More than 45 years after gray wolves were first protected, as populations have recovered, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is delisting the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). State and tribal wildlife management agency professionals will resume responsibility for sustainable management and protection of delisted gray wolves in states where wolves occur. The Service based its final determination to remove all gray wolves from the list of ESA-protected species on the best science available, including the latest information about the wolf’s current and historical distribution in the contiguous United States. This final rule excludes Mexican wolves, which remain listed under the ESA.

“Today’s action reflects the Trump Administration’s continued commitment to species conservation based on sound science and facts,” said David Bernhardt, Secretary of the Interior. “After over 45 years as a listed species, the gray wolf has greatly exceeded all conservation goals for recovery. By delisting the gray wolf today, we can return management of wolf populations to the states.”

“I’m very appreciative of the Trump administration’s timely transfer of the management responsibility of the gray wolf back to the states. We look forward to working with organizations within our state to implement the state of Utah’s Wolf Management Plan,” says Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Commissioner Logan Wilde.

The best available scientific and commercial information indicates that the currently listed wolves are recovered and no longer meet the ESA definitions of a threatened species or an endangered species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service already delisted gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains, where a healthy and sustainable population roams across Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and eastern portions of Oregon and Washington. These states have since managed this delisted population effectively and responsibly. Wolves have even expanded into western Oregon, western Washington, northern California and most recently in northwest Colorado.

The gray wolf final delisting determination is based on sound science, a thorough analysis of threats and how they have been alleviated, and the ongoing commitment and proven track record of states and tribes to continue managing for healthy wolf populations once delisted.

The Service will monitor the species for five years post-delisting to ensure the continued success of the species. This final rule will be effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. For more information, visit: https://www.fws.gov/home/wolfrecovery/.

View entire UDAF press release here.

We’re pleased to release the 2020 Utah Agricultural Statistics and Annual Summary Report, published by UDAF in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistical Service (USDA NASS).

Click here to view the 2020 Annual Report

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is in the process of migrating information to a new software program.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is pleased to announce the implementation of our new Data Management System (DMS), which will allow customers to manage all of their licenses, permits, and/or product registrations all in one place! This new system will also provide customers the ability to apply and securely pay online, receive notifications electronically, and print certificates. For those customers requiring a wallet-sized certificate, these will continue to be available. 

To prepare for the transition to the new DMS, we need your help. To ensure your information is correct when migrated, the following information must be current or updated:

• • Company Name (if applicable)
  • Contact Name
  • Email
  • Mailing Address
  • Physical Address
  • Phone Number  

Please log into the current system and review and update the above listed items as soon as possible. In order to log into the current system, please have your customer number or license/permit number and pin ready, then take the steps listed below:

1.   Go to the UDAF website found at https://ag.utah.gov/
2.   Click ‘Online Services’ found at the top right hand corner of the screen
3.   Select the appropriate menu item and continue with the process

Lastly, in order for you to use DMS, you will need to create a UtahID account.  For more information about UtahID, please visit https://idhelp.utah.gov/.  Once DMS is implemented, you will use the UtahID as your login.  This means you will no longer need to remember your customer number or license/permit number and pin! 

We are excited about the new changes and hope you will be too! 

Thank you again,
UDAF Staff

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is offering three free pesticide waste collection events throughout Utah this October. While these events are aimed towards farmers and licensed professionals, they are open to the public as well. These collections events are for pesticides only; no other waste products will be accepted. Pesticides are substances that are meant to control pests, including weeds.

Dates and Locations: 

• October 6, 2020 — 9:00am to 1:00 Bothwell UDOT Maintenance Station 8769 W. 12000 S. Bothwell, UT 84337 
• October 8, 2020 — 9:00am to 1:00 Salt Lake City UDOT Maintenance Station 1950 S. 500 W. Salt Lake City, UT 84115 
• October 13, 2020 — 9:00am to 1:00 Richfield UDOT Maintenance Station 2385 S. Industrial Park Rd. Richfield, UT 84701 

Last year 26 tons of potentially hazardous waste pesticides were collected and disposed of properly. Waste pesticides include products that are expired, degraded, banned by EPA or otherwise considered unusable. 

“Improper storage and disposal of pesticides is a serious environmental and public health concern. These events are a great service UDAF provides at no cost to protect our communities; we encourage Utah’s farmers and pesticide professionals to take advantage of these collection opportunities.” says UDAF Pesticide Program Manager Henry Nahalewski. 

Registration is recommended, but not required, and can be found at: https://ag.utah.gov/pesticidedisposal/.

Watch the video here to learn more about this event from our Program Manager Henry Nahalewski

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is now providing Weekly Cattle Auction Summaries for Utah.

These reports will be updated weekly on Fridays and can be found here @ https://bit.ly/32PnDSn