It has been brought to our attention that there are issues with the Trich tags that have been distributed this year. Many have experienced the tags falling out due to a fault in the attachment mechanism of the tags. We have been in contact with the tag manufacturer and are working on getting a new, higher quality tags to replace these faulty tags.

If you have experienced issues with your Trich tags this year, you have the option of replacing the tag or leaving bulls untagged and relying on the RFID tag inserted during testing. Veterinarians may request replacement tags from our office and the RFID tag that was placed during testing will allow them to determine if a bull has been tested for Trich to prevent needing to retest. Veterinarians who are replacing tags that have fallen out must report the new tag number to the UDAF office.

Thank you all for your diligence in getting your bulls tested for Trich and making sure they are tagged appropriately. These tags are important in helping determine ownership of bulls and assuring compliance with the Trich program. As you know, this program is only successful if everyone does their part in helping prevent the spread of this disease.

We apologize for the inconvenience that this manufacturing default has caused. We will work to ensure this is not a problem in the future. Thank you for your understanding and working with us on this issue. Please feel free to contact our office if you have any questions or concerns.

Farmers and ranchers have long been considered the original conservationists. Working day in and day out, cultivating the many resources provided by mother nature, no one is closer to the Earth than those working in agriculture and because the livelihood of these farmers and ranchers is dependent on it and its resources. No one knows better than farmers and ranchers about the need to take care of the earth’s resources and ensure it is sustainable for future generations. They are constantly innovating and improving their practices to better protect and benefit the land, while continuing to provide food and fiber for the United States and the world.

Modern agriculture may look a little different than what most people envision. We no longer live in a world where the majority of the population farm small plots of land to support their families and maybe a few others, rather modern agriculture is made up of 2% of the U.S. population farming and ranching larger plots of land, growing the food and fiber for the remaining 98%. Despite the increase in size, 95% of these farms remain family owned and operated.

Read the full Salt Lake Tribune article, by clicking here.

With our newest animated video, we’re going on an adventure to learn more about UDAF’s Animal Industry Division…with your favorite UDAF Animal Industry Division Director, Leann Hunting.

To learn more about the Animal Industry Division, click here.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is pleased to announce the opening of a new application period for the Agriculture Water Optimization Program, offering $20 million in funding for the improvement of irrigation systems on Utah farms and ranches and water delivery projects.

The Agricultural Water Optimization Program was initially funded in the 2019 Legislative Session with the purpose of reducing consumptive water use while maintaining or improving agriculture production; improving water quantification to provide real-time, accurate measurements; and to improve and protect surface and ground water quality by reducing the overwatering of crops.

“We are excited to continue to aid Utah farmers and ranchers in improving their irrigation practices and optimizing their water use,” said Commissioner Craig Buttars. “Our agricultural producers know the importance of being part of the solution to improving the use of Utah’s water and we expect to see another large influx of applications for this program.”

During the 2022 Legislative Session, the Utah Legislature provided $70 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for this program. In 2022, $50 million of this ARPA funding was distributed to 241 projects; the remaining $20 million of ARPA funds will be awarded during the Spring 2023 application cycle. Applicants can receive a 50/50 cost share grant up to $500,000 to complete their projects; a real-time water meter with data storage and retrieval capabilities is required for all funded projects.

The Agricultural Water Optimization program has funded 276 projects with a total of $53 million in funds distributed. These projects equate to an estimated water savings of 172,847 acre feet a year, or 56 billion gallons of water saved each year from the completed projects.

The Agricultural Water Optimization Program is managed by Hannah Freeze, who was recently selected for the position. Freeze will be a great resource for Utah’s farmers and ranchers in implementing these projects throughout the state. She will be supported by Benjamin Hudson, who will continue working with this program as the assistant manager.

The application period is open from April 17 to May 31, 2023. For more information and to learn how to apply, visit here.

UDAF will be opening applications for the Agricultural Water Optimization Program on Monday, April 17, 2023.  This program works with producers to help them optimize water use while maintaining or improving agriculture production.

Learn more here: https://ag.utah.gov/ag-water-optimization

Watch our announcement video below: