Arizona

Should Beef Producers Be Concerned About Potential Phased Reopening of U.S.-Mexico Border?

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:43:31 GMT

The debate at the U.S.-Mexico border continues as the fear of New World screwworm (NWS) increases with warmer spring temperatures while the supplies of feeder cattle tighten.

The border has been closed since July 9 . A temporary phased reopening that began July 7 with the Douglas, Ariz., port was short-lived with a case reported July 8, 370 miles from the border, which was 160 miles northward of the sterile fly dispersal grid at that time.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins spoke with media during the Texas Southwest Cattle Raisers Convention about a potential phased reopening of the border.

“We’re looking at it every single day,” she says. “The closest the screwworm has gotten to the Arizona border is about 800 miles. So, we’re currently evaluating a potential phased-in strategy. We obviously will not be opening all four ports anytime soon, but there is a realistic conversation that’s currently happening that’s looking at that port that’s about 800 miles from the closest case. More to come on that. I expect an announcement either way on that, perhaps within the next two to four weeks.”

A USDA spokesperson confirmed her statement, explaining, “USDA will resume livestock imports at such a time when we determine the risk of NWS introduction into the U.S. can be adequately mitigated. To make the determination, USDA is evaluating a combination of factors including our science-based import protocol, the animal health status of individual Mexican states, and the degree to which Mexico’s national agriculture authority has made progress in implementing our recommendations.”

Where is the Closest Case?

A USDA spokesperson told Drovers the active case closest to the U.S. was confirmed March 17 in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas and is 146 miles away from the border. According to the Screwworm.gov website , there are 1,433 active cases of NWS in Mexico as of April 1.

“There was an isolated case in Nuevo Leon last September that was about 70 miles away from the border,” a USDA spokesperson confirms. “There have not been any cases within 100 miles of the border since then.”

Dan Basse, AgResource Co. president, says he is growing increasingly concerned as the threat of NWS edges closer to the U.S. border.

“I’m becoming more pessimistic as each day goes by,” Basse says. “Seasonally, the fly moves northward, and it’s not that far away.”

Biosecurity Versus Supply Pressures

According to Jim Wiesemeyer, host of the “Wiesemeyer’s Perspectives” podcast and a Washington analyst, the reopening debate is being driven by two competing dynamics:

Biosecurity risk remains the primary constraint.
Market pressures are intensifying.

“Tight U.S. feeder cattle supplies and operational strain on Southwest feedyards are increasing pressure on USDA to restore imports from Mexico, a key supply source for the region,” Wiesemeyer explains.

Basse estimates roughly 120,000 head per month that would typically move into the U.S. are currently being held in Mexico, further tightening already constrained supplies.

“I don’t know how APHIS [USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service] can open the border today,” he says.

Rollins says keeping the borders closed has been instrumental in keeping NWS out of the U.S.

“I think they [Mexico’s government] would have been good partners, whether we close the ports or not, but I know for sure they have been much better partners because those ports have been closed,” Rollins says.

Adis Dijab, DVM and veterinary services associate deputy administrator for APHIS, says Moore Air Base is the hub of the U.S. expansion for sterile NWS flies . He says the dispersal facility is operational and the production plant is scheduled to be built and fully online by 2027 — aiming for 300 million sterile flies per week. On Jan. 30, USDA announced a shift in its 100 million-per-week sterile fly dispersal efforts to reinforce coverage along the U.S.-Mexico border.

What Would a Phased Reopening Mean for U.S. Beef Producers?

“I suspect the futures market will react pretty significantly,” says Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist. “But the fact of the matter is this is not that big a deal. It’s not going to cause an immediate impact of any kind at this point in time.”

David Anderson, Texas A&M professor and Extension specialist for livestock and food product marketing, agrees, saying reopening the border will not fundamentally make a huge difference for the U.S. producer.

“There is not really a flood of animals waiting to come this way,” he explains. “While cattle would be imported it should not have a huge effect on the market. A little more supplies and a little impact on price. It should take a while for imports to ramp up. Phased means a slow reopening, so that implies a slow or small effect on numbers and prices.”

Peel predicts cattle flow from Mexico would trickle, not surge, especially going into the summer heat period when movements usually tail off.

Other constraints that Peel says will limit cattle crossing the border include:

Understaffing and loss of USDA APHIS personnel at ports could be a bottleneck.
Prior abrupt closures have eroded Mexican producers’ confidence, so they’re unlikely to rush cattle north without proof the border will stay open.
Mexico is investing and adapting internally, which could permanently change traditional movement patterns and how much and how quickly cattle flow to the U.S. even after reopening.

“Long term, if we return eventually to normal things, then, you know, that does add some supply back into our feeder cattle supplies,” Peel says. “But that’s all going to take months. I mean, it really doesn’t happen much this year. ... We’re probably talking about next year.”

Don Close, senior animal protein analyst at Terrain Ag, says the biggest impact will be psychological.

“Because the futures market is an anticipatory market, and [if] we ever have any border opening, the market’s going to perceive more numbers to come down the road, so that’s where that psychological impact could come from,” he explains.

He predicts the real story will be a North American cattle shortage, not just a U.S. shortage, due to drought also experienced in Mexico.

The positive impact, according to Anderson, will be for Southwestern U.S. feeders.

He says more supplies of cattle would eventually help the packer keep shifts going to help some plants survive, but when Mexican cattle come across the border, they are “a long way off from finishing.” It will not be immediate relief for the packer.

“I don’t think it’s an immediate impact except in the futures market, because it always reacts immediately and then figures it out and recorrects later,” Anderson says. “It would help boost beef supplies for the consumer — many months down the road. I don’t think this helps enough to offset the increase in gas and diesel prices and the longer-term impact of these costs on our production and marketing system.”

No Need to Panic

Should beef producers be concerned about a potential phased reopening of U.S.-Mexico border?

“I would say this is not something to panic about,” Anderson summarizes. “There are a lot of positives for cattle producers, especially in the Southwest, and the truckers, feed stores, markets and others who are part of the cattle industry in the Southwest.”

He emphasizes, “I think one real benefit is the inspection and surveillance that happens at the border that is a real positive to have a better idea of what is going on.”

Close’s message to producers is that a border reopening would likely cause a short-term, mostly psychological softening in feeder prices, but it won’t solve the broader North American cattle shortage, so any relief will be limited and temporary.

The message from industry analysts is not to panic, but to steady the ship, manage risk and prepare for NWS.

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Apply Now: Legacy Landscapes Program Opens New Round of Funding and Technical Support

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:06:55 GMT

An update to last year’s Legacy Landscapes Program is set to put even more value into ranchers’ pockets, according to program partners at Nestle Purina PetCare, AgriWebb, National Grazing Lands Coalition and Regrow.

Currently working with cow-calf producers in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas, the program is seeking to correlate land stewardship and profitability through financial and technical assistance. Ranchers enrolled in the program receive more than $70,000 in valued assistance, ranging from financial assistance for new practice adoption, ranch managment software and technical advice.

During a recent AgriWebb webinar, producer Eric Yates, owner and operator of Yates Family Farms, spoke about the impact Legacy Landscapes has had on his operation in the year since his enrollment, specifically the program’s ability to de-risk conservation change and innovation.

“It’s no risk at all,” he explains. “You either win, because the practice made you better, or you fail at the practice, but you have very limited financial costs invested in it, and you learn something.”

