Inside Ag
MDN File Photo
After the honey is removed, the bee boxes are put back together to be stored through the winter. By PHIL TORRES
Despite concerns, local beekeeper continues to produce quality honey MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 2
approximately 1,500 and 2,000 colonies; now Nissen Staff Writer ptorres@minotdailynews.com has 11,000. “The biggest change in As the owners of Five Star numbers is that we didn’t Honey Farms in Minot, the lose 30 percent every year,” Nissens have turned their said Nissen. “It’s just the way apiary into a hub for honey the environment has production. changed. It’s a whole new Since 1978, Will Nissen world now since 1978.” has lived the life of a beeNissen said last year his keeper, working for Jim Lun- bees produced nearly day until he partnered with 880,000 pounds of honey beWalter Peters in 1983. Nissen tween their 275 locations in went into business for him- nine counties. self in 1998 when he “It’s all a gamble, we’re founded Five Star Honey. He not guaranteed anything,” named the business after his said Nissen. “There’s not three sons, his wife and him- much support given from the self. In 1978, the average bee- government.” keeper maintained Nissen points out that col-
leagues in his profession do not receive the same kind of support that those in other agricultural industries do. “There’s not a lot of beekeepers. We’re a very small lobbying group,” said Nissen. The Sioux Honey Association has more than 300 members from locations around the country. Formed in 1921, many of these beekeeping operations have been in the family for generations. “They really target the American beekeeper and the American honey,” said Nissen. A lot of the honey on the shelves is foreign honey, which Nissen says is understandable. “Unlike crop farmers who export, beekeepers need to import to meet demand,” he said. “One problem is North Dakota is a come-on-in state. We’ve lost a lot of bee habi-
tats. There’s only so much that goes around,” he said. “This has to do with the increased land usage for canola.” The state originally had a two-mile limit, but was thrown out due to being ruled ineffective. “Bee keepers felt that the two mile setback was being used for disease prevention, but several years ago they have already realized that bees travel much farther than that,” said ND Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “A two-mile setback wasn’t going to help in disease prevention because bees travel three to five miles. North Dakota, being such a diverse and open state, could support more hives, more colonies, so a two mile setback wouldn’t be a good use of resources,” Goehring continued. “The health of the bees are in dire straits. Health of
LEFT: Peggie Nissen loads an extractor with fresh honeycomb. The machine spins the honeycomb, forcing the honey out. RIGHT: Fresh honey flows into a vat where it will be cleaned. MDN File Photo
JULY 2016
MDN File Photo
Honey bees fill the window at Five Star Honey. While the bees do not belong to the company, they are attracted by the smell of fresh honey.
the hive and the loss of habitat are the two biggest things affecting the bee keeping industry,” said Nissen. “We’ve got one chemical for the killing of mites that is becoming ineffective,” he continues. Fees Nissen and other beekeepers pay the state go toward apiary research. “They do a lot of survey work for bee health, and that’s just one component of it,” said Goehring. “There’s research done on bee health. The genotyping center in Fargo has been able to identify five different viruses. We’re not sure how much of that is affecting colony heath, but
were sure some of it is. More work has to be done in that area. Some of the survey work is to assess bee and colony health. Generally people think that bees only access plants or flowers. There are weeds and trees and scrubs that all produce pollen and nectar and other things that bees go after. The more info we do gain through survey work, the better idea we have about how we can manage bees better,” Goehring said. In the end, one of the world’s most crucial pollinator of food crops comes in the form of an insect that is increasingly taken for granted.
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JULY 2016
metrocreative.com
Poultry back at ND State Fair By ANDREA JOHNSON choices contest.
