Seed Stock Beef - Spring 2019

MONTANA

SPRING 2019

A Publication of the Yellowstone Newspaper Group

Billings Area News Group - March 7, 2019 - 1

Seedstock Beef 2019 • Second Edition

Weathering the Storm During Calving: Pg. 12 Junior Ag Loans Available: Pg. 13

Photo by David Lundgren on Unsplash

2 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Spring 2019

Feddes Herefords

Yearling Bulls for Sale Privately

EFBeef TFL U208 Tested X651 BW -1.3

WW 66

YW 99

M 23

M+G REA Marb 56 .51 .72

HH Advance 3006A BW 2.0

WW 70

YW 101

M 40

M+G REA Marb 75 .22 .30

Sons will give calving ease, gain, and carcass

$80,000 Holden top seller. Stout sons for sale

Gerber Anodyne 001A

CL 1 Domino 215Z

BW .2

BW 1.4

WW 63

YW 107

M 24

M+G REA Marb 56 .70 .37

Small birth weights, big pay weights.

KCF Encore Z311 SHF York Y02 F Manhattan 446 CL 1 Domino 032X

M M+G REA 23 63 .21 14 50 .49 36 63 .47 38 68 .31

For Sale Privately 35 Bulls • 40 Females

YW 113

M 23

M+G REA Marb 58 .52 .29

One of the most popular horned Herefords around.

Also featuring these great sire: BW WW YW 3.3 79 130 1.1 73 110 2.6 56 87 3.0 60 85

WW 71

Marb .56 .27 .05 .16

Feddes Herefords Tim: 406-570-4771 tfeddes@msn.com

Dan: 406-570-1602 drfeddes@msn.com

Taylor: 406-570-4211

2009 Churchill Road, Manahattan, MT 59741 Our sale is any time you want.

All our cattle sell privately.

See sires, mothers, and cattle for sale at:

www.feddes.com

Billings Area News Group - March 7, 2019 - 3

4 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Spring 2019

Crop Progress And Condition MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2019 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: Freezing temperatures, high winds, and deep snow were widespread throughout Montana for the month of February, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Topsoil moisture conditions were 86 percent adequate to surplus which is above last year’s 69 percent. Subsoil moisture conditions are 78 percent adequate to surplus which is above last year’s 57 percent. Reporters noted that heavy snow cover prevented them from confirming the condition of their winter wheat, but the below zero temperatures and high winds caused more winter freeze and wind damage. Winter freeze and wind damage to winter wheat remains high with 39 percent of reporters observing freeze and drought damage, and 29 percent reporting wind damage. Winter wheat snow coverage for the state is rated 81 percent good to excellent compared with 79 percent at this time last year.

Winter wheat condition is rated 52 percent good to excellent, compared with 54 percent last year.

Reporters in Northwestern areas noted the colder weather is causing calving and lambing issues as well as grazing issues.

Grazing accessibility was limited with 48 percent of grazing lands reported as inaccessible or closed and 39 percent rated as difficult.

Note: The next monthly report will be released for March on Monday, March 25, 2019. The first weekly report will be released on Monday, April 1, 2019.

LIVESTOCK PROGRESS Commodity----------------------------------------------------Current week--- Previous report------ Previous year-----5-year average ----------------------------------------- (percent)----(percent)--- (percent)--- (percent)

Cattle and calves

Cows calved------------------------ 4-------NA---------- 3-------NA Receiving supplemental feed---99-------NA------- 100-------NA Sheep and lambs Ewes lambed------------------------ 2-------NA---------- 2-------NA Receiving supplemental feed-100-------NA---------99-------NA NA – not available, ((--)) – zero

SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION -------------------------------------------------------------------Current week--- Previous report------ Previous year-----5-year average ----------------------------------------- (percent)----(percent)--- (percent)--- (percent)

Topsoil moisture

Very short -------------------------- 2-------NA---------- 8-------NA Short--------------------------------12-------NA---------23-------NA Adequat-----------------------------81-------NA---------47-------NA Surplus------------------------------- 5-------NA---------22-------NA Subsoil moisture Very short--------------------------- 6-------NA---------14-------NA Short--------------------------------16-------NA---------29-------NA Adequate --------------------------73-------NA---------45-------NA Surplus ------------------------------ 5-------NA---------12-------NA NA – not available, (--) – zero

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE Commodity----------------------------------------------------Current week--- Previous report------ Previous year-----5-year average ----------------------------------------- (percent)----(percent)--- (percent)--- (percent)

Grazing accessibility

Open--------------------------------13-------NA---------- 6-------NA Difficult-----------------------------39-------NA---------22-------NA Closed-------------------------------48-------NA---------72-------NA

Pasture and range

Very poor---------------------------- 7-------NA------- NA-------NA Poor---------------------------------15-------NA------- NA-------NA Fair----------------------------------31-------NA------- NA-------NA Good -------------------------------42-------NA------- NA-------NA Excellent----------------------------- 5-------NA------- NA-------NA

Winter wheat

Very poor-------------------------- (--)-------NA---------- 2-------NA Poor---------------------------------- 2-------NA---------- 3-------NA Fair ----------------------------------46-------NA---------41-------NA Good -------------------------------38-------NA---------46-------NA Excellent----------------------------14-------NA---------- 8-------NA

