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Even the most independent agriculture producers are in business with Mother Nature — a mercurial partner who must be consulted when making any major ag production decisions. Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com Winter wheat or spring wheat this growing season? February calves or March at this location? March foals or just wait for June? Is it too windy to spray? Too wet to seed? Or too dry to keep the herd on this pasture? Paperwork or outside work tomorrow? How much feed and bedding today? Are the roads clear enough to make a haul? Will that storm slow the grain train? Settle on this price now or bank on a good summer? What kind of pests and diseases will next month’s weather bring? While the general public might have to alter plans due to an unexpected rain, farm-

FARM & RANCH ers and ranchers can lose investment, equipment and livestock with the wrong kind of weather surprise. Plenty of information on up-to-the-minute weather and forecasts can be accessed through television, radio, phone apps, online sources and other marvels of modern technology. The leading source of raw data as well as radar and satellite images for these media sources, though, is the U.S. National Weather Service. News outlets and other commercial entities, government agencies and the general public can access NWS’ current and archived data for free. NWS operates under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, but it originated from a collaborative effort of people across the nation. These original volunteers provided weather data that was recognized as being crucial to the safety and wellbeing of people in the U.S. The first efforts to gather weather and climate data across the country began in 1849, said Jim Brusda, meteorologist with National Weather Service in Great Falls. This weather data mining was spearheaded by the Smithsonian Institution, the NOAA website says. The institution provided weather instruments to telegraph companies and by the end of the year 150 volunteers across the U.S. were telegraphing their observations to the base of operations. The advanced technology of the telegraph system made the weather reporting system feasible. Today, there are 122 NWS Weather

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NWS: Technology advanced from telegraph to radar, satellites and super computers n Continued from page 10

Havre Daily News/Pam Burke A spray plane flies low over a field east of Havre in the early 1990s, a time when National Weather Service was upgrading their facilities and technology and making staff changes, across the U.S. In several communities like Havre that meant replacing local meteorologists with automated systems. Forecast Offices equipped with doppler radar systems in six regions of the U.S. More than 8,700 volunteer cooperative weather observers take daily weather readings on farms, in

urban and suburban areas, and at national parks, seashores and mountaintops, the website says. Another 900-plus Automated Surface Observing System sites transmit readings

through it and you’d get an in-person briefing,” Montana Aeronautics Division Safety a n d E d u c a t i o n B u re a u C h i e f H a ro l d Dramstad said. This was standard operation until the late 1980s to 1992 when the NWS modernization was completed, said Brusda. The modernization and restructuring of National Weather Service was an eightyear, $4.5 billion overhaul of the agency which included developing and implementing five major technologies which the website says included: • Expanding ASOS sites • Installing a network of advanced Doppler radars • Launching a new series of satellites • Installing advanced computer systems • Installing a technology integration system. The ASOS stations are limited in their abilities, the NOAA website says, because they see, essentially, straight up and lack the ability to scan to the horizon like a per-

son. An array of sites in an area, though, provide advantages. The increase in ASOS sites — supported by faster computers, better images and ease of data access — replaced the in-person weather observations. Pilots, including general aviation and aerial application pilots, initially had to call a toll-free phone number to get the current weather for flights, Dramstad said. But now pilots, who receive training in reading weather data and radar and satellite imagery when getting licensed, can access this information through computers, smart phones and other hand-held devices. This information is current and easily accessed on the ground and in the air. Newer-model farm equipment has equivalent technology to give operators access to up-to-the-minute access to weather data and forecasts. Decisions can be made quickly in the yard or in the field. Combined with the volunteer weather observers, who have been at the heart of

the weather service system from the beginning, and ASOS sites providing specific, local information on ground conditions, the broader, new technology has given the public better access to current and forecast information for less expense, Dramstad said. From telegraph to radar, satellites and super computers National Weather Service has linked modern technology, Mother Nature and the prosperity of mankind for 167 years.

Links of interest:

• Surface Weather, interactive map www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?obs=true&wfo=tfx • Cooperative Observer Program www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/ • Great Falls Weather Forecast Office www.wrh.noaa.gov/tfx/ • Regional Headquarters, map www.weather.gov/organization/regional • ASOS information page www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/remote/asos.htm

Fire Weather Along with issuing notices such danbers as hazardous weather and flood warnings, National Weather Service uses its weather and climate data to determine fire danger levels through its Fire Weather division, the NOAA website says. Designated U.S. Forestry Service sites receive coded fire weather forecasts once per day, and this data is input in the National Fire Danger Rating System to generate the fire danger. The public sees this in one of five ratings: low, moderate, high, very high, or extreme. The rating and current weather data helps wildland firefighters prepare for and fight wildland fires.

History of the National Weather Service 1849: Smithsonian Institution supplies weather instruments to telegraph companies and establishes extensive observation network. Observations submitted by telegraph to the Smithsonian, where weather maps are created, with 150 reporting volunteers throughout the U.S. by the end of 1849. 1860: 500 stations were furnishing daily telegraphic weather reports. 1870: A Joint Congressional Resolution requiring the Secretary of War to take meteorological observations and provide forecasts and warnings of approaching storms was passed and signed it into law, creating a new national weather service within the U.S. Army Signal Service’s Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce. Oct. 1, 1890: Congress passes an act transferring the meteorological responsibilities of the weather service to the newly-created U.S. Weather Bureau in the Department of Agriculture. 1891: Weather Bureau becomes responsible for issuing flood warnings to the public. 1894: William Eddy, using five kites to loft a self-recording thermometer, makes the first observations of temperatures aloft. 1901: Official three-day forecasts begin for the North Atlantic. 1909: The Weather Bureau begins its program of free-rising balloon observations. 1910: Weather Bureau begins issuing generalized weekly forecasts for agricultural planning and assessment of water available each season for irrigating the West. 1912: As a result of the Titanic disaster, an international ice patrol is established, conducted by the Coast Guard; first fire weather forecast issued. 1914: An aerological section is established to meet growing needs of aviation; first daily radiotelegraphy broadcast of agricultural forecasts by the University of North Dakota. 1916: A Fire Weather Service is established, with all district forecast centers authorized to issue fire weather forecasts.

1926: The Weather Bureau to provide for weather services to civilian aviation; fire weather service formally inaugurated when Congress provides funds for seven fire weather districts. 1935: A hurricane warning service is established. The Smithsonian Institution begins making long-range weather forecasts based on solar cycles; floating automatic weather instruments mounted on buoys begin collecting marine weather data. 1940: The Weather Bureau is transferred to the Department of Commerce. 1954: The Weather Bureau, Navy, Air Force, MIT’s Institute for Advanced Study, and the University of Chicago form a Joint Numerical Weather Prediction Unit in Maryland. This will become a twice-daily routine in 1955, using an IBM 701. The first radar specifically designed for meteorological use, the AN/CPS-9, is unveiled by the Air Weather Service, USAF. 1955: Regularly-scheduled operational computer forecasts begun by the Joint Numerical Forecast Unit. 1956: The Bureau initiates a National Hurricane Research Project. 1957: A proposal is accepted to modify surplus Navy Doppler radars for severe storms observation — the first endeavor to measure motion of precipitation particles by radar. 1960: The world’s first weather satellites, TIROS I and II, are successfully launched from the Air Force Missile Test Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Meteorologists issue first advisories on air pollution potential over the eastern United States. 1967: Responsibility for issuing air pollution advisories is assigned to the Weather Bureau’s National Meteorological Center; fire weather forecasts are extended to cover contiguous U.S. 1970: The Weather Bureau is set up as the National Weather Service in the newly created National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Association under the Department of Commerce. 1975: The first "hurricane hunter" Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite is launched into orbit. 1976: Real-time operational forecasts and warnings using Doppler radar are evaluated by the Joint Doppler Operational Project, spawning a third Generation Weather Radar, the WSR-88D. 1989: Eight year plan for the modernization and restructuring of the National Weather Service is announced. The $4.5 bil-

lion overhaul of the agency lasted a decade and changed the way the agency operates. NWS developed and implemented major technologies. 2000: The NWS modernization and associated restructuring is completed. 2009: NWS completed implementation of the final phase of a nine-year, $180 million contract by installing the newest generation of IBM supercomputers for weather and climate prediction. Adapted from the timeline on http://www. weather.gov/timeline

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NWS: ASOS stations provide public hourly surface weather readings

