular dystrophy, which means she relies on a wheelchair. Muscle weakness and brittle bones are two unfortunate effects of this condition, so when her mom, Mandy, was considering getting her involved in a 4-H project she had to consider safety and how physically demanding the activity would be. She first considered a lamb, but her husband, Chad, suggested goats because of their smaller size. Mandy hesitated...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Outlook Forum was held virtually February 24-25 where forum speakers, including Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, and Chief Economist, Seth Meyer, covered topics from current trade challenges, priorities of the agency, and the 2022 outlooks for various agriculture products. Despite the current world climate, Vilsack, in his press conference on February 24, said, “I believe that the outlook is excellent, great, strong, positive in nature.” Deputy Secretary, Jewel Bronaugh had similar sentiments, and stated that “there is no question that the U.S. agricultural industry and its stakeholders are resilient, adaptable, productive, and proactive.”...
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In response to Oregon’s growing wolf populations, and consequently, livestock predations, two bills were introduced in hopes of better supporting livestock producers who suffer losses. House Bill 4080 (4080) was introduced to the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and looked to “Authoriz[e] landowners who meet certain criteria to petition for formation of [a] predator damage control district as [a] funding mechanism to pay actual costs to county of preventing, reducing, and mitigating damage to property from predatory animals.” House Bill 4127 was presented to the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, and Water to appropriate [post_excerpt],000,000 “for deposit...
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In January, Western Ranch Supply selected their first Future Generation Youth of the Month to Hayley Stahl from Winnett, Montana. Hayley is an outstanding leader in her community and is always ready to lend a helping hand. Hayley has organized a toy drive for The Operation Shoe box, which sends shoe boxes full of toys around the world to kids before Christmas that might not receive a gift during the holidays. Not only is Hayley stepping up and making a difference in her community and world, but she also has been a voice for students in her school. Winnett currently...
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Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB), announced today a donation of ,000 to Montana State University-Northern for scholarships for students enrolled in electrical, diesel technology, automotive technology, or advance fuels programs. The scholarship, named the W.o.W. (Women of Wabtec) Service Scholarship, aligns with a company initiative to afford development and growth opportunities for women in all stages of their lives and careers. The W.o.W. term was coined with the purpose “to advocate for women across all functions and global locations to ensure each woman reaches her full potential.” “We are so very fortunate for the amount of support we get from our...
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Representative Matt Rosendale (R-MT) led a letter to President Biden signed by 63 of his House colleagues, offering support for the protesting truck drivers subject to the COVID-19 vaccine mandates on essential travel between the U.S. and Canada and urging the Biden Administration to work with the Canadian government to lift the mandates. “In 2020, trucks carried more than 70.9 percent of the value of surface trade exchanged between the U.S. and Canada—valued at 5 billion,” the letter stated. “The vaccination requirement on truck drivers will have disastrous consequences for American commerce.” The letter goes on to state that the...
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National Farmers Union’s (NFU) 120th Anniversary Convention will bring together members, industry professionals, policymakers, and reporters for educational sessions, award presentations, the organization’s signature grassroots policy adoption process, and an election for its next vice president. During the three-day event, family farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity to hear from notable speakers on the efforts to fight monopolies in agriculture through the Fairness for Farmers campaign and what we can learn from the pandemic. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will headline the general session, along with remarks from Senator Jon Tester of Montana, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and...
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Genetic analysis is an increasingly important and common tool in guiding animal breeding. With the use of genomic information, a growing number of desired traits for livestock that boost flock health and producer profitability are being incorporated into breeding programs. Considerable gaps exist in genetic data collection for the sheep industry, however, and a new research project led by a faculty member in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources aims to build a needed inventory of such data. The project, funded by a 0,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and...
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The North Dakota Angus Association’s 33rd Annual Bull Test is in progress at the Carlson Angus Ranch, Regent, North Dakota. This year the performance sale will be held April 15, 2022, at Kist Livestock, Mandan, North Dakota. Bob and Angela Carlson of Regent, North Dakota, Bull Test Committee Chairs, report that 65 bulls consigned by 29 Angus breeders. At the 70-day marks the 65 bulls had an average weight of 1,107 pounds, an average daily gain (ADG) of 3.49 pounds and a weight per day of age (WDA) of 3.46 pounds. Leading the ADG category with a gain of 4.79...
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When salty groundwater is used to irrigate almond orchards, production can be significantly reduced and the damage to trees can last for years, according to Agriculture Research Service studies. Years of droughts in Central California, the primary growing region for the state's -billion-almond industry, have forced producers to draw ever deeper from aquifers to replace limited higher-quality surface water to quench thirsty almond trees. As groundwater levels have declined with pumping and drought, the quality of extracted groundwater in some areas also has declined as wells have had to reach deeper into levels with sediments of higher salinity. The higher...
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On February 16, 2022, during the hybrid 2022 Winter Policy Conference of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, NASDA members voted to promote agricultural workforce reform and establish more pathways to careers in the industry First, NASDA members adopted policy to support the ability of H-2A and H-2B workers in good standing to apply for permanent visa residence or citizenship, creating opportunities for non-seasonal agricultural employment. Additionally, members acted to deliberately foster the growth and development of a new generation of U.S. agricultural professionals. NASDA President, New York Commissioner of Agriculture Richard A. Ball praised members’ actions saying,...
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Montana Farm Bureau Foundation announces their 2022 Youth Speech Contest which is open to students in the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. Contestants must submit a transcript of their speech by March 15, 2022, which will be judged prior to the convention. The top twenty contestants will be invited to compete by presenting their speech March 31 from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the FFA Convention in Bozeman. “One of our Foundation's most important goals is to aid in the agricultural education and the leadership development of Montana's youth, and this speech contest fits that goal. We are offering...
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Nevada Department of Corrections - Silver State Industries have announced a saddle-started adoption event at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center on February 26, 2022. Up to 16 saddle-started wild horses and one halter-trained colt, fostered by the Washoe County 4-H group, will be offered for adoption. “All of these animals offered for adoption are from Nevada herd management areas located on BLM administered public lands,” Ruth Thompson, BLM Nevada Wild Horse and Burro program lead, said. “Placing animals into good homes is an important part of the BLM's mission to manage and...
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Honeybees and other pollinators play an important role in the agricultural ecosystem. These same pollinators are under stress from a number of factors: pests, disease, lack of habitat, and more. The GROWMARK System would like to help youth organizations do their part to help sustain and increase honeybee populations. This is the seventh year of the program, open to 4-H clubs, Ag in the Classroom groups, and FFA chapters throughout the United States. Groups who previously participated in the program have been automatically re-enrolled. Organizations are asked to locate a public place and secure permission to plant a pollinator garden...
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Governor Greg Gianforte on February, 15, 2022, announced a million investment to develop Montana’s workforce and equip hardworking Montanans with in-demand skills. “As our economy grows, so are opportunities to work in a good-paying job right here in Montana,” Governor Gianforte said. “By making smart, targeted investments in rapid training programs, we can equip hardworking Montanans with the skills they need to thrive in today’s workforce and help Montana employers meet their workforce needs.” The million grant was awarded to Accelerate Montana, a collaborative partnership led by the University of Montana. Accelerate Montana will establish a series of...
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Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) and the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) formally announced a partnership aimed at gathering critical input from Native American U.S. military veterans working in the agricultural industry. The goal of the partnership is to generate responses to NAAF’s veteran survey, and the feedback will be incorporated into their long-term vision for providing an infrastructure framework to harness Indian Country’s economic and nutritional potential to recover from COVID-19, which is outlined in their white paper, ‘Reimagining Native Food Economies.’ "It has long been said that Native Americans have the highest service rates of all other ethnicities. Scholars...
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Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2022 crop year have until March 15, 2022, to sign a contract. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers these two safety net programs to provide vital income support to farmers experiencing substantial declines in crop prices or revenues. “The Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs provide critical financial protections to many American farmers. As producers continue to weather a bruising pandemic and new, climate-induced disasters, these programs are all the more important,” Zach Ducheneaux, Administrator of...
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“International Genetic Solutions (IGS) is leveraging the data across all breed association partners and using that information to increase the accuracy of prediction of our expected progeny differences (EPD’s),” Randie Culbertson, American Simmental Association lead geneticist, said. Culbertson explained IGS technology, challenges with the multi-breed genetic evaluation, and how the technology works for seedstock and commercial producers in her presentation during the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium June 24 in Des Moines, Iowa. International Genetic Solutions IGS is a multi-breed genetic evaluation in which 17 progressive breed association partners collaborate to enhance commercial profitability. The collaboration has yielded the world’s...
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Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley arrived in Dubai today to launch the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first trade mission since November 2019. Whitley is kicking off the trade mission for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who arrives in Dubai on Friday, with a delegation of representatives from U.S. agribusinesses, farm organizations, and state departments of agriculture who are interested in exploring export opportunities across the Middle East. “I am thrilled that USDA trade missions are back, and I am honored to lead such a dynamic group of U.S. agribusinesses and representatives to the UAE,” Whitley said. “I’m confident they...
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, more people might be giving serious thought to estate planning affairs should they fall sick. According to Montana State University Extension educators, the process is not difficult and professionals such as attorneys, accountants, and life insurance agents can help. “We tend to think estate planning has become so technical and complex that we often become frustrated and throw our hands in the air before we start,” Wendy Wedum, Pondera County Extension agent, said. “Most of us do not have the time to learn what we need to make an estate plan for ourselves, nor can we...
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On February 16 at the hybrid 2022 National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Winter Policy Conference, state agriculture officials amended the organization’s nutrition and food assistance policy citing impediments to accessing specific food items that supply chain issues have created. The organization also recognized opportunities to better promote the availability of food assistance programs and amend regulations to ensure all who are eligible are able to participate in these programs, do. “A primary responsibility of state agriculture departments is to ensure the ample and nutritious food our farmers and ranchers’ produce reaches the tables in all of our...
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The Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) has released its official 2021 Annual Report. Visitors to the CBB’s website can view specific sections of the report online or download the full report as a PDF. The 2021 CBB Annual Report includes information about projects and results within each of the organization’s program areas: promotion, foreign marketing, consumer information, industry information, research, and producer communications. The report also contains a financial statement of assets, liabilities and net assets from September 30, 2020, to September 30, 2021. “Compiling our annual report is an opportunity for us to examine what the Beef Checkoff and its...
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Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced million in available grant funding to assist communities and schools with removing sources of lead in drinking water. This grant funding, and additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help make rapid progress on the goal of addressing lead and removing lead pipes across the country. “A pillar of our work at EPA is ensuring that every person in every community has safe drinking water,” Radhika Fox, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, said. “This grant funding will help reduce exposure to lead in drinking water and should be used to...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency on the agency’s plan to write a new Waters of the U.S rule. AFBF, along with 21 other agricultural organizations, recommended the Biden administration withdraw the proposed rule, citing jurisdictional issues and lack of stakeholder engagement. “Farmers and ranchers rely on clean water to grow the food America’s families rely on, so we work hard to protect the resources we’re entrusted with,” AFBF President, Zippy Duvall said. “We need rules that are clear and can be interpreted by farmers without spending thousands of dollars on legal fees....
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A recent report by the Agricultural and Food and Policy Center (AFPC) at Texas A&M University provides an assessment of the proposed Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2021, known as Senate Bill 3229, and its potential impact on segments of the beef and cattle supply chain. The lead author for the report was Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist Justin Benavidez, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Amarillo. Collaborators included AFPC co-directors Bart Fischer, Ph.D., and Joe Outlaw, Ph.D., as well as AgriLife Extension economist David Anderson, Ph.D., all of Bryan-College Station. “This report is...
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After a short hiatus, I’m happy to be back with this publication. My passion, as you will see in coming weeks, is to tell the truthful stories about agriculture and nutrition. And these days, we see a lot of misconceptions about both. I therefore invite you to share with me your questions and thoughts around both these topics. In the meantime, let’s start with some fun. I got this letter from my old buddy, Dan, who signs his emails, “Energetically Yours”: “Since you turned me onto Longmire (a television western) many moons ago, I consider you as my authentic cowgirl...
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My veterinary practice has changed because strip malls, subdivisions, and sports bars are replacing feedlots, cornfields, and cow pastures. As I drive the backroads, I will see a grove of cottonwoods which used to surround an old barn where I had pulled a calf or roped a reluctant patient with a uterine prolapse. Today, the barn is gone as are the days of farm calls. Being a road warrior cow doctor is not easy, but it granted me the gift of being a full-time father to the youngest of my three. As Tyler approached age four, he decided he was...
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Maverick and McCoy Merkel are 5.5 months old and are always along for the ride, no matter the weather.
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The weasel sat on a three-legged stool. His arms were crossed and looked stoically over the top of Banjo and his crew as they questioned him. Tuff leaned over to Banjo. “I don’t think he talks,” he said. “Maybe he can’t understand us?” The weasel shifted his eyes toward Tuff. Banjo saw it. “Oh, he understands us,” he said. “I’m just wondering why he’s being so stubborn.” The weasel shifted. Tuff went behind him. “I know how to make him talk,” Tuff said as he leaned down and chomped on its tail. “YEOW!” wailed the weasel. “There we go,” Tuff...
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American Agri-Women (AAW) call the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to rescind the proposed Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS). “The proposed WOTUS rule exposes farmers to arbitrary and confusing case-by-case determinations,” Heather Hampton-Knodle, President of American Agri-Women, said. The proposed rule features an overreaching, expanded definition of the qualifications of WOTUS to include ephemeral drainage paths, low drainage areas, artificial ponds, and ditches. In addition, the proposed rule removes exemptions for several agricultural related activities. These changes would lead to increased regulations, complex permitting, and increased costs. Hampton-Knodle said, “Given the Agency's past abuse...
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Together with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, and 15 other governors, Governor Greg Gianforte today called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Joe Biden to immediately reinstate the vaccine and quarantine exemptions available to cross border truck drivers. “We understand the vital importance of vaccines in the fight against COVID-19 and continue to encourage eligible individuals to get vaccinated. However, we are deeply concerned that terminating these exemptions has had demonstrably negative impacts on the North American supply chain, the cost of living, and access to essential products for people in both of our countries,” the...
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The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) is excited to welcome Erin Dorsey as its new show specialist. Dorsey will coordinate and plan Red Angus regional and national shows and support exhibitors with their requests and questions. She will also work closely with the Junior Red Angus Association of America and North American Junior Red Angus (JRA) event teams to create meaningful show experiences for JRA members and their families. “We greatly appreciate the opportunity to add Erin to the Red Angus team. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that is second to none in the beef show...
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Calving season is an exciting time for us all as we gear up to welcome our newest calf crop into the world. Help make it the most successful season possible by ensuring adequate colostrum, preventing cold stress, and having a calving kit at the ready. Tip 1: Ensure Adequate Colostrum Calves are born agammaglobulinemic, meaning they have almost no antibodies to protect them against disease. Simply, they're not born with any immune memory that we develop over our lifetime – they receive those antibodies, an immediate source of immunity, and a very concentrated source of energy from their cow’s colostrum...
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Given the severe drought in the Northern Plains and Western States along with high beef cow slaughter, the big question wasn’t if, but how much the beef cow herd declined. U.S. beef cows on January 1, 2022 at 30.13 million head were down 718,500 from the 30.84 million on January 1, 2021. That was the fewest beef cows since 2015. 2021 marked the third straight year of U.S. beef cow cyclical liquidation. Numbers peaked on January 1, 2019 at 31.7 million head, so the three-year decline was 1.6 million head, or 5 percent. A number of factors likely led to...
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Austin Hill was first to the checkered flag, and the beef, as he won the 41st season-opening race for the NASCAR Xfinity Series the Beef. It's What's For Dinner.® 300. For the second year the Federation of State Beef Councils, on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, partnered with the Daytona International Speedway to sponsor the race one day ahead of the legendary DAYTONA 500. "From the shared emphasis on family values and legacies in both racing and cattle farming and ranching, to the love of beef on the grill, beef and NASCAR just make sense," Brad Hastings, 2022 National Cattlemen's...
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One of Big Timber, Montana's most renowned residents, Gwen Petersen, closed the gate just five days before her 94th birthday last week. I am so thankful that my "Ode to Coveralls" poem that referenced her ran before she passed, and her beloved friend, Elaine Allestad, took it to her bedside so her sidekick in poetry and life, Sandy Sallee, could read it to her. Gwen was a great writer of the western lifestyle and a truly one-of-a-kind character who will be sorely missed, but she will live on through her rhymes and rhetoric. The following obituary was shared by Sandy...
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Recently, new research from scientists at University of Nebraska-Lincoln and U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) was published on breed and heterotic effects for mature weight in beef cattle. This research was conducted using over 5,000 crossbred cows from the USMARC’s Germplasm Evaluation Program and 108,957 weight records collected from weaning up to six years of age. The Germplasm Evaluation Program provides a comprehensive comparison for various traits of the most economically important breeds within the United States. In the study, “Breed and heterotic effects for mature weight in beef cattle,” released in the August 2021 Journal of Animal Science,...
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The National FFA Organization is partnering with Syngenta to lay the foundation for a national equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy. This strategy will impact members, staff, leadership and directly influence the organization’s programs, services, and events. Recognizing the importance of an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) strategy, National FFA partnered with Syngenta, a leading-agriculture company with a 40 plus year relationship with FFA, to develop the inaugural Executive in Residence program. Syngenta’s North America Diversity & Inclusion Lead Brandon Bell will serve as the executive in residence for organizational development and culture as a part of this partnership. In this...
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In 2017 when I got in the first few vegans, animal rights, and anti-ag Facebook groups I made a self-vow to “observe with no engagement.” I did this for two reasons. Reason #1: I didn’t want to get caught up in petty arguments. I knew if I commented on the ridiculous opinions and false facts shared by anti-ags, it could turn into a full-time job in the worst way possible. See the thing with anti-ags is, you can argue with them until you’re blue in the face and absolutely nothing will change. Their opinions will stay the same, and you’ll...
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One of modern agriculture’s most beloved offspring, ethanol, received a sharp reprimand on February 13 from Iowa’s largest newspaper, The Des Moines Register. In an editorial titled “Ethanol has been a boon for Iowa’s economy. But it’s time to pivot and figure out what’s next,” The Register chided Iowa Republicans and Democrats alike for supporting ethanol-pushing programs when everyone in the Hawkeye State “would be better served to figure out what comes after ethanol.” It wasn’t ethanol’s only public slap in the past month or even the past week. Two days before, Christopher S. Jones, a widely published research engineer...
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Starting in March 2020, disarray set in motion a chain of events leading to the fed cattle backlog from plant closures slowing the supply chain throughout 2021. While the market likes to avoid the unkown, the last two years put the beef business in uncharted territory. The first quarter of 2021 expected to see the last of the ultra-heavy carcasses. Yet, even a year later, fed cattle currentness has not returned for any significant period of time. Carcass weights often indicate currentness in the fed cattle sector, and with weights still trending higher, there was little improvement. Combined steer and...
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The Wyoming CattleWomen are offering two 0 scholarships to women pursuing a future benefiting the agriculture industry. These scholarships are designed to assist women who want to further their education and intend to help move the agricultural industry forward into the future. Applicants must fill out an application and submit an essay of 500 to 700 words. In the essay, the applicant must explain how they intend to use their education to promote and further the agricultural industry. Applicants must be female residents of the state of Wyoming, must be enrolled as a full-time student in a certificate program, trade...
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The Colorado State University (CSU) Seedstock Merchandising Team held their 45th annual production bull and female sale on February 19, 2022, at the Centennial Livestock Auction. The team is made up of six members who are students studying animal science at CSU along with faculty advisor, Dr. Sam Cunningham. The sale included nine Angus bulls, 18 Hereford bulls, three Angus heifers, three Hereford heifers, and two groups of commercial females. Cunningham explained that the team members come from all different backgrounds. “Coming to the team, with varying degrees, of course in seedstock experience. Some came with no more experience than...
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Dystocia (difficult or prolonged birth) is not as common today as in the past, according to Dr. Jennifer Pearson of the Department of Production Animal Health at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. “Many producers who have been ranching a long time have seen a decrease in number of births that need assistance, due to selecting heifers of appropriate size and maturity to calve and selecting bulls that sire smaller calves—especially for use on heifers,” she said. There are still a few situations that occur, however, in which the cow or heifer will need assistance. She gives calving...
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“It's been the most rewarding thing that we could have ever done to give these kids these horses,” AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder, Scott West of Lusk, Wyoming, said. For the past five years, Scott and his wife, Amy, have been donating a few colts to the AQHA Young Horse Development (YHD) Program, and what it’s done for the kids who are involved has “just been wonderful.” Helen Hardy, Manager of Youth Development and the AQHYA, said the YHD Program was “started with the intent to provide horsemanship opportunities” to young horsemen and women. Applications “take some dedication,” Hardy explained, as...
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Bison hunting isn’t allowed in Yellowstone National Park, but in a tiny gulch just outside of the park perimeter, where the two herds that call Yellowstone home merge, bison hunting is legal. On a quarter-square-mile area at the mouth of Beattie Gulch, an annual bison hunt is held. In 2000, the Interagency Bison Management Plan was developed, which encouraged hunters to shoot bison who migrate outside of Yellowstone National Park in search of grass during the winter. The hunting grounds are just across the street from a neighborhood where many live and see the hunt happen annually. There is a...
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If you have not heard a lot about the wine industry in Montana and Wyoming, “you will have more opportunities in the upcoming years,” Brian McGuire, who, with his wife Roxann, owns Willow Mountain Estate/Vineyard Winery in Corvallis, Montana, said. From Brian’s perspective, the vineyard/wine industry, in the state of Montana particularly, is at a crossroads; one road will lead to an extremely prosperous business opportunity, and the other is riddled with legislative nuances that will inevitably lead to its demise. “It's an interestingly developing industry, and it’s on the precipice of really becoming established,” McGuire said. Just like the...
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As many of you who have been reading my weekly column since it was named “The Rural Writer” know, my husband is part of the fifth generation to come back and work at the Ochsner Roth Cattle Co (formerly known as the George Ochsner Ranch) where we raise registered Hereford and Angus bulls and females as well as market a large selection of Angus and Black Baldy commercial replacement heifers. It’s easy to get caught up in where we are now and the trajectory of our operation moving forward, but there are times when your perspective is jostled. My husband...
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The Freedom Convoy of truckers in Canada appears to be coming to an end after three weeks. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on February 16; the only other time this act was invoked was by Justin Trudeau’s father in 1970. The Emergencies Act defines a national emergency as an “urgent and critical situation of a temporary nature that (a) seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians and is of such proportions or nature as to exceed the capacity or authority of a province to deal with it, or (b) seriously threatens the ability of the...
