Railroads gear up for 2016 harvest Inside Ag
PAGE 2
MINOT DAILY NEWS
OCTOBER 2016
Burlington Northern billed for the previous Santa Fe and Canadian week. There were 208 Pacific say their rail outstanding car orders, lines have been in good with an average days late position for handling of about 3.5. During the the 2016 harvest. first week of September, BNSF set the all-time the average days late in volume record for agriinstances of outstanding cultural products grain car orders was less moved on its network in than two days. There August. For this past were 545 outstanding orsummer, the railroad ders listed for the first saw a record number of week, and 1,650 cars shuttles sold. Additionloaded and billed. ally, it has another BNSF’s latest report record of shuttles sold dated Sept. 21 noted no through harvest, spokesoutstanding car orders woman Amy McBeth during the previous said. week. It reported 2,491 “We continue to grain cars loaded and solidly perform for our billed for the week, comcustomers with good pared to 2,739 cars for fluidity in North Dakota the first week of Septemand across our system. ber. BNSF had one outWe hear this from our standing order with an customers, but also in average of one day late the metrics we conduring the first week of stantly measure, such as September. locomotive velocity, and CP reports it continfor ag in North Dakota ues to make significant Submitted Photo in particular, the numinvestments in its infraA Burlington Northern Santa Fe grain train crosses the Gassman Coulee railroad trestle, west of Minot, structure to move grain ber of shuttle trips per month to the Pacific in this photo from BNSF. more efficiently. Over Northwest,” she said. the past few years CP has “The significant investinvested record amounts ments we’ve made in of private sector capital Staff Writer • jschramm@minotdailynews.com our infrastructure in into capacity-building North Dakota and our improvements to handle northern corridor over growing customer needs. the last several years have resulted in expanded capacity to better serve all our cus- CP also stated it has been encouraged by investments made by partners, especially tomers, including ag customers who are receiving solid, steady service during this in grain country elevator capacity and port capacity. busy harvest season.” CP’s development of its Dedicated Train Program provides customers with better Canadian Pacific officials say the railroad has been well-positioned to move this car management, and the railroad says it has received positive feedback on the servyear’s grain crop, which has been forecasted to be significantly bigger than the five- ice, which allows customers to have a clear and guaranteed amount of rail capacity. year average. Meanwhile, the North Dakota Public Service Commission reported in September “To ensure success during this crop-year, the broader supply chain must work to- that licensed grain storage in the state increased by 4.5 percent in 2016, growing from gether to collectively harness our energy so that the entire Canadian economy can about 451 million bushels of licensed storage capacity in 2015 to almost 471 million reap the maximum benefit,” said E. Hunter Harrison, CP’s chief executive officer, in bushels. The figure doesn’t include private, on-farm grain storage, which is not lia news release earlier this fall. “We have been preparing for this crop year for months censed or tracked by the PSC. and we are ready.” As of early September, the PSC had licensed 383 grain warehouses and 81 roving CP reported that the rail supply chain has returned to normal since the extraordi- grain buyers. Although the number of licensed public grain warehouses has remained nary crop and winter of 2013-14. This means the railroad went into harvest with ex- fairly level in the last year, the capacity continues to increase, growing by 69 percent cess capacity in the supply chain, including thousands of rail cars in storage ready in the last 10 years. In contrast, records from 1915 showed more than 2,000 licensed elevators with a to move the crop. The company’s latest report on Sept. 21 showed 1,361 total grain cars loaded and total licensed capacity of about 60 million bushels.
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AGT builds successful base in Minot ag park
Inside Ag
MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 4
A
A building expansion is allowing AGT Food and Ingredients to gain an even greater presence in Minot’s Value-Added Agriculture Complex. AGT announced this summer that it will be increasing its production capacity for granulated pulse flour and fiber processing and adding a fourth production line to increase overall production capacity. Startup is expected in January. The addition of the fourth production line should ensure that the production of pea products for the pet food sector can continue uninterrupted as the production of conventional and organic flours, fiber and proteins for human consumption builds, according to the company. AGT has grown to become one of the world’s largest suppliers of valueadded pulses. The company celebrated its recent expansion at its facility in Minot’s ag park in August, treating guests to a lunch and other food samples using its product lines. AGT and Minot Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors cut the ribbon on the $30 million expansion,
OCTOBER 2016
By JILL SCHRAMM
Staff Writer • jschramm@minotdailynews.com
File photo
ABOVE: Containers hold samples of some of the processed products at AGT Food and Ingredients. File Photo
LEFT: AGT employees serve food samples made from pulse ingredients processed at the Minot facility at an open house and ribbon cutting on an expansion Aug. 5.
