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By JILL SCHRAMM
‘Farmers helping farmers’ Personal relationships key to company’s growth
Senior Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com KENMARE – From a couple of farmers selling seed on the side to a full-service agriculture company, Optimum Ag Solutions has come a long way in a short time. Having sold seed separately, Doug Miller and Chris Tuchscherer came together to sell inoculant and form Optimum Ag Solutions at Kenmare in 2017. They added farm chemicals and then fertilizer. Eventually, Optimum Ag Solutions branched out to custom harvesting, planting, spraying and grain cleaning as well as consulting, with the help of a professional agronomist. “It just kind of blossomed into farmers helping farmers. Guys like what we do, and we take care of our clients. Things just kind of rolled from there,” Miller said. “Our motto has always been ‘farmers helping farmers’ because we farm a little bit on the side too. So we’ve experimented on our farms.” “We farm ourselves so that we have a little bit more education as far as what we’re suggesting to the growers,” Tuchscherer added. “We always try to push the best products so that our growers and clients have basically the best return on investment.” Seed sales remain a staple for Optimum Ag Solutions, which deals primarily in wheat, soybeans, corn and canola. However, Miller noted, “We can source just about anything. We have lots of connections.” Miller said Optimum Ag Solutions has identified top varieties but continues to grow different varieties in its field trials to make those comparisons and confirm that the best seed remains the best seed. Optimum Ag Solutions conducts field trials near Kenmare. Every year, it hosts a field day for growers and invites product representatives to talk about what works in the area. See OPTIMUM — Page 3
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Submitted Photo
Optimum Ag Solution’s Mark Trout, Chris Tuchscherer, Doug Miller and Maddie Wald, from left, show off a field of corn.
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“It’s kind of hard to sell something unless you can back it up with good evidence, some good field trials, some good data, and that’s really been a bonus for us,” Miller said. “It’s really helped us give the customer the best knowledge, and we try to bring the best product for the dollar.” Additionally, Optimum Ag Solutions relies on information from field trials conducted by its product representatives around the state. That’s been important because the company’s trade area extends from eastern Montana to Rugby and almost as far south as Bismarck. The company strives not to get so big that it can’t handle the heart of its service area, which is northwest North Dakota, Miller said. Miller said their mission is about taking care of regular customers and adding new customers at a pace that enables them to take good care of them as well. They aim to offer a faceto-face business style with a handshake atmosphere, he said.
Submitted Photo
Optimum Ag Solutions has been expanding its facilities, shown here near Kenmare. “We’re not just selling a product and then coming back the next year and selling another product,” Tuchscherer said. “We try to interact with our growers and clients throughout the year because we care about how our product is doing on their opera-
tion. Because we don’t succeed if they don’t succeed.” He said many hours are spent meeting with farmers throughout the growing season to see how the company’s seed and crop protection are working for them.
“Personal relationships are more important to us than the best selling products,” said Mark Trout, one of two full-time employees in the business. Trout and employee Maddie Wald also have farm backgrounds and
maintain active farm interests. Trout is a fourth generation farmer from Sherwood. Surrey native Wald graduated from Bismarck State College with an associate degree in agronomy. Miller and Tuchscherer both attended North Dakota State University. Miller operates his Kenmare family farm and has previously operated small businesses on the side. Tuchscherer, a wrestler at NDSU, went on to participate professionally for six years in Mixed Martial Arts. He fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship for three years before coming back to agriculture, working in a large farm operation. Optimum Ag Solutions also depends on the help of seasonal employees, whose numbers have been increasing. The company’s client base has almost doubled in the past two years, placing the business in a position to consider constructing another building. Miller said future expansion, like previous expansion, will be based on customer needs. “For us, our next step is just to make sure we take care of our clients,” Miller said. “We’ve grown in lots of different fashions to make sure we can do that.”
