Hi-Line Farm & Ranch - December 2014

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December 2014

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Wisconsin dairy farmers Local: ‘Everybody likes good food’ to rake in big profits n Continued from page 10

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The combination of record-high milk prices and recordlow feed costs are creating profits for some Wisconsin dairy farmers that are six times higher than previous good years, according to dairy experts. Randy Greenfield, a dairy specialist for Vita Plus, a Madison-based livestock feed company, has calculated annual profits for the state's dairy farmers based on their financial records and conversations with agribusiness consultants. Some farms that milk the state average of 117 cows will see p ro f i t s to ta l i n g m o re t h a n $ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 , Greenfield said. Those that milk 500 cows will make $1 million, while 2,500-cow dairy farms will clear $5 million, he said. "Financially, for a lot of farmers, this will be the best year they will ever have," Greenfield said. Dairy farmers hope this year will allow them to bounce back from 2009, when milk prices collapsed and they were forced to accumulate debt, and prepare for a potentially similar scenario in 2015. "There's going to be a big drop, nobody

is trying to whitewash that," said Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although many dairy farmers can expect record profits, most are preparing for the worst because of the projections for next year, farmer John Judd said. "There are no frivolous spenders among dairy farmers anymore because they all lost their farms," said Judd, who owns a 75-cow dairy farm in Primrose, located in southwest Dane County. Class III milk prices, which reached an average high of $22.50 to $22.60 per hundredweight this month, are expected to drop to $17.15 to $18.05 by next November due to high milk production and slowed demand because of shrinking export sales, according to a World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. But dairy farmers should be able to survive the estimated price drop of 22 percent, according to Greenfield, since feed, fertilizer and fuel costs are expected to decline or at least stay the same.

turkeys. Christmas is a big time for turkeys and hams, he said, but this time of year is his busiest in general. “I would say 50 percent of my business is done now” in the fall with hunting season, domestic animals being processed before winter and holidays coming up. In summer, though, he also is busy with barbecue season, as well as getting out in public for sales and promotion, like for Havre's Saturday Market. “That’s something kind of unique in itself," he said about the local farmers market. ”Normally we wouldn’t be grilling in public like that. We don’t cater or anything like that" but the barbecued pig-on-a-pole draws people in — “it’s really tender and packed with flavor” — and then they can shop in his mobile store. Starting around Easter time, Frickel said, he takes a trailer, customized into a mobile store, into town once a month, then bumps these promotional trips up to once a week when Saturday Market begins.

He thinks it's an effective marketing activity because even after all these years “we get a lot of people that don’t realize we’re not just doing wild game out here. I think that’s been a kind of misconception,” he said. And he's winning people over with his products, he said. “One thing for sure, everybody likes good food, so you can’t go wrong with that,” he said. When people come out to the shop south of Havre, they get to see where and how the meats are processed, and people are very receptive to that, he said. “I have turkeys out there, and there’s blood all over that (prep counter) ... but people don’t really get turned off by it. Most people, they kind of get excited. I think that kind of helps for the trust part, so people can come in and see what we’re doing," Frickel said, something that can't be done with foods not processed locally. (Some information was corrected for the online edition of this article.)

Locally grown, locally processed, locally beneﬁcial Havre Daily News/Jake Shane Employee Waylon Poney cuts a quartered cow Nov. 25 at Bear Paw Meats in Chinook.

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Oregon food label measure headed for recount

Local meat processors bring quality to customers and boost the local economy

JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. — Statewide vote totals released Nov. 24 show an Oregon ballot measure that would require labeling of genetically modified foods was losing by a mere 809 votes and will go to an automatic recount. Results from all 36 counties three weeks after Election Day showed Measure 92 was defeated by a margin of only 0.06 percentage point, well under the 0.2 percent threshold for a recount. A hand tally of ballots is likely to begin this week after Secretary of State Kate Brown certifies the election results, formally triggering the recount. Oregon is the fourth state in the West to reject a labeling requirement for genetically modified foods, but it was the closest tally yet. "Regardless of what the final outcome of this race is, this is a very encouraging sign for those of us who support labeling of genetically engineered foods," said Sandeep

Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com In an era when the majority of grocery stores are “big box” retailers selling box meats and other goods from national producers, north-central Montana still has local meat processors and retailers going strong and boosting the local economy, selling fresh and custom-processed beef, pork, lamb and poultry raised by local producers. Bear Paw Meats in Chinook and Havre, owned and operated by Dexter Buck and his family, is the area’s largest meat processing plant, with a state meat inspector on site allowing the facility to slaughter and process meats for sale to the public. All the beef sold by the business is purchased as calves from local ranchers then raised and fed to finish weight in Buck’s feedlot, said Ashley Buck, Dexter Buck’s daughter who manages the Bear Paw Meats retail store in Havre.

n Continued on page 3 Cover photo Havre Daily News/Jake Shane Nate Frickel maneuvers a cart hung with Saddle Butte Custom Smoking's famous hams.

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Employee Michael Morris places meat in a tub at Bear Paw Meats in Chinook.

Kaushik, a spokesman for the campaign promoting the measure. Machine counts are subject to a small margin of error, Kaushik said, and with such a razor-thin vote difference, "there is a plausible possibility that the outcome of this race will change." Still, the odds are against the proponents. In 22 statewide recounts around the U.S. since 2000, the average shift was only 0.03 percentage point, according to FairVote, a Maryland-based advocacy group. Five of them produced a shift that would be large enough to alter the outcome of Oregon's measure. At nearly $30 million, the battle over Measure 92 was by far the costliest campaign in Oregon history. Officials with the campaign opposing the measure did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "We are confident that Measure 92 has been defeated, and that will be the case even if there happens to be a recount," Dana Bieber, a spokeswoman for the No on 92

Havre Daily News/Jake Shane

AP Photo/Jeff Barnard, file Chuck Burr cultivates a row of onions May 2 on his organic seed farm outside Ashland, Ore. An Oregon ballot measure to require labeling of genetically engineered foods was narrowly defeated and will head to a recount.

Coalition, said last week. The day after the election, as early returns showed the measure was losing, The Associated Press and other news organizations called the measure narrowly defeated. But the margin continued to narrow even further as late-counted ballots trended heavily in favor. After the campaign, the measure's proponents worked aggressively to ensure that that their supporters corrected problems that prevented their ballots from being counted. Oregon conducts elections entirely by mail. Elections officials verify ballots by matching a signature on the envelope to the one on file with a voter's registration card. In every election, thousands of ballots end up not being counted, usually because of problems with the signature. Some voters forget to sign, or their signature evolves

over time so it doesn't match the one on file. In the past, county elections officials have sent letters to affected voters informing them that their ballot wasn't counted but they could visit the elections office in person to correct the deficiency.

Starting this year, the list of "challenged

ballots" was released publicly, allowing the campaigns to nudge voters to take action if they believe they might be supporters.

The labeling proponents aggressively

used the list to make sure voters they believed were likely supportive had their votes counted.

Oregon's last statewide recount followed

the May 2008 election, for a ballot measure that gave law enforcement agencies stronger powers of civil forfeiture. It passed by 681 votes.

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December 2014

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Local: ‘A boon to the local economy’

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December 2014

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Local: Summer months usually busiest

n Continued from page 3

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and returns the carcasses to his facility to dry age in his cooler. Part of his service is to help potential customers find producers who have said they are willing to sell some of their meat in bulk so these customers can buy wholes, halves and quarters of locally raised beef, lamb and pork. Dumas said Big Sandy Meat Shop was started in 2006, but its business was seriously tapering off until he purchased it three years ago. Dumas, who is a board member of the Montana Meat Processors Association, has worked hard to build the business up and says he’s getting at least one new customer a week discovering his shop. He is also working hard to expand the business to include his own slaughter facility with an on-site inspector and is working with Big Sandy’s town council to allay some of their concerns for zoning issues. “Economically, to a small town like this,” he said, “a kill facility of that nature would be a boon to the local economy. “I’ve got a lot of local producers around here that would feed out stuff … they’ve got just outstanding animals,” he said. “They feed out 10-15 animals a year for customers of theirs that want beef, and we get ’em in here, and you’re not going to find a better animal anywhere. … It’s local-raised grain going into them, you know what it is, you know what they’re producing.” He said he also has pig producers who Havre Daily News/Jake Shane Nate Frickel wraps a turkey before hanging it in the smoking oven.

would increase their production to meet retail sales if he had a slaughter facility. Dumas said his passion is for promoting locally raised meats because of the quality of the product and the benefit to the local economy. “One of my biggest issues and biggest complaints is (that) this Hi-Line produces some of the best livestock in the nation, some of the best-fed livestock and what not, but can you go to a store — with the exception of Havre (at Bear Paw Meats) — and buy a locally produced steak?” he said, also pointing out that at one time Rocky Mountain Meat Packing, one of the largest slaughter houses in the state, was on 1st Street in downtown Havre, providing locally raised meat to local stores and customers. “My big interest … is to promote and push and have people check out buying local. Buy local as much as possible. Just because you’re buying local doesn’t mean you have to pay any extra, excessive amount,” he said. “ … Support your local economy, support your local producers, your local ranches, your local farms — most of them are smaller operations. “Even the government school systems should start looking at and trying to buy as much local product as they possibly can,” he said, adding that recent legislation in the farm bill gives discounts to public schools and universities to buy locally produced meats, vegetables, fruits and grains. ——— Nate Frickel has leased and operated Saddle Butte Custom Smoking in Havre for three years, though the business was started almost 25 years ago by Dave Anderson. Along with custom smoking meats for local producers, hunters and fishermen, Saddle Butte buys meats and poultry from larger distributors to process for retail sale at the store. Though Frickel relies on the federal and state inspected meats from large distributors for his retail foods, like smoked turkeys and hams, bacon, sausages, bratwursts and thuringers, and jerky, he said he is proud to work with local producers and organizations for custom orders. He said he does a lot of custom hams and bacons from 4-H market animals, gets custom orders from local butchers and provides hot dogs, brats and pig-n-a-pole — a marinated strip of pork brisket barbecued on a bamboo skewer — to vendors at fair time. “There’s about 35 different recipes I make,” he said, adding that all the seasoning mixes he creates in-house from fresh spices to blend with the flavor of the hickory smoke. He has two smoke houses, which are basically convection ovens large enough to comfortably fit 28 turkeys each, and with digital controls he has programmed in various heat settings for different meats, he said. Even the hickory chips are fed to a three-stage heating chamber to produce the best, most efficiently produced, smoke. As an example of cooking time, he said, it takes 10 hours in the smoker to smoke the

n Continued on page 12

“We (grow) them on a silage that we produce on our farm,” Ashley Buck said. “ … And then we finish them off, that’s where you’re going to put their weight on, with a barley ration. My dad developed his own ration.” It’s not just the ranchers selling calves who benefit from Bear Paw Meats’ operating practices, though. “He works with the local elevators. If we don’t produce it on our farm, then we buy it from the local elevator,” she said. They also buy their corn seed — for the corn they grow to put in their silage feed — from producer Randy Reed of Chinook. Along with the beef the business feeds up, finishes and processes, they get lambs from Max Hoefeldt in Chinook and pigs and chickens from Hartland Colony north of Havre. The lambs and pigs they slaughter on site, but the chickens come from Hartland already processed and packaged, “We like to work within our 100-mile radius,” Buck said. From slaughter to sale counter, the process takes time, the proper facility and experienced people. “We finish (the cattle in the feedlot) to choice to prime grade, so you’re guaranteed (at least) a choice-grade beef, and then we process them over at Bear Paw Meats in Chinook, and then we dry age the beef for 21 days and then from there it’s packaged and quick frozen — flash frozen is what we call it — so it goes right off the processing floor into the freezer and then from there that’s where we start distributing it to the public,” Buck said. “We have a pretty steady schedule,” she added. “We slaughter one day a week and package the other four,” she said. Her sister, Bobbi Klingaman, manages the Chinook facility and is the one who produces all the smoked meats and sausages as well. Bear Paw Meats initially was housed only in Chinook, but started the Havre store about five years ago, Buck said. While the Chinook store sells only a few items beyond the meats right now, the Havre store is a convenience and specialty shop as well, selling products like seasonings, wines, micro brew beer, milk, Wisconsin cheeses, oils, pasta, Montana coffee, canned foods and jams, as well as locally grown garlic,

