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Western Ag Reporter Podcast

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1:22

Montana Stockgrowers Foundation Invites Golfers to...

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/27

The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) is excited to launch registration for its 15th Annual TBone Classic Gala Dinner and Golf Tournament. The event is set to take place at the Briarwood Golf Course in Billings, Mont., August 13 - 14, 2025. The TBone Classic Gala Dinner and Golf Tournament provides an opportunity to foster new partnerships between Montana’s ranching community and other businesses/industries essential to Montana’s economy. "The TBone Classic is always an exciting ev...

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5:34

Banjo - Meeting Badger Mom

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/24

“Did you find out what it was?” Eweniece asked. “From the distance it looked like quite the hullabaloo.” “I’d say,” Tuff said, adjusting his nose. “I’m not sure if my nose is ever going to go back to normal?” Banjo couldn’t help but snicker. “It’s not all that funny,” Tuff muttered. “I didn’t see you traipsing into a culvert to get some mystery critter out of the depths of it.” “No, you’re right,” Banjo said. “You took one for the team, but we did find out what it was, and we’re going to need...

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2:44

NCBA Priorities Approved in House Reconciliation Bill

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/23

Today, several key priorities championed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) moved one step closer to becoming law when the U.S. House of Representatives passed their reconciliation bill. The bill includes key cattle health, disaster recovery, and tax priorities crucial to the success of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers. “Cattle farmers and ranchers need Congress to invest in cattle health, strengthen our resources against foreign animal disease, support producers recover...

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0:20

Agri-Kid of the Week - Cody Ochsner

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/23

Agri-kid Cody Ochsner of Torrington, Wyoming, smiling ear-to-ear while feeding heifers with his papa, Blake, at his family’s ranch, Ochsner Roth Cattle Co. This is Cody’s favorite thing to do, especially when jelly beans are involved. Photo by Terra Ochsner. Article Link

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5:48

Cooking - Memorial Day

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/23

As we all make plans for the upcoming three-day Memorial Day weekend, I hope that we will give pause to think about the holiday. Let us never forget those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. The author of this essay is unknown, but I think it is a noteworthy perspective. Memorial Day (author unknown) Memorial Day is supposed to be the day that a grateful nation pauses to quietly thank the more than one million men and women who have died in military service to the...

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3:14

In the Swing of Things - Respect for the Past

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/22

Sam went to a family funeral in Wyoming this week, leaving me to fend for myself with the dogs. I was getting ready to close my laptop tonight and looked over at my bookshelf. For whatever reason, a pile of family history documents my grandma mailed me a while back caught my eye, and with nothing better to do, I dug in. Growing up, I know I spaced out during hundreds of conversations about my family’s history. As the little girl who played fiddle, I was roped into many family reunions, nursin...

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4:06

Reality Check - Long-Term Vision

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/22

As I was shoeing horses the other day on a ranch in the beautiful, central hinterlands of Montana, I spoke with an incredible farming family about their new crop of spring wheat and chickpeas planted in the ground. Spring is that wonderful time of year that all of us involved in agriculture know when seeding is in complete swing, bulls are turned back out with the cows, and veterinarians are artificially inseminating. Or in the case of the humble farrier, it’s a busy time preparing many ranch...

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3:24

Prairie Ponderings - Pondering Low Expectations for...

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/22

I am not known for my maternal instincts – my extended family wagered that I would lose my son as soon as we left the hospital. Frankly, I was worried, too. But last weekend, a few ewes made me look pretty darn motherly. When I headed to the barn at sunrise, I took enough milk for four bottle lambs. Three were triplets and one had a difficult birth, so the ewe left it for the coyotes. Now it was my turn to try to keep them alive. Before I fed the bottle babies, I scanned the sheep in the corr...

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5:07

Veterinary Grads Share Excitement for Profession

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/22

Out of the 102 students who graduated this spring from Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, 42 will go into large animal or mixed practice veterinary medicine – an encouraging number in light of the ongoing rural and large animal veterinary shortage. Alyssa Barta and Olivia Ary were members of this year’s graduating class, and with the coveted three letters – DVM – now attached to their names, they reflected on their journey to becoming veterinarians. Alyssa Barta, DVM....

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6:02

Montana Chamber Cultivates Career Curiosity

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/22

Over the last two years, the Montana Chamber Foundation has been working to illuminate the wealth of career pathways available to students in rural Montana through a growing number of Cultivating Careers events. In its simplest form, Cultivating Careers could be described as a job fair; however, the Montana Chamber Foundation and its growing list of community partners have taken the concept to the next level by providing genuine, hands-on exposure to a variety of opportunities. In the beginni...