There will also be static Staff Writer ajohnson@minotdailynews.com exhibits by the talented 4-H members who have sewed The poultry show will be clothing or created art or back this year at the North done interesting projects. Dakota State Fair, said Dean Judges will start judging enAakre, 4-H youth specialist tries a couple of days before in the Center for 4-H Youth the State Fair. Development on the North “When you think about Dakota State University the amount of work and the campus in Fargo. talent that’s displayed and Young 4-H members had the determination that’s disnot been able to display played, whether it’s a static their birds last year because exhibit or an animal that of concerns about disease, they’ve worked with,” said but Aakre said there is now Aakre. “... That doesn’t hapa monitoring program in pen overnight ... I’m always place that will minimize po- impressed with what the tential risks. The precau- young people do. It’s great tions are those ordered by entertainment.” the National Poultry ImAakre said he expects provement Program and about 8,000 4-H at this year’s monitored by the state vet- State Fair, created by stuerinarian. dents from all over the state. “We’re glad to have a In past years, there have poultry show this year,” said been as many as 2,000 exAakre. “There’s always some hibitors. Aakre said he anticremarkable breeds.” ipates another good turnout Along with the poultry for 4-H this year. show will be other animal 4-H members can join a exhibits, including of sheep, local club in the third grade swine and rabbits, beef, and continue participating goats and cattle throughout up until they are one year the week. out of high school. 4-H members will partic“The young people that ipate in a horse show as well, are exhibiting enjoy getting along with a clothing review to know others from around and a communication arts the state and making new contest and a consumer friends,” said Aakre.
Inside Ag
Local farmers markets are up and running
JULY 2016
MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 7
By ANDREA JOHNSON dors would be at the farmers start the seeds in is the magic,” should plan to come to the
market for the opening day. Staff Writer In the early weeks of the ajohnson@minotdailynews.com farmers market, vendors will One of two Minot farmers be selling early harvests. “You’ll have lettuces and markets kicked off on July 9. The North Prairie Farmers spinach and green onions,” Market is located in the Trin- said Baker, while other people ity Health parking lot across might sell onions, radishes or from Planet Pizza and will be broccoli. Popular fruits of the garden open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays throughout the always include tomatoes, too. Later in the season there summer. Marvin Baker said he will be corn or pumpkins and hopes the farmers market will even more unusual items. Baker said he is growing continue until the end of October this year, though that okra, but it will not be ready to will depend on the weather. be harvested for some time. He also is growing peanuts “The last time I checked, we had 21 vendors,” said and so far his crop looks pretty Baker, though not all of them good, though he was a little bit will be selling their goods at worried following a frost earthe same time. He anticipated lier this summer. “Having a greenhouse to that between 12 and 15 ven-
said Baker. “I can start things in March and get them going.” Baker and his wife have both a high tunnel and a greenhouse in which they grow their produce. Other vendors grow their vegetables only in gardens. Baker said there will be plenty of other items at the farmers market each weekend. “We have baked goods, breads and pies and fudge and there’s people that come with berries,” said Baker. “And there’s honey. There’s all kinds of stuff.” He said it would take him quite a while to list all of the great things that will be on sale at the farmers market. Baker also said people
farmers market when it first opens if they want to get the very best produce. Vegetables tend to go fast. “It’s best to get there early and get the best of the best,” he said. Baker said he is really looking forward to this year’s farmers market. He really enjoys growing produce, including some of the produce people are surprised that he can grow in a climate like North Dakota. “I’m excited,” said Baker. “I’m really kind of giddy.” Another farmers market, the Minot Farmers Market, opened on July 12 and will be offered in Oak Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays starting at 9 a.m.