produce and grains like purple barley, black chickpeas and the ancient grain Kamut. The store is doing well in Havre, Buck said, and the family is working on developing more of a storefront in Chinook. “I don’t know if it’s going to get like this here in Havre, but they’re working on it,” Buck said. For the Havre store, the summer barbecuing months are the busiest, Buck said, though December sees a marked rise in sales, especially prime rib for the holidays, and at tax time, they sell a lot of wholes, halves and quarters of beef as people receive their tax return payments. “We’re looking to expand our sales into Great Falls and Billings,” Buck said. Bear Paw takes orders for meats and makes delivery once a week. People are finding out about the service through word of mouth, and through Facebook and the farmers market, she said. Using small business ingenuity, Buck made a deal with George's Distributing of Helena to deliver their wines locally, so the return trip from Great Falls is paid for. —— Jim Dumas at Big Sandy Meat Shop works to provide locally grown beef in retail sales, as well as custom processing of domestic and wild meats. He said he has to rely on slaughter facilities with a full-time state or federal inspector to provide the meats he sells retail, but he is licensed to slaughter and custom-process domestic animals, as well as to process wild game. Dumas said the beef he sells is raised locally and slaughtered at an area facility, then he brings the carcasses back to his shop for aging, processing and retail sales. By federal regulation, he added, meats sold retail have to be slaughtered in a facility with a state or federal inspector on site, and small meat shops, like his, don't process or sell the volume to make this feasible. His main business is custom processing for owners of domestically raised animals, and for wild game harvested during hunting season. For custom processing, Dumas said, he takes a mobile retrieval unit to the producer’s ranch or farm, slaughters the animals

n Continued on page 10

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TIPS: Jim Dumas, Big Sandy Meat Shop owner and Montana Meat Processors Association board member, offered a variety of background information on meats and the industry. • Fresh meat is any meat not cooked, smoked, cured or otherwise processed. Fresh meat can be frozen, and it can include meat that has been frozen and thawed more than once. • Meat must be stored at temperatures below 40 degrees, for proper aging and health-safety purposes. • Meat freezes at 28 degrees. The closer meat is stored to freezing temperature, without freezing it, the better. • Dry aging means the animal is slaughtered and the carcass hung to age for at least eight days, which is intended to tenderize the meat and make it more flavorful. • Wet aging means the animal is slaughtered and within two to 48 hours the carcass is cut up and put into a cooler as box meat to be processed into individual cuts of meat later. If it is not sold by the time the aging process is complete, the meat is frozen. • Aging is a process that breaks down chemicals in the muscles, like amino acids. • If meat freezes, the aging process that tenderizes meat stops, and the meat will get a little more flavorful, but never more tender. • Meat is the most tender it could possibly be if it is frozen within 20 minutes after slaughter, but it lacks the flavorfulness that the aging process gives it. • Meat tenderizes the most in the first eight to 10 days of aging, and from there the tenderness progression starts dropping dramatically, though flavor continues to increase. • Wild game and domestic animals can be kept in the same freezer and processed in the same facility. Their carcasses just cannot come in contact with each other. This is true for all different species; for example, a beef carcass cannot come in contact with a pig carcass. This regulation cuts down on cross contamination between meats. • In a facility processing meat from different animals, the meats are cut up in a certain order: beef, sheep, pigs, wild game. If meats are butchered in a different order, then the facility and tools have to be completely sterilized between processing jobs.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Agriculture is deďŹ nitely net for agriculture. the Montana Farm Bureau Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;In a time when our country is battling comments from Thatcher.going to be takof Laborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restrictions on Drummond had a Contest, lot to sayGarett on that exactfrom generation of unmotivated youth, our gov-and ing a good share of is cuts,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;HowAnother topic proposed of discussion was the DeYouth Speech Prince unemployment, a struggling economy â&#x20AC;&#x153;Agriculture deďŹ nitely going to be tak- partment Hi-Line children working in agriculture. Under the subject. ernment is going to un-employ thousands of ever, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better to deal with this now in this partment of Laborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposed restrictions on Drummond had a lot to say on that exact generation of unmotivated youth, our goving a good share of cuts,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;HowHi-Line proposed rules, youth under the age of 16 â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am only 12 years old and I help run the hard-working individuals? That just doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Hi-Line committee than waiting until next year.â&#x20AC;? August 2014 www.havredailynews. children working in agriculture. Under the subject. ernment is going to un-employ thousands of ever, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better to deal with this now in this December 2014 would not berules, able to do any labor onage a farm ranch that has been inyears my family for overrun themake sense. Iwww.havredailynews.com hope the Department of Labor Thatcher, basing her comments on current proposed youth under the of 16 â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am only 12 old and I help hard-working individuals? That just doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t committee than waiting until next year.â&#x20AC;? August 2014 www.havredailynews. years,â&#x20AC;? saidin inmy his family speechfor thatover wakes upsense. and realizes kids who start thatPrince has been make I hope that the Department of Labor Thatcher, basing her comments on current would not be able to do any labor on a farm 140ranch won140 himyears,â&#x20AC;? secondPrince placesaid in the junior division. working long before turning 16 years old are in his speech that wakes up and realizes that kids who start MSUtoExtension has â&#x20AC;&#x153;I plan remain a part of in thethe agricultural the working ones wholong are before not standing in16 theyears unemwon him second place junior division. turning old are Thanks for your helped create an industry and hope tohas continue myagricultural involveployment line by are the not agestanding of 25.â&#x20AC;? in the unemMSU Extension â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ionline plan to remain a part of the the ones who Agriculture Thanks for your ment in my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operation. It Other hot button the conpatronage in 2014 helped create an industry and hoperanching to continue my involveployment line byissues the ageduring of 25.â&#x20AC;? Policy Analysis scares me to think my future career and the vention were the proposal to move Yellowonline Agriculture ment in my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ranching operation. It Other hot button issues during the conpatronage in 2014 System, at right, to ranch may be on the future of my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stone National Park bison to four locations Policy Analysis scares me to think my future career and the vention were the proposal to move Yellowhelp farmersatmake linefuture today.â&#x20AC;? Montana, risk management and System, right, to ranch may be on the around of my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stone National Park bison to four locations new program choices Prince believes the Department of estate tax planning. help farmers make line today.â&#x20AC;? around Montana, risk management and available through new program choicesthe Department of Prince believes estate tax planning. the 2014 Farm Bill.

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April and See video at www.glasgowstockyards.com **22 Red 8 Black Fancy Replacement Heifers. May and Calvers. Larry Matthews 406-654-4233 See video at www.glasgowstockyards.com Weaned 45 days. **22 Red and 8 Black Fancy Replacement Heifers. Larry Matthews 406-654-4233 Weaned 45 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;days. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; TENTATIVE CONSIGNMENTS **100 Angus coming 3 & 4 year olds. May & June CONSIGNMENTS **40 Angus Bred Heifers. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; TENTATIVE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Calvers. Angus BredBred Heifers. April and May Calvers. **100 Angus coming 3 & 4 year olds. May & June **20**40 Angus Heifers. **80 Black and Red Bred Heifers. **40 Short term Angus Cows. Homeand raised, iron. Calvers. **20 Angus Bred Heifers. April May1Calvers. ThisHeifers. will be a great opportunity to purchase **80 Black and Red Bred **40 Short term Angus Cows. Home raised, 1 iron. some of the top cows heifers Montana has to offer! 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It was one of 28 meetings that took place It around the of state help farmers was one 28 to meetings that took decipher some of the legislation place around the state to help that farmers came with the 2014 Bill. Previous decipher some of Farm the legislation that programs had the been eliminated andPrevious three came with 2014 Farm Bill. newprograms programshad opened for farmers. The been up eliminated and three programs set up payments on crop losses, new programs opened up for farmers. The butprograms if you don't up, you can't collect set sign up payments on crop losses, anybut payments. if you don't sign up, you can't collect bill has a lot of changes and U.S. any payments. CHS / Farmers Elevator Co. Rep.The Steve Daines when and he U.S. The bill has aexplained lot of changes CHS / Farmers Elevator Co. stopped in Glasgow Octoberwhen ex- he Rep. Steve Daineslate explained plained thatinCongress to get exit stopped Glasgowworked late October passed and in place for the next five plained that Congress worked to get it years so it and would hold longer passed in place for the than next just fivea short year. said that a few bugs may years soHe it would hold longer than just a need out yet. -aSaturday Monday 215 4thtoStbe S.worked short year. He said that few bugs may 8:30 a.m.yet. tothe 5:00 p.m.22 Evans explained during Oct. Glasgow, MT need out Monday - Saturday 215 4thto Stbe S.worked Open Sundays -the Noon to 22 meeting in Glasgow that farms should 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Evans explained during Oct. Glasgow, MT 4:00 p.m. through Christmas (406) 228-9363 have alreadyinreceived a that letter in the mail Open Sundays - Noon to meeting Glasgow farms should to(406) help know what actions to take. That 4:00 p.m. through Christmas 228-9363 have already received a letter in the mail Your Fall & Winter letter should havewhat had actions information in-That to help know to take. cluded had the over the Your Fall & Winter Mineral Program Makes letterthat should havecrop hadhistory information inlast four years. Reviewing that letter andthe cluded that had the crop history over Mineral Program Makes Your Calving Season making sureyears. that information accurate last four Reviewing is that letter and Your Calving Season is the first step that should have already making sure that information is accurate Head Start Weaning Pellets taken place. is the first step that should have already Give Your Calves The Best Head Start Weaning Pellets The step is for farmers figuring takennext place. program something At Your Weaning Time Give Calves The Best out which The next step to is choose, for farmers figuring thatout both the landowner and the farmer which program to choose, something At Weaning Time should on landowner if the land is being that agree both the and the farmer Smart-lic Supplement Tubs leased. That choice can't be changed should agree on if the land is being 2018 That and itchoice also stays the land, Smart-lic Supplement Tubs untilleased. can'twith be changed to keep your herd in top condition! even if it's sold. Ifityou don't sign up,the you until 2018 and also stays with land, to keep your herd in top condition! can't get any benefits. Enrollment needs even if it's sold. If you don't sign up, you to take between nowEnrollment and Marchneeds can'tplace get any benefits. 2015. Payments for crop losses wouldn't to take place between now and March come until the following year after data 2015. Payments for crop losses wouldn't is finalized. come until the following year after data 1st Ave. North The Price Loss Coverage (PLC) prois finalized. Glasgow, MT 59230 1st Ave. North gram helps compensate producers for low The Price Loss Coverage (PLC) proGlasgow, MT 59230 Elevator â&#x20AC;˘ 228-4422 / Fertilizer Plant â&#x20AC;˘ 228-2571 gram helps compensate for low CONTINUED ON PAGEproducers 7 Elevator â&#x20AC;˘ 228-4422 / Fertilizer Plant â&#x20AC;˘ 228-2571 CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

BY BONNIE DAVIDSON THE GLASGOW BY BONNIECOURIER DAVIDSON â&#x20AC;&#x153;It's not ourTHE goal to know your deciGLASGOW COURIER sions, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It's but itnot is our our goal goal to to know help make your decia decision,â&#x20AC;? Farm Service sions, butBill it isEvans, our goal to help make Agency county Bill executive in a decision,â&#x20AC;? Evans,director Farm Service Chouteau County said to the large crowd Agency county executive director in thatChouteau gathered County in October in Glasgow. said to the large crowd that gathered in October in Glasgow.

