Seedstock Beef: Fall 2019

MONTANA

FALL 2019

A Publication of the Yellowstone Newspaper Group

Seedstock Beef 2019 • Third Edition

Noxious Weeds: Pg. 14 RFID Tags: Pg. 8

Page 2 • Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019

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Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019 • Page 3

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Page 4 • Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019

Prevention, Treatment, and Control of Calf Scours

By Megan Van Emon, MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

Another severe winter has led to instances of calf scours. Calf scours, or diarrhea, is typically associated with inflammation of the intestinal tract. Scours main occurs during the first few days and up to one month after birth. Young calves are most susceptible due to their naïve immune system.

Scours can be caused in a variety of ways. Rotavirus, coronavirus, BVD, coccidia or other parasites, E. coli, Salmonella, or Clostridium perfringens. Most cases of scores likely involve more than one cause. Overcrowding of pens is a main cause for calf scours, as it increases the number of infectious agents to increase dramatically. Other factors, such as consuming too much milk, which cannot be digested by the calf, can also cause calf diarrhea.

The diarrhea is only one part of the issue, another major factor is severe dehydration by the impacted calves. The intestinal inflammation reduces the calf ’s ability to properly digest nutrients. If bacteria (Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens) are to blame for the scours, they will release toxins which can harm the vital organs.

Baby calves can become infected when exposed to large colonies of the bacteria, parasites, or viruses. Shedding of the infectious agents is common by adult, pregnant cattle. Research has shown that as cows get closer to calving, shedding of the rotavirus and coronavirus increases. This increase in shedding was heaviest in heifers and may also increase after cold weather. Older calves that are exposed to the viruses may not develop scours, but also may shed these viruses. Therefore, moving cow-calf pairs soon after

calving can help reduce in the incidence of scours.

One of the best ways to reduce the potential of scours is to maintain a healthy herd throughout the year. Maintaining a health herd through proper immunization, but also through nutritional means can help reduce the possibility of scours. If calving indoors, moving calves outside can also reduce the potential for calves to contract scours. Calving barns should be thoroughly cleaned after each calving season, which includes removal of all fecal material and putting lime on all surfaces that were potentially exposed to scours.

Immediately upon observing scours symptoms, infected calves and their dams should be removed from the healthy herd. The main treatment for calf scours is providing water and electrolytes to the infected calves, this helps reduce dehydration and improves acid-base balance. There are two ways of administering the needed fluids, oral or intravenous administration. Your veterinarian can help determine the amount and how often calves should be treated. Make sure you are using proper biosafety protocols when dealing with scours, change boots when entering a clean area, wash your hands, and change clothes if needed.

Prevention of scours is difficult due to the number of agents that can cause the diarrhea. Therefore, the main way to prevent scours is to maintain clean calving facilities and to move cow-calf pairs to a fresh, clean area after calving. Ensuring all calves receive adequate quality and quantity of colostrum can also aid in preventing scours.

Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019 • Page 5 Photo by Katherine Volkovski on Unsplash

Feeding Value of Light Test Weight Corn Warren Rusche; SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Associate From extension.sdstate.edu

Producing corn in the Northern Plains can often be challenging.

Weather variability and environmental stress can derail the best laid plans. Whether due to planting delays, cooler than normal growing season, or unexpectedly early frost, stress factors sometimes result in crops that do not meet standard test weight requirements. How does reduced test weight affect the feeding value of corn and cattle performance?

On the surface it would seem logical that lowered test weight would mean that the feed is less valuable. Lower test weight means that there are fewer pounds of grain in a given volume. So it stands to reason that reduced bulk density also means poorer cattle performance and efficiency.

However, based on results from a metabolism trial using cattle, researchers from South Dakota State University estimated that corn with a test weight of 41 pounds actually had net energy values 15% greater than 54-pound test weight corn. The lighter corn had energy values that were more comparable to expected values of high-moisture or steam-flaked corn.

Researchers at NDSU compared feeding light-weight corn to both growing and finishing cattle. They observed that feeding increasing amounts of light-weight corn (39-pound test weight) and improved feed efficiency in growing cattle while maintaining similar ADG and final bodyweight. With finishing cattle, steers fed 54, 47, or 39 pound test weight corn had similar ADG (4.74, 4.74, and 4.72 pounds per day), but poorer feed efficiency with reduced test weights, (5.35, 5.55, and 5.83 F:G, respectively). These researchers speculated that feeding very light-weight corn in a higher roughage grower diet had less of a negative impact on fiber digestibility which supported improved feed efficiency.