Winter wheat – wind damage

None--------------------------------71-------NA---------85-------NA Light---------------------------------15-------NA---------12-------NA Moderate --------------------------13-------NA---------- 3-------NA Heavy-------------------------------- 1-------NA-------- (--)-------NA

Winter wheat – freeze and drought damage None --------------------------------61-------NA---------85-------NA Light --------------------------------21-------NA---------11-------NA Moderate---------------------------17-------NA---------- 3-------NA Heavy-------------------------------- 1-------NA---------- 1-------NA

Winter wheat – protectiveness of snow cover Very poor ------------------------- (--)-------NA---------- 3-------NA Poor---------------------------------- 3-------NA---------- 8-------NA Fair ----------------------------------16-------NA---------10-------NA Good--------------------------------53-------NA---------34-------NA Excellent ---------------------------28-------NA---------45-------NA NA – not available, (--) – zero

Notice: Please be advised, the Crop Progress report’s weather data table has been discontinued for budget reasons. Please contact the NASS Mountain Regional Field Office at (720) 787-3150 with questions.

MSGA finds fault with SB 206 From Montana Stockgrowers Association

Our organization has consistently had a policy that supports an industry-led program that identifies USA beef. We take great pride in Montana Beef and U.S. beef as it is the best in the world.

Yesterday, Senate Bill 206 was heard in the Senate Agriculture, this bill brought by Senator Olszewski aims to force retailers to display placarding identifying the source of processing of meat in Montana. While the idea of this bill is a good one, the execution isn’t realistic. Not only is the placarding an almost impossible feat due to retailers not having the necessary processing and origin information, but the legality of the bill is questionable.

The legal review raises concerns over the Supremacy Clause under the US Constitution. The legislation is in violation of the Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906 that extensively regulates the labeling of meat products.

We want to find a solution for the labeling issue but we will need to start at the national level if we are going to be successful. By passing Senate Bill 206, we would be in direct violation of federal law which would cost the state thousands of dollars in court and legal fees.

If we want to increase beef sales, we need to involve the retailers into the development of any legislation. SB 206 would impose heavy penalties on retailers that were unable to comply including heavy fines and even jail time. As previously mentioned, retailers aren’t provided with the origin of meat products so it would be difficult for them to comply.

Another issue with the bill is that the extensive rulemaking it would require would be done by the Department of Labor, rather than the Department of Livestock. The Department of Labor doesn’t have experience with meat inspections, we find it inappropriate for them to write rules on a subject matter that they have no experience with. The rulemaking would be better suited for the Department of Livestock that already handles meat inspections in the state.

This piece of legislation will be difficult and costly to enforce.

The fiscal note for the biennium will total over $500,000 and would require the hiring of two full-time employees at the Department of Labor.

There is one section of SB 206 that we would like to see move forward. We do support the definitions of the “cell cultured products” on page 4. We think it is well defined and support the bill carried by Representative Redfield’s “real meat act” that includes similar language defining “cell cultured products”.

We want to move towards an industry-led labeling program but SB 206 isn’t the mechanism to accomplish a new COOL; in this case, a good idea did not result in a well-written bill. MSGA will continue to work at the national level to implement an industry-led program that works for Montana producers.

Billings Area News Group - March 7, 2019 - 5

6 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Spring 2019

Weathering the Storm During Calving

By Megan Van Emon, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

The new year may have entered like a lamb, but February rolled in like a lion. For those that calve in January and February, the rapid changes in temperature may have played a role in calf sickness and growth. Maintaining a healthy calf is crucial to growth and a good immune system.

As the temperature drops, cow body heat needs to be maintained, which we can accomplish with extra feed. Utilizing forages, such as hay, will aid in maintaining body heat during cold temperatures through fermentation within the rumen. Dropping temperatures also increase nutrient requirements of cows, which may be increased by at least 50% as the temperature drops below zero.

The additional nutrients provided to cows during the winter also has an impact on calf birth weight. Birth weight of calves born in the winter and spring typically have greater birth weights greater than their fall born counterparts. The increase in birth weight of those winter and spring born calves is most likely due to the increase in nutrient influx through supplementation.

Bitter cold temperatures not only add stress to the cow, but also the calf. Calves need to nurse within 2-4 hours after calving to get the maximum benefit of the cow’s colostrum.

This becomes even more important during cold temperatures. Providing a sheltered, dry area for calving can drastically reduce the negative impacts of cold temperatures on calf health.

Research has indicated that the lower critical temperature for calves is approximately 60°F. If the calf is not dried off quickly or if it’s raining or snowing, that temperature is about 70°F. In Montana, we won’t see 60°F temperatures again until March or April.

Even with the bitter cold temperatures, calving can be managed to reduce the stress on the calf and the producer by monitoring the weather forecast, ensuring cows have a sheltered area to calve, and checking that calves are dried off quickly after calving.

A large drop in temperature can cause health issues for calves, but what occurs when there is an upward swing of temperatures or a large variation of temperatures.

A wide swing in temperatures can also be detrimental to calf health. However, it difficult to adjust when the temperatures are highly variable. When it’s cold, we can feed additional supplements to cows, which will provide additional nutrients to the calf through the milk.

