You Don't Owe Your Kid A Job

We don' often think of our cows as our employees, and whether they should have a job description, or if we should continue their employment.  Likewise, we often assume that our children should work on the ranch until they inherit it.  Here is a provocative article about employing family and ranch succession.  I was a farm consultant in Solano and Yolo Counties when Dave was a Farm Advisor (county agent) there many years ago.  His California Grazing Academy, developed with Roger Ingram, has provided some inspiration for our Lost Rivers Grazing Academy.  Dave currently runs the Ranching for Profit schools...Chad

by Dave Pratt, Ranch Management Consultants, Inc. (reproduced with permission.)
http://www.ranchmanagement.com/index.html
Additional contact information at the end of the article.

How do you select employees for your ranch? If your ranch is like most ranches your candidate pool consists of your gene pool. That may work for the royal family, but if you want to make a profit, it's no way to pick an employee.

Don’t Blame Cows for Climate Change

University of California, Davis
January 2010
(Paritally reprinted from CA&ES E-news)

Despite oft-repeated claims by sources ranging from the United Nations to music star Paul McCartney, it is simply not true that consuming less meat and dairy products will help stop climate change, says a University of California authority on farming and greenhouse gases.

UC Davis air quality specialist Frank Mitloehner says that McCartney and the chair of the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ignored science when they launched a European campaign called "Less Meat = Less Heat." The launch came on the eve of the major international climate summit in Copenhagen in December.

For the full text of the article:  http://caes.ucdavis.edu/NewsEvents/e-news/2010/don2019t-blame-cows-for-climate-change?utm_source=UC+Davis+CA%26ES+E-News&utm_campaign=c782c44e87-CAES_E-News_JanFeb_2010&utm_medium=email

Winnemucca Bull Sale Catalog and Ranch Hand Rodeo Weekend Mar 3-7

I am forwarding you the link to the Winnemucca Bull Sale Catalog. The bull sale is being held in conjunction with our Ranch Hand Rodeo Weekend March 3 - 7, 2010.

Lemhi Begins "Lemhi Link"

LEMHI LINK: FIRST EDITION FEBRUARY, 2010

Welcome to the first edition of the Lemhi Link. This newsletter is brought to you by the Lemhi
County Extension Team and is meant to give you the latest and greatest news.

CONTENTS
Section 1 AFTER SCHOOL YOUTH HELP ENDANGERED SPECIES  page 1
Section 2 4-H ENROLLMENT page 2
Section 3 MARRIAGE DINNER PARTNERS WITH HORIZONS page 3
Section 4 “GET YOUR SLED ON” AT FAMILY FUN NIGHT, WINTER OLYMPICS page 3
Section 5 LEMHI LEADERSHIP page 4
Section 6 NOXIOUS WEED WORKSHOP page 4
Section 7 GEARING UP FOR 4-H IN 2010 page 4
section 8 4-H RECORD BOOK REQUIREMENTS page 5
Section 9 FUN 4-H PROJECTS YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN NOW!!! page 6
Section 10 COLOSTRUM IS KEY page 7
section 11 TRY THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX IN 2010 page 8
Section 12 ABUNDANT. AFFORDABLE. AMAZING. page 8
Section 13 IMAGINATION AT WORK page 9
Section 14 UPCOMING EVENTS. page 10
Additional Information page 11
CLICK FOR LEMHI LINK

COLUSTRUM IS KEY

by Shannon Williams, from the "Lemhi Link"

Colostrum is the first milk produced by the cow. It is required for complete maturation of the calf’s immune system and has an effect on the calf for its entire life. The amount of colostrum varies from cow to cow, heifer to heifer and breed to breed. The amount decreases with each milking. Research done by the University of Wisconsin – Madison determined that the first milking has 6% colostrum and by the fifth milking is only .1%. Production of colostrum by the cow decreases 73% within 12 hours of calving.

4-H Assistant Position Open in Lemhi County

Position: Lemhi County 4-H Assistant Position

Overview: The Lemhi County 4-H Assistant provides the organizational framework for 4-H programs within Lemhi County and coordinates local 4-H activities by recruiting and managing 4-H volunteers and members, providing resources, and coordinating and marketing 4-H programs and activities. The 4-H Assistant works as a team member with Extension faculty, office staff, 4-H Leader’s council, 4-H leaders and 4-H youth to provide educational programs through various venues. The 4-H Assistant will focus on developing and maintaining non-livestock projects and programming.