How can cattle feeders use that knowledge? For cattle feeders that also grow corn, this may represent an opportunity to capture more value from the corn crop. Typically, there is a discount in the marketplace for lower test weight corn. Selling normal corn at full-value and feeding lighter test weight corn for cattle feed would avoid or at least reduce the impact of any test weight discounts in the corn market. For cattle feeders that buy corn, purchasing light-weight corn at a reduced price compared to standard U.S. No. 2 corn offers an opportunity to reduce cost of gain and improve returns. For either group of cattle feeders, this could represent a chance to exploit price differences in feedstuffs without compromising cattle performance.

Other considerations to keep in mind:

Light-test weight corn is often higher in crude protein. Obtaining an accurate nutrient analysis can help prevent costly over- or under-feeding of required nutrients.

Lighter test-weight corn will require greater storage volume.

Reducing roughage levels assuming that light-weight corn has less energy value may cause increased incidence of acidosis.

Be aware that growing conditions that result in reduced test-weight are often favorable for mold or mycotoxin production as well.

Page 6 • Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019

Burke Teichert’s top 5 tips on bull selection Burke Teichert: Strategic Planning for the Ranch

Last month I talked about culling the right cow. You should cull cows to keep your herd cleaned up and managerially efficient.

This minimizes the time required for doctoring, calving problems, taking care of the wild ones and the labor requirement for a strung out calving season. It also reduces the number of animals that are hard to market. In the process, you will also have a positive effect on herd fertility, health and adaptation to your management and environment.

Bull selection can result in rapid change. However, change may not always result in progress or improvement. In fact, I will suggest that a lot of our so-called “improvement” in cattle growth rates has been more than offset by reductions in stocking rates, conception rates and herd health.

The result has been more time spent doctoring cattle, lower conception rates and/or higher feed bills, and fewer pounds produced per acre. Because the calves that are produced are bigger, they bring less per pound. Therefore, we now sell fewer pounds per acre at a lower price per pound.

We are now seeing research on this. In only one case have I seen calf weaning weights higher as cow size decreases. Usually calf weights decrease as cow size decreases, but not proportionally.

So, when stocking rates are adjusted to fit cow size, enough more cows can be run that, in spite of lighter calves, more pounds are weaned per acre.

On many ranches, the number one determinant of profit is the

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ratio of grazed feed to fed feed. Once you have gotten over doing a lot of feeding, stocking rate becomes the number one determinant of profit; and stocking rate is determined by cow size and milking ability along with grazing and pasture management. Next comes herd fertility. Then, in a group, come marketing, cows per person ratio and herd health problems.

Therefore, let’s take all of that into consideration as we make bull selections. Here are five tips: 1) Cull the right cow: Why would I want to buy a bull born to a cow that I would have culled at my ranch? Go through your cull criteria and ask if the mother of “that” bull would still be in your herd. I firmly believe that, if you have reduced feeding to the bare minimum, have selected good, moderate-sized bulls and have culled cows as I described last month, you have some very good cows. Those are the kind of cows that should be mothers of bulls.

2) Size and milking ability: If you want cows that can graze most of the year and get pregnant early in the breeding season, and if you want to wean more pounds per acre by running more smaller cows with less milking ability, you will want to select bulls with less mature size and lower milk EPDs. I’m sure there is room for some difference of opinion here, but to maximize pounds produced per acre and at the same time keep supplemental feed cost at a minimum, I want cows to be as small as they can be and still produce a feeder calf that will be acceptable at the market place.

Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019 • Page 7

Photo by Olivia Snyder on Unsplash

I know the feeder and packer seem to want them bigger and bigger. But you need to stay in business first. There is information indicating that producers are using bulls with higher and higher EPDs for milk and for weaning and yearling weight. But actual weaning weights on the ranches have not changed in recent years.

However, cow size has.

If your attempts to produce bigger and bigger calves are robbing you of conception rate and good herd health, are costing you more in feed cost and supplementation and reducing your stocking rate, you should reconsider your breeding priorities.

3) Heterosis: Carcass traits are quite highly heritable. Growth traits are moderately heritable. Milk is less heritable and fertility, health and longevity are considered to be the least heritable.