NWS: Montana has four Weather Forecast Offices

n Continued from page 3

every minute to NOAA and NWS offices. ASOS sites are essentially electronic weather stations. Montana, in the Western Region, has four Weather Forecast Offices. The Havre area gets its weather reports from the Great Falls office, which provides weather information for an area that stretches east of the Continental Divide from the Canadian border, in Blaine to Glacier counties, south to the state line in Gallatin, Madison and Beaverhead counties. The Glasgow office covers northeast Montana in a 12-county area from Phillips and Petroleum counties east to the state line. The other two offices are located in Billings and Missoula. The Great Falls office, alone, oversees more than 100 cooperative weather observers, Brusda said. And the ASOS map shows 12

Readings include temperature, cloud cover, moisture, dew point, wind direction and speed and precipitation. Information from ASOS stations on bouys in the Pacific also includes water temperature readings to a depth of nearly 1,000 feet which, among other things, help forecast and monitor El Niño and La Niña weather patterns, NWS meteorologist Bill Hoenisch said. “Here in Great Falls we have a National Weather Service radar its called an 88D . .... The technical name is WSR88D, for Weather Surveillance Radar 1988 Doppler,” Brusda said. “We have satellites in space that are accessed across the United States, so we have weather satellites that transmit images down of cloud cover, temperatures aloft and other weather variables that we use for satellite information,” he said. “... We also are an upper air weather balloon station site where we release a weather balloon twice a day to collect data.” In the winter months, he said, the weather balloons are released at 4 a.m. and 4 p.m., and in summer months at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. These data-collecting balloons are released every day, no matter the weather, at their National Weather Service office across the street from Great Falls International Airport. This proximity to airports is common with National Weather Service and started in 1914 when an aeronautics section was started at NWS’ predecessor, the Weather Bureau. This directive to provide weather service to pilots

Havre Daily News/file photo A screenshot of an interactive map on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association website shows locations around Havre where Automated Surface Observing System surface weather readings are taken. ASOS data, some of it shown in the inset image, is stored and used by National Weather Service and accessible by the public. was reinforced in 1926 when The Air Commerce Act directed the Weather Bureau to provide civilian aviation with weather services. Many airports, including smaller airports

like those in Havre, Lewsitown, Livinsgston, Dillon and Cut Bank, had NWS meteorologists stationed until the late 1980s. “You used to be able to walk over there and there'd be a weather service guy and

he’d be tearing stuff off the teletype and hanging that up. And you could go through and flip through the weather service charts for the last few hours and he’d talk you

n Continued on page 11

weather stations reporting within a 30-mile radius of Chinook, from near the Port of Willow Creek to the Bear Paw Mountains. These sites include the Havre and Chinook airports and Montana State University's Northern Agricultural Research Center. The public is provided online access, at h t t p : / / w w w. w r h . n o a a . g ov / map/?obs=true&wfo=tfx to hourly readings from ASOS stations across the U.S. and throughout North America as well as bouys in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

n Continued on page 10 Havre Daily News/file photo A stubble field south of Havre March 17, 2015, shows a light snow cover and damp earth courtesy of four days of moisture that fell widely across north-central Montana.

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February 2016 February 2015

How to Date a Farmer

Mills Earns Del Strommen Trend Setter Award

This shot of a cow calmly enduring a -23 degree day in Northeastern montana was captured by sean r. heavey on Jan. 17.

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Tips for Valentine's Day from a Rural Romantic

COURTESY GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

KATIE LEIBRAND / FOR FARM & RANCH

shelley mills (L) and Glasgow Chamber executive Director Lisa Koski (r) pose on Jan. 13 .

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GLasGow Chamber of CommerCe for farm & raNCh 2016 New Trends in Ag Seminar was held on Jan. 13 at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow. The 2015 Trend Setter/Del Strommen Ag Award was presented to Shelley Mills of Glasgow in front of an audience of over 100. Ryan Fast, chair of the New Trends in Ag committee explained the award goes to someone who shows innovation in agriculture and community involvement. Fast said that the committee meets three to four times over the year and they look at several nominations to discuss and narrow down the choice. He said Valley County Extension agent Shelley Mills plays a huge role in not only organizing the event but knowing those in the ag industry locally. Shelley Mills was born in Ronan, Mont., graduating from Ronan high school in 1981. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Botany from Montana State University in 1986. In the fall of that year she moved to Glasgow and went to work for the Montana Department of Agriculture as a Pesticide Specialist, enforcing pesticide laws and regulations in a thirteen county district in northeastern Montana. She held that position for 23 years with the exception of a short 8 month period in 2000 when she worked for Monsanto as a regional sales representative. Realizing that sales were not her forte’, she went back to the MDA with a renewed sense of purpose in educating growers in environmental protection while seeking their

compliance. She became Valley County’s first female MSU Agricultural Extension Agent in Jan. of 2010. Shelley has worked with Marvin Tarum and Dick Fulton as well as her extension colleagues to expand the Richland pulse production plot to one of the premier crop field days to attend. She has worked with Bill and Myrna Lauckner, and Will and Peggy Lauckner in the continuation of the wheat and durum variety trial plot located on their farm north of Nashua. Shelley has provided Master Gardener classes to area residents; helped Dave Pippin to continue Free Tree Day; established a research orchard at Dave and Lora Reinhardt’s; began wheat blossom midge, wireworm, and cutworm surveying in Valley County; helped to establish the community garden at the Milk River Activity Center; is testing grape varieties throughout the county; and ensures that there are opportunities for private applicators to receive continuing education points. Shelley was accepted to and began the online graduate program through the Land Resource and Environmental Sciences department of Montana State University in Aug. of 2014. She is currently in her fourth semester and hopes to graduate with a Master of Science in Dec. of 2016. Her area of research is narrow leaf hawksbeard in range, pasture, CRP and waste areas. Her goal is to provide landowners viable options for control of this invasive weed.

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The author poses with her husband near Porcupine Creek. eLIZabeTh shIPsTeaD for farm & raNCh With Valentine’s Day approaching I thought I would put my thoughts together and give you my best tips on “how to date a farmer”. 1. Don’t lower your expectations, just throw them out the window. If you are the one planning the date have a plan A, B, and C. Goodness knows, you are a farm wife. You always have a back up plan. 2. Be willing to get dirty. He may be in or under a piece of equipment. Be willing to be there to be with your farmer. You didn’t become a farm wife because you’re afraid of getting dirty. That’s practically in the job description. 3. Don’t expect roses. Town is how far away? The flower shop only delivers in town. The likelihood of getting flowers on a special day is slim to none. You know your farmer believes in investing in things that will last. Flowers don’t last forever, but his love will. 4. The likelihood of leaving the farm for a “date out on the town” may be quite small. Be willing to make wherever you are and whatever you do extra special. Besides, you’ve set your roots at home too. 5. Love them where they’re at. When it’s the busy season, sleep is at a premium and sometimes date night consists of curling up together and just going to sleep. Goodness knows, the Farm Wife is just as tired as the farmer. Maybe even a bit more. 6. Be willing to include your kids. You may not have access to childcare and sometimes just having relaxing family time is as precious as time as a couple. This is no problem for you.

