Hi-Line Farm & Ranch February 2015

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HOGS on the Hi-Line

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Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com selling hogs on a significant scale, said John Waldner, hog manager for Hilldale. Though Montana isn’t a major pork-producing state in the U.S., Hilldale doesn’t have trouble finding buyers for their hogs, which they sell as just-weaned feeder pigs to a buyer out of California who then ships the feeder pigs to Nebraska for finishing before slaughter. “In the Midwest they don’t want to breed sows and farrow them. What they are really after is pigs that are just in nurseries and feeder barns,” said Waldner, adding that “the way they tell it is it’s very hard to find good dedicated people in the Midwest that want to mess with the breeding and the farrowing, but they’re easy to find for finishing because the labor is not as extensive.” After deciding to increase their commercial production to sell feeder pigs at a national level, construction of the facility started in 2007 and finished in 2008. The first shipment of feeder pigs went out in 2009, Waldner said. Only two aspects of managing the hog operation changed in a major way after increasing the number of sows, Waldner added. Every month a veterinarian who specializes in commercial production of swine is brought in from South Dakota to inspect the facility, sows and piglets, and to provide the federally required health certificate, said Waldner. This inspection is a requirement for any pork producing facility that ships live hogs

February 2015

Hogs on the Hi-Line: Despite these issues, the outlook is good for pork producers

The Hi-Line is contributing to Montana's growing commercial hog production, despite industry challenges, due largely to facilities at two area Hutterite colonies. Montana pork producers in 2014 sold just under 500,000 head, with about 300,000 being market hogs, and 200,000 feeder pigs, said Anne Miller, executive director of Montana Pork Producers Council, the organization that manages the Pork Check-Off program funds in the state. This is $53-54 million industry for the state, she added. Hilldale Colony, north of Havre, has been raising pigs in large scale, with 2,400 to 2,500 sows, for several years, and Cool Spring Colony, north of Rudyard, is nearing the end of construction of its facility which will have a peak capacity of 2,600 sows. Hutterite colonies account for 96 to 98 percent of pork production in Montana, said Miller. “The colonies traditionally seek out ventures that are agricultural based for income to support their members,” she said. While they embrace technology, they also embrace technology, “have a very defined labor pool and labor force a lot of operators don’t have.” “They are defintiely an integral part of Montana’s agriculture being such lagre producers,” she added. “... It’s definitely meant that our office in our state is considerably different in makeup than any other state that I deal within the U.S. To my knowledge we are the only state with proportions leaning that heavily toward colony production." While Hilldale Colony has been raising pigs for use by the colony and some local sales since 1963, it was in 2009 that the colony started

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out of state. Hilldale sells their feeder pigs to be finished at a facility in Nebraska, Waldner said. The other change is, of course, the quadrupled increase in labor from breeding 380 sows annually to breeding 2,400 to 2,500 sows annually to stay near top capacity. He said they breed the sows in a rotation schedule to ensure regular weekly shipments of feeder pigs. “Your conception rate is never going to be 100 percent, so we breed 130, 140 (sows) a week, then we can farrow 120 (sows) a week. That’s our goal,” he said. Using live cover, they breed the distinctively red Duroc bores to Landrace-York sows — except for breedings of pure Landrace-York for replacement females, called gilts, he said. About 30 gilts a week are kept for replacement breeding. It takes about seven to eight months for the gilts to reach maturity at 300 pounds to replace older sows. The gestation period for hogs is 114 days, and the average number of piglets born is 13 to 14 per farrowing, with about 11 per farrowing

being weaned and sold after about 21 days, Waldner said. Each sow farrows about 2.5 times each year, he said, and the timing of the breedings and births allow for one shipment of 1,200 to 1,300 piglets per week being sold to the buyer’s barn in Nebraska. “Every Thursday morning the truck is here. We go out after breakfast at 7 o’clock, and we wean the sows, then we load the piglets, and by 8:30, 9 o’clock the truck is on its way,” Waldner said.

Biosecurity

While keeping the facility operational takes every bit of the labor from Hilldale’s six full-time hog barn workers and every ounce of 4,000 tons of barley and special-mix feed per year, the real key to keeping a hog facility running is biosecurity to keep the facility disease free. “Biosecurity is our number one goal. If we can stay healthy, we can do things, but once you start getting diseases your profit goes down fast,” Waldner said. The best way to keep disease out

is to operate as if under quarantine every day, and these procedures apply to visitors and those who live at the colony, restricting access to the barn only to those working there, plus two other people. Everyone follows biosecurity regulations that cover everything from sterile clothing to levels of facility access. “We are very strict with biosecurity,” Waldner said. “Nobody walks into our barn except the feed guy and the veterinarian. … We absolutely don’t let anybody else into our barn. “We’ve got signs a quarter of a mile to half of a mile from the barn, that’s where all visitors stop,” he added. “Even when our veterinarian comes up here, we come to the house and we pick him up in our bus. We have a little passenger bus that we use for the hog barn, and we haul him from the house to the barn.” These biosecurity measures extend beyond the colony to include the shipping and handling as well.

