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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