Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

A fairly rare sight around here. Big, old Snapping turtle. Normally you see them near water but this one was quite a ways away from any. Must be traveling to a new watershed. Taken 06/27/2008.

Trailing the yearlings to fresh pasture. There was nothing wrong with where they were at but I do need to save some grass there for later in the year so it was time to move them. taken 6/24/2008.

USCA Calls For Long-Term Brucellosis Eradication Program Within Greater Yellowstone Area

USCA (June 23, 2008) - On Monday, June 9 state and federal animal health officials confirmed the presence of brucellosis in a suspect cow located in the Paradise Valley of Montana. Days later, two additional cases of the disease were confirmed near Daniel, Wyoming. Further testing shows another thirteen head of cattle in the same Daniel herd have been exposed to brucellosis.

The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) said today that it is calling upon the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reduce bison and elk numbers within the Yellowstone National Park to numbers consistent with forage availability and to work with affected states to undertake an aggressive long-term brucellosis eradication program in the Greater Yellowstone Area.

"The epidemiological investigation into the source of these outbreaks must be completed before all the facts are known," said Jon Wooster, USCA President, San Lucas, Calif. "However, the proximity of these disease outbreaks to the park is a signal that a proactive plan is needed. The bison and elk herds within Yellowstone National Park are this nation’s last reservoir for bovine brucellosis, which puts those wildlife herds and surrounding domestic livestock at grave risk. Montana and Wyoming cattle producers have done all they can to manage the disease, but are at continued risk because of exposure to infection from wild bison and elk. It’s time for the Department of the Interior to undertake an aggressive management program that will eradicate this problematic disease once and for all."

In May 2007, brucellosis was discovered in a Bridger, Montana cattle herd. Under USDA regulations, the finding of the most recent case will cause the State of Montana to lose its brucellosis-free status. Wyoming’s class free status will be compromised if the disease is found in another herd or if the Daniel rancher declines to depopulate his entire herd within 60 days of the finding. When a state loses its class free status, producers are required to test sexually intact cattle. Wyoming cattle herds that have had fence-line contact, have grazed in common with the infected herd, and any bulls sold from the infected herd will be tested for the disease.

Bison numbers in the Greater Yellowstone Area exceed forage production, causing over-grazing and migration of infected bison, elk and moose from the park’s boundaries. "Cattle producers have worked for more than half a century at enormous cost to eradicate brucellosis in cattle herds across the country," said Chuck Kiker, Beaumont, TX, USCA’s Animal Health Committee chairman. "One of the greatest risks of infection for cattle today is exposure to infected ruminant wildlife. Evidence demonstrates that the region surrounding Yellowstone National Park is a hot bed for brucellosis outbreaks. Obviously, we need an aggressive management approach that will result in total eradication of this disease."

"It is readily apparent that Wyoming and Montana cattle producers have been diligently proactive with regard to managing the risk of brucellosis transmission." added Wooster. "Herds associated with the infected cattle are under quarantine until whole-herd testing is completed. The consequences of these outbreaks are severe for the live cattle industry in both of these states. USCA will monitor this situation closely to ensure that appropriate and just indemnification is awarded to owners of affected herds and we will work to encourage federal and state officials to undertake a long-term plan that will shield Montana and Wyoming cattle producers from disease risk."

It's nice to know someone else holds the Federal Government responsible for the animals under their control. If we as private citizens are required to control Brucellosis, so should the Government.

Study: Moving virus research could be costly

An outbreak of one of the most contagious animal diseases from any of five locations the White House is considering for a new high-security research laboratory would be more devastating to the U.S. economy than from the isolated island laboratory where such research is now conducted, says a report published Friday.

Anybody with half a brain knew this. The question is will the government listen? Will they listen to an ounce of common sense? I doubt it.

Pulled the baby yearling bulls off of the replacement heifers yesterday. Forty five days of breeding is enough. If they didn't catch by now I don't need them around. Taken 6/16/2008.

Montana to lose its status as brucellosis-free

A Paradise Valley cow has tested positive for brucellosis, costing Montana its status as a brucellosis-free state.