n Continued to page 3

This abundance of pigs on the market contributed to the recent decrease in market prices, which currently sit at about $49 to $55 cwt, which is the price per 100 pounds of live pigs, she added. Another contributor to the decrease in prices is due to disputes among overseas shippers, Miller said. With 22 percent of pork production being exported, the possibility of a major backlog at shipping ports is worrying buyers and meat packers. Livestock economists Ron Plain and Scott Brown at University of Missouri said in their report Jan. 23 that "497 million pounds of pork was in cold storage at the end of December. That was up 2.3 percent from the month before, but down 10.3 percent compared to a year earlier. Frozen stocks of beef and chicken were up 11 percent and 2 percent respectively." Despite these issues, the outlook is good for pork producers, Miller said. The production numbers are expected to level out, and the high price of beef is inspiring shoppers to buy more pork in the stores. The newfound interest in locally produced agriculture and livestock can open new markets in-state for producers, as well The biggest news, though, is the possibility of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement being signed in the near future. President Barack Obama announced in December 2009 the U.S. would take part in TPP talks between the U.S. and 12 countries in North and South America, Asia and the south Pacific Islands. Miller, who called the trade agreement “one of the largest trade deals in history for agriculture,” said “the impacts of that going in are unprecedented for our industry. ... There would be no substitute. We would not have any other trade agreement that would

come close.” This is a good time to get into the industry, said Jake Waldner, Cool Spring colony's representative on the Montana Pork Producers Council Board of Directors, who sees a strong market for the feeder pigs from Montana. With 500,000 pigs sold in 2014, the pork production industry has almost doubled in the state since 2006 when 284,000 were sold. Miller sees a lot of the increase in numbers coming because of Montana's relative isolation to the major pork producing hubs. The pigs exported from the state are known for being healthy and disease free. She added that this is well-known because of the efforts by the state council and both small- and large-scale producers to get the information to packers and buyers. The biggest leap in growth would come with development of new facilities in the state, Miller said. “In my heart of hearts I would love to see a finishing unit that would be able to accept those (feeder pigs)," she said, adding that "to be able to finish within the state would mean we would need additional access to packers and markets either processing within the state with a packing house or looking at additional markets or closer markets outside the state. “There would be a lot of groundwork to lay before that could happen,” she added. But as more pork production facilities, like Cool Spring Colony, get started in the state, that dream could be a reality. In a year's worth of production, a facility of that size could increase Montana's hog sales numbers by as much as 65,000 head.

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Poets and Pickers spring forward Press release The poets and pickers have frozen out, and organizers think their audiences might welcome a change, as well, so the 21st Annual Western Heritage Roundup of the Montana Country Poets & Pickers will be held in April this year rather than early February. Running Friday, April 10, through Sunday, April 12, the roundup will feature about 30 performers in shows Friday and Saturday nights as well as free jam sessions, with many of the performers, after each show and most of the day Saturday. Cowboy Church will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday.

The local group of country poets and pickers started in 1994 at Havre-Hill County Library, at the urging of thenlibrary director Bonnie Williamson. Moving the event from the first weekend in February to mid-April, which is national poetry month, is an effort by organizers to find a "kinder climate." Tickets for the night shows at Chinook High School auditorium will be available at the door. The jam sessions and the church service, which all will be at the Chinook Motor Inn, are free of charge. For more information, call Arnold Hokanson at 265-2712 or Dale Mailand at 353-2383

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February 2015

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Fueled by oil, agriculture sector welcomes low diesel prices ROXANA HEGEMAN Associated Press WICHITA, Kan. — The recent plunge in fuel prices has been a welcome relief across the agricultural sector, helping ease the pain of low grain prices for growers and boosting profits for cattle ranchers. "Every movement we make in farming takes fuel," Kansas cattle rancher and hay grower Randy Cree said. Livestock producers in the Midwest and vegetable growers in the Sun Belt alike are reaping the immediate benefits. And with average retail gas prices for 2015 forecast to be about $1 lower than last year, farmers this spring may end up planting more energy-intensive crops, such as corn or rice, as the cost to irrigate and cultivate drops. Consumers, however, shouldn't expect to see lower prices at the supermarket. Transportation costs constitute only a small slice of those prices, and it takes months, if ever, for cost savings at the farm level to trickle to the shelf sticker. For years, Cree hasn't been able to afford to fill the fuel tanks at his farm west of Lawrence. But with the local price of untaxed diesel and regular gasoline both below $2 a gallon, Cree plans to completely fill the two 300-gallon and one 200-gallon tanks. It takes fuel to feed his 100 cows all winter long, fuel to drive to the feed store. The lower prices will also make "a big differ-

AP Photo/Orlin Wagner Cattle rancher Randy Cree adds fuel Jan. 7 to a factor at his farm near Big Springs, Kan. Cree has not been able to afford to fill the fuel tanks at his farm, but with prices below $2.00 he plans completely fill his two 300-gallon and one 200-gallon tanks as soon as he can get a fuel truck to deliver it. ence" this summer. Each time he harvests his hay, his tractor must make three trips over every field — one to mow it, one to rake it, and another to bale it.

"We are hoping that for the first time in a long, long time to have the burden of high fuel prices off our backs — so we can maybe make a little bit of money this year," Cree said. Farmers use mostly off-road diesel, for which they don't pay federal and state taxes, in their tractors and other farm equipment. While diesel averages about 20 cents per gallon more than regular gasoline, road taxes alone can add 14 percent more at the pump. On-road diesel prices nationwide are forecast to average $1.86 a gallon this year — well below the $2.81 per gallon in 2014. And looking into 2016, prices are forecast to average $2.30 a gallon for on-road diesel, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That's good news for farmers who depend on row crops, and who've seen farm income drop by as much as 50 percent because of low grain prices. Lower energy prices increase planted acres for most major row crops and drop the price of the commodity, according to an

