Inside Ag PAGE 2
MINOT DAILY NEWS Blue Flint Ethanol manufactures 65 million gallons of ethanol, grinds 23 million bushels of corn, and generates 192 thousand tons of distillers grains per year. Owned by Midwest AgEnergy Group, a North Dakota biofuels enterprise, Blue Flint Ethanol has operated since 2007.
APRIL 2016
Blue Flint Ethanol Plant strives for excellence By ALLAN BLANKS Staff Writer • ablanks@minotdailynews.com
T
Photos by Allan Blanks/MDN
ABOVE: The distillation area at Blue Flint Ethanol plant.
RIGHT: At the Blue Flint Ethanol plant, over 600 tons of distillers grain is manufactured a day.
he future of ethanol beams brightly at the Blue Flint Ethanol plant in Underwood. Employing 42 people directly and contributing an estimated 2,500 jobs indirectly, Blue Flint Ethanol is stimulating the economy while taking steps to improve the environment. Farmers, builders, railways, water works, and numerous others make valuable contributions to Blue Flint Ethanol. “We have a tremendous amount of pride in the products that we’re producing,” Jeff Zueger, general manager at Blue Flint Ethanol, said. “We’re producing a renewable fuel that helps improve the environment, because when ethanol is blended with fuel, it lowers emissions of greenhouse gases. We’re helping the local, the state and the national economy by providing a product that used to be imported from other areas, so when ethanol moves into the fuel supply it helps to lower the price of fuel. Typically ethanol is lower in price than gasoline, which lowers the price of fuel at the
pump.” In the age of clean and renewable energy, employees at the Blue Flint Ethanol plant feel proud to provide a solution. “We’re improving the economy, the environment and creating strong energy independence,” Zueger said. “Being part of the solution and doing it with a renewable based product, that you’re using from locally grown corn brings pride to the people who are a part of this company.” Aside from assisting with fuel production, Blue Flint Ethanol is contributing to distillers grains. “Not only do we produce ethanol, we also produce distillers grains, which is a cattle feed,” Zueger said. “Every bit of the corn kernel is used in our process.” “Make it don’t waste it” is a popular philosophy in the ethanol industry. Staying true to this belief, Blue Flint Ethanol also manufactures corn oil. “Producing corn oil is something we started doing in 2010,” Zueger said. “Corn oil is typically used as a feed See BLUE — Page 4
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Blue
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stock to bio diesel production. One gallon of corn oil equates to one gallon of bio diesel, so we’re not only producing ethanol and distillers grain for feed, we’re producing corn oil which is a precursor to bio diesel as well.” As you take your first steps toward the administration building on site, an aroma resembling the sweet smell of kettle corn entertains your senses, followed by the sight of steam hovering over the towers, before being greeted by the friendly staff who patiently assist you at the front desk. Throughout the Blue Flint Ethanol plant, employee moral is extremely positive. Zueger credits the collaborative goal setting as the catalyst for an enjoyable workplace. “We try to set goals for all of our employees, and allow them to be part of the goal setting process” Zueger said. “These goals are supported by their respective departments and our organization. Everyone has a chance to be a part of our long-term mission, and we try our best to make this an enjoyable place to work. We make a strong effort to recognize employees for their success, and when things don’t go as planned we provide coaching and try to learn from the experiences.” At the Blue Flint Ethanol plant, a shortcut to success does not exist. Everyone is committed to creating the best possible product, by upholding the highest production standards and honoring its responsibility to ensuring the safest products to its customers. Before any products are released from Blue Flint, they must meet an uncompromising set of standards that are
TOP: General manager Jeff Zueger displays the corn used to manufacture ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil. BOTTOM: An engineer studies and reviews the health of yeast samples, inside a laboratory at the Blue Flint Ethanol plant. Photos by Allan Blanks/MDN
assessed daily by the operators in the control room. “Typically, we have three operators on any given shift for 24 hours a day,” Zueger said. “Then we balance up the 42 employees for additional support.” Operators have access to
human interface machinery, which helps to provide accurate analysis of the manufactured products. Possessing state of the art technology, the Blue Flint Ethanol plant is capable of generating products safely and efficiently. “Both the operators and
engineers do quite a bit of work,” Zueger said. “We have a chemical process, biological process, and mechanical process going on simultaneously. So, a lot of things have to be monitored.” Inside the laboratories, engineers meticulously as-
APRIL 2016 sess the health and quality of every sample, throughout each phase of production. “As you can see, we graph and monitor every sample that comes to the lab,” Zueger said. “In the lab, our engineers will analyze solids, concentrates, and pH levels to make sure our pH meters in the plant are accurate. They will look at every aspect which allows us to provide the best product possible.” Every day, engineers carefully examine the health of the yeast, which is a critical component to the fermentation process. “In our labs, we keep track of how many cells are dead along with how many are budding,” Zueger said. “This gives us a clear indication of how active the cells are growing and expanding. This is an important index for us because it tells us how healthy our yeast is throughout various parts of its propagation and fermentation. A good propagation actively converts the glucose into alcohol. So, we want healthy and viable yeast.” At the plant, not only do they raise the standards for ethanol production, they also increase the heat to maximize the safest quality product. For example, during the cook process, corn mash is cooked up to 225 degrees to ensure that all bacteria is killed off. “The reason we raise the temperature to 225 degrees, is to kill the bacteria that may come with the process,” Zueger said. “As you can imagine, at 90 degrees with sugar in a tank, bacteria will compete with the yeast. Essentially, acids will form, the yeast will be stressed, which produces glycerol and acids instead of alcohol. We want alcohol, not acids and glycerol. So, it’s important to keep everything clean and kill off all the bacteria. Our
