Hi-Line Farm & Ranch January 2018

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FARM & RANCH FARM & RANCH FARM & RANCH FARM & RANCH & RANCH if available, and soil test forFARM N, P and K. Weather

January January2018 2018 March 2015 May 2015 March 2015

Drought/Dirt

www.glasgowcourier.com www.glasgowcourier.com www.havredailynews.com www.havredailynews.com state was classiďŹ ed as being at least Abwww.havredailynews.com normally Dry and/or Moderate Drought (or worse) conditions cover approximately 53 percent of the state. Conditions in the northeast have mostly remained the same as well. Much of the region is still in Severe Drought which covers around half of the region. Areas of Prairie, Dawson, Wibaux and Richland counties along and south of the Yellowstone River valley continue to have the best conditions, only showing. Moderate Drought conditions.

State from Around Around the the State State State FFA FFA Conventions Conventions Draws Draws Students Students from

For soil samples, avoid areas that had high amounts of plant residue, such as from bales or windrows. residue is of signiďŹ cant concern. Plant resi“During drought periods, our level of mandue reduces erosion and protects the soil’s agement and use of technology and knowledge surface from being physically damaged by is more important than in wet years,â€? Choriki the impact of raindrops. said. “Many producers cut back fertilizer rates Ash particles also plug soil pores, prevent- during dry years, resulting in decreased yield ing water from soaking in and increasing the and quality. The crop’s quality, however, is risk of water runoff or soil erosion. Soil aera- what determines its value.â€? tion, the inďŹ ltration and retention of water, SpeciďŹ c nutrient guidelines include: phosand the soil’s ability to hold nutrients coming phorus: use the same amount of P in dry years from ash or fertilizer are reduced. as in normal years. It increases root growth Fire can create a water repellent layer in and the rate of photosynthesis, and helps roots the top 2 inches of forest and shrubland soil, take up water efďŹ ciently; potassium: fertilize due to waxy compounds in the burned litter with the same amount of K in wet and dry that coat soil aggregates and minerals. Soil years; it can prevent wilting and nitrogen: aggregates are groups of soil particles that add less N during dry years, based on yield bind strongly to each other. The water repel- potential and soil testing. lent layer varies in depth and thickness and After a dry year with low harvest, like can affect the soil’s ability to take in water much of eastern Montana experienced, the for months or years. Stubble ďŹ res should not soil likely holds more residual nutrients not cause a repellent layer unless surface residues used by plants this year. Again, test N, P and were heavy. K in the spring. Fire kills bacteria and fungi at the soil Prolonged drought calls for long-term surface, but healthy microbes will recolonize management plans on rangeland. Grazing from deeper soil layers. With deeper steril- duration, frequency andFOR timing are important THE HI-LINE FARM & RANCH FOR THE HI-LINEconsiderFARM & RANCH ization, the microbes require more recovery factors. Choriki also recommended Lukas Johnson, Brett Johnson, Dallas Capdeville, Kyle Albus, Wyatt Pattison and Advisor Patti Armbrister at Lukas They Johnson, Brett Johnson, Dallas Capdeville, Kyle Albus, Wyatt Pattison and Advisor Patti Armbrister time. also need new plant material to ing annual forages for temporary pasture. at the state convenstion ininBillings. the state convenstion Billings. help sustain their population. For more information specific to your WYATT After a ďŹ re, it is best to establish ground WYATTPATTISON PATTISON conditions, contact a CertiďŹ ed Crop Adviser CHAPTER REPORTER cover where possible to reduce HINSDALE weeds and HINSDALE CHAPTER REPORTER near you, certiďŹ edcropadviser.org. erosion from wind and water, spread manure The TheState State(Future (FutureFarmers FarmersofofAmerican) American)FFA FFAConvention Conventionwas washeld held in in Billings Billings on on March March 25 25 -- 28. 28. Over Over1,500 1,500FFA FFAmembers membersfrom fromaround aroundthe thestate stategathered gathered to to compete compete in in State State CDEs, CDEs, ranging ranging from from mechanics mechanicstotopublic publicspeaking. speaking. Ten members Ten membersofofthe theHinsdale Hinsdalechapter, chapter,including includingSophomore SophomoreCache CacheYounkin, Younkin,competed competed in in mechanmechanics, agronomy, farm business management, star greenhand and state creed speaking. When they ics, agronomy, farm business management, star greenhand and state creed speaking. When they weren’t weren’t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

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which occurred on Dec. 20. The overall mean temperature for the month was approximately 23 degrees, which was approximately 6 degrees above normal. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor was released on Dec. 21.Generally, changes across Montana since November in the coverage of the drought, as of press date, have been minimal. Over 71 percent of the

Drought, Fire, Dirt - Page 10 FOR THE HI-LINE FARM & RANCH FOR THE HI-LINE FARM & RANCH

Creed third place place winner winner and and greenhand greenhandsecond secondplace placewinner winnerMickayla MickaylaJohnson Johnsonaccepting acceptingan anaward awardatatthe the Creed third state convention in Billings. state convention in Billings. competing they went went to to various various workshops workshopspresented presentedby bypast paststate stateofďŹ cers ofďŹ cersand andeven evennational nationalofďŹ cers. ofďŹ cers. competing they Three of our younger members, Elise Strommen, Chaykota Christensen and Halle Beil Three of our younger members, Elise Strommen, Chaykota Christensen and Halle Beil served on the courtesy corp and helped out with contests whenever needed. Our five seserved on the courtesy corp and helped out with contests whenever needed. Our five seniors, Lukas Johnson, Brett Johnson, Dallas Capdeville, Kyle Albus and Wyatt Pattiniors, Lukas Johnson, Brett Johnson, Dallas Capdeville, Kyle Albus and Wyatt Pattison were awarded awarded their their State State Farmer Farmer Degrees Degrees at at the the State State Degree Degree dinner dinner on on Friday Fridaynight. night. son were There were over over 500 500 members, members, advisors advisors and and their their families familiesattending attendingthat thatdinner. dinner.Mickayla MickaylaJohnson Johnson There were competed for star star greenhand greenhand and and received receivedsecond secondplace. place.She Shealso alsocompeted competedwith withother othercreed creedspeakers speakers competed for from around the state and received third. from around the state and received third.