People gather at North Prairie Farmers Markets on opening day in Minot. Michael W. Sasser/MDN
Inside Ag PAGE 8
MINOT DAILY NEWS
Power and versatility showcased at 2016 machinery row at ND State Fair Multipurpose machines are the latest trend in ag, construction By ALLAN BLANKS
Staff Writer ablanks@minotdailynews.com Speed, power, and versatility comes together as one at the 2016 North Dakota State Fair. Towering air seeders, dynamic tractors, sturdy trailers along with a growing variety of vendors will be present on this year’s machinery row. Denise Harrah, the accounting assistant and commercial booths director at the North Dakota State Fair, is pleased with the number of vendors. “Preparation for the fair has been energetic,” Harrah said. “We’ve had a great response from people applying to be vendors and there is excitement among returning vendors too.” Clint Burgardt, the owner at Dakota Truck and Farm, is excited about the possible exposure and opportunity to expand the several brands sold at his establishment. “Last year we had a lot of traffic and we’re hoping to see even more people this year,” Burgardt said. “I enjoy seeing and meeting people from all over the state. The fair really gets the word out all across the state that we carry so many kinds of trailers. Since we haven’t been a dealer for too long, the exposure is really important to us. So, it’s really nice when people walk past us and see all the different things that we have. We’ve had JET Trailers for a long time. About a year and a half ago we became a dealer of Finishline and US Cargo. We also
have B&W hitches and a wide variety of pickup covers.” Cattle trailers, drop deck and detachable gooseneck trailers, and performance trailers are just a few of the items available at the State Fair. Popular brands as Kubota, Bobcat, John Deere, Komatsu, Toro and numerous other reputable brands will be on display on machinery row. This year’s State Fair has something for everyone. Those in need of storage facilities can find grain tanks, gravel boxes, liquid fertilizer carts, and portable storage buildings. Ranchers seeking an upgrade in equipment can explore the wide range of skid steer attachments, mowers, grain vacuums and various augers. Jerry Sayler, customer account manager at Butler Machinery, looks forward to introducing the Horsch Panther. “Horsch is a German-based company and they’ve been building tillage equipment for several years,” Sayler said. “We have carried Horsch air seeders since the 2000’s, we have several of them out there and what’s unique to this air seeder is the spacing and speed of this unit. Typically we have guys that seed anywhere between seven all the way up to 10 mph. The other unique feature with this drill is the spacing allows you to plug in every other row and being able to plant corn. There is no other air seeder in the industry that you can plant
corn with.” Along side the Horsch Panther is the high speed and extremely precise Horsch Maestro Planter. “Horsch introduced the planter about five or six years ago,” Sayler said. “It’s very unique to the industry because it’s a high-speed precision planter that can plant up to 10 mph. There is no other planter in the industry that can plant that fast. The other unique feature is how the Maestro Planter can fold up. It folds up like a sprayer, it’s very narrow, has very clean lines and transport is very easy down the road.” Tig Engelhard, a manager at Gooseneck Implement, cannot wait to showcase the 2016 John Deere S690 Combine. “This is the largest combine that John Deere makes,” Engelhard said. “It has a premium residue system, provides grain handling and capacitywise this combine is unmatched in the industry.” For farmers who favor Horsch, Sayler is delighted to promote the Claas 750 Combine. “This combine has a factory integrated track system for flotation and carrying capabilities,” Sayler said. “The Claas 750 combine is unique to the industry and is called a hybrid combine. It’s a conventional combine with rotors in the back which allows it to be tailored made to adjust to your crops as you go down the field. Another unique feature is it has a fridge See MACHINERY — Page 11
TOP: Gooseneck Implement will feature the John Deere 9620R four-wheel drive tractor at machinery row. SECOND: The Horsch Panther will be shown at the 2016 North Dakota State Fairʼs machinery row by Butler Machinery. THIRD: From left to right: The S595 and the S740 are the two newest models produced by Bobcat and will be displayed at machinery row by Swanston Equipment Company. FOURTH: Visitors to machinery row can see the 2016 John Deere 569 round baler provided by Gooseneck Implement. Photos by Allan Blanks/MDN
JULY 2016
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JULY 2016