which added 33,000 square feet and gives AGT the capability to eventually increase to six processing lines. The expansion will create as many as 20 additional jobs and bring total employment to 100. “We are just getting started. We are certainly not done,” founder and chief executive officer Murad Al-Katib said at the ribbon cutting. Al-Katib,
whose headquarters are in Canada, began developing AGT in 2003. In 2007, when the company opened its Williston operation, annual revenues were about $40 million. In 2011, it built its facility in Minot. Today, AGT has 42 facilities on five continents and annual sales of $1.76 billion, with exports to 121 countries. AGT purchases lentils,
peas, beans, and chickpeas from local farmers and adds value by turning those pulses into flour, proteins, starches, and fibers, which are used as food ingredients for snacks, pastas, pet food, aquaculture, and other products. AGT currently is the only resident of the ag park, but Minot Area Development Corp. has about 150 additional acres now site-
ready for any future residents. MADC President Stephanie Hoffart said the park has been built out with 12,000 linear feet of rail. Before more rail goes in, Burlington Northern Santa Fe will be putting in a track switch. A spur also will be built, possibly next year, for AGT to provide the company with a second spur for transporting its products.
We are just getting started. We are certainly not done. – Murad Al-Katib founder and chief executive of AGT Food and Ingredients
Inside Ag OCTOBER 2016
MINOT DAILY NEWS
Grazing cattle
PAGE 5
Cattle graze on hillside growth near farm buildings southeast of Minot. Note the changing color of the trees as the hours of sunshine during autumn continues to become shorter. Kim Fundingsland/MDN
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Inside Ag OCTOBER 2016
MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 7
Wind allows dandelion-like weed to make its way to Williston
Soybean harvest good, corn and sunflowers remain By KIM FUNDINGSLAND
Staff Writer kfundingsland@minotdailynews.com The area soybean crop looks to be a pretty good one. Corn and sunflowers harvesting is just getting underway but, using the soybean harvest as an indicator, results are promising. Berthold Farmers Elevator hasn’t handled sunflowers for about five years but always keep a close eye on developments in the field. According to Dan Mostad at that facility, the late harvested crops are doing well. “Soybeans are better than expected from what I hear from the growers,” said Mostad. “If early indications from soybeans is any indicator to make a judgement on the corn, corn should be pretty good. Overall I think yields have been pretty good on most crops.” Kayla Burkhart, Grain Division Manager for CHS SunPrairie in Minot, said she has heard reports of growers counting cobs per plant and kernels per cob to estimate this year’s corn harvest. So far, so good. “From Velva to Mohall I’m hearing a pretty good crop,” said
Photos by Kim Fundingsland/MDN
ABOVE: Area corn crops look pretty good as the harvest season approaches. While a good yield is expected, producers will keep close tabs on price. MAIN: Harvest of many acres in North Dakota is complete. The last crops to be brought in are generally soybeans, corn and sunflowers. Burkhart. “I’m not sure when it will be ready. Right now we’re concentrating on soybeans.” As for sunflowers, Burkhart says she’s hearing similar stories
to corn and soybean yields and that good production is anticipated. “It looks like it should be a great crop of sunflowers if the
birds haven’t gotten in there. It is looking better than last year,” stated Burkhart. Reports from east of Minot are similar to the rest of the region. Joel Schimke of Harvey Farmers Elevator says growers in his area concentrate on soybeans and corn but just a few acres of sunflowers. “The soybean crop is very good, 30 to 50 bushels an acre with probably a 40-bushel average. The price is around nine dollars, which is higher than last year. Last year was a poor year,” recalled Schimke. While sunflower acreage in the Harvey area is limited, corn remains popular and looks to be poised for an excellent harvest. “We’re expected a better corn crop, well into that 120-130 range. That’s a little above average,” stated Schimke. “The price is about 30 cents less than last year, which will make it a challenge to make money on corn.” According to Schimke, disease and blackbirds caused growers to shy away from sunflowers in his area. He expected the corn and sunflower harvest to get underway in earnest about mid-October.