2009 Ag Week Pictures

2009 Ag Week Reports and Activities

National Agriculture Week Celebrated
Shannon Williams, Lemhi County Extension Educator

“Celebrate Agriculture” was the theme March 16-20 as people participated in a range of activities spotlighting agriculture during National Agriculture Week.

All week citizens enjoyed the wonderful quilt displays in the downtown businesses. The quilts were past quilts completed by Lemhi County Cattlewomen and raffled off each year for their scholarship fund. The quilts represent the many ranches in Lemhi County. Businesses had opportunities to dress to the theme and then be entered in for a goodie basket sponsored by the Cattlewomen. Monday’s basket was won by Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Project; Tuesday’s was won by the Stage Stop; Wednesday’s by Marie Freitas,; and Thursday’s by Sensations. Citizens also had the opportunity to answer radio trivia and be entered for a gift basket each day of $100 value and sponsored by the Cattlewomen. Monday’s winner was Kathy Casey, Tuesday’s was Debbie Bielby, Wednesday’s was Carey Schwarz and Thursday’s winner was Sandy Schuff.

Enablers and Computer Illiteracy

In a recent survey of livestock and forage operators in the Lost Rivers Valley, I found only one respondent that read their email everyday.  Most indicated that they read it "occassionally", and it was all down-hill from there in terms of using there computers....

The Enablers –
by Kit Pharo and Reprinted with Permission from PCC Update 2/10/10.


I have been led to believe that several enablers receive our weekly emails. What is an enabler? The term “enabler” is most often used to describe people who allow loved ones to behave in ways that are destructive. For example, an enabler wife of an alcoholic will make it possible for her husband to continue hurting himself with excessive use of alcohol. A person might be an enabler of a gambler or compulsive spender by lending him or her money to get out of debt.

The enablers that I am referring to, however, are wives who enable their husbands to remain computer illiterate.

Ranch Assistant Needed Near Elko

Position: Ranch Assistant


Overview: The ranch assistant will work with manager irrigating, haying, working on machinery, fencing and riding the range during the summer months. They must be willing to work long hours during haying season in exchange for shorter hours the other times of the year. Fall and winter work will involve processing and sorting cattle, feeding and calving.

Northeastern Minnesota's moose population continues to decline - Climate not Wolves Blamed.

By Doug Smith Minneapolis Star Tribune February 8, 2010

Northeastern Minnesota's moose population continues to decline, based on the latest aerial survey this winter by the Department of Natural Resources.

Wildlife researchers estimate that there were 5,500 moose in that region of the state. With a 23 percent margin of error, the estimate is not statistically different from last year's estimate of 7,600, but it supports other evidence that the moose population is declining.

Registration Dead-Line for Butte-Custer Master Gardener Program Feb 18th

Master Gardener classes will begin February 25th in Arco and February 26th in Challis if an adequate number of persons are registered at each location. The Master Gardner Program provides in-depth training to interested persons who are willing to participate in community projects and/or help their neighbors with horticultural issues. The cost of the program will be $55 in Arco, which includes the cost of the book. Addition cost will be born by the Horizons community development program and the county office.


There will be a $10 per session charge for individuals wishing to attend for their personal information. Four of the workshops will also provide Idaho Department of Agriculture pesticide re-certification credits. Persons attending these programs for re-certification credits only will also pay a $10 fee.

Check these documents for information about the class, registration forms and specific class agenda:
Flyer
MG Program
MG Advertisement
MG Registration

For additional information contact the Butte County Extension office at 527-8587 or ccheyney@uidaho.edu or the Custer County Extension Office at 879-2344 or custer@uidaho.edu.

Ranch Assistant Need in Lemhi County

Position: Ranch Assistant

Overview: The ranch assistant will work with owner/operator irrigating, haying, working on machinery, fencing and riding the range during the summer months. They must be willing to work long hours during haying season in exchange for shorter hours the other times of the year. Fall and winter work will involve processing and sorting cattle, feeding and calving.

HBO Film on the Life of Temple Grandin Debut on Feb 6th

By Steve Porter
Northern Colorado Business Report
January 29, 2010

It's been a long time coming, but it looks like it was well worth the wait.

HBO Films will debut "Temple Grandin" on Feb. 6, a movie based on the life of the renowned designer of humane animal-handling facilities who also teaches at Colorado State University.