April 2014 federal study on the impact crude oil prices have on agriculture. Nearly 20 percent of operating costs for major U.S. row crops are tied to direct energy expenses, the Economic Research Service's study showed. Vance Ehmke, who grows wheat near Healy in western Kansas, said low diesel fuel prices will "definitely help," but might not be enough. "On one level, fuel going down is really going to save us $20,000 to $25,000 — which is a nice chunk of change," Ehmke said. "However, the other side of the coin is that while we have had a collapse in the oil market, we also have had a collapse in the grain market." Consumers can expect to use some of their savings at the pump toward grocery bills. The price of food at both restaurants and grocery stores is predicted to go up 2 to 3 percent in 2015, according to agricultural economist Annemarie Kuhns with the A g r i c u l t u re D e p a r t m e n t ' s E c o n o m i c Research Service. Only 4.7 cents of every dollar spent at the supermarket goes toward food transportation costs, Kuhns said. Mostly, retail food prices are driven by other factors, such as supply and demand. That's evident in beef prices, which soared when ranchers had to liquidate cattle herds during recent droughts. Among those currently enjoying the lowest-in-years diesel prices is Florida vegetable grower Rick Roth, who also operates a packing house where crops such as celery, leafy greens and radishes are sorted and cleaned before shipped. Roth figures he buys about 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel a week, which he mainly uses in his tractors for land preparation, planting, cultivation, spraying and harvest at his farm in Palm Beach County. Any fuel savings will go toward the bottom line, he said, and will help keep his farm fully staffed with 25 full-time employees and 150 seasonal workers. "One of the things that is really interesting about vegetable production is that you have years that you make money, and you have years that you lose money," he said. "Probably 25 percent of overall cost is related to fuel. I think what it will mean is you will just have people staying in production."

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February 2015

Hogs on the Hi-Line: The need for strict biosecurity is not exaggerated n Continued from page 2 “The guy that picks up our pigs hauls that trailer only to our barn and to his barn and before he comes back next week, he thoroughly washes it out," Waldner said. “So that trailer is dedicated only for our two barns, it never goes to a stockyard.” The thorough washing means a high pressure washing and sterilization to remove all traces of fecal matter because just one fleck of manure the size of a pencil eraser, under common conditions, can infect an entire barn operation. "While not always required by buyers, the majority of pork producers in Montana have received certification in the Transport Quality Assurance program, a national program training and testing both livestock haulers and those loading them in correct animal handling techniques to ensure their safe arrival," said Miller. "This is an ongoing program, requiring updates every three years." The need for strict biosecurity is not exaggerated, especially since the highly contagious and deadly porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, or PEDV, made its way last year from Asia and Europe to the U.S., including two other facilities in Montana. While it is certainly not the only disease which can infect a hog barn, PEDV is one of the deadliest with a near100 percent mortality rate in newborn pigs, Waldner said. It devastated several pork production facilities across the U.S. last winter, and one facility near Harlowton and another near Great Falls were positive for infection in February 2014. So far this year, Montana has stayed PEDV-free, said Tahnee Szymanski, assistant state veterinarian with the Montana Department of Livestock, who added that PEDV is part of a larger group of viruses called coronaviruses, which have different strains that affect different kinds of mammals and birds. One hog facility in Montana has tested positive for swine delta coronavirus this winter, Szymanski said. The disease is similar to PEDV but not quite as severe. A press release from the Department of Livestock last February said that biosecurity measures include: • Limiting traffic (people and equipment) onto the farm; • Thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting anything coming onto the farm; • Establishing designated routes and parking areas for service vehicles; • Isolating newly arriving animals and knowing the health status of the source; and • Having dedicated clothing and footwear for animal contact areas. Transportation vehicles are considered the most likely means of spreading the virus, the release added. At that time, the disease had killed about one million piglets in the U.S., the world’s leading exporter of pork, the release said. Industry authorities speculated that as many as 5 million pigs, or about 4.5 percent of last year’s U.S.produced pigs, died from the disease.

The market

While 4.5 percent seems like a manageable number of losses, one of the problems with this reduction was the response from the pork producers themselves who produced more pigs to make up for the loss in numbers, but overproduced because the losses were not as devastating as they could have been, said Miller.

n Continued to page 11

http://svc.mt.gov/msl/mtcadastral This Jan. 27 screen capture from the Montana Cadastral website shows the three hog barns, top of image, at Hilldale Colony north of Havre. The barns are set away from the roads and other colony structures to maintain biosecurity.

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Little Bugger A Small Problem With BigBig Impact Little Bugger A Small Problem With Impact mightmight have of the of midge. What What she didshe find, BY BONNIE DAvIDSON have the midge. did find, BY BONNIE DAvIDSON was that a presence. THE GLASGOw COURIER wasthere that was thereclearly was clearly a presence. THE GLASGOw COURIER Luckily the county hasn’thasn’t seen any Big trouble sometimes comescomes in a small Luckily the county seenmajor any major Big trouble sometimes in a small economic impact, but thebut potential for trouble package – about half the size a mosquito, to to economic impact, the potential for trouble package – about half theofsize of a mosquito, is there, whichwhich gave Mills opportunity to to be more The issue, reported about about in Hi-in Hiis there, gave an Mills an opportunity be exact. more exact. The issue, reported bring in a seminar speaker. He was Line Farm & Ranch last year, another look look bring in a seminar speaker. Heinterim was interim Line Farm & Ranch lastgot year, got another superintendent RobertRobert “Bob”“Bob” Stougaard of the of the Jan. 14Jan. at the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce superintendent Stougaard 14 at the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce State University Northwestern Ag Ag & Agriculture's New Trends in Ag in Seminar. Montana State University Northwestern & Agriculture's New Trends Ag Seminar. Montana Research Center.Center. More More than 100 and ranchers Research thanfarmers 100 farmers and ranchers particular pest problem has a tremenshowed up at the Cottonwood Inn forInn thefor event particular pest problem has a tremenshowed up at the Cottonwood the event “This “This impact,” Stougaard said. said. to see to what expectexpect in the in coming dous economic impact,” Stougaard see they whatcould they could the coming dous economic He explained that the midge wasn’twasn’t really really year. year. He explained that the midge anything new, and just happened The orange wheatwheat blossom midgemidge has been anything new,Montana and Montana just happened The orange blossom has been by states that have foundfound all along the Hi-Line in traps to be surrounded by states thatfaced have faced all along the Hi-Line inthat trapswere that wereto be surrounded The midge had a had pretty strongstrong set latesetlast spring. ValleyValley County Extension the problem. The midge a pretty late last spring. County Extension the problem. in Canada, NorthNorth Dakota and inand the in the agent agent Shelley Mills explained that she spent presence in Canada, Dakota Shelley Mills explained that she spent presence of Idaho. It wasn’t until 2006 severalseveral hours hours every every other day the the panhandle panhandle of Idaho. It wasn’t until that 2006 that otherchecking day checking traps to see to what presence the county CONTINUED ON PAGE traps see kind whatofkind of presence the county CONTINUED ON9PAGE 9