cleaning process uses a variety of caustic and acids solutions to kill off any bacteria that forms.” Each well and every tank is carefully cleaned by caustic solutions. “Our wells have a series of spray nozzles inside with a caustic solution to kill off any bacteria,” Zueger said. “The next part of the process is flushing the wells, before filling the wells.” Today, customers need the most from their investments. Blue Flint Ethanol strives to ensure customer satisfaction by creating products that meet the highest industry standards. “We ensure that all the products we produce meet the specifications set forth for our products,” Zueger said. “We want to ensure that when people use the fuel that we’re producing in their vehicles, that it meets the requirements and adds value to them as our products are being used.” Versatility is one of the benefits provided by Blue Flint Ethanol. Trusted by farmers, Blue Flint Ethanol produces feed for cattle that ensures their survival, which directly helps farmers strengthen their brand. “The same can be said for the feed that we use,” Zueger said. “Our feed is going to cattle feeding markets, and feeders are relying on us to make sure that we have quality standards in place. To ensure the best possible product is being produced, we monitor all the key parameters of the products that we produce, so we can provide a high quality product that meets the needs of the customers that we’re serving.” High quality production, strong employee relations, and excellent service to the consumers have greatly contributed to the success of Blue Flint Ethanol.
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Inside Ag MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 6
APRIL 2016
Wolf Creek Winery started as a dream By PHIL TORRES Staff Writer ptorres@minotdailynews.com
Wolf Creek Winery proprietor Randy Albrecht is hard at work making a new batch of wine near Coleharbor.
Submitted Photo
Wolf Creek Winery is a small North Dakota winery located in a bay of Lake Sakakawea near Coleharbor. What started as a dream for proprietor Randy Albrecht, grew into a 10-year hobby, and in 2014 evolved into a licensed bonded winery where it produces about 2,000 gallons of wine annually. Its objective is not to grow into a large winery but to craft limited amount of quality ND wine. “The fact that we make smaller quantities allows us to provide special detail in our wine-making process,” said Albrecht. The winery currently offers three series of wines: Its Wolf Creek series uses 100 percent cold climate grapes, most of which are grown here in the state. They currently have five varieties available – Frontenac, Marquette, Sabrevois, Valiant, and Frontenac Gris. Coming soon they will offer a Wolf Creek Trinity Red, and a Trinity White. The winery has a few grape vines but they work with local vineyards to obtain the majority of the grapes. The majority of the grapes in this year’s release were grown by Rodney Hogen from Red Trail Vineyard in Buffalo. They also produce several varieties of wine that are sold at his vineyard under the Red Trail vineyard
label. Its Creekside wines are made from fruits and berries grown in the rich North Dakota soil. They offer a Backyard Apple, an Aronia Berry, Chokecherry, Strawberry Rhubarb, and Strawberry wine. In addition to its ND series, Wolf Creek Winery is proud to present its World Series. In this series, they offer a Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Blackberry Breeze, White Cranberry Mist and a Moscato. Its Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc are the dry red and white wine. The Blackberry Breeze and Moscato represent its sweet wines, while most of the other grape and fruit wines are crafted as a semi-sweet. The crafting of wine begins with the fruit, berry or grape, and the process may need to be adjusted based on growing season and harvest factors. “When you’re making good wine, it starts with good grapes and fruit,” said Albrecht. As one ferments the juice, it becomes a balance of the science behind wine making and the art of the winemaker in crafting a consistent quality wine. “We pride ourselves in producing quality wine and all of our wines are taste tested before it leaves the winery to be sure that it meets our quality standards so they can be enjoyed by our customers,” said Albrecht. The winery recently received awards
on its Marquette, Frontenac Gris, Aronia Berry from Finger Lakes International Wine contest, and earlier received a people’s choice award and a silver medal on its Backyard Apple. Wold Creek Winery is an active member of the ND Wine Makers and Grape Growers Association, where Albrecht currently serves as a member of the board of directors. The quality of the wines produced in North Dakota have improved significantly over the years and most wines offered are quality wines. “We try to do events and tastings to allow people to taste our wines, so they can experience both the quality of our wine and also learn the flavors of the North Dakota grape and berry varieties,” said Albrecht. Most everyone knows what a Moscato or Cabernet is, but very few people are familiar with the names and flavors of many of the ND grape and berry varieties. Most of the cold, hardy grapes make a semi sweet wine. Its wines are available for purchase from the website, and through retailers in Underwood, Garrison, Totten Trail, Turtle Lake, Washburn and Bismarck. Its greatest challenge the past two years has been to manage the growth and to be able to produce enough wine to meet the local demand. The goal is to produce enough wine to be able to offer wines in Minot retail outlets in the near future.