If we see a rapid warming trend, the best way to ensure calf health is through your calf health program. The first step is to ensure your cows are on a good health and vaccination program that you have discussed with your veterinarian. The second step is to ensure your calves consume colostrum within

2-4 hours after birth, the colostrum provides maternal antibodies to calves and passive immunity. Having your calves on a good vaccination program beginning at birth will ensure good active immunity.

Active and passive immunity will aid calves in maintaining a healthy immune system, especially if we see rapid changes in weather patterns.

Additionally, as temperatures warm, snow melts and the ground thaws, which can cause wet, muddy areas. Keeping cows and calves out of these areas can reduce the potential for illness. Keeping cows and calves dry, even if the temperature is not that low, is crucial to maintaining a healthy herd. Healthy calves have improved growth and tend to be healthier throughout their life compared to calves with compromised immune systems.

THURSDAY & FRIDAY MARCH 21 & 22, 2019

CONNEALY SPUR 17304082

CED +8 BW +3.0 WW +69 YW +118 Milk +33 $W 73.81 $F 84.16 $B 156.27

A Powerhouse sire - high performance sire, high marbleing cattle. WEPD, YEPD, Milk, Marbling, $W, $F, $B in top 10%

Heifers Sell Thursday, March 21 • 12:00 P.M. South Pryor Development Center, East of Billings Bulls Sell Friday, March 22 • 11:00 A.M. Public Auction Yards, Billings, MT

6000 ANGUS SELL!

SAV PRIVILEGE 3030 17633557

CED +2 BW +1.2 WW +70 YW +109 Milk +15 $W 63.03 $F 60.79 $B +110.95

The Beef man's favorite, they are thick, long and correct. His daughters are doing a great job.

CONNEALY COUNTDOWN 17585522

5500 Fancy Open

Commercial Angus Heifers All One Iron • Bangs Vaccinated • Ready To Breed

500

Total Performance Yearling Angus Bulls

CED BW WW YW Milk $W $F $B

+10 +0.2 +60 +103 +24 62.87 53.35 97.91

Not much more can be said, sure shot calving ease with high accuracy, and strong growth EPD's. Some of the best bulls selling are out of Countdown daughters.

Bulls Also Sired By These Proven Bulls: SAV Sensation, May-Way Equity, VAR Seedstock 6106, Joe Canada, BTR High Regard, KR Abundant, SAV Cutting Edge

Fertility Tested • Carcass Ultrasound • 1st Year Breeding Guarantee Volume Discounts • Free Delivery • Several Bulls AngusGS Th e

Vermilion Ranch Pat Goggins Family, Owners

Bob Cook • Records & Sales Cell: 406.670.0078

Jake Kading • Herdsman Cell: 406.672.5844

LIV

f Northern Ca Best o ttle!

EST O

TIO CK VIDEO AUC

N

Broadcast on Northern Livestock Video Auction

CALL FOR BUYER NUMBER 800-821-6447

Also Broadcast Live On Dish Network Channel 998 CattleUSA.com View sale video and catalog online at www.northernlivestockvideo.com

PO Box 30758 • Billings, MT 59107 • E-mail: bcook@cattleplus.com • www.vermilionangus.com Jeff Mosher • Vermilion North,Greg Roberts • Diamond Ring , Brandon Mosher • Pryor Creek, Bill Shaules • South Pryor

Billings Area News Group - March 7, 2019 - 7

Not enough snowfall in some river basins From Montana Stockgrowers Association

Periods of high-pressure during January resulted in sunny skies and above average temperatures in Montana, causing snowpack percentages to decline in many river basins, according to snow survey data collected by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This pattern broke down late in the month, and significant snowfall occurred across most of the state of Montana.

This much needed system of storms added 1.5 to 3.5 inches of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) to the snowpack, helping some basins in central, south-central and southwest Montana to remain or improve to near to above normal for Feb. 1. Although the basin-wide snowpack percentages in Gallatin and Upper Yellowstone indicate near to above normal snowpack conditions, there are some areas in southern Montana that have been largely missed by this winter’s storms.

“The late month storms really helped some of the towns in southern Montana where tourism from snowmobiling is critical to the local economies,” said Lucas Zukiewicz, NRCS hydrologist for Montana. “The snowpack in both Cooke City and West Yellowstone was the lowest it’s been in quite a few years in mid-January, and news gets out.” Fortunately, he said, the storms helped these areas to recover some by February 1, although snowpack remains below normal. Almost all basins east of the Divide have improved snowpack percentages from January 1, but some regions remain below normal for snowpack on February 1.

The western half of the state also benefited from the late January storms, but the river basins experienced decreases in snowpack percentages since January 1 and remain below normal for this date. “The storms just weren’t enough in the western half of

the state to make up for the deficits we’d experienced early in the winter,” Zukiewicz said. “Even with the impressive totals from the late month storms, snowfall ended up being below normal for the month of January.”