Continued from Page 9
underneath the buddy seat which will keep your beverages cold and your food fresh. It also comes with Bluetooth capabilities and cruise pilot, which lets you tell the machine how you want to combine and it will drive itself.” Both the 2016 John Deere S690 Combine and the Claas 750 Combine are equipped with a fridge, Bluetooth system and an ability to drive itself. Haying is serious business and Engelhard believes the 2016 John Deere 569 Round Baler can be of great assistance. “This is the top baler on the market,” Engelhard said. “The picker is like none other in the industry, it’s all automated and built strong to handle the rough conditions.” Considered by many to be the most coveted attraction at machinery row are the tractors. Gooseneck will feature the John
Inside Ag MINOT DAILY NEWS Deere 9620R four-wheel drive tractor. “This has PTO (power take-off), high flow hydraulics and HID lighting (high intensity discharge),” Engelhard said. “It also comes with Bluetooth, leather interior, cooling and heated seats, electronic mirrors and it’s fully automated with auto steer and power shift.” This will be one of many powerful, adaptable and capable tractors present at machine row. Taylor Brown handles equipment sales at Acme Tools and looks forward to sharing two of Kubota’s latest products. “We got our new wheel skid steer that just came out in a 65- and 75horse power series,” Brown said. “This is new to Kubota. Typically we just had the track unit and this new series allows us to provide farmers with equipment they’re used to using. We also have a higher horse power tractor. Our tractors go up to 170 horse and I’ll have one of them up there to show at the State Fair.“ In an age of versatility, construc-
PAGE 11
Submitted photo
Acme Tools will showcase the Kubota M7 Tractor at the 2016 North Dakota State Fair.
tion and agricultural equipment have forged as one. “We have machines that will pretty much hit both markets,” Brown said. “We have small, large and everything in between to fit the
needs of construction and agriculture very well.” Wyatt Greene, the Minot branch manager at Swanston Equipment Company, is excited about Bobcat’s new production line.
“The S595 and the S740 are the two newest models we’re going to display,” Greene said. “Both of the Bobcat skids are attractive and a little different. The S595 is a medium framed machine which is good for the construction market because it allows you to get into smaller areas. This model has increased horse power and goes up to 74 horse and it also has counterweights. The S740 applies more towards our agricultural market and this model is special because it’s a large frame machine with a 74-horse engine and it meets the EPA standards. There is no exhaust after treatment, no particulate filter, no DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) and you just put your diesel in it and go.” Both the vendors and spectators are excited to experience the warm weather and the bright possibilities taking place at machinery row. “It’s nine days of enjoying the weather,” Brown said. “The State Fair is all about getting out and having fun.”
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Inside Ag PAGE 14
MINOT DAILY NEWS
GOING UPWARD Beef cattle numbers increasing in ND, nationwide
Steve Brooks of Bowman is president of the North Dakota Stockmenʼs Association and Warren Zenker of Gackle is vice president. Jason Zahn of Towner is immediate past president. Board of directors represent six districts in the state.
The NDSAʼs Annual Convention and TradeShow will be held Sept. 22-24 in the Holiday InnRiverside in Minot. Elections will be held for open positions on the NDSA board of directors.
By ELOISE OGDEN Regional Editor • eogden@minotdailynews.com
BISMARCK – The executive vice president of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association says beef cattle numbers continue to increase in North Dakota and, now, in the United States, too. “The total U.S. cattle inventory increased last year by an estimated 2.8 million head and totaled 92 million head on Jan. 1, 2016, which is the biggest yearover-year increase since 1981. (Still, this is the fifth smallest inventory level since the early 1950s.),” said Julie Schaff Ellingson. She said nationwide, much of the increase is being attributed to a changing moisture situation in many parts of the country. “A severe, prolonged drought in Texas and other parts of cattle country several years ago led to a significant herd reduction that
Ellingson
accelerated the drop in cattle numbers then. Those areas have since gotten moisture. That, along with a different point in the cattle cycle and other factors, has led to some of the regrowth in numbers,” Ellingson said.