But, because carcass traits are highly heritable, they don’t respond much to heterosis while other traits do. The rest of the traits respond, with the more highly heritable having a smaller response and the less heritable having a greater response to heterosis. Optimum heterosis is most likely different for each situation, but I want a significant level of heterosis in every cow.

Heterosis will significantly enhance fertility and health while slightly increasing milk and growth. You can’t expect selection to do what heterosis does nor vice versa.Parenthetically, I think that some aspects of fertility—first cycle conception as a yearling and calving interval—are more highly heritable than heritability estimates would suggest.

4) Disposition: As an industry, we have made great progress across many breeds on disposition. I think every bull should be carefully scrutinized for disposition. It is refreshing and encouraging to see herds of cows in breeds with reputations of poor disposition that have wonderful dispositions.

5) Growth and carcass: Improving growth rates and carcass traits is desirable as long as the negative consequences don’t overbalance the positives. When you make sure that the bulls you purchase will produce the kinds of cows you want, you then need to move carefully and cautiously to get the desired results without undoing much of the good you have accomplished.

I think it can be done, but carefully and slowly. Genomics and heterosis, if they can become compatible, could help move growth and carcass forward faster without undoing progress in the other traits. Currently, a number of genomic tests only validate in high percentage Angus cattle. When those tests are valid across a number of breeds and crosses, much progress could be made.

Perhaps the best breeding decision a commercial producer will ever make is the choice of a seedstock provider. Find someone whose breeding objectives mirror your own, who operates in an environment similar to yours, who can help you benefit from heterosis and can understand your objectives and help you select the right bull.

P.S.—I continue to maintain that about 40% of the cows in America should be bred to terminal-cross bulls. Producers choosing that option should buy cows (not heifers) from producers who cull cows and select bulls as I have described. They should then select bulls with high growth and carcass EPDs for use on those cows—not the moderate EPDs that I have suggested in this article for those producing replacements.

Burke Teichert, a consultant on strategic planning for ranches, retired in 2010 as vice president and general manager of AgReserves, Inc. He resides in Orem, Utah. Contact him at burketei@comcast.net.

This article first appeared in BEEF magazine, www.beefmagazine.com.

Reprinted with permission.

Page 8 • Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019

New USDA-APHIS Identification

By Megan Van Emon, MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

cial RFID tags. Individual states will be responsible for approving There are new rules regarding beef cattle identification beand allocating the discounted tags and managing the process. ginning on January 1, 2020. The new rules transition the use Veterinarians can continue to inventory and apply the official ID of metal tags to radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. The tags, but they must maintain the record keeping requirements. A goal of the transition is to improve traceability of livestock in case list of approved RFID tag manufacturers will be maintained by of disease outbreaks. the USDA. Veterinarians and producers may purchase the RFID tags directly from the manufacturer or retailer.

Beginning January 1, 2023, beef cattle that move across state lines or that fall into specific categories will require RFID tags.

Tattoos and brands may continue to be accepted as an official Currently, feeder cattle and other animals that move directly to ID, if the shipping and receiving state both agree to accept the slaughter will not require the RFID tags. markings in place of an RFID tag.

Beef animals required to have RFID tags include: sexually Timeline of Implementation of RFID Tags intact and 18 months or older, used for rodeo or recreational • December 21, 2019: USDA will stop providing the free metevents (regardless of age), or used for shows or exhibitions. The al tags. Approved metal tag vendors may still produce official tags should be applied at birth or the animal moves off ranch in metal tags for one year. These tags will be available to purchase interstate commerce. from approved vendors on a state-by-state basis, as approved by Low- or ultra-high frequency tags may be used depending an authorized state animal health official through December on the preference of the producer, state, or industry. Tags 31, 2020. need to be approved by the USDA, tamper proof, a unique ID, and display the official • January 1, 2021: Metal ear tag production with the US ear tag shield. The RFID tags can be official USDA shield will no longer be permitted by the part of a matched set with the visual ID. USDA. Veterinarians and producers cannot apply metal ear RFID tags will also be available to replace tags for official ID and must use the official RFID tags only. the metal, orange brucellosis tags.

• January 1, 2023: RFID tags will be required for beef There will be an increased cost in utilizing and dairy cattle and bison moving across state the RFID tags. The USDA will work with inlines and meeting the requirements. Animals dividual state animal health officials to share previously tagged with metal ear tags must the cost of the RFID tags. Additionally, be retagged with official RFID tags to move state partners and the USDA will aid in the interstate. Feeder cattle and animals moving funding of electronic readers for veterinarians directly to slaughter are not subject to the and other markets.