You believe in the legacy of family, farming and agriculture. 7. Be flexible. You never know what will come up, you may have to reschedule or cancel altogether. But you already know that. Farm wives have been practicing flexibility for years. 8. Consider a date “like you’ve always done”. Checking cows, fields or fences has to be at the top of the list when it comes to the best farm dates. You get to spend time outside together enjoying the beauty of God’s creation and the simple joy of visiting about every day life. I know you. You’ll keep your eyes open for those amazing photographic moments and maybe one might even include your farmer. 9. When you do get “dressed up” for a special date, look for the important things. Who knows what you’ll wear. It’s likely you won’t decide until you’re walking out the door, because you rarely “dress up”. Don’t worry about that. You know what he will wear. He will wear his button up shirt, his cleanest jeans, his good old work boots and that darned ball cap. You’ll think he’s hot. But, most importantly it’s the way he looks at you. No one else looks at you quite like that. 10. In that moment, forget everything else. Forget the laundry. Forget the looming banknote. Forget the argument over who’s muddy boot prints were left on the floor. Remember, in this moment...you, him, we, us...is the most important thing to foster and nourish on your farm. To read more of Shipstead's work, visit www.theruralsisterhood. com

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County Extension AgentDan Picard, MSU entomologist David Weaver and a host of Montana farmers and crop consultants who volunteered to put pheromone traps in their fields began monitoring for the midge. MSU software engineer John Sully brought all the data together and created a live-tracking website, Montana Pestweb, that showed the spread of the midge. Six Montana Agricultural Research Centers and 26 MSU Extension offices worked with growers and crop consultants to place hundreds of traps across the state, Stougaard said. Extension agents trained local producers in the biology of the midge, how to track it, what insecticide was effective and, most importantly, when and when not to spray. “Scouting and spraying were short-term solutions, and we didn’t know what the future would look like,” Stougaard said. That’s when producers asked MSU spring wheat breeder Luther Talbert if there was anything MSU’s wheat breeding program could do. Thanks to colleagues at North Dakota State University, Talbert got ahold of the only gene in the world discovered that’s resistant to the midge, called SM1. SM1 produces toxins that kills the midge. When the midge burrows into the developing wheat seed, it dies. Talbert started crossing the resistant line into Montana adapted varieties using traditional breeding techniques. “We crossed this line with the SM1 gene with varieties that were suitable to northwest Montana and let nature derive progeny lines from that,” Talbert said. “From there, we planted those lines in the fields and selected the ones with characteristics we like.” Six years later, Egan – named after the Egan slough in the Flathead where the midge was so prevalent – was born. According to Talbert, Egan also has high grain protein, strong yield potential under high-yield conditions and is resistant to stripe-rust, a wheat disease found in Montana that can also limit yields. On the other hand, Egan is a little taller than typical varieties grown under irrigation in the Flathead Valley, so lodging – bending over of the stems -- may occur under very high yield levels, Talbert said. Because Egan with its SM1 gene is so potent to the midge, Canadian and MSU entomologists suggested it be blended with 10 percent of a non-resistant variety to prevent the midge from developing resistance. “This gene works so well that it kills nearly every single midge,” Talbert said.

www.havredailynews.com www.glasgowcourier.com odds and ends in the fridge that we just don’t see often, like extra fresh thyme, arugula, or fresh mozzarella. The top 3 are also easy to try out for a one-shot effort at about $30 a box. (Just don’t forget to cancel your following orders, or switch to a by-the-month plan, or you’ll end up with more than you bargained for. “But those very few that survive may have a resistance to the SM1 gene that they can pass on to their offspring. As their generations progress, you’ll end up with significant, resistant populations that won’t be stopped by Egan.” The way to mitigate this problem is to allow a small population of “normal” midges to survive and breed with any potential resistant midges. This is accomplished by blending the Egan seed with seed that is susceptible to the midge population – about 10 percent of the susceptible variety. Growers can choose the susceptible variety to blend Egan with. “In a way, producers are sacrificing a small portion of their crop so that the susceptible midges continue to persist and we never allow a significant population of resistant midges to develop,” Talbert said. “We’re sort of using nature’s greatest tools against itself, so it’s a natural form of resistance.” MAES has grown and tested Egan at seven research centers across the state. Last spring, MAES gave Egan to the Montana Foundation Seed Program for production and certification. Now, Egan is available to producers and is being sold as a certified blend – the first ever certified blend in the university’s history. Purchasing the blend comes with a Certified Seed Only acknowledgement, binding producers to keep buying certified seed year after year, in an effort to ward off a population that is completely resistant. Grey, who recently retired after 35 years, said the certified seed only and blend idea might take some education on behalf of growers and producers. “It’s important for all to understand how important the blend ratio is and a bit about the background, as the agreement is legally binding,” he said. “This was a collective response for public good, and the certified seed only agreement is also dependent on a kind of handshake and agreement between neighbors across the state.” Dan Lake, owner and partner of Lake Seed Inc. in Ronan and certified seed grower, is selling Egan to area growers this spring. “Our growers are really excited about Egan, and we’re going to blend it with a hard red spring wheat we have,” Lake said. “The entire process to get to this point is an extremely good example of MSU research centers working to identify, find solutions and solve a problem alongside producers. When you have research centers that are fixed, functional and modern, it’s an investment statewide, and this is the kind of result you see.”

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FARM & RANCH FARM & RANCH hinsdale Native Chisholm Christensen Participates In montana stockgrowers Leadership series

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February 2016 February 2016

moNTaNa sToCKGrowers assoCIaTIoN for farm & raNCh Montana is home to a growing group of young professionals in the farming and ranching communities. These aspiring millennials and younger generation Xers are passionate about the lifestyle and impact they can have on the industry. To succeed in their careers on multi-generation ranches or by providing industry services, they’ll need tools in leadership, networking and business management. During 2016, fourteen young ranchers are taking on this challenge through the Stockgrowers Leadership Series - a 12-month program hosted by the Montana Stockgrowers Association to help our future leaders succeed through their endeavors. The leadership series consists of workshops each month that will provide participants an opportunity to improve their skills in leadership, policy, business management, networking, communication and understanding of issues important to beef consumers. Speaking with the Northern Ag Network, class member Heather Fryer of Hobson described the leadership series as a well-organized program and opportunity to work with a diverse group of her peers. “Everyone is busy, but we are the voice of Montana ranching and it is important to be involved as the industry evolves. The leadership series is a perfect opportunity to learn how to do that.” On Jan. 20-21, the leadership series met in Helena, Mont. for a two-day workshop to kick off the program. 2016 participants come from all corners of the state and areas of the ranching communities. The class heard from leadership of Montana Stockgrowers, Deptartment of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and Department of Livestock. Representatives each offered an overview of their organization’s structure, role working with Montana ranchers and shared advice from their experience on becoming influential leaders in the industry. Leadership coach, Sarah Bohnenkamp,

worked with the class in a five hour workshop, helping identify their strengths and roles in leading others, whether at home on the ranch or as organization members. The class worked through a number of activities to identify their personal leadership brand, how to leverage those strengths, and learn more about potential to have a leadership legacy. Each month this year, the class will continue building on leadership strengths through webinars and at-home assignments with Bohnenkamp. While in Helena, the leadership series also toured the state capitol, walking through the legislative process and viewing important committee rooms, as well as chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives, where they may one day participate in the legislative process by attending committee meetings or testifying on important bills that influence the ranching industry. During the capitol tour, the class visited the governor’s office and met with Tim Baker, Policy Advisor for Natural Resources. Baker offered insight into all the areas of policy involved with his role in the governor’s office. He also shared advice with the group on being aware of these important issues and their path to being strong leaders in the industry. The next meeting for the leadership series will take place in March in Helena as the class focuses on the policymaking process, learning how effective policy can be used to address issues faced by ranchers across the state. The class will also learn more about operating a board of directors meeting and hear from speakers on industry topics. 2016 is the inaugural year for the Stockgrowers Leadership Series, which is aimed at helping Montana’s next generation (ages 25-45) become stronger leaders of the ranching community. The leadership series is organized by Ryan Goodman of Helena with the help of Lacey Ehlke, Young Stockgrowers Chair from Townsend, and Tyrel Obrecht, Young Stockgrowers Vice-Chair from Lewistown.

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We Offer Many Services to Our Customers . . . • On Farm Tire Service • Shop Services & Minor Repairs • Oil & Filters • Feed (Crystalyx) • Lawn Care Items • Fencing Equipment

• • • • •

Bulk Fuel Delivery Tires - Batteries - Brakes 24 Hour Gas & Fuel Oxygen/Acetylene Tanks Full-Line Hardware Store

We Also Offer Full Commodity Marketing

Value Added Services . . . Use them to your advantage and maximize your yields!

Are You Getting This Kind Of Value Where You Buy?

SEAN R. HEAVEY / FOR FARM & RANCH

The Pines recreation area is blanketed in snow prior to the icing over of the reservoir.

!

Plus, if you pay in advance, earn a 6% premium Or 6% discount for cash at time of purchase!

Scobey • Flaxville • Peerless • Richland • Opheim • Four Buttes 487-2741

474-2231

893-4398

724-3353

762-3231

783-5519

66

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Online Options Add to Grocery Store Selection

77

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'Egan' Combats Orange Blossom Wheat Midge

SEAN R. HEAVEY / FOR FARM & RANCH

a lonesome house on a cold winter day in the once-bustling Tampico, montana.