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sit within 1 to 5 1inches of soilofcome to lifeto and sit within to 5 inches soil come lifebegin and begin helphelp youyou withwith ... ... we can the cycle. What’sWhat’s more concerning is thatisthose the cycle. more concerning that midge those midge we can can hibernate in the soil from five to 13 years. can hibernate in the soil from five to 13 years. CONTINUED FROM PAGE CONTINUED FROM9PAGE 9 • Crop Scouting • Weed Identification Services • Crop Scouting • Weed Identification Services the midge made made its debut in Montana aroundaround Flat- Flat“Rotation is onlyispart the of solution,” Stougaard the midge its debut in Montana “Rotation onlyofpart the solution,” Stougaard • Soil Analysis • Crop Spraying • Soil Analysis • Crop Spraying head and and brought huge economic localafarmer asked asked about about the hibernations headLake and counties Lake counties and brought huge economicsaid after saidaafter local farmer the hibernations impacts. The midge probably made made an appearance midge. A sighAcame from the audience with the Recommendations • Fertilizer Application impacts. The midge probably an appearance of the of the midge. sigh came from the audience with the • Application • Application Recommendations • Fertilizer Application beforebefore that, but it had realization that the midge will probably be around for for that, but itgone had undetected. gone undetected. realization that the midge will probably be around • And• Much MoreMore And Much “Damage to the to crops isn’t very Stou- Stou- a longatime. “Damage the crops isn’tobvious,” very obvious,” long time. gaard gaard said. said. Mills said a later that a that big help Millsinsaid in ainterview later interview a bigthis help this A Full Agronomy StaffStaff Available A Full Agronomy Available He explained that the midge was found in the in the seasonseason will bewill producers who volunteer to set traps He explained that the midge was found be producers who volunteer to setin traps in Golden Triangle in 2012 2013, and over their crops. Golden Triangle in and 2012inand in 2013, and11,000 over 11,000 their crops. To All Of Our Patrons Across OurOur Trade AreaArea To All Of Our Patrons Across Trade acres of crops had tohad be sprayed to killto thekill midge. “I want to taketoatake morea active role this acres of crops to be sprayed the midge. “I producers want producers more active role this He said that the midge has been moving across the year,” Mills said. “We have to have traps set by June He said that the midge has been moving across the year,” Mills said. “We have to have traps set by June The People, The Know How How And The To Cover All Your The People, The Know AndProducts The Products To Cover All Your Hi-Line towardtoward the middle of the of state. theAs spread tohas be when the males start emerging.” Hi-Line the middle the As state. the spread15. It has 15. It to be when the males start emerging.” NeedsNeeds ... ... has happened, a lot ofa research has gone only had explained to the to audience that that has happened, lot of research has into gonenot into not only Stougaard Stougaard had explained the audience the lifethe cycle the of midge, but also kind cropof crop bio-releases took nearly eight years thefor population life of cycle the midge, butthe also theofkind bio-releases took nearly eight for years the population :H 2;HU 0DQ\ 6HUYLFHV WR 2XU &XVWRPHUV :H 2;HU 0DQ\ 6HUYLFHV WR 2XU &XVWRPHUV damage the orange midgemidge could could do. do. to build Flathead County. They’ve tried totried create damage the orange to in build in Flathead County. They’ve to create • On Tire Service • Bulk Fuel Delivery •Farm On Farm Tire Service • Bulk Fuel Delivery “The damage was greater than what first a sort aofsort refuge so thatsothey “The damage was greater than we what we first of refuge thatcan theyshare can these share parasitic these parasitic • Shop Services & Minor Repairs • Tires Batteries - Brakes • Shop Services & Minor Repairs • Tires - Batteries - Brakes thought,” Stougaard said, pointing to a slide theon the wasps.wasps. So counting on theon bio-releases short term, thought,” Stougaard said, pointing to aon slide So counting the bio-releases short the term, the screenscreen at the at seminar. “You can see between 30 and midge problem isn’t something farmers should wait • Oil •&Oil Filters • 24• Hour Gas &Gas Fuel the seminar. “You can see between 30 and midge problem isn’t something farmers should wait & Filters 24 Hour & Fuel 50 percent in grain per larva.” for. Before deciding to useto insecticide, however, farmfarm- • Feed 50 percent in size grainreduction size reduction per larva.” for. Before deciding use insecticide, however, (Crystalyx) • Oxygen/Acetylene TanksTanks • Feed (Crystalyx) • Oxygen/Acetylene What What the midge does isdoes feedison theon seeds in the in the ers should determine if the wasp present in the in area. the midge feed the seeds ers should determine if the is wasp is present the area. • Lawn Care Care ItemsItems • Full-Line Hardware StoreStore • Lawn • Full-Line Hardware head of wheat. He explained that they from from He went to explain that they working on on head of wheat. He explained thatstay theyaway stay away He on went on to explain thatare they are working • Fencing Equipment • Fencing Equipment some some of the of better established seeds,seeds, but you ways to avoid insecticide resistance with the the better established butmight you might different different ways to avoid insecticide resistance with the see higher incidents of sprout with the midge. The The midge.midge. SharedShared information from Canada and North see higher incidents of sprout with the midge. information from Canada and North midgemidge not only theoff head, but it produces an anDakota have been to