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United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the resumption of tablestock potatoes from Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, into Puerto Rico. USDA has determined the importation of these potatoes under specified conditions poses little risk of introducing potato wart disease, a soil-borne disease that reduces yield and marketability, to Puerto Rico. “It is critical that we base our agricultural trade decisions on sound science,” Vilsack said. “After considering Puerto Rico’s lack of suitable climatic conditions for potato wart as well as the lack of a commercial potato production industry on the island, we are confident that...
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The American Lamb Board (ALB) is working with Michigan State University (MSU) to evaluate the environmental footprint of the U.S. sheep industry in order to have accurate and robust data to contribute to this important issue. The initial focus of the study defines a comprehensive model of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the diverse array of U.S. sheep production systems such as range, farm flock, pasture, intensive and feedlot. MSU will conduct a partial life cycle analysis of lamb production in these types of operations to quantify GHG emissions. Environmental concerns about livestock production have gained traction and the American...
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Corteva Agriscience announced today an expansion of the Corteva Carbon Initiative to 17 new states and two new qualifying crop types. This expansion increases the Initiative's footprint to a total of 28 states and 19 crop types, bringing opportunity to even more U.S. farmers to participate in the fast-developing carbon market. Newly approved states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia. The Initiative has also expanded its list of eligible crops to include peanuts and sugar beets, two key crops for farmer eligibility in multiple...
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The Montana Farm Bureau has submitted comments to the Bureau of Land Management strongly encouraging the agency to consider the continuous work the state of Montana has done on behalf of sage grouse management. In its comments, MFBF requested that the Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management acknowledge the Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program in their future management decisions. The Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program was created by the Montana Legislature’s passage of the Greater Sage Grouse Stewardship Act in 2015, along with several Executive Orders in the same year. Even earlier, Montana took an interest...
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Don Schiefelbein, a central Minnesota native, seedstock breeder, and cattle feeder became the new NCBA president during the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention, held the last week in January. Schiefelbein and his family operate Schiefelbein Farms, a diversified farming operation in Kimball, Minnesota. “I’m very fortunate to have been involved in the cattle industry through several different avenues and have seen the positive results when people come together,” Schiefelbein said. “As NCBA’s incoming president, I will continue bringing people together for the benefit of the industry.” The 2022 NCBA officer team, approved by the NCBA board of directors, took office at...
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The benefits of deworming cattle are well known: increased weight gains and breeding efficiency, reduced pasture contamination, improved immune status, and more. Using an extended-release dewormer, however, can be the game changer needed to realize the greatest return on investment. An extended-release dewormer boasts the unique ability to control parasites on both a short- and long-term basis. “Injectable extended-release dewormers are essentially two doses in one,” Joe Gillespie, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim, explained. “The first dose is much like a conventional dewormer in that it works on parasites immediately. Then, the second dose, which is protected in a polymer, is released...
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Governor Greg Gianforte urged the Biden administration to leave Montana’s sage grouse program untouched, and highlighted its success in conserving sage grouse, its balance between land use and conservation, and its robust, effective engagement with stakeholders. In public comment to officials at the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Governor Gianforte emphasized the success of Montana’s sage grouse conservation program, writing, “The Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Program (Program), overseen by the Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team (MSGOT) is the most effective conservation program within the Greater Sage-Grouse’s range. The product of stakeholder collaboration and scientific study, the Program has been...
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American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on USDA’s announcement of the Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities pilot program. “Farm Bureau commends efforts by USDA to address the challenges farmers and ranchers are facing in their attempts to adopt new and emerging climate-smart practices, as well as participate in developing climate marketing channels. “Voluntary, incentive-based pilot projects are a great first step to identify barriers and ensure farmers and ranchers of all sizes can participate no matter where they are located or what they produce. We look forward to working with the administration, Congress, and our members to develop...
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Regardless of the promotional medium, businesses portray their product in the best possible light…usually. Spring is bull-sale season, so ag publications are becoming stuffed with herd sire photos, and some time ago, a seedstock ad caught my eye. The photo of the champion black bull standing in the idyllic Montana pasture was anything but typical. He was a muscular beast, but he was missing half his tail, likely caused by a cold winter night during his calfhood. His right ear hung mangled from a barfight during his teenage years, while his upper jaw sported an abscess from a bad tooth....
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“America’s First-Shorthorns Across America” a limited-edition painting by renowned livestock illustrator and artist C. J. Brown has been released for public purchase. The painting was commissioned by the American Shorthorn Association to celebrate the 150th year of the American Shorthorn Association and will be treasured by many Shorthorn enthusiasts for years to come. To commemorate each year of Shorthorns in the past, 150 limited-edition prints have been commissioned and released. The original painting will hang indefinitely in the American Shorthorn Association headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. During the 2022 National Shorthorn Sale, The Summit at Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City,...
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Willa (5) and Audie (4) said their favorite thing about shipping cattle is playing in the snow by the corrals.
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Last week, Rascal paid the barn a visit a touch of graffiti from the can of branding paint he commandeered. Will Banjo and Tuff find Rascal in time to make a reckoning, or will the kids be blamed for Rascal’s malicious recklessness? The sputter of the ranch truck coming closer was unavoidable. “What do we do?” Tuff panicked. Rascal had left them in a serious predicament. “The truck can’t come up this hill,” Banjo said. “But I’m sure they’ll have binoculars and be able to see exactly who’s pawprints are scattered all around here.” “The man won’t really think we...
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“It’s not about the role. It’s about the goal.” That is how Lauren McMillan defined leadership. As a junior at the University of Illinois studying Agricultural Leadership, with a concentration in Agribusiness and Media, this young livestock enthusiast knows a thing or more about being a leader. She caught the bug for leadership when she attended her first National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) Faces of Leadership Conference and decided then she wanted to pursue these opportunities more. “In high school, I didn’t really understand leadership. I thought it was about a role or a title, but now that I’ve been...
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American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on February 9, 2022, on the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy’s comments to EPA regarding the impact of a new Waters of the U.S. Rule. “We were told by the Biden administration that a new clean water rule would not affect small businesses, but comments from the Small Business Administration (SBA) provide even more proof that the claim is not true. SBA confirmed what farmers and ranchers concluded as well – the proposed rule creates government overreach and will have significant economic impact on farms and other family businesses. “Farmers...
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The Angus Foundation kicked off 2022 with outstanding support in the month of January. In addition to the sale of the 2022 Angus Foundation Heifer Package and hosting the second annual Oklahoma Stars event, four heifer pregnancies were sold to support the Angus Foundation. Featured in sales hosted at the Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City and the National Western Stock Show in Denver; the pregnancies raised a combined ,500 to benefit the Angus Fund, which provides unrestricted support allowing the Angus Foundation to fulfill its mission of youth, education, and research. “The sale of these pregnancies will make a long-lasting...
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The Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) announced Zachary Riley as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective March 7, 2022. He will replace long-time leader Bill Hammerich. Mr. Riley is well versed in the legislative and regulatory issues related to Colorado animal agriculture. He has also been involved with industry efforts on health care, climate, energy, transportation, and labor. “I am honored to be chosen to continue the legacy of the Colorado Livestock Association while following the history and leadership of Bill Hammerich,” Mr. Riley stated. “I am thrilled to perpetuate these toils so that our wisest pursuit, agriculture may continue...
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The Black Hills Stock Show has a history of being a largely successful event for R-CALF USA, and the 2022 event proved its success once again. R-CALF USA and its South Dakota state affiliate, the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA), shared a booth over the course of the 10-day stock show as they have for the past 20 years. The 64th Annual Black Hills Stock Show allowed numerous R-CALF USA members and friends from South Dakota and surrounding states to gather at the booth. This included visits from South Dakota Senators Mike Rounds and John Thune, as well as members...
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Increased slaughter of mature sheep in 2021 – thanks to drought and high mature ewe slaughter prices – played a role in a two percent decrease in the American sheep inventory, as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service in early February. As of January 1, the American sheep and lamb inventory totaled 5.07 million head. Breeding sheep inventory was 3.71 million head, down two percent from 3.78 million head seen last year on January 1, 2021. Ewes 1-year-old and older were at 2.91 million head, also two percent below last year. Market sheep and lambs...
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CattleFax hosted another Outlook Seminar at the 2022 NCBA Convention. It was reported that cattle price and profitability trends for producers are pointed in the right direction, even as challenges and uncertainty persist with continued disruptions from the pandemic. While issues around labor and packing capacity have lingered, both are expected to improve in the year ahead. These expansions in capacity combined with strong global and domestic consumer beef demand suggests increased profitability across segments, signaling a market that is healthier and more stable in the year ahead. Kevin Good, vice president of industry relations and analysis at CattleFax, reported...
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I just cannot resist helpful hints (now known as hacks) or tips on how to remove every stain known to man or cure anything from warts to arthritis with a home remedy. Sometimes though, I have to question the effectiveness and efficiency of the remedies and helpful hints. I have actually had less than miraculous results with many of those tips. A tomato juice bath is supposed to be the cure-all for skunk spray. Do you know how much a tomato juice bath for a small boy cost? It was .00 cheaper and much less stressful just to let the...
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From Agriculture by the Numbers The cattle market in the last several years has been plagued with multiple events and issues which have caused relatively low and volatile prices. So, it is nice to have 2019, 2020, and 2021 in the rear- view mirror. Without a doubt, the most challenging event was the COVID-19 pandemic which hit both the U.S. and world early in 2020 and is still lingering. Other notable challenges include the Tyson packing plant fire in August 2019, the trade war and trade agreement restructuring, increasing corn prices, winter storm Uri, and the severe drought in the...
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...These are the reports coming out of Australia. In fact, last spring was one of the few times Australian fed cattle reached U.S. fed cattle prices and have continued to just go higher with plenty of monthly reports of record-high cull cow prices, bred cow prices, feeder, and grass prices . All this was going on while here in the U.S. fed cattle prices from late June through November saw prices the lowest since 2010 against record and near record high boxed beef and retail prices. Granted, cattle supplies are low in Australia and packer margins are negative after some...
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Governor Greg Gianforte this week called on the Biden administration to reconsider its proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, citing its harmful impact on Montanans, federal overreach, vagueness, and ambiguity. In public comment to officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gov. Gianforte blasted the Biden administration’s proposed WOTUS rule. “If the agencies adopt the Proposed Rule, it is the citizenry that will foot the bill for the agencies’ equivocation,” Gov. Gianforte warned of the costs and burdens the proposed WOTUS rule would impose on Montanans. “No Montanan, and indeed, no...
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Agricultural producers who have coverage under most crop insurance policies are eligible for a premium benefit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) if they planted cover crops during the 2022 crop year. To receive the benefit from this year’s Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP), producers must report cover crop acreage by March 15, 2022. The new program comes on the heels of the recently announced Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, which creates market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart production practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse gas benefits. PCCP, offered by...
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The Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) is now accepting applications for the next General Manager. The application period for the General Manager position is now open, and applications will be accepted until March 24th. Applications will be followed by the interview process and subsequent selection. The collective goal of the NILE Board of Directors is to interview, select, and hire the next General Manager on or before June 1st. The responsibilities of this position will be to oversee the general business and management activities of the NILE organization, including the events of NILE Stock Show and Rodeo, Professional Bull Riders...
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This one is for the agriculturists and the agriculturists only. Last night I attended our county Farm Bureau’s meeting as I am the new committee chair of the Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) committee. This basically means it’s my job to get young adults involved in Farm Bureau. On my drive home, I thought about ways to appeal to the “young farmers and ranchers” in our county and I had some ideas for fun, social driven events - maybe some live music mixed with a little general ag talk, free beer for YF&R members with a little dose of ag...
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As deep winter reasserted itself over most of the nation’s farms and ranches, the New York Times brought some real heat to the Big-Ag-Fights-Climate-Change debate. In a 14-minute, fast-paced video titled “Meet the People Getting Paid to Kill Our Planet,” the film’s subtitle not only names the killers, it convicts them, too: “American agriculture is ravaging the air, soil, and water” and, it added, “But a powerful lobby has cleverly concealed the damage.” The “powerful lobby,” the newspaper said, is the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the nation’s largest farm group. To hear The Times tell it, AFBF is at...
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Seven of the nation’s top cattle operations were recognized as Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) regional winners for their environmental conservation efforts during the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in Houston, Texas. The regional winners will compete for the national award, which will be presented during NCBA’s Summer Business Meeting in Reno, Nevada, July 25-28, 2022. “Cattlemen and women across the country preserve natural resources while producing a safe and high-quality beef product,” Jerry Bohn, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President, said. “Each of these farms and ranches exemplifies the commitment of all producers to protect the resources...
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On an Oregon ranch in the Jordan Valley, grazing permits have been a necessity for the ranch to maintain their cattle herd, much like many other operations in the western United States. Mike and Linda Hanley leased their ranch to their daughter and son-in-law, Martha and John Corrigan. Unfortunately, they lost their grazing priority on allotments near the ranch which in turn caused them to lose their grazing permit on roughly 30,000 acres of land necessary to keep their operation running. In 2009, the Hanleys applied for a grazing permit renewal in Owyhee County, Idaho for the Trout Springs and...
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Anyone who has ever started their own business knows that it’s no small feat – it takes a great deal of planning, support, and luck in some cases to make dreams come to fruition. In a normal economy that hasn’t been hammered with inflation and the effects of a global pandemic, and in an industry that isn’t riddled with consolidation, courage is another ingredient needed in hefty scoops. Mac and Celsie Sussex, a young ranching couple from the small town of Torrington, Wyoming, have come together in the face of every variable and ounce of adversity in order to build...
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“Everyone's tired of COVID [...] These protests are not the way to get through it,” Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, said in a February 7 emergency meeting in Parliament. “The way to get through it is to continue listening to science, continuing to lean on each other, continuing to be there for each other.” For over two weeks, protests across Canada, which were sparked by the “Freedom Convoy” that convened on Parliament in Ottawa and the Coutts Border Crossing on January 28, have continued to grow in both size and worldwide notoriety. At this point, protestors have gathered in...
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Commodity crop prices continue to remain strong across the board as weather and geopolitical concerns add volatility to markets, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Mark Welch, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension grain economist, Bryan-College Station, said drought conditions in both hemispheres are raising questions about global crop yields while troops amass in a region that supplies one-third of the world’s wheat. Welch said commodity crop prices are better compared to this time last year. Prices provide an improved opportunity for producers to profit even with the higher input costs factored into production budgets. “We’re seeing competitive prices among...
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“The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is intended to promote species recovery and delisting, not to impose permanent protected status for animals that are now thriving,” Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation President, said in regard to the February 10 U.S. District Court ruling (the Ruling) to relist certain populations of the Gray Wolf. “It's disappointing that environmental activism carried more weight than science in this case. Rather than ruling on due process and adherence to recovery criterion, Judge White chose to remand the rule and undermine one of the most successful ESA recovery stories in United States history,” Kaitlynn Glover,...
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The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) agreed to hear the Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) case on January 24, 2022, which challenges the federal jurisdiction pertaining to the Clean Waters Act (CWA). The question presented to the court is, “Whether the Ninth Circuit set forth the proper test for determining whether wetlands are ‘Waters of the United States’ (WOTUS).” Unfortunately, WOTUS doesn’t have a definition within the CWA and has instead been left up to the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to define and enforce. The history of WOTUS can be traced...
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I have been immersed in the world of Canadian politics for the last two weeks since the anti-mandate protests started in late January. Once you get past the different names for public offices and their various roles, I've gotten an odd sense of déjà vu. Politicians are politicians are politicians. That's not to say there aren’t some good eggs out there but listening to Prime Minister Trudeau bash and slander the citizens of Canada who were exercising their very basic human right to protest made my blood boil and is oddly reminiscent of our own leadership here in the United...
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It appears as though this fed cattle market is positioning itself to make a push higher. Fed cattle prices in the North sold for 0 to 4 and dressed prices were seen from 4 to 6. Fed cattle prices in the South were slightly lower at 8 to 0. The past five weeks have been quite disappointing when looking at total slaughter numbers. However, last week, we finally saw higher slaughter numbers than the same time period the year before. There was a big clean up in slaughter numbers last week with three packers involved buying large numbers of cattle;...
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The National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards annually recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers, marketers, and educators. Winners not only demonstrate high-quality animal care and handling principles as part of their day-to-day operations but express a strong desire to continually improve their operations through BQA. As good stewards of the cattle industry, a common trait among nominees is encouraging others to implement the producer education program. Award categories include Cow-Calf, Dairy, Feedyard, Marketer, and Educator. 2022 BQA Cow-Calf Award The 2022 BQA Cow-Calf Award recipient is River Bend Ranch in Limon, Colorado, managed by the Frasier family. River Bend Ranch...
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February 14 is the deadline to submit an application to Farmer Veteran Coalition's (FVC) Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund, which is on track to award a total of 0,000 in grants in 2022 to military veterans and currently serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are now farming. Awards range from [post_excerpt],000 to ,000 and can be used to purchase farming equipment and related supplies that will make a direct impact on their farming operation. Funding for the 2022 Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund is made possible by Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), Kubota Tractor Corporation, Tractor Supply Company Foundation and Tractor...
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The North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation (NDSF) is offering 10 scholarships in 2022. The application deadline for each scholarship is March 1. The offering includes the following scholarships: Endowment Scholarship The NDSF Endowment Scholarship is given to a student majoring in animal science, range science, pre-vet, agribusiness, ag communications, farm and ranch management, or another beef-related discipline at a North Dakota college or university. Students eligible for this scholarship must: 1) Be residents of North Dakota; 2) At the time of application, be a high school senior, a college freshman, sophomore or junior majoring or intending to major in one of...
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The Heinz Family Foundation recently named Gabe Brown, a pioneer in regenerative agriculture and soil health, the recipient of the prestigious 26th Heinz Awards for the Environment. As part of the accolade, Brown, who is the co-founder of Understanding Ag, LLC and the non-profit Soil Health Academy, will receive an unrestricted cash award of 0,000. Brown began experimenting with new farming practices after a series of weather-related crop disasters at his North Dakota farm put his family in desperate financial straits. In 1993, he adopted no-till practices for moisture conservation, and went on to implement other soil-building practices, including diverse...
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Individuals across the country can make a difference in the lives of the more than 735,000 FFA members by participating in Give FFA Day. For the seventh year, during National FFA Week, individuals will have an opportunity to step up and support FFA and agricultural education through Give FFA Day on Thursday, Feb. 24. Funds raised support various programs on local, state, and national levels. During the 24 hours of giving, donors will have options to donate to the state FFA associations of their choice and National FFA. For more than 90 years, the National FFA Organization has strived to...
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Peñagaricano researches opportunities to predict bull fertility. “Phenotypes for bull fertility may be laboratory measurements centered around sperm quality, breeding soundness exams, and scrotal circumference, but these are really indicator traits, and the ideal phenotype is a sire conception rate,” Dr. Francisco Peñagaricano, University of Wisconsin assistant professor of quantitative genetics, said. Peñagaricano gave his presentation titled “Genomic Dissection and Prediction of Bull Fertility” during the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium June 23 in Des Moines, Iowa. Peñagaricano discussed his study of predicting bull fertility, research findings and opportunities for bull fertility selection. A Study of Bull Fertility… Peñagaricano’s research...
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ComBase, an online quantitative food microbiology database with more than 65,000 records, helps companies design and implement better food safety programs, document regulatory compliance, and test new model interfaces. It saves the food industry millions of dollars a year in testing and other associated costs, as well as helping to prevent recalls and foodborne illness. This information is part of the latest issue of Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) Food and Nutrition Research Briefs. The latest issue, which reports discoveries from researchers at ARS laboratories nationwide, can be found online. Among other findings, the current issue reports: Shifting to a new...
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The Jean Ibendahl Scholarship (for ages 18-23) and the Sister Thomas More Bertels Scholarship (for ages 24+) honors the memory of these courageous and adventurous women who played an essential role in serving and leading and who encouraged agricultural pursuits. These scholarships are available to any farm, ranch, or agri-business woman to pursue accredited courses in agriculture leadership, communications, rural sociology, medicine, or other college-level studies directly related to agriculture. American Agri-Women members and affiliates maintain the scholarships. You can find the application at https://americanagriwomen.org/scholarships. March 1st is the Application Deadline. Completed applications should be sent to American Agri-Women Foundation,...
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The Joe C King & Sons Ranch, from Winnett, Montana, was selected as one of seven regional honorees of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). The award, announced during the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NBCA Trade Show, recognized the operation’s outstanding stewardship and conservation efforts. Regional winners will compete for the national award, which will be announced later this year. Now in its 30th year, the Environmental Stewardship Award has annually recognized the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of U.S. cattle producers from across the nation. Regional and national award winners have been commended for their commitment to...
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The Tormaschy Dairy Farm of Richardton, North Dakota received the 2021 Commissioner’s Award of Dairy Excellence during the 2022 North Dakota Dairy Convention, which was held recently in Bismarck. Toby and Heidi Tormaschy have been milking cows north of Richardton since 2008, along with their four young daughters. Currently at 65 Holsteins, they have plans to add Jersey heifers this summer. “Toby and Heidi have consistent, high-quality milk and a remarkable inspection record,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “Despite the challenges, it is encouraging to know that the Tormaschy family is committed to the dairy lifestyle and producing an excellent...
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The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation scholarship deadline is March 1, 2022. Nine college scholarships totaling ,500 are offered each year to support Wyoming youth. Scholarships are available for high school graduates and for those students who are continuing their college education. Applications are available at www.wyfb.org; click on the education tab. For questions, contact Diane “Dee” Brewer at (307) 721-7719 or dbrewer1@wyfb.org. Many county Farm Bureau Federations also offer scholarships locally. Visit wyfb.org and click on the “Education” tab for a listing, or contact your county Farm Bureau Federation president.
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The first week of January in 2022, the American Simmental Association held their 54th Annual Meeting virtually. The Annual Meeting highlighted each committee’s minutes for the previous year, and reflected on the successes of 2021, including the continued growth of International Genetics Solutions, successful Progress Through Performance shows, the AJSA National Classic and Regional events, and the Association’s navigation of two challenging years due to COVID-19. During the Annual Meeting, Barry Wesner, from Chalmers, Indiana, was formally seated as Chairman of the Board, succeeding Randy Moody, New Market, Alabama. Also seated on the Executive Committee were Vice Chairman Doug Parke,...
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During the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention, the executive committee of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) approved the organization’s 2022 policy priorities with an emphasis on strengthening the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of the cattle industry. NCBA’s policy priorities will include: Improving market leverage and opportunities through increased access to market data and risk management tools for producers; Securing the future of the beef industry by protecting crucial tax provisions; limiting regulatory burdens on farms and ranches; leveling the playing field for producers; Boosting the resiliency of the beef supply chain by addressing labor shortages; improving processing capacity; expanding...