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Montana Farm Bureau announces 2020 ‘Ag in Color’ Drawing Contest The Montana Farm Bureau Federation announces its ‘Ag in Color’ Drawing Contest, part of their Montana Youth (MY) Agriculture Literacy program. This well-established drawing contest is now open for 2020. Ag in Color’ drawing contest consists of seven entry categories and is designated for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Entry categories include areas specific to Montana Agriculture: • Kindergarten – Farm Animals in Montana • Grade 1 – Grown in Montana • Grade 2 – Grains of Montana • Grade 3 – Cattle of Montana • Grade 4 – Noxious Weeds in Montana • Grade 5 – Safety on Montana’s Farms and Ranches • Grade 6 – Ag-Related Careers in Montana

One winner will be chosen from each category and judges will select one drawing from the winners to receive the “Farm Bureau Proud” designation. Montana Farm Bureau will host the winning artists and their families at an awards luncheon in Helena March 2020. Winners and their families will tour the capitol city and meet with state dignitaries prior to the luncheon.

The ‘Ag in Color’ drawing contest is open to all students and educators across Montana. Entries must be submitted to the County Superintendent who in turn will submit county winners to Montana Farm Bureau for consideration.

Teachers can visit mfbf.org/Programs/MY-AG for educational resources and lesson plans to match each category. For more information, contact Montana Farm Bureau Regional Manager, Rikki Swant, rikkis@mfbf.org, 406-231-4422.

Pinkeye in Beef Cattle

By Megan Van Emon, MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

Pinkeye is one of the most common diseases in beef cattle. It is highly contagious and can spread easily throughout the herd if left untreated. Due to the regular moisture we have been receiving and the tall grass, pinkeye may be more prevalent this year.

Moraxella bovis is the primary bacteria species causing pinkeye.

Typical symptoms are inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva, causing the eye to weep excessively. Affected cattle will keep their infected eye closed due to pain and to avoid bright sunlight.

If left untreated, ulceration of the cornea can occur, which may lead to blindness in the infected eye. Pinkeye can also negatively impact calf growth and performance by reducing feed intake.

There are 3 stages of pinkeye: Stage 1: The eye will have increased light sensitivity and weep excessively. As the pinkeye progresses in stage 1, an ulcer (white spot) will form in the middle of the cornea. The cornea will also appear gray due to the increased inflammation.

Stage 2: The stage 1 signs will continue, and the ulcer will begin to spread across the entire cornea. The cornea will appear cloudy as inflammation continues to increase. As stage 2 progresses, the blood vessels on the outer edge of the cornea will spread across the cornea to aid in healing. The outer edge of the cornea will appear pink, which provides the disease name sake.

Stage 3: The ulcer will encompass the majority of the cornea and inflammation will move into the inner eye. As this inflamma-

Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019 • Page 9

tion continues, the eye will fill with fibrin, giving the eye a yellow appearance, surrounded by the pink outer edge of the cornea.

Pinkeye is readily spread throughout the herd by face flies. Face flies can spread the disease to several animals throughout the day because they spend little time on the cattle. Therefore, best control of pinkeye is prevention. Having a good fly control program can help mitigate the spread of pinkeye throughout the herd.

If calves in the herd have pinkeye, the typical treatment plan is a long-acting antibiotic and protecting the eye from sunlight.

Consult your veterinarian to determine the best antibiotic to use for pinkeye. Applying an eyepatch to the infected calves is also crucial in the treatment plan because sunlight activates enzymes in the eye which can increase pinkeye damage to the cornea.

If pinkeye is prevalent in the herd year after year, consult your veterinarian to determine if a pinkeye vaccine may help. There have been mixed results on the use of pinkeye vaccines due to the multiple bacterial species that may be the cause. Bacterial cultures may need to be collected to determine if the vaccine will be effective in reducing the incidence of pinkeye.

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Page 10 • Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019

Weaning Calves on Cover Crops Warren Rusche; SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Associate From extension.sdstate.edu

What do we do if it is time to wean calves, but the pen isn’t ready? That can be a real concern during wet fall seasons, such as 2019. Putting calves into muddy pen conditions is far from desirable, but holding calves on the cows deep into fall increases the risk of adverse winter weather and tends to pull body condition off the cows.