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Inside
Submit a “Farm Family’ Submit rm amily’ you you think should be in our think r next nextshould issue. Write a short issue. Write on hortwhyaragraph paragraph this onfamily represent y the All esent the All American “Farm American “Farm Family.” If your nomination is Family. ” ur ination chosen,they theywill will visited chosen, bebe visited by an Inside Ag reporterwill an by nside reporter and will ry have a story have nextin our next issue. .A ME ????????????????????????????????????????????????????? !DDR E S S ????????????????????????????????0HONE ????????????? & A R M & A MI L Y .A ME ???????????????????????????????????????????? !DDR E S S ????????????????????????????????0HONE ?????????????? 0A R A G R A PH ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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Brandvolds of Ryder are a busy, active farm and ranch family By ANDREA JOHNSON
stores can’t keep beef on the shelf and we are sitting with beef calves that should be sold, but the prices were so low, we could not cover expenses. We have still been able to purchase most products that our farm and require. HowThe coronavirus pandemic isn’t the first challenge that ever, we are finding that prices we pay are on the rise (supdue to Lee and Julie Brandvold have faced together in their farm- posedly) COVID-19 related ing operation. “We currently grow wheat, canola, soybeans and flax transportation issues. for cash crops. We also raise millet, oats, hay barley and Going forward today silage corn to use in our cattle operation as feed,” said Julie we are concerned Brandvold. “We have faced several challenges in the farm- about the drought coning and ranching operation,” said Julie Brandvold. “We ditions. Long term conhave farmed through drought years, excess moisture and cerns are the global flooding. During the drought years, the crops could be as economy. We no low as 5 bushel to the acre. The excess moisture years, longer farm with only crops were unplanted due to either wet fields, or roads concerns of what hapbeing impassable to get equipment to the fields. High mois- pens in the United ture years also causes crop disease problems which re- States. We are affected duces the yields and diminished the quality of the grain. by crop and livestock Therefore, the elevators would reduce the prices. The qual- conditions that include ity of the grain during the diseased years would be reduced the entire world. It is to a low feed value, if it was even accepted for feed, due to not only weather related issues that will affect our farm a high vomitoxin level. High vomitoxin can be dangerous and ranch, but also the political issues.” Julie Brandvold joined her husband on the farm east of to an animal’s health. In the drought years, it was always Ryder after their marriage in 1997. Lee Brandvold had a challenge to find enough hay for the cattle. We were very fortunate to have friends and neighbors that allowed us to bought the farm from Jim and Phyllis Bowen in 1983, when put up their CRP for hay to make it through these times. he was just 18. Both of the Brandvolds also worked full time “COVID-19 has really challenged our operation on the off the operation in addition to farming. Lee Brandvold farm and ranch. The price dropped for our cattle and hit us worked as an agricultural diesel mechanic for 17 years in hard. The prices dropped due to processing plants that addition to farming and ranching full time and Julie worked were shut down and there was a backlog of beef cattle that full time as a travel consultant for AAA in Minot for 15 could not be butchered. It is sad when you hear the grocery years and helped with the farming and ranching operation when she got home. Their daughter, Shelsey, 15, and son Stetson, 12, also are involved in the operation. Both attend school in Max and are busy with 4-H, doing welding, woodworking, creative art, leather work, photography and grains. They also are community minded, said their mom, and have helped out with community service projects like making tie blankets for people who live at the assisted living center in Garrison, planting flowers in the local communities and making goody trays that they deliver to people in the area. The kids attend 4-H Achievement Day and enter their projects in the State Fair. Julie Brandvold is also a 4-H leader, so she said it is a family affair. Shelsey Brandvold, who her mom said is interested in becoming a veterinarian, also joined the FFA organization and has learned and developed skills outside the classroom. Her mother said she received a National FFA grant last year to help start a cattle herd by Submitted Photo purchasing a few bred heifers. She received a Lee and Julie Brandvold are pictured on their farm grant from the state FFA organization this year near Ryder. Staff Writer ajohnson@minotdailynews.com
to add to her herd. Stetson Brandvold is also getting into the family business and purchased heifers to start his own cattle herd. “The kids still make time to help out on the farm on a daily basis,” said Julie Brandvold. “On the ranch they are continually helping with the cattle (and) being involved in every part of it from birthing the calves, vaccination, fixing fence and getting ready to turn cattle to pasture. They help put up the hay, haul hay – Julie Brandvold home, feed the cattle and haul the manure out. On the farming side of things, they help move equipment, work on equipment and Stetson will run the grain cart in the field. When needed Shelsey will run the self-propelled swather.” Stetson Brandvold enjoys old farm equipment and likes seeing antiques at threshing shows. His mom said he is the process of restoring an H International tractor, which he proudly drives in the Makoti Threshing Show. She said Stetson’s other projects include a W6 tractor, WD9 tractor and a model T Truck. The Brandvolds are also very active in the community. Both drive a school bus for the Max school district and Julie Brandvold also fills in when needed as a paraprofessional and works in the school kitchen when needed. Both hold offices on the local Cameron Township Board. Julie Brandvold is the District 6 Director for the Ward county Township Officers Association and Lee Brandvold is the president of the North Dakota State Township Officers Association. Julie Brandvold was also involved with the startup of the Dinner on the Prairie event, which she said is an educational event that connects farms to consumers and educates the public about where their food comes from. The event was called off last year but there are plans to hold it this year in the first week in August. Julie Brandvold said they all enjoy their life in farming and ranching. “What we enjoy most about farming and ranching is the clean, quiet living (and the) wide open space of being on a ranch, the privilege of being self-employed and being your own boss,” she said. “We all truly enjoy seeing what spring brings. From all the new baby animals, including the calves that are part of our operation, the planting of the crops, watching the new crop emerge and all pastures and fields turning green with anticipation of a productive and profitable year.”