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Governor Greg Gianforte and Christy Clark, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture, yesterday toured Montana Craft Malt to highlight how the operation promotes Montana’s high-quality ag products and expands value-added ag opportunities for Montana producers. “As we work to strengthen our state’s number one industry, it’s critical we continue finding ways to help add value to our commodities, capture that premium, and return it to the rightful recipient - Montana producers,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Using locally-sourced ingredients, Montana Craft Malt helps add value to our commodities right here in Montana, while supporting Montana families with good-paying jobs.” Montana Craft Malt...
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The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) recently called for the U.S. Senate to pass a bipartisan bill to address unreasonable ocean carrier practices that are undermining competitiveness of American exporters including the meat and poultry industry. The bill, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act was introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD). “The problems at our ports include delays of shipments of American made goods to overseas trading partners due to the unreasonable practices of foreign-owned ocean carriers,” Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the North American Meat Institute, said. “These delays are a huge cost...
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The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is now accepting pre-proposal applications for the 2022 cycle of Seeding Solutions, an annual competitive grant program that supports research to solve urgent issues in any of FFAR’s Challenge Areas. This year, in addition to accepting pre-proposal applications that align with the Challenge Areas, the Foundation is also seeking applications for AgMission, an unprecedented initiative mobilizing farmers, ranchers, scientists, data providers, stakeholders, and funders to develop and implement scalable climate-smart solutions. Through the 2022 Seeding Solutions program, FFAR is awarding approximately million in grants. Individual awards will range from 0,000 to...
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Governor Gordon has issued the following statement in response to a letter from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announcing its intent to initiate a 12-month status review to determine whether a listing of a distinct population segment (DPS) of the gray wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountains or in the western United States under the Endangered Species Act is warranted. “Secretary Haaland’s decision is very disappointing and indicates a strong disconnect between Washington D.C and realities on the ground. In Wyoming, wolves have been successfully managed by our state’s wildlife experts since regaining authority in 2017. I firmly stand...
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Fifth-generation crop and cattle producer and small business owner, Jeff Kippley announces his candidacy for Vice President of National Farmers Union (Farmers Union). “It is my hope to serve Farmers Union through this role because ultimately it is my goal to see my children, and the children of other family farmers and ranchers, be able to return to their family operations without needing off-farm income. And I believe Farmers Union, with its grassroots policy, is the organization that will help Congress understand the importance of family farms and ranches,” Kippley, who together with his wife, Rachel, have four children on...
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Governor Greg Gianforte recently announced the recipients of the 2021 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation, a unique recognition of Montana veterans who served our country and continued their service in their communities. “Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedoms and our way of life. I’m honored to recognize 31 outstanding Montana veterans who served their country and continued the commitment to service in our communities,” Governor Gianforte said. “On behalf of all Montanans, thank you for your selfless service to our country and our communities across Montana.” Governor Gianforte launched the Montana Governor’s Veteran...
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Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so we should expect six more weeks of winter. I could live with Montana’s spring arriving in mid-March rather than early May, but apparently Phil’s forecast only applies to Pennsylvania. Basing meteorological forecasts on rodents is like trusting the marmots who predicted shuttering businesses, masking faces, and social distancing would flatten the COVID curve. It is all folklore. Punxsutawney Phil knows his predictions are nonsense, while Washington Tony believes his to be science. Phil made his predictions, and then retreated to his den for another year while Tony straps on his mask and pontificates every...
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Mastitis can strike from any direction. Successful management requires a 360-degree approach, 365 days a year. The first step to successfully preventing and treating mastitis is understanding the disease in all its forms. Mastitis infections are divided into one of two categories, environmental or contagious, based on the source of the infection. “An environmental infection is picked up when a cow is exposed to the bacteria anywhere in her environment,” Curt Vlietstra, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim, explained. “A contagious infection is acquired when bacteria are transferred from one cow to another, often taking place during the milking process.” Mastitis infections can...
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Regularly eating a small serving of dried goji berries may help prevent or delay the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in healthy middle-aged people, according to a small, randomized trial conducted at the University of California, Davis. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in older people and is estimated to affect more than 11 million in the United States and 170 million globally. “AMD affects your central field of vision and can affect your ability to read or recognize faces,” Glenn Yiu, a co-author of the study and an associate professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision...
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Barrett, Sloan, and Blair Van Newkirk’s favorite part of calving season is feeding the twins and bucket calves while eating the guy’s snacks in the calving shed.
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Clancy is a cowboy on a ranch in west Montana. His hat is black, His shirt is blue, round his neck a tan bandana. His trousers have a patch or two, which doesn’t bother Clancy, and on his feet are dusty boots, long past being fancy. Their toes are scuffed, The heels are worn, But they seem to do the job. Buckled to them a pair of spurs with silver jingle-bobs. Now under Clancy’s noble nose, Upon his weathered face, a handlebar of whiskers grow, ends waxed, each hair in place. Unlike two untamed fuzzy brows, that crown his clear...
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Banjo yawned as stretched out into the morning sun sifting throw the barn windows. “Wake up! Wake up!” Pudge said, nudging Banjo’s side. “I’m getting there,” he said. “No, seriously,” Pudge said. “You’re going to want to see this.” “Or maybe not,” Tuff said. “You know how we said we’d be able to see where the masked bandit was from the trail of blue coated animals he was leaving?” “Yes,” Banjo said, listening intently as he leapt to his three paws. “Well, he definitely has made use of the blue paint, except it’s not just the animals he’s colored,” Tuff...
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I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired of all this sustainability gobbledygook. I'll tell you what's not sustainable: Throwing our borders open to welcome drug dealers, human traffickers, terrorists, violent criminals and people infected with COVID to enter the country. And then flying them in the middle of the night to towns all across America so they have to deal with all the ramifications. Getting rid of police and wondering why crime is up. Printing money so fast the circulation of dollars in the US is up 336 percent in 18 months which is causing inflation to explode...
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While impressively stout yet entirely fragile, horses require a great level of care, especially as it relates to their nutrition over the winter. “Many horse owners may not realize they actually need to feed horses differently in the wintertime than they do in the summertime,” Jyme Nichols, PhD, director of nutrition at Stride Animal Health, shared in an interview with Valley Vet Supply. For a better understanding, continue learning with these three facts. Fact 1: A horse’s “thermoneutral zone” directly impacts their nutritional needs. “The first thing that I think is important for everybody to understand is a term that...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Federation submitted comments on February 7 to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the definition for Waters of the U.S. The state’s largest general agricultural organization urged the agency to retain the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) instead of going back to the pre-2015 Waters of the U.S. Rule (WOTUS). In the comments, MFBF President Cyndi Johnson said, “The definition of WOTUS is critically important to farmers and ranchers across our state, which is why MFBF has participated in numerous rulemaking proceedings on this issue for decades. Farming and ranching...
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The 7th Annual Miles City Cowboy Poetry Gathering will be hosted by the Range Riders Museum on Sunday, February 27. Entertainment will kick off at 11:30 a.m. with local talent Emmett LaBree from Miles City, performing old classic country songs. A roast beef dinner will be served at noon. The featured performers Jim Hamilton, Bill Lowman, Brent Voigt, and Vickie Hill are scheduled to perform during the Main Show at 1 pm. The event will finish out with an Open Mic session at 3 p.m. with a limit of one poem/song per individual, and it will concluded at 4 p.m....
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One of the few good things about winter on the ranch is that you can wear coveralls. They are called "coveralls" because they hide a multitude of sins like Christmas cookies, fudge, eggnog, and winter comfort foods. You can wear your sweatpants under your coveralls and believe that you are hiding those winter pounds until the day of reckoning comes. When you see a robin and you can smell spring in the air, you realize it is time to struggle into your jeans, because you would look just plain ridiculous running around in coveralls when it is above 50 degrees....
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In a letter sent late last year to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, 16 state attorneys general outline systemic failures in the current structure of U.S. livestock markets and offer suggestions for increased enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA). Seeking a return to competition in U.S. livestock markets, the letter identifies increased packer concentration, the thinning of the competitive cash market, and attendant increase in Alternative Marketing Arrangements (AMAs) as key factors in threatening producer profitability and resulting in fewer producers participating in livestock markets. Pointing out that the packer concentration problem of today is worse than it...
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The announcement that JBS USA has decided on a .5 million settlement over allegations of beef price fixing is deeply disturbing to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). NCBA was the first national organization to request a government investigation of beef markets in 2019. Now there are settlements occurring without Department of Justice (DOJ) having released findings or even providing cattle producers with an update on progress. In August 2019, following a fire at the Tyson plant in Holcomb, Kansas, NCBA sent a letter to USDA requesting an examination of price discrepancies in fed cattle markets. Again in 2020, NCBA...
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The National Farm Machinery Show will return to Louisville, February 16-19, allowing the farming and agribusiness industry to learn about the latest equipment updates, explore new technology, and prepare for the spring planting season. The National Farm Machinery Show is the largest indoor farm show in the country. Each year, guests from around the world explore more than 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space in the agricultural industry’s most comprehensive display of equipment, services, and technology. “The National Farm Machinery Show is important to the agricultural community. Farmers enjoy the opportunity to come together, see the latest technology and...
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The stakes were high as judge Harlan Yochum, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, sorted the 38-head National Hereford bull show and 102-head Hereford female show at the Fort Worth Stock Show in Fort Worth, Texas. “This champion drive is a perfect example of the different types and kinds that you need to sell bulls, said judge Harlan Yochum. “I really commend your breed for raising and breeding cattle that are functional, sound, and correct.” Bull show champions The champion polled bull was owned by Michael Perez of Nara Vista, New Mexico, and Crayton and Cora Belle Chapman of Seneca, Illinois, PCC 7009...
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Montana's largest Ag trade show is back! The MATE Show and Home & Health Expo will take place February 17-19. Since 1976, the MATE, short for Montana Agri-Trade Exposition, invites agricultural businesses to MetraPark for a three-day trade show. Increased interest, and attendance grew the MATE to become the largest ag trade show in the region. Equipment dealers bring in the latest models of tractors. Seed specialists display new varieties. Livestock nutritionists answer questions and provide strategies. Visitors attend because they can test out products, investigate new technologies, and come up with ideas to take back to the farm or...
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From the Livestock Marketing Information Center The long-awaited Cattle Inventory was released on the afternoon of January 31. The topline, cattle inventory number indicated 91.9 million cattle in the U.S., down 2 percent from last year. This report is particularly important this year as a longer-term indication of the direction of the cow herd, given drought conditions, pandemic market turmoil, and relative cattle prices and costs. Of more interest to me is the cow herd and replacement numbers. Cows are the productive engine of the industry. The number of beef cows in the U.S. was estimated to be 30.125 million...
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A California District Judge ruled today that the gray wolf would, again, be listed under the Endangered Species Act. “AFBF is extremely disappointed in the ruling to return the gray wolf to the endangered species list. The gray wolf exceeded recovery goals and should be celebrated as an Endangered Species Act success story,” AFBF President, Zippy Duvall said. “The ESA is intended to promote species recovery and delisting, not to impose permanent protected status for animals that are now thriving. Today’s ruling ignored ESA goals and threatens recovery efforts for other animals.” “Farmers and ranchers share the goal of a...
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Dairy and cattle producers can expect to see an increase in whole cottonseed supply this year. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s December cotton and wool outlook report, cotton production is estimated at 18.3 million bales, which is a 25 percent increase from the 2020 crop year. Whole cottonseed supply is estimated to be about 1 million tons more than last year. With the increase in the 2021 U.S. upland cotton crop, producers will see increased availability of whole cottonseed to incorporate into their cattle rations. “The increase in whole cottonseed availability is mainly coming out of Texas. They...
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As I sat on a barstool in Koloa, Hawaii this past week, waiting on my supper, I overheard a person ask their friend two seats down from me, “What’s the point of the Beyond Burger anyway? It’s basically a real burger.” Cue me blinking one too many times with a look as if to say, “please tell me I’m not the only one who heard this?” This brief encounter made me realize once again how big certain issues can be to someone and how minuet they can be to another. The fight between traditional protein and alternative protein (fake meat)...
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Overwhelmed. That is how I have felt since I started covering the protests going on in Canada. When I first came across the headline, it wasn’t a good one. In fact, I think it said something to the effect of “racist, violent protest over vaccine mandates.” So, I continued googling various phrases that related to the protests and kept finding similar headlines. However, I was also looking through social media that same day and happened across a single post by someone I know who used to live in Canada. Her post provided the exact opposite perspective on what was happening...
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The American Lamb Board (ALB) has deemed February as Lamb Lovers Month for over a decade. This year to encourage celebrating Lamb Lovers Month, ALB is hosting two separate consumer contests. The first giveaway is on Instagram with the goal of increasing engagement with consumers. ALB is giving away a "date night in" package for one lucky couple to celebrate Valentine’s Day in style with American Lamb. The prize package includes a rack of American Lamb as well as a copy of Ashley Rodriguez's cookbook Date Night In, which includes a delicious recipe to prepare a rack of lamb. The...
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For more than 40 years my father farmed within a mile of where the Kaskaskia River met the Mississippi deep in southern Illinois. That meant he had two, lifetime partners: the river and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, landlords of the levees that guarded our wedge of the Great American Bottoms. Dad never argued with the river, but he never stopped arguing with the Corps. “Those engineers,” he’d say whenever the Corps’ management of the levees was discussed, “not only will tell you water can run uphill, they’ll pull out their pencils and prove it.” I’m starting to feel...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation has sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, asking the Department of Justice to provide an update on its investigation into the meatpacking industry. The Department of Justice began an investigation after excessive volatility in the live and fed cattle markets caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. “With over 80 percent of the fed cattle market controlled by only four major packing companies, we are concerned about the control these firms have,” AFBF President, Zippy Duvall wrote. “We look forward to hearing from the Department of Justice regarding their investigation, so we can...
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On the heels of a December, which brought exceptional moisture to the Treasure State, January largely lacked needed precipitation. Monthly Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) SNOTEL site totals across Montana showed that January precipitation was below to near normal. “The first week of the month looked promising. The mountains received at least one to two feet of snow, but westerly flow brought high pressure during the last three weeks in January,” NRCS Hydrologist, Eric Larson said. This made for clear skies, warmer than normal temperatures, and below normal precipitation in most river basins. Exceptions were the northern Whitefish Range and...
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Three national cattlemen’s groups came together to talk about issues in the industry at the Black Hills Stock Show on February, showing unity on at least two key points. The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), and the Ranchers and Cattlemen’s Action Legal Fund (R-CALF) spoke at a roundtable at the winter event, agreeing that producer involvement on key policy issues is paramount. “We have to find ways to unite in our industry,” USCA Vice President, Justin Tupper said. “We lose 20 percent of our rural farmers and ranchers every 10 years. This is a trend...
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On February 3, 2022, the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing titled “Sustainability in the Livestock Sector: Environmental Gain and Economic Viability.” During the hearing, witnesses testified on sustainability and the challenges food producers face when developing sustainability goals. In his opening remarks, Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) stated, “The American farmer, the American rancher, they are producing more with less. They have made the United States the most efficient producer of food and fiber in the world […] that environmental progress will continue because of the solutions being worked on by...
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On February 1, 2022, a .5 million settlement with JBS S.A. (JBS) and direct purchase plaintiffs (DPP) in a Minnesota federal court class action case was announced. While the DPP have entered this settlement with JBS, other members of the class action lawsuit, including many ranchers and organizations representing ranchers, are continuing with the case. As part of the settlement JBS has “denied all allegations of wrongdoing.” The Minnesota federal court case also includes JBS, Cargill, Tyson, and National Beef Packing Company as defendants. The class action lawsuit alleges that the packers violated the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 for...
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The COVID-19 “rebellion” around much of the world is in full swing. We have seen many countries around the world lift all restrictions as far as travel is concerned when it comes to COVID. I talked a few weeks ago about COVID vaccinations and the fact it is simply a personal choice. My son is planning on getting married in Ireland in May, and neither he nor I are vaccinated – again, a personal choice. Well, right now, it looks like we are 100 percent ready to go to Ireland the “big day,” as the country has made the decision...
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The 2022 National Western Stock Show Junior Gelbvieh and Balancer® Show was held on Monday, January 10, 2022, in Denver, Colorado. Exhibitors welcomed judge Travis Hoffman of Fort Collins, Colorado, to evaluate the Gelbvieh and Balancer entries. Grand champion Gelbvieh female was RID R Rose 2123H owned by Angelina Rae Manning of Shelbyville, Missouri. Sired by RID R Hatfield 7046E and born November 4, 2020, this female first earned the title of champion senior heifer calf. Reserve grand champion Gelbvieh female was RID R Ella 2062H owned by Trinity Treasure Dreckshage of Shelbyville, Missouri. Born May 13, 2020, this female...
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Producers across Wyoming and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) are stepping into blockchain technology to explore creating value-added agricultural products consumers can digitally verify. Blockchain is a database that stores information together in blocks of data that are digitally chained together. CANR dean Barbara Rasco said the ag college at the University of Wyoming is instrumental in the Center for Blockchain and Digital Innovation Program on campus. “I think a lot of the most interesting applications that come out of the center that will have a big impact within the state are the ones the College of...
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A Penn State-led team of researchers will use a newly awarded 2,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture to examine how climate change may influence and interact with various stressors that affect the health of pollinators. The funding is part of USDA-NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. The project will employ a novel, integrative approach to understand how temperature variation, pesticides, and pathogens interact to influence the fitness and survival of crop pollinators, according to team leader Margarita López-Uribe, a Lorenzo L. Langstroth Early Career Professor and assistant professor of entomology in Penn...
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The Nebraska Cattlemen Board of Directors met this week in Lincoln for their annual legislative committee meeting. Nebraska Cattlemen’s six policy committees researched, discussed, and prioritized bills, resolutions, and constitutional amendments introduced by the Nebraska Legislature. In accordance with Nebraska Cattlemen Policy, the Board of Directors considered and took positions on 105 measures and identified four bills as priorities for the second half of the 107th Nebraska legislative session. The Nebraska Cattlemen Natural Resources and Environment committee prioritized LB 953, introduced by Senator John Cavanaugh (D-NE). This bill amends Nebraska’s open burning statute to provide a limitation on liability for...
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The USDA on February 1, announced a new USDA Market News Mobile Application, providing producers and everyone else in the supply chain with instant access to current and historical market information. The initial version of the free app includes nearly 800 livestock, poultry, and grain market reports, with additional commodities added throughout the coming year. “USDA is focused on building more resilient and transparent markets and is taking steps to promote competition and fairer prices from farmers to consumers,” Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture said. “This new Market News app helps create a more level playing field for small and...
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In February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) celebrates National Pesticide Safety Education Month to raise awareness for pesticide safety education and share best practices for using pesticides safely in and around our homes. Throughout the year, EPA provides resources and takes action to protect the well-being of all those who may come in contact with pesticides, from consumers who use disinfectants in their homes to pesticide handlers and farmworkers who work with and around pesticides in the fields. “EPA is pleased to participate in National Pesticide Safety Education Month because providing tailored resources for farmworkers and other pesticide applicators...
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As it turns out, that rollercoaster ride American wool and sheep producers have been on the past couple of years was actually a Pacific Ocean wave that carried the American Sheep Industry Association into San Diego on January 19 - 22 for its 157th Annual Convention: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Wave. The well-orchestrated chorus condemning American animal agriculture for its role in global warming is deceptive, according to air quality extension specialist Frank Mitloehner of the University of California-Davis, aka, the Greenhouse Gas Guru. Rather than being the problem, animal agriculture is part of a climate solution. Those...
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Former Niobrara County Farm Bureau Federation President Andy Greer was awarded the 2021 Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) Leadership Award. WyFB President Todd Fornstrom (left) and WyFB Vice President Cole Coxbill (right) congratulated Andy Greer and his wife Brenda at the 102nd annual meeting of the organization. Former Niobrara County Farm Bureau Federation President Andy Greer was awarded the 2021 Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) Leadership Award at the 102nd annual meeting of the organization. Presented November 12 in Cody, the award is given to those who have devoted much time to the betterment of agriculture in Wyoming through their...
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Fourth-generation Britton, South Dakota purebred Angus producer, Tyler Bush placed first in the 2020 National Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest held in Louisville, Kentucky. This honor was one the 22-year-old had been working toward since he was 14. “I got hooked on livestock judging hard core,” he said. Like many of his peers, Bush got his start in livestock judging as a young 4-H member. “Being a kid from a family involved in the livestock industry, judging was just what you did,” he said. More than a pastime in the Bush family, livestock judging is a tradition. “My dad and grandpa...
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The Montana Farm Bureau announces their ACE (Advocate. Communicate. Educate.) Leadership Program class for 2022. The fifth ACE program will empower Farm Bureau members to be confident, effective leaders in their county Farm Bureau and local communities. Advocacy follows leadership and with practiced, ever-evolving leadership skills, participants will be prepared to actively advocate on key industry issues. The three primary objectives include developing leaders, engaging local communities and issues advocacy. “MFBF is excited to kick off another year of this program with an outstanding class of advocates for Montana agriculture,” MFBF ACE Program Co-Coordinator, Sue Ann Streufert said. “This leadership...
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American Simmental Association (ASA) is excited to announce SimGenetic Training for Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs (STYLE) 2022, a leadership program for beef industry enthusiasts ages 25 to 40. The in-person program will be held in Oklahoma City, June 17-19, 2022. STYLE intends to develop leaders who better appreciate and understand the complex environments of the beef industry, who can more effectively serve ASA stakeholders in the future. Attendees will focus on the following: Enhanced awareness of their own strengths and how to leverage these strengthsGain a more thorough understanding of ASA governanceGain insight into the various beef industry segmentsIncrease engagement...
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Bull sales are in full swing for spring calving producers, and what an exciting time to find that next source of genetic progress for your herd! Finding the right herd sire is crucial because his genetic influence will represent half of the genetic background in next year’s calf crop. Purchasing a bull is an investment in your future, and a historical rule of thumb is that a herd bull should be worth about two times the value of a fat steer. However, purebred bull sale averages have skyrocketed in the last three to four years. Consequently, it is not only...
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Several decades back, we were trailing bulls from winter feed ground to the corrals. Breeding season was around the corner so the bulls would soon be scattered into several different pastures. Bulls only work about 45 days per year, just like Congress, but they think they are the most important cog in the wheel, also like Congress. This competitive attitude leads to bull fights and busted corral planks whenever they are gathered. Fortunately, the widespread use of artificial insemination has reduced the need for bull power, but sadly, similar technology cannot replace politicians. While following the bulls, we noticed one...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) today highlighted some of the office’s key accomplishments in 2021 that support creating better markets and expanding climate-smart agriculture. “Over the past year, our staff provided economic expertise, timely analyses, and coordination for several key activities and initiatives ranging from economic intelligence and commodity outlook forecasting to climate change adaptation strategies and pest management policy,” USDA Chief Economist, Seth Meyer. OCE’s World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) informed markets and policy makers through the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand (WASDE) report, a Principal Federal Economic Indicator report that provides...
