Montana Seedstock Beef, Winter 2018

Winter 2018

Billings Area News Group - Jan. 25, 2018 - 1

MONTANA A Publication of the Yellowstone Newspaper Group

Seedstock Beef 2018 • First Edition

More Women in Agriculture: Pg. 14

Cold weather management options: Pg. 8 Caring for animals when the power goes out: Pg. 6

2 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Winter 2018

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Billings Area News Group - Jan. 25, 2018 - 3

Beat cabin fever with winter renovations When the weather outside is frightful, homeowners and renters can turn their interior spaces into something delightful. Residents can banish feelings of cabin fever by using time spent inside to make subtle or even substantial improvements to their living areas.

Individuals may find that winter is a great time to tackle delayed or unfinished projects or to put plans for major renovations in motion. Homeowners may find that they have some extra time on their hands when weather and early evening darkness reduces how much time they can spend outdoors. The following projects can help homeowners make the most of their time indoors.

Start painting. One of the easiest ways to transform the look of a room is with a fresh coat of paint. Painting a room or rooms is an inexpensive project that can be completed over the course of a single weekend. Painting in lighter colors can help illuminate dark spaces and make a home feel more vivid and inviting, especially during the winter. And painting need not be reserved for walls only. Homeowners may want to sand and paint furniture to give items a trendy arts-and-crafts feel.

Reimagine flooring. Thanks to the bevy of laminate, composite materials and vinyl flooring options, homeowners can engage in do-it-yourself flooring projects to perk up tired

interior spaces. Many “floating” flooring systems are userfriendly and can instantly update spaces. Some systems may not even require adhesives or nails to complete.

Redress the furniture. New furniture can be expensive.

For those who are happy with the lines and scale of their current furniture, a facelift may be all that’s needed to give rooms a new look. Slipcovers can make sofas, love seats and chairs look like new or blend with an entirely new color scheme. Slipcovers come in fitted and loose varieties and in many different materials. Other pieces can be updated with throws, new linens or a coat of paint or stain.

Address drafts and other inefficiencies. Colder temperatures alert homeowners to drafts, leaks and even insect or rodent infiltration. Homeowners can scout out rooms and remedy situations.

Organize the home. Rainy or snowy days are great moments to address organizational issues, such as messy mudrooms or cluttered kitchen cabinets. Get a jump-start on spring cleaning before the warm weather arrives.

Time spent indoors can be put to good use by engaging in renovation projects.

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4 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Winter 2018

Gallagher Weigh Systems available at Agri-Best Feeds Gallagher North America, Inc. is thrilled to introduce the newest member of the Gallagher Family, AgriBest Feeds of Billings, MT. Agri-Best Feeds joins their knowledge and expertise of the livestock industry with Gallagher’s tools, equipment, and support, which will benefit the rancher by providing them pertinent information for managing their livestock operations.

According to Ray Williams, business development manager for Gallagher, “Agri-Best Feeds really is paving the way with state of the art technology in weighing and EID (electronic identification).”

Gallagher technology meets the ability to record, evaluate, and supply herd and individual animal data that is being demanded by progressive producers, customers, and consumers. Producers are able to quickly and accurately identify animals with an EID reader and the scale records and tracks weight, average daily gain, and sort animals (by weight, weight gain, or EID list).

Additionally, they can record treatments on the spot, set alerts, and more chute side on a bright, durable, easy to read screen. Information collected can be easily transferred to a computer through flexible connectivity options for data evaluation, management, and sharing.

Last summer, Agri-Best Feeds added Arrowquip livestock handling equipment to the line of products that they offer.

Arrowquip has become a world-renowned manufacturer of cattle handling solutions known for their innovative designs, technological advancements, safety, quietness, investment in animal science, and forward-thinking equipment; they have become the most sought-after cattle equipment manufacturer in the market today. Agri-Best Feeds was a natural fit for Gallagher as Arrowquip chutes are manufactured so that Gallagher load bars bolt directly to them.

