The March 3 meeting was interrupted briefly after the February 18 minutes had been approved to shuffle roles in response to the resignation of the chair.

Although the high-density horse feeding operation proposed by Equine Elite was not on the agenda, it was discussed at the conclusion of regular business.  You can watch the proceedings beginning at 12:58 in this video.

Developers of the facility have asked the county for a rule change that will silence the voices of many who oppose the project.

The planning department has drafted a new rule based on an odor propagation model developed by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

Commissioners asked for a public hearing on March 17 to formally consider the proposal and receive stakeholder comments.

A decision will not be rendered until April 7, at the earliest.

Minutes of the meeting have not been posted as of today.

RELATED: Laramie County Commissioners Meet This Week.

Probably not true in every case but it sure does seem to be greener near the poop pile!

Consideration of a rule change requested by Equine Elite for a proposed CAFO near Burns, WY is not on the agenda for the March 3 meeting.

At their meeting on February 4, commissioners asked planning department staff for a report on odor propagation models that could assess the concerns of residents near the proposed facility.

The feedlot would have a capacity of 5,000 wild horses on approximately 80 acres.

RELATED: Laramie County Commissioners Looking for Cover?

Photo of wild horses at Palomino Valley off-range corrals on 02-08-20.  The facility has a capacity of 1,850 horses on approximately 100 acres.

Found this piece of dried mud in one of the corrals today.  It probably came out of a hoof as the horses were playing.  The debris included rocks and poop.  Having a muddy spot in the corral or pasture is not necessarily a bad thing.  Photo taken outside of corral.

HMA of origin unknown, possibly Fish Creek.  Photo taken 02-08-20.

From Eagle roundup, probably between six and twelve months old.  Very skittish, stayed at far side of corral.  Photo taken earlier today.

Mares from the Eagle roundup.  Lots of wind and dust.  Photo taken earlier today.

The public hearing set for today regarding changes to setbacks around Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations is item 17 on the Board of County Commissioner’s agenda.

RELATED: Laramie County BOC to Consider Rule Change This Week.

The Planning Commission and residents near Burns, WY have given the wrong answer, so now the pressure shifts to the Board of Commissioners, who will consider the rule change on February 4.

Facilities of the type proposed by Equine Elite must get approval from residents within three miles but an amendment requested by the company would reduce the distance to one mile, cutting many of the stakeholders out of the decision-making process.

The facility would hold up to 5,000 wild horses captured by the BLM and the BLM would pay Equine Elite an amount per horse for each day they are held.  The horses would receive vaccinations and be transitioned to domestic life, according to a report posted this morning by the Cheyanne-based Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

With the funding of the ‘Path Forward’ in December and now with the loss of four HMAs in Wyoming, more corrals are needed to accommodate wild horses displaced from their home range—so their food can be sold to public-lands ranchers.

RELATED: Laramie County Planning Board Rejects Proposed Amendment.

The Western States Horse Expo runs from May 7 to May 10 this year, at the Murieta Equestrian Center, twenty miles east of Sacramento, CA.

Refer to the preliminary schedule to see what’s planned.  Tickets are $75 online for all four days or $20 online for one day.

Commissioners voted 3 – 0 last week against a proposed rule change that would have decreased the setback distance around concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)from three miles to one mile.  Refer to item 03 in the meeting minutes for details.

Residents near Burns, WY who opposed the large-scale holding facility still have a voice in the process.

The recommendation will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration.  You can listen to the discussion starting at 36:30 in this recording.

The proposed CAFO would have a capacity of 5,000 wild horses—to be forced off their home range with thousands more if the disastrous ‘Path Forward‘ is put into practice.

RELATED: Laramie County Rule Change to Be Considered Tomorrow.

Refer to item 03 on the meeting agenda, a public hearing for a proposed amendment to the Laramie County Land Use Regulations for Concentrated Feeding Operations.

The change would reduce the minimum distance from large-scale feedlots to occupied dwellings from three miles to one mile, effectively silencing the voices of some residents near the proposed ‘adoption center’ for wild horses.

An executive summary of the amendment appears at the beginning of a memorandum to the planning commission from department staff.

Arguments in favor of the change, written by the developer of the facility, appear in Appendix C (page 15).

Opposing arguments, from nearby residents, are presented in Appendix D (page 19).

RELATED: Laramie County Commissioners Mull Rule Change.

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.

If you don’t think this makes a difference, wait until the temperatures drop and then go get a haircut.  Photos taken 11-10-19.