For Yates, the ability to capitalize on AgriWebb to organize his ranch record keeping was a key driver for his enrollment in the program.

“Traditionally we’ve done Excel sheets and pieces of paper, written on the back of a feed tag,” he says. “Then when we need to look at it, it’s a full week of compiling data.”

Through the program, Yates has been able to organize his ranch data, identify grazing patterns and make better operational decisions for his herd and his business.

“At its core, data is the catalyst that allows a producer and their adviser to build a road map and actually see the impact of every management decision,” says John Fargher, cofounder and chief strategy officer at AgriWebb. “By turning daily records into clear insights, ranchers can confidently work toward their specific goals while maintaining total ownership and control of their information. We believe that when a producer truly understands how their decisions are moving the needle on their operation, they can build a more resilient and profitable legacy.”

The program is currently accepting applications for producers. Find more information or sign up by visiting grazinglands.org/legacy-landscapes .

Legislation to Delist the Mexican Wolf Advances

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 22:11:58 GMT

The House Natural Resources Committee advanced the Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025 (H.R. 4255) with bipartisan support. The bill would remove federal ESA protections for the Mexican wolf, restoring commonsense wildlife management authority and providing much-needed relief to cattle producers and rural communities across the Southwest. The next step for the bill is to be presented to the full House for a vote.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) strongly support H.R. 4255, which would reduce regulatory barriers that have prevented effective management to safeguard livestock and rural communities from this abundant apex predator.

“For decades, cattle producers have borne the cost of federal policies that prioritize paperwork over practical wildlife management. The Mexican wolf population has grown well beyond recovery goals, yet producers are left without the tools needed to protect their livestock, their families and their livelihoods,” says Oregon rancher and NCBA Policy Division Chair Skye Krebs. “This isn’t just a producer issue — it’s a rural community issue. When predators cannot be responsibly managed, it puts people at risk and undermines the stewardship efforts of those who live and work on the land every day. Delisting the Mexican wolf would allow wildlife professionals to use proven, science-based management tools to reduce conflict and restore balance.”

Because of its ESA status, Mexican wolf management remains heavily restricted, even in areas where wolf populations have expanded significantly. Producers face ongoing livestock depredation, disrupted grazing operations, and delayed or denied responses to problem animals — often with little to no compensation for losses.

“Whether it is Mexican wolves, grey wolves or grizzly bears, ranchers across the West face daily challenges with recovered species protected by the Endangered Species Act. This bill is a step toward alleviating the challenges southwestern producers face and would recognize the realities on the ground,” says Colorado rancher and PLC President Tim Canterbury. “This legislation is grounded in established science and restores commonsense in the listing determination. The Mexican wolf has recovered, now is the time for Congress to finish the job and pass this legislation.”

NCBA and PLC commend the House Natural Resources Committee for advancing this legislation and thank Rep. Paul Gosar for introducing a bill that recognizes conservation success while standing up for the men and women who help feed Americans.

Read More about Wolves:
House Approves Gray Wolf Protection Removal in a Victory for Cattlemen
Nightly Battles and Big Losses: Ranchers Demand Reform as Wolves Continue to Wreak Havoc
Wolves Are Not Going Away: Ranchers Push for Practical Management Tools
The Cost of Coexistence With Wolves

Next Step in the Screwworm Fight: USDA Announces Opening of Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility in Tampico, Mexico

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 18:13:01 GMT

USDA announced Thursday the opening of a sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico. The Tampico facility will allow USDA to disperse sterile flies aerially across northeastern Mexico, including in Nuevo Leon. This announcement is the next milestone in the fight against New World screwworm (NWS).

“The opening of the Tampico sterile fly dispersal facility is another incredibly important tool in our arsenal to stop the spread of screwworm. The facility will ensure flexibility and responsiveness in northern Mexico, giving us a greater ability to drop sterile flies and continue to push the pest south,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in a press release . “Stopping the spread of screwworm is a top priority for the entire Trump administration.”

Last week Rollins met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and her counterpart Secretary Julio Berdegue on the joint response to NWS.

“We are boosting our efforts and completing a joint review of our screwworm operations in Mexico to ensure our protocols are being followed,” she says. “As we enter the winter months , we continue to prioritize the response in Mexico and the rest of our five-pronged plan to protect U.S. livestock and the livelihoods of American farmers and ranchers.”

A proven method for NWS eradication is releasing sterile male flies to mate with wild females collapsing the population over time. There are two methods of dispersing sterile insects – aerial dispersal and ground release chambers. Aerial operations are preferred because they allow for dispersal at a steady rate through a large area and also because sterile insects may be dispersed in areas that are unreachable from the ground. Ground release chambers are used when there’s a need to quickly deploy sterile insects outside of the dispersal facility range.

Learn more about NWS:
The Smell You’ll Never Forget: A Calf Infested with New World Screwworm

According to the press release, USDA continues to disperse 100 million sterile flies per week in Mexico, but until now, aerial operations have been limited to southern Mexico, necessitating the use of ground release chambers in more northern areas of the country. Mass production and targeted dispersal of sterile flies remain critical components of our effective response.

Although Mexico continues to confirm new cases of NWS, the overwhelming majority of these remain in the far southern part of the country, with no significant northward expansion over the past several months. Should that change, the Tampico facility will allow USDA to immediately tackle any cases that occur elsewhere in Mexico.

The two northernmost detections (approximately 70 and 170 miles from the U.S. border, respectively) occurred in Nuevo León, on Sept. 20 and Oct. 5 , in young cattle transported from Chiapas, Mexico.

Neither case is still active and there have been no additional detections of NWS flies in traps or cases in animals in Nuevo Leon. USDA continues to disperse sterile insects in Nuevo Leon, and will now transition from ground release chambers to aerial dispersal in those areas.

USDA produces sterile flies for dispersal at the COPEG facility in Panama. USDA is also investing $21 million to support Mexico’s renovation of an existing fruit fly facility in Metapa — which will double NWS production capacity once complete. With ongoing support from APHIS technical experts, Mexico anticipates this sterile fly production to begin as soon as summer 2026.

To expand our domestic response capacity, USDA has also begun construction on a sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas, that is projected to begin operating in early 2026. APHIS is also expediting design and construction of a sterile fly production facility in southern Texas, with a targeted maximum capacity of 300 million sterile flies per week.

USDA continues to work with Mexico’s agriculture authority, SENASICA, to implement the collaborative NWS Action Plan and guide trapping, surveillance and movement protocols to help stop the northward spread of NWS.

Trade Mission While In Mexico

While Rollins was in Mexico last week, she also led the largest U.S. Department of Agriculture agribusiness trade mission in history. During the mission, 41 U.S. businesses, 33 cooperators and agriculture advocacy groups, six state departments of agriculture, and 150 participants conducted more than 500 business-to-business meetings during the three days.

According to a USDA press release , “This was a critical opportunity for American business to further trade ties and for USDA to continue its aggressive response to NWS in Mexico and continue to hold Mexico accountable for its commitments to the 1944 Water Treaty.”

Honored to lead the largest @USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission in US history to Mexico City!

Over three days, our delegation of 41 US businesses, 33 cooperators, 6 state departments of agriculture, and 150 participants held more than 500 business-to-business meetings - deepening a… pic.twitter.com/39rGi9Snhj
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) November 13, 2025

Your Next Read: Preparing for the Battle Continues: USDA Shares Screwworm Update and Releases NWS Playbook

Ranchers Make Tough Decisions to Weather Intense Southwest Drought

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:24:39 GMT

In the Southwest, dry conditions are the name of the game for cattle ranchers. But something about 2025 feels a little different.