We currently grow wheat, canola, soybeans and flax for cash crops. We also raise millet, oats, hay barley and silage corn to use in our cattle operation as feed.
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Biofuels producers, farmers not sold on switch to electric DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The president and auto industry maintain the nation is on the cusp of a gigantic shift to electric vehicles and away from liquid-fueled cars, but biofuels producers and some of their supporters in Congress aren’t buying it. They argue that now is the time to increase sales of ethanol and biodiesel, not abandon them. To help address climate change, President Joe Biden has proposed an infrastructure plan that includes billions of dollars to pay for 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations, electrify public vehicles and enhance the nation’s power grid. These moves follow initiatives in California and other states to mandate electric vehicle sales and a goal by General Motors to shift production fully to electric vehicles by 2035. Yet any shift from liquidfueled cars to electric would be gradual, given the fleet of 279 million petroleum-powered vehicles now on U.S. roads. And producers of corn-based ethanol and soybased biodiesel argue that biofuels will be needed for the foreseeable future. The government’s promotion of electric vehicles comes as the U.S. works to reduce carbon emissions that worsen climate change and to compete in the increasingly electric global auto market. The transportation sector accounts for the largest share of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and more than 80% of that comes from cars, pickups and larger trucks, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. LMC Automotive, a consulting firm, predicts more than 1 million electric vehicles will be sold in the U.S. in 2023, rising to over 4 million by 2030 ‚ still less than one-quarter of normal annual new vehicle sales of around 17 million. Electric vehicles now comprise less
LEFT: An ethanol plant stands next to a cornfield near Nevada, Iowa. The president and auto industry maintain the nation is on the cusp of a gigantic shift to electric vehicles and away from liquid-fueled cars, but biofuels producers and some of their supporters in Congress aren't buying it. BELOW: A Tesla owner charges his vehicle at a charging station in Topeka, Kan., April 5. AP Photos
than 2% of U.S. new-vehicle sales. Citing a recent study from Harvard and Tuft universities that found ethanol emits 46% less carbon than gasoline, biofuels advocates say it’s imperative for the climate that the nation prioritize increased biofuel production. Geoff Cooper, who heads the St. Louis-based Renewable Fuels Association, calls ethanol the “low-hanging fruit” for reducing carbon emissions and slowing global warming. He supports an immediate move from gasoline blended with 10% ethanol to a blend of 15%. “If the goal is to reduce carbon impacts of our transportation sector and we knew we’re going to be using hundreds of billions of gallons of liquid fuels for the next several decades, why not take steps now to reduce
the carbon intensity of those liquid fuels?” Cooper said. Each year, U.S. refineries produce about 15 billion gallons of ethanol — about 10% the volume of gasoline — and 1.5 billion gallons of biodiesel, which is typically blended with petroleumbased diesel for trucks and other heavy vehicles. Plants around the country produce the fuel, but most are in the Midwest, led by Iowa with 43 ethanol refineries and 11 biodiesel plants. Nearly 40% of the U.S. corn crop is used for ethanol, and 30% of soybeans goes to biodiesel. Despite the carbon benefits of ethanol, others note the growth of biofuels prompted an expansion of corn acreage, increased use of fertilizers and more pollution of waterways. Biofuels plants also typically use hundreds of
millions of gallons of water annually. Iowa’s two Republican U.S. senators consider the shift toward electric vehicles a threat to farmers. Sen. Charles Grassley said last fall that a proposal by Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Rep. Mike Levin of California to end U.S. sales of gas-powered vehicles by 2035 would devastate Iowa. “This ... would absolutely destroy Iowa’s economy because it’s so dependent on agriculture and agriculture is so dependent on biofuels,” Grassley said. Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst argues that tax credits for buying electric cars typically go to well-to-do people on the East and West coasts and are propping up an industry that hurts demand for biofuels. “It’s not only the move to