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Farm Bill: Analysis System Helps Producers Make New Choices Farm Bill: Analysis System Helps Producers Make New Choices

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 need one more session. Mike Hagfeldt, software. The times for those smaller He added that numbers would be changing in the software as they made Valley Countyexecutive director for the are The 8:30times a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Dec. CONTINUED FROMofPAGE need one more session. Mike Hagfeldt, meetings software. for those smaller added that numbers would be prices. Commodities based the4 national some He tweaks, so to check the numbers on FSA, explained that local farmers need to 17 and 30 and Jan. 6 and 8. To schedule changing in the software as they made Valley Countyexecutive director for the meetings are 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Dec. average prices is what would difprices. Commodities basedmake of thea national a monthly basis before making deci- on make an explained appointment they farmers are going these meetings, you some tweaks, so to check thefinal numbers FSA, thataslocal need to an appointment 17 and 30 andfor Jan. 6 and 8. To schedule ference with this program. Knowing what average prices is what would make a dif- sions. The toolbasis plugged in making all the informato use their information toashelp discuss canan call 228-4321. for these meetings, you a monthly before final decimake an appointment they are going appointment crops you'rewith producing and what prices what tion that farmers received in the letter as ference this program. Knowing options andinformation explain howtothe programs Another website to keep in mind is sions. The tool plugged in all the informa-theto use their help discuss can call 228-4321. arecrops averaging help make a decision you'recould producing and what prices well as a few details like yields, averwould work. www.montana.edu/farmbill. It has lots of the options and explain how the programs Another website to keep in mind is tion that farmers received in the letter as in this program. This would kick ages are averaging couldprogram help make a decision andasacreage to helplike decipher which They are also hoping to have the exten- information available, as well asItcontact well a few details yields, averwould work. www.montana.edu/farmbill. has lots of in best if your prices for certain commodin this program. This program would kick program would worktobest the farm. discuss the to website andexten-information. ages and acreage helpwith decipher which sion office They help are also hoping have the information available, as well as contact itiesindropped below the national average. best if your prices for certain commod- It also helps give some examples on what program would work best with the farm. sion office help discuss the website and information. It would be an 85 percent base of your ities dropped below the national average. theItprograms might out. also helps give pay some examples on what yield per acreage. It would be an 85 percent base of your While the large group listened Experienced cattle workers, sheepherders, farm the programs might pay out. in to The yieldAgricultural per acreage.Risk Coverage (ARC) the discussion, it was a lot of informaequipment operators generalsheepherders, ranch hands seekthe large group listened in to Experienced cattleand workers, farm program down toRisk twoCoverage different (ARC) tion toWhile Thebreaks Agricultural take in during a short four hours. ing up to 9 months seasonal employment. the discussion, it was a lot of informaequipment operators and general ranchHousing hands seekcoverages. ARC-CO program breaks down to two different Thetion local Farm aService Agency mustingbeupprovided, camper acceptable. ContactHousing to Glasgow take in during short four hours. to 9 months seasonal employment. could cover upARC-CO to 85 coverages. (FSA) is looking to hold some smaller diane@peakseasonlabor.com or 406-579-7529. L A B O R The local Glasgow Farm Service Agency must be provided, camper acceptable. Contact percent, could while cover the up ARCto 85 meetings local farmers might (FSA) for is looking to holdwho some smaller IC percent, program while could the cover L A B O R diane@peakseasonlabor.com or 406-579-7529. ARC- meetings for local farmers who might up IC to 65 percent. These program could cover programs up to 65compensate percent. These producers forcompensate low crop programs revenues. producers for low crop George Haynes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; revenues. who worked the â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7 Georgewith Haynes

MSU Extension and is who worked with the HAYNES 7 a professor on business,

MSU Extension and is HAYNES agricultural policy and a professor on business, dabbles in economicsagricultural â&#x20AC;&#x201C; explainedpolicy that the and ARC programs were pushed by Montandabbles in economics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; explained that the ansARC and that out of were state pushed it's referred to as programs by Montantheans â&#x20AC;&#x153;Montana program.â&#x20AC;? LRQ and that out of state it's referred to as â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is good for producers who yield the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Montana program.â&#x20AC;? LRQ aboveâ&#x20AC;&#x153;This county Haynes said. is averages,â&#x20AC;? good for producers who â&#x20AC;&#x153;If yield youabove run close to county averages, don't county averages,â&#x20AC;? Haynes said.goâ&#x20AC;&#x153;If there.â&#x20AC;? you run close to county averages, don't go Also available is the Supplemental there.â&#x20AC;? LFH WR <RX Coverage (SCO). program AlsoOption available is theThis Supplemental FRPH WR XV allows producers to purchase additional LFH WR <RX Coverage Option (SCO). This program insurance coverage. Roger Buckner, who FRPH WR XV e, 1988 allows producers to purchase additional spoke at the same meetings that took who insurance coverage. Roger Buckner, e, 1988 place across thesame state,meetings explainedthat thattook this spoke at the program would the be for only certain crops. place across state, explained that this He program explainedwould that this program would crops. be for only certain have a premium. It would be triggered He explained that this program would only by losses in theItcounty percent have a premium. wouldof be14 triggered or more. A losses 65 percent only by in thesubsidy countyisofcovered 14 percent by or taxmore. payers. A 65 percent subsidy is covered What make things easier for farmby taxmay payers. ers to What assessmay theirmake risk is software things easierthat for farmQuality at a Fair Price wasers created. Haynes to show to assess their took risk istime software that farmers how plugging in all their inforQuality at a Fair Price was created. Haynes took time to show mation could help them figure out what farmers how plugging in all their infordecision their mationwould couldwork help best themwith figure outcrops what anddecision average would yield. work Haynes plugged in a crops best with their fewand examples an online foundin a averageinto yield. Haynestool plugged on few the extension to show how the examples website into an online tool found software on the worked. extension website to show how the He explained that the software was software worked. created by both economists and com-was He explained that the software puter technicians it was a simulation created by bothand economists and comHighway 2 East mode, nottechnicians just a calculator. It helped give puter and it was a simulation Glasgow, Montana Highway 2 East possible estimatesItonhelped what give mode,projects not just and a calculator. 406-228-2141 thepossible future might bring and give a fairly Glasgow, Montana projects and estimates on what realistic probability. 1-866-528-2141 406-228-2141 the future might bring and give a fairly â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will you the best guess on www.hilineford.com realisticgive probability. 1-866-528-2141 what will happen, offbest where youon 2015 Ford F-350 Super Duty â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will give based you the guess www.hilineford.com are,â&#x20AC;? Haynes said. based off where you what will happen, 2015 Ford F-350 Super Duty are,â&#x20AC;? Haynes said.

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Soil & Sense Sense––And And80% 80%Of OfMontana MontanaFarmers FarmersDo DoItIt SoilTesting Testing Makes Makes Dollars Dollars &

BY MERYL RYGG MCKENNA BYHI-LINE MERYL RYGG FOR FARMMCKENNA & RANCH HI-LINEinvolves FARM & RANCH SuccessfulFOR farming more than Successful farming involves thanfor poking seeds into the ground andmore waiting pokingNature. seeds into the ground and waiting for Mother Mother Nature. Ideally, all land in production would contain Ideally, all land in production would contain the nutrients necessary to maximize yield. In the nutrients necessary to maximize yield. In reality, much of this region’s soil needs some reality, much of this region’s soil needs some help. help. Chuck Gatzemeier, a certified crop adviser a certified crop adviserof basedChuck in CutGatzemeier, Bank, estimates that 80 percent based in Cut Bank, estimates that 80 percent Montana farmers employ some soil sampling.of Montana employ some soilas sampling. Those whofarmers don’t may see sampling unnecesThose who don’t may see sampling unnecessary expense, not an investment that as pays off in sary expense, not an investment that pays off in better crops. better crops. The ultimate goal of sampling is to gather The ultimate goal of sampling is to gather a nutrient inventory of each field as accurately a nutrient inventory of each field as accurately and inexpensively as possible. For best results, and inexpensively as possible. For best results, the majority of fields to be cropped should be the majority of fields to be cropped should be sampled, sampled,although althoughexperts expertssay sayfarmers farmers need need not not test for every nutrient every year. Gatzemeier test for every nutrient every year. Gatzemeier recommends recommendsaacomplete completesoil soiltest testatatleast least every every fourth crop year and nitrate testing every fourth crop year and nitrate testing every year. year. The Thenutrients nutrientsrequired requiredininlargest largestquantities quantities (macronutrients) (macronutrients)include includenitrogen, nitrogen,phosphophosphorous, potassium and sulfur. rous, potassium and sulfur.These Theseare arethe the most most common soil supplements. common soil supplements. Micronutrients Micronutrientsare arejust justas asimportant, important, but but in in

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much smaller quantities. Some examples are much smaller quantities. Some examples are boron, chlorine, copper, iron and manganese. boron, chlorine, iron manganese. Complete testingcopper, includes alland known micronuComplete testing includessalts, all known micronutrients as well as soluble organic matter trients well as soluble salts, organic matter and pHaslevels. and pH levels. Sample Criteria Criteria Industry andSample university studies conducted in Industry and university conducted in Montana in the early 1980sstudies showed best results Montana in the early showed best results from taking a core of1980s soil from a minimum of from taking a core in of one soil field. from aAminimum of 15 holes scattered rule of thumb 15 holes scattered in one field. A rule of thumb is to pull cores from 15 holes per 350-acre is to pull holesonper 350-acre field; pullcores fromfrom 20 or15more fields 400 acres field; pullMore from 20 or more on fields or larger. acreage needs more 400 holesacres for or larger. More acreage needs more holes for the best representation. theGrid best representation. sampling is used in some places, but Grid is used in some to places, but not muchsampling in Montana, according Gatzemeier, not much in Montana, according to Gatzemeier, because of the time and expense involved with because of the time and expense involved with the generally much higher sample numbers. the generally much higher sample numbers. The most common sampling in this region The most common sampling in this region includes 15 holes holes per per field, field,with withsome somefrom fromthe the includes 15 top, and bottom bottom of of aahill, hill,respectively. respectively. top, side side and A of sampling sampling that thatisisincreasing increasinginin A type type of Montana breaks a field into three zones,the the Montana breaks a field into three zones, middle zone being being an an area areathat thatproduces, produces,say, say, middle zone 40 per acre, acre, with withthe thepoorest poorestzone zonepropro40 bushels bushels per ducing 30 bushels per acre, and the best zone ducing 30 bushels per acre, and the best zone 50. zone is is treated treated as asaaseparate separatefield. field.The The 50. Each Each zone soil industrycalls callsthis thisprecision precisionag ag soil amendment amendment industry or sampling.As As aa result, result,aaproducer producercan can or smart smart sampling. spread fertilizer at at variable variablerates, rates,according accordingtoto spread fertilizer zone. zone. Rocky or gravelly gravelly soil soildoesn’t doesn’tallow allowthe the probe to go very deep, deep, so sosoil soiltesters testerslikely likely need to add more more holes holes to togain gainenough enoughquantity quantity for testing. Soil testers take take the the core coreof ofdirt dirtfrom fromthe thetop top