The announcement came Monday afternoon and means Montana cattlemen must now test all bulls and nonspayed heifers older than 18 months before they can be sold to out-of-state buyers.

Well, we all knew it was going to happen. It was just a matter of when. It's amazing how everyone, except cattlemen, claims the problem is not from Yellowstone National Park yet that is the area the cows keep coming from that have it.

I have scheduled to sell a semi load of drys on the market Wednesday. How will this affect selling the drys? I have no idea. No guts, no glory. They are going down the road and I will find out the hard way.

Hardin Prison wins.

Judge overturns opinion from AG on detention facility

A Hardin detention facility can take federal and out-of-state inmates, a Helena District Court judge has ruled.

Judge Jeffrey Sherlock's ruling overturns an opinion issued in December by Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath. The decision barred Two Rivers Detention Facility from taking inmates from the federal system or other states.

Now they can start taking prisoners in. I hope they enjoy themselves.

I know I haven't posted for a bit and I am sorry. The boy had a medical condition come up that removed my eye from the ball and caused a personal medical condition for me. Don't worry, all will be all right, just not much time for the computer right now. Hell, I am not even dealing with e-mail right now. Give me time though. All will get straightened out.

We got in one of the neighbors braidings that was missed due to all the rain. Here you see the cattle streaming towards the corral. It sure was a nice day. Taken 5/29/2008.

I'm real tired of people.

SKoreans protest against US beef deal

Thousands of protesters marched through Seoul against a U.S. beef import pact that has renewed fears of mad cow disease. Police said Tuesday that 30 demonstrators were arrested after scuffling erupted.

What, do these idiots think, Americans are dropping over left and right from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease caused by bse? Maybe they need to check the facts out about the incidence of bse and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease ibn the US. Slim to none. What idiots.

It has rained now for about 3 days now. We have got around 3 inches of rain. How nice. Two neighbors have canceled brandings because of all the rain. I'm sure glad mine is done. I am reminded of something I heard an old timer say a while ago.

"The way to make money ranching in Montana is to sit in the house and watch it rain." How true.

We managed to get all the pairs cut out that I want into the high country before the rain hit. It kept spitting on us this day but never started raining until nightfall. This is the last bunch we kicked down to the gate.

Boy, it has been raining for a couple of days now and it is supposed to rain at least another day now. Flood warnings in effect in the area and creeks and streams rising. Isn't it great. This is really what the hay and grass needed. Moisture. I should have enough grass now. I was a little worried earlier but this should solve those worries. The alfalfa is young enough that this should really cause it to grow.

I guess I had better get the haying equipment out and look it over so I can get it ready to cut all the hay. I always enjoy cutting hay when there is a lot of it. When it is real skimpy is when it is a pain. Not any fun at all. That shouldn't be a problem this year.

The wild plums are finally blooming. It sure seems late for them but I guess they won't freeze this way. I could make a fortune if I could bottle the smell of these plums. My was it sweet. Taken 5/19/2008.

There are lots of stories about Obama's visit to Crow Agency yesterday in the Gazette so I thought I would add my memories of the event here.

I had been putting off doing some business in town until after I got the calves branded. I still have things to do but i could take an afternoon to run in and do them now. I had planned Monday afternoon for this for the longest time now. I get to town and start doing the things I need to do with no problem and then end up at the County Courthouse.

The damn place was like a ghost town. I wasn't even sure if anybody was in the building for a while. There was nobody at the Clerk of court office, county assessors office, and a couple of other offices I went to. They were all out at the Obama rally at Crow. I finally found the County Clerk and Recorder in her office and manged to get her to do a couple of the things I needed for me since the other people weren't in their office. These things weren't her job but she was helpful in getting them done. It might have helped that she is an old friend of mine.

This whole thing was really upsetting though to me. Why can county employees all run off from their jobs and leave the courthouse vacant when real working people around town have to stay and do their jobs? What makes them so special? Are they going to pay for my extra trip to town and lost work hours since I have to go back in to finish what I should have got done yesterday afternoon since they were playing hooky? What a bunch of bullshit.

That's how I will remember Obama and his visit. A big bunch of bullshit that screwed me all up. Thanks Obama.