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The Nebraska Beef Council is seeking candidates in four districts to serve on the Board of Directors in 2023. Directors volunteer their time to represent fellow beef producers while overseeing Beef Checkoff collections and investments on the state, national, and international level. The Board’s major responsibility is to oversee checkoff expenditures by determining promotion, research, and education programs for checkoff investments. The term is four years and will begin on January 2, 2023. Producers interested in becoming a director are encouraged to contact the Nebraska Beef Council office or visit with current and past directors to learn more about this...
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Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the appointment of Christy Clark as the director of the Montana Department of Agriculture. “Montana producers work hard to feed the world, and today they have a partner and established advocate in Christy Clark as the director of the Montana Department of Ag,” Gov. Gianforte said. “A fifth-generation rancher, Christy understands the challenges and opportunities our producers face, and shares my commitment to strengthening and supporting our state’s number one industry.” Since May 2021, Clark began serving as acting director of the department when director Mike Foster temporarily left the agency to serve as the...
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USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs mission area were proud to lead USDA’s international efforts during 2021 to create more and better markets for U.S. agriculture, address the climate crisis, promote nutrition and food security, and advance equity and diversity. Creating More and Better Markets... Trade remains a critical engine powering the farm economy and our international trading partners are responding favorably to a return to certainty and reliability from the United States. As a result, the United States exported a record 2.2 billion in farm and food products in fiscal year 2021, up 23 percent...
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Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced the release of SenseHub® Feedlot, an Allflex Livestock Intelligence product. The technology is proven to detect sick cattle earlier, more efficiently, and more accurately than traditional visual observation. SenseHub Feedlot features an illuminating electronic ear tag that makes it easy to identify and sort cattle needing attention with less labor and minimal disruption to other animals. “SenseHub Feedlot offers those who manage and care for cattle an innovative new approach to detecting...
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"The ability to prevent or, in some cases, cure disease by turning on the immune system is really an incredible opportunity," Scott Nordstrom, DVM, Merck Animal Health Director of New Product Development, said. Along with some insightful vaccine history, Nordstrom shared specifics about the role of mucosal immunology in young calves, during the American Hereford Association’s educational forums at the organization’s Annual Membership Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, October 22, 2021. "Almost from the moment of conception, a calf has an innate immune system. It recognizes foreign pathogens, though it may not yet be able to produce antibodies,"...
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A new bulletin from the University of Wyoming Extension explores effective supplemental feed programs for sheep producers in the West. The bulletin, titled “Supplementation Considerations for Ewes Managed on Dormant Winter Pastures and Rangelands,” notes that many sheep producers in the region rely on supplemental feed to meet late-season nutritional shortfalls. That’s because the quality of forage varies throughout the year and doesn’t always meet nutrient requirements during breeding, pregnancy, and lactation. The bulletin’s authors - UW Extension sheep specialist, Whit Stewart and rangeland management specialist, Derek Scasta, along with South Dakota State University Extension sheep field specialist, Jaelyn Quintana...
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The Montana Wool Growers Association (MWGA) membership held its annual meeting, on Saturday, December 3, during the 138th Annual MWGA Convention in Billings, Montana. The agenda included association updates, election of officers, voting on bylaw changes, and policy resolutions. A keynote address by MSU President Waded Cruzado was a highlight of the convention. At the end of her keynote, the MWGA Research and Endowment fund presented her with a 0,000 check in support of the Montana Wool Lab fundraising initiative. As a grass-roots organization, MWGA voted on policy resolutions to steer the actions of the Association. The bylaws of the...
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Canadians Gather to Protest Trudeau's COVID Mandates Vehicles across Canada have been gathering to slow major highways in protest of COVID-19 mandates. Photo courtesy of Blake Garner Photography. On January 15, 2022, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, implemented a nationwide mandate which would require all essential workers, including truckers, to be fully vaccinated in order to cross the border into the United States. Those who choose to remain unvaccinated are required to undergo significant testing and a 14-day quarantine once reentering the country. In response, large-scale protests have commenced across Canada, highlighted by the massive “Freedom Convoy” that...
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While the American Lamb Checkoff rate is not changing, how the mandatory assessments are collected for animals sold through “market agencies” is changing. The change applies to animals sold through auctions, including sale barns, video/online sales, and sales at shows and fairs. These auctions will now collect both live weight assessments and per head (first handler) assessments as of January 21, 2022. However, the delayed enforcement date for submitting these assessments is March 22, 2022. This allows time for auctions to adjust their systems without a penalty for late payments. If a producer or feeder sells animals to a first...
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Rural communities and electric cooperatives could begin to aggressively close the energy transition gap over the next decade, pivoting from their role as underdogs to leaders on clean energy. Despite an absence of financial incentives, electric co-ops are already transitioning to low or zero-carbon resources at a similar or faster pace than the U.S. national average. According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, electric co-ops have quietly emerged as laboratories for clean grid innovation, outpacing investor-owned utilities on smart meter installations, time-based pricing pilots, and experimental storage solutions. “The next chapter of the nation’s transition to renewable energy...
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The following is a statement released by the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute): The New York Times’ The Daily podcast’s examination of the beef and cattle markets is simply wrong. The beef and cattle industry is a complex marvel of American ingenuity with innovations that have allowed the US beef industry to produce more meat with fewer cattle, while improving sustainability, food safety, affordability, worker safety, and beef quality. There are many steps in the beef value chain: cow calf operators, feeders, packers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and food service entities. To suggest only packers have a role in determining...
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The largest annual beef industry event begun February 1 in Houston, where thousands of cattle producers, industry partners, and stakeholders have gathered for the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show. The convention, which continues through February 3, provides a platform for education, policy development, and networking. “This is the first time Houston has hosted convention, and this cosmopolitan city has a lot of charm,” Jerry Bohn National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President said. “With a great mix of education and entertainment, this year’s event has something for everyone.” Stephanie Nash, winner of the 2022 NCBA National Anthem Contest, will...
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“Hair shedding is linked to milk production, reproduction, and possibly animal welfare. Hair shedding is easy to collect and predict, so it may play a role in selecting genetics with an improved adaptability to heat stresses,” Jared Decker, University of Missouri associate professor, said. He gave his presentation, “A Piece of the Adaptability Puzzle: Multi-breed Hair Shedding Genetic Effects and EPDs,” during the most recent Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium. Cow efficiency and adaptability is a multi-pronged and complicated puzzle. Researchers have pursued the identification of local adaptation and region-specific genomic predictions in beef cattle using hair shedding scores as...
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A Penn State-led team of researchers will use a newly awarded 2,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture to examine how climate change may influence and interact with various stressors that affect the health of pollinators. The funding is part of USDA-NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. The project will employ a novel, integrative approach to understand how temperature variation, pesticides, and pathogens interact to influence the fitness and survival of crop pollinators, according to team leader Margarita López-Uribe, a Lorenzo L. Langstroth Early Career Professor and assistant professor of entomology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. ...
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You know how sometimes a joke is too close to real life? Consider the story of the time a California “city slicker” moved to the middle of Iowa and decides he’s going to take up farming. He heads to the local co-op and tells the man, “Give me a hundred baby chickens.” The co-op man complies. A week later the man returns and says, “Give me two hundred baby chickens.” The co-op man complies. Again, a week later the man returns. This time he says, “Give me five-hundred baby chickens.” “Wow!” The co-op man replies, “You must really be doing...
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“I am glad we got the sheep closer,” Banjo said. “Those coyotes have been a menace.” “Speaking of menace,” Pudge commented. “We haven’t heard hide nor paw from that masked menace, Rascal.” “Don’t say that too loud,” Tuff said. “I can almost feel him watching us. He’s got to be lurking somewhere waiting to make his move.” “He’s most likely right under our snoots,” Banjo said. “But we can’t worry about what could happen tomorrow, we’ve got things going on ‘round here to worry about today.” “Where to boss?” Pudge asked. “Well, I checked the cows and Cowsuela is on...
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I live in fall calving country, and that means most ranchers brand their calves in January and February. In the wake of increasing numbers of COVID cases, many ranchers don't know whether they should cancel or go ahead with their brandings. Because of the speed at which the Omicron variant is spreading, ranchers have many questions as to how they can keep their branding from becoming a super-spreader event. Until now, the all-knowing, all-seeing, Dr. Fowl Chee, has not given the cattle community their marching orders as to how they should proceed. Because of all the publicity surrounding Dr. Fowl...
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While impressively stout yet entirely fragile, horses require a great level of care, especially as it relates to their nutrition over the winter. “Many horse owners may not realize they actually need to feed horses differently in the wintertime than they do in the summertime,” Jyme Nichols, PhD, director of nutrition at Stride Animal Health, shared in an interview with Valley Vet Supply. For a better understanding, continue learning with these three facts. Fact 1: A horse’s “thermoneutral zone” directly impacts their nutritional needs. “The first thing that I think is important for everybody to understand is a term that sounds...
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"Pre-COVID, we had a just-in-time meat supply chain," Scott Bennett, director of congressional relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), said. Packing plants chugged at full capacity, harvest animals left for slaughter as quick as they were ready, and meat left the plants and entered the supply chain immediately. "After seeing some grocery store shelves empty in April and May of 2020, seeing part of the supply chain just jam up, I think the general public is wanting to go to a just-in-case meat supply chain," Bennett said. He explained that’s the impetus behind consumer and lawmaker interest in...
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The plot of the wolves versus livestock in Colorado only continues to thicken. It seems like you can about find a new headline featuring Don Gittleson’s story every other day. For those of you that may have missed it, Don Gittleson has now lost three head of cattle, one calf and two cows, to the growing pack of protected gray wolves in Colorado. The same pack has also claimed the life of one working dog and severely injured another. All of this has come without a tried-and-true plan by the state for how livestock losses caused by wolves will be...
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The confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in 56 hunter-harvested wild waterfowl as part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s ongoing surveillance program in North and South Carolina over the past two weeks is a reminder to poultry owners to increase biosecurity. The strain, a Eurasian H5N1 HPAI, is related to the strain of HPAI that Europe and the Middle East have been fighting in recent months and had not been detected in a wild bird in the United States since 2016. “As migration takes place this spring, we encourage producers to focus on biosecurity,” North Dakota State...
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North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has asked the Biden administration to drop its vaccine mandate for truckers coming to the United States from Canada, which began January 22. Truckers had previously been exempted under essential worker status. “Over 75% of U.S.-Canada trade moves by truck,” Goehring said. “Forcing this vaccine mandate on the industry will hurt the livelihoods of truckers, create further supply chain disruptions, and cause price increases in essential goods.” Canada’s federal government also ordered that foreign drivers who are unvaccinated may no longer cross into Canada as of January 15. The Canada Border Services Agency told...
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In recognition of the need for more agriculture education opportunities specifically geared toward Native students, the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) established the Tribal Agriculture Fellowship with additional support provided by John Deere, Farmer Mac, and the Farm Credit. The Tribal Agriculture Fellowship supports Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students pursuing technical, undergraduate, and graduate degrees in agriculture. The mission of the Tribal Agricultural Fellowship is to create opportunities for students to advance their education in agriculture, increase specialized knowledge, and promote sustainability of agriculture in Tribal communities. The...
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Farmers and ranchers are facing record-breaking synthetic fertilizer costs heading into the 2022 growing season, compounding already challenging economic conditions for producers throughout the country. In response, the non-profit, Soil Health Academy, announced it is expanding the organization’s scholarship program so more farmers can attend its on-farm schools and learn how to significantly reduce fertilizer use by implementing low-input, regenerative agricultural principles. “Thanks to generous donations from a number of our donors, we’re further expanding our scholarship program so more farmers and ranchers—many of whom were already struggling economically— can benefit from SHA’s regenerative agriculture schools at this critical time,”...
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USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Cornell University announced the launch of a webinar series on hemp research that aims to broaden the scope of training, education, and connectivity within the hemp community. ARS solves agricultural challenges that affect all Americans," Zachary Stansell, USDA-ARS geneticist and acting hemp curator, said. "Hemp is rapidly emerging as a critical multi-use and economically significant crop, so this hemp seminar series is designed to increase the diversity, equity, and inclusivity of ARS' mission while providing hemp-specific education, training, and networking opportunities to historically underserved communities." The research team believes that by broadening the scope...
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On January 25, North Dakota Governor, Doug Burgum and Agriculture Commissioner, Dough Goehring announced emergency measures to address milk distribution workforce shortage affecting schools, businesses, and other customers. Burgum signed an executive order waiving hours of service requirements for 30 days for truck drivers delivering milk in North Dakota. The order comes after the North Dakota Milk Marketing Board voted earlier today to waive enforcement of certain licensing requirements until April 1, which will promote coordination among distributors and allow deliveries of milk to rural areas to continue. The emergency measures came after a major milk distributor in North Dakota...
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I heard on the radio the other day that children get their intelligence from their mothers. That might explain what has happened to my brain. Perhaps I drained part of it for the first child and the rest for the second. I can almost buy that theory, except for the fact that I have another theory that makes more sense to me: Susan's Full Brain Theory. I believe my brain is like a computer that has no memory left. My brain is full, and my folders cannot be compacted. In fact, my brain is so full that according to the...
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My name is Brooklynn Salo, and I’m extremely excited to by joining the Western Ag Reporter as the new Digital Editor. I grew up in Laramie, Wyoming, and agriculture was all around me growing up, but I started my involvement through 4-H where I showed many species including rabbits, market lambs, and cattle. I was also involved in the Snowy Range FFA chapter, serving as Parliamentarian my senior year and competing in many contests including Prepared Speaking, Poultry Judging, and Farm and Ranch Management. Despite growing up in the home of the Pokes, I crossed the border and attended Colorado...
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Cattle on feed inventories for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.037 million head on January 1, 2022, up only 0.58 percent over 2021, but almost 3 percent above the previous 3-year average. This is the sixth highest inventory since the series began in 1992 and is down 0.57 percent from the second highest inventory level, which was achieved in February 2021. February 2006 had the highest inventory levels. Heifers on feed accounted for 38.84 percent of total on-feed inventory; the 2019-2021 average percentage for heifers on-feed was 38 percent. In January 2014, at the most recent...
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Late last year, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring awarded 51 grants, which totaled over million, to promote the development, cultivation, production, and sales of specialty crops in North Dakota. The announcement was delayed due to USDA staffing changes and a postponement of the federal notice. “North Dakota is already a leading producer of several specialty crops, such as dry edible beans, dry peas, potatoes, and lentils,” Goehring said. “As our farmers seek to diversify their production, these grants help provide important information through specialty crop research, education, and trade missions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS) approved...
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On January 31, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on USDA’s announcement that the agency is partnering with the Port of Oakland to build a 25-acre container yard with the goal of reducing congestion and improving export flow of agricultural commodities. "...we appreciate USDA’s actions to ease congestion at several ports. The recent announcement about increasing capacity at the Port of Oakland, our third largest port for containerized waterborne agricultural products, is welcome news. It’s an important step to ensure America’s farmers and ranchers have a reliable path for exporting the rice, beef, pork, fruits, vegetables, almonds, and...
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The Golden Triangle Barley Conference, a triennial event featuring updates about the barley industry, will be held on Tuesday, February 22, in Conrad. The event is hosted by Montana State University Extension and its partners and will take place from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pondera Shooting Sports Complex, 972 Granite Road. Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. Speakers from MSU will include Pat Carr from the Central Agricultural Research Center in Moccasin, barley breeder Jamie Sherman with the Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, and Justin Vetch from the Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center in Conrad....
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When I started this column and blog in 2019, alternative proteins were gaining major traction; it seemed like “fake meat” was all anyone could talk about. I published a three-part column and blog series, and this series was my first “break out” piece for Activists vs. Agriculture. Last week while sitting at a beach front restaurant in Kauai, I overheard someone ask their companion, “What’s the deal with the Beyond Burger anyway? It’s basically that same as a regular burger…” and that got my wheels turning. Today, I want to rerun my three-part series, and next week, I’ll offer my...
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On January 21, 2022, the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, the California Grocers Association, and other groups, won a small fight in the face of a much larger battle when Judge Jame Arguellos ruled in favor of their petition (the ruling) against California’s controversial Proposition 12 (Prop 12), which claims to improve the welfare of numerous species who are confined as part of their processing. Judge James Arguelles delayed the enforcement of Prop 12 to be 180 days after appropriate systems and measures necessary to implement its regulations are clearly established. Prop 12 makes extreme changes to allowances for the...
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If today’s California is what the rest of America will look like tomorrow, you might want to brace yourself for too little water, too much animal manure, and .65-per-gallon gasoline. And, weird, too, because in California these too-little, too-much, and too-expensive elements have been combined to create what was thought to be a partial cure for climate change. The first, water, is precious. The same amount of municipally-supplied water that costs a month in Nebraska, costs a month in the Golden State. Only 20 percent of all water, however, flows to 39 million Californians; agriculture gulps the other...
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In December of 2021, Oregon State University Women’s Giving Circle sponsored a series of free webinars, organized by Assistant Professor and Extension Beef Specialist, Juliana Ranches. The RancHer series’ purpose was to highlight women in the beef industry by bringing educational information to beef producers. The second webinar in the series featured Carla Sanford, who spoke about “Strategies for Optimizing Beef Cattle Reproductive Performance on Your Ranch.” Sanford quoted a study that stated, “reproduction is five times more important than growth rate and ten times more important than carcass quality in terms of profit.” In the beef industry alone, reproductive...
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The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame (MCHF) and Western Heritage Center (WHF) announced their 2022 inductees early in January, and the list includes both current and past contributors to Montana’s rich history and culture. These inductees were nominated by the public and chosen through votes cast by MCHF Trustees representing each district; inductees were ultimately selected under the guidance of the organization’s mission: “To honor our cowboy way of life, American Indian cultures, and collective Montana Western heritage.” Each year, a “Living inductee”, and “Legacy inductee” (posthumous), are chosen for each district. For district three, John W. “Johnny” Moore, was...
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On January 21, Senators Roger Marshall (R-KA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) held a Zoom meeting with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Michael Regan to “discuss the problematic direction EPA is headed with decisions that restrict access to safe and necessary crop protection products,” a joint statement said. “Crop protection products play a crucial role in food production, yet they are a common target of the Biden administration.” In the meeting, the senators addressed recent rulings to reduce tolerances of, or completely restrict access to, commonly used herbicides and insecticides such as dicamba, glyphosate,...
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) completed the gathering of 4,161 wild horses in the Great Divide Basin, Adobe Town, Salt Wells Creek, White Mountain, and Little Colorado Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in southwestern Wyoming. The gather began with the Great Divide Basin HMA on October 7, 2021 and was completed on January 17, 2022. The five HMAs, coined the name the Wyoming Checkerboard, have a total appropriate management level (AML) between 1,550 and 2,145. The AML is the number of wild horses the ecosystem can sustain while remaining intact for other species and organisms. When aerial counting occurred for...
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A few weeks ago, I talked about the Cattle Inventory Report that was going to be released by USDA on January 31, 2022. I hypothesized that total cow numbers were going to be a little lower than the pre-report estimates. Here is the breakdown of the report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS): January 1 Cattle Inventory: Down 2 Percent “All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2022, totaled 91.9 million head, 2 percent below the 93.8 million head on January 1, 2021. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 39.5 million head,...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) today highlighted some of the office’s key accomplishments in 2021 that support creating better markets and expanding climate-smart agriculture. “Over the past year, our staff provided economic expertise, timely analyses, and coordination for several key activities and initiatives ranging from economic intelligence and commodity outlook forecasting to climate change adaptation strategies and pest management policy,” USDA Chief Economist, Seth Meyer. OCE’s World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) informed markets and policy makers through the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand (WASDE) report, a Principal Federal Economic Indicator report that provides...
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Seedstock and commercial cattle producers enrolled a record 756 head of Hereford and Hereford-influenced steers in the American Hereford Association’s (AHA) 2022 feedout programs. The significant increase in cattle numbers from 104 participants in 17 states underscores the value producers are gleaning from the opportunity. “I enrolled cattle because I wanted to get the carcass data back and attribute how those cattle perform going back to their dam and sire,” Lee Elzemeyer, a Hereford breeder from Richmond, Indiana, who is participating in the Hereford Feedout Program (HFP) for the second year, said. “As a producer it is important for us...
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From the moment his boots hit the dirt on the way to the barn, to switching off the lights and locking the door of the Hickory House Restaurant, Jonathan Perry is always committed to the beef business. The 2021-2022 Chairman of the Certified Angus Beef Board of Directors brings a unique perspective to the table. By day, he’s a cattleman. For 23 years, he’s been general manager of Deer Valley Farm, a 6,500-acre operation where 2,000 registered Angus cows roam and 1,500 acres of crops are harvested annually. At night, Perry is a meat cutter and cook at Hickory House...
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While cover crop benefits are proven, Texas A&M AgriLife scientists are finding one size does not fit all relating to their use in the semi-arid regions of the state. What works in the dry, sandy South Plains may not be applicable in the northern High Plains or Rolling Plains. Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service soil scientists and agronomists are working together to learn more about how to better manage cover crops in water-limited environments. Cover crops are grown for a specific duration in the offseason, then terminated and left in the field to decompose, cycling nutrients in the soil. They...
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USDA is committed to working across land ownership boundaries to reduce risks before disasters occur. Building on the announcement of the Forest Service’s 10-year strategy and implementation plan for confronting the wildfire crisis, on January 21, USDA announced more than million of investments by the Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this year through the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership for projects that will mitigate wildfire risk, protect water quality, improve wildlife habitat, restore forest ecosystems, and ultimately contribute to USDA’s efforts to combat climate change. Congress recently recognized the value of this important USDA program by...
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Montana’s unemployment rate hit a new record low in December, dropping another 0.3 percentage points to end the year at 2.5 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The number of unemployed Montanans is at its lowest level since BLS began the data series in 1976. “After just one year, our Montana Comeback Plan is working. Our unemployment rate is the lowest it’s ever been, and more Montanans are working than ever before in our state’s history,” Governor Gianforte said. “With lower taxes and responsible, responsive government, our economy is going again, we’re open for business, and...
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A previously unknown root trait allows some cereal plants to grow deeper roots capable of punching through dry, hard, compacted soils, according to Penn State researchers, who suggest that harnessing the inherited characteristic could lead to crops better able to deal with a changing climate. “This discovery bodes well for American and global agriculture because the trait helps corn, wheat, and barley grow deeper roots, which is important for drought tolerance, nitrogen efficiency, and carbon sequestration,” Jonathan Lynch, distinguished professor in plant science, said. “Breeding for this trait should be helpful in developing new crops for climate mitigation.” Called multiseriate...