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Inside Ag APRIL 2016
MINOT DAILY NEWS
AGRICULTURE is a growing field
By JILL SCHRAMM
PAGE 9
Staff Writer • jschramm@minotdailynews.com egardless of the ups and downs of com- counterparts are having a real hard time bemodity prices, careers in agriculture are cause they are not getting enough people lookholding a steady course in the same direc- ing at majoring in crop or weed science or tion. agronomy or diesel technology,” he said. “There’s an upward trajectory looking at it Every year, about 25,000 agricultural jobs go over several years,” said David Buchanan, as- unfilled due to a lack of qualified applicants, sociate dean of academic programs at North according to a report from by Purdue UniverDakota State University, Fargo. sity. North Dakota Job Service lists numerous “The farms are getting larger and fewer, but ag-related jobs open in the state – from loan ofthose larger farmers require more support in ficers and sales to research and ag-processing. terms of people dealing with the products that Agriculture careers cover a broad range of they are using. The nature of the job is chang- jobs, with production agriculture accounting ing, but the number of career opportunities, I for just a small percentage, Ball said. really think, is an upward trajectory,” he said. “Minot’s ag program is very, very broad,” he With 21 percent of the nation’s jobs con- said, noting students can study nected in some way to agriculture, students plant science, animal need to be exposed to the opportunities, said science, ag meJeff Ball, Minot High School ag and FFA in- chanics or take a structor. course that “Too often we don’t tell our students about gives them a the careers in agriculture. Our ag business sampling of a
R
See CAREER — Page 11
Submitted Photo
Crop and weed science is a growing career field and popular major at North Dakota State University. In Minot, taking agronomic notes at North Central Research Extension Centerʼs pulse crop breeding program are Thomas Stefaniak, assistant pulse crop breeder; Sydney Gilles, research specialist with NDSUʼs Department of Plant Sciences; Enija Shiwakoti, an NDSU student; Amy Scegura, research intern from NDSU, Department of Plant Sciences; and Casper Westereng, student and seasonal employee for NCREC.
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Inside Ag MINOT DAILY NEWS
APRIL 2016
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variety of aspects of agriculture. Even if students don’t pursue ag careers, they can learn valuable life skills, whether its in industrial arts or landscaping a lawn, he said. Buchanan said NDSU students who not only maintain high grade point averages but get involved in organizations and internships are in high demand after graduation. “Even when times are difficult, good students get good jobs, and the students recognize that,” he said. At NDSU career fairs, industry interest in NDSU students remains strong. “The employers are definitely there in big numbers and are very anxious to talk to students, both about jobs after graduation but also about in-
ternships,” Buchanan said. Enrollment numbers in the agricultural college at NDSU leveled off this year after increasing about 70 percent over the past several years. “What I observe with the students is that many, many of them are really enthusiastic about agriculture in general,” Buchanan said. “They are very passionate about the things that we do here.” While many colleges that offer agricultural degrees focus on one or two major areas, which makes up the bulk of their enrollments, NDSU has no interest area that is dominant, Buchanan said. Crop and weed science is currently the fastest growing major, but agribusiness and agricultural economics, animal science, natural resource management and veterinary technician are among top degree areas.
The variety is due to the diversity of students and to success in getting out the message that there are career opportunities in many aspects of agriculture, Buchanan said. As for students who came from a farm and want to return to the farm, they still exist. “It’s not the majority of our students, but that is something that remains strong here. That, again, is somewhat different from other ag programs. Students planning to return to a farm has diminished greatly in a lot of places. I still see strength in that here,” Buchanan said. A young person who has the backing to get into production farming will continue to find a good future, said North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. He added the growth in ag careers is part of a transformation that has been taking place
PAGE 11
on the farm in the last two decades. “There’s only a limited amount of land, and there’s going to be a limited amount of people farming and ranching on that land. But the one thing that has taken place in that transformation is all of the services and products and technology that we continue to access,” he said. “It helps us to be more efficient and more effective. Even though it costs money to do it, it actually generates more revenue than what you are spending for those services and products.” In his own operation about six years ago, he hired a crop consultant to try to boost his production results. “What he saves me every year by scouting fields and recommendations on fertilizer and herbicides has more than paid for his wages for that service,” he said.
Dana Piesik, ag research technician, and Nichole Brunner, left, seasonal employee for North Central Research Extension Center, work together on taking lentil height notes in the greenhouse.