COURTESY OF HELLO FRESH

a hello fresh box is unpacked and the contents laid out for display. COURTESY OF BLUE APRON

blue apron packaging may seem a bit excessive, but the portions are fair and the ingredients are fresh. GINeVra KIrKLaND for farm & raNCh It’s my first winter in northeastern Montana. As someone who loves to cook, I enjoy that it’s an easy run to the local grocery stores, and the quality of stores has been an unexpected delight. However, for the creative cook trying to eat healthy (ok, more healthy than fast food), it is difficult to get certain ingredients, and then, sometimes a challenge to be inspired to cook. We all know that cooking for your family is better for us both physically and psychologically, and sitting down together sets good, healthy habits for ourselves and our families. Grocery delivery services are nothing new, but complete meals-in-a-box are now vying for attention. These “meal kits” ship with all the measuring done for you, with recipes both on paper and easy to download from your computer, with all the ingredients you need in neat pre-portioned containers. (They do assume that you have basics like salt, pepper, and cooking oil.) I found it to be an interesting way to supplement a regular grocery shopping run with some new, different ingredients, and to inspire me to actually make a meal that was as satisfying as anything I’d come up with on my own. I tried four different boxes so that you don’t have to, and graded them on ease of recipes, the ordering process, and quality. With various coupons, each box feeds two people for three meals at about $70, or four

people for three meals for about $120. This breaks down to an average of $8-10 per person per meal, depending on your grocery shopping habits. This may seem like a lot, but depending on your current grocery bill and what’s going bad in your fridge right now, that may be enough to make sense for your family. So how do they stack up? Blue Apron, the best-known, and least expensive, is the easiest to sign up for, and presents the most choice of meals: three out of a six-menu lineup. The recipes are simple enough to please most picky eaters (it’s simple enough to leave off onions or peppers, for example). The food itself tastes light and healthy, and they use and source organically when possible. The variety was more in the preparation: arugula on pizza, bean soups, mushroom quiches with a readyto-use pastry base. Of all of the choices, this is the one I’d recommend for someone who is a bit more tentative in the kitchen. Grade: A Hello Fresh and Green Chef were quite similar - both are focused first and foremost on quality organic ingredients and a bit more variety of recipes. Therefore, the level of difficulty is slightly stepped up. Hello Chef’s biggest difference is that they have a celebrity chefsperson in Jamie Oliver, and the packaging seemed a bit more gourmet. A standout recipe was the pumpkin-stuffed pasta shells that were then baked in the oven with cheese. Ordinarily, I would have had a much heavier hand with the cheese,

COURTESY OF MSU NORTHWESTERN AG RESEARCH

GINEVRA KIRKLAND / FOR FARM & RANCH

The contents of a PeachDish box turned out to be the runt of the litter. and shells aren’t something I purchase on a regular basis. They would both be an A but for the difficulty of using either of their websites to choose meals, and for a slightly higher cost. Grade: B PeachDish has southern-style ingredients, and was the one I wanted to like the most. Unfortunately, it was a bad call. As a transplant, I know that the South’s most famous dishes are, by their nature, cheap and easy to find. Paying $8-10 a person for

something that I’ve been making forever for far less cost made me feel like a sucker. The PeachDish website is a mess, their recipes lackluster, the packaging was unlabeled and low-quality. Their customer service people were quite nice (they messed up my first, and thus last, order) and I do like the theory of bringing healthier Southern dishes to light, but this one is a miss. Grade: F see shoPPING, Page 8

YoU’re reaDING hI-LINe farm & raNCh – THE aG moNThLY for NorTheasT & NorTh CeNTraL moNTaNa

a field of egan near Kalispell. egan, a new spring wheat variety released by the msU montana agricultural experiment station, is resistant to the orange blossom wheat midge. It is the first-ever certified variety intended to be blended with other seed. JeNNY LaVeY gists and agronomists, as well as the only for farm & raNCh gene in the world known to provide resisNine years ago, a tiny orange bug quietly tance to the orange blossom wheat midge, entered northwestern Montana and began national and international research condemolishing spring wheat yields, costing nections and colleagues and a statewide producers millions of dollars. What was network of Montana farmers and certified once a primary cash crop for Flathead and seed growers. It also took relationships Lake counties quickly became an economic and long meetings between MSU research disaster and a major worry for area farm- centers, Extension agents and friends at the ers. Montana Department of Agriculture. Above In 2007, most producers stopped grow- all, it took an understanding of what weaves ing spring wheat and turned to agricultural much of Montana together: that agriculture’s scientists at the Northwestern Agricultural challenges and successes extend far beyond Research Center, part of the Montana State one’s own field. University Montana Agricultural ExperiIn 2006, the midge was quickly and easment Station (MAES), for help. ily adapting to the Flathead. So, Bob StouNine years later, MAES says that the gaard, superintendent of the Northwestern answer to the major economic threat of the Agricultural Research Center, turned over orange blossom wheat midge is a spring every rock: He consulted with colleagues wheat variety called Egan. The new variety in Canada and North Dakota, he researched is resistant to the midge and is now com- cropping systems, researched when and mercially available to producers. what insecticides to spray, then introduced The seed is also the first-ever certified a parasitic wasp to prey on the midge. blend released from MAES. Egan is so “I never experienced anything like this,” effective in destroying the midge that it Stougaard said. “The capability of the midge requires mixing a small percentage of a to seemingly show up out of nowhere and susceptible variety with it to keep the midge cause so much devastation to a crop was from developing resistance or becoming a astounding.” superbug, said Bill Grey, manager for the By 2009, evidence was mounting that MSU Montana Foundation Seed Program. the midge was starting to spread across the This combination of seed is also referred to state. Seeing the devastating potential of the as “refuge in a bag.” The refuge refers to the midge, Stougaard, NWARC Research Asnon-Egan seed that will attract the midge. sociate Brooke Bohannon, retired Pondera To bring Egan to commercial viability see eGaN, Page 8 took a team of wheat breeders, entomolo-

The aurora borealis as seen from Glasgow, montana.

SEAN R. HEAVEY / FOR FARM & RANCH

28th Ann u Productio al n Sale

Thursday February 11, 2016

1:00 pm • Glasgow Stockyards • Glasgow, MT

80

Yearling Registered Angus Bulls Bulls wintered free until May 1st

— Reference Sires Include — Mohnen Long Distance 1639 Bruin Uproar 0070 S Chisum 6175 Connealy Comrade 1385 Connealy Consensus 7229 S A V Priority 7283

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

66

February 2016 February 2016

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Shopping Squared

www.havredailynews.com www.glasgowcourier.com

Online Options Add to Grocery Store Selection

77

February 2016 February 2016

Hi-Line Hi-Line

FARM FARM & & RANCH RANCH

www.havredailynews.com www.glasgowcourier.com

'Egan' Combats Orange Blossom Wheat Midge

SEAN R. HEAVEY / FOR FARM & RANCH

a lonesome house on a cold winter day in the once-bustling Tampico, montana.

COURTESY OF HELLO FRESH

a hello fresh box is unpacked and the contents laid out for display. COURTESY OF BLUE APRON

blue apron packaging may seem a bit excessive, but the portions are fair and the ingredients are fresh. GINeVra KIrKLaND for farm & raNCh It’s my first winter in northeastern Montana. As someone who loves to cook, I enjoy that it’s an easy run to the local grocery stores, and the quality of stores has been an unexpected delight. However, for the creative cook trying to eat healthy (ok, more healthy than fast food), it is difficult to get certain ingredients, and then, sometimes a challenge to be inspired to cook. We all know that cooking for your family is better for us both physically and psychologically, and sitting down together sets good, healthy habits for ourselves and our families. Grocery delivery services are nothing new, but complete meals-in-a-box are now vying for attention. These “meal kits” ship with all the measuring done for you, with recipes both on paper and easy to download from your computer, with all the ingredients you need in neat pre-portioned containers. (They do assume that you have basics like salt, pepper, and cooking oil.) I found it to be an interesting way to supplement a regular grocery shopping run with some new, different ingredients, and to inspire me to actually make a meal that was as satisfying as anything I’d come up with on my own. I tried four different boxes so that you don’t have to, and graded them on ease of recipes, the ordering process, and quality. With various coupons, each box feeds two people for three meals at about $70, or four

people for three meals for about $120. This breaks down to an average of $8-10 per person per meal, depending on your grocery shopping habits. This may seem like a lot, but depending on your current grocery bill and what’s going bad in your fridge right now, that may be enough to make sense for your family. So how do they stack up? Blue Apron, the best-known, and least expensive, is the easiest to sign up for, and presents the most choice of meals: three out of a six-menu lineup. The recipes are simple enough to please most picky eaters (it’s simple enough to leave off onions or peppers, for example). The food itself tastes light and healthy, and they use and source organically when possible. The variety was more in the preparation: arugula on pizza, bean soups, mushroom quiches with a readyto-use pastry base. Of all of the choices, this is the one I’d recommend for someone who is a bit more tentative in the kitchen. Grade: A Hello Fresh and Green Chef were quite similar - both are focused first and foremost on quality organic ingredients and a bit more variety of recipes. Therefore, the level of difficulty is slightly stepped up. Hello Chef’s biggest difference is that they have a celebrity chefsperson in Jamie Oliver, and the packaging seemed a bit more gourmet. A standout recipe was the pumpkin-stuffed pasta shells that were then baked in the oven with cheese. Ordinarily, I would have had a much heavier hand with the cheese,