As for how the cattle prices are impacting the industry right now, Ellingson said, “Cattle prices are significantly lower than the industry’s all-time highs of 2014 and early 2015. Producers anticipated a price reduction, but not the volatility that has marked 4Q 2015 and 2016.” Ellingson has been executive vice president of NDSA since 2008. NDSA was formed in 1929 by a group of cattle producers. At their first meeting they instituted a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of cattle rustlers. The organization, representing producers, acts as a watchdog group by enforcing livestock laws, promoting adult and youth education programs and advocating for the general welfare of the cattle in the state. Ellingson said NDSA is seeing some younger producers entering the industry. “In most cases, a second generation joins a family operation.
JULY 2016
Often, families will expand the herd or incorporate another enterprise to make it work to support another generation/household,” Ellingson said. Ellingson said the NDSA continues to support young ranchers in a variety of ways. “One is through its Environmental Services Program, which, in addition to no-cost technical assistance and advice, can provide up to $175,000 in cost-share support for those who install environmentally compliant features for new or refurbished livestock operations.” She said NDSA has scholarships and a Mentoring Program to support students. “We have a Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit for young people to gain leadership experience in the cattle industry,” she said. “Our Foundation helped fund the curriculum which is used to help families through the generational transfer of farms and ranches,” Ellingson said.
Inside Ag JULY 2016
MINOT DAILY NEWS
Room for crops but prices down By KIM FUNDINGSLAND
Staff Writer kfundingsland@minotdailynews.com Area grain elevator managers are not quite sure what to expect this fall. Harvest of some crops is expected to get under way soon but, with grain prices quite low, there may not be a lot of selling. “It is kind of a question mark,” said Dan Mostad, marketing manager for Berthold Farmer’s Elevator. “We have space and access to freight but what will producers sell at these price levels?” “I’d guess they’d store all they can on the farm at these prices,” added Chris Gratton, CHS Garrison. Grain prices were low last year, prompting many producers to store as much grain as possible in bins. With those bins likely full, many
producers will have to decide what to do with this year’s crop. “There’s a substantial amount of grain from last year stored on farms. They don’t want to sell at these lower levels,” said Jeremy Burkhart, SunPrairie Grain in Minot. Speculation is that some producers will bring last year’s grain to market, clearing way to store this year’s crop. In past year’s moving grain out of elevators has been delayed due to a scarcity of railcars. That situation has been mostly alleviated this year. “Railcars should be adequate. Both CP and BN should have good access to cars and service,” said Mostad. Burkhart was in agreement and, he added, there is ample storage available for this year’s harvest. “I guess right now we are sitting
pretty good. We’ve got several trains and cars ordered to move grain out,” said Burkhart. “There will still be some grain brought into town, just maybe not as much as in the past.” Joe Schimke, Harvey Farmers Elevator, said the railroad has been keeping up with railcar orders this year and his facility has plenty of storage available for whatever comes in this harvest season. “We are as empty as we want to be,” explained Schimke. “There will be some carryover on farms. Wheat prices are by far the worst of them. Soybeans will move at harvest time. Prices are better on them.” Peas and winter wheat are among the first crops to be harvested in North Dakota, generally followed by early barley. The harvest is expected to get under way in earnest later this month.
PAGE 15
Inside Ag JULY 2016
MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 17
Long-range weather outlook By KIM FUNDINGSLAND
Staff Writer • kfundingsland@ minotdailynews.com
Major indicators point toward a warmer than usual summer and fall season. The upcoming winter, however, is another story. Farmers and ranchers should note that the Climate Prediction Center, the longrange prognosticators of the National Weather Service, are in agreement that North Dakota temperatures through September should be above average. “The July-AugustSeptember 2016 temperature outlook indicates increased probabilities of above-normal temperatures across most of the forecast domain, although probabilities are tempered across the Great Plains.” The El Nino effect that resulted in North Dakota experi-
encing its warmest winter season in history just a few months ago no longer exists, says the NWS. El Nino’s warming effect is almost always followed by La Nina, which brings colder than usual winter weather to North Dakota. Fortunately, early indications are that this year’s La Nina is not as powerful as it once had the potential to be. Nevertheless, says the CPC, “The odds for below-normal temperatures is favored for the North-Central U.S. by next winter.” Meanwhile, says the CPC, the temperature focus for the remainder of this summer is on warmer than usual weather. “Above-normal temperatures are favored across nearly all of the forecast domain for the July-September outlooks as
the temperature tools are in good agreement.” As far as moisture is concerned, the three-month outlook compiled by the CPC has an equal chance of the region
receiving higher or lower rainfall than usual with the greatest possibility of significant rainfall in the southern tier of the state long the South Dakota border.