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Since 1980, the Angus Foundation Heifer Package has been sold to generate unrestricted funds to support its mission of youth, education and research. This year, Brumfield Angus Farms of Sawyer, Michigan purchased the Foundation Heifer Package, donated by Tehama Angus Ranch of Gerber, California. The package sold on January 7, at the start of the National Angus Bull Sale during Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and raised ,000 to support educational programs and scholarships. The Borror family generously offered the pick of their fall heifers for the 2022 Angus Foundation Heifer Package. The package also includes free transportation to...
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The American Farm Bureau Federation announced its support of the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2021 on January 21, with the exception of the bill’s establishment of mandatory minimums for negotiated purchases. AFBF delegates voted during their Atlanta convention to revise 2022 Farm Bureau policy. While Farm Bureau supports robust negotiated sales, delegates voted to oppose government mandates that force livestock processing facilities to purchase a set percentage of their live animal supply via cash bids. “AFBF appreciates the hard work that has been done on both sides of the issue to address the pressing needs facing America’s...
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The most prestigious awards in the livestock industry, the Best of the Barns, recognizes the American Junior Shorthorn Association (AJSA) in two 2021 award categories. The National Junior Shorthorn Show held in Louisville, Kentucky received 10,735 votes, winning the “Most Enjoyable Junior Nationals” award for the second year in a row. This past National Junior Shorthorn Show set records for entries with over 900 entries from 28 states. The AJSA strives to engage its members in opportunities that develop character, promote valuable skills, and build life-long friendships. “We call ourselves the family friendly breed, and if you know the people...
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A significant amount of attention has been given to the accelerated pace of cow slaughter in the United States, and rightfully so. The pace of beef cow slaughter in 2021 finished with approximately 10 percent more beef cows harvested in 2021 than in 2020 and 12 percent more than in 2019. This is the most aggressive year-over-year beef cow slaughter since 2016. This accelerated slaughter has been helped by larger consumer incomes from personal savings, government transfers, and assistance programs. This combined with consumer expectations of supply shortages and higher beef prices has increased beef demand. Higher consumer demand is...
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Black eyed peas’ ability to attract beneficial bacteria isn’t diminished by modern farming practices, new UC Riverside research shows. Planting it in rotation with other crops could help growers avoid the need for costly, environmentally damaging fertilizers. Without enough nitrogen, plants won’t grow. The plant family that black eyed peas belong to, legumes, are unique in their ability to obtain substantial amounts of it by enticing and protecting nitrogen-fixing bacteria. “The ability of legumes to do this caused them immense success as the third biggest plant family on the planet,” Joel Sachs, UCR professor of evolution and ecology said. ...
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The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering technical and financial assistance through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to agricultural landowners impacted by 2021 wildfires in Big Horn, Meagher, and Rosebud counties. While NRCS accepts applications for all programs year-round, producers and landowners should apply for this opportunity by the February 7, 2022, ranking date to be considered for this year’s funding. In the summer of 2021, these counties experienced severe loss from wildfires. Extreme fire behavior was driven by drought conditions and high winds. The fires burned mainly across forest, range, and pasturelands and NRCS has identified...
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The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and U.S. Forest Service worked with a willing landowner to conserve two private inholdings of wildlife habitat and conveyed them to the Lolo National Forest. The 1,040-acre transaction took place just west of Lolo, a small western Montana town about 10 miles south of Missoula. "We greatly appreciate YT Timber for asking us to conserve this land and help transfer it into the public’s hands," Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO said. "This acreage serves as both important winter range and a movement corridor for elk, moose, deer, and other wildlife species." The transaction...
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Researchers within the Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) Systematic Entomology Laboratory (SEL) are currently preparing for more intense study of beetles in the genus Agrilus, thanks to their recent acquisition of the Eduard Jendek Collection. The collection was developed over the last 30-40 years in Slovakia by world Agrilus expert Eduard Jendek. It boasts over 25,000 specimens, making it one of the largest private collections of metallic wood-boring beetles in the world, and a major step forward for the Nation's preventive efforts to agricultural challenges. Before his retirement, Jendek undertook hundreds of expeditions in highly remote and difficult to access areas — or areas that...
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During their January meeting, the Board of Directors of R-CALF USA elected Region III Director Brett Kenzy as their new President of the Board and Region VII Director Eric Nelson as the Board’s new Vice President. Under R-CALF USA’s governance, the President and Vice-President of the Board are selected by the Board from among their ranks. The two officers then serve two-year terms. Outgoing President of the Board, Region II Director, and cow/calf rancher Gerald Schreiber from Woodrow, Colorado served the maximum of two, three-year terms and has served as President of the Board since 2015. Judy McCullough, a cow/calf...
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The next deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for funding this year is April 8, 2022. Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land. CSP also encourages adoption of new technologies and management techniques. “CSP helps farmers and ranchers build on their existing conservation efforts, while strengthening their operation,” NRCS Nevada State Conservationist Ray Dotson said. “Whether they are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop yields, or develop wildlife habitat, we can custom design a CSP...
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Governor Greg Gianforte recently visited Diehl Ranch Co. in East Helena to discuss the impact of pro-growth, pro-jobs policies on the state’s agriculture industry. “For too long, Montana producers have had to pay taxes on equipment that sits around for most of the year, and it just doesn’t make any sense,” Governor Gianforte said. “To protect the bottom lines of our hardworking ag families, we tripled the business equipment tax exemption, allowing producers to grow their operations and create more good-paying Montana jobs.” After hearing from agricultural producers across the state, Governor Gianforte worked with the Montana Legislature to triple...
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In 1913, I was framing up a Wild West Show to take on the road. While I was getting my acts together, I thought I would go to the Crow Agency on the Crow Reservation south of Billings, Montana, and make arrangements with the agent to get some Indians to take with me on the show. I knowed three Indians that was good bucking horse riders. I made medicine with the agent for 17 full-blooded Indians, including the bucking horse riders. They was good drawing cards for the show. The bronc riders rode bucking horses in the show, and the...
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Last week, all appeared to be moving right along as the ranch crew was calling it a night. Then, Big Ed burst on the scene followed by a symphony of coyote howls trailing behind him. Banjo slid into action, literally, to help his friend, because the lower pasture was covered in ice. How will the ranch crew be able to keep the coyotes at bay, and will they be able to save the sheep? “This looked easier from a distance,” Marty said. “I thought there would be oodles of hollowed out trees to choose from.” The two trudged toward the...
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A scholarship is again offered by the North Central Montana Cattle Women and the North Central Montana Stock Growers. This annual scholarship is available to high school seniors and college students completing their sophomore year. Interest from a memorial fund honoring the memory of deceased members is contributed to by the Cattle Women. Stock Growers supplies their portion of the scholarship through fundraising efforts and interest from money left from the Livestock Protective Association, a forerunner to the present Stock Grower organization. A high school senior or college sophomore who has maintained a C or 2.0 average in school and...
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USDA, Agricultural Research Service scientists at the Rangeland Resources & Systems Research in Fort Collins, Colorado, are using rain shelters to experimentally examine the impacts of deluge during a drought on forage production and carbon cycling (release and intake of carbon) in a semi-arid grassland in eastern Colorado. Producers across the country face the increasing threats of multiple climate extremes, which when combined, often have economic and ecological impacts worse than the same extremes in isolation. The Western states, for example, are experiencing extended droughts, forcing land managers to adapt agricultural practices to reduce losses in productivity. Added to this...
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The small, unassuming town of Oshkosh, Nebraska has a modest population of 861 people. That statement alone wouldn’t turn heads. But it houses a hidden gem: it’s been the location of a historic ranching family since 1892. Sitting at a patio table sipping coffee, looking out on the property and across the land that has been home to Van Newkirk's for over 100 years, Joe Van Newkirk reflected on everything his family has gone through to become the success they are today. Lorenzo Van Newkirk moved into the area in the late 1800’s and began working as a cowboy for...
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The 116th National Western Stock Show welcomed home nearly 600,000 guests during the 16-day celebration. Deprived of the annual event in 2021, Stock Show fans of all ages and different communities dusted off their hats and boots to celebrate Colorado's long-standing western tradition. Management, staff, volunteers, and countless others that organize and support the annual agricultural event are grateful and amazed by the support from ticket buyers to livestock buyers. The 2022 Stock Show hosted 586,756 visitors over the 16 days. The show faced several challenges and was down about 18% overall from previous record-breaking years, pre-pandemic. The all-time record...
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A few years ago Pete Gnatkowski from Carrizozo, New Mexico, wrote me, I hope in jest, and wondered which Lee Pitts I was. He'd Googled my name and found that there was a Lee Pitts African American comedian, a well known preacher, champion fisherman and a murderer. Talk about identity theft! If you think you're important or have accomplished anything in life just Google your name. I did and found there were 17,600,000 results for Lee Pitts. I think Pete must have wandered down the list a ways because when I Googled my name the numbers 1, 2, 3, 5,...
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It’s been exciting times in the agricultural land market with more farms being placed on the market and new buyers coming in. “What started as a gradual strengthening of sales prices last fall escalated into aggressive bidding the past five months to generate new highs in prices paid for farmland in many areas. Prices for good quality farmland are up 15 to 35 percent depending on the location,” Randy Dickhut, senior vice president of real estate operations with Farmers National Company, said. What has propelled this upsurge in prices? Will the aggressive bidding continue? One of the determining factors...
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Out here in the western agricultural world, there has never really been a need for the women's movement. Women have pitched in to make farms and ranches work since before barbed wire, and they didn't have to burn undergarments to gain respect. Respect came with hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. In fact, as it turns out, history has proven that sometimes the best man for the job was a woman such as the legend of Charley Parkhurst. The Western stagecoach companies were big business in the latter half of the 19th century. In addition to passengers and freight, stages...
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Registration for the 2022 Montana Soil Health Symposium has been extended to February 2, 2022, including special pricing for students and interns enrolled in educational agriculture programs. The Montana Association of Conservation Districts and Natural Resources Conservation Service are hosting the 2022 Montana Soil Health Symposium February 9-10, 2022, at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. The event will feature Dr. Allen Williams from Understanding Ag, LLC and Dan Kittredge with the Bionutrient Food Association. Plus, a pre-conference family business workshop with Jolene Brown will be held on February 8. The Soil Health Symposium provides an opportunity for farmers, ranchers,...
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The biggest gold rush in U.S. history is about to hit rural America, and it won’t involve corn, or cattle, or even gold. Instead, the big money will be in pipelines. That’s right, pipelines; pressurized carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines designed to carry CO2 from Midwestern ethanol plants to “sequestration” sites in either North Dakota or Illinois. Itchy investors are already lining up to tap these veins of climate-changing CO2. Amazingly, three multi-billion-dollar pipelines have been proposed to cross Iowa to carry CO2 from more than 40 ethanol plants in five states – Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, and...
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American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on today’s announcement by the Department of Homeland Security that it would begin enforcing vaccine requirements for non-U.S. citizens traveling to the United States through land ports of entry and ferry terminals. The vaccine requirement includes essential workers. “Farmers and ranchers share the goal of ensuring the health and safety of America’s families. We also have a responsibility to put food on the tables of those same families. We are extremely concerned that the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to require essential workers be vaccinated before entering the United States will limit...
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In 1983, one-third of Colorado State vet students finished our junior year in May and then immediately started our senior rotation. Essentially, we traded our summer break for an earlier graduation. While speaking at our mini-commencement in December, interim-dean Dr. Venable announced, “I have some bad news and some really bad news. The bad news is half of what we taught you is wrong. The really bad news is we do not know which half it is.” His words have been immensely prophetic throughout my 39-year career and here is an example: We were taught feedlot cattle can develop intestinal...
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On January 13, a more than 23-year battle over the conservation of the Yellowstone bison continued when Judge Randolph Moss, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, ordered that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) would need to reassess the bison’s eligibility for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). “The question before the Court is not whether the Yellowstone bison should be listed as endangered or threatened or even whether listing ‘may be warranted,’ and the Court has no view on those questions,” Moss wrote in his decision. Instead, it was Moss’ belief that in...
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“We must act decisively to improve the health and resilience of our forests and rangelands and protect people and communities at risk, Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, said in a January 18 press release. Together, they announced their “Confronting the Wildfire Crisis: A Strategy for Protecting Communities and Improving Resilience in America’s Forests” plan (the Plan), which comes in response to the growing number of devastating fires across the United States each year. This “robust,” 10-year strategy brings government and tribal agencies together in collaboration in order to “[restore] fire-adapted ecosystems on a...
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I am a major proponent for evaluating issues from all angles before forming an opinion – in the world we live in, I think it is especially important to look at news stories from varying perspectives because, quite frankly, it’s hard to trust the information you’re given, no matter the news outlet. There’s always a bias, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it is important to be aware that it’s there. Take my article on the Yellowstone bison this week – I decided that it was time to look at another point of view when it came to...
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Pork producers are seeing an increase in enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). To address this concern in the industry, Andy Vance hosted a webinar for Feedstuffs 365 where he interviewed guest speakers Dr. Dylan Lape, DVM, of Pork Veterinary Solutions, and Marie Gallissot, from Olmix, to discuss possible solutions for pork producers. Some have attributed this increase in ETEC to the “explosion of Duroc line usage […] in commercial lines,” Lape said. However Lape has seen this resurgence in all genetic lines in his expansive practice at Pork Veterinary Solutions, which is based in New Palestine, Indiana. His presentation sought to...
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I have been back in the saddle traveling quite a lot over the past couple of weeks working sales and taking photos for several upcoming events. One thing that has jumped out to me during my “windshield time” is the number of semis (or lack thereof) on the roads. It really is noticeable. I have talked about the shortage of cattle trucks for the last several months, but evidently there is also a major shortage of trucks to deliver goods for all industries. My wife and I are in the middle of a building project that has now stretched out...
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced it is accepting applications from motor carriers for the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot program. Under the program, certain 18-, 19-, and 20-year-old drivers may operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. Previously, drivers under 21 years of age could not cross state lines while operating commercial vehicles. The program was signed into law Nov. 15 as part of the infrastructure bill. “The pilot program will help with the truck driver shortage and ease supply chain disruptions,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “It will also create a viable career option for new high...
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Earlier this month, 46 current and former state FFA officers visited California and learned about the various types of agriculture the state offers. Members flew into California and toured various agribusinesses — from the largest U.S. producer of caviar to a fourth-generation ranch practicing responsible carbon farming and more. They also talked with the California secretary of agriculture, the vice-chair of the California Water Board, and the vice president of state government affairs at Western Growers. During the second week of the tour, members visited berry farms, nurseries, a horse ranch, and a feedlot; experienced whale watching; and explored the...
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The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) said consumers saw increased meat prices in 2021 because of labor shortages, greater consumer demand, supply chain problems and other factors experienced by most sectors of the economy. “Inflation is hurting consumers by erasing the wage gains workers received due to the tight labor market and the pandemic,” Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the North American Meat Institute said. “It is no wonder the Biden Administration and some members of Congress would rather hold press conferences and hearings instead of addressing the labor shortage and supply chain bottlenecks.” The Meat Institute...
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On January 19, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issued the following statement highlighting key accomplishments of the Department of Agriculture to create more and better markets since the Biden-Harris Administration took office on January 20, 2021. The Biden-Harris Administration immediately went to work on addressing supply chain disruptions the agricultural sector experienced during the pandemic and identified a wide range of improvements that will produce a more diversified food system that more fairly serves farmers, ranchers and consumers. “The pandemic has been tragic and heartbreaking for our communities and families, but the disruptions it caused provided an extraordinarily rare...
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Last week, the House Judiciary Committee, Antitrust Subcommittee held a hearing on “Addressing the Effects of Economic Concentration on America’s Food Supply.” In testimony submitted by National Farmers Union, President Rob Larew documented the extreme corporate concentration in America’s farm and food system and discussed steps that must be taken to ensure a more resilient food supply for consumers and a competitive marketplace for family farmers and ranchers. “A small handful of dominant firms control the market for most farm inputs… processing, food manufacturing, wholesale distribution, food service, and retail grocery,” Larew described. “These very large firms in the middle...
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The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) members, state commissioners, secretaries, and directors of agriculture, worked together to hand-select nine issues to serve as the organization’s primary policy focus for 2022. They included the 2023 Farm Bill, animal health, climate resiliency, food safety, the food and production supply chain, infrastructure, international trade, workforce development, and defining “waters of the United States.” “These issues were chosen for NASDA’s 2022 focus, because these area state departments of agriculture are uniquely positioned to lead impact and direct policymaking solutions. Most importantly, our members see these issues as priorities we must address to best serve the farmers, ranchers and communities...
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R-CALF USA submitted a written testimony during the January 19 hearing held by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law: “Reviving Competition, Part 5: Addressing the Effects of Economic Concentration on America’s Food Supply.” R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard asked Congress to implement a stopgap measure to preserve what is left of the U.S. cattle industry. Bullard explained the U.S. cattle industry is fast losing its critical competitive infrastructure – its participants, its feedlots, and its cow herd, which have all been reduced during the past few decades. He stated his group’s concern that...
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A set of conservation and animal protection groups, including Animal Wellness Action, the ZooMontana, and the Western Watershed Project, called on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to close down wolf hunting and trapping in the Caribou-Targhee, Bridger-Teton, Custer Gallatin, and Shoshone national forests surrounding Yellowstone National Park in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming to protect wolves from an unprecedented assault by the states. Trappers and hunters, who are allowed to bait wolves from the park, have killed at least 20 resident Yellowstone wolves, 15 of them in Montana during this hunting season. Fewer than 100 wolves survive in the 2.2 million-acre park,...
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Six of Curtis Johnson’s great-grandparents homesteaded in Hand County. Both his great-great-grandpa Thomas Cawood and great-grandpa William Walter Johnson served in the South Dakota Legislature in 1885 and 1889. The home he and his wife, Kelly, live in with their children, was built atop the same land as his great-grandpa Johnson’s sod house. And each growing season, Curtis Johnson plants and harvests in the same fields that his dad, Terry, Grandpa Walter, Great-Grandpa Thomas, and Great-Great Grandpa William Walter planted and harvested. “Farming land that has been farmed by four generations before me, makes me feel like I am the...
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There is no question about it, the pandemic has changed consumer behavior. According to the latest consumer report issued by Chicago-based Midan Marketing, “Consumers have realigned their priorities and are expecting more than ever from the brands they purchase and the retailers they purchase from.” Based on that assertion, Midan’s 2022 Top Trends to Watch identified 10 trends expected to shape 2022 and beyond. The American Lamb Board (ALB) consults with Midan on selected projects, such as the latest consumer survey of lamb usage and attitudes. 1 – Consumers Crave Convenience The COVID pandemic has created an increase in...
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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on January 19 that the Department is making up to million available to help people living in rural towns develop community renewable energy projects that will help them cut their energy costs and contribute to the nationwide effort to reduce pollution that contributes to climate change. These funds will be targeted to help people who live in communities that have been historically underinvested and disinvested. USDA is making the funds available through the new Rural Energy Pilot Program to help the people of rural America build back better, stronger and more equitably...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced up to 5 million in available funding for conservation partners through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP is a partner-driven program that leverages collective resources to find solutions to address natural resource challenges on agricultural land. This year’s funding announcements include opportunities for projects that address climate change, benefit historically underserved producers, and support urban agriculture. “RCPP is public-private partnership at its best,” Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Montana State Conservationist, Tom Watson said. “We’re harnessing the power of partnership to focus on solutions to resource concerns on a landscape scale. These projects support...
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The 2022 National Gelbvieh and Balancer® Show was held on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at the Cattlemen's Congress in Oklahoma City. Exhibitors had the pleasure of welcoming judge Bruce Stertzbach of Louisville, Ohio, to evaluate and sort through 111 Balancer and 67 Gelbvieh entries. Grand champion Gelbvieh female was GHGF Lady Cassandra 052H owned by Karley Rumfelt of Phillipsburg, Missouri. Born on October 18, 2020, and sired by GHGF Cow Town D536, this heifer first earned the title of champion senior heifer calf. Reserve grand champion Gelbvieh female was MGA Pocahontas 142J owned by Ellie Bowman of Lewis, Kansas. Sired by OGSG...
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“Let’s call it a day,” Banjo said. He looked at the corral filled with expectant cows. “We only have two more heifers to calve, right?” Tuff asked. “Yes,” Banjo said. “It’s a good thing they’ve all done well.” He turned his direction to a low pen, where the heifers and their calves were held. The calves ran, bucked, and bounced across the snow and mud mixed pasture, atop a pile of stacked manure and around the pen again. “They’re fun to watch,” Pudge said, as she joined them. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise,” Banjo said. “What have you been up to the...
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Ranchers trying to eke out a living in the Breaks on either side of the Missouri River in northeastern Montana have been in a continuous battle with Washington politicians and bureaucrats. It started in the 1930’s when President Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) and his cronies decided a dam on the Missouri at the location of old Fort Peck would be an ideal ‘make work’ project. The area designated for the reservoir just happened to contain beautiful, irrigated alfalfa fields that provided abundant winter forage for the area’s livestock and a cash crop for the ranchers. The ranchers’ protests and livelihoods were...
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After watching four seasons of Yellowstone, we have come to the realization that we have been ranching all wrong for our entire lives, or else maybe the show is not quite as authentic as co-writer Taylor Sheridan thinks it is. He is quoted as saying, "The challenge to this world is, it's not a terribly difficult plot. But if you didn't grow up with cowboys and in this world, and you don't know this world, it's a really hard world to write because you're going to fall back on the clichés of that world. People tune in to the show for...
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The Montana Farm Bureau Foundation and the Montana Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee are offering several scholarships for students pursuing higher education. Scholarships Available: The Montana Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee Scholarships: Two [post_excerpt],500 scholarships are available through the sponsorship of the MFB Women’s Leadership Committee. The scholarships are available to young men and women. The applicant must be an incoming college freshman and must be from a paid Montana Farm Bureau member family. Applications will be scored on scholastic achievement, future goals, community involvement and school activities. Many county Farm Bureaus offer scholarships and the online form for this application...
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Along with 15 other governors, Governor Greg Gianforte recently called on President Joe Biden to work with states as partners and provide states with maximum flexibility to determine the best use of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds. “As governors, we understand the importance of long-term planning, balanced budgets, and certainty to the projects in our states best suited for investment,” Governor Gianforte and others wrote to the president. “ We agree that the programs should get implemented ‘without unnecessary bureaucracy and delay to rebuild America’s infrastructure’ and that red tape should not stand in the way. Therefore, we ask that...
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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the following statement delivering on the commitment to combat climate change and highlighting key accomplishments to combat climate change. The effects of climate change on the nation’s agriculture, natural resource,s and communities are already a grim reality. Longer, more asevere droughts, catastrophic wildfires, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other record-setting natural disasters exacerbated by climate change continue to devastate lives and livelihoods. “Climate change threatens our food security, safety, and the environment we all depend on, but USDA is taking action to respond,” Vilsack said. “Working closely alongside our partners and those we serve, we are conserving...