Using cover crops as a feed resource for weaned calves in the fall offers a potential solution for this dilemma. Holding calves out of muddy yards allows for additional time to perform lot maintenance or until the pen surface freezes. Weaning onto annual forages matches up well with fenceline weaning where the cows and calves are separated by a fence that still allows nose-to-nose contact.

Dr. Eric Mousel with the University of Minnesota Extension conduced an experiment to compare grazing weaned calves on annual forages to a more traditional backgrounding diet consisting of haylage and dried distillers grains. The two groups of calves were on the separate treatments for 45 days and then fed the backgrounding diet for another 45 days.

In that study the calves grazing the annual forages gained about 1.1 pounds per day compared to 1.7 pounds per day in the backgrounding yard. However, during the second 45-d period when all calves were on the backgrounding diet, the calves who

had started on forage outgained the yard fed contemporizes (2.8 vs. 2.5 pound ADG), partially making up for the earlier poor performance.

Dr. Mousel suggests that strip-grazing does promote more efficient usage of the forage, but to be certain to move the fence frequently. Being more liberal in forage allowance avoids accidently restricting intake and allows calves to select a higher quality diet which would support animal performance. Placing feed bunks in the field and delivering supplemental feed is an option if forage quantity is limited or if additional nutrients are needed to hit performance targets.

This study demonstrated that calves can be weaned on annual forages as an option. Performance potential perhaps won’t be as high as could be expected in a backgrounding yard, assuming that pen conditions aren’t affecting performance. In some cases in an extremely wet fall, the annual forage field might actually be a better environment for the calves during those critical first few weeks.

Some plant mixes will work better than others for promoting calf gain. Work done by Dr. Sandy Smart at SDSU has demonstrated that forage mixes with a greater proportion of grasses support greater animal performance compared to those that are predominately made up of plants such as turnips. Brassicas are much lower in fiber compared to grass species. Low fiber content results in a much more rapid passage rate and less opportunity for plant nutrients to be digested and metabolized.

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Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019 • Page 11

High-protein options: Tips for choosing the best beef

(BPT) - You know protein is essential to a balanced diet and maintaining energy and many products are now boasting protein content, but do you know what foods are healthful high sources of protein? And do you know how much protein you really need?

healthy fats that help prevent the risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases. In addition to the nutritional value and protein content, this cost-effective option delivers flavor, convenience and cooking versatility.

How much protein do you need?

How to choose the right beef

With 18 grams of protein per serving, beef is high in protein, easy to prepare and can support a healthy diet. However, only 62% of American beef consumers consider ground beef to be high in protein and just 70% of them consider beef cuts to be high in protein, according to a recent consumer study conducted

by Cargill.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) MyPlate site outlines the amount of protein in various sources. Common portions of beef, such as a small steak or lean hamburger, have more protein than most other options in the food group, like pork, chicken, nuts, seeds, beans and peas.

According to the USDA Dietary Reference, people should be consuming about 0.4 grams of protein per pound of body weight as part of a balanced diet. So, someone who weighs 150 pounds needs 60 grams of protein each day.

Why is it important to achieve a substantial daily consumption of protein? Protein helps repair cells, boosts energy and keeps us satiated longer. It sustains you through a long work day, boosts your stamina for exercise and ensures you don’t get hungry again soon after eating a meal.

People are also increasingly interested in consuming more healthy fats with their protein. Beef is packed with Omega-3

Even consumers who regularly buy beef struggle with selecting the best cuts for their purpose, and many of them lack an understanding of how to use the USDA grading system as a guide when purchasing beef.

At the grocery store, consumers should look for the USDA grades on packaging. Choosing USDA Select grade beef offers a leaner protein source with slight amounts of fat and marbling. For a high-quality cut of meat for a special occasion, a Prime cut of beef offers abundant marbling and flavor, but it is not considered lean. The Choice grade of beef offers moderate marbling and flavor and is a little less lean than Select cuts.

When choosing ground beef, each cut is an excellent source or protein and is similar in flavor and tenderness, but varies in fat content:

• Ground beef - 73% lean, 27% fat • Ground chuck - 80% lean, 20% fat • Ground sirloin - 85% lean, 15% fat • Ground round - 90% lean, 10% fat Among the five food groups, protein provides consumers with nutritional benefits and the affordability of beef makes it a clearcut selection as part of a balanced diet.