Submitted Photo
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Inside Ag PAGE 12
MINOT DAILY NEWS
APRIL 2016
Tractor safety classes to be offered at 4H Camp in Washburn By ANDREA JOHNSON
Staff Writer ajohnson@minotdailynews.com Many of the teenagers Oliver County Extension Agent Rick Schmidt teaches in his tractor certification courses have been driving farm equipment since they were nine or 10 years old. But the law says they have to be at least 14 and have successfully completed a tractor safety certification course before they can work for anyone other than their parents. Schmidt will be teaching the tractor safety class again at the 4H Camp offered May 31, June 1 and June 2 at the 4H Camp in Washburn. The North Dakota State University Extension Service sponsors
the course. Kids will learn the rules of the road, how to read an operator’s manual and how to operate large and small tractors. They will also be exposed to obstacle courses that simulate farm situations. The cost of the school is $135, which includes lodging, meals and materials. The registration deadline is May 13. People can register by sending registrations to Oliver County Extension/Tractor Safety School, P.O. Box 166, Center, N.D. 58530. More information is available by calling Schmidt at 701-7948748 or 701-207-0010 or emailing him at rick.schmidt@ndsu.edu “Not every kid passes,” said Schmidt. He said he looks at each teen’s
When: May 31, June 1-2 Where: 4H Camp in Washburn Cost: $135 (includes lodging, means, and materials) Registration deadline: May 13 Send to: Oliver County Extension/Tractor Safety School, P.O. Box 166, Center, ND 58530
Tractor safety Certification class
maturity level and ability to handle the equipment when he makes a decision about who to pass. That’s also what each teen’s parents and employers should be looking at when they decide whether to let a kid work on the farm, said Schmidt. He said it is important for parents to teach kids how to safely operate equipment and emphasize how to avoid an accident. “Not every kid develops at the
same pace,” said Schmidt. He said he’s seen some mature 12-year-olds who were able to handle equipment and some kids who shouldn’t be allowed to drive at all until they’re 16. The safety course focuses mostly on tractor operation rather than other heavy machinery. Schmidt said the age a child can operate tractors for their own parents on a family farm is a “gray
area.” “We know they’re doing it,” said Schmidt, who always asked kids in his tractor safety course how long they’ve been driving. Many kids raise their hands and say nine or 10. Some start as soon as their legs are long enough to reach the pedals. Oddly enough, though Schmidt can certify a 14-year-old to operate a tractor and to work for someone else’s farm operation, he could not certify a minor to operate a riding lawn mower. Schmidt said the Labor Law requires that a person be at least 18 before they are allowed to drive a riding lawn mower for a city park district. Of course, many parents assign that chore to children far younger than that.
Inside Ag MINOT DAILY NEWS
APRIL 2016
PAGE 13
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What’s ahead for cattle producers Paige Brummund
If prices remain steady and input costs do not increase drastically, cattle will be profitable in 2016, said Paige Brummund, extension agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources, with North Dakota State University Extension Service, Ward County “However, the number one cost for cattle production is feed costs. If the year becomes dry and feed shortages occur,
the situation changes quickly. Increasing pasture rents can also affect cost to raise a calf,” she said. Brummund said this spring has been a great year for calving. “We have had very few cold spells which helps the newborn calf get off to a healthier start. There hasn’t been much for moisture either. If a producer can keep the calf
dry and out of the mud, there is less risk of health problems in the newborn calves.” Brummund said the hay prices are actually higher in this part of the state than other areas right now. “If we have a dry year, hay may be in higher demand and costs may increase. However, some producers are reporting some carryover hay that they anticipate having due to the
mild 2015-2016 winter. Regarding how the pasture conditions are this year or expected to be since it’s rather dry right now, Brummund said it’s hard to say what the summer will bring. “The pastures will need regular rainfall throughout the summer to sustain forage production for the livestock. While it may be tempting for some producers to turn their
cattle out on fresh, early pasture growth in late April, it is best to wait to fully stock pastures until the ideal stage of plant maturity has been met. By managing your grasses correctly, the producer can maximize their grass production. Having a grazing plan to fit the grass species in their pastures is an important part of cattle production that is often overlooked.