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Job Brief: Western Ag Reporter is seeking a highly self-motivated production specialist to join our team and assist in preparing advertisements for our weekly publication. As production specialist, you will work closely with the production manager to create, adjust, and review ads each week. Responsibilities: Rebuild and adjust pre-built ads to fit the paper’s specifications in Adobe Illustrator Build and design ads Learn pagination (layout) of the paper in Adobe InDesign Ability to edit livestock photos in Photoshop – and adjust photos for newsprint requirements Manage eBlast advertising campaigns by building and scheduling ads through Admail Work with salesmen...
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In December of 2021, Oregon State University’s “Women's Giving Circle” sponsored a series of free webinars, organized by Assistant Professor and Extension Beef Specialist, Juliana Ranches. The RancHer series’ purpose was to highlight women in the beef industry by bringing educational information to beef producers. The first edition of the RancHer series featured three days entailing topics from mineral nutrition for cattle to advocating on social media. Day one of the series featured guest speaker, Vanessa Schroeder, Senior Faculty Research Assistant at OSU Extension Services. Schroeder’s session, “Potential Effects of Cattle Grazing and Weather on Wildlife in Sagebrush Country,” focused...
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Last week, Part 1 outlined how R-CALF's Cattle Industry Long-Range Plan (the Plan) was created to support and promote U.S. cattlemen in “sharp contrast” to the Checkoff Dollar funded Beef Industry Long-Range Plan (Beef Plan). R-CALF Board members met virtually on January 4 to discuss the progress of the Plan over the course of 2021, including their push for mandatory country of origin labeling, House Bill 5014, and the need for legitimate reforms to the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S). Brett Kenzy, R-Calf board member and feedlot owner, continued the conversation about the critical moment the cattle industry is in...
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“We have been living in interesting times,” Roger Cryan, Chief Economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) said as he opened up the discussion “The Top 15 Market Outlook Issues from the AFBF Economic Team” at the 2022 AFBF Convention. Cryan and three other economists formed a panel which discussed several issues which have significantly impacted every sector of the agriculture industry in the last few years, and they provided outlooks for how those factors will be at play in 2022. Leading off, Cryan covered the first three topics: net farm income; Inflation and government spending; and COVID-19. Cryan...
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As many of you know, we have an outstanding lineup of weekly columnists who contribute to the WAR each week, and if you don’t regularly peruse that section of our paper, I highly encourage you to do so. This week, in particular, Krayton Kerns’ “Ramblings” about Trump and Biden’s involvement with the COVID vaccine is really worth the read, and it made me think of one word: accountability. Accountability is a major reason that I have always had issues with politicians – when things are going well and an idea is successful, it’s “my idea,” however when something doesn’t work out, “it’s their fault.”...
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Every day in agriculture, there are hard-working farmers and ranchers getting the job done, despite their physical limitations. A farmer continues to run equipment despite the loss of an arm, a woman with Multiple Sclerosis does her best to fix fence, a woman with a goat dairy strains to lift heavy buckets despite her fibromyalgia. For these farmers, doing the work they love on the farm has become easier thanks to a USDA grant program aimed at helping farmers overcome limitations. AgrAbility is a program focused on finding adaptive solutions for people in agriculture, from dairymen to farm workers, cattlemen...
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Here we are sending out our third issue of January 2022. I got to thinking the other day while I was driving home from Denver about what the Cattle Inventory Report may look like when USDA releases it on January 31. Many of us have been speculating about what total cattle numbers will look like with so much of the western half of the United States suffering through severe drought conditions in 2021; there have been a lot of comparisons to the total numbers we saw in 2011 as to how it compares. I have visited with producers from most...
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Tuff Hart is either “feeding bums or getting into mischief,” his mom said to accompany this photo where Tuff had just finished painting the lambs, and himself, blue.
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On January 13, Governor Greg Gianforte announced the following appointments: Private Land and Public Wildlife Board Eric Albus, Hinsdale: A fourth-generation rancher and farmer, Albus and his brothers farm wheat, pea, lentils, and barley, and raise commercial cattle. Albus also owns and operates Milk River Outfitters. Albus’ term will run through July 31, 2025. Ed Beall, Helena: Beall is the president and owner of Capital Sports & Western in Montana’s capital city. Since 1970, his hunting and firearm shop has been the focal point of the business. Beall’s term will run through July 31, 2023. Tierani Brusett, Billings: An avid sportswoman, Brusett...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced a million investment in new Cooperative Extension and USDA Climate Hubs partnerships to bolster climate research and connect and share climate-smart solutions directly with the agricultural community. “The Cooperative Extension system and the USDA Climate Hubs have unmatched capacity to reach agricultural, Tribal and underserved communities, as well as educators and students, and our nation’s farmers directly,” Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack said. “This partnership will strengthen climate research efforts and accelerate the development, adoption and application of science-based, climate-smart practices that benefit everyone.” This investment is part of the National Institute of...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for a report issued by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee (FRRCC). “The FRRCC represents a diverse group of stakeholders including academia, industry, non-governmental organizations, and state, local, and tribal governments,” Scott Yager, NCBA Chief Environmental Counsel said. “NCBA strongly supports the committee’s recommendation to develop a clear and limited WOTUS definition and protect key exemptions for common agricultural features. With the EPA’s convoluted approach to soliciting public comments and stakeholder perspectives on WOTUS, NCBA encourages the EPA to listen to its own advisory committee’s recommendation, and the recommendation...
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The American Angus Auxiliary invites women to attend the 2022 Angus Women Connected Conference March 23-25 at the Elms Hotel and Spa in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Applications close January 23. Applicants will be notified of acceptance status no later than February 15. The Auxiliary will select twenty women, ages twenty-one and over, to attend the biennial event, which aims to engage, empower, and educate Angus women from diverse backgrounds. Attendees will engage in workshops, participate in networking activities, tour the American Angus Association office, and hear from keynote speaker, Courtenay DeHoff. The conference, lodging, and meals are provided for participants at...
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On January 11, Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 103rd Convention adopted policies to guide the organization’s work in 2022. Key topics ranged from milk pricing and beef market transparency to urban agriculture. “Delegates from all 50 state Farm Bureaus and Puerto Rico came together today to demonstrate the power of grassroots leadership,” AFBF President, Zippy Duvall said. “The policies set forth will guide Farm Bureau in its mission to advocate for farmers and ranchers and build a sustainable future of safe and abundant food, fiber, and renewable fuel for our entire nation and world.” Delegates...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announced several new and expanded opportunities for climate smart agriculture in 2022. Updates include nationwide availability of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Conservation Incentive Contracts option, a new and streamlined EQIP Cover Crop Initiative, and added flexibilities for producers to easily re-enroll in the Conservation Stewardship Program(CSP). These improvements to NRCS’ working lands conservation programs, combined with continued program opportunities in all states, are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader effort to support climate-smart agriculture. “Climate change is happening, and America’s agricultural communities are on the frontlines,” NRCS Chief, Terry Cosby said....
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Kiera Leddy, Drake University Law School, and Maci Mueller, University of California (UC) Davis, have each been awarded a ,000 W.D. Farr Scholarship by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF). The annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program, established by NCF in 2007, recognizes outstanding graduate students who plan to pursue careers furthering the beef industry. Leddy and Mueller were selected from 32 applicants based on their academic achievements, leadership, and commitment to the advancement of the beef industry. They will be recognized during the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, February 1-3, in Houston, Texas. Leddy graduated from Oklahoma State...
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Nineteen-year-old Staci Kmetz smiled for the camera, standing alongside her grand champion heavyweight market lamb, Foxtrot, who had just sold for a record-breaking sum of ,100 at the Fayette County Fair’s 4H Livestock Auction in Pennsylvania. The fair’s previous record-highest was per pound; Foxtrot brought some 5 per pound, with more than 180 contributors across 15 states. The road to this snapshot was paved with both trial and triumph. Her determination, love for 4H, and the support from her livestock family and friends helped see her through to this moment, a memory which she would hold in her heart forever. “When...
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The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and The Food Industry Association (FMI) made the decision to cancel the 2022 Annual Meat Conference (AMC) out of respect for the health of our communities and due to the attention and consideration our respective members are putting into their operations. “The purpose of AMC is to bring together retailers and the meat and poultry industry,” NAMI President and CEO, Julie Anna Potts said. “Like the meat and poultry industry, many of our partners in retail are experiencing significant operational and supply chain challenges. At this time, attending an in-person conference is difficult which...
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“The calf and heifer look good?” Tuff asked as he looked into the stall. Banjo stood beside him. “They do. Should be able to push them into the side pasture in a couple days,” Banjo said. “What actually happened to cause her legs to not work?” Tuff asked. “She needed some extra supplements, calcium mostly, and some added electrolytes. She had also been on her side a little too long.” Banjo said. “Once those got into her, and she got up and moving, she was alright. It was a good thing you came along when you did.” “I didn’t know...
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The GROWMARK Foundation is once again offering a [post_excerpt],500 scholarship program for students in the United States and Ontario, Canada, who are pursuing two- or four-year degrees or trade school certification in an agriculture-related field. “As our business has grown and evolved, we saw a need to provide a scholarship to students throughout the United States and Ontario, in addition to the scholarship programs already established in our core geography,” Amy Bradford, GROWMARK corporate communications manager and GROWMARK Foundation manager said. “GROWMARK and the FS member cooperatives are strong supporters of youth leadership education, and this is one more way we can contribute...
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Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack assured farmers and ranchers attending the 103rd American Farm Bureau Convention that the Department of Agriculture is committed to helping them find additional income streams by using climate-smart practices. Vilsack announced that the agency plans to invest million in a new program aimed at increasing cover crop acres and partnering with farmers for soil health. "Listening to Farm Bureau and listening to those in agriculture, we know that it's important to establish a partnership in this effort to create climate-smart commodities," Secretary Vilsack said. "This is not top-down, [instead], this is a bottom-up effort. We...
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With calving season around the corner for many producers, Halden Clark, DVM MS, a Health Stewardship Veterinarian and Assistant Professor at the Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center, addressed a major factor in long-term calf-health and productivity: scours. Clark led a discussion at the 2021 Range Beef Cow Symposium in Rapid City, South Dakota on the importance of scour prevention and offered advice on how to effectively do so. At the beginning of his presentation, Clark took a poll from attendees which revealed that 76 percent of participants saw scours in at least 10 percent of their herd in 2020. “The...
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Allie Clairmont is pictured helping during lambing with her registered Columbia Ewes.
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As I get older, it becomes harder and harder to find a winter sport that I can participate in, because I don't dare risk my knees, my hips, my skull, etc. So, when our friends, Keith and Holly Williams from Virginia, suggested a snowmobile outing, it sounded fun and harmless. We met them in Jackson, Wyoming, and headed out for a three-day ride through Yellowstone Park, and then one final day in the Grand Tetons along the Continental Divide. Even though it was 17 below at Flagg Ranch the first morning and 20 below the second morning in West Yellowstone,...
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No one was shocked recently when the General Accountability Office (GAO) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had overpaid farmers billions of dollars during the slapdash tariff-mitigation scheme ordered by the Trump White House in 2018 and 2019. A couple of billion bucks in government waste is, evidently, chump change when – as in the case of the officially-named Market Facilitation Program (MFP) – it’s compared to the billion in Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) money USDA had to play with each year of its short, 24-month life. Besides, the MFP was a real rush job. One day U.S....
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“In too many industries, a handful of giant companies dominate the market. Too often they use their power to squeeze out smaller competitors and stifle new entrepreneurs, giving themselves free rein to raise prices, reduce options for consumers, or exploit workers,” President Biden said during his “Roundtable on Promoting Competition and Reducing Prices in the Meat Industry” on January 4. To provide some historical context, Biden explained that 50 years ago, “Ranchers got over 60 cents for every dollar a family spent on beef, today they get about 39 cents,” and in the hog industry, they used to get “Hog...
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On January 3, 2022, several R-CALF USA Board Members and CEO, Bill Bullard, met virtually to discuss the first year of progress for their Cattle Industry Long-Range Plan (the Plan) and their goals moving forward into the new year. The Plan was released in December 2020, “in sharp contrast” to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s “Beef Industry Long-Range Plan,” (Beef Plan) according to an R-CALF statement. R-CALF's version looked to respond, “to 2020’s unprecedented anomalies in the U.S. cattle market, and the lack of responsiveness from either policymakers or the beef industry to take corrective actions,” unlike the Beef Plan, “which...
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Dr. Darrh Bullock (University of Kentucky Extension Professor specializing in beef cattle genetics) was one of the speakers who discussed breeding tools at the Cattlemen’s College at the 2020 NCBA convention. His presentation was entitled “Precision Breeding—and you don’t need GPS.” He said there are many genetic tools available, but there are really only two things you need to know about: crossbreeding and selection. “We can make it more complicated, but the basics are simple. In terms of crossbreeding, heterosis (hybrid vigor) is something we all know about but not enough folks are utilizing,” Bullock said. “In the East we...
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Beef exports for 2021 remained on a record pace through November. Exports for the month were once again up 8.1 percent for the month, and total export numbers were up 18.5 percent for the year so far, as compared to 2020. Japan still leads the market share at 24.2 percent; South Korea is second at 23 percent market share; and China/Hong Kong is third, at 19.3 percent share. But, this is the fastest growing market, up 110 percent for 2021 as compared to the previous year. On the flip-side of the coin, here is some of the import data. Total...
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Daniel Mitchell of Cumberland, Ohio, was named Champion at the 2022 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) Eastern Region qualifying event. Tri-State Livestock Market, located in Abingdon, Virginia, hosted the last of three WLAC qualifying events on Friday, January 7. A total of 25 contestants competed for a top ten placing, which would grant them a spot in the 2022 WLAC semifinals at Shipshewana Auction, Inc. in Shipshewana, Indiana. Mitchell is a second-generation auctioneer, following in his father’s footsteps. He began watching his father auctioneer at a young age while spending time at his family’s market, Jackson Co. Regional Livestock Market...
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Member farmers from the American Farm Bureau Federation participated in a roundtable on Thursday, January 6, about the impact of the proposal to repeal and replace the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR). The event was hosted by the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy. Arizona Farm Bureau President, Stefanie Smallhouse and Colorado Farm Bureau Vice President, James Henderson will join several other farmers attending the roundtable to explain why this rule is so consequential for agriculture. The Biden administration recently proposed a “step 1” Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule. Despite claims to the opposite from the Environmental...
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The Black Rock Field Office concluded the Fox and Lake Herd Management Area wild horse gather near Gerlach, Nevada on December 17, 2021. The wild horse staff and contractors gathered 82 wild horses and removed 23 excess wild horses from public lands. In addition, 23 studs were released back to the range. A population suppression control vaccine, GonaCon Equine, was administered to 37 mares. The mares will get a second dose within approximately 30 days of the first dose and then be released back to the Fox and Lake Herd Management Area. On or about January 15, members of the...
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Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is pleased to announce the addition of Dylan Davidson as a staff member in the MFBF headquarters office in Bozeman, Montana. Davidson’s primary responsibility will be working in digital communications on a number of activities such as social media development, press releases, feature writing, video production, photography, and more. “We are excited to have Dylan on board. He brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to our media team” John Youngberg, executive vice president of Montana Farm Bureau, said. “He has hit the ground running and we are excited to see what he can accomplish.” Davidson, a Texas...
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T Bar S Cattle Company is the recipient of this year’s Breeder of the Year award. The honor was presented to the Vehige family at the AGA National Convention and 50th Anniversary Celebration on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, in Oklahoma City. T Bar S is located in Billings, Missouri, and is owned and operated by Tom and his wife, Stacy, along with their children, Justin, Kyle, and Grace. The operation raises high quality, functional cattle that are proven performers both in the showring and the pasture. T Bar S offers cattle via private treaty as well as through an on-farm...
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U.S. Department of Agriculture data issued December 16, 2021, which showed U.S. sorghum new export sales commitments the previous week were a marketing-year high of 16.6 million bushels, with the vast majority of the sales attributed to China. The sales reported the week of December 16 were up 27 percent from the previous week and up 57 percent from the prior four-week average. In addition to a marketing-year high in sorghum sales, 12.4 million bushels were shipped primarily to China, another marketing-year high, up considerably from the previous week and up 81 percent from the prior four-week average. “Export demand...
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Maisie McClure of Saint Francisville, Illinois, is the new Marketing Brand Coordinator – Beef/Show for BioZyme® Inc. In her role, she will represent the company at various beef industry events and livestock shows promoting the VitaFerm®, Vita Charge®, and Sure Champ® brands, while helping maintain brand awareness across various marketing channels. “I am most excited to be able to work with people in the livestock industry that I am so passionate about while promoting the BioZyme brands. I really enjoy working with and meeting new people and especially working with youth,” McClure said. McClure, a Wisconsin native, grew up showing...
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A [post_excerpt].5 million emergency grant is enabling UC Riverside scientists to find plants impervious to a disease threatening America’s citrus fruit supply: Citrus Greening Disease. Citrus Greening Disease — also known as Huanglongbing, or HLB — results in fruit that is bitter and worthless. It has crippled Florida’s citrus industry and has already been detected in California, which grows 80 percent of America’s fresh citrus. An estimated 267,000 acres of Golden State oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and mandarins are at stake. For these reasons, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture is supporting scientists at UCR, the University of Florida, and...
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Winter survival of honey bee colonies is strongly influenced by summer temperatures and precipitation in the prior year, according to Penn State researchers, who said their findings suggest that honey bees have a "goldilocks" preferred range of summer conditions outside of which their probability of surviving the winter falls. The results of this study, which used several years of survey data provided by the Pennsylvania State Beekeeper’s Association and its members, enabled the development of a tool for forecasting honey bee winter survival to support beekeepers' management decisions, the researchers said. Honey bees contribute more than billion in pollination...
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The Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program, managed by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, hit 20,000 graduates the first week of January 2022. Created in 2009, the MBA program is a free, self-guided, online course that provides members of the beef community – from farmers and ranchers, to students, supply chain members, and consumers – with the tools and resources needed to become a strong advocate for the beef community. “Consumers are becoming increasingly removed from agriculture and understanding where their food comes from,” Paul Dybedahl, Associate Director of Communications for the Masters of Beef Advocacy Program,...
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Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has named Rick Schmidt as the recipient of the 2022 Weed Control Partner Award. Schmidt serves on the executive board of the North Dakota Weed Control Association and has been an Oliver County weed officer and extension agent for 27 years. “Rick has efficiently and effectively served in both roles, which is unique to only a few counties,” Goehring said. “He takes the initiative to keep in touch with other weed officers across the state and frequently mentors new weed officers.” Goehring said Schmidt encourages education and provides public outreach on integrated weed management, early detection...
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency (RMA) has set the sorghum crop insurance price election for reinsurance year 2022 at 99.6 percent of the price of corn, compared to 96 percent for 2021. This price election means farmers will have the opportunity to insure grain sorghum at a price almost identical to that of corn. “This price election gives sorghum producers their largest amount of price protection relative to corn in history under the federal crop insurance program,” National Sorghum Producers (NSP) CEO, Tim Lust said. “We are pleased that farmers will have the protection they need to meet the...
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The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose for only the second time since May, up nine points to a reading of 125 in December. The Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Future Expectations also rose this month, with stronger current conditions primarily responsible for the barometer's rise. The December's Index of Current Conditions rose 18 points to a reading of 146, while the Index of Future Expectations rose four points to a reading of 114. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers' responses to a telephone survey. This month's survey was conducted...
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After proclaiming January as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Montana, Governor Greg Gianforte teamed up with Attorney General Austin Knudsen to encourage Montanans to join the fight to end human trafficking. “Generating an estimated 0 billion worldwide per year, human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery whereby traffickers, which are often organized criminal enterprises, profit at the expense of adults or children by compelling them to perform labor or engage in commercial sex,” the governor and attorney general wrote in a letter to Montanans. Governor Greg Gianforte established the month of January as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention...
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Let’s talk feed efficiency. That is, after all, very relevant to profitability in the cattle business, especially given today’s high feed costs. But relevance is one thing. Reality is entirely different. And the reality is that feed efficiency has not received the focus it deserves as a key profit driver for beef producers. That’s changing. Slowly, but it’s changing. Here’s even better news: genetics and genetic tools exist to build cattle that are highly efficient while still meeting or exceeding the carcass quality targets that earn packer premiums and satisfy consumers. Let’s Define Feed Efficiency… In its simplest terms, feed...
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“Will this wind ever end?” Pudge asked. “All we’ve heard for days is its whistling through the cracks of this barn.” “At least we’re still warm in here,” Banjo said with optimism. “I’ll take the whistling over being out there.” They looked up at the window. It shook from the outside force. “Yah, but don’t we need to go check the heifers again?” Tuff asked. “Yes,” Banjo replied. “I was just trying to buy us a little time with this weather.” “But it hasn’t let up in days,” Tuff said sarcastically. “I’d rather just get it done and come back...
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Every once in awhile I'll hear about an idea that makes me slap my forehead and say, "I wish I'd have thought of that." Cow cuddling is one of those ideas. According to writer Linnea Zielinski, people are paying big money to cuddle and play with cows. She says it's all part of something called "animal centric holistic health." To which I say, "Huh?" Linnea says that cow cuddling is for people who just can't get into meditation and she insists that cuddling with a cow will slow down your heart rate. "They will pick up on what's going inside...
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Town & Country Supply Association is accepting applications for the 2022 scholarship program, with ,000 available to be awarded to area students. “Helping our next generation become educated so they can give back to their communities is a priority for all of us at Town & Country,” Wes Burley, the general manager of Town & Country Supply Association, said. “We are honored to support them, as they pursue higher education and continue to serve their communities.” Eligible applicants must have a family member who is an active member of Town & Country Supply Association. Priority will be given to applicants...
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The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center (MCHF & WHC) recently announced their 14th class of inductions into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. The inductees were chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the general public. Inductees are honored for their notable contributions to the history and culture of Montana. “The Hall of Fame exists to honor those who have made an impact in their part of the state and represent Montana’s authentic heritage for future generations,” Bill Galt, MCHF & WHC president, said. “Our volunteer trustees around Montana vote on nominations that come from the district...
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Battle Mountain, Tonopah Field Office, and Ely District, Bristlecone Field Office will begin a wild horse gather on or about January 10, 2022, within and outside of the Pancake Complex located about 80 miles northeast of Tonopah or 30 miles west of Ely, Nevada. The BLM plans to gather up to 2,060 horses and remove up to 2,030 excess wild horses. Up to 30 previously treated mares will be treated with a population suppression vaccine and released back to the range. The BLM will conduct gather operations using the helicopter-assisted method. The Pancake Complex consists of the...