“We have a great following with Arrowquip and then you couple that up with Agri-Best Feeds and their team. We did training with them and these guys are going to be amazing - great support and just an honest group of people to work with. We are very pleased to be a part of this.” Gallagher also sees the value of the customer service and ranch delivery that Agri-Best Feeds provides not only in Montana but also in Wyoming, Nebraska, and beyond.

Ranchers that already have chutes or load bars and want to update to the

Billings Area News Group - Jan. 25, 2018 - 5

Gallagher Scale Weighing & Data Recorders can easily do so through Agri-Best Feeds. Gallagher’s legendary service will help you find all the pieces you need to build or evolve your perfect livestock weighing, animal identification (EID), and data collection system, along with expert advice to help plan, deploy, and support your livestock management solution from beginning to end.

With the addition of Gallagher, Agri-Best Feeds continues to fulfill their mission of enhancing lives through satisfying every customer - by providing superior agricultural products and helping ranchers maximize the genetic potential of their herd and their bottom line profits. AgriBest Feeds’ flagship product, SweetPro, is known for its true feed efficiency, and now adding the Gallagher Weigh Systems will give ranchers tools for measuring feed efficiency and herd performance, along with the ability to compile reports on their ranch.

For more information on Agri-Best Feeds and Gallagher, visit www.agribestfeeds. com, call 866 601-6646, or stop in to their Billings, MT offices at 47N 15th Street.

6 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Winter 2018

Caring for animals when the power goes out Russ Daly, DVM, DACVPM, Professor and SDSU Extension Veterinarian, courtesy of iGrow.org

The power outages experienced in areas of South Dakota might make animal caretakers wonder, “How did we ever raise livestock in the days before electricity?” Electric lights, hot water heaters, and mechanical ventilation are all items that are taken for granted, except when weather events interrupt their supply of “juice.”

For a great number of operations, electricity is surely essential.

Modern milking parlors with vacuum pumps and refrigerated bulk tanks can’t do without a generator when the power goes out.

The inability to milk cows, even on an intermittent basis, results not only in production losses, but also in more cases of mastitis.

Mechanical ventilation systems aren’t just useful to make modern hog barns comfortable for pigs, they’re essential in regulating gases and temperatures that, allowed to rise, could become a life-or-death proposition for the animal. Generators are standard equipment in those operations as well, but aren’t always fail-safe and need to be continually monitored.

Perhaps the most common use for electricity on farms and ranches during the winter months is for supplying water to animals. Automatic waterers allow for a consistent, frost-free

supply of water to cattle, horses, pigs, and sheep regardless of weather. When they fail, oftentimes there are no other sources for animals to turn to for water, the most important nutrient.

Exceptions are the highly-insulated “Energy-free” waterers that use ground temperature of the incoming water to keep the water thawed.

Most experts agree that for short-term purposes, beef cows can utilize snow – if present -- as a temporary water source.

A complicating factor is that the ice that brings down power lines can create a crust over the snow that cattle have a hard time breaking through. It takes energy away from the cow’s system to melt the snow into water, but cows tend to “graze” on snow throughout the day, rather than take it all in at once. This effectively spreads out their use of calories so that it doesn’t seem to be a significant issue. Sheep seem to be able to utilize snow to a certain degree also, but it’s not enough to meet requirements for ewes in late gestation or the ones that have lambed.

Horses drastically decrease their water intake during cold weather, while increasing their intake of forages. This creates the unfortunate possibility of colic. While case reports indicate that, on an emergency basis, horses can use snow as a water source, I

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would recommend taking whatever steps are necessary to supply them with a source of fresh water during power outages.

An issue with hogs and water outages is that of “salt poisoning.”

This is a shift in metabolism due to inadequate water intake. An excessive concentration of sodium builds up in their body fluids, resulting in central nervous system signs such as muscle spasms, seizures, coma and death. The tricky thing is that these signs become worse when the water supply is turned back on and the pigs take in a lot of water rapidly. Following a water outage, water should be supplied gradually back to the group of pigs as they rehydrate themselves. All animals are susceptible to salt poisoning but pigs are the most sensitive.