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Inside Ag MINOT DAILY NEWS
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Corporate, anti-corporate farming issue
ND voters to decide if corporate dairy, swine farming measure is to be repealed By ELOISE OGDEN
Regional Editor• eogden@minotdailynews.com
W
hen North Dakota voters go to the polls on Tuesday, June 14, they will be deciding the fate of the state’s 84-year-old anti-corporate farming law and whether or not corporate dairy and swine farming should be allowed. The North Dakota Corporate Dairy and Swine Farming Referendum is on the ballot. A vote for the measure will uphold Senate Bill 2351 and would allow corporate dairy and swine farming. A vote against the measure would repeal Senate Bill 2351 and not allow corporate dairy and swine farming in North Dakota. The law to allow corporate dairy and swine farming was to go into effect Aug. 1, 2015, but the referendum
delayed that date until after the June 14 vote. Passed by the N.D. Legislature in March 2015, the legislation to allow corporate dairy and swine farming was signed into law by Gov. Jack Dalrymple on March 20, 2015. The law would allow a domestic corporation or limited liability company to own a dairy or swine facility with at least 50 cows or 500 swine on up to 640 acres. The agriculture commissioner would be required to develop reporting and monitoring rules to ensure compliance. North Dakota’s anti-corporate farming law has existed since 1932. See CORP — Page 17
APRIL 2016
Corp
Inside Ag MINOT DAILY NEWS
APRIL 2016
Continued from Page 16
Mostly dairy and pork producers and some industry groups support the law. The North Dakota Farmers Union, the state’s largest farm organization, went on record opposing the law. A few days after Dalrymple signed the bill, the N.D. Farmers Union unanimously voted to move ahead and pursue a referendum. The organization gathered more than 21,000 signatures to put the referendum on the June 2016 ballot, and Secretary of State Al Jaeger approved the ballot language for the referendum earlier this year. Supporters of the legislation said it will help the dairies and swine industries
get access to capital to start new operations and expand existing ones. The ND Farmers Union lists several reasons for opposing SB 2351, according to its website, including: corporate farming could result in a land grab by big corporations, pensions and hedge funds; the state doesn’t need corporate ownership of farms to be successful and corporate farming does not increase access to capital for farmers; and corporate farming does not expand markets for local corn and soybean farmers and ethanol plants. The organization also said South Dakota has seen an increase in dairy herd numbers but has had a decrease in the number of dairies since that state introduced corporate farming in 2008.
PAGE 17
Inside Ag PAGE 18
MINOT DAILY NEWS
Producers elected to Wheat Commission Board County and district elections for the North Dakota Wheat Commission representatives in Districts 1 and 4 are complete and two producers were elected to serve four-year terms on the Commission board. Jim Bahm, New Salem, was elected to his second term on the commission board and Philip Volk, York, was elected to his first term on the board. Bahm represents District 1, which encompasses 13 counties in the southwest part of the state. Volk will represent District 4, consisting of seven counties in the north central part of the state. The terms officially begin on July 1. The commission consists of seven producer board members, six of which are producer elected and one appointed by the governor. Elections are held every four years to elect county representatives in the district and those representatives elect one producer from their respective district to the commission board position. The commission board is responsible for setting the budget and developing policy and programs for research, market development, domestic promotion, domestic policy and trade policy. Bahm was elected to his first term on the commission in 2012, and has served as the Morton county representative since 2004. He currently serves as the NDWC representative to the North Dakota Grain Growers Board, alternate to the North Dakota Ag coalition and is the representative to the North Dakota Ag Foundation. Jim is also vice chair of the Morton County Weed Board and chairman of the Morton County Crop Improvement Association. Jim and his wife, LaBeth, grow hard red spring wheat, barley, flax, corn, oats and sunflowers on
their farm near New Salem. They have four children and two grandchildren. Volk was elected to his first term on the board and has been the Benson County representative since 2000. He graduated from Bismarck State College with a farm and ranch management degree. Volk serves as a township officer and St. Mary’s lector and is a former director of Envision Cooperative and a Rugby FFA alumni.Philip and his wife, Lisa, produce wheat, soybeans, corn and dry beans on their farm near York.They have five children. County representatives elected to terms in 2016 are listed below (incumbents are noted with an asterisk).