all-electric vehicles that should have Iowans concerned; it’s the crazy tax breaks that wealthy coastal elites are getting for their electric vehicles,” Ernst states on her Senate website. “I firmly believe Iowa taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for millionaires to get a discount on luxury cars.” It is true that many who got the $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax credit since its inception in 2009 could afford a car that cost six figures or more. But since then, new models and higher sales have brought economies of scale and lower prices that appeal to more mainstream buyers. The ethanol industry itself was a beneficiary of a 45cent-per-gallon tax credit that provided about $30 bil-
lion to help the industry get established before that expired a decade ago. And farmers who grow commodity crops, such as corn and soybeans, still receive help from the federal government, including subsidized crop insurance costing billions of dollars annually. Despite assurances the move to electric will be gradual, many farmers see the shift as a threat to their livelihoods and doubt state and federal officials from urban areas will protect rural economies. “It’s like you’re almost helpless,” said Ed Wiederstein, a semi-retired livestock and grain farmer near Audubon in western Iowa. “It’s like a snowball that goes downhill.”
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SHOW US YOUR TRACTOR Do you have a favorite tractor, a brand new one or a shiny classic? Maybe it’s just a rusty heap that you can’t part with because it was grandfather’s pride and joy.
If so, please consider sharing a photo with the readers of Inside Ag. Please include information about yourself and the tractor. You can email the photo to kolson@minotdailynews.com and we will consider it for our next publication.
Minot business adds Versatile equipment
Clinton Burgardt, owner of Dakota Truck and Farm in Minot, has come a long way from the rural farm home he grew up in north of Garden City, Kan. His father, Dennis Burgardt, grew up on a farm, then worked for a farmer prior to beginning his career as a tractor mechanic for CASE IH, where he worked for nearly 40 years. When he grew up, Clinton Burgardt worked as a diesel mechanic too, but his focus was on construction equipment. That is up until 2010, when he was approached by his father-in-law, Mike Hemphill, to move to Minot to take over the family business. In 1997, Hemphill spearheaded the new business, See TRACTOR — Page 9
A Versatile 610 is shown at Dakota Truck and Farm after the company added the equipment line in December. Attached is a 35-foot Fury disc. Submitted Photo
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Dakota Truck and Farm, to fill the needs of the truck and farm community in the area. The business was affiliated with the Goodyear Commercial Tire and Service Network and was a Goodyear Farm Tire dealer as well as an International Truck and Cummins dealer. Several tire lines were added over the years. Clinton Burghardt learned the business from Hemphill before purchasing it from him on Jan. 1, 2016. He continued to strive to meet the needs of the area by adding Jet, US Cargo and Big Tex Trailers to the product line-up. In 2020, the Versatile dealerships in Kenmare and Washburn both went out of business, leaving farmers and ranchers who owned Versatile equipment with no one to service their tractors. Burghardt was approached about becoming a Versatile dealer to help fill the gap. Dakota Truck and Farm mechanics already had become proficient in working on Cummins engines, which make up the majority of engines built into International trucks. Versatile tractors are built with Cummins engines, and the service bays at Dakota Truck and Farm had been built large enough to accommodate the largest Versatile tractors. Combined with the multiple lines of tractor tires serving the farm and ranch community, it was a good fit to incorporate Versatile into the product line-up. In December 2020, the first Versatile used tractor and a new Fury 35-foot disc were on Dakota Truck and Farm’s lot. The first new Versatile tractor arrived in February and was sold in March, leaving Dakota Truck and Farm with a CASE IH trade-in, bringing Burghardt full circle from his early days working with his dad on the farm. Meanwhile, Dakota Truck and Farm continues to bring in additional tractors and implements. The business is in the process of establishing a separate sales location with more space to showcase the equipment.