This recent storm’s timing could have been worse for most beef producers, as most herds have not yet begun calving. Lactating cows have an increased requirement for water; necessary steps should be taken to assure those cows do not have to get by with eating snow. Decreased milk production in beef cows can have a lasting impact on newborn calves. However, power outages can also cause problems for producers wishing to provide colostrum or milk replacers for those calves. These products should be fed as close to the calf ’s body temperature (102 F) as possible; a cold dose of milk or colostrum means further chilling of the calf, along with decreased absorption of antibodies from colostrum. Steps should be taken to obtain warm water for their meals, especially in these times of cold outside temperatures.

Other, less obvious animal health issues can arise from power outages. Vaccines and other medications stored in refrigerators should be treated like food items when the power goes out: keep the refrigerator door shut unless absolutely necessary. Medications

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Billings Area News Group - Jan. 25, 2018 - 7

that have been subject to prolonged warmer temperatures should probably be discarded, depending upon their storage requirements. Likewise, medications that have frozen should also be discarded – many animal vaccines develop toxic compounds once they’re frozen and thawed. In a similar manner, colostrum stored in refrigerators and freezers should be evaluated once the power comes back on. Frozen colostrum that becomes thawed is still good for up to a week if refrigerator-type temperatures have not been surpassed.

Power outages bring with them a different set of circumstances to every animal operation. Questions about animal care and animal health products in the midst of electricity loss should be directed to your veterinarian or SDSU livestock specialist.

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8 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Winter 2018

Cold weather management options Julie Walker, SDSU Extension Beef Specialist, courtesy of iGrow.org Winter weather conditions impact cattle as well as the cattle producers. Cold temperatures combined with wind creates more stress and increased management to achieve similar animal performance.

Understanding Cold Stress Lower Critical Temperatures To understand when cold stress would start to occur, research has determined the lower critical temperature (LCT) based on hair coat (Table 1). When temperature drops below the lower critical temperatures based on the animal’s coat condition, the animal would be in cold stress. In the Northern Great Plains, outdoor or ambient temperature can be much lower than 18 degrees Fahrenheit, especially when the wind blows.

Effective Temperature Energy needs of animals are based on effective temperature.

Effective temperature includes ambient temperature, wind, and humidity. Table 2 shows the influence of wind speed on the effective temperature that cattle experience.

Energy Needs Cattle producers understand that the animal’s energy needs increase when temperatures drop. The general recommendation is for every degree that the effective temperature is below the lower critical temperature, the animal’s energy needs increase by 1 percent. For example if the effective temperature is 1 degree Fahrenheit, the energy (TDN) needs of a cow with a dry heavy winter hair coat are 17% higher than they would be if the temperature was higher than the LCT.

Management Considerations

Sort into feeding groups.

Sort thin cows into a separate feeding group. Thin animals need more nutrients than cows in good body condition.

Supply bedding.

Bedding provides insulation from frozen ground.

Provide ample water.

Water is critical to ensure adequate feed intake. If water availability is limited, feed intake will be reduced.

Provide more feed.

Voluntary feed intake is stimulated by colder temperatures.

However, in windy conditions animals may have reduced intake due to reluctant to leaving the shelter areas. Table 3 shows the potential estimated intake increases due to changes in temperatures. Temperatures less than 5 degrees Fahrenheit can stimulate feed intake up to 125% of predicted intake; however, digestibility of diet can limit the animal’s ability to increase consumption.

The Bottom Line Cold winter weather adds stress to animals and producers.

Maximize animal nutrition and limit cold stress, both of which help producer’s bottom line.

Table 1. Lower Critical Temperatures for Beef Cattle.

Coat Condition Critical Temperature, Degrees F. Wet or Summer Coat

59°

Dry, Fall Coat

45°

Dry, Winter Coat

32°

Dry, Heavy Winter Coat

18°

Table 2. Wind Chill Temperature, Degrees F. Wind Speed

Air Temperature, Degrees F.

