NMS June 2023

For Sale Private Treaty

Bred Cows - Heifers - Bulls

Give us a call to schedule a visit!

Bill King: (505)220-9909

Tom Spindle: (505)321-8808

Moriarty, New Mexico

2022 Seedstock 100 Producer -Beef Magazine

If you’re looking for cattle with powerful genetics and phenominal phenotypes like these, be the first to take your pick!

We’re offering Registered & Commerical Bred Cows, Bred Heifers, and Yearling Females for sale private treaty. Along with Two-Year Old and Yearling Bulls.

Herd Sires include:

Loewen Genesis G16 ET BR Belle Air 6011

C CJC Belle Heir ET CRR 5280

Connealy Black Granite

Connealy Power Surge 3115 CAG CC SIDELINE 7063E

LT Patriot 4004 PLD

LT Horizon and more!

Hereford - Angus - Charolais BillKingRanch.com

Pictured

NEW MEXICO STOCKMAN

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Physical Location:

809 First Street, Moriarty NM 87035 President, Loren Patterson

n New Mexico Wool Growers, Inc. nmwgi@nmagriculture.org

P.O. Box 2822, Moriarty NM 87035 Office: 505.247.0584 , Fax: 505.842.1766

Physical Location

809 First Street, Moriarty NM 87035

President James Duffy

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING

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DEPARTMENTS

19 Sheepman of the Year

FEATURES

19 Sheepman of the Year, Punk Cooper by Carol Wilson

34 “Cold War” by Kent Lassman, Competitive Enterprise Institute

36 2022 National Beef Quality Audit Shows Efficiency Improvements

39 EPA Proposes Emission Caps on Existing Power Plants In Major Climate Effort by Rose Horowitch, NBC

44 BLM Management Release Meeting Dates for Proposed Public Lands Rule

46 The Days of Making Billions With Misleading “Climate-Friendly” Products May Be Over by Patrick Greenfield, The Guardian

48 Court Tosses Jaguar Habitat Protection at Rosemont Mine Site by Tony Davis, Arizona Daily Star

50 The Alternative Meat Hypocrisy by Jaclyn Krymowski for Protect the Harvest

54 Civil Rights Violated by New Mexico Approving Oil & Gas Operations, Lawsuit Says by Adrian Hedden, Carlsbad Current-Argus

72 Administration Advances SunZia Southwest Transmission Project

73 When Does Your State’s Rights Violate My State’s Rights? by Connner Nicklas, Budd-Falen Law Offices

74 Taking the Lead: Adolfo Sanches to Serve as SGBI President by Jessie Top-Becker, Managing Editor, reprinted courtesy of the Santa Gertrudis Journal

78 Brackish Water: The Most Prevalent Source of New Water in New Mexico by John R “Grizz” Deal

80 No Bull — the Value of Castration for Calves by Kellie Curry Raper, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Economist / Cow-Calf Corner

81 PRCA Makes Changes to Crossfire Rule

JUNE 2023

Punk Cooper, 2022 Sheepman of the Year.

Photo by Carol Wilson

To

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

by Loren Patterson NMCGA President

Loren Patterson President Corona

Bronson Corn President-Elect Roswell

Dave Kenneke NW Vice President Cimarron

Cliff Copeland NE Vice President Nara Visa

Jeff Decker SE

Vice President Lovington

Roy Farr SW Vice President Datil

Joe Culbertson

Vice President at Large Amistad

Shacey Sullivan Secretary

/ Treasurer Peralta

Randell Major Immediate Past President Magadalena

Tom

Sidwell

Past President Quay

Fixing what is not broken.

The never ending push to ignore the actual issues and change the focus to improving what has worked for years seems to be the new motto of our current Federal Bureaucracy. If that new focus requires ignoring current statutes, long-standing rules or common sense, even better. Name the agency and I can give you an example of a solution searching for a problem that has impacted a NMCGA member. Case in point, Unauthorized Cattle on the Valles Caldera National Park.

The National Park Service solution is to round up the livestock and constantly vilify the neighboring ranchers for their lack of stewardship. The real issue, fires and elk destroying the perimeter fences and the Park Service not cooperating with the neighboring grazing allotments to improve the situation. It is much easier to traduce the ranchers and the cattle, that have grazed the area for four hundred years, as an environmental calamity than fix fence.

Need another example? The new regulations going into effect in regards to antibiotic use in livestock. We are now required to not only have a prescription from a licensed veterinarian for each individual animal we give antibiotics to but also a contractual relationship with documented annual visits. Gone are the days of having a bottle of Penicillin on hand for that case of pink-eye, snake bite or infected puncture wound.

Which brings me to a simple question. Who is going to do the audits of all this do-gooder regulation? Is this regulation actually going to help with antibiotic resistance or the wholesomeness of the food supply? Not likely!

Third example is the RFID ear-tags and traceability. USDA has been warning producers for years that the old metal Brucellosis tags are now obsolete and that RFID is the mandatory form of identification when shipping livestock of breeding age. I have no direct issues with that but when we have record numbers of cattle crossing the US-Mexico Border without traceability or physical audits, it makes me question if “traceability” is the actual goal? Who holds this information? Is a methane tax in our future? Is the IRS going to keep tabs on your livestock numbers?

Final example, the new “conservation as a use” rule purposed by the BLM. I attended the first virtual meeting and immediately realized that the new rule isn’t for conservation but as a means to funnel money to certain Non-Government Organization’s (NGO’s) and extort specific Natural Resource Based Industries.

The new rule is an attempt to circumvent limitations placed on the Bureau of Land Management in statute as well as shuffle the ground level stewardship of our federal lands to third party organizations that will provide the “expertise” in the management plans. It is truly a scary situation and from all indications this is headed for implementation.

In closing I will remind you of a famous quote by Thomas Jefferson, “The government you elect is the government you deserve.”

We don’t deserve this government bureaucracy but it is what we have to live with until good people run and good people vote for them.

A special “Thank You” to all those good people that have decided to run for elected positions, particularly some of our county commissioners that have been holding the line between us and the un-elected decision makers.

Pray your neighbor gets rain!

by Caren Cowan, Publisher New Mexico Stockman

As the world is coming down around our ears, time for unity has never been more important; time for civility has never been more important; time for kindness has never been more important.

But as I contemplate the latest slur from the President at a college graduation ceremony in mid-May where he told the graduates that the greatest threat to our nation is white supremacy, I wonder where we find unity.

His continued mantra has been that MAGA Republicans are the downfall of the nation. Surely he doesn’t understand the meaning of MAGA — Make America Great Again. One doesn’t have to be a particular color or even political persuasion to long for the days when America was great. And, you don’t have to be very old to long for the good “ole days.”

With the current rate of inflation at 4.9

Time’s Up.

percent, down by nearly half from June 2022, things are still tough for the average household. Interest rates have skyrocketed to 5.25 percent with the Federal Reserve Chairman stating last week that interest rates must rise more to cool inflation, signaling the strong potential of another increase next month.

Fuel prices continue to fluctuate and our nation is no longer energy self-sufficient. However if we are all going to be forced into electric vehicles, that may not matter. Food prices are coming down just a bit, but energy costs impact those too.

Then there is a slew of widely publicized layoffs as the job market begins to slow, following months of post-pandemic growth. US employers added just 236,000 jobs in March, below expectations — and a sign that the Federal Reserve’s yearlong rate-hiking campaign to chill inflation is now also cooling the labor market, according to CNN.

Unfortunately The Economist reported the same number, but went on to note that the jobs reports for January and February were revised down by about one quarter and one third respectively. You didn’t see this on the evening news except for Fox.

The CNN story goes on to report the tens of thousands of job layoffs announced by major corporations in the past few months, including, but not limited to Amazon, Tyson, Disney, Walmart and 3M.

I don’t even want to get into the border issue. I just got a video showing the Border Patrol and armed troops loading illegals on buses well south of the border, so they are not seen amassing at the border itself.

Our borders are not secure, our energy is not secure and there is no telling how long our food supply is secure.

But circling back to white supremacy, this isn’t a concept that is being used only on major stages on the East Coast.

We watch limited network television since we have rodeos on the CowBoy Channel to keep us entertained. However Tuesday nights have been void of rodeos for the past several weeks.

On those Tuesday nights we have been watching the FBI trio of shows on CBS that provide action and what some might call

adventure. That will not happen again for at least the one called FBI’s Most Wanted

I am not cutting them out of my schedule because of all the national news about all the problems with the agency which is scary enough. No, they are out because of an episode a few weeks ago about the FBI going to Wyoming to help the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with a group of white supremacist ranchers.

Clearly the BLM had worked on the show because of the accuracy of most of the details. With all the regulations and changes in land use coming down from the BLM right now it was a really scary picture.

And about CBS…

When I went to journalism school, admittedly some time ago, we were taught to report the facts. Our opinions were to be kept to ourselves.

The bias of CBS and their other national partners is nothing new, and probably nothing for me to be complaining about. However, last week when Nora Roberts “reported” on a radical bill that had been signed by some governor, I had to sit up in my chair again. Who says the bill was radical?

Clearly she didn’t take journalism classes

or she failed them.

Name Calling

The current President is not the first to be guilty of singling out groups he dislikes or worse, although he may hold the record for doing it.

Remember who called those who disagreed with him gun toting bible thumpers? Or anyone who disagreed with her dubbed a basket of deplorables, adding that half of the supporters of her opponent were… “They’re racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic.”

Then closer to home, there was the “QAnon Lizard people” singled out right here in Albuquerque.

To be fair, there was also a president who just couldn’t keep himself from posting and saying insulting things.

It is time to think about these things as we prepare for the 2024 election. This beer’s for you!

That saying used to refer to a particular kind of beer. No more. A woke advertising campaign has created a whole new landscape for Anheuser Busch and not in a good way.

The week of May 6, 2023, the company’s

stocks were down 23.3 from the comparable week in 2022. About a month ago, estimates were Bud has lost $4 billion dollars.

There is some thought that the statement has been made and the world should let up on the company. I disagree. This is not the only company that has forgotten what its purpose was. Everyone needs to learn from this lesson and remember it.

Now we just need to make sure those Bud boycotters remember to make it to the polls.      ▫

THE

It’s June and I realized I haven’t sent out a summary on the American National Cattlewomen’s (ANCW’s) Region VI meeting... from March. I am really doing y’all a favor on keeping you updated, aren’t I?

I flew into Reno and drove to Fallon, Nevada. I felt like it was similar terrain to the Lemitar Valley or around the Bosque. Lots of farmland with a backdrop of mountains in the distance. They should have a green spring on the way with all of the runoff from record snowfall.

We heard from Chandler Mulvaney, Director of Grassroots Advocacy & Spokesperson Development from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). He focused on why we need to tell our story to the public.

Words have power but people only remember seven percent of the words that are spoken while 38 percent remember the manner in which you spoke those words, and 55 percent remember your facial expression. I found the most interesting statistic from him to be the fact that on social media, the most trusted source to the public is a first generation farmer or rancher.

We had an ANCW update from Ruth Coffey, President Elect. Ruth is a delight to be around and always has a positive outlook. I appreciated her reminding us of why we are a part of ANCW or NMCB; “to promote the livestock industry through information and publicity. To encourage its producers with our understanding and love. To do all in our power to instill in the coming generation the love of the land and of life, the humility and awe before nature and the hope and faith in the future that is inherent in cattlemen and cattlewomen.’’

Ruth also suggested we find a committee and get involved, becoming an advocate for the beef industry. She has never once regretted volunteering her time.

They had several breakout sessions that included a by-products booth, a Reality Works Bovine simulator for teaching school age children about vaccination location, and the University of Nevada Reno’s mobile processing unit which was really cool. I brought back several examples and a ton of notes.

I wanted to be sure and mention Region VI because we, New Mexico, will host next year in 2024. We have been steadily chipping away on a plan for April 11- 13, 2024, in Las Cruces. NMSU will have their new meat lab

up and running, along with the USDA processing facility, plus the feed mill and several upgrades to the Ag campus.

We have been working with Dr.Shana Ivey of Animal and Range Sciences, who is just as excited as we are to host. She has a million ideas and has been incredibly helpful.

Hotel, meetings and breakout sessions should mostly all be located on campus. We thought we would utilize the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum for dinner one night and a tour of the Santa Teresa border crossing as well.

If any of you have ideas or would like to help plan, please let me know. I am confident we can really showcase the New Mexico Beef Industry with pride! I hope you all will plan to attend. I would love nothing more than to fill that campus with amazing, BEEF loving women.

– Vonda Frost, NMCB President

The Chamiza CowBelles met at Johnny B’s restaurant on May 4, 2023. The meeting was called to order at 5:22 p.m., with 11 members and two guests present. The invocation and creed presented by Kimmy, along with the minutes from the previous meeting. The minutes read, a date error noted, and approved with the correction to date. The treasurer’s report was presented and filed for audit. Sherry brought beef raffle tickets for members to help with a scholarship fundraiser. The winner will be drawn at the county fair in October and receive ½ of a beef. Sherry will present the winners of the Chamiza CowBelles scholarships and Senator Crystal Diamond will present the winner of the Women in Ag Scholarship with certificates at the Hot Springs High School Scholarship night on May 17, 2023. The group received emails from past scholarship recipients requesting additional funds. Both recipients met the requirements and both will get an extension of scholarships, one to finish out summer courses and the other when the fall semester begins. Ag day discussed how educating the booth was to the younger generation. The group also discussed the upcoming booth for the Baca Series Rodeo on Fiesta Weekend, May 5-7. Booth set up on Friday and Saturday- Sherry, Mckenzie and Kimmy will set up at Rodeo Arena Friday afternoon. Janet and Sherry will work the booth on Saturday. Discussion to have additional booths downtown, however, not enough people to work two booths. The Adam Peterson Memorial Ranch Rodeo is tentative for August and will have a booth to sell merchandise, more information forthcoming. Upcoming events: the New Mexico CowBelles Zoom May 18 at 7p.m. The Women in Ag Leadership confer-

ence, Albuquerque May 23-25, Nancy has two beds if anyone wants to attend. The CowBelles Mid-Year at the Ruidoso Convention Center on June 4-5, with workshops starting at 8 a.m. A brainstorming session followed for new fundraising activities to get the CowBelle name out in the community, while raising money to support more graduating students in the future. The next meeting is 5:15 p.m. on June 1 at Johnny B’s. The meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m. Submitted by Kimmy Molsbee

Powderhorn Cattlewomen met in the home of Brenda Copeland with Ann Sleep as co-hostess and 7 attending on May 11, 2023. The Prayer, Pledge, and Creed given. Minutes of the April 13 meeting read and approved. The treasurer’s report was presented and filed for audit. Invitation to the FFA Awards Banquet in Fort Sumner on May 18, thank you note from Madelyn Ross for her selection for scholarship this year from Guadalupe County; Letter from the Ft. Sumner Chamber of Commerce asking for donations, and a letter from Shelly Hathorn acknowledging donation to the Pat Nowlin Scholarship Fund in memory of Sondra Jack. Ann reported that Abigail Sleep will complete her 2-yr. program at Clarendon College in three semesters and was asked to coach the Meats Team at Texas Tech in January. Scholarship Committee reported that Madeline Ross of Santa Rosa, Drew Champion of Ft. Sumner, and Abigail Sleep on the college level, will receive the Powderhorn Cattlewomen Scholarships this year. Old Fort Days discussion: Members bring desserts. Joan will pick up buns, chips, BBQ sauce, water, pickles, and hot dogs. Members report at the cafeteria by 9 a.m. to prepare to serve. Mary will call Matt Moyer about using the cafeteria on Thursday the 8th and Saturday the 10th. Sandy will send out an email about the dessert donations with a RSVP. The Library Auction was successful and Ann got the napkins the group donated. Mary read a letter from NMCB about the Mid-Year and the Beef Ambassador Program. Cards signed for Yetta Bidigain and Carolyn Bedford. Meeting adjourned and after a lovely lunch, Brenda Copeland taught the group how to report African Violets. Each member received a violet and many took cuttings to try growing more. Submitted by Mary McClain, Secretary

New Mexico CowBelles: Thank you to all who have submitted their news to Jingle Jangle. Please send minutes and/or newsletters to Jingle Jangle, Janet Witte, 1860 Foxboro Ct., Las Cruces, NM 88007 or email: janetwitte@msn.com by the 14th of every month.      ▫

Punk Cooper 2022 Sheepman of the Year

by Carol Wilson

Faith, family, and friends are the three foundations on which Punk Cooper has built his life. Beyond those three essentials, Punk is known as an award winning artist, a tough cowboy, a savvy cattleman, and an industry-leading sheepman.

New Mexico Wool Growers recognized and lauded all of these facets and many more last June when they recognized Punk, aka John W. Cooper, as their Sheepman of the Year at the annual meeting in Ruidoso. For those who don’t have the privilege of knowing him, the man is positive, enthusiastic, clear-minded, and sharp. He is a good neighbor, a strong leader in the Cooper family, always in good humor, and has strong Christian morals…in short, the man is a total opposite of any negative connotations which are sometimes associated with his name.

A sheepman’s vision

Cooper family ranches were established by T.J. McKnight, who came to New Mexico in 1906 and homesteaded west of Roswell. T.J.’s daughter, Joyce, married local farmer John A. Cooper, (Coop), who served in the Air Force at the end of World War II.

The McKnight family always bought land in partnership, with one or two brothers joining forces to enlarge their holdings. Wade and Joe McKnight had purchased the Blackwater Ranch near Arabella in partnership, but after Wade was killed in France during the war, Joyce and Coop purchased his interest in the Blackwater Ranch, where they subsequently raised their family. Punk is the eldest, followed by twins Jud and Joe, sisters Carol Gutierrez and Ginger Shafer, and Jim Cooper.

“Because everything was bought in partnership, all the ranches were operated as though they were financially tied together,” Punk remembers. “Dad and one or two of my uncles and all the cousins did everything together. Shearing sheep or shipping lambs was always a big party, at least for the children, as we went from ranch to ranch doing the work.”

Punk was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with T.J. McKnight. “He only had a third grade education, but he taught himself to read,” Punk related. “He came to New

James Duffey, New Mexico Wool Growers President (l) presents the Sheepman of the Year Award to Punk Cooper (r)

Mexico when he was 16 years old. He went back to Oklahoma to get a wife, then raised his family here.”

T.J. didn’t waste a lot of time worrying about New Mexico laws, and by the time Punk was in 4th grade, his grandfather would say, “Hey Wade, (Punk’s middle name) let’s go down to the bank.” Punk obligingly drove his grandfather to the bank in the middle of downtown Roswell. By the time he was in 8th grade, Punk had the pleasure of listening to his grandfather’s stories every weekend as he drove T.J. to the Picacho ranch.

“He sensed that I valued that contact and information,” Punk stated. “Time spent with my grandfather was a valuable part of my life as far as shaping my perspective and attitude about things in general and instilling in me the value of family.”

T.J. didn’t just show Punk HOW to do things, but put a lot of emphasis on the WHY of any given task.

As the family grew, they acquired more lands. When T.J.’s estate was settled, Punk wound up purchasing a portion of the land. Cooper Brothers, which still includes Punk and all five of his siblings, has ranches located through the south central mountains from Mayhill to Corona.

Generational connect the dots

The livestock business has historically valued the concept of generational thinking, which is something that Punk fears may become lost as a new generation of land investors buy up traditional farms and ranchlands.

“The families that are established on the land and consider ranching a calling will probably be able to continue what they are doing,” he noted. “But it is hard for someone to enter agriculture, because

production agriculture is a hard, competitive place to make an investment right now. Look at the amount of farmland that China and Bill Gates are buying up right now. They take the top farmland and it won’t be family oriented as it has been for generations, it will be corporate owned.”

He continued, “Corporate interests take the income they have made in other places and place it in land. For them it is an investment, just as if they bought a piece of artwork. The land doesn’t have to produce but the corporation has the pride of ownership, and they know the land will appreciate in value. That is the perspective that a lot of these guys who are buying farm and ranch land have.”