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YOU’RE READING HI-LINE FARM & RANCH capeair.com capeair.com 800-CAPE-AIR capeair.com 800-CAPE-AIR 800-CAPE-AIR Along with thisMerlin, issue'sIris cover the image is partout of photographer Mary Teske's upcoming Lih-An Ellis McKean McKean workabove onclearing clearing out beaverdam damalong alongKate theLittle Little Brazil Creek, Yang, andphoto, Ellis work on aabeaver the Brazil Creek, exhibit at the Evelyn Cameron Heritage building in Terry, Mont., on Jan. 7. There will be an open house from THE AG MONTHLY FOR NORTHEAST southwest of Glasgow. 1 to 3 p.m. and a grand opening at 7 p.m. There will be a $5 cover charge for each of the events. The Cameron Heritage building is located at 212 Laundre Ave. in Terry. Phone: 406-635-4966. & NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA YOU’RE READING HI-LINE FARM & RANCH – THE AG MONTHLY FOR NORTHEAST & NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA

MARY KATE TESKE / FOR FARM & RANCH ANDREWMCKEAN MCKEAN/ /FOR FORTHE THEHI-LINE HI-LINEFARM FARM&&RANCH RANCH ANDREW

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Bulls Stay Stay Steady Steady Bulls

The Month in Weather - Page 2 Pulse Plot Report - Page 11

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January2018 2018 January

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The Month in Weather BRANDON BIGELBACH FOR FARM & RANCH

December was generally a very warm and dry month, up until just days before Christmas Day. For the ďŹ rst 20 days of the month, the average high temperature was approximately 41 degrees. A sharp cooling trend, as well as a sharp increase in snowfall (mostly thanks to a potent winter storm that occurred over a three day span around Dec. 20) very quickly reminded us that winter is still a thing, and has returned to northeast Montana. For the last week in December, the average high temperature has been approximately 8 degrees, signiďŹ cantly colder than the ďŹ rst two thirds of the month. As of press date, for the month of Decem-

ber, only around 12 days saw maximum wind speeds above 25 mph. The highest sustained winds for the month occurred on Dec. 5, with a speed of 38 mph. The highest wind gust for the month was also on Dec. 5, reporting 52mph. As of press date, per the National Weather Service in Glasgow, the highest observed temperature for the month was 56 degrees on Dec. 9, and the lowest was -25 degrees on Dec. 25 and 26. The total liquid precipitation reported at Glasgow was 0.45�, which was approximately 0.1� above normal. For the month, 8.2� of snowfall was also reported. Over a 24-hour period, the greatest precipitation total was 0.27�, See WEATHER Page 12

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11 January2018 2018 11 January

MSU Extension Pulse Plot Report

SHELLEY MILLS, MSU EXTENSION FOR FARM & RANCH The 10th Annual Pulse Plot Tour was held on June 30, 2017 at the plot on Dick Fulton’s property and at the Richland fertilizer plant. Currently many producers are in a three year rotation of pulse crops - usually wheat-wheatpeas. Canadian producers who have used this rotation for many years are now facing disease pressure which has caused a transition out of pulse crops and into canola. MSU Extension in Valley and Daniels Counties focused this year’s workshop on raising awareness of longterm disease issues and providing strategies for increasing rotations between pulse crops. Sixty-seven producers, agronomists and industry professionals met at the plot to hear Mohammed Yesuf, Eastern Ag Research Center Post-Doc research Scientist, describe the on-going research in the plot and the results of the micronutrient study he has been working on. Amber Ferda, EARC Research Associate, presented data from a three year study of fungicides on Chickpea varieties, and attendees toured the plot with the scientists. The group reconvened at the Richland fertilizer plant following a short drive to listen to Kevin McPhee describe on-going research and the trend of pulse breeding for the future.

Anton Bekkerman MSU Associate Professor of Ag Economics, described the economic advantages to extending pulse rotations through an analogy with baseball which really ‘hit home’ with the producers. After a catered lunch the workshop continued with Dr. Clain Jones, MSU Soil Fertility Specialist, discussing nutrient management for Canola and Dr. Jessica Rupp providing management strategies for pulse diseases. Growers and agronomists were very receptive to the information provided during the workshop with 81 percent likely to change a cropping practice based on what they learned at the meeting. Many of the changes were directly related. Though we were awarded a Western SARE grant of $2068, we only used $325.79 because the speakers chose to only charge for fuel and motel rooms. Northern Pulse Growers Association donated $500 dollars to the workshop and area business donated food, door prizes and facilities. Growers are asking for more time at the plot with the specialists, more information on weed and pest management, more information on using canola in rotations, and more information on using variable rates for fertilizer and pest management. Producers in the region obviously value the plot and the information provided by MSU Extension and the Eastern Ag Research Center.

COURTESY PHOTO / FOR FARM & RANCH

Dr. Kevin McPhee, MSU Pulse Breeding Specilaist and Associate Professor, describes new trends in pulse breeding.

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There was a strong turnout at Glasgow's Sean R. Heavey Gallery for Toni Marie LaGree's book and chocolate exchange on Dec. 23. Since there are no book stores in many Hi-Line ag communities, residents often see to their own needs.

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Anton Bekkerman, Associate Professor of Ag Economics at MSU, engages producers in a discussion of the economic benefits of extending rotations.

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Dr. Clain Jones, MSU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist, discusses nutrient management for Canola production, adding another option for extending rotations with a new crop.

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How Drought, Fire Impact Your Dirt Rural Sisterhood: Winter Poetry MEYRL RYGG MCKENNA FOR FARM & RANCH

Farmers and ranchers sometimes call themselves “next-yearâ€? people, always hoping for better results next season. For many, the severe conditions of 2017 beg a better sequel. A December 2017 drought monitor map showed much of Montana in moderate to severe drought, although Montana’s northwestern corner improved since early November. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, Montana’s 2017 wildďŹ re season resulted in more than 1.25 million acres of forest, rangeland and cropland burned. Drought or ďŹ re can have signiďŹ cant impacts on soil health, affecting soil’s ability to receive, soak up and retain moisture, among other things. Soil nutrient testing to make better management decisions is essential after a ďŹ re or during a drought, said CertiďŹ ed Crop Adviser (CCA) Mike Choriki, from Billings. While the main concerns after a bad range-fire or forest-ďŹ re season are erosion and weed control, fertility management comes ďŹ rst on cropland. The impact of ďŹ re depends on its intensity, duration and the proportion of plant material that is burned. In general, fast-moving grass ďŹ res have little effect on soil health and nutrients, due to the lower temperature of the soil surface compared to slow, smoldering hotter ďŹ res in moderate to heavy fuels. Most nutrients stay behind after a fastmoving ďŹ re because they are not converted to gasses until they reach temperatures hotter than the soil’s surface, said chair of the Rocky Mountain CertiďŹ ed Crop Adviser program and Montana State University’s Soil Fertility Extension Specialist .Clain Jones. “Fast-moving ďŹ res convert nutrients in branches, bark, stubble, grass, etc., into more

usable forms because they’re hot enough to burn the carbon in these materials but not hot enough to combust most plant nutrients. This leaves phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulfur (S) more available,â€? Jones explained. Nutrients such as magnesium, zinc and manganese are also quite stable. They are not lost directly through combustion, but rather through blowing ash and post-fire soil erosion. Forest and shrubland ďŹ res, however, will likely reduce the organic matter at the soil surface because temperatures there will combust soil organic matter. While these intensely hot ďŹ res can send some surface nutrients into the air, nutrients more than an inch down in the soil are not as likely to be lost. Organic nitrogen (N) may or may not go up in smoke, depending on the temperatures involved. The effect of nitrogen being released from plant material burned quickly (with lower surface temperatures) shows clearly in the vibrant green of the ďŹ rst grass following a fast-moving ďŹ re. Nitrogen is extremely mobile and can be lost through leaching or surface runoff when few living plant roots are present to use it. Little surface residue means N can be lost through erosion, as well. Loss of N can have a long-term impact on productivity of forest and rangeland, but is more easily managed on cropland. Jones strongly recommends soil sampling to determine nitrogen levels after a burn, since ďŹ re’s effect on nitrogen levels is so unpredictable. While cropland or grassland ďŹ res rarely burn hot enough to affect organic matter down in the soil, the loss of surface plant

ADAPTED BY ELIZABETH AND ODIN SHIPSTEAD FOR FARM & RANCH Farmin’ Wonderland Cattle lowing, are you listening? In the pasture, pies are steamin’ A beautiful sight Their chewing cud tonight Loading in a winter wonderland.

around, Moms screams out the door in a fright “Calm down cause there’ll be no ER run tonight!� Later on They’ll conspire As they dream new ways to terrify her To face unafraid The threats that she made Playing in a winter wonderland.