District 1 Adams – Bruce Hagen, Reeder Billings – Loren Bock, Belfield* Bowman – Myles Richard, Bowman Dunn – William Flaget, Halliday* Golden Valley – Rick Stoveland, Golva Grant – Wes Frederick, Flasher* Hettinger – Keith Witte, Regent Mercer – Gary Knell, Hazen* Oliver – Patrick Doll, New Salem* Sioux – Jamie Heid, Selfridge* Slope – Farrell Lorge, Amidon Stark – Lee Gullickson, Taylor
District 4 Bottineau – Lenny Artz, Westhope* McHenry – David Thom, Granville* Pierce – Ken Schaan, Rugby* Ramsey – Matthew Olson, Devils Lake Rolette – Mark Martinson, Rolette Towner – Jeff Teubner, Cando*
APRIL 2016
Inside Ag MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 20
Chimp Jim Tescher had just missed the world saddle bronc riding title by $500 to Marty Wood two years earlier. So with a rodeo career that had spanned three decades, for him it was now or never. Meanwhile, rodeo legend Casey Tibbs had said that those Tescher brothers, Jim and Tom, could have been world champions many times over if they’d just had a little less common sense and not stayed home to ranch. As for me, I’d grown up on Wanagan Creek Ranch, right between the two Tescher brothers, and, although I’d never come close to riding in their class, in a day’s time I knew I had worked side-by-side with the best in the world. At any rate, in the fall of 1965 and I enrolled at Dawson Community College in Glendive, MT mostly to play basketball and party. This happened to be before they had a rodeo team. But then the facility burned down and the programs were in shambles, so I dropped out. That’s when Jim Tescher stopped by my folk’s ranch to make me a deal. He said that, if I would work his ranch that winter, he would hit the rodeo trail and if he had a shot at the title, I would stay on all the next summer and get a bonus. So with Jim’s kids boarded out at his wife’s parents place in Beach, ND for school, he took his wife Loretta along and they spent the winter in the south, hitting the big Texas rodeos and more. Jim took pride in everything he did; his rodeo riding, his cattle, his ranch and his horses. His
APRIL 2016
Bill Lowman
travels and acquaintances put him in touch with some of the nation’s best quarter horses, plus his neighbor, Vernon Goldsberry, was one of those top-notch producers. Goldsberry had raised a pair of promising young sorrels named Chimp and Crimp and they soon went to Jim. The year before I went to work there, Crimp had jumped over a roping pen, but in doing so, broke its top rail and that springy ash ran a splinter through his stomach. Meanwhile, Chimp was a stout built, sixteen hands athlete that stood straight and proud on all four pegs. He had unlimited potential. This was before four-wheel drive pickup trucks had taken over, so Jim had a short coupled Jeep that I’d throw several hundred pound sacks of barley cake on in order to feed the main cow bunches; which sure worked out good in the deep cedar canyon breaks on the Little Missouri River, some 40 miles north of Medora, ND. Meanwhile the first river bottom upstream from ranch headquarters was inundated with heavy underbrush and nice clearings. Two-hundred-foot clay bluffs ringed the backside, serving as a natural fence as well as a fortress against vicious storms, sending them flying high overhead. A warm water artesian stream flowed at the meadows edge, where Jim placed a small granary and some feed bunks. This was called “The Calf Bottom,” where he kept his replacement weaners. It was a hard place to get to in deep snow or mud, so it was a
every morning ritual to ride the mile or so to pail out some oats. And Chimp was the horse that’d been assigned the job. Now Jim had told me several times that, when he was a kid, he looked up to my dad, Harold, and my dad’s brother, Harry, for the way they rode broncs. That always meant a bunch to me, coming from a guy like that. I always felt that my dad and uncle Harry could have “gone down the road” riding in rodeo but it wasn’t to be. One thought Jim and my dad shared was that it was best to keep up a green horse for winter, rather than a dependable one. They both said that’s the only way you could create trustable “using” horses was to use the ones that needed to be used. Trouble was, for me, it seemed that somebody else always got them after they’d reach that usable stage. But that summer before, Jim had used Chimp quite a bit. That was before all the federal land got cross-fenced, so they run on about 40 sections in Belle Lake Pasture. This was Badlands country where you can use up a stout horse in a mile if you don’t know how to ride it. I always said that, “In the Badlands, there is no miles by the crow.” He said Chimp held up better than any other horse he’d ever had, except for his favorite horse, which he called “Headquarters.” One time Jim was bringing in a small bunch of pairs he’d missed earlier and he’d had most of a day on Chimp. They were cutting off a mile or so by slipping down a mule deer runlet of the plateau to
the river bottom, on a steep cedar infested slide, when Chimp blew his cork. Jim didn’t know if a cedar bow had tweaked Chimp’s belly or if he was just plain tired and mad at the world. But he’d never been on such a storm in his life, he said, even in the rodeo arena and figured that a more sane horse might have waited for better footing and ample room to buck. Chimp had him loosened up and hanging over the canyon side and just when he’d get back in his Severe Brother’s saddle, he’d be up over the swells on the next jump again. He said he knew darned well if he’d been hanging to the upper side or out on a flat, that there was no way in the world he could have got Chimp rode, but there wasn’t a place to land, so he somehow stayed on. Jim told me years later that Chimp was one of the best horses he ever owned, with the worst attitude. So there I was batching for the winter, 40 miles from a phone, and wouldn’t see a neighbor for weeks on end. Every morning, just after the barn chores, I’d saddle up Chimp and head up river just as the sunlight was catching the higher reaches and peaks, with the temps running from 10 to 40 below. I rode that feller with a loose cinch and a tight rein, and was polite, courteous and quiet with him. Most horses give you that split second warning before they blow, when they have to gather up and jerk their head away from you. I’d trot him and even got so I’d lope him slow once-in-a-while,
but I done it darn soft and easy and kept his chin up every second. I’ve only been on (and off) one horse in my life that could throw a fit without gathering up first. That was a lanky, steel gray I bought from a feller down by Mandan. He’d stick his head between his legs and crawl out the back end before you could blink. He piled me many times before I got so I could figure him out. If you could weather that first fit and stay aboard when he swapped ends, you could pull him out of it in a few leaps. He’d turf me, then come back and nuzzle my armpit and nicker. He was a kind, sensitive horse, totally different than Chimp. I found out later that the guy who’d had him before used to club him over the ears, and it sure fit. All he was doing with me was ducking that club and unloading the source of it. So I spent a lot of time building up confidence in Chimp (and myself) by stroking his neck and talking to him soft and quiet. So I guess I was a “horse whisperer” long before it became fashionable. P.S. Jim wasn’t drawing good horses consistently enough to keep him on top, so they came home that spring. Although he rode in rodeo well into the 70s, he never made another title run. Bill Lowman is a rancher north of Sentinel Butte, ND, and a nationally known cowboy poet, author and artist who penned this for the North Dakota Cowboy Association’s Special Cowboy Moments.