With haboobs shoving dust into the air so heavily that nearby airports must force shutdowns — along with only a fraction of the average yearly rainfall thus far — Arizona producers are left hanging on by a thread. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 65% of the area has been in drought on some level.

It’s a feeling David and Tina Thompson of YY Ranch know well. Their generational ranch sits in the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert of Cochise County, near the Chiricahua Mountains. Tina grew up on this land. She knows that rains come and go.

But this year’s monsoons were not showing up. Left in the wake, the Thompsons were forced to make some tough decisions for their 300-head Angus cow-calf and seedstock herd.

“Our NRCS stocking rate says we should be able to run about 400 cows, but Tina and I, over the years, have cut that back to about 350 on our own because of water and resources,” David says. “Due to drought, we’re down to about 300 currently.”

Managing the Water

In the summer, Tina says she plans for each cow-calf pair to drink about 30 gallons of water a day.

“It’s life or death for them,” she says. “They are just like people. If they don’t drink enough water, they’ll die.”

But, when the water doesn’t come from overhead, it must come from underground — and sometimes even that is tricky.

“Our water at the house is only about 20' down, but you get to other places on the ranch, and it can be 400' to 500' down,” Tina says. “When you do find a good water source, you pipe it to the places that don’t.”

They have invested in their water management infrastructure to ensure they can pipe enough water for their herd, no matter where they are grazing.

But, with nearly 18 miles of pipeline, there are a number of vulnerabilities. And water loss can be catastrophic.

“Maybe you just checked everything and then a bear comes along and breaks your float, or you have a float break and you’ve lost 12,000 gallons of water in a single day,” Tina says.

With just the two of them on-ranch full time, the Thompsons were wearing themselves out just staying on top of their water. With the help of their local retailer, they found technology that could take the stress out of that water monitoring and place it right in the palm of their hands.

The Thompsons route critical water to their herd through 18 miles of pipeline. Ranchbot’s water management system helps them manage and monitor that water infrastructure for security and planning.

(Trust In Beef)

“Every morning, that’s the first thing I do when I wake up,” David says. “I check my Ranchbot on my phone and make sure everything looks good.”

For Bain Wilson, rancher education and outreach manager, this is precisely the on-ranch pain point the Ranchbot system is designed to alleviate.

“We know a lot of ranchers don’t think about what their hourly rate is,” he says. “They know they pay it out to their crew, but their time is money and we help them save that by not having to make as many of those trips out to check all those water points.”

That maintenance, Wilson says, does more than just cause stress. It impacts the bottom line.

“With Ranchbot, there’s a tremendous amount of time, money, labor savings and reduced wear and tear on vehicles. That’s really helping drive profitability along with the better management of that water resource,” he explains.

Forage Management

The Thompsons know there are two things they need in order to sustain their herd health throughout the year. Along with sufficient water, they need forage. But, the forage is struggling too in the drought.

Breaking up cow/calf pairs earlier than normal has allowed YY Ranch to weather the intense drought that they have experienced this year.

(Tina Thompson/YY Ranch)

It helps, Tina says, that they have been on a generational mission to break their land into smaller pastures.

“My dad started making the pastures smaller,” she says. “When I was a kid, we had a pasture up there that was 4 or 5 square miles and, of course, the cows would always congregate in the favorite areas with the ice cream grasses.”

Now, they run 18 different pastures over two non-contiguous ranches. Tina says it’s basically like running four mini-herds.

Their smaller sections allow them to rotate their herd more and let grasses rest. Rested grasses have a greater potential for bounce-back when the rains come.

“We’re fortunate to have hearty varieties of grass,” David says. “I believe with our rotational grazing we can protect those small plants when we need to.”

At a recent Trust In Beef Sustainable Ranchers event, Hugh Aljoe, director of ranches, outreach and partnerships at Noble Research Institute , praised YY Ranch’s forage management.

“When you get rain, it makes everybody look smart,” he says. “But when you get into severe drought conditions like they deal with here, you find out who really knows how to manage.

“Knowing the severity of the drought, I was delighted to see that their forage is holding everything together. There are a lot of positive signs out there — it’s just waiting for a rain. You don’t get that without managing correctly for a long period of time.”

Herd Management

Just 50 miles north of the Mexico border, YY Ranch has a front-row seat to the epicenter of many of the issues facing America’s cattle ranchers. But, they aren’t wondering how limited cattle inventory will impact their ability to rebuild their herd.

This year, they had to cull strategically, especially given their business as a seedstock producer.

Tina says they sold their calves a few weeks earlier than normal.

Breaking up cow/calf pairs earlier than normal has allowed YY Ranch to weather the intense drought that they have experienced this year.

(Tina Thompson/YY Ranch)

“Our first move when we’re in a drought like this is sell those calves earlier than normal to get them off the cows so that the cows can recover,” she says. “If we do get rain, they’ll have a better time recovering if the calves aren’t on them.”

And, they made the decision to cull 70% of one of their mini-herds.

It’s something they’ve had to do before, and Tina knows the ramifications of a hard cull can last for several growing seasons.

“The thing about selling your herd is a cow that’s been on your ranch is worth more than just the price of beef because she’s learned how to graze and survive in this country,” she says. “There’s a learning and evolution that you have in your herd that you lose.

Tina continues: “If you suddenly get rain, it’s hard to bring in new cows that will survive as well on your ranch.”

Fortunately, recent rains mean YY Ranch can keep their herd size steady for the moment, a move that is critical with cattle inventory prices skyrocketing across the nation.

Trust In Beef works to secure the future of American ranching by providing the information ranchers need to make the decisions that impact the resiliency, profitability and resource management of their working lands. Learn more about Trust In Beef and their 2025 Sustainable Ranchers Tour by visiting www.trustinbeef.com

How Arizona Is Preparing the Public To Scout for New World Screwworm Threat

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:12:08 GMT

With its high temperatures and few winter freezes, Arizona is ripe territory for infestation from New World screwworm (NWS).

Ryan Wolker, state veterinarian with the Arizona Department of Agriculture, says he thinks the threat to his state from NWS is significant.

“It is definitely a concern,” he says. “The New World screwworm detections in Mexico have surpassed 3,000 premises and have come within approximately 370 miles south of the southernmost point of Texas, but obviously that can change quite rapidly, especially with the animal movement within the country of Mexico itself.”

Wolker has concerns about the impact NWS could have on Arizona’s already-stressed cattle ranchers.

“There was a limited outbreak of NWS in Texas in the 1970s, and USDA conducted a study of that economic impact in 2016,” he says. “Even without adjustment for increased inventories of animals since that time, because obviously, herd sizes are larger, feedlots are bigger, etc, the economic impact of that same outbreak in Texas now, only counting for inflation, would be looking at a cost to producers and lost revenue in the neighborhood around $1.4 billion.”

At a recent Trust In Beef Sustainable Ranchers Tour event in Willcox, Ariz., Wolker and the Arizona Livestock Incident Response Team (ALIRT) began an initiative to get ahead of the potential economic damage.

The Arizona Livestock Incident Response Team (ALIRT) gathered at YY Ranch during a recent Trust In Beef Sustainable Ranchers Tour event to hone tactical skills needed for a possible New World screwworm response in the state.