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4:59

North Dakota Farmers Battle Kochia Weed

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/22

In Emmons County, North Dakota, and across much of the state, one of the top 10 most invasive and economically devastating weeds for farmers is the kochia weed. Kochia is an annual forb that can be found throughout much of the United States and Canada. It is a challenging species to control due to its ability to “establish and persist in harsh environments” on as little as six inches of annual rainfall, and it has become resistant to four different classes of herbicides, according to USDA NRC...

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3:10

Editor's Perspective - California and Its Coyotes

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/22

On May 8, we published an article entitled “California Rule Change Would Limit Lethal Take of Coyotes,” which outlined a proposed rule that came out of a California Game and Fish Commission subcommittee. At its core, it was just one more attempt to limit resources for ranchers to protect their livelihoods, in my opinion. Predators like gray wolves, grizzly bears - and coyotes in this absolute ridiculous scenario - are being weaponized by the left to dismantle production agriculture. You’re go...

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3:29

Comments by the Publisher 5.22.25

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/22

I want to start off this week by recognizing the importance of Memorial Day. It’s a great opportunity to remember and give thanks to all of the members of our families who have passed before us, and all the military members who made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives fighting to keep and protect the freedoms all of us enjoy here in the United States. Please take a few moments over the Memorial Day weekend and give thanks for all the members of the U.S. military, past and present, and...

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2:16

UW Extension Offers New Educational Series on Ranch...

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/19

The University of Wyoming Extension has launched a new educational series designed to support ranchers in navigating the complexities of modern livestock and land management. Rancher’$ E.D.G.E. (Excellence in Development, Grazing and Economics) is designed for ranchers, family members and employees actively involved in the management and care of a ranching operation. “Rancher’$ E.D.G.E. equips participants with the tools and knowledge needed to make informed decisions and enhance the sustaina...

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3:00

R-CALF USA Announces 2025 Convention 'All In,'...

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/19

R-CALF USA is set to host its 2025 National Convention and Trade Show, themed “All In,” from June 17-19, 2025, at The Lodge at Deadwood. The convention is expected to draw hundreds of cattle producers, industry leaders, journalists and policy experts from across the country for industry updates, networking, and policy and strategy development. It is the largest event of its kind for independent cattle and sheep producers in the United States. “This year’s convention is about equipping produce...

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7:08

Banjo - Mystery Culvert Critter

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/17

“Baa…” called the lambs as they searched for their mamas. “We’ve had more triplets this year than we ever have,” Banjo said. “It’s been busy running the flock with all these additions under hoof,” Eweniece said. “But this group is such a good group of mamas. They’re attentive and they all have a good amount of milk, so there’s not too many bums that have had to stay back at the barn.” “I saw the neighbor has been coming each night to help feed, and she’s taken a few home,” Banjo said. “Yes, s...

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0:14

Agri-Kid of the Week - McCoy Becklund

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/16

Agri-kid of the Week, McCoy Becklund, headed to check water with his dad. Photo submitted by Belinda Bell. Submit YOUR awesome Agri-Kids to editor2@westernagreporter.com. Article Link

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7:58

Cooking - Alzheimer's - A Family Disease

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/05/16

As Mother’s Day has come and gone, I realize that for those of us who have lost our mothers, it has become a day of remembrance. Losing my mother made me realize how time spent with her was more valuable than any other gift I could give or be given. My mother, Florence Roberts, has been gone for 19 years, but sadly Alzheimer’s Disease stole her from me several years before that. Every year at Mother’s Day, I have tried to write a column that would help others understand that Alzheimer’s Disea...

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5:09

Banjo - Encountering Lobo

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/04/26

“Not feeling the whole Faith part of this journey,” Tuff said quietly. “I’ve never understood how it could be so dark in the forest when it’s the middle of the day.” “It’ll be fine,” Banjo said. “Don’t worry.” “Awhoo…” the guttural howl echoed through the dark timber. Banjo stopped. His hackles lifted. All of his instincts went to assessing their surroundings. “Don’t worry, huh,” Tuff said. “That was closer than I ever hoped to be again to a wolf. And just like snakes, where there is one, the...

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0:26

Agri-Kid of the Week - Maverick

Western Ag Reporter Podcast ·

2025/04/25

This week’s featured Agri-Kid is Mr. Maverick. He is 19-months-old and lives in Iowa. According to his mom, Elizabeth, “He’s a sour patch kid for sure! He absolutely loves the skid loaders and tractors, and never misses a ride when it’s time to feed the cows. His three-year-old sister recently got a pair of goats, and he likes to lead them around. He has no fear of animals!” Article Link

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