6 inches of the probe and put it into one bucket. 6 inches of the probe and put it into one bucket. The top 6 inches of dirt from each hole in that The top 6 inches of dirt from each hole in that field will be added to the same bucket. field will be added to the same bucket. Wherepossible, possible,soil soilfrom fromthethe probe from Where probe from 6 to 24 inches deep is placed in a separate 6 to 24 inches deep is placed in a separate buckettotobebetested testedfor fornitrogen nitrogen and sulfur, and bucket and sulfur, and sometimes chloride. Those nutrients are the sometimes chloride. Those nutrients are the mostmobile mobile– –water watereasily easilycarries carries them deep most them deep intothe theground. ground. into The24-inch 24-inchdepth depthisissufficient sufficient nearly The forfor nearly all crops except winter wheat, which sends all crops except winter wheat, which sends itsits rootsdeeper deeperthan thanspring springcrops. crops. Testers take roots Testers take 24toto3636inches, inches,even even4848inches, inches, there that 24 if if there is is that muchsoil, soil,totomeasure measurenitrogen nitrogeninin winter wheat much winter wheat fields.Most Mostother othernutrients nutrientsareareconcentrated concentrated fields. closertotothe thesurface. surface.These Thesesamples samples will closer will bebe analyzedseparate separatefrom fromthe thetop top6 inches. 6 inches. analyzed Specificsoil soiltypes typescall callforforspecific specific testing. Specific testing. Theamount amountofoforganic organicmatter matterand and soluble salts The soluble salts important– –certain certaincrops cropstolerate tolerate saltier isisimportant saltier

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conditions better than other crops. The cationconditions than (CEC) other crops. Theavailability cationexchangebetter capacity tells the exchange capacity (CEC) tells the availability of soil nutrients. Characteristics such as soil of texture soil nutrients. as soil CEC. – sand,Characteristics loam and claysuch – influence textureEven – sand, loam and claysoil – influence CEC. from a distance, color gives Evenabout from aitsdistance, color clues content.soil Much of gives Montana’s clues its meaning content. Much of Montana’s soilabout is gray, it is high in calcium and soilhas is gray, meaning it is high in calcium and a a high pH level. White likely indicates hasdischarge a high pHarea level. forWhite salinelikely (salty)indicates seeps. a discharge area much for saline (salty) seeps. Because of the region has only about Because much of the region haswell onlytoabout 6 inches of topsoil, farmers do keep 6 inches of topsoil, farmers do well keep erocover on it wherever possible, toto prevent cover sion.on it wherever possible, to prevent erosion. Economic And Ecological Benefits Economic And Ecological Benefits Cost savings from soil sampling comes Cost savings from soil sampling comes from knowing which nutrients are present so from knowing which nutrients are present so fertilizer is added only as needed. This is espefertilizer is added only as needed. This is especially true with zone sampling, which makes it cially true with zone sampling, which makes it possible to supplement at variable rates instead possible to supplement at variable rates instead covering whole field at one of of covering thethe whole field at one rate.rate. Nitrate concentration in groundwater Nitrate concentration in groundwater is ais a real concern. Knowing how much nitrogen real concern. Knowing how much nitrogen needs help farmers strike a healthy thethe soilsoil needs cancan help farmers strike a healthy balance. Gatzemeier most of the streams balance. Gatzemeier saidsaid most of the streams flowing into Judith Marias rivers, flowing into thethe Judith andand Marias rivers, for for example, are higher in nitrates than they should example, are higher in nitrates than they should be. be. When recommendations from testing When recommendations from testing are are into practice, very next crop show putput into practice, thethe very next crop willwill show improvement in health and yield. improvement in health and yield. Taking samples is easy compared to propTaking samples is easy compared to properly interpreting results. erly interpreting thethe results. “That’s when open manual,” “That’s when wewe open up up ourour manual,” Gatzemeier said. “We need to make recomGatzemeier said. “We need to make recommendations according to the specific mendations according to the specific cropcrop thatthat will grown each field.” will bebe grown on on each field.” years ago, Montana State University TenTen years ago, Montana State University published fertilizer recommendations published fertilizer raterate recommendations for for common crops, based on on studies conducted common crops, based studies conducted within thethe state andand region. Guidelines are are within state region. Guidelines available forfor various types of soil, telling what available various types of soil, telling what yield cancan be be expected from a given amount of of yield expected from a given amount nutrients. nutrients. OnOn leased land, many farmers choose to to leased land, many farmers choose addadd only thethe nutrient levels thatthat the the immedionly nutrient levels immediateate crop willwill take out.out. Land owners, however, crop take Land owners, however, may choose to start building up the soilsoil may choose to start building up the toward thethe guidelines in the manual. toward guidelines in the manual. Decisions regarding soilsoil fertility are are in- inDecisions regarding fertility creasingly complex. Remembering the the 4Rs4Rs of of creasingly complex. Remembering nutrient management can help: apply the right nutrient management can help: apply the right fertilizer source at the right raterate at the right fertilizer source at the right at the right time andand in the right place. time in the right place. In In these decisions, planning andand paying these decisions, planning paying attention to economics can really pay off.off. attention to economics can really pay Suppose phosphorus is $200 perper tonton cheaper Suppose phosphorus is $200 cheaper this year than last. This could be the time to this year than last. This could be the time to apply extra to build up the soil for the future. apply extra to build up the soil for the future. Applying the right amount of fertilizer can Applying the right amount of fertilizer can maximize yields, improve protein percents in maximize yields, improve protein percents in small grains and improve overall profits. small grains and improve overall profits. For more information on certified crop For more information on crop advisers, or to find one near you,certified go to http:// advisers, or to find one near you, go to http:// www.certifiedcropadviser.org. www.certifiedcropadviser.org.

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Hanson Re-elected Farm Bureau President Bob Bob Hanson, Hanson, aa cattle cattle rancher from rancher from White White SulSulphur Springs, phur Springs, has has been been re-elected as re-elected as president president of of the Montana the Montana Farm Farm BuBureau Federation reau Federation during during the the Montana Farm Montana Farm Bureau’s Bureau’s 95th Annual 95th Annual Convention Convention at the at the Billings Billings Hotel Hotel and and Convention Center. Convention Center. H H aa nn ss M M cc P P hh ee rr ss oo nn ,, aa diversified farmer diversified farmer from from the Bitterroot the Bitterroot Valley, Valley, was was elected as elected as vice vice president. president. Re-elected Re-elected to to the the Board Board of Directors of Directors were were Harris Harris Wheat, aa cattle Wheat, cattle rancher rancher from Dillon, from Dillon, District District 2; 2; Ronda Johnston, Ronda Johnston, aa cattle cattle rancher from rancher from Melville, Melville, District 4, District 4, and and Ed Ed Bandel, Bandel, wheat farmer aa wheat farmer from from Great Great Falls, District Falls, District 8. 8. Newly Newly elected elected were were Wes Wes Jensen, a cattle Jensen, a cattle rancher rancher from Circle from Circle as as District District 66 director and director and Patti Patti Davis, Davis, aa cattle cattle producer producer from from Belgrade, as Belgrade, as District District 10 10 director. director. Tom Tom DePuydt DePuydt out out of of Saco is the director Saco is the director for for District 7, District 7, which which includes includes the Glasgow the Glasgow area. area. He He was was newly elected last newly elected last NoNovember. vember. Odd Odd and and even even numbered numbered district electiosn district electiosn alternate alternate each year. each year. Gretchen Gretchen Schubert Schubert from from Huntley returns Huntley returns as as the the WomWomen’s Leadership en’s Leadership Committee Committee Chair, Chair, with with Jenny Jenny Stovall Stovall continuing to continuing to represent represent the the Young Farmers Young Farmers and and RanchRanchers Committee. ers Committee. The The Montana Montana Farm Farm BuBureau Convention reau Convention was was Nov. Nov. to 12. 99 to 12.

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54275 Hwy 2 East • Glasgow, MT 228-2496

In Glasgow see Sheena, Derrick, Scott, or Mike 54275 HWY 2 East Glasgow, MT 59230 1-406-228-2496

In Plentywood see Bob, Darvin or Dennis 804 East 1st Ave. Plentywood, MT 59254 1-406-765-1531

In Culbertson see Todd or Kyle H. 21 West 2nd St. Culbertson, MT 59218 1-406-787-6201

In Circle see Justin, Dustin, Kyle K Hwy 200 East Circle, MT 59215 406-485-2145

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Hanson Re-elected Farm Bureau President Bob Bob Hanson, Hanson, aa cattle cattle rancher from rancher from White White SulSulphur Springs, phur Springs, has has been been re-elected as re-elected as president president of of the Montana the Montana Farm Farm BuBureau Federation reau Federation during during the the Montana Farm Montana Farm Bureau’s Bureau’s 95th Annual 95th Annual Convention Convention at the at the Billings Billings Hotel Hotel and and Convention Center. Convention Center. H H aa nn ss M M cc P P hh ee rr ss oo nn ,, aa diversified farmer diversified farmer from from the Bitterroot the Bitterroot Valley, Valley, was was elected as elected as vice vice president. president. Re-elected Re-elected to to the the Board Board of Directors of Directors were were Harris Harris Wheat, aa cattle Wheat, cattle rancher rancher from Dillon, from Dillon, District District 2; 2; Ronda Johnston, Ronda Johnston, aa cattle cattle rancher from rancher from Melville, Melville, District 4, District 4, and and Ed Ed Bandel, Bandel, wheat farmer aa wheat farmer from from Great Great Falls, District Falls, District 8. 8. Newly Newly elected elected were were Wes Wes Jensen, a cattle Jensen, a cattle rancher rancher from Circle from Circle as as District District 66 director and director and Patti Patti Davis, Davis, aa cattle cattle producer producer from from Belgrade, as Belgrade, as District District 10 10 director. director. Tom Tom DePuydt DePuydt out out of of Saco is the director Saco is the director for for District 7, District 7, which which includes includes the Glasgow the Glasgow area. area. He He was was newly elected last newly elected last NoNovember. vember. Odd Odd and and even even numbered numbered district electiosn district electiosn alternate alternate each year. each year. Gretchen Gretchen Schubert Schubert from from Huntley returns Huntley returns as as the the WomWomen’s Leadership en’s Leadership Committee Committee Chair, Chair, with with Jenny Jenny Stovall Stovall continuing to continuing to represent represent the the Young Farmers Young Farmers and and RanchRanchers Committee. ers Committee. The The Montana Montana Farm Farm BuBureau Convention reau Convention was was Nov. Nov. to 12. 99 to 12.

YOU’RE YOU’RE READING READING HI-LINE HI-LINE FARM FARM & & RANCH – THE AG RANCH – THE AG MONTHLY MONTHLY FOR FOR NORTHEAST & NORTHEAST & NORTH NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. CENTRAL MONTANA.