Inside Ag PAGE 18
MINOT DAILY NEWS
JULY 2016
Increased acreage, lower prices likely for many crops By JILL SCHRAMM
Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com Agricultural producers aren’t likely to see improvement in commodity prices, based on a June 30 USDA acreage report. Corn acreage increased 7 percent to the third highest since the 1940s. “That was really unfortunate for the corn market, and prices dropped off substantially,” said Kayla Burkhart, broker with CHS SunPrairie in Minot. “We are sitting on a lot of corn, and then we have a lot of corn acres and we anticipate acreage higher than the highest estimate. So it was really ugly for corn.” Total wheat acreage was down about 7 percent from last year, according to the latest report. Spring wheat acres fell from 13.2 million
to 12.1 million acres, or 8 percent. “It kind of was expected to happen,” Burkhart said of the spring wheat acres. “The issue, though, is that all wheat acres are still higher than what the market was expecting by about 1.1 million acres.” Wheat stockpiles also are large, up about 200 million bushels from last year. Still, Burkhart said she doesn’t see wheat prices falling much further but expects they won’t go higher than $4.60 a bushel. However, she noted at the start of July, old wheat was edging close to going below $4. Part of the reason for the poor prices is the struggling export market, which is the worst in 40 to 60 years, Burkhart said. The value of the U.S. dollar has been high, pricing American crops out of the market. Russia’s lower quality wheat has been more affordable on the
world market and has made it difficult for U.S. wheat to compete, she said. With Britain’s exit from the European Union, more people might invest in dollars, putting more pressure on commodities. With durum prices at $5.75 to $6, many farmers switched from spring wheat to durum at planting time. The USDA report showed durum acres were up 11 percent, mostly in North Dakota. Given that increase, a good crop would have the unfortunate effect of driving that price down, Burkhart said. The USDA report was unfortunate all the way around, even for soybeans, despite soybean prices rising another 40 cents afterwards, Burkhart said. Although the report didn’t increase soybean acres by as much as people were expecting, acreage is high, she said. This year’s estimate was 83.7 million acres
planted, up 1 percent from last year. With those statistics, it doesn’t make sense that soybean prices continue to rise, but Burkhart said the driving factor is speculation in the market. That makes it a good time to sell but creates a risk of a dramatic swing if speculators ever choose to pull out. As for other crops, the USDA report showed sunflowers were down 200,000 acres from last year, while flax was down 460,000 acres. Canola acres remain similar to last year. Burkhart said sunflower prices could show strength in the bird food market. Much of the sunflower acreage decline was in specialty sunflowers and NuSun. “It is going to turn into a weather market now that this report is out of the way. Right now weather patterns are pretty favor-
able so it looks like we are going to have pretty good production. Overall, it looks like the U.S. crop is going to be OK for now so that is going to keep prices from gaining,” Burkhart said. Ward County Extension Agent Paige Brummond said producers have been limiting their expenses on machinery and capital improvements as well as having cut their input costs as much as possible without hurting yields. “They are having to conserve and see if they can make enough to pay operating loans,” she said. Burke County Extension Agent Dan Folske said farmers are putting a lot of money into expensive fungicides and investments to ensure a strong harvest. “Unless they have an excellent yield, far above average, the profits are a negative on a lot of these crops,” he said.