Gone away, is the wheat ďŹ eld Gotta say, it was a good yield Peterbuilt pelts a tune As it rolls along Hauling in a winter wonderland. In the farmyard you can hear the farm kids, Spinning the 4 wheeler pulling the sled

When it snows Ain’t it trillin’ Though your nose, gets a chillin’ We’ll work and we’ll play the farmin’ way Workin’ in a winter wonderland Playin’ in a winter wonderland To read more of Shipstead's work, visit theruralsisterhood.com.

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The Alzheimer's Mystery: Signs and Symptons ROUBIE YOUNKIN, MSU EXTENSION FOR FARM & RANCH

Alzheimer’s disease, once considered rare, is now seen as a major public health problem. Its impact is far reaching from the patients themselves to caregivers to families whose lifestyles are changed as a result of their new family dynamics. The gradual slipping away of mind and memory is frightening and frustrating, both for the person with the disease and for family and friends. Thousands of scientists, with support from voluntary organizations, health care professionals and families are working toward gaining insight into Alzheimer’s. Through their efforts, much is being learned about treating, managing and perhaps even preventing this terrible disease. The brain is a remarkable organ which allows us to carry out every element of our daily lives. It effortlessly manages our breathing, circulation and digestion. Because of our brain we can speak, move, see, remember, feel emotions and make decisions. These functions all happen because of the complicated mix of chemical and electrical processes taking place in our brain. The cells in our brains are called neurons. As a person gets older, changes occur in all parts of the body including the brain. As a result of these changes as people age they may notice a decline in their ability to learn new things and retrieving information – like remembering names. However, aging adults also may improve their vocabulary and other types of verbal knowledge. Alzheimer’s disease is not a part of normal aging. It is caused by a disease that affects the brain, a brain that if not diseased can function for up to 100 years. Alzheimer’s is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and eventually makes it difďŹ cult or impossible to complete the simplest tasks. No one knows exactly what causes the Alzheimer’s disease process to begin or why normal aging changes become more extreme and destructive in patients with the disease. However, research is providing more and more information about what happens to the brain once Alzheimer’s is diagnosed. The time from diagnosis to death varies from as little as 3 years in patients over 80 to as long as 10 years in younger patients.

Although each patient is difference, symptoms seem to develop following the same general stages: Signs of potentially mild Alzheimer’s: Memory loss, confusion/getting lost, taking longer to accomplish tasks, difďŹ culty handling money/paying bills, mood and personality changes. Signs of moderate Alzheimer’s include increased memory loss and confusion, shortened attention span, problems recognizing friends/family, difďŹ culty with language, reading, writing, numbers, difďŹ culty thinking logically, iunability to cope with new situations, restlessness, agitation, and anxiety, wandering, repetitive statements, suspiciousness or paranoia. Signs of severe Alzheimer’s include weight loss, seizures, skin infections, difficulty swallowing, groaning/moaning, increased sleeping, and lack of bladder/ bowel control. Perhaps one of the greatest costs of Alzheimer’s disease is the physical and emotional toll on family, caregivers and friends. The changes in a loved one’s personality and mental abilities; the need to provide constant, loving attention for years on end; and the physical demands of caregiving duties can be hard to bear. Alzheimer’s disease knows no boundaries and all communities face the challenges of caring for families needing support and guidance. As the number of people suffering from or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s grows, the need for information on caregiving increases. In Montana, nearly 20,000 people have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. MSU Extension, Valley County will be offering a 5 part series for informal caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. The target audience is family and friend caregivers however, healthcare providers would also gain information from attending the series. Each week a topic related to caregiving will be presented. The topics include: An overview of the disease, home adaptations, managing one’s stress, ďŹ nancial and legal issues, and food and nutrition information for both the care receiver and the caregiver. The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Series is scheduled to begin Monday, January 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the community room of the Valley County Courthouse and continue for 5 weeks. Please contact the Valley County Extension OfďŹ ce for more information and to preregister for this series. Call 228-6241.

January 2018 2018 January

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Pulse crops moving into north-central Montana Alex Ross aeross@havredailynews.com Dryland farmers in Montana who have made their state known for its wheat have now made their state a leader in the production of pulse crops. Montana now produces more pulse crops — such as dried beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans — than any other state, the Montana Department of Agriculture’s website says. The bump in pulse crops has been more than a decade in the making. The department’s website says that in 1998, Montana had 60,000 acres planted in pulse crops. That number gradually rose and is now at 1,535,905 acres in 2017. A chief reason for farmers branching out into pulses is that pulses are a more lucrative crop in a market where the price of wheat is so low, experts say. “Revenue would probably be the number one driving factor,” said Jillien Streit, co-owner and marketing director for Stricks Ag, a pulse crop production facility in Chester. “With other commodities kind of hitting all-time lows historically it has been a good transition because it creates diversified revenue for their farms.” The Montana Department of Agriculture’s projected crop budgets for 2017 says market revenue for an acre of

File Photo Peas are unloaded from a truck Nov. 14 in Chester. More farmers in north-central Montana are rotating pulse crops like peas and dried beans, chickpeas and lentils into their previous crop rotation. Experts said the change can produce added revenue as well as helping with the health of the soil, if properly managed.

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FARM & RANCH seek to help farmers looking to start growing pulses by holding presentations such as their Annual Pulse Day that was held last month in Great Falls. The event, she said, attracted 450 people, The Northern Pulse Growers also provides current and perspective pulse growers and the general public at their website, she said. Streit said farmers are addressing the challenges associated by pulse crops by helping each other out. “More farmers are getting together, talking about what they are doing on pulses,” she said. “They are visiting with their extension agents; they are calling us up all the time.” She added that many members of the staff at Stricks Ag farm themselves, and if they don’t know the answer to a question, they can put the questioner in touch with someone who does. Streit said that, moving forward, she is excited about the future of pulse crops, especially as they start to get added into mainstream foods as a way to increase the revenues of farmers, but also as a source of nourishment.

File Photo Peas are loaded Nov. 14 in Chester onto a BNSF rail car for shippng.

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“There is huge potential to help with health across the entire nation and the world,” she said. Despite the rise of pulses, Rispens said, he expects that because of the challenges of raising pulses and the fact that this region grows good-quality wheat due to the area’s weather patterns, that crop will continue. “It will be really hard for guys to leave that behind all together,” Rispens said. Because pulses are a rotational crops, Berndet said, they will always be grown in addition to another crop. “I think what we are is rather than a competitor for additional acres, we can really be a collaborator to increase wheat yields and those types of things,” she said, “We have to look at it as a real arrangement with other commodities.”