COURTESY OF MSU NORTHWESTERN AG RESEARCH

GINEVRA KIRKLAND / FOR FARM & RANCH

The contents of a PeachDish box turned out to be the runt of the litter. and shells aren’t something I purchase on a regular basis. They would both be an A but for the difficulty of using either of their websites to choose meals, and for a slightly higher cost. Grade: B PeachDish has southern-style ingredients, and was the one I wanted to like the most. Unfortunately, it was a bad call. As a transplant, I know that the South’s most famous dishes are, by their nature, cheap and easy to find. Paying $8-10 a person for

something that I’ve been making forever for far less cost made me feel like a sucker. The PeachDish website is a mess, their recipes lackluster, the packaging was unlabeled and low-quality. Their customer service people were quite nice (they messed up my first, and thus last, order) and I do like the theory of bringing healthier Southern dishes to light, but this one is a miss. Grade: F see shoPPING, Page 8

YoU’re reaDING hI-LINe farm & raNCh – THE aG moNThLY for NorTheasT & NorTh CeNTraL moNTaNa

a field of egan near Kalispell. egan, a new spring wheat variety released by the msU montana agricultural experiment station, is resistant to the orange blossom wheat midge. It is the first-ever certified variety intended to be blended with other seed. JeNNY LaVeY gists and agronomists, as well as the only for farm & raNCh gene in the world known to provide resisNine years ago, a tiny orange bug quietly tance to the orange blossom wheat midge, entered northwestern Montana and began national and international research condemolishing spring wheat yields, costing nections and colleagues and a statewide producers millions of dollars. What was network of Montana farmers and certified once a primary cash crop for Flathead and seed growers. It also took relationships Lake counties quickly became an economic and long meetings between MSU research disaster and a major worry for area farm- centers, Extension agents and friends at the ers. Montana Department of Agriculture. Above In 2007, most producers stopped grow- all, it took an understanding of what weaves ing spring wheat and turned to agricultural much of Montana together: that agriculture’s scientists at the Northwestern Agricultural challenges and successes extend far beyond Research Center, part of the Montana State one’s own field. University Montana Agricultural ExperiIn 2006, the midge was quickly and easment Station (MAES), for help. ily adapting to the Flathead. So, Bob StouNine years later, MAES says that the gaard, superintendent of the Northwestern answer to the major economic threat of the Agricultural Research Center, turned over orange blossom wheat midge is a spring every rock: He consulted with colleagues wheat variety called Egan. The new variety in Canada and North Dakota, he researched is resistant to the midge and is now com- cropping systems, researched when and mercially available to producers. what insecticides to spray, then introduced The seed is also the first-ever certified a parasitic wasp to prey on the midge. blend released from MAES. Egan is so “I never experienced anything like this,” effective in destroying the midge that it Stougaard said. “The capability of the midge requires mixing a small percentage of a to seemingly show up out of nowhere and susceptible variety with it to keep the midge cause so much devastation to a crop was from developing resistance or becoming a astounding.” superbug, said Bill Grey, manager for the By 2009, evidence was mounting that MSU Montana Foundation Seed Program. the midge was starting to spread across the This combination of seed is also referred to state. Seeing the devastating potential of the as “refuge in a bag.” The refuge refers to the midge, Stougaard, NWARC Research Asnon-Egan seed that will attract the midge. sociate Brooke Bohannon, retired Pondera To bring Egan to commercial viability see eGaN, Page 8 took a team of wheat breeders, entomolo-

The aurora borealis as seen from Glasgow, montana.

SEAN R. HEAVEY / FOR FARM & RANCH

28th Ann u Productio al n Sale

Thursday February 11, 2016

1:00 pm • Glasgow Stockyards • Glasgow, MT

80

Yearling Registered Angus Bulls Bulls wintered free until May 1st

— Reference Sires Include — Mohnen Long Distance 1639 Bruin Uproar 0070 S Chisum 6175 Connealy Comrade 1385 Connealy Consensus 7229 S A V Priority 7283

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

88

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February 2016 February 2016

Shopping

February 10

CoNTINUeD from PaGe 6

Cows • 8 am - Calves • 10:30 am - Bred Cow Sale • 2pm Cows: 250 Mixed Age Cows, Bred Black • 60 Mixed Age Cows, Bred Black Calving April 15th • 50 head of 3 and 4 yr old Red Angus Bred Cows, Bred Red, Home Raised Calving April 20th • 40 Black Bred Heifers, Bred Black to LBW Bulls, Calving April 1st • 40 Black Bred Heifers, AI’ed to AB5 “Chinook”, 1050#’s, Calving March 25th • 15 Black Baldy Bred Heifers, 1050#’s, Bred Black, Calving March 10th for 21 Days • 42 Bred Cows, Short Term, Blacks & Reds Calves: 110 Bangs Vacc. Replacement Quality Heifers, 600 to650#’s • 45 Replacement Quality Black Heifers, 700#’s + • 600 Mixed Black Calves • 250 Mixed Black Calves • 130 Mixed Calves • 80 Mixed Black Calves • 140 Steers, 750 to 800#’s • 115 Mixed Black & black Baldy Calves • 120 Mixed Black & Red Calves • 65 Mixed Char and Black Calves • 40 Mixed Black Calves • 30 Red Steers • 10 Red Heifers • 100 Mixed Black Calves

February 10 • Handy Bull Sale • 1 pm March 1

Sandhill Red Angus Bull & Female Sale • 1 pm

April 1

Regency Acres Bull Sale • 1 pm

75 Black Angus Registered Bulls 45 Commercial Replacement Heifers

Egan CoNTINUeD from PaGe 7

5 Head of 2 Year Old Bulls • 20 Yearling Bulls

50 Registered Bulls • 100 Replacement Heifers Calves • 100 Bred Heifers

Overall, I’d recommend the top three services to anyone who loves to cook, doesn’t mind a few shortcuts, and who finds prep work to be the hardest part of cooking. It’s nice to mix-and-match recipes, and to have

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Agri Industries is expanding our service to include your area. Please call Matt at 701-572-0767 ext. 18 for all your water well needs. Locations in Williston, Sidney, and Miles City

FOR SALE: FEED CORN Nashua/Frazer area Contact Jim DeWit 406-390-3051

County Extension AgentDan Picard, MSU entomologist David Weaver and a host of Montana farmers and crop consultants who volunteered to put pheromone traps in their fields began monitoring for the midge. MSU software engineer John Sully brought all the data together and created a live-tracking website, Montana Pestweb, that showed the spread of the midge. Six Montana Agricultural Research Centers and 26 MSU Extension offices worked with growers and crop consultants to place hundreds of traps across the state, Stougaard said. Extension agents trained local producers in the biology of the midge, how to track it, what insecticide was effective and, most importantly, when and when not to spray. “Scouting and spraying were short-term solutions, and we didn’t know what the future would look like,” Stougaard said. That’s when producers asked MSU spring wheat breeder Luther Talbert if there was anything MSU’s wheat breeding program could do. Thanks to colleagues at North Dakota State University, Talbert got ahold of the only gene in the world discovered that’s resistant to the midge, called SM1. SM1 produces toxins that kills the midge. When the midge burrows into the developing wheat seed, it dies. Talbert started crossing the resistant line into Montana adapted varieties using traditional breeding techniques. “We crossed this line with the SM1 gene with varieties that were suitable to northwest Montana and let nature derive progeny lines from that,” Talbert said. “From there, we planted those lines in the fields and selected the ones with characteristics we like.” Six years later, Egan – named after the Egan slough in the Flathead where the midge was so prevalent – was born. According to Talbert, Egan also has high grain protein, strong yield potential under high-yield conditions and is resistant to stripe-rust, a wheat disease found in Montana that can also limit yields. On the other hand, Egan is a little taller than typical varieties grown under irrigation in the Flathead Valley, so lodging – bending over of the stems -- may occur under very high yield levels, Talbert said. Because Egan with its SM1 gene is so potent to the midge, Canadian and MSU entomologists suggested it be blended with 10 percent of a non-resistant variety to prevent the midge from developing resistance. “This gene works so well that it kills nearly every single midge,” Talbert said.