learning the best notfeeds only off feeds the head, but it produces Dakota havecrucial been crucial to learning themethods best methods enzyme that breaks down down the starch and can enzyme that breaks the starch andcause can cause and techniques. and techniques. Value Added Services . . . Use to your advantage and and Value Added Services . . .them Use them to your advantage fallingfalling numbers, whichwhich can greatly lower lower the quality the midge is here,” Stougaard numbers, can greatly the quality “To summarize, “To summarize, the midge is here,” Stougaard maximize your yields! of the of crop. said. said. maximize your yields! the crop. Extension services along along the Hi-Line recommend who are interested in in Extension services the Hi-Line recommend Mills said Millsthat saidfarmers that farmers who are interested that growers rotate rotate crops,crops, plant as early possible in setting traps this the the Are Are You You that growers plant as as early as possible participating participating in setting trapsyear thiscan yearcontact can contact if youifpay advance, earn earn youinpay in advance, to beattothe peak the of midge season, plant resistant office.office. ThereThere is a small cost for purchasing beat theof peak the midge season, plant resistant extension extension is a small cost for purchasing Getting ThisThis Getting springspring wheatwheat varieties, and use insecticide. Long-term the traps. But farmers can log what varieties, and use insecticide. Long-term the traps. But farmers can log they whatfind theyand findtrack and track KindKind Of Value Of Value a a solutions wouldwould include bio-control with small para- para-their neighbors' findingfinding on pestweb.montana.edu. It solutions include bio-control with small their neighbors' on pestweb.montana.edu. It Where You You Buy?Buy? Where sitic wasps that lay eggs the midge larva. larva. also shows what was in the in previous year. year. sitic wasps that layinside eggs inside the midge also shows whattracked was tracked the previous Or Or One ofOne the of biggest concerns is the amount of moisbe willing to holdtoahold few aworkfor cashforatcash timeatoftime purchase! the biggest concerns is the amount of mois- Mills said Millsthat saidshe’d that she’d be willing few workof purchase! ture that various times times of the of midge life cycle. in May early talktoabout the counts, turefalls thatatfalls at various the midge life cycle.shops shops inor May or June earlytoJune talk about the counts, Mills later that the rain right atright at and show producers how tohow set traps the the Millsexplained later explained that thethat raincame that came and show producers to setand trapssurvey and survey harvest last summer was during a crucial time intime the in thecrops crops for thefor midge. harvest last summer was during a crucial the midge. midgemidge cycle.cycle. “I just“Ihope get engaged in it. It's important just people hope people get engaged in it. It's important Stougaard also said that will wherewhere the midge is going Stougaard alsothat saidearly that June earlythunderstorms June thunderstormsinformation information thattypify will typify the midge is going ScobeyScobey • Flaxville • Peerless • Richland • Opheim • Four•Buttes • Flaxville • Peerless • Richland • Opheim Four Buttes and moisture can cause a rise in the in pest and moisture can cause a rise thepopulation. pest population.to be at,” to beMills at,” said. Mills said. 487-2741 474-2231 893-4398 724-3353 762-3231 783-5519 487-2741 474-2231 893-4398 724-3353 762-3231 783-5519 The moisture makesmakes the hibernating midgemidge that can contact Mills at 228-6241. The moisture the hibernating that can For more For information, more information, contact Mills at 228-6241.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 CONTINUED FROM PAGE that 7 he said riculture industry. Other issues riculture industry. Other issues he were said would have to be fought in eachthat state would have to be fought in each state were GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) GMOs Modified and the (Genetically climate change issues.Organisms) He explained and the change issues. explained that youclimate could do nothing, but He politicians that you could do something nothing, but politicians were going to do anyway, so it weretime going to people do something anyway, sotake it was that pay attention and was time that people pay attention and take action. action. “It’s going to affect us even if it isn’t goingthe to government affect us evenis ifgoing it isn’t real“It’s because to real because the government is going to do something about it,” Flinchbaugh said, do something it,”tax Flinchbaugh said, up referring to theabout carbon that is coming referring to the carbon tax that is coming up in national legislation. in national legislation. He asked farmers to build coalitions, He asked farmers to build as only 1 percent of them in acoalitions, group just as only 1enough percenttooffight thembattles in a group just weren’t that were weren’t enough to fight battles that were hard to win. He also urged farmers to get hard to win. He also urged farmers to get their voice heard. Many times throughout their voice heard. Many times throughout his talk he urged farmers and ranchers to his talk he urged farmers and ranchers to speak to their representatives, both state and speak to their representatives, both state and federal. federal. “You can’t guarantee the future of what “You can’t guarantee the future of what politicians are going going to to do,” do,” Flinchbaugh Flinchbaughsaid. said. politicians are Demographics Demographics And Technology And Technology The last speaker of the the day, day, Pearson, Pearson, The last speaker of sided few things things that that Flinchbaugh Flinchbaugh sided with with aa few