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Pulse crops: Streit: Pulse crops use different strategies, ‘It’s a whole new playing field’ ■ Continued from page 7 to collect in the soil, he said. Because some water is in the soil, Miller said, farmers are likely to have some crop even if precipitation is minimal. However, with farmers planting pulses instead of letting the soil sit idle for a season, less water is left in the ground for future crops and makes them more dependent on rainfall. “That may not sound like a big deal, but for most farmers that is a pretty big deal,” Millers said. Rispens said that another issue is that when lentils and other pulse crops are harvested, they are cut very close to the ground. If crops are in a summerfallow rotation, he said, harvesting close to the ground can leave it susceptible to wind erosion. If erosion meets a certain level it can reduce the quality of the soil and cause farmers to be in violation of conservation compliance rules, which can cause them to lose access to government programs. People have to manage the situation, Rispens said, by modifying their crop rotations, so ground isn’t left fallow for a year after a lentil crop is planted in order to reduce wind erosion and remain in compliance with conservation rules. Berndet said one of the biggest challenges facing her organization and pulse farmers is making sure producers can identify and treat diseases in their crops before it becomes an economic loss. She added that, right now, products that can be used to treat pulse crops are few. Growing pulse crops, Berndet said, is still fairly new to Montana, which has less experience in growing the crops than other states such as Idaho, Washington and North Dakota. As a grower organization, she said, the Northern Pulse Growers works to disseminate information that will allow farmers to catch any signs of disease early, as well as fund research into diseases that can affect pulse crops. Berndet said information is available on the Northern Pulse Growers website at http://northernpulse.com. The lack of pulse-crop processing facilities in Montana also causes difficulties, Streit said. One pulse processing facility is needed in Montana for every 50,000 acres planted to pulse crops, and last year 1.5 million acres

were planted to the crops. Processing pulse crops also is more complicated, requiring the crops be cleaned, sorted and sized, she said. The lack of processing facilities, she said, means more crops are either sent out unprocessed or sent out of state, which means Montana is not getting as much revenue from pulses as they otherwise could. “There is a lot of revenue that can be generated right here in our state if we do it right,” Streit said. Stricks Ag is one of several pulse crop processing facilities in the region. Another facility is operated near Chester by Columbia Grain, which also has a pulse crop facility in Chinook. Stricks Ag, Streit said, has the capacity to clean and size pulse crops, and eventually hopes to be equipped to sort them, too. Because pulses are new to Montana, some grain farmers are hesitant to plant them, she said. She said pulse farming is often more labor-intensive and requires different harvesting, chemicals, seeding products and strategies. “It’s a whole new playing field, I guess,” Streit said. Streit said that once new pulse producers adapt to the change, they usually conclude that pulse crops and the revenue they bring are worth the adjustments that have to be made. Pulse crop industry groups, businesses and farmers themselves are working to ease the transition and tackle some of the issues that come with a burgeoning pulse industry. The College of Agriculture at MSU can test pulse seeds for diseases that could economically affect pulse growers at its Regional Pulse Crops Diagnostic Laboratory. The laboratory’s webpage on the MSU website says the lab serves pulse producers in Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, the Dakotas and Nebraska. For a fee, people in the areas served by the lab can have seeds tested. People can learn more about the lab at its website at http://plantsciences.montana.edu/pulsecropdiagnosticlab. Berndet said the Northern Pulse Growers

File Photo Stricks Ag silos stand Nov. 14 in Chester.

www.havredailynews.com winter wheat is $160 and for hard red spring wheat is $198. Pulse crops are higher, with a market revenue of $217 for peas, $324 for lentils and $462 for chickpeas. Hill County Farm Service Agency Executive Director Les Rispens said the rise in pulse crops was caused by a perfect storm of weather and an outbreak of fungus in recent years that has caused problems north of the border in Saskatchewan, known historically for its pulse crop production. Because of the conditions in Saskatchewan, Rispens said, Montana has seen an influx in pulse crop seed sellers who have crossed the border to sell their product. “So, just the fact that they asked a farmer if they would consider planting pulse crops might be all it takes to say, ‘Sure, I will try some,’” Rispens said. Pulse crops are able to grow in the same climate in which wheat thrives in Montana, said Perry Miller, professor of sustainable cropping systems in the Department of Land Resources at Montana State University in Bozeman. Pulse crops, as wheat does, are able to endure colder temperatures and thrive in drier climates, which helps provide them

■ See Pulse crops Page 6 File Photo Forms are finalized for concrete to be poured Nov. 14 in Chester at an expansion of Stricks Ag. With increasing numbers of farmers planting pulse crops, businesses like Stricks Ag are opening more facilities to process the crops.

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■ Continued from page 5 relief from diseases they are vulnerable to in wetter, flat environments, he said. “That is one time our drier environment provides us a big advantage because it is less conducive to disease development.” Miller said. “That is especially true of crops like chickpeas, but it is true of all pulse crops.” Unlike some crops like canola that are big consumers of water, Miller said, pulse crops require very little water and actually use less water than wheat. Pulses, Streit said, are a rotational crop with farmers alternating between wheat one growing season and pulse crops the next, “You are hardly going to find someone who just farms pulses,” she said. “Every pulse farmer is usually a wheat farmer as well.” When farmers grow pulse crops, it can also have longterm benefits to the soil, said Sharon Berndet, executive director of the Northern Pulse Growers Association, an organization that represents 600 pulse producers and trade members in Montana and North Dakota. Pulse crops fix nitrogen into the soil and, as a rotational crop, also provide a break from diseases, thereby enhancing the quality of the soil, she said. Berndet said research shows that planting pulses in one growing season can increase wheat yield in subsequent crops. The amount of ground left fallow in Montana makes for ample opportunity to grow crops, she said. Pulse crops are a key component of people’s diets in places in Asia, but their consumption has also been gaining ground in the U.S.

File Photo An employee of Stricks Ag loads peas onto a BNSF rail car Nov. 14 in Chester.

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The website of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service says that Americans are eating more healthy pulse foods such as hummus, made from chickpeas. U.S. sales from hummus have risen from less than $10 million in the late 1990s to as much as $800 million. Berndet said that, in North America, one of the biggest value-added uses for pulses is as cooking ingredients such as for flours, starches and proteins. Pulses, she said, often act as either an alternative for people on a healthy diet or an alternative of key vitamins for someone with an allergy to food items such as wheat gluten or eggs. “In many cases, these additives are utilized to add protein either because it is less expensive, or to compensate for the loss of proteins or other elements in certain diets,” Berndet said. Growing pulses does have its share of risks, challenges and drawbacks. Though pulses are water-efficient, Miller said, like any crop, they still need water. In Montana, farmers are moving away from the practice of summer fallow, where farmers don’t grow a crop in a plot of land for a growing season, which can allow water

■ See Pulse crops Page 8 File Photo Peas pour into a loading chute Nov. 14 in Chester. More and more farmers in the area are raising pulse crops such as beas, dried beans and chickpeas as well as wheat.