River basins in the northwest region of the state typically experience their “wettest” months of the year from early November through the end of January. Below normal snow totals in these areas for this date make recovery to “normal” snowpack conditions before runoff begins less likely. “For example, the Flathead River basin would need to receive around 135% of normal snowfall between now and when the snowpack reaches peak accumulation, which typically occurs sometime in April,” Zukiewicz said. “While that’s not impossible, it would certainly take a major pattern shift from what we’ve seen so far this winter.”

Similar to last month, mountain temperatures were above average in January, and could be one of the impacts the region is experiencing from the weak El Nino that is occurring this year.

Whether it strengthens or weakens into the summer of 2019 is still to be determined, but long-range forecasts issued by NOAA continue to indicate above average temperatures for the February – April time-period.

“That’s something we’ll be keeping an eye on,” Zukiewicz said.

“Early runoff doesn’t benefit anyone, so hopefully spring is cooler than anticipated.”

Official NRCS streamflow forecasts for April 1 – July 31 will begin on March 1 and will offer a glimpse into what we could expect this spring and summer.

Monthly Water Supply Outlook Reports can be found after the 5th business day of the month.

8 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Spring 2019

Your Bottom Line

Turning Point

Improve Calving Ease

• Stop you in your tracks look with sons and daughters creating high value interest • Superior calving ease with proven data and trait leading CED and BW EPDs • Descends from the prevalent herd bull producing PRIDE cow family • From an outstanding flush where all eight full brothers are now featured herd sires • Outstanding option for calving ease, phenotype and maternal strength SITZ UPWARD 307R # PLATTEMERE WEIGH UP K360 BARBARA OF PLATTEMERE 337 #

Stevenson Turning Point CED

+18

BW

-2.7

WW

+60

Milk

+15

+*18434747 YW

+98

1/21/2016 SC

-.12

CW

+45

S A V BISMARCK 5682 # STEVENSON PRIDE I167X FSHK PRIDE 180 # Marb

+.50

RE

+.81

Fat

+.009

Co-owned with Genex CRI, Conley Cattle, Boyd Beef, Penner Ranch, Dameron Angus, TC Ranch, Spur J Ranch, Thomas Angus, and Trowbridge Angus Semen available through Genex

$W

63.37

$F

60.54

$G

$B

37.04

147.29

Turbo Power

Improve Muscle • Remarkable muscle shape and eye appeal.

• Proven calving ease sire with the ability to sire added performance and carcass.

• Unique pedigree offers considerable versatility for mating options.

• Strong maternal influence with his dam posting 3 NR 112.

PA POWER TOOL 9108 # PA FULL POWER 1208 PINE VIEW SQR RITA W091

Stevenson Turbo Power 50010 CED

+10

BW

+0

WW

+69

Milk

+27

*18104996 YW

+113

1/22/2015 SC

+.45

CW

+41

Co-owned with Top Notch Angus, MT

HF REBEL 53Y STEVENSON AMBER ROSE 3262 STEVENSON AMBER ROSE 1333 # Marb

+.70

RE

+.76

Fat

-.006

Semen available through ORIgen $W

79.04

$F

82.78

$G

$B

45.30

152.98

Declaration

Improve Volume • Incredible mass, volume and internal dimension.

• Multiple trait leader for calving ease, performance and $values.

• Calving ease with performance, truly outlier genetics.

• Tremendous maternal influence from a high production cow family.

JINDRA 3RD DIMENSION JINDRA ACCLAIM JINDRA BLACKBIRD LASSY 1111

Stevenson Declaration 70748 CED

+12

BW

-0.8

WW

+82

Milk

+37

+*18836115 YW

+156

SC

1/19/2017

+.72

CW

+75

Co-owned with ST Genetics

S A V THUNDERBIRD 9061 # RL 9061 BIRDIE 3102 RL 0145 IMAGE 102 # Marb

+.47

RE

+.57

Fat

+.017

Semen available through ST Genetics $W

$F

92.25 151.06

$G

28.55

$B

192.01

Home of America’s Longest Established Annual Bull Sale

Billings Area News Group - March 7, 2019 - 9

Big League

Improve Performance • • • • •

Dominating muscle, dimension, growth and stature Outlier genetics for maximum performance Heaviest weaning weight bull in Stevenson Angus 70+ year history Ranks at the top for the calving ease, growth and $value EPD spread Top production cow family with his dam posting 4 NR 108, 2 YR 107, 6 IMF 111 and 6 RE 107.

Next two dams record 5 NR 110 and 9 NR 107.

• BIG LEAGUE demand, one of the hottest bulls in the industry today.

JINDRA 3RD DIMENSION JINDRA ACCLAIM JINDRA BLACKBIRD LASSY 1111

Stevenson Big League 70749 CED

+10

BW

+0.3

WW

+91

Milk

+23

+*18836113 YW

+159

1/17/2017

SC

+.22

CW

+78

Catalyst

S A V THUNDERBIRD 9061 # RL 9061 BIRDIE 3102 RL 0145 IMAGE 102 # Marb

+.60

RE

+.52

Fat

-.016

Co-owned with Express Ranches, Wilks Ranch, Deer Valley Farm, Jones & Brown Angus, Pollard Farms, Rock Lake Land & Cattle, Stonewall Ridge Farm and Wilmoth & Sons Semen available through ORIgen $W

$F

89.20 146.57

$G

35.49

$B

198.32

Improve Balance • He checks all the boxes while improving phenotype, body dimension, structural soundness and maternal opportunity.