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economics andaworld demographics wereHe going to play big part in the industry. going playaalot bigofpart in things the industry. didn’ttohave good to say He about didn’t have a lotgrain of good things about the upcoming industry in to thesay near the upcoming industry in the near way, future. But hegrain said that in a roundabout future. But he said that in a roundabout livestock would keep the rest afloat. way, livestock keep the was rest concerned, afloat. As farwould as technology tapAsinto far as wasof concerned, tapping thetechnology mass amount data that farmping intoranchers the masswere amount of dataon thattheir farmers and collecting ers and ranchers were collecting on their new GPS systems and other devices would new GPS systems other devices be something thatand might bring masswould changes be something that might bring mass changes to agriculture. He predicted that 2015 would to Hedata predicted that 2015 would beagriculture. a year where extrapolation would be a year datathere extrapolation come intowhere play and might bewould a boost in come into play and there might be a boost in the use of that data. the “We’ve use of that data.good at buying that hardgotten “We’ve gotten good at does buying thatthings, hardware that looks cool and cool ware that looks and cool things, but we’re not ascool good atdoes extrapolation and but we’re not as good at extrapolation and use of all that data,” Pearson said. use of all that data,” Pearson said. He said that drones able to fly over He said that drones able to fly over fields and take pictures of crops from fields and take pictures of crops from above might become more widely used as above might become more widely used as well. Other sensors, like thermal sensors well. Other sensors, like thermal sensors on livestock would possibly be ways that on livestock would possibly be ways that rancherscould couldspot spotsick sickcows cowswhile whileeateatranchers ing breakfast. He thought that perhaps by ing breakfast. He thought that perhaps by the year 2016, some of that data would the year 2016, some of that data would be able able to tobe beaccessed accessedby byaasmart smartphone, phone, be bringing all that to the fingertips of bringing all that to the fingertips of ranchersand andfarmers. farmers. ranchers While measuring themarkets marketsfor for While measuring the agriculture, Pearson said that comparagriculture, Pearson said that comparing the thecorn cornmarket marketwas wasaagood goodway way ing to measure measurethe therest restof ofthe themarkets. markets.He He to explained that corn has been the driver explained that corn has been the driver of the the market marketand andthat thatcurrently currentlythey're they're of seeinginvestors investorsaalittle littleless lessenthused. enthused. seeing He explained explainedthat thatRussia Russiahas hasaapart parttoto He play in the wheat market, and that some play in the wheat market, and that some of that thatcould couldplay playtotobenefit benefitdomestic. domestic. of With Russia Russiagoing goingbankrupt bankruptand andseeing seeing With their economy become crippled, they their economy become crippled, they will likely likelybe betrading tradingless. less. will “Demandand andquality, quality,ororscares, scares,could could “Demand changeor ordrive drivethe themarket marketininthe theshort short change term,”Pearson Pearsonsaid. said.“I“Iknow knowthere’s there’snot notaa term,” lotof ofgood goodnews newsfor forgrains.” grains.” lot Hesaid saidthat thatthe thebig bighead headwind windwould would He bethe theU.S. U.S.dollar. dollar.IfIfthe thedollar dollarclimbs climbs be andstays staysabove aboveinternational internationalprices, prices,there there and couldbe besome someissues issueswith withtrade. trade.He Healso also could saidthat thatcommodities commoditieswere weretaking takingaastep step said backwith withoil oilprices. prices. back “There’sjust justtoo toomuch muchgrain graincarrying carrying “There’s worldwide,”Pearson Pearsonsaid. said.“But “Butthe thecattle cattle worldwide,” industryisisaabright brightspot; spot;the thelivestock livestockwill will industry continue continuetotodrive drivethe themarket.” market.” Last Lastyear yearthe thecattle cattleindustry industrysaw sawrecord record prices. prices.With Withaatighter tighterlivestock livestocksupply supplyand and demand demandon onthe therise, rise,ititjust justwent wentup. up.This This year, year,there therewill willbe bean aneven eventighter tightersupply supply with, with,Pearson Pearsonsaid, said,around around7,000 7,000fewer fewer cows cowsthis thisyear yearcompared comparedtotolast lastyear. year.He He also alsoexplained explainedthat thatwe wewill willcontinue continuetotosee see that thatincrease increaseinindemand demandininthe theupcoming upcoming year. year.