Page 12 • Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019

Pioneering Natural Solutions to Age-Old Problems What if natural plant extracts could provide the keys to helping ranchers reduce the impact of biting insects and stress on their livestock and boost their bottom line? Agri-Best Feeds is excited to announce that these natural plant extracts are now available through their proven SweetPro and Redmond products!

Garlic Extract -

Ranchers have been using garlic extract in both SweetPro and Redmond products for the last few years as an economical and effective insect repellent with excellent results. Within a couple of weeks of starting on the products that include the garlic extract, ranchers have noted fewer flies on their livestock, and the flies that are still around don’t seem to bother the livestock much. Sheep producers have noted a noticeable reduction in ticks, which has not only benefited in animal performance, but also produced a bigger wool check.

While the garlic extract is an excellent insect repellent, it also has numerous nutritional benefits because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics. Agri-Best Feeds’ customers have seen so much benefit using the garlic extract in our horse products that now EquiLix and EquiPride, purchased through Agri-Best Feeds, come standard with garlic extract.

This past winter a couple of ranches who were having trouble with lice tried the garlic extract in SweetPro and Redmond. These ranchers were very pleased with the results.

Clove/Cinnamon/Chili Pepper Extract –

Agri-Best Feeds is excited about this extract blend that is now available in SweetPro and Redmond products. This particular blend of plant extracts has been shown to combat heat stress by improving blood flow, stimulating water intake, keeping cattle grazing even in the heat of the day, and stimulating more saliva production that helps regulate pH. These extracts also have benefit beyond combating heat stress as they support gut health by helping optimize rumen function and minimize digestive stress. Gut health may be more important than we have been aware of – beyond simply digesting feed. Not only does the gut digest feed into the nutrients that an animal needs, but it

is also 1) the home of a symbiotic microbial ecosystem; 2) has a large surface area which when functioning correctly contributes to 80% plus of the immune response; and 3) the gut is a sensory organ that detects and reacts to its environment (the gut/brain relationship).

While SweetPro and Redmond products improve gut health, these natural plant extracts have been shown to add additional support to good gut health. It seems that these extracts increase the mucus layer in the gut that protects against invading pathogens and intestinal inflammation.

Last winter four ranches across Montana and Wyoming fed SweetPro with the blend of clove/cinnamon/chili pepper extracts to calves where they have historically and consistently had to treat coccidiosis in their weaned calves. Even with the weather and stress challenges of this past winter, none of the four ranches had any out breaks of digestive issues with these calves.

These natural solutions to age-old problems meet consumers’ escalating expectations to move away from chemicals or antibiotics.

These natural extracts are an economical addition to either SweetPro or Redmond and the improved gut health and insect repellent will lead to better growth efficiency and a good return on investment for ranchers.

Garlic extract and the clove/cinnamon/chili pepper blend of extracts supports and expands Agri-Best Feeds’ ability to meet their goals of improving animal health and performance, forage utilization, and maximizing producer’s profits. Proper nutrition and gut health are keys to maximizing genetic potential. For more information or pricing on the natural garlic extract or the clove/cinnamon/ chili pepper extracts blend in either SweetPro or Redmond, please call 866 601-6646 or visit www.agribestfeeds.com .

Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019 • Page 13

Winter is coming: Be prepared for costly, damaging storms (BPT) - Winter weather is difficult to predict. Use these tips to help protect your home from the costly damage winter storms can bring.

Take care of your roof

• Keep your gutters clear. This keeps ice from accumulating and backing up under the shingles.

• Trim trees year-round so branches don’t fall on your house.

• Worn-out, missing or damaged siding and roof flashing can let water and ice into your home. Be vigilant and replace them.

• If your chimney is leaning or the mortar has seen better days, get it repaired.

Safety guidelines are not intended to be all inclusive, but are provided for your consideration. Please use your own judgment to determine what safety features/procedures should be used in each unique situation.

USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its affiliates.

Prevent ice dams

• Eliminate heat sources under the roof, such as lights and heaters in the attic, that can contribute to thawing.

• Keep the attic cool and ventilated to stop or slow the refreezing cycle.

• Consult a roofing professional to remove snow or standing water before an ice dam can form.

• Invest in a roof rake, a tool that allows you to stand on the ground and safely brush snow off the roof.

• Avoid trying to chip any ice dams off your roof, as you could damage the roof. Ask a roof specialist for help instead.

• Talk with your roof specialist about sealing the roof deck with a moisture barrier.