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The 2022 Montana’s Next Generation Conference will be held over six evenings, and began on January 11, with virtual sessions covering recordkeeping, markets, marketing, crop production, succession planning and business topics. The conference is designed to provide livestock and crop producers of all ages with tools and information to be successful. Two-hour sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from January 11-27. All sessions will be broadcast and accessible online. The sessions are free, but registration is required at https://tinyurl.com/3py9unt9 or via the link at mtnextgen.com. Farm Service Agency borrowers can complete their borrower training requirements by participating in three evenings...
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To KR, ag means “pig farming, and pig farming means showing and raising pigs and snuggles for the babies.” Her mom, Bailey, said “she’s not really sure what she wants to do when she grows up, but she said the cool gymnastic tricks that gymnasts do looks cool.”
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I gave up writing Christmas cards many years ago, so consequently, the number that arrive in my mailbox has dwindled down to very few. Because of this, I was delighted to receive a handwritten note and a poem from one of Big Timber, Montana's most famous residents, Gwen Peterson. She sent me a note and a poem that is perfect to usher in 2022. The Pioneer Medical Center in Big Timber is now home to the celebrity cowgirl poet. Gwen has graced the stage at Elko numerous times, written 16 books, produced many cowboy poetry gatherings, and she was even...
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This month, American Prairie Reserve (APR) shared with the Phillips County Conservation District that, as before, our bison herd has been given a clean bill of health. As Senior Bison Restoration Manager for American Prairie, I am one of several members of our team that’s living and working in Phillips County, supporting the day-to-day management of the bison herds that graze on our properties. The health of our herds is just as important to us as it is to our neighbors in Phillips County. Earlier this year, an adjustment board appointed by the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation...
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The past two years, I’ve published columns right around the new year with my predictions for the anti-ag agenda in the upcoming year. Following suit, today, I will give my 2022 predictions for what I believe the anti-ags will attack agriculture with. More Protests I said it last year and I’ll say it again this year: we’re going to see more protests. Now that COVID-19 is somewhat settled down, and the world is somewhat back to normal, I think we’ll see more in-person protests. I know, I know, there’s some of y’all who will argue “but what about the new...
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On December 21, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) identified that the death of a Jackson County rancher’s registered heifer calf was caused by wolves. CPW Area Wildlife Manager Kris Middledorf confirmed that tracks surrounding the carcass and the wounds inflicted on the registered heifer were consistent with the newly protected predator. This wolf-livestock predation, according the Colorado Cattleman’s Association, is the first to be confirmed in Colorado in over 70 years, and comes roughly 14 months after the controversial passing of Proposition 114 (Prop 114), which passed with a narrow margin of 50.91 percent voting yes, and 49.09 percent opting...
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On May 24, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) filed a scoping letter into conducting an environmental assessment (EA) on the Elk Ridge Complex Rangeland Supplementation Project in Wyoming. By November 24, the EA was completed and published. The EA looked into whether or not cattle should be able to graze on four allotments in the Elk Ridge Complex, which are located 32 miles northwest of Pinedale, Wyoming in the Upper Green River area. According to the scoping letter, “The EA will be used to determine if significant effects would occur from...
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The NILE Foundation is now accepting applications for scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year. For over 30 years, the NILE (Northern International Livestock Exposition) has awarded scholarships to deserving FFA and 4-H students. The criteria for applicants is that they have been leaders in their respective programs, excelled in the classroom, participated in NILE events, and actively involved in their communities. Given the extended unprecedented times, the NILE Foundation's Scholarship Program will continue to support youth in Agriculture with limited fundraising opportunities. "Supporting youth in agriculture is a cornerstone of the NILE Foundation's mission," Rick Hamilton, Interim General Manager of the NILE said. "It...
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Two days before Christmas, I hopped a one-way ride to Texas with my son, Tyler, and his family. We hit the road at three in the morning, overnighted in Amarillo, and rolled into San Angelo at noon on Christmas Eve. The trophy wife had spent the two weeks prior to Christmas in San Angelo performing Ninja-Nana duties with the 10 mini-Kimmel grandkids. Tyler and family were staying a couple extra days, so Druann and I booked our flight home for Sunday morning the 26th. Christmas Day was a record breaking 88 degrees, which was an unfamiliar holly and ivy temperature...
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It’s not often that you see a mini pony with a neon pink fake leg running through the pasture. But at Angela Boncz’s farm near Spokane, Washington, it’s not an unusual sight. Boncz helped her pony, Prince, and many other animals gain new mobility from injuries through her work as an Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician. Originally trained to create fake limbs and braces for humans through Spokane Falls Community College in 2002, Boncz spent several years working in the field for human patients before being inspired to create similar devices for animals. Her business, Specialized Pet Solutions, now offers prosthetics...
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I hope all of you had a safe and Happy New Year. I know many of you reading this right now were probably in the same boat as us with temperatures dropping WAY below zero. It was near 20 below on New Year’s Eve at my house, and it made me think, once again, back to January 1989, and the cold snap that hit after what had been one of the mildest early winters on record. Well, it’s doing it again. There has also been quite a lot of snow fall around the western half of the United States, along...
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When I look back at what my life looked like just one year ago in comparison to where I am right now, it is hard to comprehend the incredible changes that have taken place. Last year at this time, I was trying to cope with the idea that I would be returning to teach Language Arts at Torrington Middle School following maternity leave. Not only was I beginning to anticipate the deep-rooted agony that comes with leaving your baby at daycare for the very first time, but I was coming to terms with the fact that teaching was not fulfilling...
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The regenerative agriculture consulting group, Understanding Ag, LLC, recently announced its new, online course providing practical insights and techniques on adaptive grazing is now available. The course is specifically tailored for farmers and ranchers seeking to improve their pastures and profit margins. Regen Ag Adaptive Grazing is the second Regen Ag ONLINE virtual course developed by regenerative ag pioneers Gabe Brown, Shane New, and Allen Williams, Ph.D., based on their decades-long, on-farm experience in applying soil health-centric, regenerative agricultural principles and practices. Both courses are designed to help farmers and ranchers successfully transition from conventional agricultural practices to more profitable and...
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The Producer Partnership is elated to announce the hiring of two employees to operate and manage their processing plant: Cobrin Richins and Jacqualynn Jones. The pair has extensive experience with meat processing and processing plant management; the organization is lucky to have them on their team. Jones attended Montana State University in the sustainable foods program and started a community supported agriculture vegetable farm. She went on to work for Root Cellar Foods processing organic and local vegetables and helped her family process wild game in the fall season. “I have always found it important to bring good quality food...
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Montana Cattlemen’s Association created “Beef on Every Plate,” which is a program where ranchers donate cull cows. Montana Cattlemen’s Foundation pays for the processing and the beef is donated to programs in need. It is totally volunteer-based, and the donated proceeds go 100 percent toward feeding the needy of Montana. Just before Christmas this year, two beef were donated to “Beef on Every Plate”. On January 3rd, the processing was complete, and one beef was donated to the Great Falls Rescue Mission, and the other beef was donated to the City of Denton. Montana Cattlemen’s Association and Foundation are very...
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Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc., a vertically integrated renewable fuels company, announced on January 3 that it has acquired Camelina Company España S.L. (CCE), Europe’s largest camelina crop innovator and seed producer headquartered in Madrid, Spain. CCE has received international acclaim for more than 10 years by developing world class intellectual property (IP) in camelina to support a sustainable biofuels value chain. CCE’s IP includes superior genetics, breeding capabilities, high quality planting seed, advanced agronomic research, and knowledge to support the cultivation of camelina by contract farmers. CCE, together with Sustainable Oils, Inc. (SusOils), also a wholly owned subsidiary of...
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American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on the “Biden-Harris Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain” on January 3. “AFBF appreciates the Biden administration’s continued work to ensure a fair and competitive meat processing system. We must get to the bottom of why farmers and ranchers continue to receive low payments while families across America endure rising meat prices. “Farmers and ranchers want a fair shake. The joint initiative between USDA and the Department of Justice to create an online portal to report competition law violations, and efforts to...
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The Propane Education & Research Council is offering double incentives of up to ,000 toward eligible propane-powered equipment for agricultural operations directly impacted by the Kansas wildfires or December tornado outbreak — reaching Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. For a limited time, affected producers who apply for the Propane Farm Incentive Program can earn double the incentive amount for qualifying propane-powered equipment—including irrigation engines, building/water heating systems, power generators, and flame weeding systems. “These sudden, unexpected natural disasters can really wreak havoc for producers already facing so many challenges,” Michael Newland, the director of agriculture...
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The Montana Beef Council (MBC) is pleased to announce the addition of Al Koenig to the Montana Beef Council staff team as the Field Representative. Al’s primary role will be to serve as a brand ambassador for the MBC and represent the Beef Checkoff to Montana’s producers. His first day was January 3, 2022. Al was raised in Belgrade, Montana and holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business and a Bachelor of Science in Economics with minors in Finance, Spanish, Business Administration, and International Business. Previously, he served as the Montana FFA State President, taught entry-level economics, and worked...
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Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced an “Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain.” The plan includes massive amounts of government funding intended to slowly rebuild the now dismantled competitive marketing channels for cattle and beef, which has created what the administration calls a “bottleneck” in the nation’s food supply chain. Several groups released statements in response to the Action Plan, and while they recognized administration’s attempts toward progress, they remain skeptical of the long-term benefits of the plan. R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard noted that the funding announced in the Action Plan should...
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“Building Bridges and Growing Generations” is the theme for a Farm and Ranch Conference, which will be held January 21-22, 2022, at The Lodge in Deadwood, South Dakota. Session topics will cover Succession Planning and Healthy Family Relationships, Soil Health, Entrepreneurship, and Political Engagement over the two-day event. The conference is hosted by the Wyoming Farm Bureau and South Dakota Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Committees for farmers and ranchers of all ages. Children are welcome. No membership is required to attend. Whether you farm or ranch, work in ag business, or have family in agriculture, this conference is...
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The Montana Wool Growers Association (MWGA) held their annual Convention in Billings in early December, at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. A highlight of the event was 2021 MWGA President, Ken McKamey, presenting a check for 0,000 to Montana State University President, Waded Cruzado, for the Montana Wool Lab Building project. The origin of the donated funds came from the Montana Wool Growers Education and Research Endowment. Commonly called the “Memorial Fund”, most of the money in the fund came from donations in memory of sheep industry leaders. These memorial donations have been growing in this fund, with hopes...
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Daizee Potter is five years old, and according to her dad, is a caretaker and a helper. “She is in charge of feeding and watering the dogs and the horses,” he said. “She’s very inquisitive […] and wants to be a vet when she grows up.”
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“Would you look at all that snow,” Ben said. The ranch crew peered out the barn windows. White started from as high as they could look in the sky, and it completely blanketed the earth surrounding them. There was nothing of color on the ranch except the glistening pure white of the 28 inches of snow they’d received since Christmas. “Looks like all animals are okay from here. All fours are on the snowy pasture floor…” Tuff observed. “And I think we can call everything handled for the day and stay put in our nice, warm, cozy humble abode.” Banjo...
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My favorite holiday of the year is Dr. Seuss's birthday, which was March 2. Yes, Theodor Seuss Geisel would have been 117 years old this week. He and his 60+ books have inspired young readers since 1937 when To Think I Saw It All on Mulberry Street was published. There have been attempts to cancel Dr. Seuss by calling him racist, sexist, and every other "ist" imaginable, but his wit and wisdom have survived for generations of children to enjoy, and I hope that we can keep his legacy of freedom of expression alive despite the Cancel Culture mentality we...
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It always seems odd to use the final week or two of the current year as a platform to view the coming year. How does looking in the rearview mirror give anyone a clear sense of what’s ahead? That certainly was the case for most ag markets a year ago. For example, almost no one last December saw its .50 corn futures climbing to over by the following May, or last year’s Christmas soybeans soaring to more than by Easter. OK, maybe a few did, but I’d bet a boozy fruitcake even fewer believed it. This year’s...
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On December 29, The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for an undetermined amount of imported meat and poultry products from China. A recall was not requested because FSIS has been unable to identify and contact the importers. The total amount of ineligible products is yet to be determined, because the investigation is ongoing. The meat and poultry products do not identify an eligible establishment number on their packaging and were not presented to FSIS for import reinspection. These products are ineligible to import into the U.S., making them unfit for...
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Dear Department of Justice, Are you paying attention? The spread between cash fed cattle and boxed beef prices has now widened to unprecedented levels. Fed cattle were [post_excerpt] to lower in both the North and the South last week, while choice boxes were up over for the week. Even after watching the spread increase the past couple weeks, in just the last two weeks choice boxes have jumped nearly . Several weeks ago, I thought feeders were starting to gain a bit more leverage when it came to dealing with the packers. Obviously, this has gone away. I...
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Blinker and I ran in the daylight Saturday morning, and it is inspiring to see God’s handiwork by sunlight. A couple hundred yards from the house, I cut enormous canine tracks. Other folks run my course with their dogs, but these tracks were huge. The recent winds had cleared parts of the trail and drifted others so the mystery tracks would periodically appear and disappear along my route. Once home, I grabbed a tape measure from the junk drawer, retrieved my cell phone and sprinted back to the trail to snap a couple photos. The tracks were paired and traveling...
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Today at PAYS, Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced the Meat Packing Special Investigators Act. This bill is cosponsored by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD). "This is meant to prevent and address the anticompetitive practices in the meat and poultry industries and enforce our nation's antitrust laws," Senator Tester said. "The Meat Packing Special Investigators Act will help ensure that cow-calf operators and small and medium sized feeders have fair, competitive markets and will give the USDA the tools it needs to address consolidation and ensure the system works." Specifically, the Act would create the Office of...
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The industry news is abuzz with talk of a “historic” meeting that took place earlier this month. While the three action items coming out of the meeting may not be ground-breaking, the fact that all six major ag organizations not only met, but came to a consensus, is revolutionary. That speaks to the dire market conditions the industry is experiencing right now. As reported on May 20 by ShayLe Stewart, a DTN Livestock Analyst on Cattle Market News, select cuts closed over .00 per pound for only the second time in history – the first time was in the height...
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“It’s my backdoor today, but it’ll probably be your backdoor tomorrow and we need to stick together,” Vicki Olson said. “We are a very small percentage, and we all need to stick together and write these comments.” Olson is the third generation on her family’s 100-plus year old cow-calf ranch in southern Phillips County, Montana. Her family’s “lifetime investment” in the land and the ranch is just north of the targeted area of the American Prairie Reserve (APR). The APR is working to create “the largest nature reserve in the contiguous United States” by “stitching together 3 million acres” of...
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Together with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Governor Greg Gianforte announced that the State of Montana reached its goal to more than double the number of forested acres put under management in 2021. Under the leadership of Director Amanda Kaster, the DNRC placed a collective 25,000 forested acres under management. In 2020, the state treated approximately 11,000 acres. “We set an ambitious forestry target for the year to match the urgency of the forest health crisis we face. T hanks to the leadership of Director Kaster and the hard work of the DNRC team, we were...
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Despite an honest-to-goodness flood of evidence to the contrary, more than 100 million American adults continue to deny the existence of climate change. That’s roughly one third of the country. Congress is hardly better. Currently, 109 House members and 30 senators, or about 26 percent of all members, have cast “doubt on the clear, established scientific consensus that the world is warming,” according to the Center of American Progress, a policy research institution headquartered in Washington, D.C. The good news is that this astonishing total is down from 150 just three years ago; the bad news is that it’s still...
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Domestic beef demand is the strongest it has been in three decades. Beef gained about 8 percent market share over the last two decades. U.S. beef exports through November 2021 were on a record pace in terms of volume and value. Kevin Good, CattleFax analyst and vice president of industry relations, said this is all a result of listening to the consumer. Good was speaking to members of the American Hereford Association (AHA), guests, and allied industry partners during an educational forum at the organization’s Annual Membership Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, October 22, 2021. “Think about grade,...
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Six women in ranching, and longtime R-CALF USA members, created a successful calendar fundraiser campaign for the organization: Theresa Fox of Hermosa, South Dakota; Delia Johnson of Fairburn, South Dakota; DeLynn Hanson of Fort Pierre, South Dakota; Dawn Schultz of Brewster, Kansas; Brenda Thornsberry of Richland, Missouri; and Candi Chambers of Carrollton, Georgia, formed the R-CALF USA Calendar Committee. The committee is currently selling 2022 R-CALF USA calendars with all sale proceeds going toward R-CALF USA’s efforts for U.S. cattle industry reforms. “We are very grateful for the hard work and dedication it takes from the committee to create the calendars...
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“Industrial hemp is a crop I do not know a lot about, so I wanted to learn,” Kurt Bindenagel, a Frankfort cow/calf producer, explained. “It appears there is a big learning curve, and it is quite labor intensive.” Bindenagel does not plan on planting industrial hemp in 2022, but that’s not to say he is not considering it for the future. “After this panel discussion, I want to learn more,” he said. Connecting South Dakota farmers and ranchers with information is the reason South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) hosted the panel. A few years ago, members of the state’s largest...
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“Think about where you grew up and then be thankful that God gave that to you because it probably set your mind differently than so many people,” Tom Field, Paul Engler chair of agribusiness at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said. “If you live in an agricultural world, you get a chance to see horizons that the average person doesn’t get a chance to see.” Such a view fosters what Field terms an abundance mindset; for example, being able to see past a drought rather than focus on it. Scarcity thinkers only stare at the parched ground in front of them. “You...
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“Weeee,” Bailee giggled in delight. “Go faster!” Moose barreled through the snow drifts at full speed. The tiny kitten held on to the sides of the travois as she sledded behind him. “This is AWESOME!” she called. From the barn Banjo, Pudge, and Rufus, Mr. Fogarity’s other basset hound, watched and smiled at the two animals enjoying the heaps of snow. “The baskets you made were very kind. It caused a buzz around the ranch from the hen house to the horse stalls,” Banjo said. “I still have one left to share.” Pudge smiled and said, “We’re glad. That’s what...
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Senate Bill 3229 is said to be a ‘compromise’ merging the 50/14 concept proposed by Senators Grassely and Tester, with a bill that enhances mandatory price reporting advanced by Senator Fischer. The original version of the 50/14 proposal would require half of the fed cattle to be purchased on the “negotiated spot” market, and Senator Fischer’s contribution would require mandatory price reporting of all fed cattle sales, along with the publishing of a library of forward and formula contracts. Because less than twenty percent of the fed cattle are sold on the “negotiated spot” market, which is then used to...
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’Twas the night before Christmas. All the ponies had been fed. I was tryin’ to choke down A few beans before bed. But my belly was churnin’. It just wouldn’t sit still. It was gonna be a long night, I sure nuff could tell. ’Cause in my string of horses There was one called Saint Nick. And thinking ’bout ridin’ him Sometimes made me sick. Ol’ Flipper had come in With a front leg a draggin’ Last fall during shippin’ When we was out on the wagon. Saint Nick was an extra In the outfit’s remuda. And every time you...
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Three-year-old Colton Baumgartner (left), of Baumgartner Acres in Eaton, Colorado, loves helping with all of their animals and wants to be a “fire-truck” when he grows up (mom’s translation: a fire fighter). Do you have an agri-kid that you'd like to recognize? Email a picture and a short excerpt about what agriculture means to them and what they want to be when they grow up to editor2@westernagreporter.com.
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2020 and 2021 have not been easy years for anyone, but especially not for Santa Claus. I wrote this poem to underscore that despite the state of our country and our world, we can still celebrate good and love and joy and remember that Jesus is the reason for the season! Merry Christmas, everyone! Santa’s Woe, Ho, Ho by Susan Metcalf Christmas 2020 and 2021 have not been easy on the normally jolly Santa Claus. His world has been rocked by vaccination mandates and social distancing laws. Kids cannot come sit on Santa’s lap cuz they have...
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Last week, I urged you to hold on to the story of the cow stuck in the mud, feeling helpless until someone came along to save her. I shared of startling suicide stats in our ag-producing states and illustrated the problem: mental health is an issue and not talking about it is an even bigger issue. Now, how do we address both of those? Thanks to the internet, we may have a solution. There are multiple online, free resources that can help if you’re having suicidal thoughts or struggling emotionally; and there’s just as many resources out there for those...
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The Christmas tree was a scrub cedar hacked from the edge of the woods that bordered the farm. Big-bulbed lights, strung in barber pole fashion, generated almost as much heat as the nearby wood stove. Yellowed Christmas cards, saved over the years and perched like doves in the untrimmed branches, served as ornaments. “I believe this is the prettiest tree I've ever had,” Howard proclaimed as we stood in its glow. “And it smells good, too.” The only scent evident to me was a mixture of wood smoke and the remains of a fried pork supper, but I lied and...
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When I was young, my parents, brother, sister, grandmother, Brittney Spaniel, and I would pile into our suburban and make the 20-hour trip from Kersey, Colorado to Cozad, Nebraska for Christmas. Okay, that was a massive exaggeration, but it always seemed like it took about that long to get there, namely because I was so excited to visit the Maack side of our family at my great grandparent’s home. Looking back, I get all sorts of fuzzy feelings when I think about our Maack Christmas traditions. But I’m to the point in my life where those times at the old...
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November and December are months when many horse owners decide old Trigger will not survive the winter. Tim called me to put down his 30-year-old paint gelding, Reno, and said the horse would be across the pasture in the usual place. Tim chose to not attend. I stepped Reno away from the trailer, slipped a large gauge needle into his jugular vein and began to administer the euthanasia solution. We try to rapidly bolus all 60 ccs and occasionally need to reposition the needle if the patient moves. Reno took a sidestep after I injected 10 ccs, but before I...
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On December 2, USDA’s Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published its final rule regarding the “import regulations for sheep, goats, and their products.” More specifically, the final rule would remove “remaining bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) import restrictions on sheep [and] goats” while “updating its scrapie requirements for importing live sheep and goats.” However, the American Sheep Institute released a statement which argued that the final rule “could have serious consequences for American sheep and goat producers [because it] removes critical protections against fatal diseases, such as scrapie, when the administration should be focusing on opening new export markets...
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Last week I wrote about preparing to seize opportunities when they arise not only to share those thoughts with you, but to ready myself to pen my last “Thoughts from the Editor.” In a bittersweet string of events, my husband and I have recently been presented several great opportunities, which for us to take advantage of, something had to give. We discussed to great lengths how to manage growing our ranching operation to a sustainable size while building up my start-up communications business and working full time as the editor of Western Ag Reporter. We finally concluded that if we...
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For the second time in just three months, the White House Economic Council has set their crosshairs on the nation’s major meatpackers, blaming them for the bulk of increased cost in groceries. And for the second time, the meatpackers have fought back arguing that logic is flawed. Much like the September post, the December 10 blog post on the White House website, authored by National Economic Council (NEC) Director Brian Deese, Sameera Fazil, and Bharat Ramamurti, suggested large corporations are able to unfairly manipulate the market. The authors noted that while supply chain issues, many related to the pandemic, are...