Submitted Photos
ABOVE: Clinton Burgardt, left, owner of Dakota Truck and Farm, and his father, Dennis, stand next to a Versatile tractor at the Minot business. LEFT: Members of the Minot Area Chamber EDC joined Dakota Truck and Farm in cutting the ribbon on the new Versatile equipment business.
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The Gooseneck Extended Support (GES) Team, was implemented Spring of 2020. The current team, consisting of 6 full time Gooseneck parts members, support the overflow and after-hours calls for all 13 Gooseneck locations. The process of using the GES team is simple: each branch has their own phone number. If a customer calls a store location, and a counter person is unable to answer the phone, it then rolls into the GES team. It is also possible to contact GES directly if customer wishes to do so. Once the call is answered by a member of the team, the ticket is handled the same way it would be in the store. A GES team member will add any parts needed to the invoice as well as add notes into the ticket. Parts can be transferred in or ordered as needed. Once completed, the ticket is then reassigned to the store location in which the customer requests to pick up their parts from. Finally, a parts counterperson or designated parts picker from the store location assigns the ticket to themselves, to pull parts and finalize the invoicing process. During the first year of existence, the GES team (all branches) tallied 14,315 total tickets, helping over 5,100 customers! Planting and Harvest season added longer hours for farmers and ranchers as well as our GES team, working as late as 9 pm, and both Saturday and Sunday. In the slower times of the year, the team helps out by making sales calls regarding inspections, current sale promotions, and campaigns like the ITC/Tech 4 updates. The off-site Extended Support team allows the Gooseneck stores to concentrate on in store traffic while still providing the Gooseneck Experience to our customers. EXTENDED SUPPORT OBJECTIVES: • To answer every parts call “live” the first time (to prevent customers from waiting on hold). • Most efficient path to customer solutions (faster resolution times). • Experienced Gooseneck Parts Experts to support the Store teams through peak phone loads and extended hours of operation. • In the situation where a customer must leave a voicemail, 1st available Parts Expert will return customer’s call. Extended Support is here to make sure you get the best, quickest, service when you contact any gooseneck store. It aims to achieve this with reduced wait times and a response from a Gooseneck employee regardless of the volume of incoming calls or time of year. Extended Support is here for you!
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APRIL 2021
A sign near a parched field marks the spot of an experimental plot used in summer by the North Dakota State University Extension office and the Pierce County Ag Improvement Association.
Sue Sitter/PCT
Drought presents weed-control challenges for farmers By SUE SITTER
So, we may see an abundant amount of kochia emerging in the Staff Writer next two to four weeks.” ssitter@thepiercecountytribune.com “It’s usually one of the weeds Persistent drought conditions in that emerges first and unfortucentral and western North Dakota nately, it can be resistant to some of will present challenges for farmers our common herbicides such as glyphosphate (known as Round putting crops in the ground. Unfortunately, they may not Up),” Jenks said. “We still expect emergence of cause any problems at all for weeds, according to a scientist with some of the weeds that are right on the North Dakota State University’s the surface, such as winter annual North Central Extension Research weeds such as the mustard species or horseweed, prickly lettuce, any Center. “There are some weeds that like other number of weeds we call drier conditions,” said Brian Jenks, winter annuals,” Jenks added. “Those are the weeds that emerged a weed scientist with the center. “One of our biggest challenging in the fall. But there certainly can weeds is called kochia. Kochia ac- be weeds that are still emerging in tually thrives in drier conditions. the spring.”
“So, obviously with the dry conditions, we don’t expect as much weed emergence but there are still some weeds that will come and need to be controlled,” he said. “But kochia is by far the biggest concern we have because it just likes the dry conditions.” A variety of herbicides together with no-till farming can help farmers use a flexible approach to combat weeds in drought conditions, Jenks said. One type of weed killer, known as foliar herbicide, is applied to the leaves, or foliage, of weeds that have already emerged. “Round Up (is one example),” Jenks said. “It’s taken up by the leaves.”