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Ottawa County rancher seeing double with 13 twin sets born MINNEAPOLIS, Kan. (AP) - Among the milestones of a cow-calf rancher’s calendar is springtime, when the cute little calves are welcomed to the pasture. While it takes most of a year before the babies will provide much income, calving season is always special, Tim Myers said, and critical to any operation. The Salina Journal reports that it’s been that way for generations at his family’s operation in southern Ottawa County, where he farms and ranches with his brother, Sean, and their father, Ray. But this spring is different, with many gestations resulting in double the faces from a cross of Hereford and Angus cattle. The family has counted 13 sets of twins this season. “It’s more than normal,” Tim Myers said, and proba-
bly the most ever for the Myers ranch. The family has been in the cow-calf business for most of a century. Their grandfather, Darrell Myers, was in the calf production business since the 1940s, Tim said. “I can remember having eight to 10 (sets of twins) in one year,” he said. Regardless of how many arrive at once, the calves are a thrill to Tim and Becky Myers’ children, 13-year-old Abby, and 8-year-old Ryan, and their circle of friends. Word of the twin births have impressed fellow parishioners at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in nearby Minneapolis. “Community members come out to look at them,” Tim Myers said. Neighbors have purchased one calf for a 4-H project, and Ryan’s favorite
will be his bucket calf project this summer. The bull calf’s name is Ned, after Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost. “We bring them up and put them in a close pen so they bond. We make sure both are nursing and that the mom is claiming both of them,” Myers said. Rejection hasn’t been an issue during calving this year that lasts roughly from Jan. 20 to May 1. Of the 13 sets of twins, he said, three calves did not survive, but thanks to the mild spring weather, most of the new recruits are flourishing. Twins are normally born weighing 50 to 60 pounds apiece, Myers said, while a single birth usually weighs 75 to 80 pounds. “We’ve been blessed this year with how good calving has gone,” Myers said.
TOP: Calves hang out with their moms in a Southern Ottawa County pasture near Minneapolis, Kan. Calving season on the Myers ranch has yielded numerous sets of twins this spring, said Tim Myers. BOTTOM: Tim Myers poses for a photo on his ranch near Minneapolis, Kan. AP Photos
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Shrinking farm incomes pressure Kansas co-ops to consolidate GARDEN PLAIN, Kan. (AP) Kansas farm co-ops are feeling pressure to merge as shrinking farm incomes have producers looking for ways to cut their costs. In about six weeks, Farmers Cooperative Elevator in Garden Plain will vote on whether to merge with co-ops in Anthony and Kiowa. Andale Farmers Co-op voted in December to merge with Kanza Co-op, a large operation based in the Pratt County town of Iuka. The number of co-ops in Kansas has fallen from about 350 in 1950, to about 80 today, Kansas State University professor Brian Briggeman told The Wichita Eagle. Briggeman said the pressure to consolidate grows when farm in-
come margins tighten. Net farm incomes nationwide are expected to be down 56 percent this year from their 2013 peak, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates. Co-ops, which are owned by its farmer members, are regular businesses that are expected to turn a profit. Members are encouraged to do business with and sell their harvest to the local elevator. The grain co-ops buy from farmers is sold to large grain companies, earning a small margin for the co-ops. They also sell fertilizer, chemicals, fuel and tires. Bigger co-ops can increase efficiencies and lower costs. In the same way farm equipment and farms keep getting bigger, so do
We’re dealing with fewer farmers and a lot larger farms spread across wider geography. There is some greater purchasing power in size and some efficiencies in rolling stock.
– Terry Kohler
general manager, Garden Plainʼs co-op
farmers’ co-ops, said Terry Kohler, general manager of Garden Plain’s co-op. “We’re dealing with fewer farmers and a lot larger farms spread across wider geography,” he said. “There is some greater purchasing power in size and some efficiencies in rolling stock.” Garden Plain announced the
possible deal to its members in December, and the boards of the three co-ops have tentatively set a merger vote in mid-May, just before wheat harvest, Kohler said. No job cuts are expected, but some roles may change, he said. The latest round of mergers won’t be the last, said Bruce Krehbiel, CEO of Kanza Co-op, a large
co-open that recently merged with Andale Co-op. Co-ops are somewhat different from most companies because they are co-ops, with strong geographical loyalty from their farmer-owners. Not all mergers make sense, Krehbiel said, such as if one co-op has a lot of debt and the other doesn’t. Farmer-members also don’t necessarily like to think of their co-op getting gobbled up, he said. The also worry that consolidation will cut down on the competition that allows them to do price shopping. Still, the consolidation trend is far from over, Krehbiel said. “There is a limit to the economies of scale,” he said. “We haven’t got there yet.”