• Tremendous maternal, expect his daughters to be the foundation kind!

• Multi-trait leader for calving ease and performance.

• Fault free design, clean fronted, powerful hip and big bodied.

• Athletic, easy fleshing and graceful in motion.

SITZ UPWARD 307R # PLATTEMERE WEIGH UP K360 BARBARA OF PLATTEMERE 337 #

Stevenson Catalyst 60554 CED

+12

BW

+0

WW

+72

Milk

+29

+*18434738 YW

+112

2/15/2016 SC

+1.05

CW

+52

Easy Money

S A V BISMARCK 5682 # STEVENSON PRIDE I167X FSHK PRIDE 180 # Marb

+.42

RE

+.52

Fat

+.020

Semen available through ORIgen $W

85.90

$F

74.79

$G

29.14

$B

150.96

Improve Substance • Truly a sight to behold, impressive phenotype with extraordinary EPD data.

• Multiple trait leader with tremendous muscle, capacity and internal dimension.

• PAP 42, big scrotal, big ribeye, big $values and good disposition.

• Ideal balance for next generation performance in a correct made pattern.

SITZ UPWARD 307R # PLATTEMERE WEIGH UP K360 BARBARA OF PLATTEMERE 337 #

Stevenson Easy Money 70688 CED

+4

BW

+1.7

WW

+94

Milk

+32

18821965 YW

+166

SC

2/10/2017

+1.21

CW

+93

Co-owned with Lazy JB Angus, CO

STEVENSON ROCKMOUNT RX933 DOWN T BLACKBIRD 5646 DOWN T BLACKBIRD 3942 Marb

+.27

RE

+1.24

Fat

-.045

Semen available through ORIgen $W

$F

92.41 156.64

$G

27.96

$B

200.91

Wednesday

March 20 2019

350 JRS Lane PO Box 170 Hobson, MT 59452

(406) 423-7500

www.StevensonAngus.com

10 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Spring 2019

Your Boots On The Hill:

Additional elk tags during shoulder season hunts may be within reach Montana Farm Bureau Federation

We’re one week from the transmittal deadline—the official halfway point of the legislative session. At this point, the Capitol is a frenzy of activity with legislators trying to get last minute pieces of legislation drafted and introduced, committees sitting through marathon hearings and floors sessions that seem to go on for days.

The transmittal deadline is when all general bills (bills that don’t have an appropriation with them) must be transferred to the second house. For example, if a bill started in the Senate, it must be transmitted to the House by the transmittal deadline; otherwise the bill is dead. Since the first several weeks of the session were relatively quiet, a lot of bills have already passed the first house and been transmitted; however, there was still no shortage of bills to work on this week.

HB 505,

Require notice to shared water conveyance facilities Sponsored by Rep. Walt Sales (R) HD 69, Manhattan

This bill requires an individual applying for a water right or a change in appropriation right to provide notice to other water users on a shared conveyance facility, such as a canal, ditch, flume, pipeline, or other constructed waterway. Were HB 505 to pass, applications for a permit or change in appropriation right would not be “correct and complete” until the applicant had submitted proof to DNRC that a written notice of the application was provided to each owner of an appropriation right that shares the point of diversion or means of conveyance.

Farm Bureau supported this provision as we feel it simply adds transparency to the application process. If a change or permit has the potential to adversely affect your neighbor’s appropriation, they should at the very least be aware of the application.

asks the Commission to allow general elk licenses to be transferrable to antlerless elk licenses during the shoulder season, to update the 2005 elk management plan, allow hunters to purchase multiple tags, simplify regulations and create consistency across hunting districts and to work with landowners to support access to elk.

SJ 6,

Requesting Montana’s congressional delegation introduce legislation to return management of grizzly bears to the state of Montana Sponsored by Sen. Mike Cuffe (R), SD 1, Eureka

Montana Farm Bureau supported SJ6 because of the necessity to remove grizzly bears from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA was never designed to harbor species in perpetuity. Rather, it was designed to focus on population and habitat recovery. When those two goals are met, management of the species needs to be returned to the state governments. Grizzly bears in Montana are ready for that transition. We consistently see increased livestock depredation and human conflict. Grizzly populations are climbing and bears are forced to seek food from often easy, but unnatural sources like garbage cans, corn fields and grain bins.

We know that grizzly bear recovery has been a success and we believe it’s time for the management of this animal to return to Montana.

SB 185,

Prohibit the hunting and trapping of wolves in certain hunting districts Sponsored by Sen. Mike Phillips (D), SD 31, Bozeman

HB 497 & HB 18,

This bill proposes to prohibit the hunting and trapping of wolves in two Park County hunting districts that border Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Montana Farm Bureau opposed this bill. The sponsor and proponents allege that hunting wolves around YNP threatens the tourism industry in that part of the state and that this population of wolves is too ‘socially valuable’ to be hunted.

Sponsored by Rep. Wylie Galt (R), HD 30, Martinsdale

Farm Bureau has two primary issues with this bill. First, we don’t support any additional buffer zones around YNP. The two hunting districts in question in SB 185 represent approximately 600 square miles that would be closed to wolf hunting and trapping and effectively expand the borders of YNP. We don’t believe that YNP should be able to extend their jurisdiction or wildlife management practices outside of their borders into Montana.