www.havredailynews.com www.glasgowcourier.com odds and ends in the fridge that we just don’t see often, like extra fresh thyme, arugula, or fresh mozzarella. The top 3 are also easy to try out for a one-shot effort at about $30 a box. (Just don’t forget to cancel your following orders, or switch to a by-the-month plan, or you’ll end up with more than you bargained for. “But those very few that survive may have a resistance to the SM1 gene that they can pass on to their offspring. As their generations progress, you’ll end up with significant, resistant populations that won’t be stopped by Egan.” The way to mitigate this problem is to allow a small population of “normal” midges to survive and breed with any potential resistant midges. This is accomplished by blending the Egan seed with seed that is susceptible to the midge population – about 10 percent of the susceptible variety. Growers can choose the susceptible variety to blend Egan with. “In a way, producers are sacrificing a small portion of their crop so that the susceptible midges continue to persist and we never allow a significant population of resistant midges to develop,” Talbert said. “We’re sort of using nature’s greatest tools against itself, so it’s a natural form of resistance.” MAES has grown and tested Egan at seven research centers across the state. Last spring, MAES gave Egan to the Montana Foundation Seed Program for production and certification. Now, Egan is available to producers and is being sold as a certified blend – the first ever certified blend in the university’s history. Purchasing the blend comes with a Certified Seed Only acknowledgement, binding producers to keep buying certified seed year after year, in an effort to ward off a population that is completely resistant. Grey, who recently retired after 35 years, said the certified seed only and blend idea might take some education on behalf of growers and producers. “It’s important for all to understand how important the blend ratio is and a bit about the background, as the agreement is legally binding,” he said. “This was a collective response for public good, and the certified seed only agreement is also dependent on a kind of handshake and agreement between neighbors across the state.” Dan Lake, owner and partner of Lake Seed Inc. in Ronan and certified seed grower, is selling Egan to area growers this spring. “Our growers are really excited about Egan, and we’re going to blend it with a hard red spring wheat we have,” Lake said. “The entire process to get to this point is an extremely good example of MSU research centers working to identify, find solutions and solve a problem alongside producers. When you have research centers that are fixed, functional and modern, it’s an investment statewide, and this is the kind of result you see.”

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FARM & RANCH FARM & RANCH hinsdale Native Chisholm Christensen Participates In montana stockgrowers Leadership series

55

February 2016 February 2016

moNTaNa sToCKGrowers assoCIaTIoN for farm & raNCh Montana is home to a growing group of young professionals in the farming and ranching communities. These aspiring millennials and younger generation Xers are passionate about the lifestyle and impact they can have on the industry. To succeed in their careers on multi-generation ranches or by providing industry services, they’ll need tools in leadership, networking and business management. During 2016, fourteen young ranchers are taking on this challenge through the Stockgrowers Leadership Series - a 12-month program hosted by the Montana Stockgrowers Association to help our future leaders succeed through their endeavors. The leadership series consists of workshops each month that will provide participants an opportunity to improve their skills in leadership, policy, business management, networking, communication and understanding of issues important to beef consumers. Speaking with the Northern Ag Network, class member Heather Fryer of Hobson described the leadership series as a well-organized program and opportunity to work with a diverse group of her peers. “Everyone is busy, but we are the voice of Montana ranching and it is important to be involved as the industry evolves. The leadership series is a perfect opportunity to learn how to do that.” On Jan. 20-21, the leadership series met in Helena, Mont. for a two-day workshop to kick off the program. 2016 participants come from all corners of the state and areas of the ranching communities. The class heard from leadership of Montana Stockgrowers, Deptartment of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and Department of Livestock. Representatives each offered an overview of their organization’s structure, role working with Montana ranchers and shared advice from their experience on becoming influential leaders in the industry. Leadership coach, Sarah Bohnenkamp,

worked with the class in a five hour workshop, helping identify their strengths and roles in leading others, whether at home on the ranch or as organization members. The class worked through a number of activities to identify their personal leadership brand, how to leverage those strengths, and learn more about potential to have a leadership legacy. Each month this year, the class will continue building on leadership strengths through webinars and at-home assignments with Bohnenkamp. While in Helena, the leadership series also toured the state capitol, walking through the legislative process and viewing important committee rooms, as well as chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives, where they may one day participate in the legislative process by attending committee meetings or testifying on important bills that influence the ranching industry. During the capitol tour, the class visited the governor’s office and met with Tim Baker, Policy Advisor for Natural Resources. Baker offered insight into all the areas of policy involved with his role in the governor’s office. He also shared advice with the group on being aware of these important issues and their path to being strong leaders in the industry. The next meeting for the leadership series will take place in March in Helena as the class focuses on the policymaking process, learning how effective policy can be used to address issues faced by ranchers across the state. The class will also learn more about operating a board of directors meeting and hear from speakers on industry topics. 2016 is the inaugural year for the Stockgrowers Leadership Series, which is aimed at helping Montana’s next generation (ages 25-45) become stronger leaders of the ranching community. The leadership series is organized by Ryan Goodman of Helena with the help of Lacey Ehlke, Young Stockgrowers Chair from Townsend, and Tyrel Obrecht, Young Stockgrowers Vice-Chair from Lewistown.

www.havredailynews.com www.glasgowcourier.com

What do “low cost” ag suppliers

REALLY do for you?

When You Buy From Us, We Give You Added Value! Let's Work Together

We Can Only Continue To Provide Service In Our Communities If YOU Support Those Services! After The Initial Sale— WHAT Is Your "Discount" Supplier Offering You?

When you buy your chemical & fertilizer from us we can help you with . . . • Crop Scouting • Weed Identification Services • Soil Analysis • Crop Spraying • Application Recommendations • Fertilizer Application • And Much More

We Have . . . A Full Agronomy Staff Available

To All Of Our Patrons Across Our Trade Area

The People, The Know How And The Products To Cover All Your Needs . . .

We Offer Many Services to Our Customers . . . • On Farm Tire Service • Shop Services & Minor Repairs • Oil & Filters • Feed (Crystalyx) • Lawn Care Items • Fencing Equipment

• • • • •

Bulk Fuel Delivery Tires - Batteries - Brakes 24 Hour Gas & Fuel Oxygen/Acetylene Tanks Full-Line Hardware Store

We Also Offer Full Commodity Marketing

Value Added Services . . . Use them to your advantage and maximize your yields!

Are You Getting This Kind Of Value Where You Buy?

SEAN R. HEAVEY / FOR FARM & RANCH

The Pines recreation area is blanketed in snow prior to the icing over of the reservoir.

!

Plus, if you pay in advance, earn a 6% premium Or 6% discount for cash at time of purchase!

Scobey • Flaxville • Peerless • Richland • Opheim • Four Buttes 487-2741

474-2231

893-4398

724-3353

762-3231

783-5519

44

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February 2016 February 2015

How to Date a Farmer

Mills Earns Del Strommen Trend Setter Award

This shot of a cow calmly enduring a -23 degree day in Northeastern montana was captured by sean r. heavey on Jan. 17.

www.havredailynews.com www.glasgowcourier.com

Tips for Valentine's Day from a Rural Romantic

COURTESY GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

KATIE LEIBRAND / FOR FARM & RANCH

shelley mills (L) and Glasgow Chamber executive Director Lisa Koski (r) pose on Jan. 13 .