www.havredailynews.com www.havredailynews.com www.havredailynews.com He explained that as middle classes were He explained that as middlethat classes were growing in Asian countries, demand growing in Asian countries, that demand will just continue to grow. He then told the will justofcontinue to grow. He then the story how he and his wife wenttold through story oftimes, how hebut and his wife rough when they went foundthrough themrough when theytimes, found they them-went to selvestimes, out ofbut those rough selves out of those rough times, they went to celebrate with a steak. celebrate a steak. “Has with anyone here ever celebrated with a “Has anyone celebrated with a salad!” Pearsonhere said.ever “No.” salad!” Pearson said. “No.” He explained that the hard hit economy explained that the hardholding hit economy inHe 2009 had several people back and inlimiting 2009 had several holding and their beef people purchases. The back economy limiting their beef purchases. The economy is starting to bounce back and Pearson isargued startingthat to bounce back andthey Pearson in the last year saw that argued that in the last year they saw that happen. Consumers who had been sacrifichappen. hadyears been were sacrificing for Consumers the last fourwho or five finally ing for the and last four or five years were finally spending celebrating. He explained that spending and celebrating. that exports were scaled backHe to explained meet domestic exports were demands lastscaled year. back to meet domestic demands last year. “For the ranchers the market is strong for “For the ranchers the market is strong for the next two to three years,” Pearson said. the next two to three years,” Pearson said. He argued this will be what will help He argued this will be what will help keep the agriculture industry floating. As the keep the agriculture industry floating. As the herds expand moving forward, the demand herds expand moving forward, the demand for grains for feed will also expand. His bigfor grains for feed will also expand. His biggestreason reasonfor forthe theprediction predictionofofananexpandexpandgest ing market is the population rising to ing market is the population rising to anan estimated9 9billion billionpeople peopleononthe theplanet planetbyby estimated 2050. It just isn’t just the people that would 2050. It just isn’t just the people that would add to the market, it is the expansion the add to the market, it is the expansion ofofthe middleclass. class. middle China,Africa, Africa,South SouthAmerica Americaand andother other China, Asian countries were and are all seeing Asian countries were and are all seeing a a largeand andrapid rapidexpanding expandingmiddle middleclass. class. large Withmore moremoney moneyflowing, flowing,the thetypes typesofof With foodsthey theypurchase purchasewill willchange. change.HeHepreprefoods dicted that there would be a large growth dicted that there would be a large growth inin demand. demand. “Chinesemarkets marketswere weresurveyed surveyedand andsaid said “Chinese they were willing to pay 20 percent more they were willing to pay 20 percent more forfor Americanfood,” food,”Pearson Pearsonsaid. said.“But “ButI think I think American we’regoing goingtotohave havemore moreheadaches headachesbefore before we’re we fulfill those promises.” we fulfill those promises.” Healso alsosaid saidthat thatGMOs GMOswould wouldprobably probably He challenge,along alongwith withother otherenvironmenenvironmenbebea achallenge, groupsthat thatwere wereanti-agricultural anti-agriculturalindustry. industry. taltalgroups With11percent percentofofthe thepopulation populationininthe theagriagriWith culturalindustry industryand andanother another4 4percent percentindiindicultural rectlyemployed employedininthe theindustry, industry,the theindustry industry rectly appearstotobebeininfor fora apolitical politicalbattle. battle. appears Hesaid saidjust justabout about2 2percent percentofofthe thepopupopuHe lationwas wasfully fullyengaged engagedininorganizations organizations lation thatwould wouldfight fightagainst againstagriculture, agriculture,but but that thesegroups groupswere werea alotlotmore morevocal vocaland andout out these therelobbying lobbyingand andspreading spreadingmisinformamisinformathere tion. tion. “Howdodowe wefight fightmisinformation?” misinformation?” “How Pearson Pearsonsaid. said.“You “Youcan’t can’tdodoit itone-on-one one-on-one and andbybychanging changinglegislature legislaturepolicies.” policies.” He Hesuggested suggestednot notjust justsitting sittingwith withyour your neighbors neighborsand andfriends, friends,but butgetting gettingpeople people active activeand andengaged. engaged.He Hesaid saidsharing sharingyour your story storywith withthe thelocal localpress pressand andgetting gettingactive active iningroups groupsand andcoalitions coalitionswill willbebekey keycompocomponents nentsininthe thefuture. future. “We “Weneed needtotofind finda away,” way,”hehesaid said“to “tohave have a amegaphone.” megaphone.”