Allowing additional elk tags to be harvested during a shoulder season & A joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives urging the FWP Commission to enhance its regulations for elk management and shoulder seasons As coordinating legislation, HB 497 and HJ 18 seek to shed light on elk management issues in Montana. Shoulder seasons were established in 2016 to provide an additional population management tool for hunting districts where elk herds are over the population objective. Beginning in mid-August, shoulder seasons are antlerless elk hunts which stop during the general season and begin again in December and run through the beginning of February.

HB 497 proposes allowing additional elk tags for hunters during the shoulder season hunts. MFBF supported this bill because the only way to control population growth is through the effective hunting of elk. If landowners can take more elk off their private property and hunters can fill their freezers and potentially support neighbors or community food banks, it’s a win-win.

HJ 18 is a resolution to the Fish and Wildlife Commission asking them to take a more critical look at elk management strategies in Montana. In parts of the state there are elk herds that are severely over objective and place a major burden on the natural resources farmers and ranchers are trying to manage and conserve. HJ 18

Secondly, this legislation is not based on any sound scientific or biological evidence that the hunting season is detrimental to wolves or any other wildlife in those hunting districts. Our wildlife management decisions in Montana shouldn’t be solely influenced by social pressures based on the public’s perception of reality.

Chelcie Cargill is a lobbyist for the Montana Farm Bureau Federation. She’s a rancher and an expert in policy development and implementation, and serves as MFBF’s program coordinator for its ACE Leadership and Advocacy training program. Chelcie can be contacted at (406) 930-2299 or chelciec@ mfbf.org.

Liv Stavick is the Director of State Affairs for Montana Farm Bureau Federation. She also coordinates the MFBF Policy Development Committee, the Resource Management, Environment and Technology Committee and is the Treasurer for the Farm Bureau PAC. Liv can be contacted at (406) 581-3996 or livs@mfbf.org. The Montana Farm Bureau Federation is a non-partisan, non-profit, grassroots organization that represents 21,000 member families in Montana.

USDA to Release Agricultural Projections to 2028

Billings Area News Group - March 7, 2019 - 11

2018 Black Gold son out of a 1st calf Heifer

3 0 th A n n u a l Production Sale

From Montana Stockgrowers Association

On Feb. 14, 2019 at 12 p.m. EST, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will release the complete set of tables prepared for the upcoming USDA Agricultural Projections to 2028 report.

The new tables will include projections for farm income, U.S. fruits, nuts, and vegetables supply and use, and global commodity trade. Tables containing long-term supply, use, and price projections to 2028 for major U.S. crops and livestock products as well as supporting U.S. and international macroeconomic assumptions were released on Nov. 2, 2018. Short-term projections from the Oct. 11, 2018 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report are used as a starting point.

“The baseline tables provide important data to many stakeholders. We had to delay their release due to the lapse in federal funding, but I am pleased to announce they will be available to the public in few days,” said USDA Chief Economist Rob Johansson.

The tables will be in MS Excel format and posted to the USDA Office of the Chief Economist’s (OCE) website.

The complete USDA Agricultural Projections to 2028 report will be released on March 13, 2019 and will include a full discussion of the projections for U.S. commodity supply and use, farm income, and global commodity trade.

USDA’s long-term agricultural projections represent a departmental consensus on a ten-year representative scenario for the agricultural sector. The projections do not represent USDA forecasts, but rather reflect a conditional long-run scenario based on specific assumptions about macroeconomic conditions, policy, weather, and international developments, with no domestic or external shocks to global agricultural markets. The Agricultural Act of 2014 is assumed to remain in effect through the projection period.

Background on USDA’s long-term projections and past issues of the report are available at the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) website. www.ers. usda.gov

March 8, 2019 1:00 PM

Shelby, MT Selling 85 Bulls 40 Heifers

Genetics for the Next Generation

Power. Performance. Phenotype.

FF EZ Money F29

FF Whitlock JF F50

FF Easy Money D217 X Musgrave Big Sky

S Whitlock X Plattemere Weigh Up K360

CED

BW

WW

YW

Milk

Marb

RE

CED

BW

WW

YW

Milk

Marb

RE

+7

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P.O. Box 574, Shelby, MT 59474 c: 406.450.1080 or 970.290.4353 h: 406.337.3402 e: jeffflesch@aol.com

12 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Spring 2019

Targeted Feeding for Heifer Development

By Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist

Replacement heifers are traditionally kept to lead the genetic progress of the cow herd. These females, whether raised or purchased, need to have targeted development from birth to calving in order to be a productive part of the mature cow herd. Heifer development starts with proper whole-herd nutrition year-round.

Yet, reviewing the basics of heifer development starting with post-weaning selection and development is a good place to start.