WILLISTON (AP) — There’s a new weed invading the MonDak scene, and it could easily remind you of a dandelion on steroids. The weed is called Crepis tectorum L., or Narrow-leaved hawk’s beard. The weed looks a lot like a dandelion - and its common name is actually false dandelion - but rather than a single flower per stem, its stems are branched, giving each plant a lot more flowers, and a lot more seeds, the Williston Herald reported. Each plant can throw out many as 49,000 seeds, and, just like dandelion seeds, they travel easily on the wind. Prior to now, the weed had been common mostly on the Canadian prairie, but it has been slowly but surely moving in, and has recently burst onto the scene in both sides of the MonDak at once. Richland County Extension Agent Tim Fine said he identified the weed in an experimental plot in Richland County during a recent field day - much to his dismay. He’d seen it in Daniels County on a prior field day there, and had thought Richland County had more time to gear up. “Since that field day, however, I have had a couple of other producers bring in the plant for identification, so even though it is not as widespread here in Richland County as it is in other areas, it is another weed that we have, and as such we will have to concentrate efforts on trying to control and limit its spread,” Fine wrote in his column last week. Bryan Jenks, with NDSU’s North Central Research Station said data from Montana State’s Ed Davis’ studies suggest that tank mixes of Express and Roundup are generally more effective.
Inside Ag MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 8
OCTOBER 2016
Greater antitrust oversight needed in proposed merger By Mark Watne North Dakota Farmers Union President Duopoly. It’s a word not often used but one farmers could be all too familiar with if the $66 billion purchase of Monsanto, the world’s largest seed firm, by German-based crop chemical giant Bayer, is approved by federal regulators. The possibility of just two sellers in the marketplace – a duopoly – seems plausible in the near future given the rapid pace at which ag conglomerates are merging these days. The Bayer-Monsanto merger marks the fifth major deal in agriculture in the last year. It was preceded by an
approval of the Syngenta/ChemChina acquisition and proposed mergers between Dow/DuPont, Potash Corp./Agrium and John Deere/Precision Planting LLC. Six companies now control 63 percent of the global seed market, 75 percent of the ag chemical market, and 95 percent of trait acres for corn, soybeans and cotton in the U.S. If those numbers don’t alarm you, they should. The economic benchmark for when a market is no longer considered competitive is when four firms control 40 to 50 percent of a market. Ask any farmer what his or her input costs were a decade ago compared to
today and it’s obvious that more than inflation is involved in steadily rising seed and crop chemical costs. The fact is the more we allow concentration in the ag supply market, the simpler it is for companies to maximize profits at the expense of farmers by keeping input costs high. Competition drives the marketplace. The lack of it creates anti-competitive practices that are unfair to family farm operations. When few competitors exist, it is much easier for illegal practices to occur, such as price fixing. Rather than compete in the marketplace, competitors drop the gloves and agree on specific prices and even territorial bound-
aries. This is something we saw occur in the mid-1990s with lysine, an animal feed additive, that involved price fixing among five companies. We also have to ask ourselves, as farmers, do we want foreign countries like China and Germany determining the direction of research and competition in the U.S. or even the traits available for specific crops? I believe the answer is no, because it’s truly not in our best interest. Technology, research and value-added opportunities are tools producers can use to help overcome low prices. Corporate consolidation in agriculture lessens these opportunities and increases
costs for farmers due to less choice and less competition among seed and chemical manufacturers. North Dakota Farmers Union is calling for greater oversight from the Justice Department to evaluate all proposed mergers based on antitrust regulations. From the corporate perspective, these companies say the deals will help them bring new products into the marketplace faster by combining their resources, ultimately putting greater profits in farmers’ pockets. But farmers only have to look at the consistent, year after year, increase in input costs to know that promise rings hallow. Especially now with brutally low crop
prices, the promise of increased yields doesn’t sell well in farm country when producers can’t even cover the cost of production. The bottom line is corporate consolidation in agriculture increases costs for farmers and consumers due to less choice and less competition. Farmers have to contend with so many variables beyond their control already – weather, unfair trade practices, currency manipulation, federal budget cuts, etc. Add corporate mergers to the list and it is obvious that without regulation and oversight, boardroom profits will be created to the detriment of family farmers and ranchers in the field.