(Photo courtesy of Dr. Betsy Greene, University of Arizona extension specialist )

After gathering the team to practice on-the-ground incident response at YY Ranch, Wolker and Betsy Greene, extension specialist with the University of Arizona, unveiled the first of the state’s saddlebag scouting kits that are available to ranchers.

The kit includes:

Specimen collection vials with tweezers.
Specimen baggies with cotton balls for safe transport.
Collection and mail instructions.

“The whole point is, we can get and find things faster,” Greene says. “If someone sees it, gets a sample, then we can deal with it.”

Greene and Wolker urge ranchers to begin scouting now in their herds, looking at open wounds for any signs of infestation. Hunters should scout not only their harvests but any carcass they encounter during hunts.

In addition to specimen collection, Wolker stresses the importance of gathering additional data as well.

“Take some pictures for documentation purposes,” he says. “If you’re proficient with Google Maps, drop a pin to grab those GPS coordinates for us.”

The Arizona Livestock Incident Response Team (ALIRT) is a cross-functional team that aims to improve the diagnosis and response to unexplained livestock deaths in the state by providing resources and expertise from the Arizona Cattlemen’s Association, Arizona Department of Agriculture, USDA and University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.

(Photo courtesy of Dr. Betsy Greene, University of Arizona extension specialist)

NWS scouting kits are available to ranchers through ALIRT . The team has issued a resource with additional scouting and specimen collection tips .

Additional resources can be found through your local Extension office, large animal or equine veterinarian or through the Arizona Department of Agriculture Animal Services Division.

AgriTalk Host Chip Flory recently visited with Wolker about NWS. You can hear the complete discussion here:

Visit trustinbeef.com for information about upcoming stops on the 2025 Sustainable Ranchers Tour and make your plans to attend.

Your next read: Stay up-to-date on NWS with Drovers coverage.

The Cost of Coexistence With Wolves

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:52:24 GMT

Wolves continue to cause ranchers havoc, including significant income loss. Recent research estimates the wolves are causing some impacted ranchers in the Southwest to lose 28% of their income potential.

“While the expansion of gray and Mexican gray wolf populations is often hailed as a conservation success, the consequences for ranching families can be gruesome, costly and complex,” says Daniel Munch, American Farm Bureau Federation economist. “They are threatening the safety of ranch families and their pets and livestock, as well as the long-term survival of multigenerational ranches and the rural economies they anchor.”

Munch summarized a recent University of Arizona study that focused on the Mexican gray wolf and analyzed both direct livestock depredation and indirect effects such as stress-induced weight loss and elevated management costs based on 2024 cattle prices. Findings are based on survey responses from impacted ranchers, modeling of herd-level financial outcome and county-level livestock performance trends.

“In areas with wolf presence, even a moderate level of impact, such as 2% calf loss, 3.5% weight reduction and average management costs, can reduce annual ranch revenue by 28%,” Munch says.

While the study focuses on Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest, the core challenges it identifies — livestock depredation, herd stress and weight loss, increased management costs and difficulties accessing timely compensation — are not unique to that region. Ranchers across the northern Rockies, Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes states report similar experiences as wolf populations have expanded.

“Because these economic stressors stem from common predator-prey dynamics and livestock production systems, the study’s findings provide a credible framework for estimating broader impacts,” he says. “This Market Intel draws on that foundation to illustrate the tangible financial risks associated with predator recovery and highlight the need for responsive, producer-informed wildlife policy in all regions affected by wolf activity.”

Key statistics shared by Munch in his article, “ Wolves and the West: The Cost of Coexistence ,” include:

$1,336 average value loss per calf due to wolves. Whether the calf was a day old or nearly ready for market, the rancher loses its full market value, estimated at $1,336 in 2024 for a 525 lb. calf.
A 2% loss of calves could reduce a 367-head ranch’s net income by 4%, or about $5,195, for that year. At higher loss levels, such as 14% of calves, net income could fall by as much as 34%, or roughly $42,599, in that same year.

When a cow is killed, the financial hit extends over multiple years.

“The operation not only loses that year’s calf, but also future offspring, along with the revenue and herd stability that cow would have provided,” Munch explains. “Ranchers then have to retain or buy replacements. This means fewer animals are available for sale, working capital must be used to buy additional replacements and herd development is ultimately delayed. Excluding these long-term impacts, the revenue loss associated with the loss of a single cow was estimated at $2,673.”

(Data: American Farm Bureau Federation)

Figure 2 displays the calculated value of calves lost under this scenario, assuming each calf is valued at $1,336. This generates a loss of 13,514 calves out of an inventory of 1.87 million calves valued at $18 million in wolf-occupied counties. The states with the highest number of calf depredations under this scenario are Montana ($3 million; approximately 2,307 calves) and Idaho ($2.7 million; approximately 2,044 calves).

Keep in mind this method assumes static wolf presence at the county level. Wolves regularly traverse dozens of miles per day, crossing county and state borders, so county-level presence can vary widely year to year.

58% of those surveyed had stress- or depredation-related wolf impacts on their operation (compared to just 38% reporting depredation).
3.5% reduction in average calf weaning weight (18.4 lb.). According to Munch a figure supported by published field research — can significantly reduce revenues across an entire herd.

At the $2.54 per lb. value reference in the study ($1,336/525 lb. average), a ranch that markets 80 head would lose out on $3,738 in marketable weight value.

“Weight loss can be much higher in regions with elevated wolf activity,” Munch says. “If that same ranch experienced a 10% reduction in weaning weight, the loss would exceed $10,600 before even factoring in additional impacts like reduced conception rates.”

(Data: American Farm Bureau Federation)

Using these assumptions about ranch exposure to wolf presence and average weight loss, Figure 3 presents the estimated revenue loss by state. In total, more than $50 million in potential calf weight value was lost due to wolf presence, including $8.6 million in Montana and $7.6 million in Idaho alone.

Ranchers reported an average cost of $79 per cow for conflict avoidance measures and associated labor.

Wolf presence forces ranchers to change the way they manage their operations — often at a steep cost. In wolf-occupied areas, ranchers routinely implement additional strategies to deter predation, respond to attacks and monitor herds across expansive rangelands.

“These management efforts are both labor- and resource-intensive,” Munch says.

Even before accounting for any depredation or stress-related weight loss, these management expenses alone reduced net returns for the average ranch by 19%. Through interviews and surveys, producers indicated they spent anywhere from several thousand dollars to over $150,000 per year on these efforts.

“For our analysis, we convert the $79 per cow figure to $55.30 per calf based on their 70% calf crop assumption,” he explains. “We then apply this per-calf cost to estimate statewide wolf-management expenses, using the study’s finding that 58% of ranchers in wolf-occupied counties experience wolf-induced stressors. Based on these assumptions, ranchers nationwide spend over $60 million each year on efforts to mitigate the impacts of gray wolves.” (Figure 4)

(Data: American Farm Bureau Federation)

All combined, on a ranch experiencing a modest 2% calf depredation and 3.5% weight loss that also spends the average reported amount on conflict avoidance, annual ranch revenues are reduced by 28% ($34,642). These combined costs, reflecting $128 million in annual costs to U.S. ranchers, are displayed in Figure 5.

(Data: American Farm Bureau Federation)

45% drop in the ranch’s long-term earning potential. The study projected what repeated losses from wolves would do to a ranch’s profitability over 30 years. Even a moderate level of impact — losing 2% of calves and 3.5% lower weights — would reduce the ranch’s net present value by more than $191,000.