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Soil & Sense Sense––And And80% 80%Of OfMontana MontanaFarmers FarmersDo DoItIt SoilTesting Testing Makes Makes Dollars Dollars &

BY MERYL RYGG MCKENNA BYHI-LINE MERYL RYGG FOR FARMMCKENNA & RANCH HI-LINEinvolves FARM & RANCH SuccessfulFOR farming more than Successful farming involves thanfor poking seeds into the ground andmore waiting pokingNature. seeds into the ground and waiting for Mother Mother Nature. Ideally, all land in production would contain Ideally, all land in production would contain the nutrients necessary to maximize yield. In the nutrients necessary to maximize yield. In reality, much of this region’s soil needs some reality, much of this region’s soil needs some help. help. Chuck Gatzemeier, a certified crop adviser a certified crop adviserof basedChuck in CutGatzemeier, Bank, estimates that 80 percent based in Cut Bank, estimates that 80 percent Montana farmers employ some soil sampling.of Montana employ some soilas sampling. Those whofarmers don’t may see sampling unnecesThose who don’t may see sampling unnecessary expense, not an investment that as pays off in sary expense, not an investment that pays off in better crops. better crops. The ultimate goal of sampling is to gather The ultimate goal of sampling is to gather a nutrient inventory of each field as accurately a nutrient inventory of each field as accurately and inexpensively as possible. For best results, and inexpensively as possible. For best results, the majority of fields to be cropped should be the majority of fields to be cropped should be sampled, sampled,although althoughexperts expertssay sayfarmers farmers need need not not test for every nutrient every year. Gatzemeier test for every nutrient every year. Gatzemeier recommends recommendsaacomplete completesoil soiltest testatatleast least every every fourth crop year and nitrate testing every fourth crop year and nitrate testing every year. year. The Thenutrients nutrientsrequired requiredininlargest largestquantities quantities (macronutrients) (macronutrients)include includenitrogen, nitrogen,phosphophosphorous, potassium and sulfur. rous, potassium and sulfur.These Theseare arethe the most most common soil supplements. common soil supplements. Micronutrients Micronutrientsare arejust justas asimportant, important, but but in in

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much smaller quantities. Some examples are much smaller quantities. Some examples are boron, chlorine, copper, iron and manganese. boron, chlorine, iron manganese. Complete testingcopper, includes alland known micronuComplete testing includessalts, all known micronutrients as well as soluble organic matter trients well as soluble salts, organic matter and pHaslevels. and pH levels. Sample Criteria Criteria Industry andSample university studies conducted in Industry and university conducted in Montana in the early 1980sstudies showed best results Montana in the early showed best results from taking a core of1980s soil from a minimum of from taking a core in of one soil field. from aAminimum of 15 holes scattered rule of thumb 15 holes scattered in one field. A rule of thumb is to pull cores from 15 holes per 350-acre is to pull holesonper 350-acre field; pullcores fromfrom 20 or15more fields 400 acres field; pullMore from 20 or more on fields or larger. acreage needs more 400 holesacres for or larger. More acreage needs more holes for the best representation. theGrid best representation. sampling is used in some places, but Grid is used in some to places, but not muchsampling in Montana, according Gatzemeier, not much in Montana, according to Gatzemeier, because of the time and expense involved with because of the time and expense involved with the generally much higher sample numbers. the generally much higher sample numbers. The most common sampling in this region The most common sampling in this region includes 15 holes holes per per field, field,with withsome somefrom fromthe the includes 15 top, and bottom bottom of of aahill, hill,respectively. respectively. top, side side and A of sampling sampling that thatisisincreasing increasinginin A type type of Montana breaks a field into three zones,the the Montana breaks a field into three zones, middle zone being being an an area areathat thatproduces, produces,say, say, middle zone 40 per acre, acre, with withthe thepoorest poorestzone zonepropro40 bushels bushels per ducing 30 bushels per acre, and the best zone ducing 30 bushels per acre, and the best zone 50. zone is is treated treated as asaaseparate separatefield. field.The The 50. Each Each zone soil industrycalls callsthis thisprecision precisionag ag soil amendment amendment industry or sampling.As As aa result, result,aaproducer producercan can or smart smart sampling. spread fertilizer at at variable variablerates, rates,according accordingtoto spread fertilizer zone. zone. Rocky or gravelly gravelly soil soildoesn’t doesn’tallow allowthe the probe to go very deep, deep, so sosoil soiltesters testerslikely likely need to add more more holes holes to togain gainenough enoughquantity quantity for testing. Soil testers take take the the core coreof ofdirt dirtfrom fromthe thetop top

6 inches of the probe and put it into one bucket. 6 inches of the probe and put it into one bucket. The top 6 inches of dirt from each hole in that The top 6 inches of dirt from each hole in that field will be added to the same bucket. field will be added to the same bucket. Wherepossible, possible,soil soilfrom fromthethe probe from Where probe from 6 to 24 inches deep is placed in a separate 6 to 24 inches deep is placed in a separate buckettotobebetested testedfor fornitrogen nitrogen and sulfur, and bucket and sulfur, and sometimes chloride. Those nutrients are the sometimes chloride. Those nutrients are the mostmobile mobile– –water watereasily easilycarries carries them deep most them deep intothe theground. ground. into The24-inch 24-inchdepth depthisissufficient sufficient nearly The forfor nearly all crops except winter wheat, which sends all crops except winter wheat, which sends itsits rootsdeeper deeperthan thanspring springcrops. crops. Testers take roots Testers take 24toto3636inches, inches,even even4848inches, inches, there that 24 if if there is is that muchsoil, soil,totomeasure measurenitrogen nitrogeninin winter wheat much winter wheat fields.Most Mostother othernutrients nutrientsareareconcentrated concentrated fields. closertotothe thesurface. surface.These Thesesamples samples will closer will bebe analyzedseparate separatefrom fromthe thetop top6 inches. 6 inches. analyzed Specificsoil soiltypes typescall callforforspecific specific testing. Specific testing. Theamount amountofoforganic organicmatter matterand and soluble salts The soluble salts important– –certain certaincrops cropstolerate tolerate saltier isisimportant saltier

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conditions better than other crops. The cationconditions than (CEC) other crops. Theavailability cationexchangebetter capacity tells the exchange capacity (CEC) tells the availability of soil nutrients. Characteristics such as soil of texture soil nutrients. as soil CEC. – sand,Characteristics loam and claysuch – influence textureEven – sand, loam and claysoil – influence CEC. from a distance, color gives Evenabout from aitsdistance, color clues content.soil Much of gives Montana’s clues its meaning content. Much of Montana’s soilabout is gray, it is high in calcium and soilhas is gray, meaning it is high in calcium and a a high pH level. White likely indicates hasdischarge a high pHarea level. forWhite salinelikely (salty)indicates seeps. a discharge area much for saline (salty) seeps. Because of the region has only about Because much of the region haswell onlytoabout 6 inches of topsoil, farmers do keep 6 inches of topsoil, farmers do well keep erocover on it wherever possible, toto prevent cover sion.on it wherever possible, to prevent erosion. Economic And Ecological Benefits Economic And Ecological Benefits Cost savings from soil sampling comes Cost savings from soil sampling comes from knowing which nutrients are present so from knowing which nutrients are present so fertilizer is added only as needed. This is espefertilizer is added only as needed. This is especially true with zone sampling, which makes it cially true with zone sampling, which makes it possible to supplement at variable rates instead possible to supplement at variable rates instead covering whole field at one of of covering thethe whole field at one rate.rate. Nitrate concentration in groundwater Nitrate concentration in groundwater is ais a real concern. Knowing how much nitrogen real concern. Knowing how much nitrogen needs help farmers strike a healthy thethe soilsoil needs cancan help farmers strike a healthy balance. Gatzemeier most of the streams balance. Gatzemeier saidsaid most of the streams flowing into Judith Marias rivers, flowing into thethe Judith andand Marias rivers, for for example, are higher in nitrates than they should example, are higher in nitrates than they should be. be. When recommendations from testing When recommendations from testing are are into practice, very next crop show putput into practice, thethe very next crop willwill show improvement in health and yield. improvement in health and yield. Taking samples is easy compared to propTaking samples is easy compared to properly interpreting results. erly interpreting thethe results. “That’s when open manual,” “That’s when wewe open up up ourour manual,” Gatzemeier said. “We need to make recomGatzemeier said. “We need to make recommendations according to the specific mendations according to the specific cropcrop thatthat will grown each field.” will bebe grown on on each field.” years ago, Montana State University TenTen years ago, Montana State University published fertilizer recommendations published fertilizer raterate recommendations for for common crops, based on on studies conducted common crops, based studies conducted within thethe state andand region. Guidelines are are within state region. Guidelines available forfor various types of soil, telling what available various types of soil, telling what yield cancan be be expected from a given amount of of yield expected from a given amount nutrients. nutrients. OnOn leased land, many farmers choose to to leased land, many farmers choose addadd only thethe nutrient levels thatthat the the immedionly nutrient levels immediateate crop willwill take out.out. Land owners, however, crop take Land owners, however, may choose to start building up the soilsoil may choose to start building up the toward thethe guidelines in the manual. toward guidelines in the manual. Decisions regarding soilsoil fertility are are in- inDecisions regarding fertility creasingly complex. Remembering the the 4Rs4Rs of of creasingly complex. Remembering nutrient management can help: apply the right nutrient management can help: apply the right fertilizer source at the right raterate at the right fertilizer source at the right at the right time andand in the right place. time in the right place. In In these decisions, planning andand paying these decisions, planning paying attention to economics can really pay off.off. attention to economics can really pay Suppose phosphorus is $200 perper tonton cheaper Suppose phosphorus is $200 cheaper this year than last. This could be the time to this year than last. This could be the time to apply extra to build up the soil for the future. apply extra to build up the soil for the future. Applying the right amount of fertilizer can Applying the right amount of fertilizer can maximize yields, improve protein percents in maximize yields, improve protein percents in small grains and improve overall profits. small grains and improve overall profits. For more information on certified crop For more information on crop advisers, or to find one near you,certified go to http:// advisers, or to find one near you, go to http:// www.certifiedcropadviser.org. www.certifiedcropadviser.org.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Agriculture is deďŹ nitely net for agriculture. the Montana Farm Bureau Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;In a time when our country is battling comments from Thatcher.going to be takof Laborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restrictions on Drummond had a Contest, lot to sayGarett on that exactfrom generation of unmotivated youth, our gov-and ing a good share of is cuts,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;HowAnother topic proposed of discussion was the DeYouth Speech Prince unemployment, a struggling economy â&#x20AC;&#x153;Agriculture deďŹ nitely going to be tak- partment Hi-Line children working in agriculture. Under the subject. ernment is going to un-employ thousands of ever, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better to deal with this now in this partment of Laborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposed restrictions on Drummond had a lot to say on that exact generation of unmotivated youth, our goving a good share of cuts,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;HowHi-Line proposed rules, youth under the age of 16 â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am only 12 years old and I help run the hard-working individuals? That just doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Hi-Line committee than waiting until next year.â&#x20AC;? August 2014 www.havredailynews. children working in agriculture. Under the subject. ernment is going to un-employ thousands of ever, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better to deal with this now in this December 2014 would not berules, able to do any labor onage a farm ranch that has been inyears my family for overrun themake sense. Iwww.havredailynews.com hope the Department of Labor Thatcher, basing her comments on current proposed youth under the of 16 â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am only 12 old and I help hard-working individuals? That just doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t committee than waiting until next year.â&#x20AC;? August 2014 www.havredailynews. years,â&#x20AC;? saidin inmy his family speechfor thatover wakes upsense. and realizes kids who start thatPrince has been make I hope that the Department of Labor Thatcher, basing her comments on current would not be able to do any labor on a farm 140ranch won140 himyears,â&#x20AC;? secondPrince placesaid in the junior division. working long before turning 16 years old are in his speech that wakes up and realizes that kids who start MSUtoExtension has â&#x20AC;&#x153;I plan remain a part of in thethe agricultural the working ones wholong are before not standing in16 theyears unemwon him second place junior division. turning old are Thanks for your helped create an industry and hope tohas continue myagricultural involveployment line by are the not agestanding of 25.â&#x20AC;? in the unemMSU Extension â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ionline plan to remain a part of the the ones who Agriculture Thanks for your ment in my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operation. It Other hot button the conpatronage in 2014 helped create an industry and hoperanching to continue my involveployment line byissues the ageduring of 25.â&#x20AC;? Policy Analysis scares me to think my future career and the vention were the proposal to move Yellowonline Agriculture ment in my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ranching operation. It Other hot button issues during the conpatronage in 2014 System, at right, to ranch may be on the future of my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stone National Park bison to four locations Policy Analysis scares me to think my future career and the vention were the proposal to move Yellowhelp farmersatmake linefuture today.â&#x20AC;? Montana, risk management and System, right, to ranch may be on the around of my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stone National Park bison to four locations new program choices Prince believes the Department of estate tax planning. help farmers make line today.â&#x20AC;? around Montana, risk management and available through new program choicesthe Department of Prince believes estate tax planning. the 2014 Farm Bill.