Glasgow Stockyards, Inc. Linda & Mark Nielsen, Owners Iva Murch, Manager 263-7529 Dean Barnes, Yard Manager 263-1175 Ed Hinton, Auctioneer 783-7285

2016 February / March Schedule

February 2016

11 18 25

1946 - 2016

March 2016 Thursday

Thursday

4

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Big Feeder Special & All Class Cattle Auction 28th Wittkopp Angus Auction & Monthly Stock Cow & Bred Heifer Auction & All Class Cattle Auction Feeder Special & All Class Cattle Auction All Class Cattle Auction

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406-228-9306

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GLasGow Chamber of CommerCe for farm & raNCh 2016 New Trends in Ag Seminar was held on Jan. 13 at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow. The 2015 Trend Setter/Del Strommen Ag Award was presented to Shelley Mills of Glasgow in front of an audience of over 100. Ryan Fast, chair of the New Trends in Ag committee explained the award goes to someone who shows innovation in agriculture and community involvement. Fast said that the committee meets three to four times over the year and they look at several nominations to discuss and narrow down the choice. He said Valley County Extension agent Shelley Mills plays a huge role in not only organizing the event but knowing those in the ag industry locally. Shelley Mills was born in Ronan, Mont., graduating from Ronan high school in 1981. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Botany from Montana State University in 1986. In the fall of that year she moved to Glasgow and went to work for the Montana Department of Agriculture as a Pesticide Specialist, enforcing pesticide laws and regulations in a thirteen county district in northeastern Montana. She held that position for 23 years with the exception of a short 8 month period in 2000 when she worked for Monsanto as a regional sales representative. Realizing that sales were not her forte’, she went back to the MDA with a renewed sense of purpose in educating growers in environmental protection while seeking their

compliance. She became Valley County’s first female MSU Agricultural Extension Agent in Jan. of 2010. Shelley has worked with Marvin Tarum and Dick Fulton as well as her extension colleagues to expand the Richland pulse production plot to one of the premier crop field days to attend. She has worked with Bill and Myrna Lauckner, and Will and Peggy Lauckner in the continuation of the wheat and durum variety trial plot located on their farm north of Nashua. Shelley has provided Master Gardener classes to area residents; helped Dave Pippin to continue Free Tree Day; established a research orchard at Dave and Lora Reinhardt’s; began wheat blossom midge, wireworm, and cutworm surveying in Valley County; helped to establish the community garden at the Milk River Activity Center; is testing grape varieties throughout the county; and ensures that there are opportunities for private applicators to receive continuing education points. Shelley was accepted to and began the online graduate program through the Land Resource and Environmental Sciences department of Montana State University in Aug. of 2014. She is currently in her fourth semester and hopes to graduate with a Master of Science in Dec. of 2016. Her area of research is narrow leaf hawksbeard in range, pasture, CRP and waste areas. Her goal is to provide landowners viable options for control of this invasive weed.

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The author poses with her husband near Porcupine Creek. eLIZabeTh shIPsTeaD for farm & raNCh With Valentine’s Day approaching I thought I would put my thoughts together and give you my best tips on “how to date a farmer”. 1. Don’t lower your expectations, just throw them out the window. If you are the one planning the date have a plan A, B, and C. Goodness knows, you are a farm wife. You always have a back up plan. 2. Be willing to get dirty. He may be in or under a piece of equipment. Be willing to be there to be with your farmer. You didn’t become a farm wife because you’re afraid of getting dirty. That’s practically in the job description. 3. Don’t expect roses. Town is how far away? The flower shop only delivers in town. The likelihood of getting flowers on a special day is slim to none. You know your farmer believes in investing in things that will last. Flowers don’t last forever, but his love will. 4. The likelihood of leaving the farm for a “date out on the town” may be quite small. Be willing to make wherever you are and whatever you do extra special. Besides, you’ve set your roots at home too. 5. Love them where they’re at. When it’s the busy season, sleep is at a premium and sometimes date night consists of curling up together and just going to sleep. Goodness knows, the Farm Wife is just as tired as the farmer. Maybe even a bit more. 6. Be willing to include your kids. You may not have access to childcare and sometimes just having relaxing family time is as precious as time as a couple. This is no problem for you.

You believe in the legacy of family, farming and agriculture. 7. Be flexible. You never know what will come up, you may have to reschedule or cancel altogether. But you already know that. Farm wives have been practicing flexibility for years. 8. Consider a date “like you’ve always done”. Checking cows, fields or fences has to be at the top of the list when it comes to the best farm dates. You get to spend time outside together enjoying the beauty of God’s creation and the simple joy of visiting about every day life. I know you. You’ll keep your eyes open for those amazing photographic moments and maybe one might even include your farmer. 9. When you do get “dressed up” for a special date, look for the important things. Who knows what you’ll wear. It’s likely you won’t decide until you’re walking out the door, because you rarely “dress up”. Don’t worry about that. You know what he will wear. He will wear his button up shirt, his cleanest jeans, his good old work boots and that darned ball cap. You’ll think he’s hot. But, most importantly it’s the way he looks at you. No one else looks at you quite like that. 10. In that moment, forget everything else. Forget the laundry. Forget the looming banknote. Forget the argument over who’s muddy boot prints were left on the floor. Remember, in this moment...you, him, we, us...is the most important thing to foster and nourish on your farm. To read more of Shipstead's work, visit www.theruralsisterhood. com

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NWS: ASOS stations provide public hourly surface weather readings

NWS: Montana has four Weather Forecast Offices

n Continued from page 3

every minute to NOAA and NWS offices. ASOS sites are essentially electronic weather stations. Montana, in the Western Region, has four Weather Forecast Offices. The Havre area gets its weather reports from the Great Falls office, which provides weather information for an area that stretches east of the Continental Divide from the Canadian border, in Blaine to Glacier counties, south to the state line in Gallatin, Madison and Beaverhead counties. The Glasgow office covers northeast Montana in a 12-county area from Phillips and Petroleum counties east to the state line. The other two offices are located in Billings and Missoula. The Great Falls office, alone, oversees more than 100 cooperative weather observers, Brusda said. And the ASOS map shows 12

Readings include temperature, cloud cover, moisture, dew point, wind direction and speed and precipitation. Information from ASOS stations on bouys in the Pacific also includes water temperature readings to a depth of nearly 1,000 feet which, among other things, help forecast and monitor El Niño and La Niña weather patterns, NWS meteorologist Bill Hoenisch said. “Here in Great Falls we have a National Weather Service radar its called an 88D . .... The technical name is WSR88D, for Weather Surveillance Radar 1988 Doppler,” Brusda said. “We have satellites in space that are accessed across the United States, so we have weather satellites that transmit images down of cloud cover, temperatures aloft and other weather variables that we use for satellite information,” he said. “... We also are an upper air weather balloon station site where we release a weather balloon twice a day to collect data.” In the winter months, he said, the weather balloons are released at 4 a.m. and 4 p.m., and in summer months at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. These data-collecting balloons are released every day, no matter the weather, at their National Weather Service office across the street from Great Falls International Airport. This proximity to airports is common with National Weather Service and started in 1914 when an aeronautics section was started at NWS’ predecessor, the Weather Bureau. This directive to provide weather service to pilots

Havre Daily News/file photo A screenshot of an interactive map on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association website shows locations around Havre where Automated Surface Observing System surface weather readings are taken. ASOS data, some of it shown in the inset image, is stored and used by National Weather Service and accessible by the public. was reinforced in 1926 when The Air Commerce Act directed the Weather Bureau to provide civilian aviation with weather services. Many airports, including smaller airports

like those in Havre, Lewsitown, Livinsgston, Dillon and Cut Bank, had NWS meteorologists stationed until the late 1980s. “You used to be able to walk over there and there'd be a weather service guy and

he’d be tearing stuff off the teletype and hanging that up. And you could go through and flip through the weather service charts for the last few hours and he’d talk you

n Continued on page 11

weather stations reporting within a 30-mile radius of Chinook, from near the Port of Willow Creek to the Bear Paw Mountains. These sites include the Havre and Chinook airports and Montana State University's Northern Agricultural Research Center. The public is provided online access, at h t t p : / / w w w. w r h . n o a a . g ov / map/?obs=true&wfo=tfx to hourly readings from ASOS stations across the U.S. and throughout North America as well as bouys in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

n Continued on page 10 Havre Daily News/file photo A stubble field south of Havre March 17, 2015, shows a light snow cover and damp earth courtesy of four days of moisture that fell widely across north-central Montana.