A previous area corn harvest is shown in this photo from SunPrairie. USDA acreage estimates indicate corn acres are up 7 percent nationally this year. Submitted Photo
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MINOT DAILY NEWS
PAGE 20
JULY 2016
Photo by Jill Schramm/MDN
A Ward County corn field is bordered by flax in bloom. Crops in the region largely are doing well so far this season.
I F D IS E A S E , W E A T H E R W O E S S T A Y A W A Y
By JILL SCHRAMM
Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com Warm weather and plenty of moisture have given the 2016 crop a good start. Farmers now are keeping an eye out for disease and other hazards that could spoil what is shaping up to be a good harvest. “Overall, the crops are pretty good this year,” said Ward County Extension Agent Paige Brummond, Minot. “We had an early spring. Crops got in on time, and we have had timely rains since then. So far, so good.” There have been some areas with too much rain or too much wind, but most farmers are expecting good crops and doing what they can to ensure that happens, she said. With the amount of moisture this season, farmers are taking precautions against fungal diseases by applying fungicides. “That’s something a lot of farmers are keeping on eye on,” Brummond said. “This year people do need to be aware of the risk of scab in wheat.” What farmers don’t want to happen is a repeat of a couple of years ago when scab created havoc with a
wheat harvest that otherwise looked promising. “We hope that doesn’t happen but farmers can prevent that by applying the fungicides at the right time,” Brummond said. “It’s something that should be on the radar of just about everybody that’s producing wheat and durum.” In Burke County, some spring wheat fields have been infected with the wheat streak mosaic virus. The virus is normally a winter wheat problem, but producers are seeing it on land that was seeded to canola last year after a 2014 wheat crop, said Burke County Extension Agent Dan Folske, Bowbells. “It’s kind of a rare thing we are seeing. I have never seen it before like this,” he said. He explained rain last fall was ideal for encouraging the growth of volunteer wheat in the canola stubble. Farmers who didn’t apply fall herbicide or gave volunteer wheat too much time before applying spring herbicide provided a food supply that allowed the mite that carries the virus to feed and thrive. “Once the infection is there, there’s not a lot that can be done,”
Folske said. Early-season infection particularly can be devastating to a crop, often cutting yield by 95 percent. Crop insurance typically will consider the wheat a total loss, and producers will destroy the crop to stop the spread to other fields by the mites, which move with the wind. Wheat streak mosaic is spotty across the county, but crops otherwise look good, Folske said. “Canola fields are basically looking very good. Flax is just starting to bloom, and most of those fields are looking very good,” he said. Peas and soybeans have suffered in some areas due to excess rainfall. “The big concern right now is disease in the crop with warm, humid weather that’s ideal for progression of disease,” he said. “There’s lots of fungicides being applied on the canola and also on spring wheat and durum.” Renville County Extension Agent LoAyne Voigt, Mohall, also said producers are spraying fungicide in hope of controlling disease in what has been a wet year. One producer reported 15 inches of rain so far since May 1, and although this isn’t typical across the county, the amount of rain
has drowned crops in many low areas, she said. It also has increased the risk of disease, with tan spot already showing up. There’s been some wheat streak mosaic in spring wheat, she said. Jim Hennessy, Mountrail County ag agent in Stanley, said disease is the biggest issue facing farmers currently. A variety of diseases have been showing up in different crops. Producers who haven’t rotated their wheat with broadleaf crops recently or particularly those who are growing wheat again on last year’s wheat ground will need to apply fungicides to control for disease, he said. Portions of Mountrail County north of U.S. Highway 2 were hit hard with hail a few weeks ago, and those crops that are able to recover will be stressed and more susceptible to disease, he added. There’s still plenty of growing season ahead, though, and if it brings the right about of heat and rain, the region could be looking at a tremendous crop, Hennessy said. Pierce County Extension Agent Yolanda Schmidt said a hail storm on July 4 damaged fields in an area in the northeastern part of the county. How much of that crop might still recover
is uncertain, given the degree of the damage. Otherwise, crops are looking good, Schmidt said. “The critical thing right now is if we get timely rain,” she said. Many fields are at the point of becoming dry, and hayland and pastures also could use a shot of rain, she said. Bottineau and McHenry counties also experienced areas of hail damage early in July. But for the storm damage, crops are thriving. “They are looking good,” said Bottineau County Extension Agent Sara Clemens, Bottineau. Thirty to 40 percent of the canola is in bloom, and the first crop of alfalfa has been harvested. The alfalfa also looked good except for some fields of young crop where weevils were a problem, she said. Rachel Wald, McHenry County Extension Agent, said there are areas of the county that could use more rain. The corn and soybeans particularly need rain to catch up their growth. Much of what happens from this point will depend on nature, but the crops are in good position, she said. “A lot of our crops are looking really nice,” she said.