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The benefits of drones in farming Inside Ag
MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 10
OCTOBER 2016
By PHIL TORRES
Staff Writer ptorres@minotdailynews.com While many farmers prefer the old ways over new when it comes to tending their fields, the benefits of drones in agriculture are countless. Using drones for crop surveillance can drastically increase farm crop yields while minimizing the cost of walking the fields or airplane fly-over filming. Use of drones can help farmers view composite video showing the health of their crops. “They have to earn more money,” said Per Kristian Frydenlund Haga, the CEO of Robot Aviation, a Norwegian company who is looking at Grand Forks for expansion to the US. Founded in 2008, Robot Aviation manufactures both helicopters and fixed wing drones. Partnering with other North Dakota companies, it hopes to form collaborations for development of its software. Haga says that the 30 hours of run-time a drone has gives farmers the opportunity to “monitor a lot of different land.” “(Farmers) can see precisely what the problem is,” he said. Haga is hopeful that the farming community embraces their technology. “You have to be with the technology,” he said. “The advantage of the technology is tremendous.” He also stresses that the data collected by the drone is for the farmer’s eyes only. “We have secure communication lines. The data is secure.” Drones can help find potentially yield-limiting problems in a timely fashion. While most farmers know the value of scouting their crops, few actually have time to cover the acres on foot. “Drones and agriculture starts with providing imagery to make decisions about their farm with accuracy,” said Nate Heinold. He is with Botlink, a drone operations platform that connects drones to industry and gives operators real-time access to the data they collect. Botlink provides data processing and delivery, automated drone control, airspace awareness, manned aircraft locations, weather overlays and the redundancy of radio and cellular connections. “They’re able to get that information the same day,” said Heinold. “Where we see a lot of success with the agronomist.” Agronomists are those who study the science of soil management and the production of field crops. A drone reduces operating costs and improves crops yield by giving farmers timely information one needs for quick management intervention. “The end goal of a farm is to yield a crop. You can respond with more clarity using drones,” said Heinold. Farms rely on a number of plant protection and fertilization methods to maintain crop health and
AP Photo
yields. For decades, farmers have either relied on labor-intensive manual spraying or hired crop dusters to spray fields too large for manual labor. Neither option is an ideal one, as manual spraying is time intensive while crop dusters are cost heavy. The use of drones give modern farms a new tool for spraying that saves on labor while maximizing coverage. Seeing the true health of a field in a color contrast allows farmers to see how much sunlight is being absorbed by the crop canopy. Additionally, fresh water is one of our most precious resources, with farms worldwide constantly looking to optimize their use of water. Either too much or too little can affect productivity, meaning detailed tracking and monitoring is required. Drones offer farmers and insurance agents alike the opportunity to see where and how much standing water there is with accuracy. Large growers today often have many fields spread out across an entire region. They rely on the use of multiple irrigation pivots to water crops.
Once crops, such as corn, begin reaching certain heights, mid-season inspections of the irrigation equipment that delivers much-needed water can become more difficult. These drones offer farmers an easier solution than driving all over with a truck. “The key to the hearts of the farmers are one, educators and two, agronomists,” said Matt Dunlevy. Dunlevy is the CEO, President, and founder of SkySkopes and has been the CEO and founder of several successful technology start-ups. Dunlevy studied mechanical engineering and history at UND, has logged hundreds of flight hours in glider and powered aircraft since his mid-teens, and was in the Air Force Reserve for four years. Dunlevy has a strong passion for UAS and views SkySkopes as an industry leader. “It’s not about more data, it’s about providing better solutions,” said Dan Daffinrud, CFO of SkySkopes. “We’re the ones that refine the data first,” said Dunlevy. “That’s going to mean that North Dakota will reap the rewards first of that new data. You reap what you sow.”
In this Aug. 29, 2016, file photo provided by Sharper Shape and SkySkopes, Cory Vinger, senior instructor pilot for SkySkopes, prepares a Sharper A6 drone for a test flight in eastern North Dakota near Blanchard. The Sharper Shape drone is being used in pilot project to see if drones can help crews respond more quickly to natural disasters. It is specially designed for utility asset inspections.