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Merry Christmas from my family to yours. This is definitely my favorite time of the year. We get to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – happy birthday, Jesus! I also look forward to spending quality time with my wife and kids and the rest of our extended family members. It is amazing that some of our family gatherings over the holidays will see 60 to 70 people under one roof – and most of us live within five miles of each other. God has truly blessed us and none of us take that for granted....
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In late December, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized new greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks without including requirements that could have increased the use of ethanol. The rule updates GHG Emissions standards through Model Year 2026. “The EPA missed an opportunity by not including a pathway to high octane fuels, like higher level blends of ethanol, in the final rule,” Rob Larew, NFU President said. “NFU has long advocated for increased use of biofuels due to their tremendous environmental benefit and the much-needed market alternatives and economic stability biofuels provide to America’s farming and rural communities.” ...
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Western Ag Reporter Job Opportunity CLASSIFIED & CIRCULATION SALES REPRESENTATIVE The primary role of the Classified & Circulation Sales Representative is to develop and maintain profitable advertising accounts and subscriptions through inbound and outbound telemarketing, building rapport with our current and attracting new customers by recommending effective multi-media advertising solutions that will help them achieve results. Ultimately, this position will contribute to overall advertising revenue growth for the company. Key Responsibilities: Work as a partner to help clients reach their goals, owning entire sales process from start to finish Prospect new business via email, cold calling and other prospecting...
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Precision livestock farming (PLF) is predictive. Producers can make management decisions that are predictive of outcomes. Dr. Justin Sexten, Performance Livestock Analytics vice president of strategy, gave his presentation titled “The Role of Technology in the Beef Industry” during the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium June 24 in Des Moines, Iowa. Sexten approached his presentation from the perspective of the 2,200 operations and 3.5 million head of cattle which Performance Beef integrates feed, financial, and health data on across the world every morning. Through genetic potential, sensors from the environment, and actual practices, producers can predict when an animal is...
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“Everything is bigger in Texas,” and that includes the speaker lineup for the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show to be held February 1-3, in Houston. General session speakers will hit audiences hard with powerful messages that educate, motivate and inspire. The convention will kick off on February 1 with Buzz Brainard, host of Music Row Happy Hour, who will be back by popular demand as emcee during the general sessions. Brainard’s voice is well known on SiriusXM radio, Animal Planet, and the Discovery Channel. The Opening General Session on Tuesday will pack a punch with legendary boxer and...
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The Montana Association of Conservation Districts is hosting the second annual Soil Health Symposium February 9-10, 2022. This two-day event is centered around peer-to-peer conversations and experience-based presentations from many aspects of agriculture. It will dive into the biological components of soil, managing productive land, tools and techniques that can enhance the nutrient value of crops, and how to keep a healthy bottom line. Bill Milton, a rancher from Roundup and the 2019 Leopold Conservation Award recipient, will discuss how his grazing management practices benefit his land and operation. The Mannix brothers of Helmville, will describe how they’ve managed their...
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Fertilizer prices continue to skyrocket, as much as 300 percent in some areas, as farmers grapple with increased costs as they prepare for the 2022 growing season. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s latest Market Intel examined the short- and long-term factors impacting fertilizer supply and demand. Farm Bureau economists found several elements are contributing to record-high prices including: Increased prices for raw nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; Increased global fertilizer demand; Increased energy costs; Distribution and supply chain disruptions; and Trade duties. “Rising fertilizers prices are a great concern for farmers across the country,” AFBF President, Zippy Duvall said. “The rising cost...
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Super-sized snowflakes cascaded from the sky. The air was all but silent except the pitter patter of the snowflakes as they slowed closer to the earth and floated to their landing spot. “I can’t wait to take our friends back to Mr. Fogarity’s,” Bailee said. “This is going to be the best first Christmas ever.” Pudge stopped and looked at her. “You’ve never had a Christmas?” Pudge asked the kitten. “I was too little, remember,” Bailee said. “I don’t know if I did or not.” Pudge gently patted her paw on her kitten’s tiny head. “I’m so sorry, I should...
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Agricultural-related recovery efforts are underway in Kentucky after devastating tornadoes hit the state December 10-11. “Our hearts go out everyone affected by this tragedy,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “Lives were lost, entire towns were destroyed, and the agriculture community was hit hard.” According to news reports, grain bins were leveled, livestock and poultry barns were demolished, and there was significant damage to the agricultural infrastructure. “The agriculture community always comes together to help each other in times of need,” Goehring said. “If you want to help impacted Kentucky farmers and ranchers, there are several ways to do so.” Recommended...
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Dax Yorges is five and, according to his mom, he loves working with his heifers during the summer, helping his dad set water, and feeding the cows. When he grows up, he wants to be a fertilizer applicator.
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The poem I want to share this week was written by Chuck Rein, who ranches with his wife Pam on one of the most beautiful outfits on the planet in the shadow of the Crazy Mountains west of Melville, Montana. Chuck wrote this poem several years ago about riding colts with his son Charlie. He shared it at the Crazy Mountain Stockgrowers/Sweet Grass County Woolgrowers Banquet several years back. This poem just says it all about those of us who are fortunate enough to call ourselves fourth or fifth or even sixth generations on the ranch. As an epilogue to...
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Let me paint you a picture: February 2004, I am six years old, riding shotgun in my dad’s beat-up, work pickup. My blonde pigtails are flying around, and I’ve requested to listen to my favorite song at the time, “She Got the Goldmine, I got the Shaft” by Jerry Reed as we bum through a pasture checking newborn calves. Dad counts the pairs and the yet-to-calve mamas and, as many six-year-olds do, I try to count too. Dad realizes he’s missing one and suddenly turns the radio off and our fun is halted as we are now on the hunt...
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There was no shortage of cattle conversations taking place in Congress last week. Whether it was accurate labelling, market transparency, or domestic herd health, lawmakers were discussing issues that matter to the industry. In the House, two bills directly related to cattle market transparency were passed on December 8. First, H.R. 5290, introduced by Representative David Scott (D-GA), was overwhelmingly supported by a 418-9 vote; it would extend reauthorization of livestock mandatory reporting (LMR) through September 30, 2022. In what could be phrased as simply “kicking the can down the road,” the rule originally set for reauthorization on September 30,...
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Cancer sucks. I know that’s a downcast way to start a column, but it’s the truth. The unfortunate fact is that we have all been exposed to the crushing blows cancer throws at people and their families. The worst part about cancer is it doesn’t care how old you are, how kind you are, what color your skin is, or how much you matter to the people around you. Cancer has taken one of my grandmothers, both of my grandfathers, an uncle, and a friend, and it tried its darndest with my mother, my grandma Kay, and one of my...
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We moved back to our family homestead on Pass Creek when I was eight, so Slack School was barely a half-mile up the road. It was the classic one-room country school. Christmas programs were a big deal in 1965, so we started practicing carols immediately after Thanksgiving. We learned most traditional carols, and this singing tradition became habit around our family fireplace on Christmas Eve. We were the redneck version of the Von Trapp family, minus talent and matching uniforms. Over the years, I added a mule team complete with sleighbells and wagon to our family celebration so we could...
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December 7 was an eventful day for the biofuel industry, and from a variety of perspectives, it provided security for the corn industry and ethanol producers following the tumult caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its targets for Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs), which, under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), set the benchmark for renewable fuel blending in fuels at 18.52 billion gallons for 2021 and 20.77 billion gallons for 2022. The EPA also announced its decision to decline all 65 petitions from refineries filing for exemption waivers to these RVOs. Shelby Myers, an American Farm...
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The seventh session of the Colorado Livestock Association’s (CLA) Fall Webinar Series, entitled “COVID Impacts and Continuing Effects on Cattle and Beef Markets,” took place on November 17, 2021. The presentation was led by Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Breedlove Professor of Agribusiness and Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist. Peel began by acknowledging how the COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions worldwide and underscored the importance of the critical components of the cattle and beef industry – animal health, industry infrastructure, labor, and national infrastructure. “All of the pandemic issues and concerns highlight the extraordinary complexity of the cattle and beef industry,”...
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Are you prepared for when opportunity knocks? That’s an interesting question I have heavily assessed the past few months. While I would like to think the obvious answer is “yes, always yes,” it’s not that simple. Sure, we would like to think we are constantly seeking improvement, humbly ready to better ourselves, and able to jump at the chance when it arises, but is that the case? First, as motivated, ambitious people, constant improvement is a common goal. Constantly seeking ways to improve is another story though. It is so easy to fall into complacency, to become comfortable where you’re...
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Discussions of high beef prices at retail outlets have been dominating conversation lately. Commercial and seedstock producers alike are extremely upset over the prices producers are receiving for livestock compared to what beef is selling for at stores and restaurants. The beef packers and retailers are putting the boots to both producers and consumers in the U.S. In visiting with folks around my hometown who are removed from agriculture, I often hear complaints of rising grocery bills. In fact, while I was getting a haircut before Thanksgiving, we discussed it. Knowing I was in the cattle business, as soon as...
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USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Wyoming is accepting applications for enrollment into the ACEP ALE and WRE program during the 2022 funding cycle. ACEP is a voluntary Farm Bill program which provides financial assistance for conservation easements. Producers interested in implementing conservation easements have until Wednesday, December 29, 2021 to submit applications for the 2022 funding cycle. While Wyoming NRCS accepts applications year-round, landowners should apply by the December 29th ranking date to be considered for this year’s funding. If you apply after the program ranking date, Wyoming NRCS will automatically consider your application during the next funding cycle. ...
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The Agricultural Nutrient Policy Council (ANPC), which includes the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) as a member, released a report highlighting initiatives and progress being made by farmers to reduce nutrient loss across the Mississippi River Basin. The report includes information from 16 states and the results will be presented at the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force (Task Force) Virtual Meeting on December 14. During the Obama administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a framework memorandum for individual states to utilize in addressing phosphorus and nitrogen runoff. The framework called upon state agencies to bring together academic,...
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The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and North Dakota Department of Agriculture are once again opening the Coyote Catalog, a statewide effort designed to connect committed coyote hunters and trappers with landowners who are dealing with coyotes in their areas. Landowners can sign up on the Department of Agriculture website, nd.gov/ndda/. Hunters and trappers can sign up at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. Anyone who registered for the Coyote Catalog in the past must register again to activate their names on the database. Throughout winter, hunters or trappers may receive information on participating landowners, and they should contact...
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The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives approval of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, a bill to prohibit ocean carriers from unreasonably declining export cargo bookings, a practice that has disadvantaged American exporters including the meat and poultry industry. “The problems at our ports have been exacerbated by the unreasonable practices of foreign-owned ocean carriers, including delays of shipments of American made goods to overseas trading partners,” NAMI President and CEO Julie Anna Potts said. “These delays result in major costs to meat and poultry companies as their perishable products await transport.” Carriers are unreasonably...
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USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) has released the Sheep Death Loss 2020: Sheep and Lamb Predator and Nonpredator Death Loss in the United States report. The study is a collaborative effort between USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service; USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services; and NAHMS. The dashboard contains data from sheep death loss studies dating back to 1995. The iterations occur every five years along with NASS’s Sheep and Goat survey. Sheep Death Loss 2020 report highlights include: Approximately 5.2 million sheep and lambs were raised on 99,364 operations. Approximately 607,000 sheep and lambs –...
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University of Wyoming scientists are part of a multi-state team that is launching research into perennial forage systems to help promote their adoption. Funding is through a million grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. UW will serve as a research hub site for western states to collect, organize, and analyze soil samples. “We will measure and compare numerous production, environmental, social, and economic factors,” Anowar Islam, UW Extension forage agroecologist, said. “UW will play an important role in initiating and executing this highly relevant and timely project.” The project involves more than 50 researchers and...
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General session keynote speakers slated for the 2022 American Farm Bureau Convention are sure to inspire and entertain attendees. Inspirational speaker Jim “Murph” Murphy, founder and chairman of Afterburner, will speak during the afternoon general session at the convention on Sunday, January 9, in Atlanta, Georgia. Comedian Jeff Allen will perform on Monday, January 10, during the convention’s closing general session. “We are excited to celebrate, mark our achievements, and hear from leaders who have helped strengthen agriculture at the 2022 American Farm Bureau Convention,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Convention also affords us the opportunity to reflect and relax together with...
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) recently submitted comments to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) related to the labeling of meat or poultry products that contain lab-grown animal cells. NCBA believes the term “beef” should only be applicable to products derived from livestock raised by farmers and ranchers. As USDA-FSIS works to develop regulatory standards for labeling lab-grown, or cell-cultured, protein products, NCBA is committed to ensuring that product labels are fair, accurate, and will safeguard a level playing field for all protein products competing in the marketplace. The regulations USDA develops now will play a crucial role...
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The wind shook the tin on the barn’s rooftop. “It’s cold outside, mama,” Bailee said. Pudge nuzzled her closer. “As soon as the animals leave to check the fence lines, we’ll take our ‘walk,’” she assured the kitten. Bailee smiled. She couldn’t wait to investigate Mr. Fogarity’s wood shop and find evidence to bring back to the ranch crew to prove that he’s Santa. Tuff cracked the barn door, and a swirl of the frigid air blew inside. “Do we have to go out,” he mumbled. “I can see the cows from here, they’re just fine.” “C’mon, pup,” Banjo urged....
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Colorado Agri-Kid, Brandon McDaniel is eleven-years-old. He said, “Agriculture is important to me because I value the ability to be able to raise livestock to help feed the world with your hard work and dedication to the farm and the community. When I grow up, I want to be a NASA scientist to help grow funds to help me invest in a diverse variety of agricultural businesses that will then help me return back home to farm.”
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Fall is that time of year when neighbors help neighbors with gathering, shipping, weaning, and preg testing. It is a concept right out of a Hallmark card, as long as it is a nice, balmy autumn day. However, when the weatherman plays a cruel joke and the thermometer dips below zero and everything is frozen solid on the morning of the gathering, it is either true friends or noncreative friends who couldn't craft an excuse that show up to ride! I am not sure which category we fell under several years back when we found ourselves headed up the creek...
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It’s an ever more uncomfortable fact for journalists like me that 67 percent of today’s media-consuming Americans do not have a single paid-for subscription to anything. Even more striking, 87 percent of the Baby Boomer generation – we of gray hair and paid subscriptions - use free, electronic media like Facebook, Twitter, and podcasts every day. Only Gen Z, the 18-to-25-year-old youngsters who actually remember their website passwords, use social media more. That describes me to a T: I have a dozen paid print subscriptions and two dozen free electronic subscriptions to podcasts on everything from “The Lutheran Hour” (which,...
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Spoiler Alert This column makes reference to this season of Yellowstone, so if you aren’t caught up, come back to this when you are; you’re welcome. Yellowstone really got me thinking a few weeks ago, and not just about what’s going to happen to poor ol’ Jimmy at the 6666 Ranch or about Beth’s odd take on “intermittent fasting.” What has been on my mind a lot, though, was the conversation John had with an environmentalist named Summer when he said: “You ever plow a field, Summer? To plant the quinoa or sorghum, or whatever it is you eat, you...
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On November 17, Representative Matt Rosendale (R-MT) addressed the House Committee on Natural Resources and proposed three amendments to H.R. 2026, titled the Global Amphibian Protection Act of 2021 (Amphibian Act). The Amphibian Act would send over ,000,000 to foreign countries over the next five years to help conserve their endangered or threatened species. Representative Rosendale argued that the Amphibian Act would distract the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) from their responsibilities stateside and simply create greater “bureaucratic red tape” for Americans to jump through. The Amphibian Act was introduced in March of 2021 by Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)...
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In the midst of devastation, miracles still happen. In fact, sometimes miracles are the most prevalent in the darkest of storms. That’s what the Denton, Montana community discovered in the wake of the West Wind Fire, which sparked on November 30. By December 1, it had consumed 25 primary structures, 18 secondary structures, and 6 commercial structures in the small, 200-person farm town. Just two days after the fire on December 3, Denton rancher Cory Poser, of Hilltop Angus, said the support had already been remarkable. In fact, two semi loads of food, water, clothes, blankets, towels, dog food, and...
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Perspective is an ever-important characteristic, which I often forget to keep in check. It’s sad that, at times, it takes an unfortunate event in order for me to look at life through a different lens, from a new perspective. Boy, have I done some serious reflection since hearing about the fire in Denton. There is never, ever a good time for a wildfire and especially one which consumes your home, but I just could not imagine being displaced from our cozy house as winter settles in and with Christmas around the corner. As I write this article with a warm...
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Since September I have been discussing the strength behind these fall sales and I would once again urge you to flip to the sale reports this week and see for yourself. Those of you with our mobile app already know how the sales have been thanks to the instant notifications when they are posted online each day. Things continue to be amazing. By the time most of you receive this week’s issue, I will be down to my last three sales of 2021. My final sale is December 14, I will take some cattle photos for spring sales shortly after,...
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The University of Wyoming is among an international coalition that announced a million research project, “Metrics, Management, and Monitoring: An Investigation of Pasture and Rangeland Soil Health and its Drivers,” which is aimed at understanding how a farmer or rancher’s grazing management decisions affect soil health on pasture and rangeland. The research will help determine how soil health can positively impact a producer’s land and well-being. The Noble Research Institute, University of Wyoming, Michigan State University, and Colorado State University are leaders of the project. UW Extension range specialist Derek Scasta said the funding will help accomplish several important...
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Making his first appearance at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge since 2018, Wade Sundell showed he’s still an elite saddle bronc rider Sunday. Sundell, the 2018 world champion, won Round 4 with an 89.5-point ride on Powder River Rodeo’s Bet the Ranch before 16,851 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center. This was his first NFR round win since Round 5 in 2018. “It was about just going back to the basics and have fun,” Sundell said. “Do what you’re supposed to do, I guess. I didn’t forget how to ride. Just people don’t seem to...
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Tuff and Banjo sat amongst the hay bales, each sharing their own version of the Thanksgiving story which would go down in ranch history. “In all my years on the ranch, I’ve never seen Rascal move so fast,” Banjo recalled. Most of the ranch crew gathered before them and laughed. “Then he got himself stuck inside the Thanksgiving turkey. You should’ve seen the mama’s eyes when he slid into it, and all that yummy food scattered across the table and floor. There’ll be mashed potatoes stuck on the wall until next year.” Tuff was lapping up water as Banjo replayed...
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Months after the typical “prime” wildfire season in Montana had passed, one of the most damaging fires of the year devastated the small, farm town of Denton, Montana, and its surrounding community. Appropriately deemed the “West Wind Fire,” the inferno was fueled by strong winds, making containment nearly impossible. It was first reported on Tuesday, November 30, shortly after 11 p.m. north of Stanford, Montana, in Judith Basin County. On Wednesday morning at 7:47 a.m., Fergus County Disaster and Emergency Services provided an update noting “conditions are rapidly changing” and urging patrons to avoid Highway 81 through Denton. At that...
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The Bureau of Land Management Miles City Field Office range managers are concerned about the ongoing drought conditions which worsened through the 2021 growing season and resulted in varying degrees of impact. Public lands across the entire portion of Montana managed by the Miles City Field Office are currently in severe to exceptional drought. According to data from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, some areas of the field office received only 40 to 60 percent of the normal average precipitation for 2021. “The Miles City Field Office appreciates all the efforts by grazing permittees to mitigate drought...
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Lydia Tempero is three-years-old and is at her family ranch near Pompey's Pillar, Montana. Betty Tempero described her as a “determined little girl.”
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With Thanksgiving in the rear-view mirror, I have theorized that apparently the clothes dryer has been shrinking my jeans. It can't be my penchant for eggnog and Christmas cookies, so it must be the dryer. The realization that my diet should include more salad than fudge somehow got me thinking about poor Santa and his obligation to eat all of those Christmas cookies. I wrote this little Christmas rhyme about Santa trying to fight the bulge with the Keto Diet. Special Bulletin from Santa 'Twas the month before Christmas, and Santa was in a snit. He had tried on...
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The past three weeks, I have stayed in a bed that’s not my own over 90 percent of the time. I went to the Montana Farm Bureau Convention in Billings one week, the Montana Stockgrowers Convention the next week, then traveled to Texas for ten whole days to spend time with my family over the holidays. Needless to say, I am in desperate need of some alone time in my own home and my husband is in need of a meal that doesn’t come out of a box in our freezer. Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed a reoccurring...
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For some people, traveling is an exciting and invigorating experience, like my mom for example. She craves adventure, thrives off new places and new people, and is a wizard at navigating airports. On the other hand, for some folks, the process of planning trips, packing, and heading towards their destination is a stressful and anxiety-inducing one. I humbly set up my tent in the former camp. The days leading up to a trip, no matter how excited I am to see my family and friends, are agonizing as I try to strategically pack my wardrobe appropriately. I pace back and...
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Most in the cattle industry today remember “the cow that stole Christmas” back in 2003, and now even the mention of the term BSE or Mad Cow Disease make cattle producers cringe. That’s why American cattle organizations have not taken lightly the finding of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Brazil. “America’s cattle producers carry the scars of devastation from BSE, and we have worked diligently to restore the trust of consumers at home and abroad,” National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane wrote in a November 12 letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The consumer...
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On November 22, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) announced the Protecting America’s Meatpacking Workers Act (the Act), which would enact more stringent protections for meat processing workers in order to make the profession a healthier, more appealing one. Then, in section two, “Farm System Reforms,” the Act takes a critical, red-ink markup approach revising and amending Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (mCOOL) requirements and the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S) to create more transparency for consumers, and a fairer market for producers. The first section of the 93-page document is titled “Reforms to Protect Meat...
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While holding a horse hoof between her legs and quickly nipping down the excess hoof, Kayla Simmons will be the first to tell you she didn’t think she’d become a horseshoer. Now, with three years of shoeing experience under her belt, the female farrier from Eastern Washington has a healthy roster of clients and is usually booked several weeks out. “I actually decided to learn how to trim my own horse when a farrier I had used for a long time was having a bad day and trimmed my horse too short, so I couldn’t use her for quite awhile....
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It’s hard to believe we are already in December 2021. We are right in the middle of our big fall run of production sales around Reporter Country. I’d urge you all to check out our sale report section this week and, if you haven’t already, download our free app to receive instant notifications when our fieldmen post sale reports online. Fall sales continue to be amazing. Many are shaking their heads in disbelief at just how good these sales have been considering the drought, feed prices, and the cattle liquidation which has taken place the last few months. Here is...
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How many times does the American beef industry need to raise warnings about Brazil before we decide to cut beef imports from the country entirely? In the time that I’ve been editor here at WAR, I have written numerous articles about one of our industry organizations calling for either investigations into the country’s meatpacking system, requesting thorough reports on their food safety practices, and/or urging immediate halts to imports. And that’s just in my years in the editor chair; the concerns existed long before I started paying attention. To put it plainly, the Brazilian beef industry has a bad history,...
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