Inside Ag MINOT DAILY NEWS
JULY 2016
PAGE 23
Family project Korgels raise chickens for meat, eggs & 4-H projects By ELOISE OGDEN
Regional Editor eogden@minotdailynews.com Raising chickens is a family project for Bryan and Rhonda Korgel and their two sons, Kaden, 12, and Layne, 9. “Everybody does it but the majority is the boys,” said Rhonda. The family lives south of Minot. They started with chickens in 2009, said Kaden. “Every year we get a new flock so we kind of mix it up,” said Rhonda. They have seven breeds of chickens: Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, Speckled Sussex, Black Sex Links, Production Reds, Light Brahmas and Black Jersey Giants. Light Brahmas and Black Jersey Giants are new ones for them. Kaden explained how they got started raising chickens: “I think it was just an idea in the back of our heads and to try them,” he said. “We started out with rabbits but then we went to chickens,” added Layne. They raise the rabbits for show and just recently started breeding them. Bryan and Rhonda are leaders of the Afton Country Kids, a new 4-H club south of Minot.
Kaden and Layne are in the club. This year was the first year for most of the Afton Country Kids’ members to take part in the recent Ward County 4-H Achievement Days at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. Those who received blue ribbons or higher will go on to the State Fair this month. The boys said they get new chickens every year. “We have them on a three-year rotation,” said Bryan. “They start their production and eggs start going down in about three years so that’s why we try to rotate them through.” When the chickens are older they will butcher them for the meat. “We fill the freezer,” Rhonda said. Last year was their first year to butcher chickens. They did the butchering in the fall. Over the winter they have two coops with chickens. Right now they have about 90 chickens and in the winter that number will go down to about 60, Bryan said. Bryan, who was raised in the area, said his family didn’t have chickens when he was growing up. Rhonda, who grew up on a farm, said her family had chickens. The family sells the chicken eggs. With the income from it, Kaden said, “We save it all up
Kaden Korgel, 12, right, holding one of the Korgel familyʼs chickens, and Layne, 9, are shown by one of the chicken coops at the Korgel home near Minot. The Korgels started raising chickens several years ago and now the chickens also are 4-H projects. Eloise Ogden/MDN
and buy new animals and chickens in the spring.” Both Kaden and Layne said they like the family’s chicken project. “It keeps us busy during the summer months,” said Kaden. Kaden said he does most of the work with the chickens. Layne also helps but does more work with some of the other animals. Besides rabbits and chickens, the family also has ducks, goats and pigs.
The animals and poultry are 4-H projects for Kaden and Layne. “We’ll show the eggs,” Kaden said. They also show their ducks, Rhonda said. “And pigs and goats,” said Bryan. “And rabbits,” said Layne. “Pretty much everything we show,” added Kaden. Incidentally, they also sell the duck eggs and noted that duck eggs are good for people. They are richer than chicken eggs.
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