“In plain terms, that’s a 45% drop in the ranch’s long-term earning potential,” Munch says.

The study estimates that, without wolf impacts, the ranch would generate about $420,000 in long-term profits (in today’s dollars). With average wolf-related losses, that shrinks to $228,000.

“While a single year’s loss might seem manageable, the effects compound over time,” Munch says. “Smaller calf crops mean fewer replacements and fewer animals to sell, while lower weights reduce revenue year after year. These cumulative impacts ripple through herd management and finances, steadily eroding profitability and increasing the odds that the operation may not be financially sustainable in the long run.”

Munch summarizes if predator recovery efforts are to be economically sustainable, they must be accompanied by policies that recognize the people on the front lines: those whose livelihoods now depend not only on their animals but also on a system that values and supports the cost of coexistence.

“That’s the heart of the issue,” Munch explains. “For many ranching families, the return of wolves is not just a wildlife management question, it’s a daily reality shaped by decisions made in distant urban centers, often by voters and officials who will never have to look into the eyes of a mother cow searching for her calf. Ranchers are the ones bearing the real-world costs of policies shaped far from the range. And they’re doing so while continuing to care for livestock, steward the land and feed a growing world.”

Arizona Rancher Rejects Plea Deal in Death of Migrant

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:16:50 GMT

An Arizona rancher charged with murder in the shooting death of a migrant on his property has rejected a plea agreement and a trial date has been set.

George Alan Kelly, 75, was arrested Jan. 30 of last year following the death of Gabriel Cuen-Butimea, 48, from Nogales, Mexico, who was shot on Kelly’s ranch in a remote desert area near Keno Springs.

Kelly lives with his wife on their ranch – Vermilion Mountain Ranch – and routinely sees migrant trespassers. The couple have reported they fear members of the drug cartels and their heavily armed soldiers trafficking people and drugs.

On the day of the shooting the sheriff’s office responded to calls of shots fired at the ranch where they recovered Cuen-Butimea’s body. Authorities have said there was no weapon on the victim at the time, and investigators had collected two assault-style rifles from Kelly’s property in the aftermath to determine whether either was used in the shooting.

Cuen-Butimea was identified by his Mexican voter card, and his body was found approximately 150 yards from Kelly’s home. U.S. federal court records show Cuen-Butimea had had a history of illegal border crossings and deportations in and around Nogales.

Kelly was charged with murder and aggravated assault and his trial was originally scheduled for September. The trial was delayed as prosecutors asked an appeals court to decide if Kelly’s text messages can be admitted as evidence and if his wife, Wanda, can be deposed about events after the shooting.

The appeals court said Judge Thomas Fink of the Santa Cruz County Superior Court must consider Kelly’s text messages and that he must allow prosecutors to depose Wanda Kelly.

Kelly allowed a plea offer of negligent homicide to expire that would have carried a maximum sentence of eight years. Now, if convicted of murder, he could face up to 23 and a half years in prison. A new trial date was set for March 21, 2024.

Mistrial Declared in Arizona Rancher’s Murder Trial

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 18:42:44 GMT

An Arizona judge declared a mistrial in the murder case of rancher George Alan Kelly, 75, who was accused of fatally shooting a migrant on his property near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Superior Court Judge Thomas Fink said the decision was made after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision after two full days of deliberation.

Following the declaration, Kelly’s defense attorney Kathy Lowthorp revealed outside the courthouse to the media that there had only been one guilty juror in the group, which was why the defense team pushed for deliberations to continue.

“There was one hold out for guilty, the rest were not guilty. So seven not guilty, one guilty,” Lowthorp stated. “We believe in our gut that there was no way the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Kelly had faced second-degree murder in the Jan. 30, 2023, shooting of Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea, 48, who lived just south of the border in Nogales, Mexico. Kelly had earlier rejected an agreement with prosecutors that would have reduced the charge to one count of negligent homicide if he pleaded guilty.

“It is what it is, and it will be what it will be. Let me go home, okay? That alright with y’all?” Kelly told reporters outside the courthouse following the mistrial. “I will keep fighting forever. I won’t stop.”

Judge Fink had told jurors that if they could not reach a verdict on the second-degree murder charge, they could try for a unanimous decision on a lesser charge of reckless manslaughter or negligent homicide.

The Santa Cruz County Attorney’s Office can still decide whether to retry Kelly for any charge or drop the case all together.

A status hearing was scheduled for next Monday afternoon, when prosecutors could inform the judge if they plan to refile the case.

Related:

Arizona Rancher Rejects Plea Deal in Death of Migrant

Arizona Border Rancher Accused of Killing Migrant, Now Held With $1 Million Bond

Prosecutors To Drop One Charge Against Arizona Rancher

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 15:38:46 GMT

One of the charges against Arizona rancher George Alan Kelly will be dismissed, according to News 4 Tucson.

Prosecutors are requesting the court to dismiss the aggravated assault charge against Kelly, but the second-degree murder charge will remain. Kelly stands accused of shooting and killing an undocumented migrant on his property in January.

Court documents show the state is unable to find one of its key witnesses and alleged victims, identified as witness RFG. Prosecutors say he was released by Border Patrol in February, and even with the assistance of the FBI, they have been unable to locate him.

Another witness, identified as D.R.R. during the February preliminary hearing, had served time in prison for smuggling cannabis across the Arizona-Mexican border in 2015. He accepted a plea agreement to misdemeanor possession of cannabis and served nearly seven months in prison.

Kelly’s trial on the second-degree murder charge is scheduled for Sept. 6, 2023 in Nogales, AZ.

Biden Designates New National Monument in Arizona

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 13:38:33 GMT

President Joe Biden traveled to Red Butte near the Grand Canyon on Tuesday to designate nearly one million acres as a new national monument. The designation, the fifth of his presidency using his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906, will conserve and protect ancestral places significant to Indigenous people of the region, the White House said in a fact sheet supplied to reporters.

Tribes in Arizona have been pushing for Biden to make the designation of the monument to be called

Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni. “Baaj Nwaavjo” means “where tribes roam,” for the Havasupai people, while “I’tah Kukveni” translates to “our footprints,” for the Hopi tribe.

The White House said the designation protects the area from potential uranium mining and would also protect existing grazing permits and leases, existing mining claims and will support area hunting and fishing.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association called Biden’s actions “yet another presidential land grab” in a release sent to media on Tuesday.

“This kind of use of the Antiquities Act is one of the most appallingly political moves to lock up millions of acres of land across the country. Today’s latest designation follows a concerning trend of Washington politicians trampling local communities, land managers, farmers, and ranchers with the stroke of a pen,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “NCBA is strongly opposed to the continued abuse of the Antiquities Act, and we urge President Biden to listen to the local communities that will be hurt by this designation.”

Representatives of various northern Arizona tribes have long campaigned to prevent uranium mining in the area. Among those opposed to the new mines are Navajo President Buu Nygren and Havasupai Tribal Councilwoman Dianna Sue White Dove Uqualla.

“It’s really the uranium we don’t want coming out of the ground because it’s going to affect everything around us — the trees, the land, the animals, the people,” Uqualla told NBC News. “It’s not going to stop.”

But mining companies and the areas that would benefit from their business are vehemently opposed to the designation of the new national monument. Buster Johnson, a Mohave County supervisor, said the monument proposal feels solely politically driven and he doesn’t see the point of not tapping into uranium and making the country less dependent on Russia.