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■ Continued from page 5 relief from diseases they are vulnerable to in wetter, flat environments, he said. “That is one time our drier environment provides us a big advantage because it is less conducive to disease development.” Miller said. “That is especially true of crops like chickpeas, but it is true of all pulse crops.” Unlike some crops like canola that are big consumers of water, Miller said, pulse crops require very little water and actually use less water than wheat. Pulses, Streit said, are a rotational crop with farmers alternating between wheat one growing season and pulse crops the next, “You are hardly going to find someone who just farms pulses,” she said. “Every pulse farmer is usually a wheat farmer as well.” When farmers grow pulse crops, it can also have longterm benefits to the soil, said Sharon Berndet, executive director of the Northern Pulse Growers Association, an organization that represents 600 pulse producers and trade members in Montana and North Dakota. Pulse crops fix nitrogen into the soil and, as a rotational crop, also provide a break from diseases, thereby enhancing the quality of the soil, she said. Berndet said research shows that planting pulses in one growing season can increase wheat yield in subsequent crops. The amount of ground left fallow in Montana makes for ample opportunity to grow crops, she said. Pulse crops are a key component of people’s diets in places in Asia, but their consumption has also been gaining ground in the U.S.

File Photo An employee of Stricks Ag loads peas onto a BNSF rail car Nov. 14 in Chester.

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The website of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service says that Americans are eating more healthy pulse foods such as hummus, made from chickpeas. U.S. sales from hummus have risen from less than $10 million in the late 1990s to as much as $800 million. Berndet said that, in North America, one of the biggest value-added uses for pulses is as cooking ingredients such as for flours, starches and proteins. Pulses, she said, often act as either an alternative for people on a healthy diet or an alternative of key vitamins for someone with an allergy to food items such as wheat gluten or eggs. “In many cases, these additives are utilized to add protein either because it is less expensive, or to compensate for the loss of proteins or other elements in certain diets,” Berndet said. Growing pulses does have its share of risks, challenges and drawbacks. Though pulses are water-efficient, Miller said, like any crop, they still need water. In Montana, farmers are moving away from the practice of summer fallow, where farmers don’t grow a crop in a plot of land for a growing season, which can allow water

■ See Pulse crops Page 8 File Photo Peas pour into a loading chute Nov. 14 in Chester. More and more farmers in the area are raising pulse crops such as beas, dried beans and chickpeas as well as wheat.

BANGS FAMILY · INVERNESS, MT Read stories from our members at MontanaFarmersUnion.com

THE POWER OF MANY MEANS

THE POWER OF YOU Montana Farmers Union has spent the last century connecting Montana farmers and ranchers in our communities through cooperation, education, and legislation. Because successful farmers and ranchers are good for everyone in Montana.

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Pulse crops: Streit: Pulse crops use different strategies, ‘It’s a whole new playing field’ ■ Continued from page 7 to collect in the soil, he said. Because some water is in the soil, Miller said, farmers are likely to have some crop even if precipitation is minimal. However, with farmers planting pulses instead of letting the soil sit idle for a season, less water is left in the ground for future crops and makes them more dependent on rainfall. “That may not sound like a big deal, but for most farmers that is a pretty big deal,” Millers said. Rispens said that another issue is that when lentils and other pulse crops are harvested, they are cut very close to the ground. If crops are in a summerfallow rotation, he said, harvesting close to the ground can leave it susceptible to wind erosion. If erosion meets a certain level it can reduce the quality of the soil and cause farmers to be in violation of conservation compliance rules, which can cause them to lose access to government programs. People have to manage the situation, Rispens said, by modifying their crop rotations, so ground isn’t left fallow for a year after a lentil crop is planted in order to reduce wind erosion and remain in compliance with conservation rules. Berndet said one of the biggest challenges facing her organization and pulse farmers is making sure producers can identify and treat diseases in their crops before it becomes an economic loss. She added that, right now, products that can be used to treat pulse crops are few. Growing pulse crops, Berndet said, is still fairly new to Montana, which has less experience in growing the crops than other states such as Idaho, Washington and North Dakota. As a grower organization, she said, the Northern Pulse Growers works to disseminate information that will allow farmers to catch any signs of disease early, as well as fund research into diseases that can affect pulse crops. Berndet said information is available on the Northern Pulse Growers website at http://northernpulse.com. The lack of pulse-crop processing facilities in Montana also causes difficulties, Streit said. One pulse processing facility is needed in Montana for every 50,000 acres planted to pulse crops, and last year 1.5 million acres

were planted to the crops. Processing pulse crops also is more complicated, requiring the crops be cleaned, sorted and sized, she said. The lack of processing facilities, she said, means more crops are either sent out unprocessed or sent out of state, which means Montana is not getting as much revenue from pulses as they otherwise could. “There is a lot of revenue that can be generated right here in our state if we do it right,” Streit said. Stricks Ag is one of several pulse crop processing facilities in the region. Another facility is operated near Chester by Columbia Grain, which also has a pulse crop facility in Chinook. Stricks Ag, Streit said, has the capacity to clean and size pulse crops, and eventually hopes to be equipped to sort them, too. Because pulses are new to Montana, some grain farmers are hesitant to plant them, she said. She said pulse farming is often more labor-intensive and requires different harvesting, chemicals, seeding products and strategies. “It’s a whole new playing field, I guess,” Streit said. Streit said that once new pulse producers adapt to the change, they usually conclude that pulse crops and the revenue they bring are worth the adjustments that have to be made. Pulse crop industry groups, businesses and farmers themselves are working to ease the transition and tackle some of the issues that come with a burgeoning pulse industry. The College of Agriculture at MSU can test pulse seeds for diseases that could economically affect pulse growers at its Regional Pulse Crops Diagnostic Laboratory. The laboratory’s webpage on the MSU website says the lab serves pulse producers in Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, the Dakotas and Nebraska. For a fee, people in the areas served by the lab can have seeds tested. People can learn more about the lab at its website at http://plantsciences.montana.edu/pulsecropdiagnosticlab. Berndet said the Northern Pulse Growers

File Photo Stricks Ag silos stand Nov. 14 in Chester.

www.havredailynews.com winter wheat is $160 and for hard red spring wheat is $198. Pulse crops are higher, with a market revenue of $217 for peas, $324 for lentils and $462 for chickpeas. Hill County Farm Service Agency Executive Director Les Rispens said the rise in pulse crops was caused by a perfect storm of weather and an outbreak of fungus in recent years that has caused problems north of the border in Saskatchewan, known historically for its pulse crop production. Because of the conditions in Saskatchewan, Rispens said, Montana has seen an influx in pulse crop seed sellers who have crossed the border to sell their product. “So, just the fact that they asked a farmer if they would consider planting pulse crops might be all it takes to say, ‘Sure, I will try some,’” Rispens said. Pulse crops are able to grow in the same climate in which wheat thrives in Montana, said Perry Miller, professor of sustainable cropping systems in the Department of Land Resources at Montana State University in Bozeman. Pulse crops, as wheat does, are able to endure colder temperatures and thrive in drier climates, which helps provide them

■ See Pulse crops Page 6 File Photo Forms are finalized for concrete to be poured Nov. 14 in Chester at an expansion of Stricks Ag. With increasing numbers of farmers planting pulse crops, businesses like Stricks Ag are opening more facilities to process the crops.