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Attention Ranchers: Thursday, AttentionDec. Ranchers: Thursday, 11, 2014

SERVING AREA â&#x153;Ż RODUCERS â&#x153;Ż LSIVESTOCK ERVING AP REA 69 YEARS ! FLOR IVESTOCK PRODUCERS YEARS ! FOR 691946 - 2015

Owners Linda & Mark Nielsen, Iva Murch, Manager Owners 263-7529 Iva Murch, Manager Dean Barnes, Yard Manager 263-7529 263-1175 Dean Barnes, Yard Manager Ed Hinton, Auctioneer 263-1175 1946 - 2015 783-7285 Ed Hinton, Auctioneer 783-7285 All classes of cattle sell at 9:30 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Stock Cows and Bred Heifers sell at 1 p.m.

Dec. 11, 2014 Annual December Stock Stock CowAnnual & BredDecember Heifer Auction Cow & Bred Heifer Auction

All classes of cattle sellâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; at 9:30 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Stock Cows and EARLY CONSIGNMENTS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bred Heifers sell at 1 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EARLY LARRY AND SUSAN MATTHEWS OF MALTA, MT CONSIGNMENTS **Big Dry Angusâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Ranch â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 25 purebred Angus 7 to COMPLETE HERD DISPERSION 10**Big year old to BDAR Fatpurebred Cat or bullAngus bred 7 to LARRY AND SUSAN MATTHEWS OF MALTA, MT Drycows. AngusA.I.Ranch â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 25 **300 Cows.COMPLETE 270 BlackHERD (few DISPERSION BWF) 30 red (few to Sydgen Dealer. To calve March 25. 10 year old cows. A.I. to BDAR Fat Cat or bull bred RWF). to Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hara and(few Flesch Angus 100 A.I.To Bred Angus Heifers. 1st**Reid Ave.toRanch Northâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Dealer. **300Bred Cows. 270 Black BWF) 30 Bulls. red (few Sydgen calve March 25. A.I. Bred 3 years to broken mouth. To calve April 2 for to OCC Moderate 874 M. March 15 for days. A.I. Bred RWF). Bred to Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hara and Flesch Angus Bulls. Ranch â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 100 A.I. Bred Angus10 Heifers. Glasgow, 59230 1st**Reid Ave.MT North 60 days. Gentle/Nice Dispositions. Cows are **Dispersion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 90 Coming 2 to 6 year old Black and 3 years to broken mouth. To calve April 2 for to OCC Moderate 874 M. March 15 for 10 days. Fertilizer Plant Glasgow, MTâ&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x201C;to228-2571 59230 in excellent 1350 -Dispositions. 1450#. Cows Cows accli- are BWF Cows. Bred X Factor sons. Feb. and 60 days. flesh. Gentle/Nice **Dispersion 90 Coming 2 toHeifers 6 year calve old Black mated to Northeast Montana 20. Cows calve April Plant in excellent flesh. 1350 - range/weather 1450#. Cows accli- Fertilizer BWF Cows. Bredâ&#x20AC;˘1.to228-2571 X Factor sons. Heifers calve Feb. conditions. All calved unassisted on the **4 Black Bred Heifers. Bred1.Black. March Calvers. mated to Northeast Montana range/weather 20. Cows calve April range. This fall the received Real Ivomec Black 6 year Cows.BredBred 1 conditions. Allcows calved unassisted on the **3 **4 Black Bred old Heifers. Black.Black. MarchApril Calvers. Pourrange. On and Safegard WormThis fall the(Fenbendazole) cows received Real Ivomec Calvers. **3 Black 6 year old Cows. Bred Black. April 1 er. Pour Steers 11 avg. 637#. Pairs with Young Calves and 4 Black Solid On on andTuesday, SafegardNov. (Fenbendazole) Worm- **2 Black Calvers. Middle cut of replacement heifers weighed Mouth Cows. er. Steers on Tuesday, Nov. 11 avg. 637#. **2 Black Pairs with Young Calves and 4 Black Solid 584#. Cows cut willof bereplacement preg tested and mouthed Angus Short Term and two 5 and 6 year old Middle heifers weighed **15 Red Mouth Cows. in the yard. Angus Red Simmental. April6 and 584#. Cows will be preg tested and mouthed Cows. **15Bred Red Red Angus ShortorTerm and two 5 and year old May Calvers. in the yard. Cows. Bred Red Angus or Red Simmental. April and See video at www.glasgowstockyards.com **22 Red 8 Black Fancy Replacement Heifers. May and Calvers. Larry Matthews 406-654-4233 See video at www.glasgowstockyards.com Weaned 45 days. **22 Red and 8 Black Fancy Replacement Heifers. Larry Matthews 406-654-4233 Weaned 45 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;days. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; TENTATIVE CONSIGNMENTS **100 Angus coming 3 & 4 year olds. May & June CONSIGNMENTS **40 Angus Bred Heifers. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; TENTATIVE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Calvers. Angus BredBred Heifers. April and May Calvers. **100 Angus coming 3 & 4 year olds. May & June **20**40 Angus Heifers. **80 Black and Red Bred Heifers. **40 Short term Angus Cows. Homeand raised, iron. Calvers. **20 Angus Bred Heifers. April May1Calvers. ThisHeifers. will be a great opportunity to purchase **80 Black and Red Bred **40 Short term Angus Cows. Home raised, 1 iron. some of the top cows heifers Montana has to offer! This willand be a great Northeast opportunity to purchase Credit will be heifers servingNortheast coffee andMontana cookies. has to offer! some ofFarm the top cows and Farm Credit will be serving â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Schedule â&#x20AC;&#x201C; coffee and cookies. Thursday, December 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Big Feeder Auction and â&#x20AC;&#x201C;AllSchedule Thursday,â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 25 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Merry Christmas!! No ClassThursday, Cattle Auction. Expecting Over 3000 Cattle for this December 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Big Feeder Auction and AllAuction. Thursday, December 25 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Merry Christmas!! No Auction!! January 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Happy New Year!! No Auction. Class Cattle Auction. Expecting Over 3000 Cattle for thisThursday, Auction. Thursday, December 18 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Last All Class Cattle AucThursday, January 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1 New YearsNew Feeder Classic and Auction!! Thursday, January â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Happy Year!! No Auction. tion Thursday, of 2014. December 18 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Last All Class Cattle Auc-All Class Cattle Auction. Thursday, January 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; New Years Feeder Classic and tion of 2014. All Class Cattle Auction. t 1 0 #PY t (MBTHPX .5 t HTJ!OFNPOU OFU t www.glasgowstockyards.com

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available through Itthe helps farmers 2014 Farm Bill. plugItinhelps data farmers and gives plug a simulation in data and that estimates what gives a simulation may happen that estimatestowhat help decide which to may happen program available help decide which will work bestavailable with program thebest land.with will work the land.

LEARNING LEARNING ABOUT THE FARM BILL

ABOUT THE FARM BILL

It was one of 28 meetings that took place It around the of state help farmers was one 28 to meetings that took decipher some of the legislation place around the state to help that farmers came with the 2014 Bill. Previous decipher some of Farm the legislation that programs had the been eliminated andPrevious three came with 2014 Farm Bill. newprograms programshad opened for farmers. The been up eliminated and three programs set up payments on crop losses, new programs opened up for farmers. The butprograms if you don't up, you can't collect set sign up payments on crop losses, anybut payments. if you don't sign up, you can't collect bill has a lot of changes and U.S. any payments. CHS / Farmers Elevator Co. Rep.The Steve Daines when and he U.S. The bill has aexplained lot of changes CHS / Farmers Elevator Co. stopped in Glasgow Octoberwhen ex- he Rep. Steve Daineslate explained plained thatinCongress to get exit stopped Glasgowworked late October passed and in place for the next five plained that Congress worked to get it years so it and would hold longer passed in place for the than next just fivea short year. said that a few bugs may years soHe it would hold longer than just a need out yet. -aSaturday Monday 215 4thtoStbe S.worked short year. He said that few bugs may 8:30 a.m.yet. tothe 5:00 p.m.22 Evans explained during Oct. Glasgow, MT need out Monday - Saturday 215 4thto Stbe S.worked Open Sundays -the Noon to 22 meeting in Glasgow that farms should 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Evans explained during Oct. Glasgow, MT 4:00 p.m. through Christmas (406) 228-9363 have alreadyinreceived a that letter in the mail Open Sundays - Noon to meeting Glasgow farms should to(406) help know what actions to take. That 4:00 p.m. through Christmas 228-9363 have already received a letter in the mail Your Fall & Winter letter should havewhat had actions information in-That to help know to take. cluded had the over the Your Fall & Winter Mineral Program Makes letterthat should havecrop hadhistory information inlast four years. Reviewing that letter andthe cluded that had the crop history over Mineral Program Makes Your Calving Season making sureyears. that information accurate last four Reviewing is that letter and Your Calving Season is the first step that should have already making sure that information is accurate Head Start Weaning Pellets taken place. is the first step that should have already Give Your Calves The Best Head Start Weaning Pellets The step is for farmers figuring takennext place. program something At Your Weaning Time Give Calves The Best out which The next step to is choose, for farmers figuring thatout both the landowner and the farmer which program to choose, something At Weaning Time should on landowner if the land is being that agree both the and the farmer Smart-lic Supplement Tubs leased. That choice can't be changed should agree on if the land is being 2018 That and itchoice also stays the land, Smart-lic Supplement Tubs untilleased. can'twith be changed to keep your herd in top condition! even if it's sold. Ifityou don't sign up,the you until 2018 and also stays with land, to keep your herd in top condition! can't get any benefits. Enrollment needs even if it's sold. If you don't sign up, you to take between nowEnrollment and Marchneeds can'tplace get any benefits. 2015. Payments for crop losses wouldn't to take place between now and March come until the following year after data 2015. Payments for crop losses wouldn't is finalized. come until the following year after data 1st Ave. North The Price Loss Coverage (PLC) prois finalized. Glasgow, MT 59230 1st Ave. North gram helps compensate producers for low The Price Loss Coverage (PLC) proGlasgow, MT 59230 Elevator â&#x20AC;˘ 228-4422 / Fertilizer Plant â&#x20AC;˘ 228-2571 gram helps compensate for low CONTINUED ON PAGEproducers 7 Elevator â&#x20AC;˘ 228-4422 / Fertilizer Plant â&#x20AC;˘ 228-2571 CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

BY BONNIE DAVIDSON THE GLASGOW BY BONNIECOURIER DAVIDSON â&#x20AC;&#x153;It's not ourTHE goal to know your deciGLASGOW COURIER sions, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It's but itnot is our our goal goal to to know help make your decia decision,â&#x20AC;? Farm Service sions, butBill it isEvans, our goal to help make Agency county Bill executive in a decision,â&#x20AC;? Evans,director Farm Service Chouteau County said to the large crowd Agency county executive director in thatChouteau gathered County in October in Glasgow. said to the large crowd that gathered in October in Glasgow.

