farming

Across the country inflation rates are at all time highs, which are affecting many industries. Here in Wyoming, ranchers and farmers are also feeling the costs.The current average price of diesel in Wyoming is $5.69, which is more than a $2 increase since this time last year. With the haying season approaching, ranchers need diesel to fuel their equipment. They also need it to go out and check and move cows.

Russian officials say they will suspend fertilizer exports, which could lead to even more challenges for U.S. farmers.

Like the rest of the nation, inflation and supply issues are making people's pocketbooks tighter in Wyoming. This is no different for farmers as they face the coming growing season.

In the Colorado River basin, agriculture accounts for about 80% of all the water used. As the river’s supply shrinks, and some farms start to make cutbacks, many are wondering if new technology can help with water conservation. Research suggests that it may not.

Nancy Caywood’s Pinal County farm should have a full field of alfalfa, but since the irrigation district shut off her water because of drought, her fields are empty and dry.

Sheridan Community Land Trust is offering farmers and ranchers an opportunity to preserve ag lands for future generations in addition to protecting wildlife and waterway habitats through voluntary conservation agreements.

Wyoming's harsh climate can be a difficult place for crops to survive, but research from the University of Wyoming shows that sunn hemp, a tropical legume from India that can be used for livestock feed, is actually very well adapted to the state.

The University of Wyoming Extension recently published the 2021 Specialty Crop Directory. The directory is divided up by county and lists over 800 producers of specialty crops statewide.

Back in 2018, the Powell Research and Extension Center started researching how ancient grains would grow in the Bighorn Basin as an alternate crop for farmers.

Farmers in parts of the West are experiencing some of the worst drought conditions in nearly two decades. The dryness presents challenges in keeping a farm or ranch viable, and in how farmers deal with mental health concerns.