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Pulse crops moving into north-central Montana Alex Ross aeross@havredailynews.com Dryland farmers in Montana who have made their state known for its wheat have now made their state a leader in the production of pulse crops. Montana now produces more pulse crops — such as dried beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans — than any other state, the Montana Department of Agriculture’s website says. The bump in pulse crops has been more than a decade in the making. The department’s website says that in 1998, Montana had 60,000 acres planted in pulse crops. That number gradually rose and is now at 1,535,905 acres in 2017. A chief reason for farmers branching out into pulses is that pulses are a more lucrative crop in a market where the price of wheat is so low, experts say. “Revenue would probably be the number one driving factor,” said Jillien Streit, co-owner and marketing director for Stricks Ag, a pulse crop production facility in Chester. “With other commodities kind of hitting all-time lows historically it has been a good transition because it creates diversified revenue for their farms.” The Montana Department of Agriculture’s projected crop budgets for 2017 says market revenue for an acre of

File Photo Peas are unloaded from a truck Nov. 14 in Chester. More farmers in north-central Montana are rotating pulse crops like peas and dried beans, chickpeas and lentils into their previous crop rotation. Experts said the change can produce added revenue as well as helping with the health of the soil, if properly managed.

www.havredailynews.com

FARM & RANCH seek to help farmers looking to start growing pulses by holding presentations such as their Annual Pulse Day that was held last month in Great Falls. The event, she said, attracted 450 people, The Northern Pulse Growers also provides current and perspective pulse growers and the general public at their website, she said. Streit said farmers are addressing the challenges associated by pulse crops by helping each other out. “More farmers are getting together, talking about what they are doing on pulses,” she said. “They are visiting with their extension agents; they are calling us up all the time.” She added that many members of the staff at Stricks Ag farm themselves, and if they don’t know the answer to a question, they can put the questioner in touch with someone who does. Streit said that, moving forward, she is excited about the future of pulse crops, especially as they start to get added into mainstream foods as a way to increase the revenues of farmers, but also as a source of nourishment.

File Photo Peas are loaded Nov. 14 in Chester onto a BNSF rail car for shippng.

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“There is huge potential to help with health across the entire nation and the world,” she said. Despite the rise of pulses, Rispens said, he expects that because of the challenges of raising pulses and the fact that this region grows good-quality wheat due to the area’s weather patterns, that crop will continue. “It will be really hard for guys to leave that behind all together,” Rispens said. Because pulses are a rotational crops, Berndet said, they will always be grown in addition to another crop. “I think what we are is rather than a competitor for additional acres, we can really be a collaborator to increase wheat yields and those types of things,” she said, “We have to look at it as a real arrangement with other commodities.”

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How Drought, Fire Impact Your Dirt Rural Sisterhood: Winter Poetry MEYRL RYGG MCKENNA FOR FARM & RANCH

Farmers and ranchers sometimes call themselves “next-yearâ€? people, always hoping for better results next season. For many, the severe conditions of 2017 beg a better sequel. A December 2017 drought monitor map showed much of Montana in moderate to severe drought, although Montana’s northwestern corner improved since early November. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, Montana’s 2017 wildďŹ re season resulted in more than 1.25 million acres of forest, rangeland and cropland burned. Drought or ďŹ re can have signiďŹ cant impacts on soil health, affecting soil’s ability to receive, soak up and retain moisture, among other things. Soil nutrient testing to make better management decisions is essential after a ďŹ re or during a drought, said CertiďŹ ed Crop Adviser (CCA) Mike Choriki, from Billings. While the main concerns after a bad range-fire or forest-ďŹ re season are erosion and weed control, fertility management comes ďŹ rst on cropland. The impact of ďŹ re depends on its intensity, duration and the proportion of plant material that is burned. In general, fast-moving grass ďŹ res have little effect on soil health and nutrients, due to the lower temperature of the soil surface compared to slow, smoldering hotter ďŹ res in moderate to heavy fuels. Most nutrients stay behind after a fastmoving ďŹ re because they are not converted to gasses until they reach temperatures hotter than the soil’s surface, said chair of the Rocky Mountain CertiďŹ ed Crop Adviser program and Montana State University’s Soil Fertility Extension Specialist .Clain Jones. “Fast-moving ďŹ res convert nutrients in branches, bark, stubble, grass, etc., into more

usable forms because they’re hot enough to burn the carbon in these materials but not hot enough to combust most plant nutrients. This leaves phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulfur (S) more available,â€? Jones explained. Nutrients such as magnesium, zinc and manganese are also quite stable. They are not lost directly through combustion, but rather through blowing ash and post-fire soil erosion. Forest and shrubland ďŹ res, however, will likely reduce the organic matter at the soil surface because temperatures there will combust soil organic matter. While these intensely hot ďŹ res can send some surface nutrients into the air, nutrients more than an inch down in the soil are not as likely to be lost. Organic nitrogen (N) may or may not go up in smoke, depending on the temperatures involved. The effect of nitrogen being released from plant material burned quickly (with lower surface temperatures) shows clearly in the vibrant green of the ďŹ rst grass following a fast-moving ďŹ re. Nitrogen is extremely mobile and can be lost through leaching or surface runoff when few living plant roots are present to use it. Little surface residue means N can be lost through erosion, as well. Loss of N can have a long-term impact on productivity of forest and rangeland, but is more easily managed on cropland. Jones strongly recommends soil sampling to determine nitrogen levels after a burn, since ďŹ re’s effect on nitrogen levels is so unpredictable. While cropland or grassland ďŹ res rarely burn hot enough to affect organic matter down in the soil, the loss of surface plant

ADAPTED BY ELIZABETH AND ODIN SHIPSTEAD FOR FARM & RANCH Farmin’ Wonderland Cattle lowing, are you listening? In the pasture, pies are steamin’ A beautiful sight Their chewing cud tonight Loading in a winter wonderland.

around, Moms screams out the door in a fright “Calm down cause there’ll be no ER run tonight!� Later on They’ll conspire As they dream new ways to terrify her To face unafraid The threats that she made Playing in a winter wonderland.

Gone away, is the wheat ďŹ eld Gotta say, it was a good yield Peterbuilt pelts a tune As it rolls along Hauling in a winter wonderland. In the farmyard you can hear the farm kids, Spinning the 4 wheeler pulling the sled

When it snows Ain’t it trillin’ Though your nose, gets a chillin’ We’ll work and we’ll play the farmin’ way Workin’ in a winter wonderland Playin’ in a winter wonderland To read more of Shipstead's work, visit theruralsisterhood.com.

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The Alzheimer's Mystery: Signs and Symptons ROUBIE YOUNKIN, MSU EXTENSION FOR FARM & RANCH

Alzheimer’s disease, once considered rare, is now seen as a major public health problem. Its impact is far reaching from the patients themselves to caregivers to families whose lifestyles are changed as a result of their new family dynamics. The gradual slipping away of mind and memory is frightening and frustrating, both for the person with the disease and for family and friends. Thousands of scientists, with support from voluntary organizations, health care professionals and families are working toward gaining insight into Alzheimer’s. Through their efforts, much is being learned about treating, managing and perhaps even preventing this terrible disease. The brain is a remarkable organ which allows us to carry out every element of our daily lives. It effortlessly manages our breathing, circulation and digestion. Because of our brain we can speak, move, see, remember, feel emotions and make decisions. These functions all happen because of the complicated mix of chemical and electrical processes taking place in our brain. The cells in our brains are called neurons. As a person gets older, changes occur in all parts of the body including the brain. As a result of these changes as people age they may notice a decline in their ability to learn new things and retrieving information – like remembering names. However, aging adults also may improve their vocabulary and other types of verbal knowledge. Alzheimer’s disease is not a part of normal aging. It is caused by a disease that affects the brain, a brain that if not diseased can function for up to 100 years. Alzheimer’s is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and eventually makes it difďŹ cult or impossible to complete the simplest tasks. No one knows exactly what causes the Alzheimer’s disease process to begin or why normal aging changes become more extreme and destructive in patients with the disease. However, research is providing more and more information about what happens to the brain once Alzheimer’s is diagnosed. The time from diagnosis to death varies from as little as 3 years in patients over 80 to as long as 10 years in younger patients.