“We need uranium for the security of our country,” Johnson said. “We’re out of the game.”

No uranium mines are operating in Arizona, although the Pinyon Plain Mine just south of Grand Canyon National Park has been under development for years. Other claims are grandfathered in. The federal government has said nearly a dozen mines within the area that has been withdrawn from new mining claims could still potentially open, even with the monument designation, because their claims were established before 2012.

AZ Rancher Faces New Charges in Death of Migrant, Defense Argues Investigation Mishandled and Law Enforcement Lit Powder Keg

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 18:37:32 GMT

Attorneys on Wednesday argued conflicting accounts of how a Mexican national came to be killed on an Arizona borderlands ranch. The state argues that the migrant died at the hands of rancher George Alan Kelly, and that Kelly also fired at other migrants on Jan. 30.

Defense attorney Brenna Larkin, however, argued that Kelly only fired warning shots and that the state arrested Kelly before investigating the circumstances leading to the incident. Further, Larkin said, her client was charged with first degree murder without any forensic, ballistic, fingerprint or other evidence.

Kelly, 73, faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of Gabriel Cuen-Butimea, who lived just south of the border in Nogales, Mexico. U.S. federal court records show Cuen-Butimea was convicted of illegal entry and deported back to Mexico several times, most recently in 2016.

Kelly has been held on a $1 million cash bond since his arrest, and Wednesday’s hearing was to determine if that should remain in place. Larkin argued her client was not a flight risk and that the $1 million cash bond was excessive. She argued for a reduction to $250,000 and to a surety bond rather than cash, which would allow Kelly to put up his ranch and home rather than come up with cash and allow him to leave custody while the case plays out.

Justice of the Peace Emilio G. Velasquez ordered that Kelly’s bond be changed from a cash to a surety bond, but left the $1 million price tag in place.

Kelly, who has no prior criminal record, was led into the court room in handcuffs and shackles to hear additional charges had been filed against him. Law enforcement claims two witnesses came forward leading authorities to amend the complaint against Kelly to include two counts of aggravated assault “using a rifle, a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument” in a shooting at his ranch outside Nogales, Arizona.

Deputy Santa Cruz County Attorney Kimberly Hunley maintained Wednesday that the rancher shot an “unarmed” man in the back “in an unprovoked attack as he ran for his life” more than 100 yards from Kelly’s residence. The government also argues two others who were with the deceased victim as he fled were also shot at but “luckily escaped with their lives.”

Kelly’s attorney, however, claims law enforcement mishandled the probe and that witnesses, identified by the court only with initials at this point, came forward after the investigation was “compromised by publicity,” and may be unreliable. Through that alleged mishandling of the investigation, the attorney said, Santa Cruz County law enforcement “lit a match over a very intense political powder keg” and “predictably, there was an explosion.”

Defense attorney Larkin also challenged the testimony of the witnesses.

“There’s a very large incentive structure for people to come forward and to have claimed to have been witnesses. People can possibly obtain immigration benefits for doing so, or at least have the expectation of that, and people can succumb to pressure from traffickers who have an interest in blaming this event on Mr. Kelly,” Larkin said.

“Testimony is something that is bought and sold by drug traffickers the same way that drugs and people are bought and sold,” she added. “It is a valuable commodity, and it is used by these traffickers to obtain what they want. In this case, the benefit they’re getting is security for their smuggling route through Mr. Kelly’s property, and they’re sending a message to anybody else defending his or her own property that if you defend your property against us, you will be arrested and there will be witnesses who come to stand against you.”

Velasquez set a probable cause hearing for 9 a.m. MT (11 a.m. ET) Friday (Feb. 24) in Santa Cruz County Justice Court.

GiveSendGo, which describes itself as a Christian fundraising platform, carries at least four campaigns collecting money for Kelly’s legal defense, including one that gathered more than $300,000 as of Wednesday.

Arizona Border Rancher Accused of Killing Migrant, Now Held With $1 Million Bond

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 20:02:26 GMT

An Arizona rancher has been arrested in connection with the death of a Mexican national who was shot and killed on the rancher’s property, literally yards north of the Mexican border.

(Farm Journal)

George Alan Kelly, 73, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Gabriel Cuen-Butimea, 48, from Nogales, Mexico. Authorities say Cuen-Butimea was shot Jan. 30 in a remote desert area near Kino Springs, a tiny hamlet in Santa Cruz County. Kelly is being held on a $1 million bond.

Law enforcement have not divulged a motive for the shooting, and details remain sketchy. The incident, however, could develop into a powder keg and further escalate the tense political issue regarding the U.S.-Mexican border.

Here’s what we know. Kelly lives with his wife on their ranch – Vermilion Mountain Ranch – and routinely see migrant trespassers. The couple have reported they fear members of the drug cartels and their heavily armed soldiers trafficking people and drugs.

On the day of the shooting, a sheriff’s dispatch reported a call at around 2:40 p.m. from U.S. Border Patrol about a “possible active shooter” in the area of Sagebrush Road, which is Kelly’s address. CBP apparently received a report from a witness about a “group of people running” and said he was “unsure if he was getting shot at as well.”

At around 5:50 p.m. on the day of the shooting, sheriff’s deputies received another report of shots fired at the property. By 6:42 p.m. they recovered Cuen-Butimea’s body. Authorities have said there was no weapon on the victim at the time, and investigators had collected two assault-style rifles from Kelly’s property in the aftermath to determine whether either was used in the shooting.

Cuen-Butimea was identified by authorities from his Mexican voter card, and his body was found approximately 150 yards from Kelly’s home. News outlets have reported U.S. federal court records “show Cuen-Butimea has had a history of illegal border crossings and deportations in and around Nogales, with the most recent documented case in 2016.”

While an investigation into the shooting is ongoing, officials have said they don’t have a clear motive and that they don’t think Kelly and Cuen-Butimea knew each other.

Under Arizona law, deadly force is allowed on one’s own property if the homeowner believes it “immediately necessary” to prevent trespassing. Other statutes — known as the “stand your ground” laws — also defend the use of physical or deadly force when a homeowner fears a threat and believes force is necessary.

At a preliminary hearing Jan. 31, Kelly asked a judge to reduce his bond so he could help his wife.

“She’s there by herself … nobody to take care of her, the livestock, nor the ranch. And I’m not going anywhere. I can’t come up with a million dollars.”

A GoFundMe account was established to help with Kelly’s legal fees, but the account was quickly taken down, FOX News Digital reports.

“GoFundMe’s Terms of Service explicitly prohibit campaigns that raise money to cover the legal defense of anyone formally charged with an alleged violent crime. Consistent with this long-standing policy, any fundraising campaigns for the legal defense of someone charged with murder are removed from our platform,” a spokesperson for GoFundMe said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Donors who contributed to the fundraising campaigns for George Alan Kelly’s legal expenses have been fully refunded.”

An active fundraiser for Kelly remains on the Christian crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo which had raised over $16,000 on Friday morning.

“Neighbors say that he had been having difficulty keeping invaders out and say that Mr. Kelly would have acted in good faith,” the fundraiser’s organizer, Shannon Pritchard, wrote. “It is a tragedy that a simple farmer, who should be protected by the government, has been abandoned and had to defend himself.”