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Inside Ag MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 14
OCTOBER 2016 The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame-Center of Western Heritage & Cultures: Native American, Ranching and Rodeo is located in Medora. Eloise Ogden/MDN
Preserving the western lifestyle
Trip home from Minot rodeo spearheaded NDCHF
Knudson
Van Sickle
By ELOISE OGDEN Regional Editor eogden@minotdailynews.com Twenty-two years ago, when Evelyn Neuens, a seasoned western icon, her sister Goldie Nutter and Phil Baird, author of “40 Years of North Dakota Rodeo,” were traveling on a stretch of U.S. Highway 83 on their way home from the 40th anniversary event of the Minot Y’s Men’s Rodeo in Minot, they came up with an idea that turned into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. According to NDCHF history, on the trip home the three were talking about how the state’s rich rodeo history was “scattered to the wind” and that faces and facts were fading with each aging generation. Baird proposed they start an organization to honor North Dakota
rodeo competitors. Ready for the challenge, Neuens said, “Let’s do it! I’d rather wear out than rust out.” With Neuens and Baird at the helm, meetings were held in early 1995 to determine the public’s interest in having such an organization. Attendees said the organization needed to include North Dakota ranchers and Native Americans. NDCHF was formally established with a board of directors and officially incorporated in 1995. Darrell Dorgan, a veteran broadcast journalist from Bismarck, came onboard as the organization’s first executive director in October 1997, according to NDCHF history. With extensive fundraising over the next years, the NDCHF then cut the ribbon on its North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame – Center of Western Heritage & Cultures: Native American, Ranching
and Rodeo located in Medora. A 15,000-square foot interpretive center for the history of the plains and N.D. Badlands western lifestyle, it has permanent and traveling western culture exhibits, Hall of Honorees, theater, gift shop, archives, 1,400-square-feet of multi-purpose meeting space and a 5,000-square-foot open-air patio. Each year the NDCHF accepts nominations and inducts those selected as honorees in the Hall of Fame. Trustees from 12 districts in North Dakota and a 13th district for those living outside the state are the final decision makers for those inducted each year in the Hall of Fame. Categories for induction into the Hall of Fame rotate on a varying schedule, year by year. See RODEO — Page 16
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Inside Ag MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 16
OCTOBER 2016
Eloise Ogden/MDN
The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame participates in the North Dakota State Parade in Minot, shown in July, and at the State Fair.
Rodeo Continued from Page 14
Craig Van Sickle, of Sawyer, became chair this year of the District 5 trustees. The district includes Minot. He replaces Bob Knudson, of Minot, who served as the district chair for about 16 years. Knudson also was state trustees chair for 13 years. Rex Cook, Dickinson, was the first state trustees chair. Paul Christensen, Sawyer, replaced Knudson as state trustees chair until his death in August 2014. Van Sickle explained his interest in the NDCHF and why it is important. “I have always loved the history of North Dakota as had my father and this is a way to express it, to bring it out and honor those who made the state a great place,� he said. Rick Thompson is the new executive director of the NDCHF. Jim Chamley, Colorado Springs, Colo., is president of the board of directors; Fred Sorenson, White Earth, vice president; and Dr. Gerald
Stokka, Cooperstown, secretary-treasurer. Walter Piehl Jr., Minot, is among the board members. Jim Thompson, Spearfish, S.D., is current state trustees chair. Since the Hall of Fame began, a lengthy list of individuals, ranches, events and animals, including from the Minot area, have been selected for induction. The deadline this year for Hall of Fame nominations is Saturday, Dec. 17. Any NDCHF trustee in good standing can submit a nomination. Those not affiliated with the NDCHF who would like to submit a nomination or have questions can contact a local NDCHF trustee or the NDCHF office in Medora at 701-623-2000 or email execadmin@northdakotacowboy.com. Those who would like to become a member of the organization can also contact a trustee or call or email the NDCHF office. More information about the organization also is available at northdakotacowboy.com.
Inside Ag OCTOBER 2016
MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 17
A U TU M N SPECTACULAR Allan Blanks/MDN
Pumpkins as far as the eye can see are available for purchase at Berry Acres.