SALE DATES

Prevent water damage

• Ventilate the attic and insulate the attic floor to stop warm air in the house from melting snow and ice on the roof.

• Wrap exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or 2 inches of Underwriters Laboratories (UL)-listed heat tape.

• Caulk cracks and holes in the home’s outer walls and foundation. Holes left by cable installation can also leave pipes exposed.

• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around pipes.

• Trickle water from faucets connected to pipes that run through unheated or unprotected spaces.

• Locate the home’s main water valve - typically in the basement or outside near the curb - so you can turn water off quickly if a pipe does burst.

• If you leave the house unoccupied for an extended period, shut off the water and have a professional drain the system. Turn the heat down, but don’t turn it off.

Clear surfaces where you walk or drive

• Keep walkways, steps and driveways clear of snow and ice.

• Treat these areas with rock salt or de-icing products.

For more information on ways to protect your home, visit USAA.com/HomeSafety.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2019 MOGCK FORTRESS 517

At the ranch, Roundup, MT

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 WCF PAYWEIGHT 5228

Miles City Livestock Commission

Gary & Phyllis Eliasson PO Box 389 ‫ ׀‬Roundup, MT 59072 Office: 406.323.2227 ‫ ׀‬Home: 406.323.1024 Gary Cell: 406.320.1142 ‫ ׀‬Phyllis Cell: 406.320.0097 ccar@midrivers.com

WWW.CURRANTCREEKANGUS.COM

Page 14 • Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019

New survey suggests improvements in Montanans’ understanding of noxious weeds

A recent survey shows that Montanans' understanding of noxious weeds and ways to stop their spread has increased over the past 25 years.

Reagan Colyer, MSU News Service

More than 800 Montanans responded to the newest survey. Of those, nearly half reported they drive on dirt roads or across fields, 41% reported that they routinely go hiking or backpacking, 37% work outside or in fields, 24% fish and 17% hunt. All of those are outdoor activities that, without proper awareness, can spread noxious weeds.

The survey follows up an initial survey done in 1994, which determined the level of public knowledge at the time in order to gauge education needs. The 2019 survey was administered by Eric Raile of the Montana State University Human Ecology Learning and Problem Solving Lab; Jane Mangold of MSU Extension and the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Science in the College of Agriculture; and Shantell Frame-Martin of the Montana Noxious Weed Education Campaign, or MNWEC. Both surveys were funded by the Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund, which is overseen by the Montana Department of Agriculture.

About half of respondents, 48%, said that they have “little to no” knowledge of noxious weeds. While it seems like a large proportion, it is an improvement over the 1994 survey, where 67% of respondents indicated they knew little or nothing about noxious weeds.

Farmers and ranchers in Montana are often intimately aware of the dangers posed by noxious weeds, but the general public’s knowledge of invasive species has also increased due to education and outreach efforts over the past 25 years, according to a recent survey.

“The goal of that first survey was to gain insight into the level of knowledge that Montanans had about noxious weeds,” said Frame-Martin. “We found out that there wasn’t a whole lot of knowledge, so that was when the MNWEC was formed.”

The MNWEC, housed in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at MSU, is a cooperative effort among state and federal entities and non-governmental organizations that seeks to educate Montanans about noxious weeds, encouraging them to participate in integrated weed management.

Since 1994, the MNWEC has used billboards, pamphlets, educational classes, newspaper articles, and radio and television advertisements to increase knowledge across the state. Recently, it has focused has been on key audiences like recreationists and hunters who spend a lot of time in Montana’s natural areas and may accidentally spread noxious weeds. They also developed educational materials for real estate professionals.

Noxious weeds infest nearly 8 million acres of Montana, said Frame-Martin, and something as simple as walking or driving through a patch of noxious weeds without washing shoes or vehicles afterward can spread the weeds to areas that haven’t yet been exposed. Of particular concern are medusahead and ventenata, invasive grasses that are detrimental to rangelands because they decrease the amount of forage available for livestock and wildlife.

However, 73% of respondents were able to name at least one species of noxious weed, and at least 80% identified loss of wildlife habitat and biodiversity, increased wildfire and loss of native plants as particularly concerning impacts of noxious weeds, showing awareness of the impacts the weeds can have.

Nearly half of respondents said they do more now to prevent noxious weed spread than they did five years ago, which Frame-Martin said is encouraging.