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inwas 1971. It was same year heKansas joined Kansas of theisnation is working on farms, at the Capitol year in a roundabout in 1971. It that samethat year he joined percent percent of the nation working on farms, at the Capitol this yearthis will in awill roundabout BONNIE DAvIDSON BY BONNIEBYDAvIDSON BONNIE DAVIDSON / THE GLASGOW BONNIE DAVIDSON / THE GLASGOW COURIERCOURIER State University to teach agricultural policy. Hemany andofmany in the agriculture waymarkets affect markets and agriculture and have THE GLASGOw State University to teach agricultural policy. He and thoseof inthose the agriculture industryindustry way affect and agriculture and have THE GLASGOw COURIER COURIER willindustry be the industry be inthis again this year. Projections areanforeven of ansmaller even smaller herd this year, be the to be into again year. Projections are for of herd this year, hasaround spokenthe around nation over economics arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t vocal alwaysand vocal and aggressive. everything to do with negotiations. One side Beef willBeef â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an interesting time to be a political has spoken nationthe over economics arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always aggressive. everything to do with negotiations. One side â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an interesting time to be a political and a growing demand. and a growing demand. and agricultural He compared the government current government to a have will give to a little get aHe little. He economist,â&#x20AC;? Barry Flinchbaugh said to and the agricultural policies. policies. He compared the current to a will to have give to a little get atolittle. economist,â&#x20AC;? Barry Flinchbaugh said to the has experience as a afarmer, aphoto that photo was displayed during his lecture, said compromises onthe trade, the Keystone crowd came to the 10thNew annual New Pearson Pearson has experience as a farmer, wasthat displayed during his lecture, said compromises on trade, Keystone XL XL crowd that camethat to the 10th annual they would to revisit it again, they would have tohave revisit it again, hopinghoping for for banker more recently bicycleformade twoboth riders, both facing and immigration issues willtohave to in Ag in seminar in Glasgow. banker and moreand recently running running his own his own a bicyclea made two for riders, facing pipeline,pipeline, and immigration issues will have Trends inTrends Ag seminar Glasgow. more permanent solutions. One of the bigger more permanent solutions. One of the bigger smalloperation feedlot operation in Iowa. Central Iowa. opposite The opposite directions from eachâ&#x20AC;&#x153;For other. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fortake place taketoplace move forward. More than a hundred farmers and ranchsmall feedlot in Central The directions from each other. movetoforward. More than a hundred farmers and ranchissues he thought would come into play in the issues he thought would come into play in the Market to Market show that he hosts keeps years Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been railing away from the dispirOne of the explanations he gave on the ers crammed into the local Cottonwood 6 CONTINUED FROM PAGE Market to Market show that he hosts keeps years Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been railing away from the dispirOne of the explanations he gave on the ers crammed into the local Cottonwood CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 agriculture industry was COOL, or Country andduring came during time where ag industry agriculture industry was COOL, or Country a time awhere the ag the industry viewers upwith to date with interviews several interviews ited government,â&#x20AC;? Flinchbaugh it difficult was so difficult the Farm and came Inna to hear a few speakers that addressed viewers up to date several ited government,â&#x20AC;? Flinchbaugh said. said. reason itreason was so to pass to thepass Farm Inn to hear few speakers that addressed of Origin Labeling. was seeing incomes. Flinchbaugh of Origin Labeling. was seeing record record incomes. Flinchbaugh said said with analysts other agricultural and He explained He explained thatsome it tooktime some hadwith to do with entitlements, the numbers that might come with analysts and otherand agricultural and that it took to time toBill hadBill to do entitlements, food food the numbers that might come into playinto andplay and The labeling would the country that the farm payments went down and then The labeling would list thelist country wherewhere that the farm payments went down and then livestock players. pass the current Farm Bill, one of the most stamps. He claimed that without the addiwhat might cause some fluctuations in the livestock players. pass the current Farm Bill, one of the most stamps. He claimed that without the addiwhat might cause some fluctuations in the an animal was born, raised and slaughtered. the federal deficit went up. an animal was born, raised and slaughtered. complicated ones that the nation has ever tions to food stamps, the Farm Bill might the federal deficit went up. upcoming market ag and livestock markets. complicated ones that the nation has ever tions to food stamps, the Farm Bill might upcoming market ag and livestock markets. it would be complex, as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d â&#x20AC;&#x153;I argue wouldthat argue thatdid they best they He saidHeit said would be complex, as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have have seen.five It took five argue over a budhavehave never have passed. An argument â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would they thedid bestthe they Flinchbaugh Mike were Pearson Politics Politics seen. It took years toyears arguetoover a budhave never passed. An argument Flinchbaugh and Mikeand Pearson twowere two to track livestock and somehow keep records possibly could do, in the most difficult way,â&#x20AC;? to track livestock and somehow keep records And Economics get. But he said regardless of the dysfunction between parties is if food stamps were ever possibly could do, in the most difficult way,â&#x20AC;? speakers who made several points leading And Economics get. But he said regardless of the dysfunction between parties is if food stamps were ever speakers who made several points leading of transitions. Hesaid alsothat saidthethat the World Flinchbaugh said. of transitions. He also World Flinchbaugh explained to the crowd that of the government, there has actually been to be cut, then crop insurance might be cut. Flinchbaugh said. towards similar paths and speculations. All Flinchbaugh explained to the crowd that of the government, there has actually been to be cut, then crop insurance might be cut. towards similar paths and speculations. All Trade Organization ruled in favor theway only solve the coun-Trade Organization alreadyalready ruled in favor was time his first time Northeastern visiting Northeasternsome good some good economic The additional argument drug testing He saidHe thesaid only toway solvetothe counin all, like it seems like this be a bullishit was hisit first visiting economic growth.growth. The additional argument of drugof testing in all, it seems this will be awill bullish of Canada and Mexico, that the labeling tryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deficit was to raise taxes and cut of Canada and Mexico, that the labeling Montana. While some of his comments were He said some hard lessons learned those who collect food stamps also slowed year again, with much more positives on the tryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deficit was to raise taxes and cut Montana. While some of his comments were He said some hard lessons learned those who collect food stamps also slowed year again, with much more positives on the was illegal, butalso theysaid alsothat saidthe that the spending. also suggested that pay if you paypolicy policy was illegal, but they a little controversial, he explained are shutting down the govern- the process the process side. spending. He alsoHe suggested that if you probablyprobably a little controversial, he explained recentlyrecently are shutting down the governdown. down. livestocklivestock side. consumer did have the right to know. attention to agriculture economics, you also consumer did have the right to know. Their Their that speculating whatbemight in the future ment and sending themessage wrong message From the audience reply was said Flinchbaugh is a professor Kansas State attention to agriculture economics, you also that speculating what might in thebefuture ment and sending the wrong to the to theFrom the audience a reply awas said Flinchbaugh is a professor at KansasatState theopen. issue He open. He explained have to pay attention to macro economics. answeranswer left theleft issue explained that that for the market is like gazing into a crystal world, and that both opposing parties have loudly, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Only in Washington.â&#x20AC;? Flinchbaugh University. He got his degree in animal science have to pay attention to macro economics. for the market is like gazing into a crystal world, and that both opposing parties have loudly, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Only in Washington.â&#x20AC;? Flinchbaugh University. He got his degree in animal science this lead couldtolead to tariffs andissues trade issues in â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the Farm Bill, I would say we won the ball. He said that the national Capitol isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t to find some compromise or â&#x20AC;&#x153;gridlock will continued that the debate lasted three years this could tariffs and trade in in 1964 and went onto agricultural economics â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the Farm Bill, I would say we won the ball. He said that the national Capitol isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t to find some compromise or â&#x20AC;&#x153;gridlock will continued that the debate lasted three years in 1964 and went onto agricultural economics the future, and commented that he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t battle,â&#x20AC;? Flinchbaugh said. CONTINUED always on the sidefarmer. of the Only farmer. three main issues the future, and commented that he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t battle,â&#x20AC;? Flinchbaugh said. CONTINUED ON PAGEON 7 PAGE 7 always on the side of the 1 Only 1happen.â&#x20AC;?happen.â&#x20AC;? He said He thatsaid the that threethe main issues quitehow surethat how that would play out. said a distinct minority of Congress quite sure would play out. He saidHe a distinct minority of Congress He expected trade agreements members represent rural districts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; meaning He expected trade agreements might might have have members represent rural districts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; meaning a lot to play in the upcoming future there wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t and isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t much of a voice. But YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE READING HI-LINE FARM & RANCH â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE AG MONTHLY FOR NORTHEAST & NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. a lot to play in the upcoming future in the in ag-the agthere wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t and isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t much of a voice. But YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE READING HI-LINE FARM & RANCH â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE AG MONTHLY FOR NORTHEAST & NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. he did say the issue wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be settled and CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 he did say the issue wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be settled and CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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andWittkopp Sue Wittkopp Curt Curt and Sue Montana Circle,Circle, Montana 406-974-3552 406-974-3552 (Cell) (Cell) 406-485-3552 (Home) 406-485-3552 (Home)