“Whereas other herbicides, which we refer to as soil-applied herbicides, are applied directly to the soil,” Jenks noted. “Unfortunately, for soil-applied herbicides to be activated, we need a rainfall, either rain or a tillage pass to mix the herbicide into the soil, then the herbicide is taken up by the root as it germinates.” “For example, a common (soilbased) herbicide that’s used in soybeans, corn or flax is called Spartan,” Jenks said. “Farmers may think, ‘Should I apply this soil-applied herbicide?’ Because it needs rain to be activated.” “If we don’t get a rain, that herbicide isn’t going to be in soil solu-
tion where the roots can take it up,” he added. Jenks said farmers might hesitate to use soil-applied herbicides because they would consider putting the chemicals on dry ground a waste of money. “If we don’t get a rain, it’s not going to do a farmer much good so that’s why a farmer may be hesitant to spray that soil applied herbicide in the absence of any rain that may or may not be coming, If we do get the rain, the herbicide will be activated and will control weeds,” Jenks said. “So, that soil-applied herbicide is kind of like insurance. You want See WEEDS — Page 15
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Weeds
Continued from Page 12
to have it in case you get the rain, but you hate to spend the money if you don’t get the rain,” Jenks said. “Depending on the crop, a farmer will apply both a soilapplied and foliar herbicide,” Jenks noted. “For example, this time of year, a farmer may apply both. He may apply a foliar herbicide like Round Up and a soil-applied herbicide like Spartan in front of soybeans. What he’s doing is using the Round Up to control any weeds that are emerged but using a soil-applied herbicide like Spartan to control the weeds that may emerge later.” “But we have seen that sometimes there’s more benefit to soil-applied herbicides than a farmer typically expects,” Jenks added. “If we have dry conditions, you don’t get 100 percent control
but you might still get 30 or 40 percent control, which is better than nothing.” Pierce County NDSU Extension Agent Brenden Klebe said many farmers in the area have chosen no-till methods to preserve soil moisture, which leaves them with few choices for weed control beyond herbicides. “A lot of farmers I’ve talked with said there’s going to be a lot of no-till, which is great to conserve moisture in soil. But you’ve got to get on top of weeds that way with pre-emergent herbicides, even pre-seeding herbicides to get ahead of them,” Klebe said. Manual weed control “goes to the tillage side of things,” Klebe said. “Tillage is a great tool to warm the soil up and get things opened up and get the sun shining on it, but our lack of moisture hurts that. Then, the sun beats on it too hard and you get a lot of dry areas. So, be-
tween the two, it’s kind of a catch 22,” he said of tillage and chemical control. Klebe and Jenks said drought conditions could slow some weed growth, making herbicide application trickier. “(Foliar) herbicide does not enter the leaves as readily and therefore sometimes it’s not as effective, “ Jenks said. “So, in that case, under those dry conditions we recommend that the grower may want to increase the water volume that they’re using. But that depends on the herbicide they’re using.” “For example with the typical rate that a farmer may be applying, the amount of water they’re using per acre is about 10 gallons but he or she may want to consider increasing that water volume from 10 to 15 gallons per acre so there’s more water on the plant and it helps get that herbicide into the plant better.”