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Farm Bill: Analysis System Helps Producers Make New Choices Farm Bill: Analysis System Helps Producers Make New Choices

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 need one more session. Mike Hagfeldt, software. The times for those smaller He added that numbers would be changing in the software as they made Valley Countyexecutive director for the are The 8:30times a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Dec. CONTINUED FROMofPAGE need one more session. Mike Hagfeldt, meetings software. for those smaller added that numbers would be prices. Commodities based the4 national some He tweaks, so to check the numbers on FSA, explained that local farmers need to 17 and 30 and Jan. 6 and 8. To schedule changing in the software as they made Valley Countyexecutive director for the meetings are 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Dec. average prices is what would difprices. Commodities basedmake of thea national a monthly basis before making deci- on make an explained appointment they farmers are going these meetings, you some tweaks, so to check thefinal numbers FSA, thataslocal need to an appointment 17 and 30 andfor Jan. 6 and 8. To schedule ference with this program. Knowing what average prices is what would make a dif- sions. The toolbasis plugged in making all the informato use their information toashelp discuss canan call 228-4321. for these meetings, you a monthly before final decimake an appointment they are going appointment crops you'rewith producing and what prices what tion that farmers received in the letter as ference this program. Knowing options andinformation explain howtothe programs Another website to keep in mind is sions. The tool plugged in all the informa-theto use their help discuss can call 228-4321. arecrops averaging help make a decision you'recould producing and what prices well as a few details like yields, averwould work. www.montana.edu/farmbill. It has lots of the options and explain how the programs Another website to keep in mind is tion that farmers received in the letter as in this program. This would kick ages are averaging couldprogram help make a decision andasacreage to helplike decipher which They are also hoping to have the exten- information available, as well asItcontact well a few details yields, averwould work. www.montana.edu/farmbill. has lots of in best if your prices for certain commodin this program. This program would kick program would worktobest the farm. discuss the to website andexten-information. ages and acreage helpwith decipher which sion office They help are also hoping have the information available, as well as contact itiesindropped below the national average. best if your prices for certain commod- It also helps give some examples on what program would work best with the farm. sion office help discuss the website and information. It would be an 85 percent base of your ities dropped below the national average. theItprograms might out. also helps give pay some examples on what yield per acreage. It would be an 85 percent base of your While the large group listened Experienced cattle workers, sheepherders, farm the programs might pay out. in to The yieldAgricultural per acreage.Risk Coverage (ARC) the discussion, it was a lot of informaequipment operators generalsheepherders, ranch hands seekthe large group listened in to Experienced cattleand workers, farm program down toRisk twoCoverage different (ARC) tion toWhile Thebreaks Agricultural take in during a short four hours. ing up to 9 months seasonal employment. the discussion, it was a lot of informaequipment operators and general ranchHousing hands seekcoverages. ARC-CO program breaks down to two different Thetion local Farm aService Agency mustingbeupprovided, camper acceptable. ContactHousing to Glasgow take in during short four hours. to 9 months seasonal employment. could cover upARC-CO to 85 coverages. (FSA) is looking to hold some smaller diane@peakseasonlabor.com or 406-579-7529. L A B O R The local Glasgow Farm Service Agency must be provided, camper acceptable. Contact percent, could while cover the up ARCto 85 meetings local farmers might (FSA) for is looking to holdwho some smaller IC percent, program while could the cover L A B O R diane@peakseasonlabor.com or 406-579-7529. ARC- meetings for local farmers who might up IC to 65 percent. These program could cover programs up to 65compensate percent. These producers forcompensate low crop programs revenues. producers for low crop George Haynes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; revenues. who worked the â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7 Georgewith Haynes

MSU Extension and is who worked with the HAYNES 7 a professor on business,

MSU Extension and is HAYNES agricultural policy and a professor on business, dabbles in economicsagricultural â&#x20AC;&#x201C; explainedpolicy that the and ARC programs were pushed by Montandabbles in economics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; explained that the ansARC and that out of were state pushed it's referred to as programs by Montantheans â&#x20AC;&#x153;Montana program.â&#x20AC;? LRQ and that out of state it's referred to as â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is good for producers who yield the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Montana program.â&#x20AC;? LRQ aboveâ&#x20AC;&#x153;This county Haynes said. is averages,â&#x20AC;? good for producers who â&#x20AC;&#x153;If yield youabove run close to county averages, don't county averages,â&#x20AC;? Haynes said.goâ&#x20AC;&#x153;If there.â&#x20AC;? you run close to county averages, don't go Also available is the Supplemental there.â&#x20AC;? LFH WR <RX Coverage (SCO). program AlsoOption available is theThis Supplemental FRPH WR XV allows producers to purchase additional LFH WR <RX Coverage Option (SCO). This program insurance coverage. Roger Buckner, who FRPH WR XV e, 1988 allows producers to purchase additional spoke at the same meetings that took who insurance coverage. Roger Buckner, e, 1988 place across thesame state,meetings explainedthat thattook this spoke at the program would the be for only certain crops. place across state, explained that this He program explainedwould that this program would crops. be for only certain have a premium. It would be triggered He explained that this program would only by losses in theItcounty percent have a premium. wouldof be14 triggered or more. A losses 65 percent only by in thesubsidy countyisofcovered 14 percent by or taxmore. payers. A 65 percent subsidy is covered What make things easier for farmby taxmay payers. ers to What assessmay theirmake risk is software things easierthat for farmQuality at a Fair Price wasers created. Haynes to show to assess their took risk istime software that farmers how plugging in all their inforQuality at a Fair Price was created. Haynes took time to show mation could help them figure out what farmers how plugging in all their infordecision their mationwould couldwork help best themwith figure outcrops what anddecision average would yield. work Haynes plugged in a crops best with their fewand examples an online foundin a averageinto yield. Haynestool plugged on few the extension to show how the examples website into an online tool found software on the worked. extension website to show how the He explained that the software was software worked. created by both economists and com-was He explained that the software puter technicians it was a simulation created by bothand economists and comHighway 2 East mode, nottechnicians just a calculator. It helped give puter and it was a simulation Glasgow, Montana Highway 2 East possible estimatesItonhelped what give mode,projects not just and a calculator. 406-228-2141 thepossible future might bring and give a fairly Glasgow, Montana projects and estimates on what realistic probability. 1-866-528-2141 406-228-2141 the future might bring and give a fairly â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will you the best guess on www.hilineford.com realisticgive probability. 1-866-528-2141 what will happen, offbest where youon 2015 Ford F-350 Super Duty â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will give based you the guess www.hilineford.com are,â&#x20AC;? Haynes said. based off where you what will happen, 2015 Ford F-350 Super Duty are,â&#x20AC;? Haynes said.

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Local: ‘A boon to the local economy’

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Local: Summer months usually busiest

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and returns the carcasses to his facility to dry age in his cooler. Part of his service is to help potential customers find producers who have said they are willing to sell some of their meat in bulk so these customers can buy wholes, halves and quarters of locally raised beef, lamb and pork. Dumas said Big Sandy Meat Shop was started in 2006, but its business was seriously tapering off until he purchased it three years ago. Dumas, who is a board member of the Montana Meat Processors Association, has worked hard to build the business up and says he’s getting at least one new customer a week discovering his shop. He is also working hard to expand the business to include his own slaughter facility with an on-site inspector and is working with Big Sandy’s town council to allay some of their concerns for zoning issues. “Economically, to a small town like this,” he said, “a kill facility of that nature would be a boon to the local economy. “I’ve got a lot of local producers around here that would feed out stuff … they’ve got just outstanding animals,” he said. “They feed out 10-15 animals a year for customers of theirs that want beef, and we get ’em in here, and you’re not going to find a better animal anywhere. … It’s local-raised grain going into them, you know what it is, you know what they’re producing.” He said he also has pig producers who Havre Daily News/Jake Shane Nate Frickel wraps a turkey before hanging it in the smoking oven.

would increase their production to meet retail sales if he had a slaughter facility. Dumas said his passion is for promoting locally raised meats because of the quality of the product and the benefit to the local economy. “One of my biggest issues and biggest complaints is (that) this Hi-Line produces some of the best livestock in the nation, some of the best-fed livestock and what not, but can you go to a store — with the exception of Havre (at Bear Paw Meats) — and buy a locally produced steak?” he said, also pointing out that at one time Rocky Mountain Meat Packing, one of the largest slaughter houses in the state, was on 1st Street in downtown Havre, providing locally raised meat to local stores and customers. “My big interest … is to promote and push and have people check out buying local. Buy local as much as possible. Just because you’re buying local doesn’t mean you have to pay any extra, excessive amount,” he said. “ … Support your local economy, support your local producers, your local ranches, your local farms — most of them are smaller operations. “Even the government school systems should start looking at and trying to buy as much local product as they possibly can,” he said, adding that recent legislation in the farm bill gives discounts to public schools and universities to buy locally produced meats, vegetables, fruits and grains. ——— Nate Frickel has leased and operated Saddle Butte Custom Smoking in Havre for three years, though the business was started almost 25 years ago by Dave Anderson. Along with custom smoking meats for local producers, hunters and fishermen, Saddle Butte buys meats and poultry from larger distributors to process for retail sale at the store. Though Frickel relies on the federal and state inspected meats from large distributors for his retail foods, like smoked turkeys and hams, bacon, sausages, bratwursts and thuringers, and jerky, he said he is proud to work with local producers and organizations for custom orders. He said he does a lot of custom hams and bacons from 4-H market animals, gets custom orders from local butchers and provides hot dogs, brats and pig-n-a-pole — a marinated strip of pork brisket barbecued on a bamboo skewer — to vendors at fair time. “There’s about 35 different recipes I make,” he said, adding that all the seasoning mixes he creates in-house from fresh spices to blend with the flavor of the hickory smoke. He has two smoke houses, which are basically convection ovens large enough to comfortably fit 28 turkeys each, and with digital controls he has programmed in various heat settings for different meats, he said. Even the hickory chips are fed to a three-stage heating chamber to produce the best, most efficiently produced, smoke. As an example of cooking time, he said, it takes 10 hours in the smoker to smoke the