What are some management options during cold stress?

0 mph

-10°

0°

10°

20°

30°

Offer wind protection.

Man-made or natural wind protection is valuable in reducing wind chills and the negative effects of cold environments.

5 mph

-16°

-6°

3°

13°

23°

10 mph

-21°

-11°

-1°

8°

18°

20 mph

-30°

-20°

-10°

0°

9°

Provide more energy.

Calculate the additional energy required to maintain the animal’s desired performance and provide it. How the additional energy is delivered can impact the digestive system of the animals.

Caution: do not make any rapid diet changes.

30 mph

-46°

-36°

-27°

-16°

-6°

Substitute a higher TDN hay, which will provide more energy.

Higher digestibility feeds, such as better-quality forage, should be fed during severe cold so cattle can compensate somewhat for increased energy needs.

Table 3. Voluntary feed intake of beef cattle in different thermal environments Temperature Range Intake relative to published values

(NRC, 1974)

If the cold temperatures are forecasted for an extended period of time, re-formulate the diet. This may result in the inclusion of grain within the ration.

Determine protein content of diet, underfeeding protein can limit the animal’s ability to use the energy available in a given feedstuffs.

78 to 60 F

Published values in Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle

60 to 40 F

Intake stimulated 2 to 5%

40 to 22 F

Intake stimulated 3 to 8%

22 to 5 F

Intake stimulated 5 to 10%

< 5 F

Intake stimulated 8 to 25% - intake during extreme cold or blizzards may vary greatly. Intake of high-roughage feeds may be limited by bulk.

Young, 2016 (Adapted from NRC, 1981)

Billings Area News Group - Jan. 25, 2018 - 9

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10 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Winter 2018

Steve Lackman Receives 2018 Chamber Agriculture Excellence Award The Billings Chamber 2018 Award for Agricultural Excellence went to Steve Lackman. This award is presented to an individual, organization or family who made a significant impact in the local ag industry. Lackman, a longtime agricultural advocate, was a clear choice among a competitive field of nominees.

Lackman is a longtime member of the Billings Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee as well as a former and current member of several committees and agricultural organizations in the region, including Montana State University Alumni Association, Southern Agricultural Research Center Advisory Committee, Montana Cattle Feeders Association, Montana Stockgrowers Association, an Agricultural advisory committee member to Exxon and EPA after Silvertip-Exxon oil spill, and several others.

A dedicated Montanan, Lackman is a graduate of Billings West High School and Montana State University. He earned his BS in Agricultural Business and put it to work as a farm and ranch insurance underwriter and crop-hail adjuster. He attended the Connell-Morton Real Estate School, served as the Rehberg Ranch Estates Office Manager, helped operate his family farm and cattle feeding operation, and recently retired from his career as the Montana State University Extension Agent (Yellowstone County). Lackman’s dedication to agriculture and our region is apparent, making him a deserving recipient of this award.

Lackman received the award during the 2018 Ag Appreciation Banquet presented by the Billings Chamber of Commerce and Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative. The event, featuring music by John King, was, January 19, 2018 in the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark. The event includes a cocktail hour,

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Billings Area News Group - Jan. 25, 2018 - 11

Wildfire Aftermath: Beef Cattle Health Considerations Russ Daly, DVM, DACVPM, Professor and SDSU Extension Veterinarian, courtesy of iGrow.org

While fall and winter wildfires may not have the direct impact on cow-calf herds compared to those occurring while calves are young and actively nursing, health effects can be severe nonetheless. Smoke inhalation, burns and thermal injury, exertion, stress, and injuries suffered during escape can all cause longerterm effects on cattle that have survived wildfires or building fires. Some of the body systems that can be affected include:

Lungs Smoke inhalation can cause both immediate and long-term harmful effects to the respiratory system. Cattle that have facial or muzzle burns, or a crusty nose are more likely to have suffered smoke inhalation than other cattle.

The worst short-term effects usually happen during or shortly after the fire.

