Investigators traced the deaths, and dozens of illnesses, to an insect known as the blister beetle, according to a report posted today by AP News.

Here is the receipt from a recent trip to the feed store.  These supplies will take care of six horses for three to four weeks.

Let’s drop the Layena (chicken food), round the amount to $600 and call it a month.

Six hundred dollars feeds six horses for one month.  That’s $100 per AUM.

How much would a public-lands rancher pay to feed six cow/calf pairs for one month?

Eight bucks at current prices.

A cow/calf pair is said to be equivalent to a horse in terms of its resource loading.

RELATED: Grazing Fee Defies FLPMA.

Construction of a new office and adoption center began on December 11, according to a report posted earlier today by the Herald and News of Klamath Falls, OR.

BLM announced the project on December 6.  The facility will remain open for horse and burro viewing but adoptions will be suspended until January 6.

Expenditures like this will become the norm if the ill-conceived ‘Path Forward‘ is funded and put into practice.

A news release posted on Friday said that volunteers are needed for a one-year pilot project, beginning now, at adoption events and off-range corrals.

Responsibilities include public outreach, event promotion, transportation of animals and post-adoption compliance checks.

Young adults are encouraged to apply, regardless of experience.

The wild horse and burro outplacement program helps the public-lands ranchers enjoy more of what their allotments have to offer.

On the right is the M11 / W12 boot from the previous post.  On the left is a M12 / W13 boot, just received.  The length is the same but it’s still a bit narrower.  The sidewall is thinner, not great for cold climates.

The top edge of the M11 / W12 boot cut into my right shin, chafing the skin away, even with a tall sock.  Had to fold the rim down to get it to heal.

These boots were a favorite but there are probably better options on the market.

Today may be Black Friday but watch out if you’re shopping for Muck Boots!  The boots in this photo are the same size, men’s 11 / women’s 12.  The boot on the right, purchased in 2014, is longer and wider than the boot on the left, purchased in 2019.

The old boots were comfortable, the new ones are too small.  They are great around the barn, especially this time of year, but to say they run small is an understatement.

The mustangs have been nibbling on the posts that hold up their shelter but two weeks ago they really got serious about it.  This 4 x 6 post was reduced to about two inches in just a few days.  The 2 x 6 board in the background was hastily added as a splint, to keep the roof from caving in, and they’ve been chewing on that was well.

The folks at the feed store suggested a product called Raplast.

It has an orange tint and can be very irritating to the nose and eyes.  Spray application not recommended.  Took a piece of hay string, dipped it in the bottle and dabbed some onto the post.  Seems to be working.

As with anything new around horses, start off small and check for adverse reactions.

You may only have to treat a small area for them to get the message.