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“We (grow) them on a silage that we produce on our farm,” Ashley Buck said. “ … And then we finish them off, that’s where you’re going to put their weight on, with a barley ration. My dad developed his own ration.” It’s not just the ranchers selling calves who benefit from Bear Paw Meats’ operating practices, though. “He works with the local elevators. If we don’t produce it on our farm, then we buy it from the local elevator,” she said. They also buy their corn seed — for the corn they grow to put in their silage feed — from producer Randy Reed of Chinook. Along with the beef the business feeds up, finishes and processes, they get lambs from Max Hoefeldt in Chinook and pigs and chickens from Hartland Colony north of Havre. The lambs and pigs they slaughter on site, but the chickens come from Hartland already processed and packaged, “We like to work within our 100-mile radius,” Buck said. From slaughter to sale counter, the process takes time, the proper facility and experienced people. “We finish (the cattle in the feedlot) to choice to prime grade, so you’re guaranteed (at least) a choice-grade beef, and then we process them over at Bear Paw Meats in Chinook, and then we dry age the beef for 21 days and then from there it’s packaged and quick frozen — flash frozen is what we call it — so it goes right off the processing floor into the freezer and then from there that’s where we start distributing it to the public,” Buck said. “We have a pretty steady schedule,” she added. “We slaughter one day a week and package the other four,” she said. Her sister, Bobbi Klingaman, manages the Chinook facility and is the one who produces all the smoked meats and sausages as well. Bear Paw Meats initially was housed only in Chinook, but started the Havre store about five years ago, Buck said. While the Chinook store sells only a few items beyond the meats right now, the Havre store is a convenience and specialty shop as well, selling products like seasonings, wines, micro brew beer, milk, Wisconsin cheeses, oils, pasta, Montana coffee, canned foods and jams, as well as locally grown garlic,

produce and grains like purple barley, black chickpeas and the ancient grain Kamut. The store is doing well in Havre, Buck said, and the family is working on developing more of a storefront in Chinook. “I don’t know if it’s going to get like this here in Havre, but they’re working on it,” Buck said. For the Havre store, the summer barbecuing months are the busiest, Buck said, though December sees a marked rise in sales, especially prime rib for the holidays, and at tax time, they sell a lot of wholes, halves and quarters of beef as people receive their tax return payments. “We’re looking to expand our sales into Great Falls and Billings,” Buck said. Bear Paw takes orders for meats and makes delivery once a week. People are finding out about the service through word of mouth, and through Facebook and the farmers market, she said. Using small business ingenuity, Buck made a deal with George's Distributing of Helena to deliver their wines locally, so the return trip from Great Falls is paid for. —— Jim Dumas at Big Sandy Meat Shop works to provide locally grown beef in retail sales, as well as custom processing of domestic and wild meats. He said he has to rely on slaughter facilities with a full-time state or federal inspector to provide the meats he sells retail, but he is licensed to slaughter and custom-process domestic animals, as well as to process wild game. Dumas said the beef he sells is raised locally and slaughtered at an area facility, then he brings the carcasses back to his shop for aging, processing and retail sales. By federal regulation, he added, meats sold retail have to be slaughtered in a facility with a state or federal inspector on site, and small meat shops, like his, don't process or sell the volume to make this feasible. His main business is custom processing for owners of domestically raised animals, and for wild game harvested during hunting season. For custom processing, Dumas said, he takes a mobile retrieval unit to the producer’s ranch or farm, slaughters the animals

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TIPS: Jim Dumas, Big Sandy Meat Shop owner and Montana Meat Processors Association board member, offered a variety of background information on meats and the industry. • Fresh meat is any meat not cooked, smoked, cured or otherwise processed. Fresh meat can be frozen, and it can include meat that has been frozen and thawed more than once. • Meat must be stored at temperatures below 40 degrees, for proper aging and health-safety purposes. • Meat freezes at 28 degrees. The closer meat is stored to freezing temperature, without freezing it, the better. • Dry aging means the animal is slaughtered and the carcass hung to age for at least eight days, which is intended to tenderize the meat and make it more flavorful. • Wet aging means the animal is slaughtered and within two to 48 hours the carcass is cut up and put into a cooler as box meat to be processed into individual cuts of meat later. If it is not sold by the time the aging process is complete, the meat is frozen. • Aging is a process that breaks down chemicals in the muscles, like amino acids. • If meat freezes, the aging process that tenderizes meat stops, and the meat will get a little more flavorful, but never more tender. • Meat is the most tender it could possibly be if it is frozen within 20 minutes after slaughter, but it lacks the flavorfulness that the aging process gives it. • Meat tenderizes the most in the first eight to 10 days of aging, and from there the tenderness progression starts dropping dramatically, though flavor continues to increase. • Wild game and domestic animals can be kept in the same freezer and processed in the same facility. Their carcasses just cannot come in contact with each other. This is true for all different species; for example, a beef carcass cannot come in contact with a pig carcass. This regulation cuts down on cross contamination between meats. • In a facility processing meat from different animals, the meats are cut up in a certain order: beef, sheep, pigs, wild game. If meats are butchered in a different order, then the facility and tools have to be completely sterilized between processing jobs.

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Oregon food label measure headed for recount

Local meat processors bring quality to customers and boost the local economy

JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. — Statewide vote totals released Nov. 24 show an Oregon ballot measure that would require labeling of genetically modified foods was losing by a mere 809 votes and will go to an automatic recount. Results from all 36 counties three weeks after Election Day showed Measure 92 was defeated by a margin of only 0.06 percentage point, well under the 0.2 percent threshold for a recount. A hand tally of ballots is likely to begin this week after Secretary of State Kate Brown certifies the election results, formally triggering the recount. Oregon is the fourth state in the West to reject a labeling requirement for genetically modified foods, but it was the closest tally yet. "Regardless of what the final outcome of this race is, this is a very encouraging sign for those of us who support labeling of genetically engineered foods," said Sandeep

Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com In an era when the majority of grocery stores are “big box” retailers selling box meats and other goods from national producers, north-central Montana still has local meat processors and retailers going strong and boosting the local economy, selling fresh and custom-processed beef, pork, lamb and poultry raised by local producers. Bear Paw Meats in Chinook and Havre, owned and operated by Dexter Buck and his family, is the area’s largest meat processing plant, with a state meat inspector on site allowing the facility to slaughter and process meats for sale to the public. All the beef sold by the business is purchased as calves from local ranchers then raised and fed to finish weight in Buck’s feedlot, said Ashley Buck, Dexter Buck’s daughter who manages the Bear Paw Meats retail store in Havre.

n Continued on page 3 Cover photo Havre Daily News/Jake Shane Nate Frickel maneuvers a cart hung with Saddle Butte Custom Smoking's famous hams.

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Employee Michael Morris places meat in a tub at Bear Paw Meats in Chinook.

Kaushik, a spokesman for the campaign promoting the measure. Machine counts are subject to a small margin of error, Kaushik said, and with such a razor-thin vote difference, "there is a plausible possibility that the outcome of this race will change." Still, the odds are against the proponents. In 22 statewide recounts around the U.S. since 2000, the average shift was only 0.03 percentage point, according to FairVote, a Maryland-based advocacy group. Five of them produced a shift that would be large enough to alter the outcome of Oregon's measure. At nearly $30 million, the battle over Measure 92 was by far the costliest campaign in Oregon history. Officials with the campaign opposing the measure did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "We are confident that Measure 92 has been defeated, and that will be the case even if there happens to be a recount," Dana Bieber, a spokeswoman for the No on 92

Havre Daily News/Jake Shane

AP Photo/Jeff Barnard, file Chuck Burr cultivates a row of onions May 2 on his organic seed farm outside Ashland, Ore. An Oregon ballot measure to require labeling of genetically engineered foods was narrowly defeated and will head to a recount.

Coalition, said last week. The day after the election, as early returns showed the measure was losing, The Associated Press and other news organizations called the measure narrowly defeated. But the margin continued to narrow even further as late-counted ballots trended heavily in favor. After the campaign, the measure's proponents worked aggressively to ensure that that their supporters corrected problems that prevented their ballots from being counted. Oregon conducts elections entirely by mail. Elections officials verify ballots by matching a signature on the envelope to the one on file with a voter's registration card. In every election, thousands of ballots end up not being counted, usually because of problems with the signature. Some voters forget to sign, or their signature evolves

over time so it doesn't match the one on file. In the past, county elections officials have sent letters to affected voters informing them that their ballot wasn't counted but they could visit the elections office in person to correct the deficiency.

Starting this year, the list of "challenged

ballots" was released publicly, allowing the campaigns to nudge voters to take action if they believe they might be supporters.

The labeling proponents aggressively

used the list to make sure voters they believed were likely supportive had their votes counted.

Oregon's last statewide recount followed

the May 2008 election, for a ballot measure that gave law enforcement agencies stronger powers of civil forfeiture. It passed by 681 votes.

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Wisconsin dairy farmers Local: ‘Everybody likes good food’ to rake in big profits n Continued from page 10

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The combination of record-high milk prices and recordlow feed costs are creating profits for some Wisconsin dairy farmers that are six times higher than previous good years, according to dairy experts. Randy Greenfield, a dairy specialist for Vita Plus, a Madison-based livestock feed company, has calculated annual profits for the state's dairy farmers based on their financial records and conversations with agribusiness consultants. Some farms that milk the state average of 117 cows will see p ro f i t s to ta l i n g m o re t h a n $ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 , Greenfield said. Those that milk 500 cows will make $1 million, while 2,500-cow dairy farms will clear $5 million, he said. "Financially, for a lot of farmers, this will be the best year they will ever have," Greenfield said. Dairy farmers hope this year will allow them to bounce back from 2009, when milk prices collapsed and they were forced to accumulate debt, and prepare for a potentially similar scenario in 2015. "There's going to be a big drop, nobody

is trying to whitewash that," said Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although many dairy farmers can expect record profits, most are preparing for the worst because of the projections for next year, farmer John Judd said. "There are no frivolous spenders among dairy farmers anymore because they all lost their farms," said Judd, who owns a 75-cow dairy farm in Primrose, located in southwest Dane County. Class III milk prices, which reached an average high of $22.50 to $22.60 per hundredweight this month, are expected to drop to $17.15 to $18.05 by next November due to high milk production and slowed demand because of shrinking export sales, according to a World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. But dairy farmers should be able to survive the estimated price drop of 22 percent, according to Greenfield, since feed, fertilizer and fuel costs are expected to decline or at least stay the same.

turkeys. Christmas is a big time for turkeys and hams, he said, but this time of year is his busiest in general. “I would say 50 percent of my business is done now” in the fall with hunting season, domestic animals being processed before winter and holidays coming up. In summer, though, he also is busy with barbecue season, as well as getting out in public for sales and promotion, like for Havre's Saturday Market. “That’s something kind of unique in itself," he said about the local farmers market. ”Normally we wouldn’t be grilling in public like that. We don’t cater or anything like that" but the barbecued pig-on-a-pole draws people in — “it’s really tender and packed with flavor” — and then they can shop in his mobile store. Starting around Easter time, Frickel said, he takes a trailer, customized into a mobile store, into town once a month, then bumps these promotional trips up to once a week when Saturday Market begins.

He thinks it's an effective marketing activity because even after all these years “we get a lot of people that don’t realize we’re not just doing wild game out here. I think that’s been a kind of misconception,” he said. And he's winning people over with his products, he said. “One thing for sure, everybody likes good food, so you can’t go wrong with that,” he said. When people come out to the shop south of Havre, they get to see where and how the meats are processed, and people are very receptive to that, he said. “I have turkeys out there, and there’s blood all over that (prep counter) ... but people don’t really get turned off by it. Most people, they kind of get excited. I think that kind of helps for the trust part, so people can come in and see what we’re doing," Frickel said, something that can't be done with foods not processed locally. (Some information was corrected for the online edition of this article.)

Locally grown, locally processed, locally beneﬁcial Havre Daily News/Jake Shane Employee Waylon Poney cuts a quartered cow Nov. 25 at Bear Paw Meats in Chinook.

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