• 1-24 hours: Pulmonary edema – fluid building up in the alveoli (air exchange areas deep in the lungs) due to the irritant effect of smoke. This results in cough and rapid, moist breathing.

• Several hours to several days: The small airways deep in the lungs swell up, making it harder for air to pass through to the alveoli, where oxygen exchange occurs. This results in heavy, labored breathing, as the animal tries to force air through these partially blocked airways, as well as wheezing, as the air whistles through the partially blocked airways.

Longer term possibilities include: • 4-10 days later: Increased potential of pneumonia due to damage to respiratory defense mechanisms.

• 4-6 weeks later: healing of the airways is as complete as it will get. Until this time, cattle may be more prone to shortness of breath and acute respiratory collapse if they are exerted or stressed.

• Longer term (months/years): Some survivors may be intolerant of exercise or heat due to longer-term damage to small airways.

Consult a veterinarian for treatment advice. Preventative antibiotics to ward off pneumonia may be an option for some animals, but they also require lengthy slaughter withdrawal periods.

Feet Unless heat damage is immediately severe, cattle might not immediately show signs of feet problems. The most common result of severe heat damage is the sloughing of hooves 1-3 weeks after the fire. Commonly, these animals seem like they are doing fine on their feet until a sudden onset of lameness, accompanied by signs of infection around the coronary band. While this can be confused with infection or foot rot, it usually means that

hooves are in the process of sloughing, and antibiotic treatment will not be fruitful. With few exceptions, these animals should be humanely euthanized. Ideally, animals that have come through the fire should be provided soft bedding if possible.

Teats Cows with burned teats are candidates for culling. Inflammation due to burns may result in mastitis and non-productive quarters next calving. Producers should especially assess the health of the teat openings when making culling decisions.

Skin Burns Burn wounds in affected cattle should be examined by a veterinarian; severely burned animals are candidates for immediate euthanasia. Minor burns may be treated with topical (surface) treatments, along with systemic antibiotics to minimize wound infection. A source for burn wounds around the head and neck areas is the melting of plastic ear tags during conditions of high heat.

Bulls The extent of burn damage to sheaths and scrotums may not be evident for 4-6 weeks. As healing progresses, sheaths should be examined for excessive scarring that may block the opening.

Breeding soundness exams should be prioritized prior to next breeding season for bulls retained in the herd.

In some locations, trichomoniasis may be an issue when herds co-mingled due to breached fences. Consult your veterinarian about the possible need for testing before next breeding season.

Eyes Eyes irritated due to smoke and heat may show signs similar to pinkeye. Healing of these conditions will likely take longer than a typical pinkeye case, and in some cases, permanent blindness may result. Consult a veterinarian about possible antibiotic treatment of these animals, realizing that any treatment may also have a lengthy slaughter withdrawal.

While a great number of surviving cattle will not show any long-term effects of a wildfire, cattle producers should be aware of the potential of problems down the road. Producers should always consult a local veterinarian to help them make treatment and culling decisions in the best interests of the animal and the operation.

12 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Winter 2018

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Billings Area News Group - Jan. 25, 2018 - 13

FARM TO TABLE: Navigating Food Forum

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

Consumer acceptance of biotech crops was the theme for the Navigating Food Forum featuring Pam Bailey, vice president of the Grocery Manufacturers Association and Jane De Marchi, vice president of government relations for the American Seed Trade Association. The forum, held during the at the IDEAg Trade Show, discussed how farmers and ranchers as well as other factors of the food supply chain are dealing with food regulations.

Bailey explained that her association is the link between agricultural and consumers. “You harvest the products, we provide the link to them and the consumers,” she said. “A federal law in 2016 dictated disclosure standards for bio-tech products. There was a state-by-state GMO labeling fight going on which necessitated 1100 food-oriented organizations across the United States formed to address the labeling issue. There is a lot of power in the value chain of working together. As food manufacturers, we had a greater responsibility on labeling issues. We needed to tell consumers why bio-tech ingredients were all right.”

In 18 months the GMA pulled together 320 people from 19 companies to provide data so by scanning a QR code or “Smart Label” consumers can instantly find out about that food product.