The danger arises as more and more land is owned by investors seeking only to stabilize wealth by placing their assets in land, or corporate businesses, because production will become diminished as those entities feel that they don’t need to produce to see their assets appreciate in value.

Lines of legacy

“We look at ranching as a calling and we are blessed to be allowed to do this. My hope is to be able to see another generation have the same opportunities we have had in ranching,’ explains Punk, now the family

patriarch. “I have a great deal of concern that it may not be possible. I have nieces and nephews, and my own daughter, who are all somewhat invested, at least emotionally, as a part of the family ranching operations. We are very blessed in that way.”

Punk’s sister, Carol Gutierrez, also values the family involvement. “Not everyone agrees on everything, but we all think it is really important for us to work together,” she stated. “My Mom told us before she died that we had all better behave and trust each other and love each other. We are very fortunate, because we all like and admire each other.”

Carol continued, “We are also fortunate because Punk is a person who thinks deeply before he comes to a decision about anything. He prays over his decisions, and he gets the right answer.” Punk and his wife Charlie, Carol and her husband Joe, and Jim and his wife Mary Jane, all continue to live on the ranches.

Younger brother Jim Cooper agrees that Punk has always been a good steward of the land that has been in the family for generations. “We look to him for guidance and leadership all the time,” Jim stated. “We admire his steadiness.”

Ginger Shafer, 13 years younger than Punk, noted, “The younger siblings could

always ask a question and he would give you a straightforward answer. He has always been someone you can set your clock by. He doesn’t go off on tangents.”

Punk really does feel that family is one of the most valuable components of modern society. “If the family disintegrates, the whole society will collapse before long,” he stated. “Family is important to us. My brothers and sisters and I work together, and my Dad lived a good long time. I’ve never been a lone ranger here. There has always been plenty of help, and that still exists.”

Punk values his daily work on the ranch, but acknowledges that though he gets pleasure from each day’s endeavors, he doesn’t need to be a part of every job. “My nephew and my younger brother are the ones in the saddle doing the work,” he noted. “They are the ones that need to be making the decisions, understanding every aspect of what we do.

“Family ranching isn’t a sprint,” he continued. “It is a marathon, and you hand the baton from one to another until the race is done. That is how family operations survive.”

A colorful upbringing

Besides learning the sheep and cattle business and how to steward the land the Cooper kids were active in 4-H. They all

“Dedicated To A Tradition of Integrity”

showed sheep at county and state fairs and Punk won an all-expense-paid trip to the National 4-H Congress in Chicago, Illinois, for 4-H record book competition. He was also a winner of the New Mexico Santa Fe award.

Cooper Brothers have collected many trophies and awards for their livestock and

wool production, among them Grand Champion Fleece two times at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. The family is well known for producing quality livestock. “I’m sure that people thought we were very competitive because of our wins,” Punk reflected.

“But our family always perceived participation in shows as an education, just part of the training. It was never about winning or making a certain amount of money, we just wanted to participate and be part of something that was bigger than ourselves. I don’t remember a single time that Dad or Mom commented that we should have done this or that to win. The goal was to become better at something and participate.”

With the guidance of his father and grandfather, Punk developed his own 4-H flock of champion fine-wool ewes.

While earning his animal science degree from NMSU, Punk competed on the national level as a member of the wool and livestock judging teams, winning the national livestock competition. He was also an exchange student with the International Farm Youth Exchange and spent eight months immersed in Brazilian culture and farming practices. “There was a lot more to the world than we had dealt with,” he remembers. “That time

We’re Proud of You Punk

Lots of people from places far and wide know the name Punk Cooper. Your talent, resourcefulness, work ethic and determination have made you something of a legend. But what many may not know is the depth of your dedication to your family, your friends and your neighbors. You’re most famous right here at home. Right where the heart is. We’re proud to be your family.

You’re our Man of the Year, every year ...

Cooper, Lively, Briggs, Gutierrez & Shafer Families

was valuable and a big influence on my life.” Punk had functional Spanish skills which he learned growing up on a sheep ranch, so quickly picked up the Portuguese language.

While working his way through college as a Resident Assistant in Garcia Hall, Punk met Charlanne “Charlie” Atwell. Charlie’s official name tag read Charlanne and she asked Punk to change her name-tag to reflect the name by which people knew her. “I thought, ‘this ornery girl!’” Punk recalls. “I told her that she was darn good looking, but also a pain in the rear.” The friendship had only uphill to go from that auspicious start.

Signed by Punk

“Punk” is the moniker that the artist uses to sign his work, and so few people know him as John W. Cooper that when he signed his legal name on a bank document, the banker looked at the signature and queried, “Is that really your name?”

Carrol Shanks, a family member who used to ranch with T.J. McKnight gave Punk his unusual nickname when he started calling the newborn baby Pumpkin. The name was shortened to Punk and has been with the man all of his life.

In late high school, Punk realized that he might ought change the name by which everyone knew him. Everyone in Lincoln County called him Punk, but he thought he’d get a fresh start in college. Fate didn’t smile on that plan, however, as half of his grade school and high school classmates also attended New Mexico State University, and everyone still called him Punk.

But Punk was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps and felt pretty confident that in the official army, he would be known as Lieutenant Cooper. Again, fate played a hand. He walked into the officer’s club at Signal Officer Basic training in Georgia and heard a familiar voice say, “Hey, Punk.” The whole place fell silent as Punk identified the speaker as a Roswell native who had known him in grade school.

Punk was a trainee in the US Army helicopter pilot program, and so excelled that while most helicopter pilots were being sent to Vietnam in 1969, Punk was sent to South Korea, along with his friend Fred Rusteberg, whom he had met in training.

As he flew high ranking officers around South Korea, Punk’s security clearances started ratcheting up. He finally reached a point where the army sent Federal Bureau of Investigation officers to interview the young lieutenant.

After several hours of interrogation, Punk

Punk with his newborn great-granddaughter, Aubrey.

was informed that the FBI officers would be checking on him back in New Mexico, but he was not to inform his family.

According to John A. Cooper (Coop), the two FBI officers showed up at the Tinnie Mercantile, which was then the Post Office, asking for John Cooper. The postmaster knew the law and only verified the address as a legitimate address. He refused to divulge any more information.

As the two agents left the Post Office looking like two whipped puppies, the postmaster volunteered, “If you want to talk to John Cooper, he was up at Frank’s garage a few minutes ago.”

Frank’s Garage verified that John Cooper had just left their premises, and pointed out the road on which he was traveling home. The agents were pretty excited by this time, convinced that the John Cooper in Korea was using a false name because they were hot on the trail of John Cooper in rural New Mexico.

After a long and rocky drive on the Arabella Road, Coop rolled into his front yard, followed shortly by two excited agents. They bailed out of their vehicle and asked Coop to verify that his name was John Cooper. Coop acknowledged that he was indeed. Halfway through the ensuing interview, Coop exclaimed, “You don’t want to talk to me, you want to talk to Punk, and he lives in Korea.”

When the agents returned to Korea, they walked into the room occupied by John W. Cooper and greeted him as Punk.

Later, when Punk was leaving Korea he took a look at his 201 file, carried by every officer. His security clearance was headlined “Punk Cooper, also known as John W Cooper, First Lieutenant.”

“Even the army changed my name,” he laughed. “I guess I’ll always be Punk.”

Framed by the ranch

Although South Korea wasn’t an accompanied tour, Charlie and their baby, Jenny, accompanied Punk. Punk’s good friend, Fred Rusteberg, and his wife, Francis, lived across the hall from the Coopers in a 5th floor walk-up concrete apartment building. They spent 1971-1972 enduring the brutally cold winter, stifling hot summer, and constantly raining monsoon off-season. Lifelong bonds were formed, and Punk got to watch baby Jenny learn to walk and talk.

But he flew the tape down the middle of the DMZ and realized that Korea wasn’t as stable as they were being led to believe, so he sent Charlie and Jenny home before his tour was up, against their wishes.

When Punk was again to be stationed

stateside, he chose to return to the ranch instead of being sent to Alaska. “Returning to the ranch was probably more for me than it was for the ranch,” he reflected. “Dad was capable and in charge of everything, but I felt it was important to come home. Charlie said it was a good thing I chose the ranch, because she wanted to stay married to me and not be married to an army officer.”

“Punk could have done any number of bigger things with the army or as a pilot,” reflected Ginger Shafer. “But he came back home and wanted to be on the ranch. He is very family oriented and is now the leader of

our family.”

Light and color

“What I remember most about Punk wasn’t his military career, but his admirable traits as a devoted, hard-working son to his parents, husband to his wife, father to his daughter and granddaughter, best friend to my husband, Fred, and real life cowboy spending his life ranching in New Mexico,” noted Francis Rusteberg.

“On one of our visits to the ranch, Punk had a totally wild horse in the corral and we watched him patiently break the horse. He

Gordon Morris, Chairman of the Board/EVP Colten Grau, Assistant Vice President

spent several hours one afternoon bridling, then saddling, then mounting and eventually riding the wild horse. It was amazing.”

Jenny Lively, Punk and Charlie’s daughter, grew up as the only child and only girl in a ranching family. “My Dad was just my Dad and his brothers and sisters were kind of like my brothers and sisters,

I was just the youngest,” she remembers. “I was always a Daddy’s girl, and my Daddy was who everyone wanted to be. He was the perfect guy in my eyes.”

Jenny continued, “Dad’s priorities in life are first his faith in God and second his family, and that is why the ranch was such a wonderful environment to grow up in. We as a family are all very proud of him, but awards and recognition just aren’t what is important to Dad. He does what is right, and he is honored, but he just rolls on.”

“When Dad speaks, it is worth listening to,” Jenny noted. “He is not a quiet one, and he picks his battles. He doesn’t fight the fight just to win, he fights a fight that he needs to win.”

Jenny’s daughter, Alicia, agreed with Jenny’s assessment. “What I’ve learned from Punk is a pursuit of being very truthful but gentle in that truth,” Alicia reflected. “He always had a way of dealing with difficult situations in the family or on the school board or with the sheep industry. My grandmother and I are always chatty and willing to talk, but when Punk has something to say we listen because we know it is important and impactful.”

Counting their sheep

Sheep paid for each of the Cooper Brothers ranches, and then paid for all the infrastructure and living expenses. In the 1940s and 1950s, the income you could get off of sheep on a section of country was at least one-third more than a rancher could realize by running cattle. “If the stocking rate was right, you were producing more income and being easier on the land at the same time,” Punk noted. “But all of that has changed entirely and sheep have become almost an endangered species in New Mexico.”

McKenzie Land & Livestock — Kenneth McKenzie & Family, Encino, NM Houston, Laura & Sarah McKenzie, Fort Stockton, TX

Front row: Joyce Ann Cooper, Charlie Cooper, Punk Cooper

Middle and back row left to right: Garrett Gutierrez, Hartley Gutierrez, Katie Cooper, Jim Cooper, MaryJane Cooper, Billy Bob Shafer, Ginger Shafer, Jessica Gutierrez, Sam Gutierrez, Jud Cooper, Barbara Cooper, Carol Gutierrez, Joe Gutierrez

Punk and other wool producers in New Mexico had to witness the sheep business coming to an end in the US for many reasons, but the two death nails in the sheep industry were when President Nixon put an end to the use of any toxins on federal lands and when the Wool Incentive Act was repealed.

“When the law put an end to any toxins, period, we saw the meat-eater population explode,” Punk commented. “Now you see lion and bear and coyotes in downtown Alamogordo. While that population increased exponentially, the ability to keep sheep alive became much more difficult.”

The loss of the wool incentive was the other huge blow to the industry. The Wool Incentive Act was designed to take a portion of the tariffs charged on imported wool and feed that money back into domestic production. When the wool Incentive was phased out, it robbed the industry of any incentive to produce wool type sheep, even though wool at one time accounted for over half of the income for a sheep producer.

New Mexico sheep producers converted to cattle. It wasn’t easy. Sheep use about onethird of the amount of water as cows, and the troughs originally used for sheep were too small for the cattle populations. Most New Mexico ranches were already fenced, which was helpful to control movement, but it still wasn’t an easy transition. Cooper Brothers, like many other former sheep producers, remember when their sheep numbered in the thousands. Today they have about 100 wellguarded sheep in their pastures, kept just because they like them and remember the debt owed the ovine species.

Lines of leadership

Punk’s service as president of New Mexico Wool Growers saw him representing the sheep industry in Washington, D.C., sharing his concerns with members of Con-

gress, and giving him a chance to see the differences and changes in the industry.

“There are more sheep in the eastern United States now than there are in the West,” he related. “If you are a soybean farmer and want to graze out your fields, you use sheep as a balancer to graze the areas evenly.”

One farmer told Punk that when they graze their wheat with cattle, the fields were grazed in a pattern. Sheep, however, would graze the field evenly. “The farmers thought they were more efficient,” Punk related. “They got more pounds of meat from the same input. And they are much easier to handle.”

Punk also served as president of the New Mexico Plein Air Artists association. “If he has a responsibility, he takes care of it,” commented fellow artist Peggy Immel. “I’ve always thought that being a volunteer president of an organization is kind of like herding chickens with a bulldozer. You have to be very careful, but you definitely have to have a bulldozer to make it work.”

Family focus

While Punk was navigating the ranching world, Charlie spent her working career as a schoolteacher. When she retired from the Cloudcroft School system, she had 40 years in the classroom under her belt.

Thank you for your support and involvement. The Casabonne Family

Thank You for all you have done to better the livestock industry in our state!

Bronson Corn

CONGRATULATIONS PUNK COOPER SHEEPMAN OF THE YEAR

WE ADMIRE YOUR INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS!

On one of their visits to New Mexico, Fred Rusteberg realized that Punk and Charlie had never skied, even though they lived at the Blackwater Ranch at the time and were very close to Ski Apache in Ruidoso. ”We took the Coopers skiing for the very first time,” remembers Francis Rusteberg. “The next time we all went skiing, it was impossible to keep up with Punk. Our very young daughter, participating in a ski school line, took a wrong turn and went down a dangerous concrete-tower lined black lift run. Punk spotted her halfway down the mountain and skied straight down the dangerous black run line, rescuing her from danger. It was indeed

One-stop shopping for ranchers & ropers!

Punk today.

impressive.”

Punk passed his love of skiing to Jenny, who now lives in Taos and Ruidoso where she is the instructor who teaches other ski instructors.

Punk and Charlie’s granddaughter, Alicia, lived with them from the time she was in kindergarten until she graduated from high school.

“He took me everywhere and we did all the ranching things,” she remembers. “We climbed windmill towers together, branded, and marked lambs.”

Alicia and Punk also share a love of art, with Punk encouraging his granddaughter to pursue and achieve her Bachelors in Fine Arts. Alicia went on to get a Master’s in Business Administration, proving once again she and Punk shared more than just a love of art.

Alicia’s daughter was named Aubrey in honor of Coop, whose name is John Aubrey. “Punk is a great-grandfather to a two-yearold, and he loves spending time with her,” Alicia noted. “He gives her all the freedom in the world.”

Painting in a

profit

Family isn’t the only group who benefit from Punk’s wise, thoughtful approach to ranching. John Bain was enrolled in college classes when he began day-working for Cooper Brothers. “Punk put me to work and taught me a lot about ranching, the sheep business, and cattle,” John remembers. “All of the Coopers are outstanding, forward thinking, progressive, and excellent businessmen.” John, now president of First

American Bank in Artesia, continued, “Of course, we all know that Charlie is wonderful. When Punk married her, he out-punted his coverage.”

Paul Bierwirth, Paul’s Vet Supply in Roswell, also appreciates Punk’s knowledge of the productive side of agriculture. “When Punk walks in, we have an educated conversation because he has done his homework and understands immunology and genetics and nutrition,” Paul noted. “We have all learned a lot about production and ruminants since World War II and Punk is one who utilizes all the information the industry has accumulated.”

Paul continued, “The whole family is smart and efficient. They aren’t afraid to ask, ‘what is the best way to do this?’ A lot of people won’t ask these questions.

“When he comes in, we laugh and joke a bit, then we get down to business because we have animals to take care of and we want to do this in as cost effective a manner as we can,” Paul summarized. “It is all about sharing information and taking care of the animals.”

Dale Rogers of Roswell Livestock and Farm Supply added, “Punk is always willing

We admire your dedication and work ethic. You’ve set an example for your community and our industry. Thank You Punk, for being there for us all!

to help a neighbor. It is agreeable to do business with him. He takes care of livestock and does a good job from that aspect. He knows the area and knows what will work.”

A scenic inspiration

As well-known as he is as a rancher, Punk is perhaps better known as an artist whose work has adorned the covers of the National Wool Growers and the New Mexico Stockman magazines in addition to the Livestock Weekly. He has also been represented in a Santa Fe gallery for several years before COVID.

He began producing art at an early age when it was only taken seriously by teachers who saw it as a huge distraction from the subjects they thought he should be interested in. “Growing up in New Mexico exposed me to abundant high-quality artworks,” Punk noted.

Punk started with beautifully detailed black and white sketches of ranch animals. The detail of these drawings showcases his knowledge of animal anatomy and muscle structure. “Even if it is an imperfect animal, he draws it perfectly, just the way it is,” remarked Ginger. “If he is drawing an old

The Beef Industry Salutes You PUNK COOPER

on this well-deserved honor. YOUR COMPADRES AT THE NEW

and bony cow, she is old and bony on paper. It is realistic.”

Punk’s immense talent soon moved to the three-dimensional world of bronze sculptures. Most of his sculptures were limited editions and are all now sold out. The detail, again, is so minute that you could almost touch a bronze sheep and feel the wool.

“I do it largely for my own entertainment,” he commented. “I figure if I enjoy something enough, other people should as well.”

Ginger added, “As talented as Punk is, he doesn’t seek anything from his skills. I know of many times he could have been commissioned to make a big piece of art, but he wasn’t after that at all. He isn’t materialistic or needy. He stays true to himself, and leads a simple life.”

Bronzes, oil paintings, jewelry, and pencil art have all been mediums for this multi-talented artist. He is now involved in Plein Air work where the artist takes all of his supplies to his desired site and paints what he sees. “There is something about the discipline of direct painting, the merging of a place and a moment of time that breathes life and excitement into landscape painting,” Punk stated. “This response to my surroundings, even the

Our Best to Sheepman of the Year Punk Cooper

A well-deserved honor. Thank you for your lifelong dedication to the livestock industry.

Jerry & Michelle Maynard Glenburn, Maine

sounds and smells, seems to become as much a part of the process as light and color. The inspiration of a scene gives me the opportunity to paint vibrancy and composition that I don’t think I could otherwise achieve.”

Plein Air art has become such a passion that Punk has rigged up a wallet kit that he can fold and keep ready in his pickup in case he stumbles upon a scene that needs painting. Most Plein Air painters carry as little as possible, but most of their cases are at least backpack side. Punk’s was small and could be folded in such a way that he didn’t smash

Sheepman of the Year

Thank you for your hard work and dedication on behalf of our communities and our industry! — Rex & Carol Wilson & Family

Work came early for Punk bottle feeding baby lambs

the wet paint. “He is such a terrific painter,” confirms Peggy Immel. “One year he did a Plein Air painting of a horse which was just phenomenal.”

Punk’s artwork, showcased as Josie’s Framery in Ruidoso, consistently draws compliments from other artists, according to Josie. More of his art can be found at punkcooper.com or in Ruidoso.

faithful image

Though his accomplishments are many and his talents and skills are legendary, Punk’s deep faith in God and his love of friends and family and the lifestyle rooted in the land and dedicated to care of God’s creatures are what make Punk the firmly planted, deeply thoughtful leader to his family and the industry.

“I admire and want to emulate that faith,” confessed Jenny, Punk’s daughter. “He has a resilient, prayerful, thoughtful faith in the Lord that has guided him and made him the man he is.”

As Punk says, “I thank God for who I am and where He has placed me.”

As the New Mexico Wool Growers celebrate Punk Cooper as their Sheepman of the Year, New Mexico agriculture is also thankful for Punk and that God placed him among us here in New Mexico.