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“There are some cases with some herbicides under dry conditions may want to use a different adjuvant,” Jenks said. “What an adjuvant does is helps the herbicide enter the plant more readily.” “On the outer surface of the weed, there’s a waxy layer called the cuticle,” Jenks said. “What the adjuvant does is help the herbicide get through that cuticle more effectively. Some labels recommend a different adjuvant in drought conditions.” Jenks said relying solely on one type of herbicide increased the likelihood weeds would develop resistance to it. “We already have some weeds like kochia and horse weed that are resistant to Round Up,” Jenkins said. “So, we need other chemistries and other modes of action to control those weeds and that’s where the
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soil-applied herbicides come in. It helps control those weeds so we don’t have to rely solely on Round Up or other foliar herbicides.” “Usually, the farmers are spraying (foliar-based chemicals) about a month after planting. Hopefully, we’ll get a rain by then and they’ll be able to come back in and spray. That’s usually when the weeds are no more than three to four inches tall. That’s usually in the first week of June.” “Unfortunately, the other thing the drought does is sometimes in dry conditions you may not get every seed germinating at the same time so you may have uneven emergence,” Jenks noted. “Instead of having your crop emerge all at once, you may have 30 percent emerge one day, and then you may get another 20 percent another day, so you may have your crop emerge over a two-week period. So, your crop may
not be at the same stage at the same time. That kind of makes things uneven throughout the season.” “Unfortunately, there’s really nothing they can do about that,” Jenks said, noting some farmers might try to plant deeper in the soil to try to even things out. “However,” Jenks added, “It’s entirely understandable that if a grower finds no moisture even at two inches, a grower faces a very big risk of not having good emergence of the crop unless you get a rain. That’s why some growers are hesitant to plant at all if they can’t plant into moisture.” “There are a few parts of the state where growers have irrigation capabilities, but those are very few,” Jenks added. “We’re completely at the mercy of Mother Nature.” “It’s going to be a very challenging spring if we don’t get any rain,” Jenks said.
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The Ward County area is in the Extreme drought category and has been there for several weeks now, says Paige Brummund, NDSU Extension Agent-Ward County. This field in southwest Ward County is extremely dry. Eloise Ogden/MDN
Drought planning for farmers & cattle owners
NDSU Extension Agent-Ward County provides helpful advice Editor’s Note: Paige Brummund, Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources, with NDSU Extension-Ward County, reponded to several questions from The Minot Daily News regarding crops, livestock and the drought.
1. How are markets and moisture influencing farmers’ planting intentions?
Brummund
PB: The October-February season has been the driest on record for N.D. Currently, as of the April 1st report, 100% of the state is in drought. Eightyfive percent of the state is in at least a Severe Drought category, and 47% of the state is in an Extreme Drought category. The Ward County area is in the Extreme drought category and has been there for several weeks now. See DROUGHT — Page 17
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Drought
Continued from Page 16
Many farmers are crunching numbers and researching crops that will best fit into their operations on a dry year, while still maintaining their crop rotations and yield potential if we are to get some rain. Input costs and crop insurance options are other factors that producers must consider when thinking of changing their planting intentions.
Some sloughs in pastures still have water but many have dried up. This pasture is in southwest Ward County. Eloise Ogden/MDN
Drought planning resources Here is where to find many resources on drought planning as well as recorded webinars, news releases, and publications on specific drought topics: www.ag.ndsu.edu/drought
These resources can help producers develop a plan to fit their operation: www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/livestock/ strategies-for-managingdrought-in-the-northernplains http://drought.unl.edu/ranchplan/Ove rview.aspx
2. Are there any farmers who feel it is so dry they won’t even plant their crops? PB: I have heard some chatter about some producers not planning on planting this spring. However, early spring drought conditions does not guarantee that the entire growing season will be dry and planning for a somewhat average crop year is recommended. Also, keep in mind that crop insurance requires normal farming production practices are used. Some producers maybe planning on switching up their rotation and planting more acres of a crop with lower input costs and reducing acres of crops with higher input ceeding the previous high value costs. recorded on August 8, 2006, by two points. This also marks the most 3. What is NDSU extensive Extreme Drought coverExtension advising age on record since 2000, exceedfarmers to do – plant ing the previous most extensive their crops or don’t plant coverage on August 15, 2017. The estimated population in the at all? PB: Planting is recommended as drought area in N.D. is 672,592. no one knows for certain when and how much it will rain. What crops 5. What are the plans for will fit your situation best will vary cattle owners? Are most greatly between operations. Having of the sloughs and a plan and thinking through vari- waterholes dried up or ous scenarios closely is advised. drying up? What is the
advise for them (cattle owners). Is it predicted there will be a lot of cattle sold or will cattle owners just wait and PB: There is uncertainty and see?
