IN THE NEWS 

U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance working to boost image of U.S. food production  

DuPont is the latest of more than 40 agricultural organizations throughout the country to join in the initiative led by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance to increase understanding of the role that U.S. farmers and ranchers play in producing a dependable, sustainable food supply through modern agricultural practices. DuPont Executive Vice President James C. Borel said, "There is an increased need to reinforce the importance of agricultural contributions and its value to society, and promoting the merits of a career in agriculture also are essential to recruiting tomorrow's farmers and innovators." 

More than 200 attend Kansas' economic summit on animal health 

At Governor Brownback's economic summit on animal health, more than 200 industry leaders voiced their support of the development of an action plan to promote and enhance the state's animal health sector. Attendees agreed that the plan should include easing superfluous regulations, creating skill training courses, better utilizing university programs and long-term marketing. 

Beef groups request comprehensive rule on BSE to expand export potential

A coalition of beef groups have presented Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack with a letter requesting the finalization of a comprehensive rule on bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The rule would align U.S. standards with the World Organization for Animal Health, thus opening European Union markets to U.S. beef exports. 

Swollen Missouri River breaks two levees, flooding farm & ranch land  

The steadily rising Missouri River has now caused two levees in northwest Missouri to fail, flooding area farm and ranch lands and threatening nearby communities. Record rains and snow melt continue to overwhelm the river basin despite unprecedented dam releases.  Flood waters are not expected to recede until at least August. 

IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE 

Cowgirls are Stealing the Show!

By Corinne Brown

Team 7L in the branding.  That's Jenna Adams horseback, Sage Adams on the iron, Neesa Smith  on the ground at left, and Billie Franks (WRRA Founder, Board Member, Office-Special Agent) on the right ground.   (Photo by Dennis McIntire)

In these tough times, plenty of folks will go out of their way for some solid entertainment, especially when it involves team roping, great riding, top horses and plenty of fun. Sounds like ranch rodeo, right? How about Women's Ranch Rodeo, possibly the fastest growing sport in the mid-Western states in the last decade.

Beyond just hosting a women's ranch rodeo,

we found that the WRRA was ready to go to the next level and so were we.   

"It's just gone crazy," says Billie Franks, one of the founders of the Women's Ranch Rodeo Association (WRRA), and an experienced competitor herself. "Different parts of the country have different demographics, and here in the tall grass country we have lots of cowgirls who know what they're doing and can excel at this sport as well as anyone. They've really come out."

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High altitude disease, or Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, 

sometimes occurs in cattle that graze above 5,000 feet.

(Photo by Tayler Teichert)

For all you flatlanders who have taken a vacation to the mountains, if you felt drowsy, lethargic or had shortness of breath, you may have experienced some of the same symptoms that cattle do when they graze in elevations above 5,000 feet. The bovine condition, known among ranchers as high altitude sickness or brisket disease, can eventually lead to congestive heart failure in affected animals. 

"We did have certain individuals that didn't seem affected by the altitude, while we had others that had symptoms, or would die."

Cattle that graze the high county of the western United States may suffer from pulmonary arterial hypertension which can result in edema or swelling in the chest and brisket due to pressure forcing fluid out of the vessels into surrounding tissue. Swelling may also be found in the neck, under the tongue/jaw or along the underline of the belly.  The most common area for swelling is the brisket, thus the name, "brisket disease".

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Working Ranch Partners With All Around Ranch Rodeo Challenge

May 6 - 8^th  2011   Clovis, New Mexico

By  Rick Iannucci  

Lots of cowboy action in the arena brought the fans out for the All Around Ranch Rodeo Challenge in Clovis, New Mexico, on May 6-8, 2011. (Photo by Gabe Wolfe - Lone Wolf Photography)

When the Working Ranch-sponsored bronc riding gate cracked open at the 2011 All Around Ranch Rodeo Challenge in Clovis, New Mexico, Cajun cowboy Ethan Lee was making the difficult thing look easy.  Eight seconds into that ride, though, his luck got a bit slim.  As he was defying gravity his leggin's wrapped around his saddle horn, flipping him catawumpus on the bronc's mounting side, putting him in need of a little help.  Within micro-seconds, cowboys from the final eight competing teams bailed off horses and jumped over gates in a human swarm of safety for both Ethan and the bronc.  That's the cowboy way!  

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VIDEO OF THE MONTH 

Click Here to watch this video on our website under The WORKING RANCH CHANNEL - Program Guide

Once there, scroll down to find:

Pat Hooks - Train the Stock Dog

BLOGOSPHERE 

 Spring Thoughts by Brett Haas

It seems as though it was just a week or so ago, that the snow began to melt, the mercury began to rise, and shades of green began to form along the landscapes.  The winter had once again been long and cold, but new hope was springing forth.  The horse's winter coats were being curried away as, once again, blankets and saddles were donning their backs to go and gather the new crop of calves that had come like a new fallen snow.

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