Punk Cooper ready to work.

A

... from their LifeLong Close Friends

Fred W (RIP 7-19-2020) & Frances Rusteberg

ROSWELL LIVESTOCK AUCTION SALES, INC.

& ROSWELL LIVESTOCK AUCTION TRUCKING,

INC.

900 North Garden · P.O. Box 2041 Roswell, New Mexico 88201 575/622-5580

www.roswelllivestockauction.com

CATTLE SALES: MONDAYS HORSE SALES

BENNY WOOTON CELL 575/626-4754

SMILEY WOOTON CELL 575/626-6253

Producers hauling cattle to Roswell Livestock New Mexico Receiving Stations need to call our toll-free number for a Transportation Permit number before leaving home. The Hauling Permit number 1-800-748-1541 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Trucks are available 7 days a week / 24 hours a day

Roswell livestock Auction Receiving stAtions

LORDSBURG, NM

20 Bar Livestock Highway #90 at NM #3 – East side of highway. Receiving cattle for transport 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month. Truck leaves Lordsburg on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (MST) Smiley Wooton, 575/622-5580 office, 575/6266253 cell.

PECOS, TX

Jason Heritage is now receiving cattle every Sunday. For information to unload contact Jason Heritage 575/8409544 or Smiley Wooton 575/626-6253. NO PRIOR PERMITS REQUIRED. Trucks leave Sunday at 4:00 p.m. (CST)

VAN HORN, TX

800 West 2nd, 5 blocks west of Courthouse. Bob Kinford, 432/284-1553. Trucks leave 1st & 3rd Sunday at 3:00 p.m. (CST)

MORIARTY, NM

Two blocks east and one block south of Tillery Chevrolet. Smiley Wooton 575/622-5580 office, 575/626-6253 mobile. Trucks leave Sunday at 3:00 p.m. (MST)

SAN ANTONIO, NM

River Cattle Co. Nine miles east of San Antonio on U.S. 380. Receiving cattle for transport 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month. Michael Taylor 575/418-7398. Trucks leave Sunday at 3:00 p.m. (MST)

by Labradoodle Bennington, III

Lone Star Ag Credit & Ag NM

Farm Credit Merge

Lone Star Ag Credit and Ag New Mexico are pleased to announce both Boards unanimously passed a Resolution on May 11, 2023, approving the terms and conditions of a proposed merger of the two Associations.

“This is a strategic merger for both associations,” shares Lone Star Ag Credit Board of Directors Chair, Brent Neuhaus. “Our boards have worked together diligently to ensure the long-term success of our customer-owners, the cooperative, and the communities we serve”.

The proposed merger is subject to the approval of the Farm Credit Administration (FCA). Assuming the Associations receive regulatory approval, each Association will call a special meeting of stockholders to hold a vote on the merger, likely in summer of this year, with the hope of closing the merger as early as October 1, 2023.

The agricultural lending cooperatives provide financing tailored to the needs of full and part-time farmers and ranchers as well as agricultural-related businesses. Customer-owners can expect the same personalized service they count on today from their current branch locations and experienced branch staff.

Based on the two Associations’ current financial statements, the combined entity would be well capitalized with more than $3 billion in total assets, serving nearly 8,000 stockholders with approximately 155 employees. The headquarters would be located in Fort Worth, Texas, with current Lone Star Ag Credit’s Chief Executive Officer, Joe Hayman, serving as the CEO of the merged entity. No branch closures or branch staffing changes are anticipated.      ▫

Farm Credit of New Mexico / American AgCredit Merger

Farm Credit of New Mexico and American AgCredit stockholders voted for a merger of the two cooperatives effective July 1, 2023, creating a merged association with enhanced marketplace stability, increased funding capacity, and better access to technology.

“This merger drives our purpose to serve the farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses in our seven-state territory,” said Curt Hudnutt, CEO, American AgCredit.

“With total assets of $20.5 billion and a diverse North American agricultural portfolio, the merged association creates a stronger partner for our customers that will help them grow their future – and the future of agriculture.”

According to James Duffey, Board of Directors Chair, Farm Credit of New Mexico, this merger means more for customers, employees and the Farm Credit mission. The size and scale of the merged association builds on the agricultural expertise, talent and passion of the association employees to drive profitability for customers in New Mexico, and across the association’s territory.

Hudnutt will lead the merged American AgCredit, pending a

35-day reconsideration period and final approval from the Farm Credit Administration.

ABOUT AMERICAN AGCREDIT: American AgCredit was chartered in 1916 as part of the nationwide Farm Credit System and is the nation’s fourth-largest Farm Credit association. American AgCredit specializes in providing financial services to agricultural and rural customers in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, New Mexico, Nevada and Oklahoma, and serves capital market customers throughout the United States.

American AgCredit’s financial services include production and mortgage financing, equipment and vehicle leasing, crop and life insurance, lines of credit, and the Young, Beginning and Small Farmer Program. American AgCredit also provides interest-free loans for qualifying 4-H and FFA AgYouth programs, and college scholarships to students interested in agriculture. Learn more at AgLoan.com.

ABOUT FARM CREDIT OF NEW MEXICO: Farm Credit of New Mexico is the largest agricultural lender in New Mexico, a $2 billion cooperative that specializes in agricultural lending and related services. Farm Credit of New Mexico is a full-service Ag lender, providing agricultural real estate loans, operating loans, equipment and livestock loans, rural home loans, and insurance products to New Mexico farmers and ranchers. Visit us online at www.farmcreditnm. com. Farm Credit of New Mexico is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture and the nation’s rural economy.

Bill Would Support Livestock Producers by Creating an Exemption In Cross-State Line Sales

by Kellan Heavican, Brownfield News

Abill has been introduced into the Senate that would provide flexibility for interstate commerce sales for livestock producers.

Aaron Popelka, vice president of legal and governmental affairs with the Kansas Livestock Association says the legislation creates an exemption for small producers and butchers to sell meat via ecommerce. “Currently, laws do not allow state inspected meat products to be sold outside of the state where the meat is inspected in. This would allow if you’re selling it over the Internet for certain smaller quantities to be sold across state line.”

The Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transaction Act (DIRECT) creates an exemption to allow

small producers and butchers more flexibility for interstate sales without compromising food safety or jeopardizing international trade market access.

Popelka tells Brownfield the COVID19 pandemic created demand for direct-to-consumer sales and the bill helps add value to that market. “This really, I think, allows producers to meet that need and grow their markets beyond just the state of Kansas because we raise a lot of beef here, but we don’t have as many consumers. And so, I think this is a great avenue to help producers grow some of those more niche markets.”

The bipartisan legislation was also introduced by Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Peter Welch (D-VT).

“Cold War”

by Kent Lassman, Competitive Enterprise Institute

The dog days of summer may take on a whole new meaning for homeowners who will see steeper air conditioner repair or replacement costs thanks to mounting regulations. Why? It’s all so President Biden can feel like he is fighting climate change.

An economy already under pressure from inflation doesn’t stop regulators from viewing basic home appliances as targets for ever stricter efficiency standards, even if the actions further strain consumers and do little or nothing about what happens in the atmosphere.

All Americans, face a growing momentum among regulators who prioritize climate policy over consumer autonomy. Defending everyday appliances—from stoves to air conditioners—is another essential front in the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI’s) fight against a pervasive green agenda.

CEI in the Media

Recently, CEI Senior Fellow Ben Lieberman put a spotlight on “Biden’s cold war” against AC units in an op-ed featured in Fox

News. Between regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE), anti-air conditioner rules lead to a string of consequences that ultimately result in sharp cost increases for consumers. For example, new EPA rules to address AC replacement parts labeled as contributors to climate change affect production quotas of refrigerants, resulting in a limited market supply and a three-fold increase in price. Today, replacing refrigerant in an AC unit may cost $100 to $500 more than before the regulations took effect.

Repair bills will keep rising as refrigerant quotas get even tighter next year. Meanwhile, another EPA rule requires refrigerants to be carried in heavy refillable cylinders. As a result, air conditioner repair providers take on higher costs that are inevitably passed on to the client.

Consumers who wish to replace the entire AC unit instead of bearing heavy repair costs do not catch a break. DOE regulations, including a new rule for window units enacted in January, already affect prices of central air conditioners. As Lieberman points out, a $10,000 price tag for a unit replacement is no longer a rarity. Piling on the burdens, a new proposed EPA regulation would outlaw the most affordable remaining

models in 2025.

But does this save money in the long-run? No way. In home air conditioning, efficiency savings are usually a mirage. “In reality, excessively stringent requirements can raise the up-front cost of the equipment more than many will ever earn back in the form of energy savings,” Lieberman explains. A $600 tax credit included in the Inflation Reduction Act for new systems will also do little to cover the additional costs resulting from all the new regulations.

Biden’s extreme climate goals mean more infringing policies on other home fixtures and appliances as well, including light bulbs, furnaces, washing machines, and dishwashers. In a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, Lieberman breaks down how some of the most recent federal regulations add to market pressures and aggravate costs.

CEI Before Congress

CEI is showing up in various formats on these questions. On May 11, during a House Budget Committee hearing on “Exposing Woke, Wasteful, and Bloated Bureaucracy,” CEI Center for Energy and Environment Director Myron Ebell reminded lawmakers that an atmosphere of excessive efficiency standards on cars and home appliances

erodes consumer choice. As prices rise, consumers are less able to afford their wants or needs. Already, today’s cost of living means that a family of four is paying $13,000 more per year to purchase the same goods and services than they did in January 2021.

The hearing’s focus extended to the national debt crisis, since a bloated bureaucracy accelerates unrestrained federal spending. Ebell identified energy subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act as advisable targets for spending cuts. As he explained, subsidies distort markets. In the energy sector, government subsidies favor corporate interests to build vast wind and solar factories, lowering the cost of wind and solar but raising the cost of electricity.

We’re going in the wrong direction, he warned. Malinvestment in wind and solar

and other handouts leads to under-investment in conventional sources, such as coal-fired power plants and gas plants. The approach not only damages our energy infrastructure but also makes us increasingly dependent on China for the critical minerals that are used in wind mills, solar panels, and electric batteries.

“It took 150 years to build the electric infrastructure. It took 150 years to build the oil infrastructure. And President Biden claims that we’re going to transform it in a so-called clean energy transition in a decade. This is impossible. This is a train wreck,” he stated.

We recognize Biden administration tactics for what they are: an attempt to impose controlling measures under the guise of environmentalism. Time and again, CEI

experts expose EPA officials for using extreme assumptions that negate essential factors like human adaptability in their climate models. Bad assumptions lead to painfully expensive policies.

We know how to counter the alarmism of the White House and EPA. Supporters of reasonable energy policy like you must not be afraid to speak truth to power. We are here—in the belly of the beast—doing it on your behalf and together we are making a difference.      ▫

2022 National Beef Quality Audit Shows Efficiency Improvements

Since 1991, the Beef Checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) has delivered a set of guideposts and measurements for cattle producers and other stakeholders to help determine quality conformance of the U.S. beef supply. Results from the 2022 NBQA indicate that the beef cattle industry is producing a high-quality product that consumers want more efficiently and the industry’s primary focus across the supply chain remains food safety.

“The NBQA is an important tool for the industry to identify where improvements are being made and where there are opportunities to capture more value,” said Josh White, senior executive director of producer education and sustainability at NCBA. “The good news is, overall, the beef industry is providing a quality product to consumers that they enjoy.”

Early NBQAs focused on the physical attributes of beef such as marbling, external fat, carcass weight and carcass blemishes.

These cattle industry concerns have evolved to include food safety, sustainability, animal well-being and the growing disconnect between producers and consumers. As a result, over the past 30 years, NBQA researchers have made significant changes to the research, leading to an increasingly meaningful set of results.

Based on individual interviews with stakeholders from across the cattle industry as well as in-plant research, key findings for fed cattle from the 2022 NBQA include:

Ї Market segments no longer consider food safety as a purchasing criterion, but an expectation.

Ї When comparing 2016 and 2022 NBQAs, the largest improvement was overall increased efficiency across the beef supply chain.

Ї Market sectors indicated that their companies strive to increase their sustainability, and work with the entire beef supply chain to do so.

Ї The entire industry felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, nonetheless, beef proved to be a choice of consumers, and the industry persevered to provide products.

Ї Due to pandemic pressures, more cattle over 30 months of age were harvested.

Ї The beef industry’s image improved within fed cattle market sectors.

Ї Foreign materials continue to present a problem, but the industry is making strides to decrease incidence.

Ї There was an increase in usage of electronic identification (EID).

Ї There was an increase in the frequency of Prime and Choice quality grades, while Select decreased drastically.

Ї While the industry is improving the quality of beef being produced, that quality is being accompanied by an increase in carcass weight and fat thickness, as well as large increases in percentages of Yield Grade 4 and 5 carcasses.

The NBQA, conducted approximately every five years, provides an understanding of what quality means to the various industry sectors, and the value of those quality attributes. This research helps the industry make modifications necessary to increase the value of its products. The efforts of the findings from the 2022 NBQA serve to improve quality, minimize economic loss, and aid in advancements in producer education for the U.S. beef industry. For more information about the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit, visit www.bqa.org.      ▫

CHECKOFF SPONSORS RACE AT DAYTONA 500

Start your engines – it’s the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.300 (BIWFD.300). For the third year the Beef Checkoff sponsored a race during the Daytona 500 weekend in February. The NASCAR audience closely matches the ideal target audience for beef consumers. This year’s race included a sweepstakes to win a Pit Boss grill and prize pack. The social media team created special posts for the race and Satellite Media Tour featuring Chef Ryan Clark highlighting great beef tailgate recipes live from the Daytona International Speedway. The New Mexico Beef Council chose to help sponsor this race as this partnership has proven to be lucrative in creating additional beef sales.

NMBC Council Director, Dan Bell and his wife, Crystal, were fortunate to attend the 2023 BIFWD.300 this year and had glowing reviews. “WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! It surpassed my expectations. The facility was clean and had a family atmosphere. Hats off to Florida Beef Council. They had a booth between Coke and Bush Beer where they served different beef products to people attending the event. Beef banners flew for all the fans to see. They fed and honored the Thunderbird pilots who flew over the facility before the race began. Beef Council members from several different states attended the event. Florida had reserved two suites for its guests. They provided us with food, drinks and snacks to enjoy during the race. This allowed us to meet and visit with others from different states. Florida Beef Council also began the race by driving in front of the pace cars. I’m glad New Mexico Beef Council attended and supported the event and I would strongly encourage this type of advertisement.”

Forrie J. Smith’s face is familiar to many of us as a rancher in San Acacia, N.M. Smith is also an actor on the hugely popular drama, Yellowstone. Smith showed up at the 2023 NCBA Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans last month and was surrounded by fans. Many wanted to “take him to the train station.” Why? Tune into Yellowstone to find out. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

JUNE

4-6 NM CattleGrower’s Summer Meeting, Ruidoso Convention Center, Ruidoso

5 NMBC Council Meeting, Ruidoso Convention Center, Ruidoso

11-16 Youth Ranch Management Camp, CS Ranch, Cimarron

12 Beef Day at Youth Ranch Management Camp, CS Ranch, Cimarron

15-21 Dairy Consortium, Clovis

19-24 US Beef Academy, NMSU Corona Ranch, Corona

22-24 Dairy Producers of NM Meeting, Ruidoso

NMBC SPONSORED NMAND ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

The New Mexico Beef Council sponsored the New Mexico Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Business Meeting on May 6th in Albuquerque at the Sheraton Uptown. Kate Schulz, consulting dietitian, attended on behalf of the New Mexico Beef Council. Breakfast included Beef Brisket tacos. The meeting was well attended with 35 members, including many students from UNM. Award and scholarship winners were announced and recognized along with 10,

20, 30, 40, and 50-year NMAND members. A basket donated by the New Mexico Beef Council was used as a raffle item with funds raised going to future scholarships. The basket was a big hit and included an array of things, such as a cookbook and a cast iron skillet. It was an excellent opportunity to meet and network with fellow dietitians.

The New Mexico Beef Council is proud to continue its support of NMAND in 2023 as it has done so for the past 35 +years. 

Fans attending the Daytona races were greeted with Beef banners. Race fans enjoyed Beef samples and interactive activities.

’23 STOCKMAN & STEWARDSHIP CONFERENCE IN FARMINGTON DEEMED A SUCCESS

The New Mexico Beef Council was joined by New Mexico State University and other local and national sponsors at the 2023 Stockman & Stewardship Conference held last month at McGee Park in Farmington, N.M. The conference began with an invocation spoken in Navajo by NMBC Council Secretary and Navajo Tribal Member Marjorie Lantana.

More than 170 attendees representing New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah received Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training, with some of the materials translated into Diné for the Navajo participants. The majority of attendees completed testing to become BQA certified. NMBC directors, Marjorie Lantana and Nancy Phelps, along with NMBC contractor Sonja Jo Serna attended the 3-day conference and hosted the NMBC resource table. The conference proved an excellent place to share ideas and distribute beef educational materials covering topics as diverse as the Beef Checkoff, Environmental Sustainability, recipes and antibiotic use in cattle. Attendees also received promotional items like grilling utensils, ballcaps and steak rub. Council directors had the opportunity to engage producers in discussions about the Beef Checkoff and BQA certification. Producers in attendance expressed their appreciation for the information and materials and the opportunity to become BQA certified if they chose.

One of the highlights of the three-day event was the NMBC sponsored prime rib supper served to all the attendees on the second night of the conference. The blessing for the dinner was again given by NMBC director, Marjorie

Lantana, in her native Diné. “I was honored to pray the invocation and blessing in my native language,” says Marjorie. “We were able to distribute helpful information to producers from New Mexico and surrounding states, so I believe this kind of outreach is invaluable,” she adds enthusiastically.

The New Mexico BQA Certification program has been supported by Beef Checkoff funds since its inception. The program is coordinated by NMSU to provide training and Continuing Education opportunities for beef ranchers and farmers. More information on BQA certification can be found at nmbeef.com. 

NMSU’S HOTEL RESTAURANT TOURISM MANAGEMENT FINISHES DELICIOUSLY

DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dina Chacon-Reitzel 505-841-9407

CHAIRPERSON Cole Gardner (Producer) 575-910-8952

VICECHAIRPERSON

Dan Bell (Producer) 575-799-0763

SECRETARY

Marjorie Lantana (Producer) 505-860-5859

New Mexico State University School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management held its biggest event of the semester, the Chef Artist Dinner and Silent Auction, on Thursday, April 27th at the Las Cruces Convention Center. The New Mexico Beef Council sponsored the dinner and were honored to have guests Maggie Clayshulte, Jim and Debby Hill, Rolando and Estela Flores and John and Laura Conniff attend as guests. The Artist Chef for the soup and steak entre (pictured) was Sean Staggs from Albuquerque. The steak was so delicious that Greg Wagner, Director of Sales for the Las Cruces Convention Center, stated that they would like to serve it again at upcoming events. The planning and service for this fundraising event was done by students of NMSU’s school of HRTM under the guidance of chef’s Danielle Young and Pete Mitchell. 

NMBC DIRECTORS:

Sarah Fitzgerald (Feeder) 830-739-3450

John Heckendorn (Purebred Producer) 505-379-8212

Jim Hill (Feeder) 575-993-9950

Nancy Phelps, (Producer) 575-740-0957

Kimberly Stone (Producer) 202-812-0219

Joel Van Dam (Dairy Representative) 575-714-3244

BEEF BOARD DIRECTOR

Boe Lopez (Feeder) 505-469-9055

FEDERATION DIRECTOR Cole Gardner (Producer) 575-910-8952

USMEF DIRECTOR

Kenneth McKenzie (Producer) 575-760-3260

Steak Entree prepared by Chef Sean Staggs of Albuquerque

Students from New Mexico State University Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management provided top notch service for the five course meal served to guests at the 2023 Chef Artist Dinner.

Dr John Wenzel, NMSU Faculty and director of New Mexico’s BQA program, welcomes attendees to the conference.