4. What are farmers and ranchers telling you? Is this the driest spring they’ve ever seen?
there are some stressful decisions to be made as we come into spring. I’m not sure if it is the driest the farmers have ever seen, but the April 1st-released Drought Severity and Coverage Index (DSI) reached a historical-high value of 331, ex-
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PB: Drought is even more concerning for livestock producers. Already we are seeing and knowing that water quality concerns will be a major issue this year. Many stock ponds and other surface water sources are extremely
low or completely dried up. Sulfates are going to be a concern this year and producers should be testing both the sulfates and total dissolved solids (TDS) in their livestock water sources. Plans should be made to haul water or move cattle as needed, remembering that along with monitoring the quantity, producers need to also check the water quality. The other challenge with this drought is that the grass production will not be able to reach normal levels because the soil moisture is so depleted. Supplemental feed may be required for some producers as many pastures have been drought stressed for a number of years now. Looking at trigger dates and making decisions accordingly will be needed. April 15th-30th: If drought conditions occur throughout April, the growth of introduced cool-season pastures (crested wheatgrass, smooth brome grass)
will be below average. If lower production is expected, delay cattle turnout and feed hay longer, evaluate alternative feeds available or plan for fewer grazing days. If these grasses comprise hay land, expect below-average production and plan to grow emergency feed or purchase hay. May: If drought conditions occur in May, expect reduced forage production of 10% to 40% or more, depending on the severity of the drought. Plan for turning cattle out on grass earlier, removing cattle earlier, reducing the stocking rate or weaning calves early. Plan for alternative forages or feeding options if none of the above are desired. Plan to begin grazing tame pastures or post-contract Conservation Reserve Program lands if available. June: If drought conditions occur in June, expect reduced forage production of 30% to 70% or more, depending on the timing and amount of rain, severity
of the drought and past grazing management. Plan for removing cattle earlier, reducing the stocking rate, weaning calves early or culling cows. Assess the establishment and stand quality of summer annual forages and soil moisture conditions. Graze pastures that have drinking water shortages later in the grazing season, saving pastures with better water resources for summer use. If hot, dry conditions persist, monitor dugouts and ponds for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), which is toxic to livestock. Restrict livestock’s access to the water if it is toxic. Make plans to provide alternative, safe water sources. Take precautions to prevent nitrate poisoning because some plants accumulate nitrates during periods of drought. – Maintain a monitoring plan to measure utilization and minimize overgrazing. – Continue to assess the water sources.
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ND Oilseed Council re-elects Hazen rep
Canola district elections were recently held in the North Dakota Oilseed Council’s District I, where Bryan Aalund of Hazen in Mercer County was elected to his fourth, three -year term on the council board. Aalund is native to the Mohall area, where his father and brother farm. He and his wife, Kelly, farm in the
Hazen/Beulah area and are parents of two daughters and four grandchildren. They concentrate on no-till practices and raise a variety of crops including canola, corn, sunflowers, winter wheat, barley, spring wheat, peas and flax. Aalund studied diesel mechanics at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton after graduating from Mohall High School and worked for Butler Machinery for 12 years as a diesel mechanic. He is an active mem-
ber in his community and is vice president of the United States Canola Association. District I includes the counties of Golden Valley, Billings, Stark, Morton, Slope, Hettinger, Grant, Bowman, Adams, Sioux, Dunn, McKenzie, Mercer, Oliver, Divide, Burke, Williams, Mountrail, Renville, Ward and McLean. In addition to Aalund, other elected or appointed canola county representatives in these counties are: Steve Weg-
APRIL 2021 ner, Reeder (Adams); Kevin Kirsch, Belfield (Billings); Kent Horntvedt, Columbus (Burke); Derik Pulvermacher, Crosby (Divide); Lenci Sickler, Gladstone (Dunn); Mark Hardy, Beach (Golden Valley); Dylan Witte, Regent, (Hettinger); Trevor Kohler, Benedict, (McLean); Shane Tellman, New Salem (Morton); Kyle Nichols, Stanley (Mountrail); John Weinand, Hazen, (Oliver); Parker Gates, Mohall (Renville); Miles Hanson, Bowman (Slope); Ben Kuhn,
Dickinson (Stark); and Kevin Folkers, Kenmare (Ward). Other counties have vacant positions. The Oilseeds Council currently contracts with the Northern Canola Growers Association to increase demand in domestic and foreign market development programs, to obtain crop protection registrations for canola, conduct canola research and provide information to North Dakota canola growers.
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