CHEYENNE – Two Wyoming agriculture programs generated $373,083 for the state last year.
The Wyoming Business Council, the state’s economic development agency, heads the Wyoming Verified and the Wyoming Premium Heifer programs.
Wyoming Verified is designed to add value to feeder cattle raised in Wyoming by verifying the production methods for which buyers are interested.
“The state acts as the auditor,” said John Henn, the Business Council’s Livestock and Meat Marketing program manager. “It adds credence to the marketing claims.”
The Premium Heifer Program is a partnership with the University of Wyoming’s Animal Science Department to add value to replacement heifer calves and bred heifers by showing the animals were raised to certain standards
An annual internet video sale exposes the animals to a larger market.
“We advertise throughout the Midwest and down into the central and southern plains, as well as the intermountain region,” Henn said.
The Wyoming Verified program is in its 10th year. In 2015, 9,760 calves were verified.
Premiums amounted to $200,000 and the economic impact to the state totaled $328,000.
The Wyoming Premium Heifer Program sold 595 head of bred heifers in its fourth year. The animals averaged $1,745 a head. Compared to regional sale barn and video sales, Wyoming heifers in the program sold for a $44.57 premium, or $45,083.
“I see the Premium Heifer program growing over the next five years as awareness gets out there to producers,” Henn said.