NMBC Council Members Marjorie Lantana and Nancy Phelps flank NMBC contractor Sonja Jo Serna as they greet attendees and distribute Beef information.

Animal handling was one of the areas covered in BQA training. Thank you to Cin and Pate and Ron Gill

Kurt and Rhoda Sandoval of Dulce, N.M. register for BQA training offered as part of the Stewardship and Stockmanship conference. Photo courtesy of Matt Denetclaw

EPA Proposes Emissions Caps on Existing Power Plants in Major Climate Effort

by Rose Horowitch, NBC

The Biden administration on has proposed new carbon pollution standards to restrict greenhouse gas emissions released by fossil fuel-fired power plants — an effort that, if it is enforced, would significantly further President Joe Biden’s ambitious climate agenda.

Under the rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency, nearly all of the

U.S.’s coal and large gas plants would have to reduce or capture almost all — 90 percent — of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2038 or be forced to retire.

The EPA estimated that its proposal would avoid up to 617 million metric tons of carbon dioxide through 2042, equivalent to reducing the annual emissions of about half the cars in the U.S. The rules would prevent 300,000 asthma attacks, as well as 1,300 annual premature deaths, in 2030, the EPA said.

“By proposing new standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, EPA is delivering on its mission to reduce harmful pollution that threatens people’s health and wellbeing,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement.

“EPA’s proposal relies on proven, readily available technologies to limit carbon pollution and seizes the momentum already

underway in the power sector to move toward a cleaner future,” he said, adding that the policies would cut “climate pollution and other harmful pollutants, protecting people’s health, and driving American innovation.”

If it is finalized, the proposed regulation would mark the first time the federal government has restricted carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants, which generate about 25 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas pollution, second only to the transportation sector.

Coal provides about 20 percent of U.S. electricity, down from about 45 percent in 2010. Natural gas provides about 40 percent of U.S. electricity.

Industry groups have aggressively opposed the proposals. The National Mining Association slammed the rules as “unlawful showmanship,” arguing that they would

make it harder for companies to operate given the realities of existing technology.

“Each one of the rules coming from the Biden administration’s EPA is designed to make it impossible for states and utilities to make decisions based on the merits of what keeps the lights on and electricity inflation low, forcing them to make decisions solely based on the EPA’s desire to end coal powered generation in the United States,” the association wrote in a statement.

Ben Jealous, the executive director of the Sierra Club, an environmental group, said the proposed rules showed the Biden administration “stepping up.”

Other experts and climate activists, however, indicated that existing climate technology might limit the industry’s ability to meet the thresholds set in the rules.

M. Granger Morgan, an engineering pro-

fessor at Carnegie Mellon University, said it would be “a reach” for power plants to scale up carbon capture technology to meet the requirements by 2038. Still, he said, the proposed rules would push the industry toward reducing emissions.

Caroline Spears, the executive director of Climate Cabinet Action, a political action committee, said that while she sees the proposed rules as “positive,” she is also concerned that carbon capture and sequestration have previously failed when tested.

Ahead of the proposal’s debut, Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, condemned the EPA for what he called its determination to advance the administration’s “radical climate agenda.”

Manchin said in a statement that he will oppose all EPA nominees “until they halt

their government overreach,” adding that the administration has “made it clear they are hellbent on doing everything in their power to regulate coal and gas-fueled power plants out of existence, no matter the cost to energy security and reliability.”

The EPA will take feedback on the proposals for 60 days and hold a virtual public hearing to consider implementation.

Biden has vowed to take action on the most ambitious environmental justice agenda in U.S. history and has pushed to position the nation as a global leader in combating climate change.

In April, ahead of his re-election announcement, Biden signed an executive order to expand on his climate goals, which included establishing an office at the White House to coordinate his administration’s efforts.      ▫

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Tiny Taco Beef Tarts

An easy-to-prepare Mexican-style appetizer, this Tiny Taco Beef Tarts recipe will win over any crowd.

Ingredients:

12 ounces Ground Beef (93 percent lean or leaner)

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 cup prepared mile or medium taco sauce

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

2 packages (2.1 ounces each) frozen mini phyllo shells (30 shells total)

1/2 cup shredded reduced fat Mexican cheese blend

TOPPINGS:

Shredded lettuce, sliced grape or cherry tomatoes, guacamole, lowfat dairy sour cream, slice ripe olives (Optional)

Directions:

Heat oven to 350°F. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef, onion and garlic in large nonstick skillet over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, breaking up beef into small crumbles and stirring occasionally. Add taco sauce, cumin, salt and pepper; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture is heated

through.

Cook’s Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160ºF. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.

Place phyllo shells on rimmed baking sheet. Spoon beef mixture evenly into shells. Top evenly with cheese. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until shells are crisp and cheese is melted.

Top tarts with lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream, and olives, as desired.

Nutrition information per serving: 43 Calories; 15.3 Calories from fat; 1.7g Total Fat (0.7 g Saturated Fat; 0 g Trans Fat; 0.1 g Polyunsaturated Fat; 0.7 g Monounsaturated Fat;) 12 mg Cholesterol; 92 mg Sodium; 2.7 g Total Carbohydrate; 0.1 g Dietary Fiber; 4.2 g Protein; 0.6 mg Iron; 59 mg Potassium; 1 mg Niacin; 0.1 mg Vitamin B6; 0.4 mcg Vitamin B12; 1 mg Zinc; 4 mcg Selenium; 13.2 mg Choline.

BLM Management Releases Meeting Dates For Proposed Public Lands Rule

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced a schedule for five public meetings that will provide forums across the country for the public to learn more about the proposed Public Lands Rule and have questions answered.

The proposed Public Lands Rule, which was announced in late March, would provide tools for the BLM to protect healthy public lands in the face of increasing drought, wildfire and climate impacts; conserve important wildlife habitat and intact landscapes; better use science and data in decision-making; plan for thoughtful development; and better recognize unique cultural and natural resources on

public lands.

The BLM intends to host two virtual and three in-person meetings to provide detailed information about the proposal. Members of the public will have an opportunity to ask questions that facilitate a deeper understanding of the proposal. The dates and cities of the meetings are:

May 15: Virtual meeting #1

May 25: Denver, Colorado

May 30: Reno, Nevada

June 1: Albuquerque, New Mexico

June 5: Virtual Meeting #2

Exact timing and locations of the meetings within the announced cities will be forthcoming.

The proposal would help the BLM fulfill its mission, ensuring public lands and the resources they provide are available now and in the future. The proposed rule would build on the historic investments in public lands and waters, restoration and resilience, and clean energy deployment provided by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. It would not prevent new or continuing recreational or commercial uses of our public lands, such

as grazing, energy development, camping, climbing, and more.

“Our public lands are remarkable places that provide clean water, homes for wildlife, food, energy, and lifetime memories,” said Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning. “We want to hear from our permittees as well as the millions of visitors who hunt, fish and recreate on our public lands on how to keep them healthy and available for generations to come.”

In addition to these informational public meetings, the BLM wants to hear from the public on the proposed Public Lands Rule. To learn more about this proposed rule, or to provide comment, please visit the Conservation and Landscape Health rule on https://www.regulations. gov. The public comment period is open until June 20, 2023.

The Days of Making Billions With Misleading ‘Climate-Friendly’ Products May Be Over

by Patrick Greenfield The Guardian

The era of vague environmental claims is over, advertising executives declared, as the marketing meets the science. Terms like environmentally friendly, nature positive and carbon negative are facing scrutiny from regulators in London and Brussels, with offsetting the subject of special attention.

“Misleading environmental claims are under the microscope from advertising regulators, consumer watchdogs and even governments. The risks of getting it wrong are huge, with brands being shamed publicly when they are guilty of misleading the public,” Jonny White, a director at advertising agency AMV BBDO, told my colleague

Ellen Ormesher.

From Disney to Gucci, Apple to Netflix, carbon offsets has been an important tool for large firms on climate and nature. It has driven the market for them to $2bn as firms sought to, in theory, cancel-out their greenhouse gas emissions while funding the conservation of climate-critical ecosystems and renewable energy.

But concerns have been repeatedly raised by the environmental integrity of the offsets, including in a joint investigation in January by the Guardian into rainforests projects certified by the leading provider that found many are worthless, and authorities have started to respond.

In the UK, adverts that claim products

are carbon neutral using offsets are to be banned by the advertising watchdog unless companies can prove they actually work, while the European parliament voted to support a ban on similar terms that rely on offsetting.

“Climate-related claims have been shown to be particularly prone to being unclear and ambiguous, misleading the consumer. Claims like ‘climate neutral’, ‘carbon neutral’, ‘100 percent CO2 compensated’ and ‘net zero’ are very often based on offsetting. We need to set things straight for consumers and give them full information,” the EU’s environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told me last week shortly after the vote.

Firms have also started to change their claims, too.

Gucci, Italy’s most valuable luxury brand which announced it had become “entirely carbon neutral” in 2019, has deleted the statement from its website. In September last year, easyJet moved away from offsets, announcing a climate strategy that instead relied on sustainable aviation fuel, more fuel-efficient planes and carbon capture. Many big companies, such as Ikea, are not using offsets at all for their climate strategies.

So, what next?

Carbon markets are not going anywhere, say experts, who underscore the importance of major companies funding action on the climate. Instead, we should expect the type of claim to change, with companies increasingly being encouraged to follow “the contribution model”.

Deep emissions cuts are needed by firms alongside financial contributions to climate change or biodiversity loss mitigation, but the two should not be linked through the logic of offsetting, according to this approach, which is supported by organisations including WWF.

“High-quality carbon credits can be part of the solution. But we also need companies to step up and show real leadership with transformational investments in naturebased solutions that deliver nature, climate and social benefits,” wrote Fran Price and Manuel Pulgar Vidal, the charity’s respected forest and climate and energy leads, in February.      ▫

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Only Dino Cornay can convey this kind of Western Spirit in words and art...

The Button

by Dino Cornay

On the other side of nowhere, out beyond the urban sprawl, A life exists unknown to most, though few will heed the call

Careers and opportunities prevail, and most depart, Yet some remain with what they’ve known, that dwells deep in their heart

The sons and daughters, born and bred, on ranches of this nation, Deep family ties, a way of life, embraced for generations

The proving ground reveals the weak, while sifting grain from chaff, Exposing those without the grit, required to hone their craft

The cuts, the scrapes, the rope burned hands, he’ll try and try again, As youth gives way to hardened steel, the learning never ends

The ghosts of those that came before, the strong, the old, the young, They rode the range when it was wild, before barbed wire was strung

Their spirits permeate his path, they gallop by his side, And place their hand upon each man and woman born to ride

The smoke from countless branding fires, the incense of the range, From heated iron on hair and hide, traditions never change The rain, the hail, the dust and drought, at times enduring winters, When mother nature pours her wrath, upon the saints and sinners

The observer sees but romance, daring feats, and charming grin, Yet the glamour fades to powder, in a cold December wind

Will trust his horse, and drop his loop, in many heated battles, At times ride home in dark of night, from long hours in the saddle

He’ll inhale the scent of horse sweat on the stifling canyon floor, And will taste hard ground that greets him, from a horse declaring war

Will ride the rim, and rattle rocks, high lope across the plain, Most noble in his element, to ride and feel the reins

Will love that special horse, so brave and fearless, strong and fast, Then help him at the end, as he prepares to breathe his last

The “Sunday Riding” fallacy, belies the naked truth, That brutal miles will steal away each vestige of his youth

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Yet what he’ll see, within the years, of God’s predestined plan, Will yield a panorama, starkly beautiful and grand

He’ll watch the big floodwater flow, and feel life giving rain, Will see the eagle soar, and hear the coyote’s wild refrain

So many times with eastward gaze, he’ll ride into the dawn,

As daybreak sky explodes with light, till grip of night is gone

He’ll master skills a ranch requires, though none can take the place, Of feeling well bred horses move through miles of open space

At times will second guess his path, and choices that he’ll make, Yet find it’s deep within his core, and damn sure hard to shake

Yet through it all, the code persists, he’ll sign up till the end, And through each joy and sorrow, stay the course, and never bend

The sentinel of a way of life, surviving many tests,

As talons from encroaching waves, engulf his sacred west

From the Kansas Flint Hills prairie, Colorado and beyond, Every legacy endures within his breed, until they’re gone

As pages turn, will know his path, work hard to make a hand, As the button takes the polish........And the boy becomes a man

© Copyright 2022

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Court Tosses Jaguar Habitat Protection at Rosemont Mine Site

by Tony Davis, Arizona Daily Star

In a victory for future mining in the Santa Rita Mountains, an Appeals Court panel tossed out a federal agency decision protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of land in the range south of Tucson and a lower court ruling upholding much of the agency’s action.

The ruling in mid-May, if not successfully appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court or responded to adequately by future agency actions, will essentially eliminate the jaguar as a factor in making decisions about copper mining in the Santa Ritas. An adult male jaguar, nicknamed El Jefe, was repeatedly photographed by remote cameras in this area from 2012 to 2015 before disappearing from public view.

Much of the new 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling was based on its finding that the U.S. government must rely on whether a jaguar was known to roam that area when the animal was first listed as an endangered species by the wildlife service. That happened in 1972, at a time when no jaguars had been seen in this country for years.

That meant the 2012 discovery of El Jefe, in videos and photos taken by and for environmentalists, couldn’t be considered in deciding whether that land qualified as critical habitat, the 9th Circuit found.

The ruling pulls the former Rosemont Mine site — now known as Copper World — from federally designated prime habitat for the endangered jaguar. It also voids more than half of all the 700,000 acres of federally protected critical habitat for the large mammal in Arizona and the U.S. as a whole, since this is the only state with critical jaguar habitat.

“It leaves the area vulnerable to the Rosemont Mine, or other developments,” said Michael Robinson, a conservation advocate for the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), whose lawsuit against the

federal government led to the ruling. The center has pressed for years to have that area in and around the mine site designated as critical jaguar habitat. “The Rosemont Mine is a big one, an identifiable, huge threat. But any other threats that come along, the habitat would no longer have protection.”

Hudbay Minerals Inc., which wants to build the copper mine, said in a statement that it’s “pleased that the court recognized that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) erred in its designation of the northern Santa Ritas as jaguar critical habitat by not following the requirements of the Endangered Species Act and its own regulations.

“The lands in question are not, in any normal sense of the word, ‘essential’ to the survival of the jaguar species. The critical habitat designated in the United States accounts for 0.04 percent of all jaguar habitat and the species is not considered endangered on a worldwide basis,” Hudbay said.

Robinson said he hopes the Santa Ritas’ land could ultimately be protected as critical habitat if the FWS revises its original determination to take into account the 9th Circuit’s ruling.

“This was a procedural mistake or legal infirmity on the part of the Fish and Wildlife Service,” Robinson said. “It does not mean that these areas are not critically important for jaguars. They are. The Fish and Wildlife Service can go ahead, cross its t’s, dot its i’s and redo it,” he said of the original habitat designation.

The FWS did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the court’s ruling or Robinson’s hope that it could revise its decision to make it more legally acceptable.

The decision comes at a time when the original Rosemont Mine proposal to build an open pit copper mine on the mountains’ east slope is now essentially defunct, due to other, unrelated court rulings by a federal judge in Tucson and another 9th Circuit panel. Those rulings blocked construction of Rosemont on the grounds the U.S. Forest Service had erroneously approved the mining project without properly determining if Hudbay’s mining claims on federal land were valid.

Since those rulings occurred in 2019 and 2022, Hudbay has put its emphasis instead on developing private land it owns on the Santa Ritas’ west slope and calls the new project Copper World. Although that project would ultimately include the original Rosemont Mine site, it will cover much more ground and be mined much longer — 44 years compared to 19 for the original Rosemont site. In addition, most of its early

mining will be in the west slope area.

In its statement, Hudbay said, “While the critical habitat designation has no impact on Phase I of the Copper World project, which will be on our private land, the decision will require the FWS to exercise more restraint in designating critical habitat in the future, as intended by Congress. It will also be helpful to Copper World in future consultations with the FWS, if required.”

In the new jaguar case, by a 2-1 margin, the 9th Circuit panel concluded the wildlife service had erred in designating more than

350,000 acres of national forest, state and private land as jaguar critical habitat. It also concluded that U.S. District Judge James Soto in Tucson had mistakenly upheld much of the FWS’s original decision protecting that habitat.

The panel found that Soto erroneously maintained this land qualified as unoccupied jaguar habitat, even while he overturned a FWS determination that the vast majority of that land qualified as jaguar-occupied critical habitat.      ▫

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The Alternative Meat Hypocrisy

by Jaclyn Krymowski for Protect The Harvest

Consumers are seeing “meat alternatives” everywhere they look, including grocery stores, fast food chains, and restaurants. Meat alternatives encompass an array of food products made from plantbased, meat-like proteins and lab-produced, “cultured meat” products.

Although they are produced from a variety of materials and are cleverly marketed with alluring labels, these alternative meats have some common features. They are marketed as “healthier” and more environmentally “sustainable” than traditional animal protein. Manufacturers and marketers are trying to make their products look and taste like real meat, which includes placing them in or near meat departments in grocery retailers. No doubt, this has resulted in some consumers guessing which items are familiar animal proteins (meat), and which are alternative meat products.

Clever marketing tactics are used to promote these products, tactics that are somewhat deceptive and often hypocritical. These highly processed alternative food products are questionable at best for their lofty environmental claims, and they also tend to disparage the nutrition, quality, safety, affordability and flavor of traditional animal protein products.

Shady Marketing Tactics

At the heart of sustainability marketing claims for alternative meats is a focus on demonizing animal agriculture. Their entire sustainability argument is based on the hypothetical goal of replacing traditional meats with highly processed “food products.”

These arguments do not rely on hard facts and data. Instead, they prey on emotion and employ scare tactics. Experts across industries, academia and government remain divided on the methods used to document sustainability in alternative meats and the accuracy of life cycle assessments compared to livestock.

Another serious point to consider is the fear-mongering used to promote a healthy meat alternative. Some alternative meat companies employ marketing strategies that position their products as being “healthier” than traditional animal proteins without

facts to back up their claims. Unless a person closely examines the laundry list of ingredients found in alternative meats, they will likely be deceived. To gain a true apples-toapples comparison of nutrients-per-serving requires more than reading the front of the package. (Some examples of ingredients should be listed here to substantiate our claim.)

Laboratory Manufactured “Meat”

Animal muscle tissue grown from cell cultures – literally “food” produced in a lab environment – goes by many names, including cell-cultured, lab-grown, slaughter-free, cultivated, or in-vitro meat.

Regardless of what alternative meats are called, researchers in the food science and environmental realms continue to question the environmental sustainability of “cellular agriculture.” While this concept may sound like a dystopian science experiment, it has been celebrated by a chorus of environment and animal rights extremists, investors, and even celebrities. This sudden embrace of “science” is a bit odd considering fresh fruits and vegetables are often vilified when they have been genetically modified or raised in conventional settings.

Supporters of cell culture technology claim it will eliminate the need for farms. They further state that it will hypothetically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and habitat loss associated with livestock production. The missing information here is that total livestock production accounts for a mere four percent of all global GHG emissions, all while using less land and fewer resources than ever before, and promoting biodiversity.

Additionally, animal extremists are holding out hope that cell-cultured meat products will decrease demand for traditional meat and other animal proteins.

Despite these beliefs, the production of cell-cultured tissue requires a very specialized infrastructure, and the long-term sustainability and costs are very difficult to authentically analyze. Yet, knowing how it’s produced is pretty unappetizing. Stem cells are taken from live animals, and then nourished with fetal bovine serum to promote cell multiplication. This occurs in stainless steel

tanks. Fetal bovine serum comes from unborn calves. It would be difficult to produce a horror movie any worse than what’s currently passing as “cultured meat science.” Oh, but that happened when in 1973, when Hollywood released the movie Soylent Green

Green House Gas Emissions Are Predicted to Be Higher with Cultured Food Items

Today, cell-cultured meat is a relatively small share of the entire market. The hypothetical impact of mass producing these items remains just as high, if not more expensive and environmentally taxing, compared to traditional livestock production.