Berry Acres celebrates the coming of fall by providing family fun adventures
By ALLAN BLANKS
Staff Writer ablanks@minotdailynews.com
Emerald grass, golden stalks of corn and seemingly endless rows of spherical pumpkins captures the imaginations of families as they venture across the autumn oasis called Berry Acres. Located west of Minot on County Road 15, Berry Acres celebrates the scenic splendor of fall by providing Minot with a rich harvest and awe inspiring attractions. Throughout this pumpkin paradise are 12-foot monuments made from straw, that celebrate the world famous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. See PUMPKIN — Page 18
Inside Ag MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 18
OCTOBER 2016
Pumpkin Continued from Page 17
“Every year we try to do some picture displays and change things up,” Calvin Berry, the owner of Berry Acres said. “This year we did the Ninja Turtles. My wife paints them all and she’s the one who came up with all the ideas. We like to add things for families to take pictures with, whether it’s the giant gumball machine or the spider, we like to keep things different every year.” People of all ages look forward to taking photos and selfies by the iconic foursome along with marveling at the wide range of squash and pumpkins. “Seeing the kids and the families have a good time is the best part of Berry Acres,” Berry said. “Watching everyone take group photos, seeing people celebrate their birthdays and watching the kids run wild on the straw bales is good to see. We also like to see what the crops are bringing this year too.” Peanut squash, lunch lady gourds, turks turban sqaush, Cinderella pumpkins and acorn squash are some of the popular produce that Minot residents continue to rave about. “A lot of people like our squash,” Berry said. “People like baking the squash and stuffing it with brown sugar and butter. We have all types of squash, decorative gourds and pumpkins. Our pumpkins come in white and orange and can weigh as much as 500 pounds. Everything we have here
Allan Blanks/MDN
Towering monuments made from straw celebrate the world famous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. is grown by us, nothing is shipped in and everything is locally grown right here.” After picking out a delicious or decorative array of produce, visitors of Berry Acres are encouraged to enjoy 9 holes at the Berry Acres miniature golf course. “The mini golf course has been a
big hit,” Berry said. “A lot of people really enjoy it because many of the miniature golf courses in town have been removed. The course has concessions such as pop, water, cappuccino, candy, chips and hot dogs. All these items are available on the weekends. It’s our latest attraction and we just finished building it this summer.”
When pumpkin patch goers finish a round of miniature golf, they have the choice to test their fitness at the Berry Acres obstacle course. Towering bales of hay, elongated cargo nets, rotund tire trails and a 12foot slide await thrill seekers who enjoy a physical challenge. “The kids really like to time them-
selves and enjoy the course,” Berry said. “There are tires, nets, and bales of hay for everyone to climb. At the end of the course are slides for everyone to go down.” For visitors who feel the need for speed, Berry Acres provides a race way in which contenders can pedal their way to autumn glory. Enclosed by bales of straw is a race course that offers pedal carts for the enjoyment of children and adults alike. Alongside the exciting physical activities are opportunities to enjoy a leisurely walk. “We have an 8-acre corn maze that is sponsored by First Western Bank,” Hunter said. “It takes anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to get through it. The maze is good for all ages and presents a challenge for everyone going through it.” Pumpkin launchers, hay rides along with a life size checker board and a unique corn box are some of the classic attractions that makes Berry Acres a fun-filled family destination. “Berry Acres was inspired as a way to move our fall produce such as our squash and pumpkins,” Berry said. “We also wanted to add something for the kids to do. We have bales of hay, the Berry Acres corn maze and this years newest attraction is the miniature golf course. Every year our goal is to keep adding things to do. The people have been really pleased with Berry Acres and we’re always thinking of new attractions during the winter to keep people coming back.”
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Minot Daily News, “Inside Ag”, P.O. Box 1150, Minot, ND 58702
AGRONOMY
AG BUILDING
BAILEY CROP INSURANCE AGENCY
Farmers Union Oil Co. Mohall, ND 58761
Tom Childress, Agent
102 Industrial Ave
888-391-6814 • 701-756-6814 Sherwood 701-459-2222 • 701-459-2221 www.mohallcenex.com
Renville, McLean & Powers Lake Italgrani’s elevators, strategically located at key points in the heart of grain country, provide all the services our farmer customers need.