Today 20,000 products have the Smart Label, with 40,000 additional products expected to be labeled by June.

DeMarchi said the seed association has members who produce everything from alfalfa to zucchini. “This rule was considered a win for consumers and growers because it provides transparency for consumers and a nationwide standard for growers. American farmers and ranchers use a variety of tools to feed, fuel and

clothe consumers. These include new plant breeding techniques.

Keep in mind that using bio-technology is a tool, not an end result. We need to remind people about the excitement and opportunities bio-tech crops provide and don’t feed into the fear.

Today, gene-editing is becoming more common, which allows the farmer to make small, precise changes. There are many countries interested in this new technology.”

Bailey agreed that although technology and innovation are very important in producing food today, consumers want transparency.

“We need to talk to both regulator and consumers and do it in a thoughtful way,” she said.

DeMarchi echoed the sentiment. “We can’t communicate enough about new technologies. We need to stay together and make connection with our urban consumers. Remember, this is a global story not a local one. Farmers, ranchers and food companies need to speak with one voice. We need to continue to tell our stories to consumers. They want to know about us.”

Montana Farm Bureau member Lillian Ostendorf, who serves as western region representative on the Women’s Leadership Committee, said, “I thought it was phenomenal to learn that you can scan the Smart Label and discover all of the ingredients for those with allergy concerns. You can also follow the links to learn more about the farm where that food was produced.”

The American Farm Bureau Convention runs January 5-10 in Nashville, Tennessee. There are 30 Montana Farm Bureau members attending the event.

14 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Winter 2018

MSU faculty seek to increase participation of women in agriculture with USDA grant Six female professors will use a USDA grant to increase the participation of women in agriculture and prepare the next generation of female agricultural leaders in Montana.

By Jenny Lavey, MSU News Service Data from the U.S. Bureau of Statistics and United States Department of Agriculture show while women constitute less than 1 percent of the nation’s agricultural scientists, engineers and policymakers, they occupy the majority, about 60 percent, of lower-paid agricultural jobs on America’s farms and ranches.

Six female professors at Montana State University and Flathead Valley Community College hope to increase the percentage of women agricultural scientists, engineers and policymakers by way of a $94,000 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant, “Empowering Women in Agriculture.” The grant is funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program, a federal initiative that invests in a diverse 21st century agricultural science workforce and aims to increase representation of women and minorities in American agriculture.

“Representation and participation by women is an incredibly important focus in 21st century agriculture,” said Irene Grimberg, MSU professor of cell biology and neuroscience in the College of Letters and Science, and one of the grant’s six principal investigators. “It’s a privilege to administer the grant with my colleagues so that we can begin to explore how we can elevate and support a diversified agricultural workforce in Montana.”

In 2015, the USDA published a jobs report in the food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and environmental sectors. The report’s strongest career projections are in agricultural science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, sus-

Six female professors at Montana State University and Flathead Valley Community College hope to increase the percentage of women agricultural scientists, engineers and policymakers by way of a $94,000 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant, “Empowering Women in Agriculture.” Shown is Audrey Harvey, a graduate student in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Science, who is making observations on a research plot of bluebunch wheatgrass.

tainable food and biomaterials. The report also cited a need to diversify America’s agricultural workforce.

According to project organizers, the central goals of the grant are threefold: integrate research and education to increase the participation of women in agriculture, prepare the next generation agricultural leaders in Montana and bring greater public awareness to the critical role of females in agriculture. According to the USDA, 34 percent, or 15,065, of Montana farmers are women.

The grant’s five other principal investigators are Tracy Sterling, head of the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences; Tracy Dougher, associate dean of the College of Agriculture; Jane Mangold and Lisa Rew, associate professors in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences who focus on a wide variety of weed and invasive plant ecology and management issues in range and agricultural systems; and Heather Estrada, associate professor and program director of agriculture at FVCC. The grant’s investigators will provide an online two-credit course, “women in the agricultural workforce in the 21st century,” that targets freshman and sophomore students enrolled at institutions in the Montana University System. The course will be team-taught by Estrada, Rew and Mangold.