Climate change studies conducted in England at the University of Oxford using cellular agriculture suggest that long-term cultured meat production may require significant energy resources (such as fossil fuels). The end result would be a greater impact on greenhouse gasses, not less. Furthermore, Environmental Science & Technology published a 2015 life cycle analysis of cell-based meats which found GHG emissions to be the same, if not slightly higher, for these products compared to traditional meats. The summary reads:

“While uncertainty ranges are large, the findings suggest that in-vitro biomass cultivation could require smaller quantities of agricultural inputs and land than livestock; however, those benefits could come at the expense of more intensive energy use as biological functions such as digestion and nutrient circulation are replaced by industrial equivalents. From this perspective, large-scale cultivation of in-vitro meat and other bioengineered products could represent a new phase of industrialization with inherently complex and challenging trade-offs.”

Livestock are Up-cyclers

Looking broader, replacing livestock meats with either cell-based or plant-based alternatives would have a ripple effect that hampers both the food system and the environment.

Livestock are key producers of many byproducts that results from meat production. In fact, byproducts comprise 20-25 percent of the diet farmers feed their chickens and livestock in the U.S. Many of these byproducts would be left to rot or take up valuable landfill space if not used as a food supplementation. Beef cattle, as an example, produce byproducts ranging from edible tallow to blood meal, bone meal, leather hides, skins and other items.

Cattle are also called “up-cyclers” for their ability to convert nitrogen-based plant materials (not for human consumption), including corn stalks, wheat straw, and grass, into nutrient-dense milk and meat.

Livestock’s Key Role in Carbon Sequestration

The practice of rotational grazing offers a tremendous opportunity to improve soil health and carbon sequestration. With this practice, livestock help to retain populations of beneficial plants and return nutrients to the soil via their manure. They also use marginal land that is not useful for traditional cropping methods like row crops for corn or soybeans. For centuries, sheep and goats have been raised on pasture lands in disadvantaged areas that cannot be used to grow crops.

The Value of Animal-Based Fertilizers

The manure aspect of livestock has come to the attention of mainstream media in recent years due to its value as an organic fertilizer. The recent global shortage, combined with skyrocketing prices for chemical fertilizers, left many farmers relying heavily on manure as it is readily available and less expensive. Relying solely on chemical fertilizers in today’s market is unsustainable and

costly.

Cost and Food Equity

Cost is a major component, not only for the production of alternative meats but for the consumer too. The positioning of meat alternatives as “health foods” bears all the marks of typical food elitism. Both plantbased and lab-cultured food items are more expensive than their traditional counterparts. Many affluent celebrities fund and endorse alternative meats as part of their lifestyle, including Leonard DiCaprio, the Kardashians, and Bill Gates. Their food budgets look far different than yours and mine.

Greenwashing Alternative Meat Products

American consumers have been warned about the dangers of ultra-processed foods and the same standards should be applied to alternative meat products intended to replace traditional meat. This issue is largely being ignored due to support from influential animal extremist groups that spent lots of money funding massive marketing campaigns. These groups are using unsubstantiated health claims that have been proven inaccurate, yet science, truth and facts are often absent as they promote their

agenda.

Perhaps the most important concern should be the nutritional value consumers receive from the food they eat. Contrary to their claims, meat alternatives are not a 1:1 nutritional equivalent of traditional meat. Nor are they as “clean” and “natural” as their supporters might like consumers to believe.

Plant-based meat products have significantly less protein, zinc, and vitamin B12 compared to traditional animal proteins. Being ultra-processed and high in sodium, these Frankenstein-like food products are less water soluble and thereby not so readily absorbed into the body’s cells to extract full nutritional value according to research.

Growing Endorsement of Alternative Foods

The push toward meat alternatives is growing and has become a pathway for animal extremists to push their vegan, plantbased, anti-animal protein agendas.

Among those pushing the agenda is U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, a popular politician with extremist activists. Booker has been candid about being a vegetarian since 1992 and vegan since 2014. Recently he enjoyed, and heavily promoted, cultivated chicken at GOOD Meat headquarters.

Why did he visit a company that produces

lab-grown meat?

Booker himself noted, “I was kind of freaked out. I wasn’t sure what it would be. They take a cell and biopsy it, and grow it. I finally agreed to try it, and I was blown away!”

Well, it’s interesting to note that GOOD Meat was served at the recent United Nations’ annual climate change discussion COP27. The UN has been a shady ally of the animal and environmental extremist movements and the organizations that serve it.

The Messaging Isn’t Adding Up

Consumers shouldn’t be misled by impressive marketing campaigns or celebrity endorsements. They should instead be looking at proven science and facts about nutrition and sustainability. For years, animal extremists have spread disinformation about the production of beef, chicken, eggs, pork, and dairy. These groups have even gone so far as to make false claims about health risks related to animal protein products being included in our diets. Their deception has grown to promote highly processed food items and those made from cultured animal cells.

Animal agriculture has many decades of sustainability practices and research, unlike these ultra-processed alternatives. Farmers need to be proactive in telling their story about raising nutritious affordable food. We at Protect The Harvest advocate for “A Free and Fed America,” period! We question if those promoting alternative meats can claim to be doing the same?

VIEW FROM THE BACKSIDE

by Barry Denton

George Washington We Need You!

(These are not necessarily the views of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association)

I’m still waiting to see it. I haven’t even seen a hint of it. It looks to me like the Biden administration used the wrong language when it struck the term, “Build Back Better”.

I would say, “Search & Destroy” would have been an acutely more accurate slogan. From my humble abode it looks like the only thing that the Biden administration has built up is the arsenal in Ukraine and transgender bathrooms.

Everything they have touched has resulted in chaos. Look at the economy, energy, the pandemic, and the crisis at the southern border for starters.

We grassroots Americans are used to winning and going forward. That has clearly not been the case with the alleged, “Progressive Agenda” since they have been in power.

They have gone far beyond being a disappointment. They are truly trying hard to destroy America as we know it and like it.

It’s evidenced at many of our universities that no longer allow free speech and let protestors shout down speakers that they don’t agree with.

Whatever happened to teaching and enforcing manners and decorum for young people? You had better look around your own neighborhoods.

Yes, it is falling to you and me to put a stop to this nonsense. I encourage you to get on the school board, college boards, and be involved in public service anyway that you can.

America needs rural leaders that will take them on the correct path, and it starts at home. Yes, what happens locally is the first thing that will impact you and your family. Rural folks need to get involved in this fight. Make your voices heard to your congressmen and at public meetings.

Explain one more thing to me. I thought we ended segregation in this

country. Now there are high schools and colleges having separate graduations for different races. To me, that is the very definition of segregation. I suspect that lawsuits will be coming.

This past Wednesday the Bureau of Land Management released its schedule for a tour of the western mountain states to present new regulations on public lands. I would like to know who gives these government agencies this much power in the first place.

This new, “Public Lands Rule” if instated would undermine the current multiple use mandate that would end a rancher’s grazing rights.

On another front, there is a big movement in the Biden administration to expand western National Parks. In Arizona that would involve the Grand Canyon National Park.

There are many ranches along the edge of the Park that will lose their grazing rights if this goes through. Also, hunters would be eliminated there as well.

According to sources, our alleged Arizona Governor Hobbs is all for this proposal. I haven’t been able to get any inside information on New Mexico, but I’m sure you will have the same problem there as well. I urge you New Mexicans to check it out.

This is not the time to ignore these things, it’s time to spring into action and be aware before they get started. It is just another case of the city slickers who have already ruined where they live trying to tell those of us who take care of the land how we should live.

Something else that you might not be aware of, since 90 percent of public lands are west of the Mississippi, the Trump administration moved the BLM headquarters from Washington, DC to Grand Junction, CO.

The Biden administration moved the headquarters back to Washington, DC from Grand Junction, CO. The reason this is important is that most large and important meetings are held at the headquarters. It is apparent that the last thing that the BLM would want is input from ranchers that live on the land that they are making decisions about.

It is abundantly clear the resident evil in charge of Washington, DC are trying hard to eliminate common sense, hardworking, law abiding, driven, and free-thinking Americans.      ▫

Civil Rights Violated by New Mexico Approving Oil & Gas Operations, Lawsuit Says

by Adrian Hedden, Carlsbad Current-Argus

Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to halt to oil and gas permitting by the State of New Mexico. The suit cites the alleged failure by state agencies to prevent environmental degradation as fossil fuel operations boomed.

On the heels of COVID-19 and subsequent increased demand for fuel worldwide, further exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, production in the U.S.-leading Permian Basin shared by New Mexico and Texas continued to grow, providing billions in state revenue.

But that came at the expense of the state’s air, land and water, claims the suit filed in early May by a coalition of environmental groups including Santa Fe-based WildEarth Guardians and the Center for Biological

Diversity.

The suit invoked a 1971 amendment to New Mexico’s Constitution known as the Environment Improvement Act which required the Legislature and state administration to protect the environment from pollution, and allowing, according to the suit, for lawsuits if such a duty was breached.

“The protection of the state’s beautiful and healthful environment is hereby declared to be of fundamental importance to the public interest, health, safety and the general welfare,” read the amendment listed as Article XX, Section 21.

“The legislature shall provide for control of pollution and control of despoilment of the air, water and other natural resources of this state, consistent with the use and development of these resources for the maximum benefit of the people.”

Filed in the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, the lawsuit listed as defendants the State, Legislature, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and Cabinet Secretary James Kenney along with the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) and Cabinet Secretary Sarah Cottrell Propst.

NMED and EMNRD are the main agen-

cies in New Mexico that regulate the oil and gas industry, and each passed stricter regulations in 2022 and 2021, respectively, aiming to reduce air pollution emissions from fossil fuel facilities and increase requirements for operators.

Lujan Grisham’s office in a statement responding to the lawsuit touted new regulations it said were some of the strongest in the U.S. in curbing fossil fuel pollution.

“This administration is proud of its record on the environment, including when it comes to regulating the state’s oil and gas industry. Frankly, this is a misguided lawsuit that will only serve to distract the state from conducting additional work on environment and climate solutions and from enforcing the nationally leading regulations this administration fought hard to get on the books,” the statement read.

But it wasn’t enough to prevent environmental damage in New Mexico, the suit contended, including the destruction of Indigenous cultural artifacts, water and air resources and native plants and animals.

This violated the rights of all New Mexicans, read the suit, as the State continued issuing permits to allow oil and gas operations the plaintiffs argued were known sources of pollution.

“Plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that Defendants are failing to meet their constitutional duties to control the despoilment of the air, water, environment and natural resources of New Mexico from the impacts of oil and gas pollution,” the suit stated.

Authorizing new oil and gas operations should cease, the suit read, until the State complied with the law. Continued oil and gas permitting without adequate pollution controls resulted in “very poor” air quality in New Mexico’s extraction region.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year announced it was considering listing the Permian Basin in “non-attainment” with federal air standards for ground level ozone, a cancer-causing pollutant believed tied to fossil fuel production.

“Plaintiffs and many other New Mexicans face grave harms to their health, safety and longevity caused by the Defendants’ authorization of oil and gas development and production without an adequate system for controlling the pollution and despoilment of natural resources from such activities,” the suit alleges.

Gail Evans, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity said legal action must be taken as New Mexico’s continued permitting of oil and gas is a violation of civil rights.

Aside from environmental organizations, the suit also listed residents and leaders from local communities in the Permian Basin and the northwest New Mexico San Juan Basin, where long-term extraction was believed to risk destruction of cultural remains held sacred by the Navajo Nation.

Mario Atencio of the Torreon/Starlake Chapter of the Navajo Nation said sacred lands were devastated by oil and gas operations and associated pollution, with little action taken by State regulators.

“New Mexico has allowed sacred Diné lands in the Eastern Navajo Agency to be completely ravaged by oil and gas extraction and pollution,” Atencio said.

“There is zero accountability for the dangerous air pollution that my community breathes and the toxic spills that pollute our precious lands and waters.”

animal & range sCienCes

ANIMAL & RANGE SCIENCES

The Department of Animal & Range Sciences is part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences

The Department of Animal & Range Sciences is part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences

Four on-campus animal facilities house: beeF CaTTle/horses/swine/sheep

Students can major in Animal or Rangeland Resources and are provided with the very best of “hands on” academic instruction by our faculty. Fully equipped labs allow students access to cutting-edge research in:

LIVESTOCKNUTRITION / GENETICS / PHYSIOLOGY / ENDOCRINOLOGY / MEATSCIENCE / WOOL /

TOXICOLOGY / WATERSHED & RANGELANDECOLOGY

/ WEED & BRUSHCONTROL / PLANTSYSTEMATICS / GRAZINGMANAGEMENT

The Department also offers pre-veterinary studies –our graduates have a high acceptance rate into veterinary medicine programs. We offer graduate degrees at the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy levels. The M.S. or Ph.D. in Animal Science can emphasize nutrition or physiology, and offers a Ph.D. in Range Science to study range management, range ecology and watershed management.

• The Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (The College Ranch) –64,000 acre ranch just outside of Las Cruces

• The Corona Range & Livestock Research Center – 28,000 acre ranch & facilities in Corona, NM

• Student organizations, including a Block & Bridle Club, Pre-Vet Club, Range Club, Horsemen’s Association, Therapeutic Riding Club, & Judging Teams

• Clayton Research Center hosts research on shipping protocols, particularly evaluating the health and performance of newly received cattle, and nutrition and management from feedlot to slaughter

Dr. John Campbell –575/646-6180 / Dr. Dennis hallford –575-646-2515 http://aces.nmsu.edu/academics/anrs/

Shanna Ivey – 575-646-2515 • Dr. John Campbell – 575-646-6180 http://aces.nmsu.edu/academics/anrs

FEBRUARY — Beefmasters; Texas Longhorns MARCH — Limousin; Santa Gertrudis

APRIL — Dairy

MAY — News of the Day

JUNE — Sheepman of the Year

JULY — Directory of Agriculture

AUGUST — The Horse Industry

SEPTEMBER — Charolais; Fairs Across the Southwest OCTOBER — Hereford; New Mexico State Fair Results

NOVEMBER — Cattleman of the Year; Joint Stockmen’s Convention Preview; Angus, Brangus, Red Angus

DECEMBER — Bull Buyers Guide

Edward Roy Tinsley III, 71, Santa Fe, passed away on November 1, 2022, after fighting a 12-year battle with cancer. He left this world the way he always lived it – never quitting. His wife of 46 years, Meredith George Tinsley, daughter Ede Tinsley Booth, and son Edward R. Tinsley IV, were by his side the morning of his passing.

Ed was born on August 26, 1952, in Lamesa, Texas to Ona Erma (Toots) Tinsley and Edward Roy Tinsley Jr. Growing up, he adored his two older sisters, Kaki and Carter.

After an illustrious career as the almost-football star of the Lamesa Golden Tornadoes (5 knee surgeries!), Ed attended the University of Texas in Austin. He bled Burnt Orange every day that followed. It was there that he (re)met the love of his life and forever partner, Meredith. In a funny twist of fate, their meeting was a chance pairing on a ski lift in Ruidoso, as high school kids several years before.

In 1978, after six long months practicing law in Austin, Ed and Meredith embarked on the first of many adventures - they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to open a Schlotzsky’s sandwich shop franchise. Ed ran the grill and Meredith ran the register. And so began a career in the restaurant industry that would eventually take Ed to one of his proudest professional accomplish-

ments as the Chairman of the National Restaurant Association in 2006.

No place was closer to Ed’s heart however, than the Flying W Diamond Ranch in Capitan. No matter where his pursuits took him, he always considered it home. Raising cattle was his passion. So much so that in 1992 he bought the now 56-year-old restaurant brand, K-BOB’S Steakhouse, so that he could, as he put it, work from “the pasture, to the plate.”

In the last years of his life, the K-BOB’S in Ruidoso, was where Ed put all his best culinary ideas into action. He cared deeply for every employee who worked in the restaurant (some for over 30 years) and was especially proud as they recently broke the chain’s all-time sales records.

Ed and Meredith were fortunate to travel the world together throughout their marriage. Whether it was their annual Thanksgiving trip to the Mauna Kea, bicycle trips through France with friends and their families, or their visit to the British Open this past Summer in Scotland, Meredith and Ed always found the fun wherever they went, something their dear friends in Albuquerque and Midland knew well.

The capstone to Ed’s ranching legacy in New Mexico was his development of a Registered Black Angus program. He preached

to his children, Ede and Edward, how important and unique it was to safeguard this way of life. He knew that in being a careful custodian of the land and its animals, that his children and grandchildren would have a legacy they could be proud of long after he left this world.

Ed will be missed dearly by all who loved him in this world. He was larger than life to us. Ed is survived by his wife Meredith George Tinsley, his son Edward Roy Tinsley IV, his daughter Ede Tinsley Booth (husband Morgan), his sisters Carter Tinsley Schildknecht (husband Ellis) and Kaki Tinsley (husband Bo Burris), and his four grandchildren.

Larry Mahan, one of rodeo’s biggest stars, passed away on May 7. He was 79 years of age. Mahan was the all-around world champion in 1966 to 70 and 1973. He also was the bull riding champ in 1965 and 1967. He qualified for the NFR a combined 26 times from 1964 to 75 in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. He was inducted in the inaugural class of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1979.

He was an inspiration to so many generations of rodeo athletes, and he will be missed. Our deepest and most sincere condolences go out to his family and many friends.

Carrell Rae Blakely, 86, died on January 17, 2023, in Springer, New Mexico. Carrell Rae Blakely was born on July 27, 1936, in Hemingford, Nebraska to Ray and Margorie

Stull. She graduated from high school in Stratton, Colorado in 1953. Carrell loved learning, going back to school at Trinidad Jr. College to obtain an associates degree and later to the University of New Mexico to complete her bachelor’s degree. Carrell enjoyed painting, writing, being involved in the community and was an avid reader.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clayton, Lariat CowBelles, Clayton Arts Council, Board member of the Clayton Housing Authority and Golden Spread. She had two books published and was working on a third. She put her education to use running a business for 23 years and later became the Union County General Hospital administrator in Clayton.

Carrell married Virgil Pugh, Stratton in September of 1953 and they moved to California where he was stationed in the Navy. They had two sons, Mickey and Rickey. They moved back to Stratton and later to Raton, New Mexico. They parted in 1966. In 1968, she married Richard Azar, Raton. He had four children from his previous marriage, Richard Jr., Gail, Douglas and Polly and Richard passed away in 1970. In 1972, Carrell married Herbert Blakely from Clayton. He had four children from his previous marriage, Alan, Sherry, Anita and Gaylene.

Survivors include: two sons - Mickey Pugh of Albion, Nebraska and Rickey Pugh, Ute Park, New Mexico; three step-daughters - Gail Porter, Denver, Colorado, Sherry Huddleston, Bogata, Texas and Gaylene Smith, Cuchara, Colorado; one step-son - Alan Blakely, La Veta, Colorado; two brothersKenneth Stull, Hemingford, Nebraska and Tom Stull (wife Diana), Albuquerque, New Mexico; one sister: Barbara Tschacher (husband Gary), Wanette, Oklahoma; along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bobbie “Joy” Best, funeral services for Bobbie “Joy” Best were held at 10:00 a.m., Sat., April 1, 2023 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with her grandson, Ryan Best officiating. Burial will follow in the Floyd Cemetery with Ryan Best, Reavis Bell, Halee Goff, Klancy Best, Trey Best, Lyndsi Donner, Wende Fraze, Barbi Dauer, Marissa Best and Monica Best serving as pallbearers. All other family members and her many friends will be honorary pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions to be made to the Wendell Best Memorial Rodeo Scholarship Fund, ENMU, 1500 S Ave K, Sta 8, Portales NM 88130

Bobbie Joy Morgan Best was born on October 21, 1934, in Floyd, NM, to the home of Nellie Faye (Bruton) Morgan and R.C. “Ike” Morgan and passed away on March 25, 2023, at her home in Portales.