Although each patient is difference, symptoms seem to develop following the same general stages: Signs of potentially mild Alzheimer’s: Memory loss, confusion/getting lost, taking longer to accomplish tasks, difďŹ culty handling money/paying bills, mood and personality changes. Signs of moderate Alzheimer’s include increased memory loss and confusion, shortened attention span, problems recognizing friends/family, difďŹ culty with language, reading, writing, numbers, difďŹ culty thinking logically, iunability to cope with new situations, restlessness, agitation, and anxiety, wandering, repetitive statements, suspiciousness or paranoia. Signs of severe Alzheimer’s include weight loss, seizures, skin infections, difficulty swallowing, groaning/moaning, increased sleeping, and lack of bladder/ bowel control. Perhaps one of the greatest costs of Alzheimer’s disease is the physical and emotional toll on family, caregivers and friends. The changes in a loved one’s personality and mental abilities; the need to provide constant, loving attention for years on end; and the physical demands of caregiving duties can be hard to bear. Alzheimer’s disease knows no boundaries and all communities face the challenges of caring for families needing support and guidance. As the number of people suffering from or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s grows, the need for information on caregiving increases. In Montana, nearly 20,000 people have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. MSU Extension, Valley County will be offering a 5 part series for informal caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. The target audience is family and friend caregivers however, healthcare providers would also gain information from attending the series. Each week a topic related to caregiving will be presented. The topics include: An overview of the disease, home adaptations, managing one’s stress, ďŹ nancial and legal issues, and food and nutrition information for both the care receiver and the caregiver. The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Series is scheduled to begin Monday, January 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the community room of the Valley County Courthouse and continue for 5 weeks. Please contact the Valley County Extension OfďŹ ce for more information and to preregister for this series. Call 228-6241.

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The Month in Weather BRANDON BIGELBACH FOR FARM & RANCH

December was generally a very warm and dry month, up until just days before Christmas Day. For the ďŹ rst 20 days of the month, the average high temperature was approximately 41 degrees. A sharp cooling trend, as well as a sharp increase in snowfall (mostly thanks to a potent winter storm that occurred over a three day span around Dec. 20) very quickly reminded us that winter is still a thing, and has returned to northeast Montana. For the last week in December, the average high temperature has been approximately 8 degrees, signiďŹ cantly colder than the ďŹ rst two thirds of the month. As of press date, for the month of Decem-

ber, only around 12 days saw maximum wind speeds above 25 mph. The highest sustained winds for the month occurred on Dec. 5, with a speed of 38 mph. The highest wind gust for the month was also on Dec. 5, reporting 52mph. As of press date, per the National Weather Service in Glasgow, the highest observed temperature for the month was 56 degrees on Dec. 9, and the lowest was -25 degrees on Dec. 25 and 26. The total liquid precipitation reported at Glasgow was 0.45�, which was approximately 0.1� above normal. For the month, 8.2� of snowfall was also reported. Over a 24-hour period, the greatest precipitation total was 0.27�, See WEATHER Page 12

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11 January2018 2018 11 January

MSU Extension Pulse Plot Report

SHELLEY MILLS, MSU EXTENSION FOR FARM & RANCH The 10th Annual Pulse Plot Tour was held on June 30, 2017 at the plot on Dick Fulton’s property and at the Richland fertilizer plant. Currently many producers are in a three year rotation of pulse crops - usually wheat-wheatpeas. Canadian producers who have used this rotation for many years are now facing disease pressure which has caused a transition out of pulse crops and into canola. MSU Extension in Valley and Daniels Counties focused this year’s workshop on raising awareness of longterm disease issues and providing strategies for increasing rotations between pulse crops. Sixty-seven producers, agronomists and industry professionals met at the plot to hear Mohammed Yesuf, Eastern Ag Research Center Post-Doc research Scientist, describe the on-going research in the plot and the results of the micronutrient study he has been working on. Amber Ferda, EARC Research Associate, presented data from a three year study of fungicides on Chickpea varieties, and attendees toured the plot with the scientists. The group reconvened at the Richland fertilizer plant following a short drive to listen to Kevin McPhee describe on-going research and the trend of pulse breeding for the future.

Anton Bekkerman MSU Associate Professor of Ag Economics, described the economic advantages to extending pulse rotations through an analogy with baseball which really ‘hit home’ with the producers. After a catered lunch the workshop continued with Dr. Clain Jones, MSU Soil Fertility Specialist, discussing nutrient management for Canola and Dr. Jessica Rupp providing management strategies for pulse diseases. Growers and agronomists were very receptive to the information provided during the workshop with 81 percent likely to change a cropping practice based on what they learned at the meeting. Many of the changes were directly related. Though we were awarded a Western SARE grant of $2068, we only used $325.79 because the speakers chose to only charge for fuel and motel rooms. Northern Pulse Growers Association donated $500 dollars to the workshop and area business donated food, door prizes and facilities. Growers are asking for more time at the plot with the specialists, more information on weed and pest management, more information on using canola in rotations, and more information on using variable rates for fertilizer and pest management. Producers in the region obviously value the plot and the information provided by MSU Extension and the Eastern Ag Research Center.

COURTESY PHOTO / FOR FARM & RANCH

Dr. Kevin McPhee, MSU Pulse Breeding Specilaist and Associate Professor, describes new trends in pulse breeding.

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There was a strong turnout at Glasgow's Sean R. Heavey Gallery for Toni Marie LaGree's book and chocolate exchange on Dec. 23. Since there are no book stores in many Hi-Line ag communities, residents often see to their own needs.

COURTESY PHOTO / FOR FARM & RANCH

Anton Bekkerman, Associate Professor of Ag Economics at MSU, engages producers in a discussion of the economic benefits of extending rotations.

COURTESY PHOTO / FOR FARM & RANCH

Dr. Clain Jones, MSU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist, discusses nutrient management for Canola production, adding another option for extending rotations with a new crop.

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FARM & RANCH FARM & RANCH FARM & RANCH FARM & RANCH & RANCH if available, and soil test forFARM N, P and K. Weather

January January2018 2018 March 2015 May 2015 March 2015

Drought/Dirt

www.glasgowcourier.com www.glasgowcourier.com www.havredailynews.com www.havredailynews.com state was classiďŹ ed as being at least Abwww.havredailynews.com normally Dry and/or Moderate Drought (or worse) conditions cover approximately 53 percent of the state. Conditions in the northeast have mostly remained the same as well. Much of the region is still in Severe Drought which covers around half of the region. Areas of Prairie, Dawson, Wibaux and Richland counties along and south of the Yellowstone River valley continue to have the best conditions, only showing. Moderate Drought conditions.