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Even the most independent agriculture producers are in business with Mother Nature — a mercurial partner who must be consulted when making any major ag production decisions. Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com Winter wheat or spring wheat this growing season? February calves or March at this location? March foals or just wait for June? Is it too windy to spray? Too wet to seed? Or too dry to keep the herd on this pasture? Paperwork or outside work tomorrow? How much feed and bedding today? Are the roads clear enough to make a haul? Will that storm slow the grain train? Settle on this price now or bank on a good summer? What kind of pests and diseases will next month’s weather bring? While the general public might have to alter plans due to an unexpected rain, farm-

FARM & RANCH ers and ranchers can lose investment, equipment and livestock with the wrong kind of weather surprise. Plenty of information on up-to-the-minute weather and forecasts can be accessed through television, radio, phone apps, online sources and other marvels of modern technology. The leading source of raw data as well as radar and satellite images for these media sources, though, is the U.S. National Weather Service. News outlets and other commercial entities, government agencies and the general public can access NWS’ current and archived data for free. NWS operates under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, but it originated from a collaborative effort of people across the nation. These original volunteers provided weather data that was recognized as being crucial to the safety and wellbeing of people in the U.S. The first efforts to gather weather and climate data across the country began in 1849, said Jim Brusda, meteorologist with National Weather Service in Great Falls. This weather data mining was spearheaded by the Smithsonian Institution, the NOAA website says. The institution provided weather instruments to telegraph companies and by the end of the year 150 volunteers across the U.S. were telegraphing their observations to the base of operations. The advanced technology of the telegraph system made the weather reporting system feasible. Today, there are 122 NWS Weather

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NWS: Technology advanced from telegraph to radar, satellites and super computers n Continued from page 10

Havre Daily News/Pam Burke A spray plane flies low over a field east of Havre in the early 1990s, a time when National Weather Service was upgrading their facilities and technology and making staff changes, across the U.S. In several communities like Havre that meant replacing local meteorologists with automated systems. Forecast Offices equipped with doppler radar systems in six regions of the U.S. More than 8,700 volunteer cooperative weather observers take daily weather readings on farms, in

urban and suburban areas, and at national parks, seashores and mountaintops, the website says. Another 900-plus Automated Surface Observing System sites transmit readings

through it and you’d get an in-person briefing,” Montana Aeronautics Division Safety a n d E d u c a t i o n B u re a u C h i e f H a ro l d Dramstad said. This was standard operation until the late 1980s to 1992 when the NWS modernization was completed, said Brusda. The modernization and restructuring of National Weather Service was an eightyear, $4.5 billion overhaul of the agency which included developing and implementing five major technologies which the website says included: • Expanding ASOS sites • Installing a network of advanced Doppler radars • Launching a new series of satellites • Installing advanced computer systems • Installing a technology integration system. The ASOS stations are limited in their abilities, the NOAA website says, because they see, essentially, straight up and lack the ability to scan to the horizon like a per-

son. An array of sites in an area, though, provide advantages. The increase in ASOS sites — supported by faster computers, better images and ease of data access — replaced the in-person weather observations. Pilots, including general aviation and aerial application pilots, initially had to call a toll-free phone number to get the current weather for flights, Dramstad said. But now pilots, who receive training in reading weather data and radar and satellite imagery when getting licensed, can access this information through computers, smart phones and other hand-held devices. This information is current and easily accessed on the ground and in the air. Newer-model farm equipment has equivalent technology to give operators access to up-to-the-minute access to weather data and forecasts. Decisions can be made quickly in the yard or in the field. Combined with the volunteer weather observers, who have been at the heart of

the weather service system from the beginning, and ASOS sites providing specific, local information on ground conditions, the broader, new technology has given the public better access to current and forecast information for less expense, Dramstad said. From telegraph to radar, satellites and super computers National Weather Service has linked modern technology, Mother Nature and the prosperity of mankind for 167 years.

Links of interest:

• Surface Weather, interactive map www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?obs=true&wfo=tfx • Cooperative Observer Program www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/ • Great Falls Weather Forecast Office www.wrh.noaa.gov/tfx/ • Regional Headquarters, map www.weather.gov/organization/regional • ASOS information page www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/remote/asos.htm

Fire Weather Along with issuing notices such danbers as hazardous weather and flood warnings, National Weather Service uses its weather and climate data to determine fire danger levels through its Fire Weather division, the NOAA website says. Designated U.S. Forestry Service sites receive coded fire weather forecasts once per day, and this data is input in the National Fire Danger Rating System to generate the fire danger. The public sees this in one of five ratings: low, moderate, high, very high, or extreme. The rating and current weather data helps wildland firefighters prepare for and fight wildland fires.

History of the National Weather Service 1849: Smithsonian Institution supplies weather instruments to telegraph companies and establishes extensive observation network. Observations submitted by telegraph to the Smithsonian, where weather maps are created, with 150 reporting volunteers throughout the U.S. by the end of 1849. 1860: 500 stations were furnishing daily telegraphic weather reports. 1870: A Joint Congressional Resolution requiring the Secretary of War to take meteorological observations and provide forecasts and warnings of approaching storms was passed and signed it into law, creating a new national weather service within the U.S. Army Signal Service’s Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce. Oct. 1, 1890: Congress passes an act transferring the meteorological responsibilities of the weather service to the newly-created U.S. Weather Bureau in the Department of Agriculture. 1891: Weather Bureau becomes responsible for issuing flood warnings to the public. 1894: William Eddy, using five kites to loft a self-recording thermometer, makes the first observations of temperatures aloft. 1901: Official three-day forecasts begin for the North Atlantic. 1909: The Weather Bureau begins its program of free-rising balloon observations. 1910: Weather Bureau begins issuing generalized weekly forecasts for agricultural planning and assessment of water available each season for irrigating the West. 1912: As a result of the Titanic disaster, an international ice patrol is established, conducted by the Coast Guard; first fire weather forecast issued. 1914: An aerological section is established to meet growing needs of aviation; first daily radiotelegraphy broadcast of agricultural forecasts by the University of North Dakota. 1916: A Fire Weather Service is established, with all district forecast centers authorized to issue fire weather forecasts.

1926: The Weather Bureau to provide for weather services to civilian aviation; fire weather service formally inaugurated when Congress provides funds for seven fire weather districts. 1935: A hurricane warning service is established. The Smithsonian Institution begins making long-range weather forecasts based on solar cycles; floating automatic weather instruments mounted on buoys begin collecting marine weather data. 1940: The Weather Bureau is transferred to the Department of Commerce. 1954: The Weather Bureau, Navy, Air Force, MIT’s Institute for Advanced Study, and the University of Chicago form a Joint Numerical Weather Prediction Unit in Maryland. This will become a twice-daily routine in 1955, using an IBM 701. The first radar specifically designed for meteorological use, the AN/CPS-9, is unveiled by the Air Weather Service, USAF. 1955: Regularly-scheduled operational computer forecasts begun by the Joint Numerical Forecast Unit. 1956: The Bureau initiates a National Hurricane Research Project. 1957: A proposal is accepted to modify surplus Navy Doppler radars for severe storms observation — the first endeavor to measure motion of precipitation particles by radar. 1960: The world’s first weather satellites, TIROS I and II, are successfully launched from the Air Force Missile Test Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Meteorologists issue first advisories on air pollution potential over the eastern United States. 1967: Responsibility for issuing air pollution advisories is assigned to the Weather Bureau’s National Meteorological Center; fire weather forecasts are extended to cover contiguous U.S. 1970: The Weather Bureau is set up as the National Weather Service in the newly created National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Association under the Department of Commerce. 1975: The first "hurricane hunter" Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite is launched into orbit. 1976: Real-time operational forecasts and warnings using Doppler radar are evaluated by the Joint Doppler Operational Project, spawning a third Generation Weather Radar, the WSR-88D. 1989: Eight year plan for the modernization and restructuring of the National Weather Service is announced. The $4.5 bil-

lion overhaul of the agency lasted a decade and changed the way the agency operates. NWS developed and implemented major technologies. 2000: The NWS modernization and associated restructuring is completed. 2009: NWS completed implementation of the final phase of a nine-year, $180 million contract by installing the newest generation of IBM supercomputers for weather and climate prediction. Adapted from the timeline on http://www. weather.gov/timeline

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