Joy grew up in the Floyd, NM, community where she was active in the Central Baptist Church in Roosevelt County; however, she was baptized in Dimmitt, TX, in 1944, at ten years old. As an adult, Joy was a member of the Floyd Baptist Church. Joy began school in Floyd in 1940, where she met her life-long best friend, Nina Jo Thompson Bilberry, and attended through her fifthgrade year when the family moved to Dimmitt for two years.

Upon returning to Floyd, she again attended Floyd Schools where she was active in Future Homemakers of America (FHA), volleyball, softball, and 4-H. She also met the love of her life, Wendell Best, and they were married on December 29, 1952, in Portales.

Together, Wendell and Joy raised their four children, Barbara, Monte, Kent, and Kyle, on the family ranch south of Floyd. Joy remained on the ranch for 65 years until she moved to Portales in 2018. She was proud of the ranching lifestyle she and Wendell shared. Joy began her college career upon her high school graduation in 1952 and had completed two years when Barbara was born. She put her collegiate career on hold to stay home

Polis Bites the Hand That Feeds Colorado

by Rachel Gabel, coloradopolitics.com

Colorado Governor Jared Polis was gifted opportunity to show his support of the state’s multibillion-dollar agriculture industry and offer an olive branch. He did not.

On May 16, the governor joined the Western Slope sponsors to inform them he would be vetoing SB23-256. The bill would have ensured that a 10(j) designation was in place prior to wolf reintroduction.

The bottom line is the wolves would have been designated as an experimental, nonessential population, rather than endangered. It would have given CPW more flexibility and would have ensured the management of wolves is led by the state.

The sticking point for Polis that led to the veto was the deadline of December 31, 2023. The ballot language required the state to take necessary steps to begin reintroduction by that date.

Colorado Farm Bureau’s former vice president of advocacy, Shawn Martini, said “rushing a process that is contentious in the area where the law will have an impact ought to require adhering to the process prescribed in the proposition language.”

Martini said the end of 2023 was but a target.

“(Polis is) trying sleight of hand and moving the goal post, saying there’s nothing that says we can’t do it faster… other than good sense and prudence and responsible public policy making.”

Polis went on to say wolves “basically take care of themselves” and the introduction planning isn’t as difficult as some other species, like the Canadian lynx and black-footed ferret. Of course, all of this occurred before naturally migrating wolves entered the state and handily illustrated just how quickly depredations can overwhelm resources.

As has been his custom over and over, the governor has been presented with an opportunity to mend proverbial fences with the ag producers in the state, and he has done exactly the opposite. It is time that reasonable voters recognize the danger of biting the hand that feeds you.

Rachel

issues. She is assistant editor of The Fence Post Magazine, the region’s preeminent agriculture publication. Gabel is a daughter of the state’s oil and gas industry and a member of one of the state’s 12,000 cattle-raising families, and she has authored children’s books used in hundreds of classrooms to teach students about agriculture.

Editorial Calendar

Plan advertisingyourfor

JANUARY — Wildlife; Gelbvieh; Joint Stockmen’s Convention Results

FEBRUARY — Beefmasters; Texas Longhorns

MARCH — Limousin; Santa Gertrudis

APRIL — Dairy

MAY — News of the Day

JUNE — Sheepman of the Year

JULY — Directory of Agriculture

AUGUST — The Horse Industry

SEPTEMBER — Charolais; Fairs Across the SW

OCTOBER — Hereford; NM State Fair Results

NOVEMBER — Cattleman of the Year: Joint Stockmen’s Convention Preview: Angus, Brangus, Red Angus

DECEMBER — Bull Buyers Guide

Gabel writes about agriculture and rural

FOR SALE CATT LE GUARDS

and raise her children.

After Kyle was born, she returned to Eastern New Mexico University and finished her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics in 1970, and then pursued and completed her Master of Education degree a year later. Joy taught at ENMU for six years before becoming the Roosevelt County Home Economist in 1977, and then became the county director in 1985.

During her time with the NMSU Extension Service, Joy served as an officer in many local, state, and national organizations. She also received numerous state and national honors including the Governor’s Award for New Mexico Outstanding Women in 1988 and was inducted into the New Mexico 4-H Hall of Fame in 2005. Joy also had a star named after her when she received a service award from New Mexico State University. Together, Joy and Wendell were associated with the New Mexico High School Rodeo Association and the National High School Rodeo Association from 1973-2003, when they retired in order to attend their grandchildren’s sporting events, livestock shows, and rodeos.

Joy’s greatest joy in life was her family. She and Wendell took great pride in the successes of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They were also the biggest supporters of all the endeavors their family took on and were the first to brag on their accomplishments. She was “Joy” to all of her friends, but she will always be Mema to her family. Joy was looking forward to meeting her first great-great-grandchild and was proud of the living legacy her family will continue.

Joy is survived by sons Kent (Sherri) Best of Portales and Kyle (Amy) Best of Arizona; grandchildren, Wende (Wes) Fraze, Barbi (Justin) Dauer, Monica and Marissa Best, Halee (Hayden) Goff, Ryan (Shayna) Best,

Reavis (Michael) Bell, Lyndsi (Sterling) Donner, Klancy (Kaysha) Best, and Trey Best; her great- grandchildren, Tayler Fraze, Toree (Payton) Williams, Ashby, John, and Jacob Dauer, Jared (Bella) Dauer, McKinley and Kaydee Goff, Warren and Waylon Bell, Brayden and Connor Donner, and Hondo and Jaycee Best. Joy is also expecting her first great-great-grandchild to be born in May. In addition, Joy is survived by her best friend of 82 years, Nina Jo Bilberry.

Joy is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Wendell Best who died Feb. 10, 2015, her parents, Ike and Nell Morgan, sister Glenna Morgan Cooper, children Barbara Best Rogers and Monte Best, and grandchildren Arvin Lance Rogers and Heidi Kay Best.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wheeler Mortuary of Portales. 575/356-4455, wheelermortuary.net

Editor’s Note: Email caren@aaalivestock.com. Memorial donations may be sent to the Cattlegrowers’ Foundation, a 501(c)3, tax deductable charitable foundation serving the rights of ranch families and educating citizens on governmental actions, policies and practices. Cattlegrowers Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 7517, Albuquerque, NM 87194. The N.M. Stockman runs memorials as a courtesy to its readers. If families & friends would like to see more detail, verbatim pieces must be emailed to us, & may be printed at 10¢ per word

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“Complete

JANUARY — Wildlife; Gelbvieh; Joint Stockmen’s Convention Results

FEBRUARY — Beefmasters; Texas Longhorns

MARCH — Limousin; Santa Gertrudis

APRIL — Dairy

MAY — News of the Day

JUNE — Sheepman of the Year

JULY — Directory of Agriculture

AUGUST — The Horse Industry

SEPTEMBER — Charolais; Fairs Across the Southwest

OCTOBER — Hereford; New Mexico State Fair Results

NOVEMBER — Cattleman of the Year; Angus; Brangus; Red Angus: Joint Stockmen’s Convention Preview DECEMBER — Bull Buyers Guide

REAL ESTATE GUIDE

O’NEILL LAND, llc

MIAMI DREAM, 14.70 +/- deeded acres. Approx 1,583 sq ft 2 bedroom 1 bath home. Real country living with barn wood siding, porches, recent remodel for remote workspace. Irrigation and horse facilities, 57 Wampler St., Miami, NM $370,000

MAXWELL 45, Excellent irrigated pasture with utilities in back of property, including installed septic system, with private views of mountains. 40 irrigable acres and a domestic water meter installed. Great to put down home and bring horses. $249,000 $239,000

BAR LAZY 7 RANCH, Colfax County, Moreno Valley 594.38 +/- deeded acres, accessed off blacktop between Eagle Nest and Angel Fire. Historic headquarters. Currently used as summer grazing, pond and trees accessed off county road on rear of property as well. Presented “ASIS” New Survey, $4,000,000 $3,800,000

CIMARRON BUSINESS, Frontage opportunity, house, big shop and office buildings, easy view off Hwy 64. Formerly known as “The Porch.”

$295,000

SPRINGER VIEW, 29.70 +/- deeded acres. Large house being remodeled, shop, trees, old irrigation pond. All back off highway with great southern aspect. 311 Hwy 56, Colfax County.

$209,000 $205,000

MAXWELL, 408.90 +/- Deeded Acres. 143.05 Irrigable Acres/Shares with TL pivot covering approximately 80 acres, with balance dry land. Property has one water meter used for livestock, but could support a home as well. There are two troughs located in the middle of the property. Electricity for pivot is back toward the middle of the property as well. Property has highway frontage on NM 505 and Highline Rd, a County Rd. Back up to Maxwell Wildlife area. Colfax County, NM.$599,000

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JANUARY — Wildlife; Gelbvieh; Joint Stockmen’s Convention Results

FEBRUARY — Beefmasters; Texas Longhorns

MARCH — Limousin; Santa Gertrudis

APRIL — Dairy

MAY — News of the Day

JUNE Sheepman of the Year

JULY — Directory of Agriculture

AUGUST — The Horse Industry

SEPTEMBER — Charolais; Fairs Across the Southwest

OCTOBER — Hereford; New Mexico State Fair Results

NOVEMBER — Cattleman of the Year; Angus; Brangus; Red Angus; Joint Stockmen’s Convention Preview

DECEMBER — Bull Buyers Guide

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Ranch Sales & Appraisals

PIE TOWN, Goat Ranch Road Access, South of Wild Horse Ranch Subdivision. 20 acres $12,000, 40 acres $24,000. Beautiful views

DATIL, Herrington Canyon Road, Two 40 acre tracts. $24,000 each

CANADIAN RIVER, West of Ute Lake. Seven 40 acre (more or less) lots. Starting at $90,000

MILAGRO, 0000 Pecos Spur, Portrillo Creek Ranch Subdivision. 164 acres wide open space. Distant mountain views. Close to I-40. $94,000

SAN ANTONIO, 1496 State Road 1, 11 irrigated acres with adobe home, well and community water $305,000

SAN MARCIAL, Willow Springs Ranch, Winchester Road. 432 acres at the foothills of Chupadera Mountains $325,000

Paul Stout, Broker

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575-456-2000 office

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WANTED: Farms and Ranches — Broker has over 45 years experience working on and operating a family farm and has been a farm owner since 1988.

■ FLYING W MOUNTAIN RANCH: 345 AYL plus five horses located in the Cedar Mountains of Hachita, NM. 39.60± sections, 25,347± acres total, 1278± acres of deeded land, 3152± acres of state land, 20,917 acres of BLM, four miles of newer fence, over 55,000 gallons of water storage, 17± miles of pipeline less than 20 years old, three wells plus one domestic well, four pastures plus two traps, seven dirt tanks, house, barns, corrals, semi-load and livestock scales. Priced at $2,900,000

■ SMITH RANCH: 19.28± section cattle ranch plus 335± acre farm located in Road Forks, N.M. The ranch has 12,343± total acres, 3721± deeded, 2400± acres of NM state land, 6222± acres of BLM, 154 AYL plus six horses, ranch has adequate water storage and pipelines, headquarters has manufactured homes, shed row barns (equipment or commodity storage), plus livestock shades, corrals, cattle chute working facilities are covered cattle working facilities, north farm 163± acres, the south farm 173± acres, seller retains a “life estate”. Priced at $2,300,000

Lifetime rancher who is familiar with federal land management policies

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THE SAND CAMP RANCH

is a quality desert ranch with an excellent grass cover and above average improvements. Located in southern Chaves County east of the productive Pecos River Valley. The ranch is comprised of 2,598 +/- deeded acres, 6,717 NM State Lease Acres, 23,653 Federal BLM Lease Acres and 480 acres Uncontrolled, 33,448 total acres (52.26 Sections). Grazing Capacity set by a Section 3 BLM grazing permit at 408 Animal Units Yearlong. The ranch is watered by three wells and an extensive pipeline system. This ranch is ready to go, no deferred maintenance. Price: $3,870, 000. Call or email for a brochure and an appointment to come take a look.

DOUBLE BAR R RANCH, NOGALES, AZ — 110 deeded, w/12,224 NF Grazing land, runs 380 yearlong, Great improvements, high rain area. Priced at $3,500,000

EIGHT MILE DRAW LAND

740 ± Acres of unimproved native grassland located four miles west of Roswell in the Six Mile Hill area with frontage along U.S. Highway 70/380. This parcel is fenced on three sides and adjoins 120 acres of additional land that may be purchased. Great investment. $600 per acre.

Scott McNally, Qualifying Broker

Bar M Real Estate, LLC

P.O. Box 428, Roswell, NM 88202

Office: 575-622-5867 Cell: 575-420-1237

Website: www.ranchesnm.com

Frances Mesa Ranch

SOLD SOLD

TYLER RANCH/FARM — York Az, 544 deeded with 173 irrigated, along with 14,000 state and Blm lease land. 300 head mother cows yearlong. Priced @$2,300,000

I have many qualified Buyers looking for Ranches. Give me a call If you are looking to Buy or Sell a Ranch or Farm in Southwestern NM or Southern AZ give us a call ...

Sam

The Frances Mesa Ranch is superbly located in NM Big Game Unite 2B. Lying between the Rosa Mesa and Ensenada Mesa Wildlife areas, it offers premier Mule Deer and Elk habitat and hunting opportunities. The property is multidimensional, with income streams from grazing, hunting, and in conjunction with the associated use of the surface by mineral development.

RANCH & FARM REAL ESTATE

We need listings on all types of ag properties large or small!

■ NEW LISTING! UNION CO., NM – 2,091.72 ac. (1,771.72 Deeded, 320 ac. -/+ State Lease), well watered w/three wells, two sets of steel pens. Well located just off of the Clayton/Springer hwy. on Barney Road.

■ PRICE REDUCED! CEDARVALE, NM – 7,113acre ranch (5,152 ac. +/- Deeded – 1,961 ac. +/State Lease) well fenced & watered w/good pens, new barn.

■ PRICE REDUCED! DALLAM CO, TX – 1,216.63 ac. +/- of CRP/ranchland w/irrigation, re-development potential, wells & pipelines already in place.

■ KB RANCH - Kenney Co., TX – KB Ranch is a low fenced 802 +/- acre property that is surrounded by large ranches. The ranch has abundant whitetail and is also populated with turkey, dove, quail, hogs and varmint species. Axis are in the area and have been occasionally seen. The ranch lies approximately 9 miles south of Bracketville on TX 131 and is accessed by all weather Standart Road.

■ COLFAX COUNTY NM GETAWAY – 1,482.90 ac.+/- grassland (1,193.59 ac. +/- Deeded, 289.31 ac. State Lease), great location near all types of mountain recreation.

■ ANGUS, NM – 250 +/- acres with over a 1/2 mile of NM 48 frontage. Elevations from 6,800 to 7,200 feet. Two springs along a creek. Ideal for future development or build your own getaway home.

■ PECOS CO. – 637 ac., Big water, State Classified Minerals.

■ CASTRO CO., TX – 592 ac. +/_- w/remodeled 4 bd./4 ½ bath home, 160 ac. under pivot. Balance is dryland & native grass.

■ CARSON CO., TX – 640 ac. +/- 5 mi. N of Panhandle on TX 207. 333 ac. +/- under 3 center pivot systems. One well produces 800 GPM. Permanent perimeter and cross fencing.

■ PALO DURO CREEK TREASURE – 941 acres +/- in Randall Co. NW of Canyon, Tx. STUNNING VIEWS OVER LOOKING PALO DURO CREEK. Turn key cow/calf operation w development potential. Property includes: 3/3/3 ranch style home, 4 wells, large shop plus shed, enclosed livestock working facility w/hydraulic chute, livestock pens & shed, miles of 5 & 6 barbed wire fence & over 7000’ of pipe fence. YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! Canyon School District.

■ DEAF SMITH CO., TX. – 651 ac. +/-, 7 miles N of Dawn, TX, 1 mile E of FM 809. 349 acres native grass with well-maintained fencing and 302 acres of cultivated dry land.

■ PRICE REDUCTION! TURN-KEY RESTAURANT

– READY FOR BUSINESS! One of the best steak houses in the nation just out of Amarillo & Canyon at Umbarger, TX., state-of-the-art bldg., w/complete facilities.

RANCHES/FARMS

*REDUCED* 472+/- Ac Organic Apple Orchard, Willcox, AZ –Nicely improved HQ with 3 homes, workshops, and 24,075 +/- s.f. of processing facilities, including sorting, washing, cold storage buildings, retail space and truck scale. Over 400 acres planted to 10 different apple varieties and 10 acres of pears. 7 Irrigation wells, and 3 domestic wells. Property is being sold turnkey with all equipment. $7.4M Call Harry Owens or Nancy Belt

12.7+/- Irrigated Acres, Marana, AZ – Irrigated farmland in the heart of Marana, perfectly suited for development. Currently, planted in Alfalfa and at one time was planted to corn. Fields are fenced, flood irrigated from concrete ditches and gates from the Cortaro Irrigation District. Great location near Marana Stockyards for those interested in performance horse activities that involve livestock. $925,500

*REDUCED* 120 +/- Acres of Farm Ground, Willcox, AZ –Located NW of Willcox in a good groundwater area. 2 Wells, center pivot, good soil. $444,000

*SOLD* 98+/- Deeded Acre Farm, Bonita, AZ – Great farm in a picture-perfect setting! Two small pivots with 35 acres of water rights. 3 BR, 2 BA Shultz mfg home; 3-sided hay/machine shed, 1,560+/- s.f. shop, hay shed, Connex box, nice set of guardrail and steel corrals with crowding tub, squeeze and scale. 250 gpm irrigation well with 20

HP motor and 13,500+/- gallons of storage. Runs about 40 head of cattle. $750,000

*SOLD* 200-300 Head Cattle Ranch, Marana, AZ – 112.8 +/Deeded ac; 150+/- ac of pasture, 3,700+/- ac of sub-lease, 14 +/ac of farm fields, HQ on State Land. 2nd mfg home on deeded. 2 sets of good steel pipe corrals $1.9M

*SOLD* 2,373+/- Acre Farm, Animas, NM – Custom 2560 +/- s.f. home built in 2008. 20-Acre pivot, 40’ x 60’ shop, 40’ x 50’ hay barn, fruit trees, chicken coop, garden area. Pivot produced 9.5 tons/ac of alfalfa in 2020. 300 gpm well. 5 pastures with water piped to 2 storage tanks and drinkers in all pastures. Historically has run 40 head of cattle yearlong. $1.3M

HORSE PROPERTIES/LAND

ONLINE AUCTION, Pearce, AZ

- Four offerings located in the grasslands at the foot of the beautiful Dragoon Mountains. Embrace the best of country living with scenic mountain views and peaceful quiet surroundings. Auction Lot

1 features a stunning, custom 3 BD, 2 BA territorial style home on 5.5 +/- acres with breathtaking views from every window, 2 car garage, and workshop. Auction Lots 2, 3, and 4 include 3 vacant, 1+ acre land parcels for a total of 3+/- acres each, where you can build your own dream home or add additional acreage to Auction Lot

1. This amazing property will sell at AUCTION starting at 12:00 pm on June 10th and will begin closing at 6:00 pm on June 27th (Soft Close). Contact Paul Ramirez for details or check out our webpage for more information.

*NEW* 0.14+/- Acre Building Lot, Maricopa, AZ – A great opportunity to own a corner lot in the desirable community of Tortosa. Ideal for a small builder or buyer wishing to build their dream custom home. One of only two lots available in the area, the other lot is adjoining this one. Utilities to the lot, back block wall in place. $110,000

*SOLD* 40+/- Acre Last Stand

B&B Guest Ranch, Sonoita, AZ – An exceptional property in the grasslands of Sonoita, presently operating as a successful wedding & equestrian event venue. The Territorial, twostory 4 BR, 4.5 BA main home has 4,110 s.f., & custom features throughout. $1,675,000

*SOLD* 90+/- Acre HP Bar Ranch, Benson, AZ – Perfect gentlemen’s ranch or private get-away. Backs up to USFS for endless riding possibilities. Fully fenced for cattle. 2 BR, 1 BA home; garage; steel barn w/two horse stalls, tack room & large hay storage; corrals; workshop. Expansive views. $595,000

you are thinking about selling your Ranch or Farm, we would appreciate the opportunity to talk to you about listing your property.