State from Around Around the the State State State FFA FFA Conventions Conventions Draws Draws Students Students from

For soil samples, avoid areas that had high amounts of plant residue, such as from bales or windrows. residue is of signiďŹ cant concern. Plant resi“During drought periods, our level of mandue reduces erosion and protects the soil’s agement and use of technology and knowledge surface from being physically damaged by is more important than in wet years,â€? Choriki the impact of raindrops. said. “Many producers cut back fertilizer rates Ash particles also plug soil pores, prevent- during dry years, resulting in decreased yield ing water from soaking in and increasing the and quality. The crop’s quality, however, is risk of water runoff or soil erosion. Soil aera- what determines its value.â€? tion, the inďŹ ltration and retention of water, SpeciďŹ c nutrient guidelines include: phosand the soil’s ability to hold nutrients coming phorus: use the same amount of P in dry years from ash or fertilizer are reduced. as in normal years. It increases root growth Fire can create a water repellent layer in and the rate of photosynthesis, and helps roots the top 2 inches of forest and shrubland soil, take up water efďŹ ciently; potassium: fertilize due to waxy compounds in the burned litter with the same amount of K in wet and dry that coat soil aggregates and minerals. Soil years; it can prevent wilting and nitrogen: aggregates are groups of soil particles that add less N during dry years, based on yield bind strongly to each other. The water repel- potential and soil testing. lent layer varies in depth and thickness and After a dry year with low harvest, like can affect the soil’s ability to take in water much of eastern Montana experienced, the for months or years. Stubble ďŹ res should not soil likely holds more residual nutrients not cause a repellent layer unless surface residues used by plants this year. Again, test N, P and were heavy. K in the spring. Fire kills bacteria and fungi at the soil Prolonged drought calls for long-term surface, but healthy microbes will recolonize management plans on rangeland. Grazing from deeper soil layers. With deeper steril- duration, frequency andFOR timing are important THE HI-LINE FARM & RANCH FOR THE HI-LINEconsiderFARM & RANCH ization, the microbes require more recovery factors. Choriki also recommended Lukas Johnson, Brett Johnson, Dallas Capdeville, Kyle Albus, Wyatt Pattison and Advisor Patti Armbrister at Lukas They Johnson, Brett Johnson, Dallas Capdeville, Kyle Albus, Wyatt Pattison and Advisor Patti Armbrister time. also need new plant material to ing annual forages for temporary pasture. at the state convenstion ininBillings. the state convenstion Billings. help sustain their population. For more information specific to your WYATT After a ďŹ re, it is best to establish ground WYATTPATTISON PATTISON conditions, contact a CertiďŹ ed Crop Adviser CHAPTER REPORTER cover where possible to reduce HINSDALE weeds and HINSDALE CHAPTER REPORTER near you, certiďŹ edcropadviser.org. erosion from wind and water, spread manure The TheState State(Future (FutureFarmers FarmersofofAmerican) American)FFA FFAConvention Conventionwas washeld held in in Billings Billings on on March March 25 25 -- 28. 28. Over Over1,500 1,500FFA FFAmembers membersfrom fromaround aroundthe thestate stategathered gathered to to compete compete in in State State CDEs, CDEs, ranging ranging from from mechanics mechanicstotopublic publicspeaking. speaking. Ten members Ten membersofofthe theHinsdale Hinsdalechapter, chapter,including includingSophomore SophomoreCache CacheYounkin, Younkin,competed competed in in mechanmechanics, agronomy, farm business management, star greenhand and state creed speaking. When they ics, agronomy, farm business management, star greenhand and state creed speaking. When they weren’t weren’t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

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which occurred on Dec. 20. The overall mean temperature for the month was approximately 23 degrees, which was approximately 6 degrees above normal. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor was released on Dec. 21.Generally, changes across Montana since November in the coverage of the drought, as of press date, have been minimal. Over 71 percent of the

Drought, Fire, Dirt - Page 10 FOR THE HI-LINE FARM & RANCH FOR THE HI-LINE FARM & RANCH

Creed third place place winner winner and and greenhand greenhandsecond secondplace placewinner winnerMickayla MickaylaJohnson Johnsonaccepting acceptingan anaward awardatatthe the Creed third state convention in Billings. state convention in Billings. competing they went went to to various various workshops workshopspresented presentedby bypast paststate stateofďŹ cers ofďŹ cersand andeven evennational nationalofďŹ cers. ofďŹ cers. competing they Three of our younger members, Elise Strommen, Chaykota Christensen and Halle Beil Three of our younger members, Elise Strommen, Chaykota Christensen and Halle Beil served on the courtesy corp and helped out with contests whenever needed. Our five seserved on the courtesy corp and helped out with contests whenever needed. Our five seniors, Lukas Johnson, Brett Johnson, Dallas Capdeville, Kyle Albus and Wyatt Pattiniors, Lukas Johnson, Brett Johnson, Dallas Capdeville, Kyle Albus and Wyatt Pattison were awarded awarded their their State State Farmer Farmer Degrees Degrees at at the the State State Degree Degree dinner dinner on on Friday Fridaynight. night. son were There were over over 500 500 members, members, advisors advisors and and their their families familiesattending attendingthat thatdinner. dinner.Mickayla MickaylaJohnson Johnson There were competed for star star greenhand greenhand and and received receivedsecond secondplace. place.She Shealso alsocompeted competedwith withother othercreed creedspeakers speakers competed for from around the state and received third. from around the state and received third.

PUTTING IN SOME DAM DAM WORK WORK

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Enjoy Enjoythe theride. ride. Enjoy the ride.

YOU’RE READING HI-LINE FARM & RANCH capeair.com capeair.com 800-CAPE-AIR capeair.com 800-CAPE-AIR 800-CAPE-AIR Along with thisMerlin, issue'sIris cover the image is partout of photographer Mary Teske's upcoming Lih-An Ellis McKean McKean workabove onclearing clearing out beaverdam damalong alongKate theLittle Little Brazil Creek, Yang, andphoto, Ellis work on aabeaver the Brazil Creek, exhibit at the Evelyn Cameron Heritage building in Terry, Mont., on Jan. 7. There will be an open house from THE AG MONTHLY FOR NORTHEAST southwest of Glasgow. 1 to 3 p.m. and a grand opening at 7 p.m. There will be a $5 cover charge for each of the events. The Cameron Heritage building is located at 212 Laundre Ave. in Terry. Phone: 406-635-4966. & NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA YOU’RE READING HI-LINE FARM & RANCH – THE AG MONTHLY FOR NORTHEAST & NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA

MARY KATE TESKE / FOR FARM & RANCH ANDREWMCKEAN MCKEAN/ /FOR FORTHE THEHI-LINE HI-LINEFARM FARM&&RANCH RANCH ANDREW

*Fares aresubject subjecttoto availability and other conditions. notice, and are not guaranteed until ticketed. *Fares toavailability availabilityand andother otherconditions. conditions.Fares Faresmay maychange changewithout without notice, and are not guaranteed until ticketed. *Fares are may change without notice, and are not guaranteed until ticketed.

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

Bulls Stay Stay Steady Steady Bulls

The Month in Weather - Page 2 Pulse Plot Report - Page 11

Bullsales salesremain remainstrong strongand andthe themarket market Bull remainsatataasteady steadyhigh high//Page Page2 2 remains

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