Estrada said the course will highlight the diversity of roles and contributions by women currently working in agricultural careers in farming and ranching, research, Extension, administration and marketing.

“The idea is to expose students to the incredible variety of agricultural workforce pathways and their associated rewards and demands, shared by women working in diverse roles in Montana agriculture,” Estrada said. “There are many career opportunities for young women besides production that don’t require farming or ranching background. When we developed the class, we wanted to facilitate communication between an older generation of seasoned professionals in agriculture and the current, or next, generation of women in agriculture for an opportunity to connect and empower each other.”

Agriculture is a very male-dominated STEM field, Estrada added. “The more we can explore and recognize the wonderful and diverse contributions of women in agriculture, the more we can think outside the box and find opportunities to contribute.”

The course will be offered through FVCC, but credits will be transferable to other institutions across the Montana University System. The grant covers two-thirds of the course’s tuition for students for the duration of the project, and Estrada said she hopes the course will be taught for many years to come.

The partnership between MSU and FVCC is particularly important, Sterling said, because it’s a sharing of resources in a rural, agricultural state, and it targets historically underrepresented students — those first-generation college students, American Indian students and non-traditional students who typically enroll in community colleges or two-year workforce programs.

Billings Area News Group - Jan. 25, 2018 - 15

Photo by Rowan S on Unsplash

“Community colleges are wonderful places to begin the call for a diversified workforce,” Sterling said. “We need to begin to look critically and deeply about all walks of life having something to offer, particularly in agriculture, if higher education is going to address global questions like water resources, climate change and food production. Land-grants are the institutions of access, and it’s important we take a leadership role in actively recruiting the next generation agricultural workforce.”

Sterling, who managed New Mexico State University’s ADVANCE grant funded by the National Science Foundation, said the NSF-ADVANCE and USDA-WAMS programs share similar tenets of inclusion and support of women in higher education.

Sterling also sits on the MSU President's Commission on the Status of University Women, a 28-member commission created to study, evaluate and advise the president on issues related to diversity and gender equity at MSU. “Gender equity and diversity are certainly not new issues,” she said. “However, they become increasingly important as we see several fields where there’s a small percentage or complete absence of women at the top levels of administration and management, especially in STEM fields.”

A second aspect of the grant is a statewide survey of Montana women who work in agriculture. Grimberg said the survey seeks to identify the women workers’ needs, aspirations and achievements. Its questions address pay inequity, women in leadership roles, entrepreneurial support, workplace characteristics, land and capital access, and principal roles in agriculture.

“The survey study is intended to gauge women’s dreams, aspirations and expectations, in addition to their needs,” Grimberg said. “We don’t know what kinds of research, programs and

tools are needed to better support Montana women in agriculture unless we have some baseline data.”

In an effort to increase students’ real-life experience in agriculture, the grant provides a year’s funding for up to 10 paid interns.

Interns will choose from five agricultural career paths to shadow an intern host, who is preferably a female agricultural professional in Montana.

In a culminating event, the grant’s project leaders plan to organize a two-day public summit of women in agriculture to be hosted at MSU that will include panels, student presentations, talks and discussions on women’s experiences in agriculture. The summit will include a photography contest and video presentations showcasing the diversity of jobs, journeys and lives of women working agriculture. To increase public awareness of women’s contributions to Montana’s agriculture, a team from the MSU School of Film and Photography will produce a repository of video clips and interviews with students and women in agriculture.

Charles Boyer, MSU vice president of agriculture, said he’s thrilled to support the grant and its goal of diversifying the agricultural workforce.

“As we look to a robust 21st century ag workforce that can meet the demands of global food security and safety through technology and science, we need to uplift, mentor and support every resource possible. That begins with women and minority populations,” Boyer said. “My hope is that Montana students from diverse backgrounds seriously consider the agricultural fields. We need them.”

16 - Montana Seedstock Beef! Winter 2018

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