RIDING HERD

by Lee Pitts

Still Kickin’

Academics, politicians and expert easterners have been trying to bury the West for 200 hundred years but to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the West being dead are greatly exaggerated. They say the sun is setting on the West because there is no more land to explore, no more gold or silver to discover, no more societies to conquer. You can still find the real West if you want to but not in left coast cities like Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle or in sanctuary cities like San Francisco. No, you’ll find the West instead in places like Pie Town, Post, Cedar City, Show Low, Emmett, Guymon, Burns, Lakeview, Sheridan, Elko when the cowboy poets show up and even in California in places like Red Bluff when the bull sale takes over the town in January. No, the spirit and traditions of the West never died, our critics are just looking in all the wrong places.

It’s not true that there are no more frontiers to conquer or gold rushes to attract brave adventurers ever westward. It’s just that now the courageous and hard working come to drill through shale for black gold or conquer bit and bytes in Silicone Valley.

No, the West isn’t dead yet but it’s not for lack of trying. The bureaucrats, environmentalists and politicians have done their level best to kill it off and turn it into Nature’s Disneyland for easterners to conquer the frontier via Delta, Hertz and Hilton. Naturally, they come under the spell of America’s West and after their ten-day vacation to the Grand Canyon, Universal Studios and the Redwoods they now know what’s best for the land and the heathens who live here.

They halted the clear-cutting of forests that acted as firebreaks; got rid of thousands of miles of forest roads that provided access for fire fighting equipment; wouldn’t allow the removal of dead and dying trees that provided the kindling that lit the huge fires that engulfed

us. And they kicked the cows and sheep off public lands that kept grass and weeds from becoming fodder for fires.

But these so-called “experts” weren’t here to breathe the smoke nor did they have to rebuild their homes. Tell me, doesn’t all that smoke qualify as greenhouse gas or is that just farting cows? And what about all those crispy critters, many of them endangered species, that their idiotic policies have murdered? What do the greenies and animal rightists have to say about them?

They used the spotted owl to put foresters out of work and kill off small towns but they don’t seem to care that those same spotted owls are now being killed by a close relative. Now they’re turning wolves loose to get rid of the rancher because they don’t like cows. They idiotically believe that cows never spend a day outside a feedlot, not knowing that range cows never spend a day in one. And why is it that steer manure is so good for their water-wasting lawns but is bad for our public lands? They ridicule farmers for “wasting” water not knowing it’s the stuff that grows the vegetables and fruits the vegans contend are so good for us to eat.

These over-educated idiots are so smart they’re stupid. First they told us not to put our groceries in paper bags, not realizing that they came from a renewal resource that created jobs and paid taxes. So we switched to plastic bags until they figured out they were made from petroleum derivatives. Next they said we should bring our own reusable bags until they found out that these germ-laden bags could be spreading the China flu. So now we’re back to paper.

Those wanting to kill off the West say we must get rid of fossil fuels not realizing that those giant windmills are slicing and dicing up birds and that solar arrays create vast wastelands and we don’t know what to do with the spent solar panels yet, just like we haven’t come up with a way to get rid of the spent nuclear rods, other than bury them in Nevada. Why not New York instead?

Yeah, they thought they knew it all and now we’re paying the price for their idiocy. I just wish they’d worry about all the momentous problems in their own backyards and leave us the heck alone.

Administration Advances SunZia Southwest Transmission Project

The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced a Record of Decision for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project, which, when completed, will transport up to 4,500 megawatts of primarily renewable energy from New Mexico to markets in Arizona and California.

This project represents another milestone in the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to accelerate transmission buildout to lower consumers’ energy costs, prevent power outages in the face of extreme weather, create good-paying union jobs, and make progress towards achieving President Biden’s goal of a 100 percent clean electricity grid by 2035.

“The Department of the Interior is committed to expanding clean energy development to address climate change, enhance America’s energy security and provide for good-paying union jobs,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Laura Daniel-Davis.

“Through robust engagement with states, cities and Tribes, we are proud of the part we play in the all-of-government efforts to diversify the nation’s renewable energy portfolio while at the same time combating climate change and investing in communities.”

President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating good paying jobs and building a clean energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

“We are pleased to announce this exciting milestone for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project,” said BLM New Mexico State Director Melanie Barnes. “This effort represents an important step in the development of our country’s renewable energy and transmission infrastructure.”

The SunZia Southwest Transmission Project is composed of two planned 500-kilovolt transmission lines located across

approximately 520 miles of federal, state and private lands between central New Mexico and central Arizona.

The permitted route originates at a planned substation in Torrance County, New Mexico, and terminates at the existing Pinal Central Substation in Pinal County, Arizona. The project traverses Lincoln, Socorro, Sierra, Luna, Grant, Hidalgo, Valencia, and Torrance counties in New Mexico and Graham, Greenlee, Cochise, Pinal, and Pima counties in Arizona.

The BLM completed the review period for this project – from the Notice of Intent to Record of Decision – in less than two years. This is one of the final steps the BLM needs to take before the project proponent can formally break ground.

Since 2021, the BLM has approved 35 projects (10 solar, 8 geothermal, and 17 genties) on approximately 23,396 acres of BLM-managed lands. These projects are expected to produce 8,160 megawatts of electricity — enough to power more than 2.6 million homes.

The BLM is currently processing 74 utility-scale onshore clean energy projects proposed on public lands in the western United States. This includes solar, wind and geothermal projects, as well as interconnected gen-tie lines that are vital to clean energy projects proposed on non-federal land.

These projects have the combined potential to add over 37,000 megawatts of renewable energy to the western electric grid. The BLM is also undertaking the preliminary review of over 150 applications for solar and wind development, as well as 51 applications for wind and solar energy testing.

The BLM manages vast stretches of public lands that are making significant contributions to the nation’s renewable energy portfolio. To promote the development of these energy sources, the BLM provides sites for environmentally sound development of renewable energy on public lands.

The efficient permitting of renewable energy and transmission from our nation’s public lands is crucial in achieving the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, as well as Congress’ direction in the Energy Act of 2020 to permit 25 gigawatts of solar, wind, and geothermal production on public lands no later than 2025.

When Does Your State’s Rights Violate My State’s Rights?

by: Conner Nicklas, Budd-Falen Law Offices

“Ahouse 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 benefit the citizens of another state. It has also been used to protect the industries of one state from being abused by another state. The nation was an agricultural country at its founding, and it was important to the Founders that commerce could be freely traded between the states.

Unfortunately, the Supreme Court appeared to have forgotten those principles and just gave California the right to control agricultural practices for the rest of the country. In a 5 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court upheld Proposition 12. Proposition 12 was a law made in California prohibiting pork from being sold in the state that is not being raised following very strict and economically unrealistic standards.

California’s requirements would cost pork producers nationally hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars to conform to, which will in turn increase the costs of pork for everyone (whether they live in California or not). The case ultimately turned in California’s favor because the Court ruled that California has a right to regulate industries within its jurisdiction and it is Congress’s role to regulate commerce and prevent abusive state laws.

While a state certainly has a right to regulate the industries within its borders, the problem is that the effect of California’s law extends well beyond its borders. California hardly produces any pork, but the state holds a 13-percent share of the consumer pork market, making it “economically infeasible for many pig farmers and pork producers to exit the California market.”

So, if a pig farmer in Iowa wants to continue existing, that farmer will have to either completely change its practices or lose a large share of his market. According to the Court, so long as a law does not specifically discriminate against a Californian compared to a Kansan, then the law does not violate the Constitution. Ultimately, California’s law undermines our state boundaries and the sovereignty of those states by forcing individuals and businesses in one state to conduct their farming, manufacturing, and production practices in a manner required by the laws California.

So, the Court’s ruling begs an avalanche of questions… do we really want to open this Pandora’s Box? When do your state’s rights violate my state’s right?

Should a state be allowed to create laws that impose its moral values on its neighboring states? Should a state be allowed to deny market access to out-of-state industries for controversial policies?

Should New York be able to create a state law banning the sale of goods produced by workers paid less than $20 per hour? Should Texas be allowed to prohibit the sale of goods produced by companies that pay for employees’ birth control or abortions?

If the answer is that a state’s right to create its own laws trumps the right of an out of state worker to lawfully make a living in their own state, then perhaps we should do away with state borders because they will mean very little if we continue to go down this path.

Conner Nicklas is an attorney at Budd-Falen Law Offices licensed in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana who specializes in representing local governments and landowners regarding natural resource and property right issues.      ▫

Taking the Lead

Adolfo Sanchez to Serve as SGBI President

by Jessie Topp-Becker, Managing Editor Reprinted courtesy of the Santa Gertrudis Journal

Physician, cattle producer, entrepreneur, husband and father. These are just a few of the hats worn by Adolfo Sanchez, MD. In April, Sanchez started wearing a new hat – that of Santa Gertrudis Breeders International (SGBI) president.

“I’m excited to serve as the next president of SGBI,” Sanchez says. “It’s an honor to be part of such a great organization. It’s a great opportunity to work with a lot of knowledgeable individuals – both board of directors and membership – in order to achieve the goal of raising high-quality Santa Gertrudis.”

A Bosque, New Mexico native, Sanchez has a lifetime of experience raising Santa Gertrudis cattle on the Sanchez family’s operation, Red Doc Farm.

“I’ve been involved in raising Santa Gertrudis cattle since my childhood,” Sanchez says. “In 1988, I started showing in open shows, and I’ve worked alongside my brothers and sisters and family to develop Red Doc Farm, which is one of the leading Santa Gertrudis operations in the United States, focused on producing genetics for the commercial cattle industry.”

Specifically, Sanchez has worked on creating commercial industry ties for Red Doc Farm customers to enhance their value in Red Doc-sired calves. He also works on research and development of Red Doc cattle, including carcass data collection, Red Doc’s GrowSafe program and ongoing genetic evaluations of the Red Doc bull and heifer programs.

In the early years, Red Doc Farm tried raising different breeds of cattle on their operation located in New Mexico’s high desert country. However, none would match the hardi ness and adaptability like Santa Gertrudis.

“Santa Gertrudis’ ability to tolerate the rustic environments, deal with extreme changes in temperature, the maternal components of the females, the rustic components of the bulls, their ability to travel, their good disposition, their feed efficiency and their ability to gain weight on challenging forages are all great qualities that continue to provide

for beef production here in the high desert region,” Sanchez says. “This is a tough area to raise cattle and Santa Gertrudis continues to be the most profitable livestock we’ve found.”

Beyond his work as an integral part of the Red Doc team, Sanchez works full-time as a rural family medicine doctor. He returned to Belen, in 2010 following his family medicine residency at Texas A&M. Sanchez worked alongside his father in their medical practice until his father’s death in 2020.

Today, Sanchez manages the practice along with his mother, Elia. Sanchez and his wife, Christina, have two daughters, Catarina and Eliana. The couple is heavily involved in their community and are in the process of starting a few different entities, including a commercial fruit orchard.

Sanchez is also a decades-long member of SGBI. He first served on SGBI’s Board of Directors in 2007. He was re-elected to the board in 2022.

In addition to serving on SGBI’s Board of Directors, he has served on various committees over the years, including the Breed Improvement, Breed Standards, Research and Education committees; he currently serves as chairman of the Performance Committee.

These experiences have helped prepare him for this new journey as the association’s president.

“Being involved with SGBI for numerous years, understanding the mechanics of the association, understanding the bylaws, understanding the dynamics within the breed and association services as well as working with the membership positions me to help Santa Gertrudis continue to maintain its place in the beef industry and further our place in the beef industry,” Sanchez says.

As he prepares to lead the association, growth is one word that comes to mind.

“I would like to see growth in the herd book,” he says. “I’d like to see our registration numbers grow. Most importantly, I’d like to see more registered Santa Gertrudis sales, as well as registered Santa Gertrudis transfers.

“I would like to reactivate the grading-up program to help develop additional purebred Santa Gertrudis genetics and availability of Santa Gertrudis genetics to commercial cattlemen,” he adds. “Lastly, I would like to work on some unifying factors to help both

large and small breeders continue to build equity in Santa Gertrudis genetics.”

A former member of the National Junior Santa Gertrudis Asso ciation (NJSGA), Sanchez is a strong supporter of youth develop ment. He says getting NJSGA members to become active SGBI members is paramount to the association’s continued success.

“I believe that retention of Santa Gertrudis breeders as they develop through the youth program into the adult program is critical to the viability of the Santa Gertrudis breed,” Sanchez says. “My goal is to see that young breeders have the tools to be successful in raising registered Santa Gertrudis cattle. If we don’t make the effort, we’re going to struggle to be viable in the future.

“I understand that not everyone is going to stay active in cattle production,” he adds. “Nonetheless, I think it’s a great opportunity to invite those youth who are now more established in their careers or families to consider coming back to SGBI and participating as adult members and getting their kids involved in the youth program.”

With decades of experience as an SGBI member and a lifetime of raising Santa Gertrudis, Sanchez is poised to lead the association and its members in 2023

Adolfo and Christina Sanchez with their two daughters, Eliana and Catarina

Adolfo Sanchez SGBI President

and photos reprinted with permission from Santa Gertrudis USA, April 2023, pg. 12

NEW MEXICO’S OLD TIMES & OLD TIMERS

by Don Bullis, New Mexico Author donbullis@msn.com

Notes on the Gunshot Death of Joe Grant

Not much is known about Joe Grant except that he might have been called Texas Red, that he may have been a cowboy, and he tended to drink too much whiskey. Historian Peter Hertzog described him as “…a bounty hunter out to get the Kid’s scalp” and legend generally supports that view. Whether or not he worked at hunting outlaws full time, it seems certain that he did set out to kill Billy the Kid and to collect the reward. Some believe that cattleman John Chisum had offered to pay Grant for killing Billy, while others suggest that the reward in question was the five-hundred dollars offered by Governor Lew Wallace. Whichever it was, Grant was handicapped by the fact that he had never laid eyes on Billy Bonney.

Several sources indicate that Grant had been around Fort Sumner for several days before the events of January 10, 1880, a Saturday. He’d spent most of his time drinking and insulting the local citizenry.

There are several versions of the story about what happened next. One holds that Grant and Billy were drinking in Bob Hargrove’s saloon in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, when Grant, not knowing who he was drinking with, announced to the assembled imbibers, who no doubt all knew Billy, that he was in town to get the Kid. It is generally agreed that Grant was somewhat intoxicated when he made the pronouncement. Later in the day, Billy asked Grant, in a friendly way, if he could see the Texan’s gun and Grant handed it to him. While admiring it, Billy turned the cylinder in such a way that the weapon’s hammer, when the gun was next fired, would strike an empty chamber. Billy✳ handed the gun back and announced who he was. Grant then aimed the pistol at Billy and pulled the trigger. The hammer, of course, fell on the empty chamber. Billy then pulled his own gun and shot Grant, one source says three times, in the head and face.

Another version of the tale holds that Grant had taken the pistol away from one of

Billy’s friends, not knowing that it had recently been fired three times and not reloaded. As above, Billy asked to see the gun, and again turned the cylinder so that the hammer would fall on a spent cartridge. The rest of the story is pretty much the same.

Paco Anaya told a different story. He agreed that Grant had spent some time around Fort Sumner, and was generally disliked by the Hispanic population because of his bullying and braggadocio ways. On January 10, while Billy was drinking with his Hispanic friends, they were joined by one Francisco “Frank” Tafolla [sic] who was an Indian. Anaya agreed that Grant didn’t know Billy and quoted him as saying to Billy, “I don’t mind much that you line up with Mexicans, but I can’t line up with someone who lines up with Indians!” Insulted, Frank stepped toward the door to leave the saloon and Billy took a couple of steps behind him. As he did so, Grant pulled his own gun and aimed at Billy, but when he pulled the trigger, the weapon simply misfired. Billy pulled his own pistol and shot Grant in the mouth. Poetic justice.

Historian Jon Tuska also reported that Grant’s gun simply misfired and historian Frederick Nolan pointed out that it would be very difficult to tamper with a pistol and not be seen doing it. It also seems highly improbable that a bounty-hunter like Grant would simply hand his loaded gun to a complete stranger, drunk or sober, and not check his loads when the gun was returned. In fact, it seems unlikely that Grant would have handed a stranger a loaded gun in the first place.

Later, when asked about the gunplay in Hargrove’s saloon, Billy reportedly said, “It was a game of two and I got there first.”

Nothing came of the killing in any legal sense. Historian Will Keleher wrote, “The sheriff of that county (San Miguel) had his hands full with killings of more importance and significance.” Newspapers of the day generally ignored the altercation, too.

✳In the days of the single action revolvers, it was a common practice to carry five loads in a six-shooter, allowing the hammer, and thus the firing pin, to rest on the empty chamber, for purposes of safety. Such revolvers tended to discharge when they were dropped and the firing pin touched the cap in the cartridge. Billy simply turned the cylinder by one click, and when Grant later attempted to fire, the cylinder simply turned back aligning the empty chamber with the firing pin.      ▫

HS Rodeo Results

The Farmington High School Rodeo Club again hosted the last regular season rodeo for New Mexico Junior and High School contestants. In memory of Cody Reed, the rodeo is a special one and contestants bring their best as they finish out the season. New Mexico State Finals will be the last weekend in May, in Lovington, NM. For up to date results, schedule and membership information please look at the website at www.NMHSRA.com.

Congratulations to all the families for showing up and competing with class. Best of luck at state finals and national finals later this summer. Also, a special congratulations to the many graduating seniors, you all have accomplished much and we wish you the very best in the next stages of your lives! Thanks to Julie Carter for the pictures!

Farmington High School

Results, May 12-14, 2023

Rodeo

All Around Cowboy Cutter Pareo

All Around Cowgirl Caydence Roberts

Bull Riding Wacey Schalla

Saddle Bronc Jones Allen

Tie Down Stoney Price

Steer Wrestling Zane Cline

Team Roping Wacey Trujillo & Stetson Trujillo

Barrels Harlee Barela

Pole Bending Cacie Sherburne

Goat Tying Wacey Trujillo

Breakaway Wacey Trujillo

Girls Cutting Danli Valdez

Boys Cutting Justin Anaya

Reined Cow Horse Ellie Powell

Light Rifle Zane Cline

Trap Shooting Caleb Delk

NMJHSRA Farmington Results

May 12-14, 2023

Cowboy All Around Dax Sullivan

Cowgirl All Around Baye Boutwell

Steer Saddle Bronc Slade Thompson

Bull Riding Shiloh Young

Tiedown Dax Sullivan

Chute Dogging Rody Mack

Team Roping Kynlee Cramblet & Kyler Cramblet

Girls Breakaway Anistyn Abel

Girls Goat Tying Anistyn Abel

Pole Bending Channing Robinson

Barrel Racing Ava Packouz

Boys Breakaway Bryce Stone

Ribbon Roping Dax Sullivan & Baye Boutwell

Boys Goat Tying Tyan Gonzales

Light Rifle Zoey Cline ▫

2023 NAT’L JR HS FINALS RODEO

JUNE 18 - JUNE 24, 2023

Perry, Georgia

Miller-Murphy-Howard Bldg.

Reaves Arena

Sutherland Arena

2023 NAT’L HS FINALS RODEO

JULY 16-22, 2023

Camplex Event Center

1635 Reata Dr.

Gillette, WY 82718

COLLEGE NAT’L FINALS RODEO

JUNE 11-JUNE 17, 2023

Casper, Wyoming

(upper right) Kyon Hatley & Clair Biebelle, Ribbon Roping (middle right )Luke Smith, Chute Dogging (middle) Cody Detweiler, Tie Down Roping (middle left) Peysen Taylor, Bull Riding

(bottom right) Kylie Phillips, Breakaway Roping

(bottom left) Howard & Colleen Reed

Brackish Waters

The Most Prevalent Source of New Water in New Mexico

by John R Grizz Deal

In the February and April editions of New Mexico Stockman we discussed how unconventional water resources can help solve regional drought and water scarcity in a consistent and predictable manner. We also defined and described unconventional water resources. This month we’ll discuss brackish ground and surface water.