Selection & Target Gain

First off, selecting heifers should start with picking out females that were born early in the calving season, as the older females are more likely to reach puberty prior to the beginning of the breeding season. Additional selection criteria of structure, design and genetics can be considered also to make up the replacement pen. Once these heifers are selected, appropriate development programs need to be implemented. Developing heifers to 55 – 65% of mature weight by breeding and 85 – 90% by calving are examples of these. Look at cull cow receipts to determine mature cow weight and decide the weight you’d like developed heifers to be by breeding. Once heifers reach these targets, keeping them in an ideal body condition score (5 at breeding and 6 at calving) will promote successful reproductive performance.

As soon as heifers are selected, they need to be fed separately from other backgrounded calves, as excess energy can have negative effects on long term mammary development and calving performance. Moreover, over feeding heifers is counterproductive, as it’s hard to peel excess condition off of a heifer while keeping her growing and cycling at the same time.

So what should heifers be gaining on a daily basis? This will depend on cow size and targeted percent of mature weight by breeding season. For example, if average cow weight is 1400 lbs TABLE 1. EXAMPLE WORKSHEET FOR CALCULATING REQUIRED HEIFER AVERAGE DAILY GAIN.

and 60% of mature weight by breeding is the goal, heifers need to weigh 840 lbs at breeding. Taking target weight minus current weight divided by feeding period will give you average daily gain needed to reach said target weight. Table 1 completes the example based on a June 1st breeding date.

Feeding Separately

If there is large variation in replacement heifer weights when staring the feeding period, you may consider feeding heifers in separate groups to attain different target gains. Separating heifers into light vs. heavy groups can prevent heavy heifers from gaining too much and light heifers from getting fleshy. Data from Varner et al., 1977 shows separating heifers impacts age at puberty, cycling status and pregnancy rate (Table 2). Separate feeding improved cycling status at the beginning of the breeding season and pregnancy rates by 19% in the light heifer group. Overall, improving reproductive performance by 15%.

What do You Need in a Heifer Ration?

Dr. Roxanne Knock with Dakotaland Feeds presented on heifer rations the SDSU Extension Heifer Development conference on December 6, 2018 in Aberdeen, SD. Her recommendations include: • At least 11% protein in the ration • Energy range from 36 – 42 Mcal NEg depending on target average daily gain • 2:1 Calcium phosphorus ratio • Trace Minerals with amino acid complexes: minimum of 30 ppm zinc, 10 ppm copper and 20 ppm manganese • Vitamin Package with at least 19,000 IU/d of Vitamin A • Salt 0.15%

Selecting and feeding replacement heifers is just the beginning of their development. Taking time to manage targeted growth and development of heifers will play a large role in their reproductive success and ultimate longevity on the operation.

Herd Information------------- Example

Mature cow size---------------------------- 1400 lbs Target percent at breeding season------ 60% Target weight at breeding---------------- 840 lbs Current weight----------------------------- 600 lbs Total gain needed-------------------------- 240 lbs Start of breeding season------------------ June 1, 2019 Feeding period (Jan 1 to June 1)--------- 151 days Target ADG--------------------------------- 1.5 lbs per day TABLE 2. REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF LIGHT AND HEAVY HEIFERS WHEN FED SEPARATELY OR AS A GROUP (VARNER ET AL., 1977).

Fed Together Fed Separately Variable------------------------------- Light-- Heavy------------ Light-- Heavy

Number of Heifers------------------------------- 10---------10------------------------19-------- 20 Age at puberty (days)----------------------------- 423-------404-----------------------405------- 389 Cycling at start of breeding (%)---------------- 60---------90------------------------79-------- 90 Pregnant in 45-day breeding season (%)----- 60---------80------------------------79-------- 90

Combined 70% pregnant Combined 85% pregnant

Billings Area News Group - March 7, 2019 - 13

Junior Ag Loans Available From: Montana Department of Agriculture

Young people active in rural youth organizations like 4-H and FFA may be eligible for loans up to $8500. More than 65 Montana farm and ranch youths currently participate in the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Junior Agriculture Loan Program.

“With the average age of farmers and ranchers being nearly 60 years old, its important we do what we can to encourage the next generation to stay involved in agriculture,” said Department Director Ben Thomas. “The Junior Ag Loan Program is a great way for those folks to access financing for a project they are passionate about.”

The Montana Junior Agriculture Loan Program was developed to assist and encourage members of agricultural youth organizations in financing agricultural projects. Projects can involve crop and livestock production, custom farming, marketing and distribution, processing, and other financially feasible activities. The Department may finance up to 90 percent of the project and the present interest rate is 5 percent, with repayment up to five years.

Program benefits can far exceed the actual loan for active participant. Many young men and women unable to secure conventional financing due to age, inadequate collateral or credit history have used the program to establish financing experience and to advance their project’s monetary value. Applications for the program and other information, can be found on the Department’s website at: https://agr.mt.gov/I-Want-To/Apply-For/GrantsLoans/Junior-Agriculture-Loans The Montana Department of Agriculture’s mission is to protect producers and consumers, and to enhance and develop agriculture and allied industries. For more information on the Montana Department of Agriculture, visit agr.mt.gov.

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14 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Spring 2019

Farm Bureau Foundation holds speech contest Montana Farm Bureau Foundation is holding its annual Youth Speech Contest in conjunction with the Montana FFA State Convention, April 3-6, 2019 in Bozeman. One of the MFB Foundation's most important goals is to aid in the agricultural education and the leadership development of Montana's youth. This speech

contest fits that goal well and MFBF is offering great prizes to make this an exciting opportunity.