AZ Rancher Accused of Murder Claims He Fired Warning Shots, Lawyer Says

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 19:04:12 GMT

Arizona rancher George Alan Kelly, 73, appeared in Santa Cruz County court wearing an orange jump suit with handcuffs and shackles to hear charges against him of first-degree murder. During the proceeding, the judge named Brenna Larkin as Kelly’s court-appointed lawyer.

On Friday, Larkin filed court documents asking for Kelly’s $1 million bond to be reduced or eliminated. She wrote that Kelly “saw a group of men moving through the trees around his home” who were “armed with AK-47 rifles, dressed in khakis and camouflaged clothing, and carrying large backpacks.”

The “leader” of the alleged armed group saw Kelly and “pointed an AK-47 right at him,” the filing states.

“Mr. Kelly, fearing for his life and safety, fired several shots from his rifle, hoping to scare them away from him, his wife, his animals, and his home. As he shot, Mr. Kelly took care to aim well over the heads of the armed group of men,” Larkin wrote in the filing.

She said Kelly then called the United States Border Patrol Ranch Liaison and reported the incident, telling the official that “he heard a single shot, and that the men he had seen were armed.” Larkin alleges the liaison “incorrectly” reported that Kelly stated he couldn’t tell if the men “were armed or not,” adding that the radio dispatch “correctly reported that armed men had been seen in the area.”

Later on Jan. 30, while Kelly was checking on his horse, he found a body lying in the grass, then reported the findings to law enforcement, the filing states. The Mexican national, later identified as 48-year-old Gabriel Cuen-Butimea, did not have any firearms or a backpack, and authorities said the “cause of death appeared to be a single gunshot wound.”

However, Kelly denied to law enforcement that he fired directly at “any person” and “does not believe that any of his warning shots could have possibly hit the person or cause the death,” the court document states.

Unlimited Groundwater In the Desert Pads Pockets of Saudi Corporation

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

How much does unlimited pumping of groundwater in the Butler Valley, a desert west of Phoenix, Ariz, cost?

Nothing, at least for Saudi corporation, Fondomonte, who has been growing alfalfa for export to Saudi Arabia over the last seven years.

The Butler Valley Groundwater

The Butler Valley holds more than 6 million acre-feet of groundwater, located near the Central Arizona Project canal, is mostly owned by the state of Arizona in a trust for the support of public schools.

In the early 1980s, the Butler Valley was given to the state of Arizona to be managed by the State Land Department for a groundwater reserve in connection with the canal.

Recent findings by The Arizona Republic determined the State Land Department has leased thousands of production acres to Fondomonte, with permission to pump unlimited amounts of groundwater, for an annual rental of just $25 per acre.

Though Fondomonte refuses to disclose the amount of water it has used over the past seven years, the company has been growing alfalfa year-round on approximately 3,500 acres, verified from aerial photos, says a recent news article .

“According to U.S. Geological Survey studies, alfalfa in Butler Valley requires 6.4 acre-feet of water per acre. That means the company has likely been pumping 22,400 acre-feet of water each year for the last seven years,” reports The Arizona Republic.

What is the value of these groundwater rights?

The Central Arizona Project sells water to customers in a neighboring county for $242 per acre-foot.

Considering these figures, Fondomonte would owe approximately $5.42 million per year for their water rights, totaling nearly $38 million.

Feds Plan Aerial Gunning of Estray Cattle in New Mexico

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 14:19:50 GMT

An unknown number of estray cattle roam the Gila National Forest near the New Mexico/Arizona border. Grazing on sensitive forage, the Federal Wildlife Service (FWS) plans to shoot the estray cattle via helicopter flyover beginning February 8-10, 2022.

Previous efforts have been made to round up estray cattle in the forest, catching approximately 20 head; however, this has pushed the remaining cattle further into the forest.

The New Mexico Cattle Growers Association stated in a press release that they are concerned with the FWS agents’ ability to determine branded and unbranded livestock. “From a helicopter this task would be difficult for even a knowledgably adept livestock producer to identify brand markings and ear tags. There is no assurance that the gunning-down of these livestock will not include private property.” NWCGA says.

With minimal notice of the planned action, NMCGA points out that there is no federal statute or regulation that allows the FWS to gun-down livestock. The impoundment of livestock is allowed, but only after certain notice conditions are met. Estray livestock are under the jurisdiction of the New Mexico Livestock Board.

Another point of contention with local cattle ranchers is the presence of the federally listed endangered species, the Mexican Gray Wolf. Shooting the estray cattle will provide an easily accessible food source that may condition the wolves to prey on livestock.

A similar proposal of managing the estray cattle last year ended with a notice of intent to sue by local ranchers. In addition, the New Mexico Livestock Board renounced the use of aerial gunning.

Arizona Rancher Recognized For Commitment to Excellence

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 18:31:07 GMT

Ross Humphreys walks like a cowboy and talks like one, too. His adept gaits tell of many days in and out of the saddle on his ranch just south of Patagonia, Ariz.

He wears many hats, but his black felt wide brim fits most naturally, shading him from the sun at San Rafael Cattle Company. Off the ranch, you can find him in Tucson managing stocks and his publishing company.

Grit in every venture makes him a successful businessman, and his unrattled spirit makes the best of challenges. However, it’s his relentless drive for raising high-quality beef that earned him the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) 2021 Commercial Commitment to Excellence Award. 

A different background 

Humphreys grew up an army brat, frequently moving throughout his childhood. He earned a degree in chemistry and worked as a metallurgical engineer for a bit before going back to school for a Master of Business Administration. That sent him on a new route.

He’s held a lot of job titles in his 72 years, from strategic business advisor to book publisher and CEO of multiple companies, just to name a few.

In 1999 at 50-years-old, never having owned cattle or managed a ranch, he bought San Rafael Cattle Company. Admittedly, he took an unusual path to the cattle business. 

“I stood on one of the hills with my older daughter and said, ‘Anybody could run a cow on this place because you can see her wherever she is,’” he says. “So that’s how we got started.”

Consistent little changes

With no agricultural background, Humphreys went straight to the University of Arizona and bought a Ranching 101 textbook. 

Always curious, his questions led to new acquaintances, and Mark Gardiner, of Gardiner Angus Ranch in Kansas, became his teacher and connector.

“I’ve hardly ever spent any physical time with Gardiners,” Humphreys admits, “But if I called them up, they’d spend two hours on the phone with me answering questions.” 

Humphreys leaned on good information and sound science. No ranch decision is made without running some math and looking at a spreadsheet. 

By genetic testing his herd, he saw steady progress by buying a little better bull than the year before. He focuses his selection to ensure balanced cows that can raise replacement females and a calf crop that produces the best beef.

Humphreys confirms his plan works with results at the feedyard. Loads of his fed cattle have improved from 20% Prime in 2013 to 95% CAB or higher, including nearly 85% Prime today.

“My goal is to try to produce the best carcass I can,” he says. “So, I keep trying to nudge up my cow herd so that the calves will be even better the next time.”

Preserving today for tomorrow

Conservation is as much part of the San Rafael story as the cattle. Named after the San Rafael Valley, the ranch is nestled in Arizona’s high desert country bordering Mexico. It’s the north end of a rich ecological site that looks like the Great Plains and is home to various plants and animals, many on the endangered species list. 

“Ninety-five percent of this ranch is perennial native grasses,” Humphreys says. “We are the last shortgrass prairie in Arizona.”

Collaboration with conservation groups ensures the ranching operation, endangered wildlife and habitat are protected from housing or industrial development. The easements with Arizona State Parks and the Nature Conservancy led to work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The most important habitats on the ranch are water sources, including the Santa Cruz River, several springs and stock tanks. The endangered Sonoran Tiger Salamander is only found in stock tanks in the San Rafael Valley. Humphreys developed water sources with support from NRCS grants, creating a mutual benefit for the cattle and wildlife.

Looking ahead

Environmental investment is key to Humphreys’ long-term goal of sustaining the land.

Even with intensive management, the land still needs water and the current Southwestern drought continues to challenge his resources. As a result, Humphreys sold roughly 65% of his cow herd this year.

Unsure if he will ever get back to pre-drought herd numbers, he remains committed to this final career as a rancher. 

“I want to come home to a beautiful place,” he says. “I started doing this when I was 50, but I like the work. I like the cows.” 

Ever the student, he meets each new challenge with a thirst for knowledge, determined to sustain, and focused on raising the best, one step at a time. 

Arizona Meat Distributor Recalling Beef, Pork Products

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:42:32 GMT

A southern Arizona meat distributor is recalling more than 50,000 pounds of pork and beef because they were mislabeled.

The USDA said Friday that Premiere Distribution Center in Nogales is recalling more than 22,000 pounds of frozen bulk pork and more than 28,000 beef products.

The agency says the meats are in boxes that have a photocopied version of labels with shipping number 1880 or 2014110262.

The products were shipped to locations in Arizona, California and Washington.

The pork items were produced between June 16 and Dec. 3 of last year. The beef products were made between Nov. 29 and Dec. 18.

An inspector first observed the labels were photocopied. An investigation shows they were mistakenly attached without an inspector present.

Officials say no adverse reactions have been reported.

$3 Million Fraud Scheme at Arizona Cattle Market

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:24:03 GMT

One of Arizona’s busiest stockyards lost $3 million in fraudulent cattle sales at the hands of an employee, federal prosecutors say.

The scheme began to unravel in August 2017 when well-known rodeo cowboy Clay Parsons discovered $1.3 million missing from the accounts of the Marana Stockyards and Livestock Market, which his family has operated for nearly 30 years. The stockyard’s line of credit also was drawn down inexplicably by nearly $2 million, according to records from U.S. District Court in Tucson and reported by the Arizona Daily Star .

Court records indicate the trail of fraudulent documents led to Seth Nichols, the stockyard’s 29-year-old office manager and son of Donald Hugh Nichols, a cattle broker who had been friends with Parsons for decades.

Seth Nichols pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud in February and faces up to five years in prison. His father was indicted Aug. 22 as a co-conspirator in $1.6 million of fraudulent cattle sales at the stockyard’s auctions.

A federal prosecutor told the Arizona Daily Star the stockyard is operating “week to week” as it recovers from the fraud and Parsons has already spent $100,000 on audits and rebuilding the stockyard’s accounting system.

Seth Nichols admitted to manipulating the stockyard’s line of credit on behalf of Nichols Cattle Co., which then sold the cattle elsewhere without reimbursing the stockyard. He also admitted to sending the stockyard’s money directly to the cattle company.

Seth Nichols agreed to pay restitution to the Parsons, which was capped at $3 million in his plea agreement, but those funds won’t be available until after he is sentenced Sept. 24.

Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for $3 Million Stolen at Sale Barn

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:23:20 GMT

An Arizona man who stole $3 million worth of cattle sale proceeds from a sale barn has been sentenced to five years in federal prison and repaying the money he stole.

On Dec. 18, Seth Nichols, 29, was sentenced to his prison time and restitution payments after pleading guilty to federal back fraud in February . Under the plea deal Nichols was sentenced to the maximum prison term allowed by Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson.

Nichols was described as “like a son” to the owners of the Marana Stockyards and Livestock Market, who he defraud money out of by doctoring financial records while working as the office manager for the sale barn.

The scheme began to unravel in August 2017 when well-known rodeo cowboy Clay Parsons discovered $1.3 million missing from the accounts of the Marana Stockyards and Livestock Market, which his family has operated for nearly 30 years. The stockyard’s line of credit also was drawn down inexplicably by nearly $2 million, according to records from U.S. District Court in Tucson.

Parsons hired Nichols in June 2013 to run the day-to-day business at the stockyards.

Through the scheme Nichols used the sale barn’s line of credit to purchase cattle for Nichols Cattle Co. Those cattle were then sold at other markets and Nichols failed to pay back the stockyard. Nichols eventually admitted to sending the sale proceeds to his family’s company.

Money was spent by Nichols to fund what Jorgenson called a “very lavish lifestyle.” The stolen money was spent on such things as gambling trips to Las Vegas and partial ownership of a helicopter.

Nichols’ father, Donald Hugh Nichols, has also been indicted on bank fraud charges totaling $1.6 million of allegedly fraudulent cattle sales at the stockyard’s auctions. That trial is slated to begin in late February.

The Latest: Arizona High Court Says Rancher Wins Brand Fight

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:20:51 GMT

The Latest on an Arizona rancher’s effort to get an identical cattle brand revoked by the courts (all times local):

11 a.m.

An Arizona rancher who fought the state to retain sole use of his cattle brand has won big in the Arizona Supreme Court.

The court says in a unanimous Thursday ruling that the state violated decades-old law that bars identical cattle brands from being issued.

Eloy rancher David Stambaugh called the decision that also awards him his attorneys fees “awesome.” The 50-year-old has owned the Bar 7 brand since he was 10 years old.

He objected when the state Agriculture Department allowed a California cattle company to use the identical brand in a slightly different location on its cattle in Arizona.

The ruling overturns a lower court decision saying the department had discretion to issue identical brands. Stambaugh says leaving that decision in place would lead to confusion about ownership.

___

3 a.m.

The Arizona Supreme Court is set to decide if the state can allow an identical cattle brand to be used by two ranchers.

The court plans to release its decision Thursday in an appeal from Eloy rancher David Stambaugh of a 2016 ruling siding with the state. The 50-year-old has owned the Bar 7 brand since he was 10 years old.

Stambaugh objected when the state Agriculture Department allowed a California cattle company that bought land in Arizona to use the identical brand in a slightly different location on its cattle.

Two appeals court judges said the department had discretion to issue the brand. One judge said registering identical brands wasn’t legal.

Stambaugh says leaving the lower court ruling in place will lead to confusion and questions about ownership.

Mysterious Cattle Deaths Still Under Investigation in Arizona

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 01:23:00 GMT

Investigators in Arizona have been looking into the mysterious deaths of cattle that started occurring more than two weeks ago.

On Sept. 9, two dead cows were discovered near Heber, Ariz. by a local rancher who reported the incident to the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies from the department went out to the area to investigate the cows’ deaths.

Then on Sept. 11, a report of 14 more dead cattle was made to the Sheriff’s Office with the cattle being in the same area as the first two dead cows. The next day the State Veterinarian’s Office helped evaluate the situation by conducting necropsies and collecting samples for lab analysis.

Initially it was reported that the deaths were caused by cattle being shot, but these claims were later changed. It was later believed that the cattle could have been poisoned by a naturally occurring ecological conditions in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest where the cattle graze.

Soon more reports of dead cattle by other ranchers in the Heber and Overgaard area revealed a total of 24 cattle had died.

Lab results have not determined what the cause of death was and the State Veterinarian’s Office is still conducting tests.

The investigation is ongoing by the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Arizona Department of Livestock, Arizona Game and Fish and U.S. Forest Service.