New Mexico is also blessed with vast underground sources of brackish groundwater. “Brackish” is defined as water containing from 1,000 to 10,000 ppm total dissolved solids (TDS) most often in the form of salts like sodium chloride (table salt) and scalants such as calcium. While fresh water is considered less than 1,000 ppm TDS, treating this source of New Water to fit for purpose uses, including irrigation and drinking water, is now becoming a reality.

But not all brackish water must be treated, as there are numerous applications for this kind of New Water straight from the ground. The chart below shows just how varied the salt content of brackish water can be along with uses of that untreated water.

The State Weighs In

The New Mexico Office of State Engineer defines saline water in two ways:

1. “Non potable water” means water containing 1,000 parts per million (PPM) of total dissolved solids (“TDS,” salts and other compounds) or more, while potable water is defined as water containing less than 1,000 ppm TDS.

2. The State Engineer also defines “brackish water” as water having TDS levels of 1,000 to 10,000 ppm and “brine water” as TDS of anything higher than 10,000 ppm.

During its last session the New Mexico Legislature allocated funds to draft rules for using unconventional waters, and the State Engineer’s Office will receive money to boost the state’s water supply, including through the use of brackish water.

So Where is Brackish Water in New Mexico?

The map shows that brackish water is — well everywhere across New Mexico. Usually at depths below freshwater aquifers, the details of this devil are getting accurate estimates of the quantity and quality of the water, and then treating the brackish water for salts and other contaminants found underground.

For this assessment of brackish water resources, a review of available data and previous work is summarized for each region identified on this map. Using the data compiled for this project from NMBGMR, historic records, and USGS data, which are limited to existing water wells, regions are colored based findings of average total dissolved solids (TDS). Regions with TDS below 1,000 mg/L are considered potable (blue on map), water between 1,000–3,000 mg/L TDS is slightly brackish (purple), 3,000–10,000 mg/L TDS is considered brackish (orange), and over 10,000 mg/L TDS is saline or brine (red). These are regional approximations and site-specific studies must be performed to confirm these generalized results.

These and other resources are the result of on-going mapping and analysis of aquifers and brackish water being performed by Stacy Timmons and her team at New Mexico Tech. Timmons is also responsible for implementing the New Mexico Water Data Act at https://newmexicowaterdata.org/ which is an excellent resource for everyone in the state.

So, we know New Mexico has enormous reserves of brackish, produced, and other unconventional resources, and that some state funds are being directed in allowing their use for a wide variety of applications — what else is needed?

Two things:

1. Funds to do a more complete inventory of all the unconventional water resources in New Mexico, both quality and quantity.

2. To just start treating this water to demonstrate its economics and suitability to help solve water scarcity.

New Mexico Tech and other academic and government agencies need funds to do a complete inventory of unconventional water in the state. The map above, while an excellent resource, is based on existing data. What is required is drilling hundreds (thousands) of sampling wells to get a good inventory of the amount of water and its quality in each of the regions above.

If you’d like to help make that inventory happen, call your state rep or senator (https:// www.nmlegis.gov/members/find_my_legislator) or call up the governor’s office on Phone: (505) 476-2200. She is very aware of the NM Tech Brackish Water mapping program.

Next time, we’ll take a look at examples of successful recycling to create New Water, and also the specific treatment methods required for fit for purpose use.

About the author: John R Grizz Deal is vice president of New Mexico Desalination Association (www. NMDesal.org), a 501-c-6 charity and CEO of IX Water, a spin-out from Los Alamos National Laboratory. The mission of both entities is to help solve regional water stress and drought.

An interactive version of this map can be found at: goo.gl/Tq1yFX

by Frank Dubois

Navajos

The New Mexico congressional delegation has reintroduced the ‘‘Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2023’’. This bill will withdraw all federal lands from oil and gas exploration that are within 10 miles of the national park. At the same time the Secretary of Interior is considering her authority to withdraw this same acreage from all oil and gas leasing. (Section 204 of FLPMA allows for withdrawal of 5000 acres or more for a period of up to 20 years).

Concerning his legislation, Senator Martin Heinrich says, “Chaco Canyon is one of the most important living cultural landscapes on the planet. It holds deep meaning for Pueblo people and many New Mexicans.”

Even Gabe Vasquez, our new Congressman for southern New Mexico says, “The Chaco Canyon and the Greater Chaco Region are not just significant landscapes, but they are the footprints of our ancestors and hold deep meaning for many Tribes, Pueblos, and communities in northern New Mexico.”

Senator Heinrich is fond of saying his environmental bills are locally driven, but he doesn’t say that about this one. Could it be that the largest landowner affected by this bill opposes it?

That’s right, the Navajo Nation opposes this 10-mile buffer, which they estimate would encompass 351,000 acres. The Nation had received resolutions from four different Chapters (Pueblo Pintado, Whitehorse Lake, Lake Valley and Nageezi) opposing the land withdrawal and the establishment of any buffer zone. In April of this year they passed a resolution stating the withdrawal “would have a detrimental impact on Navajo allottees by preventing the development of new oil and gas resources on allotments as a result of the allotment being landlocked.” One estimate is they will lose $194 million over the next 20 years.

On Interior’s administrative with -

Chaco Canyon and land lost to the feds

drawal process, the Western Energy Alliance says, “They have failed to hold adequate tribal consultations and listen to the voices of the Navajo Nation in the immediate vicinity of Chaco while giving preference to Sec. Haaland’s and related Puebloan tribes hundreds of miles away.”

The alliance also claims that Interior Secretary Haaland has several conflicts of interest including “Sec. Haaland’s daughter works for the Pueblo Action Alliance, an organization that helped coordinate a violent anti-oil-and-gas protest at Interior headquarters and has aggressively lobbied to advance the Chaco withdrawal.”

I should add here that three of Heinrich’s bills were recently passed by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. They are the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act, the Buffalo Tract Protection Act (Sandoval County), and the Cerro de la Olla Wilderness within the Río Grande del Norte National Monument in northern New Mexico.

Language or land

A recent New York Times article by Simon Romero was titled “New Mexico is Losing a Form of Spanish Spoken Nowhere Else on Earth.” The article gives an interesting history on New Mexican Spanish, or what linguists call Traditional New Mexico Spanish or the Spanish dialect of the Upper Rio Grande Region, and drawing a contrast between it and the more Mexican-influenced Spanish of southern New Mexico.

Concerning the future for those speaking this type Spanish, the author then veers off saying “economic forces” have “fueled an exodus” from the “aging northern villages.” He also sights other threats, such as the largest wildfire in the state’s history and issues associated with “climate change.”

What never seems to be told is, one of the “economic forces” that has “fueled an

exodus” is the federal government itself.

The feds have taken away their land and water, and disrupted centuries of tradition.

It is not just their language that is being lost. Through federal ownership or control of the land and water, the entire history and culture of this area is on the chopping block. Communities have been crippled, families torn asunder, and small businesses destroyed. It is a shameful blight upon the federal enterprise.

Until next time, be a nuisance to the devil and don’t forget to check that cinch.

Frank DuBois was the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003, is the author of a blog: The Westerner (www.thewesterner.blogspot.com) and is the founder of The DuBois Rodeo Scholarship and The DuBois Western Heritage Foundation from 1988 to 2003, is the author of a blog: The Westerner (www.thewesterner.blogspot.com) and is the founder of The DuBois Rodeo Scholarship and The DuBois Western Heritage Foundation      ▫

No Bull

The Value of Castration for Calves

by Kellie Curry Raper, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Economist, Cow-Calf Corner

Alook at previous numbers collected by OSU Extension specialists indicate that, in 2013, 10.3 percent of the lots coming through the livestock auction at selected weaned and feeder calf sales were lots containing bulls.

That number dropped to 7.1 percent in 2014, 4.7 percent in 2020 and 2022 data indi-

cate that only five percent of lots at these selected sales contained uncastrated males. With the exception of a blip at 12 percent in 2021 – likely attributable in part to an untimely extended arctic blast – this decrease is a trend in the right direction.

Castration of bull calves prior to marketing has long been encouraged by Extension educators and the recommendation is backed by objective research, from multiple perspectives. From a health perspective, calves castrated at less than three months old experience lower stress levels, less sickness, and lower rates of death loss (Campbell).

From an animal welfare perspective, older calves experience more stress at castration and a longer period of stress-related impacts relative to calves castrated at birth

Insure against declining prices.

or at branding. Bull calves also show more aggressive behavior while uncastrated, implying greater risks of injury for other animals and for humans.

From a beef quality perspective, calves weighing more than 500 pounds at castration generally have carcasses with less marbling and lower tenderness ratings. In addition to potentially missing out on quality grade premiums, from an economic perspective, bull calves castrated past three months of age will weigh 20 pounds less, on average, at slaughter and will take 12 days longer to reach slaughter weight in the feedlot relative to a calf castrated at less than three months of age, resulting in a higher cost of gain at the feedlot.

Finally, from a cow-calf operator’s perspective, bull calves are usually discounted at the sale barn relative to steers of the same weight, impacting your bottom line. And that discount typically grows as calf weight increases.

Williams, et al. (2012) found that bull calves were discounted an average of $5.77/ cwt relative to steer calves at feeder cattle auctions in Oklahoma in 2010. More recent data indicates a discount for bull calves in the range of $11/cwt to $12/cwt. For a 500pound calf, that’s a difference in revenue ranging from approximately $30 to $60 per head.

Those discounts are for bulls and steers of the same weight. What if the bull calf gains at a faster rate than the steer while he is on my ranch?

This implies that I can sell more pounds of calf at marketing if the bull and steer are the same age at marketing. That higher weight also implies, however, that the bull’s price will be impacted not only by the bull discount, but also by the price slide for selling into a heavier weight category.

How much more would a bull calf have to weigh to make up for those price impacts? Burdine (2021) illustrates that bull calves would have to be 67 to 100 pounds heavier than the steer calf of the same age to account for the bull discount and price slides of $10/ cwt or $15/cwt, respectively.

If you don’t regularly castrate male calves prior to sale, consider whether you have the resources to add it to your standard calf management protocol. Unlike some management practices, buyers can easily observe this one, making it an easy one for “marketing your management” and one that has a relatively high return for your efforts.

If you need assistance with the how-to and when of castration, contact your county extension educator.

PRCA Makes Changes to Crossfire Rule

Consistently one of the most controversial calls in ProRodeo, the crossfire rule is getting a facelift.

The previous crossfire rule stated “the direction of the steer’s body must change before the heel loop can be thrown. However, if the steer stops, it must only be moving forward for the heel loop to be legal. Any heel loop thrown before the completion of the initial switch will be considered a crossfire and no time will be recorded.”

Under the new rule, the heel loop cannot come in contact with the steer’s legs until both of the following happen – the header has control of the steer’s head and the steer’s hips have changed. Even if the steer stops, slows down or drifts toward the header, the two above directives must still be observed. The key distinction between the two rules is that previously you could not throw your loop at all until the steer’s body changes direction, now the call will be made based on when the loop makes contact with the steer.

National Collegiate Champion Shootout

Trinity Valley Expo (TVE) in Liberty, Texas, is excited to announce the inaugural National Collegiate Champion Shootout, presented by TVE Fair and Rodeo and sanctioned by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. The event will take place on October 19-21, 2023, at the Trinity Valley Expo in Liberty, and will feature top-performing collegiate rodeo athletes from each region in the country.

The Collegiate Champion Shootout is an invitational style event that will award $100,000 in prize money. The event will feature the top two college athletes in each event from around the nation, by NIRA Region and will showcase action in the standard NIRA events including Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Bull Riding, Tie-Down Roping, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing, and Goat Tying.

“Here at Trinity Valley Exposition (TVE), we focus on building today’s youth for tomorrow’s future. What a better way to extend our mission than by providing young collegiate adults a stage to perform on in front of hometown rodeo fans for a chance to win a portion of the $100,000 prize money,” said Cory Anderson, TVE Rodeo Vice President. “We are proud that our organization is getting the opportunity to work with the NIRA and its athletes to provide a unique one-of-a-kind competition format.”

The event structure will include Round One and a Shootout Round. Round One will feature two performances and one slack leading up to the Shootout. All 22 contestants will compete in Round One with the top eight qualifying into the final Shootout Round.

Rodeo Roundup

“The Collegiate Champion Shootout is an excellent opportunity to showcase the best of the best in collegiate rodeo, and we look forward to seeing the top-performing athletes compete in this exciting event.”

Details regarding qualifications, ground rules and entry process will be sent out directly to the NIRA schools for the 23-24 season. For more information about the National Collegiate Champion Shootout please visit www.tvefair.com.

Rodeo Roundup

Announced

The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association is pleased to announce the 2022 Scholar American recipients. The honor is bestowed on NIRA members that have earned points at a 2021-2022 NIRA sanctioned rodeo, been in college for more than one term, earned a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, and have been nominated by their rodeo coach. They are as follows:

Afdahl, Blake, Mesalands Community College

Allen, Chisum, Cisco College

Allen, Lauren, Central Arizona College

Begay, Kiara, University of Arizona

Bowen, Codie, New Mexico State University

Bruening, Lacy, Southwest Texas Junior College

Chrislaw, Nicole, Murray State University

Christian, Carly, Texas Tech University, Lubbock

Cook, Kennedy, New Mexico State University

Detweiler, Katelyn, New Mexico State University

Doerr, Maddee, Cochise College

Elkington, Clay, Central Arizona College

Everson, Jordyn, Eastern New Mexico University

Goemmer, Dally, New Mexico State University

Guin, Colton, Central Arizona College

Haalilio, Camela, Central Arizona College

Hale, Trevor, Cisco College

Hickson, McKenna, Sul Ross State University

John, Faith, Cisco College

Kalawai’A , Trisyn, Central Arizona College

Kibbe, Hadley, Sul Ross State University

Kittle, Riley, Cisco College

Knierieme , Philip, California State University, Fresno

Ledesma, Avery, New Mexico State University

Marr, Shacie , Eastern New Mexico University

McGraw, Winsten, Cisco College

Mitchell, Ben, Cisco College

Munoz, Landon, Northern Arizona University

Oldfield, Roan, Cisco College

Pollitt, Stran, New Mexico Junior College

Powers, Maren, California State University, Fresno

Price, Luke, Fort Scott Community College

Richardson, David, Western Texas College

Russell, Amanda, New Mexico Junior College

Schauer, Madelyn, Eastern New Mexico University

Schneiter, Kelby, Western Texas College

Skene, Tanner, Sul Ross State University

Skocdopole, Chase, New Mexico Junior College

Thomison, Shiloh, Western Texas College

Turner, Cashen, Texas Tech University, Lubbock

Vocu, Bo, New Mexico State University

Watkins, McKenzie, New Mexico Junior College

Weich, Amy, New Mexico State University

RANCH FOOD & FODDER

by Deanna Dickson McCall

Most of us ranchers are frugal folks. I was raised by Depression era parents, and equally frugal grandparents with the motto of “waste not, want not”. The kind of people who saved everything, from worn out clothes for making crazy quilts to washing out freezer or bread bags to reuse. I once heard an exasperated relative tell my dad “He’d climb through a window to save the door hinges.”

I have carried that tradition on, though not to that extreme. I do hate wasting food and I throw lots of leftover food into the freezer. Leftover cooked veggies, small pieces of leftover meat; everything from roast, steaks, meatballs and chicken.

A great friend gave me their family recipe for Bolognese. It was formulated in this country by her Italian immigrant ancestors who used what was available to make food from their own traditions. These folks also were frugal, and it made a perfect Sunday and holiday meal for them.

Don’t be put off by the long ingredient list, most of it is stuff you probably have on hand and is a great way to use stuff up. I promise it is worth it. This recipe also allows you to adapt to what you have on hand. You will end up with a sauce you will only find in a highend Italian restaurant. It is rich, thick and delicious. The smaller you chop the meat, the smoother the sauce will be. I enjoy the fact it isn’t a pureed sauce like what you often get out of a can.

Ingredients:

¼ c olive oil

1 c chopped onion

1 c chopped celery

½ c raw, chopped bacon ends, raw meat such as ground beef, sausage or chopped stew meat, etc

3 cloves minced garlic

cooked, chopped meats

chopped leftover vegetables, cooked or raw like squash or eggplant

2 1-lbs. cans chopped tomatoes

2 1-lbs. cans tomato sauce

2 TBS dry Italian seasoning

1 TBS Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp red pepper flakes

Black pepper

2 c chicken broth

½ c milk

½ c dry, grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

1 TBS red wine vinegar

½ cup dry white wine

Pinch of sugar

Directions:

In large Dutch oven place the olive oil, onion, and celery, sauté until soft. Remove from pan and cook bacon ends and the raw meat you are using. Cook until browned but not cooked through. Return the cooked vegetables to the pan and add garlic, cook for 2 or 3 minutes.

Add everything except the milk, cheese, vinegar, wine, and sugar. You can move this to a slow cooker or continue on the stovetop on very low heat. If using the stove, you will

Rodeo Roundup

need to stir occasionally and add a small amount of water when needed. This is going to simmer for several hours, and the flavors will change as it cooks and melds. Some will become stronger, others will become weaker, so don’t worry about the taste yet.

An hour before serving remove any bones from the meat you may have used and chop the meat if needed. Return the meat to the pot, and add the milk, cheese, vinegar, wine and sugar. Cook another 45 minutes or so.

Serve over a wide noodle pasta and top with grated Parm or Asiago. You can also serve over rice or mashed potatoes for variety. You will likely have quite a bit leftover. Freeze in dinner size containers for later use. I love being able to pull this out of the freezer for a quicker, but delicious meal when it has been a long day.      ▫

BE SET IN YOUR WAYS OR SET ON IMPROVING THEM.

There’s no escaping change. Especially when you’re trying to keep pace with a growing nation. So when the time comes to buy new equipment, purchase land or expand your operation, Ag New Mexico Farm Credit will be there. We give rural New Mexico access to the financial support it needs to never stop growing.

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Bunks Feed

Dickinson Implement

Hobbs, NM

Jim Selman • 575-397-1228

Tucumcari, NM • Luke Haller 575-461-2740

Creighton’s at The Fort Fort Sumner, NM

Garland Creighton, 575-760-6149

Double D Animal Nutrition

Cortese Feed, Inc.

Purina Animal Nutrition

Case & Co.

Gary Creighton

Tucumcari, NM

Luke Haller • 575-403-8566

Creighton’s Town & Country Portales, NM

Cattle Specialist • Portales, NM 800-834-3198 or 575-760-5373

Garland Creighton, 575-356-3665

Cowboy’s Corner

Creighton’s Town & Country

Lovington, NM

Wayne Banks • 575-396-5663

Dickinson Implement Co.

Tucumcari, NM

Portales, NM • Garland Creighton 575-356-3665

Dwight Haller, 575-461-2740

Artesia, NM

Don Spearman • 575-302-9280

Fort Sumner, NM • Arron Cortese 575-355-2271

Kyle Kaufman 575-312-8913

Lincoln County Mercantile

Capitan, NM

One Stop Feed, Inc

Rance Rogers, 575-354-4260

Clovis, NM • Austin Hale 575-762-3997

One Stop Feed, Inc.

Eastern NM

Steve Swift, 575-760-3112

Purina Animal Nutrition

Western NM

Joram Robbs, 520-576-8011

Roswell Livestock & Farm Supply

Roswell Livestock & Farm Supply

Clovis, NM

Roswell, NM • Dale Rogers, 575-622-9164

Austin Hale • 575-762-3997

Kyle Kaufman 575-312-8913

Roswell, NM

575-622-9164