The Youth Speech Contest is open to students in the 7th, 8th and 9th grades who are not able to participate in the State FFA Prepared Speech Contest. FFA members, 4-H members and any other student in Montana are eligible to enter the contest.

Speech topic: Montana Farm Bureau celebrates its 100th year as a farm and ranch organization in 2019. What are the biggest challenges the agricultural industry will face in the next 100 years? How can Farm Bureau help address those challenges?

What can you do to help address the challenges facing agriculture?

The prepared speech needs to be between 2.5 - 4 minutes in length. Contestants must submit a transcript of their speech by March 15, 2019. Those will be judged prior to the FFA State Convention and the top 20 contestants will be invited to compete during the event.

Prizes: 1st place = $400; 2nd = $300; 3rd = $200; 4th = $100; 5th = $50.

Registration and a copy of the student’s speech must be received by the Montana Farm Bureau Federation office by March 15, 2019.

For more information contact Scott Kulbeck, 406-587-3153, scottk@mfbf.org.

Billings Area News Group - March 7, 2019 - 15

Montana's Northern Premier Sale Montana's Northern Premier Sale had its beginning in 1999 when Kelly McCracken (KelMcC Angus) and Marvin Cross (Top Notch Angus) decided to combine their resources and market their bulls at silent auction. The sale was known as the KelMcC Plus sale and was held at the KelMcC Angus Ranch, west of Turner, Montana. The silent auction format continued until 2005. In 2006 Kelly and Marvin changed the format of the sale to a live auction and moved the sale location to Bear Paw Livestock in Chinook. In 2006 Peterson Grain and Cattle, Boyum Angus and Whistling Winds Angus approached Kelly and Marvin with the possibility of joining the sale. The demand for bulls in North Central Montana was good and the decision was made to have one sale, with the idea that more numbers would draw buyers from further away and to also attract volume buyers. This sale

became known as Montana's Northern Premier Sale. The goal of the breeders was to sell only the best. With five breeders involved it was easier to keep the sale numbers up and allow everyone to cull their poorer bulls. Boyum Angus dropped out after the 2010 sale, in order to pursue a larger farming operation but the remaining four breeders have continued with the sale. They all have the same goal "Producing Good Honest Cattle". The numbers have continued to grow as the demand for their bulls has grown.

The bulls are fed at Peterson Grain and Cattle north of Havre, Montana. They are fed a high roughage diet and expected to gain 3.00-3.25 pounds per day. We invite you to visit the feedlot at any time to look at the bulls or call any of the owners to visit about the bulls.

Reproduction and Nutrition Join Forces

Agri-Best Feeds is pleased to announce that Dwain Hould has joined their team as their Outside Sales Cattle Specialist.

Dwain has over 40 years of experience in the beef industry and is an expert in beef cattle genetics. He has worked directly in the semen business for both Genex Beef and Alta Genetics. He was the area marketing manager for 14 years, overseeing all of the beef semen sales for Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin through a team of 40+ sales representatives.

Over his years of studying and understanding genetics, custom AI service, supporting his sales team, and working with cattlemen across the country, he has seen the need and stands firm on the need for good nutrition to support good reproduction. To him, getting cattle bred and calves on the ground is of utmost importance in beef production. Dwain says, “With my background in repro, SweetPro is the right product to get your cattle bred. I have never seen a product work better than SweetPro.” Agri-Best Feeds has established itself as an industry leader in cattle nutrition through products that are uniquely better. AgriBest Feeds’ flagship product, SweetPro, is a different approach to supplementation. SweetPro is a complete supplement that contains the vitamin and minerals (about 50% chelated) that cattle require on a distiller grain (both DDGS and CDS) carrier, instead of the common molasses carrier of most other supplements.

On top of that, all SweetPro products come standard with their powerful digestive aid, ProBiotein (fermented wheat, oats, barley, and flax) that helps cattle get up to 25% more digestible nutrients

out of every bite of forage, resulting in cattle performing better on LESS forage – True Feed Efficiency.

Speaking of True Feed Efficiency, Dwain most recently worked with GrowSafe, Midland Bull Test, and McDonnel Angus, educating cattle producers on the benefits and use of efficiency genetics.

Now that he is working with Agri-Best Feeds, he will be helping producers maximize the genetic potential of their herd in every area of beef production – and he is still an excellent resource for genetic recommendations.

The family business, Agri-Best Feeds, has been familiar with Dwain, and vice versa. Both have served different segments of the cattle industry in this region for over 10 years, and have had mutual respect for the investments each have made to the industry. When Agri-Best Feeds started looking for an Outside Sales Cattle Specialist and heard that Dwain might be available, they reached out to Dwain. Dwain thought that it would be a good fit and joined Agri-Best Feeds in mid-November. When Dwain was asked what drew him to Agri-Best feeds, he said, “This is a great group of people to work with. They are results oriented like me, and desire to help ranchers improve their bottom line.”

For more information check out www.agribestfeeds.com, call 866 601-6646, or reach out to Dwain directly at 406 321-4517 or dwain@agribestfeeds.com.

16 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Spring 2019

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