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Hi-Line Living: Cow cameras HAVRE, Mont. (AP) — Two minutes: That's about how long it took Heidi Nystrom to notice a newborn calf stuck in its sack, realize no one else saw the situation, and run to the barn to save the calf. Nystrom was drinking a cup of coffee at the main house when she saw the problem on the video feed from a system of cow cameras installed earlier this year by Triangle Communications. "I'm waiting, I'm calling, panicking," Nystrom said. Then she saw steam in the corner of one of the camera's views. Her son, Kaleb, who was closest to the imperiled calf, was in the barn apartment's shower. That's when she forsook her coffee and made a beeline for the barn. Calving season hadn't hit full swing yet at Nystrom Ranch south of Havre 10 days ago, and already seven calves had been saved from similar situations. Several years ago, the Nystroms installed other cameras themselves, but the quality and capabilities have since improved, and Nystrom said the new multi-camera setup has made calving 100 percent easier than it used to be. "Now that we have them, I don't know if we could live without them," she said. The cameras do more than help in emergency situations. A DVR function helps them identify which calves go with which mothers, which mothers might struggle, which calves are having trouble nursing and even shows people who aren't involved in agriculture what calving season looks like. The real-time feed to computer monitors in the barn's apartment, as well as family cellphones, means that Kaleb only has to get out of bed every four hours for a check, and he looks at the screen every two hours to monitor the cows and calves. It also means that Nystrom could check in from the
Hi-Line rancher Heidi Nystrom demonstrates how cow cameras work on her ranch in the Bear Paw Mountains. gym bleachers during her daughter's basketball season. "I think (the cameras have) completely changed our ranch operation for the better," Nystrom said. "More calves, more profit," she added. The Nystroms are part of a growing trend among ranchers who are opting for more sleep and anytime visual access to their herds. "Everybody who has them loves them," said Les Rispens, county exec-
utive director for the USDA Farm Service Agency in Havre. So far, this year's mild, dry weather has resulted in the best calving season in the past five years, Rispens said, adding that some ranchers are reporting more than 100 percent calf crop, counting twins. Some ranchers tell him they see cows better at night with the low-light cameras than they do with their own eyes and a flashlight, plus it's nice not to have to get out of bed every four
hours or so to check on cows in the barn, he said. Because of the cameras' ability to be checked from a wireless device, ranchers can check cows from their houses or any other place they have Internet service, which gives them mobility to do projects farther away from the calving barn. "There's just going to be some freedom that they haven't had," Rispens said. The freedom, though, doesn't
AP Photo
mean ranchers won't have eyes on their cows and calves as often. If anything, Rispens said, he expects the technology will have ranchers looking at their herds more frequently on their wireless devices, along with checking on them in person in the traditional ways. Some ranchers are buying cameras through companies, such as Triangle Communications, that install See CAMERA — Page 26
Camera
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and maintain the gear, while others are purchasing and installing cameras themselves. Triangle recently began offering cameras as a natural extension of services to members who largely are involved in agriculture and as a way to fulfill the Smart Rural Community Showcase Award. The designation was awarded by The Rural Broadband Association in 2014 in recognition of Triangle's work to bring technology to rural areas, said Bethany Chinadle, Triangle's product development manager. As part of the development of the cow cameras, crews installed the weatherproof cameras at demonstration sites — Nystrom Ranch is one — to
give people a hands-on illustration of what the cameras do, as well as provide Triangle with opportunities to hone the installation process. Since then, the demand has been driven by word of mouth, Chinadle said. The cameras range in price and capability, with some stationary, some able to handle low light, and others able to pan, tilt and zoom. Triangle professionals perform a free site survey to help decide the best types and number of cameras for a spot, as well as where to place them. While systems can be expensive, they also can help save ranchers money and give them peace of mind, Chinadle said. The camera's DVR function allows ranchers to look back at film to see why a calf died or to sort out which calf belongs to which cow.
APRIL 2016
"If it saves one calf, that pays for part of the system," she said, adding that Triangle is interested in cameras at different price points. When the cameras are not recording livestock, they can be used to monitor comings and goings in barnyards for added security, especially if calving barns are not near a rancher's full-time home, Chinadle said. People can view the camera feeds practically anywhere, which makes them easy and convenient to use for people who aren't tech savvy. "So I think the popularity of them is growing," Chinadle said, adding people are eager to learn more about what the cameras could do for their operations. A common question she AP Photo hears, she said, is "Can you Cows graze in the field at the Nystrom ranch on the Bear Paw Mountains. come tomorrow?"