While all the numbers might not yet be where the researchers hoped, she said they are moving in the right direction. When it comes to environmental issues, educating people about the behaviors that contribute to the problem is critical, she said, and Montanans who know about noxious weeds are more likely to do their part to help stop the spread.

“The results that we gained are encouraging,” Frame-Martin said.

“The trends in our data show that knowledge has increased.”

One of the less encouraging results from the survey for Frame-Martin was the trend of younger adults and female respondents tending to know less and show less interest in noxious weeds. But, she said, this finding will help the MNWEC adapt its educational efforts to engage those groups.

“Everybody has the capability and capacity to help stop noxious weeds,” Frame-Martin said. “We all love Montana, and we live here because of the great recreational opportunities. We need to protect those for future generations. Making sure that knowledge is out there and that everybody can do their part is essential.”

This story is available on the Web at: http://www.montana.edu/ news/19145

BLUEWEED ( Echium vulgare )

Quick Identification • Dark spots where the hairs come out of the stem • Bristly hairs on stems and leaves • Blue to purple funnel-shaped flowers • Flowers on arching branches • Height 1-3 feet • Toxicity: Toxic. Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Toxic to humans, horses and cattle.

• Control: Hand pulling/digging and herbicide. Contact your county weed district or local commercial applicator for additional information.

• Important Information: Wear gloves when pulling, as the plant’s hairs react with skin similar to handling fiberglass. It thrives in sunny spots and does not tolerate shade.

Billings Area News Group - October 31, 2019 • Page 15

YELLOWFLAG IRIS ( Iris pseudacorus )

Quick Identification • Dark green leaves in a fanlike arrangement • Three large downward facing yellow petals streaked with brown or purple streaks • Bright yellow, showy flower similar to common garden irises • Height 3 to 5 feet • Toxicity: Toxic. Livestock, dogs, cats and humans.

• Control: Mechanical, cultural and herbicide. Contact your county weed district or local Applicator for more information.

• Important Information: This plant is currently sold as an ornamental. Each large seedpod can produce 120 seeds.

Yellowflag is of two species of iris known to occur in Montana outside of horticultural plantings; the only yellow one.

WHITETOP

ST. JOHNSWORT

Quick Identification • Gray-green stems and leaves • White to cream colored, flattopped flower cluster • Heart-shaped seeds • Height 1 to 2 feet

Quick Identification • Numerous, rust colored stems at base of plant • Pale to yellow-green leaves with small transparent dots • Bright yellow, 5-petaled flowers with tiny, black dots visible when held up to light; prominent stamens • Height 1 to 3 feet

( Cardaria draba, Lepidiuim draba )

• Toxicity: Cattle.

• Control: Cultivation, mowing and herbicide. Contact your County Weed District or local Applicator for more information.

• Important Information: Whitetop is generally one of the earliest noxious weeds to come up in the spring (May). Seeds remain viable for 4-years and roots can reach depths of 6-feet.

HOARY ALYSSUM ( Berteroa incana )

Quick Identification • “Hoary” silver color from short, star-shaped hairs covering entire plant • Grayish-colored leaves with smooth to wavy edges • Sandpaper-like leaf texture • Small 4-petal white flower with notched petal tips giving the appearance of rabbit ears • Height 1 to 3 feet • Toxicity: Horses, even when cured in hay.

• Control: Shallow tilling, digging/hand pulling the root crown, prescribed burning and herbicide. Contact your County Weed District or local Applicator for more information.

• Important Information: Reproduction from seed only; viable in the soil for up to nine years.

( Hypericum perforatum )

• Toxicity: Humans and livestock.

• Control: Hand pulling/digging, mowing, biological and herbicide. Contact your county weed district or local Applicator for more information.

• Important Information: Plant contains a toxic substance which causes skin sores/rash and sun sensitivity in humans and animals. This plant is purported to have numerous medicinal properties.

FIELD BINDWEED ( Convolvulus arvensis )

Quick Identification • Horizontal or vertical growth; climbs surrounding objects including grass • Dark green arrowhead-shaped leaves • Bell-shaped or tubular white to pink flower • Length 10 feet in one season; depth up to 30 feet • Toxicity: Horses.

• Control: Repeated tillage (mechanical) and herbicide. Contact your County Weed District or local Applicator for more info.

• Important Information: Once established, nearly impossible to fully eradicate.

Montana weed information can be found at these websites: agr.mt.gov/Weeds • www.mtweed.org • www.weedawareness.org

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