MAIN LOCATION Railroad Avenue • PO Box 8 • Tolley, ND 58787
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AGRONOMY & RETAIL
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Lumber • Hardware • Paint Custom Homes • Farm & Ag Buildings 701-228-3172• 1074 Hwy 5 NE, Bottineau
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FARM MACHINERY
Built to Perform, Built to Last.
MAGNUM HARROW Gates Manufacturing Inc.
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NATIONAL FARMER’S DAY 701-784-5434
A day of honor is very much deserved to all of the hard working farmers. National Farmerʼs Day is observed annually on October 12th as a day for them and to pay tribute to all farmers throughout American history.
GRAIN
To those that work in acres, We Thank You!
GRAIN INSPECTION
SEED CLEANING AND SALES
Birdsall Grain & Seed LLC.
Custom Seed Cleaning & Seed Sales Mark Birdsall • Blake Inman
Call for all grain marketing needs. #1 Main St. South • Berthold • 453-3431 Main Office • 1-800-568-6909 Carpio • 701-468-5423
33602 Hwy. 2 West, Berthold, ND STATE CERTIFIED SEED CONDITIONING PLANT Call for a seed cleaning appointment or seed quote
Mark Cell: 701-240-9507 | Blake Cell: 701-240-8748 birdsallgrain@gmail.com www.birdsallgrainandseed.com
LIVESTOCK
UTILITIES
www.bertholdfarmers.com
DAKOTA MIDLAND GRAIN Main Location: 1219 Hwy. 52 West, P.O. Box 188 Voltaire, ND 58792 701-338-2530 Other Locations: Surrey 701-728-6430 • Norwich 701-728-6786
voltaire@srt.com • www.dakotamidland.com
JM Grain
Farmers Feeding the World
12 North Railroad Street Garrison, ND 58540
701-463-7261
JM Grain purchases and sells chick peas, lentils, feed peas, green peas, yellow peas and seed. Services include on the farm pick up of grain. JM Grain is Licensed and Bonded as a grain buyer in the state of North Dakota & Montana
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SECURITY SYSTEMS
Inside Ag
A WARM WINTER EXPECTED, PERHAPS
OCTOBER 2016
MINOT DAILY NEWS
By KIM FUNDINGSLAND
Staff Writer kfundingsland@minotdailynews.com Long-range weather forecasting is always intriquing, especially when it calls for a chance of warmer than usual temperatures during a North Dakota winter. According to the Climate Prediction Center, that’s exactly what is most likely for the Minot area in the coming months. The CPC released their latest threemonth temperature and precipitation outlooks in mid-September. While the precipitation for the Minot region is favored to be about normal through December, the temperature outlook remains favorable. The CPC says conditions favor above normal temperatures for all of North Dakota through the end of 2016. How much above
normal remains to be seen but at least a degree or two of better than average highs is anticipated. The National Weather Service has cancelled their La Nina watch. La Nina normally means colder temperatures and heavier precipitation for North Dakota during the winter months and often follows closely on the heels of El Nino which led to an unseasonably warm and dry winter in 2015-16. The NWS cautions that La Nina could still flare up, so to speak, and influence winter weather in North Dakota in the coming months. La Nina is a cooling of Pacific Ocean temperatures. The NWS say conditions slightly favor below normal temperatures in the region this winter. Believers in the Old Farmer’s Almanac, which relies upon the sun,
PAGE 21
moon, stars, planets and other sources of wisdom in their weather prognostications, will point out that the NWS is in agreement with the Almanac which calls for “2 degrees below normal temperatures” in October with a snowstorm near the end of the month. Overall, here’s what the Almanac predicts for the High Plains in the months ahead: “Winter will be colder than normal in the north. The coldest periods will be in early and late December and early and mid-to late January. Snowfall will be above normal in the north with the snowiest periods in late November, mid-to late December and mid-to late February. April and May will be warmer than normal, with precipitation a bit above normal.”
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Chris Schelling Elevator Manager 701.557.3700 Ext. 726 Kevin Schulz Plant Manager 701.557.3700 Ext. 711
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REMEMBER TO SAVE YOUR TAX DOLLARS BUY YOUR TIRES BEFORE DECEMBER 31ST
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